bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biocompatibility, induction of mineralization and antimicrobial activity of experimental intracanal pastes based on glass and glass‐ceramic materials
Authors: de Araújo Lopes J. M. , Benetti F. , Rezende G. C. , Souza M. T. , Conti L. C. , Ervolino E. , Jacinto R. C. , Zanotto E. D. , Cintra L. T. A.
Published: August 2020

Aim

To evaluate the biocompatibility, induction of mineralization and antimicrobial activity of experimental intracanal pastes based on two glass and glass‐ceramic materials. Calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) paste was used as the positive control.

Methodology

The glass‐ceramic powder [two‐phased Biosilicate (BS‐2P)] and F18 bioactive glass were mixed with distilled water (ratio 2 : 1), inserted in polyethylene tubes and implanted in the subcutaneous tissues of 16 rats. Empty tubes were used as negative control. After 7 and 30 days (n = 8), the rats were euthanized for haematoxylin–eosin, von Kossa, polarized light and osteopontin (OPN) immunolabeling analysis. Direct contact tests using a suspension of each paste were performed with Enterococcus faecalis planktonic cells to evaluate antimicrobial activity (24 h of contact), in a pilot study. The number of CFU mL−1 was calculated for each group. The antimicrobial analysis data were submitted to one‐way anova and Tukey tests, whilst biocompatibility and immunohistochemical data were submitted to the Kruskal–Wallis and Dunn tests (P < 0.05).

Results

Most specimens of the control, BS‐2P and Ca(OH)2 groups were associated with moderate inflammation seven days following implantation, whilst F18 was associated with moderate to severe inflammation, without differences amongst the groups (P > 0.05). At 30 days, most specimens of control, F18 and BS‐2P groups had mild inflammation, whilst Ca(OH)2 had mild to moderate inflammation; however, no differences were determined amongst the groups (P > 0.05). The fibrous capsule was thick at 7 days, becoming thin at 30 days. All pastes induced von Kossa‐positive structures and were birefringent to polarized light. At seven days, the BS‐2P group had significantly more OPN immunolabeling compared to the control and Ca(OH)2 groups (P < 0.05). At 30 days, the F18 group had significantly more OPN immunolabeling compared to the control and Ca(OH)2 groups (P < 0.05). All pastes reduced the total number of E. faecalis; however, the reduction was only significant when comparing BS‐2P and Ca(OH)2 groups to the control (P < 0.05). Only calcium hydroxide eliminated E. faecalis.

Conclusions

Experimental BS‐2P and F18 pastes were biocompatible, stimulated biomineralization and induced significant OPN immunolabeling compared to Ca(OH)2. Only the BS‐2P paste demonstrated antimicrobial activity comparable to Ca(OH)2.
Microstructure and mechanical property of (TiB2‐SiC) agglomerate‐toughened B4C‐TiB2‐SiC composites
Authors: Wang Shuai , Deng Yangyang , Gao Shuaibo , Yang Mingsheng , Xing Pengfei
Published: August 2020

B4C‐TiB2‐SiC composites toughened by (TiB2‐SiC) agglomerates were prepared via reactive hot pressing with B4C and TiSi2 as raw materials. Phase composition, microstructure, and mechanical properties of the fabricated composites were investigated. The function of (TiB2‐SiC) agglomerates was analyzed, and the strengthening and toughening mechanism were also discussed. Results indicated that some of the in situ formed TiB2 and SiC were interlocked to form special (TiB2‐SiC) agglomerates in the matrix. The good comprehensive performances of 510 MPa flexural strength, 5.84 MPa·m1/2 fracture toughness, and 31.93 GPa hardness were obtained in the composites fabricated with 30 wt% TiSi2. The in situ introduced fine TiB2 and SiC grains refined the grains of B4C due to the pinning effect, which enhanced the strength. The special (TiB2‐SiC) agglomerates and the existing toughening phenomena such as crack deflection, branching, and microcrack regions induced by the mismatch of thermal expansion coefficients, had cumulative effects on improving the fracture toughness.
Lipoic acid modulates inflammatory responses of monocytes and monocyte‐derived macrophages from healthy and relapsing‐remitting multiple sclerosis patients
Authors: Fiedler Sarah E , Spain Rebecca I , Kim Edward , Salinthone Sonemany
Published: August 2020

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disabling neuroinflammatory disease. Its etiology is unknown, but both oxidative stress and inflammation appear to be involved in disease pathology. Macrophages are the predominant cell type in acute inflammatory brain lesions in MS. Macrophages produce proinflammatory and toxic molecules that promote demyelination and are key players in phagocytosis/degradation of myelin sheathes. Lipoic acid (LA) is an inexpensive, endogenously produced small molecule that exhibits antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory effects. Treatment with LA is protective in MS and other inflammatory diseases. To examine the mechanism(s) by which LA may attenuate inflammatory lesion activity in MS, we used healthy control and MS cells to evaluate the effects of LA on levels of inflammatory cytokines, phagocytosis and the immunomodulator cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in monocytes and monocyte‐derived macrophages (MDMs). LA treatment resulted in a generally less inflammatory phenotype of monocytes and MDMs from healthy controls, and (to a lesser degree) MS donors. LA inhibited monocyte secretion of cytokines relevant to MS in monocytes, including tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), interleukin (IL)‐6 and IL‐1β; LA effects on secretion of these cytokines in MDMs were mixed with inhibition of TNF‐α and IL‐6, but stimulation of IL‐1β, the latter perhaps as a result of altered macrophage polarization. LA inhibited phagocytosis in both monocytes and MDMs, and increased cAMP levels in monocytes. LA may modulate inflammatory cytokine secretion and phagocytosis via a cAMP‐mediated mechanism.
Effectiveness of an mHealth application to improve hypertension health literacy in India
Authors: Garner S.L. , George C.E. , Young P. , Hitchcock J. , Koch H. , Green G. , Mahid Z. , Norman G.
Published: August 2020

Aim

The purpose of this research was to determine the effectiveness of a mobile health or mHealth application to improve hypertension health literacy among vulnerable populations in India. Additionally, we sought to estimate relationships between participant knowledge on hypertension and sociodemographic variables.

Background

The World Health Organization advocates for the use of mobile technology to improve public health outcomes.

Introduction

The incidence of hypertension is on the rise in India, and effective and sustainable interventions are needed.

Methods

A quantitative single arm pre‐test post‐test interventional and correlational design was used to test the hypertension mHealth application among participants in a limited resource setting. A paired t‐test was performed to compare pre‐ and post‐test results after participant use of the mHealth application. A regression model was used to estimate relationships between participant hypertension health literacy and sociodemographic variables.

Results

A statistically significant improvement in test scores among participants after use of the mHealth app was found. Sociodemographic characteristics such as living in an urban environment, married, increased number of people living in household and alcohol use were determined to have a statistically significant effect on improvement of test score.

Discussion

Results indicated the application was effective among participants with varied literacy and health literacy levels. These findings contribute to the potential widespread scalability of the app among populations with varied demographics.

Conclusion

This application provides an effective and valuable culturally tailored educational resource for nurses and other health providers to use to improve hypertension health literacy among vulnerable populations in India.

Implications for Nursing Practice and Health Policy

This study contributes to nursing and health policy by answering a call from the World Health Organization to implement and research mHealth interventions to improve health outcomes, particularly in a low and middle income country where preventive health access is limited.
What determines institutional investors' holdings in IPO firms?
Authors: Michel Allen , Oded Jacob , Shaked Israel
Published: August 2020

We investigate the manner in which institutional investors' investments in IPO firms are related to IPO characteristics and pre‐IPO operating performance. We find that institutions' initial holdings are strongly related to the public float (the fraction of shares floated to the public), but are unrelated to the ratio of primary‐to‐total shares issued. This suggests that institutions prefer IPOs that are associated with ownership structure change, and are indifferent to whether the motivation behind the IPO is fund raising or original owners' value liquidation. Moreover, initial institutional holdings are unrelated to commonly used measures of pre‐IPO operating performance such as return on sales and return on assets. We also find that institutions are predisposed to invest in value firms rather than growth firms.
Evidence for pre‐symptomatic transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) in China
Authors: Ren Xiang , Li Yu , Yang Xiaokun , Li Zhili , Cui Jinzhao , Zhu Aiqin , Zhao Hongting , Yu Jianxing , Nie Taoran , Ren Minrui , Dong Shuaibing , Cheng Ying , Chen Qiulan , Chang Zhaorui , Sun Junling , Wang Liping , Feng Luzhao , Gao George F. , Feng Zijian , Li Zhongjie
Published: August 2020

Background

Between mid‐January and early February, provinces of mainland China outside the epicentre in Hubei province were on high alert for importations and transmission of COVID‐19. Many properties of COVID‐19 infection and transmission were still not yet established.

Methods

We collated and analysed data on 449 of the earliest COVID‐19 cases detected outside Hubei province to make inferences about transmission dynamics and severity of infection. We analysed 64 clusters to make inferences on serial interval and potential role of pre‐symptomatic transmission.

Results

We estimated an epidemic doubling time of 5.3 days (95% confidence interval (CI): 4.3, 6.7) and a median incubation period of 4.6 days (95% CI: 4.0, 5.2). We estimated a serial interval distribution with mean 5.7 days (95% CI: 4.7, 6.8) and standard deviation 3.5 days, and effective reproductive number was 1.98 (95% CI: 1.68, 2.35). We estimated that 32/80 (40%) of transmission events were likely to have occurred prior to symptoms onset in primary cases. Secondary cases in clusters had less severe illness on average than cluster primary cases.

Conclusions

The majority of transmissions are occurring around illness onset in an infected person, and pre‐symptomatic transmission does play a role. Detection of milder infections among the secondary cases may be more reflective of true disease severity.
To migrate or not: drivers of over‐summering in a long‐distance migratory shorebird
Authors: Martínez‐Curci Natalia S. , Isacch Juan P. , D'Amico Verónica L. , Rojas Pablo , Castresana Gabriel J.
Published: August 2020

The phenomenon of over‐summering in southern non‐breeding areas by boreal‐breeding birds is particularly prevalent among shorebirds. Despite its frequency, it is understudied compared with most other aspects of shorebird ecology. Our aim was to expand knowledge of this subject through a study of red knotsCalidris canutus rufaover‐summering at a site in Argentina during the austral winter. We measured the proportion of one‐year‐old and adult over‐summerers and evaluated the roles of flight‐feather condition and physiological status (through leukocite profile, physiological stress index and presence of blood parasites) as triggers for over‐summering. We also explore sex‐ratio, the evolution of body mass and extent of breeding plumage within each age‐class. Over‐summerers were 57% yearlings and 43% adults, 46% females and 54% males. Almost all yearlings exhibited incomplete molt of primary feathers and some were in active primary molt. This suggests that the condition of flight‐feathers and the timing of molt are likely to be important factors selecting for deferred migration during the first year of life. Other factors, not associated with flight‐feather molt, seem to trigger over‐summering in adults, which had completed flight feather molt but had low fat loads and/or incomplete alternate plumage. We found no evidence of a weakened immune system, high loads of blood parasites or high stress levels that can explain this poor migratory conditioning and therefore over‐summering. Our data indicates that our adult age‐class comprises both young individuals postponing first breeding until they are at least two years old and sexually mature individuals with prior reproductive experience skipping a breeding opportunity. Breeding propensity and age at first breeding are both poorly known, but key demographic parameters that determine population growth. This study suggests that potentially they can be estimated from mark–recapture at non‐breeding areas and this warrants further study.
The function of sentinel alarm calls in the Arabian babbler
Authors: Ostreiher Roni , Heifetz Aviad
Published: August 2020

In various group‐living species, from time to time one of the group members acts as a sentinel and utters alarm calls when detecting a predator. Hearing these calls, other group mates usually react by quickly changing their behaviour. Uttering alarm calls is an anti‐predator mechanism with several possible functions. In this study our aim was to assess the function of alarm calls in the Arabian babblerArgya squamiceps, a cooperatively breeding songbird. We observed 10 groups in natural conditions and recorded 1000 reactions of 55 foraging group members to 268 sets of alarm calls uttered by the sentinels. The most frequent reaction of the group members to the sentinel's alarm calls was to stop foraging immediately, to fly up to the closest treetop and to start calling alarm calls. In all the recorded cases, the sentinel remained in place and continued to call. The alarm calls continued as long as the raptor could be seen, and then ceased gradually, after which babblers flew down and returned to foraging. We conclude that the main function of alarm calls in the Arabian babbler is pursuit deterrence. In particular, while foragers benefit from the information content of the sentinel's alarm calls and react on their basis, the raptor is the primary audience addressed by the calls uttered by the sentinel and the foragers who join it.
Survival probability in a small shorebird decreases with the time an individual carries a tracking device
Authors: Pakanen Veli‐Matti , Rönkä Nelli , Robert Leslie Thomson , Blomqvist Donald , Koivula Kari
Published: August 2020

Effects of tracking devices on survival are generally considered to be small. However, most studies to date have been conducted over a time‐period of only one year, neglecting the possible accumulation of negative effects and consequently stronger negative impacts on survival when the individuals have carried the tracking devices for longer periods. We studied the effects of geolocators in a closely monitored and colour‐ringed southern dunlinCalidris alpina schinziipopulation breeding in Finland. Our capture–recapture data spans 2002–2018 and includes individual histories of 338 colour‐ringed breeding adult dunlins (the term ‘recapture' includes resightings of colour‐ringed and individually recognizable birds). These data include 53 adults that were fitted with leg‐flag mounted geolocators in 2013–2014. We followed their fates together with other colour‐ringed birds not equipped with geolocators until 2018. Geolocators were removed within 1–2 years of attachment or were not removed at all, which allowed us to examine whether carrying a geolocator reduces survival and whether the reduction in survival becomes stronger when geolocators are carried for more than one year. We fit multi‐state open population capture–recapture models to the encounter history data. When assessing geolocator effects, we accounted for recapture probabilities, time since marking, and sex and year effects on survival. We found that carrying a geolocator reduced survival, which contrasts with many studies that examined return rates after one year. Importantly, survival declined with the time the individual had carried a geolocator, suggesting that the negative effects accumulate over time. Hence, the longer monitoring of birds carrying a geolocator may explain the difference from previous studies. Despite their larger mass, females tended to be more strongly affected by geolocators than males. Our results warrant caution in conducting tracking studies and suggest that short‐term studies examining return rates may not reveal all possible effects of tracking devices on survival.
Effect of high‐altitude trekking on blood pressure and on asymmetric dimethylarginine and isoprostane production: Results from a Mount Ararat expedition
Authors: Verratti Vittore , Ferrante Claudio , Soranna Davide , Zambon Antonella , Bhandari Suwas , Orlando Giustino , Brunetti Luigi , Parati Gianfranco
Published: August 2020

The study aimed at exploring the mechanisms behind blood pressure and heart rate changes upon acute altitude exposure utilizing urinary excretion of biochemical factors involved in cardiovascular regulation. The study was conducted on 12 lowlander native male mountain climbers, living at sea level, exposed to altitudes ranging from 1800 to 5147 m above sea level over 4 days, during their ascent to Mount Ararat (Turkey). Blood pressure (measured by oscillometric method), heart rate, and blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) were recorded at rest (on awakening before food intake), in hypoxic conditions at 4200 m and at sea level before and after the altitude expedition. In the same study conditions (ie before‐during‐after the expedition), first‐voided urinary samples were collected and assayed for 8‐iso‐prostaglandin F2α (8‐iso‐PGF2α) and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) determination. Heart rate, and systolic and diastolic blood pressures were higher (P < .05) at high altitude than at the sea level. Furthermore, both urinary 8‐iso‐PGF2α and ADMA were significantly elevated (P < .01) at high altitude and returned to normal levels soon after returning to sea level. A 4‐day exposure to high‐altitude hypoxia induced a temporary increase in blood pressure and heart rate, confirming previous findings. Blood pressure increase at high altitude was associated with significantly enhanced production of biochemical mediators such as 8‐iso‐PGF2α, catecholamines, and ADMA, although we could not demonstrate a direct link between these parallel significant changes probably due to the forcefully limited sample size of our study, carried out in challenging environmental conditions at very high altitude.
The identification of six risk genes for ovarian cancer platinum response based on global network algorithm and verification analysis
Authors: Xing Linan , Mi Wanqi , Zhang Yongjian , Tian Songyu , Zhang Yunyang , Qi Rui , Zhang Chunlong , Lou Ge
Published: August 2020

Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynaecological cancer, and resistance of platinum‐based chemotherapy is the main reason for treatment failure. The aim of the present study was to identify candidate genes involved in ovarian cancer platinum response by analysing genes from homologous recombination and Fanconi anaemia pathways. Associations between these two functional genes were explored in the study, and we performed a random walk algorithm based on reconstructed gene‐gene network, including protein‐protein interaction and co‐expression relations. Following the random walk, all genes were ranked and GSEA analysis showed that the biological functions focused primarily on autophagy, histone modification and gluconeogenesis. Based on three types of seed nodes, the top two genes were utilized as examples. We selected a total of six candidate genes (FANCA, FANCG, POLD1, KDM1A, BLM and BRCA1) for subsequent verification. The validation results of the six candidate genes have significance in three independent ovarian cancer data sets with platinum‐resistant and platinum‐sensitive information. To explore the correlation between biomarkers and clinical prognostic factors, we performed differential analysis and multivariate clinical subgroup analysis for six candidate genes at both mRNA and protein levels. And each of the six candidate genes and their neighbouring genes with a mutation rate greater than 10% were also analysed by network construction and functional enrichment analysis. In the meanwhile, the survival analysis for platinum‐treated patients was performed in the current study. Finally, the RT‐qPCR assay was used to determine the performance of candidate genes in ovarian cancer platinum response. Taken together, this research demonstrated that comprehensive bioinformatics methods could help to understand the molecular mechanism of platinum response and provide new strategies for overcoming platinum resistance in ovarian cancer treatment.
Negative feedback loop of ERK/CREB/miR‐212‐3p inhibits HBeAg‐induced macrophage activation
Authors: Chen Wenjun , Bian Hongjun , Xie Xiaoyu , Yang Xia , Bi Benjun , Li Chunliu , Zhang Yuejuan , Zhu Qiang , Song Jing , Qin Chengyong , Qi Jianni
Published: August 2020

The activation of liver macrophages is closely related to liver injury after HBV infection. Our previous results demonstrated that HBeAg played a key role in inducing macrophage activation. As we all know, miRNAs are involved in the regulation of multiple immune cell functions. Meanwhile, we have shown that miR‐155 positively regulates HBeAg‐induced macrophage activation and accelerates liver injury. Subsequently, based on our previous miRNA sequencing results, we further evaluated the role of miR‐212‐3p called ‘neurimmiR’ in HBeAg‐induced macrophages in this study. First, miR‐212‐3p expression was significantly elevated in HBeAg‐treated macrophages. Meanwhile, we found up‐regulation of miR‐212‐3p significantly decreased the production of cytokines, whereas knockdown of miR‐212‐3p held the opposite effect by gains and losses of function. Mechanically, although MAPK signal pathway, including ERK, JNK and p38, was activated in HBeAg‐induced macrophages, only ERK promoted the expression of miR‐212‐3p via transcription factor CREB, which was able to bind to the promoter of miR‐212‐3p verified by ChIP assay. Moreover, we further indicated that up‐regulated miR‐212‐3p inhibited HBeAg‐induced inflammatory cytokine production through targeting MAPK1. In conclusion, miR‐212‐3p was augmented in HBeAg‐stimulated macrophages via ERK/CREB signal pathway and the elevated miR‐212‐3p suppressed inflammatory cytokine production induced by HBeAg through targeting MAPK1.
Three periodontitis phenotypes: Bone loss patterns, antibiotic—surgical treatment and the new classification
Authors: Delatola Chryssa , Loos Bruno G. , Laine Marja L.
Published: August 2020

Aim

To compare three periodontitis clusters (A, B and C) for alveolar bone loss (ABL) patterns, antibiotic prescriptions and surgeries and to relate them to the new classification of periodontitis.

Materials and Methods

ABL patterns, prescription of systemic antibiotics and the number of surgeries were retrieved for all patients (n = 353) in the clusters. Comparisons and possible predictors for antibiotics were assessed, and results also evaluated in relation to the new classification.

Results

Cluster A is characterized by angular defects often affecting the first molars and localized stage III/IV grade C periodontitis. Cluster B contains mainly localized or generalized stage III/IV, grade C patients. Cluster C contains mainly patients with generalized stage III/IV grade C periodontitis. Patients in cluster A received significantly more antibiotics compared to B and C (78% vs. 23% and 17%); the predictors for antibiotic prescription were young age and localized ABL. No differences in numbers of periodontal surgeries were observed between clusters (A = 1.0 ± 1.4, B = 1.3 ± 1.4 and C = 1.3 ± 1.5).

Conclusions

Within stage III/IV grade C periodontitis, we could detect three clusters of patients. The distinct localized ABL pattern and younger age in cluster A presumably prompted clinicians to prescribe antibiotics.
Checklist validation for care provided to patients in the immediate postoperative period of cardiac surgery
Authors: Batistini Hilaine Cristina , de Sant’Anna Ana Lucia Gargione Galvão , Dellacrode Giovanazzi Rosemeire Simone , Rosa de Freitas Vinicius , Martins da Costa Suelen Alves Creste , Machado Regimar Carla
Published: August 2020

Aims and objectives

We created and validated a checklist for nursing care of patients in the immediate postoperative period of cardiac surgery.

Background

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) account for about 30% of all deaths recorded in Brazil. There is an arsenal of clinical and surgical treatments for CVD, with a significant number of patients evolving to surgical treatment. Thus, health professionals working in the perioperative period of cardiovascular surgeries need to be updated, trained and qualified to provide adequate and safe care to patients.

Design

We developed a checklist that defined essential parameters for quality care, to ensure greater agility and patient safety.

Methods

This methodology validation study comprised two stages: checklist creation for care provided by nurses to patients in the IPO of cardiac surgery, and content validation using the Delphi method. Participants were selected through an advanced survey conducted on the Lattes Platform website of the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development. The STROBE checklist was used to guide the study.

Results

Three rounds of analysis by specialists resulted in average CVIs of: 95.8% for objectivity, 97.9% for simplicity, 91.0% for clarity, 93.1% for relevance and 96.5% for variety, suggesting high agreement among specialists.

Conclusions

The checklist focused on nursing care of patients in the IPO of cardiac surgery and was validated with three topics, four categories, 16 items and 86 sub‐items of care assignments to be applied in clinical practice.

Relevance to clinical practice

This is a validated instrument that guides nurses’ actions by admitting postoperative cardiac surgery patients to the ICU based on evidence, which provides more scientific and professional support to health teams’ performance, with the objective of strengthening roles and establishing routines; thus presenting a powerful tool for planning nursing actions, providing quality care to patients, and facilitating communication between teams, thereby minimising risks.
Comparing the effect of landscape context on vascular plant and bryophyte communities in a human‐dominated landscape
Authors: McCune Jenny L. , Frendo Christina J. , Ramadan Mohammed , Baldwin Lyn K.
Published: August 2020

Aims

It is important to understand the effect of landscape context on biological communities to predict how biodiversity will be affected on human‐dominated landscapes. While many studies have tested the effects of landscape context on the species richness and composition of vascular plants, few have compared the responses of vascular plants and bryophytes on the same landscape. We sampled non‐epiphytic bryophytes and vascular plants in 184 plots to test whether three landscape context factors measured four years or four decades previously could predict bryophyte or vascular plant species richness and composition after accounting for local factors.

Location

Temperate forests and oak savannahs, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.

Methods

We used model selection and comparisons to test the effects of surrounding road density, total amount of forest, and distance to the nearest forest edge on species richness, species richness of non‐disturbance‐associated species, and community composition after controlling for important local predictors including substrate availability and topography.

Results

The species richness of non‐disturbance‐associated vascular plants was lower in plots with greater surrounding historical road density, and perennial stayer bryophyte richness declined with increasing historical road density and lower historical forest amount, suggesting a potential extinction debt. Landscape context significantly affected total species richness and community composition of vascular plants, but not bryophytes.

Conclusion

While bryophytes appear to be less sensitive overall to landscape context than vascular plants, disturbance‐intolerant perennial stayer bryophytes may decline in the future in response to the increased road density and loss of forest cover that has occurred over the past four decades.
Regional resilience analysis: A multiscale approach to optimize the resilience of interdependent infrastructure
Authors: Sharma Neetesh , Tabandeh Armin , Gardoni Paolo
Published: August 2020

Reducing hazard‐induced disruptions to infrastructure functionality is cardinal to regional resilience. Specifically, effective strategies to enhance regional resilience require: (a) developing mathematical models for infrastructure recovery; (b) quantifying resilience associated with the developed recovery process; and (c) developing a computationally manageable approach for resilience optimization. This paper proposes a rigorous mathematical formulation to model recovery, quantify resilience, and optimize the resilience of large‐scale infrastructure. Specifically, a multiscale model of the recovery process is proposed that significantly reduces the computational cost, while favoring practical and easily manageable recovery schedules. To quantify regional resilience, resilience metrics are proposed that capture the temporal and spatial variations of the recovery process. The paper then formulates a multiobjective optimization problem that aims to improve regional resilience in terms of the proposed metrics, while minimizing the recovery cost. Finally, the paper illustrates the proposed formulation by considering interdependent infrastructure in Shelby County, Tennessee, United States.
Asymmetries of reproductive isolation are reflected in directionalities of hybridization: integrative evidence on the complexity of species boundaries
Authors: Keller Barbara , Ganz Rita , Mora‐Carrera Emiliano , Nowak Michael D. , Theodoridis Spyros , Koutroumpa Konstantina , Conti Elena
Published: August 2020

The complex nature of species boundaries has been a central topic in evolutionary biology ever since Darwin. Despite numerous separate studies on reproductive isolation and hybridization, their relationship remains underinvestigated. Are the strengths and asymmetries of reproductive barriers reflected in the extent and directionalities of interspecific genetic exchange?

We combined field, experimental, and molecular data to quantify strengths and asymmetries of sympatric reproductive barriers and hybridization between florally heteromorphic primroses. We also assessed whether generalist pollinators discriminate between different floral cues and contribute to reproductive isolation, a long‐debated topic.

Sympatric reproductive isolation is high but incomplete, and most phenotypic intermediates are genetic F1hybrids, whereas backcrosses are rare, revealing low interspecific gene flow. Species integrity rests on multiple barriers, but ethological isolation is among the strongest, demonstrating that even generalist pollinators crucially contribute to the maintenance of species boundaries. Furthermore, reproductive barriers are weaker forPrimula verisand short‐styled plants, results corroborated by molecular data. Thus, in florally heteromorphic systems, both species‐ and morph‐dependent asymmetries affect permeability of species boundaries.

Our study illustrates how the interactions between complex floral syndromes and pollinators shape species boundaries in unique, previously undescribed ways.
The degree of spatial variation relative to temporal variation influences evolution of dispersal
Authors: Sieger Charlotte Sophie , Hovestadt Thomas
Published: August 2020

In the face of ongoing global climate and land use change, organisms have multiple possibilities to cope with the modification of their environment. The two main possibilities are to either adapt locally or disperse to a more suitable habitat. The evolution of both local adaptation and dispersal interacts and can be influenced by the spatial and temporal variation (of e.g. temperature or precipitation). In an individual based model (IBM), we explore evolution of phenotypes in landscapes with varying degree of spatial relative to global temporal variation in order to examine its influence on the evolution of dispersal, niche optimum and niche width. The relationship between temporal and spatial variation did neither influence the evolution of local adaptation in the niche optimum nor of niche widths. Dispersal probability is highly influenced by the spatio‐temporal relationship: with increasing spatial variation, dispersal probability decreases. Additionally, the shape of the distribution of the trait values over patch attributes switches from hump‐ to U‐shaped. At low spatial variance more individuals emigrate from average habitats, at high spatial variance more from extreme habitats. The comparatively high dispersal probability in extreme patches of landscapes with a high spatial variation can be explained by evolutionary succession of two kinds of adaptive response. Early in the simulations, extreme patches in landscapes with a high spatial variability act as sink habitats, where population persistence depends on highly dispersive individuals with a wide niche. With ongoing evolution, local adaptation of the remaining individuals takes over, but simultaneously a possible bet‐hedging strategy promotes higher dispersal probabilities in those habitats. Here, in generations that experience extreme shifts from the temporal mean of the patch attribute, the expected fitness becomes higher for dispersing individuals than for philopatric individuals. This means that under certain circumstances, both local adaptation and high dispersal probability can be selected for for coping with the projected environmental changes in the future.
UV‐B and Drought Stress Influenced Growth and Cellular Compounds of Two Cultivars of Phaseolus vulgaris L. (Fabaceae)
Authors: Santos Déborah Y.A.C. , Ferreira Marcelo J. P. , Matos Tamara Machado , Sala‐Carvalho Wilton Ricardo , Anselmo‐Moreira Fernanda , Roma Lucas Paradizo , Carvalho Juliana Cajado Souza , Peña‐Hidalgo Miguel , French Kristine , Waterman Melinda J. , Robinson Sharon A. , Furlan Claudia M.
Published: August 2020

Combined enhanced UV‐B radiation and drought may induce different morphological and physiological alterations in plants than either abiotic stress alone. We evaluated morphology, biomass, and primary and secondary metabolism changes in seedlings of two common bean cultivars, IAC Imperador (drought‐resistant) and IAC Milênio. To test the hypothesis that cultivars responded differently to combined stresses in a controlled environment, seedlings of the examined been cultivars were exposed to UV‐B and/or drought treatments for three weeks. The cultivars behaved differently, especially to the drought treatment, suggesting that they use different mechanisms to cope with unfavorable environmental conditions. IAC Imperador showed a stronger protective response, modifying wax composition and primary metabolism, and improving its resistance to UV‐B radiation. For IAC Imperador, the accumulation of cuticular wax and alkane was higher under combined stress but production of primary alcohols was reduced, suggesting a possible fatty acyl switch. Root/shoot length and biomass ratios increased in both cultivars, particularly for the combined stress, indicating a common plant response. We show that these two bean cultivars responded more strongly to UV‐B and combined stress than drought alone as evident in changes to their chemistry and biology. This shows the importance of investigating plant morphological and physiological responses to combined stress.
Sarcopenia in female patients with Alzheimer's disease are more likely to have lower levels of haemoglobin and 25‐hydroxyvitamin D
Authors: Lee Hsin Ning , Chang Yu San , Wu Yu Hsuan , Wu Chiu Hsiang , Wang Chin Jen
Published: August 2020

Aim

Few studies have investigated sarcopenia in patients with cognitive impairment. However, identifying the characteristics and factors associated with sarcopenia in these patients may help to decrease the risk of falls, prevent disabilities, and maintain an independent life, all of which can affect the quality of life of both patient and caregiver. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate associated factors of sarcopenia in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease.

Methods

This cross‐sectional study enrolled 125 outpatients aged 65 to 89 years (mean age 79.5 ± 7.9 years) from January 2018 to December 2018. In addition to demographic characteristics, cognitive status, depressive mood, activities of daily living, body mass index (BMI), handgrip strength, gait speed, muscle mass, and serum levels of 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (Vit D), haemoglobin (Hb), albumin and creatinine were assessed. Sarcopenia was defined based on the presence of low muscle mass and either low muscle strength or low physical performance.

Results

Overall, 29.6% of the patients had sarcopenia. The patients with sarcopenia were mostly male, significantly older, and had a lower BMI and lower levels of Vit D. The female patients with sarcopenia were more likely to have lower levels of Hb. Multiple logistic regression showed that sarcopenia was associated with BMI in both genders. The level of Vit D was associated with sarcopenia in the female patients, whereas age was associated with sarcopenia in the male patients.

Conclusions

A low BMI may be a dementia‐related risk factor for sarcopenia. The female patients with sarcopenia were more likely to have lower levels of Hb and Vit D. There may be different risk profiles for sarcopenia in men and women with Alzheimer's disease. Further studies are needed to devise different nutritional support for muscle weakness in patients with cognitive decline by gender.
Type D personality and cardiovascular reactivity to acute stress: The mediating effects of social support and negative social relationships
Authors: O’Riordan Adam , Howard Siobhán , Brown Eoin , Gallagher Stephen
Published: August 2020

Type D personality has been consistently associated with adverse cardiovascular health with atypical cardiovascular reactions to psychological stress one potential underlying mechanism. As Type D individuals have been noted to report lower social support and greater perceptions of negativity in social interactions, this study examined if the association between Type D personality and cardiovascular reactivity was mediated by these social relationships. A sample of 195 undergraduate students (138 female) participated in this observational study, where they completed measures assessing Type D personality (DS14), social support, and perceptions of negative social relationships (National Institute of Health social relationship scales), before undergoing a traditional cardiovascular reactivity protocol. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP; DBP), heart rate (HR), cardiac output (CO), and total peripheral resistance (TPR) were monitored throughout. ANCOVAs and regressions indicated that Type D personality was associated with lower cardiovascular reactivity to a mental arithmetic stressor. Furthermore, mediation analyses (process macro) indicated that the relationship between Type D personality and cardiovascular reactivity was mediated via increased perceptions of negative social relationships, as well as lower levels of social support. Apart from a significant association between Type D personality and increased HR reactivity, all results failed to withstand adjustment for the individual effects of negative affect (NA) and social inhibition (SI) in controlled analyses. Overall, these findings suggest that the predictive utility of Type D personality on cardiovascular reactivity above and beyond the individual effects of NA and SI is limited, and may vary depending on the cardiovascular parameter of focus.
Revisiting nonclassical HLA II functions in antigen presentation: Peptide editing and its modulation
Authors: Álvaro‐Benito Miguel , Freund Christian
Published: August 2020

The nonclassical major histocompatibility complex of class II molecules (ncMHCII) HLA‐DM (DM) and HLA‐DO (DO) feature essential functions for the selection of the peptides that are displayed by classical MHCII proteins (MHCII) for CD4+ Th cell surveillance. Thus, although the binding groove of classical MHCII dictates the main features of the peptides displayed, ncMHCII function defines the preferential loading of peptides from specific cellular compartments and the extent to which they are presented. DM acts as a chaperone for classical MHCII molecules facilitating peptide exchange and thereby favoring the binding of peptide‐MHCII complexes of high kinetic stability mostly in late endosomal compartments. DO on the other hand binds to DM blocking its peptide‐editing function in B cells and thymic epithelial cells, limiting DM activity in these cellular subsets. DM and DO distinct expression patterns therefore define specific antigen presentation profiles that select unique peptide pools for each set of antigen presenting cell. We have come a long way understanding the mechanistic underpinnings of such distinct editing profiles and start to grasp the implications for ncMHCII biological function. DM acts as filter for the selection of immunodominant, pathogen‐derived epitopes while DO blocks DM activity under certain physiological conditions to promote tolerance to self. Interestingly, recent findings have shown that the unexplored and neglected ncMHCII genetic diversity modulates retroviral infection in mouse, and affects human ncMHCII function. This review aims at highlighting the importance of ncMHCII function for CD4+ Th cell responses while integrating and evaluating what could be the impact of distinct editing profiles because of natural genetic variations.
Evaluation of a workshop using verbatim theatre stimuli to address challenging workplace situations: a pilot study
Authors: Nash Louise , Scott Karen , Pit Sabrina , Barnes Elizabeth , Ivory Kimberley , Hooker Claire
Published: August 2020

Background

Challenging workplace situations such as bullying, harassment, depression, suicide and fatigue exist in health care. The performing arts can generate dialogue and engagement with these difficult issues. This study evaluates a workshop for health care students that used filmed vignettes from a verbatim theatre play that used real stories of such situations. The workshop aimed to improve health professional students’ confidence in seeking help for depression, addressing mistreatment, understanding mandatory reporting laws and the impact of driver fatigue.

Methods

Two workshops were held: one with a mixture of professions, including nursing, medical and allied health students, and the other with medical students only. Participants completed questionnaires before and after each workshop, responding to four Likert questions on understanding and confidence about the issues discussed and free‐text responses about the perceived value of the workshop.

Results

Sixty‐five people took part in the workshops, with a 100% response rate to the pre‐workshop survey and a 98% response rate (n = 64) to the post workshop survey. Students most frequently reported an improvement in understanding mandatory reporting laws (57%), followed by an increase in confidence in dealing with bullying and harassment (44%). Students in the workshop with a mix of professions noted the benefit of learning about these challenging issues alongside students from other health professions.

Discussion

Students valued the facilitated discussion of sensitive issues. Although many respondents increased their understanding or confidence in the four topics, a smaller proportion reported a reduction after the workshop. Perhaps this resulted from greater appreciation of the complexities of these issues. Health care students valued hearing from other professional groups in the mixed professions workshop.
Discarded plasma obtained after cord blood volume reduction as an alternative for fetal calf serum in mesenchymal stromal cells cultures
Authors: Vlaski‐Lafarge Marija , Chevaleyre Jean , Cohen Julie , Ivanovic Zoran , Lafarge Xavier
Published: August 2020

BACKGROUND

Utilization of the fetal calf serum (FCS) carries a potential health risk and raises growing economic and ethical problems. Umbilical cord blood volume reduction, required for banking, provides clinical‐grade umbilical cord blood plasma (UCBP) discarded as a waste. The aim of this study was to test whether serum derived from UCBP could replace FCS for the amplification of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs).

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

To this end, the amplification of the MSCs and mesenchymal progenitors was estimated in the presence of serum derived from UCBP and its cytokine content was determined by cytometric bead array and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay techniques. As a comparison, other sources of clinical‐grade human serum were tested in parallel: serum derived from solvent/detergent–treated fresh‐frozen plasma (S/D‐FFP) and from platelet (PLT)‐rich and PLT‐poor umbilical plasma.

RESULTS

Serum derived from UCBP‐supplemented culture sustains identical amplification of MSCs and their progenitors as in the case of FCS addition. Furthermore, the assays reveal the presence in the serum derived from UCBP of cytokines influencing the properties of MSCs (basic fibroblast growth factor, transforming growth factor‐β, vascular endothelial growth factor, and interleukin‐8) or involved in the development of the myeloid lineage (thrombopoietin, erythropoietin, granulocyte–colony‐stimulating factor, and granulocyte‐macrophage–colony‐stimulating factor). Also, our study indicates important differences between neonatal and adult‐derived serum. Poor cytokine content in the S/D‐FFP makes a less efficient replacement of FCS comparing to other human blood–derived supplements.

CONCLUSION

Our work shows that the discarded human cord blood plasma from volume reduction is an easily obtainable and greatly available, xeno‐free source of serum that is a highly efficient replacement of FCS in sustaining MSC growth.
HIV incidence in South African blood donors from 2012 to 2016: a comparison of estimation methods
Authors: Vermeulen Marion , Chowdhury Dhuly , Swanevelder Ronel , Grebe Eduard , Brambilla Donald , Jentsch Ute , Busch Michael , Van Zyl Gert , Murphy Edward L ,   for the REDS‐III International Program South Africa
Published: August 2020

Background

Measuring incidence is important for monitoring and maintaining the safety of the blood supply. Blood collected from repeat‐donors has provided the opportunity to follow blood donors over time and has been used to estimate the incidence of viral infections. These incidence estimates have been extrapolated to first‐time donors using the ratio of NAT yield cases in first‐time versus repeat‐donors. We describe a model to estimate incidence in first‐time donors using the limiting antigen (LAg) avidity assay and compare its results with those from established models.

Methods

HIV‐positive first‐time donations were tested for recency using the LAg assay. Three models were compared; incidence estimated for (1) first‐time donors using LAg avidity, (2) first‐time and repeat‐donors separately using the NAT yield window period (WP) model and (3) repeat‐donors using the incidence/WP model.

Results

HIV incidence in first‐time donors was estimated at 3·32 (CI 3·11, 3·55) and 3·81 (CI 3·07, 4·73) per 1000 PY using the LAg assay and NAT yield WP models, respectively. Incidence in repeat‐donors was between 2·0‐ and 2·5‐fold lower than in first‐time donors estimated at 1·56 (CI 1·37, 1·77) and 1·94 (CI 1·86–2·01) per 1000 PY using the NAT yield/WP and incidence/WP models, respectively.

Conclusion

Testing HIV‐positive donations using the LAg assay provides a reliable method to estimate incidence in first‐time donors for countries that collect the majority of blood from first‐time donors and do not screen with NAT.