bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Preoperative Stratification of Liver Transplant Recipients: Validation of the LTRS
Authors: Molinari Michele , Jorgensen Dana , Ayloo Subhashini , Dharmayan Stalin , Kaltenmeier Christof , Mehta Rajil B. , Jonassaint Naudia
Published: July 2020

Background.

The liver transplant risk score (LTRS) was developed to stratify 90-day mortality of patients referred for liver transplantation (LT). We aimed to validate the LTRS using a new cohort of patients.

Methods.

The LTRS stratifies the risk of 90-day mortality of LT recipients based on their age, body mass index, diabetes, model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score, and need for dialysis. We assessed the performance of the LTRS using a new cohort of patients transplanted in the United States between July 2013 and June 2017. Exclusion criteria were age <18 years, ABO incompatibility, redo or multivisceral transplants, partial grafts, malignancies other than hepatocellular carcinoma and fulminant hepatitis.

Results.

We found a linear correlation between the number of points of the LTRS and 90-day mortality. Among 18 635 recipients, 90-day mortality was 2.7%, 3.8%, 5.2%, 4.8%, 6.7%, and 9.3% for recipients with 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and ≥5 points (P < 0.001). The LTRS also stratified 1-year mortality that was 5.5%, 7.7%, 9.9%, 9.3%, 10.8%, and 15.4% for 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and ≥5 points (P < 0.001). An inverse correlation was found between the LTRS and 4-year survival that was 82%, 79%, 78%, 82%, 78%, and 66% for patients with 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and ≥5 points (P < 0.001). The LTRS remained an independent predictor after accounting for recipient sex, ethnicity, cause of liver disease, donor age, cold ischemia time, and waiting time.

Conclusions.

The LTRS can stratify the short- and long-term outcomes of LT recipients at the time of their evaluations irrespective of their gender, ethnicity, and primary cause of liver disease.
Staphylococcus ursi sp. nov., a new member of the ‘Staphylococcus intermedius group’ isolated from healthy black bears
Authors: Perreten Vincent , Kania Stephen A. , Bemis David
Published: July 2020

Six

Staphylococcus

strains were isolated from healthy black bears (Ursus americanus) in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee, USA. Phylogenetic analysis based on complete genome, 16S rRNA, dnaJ, hsp60, rpoB and sodA genes, and MALDI-TOF-MS main spectral profiles revealed that the strains belonged to one species and showed the closest relatedness to members of the ‘

Staphylococcus intermedius

group’ (SIG), which include

Staphylococcus intermedius

, Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, Staphylococcus delphini and Staphyloccoccus cornubiensis. The strains were positive in SIG-specific and negative in individual species-specific PCR assays for the nuc gene. The strains can be differentiated from the other SIG species by the absence of sucrose fermentation, from

S. intermedius

DSM 20373T,

S. pseudintermedius

CCUG 49543T and

S. cornubiensis

DSM 105366T by the absence of methyl β-d-glucopyranoside fermentation and from

S. delphini

DSM 20771T by fermentation of trehalose. DNA relatedness of the type strain MI 10-1553T with the type strains of

S. delphini

,

S. pseudintermedius

,

S. intermedius

and

S. cornubiensis

was ≤48.2 % by digital DNA–DNA hybridization and ≤92.3 % by average nucleotide identity calculations. Iso-C15:0, anteiso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0 were the most common fatty acids. Polar lipids consisted of phosphadidylglycerols, phospholipids, glycolipid, diphosphatidylglycerol and aminophospholipid. Cell-wall peptidoglycan was of type A3α l-Lys-Gly3 (Ser; similar to A11.2 and A11.3). The respiratory quinone belonged to menaquinone 7 (MK-7). The G+C content of MI 10-1553T was 39.3 mol%. The isolated strains represent a novel species of the genus

Staphylococcus

, for which we propose the name Staphylococcus ursi sp. nov. The type strain is MI 10-1553T (=ATCC TSD-55T=CCOS 1900T).
Impact of body composition on COVID-19 susceptibility and severity: a two-sample multivariable Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Freuer Dennis , Linseisen Jakob , Meisinger Christa
Published: July 2020

Objectives

Recent studies suggested obesity to be a possible risk factor for COVID-19 disease in the wake of the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infection. However, the causality and especially the role of body fat distribution in this context is still unclear. Thus, using a univariable as well as multivariable two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach, we investigated for the first time the causal impact of body composition on the susceptibility and severity of COVID-19.

Methods

As indicators of overall and abdominal obesity we considered the measures body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and trunk fat ratio (TFR). Summary statistics of genome-wide association studies (GWASs) for these body composition measures were drawn from the GIANT consortium and UK Biobank, while for susceptibility and severity due to COVID-19 disease data from the COVID-19 Host Genetics Initiative was used. For the COVID-19 cohort neither age nor gender was available. Total and direct causal effect estimates were calculated using Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs), sensitivity analyses were done applying several robust MR techniques and mediation effects of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) were investigated within multivariable MR analyses.

Results

Genetically predicted BMI was strongly associated with both, susceptibility (OR=1.31 per 1 SD increase; 95% CI: 1.15–1.50; P-value=7.3·10−5) and hospitalization (OR=1.62 per 1 SD increase; 95% CI: 1.33–1.99; P-value=2.8·10−6) even after adjustment for genetically predicted visceral obesity traits. These associations were neither mediated substantially by T2D nor by CVD. Finally, total but not direct effects of visceral body fat on outcomes could be detected.

Conclusions

This study provides strong evidence for a causal impact of overall obesity on the susceptibility and severity of COVID-19 disease. The impact of abdominal obesity was weaker and disappeared after adjustment for BMI. Therefore, obese people should be regarded as a high-risk group. Future research is necessary to investigate the underlying mechanisms linking obesity with COVID-19.
Application of ARIMA and Holt-Winters forecasting model to predict the spreading of COVID-19 for India and its states
Authors: Panda Mrutyunjaya
Published: July 2020

The novel Corona-virus (COVID-2019) epidemic has posed a global threat to human life and society. The whole world is working relentlessly to find some solutions to fight against this deadly virus to reduce the number of deaths. Strategic planning with predictive modelling and short term forecasting for analyzing the situations based on the worldwide available data allow us to realize the future exponential behaviour of the COVID-19 disease. Time series forecasting plays a vital role in developing an efficient forecasting model for a future prediction about the spread of this contagious disease. In this paper, the ARIMA (Auto regressive integrated moving average) and Holt-Winters time series exponential smoothing are used to develop an efficient 20-days ahead short-term forecast model to predict the effect of COVID-19 epidemic. The modelling and forecasting are done with the publicly available dataset from Kaggle as a perspective to India and its five states such as Odisha, Delhi, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal. The model is assessed with correlogram, ADF test, AIC and RMSE to understand the accuracy of the proposed forecasting model.
Immuno-epidemiological life-history and the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 over the next five years
Authors: Saad-Roy Chadi M. , Wagner Caroline E. , Baker Rachel E. , Morris Sinead E. , Farrar Jeremy , Graham Andrea L. , Levin Simon A. , Metcalf C. Jessica E. , Grenfell Bryan T.
Published: July 2020

Uncertainty in the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 may have implications for future outbreaks. We use simple epidemiological models to explore estimates for the magnitude and timing of future Covid-19 cases given different impacts of the adaptive immune response to SARS-CoV-2 as well as its interaction with vaccines and nonpharmaceutical interventions. We find that variations in the immune response to primary SARS-CoV-2 infections and a potential vaccine can lead to dramatically different immunity landscapes and burdens of critically severe cases, ranging from sustained epidemics to near elimination. Our findings illustrate likely complexities in future Covid-19 dynamics, and highlight the importance of immunological characterization be-yond the measurement of active infections for adequately characterizing the immune landscape generated by SARS-CoV-2 infections.
Viral load of SARS-CoV-2 across patients and compared to other respiratory viruses
Authors: Jacot Damien , Greub Gilbert , Jaton Katia , Opota Onya
Published: July 2020

RT-PCRs to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA is key to manage the COVID-19 pandemic. We analyzed SARS-CoV-2 viral loads from 22’323 RT-PCR results according to samples types, gender, age, and health units. Viral load did not show any difference across age and appears to be a poor predictor of disease outcome. SARS-CoV-2 viral load showed similar high viral loads than the one observed for RSV and influenza B. The importance of viral load to predict contagiousness and to assess disease progression is discussed.
A Passive-State Comparison of Shear Wave Ultrasound Elastography of the Biceps Brachii with a Robotic Measurement of Elbow Extension Impedance in Chronic Hemiparetic Stroke
Authors: Ellis Michael D. , Gerritsen Ninette T. A. , Gurari Netta , Lee Sabrina M. , Dewald Julius P. A.
Published: July 2020

Muscle tissue is prone to changes in composition and architecture following stroke. Changes in muscle tissue of the extremities are thought to increase passive muscle stiffness and joint impedance. These effects likely compound neuromuscular impairments exacerbating movement function. Unfortunately, conventional rehabilitation is devoid of quantitative measures yielding to subjective assessment of passive joint mobility and end feel. Shear wave ultrasound elastography is a conventional tool used by ultrasonographers that may be readily available for use in the rehabilitation setting as a quantitative measure, albeit at the muscle-tissue level, filling the gap. To support this postulation, we evaluated thecriterionvalidity of shear wave ultrasound elastography of the biceps brachii by investigating the relationship to a laboratory-based criterion measure for quantifying elbow joint impedance in individuals with moderate to severe chronic stroke. Measurements were performed under passive conditions at seven positions spanning the arc of elbow joint extension in both arms of twelve individuals with hemiparetic stroke. Surface electromyography was utilized for threshold-based confirmation of muscle quiescence. A significant moderate relationship was identified near end range of elbow extension and all metrics were greater in the paretic arm. Data supports the progression toward clinical application of shear wave ultrasound elastography in evaluating altered muscle mechanical properties in stroke stipulating the confirmation of muscle quiescence. Considering the lack of bedside robotics in clinical practice, shear wave ultrasound elastography will likely augment the conventional method of manually testing joint mobility. Tissue-level measurement may also assist in identifying new therapeutic targets for patient-specific impairment-based interventions.

New & Noteworthy

Methods for quantifying passive (non-reflex mediated) joint mobility are absent in stroke rehabilitation. Rehabilitation specialists are left to subjective assessment of the impact on function. Here, we compare the application of shear wave ultrasound elastography for estimating mechanical properties of muscle with a robotic method (criterion measure) of measuring passive elbow extension joint impedance. Data support the clinical application of shear wave ultrasound elastography, especially with the absence of bedside robotics.
Time-dependent dynamic transmission potential and instantaneous reproduction number of COVID-19 pandemic in India
Authors: Singh Gurpreet , Patrikar Seema , Sankara Sarma P , Soman Biju
Published: July 2020

Introduction

Dynamic tools and methods to assess the ongoing transmission potential of COVID-19 in India are required. We aim to estimate time-dependent transmissibility of COVID-19 for India using a reproducible framework.

Methods

Daily COVID-19 case incidence time series for India and its states was obtained from https://api.covid19india.org/ and pre-processed. Bayesian approach was adopted to quantify transmissibility at a given location and time, as indicated by the instantaneous reproduction number (Reff). Analysis was carried out in R version 4.0.2 using “EpiEstim_2.2-3” package. Serial interval distribution was estimated using “uncertain_si” algorithm with inputs of mean, standard deviation, minimum and maximum of mean serial interval as 5.1, 1.2, 3.9 and 7.5 days respectively; and mean, standard deviation, minimum, and maximum of standard deviations of serial interval as 3.7, 0.9, 2.3, and 4.7 respectively with 100 simulations and moving average of seven days.

Results

A total of 9,07,544 cumulative incident cases till July 13th, 2020 were analysed. Daily COVID-19 incidence in the country was seen on the rise; however, transmissibility showed a decline from the initial phases of COVID-19 pandemic in India. The maximum Reff reached at the national level during the study period was 2.57 (sliding week ending April 4th, 2020). Reff on July 13th, 2020 for India was 1.16 with a range from 0.59 to 2.98 across various states/UTs.

Conclusion

Reff provides critical feedback for assessment of transmissibility of COVID-19 and thus is a potential dynamic decision support tool for on-ground public health decision making.
Comparison of tumor-associated YAP1 fusions identifies a recurrent set of functions critical for oncogenesis
Authors: Szulzewsky Frank , Arora Sonali , Hoellerbauer Pia , King Claire , Nathan Erica , Chan Marina , Cimino Patrick J. , Ozawa Tatsuya , Kawauchi Daisuke , Pajtler Kristian W. , Gilbertson Richard J. , Paddison Patrick J. , Vasioukhin Valeri , Gujral Taranjit S. , Holland Eric C.
Published: July 2020

YAP1 is a transcriptional coactivator and the principal effector of the Hippo signaling pathway, which is causally implicated in human cancer. Several YAP1 gene fusions have been identified in various human cancers and identifying the essential components of this family of gene fusions has significant therapeutic value. Here, we show that the YAP1 gene fusions YAP1-MAMLD1, YAP1-FAM118B, YAP1-TFE3, and YAP1-SS18 are oncogenic in mice. Using reporter assays, RNA-seq, ChIP-seq, and loss-of-function mutations, we can show that all of these YAP1 fusion proteins exert TEAD-dependent YAP activity, while some also exert activity of the C′-terminal fusion partner. The YAP activity of the different YAP1 fusions is resistant to negative Hippo pathway regulation due to constitutive nuclear localization and resistance to degradation of the YAP1 fusion proteins. Genetic disruption of the TEAD-binding domain of these oncogenic YAP1 fusions is sufficient to inhibit tumor formation in vivo, while pharmacological inhibition of the YAP1–TEAD interaction inhibits the growth of YAP1 fusion-expressing cell lines in vitro. These results highlight TEAD-dependent YAP activity found in these gene fusions as critical for oncogenesis and implicate these YAP functions as potential therapeutic targets in YAP1 fusion-positive tumors.
Anti-racist actions and accountability: not more empty promises
Authors: Boykin C. Malik , Brown N. Derek , Carter James T. , Dukes Kristin , Green Dorainne J. , Harrison Timothy , Hebl Mikki , McCleary-Gaddy Asia , Membere Ashley , McJunkins Cordy A. , Simmons Cortney , Singletary Walker Sarah , Smith Alexis Nicole , Williams Amber D.
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The current piece summarizes five critical points about racism from the point of view of Black scholars and allies: (1) Black people are experiencing exhaustion from and physiological effects of racism, (2) racism extends far beyond police brutality and into most societal structures, (3) despite being the targets of racism, Black people are often blamed for their oppression and retaliated against for their response to it, (4) everyone must improve their awareness and knowledge (through both formal education and individual motivation) to fight racism and (5) anti-racist policies and accountability are key to enact structural reformation.

Findings

The first three of these points detail the depths of the problem from the perspectives of the authors and the final two lay out a call to action.

Practical implications

This viewpoint is the joint effort of 14 authors who provided a unified perspective.

Originality/value

This was one of the most original experiences the authors have had – working with 13 former/current students on joint perspectives about police brutality and racism more generally. The authors thank for the opportunity.
Social distancing meet social media: digital tools for connecting students, teachers, and citizens in an emergency
Authors: Greenhow Christine , Chapman Amy
Published: July 2020

Purpose

In a public health crisis where social distancing, or physical distancing while in public spaces, is the new normal, social media offer respite from being alone. Recent statistics show spikes in social media usage worldwide during the Covid-19 pandemic. More than just easing loneliness, such freely available digital tools offer affordances for education in an emergency.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper summarizes insights from literature reviews of over a decade of research and recent case studies on the benefits of teaching with social media in K-12 education.

Findings

The authors highlight three affordances of social media for fostering active learning, community building and civic participation and describe how social media can be used in conjunction with conventional learning management systems. Furthermore, the authors argue that the unprecedented health crisis that is faced today requires the participation of responsible citizens of all ages; K-12 public education is on the front lines of preparing informed and active citizens and the integration of social media as part of remote education plans can help.

Practical implications

The paper includes instructional guidelines for K-12 teachers and instructional designers in various settings who seek to integrate social media as part of their strategy for teaching students at a distance and facilitating their civic participation.

Originality/value

This paper fulfills an identified need for evidence-based and pragmatic approaches to K-12 online teaching and learning using technologies already widely in use (i.e. social media).
Examining the effects of advertising credibility on brand credibility, corporate credibility and corporate image: a qualitative approach
Authors: Hussain Shahzeb , Melewar T.C. , Priporas Constantinos Vasilios , Foroudi Pantea
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to use signalling theory to examine the concept of advertising credibility and its effects on brand credibility, brand image, corporate credibility and corporate image.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative approach was used. Ten interviews and four focus groups were conducted among participants drawn from the London area. The data was analysed using thematic analysis.

Findings

The findings suggest that advertising credibility is defined using terms like accurate, caring, competent, complete, convincing, ethical, honest, impressive, promising, reliable and warranted. The findings also suggest that advertising credibility has a positive effect on brand credibility, brand image, corporate credibility and corporate image. However, these effects are lower when the brand and corporation have different names than when they have similar names. The dissimilarity of names can also provide some benefit, especially when brands or firms are faced with a crisis. The findings also illustrate that the theoretical model used in this study is valid, and suggest that advertising credibility has positive effects on other constructs.

Originality/value

Advertising credibility has received little attention in the literature. There is also little attention on its effects on other credibility constructs. This study minimises these gaps by conducting qualitative research to explore the effects of advertising credibility on brand credibility, corporate credibility and corporate image.
Gender discourse in the social studies curriculum: an international literature review
Authors: Siebert Molly D.
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore research on the inclusion of women and discourses on gender in the social studies curriculum, with the goal of promoting gender equality.

Design/methodology/approach

To gauge how issues on gender are being taken up in classrooms around the world, the process started by exploring Compare, Comparative Education, Comparative Education Review and International Journal of Educational Development. Initially, studies related to the social studies curriculum were examined. The research then expanded beyond the social sciences and these journals. The next level of research used a mixture of the key search terms “inclusion,” “gender discourse,” “women,” “gender equality” and “curriculum.” Studies conducted around the world were examined to broaden the understanding of global research on women and gender discourses in the curriculum.

Findings

Although progress is evident, reform measures are necessary to ameliorate the inclusion of women and gender discourses in the curriculum. Implementing these strategies in social studies education may be effective steps to achieve gender equality: (1) consistently encourage students to critique power structures and systems of oppression; (2) include the exploration of gender fluidity, masculinity and the fluidity of masculinity in the curriculum; (3) examine intersectional identities such as race, gender and sexuality; and (4) utilize teacher education programs and professional development as key sites to help educators improve the amount of and approach to gender discourse in the classroom.

Originality/value

After reviewing these studies, the combined findings offer potential steps to achieve gender equality.
Use of potassium polyaspartate for stabilization of potassium bitartrate in wines: influence on colloidal stability and interactions with other additives and enological practices
Authors: Bosso Antonella , Motta Silvia , Panero Loretta , Lucini Stefania , Guaita Massimo
Published: July 2020

The research was aimed at verifying the efficacy of potassium polyaspartate (KPA), added at bottling, for prevention of the precipitation of potassium bitartrate (KHT). The stability of KHT was determined with the mini‐contact test and the cold test. The effect of KPA on the colloidal stability of white and red wines was also studied. Turbidity, color, and total anthocyanins and flavonoids (red wines only) were monitored.

In the first experiment, the stabilizing effect of KPA added at bottling, with or without Arabic gum, tannins, and filtration (0.45 µm cut‐off), was studied in comparison with metatartaric acid (MTA). KPA proved to have good stabilizing efficacy for prevention of KHT precipitation and maintained its effect in all trials after 1 year of bottle aging. On the contrary, all the trials with MTA became unstable after 6 months. Moreover, KPA did not modify wine turbidity and color. The filtration (0.45 µm cut‐off) did not reduce its stabilizing efficacy.

In the second experiment, the effect of KPA added to a white and a red wine, respectively clarified with casein and gelatin or vegetal protein and/or bentonite, was studied. KPA did not cause any increase in turbidity or appreciable changes in the color of the white wines of the different trials. A preliminary treatment with bentonite can prevent the possible formation of haze in red wines after the addition of KPA.

Practical Application

KPA prevented the precipitation of KHT in unstable white and red wines. The stabilizing effect persisted after 1 year of bottle aging. The oenologist does not need to adopt special prescriptions when using KPA in combination with Arabic gum or tannins in prebottling operations. A treatment with bentonite prevented the appearance of turbidity in red wines after the addition of KPA.
The influence of risk preferences, knowledge, land consolidation, and landscape diversification on pesticide use
Authors: Hou Lingling , Liu Pengfei , Huang Jikun , Deng Xiangzheng
Published: July 2020

Researchers have spent substantial effort to identify factors influencing pesticide use intensity. However, few studies have compared the relative importance of these factors. This study examines four categories of factors that potentially influence farmers’ pesticide use decisions by evaluating incentivized experiment data, farm survey data, and remote sensing data in China. Our results suggest that land diversification has the largest effect on farmers’ pesticide use. Compared with the most rice‐intensive landscape type, less rice‐intensive systems cause farmers to spray less on middle rice. Heavy pesticide use intensity is associated with land fragmentation as small‐scale farms still dominate crop production. Farmers’ integrated pest management knowledge has significant effects on pesticide use. We also find that loss and ambiguity preferences, rather than risk preferences, are more likely to affect pesticide use intensity.
Sinus arrest: A rare observation during radiofrequency ablation along the coronary sinus roof
Authors: Nantsupawat Teerapat , Krishnappa Darshan , Benditt David G.
Published: July 2020

Catheter‐based radiofrequency (RF) ablation targeting segments of the cardiac conduction system and/or selected regions of myocardium is an accepted treatment for many cardiac arrhythmias. On the other hand, while purposeful extension of RF ablation to include nearby cardiac neural elements, particularly epicardial ganglionated plexi (GP), remains a subject of ongoing study, inadvertent stimulation of such structures may occur during an otherwise conventional RF ablation procedure. Thus, asystolic pauses have been observed during RF ablation of left ventricular free‐wall accessory pathways, slow AV node pathways, and the left superior pulmonary vein. In this report, sinus arrest occurred within 3.3 s of RF application (40 W at 50°C) along the coronary sinus roof for treatment of an atypical “slow–slow” atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia. Energy delivery was immediately terminated, but asystole persisted for 4.7 s followed by sinus bradycardia. The procedure was temporarily halted, but later was successfully resumed. Given the latency from terminating RF to return of sinus node function, the sinus arrest was likely a centrally mediated reflex vagal response. Consequently, while parasympathetic ganglia near the CS os are believed to principally innervate the AV node, not the sinus node, our observation highlights the neural cross‐communications that likely exist in this region of the heart.
Pancreatic extracellular matrix and platelet‐rich plasma constructing injectable hydrogel for pancreas tissue engineering
Authors: Zhang Liang , Miao Haiyan , Wang Dongzhi , Qiu Hongquan , Zhu Yi , Yao Xihao , Guo Yibing , Wang Zhiwei
Published: July 2020

The development of pancreatic extracellular matrices enriched with insulin‐secreting β‐cells is a promising tissue engineering approach to treat type 1 diabetes. However, its long‐term therapeutic efficacy is restricted by the defensive mechanism of host immune response and the lack of developed vascularization as appropriate after transplantation. Platelet‐rich plasma (PRP), as an autologous platelet concentrate, contains a large number of active factors that are essential for the cell viability, vascularization, and immune regulation. In this study, we have incorporated pancreatic extracellular matrix (PEM) with PRP to develop a three‐dimensional (3D) injectable PEM‐PRP hydrogel to coculture and transplant rat insulinoma cells (INS‐1) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Results from this study demonstrated that PEM‐PRP hydrogel mimicked the biochemical compositions of native extracellular matrices, and possessed the enhanced elastic modulus and resistance to enzymatic degradation that enabled biomaterials to maintain its volume and slowly degrade. Additionally, PEM‐PRP hydrogel could release growth factors in a sustained manner. In vitro, PEM‐PRP hydrogel significantly promoted the viability, insulin‐secreting function, and insulin gene expression of gel encapsulated INS‐1 cells. Moreover, HUVECs encapsulated in PEM‐PRP hydrogel were found to constitute many lumen‐like structures and exhibited high expression of proangiogenic genes. In vivo transplantation of PEM‐PRP hydrogel encapsulated with INS‐1 cells and HUVECs improved the viability of INS‐1 cells, promoted vascularization, inhibited the host inflammatory response, and reversed hyperglycemia of diabetic rats. Our study suggests that the PEM‐PRP hydrogel offers excellent biocompatibility and proangiogenic property, and may serve as an effective biomaterial platform to maintain the long‐term survival and function of insulin‐secreting β cells.
Health and production effects of killed vaccines against Mannheimia haemolytica, bovine viral diarrhoea virus and bovine herpesvirus 1, in locally backgrounded feedlot cattle
Authors: Cusack PMV , Bergman EL , Hay KE , Morton JM
Published: July 2020

Objectives

This study evaluates the effects of respiratory vaccines on health and growth rates in cattle placed in local backgrounding facilities then feedlots.

Methods

A total of 7011 cattle entering backgrounding facilities contiguous with six feedlots in Australia were allocated to eight respiratory vaccine categories, including an untreated control category. The vaccines, against Mannheimia haemolytica, bovine viral diarrhoea virus and bovine herpesvirus 1, were administered in various combinations at backgrounding facility entry and subsequent feedlot entry. Cattle were held in the backgrounding facilities for a minimum of 28 days.

Results

During their feedlot phase, 3.7% of study animals were detected with bovine respiratory disease (BRD). BRD sub hazard was lowest in cattle vaccinated with Bovilis MH + infectious bovine rhinotracheitis® (sub hazards ratio: 0.47; 95% confidence interval: 0.27–0.83; P = 0.010), and point estimates for other vaccine combinations did not differ (P > 0.10) from controls. Six of the respiratory vaccine combinations decreased growth rate during backgrounding relative to untreated controls (P ≤ 0.003). Overall, the feedlot growth rate was not significantly affected by the vaccine category (overall Wald P = 0.191).

Conclusions

Use of these respiratory vaccines in cattle held for at least 28 days in backgrounding facilities contiguous with their feedlots before feedlot entry reduces growth rate during the backgrounding period and does not result in large beneficial effects on either BRD risk or average daily live weight gain during the feedlot phase.
Research on the integration of heterogeneous information resources in university management informatization based on data mining algorithms
Authors: Zhang Hongqin , Fang Min
Published: July 2020

As far as the current higher education is concerned, the information system used in teaching and management is becoming more and more abundant, and the construction of its informatization is more and more rapid. However, the construction of university informatization project is too long, and there is no unified planning and other reasons, resulting in the difficulty of information and information management cannot be shared across departments. With the deepening of informationization and inaccurate information resources, how to use data mining technology to obtain valuable information is an important issue in the research of heterogeneous information in university management informationization. Based on the analysis of the information island problem in the informatization construction of colleges and universities, taking the student management work as a pilot, a heterogeneous information resource integration platform based on distributed query is proposed. Based on the platform, the information can be effectively applied globally. By analyzing its application in student information management, it shows that data mining is an effective technology to improve the management ability and scientific research level of colleges and universities in the construction of information technology.
Environmental heterogeneity influences life‐form richness and species composition but not species richness of aquatic macrophytes in tropical coastal rivers
Authors: Nunes Laís Samira Correia , Umetsu Cristiane Akemi , Camargo Antonio Fernando Monteiro
Published: July 2020

The coastal rivers of the São Paulo State in SE Brazil have different lengths and seawater influence. We evaluated whether: (1) environmental heterogeneity (EH) is associated with the species and life‐form richness of aquatic macrophytes; and (2) EH and geographical distance influence species composition in these coastal rivers.

We recorded the macrophyte species and life form occurrence and collected explanatory variables characterising the water, sediment, and river channel at 100 sampling sites over 8 rivers. We applied a principal component analysis to the explanatory variables and calculated the rivers' EH using the range of principal component 1 scores. We also determined the position of each river mouth along the coastline to measure the distance between the rivers. We used quasi‐Poisson generalised linear models to evaluate the effects of EH on richness of species and life forms. To determine the effect of EH and geographical distance (Euclidean distance matrices) on the variation in species composition (Jaccard dissimilarity matrix) among the rivers, we applied multiple regressions on distance matrices.

The most heterogeneous river had heterogeneity score about five times greater than the least heterogeneous river. Sediment salinity, river width, total phosphorus concentration of water and distance from river mouth were the most important variables contributing to the rivers' EH. We found that EH did not explain variation in species richness; however, it had a significant positive relationship with life‐form richness. The effect of EH was greater than that of the geographical distance on the variation in species composition among the rivers. The pairs of rivers with the most similar EH were the most similar in species composition, but not all of them were geographically close.

We conclude that EH influences life‐form richness but does not influence species richness of aquatic macrophytes in the coastal rivers we studied; however, EH does influence species composition regardless of geographical distance among rivers.
Nutrient dynamics under different regimes of stocking and cattle type of temperate pastures in Hokkaido, Japan
Authors: Okui Tatsuya , Yagi Takanori , Yamada Kazuki , Niwa Yoshimasa , Asai Kaho , Kumagai Takashi , Yoshida Yusuke , Hori Kazuya , Ugaki Ryosuke , Yamashita Shigekazu , Kato Yuta , Tsukasaki Kentaro , Saigusa Toshiya
Published: July 2020

Fertilizer recommendations for day and night grazing of milking cattle on land in Hokkaido are based on previous studies of nutrient dynamics. This study confirmed the applicability of recommendations to different grazing conditions and conducted observations to extend the versatility of the fertilizer recommendation. We estimated the dynamics of fertilizer nutrients under various grazing regimes, namely with different cattle types (dairy heifers, beef breeding cows or beef heifers), stocking methods (rotational stocking or continuous stocking), seasons (throughout grass growing season or after harvest of the first crop) and times (24‐hr grazing or time restricted to 5–9 hr/day). Body weight, herbage intake and excretion were measured, and the total intake and return of nutrients to the pasture were calculated. Nutrient removal by grazing, calculated as intake minus return through excretion, increased with herbage intake. Almost all the nutrients removed under grazing throughout the growing season approached the upper or lower limits of our previously reported levels. In many cases, changes in the amounts of soil nutrients with grazing were close to the estimated amounts removed from the soil in the grass growth periods. These results show that the pasture nutrient dynamics quantified in our previous study for lactating cattle are also applicable to dairy heifers and beef cattle and to time‐restricted grazing as well as grazing after 1st cut. Regression equations were obtained to predict the fertilizer recommendations from herbage intakes for these various grazing conditions.
Biofortification with selenium and lithium improves nutraceutical properties of major winery grapes in the Midwestern United States
Authors: Zhao Hefei , Xie Xiaoqing , Read Paul , Loseke Benjamin , Gamet Stephen , Li Wenkuan , Xu Changmou
Published: July 2020

Enriching the micronutrients, selenium (Se) and lithium (Li), in grapes to improve their nutraceutical properties were implemented by foliar application of organic fertiliser rich in Se and Li onto five grape cultivars. The effects of this biofortification on vine vigour, fruit quality, overall micronutrients and phenolic compounds also were investigated. Agronomic biofortification was found greatly increased the Se and Li content in the whole grape by multiple times, meanwhile it did not significantly affect the vine vigour and fruit quality of grapes. However, the biofortification did impact the Ionome (including all the mineral nutrients and trace elements) and phenolic compounds in grapes and this varied among cultivars. This study demonstrated foliar spray of organic Se/Li fertiliser was a very effective strategy to biofortify these micronutrients in grape berries, particularly in the skin, and therefore might be a promising strategy to increase the consumption and awareness of these grapes.
Proximate composition and fatty acid profiles of common pufferfish species in the Mediterranean Sea
Authors: Kosker Ali Rıza , Regenstein Joe M. , Özogul Fatih
Published: July 2020

The effects of season and gender on the proximate composition and fatty acid profiles of the most widespread pufferfish species in the Mediterranean Sea (Lagocephalus sceleratus, Lagocephalus spadiceus, Lagocephalus suezensis and Torquigener flavimaculosus) caught in Mersin Bay, in the north‐eastern Mediterranean during four seasons were investigated. The results showed that the crude protein, lipid, moisture and ash level in pufferfish were in the range of 18.7%–21.7%, 0.61%–1.93%, 76.1%–78.6% and 1.08%–1.87%, respectively. All of the pufferfish had significant levels of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA). However, the consumption of L. sceleratus, L. suezensis and T. flavimaculosus may be risky due to the possibility of having tetrodotoxin in their muscles. Nevertheless, L. spadiceus is a pufferfish species that is popularly consumed in East Asian countries, and is of nutritional interest and commercial potential in the Mediterranean region as well so its proximate composition and fatty acid profile are of interest.
Antimicrobial stewardship audit and feedback rounds: the impact of electronic systems and moving beyond the restricted antibiotic list
Authors: Doukas Fiona F. , Cheong Elaine , McKew Genevieve , Gray Timothy J. , McLachlan Andrew J. , Gottlieb Thomas
Published: July 2020

Background

Current methods of antimicrobial usage surveillance have limited efficacy in changing practice due to delayed reporting to clinicians and the inability to stratify by medical specialty. This study was undertaken in a tertiary teaching hospital with a well established antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programme and electronic medicines management (eMM) system in Sydney, Australia.

Aims

To describe and analyse the implementation of a novel AMS audit and feedback method, in the context of an eMM system.

Methods

The AMS team conducted the audit weekly, and the study design was a prospective, observational study. All acute, adult inpatients were included in this intervention. All active systemic antimicrobial prescriptions on the day of the rounds were included.

Results

The prevalence of patients on antimicrobial therapy was 37%. The median time taken per round was 44 min for eMM compared to 58 min for paper. All key performance indicators improved over the study period. Appropriateness compared to guidelines increased from 55% to 71%, and documentation of an indication increased from 75% to 98%. There were 1413 recommendations made, with the most common being to cease an antimicrobial agent. The recommendation uptake rate was 47% at 24 h post‐round.

Conclusions

AMS rounds are an effective tool for auditing and providing feedback on antimicrobial use and should include all antimicrobials rather than solely ‘restricted’ agents. These rounds had a high uptake rate, improvements in the appropriateness of antimicrobial use, and a planned duration or review date. A benefit of eMM was improvement in the documentation of indication for antimicrobial agents, and reduced time taken to audit.
Patients’ needs and perspectives for using mobile phone interventions to improve heart failure self‐care: A qualitative study
Authors: Son Youn‐Jung , Oh Seieun , Kim Eun Young
Published: July 2020

Aims

To explore heart failure patients’ needs and perspectives for using mobile health technology at home before developing a mobile phone‐based heart failure self‐care intervention.

Design

A qualitative interview study.

Methods

Purposive sampling was used to conduct semi‐structured individual interviews with patients diagnosed with chronic heart failure (N = 20). Data were collected from November 2018 – May 2019. All interviews were audio‐recorded and transcribed verbatim and data were analysed using qualitative content analysis.

Results

The four themes that emerged from the interviews were as follows: ‘The demand for reliable and customized health information’, ‘Valuable features of mobile phone applications’, ‘Barriers to adopting mobile health service’, and ‘Expected benefits of using mobile health technology’. Participants in this study required personalized health‐related information and reminders for improving their self‐care behaviours. However, while difficulties in using mobile phone applications posed the main obstacle, users expected mobile health services to improve their overall quality of life.

Conclusion

Despite mobile phone technology's potential benefits for effective self‐care strategies at home, there were some obstacles such as security issues, application costs, and the need for user friendly designs and reliable information for patients’ optimal use.

Impact

This study highlights that healthcare professionals should consider patients’ needs and preferences to promote the acceptability of mobile health technology. This study's findings can guide the future design and implementation of mobile health interventions for improving self‐care among patients with heart failure.
Balancing Trade‐Offs between Policy Responsiveness and Effectiveness: The Impact of Vertical Policy‐Process Integration on Policy Accumulation
Authors: Knill Christoph , Steinbacher Christina , Steinebach Yves
Published: July 2020

In modern democracies, policy stocks pile up over time. In many ways policy accumulation reflects societal modernization and progress. However, if policy accumulation is not matched by corresponding expansions in administrative capacities necessary for policy implementation, a negative trade‐off between responsiveness and policy effectiveness evolves. We argue that aligning policy formulation and implementation activities through vertical policy‐process integration (VPI) may curb policy accumulation towards a more sustainable level. Our conceptualization of VPI builds upon the distinction of two dimensions: (1) bottom‐up integration affecting policy design and improving policies’ effectiveness and (2) top‐down integration concerning the allocation of implementation costs and, hence, constraining responsiveness incentives. It is the central aim of this viewpoint to raise awareness about the importance of VPI as a potential way out of the responsiveness trap that threatens modern democracies.
Employees’ Change Support in the Public Sector—A Multi‐Time Field Study Examining the Formation of Intentions and Behaviors
Authors: Ahmad Ahmad Bayiz , Straatmann Tammo , Mueller Karsten , Liu Bangcheng
Published: July 2020

Recent micro‐level research on public sector reform and change highlights the importance of employees’ reactions to change. Based on the assumption that intentions determine behaviors, scholars have focused on the importance of understanding how change‐supportive intentions are formed. However, how change‐supportive intentions translate to change‐supportive behaviors over time has received less attention. Drawing on the theory of planned behavior and public administration literature, this study examines the formation of change‐supportive intentions and behaviors based on data from a two‐wave field study of 135 public school teachers undergoing a major top‐down reform in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The results highlight the explanatory value of the psychological perspective for change‐supportive intentions as well as for change‐supportive behaviors measured nine months later. The findings of the present study are theoretically and practically relevant as they offer new insights into the psychological mechanisms involved in the formation of change support in the context of public organizations.
Poética de lo transitorio: una revisión de Inert Gas Series/Helium, Neon, Argon, Krypton, Xenon/ From a Measured Volume to Indefinite Expansion, de Robert Barry (1969)
Authors: Molina Franjola Sandra Elisa
Published: July 2020

Este estudio busca indagar la poética de la transitoriedad desplegada de Inert Gas Series/Helium, Neon, Argon, Krypton, Xenon/From a Measured Volume to Indefinite Expansion (Serie de gases inertes / Helio, neón, argón, criptón, xenón / De un volumen medido a una expansión indefinida), de Robert Barry (1969). Esta obra consistió en la liberación de gases desde sus contenedores a la atmósfera en diversos lugares de California, la cual fue anunciada por medio de un cartel blanco en el que se publicaron los datos de una dirección de correos y un número de teléfono, al que respondía una máquina contestadora con la grabación de su descripción. Con lo anterior, se pone en obra una dimensión temporal que se debate entre la fugacidad del gesto performático y la infinitud de lo que implica conceptualmente, que problematiza la inmaterialidad y que desplaza los valores plásticos a valores implícitos en la idea de obra como un ejercicio conceptual. Pero ¿qué implica la desmaterialización total del soporte de obra?, ¿qué es lo que intenta mostrar Serie de gases inertes mediante la alusión al tiempo? y ¿qué importancia tiene el arte, en tanto conceptual, para articular una idea de magnitud en la obra? Esta investigación busca responder a tales cuestionamientos desde la premisa de que la obra de Barry, como propuesta inmaterial, temporal y conceptual, logra presentar una serie de paradojas en torno al arte que articulan una poética de la transitoriedad, la cual es puesta a prueba mediante la comparación con otros ejemplos de obra (Rachel Whiteread, Oscar Muñoz y Olafur Eliasson). Finalmente, la poética de la transitoriedad exhibe la imposibilidad de retener el transcurso temporal mediante dispositivos plásticos que se proponen como un flujo, esto es, representan el cambio espacial/material en el tiempo.