bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization of cannibalism in early paralarvae of Patagonian red octopus, Enteroctopus megalocyathus (Gould, 1852), grown in a controlled environment
Authors: Espinoza Viviana , Farías Ana , Uriarte Iker
Published: October 2020

In the experimental mariculture of Patagonian red octopus, Enteroctopus megalocyathus, paralarvae rearing showed the highest mortalities. Part of this mortality has been attributed to cannibalism, so we studied the joint effect of paralarvae density and prey availability upon cannibalism in the first 2 weeks after hatching. Three culture densities (1, 5, and 10 paralarvae/L) and three prey availabilities (0, 5, and 10 prey day−1 paralarvae−1) were tested. Two experiments were carried out in early paralarvae: one experiment where the prey consisted of artemia 5 mm in size (Experiment 1) and other experiment where the artemia size was 1 mm (Experiment 2). Results showed, in both experiments, that survival and cannibalism during the first 2 weeks after hatching were independent of the paralarvae density and the prey availability. In experiment 1, with artemia 5 mm in size, the mortality attributed to cannibalism decreased when the prey availability was increased, nor was there any effect of the paralarvae density on cannibalism. In experiment 2, with artemia 1 mm in size, the mortality attributed to cannibalism was independent of both factors. So, the cannibalism in early paralarvae could be reduced by increasing the availability of prey if the prey is of an appropriate size.
Effect of a phytogenic feed additive on the growth performance and immunity of Pacific white leg shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, fed a low fishmeal diet
Authors: Kesselring Jutta , Gruber Christina , Standen Benedict , Wein Silvia
Published: October 2020

Plant‐derived products have been suggested to partially replace fishmeal in aquafeed; however, often at decreased growth performance, inflammatory responses, and increased susceptibility to diseases. This study assessed the effects of the commercial phytogenic feed additive Digestarom PEP MGE on the growth, nutritional performance, and immune response of L. vannamei. Juvenile shrimp (N = 540) were stocked in 36 tanks (V = 100 L) for 63 days and fed one of the four experimental diets: (i) standard formulation (control, 24% fishmeal), (ii) low fishmeal diet (5%), (iii) low fishmeal diet plus 0.2 g/kg Digestarom PEP MGE, and (iv) low fishmeal diet plus 0.4 g/kg Digestarom PEP MGE. The results obtained after 63 days of feed supplementation suggest that the blend of essential oils tested compensated for the negative performance and health consequences of the low fishmeal diet. Particularly, the survival, FCR, total hemocyte count, and respiratory burst of the shrimp fed a low fishmeal diet supplemented with this phytogenic improved up to the levels recorded for shrimp fed a high fishmeal diet. Overall, results suggest that Digestarom PEP MGE can be incorporated into shrimp low fishmeal diets to compensate for the negative performance and immunological effects of partially replacing fishmeal with plant‐based protein.
Using formative research to design context‐specific animal source food and multiple micronutrient powder interventions to improve the consumption of micronutrients by infants and young children in Tanzania, Kenya, Bangladesh and Pakistan
Authors: Robert Rebecca C. , Bartolini Rosario M. , Creed‐Kanashiro Hilary M. , Verney Sward Allison
Published: October 2020

Optimal complementary feeding practices including consumption of multiple micronutrient powders (MNP) are recommended to improve micronutrient intake by infants and young children (IYC) 6–23 months. Formative research was used to design the behaviour change strategy to improve IYC micronutrient intake for the multicountry ENRICH project in rural impoverished areas of Tanzania, Kenya, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Employing a qualitative approach with multiple methods and guided by a social ecological framework, the study was conducted in several phases: data collection in the community, household and health facilities, initial analysis and household trials (HHT). Results found limited use of animal source foods (ASF) for feeding IYC and MNP largely unavailable. Although cost constrained access to ASF, potential more affordable context‐specific ASF options were identified in each setting. Caregivers associated ASF with many positive attributes for IYC, but barriers to feeding them included lack of caregiver time and knowledge of specific preparation techniques, and limited advice from health workers. Feeding practices were identified that used time‐efficient, specific preparations for eggs and other ASF, and demonstrated good initial acceptability and feasibility during HHT. Testing MNP in HHT found good initial feasibility and acceptability and provided an understanding of the facilitators and constraints for preparing, feeding and promoting MNP. In conclusion, formative research led to the design of context‐specific ASF and MNP complementary feeding promotion strategies to improve IYC consumption of micronutrients by identifying the practices, benefits, motivations and alternative actions to overcome the barriers in each setting.
Egg corticosterone can stimulate telomerase activity and promote longer telomeres during embryo development
Authors: Noguera José Carlos , da Silva Alberto , Velando Alberto
Published: October 2020

It is often assumed that the transfer of maternal glucocorticoids (GCs; e.g., corticosterone or cortisol) to offspring is an inevitable cost associated with adverse or stressful conditions experienced by mothers. However, recent evidence indicates that maternal GCs may adaptively programme particular physiological and molecular pathways during development to enhance offspring fitness. In this context, an important mechanism through which maternal GCs may lastingly affect offspring phenotypic quality and survival is via effects on embryo telomerase activity and so on offspring postnatal telomere length. Here, using a field experimental design for which we manipulated the corticosterone content in yellow‐legged gull (Larus michahellis) eggs, we show that embryos from corticosterone‐injected eggs not only had a higher telomerase activity but also longer telomeres just after hatching. A complementary analysis further revealed that gull hatchlings with longer telomeres had a higher survival probability during the period when most of the chick mortality occurs. Given the important role that telomere length and its restoring mechanisms have on ageing trajectories and disease risk, our findings provide a new mechanistic link by which mothers may presumably shape offspring life‐history trajectories and phenotype.
The presence of diabetes mellitus further impairs structural and functional capillary density in patients with chronic kidney disease
Authors: Schoina Maria , Loutradis Charalampos , Theodorakopoulou Marieta , Dimitroulas Theodoros , Triantafillidou Eva , Doumas Michael , Karagiannis Asterios , Garyfallos Alexandros , Papagianni Aikaterini , Sarafidis Pantelis
Published: October 2020

Objective

Endothelial dysfunction has been associated with increased cardiovascular events and overall mortality. Microvascular damage is prevalent both in diabetes mellitus (DM) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Our aim was to compare microcirculatory function parameters in diabetic and non‐diabetic CKD patients via nailfold video‐capillaroscopy.

Methods

We included 48 diabetic and 48 non‐diabetic adult CKD patients. All participants underwent nailfold video‐capillaroscopy, during which capillary density was measured at normal conditions (baseline), after a 4‐minute arterial occlusion (postocclusive reactive hyperemia), and at the end of a 2‐minute venous occlusion (congestion phase).

Results

Diabetic patients presented significantly lower capillary density during reactive hyperemia (36.3 ± 3.8 vs 38.3 ± 4.3 capillaries/mm2, P = .022) and at venous congestion (37.8 ± 4.0 vs 39.8 ± 4.2 capillaries/mm2, P = .015). When stratified according to CKD stages, only in stage 3b capillary density was significantly lower in diabetic compared to non‐diabetic subjects at baseline, during postocclusive hyperemia (36.8 ± 2.7 vs 40.0 ± 4.3 capillaries/mm2, P = .037) and venous congestion (38.3 ± 2.8 vs 41.5 ± 3.5 capillaries/mm2, P = .022).

Conclusions

Capillary density during postocclusive hyperemia and after venous congestion is lower in diabetic compared to non‐diabetic CKD patients, a finding indicative that diabetes is an additional factor contributing to microcirculatory structural and functional impairment in CKD. These differences are more prominent in CKD stage 3b.
Antibacterial and antifungal activity of excretions and secretions of Calliphora vicina
Authors: Dallavecchia D. L. , Ricardo E. , da Silva A. S. , Rodrigues A. G.
Published: October 2020

Antibiotic‐resistant bacteria pose a major threat to global health in the 21st century, requiring a quick, cheap and effective response from public health officials. This study evaluated the antimicrobial activity of native excretions/secretions (NES) produced by third instar (3 days old) larvae of Calliphora vicina using a protocol adapted from the Institute of Clinical and Laboratory Standards (CLSI). The microorganisms tested were: Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus and the fungus Candida albicans. After the incubation period, the suspensions were diluted and spread on nutrient agar plates to count the colony‐forming units. A turbidimetric test also was carried out to test the action of the NES of C. vicina against S. aureus, a very common bacterial species, with an enormous capacity for adaption and resistance, being one of the bacteria of medical importance that causes the most hospital and community infections in the world. According to our results, the NES of C. vicina exhibits antimicrobial activity at different dilutions, being most effective against the gram‐negative bacteria E. coli and K. pneumoniae.
Purpureocillium roseum sp. nov. A new ocular pathogen for humans and mice resistant to antifungals
Authors: Calvillo‐Medina Rosa Paulina , Ponce‐Angulo Diana Gabriela , Raymundo Tania , Müller‐Morales Carlos Adolfo , Escudero‐Leyva Efraín , Campos Guillén Juan , Bautista‐de Lucio Victor Manuel
Published: October 2020

Background

Infectious keratitis is the main cause of preventable blindness worldwide, with about 1.5–2.0 million new cases occurring per year. This inflammatory response may be due to infections caused by bacteria, fungi, viruses or parasites. Fungal keratitis is a poorly studied health problem.

Objectives

This study aimed to identify a new fungal species by molecular methods and to explore the possible efficacy of the three most common antifungals used in human keratitis in Mexico by performing in vitro analysis. The capacity of this pathogen to cause corneal infection in a murine model was also evaluated.

Methods

The fungal strain was isolated from a patient with a corneal ulcer. To identify the fungus, taxonomic and phylogenetic analyses (nrDNA ITS and LSU data set) were performed. An antifungal susceptibility assay for amphotericin B, itraconazole and voriconazole was carried out. The fungal isolate was used to develop a keratitis model in BALB/c mice; entire eyes and ocular tissues were preserved and processed for histopathologic examination.

Results and conclusion

This fungal genus has hitherto not been reported with human keratitis in Mexico. We described a new species Purpurecillium roseum isolated from corneal infection. P roseum showed resistance to amphotericin B and itraconazole and was sensitive to voriconazole. In vivo study demonstrated that P roseum had capacity to developed corneal infection and to penetrate deeper corneal tissue. The global change in fungal infections has emphasised the need to develop better diagnostic mycology laboratories and to recognise the group of potential fungal pathogens.
Management of Medial Collateral Ligament Insufficiency During Total Knee Arthroplasty with a Screw and Rectangular Spiked Washer: A Case Series of 14 Patients
Authors: Ni Ming , Sun Jing‐yang , Fu Jun , Du Yin‐qiao , Shen Jun‐min , Yang Xiao‐Xi , Zhou Yong‐gang , Zhang Guo‐qiang , Chen Ji‐ying
Published: October 2020

Objective

To describe the technique of primary repair of medial collateral ligament (MCL) insufficiency using a screw and rectangular spiked washer in a case series of 14 patients.

Methods

Fourteen patients undergoing MCL repair by a screw and rectangular spiked washer during TKA between March 2018 and March 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Among them, half injuries were avulsion of the femoral origin, and the other half were MCL laxity. There were 12 women and two men included in the study, with an average age of 63.6 years (range, 49–79 years) at the time of surgery. This series were followed up with a focus on range of motion (ROM), coronal alignment, Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) knee scores, their subjective sense of joint instability, and related complications. At the last follow‐up, function of the MCL was assessed by manually applying a valgus stress to the knee at both 0° and 30° of knee flexion.

Results

The mean follow‐up time for all patients was 15.6 months (range, 13–20 months). Repair of the MCL was successful in all patients. ROM improved from a mean of 70.7° ± 35.1° before surgery to 103.9° ± 6.8° at latest follow‐up (P = 0.001). All patients were able to perform a half squat easily, but none were able to do full squatting. The mean preoperative HSS score was 43.6 ± 13.4 and increased to a mean of 85.6 ± 3.8 postoperatively (P < 0.001). The femorotibial angle improved from a mean of −3.22° ± 9.47° before surgery to a mean of 5.16° ± 3.14° at the final follow‐up (P = 0.006). At the time of final follow‐up, no patient required revision and manipulation under anesthesia following the index arthroplasty. No radiolucencies or migration were observed in association with the knee prostheses. No displacement of the screw and rectangular spiked washer was found. There were no clinical complications. No patient reported subjective instability of the knee. Upon physical examination, no patient was found to have laxity in the coronal plane in either 30° of flexion or full extension.

Conclusions

The screw and rectangular spiked washer is a simple and effective method for treating MCL sufficiency in TKA, and a study with a larger cohort and extended follow‐up is requisite to claim its role in preventing coronal instability and component failure.
Physio‐morphological, biochemical, and anatomical traits of drought‐tolerant and susceptible sorghum cultivars under pre‐ and post‐anthesis drought
Authors: Akman Hayati , Zhang Cankui , Ejeta Gebisa
Published: October 2020

Understanding the physiological mechanisms that control drought tolerance in crop plants is vital for effective breeding. In this study, we characterized drought stress responses in four sorghum cultivars exhibiting differential levels of drought tolerance at pre‐ and post‐anthesis. Greenhouse‐grown plants were subjected to two types of drought treatment, water stress (WS) and desiccant‐induced water stress (DA), timed to occur at pre‐ and post‐anthesis. Multiple physiological measurements were then made revealing varying responses among the experimental cultivars. The pre‐ and post‐flowering drought‐tolerant cultivar P898012 showed a significantly higher net photosynthetic rate, higher transpiration rate, and greater stomatal conductance compared to the drought‐susceptible cultivars at both pre‐ and post‐anthesis. A significantly greater stomatal size was also detected in P898012, while the highest stomatal density was found in the drought‐susceptible cultivar P721Q. Meanwhile, the two post‐flowering drought‐tolerant cultivars P898082 and B35 had a higher starch content and exhibited greater osmotic potential under post‐anthesis water stress. Compared to WS and well‐watered control plants, a greater increase in root biomass was observed in P898012 under DA at pre‐anthesis. This finding suggests that plants invested more assimilates into the roots under severe DA at pre‐anthesis. Overall, our results show good conformity between drought tolerance in sorghum and key physiological mechanisms of stomatal conductance, root growth patterns, and starch accumulation, all of which act as coping mechanisms during critical drought‐sensitive growth stages.
The SlWRKY81 transcription factor inhibits stomatal closure by attenuating nitric oxide accumulation in the guard cells of tomato under drought
Authors: Ahammed Golam Jalal , Li Xin , Mao Qi , Wan Hongjian , Zhou Guozhi , Cheng Yuan
Published: October 2020

The WRKY transcription factors (TFs) play multifaceted roles in plant growth, development, and stress response. Previously, we found that SlWRKY81 negatively regulates tomato tolerance to drought; however, the mechanisms of stomatal regulation in response to drought remain largely unclear. Here, we showed that drought‐induced upregulation in the SlWRKY81 transcripts induced photoinhibition and reduced the net photosynthetic rate in tomato leaves. However, silencing SlWRKY81 alleviated those inhibitions and minimized the drought‐induced damage. A time‐course of water loss showed that SlWRKY81 silencing significantly and consistently reduced leaf water loss, suggesting a role for SlWRKY81 in stomatal movement. Further analysis using light microscopy revealed that SlWRKY81 silencing significantly decreased stomatal aperture and increased the ratio of length to width of stomata under drought. Both biochemical assay and confocal laser scanning microscopy demonstrated that drought‐induced upregulation in SlWRKY81 expression inhibited the nitric oxide (NO) accumulation in the guard cells, which was attributed to the simultaneous declines in the activity of nitrate reductase (NR) and NR expression in tomato leaves. The inspection of 3‐kb sequences upstream of the predicted transcriptional start site of the NR identified three copies of the core W‐box (TTGACC/T) sequence in the promoter region, indicating possible targets of SlWRKY81. Taken together, these data suggest that SlWRKY81 potentially represses NR transcription and thus reduces NO accumulation to attenuate stomatal closure and subsequent drought tolerance. These findings provide an improved understanding of the mechanism of WRKY‐induced regulation of stomatal closure, which can be exploited in the future to enhance drought tolerance in crops.
The Claim to Correctness, Rights, and the Ideal Dimension of Law: A Short Reply
Authors: Alexy Robert
Published: October 2020

These are the answers I gave to Brian Bix, Peter Koller, Ralf Posher, Torben Spaak, Timothy Endicott, and Jan Sieckmann at the end of a splendid conference day in 2018. The critique given to me concerned important aspects of three main themes in my work: the claim to correctness, human and constitutional rights, and the ideal dimension of law. In the last decades I have attempted to connect these themes systematically. The result is the idea of democratic constitutionalism as an institutionalization of practical reason.
Social Memory of the Greek‐Turkish Population Exchange in Daily Life: A Case Study of a Tobacco‐Producing Village in Turkey
Authors: Karakılıç İlhan Zeynep
Published: October 2020

This article aims to understand how villagers whose ancestors had to migrate to Turkey from Greece in 1924 as a result of the Greek‐Turkish population exchange remember their past. Within a theoretical framework built around the concept of habitus from Bourdieu’s oeuvre, social memory, and identity, I argue that social memory finds a practical place in the habitus of the villagers and promotes the villagers’ identity through practices. By emphasising the time dimension in the working of habitus, I also discuss how habitus attunes to changing conditions. Based on semi‐ethnographic fieldwork, this article claims that the relationship among habitus, social memory, and identity was established within the framework of everyday lives that revolved around tobacco production and later changed with the transformation of the tobacco market in Turkey after the 1980s.
Academic achievement with cooperative learning using homogeneous and heterogeneous groups
Authors: Wyman Patricia J. , Watson Scott B.
Published: October 2020

Cooperative learning is a proven teaching strategy that teachers have been using for over 40 years. Teachers often group students heterogeneously so that students who are lower achieving are learning with and from higher achieving students. The purpose of this study was to test homogeneous and heterogeneous grouping while using cooperative learning teaching structure. This study aimed to answer the question of whether students be grouped homogeneously or heterogeneously while participating in cooperative learning. The primary research design for this study was a quasi‐experimental nonequivalent control‐group design. A convenience sample of fifth‐grade students was drawn from a Georgia elementary school in the 2017–2018 school year. The data were analyzed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and paired samplesttests. The ANCOVA was run to compare the scores from the FOSS Survey/Posttest, and the analysis showed no significant difference between the homogeneous and heterogeneous group posttest scores. Both groups made significant gains (as shown by the results of the paired samplest‐tests).
Work's Role in Learning How
Authors: Mosdell Matthew
Published: October 2020

An influential version of intellectualism about knowledge‐how holds that acquiring facts is necessary and sufficient for learning how to do things. I argue that such a view is incompatible with learning to do things through effort and practice, which suggests that intellectualists do not have a coherent way to explain the role of work in our acquisition of knowledge‐how. By way of an alternative, I argue that work serves to establish patterns of thinking that coordinate propositional truths with powers of action.
Secondary antibody deficiency is associated with development of infection in kidney transplantation: Results of a multicenter study
Authors: Sarmiento Elizabeth , Jimenez Maricela , di Natale Marisa , Rodriguez‐Ferrero Marisa , Anaya Fernando , Lopez‐Hoyos Marcos , Rodrigo Emilio , Arias Manuel , Perello Manel , Seron Daniel , Karanovic Boris , Ezzahouri Ikram , Mezzano Sergio , Jaramillo Maria , Calahorra Leticia , Alarcon Alba , Navarro Joaquin , Muñoz Patricia , Carbone Javier
Published: October 2020

Background

We performed a multicenter study to assess the association between secondary antibody deficiency (immunoglobulin G [IgG] hypogammaglobulinemia combined with low levels of specific antibodies) and development of infection in kidney transplantation.

Methods

We prospectively analyzed 250 adult kidney recipients at four centers. The assessment points were before transplantation and 7 and 30 days after transplantation. The immune parameters were as follows: IgG, IgA, and IgM and complement factors C3 and C4 tested by nephelometry; specific IgG antibodies to cytomegalovirus (CMV) and IgG and IgG2 antibodies to pneumococcal polysaccharide (anti‐PPS) determined using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. The clinical follow‐up period lasted 6 months. The clinical outcomes were CMV disease and recurrent bacterial infections requiring antimicrobial therapy. Statistics: Multivariate logistic regression.

Results

At day 7, IgG hypogammaglobulinemia (IgG levels < 700 mg/dL) combined with low IgG anti‐CMV antibody titers (defined as levels < 10 000 units) was present in 12% of kidney recipients. IgG hypogammaglobulinemia combined with low IgG anti‐PPS antibody titers (defined as levels < 10 mg/dL) at 1 month after kidney transplantation were recorded in 16% of patients. At day 7 the combination of IgG hypogammaglobulinemia and low anti‐CMV titers was independently associated with the development of CMV disease (odds ratio [OR], 6.95; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.17‐41.31; P = .033). At day 30 after transplantation, the combination of IgG < 700 mg/dL and IgG anti‐PPS < 10 mg/dL, was independently associated with recurrent bacterial infection (OR, 5.942; 95% CI, 1.943‐18.172; P = .002).

Conclusion

In a prospective multicenter study, early immunologic monitoring of secondary antibody deficiency proved useful for the identification of kidney recipients who developed severe infection.
Trend in ABO‐incompatible RBC transfusion‐related fatalities reported to the FDA, 2000‐2019
Authors: Storch Emily K. , Rogerson Beth , Eder Anne F.
Published: October 2020

Background

ABO‐incompatible red blood cell (RBC) transfusions and acute hemolytic reactions occur infrequently, yet resultant fatalities are reported to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) every year. We describe a 20‐year retrospective study of reported mistransfusion cases to identify temporal trends, common causes, and corrective actions taken to prevent recurrence.

Study Design and Methods

ABO‐incompatible RBC transfusion‐related fatalities reported to the FDA in 2000‐2019 were reviewed for patient demographics, primary attributed cause, contributing factors, and corrective actions.

Results

Eighty reported deaths after ABO‐incompatible RBC transfusion occurred in the 20‐year period. A decrease in the number of cases after 2008 was sustained through 2019 (mean 6 cases/y, 2000‐2009 vs 2 cases/y, 2010‐2019). The estimated rate of reported mistransfusion fatalities was 1 per 2 million RBC units transfused in 2000‐2009 and 1 per 7.14 million RBC units in 2010‐2019 (P < .0001). Administration errors (wrong patient or wrong unit transfused) and sample collection errors (wrong blood in tube [WBIT]) significantly decreased over time but remained the most common causes. In all WBIT cases, verification of patients' ABO type with a second sample or historical type was not performed before transfusion; 16 of 19 (84%) institutions that reported corrective actions subsequently instituted this requirement. In the other categories, 22 of 58 (38%) facilities reported plans for technological process improvements, such as electronic patient identification.

Conclusions

The rate of reported fatalities from ABO‐incompatible RBC transfusion has significantly decreased in the past decade. Still, about two cases are reported each year, highlighting gaps in best practices and areas for improvement.
Application of photosynthetic microalgae in the direct desalination pretreatment of seawater
Authors: Ahamefule Chukwuemeka S. , Ugwuodo Chika J. , Idike Priscilla O. , Ogbonna James C.
Published: October 2020

The abilities of three species of freshwater microalgae to grow in, and desalinate untreated and undiluted seawater were investigated. The salinities of the seawater were reduced from 37.5g/L to 26.25 ± 1.33, 27.19 ± 1.33 and 30.0 ± 0.00 g/L by Desmodesmus subspicatus LC172266, Desmodesmus armatus LC172263 and Dictyosphaerium spp. LC172264 on the fourth, eighth and tenth week of the experiment, respectively, while the control had no change in the salinity. D. subspicatus cell concentration initially dropped from 1.25 × 106 cells/ml to 9.68 × 105 cells/ml and then gradually increased to 4.86 × 107 cells/ml by the tenth week. With D. armatus and Dictyosphaerium spp., the cell concentrations increased steadily from 1.25 × 106 cells/ml to 4.97 × 108 cells/ml and 3.25 × 108 cells/ml, respectively. There were increases in the pH during desalination by the three species. This demonstrates the halotolerant potentials of these species and their abilities to reduce the salinity of seawater.
Does inappropriate behavior hurt or stink? The interplay between neural representations of somatic experiences and moral decisions
Authors: Sharvit G. , Lin E. , Vuilleumier P. , Corradi-Dell’Acqua C.
Published: October 2020

Moral cognition influences physiological and neural responses to olfactory disgust but not to comparably unpleasant pain.
Oxygen isotopic heterogeneity in the early Solar System inherited from the protosolar molecular cloud
Authors: Krot Alexander N. , Nagashima Kazuhide , Lyons James R. , Lee Jeong-Eun , Bizzarro Martin
Published: October 2020

Heritage of oxygen isotopic heterogeneity of CO, H
2
O, and silicates in the early Solar System from the protosolar molecular cloud.
Simulating complex quantum networks with time crystals
Authors: Estarellas M. P. , Osada T. , Bastidas V. M. , Renoust B. , Sanaka K. , Munro W. J. , Nemoto K.
Published: October 2020

A graph-theoretic approach to characterize discrete time crystals and use them as a complex quantum network simulator.
When policy and psychology meet: Mitigating the consequences of bias in schools
Authors: Okonofua Jason A. , Perez Amanda D. , Darling-Hammond Sean
Published: October 2020

This research explores a previously unidentified integration of approaches to mitigate racial inequity in teachers’ discipline decisions.
Rapid shifts in circulation and biogeochemistry of the Southern Ocean during deglacial carbon cycle events
Authors: Li Tao , Robinson Laura F. , Chen Tianyu , Wang Xingchen T. , Burke Andrea , Rae James W. B. , Pegrum-Haram Albertine , Knowles Timothy D. J. , Li Gaojun , Chen Jun , Ng Hong Chin , Prokopenko Maria , Rowland George H. , Samperiz Ana , Stewart Joseph A. , Southon John , Spooner Peter T.
Published: October 2020

Absolutely dated deep-sea coral ∆
14
C, δ
11
B, and δ
15
N records reveal Southern Ocean’s role in rapid deglacial carbon cycle events.
Spit shines for easier coronavirus testing
Authors: Service Robert F.
Published: October 2020

Tests using saliva are cheaper and faster than those with nasal swabs—and can be just as accurate.
Astronomy is—and has—a climate problem
Authors: Clery Daniel
Published: October 2020

Big carbon footprints and rising vulnerabilities push astronomers to take action.
A call to test new vaccines head to head, in monkeys
Authors: Cohen Jon
Published: October 2020

Proposed comparison study could clarify safety and which vaccines work best.
With to-do list checked off, U.S. physicists ask, ‘What's next?’
Authors: Cho Adrian
Published: October 2020

Giant neutrino experiment is only sure thing for the field.
Newly found viruses suggest rubella originated in animals
Authors: Gibbons Ann
Published: October 2020

Two relatives discovered in bats, mice, and zoo animals suggest "German measles" jumped the species barrier.
Bridging digital health divides
Authors: Agrawal Anurag
Published: October 2020

COVID-19 is accelerating digital transformation in the Indian health sector
U.S. policy puts the safe development of space at risk
Authors: Boley Aaron , Byers Michael
Published: October 2020

Promoting national regulation of space mining rather than multilateral governance risks a “race to the bottom”
A quantum-computing advantage for chemistry
Authors: Yuan Xiao
Published: October 2020

Error-mitigated Hartree-Fock computation is performed with up to 12 superconducting qubits
Comment on “Female toads engaging in adaptive hybridization prefer high-quality heterospecifics as mates”
Authors: Braun Michael J. , Wilkinson Gerald S. , Cade Brian S.
Published: October 2020

Chen and Pfennig (Reports, 20 March 2020, p. 1377) analyze the fitness consequences of hybridization in toads but do not account for differences in survival among progeny. Apparent fitness effects depend on families with anomalously low survival, yet survival is crucial to evolutionary fitness. This and other analytical shortcomings demonstrate that a conclusion of adaptive mate choice is not yet justified.
Restoring neuron connections
Authors: Salinas Patricia C.
Published: October 2020

A synthetic peptide promotes functional recovery in neurodegeneration and spinal cord injury models
Better, faster, and even cheap
Authors: Rapp Micah , Carragher Bridget
Published: October 2020

An inexpensive gold grid with submicrometer holes minimizes protein sample movement
Nested Species Distribution Models of
Chlamydiales
in Ixodes ricinus (Tick) Hosts in Switzerland
Authors: Rochat Estelle , Vuilleumier Séverine , Aeby Sébastien , Greub Gilbert , Joost Stéphane
Published: October 2020

Ixodes ricinus
is the vector of pathogens including the agent of Lyme disease, the tick-borne encephalitis virus, and the less well-known
Chlamydiales
bacteria, which are responsible for certain respiratory infections. In this study, we identified the environmental factors influencing the presence of
I. ricinus
and
Chlamydiales
in Switzerland and generated maps of their distribution from 2009 to 2018. We found an important expansion of suitable areas for both the tick and the bacteria during the last decade. Results also provided the environmental factors that determine the presence of
Chlamydiales
within ticks. Distribution maps as generated here are expected to bring valuable information for decision makers in controlling tick-borne diseases in Switzerland and establishing prevention campaigns. The methodological framework presented could be used to predict the distribution and spread of other host-pathogen pairs to identify environmental factors driving their distribution and to develop control or prevention strategies accordingly.
A Need for Improved Cellulase Identification from Metagenomic Sequence Data
Authors: Co Rebecca , Hug Laura A.
Published: October 2020

Improved sequencing technologies and the maturation of metagenomic approaches allow the identification of gene variants with potential industrial applications, including cellulases. Cellulase identification from metagenomic environmental surveys is complicated by inconsistent nomenclature and multiple categorization systems. Here, we summarize the current classification and nomenclature systems, with recommendations for improvements to these systems. Addressing the issues described will strengthen the annotation of cellulose-active enzymes from environmental sequence data sets—a rapidly growing resource in environmental and applied microbiology.
Spatiotemporal Organization of Chemotaxis Pathways in Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense
Authors: Pfeiffer Daniel , Herz Julian , Schmiedel Julia , Popp Felix , Schüler Dirk
Published: October 2020

Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) use the geomagnetic field for navigation in aquatic redox gradients. However, the highly complex signal transduction networks in these environmental microbes are poorly understood. Here, we analyzed the localization of selected chemotaxis proteins to spatially and temporally resolve chemotaxis array localization in
Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense
. Our findings suggest that bipolar localization of chemotaxis arrays related to the key signaling pathway CheOp1 is important for aerotaxis and that CheOp1 signaling units assemble independent of the three other chemotaxis pathways present in
M. gryphiswaldense
. Overall, our results provide deeper insights into the complex organization of signaling pathways in MTB and add to the general understanding of environmental bacteria possessing multiple chemotaxis pathways.
tRNA methyltransferase 10 homologue A (TRMT10A) mutation in a Chinese patient with diabetes, insulin resistance, intellectual deficiency and microcephaly
Authors: Lin Hu , Zhou Xuelian , Chen Xuefeng , Huang Ke , Wu Wei , Fu Junfen , Li Yangxi , Polychronakos Constantin , Dong Guan-Ping
Published: October 2020

Introduction

Loss-of-function mutations in tRNA methyltransferase 10 homologue A (TRMT10A), a tRNA methyltransferase, have recently been described as a monogenic cause of early-onset diabetes with microcephaly, epilepsy and intellectual disability.

Research design and methods

We report a Chinese young patient who was diagnosed with diabetes mellitus as a result of aTRMT10Amutation.

Results

A homozygous mutation c.496–1G>A inTRMT10Awas identified using targeted next-generation sequencing and confirmed by PCR/Sanger sequencing. In addition to being diagnosed with diabetes, the patient also has microcephaly and intellectual deficiency. The diabetes was due to marked insulin resistance and responded very well to metformin treatment.

Conclusion

Our case is the first report in the Asian population. It adds to current knowledge ofTRMT10Arelated with young-onset non-insulin-dependent diabetes and confirms the a single previous report of insulin resistance in this syndrome. Genomic testing should be considered in children with non-insulin-dependent diabetes with intellectual disability and microcephaly. A clear genetic diagnosis is helpful for early detection and treatment addressing insulin resistance.
Incidence and predictors of mortality among children admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit at the University of Gondar comprehensive specialised hospital, northwest Ethiopia: a prospective observational cohort study
Authors: Teshager Nahom Worku , Amare Ashenafi Tazebew , Tamirat Koku Sisay
Published: October 2020

Objective

To determine the incidence and predictors of mortality among children admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) at the University of Gondar comprehensive specialised hospital, northwest Ethiopia.

Design

A single-centre prospective observational cohort study.

Participants

A total of 313 children admitted to the ICU of the University of Gondar comprehensive specialised hospital during a one-and-a-half-year period.

Measurements

Data were collected using standard case record form, physical examination and patient document review. Clinical characteristics such as systolic blood pressure, pupillary light reflex, oxygen saturation and need for mechanical ventilation (MV) were assessed and documented within the first hour of admission and entered into an electronic application to calculate the modified Pediatric Index of Mortality 2 (PIM 2) Score. We fitted the Cox proportional hazards model to identify predictors of mortality.

Result

The median age at admission was 48 months with IQR: 12–122, 28.1% were infants and adolescents accounted for 21.4%. Of the total patients studied, 59.7% were males. The median observation time was 3 days with (IQR: 1–6). One hundred and two (32.6%) children died during the follow-up time, and the incidence of mortality was 6.9 deaths per 100 person-day observation. Weekend admission (adjusted HR (AHR)=1.63, 95% CI: 1.02 to 2.62), critical illness diagnoses (AHR=1.79, 95% CI: 1.13 to 2.85), need for MV (AHR=2.36, 95% CI: 1.39 to 4.01) and modified PIM 2 Score (AHR=1.53, 95% CI: 1.36 to 1.72) were the predictors of mortality.

Conclusion

The rate of mortality in the PICU was high, admission over weekends, need for MV, critical illness diagnoses and higher PIM 2 scores were significant and independent predictors of mortality.
Turnover intention among primary health workers in China: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: He Rongxin , Liu Jinlin , Zhang Wei-Hong , Zhu Bin , Zhang Ning , Mao Ying
Published: October 2020

Objectives

To analyse the prevalence and determinants of turnover intention (TI) among primary health workers (PHWs) in China to provide evidence for improving retention measures.

Design

Systemic review and meta-analysis.

Data sources

Four English-language databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO) and three Chinese databases (CNKI, CSPD, CBM) were searched up to October 2019.

Eligibility criteria

Eligible studies were observational or descriptive studies conducted in mainland China. The prevalence of TI among health workers and related factors had to be explicitly reported in each included study.

Data extraction and synthesis

Data were extracted by one author and reviewed independently by two other authors. For each factor analysed by a meta-analysis, the factor was required to be the same across different studies, and at least three studies had to include it. The quality of studies was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale and heterogeneity was evaluated using the I2 statistic.

Results

We identified 16 cross-sectional studies investigating a total of 37 672 PHWs. The prevalence of TI was 30.4%. Subgroup analysis revealed that the highest prevalence was observed in the community primary healthcare institutions and the eastern provinces of China. Meta-analyses indicated that 21 factors were significantly associated with TI, including demographic factors (gender, age, education, marital status), job characteristic factors (title, work seniority, remuneration, social status, organisational affiliation, work stress) and job satisfaction factors (learning and training opportunity, interpersonal relationship, work condition and environment, and so on).

Conclusion

This study highlights the problem of TI among PHWs in China. Efforts should be made to improve conditions in both work-related areas and areas outside of work. Policymakers should continue to improve reward systems, the construction of infrastructure and promotion systems, and pay more attention to PHWs’ lives outside of work and meet their living needs.
Cohort profile: the Alberta Prostate Cancer Research Initiative (APCaRI) Registry and Biorepository facilitates technology translation to the clinic through the use of linked, longitudinal clinical and patient-reported data and biospecimens from men in Alberta, Canada
Authors: Vasquez Catalina , Kolinsky Michael , Djebah Rume , Uhlich Maxwell , Donnelly Bryan , Fairey Adrian S , Hyndman Eric , Usmani Nawaid , Wu Jackson , Venner Peter , Ruether Dean , Todd Gerald , Chetner Michael , Crump R Trafford , Beatty Perrin H , Lewis John D
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The Alberta Prostate Cancer Research Initiative (APCaRI) Registry and Biorepository was established in 2014 by the APCaRI to facilitate the collection of clinical and patient-reported data, biospecimen, to measure prostate cancer outcomes and to support the development and clinical translation of innovative technologies to better diagnose and predict outcomes for patients with prostate cancer.

Participants

Men suspected with prostate cancer and referred to Urology centres in Alberta were enrolled in the APCaRI 01 study, while men with a prior prostate cancer diagnosis participated in the APCaRI 03 study from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2019. The APCaRI Registry and Biorepository links biospecimens and data from a wide representation of patients drawn from an Alberta population of more than 4 million.

Findings to date

From 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2019, total APCaRI 01 and 03 study recruitment was 3754 men; 142 (4%) of these men withdrew in full, 65 men (2%) withdrew biospecimens and 123 men (3%) died of any cause. Over this same time, 8677 patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) surveys and 7368 biospecimens were collected and are available from the registry and biorepository, respectively. The data entry error rate was 0.8% and 0.95% for critical and non-critical values, respectively, and 1.8% for patient-reported surveys.

Future plans

The APCaRI Registry and Biorepository will collect longitudinal data and PROM surveys until 2024, patient outcomes up to 25 years after recruitment and biospecimen storage for up to 25 years. The APCaRI cohorts will continue to provide data and samples to researchers conducting retrospective studies. The richness of the data and biospecimens will complement many different research questions, ultimately to improve the quality of care for men with prostate cancer.
Effects of sulforaphane on cognitive function in patients with frontal brain damage: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Liu Fangkun , Huang Jing , Hei Gangrui , Wu Renrong , Liu Zhixiong
Published: October 2020

Introduction

Many patients with frontal brain damage show serious cognitive function deficits, which hamper their quality of life and result in poor clinical outcomes. Preclinical research has shown that sulforaphane can significantly improve spatial localisation and working memory impairment after brain injury. The primary aim of this double-blind randomised controlled clinical trial is to assess the efficacy of sulforaphane for improving cognitive function in patients with frontal brain damage.

Methods and analysis

Ninety eligible patients will be randomly allocated to an active treatment or a placebo group in a 2:1 ratio. Participants will undergo a series of cognitive and neuropsychiatric tests at baseline (week 0) and after 12 weeks to determine the effect of sulforaphane on cognition. Magnetic resonance spectrum of the brain will be studied using the 3T MRIs of the brain to detect brain metabolites markers, including N-acetyl aspartate, glutamate (Glu), glutathione (GSH) and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Blood brain-derived neurotrophic factor, Glu, GSH and GABA levels and gut microbiota will also be assessed over this period. This study will also evaluate long-term outcomes of brain trauma, brain tumours and cerebrovascular disease via exploratory analyses. The primary outcome will be the difference in scores of a battery of cognitive tests after 12 weeks of sulforaphane treatment. The secondary outcomes will be changes in the Functional Activities Questionnaire (FAQ), the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, the changes in T1-weighted MRI and resting-state functional MRI findings, and changes in brain and blood metabolic markers and gut microbiota at weeks 0 and 12. We expect that sulforaphane will yield favourable results in treating memory and learning deficits for patients with frontal brain damage. Cognitive functional treatment may also improve brain trauma, brain tumours and cerebrovascular outcomes.

Ethics and dissemination

The study protocol has been approved by the Medical Ethics committee of the Xiangya Hospital of Central South University (No. 2017121019). The results will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals and at international conferences.

Trial registration number

This trial was registered on Clinicaltrials.gov on 31 January 2020 (NCT04252261). The protocol version is V.1.0 (20 December 2019).
Cardiovascular risk factor documentation and management in primary care electronic medical records among people with schizophrenia in Ontario, Canada: retrospective cohort study
Authors: O’Neill Braden , Kalia Sumeet , Aliarzadeh Babak , Sullivan Frank , Moineddin Rahim , Kelly Martina , Greiver Michelle
Published: October 2020

Objectives

In order to address the substantial increased risk of cardiovascular disease among people with schizophrenia, it is necessary to identify the factors responsible for some of that increased risk. We analysed the extent to which these risk factors were documented in primary care electronic medical records (EMR), and compared their documentation by patient and provider characteristics.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

EMR database of the University of Toronto Practice-Based Research Network Data Safe Haven.

Participants

197 129 adults between 40 and 75 years of age; 4882 with schizophrenia and 192 427 without.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Documentation of cardiovascular disease risk factors (age, sex, smoking history, presence of diabetes, blood pressure, whether a patient is currently on medication to reduce blood pressure, total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol).

Results

Documentation of cardiovascular risk factors was more complete among people with schizophrenia (74.5% of whom had blood pressure documented at least once in the last 2 years vs 67.3% of those without, p>0.0001). Smoking status was not documented in 19.8% of those with schizophrenia and 20.8% of those without (p=0.0843). Factors associated with improved documentation included older patients (OR for ages 70–75 vs 45–49=3.51, 95% CI 3.26 to 3.78), male patients (OR=1.39, 95% CI 1.33 to 1.45), patients cared for by a female provider (OR=1.52, 95% CI 1.12 to 2.07) and increased number of encounters (OR for ≥10 visits vs 3–5 visits=1.53, 95% CI 1.46 to 1.60).

Conclusions

Documentation of cardiovascular risk factors was better among people with schizophrenia than without, although overall documentation was inadequate. Efforts to improve documentation of risk factors are warranted in order to facilitate improved management.