bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ECAP is a key negative regulator mediating different pathways to modulate salt stress‐induced anthocyanin biosynthesis in Arabidopsis
Authors: Li Changjiang , Shi Lei , Li Xing , Wang Yanan , Bi Yujing , Li Wei , Ma Huifang , Chen Binqing , Zhu Lei , Fu Ying
Published: December 2021

Anthocyanins are a subgroup of plant flavonoids with antioxidant activities and are often induced by various biotic and abiotic stresses in plants, probably to efficiently scavenge free radicals and reactive oxygen species. However, the regulatory mechanisms of salt stress‐induced anthocyanin biosynthesis remain unclear.

Using molecular and genetic techniques we demonstrated key roles of ECAP in differential salt‐responsive anthocyanin biosynthesis pathways in Arabidopsis thaliana.

ECAP, JAZ6/8 and TPR2 are known to form a transcriptional repressor complex, and negatively regulate jasmonate (JA)‐responsive anthocyanin accumulation. In this study, we demonstrated that under moderate salt stress, the accumulation of anthocyanins is partially dependent on JA signaling, which degrades JAZ proteins but not ECAP. More interestingly, we found that high salinity rather than moderate salinity induces the degradation of ECAP through the 26S proteasome pathway, and this process is independent of JA signaling. Further analysis revealed that ECAP interacts with MYB75 (a transcription factor activating anthocyanin biosynthetic genes) and represses its transcriptional activity in the absence of high salinity.

Our results indicated that plants adopt different strategies for fine‐tuning anthocyanin accumulation under different levels of salt stress, and further elucidated the complex regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis during plant development and responses to environmental stresses.
The Physcomitrium patens egg cell expresses several distinct epigenetic components and utilizes homologues of BONOBO genes for cell specification
Authors: Sanchez‐Vera Victoria , Landberg Katarina , Lopez‐Obando Mauricio , Thelander Mattias , Lagercrantz Ulf , Muñoz‐Viana Rafael , Schmidt Anja , Grossniklaus Ueli , Sundberg Eva
Published: December 2021

Although land plant germ cells have received much attention, knowledge about their specification is still limited. We thus identified transcripts enriched in egg cells of the bryophyte model species Physcomitrium patens, compared the results with angiosperm egg cells, and selected important candidate genes for functional analysis.

We used laser‐assisted microdissection to perform a cell‐type‐specific transcriptome analysis on egg cells for comparison with available expression profiles of vegetative tissues and male reproductive organs. We made reporter lines and knockout mutants of the two BONOBO (PbBNB) genes and studied their role in reproduction.

We observed an overlap in gene activity between bryophyte and angiosperm egg cells, but also clear differences. Strikingly, several processes that are male‐germline specific in Arabidopsis are active in the P. patens egg cell. Among those were the moss PbBNB genes, which control proliferation and identity of both female and male germlines.

Pathways shared between male and female germlines were most likely present in the common ancestors of land plants, besides sex‐specifying factors. A set of genes may also be involved in the switches between the diploid and haploid moss generations. Nonangiosperm gene networks also contribute to the specification of the P. patens egg cell.
The GA–DELLA–OsMS188 module controls male reproductive development in rice
Authors: Jin Yue , Song Xinyue , Chang Huizhong , Zhao Yueyue , Cao Chenhao , Qiu Xinbao , Zhu Jun , Wang Ertao , Yang Zhongnan , Yu Nan
Published: December 2021

Pollen protects male sperm and allows flowering plants to adapt to diverse terrestrial environments, thereby leading to the rapid expansion of plants into new regions. The process of anther/pollen development is coordinately regulated by internal and external factors including hormones. Currently, the molecular mechanisms underlying gibberellin (GA)‐mediated male reproductive development in plants remain unknown.

We show here that rice DELLA/SLR1, which encodes the central negative regulator of GA signaling, is essential for rice anther development. The slr1‐5 mutant exhibits premature programmed cell death of the tapetum, lacks Ubisch bodies, and has no exine and no mature pollen. SLR1 is mainly expressed in tapetal cells and tetrads, and is required for the appropriate expression of genes encoding key factors of pollen development, which are suggested to be OsMS188‐targeted genes. OsMS188 is the main component in the essential genetic program of tapetum and pollen development.

Further, we demonstrate that SLR1 interacts with OsMS188 to cooperatively activate the expression of the sporopollenin biosynthesis and transport‐related genes CYP703A3, DPW, ABCG15 and PKS1 for rapid formation of pollen walls.

Overall, the results of this study suggest that the GA hormonal signal is integrated into the anther genetic program and regulates rice anther development through the GA–DELLA–OsMS188 module.
Daidzein promotes the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of periodontal ligament stem cell
Authors: Ying Ming , Zhang Bin
Published: December 2021

Context

Daidzein is a kind of isoflavone compound with many biological functions. However, the specific mechanism regarding the treatment of periodontitis with daidzein is still unclear.

Objective

To investigate the effect of daidzein on the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs) and its mechanism.

Materials and Methods

Human periodontal ligament stem cells from clinical samples were isolated in vitro and identified by flow cytometry. hPDLSCs were treated with different concentrations of daidzein. Cell proliferation ability and viability were measured by MTT assay and cell colony formation assay. Osteogenic differentiation and calcification of hPDLSCs were observed by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining and alizarin red staining. Western blot was used to detect the expression of c‐myc, CyclinD1, osteogenic differentiation‐related proteins, and Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway proteins in hPDLSCs.

Results

human periodontal ligament stem cells were positive for surface antigens CD146, STRO‐1, and CD90 expression, but negative for CD45 expression, indicating the successful isolation of hPDLSCs. In addition, daidzein could significantly promote the proliferation, cell viability, ALP activity, and osteogenic differentiation of hPDLSC. At the same time, daidzein could notably increase the expression levels of c‐myc, CyclinD1, osteogenic differentiation‐related proteins, and Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway proteins, while an inhibitor of Wnt/ β‐catenin pathway, XAV‐939, could reverse the effect caused by daidzein.

Discussion and Conclusion

Daidzein promotes the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of hPDLSCs by activating Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway.
A Crucial But Neglected Anatomical Factor Underneath Psoas Muscle and Its Clinical Value in Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion—The Cleft of Psoas Major (CPM)
Authors: Ji Jianfei , Li Fangcai , Chen Qixin
Published: December 2021

Objective

To describe the anatomical feature positioned beneath the psoas muscle at the lateral aspect of the lower lumbar, and to create a new location system to identify the risk factors of lateral lumbar interbody fusion.

Methods

Six cadavers were dissected and analyzed. The anatomy and neurovascular distribution beneath the psoas major from L3 to S1 was observed and recorded, with particular focus on the L4/5 disc and below. The psoas major surface was divided homogeneously into four parts, from the anterior border of psoas major to the transverse process. The cranial‐to‐caudal division was from the lower edge of the psoas muscle attachment on the L4 vertebrae to the upper part of the S1 vertebrae, and was divided into five segments. Then a grid system was used to create 20 grids on the psoas major surface, from the anterior border of the muscle to the transverse process and from L4 to superior S1, which was used to determine the anatomical structures' distribution and relationship beneath the psoas major.

Results

A cleft was identified beneath the psoas major, from the level of L4/5 downwards. It was filled with loose connective tissue and neurovascular structures. We termed it the cleft of psoas major (CPM). The sympathetic trunk, ascending lumbar vein, iliolumbar vessels, obturator nerve, femoral nerve and occasionally the great vessels are contained within the CPM, although there is significant interpersonal variation. The grid system on the psoas major surface helped to identify the anatomical structures in CPM. There was a considerably lower frequency of occurrence of neurovascular structures in the grids of I/II at the L4/5 level where can be considered the “safe zones” for the lateral lumbar interbody fusion. In contrast, the distribution of neurovascular structures at the L5S1 level is dense, where the operation risk is high.

Conclusion

The CPM exists lateral to the vertebral surface from L4 and below. Although the occurrence and distribution of neurovascular structures within the CPM is complex and varies greatly, it can provide a potential cavity for visualization during lateral lumbar interbody fusion. Using psoas major as a reference, this novel grid system can be used to identify the risk factors in CPM and thus identify a safe entry point for surgery.
Relative contribution of different members of OsDREB gene family to osmotic stress tolerance in indica and japonica ecotypes of rice
Authors: Chakraborty K. , Jena P. , Mondal S. , Dash G. K. , Ray S. , Baig M. J. , Swain P.
Published: December 2021

Drought/osmotic stress is the single largest production constraint in rain‐fed rice cultivation. Different members of the DREB gene family are known to contribute to osmotic stress tolerance. In this study, an attempt was made to understand their relative contribution towards osmotic stress tolerance in indica and japonica ecotypes of rice.

Two genotypes (one tolerant and one susceptible) from each ecotype were grown hydroponically, and 21‐day‐old seedlings were subjected to polyethylene glycol‐induced osmotic stress (15% PEG‐6000, equivalent to −3.0 bars osmotic potential).

The tolerant genotypes CR143 and Moroberekan were found to have superior root traits (total root length, surface area and volume), better plant water status and increased total dry biomass as compared to their susceptible counterparts after 10 days of osmotic stress. Different members of the DREB gene family were differentially induced in response to osmotic shock (1 h after stress) and osmotic stress (24 h after stress), which also differed between the two rice ecotypes. From the gene expression profiles of 10 DREB genes (both DREB1 and DREB2 families), in indica two DREB genes, DREB1B and DREB1G, were significantly correlated with stress tolerance indices, whereas in japonica significant correlations with five DREB genes (DREB1A, DREB1B, DREB1D, DREB1E and DREB2B) were observed.

We found that only one member, i.e. DREB1B, showed a significant correlation with drought tolerance indices in both indica and japonica ecotypes. This study provides an overview of the relative contribution of different members of the DREB gene family and their association with drought/osmotic stress tolerance in rice.
Cidofovir, a choice for salvage treatment of cytomegalovirus infection in patients with haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Authors: Yin Zhao , Sun Jing , Yang Ying , Xu Na , Jiang Ling , Fan Zhiping , Huang Fen , Shi Pengcheng , Wang Zhixiang , Xuan Li , Xu Jun , Liu Qifa , Yu Guopan
Published: December 2021

Background

Cidofovir (CDV) is a nucleotide analogue with broad antiviral activities. It remains unclear about the CDV administration for anti‐cytomegalovirus (CMV) treatment in patients with haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (haplo‐HSCT).

Patients and methods

In this study, 31 out of 101 haplo‐HSCT recipients who suffered CMV infection in the CT group (conventional treatment) were enrolled into the CDV‐ST group (CDV second‐line treatment). These patients were treated with CDV as they failed conventional treatment or they were unavailable to the preemptive antiviral therapy. Nine patients with CMV infection were enrolled into the CDV‐FT group (CDV‐frontline treatment) and received CDV preemptive therapy.

Results

In the CDV‐ST group, 23 of 28 (82.1%) patients were observed treatment response with a median time of 9 (2–23) days, and 20 (71.8%) among these patients obtained complete response (CR). In the CDV‐FT group, six of eight (75.0%) patients acquired CR with a median of 6 (4–25) days. The treatment response in CDV‐treated groups was comparable with those in CT groups. Besides, there was no statistical difference in CMV‐related mortality between the three groups (p > .05). During the follow‐up period (median follow‐up:10 [1–28] months), a total of 8 of 22 (36.4%) patients experienced CMV reactivation in the CDV‐ST group versus 23 of 62 (37.1%) in the CT group (p > .05). CDV‐related toxicities occurred in 13 of 40 (32.5%) patients, including six (15%) reversible nephrotoxicity.

Conclusion

Our study suggests that CDV is potentially an option for the salvage treatment of CMV infection in the haplo‐HSCT patients.
Amifostine and rituximab in refractory immune thrombocytopaenia: A case series
Authors: Choy Joleen , Swe Ei Phyu Phyu , Shearer Andrew
Published: December 2021

Background and Objectives

Management of refractory immune thrombocytopaenia (ITP) can be challenging. Amifostine, a thiophosphate prodrug, induces megakaryocyte maturation. In 2010, Fan et al. published results for 21 Chinese splenectomized patients, aged 13–92, with steroid‐refractory ITP. Nineteen patients (15 patients aged  >18 years) achieved remission 2 months post‐amifostine. This is the first publication utilizing amifostine and rituximab in refractory ITP.

Materials and Methods

At the Cairns Hospital in Australia, we identified five patients treated with amifostine and rituximab for refractory ITP. Amifostine IV 400 mg once daily was administered 5 days/week for 5 weeks as tolerated. Rituximab was administered concurrently with/preceding amifostine based on clinician preference. Data were obtained through medical records and follow‐up serology up to 5 years post‐amifostine was available.

Results

Three cases demonstrated durable responses up to 5 years' follow‐up. One patient initially achieved remission but relapsed 1‐year post‐amifostine. One patient who did not have a splenectomy prior to amifostine did not respond.

Conclusion

Three out of five patients achieved durable responses with amifostine and rituximab. Although there is confounding by rituximab, given its established low durable response rate, it is likely that the excellent long‐term responses achieved were a result of amifostine. Clinical trials with larger patient cohorts and further investigation are required to confirm the efficacy and mechanism of amifostine in ITP.
Anti‐thymoglobulin induction improves neonatal porcine xenoislet engraftment and survival
Authors: Gao Qimeng , Davis Robert , Fitch Zachary , Mulvihill Michael , Ezekian Brian , Schroder Paul , Schmitz Robin , Song Mingqing , Leopardi Frank , Ribeiro Marianna , Miller Allison , Moris Dimitrios , Shaw Brian , Samy Kannan , Reimann Keith , Williams Kyha , Collins Bradley , Kirk Allan D.
Published: December 2021

Porcine islet xenotransplantation is a viable strategy to treat diabetes. Its translation has been limited by the pre‐clinical development of a clinically available immunosuppressive regimen. We tested two clinically relevant induction agents in a non‐human primate (NHP) islet xenotransplantation model to compare depletional versus nondepletional induction immunosuppression. Neonatal porcine islets were isolated from GKO or hCD46/GKO transgenic piglets and transplanted via portal vein infusion in diabetic rhesus macaques. Induction therapy consisted of either basiliximab (n = 6) or rhesus‐specific anti‐thymocyte globulin (rhATG, n = 6), combined with a maintenance regimen using B7 costimulation blockade, tacrolimus with a delayed transition to sirolimus, and mycophenolate mofetil. Xenografts were monitored by blood glucose levels and porcine C‐peptide measurements. Of the six receiving basiliximab induction, engraftment was achieved in 4 with median graft survival of 14 days. All six receiving rhATG induction engrafted with significantly longer xenograft survival at 40.5 days (P = 0.03). These data suggest that depletional induction provides superior xenograft survival to nondepletional induction, in the setting of a costimulation blockade‐based maintenance regimen.
Genetic Optimization for Engine Combustion System Calibration: A Case Study of Optimization Performance Sensitivity to Algorithm Search Parameters
Authors: Mansfield Andrew B. , Chakrapani Varun , Li Qingyu , Wooldridge Margaret S.
Published: December 2021

The use of genetic optimization algorithms (GOA) has been shown to significantly reduce the resource intensity of engine calibration, motivating investigation into the development of these methods. The objective of this work was to quantify the sensitivity of GOA performance to the algorithm search parameter values, in a case study of engine calibration. A GOA was used to calibrate four combustion system control parameters for a direct-injection gasoline engine at a single operating condition, with an optimization goal to minimize brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC) for a specified engine-out NOx concentration limit. The calibration process was repeated for two NOx limit values and a wide range of values for five GOA search parameters, including the number of genes, mutation rate, and convergence criteria. Results indicated GOA performance is very sensitive to algorithm search parameter values, with converged calibrations yielding BSFC values from 1 to 14% higher than the global minimum value and the number of iterations required to converge ranging from 10 to 3000. Broadly, GOA performance sensitivity was found to increase as the NOx limit was decreased from 4500 to 1000 ppm. GOA performance was the most sensitive to the number of genes and the gene mutation rate, whereas sensitivity to convergence criteria values was minimal. Identification of one set of algorithm search parameter values which universally maximized GOA performance was not possible as ideal values depended strongly on engine behavior, NOx limit, and the maximum level of error acceptable to the user.
Improving the Wilson Cloud Chamber Using Peltier Chips
Authors: Duc Le Anh , Duy Nguyen Minh , B Nguyen Quoc , Chat Tran Ngoc , Hung Nguyen Ngoc
Published: December 2021

The Wilson cloud chamber is an apparatus used for detecting and observing the trails of alpha/beta rays or even cosmic rays in saturated gas conditions. The principle of this device is based upon the powerful ionization of the aforementioned rays within the medium. This article will provide instruction for creating a classic version of the cloud chamber using a glass food container and dry ice. Some common malfunctions and disadvantages of the classic version will be discussed. Moreover, this article will introduce an improvement of the cloud chamber using the Peltier chip as an alternative for dry ice, and also compare the pros and cons of these two methods.
Enabling commercial success of industrial biotechnology
Authors: Biggs Bradley W. , Alper Hal S. , Pfleger Brian F. , Tyo Keith E. J. , Santos Christine N. S. , Ajikumar Parayil Kumaran , Stephanopoulos Gregory
Published: December 2021

Commercial-scale research translation has been muted
COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough infections
Authors: Gupta Ravindra K. , Topol Eric J.
Published: December 2021

Vaccine efficacy wanes over time but can be fully restored with a booster dose
Dispatches from the front lines
The First Wave
Matthew Heineman, director
Neon, 2021. 93 minutes
Authors: Krauss Robert S.
Published: December 2021

A new film documents the fraught first days of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City
Will global vaccine shortfalls end in 2022?
Authors: Cohen Jon
Published: December 2021

Novavax vaccine authorization bolsters COVAX’s optimistic new supply forecast
With double pulsar, theory of gravity passes toughest test yet
Authors: Clery Daniel
Published: December 2021

Study 16 years in the making shows how gravity distorts orbits and slows down photons
Earthquake weather and climate change: Should we stress about the forecast?
Authors: Wilson Miles P. , Foulger Gillian R. , Saville Christopher , Graham Samuel P. , Julian Bruce R.
Published: December 2021

Relationships between the weather and earthquakes have been suspected for over 2400 yr. However, scientific evidence to support such relationships has grown only since the 1980s. Because faults in Earth’s crust are generally regarded as critically stressed, small changes in stress and pore-fluid pressure brought about by rainfall, snow, and atmospheric pressure and temperature variations have all been proposed to modulate seismicity at local and regional scales. Elastic static stress changes as low as 0.07 kPa and pore-fluid pressure changes as low as 0.5 kPa have been proposed to naturally trigger earthquakes. In the UK, the spatial distributions of onshore earthquakes and rainfall are highly nonuniform and may be related; the wetter and most naturally seismically active areas occur on the west side of the country. We found significant spatial and temporal relationships between rainfall amount and the number of earthquakes for 1980–2012, suggesting larger volumes of rainfall promote earthquake nucleation. Such relationships occur when human-induced seismicity is included or excluded, indicating that meteorological conditions can also modulate seismicity induced by subsurface anthropogenic activities such as coal mining. No significant relationships were observed for monthly time lags, suggesting that the triggering effect of rainfall in the UK is near-instantaneous or occurs within 1 mo. With global climate changing rapidly and extreme weather events occurring more frequently, it is possible that some global regions may also experience changes in the spatial and temporal occurrence of earthquakes in response to changes in meteorologically induced stress perturbations.
Are child health information services a viable source of accurate vaccination data for clinicians working in paediatric emergency departments in England?
Authors: Isba Rachel , Davies Nigel , Knight Jo
Published: December 2021

Vaccination is a global success story, yet UK coverage remains undertarget for a number of diseases. The paediatric emergency department (PED) offers the potential for opportunistic vaccination interventions.

Objectives

To map the Greater Manchester (GM) Child Health Information System network to see if it was a viable source of vaccination data for clinicians working in the PED as a case study.

Methods

Postprimary care vaccination management systems for GM were visualised using a systems mapping approach, with data obtained from the Office for National Statistics and commissioners in the GM Health and Social Care Partnership.

Results

Once vaccination data left primary care, it passed through 1 of 10 local child health information services (CHISs), using an assortment of different information technology systems, after which it shed individual identifiers and was aggregated within national systems. None of the existing GM CHISs were accessible to PED practitioners.

Conclusion

More work needs to be done to explore possible alternative sources of accurate vaccination data during a PED consultation.
Association between de Quervain syndrome and herpes zoster: a population-based cohort study
Authors: Hsu Chao-Yu , Ke Der-Shin , Lin Cheng-Li , Kao Chia-Hung
Published: December 2021

Objective

Both physical diseases such as infection and chronic pain and psychological disorders such as depression have been associated with herpes zoster (HZ) reactivation. However, the relationship between de Quervain syndrome (DQS), a painful tenosynovitis and HZ remains unclear. We investigated whether DQS increases the risk of HZ reactivation.

Design

A retrospective population-based cohort study.

Setting

Taiwan.

Participants

We used a subset of Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database, the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database which contains the registration files and original claims data of 1 million randomly selected individuals from the National Health Insurance programme. The case group in this study comprised patients newly diagnosed with DQS between 2000 and 2012. Individuals without DQS comprised the control group. Cases and controls were 1:1 matched by age, sex and index year (defined as the year of DQS diagnosis).

Results

Approximately 55% of the participants were ≤49 years. Most participants were women (77%). The incidence rate of HZ in the DQS group was 8.39 per 1000 person years. After adjustments for age, sex and comorbidities, patients with DQS had a 1.30 times higher risk of HZ reactivation than the control group. Stratification analysis revealed taht DQS increases the HZ risk in individuals ≤64 years, women, and patients without comorbidities.

Conclusion

DQS is associated with an increased risk of HZ. Clinicians should be aware of this risk when dealing with patients with DQS, particularly in young adults.
Non-home discharge after cardiac surgery in Australia and New Zealand: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Ramanan Mahesh , Kumar Aashish , Anstey Chris , Shekar Kiran
Published: December 2021

Objective

To determine the proportion of patients surviving their cardiac surgery who experienced non-home discharge (NHD) over a 16-year period in Australia and New Zealand (ANZ).

Design

Retrospective, multicentre, cross-sectional study over the time period 01 January 2004 to 31 December 2019.

Setting

Adult patients who underwent cardiac surgery from the Australia New Zealand Intensive Care Society Adult Patient Database (APD).

Participants

Adult patients (age 18 and above) who underwent index coronary artery bypass grafting, cardiac valve surgery or combined valve/coronary surgery.

Exposure

The primary exposure variable was the calendar year during the which the index surgery was performed.

Outcome

The primary outcome was NHD after the index surgery. NHD included discharge to locations such as nursing home, chronic care facility, rehabilitation and palliative care.

Results

We analysed 252 924 index cardiac surgical admissions from 101 discrete sites with a median age of 68 years (IQR 60–76), of which 74.2% (187 662 out of 252 920) were males. Of these, 4302 (1.7%) patients died in hospital and 213 011 (84.2%) were discharged home, 18 010 (7.1%) were transferred to another hospital and 17 601 (7%) experienced NHD. In Australia, 14 457 (6.4%) of patients progressed to NHD, compared with 3144 (11.7%) in New Zealand. The rate of NHD increased significantly over time (adjusted OR per year=1.06, 95% CI, 1.06 to 1.07, p<0.001). Increasing age, female sex, non-elective surgery, surgery type and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation III Score were all associated with significant increase in NHD.

Conclusions

There was significant increase in NHD after cardiac surgery over time in ANZ. This has significant clinical relevance for informed consent discussions between healthcare providers and patients, and for healthcare services planning.
Longitudinal analysis of local government spending on adult social care and carers’ subjective well-being in England
Authors: Zhang Yanan , Bennett Matthew R , Yeandle Sue
Published: December 2021

Objectives

Reform of England’s social care system is repeatedly discussed in the context of increasing demand, rising costs and austere policies that have decreased service provision. This study investigates the association between unpaid carers’ subjective well-being and local government spending on adult social care (ASC).

Setting and participants

Our sample consists of 110 188 observations on 29 174 adults in England from the 2004–2007 British Household Panel Survey and the 2009–2018 UK Household Longitudinal Study. The data on local authorities’ spending on ASC where participants live is derived from the publications Personal Social Care Expenditure and Unit Costs (2004–2016); and ASC Activity and Finance Report England (2016–2018).

Outcome measures

Subjective well-being is measured by the 12-item version of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and 12-item version of the Mental Component Summary (MCS-12). We applied fixed-effects linear models to investigate the moderating effect of ASC spending on the association between subjective well-being and caring, controlling for a range of socioeconomic and demographic variables.

Results

Carers have a lower level of subjective well-being compared with non-carers, evident in their higher average GHQ-12 Likert score (β=2.7277 95% CI 0.2547 to 5.2008). Differences in the subjective well-being of carers and non-carers decrease with local government spending on ASC. Subjective well-being for carers was at a similar level to that of non-carers in high ASC spending local authorities (GHQ-12: −0.0123 95% CI −0.2185 to 0.1938, MCS-12: 0.0347 95% CI −0.3403 to 0.4098) and lower in other areas (GHQ-12: 0.1893 95% CI 0.0680 to 0.3107, MCS-12: −0.2906 95% CI –0.5107 to −0.0705). The moderating effect of ASC spending is found among people who care for 35+ hours per week.

Conclusion

Government spending on ASC protects unpaid carers’ well-being, and people providing more than 35 weekly hours of unpaid care are more likely to benefit from the current social care system.
EQ-VT protocol: one-size-fits-all? Challenges and innovative adaptations used in Egypt: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Al Shabasy Sahar , Abbassi Maggie , Farid Samar
Published: December 2021

Objectives

To present the challenges and adaptations done to the EuroQol Valuation Technology (EQ-VT) protocol to fit the Egyptian culture during the extensive pilot phase of the Egyptian EuroQol 5 Dimension five level (EQ-5D-5L) valuation study

Design

This study was a cross-sectional, interviewer-administered face-to-face survey of representative Egyptians using the Arabic version of the EuroQol Group Valuation Technology (EQ-VT-2.1) and a country specific questionnaire pertaining to participants’ demographics and opinions about health, life and death

Setting

Participants were recruited from workplaces, university campuses, sporting clubs, shopping malls and other public areas from different Egyptian governorates representing all geographical areas of the country.

Participants

A total of 1378 participants were interviewed from July 2019 to March 2020 by 12 interviewers to select a representative sample in terms of: geographical distribution, age and gender, of which 75 participants did not complete the interview, 298 interviews were pilot and 1005 interviews were real of which 974 interviews were used for the valuation study. Two participants did not complete the country-specific questionnaire but completed the valuation protocol; therefore, 1301 interviews were included in the final analysis of country specific questions.

Results

Some modifications were applied to the protocol. The ‘wheelchair example’ was modified to ‘migraine example’ since most of the participants in the pilot interviews considered being in a wheelchair ‘worse than dead’. There was some ambiguity in the Egyptian translated version for the EQ-5D-5L between levels 4 and 5 of the pain and depression dimensions. This was overcome by using colour coding to express the different levels of severity. A pictorial representation for the EQ-5D-5L health states was used to interview illiterate and less educated participants.

Conclusion

In the Egyptian valuation study, the modifications made to the EQ-VT protocol made it feasible and culturally acceptable to the Egyptian participants.
Communication of poor prognosis between secondary and primary care: protocol for a systematic review with narrative synthesis
Authors: Pocock Lucy V , Purdy Sarah , Barclay Stephen , Murtagh Fliss E M , Selman Lucy E
Published: December 2021

Introduction

People dying in Britain spend, on average, 3 weeks of their last year of life in hospital. Hospital discharge presents an opportunity for secondary care clinicians to communicate to general practitioners (GPs) which patients may have a poor prognosis. This would allow GPs to prioritise these patients for Advance Care Planning.

The objective of this study is to produce a critical overview of research on the communication of poor prognosis between secondary and primary care through a systematic review and narrative synthesis.

Methods and analysis

We will search Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL and the Social Sciences Citation Index for all study types, published since 1 January 2000, and conduct reference-mining of systematic reviews and publications. Study quality will be assessed using the Mixed-Methods Appraisal Tool; a narrative synthesis will be undertaken to integrate and summarise findings.

Ethics and dissemination

Approval by research ethics committee is not required since the review only includes published and publicly accessible data. Review findings will inform a qualitative study of the sharing of poor prognosis at hospital discharge. We will publish our findings in a peer-reviewed journal as per Preferred Reporting for Systematic review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) 2020 guidance.

PROSPERO registration

CRD42021236087
Evaluation of a two-way SMS messaging strategy to reduce neonatal mortality: rationale, design and methods of the Mobile WACh NEO randomised controlled trial in Kenya
Authors: Ronen Keshet , Choo Esther M , Wandika Brenda , Udren Jenna I , Osborn Lusi , Kithao Peninah , Hedstrom Anna B , Masinde Millicent , Kumar Manasi , Wamalwa Dalton C , Richardson Barbra A , Kinuthia John , Unger Jennifer A
Published: December 2021

Introduction

Globally, approximately half of the estimated 6.3 million under-5 deaths occur in the neonatal period (within the first 28 days of life). Kenya ranks among countries with the highest number of neonatal deaths, at 20 per 1000 live births. Improved identification and management of neonates with potentially life-threatening illness is critical to meet the WHO’s target of ≤12 neonatal deaths per 1000 live births by 2035. We developed an interactive (two-way) short messaging service (SMS) communication intervention, Mobile Solutions for Neonatal Health (Mobile women’s and children’s health (WACh) NEO), focused on the perinatal period. Mobile WACh NEO sends automated tailored SMS messages to mothers during pregnancy and up to 6 weeks post partum. Messages employ the Information-Motivation-Behaviour Skills framework to promote (1) maternal implementation of essential newborn care (ENC, including early, exclusive breast feeding, cord care and thermal care), (2) maternal identification of neonatal danger signs and care-seeking, and (3) maternal social support and self-efficacy. Participants can also send SMS to the study nurse, enabling on-demand remote support.

Methods and analysis

We describe a two-arm unblinded randomised controlled trial of the Mobile WACh NEO intervention. We will enrol 5000 pregnant women in the third trimester of pregnancy at 4 facilities in Kenya and randomise them 1:1 to receive interactive SMS or no SMS (control), and conduct follow-up visits at 2 and 6 weeks post partum. Neonatal mortality will be compared between arms as the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes include care-seeking, practice of ENC and psychosocial health. Exploratory analysis will investigate associations between maternal mental health, practice of ENC, care-seeking and SMS engagement.

Ethics and dissemination

This study received ethical approval from the University of Washington (STUDY00006395), Women and Infants Hospital (1755292-1) and Kenyatta National Hospital/University of Nairobi (P310/04/2019). All participants will provide written informed consent. Findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals and international conferences.

Trial registration number

NCT04598165
Stressors, self-reported overall health, potential protective factors and the workplace well-being of nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic in Switzerland: a longitudinal mixed-methods study protocol
Authors: Ortoleva Bucher Claudia , Delmas Philippe , Oulevey Bachmann Annie , Gilles Ingrid
Published: December 2021

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic was making a huge impact on Europe’s healthcare systems in the spring of 2020, and most predictive models concurred that pandemic waves were in the offing. Most studies adopted a pathogenic approach to the subject; few used a salutogenic approach. These showed, however, that nurses can retain their health despite a pandemic by mobilising generalised resistance resources. Our study aims to understand how nurses working in Switzerland’s hospitals protected their health and workplace well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic by investigating the moderating effects of the health resources they mobilised against the stressors inherent to the situation. The study aims to explore and describe the stressors and the resources nurses used to remain healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Method and analysis

We will use a concurrent mixed-methods panel design with qualitative analyses ancillary to quantitative analyses. Quantitative data will be collected using electronic questionnaires at four time points over 2 years. Qualitative data will be collected using focus groups. Nurses from Switzerland’s two main linguistic regions who had direct, indirect or no contact with patients with COVID-19 will be invited to participate. The a priori sample size will be at least 3631 participants at T0 and 1852 at T4. Longitudinal structural equation modelling and knowledge mapping will be used to analyse quantitative and qualitative data, respectively. The results derived from the two data types will then be compared and discussed using a side-by-side approach to determine whether they agree or disagree and how they complement each other to achieve our aims.

Ethics and dissemination

Nurses will receive an electronic informed consent form. The data collected will be stored on a secure server at the authors’ institution. This research project was approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee of the Canton of Vaud (2020-02845).
Catheter-associated urinary tract infection reduction in critical care units: a bundled care model
Authors: Van Decker Stephanie Grana , Bosch Nicholas , Murphy Jaime
Published: December 2021

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) represent approximately 9% of all hospital acquired infections, and approximately 65%–70% of CAUTIs are believed to be preventable. In the spring of 2013, Boston Medical Center (BMC) began an initiative to decrease CAUTI rates within its intensive care units (ICUs). A CAUTI taskforce convened and reviewed process maps and gap analyses. Based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) guidelines, and delineated by the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee 2009 guidelines, all BMC ICUs sequentially implemented plan–do–study–act cycles based on which measures were most easily adaptable and believed to have the highest impact on CAUTI rates. Implementation of five care bundles spanned 5 years and included (1) processes for insertion and maintenance of foley catheters; (2) indications for indwelling foley catheters; (3) appropriate testing for CAUTIs; (4) alternatives to indwelling devices; and (5) sterilisation techniques. Daily rounds by unit nursing supervisors and inclusion of foley catheter necessity on daily ICU checklists held staff accountable on a daily basis. With these interventions, the total number of CAUTIs at BMC decreased from 53 in 2013 to 9 in 2017 (83% reduction) with a 33.8% reduction in indwelling foley catheter utilisation during the same time period. Adapted protocols showed success in decreasing the CAUTI rate and indwelling foley catheter usage in all of the BMC ICU’s. While all interventions had favourable and additive trends towards decreasing the CAUTI rate, the CAUTI awareness education, insertion and removal protocols and implementation of PureWick female incontinence devices had clear and significant effects on decreasing CAUTI rates. Our project provides a framework for improving HAIs using rapid cycle testing and U-chart data monitoring. Targeted education efforts and standardised checklists and protocols adapted sequentially are low-cost and high yield efforts that may decrease CAUTIs in ICU settings.
Evaluation of antimicrobial compounds to inhibit growth of select Gram-positive pathogenic or antimicrobial resistant bacteria in air-exposed silage
Authors: Ontiveros-Magadan Marina , Anderson Robin C. , Ruiz-Barrera Oscar , Arzola-Alvarez Claudio , Salinas-Chavira Jaime , Hume Michael E. , Scholljegerdes Eric J. , Harvey Roger B. , Nisbet David J. , Castillo-Castillo Yamicela
Published: December 2021

Spoiled silages can harbor pathogenic and antimicrobial-resistant microbes. The potential of some antimicrobial additives to inhibit certain pathogenic and antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in air-exposed silage was measured using pure and mixed bacterial cultures. With pure cultures, laurate and monolaurin (5 mg·mL−1) caused decreases (P < 0.05) of 4 to >7 log10 colony-forming units (CFU)·mL−1 in Listeria monocytogenes and Enterococcus faecalis compared to controls. Ten-fold higher amounts of these inhibitors were needed to equivalently decrease staphylococci. 2-Nitropropanol (1 mg·mL−1) decreased (P < 0.05) E. faecalis and L. monocytogenes 2.9–3.8 and 2.4–7.2 log10 CFU·mL−1 after 6 and 24 h incubations, respectively. In air-exposed whole-plant corn silage the inhibitors caused decreases, although not necessarily significant, of 0.7–2.2 log10 CFU·mL−1 in L. monocytogenes, staphylococci and culturable aerobes after 24 h incubation, with modest yet significant (P < 0.05) inhibition (<0.1–0.3 log10 CFU·mL−1) of yeasts and molds. Tests for carry-over effects against ruminal microbes revealed laurate, monolaurin, and 2-nitropropanol inhibited methanogenesis by >50% (P < 0.05) after 24 h incubation and inhibited L. monocytogenes and enterococci. The antimicrobial activities exhibited by these compounds may yield opportunities to optimize their use to rescue spoiled silages.
Progress of optical biosensors for analyzing pathogens and organic pollutants in water since 2015
Authors: Liu Bo , Song Xing , Lin Weiyun , Zhang Yan , Chen Bing , Zhang Baiyu
Published: December 2021

Contamination of water with pathogens and organic pollutants is one of the major environmental problems posing a risk to human health. Climate change with extreme weather events exacerbates this problem. The ability to monitor pollutants in a fast, continuous, and accurate manner is in increasing demand, especially under the climate change context, but is challenged by their ubiquity and trace concentrations. Optical biosensing is an attractive solution, owing to its rapid and accurate detection with high sensitivity. Principally, an optical biosensor recognizes bioactive toxins and contaminants via tailored bioreceptors (e.g., aptamers, enzymes, and cells) and transduces the biological response to optical signals. Research efforts have focused on tailoring bioreceptors and enhancing signal transduction by nanoparticles. This study comprehensively reviewed the mechanisms for optical biosensing and the recent development of bioreceptors and nanomaterials that enhance the rapid, easy, and accurate analysis of emerging contaminants in water. The advantages and challenges for the sensitivity, selectivity, and durability of biosensors are discussed, together with the opportunities and development strategies.
A century of knowledge: Kwakw

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’wakw Elders and environmental change
Authors: Mustonen Tero , Van Dam Brie , Eklund Hanna
Published: December 2021

This paper reviews a century of Kwakwaka’wakw knowledge on ecological, climate, and social change. We trace the era of Indigenous governance (about the precolonial period), especially from about 1910 to the devastation of the flood in Dzawada’enuxw First Nation territory in Kingcome, British Columbia, in 2010. This time period has been chosen as the assessment period as this is the lifetime of the 10 Elders that we collaborated with to understand and position change during this tumultuous era. We call the results of this process “a century of knowledge”. Ecological, social, and climate change are positioned with scientific literature for potential divergence/convergence. Almost all aspects of the Kwakwaka’wakw home area have undergone large-scale changes including clear-cut forestry, salmon farms, climate change affecting species ranges, cultural impositions, and colonial processes working to destroy Indigenous governance. Despite these imposed changes, the communities emerge as survivors on their own terms, including using the traditional feast system known as the Potlatch to come to terms with the devastation of the 2010 flood and beyond.
Macroscopic dynamics of gene regulatory networks revealed by individual entropy
Authors: Liu Cong , Hao Lijie , Lei Jinzhi
Published: December 2021

Complex systems are usually high-dimensional with intricate interactions among internal components, and may display complicated dynamics under different conditions. While it is difficult to measure detailed dynamics of each component, proper macroscopic description of a complex system is crucial for quantitative studies. In biological systems, each cell is a complex system containing a huge number of molecular components that are interconnected with each other through intricate molecular interaction networks. Here, we consider gene regulatory networks in a cell, and introduce individual entropy as a macroscopic variable to quantify the transcriptional dynamics in response to changes in random perturbations and/or network structures. The proposed individual entropy measures the information entropy of a system at each instant with respect to a basal reference state, and may provide temporal dynamics to characterize switches of system states. Individual entropy provides a method to quantify the stationary macroscopic dynamics of a gene set that is dependent on the gene regulation connections, and can be served as an indicator for the evolution of network structure variation. Moreover, the individual entropy with reference to a preceding state enables us to characterize different dynamic patterns generated from varying network structures. Our results show that the proposed individual entropy can be a valuable macroscopic variable of complex systems in characterizing the transition processes from order to disorder dynamics, and to identify the critical events during the transition process.
Dragging of inertial frames by matter and waves
Authors: Bičák Jiří , Ledvinka Tomáš
Published: December 2021

In this paper, we review and analyze four specific general-relativistic problems in which gravitomagnetism plays an important role: the dragging of magnetic fields around rotating black holes, dragging inside a collapsing slowly rotating spherical shell of dust, compared with the dragging by rotating gravitational waves. We demonstrate how the quantum detection of inertial frame dragging can be accomplished by using the Unruh–DeWitt detectors. Finally, we shall briefly show how “instantaneous Machian gauges” can be useful in the cosmological perturbation theory.
Direct reaction contribution in the very low-energy 19F(p,α0) reaction
Authors: Sahoo Lalit Kumar , Basu Chinmay
Published: December 2021

The direct reaction component of the [Formula: see text]F([Formula: see text]) reaction at [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]keV is studied for the data that became very recently available. This component is significant in this work using the direct pickup model in the framework of the DWBA formalism and indicate the strong cluster structure of [Formula: see text]F. The direct component of astrophysical S-factor is calculated for [Formula: see text]F([Formula: see text]).