bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reframing dementia: Nursing students' relational learning with rather than about people with dementia. A constructivist grounded theory study
Authors: Grosvenor Wendy , Gallagher Ann , Banerjee Sube
Published: October 2020

Objectives

Developing an informed and effective workforce that provides effective and ethical care to people with dementia and their families is an international priority. Here we explore the impact of a novel approach on students of adult nursing. It involved engagement with people with dementia and their carers over 3 years in the Time for Dementia Programme. This research explored students' perceptions of their professional learning and practice.

Methods

A longitudinal, constructivist grounded theory approach in three phases (3 years) was used. In‐depth interviews were conducted with 12 students of adult nursing following visits with older adults with dementia and their carers in their own homes at 12 months, 24 months and at 36 months. A constant comparative analysis of transcribed interviews was completed.

Results

A new theory of Whole Sight was identified as representing the impact of the learning that occurred as a consequence of relational learning visits. The core category of New Ways of Seeing dementia represented a broadening of students' views of dementia that encompassed the person's lives and relationships. This led to a person‐centred shift in students' practice. The data suggest that Time for Dementia can help students to be active in their contribution to care and serve as change agents in transforming dementia care.

Conclusions

The theory of Whole Sight that emerged is a novel and useful contribution to the evidence on community‐based educational initiatives. Visiting people with dementia and their carers at home in training can help develop a workforce that meets their needs.
Evaluating brain structure traits as endophenotypes using polygenicity and discoverability
Authors: Matoba Nana , Love Michael I. , Stein Jason L.
Published: October 2020

Human brain structure traits have been hypothesized to be broad endophenotypes for neuropsychiatric disorders, implying that brain structure traits are comparatively “closer to the underlying biology.” Genome‐wide association studies from large sample sizes allow for the comparison of common variant genetic architectures between traits to test the evidence supporting this claim. Endophenotypes, compared to neuropsychiatric disorders, are hypothesized to have less polygenicity, with greater effect size of each susceptible SNP, requiring smaller sample sizes to discover them. Here, we compare polygenicity and discoverability of brain structure traits, neuropsychiatric disorders, and other traits (91 in total) to directly test this hypothesis. We found reduced polygenicity (FDR = 0.01) and increased discoverability (FDR = 3.68 × 10−9) of cortical brain structure traits, as compared to aggregated estimates of multiple neuropsychiatric disorders. We predict that ~8 M individuals will be required to explain the full heritability of cortical surface area by genome‐wide significant SNPs, whereas sample sizes over 20 M will be required to explain the full heritability of depression. In conclusion, our findings are consistent with brain structure satisfying the higher power criterion of endophenotypes.
Outcomes at 6 months are related to brain structural and white matter microstructural reorganization in idiopathic tinnitus patients treated with sound therapy
Authors: Chen Qian , Lv Han , Wang Zhaodi , Wei Xuan , Zhao Pengfei , Yang Zhenghan , Gong Shusheng , Wang Zhenchang
Published: October 2020

This study aimed to explore brain structural and white matter microstructural reorganization in the early stage of tinnitus and identify brain alterations that contribute to its relief after 6 months of sound therapy. We studied 64 patients with idiopathic tinnitus, including 29 patients who were categorized into an effective group (EG) and 35 who were categorized into an ineffective group (IG) according to the 6‐month follow‐up improvement of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory score, along with 63 healthy controls (HCs). All participants underwent structural and diffusion tensor imaging scanning on a 3‐T magnetic resonance system. Differences in brain gray/white matter volume and white matter microstructure were evaluated using voxel‐based morphometry analysis and tract‐based spatial statistics among the three groups. Associations between brain reorganization and the improvement of tinnitus symptoms were also investigated. Compared with EG patients, IG patients experienced a significant gray matter volume decrease in the right middle frontal gyrus (MFG)/right precentral gyrus (PreCG). Meanwhile, both EG and IG patients showed significant changes (decrease or increase) in brain white matter integrity in the auditory‐related or nonauditory‐related white matter fiber tracts compared with HCs, while EG patients showed decreased axial diffusivity in the bilateral middle cerebellar peduncle (MCP) compared with IG patients. We combined the gray matter change of the MFG/PreCG and the white matter integrity of the bilateral MCP as an imaging indicator to evaluate the patient's prognosis and screen patients before treatment; this approach reached a sensitivity of 77.1% and a specificity of 82.8%. Our study suggests that there was a close relationship between brain reorganization and tinnitus improvement. The right MFG/PreCG and bilateral MCP may be indicators that can be used to predict prognoses in patients with idiopathic tinnitus and may be used to screen patients before sound therapy. These findings may provide new useful information that can lead to a better understanding of the tinnitus mechanism.
Vulnerable, Fragile, and Endangered? Financial Rhetoric and Reality at Regional Public Universities
Authors: McClure Kevin R. , Fryar Alisa Hicklin
Published: October 2020

Recent reporting and research have claimed that some regional public universities are vulnerable, fragile, and endangered. However, much of what we know about the financial conditions of RPUs is limited to cases of financial crisis that capture national attention yet fail to fully represent the sector. The purpose of this chapter is to more deeply and directly probe the financial conditions of RPUs based on several financial metrics from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), as well information gleaned from credit agencies, such at Moody's and Standard and Poor's, federal accountability systems like Heightened Cash Monitoring, and publicly available financial health assessments. Analysis of this data shows that while there are significant financial challenges and a small number of institutions face acute financial stress, framing the entire sector as imperiled is not warranted.
Doing the Same (or More) With Less: The Challenges Regional Public Universities Face in Serving Rural Populations
Authors: Koricich Andrew , Tandberg David , Bishop Brandon , Weeden Dustin
Published: October 2020

Regional public universities play a critical role in providing postsecondary education access in rural communities. This chapter explores that role by considering the distribution of these institutions across geographic areas and how that shapes the postsecondary options available to rural students. Federal data are used to demonstrate disparities in revenue sources between rural institutions and those in cities and suburbs, and a recent survey of individuals leading state higher education agencies and systems highlights the most pressing issues rural‐serving institutions face today. Policy recommendations in this chapter include the expansion of rural broadband access and increased expenditures on instructional activities. The chapter concludes with a call for additional research on rural students’ retention and completion outcomes, in‐college experiences of rural students, and the specific financial challenges facing rural‐serving institutions.
Enrollment Management and Admissions Policies at Regional Public Universities
Authors: DeMonbrun Matt , Warshaw Jarrett B.
Published: October 2020

The college enrollment landscape has changed vastly in the last couple of decades. As such, regional public universities (RPUs) have had to become increasingly strategic in how they recruit new students to attend their institutions. For example, total college enrollment has declined from 2010 to 2017, and this population continues to become more diverse in race/ethnicity and socioeconomic background. This chapter highlights the strategic enrollment‐related changes that these institutions have undergone across key variables. We close with two case studies, examining these changes across two state systems of higher education to better understand how these variations occur in contexts of broader state demographics and public policies. The findings from this chapter suggest that RPUs have largely experienced similar changes together over the last 10 years of this analysis, showing modest increases in tuition rates and institutional aid amid declining state appropriations and decreases in average first‐year standardized test scores and graduate student enrollment.
Storytelling and Presidential Leadership at a Regional Public University
Authors: Borsig Jim
Published: October 2020

This chapter describes the evolution of a regional public university president's communication strategy from being a fact‐driven presenter to becoming the university's principal storyteller by integrating institutional data and metrics with meaningful stories from students, faculty, staff, and alumni. The case describes a crisis of agreement where university's constituencies appear seriously divided, yet through a structured process based on their shared experiences and stories about the impact of the university on their lives reveals that significant agreement exists. The crisis is the lack of awareness such agreement exists, and storytelling becomes one method to recognize it. Presidential storytelling becomes the means to link these important constituencies together, as well as to illustrate the university's positive impact on its people and region. Storytelling becomes the university president's principal means of communicating the value and purpose of the regional public university's mission, while different from a large land‐grant or research university, remains vital and important to its students, the business community, public officials, the region, as well as the university itself.
Investigating the relationship between social care supply and healthcare utilization by older people in England
Authors: Liu Dan , Pace Maria Lucia , Goddard Maria , Jacobs Rowena , Wittenberg Raphael , Mason Anne
Published: October 2020

Since 2010, adult social care spending in England has fallen significantly in real terms whilst demand has risen. Reductions in social care supply may also have impacted demand for NHS services, particularly for those whose care is provided at the interface of the health and care systems. We analyzed a panel dataset of 150 local authorities (councils) to test potential impacts on hospital utilization by people aged 65 and over: emergency admission rates for falls and hip fractures (“front‐door” measures); and extended stays of 7 days or longer; and 21 days or longer (“back‐door” measures). Changes in social care supply were assessed in two ways: gross current expenditure (per capita 65 and over) adjusted by local labor costs and social care workforce (per capita 18 and over). We ran negative binomial models, controlling for deprivation, ethnicity, age, unpaid care, council class, and year effects. To account for potential endogeneity, we ran instrumental variable regressions and dynamic panel models. Sensitivity analysis explored potential effects of funding for integrated care (the Better Care Fund). There was no consistent evidence that councils with higher per capita spend or higher social care staffing rates had lower hospital admission rates or shorter hospital stays.
Evidence for different molecular parameters in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma of nonsmokers and nondrinkers: Systematic review and meta‐analysis on HPV, p16, and TP53
Authors: Mulder Frans J. , Pierssens Damiana D. C. G. , Baijens Laura W. J. , Kremer Bernd , Speel Ernst‐Jan M.
Published: October 2020

Background

The goal of this review was to present an overview of the currently identified molecular parameters in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) of nonsmokers and nondrinkers (NSND).

Methods

Following the PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search was performed using the electronic databases PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar.

Results

Of the 902 analyzed unique studies, 74 were included in a quantitative synthesis and 24 in a meta‐analysis. Human papillomavirus (HPV) was reported as a molecular parameter in 38 studies, followed by p16 and TP53 (23 and 14 studies, respectively). The variety of other molecular parameters concerned sporadic findings in small numbers of NSND.

Conclusions

HNSCC in NSND is more often related to HPV and p16 overexpression compared to tumors of smokers‐drinkers. In a third of virus‐negative tumors, TP53 mutations were detected with a mutational profile associated with aging and ultraviolet light exposure rather than to tobacco consumption.
Head and neck surgery during the coronavirus‐19 pandemic: The University of California San Francisco experience
Authors: Wai Katherine C. , Xu Mary Jue , Lee Rex H. , El‐Sayed Ivan H. , George Jonathan R. , Heaton Chase M. , Knott P. Daniel , Park Andrea M. , Ryan William R. , Seth Rahul , Ha Patrick K.
Published: October 2020

Background

Guidelines regarding head and neck surgical care have evolved during the coronavirus‐19 (COVID‐19) pandemic. Data on operative management have been limited.

Methods

We compared two cohorts of patients undergoing head and neck or reconstructive surgery between March 16, 2019 and April 16, 2019 (pre‐COVID‐19) and March 16, 2020 and April 16, 2020 (COVID‐19) at an academic center. Perioperative, intraoperative, and postoperative outcomes were recorded.

Results

There were 63 operations during COVID‐19 and 84 operations during pre‐COVID‐19. During COVID‐19, a smaller proportion of patients had benign pathology (12% vs 20%, respectively) and underwent thyroid procedures (2% vs 23%) while a greater proportion of patients underwent microvascular reconstruction±ablation (24% vs 12%,). Operative times increased, especially among patients undergoing microvascular reconstruction±ablation (687 ± 112 vs 596 ± 91 minutes, P = .04). Complication rates and length of stay were similar.

Conclusions

During COVID‐19, perioperative outcomes were similar, operative time increased, and there were no recorded transmissions to staff or patients. Continued surgical management of head and neck cancer patients can be provided safely.
A prospective study of intraoperative assessment of mucosal squamous cell carcinoma margins in the head and neck
Authors: Smithers Fiona A. E. , Haymerle Georg , Palme Carsten E. , Low Tsu‐Hui (Hubert) , Froggatt Catriona , Gupta Ruta , Clark Jonathan R.
Published: October 2020

Background

In head and neck cancers, tumor margin assessment has important prognostic and therapeutic implications. Frozen section control of margins is commonly employed intraoperatively. However, this is not without limitations. The aim of this study is to determine whether intraoperative slicing of the whole specimen is feasible and what impact this may have on tumor margin assessment and the requirement for postoperative radiotherapy.

Methods

From September 2016 to August 2018, we recruited 22 patients as a pilot study looking at both the practicalities and the clinical relevance of whole margin tumor analysis intraoperatively. Our project is a prospective single arm study with historical controls.

Results

Forty‐one percent of our patients required further intraoperative resection for close or involved margins. Seven of these patients who otherwise would have required adjuvant radiotherapy due to their margin status did not, after our intervention.

Conclusions

We found that although requiring resources, this process was feasible without unduly increasing operative times and with potential patient benefit including reduced incidence of adjuvant radiotherapy.
Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 4α Prevents the Steatosis‐to‐NASH Progression by Regulating p53 and Bile Acid Signaling (in mice)
Authors: Xu Yanyong , Zhu Yingdong , Hu Shuwei , Xu Yang , Stroup Diane , Pan Xiaoli , Bawa Fathima Cassim , Chen Shaoru , Gopoju Raja , Yin Liya , Zhang Yanqiao
Published: October 2020

Background and Aims

Hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α (HNF4α) is highly enriched in the liver, but its role in the progression of nonalcoholic liver steatosis (NAFL) to NASH has not been elucidated. In this study, we investigated the effect of gain or loss of HNF4α function on the development and progression of NAFLD in mice.

Approach and Results

Overexpression of human HNF4α protected against high‐fat/cholesterol/fructose (HFCF) diet–induced steatohepatitis, whereas loss of Hnf4α had opposite effects. HNF4α prevented hepatic triglyceride accumulation by promoting hepatic triglyceride lipolysis, fatty acid oxidation, and VLDL secretion. Furthermore, HNF4α suppressed the progression of NAFL to NASH. Overexpression of human HNF4α inhibited HFCF diet–induced steatohepatitis in control mice but not in hepatocyte‐specific p53−/−
mice. In HFCF diet–fed mice lacking hepatic Hnf4α, recapitulation of hepatic expression of HNF4α targets cholesterol 7α‐hydroxylase and sterol 12α‐hydroxylase and normalized hepatic triglyceride levels and attenuated steatohepatitis.

Conclusions

The current study indicates that HNF4α protects against diet‐induced development and progression of NAFLD by coordinating the regulation of lipolytic, p53, and bile acid signaling pathways. Targeting hepatic HNF4α may be useful for treatment of NASH.
The Natural History of NAFLD, a Community-Based Study at a Large Health Care Delivery System in the United States
Authors: Nyberg Lisa M. , Cheetham Craig T. , Patton Heather M. , Yang Su-Jau , Chiang Kevin M. , Caparosa Susan L. , Stern Julie A. , Nyberg Anders H.
Published: October 2020

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a global public health problem. However, the natural history of NAFLD is incomplete. This is a retrospective cohort study of patients identified with NAFLD by diagnosis codes in a large, community-based health care delivery system. The objectives were (1) to follow patients from initial NAFLD presentation through progression to cirrhosis and/or decompensated cirrhosis to liver cancer, liver transplant, and death for up to 10 years; and (2) to conduct disease progression analysis restricted to patients with NAFLD identified as having diabetes at baseline. A total of 98,164 patients with full NAFLD and 26,488 with diabetes were divided into three baseline prevalent states: (1) no cirrhosis, (2) compensated cirrhosis, and (3) decompensated cirrhosis. In baseline patients without cirrhosis, annual rates of compensated cirrhosis, decompensated cirrhosis, and death were 0.28%, 0.31%, and 0.63% per year, respectively. With baseline compensated cirrhosis, the annual rates of decompensation and death were 2.4% and 6.7% per year. Finally, in those with decompensated cirrhosis at baseline, the death rate was 8.0% per year. In those without cirrhosis and with cirrhosis at baseline, the rates of liver cancer and death were increased approximately 2-fold in the diabetic subpopulation compared with the full NAFLD cohort. Age and comorbidities increased with increasing disease severity. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis showed that cirrhosis was strongly associated with death and liver cancer, and that diabetes was associated with a significant increase in the hazard of both liver cancer and death (2.56 [2.04-3.20] and 1.43 [1.35-1.52]), respectively. Conclusion: The findings of this community-based study further our understanding of the natural history of NAFLD and demonstrate that diabetes is a major factor in the progression of this disease.
Hippocampal spatial memory representations in mice are heterogeneously stable
Authors: Levy Samuel J. , Kinsky Nathaniel R. , Mau William , Sullivan David W. , Hasselmo Michael E.
Published: October 2020

The population of hippocampal neurons actively coding space continually changes across days as mice repeatedly perform tasks. Many hippocampal place cells become inactive while other previously silent neurons become active, challenging the idea that stable behaviors and memory representations are supported by stable patterns of neural activity. Active cell replacement may disambiguate unique episodes that contain overlapping memory cues, and could contribute to reorganization of memory representations. How active cell replacement affects the evolution of representations of different behaviors within a single task is unknown. We trained mice to perform a delayed nonmatching to place task over multiple weeks, and performed calcium imaging in area CA1 of the dorsal hippocampus using head‐mounted miniature microscopes. Cells active on the central stem of the maze “split” their calcium activity according to the animal's upcoming turn direction (left or right), the current task phase (study or test), or both task dimensions, even while spatial cues remained unchanged. We found that, among reliably active cells, different splitter neuron populations were replaced at unequal rates, resulting in an increasing number of cells modulated by turn direction and a decreasing number of cells with combined modulation by both turn direction and task phase. Despite continual reorganization, the ensemble code stably segregated these task dimensions. These results show that hippocampal memories can heterogeneously reorganize even while behavior is unchanging.
Future climate impacts on the hydrology of headwater streams in the Amazon River Basin: Implications for migratory goliath catfishes
Authors: Feng Dongmei , Raoufi Roozbeh , Beighley Edward , Melack John M. , Goulding Michael , Barthem Ronaldo B. , Venticinque Eduardo , Cañas Carlos , Forsberg Bruce , Sorribas Mino Viana
Published: October 2020

Climate‐driven alterations of hydro‐meteorological conditions can change river flow regimes and potentially affect the migration behaviour of fishes and the productivity of important fisheries in the Amazon basin, such as those for the continental‐scale migratory goliath catfishes (Brachyplatystoma, Pimelodidae). In this study, we investigated hydrologic responses to climate change using a hydrologic model forced with climate inputs, which integrate historical (2001–2010) observations and general circulation model (GCM) projections under the emission scenario Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5. We developed an empirical model to characterize future (2090–2099) climate‐change impacts on goliath catfish spawning migrations as a function of river flow depth dynamics at the upstream elevational limit of spawning (250 m) in headwater basins of the Amazon. The model results revealed spatially variable impacts of climate change on the catfish spawning migrations. The Marañón, Ucayali, Juruá, Purus, and Madeira basins had a predicted increase in the annual mean (3–8%) and maximum (1.1–4.9%) spawning migration rate (i.e., the fraction of fish that migrate to the spawning grounds in a day), mainly due to the lengthened rising phase of flow‐driven migratory events during wet seasons. The Caquetá‐Japurá, Putumayo‐Içá, Napo, and Blanco rivers had predicted decreases (3–7%) in the mean migration rate because of decreases in the length of the rising season of flow depth and the frequency of migratory events. The predicted timing of fish spawning migrations (quantified by the temporal centroid of migration rates) was delayed by 7–10 days in the west‐central and southwest regions and was 8 days earlier in the northwest and northcentral areas, due to changes in the onset of the rising season. We established a river depth baseline that controls the onset of goliath catfish spawning migration. This depth varies between 0.9–5.6 m across study sites. We found that the estimated depth baseline was most sensitive to uncertainties in river width and cross‐sectional channel shape. These results may help inform sustainable adaptation strategies for ecosystem conservation and local fisheries management in the Amazon basin.
Low dose IL‐2 suppress osteoclastogenesis in collagen‐induced arthritis via JNK dependent pathway
Authors: Sun Han , Zhao Yong , Wang Kun , Zhu Li , Dong Jian , Zhao Jie , Wang Yimin , Li Huan , Sun Xiaoliang , Lu Yunjie
Published: October 2020

Background

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the most common chronic immune joint diseases, mainly involving blood vessels and small joints. The complex pathogenesis of RA greatly increases the difficulty of treatment. At present, the common hormone and immunosuppressive therapy are not effective, while low‐dose interleukin‐2 (IL‐2) recently has been found to possess some advantages for immunotherapy. However, its related signal pathway remains to be elucidated.

Methods

We fabricated the model of arthritis in mice, and then low‐dose IL‐2 was injected at a fixed time point to observe the changes of related vascular and organ pathology, inflammatory factors, and signal pathway proteins, which were verified by statistical analysis.

Results

Low dose IL‐2 can reduce the severity of vascular and bone lesions in collagen‐induced arthritis immune model, and inhibit osteoclast formation in vitro by phosphorylation of nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB), which inhibits the receptor activator of NF‐κB ligand effect through c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK) pathway, and its immunotherapeutic effect depends on the activation of JNK.

Conclusion

It is the first time for us to prove that low dose IL‐2 can inhibit osteoclast formation in collagen‐induced arthritis through the JNK dependent pathway, which will provide the angle and theoretical basis for future immunotherapy of IL‐2.
SLy2‐deficiency promotes B‐1 cell immunity and triggers enhanced production of IgM and IgG2 antibodies against pneumococcal vaccine
Authors: Jaufmann Jennifer , Tümen Leyla , Schmitt Fee , Schäll Daniel , von Holleben Max , Beer‐Hammer Sandra
Published: October 2020

Background

Despite the benefits of existing vaccines, Streptococcus pneumoniae is still responsible for the greatest proportion of respiratory tract infections around the globe, thereby substantially contributing to morbidity and mortality in humans. B‐1 cells are key players of bacterial clearance during pneumococcal infection and even provide long‐lasting immunity towards S. pneumoniae. Previous reports strongly suggest an essential role of the immunoinhibitory adapter Src homology domain 3 lymphocyte protein 2 (SLy2) for B‐1 cell‐mediated antibody production. The objective of this study is to evaluate S. pneumoniae‐directed B cell responses in the context of SLy2 deficiency.

Methods

B‐1 cell populations were analyzed via flow cytometry before and after pneumococcal immunization of SLy2‐deficient and wild‐type control mice. Global and vaccine‐specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG antibody titers were assessed by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. To investigate survival rates during acute pneumococcal lung infection, mice were intranasally challenged with S. pneumoniae (serotype 3). Complementary isolated splenic B cells were stimulated in vitro and their proliferative response was assessed by fluorescent staining. In vitro antibody secretion was quantified by LEGENDplex.

Results

We demonstrate increased frequencies of B‐1 cells and elevated titers of preantigenic IgM in SLy2‐deficient mice. In addition, these mice produce significantly more amounts of IgM and IgG2 upon pneumococcal vaccination. Knocking out SLy2 did not induce survival advantages in our murine model of acute pneumonia, indicating the presence of compensatory mechanisms.

Conclusion

Our results reveal reinforced specific antibody responses towards pneumococcal polysaccharides and enhanced IgG2 secretion as a consequence of SLy2 deficiency, which could be relevant to the development of more efficient vaccines.
Application of high‐voltage discharges for disinfection and activation of irrigation water*
Authors: Belov Alexander , Vasilyev Alexey , Musenko Andrey
Published: October 2020

To prevent the development of plant diseases, irrigation water needs to be disinfected. The commonly applied cleaning methods do not allow the possibility of activation and enrichment of irrigation water with nutrients. The target of this study is to develop an environmentally friendly method for disinfecting and activating irrigation water by treatment with high‐voltage discharges in an electro‐hydraulic installation. The study used the following materials and equipment: a high‐voltage installation with an electro‐hydraulic spark gap, an EnSURE luminometer (Hygiena) to measure the level of hygiene of water and its solutions, AquaSnap Total (AQ100X) test tubes (Hygiena) to determine the total amount of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in water, and an ITAN ionomer (Tomanalit) for measuring nitrogen compounds in water. Experimentally the following optimal parameters and technological conditions were determined and substantiated to reduce irrigation water pollution from 1210 RLU to 73 RLU and increase water content of nitrogen compounds from 1.2 mg L‐1 to 8.4 mg L‐1: an operating voltage of 19.9 kV, a capacity 0.145 μF, and a number of discharges of 2860 pcs. Water disinfected with high‐voltage discharges will be useful for agricultural irrigation since it can serve as a nitrogen fertilizer, which does not have any harmful effect on the environment.
Monitoring the biochemical changes occurring to human keratinocytes exposed to solar radiation by Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Lopez‐Gonzalez Ulises , Casey Alan , J. Byrne Hugh
Published: October 2020

Solar radiation exposure is recognised to be a significant contributor to the development of skin cancer. Monitoring the simultaneous and consecutive mechanisms of interaction could provide a greater understanding of the process of photocarcinogenesis. This work presents an analysis of the biochemical and morphological changes occurring to immortalised human epithelial keratinocyte (HaCaT) cell cultures exposed to simulated solar radiation (SSR). Cell viability was monitored with the aid of the Alamar Blue assay, morphological examination was done with haematoxylin and eosin staining (H&E) and changes to the biochemical constituents (nucleic acids and proteins) as a result of the radiation insult were demonstrated through a combination of Raman microspectroscopy and multivariate analysis of spectral patterns. The spectral results suggest that SSR induces changes to the conformational structure of DNA as an immediate result of the radiation, whereas alteration in the protein signature is mostly seen as a later response.
Cross‐section modified and highly elastic sutures reduce tissue incision and show comparable biocompatibility: in‐vitro and in‐vivo evaluation of novel thermoplastic urethane surgical threads
Authors: Helmedag Marius , Heise Daniel , Eickhoff Roman , Kossel Klas‐Moritz , Gries Thomas , Jockenhoevel Stefan , Neumann Ulf Peter , Klink Christian Daniel , Lambertz Andreas
Published: October 2020

Surgical sutures are indispensable for a vast majority of operative procedures. An ideal suture is characterized by high tissue compliance without cutting into the mended tissue and optimal biocompatibility. Therefore, we assessed these mechanical and biological properties for novel elastic thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and cross‐sectional modified “snowflake” sutures. Circular and “snowflake”‐shaped TPU threads were manufactured and compared to similar surface modified polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) sutures. Regular PVDF sutures were used as the control group. Single‐axis tensile test with and without gelatinous tissue surrogates were performed to evaluate the suture incision into the specimens. Biocompatibility was evaluated by subcutaneous implantation (n = 18) in rats for 7 and 21 days. Histology and immunohistology was conducted for assessment of the foreign body reaction. Regular and modified TPU threads showed a significant reduction of incision into the tissue surrogates compared to the control. Both TPU sutures and the modified PVDF sutures achieved comparable biocompatibility versus regular PVDF threads. Detailed histology revealed novel tissue integration into the notches of the surface modified sutures, we termed this newly shaped granuloma “intrafilamentous” granuloma. Elastic TPU threads showed a significant reduction of tissue surrogate incision and suture tension loss. Biocompatibility did not significantly differ from standard PVDF. Histology demonstrated tissue ingrowth following the surface modification of the suture referred to as “intrafilamentous” granuloma. Further in vivo studies are required to illuminate the exact potential of the new sutures to optimize intestinal anastomosis.
Evaluation of hyperbranched polyglycerol for cold perfusion and storage of donor kidneys in a pig model of kidney autotransplantation
Authors: Li Shadan , Huang Zhongli , Li Xiaowei , Zhao Youguang , Jiang Xin , Wen Yang , Luo Hao , Wang Liang , Guan Qiunong , Cafeeva Irina , Brooks Donald E. , Nguan Christopher Y. C. , Kizhakkedathu Jayachandran N. , Du Caigan
Published: October 2020

Hyperbranched polyglycerol (HPG) is a biocompatible polyether polymer that is a potential colloid component in a preservation solution for suppressing interstitial edema during cold storage of a donor organ. This study evaluated the outcomes of kidney transplants after cold perfusion and storage with a HPG‐based preservation solution (HPGS) in a pig model of kidney autotransplantation. The left kidneys of farm pigs (weighing 35–45 kg) were perfused with and stored in either cold HPGS or standard UW solution (UWS), followed by transplantation to the right side after right nephrectomy. The survival and function of transplants were determined by the urine output, and serum creatinine (SCr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) of recipients. Transplant injury was examined by histological analysis. Here, we showed that there was no significant difference between HPGS and UWS in the prevention of tissue edema, but HPGS was more effective than UWS for initial blood washout of kidney perfusion and for the prevention of cold ischemia injury during cold storage. After autotransplantation, the kidneys preserved with HPGS (HPG group) had better functional recovery than those with UWS (UW group), indicated by significantly more urine output and lower levels of SCr and BUN. The survived grafts in HPG group had less tissue damage than those in UW group. In conclusion, as compared to the UWS the HPGS has less negative impact on kidney cold ischemia during cold storage, resulting in improving immediate functional recovery after transplantation, suggesting that HPG is a promising colloid for donor kidney preservation.
Geometric analysis of anharmonic downward distortion following paths
Authors: Ebisawa Shuichi , Tsutsumi Takuro , Taketsugu Tetsuya
Published: October 2020

A mathematical aspect of the anharmonic downward distortion following (ADDF) path is discussed. The ADDF method is utilized as an automated reaction path search method, which can explore transition state geometries on a potential energy surface from a potential minimum. We show that the maximum number of the ADD stationary paths intersecting the potential minimum is 2f + 1 − 2, where f denotes the degree of freedom of the system. We also show that the bifurcation of the ADD stationary path is essential to detect all the transition states connected from a given minimum. The ADDF computation is demonstrated for a H2O molecule in which pitchfork bifurcation is observed.
Functional significance of intra‐left ventricular vortices on energy efficiency in normal, dilated, and hypertrophied hearts
Authors: Sarashina‐Motoi Miwa , Iwano Hiroyuki , Motoi Ko , Ishizaka Suguru , Chiba Yasuyuki , Tsujinaga Shingo , Murayama Michito , Nakabachi Masahiro , Yokoyama Shinobu , Nishino Hisao , Okada Kazunori , Kaga Sanae , Anzai Toshihisa
Published: October 2020

Purpose

To investigate the influence of changes in vortices within the left ventricle (LV) on energy efficiency (EE) in normal and diseased hearts.

Methods

We performed vector flow mapping echocardiography in 36 normal participants (N), 36 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (D), and 36 patients with LV hypertrophy (H). The circulation of the main anterior vortex was measured as a parameter of vortex strength. Energy loss (EL) was measured for one cardiac cycle, and EE was calculated as EL divided by stroke work (SW), which represents the loss of kinetic energy per unit of LV external work.

Results

Circulation increased in the order of N, H, and D (N: 15 ± 4, D: 19 ± 8, H: 17 ± 6 × 10−3 m2/s; analysis of variance [ANOVA] P < .01). Conversely, EE increased in the order of N, D, and H (N: 0.22 ± 0.07, D: 0.26 ± 0.16, H: 0.30 ± 0.16 10−5 J/mm Hg mL m s; ANOVA P = .04), suggesting worst EE in group H. We found a positive correlation between circulation and SW only in group N, and positive correlation between circulation and EE only in diseased groups (D: R = 0.55, P < .01; H: R = 0.44, P < .01). Multivariable analyses revealed that circulation was the independent determinant of EE in groups D and H.

Conclusions

Enhanced vortices could be associated with effective increase in LV external work in normal hearts. Conversely, they were associated with loss of EE without an optimal increase in external work in failing hearts, regardless of the LV morphology.
Active bleeding after kidney biopsy: Successful ultrasound‐guided direct thrombin embolization into the cortical fistula
Authors: Escudero‐Fernandez Jose Miguel , Bolufer Cardona Mónica , Perez Lafuente Mercedes , Montealegre Carolina , Uriarte Iciar , Serres‐Créixams Xavier
Published: October 2020

A 27‐year‐old man, previously diagnosed with IgA nephropathy, was referred for native kidney biopsy. After the procedure, the patient presented active bleeding revealed by Doppler and contrast‐enhanced ultrasonography at the biopsy site. Successful embolization of the cortical fistula, the focus of bleeding, was achieved using ultrasound‐guided thrombin injection and confirmed by Doppler ultrasonography, contrast‐enhanced ultrasonography, and CT angiography. This case report shows that contrast‐enhanced ultrasonography is useful for detecting active bleeding after a solid organ biopsy. Moreover, ultrasound‐guided thrombin embolization is a safe and minimally invasive treatment and an alternative to angiography‐guided embolization.
Systematic review and meta‐analysis: Is there any role for antioxidant therapy for pain in chronic pancreatitis
Authors: Mohta Srikant , Singh Namrata , Gunjan Deepak , Kumar Amit , Saraya Anoop
Published: October 2020

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is an irreversible disease with increased oxidative stress. The therapeutic role of antioxidants for pain reduction in CP is debatable. A systematic review of articles in PubMed and Embase until February 2020 was performed. Only randomized controlled trials conducted on humans to evaluate the therapeutic effects of antioxidants for pain in CP were included. Studies of other design, nonhuman studies, and those that did not objectively assess pain were excluded. Twelve articles and four articles were eligible for qualitative and quantitative analysis, respectively. The four included studies had a total of 352 participants. Pain reduction as measured by a visual analog scale was not significantly different in the antioxidant group compared to placebo (standardized mean difference = −0.14 [95% confidence interval [CI] = −0.44 to 0.17]; P = 0.38). Number of pain‐free participants was also similar (odds ratio [OR] = 1.59 [0.97–2.59]; P = 0.06). There was no difference in outcome when comparing different etiologies of CP or age group. The reduction in the number of analgesics used did not differ between both groups. Antioxidants were not associated with increased adverse events (OR = 2.59 [CI = 0.77–8.69]; P = 0.12). A qualitative analysis on the effect on quality of life did not suggest any significant improvement with antioxidants. There was no significant pain reduction or change in quality of life in CP patients with use of antioxidants. This makes their routine use in the management of CP questionable. However, further studies may identify a subgroup where they are more useful.
Morphological and histological examination of short‐wing formation in the winter moth Protalcis concinnata (Insecta: Lepidoptera, Geometridae)
Authors: Niitsu Shuhei , Kamito Takehiko
Published: October 2020

Winter geometrid moths exhibit sexual dimorphism in wing length and female‐specific flightlessness. Female‐specific flightlessness in insects is an interesting phenomenon in terms of sexual dimorphism and reproductive biology. In the winter geometrid moth, Protalcis concinnata (Wileman), adult females have short wings and adult males have fully developed wings. Although the developmental process for wing reduction in Lepidoptera is well studied, little is known about the morphology and the developmental pattern of short‐winged flightless morphs in Lepidoptera. To clarify the precise mechanisms and developmental processes that produce short‐winged morphs, we performed morphological and histological investigations of adult and pupal wing development in the winter geometrid moth P. concinnata. Our findings showed that (a) wing development in both sexes is similar until larval‐pupal metamorphosis, (b) the shape of the sexually dimorphic wings is determined by the position of the bordering lacuna (BL), (c) the BL is positioned farther inward in females than in males, and (d) after the short pupal diapause period, the female pupal wing epithelium degenerates to approximately two‐thirds its original size due to cell death. We propose that this developmental pattern is a previously unrecognized process among flightless Lepidoptera.
Duration–severity–area characteristics of drought events in eastern China determined using a three‐dimensional clustering method
Authors: Liu Bingjun , Liang Manlin , Huang Zeqin , Tan Xuezhi
Published: October 2020

Drought is one of the most destructive types of natural disasters, causing great losses of every aspects worldwide. Using a three‐dimensional (longitude, latitude, and time) clustering method based on gridded 3 month standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index data with a resolution of 0.25° collected for East China between 1960 and 2017, we identified and analysed five characteristics of drought events via the Mann–Kendall (MK) test. The results revealed that this method could capture drought events on the basis of their spatiotemporal characteristics. Drought development processes could be visualized via the spatial expansion of drought patches and the transferring path (reconstructed from the centroids of drought patches observed each month). By applying this identification method to the territory of East China, the occurrence of 174 droughts in the last six decades could be determined; furthermore, their objective existence in the spatiotemporal scale was confirmed by comparing the results with historical records and soil moisture data. The increasing moving speed of the centroids and the non‐repetitive rate of the impacted areas suggests that an increasing number of regions have likely been affected over time by large‐scale drought events. The drought patches associated with all of the events identified in the present study tended to move westward in South China and eastward in southwestern China. The remaining four characteristics (i.e., duration, severity, affected area, and intensity), were used to quantify the degree of drought, along with its development, where significant decreasing trends were found among the first three characteristics. In southwestern China, drought events decreased in frequency, but increased spatially, whereas drought events in southeastern China showed an opposite change. Drought events with a small spatial scale occurred more frequently in coastal regions. The majority of drought events mainly occurred in central and North China and moved northward.
Administrative environmental innovations, supply network structure, and environmental disclosure
Authors: Bellamy Marcus A. , Dhanorkar Suvrat , Subramanian Ravi
Published: October 2020

This study contributes to a theoretical and empirical understanding of whether and how administrative environmental innovations (AEIs)—implemented to help track and manage a firm's environmental impacts—are related to environmental disclosure. Drawing on the Belief–Action–Outcome framework, we posit that the motivation of individuals (employees, managers, and the leadership) within the firm to access, use, and act on the environmental information available to them would be enhanced by the firm's implementation of AEIs, resulting in more extensive environmental disclosure by the firm. Additionally, building on the literature on supply chain networks, we posit that the structural position of the firm vis‐à‐vis its supply network—reflecting information flows, network learning, and status—moderates the AEI implementation–environmental disclosure relationship. To test our hypotheses, we build a multi‐industry dataset of 3,106 firm‐year observations based on 67,809 dyadic cost‐of‐goods‐sold‐based relationships obtained from Bloomberg's supply chain relationships database to construct the supply networks of focal firms. We also draw on Bloomberg's environmental, social, and governance (ESG) data for our AEI implementation and environmental disclosure measures. We find significant evidence to support our hypothesis that AEI implementation is positively associated with the extent of environmental disclosure. However, the implementation of both internal and external forms of AEIs has a more pronounced positive relationship with the extent of environmental disclosure, compared to the implementation of either form alone. With regard to supply network structure, we identify three principal variables—accessibility, control, and interconnectedness—that influence network learning and status of the focal firm and find that they moderate the AEI implementation–environmental disclosure relationship. We provide insights for theory and practice based on our findings.
Ultrasound examination predicts 6‐month progression in carpal tunnel syndrome patients
Authors: Farias Zuniga Amanda , Ghavanini Amer A. , Israelian Gaspar , Keir Peter J.
Published: October 2020

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a peripheral neuropathy resulting from chronic median nerve compression. Chronic compression leads to neurological changes that are quantified through nerve conduction studies (NCS). Although NCS represents the gold standard in CTS assessment, they provide limited prognostic value. Several studies have identified ultrasound as a tool in diagnosing and potentially predicting the progression of CTS in patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of ultrasound examination in CTS patients. Twenty patients recruited at their first visit with the neurologist completed two NCS and ultrasound examinations approximately 6 months apart. Ultrasound examination consisted of B‐mode, pulse‐wave Doppler and colour Doppler ultrasound videos and images to quantify median nerve cross‐sectional area, intraneural blood flow velocity in three wrist postures (15° flexion, neutral, and 30° extension), and displacement of the flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) tendon and the adjacent subsynovial connective tissue (SSCT) of the middle finger during repetitive finger flexion‐extension cycles. A questionnaire was administered to assess the work‐relatedness of CTS. Linear regression analyses revealed that intraneural blood flow velocity (R2 = 0.36, p = .03), assessed in wrist flexion, and relative FDS‐SSCT displacement (R2 = 0.27, p = .04) and shear strain index (R2 = 0.28, p = .04) were significant predictors of nerve sensory and motor changes at 6 months. Results suggest the possibility of using a battery of ultrasound measures as viable markers to predict median nerve functional changes within 6 months.