bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Implementing a research-based innovation to generate intra-familial involvement in type 2 diabetes self-management for use in diverse municipal settings: a qualitative study of barriers and facilitators
Authors: Helms Andersen Tue , Grabowski Dan
Published: March 2020

Background

Involving family members in disease management is vital to people with type 2 diabetes. New innovations that support family members’ involvement can help both the person with type 2 diabetes and the relatives to create the supportive environment they need. The objective of the present study is to examine what facilitates and obstructs implementation of an innovation that supports intra-familial involvement in life with type 2 diabetes.

Methods

Of the 48 healthcare professionals trained in facilitating the innovation in municipal patient education courses, single, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 of them. The interviews were focused specifically on the implementation process. All interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using radical hermeneutics.

Results

The analysis revealed three distinct themes affecting implementation of the innovation. 1) Focusing on creating family involvement in patient education for people with type 2 diabetes was relevant and important to the healthcare professionals. 2) The dynamics of group-based patient education sessions changed when family members were involved, which affects healthcare professionals’ group facilitation methods. 3) Implementing new methods in patient education requires great commitment and support from the organization and management.

Conclusion

Implementation of an innovation to involve families and close relatives in patient education in Danish municipalities is feasible, but highly dependent on the commitment of healthcare professionals and managers as well as their openness to new ways of facilitating group processes.
Exploring the capacity of the Somaliland healthcare system to manage female genital mutilation / cutting-related complications and prevent the medicalization of the practice: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Yussuf Mohamed , Matanda Dennis J. , Powell Richard A.
Published: March 2020

Background

Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) negatively impacts the wellbeing of girls and women throughout their lifecycle. In Somalia, FGM/C prevalence is nearly universal (98%) among females aged 15–49 years, with infibulation prevalence at 77%. Whilst there is need to engage healthcare workers in the prevention and management of FGM/C, minimal information exists indicating healthcare systems’ capacity to fulfil this role. This study explored factors impacting the capacity of the Somaliland healthcare system to prevent the medicalization, and manage the complications of, FGM/C.

Methods

A cross-sectional qualitative study using semi-structured key informant interviews, conducted in the Somali language, was undertaken in the Maroodi Jeex and Awdal regions of Somaliland, in rural and urban Borama and Hargeisa districts in December 2016. A total of 20 interviews were conducted with healthcare workers comprised of medical doctors, nurses, midwives and system administrators. Transcribed and translated interview data were analysed using the template analysis approach.

Results

Healthcare workers reported understanding the adverse impact of FGM/C on the health of girls and women. However, they faced multiple contextual challenges in their preventative and management roles at the individual level, e.g., they lacked specific formal training on the prevention and management of FGM/C complications and its medicalization; institutional level, e.g., many facilities lacked funding and equipment for effective FGM/C management; and policy level, e.g., no national policies exist on the management of FGM/C complications and against its medicalization.

Conclusion

Healthcare systems in urban and rural Somaliland have limited capacity to prevent, diagnose and manage FGM/C. There is a need to strengthen healthcare workers’ skill deficits through training and address gaps in the health system by incorporating the care of girls and women with FGM-related complications into primary healthcare services through multi-sectoral collaboration and coordination, establishing clinical guidelines for FGM/C management, providing related equipment, and enacting policies to prevent the medicalization of the practice.
Variations in factors associated with healthcare providers’ intention to engage in interprofessional shared decision making in home care: results of two cross-sectional surveys
Authors: Adekpedjou Rhéda , Haesebaert Julie , Stacey Dawn , Brière Nathalie , Freitas Adriana , Rivest Louis-Paul , Légaré France
Published: March 2020

Background

DOLCE (Improving Decision making On Location of Care with the frail Elderly and their caregivers) was a post-intervention clustered randomised trial (cRT) to assess the effect of training home care teams on interprofessional shared decision-making (IP-SDM). Alongside the cRT, we sought to monitor healthcare providers’ level of behavioural intention to engage in an IP-SDM approach and to identify factors associated with this intention.

Methods

We conducted two cross-sectional surveys in the province of Quebec, Canada, one each at cRT entry and exit. Healthcare providers (e.g. nurses, occupational therapists and social workers) in the 16 participating intervention and control sites self-completed an identical paper-based questionnaire at entry and exit. Informed by the Integrated model for explaining healthcare professionals’ clinical behaviour by Godin et al. (2008), we assessed their behavioural intention to engage in IP-SDM to support older adults and caregivers of older adults with cognitive impairment to make health-related housing decisions. We also assessed psychosocial variables underlying their behavioural intention and collected sociodemographic data. We used descriptive statistics and linear mixed models to account for clustering.

Results

Between 2014 and 2016, 271 healthcare providers participated at study entry and 171 at exit. At entry, median intention level was 6 in a range of 1 (low) to 7 (high) (Interquartile range (IQR): 5–6.5) and factors associated with intention were social influence (β = 0.27, P <  0.0001), beliefs about one’s capabilities (β = 0.43, P <  0.0001), moral norm (β = 0.31, P <  0.0001) and beliefs about consequences (β = 0.21, P <  0.0001). At exit, median intention level was 5.5 (IQR: 4.5–6.5). Factors associated with intention were the same but did not include moral norm. However, at exit new factors were kept in the model: working in rehabilitation (β = − 0.39, P = 0.018) and working as a technician (β = − 0.41, P = 0.069) (compared to as a social worker).

Conclusion

Intention levels were high but decreased from entry to exit. Factors associated with intention also changed from study entry to study exit. These findings may be explained by the major restructuring of the health and social care system that took place during the 2 years of the study, leading to rapid staff turnover and organisational disturbance in home care teams. Future research should give more attention to contextual factors and design implementation interventions to withstand the disruption of system- and organisational-level disturbances.

Trial registration

Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02244359). Registered on September 19th, 2014.
Diagnostic value of fibrinogen to prealbumin ratio and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase to platelet ratio in the progression of AFP-negative hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Huang Li , Mo Zhuning , Hu Zuojian , Zhang Linyan , Qin Shanzi , Qin Xue , Li Shan
Published: March 2020

Background

This study aimed to comprehensively assess the diagnostic value of fibrinogen to prealbumin ratio (FPR) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase to platelet ratio (GPR) as single markers or in combination in patients with alpha-fetoprotein-negative (AFP-negative) hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods

A total of 199 healthy controls and 515 AFP-negative patients were enrolled in this study, including 180 HCC inpatients, 151 liver cirrhosis (LC) patients, and 184 chronic hepatitis (CH) cases. Mann–Whitney U or Kruskal–Wallis H test were used to analyze differences between groups in laboratory parameters and clinicopathological features. The diagnostic value of FPR and GPR, alone or in combination, in AFP-negative HCC (AFP-NHCC) patients was determined via a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.

Results

The levels of FPR and GPR were gradually increased in the development of AFP-NHCC and positively correlated with the tumor size and Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stages. Moreover, GPR was associated with Edmondson–Steiner grades. After univariate logistic regression analysis, FPR and GPR remained independent predictors of adverse outcomes. The combination of FPR and GPR had a good ability to detect AFP-NHCC from the control group (area under curve [AUC] = 0.977), AFP-negative CH (AUC = 0.745), and AFP-negative LC (AUC = 0.666). FPR combined with GPR possessed a larger area (0.943, 0.971) and sensitivity (87.50%, 89.81%) than FPR or GPR alone for differentiating AFP-NHCC with tumor size < 3 cm or at the BCLC-A stage.

Conclusions

The pretreatment levels of FPR and GPR played vital roles in the development of AFP-NHCC, especially in patients with early or small AFP-NHCC.
Monocyte-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio is associated with the presence and size of thyroid nodule irrespective of the gender
Authors: Liu Xing Zhen , Wang Jun Min , Ji Yi Xin , Zhao Dong Bao
Published: March 2020

Background

Systemic inflammation may be involved in the formation and progression of thyroid nodule (TN). The aim of this large-scale study was to investigate the association of several simple inflammatory markers with the presence and size of TN.

Methods

A total of 133,698 adults were included for the current analysis. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), and monocyte-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (MHR) were calculated. The logistic regression was used to explore the association of the four markers with the presence and size of TN.

Results

The prevalence of TN was 55.1% among females and 44% among males; 13% of women and 8% of men had non-micronodule. In women, MHR and PLR were significantly associated with the presence of TN and non-micronodule; in men, MHR and NLR were significantly associated with the presence of TN and non-micronodule.

Conclusions

As a low-cost, simple, and reproducible inflammatory marker, MHR is strongly associated with the presence and size of TN irrespective of the gender.
Fingolimod-associated macular edema controlled with nepafenac non-steroidal anti-inflammatory opthalmologic applications
Authors: Husmann Rachel , Davies John B. , Ghannam Malik , Berry Brent , Kelkar Praful
Published: March 2020

Background

Fingolimod, an immunomodulatory agent, is used for the treatment of relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Fingolimod-associated macular edema (FAME) is a known complication with an incidence of 0.4%. The current recommendation for treatment of FAME is cessation of fingolimod. There are few case reports with management of FAME with steroid eye drops.

Case presentation

A 38-year-old Caucasian female patient with history of relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and treated with fingolimod developed Fingolimod-associated macular edema (FAME). Nevertheless, FAME was successfully treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory eye drops without discontinuation of fingolimod.

Conclusion

FAME may be managed with non-steroidal eye drops without discontinuation of fingolimod in appropriate patient monitored with close follow up.
Magnetic core–shell nanowires as MRI contrast agents for cell tracking
Authors: Martínez-Banderas Aldo Isaac , Aires Antonio , Plaza-García Sandra , Colás Lorena , Moreno Julián A. , Ravasi Timothy , Merzaban Jasmeen S. , Ramos-Cabrer Pedro , Cortajarena Aitziber L. , Kosel Jürgen
Published: March 2020

Background

Identifying the precise location of cells and their migration dynamics is of utmost importance for achieving the therapeutic potential of cells after implantation into a host. Magnetic resonance imaging is a suitable, non-invasive technique for cell monitoring when used in combination with contrast agents.

Results

This work shows that nanowires with an iron core and an iron oxide shell are excellent materials for this application, due to their customizable magnetic properties and biocompatibility. The longitudinal and transverse magnetic relaxivities of the core–shell nanowires were evaluated at 1.5 T, revealing a high performance as T2 contrast agents. Different levels of oxidation and various surface coatings were tested at 7 T. Their effects on the T2 contrast were reflected in the tailored transverse relaxivities. Finally, the detection of nanowire-labeled breast cancer cells was demonstrated in T2-weighted images of cells implanted in both, in vitro in tissue-mimicking phantoms and in vivo in mouse brain. Labeling the cells with a nanowire concentration of 0.8 μg of Fe/mL allowed the detection of 25 cells/µL in vitro, diminishing the possibility of side effects. This performance enabled an efficient labelling for high-resolution cell detection after in vivo implantation (~ 10 nanowire-labeled cells) over a minimum of 40 days.

Conclusions

Iron-iron oxide core–shell nanowires enabled the efficient and longitudinal cellular detection through magnetic resonance imaging acting as T2 contrast agents. Combined with the possibility of magnetic guidance as well as triggering of cellular responses, for instance by the recently discovered strong photothermal response, opens the door to new horizons in cell therapy and make iron-iron oxide core–shell nanowires a promising theranostic platform.
Sialidase NEU1 suppresses progression of human bladder cancer cells by inhibiting fibronectin-integrin α5β1 interaction and Akt signaling pathway
Authors: Zhou Xiaoman , Zhai Yanhong , Liu Changmei , Yang Ganglong , Guo Jia , Li Guang , Sun Chengwen , Qi Xiaowei , Li Xiang , Guan Feng
Published: March 2020

Background

Sialic acids are widely distributed in animal tissues, and aberrantly expressed in a variety of cancer types. High expression of sialic acid contributes to tumor aggressiveness by promoting cell proliferation, migration, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Sialidases are responsible for removal of sialic acids from glycoproteins and glycolipids.

Methods

N-glycomics of bladder cancer cells were detected by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Sialic acid modification in bladder cancer tissue was determined by lectin blot. The down-regulation of NEU1 in bladder cancer cells was determined by high resolution liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (HR LC-MS). The effects of sialidase NEU1 expression on proliferation and apoptosis of human bladder cancer cells were examined by western blot, RT-PCR, confocal imaging and flow cytometry. Moreover, the function of sialic acids on fibronectin-integrin α5β1 interaction were assayed by immunoprecipitation and ELISA. The importance of NEU1 in tumor formation in vivo was performed using BALB/c-nu mice. Expression of NEU1 in primary human bladder cancer tissue samples was estimated using bladder cancer tissue microarray.

Results

(1) Downregulation of NEU1 was primarily responsible for aberrant expression of sialic acids in bladder cancer cells. (2) Decreased NEU1 expression was correlated with bladder cancer progression. (3) NEU1 overexpression enhanced apoptosis and reduced proliferation of bladder cancer cells. (4) NEU1 disrupted FN-integrin α5β1 interaction and deactivated the Akt signaling pathway. (5) NEU1 significantly suppressed in vivo tumor formation in BALB/c-nu mice.

Conclusions

Our data showed that NEU1 inhibited cancer cell proliferation, induced apoptosis, and suppressed tumor formation both in vitro and in vivo, by disrupting interaction of FN and integrin β1 and inhibiting the Akt signaling pathway. Our observations indicate that NEU1 is an important modulator of the malignant properties of bladder cancer cells, and is a potential therapeutic target for prognosis and treatment of bladder cancer.

Graphical abstract
MicroRNAs expressed by human cytomegalovirus
Authors: Zhang Lichen , Yu Jiaqi , Liu Zhijun
Published: March 2020

Background

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs about 22 nucleotides in length, which play an important role in gene regulation of both eukaryotes and viruses. They can promote RNA cleavage and repress translation via base-pairing with complementary sequences within mRNA molecules.

Main body

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) encodes a large number of miRNAs that regulate transcriptions of both host cells and themselves to favor viral infection and inhibit the host’s immune response. To date, ~ 26 mature HCMV miRNAs have been identified. Nevertheless, their roles in viral infection are ambiguous, and the mechanisms have not been fully revealed. Therefore, we discuss the methods used in HCMV miRNA research and summarize the important roles of HCMV miRNAs and their potential mechanisms in infection.

Conclusions

To study the miRNAs encoded by viruses and their roles in viral replication, expression, and infection will not only contribute to the planning of effective antiviral therapies, but also provide new molecular targets for the development of antiviral drugs.
Retrospective data analyses of social and environmental determinants of malaria control for elimination prospects in Eritrea
Authors: Mihreteab Selam , Lubinda Jailos , Zhao Bingxin , Rodriguez-Morales Alfonso J. , Karamehic-Muratovic Ajlina , Goitom Aman , Shad Muhammad Yousaf , Haque Ubydul
Published: March 2020

Background

The present study focuses on both long- and short-term malaria transmission in Eritrea and investigates the risk factors. Annual aggregates of information on malaria cases, deaths, diagnostics and control interventions from 2001 to 2008 and monthly reported data from 2009 to 2017 were obtained from the National Malaria Control Programme. We used a generalized linear regression model to examine the associations among total malaria cases, death, insecticide-treated net coverage, indoor residual spraying and climatic parameters.

Results

Reduction in malaria mortality is demonstrated by the milestone margins of over 97% by the end of 2017. Malaria incidence likewise declined during the period (from 33 to 5 per 1000 population), representing a reduction of about 86% (R2 = 0.3) slightly less than the decline in mortality. The distribution of insecticide treated nets generally declined between 2001 and 2014 (R2 = 0.16) before increasing from 2015 to 2017, while the number of people protected by indoor residual spraying slightly increased (R2 = 0.27). Higher rainfall was significantly associated with an increased number of malaria cases. The covariates rainfall and temperature are a better pair than IRS and LLIN to predict incidences. On the other hand, IRS and LLIN is a more significant pair to predict mortality cases.

Conclusions

While Eritrea has made significant progress towards malaria elimination, this progress should be maintained and further improved. Distribution, coverage and utilization of malaria control and elimination tools should be optimized and sustained to safeguard the gains made. Additionally, consistent annual performance evaluation of malaria indicators would ensure a continuous learning process from gains/threats of epidemics and resurgence in regions already earmarked for elimination.
Understanding visual lip-based biometric authentication for mobile devices
Authors: Wright Carrie , Stewart Darryl William
Published: March 2020

This paper explores the suitability of lip-based authentication as a behavioural biometric for mobile devices. Lip-based biometric authentication is the process of verifying an individual based on visual information taken from the lips while speaking. It is particularly suited to mobile devices because it contains unique information; its potential for liveness over existing popular biometrics such as face and fingerprint and lip movements can be captured using a device’s front-facing camera, requiring no dedicated hardware. Despite its potential, research and progress into lip-based biometric authentication has been significantly slower than other biometrics such as face, fingerprints, or iris.This paper investigates a state-of-the-art approach using a deep Siamese network, trained with the triplet loss for one-shot lip-based biometric authentication with real-world challenges. The proposed system, LipAuth, is rigourously examined with real-world data and challenges that could be expected on lip-based solution deployed on a mobile device. The work in this paper shows for the first time how a lip-based authentication system performs beyond a closed-set protocol, benchmarking a new open-set protocol with an equal error rates of 1.65% on the XM2VTS dataset.New datasets, qFace and FAVLIPS, were collected for the work in this paper, which push the field forward by enabling systematic testing of the content and quantities of data needed for lip-based biometric authentication and highlight problematic areas for future work. The FAVLIPS dataset was designed to mimic some of the hardest challenges that could be expected in a deployment scenario and include varied spoken content, miming and a wide range of challenging lighting conditions. The datasets captured for this work are available to other university research groups on request.
Analysis of computer network attack based on the virus propagation model
Authors: He Yanshan , Wang Ting , Xie Jianli , Zhang Ming
Published: March 2020

The conventional method can make a reasonable analysis of common network attacks, but the reliability of the analysis is low under the virus propagation model. This paper proposes a new research method of computer network attack analysis based on the virus propagation model. Based on the relationship between the framework and daemon, the framework of the model for computer network attack analysis is set up, the attack analysis technology of computer network is determined, and the construction of the model for computer network attack analysis is completed. Computer attack objects and computer attack process are analyzed, and computer network attack analysis is carried out. Using the coverage test and the uncertainty test, the parameters of the reliability calculation variables are measured and the reliability calculation formula is replaced. It is concluded that the designed method of computer network attack analysis is 47.15% more reliable than the conventional analysis method, and is suitable for the network attack analysis under the virus propagation model.
Journal impact factor, trial effect size, and methodological quality appear scantly related: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Saginur Michael , Fergusson Dean , Zhang Tinghua , Yeates Karen , Ramsay Tim , Wells George , Moher David
Published: March 2020

Background

As systematic reviews’ limited coverage of the medical literature necessitates decision-making based on unsystematic review, we investigated a possible advantage of systematic review (aside from dataset size and systematic analysis): does systematic review avoid potential bias in sampling primary studies from high impact factor journals? If randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reported in higher-impact journals present different treatment benefits than RCTs reported in lower-impact journals, readers who focus on higher-impact journals for their rapid literature reviews may introduce bias which could be mitigated by complete, systematic sampling.

Methods

We randomly sampled Cochrane Library (20 July 2005) treatment reviews that measured mortality as a binary outcome, published in English or French, with at least five RCTs with one or more deaths. Our domain-based assessment of risk of bias included funding source, randomness of allocation sequence, blinding, and allocation concealment. The primary analysis employed logistic regression by a generalized linear model with a generalized estimating equation to estimate the association between various factors and publication in a journal with a high journal impact factor (JIF).

Results

From the 29 included systematic reviews, 189 RCTs contributed data. However, in the primary analyses comparing RCT results within meta-analyses, there was no statistically significant association: unadjusted odds of greater than 50% mortality protection in high-JIF (> 5) journals were 1.4 (95% CI 0.42, 4.4) and adjusted, 2.5 (95% CI 0.6, 10). Elements of study quality were weakly, inconsistently, and not statistically significantly correlated with journal impact factor.

Conclusions

Journal impact factor may have little to no association with study results, or methodological quality, but the evidence is very uncertain.
On a reverse extended Hardy–Hilbert’s inequality
Authors: Huang Zhenxiao , Shi Yanping , Yang Bicheng
Published: March 2020

By the use of the weight coefficients, the idea of introducing parameters and the Euler–Maclaurin summation formula, a reverse extended Hardy–Hilbert inequality and the equivalent forms are given. The equivalent statements of the best possible constant factor related to a few parameters and some particular cases are also considered.
Blow-up analysis for two kinds of nonlinear wave equations
Authors: Li Hengyan , Sun Junling , Zhao Xin
Published: March 2020

In this paper, we discuss the blow-up and lifespan phenomenon for the following wave equation with variable coefficient:
$$ u_{tt}(t,x)-\mathbf{div}\bigl(a(x)\mathbf{grad}u(t,x) \bigr)=f(u,Du,D_{x}Du), \quad x \in \mathbf{R}^{n}, t>0, $$utt(t,x)−div(a(x)gradu(t,x))=f(u,Du,DxDu),x∈Rn,t>0, with small initial data, where $a(x)>0$a(x)>0, $Du=(u_{x_{0}},u_{x_{1}},\ldots ,u_{x_{n}})$Du=(ux0,ux1,…,uxn) and $D_{x}Du=(u_{x_{k}x_{l}}, k,l=0,1,\ldots ,n, k+l\geq 1)$DxDu=(uxkxl,k,l=0,1,…,n,k+l≥1).

Then we find a new phenomenon. The Cauchy problem
$$ u_{tt}(t,x)-\triangle u(t,x)=u(t,x)e^{u(t,x)^{2}}, \quad x\in \mathbf{R}^{2}, t>0, $$utt(t,x)−△u(t,x)=u(t,x)eu(t,x)2,x∈R2,t>0, is globally well-posed for small initial data, while for the combined nonlinearities
$$ u_{tt}(t,x)-\triangle u(t,x)=u(t,x) \bigl(e^{u(t,x)^{2}}+e^{u_{t}(t,x)^{2}} \bigr), \quad x \in \mathbf{R}^{2}, t>0 $$utt(t,x)−△u(t,x)=u(t,x)(eu(t,x)2+eut(t,x)2),x∈R2,t>0 with small initial data will blow up in finite time. Moreover, we obtain the lifespan results for the above problems.
New model of May cooperative system with strong and weak cooperative partners
Authors: Lin Qifa , Lei Chaoquan , Luo Shuwen , Xue Yalong
Published: March 2020

In this paper, based on the model of Zhao, Qin, and Chen [Adv. Differ. Equ. 2018:172, 2018], we propose a new model of the May cooperative system with strong and weak cooperative partners. The model overcomes the drawback of the corresponding model of Zhao, Qin, and Chen. By using the differential inequality theory, a set of sufficient conditions that ensure the permanence of the system are obtained. By combining the differential inequality theory and the iterative method, a set of sufficient conditions that ensure the extinction of the weak partners and the attractivity of the strong partners and the other species is obtained. Numeric simulations show that too large transform rate will lead to more complicated fluctuation; however, the system is still permanent.
Deep-sea corals provide new insight into the ecology, evolution, and the role of plastids in widespread apicomplexan symbionts of anthozoans
Authors: Vohsen Samuel A. , Anderson Kaitlin E. , Gade Andrea M. , Gruber-Vodicka Harald R. , Dannenberg Richard P. , Osman Eslam O. , Dubilier Nicole , Fisher Charles R. , Baums Iliana B.
Published: March 2020

Background

Apicomplexans are the causative agents of major human diseases such as malaria and toxoplasmosis. A novel group of apicomplexans, recently named corallicolids, have been detected in corals inhabiting tropical shallow reefs. These apicomplexans may represent a transitional lifestyle between free-living phototrophs and obligate parasites. To shed light on the evolutionary history of apicomplexans and to investigate their ecology in association with corals, we screened scleractinians, antipatharians, alcyonaceans, and zoantharians from shallow, mesophotic, and deep-sea communities. We detected corallicolid plastids using 16S metabarcoding, sequenced the nuclear 18S rRNA gene of corallicolids from selected samples, assembled and annotated the plastid and mitochondrial genomes from a corallicolid that associates with a deep-sea coral, and screened the metagenomes of four coral species for corallicolids.

Results

We detected 23 corallicolid plastotypes that were associated with 14 coral species from three orders and depths down to 1400 m. Individual plastotypes were restricted to coral hosts within a single depth zone and within a single taxonomic order of corals. Some clusters of closely related corallicolids were revealed that associated with closely related coral species. However, the presence of divergent corallicolid lineages that associated with similar coral species and depths suggests that corallicolid/coral relations are flexible over evolutionary timescales and that a large diversity of apicomplexans may remain undiscovered. The corallicolid plastid genome from a deep-sea coral contained four genes involved in chlorophyll biosynthesis: the three genes of the LIPOR complex and acsF.

Conclusions

The presence of corallicolid apicomplexans in corals below the photic zone demonstrates that they are not restricted to shallow-water reefs and are more general anthozoan symbionts. The presence of LIPOR genes in the deep-sea corallicolid precludes a role involving photosynthesis and suggests they may be involved in a different function. Thus, these genes may represent another set of genetic tools whose function was adapted from photosynthesis as the ancestors of apicomplexans evolved towards parasitic lifestyles.
Pediatric low-grade glioma in the era of molecular diagnostics
Authors: Ryall Scott , Tabori Uri , Hawkins Cynthia
Published: March 2020

Low grade gliomas are the most frequent brain tumors in children and encompass a spectrum of histologic entities which are currently assigned World Health Organisation grades I and II. They differ substantially from their adult counterparts in both their underlying genetic alterations and in the infrequency with which they transform to higher grade tumors. Nonetheless, children with low grade glioma are a therapeutic challenge due to the heterogeneity in their clinical behavior – in particular, those with incomplete surgical resection often suffer repeat progressions with resultant morbidity and, in some cases, mortality. The identification of up-regulation of the RAS–mitogen-activated protein kinase (RAS/MAPK) pathway as a near universal feature of these tumors has led to the development of targeted therapeutics aimed at improving responses while mitigating patient morbidity. Here, we review how molecular information can help to further define the entities which fall under the umbrella of pediatric-type low-grade glioma. In doing so we discuss the specific molecular drivers of pediatric low grade glioma and how to effectively test for them, review the newest therapeutic agents and their utility in treating this disease, and propose a risk-based stratification system that considers both clinical and molecular parameters to aid clinicians in making treatment decisions.
Vitamin B12 measurements across neurodegenerative disorders
Authors: Luthra Nijee S. , Marcus Ariane H. , Hills Nancy K. , Christine Chadwick W.
Published: March 2020

Background

Vitamin B12 deficiency causes a number of neurological features including cognitive and psychiatric disturbances, gait instability, neuropathy, and autonomic dysfunction. Clinical recognition of B12 deficiency in neurodegenerative disorders is more challenging because it causes defects that overlap with expected disease progression. We sought to determine whether B12 levels at the time of diagnosis in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) differed from those in patients with other neurodegenerative disorders.

Methods

We performed a cross-sectional analysis of B12 levels obtained around the time of diagnosis in patients with PD, Multiple System Atrophy (MSA), Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD), or Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). We also evaluated the rate of B12 decline in PD, AD, and MCI.

Results

In multivariable analysis adjusted for age, sex, and B12 supplementation, we found that B12 levels were significantly lower at time of diagnosis in patients with PD than in patients with PSP, FTD, and DLB. In PD, AD, and MCI, the rate of B12 decline ranged from − 17 to − 47 pg/ml/year, much greater than that reported for the elderly population.

Conclusions

Further studies are needed to determine whether comorbid B12 deficiency affects progression of these disorders.
Status and gaps of research on respiratory disease pathogens of swine in Africa
Authors: Oba P. , Wieland B. , Mwiine F. N. , Erume J. , Gertzell E. , Jacobson M. , Dione M. M.
Published: March 2020

Over the last two decades, the pig population in Africa has grown rapidly, reflecting the increased adoption of pig production as an important economic activity. Of all species, pigs are likely to constitute a greater share of the growth in the livestock subsector. However, constraints such as respiratory infectious diseases cause significant economic losses to the pig industry worldwide. Compared to industrialized countries, the occurrence and impacts of respiratory diseases on pig production in Africa is under-documented. Hence, knowledge on prevalence and incidence of economically important swine respiratory pathogens in pigs in Africa is necessary to guide interventions for prevention and control. The purpose of this review was to document the current status of research on five important respiratory pathogens of swine in Africa to inform future research and interventions. The pathogens included were porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PPRSv), porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2), Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M. hyopneumoniae), Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (APP) and swine influenza A viruses (IAV). For this review, published articles were obtained using Harzing’s Publish or Perish software tool from GoogleScholar. Articles were also sourced from PubMed, ScienceDirect, FAO and OIE websites. The terms used for the search were Africa, swine or porcine, respiratory pathogens, M. hyopneumoniae, APP, PCV2, PPRSv, IAV, prevention and control. In all, 146 articles found were considered relevant, and upon further screening, only 85 articles were retained for the review. The search was limited to studies published from 2000 to 2019. Of all the studies that documented occurrence of the five respiratory pathogens, most were on IAV (48.4%, n = 15), followed by PCV2 (25.8%, n = 8), PPRSv (19.4%, n = 6), while only one study (3.2%, n = 1) reported APP and M. hyopneumoniae. This review highlights knowledge and information gaps on epidemiologic aspects as well as economic impacts of the various pathogens reported in swine in Africa, which calls for further studies.
CSR commitments, perceptions of hypocrisy, and recovery
Authors: Smith Dustin , Rhiney Eric
Published: March 2020

This paper examines perceived hypocrisy when a failure is aligned with prior social performance. It is hypothesized that commitment to a CSR domain creates greater performance expectations thus exacerbating the effects when an aligned failure occurs. Study 1 demonstrates that failure alignment and severity increase perceived hypocrisy which negatively impacts customer evaluations of trust, repurchase intent, and brand attitude. Study 2 evaluates two response strategies of apology and compensation vs. no response. An apology significantly reduced perceptions of hypocrisy only when the failure was unaligned with prior CSR. Compensation significantly reduced hypocrisy in both the unaligned and aligned conditions.
What motivates and inhibits Indian textile firms to embrace sustainability?
Authors: Sharma Anupriya , Narula Sapna A.
Published: March 2020

Our study identifies the motivations and barriers to pursue sustainability for textile firms in India and the impact of these factors on firm’s adoption of sustainable business practices. Our study is based on primary survey of 113 managers from textile firm who are responsible for taking decisions towards formulation of business policies, and drivers are the reasons why companies decide to pursue sustainable practices. Regression analysis shows that regulatory, market and economic factors are more significant in pushing firms to adopt sustainable practices, whereas initial cost of compliance is the biggest challenge in implementing these practices. The results of the study are extremely important in assisting firm managers in enhancing their understanding of factors for a successful environmental strategy and influencing them to embrace sustainability. The study also contributes to our understanding of environmental issues in textile supply chain and how it could be made environmentally more sustainable. Finally,  implications to extend research on role of internal actors in the organisation in shaping and implementing environmental strategies are presented.
A protocol paper: community engagement interventions for cardiovascular disease prevention in socially disadvantaged populations in the UK: an implementation research study
Authors: Nahar Papreen , van Marwijk Harm , Gibson Linda , Musinguzi Geofrey , Anthierens Sibyl , Ford Elizabeth , Bremner Stephen A. , Bowyer Mark , Le Reste Jean Yves , Sodi Tholene , Bastiaens Hilde
Published: March 2020

Background

Cardiovascular disorders (CVD) are the single greatest cause of mortality worldwide. In the UK, the National Health Service (NHS) has launched an initiative of health checks over and above current care to tackle CVD. However, the uptake of Health Checks is poor in disadvantaged communities. This protocol paper sets out a UK-based study (Sussex and Nottingham) aiming to co-produce a community delivered CVD risk assessment and coaching intervention to support community members to reduce their risk of CVD.

The overall aim of the project is to implement a tailored-to-context community engagement (CE) intervention on awareness of CVD risks in vulnerable populations in high, middle and low-income countries. The specific objectives of the study are to enhance stakeholder’ engagement; to implement lifestyle interventions for cardiovascular primary prevention, in disadvantaged populations and motivate uptake of NHS health checks.

Methods

This study uses both qualitative and quantitative methods in three phases of evaluation, including pre-, per- and post-implementation. To ensure contextual appropriateness the ‘Scaling-up Packages of Interventions for Cardiovascular disease prevention in selected sites in Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa: An implementation research’ (SPICES) project will organize a multi-component community-engagement intervention. For the qualitative component, the pre-implementation phase will involve a contextual assessment and stakeholder mapping, exploring potentials for CVD risk profiling strategies and led by trained Community Health Volunteers (CHV) to identify accessibility and acceptability. The per-implementation phase will involve healthy lifestyle counselling provided by CHVs and evaluation of the outcome to identify fidelity and scalability. The post-implementation phase will involve developing sustainable community-based strategies for CVD risk reduction. All three components will include a process evaluation. A stepped wedge cluster randomised trial of the roll out will focus on implementation outcomes including uptake and engagement and changes in risk profiles. The quantitative component includes pre and post-intervention surveys. The theory of the socio-ecological framework will be applied to analyse the community engagement approach.

Discussion

Based on the results ultimately a sustainable community engagement-based strategy for the primary prevention of CVD risk will be developed to enhance the performance of NHS health care in the UK. The Trial Registration number is ISRCTN68334579.
Temporal changes in the cell population and wound healing-related gene expression in deep partial-thickness burn wound model
Authors: Guo Hui-fang , Mohd. Ali Razana , Abd. Hamid Roslida , Chang Sui Kiat , Rahman Mohammed Habibur , Zainal Zaida , Khaza’ai Huzwah
Published: March 2020

Background

Burns are injuries that lie on the skin or other organic tissues caused by exposures to the heat, electricity, chemicals or ionizing radiation. The present study was carried out to record temporal changes in the cell population and wound healing-related gene expression in rats with deep partial-thickness burn.

Methods

Burn wound was induced on the dorsal part of Sprague-Dawley rats using temperature-regulated 20-mm wide aluminum head heating device. Animals were then sacrificed on days three, seven, 11, 14 and 21 post-burn, respectively. Half of the wounded skin tissues were dissected and fixed in buffered neutral formalin for Hematoxylin & Eosin (H&E) staining, and the other half were cut off and stored in − 20 °C for real-time PCR analyses.

Results

The number of adipose cells was found to be maximal on the 3rd day post-burn, and it gradually decreased over time and completely disappeared on day 11 post-burn. The maximum number of neutrophils were found to be on the 3rd and 14th day post-burn, while the maximum number of myofibroblasts were found on the 11th day post-burn. The number of lymphocytes did not change too much during the whole healing process. At the gene expression level, the expression pattern of inflammation-related genes including IL-6, TNF-α and iNOS were similar, which was found to be increased from day 3 to day 11 and decreased thereafter. Angiogenesis related genes including both VEGF-A and TGF-β1 showed a same expression pattern, both of which were slightly increased from day 3 to day 14 and smoothly decreased on day 21 post-burn. Matrix re-modeling related genes including MMP-2, TIMP-2 and Collagen-1 changed over time synchronously, where they all persistently increased from day 3 till day 14, then slightly declined on day 21 post-burn.

Conclusion

The present study revealed the changes in the cell population and expression profile of wound healing-related genes in deep partial-thickness burn, which could provide a cellular and genomic basis for the future research of burn injuries.
Starting a neurosurgical service in a Southern Nigeria rural community. Prospect, challenges, and future—the Irrua experience
Authors: Morgan E. , Nwatuzor C.
Published: March 2020

Neurosurgical services is an essential component of tertiary level of health care, this field is still evolving in Nigeria with lack of material and manpower. There is a near complete absence of neurosurgeons in the rural communities in Nigeria with over 95% resident in urban area. Starting a neurosurgical services takes a huge sacrifice from the neurosurgeon who is faced with a decision to do something in the presence of a near absence of material and manpower, and in turn circumvent processes with extra burden so as to ensure he/she provides leadership with respect to patients care and assists in the training of allied surgeons and other healthcare staffs to mitigate against morbidity and mortality. Our research is aimed to highlight the total number of patients attended to in the neurosurgical unit, challenges, prospect, and future.
Poor obstetric outcomes in Indian women with Takayasu arteritis
Authors: Gupta Latika , Misra Durga Prasanna , Ahmed Sakir , Jain Avinash , Zanwar Abhishek , Lawrence Able , Agarwal Vikas , Aggarwal Amita , Misra Ramnath
Published: March 2020

Introduction

Takayasu’s arteritis (TA) affects young women in the childbearing age group. We studied obstetric outcomes in these patients before and after disease onset.

Methods

Women aged more than 18 years with Takayasu’s arteritis (ACR 1990 criteria) were included. Demographic data, clinical features, disease activity using Indian Takayasu Arteritis clinical score (ITAS), Disease Extent Index for TA (DEI.TaK) and damage assessment using TA Damage score (TA), history of conception and maternal and fetal outcomes were recorded from hospital records and telephonic interview. Results are in median and IQR.

Results

Of the 64 women interviewed, aged 29 (24–38) years and disease duration 5 (4–10) years, 74 and 38 pregnancies had occurred before and after disease diagnosis in 29 and 20 women respectively. In eight, the diagnosis was made during pregnancy. Age at disease onset was 22 (18–30) years. Type 5 disease was the most common (n = 32, 59.3%), and an equal number of patients had Ishikawa’s class I and II disease (n = 26, 40.6%). Median ITAS (n = 44) was 13 (7–16), DEI.Tak 12.5 (9–16.75) and TADS 8 (6.5–10). Twenty-five patients wanted to get pregnant, of which 8 (32%) did not do so because of their disease. Fifteen were unmarried of whom 6 did not marry due to disease. Obstetric outcomes were poorer in pregnancies that occurred after the onset of disease as compared with those before it (RR = 1.5, p = 0.01). Pregnancies after the onset of TA carried a very high risk of maternal [RR3.9 (1.8–8.5), P < 0.001] as well as fetal complications [RR = 2.0 (1.2–3.4), p = 0.001]. Hypertension was the most common maternal complication and occurred most often in the last trimester. The baby weight at birth was lower in pregnancies after disease (2.3 vs. 3.0, p = 0.01). Wong’s score greater than or equal to 4 predicted lower birth weight (p = 0.04). ITAS, ITAS-A, DEI. Tak and TADS could not predict obstetric outcomes, and ITAS score exhibited moderate correlation with DEI. Tak (r = 0.78) and TADS (r = 0.58).

Conclusion

Women with TA suffer from extremely high risk of poor maternal and foetal outcomes. Wong’s scoring can be useful to predict birth weight.
Cellular-resolution in vivo tomography in turbid tissue through digital aberration correction
Authors: Bo En , Ge Xin , Luo Yuemei , Wu Xuan , Chen Si , Liang Haitao , Chen Shufen , Yu Xiaojun , Shum Ping , Mo Jianhua , Chen Nanguang , Liu Linbo
Published: March 2020

Noninvasive tomographic imaging of cellular processes in vivo may provide valuable cytological and histological information for disease diagnosis. However, such strategies are usually hampered by optical aberrations caused by the imaging system and tissue turbidity. State-of-the-art aberration correction methods require that the light signal be phase stable over the full-field data acquisition period, which is difficult to maintain during dynamic cellular processes in vivo. Here we show that any optical aberrations in the path length difference (OPD) domain can be corrected without the phase stability requirement based on maximum intensity assumption. Specifically, we demonstrate a novel optical tomographic technique, termed amplitude division aperture synthesis optical coherence tomography (ADAS-OCT), which corrects aberrations induced by turbid tissues by physical aperture synthesis and simultaneously data acquisition from sub-apertures. Even with just two sub-apertures, ADAS-OCT enabled in vivo visualization of red blood cells in human labial mucosa. We further demonstrated that adding sub-apertures could significantly scale up the aberration correction capability. This technology has the potential to impact a number of clinical areas where noninvasive examinations are preferred, such as blood count and cancers detection.