bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Crossover of work–family conflict in supervisor–subordinate dyads in India: does LMX matter?
Authors: Sampath Pavithra , Baral Rupashree , Rastogi Mansi
Published: August 2020

Purpose

This study investigated the crossover of work–family conflict (WFC) from supervisors to subordinates employed in conventional work settings. The authors hypothesized that the supervisor’s WFC would impact the subordinate’s level of WFC, and the level of crossover would vary with relationship quality or LMX.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors surveyed a matched set of 150 supervisors and 193 subordinates from several services organizations who were recruited using a snowballing technique. Data were analysed using hierarchical regression analyses and moderation testing.

Findings

Results confirmed a significant direct crossover path. Further, the crossover was found to be lowered in the event of higher LMX quality.

Research limitations/implications

The findings provide significant insights into the conditions under which transmission of WFC takes place by broadening crossover research in the work–family area. Future studies must explore the crossover of work–family enrichment and the role of leadership styles, empathy and perspective taking of subordinates in the crossover.

Practical implications

Supervisors must endeavour to reduce the level of WFC of subordinates by trying to build high-quality LMX by regularly interacting with them and by providing them a supportive climate. Employees in turn must support supervisors in various means, which will help them gaining manager’s trust and support.

Originality/value

Examination of the potential mitigating effect of high-quality LMX in the crossover of WFC in supervisor–subordinate dyads has rarely been investigated in the past.
Human herpesvirus 6A U27 plays an essential role for the virus propagation
Authors: Poetranto Anna Lystia , Wakata Aika , Tjan Lidya Handayani , Nishimura Mitsuhiro , Arii Jun , Mori Yasuko
Published: August 2020

Human herpesvirus 6A (HHV‐6A) is a member of the genus Roseolovirus and the subfamily Betaherpesvirinae. It is similar to and human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). HHV‐6A encodes a 41 kDa nuclear phosphoprotein, U27, which acts as a processivity factor in the replication of the viral DNA. HHV‐6A U27 has 43% amino acid sequence homology with HCMV UL44, which is important for DNA replication. A previous study on HHV‐6A U27 revealed that it greatly increases the in vitro DNA synthesis activity of HHV‐6A DNA polymerase. However, the role of U27 during the HHV‐6A virus replication process remains unclear. In this study, we constructed a U27‐deficient HHV‐6A mutant (HHV‐6ABACU27mut) with a frameshift insertion at the U27 gene using an HHV‐6A bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) system. Viral reconstitution from the mutant BAC DNA was not detected, in contrast to the wild type and the revertant from the U27 mutant. This suggests that U27 plays a critical role in the life cycle of HHV‐6A.
Assessing the strength and sensitivity of the core microbiota approach on a highly diverse sponge reef
Authors: Astudillo‐García Carmen , Bell James J. , Montoya Jose M. , Moitinho‐Silva Lucas , Thomas Torsten , Webster Nicole S. , Taylor Michael W.
Published: August 2020

Marine sponge reefs usually comprise a complex array of taxonomically different sponge species, many of these hosting highly diverse microbial communities. The number of microbial species known to occupy a given sponge ranges from tens to thousands, bringing numerous challenges to their analysis. One way to deal with such complexity is to use a core microbiota approach, in which only prevalent and abundant microbes are considered. Here we aimed to test the strength and sensitivity of the core microbiota approach by applying different core definitions to 20 host sponge species. Application of increasingly stringent relative abundance and/or percentage occurrence thresholds to qualify as part of the core microbiota decreased the number of ‘core’ OTUs and phyla and, consequently, changed both alpha‐ and beta‐diversity patterns. Moreover, microbial co‐occurrence patterns explored using correlation networks were also affected by the core microbiota definition. The application of stricter thresholds resulted in smaller and less compartmentalized networks, with different keystone species. These results highlight that the application of different core definitions to phylogenetically disparate host species can result in the drawing of markedly different conclusions. Consequently, we recommend to assess the effects of different core community definitions on the specific system of study before considering its application.
Metagenomic and 14C tracing evidence for autotrophic microbial CO2 fixation in paddy soils
Authors: Xiao Ke‐Qing , Ge Ti‐Da , Wu Xiao‐Hong , Peacock Caroline L. , Zhu Zhen‐Ke , Peng Jingjing , Bao Peng , Wu Jin‐Shui , Zhu Yong‐Guan
Published: August 2020

Autotrophic carbon dioxide (CO2) fixation by microbes is ubiquitous in the environment and potentially contributes to the soil organic carbon (SOC) pool. However, the multiple autotrophic pathways of microbial carbon assimilation and fixation in paddy soils remain poorly characterized. In this study, we combine metagenomic analysis with 14C‐labelling to investigate all known autotrophic pathways and CO2 assimilation mechanisms in five typical paddy soils from southern China. Marker genes of six autotrophic pathways are detected in all soil samples, which are dominated by the cbbL genes (67%–82%) coding the ribulose‐bisphosphate carboxylase large chain in the Calvin cycle. These marker genes are associated with a broad range of phototrophic and chemotrophic genera. Significant amounts of 14C‐CO2 are assimilated into SOC (74.3–175.8 mg 14C kg−1) and microbial biomass (5.2–24.1 mg 14C kg−1) after 45 days incubation, where more than 70% of 14C‐SOC was concentrated in the relatively stable humin fractions. These results show that paddy soil microbes contain the genetic potential for autotrophic carbon fixation spreading over broad taxonomic ranges, and can incorporate atmospheric carbon into organic components, which ultimately contribute to the stable SOC pool.
A cross‐sectional study of packed lunchbox foods and their consumption by children in early childhood education and care services
Authors: Pearson Nicole , Wolfenden Luke , Finch Meghan , Yoong Sze Lin , Kingsland Melanie , Nathan Nicole , Lecathelinais Christophe , Wedesweiler Taya , Kerr Jayde , Sutherland Rachel
Published: August 2020

Aim

To (a) describe lunchbox foods packed and consumed by children attending early childhood education and care services; (b) compare the serves of foods packed and consumed with nutrition guideline recommendations; and (c) explore associations between parent characteristics and serves of food groups packed in lunchboxes.

Methods

A cross sectional study was conducted on a sample of early childhood education and care services where parents provide food in the Hunter New England region of NSW, Australia. Lunchbox contents were assessed using photography and pre‐ and post‐meal weights. Descriptive statistics were used to describe packing and consumption of core food groups and discretionary foods.

Results

Data on food packed and consumed were collected for 355 children's lunchboxes from 17 services (preschools n = 14, long day care services n = 3). Less than half (44%) of lunchboxes contained vegetables, and 54% contained at least one serve of discretionary foods. Less than 1% of lunchboxes met all setting‐specific nutrition guidelines. On average, children consumed 68% of lunchbox contents, with the lowest consumption rate being for vegetables. An association was found between parent education level and packing of discretionary foods (−0.36, P = <.01) but not for packing of fruit or vegetables.

Conclusions

Lunchboxes contained an over‐representation of discretionary foods and under‐representation of vegetables, and children had a low preference for consuming vegetables compared with other food groups. Interventions to support parent packing of lunchboxes in line with nutrition guidelines and strategies to expand child preference for foods such as vegetables are warranted.
Multivariate similarity clustering analysis: a new method regarding biogeography and its application in global insects
Authors: SHEN Xiaocheng , ZHANG Shujie , SHEN Qi , HU Guilin , LU Jiqi
Published: August 2020

A new method, multivariate similarity clustering analysis (MSCA) method, was established for biogeographical distribution analyzing. General similarity formula (GSF), the core of MSCA method, can be used to calculate the similarity coefficients between 2 and among any ≥ 3 geographical units. Taking the global insects as example, we introduced the steps to use of GSF and consequent clustering processes of this method in details. Firstly, geographical distributions of certain taxa (e.g. Insecta) were categorized into basic geographical units (BGUs); Secondly, similarity coefficients between 2 and among n BGUs were calculated using GSF. Thirdly, hierarchical clustering was conducted according to values of similarity coefficients (from high to low); then a clustering diagram was generated. Finally, a framework of biogeographical division map was established for the target taxa (e.g. Insecta). We concluded that the MSCA method was efficiently applied in analyzing the biogeographical distribution of given biological taxa; the geographical regions regarding global insects were categorized into 7 Realms with 20 sub‐Realms based on the results of MSCA method.
Molecular signature for senile and complicated cataracts derived from analysis of sumoylation enzymes and their substrates in human cataract lenses
Authors: Liu Fang‐Yuan , Fu Jia‐Ling , Wang Ling , Nie Qian , Luo Zhongwen , Hou Min , Yang Yuan , Gong Xiao‐Dong , Wang Yan , Xiao Yuan , Xiang Jiawen , Hu Xuebin , Zhang Lan , Wu Mingxing , Chen Weirong , Cheng Bing , Luo Lixia , Zhang Xinyu , Liu Xialin , Zheng Danying , Huang Shengsong , Liu Yizhi , Li David Wan‐Cheng
Published: August 2020

Sumoylation is one of the key regulatory mechanisms in eukaryotes. Our previous studies reveal that sumoylation plays indispensable roles during lens differentiation (Yan et al. 2010. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 107:21034–21039; Gong et al. 2014. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 111:5574–5579). Whether sumoylation is implicated in cataractogenesis, a disease largely derived from aging, remains elusive. In the present study, we have examined the changing patterns of the sumoylation ligases and de‐sumoylation enzymes (SENPs) and their substrates including Pax6 and other proteins in cataractous lenses of different age groups from 50 to 90 years old. It is found that compared with normal lenses, sumoylation ligases 1 and 3, de‐sumoylation enzymes SENP3/7/8, and p46 Pax6 are clearly increased. In contrast, Ubc9 is significantly decreased. Among different cataract patients from 50s to 70s, male patients express more sumoylation enzymes and p46 Pax6. Ubc9 and SENP6 display age‐dependent increase. The p46 Pax6 displays age‐dependent decrease in normal lens, remains relatively stable in senile cataracts but becomes di‐sumoylated in complicated cataracts. In contrast, sumoylation of p32 Pax6 is observed in senile cataracts and increases its stability. Treatment of rat lenses with oxidative stress increases Pax6 expression without sumoylation but promotes apoptosis. Thus, our results show that the changing patterns in Ubc9, SENP6, and Pax6 levels can act as molecular markers for senile cataract and the di‐sumoylated p46 Pax6 for complicated cataract. Together, our results reveal the presence of molecular signature for both senile and complicated cataracts. Moreover, our study indicates that sumoylation is implicated in control of aging and cataractogenesis.
Skin‐cleaning among hospitalized people who inject drugs: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Stein Michael D. , Phillips Kristina T. , Herman Debra S. , Keosaian Julia , Stewart Catherine , Anderson Bradley J. , Weinstein Zoe , Liebschutz Jane
Published: August 2020

Aims

To test the hypothesis that among hospitalized people who inject drugs (PWID), a brief intervention in skin‐cleaning would result in greater reductions in follow‐up emergency department (ED) or hospitalization rates compared with a usual care condition.

Design

Randomized, two‐group (intervention, n = 128; usual care, n = 124), single‐site clinical trial with12‐month follow‐up.

Setting

Hospital inpatient services in Boston, Massachusetts, United States.

Participants

People who injected drugs on at least 3 days each week prior to hospital admission (n = 252). Participants averaged 37.9 (± 10.7) years of age; 58.5% were male, 59.3% were white and 61.1% had a diagnosis related to skin infection at enrollment.

Intervention and comparator

Intervention was a skin hygiene education and skills‐training behavioral intervention [short‐term efficacy data on a behavioral intervention (SKIN)] consisting of two education‐ and skills‐based skin‐cleaning sessions, one during hospitalization and another 4 weeks later. The comparator was treatment as usual: an informational brochure about substance use treatment options and needle exchange programs in the area and follow‐up clinical appointments as arranged by the inpatient medical staff.

Measurements

Electronic medical records were reviewed and discharge diagnoses for each ED visit and hospital admission were categorized into injection‐related bacterial events (e.g. cellulitis) and non‐injection‐related events. Negative binomial regression was used to test the intervention effects for the primary outcome and total ED visits, as well as the secondary outcomes, total number of hospitalizations, injection drug use‐related (IDU‐related) ED visits and IDU‐related hospitalizations. We also tested whether the outcomes were moderated by whether the initial hospitalization was IDU‐related.

Findings

Of people assigned to SKIN, 66 completed two sessions, 55 completed one session and seven completed zero sessions. Adjusting for baseline covariates, the mean rate of total ED visits in the next 12 months was non‐significantly higher [incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 1.13, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.96, 1.33, P = 0.152] compared with usual treatment. The intervention did not significantly reduce total hospitalizations or IDU‐related hospitalizations. Adjusting for baseline covariates, the mean rate of injection drug use‐related ED visits in the next 12 months was lower (IRR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.35, 0.91, P = 0.019) compared with treatment as usual.

Conclusions

A skin‐cleaning intervention for people who inject drugs delivered during a hospitalization did not significantly reduce either overall emergency department use or hospitalization. There was some evidence that it may have reduced injection drug use‐related emergency department visits.
Do Politicians Discriminate Against Internal Migrants? Evidence from Nationwide Field Experiments in India
Authors: Gaikwad Nikhar , Nellis Gareth
Published: August 2020

Rural‐to‐urban migration is reshaping the economic and social landscape of the Global South. Yet migrants often struggle to integrate into cities. We conduct countrywide audit experiments in India to test whether urban politicians discriminate against internal migrants in providing constituency services. Signaling that a citizen is a city newcomer, as opposed to a long‐term resident, causes incumbent politicians to be significantly less likely to respond to requests for help. Standard “nativist” concerns do not appear to explain this representation gap. We theorize that migrants are structurally disposed to participate in destination‐area elections at lower rates than long‐term residents. Knowing this, reelection‐minded politicians decline to cater to migrant interests. Follow‐up experiments support the hypothesis. We expect our findings to generalize to fast‐urbanizing democracies, with implications for international immigration too. Policywise, mitigating migrants’ de facto disenfranchisement should improve their welfare.
Risk and Trouble: Adam Smith on Profit and the Protagonists of Capitalism
Authors: Hirsch Roni
Published: August 2020

To better account for deepening global inequalities, political theory could greatly enhance empirical and normative work by answering a fundamental question: What is profit? When engaging political‐economic questions, however, theorists often begin thinking from the concept of private property. This, I argue, has obscured the central role of profit as an organizing category for capitalist societies since the eighteenth century. Grounded in the dynamic and uncertain processes of production and accumulation, profit displaces the proprietary citizen and subject of natural rights and gives rise to new social protagonists, who lay claim to increasingly asymmetric rewards. In particular, the article calls attention to a dangerous contemporary sensibility, which sees profit as inherently unlimited. As a viable, robust alternative, it presents Adam Smith's idea of profit as a regular, uniform rate that acts as a productive constraint on business activity, shapes character, and safeguards against risk by widely distributing its costs.
Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor levels and psychopathology scores in drug‐naïve first‐episode psychosis
Authors: Aydın Mehmet Sinan , Bolu Abdullah , Kılınçkaya Muhammed Fevzi , Öznur Taner , Çelik Cemil , Uzun Özcan , Özmenler Kamil Nahit
Published: August 2020

Introduction

Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is involved in the regulation of many neuronal processes, including neurogenesis. Therefore, it is thought to be closely associated with many psychopathologies with a neurodevelopmental basis, for example, schizophrenia.

Methods

The patients admitted to the Psychiatry Department of the Faculty of Medicine with a diagnosis of non‐affective drug‐naïve first‐episode psychosis (FEP) were included in the study. The relationship between laboratory and clinical findings and psychometric data (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale) was examined.

Results

The study population consisted of 34 FEP and 34 healthy control (HC) volunteers. Mean BNDF levels of FEP and HC groups were 14.95 ± 6.13 and 17.89 ± 4.84 pg/ml, respectively. The difference between the groups was statistically significant (t = 2.197; p = .032). There was a negative correlation between mean BDNF levels and PANSS general psychopathology subscale scores (r = .358; p = .038), and total PANSS scores (r = .356; p = .039).

Discussion

There is a consensus on low serum BDNF levels both in FEP and in schizophrenia. However, it is still not clear which clinical findings are associated with lower serum BDNF levels. The relationship between BDNF levels and psychopathologies in schizophrenia has to be investigated.
Mental health in the Pacific: Urgency and opportunity
Authors: Ali Suhailah , Williams Owain , Chang Odille , Shidhaye Rahul , Hunter Ernest , Charlson Fiona
Published: August 2020

The Pacific region faces a significant and growing burden of noncommunicable diseases and mental disorders. An emerging issue is the increasing overlap between physical and mental health conditions, which are often the result of interactive effects and lead to more severe consequences. In addition, climate change is amplifying health risks, as it poses both physical and existential threats to Pacific Island communities. The sustainable development agenda provides a holistic opportunity to address these issues; key elements include improving health surveillance and strengthening health systems, within a multisectoral approach, in order to work towards achieving Healthy Islands.
Combining primary cohort data with external aggregate information without assuming comparability
Authors: Chen Ziqi , Ning Jing , Shen Yu , Qin Jing
Published: August 2020

In comparative effectiveness research (CER) for rare types of cancer, it is appealing to combine primary cohort data containing detailed tumor profiles together with aggregate information derived from cancer registry databases. Such integration of data may improve statistical efficiency in CER. A major challenge in combining information from different resources, however, is that the aggregate information from the cancer registry databases could be incomparable with the primary cohort data, which are often collected from a single cancer center or a clinical trial. We develop an adaptive estimation procedure, which uses the combined information to determine the degree of information borrowing from the aggregate data of the external resource. We establish the asymptotic properties of the estimators and evaluate the finite sample performance via simulation studies. The proposed method yields a substantial gain in statistical efficiency over the conventional method using the primary cohort only, and avoids undesirable biases when the given external information is incomparable to the primary cohort. We apply the proposed method to evaluate the long‐term effect of trimodality treatment to inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) by tumor subtypes, while combining the IBC patient cohort at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and the external aggregate information from the National Cancer Data Base.
The Relation Between Classroom Age Composition and Children’s Language and Behavioral Outcomes: Examining Peer Effects
Authors: Foster Tiffany J. , Burchinal Margaret , Yazejian Noreen
Published: August 2020

Grouping children of different ages in the same preschool classroom (i.e., mixed age) is widespread, but the evidence supporting this practice is mixed. A factor that may play a role in the relation between classroom age composition and child outcomes is peer skill. This study used a sample of 6,338 preschoolers (ages 3–5) to examine the influence of both classroom age composition and peer skill on children’s behavioral and language outcomes. Results supported the growing literature indicating preschoolers’ skills are higher when peer skill is higher, but differences related to classroom age composition were not found. These findings further support the view that peer skill plays an important role in preschool children’s outcomes.
Reductions in plasmin inhibitor and fibrinogen predict the improved fibrin clot lysis 6 months after obesity surgery
Authors: Pedersen Nadja Bødker , Stolberg Charlotte R. , Mundbjerg Lene H. , Juhl Claus B. , Gram Bibi , Funch‐Jensen Peter , de Maat Moniek P.M. , Münster Anna‐Marie B. , Bladbjerg Else‐Marie
Published: August 2020

Prothrombotic and metabolic variables are decreased after obesity surgery, and fibrin clot lysis is increased. It is unknown how fibrinolytic variables are affected, and whether fibrinolytic and metabolic changes predict the enhanced clot lysis. Study aims were to determine fibrinolytic biomarkers before and 6 months after Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and to identify predictors of the RYGB‐induced increase in clot lysis. Women (n = 42) and men (n = 18) with obesity underwent RYGB, and factor XIII (FXIII), thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI), plasminogen and plasmin inhibitor (PI) were measured before and 6 months after surgery. Regression analyses identified determinants of the RYGB‐induced increase in clot lysis among changes in fibrinogen and in fibrinolytic and metabolic variables. Results showed that after RYGB, FXIII, TAFI, plasminogen and PI were reduced (P < .0005). Reductions in PI (β = −0.59) and fibrinogen (β = −0.35), together with age (β = −0.22) and male sex (β = 0.22), predicted the enhanced clot lysis with the model explaining 56% (P < .0005). Predictors of the reduction in PI were reductions in cholesterol (β = 0.37) and glucose (β = 0.29), together with male sex (β = −0.28), whereas reductions in fibrinogen were predicted by lowering of interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) (β = 0.32). In conclusion, fibrinolytic variables were reduced 6 months after RYGB. Targeting PI and fibrinogen, by reducing metabolic variables such as glucose, cholesterol and IL‐6, has a profibrinolytic effect in obesity.
Prevalence and social determinants of overweight and obesity in adolescents in Saudi Arabia: A systematic review
Authors: Habbab Reem M. , Bhutta Zulfiqar A.
Published: August 2020

Obesity in adolescents has a serious impact later in life in the form of disturbances in health and wellbeing. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of overweight and obesity (Ow/Ob) in Saudi adolescents and to construct an ecological model of social determinants (SDs) of Ow/Ob and evaluate current evidence of their effect on Saudi adolescents. A systematic review of literature reported up until 31 December 2018 on Ow/Ob and factors that can influence them in Saudi adolescents was conducted. Fifty‐one studies with n = 97 666 adolescents (55.6% males) were reviewed. The prevalence of Ow/Ob started off high and continued to increase over time. Most of the 49 reviewed SDs reports, from 19 studies, showed positive association between SDs constructed ecological model and Ow/Ob in Saudi adolescents. The prevalence of Ow/Ob among adolescents is a major public health problem in Saudi Arabia, is growing at an alarming rate and SDs play a significant role in this problem, and should be considered in all strategies targeting it. The constructed ecological model for SDs of Ow/Ob in adolescents can serve as a useful exploratory tool that helps investigating the multi‐faceted aetiology of adolescent Ow/Ob and facilitates the development of effective intervention and prevention programmes.
Recurrent neural network reveals overwhelming sentiment against 2017 review of US monuments from humans and bots
Authors: McDonough MacKenzie Caitlin , Chang Tony , Nocco Mallika A. , Barak Rebecca S. , Bletz Molly C. , Kuebbing Sara E. , Dombeck Michael
Published: August 2020

In the United States, the conservation of federal lands reflects a social history of public advocacy, public policy, and public comments. US federal agencies solicit public comments to scope for ideas, solve problems, and use the best available science for policy‐making, legislation, and management. Online comment submission has led to staggering numbers of comments that are challenging to summarize. Here, we analyze comments received by the Department of the Interior in response to the proposed executive review of 27 national monuments designated and expanded between 1996 and 2016. We used a deep recurrent neural network (AWD‐LSTM) to classify sentiment of 754,707 comments with higher precision and recall (F1‐score = 0.98) than support vector machine and Naïve Bayes approaches. Over 97% of unique comments opposed the executive review, suggesting overwhelming support for maintaining national monument designations. Using cosine similarity, we also found that duplicates or potential automated software bots comprised over two‐thirds of comments. We offer recommendations for comment submission, collection, and analysis in the current techno‐political climate.
Can monophagous specialists mediate host plant choices in generalist planthoppers (Hemiptera: Delphacidae)?
Authors: Dittrich Alex D.K. , Helden Alvin J.
Published: August 2020

A preference experiment was set up with two planthopper species (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) to test the influence of competition on host plant choice.

The delphacid Javesella pellucida was chosen as a generalist and the rarer Ribautodelphax imitans as a monophagous specialist, which feeds on the grass, tall fescue Schedonorus arundinaceus.

In the absence of the specialist, the generalist showed a marked preference for tall fescue. In some experiments, however, the introduction of the specialist resulted in a shift of preference to an alternative plant if the specialist was established prior to the introduction of the generalist.

This experiment supports the hypothesis that specialist herbivores can potentially alter the host plant choices of generalists, which may lead to differing host plant use patterns in insect communities.
Seasonal variation in hydration status among community‐dwelling elderly in Japan
Authors: Tanaka Sho , Fujishiro Midori , Watanabe Kentaro , Imatake Kazuhiro , Suzuki Yasuyuki , Abe Masanori , Ishihara Hisamitsu , Tani Shigemasa
Published: August 2020

Aim

While the heat during the summer season may dehydrate the elderly, little is known about the seasonal variation in dehydration. This study aimed to investigate the seasonal variation in hydration status among the community‐dwelling elderly in Japan.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the data collected after an overnight fast of adults aged ≥65 years who had no advanced kidney disease and underwent an annual health checkup at Nihon University Hospital between January and December 2019. Participants were classified according to their checkup date, whether summer (n = 265) or not summer (n = 638). The not summer group was subdivided into spring (n = 235), autumn (n = 213) and winter (n = 190).

Results

Among the four seasons, the spring group showed the highest levels of plasma osmolality (306.1 ± 3.9 mOsm/L), urine specific gravity (1.0172 ± 0.0058) and prevalence rates of urine specific gravity ≥1.020 (34.0%). However, seasonal differences were clinically mild, and >90% of participants showed plasma osmolality ≥300 mOsm/L, indicating dehydration, in all four seasons. The summer group showed lower urine specific gravity levels (1.0150 ± 0.0062 vs. 1.0165 ± 0.0064, P < 0.001) and prevalence rates of urine specific gravity ≥1.020 (22.6% vs. 30.4%, P = 0.023) than did the not summer group. The summer season was associated with low urine specific gravity levels even after adjusting for the multiple linear regression model.

Conclusion

Japanese elderly after overnight fast are more dehydrated during the spring rather than the summer. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; 20: 904–910.
Up‐regulated acylglycerol kinase (AGK) expression associates with gastric cancer progression through the formation of a novel YAP1‐AGK–positive loop
Authors: Huang Shanshan , Cao Yuan , Guo Hui , Yao Yangyang , Li Li , Chen Jun , Li Junhe , Xiang Xiaojun , Deng Jun , Xiong Jianping
Published: August 2020

Acylglycerol kinase (AGK) uses adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and acylglycerol to generate adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and acyl‐sn‐glycerol 3‐phosphate in cells. Recent evidence has demonstrated that dysregulated AGK expression is associated with the development of various human cancers. This study investigated the effects of AGK on gastric cancer cell proliferation and carcinogenesis and explored the underlying molecular events. AGK expression was up‐regulated in gastric cancer and was associated with poor prognosis in gastric cancer patients. AGK overexpression increased gastric cancer proliferation, invasion capacity and the expression of the epithelial‐mesenchymal transition markers in vitro. Conversely, the knockdown of AGK expression reduced gastric cancer cell proliferation in vitro and in nude mouse tumour cell xenografts. Importantly, AGK expression was associated with the YAP1 expression in gastric cancer cells and tissues. YAP1 expression also transcriptionally induced AGK expression through the binding of TEAD to the AGK gene promoter. However, AGK expression inhibited the activation of the Hippo pathway proteins and induced YAP1 nuclear localization to enhance the transcription activity of YAP1/TEADs. In conclusion, the study demonstrates that AGK is not only a novel target of the Hippo‐YAP1 pathway, but that it also positively regulates YAP1 expression, thus forming a YAP1‐AGK–positive feedback loop.
Circular RNA VMA21 ameliorates sepsis‐associated acute kidney injury by regulating miR‐9‐3p/SMG1/inflammation axis and oxidative stress
Authors: Shi Yan , Sun Chuan‐Fu , Ge Wen‐Han , Du Ye‐Ping , Hu Nan‐Bin
Published: August 2020

Accumulating evidence suggests that circular RNAs have the abilities to regulate gene expression during the progression of sepsis‐associated acute kidney injury. Circular RNA VMA21 (circVMA21), a recent identified circular RNA, could reduce apoptosis to alleviate intervertebral disc degeneration in rats and protect WI‐38 cells from lipopolysaccharide‐induced injury. However, the role of circVMA21 in sepsis‐associated acute kidney injury (sepsis‐associated AKI) is unknown. In this study, we first demonstrated that circVMA21 alleviated sepsis‐associated AKI by reducing apoptosis and inflammation in rats and HK‐2 cells. Additionally, to explore the molecule mechanism underlying the amelioration, after the bioinformatics analysis, we confirmed that miR‐9‐3p directly bound to circVMA21 by luciferase and RNA immunoprecipitation assay, and the effector protein of miR‐9‐3p was SMG1. Furthermore, the oxidative stress caused by sepsis‐associated AKI was down‐regulated by circVMA21. In conclusion, circVMA21 plays an important role in the regulating sepsis‐associated AKI via adjusting miR‐9‐39/SMG1/inflammation axis and oxidative stress.
Insight into the divergent role of TRAIL in non‐neoplastic neurological diseases
Authors: Gao Shiqi , Fang Yuanjian , Tu Sheng , Chen Huaijun , Shao Anwen
Published: August 2020

Tumour necrosis factor–related apoptosis‐inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a member of the tumour necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily which mainly induces apoptosis of tumour cells and transformed cell lines with no systemic toxicity, whereas they share high sequence homology with TNF and CD95L. These unique effects of TRAIL have made it an important molecule in oncology research. However, the research on TRAIL‐related antineoplastic agents has lagged behind and has been limited by the extensive drug resistance in cancer cells. Given the several findings showing that TRAIL is involved in immune regulation and other pleiotropic biological effects in non‐malignant cells, TRAIL and its receptors have attracted widespread attention from researchers. In the central nervous system (CNS), TRAIL is highly correlated with malignant tumours such as glioma and other non‐neoplastic disorders such as acute brain injury, CNS infection and neurodegenerative disease. Many clinical and animal studies have revealed the dual roles of TRAIL in which it causes damage by inducing cell apoptosis, and confers protection by enhancing both pro‐ and non‐apoptosis effects in different neurological disorders and at different sites or stages. Its pro‐apoptotic effect produces a pro‐survival effect that cannot be underestimated. This review extensively covers in vitro and in vivo experiments and clinical studies investigating TRAIL. It also provides a summary of the current knowledge on the TRAIL signalling pathway and its involvement in pathogenesis, diagnosis and therapeutics of CNS disorders as a basis for future research.
Promoting better functioning among children exposed to high levels of family adversity: the protective role of childcare attendance
Authors: Larose Marie‐Pier , Côté Sylvana M. , Ouellet‐Morin Isabelle , Maughan Barbara , Barker Edward D.
Published: August 2020

Background

Children exposed to early adversity are vulnerable to cognitive impairments and externalizing behaviors. Attending childcare may, however, partly buffer this detrimental effect by providing social and cognitive stimulation in a secure environment. The aims of this study were (a) to determine whether the association between exposure to adversity and later externalizing behaviors is mediated by children’s cognitive abilities, and (b) to examine if childcare attendance moderates this mediation—thereby highlighting a protective function of children’s childcare attendance.

Methods

Data come from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Children and Parents (N = 6,149). Exposure to adversity was assessed by maternal reports three times from the second trimester of the mother’s pregnancy to the child’s fourth year of age. Childcare attendance was assessed on four occasions between eight months and three years of age. Factors explaining differences in childcare attendance were controlled using propensity score weights. Children’s cognitive abilities were assessed by the Weschler Intelligence Scale for Children at eight years of age, and externalizing behaviors were reported by mothers using the Development and Well‐Being Assessment interview at 10, 13, and 15 years of age.

Results

Notably, lower cognitive abilities partly accounted for the higher levels of externalizing behaviors in adolescents exposed to adversity (B indirect effect = 0.02, 95% CI = 0.007–0.03, p < .01). Importantly, childcare attendance moderated this indirect effect. For children exposed to adversity, being in maternal care was associated with lower cognitive abilities which were related to higher levels of externalizing behaviors. On the contrary, for children exposed to adversity, attending childcare was associated with higher cognitive abilities which were linked to lower levels of externalizing behaviors.

Conclusions

Easily accessible community childcare may be a relatively low‐cost public health strategy to prevent the emergence of externalizing behavioral problems in adolescence through its positive effects on cognitive abilities.
Effect of erosive and abrasive challenges on the glaze layer applied to ceramic materials
Authors: Willers Amanda Endres , da Silva Beatriz Togoro Ferreira , Siriani Luciana Kfouri , Cesar Paulo Francisco , Matos Adriana Bona
Published: August 2020

Purpose

This study aims to evaluate the effect of erosive, abrasive, and erosive/abrasive challenges on the glaze layer of ceramic materials.

Methods

Ninety‐five samples of monolithic zirconia (MZ) (LuxaCam Zircon HT‐Plus) and lithium disilicate (LD) (IPS e.max CAD) were divided according to the response variables: Surface roughness and surface loss (n = 10), evaluated with optical profilometry; surface topography, with scanning electron microscopy SEM (n = 3); and biofilm deposition, with microbiological assay (n = 5). The evaluations were performed in three different time evaluations: (a) Sintered, (b) Glaze, and (c) Challenge (Erosion, Abrasion, and Erosion/Abrasion). Erosion consisted in immersing specimens in HCl solution, abrasion was performed with brushing machine, and erosion/abrasion consisted of a combination of the two previous protocols. Data were analyzed with parametric tests (P < 0.05).

Results

MZ glaze layer presented significantly higher surface roughness (P = 0.00), surface loss (P = 0.03), and biofilm deposition (P = 0.00) than LD. Abrasion and erosion/abrasion showed similar outcomes, generating significantly higher surface roughness (P = 0.00), surface loss (P = 0.00), and biofilm deposition (P = 0.01) than erosion.

Conclusions

Glaze layer properties were altered by the challenges, with abrasion and erosion/abrasion generating higher surface roughness, surface loss, and biofilm deposition than erosion. A significant correlation was found between the surface roughness and biofilm deposition.

Clinical significance

The glaze layer is susceptible to challenges, especially to abrasion and erosion/abrasion, which generated greater surface roughness and surface loss than erosion. The greater surface roughness lead to a greater biofilm deposition on the glaze layer.
Assessment of disease severity on capsule endoscopy in patients with small bowel villous atrophy
Authors: Chetcuti Zammit Stefania , McAlindon Mark E , Sanders David S , Sidhu Reena
Published: August 2020

Background and Aim

There is a lack of uniformity of reporting on features of celiac disease (CD) on small bowel capsule endoscopy (SBCE). This makes determining extent of disease and comparison of severity of disease challenging.

Methods

De‐identified SBCEs of 300 patients (78 CD [26%], 18 serology negative villous atrophy [6%], and 204 controls with normal duodenal histology [68%]) were included. Videos were reviewed by two experts. All patients had duodenal histology taken within 2 weeks of SBCE. The degree of agreement in CD features and extent of disease was then determined. The resulting score for each factor was used to determine overall severity of disease.

Results

There was substantial agreement in the kappa coefficient for the detection of CD features between reviewers (0.67). Agreement for extent of affected small bowel (SB) mucosa was high (0.97). On multiple regression analysis, several features of CD correlated with extent of affected SB mucosa for both reviewers. The odds ratios derived from this analysis were then used to score features of CD, enabling scores of severity to be calculated for each patient. The median overall scores for patients increased significantly according to the independent classification of severity by the capsule reviewers: mild (20, 0–79), moderate (45, 25–123), and severe (89, 65–130) (P = 0.0001).

Conclusion

The good correlation of CD scores between expert reviewers confirms the validity of features of CD on SBCE. An objective score of CD features in the SB is useful in the follow up of patients with CD and serology negative villous atrophy.
Prevalence and pattern of energy drink intake among Australian adolescents
Authors: Trapp G. , Hurworth M. , Christian H. , Bromberg M. , Howard J. , McStay C. , Ambrosini G. , Martin K. , Harray A. , Cross D. , Oddy W. , Hammond D.
Published: August 2020

Background

Energy drinks (ED) are popular among young people despite evidence of associated health risks. Research into the prevalence and pattern of ED intake among young people is sparse. The present study investigates the prevalence and pattern of ED intake among a large sample of adolescents, including how many consume them, how often, for what reasons and in what contexts.

Methods

In 2018, all students in grades 7–12 attending 25 randomly selected Western Australian schools were invited to complete an online self‐report survey about EDs.

Results

Of the 3688 respondents, 51.2% reported consuming an ED. Of these ‘ever consumers’, 23.4% drank them monthly, 19.2% weekly and 2% every day. The average age of first intake was 10.7 years. One‐fifth (19.7%) of ‘ever consumers’ reported consuming more than two EDs in 1 day. Reasons for ED use included taste, to boost energy levels, sport performance and studying.

Conclusions

The findings add to limited international evidence about adolescent ED use and provide valuable information to help ensure interventions to reduce intake address the underlying reasons and contexts of ED consumption.
Leveraging Digital Technology for Treatment of Young Patients with Congenital Conditions: A Clinical Report
Authors: Nguyen Jennifer Pham , Chandy Tintu Sara , Sparks Janine , Driscoll Carl F. , Masri Radi
Published: August 2020

Young patients with ectodermal dysplasia and Ehlers‐Danlos Syndrome present with unique characteristics and corresponding treatment challenges. Congenitally missing teeth or conditions leading to premature tooth loss may be exhibited. Underdeveloped or easily traumatized oral structures are commonly seen and must be rehabilitated with care. These oral features can have a negative impact on the patients’ quality of life and may require special considerations during dental treatment. This report follows the initial treatments of a 6‐year‐old patient with ectodermal dysplasia and a 20‐year‐old patient with Ehlers‐Danlos Syndrome, with the incorporation of digital technologies in their subsequent oral rehabilitation.
Using projective techniques and Food Neophobia Scale to explore the perception of traditional ethnic foods in Central Mexico: A preliminary study on the beverage Sende
Authors: Bernal‐Gil Norma Yareli , Favila‐Cisneros Héctor Javier , Zaragoza‐Alonso Jazmín , Cuffia Facundo , Rojas‐Rivas Edgar
Published: August 2020

Foods considered ethnic are produced and consumed in a specific region. As well it has been documented that consumers expresses fear of the intention of eating new foods. Furthermore, the perception of the Mexican consumers toward ethnic foods has been scarcely studied. The aim of this work was to explore the perception toward Sende—a traditional ethnic Mazahua beverage of low alcoholic content, produced from germinated corn, dried, cooked and fermented—using word association (WA) and Food Neophobia Scale (FNS). A questionnaire was designed and applied to 160 people in a locality in Central Mexico where, traditionally, this beverage is produced. The mean of FNS was 26.70, which suggests that food neophobia level in the sample under study was low. Through WA, 13 categories were obtained which reflect the perception toward the beverage. By means of cluster analysis, three groups were obtained, which presented differences in FNS and the categories obtained through WA. These results may serve to promote and foster the consumption of traditional ethnic foods, which are not familiar for the population, this with a view to increasing the number of new producing establishments, improving profitability and developing the local economy.

Practical applications

There is a wide range of traditional ethnic foods in Mexico. However, many are unknown to the population and are falling in disuse, which could lead to their disappearance. The results of this work might help local producers or institutions from different regions of the country to promote their gastronomic heritage, particularly their traditional ethnic foods. Furthermore, this research shows that young people may be more interested in trying and consuming this type of food products. In that sense, campaigns to promote and disseminate ethnic foods could focus on this consumer sector considering their levels of acceptance or rejection when consuming little known or non diet food products.
Surveyed impact of intellectual property training in STEM education on innovation, research, and development
Authors: O'Sullivan S. , Friebe Michael , Tonti W. R. , Hartnett Margaret , Castro Manuel , Pozzo M. I. , Nilsiam Y.
Published: August 2020

This paper analyzes the findings of an international survey questionnaire to which responses were received from over 500 members from different technical societies of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). The survey is primarily intended to uncover members' perceptions of patent filing and research‐driven innovation. Our thesis statement is twofold. First, the introduction of basic intellectual property (IP) courses to university Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics curricula would teach students valuable basics of IP and associated issues, technology protection; and possibly stimulate novel/innovative R&D outcomes. Second, studying relevant active/lapsed/expired patent documents could provide stimulating input for ongoing academic research. After analyzing the survey results we conclude that IP coursework could be a catalyst for students and researchers to explore patent opportunities related to their specific interests. The resulting knowledge would further enable researchers to prepare more compelling funding applications. In our experience, IEEE conference publications are often closely aligned with inventions to solve pressing technical problems. Conference papers typically comprise of cutting‐edge research/industry findings, with a short time between paper submission and presentation. Furthermore, conference organizers choose themes representing the forefront of technologies that often lead to inventions. These could fuel patent developments, but academic research environments often provide little if any incentives for academic researchers to prepare and file patent applications. Indeed, the attainment of high impact journal publications remains the primary metric by which research activity is judged and future academic tenure achieved.