bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effect of environmental and management factors on seed germination and seedling emergence of Asian spiderflower (Cleome viscosa L.)
Authors: Akbari‐Gelvardi Atefe , Siahmarguee Asieh , Ghaderi‐Far Farshid , Gherekhloo Javid
Published: July 2021

Asian spiderflower (Cleome viscosa L.) is a fast‐growing herb found in humid and warm habitats of the Americas, Africa and Asia. It is one of the most important weeds of crop fields in Asia and Africa. The objective of this study was to determine the after‐ripening of Asian spiderflower seeds and evaluate its germination and emergence responses to various environmental (temperature, pH, salinity and water potential) and management (burial depth, flooding time and high temperature) factors. Mature seeds were collected from Kalaleh County, Iran, during October of 2015 and 2018. Seed germination increased over time and reached 77% after 209 days after‐ripening. Based on the segmented model, base and optimum temperatures for germination were 15.70–17.32°C and 31.89–34.11°C respectively. Asian spiderflower seed germination was sensitive to high levels of soil salinity and adapted to moderate‐drought conditions. Seeds germinated better at neutral and alkaline pH levels. Seedling emergence from seeds either left on the soil surface or buried at depths more than 4 cm was low, and the maximum emergence occurred in seeds buried at a depth of 1 cm. Flooding significantly reduced seedling emergence. The exposure of seeds to 82.18–87.59°C reduced seed germination by 50% and no germination occurred at 100°C. The results obtained from this study showed that several options are available for the integrated management of this weed.
Therapeutic benefits of proning to improve pulmonary gas exchange in severe respiratory failure: focus on fundamentals of physiology
Authors: Berg Ronan M. G. , Hartmann Jacob Peter , Iepsen Ulrik Winning , Christensen Regitse Højgaard , Ronit Andreas , Andreasen Anne Sofie , Bailey Damian M. , Mortensen Jann , Moseley Pope L. , Plovsing Ronni R.
Published: July 2021

New Findings

What is the topic of this review?

The use of proning for improving pulmonary gas exchange in critically ill patients.

What advances does it highlight?

Proning places the lung in its ‘natural’ posture, and thus optimises the ventilation‐perfusion distribution, which enables lung protective ventilation and the alleviation of potentially life‐threatening hypoxaemia in COVID‐19 and other types of critical illness with respiratory failure.

The survival benefit of proning patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is well established and has recently been found to improve pulmonary gas exchange in patients with COVID‐19‐associated ARDS (CARDS). This review outlines the physiological implications of transitioning from supine to prone on alveolar ventilation‐perfusion () relationships during spontaneous breathing and during general anaesthesia in the healthy state, as well as during invasive mechanical ventilation in patients with ARDS and CARDS. Spontaneously breathing, awake healthy individuals maintain a small vertical (ventral‐to‐dorsal) ratio gradient in the supine position, which is largely neutralised in the prone position, mainly through redistribution of perfusion. In anaesthetised and mechanically ventilated healthy individuals, a vertical ratio gradient is present in both postures, but with better matching in the prone position. In ARDS and CARDS, the vertical ratio gradient in the supine position becomes larger, with intrapulmonary shunting in gravitationally dependent lung regions due to compression atelectasis of the dorsal lung. This is counteracted by proning, mainly through a more homogeneous distribution of ventilation combined with a largely unaffected high perfusion dorsally, and a consequent substantial improvement in arterial oxygenation. The data regarding proning as a therapy in patients with CARDS is still limited and whether the associated improvement in arterial oxygenation translates to a survival benefit remains unknown. Proning is nonetheless an attractive and lung protective manoeuvre with the potential benefit of improving life‐threatening hypoxaemia in patients with ARDS and CARDS.
Diálogos con Ignacio Martín Baró sobre conflicto y polarización social
Authors: Martín Beristain Carlos
Published: July 2021

Ignacio Martín Baró, compañero jesuita, fue y sigue siendo ejemplo de entrega al ser humano sin condiciones y a todo riesgo, cuando la honestidad intelectual y el amor lo exigen. Mostró que la academia está para orientar la pasión de los pueblos por la dignidad. Desde lo profundo de El Salvador, donde le arrebataron la vida, inspiró la seriedad con la verdad de los excluidos y de nosotros mismos. Carlos Martín Beristain nos entrega en este libro el diálogo de una amistad que sigue viva hoy, enfrentando las mismas luchas y las mismas esperanzas de Ignacio. Francisco de Roux
“¡Es porque no le ponen onda!”: prácticas de comensalidad en la escuela
Authors: Fernández Silvina del Carmen
Published: July 2021

Partiendo de una etnografía realizada en una escuela primaria estatal de la provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina, abordaré la perspectiva de lxs niñxs sobre  la comida y las prácticas de comensalidad en torno al comedor. Lxs niñxs aportaron ideas centrales para comprender los modos de comer en la escuela, tensionando elementos del sentido común y los modos habituales de estudiar  la temática. Asimismo, sus perspectivas permitieron exponer lógicas organizativas de la alimentación escolar que no necesariamente priorizan una alimentación “adecuada”. De este modo analizaré la agencia y las formas de participación política de lxs niñxs en relación con la alimentación.
PETE Faculty’s Perspectives of edTPA: The Range of Change
Authors: Baxter Deborah S. , Sinelnikov Oleg A.
Published: July 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the extent of changes taking place within the context, structure, and culture of university physical education teacher education programs facilitating high-stakes educative Teacher Performance Assessment policy. Method: Utilizing a multiple-case study design framed by analytical dualism, eight physical education teacher education faculty from eight different programs who had direct involvement in the high-stakes educative Teacher Performance Assessment process were investigated. Data from semi-structured individual interviews, focus group interviews, and documents were interpretively analyzed. Results: Faculty reacted in three distinct ways to the process of change: prevailers, conceders, or exceeders. The process appeared to be based upon an implementation continuum from isolation to internalization. Discussion/Conclusions: University programs have a responsibility to prepare effective physical education teachers who use the best practices for teaching. It is imperative for physical education teacher education faculty to reflect upon the impetus and impact of changes made to their programs.
A Review of Fidelity of Implementation in Intervention Research Published in JTPE and RQES
Authors: Li Weidong , Ma Lian , Xiang Ping , Tang Yan
Published: July 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to review and evaluate the quality of fidelity of implementation (FOI) reported in experimental research in physical education pedagogy published in the Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport and the Journal of Teaching in Physical Education using a five-component conceptual framework. Methods: Thirty-five intervention studies were coded using a five-item FOI checklist with indicators. For each of the five items, frequencies and percentages were calculated. Results: Authors of intervention studies reported components of FOI including (a) 35 studies assessing program adherence, (b) eight studies assessing dosage/program durations, (c) 30 studies assessing program delivery quality, (d) eight studies assessing participant responses to program interventions, and (e) 19 studies assessing program differentiation. The most frequently reported FOI components were program adherence, program delivery quality, and program differentiation. Conclusions: Researchers have begun to realize the critical importance of FOI in intervention research. Most researchers selected certain FOI components to assess and report at their own discretion. Researchers may need to pay more attention to FOI. The five-component conceptual framework is one method for doing this assessment.
Isoflavone diet ameliorates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis through modulation of gut bacteria depleted in patients with multiple sclerosis
Authors: Jensen Samantha N. , Cady Nicole M. , Shahi Shailesh K. , Peterson Stephanie R. , Gupta Arnav , Gibson-Corley Katherine N. , Mangalam Ashutosh K.
Published: July 2021

Isoflavone-metabolizing gut bacteria ameliorate CNS autoimmunity in mice.
Revealing the source of Jupiter’s x-ray auroral flares
Authors: Yao Zhonghua , Dunn William R. , Woodfield Emma E. , Clark George , Mauk Barry H. , Ebert Robert W. , Grodent Denis , Bonfond Bertrand , Pan Dongxiao , Rae I. Jonathan , Ni Binbin , Guo Ruilong , Branduardi-Raymont Graziella , Wibisono Affelia D. , Rodriguez Pedro , Kotsiaros Stavros , Ness Jan-Uwe , Allegrini Frederic , Kurth William S. , Gladstone G. Randall , Kraft Ralph , Sulaiman Ali H. , Manners Harry , Desai Ravindra T. , Bolton Scott J.
Published: July 2021

Jupiter’s unique x-ray aurora is driven by the same processes as Earth’s: Heavy ion scattering by electromagnetic waves.
Optogenetic control of the guard cell membrane potential and stomatal movement by the light-gated anion channel
Gt
ACR1
Authors: Huang Shouguang , Ding Meiqi , Roelfsema M. Rob G. , Dreyer Ingo , Scherzer Sönke , Al-Rasheid Khaled A. S. , Gao Shiqiang , Nagel Georg , Hedrich Rainer , Konrad Kai R.
Published: July 2021

Expression of an anion channel rhodopsin in guard cells provides for light-controlled stomatal movements and leaf transpiration.
Smell proves powerful sense for birds
Authors: Pennisi Elizabeth
Published: July 2021

New studies highlight underappreciated role of avian olfaction
Journal retracts paper claiming COVID-19 vaccines kill
Authors: Wadman Meredith
Published: July 2021

Editors at
Vaccines
quit, protesting "irresponsible" study
Charleston honors Black ancestors, with both science and ceremony
Authors: Wade Lizzie
Published: July 2021

Archaeology and genetics help reveal the life stories of 36 enslaved people
Gut microbiome heritability is nearly universal but environmentally contingent
Authors: Grieneisen Laura , Dasari Mauna , Gould Trevor J. , Björk Johannes R. , Grenier Jean-Christophe , Yotova Vania , Jansen David , Gottel Neil , Gordon Jacob B. , Learn Niki H. , Gesquiere Laurence R. , Wango Tim L. , Mututua Raphael S. , Warutere J. Kinyua , Siodi Long’ida , Gilbert Jack A. , Barreiro Luis B. , Alberts Susan C. , Tung Jenny , Archie Elizabeth A. , Blekhman Ran
Published: July 2021

Baboons inform on human gut microbiota

Commensal bacteria are found throughout an organism, but it is not known whether associations between gut bacteria and their host are heritable. Grieneisenet al.examined changes in the microbiomes of 585 wild baboons from fecal samples collected over 14 years (see the Perspective by Cortes-Ortiz and Amato). Almost all microbiome traits tested demonstrated some level of statistically significant heritability. Most heritability values were low but varied over time correlating with the age of the host. Baboons live in an environment similar to that postulated for early humans and have a microbiome similar to that of humans. Thus, this heritability of the microbiome may reflect similar genetic determinants in humans, for which similar datasets are not available.

Science, aba5483, this issue p.181; see also abj5287, p.159
Magnetic excitations in infinite-layer nickelates
Authors: Lu H. , Rossi M. , Nag A. , Osada M. , Li D. F. , Lee K. , Wang B. Y. , Garcia-Fernandez M. , Agrestini S. , Shen Z. X. , Been E. M. , Moritz B. , Devereaux T. P. , Zaanen J. , Hwang H. Y. , Zhou Ke-Jin , Lee W. S.
Published: July 2021

Looking for magnetic clues

Thin films of the neodymium nickelate NdNiO
2
doped with strontium have recently been found to be superconducting. This materials class bears structural and electronic similarities to the famed cuprate superconductors, but how far the analogy goes remains unclear. Lu
et al.
used resonant inelastic x-ray scattering to look for magnetism, which exists in the cuprates, in Nd
1-x
Sr
x
NiO
2
films (see the Perspective by Benckiser). The authors observed magnetic modes in the undoped compound that had a doping evolution consistent with the behavior of a doped Mott insulator.

Science
, abd7726, this issue p.
213
; see also abi6855, p.
157
Networks of SARS-CoV-2 transmission
Authors: Cevik Muge , Baral Stefan D.
Published: July 2021

Individual and network heterogeneity should inform respiratory pandemic responses
Brine-driven destruction of clay minerals in Gale crater, Mars
Authors: Bristow T. F. , Grotzinger J. P. , Rampe E. B. , Cuadros J. , Chipera S. J. , Downs G. W. , Fedo C. M. , Frydenvang J. , McAdam A. C. , Morris R. V. , Achilles C. N. , Blake D. F. , Castle N. , Craig P. , Des Marais D. J. , Downs R. T. , Hazen R. M. , Ming D. W. , Morrison S. M. , Thorpe M. T. , Treiman A. H. , Tu V. , Vaniman D. T. , Yen A. S. , Gellert R. , Mahaffy P. R. , Wiens R. C. , Bryk A. B. , Bennett K. A. , Fox V. K. , Millken R. E. , Fraeman A. A. , Vasavada A. R.
Published: July 2021

Modified clay minerals on Mars

Sedimentary rocks exposed in Gale crater on Mars contain extensive clay minerals. Bristow
et al.
analyzed drill samples collected by the Curiosity rover as it climbed up sedimentary layers in the crater. They found evidence of past reactions with liquid water and sulfate brines, which could have percolated through the clay from an overlying sulfate deposit. Similar sulfate deposits are widespread across the planet and represent some of the last sedimentary rocks to form before the planet lost its surface liquid water, so the results inform our understanding of the geologic processes that occurred as Mars dried out.

Science, abg5449, this issue p.
198
A touch more unconventional
Authors: Benckiser Eva
Published: July 2021

Strong antiferromagnetic interactions are revealed in superconducting nickelates
Medicinal plants, in context
This Is Your Mind on Plants
Michael Pollan
Penguin, 2021. 288 pp.
Authors: Sanford Kiki
Published: July 2021

A journalist's meandering meditation probes a trio of mind-altering natural compounds
Can microbes combat neurodegeneration?
Authors: Blacher Eran
Published: July 2021

Identifying a new link between microbiome and metabolites in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
In vivo reprogramming of pathogenic lung TNFR2
+
cDC2s by IFNβ inhibits HDM-induced asthma
Authors: Mansouri Samira , Gogoi Himanshu , Pipkin Mauricio , Machuca Tiago N. , Emtiazjoo Amir M. , Sharma Ashish K. , Jin Lei
Published: July 2021

The IFNβ-ERK2-FAO pathway promotes tolerance in lung TNFR2
+
cDC2s.
The E. coli Whole-Cell Modeling Project
Authors: Sun Gwanggyu , Ahn-Horst Travis A. , Covert Markus W.
Published: July 2021

The
Escherichia
coli
whole-cell modeling project seeks to create the most detailed computational model of an
E. coli
cell in order to better understand and predict the behavior of this model organism. Details about the approach, framework, and current version of the model are discussed.
Pierre Robin sequence causes position-dependent obstructive sleep apnoea in infants
Authors: Kukkola Hanna-Leena Kristiina , Vuola Pia , Seppä-Moilanen Maija , Salminen Päivi , Kirjavainen Turkka
Published: July 2021

Introduction

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and feeding difficulties are key problems for Pierre Robin sequence (PRS) infants. OSA management varies between treatment centres. Sleep positioning represents the traditional OSA treatment, although its effectiveness remains insufficiently evaluated.

Design

To complete a polysomnographic (PSG) evaluation of effect of sleep position on OSA in PRS infants less than 3 months of age. We analysed a 10-year national reference centre dataset of 76 PRS infants. PSG was performed as daytime recordings for 67 in the supine, side and prone sleeping position when possible. In most cases, recording included one cycle of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep in each position.

Results

One-third of infants (9/76, 12%) had severe OSA needing treatment intervention prior to PSG. During PSG, OSA with an obstructive apnoea and hypopnoea index (OAHI) >5 per hour was noted in 82% (55/67) of infants. OSA was most severe in the supine and mildest in the side or in the prone positions. The median OAHI in the supine, side and prone positions were 31, 16 and 19 per hour of sleep (p=0.003). For 68% (52/67) of the infants, either no treatment or positional treatment alone was considered sufficient.

Conclusions

The incidence of OSA was 84% (64/76) including the nine infants with severe OSA diagnosed prior to PSG. For the most infants, the OSA was sleep position dependent. Our study results support the use of PSG in the evaluation of OSA and the use of sleep positioning as a part of OSA treatment.
Anal adenocarcinoma: case report, literature review and comparative survival analysis
Authors: Tsay Cynthia J , Pointer Thomas , Chandler Jocelyn B , Nagar Anil B , Protiva Petr
Published: July 2021

Introduction

Anal adenocarcinoma is a rare malignancy with a poor prognosis.

Methods

We present a case of rare anal adenocarcinoma in a patient with normal screening colonoscopy. Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Result database between 2000 and 2016, we performed survival analysis among individuals>20 years old comparing anal and rectal cancers.

Results

Survival analysis showed that anal adenocarcinoma is associated with worse outcomes compared with rectal adenocarcinoma and anal squamous cell carcinoma.

Discussion

This case and survival data illustrate the importance of prompt investigation of symptoms irrespective of colorectal cancer screening status with careful attention to examination of the anal area.
Selective prevention of cardiovascular disease using integrated lifestyle intervention in primary care: protocol of the Healthy Heart stepped-wedge trial
Authors: Bonten Tobias N , Verkleij Sanne Marije , van der Kleij Rianne MJJ , Busch Karin , van den Hout Wilbert B , Chavannes Niels H , Numans Mattijs E
Published: July 2021

Introduction

Lifestyle interventions are shown to be effective in improving cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. It has been suggested that general practitioners can play an essential role in CVD prevention. However, studies into lifestyle interventions for primary care patients at high cardiovascular risk are scarce and structural implementation of lifestyle interventions can be challenging. Therefore, this study aims to (1) evaluate (cost-)effectiveness of implementation of an integrated group-based lifestyle programme in primary care practices; (2) identify effective intervention elements and (3) identify implementation determinants of an integrated group-based lifestyle intervention for patients with high cardiovascular risk.

Methods and analysis

The Healthy Heart study is a non-randomised cluster stepped-wedge trial. Primary care practices will first offer standard care during a control period of 2–6 months, after which practices will switch (step) to the intervention, offering participants a choice between a group-based lifestyle programme or standard care. Participants enrolled during the control period (standard care) will be compared with participants enrolled during the intervention period (combined standard care and group-based lifestyle intervention). We aim to include 1600 primary care patients with high cardiovascular risk from 55 primary care practices in the area of The Hague, the Netherlands. A mixed-methods process evaluation will be used to simultaneously assess effectiveness and implementation outcomes. The primary outcome measure will be achievement of individual lifestyle goals after 6 months. Secondary outcomes include lifestyle change of five lifestyle components (smoking, alcohol consumption, diet, weight and physical activity) and improvement of quality of life and self-efficacy. Outcomes are assessed using validated questionnaires at baseline and 3, 6, 12 and 24 months of follow-up. Routine care data will be used to compare blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Cost-effectiveness of the lifestyle intervention will be evaluated. Implementation outcomes will be assessed using the RE-AIM model, to assesses five dimensions of implementation at different levels of organisation: reach, efficacy, adoption, implementation and maintenance. Determinants of adoption and implementation will be assessed using focus groups consisting of professionals and patients.

Ethics and dissemination

This study is approved by the Ethics Committee of the Leiden University Medical Center (P17.079). Results will be shared with the primary care group, healthcare providers and patients, and will be disseminated through journal publications and conference presentations.

Trial registration number

NL60795.058.17. Status: pre-results
What is the effect of a decision aid on knowledge, values and preferences for lung cancer screening? An online pre–post study
Authors: Clark Stephen D , Reuland Daniel S , Brenner Alison T , Pignone Michael P
Published: July 2021

Objective

To examine if a decision aid improves knowledge of lung cancer screening benefits and harms and which benefits and harms are most valued.

Design

Pre–post study.

Setting

Online.

Participants

219 current or former (quit within the previous 15 years) smokers ages 55–80 with at least 30 pack-years of smoking.

Intervention

Lung cancer screening video decision aid.

Main measures

Screening knowledge tested by 10 pre–post questions and value of benefits and harms (reducing chance of death from lung cancer, risk of being diagnosed, false positives, biopsies, complications of biopsies and out-of-pocket costs) assessed through rating (1–5 scale) and ranking (top three ranked).

Results

Mean age was 64.7±6.1, 42.5% were male, 75.4% white, 48.4% married, 28.9% with less than a college degree and 67.6% with income <US$50 000. Knowledge improved postdecision aid (pre 2.8±1.8 vs post 5.8±2.3, diff +3.0, 95% CI 2.7 to 3.3; p<0.001). For values, reducing the chance of death from lung cancer was rated and ranked highest overall (rating 4.3±1.0; 59.4% ranked first). Among harms, avoiding complications (3.7±1.3) and out-of-pocket costs (3.7±1.2) rated highest. Thirty-four per cent ranked one of four harms highest: avoiding costs 13.2%, false positives 7.3%, biopsies 7.3%, complications 5.9%. Screening intent was balanced (1–4 scale; 1-not likely 21.0%, 4-very likely 26.9%). Those ‘not likely’ to screen had greater improvement in pre–post knowledge scores and more frequently ranked a harm first than those ‘very likely’ to screen (pre–post diff:+3.5 vs +2.6, diff +0.9; 95% CI 0.1 to 1.8; p=0.023; one of four harms ranked first: 28.4% vs 11.3%, p<0.001).

Conclusions

Our decision aid increased lung cancer screening knowledge among a diverse sample of screen-eligible respondents. Although a majority valued ‘reducing the chance of death from lung cancer’ highest, a substantial proportion identified harms as most important. Knowledge improvement and ranking harms highest were associated with lower intention to screen.
Economics of healthcare access in low-income and middle-income countries: a protocol for a scoping review of the economic impacts of seeking healthcare on slum-dwellers compared with other city residents
Authors: Teixeira de Siqueira-Filha Noemia , Li Jinshuo , Kibuchi Eliud , Quayyum Zahidul , Phillips-Howard Penelope , Awal Abdul , Mithu Md Imran Hossain , Manzoor Farzana , Karuga Robinson , Saidu Samuel , Smith John , Sai Varun , Garimella Sureka , Chumo Ivy , Mberu Blessing , Tolhurst Rachel , Mazumdar Sumit , Rao Vinodkumar , Farnaz Nadia , Alam Wafa , Elsey Helen
Published: July 2021

Introduction

People living in slums face several challenges to access healthcare. Scarce and low-quality public health facilities are common problems in these communities. Costs and prevalence of catastrophic health expenditures (CHE) have also been reported as high in studies conducted in slums in developing countries and those suffering from chronic conditions and the poorest households seem to be more vulnerable to financial hardship. The COVID-19 pandemic may be aggravating the economic impact on the extremely vulnerable population living in slums due to the long-term consequences of the disease. The objective of this review is to report the economic impact of seeking healthcare on slum-dwellers in terms of costs and CHE. We will compare the economic impact on slum-dwellers with other city residents.

Methods and analysis

This scoping review adopts the framework suggested by Arksey and O’Malley. The review is part of the accountability and responsiveness of slum-dwellers (ARISE) research consortium, which aims to enhance accountability to improve the health and well-being of marginalised populations living in slums in India, Bangladesh, Sierra Leone and Kenya. Costs of accessing healthcare will be updated to 2020 prices using the inflation rates reported by the International Monetary Fund. Costs will be presented in International Dollars by using purchase power parity. The prevalence of CHE will also be reported.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval is not required for scoping reviews. We will disseminate our results alongside the events organised by the ARISE consortium and international conferences. The final manuscript will be submitted to an open-access international journal. Registration number at the Research Registry: reviewregistry947.
Geographical variations and factors associated with recent HIV testing prevalence in Ghana: spatial mapping and complex survey analyses of the 2014 demographic and health surveys
Authors: Nutor Jerry John , Duah Henry Ofori , Duodu Precious Adade , Agbadi Pascal , Alhassan Robert Kaba , Darkwah Ernest
Published: July 2021

Objective

To examine the factors associated with recent HIV testing and to develop an HIV testing prevalence surface map using spatial interpolation techniques to identify geographical areas with low and high HIV testing rates in Ghana.

Design

Secondary analysis of Demographic and Health Survey.

Setting

Rural and urban Ghana

Participants

The study sample comprised 9380 women and 3854 men of 15–49 years.

Results

We found that 13% of women and 6% of men of Ghana had tested for HIV in the past 12 months. For women, being within the age groups of 15–39 years, being currently married, attainment of post-secondary education, having only one sexual partner and dwelling in certain regions with reference to greater Accra (Volta, Eastern, Upper West and Upper East) were associated with a higher likelihood of HIV testing. For men, being older than 19 years, attainment of post-secondary education and dwelling in the Upper East region with reference to the greater Accra region were significantly associated with a higher likelihood of HIV testing. The surface map further revealed intra-regional level differences in HIV testing estimates.

Conclusion

Given the results, HIV testing must be expanded with equitable testing resource allocation that target areas within the regions in Ghana with low HIV testing prevalence. Men should be encouraged to be tested for HIV.
Network meta-analysis of four kinds of traditional Chinese exercise therapy in the treatment of type 2 diabetes: protocol for a systematic review
Authors: Jia Yuqi , Yu Ying , Huang Hailiang
Published: July 2021

Introduction

Traditional Chinese exercise therapy, as one of the commonly used exercise interventions for the treatment of type 2 diabetes patients in China, has been proven effective by many clinical practices, but there is still a lack of evidence-based research. This study aims to integrate clinical randomised controlled correlations via network meta-analysis evidence.

Methods and analysis

The comprehensive search included Chinese and other language databases such as the MEDLINE (PubMed), Web of Science, Excerpt Medica Database (EMBASE), The Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform, China Scientific Journal Database (VIP), China Biomedical Literature Database (CBM). Clinical randomised controlled trials of four traditional Chinese exercise therapies in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, including Tai Chi, Ba Duan Jin, Yi Jin Jing and Wu Qin Xi were retrieved. The search time was conducted from the establishment of the database to 30 October 2020. Two researchers screened the documents that met the inclusion criteria, extracted data according to the preset table, and evaluated the methodological quality of the included studies according to the quality evaluation tools recommended by the Cochrane System Reviewer Manual V.5.1. The R language and ADDIS statistical software were used to conduct statistics and analysis of intervention measures.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42020214786
Healthy food retail availability and cardiovascular mortality in the United States: a cohort study
Authors: Lovasi Gina S , Johnson Norman J , Altekruse Sean F , Hirsch Jana A , Moore Kari A , Brown Janene R , Rundle Andrew G , Quinn James W , Neckerman Kathryn , Siscovick David S
Published: July 2021

Objectives

We investigated the association of healthy food retail presence and cardiovascular mortality, controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. This association could inform efforts to preserve or increase local supermarkets or produce market availability.

Design

Cohort study, combining Mortality Disparities in American Communities (individual-level data from 2008 American Community Survey linked to National Death Index records from 2008 to 2015) and retail establishment data.

Setting

Across the continental US area-based sociodemographic and retail characteristics were linked to residential location by ZIP code tabulation area (ZCTA). Sensitivity analyses used census tracts instead, restricted to urbanicity or county-based strata, or accounted for non-independence using frailty models.

Participants

2 753 000 individuals age 25+ living in households with full kitchen facilities, excluding group quarters.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Cardiovascular mortality (primary) and all-cause mortality (secondary).

Results

82% had healthy food retail (supermarket, produce market) within their ZCTA. Density of such retail was correlated with density of unhealthy food sources (eg, fast food, convenience store). Healthy food retail presence was not associated with reduced cardiovascular (HR: 1.03; 95% CI 1.00 to 1.07) or all-cause mortality (HR: 1.05; 95% CI 1.04 to 1.06) in fully adjusted models (with adjustment for gender, age, marital status, nativity, Black race, Hispanic ethnicity, educational attainment, income, median household income, population density, walkable destination density). The null finding for cardiovascular mortality was consistent across adjustment strategies including minimally adjusted models (individual demographics only), sensitivity analyses related to setting, and across gender or household type strata. However, unhealthy food retail presence was associated with elevated all-cause mortality (HR: 1.15; 95% CI 1.11 to 1.20).

Conclusions

In this study using food establishment locations within administrative areas across the USA, the hypothesised association of healthy food retail availability with reduced cardiovascular mortality was not supported; an association of unhealthy food retail presence with higher mortality was not specific to cardiovascular causes.
Values, preferences and burden of treatment for the initiation of GLP-1 receptor agonists and SGLT-2 inhibitors in adult patients with type 2 diabetes: a systematic review
Authors: González-González José Gerardo , Díaz González-Colmenero Alejandro , Millán-Alanís Juan Manuel , Lytvyn Lyubov , Solis Ricardo Cesar , Mustafa Reem A , Palmer Suetonia C , Li Sheyu , Hao Qiukui , Alvarez-Villalobos Neri Alejandro , Vandvik Per Olav , Rodríguez-Gutiérrez René
Published: July 2021

Objectives

Assess values, preferences and burden of treatment that patients with type 2 diabetes consider when initiating glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) or sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) compared with other glucose-lowering options.

Methods

Paired reviewers independently included studies reporting quantitative or qualitative methods to assess values, preferences and burden of treatment reported by patients with type 2 diabetes regarding the initiation of GLP-1 RA or SGLT-2i over other alternatives. A systematic search in MEDLINE, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from inception until May 2020 was performed by an experienced librarian. Risk of bias was assessed with a specifically designed tool for values and preferences studies.

Results

17 studies (7296 patients) proved eligible. Studies fulfilling criteria for SGLT-2i were not identified. Five studies (2662 patients) evaluated preferences for GLP-1 RA compared with other glucose-lowering medications. 12 studies (4634 patients) evaluated preferences between, at least, two kinds of GLP-1 RA or their injection devices based on the following attributes: efficacy, dose, application frequency, device characteristics. Among studies comparing GLP-1 RA to other glucose-lowering medications, some preferences were observed for dypeptil peptidase-4 inhibitors compared with once daily liraglutide. Comparing different attributes of GLP-1 RA drugs and devices, cardiovascular risk reduction, glucose lowering potential, once weekly and simple administered regimens were the most preferred.

Conclusions

As no evidence for preferences on SGLT-2i was available, only preferences for GLP-1 RA were assessed; however, evidence is still limited for the latter. Studies comparing preferences for GLP1-RA to other glucose-lowering alternatives only included twice daily or once daily injection regimens of GLP-1 RA drugs. According to our findings, once weekly alternatives are widely preferred than the formers. The extent to which patients with type 2 diabetes value reduced adverse cardiovascular and kidney outcomes, weighed benefits against harms and burden of treatment is limited and with very low certainty.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42020159284.
Strategies and challenges in Kerala’s response to the initial phase of COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative descriptive study
Authors: Prajitha Kannamkottapilly Chandrasekharan , Rahul Arya , Chintha Sujatha , Soumya Gopakumar , Maheswari Suresh Meenu , Nalina Kumari Kesavan Nair Anjana , Valamparampil Mathew Joseph , Reghukumar Aravind , Venkitaraman Sriram , Anish Thekkumkara Surendran Nair
Published: July 2021

Objective

To understand the structures and strategies that helped Kerala in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, the challenges faced by the state and how it was tackled.

Design

Qualitative descriptive study using focus group discussions and in-depth interviews.

Setting

State of Kerala, India.

Participants

29 participants: four focus group discussions and eight in-depth interviews. Participants were chosen purposively based on their involvement in decision-making and implementation of COVID-19 control activities, from the department of health and family welfare, police, revenue, local self-government and community-based organisations. Districts, panchayats (local bodies) and primary health centres (PHCs) were selected based on epidemiological features of the area like the intensity of disease transmission and preventive/containment activities carried out in that particular area to capture the wide range of activities undertaken in the state.

Results

The study identified five major themes that can inform best practices viz social capital, robust public health system, participation and volunteerism, health system preparedness, and challenges. This study was a real-time exploration of the intricacies of COVID-19 management in a low/middle-income country and the model can serve as an example for other states and nations to emulate or adjust accordingly.

Conclusion

The study shows the impact of synergy of these themes towards more effective solutions; however, further research is much needed in examining the relationship between these factors and their relevance in policy decisions.
Clinical efficacy and security of glycyrrhizic acid preparation in the treatment of anti-SARS-CoV-2 drug-induced liver injury: a protocol of systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Tian Xia , Gan Wenfan , Nie Yisen , Ying Rongtao , Tan Yongji , Chen Junli , Chen Mei , Zhang Chuantao
Published: July 2021

Introduction

COVID-19 is a highly infectious acute pneumonia. Glycyrrhizic acid preparation (GAP) has been found to have hepatoprotective and antiviral effects, but there is no supporting evidence on its efficacy and security for patients with COVID-19.

Methods and analysis

The systematic review methods will be defined by Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. This study will start on 1 July 2021 and end on 31 October 2021. A comprehensive electronic search will be conducted with the search of Web of Science, PubMed, Ovid web, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Scientific and Journal Database, Wanfang Database and grey literature, and manual search will be conducted to search literature of randomised controlled trials, single-arm trials and retrospective studies about GAP in the treatment of anti-SARS-CoV-2 drug-induced liver injury from 1 December 2019 to 1 July 2021. There is no time limitations of publication and language will be restricted to Chinese and English. Retrieved studies will be independently screened by two researchers and relevant data will be extracted from studies. Interstudy heterogeneity will be assessed using the I2statistic and explored through meta-regressions and subgroup analyses. Depending on data availability, we plan to conduct subgroup analyses by study population, geographical region and other selected clinical variables of interest. Quality assessment of the studies will be performed. Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions will be used to assess the risk of bias, and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation will be used to access the confidence in cumulative evidence.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval will not be required for no primary data of individual patients will be collected. The final report will be shared with the scientific community through publication in a peer-reviewed journal, as well as with key stakeholders, including patients, healthcare professionals and those working on COVID-19 research.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42021234647.
Mobility and social deprivation on primary care utilisation among paediatric patients with asthma
Authors: Lucas Jennifer A , Marino Miguel , Giebultowicz Sophia , Fankhauser Katie , Suglia Shakira F , Bailey Steffani R , Bazemore Andrew , Heintzman John
Published: July 2021

Objective

Asthma care is negatively impacted by neighbourhood social and environmental factors, and moving is associated with undesirable asthma outcomes. However, little is known about how movement into and living in areas of high deprivation relate to primary care use. We examined associations between neighbourhood characteristics, mobility and primary care utilisation of children with asthma to explore the relevance of these social factors in a primary care setting.

Design

In this cohort study, we conducted negative binomial regression to examine the rates of primary care visits and annual influenza vaccination and logistic regression to study receipt of pneumococcal vaccination. All models were adjusted for patient-level covariates.

Setting

We used data from community health centres in 15 OCHIN states.

Participants

The sample included 23 773 children with asthma aged 3–17 across neighbourhoods with different levels of social deprivation from 2012 to 2017. We conducted negative binomial regression to examine the rates of primary care visits and annual influenza vaccination and logistic regression to study receipt of pneumococcal vaccination. All models were adjusted for patient-level covariates.

Results

Clinic visit rates were higher among children living in or moving to areas with higher deprivation than those living in areas with low deprivation (rate ratio (RR) 1.09, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.17; RR 1.05, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.11). Children moving across neighbourhoods with similarly high levels of deprivation had increased RRs of influenza vaccination (RR 1.13, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.23) than those who moved but stayed in neighbourhoods of low deprivation.

Conclusions

Movement into and living within areas of high deprivation is associated with more primary care use, and presumably greater opportunity to reduce undesirable asthma outcomes. These results highlight the need to attend to patient movement in primary care visits, and increase neighbourhood-targeted population management to improve equity and care for children with asthma.
Evaluating indices of nutritional condition for caribou (Rangifer tarandus): which are the most valuable and why?
Authors: Cook Rachel C. , Crouse John A. , Cook John G. , Stephenson Thomas R.
Published: July 2021

Body composition studies are critical for evaluating the accuracy of nutritional condition indices for predicting body components. We evaluated >40 indices of nutritional condition for caribou (Rangifer tarandus (Linnaeus, 1758)) using 29 female caribou captured from three populations in Alaska (USA) that ranged in condition from 2.3% to 11.2% ingesta-free body fat (IFBF) and 6 captive female caribou that ranged in condition from 8.1% to 26.0% IFBF. Estimates of body fat, protein, and gross energy were regressed against each index of nutritional condition. Generally, indices with linear or slightly curvilinear relations to body fat and those based on multiple fat depots were the most accurate in predicting nutritional condition and the most useful over the full range of nutritional condition. A scaledLIVINDEX (a combination of subcutaneous fat thickness and a condition score), CONINDEX (a combination of kidney fat and marrow fat), and a subset of the Kistner score (pericardium and kidneys only) had the strongest relationship with body fat (r2 > 0.86) and were useful over the entire range of nutritional condition. If used properly and with adequate training, indices of nutritional condition can be a critical tool for understanding the severity and seasonality of nutritional limitations in wild caribou populations.
Hadronic rescattering in pA and AA collisions
Authors: Bierlich Christian , Sjöstrand Torbjörn , Utheim Marius
Published: July 2021

In a recent article we presented a model for hadronic rescattering, and some results were shown for $$\mathrm {p}\mathrm {p}$$

p
p

collisions at LHC energies. In order to extend the studies to $$\mathrm {p}\mathrm {A}$$

p
A

and $$\mathrm {A}\mathrm {A}$$

A
A

collisions, the Angantyr model for heavy-ion collisions is taken as the starting point. Both these models are implemented within the general-purpose Monte Carlo event generator Pythia, which makes the matching reasonably straightforward, and allows for detailed studies of the full space–time evolution. The rescattering rate is significantly higher than in $$\mathrm {p}\mathrm {p}$$

p
p

, especially for central $$\mathrm {A}\mathrm {A}$$

A
A

collisions, where the typical primary hadron rescatters several times. We study the impact of rescattering on a number of distributions, such as $$p_{\perp }$$

p
⊥

and $$\eta $$
η
spectra, and the space–time evolution of the whole collision process. Notably rescattering is shown to give a significant contribution to elliptic flow in $$\mathrm {XeXe}$$
XeXe
and $$\mathrm {PbPb}$$
PbPb
, and to give a nontrivial impact on charm production.
Next-to-leading-order QCD corrections to heavy quark fragmentation into $${}^1S^{(1,8)}_0$$ quarkonia
Authors: Feng Feng , Jia Yu , Sang Wen-Long
Published: July 2021

Within NRQCD factorization framework, in this work we compute, at the lowest order in velocity expansion, the next-to-leading-order (NLO) perturbative corrections to the short-distance coefficients associated with heavy quark fragmentation into the $${}^1S_0^{(1,8)}$$

1

S
0

(
1
,
8
)

components of a heavy quarkonium. Starting from the Collins and Soper’s operator definition of the quark fragmentation function, we apply the sector decomposition method to facilitate the numerical manipulation. It is found that the NLO QCD corrections have a significant impact.
Conservation laws for electron vortices in strong-field ionisation
Authors: Kang Yuxin , Pisanty Emilio , Ciappina Marcelo , Lewenstein Maciej , Figueira de Morisson Faria Carla , Maxwell Andrew S.
Published: July 2021

We investigate twisted electrons with a well-defined orbital angular momentum, which have been ionised via a strong laser field. By formulating a new variant of the well-known strong field approximation, we are able to derive conservation laws for the angular momenta of twisted electrons in the cases of linear and circularly polarised fields. In the case of linear fields, we demonstrate that the orbital angular momentum of the twisted electron is determined by the magnetic quantum number of the initial bound state. The condition for the circular field can be related to the famous ATI peaks, and provides a new interpretation for this fundamental feature of photoelectron spectra. We find the length of the circular pulse to be a vital factor in this selection rule and, employing an effective frequency, we show that the photoelectron OAM emission spectra are sensitive to the parity of the number of laser cycles. This work provides the basic theoretical framework with which to understand the OAM of a photoelectron undergoing strong field ionisation.

Graphic Abstract
Alexander polynomial and spanning trees
Authors: Bao Yuanyuan , Wu Zhongtao
Published: July 2021

Inspired by the combinatorial constructions in earlier work of the authors that generalized the classical Alexander polynomial to a large class of spatial graphs with a balanced weight on edges, we show that the value of the Alexander polynomial evaluated at [Formula: see text] gives the weighted number of the spanning trees of the graph.
A Replenishment Inventory Model with a Stock-Dependent Demand and Age–Stock-Dependent Cost Functions in a Random Environment
Authors: Barron Yonit
Published: July 2021

This paper investigates an [Formula: see text] continuous-review perishable inventory model with a stock-dependent Poisson demand process, full backordering (with an extension for lost sales) and uncertainty in lead time and shelf life. Four types of costs are considered: a fixed cost of an order and each outdated item; age-dependent costs of an item (i.e., holding and salvage costs), given by a function of its remaining shelf life; and a delay cost of a backlogged demand unit, which is a function of its delay duration.

Applying the supplementary variable technique, we obtain the joint probability-density function of the number of items in the system and the remaining time and thereby obtain the optimal parameters minimizing the long-run average total cost. Numerical experiments show that supply chain profits are enhanced by integrating the age components into replenishment decisions, and ignoring the shelf age- and delay-dependent costs may result in a substantial loss (up to 25%). It further appeared that estimating the lead-time distribution by an exponential one is significantly more costly, in particular as the c.v. differs from 1. In contrast, an exponential shelf life may provide a good heuristic for other shelf-life distributions.