bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
COVID-19: Companion Animals Help People Cope during Government-Imposed Social Isolation
Authors: Johnson Elizabeth , Volsche Shelly
Published: February 2021

This research explores the impact of government-imposed social isolation orders on homes with companion animals. Data were collected April through May 2020, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. A survey of 234 Americans observing social isolation orders included demographic questions; questions about relationships to other persons and companion animals within the home; and Likert-scale questions designed to probe the complexities of these relationships and their influences on perceived stress and isolation. We hypothesized that the presence of companion animals helps to mitigate stressors related to observing social isolation orders, with those living alone experiencing more benefit and homes with children experiencing less. The results suggest that the presence of companion animals alleviates stress and isolation by providing attachment figures and activities on which to focus one’s energy. These results support that companion animals are increasingly viewed as members of one’s family and provide social support during stressful life events.
Preventing Zoonotic Emerging Disease Outbreaks: The Need to Complement One Health with Ethical Considerations
Authors: Martin Angela K. , Dürr Salome
Published: February 2021

Human encroachment on the habitats of wild animals and the dense living conditions of farmed animals increase spill-over risk of emerging infectious diseases from animals to humans (such as COVID-19). In this article, we defend two claims: First, we argue that in order to limit the risk of emerging infectious disease outbreaks in the future, a One Health approach is needed, which focuses on human, animal, and environmental health. Second, we claim that One Health should not solely be grounded in collaborations between veterinary, medical, and environmental scientists, but should also involve more dialogue with animal and environmental ethicists. Such an interdisciplinary approach would result in epidemiology-driven measures that are ethically legitimate.
Choiromyces cerebriformis (Tuberaceae), a new hypogeous species from Yunnan, China
Authors: YUAN TIAN-JUN , RASPÉ OLIVIER , LI YONG-JUN , WANG LI , SU KAI-MEI , WANG YUN , SU HONG-YAN , XIONG HAI-KUANG , LI SHU-HONG
Published: February 2021

A new hypogeous species, Choiromyces cerebriformis sp. nov. is described and illustrated from Yunnan province, China. Both morphological evidence and sequence analyses of the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2) support the species as new to science. C. cerebriformis differs from other Choiromyces species in having ascomata with larger lobes and light orange-brown gleba, and globose ascospores with short stick-like sparse spines ornamentation. Morphological differences and genetic distances with the similar species C. helanshanensis and C. alveolatus are discussed. A phenotypic key including related species is provided.
The confused taxonomy of Pseudolaelia irwiniana (Orchidaceae) with two new synonyms

Authors: VAN DEN BERG CASSIO , MENINI NETO LUIZ
Published: February 2021

Pseudolaelia Campos Porto & Brade (1935: 209) is a small orchid genus in subtribe Laeliinae. Its phylogenetic affinities place it near several small, endemic genera which constitute an isolated lineage in eastern Brazil, together with Adamantinia Van den Berg & Gonçalves (2004: 231), Constantia Barbosa Rodrigues (1877: 78), Isabelia Barbosa Rodrigues (1877: 75) and Leptotes Lindley (1833: t. 1625). All these genera have comparatively fewer species within the subtribe, and the main centre of distribution are the Brazilian Campos Rupestres, and other granitic rocky outcrops in the Brazilian States of Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro and Bahia. Also, several species in Pseudolaelia, Constantia and Leptotes are epiphytes on Vellozia sp., considered a very specialized type of epiphytism (van den Berg et al. 2006, Porembsky 2008).
The Bolivian fauna of the genus Anastrepha Schiner (Diptera: Tephritidae)
Authors: RAMOS ELIZABETH QUISBERTH , NORRBOM ALLEN L. , MARINONI LUCIANE , SUTTON BRUCE D. , STECK GARY J. , SÁNCHEZ JUAN JOSÉ LAGRAVA
Published: February 2021

The general aim of this study is to contribute to and summarize knowledge of the Bolivian fauna of the genus Anastrepha Schiner (Tephritidae) which includes species of both ecological and economic importance. In addition to compiling data from the literature, we report the results of fruit fly sampling using McPhail or multilure traps in the Tropic of Cochabamba region and at the private natural reserve of Potrerillo del Guendá in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, as well as records from various other sites based on specimens in museum collections. Fifty-seven named species and three unnamed species of Anastrepha are recorded from Bolivia. Distribution maps for all of these species are provided. Numerous new department records are reported as well as the first records for Bolivia of A. castanea Norrbom, A. dissimilis Stone, A. elegans Blanchard, A. haywardi Blanchard, A. macrura Hendel, A. montei Lima, A. punctata Hendel, and A. rosilloi Blanchard. Pacouria boliviensis (Markgr.) A. Chev. (Apocynaceae) is reported as a host plant of A. woodleyi Norrbom & Korytkowski, and Myrciaria floribunda (H. West ex Willd.) Berg (Myrtaceae) and Pouteria glomerata (Miq.) Radlk. (Sapotaceae) as host plants of A. fraterculus (Wiedemann). This distribution and host information will be useful to monitor and manage species that damage fruit crops in Bolivia.
A review of Indian species of Phrynocaria Timberlake (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) with notes on synonymy and a new species from South India, hitherto misidentified as Coelophora circumusta (Mulsant)
Authors: POORANI J. , SANKARARAMAN H. , ANUSREE S. S.
Published: February 2021

Indian species of Phrynocaria Timberlake, 1943 (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) are briefly reviewed and illustrated with notes on diagnosis, nomenclature, distribution and hosts. Coelophora circumusta (Mulsant, 1850), which has a limited distribution in India, is transferred to Phrynocaria (new combination) and Coelophora moseri Weise, 1902 is synonymized with it (new synonym). A new species, Phrynocaria perfida Poorani, sp. n. (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) is described from South India based on specimens hitherto misidentified as a variety of C. circumusta. The validity of Phrynocaria funebris (Crotch, 1874) is confirmed based on examination and dissection of the type specimen; the species is redescribed and the male genitalia illustrated.
Effect of Nb Content on Superelastic Properties of Biomedical Ti–Zr-Based Shape Memory Alloys
Authors: Li Shuanglei , Choi Mi-Seon , Nam Tae-Hyun
Published: February 2021

Ti–18Zr–xNb–2Sn (x = 10, 11, 11.5, 12, 12.5) (at.%) shape memory alloys were fabricated by arc melting then phase constitutions and superelastic properties were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and tensile test at various temperatures between 178
K and 413 K. Excellent superelasticity was observed in 12.5Nb alloy at temperatures between 258 K and 298 K. Both superelasticity and shape memory effect were observed in 12Nb alloy at temperatures between 233 K and 383 K. Only shape memory effect was observed in 11Nb and 11.5Nb alloys at
temperatures between 298 K and 383 K. 12.5Nb and 12Nb alloys consisted of the main β phase and athermal ω. The amount of β phase decreased with increasing Nb content. 10Nb alloy consisted of main α″ martensite and a small amount of β
phase. The Ms temperature measured from the Clausius–Clapeyron relationship decreased greatly with increasing Nb content (100 K/at.% Nb) in these Ti–Zr–Nb–Sn alloys.
Effect of Annealing Temperature and External Tensile Stress on Negative Thermal Expansion to Cold Rolled Ti–23Nb–0.7Ta–2Zr Alloy
Authors: Moon Jeong-Tae , Nam Tae-Hyun
Published: February 2021

The effect of annealing temperature and external stress on the thermal expansion of a Ti–23Nb–0.7Ta–2Zr alloy were investigated by means of thermal expansion tests under constant load and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Negative thermal expansion (NTE), which is a shrinkage
during heating, was observed in both a cold rolled and annealed specimens. The intensity of (200)β peak decreased while that of (211)β peak increased as the annealing temperature increased. The difference in expansion rate between 50 °C and
250 °C is found to decrease with an increasing annealing temperature from 600 °C to 800 °C, above which it kept almost constant. The expansion rate decreased as the applied stress increased.
A 23-Year Severe Hail Climatology Using GridRad MESH Observations
Authors: Murillo Elisa M. , Homeyer Cameron R. , Allen John T.
Published: February 2021

Assessments of spatiotemporal severe hailfall characteristics using hail reports are plagued by serious limitations in report databases, including biases in reported sizes, occurrence time, and location. Multiple studies have used Next Generation Weather Radar (NEXRAD) network observations or environmental hail proxies from reanalyses. Previous work has specifically utilized the single-polarization radar parameter maximum expected size of hail (MESH). In addition to previous work being temporally limited, updates are needed to include recent improvements that have been made to MESH. This study aims to quantify severe hailfall characteristics during a 23-yr period, markedly longer than previous studies, using both radar observations and reanalysis data. First, the improved MESH configuration is applied to the full archive of gridded hourly radar observations known as GridRad (1995–2017). Next, environmental constraints from the Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications, version 2, are applied to the MESH distributions to produce a corrected hailfall climatology that accounts for the reduced likelihood of hail reaching the ground. Spatial, diurnal, and seasonal patterns show that in contrast to the report climatology indicating one high-frequency hail maximum centered on the Great Plains, the MESH-only method characterizes two regions: the Great Plains and the Gulf Coast. The environmentally filtered MESH climatology reveals improved agreement between report characteristics (frequency, location, and timing) and the recently improved MESH calculation methods, and it reveals an overall increase in diagnosed hail days and westward broadening in the spatial maximum in the Great Plains than that seen in reports.
The importance of interventional timing in the bleomycin model of pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: Kolb Philipp , Upagupta Chandak , Vierhout Megan , Ayaub Ehab , Bellaye Pierre Simon , Gauldie Jack , Shimbori Chiko , Inman Mark , Ask Kjetil , Kolb Martin R.J.
Published: February 2021

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a complex disease of unknown aetiology, which makes drug development challenging. Single administration of bleomycin directly to the lungs of mice is a widely used experimental model for studying pulmonary fibrogenesis and evaluating the effect of therapeutic antifibrotic strategies. The model works by inducing an early inflammatory phase, which transitions into fibrosis after 5–7 days. This initial inflammation makes therapeutic timing crucial. To accurately assess antifibrotic efficacy, the intervention should inhibit fibrosis without impacting early inflammation.

Studies published between 2008 and 2019 using the bleomycin model to investigate pulmonary fibrosis were retrieved from PubMed, and study characteristics were analysed. Intervention-based studies were classified as either preventative (starting <7 days after bleomycin installation) or therapeutic (>7 days). In addition, studies were cross-referenced with current major clinical trials to assess the availability of preclinical rationale.

A total of 976 publications were evaluated. 726 investigated potential therapies, of which 443 (61.0%) were solely preventative, 166 (22.9%) were solely therapeutic and 105 (14.5%) were both. Of the 443 preventative studies, only 70 (15.8%) characterised inflammation during the model's early inflammatory phase. In the reported 145 IPF clinical trials investigating 93 compounds/combinations, only 25 (26.9%) interventions had any preclinical data on bleomycin available on PubMed.

Since 2008, we observed a shift (from <5% to 37.4%) in the number of studies evaluating drugs in the therapeutic setting in the bleomycin model. While this shift is encouraging, further characterisation of early inflammation and appropriate preclinical therapeutic testing are still needed. This will facilitate fruitful drug development in IPF, and more therapeutic strategies for patients with this devastating disease.
Comparing transcriptional responses to Fusarium crown rot in wheat and barley identified an important relationship between disease resistance and drought tolerance
Authors: Su Z. Y. , Powell J. J. , Gao S. , Zhou M. , Liu C.
Published: February 2021

Background

Fusarium crown rot (FCR) is a chronic disease in cereal production worldwide. The impact of this disease is highly environmentally dependant and significant yield losses occur mainly in drought-affected crops.

Results

In the study reported here, we evaluated possible relationships between genes conferring FCR resistance and drought tolerance using two approaches. The first approach studied FCR induced differentially expressed genes (DEGs) targeting two barley and one wheat loci against a panel of genes curated from the literature based on known functions in drought tolerance. Of the 149 curated genes, 61.0% were responsive to FCR infection across the three loci. The second approach was a comparison of the global DEGs induced by FCR infection with the global transcriptomic responses under drought in wheat. This analysis found that approximately 48.0% of the DEGs detected one week following drought treatment and 74.4% of the DEGs detected three weeks following drought treatment were also differentially expressed between the susceptible and resistant isolines under FCR infection at one or more timepoints. As for the results from the first approach, the vast majority of common DEGs were downregulated under drought and expressed more highly in the resistant isoline than the sensitive isoline under FCR infection.

Conclusions

Results from this study suggest that the resistant isoline in wheat was experiencing less drought stress, which could contribute to the stronger defence response than the sensitive isoline. However, most of the genes induced by drought stress in barley were more highly expressed in the susceptible isolines than the resistant isolines under infection, indicating that genes conferring drought tolerance and FCR resistance may interact differently between these two crop species. Nevertheless, the strong relationship between FCR resistance and drought responsiveness provides further evidence indicating the possibility to enhance FCR resistance by manipulating genes conferring drought tolerance.
Balloon occluded TACE (B-TACE) vs DEM-TACE for HCC: a single center retrospective case control study
Authors: Lucatelli Pierleone , De Rubeis Gianluca , Rocco Bianca , Basilico Fabrizio , Cannavale Alessandro , Abbatecola Aurelio , Nardis Pier Giorgio , Corona Mario , Brozzetti Stefania , Catalano Carlo , Bezzi Mario
Published: February 2021

Background

To compare oncological results and safety profile of balloon micro-catheter trans-arterial chemoembolization (b-TACE) and drug-eluting-microsphere (DEM-TACE) in patients with hepatocellular-carcinoma (HCC).

Methods

This is a case–control, retrospective, single-center study. Between January-2015/March-2019, 149 patients (131 males [87.9%]) with 226 HCC were treated, 22 patients (35 HCC; 19 [86.4%] males) with b-TACE and 127 with DEM-TACE (191 HCC, 112 [88.2%] males). Embolization protocol was standardized (sequential 100 ± 25 and 200 ± 25 μm microspheres). Results were evaluated by modified-response-evaluation-criteria-in-solid-tumor [mRECIST] at 1, 3–6 and 9–12 months and time to recurrence after complete response [TTR] at 1 years. Cox’s regression weighted with tumor dimensions was performed. Adverse events (AEs) were recorded.

Results

mRECIST oncological response at all time points (1, 3–6 and 9–12 months) for both treatments were similar, with the exception of Objective response rate at 9-12 months. Objective response at 1 and 3–6 months between b-TACE vs DEM-TACE [23/35 (65.7%) vs 119/191 (62.3%), 21/29 (72.4%) vs 78/136 (57.4%) (p > 0.05), respectively]. On the contrary, at 9–12 months, it was significantly higher in b-TACE subgroup than DEM-TACE (15/19 [78.9%] vs 48/89 [53.9%], p = 0.05). TTR for complete response at 1 year had a better trend for b-TACE vs DEM-TACE (278.0 days [196.0–342.0] vs 219.0 days [161.0–238.0], OR 0.68 [0.4–1.0], p = 0.10). The use of balloon micro-catheter reduced the relative risk of the event of recurrence by 0.63 [CI95% 0.38–1.04]; p = 0.07). No significant differences were found in AEs rate.

Conclusion

b-TACE showed a trend of better oncological response over DEM-TACE with and longer TTR with a similar adverse events rate, in patients presenting with larger tumors.
Tuberculosis (TB) in the refugee camps in Ethiopia: trends of case notification, profile, and treatment outcomes, 2014 to 2017
Authors: Legesse Tsegay , Admenur Goitom , Gebregzabher Selemawit , Woldegebriel Eyob , Fantahun Bexabeh , Tsegay Yemane , Bayssa Abeyot , Darge Berihu , Denbu Yidnekachew , Michalel Hayelom , Abera Kibebew , Alemayeh Abraham , Kebede Dejene , Kasa Desta
Published: February 2021

Background

Severity of TB increases in refugee populations. Monitoring TB case notification and treatment outcomes are essential to improve the effectiveness of TB programs. This study aimed to investigate trends in TB case notification and treatment outcomes and explore factors associated with unsuccessful treatment outcome in refugee camps in Ethiopia.

Methods

In this retrospective cohort study, demographic and clinical data of all TB cases registered in 25 refugee camps in Ethiopia from January 2014 to December 2017 were extracted. Multivariate logistic regression was fitted to estimate odds ratios and corresponding 95% confidence intervals for the measure of association linked with factors significantly associated with unsuccessful treatment outcomes.

Results

A total of 1553 TB cases, mean age 27.7 years, were registered from 2014 to 2017. Of these notified cases 54.7% were men, 27.7% children (< 15 years), 71.2% pulmonary TB (PTB), 27.8% Extra-PTB (EPTB) and 98.3% new and relapse. From 2014 to 2017: there was consistent increase in number of notified TB cases (138 to 588 cases), in percentage of EPTB (23.2 to 32.7%), in contribution of children to total TB cases (18.8 to 30.1%) and to EPTB (40.6 to 65.1%), and in proportion of bacteriologically confirmed new and relapse pulmonary cases (43.8 to 64.8%). Treatment success rates for all TB cases remained lower at 72.7–79.4%. On average 24.8% had unfavorable treatment outcome, including 11.5% not evaluated, 8.0% LTFU, 4.8% died and 0.5% treatment failed. Unsuccessful treatment was significantly associated with pretreatment weight below 40 Kg, age over 45 years, and being HIV positive.

Conclusions

There was continuous increase in notified TB cases and in percentage of childhood TB. Proportion of bacteriologically confirmed new and relapse pulmonary cases increased overtime. TB treatment success remained lower than the national achievement in 2017 (96%) and global target (> = 90%), which needs improvement. The higher LTFU, not evaluated, and death suggests the need to strengthen adherence education and supervision. Special socio-economic support and monitoring is required for patients with pretreatment weight below 40 Kg, age over 45 years and HIV positives.
Knowledge, attitudes, and practice of cervical cancer prevention among health workers in rural health centres of Northern Uganda
Authors: Obol James Henry , Lin Sophia , Obwolo Mark James , Harrison Reema , Richmond Robyn
Published: February 2021

Background

Cervical cancer is a leading cancer and cause of premature death among women in Uganda aged 15 to 44 years. To address the increasing burden of cervical cancer in Uganda, the Ministry of Health has adopted several strategies which include public education and advocacy. This study aims to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practice of cervical cancer prevention among health workers employed in rural health centres (HCs) III and IV in the Acholi sub-region of Northern Uganda.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional survey of nurses, midwives, and clinical officers between February and April 2019 using self-administered questionnaire. We sampled fifty-four HCs III and eight HCs IV. In Uganda, HCs are structured from HC I to HC IV and the health care package provided increases with increasing level of the HC. We used Epidata version 3.1 to create database and analysis was performed using Stata 16. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were performed. Factors with p-values ≤ 0.05 were considered as predictors of outcome.

Results

There were 286 participants who completed the questionnaire: Majority (188, 66%) were females. Nurses were 153 (54%). 141 (75%) female participants self-reported to have been screened for cervical cancer. 171 (60%) participants had adequate knowledge of cervical cancer. 187 (66%) participants had positive attitudes. Participants who indicated not to have ever received training on cervical cancer screening were less likely to have adequate knowledge (AOR = 0.39, 95% CI 0.21–0.71). Participants who indicated not to have ever been trained on cervical cancer screening were less likely to have positive attitudes (AOR = 0.52, 95% CI 0.28–0.97).

Conclusion

Health workers from rural HCs in Uganda play crucial role in cervical cancer prevention as they can reach a wider community. Their significance in the prevention of cervical cancer points to the need for Uganda and other sub-Sahara Africa (SSA) countries to establish training to improve their knowledge, attitudes, and practical skills on cervical cancer screening. Furthermore, Uganda government should develop and disseminate guidelines for cervical cancer prevention to rural health workers to promote standardised cervical cancer prevention activities.
Knowledge, attitude and practice of the Sudanese people towards COVID-19: an online survey
Authors: Mohamed Amal Abdelrahim Osman , Elhassan Eilaf Ali Mohamed , Mohamed Abdelrahim Osman , Mohammed Awab Aldow , edris Hassan Alshaikh , Mahgoop Mohamed Alhadi , Sharif Mohamed Emadaldin , Bashir Maab Imadeldin , Abdelrahim Rania Bashir , Idriss Wegdan Ibraheim , Malik Elfatih Mohamed
Published: February 2021

Background

The Novel Corona virus SARS-CoV-2 emerged to affect the human population in 2019 causing COVID-19 pandemic. The only preventive measures available are social distancing, hand washing and face masks. This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of the Sudanese people towards COVID-19.

Methods

An online cross-sectional study targeting adult Sudanese people was conducted in April 2020. The study used a self-administered questionnaire containing 18 knowledge questions, 5 questions for attitude and six questions for practices. Social media such as Facebook and WhatsApp were utilized to disseminate the questionnaire. The total number of eligible questionnaires available for analysis by the end of the period was 987.

Results

The mean (±SD) age of respondents was 30.13 (±9.84) years with males representing 55.4%. The majority were university and higher education levels (95.2%), residing in Khartoum (71.7%). The mean (±SD) knowledge score of the participants was 15.33 (± 2.24) and was found to be associated with education level and age groups (p-value = 0.022, P value =0.010) respectively. The mean (±SD) attitude score was 04.15 (± 0.97) and was significantly associated with older groups and better-educated participants (p-value =0.001, p-value = 0.048) respectively. The practices related to COVID-19 preventive measures mean (±SD) was 02.58 (± 1.73) with a significant difference between age groups and area of residence.

Conclusions

This study showed that the participants had good knowledge and satisfactory attitude that was not similarly expressed into practice. Efforts are needed in health education and law enforcement to improve the practices among all groups with special emphasis on younger and less educated males.
Tobacco use and betel quid chewing among adults in Myanmar- estimates and social determinants from demographic and health survey, 2015–16
Authors: Sreeramareddy Chandrashekhar T. , Aye Saint Nway , Venkateswaran Sunil Pazhayanur
Published: February 2021

Background

National-level prevalence of tobacco use and betel quid chewing, and associated socio-demographic factors were estimated using first-ever, Myanmar Demographic Health Survey, 2015–16.

Methods

Questions about tobacco smoking, smokeless tobacco use, and betel quid chewing were used to create outcome variables such as tobacco smoking, smokeless tobacco use, and ‘dual use’ (tobacco use and betel quid chewing). Sex-stratified weighted prevalence rates, distribution by socio-demographic factors were presented. Association of demographic factors with tobacco and/or betel quid chewing was assessed by multinomial logistic regression.

Results

Among men, prevalence (%) of tobacco use and betel quid chewing was 40.9 (95% CI 38.1, 42.1) and 58.9 (95% CI 56.3, 61.6) respectively. Among women tobacco use was 3.7 (95% CI 2.0, 4.3) and betel quid chewing 18.2 (95% CI 16.4, 20.0). Among men prevalence of either tobacco or betel quid and ‘dual use’ was 50.4 (95% CI 48.5, 52.3) and 25.0 (95% CI 23.1, 26.8) respectively, whereas among women the corresponding rates were 17.9 (95% CI 16.2, 19.6) and 2.0 (95% CI 1.6, 2.9). Smokeless tobacco use was low (< 5%) in both sexes. Tobacco use and/or betel quid chewing was associated with age, wealth, marital status, and occupation in both sexes. However, the effect sizes were much larger among women for wealth groups. People of older age and lower wealth had a higher odds of being a tobacco user and/or betel quid chewer.

Conclusions

In Myanmar, prevalence of both tobacco use and betel quid chewing was high particularly among men. Tobacco control interventions should be strictly implemented and ‘dual use’ of both tobacco and betel quid should also be urgently addressed.
Lyso-phosphatidylethanolamine primes the plant immune system and promotes basal resistance against hemibiotrophic pathogens
Authors: Völz Ronny , Park Ju-Young , Harris William , Hwang Sungkee , Lee Yong-Hwan
Published: February 2021

Background

Lyso-phosphatidylethanolamine (LPE) is a natural phospholipid that functions in the early stages of plant senescence. Plant innate immunity and early leaf senescence share molecular components. To reveal conserved mechanisms that link-up both processes, we tried to unravel to what extent LPE coordinates defense response and by what mode of action.

Result

We found that LPE-treatment induces signaling and biosynthesis gene expression of the defensive hormone salicylic acid (SA). However, jasmonic acid and ethylene triggered gene induction levels are indistinguishable from the control. In accordance with gene induction for SA, oxidative stress, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, we detected raised in-situ hydrogen peroxide levels following LPE-application. Yet, ROS-burst assays of LPE-pretreated plants revealed a reduced release of ROS after PAMP-administration suggesting that LPE interferes with an oxidative burst. Our data refer to a priming effect of LPE on SA/ROS-associated genomic loci that encode pivotal factors in early senescence and considerably improve plant basal immunity. Thus, we challengedArabidopsis thalianawith the hemibiotrophic pathogenPseudomonas syringae. Consistently, we found an increased resistance in the LPE-pretreatedArabidopsisplants compared to the mock-pretreated control.

Conclusions

Our results underscore a beneficial effect of LPE on plant innate immunity against hemibiotrophs. Given the resistance-promoting effect of exogenously applied LPE, this bio-agent bears the potential of being applied as a valuable tool for the genetic activation of defense-associated traits.
A human factors intervention in a hospital - evaluating the outcome of a TeamSTEPPS program in a surgical ward
Authors: Aaberg Oddveig Reiersdal , Hall-Lord Marie Louise , Husebø Sissel Iren Eikeland , Ballangrud Randi
Published: February 2021

Background

Patient safety in hospitals is being jeopardized, since too many patients experience adverse events. Most of these adverse events arise from human factors, such as inefficient teamwork and communication failures, and the incidence of adverse events is greatest in the surgical area. Previous research has shown the effect of team training on patient safety culture and on different areas of teamwork. Limited research has investigated teamwork in surgical wards. The aim of this study was to evaluate the professional and organizational outcomes of a team training intervention among healthcare professionals in a surgical ward after 6 and 12 months. Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety 2.0 was used as a conceptual framework for the study.

Methods

This study had a pre-post design with measurements at baseline and after 6 and 12 months of intervention. The intervention was conducted in a urology and gastrointestinal surgery ward in Norway, and the study site was selected based on convenience and the leaders’ willingness to participate in the project. Survey data from healthcare professionals were used to evaluate the intervention. The organizational outcomes were measured by the unit-based sections of the Hospital Survey of Patient Safety Culture Questionnaire, and professional outcomes were measured by the TeamSTEPPS Teamwork Perceptions Questionnaire and the Collaboration and Satisfaction about Care Decisions in Teams Questionnaire. A paired t-test, a Wilcoxon signed-rank test, a generalized linear mixed model and linear regression analysis were used to analyze the data.

Results

After 6 months, improvements were found in organizational outcomes in two patient safety dimensions. After 12 months, improvements were found in both organizational and professional outcomes, and these improvements occurred in three patient safety culture dimensions and in three teamwork dimensions. Furthermore, the results showed that one of the significant improved teamwork dimensions “Mutual Support” was associated with the Patient Safety Grade, after 12 months of intervention.

Conclusion

These results demonstrate that the team training program had effect after 12 months of intervention. Future studies with larger sample sizes and stronger study designs are necessary to examine the causal effect of a team training intervention in this context.

Trial registration number

ISRCTN13997367 (retrospectively registered).
Novel prognostic genes and subclasses of acute myeloid leukemia revealed by survival analysis of gene expression data
Authors: Lai Yanli , OuYang Guifang , Sheng Lixia , Zhang Yanli , Lai Binbin , Zhou Miao
Published: February 2021

Background

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is biologically heterogeneous diseases with adverse prognosis. This study was conducted to find prognostic biomarkers that could effectively classify AML patients and provide guidance for treatment decision making.

Methods

Weighted gene co-expression network analysis was applied to detect co-expression modules and analyze their relationship with clinicopathologic characteristics using RNA sequencing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. The associations of gene expression with patients’ mortality were investigated by a variety of statistical methods and validated in an independent dataset of 405 AML patients. A risk score formula was created based on a linear combination of five gene expression levels.

Results

The weighted gene co-expression network analysis detected 63 co-expression modules. The pink and darkred modules were negatively significantly correlated with overall survival of AML patients. High expression ofFNDC3B, VSTM1andCALRwas associated with favourable overall survival, while high expression ofPLA2G4Awas associated with adverse overall survival. Hierarchical clustering analysis ofFNDC3B, VSTM1, PLA2G4A,GOLGA3andCALRuncovered four subgroups of AML patients. The cluster1 AML patients showed younger age, lower cytogenetics risk, higher frequency ofNPM1mutations and more favourable overall survival than cluster3 patients. The risk score was demonstrated to be an indicator of adverse prognosis in AML patients

Conclusions

TheFNDC3B, VSTM1, PLA2G4A,GOLGA3, CALRand risk score may serve as key prognostic biomarkers for the stratification and ultimately guide rational treatment of AML patients.
Engineering of Saccharomyces cerevisiae for anthranilate and methyl anthranilate production
Authors: Kuivanen Joosu , Kannisto Matti , Mojzita Dominik , Rischer Heiko , Toivari Mervi , Jäntti Jussi
Published: February 2021

Background

Anthranilate is a platform chemical used by the industry in the synthesis of a broad range of high-value products, such as dyes, perfumes and pharmaceutical compounds. Currently anthranilate is produced via chemical synthesis from non-renewable resources. Biological synthesis would allow the use of renewable carbon sources and avoid accumulation of toxic by-products. Microorganisms produce anthranilate as an intermediate in the tryptophan biosynthetic pathway. Several prokaryotic microorganisms have been engineered to overproduce anthranilate but attempts to engineer eukaryotic microorganisms for anthranilate production are scarce.

Results

We subjected Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a widely used eukaryotic production host organism, to metabolic engineering for anthranilate production. A single gene knockout was sufficient to trigger anthranilate accumulation both in minimal and SCD media and the titer could be further improved by subsequent genomic alterations. The effects of the modifications on anthranilate production depended heavily on the growth medium used. By growing an engineered strain in SCD medium an anthranilate titer of 567.9 mg l−1 was obtained, which is the highest reported with an eukaryotic microorganism. Furthermore, the anthranilate biosynthetic pathway was extended by expression of anthranilic acid methyltransferase 1 from Medicago truncatula. When cultivated in YPD medium, this pathway extension enabled production of the grape flavor compound methyl anthranilate in S. cerevisiae at 414 mg l−1.

Conclusions

In this study we have engineered metabolism of S. cerevisiae for improved anthranilate production. The resulting strains may serve as a basis for development of efficient production host organisms for anthranilate-derived compounds. In order to demonstrate suitability of the engineered S. cerevisiae strains for production of such compounds, we successfully extended the anthranilate biosynthesis pathway to synthesis of methyl anthranilate.
Association between perception of care coordination and health outcomes in Korean cancer survivors
Authors: Shin Jinyoung , Shin Dong Wook , Lee Jungkwon , Hwang Ji Hye , Yoo Jung Eun , Ko Hyeonyoung , Song Yun-Mi
Published: February 2021

Background

To determine relationship between cancer survivors’ perception of care coordination and their health outcomes.

Methods

Study subjects were 1306 Korean adulthood cancer survivors who were enrolled in two academic hospital and completed a questionnaire consisting of questions asking two aspects of care coordination for cancer treatment they had received: 1) who played a main coordinator role and 2) whether care services had met their necessitated health concerns. We measured health outcomes including new comorbidity, number of clinic visits, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and fear of cancer recurrence (FCR). Associations between the level of care coordination and health outcomes were evaluated by multiple logistic regression analysis after adjusting for covariates.

Results

Survivors with uncoordinated care were more likely to have more new comorbidities after cancer diagnosis, visit clinic more frequently and have worse HRQoL and higher FCR. Females and unmarried survivors were more likely to have received uncoordinated care than males and ever married survivors. Uncoordinated care group had an increased the risk of new comorbidity (odds ratio 1.73, [95% confidence interval] 1.02–2.92), multiple clinic visits (1.69, 1.00–2.88), severe FCR (2.28, 1.33–3.93), low EuroQoL Visual Analogue Scale (1.82, 1.28–2.60), low global health status (1.51, 1.04–2.21), and poor physical (2.00, 1.31–3.04), role (2.46, 1.69–3.56) and emotional function (2.62, 1.81–3.78).

Conclusions

Coordinated care of Korean cancer survivors was associated with their health outcomes, including new comorbidity, clinic visits, HRQoL and FCR. Good care coordination may be reinforced to improve outcomes of survivorship care.
Effect of Irisin on LIF and integrin αvβ3 in rats of implantation failure
Authors: Zhou Li , Li Chenggang , Liu Xiangshu , Zhang Tao
Published: February 2021

Objective

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of irisin on leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and integrin αvβ3 in implantation failure uterus.

Methods

Early pregnant rats were randomly divided into normal group (N), mifepristone treated group (M), irisin group (I) and progestin group (P). The implantation failure model was established using mifepristone. Second, we evaluated the average number of embryos and detected the expression of LIF and integrin αvβ3 protein and mRNA in endometrium.

Results

Compared with group M, the average number of embryos was significantly higher in group N, P and I, the expression of LIF and integrin αvβ3 in endometrium was significantly higher in group N, P and I.

Conclusion

Irisin could improve the poor receptive state of endometrium by promoting LIF and integrin αvβ3 secretion to improve blastocyst implantation in rats of implantation failure.
Wrist–ankle acupuncture attenuates cancer-induced bone pain by regulating descending pain-modulating system in a rat model
Authors: Zhang Chunpeng , Xia Chen , Zhang Xiaowen , Li Weimin , Miao Xuerong , Zhou Qinghui
Published: February 2021

Background

Cancer-induced bone pain (CIBP) presents a multiple-mechanism of chronic pain involving both inflammatory and neuropathic pain, and its pathogenesis is closely related to endogenous descending system of pain control. However, the action mechanism underlying the effects of wrist–ankle acupuncture (WAA) versus electroacupuncture (EA) on CIBP remains unknown.

Methods

Thirty-two Wistar rats were divided into sham, CIBP, EA-treated and WAA-treated groups. CIBP was induced in rats of the latter three groups. Time courses of weight and mechanical hyperalgesia threshold (MHT) were evaluated. After 6 days of EA or WAA treatment, the expressions of 5-hydroxytryotamine type 3A receptor (5-HT3AR) andμ-opioid receptor (MOR) in rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM) and/or spinal cord, as well as the levels of 5-HT, β-endorphin, endomorphin-1 and endomorphin-2 in RVM and spinal cord, were detected.

Results

Injection of cancer cells caused decreased MHT, which was attenuated by EA or WAA (P < 0.05). WAA had a quicker analgesic effect than EA (P < 0.05). No significant difference of MOR in RVM was found among the four groups. EA or WAA counteracted the cancer-driven upregulation of 5-HT3AR and downregulation of MOR in spinal cord (P < 0.05), and upregulation of 5-HT and downregulation of endomorphin-1 in both RVM and spinal cord (P < 0.05). β-endorphin and endomorphin-2 in RVM and spinal cord decreased in CIBP group compared with sham group (P < 0.05), but EA or WAA showed no significant effect on them, although a tendency of increasing effect was observed.

Conclusion

WAA, similar to EA, alleviated mechanical hyperalgesia in CIBP rats by suppressing the expressions of 5-HT and 5-HT3AR, and increasing the expressions of MOR and endomorphin-1 in RVM-spinal cord pathway of the descending pain-modulating system. However, WAA produced a quicker analgesic effect than EA, the mechanisms of which need further investigation.
Determinants of economic achievement for women entrepreneurs in Ethiopia
Authors: Beriso Beshir Shaku
Published: February 2021

The main objective of this paper is to assess the determinants and challenges of economic achievement for women entrepreneurs in Ethiopia. The study used 698 sample women entrepreneurs selected randomly from a total of 2450 respondents. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression models. The results revealed that there is a high rate of challenges for divorced (30%) and widowed (41%) women entrepreneurs in the selected area. The results of multiple linear regression show that the educational level, family size, region (SNNP, Gambella, Harari, Dire Dawa, and Addis Ababa), parents’ educational level, number of financially dependent people, business experiences, and access to raw materials were positive predictors of the income of women entrepreneurs. It is also found that entrepreneurial area (Afar, Amhara, and Oromiya), marital status (divorced and widowed), entrepreneurship training, enterprise’s license, and lack of supporting institutions were negatively related with the income of women entrepreneurs. Therefore, improving entrepreneurs’ and parents’ education, providing entrepreneurship training, sharing business experiences, supporting entrepreneurs is the main instrumental in minimizing the factors affecting the income of women entrepreneurs. Moreover, it is advisable if the business participation status of women be assessed periodically to monitor the situation and to take appropriate measures for combating and preventing the challenges facing women entrepreneurs in economic growth.
Effects of full replacement of dietary fishmeal with insect meal from Tenebrio molitor on rainbow trout gut and skin microbiota
Authors: Terova Genciana , Gini Elisabetta , Gasco Laura , Moroni Federico , Antonini Micaela , Rimoldi Simona
Published: February 2021

Background

Aquaculture must continue to reduce dependence on fishmeal (FM) and fishoil in feeds to ensure sustainable sector growth. Therefore, the use of novel aquaculture feed ingredients is growing. In this regard, insects can represent a new world of sustainable and protein-rich ingredients for farmed fish feeds. Accordingly, we investigated the effects of full replacement of FM with Tenebrio molitor (TM) larvae meal in the diet of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) on fish gut and skin microbiota.

Methods

A feeding trial was conducted with 126 trout of about 80 g mean initial weight that were fed for 22 weeks with two isonitrogenous, isolipidic, and isoenergetic extruded experimental diets. Partially defatted TM meal was included in one of the diets to replace 100% (TM 100) of FM, whereas the other diet (TM 0) was without TM. To analyse the microbial communities, the Illumina MiSeq platform for sequencing of 16S rRNA gene and Qiime pipeline were used to identify bacteria in the gut and skin mucosa, and in the diets.

Results

The data showed no major effects of full FM substitution with TM meal on bacterial species richness and diversity in both, gut mucosa- and skin mucus-associated microbiome. Skin microbiome was dominated by phylum Proteobacteria and especially by Gammaproteobacteria class that constituted approximately half of the bacterial taxa found. The two dietary fish groups did not display distinctive features, except for a decrease in the relative abundance of Deefgea genus (family Neisseriaceae) in trout fed with insect meal. The metagenomic analysis of the gut mucosa indicated that Tenericutes was the most abundant phylum, regardless of the diet. Specifically, within this phylum, the Mollicutes, mainly represented by Mycoplasmataceae family, were the dominant class. However, we observed only a weak dietary modulation of intestinal bacterial communities. The only changes due to full FM replacement with TM meal were a decreased number of Proteobacteria and a reduced number of taxa assigned to Ruminococcaceae and Neisseriaceae families.

Conclusions

The data demonstrated that TM larvae meal is a valid alternative animal protein to replace FM in the aquafeeds. Only slight gut and skin microbiota changes occurred in rainbow trout after total FM replacement with insect meal. The mapping of the trout skin microbiota represents a novel contribution of the present study. Indeed, in contrast to the increasing knowledge on gut microbiota, the skin microbiota of major farmed fish species remains largely unmapped but it deserves thorough consideration.
Prospective K-8 teachers’ noticing of student justifications and generalizations in the context of analyzing written artifacts and video-records
Authors: Magiera Marta T. , Zambak Vecihi S.
Published: February 2021

Background

This paper contributes to current discussions about supporting prospective teachers (PSTs) in developing skills of noticing students’ mathematical thinking. We draw attention to PSTs’ initial noticing skills (prior to instruction focused on supporting noticing) as PSTs engage in analyzing written artifacts of student work and video-records. We examined and compared PSTs’ noticing skills as they analyzed how students reason about, generalize, and justify generalizations of figural patterns given student written work and video records. We identified aspects of student thinking about generalizations and justifications, which PSTs addressed and interpreted. We also examined how PSTs respond to students as they analyze student thinking given written artifacts of student work or video-records of small group discussions, and we identified the foci of PSTs’ responding practice.

Results

Our data revealed that PSTs’ initial noticing skills of student generalizations and justifications differed while accounting for ways in which student thinking was externalized (written work or video-records). PSTs’ attending-and-interpreting and their responding practices were focused on mathematically significant aspects of student thinking to a greater extent in the context of analyzing written artifacts compared to video records. While analyzing students’ written work, PSTs demonstrated greater attention to ways in which students analyzed patterns, students’ generalization strategies, and justifications linked to an understanding of the pattern structure, compared to analyzing student thinking captured via videos.

Conclusion

Our results document that without providing any intentional support for PSTs’ noticing skills, PSTs are more deliberate to focus on mathematically significant aspects of student thinking while analyzing written artifacts of student work compared to video-records. We believe that the analysis of student written work might demand from PSTs to be more analytical. While examining written representations, PSTs have to reconstruct students’ reasoning. Unlike the videos where the students tell or use gestures to express their thinking, written work provides fewer clues about student thinking. Thus, written work demands a deeper level of engagement from PSTs as they strive to understand student reasoning. Our study extends research on PSTs’ noticing skills by documenting differences in PSTs’ noticing in relation to the nature of artifacts of student work that PSTs analyze. Our work also adds to prior research on PSTs’ noticing by characterizing specific aspects of students’ thinking about pattern generalizations and justifications that PSTs address as they analyze student thinking and respond to students.