bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Microglia Activation in Retinal Ischemia Triggers Cytokine and Toll-Like Receptor Response
Authors: Wagner Natalie , Reinehr Sabrina , Palmhof Marina , Schuschel David , Tsai Teresa , Sommer Emely , Frank Viktoria , Stute Gesa , Dick H. Burkhard , Joachim Stephanie C.
Published: August 2020

Mechanisms and progression of ischemic injuries in the retina are still incompletely clarified. Therefore, the time course of microglia activation as well as resulting cytokine expression and downstream signaling were investigated. Ischemia was induced in one eye by transiently elevated intraocular pressure (60 min) followed by reperfusion; the other eye served as a control. Eyes were processed for RT-qPCR and immunohistochemistry analyses at 2, 6, 12, and 24 h as well as at 3 and 7 days. Already 2 h after ischemia, more microglia/macrophages were in an active state in the ischemia group. This was accompanied by an upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, like IL-1β, IL-6, TNFα, and TGFβ. Activation of TLR3, TLR2, and the adaptor molecule Myd88 was also observed after 2 h. NFκB revealed a wave-like activation pattern. In addition, an extrinsic caspase pathway activation was noted at early time points, while enhanced numbers of cleaved caspase 3+ cells could be observed in ischemic retinae throughout the study. Retinal ischemia induced an early and strong microglia/macrophage response as well as cytokine and apoptotic activation processes. Moreover, in early and late ischemic damaging processes, TLR expression and downstream signaling were involved, suggesting an involvement in neuronal death in ischemic retinae.

Graphical Abstract
Edible Coating and Pulsed Light to Increase the Shelf Life of Food Products
Authors: Pirozzi Annachiara , Pataro Gianpiero , Donsì Francesco , Ferrari Giovanna
Published: August 2020

The application of edible coatings (EC) in combination with pulsed light (PL) treatments represents an emerging approach for extending the shelf life of highly perishable but high value-added products, such as fresh-cut fruits and vegetables. The surface of these products would benefit from the protective effects of ECs and the PL decontamination capability. This review describes in detail the fundamentals of both EC and PL, focusing on the food engineering principles in the formulation and application of EC and the delivery of efficient PL treatments and the technological aspects related to the food characterization following these treatments and discussing the implementation of the two technologies, individually or in combination. The advantages of the combination of EC and PL are extensively discussed emphasizing the potential benefits that may be derived from their combination when preserving perishable foods. The downsides of combining EC and PL are also presented, with specific reference to the potential EC degradation when exposed to PL treatments and the screening effect of PL transmittance through the coating layer. Finally, the potential applications of the combined treatments to food products are highlighted, comparatively presenting the treatment conditions and the product shelf-life improvement.
The University of California San Diego performance-based skills assessment: a useful tool to detect mild everyday functioning difficulties in HIV-infected patients with very good immunological condition
Authors: Delle Donne Valentina , Ciccarelli Nicoletta , Massaroni Valentina , Borghetti Alberto , Dusina Alex , Farinacci Damiano , Visconti Elena , Tamburrini Enrica , Fabbiani Massimiliano , Di Giambenedetto Simona
Published: August 2020

Everyday functioning (EF) impairment is frequent in people living with HIV (PLWH). Our aim was to better explore EF and its association with PLWH cognition, by administering both the IADL scale, the most common functional scale, and a new and ecologic multi-domain (communication and financial skills) tool to measure EF as the University of California San Diego (UCSD) Performance-Based Skills Assessment-Brief Version (UPSA-B). Eighty-five PLWH on cART with very good immunological condition and 23 age- and education-matched healthy controls (HC) were enrolled. PLWH underwent a standardized neuropsychological battery plus IADL, and cognitive impairment was defined according to Frascati criteria. Both groups underwent the UPSA-B. Only 6 subjects (7%) were affected by cognitive impairment (asymptomatic profile). While IADL score was at ceiling for all patients, the UPSA-B total score was significantly worse in PLWH when compared with HC [mean 82.1 (SD 9.3) vs 89.2 (SD 6.2); p < 0.001]. At communication subtest, PLWH group and HC were significantly different (p = 0.002), while no difference emerged at financial skills (p = 0.096). Higher score at UPSA-B was independently associated with better global cognitive performance (composite Z-score) (β 7.79; p < 0.001). Also considering each single cognitive domain, UPSA-B performance (both total and at subtests) confirmed the association with neurocognitive performance. In conclusion, UPSA-B seems to better discriminate EF impairment than IADL in PLWH, and it was associated with cognitive functions, also in the absence of symptomatic cognitive impairment. Thus, it appears a promising tool in the context of HIV infection to avoid misdiagnosis and to better detect also mild EF.
Are Sexual Desire and Sociosexual Orientation Related to Men’s Salivary Steroid Hormones?
Authors: Stern Julia , Karastoyanova Konstantina , Kandrik Michal , Torrance Jaimie , Hahn Amanda C. , Holzleitner Iris , DeBruine Lisa M. , Jones Benedict C.
Published: August 2020

Objective

Although it is widely assumed that men’s sexual desire and interest in casual sex (i.e., sociosexual orientation) are linked to steroid hormone levels, evidence for such associations is mixed.

Methods

We tested for both longitudinal and cross-sectional relationships between salivary testosterone, cortisol, reported sexual desire and sociosexuality in a sample of 61 young adult men, each of whom was tested weekly on up to five occasions.

Results

Longitudinal analyses showed no clear relationships between steroid hormones and self-reported sexual desire or sociosexual orientation. Cross-sectional analyses showed no significant associations between average hormone levels and self-reported sexual desire. However, some aspects of sociosexuality, most notably desire for casual sex, were related to men’s average hormone levels. Men with higher average testosterone reported greater desire for casual sex, but only if they also had relatively low average cortisol levels.

Conclusions

Our results support a Dual Hormone account of men’s sociosexuality, in which the combined effects of testosterone and cortisol predict the extent of men’s interest in casual sex. However, we did not detect compelling evidence for an association of within-subject hormone shifts and sexual desire or sociosexual orientation.
An Evaluation of Malaysian Regulatory Process for New Active Substances Approved in 2017 Using the OpERA Methodology
Authors: Sani Noraisyah Mohd , McAuslane Neil , Kasbon Siti Hidayah , Ahmad Rosilawati , Yusof Faridah Aryani Md. , Patel Prisha
Published: August 2020

Introduction

The National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) embarked on a regulatory-strengthening program and is evaluating its processes. Optimising Efficiencies in Regulatory Agencies (OpERA) is a regulatory-strengthening program that provides benchmarking data that can define performance targets and focus performance improvement. The objective of this study was to use OpERA methodology to determine where time is spent in the NPRA approval process and to form a baseline to measure the performance improvements.

Methods

The OpERA tool was used to collect specific milestone data that identify time periods, review stages, and data points for new active substances and biosimilars approved by NPRA in 2017.

Results

In 2017, 25 new active substances and 1 biosimilar were approved by NPRA in a median of 515 days, representing both agency and applicant time. The median time between dossier receipt and the initiation of NPRA scientific assessment was 135 days, but there was a wide variation in queuing time. The median total assessment time was 279 days (agency and applicant timing). NPRA took a median of 166 days; applicants took a median of 131 days to respond to deficiency questions, with up to 6 cycles of review required for approval and 65% of applications requiring 4–5 cycles to provide satisfactory responses.

Conclusions

As a result of these data, NPRA proposes three improvements: target start for scientific assessment 100 days after file acceptance, a maximum of 5 review cycles, and applicant response time limited to 6 months. These results will serve as a baseline for further assessment.
Pericyte-Derived Extracellular Vesicle–Mimetic Nanovesicles Restore Erectile Function by Enhancing Neurovascular Regeneration in a Mouse Model of Cavernous Nerve Injury
Authors: Yin Guo Nan , Park Soo-Hwan , Ock Jiyeon , Choi Min-Ji , Limanjaya Anita , Ghatak Kalyan , Song Kang-Moon , Kwon Mi-Hye , Kim Do-Kyun , Gho Yong Song , Suh Jun-Kyu , Ryu Ji-Kan
Published: August 2020

Background

Extracellular vesicle (EV)–mimetic nanovesicles (NVs) from embryonic stem cells have been observed to stimulate neurovascular regeneration in the streptozotocin-induced diabetic mouse. Pericytes play important roles in maintaining penile erection, yet no previous studies have explored the effects of pericyte-derived NVs (PC-NVs) in neurovascular regeneration in the context of erectile dysfunction.

Aim

To investigate the potential effect of PC-NVs in neurovascular regeneration.

Methods

PC-NVs were isolated from mouse cavernous pericytes, and neurovascular regeneration was evaluated in an in vitro study. Twelve-week-old C57BL/6J mice were used to prepare cavernous nerve injury model. Erectile function evaluation, histologic examination of the penis, and Western blots were assessed 2 weeks after model creation and PC-NVs treatment.

Outcomes

The main outcomes of this study are PC-NVs characterization, intracavernous pressure, neurovascular regeneration in the penis, and in vitro functional evaluation.

Results

The PC-NVs were extracted and characterized by cryotransmission electron microscopy and EV-positive (Alix, TSG101, CD81) and EV-negative (GM130) markers. In the in vivo studies, PC-NVs successfully improved erectile function in cavernous nerve injury mice (∼82% of control values). Immunofluorescence staining showed significant increases in pericytes, endothelial cell, and neuronal contents. In the in vitro studies, PC-NVs significantly increased mouse cavernous endothelial cells tube formation, Schwann cell migration, and dorsal root ganglion and major pelvic ganglion neurite sprouting. Finally, Western blot analysis revealed that PC-NVs upregulated cell survival signaling (Akt and eNOS) and induced the expression of neurotrophic factors (brain-derived neurotrophic factor, neurotrophin-3, and nerve growth factor).

Clinical Implications

PC-NVs may be used as a strategy to treat erectile dysfunction after radical prostatectomy or in men with neurovascular diseases.

Strengths & Limitations

We evaluated the effect of PC-NVs in vitro and in a mouse nerve injury model, cavernous nerve injury. Additional studies are necessary to determine the detailed mechanisms of neurovascular improvement. Further study is needed to test whether PC-NVs are also effective when given weeks or months after nerve injury.

Conclusion

PC-NVs significantly improved erectile function by enhancing neurovascular regeneration. Local treatment with PC-NVs may represent a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of neurovascular diseases.
Reasons Not to Consider Our Options
Authors: SEIDMAN JEFFREY
Published: August 2020

I argue that a practical deliberator may have good reasons not to consider some option even though that option is what there is most reason, all things considered, for her to do. The most interesting reasons not to consider an option arise in cases where an agent cannot be compensated in kind for the loss of goods that she values. Where this is the case, an attitude of conservatism is warranted: it is reasonable to begin deliberation by considering only ‘no-regrets’ options, and to proceed to considering other possibilities only when the cost of continuing to consider only no-regrets options has become intolerably high. The account that I develop illuminates intuitions that help motivate deontological moral thought, and it can shed light on the complaint that there is something wrong with the way in which schematic thought experiments are frequently used in philosophy to drive moral theorizing.
How social norms are often a barrier to addressing climate change but can be part of the solution
Authors: SPARKMAN GREGG , HOWE LAUREN , WALTON GREG
Published: August 2020

We argue that the behavioral challenges posed by climate change are fundamentally problems of social influence. Behaviors that perpetuate climate change are often opaque in their consequences; thus, we look to others to infer how to act. Yet unsustainable behaviors, like driving and eating meat, are often the norm; conformity to such norms is a major hurdle to a more sustainable world. Nonetheless, we argue that social norms can also be a powerful lever for positive change. Drawing on two streams of recent research, we show that well-implemented social norm strategies can motivate positive steps even in the face of a negative current norm and even in individuals’ private behavior absent the judgment of others. First, appeals to dynamic norms – information about change in others or trends in norms over time – can lead people to conform to the change itself, even if this change violates current norms. Second, framing normative appeals in terms of an invitation to work with others toward a common goal can increase the motivation to join in. Despite ubiquitous unsustainable norms, careful theory-based representations of social norms can help us make progress on climate change.
Zimbabwe’s poverty and child sexual abuse
Authors: Muridzo Noel Garikai , Chikadzi Victor
Published: August 2020

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a serious scourge that affects all countries globally. While there are myriad factors contributing the prevalence of CSA in Zimbabwe, poverty is arguably one of the major underlying issues and root causes of most of these factors. Over the past two decades, Zimbabwe has gone through an unprecedented economic meltdown; fewer resources are being channelled towards child protection leading to the decline in standards of living for children. Consequently, children are left vulnerable to poverty which exposes them to the risk of CSA. This paper discusses a number of poverty-related factors that are contributing to CSA in Zimbabwe. A qualitative study approach was adopted, and data were collected from 38 participants and four key informants who were selected using theoretical and purposive sampling, respectively. In addition, 300 court files of CSA cases were also reviewed. Notwithstanding other circumstances leading to CSA, findings showed that poverty-related vulnerabilities, such as adverse living conditions, rurality, child labour and migration, exposed children to CSA. The paper ends by discussing the policy and social work practice implications and recommendations in view of the findings.
Taenia hydatigenacysticercosis in wild boar (Sus scrofa) from southern Italy: an epidemiological and molecular survey
Authors: Sgroi Giovanni , Varcasia Antonio , D'Alessio Nicola , Varuzza Paolo , Buono Francesco , Amoroso Maria Grazia , Boufana Belgees , Otranto Domenico , Fioretti Alessandro , Veneziano Vincenzo
Published: August 2020

Taenia hydatigenacysticercosis is a widespread parasitic disease of wild and domestic animals. In Europe, the increase in wild boar population may potentially contribute to the spread of this parasitic infection. To determine the occurrence of cysticerci (metacestodes) in wild boar population from southern Italy, carcasses were inspected during three hunting seasons (2016–2018). Out of 3363 wild boar examined, 229 (6.8%) harboured cysticerci with 188 (82.1%) infected by a single cyst,vs41 (17.9%) boars having more than one. Most of the positive animals (187; 81.7%) showed cysts on the liver, whereas a multiple localization of cysticerci was reported in 10 (4.4%) wild boar. The total number of cysts retrieved from positive animals was 301 (average 1.3). Molecular analysis revealed the occurrence of a common haplotype (Hap 8) shared between wild boar and domestic animals. Our findings suggest the presence of aT. hydatigenasemi-domestic life cycle in which wild boar may play an important role, due to a large number of offal available to hunting dogs, wolves and foxes during hunting seasons. Hunters may be players in the management of wildlife species to control and prevent the circulation of parasitic diseases.
Further studies of neuroangiostrongyliasis (rat lungworm disease) in Australian dogs: 92 new cases (2010–2020) and results for a novel, highly sensitive qPCR assay
Authors: Lee Rogan , Pai Tsung-Yu , Churcher Richard , Davies Sarah , Braddock Jody , Linton Michael , Yu Jane , Bell Erin , Wimpole Justin , Dengate Anna , Collins David , Brown Narelle , Reppas George , Jaensch Susan , Wun Matthew K. , Martin Patricia , Sears William , Šlapeta Jan , Malik Richard
Published: August 2020

The principal aim of this study was to optimize the diagnosis of canine neuroangiostrongyliasis (NA). In total, 92 cases were seen between 2010 and 2020. Dogs were aged from 7 weeks to 14 years (median 5 months), with 73/90 (81%) less than 6 months and 1.7 times as many males as females. The disease became more common over the study period. Most cases (86%) were seen between March and July. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was obtained from the cisterna magna in 77 dogs, the lumbar cistern in f5, and both sites in 3. Nucleated cell counts for 84 specimens ranged from 1 to 146 150 cells μL−1 (median 4500). Percentage eosinophils varied from 0 to 98% (median 83%). When both cisternal and lumbar CSF were collected, inflammation was more severe caudally. Seventy-three CSF specimens were subjected to enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) testing for antibodies against A. cantonensis; 61 (84%) tested positive, titres ranging from <100 to ⩾12 800 (median 1600). Sixty-one CSF specimens were subjected to real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) testing using a new protocol targeting a bioinformatically-informed repetitive genetic target; 53/61 samples (87%) tested positive, CT values ranging from 23.4 to 39.5 (median 30.0). For 57 dogs, it was possible to compare CSF ELISA serology and qPCR. ELISA and qPCR were both positive in 40 dogs, in 5 dogs the ELISA was positive while the qPCR was negative, in 9 dogs the qPCR was positive but the ELISA was negative, while in 3 dogs both the ELISA and qPCR were negative. NA is an emerging infectious disease of dogs in Sydney, Australia.
TRAVELLING WITH THE POTTER'S WHEEL IN THE EARLY BRONZE AGE AEGEAN
Authors: Choleva Maria
Published: August 2020

By adopting thechaîne opératoireapproach as a dynamic theoretical and methodological framework for studying ancient technologies, this paper investigates the modalities behind the appearance of the potter's wheel in the Aegean during the Early Bronze Age II (c.2550–2200bc). Based on the comparative examination of ceramic assemblages from different Aegean sites, an extended technological study has been carried out in order to track the earliest wheel-made pottery and reconstruct the craft behaviours perpetrated by the use of the potter's wheel across the Aegean. The paper presents the results of this multi-site study and aims to (a) trace out the wheel-based technological traditions, (b) explore the contexts of the learning and transmission of the new tool, (c) shed light on the connectivity among Aegean and western Anatolian communities that enabled the transfer of the new craft knowledge, and, finally, (d) bring into view the mechanisms behind its emergence and appropriation. By considering technologies as representing an entire social system of knowing, perceiving and acting on the material world, it will be argued that the spread of the potter's wheel in the Aegean does not reflect a moment of linear diffusion of a technological innovation, adopted thanks to certain techno-functional advantages. Instead, it discloses the resilience of social identities and values embedded through the practical engagement of individuals in the production of their material culture. The potter's wheel, in fact, emerges as a socially and culturally mediated practice, specific to small groups of potters trained within a technological tradition of Anatolian origin, performing their craft in the Aegean socio-cultural milieus. Furthermore, its transfer reveals a multidirectional and dynamic crossing of material cultures that designated a navigable world where traditions, objects and people travelled, mixed and merged in unpredictable ways.
The processing of multiword expressions in children and adults: An eye-tracking study of Chinese
Authors: Jiang Shang , Jiang Xin , Siyanova-Chanturia Anna
Published: August 2020

The processing advantage for multiword expressions over novel language has long been attested in the literature. However, the evidence pertains almost exclusively to multiword expression processing in adults. Whether or not other populations are sensitive to phrase frequency effects is largely unknown. Here, we sought to address this gap by recording the eye movements of third and fourth graders, as well as adults (first-language Mandarin) as they read phrases varying in frequency embedded in sentence context. We were interested in how phrase frequency, operationalized as phrase type (collocation vs. control) or (continuous) phrase frequency, and age might influence participants’ reading. Adults read collocations and higher frequency phrases consistently faster than control and lower frequency phrases, respectively. Critically, fourth, but not third, graders read collocations and higher frequency phrases faster than control and lower frequency sequences, respectively, although this effect was largely confined to a late measure. Our results reaffirm phrase frequency effects in adults and point to emerging phrase frequency effects in primary school children. The use of eye tracking has further allowed us to tap into early versus late stages of phrasal processing, to explore different areas of interest, and to probe possible differences between phrase frequency conceptualized as a dichotomy versus a continuum.
Impact of coronavirus pandemic and containment measures on HIV diagnosis
Authors: Darcis Gilles , Vaira Dolores , Moutschen Michel
Published: August 2020

During the last months and following the implementation of containment measures in the context of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the number of new human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) diagnoses radically decreased in Liege AIDS Reference Center, Belgium. The number of HIV screening tests has also dramatically dropped down to an unprecedented level. This decline of HIV diagnosis is caused by missed diagnoses of individuals infected before the establishment of such measures and to the reduction of high-risk sexual behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Typed dataspace actors
Authors: CALDWELL SAM , GARNOCK-JONES TONY , FELLEISEN MATTHIAS
Published: August 2020

Actors collaborate via message exchanges to reach a common goal. Experience has shown, however, that pure message-based communication is limiting and forces developers to use design patterns. The recently introduced dataspace actor model borrows ideas from the tuple space realm. It offers a tightly controlled, shared storage facility for groups of actors. In this model, actors assert facts that they wish to share and interests in such assertions. The dataspace notifies interested parties of changes to the set of assertions that they are interested in. Although it is straightforward to add the dataspace model to untyped languages, adding a typed interface is both necessary and challenging. Without restrictions on exchanged data, a faulty actor may propagate erroneous data through a malformed assertion, causing an otherwise well-behaved actor to crash—violating the key principle of failure isolation. A properly designed type system can prevent this scenario and rule out other kinds of uncooperative actors. This paper presents the first structural type system for the dataspace model of actors; it does not address the question of behavioral types for assertion-oriented protocols.
Diagnosis to death: family experiences of paediatric heart disease
Authors: Neubauer Kathryn , Williams Erin P. , Donohue Pamela K. , Weiss Elliott M. , Lewis-Newby Mithya , Boss Renee D.
Published: August 2020

CHD remains one of the leading causes of mortality of children in the United States. There is limited research about the experience of parents from the diagnosis of their child with CHD through the death of their child. A prior study has shown that adults with heart failure go through a series of four transitions: 1) learning the diagnosis, 2) reframing the new normal, 3) taking control of the illness, and 4) understanding death is inevitable. In our qualitative study, we performed semi-structured interviews with parents who have a child die of CHD to determine whether the four transitions in adults apply to parents of children with CHD. We found that these four transitions were present in the parents we interviewed and that there were two novel transitions, one that proceeded the first Jones et al transition (“Prenatal diagnosis”) and one that occurred after the final Jones et al transition (“Adjustment after death”). It is our hope that identification of these six transitions will help better support families of children with CHD.
Management of congenital cardiac surgery during COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Atalay Atakan , Soran Türkcan Başak , Taşoğluİ İrfan , Külahçıoğlu Emre , Yilmaz Mustafa , Ecevit Ata Niyazi , Aydin Nuri Hakan
Published: August 2020

The new coronavirus infection, which was first seen in China in late December, 2019 and eventually became a worldwide pandemic, poses a serious threat to public health. After a high spike in the number of new COVID-19 infection cases following the increase in overall daily death toll in Turkey, Turkish Ministry of Health has taken immediate precautions to postpone elective surgeries in order to reduce the burden to the healthcare system which might be challenged. Whereas different areas of medicine were able to suspend their operative procedures during this period, this was not completely possible in paediatric cardiovascular surgery due to the severity and urgency of congenital heart disease patients requiring operation. Based on the guideline that was published by the Turkish Paediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery Association, in which the patients requiring surgical intervention during the COVID-19 pandemic period are ranked according to the priority, directions were given regarding the operations that hereby, be delayed, we report our experience in 29 cases retrospectively, regarding the pre-operative evaluation of these patients, makings of an emergency operation decision, and strategies taken about intra-operative and post-operative management and arrangements during the pandemic period. In this article, we present crucial precautions that were applied in paediatric cardiovascular surgery and extensive list of cases in order to deliver highest level of the patient safety and protection for the surgical team.
Double-duty solutions for optimising maternal and child nutrition in urban South Africa: a qualitative study
Authors: Erzse Agnes , Goldstein Susan , Norris Shane A , Watson Daniella , Kehoe Sarah H , Barker Mary , Cohen Emmanuel , Hofman Karen J
Published: August 2020

Objective:

To obtain a community perspective on key nutrition-specific problems and solutions for mothers and children.

Design:

A qualitative study comprising nine focus group discussions (FGD) following a semi-structured interview guide.

Setting:

The township of Soweto in South Africa with a rising prevalence of double burden of malnutrition.

Participants:

Men and women aged ≥18 years (n 66). Three FGD held with men, six with women.

Results:

Despite participants perceived healthy diet to be important, they felt their ability to maintain a healthy diet was limited. Inexpensive, unhealthy food was easier to access in Soweto than healthier alternatives. Factors such as land use, hygiene and low income played a fundamental role in shaping access to foods and decisions about what to eat. Participants suggested four broad areas for change: health sector, social protection, the food system and food environment. Their solutions ranged from improved nutrition education for women at clinic visits, communal vegetable gardens and government provision of food parcels to regulatory measures to improve the healthiness of their food environment.

Conclusions:

South Africa’s current nutrition policy environment does not adequately address community-level needs that are often linked to structural factors beyond the health sector. Our findings suggest that to successfully address the double burden of malnutrition among women and children, a multifaceted approach is needed combining action on the ground with coherent policies that address upstream factors, including poverty. Further, there is a need for public engagement and integration of community perspectives and priorities in developing and implementing double-duty actions to improve nutrition.
What contributes to family carers’ decision to transition towards palliative-oriented care for their relatives in nursing homes? Qualitative findings from bereaved family carers’ experiences
Authors: Gonella Silvia , Clari Marco , Basso Ines , Di Giulio Paola
Published: August 2020

Objectives

Family carers (FCs) of nursing home (NH) residents are best placed to notice deteriorations that signal impending death in their relative, which can open a conversation with healthcare professionals (HCPs) about adjusting the care plan. We explored contributors to bereaved FCs’ decision to transition towards palliative-oriented care for their relatives in NHs.

Methods

This qualitative descriptive study used a phenomenological design. Thirty-two bereaved FCs across 13 Italian NHs completed semi-structured interviews. Additional data were collected on NH referrals to palliative care services (PCS) in the 6 months before study start and treatments provided in the last week of life. Content analysis with a combined inductive and deductive approach was applied to identify codes and fit them into an a priori framework. When codes did not fit, they were grouped into new categories, which were finally gathered into themes.

Results

FCs reported four types of “trigger events” that made them doubt that their relative would recover: (1) physical deterioration (e.g., stopping eating/walking or swallowing problems); (2) social confirmation (e.g., confirming their relative's condition with friends); (3) multiple hospitalizations; and (4) external indicators (e.g., medical examinations by external consultants). A “resident-centered environment” helped FCs recognize trigger events and “raise awareness of the possibility of death”; however, the “need for reassurance” was pivotal to a “gradual transition towards palliative-oriented care”. When participants did not recognize the trigger event, their relative continued to receive curative-oriented care. NHs that referred residents to PCS discussed palliative-oriented care more frequently with FCs, had a lower nurse-to-resident and nurse aide-to-resident ratio, and administered more palliative-oriented care.

Significance of results

Trigger events represent an opportunity to discuss residents’ prognosis and are the starting point for a gradual transition towards palliative-oriented care. Adequate staffing, teamwork, and communication between FCs and healthcare professionals contribute to a sensitive, timely shift in care goals.
How Does Paper Mean?
Authors: Siddique Asheesh Kapur
Published: August 2020

At a 2004 conference at Princeton University, the leading practitioners of two influential approaches to studying the history of texts—the “history of the book” and “intellectual” history—compared the underpinnings of their respective methods. Robert Darnton contended that while seemingly “made for each other,” book history and intellectual history had proceeded along parallel paths over the late twentieth century, with the latter focused on the analysis of discourse, while historians of the book concerned themselves with the diffusion of texts. Quentin Skinner responded to Darnton by elaborating on these “contrasts.” He characterized the history of the book as “a specialized form of inquiry into the production, diffusion and enjoyment of printed and scribally published material,” while describing intellectual historians as primarily concerned with the meanings that actors in the past have ascribed to concepts as they expressed them in language. Intellectual historians, Skinner suggested, had paid relatively little attention to the social histories of how texts were produced and received, including questions of their physical attributes.
RACE, PLACE, AND RELATIONSHIP FORMATION IN THE DIGITAL AGE
Authors: Adeyinka-Skold Sarah
Published: August 2020

Despite the increased use of dating technology for finding and forming romantic relationships, location remains relevant for relationship formation. While current research on relationship formation attends to the ratio of marriageable men to women, marital attitudes, and gendered racial exclusion, this research does not always consider a nuanced look at how location can also constrain opportunities to make short- or long-term romantic connections. Drawing on interviews with 111 Asian, White, Black, and Latina heterosexual college-educated women between the ages of twenty-five and thirty-three, I find that regardless of race/ethnicity, women observe that some places provide limited opportunities to meet men and that the mismatch between their dating norms, beliefs, and/or expectations for relationships and the location where they reside make their search more difficult. Women of color additionally note that some locations provide fewer opportunities for same-race and/or interracial dating than others. I also find that women of color are more likely to employ strategies to address their locational barriers than White women.

Therefore, I argue that not only does location continue to matter for forming romantic connections in the digital age, but that location and race also intersect to create unique locational barriers for women of color. This intersection, consequently, demonstrates that the opportunities for relationship formation remain stratified despite the rise of dating technology.
EU health law and policy: shaping a future research agenda
Authors: Brooks Eleanor , Guy Mary
Published: August 2020

The relevance of the European Union (EU) for health has been widely recognised within the health community for some time, and is increasingly apparent to European policy-makers and publics. Despite being an area of policy that national governments would prefer to keep exclusive control of, and though in the past it has rarely been at the top of the agenda, many elements of health have been gradually ‘Europeanised’. This special issue marks the culmination of a British Academy-funded project – EU Health Law and Policy: Shaping a Future Research Agenda – which sought to build on the growing web of expertise in this field and reflect upon the future of health as an EU competence, at a time when it appeared to be under threat.
Improvements in Soil C and N Compositions After 40 and 80 Years of Reforestation in Subtropical Low Mountain Forests
Authors: Shiau Yo‐Jin , Chang Ed‐Haun , Tian Guanglong , Chen Tsai‐Huei , Chiu Chih‐Yu
Published: August 2020

Reforestation is an important step toward recovering soil quality and wildlife habitats that are degraded due to deforestation. However, little is known about how soil C and N compositions in subtropical forests evolve after decades of reforestation. This study comprehensively evaluated the differences in soil C and N fractions in 40‐ and 80‐year‐old secondary (reforested) coniferous forests and a natural broadleaf forest. Although reforestation with coniferous plants appeared to increase soil organic matter and labile C levels, the ratio of soil labile C to total organic C was lower in the reforested coniferous forests than the natural broadleaf one. The trend in the labile N to total N ratio as coniferous reforestation progresses follows that of C. Furthermore, the percentage of recalcitrant C as total soil organic C was higher in the reforested coniferous forests than the natural broadleaf one. This feature of C composition in reforested coniferous forest causes environmental stress to microbes (as indicated by a high metabolic quotient) in the forest, even several decades after reforestation of a former broadleaf forest site. Results from this study demonstrate that it takes a very long time for reforestation with coniferous vegetation to restore the soil chemical properties of the previous natural forest.
Spatiotemporal Correlation Analysis of Noise‐Derived Seismic Body Waves With Ocean Wave Climate and Microseism Sources
Authors: Li Lei , Boué Pierre , Retailleau Lise , Campillo Michel
Published: August 2020

Seismic signals can be extracted from ambient noise wavefields by the correlation technique. Recently, a prominent P‐type phase was observed from teleseismic noise correlations in the secondary microseism period band. The phase is named Pdmc in this paper, corresponding to its origin from the interference between the direct P waves transmitting through the deep mantle and the core (P and PKPab waves). We extract the phase by correlating noise records from two seismic networks in the Northern Hemisphere and locate the microseism sources that are efficient for the Pdmc construction in the South Pacific. We investigate the spatiotemporal links of the Pdmc signal with global oceanic waves and microseism sources. Interestingly, the correlation with wave height is higher in several regions surrounding the effective source region, rather than in the effective source region. The Pdmc amplitude is highly correlated with the power of the effective microseism sources. Also, it is apparently correlated with ineffective sources in the Southern Hemisphere and anticorrelated with sources in the Northern Hemisphere. We ascribe the correlation with the ineffective southern sources to the spatiotemporal interconnections of the southern sources. The anticorrelation with northern sources can be explained by the reverse seasonal patterns between the southern and northern sources and by that the northern sources impede the signal construction. The signal construction from noise correlations relies on the competition between the effective and ineffective sources, not just on the power of the effective sources. This principle should be valid in a general sense for noise‐derived signals.
Hydrothermal Alteration on Composite Volcanoes: Mineralogy, Hyperspectral Imaging, and Aeromagnetic Study of Mt Ruapehu, New Zealand
Authors: Kereszturi Gabor , Schaefer Lauren N. , Miller Craig , Mead Stuart
Published: August 2020

Prolonged volcanic activity can induce surface weathering and hydrothermal alteration that is a primary control on edifice instability, posing a complex hazard with its challenges to accurately forecast and mitigate. This study uses a frequently active composite volcano, Mt Ruapehu, New Zealand, to develop a conceptual model of surface weathering and hydrothermal alteration applicable to long‐lived composite volcanoes. The alteration on Mt Ruapehu was classified using ground samples as non‐altered, supergene argillic, intermediate argillic, and advanced argillic. The first two classes have a paragenesis that is consistent with surficial infiltration and circulation of low‐temperature (<40°C) neutral to mildly acidic fluids, inducing chemical weathering and formation of weathering rims on rock surfaces. The intermediate and advanced argillic alteration formed from hotter (≥100°C) hydrothermal fluids with lower pH, interacting with the andesitic to dacitic host rocks. The distribution of weathering and hydrothermal alteration has been mapped with airborne hyperspectral imaging through image classification, while aeromagnetic data inversion was used to map alteration to up to 500‐m depth. The joint use of hyperspectral imaging complements the geophysical methods since it can spectrally identify hydrothermal alteration mineralogy. This study established a conceptual model of hydrothermal alteration history of Mt Ruapehu, exemplifying a long‐lived and nested active and ancient hydrothermal system. This study's combination approach can be used to indicate the most likely sources of future debris avalanches, which are a significant hazard on Ruapehu.
Multivariate Hazard Assessment for Nonstationary Seasonal Flood Extremes Considering Climate Change
Authors: Xu Pengcheng , Wang Dong , Singh Vijay P. , Lu Huayu , Wang Yuankun , Wu Jichun , Wang Lachun , Liu Jiufu , Zhang Jianyun
Published: August 2020

In recent years copulas have been widely employed in multivariate modeling of hydrological extremes. However, anthropogenic and climate changes have greatly impacted the probabilistic behavior of these extremes and have challenged the stationarity assumption of the marginal distributions of individual characteristics of the extremes as well as their dependence structure inherent in copula‐based modeling. This study developed a dynamic copula‐based multivariate risk analysis model (DCM) to analyze seasonal flood extremes (MWL and AMS), observed at Yichang Station in Yangtze River basin, China. The model entailed three parts: (1) Time‐varying moment models, combined with log‐likelihood ratio tests, were employed to explore whether the trend‐caused nonstationarity existed in the marginal distributions or the dependence structure of the seasonal flood extremes; (2) a nonstationary multivariate probability distribution was developed using a dynamic marginal and copula‐based model, incorporating different large‐scale climate forcings (NAO, SOI, and NINO3.4), meteorological factor (rainfall and temperature) and reservoir index as covariates; and (3) flood hazard was quantified using the multivariate hazard model. The climate‐related nonstationarity‐based multivariate frequency model through the incorporation of climatic indices would help predict the hazard level of a certain quantile pair for the next year of the observed period.
High Vapor Pressure Deficit Decreases the Productivity and Water Use Efficiency of Rain‐Induced Pulses in Semiarid Ecosystems
Authors: Roby Matthew C. , Scott Russell L. , Moore David J. P.
Published: August 2020

Intermittent rain events drive dynamic pulses of carbon and water exchange in many arid and semiarid ecosystems. Although soil moisture is known to control these pulses, the effect of atmospheric dryness on pulses is not well documented. Here we hypothesized that vapor pressure deficit (VPD) modulates net ecosystem production (NEP) and ecosystem‐scale water use efficiency (WUE) during pulse events due to its effects on canopy stomatal conductance and evapotranspiration. We quantified relationships between VPD and carbon and water exchange during growing season rain events and tested their generality across four semiarid flux sites with varied vegetation in the southwest United States. Across grassland, shrubland, and savanna sites, we found that high VPD during pulses suppressed ecosystem photosynthesis and surface conductance to a greater degree than respiration or evapotranspiration, particularly when soil moisture was high. Thus, periods of high VPD were associated with a 13–64% reduction in NEP and an 11–25% decrease in WUE, relative to moderate VPD conditions. Sites dominated by shrubs with the C3 photosynthetic pathway were more sensitive to VPD than sites dominated by C4 grasses. We found that a 1 kPa increase in VPD reduced the average NEP of pulse events by 13–56%, which illustrates the potential for projected increases in atmospheric demand to reduce the net productivity of semiarid ecosystems.
Childhood trauma, suicide risk and inflammatory phenotypes of depression: insights from monocyte gene expression
Authors: Schiweck Carmen , Claes Stephan , Van Oudenhove Lukas , Lafit Ginette , Vaessen Thomas , de Beeck Gommaar Op , Berghmans Raf , Wijkhuijs Annemarie , Müller Norbert , Arolt Volker , Drexhage Hemmo , Vrieze Elske
Published: August 2020

Circulating monocytes contribute to inflammatory processes. We here validate abnormal expression of inflammation-related genes in monocytes of a large and well-characterised group of MDD patients, and relate the outcomes to pertinent clinical characteristics. Thirty-two genes of a previously established inflammation-related gene signature were assessed in 197 patients with MDD, and 151 controls collected during the EU-MOODINFLAME project. Monocyte gene- expression data were related to age, sex, BMI, depression severity, childhood adversity (CA) and suicide risk (SR). Three distinct gene profiles were identified within the MDD group (downregulated, mixed upregulated and strongly upregulated genes). Patients in the merged upregulated groups had a significantly higher prevalence of CA and high SR. Using hierarchical clustering of the genes, we found a cluster of mainly cytokine (production)-related genes; patients with SR had a significantly higher expression of this cluster than patients without SR (particularly for IL-6, IL1A and IL1B). Such difference did not emerge for patients with and without CA. A downregulated gene profile was found for patients not exposed to CA and without SR (particularly for glucocorticoid-signalling genes NR3C1a and HSPA1/B). No inflammatory changes were observed for healthy controls exposed to CA. Our data show that inflammatory activation in MDD is not uniform, and that immunologically discernible phenotypes of depression can be linked to CA and high SR. The absence of monocyte inflammatory activation in healthy controls exposed to CA suggests an inflammatory involvement in MDD-prone individuals exposed to early stressors, but not healthy controls.
Correction: Measurement and models accounting for cell death capture hidden variation in compound response
Authors: Bae Song Yi , Guan Ning , Yan Rui , Warner Katrina , Taylor Scott D. , Meyer Aaron S.
Published: August 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.