bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Maternal effects in gene expression of interspecific coral hybrids
Authors: Chan Wing Yan , Chung Jessica , Peplow Lesa M. , Hoffmann Ary A. , van Oppen Madeleine J. H.
Published: November 2020

Maternal effects have been well documented for offspring morphology and life history traits in plants and terrestrial animals, yet little is known about maternal effects in corals. Further, few studies have explored maternal effects in gene expression. In a previous study, F1 interspecific hybrid and purebred larvae of the coral species Acropora tenuis and Acropora loripes were settled and exposed to ambient or elevated temperature and pCO2 conditions for 7 months. At this stage, the hybrid coral recruits from both ocean conditions exhibited strong maternal effects in several fitness traits. We conducted RNA‐sequencing on these corals and showed that gene expression of the hybrid Acropora also exhibited clear maternal effects. Only 40 genes were differentially expressed between hybrids and their maternal progenitor. In contrast, ~2000 differentially expressed genes were observed between hybrids and their paternal progenitors, and between the reciprocal F1 hybrids. These results indicate that maternal effects in coral gene expression can be long‐lasting. Unlike findings from most short‐term stress experiments in corals, no genes were differentially expressed in the hybrid nor purebred offspring after seven months of exposure to elevated temperature and pCO2 conditions.
Late intervention in the remnant kidney model attenuates proteinuria but not glomerular filtration rate decline
Authors: Veitch Matthew R. , Thai Kerri , Zhang Yanling , Desjardins Jean‐Francois , Kabir Golam , Connelly Kim A. , Gilbert Richard E.
Published: November 2020

Aim

The use of animal models to predict the response to new therapies in humans is a vexing issue in nephrology. Unlike patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), few rodent models develop a progressive decline in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) so that experimental studies frequently report a reduction in proteinuria as the primary efficacy outcome. Moreover, while humans present with established kidney disease that continues to progress, many experimental studies investigate therapies in the prevention rather than in a therapeutic setting.

Methods

We used the remnant kidney (subtotal nephrectomy [SNX]) rat model that develops a decline in GFR in conjunction with heavy proteinuria and hypertension along with the histological hallmarks of CKD in humans, glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Using agents that had been shown to improve GFR as well as proteinuria in the prevention setting, angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition with enalapril and SIRT1 activation with SRT3025, treatment was initiated 6 weeks after SNX.

Results

While enalapril reduced blood pressure, proteinuria and histological injury, it did not improve GFR, as measured by inulin clearance. SRT3025 improved neither GFR nor structural damage despite a reduction in proteinuria.

Conclusion

These findings demonstrate that neither a reduction in proteinuria nor a reversal of structural damage in the kidney will necessarily translate to a restoration of kidney function.
The place of the unconscious in critiques of systematic prejudice: Lessons from MacKinnon and Critical Race Theory
Authors: Bird‐Pollan Stefan
Published: November 2020

In this paper, I argue that so called “systematic critiques” of the liberal conception of law in Catherine MacKinnon and Critical Race Theory which have traditionally been seen to reject liberalism should really be understood as subjecting the liberal conception of law as impartial and just to an immanent critique. Critical Race Theory and MacKinnon both seek to unmask the seemingly neutral subject which authorizes law as in reality a hegemonic and oppressive subject. They also employ the tools of liberalism, demanding justice and equal protection under the law. I argue that the apparent contradiction of their demands can be understood by seeing the subject itself as combining these contradictions at the level of the relation between the unconscious and consciousness. The ego strives for rational self‐organization while the unconscious contains sedimented socially transmitted prejudice. There is thus room within both for the struggle for freedom and justice espoused by liberalism at the conscious level as well as for the unconscious perpetuation of prejudice and domination. I conclude that MacKinnon’s work and that of CRT show that liberalism must not be abandoned as post‐structuralism does, but that liberals is in fact aided by its critics.
Arguing with Each Other about Arguing with God The Mystery of Suffering and the Meaning of God, Anson HughLaytner, Resource Publications, Eugene, 2019 (ISBN 9781532675546), xvii + 176 pp., pb $25
Authors: Blumenthal David R.
Published: November 2020

The question of suffering and God is as old as humanity. Anson Laytner offers a very modern reading of this problem based on a learned knowledge of the Jewish sources and his own very personal experiences of death and of God. The whole is set in the context of the Book of Iyyov (Job). Rejecting the supernatural understanding of God, Laytner proposes an acceptance of God as a presence and force for good, together with a healthy spirituality based on our newer understanding of our place in the universe, on modern cosmology, on the apparent laws of nature, and on mutual respect for our various faith traditions. The reviewer disagrees and affirms the personalist theological language of the biblical and Jewish traditional sources. In addition, he affirms the ability, indeed the obligation, of the believer to adopt a theology and, indeed, a liturgy of protest. To keep such a theology and praxis from overwhelming those who took them seriously, he suggests that protest theology and protest liturgy have to alternate with healing theology and healing practice. In this essay, Laytner responds to the critique.
Business, Economics, and Theology: Working for the Holistic Flourishing of CreationBudgeting for A Healthy Church: Aligning Finances with Biblical Priorities for Ministry, Jamie Dunlop, Zondervan, 2019 (ISBN 978‐0‐310‐09386‐2), 176 pp., pb $14.99The Economics of Neighborly Love: Investing in Your Community's Compassion and Capacity, TomNelson, IVP, 2017 (ISBN 978‐0‐8308‐4392‐3), x + 222 pp., pb $16A Catholic Spirituality for Business: The Logic of Gift, MartinSchlag and DomènecMelé (eds), The Catholic University of America Press, 2019 (ISBN 978‐0‐8132‐3169‐3), xviii + 262 pp., pb $34.95
Authors: Ann Puen Stephanie
Published: November 2020

How does one practice the Christian faith commitment through financial management or business? The three books in this review respond to this question from three perspectives: from a macroeconomic perspective, the perspective of pastoral ministry within a Christian church, and the perspective of working within more pluralistic and non‐sectarian organizations. This piece focuses on three key takeaways from the books: first, all three argue for a proper use of resources in a way that cares for the well‐being of creation, especially the most marginalized, while also giving concrete principles to reflect on and apply depending on the context one finds themselves in. Second, all three also discuss the importance of both individual effort and structural change. Lastly, all three books offer some insight into handling conflict in decision making in organizations.
A Double Machine Learning Approach to Estimate the Effects of Musical Practice on Student’s Skills
Authors: Knaus Michael C.
Published: November 2020

This study investigates the dose–response effects of making music on youth development. Identification is based on the conditional independence assumption and estimation is implemented using a recent double machine learning estimator. The study proposes solutions to two highly practically relevant questions that arise for these new methods: (i) How to investigate sensitivity of estimates to tuning parameter choices in the machine learning part? (ii) How to assess covariate balancing in high-dimensional settings? The results show that improvements in objectively measured cognitive skills require at least medium intensity, while improvements in school grades are already observed for low intensity of practice.
Characterization of the novel HLA‐DQA1*01:38:01:01 allele by next‐generation sequencing
Authors: Genebrier Steve , Lemal Richard , Nivet Carl , Chérel Mathilde , Renac Virginie
Published: November 2020

DQA1*01:38:01:01 differs from DQA1*01:02:01:01 by one nucleotide substitution at position 554 in exon 3.
Evaluating Art Morally
Authors: Schellekens Elisabeth
Published: November 2020

What is the value of art? Standard responses draw on the different kinds of value that we tend to ascribe to individual artworks. In that context, none have been more significant than aesthetic value and moral value. To understand what makes an artwork valuable we then need to examine the interaction between these two kinds of value and how this contributes (or not) to the artwork's final value. The main aim of this article is to highlight two areas of concern for interaction theories, in order to improve our understanding of the dynamic relations between kinds of value in art. In the first instance, I shall outline the main tenets of the three leading interaction theories. Next, I shall discuss what it might mean to say that an artwork has moral value, in an attempt to establish on what grounds interaction theories base their central claims. Subsequently, I will look at how our conception of art's moral value affects the possibility of a bona fide form of value interaction, or one capable of shaping a work's final value in conjunction with its aesthetic value. Finally, I shall turn to a discussion of the notion of aesthetic value.
Validated MAGIC and GWAS population mapping reveals the link between vitamin E content and natural variation in chorismate metabolism in tomato
Authors: Burgos Estanislao , Belen De Luca Maria , Diouf Isidore , de Haro Luis A. , Albert Elise , Sauvage Christopher , Tao Zhao J. , Bermudez Luisa , Asís Ramon , Nesi Adriano N. , Matringe Michel , Bréhélin Claire , Guiraud Thomas , Ferrand Carine , Atienza Isabelle , Jorly Joana , Mauxion Jean P. , Baldet Pierre , Fernie Alisdair R. , Quadrana Leandro , Rothan Christophe , Causse Mathilde , Carrari Fernando
Published: November 2020

Tocochromanols constitute the different forms of vitamin E (VTE), essential components of the human diet, and display a high membrane protectant activity. By combining interval mapping and genome‐wide association studies (GWAS), we unveiled the genetic determinants of tocochromanol accumulation in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fruits. To enhance the nutritional value of this highly consumed vegetable, we dissected the natural intraspecific variability of tocochromanols in tomato fruits and genetically engineered their biosynthetic pathway. These analyses allowed the identification of a total of 25 quantitative trait loci interspersed across the genome pinpointing the chorismate–tyrosine pathway as a regulatory hub controlling the supply of the aromatic head group for tocochromanol biosynthesis. To validate the link between the chorismate–tyrosine pathway and VTE, we engineered tomato plants to bypass the pathway at the arogenate branch point. Transgenic tomatoes showed moderate increments in tocopherols (up to approximately 20%) and a massive accumulation of tocotrienols (up to approximately 3400%). Gene expression analyses of these plants reveal a trade‐off between VTE and natural variation in chorismate metabolism explained by transcriptional reprogramming of specific structural genes of the pathway. By restoring the accumulation of alpha‐tocotrienols (α‐t3) in fruits, the plants produced here are of high pharmacological and nutritional interest.
Chip layout impact on stress-induced mobility degradation studied with indentation
Authors: Schlipf Simon , Clausner André , Paul Jens , Capecchi Simone , Wambera Laura , Meier Karsten , Zschech Ehrenfried
Published: November 2020

Chip-package interaction-caused mobility degradation in CMOS transistors is a critical degradation mechanism for microelectronic devices. An approach based on nondestructive indentation is applied to induce highly localized stress fields. Strain-sensitive ring oscillator circuits are integrated to monitor parametric deviations during mechanical loading. In this study, the indentation technique is used to investigate the impact of the chip layout and geometry of a flip chip-packaged test chip. Complementary FE simulation provides a better understanding of the relevant stress-strain fields and enables a comparison of the parametric circuit deviations within a dedicated stress tensor. The results demonstrate the capability to study the stress-strain distribution in microelectronic devices during external loading with indentation and to determine its impact on transistor degradation.
Attosecond metrology in a continuous-beam transmission electron microscope
Authors: Ryabov A. , Thurner J. W. , Nabben D. , Tsarev M. V. , Baum P.
Published: November 2020

Electron microscopy is advanced to attosecond resolution by modulating the beam with the field cycles of a continuous-wave laser.
LRRK2 mediates tubulation and vesicle sorting from lysosomes
Authors: Bonet-Ponce Luis , Beilina Alexandra , Williamson Chad D. , Lindberg Eric , Kluss Jillian H. , Saez-Atienzar Sara , Landeck Natalie , Kumaran Ravindran , Mamais Adamantios , Bleck Christopher K. E. , Li Yan , Cookson Mark R.
Published: November 2020

The Parkinson disease kinase LRRK2 translocates to the lysosomal membrane triggering lysosomal sorting through JIP4.
Regulating the reactivity of black phosphorus via protective chemistry
Authors: Liu Xiao , Xiao Liangping , Weng Jian , Xu Qingchi , Li Wanli , Zhao Chunhui , Xu Jun , Zhao Yanli
Published: November 2020

Black phosphorus is stabilized by ionic/hydrophobic protection, whereas its reactivity is resumed by chelator deprotection.
TRPML2 is an osmo/mechanosensitive cation channel in endolysosomal organelles
Authors: Chen Cheng-Chang , Krogsaeter Einar , Butz Elisabeth S. , Li Yanfen , Puertollano Rosa , Wahl-Schott Christian , Biel Martin , Grimm Christian
Published: November 2020

Protein trafficking is mediated by tubulation/vesiculation of endosomes and is regulated by osmo/mechanosensitive TRPML2.
Circular RNAs from
BOULE
play conserved roles in protection against stress-induced fertility decline
Authors: Gao Liuze , Chang Shuhui , Xia Wenjuan , Wang Xiaolin , Zhang Chenwang , Cheng Liping , Liu Xu , Chen Liang , Shi Qinghua , Huang Juan , Xu Eugene Yujun , Shan Ge
Published: November 2020

Conserved circBoule RNAs protect male fertility from thermal insults in animals.
Expandable and implantable bioelectronic complex for analyzing and regulating real-time activity of the urinary bladder
Authors: Jang Tae-Min , Lee Joong Hoon , Zhou Honglei , Joo Jaesun , Lim Bong Hee , Cheng Huanyu , Kim Soo Hyun , Kang Il-Suk , Lee Kyu-Sung , Park Eunkyoung , Hwang Suk-Won
Published: November 2020

We introduce a soft, expandable electronic and optoelectronic system designed to monitor and cure urinary bladder diseases.
Direct detection of circular polarized light in helical 1D perovskite-based photodiode
Authors: Ishii A. , Miyasaka T.
Published: November 2020

A helical one-dimensional lead halide perovskite structure shown to detect circularly polarized light as an efficient photodiode.
Regulatory T cells engineered with TCR signaling–responsive IL-2 nanogels suppress alloimmunity in sites of antigen encounter
Authors: Eskandari Siawosh K. , Sulkaj Ina , Melo Mariane B. , Li Na , Allos Hazim , Alhaddad Juliano B. , Kollar Branislav , Borges Thiago J. , Eskandari Arach S. , Zinter Max A. , Cai Songjie , Assaker Jean Pierre , Choi John Y. , Al Dulaijan Basmah S. , Mansouri Amr , Haik Yousef , Tannous Bakhos A. , van Son Willem J. , Leuvenink Henri G. D. , Pomahac Bohdan , Riella Leonardo V. , Tang Li , Seelen Marc A. J. , Irvine Darrell J. , Azzi Jamil R.
Published: November 2020

Redox-sensitive cytokine cargoes backpacked on regulatory T cells promote local immune regulation in areas of rejection.
Amyloid-like oligomerization of AIMP2 contributes to α-synuclein interaction and Lewy-like inclusion
Authors: Ham Sangwoo , Yun Seung Pil , Kim Hyojung , Kim Donghoon , Seo Bo Am , Kim Heejeong , Shin Jeong-Yong , Dar Mohamad Aasif , Lee Gum Hwa , Lee Yun Il , Kim Doyeun , Kim Sunghoon , Kweon Hee-Seok , Shin Joo-Ho , Ko Han Seok , Lee Yunjong
Published: November 2020

Pathological AIMP2 aggregation leads to α-synuclein inclusion and dopaminergic toxicity in Parkinson’s disease.
Efficacy and costs of spinal muscular atrophy drugs
Authors: Darrow Jonathan J. , Sharma Monica , Shroff Mansa , Wagner Anita K.
Published: November 2020

Evaluating the benefits, risks, and costs of two drugs to treat spinal muscular atrophy raises questions about the future of rare disease medicines.
Cytoplasmic traffic jams affect circadian timing
Authors: Hurley Jennifer M.
Published: November 2020

Cytoplasmic crowding may underlie the disruption of the circadian clock in neurodegeneration.
Fungal Zn(II)
2
Cys
6
Transcription Factor ADS-1 Regulates Drug Efflux and Ergosterol Metabolism under Antifungal Azole Stress
Authors: Yin Yajing , Zhang Hanxing , Zhang Yu , Hu Chengcheng , Sun Xianyun , Liu Wei , Li Shaojie
Published: November 2020

Antifungal azoles are the most widely used antifungal drugs in clinical and agricultural practice. Fungi can mount adaptive responses to azole stress by modifying the transcript levels of many genes, and the responsive mechanisms to azoles are the basis for fungi to develop azole resistance.
Supplemental Material: Periodic dike intrusions at Kīlauea volcano, Hawaiʻi
Authors: Montgomery-Brown Emily , Miklius Asta
Published: November 2020

Supplemental information on regional terminology, methods, models, and analysis. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory earthquake catalog can be downloaded from: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hawaiian-volcano-observatory/earthquakes/.
Supplemental Material: Zinc isotope evidence for paleoenvironmental changes during Cretaceous Oceanic Anoxic Event 2
Authors: Chen Xi , al. et
Published: November 2020

Sampled section details, analytical methods, and supporting data.
Supplemental Material: Controls on eroded rock volume, a proxy for river incision, in Africa
Authors: PAUL JONATHAN
Published: November 2020

Morphometric information, including total area and eroded rock volume, of river basins in Africa.
Supplemental Material: Eroding Cascadia—Sediment and solute transport and landscape denudation in western Oregon and northwestern California
Authors: O’Connor Jim E. , al. et
Published: November 2020

Figures S1–S4 and Tables S1–S8.
Prevalence and predictors of poor sexual well-being over 5 years following treatment for colorectal cancer: results from the ColoREctal Wellbeing (CREW) prospective longitudinal study
Authors: Frankland Jane , Wheelwright Sally , Permyakova Natalia V , Wright David , Collaço Nicole , Calman Lynn , Winter Jane , Fenlon Deborah , Richardson Alison , Smith Peter W , Foster Claire
Published: November 2020

Objectives

To describe prevalence and predictors of poor sexual well-being for men and women over 5 years following treatment for colorectal cancer.

Design

Prospective longitudinal study, from presurgery to 5 years postsurgery, with eight assessment points. Logistic regression models predicted sexual well-being from presurgery to 24 months and 24 months to 60 months; time-adjusted then fully adjusted models were constructed at each stage.

Setting

Twenty-nine hospitals in the UK.

Participants

Patients with Dukes’ stage A–C, treated with curative intent, aged ≥18 years and able to complete questionnaires were eligible.

Outcome measures

The dependent variable was the Quality of Life in Adult Cancer Survivors sexual function score. Independent variables included sociodemographic, clinical and psychosocial characteristics.

Results

Seven hundred and ninety participants provided a sexual well-being score for at least one time point. Thirty-seven per cent of men and 14% of women reported poor sexual well-being at 5 years. Baseline predictors for men at 24 months included having a stoma (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.02 to 2.20) and high levels of depression (OR 2.69/2.01, 95% CI 1.68 to 4.32/1.12 to 3.61); men with high self-efficacy (OR confident 0.33/0.48, 95% CI 0.18 to 0.61/0.24 to 1.00; very confident 0.25/0.42, 95% CI 0.13 to 0.49/0.19 to 0.94) and social support (OR 0.52/0.56, 95% CI 0.33 to 0.81/0.35 to 0.91) were less likely to report poor sexual well-being. Predictors at 60 months included having a stoma (OR 2.30/2.67, 95% CI 1.22 to 4.34/1.11 to 6.40) and high levels of depression (OR 5.61/2.58, 95% CI 2.58 to 12.21/0.81 to 8.25); men with high self-efficacy (very confident 0.14, 95% CI 0.047 to 0.44), full social support (OR 0.26; 95% CI 0.13 to 0.53) and higher quality of life (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.95 to 0.98) were less likely to report poor sexual well-being. It was not possible to construct models for women due to low numbers reporting poor sexual well-being.

Conclusions

Several psychosocial variables were identified as predictors of poor sexual well-being among men. Interventions targeting low self-efficacy may be helpful. More research is needed to understand women’s sexual well-being.
Factors associated with the awareness of vaginal fistula among women of reproductive age: findings from the 2018 Nigerian demographic health cross-sectional survey
Authors: Morhason-Bello Imran O , Kareem Yusuf Olushola , Abdus-Salam Rukiyat A , Bello Oluwasomidoyin O , Lawal Olatunji O , Akinlusi Fatimat Motunrayo , Abegunde Linda O , Ojengbede Oladosu
Published: November 2020

Introduction

Involuntary leakage of urine and or stool per vaginam (vaginal fistula) after childbirth remains a public health challenge in Africa and South East Asia. To the best of our knowledge, there is no previous national data that examined the awareness of vaginal fistula among women in Nigeria.

Aim

To determine the prevalence of awareness of urinary/faecal incontinence due to vaginal fistula, and the associated risk factors among women with no previous experience of incontinence.

Methods

We used a cross-sectional study, the 2018 Nigerian Demographic Health Survey, to analyse awareness of vaginal fistula among women with no previous leakage of urine or stool. The primary outcome was childbirth experience, and other variables were demographics, access to information and reproductive or sexual history. The descriptive, univariate and multivariable models were presented.

Results

Of 26 585 women interviewed, 50 (0.2%) who had experienced fistula were excluded from the risk factor analysis. The mean age of women with childbirth experience was 32.8±8.6 years, while that of women without childbirth experience was 20.3±6.2 years. The prevalence of vaginal fistula awareness was 52.0%. Factors associated with the awareness include the following: childbirth experience (adjusted OR (AOR)=1.14; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.30); age of 20–24 years (AOR=1.36; 95% CI, 1.18 to 1.56) and older; currently working (AOR=1.35; 95% CI, 1.22 to 1.49) and ownership of a mobile phone (AOR=1.16; 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.27). Other associated factors include the following: having at least secondary education; wealth quintiles, ethnicity, regional location, religion, access to radio, newspaper and internet; age up to 17 years at first sex; history of previous termination of pregnancy and use of contraception.

Conclusion

A significant number of young women with no childbirth experience had low level of awareness. We recommend vaginal fistula awareness programmes that will target women at risk of vaginal fistula and the inclusion of other useful questions to improve the quality of information in future surveys.
Patients’ accounts of living with and managing inflammatory bowel disease in rural Southern New Zealand: a qualitative study
Authors: Richard Lauralie , Noller Geoff , Derrett Sarah , Sullivan Trudy , Doolan-Noble Fiona , McCombie Andrew , Schultz Michael , Ho Christine , Stokes Tim
Published: November 2020

Objective

To explore how adults living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in rural New Zealand manage their condition and engage with healthcare providers.

Design

Qualitative exploratory design with semi-structured interviews analysed thematically.

Setting and participants

Interviews were conducted with 18 people living with IBD in the Otago region of the South Island.

Results

Five important constructs were identified: (1) journey to confirming and accepting diagnosis; (2) importance of the relationship with the healthcare team; (3) support from others; (4) learning how to manage IBD and (5) care at a distance—experiences of rurality. Pathways to confirming diagnosis involved two contrasting journeys: a long and slow process where diagnosis remained unclear for a prolonged period, and a more acute process where diagnosis typically came as a shock. Central to the acceptance process was acknowledging the chronicity of the condition, which involved feelings of grief but also the fear of judgement and stigma. Building a strong relationship with the specialist was central to medical management, particularly in the initial stage following diagnosis. Support from others was critical, enabling participants to progress through acceptance of the disease and developing confidence in its everyday management. Participants shared different strategies on how to manage IBD, describing a ‘trial and error’ process of ‘finding what is right’ at different stages of the condition. Managing IBD rurally involved challenges of access to specialist care, with perceptions of delayed referrals and concerns about disparities in specialist access compared with urban counterparts. Rural living also had financial implications—cost of time and cost of mobilising resources for long travels to the urban centre for treatments.

Conclusions

Findings from this study provide a rich understanding of the complex health journeys of people living with IBD and the challenges of managing the condition rurally.
Promoting leadership and quality improvement through external inspections of management of sepsis in Norwegian hospitals: a focus group study
Authors: Husabø Gunnar , Teig Inger Lise , Frich Jan C , Bondevik Gunnar Tschudi , Hovlid Einar
Published: November 2020

Objective

Inspections and other forms of external assessment may contribute to positive changes in the health services, but the mechanisms of such change remain unclear. We did a study to explore how external inspections may foster clinical improvement in hospitals.

Design

Focus group study.

Setting

Statutory inspections of sepsis treatment in hospital emergency departments in Norway.

Participants

Clinicians, managers and inspection teams involved with the inspections of sepsis treatment in emergency departments at four different hospitals. Twelve focus group interviews were carried out, with a total of 47 participants.

Results

Three themes emerged as central for understanding how the inspections could contribute to clinical improvement in the emergency departments: (1) increasing awareness about the need to improve the quality of care by providing data on clinical performance, (2) building acceptance for improvement through professional credibility and focus on clinical practice, and (3) fostering leadership commitment.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that the inspections have the potential to enhance hospital management and staff’s understanding of complicated care processes and help strengthen the organisational commitment to bring about systemic quality improvements.
Parenting a child with congenital cytomegalovirus infection: a qualitative study
Authors: Vandrevala Tushna , Barber Victoria , Mbire-Chigumba Evas , Calvert Anna , Star Caroline , Khalil Asma , Griffiths Paul , Book Alexander S , Book Gayle M , Heath Paul , Jones Christine E
Published: November 2020

Background

Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common infectious cause of congenital disability, which can cause lifelong impairments including sensorineural hearing loss and developmental delay. This study aimed to explore the experiences of parenting a child with congenital CMV and the impact this has on families.

Methods

Ten parents living with a child with congenital CMV in the UK participated in semistructured interviews and data were analysed using thematic analysis.

Results

The findings illustrate that delays in making the diagnosis of congenital CMV are associated with parental distress and lack of knowledge about CMV among medical professionals can exacerbate this distress. Parents expressed frustration about not knowing about CMV infection during their pregnancies and therefore not having the opportunity to take measures to reduce their risk of acquiring CMV while pregnant. The uncertainty about the long-term outcomes of children with congenital CMV adds additional emotional burden for parents. Family and wider societal networks have the potential to facilitate coping and alleviate stress, but the lack of awareness of CMV acts as a barrier to receiving support from family and friends.

Conclusions

There is a need to increase awareness of CMV among medical professionals, pregnant women and wider society to improve the diagnostic process and to provide better support for families caring for children with congenital CMV infection.
Real-world evaluation of perception, convenience and anticoagulant treatment satisfaction of patients with atrial fibrillation switched from long-term vitamin K antagonist treatment to dabigatran
Authors: Choi Eue-Keun , Lee Young-Soo , Chern Alan Koay Choon , Jiampo Panyapat , Chutinet Aurauma , Hanafy Dicky Armein , Trivedi Prabhav , Zhai Dongmei , Oh Yong Seog
Published: November 2020

Background and purpose

Real-world data about treatment convenience and satisfaction in Asian non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients after switching from vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) to non-VKA oral anticoagulants were evaluated.

Methods

In this non-interventional study involving 49 sites across five countries in Southeast Asia and South Korea, 379 stable NVAF patients who switched from VKA therapy to dabigatran during routine clinical practice were recruited and followed up for 6 months. Treatment convenience and satisfaction were evaluated using Perception on Anticoagulant Treatment Questionnaire-2 (PACT-Q2). Through post hoc analysis, factors associated with improved treatment convenience scores at visit 2 were described.

Results

Treatment convenience and satisfaction significantly improved after switching from VKAs to dabigatran at visit 2 and visit 3 (convenience: p<0.001 each vs baseline; satisfaction: p=0.0174 (visit 2), p=0.0004 (visit 3) compared with baseline). Factors predictive of higher (>80th percentile) response on treatment convenience were female sex, younger age (<75 years), higher baseline stroke risk, higher creatinine clearance and absence of concomitant hypertension, stroke or gastrointestinal diseases.

Conclusion

Dabigatran was associated with a significant improvement in treatment convenience and satisfaction after switching from VKAs when used for stroke prevention in NVAF patients from Southeast Asia and South Korea.
Clinical Orthopaedic Teaching programme for Students (COTS)
Authors: Kumar Prakrit Raj , Stubley Thomas , Hashmi Yousuf , Ahmed Usman
Published: November 2020

Introduction

There is a huge variation in the depth and breadth of content taught regarding orthopaedic examinations. Undergraduate students are often confused by the variability in examination teaching, therefore increasing concerns for upcoming objectively structured clinical examinations (OSCEs). Doctors, despite being expected to teach, rarely receive formal preparation, with only a handful of institutions providing necessary training. The Clinical Orthopaedic Teaching programme for Students (COTS) was designed to equip medical students with the knowledge to perform orthopaedic examinations and to synergistically provide senior students with the necessary experience for the future teaching required of them.

Methods

Six fortnightly sessions were delivered, each focusing on a specific joint examination. Student and tutor recruitment were voluntary. Pre-session and post-session multiple-choice questions (MCQs) were provided to students to assess improvement in knowledge. Anonymous feedback forms were provided to both students and tutors.

Results

From 61 student responses, 98.4% of students stated that COTS met the learning outcomes, with content relevant for their medical curriculum. 96.7% supported COTS’ near-peer teaching (NPT) style for OSCE preparation. Based on a five-point Likert scale, students displayed a mean improvement in confidence (1.7±1.2, p<0.001) and MCQ scores (1.3±1.2, p<0.001). All 10 tutors perceived an improvement of their teaching skills and confidence to teach (1.0±0.9, p=0.016).

Conclusion

COTS shows that an NPT style can be used to effectively teach orthopaedic examinations, with benefits for students and tutors. With our aim to refine and upscale this programme, we publish our pilot study findings to encourage similar teaching programmes to be adopted at other universities.
Exploring the Twitter activity around the eighth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
Authors: Robertson Lindsay , Joshi Ayush , Legg Tess , Wellock Georgina , Ray Katerina , Evans-Reeves Karen
Published: November 2020

Background

Tobacco companies’ intentions to influence the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) via the Conference of Parties (COP; the official biannual meeting where Parties review the Convention) are well documented. We aimed to analyse Twitter data to gain insights into tobacco industry tactics, arguments and allies.

Methods

We retrieved 9089 tweets that included #COP8FCTC between 1 and 9 October 2018. We categorised the tweets’ content and sentiment through manual coding and machine learning. We used an investigative procedure using publicly available information to categorise the most active Twitter users and investigate tobacco industry links. Network analysis was used to visualise interactions and detect communities.

Results

Most tweets were about next-generation products (NGPs) or ‘harm reduction’ (54%) and tended to argue in support of NGPs; around one-quarter were critical of tobacco control (24%). The largest proportion of most active tweeters were NGP advocates, and slightly over half of those had either links to the Philip Morris International (PMI) funded Foundation for a Smoke-Free World (FSFW) and/or to the International Network of Nicotine Consumer Organisations, a network to whom the FSFW granted US$100 300 in 2018. PMI was the most active transnational tobacco company during COP8.

Conclusions

The nature of the activity on Twitter around COP8, including a substantial online presence by PMI executives and NGP advocates with links to organisations funded directly and indirectly by PMI, is highly consistent with PMI’s 2014 corporate affairs strategy, which described engaging tobacco harm reduction advocates to ‘amplify and leverage the debate on harm reduction’ around events such as the COP.
Reproductive parameters in some captive‐bred cockatoo species (genus Cacatua and Eolophus)
Authors: Marelli Stefano Paolo , Abdel Sayed Ahmad , Magni Michele , Crosta Lorenzo , Schnitzer Petra , Strillacci Maria , Luzi Fabio , Cerolini Silvia , Zaniboni Luisa
Published: November 2020

Background

Cockatoo reproduction in captivity supplies a powerful tool to limit the economic motivation to capture endangered species from the wild; nevertheless, scientific data about reproductive parameters in cockatoos are very rare. The aim of the present work was to investigate the reproductive performance of different species of the Cacatua genus reared in the same facility to evaluate adaptability to captive breeding and to identify the main problems in ex situ conservation of some cockatoo species.

Methods

Data of 28 eggs from 19 reproductive pairs from 9 cockatoo species were analysed. Statistical analysis was carried out by SAS NPAR1WAY procedure: species was considered source of variation.

Results

Species effect does not significantly influence reproductive variables; differences were recorded in eggs fertility and embryo liveability. Bird adaptive ability to captive breeding has been described through reproductive parameters.

Conclusion

Our results show the importance and the maintenance of natural species‐specific behaviours and habits, and they underline the relevance of data collection about reproductive performance in endangered species kept in captivity to improve breeding management in conservation programmes.
Physical modeling and correlation of separation length in hypersonic laminar ramp flows
Authors: Fang Fang , Li Xian-Dong , Bao Lin
Published: November 2020

To predict the separation length in hypersonic laminar flows over a ramp, the concepts of disturbance strength and anti-disturbance strength are introduced to characterize the key factors influencing boundary layer separation. It is found that the separation length is controlled by a normalized disturbance strength. Based on that, an analytical formula is derived to correlate the separation length with incoming flow conditions and ramp angle, which can predict the location of the separation under various flow and geometry conditions. The new correlation is compared to numerical simulations and experiments as well as the correlations in previous studies, confirming the suitability and effectiveness of the present analysis.
Simulation of vortex characteristics in a planar ψ-shaped branching microchannel with lattice Boltzmann method
Authors: Feng Kai , Zhang Huichen
Published: November 2020

The vortex in the branching microchannel enhances the mixing and heat transfer performance. To investigate the vortex intensity quantitatively, a lattice Boltzmann model for incompressible power-law fluid is developed by setting the range of lattice viscosity (0.001 [Formula: see text] 1). The validation of the current model is carried out by modeling the vortex in a T-shaped branching channel and the Poiseuille flow of power-law fluids. Then the vortex intensity in the [Formula: see text]-shaped microchannel is numerically studied in terms of Reynolds number, branching angle and power-law index. The result indicates that both the recirculation length and height increase with the increase of the Reynolds number. The branching angle has a negative impact on the recirculation length, and it has little effect on the recirculation height. The influence of the power-law index on recirculation length and height depends on the Reynolds number.
A New Location and Routing Model for Cross-Docking of Fresh Produce
Authors: Sun Zhuo , Han Peixiu , Liu Jiming , Zuo Yi
Published: November 2020

Traditional fresh produce logistics involve long transportation times and high loss rates. Cross-docking systems can significantly improve these issues but bring the challenge of mid-term planning in which vehicles have to be synchronized promptly at the selected cross-docks. This study proposes a new location and routing model for the cross-docking of fresh produce. Exact solutions of small-scale cases show that the model can greatly reduce the transportation time and loss rate. For real-world, large-scale cases, a greedy and biogeography-based optimization algorithm (G-BBO) is devised and tested to obtain near-optimal solutions within a reasonable time.
Maximal Chow constant and cohomologically constant fibrations
Authors: DeVleming Kristin , Stapleton David
Published: November 2020

Motivated by the study of rationally connected fibrations, we study different notions of birationally simple fibrations. Our main result is the construction of maximal Chow constant and cohomologically constant fibrations. This paper is largely self-contained and we prove a number of basic properties of these fibrations. One application is to the classification of “rationalizations of singularities of cones.” We also consider consequences for the Chow groups of the generic fiber of a Chow constant fibration.
Example of a nontrivial irreducible geodesic net in the plane
Authors: Parsch Fabian
Published: November 2020

We construct a geodesic net in the plane with four unbalanced (boundary) vertices that has sixteen balanced vertices and does not contain nontrivial subnets. This is the first example of an irreducible geodesic net in the Euclidean plane with four boundary vertices that contain cycles of balanced vertices.
Research on dynamic load balancing of data flow under big data platform
Authors: Sun Junlin , Zhang Yi
Published: November 2020

In the big data platform, because of the large amount of data, the problem of load imbalance is prominent. Most of the current load balancing methods have problems such as high data flow loss rate and long response time; therefore, more effective load balancing method is urgently needed. Taking HBase as the research subject, the study analyzed the dynamic load balancing method of data flow. First, the HBase platform was introduced briefly, and then the dynamic load-balancing algorithm was designed. The data flow was divided into blocks, and then the load of nodes was predicted based on the grey prediction GM(1,1) model. Finally, the load was migrated through the dynamic adjustable method to achieve load balancing. The experimental results showed that the accuracy of the method for load prediction was high, the average error percentage was 0.93%, and the average response time was short; under 3000 tasks, the response time of the method designed in this study was 14.17% shorter than that of the method combining TV white space (TVWS) and long-term evolution (LTE); the average flow of nodes with the largest load was also smaller, and the data flow loss rate was basically 0%. The experimental results show the effectiveness of the proposed method, which can be further promoted and applied in practice.
European Puts, Credit Protection, and Endogenous Default
Authors: López Jorge Cruz , Ibáñez Alfredo
Published: November 2020

In a default corridor [Formula: see text] that the stock price can never enter, a deep out-of-the-money American put option replicates a pure credit contract (Carr and Wu, 2011, A Simple Robust Link between American Puts and Credit Protection, Review of Financial Studies 24, 473–505). Assuming discrete (one-period-ahead predictable) cash flows, we show that an endogenous credit-risk model generates, along with the default event, a default corridor at the cash-outflow dates, where [Formula: see text] is given by these outflows (i.e., debt service and negative earnings minus dividends). In this endogenous setting, however, the put replicating the credit contract is not American, but European. Specifically, the crucial assumption that determines an endogenous default corridor at the cash-outflow dates is that equityholders’ deep pockets absorb these outflows; that is, no equityholders’ fresh money, no endogenous corridor.
A Preclinical Systematic Review of Curcumin for Protecting the Kidney with Ischemia Reperfusion Injury
Authors: Wang Zi-Hao , Deng Li-Hui , Chi Chang-Wei , Wang Hong , Huang Yue-Yue , Zheng Qun
Published: November 2020

Renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (RIRI) refers to a phenomenon associated with dysfunction of the kidney and tissue damage. Unfortunately, no specific drugs have been found that effectively prevent and treat RIRI. Curcumin (Cur), a polyphenol extracted from turmeric, possesses a variety of biological activities involving antioxidation, inhibition of apoptosis, inhibition of inflammation, and reduction of lipid peroxidation. Eight frequently used databases were searched using prespecified search strategies. The CAMARADES 10-item quality checklist was used to evaluate the risk of bias of included studies, and the RevMan 5.3 software was used to analyze the data. The risk of bias score of included studies ranged from 3 to 6 with an average score of 5.22. Compared with the control group, Cur significantly alleviated renal pathology, reduced blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine levels, and improved inflammatory indexes, oxidant, and apoptosis in RIRI animal models. Despite the heterogeneity of the response to Cur in terms of serum creatinine, BUN, TNF-alpha, and SOD, its effectiveness for improving the injury of RIRI was remarkable. In the mouse model subgroup of serum creatinine, the effect size of the method of unilateral renal artery ligation with contralateral nephrectomy and shorter ischemic time showed a greater effect than that of the control group. No difference was seen in the methods of model establishment, mode administration, or medication times. The preclinical systematic review provided preliminary evidence that Cur partially improved RIRI in animal models, probably via anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiapoptosis, and antifibrosis activities and via improving microperfusion. ARRIVE guidelines are recommended; blinding and sample size calculation should be focused on in future studies. These data suggest that Cur is a potential renoprotective candidate for further clinical trials of RIRI.
Cognitive Load Identification of Pilots Based on Physiological-Psychological Characteristics in Complex Environments
Authors: Wang Haibo , Jiang Naiqi , Pan Ting , Si Haiqing , Li Yao , Zou Wenjing
Published: November 2020

Cognitive load is generated by pilots in the process of information cognition about aircraft control, and it is closely related to flight safety. Cognitive load is the physiological and psychological need that a pilot produces when completing a mission. Therefore, it is meaningful to study the dynamic identification of the cognitive load of the pilot under the complex human-aircraft-environment interaction. In this paper, the airfield traffic pattern flight simulation experiment was designed and used to obtain the ECG physiological and NASA-TLX psychological data. The wavelet transform preprocessing and mathematical statistics analysis were applied on them, respectively. Furthermore, the Pearson correlation analysis method is used to select the characteristic indicators of psycho-physiological data after preprocessing. Based on the psycho-physiological characteristic indicators, the pilot’s cognitive load identification model is constructed by combining RNN and LSTM. The results of this study are more accurate compared with the cognitive load identification models established by other methods such as RNN neural network and support vector machine. This research is able to provide a useful reference for preventing and reduction of human error caused by the cognitive load during flight missions. It will be potential to realize intelligent control of aircraft cockpit, improving the flight control behavior and maintaining flight safety.