bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How are parenting practices associated with bullying in adolescents? A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Pascual‐Sanchez Ana , Mateu Ainoa , Martinez‐Herves Maria , Hickey Nicole , Kramer Tami , Nicholls Dasha
Published: June 2021

Background

Parenting styles have been previously associated with bullying, but some parenting practices have not received strong attention in the literature. We aimed to assess how parenting practices are associated with cyberbullying and traditional bullying involvement in adolescents.

Method

A cross‐sectional survey of 2,218 secondary‐school students in London (UK) was conducted. The Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire and the Alabama Parenting Questionnaire (APQ‐child form) were used.

Results

Positive parenting significantly protected against cyberbullying involvement but not against traditional bullying. Inconsistent discipline was associated with being a cyberbully but not being a traditional one. Lower levels of monitoring were associated with being a cyberbully, a cyberbully‐victim, a traditional bully, or a traditional bully‐victim.

Conclusions

Parenting practices seem to be more relevant in cyberbullying than traditional bullying. Effective parenting practices such as positive parenting deserve attention as a potentially modifiable factor to protect against cyberbullying involvement. Ineffective parenting practices such as inconsistent discipline are relevant in cyberaggression, whereas poor monitoring is associated with both cyberbullying and traditional bullying. Clinical and research implications are discussed.
Human CD4+ T cells specific for dominant epitopes of SARS-CoV-2 Spike and Nucleocapsid proteins with therapeutic potential
Authors: Verhagen Johan , van der Meijden Edith D , Lang Vanessa , Kremer Andreas E , Völkl Simon , Mackensen Andreas , Aigner Michael , Kremer Anita N
Published: June 2021

Since December 2019, Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) has spread rapidly throughout the world, leading to a global effort to develop vaccines and treatments. Despite extensive progress, there remains a need for treatments to bolster the immune responses in infected immunocompromised individuals, such as cancer patients who recently underwent a haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Immunological protection against COVID-19 is mediated by both short-lived neutralizing antibodies and long-lasting virus-reactive T cells. Therefore, we propose that T cell therapy may augment efficacy of current treatments. For the greatest efficacy with minimal adverse effects, it is important that any cellular therapy is designed to be as specific and directed as possible. Here, we identify T cells from COVID-19 patients with a potentially protective response to two major antigens of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, Spike and Nucleocapsid protein. By generating clones of highly virus-reactive CD4+ T cells, we were able to confirm a set of nine immunodominant epitopes and characterize T cell responses against these. Accordingly, the sensitivity of T cell clones for their specific epitope, as well as the extent and focus of their cytokine response was examined. Moreover, using an advanced T cell receptor (TCR) sequencing approach, we determined the paired TCR-αβ sequences of clones of interest. While these data on a limited population require further expansion for universal application, the results presented here form a crucial first step towards TCR-transgenic CD4+ T cell therapy of COVID-19.
Effectiveness of low-dose intravenous immunoglobulin therapy in minor primary antibody deficiencies: A 2-year real-life experience
Authors: Vivarelli Emanuele , Matucci Andrea , Bormioli Susanna , Parronchi Paola , Liotta Francesco , Cosmi Lorenzo , Almerigogna Fabio , Vultaggio Alessandra
Published: June 2021

Primary antibody deficiencies (PAD) are the most prevalent group of primary immunodeficiencies (PID) in adults and immunoglobulin replacement therapy (IRT) is the mainstay therapy to improve clinical outcomes. IRT is, however, expensive and, in minor PAD, clear recommendations concerning IRT are lacking. We conducted a retrospective real-life study to assess the effectiveness of low-dose IRT in minor PAD on 143 patients fulfilling European Society for Immunodeficiencies (ESID) diagnostic criteria for immunoglobulin (Ig)G subclass deficiency (IgGSD) or unclassified antibody deficiency (UAD). All patients were treated with intravenous low-dose IRT (0.14 ± 0.06 g/kg/month). Immunoglobulin (Ig) classes and IgG subclasses were measured at baseline and after 1 year of IRT. The annual rate of total infections, upper respiratory tract infections (URTI), lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) and hospitalizations was measured at baseline and after 1 and 2 years of IRT. After 1 year of IRT significant improvement was demonstrated in: (a) serum IgG (787.9 ± 229.3 versus 929.1 ± 206.7 mg/dl; p < 0.0001); (b) serum IgG subclasses (IgG1 = 351.4 ± 109.9 versus 464.3 ± 124.1, p < 0.0001; IgG2 = 259.1 ± 140 versus 330.6 ± 124.9, p < 0.0001; IgG3 = 50.2 ± 26.7 versus 55.6 ± 28.9 mg/dl, p < 0.002); (c) annual rate of total infections (5.75 ± 3.87 versus 2.13 ± 1.74, p < 0.0001), URTI (1.48 ± 3.15 versus 0.69 ± 1.27; p < 0.005), LRTI (3.89 ± 3.52 versus 1.29 ± 1.37; p < 0.0001) and hospitalizations (0.37 ± 0.77 versus 0.15 ± 0.5; p < 0.0002). The improvement persisted after 2 years of IRT. No significant improvement in URTI annual rate was noted in UAD and in patients with bronchiectasis. In conclusion, low-dose IRT can improve clinical outcomes in UAD and IgGSD patients, providing a potential economical advantage over the standard IRT dose.
Titanium vs ceramic single dental implants in the anterior maxilla: A 12‐month randomized clinical trial
Authors: Ruiz Henao Paula Andrea , Caneiro Queija Leticia , Mareque Santiago , Tasende Pereira Almudena , Liñares González Antonio , Blanco Carrión Juan
Published: June 2021

Objective

The aim of this randomized clinical trial was to compare ceramic and titanium implants with respect to the esthetic and clinical parameters, and patient‐reported outcome measures (PROMs).

Material and methods

Thirty patients received thirty implants (8–12 mm in length, 3.3 mm diameter, and a tissue level design) to replace single teeth in the anterior maxilla. Patients were randomly allocated to receive a ceramic or a titanium implant. Esthetic, clinical parameters, and PROMs were evaluated 18 months after surgery.

Results

At 12 months post‐final loading, there were no significant differences between groups with respect to esthetics. Mean Index Crown Aesthetic score was 6.31 (95% C.I. 4.59–8.04) and 6.07 (95% C.I. 4.21–7.93) for ceramic and titanium implants, respectively. The pink esthetic score (PES) was 7.81 (95% C.I. 6.90–8.73) for ceramic implants and 7.86 (95% C.I. 7.11–8.60) for titanium implants, with no significant differences between groups. No statistically significant differences were found for any of the other clinical parameters and PROMs.

Conclusions

Monotype ceramic implants have proven to be a good treatment option in the upper anterior sector, showing favorable esthetic results, being comparable to titanium implants.

This clinical trial has been registered in clinical trials with the identifier CI_RCT_US16 and registration number NCT04707677. A retrospective registration of the clinical trial was carried out since registration was not mandatory on the date the study began.
Neural representational similarity between symbolic and non‐symbolic quantities predicts arithmetic skills in childhood but not adolescence
Authors: Schwartz Flora , Zhang Yuan , Chang Hyesang , Karraker Shelby , Kang Julia Boram , Menon Vinod
Published: June 2021

Mathematical knowledge is constructed hierarchically from basic understanding of quantities and the symbols that denote them. Discrimination of numerical quantity in both symbolic and non‐symbolic formats has been linked to mathematical problem‐solving abilities. However, little is known of the extent to which overlap in quantity representations between symbolic and non‐symbolic formats is related to individual differences in numerical problem solving and whether this relation changes with different stages of development and skill acquisition. Here we investigate the association between neural representational similarity (NRS) across symbolic and non‐symbolic quantity discrimination and arithmetic problem‐solving skills in early and late developmental stages: elementary school children (ages 7–10 years) and adolescents and young adults (AYA, ages 14–21 years). In children, cross‐format NRS in distributed brain regions, including parietal and frontal cortices and the hippocampus, was positively correlated with arithmetic skills. In contrast, no brain region showed a significant association between cross‐format NRS and arithmetic skills in the AYA group. Our findings suggest that the relationship between symbolic‐non‐symbolic NRS and arithmetic skills depends on developmental stage. Taken together, our study provides evidence for both mapping and estrangement hypotheses in the context of numerical problem solving, albeit over different cognitive developmental stages.
Speechreading in hearing children can be improved by training
Authors: Buchanan‐Worster Elizabeth , Hulme Charles , Dennan Rachel , MacSweeney Mairéad
Published: June 2021

Visual information conveyed by a speaking face aids speech perception. In addition, children's ability to comprehend visual‐only speech (speechreading ability) is related to phonological awareness and reading skills in both deaf and hearing children. We tested whether training speechreading would improve speechreading, phoneme blending, and reading ability in hearing children. Ninety‐two hearing 4‐ to 5‐year‐old children were randomised into two groups: business‐as‐usual controls, and an intervention group, who completed three weeks of computerised speechreading training. The intervention group showed greater improvements in speechreading than the control group at post‐test both immediately after training and 3 months later. This was the case for both trained and untrained words. There were no group effects on the phonological awareness or single‐word reading tasks, although those with the lowest phoneme blending scores did show greater improvements in blending as a result of training. The improvement in speechreading in hearing children following brief training is encouraging. The results are also important in suggesting a hypothesis for future investigation: that a focus on visual speech information may contribute to phonological skills, not only in deaf children but also in hearing children who are at risk of reading difficulties. A video abstract of this article can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBdpliGkbkY.
Revisiting brain rewiring and plasticity in children born without corpus callosum
Authors: Siffredi Vanessa , Preti Maria G. , Obertino Silvia , Leventer Richard J. , Wood Amanda G. , McIlroy Alissandra , Anderson Vicki , Spencer‐Smith Megan M. , Van De Ville Dimitri
Published: June 2021

The corpus callosum is the largest white matter pathway connecting homologous structures of the two cerebral hemispheres. Remarkably, children and adults with developmental absence of the corpus callosum (callosal dysgenesis, CD) show typical interhemispheric integration, which is classically impaired in adult split‐brain patients, for whom the corpus callosum is surgically severed. Tovar‐Moll and colleagues (2014) proposed alternative neural pathways involved in the preservation of interhemispheric transfer. In a sample of six adults with CD, they revealed two homotopic bundles crossing the midline via the anterior and posterior commissures and connecting parietal cortices, and the microstructural properties of these aberrant bundles were associated with functional connectivity of these regions. The aberrant bundles were specific to CD and not visualised in healthy brains. We extended this study in a developmental cohort of 20 children with CD and 29 typically developing controls (TDC). The two anomalous white‐matter bundles were visualised using tractography. Associations between structural properties of these bundles and their regional functional connectivity were explored. The proposed atypical bundles were observed in 30% of our CD cohort crossing via the anterior commissure, and in 30% crossing via the posterior commissure (also observed in 6.9% of TDC). However, the structural property measures of these bundles were not associated with parietal functional connectivity, bringing into question their role and implication for interhemispheric functional connectivity in CD. It is possible that very early disruption of embryological callosal development enhances neuroplasticity and facilitates the formation of these proposed alternative neural pathways, but further evidence is needed.
Making cerebral palsy visible across the globe
Authors: Paneth Nigel
Published: June 2021

This commentary is on the original article by Jahan et al. on pages 1327–1336 of this issue.
Metabolic Disease Programming: From Mitochondria to Epigenetics, Glucocorticoid Signalling and Beyond
Authors: Grilo Luís F. , Tocantins Carolina , Diniz Mariana S. , Gomes Rodrigo Mello , Oliveira Paulo J. , Matafome Paulo , Pereira Susana P.
Published: June 2021

Embryonic and foetal development are critical periods of development in which several environmental cues determine health and disease in adulthood. Maternal conditions and an unfavourable intrauterine environment impact foetal development and may programme the offspring for increased predisposition to metabolic diseases and other chronic pathologic conditions throughout adult life. Previously, non‐communicable chronic diseases were only associated with genetics and lifestyle. Now the origins of non‐communicable chronic diseases are associated with early‐life adaptations that produce long‐term dysfunction. Early‐life environment sets the long‐term health and disease risk and can span through multiple generations. Recent research in developmental programming aims at identifying the molecular mechanisms responsible for developmental programming outcomes that impact cellular physiology and trigger adulthood disease. The identification of new therapeutic targets can improve offspring's health management and prevent or overcome adverse consequences of foetal programming. This review summarizes recent biomedical discoveries in the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) hypothesis and highlight possible developmental programming mechanisms, including prenatal structural defects, metabolic (mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, protein modification), epigenetic and glucocorticoid signalling‐related mechanisms suggesting molecular clues for the causes and consequences of programming of increased susceptibility of offspring to metabolic disease after birth. Identifying mechanisms involved in DOHaD can contribute to early interventions in pregnancy or early childhood, to re‐set the metabolic homeostasis and break the chain of subsequent events that could lead to the development of disease.
The incidence and prevalence of patients with paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria and aplastic anaemia PNH syndrome: A retrospective analysis of the UK’s population‐based haematological malignancy research network 2004‐2018
Authors: Richards Stephen J. , Painter Daniel , Dickinson Anita J. , Griffin Morag , Munir Talha , Arnold Louise , Payne Daniel , Pike Alexandra , Muus Petra , Hill Anita , Newton Darren J. , McKinley Claire , Jones Rachael , Kelly Richard , Smith Alex , Roman Eve , Hillmen Peter
Published: June 2021

Objectives

A retrospective population‐based study to determine the incidence and prevalence of patients with the rare blood disease paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH).

Methods

All patients were identified by flow cytometric detection of blood cells deficient in glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) linked proteins at a single diagnostic reference laboratory that serves the Yorkshire based, Haematological Malignancy Research Network (HMRN) with a population of 3.8 million.

Results

One hundred and ninety‐seven patients with detectable PNH clones at a level of >0.01% in at least two lineages of cells (neutrophils, monocytes and/or red cells) were identified over a 15‐year period (2004‐2018). Of these, 88% had aplastic anaemia (AA), 8% classical PNH and 3% myelodysplastic syndrome. The overall incidence rate was estimated at 0.35 cases per 100 000 people per year. This equates to 220 cases newly diagnosed in the United Kingdom each year. The overall prevalence rate was 3.81 per 100 000, this equates to an estimated 2400 prevalent cases in the UK. The overall and relative 5‐year survival rates were 72% and 82.7%, respectively.

Conclusions

This study showed that classical haemolytic PNH is a rare disease and represents only a small proportion overall of patients with detectable PNH cells, the majority of which have aplastic anaemia.
Late cortical disinhibition in focal hand dystonia
Authors: Caux‐Dedeystère Alexandre , Allart Etienne , Morel Pierre , Kreisler Alexandre , Derambure Philippe , Devanne Hervé
Published: June 2021

In writer's cramp (WC), a form of focal hand dystonia, cortical GABAergic inhibitory mechanisms are altered and may cause involuntary tonic contractions while writing. The objective of this study was to explore the time course of long‐interval intracortical inhibition (LICI) that involves gamma‐amino butyric acid (GABA)‐B transmission and late cortical disinhibition (LCD) (that combines GABA‐A and GABA‐B mechanisms) in patients with WC and in control subjects. A double pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation protocol was used to evoke LICI and LCD while the subjects either gripped a cylinder between their thumb and index fingers or relaxed all their upper limb muscles. We measured the ratio between primed and unprimed motor evoked potential in the first dorsal interosseous at interstimulus intervals ranging between 60 and 300 ms. Though the cortical silent period was not different between the groups, LICI lasted longer in patients with WC, that is, LCD was delayed for more than 30 ms and reached a higher level. In addition to the alteration of inhibitory mechanism mediated by GABA‐B transmission, LCD which probably involves presynaptic inhibition is also modified in patients with WC with possible consequences on the activity of primary motor cortex inhibitory and excitatory circuits which control the hand muscles.caus
Systematic review of cases of acute myelitis in individuals with COVID‐19
Authors: Schulte Eva C. , Hauer Larissa , Kunz Alexander B. , Sellner Johann
Published: June 2021

Background and purpose

An incremental number of cases of acute transverse myelitis (ATM) in individuals with ongoing or recent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) have been reported.

Methods

A systematic review was performed of cases of ATM described in the context of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection by screening both articles published and in preprint.

Results

Twenty cases were identified. There was a slight male predominance (60.0%) and the median age was 56 years. Neurological symptoms first manifested after a mean of 10.3 days from the first onset of classical, mostly respiratory symptoms of COVID‐19. Overall, COVID‐19 severity was relatively mild. Polymerase chain reaction of cerebrospinal fluid for SARS‐CoV‐2 was negative in all 14 cases examined. Cerebrospinal fluid findings reflected an inflammatory process in most instances (77.8%). Aquaporin‐4 and myelin oligodendrocyte protein antibodies in serum (tested in 10 and nine cases, respectively) were negative. On magnetic resonance imaging, the spinal cord lesions spanned a mean of 9.8 vertebral segments, necrotic‐hemorrhagic transformation was present in three cases and two individuals had additional acute motor axonal neuropathy. More than half of the patients received a second immunotherapy regimen. Over a limited follow‐up period of several weeks, 90% of individuals recovered either partially or near fully.

Conclusion

Although causality cannot readily be inferred, it is possible that cases of ATM occur para‐ or post‐infectiously in COVID‐19. All identified reports are anecdotal and case descriptions are heterogeneous. Whether the condition and the observed radiological characteristics are specific to SARS‐CoV‐2 infection needs to be clarified.
Proximal interphalangeal locking compression plate for pastern arthrodesis in horses
Authors: Hicks Rebecca B. , Glass Kati G. , Watkins Jeffrey P.
Published: June 2021

Background

Outcomes following proximal interphalangeal joint (PIPJ) arthrodesis by a variety of surgical methods are available. Reports detailing clinical outcomes following PIPJ arthrodesis utilising the proximal interphalangeal joint locking compression plate (PIP‐LCP) and abaxial transarticular lag screws technique are limited.

Objectives

To report survival, radiographic and clinical outcomes following PIPJ arthrodesis with PIP‐LCP and abaxial transarticular lag screw fixation.

Study design

Retrospective case series.

Methods

Medical records of all horses undergoing pastern arthrodesis from 2009 to 2018 were reviewed. Arthrodeses performed using a 3‐hole, 4.5 mm narrow LCP, specifically designed for the proximal interphalangeal joint, were included. Patient details, presentation, radiographic findings, intraoperative and post‐operative data, and complications were documented. Short‐ and long‐term follow‐up was available for 23 horses.

Results

Thirty PIPJ arthrodeses were performed in 29 horses meeting the criteria for inclusion. Twenty‐eight horses (97%, 95% CI 83‐100) survived to discharge. Twenty‐three horses (79%, 95% CI 60%‐92%) had successful outcomes including 12 of the 15 forelimb cases and 11 of the 13 hindlimb cases with available follow‐up. Fifteen of 19 performance horses returned to athletic activity. Soundness in performance horses was recognised at less than 3 months in one case, 3 to 6 months in six cases, 6 to 12 months in five cases, and greater than 12 months in six cases. Complications included three implant infections, support limb laminitis (two horses), and fragmentation of the extensor process of the distal phalanx (one horse).

Main limitations

A retrospectively reviewed, small study population with a variety of breeds and disciplines.

Conclusions

The PIP‐LCP construct provides a very good prognosis for performance and an excellent prognosis for pasture soundness.
Gout and Levodopa: An unknown adverse effect?
Authors: Quarteroni Laura , Gastaldi Romain , Baillet Athan , Moro Elena , Allenet Benoit , Khouri Charles
Published: June 2021

We report the case of a 77‐year‐old man with Parkinson's disease (PD) who experimented for the first time gout crisis after the initiation of levodopa. Levodopa was withdrawn, and colchicine and allopurinol were initiated to treat the gout crisis. Because of PD progression, levodopa was reintroduced, and the patient presented relapse of gout flare. To further explore the association between gout and levodopa, we extracted and synthetized all Individual Case Safety Reports of gout associated with levodopa in the World Health Organization pharmacovigilance database, VigiBase®, up to April 2021. 43 cases of gout were reported in VigiBase® with drugs from N04BA ATC class. Levodopa was suspected in fifteen cases among which improvement was noticed in six cases (two after levodopa withdrawal, two despite treatment continuation, and two cases lacking details about action taken with levodopa); three cases did not recover; in the remaining six cases, evolution was not known. “Hyperuricemia” was not mentioned in the Summary of Product Characteristics of medicine containing levodopa; however, “abnormality biologics test with uric acid” was mentioned. Despite few cases of recovery after reduced doses of levodopa, the above‐described case of positive reintroduction was an argument in favor of the role of levodopa in gout flare. This study highlights a potential association between levodopa and gout through an analysis of the cases reported in the WHO pharmacovigilance database.
General quantification of fatigue damage with provision for microstructure: A review
Authors: P. Jirandehi Arash , M. Khonsari Michael
Published: June 2021

Recent developments in microstructure‐sensitive computational modeling and experimental verification have provided significant insight on how one can estimate fatigue damage and predict useful life. As a myriad of methods and approaches are available, it is important to understand how to properly utilize them in a unified and efficient framework for the quantification of damage in safety‐critical components such as jet engine fan blades, gas turbine disks, and airframe structural connections. To this end, the microstructure‐sensitive studies considering crystal plasticity are reviewed, and methods for implementing the statistical representations of material microstructure are presented. Finally, a computational crystal plasticity approach utilizing the statistical representation of parameters and a new thermodynamically based framework is suggested.
Fatigue and fracture toughness of electron beam welded joints of aluminum alloy 6156 (Al–Mg–Si) for aerospace applications
Authors: Alexopoulos Nikolaos D. , Examilioti Theano N. , Stergiou Vasileios , Kourkoulis Stavros K.
Published: June 2021

The mechanical behavior of AA6156 electron beam welded joints and the effect of artificial aging heat treatments on the fracture‐related properties were investigated. The fatigue test results of the welded joints presented lower fatigue endurance limit by approximately 60%, when compared to the base material. Fracture resistance results showed that the critical stress intensity factor (Kcr) was essentially decreased (~32%) in the as‐welded condition. Heat treatment before welding presented a 15% increase in Kcr for 4 h of artificial aging, while a decrease in Kcr was noticed for prolonged isothermal heat treatment prior to welding. By applying post welding heat treatments, all investigated isothermal heat treatment conditions resulted in decreasing Kcr. Tensile test results of the welded joints showed that an almost 40% increase of the yield stress can be achieved with appropriate post welding heat treatment, on the expense of only 10% decrease in Kcr.
Local habitat is a strong determinant of spatial and temporal patterns of macrophyte diversity and composition in boreal lakes
Authors: Johnson Richard K. , Toprak Vildan
Published: June 2021

Macrophyte species and trait assemblages from 104 minimally disturbed boreal forest lakes, covering broad environmental and geographic gradients were analysed to identify associations with environmental variables at different spatial scales: geographic context (GEO) and catchment (CATCH) and lake (LOCAL) characteristics.

Constrained ordination and variation partitioning were used to quantify variation in species (canonical correspondence analysis [CCA] and pCCA) and trait (redundancy analysis [RDA] and pRDA) compositions that could be explained by environmental variables, and to rank the main environmental factors associated with spatial and temporal patterns.

Diversity and assemblage composition correlated with spatial context and variables related to the length of the growing season, catchment forest type and with lake characteristics such as ecosystem size, lake productivity and alkalinity.

Variation partitioning showed that lake characteristics alone explained 53% (species) and 73.5% (traits) of the variability in macrophyte assemblages. Contrary to predictions, the shared variance component between latitude and catchment forest type (GEO&CATCH < 0.1% for both species and traits) and between latitude and lake characteristics (GEO&LOCAL = 6.7% for species and 3.9% for traits) was low.

Temporal variability, measured as changes in species richness, diversity and a pollution‐specific index (the Trophic Macrophyte Index), using a subset of the lakes sampled on two occasions (19 lakes sampled in 2012 and 2018 and five lakes sampled in 2013 and 2019) did not differ (p > 0.05, paired t‐test). Ordination showed that among‐year variability in macrophyte assemblage composition was also negligible (0.3%) compared to the variability explained by GEO, CATCH and LOCAL variables. Combined, these findings indicate low species turnover in the boreal lakes of our study.

Responses of macrophyte species and trait assemblages and the TMI index were predictable and significantly correlated with lake characteristics associated with nutrient enrichment (Chl a, nutrients) and alkalinity supporting their use in monitoring eutrophication of boreal lakes.
Stochastic colonisation dynamics can be a major driver of temporal β diversity in Atlantic Forest coastal stream communities
Authors: Saito Victor S. , Stoppa Nathalia E. , Shimabukuro Erika M. , Cañedo‐Argüelles Miguel , Bonada Núria , Siqueira Tadeu
Published: June 2021

Biodiversity is structured in space and time, yet our understanding about the temporal variation of biological communities is still limited. Recent work suggests that temporal β diversity should be lowest in unpredictable systems with low seasonality, as expected for tropical ecosystems. However, this hypothesis remains largely unexplored.

Here, we analysed the temporal dynamics of Atlantic Forest coastal stream caddisfly assemblages sampled simultaneously along four years, resulting in 99 unique site‐time combinations. Given that the region we studied is expected to have low climatic seasonality and low environmental harshness, we expected to find: (1) unseasonal variation in community composition; (2) equal contribution of nestedness and turnover to β diversity; (3) weak correlation between variation in community composition and in environmental variables; and (4) temporal β diversity similar to that expected by neutral dynamics.

Using wavelet analysis we found that, in spite of general temperature stability, precipitation was highly seasonal but unpredictable at the monthly scale. We found high temporal β diversity, with a larger contribution of nestedness due to an overall decrease in abundance and diversity during months characterised by heavy rain events. We also found that community composition was moderately structured in space, suggesting that both local in‐stream characteristics and dispersal limitation drive community reassembly after heavy rain events.

Null model analysis indicated that observed short‐term β diversity was not distinct from that expected by chance (i.e. produced by null simulations). This suggests an important role of stochastic colonisation and dispersal limitation in the temporal organisation of Atlantic Forest stream assemblages.

Since heavy rain events strongly disassemble communities that are then randomly recolonised, and considering the current scenario of climate change, increased extreme events of precipitation could lead to unpredictable changes in biodiversity in tropical regions.
Results from 8 years of the proficiency testing program for diagnosis of hemoglobinopathies under the prevention and control program of thalassemia in Thailand
Authors: Pansuwan Anupong , Yamsri Supawadee , Changtrakul Duangrudee , Fucharoen Goonnapa , Fucharoen Supan
Published: June 2021

Introduction

Hemoglobin (Hb) analysis is a key testing for diagnosis of hemoglobinopathies. Accurate analysis, interpretation of results, and genetic risk assessment are important. We report on 8 years of the proficiency testing (PT) program for hemoglobinopathies in Thailand.

Methods

Laboratory participants were required to test two simulated PT items in each cycle using capillary electrophoresis, one was a husband and another was his pregnant wife. Related hematological parameters were provided. The participants also provide interpretation and evaluate the risk of having three severe thalassemia diseases in an expected fetus. Three cycles were operated per year in accordance with the ISO17043 and ISO13528 guidelines. A total of 84 laboratories throughout Thailand were participated.

Results

A total of 24 PT cycles were performed during 2012‐2019. Most participants had Excellent performance for the PT items with normal, β‐thalassemia trait, hemoglobin E trait, hemoglobin E trait with α‐thalassemia, and Hb H disease. However, when the PT items with homozygous Hb E and Hb E‐β‐thalassemia were tested, an increase in a Needs improvement performance was noted. From 24 PT cycles, the performance with Excellent, Good, Fair, and Needs improvement was ranging from 10.5%‐95.8%, 0%‐11.3%, 0%‐77.2%, and 2.3%‐37.0%, respectively.

Conclusion

Most participants have proven their performance to be reliable and demonstrated their abilities to provide interpretation and genetic risk assessment on most of the PT items. For complex thalassemia however, a need to improve the interpretation and risk assessment skills is required which is essential for effective prevention and control of severe thalassemia diseases in Thailand.
Effectiveness of health literacy education for nursing students: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Akca Ayşegül , Ayaz‐Alkaya Sultan
Published: June 2021

Aim

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of health literacy education given to nursing students on health literacy level.

Background

Health literacy has become an important issue in the field of health. Health literacy is an issue of interest to health professionals as well as individuals.

Methods

The study was conducted as a randomized controlled trial. A total of 206 nursing students, 103 in the intervention and 103 in the control group, were included in the study. The intervention group received four weekly training sessions of health literacy education. The research was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov with the registration number NCT04868487.

Results

On the baseline assessment, there were no statistically significant differences between the intervention and control group in terms of health literacy level (p > 0.05). In the 1st‐ week and 12th‐week measurements, the health literacy level of the intervention group was significantly higher than control group (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Health literacy education was effective in increasing the health literacy level of the students. Therefore, the concept of health literacy should be added to the nursing education curriculum.
A desired gains approach for the prediction of genetic gain in resistance to gastrointestinal nematodes in a multi‐trait breeding objective in Uruguayan Merino sheep
Authors: Sánchez Ana Laura , Bell Washington , Ponzoni Raúl W.
Published: June 2021

Gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) constitute a problem in many sheep production systems, including those in Uruguay, causing reduced productivity and increased expenses. The main strategy to control GIN has consisted of the use of anthelmintics. However, GINs have developed resistance to anthelmintics, reducing their effectiveness. Genetic resistance to GINs has been found in flocks of different breeds. To date, there have been no reports about GINs breaking down genetic resistance in sheep. Heritability estimates of resistance to GIN within breeds are generally moderate, so that achieving genetic gain within a flock is possible. In this study, we predicted genetic gain in worm egg count (WEC), an indirect (and generally preferred) criterion of resistance to GIN, following different strategies. A multi‐trait breeding objective including wool and meat traits was assumed and genetic gain over 10 years of selection in a Merino flock was estimated. We used a desired gains approach, examining situations in which the economic contribution of genetic gain in resistance to GIN in percentage terms was 0, 25, 50, 75 or 100. Except when the level of infestation with GIN was low, a considerable amount of emphasis had to be placed on selection for low WEC in order to reach the threshold below which the administration of anthelmintics is not required. High emphasis on reducing WEC lead to a reduction in genetic gain in wool and meat traits, or to their deterioration in the extreme case of 100 per cent emphasis on WEC. Given this finding, coupled with the difficulties encountered in accurately recording and selecting for WEC, we concluded that in addition to embarking upon a programme of within flock selection, sheep breeders interested in improving genetic resistance to GIN should also consider using breeding stock identified as superior for both resistance and production traits in across flock genetic evaluations.
IP3R attenuates oxidative stress and inflammation damage in smoking‐induced COPD by promoting autophagy
Authors: Zhang Qiang , Li Wei , Ayidaerhan Nahemuguli , Han Wuxin , Chen Yingying , Song Wei , Yue Yuanyi
Published: June 2021

Tobacco smoking is one of the most important risk factors for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the most critical genes and proteins remain poorly understood. Therefore, we aimed to investigate these hub genes and proteins in tobacco smoke‐induced COPD, together with the potential mechanism(s). Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analysed between smokers and patients with COPD. mRNA expression and protein expression of IP3R were confirmed in patients with COPD and extracted smoke solution (ESS)‐treated human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells. Moreover, expression of oxidative stress, inflammatory cytokines and/or autophagy‐related protein was tested when IP3R was silenced or overexpressed in ESS‐treated and/or 3‐MA‐treated cells. A total of 30 DEGs were obtained between patients with COPD and smoker samples. IP3R was identified as one of the key targets in tobacco smoke‐induced COPD. In addition, IP3R was significantly decreased in patients with COPD and ESS‐treated cells. Loss of IP3R statistically increased expression of oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines in ESS‐treated HBE cells, and overexpression of IP3R reversed the above functions. Furthermore, the autophagy‐related proteins (Atg5, LC3 and Beclin1) were statistically decreased, and p62 was increased by silencing of IP3R cells, while overexpression of IP3R showed contrary results. Additionally, we detected that administration of 3‐MA significantly reversed the protective effects of IP3R overexpression on ESS‐induced oxidative stress and inflammatory injury. Our results suggest that IP3R might exert a protective role against ESS‐induced oxidative stress and inflammation damage in HBE cells. These protective effects might be associated with promoting autophagy.
Nondestructive phenotyping fatty acid trait of single soybean seeds using reflective hyperspectral imagery
Authors: Fu Dandan , Zhou Jianfeng , Scaboo Andrew M. , Niu Xiaofan
Published: June 2021

Soybean (Glycine max) is one of the most economically important crops in the world and is used widely for different purposes. Breeding programs have developed new varieties with desired traits, including altered fatty acid profiles and levitated protein content. The breeding process involves the selection of elite genotypes from a large number of experimental lines, which is time‐consuming and costly. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of a reflective hyperspectral imaging system in classifying the fatty acid content of single soybean seeds for high‐throughput phenotyping high oleic soybean cultivars. A hyperspectral imager was used to take hyperspectral images of 100 soybean seeds of two varieties. After comparing the performance of different methods for data preprocessing, featured spectral patterns were extracted to predict oleic acid and linoleic acid content using a successive projection algorithm. Results showed that the spectral reflectance of soybean seeds was able to differentiate different cultivars. The spectral information of selected regions of interest from the hyperspectral images of single seeds could reflect the spectral information of whole seeds. It is found that the classification models based on raw spectra performed the best in estimating the content of oleic acid and linoleic acid. The classification accuracy of the calibration for oleic acid and linoleic acid was both 100%, and the classification accuracy of validation was 90 and 93.3%, respectively. The results indicate that the reflective hyperspectral imaging technology might be used as a rapid and nondestructive tool to quantify the oleic acid content and linoleic acid content of single soybean seeds for high‐throughput phenotyping high oleic soybean.

Practical Applications

It is the interest of soybean breeders to develop high oleic soybean varieties that are in great demand. Studies indicate that the major factors affecting soybean oil content are oleic acid and linoleic acid. However, the nutritional values of soybean seeds, such as sugar, protein, oil, and fatty acids, are commonly measured using wet chemistry analysis, which is destructive, time‐consuming, and expensive. Although NIR spectroscopy can improve efficiency and simplify the measurement procedure, it still requires a large number of seeds. In breeding programs, a single seed with known oleic content is needed for further seed development. Bulk‐seed measurement using spectroscopy is not selective and would not determine the oleic profile of single seeds. Therefore, there is a pressing need to develop a high‐throughput and nondestructive method to quantify the nutritional values of individual seeds for precision breeding and improve the efficiency of breeding programs.
Integrated calculation of pasteurization time: A case study for thermal inactivation kinetics of a mixed fruit beverage
Authors: Bhalerao Prasanna Prakash , Chakraborty Snehasis
Published: June 2021

The impact of batch thermal treatment (50–95°C/0–10 min) on various quality attributes of a mixed fruit beverage (pomegranate–amla–muskmelon juice = 57:5:38) was evaluated. The responses include microbial count (aerobic mesophiles [AM], yeast and mold [YM], psychrotrophs [PSY], and lactic acid bacteria [LAB]); enzyme activity (polyphenol oxidase [PPO] and peroxidase [POD]); and bioactive (ascorbic acid [AA], total phenolics [TPC], antioxidants [AOC], anthocyanins [TAC], and flavonoids [TFC]). Weibull model indicated a tailing behavior (β = 0.8) for LAB, while others showed the shouldering behavior (β > 1). YM was the most resistant microbial group. Enzyme inactivation and bioactive degradation were discussed with thenth‐order model. POD was more resistant than PPO. The corresponding activation energy (Ea) values for PPO and POD were 61.8 and 65.1 kJ/mol, respectively. Among bioactive compounds, AA was most sensitive toward thermal stress. At 95°C, the 90% inactivation of enzyme activity (t90value) was achieved after the total process time (come up + holding + cooling time) of 1.5 + 4.1 + 0.3 min. The corresponding losses (%) for AA, TPC, and AOC, att90condition, were 39, 27, and 34, respectively.

Practical applications

The study attempts to introduce the expression for calculating the time required for 5‐log cycle reduction in resistant microbes (t5Dvalue) and 90% reduction in enzyme activity (t90value) of the sample. The kinetic model based on the cumulative approach of come‐up time (tCUT), holding time (tHOLD), and cooling time (tCOOL) will undoubtedly help in designing the thermal pasteurization process of this mixed fruit juice and thereby pave the pathway for similar counterparts.
Nurses and Midwives as Global Partners to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in the Anthropocene
Authors: Rosa William E. , Catton Howard , Davidson Patricia M. , Hannaway Catherine J. , Iro Elizabeth , Klopper Hester C. , Madigan Elizabeth A. , McConville Frances E. , Stilwell Barbara , Kurth Ann E.
Published: June 2021

Purpose

To highlight ongoing and emergent roles of nurses and midwives in advancing the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 at the intersection of social and economic inequity, the climate crisis, interprofessional partnership building, and the rising status and visibility of the professions worldwide.

Design

Discussion paper.

Methods

Literature review.

Findings

Realizing the Sustainable Development Goals will require all nurses and midwives to leverage their roles and responsibility as advocates, leaders, clinicians, scholars, and full partners with multidisciplinary actors and sectors across health systems.

Conclusions

Making measurable progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals is critical to human survival, as well as the survival of the planet. Nurses and midwives play an integral part of this agenda at local and global levels.

Clinical Relevance

Nurses and midwives can integrate the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals into their everyday clinical work in various contexts and settings. With increased attention to social justice, environmental health, and partnership building, they can achieve exemplary clinical outcomes directly while contributing to the United Nations 2030 Agenda on a global scale and raising the profile of their professions.
Asymptomatic carriage of canine infectious respiratory disease complex pathogens among healthy dogs
Authors: Okonkowski L. K. , Szlosek D. , Ottney J. , Coyne M. , Carey S. A.
Published: June 2021

Objectives

The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of canine infectious respiratory disease pathogens among asymptomatic client‐owned dogs, and to compare the risks of asymptomatic pathogen carriage between client‐owned dogs and dogs in an animal shelter.

Materials and Methods

Pooled tonsillar, conjunctival and nasal cavity swabs from asymptomatic client‐owned dogs (n=133) were tested using a real‐time polymerase chain reaction canine respiratory panel. Identical samples from asymptomatic dogs in an animal shelter (n=295) were similarly tested for selected pathogens. Risk differences were calculated between client‐owned dogs and shelter dogs for each of the respiratory pathogens included in the analyses.

Results

A total of 15 of 133 (11.3%) asymptomatic client‐owned dogs were positive for at least one pathogen in the complex. Seven dogs (6.1%) were positive for M. cynos, six (5.2%) were positive for B. bronchiseptica, two (1.7%) were positive for canine herpesvirus type 1 and two (1.7%) were positive for canine respiratory coronavirus. For all eight pathogens tested in both groups, the proportion of positive cases was higher among shelter dogs than among client‐owned dogs. Shelter dogs had a higher risk for M. cynos (0.18, 95% confidence interval: 0.12 to 0.25), canine respiratory coronavirus (0.15, 95% confidence interval: 0.10 to 0.19), canine distemper virus (0.06, 95% confidence interval: 0.03 to 0.09), and canine pneumovirus (0.05, 95% confidence interval: 0.03 to 0.08) than client‐owned dogs. Odds ratios for M. cynos (0.31, 95% confidence interval: 0.08 to 0.92) and canine respiratory coronavirus (0.05, 95% confidence interval: 0.01 to 0.18) were significantly different between client‐owned and shelter dogs.

In all cases except for canine herpesvirus type 1, dogs within the shelter population were observed to be at higher risk of exhibiting asymptomatic carriage of a respiratory pathogen as compared to client‐owned dogs. The strength of this association was strongest for M. cynos and canine respiratory coronavirus.

Clinical Significance

The risk of canine infectious respiratory disease pathogen exposure posed by asymptomatic client‐owned dogs is poorly defined. This study also corroborates previous reports of high canine infectious respiratory disease prevalence among clinically healthy shelter dogs, and further determined that the overall prevalence of canine infectious respiratory disease pathogen carriage among clinically healthy client‐owned dogs is low but is highest for the traditional pathogen B. bronchiseptica and the emerging pathogen M. cynos.