bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association of erythropoietin resistance and fibroblast growth factor 23 in dialysis patients: Results from the Japanese Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study
Authors: Usui Tomoko , Zhao Junhui , Fuller Douglas S. , Hanafusa Norio , Hasegawa Takeshi , Fujino Hiroshi , Nomura Takanobu , Zee Jarcy , Young Eric , Robinson Bruce M. , Nangaku Masaomi
Published: August 2020

Background

Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) plays an important role in chronic kidney disease (CKD)‐related mineral and bone disorders. High FGF23 levels are associated with increased risk of anaemia in non‐haemodialysis CKD patients. FGF23 also negatively regulates erythropoiesis in mice. We hypothesized that higher FGF23 levels are associated with increased erythropoietin hyporesponsiveness among haemodialysis patients.

Methods

The study included 1044 patients from the Japanese Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (J‐DOPPS) phase 5 (2012‐2015). The outcome was erythropoiesis‐stimulating agent hyporesponsiveness (ESA‐hypo), defined as mean Hgb <10 g/dL and standardized mean ESA dose >6000 u/week over 4 months following FGF23 measurement. The association between ESA‐hypo and FGF23 was estimated using multivariable‐adjusted logistic generalized estimating equation regression models.

Results

Patients with higher levels of FGF23 were younger and had higher levels of serum albumin, creatinine, albumin‐corrected calcium, phosphorus, PTH, 25(OH)‐vitamin D, and had higher percentages of intravenous (IV) iron, IV vitamin D and cinacalcet use. ESA‐hypo was present in 144 patients (13.8%). Compared with the third quintile of FGF23 levels, the odds ratio (95% CI) of ESA‐hypo was 2.14 (0.99, 4.62) and 1.74 (0.74, 4.11) for the first and fifth quintiles, respectively.

Conclusion

The lowest and highest levels of FGF23 were associated with higher odds of ESA‐hypo in patients on maintenance haemodialysis, although the associations were not statistically significant. The relationship between FGF23 and anaemia, and particularly the increased risks of ESA‐hypo at low FGF23 levels which might be the result of energy saving, must be confirmed in larger clinical studies.
New Technology, Work and Employment in the era of COVID‐19: reflecting on legacies of research
Authors: Hodder Andy
Published: August 2020

The outbreak of COVID‐19 is having a drastic impact on work and employment. This review piece outlines the relevance of existing research into new technology, work and employment in the era of COVID‐19. It is important to be retrospective and undertake both a historically and theoretically informed position on the impact of new technologies in the current crisis and beyond. Issues of control, surveillance and resistance have been central to work on the impact of technology on work and employment and these themes have been identified as central to the experience of work in the current crisis.
Improving crop salt tolerance using transgenic approaches: An update and physiological analysis
Authors: Kotula Lukasz , Garcia Caparros Pedro , Zörb Christian , Colmer Timothy D. , Flowers Timothy J.
Published: August 2020

Salinization of land is likely to increase due to climate change with impact on agricultural production. Since most species used as crops are sensitive to salinity, improvement of salt tolerance is needed to maintain global food production. This review summarises successes and failures of transgenic approaches in improving salt tolerance in crop species. A conceptual model of coordinated physiological mechanisms in roots and shoots required for salt tolerance is presented. Transgenic plants overexpressing genes of key proteins contributing to Na+ ‘exclusion’ (PM‐ATPases with SOS1 antiporter, and HKT1 transporter) and Na+ compartmentation in vacuoles (V‐H+ATPase and V‐H+PPase with NHX antiporter), as well as two proteins potentially involved in alleviating water deficit during salt stress (aquaporins and dehydrins), were evaluated. Of the 51 transformations, with gene(s) involved in Na+ ‘exclusion’ or Na+ vacuolar compartmentation that contained quantitative data on growth and include a non‐saline control, 48 showed improvements in salt tolerance (less impact on plant mass) of transgenic plants, but with only two tested in field conditions. Of these 51 transformations, 26 involved crop species. Tissue ion concentrations were altered, but not always in the same way. Although glasshouse data are promising, field studies are required to assess crop salinity tolerance.
Association between scanning frequency of flash glucose monitoring and continuous glucose monitoring‐derived glycemic makers in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes
Authors: Suzuki Junichi , Urakami Tatsuhiko , Yoshida Kei , Kuwabara Remi , Mine Yusuke , Aoki Masako , Morioka Ichiro
Published: August 2020

Background

We assessed the association between scanning frequency of flash glucose monitoring (FGM) and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM)‐derived glycemic markers in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

Methods

Subjects consisted of 85 children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes using FGM. We assessed the association between scanning frequencies of FGM‐ and CGM‐derived metrics: Time in range (TIR) (70‐180 mg/dL), time below range (TBR) (<70 mg/dL), time above range (>180 mg/dL), and other glycemic markers – laboratory‐measured HbA1c and CGM‐estimated glucose and HbA1c (eA1c) levels in the subjects.

Results

The mean number of scans was 11.5 ± 3.5 (5–20) times per day, and scanning was most frequently conducted during a period of 18–24 h. Scanning frequency showed significant positive correlation with TIR (r = 0.719, P < 0.0001) and inverse correlation with time above range (r = −0.743, P < 0.0001), but did not correlate with TBR. There were also significant inverse correlations between scanning frequency and glucose, HbA1c, and eA1c levels (r = −0.765, −0.815, and −0.793, respectively, P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Frequent glucose testing with FGM decreased hyperglycemia with increased TIR, but did not reduce TBR. Coping with a rapid fall of glucose and unexpected hypoglycemia with more advanced technology might contribute to a reduction in TBR.
Unravelling the role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in mitigating the oxidative burst of plants under drought stress
Authors: Zou Y.‐N. , Wu Q.‐S. , Kuča K.
Published: August 2020

With continued climate changes, soil drought stress has become the main limiting factor for crop growth in arid and semi‐arid regions. A typical characteristic of drought stress is the burst of reactive oxygen species (ROS), causing oxidative damage. Plant‐associated microbes, such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), can regulate physiological and molecular responses to tolerate drought stress, and they have a strong ability to cope with drought‐induced oxidative damage via enhanced antioxidant defence systems. AMF produce a limited oxidative burst in the arbuscule‐containing root cortical cells. Similar to plants, AMF modulate a fungal network in enzymatic (e.g. GmarCuZnSOD and GintSOD1) and non‐enzymatic (e.g. GintMT1, GinPDX1 and GintGRX1) antioxidant defence systems to scavenge ROS. Plants also respond to mycorrhization to enhance stress tolerance via metabolites and the induction of genes. The present review provides an overview of the network of plant − arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus dialogue in mitigating oxidative stress. Future studies should involve identifying genes and transcription factors from both AMF and host plants in response to drought stress, and utilize transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics to clarify a clear dialogue mechanism between plants and AMF in mitigating oxidative burst.
Ascorbic acid ameliorates dysregulated folliculogenesis induced by mono‐(2‐ethylhexyl)phthalate in neonatal mouse ovaries via reducing ovarian oxidative stress
Authors: Liu Chang , Shui Shike , Yao Yangcheng , Sui Cong , Zhang Hanwang
Published: August 2020

Phthalates, including di‐(2‐ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), are common industrial chemicals in the environment. Recent evidence indicates that DEHP and its active metabolite mono‐(2‐ethylhexyl)phthalate (MEHP) negatively modulate reproductive functions and induce reactive oxygen species. Ascorbic acid (AA) is a dietary requirement for primates, and it acts as a potent free radical scavenger to protect tissues against oxidative stress. In this study, to investigate the toxic effects of MEHP on the follicle development and the beneficial role of AA, neonatal mouse ovaries were treated with different concentrations of MEHP with or without AA for 6 days. Then, the follicle constitution and oxidative status were compared in different groups. Results showed MEHP accelerated primordial follicle recruitment by increasing the percentage of primary and secondary follicles and decreasing the percentage of primordial follicles in the ovaries. Moreover, MEHP‐induced ovarian oxidative stress by significantly increasing malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration and the expression of GSS and SOD1. When ovaries were co‐administrated with MEHP and AA, follicle constitution was normalized, and the oxidative status was significantly decreased. These results suggested that AA ameliorated MEHP‐induced ovarian oxidative stress and follicular dysregulation, which attested the clinical significance of AA for ovary protection in the case of MEHP exposure.
Social class transitions: Three guiding questions for moving the study of class to a dynamic perspective
Authors: Phillips L. Taylor , Martin Sean R. , Belmi Peter
Published: August 2020

We argue that social psychological theories of social class should move toward a more dynamic view that considers class change experiences to supplement more static perspectives focused on backgrounds or current positions. Indeed, social class is a unique demographic form of hierarchy because of its dynamism: social class is relatively malleable compared to race and gender; it can change multiple times in one's lifespan; and unlike age, it is something individuals can strive to change and that they often believe is possible to change. We review work from a variety of fields, including sociology, psychology, and organizational behavior, that begins to tackle the question of social class change experiences. Drawing on theories of social class transitions, acculturation, and identity change, we present an organizing framework suggesting three objective, structural features of social class change that should inform individuals' experience of changing class: What direction am I going (resource expectations)? How did I get here (predictability)? Where should I be (social comparisons)? We review emerging work as well as gaps in existing theory and suggest avenues for future research.
Governing new authoritarianism: Populism, nationalism and radical welfare reforms in Hungary and Poland
Authors: Lendvai‐Bainton Noemi , Szelewa Dorota
Published: August 2020

Drawing on contemporary academic literature on the rise of authoritarian neoliberalism (Bruff,Rethinking Marxism: A Journal of Economics, Culture & Society, 2014,26, 113–129; Bruff,The handbook of neoliberalism, 2016, 107–117; Giroux, 2015), the uneven geographies of neoliberalism (Peck, 2010), and authoritarian progress (Bloom, 2015; Brown,Authoritarianism: Three Inquiries in Critical Theory, 2018, 7–44), we aim to trace the rise of new authoritarianism in Hungary and Poland. We argue that the fast‐tracking of radical neoliberal economic policies in conjuncture with the building of an “illiberal democracy” with strong populism and nationalism brings about new ways of negotiating the economic, the political and the social in a post‐2008 landscape. This contemporary insurgence, we would argue, has significant impact on both the welfare state as an institutional structure for social sharing, as well as on the forms and practises of social citizenship. We aim to theorise “authoritarian neoliberalism” as a distinctive regime and draw comparative lessons from Hungary and Poland.
Association between HIV stigma and antiretroviral therapy adherence among adults living with HIV: baseline findings from the HPTN 071 (PopART) trial in Zambia and South Africa
Authors: Jones Harriet S. , Floyd Sian , Stangl Anne , Bond Virginia , Hoddinott Graeme , Pliakas Triantafyllos , Bwalya Justin , Mandla Nomtha , Moore Ayana , Donnell Deborah , Bock Peter , Fidler Sarah , Hayes Richard , Ayles Helen , Hargreaves James R. ,   the HPTN 071 (PopART) Study Team
Published: August 2020

Objectives

Adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) leads to viral suppression for people living with HIV (PLHIV) and is critical for both individual health and reducing onward HIV transmission. HIV stigma is a risk factor that can undermine adherence. We explored the association between HIV stigma and self‐reported ART adherence among PLHIV in 21 communities in the HPTN 071 (PopART) trial in Zambia and the Western Cape of South Africa.

Methods

We conducted a cross‐sectional analysis of baseline data collected between 2013 and 2015, before the roll‐out of trial interventions. Questionnaires were conducted, and consenting participants provided a blood sample for HIV testing. Poor adherence was defined as self‐report of not currently taking ART, missing pills over the previous 7 days or stopping treatment in the previous 12 months. Stigma was categorised into three domains: community, health setting and internalised stigma. Multivariable logistic regression was used for analysis.

Results

Among 2020 PLHIV self‐reporting ever taking ART, 1888 (93%) were included in multivariable analysis. Poor ART adherence was reported by 15.8% (n = 320) of participants, and 25.7% (n = 519) reported experiencing community stigma, 21.5% (n = 434) internalised stigma, and 5.7% (n = 152) health setting stigma. PLHIV who self‐reported previous experiences of community and internalised stigma more commonly reported poor ART adherence than those who did not (aOR 1.63, 95% CI 1.21 −2.19, P = 0.001 and aOR 1.31, 95% CI 0.96–1.79, P = 0.09).

Conclusions

HIV stigma was associated with poor ART adherence. Roll‐out of universal treatment will see an increasingly high proportion of PLHIV initiated on ART. Addressing HIV stigma could make an important contribution to supporting lifelong ART adherence.
The Arabidopsis transcription factor LBD15 mediates ABA signaling and tolerance of water‐deficit stress by regulating ABI4 expression
Authors: Guo Zhaolai , Xu Huini , Lei Qidong , Du Jiancan , Li Cheng , Wang Chongde , Yang Yunqiang , Yang Yongping , Sun Xudong
Published: August 2020

To survive, sessile plants must adapt to grow and develop when facing water‐deficit stress. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying fine‐tuning of the antagonistic action between stress response and growth remain to be determined. Here, plants overexpressing Lateral Organ Boundaries Domain 15 (LBD15) showed abscisic acid (ABA) hypersensitivity and tolerance of water‐deficit stress, whereas the loss‐of‐function mutant lbd15 presented decreased sensitivity to ABA and increased sensitivity to water‐deficit stress. Further analysis revealed that LBD15 directly binds to the promoter of the ABA signaling pathway gene ABSCISIC ACID INSENSITIVE4 (ABI4) to activate its expression, thereby forming an LBD15–ABI4 cascade to optimally regulate ABA signaling‐mediated plant growth and tolerance of water‐deficit stress. In addition, drought stress‐induced ABA signaling promoted LBD15 expression, which directly activates expression of ABI4 to close stomata. As a result, water loss is reduced, and then water‐deficit stress tolerance is increased. The results of this study reveal a molecular mechanism by which LBD15 coordinates and balances plant growth and resistance to water‐deficit stress.
Working day and night: plastid casein kinase 2 catalyses phosphorylation of proteins with diverse functions in light‐ and dark‐adapted plastids
Authors: Rödiger Anja , Galonska Johann , Bergner Elena , Agne Birgit , Helm Stefan , Alseekh Saleh , Fernie Alisdair R. , Thieme Domenika , Hoehenwarter Wolfgang , Hause Gerd , Pfannschmidt Thomas , Baginsky Sacha
Published: August 2020

Casein kinase 2 is a ubiquitous protein kinase that has puzzled researchers for several decades because of its pleiotropic activity. Here, we set out to identify the in vivo targets of plastid casein kinase 2 (pCK2) in Arabidopsis thaliana. Survey phosphoproteome analyses were combined with targeted analyses with wild‐type and pck2 knockdown mutants to identify potential pCK2 targets by their decreased phosphorylation state in the mutant. To validate potential substrates, we complemented the pck2 knockdown line with tandem affinity tag (TAP)‐tagged pCK2 and found it to restore growth parameters, as well as many, but not all, putative pCK2‐dependent phosphorylation events. We further performed a targeted analysis at the end‐of‐night to increase the specificity of target protein identification. This analysis confirmed light‐independent phosphorylation of several pCK2 target proteins. Based on the aforementioned data, we define a set of in vivo pCK2‐targets that span different chloroplast functions, such as metabolism, transcription, translation and photosynthesis. The pleiotropy of pCK2 functions is also manifested by altered state transition kinetics during short‐term acclimation and significant alterations in the mutant metabolism, supporting its function in photosynthetic regulation. Thus, our data expand our understanding on chloroplast phosphorylation networks and provide insights into kinase networks in the regulation of chloroplast functions.
Assessing Nursing Students’ Perceptions of the QSEN Competencies: A Systematic Review of the Literature With Implications for Academic Programs
Authors: Cengiz Adem , Yoder Linda H.
Published: August 2020

Background

Nurses are in key positions in the healthcare system to provide, monitor, and manage the care delivered to their patients. In 2005, the Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) initiative was launched to redefine quality and safety competencies for pre‐licensure nursing education. It is imperative that nurses are graduating with the full spectrum of the QSEN competencies to practice in today’s healthcare environments.

Aims

The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the research about student nurses’ perceptions of their abilities to perform the six QSEN competencies and to determine the effect of integrating the QSEN content in their courses, clinical placements, or simulation experiences.

Method

A systematic review of the literature was conducted to retrieve published studies from CINAHL, PubMed, Web of Science, and ERIC using the search terms of Quality and Safety Education for Nurses, QSEN, QSEN competencies, nursing student, and student nurse. The studies that were included in this review were assessed by both authors independently using standardized critical appraisal tools.

Results

Seven studies met the inclusion criteria: four descriptive, one quasi‐experimental, and two mixed‐methods designs. Overall, pre‐licensure nursing students perceived patient‐centered care as the most discussed and quality improvement as the competency least reviewed in their curricula. Students reported to be most prepared to perform patient‐centered care skills and least prepared to perform quality improvement skills.

Linking Evidence to Action

Revisiting the integration of the quality improvement competency into nursing curricula can increase nursing students’ understanding of this QSEN competency. More research with sufficiently powered sample sizes, valid and reliable tools measuring outcomes of interventional studies, and attention to quality and rigor is needed to assess graduating students’ understanding of the QSEN competencies.
Quasiordered, subwavelength TiO2 hole arrays with tunable, omnidirectional color response
Authors: Shapturenka Pavel , Birkholz Fabian , Zakaria Nicholas Isaac , DenBaars Steven P. , Gordon Michael J.
Published: August 2020

Fabrication, optical characterization, and simulation of subwavelength TiO2 hole arrays exhibiting geometry-tunable, omnidirectional color response across the visible spectrum is described. Partially suspended TiO2 grating “membranes” (hole arrays supported by a high void-fraction, low-index underlayer) with quasiperiodic hexagonal order were created on an Si substrate using colloidal lithography, metal mask, plasma-based pattern transfer, and XeF2 etching. Optical measurements under specular and diffuse reflection conditions, along with finite-difference time-domain simulations, indicated that the omnidirectional color response of the hole arrays emerges from a broad distribution of Fano resonance states formed by coupling between guided and internal Fabry–Pérot (FP) cavity modes of the TiO2 layer. Higher-order FP resonances from the external cavity formed between the TiO2 layer and substrate control the apparent color when devices are viewed in direct light. The simulated modal behavior of arrays was found to be very sensitive to the degree of Si removal from the underlayer, in agreement with experimental observations. The fabrication methodology presented herein is substrate-agnostic and can be employed to fabricate suspended, subwavelength hole arrays in many material systems, with potential application to optical filters and reflectors, photocatalytic electrodes, photovoltaics, and sensors.
It is too loud!
Authors: Yost William A.
Published: August 2020

The Reflections series takes a look back on historical articles from The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America that have had a significant impact on the science and practice of acoustics.
Extracellular Vesicles Produced by Bifidobacterium longum Export Mucin-Binding Proteins
Authors: Nishiyama Keita , Takaki Takashi , Sugiyama Makoto , Fukuda Itsuko , Aiso Maho , Mukai Takao , Odamaki Toshitaka , Xiao Jin-zhong , Osawa Ro , Okada Nobuhiko
Published: August 2020

Bifidobacterium
is a natural inhabitant of the human gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Morphological observations revealed that extracellular appendages of bifidobacteria in complex microbial communities are important for understanding its adaptations to the GI tract environment. We identified dynamic extracellular vesicle (EV) production by
Bifidobacterium longum
in bacterium-free fecal fermentation broth that was strongly suggestive of differing bifidobacterial extracellular appendages in the GI tract. In addition, export of the adhesive moonlighting proteins mediated by EVs may promote bifidobacterial colonization. This study provides new insight into the roles of EVs in bifidobacterial colonization processes as these bacteria adapt to the GI environment.
Bacterial Evolution in High-Osmolarity Environments
Authors: Cesar Spencer , Anjur-Dietrich Maya , Yu Brian , Li Ethan , Rojas Enrique , Neff Norma , Cooper Tim F. , Huang Kerwyn Casey
Published: August 2020

For bacteria, maintaining higher internal solute concentrations than those present in the environment allows cells to take up water. As a result, survival is challenging in high-osmolarity environments. To investigate how bacteria adapt to high-osmolarity environments, we maintained
Escherichia coli
in a variety of high-osmolarity solutions for hundreds of generations. We found that the evolved populations adopted different strategies to improve their growth rates depending on the osmotic passaging condition, either generally adapting to high-osmolarity conditions or better metabolizing the osmolyte as a carbon source. Single-cell imaging demonstrated that enhanced fitness was coupled to faster growth, and metagenomic sequencing revealed mutations that reflected growth trade-offs across osmolarities. Our study demonstrated the utility of long-term evolution experiments for probing adaptation occurring during environmental stress.
Mechanism and Function of Antiviral RNA Interference in Mice
Authors: Han Qingxia , Chen Gang , Wang Jinyan , Jee David , Li Wan-Xiang , Lai Eric C. , Ding Shou-Wei
Published: August 2020

Innate immune sensing of viral nucleic acids in mammals triggers potent antiviral responses regulated by interferons known to antagonize the induction of RNA interference (RNAi) by synthetic long double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). Here, we show that Nodamura virus (NoV) infection in adult mice activates processing of the viral dsRNA replicative intermediates into small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) active to guide RNA slicing by Argonaute-2. Genetic studies demonstrate that NoV RNA replication in mouse embryonic fibroblasts is inhibited by the RNAi pathway and enhanced by the B2 viral RNAi suppressor only in RNAi-competent cells. When B2 is rendered nonexpressing or nonfunctional, the resulting mutant viruses become nonpathogenic and are cleared in adult mice either intact or defective in the signaling by type I, II, and III interferons. Our findings suggest that mouse antiviral RNAi is active and necessary for the
in vivo
defense against viral infection in both the presence and absence of the interferon response.
Bactopia: a Flexible Pipeline for Complete Analysis of Bacterial Genomes
Authors: Petit Robert A. , Read Timothy D.
Published: August 2020

It is now relatively easy to obtain a high-quality draft genome sequence of a bacterium, but bioinformatic analysis requires organization and optimization of multiple open source software tools. We present Bactopia, a pipeline for bacterial genome analysis, as an option for processing bacterial genome data. Bactopia also automates downloading of data from multiple public sources and species-specific customization. Because the pipeline is written in the Nextflow language, analyses can be scaled from individual genomes on a local computer to thousands of genomes using cloud resources. As a usage example, we processed 1,664
Lactobacillus
genomes from public sources and used comparative analysis workflows (Bactopia Tools) to identify and analyze members of the
L. crispatus
species.
Escherichia coli Has a Unique Transcriptional Program in Long-Term Stationary Phase Allowing Identification of Genes Important for Survival
Authors: Kram Karin E. , Henderson Autumn L. , Finkel Steven E.
Published: August 2020

Experimental evolution studies have elucidated evolutionary processes, but usually in chemically well-defined and/or constant environments. Using complex environments is important to begin to understand how evolution may occur in natural environments, such as soils or within a host. However, characterizing the stresses that cells experience in these complex environments can be challenging. One way to approach this is by determining how cells biochemically acclimate to heterogenous environments. In this study, we began to characterize physiological changes by analyzing the transcriptome of cells in a dynamic complex environment. By characterizing the transcriptional profile of cells in long-term stationary phase, a heterogenous and stressful environment, we can begin to understand how cells physiologically and biochemically react to the laboratory environment, and how this compares to more-natural conditions.
Supplemental Material: Anatomy of a crustal-scale accretionary complex: Insights from deep seismic sounding of the onshore western Makran subduction zone, Iran
Authors: Haberland Christian , al. et
Published: August 2020

Description and illustrations of the seismic data set, methods, and resolution estimates.
Urinary metals and incident diabetes in midlife women: Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN)
Authors: Wang Xin , Karvonen-Gutierrez Carrie A , Herman William H , Mukherjee Bhramar , Harlow Siobán D , Park Sung Kyun
Published: August 2020

Introduction

Environmental exposure to metals may play a role in the pathogenesis of diabetes; however, evidence from human studies is limited. We prospectively evaluated the associations of 20 urinary metal concentrations and their mixtures with incident diabetes in the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation, a multisite, multiethnic cohort study of midlife women.

Research design and methods

The sample included 1237 white, black, Chinese and Japanese-American women, aged 45–56 years, free of diabetes at baseline (1999–2000) who were followed through 2016. Concentrations of 20 metals (arsenic, barium, beryllium, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, cesium, copper, mercury, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, lead, antimony, tin, thallium, uranium, vanadium, tungsten and zinc) were measured in urine specimens at baseline. Incident diabetes was identified annually by fasting glucose ≥126 mg/dL, self-reported doctor-diagnosed diabetes, or self-reported use of antidiabetic medications. A non-parametric clustering method, k-means clustering, was used to identify subgroups with different exposure patterns to metal mixtures.

Results

After multivariable adjustment, the HR (95% CI) for diabetes associated with each doubling increase in urinary metal concentrations was 1.19 (1.10 to 1.30) for arsenic and 1.20 (1.05 to 1.37) for lead, in Cox proportional hazards models after controlling for multiple comparisons. A doubling in urinary excretion of zinc was associated with higher risk of diabetes (adjusted HR 1.31, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.53). Two distinct exposure patterns to metal mixtures—‘high’ versus ‘low’—were identified. Participants assigned to the ‘high’ pattern had higher overall concentrations of all metals compared with those classified into the ‘low’ pattern. Adjusted HR for diabetes associated with ‘high’ pattern compared with ‘low’ was 1.42 (1.08 to 1.87).

Conclusions

Higher urinary concentrations of arsenic and lead, increased urinary excretion of zinc, as well as higher overall exposure to metal mixtures were associated with elevated risk of diabetes. Future studies should further investigate the underlying mechanisms.
Opinions of vascular surgeons and podiatrists in Australia and New Zealand on the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for lower limb ulcers
Authors: Drovandi Aaron , Fernando Malindu E , Singh Tejas P , Woolley Torres , Golledge Jonathan
Published: August 2020

Introduction

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been suggested to improve healing of lower limb ulcers, though the quality of available evidence is weak to moderate. This study assessed the opinions and use of HBOT by specialists treating lower limb ulcers.

Research design and methods

Accredited vascular surgeons and podiatrists in Australia and New Zealand were sent an online survey via their professional organizations. The survey asked about their use and opinions of HBOT in treating lower limb ischemic, neuropathic and venous ulcers. Data were summarized with descriptive statistics. Non-parametric tests were used to compare survey results obtained from vascular surgeons and podiatrists.

Results

61 vascular surgeons and 40 podiatrists completed the survey. Thirty-seven specialists used HBOT for treating lower limb ulcers, with the remainder indicating they did not feel there was a role for HBOT (n=25) or did not have access to HBOT (n=39). Less than 8% of specialists indicated that HBOT frequently or always had a role in treating ischemic, neuropathic or venous ulcers. Compared with podiatrists, vascular surgeons were significantly less likely to indicate HBOT had a treatment role for any ulcer type (p<0.001, p=0.004, and p<0.001, respectively), though significantly more likely to indicate they currently used HBOT for treating lower limb ulcers (p<0.001). Most specialists (n=76) believed that a large clinical trial is needed to determine the efficacy of HBOT in treating lower limb ulcers.

Conclusions

Vascular surgeons and podiatrists do not feel HBOT has a frequent role in treating lower limb ulcers, but do feel there needs to be a large clinical trial to test its value.
Immunotherapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: a focus on special subgroups
Authors: Pinter Matthias , Scheiner Bernhard , Peck-Radosavljevic Markus
Published: August 2020

Following the success of immune checkpoint blockers (ICBs) in different cancer types, a large number of studies are currently investigating ICBs in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), alone or in combination with other treatments. Both nivolumab and pembrolizumab, as well as the combination of nivolumab plus ipilimumab have been granted accelerated approval by the United States Food and Drug Administration for sorafenib-pretreated patients. While nivolumab and pembrolizumab both failed to meet their primary endpoints in phase III trials, the combination of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab eventually improved overall and progression-free survival compared with sorafenib in a front-line phase III trial, and thus, will become the new standard of care in this setting. Despite this breakthrough, there are patient populations with certain underlying conditions that may not be ideal candidates for this new treatment either due to safety concerns or potential lack of efficacy. In this review, we discuss the safety of ICBs in patients with pre-existing autoimmune disease, IBD or a history of solid organ transplantation. Moreover, we summarise emerging preclinical and clinical data suggesting that ICBs may be less efficacious in patients with underlying non-alcoholic steatohepatitis or HCCs with activated Wnt/β-catenin signalling.
B-type natriuretic peptide and cardiac remodelling after myocardial infarction: a randomised trial
Authors: Hubers Scott A , Schirger John A , Sangaralingham S Jeson , Chen Yang , Burnett Jr John C , Hodge David , Chen Horng H
Published: August 2020

Objective

B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) has favourable effects on left ventricular remodelling, including antifibrotic and antiapoptotic properties. We tested the hypothesis that infusion of BNP after an acute myocardial infarction would reduce left ventricular systolic and diastolic volumes and improve left ventricular ejection fraction compared with placebo.

Methods

A total of 58 patients who underwent successful revascularisation for an acute ST elevation anterior myocardial infarction were randomised to receive 72-hour infusion of BNP at 0.006 µg/kg/min or placebo. Left ventricular end diastolic and systolic volumes and left ventricular ejection fraction were measured at baseline and at 30 days by multigated acquisition scan. Left ventricular infarction size was measured by cardiac MRI.

Results

BNP infusion led to significantly higher BNP levels and plasma cyclic guanosine monophosphate at 72 hours. No significant difference in change of left ventricular volumes or ejection fraction from baseline to 30 days was observed between groups. Although left ventricular infarction size measured by cardiac MRI was not significantly different between BNP infusion versus placebo (p=0.39), there was a trend towards reduced infarction size in patients with a baseline ejection fraction of <40% (p=0.14).

Conclusions

Infusion of BNP in patients with an anterior myocardial infarction did not affect parameters of left ventricular remodelling. Patients treated with BNP who had a baseline left ventricular ejection fraction of <40% had a trend towards reduced left ventricular infarction size compared with placebo. These results do not support the use of intravenous BNP in patients after recent myocardial infarction.

Trial registration number

NCT00573144.
Challenges faced by patients, relatives and clinicians in end-stage dementia decision-making: a qualitative study of swallowing problems
Authors: Dimech Joseph , Agius Emmanuel , Hughes Julian C , Bartolo Paul
Published: August 2020

Background

Decision-making in end-stage dementia (ESD) is a complex process involving medical, social, legal and ethical issues. In ESD, the person suffers from severe cognitive problems leading to a loss of capacity to decide matters regarding health and end-of-life issues. The decisional responsibility is usually passed to clinicians and relatives who can face significant difficulty in making moral decisions, particularly in the presence of life-threatening swallowing problems.

Aim

This study aimed to understand the decision-making processes of clinical teams and relatives in addressing life-threatening swallowing difficulties in ESD in long-term care in Malta.

Method

The study followed a qualitative approach where six case studies, involving six different teams and relatives of six different patients, were interviewed retrospectively to understand their decision-making in connection with the management of swallowing difficulties in ESD. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with each stakeholder. All data were transcribed and subjected to thematic analysis.

Results

Four themes were identified: the vulnerability of patients in dementia decision-making; the difficult role of relatives in decision-making; the decisional conflict between aggressive care through tube feeding versus oral comfort feeding; a consensus-building decision-making process as ideal to facilitate agreement and respect for patient’s dignity.

Conclusion

Decision-making to manage swallowing difficulties in ESD is a challenging process, which involves an interpretation of personal values, beliefs, patient preferences, care needs and clinical practice. Better communication between clinicians and relatives in dementia helps promote agreement between stakeholders leading to a care plan that respects the dignity of patients at their end of life.
Ecological consequences of Great Lakes salmon subsidies for stream-resident brook and brown trout
Authors: Hermann Nathan T. , Chaloner Dominic T. , Gerig Brandon S. , Lamberti Gary A.
Published: August 2020

Introduced Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) deliver novel, pulsed resource subsidies to Great Lakes streams. We explored interactions between native brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) and non-native brown trout (Salmo trutta) in the context of this resource pulse. Diets surveyed before and during salmon spawning showed that, regardless of species, trout consumed 4.5-fold more biomass during than before salmon runs. Brook trout grew more quickly than brown trout under controlled feeding regimes due, in part, to their higher food conversion efficiency of 36% compared with 21%. Bioenergetics model simulations explored the influence of temperature on the exploitation of resource pulses and found 35% lower growth rates and increased gorging at colder temperatures. Overall, we found evidence that brook trout and brown trout foraging and growth are modulated by the salmon resource pulse, especially through gorging on eggs. However, these species exhibit distinct physiological adaptations and environmental preferences that may influence their ultimate capacity to exploit resource pulses. The effects of environmental conditions and salmon subsidies on stream-resident trout have broader consequences for fisheries management and conservation efforts.
Crystals of superconducting Baryonic tubes in the low energy limit of QCD at finite density
Authors: Canfora Fabrizio , Lagos Marcela , Vera Aldo
Published: August 2020

The low energy limit of QCD admits (crystals of) superconducting Baryonic tubes at finite density. We begin with the Maxwell-gauged Skyrme model in (3 + 1)-dimensions (which is the low energy limit of QCD in the leading order of the largeNexpansion). We construct an ansatz able to reduce the seven coupled field equations in a sector of high Baryonic charge to just one linear Schrödinger-like equation with an effective potential (which can be computed explicitly) periodic in the two spatial directions orthogonal to the axis of the tubes. The solutions represent ordered arrays of Baryonic superconducting tubes as (most of) the Baryonic charge and total energy is concentrated in the tube-shaped regions. They carry a persistent current (which vanishes outside the tubes) even in the limit of vanishing U(1) gauge field: such a current cannot be deformed continuously to zero as it is tied to the topological charge. Then, we discuss the subleading corrections in the ’t Hooft expansion to the Skyrme model (called usually$$ {\mathcal {L}}_{6}$$L6,$${\mathcal {L}}_{8}$$L8and so on). Remarkably, the very same ansatz allows to construct analytically these crystals of superconducting Baryonic tubes at any order in the ’t Hooft expansion. Thus, no matter how many subleading terms are included, these ordered arrays of gauged solitons are described by the same ansatz and keep their main properties manifesting a universal character. On the other hand, the subleading terms can affect the stability properties of the configurations setting lower bounds on the allowed Baryon density.
Newhouse Laminations of polynomials on ℂ2
Authors: Martens Marco , Palmisano Liviana , Tao Zhuang
Published: August 2020

It has been recently discovered that in smooth unfoldings of maps with a rank-one homoclinic tangency there are codimension two laminations of maps with infinitely many sinks. Indeed, these laminations, called Newhouse laminations, occur also in the holomorphic context. In the space of polynomials of [Formula: see text], with bounded degree, there are Newhouse laminations.
Instability of the abstract Rayleigh–Taylor problem and applications
Authors: Jiang Fei , Jiang Song , Zhan Weicheng
Published: August 2020

Based on a bootstrap instability method, we prove the existence of unstable strong solutions in the sense of [Formula: see text]-norm to an abstract Rayleigh–Taylor (RT) problem arising from stratified viscous fluids in Lagrangian coordinates. In the proof we develop a method to modify the initial data of the linearized abstract RT problem by exploiting the existence theory of a unique solution to the stratified (steady) Stokes problem and an iterative technique, such that the obtained modified initial data satisfy the necessary compatibility conditions on boundary of the original (nonlinear) abstract RT problem. Applying an inverse transform of Lagrangian coordinates to the obtained unstable solutions and taking then proper values of the parameters, we can further obtain unstable solutions of the RT problem in viscoelastic, magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) flows with zero resistivity and pure viscous flows (with/without interface intension) in Eulerian coordinates.
Computation Method for Forced Vibration Response of a Multiple DOF Parametric System
Authors: Huang Dishan , Shao Hexi
Published: August 2020

In this paper, a mathematical approach is presented for the forced vibration analysis of a multiple DOF system that is governed by ordinary differential equations with both time-periodic stiffness and external force that have different periods. Based on an equivalent dynamic system, a closed-form solution, i.e. a special trigonometric series, is presented for the forced vibration response of the system. Computation is realized by applying the harmonic balance operation, and the parametric vibration equation is converted into a set of infinite-order linear algebraic equations. Based on the physical property of the forced vibration response, all the coefficient vectors of the forced response are solved by the use of inverse matrix. The present approach can be used to predict the forced vibration response and its spectrum with better computation performance. It can help reveal some nonlinear phenomena in the parametric system. Therefore, it proves to be a useful tool for future research and engineering applications of parametric systems.
Static Thresholded Pulse Coupled Neural Networks in Contourlet Domain — A New Framework for Medical Image Denoising
Authors: Nisha S. Shajun , Raja S. P. , Kasthuri A.
Published: August 2020

Image denoising, a significant research area in the field of medical image processing, makes an effort to recover the original image from its noise corrupted image. The Pulse Coupled Neural Networks (PCNN) works well against denoising a noisy image. Generally, image denoising techniques are directly applied on the pixels. From the literature review, it is reported that denoising after frequency domain transformation is performing better since noise removal is applied over the coefficients. Motivated by this, in this paper, a new technique called the Static Thresholded Pulse Coupled Neural Network (ST-PCNN) is proposed by combining PCNN with traditional filtering or threshold shrinkage technique in Contourlet Transform domain. Four different existing PCNN architectures, such as Neuromime Structure, Intersecting Cortical Model, Unit-Linking Model and Multichannel Model are considered for comparative analysis. The filters such as Wiener, Median, Average, Gaussian and threshold shrinkage techniques such as Sure Shrink, HeurShrink, Neigh Shrink, BayesShrink are used. For noise removal, a mixture of Speckle and Gaussian noise is considered for a CT skull image. A mixture of Rician and Gaussian noise is considered for MRI brain image. A mixture of Speckle and Salt and Pepper noise is considered for a Mammogram image. The Performance Metrics such as Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR), Structural Similarity Index (SSIM), Image Quality Index (IQI), Universal Image Quality Index (UQI), Image Enhancement Filter (IEF), Structural Content (SC), Correlation Coefficient (CC), and Weighted Signal-to-Noise Ratio (WSNR) and Visual Signal-to-Noise Ratio (VSNR) are used to evaluate the performance of denoising.
MONOPHASIC REACTION WITH A PACKED BED MICROREACTOR: CHARACTERIZATION OF MASS TRANSFER AND REACTION
Authors: CHEN YAO , CHEN XUEYE
Published: August 2020

In this paper, the monophasic catalytic reaction in the microreactor is studied. Several factors that may affect the catalytic reaction are discussed, including the pressure drop, the size of catalyst particles, and the channel structure. Finally, some important conclusions can be reached. The change of pressure drop has an effect on the reaction. For example, the C3H6 conversion rate is 62.88% when the pressure drop is 8[Formula: see text]atm, and the C3H6 conversion rate is 61.78% when the pressure drop is 11[Formula: see text]atm. The effect of the change particle radius is not obvious on the reaction. Enhancing the mixing of substances before entering the reaction domain is helpful to the catalytic reaction. There are different substances concentration in catalyst particles at different positions in microreactors. But from the surface to the inside of catalyst particles, the substances concentration has a clear change rule.
Estimation of C∗-Integral for Central Cracked Plate Under Biaxial Loading
Authors: Dai Yanwei , Qin Fei , Liu Yinghua , Feng Weizhe , Qian Guian
Published: August 2020

The reference stress method (RSM) is a classical method to estimate [Formula: see text]-integral of creep crack. An extended reference stress method (ERSM) is given for the central cracked plate (CCP) under biaxial loading in this paper. The applicability and verification for the proposed ERSM is given. The study finds that the solutions with the proposed ERSM agree better than those of RSM under biaxial loading condition. A theoretical form to predict the relationship of [Formula: see text]-integral between biaxial loading and uniaxial loading is discussed. Relation between [Formula: see text]-integral and creep time under biaxial loading is validated and discussed.