bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effluent free infrared radiation assisted dry‐peeling of ginger rhizome: A feasibility and quality attributes
Authors: Kate Adinath Eknath , Sutar Parag Prakash
Published: January 2020

Infrared radiation (IR)‐assisted peeling is one of the effulent free, environtment friendly emerging technique for tender fruit and vegetables. In this study standerdization and optimization of the infrared assisted dry‐peeling method was carried out for ginger rhizome. During the investigation, the effects of selected independent parameters like infrared temperature (300–400 °C), heater to product surface spacing (10–30 mm), and treatment time (120–300 s) were studied on the peeling feasibility and quality as dependent variables. The experimental conditions were designed through CCRD statistical method. Multiple response optimization was done through RSM. The optimum conditions of selected independent variables were 300 °C IR temperature, 21 mm heater to product spacing, and 120 seconds treatment time resulted in the 90.40% of peeling efficiency, 35 °C of rhizome surface temperature, 8.67% of color change, 0.56% volatile oil loss, and 11.53 kg of firmness. The comparison of optimized infrared assisted peeling was carried out with conventional abrasion and lye peeling methods based on their quality attributes. IR assisted dry‐peeling results in minimum quality losses, higher peeling efficiency and feasible over conventional peeling methods of ginger rhizome. There was zero effluent generated during infrared assisted peeling of ginger rhizome.

Practical Application

Peeling is one of the foremost mandatory unit operation for processing of all fruits, vegetables, and rhizomes like ginger. Presently, lye peeling is most widely used peeling method in industries followed by mechanical peeling. Both of these methods have serious issues like huge effluent generation (BOD) and water consumption which leads to the concern about environmental issues. Infrared dry peeling is the most prominent alternative for industries having the potential to deals with environmental issues. IR peeling method can be easily designed and scaled‐up as per the specific requirment of industries. Therefore, understanding its feasibility for peeling of a most difficult commodity like ginger and understanding its insight into the quality of peeled product is need of the hour.
Artificial Organs 2019: A year in review
Authors: Malchesky Paul S.
Published: January 2020

In this Editor’s Review, articles published in 2019 are organized by category and summarized. These provide a brief reflection of the research and progress in artificial organs intended to advance and better human life while providing insight for continued application of these technologies and methods. Artificial Organs continues in the original mission of its founders “to foster communications in the field of artificial organs on an international level.” Artificial Organs continues to publish developments and clinical applications of artificial organ technologies in this broad and expanding field of organ Replacement, Recovery, and Regeneration from all over the world. Peer‐reviewed Special Issues this year included contributions from the 14th International Conference on Pediatric Mechanical Circulatory Support Systems and Pediatric Cardiopulmonary Perfusion edited by Dr Akif Undar, and the 26th Congress of the International Society for Mechanical Circulatory Support edited by Dr Minoru Ono and Dr Francesco Moscato. Additionally, important editorials highlighted the need for sustainability in hemodialysis, challenges and opportunities in mechanical circulatory support, progress in artificial pancreas development, historical perspectives on ventilators and dialysis, tissue engineering for cardiac support, and regional updates from India and China. Our Pioneer Series continues to highlight the many researchers who created this field of study. This year we debuted a new series entitled “Recent Progress in Artificial Organs” prepared by Vakhtang Tchantchaleishvili and Elizabeth Maynes of Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA. This series highlights recent advances and new developments in the field. We take this time also to express our gratitude to our authors for contributing their work to this journal. We offer our very special thanks to our reviewers who give so generously of their time and expertise to review, critique, and especially provide meaningful suggestions to the author’s work. Without our dedicated expert reviewers, the quality expected from such a journal would not be possible. We also express our special thanks to our Publisher, John Wiley & Sons, for their expert attention and support in the production Artificial Organs. We look forward to reporting further advances in the coming years.
Midwife‐to‐newborn ratio and neonatal outcome in healthy term infants
Authors: Dani Carlo , Papini Sofia , Iannuzzi Laura , Pratesi Simone
Published: January 2020

Aim

To assess the effect of midwife‐to‐infant ratio on healthy term infant outcome.

Methods

Infants were enrolled in an inhospital midwife‐led centre and an obstetrician‐led centre with different midwife‐to‐infant ratios (1:2.5‐1:5 vs 1:7‐1:15). The primary endpoint was exclusive breastfeeding rate; secondary endpoints were neonatal admission in neonatal care unit rate and length of hospital stay.

Results

One hundred and ten infants were enrolled in both midwife‐ and obstetrician‐led centre. Exclusive breastfeeding rate at discharge was higher (88% vs 78%, P = .048) in infants born in the midwife‐ than in the obstetrician‐led centre. Admission rate in neonatal care units (9% vs 2%, P = .017) and stay in hospital duration (3.1 ± 1.8 vs 2.6 ± 0.8 days, P = .008) were higher in the obstetrician‐ than in the midwife‐led centre. Birth in the midwife‐led centre increased the likelihood of exclusive breastfeeding (OR: 2.04, 1.07‐3.92), while newborns’ admission in neonatal care units decreased it (OR : 0.17, 0.07‐0.43).

Conclusion

Healthy term infants’ neonatal outcome is negatively associated with a low midwife‐to‐infant ratio which decreases exclusive breastfeeding rate and is associated with a higher likelihood of admission in neonatal care units and longer stay in hospital.
Organic residue analysis of Iron Age ceramics from the archaeological site of Kani‐zirin, western Iran
Authors: Qanbari‐Taheri N. , Karimy A.‐H. , Holakooei P. , Kobarfard F.
Published: January 2020

Organic residue analysis of potshards excavated from the Iron Age archaeological site of Kani‐zirin, western Iran, was achieved with acidified methanol extraction and gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS). The GC‐MS data showed plant and animal commodities incorporated in the shards. Also, the investigations confirmed the presence of plant resin together with a tartrate ion within a group of the shards, suggesting a probable use of grape‐related products. Evidence of resins from the Pinaceae family, as an exotic species in Iran, was evinced in several of the shards.
The economic value of days open in Holstein cows in Japan based on simulated changes in conception rate
Authors: Sasaki Osamu , Takeda Hisato , Nishiura Akiko
Published: January 2020

Increasing herd‐life length and culling parity with increasing conception rate (CR) is necessary to increase lifetime profit from dairy cow production. Economic values of days open (DO) were determined by calculating changes in fertility traits, herd‐life length, and milk yield when the simulated CR were changed in increments of 1% from −5% to 5% from the basal levels, which were obtained for Hokkaido and regions other than Hokkaido separately. When CR increased, number of artificial inseminations, DO, and milking length decreased. Furthermore, culling parity, and annual milk yield increased. Herd‐life length increased in Hokkaido and decreased in the other regions. The economic values of CR were 1,623.8 to 946.8 yen and of DO were 857.4 to 399.0 yen. Relative economic values of milk yield to days open per genetic standard deviation were higher in the other regions than in Hokkaido where the economic effect of selection for DO was expected to be equal to selection for 305‐day milk yield and herd life. If the survival rate of multipara cows in the other regions increases, then the economic value of DO would similarly increase in Hokkaido.
Workforce Composition and Individual Wages — An Employer–Employee Data Analysis
Authors: Niebuhr Annekatrin , Peters Jan Cornelius
Published: January 2020

The study analyses the impact of workforce composition and employee isolation — based on age, gender and citizenship — on entry wages of new employment relationships in German firms using employer–employee data. We allow for heterogeneous effects across distinct groups of workers and include worker and firm fixed effects to account for selection effects and unobserved heterogeneity. The results point to a negative impact of gender and age diversity for males and females, natives and foreigners and workers across the skill spectrum. Only for high‐skilled workers, the negative effect of gender diversity is not statistically significant. Females receive, in addition, relatively low entry wages in establishments with a rather old workforce. With regard to the relative position, mainly gender isolation tends to exert an important influence on entry wages. The effect is positive only for females. In contrast, we estimate significant negative wage effects for males, natives, medium‐ and high‐skilled workers. An international background of a firm's workforce and cultural isolation do not appear to generally affect entry wages.
Systemic therapy and the use of complementary and alternative medicine in patients with recognized occupational hand eczema in Denmark: A cross‐sectional questionnaire‐based study
Authors: Barati Sedeh Farnam , Ebbehøj Niels E. , Agner Tove , Carøe Tanja K.
Published: January 2020

Background

Concerns have been raised that a chronic course of hand eczema (HE) could be fostered by a lack of efficient treatment at an early stage.

Objectives

First, to assess the prevalence of systemic treatment in patients with chronic occupational HE (OHE) and relate this to demographic data, HE severity, and atopic dermatitis (AD). Second, to explore the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in the same population.

Methods

Baseline data were obtained from a registry‐based study including patients with recognized OHE in a 2‐year period in Denmark, comprising a total of 2703 workers. A follow‐up questionnaire after 4 to 5 years included questions on disease severity and treatments.

Results

A total of 1565 participants responded to the questionnaire, and of these 1203 had ongoing HE at follow‐up and were included in the study. In total, 10.0% had received systemic therapy, whereas this share was 13.3% in those with self‐reported moderate‐to‐severe HE. Age >35 years, previous or current AD, and severe eczema were factors related to use of systemic treatment. Use of CAM was reported by 6.2% of the study population.

Conclusions

We suggest that chronicity of HE may be perpetuated by the lack of efficient treatment.
Outcome of status asthmaticus at a pediatric intensive care unit in Hong Kong
Authors: Cheng Wing Tak , Hon Kam Lun , Chan Renee W. Y. , Chan Lawrence C. N. , Wong William , Cheung Hon Ming , Qian Su Yun
Published: January 2020

Objectives

To characterize the clinical course and outcome of children with status asthmaticus (SA) admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU)

Methods

All patients with SA who were admitted to a PICU from January 2003 to December 2018 were reviewed. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) studies on nasopharyngeal aspirate for respiratory pathogens were performed from 2014 to 2018.

Results

Sixty‐seven SA admissions constituted 2.4% of total PICU admissions (n = 2788). Fifteen (22.4%) children required noninvasive ventilation (NIV), while 7 children (10%) required invasive mechanical ventilation. Nonadherence to prior asthma therapy was common. PCR was positive for enterorvirus/rhinovirus in 84% (16 out of 19) and for any virus in 95% of nasopharyngeal aspirate (NPA) samples of patients between 2014 and 2018. Over the 16‐year period, increased utilization of ipratropium bromide, magnesium sulfate and NIV was noted (P < .05). Patients who required invasive mechanical ventilation had significantly higher heart rate, lower pH and longer PICU length of stay (LOS) when compared to nonintubated children (P < .05). There was no mortality, gender difference, or seasonal characteristics in these SA admissions. Median LOS in PICU was 2 days (interquartile range 1‐3 days).

Conclusions

SA accounts for a small proportion of PICU admissions. LOS was short and prognosis generally good. Nonadherence to prior asthma therapy was common. The most common trigger is enterovirus/rhinovirus for children with severe asthma requiring PICU admission. A trend of increase in usage of ipratropium, magnesium sulfate and NIV was observed. Primary prevention and early treatment of exacerbation are the most important step in managing children with asthma. Regular follow‐up to ensure compliance together with annual vaccination could possibly avoid PICU admissions.
Clinical characteristic of esophageal cancer without lugol‐voiding lesions in the background esophagus
Authors: Kuwabara Hiroki , Chiba Hideyuki , Tachikawa Jun , Okada Naoya , Ashikari Keiichi , Arimoto Jun , Nakaoka Michiko , Sakai Eiji , Goto Toru , Ohata Ken
Published: January 2020

Lugol chromoendoscopy is useful for the detection of early esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC). Multiple lugol‐voiding lesions (LVLs) on lugol chromoendoscopy are associated with a very high risk of multiple cancers arising in the esophagus. Due to the widespread use of narrow band image technology in many institutions, esophageal cancer without LVLs in the background esophagus is sometimes detected. This retrospective study aims to clarify the clinical characteristic of esophageal cancer without LVLs in the background esophagus. A total of 191 consecutive patients with 204 ESCCs had undergone endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) from 2011 and 2014. Amongst these lesions, the number of LVLs in the background esophagus per endoscopic view was counted excluding main lesion, and the grading was divided into no LVLs ESCC (nL‐ESCC) group and LVLs ESCC (L‐ESCC) group. This study evaluated the clinical characteristics and the cumulative incidence of metachronous ESCC after ESD in both groups. Thirty‐six patients with 36 lesions and 155 patients with 168 lesions were separated into the nL‐ESCC group and L‐ESCC group, respectively. On multivariate analysis, the nL‐ESCC group was found to be more common in females, who were non‐drinkers, or with erosive esophagitis. During follow‐up periods, the cumulative incidence of metachronous ESCC at 3‐years was 14.4% and 0.00% in the L‐ESCC and nL‐ESCC groups, respectively (P < 0.01). Our study showed that esophageal cancer without LVLs in the background esophagus was mostly occurred in females, who were non‐drinkers, or with erosive esophagitis, which are uncommon features of ESCC.
Young‐onset type 2 diabetes and younger current age: increased susceptibility to retinopathy in contrast to other complications
Authors: Middleton T. L. , Constantino M. I. , Molyneaux L. , D'Souza M. , Twigg S. M. , Wu T. , Yue D. K. , Zoungas S. , Wong J.
Published: January 2020

Background

Type 2 diabetes diagnosed during youth and early adulthood is aggressive and associated with a high burden of vascular complications. The increase in complications is often attributed to long disease duration and poor metabolic control. Whether people with young‐onset type 2 diabetes are inherently more susceptible to long‐term complications than those diagnosed in later adulthood is unclear.

Methods

Prospective data from 3322 individuals, diagnosed between the age of 15 and 70 years and collected 10–25 years after diabetes diagnosis, were analysed. The cross‐sectional associations between age at diagnosis and microvascular and macrovascular complications were analysed using logistic regression models, adjusted for duration of diabetes exposure and metabolic risk factors including blood pressure, cholesterol and updated mean HbA1c.

Results

The prevalence of retinopathy was highest in those with young‐onset type 2 diabetes (diagnosed at age 15 to <40 years). After 10–15 years' diabetes duration, the adjusted odds ratio for retinopathy in this population was 2.8 (95% CI 1.9–4.1; reference group those diagnosed at 60 to <70 years of age). The odds of retinopathy remained higher in people with young‐onset type 2 diabetes after longer durations of diabetes exposure; the odds decreased with increasing age at diagnosis. This pattern was not observed in models of other complications: after 10–15 years' diabetes exposure, the adjusted odds ratios for albuminuria, peripheral neuropathy and macrovascular disease in people with young‐onset type 2 diabetes were 0.5 (95% CI 0.4–0.8), 0.7 (95% CI 0.5–1.1) and 0.2 (95% CI 0.1–0.3), respectively.

Conclusion

After accounting for disease duration and other important confounders, people with type 2 diabetes diagnosed in youth and early adulthood (or with a younger current age) appeared to be inherently more susceptible to retinopathy. For other complications, adjusted risk appears highest in the oldest age of diagnosis group. These data have screening and treatment target implications.
Multimodality imaging of an asymptomatic giant right atrial appendage aneurysm
Authors: Uzun Fatih , Güner Ahmet , Kahraman Serkan , Kalkan Ali Kemal , Güner Ezgi Gültekin , Ertürk Mehmet
Published: January 2020

Right atrial appendage (RAA) aneurysm is a rare congenital cardiac abnormality thought to be caused by dysplasia of the muscular wall of the RA and RAA. Structural, contractile, or electrical atrial changes are associated with the onset and progression of atrial fibrillation. The RAA aneurysm can have various symptoms, such as thromboembolic complications. Diagnosis of RAA aneurysm greatly depends on imaging modalities, among which echocardiography is the most widely used one. Echocardiography is very effective in discovering the aneurysm, distinguishing it from other abnormalities such as pericardial cysts, Ebstein's anomaly and cor triatriatum, and detecting intracardiac thrombosis or blood flow limitations. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography are important complementary examinations. They may provide more details on the neighboring structures of the aneurysm, especially when echocardiographic images are suboptimal.
Silent No Longer
Authors: Cruchley Peter
Published: January 2020

This article, arising from the work of the Council for World Mission's Legacies of Slavery project, investigates the historical roots of racism present in the work of the London Missionary Society (LMS). It offers an analysis of the ways in which a missionary society colluded with Empire in constructing a racist hierarchy that it imposed on White people at home in the United Kingdom as much as it did on African and African descendant peoples. It acknowledges the personal and structural benefits that the LMS and its officers made from enslavement and their efforts to silence calls for emancipation, and offers a class and gender perspective on the forces shaping this distinctively British organization.
Climate and human water use diminish wetland networks supporting continental waterbird migration
Authors: Donnelly J. Patrick , King Sammy L. , Silverman Nicholas L. , Collins Daniel P. , Carrera‐Gonzalez Eduardo M. , Lafón‐Terrazas Alberto , Moore Johnnie N.
Published: January 2020

Migrating waterbirds moving between upper and lower latitudinal breeding and wintering grounds rely on a limited network of endorheic lakes and wetlands when crossing arid continental interiors. Recent drying of global endorheic water stores raises concerns over deteriorating migratory pathways, yet few studies have considered these effects at the scale of continental flyways. Here, we investigate the resiliency of waterbird migration networks across western North America by reconstructing long‐term patterns (1984–2018) of terminal lake and wetland surface water area in 26 endorheic watersheds. Findings were partitioned regionally by snowmelt‐ and monsoon‐driven hydrologies and combined with climate and human water‐use data to determine their importance in predicting surface water trends. Nonlinear patterns of lake and wetland drying were apparent along latitudinal flyway gradients. Pervasive surface water declines were prevalent in northern snowmelt watersheds (lakes −27%, wetlands −47%) while largely stable in monsoonal watersheds to the south (lakes −13%, wetlands +8%). Monsoonal watersheds represented a smaller proportion of total lake and wetland area, but their distribution and frequency of change within highly arid regions of the continental flyway increased their value to migratory waterbirds. Irrigated agriculture and increasing evaporative demands were the most important drivers of surface water declines. Underlying agricultural and wetland relationships however were more complex. Approximately 7% of irrigated lands linked to flood irrigation and water storage practices supported 61% of all wetland inundation in snowmelt watersheds. In monsoonal watersheds, small earthen dams, meant to capture surface runoff for livestock watering, were a major component of wetland resources (67%) that supported networks of isolated wetlands surrounding endorheic lakes. Ecological trends and human impacts identified herein underscore the importance of assessing flyway‐scale change as our model depictions likely reflect new and emerging bottlenecks to continental migration.
Assessing the response of forest productivity to climate extremes in Switzerland using model–data fusion
Authors: Trotsiuk Volodymyr , Hartig Florian , Cailleret Maxime , Babst Flurin , Forrester David I. , Baltensweiler Andri , Buchmann Nina , Bugmann Harald , Gessler Arthur , Gharun Mana , Minunno Francesco , Rigling Andreas , Rohner Brigitte , Stillhard Jonas , Thürig Esther , Waldner Peter , Ferretti Marco , Eugster Werner , Schaub Marcus
Published: January 2020

The response of forest productivity to climate extremes strongly depends on ambient environmental and site conditions. To better understand these relationships at a regional scale, we used nearly 800 observation years from 271 permanent long‐term forest monitoring plots across Switzerland, obtained between 1980 and 2017. We assimilated these data into the 3‐PG forest ecosystem model using Bayesian inference, reducing the bias of model predictions from 14% to 5% for forest stem carbon stocks and from 45% to 9% for stem carbon stock changes. We then estimated the productivity of forests dominated by Picea abies and Fagus sylvatica for the period of 1960–2018, and tested for productivity shifts in response to climate along elevational gradient and in extreme years. Simulated net primary productivity (NPP) decreased with elevation (2.86 ± 0.006 Mg C ha−1 year−1 km−1 for P. abies and 0.93 ± 0.010 Mg C ha−1 year−1 km−1 for F. sylvatica). During warm–dry extremes, simulated NPP for both species increased at higher and decreased at lower elevations, with reductions in NPP of more than 25% for up to 21% of the potential species distribution range in Switzerland. Reduced plant water availability had a stronger effect on NPP than temperature during warm‐dry extremes. Importantly, cold–dry extremes had negative impacts on regional forest NPP comparable to warm–dry extremes. Overall, our calibrated model suggests that the response of forest productivity to climate extremes is more complex than simple shift toward higher elevation. Such robust estimates of NPP are key for increasing our understanding of forests ecosystems carbon dynamics under climate extremes.
Microscopic size measurements in post‐neoadjuvant therapy resections of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) predict patient outcomes
Authors: Zhang M. Lisa , Kem Marina , Rodrigues Clifton , Sandini Marta , Ciprani Debora , Hank Thomas , Kunitoki Keiko , Qadan Motaz , Ferrone Cristina , Lillemoe Keith , Fernández‐del Castillo Carlos , Mino‐Kenudson Mari
Published: January 2020

Aims

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs) are increasingly being treated with neoadjuvant therapy. However, the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 8th edition T staging based on tumour size does not reflect treatment effect, which often results in multiple, small foci of residual tumour in a background of mass‐forming fibrosis. Thus, we evaluated the performance of AJCC 8th edition T staging in predicting patient outcomes by the use of a microscopic tumour size measurement method.

Methods and results

One hundred and six post‐neoadjuvant therapy pancreatectomies were reviewed, and all individual tumour foci were measured. T stages based on gross size with microscopic adjustment (GS) and the largest single microscopic focus size (MFS) were examined in association with clinicopathological variables and patient outcomes. Sixty‐three of 106 (59%) were locally advanced; 78% received FOLFIRINOX treatment. The average GS and MFS were 25 mm and 11 mm, respectively; nine cases each were classified as T0, 35 and 85 cases as T1, 42 and 12 cases as T2, and 20 and 0 cases as T3, based on the GS and the MFS, respectively. Higher GS‐based and MFS‐based T stages were significantly associated with higher tumour regression grade, lymphovascular and perineural invasion, and higher N stage. Furthermore, higher MFS‐based T stage was significantly associated with shorter disease‐free survival (DFS) (P < 0.001) and shorter overall survival (OS) (P = 0.002). GS was significantly associated with OS (P = 0.046), but not with DFS.

Conclusions

In post‐neoadjuvant therapy PDAC resections, MFS‐based T staging is superior to GS‐based T staging for predicting patient outcomes, suggesting that microscopic measurements have clinical utility beyond the conventional use of GS measurements alone.
Time Well Spent: Misery, Meaning, and the Opportunity of Incarceration
Authors: WRIGHT KEVIN A.
Published: January 2020

People often leave prison worse than when they arrived; sometimes, they leave the same. People could leave prison better than when they arrived through a reimagined response to crime. They could be set up to live sustainable, fulfilling, and meaningful lives after prison. This approach could be informed by research on what makes for a meaningful life – regardless of whether a person has come into contact with the criminal justice system. A reimagined corrections could view time spent in prison as an opportunity rather than solely as a punishment; an opportunity to repair harm, empower people, and promote public safety.
Spark plasma sintering of ultrafine WC‐10Ni‐ZrC hardmetals: Effects of adding ZrC nano‐powder
Authors: Lv Changchun , Ren Xiaoyong , Wang Chengbiao , Peng Zhijian
Published: January 2020

Novel WC‐Ni hardmetals with divergent adding amounts (0‐9 wt%) of ZrC nano‐powder were fabricated by spark plasma sintering the samples at 1350°C under a pressure of 50 MPa. Through systematic characterizations by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) as well as physical properties measurements, the effects of adding ZrC nano‐powder on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the samples were explored. In the sintered samples with ZrC nano‐powder, ZrO2 instead of ZrC could be monitored by XRD in the detection limit. SEM observation revealed that the addition of ZrC nano‐powder could suppress the grain growth of WC to a certain degree. As the adding amount of ZrC nano‐powder increased, the relative density of the specimens initially rose and subsequently declined, attaining a maximum of 98.6% for the specimen with 3 wt% ZrC nano‐powder. With the enhancement of the adding amount of ZrC nano‐powder, the Vickers hardness of the acquired specimens initially increased and then decreased, reaching a maximum of about 1800 HV10 for the one with 3 wt% ZrC nano‐powder. As the adding amount of ZrC nano‐powder increased, the measured flexural strength gradually decreased from approximately 1500 to 1100 MPa.
Effect of processing method on vitamin profile, antioxidant properties and total phenolic content of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) sugar syrup
Authors: Asghar Muhammad Tuseef , Yusof Yus Aniza , Noriznan Mohd , Yaacob Mohammad Effendy , Mohd Ghazali Hasanah , Chang Lee Sin , Manaf Yanty Noorzianna
Published: January 2020

Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) sugar is a more nutritious alternative sugar source as compared to sugar palm (Borassus flabellifer) and sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.). This work was aimed to investigate the browning index (BI), vitamin profile and antioxidant properties of coconut sap sugar syrups, which were produced by different processing methods: rotary evaporation (RE), microwave evaporation (ME) and open‐heat evaporation (OHE). The results obtained showed that coconut sugar syrup produced by RE‐60 contained high antioxidant activities [DPPH (36.71%) and ABTS (34.84%), TPC (299.87 mg per 100 g sample) and FRAP (3.74 mm)]. These values were slightly lower than those of ME and OHE. Coconut sugar syrup (RE‐60) also contained higher amounts of vitamin C (1587.27 mg L−1), vitamin B1 (97.44 mg L−1) and vitamin B3 (19.84 mg L−1) compared with those of ME and OHE coconut sugar syrups. RE‐60 was the best method to produce coconut sugar syrup in a shorter time with lower browning index and higher vitamin contents.
Comparison of single‐ and multiple‐dose cefazolin as prophylaxis for transurethral enucleation of prostate: A multicenter, prospective, randomized controlled trial by the Japanese Research Group for Urinary Tract Infection
Authors: Togo Yoshikazu , Fukui Koji , Ueda Yasuo , Kanamaru Sojun , Shimizu Yosuke , Wada Koichiro , Sadahira Takuya , Yamada Yusuke , Matsumoto Masahiro , Hamasuna Ryoichi , Ishikawa Kiyohito , Takai Manabu , Maekawa Yuka , Yasuda Mitsuru , Kokura Koji , Kondoh Nobuyuki , Takiuchi Hidekazu , Yamamoto Shingo
Published: January 2020

Objectives

To compare the optimal administration period of antimicrobial prophylaxis in patients undergoing transurethral enucleation of the prostate for benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Methods

We carried out a randomized controlled trial to compare the differences in incidence of perioperative genitourinary tract infection between single and multiple (3 days) administrations of cefazolin for transurethral enucleation of the prostate in benign prostatic hyperplasia patients without pyuria or bacteriuria between January 2015 and December 2018.

Results

This multicenter randomized controlled trial included 203 patients who underwent a transurethral enucleation of the prostate procedure. All received antimicrobial prophylaxis, and were randomized into those who received single‐dose (n = 101) or multiple‐dose (n = 102) therapy. The rate of genitourinary tract infection after transurethral enucleation of the prostate for all patients was 1.5%, whereas that in the single‐dose group was 1.0% and in the multiple‐dose group was 2.0%, which were not significantly different (P = 1.00).

Conclusions

A single dose of antimicrobial prophylaxis as a prophylactic antibacterial drug is sufficient for patients undergoing transurethral enucleation of the prostate who do not have presurgical pyuria or bacteriuria.
Interspecific variation in deterioration and degradability of avian feathers: the evolutionary role of microorganisms
Authors: Azcárate‐García Manuel , González‐Braojos Sonia , Díaz‐Lora Silvia , Ruiz‐Rodríguez Magdalena , Martín‐Vivaldi Manuel , Martínez‐Bueno Manuel , Moreno Juan , Soler Juan José
Published: January 2020

Feathers are essential for avian life, and factors affecting their integrity are important to understand their evolution. These factors should depend on, among other traits, species‐specific bacterial environments and life‐history characteristics. However, interspecific variation in feather deterioration, feather susceptibility to degradation by keratinolytic bacteria (degradability), and bacterial environment, have rarely been quantified. Here, we did so by measuring deterioration and degradability of wing feathers of fledglings in 16 bird species, and characterizing the bacterial environment where they developed. We found statistically significant interspecific variation for all considered variables. On average, non‐melanised were more deteriorated than melanised feathers, but differences depended on the species. Moreover, nest bacterial loads were related to feather wear, but the sign of the association depended on the bacterial group considered and on feather pigmentation. We also found a positive association of feather degradability with wear of non‐melanised feathers, and with bacterial loads. These results suggest that bacterial environments determine the integrity of fledgling feathers as well as their resistance to bacterial degradation, which implies a preponderant role of bacteria in driving the evolution of avian feathers.
The global distribution of grass functional traits within grassy biomes
Authors: Jardine Emma C. , Thomas Gavin H. , Forrestel Elisabeth J. , Lehmann Caroline E. R. , Osborne Colin P.
Published: January 2020

Aim

The sorting of functional traits along environmental gradients is an important driver of community and landscape scale patterns of functional diversity. However, the significance of environmental factors in driving functional gradients within biomes and across continents remains poorly understood. Here, we evaluate the relationship of soil nutrients and climate to leaf traits in grasses (Poaceae) that are hypothesized to reflect different strategies of resource use along gradients of resource availability.

Location

Global.

Taxon

Poaceae.

Methods

We made direct measurements on herbarium specimens to compile a global dataset of functional traits and realized environmental niche for 279 grass species that are common in grassland and savanna biomes. We examined the strength and direction of correlations between pairwise trait combinations and measured the distribution of traits in relation to gradients of soil properties and climate, while accounting for phylogenetic relatedness.

Results

Leaf trait variation among species follows two orthogonal axes. One axis represents leaf size and plant height, and we showed positive scaling relationships between these size‐related traits. The other axis corresponds to economic traits associated with resource acquisition and allocation, including leaf tensile strength (LTS), specific leaf area (SLA) and leaf nitrogen content (LNC). Global‐scale variation in LNC was primarily correlated with soil nutrients, while LTS, SLA and size‐related traits showed weak relationships to environment. However, most of the trait variation occurred within different vegetation types, independent of large‐scale environmental gradients.

Main conclusions

Our work provides evidence among grasses for relationships at the global scale between leaf economic traits and soil fertility, and for an influence of aridity on traits related to plant size. However, large unexplained variance and strong phylogenetic signal in the model residuals imply that at this scale the evolution of functional traits is driven by factors beyond contemporary environmental or climatic conditions.
Ectomycorrhizal fungal diversity predicted to substantially decline due to climate changes in North American Pinaceae forests
Authors: Steidinger Brian S. , Bhatnagar Jennifer M. , Vilgalys Rytas , Taylor John W. , Qin Clara , Zhu Kai , Bruns Thomas D. , Peay Kabir G.
Published: January 2020

Aim

Ectomycorrhizal fungi (ECMF) are partners in a globally distributed tree symbiosis implicated in most major ecosystem functions. However, resilience of ECMF to future climates is uncertain. We forecast these changes over the extent of North American Pinaceae forests.

Location

About 68 sites from North American Pinaceae forests ranging from Florida to Ontario in the east and southern California to Alaska in the west.

Taxon

Ectomycorrhizal fungi (Asco‐ and Basidiomycetes).

Methods

We characterized ECMF communities at each site using molecular methods and modelled climatic drivers of diversity and community composition with general additive, generalized dissimilarity models and Threshold Indicator Taxa ANalysis (TITAN). Next, we projected our models across the extent of North American Pinaceae forests and forecast ECMF responses to climate changes in these forests over the next 50 years.

Results

We predict median declines in ECMF species richness as high as 26% in Pinaceae forests throughout a climate zone comprising more than 3.5 million square kilometres of North America (an area twice that of Alaska state). Mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions can reduce these declines, but not prevent them. The existence of multiple diversity optima along climate gradients suggest regionally divergent trajectories for North American ECMF, which is corroborated by corresponding ECMF community thresholds identified in TITAN models. Warming of forests along the boreal–temperate ecotone results in projected ECMF species loss and declines in the relative abundance of long‐distance foraging ECMF species, whereas warming of eastern temperate forests has the opposite effect.

Main Conclusions

Our results reveal potentially unavoidable ECMF species‐losses over the next 50 years, which is likely to have profound (if yet unclear) effects on ECMF‐associated biogeochemical cycles.
Effects of the multi‐kinase inhibitor midostaurin in combination with chemotherapy in models of acute myeloid leukaemia
Authors: Weisberg Ellen , Meng Chengcheng , Case Abigail E. , Tiv Hong L. , Gokhale Prafulla C. , Buhrlage Sara J. , Yang Jing , Liu Xiaoxi , Wang Jinhua , Gray Nathanael , Adamia Sophia , Sattler Martin , Stone Richard , Griffin James D.
Published: January 2020

Recently, several targeted agents have been developed for specific subsets of patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), including midostaurin, the first FDA‐approved FLT3 inhibitor for newly diagnosed patients with FLT3 mutations. However, in the initial Phase I/II clinical trials, some patients without FLT3 mutations had transient responses to midostaurin, suggesting that this multi‐targeted kinase inhibitor might benefit AML patients more broadly. Here, we demonstrate submicromolar efficacy of midostaurin in vitro and efficacy in vivo against wild‐type (wt) FLT3‐expressing AML cell lines and primary cells, and we compare its effectiveness with that of other FLT3 inhibitors currently in clinical trials. Midostaurin was found to synergize with standard chemotherapeutic drugs and some targeted agents against AML cells without mutations in FLT3. The mechanism may involve, in part, the unique kinase profile of midostaurin that includes proteins implicated in AML transformation, such as SYK or KIT, or inhibition of ERK pathway or proviability signalling. Our findings support further investigation of midostaurin as a chemosensitizing agent in AML patients without FLT3 mutations.
Photoadaptation to ultraviolet B TL01 in psoriatic patients
Authors: Pacifico A. , Damiani G. , Iacovelli P. , Conic R.R.Z. , Scarabello A. , Filoni A. , Malagoli P. , Bragazzi N.L. , Pigatto P.D.M. , Morrone A.
Published: January 2020

Background

In the biologic era, narrow‐band ultraviolet B (NB‐UVB) phototherapy still remains a valuable, effective, inexpensive, safe anti‐psoriatic treatment. Patients can lose response to NB‐UVB over time due to photoadaptation. This phenomenon is the tendency of the skin to respond to ultraviolet (UV) exposure by undergoing changes that may result in a decreased future response to an equivalent dose of radiation, thus leading to the need for an increased exposure during phototherapy course.

Aim

To characterize and quantify the determinants of photoadaptation in NB‐UVB treated psoriatic patients.

Methods

We enrolled 57 adult patients with moderate plaque psoriasis. Patients underwent 24 sessions of NB‐UVB phototherapy delivered thrice a week. Dosing was started with 70% of the minimal erythema dose (MED) with percentage‐based dose increments every two treatments. MED as well as change in the erythema and melanin index (MI) were measured at baseline and at the end of phototherapy course. Moreover, an adaptation factor (AF) was calculated for each patient.

Results

Adaptation factor was not influenced by both baseline MED and skin type. We found a weak correlation between higher cumulative dosages and the initial MED (Spearman's rho = 0.32, P = 0.0154) as well as with the mean initial MI (Spearman's rho = 0.25, P = 0.0624, statistically borderline). Clearance and mean number of treatments were correlated (Spearman's rho = 0.48, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Photoadaptation is a physiological skin response that negatively influences NB‐UVB responsiveness and is not predictable by the baseline MED and skin type. Thus, starting with more aggressive protocols and increasing rapidly dosage progression to prevent AF may increase NB‐UVB response.
Inappropriate Antipsychotic Use: The Impact of Nursing Home Socioeconomic and Racial Composition
Authors: Fashaw Shekinah , Chisholm Latarsha , Mor Vincent , Meyers David J. , Liu Xinliang , Gammonley Denise , Thomas Kali
Published: January 2020

OBJECTIVES

Previous research suggests black nursing home (NH) residents are more likely to receive inappropriate antipsychotics. Our aim was to examine how NH characteristics, particularly the racial and socioeconomic composition of residents, are associated with the inappropriate use of antipsychotics.

DESIGN

This study used a longitudinal approach to examine national data from Long‐Term Care: Facts on Care in the US (LTCFocUS.org) between 2000 and 2015. We used a multivariate linear regression model with year and state fixed effects to estimate the prevalence of inappropriate antipsychotic use at the NH level.

SETTING

Free‐standing NHs in the United States.

PARTICIPANTS

The sample consisted of 12 964 NHs.

MEASUREMENTS

The outcome variable was inappropriate antipsychotic use at the facility level. The primary indicator variables were whether a facility had high proportions of black residents and the percentage of residents with Medicaid as their primary payer.

RESULTS

NHs with high and low proportions of blacks had similar rates of antipsychotic use in the unadjusted analyses. NHs with high proportions of black residents had significantly lower rates of inappropriate antipsychotic use (β = −2; P < .001) in the adjusted analyses. Facilities with high proportions of Medicaid‐reliant residents had higher proportions of inappropriate use (β = .04; P < .001).

CONCLUSION

Findings from this study indicate a decline in the use of antipsychotics. Although findings from this study indicated facilities with higher proportions of blacks had lower inappropriate antipsychotic use, facility‐level socioeconomic disparities continued to persist among NHs. Policy interventions that focus on reimbursement need to be considered to promote reductions in antipsychotic use, specifically among Medicaid‐reliant NHs. J Am Geriatr Soc 68:630–636, 2020
Aligning the 4Ms of Age‐Friendly Health Systems With Statin Use for Primary Prevention
Authors: Shah Raj C. , Supiano Mark A. , Greenland Philip
Published: January 2020

This editorial comments on the article by O'Neill et al. in this issue.
Critical Workforce Gaps in Dementia Education and Training
Authors: Weiss Joan , Tumosa Nina , Perweiler Elyse , Forciea Mary Ann , Miles Toni , Blackwell Ellen , Tebb Susan , Bailey Daniel , Trudeau Scott A. , Worstell Mary
Published: January 2020

The US Department of Health and Human Services and the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, through private sector support, sponsored the National Research Summit on Dementia Care: Building Evidence for Services and Supports (Summit) in 2017. Various workgroups were asked to address topics of interest in dementia care and develop recommendations addressing the goals of the Summit. Workforce education and training was identified to be a key issue. As a result, a Workforce Development Workgroup (the Workgroup) was created and addressed two of the Summitʼs goals. The first goal is to improve the quality of care and support provided to persons living with dementia and those who care for them. The second goal is to accelerate the development, evaluation, translation, implementation, and scaling‐up of evidence‐based and evidence‐informed services for persons living with dementia, their families, and caregivers. In this article, the Workgroup identified gaps in educating and training a dementia‐capable workforce. The Workgroup consisted of an interprofessional team with expertise in dementia workforce development from academia, professional organizations, and the federal government. Four recommendations are presented concerning research topics that will advance the education and training of a dementia‐capable workforce, which includes health professions students, faculty, practitioners, direct care workers, persons living with dementia, and those who care for them. J Am Geriatr Soc 68:625–629, 2020
A mink‐free GB: perspectives on eradicating American minkNeovison visonfrom Great Britain and its islands
Authors: Martin Anthony R. , Lea Vince J.
Published: January 2020

This paper examines the case for, and plausibility of, eradicating American minkNeovison visonfrom mainland Great Britain and its associated offshore islands. This invasive species causes extensive damage to native fauna throughout Europe, and the UK Government is obliged to eradicate it, if feasible, under the Bern Convention. Current mink control buys time, but is patchy and dependent on substantial funding in perpetuity. If enacted, eradication would be cheaper in the long term and much more effective in preserving native wildlife. The methodology of an eradication campaign is explored, together with risks, challenges, and a tentative timeline and cost. We judge that mink eradication is now logistically feasible, due to technological developments and experience gained from landscape‐scale control. Using live traps fitted with electronic sensors – ‘smart’ traps – as the primary means of catching mink would render the campaign efficient, humane and free of non‐target mortality and negative environmental impacts. The ecological benefits of mink eradication would be profound, including greatly improving prospects for water voleArvicola amphibiuspopulations. Reinvasion is highly unlikely. The greatest logistical challenge is probably removing mink from Scottish west coast islands. Eradication might take around a decade and be dependent on co‐ordination between many conservation, fishing, farming, and water‐related organisations, together with the consent of landowners. By adding alarms to existing mink traps, land and water managers can pave the way to eradication now. A mink‐free Great Britain would plausibly cost tens of millions of pounds, against which could be set the limitless future costs of mink control. Such a campaign would be by far the world's largest invasive predator eradication project by geographical area and would set a precedent for citizen‐led conservation action globally. Regional trials would be extremely valuable in determining the costs and practicality of a GB‐wide campaign.