bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Las Competencias en el uso de las Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación en el alumnado universitario
Authors: Ordóñez-Olmedo Eva , Vázquez-Cano Esteban , Arias-Sánchez Samuel , López-Meneses Eloy
Published: December 2020

En el presente estudio se analizan las competencias básicas digitales de 759 estudiantes universitarios de la Universidad Pablo de Olavide de siete cursos académicos (2012/13 a 2018/19). Los datos fueron recogidos mediante el cuestionario denominado “Competencias básicas digitales 2.0 de estudiantes universitarios” COBADI® (Marca registrada: 2970648). El análisis estadístico utilizando el SPSS describió cómo los estudiantes usan las tecnologías. Se analizaron género y diferencias de los cursos a través de un análisis múltiple de variación (MANOVA) como las variables independientes, y contestaciones a la encuesta como dependiente. Entre los resultados obtenidos se infieren que más de la mitad de los estudiantes encuestados dijeron que se conectaban más de 9 horas a la semana. A su vez, se constata un relevante y gradual cambio en los últimos años en cuanto al lugar de conexión a internet, desde el hogar como el principal lugar de conexión al teléfono móvil como medio más frecuente. Por último, como otro hallazgo significativo, es que en los hombres se refleja una disminución en el tiempo dedicado a realizar tareas académicas y un aumento en el tiempo dedicado a jugar
Care experiences of younger people and next of kin following myocardial infarction
Authors: Andersson Ewa Kazimiera , Skär Lisa , Hjelm Markus
Published: December 2020

Background/Aims

Coronary heart diseases, including myocardial infarction, remain a major health problem worldwide. Little is known about the cardiac care experiences post myocardial infarction of younger people and their next of kin. This study aimed to describe the cardiac care experiences of post-myocardial infarction younger people (<55 years old) and their next of kin.

Method

This study employed an exploratory inductive qualitative design involving individual interviews with younger people (n=17) and their next of kin (n=13).

Results

Three categories were identified and patients were deemed to be in need of: tailored information, recognition and a post-discharge rehabilitation plan

Conclusions

Findings demonstrated the importance of using the experiences of younger people and their next of kin as the starting point when planning care and cardiac rehabilitation. Health professionals must systematically and purposefully provide person-centred care, both in hospital and post-discharge settings. Next of kin must be regarded as an important resource in post-myocardial infarction care for younger people, as they tend to be engaged in providing their relatives with support, which is valuable for the recovery of young people post myocardial infarction. Further research is warranted to investigate what makes person-centred interventions directed towards post-myocardial infarction younger people and their next of kin effective.
Managing the pain of osteoarthritis
Authors: Greener Mark
Published: December 2020

As we age, osteoarthritis becomes almost inevitable. Pain is typically the most disabling symptom, and osteoarthritis may increase the risk of mortality. However, as Mark Greener reports, new insights into the biology of this common disease are leading to new medicines that could help patients avoid debilitating pain.
The prevalence, mortality, and associated risk factors for developing COVID-19 in hip fracture patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Clement Nicholas D. , Ng Nathan , Simpson Cameron J. , Patton Robyn F. L. , Hall Andrew James , Simpson A. Hamish. R. W. , Duckworth Andrew D.
Published: December 2020

Aims

The aims of this meta-analysis were to assess: 1) the prevalence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in hip fracture patients; 2) the associated mortality rate and risk associated with COVID-19; 3) the patient demographics associated with COVID-19; 4) time of diagnosis; and 5) length of follow-up after diagnosis of COVID-19.

Methods

Searches of PubMed, Medline, and Google Scholar were performed in October 2020 in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement. Search terms included “hip”, “fracture”, and “COVID-19”. The criteria for inclusion were published clinical articles reporting the mortality rate associated with COVID-19 in hip fracture patients. In total, 53 articles were identified and following full text screening 28 articles satisfied the inclusion criteria.

Results

A total of 28 studies reported the mortality of COVID-19-positive patients, of which 21 studies reported the prevalence of COVID-19-positive patients and compared the mortality rate to COVID-19-negative patients. The prevalence of COVID-19 was 13% (95% confidence interval (CI) 11% to 16%) and was associated with a crude mortality rate of 35% (95% CI 32% to 39%), which was a significantly increased risk compared to those patients without COVID-19 (odds ratio (OR) 7.11, 95% CI 5.04 to 10.04; p < 0.001). COVID-19-positive patients were more likely to be male (OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.16 to 1.96; p = 0.002). The duration of follow-up was reported in 20 (71.4%) studies. A total of 17 studies reported whether a patient presented with COVID-19 (n = 108 patients, 35.1%) or developed COVID-19 following admission (n = 200, 64.9%), of which six studies reported a mean time to diagnosis of post-admission COVID-19 at 15 days (2 to 25).

Conclusion

The prevalence of COVID-19 was 13%, of which approximately one-third of patients were diagnosed on admission, and was associated with male sex. COVID-19-positive patients had a crude mortality rate of 35%, being seven times greater than those without COVID-19. Due to the heterogenicity of the reported data minimum reporting standards of outcomes associated with COVID-19 are suggested. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2020;9(12):873–883.
The Prospective Epidemiological Research Studies in IrAN (PERSIAN) Birth Cohort protocol: rationale, design and methodology
Authors: Zare Sakhvidi Mohammad Javad , Danaei Navid , Dadvand Payam , Mehrparvar Amir Houshang , Heidari-Beni Motahar , Nouripour Shamsollah , Nikukar Habib , Daniali Seyede Shahrbanoo , Saffarieh Elham , Noorishadkam Mahmood , Amin Mohammad Mehdi , Mirmohammadkhani Majid , Lotfi Mohammad Hassan , Vaez Ahmad , Mirmohammadi Seyyed Jalil , Zarean Elaheh , Mojibian Mahdieh , Hashemipour Mahin , Yaghini Omid , Rezai Mohammad Sadegh , Esmaeili Ali , Fahimzad Alireza , Hakimi Hamid , Navaeifar Mohammad Reza , Ebrahimi Hamid Ostad , Poustchi Hossein , Malekzadeh Reza , Kelishadi Roya
Published: December 2020

Background:

Birth cohorts are essential for developing evidence-based policies and advancing knowledge on different aspects of the concept of developmental origins of health and diseases (DOHaD). The Prospective Epidemiological Research Studies in IrAN (PERSIAN) is a multicentre cohort in Iran. It is one of the pioneers of DOHaD research in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. This profile provides a brief overview of this birth cohort, focusing on the objectives and design of the study. The main objective of this birth cohort is to evaluate the associations of socio-economic characteristics, lifestyle, diet, environmental exposures and epigenetic factors with outcomes of: pregnancy; mother and child mental and physical health and well-being; child neurodevelopment; and the establishment of chronic disease risk factors.

Methods:

The enrolment of PERSIAN Birth Cohort participants is currently ongoing in five Iranian cities (Isfahan, Yazd, Semnan, Sari and Rafsanjan). We plan to recruit 15,000 mother–offspring pairs, and to follow them for at least ten years. Data collection consists of three consecutive phases: (1) periconception until birth; (2) infancy (0–2 years); and (3) childhood (3–11 years). We are collecting data on both ‘determinants of health’ and ‘health outcomes’. In addition to questionnaires and physical examination, various biological samples, including blood, urine, hair, nail, cord blood and breastmilk are being collected. Growth and neurodevelopment of children will be monitored. Appropriate data analysis schemes will be employed to assess the role of early life factors in health and disease that would facilitate international comparisons.
Development of a laser heterodyne spectroradiometer for high-resolution measurements of CO2, CH4, H2O and O2 in the atmospheric column
Authors: Deng Hao , Yang Chenguang , Xu Zhenyu , Li Mingxing , Huang An , Yao Lu , Hu Mai , Chen Bing , He Yabai , Kan Ruifeng , Liu Jianguo
Published: December 2020

We have developed a portable near-infrared laser heterodyne radiometer (LHR) for quasi-simultaneous measurements of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), water vapor (H2O) and oxygen (O2) column absorption by using three distributed-feedback diode lasers as the local oscillators of the heterodyne detection. The developed system shows good performance in terms of its high spectral resolution of 0.066 cm−1 and a low solar power detection noise which was about 2 times the theoretical quantum limit. Its measurement precision of the column-averaged mole fraction for CO2 and CH4 is within 1.1%, based on the standard deviation from the mean value of the retrieved results for a clean sky. The column abundance information of the O2 is used to correct for the variations and uncertainties of atmosphere pressure, the solar altitude angle, and the prior profiles of pressure and temperature. Comparison measurements of daily column-averaged atmospheric mole fractions of CO2, CH4 and H2O, between our developed LHR and a greenhouse gas observing satellite, show a good agreement, which proves the reliability of our developed system.
Local field enhancement using a photonic-plasmonic nanostructure
Authors: Hsu Liyi , Baida Fadi I. , Ndao Abdoulaye
Published: December 2020

Over the last few years, optical nanoantennas are continuously attracting interest owing to their ability to efficiently confine, localize resonance, and significantly enhanced electromagnetic fields at a subwavelength scale. However, such strong confinement can be further enhanced by using an appropriate combination of optical nanoantennas and Slanted Bound states in the continuum cavities. Here, we propose to synergistically bridge the plasmonic nanoantennas and high optical quality-factor cavities to numerically demonstrate six orders of magnitude local intensity enhancement without critical coupling conditions. The proposed hybrid system paves a new way for applications requiring highly confined fields such as optical trapping, optical sensing, nonlinear optics, quantum optics, etc.
Design of novel granulopoietic proteins by topological rescaffolding
Authors: Hernandez Alvarez Birte , Skokowa Julia , Coles Murray , Mir Perihan , Nasri Masoud , Maksymenko Kateryna , Weidmann Laura , Rogers Katherine W. , Welte Karl , Lupas Andrei N. , Müller Patrick , ElGamacy Mohammad
Published: December 2020

Computational protein design is rapidly becoming more powerful, and improving the accuracy of computational methods would greatly streamline protein engineering by eliminating the need for empirical optimization in the laboratory. In this work, we set out to design novel granulopoietic agents using a rescaffolding strategy with the goal of achieving simpler and more stable proteins. All of the 4 experimentally tested designs were folded, monomeric, and stable, while the 2 determined structures agreed with the design models within less than 2.5 Å. Despite the lack of significant topological or sequence similarity to their natural granulopoietic counterpart, 2 designs bound to the granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) receptor and exhibited potent, but delayed, in vitro proliferative activity in a G-CSF-dependent cell line. Interestingly, the designs also induced proliferation and differentiation of primary human hematopoietic stem cells into mature granulocytes, highlighting the utility of our approach to develop highly active therapeutic leads purely based on computational design.
Phosphorylation of seryl-tRNA synthetase by ATM/ATR is essential for hypoxia-induced angiogenesis
Authors: Shi Yi , Liu Ze , Zhang Qian , Vallee Ingrid , Mo Zhongying , Kishi Shuji , Yang Xiang-Lei
Published: December 2020

Hypoxia-induced angiogenesis maintains tissue oxygen supply and protects against ischemia but also enhances tumor progression and malignancy. This is mediated through activation of transcription factors like hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) and c-Myc, yet the impact of hypoxia on negative regulators of angiogenesis is unknown. During vascular development, seryl-tRNA synthetase (SerRS) regulates angiogenesis through a novel mechanism by counteracting c-Myc and transcriptionally repressing vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) expression. Here, we reveal that the transcriptional repressor role of SerRS is inactivated under hypoxia through phosphorylation by ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) and ataxia telangiectasia mutated and RAD3-related (ATR) at Ser101 and Ser241 to attenuate its DNA binding capacity. In zebrafish, SerRSS101D/S241D, a phosphorylation-mimicry mutant, cannot suppress VEGFA expression to support normal vascular development. Moreover, expression of SerRSS101A/S241A, a phosphorylation-deficient and constitutively active mutant, prevents hypoxia-induced binding of c-Myc and HIF-1 to the VEGFA promoter, and activation of VEGFA expression. Consistently, SerRSS101A/S241A strongly inhibits normal and tumor-derived angiogenesis in mice. Therefore, we reveal a key step regulating hypoxic angiogenesis and highlight the importance of nuclear SerRS in post-developmental angiogenesis regulation in addition to vascular development. The role of nuclear SerRS in inhibiting both c-Myc and HIF-1 may provide therapeutic opportunities to correct dysregulation of angiogenesis in pathological settings.
Expansion of RiPP biosynthetic space through integration of pan-genomics and machine learning uncovers a novel class of lanthipeptides
Authors: Kloosterman Alexander M. , Cimermancic Peter , Elsayed Somayah S. , Du Chao , Hadjithomas Michalis , Donia Mohamed S. , Fischbach Michael A. , van Wezel Gilles P. , Medema Marnix H.
Published: December 2020

Microbial natural products constitute a wide variety of chemical compounds, many which can have antibiotic, antiviral, or anticancer properties that make them interesting for clinical purposes. Natural product classes include polyketides (PKs), nonribosomal peptides (NRPs), and ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs). While variants of biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) for known classes of natural products are easy to identify in genome sequences, BGCs for new compound classes escape attention. In particular, evidence is accumulating that for RiPPs, subclasses known thus far may only represent the tip of an iceberg. Here, we present decRiPPter (Data-driven Exploratory Class-independent RiPP TrackER), a RiPP genome mining algorithm aimed at the discovery of novel RiPP classes. DecRiPPter combines a Support Vector Machine (SVM) that identifies candidate RiPP precursors with pan-genomic analyses to identify which of these are encoded within operon-like structures that are part of the accessory genome of a genus. Subsequently, it prioritizes such regions based on the presence of new enzymology and based on patterns of gene cluster and precursor peptide conservation across species. We then applied decRiPPter to mine 1,295Streptomycesgenomes, which led to the identification of 42 new candidate RiPP families that could not be found by existing programs. One of these was studied further and elucidated as a representative of a novel subfamily of lanthipeptides, which we designate class V. The 2D structure of the new RiPP, which we name pristinin A3 (1), was solved using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) data, and chemical labeling. Two previously unidentified modifying enzymes are proposed to create the hallmark lanthionine bridges. Taken together, our work highlights how novel natural product families can be discovered by methods going beyond sequence similarity searches to integrate multiple pathway discovery criteria.
Reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the Paediatric Pain Profile for children with severe motor and intellectual disabilities
Authors: Okita Mayumi , Nio Kaori , Murabata Mayumi , Murata Hiroaki , Iwamoto Shotaro
Published: December 2020

Children with severe motor and intellectual disabilities experience chronic pain but cannot communicate verbally. However, no Japanese tool currently exists for assessing pain in this population. This study aimed to develop and evaluate the reliability and validity of a Japanese version of the Paediatric Pain Profile, which is a behavioral rating scale to assess pain in children with severe neurological disabilities. The sample comprised 30 children with severe motor and intellectual disabilities at three hospitals in Japan. Three specialist nurses rated low and high pain video scenes of the children (twice at 1-week intervals) using the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability behavioral scale and a translated Japanese version of the Paediatric Pain Profile. On the basis of their ratings, we calculated the internal consistency, test–retest reliability, and intra- and inter-observer reliabilities of the Paediatric Pain Profile. Additionally, we assessed concurrent validity using the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability behavioral scale and construct validity using low versus high pain scenes. Both internal consistency (low pain: alpha = 0.735; high pain: alpha = 0.928) and test–retest reliability (r = 0.846) of the Japanese version of the Paediatric Pain Profile were good. Intra-observer reliability was substantial (r = 0.748), whereas inter-observer reliability was only moderate (r = 0.529). However, the concurrent validity with Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability scores was good (r = 0.629) and construct validity was confirmed (p < 0.001). We confirmed the validity of the Japanese version of the Paediatric Pain Profile, but reliable pain assessment may require repeated ratings by the same person. To accurately assess pain in children with severe motor and intellectual disabilities, healthcare staff must be properly trained and become more skilled in using the Japanese version of the Paediatric Pain Profile.
The burden of serious non-AIDS-defining events among admitted cART-naive AIDS patients in China: An observational cohort study
Authors: Wang Yu , Liang Hongyuan , Zhang Ling , Zhang Zhe , Wu Liang , Ni Liang , Gao Guiju , Yang Di , Zhao Hongxin , Xiao Jiang
Published: December 2020

The objective of this study was to elucidate the burden, risk factors, and prognosis of serious non-AIDS-defining events among admitted cART-naive AIDS patients in China. The evaluation of the burden, risk factors and prognosis of serious NADEs was carried out among 1309 cART-naive AIDS patients (median age: 38.2 years, range: 18–78 years) admitted in Beijing Ditan Hospital between January 2009 and December 2018. Among 1309 patients, 143 patients (10.9%) had at least one serious NADEs, including 49 (3.8%) with cerebrovascular diseases, 37 (2.8%) with non-AIDS-defining cancers, 28 (2.1%) with chronic kidney diseases, 26 (2.0%) with cardiovascular diseases, and 18 (1.4%) with liver cirrhosis. Serious NADEs distributed in different age and CD4 levels, especially with age ≥50 years and CD4 ≤350 cells/ul. Other traditional risk factors, including cigarette smoking (OR = 1.9, 95%CI = 1.3–2.8, p = 0.002), hypertension (OR = 2.5, 95%CI = 1.7–3.7, p<0.001), chronic HCV infection (OR = 2.8, 95%CI = 1.4–5.6, p = 0.004), and hypercholesterolemia (OR = 4.1, 95% CI = 1.2–14.1, p = 0.026), were also associated with serious NADEs. Seventeen cases (1.3%) with serious NADEs died among hospitalized cART-naive AIDS patients, and severe pneumonia (HR = 5.5, 95%CI = 1.9–15.9, p<0.001) and AIDS-defining cancers (HR = 3.8, 95%CI = 1.1–13.2, p = 0.038) were identified as risk factors associated with an increased hazard of mortality among these patients with serious NADEs. Serious NADEs also occurred in cART-naive AIDS patients in China with low prevalence. Our results reminded physicians that early screening of serious NADEs, timely intervention of their risk factors, management of severe AIDS-defining events, multi-disciplinary cooperation, and early initiation of cART were essential to reduce the burden of serious NADEs.
Genetic ablation of Cullin-RING E3 ubiquitin ligase 7 restrains pressure overload-induced myocardial fibrosis
Authors: Anger Melanie , Scheufele Florian , Ramanujam Deepak , Meyer Kathleen , Nakajima Hidehiro , Field Loren J. , Engelhardt Stefan , Sarikas Antonio
Published: December 2020

Fibrosis is a pathognomonic feature of structural heart disease and counteracted by distinct cardioprotective mechanisms, e.g. activation of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) / AKT pro-survival pathway. The Cullin-RING E3 ubiquitin ligase 7 (CRL7) was identified as negative regulator of PI3K/AKT signalling in skeletal muscle, but its role in the heart remains to be elucidated. Here, we sought to determine whether CRL7 modulates to cardiac fibrosis following pressure overload and dissect its underlying mechanisms. For inactivation of CRL7, the Cullin 7 (Cul7) gene was deleted in cardiac myocytes (CM) by injection of adeno-associated virus subtype 9 (AAV9) vectors encoding codon improved Cre-recombinase (AAV9-CMV-iCre) inCul7flox/floxmice. In addition, Myosin Heavy Chain 6 (Myh6; alpha-MHC)-MerCreMer transgenic mice with tamoxifen-induced CM-specific expression of iCre were used as alternate model. After transverse aortic constriction (TAC), causing chronic pressure overload and fibrosis, AAV9-CMV-iCre inducedCul7-/- mice displayed a ~50% reduction of interstitial cardiac fibrosis when compared toCul7+/+ animals (6.7% vs. 3.4%, p<0.01). Similar results were obtained withCul7flox/floxMyh6-Mer-Cre-MerTg(1/0)mice which displayed a ~30% reduction of cardiac fibrosis after TAC when compared toCul7+/+Myh6-Mer-Cre-MerTg(1/0)controls after TAC surgery (12.4% vs. 8.7%, p<0.05). No hemodynamic alterations were observed. AKTSer473phosphorylation was increased 3-fold (p<0.01) inCul7-/- vs. control mice, together with a ~78% (p<0.001) reduction of TUNEL-positive apoptotic cells three weeks after TAC. In addition, CM-specific expression of a dominant-negative CUL71152stopmutant resulted in a 16.3-fold decrease (p<0.001) of in situ end-labelling (ISEL) positive apoptotic cells. Collectively, our data demonstrate that CM-specific ablation of Cul7 restrains myocardial fibrosis and apoptosis upon pressure overload, and introduce CRL7 as a potential target for anti-fibrotic therapeutic strategies of the heart.
Designing of a next generation multiepitope based vaccine (MEV) against SARS-COV-2: Immunoinformatics and in silico approaches
Authors: Tahir ul Qamar Muhammad , Rehman Abdur , Tusleem Kishver , Ashfaq Usman Ali , Qasim Muhammad , Zhu Xitong , Fatima Israr , Shahid Farah , Chen Ling-Ling
Published: December 2020

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) is a significant threat to global health security. Till date, no completely effective drug or vaccine is available to cure COVID-19. Therefore, an effective vaccine against SARS-COV-2 is crucially needed. This study was conducted to design an effective multiepitope based vaccine (MEV) against SARS-COV-2. Seven highly antigenic proteins of SARS-COV-2 were selected as targets and different epitopes (B-cell and T-cell) were predicted. Highly antigenic and overlapping epitopes were shortlisted. Selected epitopes indicated significant interactions with the HLA-binding alleles and 99.93% coverage of the world’s population. Hence, 505 amino acids long MEV was designed by connecting 16 MHC class I and eleven MHC class II epitopes with suitable linkers and adjuvant. MEV construct was non-allergenic, antigenic, stable and flexible. Furthermore, molecular docking followed by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation analyses, demonstrated a stable and strong binding affinity of MEV with human pathogenic toll-like receptors (TLR), TLR3 and TLR8. Finally, MEV codons were optimized for itsin silicocloning intoEscherichia coliK-12 system, to ensure its increased expression. Designed MEV in present study could be a potential candidate for further vaccine production process against COVID-19. However, to ensure its safety and immunogenic profile, the proposed MEV needs to be experimentally validated.
Massachusetts general hospital Covid-19 registry reveals two distinct populations of hospitalized patients by race and ethnicity
Authors: Bassett Ingrid V. , Triant Virginia A. , Bunda Bridget A. , Selvaggi Caitlin A. , Shinnick Daniel J. , He Wei , Lu Frances , Porneala Bianca C. , Cao Tingyi , Lubitz Steven A. , Meigs James B. , Hsu John , Foulkes Andrea S.
Published: December 2020

Objective

To evaluate differences by race/ethnicity in clinical characteristics and outcomes among hospitalized patients with Covid-19 at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH).

Methods

The MGH Covid-19 Registry includes confirmed SARS-CoV-2-infected patients hospitalized at MGH and is based on manual chart reviews and data extraction from electronic health records (EHRs). We evaluated differences between White/Non-Hispanic and Hispanic patients in demographics, complications and 14-day outcomes among the N = 866 patients hospitalized with Covid-19 from March 11, 2020—May 4, 2020.

Results

Overall, 43% of patients hospitalized with Covid-19 were women, median age was 60.4 [IQR = (48.2, 75)], 11.3% were Black/non-Hispanic and 35.2% were Hispanic. Hispanic patients, representing 35.2% of patients, were younger than White/non-Hispanic patients [median age 51y; IQR = (40.6, 61.6) versus 72y; (58.0, 81.7) (p<0.001)]. Hispanic patients were symptomatic longer before presenting to care (median 5 vs 3d, p = 0.039) but were more likely to be sent home with self-quarantine than be admitted to hospital (29% vs 16%, p<0.001). Hispanic patients had fewer comorbidities yet comparable rates of ICU or death (34% vs 36%). Nonetheless, a greater proportion of Hispanic patients recovered by 14 days after presentation (62% vs 45%, p<0.001; OR = 1.99, p = 0.011 in multivariable adjusted model) and fewer died (2% versus 18%, p<0.001).

Conclusions

Hospitalized Hispanic patients were younger and had fewer comorbidities compared to White/non-Hispanic patients; despite comparable rates of ICU care or death, a greater proportion recovered. These results have implications for public health policy and the design and conduct of clinical trials.
A science impact framework to measure impact beyond journal metrics
Authors: Ari Mary D. , Iskander John , Araujo John , Casey Christine , Kools John , Chen Bin , Swain Robert , Kelly Miriam , Popovic Tanja
Published: December 2020

Measuring the impact of public health science or research is important especially when it comes to health outcomes. Achieving the desired health outcomes take time and may be influenced by several contributors, making attribution of credit to any one entity or effort problematic. Here we offer a science impact framework (SIF) for tracing and linking public health science to events and/or actions with recognized impact beyond journal metrics. The SIF was modeled on the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) Degrees of Impact Thermometer, but differs in that SIF is not incremental, not chronological, and has expanded scope. The SIF recognizes five domains of influence: disseminating science, creating awareness, catalyzing action, effecting change and shaping the future (scope differs from IOM). For public health, the goal is to achieve one or more specific health outcomes. What is unique about this framework is that the focus is not just on the projected impact or outcome but rather the effects that are occurring in real time with the recognition that the measurement field is complex, and it takes time for the ultimate outcome to occur. The SIF is flexible and can be tailored to measure the impact of any scientific effort: from complex initiatives to individual publications. The SIF may be used to measure impact prospectively of an ongoing or new body of work (e.g., research, guidelines and recommendations, or technology) and retrospectively of completed and disseminated work, through linking of events using indicators that are known and have been used for measuring impact. Additionally, linking events offers an approach to both tell our story and also acknowledge other players in the chain of events. The value added by science can easily be relayed to the scientific community, policy makers and the public.
IL-33 facilitates rapid expulsion of the parasitic nematode Strongyloides ratti from the intestine via ILC2- and IL-9-driven mast cell activation
Authors: Meiners Jana , Reitz Martina , Rüdiger Nikolas , Turner Jan-Eric , Heepmann Lennart , Rudolf Lena , Hartmann Wiebke , McSorley Henry J. , Breloer Minka
Published: December 2020

Parasitic helminths are sensed by the immune system via tissue-derived alarmins that promote the initiation of the appropriate type 2 immune responses. Here we establish the nuclear alarmin cytokine IL-33 as a non-redundant trigger of specifically IL-9-driven and mast cell-mediated immunity to the intestinal parasiteStrongyloides ratti. Blockade of endogenous IL-33 using a helminth-derived IL-33 inhibitor elevated intestinal parasite burdens in the context of reduced mast cell activation while stabilization of endogenous IL-33 or application of recombinant IL-33 reciprocally reduced intestinal parasite burdens and increased mast cell activation. Using gene-deficient mice, we show that application of IL-33 triggered rapid mast cell-mediated expulsion of parasites directly in the intestine, independent of the adaptive immune system, basophils, eosinophils or Gr-1+cells but dependent on functional IL-9 receptor and innate lymphoid cells (ILC). Thereby we connect the described axis of IL-33-mediated ILC2 expansion to the rapid initiation of IL-9-mediated and mast cell-driven intestinal anti-helminth immunity.
Biased Pol II fidelity contributes to conservation of functional domains in the Potato spindle tuber viroid genome
Authors: Wu Jian , Bisaro David M.
Published: December 2020

Accurate calculation of mutation rates for viruses and viroids is necessary for evolutionary studies and to evaluate adaptation potential. However, estimation ofin vivomutation rates is complicated by selection, which leads to loss or proliferation of certain mutations. To minimize this concern, lethal mutations, including nonsense and non-synonymous mutations, have been used to determine mutation rates for several viruses and viroids, includingPotato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd). However, this approach has limitations, including focus on a relatively small number of genome sites and the possibility that mutations may not actually be lethal or may be maintained by wild type individuals. To avoid selection bias altogether, we sequenced minus-strand PSTVd dimers from concatemeric replication intermediates. The underlying rationale is that mutations found in only one of the monomers were likely generatedde novoduring RNA polymerase II (Pol II) transcription of the circular plus-strand RNA genome. This approach yielded an apparent Pol II error rate of ~1/1837 nucleotides per transcription cycle, and an estimated mutation rate of ~1/919 nucleotides for a single replication cycle. Remarkably,de novomutations were nearly absent from the most conserved, replication-critical regions of the PSTVd genome, suggesting that sequence conservation is a consequence of both essential function and template optimization for greater Pol II fidelity. Such biased fidelity may constitute a novel strategy to ensure population success while allowing abundant sampling of sequence space in other genome regions. Comparison with variants in progeny populations derived from a cloned, wild type PSTVd master sequence revealed that mostde novomutations were lost through selection.
One Year Clinical Evaluation of White Spot Lesions with Newly Introduced Resin Modified Glass-Ionomer in Comparison to Resin Infiltration in Anterior Teeth: a split mouth randomized controlled clinical trial from Egypt
Authors: Rohym Shaimaa Mosutafa , Harhash Asmaa Youssif , Riad Mohammed Farid
Published: December 2020

Objective: to compare the clinical performance of newly introduced resin modified glass ionomer varnish (Clinpro™ XT) versus resin infiltration in treatment of post-orthodontic white spot lesions. Material and Methods: Six participants (70 teeth) were enrolled with post-orthodontic white spot lesions. Randomization was performed according to patient selection for the sealed envelope containing which half will receive the control (resin infiltration (ICON, DMG) and the other will receive the intervention (resin modified glass-ionomer cement varnish (Clinpro™ XT, 3M)). Follow up was done after 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months, 6 months and 12 months. The color was assessed by spectrophotometer while the degree of demineralization was measured by Diagnodent pen 2910. Patient satisfaction was assessed using (VAS) Visual analogue scale. Results: Regarding color change, significant improvement in lightness for ICON group, while Clinpro™ XT group, the change was insignificant. The demineralization data revealed significant decrease in demineralization with resin infiltration after immediate application. Clinpro™ XT showed also significant decrease after immediate assessment and significant increase in demineralization in 6 and 12 months. Conclusion: Resin infiltration can be considered more as an alternative treatment rather than fluoride varnish. Clinpro™ XTis considered as a preventive protocol, provided that renewal application is needed after 3 months.
Keywords
3M Resin cement; Resin cements; Glass ionomer cements; Fluorides; Follow up studies; Glass ionomer.
Relação entre o estado nutricional materno e fatores biológicos, obstétricos e glicêmicos
Authors: Delgado Priscila Alves , Fernandes Larissa Alves , Filgueira Thayana Ferreira , Candeia Rozileide Martins , Clementino Arabela Vieira , Guimarães Keyth Sulamitta
Published: December 2020

A nutrição materna desempenha um papel importante no crescimento e desenvolvimento placentário-fetal. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a relação entre o estado nutricional materno com os fatores biológicos, obstétricos e glicêmicos de mulheres que realizavam pré natal na atenção básica.Trata-se de um estudo analítico e transversal, descritivo, com abordagem quantitativa, desenvolvida com gestantes em acompanhamento pré-natal de baixo risco, na rede de atenção básica em saúde, no município de João Pessoa, Paraíba no Brasil. Aplicou-se dois questionários estruturado com informações socioeconômicas, obstétricas, nutricionais e foram coletadas informações resgistradas sobre os parâmetros hematológicos. Os dados foram tratados por meio das análises descritivas, univariadas e bivariadas. Identificou-se que 69,8% das participantes apresentavam diabetes mellitus gestacional, os níveis glicemicos apresentram relação significativa com as fatores sócio-demográficos e o consumo de calorias totais (p= 0,004) além disso, a paridade apresentou correlação com o índice de massa corporal das gestantes (p= 0,02). Os valores glicemicos do primeiro trimestre apresentaram relação positiva entre a idade materna, o estado nutricional no primeiro trimestre (r= 0,40, p= 0,007) e o consumo de calorias totais (p= 0,047). Os resultados deste estudo mostram que há relação significativa entre o estado nutricional gestacional com os fatores biológicos, obstétricos e glicêmicos, e que a condição nutricional prévia da mulher, poderá influenciar no seu estado nutricional durante toda gestação.
Association of Chronic Opisthorchis Infestation and Microbiota Alteration on Tumorigenesis in Cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Ketpueak Thanika , Thiennimitr Parameth , Apaijai Nattayaporn , Chattipakorn Siriporn C. , Chattipakorn Nipon
Published: December 2020

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a common hepatobiliary cancer in East and Southeast Asia. The data of microbiota contribution in CCA are still unclear. Current available reports have demonstrated that an Opisthorchis viverrini (OV) infection leads to dysbiosis in the bile duct. An increase in the commensal bacteria Helicobacter spp. in OV-infected CCA patients is associated with bile duct inflammation, severity of bile duct fibrosis, and cholangiocyte proliferation. In addition, secondary bile acids, major microbial metabolites, can mediate cholangiocyte inflammation and proliferation in the liver. A range of samples from CCA patients (stool, bile, and tumor) showed different degrees of dysbiosis. The evidence from these samples suggests that OV infection is associated with alterations in microbiota and could potentially have a role in CCA. In this comprehensive review, reports from in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies that demonstrate possible links between OV infection, microbiota, and CCA pathogenesis are summarized and discussed. Understanding these associations may pave ways for novel potential adjunct intervention in gut microbiota in CCA patients.
Entre a palavra e a imagem
Authors: Tavares Leonardo , Assunção Nivalda
Published: December 2020

As considerações expostas neste texto têm como objetivo abordar questões surgidas durante uma prática artística interartes. A partir do entrelaçamento de uma escrita literária e de uma produção visual, atividades que começaram distintas em meu percurso, ainda que interdependentes, tenho buscado, por meio de reflexões teóricas, circundar os liames da miscigenação entre palavra e imagem. Nesta perspectiva, o foco de minha pesquisa tem sido o alargamento das jurisdições do verbal e do visual, ou o estreitar de suas fronteiras, para que um possa transitar pelos terrenos do outro, e resultarem, assim, em formas homogêneas movidas por um processo contínuo de retroalimentação. O aprofundamento da dupla experiência de olhar e ler é, portanto, o cerne da investigação desta prática artística do hibridismo, e, aqui, são perpassados pontos-chave para a compreensão de uma construção verbovisual que, sendo particular, também permite ressonâncias e confluências com as práticas e os discursos de outros artistas contemporâneos; são eles: a escritura, a intertextualidade, a apropriação, a colagem, a montagem e a narrativa.
PALAVRAS-CHAVE
Palavra e imagem, hibridismo, narrativa visual, escritura, colagem.
Zine Circula Graffiti
Authors: Machado Breda Isabela
Published: December 2020

Este artigo gira em torno dos fanzines como modo de circulação, memória e processo de produção do graffiti capixaba. Os componentes da Luz Do Mundo crew tinham a preocupação de guardar algumas das produções do graffiti que aconteciam no estado tanto como reuni-las. Foi uma maneira de assegurar que o caráter efêmero do graffiti possui na paisagem da cidade, não apagasse sua relevância aos modos da Arte de Rua. Surgiam assim os primeiros Zines de graffiti do Espírito Santo, Bombardeio e Emético Zine que lançam 6 edições entre 2002 a 2011. Dessa forma, popularizaram tudo que envolvia o graffiti: a linguagem, os processos, a estética, os autores, as influências.
A Multiple Handover Method by Using the Guide of Mobile Node
Authors: Abdullah Radhwan Mohamed , Basher Radhwan , Abdulqader Ayad Hussain
Published: December 2020

Today’s healthcare system can be characterised using the up-and-coming integral component of mobility management of wireless body area networks (WBANs). In general, remote sensor nodes of WBAN are positioned on the body of a subject. Meanwhile, recommendations for specific proxy mobile IPv6 (PMIP) approaches have emerged, but its comparatively unfeasible nature in terms of group mobility management with regards to WBAN. Therefore, it shows a likelihood for expansive registration and handover interruptions. Thus, this work offered an alternative aimed at curbing such restrictions via an enhanced group mobility management method. The approach underlined the integration of authentication, authorisation, and accounting (AAA) services into the local mobility anchor (LMA) as another option for independent practice. Moreover, the proxy binding update (PBU) and AAA inquiry messages were consolidated, whereas the AAA response and proxy binding acknowledge (PBA) message were amalgamated. The resulting outcomes depicted the proposed method’s superior performance in comparison with the current PMIP approaches in the context of registration delay time, handover interruption, and average signalling cost.
Design and Implementation of Healthcare Patient based General Packet Radio Service
Authors: Radhi Ahmed A.
Published: December 2020

In recent years the health monitor systems for patients was developed by using wireless technologies such as Internet of Things (IoT), Wireless Sensor Network (WSN), or Websites. In this research a patient's position in Google map, heartbeat rate, and temperature were measured and transmitted to the family or doctor based GPRS technology via the smartphone and microcontroller. This system has advantages of low cost design, Early warning of patient status through SMS message or email, position recognize based on GPS and fast of treatment patient.
The Economic, Legal and Social Dimension of Regulatory Arbitrage
Authors: Friedrich Jan , Thiemann Matthias
Published: December 2020

Regulatory arbitrage – the formal compliance with rules while violating their very spirit – is a persistent practice in daily business and subject of perpetual efforts of regulatory institutions to address this issue. Focusing on both, the practice of regulatory arbitrage as well as attempt of regulators and rule-makers seeking to contain it, the articles in this special issue provide a well-rounded, dialectical understanding of the phenomenon. In this vein, Friedrich zooms in on the construct of synthetic leasing as an example of a product, placed in zones of regulatory overlap between tax and accounting to achieve the most beneficial treatment. Kunkel discusses the political dimension of the conceptual underpinnings of financial reporting and how they are linked to regulatory arbitrage in accounting standards. Stanescu and Bogdan focus on tax sheltering in Romanian debt collecting schemes, just as Langenbucher explores the limits of constraining such practices provided by the need to grant a high degree of legal security, as enshrined in the rule of law. Lastly, Thiemann and Troeger inquire into how supervisors can keep up with financial innovations for regulatory arbitrage in the shadow banking sector, suggesting the need for a flexible interpretation of rules and close exchange with the regulated and their regulatory advisors to control their role bending behavior.
Examining the Impact of Electoral Competition and Endogenous Lobby Formation on Equilibrium Policy Platforms
Authors: Kohli Deepti
Published: December 2020

This paper formulates a mathematical model that combines the dynamics of interest group formation with electoral politics, involving office-seeking and corrupt political candidates and voting population with well-defined policy as well as ideological preferences. The analysis provides several interesting insights into the factors affecting lobby membership, free-riding incentives of citizen-voters and aggregate monetary donations garnered by lobby groups. Besides this, the paper also explores the impact of the formation of distinct lobby groups, the presence of swing voters and the corrupt practices or financial embezzlement on the equilibrium policy choice of electoral contenders. The findings reveal that more honest spending of campaign donations by electoral contenders reduces both the size of the lobby (or membership) as well as aggregate campaign contributions in equilibrium. In contrast, a rise in the fixed cost of organization is found to augment lobby membership along with the total amount of campaign contributions. In addition, a reduction in the level of electoral uncertainty as well as a rise in the ideological or swing voter density is found to increase the effectiveness of campaign contributions in raising an electoral candidate’s perceived popularity and, therefore, a smaller lobby group with lower aggregate donations is deemed as sufficient in influencing electoral outcomes. Moreover, the results indicate that a lower utility difference derived by the citizen-voters when comparing the two electoral candidate’s policy choices translates into smaller dispersion of the voters’ ideological bias, and consequently results in an increase in the size of lobby groups and their corresponding aggregate donations. As regards the choice of equilibrium policy, evidence of full policy convergence is not found in the case when citizen-voters of the two groups have separable preferences. In addition, policy equilibrium for a more realistic case in which the two policy platforms exhibit strategic interaction by reacting to each other has also been estimated with the help of simulations. Finally, this paper helps in categorically deciphering the influence of the median voter effect (or the centripetal force) and the distinct centrifugal forces in the form of lobbying effect, swing voter effect and the financial embezzlement effect on the equilibrium policy choice by employing different parametric specifications of the model.
Immunosuppressant quantification in intravenous microdialysate – towards novel quasi-continuous therapeutic drug monitoring in transplanted patients
Authors: Weber Susanne , Tombelli Sara , Giannetti Ambra , Trono Cosimo , O’Connell Mark , Wen Ming , Descalzo Ana B. , Bittersohl Heike , Bietenbeck Andreas , Marquet Pierre , Renders Lutz , Orellana Guillermo , Baldini Francesco , Luppa Peter B.
Published: December 2020

Objectives

Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) plays a crucial role in personalized medicine. It helps clinicians to tailor drug dosage for optimized therapy through understanding the underlying complex pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Conventional, non-continuous TDM fails to provide real-time information, which is particularly important for the initial phase of immunosuppressant therapy, e.g., with cyclosporine (CsA) and mycophenolic acid (MPA).

Methods

We analyzed the time course over 8 h of total and free of immunosuppressive drug (CsA and MPA) concentrations measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in 16 kidney transplant patients. Besides repeated blood sampling, intravenous microdialysis was used for continuous sampling. Free drug concentrations were determined from ultracentrifuged EDTA-plasma (UC) and compared with the drug concentrations in the respective microdialysate (µD). µDs were additionally analyzed for free CsA using a novel immunosensor chip integrated into a fluorescence detection platform. The potential of microdialysis coupled with an optical immunosensor for the TDM of immunosuppressants was assessed.

Results

Using LC-MS/MS, the free concentrations of CsA (fCsA) and MPA (fMPA) were detectable and the time courses of total and free CsA comparable. fCsA and fMPA and area-under-the-curves (AUCs) in µDs correlated well with those determined in UCs (r≥0.79 and r≥0.88, respectively). Moreover, fCsA in µDs measured with the immunosensor correlated clearly with those determined by LC-MS/MS (r=0.82).

Conclusions

The new microdialysis-supported immunosensor allows real-time analysis of immunosuppressants and tailor-made dosing according to the AUC concept. It readily lends itself to future applications as minimally invasive and continuous near-patient TDM.