bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Determination of the time of ovulation in chimpanzees by measurement of LH, estrone sulfate, and pregnanediol 3α‐glucuronide in urine: Comparison with serum hormone patterns
Authors: Steinetz Bernard G. , Ducrot Cecile , Randolph Carla , Mahoney C. James
Published: August 2020

The concentrations of LH, total estrogens, and pregnanediol 3α‐glucuronide (PdG) were determined by specific radioimmunoassays on daily overnight urine samples obtained in 13 menstrual cycles of six adult female chimpanzees during the periods of increasing, maximal, and decreasing tumescence of the perineal sex skin. The peaks of estrogens and LH and the rise in PdG in urine accurately rellected the peaks of estradiol‐17β and LH and the subsequent rise in progesterone in the serum of the same animals during the same menstrual cycles, and can be used to predict and verify the occurrence of ovulation, thus avoiding the repeated tranquilizations necessary to obtain daily blood samples.
Survey of Saguinus mortality in a zoo colony
Authors: Letcher James
Published: August 2020

Six years of necropsy records from a zoo colony of four tamarin species (Saguinus oedipus, S. geoffroyi, S. imperator, and S. mystax) were examined. Mean age at death was 4.0 years, average length in the colony at time of death was 3.4 years. Annual mortality rate varied between 9 and 30%. Gross necropsy findings, histopathologic, and bacteriological results indicate primary cause of death as follows: peritonitis (26%), septicemia (14%), nephritis (5%), hepatitis (5%), pneumonia (2%), and others.
Long‐term protection of macaques against high‐dose type D retrovirus challenge after immunization with recombinant vaccinia virus expressing envelope glycoproteins
Authors: Benveniste Raoul E. , Kuller LaRene , Roodman Stanford T. , Hu Shiu‐Lok , Morton William R.
Published: August 2020

Recombinant vaccinia virus expressing the envelope proteins of type D retrovirus‐Washington (SRV‐2/W) was used to immunize macaques against SRV‐2 infection. Four immunized macaques which had resisted a prior low‐dose challenge were rechallenged with a high dose (10” infectious particles) of SRV‐2 two years after being immunized. All four non‐immunized control macaques became infected, but the four vaccinated animals resisted this intravenous challenge, as determined by the inability to detect SRV‐2 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and by the lack of seroconversion to new viral antigens.
SIV envelope glycoprotein epitopes recognized by antibodies from infected or vaccinated rhesus macaques
Authors: Torres José V. , Anderson David E. , Malley Arthur , Banapour Babak , Axthelm Michael K. , Benjamini Eli , Gardner Murray B.
Published: August 2020

We analyzed SIV‐specific monkey sera to localize B‐cell epitopes of the envelope glycoprotein of SIV (gp130), using overlapping synthetic peptides representing the entire SIV gp130 protein and sera from experimentally infected monkeys and monkeys immunized with whole, inactivated SIV. A B‐cell epitope which induces neutralizing antibody production and T‐cell responses was characterized as well as a new B‐cell epitope and a previously described neutralizing epitopes. Vaccinated monkey sera recognize the three epitopes differentially relative to unimmunized controls, and a correlation appears to exist between degree of cross‐neutralization by infected monkey sera and degree of binding to these three regions.
The combined assessment of cellular apoptosis, mitochondrial function and proliferative response to pokeweed mitogen has prognostic value in SIV infection
Authors: del Llano Ana M. , Amieiro‐Puig Juan P. , Kraiselburd Edmundo N. , Kessler Matthew J. , Málaga Carlos A. , Lavergne Julio A.
Published: August 2020

Using the assessment of the mitochondrial metabolic activity of freshly isolated blood mononuclear cells, the How cytometric detection of apoptosis and of the proliferative responses to PWM, SIV‐infected macaques were classified in: stage 0, which included all animals with unaffected parameters, and stages 1, 2, and 3, which included animals having one, two, or all three parameters affected, respectively. This novel three‐parametric staging system (ISS) provides a new prognostic tool in the longitudinal study of SIV infection.
Cross‐sectional growth standards for captive baboons: II. Organ weight by body weight
Authors: Mahaney Michael C. , Leland M. Michelle , Williams‐Blangero Sarah , Marinez Yolan N.
Published: August 2020

We present the first cross‐sectional organ weight by body weight reference standards for captive baboons (Papio hamadryas). Organ weight data were obtained from necropsy reports for 634 healthy, pedigreed, captive female and male baboons. From summary statistics we calculated and fit cross‐sectional sex‐specific percentile curves for: adrenals, brain, eyes, heart, kidneys, liver plus gall bladder, lungs, pancreas, pituitary gland, spleen, and thyroid gland in three kilogram body weight intervals and cross‐sectional summary statistics by sex for each organ in one kilogram body weight intervals.
Successful Publishing in Nursing: Debunking Some Common Myths
Authors: Fonteyn Marsha E.
Published: August 2020

Myths can serve useful functions for a group or society. The myths related to success in publishing, however, do not seem to serve a useful function, and may operate as barriers or excuses that unnecessarily hinder success in publishing. In this article, some of the common myths associated with publishing in nursing are examined for their validity and for evidence of support for the myth in the literature.
Manuscript Revisions: The Team Approach
Authors: Ohler Linda
Published: August 2020

Few manuscripts are accepted and printed “as is.” Most go through a period of revision. Yet, many manuscripts are not revised and resubmitted. This article focuses on the teamwork of editors, reviewers, and authors to improve the chances of successful revisions.
Prognostic implications of left ventricular hypertrophy diagnosed on electrocardiogram vs echocardiography
Authors: Pedersen Line Reinholdt , Kristensen Anna Meta Dyrvig , Petersen Søren Sandager , Vaduganathan Muthiah , Bhatt Deepak L. , Juel Jacob , Byrne Christina , Leósdóttir Margrét , Olsen Michael H. , Pareek Manan
Published: August 2020

It is unclear whether 12‐lead ECG employing standard criteria for left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) provides similar information with respect to long‐term cardiovascular risk as echocardiography. The authors performed a retrospective cohort study of 1376 individuals without cardiovascular disease, who underwent ECG (LVH defined using the Sokolow‐Lyon voltage combination (>35 mm) or the Cornell voltage‐duration product (>2440 mm × ms)) and echocardiography (LVH defined as LV mass index (LVMI) >95 g/m2 for women and >115 g/m2 for men). The prognostic ability of LVH was assessed in Cox regression models adjusted for age, sex, smoking, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, antihypertensive medication, and fasting glucose. The primary end point was the composite of coronary events, heart failure, stroke, or death. The main secondary end point was heart failure or cardiovascular death. Median age was 67 (range 56‐79) years, 68% were male. Eleven percent had ECG‐defined LVH, 17% had echocardiographic LVH. Over median 8.5 years, 29% experienced a primary event. Event rates were 29%/35% for persons without/with ECG‐defined LVH and 27%/39% for those without/with echocardiographic LVH. The Sokolow‐Lyon combination, Cornell product, and ECG‐defined LVH did not significantly predict the primary end point (P ≥ .05), but ECG‐defined LVH predicted heart failure or cardiovascular death (adjusted hazard ratio (HR), 1.86, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.13‐3.08); P = .02). Conversely, LVMI was a significant, independent predictor of the primary end point (adjusted HR, 1.87, 95% CI, 1.13‐3.10; P = .01), as was echocardiographic LVH (adjusted HR, 1.27, 95% CI, 1.01‐1.61; P = .04). Echocardiographic LVH may be a better predictor of long‐term cardiovascular risk than ECG‐defined LVH in middle‐aged and older individuals.
Selective blocking of CXCR2 prevents and reverses atrial fibrillation in spontaneously hypertensive rats
Authors: Zhang Yun‐Long , Teng Fei , Han Xiao , Li Pang‐Bo , Yan Xiao , Guo Shu‐Bin , Li Hui‐Hua
Published: August 2020

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with inflammation and oxidative stress. Recently, we demonstrated that the chemokine‐receptor CXCR2 plays a critical role in the recruitment of monocytes/macrophages and the development of hypertension and cardiac remodelling. However, the role of CXCR2 in the pathogenesis of hypertensive AF remains unclear. AF was induced in Wistar‐Kyoto rats (WKYs) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) administered with the CXCR2 inhibitor SB225002. Atrial remodelling, pathological changes and electrophysiology were examined. Our results showed that the chemokine CXCL1 and its receptor CXCR2 were markedly increased in atrial tissue of SHRs compared with WKYs. The administration of SB225002 to SHRs significantly reduced the elevation of blood pressure, AF inducibility and duration, atrial remodelling, recruitment of macrophages, superoxide production and conduction abnormalities compared with vehicle treatment. The administration of SB225002 to SHRs also reversed pre‐existing AF development, atrial remodelling, inflammation and oxidative stress. These effects were associated with the inhibition of multiple signalling pathways, including TGF‐β1/Smad2/3, NF‐κB‐P65, NOX1, NOX2, Kir2.1, Kv1.5 and Cx43. In conclusion, this study provides new evidence that blocking CXCR2 prevents and reverses the development of AF in SHRs, and suggests that CXCR2 may be a potential therapeutic target for hypertensive AF.
Rab27A promotes cellular apoptosis and ROS production by regulating the miRNA‐124‐3p/STAT3/RelA signalling pathway in ulcerative colitis
Authors: Luo Yang , Yu Min‐Hao , Yan Ya‐Ru , Zhou Yong , Qin Shao‐Lan , Huang Yi‐Zhou , Qin Jun , Zhong Ming
Published: August 2020

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a multifactorial inflammatory disease, and increasing evidence has demonstrated that the mechanism of UC pathogenesis is associated with excessive cellular apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. However, their function and molecular mechanisms related to UC remain unknown. In this study, Rab27A mRNA and protein were proven to be overexpressed in intestinal epithelial cells of UC patients and DSS‐induced colitis mice, compared with control (P < 0.05). And Rab27A silencing inhibits inflammatory process in DSS‐induced colitis mice (P < 0.05). Then, it was shown that knockdown of Rab27A suppressed apoptosis and ROS production through modulation of miR‐124‐3p, whereas overexpression of Rab27A promoted apoptosis and ROS production in LPS‑induced colonic cells. In addition, enhanced expression of miR‐124‐3p attenuated apoptosis and ROS production by targeting regulation of STAT3 in LPS‑induced colonic cells. Mechanistically, we found Rab27A reduced the expression and activity of miR‐124‐3p to activate STAT3/RelA signalling pathway and promote apoptosis and ROS production in LPS‑induced colonic cells, whereas overexpression of miR‐124‐3p abrogated these effects of Rab27A. More importantly, animal experiments illustrated that ectopic expression of Rab27A promoted the inflammatory process, whereas overexpression of miR‐124‐3p might interfere with the inflammatory effect in DSS‐induced colitis mice. In summary, Rab27A might modulate the miR‐124‐3p/STAT3/RelA axis to promote apoptosis and ROS production in inflammatory colonic cells, suggesting that Rab27A as a novel therapeutic target for the prevention and treatment of UC patients.
Roles of N6‐methyladenosine (m6A) RNA modifications in urological cancers
Authors: Wang Xiao , Xie Haiyun , Ying Yufan , Chen Danni , Li Jiangfeng
Published: August 2020

Epigenetics has long been a hot topic in the field of scientific research. The scope of epigenetics usually includes chromatin remodelling, DNA methylation, histone modifications, non‐coding RNAs and RNA modifications. In recent years, RNA modifications have emerged as important regulators in a variety of physiological processes and in disease progression, especially in human cancers. Among the various RNA modifications, m6A is the most common. The function of m6A modifications is mainly regulated by 3 types of proteins: m6A methyltransferases (writers), m6A demethylases (erasers) and m6A‐binding proteins (readers). In this review, we focus on RNA m6A modification and its relationship with urological cancers, particularly focusing on its roles and potential clinical applications.
Mapping the Iceberg: The Impact of Data Sources on the Study of District Courts
Authors: Boyd Christina L. , Kim Pauline T. , Schlanger Margo
Published: August 2020

Three decades ago, Siegelman and Donohue aptly characterized research about courts and litigation that relied only on published opinions as “studying the iceberg from its tip.” They implored researchers to view published district court opinions “with greater sensitivity to the ways in which such cases are unrepresentative of all cases”. The dynamic, multistage nature of trial court litigation makes a focus solely on published opinions particularly ill‐suited to the study of federal district courts. Expanded electronic access to court documents now allows more precise analysis of the ways in which published cases are unrepresentative and what differences that makes for conclusions about the work of district courts. Heeding Siegelman and Donohue's admonition, this study seeks to map the iceberg, exploring the extent to which the visible part misrepresents what lies below the surface. Using a supplemented version of the Kim, Schlanger, and Martin EEOC Litigation Project data, this article examines the varying extent to which cases and judicial activity are visible in the several data sources commonly used by district court researchers. More specifically, we analyze how the work of federal district courts looks different depending on whether research relies on published opinions, on opinions available on Westlaw or Lexis (both “published” and “unpublished”), or on more comprehensive data available on PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Documents). Our results reveal vast variation in visibility of cases and motions, depending on the data source used. We also demonstrate that these differences in case and motion visibility can affect the results of empirical analyses relating to, for example, the success rates of litigants and whether the party of the appointing president affects judicial behavior. Our findings mean that utilizing docket sheets, now available electronically, to gather data will often be required to draw accurate conclusions about the nature of district court litigation and the behavior of district court judges.
Entomopathogenic fungus isolates for adult Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) management and their compatibility with Tuta pheromone
Authors: Akutse Komivi S. , Subramanian Sevgan , Khamis Fathiya M. , Ekesi Sunday , Mohamed Samira A.
Published: August 2020

Tomato, Solanum lycopersicum, is a widely consumed and economically important vegetable in the tropics. However, its production and productivity have been recently hampered by the invasive Tuta absoluta (Meyrick), a key pest of tomato causing extensive economic damage in Africa. Currently, the commonly used management strategy is synthetic insecticides with hazardous effects on humans and environment. The application of entomopathogenic fungal and viral‐based biopesticides is promising alternatives. To identify potent strains, pathogenicity of dry conidia of 12 Metarhizium anisopliae isolates was evaluated against adult T. absoluta. Further effects of the most potent isolates on pupation through the late 4th instar larval infection, adult emergence and horizontal transmission of inoculum were assessed. Metarhizium anisopliae ICIPE 18, ICIPE 20 and ICIPE 665 outperformed the other isolates causing adult mortality of 95.0%, 87.5% and 86.25%, respectively. The three potent isolates differed significantly for LT50 values of 5.13, 3.17 and 2.38 days for ICIPE 18, ICIPE 20 and ICIPE 665, respectively. Pupation and adult emergence were significantly reduced by these potent isolates, which were also compatible with Tuta pheromone (TUA‐Optima®) with ≥90% conidial germination 24 hr post‐exposure. These potent isolates could be developed as effective biopesticides and used in combination with TUA‐Optima® for mass trapping and autodissemination for T. absoluta management in solanaceous crop production systems.
Frequent visits to various anvils during tool use by the graphic tuskfish Choerodon graphicus (Labridae)
Authors: Pryor Kimberley J.
Published: August 2020

This study investigated tool use by the graphic tuskfish Choerodon graphicus in New Caledonia. Anvils included rocks, a conical shell, flat dead corals and a concrete mooring. Sixteen tool‐use events were observed in 10 h. A tool‐use event often involved more than one anvil (44%). On average, C. graphicus struck prey six times and spent 84 s at an anvil. The only prey items brought to anvils were bivalve and gastropod molluscs. These results provide a foundation for future research on tool use in fishes.
Static material flow analysis of neodymium in China
Authors: Geng Jingxuan , Hao Han , Sun Xin , Xun Dengye , Liu Zongwei , Zhao Fuquan
Published: August 2020

Neodymium is one of the most important enabling materials for next‐generation clean technologies, especially electric vehicles and wind turbines. As the world's largest producer of rare earth minerals, China dominates the global neodymium supply and a considerable amount of primary neodymium resources are from illegal mining. Many studies have been conducted on the material flow of neodymium in different regions, but few studies focus on China. In this study, a static material flow analysis of neodymium is conducted to quantitatively analyze the industrial chain structure of neodymium in China and to calculate the neodymium output from illegal mining. The results quantitatively depict the neodymium material flow of each stage of China's neodymium industrial chain in 2016, which indicates that 12.3–17.0 kt of primary neodymium resources were from illegal mining. On the basis of the results, reasonable conclusions can be drawn that the recycling of neodymium from end‐of‐life products provides an important opportunity to both reduce illegal rare earth mining and cope with increasing neodymium demand.
Resolving Coparenting Dissatisfaction In Couples: A Preliminary Task Analysis Study
Authors: Eira Nunes Cindy , Pascual‐Leone Antonio , de Roten Yves , Favez Nicolas , Darwiche Joëlle
Published: August 2020

This study explored the change that unfolded when parents resolved their coparenting dissatisfaction during an Integrative Brief Systemic Intervention (IBSI) for parent couples. We conducted a task analysis (Greenberg, 2007) to build a model of resolving coparenting dissatisfaction. We compared a postulated model of change (rational model) based on theoretical and clinical assumptions to the observations of the actual change process that couples experienced in an IBSI (empirical analysis). The empirical analysis was conducted on six IBSI therapy cases (three exhibiting positive development and three exhibiting no development). We defined positive development in IBSI as moving from coparenting dissatisfaction to coparenting satisfaction. The final rational–empirical model included six steps that facilitated the resolution of coparenting dissatisfaction. This study contributes to deepening the knowledge of how coparenting may change during marital therapy.
Mimicking SIV chimpanzee viral evolution toward HIV‐1 during cross‐species transmission
Authors: Schmitt Kimberly , Curlin James , Remling‐Mulder Leila , Moriarty Ryan , Goff Kelly , O’Connor Shelby , Stenglein Mark , Marx Preston , Akkina Ramesh
Published: August 2020

HIV‐1 evolved from SIV during cross‐species transmission events, though viral genetic changes are not well understood. Here, we studied the evolution of SIVcpzLB715 into HIV‐1 Group M using humanized mice. High viral loads, rapid CD4+ T‐cell decline, and non‐synonymous substitutions were identified throughout the viral genome suggesting viral adaptation.
Accessory ovary may be a treatment for infertility: Case report and review of current literatures
Authors: Zhou Xiao‐Ye , Tang Xue‐Ling , Zhang Fei‐Lei , Yang Xiao‐Jun
Published: August 2020

Accessory ovary is a type of ovarian dysplasia, which is often defined as an ovarian tissue placed near and directly connected to the normal ovary or one of ovarian ligaments. It is often asymptomatic, mostly is found or diagnosed at laparotomy, laparoscopy or autopsy. Accessory ovary is often excised during surgery due to its potential malignant behavior. We report a case of endometriosis cyst occurred simultaneously in right side of orthotopic and accessory ovaries, together with torsion 180° of accessory ovarian cyst. Considering that the patient had not given birth and the large size of cysts, exploratory laparotomy was performed. During laparotomy, both site of ovarian cyst have been removed with orthotopic and accessory ovarian tissues preserved. After surgery, a large number of antral follicles were found both in right side of orthotopic and accessory ovaries by ultrasonography. Accessory ovary is considered to have physiological function, and can be preserved as a fertility protection measure for women who have fertility requirements. At present, the definition of ectopic ovary, accessory ovary and supernumerary ovary are very vague and rarely discussed separately. So, we proposed a new way to clarify the concepts of ectopic ovary, accessory ovary and supernumerary ovary. Moreover, we advocated that they should be discussed separately in terms of definition and management measures.
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are associated with dysmenorrhea in early adulthood: A cohort study
Authors: Nakayama Midori , Ono Masanori , Iizuka Takashi , Kagami Kyosuke , Fujiwara Tomoko , Sekizuka‐Kagami Naomi , Maida Yoshiko , Obata Takeshi , Yamazaki Rena , Daikoku Takiko , Fujiwara Hiroshi
Published: August 2020

Aim

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are serious conditions that occur in 5–10% of pregnancies. Maternal factors, such as maternal age, obesity, and renal disease, have been described as risk factors. In order to extract the background lifestyle and gynecological characteristics for HDP, we conducted a prospective cohort study.

Methods

Pregnant participants were administered a questionnaire on characteristics, menstrual abnormalities and lifestyle factors. The women were followed individually until 1‐month postpartum. We used medical records to examine the relationship between menstrual abnormalities and the onset of HDP.

Results

We collected data from 193 pregnant women, and excluding 3 who had miscarriage, examined the records of 190. A total of 26 patients developed HDP, of which 10 had early‐onset HDP and 16 had late‐onset HDP. Although there was no significant association between HDP and dysmenorrhea just prior to pregnancy, there was a significant increase in the incidence of HDP in patients who experienced dysmenorrhea around the age of 20 years (odds ratio 4.362 [95% CI 1.61–11.81]).

Conclusion

We found that patients with a history of dysmenorrhea around the age of 20 years have a significantly higher risk of developing HDP. Although dysmenorrhea in young adulthood is ameliorated, it may become apparent as a perinatal disease when a physical load such as pregnancy is applied.
Calcium channel blockers, survival and ischaemic stroke in patients with dementia: a Swedish registry study
Authors: Kalar I. , Xu H. , Secnik J. , Schwertner E. , Kramberger M. G. , Winblad B. , von Euler M. , Eriksdotter M. , Garcia‐Ptacek S.
Published: August 2020

Background

The effect of calcium channel blockers (CCB) on mortality and ischaemic stroke risk in dementia patients is understudied.

Objectives

To calculate the risk of death and ischaemic stroke in dementia patients treated with CCBs, considering individual agents and dose response.

Methods

Longitudinal cohort study with 18 906 hypertensive dementia patients from the Swedish Dementia Registry (SveDem), 2008–2014. Other Swedish national registries contributed information on comorbidities, dispensed medication and outcomes. Individual CCB agents and cumulative defined daily doses (cDDD) were considered.

Results

In patients with hypertension and dementia, nifedipine was associated with increased mortality risk (aHR 1.32; CI 1.01–1.73;P < 0.05) compared to non‐CCB users. Patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s dementia (AD) or dementia with Lewy bodies/Parkinson’s disease dementia (DLB‐PDD) taking amlodipine had lower mortality risk (aHR, 0.89; CI, 0.80–0.98;P < 0.05 and aHR 0.58; CI, 0.38–0.86;P < 0.01, respectively), than those taking other CCBs. Amlodipine was associated with lower stroke risk in patients with Alzheimer’s dementia compared to other CCBs (aHR 0.63; CI, 0.44–0.89;P < 0.05).

Sensitivity analyses with propensity score‐matched cohorts repeated the results for nifedipine (aHR 1.35; 95% CI, 1.02–1.78;P < 0.05) and amlodipine in AD (aHR, 0.87; CI, 0.78–0.97;P < 0.05) and DLB‐PDD (aHR, 0.56, 95%CI, 0.37–0.85;P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Amlodipine was associated with reduced mortality risk in dementia patients diagnosed with AD and DLB‐PDD. AD patients using amlodipine had a lower risk of ischaemic stroke compared to other CCB users.
Complex Rehabilitation for an Adolescent with Ectodermal Dysplasia—A 10‐Year Follow‐Up
Authors: Sun Xiaodi , Yang Jing , Ma Xiaoli , Liu Songyun , Zhang Jian
Published: August 2020

Maxillofacial rehabilitation of patients with ectodermal dysplasia (ED) often presents clinical challenges due to hypodontia and hypoplastic alveolar bone. This clinical report describes a 16‐year‐old patient suffering from ED who displayed severe hypodontia, maxillary retrusion and thin knife‐edge alveolar crest. This patient was treated with distraction osteogenesis and a bone graft harvested from the iliac crest to correct maxillary retrusion and bone insufficiency. Six months later, implants were inserted. Then, implant‐supported overdentures were completed. Although a new implant was reinserted during the 10‐year follow‐up, the results showed that combination surgical treatment achieved a predictable, functional and esthetic outcome in a patient suffering from ED.
Educating paediatric health‐care providers about human trafficking
Authors: Coughlin Catherine G , Greenbaum Jordan , Titchen Kanani
Published: August 2020

Human trafficking is a public health issue and humanitarian crisis. Most alarming is that children are especially at risk. Although many studies demonstrate that the majority of trafficked persons surveyed engage with the health‐care system during the time in which they are trafficked, health‐care practitioners lack the knowledge, tools and resources to assist these patients. The present efforts in training health‐care professionals have been fragmented and largely ineffective. While prior training has produced short‐term changes in knowledge or attitudes of health professionals, it has not produced sustained changes in knowledge and attitudes nor meaningful changes in screening or intervention. No training has demonstrated changes in patient outcomes. Trafficked persons, particularly children and survivors of labour trafficking, are inadequately served by our present training options for health‐care practitioners, and evidence‐based protocols are needed to care for this underserved, disenfranchised and traumatised population. To provide optimal care for trafficked youth, health‐care practitioners may benefit from: (i) evaluating training for health care providers (HCP) rigorously and meaningfully; (ii) advocating for high‐quality training for all HCPs; (iii) fostering partnerships with key stakeholders to inform training and practice; and (iv) designing HCP training that is comprehensive, spanning all forms of human trafficking and including all populations involved.
C2C12 cell model: its role in understanding of insulin resistance at the molecular level and pharmaceutical development at the preclinical stage
Authors: Wong Chun Y , Al-Salami Hani , Dass Crispin R
Published: August 2020

Objectives

The myoblast cell line, C2C12, has been utilised extensively in vitro as an examination model in understanding metabolic disease progression. Although it is indispensable in both preclinical and pharmaceutical research, a comprehensive review of its use in the investigation of insulin resistance progression and pharmaceutical development is not available.

Key findings

C2C12 is a well-documented model, which can facilitate our understanding in glucose metabolism, insulin signalling mechanism, insulin resistance, oxidative stress, reactive oxygen species and glucose transporters at cellular and molecular levels. With the aid of the C2C12 model, recent studies revealed that insulin resistance has close relationship with various metabolic diseases in terms of disease progression, pathogenesis and therapeutic management. A holistic, safe and effective disease management is highly of interest. Therefore, significant efforts have been paid to explore novel drug compounds and natural herbs that can elicit therapeutic effects in the targeted sites at both cellular (e.g. mitochondria, glucose transporter) and molecular level (e.g. genes, signalling pathway).

The use of C2C12 myoblast cell line is meaningful in pharmaceutical and biomedical research due to their expression of GLUT-4 and other features that are representative to human skeletal muscle cells. With the use of the C2C12 cell model, the impact of drug delivery systems (nanoparticles and quantum dots) on skeletal muscle, as well as the relationship between exercise, pancreatic β-cells and endothelial cells, was discovered.
Sleep‐disordered breathing in patients with stroke‐induced dysphagia
Authors: Estai Mohamed , Walsh Jennifer , Maddison Kathleen , Shepherd Kelly , Hillman David , McArdle Nigel , Baker Vanessa , King Stuart , Al‐Obaidi Zeena , Bamagoos Ahmad , Parry Reece , Langdon Claire , Trzaskowski Robyn , Harris Geraldine , Brookes Kim , Blacker David , Eastwood Peter R.
Published: August 2020

This study examined the nature and characteristics of sleep‐disordered breathing, including obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea, in patients with post‐stroke dysphagia, to determine the demographic, anthropometric and clinical variables that were associated with sleep‐disordered breathing. Thirty‐nine patients diagnosed with acute stroke (28 males and 11 females with a mean age of 72.3 ± 10.0 years) underwent overnight polysomnography (within 3.9 ± 1.6 days after admission). Sleep‐disordered breathing was described by the apnea–hypopnea index and its obstructive and central components by the obstructive apnea–hypopnea index and central apnea–hypopnea index, respectively. Severity of dysphagia was assessed using the Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability score. Severity of stroke and functional dependence were assessed by the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale and the modified Barthel index, respectively. Most of the cohort (87%) had moderate‐to‐severe dysphagia (Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability of 143.2 ± 19.9). Sleep‐disordered breathing (apnea‐hypopnea index ≥ 5 events/hr) was present in 38 participants (97%) with a mean apnea–hypopnea index of 37.5 ± 24.4 events/hr. Sleep‐disordered breathing was predominantly obstructive in nature, with a mean obstructive apnea–hypopnea index and central apnea–hypopnea index of 19.6 ± 15.7 and 11.4 ± 17.6 events/hr, respectively. Multivariate linear regression analyses showed that the apnea–hypopnea index was associated with sex (p = .0001), body mass index (p = .029) and the modified Barthel index (p = .006); the obstructive apnea–hypopnea index was associated with the Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability (p = .006), sex (p = .004) and body mass index (p = .015) and had a nonlinear relationship with the modified Barthel index (p = .019); and the central apnea–hypopnea index was associated with sex (p = .027) and the modified Barthel index (p = .019). The present study showed that dysphagia severity was associated with obstructive sleep apnea severity and this association was independent of sex, modified Barthel index and body mass index. However, stroke‐induced dysphagia was not associated with central sleep apnea or overall sleep‐disordered breathing.
Learning to read: where should early childhood educators begin?
Authors: Nicholas Maria , Rouse Elizabeth
Published: August 2020

Learning to read is a process that begins well before children commence formal schooling and well before children learn to decode print. Children's early reading skills are, first and foremost, foundationally contingent upon children's oral language and phonological awareness proficiencies – skills that can be mapped across a continuum of development from speech‐to‐print. Nine educators from Victoria, Australia, were interviewed, asked to share their understandings and planning for literacy learning when working with 2–3‐year‐old children. Findings showed that the educators exposed children to opportunities to develop their communication and oral language skills, privileging general conversation and storybook reading. However, some educators appeared unaware of the various stages of phonological awareness and/or appeared to privilege phonics over and above earlier stages of development. The authors recommend that educators, managers and course designers seeking to support young children's emergent literacy development use a framework such as the one presented in this paper to evaluate their knowledges/practices/programmes and that further, larger scale research be conducted that compares educators' interview data with what they do in practice.
ABCB11 deficiency presenting as transient neonatal cholestasis: Correlation with genotypes and BSEP expression
Authors: Li Li‐Ting , Li Zhong‐Die , Yang Ye , Lu Yi , Xie Xin‐Bao , Chen Lian , Feng Jia‐Yan , Knisely A. S. , Wang Jian‐She
Published: August 2020

Background & Aims

ABCB11 deficiency presenting in infancy is believed generally to manifest as persistent/progressive cholestasis. We describe a group of patients with biallelic ABCB11 variants whose disorder manifested as transient neonatal cholestasis (TNC).

Methods

Neonatal intrahepatic cholestasis in 68 children (31 males) with biallelic predictedly pathogenic variants (PPV) in ABCB11 was classified as transient (TNC group, n = 23, 11 males), intermittent (benign recurrent intrahepatic cholestasis [BRIC] group, n = 3, 1 male) or persistent/ progressive (progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis [PFIC] group, n = 42, 19 males). Clinical, genetic and bile salt export pump (BSEP) expression information was correlated with outcomes.

Results

The median onset age of jaundice was 3 days (birth to 2 months) for the TNC group and 10.5 days (birth to 3 months) for the PFIC group (P = .034). The median length of follow‐up of TNC patients was 44 months (12 months‐168 months). At presentation, hepatobiliary‐injury biomarker values were similar between the groups (P > .05). TNC patients (17/23) more often than PFIC patients (20/42, P = .041) harboured biallelic non‐null variants (predicted not to terminate translation prematurely). TNC patient livers (7/7) more often than PFIC patient livers (5/16, P = .005) expressed immunohistochemically detectable BSEP. Kaplan‐Meier analysis showed better prognosis for patients with BSEP expression (P = .009). Too few BRIC patients were available for statistical study.

Conclusions

Neonatal cholestasis associated with biallelic PPV in ABCB11 can resolve temporarily or persistently in one third of cases. Resolution is more likely in patients with biallelic non‐null PPV or with liver BSEP expression.
Model risk in credit risk
Authors: Fontana Roberto , Luciano Elisa , Semeraro Patrizia
Published: August 2020

We provide sharp analytical upper and lower bounds for value‐at‐risk (VaR) and sharp bounds for expected shortfall (ES) of portfolios of any dimension subject to default risk. To do so, the main methodological contribution of the paper consists in analytically finding the convex hull generators for the class of exchangeable Bernoulli variables with given mean and for the class of exchangeable Bernoulli variables with given mean and correlation in any dimension. Using these analytical results, we first describe all possible dependence structures for default, in the class of finite sequences of exchangeable Bernoulli random variables. We then measure how model risk affects VaR and ES.
Organic contamination on the surface of meteorites as a function of space and time: A case study of the Buzzard Coulee H4 chondrite
Authors: Tunney Libby D. , Herd Christopher D. K. , Hilts Robert W.
Published: August 2020

The study of organic compounds in astromaterials represents a unique window into organic matter in the interstellar medium, the solar nebula, and asteroid parent bodies, and insights into pathways that may relate organic matter in these diverse environments. Unfortunately, the Earth’s surface is awash in organic material, which forms a significant source of contamination, especially for specimens of meteorite falls. Here, we employ specimens of the Buzzard Coulee H4 ordinary chondrite, the fall of which in western Saskatchewan, Canada, on November 20, 2008 was widely documented, and from which meteorites were recovered starting shortly after the fall and continuing to over 10 years later. The low intrinsic organic matter content of these H4 specimens enables their use as “blanks” for terrestrial contamination. Using dichloromethane rinses of meteorite specimen exteriors, and analysis of organic compounds by gas chromatograph‐mass spectrometry, we document the sources of terrestrial contamination as a function of location, time of collection relative to the fall, and curation and handling since collection. We find numerous terrestrial organic compounds, most of which can be attributed to the terrestrial surface on which the meteorite specimens were collected, and we consider a variety of factors that may influence the degree of contamination. To determine the source of each contaminant more accurately, we advocate for the collection of terrestrial materials (e.g., soil, vegetation) alongside meteorites. Our results have implications for how specimens from meteorite falls—especially for meteorites expected to have high intrinsic organic content—are collected, documented, and curated.
Living on Borrowed Breath: Respiratory Distress, Social Breathing, and the Vital Movement of Ventilators
Authors: Solomon Harris
Published: August 2020

Based on ethnographic research in a public hospital trauma intensive care unit in Mumbai, India, this article formulates the concept of “social breathing” to analyze how breath is central to values of life at the edges of death. Case studies of emergency resuscitation, intubation, and ventilation each illustrate breathing's sociality, as people and machines move air both materially and immaterially. Amid the hospital's rationing of life support technologies, forms of life that seem to be self‐regulated are better understood as relational movements of breath. Social breathing stands to reshape our understanding of the biopolitics of intensive care by drawing attention to uncertain techniques of the body. These techniques move at the hinge between person and environment, self and other, public and private health care systems, and medicine and machine. Life's valuation at this hinge takes shape through breath moving against its limits. Ultimately, the article argues that it is crucial to understand how ventilators mediate the edges of life and death by tracing the circulations of life support as the movements of life itself. As patients, families, and hospital workers struggle to make and manage breath, we might better grapple with the social relations that emerge as life support shapes life.
Genetic evidence for the origin ofAedes aegypti, the yellow fever mosquito, in the southwestern Indian Ocean
Authors: Soghigian John , Gloria‐Soria Andrea , Robert Vincent , Le Goff Gilbert , Failloux Anna‐Bella , Powell Jeffrey R.
Published: August 2020

Aedes aegyptiis among the best‐studied mosquitoes due to its critical role as a vector of human pathogens and ease of laboratory rearing. Until now, this species was thought to have originated in continental Africa, and subsequently colonized much of the world following the establishment of global trade routes. However, populations of this mosquito on the islands in the southwestern Indian Ocean (SWIO), where the species occurs with its nearest relatives referred to as the Aegypti Group, have received little study. We re‐evaluated the evolutionary history ofAe. aegyptiand these relatives, using three data sets: nucleotide sequence data, 18,489 SNPs and 12 microsatellites. We found that: (a) the Aegypti Group diverged 16 MYA (95% HPD: 7–28 MYA) from its nearest African/Asian ancestor; (b) SWIO populations ofAe. aegyptiare basal to continental African populations; (c) after diverging 7 MYA (95% HPD: 4–15 MYA) from its nearest formally described relative (Ae. mascarensis),Ae. aegyptimoved to continental Africa less than 85,000 years ago, where it recently (<1,000 years ago) split into two recognized subspeciesAe. aegypti formosusand a human commensal,Ae. aegypti aegypti; (d) the Madagascar samples form a clade more distant from all otherAe. aegyptithan the named speciesAe. mascarensis, implying that Madagascar may harbour a new cryptic species; and (e) there is evidence of introgression betweenAe. mascarensisandAe. aegyption Réunion, and between the two subspecies elsewhere in the SWIO, a likely consequence of recent introductions of domesticAe. aegypti aegyptifrom Asia.
Performance‐based assessment during clinical placement: Cross‐sectional investigation of a training workshop for practice educators
Authors: Alpine Lucy M. , O'Connor Anne , McGuinness Marian , Barrett Emer M.
Published: August 2020

Performance‐based assessment evaluates a health professional student's performance as they integrate their knowledge and skills into clinical practice. Performance‐based assessment grades, however, are reported to be highly variable due to the complexity of decision‐making in the clinical environment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of a training workshop based on frame‐of‐reference principles on grading of student performance by physiotherapy practice educators. This was a prospective cross‐sectional study which used a single group pre‐test, post‐test design. Fifty‐three practice educators rated two video vignettes depicting a poor and very good student performance, using a subsection of a physiotherapy performance‐based assessment tool before and after training. Overall, results showed that participants amended their scores on approximately half of all scoring occasions following training, with the majority decreasing the scores awarded. This impacted positively on scoring for the poor performance video, bringing scores more in line with the true score. This study provides evidence of the benefit of a training workshop to influence decision‐making in performance‐based assessment as part of a wider education program for practice educators.
Responses to gastric gas in patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders
Authors: Caballero Noemi , Marin Ingrid , Serra Jordi
Published: August 2020

Background

Gas‐related abdominal symptoms are common in patients with functional gut disorders, but the responses to cope with the large volumes of gas that enter daily into the stomach have not been studied in detail. Our aim was to evaluate transit and tolerance of gastric gas in patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders.

Methods

In eight healthy volunteers and 24 patients with functional gut disorders (eight functional dyspepsia, eight belching disorder, and eight functional bloating) 1500 ml of a gas mixture were infused into the stomach at 25 ml/min. Belching, rectal gas evacuation, and abdominal perception were continuously recorded for 90 minutes.

Key Results

Healthy subjects expelled the infused gas per rectum (1614 ± 73 ml), with a small rise in epigastric perception (score increment 1.0 ± 0.4) and virtually no belching (1 ± 1 belches). Patients with functional dyspepsia had a hypersensitive response to gastric gas, with a significant rise in epigastric perception (score increment 2.5 ± 0.6; P = .045), a transient delay in rectal gas evacuation and similar belching as healthy controls. Patients with belching disorders responded to gastric gas with continuous belches (33 ± 13 belches; P = .002), low epigastric perception, and a small reduction in rectal gas evacuation. Patients with functional bloating exhibited a slow transit response, with reduced rectal gas evacuation (1017 ± 145 ml; P = .002) and abdominal symptoms (score increment 2.5 ± 0.7), but without compensatory belching.

Conclusions and Inferences

Different pathophysiological mechanisms underlay specific adaptive responses to gastric gas in patients with different functional gut disorders. Therapeutic interventions for gas‐related abdominal symptoms should be addressed towards these specific pathophysiological disturbances.
Pollen analysis using multispectral imaging flow cytometry and deep learning
Authors: Dunker Susanne , Motivans Elena , Rakosy Demetra , Boho David , Mäder Patrick , Hornick Thomas , Knight Tiffany M.
Published: August 2020

Pollen identification and quantification are crucial but challenging tasks in addressing a variety of evolutionary and ecological questions (pollination, paleobotany), but also for other fields of research (e.g. allergology, honey analysis or forensics). Researchers are exploring alternative methods to automate these tasks but, for several reasons, manual microscopy is still the gold standard.

In this study, we present a new method for pollen analysis using multispectral imaging flow cytometry in combination with deep learning. We demonstrate that our method allows fast measurement while delivering high accuracy pollen identification.

A dataset of 426 876 images depicting pollen from 35 plant species was used to train a convolutional neural network classifier. We found the best‐performing classifier to yield a species‐averaged accuracy of 96%. Even species that are difficult to differentiate using microscopy could be clearly separated.

Our approach also allows a detailed determination of morphological pollen traits, such as size, symmetry or structure. Our phylogenetic analyses suggest phylogenetic conservatism in some of these traits. Given a comprehensive pollen reference database, we provide a powerful tool to be used in any pollen study with a need for rapid and accurate species identification, pollen grain quantification and trait extraction of recent pollen.
Plant U‐box E3 ligases PUB25 and PUB26 control organ growth in Arabidopsis
Authors: Li Jing , Zhang Yongxia , Gao Zhong , Xu Xiumei , Wang Yanzhi , Lin Yaoxi , Ye Peiming , Huang Tengbo
Published: August 2020

Plant organs often grow into a genetically determined size and shape. How organ growth is finely regulated to achieve a well defined pattern is a fascinating, but largely unresolved, question in plant research.

We utilised the Arabidopsis petal to study the genetic control of plant organ growth, and identify two closely related U‐box E3 ligases PUB25 and PUB26 as important growth regulators by screening the targets of the petal‐specific growth‐promoting transcription factor RABBIT EARS (RBE).

We showed that PUB25 is directly controlled by RBE in petal development in a spatial‐ and temporal‐specific manner and acts as a major target to mediate RBE’s function in petal growth. We also showed that PUB25 and PUB26 repress petal growth by restricting the period of cell proliferation, and their regulation appears to be independent of other plant E3 ligase genes implicated in growth control.

PUB25 and PUB26 are among the first U‐box E3 ligases shown to function in plant growth control. Furthermore, as they were also found to play a vital role in plant stress responses, PUB25 and PUB26 may act as a key hub to integrate developmental and environmental signals for balancing growth and defence in plants.