bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Use of microbubble generator on the growth vannamei shrimp culture
Authors: Rizky P N , Ritonga L B R , Primasari K , Nasuki
Published: July 2022

The advanced challenges from the vannamei shrimp cultivation nowadays keep on pushing the fisheries industry on improving its productivity, however, with minimum use of water resource and an efficient land. This research aims to discover the growth and survival rate of vannamei shrimp that is cultivated in a circular tarpaulin pond with a microbubble aeration system. This research shows that microbubble can increase the amount of dissolved oxygen (DO) within the tarpaulin pond, in which the value of DO in the system blower is 3.69 Mg/L and 5.05 Mg/L in the microbubble system. The DO value within the tarpaulin pond with the microbubble system also affects the growth and viability of the shrimp, in which the growth of shrimp cultivated in the microbubble tarpaulin pond is greater (10.16 gr) than those cultivated in the blower pond (8.77 gr). Moreover, microbubble is more efficient on the use of shrimp’s feed provided with the smaller FCR value than the blower group. The application of microbubble in the circular tarpaulin pond with a high density of population can increase the amount of dissolved oxygen and therefore support the growth of aerobic bacteria to prevent air quality degradation in consequence to increase the viability of the shrimp.
Differences In Livelihood Activities Householdes of Sasak Farmers and Sasak Fishermen In The Province of West Nusa Tenggara
Authors: Sahidu Adriana Monica , Dharmawan Arya Hadi , Satria Arif , Adiwibowo Soeryo , Ali Khomsan
Published: July 2022

One of the provinces experiencing chronic problems regarding the emergence of cases of malnutrition and malnutrition is West Nusa Tenggara Province. The province, which is known as the national rice barn, is indeed facing the problem of cases of malnutrition and undernutrition from year to year. As with the typical characteristics of coastal ecosystems, coastal communities also have sociological characteristics. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of ecological adaptation patterns in the form of livelihood diversification for coastal Sasak households and Sasak rice fields, and to examine the socio-cultural system on the nutritional status of children under five in the coastal and Sasak Sasak communities. The research method used is to combine quantitative and qualitative methods with a post-positivism paradigm approach. The first assumption that underlies this research, is based on Steward's understanding through his theory of cultural ecology, that the adaptation of society to the environment will produce a distinctive cultural form. The results showed that the form of livelihood diversification for upper-middle-class households who owned agricultural land applied debt, manipulative, and vertical cooperation strategies. It was found that the relationship between nutrition for pregnant women and toddlers through meaning is a reflection of the cultural value orientation of the Sasak community. The meaning of the number of children plays a role in the causes of cases of malnutrition and malnutrition in coastal areas. Meanwhile, in the rice fields, on the other hand, there is a tendency for divorce to occur which causes families in the rice fields to be more fragile. The effect of ecological adaptation by households of children under five in coastal Sasak and Sasak rice fields is reflected in the value orientation which is closely related to the source of causes of cases of malnutrition and undernutrition.
Accumulation of heavy metals Pb and Hg in feather shells (Anadara antiquata) in Lekok Coastal Waters, Pasuruan Regency
Authors: Isroni W , Maulida N
Published: July 2022

This research is a quantitative descriptive study that aims to determine the heavy metal contamination of Pb and Hg. Sampling was carried out exploratively in the waters of Lekok Beach, Pasuruan Regency. The data obtained were analyzed by descriptive analysis by comparing the quality standards of the Minister of Environment Decree No. 51 of 2004. And analyzed by correlation test to determine the relationship between the content of heavy metals Pb and Hg in seawater and sediment with feather shells. The results of this study indicate that shellfish (Anadara antiquata) can accumulate heavy metals Pb and Hg. The average accumulation of heavy metals Pb and Hg in Anadara antiquata was 2,315 ppm and 1,100 ppm. The average heavy metal content of Pb and Hg along the sea waters of the Lekok coast are 0.204 ppm and 0.073 ppm. In the sediment the average metal content of Pb and Hg is 5.318 ppm and 1.215 ppm. The heavy metal content has exceeded the quality standard limit that has been determined by the Decree of the Minister of the Environment No. 51 of 2004 and RNO, so that it can be harmful to human health who consume shellfish. The results of the correlation test showed that there was a positive correlation between the heavy metal content of Pb and Hg in sediment and seawater and the heavy metal content of Pb and Hg in shellfish.
Water replacement to reduce tetracycline residue level in the liver of tilapia (Oreochromis sp.)
Authors: Pawestri W , Hakimah N , Pangestika M J
Published: July 2022

Tetracycline is an antibiotic that frequently used to treat various bacterial infections. However, the residue of the antibiotic are often found in food of animal origin, including fish and can be hazardous if consumed by human. This study aimed to determine the effect of water replacement on the residual levels of tetracycline in the liver of tilapia after therapy. Fifty four tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) were divided into 3 groups, namely group A, B, and C. Group A as a negative control was injected with 0.25 ml NaCl 0.9% without water replacement, group B as a positive control was injected with 0.25 ml tetracycline (50 mg/kg) without water replacement, and group C was injected with 0.25 ml tetracycline (50 mg/kg) with 25% water replacement twice a day for 6 days. Subsequently, 3 tilapias were euthanized from each group daily with cranial concussion. Samples of the liver were taken. Liver were analyzed by HPLC for tetracycline residual level and analyzed with Two Way ANOVA. The results showed that there were significant differences in residual level between groups and day. It can be concluded that 25% water replacement can decrease residual level in the tilapian liver.
The effect of different stocking densities on specific growth rate and survival rate of striped snakehead (Channa striata) culture in bucket system
Authors: Latifah H , Prayogo  , Rahardja B S
Published: July 2022

Striped snakehead culture in bucket system with high stock rate at a good living environment, and also adequate feeding can lead to the maximization of production. However, if the stocking density is too high, it can inhibit the survival and growth of fish caused by competition for space, feed and oxygen as well as increased metabolic waste. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of different stocking densities on the specific growth and survival rate of snakehead fish (Channa striata) in buckets. This study used is Completely Randomized Design consisting of 5 treatments and 4 replications, namely P0 (1 fish/L), P1 (2 fish/L), P2 (3 fish/L), P3 (4 fish/L) and P4 (5 fish/L). The ANOVA results showed that the difference in stocking density had a significant effect (P<0.05) on the growth rate of specific weight and length as well as the survival rate of fish. DMRT showed that P1 was the highest result for specific weight and length growth rates (0.90%/day and 0.80%/day) and the lowest at P4 (0.62%/day and 0.40 %/day). In addition, the highest of survival rate are also shown at P1 (95.42%) and the lowest at P4 (32.75 %).
Performance analysis of white snapper (Lates calcarifer) nursery at BBPBAP Jepara
Authors: Saputra A R S H , Samara S H
Published: July 2022

White snapper (Lates calcarifer) is a fish with high economic value that can meet domestic and foreign needs. It’s aquaculture activity has become a commercial business. The growth of white snapper is relatively fast and has high body resistance to environmental changes. BBPBAP plays a role in the fulfillment of superior seeds through nursery activities for white snapper. This study aimed to identify and analysis the performance of white snapper nursery activity in BBPBAP Jepara. Nursery techniques for white snapper included pond preparation, seed stocking, grading, feed management, water quality management, pest and disease control, and seed harvesting. Nursery of white snapper was carried out in concrete ponds with stocking densities ranging from 1000-1500 fish/pond. The percentage of white snapper nursery in the form of seed survival rate at harvest was 80%, feed conversion ratio was 1.51. The average results of water quality parameters in white snapper fish rearing ponds included salinity ranging from 30-35 ppt, DO ranging from 3.2-3.8 mg/L, and water temperature ranging from 28.6-32.6 °C.
Analysis of feed management on vannamei shrimp (Litopenaues vannamei) enlargement in BBPBAP Jepara
Authors: Imron M , Samara S H
Published: July 2022

Many people are interested in shrimp farming because the large profits. One type of shrimp that is often exported is vannamei shrimp. This study aimed to analysis the feed management of vannamei shrimp at BBPBAP Jepara. The working method used in this study was descriptive method by utilizing primary and secondary data. There were 3 ponds observed, namely A51 (268,500 density), A52 (292,000 density) and A61 (399,000 density). Observation time until shrimp is harvested. The method of feeding was to spread the feed evenly to the pond by walking around the pond plot. The percentage of white snapper nursery in the form of seed survival rate at harvest was 80%, feed conversion ratio was 1.51. The average results of water quality parameters in white snapper fish rearing ponds included salinity ranging from 30-35 ppt, DO ranging from 3.2-3.8 mg/L, and water temperature ranging from 28.6-32.6 °C. It could be concluded the white snapper nursery in BBPBAP Jepara showed good results.
The Impact of Ingroup and Outgroup Exclusion on HIV-Risk Cognitions in Sexual Minority Men
Authors: Gibson Laurel P , Blair Irene V , Bryan Angela D
Published: July 2022

Background

Sexual minority men (SMM) face disproportionate rates of HIV/AIDS. Emerging evidence indicates that minority stress (e.g., discrimination) and stress from within the gay community itself (e.g., exclusion) may contribute to sexual orientation disparities in HIV prevalence and risk.

Purpose

This study investigated the impact of sexual orientation discrimination and exclusion by the gay community on SMM’s intentions to engage in HIV-risk behavior.

Methods

We conducted an experiment in which we employed an exclusion manipulation to induce (a) perceived discrimination from the outgroup and (b) perceived exclusion by the ingroup in a community sample of 194 SMM. Participants completed a baseline assessment of previous discrimination, exposure to gay community stress, and HIV-risk behavior. Two days later, participants completed an experiment in which they were randomized to one of four conditions in the game Cyberball: (a) exclusion by straight men, (b) inclusion by straight men, (c) exclusion by gay men, or (d) inclusion by gay men. Risky sex intentions were then assessed.

Results

Discrimination and gay community stress were positively associated with HIV-risk behaviors at baseline. Participants who were excluded (vs. included) by straight men in the experimental task reported more risky sex intentions. This effect was mediated by decreases in state self-esteem. Risky sex intentions did not differ between participants who were included versus excluded by gay men.

Conclusions

This study provides the first experimental evidence that discrimination is associated with sexual risk taking in SMM, and elucidates a potential psychological mechanism through which this effect operates.
Logistics Contracts and the Political Economy of State Failure: Evidence from Somalia
Authors: Elder Claire
Published: July 2022

Scholars have long sought to understand how economic rents may inhibit the formation of effective and accountable government. Prevailing interpretations of empirical state failure do not adequately account for economic connections and rents. Based on in-depth ethnographic fieldwork and original source material from the Somalia context, this study shows how the dominance of the logistics economy, as a system of ‘graft’ endogenous to state-building, has contributed to empirical state failure. Empirical state failure is characterized by intra-elite struggle, endemic political violence, and insecurity including the threat posed by Islamic extremism. Contributing to the study of political settlements, political clientelism, and business–state relationships in Africa, findings from this study offer new insights for understanding how the dominance of logistics rents and lead firms within a political system may prevent the establishment of legitimate, centralized authorities. These findings contribute to the broader study of Africa’s political economies which have experienced protracted civil war and post-conflict reconstruction. In conclusion, it argues how economic development, procurement reform agendas, and efforts to withhold or withdraw aid through economic sanctions fail to resolve endemic conflict and governance issues due to vested interests, elite fragmentation, and polycentric aid practices. Instead, both government policy and foreign interventions continue to empower lead logistics firms (as skilful political entrepreneurs) that destabilize the Federal Government of Somalia.
Predicting foraging dive outcomes in chinstrap penguins using biologging and animal-borne cameras
Authors: Manco Fabrizio , Lang Stephen D J , Trathan Philip N
Published: July 2022

Direct observation of foraging behavior is not always possible, especially for marine species that hunt underwater. However, biologging and tracking devices have provided detailed information about how various species use their habitat. From these indirect observations, researchers have inferred behaviors to address a variety of research questions, including the definition of ecological niches. In this study, we deployed video cameras with GPS and time-depth recorders on 16 chinstrap penguins (Pygoscelis antarcticus) during the brood phase of the 2018–2019 breeding season on Signy (South Orkney Islands). More than 57 h of footage covering 770 dives were scrutinized by two observers. The outcome of each dive was classified as either no krill encounter, individual krill or krill swarm encounter and the number of prey items caught per dive was estimated. Other variables derived from the logging devices or from the environment were used to train a machine-learning algorithm to predict the outcome of each dive. Our results show that despite some limitations, the data collected from the footage was reliable. We also demonstrate that it was possible to accurately predict the outcome of each dive from dive and horizontal movement variables in a manner that has not been used for penguins previously. For example, our models show that a fast dive ascent rate and a high density of dives are good indicators of krill and especially of swarm encounter. Finally, we discuss how video footage can help build accurate habitat models to provide wider knowledge about predator behavior or prey distribution.
Biophysical and modeling-based approach for the identification of inhibitors against DOHH fromLeishmania donovani
Authors: Katiki Madhusudhanarao , Sharma Monica , Neetu Neetu , Rentala Madhubala , Kumar Pravindra
Published: July 2022

The amino acid hypusine (Nε-4-amino-2-hydroxybutyl(lysine)) occurs only in isoforms of eukaryotic translation factor 5A (eIF5A) and has a role in initiating protein translation. Hypusinated eIF5A promotes translation and modulates mitochondrial function and oxygen consumption rates. The hypusination of eIF5A involves two enzymes, deoxyhypusine synthase and deoxyhypusine hydroxylase (DOHH). DOHH is the second enzyme that completes the synthesis of hypusine and the maturation of eIF5A. Our current study aims to identify inhibitors against DOHH from Leishmania donovani (LdDOHH), an intracellular protozoan parasite causing Leishmaniasis in humans. The LdDOHH protein was produced heterologously in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) cells and characterized biochemically. The three-dimensional structure was predicted, and the compounds folic acid, scutellarin and homoarbutin were selected as top hits in virtual screening. These compounds were observed to bind in the active site of LdDOHH stabilizing the structure by making hydrogen bonds in the active site, as observed by the docking and molecular dynamics simulation studies. These results pave the path for further investigation of these molecules for their anti-leishmanial activities.
Comprehensive omics studies of p53 mutants in human cancer
Authors: Malhotra Lakshay , Singh Alankrita , Kaur Punit , Ethayathulla Abdul S
Published: July 2022

The p53 is the master regulator of the cell known for regulating a large array of cellular processes. Inactivation of p53 by missense mutations is one of the leading causes of cancer. Some of these mutations endow p53 with selective oncogenic functions to promote tumor progression. Due to the vast array of mutations found in p53, the experimental studies showing the role of different mutant p53 as an oncogene are also expanding. In this review, we discuss the oncogenic roles of different p53 mutants at the cellular level identified by multi-omics tools. We discuss some of the therapeutic studies to tackle p53 mutants and their downstream targets identified by omics. We also highlight the future prospective and scope of further studies of downstream p53 targets by omics.
Evaluating methylation of human ribosomal DNA at each CpG site reveals its utility for cancer detection using cell-free DNA
Authors: Zhang Xianglin , Jia Xiaodong , Zhong Bixi , Wei Lei , Li Jiaqi , Zhang Wei , Fang Huan , Li Yanda , Lu Yinying , Wang Xiaowo
Published: July 2022

Ribosomal deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) (rDNA) repeats are tandemly located on five acrocentric chromosomes with up to hundreds of copies in the human genome. DNA methylation, the most well-studied epigenetic mechanism, has been characterized for most genomic regions across various biological contexts. However, rDNA methylation patterns remain largely unexplored due to the repetitive structure. In this study, we designed a specific mapping strategy to investigate rDNA methylation patterns at each CpG site across various physiological and pathological processes. We found that CpG sites on rDNA could be categorized into two types. One is within or adjacent to transcribed regions; the other is distal to transcribed regions. The former shows highly variable methylation levels across samples, while the latter shows stable high methylation levels in normal tissues but severe hypomethylation in tumors. We further showed that rDNA methylation profiles in plasma cell-free DNA could be used as a biomarker for cancer detection. It shows good performances on public datasets, including colorectal cancer [area under the curve (AUC) = 0.85], lung cancer (AUC = 0.84), hepatocellular carcinoma (AUC = 0.91) and in-house generated hepatocellular carcinoma dataset (AUC = 0.96) even at low genome coverage (<1×). Taken together, these findings broaden our understanding of rDNA regulation and suggest the potential utility of rDNA methylation features as disease biomarkers.
Identifying modifications on DNA-bound histones with joint deep learning of multiple binding sites in DNA sequence
Authors: Li Yan , Quan Lijun , Zhou Yiting , Jiang Yelu , Li Kailong , Wu Tingfang , Lyu Qiang
Published: July 2022

Motivation

Histone modifications are epigenetic markers that impact gene expression by altering the chromatin structure or recruiting histone modifiers. Their accurate identification is key to unraveling the mechanisms by which they regulate gene expression. However, the solutions for this task can be improved by exploiting multiple relationships from dataset and exploring designs of learning models, for example jointly learning technology.

Results

This article proposes a deep learning-based multi-objective computational approach, iHMnBS, to identify which of the seven typical histone modifications a DNA sequence may choose to bind, and which parts of the DNA sequence bind to them. iHMnBS employs a customized dataset that allows the marking of modifications contained in histones that may bind to any position in the DNA sequence. iHMnBS tries to mine the information implicit in this richer data by means of deep neural networks. In comprehensive comparisons, iHMnBS outperforms a baseline method, and the probability of binding to modified histones assigned to a representative nucleotide of a DNA sequence can serve as a reference for biological experiments. Since the interaction between transcription factors and histone modifications has an important role in gene expression, we extracted a number of sequence patterns that may bind to transcription factors, and explored their possible impact on disease.

Availability and implementation

The source code is available at https://github.com/lennylv/iHMnBS.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Small Things in Everyday Places: Homelessness, Dissent and Affordances in Public Space
Authors: Popovski Hristijan , Young Alison
Published: July 2022

In ‘a world that has been built to accommodate only some’ (Ahmed 2019: 221), how do those engaging in public protest or experiencing housing insecurity make use of the material environment? In this article, we examine adaptation of the built environment in four sites in Melbourne, Australia. Everyday urban places are composed of myriad ‘small things’ acted upon as affordances for survival within structures of silencing and dispossession for the urban undercommons. We draw from cultural, spatial and atmospheric criminology to inform an ethnographic method focusing on materiality, use, adaptability and sensory composition. In so doing, our research contributes to criminological understanding of the significance of ‘minor’ events, activities and encounters in everyday life by proposing that ‘small things in everyday places’ constitute potentialities for defiance and resistance.
Cities, innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystems: assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Huggins Robert , Thompson Piers
Published: July 2022

A potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is that the nature, rates and spatial configuration of innovation may change within and across cities. To examine these potential changes, this article draws on findings from data gathered through interviews, surveys and secondary data over two time periods: prior to the pandemic and during the fallout from the pandemic. The article utilises the concept of ‘entrepreneurial ecosystems’ and the analysis finds significant adaptability and resilience across the ecosystems addressed. It is argued that these ecosystems are not only likely to survive, but also to actually thrive as the requirement for new technological solutions and applications allows them to maintain their innovative capacity and capability. It is further found that more spatially distributed patterns of entrepreneurial innovation are emerging across a wider range of cities and regions, which is leading to changes in the spatial economics of innovation. It is concluded that the pandemic is likely to heighten rather than slow down these trends. Furthermore, these trends are set to continue until any new unforeseen global shock with the capacity to destabilise such patterns occurs.
Frailty and predictive factors in Chinese hospitalized patients with heart failure: a structural equation model analysis
Authors: Yang Yang , Liu Yifang , Zhang Zeyu , Mao Jing
Published: July 2022

Aims

Frailty is closely related to the prognosis and quality of life of patients with heart failure (HF). However, the predictors of it are still unclear. Our study aimed to describe the frailty status of Chinese hospitalized patients with HF and explore predictive factors guided by Theory of Unpleasant Symptoms.

Methods and results

In this cross-sectional descriptive study, questionnaire-based survey was conducted among 323 patients hospitalized with HF in three tertiary hospitals in Wuhan, China. Frailty was measured by the Tilburg Frailty Indicator (TFI) in this study. The model based on Theory of Unpleasant Symptoms fits the sample well (root mean square error of approximation = 0.063, goodness of fit index = 0.977, normed fit index = 0.901, and comparative fit index = 0.940). Frailty among Chinese patients hospitalized with HF was at high level (TFI = 6.57 ± 3.05). General demographic characteristics (older age, female gender, lower education level, and medical payment method), physical factors (higher New York Heart Association cardiac function class), psychological factors (more severe depression), and social factors (poorer social support) were significant predictors of more severe frailty (P < 0.05). Depression played an important mediating role in this study.

Conclusion

Theory of Unpleasant Symptoms can be used to guide the research on the frailty of HF patients. It is suggested to strengthen emotional support and health education for HF patients in China. In addition, more attention should be paid to the less educated population by providing more personalized health guidance.
Risk factors related to psychological distress among elderly patients with cardiovascular disease
Authors: Matsumura Koichiro , Kakiuchi Yasuhiro , Tabuchi Takahiro , Takase Toru , Ueno Masafumi , Maruyama Masahiro , Mizutani Kazuki , Miyoshi Tatsuya , Takahashi Kuniaki , Nakazawa Gaku
Published: July 2022

Aims

Psychological distress is associated with poor prognosis in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, factors related to psychological distress in elderly patients with CVD are less understood. We aim to investigate the rate of psychological distress in elderly patients with CVD in comparison with that of patients without CVD and to examine the clinical, socio-economic, and lifestyle factors associated with this condition.

Methods and results

Data from a nationwide population-based study in Japan of patients aged ≥60 years were extracted, and 1:1 propensity score matching was conducted of patients with and without CVD. Psychological distress was assessed using the K6 scale, on which a score ≥6 was defined as psychological distress. Of the 24 388 matched patients, the rate of psychological distress was significantly higher among patients with CVD compared with those without CVD (29.8 vs. 20.5%, P < 0.0001). The multivariate analysis revealed that female sex, comorbidities, except for hypertension, current smoking status, daily sleep duration of <6 vs. ≥8 h, home renter vs. owner, retired status, having a walking disability, and lower monthly household expenditure were independently associated with psychological distress. Walking disability was observed to be in greatest association with psychological distress (odds ratio 2.69, 95% confidence interval 2.46–2.93).

Conclusion

Elderly patients with CVD were more likely to have psychological distress compared with those without CVD. Multiple factors, including clinical, socio-economic, and lifestyle variables, were associated with psychological distress. These analyses may help healthcare providers to identify high-risk patients with psychological distress in a population of older adults with CVD.
Building a personalized patient education model for general practice by Delphi method
Authors: Li Jie , Xu Mu , Jiang Yue
Published: July 2022

Background

As one of the 3 strategic measures for disease prevention and control in the 21st century identified by WHO, patient education is the most effective measure to change people’s behaviour and lifestyle. However, there are many problems with patient education in general practice in China. Because there is no suitable and uniform mode of patient education for the busy and crowded Chinese general practice. Therefore, it is necessary to establish an appropriate personalized patient education model.

Methods

There were 3 rounds of consultation of the Delphi method. Each round of consultation is adjusted, modified, or deleted based on the previous round according to the degree of concentration and coordination of expert opinions. Thus form the index system of personalized patient education model. Using Cronbach α to conduct an internal consistency test for the index system.

Results

Twenty-three participants participated in the study. The effective recovery rate of consultation was 100%. In the third round of consultation, the variation importance coefficient was 0–0.25, the variation operability coefficient was 0.07–0.26. Kendall’s W of importance and operability score was significant (Kendall’s W = 0.186; P < 0.01). The chi-square test result of importance is (X2 = 232.744) and operability is (X2 = 246.156). The Cronbach α was 0.974. EFA (exploratory factor analysis) indicates the model has good construct validity.

Conclusions

The CAPDCA personalized patient education model was preliminarily constructed in this study. Specifically, 6 first-level indicators including collection (C), assessment (A), plan (P), do (D), check (C), aggrandizement (A), 24 second-level indicators, and 34 third-level indicators. That forms the cyclic personalized patient education paradigm which has reasonable structure and high feasibility.
A systematic scoping review of primary health care service outreach for homeless populations
Authors: Kopanitsa Valeriya , McWilliams Stephen , Leung Richard , Schischa Batsheva , Sarela Shazia , Perelmuter Sara , Sheeran Emma , d’Algue Laure Mourgue , Tan Guan Chwen , Rosenthal Diana Margot
Published: July 2022

Background

Homeless populations (HPs) have difficulties obtaining necessary medical care, and primary health care service outreach (PHSO) might be useful to bridge this gap.

Objective

Using the Centre for Evidence-Based Management Critically Appraised Topics framework, to provide systematic evidence of the usefulness of PHSO interventions for HPs.

Methods

A systematic search was conducted in 4 electronic databases: PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Cochrane (publication dates between January 1980 and November 2020). In total, 2,872 articles were identified. Primary research about PHSO for HPs in high-income countries were included. Data were extracted from eligible studies, summarized, and collated into a narrative account.

Results

Twenty-four studies that described and evaluated PHSO interventions for adults experiencing homelessness were selected in the final synthesis. Most studies had a nonrandomized design. PHSO was found to successfully address some barriers to health care access for HPs through flexible appointments in convenient locations, fostering an understanding relationship between doctor and patients, and provision of additional basic necessities and referrals. Outreach was provided for a range of health care concerns, and several solutions to engage more HPs in primary care, improve continuity of care and to decrease the running costs were identified. Outreach also helped to implement preventative measures and reduced emergency service admissions.

Conclusion

Our review adds to the evidence that PHSO likely improves health care access for HPs. Further studies over longer time periods, involving collaborations with experts with lived experience of homelessness, and utilizing randomized study designs are needed to test outreach efficacy.
Signatures of Selection on Mitonuclear Integrated Genes Uncover Hidden Mitogenomic Variation in Fur Seals
Authors: Vendrami David L J , Gossmann Toni I , Chakarov Nayden , Paijmans Anneke J , Litzke Vivienne , Eyre-Walker Adam , Forcada Jaume , Hoffman Joseph I
Published: July 2022

Nuclear copies of mitochondrial genes (numts) are commonplace in vertebrate genomes and have been characterized in many species. However, relatively little attention has been paid to understanding their evolutionary origins and to disentangling alternative sources of insertions. Numts containing genes with intact mitochondrial reading frames represent good candidates for this purpose. The sequences of the genes they contain can be compared with their mitochondrial homologs to characterize synonymous to nonsynonymous substitution rates, which can shed light on the selection pressures these genes have been subjected to. Here, we characterize 25 numts in the Antarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus gazella) genome. Among those containing genes with intact mitochondrial reading frames, three carry multiple substitutions in comparison to their mitochondrial homologs. Our analyses reveal that one represents a historic insertion subjected to strong purifying selection since it colonized the Otarioidea in a genomic region enriched in retrotransposons. By contrast, the other two numts appear to be more recent and their large number of substitutions can be attributed to noncanonical insertions, either the integration of heteroplasmic mtDNA or hybridization. Our study sheds new light on the evolutionary history of pinniped numts and uncovers the presence of hidden sources of mitonuclear variation.
Octopaminergic/tyraminergic Tdc2 neurons regulate biased sperm usage in female Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Chen Dawn S , Clark Andrew G , Wolfner Mariana F
Published: July 2022

In polyandrous internally fertilizing species, a multiply-mated female can use stored sperm from different males in a biased manner to fertilize her eggs. The female’s ability to assess sperm quality and compatibility is essential for her reproductive success, and represents an important aspect of postcopulatory sexual selection. In Drosophila melanogaster, previous studies demonstrated that the female nervous system plays an active role in influencing progeny paternity proportion, and suggested a role for octopaminergic/tyraminergic Tdc2 neurons in this process. Here, we report that inhibiting Tdc2 neuronal activity causes females to produce a higher-than-normal proportion of first-male progeny. This difference is not due to differences in sperm storage or release, but instead is attributable to the suppression of second-male sperm usage bias that normally occurs in control females. We further show that a subset of Tdc2 neurons innervating the female reproductive tract is largely responsible for the progeny proportion phenotype that is observed when Tdc2 neurons are inhibited globally. On the contrary, overactivation of Tdc2 neurons does not further affect sperm storage, release or progeny proportion. These results suggest that octopaminergic/tyraminergic signaling allows a multiply-mated female to bias sperm usage, and identify a new role for the female nervous system in postcopulatory sexual selection.
Ethical Flaws in Artworks: An Argument for Contextual Conjunctivism
Authors: Koblizek Tomas
Published: July 2022

According to Ted Nannicelli, ethical disputes about art today often concern not the controversial attitudes expressed by the works but the ways in which they have been created, that is, as well as interpretation-oriented ethical criticism of art, we find production-oriented ethical criticism. The main question that I explore in this article is: are the interpretation- and production-oriented approaches to ethical art criticism essentially disconnected or can there be a connection between them? I argue that in the disjunctivist view, the two approaches are disconnected, for ethical flaws in the production of artworks are never conditioned by ethical flaws in the attitudes expressed by those works and vice versa. I show that disjunctivism is mistaken and defend what I call contextual conjunctivism. In this view, the two approaches can be connected since attitudinal ethical flaws in artworks can indeed cause ethical flaws in their production and vice versa depending on context. I support this view using several examples of controversies about contemporary art.
Comorbidities and ethnic health disparities in the UK biobank
Authors: Teagle Whitney L , Norris Emily T , Rishishwar Lavanya , Nagar Shashwat Deepali , Jordan I King , Mariño-Ramírez Leonardo
Published: July 2022

Objective

The goal of this study was to investigate the relationship between comorbidities and ethnic health disparities in a diverse, cosmopolitan population.

Materials and Methods

We used the UK Biobank (UKB), a large progressive cohort study of the UK population. Study participants self-identified with 1 of 5 ethnic groups and participant comorbidities were characterized using the 31 disease categories captured by the Elixhauser Comorbidity Index. Ethnic disparities in comorbidities were quantified as the extent to which disease prevalence within categories varies across ethnic groups and the extent to which pairs of comorbidities co-occur within ethnic groups. Disease-risk factor comorbidity pairs were identified where one comorbidity is known to be a risk factor for a co-occurring comorbidity.

Results

The Asian ethnic group shows the greatest average number of comorbidities, followed by the Black and then White groups. The Chinese group shows the lowest average number of comorbidities. Comorbidity prevalence varies significantly among the ethnic groups for almost all disease categories, with diabetes and hypertension showing the largest differences across groups. Diabetes and hypertension both show ethnic-specific comorbidities that may contribute to the observed disease prevalence disparities.

Discussion

These results underscore the extent to which comorbidities vary among ethnic groups and reveal group-specific disease comorbidities that may underlie ethnic health disparities.

Conclusion

The study of comorbidity distributions across ethnic groups can be used to inform targeted group-specific interventions to reduce ethnic health disparities.
Transit, academic achievement and equalisation: evidence from a subway expansion
Authors: Asahi Kenzo , Pinto Ignacia
Published: July 2022

We identify and quantify the impact of subways on equalising academic achievement in an urban school choice setting. Specifically, we study the short- and medium-term effects of a massive subway network expansion in Chile on the academic achievement gap between low- and high-performing students. Estimates are derived using fixed-effects models. Closer proximity to the subway network is associated with the equalisation of academic achievements. In the medium-term (3 years after the opening of the subway stations), the gap between low- and high-achievers decreased by 5% of a standard deviation.
Rethinking the Role of Indigenous Peoples as Rightsholders, Stakeholders, and Valuable Market Participants in the Global Trade and Investment Spaces
Authors: James-Eluyode Jide
Published: July 2022

At the Margins of Globalization and Indigenous Peoples and International Trade are remarkable in the sense that only few texts have successfully undertaken any meaningful and comprehensive analyses, from a multidimensional perspective, of the situation of indigenous peoples within the context of global economic development and international trade and investment law. The pertinence of the many critical issues explored by Sergio Puig in At the Margins of Globalization, and Jon Burrows and Risa Schwartz in Indigenous Peoples and International Trade, in terms of facilitating greater understanding about the connectedness of the fields of global economic development, trade, and investment with indigenous peoples’ rights, and the implications brought about by such connection, cannot be overstated. This review therefore interrogates not only how the issues explored in the two books significantly contribute to the framing of discussions about the indigenous peoples’ participation in the market space, but also how those discussions fit into the larger discussion regarding how to improve the sociocultural and economic conditions of indigenous peoples and other marginalized populations.
A phase III clinical trial evaluating efficacy and safety of minimal residual disease-based risk stratification for children with acute myeloid leukemia, incorporating a randomized study of gemtuzumab ozogamicin in combination with post-induction chemotherapy for non-low-risk patients (JPLSG-AML-20)
Authors: Tomizawa Daisuke , Tsujimoto Shin-ichi , Tanaka Shiro , Matsubayashi Jun , Aoki Takahiro , Iwamoto Shotaro , Hasegawa Daisuke , Nagai Kozo , Nakashima Kentaro , Kawaguchi Koji , Deguchi Takao , Kiyokawa Nobutaka , Ohki Kentaro , Hiramatsu Hidefumi , Shiba Norio , Terui Kiminori , Saito Akiko Moriya , Kato Motohiro , Taga Takashi , Koshinaga Tsugumichi , Adachi Souichi
Published: July 2022

The purpose of this study is to establish a treatment with appropriate intensity for children (<16 years old at diagnosis) with de novo acute myeloid leukemia (excluding acute promyelocytic leukemia and myeloid leukemia associated with Down syndrome) according to a risk stratification based on recurrent leukemic cytogenetic abnormalities and flow-cytometric minimal residual disease at end of initial induction chemotherapy and to validate the safety and efficacy of gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO)-combined post-induction chemotherapy for the non-low-risk (non-LR) patients. The primary endpoint of this phase III study is three-year disease-free survival rate, which will be compared between the GO and non-GO arms of the non-LR (intermediate-risk and high-risk [HR]) patients. All HR patients will be allocated to allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in first remission. This trial has been registered at the Japan Registry of Clinical Trials (jRCTs041210015).
The Unintended Consequences of Welfare Reforms: Universal Credit, Financial Insecurity, and Crime
Authors: d’Este Rocco , Harvey Alex
Published: July 2022

We evaluate the unintended effects of Universal Credit (UC), a monumental welfare reform that has increased the stringency of the UK social security payment system. We exploit the rollout of UC across constituencies, targeting first-time claimants, predominantly young males. Using monthly data from 2010 to 2019 for England and Wales, we first document the negative economic impacts of UC, showing it has led to an increase of around 6000 repossession orders from the social housing sector. We then focus on UC’s criminogenic effects, finding the reform has caused around 35,000 burglaries and 25,000 vehicle crimes. Collectively, our findings highlight the danger of welfare policies affecting the economic incentives of individuals at the bottom of the income distribution. They also have timely policy relevance considering 6.5 million benefit recipients will soon transition onto UC. (JEL K14, K42).
Impact of Label Restriction on Checkpoint-Inhibitor Use in Bladder Cancer and Changes in Mortality
Authors: Vader Daniel T , Parikh Ravi B , Li Haojie , Imai Kentaro , Hubbard Rebecca A , Mamtani Ronac
Published: July 2022

In 2018, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) limited the indication for immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) in metastatic bladder cancer to patients with programmed cell death protein ligand-1 (PD-L1)–positive tumors. The impact of the label change on survival outcomes remains unknown. We conducted a controlled interrupted time series analysis using a nationwide electronic health record–derived oncology dataset. We used Cox regression to compare mortality in the post- vs prelabel change periods among affected (initiators of ICI or carboplatin-based chemotherapy) vs unaffected (initiators of cisplatin-based chemotherapy) patients. The use of ICI, carboplatin, and cisplatin was similar pre- and postlabel change, but PD-L1 testing increased postlabel change. In adjusted models, survival did not differ after the FDA label change policy compared with prior to the label change in any of the groups. The FDA label restriction on immunotherapy was associated with increased PD-L1 testing but not with changes in treatment patterns or mortality among patients with metastatic bladder cancer.
A Cognitive Bias for Zipfian Distributions? Uniform Distributions Become More Skewed via Cultural Transmission
Authors: Shufaniya Amir , Arnon Inbal
Published: July 2022

There is growing evidence that cognitive biases play a role in shaping language structure. Here, we ask whether such biases could contribute to the propensity of Zipfian word-frequency distributions in language, one of the striking commonalities between languages. Recent theoretical accounts and experimental findings suggest that such distributions provide a facilitative environment for word learning and segmentation. However, it remains unclear whether the advantage found in the laboratory reflects prior linguistic experience with such distributions or a cognitive preference for them. To explore this, we used an iterated learning paradigm—which can be used to reveal weak individual biases that are amplified overtime—to see if learners change a uniform input distribution to make it more skewed via cultural transmission. In the first study, we show that speakers are biased to produce skewed word distributions in telling a novel story. In the second study, we ask if this bias leads to a shift from uniform distributions towards more skewed ones using an iterated learning design. We exposed the first learner to a story where six nonce words appeared equally often, and asked them to re-tell it. Their output served as input for the next learner, and so on for a chain of ten learners (or ‘generations’). Over time, word distributions became more skewed (as measured by lower levels of word entropy). The third study asked if the shift will be less pronounced when lexical access was made easier (by reminding participants of the novel word forms), but this did not have a significant effect on entropy reduction. These findings are consistent with a cognitive bias for skewed distributions that gets amplified over time and support the role of entropy minimization in the emergence of Zipfian distributions.
Itrifal-e-Aftimoon potentiates imatinib-induced anti-leukemic effect by influencing FAK/STAT/Akt/ERK signalling pathways against chronic myeloid leukaemia in vitro
Authors: Gupta Nidhi , Nafees Sana , Rahman Aziz Ur , Akhtar Jamal , Khan Asim Ali , Sharma Alpana
Published: July 2022

Objectives

Limited treatment options are available for advanced stages of chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). Moreover, patients’ relapse after a short remission period, which prompts them to identify a potent drug with the least toxicity. An Unani herbal formulation, Itrifal-e-Aftimoon (IEA) is used for certain neurological disorders, however, its antitumor potential has not been reported yet in any malignancy, including CML.

Methods

The aqueous extract of IEA was characterized by HPLC/LC-MS and used alone or in combination with standard drug, imatinib in CML cell lines (K562, KU812) in vitro to assess its effect on cancer-associated parameters such as cytotoxicity, cell cycle, apoptosis, oxidative stress, inflammation, angiogenesis, and certain signalling pathways.

Results

LC–MS characterization of IEA showed the presence of antitumor compounds including catechin and caffeic acid. Treatment with IEA caused cytotoxicity and arrested cells in the sub-G0/G1 phase. Subsequent assays confirmed apoptosis-mediated cell death with mitochondrial membrane depolarization and alleviation of oxidative stress. IEA abrogates IL-6, VEGF, angiopoietin-2, and alters Th1/Th2 cytokines. IEA potentiated the effect of imatinib even at lower doses by affecting FAK/STAT/Akt/ERK pathways.

Conclusion

IEA possesses antitumor potential against CML and increases the efficacy of imatinib when used in combination, suggesting utilization of IEA as an adjuvant therapy for better management of CML in the future.