bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Role of Bile Acids and Bile Salts in Acute Pancreatitis
Authors: Tran Quang Trung , Tran Van Huy , Sendler Matthias , Doller Julia , Wiese Mats , Bolsmann Robert , Wilden Anika , Glaubitz Juliane , Modenbach Jana Marielle , Thiel Franziska Gisela , de Freitas Chama Laura L. , Weiss Frank Ulrich , Lerch Markus M. , Aghdassi Ali A.
Published: December 2020

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is one of the most common gastroenterological disorders leading to hospitalization. It has long been debated whether biliary AP, about 30% to 50% of all cases, is induced by bile acids (BAs) when they reach the pancreas via reflux or via the systemic blood circulation.

Besides their classical function in digestion, BAs have become an attractive research target because of their recently discovered property as signaling molecules. The underlying mechanisms of BAs have been investigated in various studies. Bile acids are internalized into acinar cells through specific G-protein–coupled BA receptor 1 and various transporters. They can further act via different receptors: the farnesoid X, ryanodine, and inositol triphosphate receptor. Bile acids induce a sustained Ca2+ influx from the endoplasmic reticulum and release of Ca2+ from acidic stores into the cytosol of acinar cells. The overload of intracellular Ca2+ results in mitochondrial depolarization and subsequent acinar cell necrosis. In addition, BAs have a biphasic effect on pancreatic ductal cells. A more detailed characterization of the mechanisms through which BAs contribute to the disease pathogenesis and severity will greatly improve our understanding of the underlying pathophysiology and may allow for the development of therapeutic and preventive strategies for gallstone-inducedAP.
Simultaneous Diagnosis of Craniopharyngioma in 2 Brothers
Authors: Liu I-Chia , Indelicato Daniel J. , Bradley Julie A. , Mailhot Vega Raymond B. , Sandler Eric S. , Aldana Philipp R.
Published: December 2020

Craniopharyngioma is a rare suprasellar tumor. Approximately one-third of cases occur in pediatric patients. Depending on the size and extent of the lesion, the main treatment options include complete surgical removal of the tumor or limited surgery followed by radiotherapy. Craniopharyngiomas are not thought to be hereditary. Herein the authors present a case report of 2 brothers, ages 9 and 10, diagnosed with craniopharyngioma within weeks of each other and managed with different approaches. One sibling underwent gross total resection followed by observation while the other underwent biopsy followed by postoperative proton therapy.
A Rare Case of Immature Sacrococcygeal Teratoma With Lymph Node Metastasis in a Neonate
Authors: Masahata Kazunori , Ichikawa Chihiro , Higuchi Kohei , Makino Katsutoshi , Abe Takatoshi , Kim Kiyokazu , Yamamichi Taku , Tayama Ai , Soh Hideki , Usui Noriaki
Published: December 2020

This is the first report of an immature sacrococcygeal teratoma with inguinal lymph node metastasis, providing the histologic transformation of an immature teratoma in association with chemotherapy. Incomplete tumor resection with coccygectomy was performed, and the histopathologic diagnosis was a grade 3 immature teratoma. Following the initial surgery, the residual tumors enlarged and the tumors metastasized to the inguinal lymph node, demonstrating immature teratoma without yolk sac tumor components. Although the tumor markers normalized after chemotherapy, the residual tumors had enlarged significantly. Therefore, a complete resection of the residual tumors was performed, and they were found to be mature teratomas.
Black Cisgender Women's PrEP Knowledge, Attitudes, Preferences, and Experience in Chicago
Authors: Hirschhorn Lisa R. , Brown Rayna N. , Friedman Eleanor E. , Greene George J. , Bender Alvie , Christeller Catherine , Bouris Alida , Johnson Amy K. , Pickett Jim , Modali Laxmi , Ridgway Jessica P.
Published: December 2020

Background:

Although black cisgender women in Chicago continue to disproportionally account for new HIV diagnoses, few are on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). We used concurrent mixed-methods to understand women's PrEP knowledge, attitudes, experience, and preferences in Chicago.

Setting and Methods:

We surveyed 370 HIV(−) cisgender women visiting a sexually transmitted infection clinic (n = 120) or emergency department (n = 250). Two focus groups were conducted with PrEP-naive women, and interviews were conducted with 7 PrEP-experienced women. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression, and qualitative data using thematic analysis.

Results:

Majority of women identified as black (83.0%) and had a regular source of health care (70.0%). In the past 6 months, 84.1% had vaginal or anal sex, most with inconsistent condom use (94.2%). Only 30.3% had heard of PrEP, but once explained, one-quarter considered starting PrEP, with protecting health (76.4%) and reducing HIV worry (58.1%) the most common reasons. Factors associated with considering PrEP included being Latina [adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 3.30, 95% confidence interval (CI): (1.21 to 8.99)], recent sexually transmitted infection [aOR: 2.39, 95% CI: (1.25 to 4.59)], and higher belief in PrEP effectiveness [aOR: 1.85, 95% CI: (1.22 to 2.82)]. Most (81.1%) had concerns about taking PrEP with side effects a common concern. Qualitative themes aligned with survey results, revealing a disconnection from current PrEP marketing, need for community-level PrEP education/outreach, and importance of provider trust.

Lessons Learned:

Despite significant PrEP implementation work in Chicago, less than one-third of women in our study had heard of PrEP. Once informed, PrEP attitudes and interest were positive. Translating these results into interventions reflecting women's preferences and barriers is critical to increase PrEP uptake by cisgender women in Chicago and elsewhere.
Patient-Provider Communication Regarding Referral to Cardiac Rehabilitation
Authors: Mitoff Peter R. , Wesolowski Marta , Abramson Beth L. , Grace Sherry L.
Published: December 2020

This study investigated the dynamics of patient-provider communication in the cardiac rehabilitation (CR) referral process, to identify which aspects lead to CR participation. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with 31 patients eligible for CR. Questions probed the content and perception of the discussion that patients had with healthcare providers (HCP) regarding CR attendance. The interviews were audiotaped, transcribed, and imported into N6 software for grounded analyses. Key emerging themes were identified: illness perceptions; HCP encouragement; timing of discussion; and ease of referral. CR attenders were apt to self-advocate to ensure their enrollment in CR, whereas nonattenders were more likely to minimize the seriousness of their disease, and less likely to persevere to overcome obstacles in enrolling in a CR program. Surprisingly, the strength of the HCP referral did not influence the decision to attend CR as strongly when compared to the HCP’s ability to facilitate enrollment in a CR program.
Wing wettability gradient in a damselflyLestes sponsa(Odonata: Lestidae) reflects the submergence behaviour during underwater oviposition
Authors: Šigutová Hana , Šigut Martin , Kovalev Alexander , Gorb Stanislav N.
Published: December 2020

The phenomenon of hydrophobicity of insect cuticles has received great attention from technical fields due to its wide applicability to industry or medicine. However, in an ecological/evolutionary context such studies remain scarce. We measured spatial differences in wing wettability inLestes sponsa(Odonata: Lestidae), a damselfly species that can submerge during oviposition, and discussed the possible functional significance. Using dynamic contact angle (CA) measurements together with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), we investigated differences in wettability among distal, middle and proximal wing regions, and in surface nanostructures potentially responsible for observed differences. As we moved from distal towards more proximal parts, mean values of advancing and receding CAs gradually increased from 104° to 149°, and from 67° to 123°, respectively, indicating that wing tips were significantly less hydrophobic than more proximal parts. Moreover, values of CA hysteresis for the respective wing parts decreased from 38° to 26°, suggesting greater instability of the structure of the wing tips. Accordingly, compared with more proximal parts, SEM revealed higher damage of the wax nanostructures at the distal region. The observed wettability gradient is well explained by the submergence behaviour ofL. sponsaduring underwater oviposition. Our study thus proposed the existence of species-dependent hydrophobicity gradient on odonate wings caused by different ovipositional strategies.
A linear systems approach to protect the night sky: implications for current and future regulations
Authors: Falchi Fabio , Bará Salvador
Published: December 2020

The persistent increase of artificial light emissions is causing a progressive brightening of the night sky in most regions of the world. This process is a threat for the long-term sustainability of the scientific and educational activity of ground-based astronomical observatories operating in the optical range. Huge investments in building, scientific and technical workforce, equipment and maintenance can be at risk if the increasing light pollution levels hinder the capability of carrying out the top-level scientific observations for which these key scientific infrastructures were built. Light pollution has other negative consequences, as e.g. biodiversity endangering and the loss of the starry sky for recreational, touristic and preservation of cultural heritage. The traditional light pollution mitigation approach is based on imposing conditions on the photometry of individual sources, but the aggregated effects of all sources in the territory surrounding the observatories are seldom addressed in the regulations. We propose that this approach shall be complemented with a top-down, ambient artificial skyglow immission limits strategy, whereby clear limits are established to the admissible deterioration of the night sky above the observatories. We describe the general form of the indicators that can be employed to this end, and develop linear models relating their values to the artificial emissions across the territory. This approach can be easily applied to other protection needs, like e.g. to protect nocturnal ecosystems, and it is expected to be useful for making informed decisions on public lighting, in the context of wider spatial planning projects.
Overcoming the curse of dimensionality in the numerical approximation of semilinear parabolic partial differential equations
Authors: Hutzenthaler Martin , Jentzen Arnulf , Kruse Thomas , Anh Nguyen Tuan , von Wurstemberger Philippe
Published: December 2020

For a long time it has been well-known that high-dimensional linear parabolic partial differential equations (PDEs) can be approximated by Monte Carlo methods with a computational effort which grows polynomially both in the dimension and in the reciprocal of the prescribed accuracy. In other words, linear PDEs do not suffer from the curse of dimensionality. For general semilinear PDEs with Lipschitz coefficients, however, it remained an open question whether these suffer from the curse of dimensionality. In this paper we partially solve this open problem. More precisely, we prove in the case of semilinear heat equations with gradient-independent and globally Lipschitz continuous nonlinearities that the computational effort of a variant of the recently introduced multilevel Picard approximations grows at most polynomially both in the dimension and in the reciprocal of the required accuracy.
The Born rule as a statistics of quantum micro-events
Authors: Brezhnev Yurii V.
Published: December 2020

We deduce the Born rule from a purely statistical take on quantum theory within minimalistic math-setup. No use is required of quantum postulates. One exploits only rudimentary quantum mathematics—a linear, not Hilbert’, vector space—and empirical notion of the
Statistical Length
of a state. Its statistical nature comes from the lab micro-events (detector-clicks) being formalized into the

C

-coefficients of quantum superpositions. We also comment that not only has the use not been made of quantum axioms (scalar-product, operators,
interpretations
, etc.), but that the involving thereof would be, in a sense, inconsistent when deriving the rule. In point of fact, the quadratic character of the statistical length, and even not (the ‘physics’ of) Born’s formula, represents a first step in constructing the mathematical structure we name the Hilbert space of quantum states.
Hyperkalaemia, not apoptosis, accurately predicts insect chilling injury
Authors: Carrington Jessica , Andersen Mads Kuhlmann , Brzezinski Kaylen , MacMillan Heath A.
Published: December 2020

There is a growing appreciation that insect distribution and abundance are associated with the limits of thermal tolerance, but the physiology underlying thermal tolerance remains poorly understood. Many insects, like the migratory locust (Locusta migratoria), suffer a loss of ion and water balance leading to hyperkalaemia (high extracellular [K+]) in the cold that indirectly causes cell death. Cells can die in several ways under stress, and how they die is of critical importance to identifying and understanding the nature of thermal adaptation. Whether apoptotic or necrotic cell death pathways are responsible for low-temperature injury is unclear. Here, we use a caspase-3 specific assay to indirectly quantify apoptotic cell death in three locust tissues (muscle, nerves and midgut) following prolonged chilling and recovery from an injury-inducing cold exposure. Furthermore, we obtain matching measurements of injury, extracellular [K+] and muscle caspase-3 activity in individual locusts to gain further insight into the mechanistic nature of chilling injury. We found a significant increase in muscle caspase-3 activity, but no such increase was observed in either nervous or gut tissue from the same animals, suggesting that chill injury primarily relates to muscle cell death. Levels of chilling injury measured at the whole animal level, however, were strongly correlated with the degree of haemolymph hyperkalaemia, and not apoptosis. These results support the notion that cold-induced ion balance disruption triggers cell death but also that apoptosis is not the main form of cell damage driving low-temperature injury.
How strategy environment and wealth shape altruistic behaviour: cooperation rules affecting wealth distribution in dynamic networks
Authors: Pathak Spandan , Verma Prateek , Ram Sumit K. , Sengupta Supratim
Published: December 2020

Societies rely on individual contributions to sustain public goods that benefit the entire community. Several mechanisms, that specify how individuals change their decisions based on past experiences, have been proposed to explain how altruists are not outcompeted by selfish counterparts. A key aspect of such strategy updates involves a comparison of an individual's latest payoff with that of a random neighbour. In reality, both the economic and social milieu often shapes cooperative behaviour. We propose a new decision heuristic, where the propensity of an individual to cooperate depends on the local strategy environment in which she is embedded as well as her wealth relative to that of her neighbours. Our decision-making model allows cooperation to be sustained and also explains the results of recent experiments on social dilemmas in dynamic networks. Final cooperation levels depend only on the extent to which the strategy environment influences altruistic behaviour but are largely unaffected by network restructuring. However, the extent of wealth inequality in the community is affected by a subtle interplay between the environmental influence on a person's decision to contribute and the likelihood of reshaping social ties, with wealth-inequality levels rising with increasing likelihood of network restructuring in some situations.
Determining cancer risk: the evolutionary multistage model or total stem cell divisions?
Authors: Nunney Leonard , Thai Kevin
Published: December 2020

A recent hypothesis proposed that the total number of stem cell divisions in a tissue (TSCD model) determine its intrinsic cancer risk; however, a different model—the multistage model—has long been used to understand how cancer originates. Identifying the correct model has important implications for interpreting the frequency of cancers. Using worldwide cancer incidence data, we applied three tests to the TSCD model and an evolutionary multistage model of carcinogenesis (EMMC), a model in which cancer suppression is recognized as an evolving trait, with natural selection acting to suppress cancers causing a significant mean loss of Darwinian fitness. Each test supported the EMMC but contradicted the TSCD model. This outcome undermines results based on the TSCD model quantifying the relative importance of ‘bad luck' (the random accumulation of somatic mutations) versus environmental and genetic factors in determining cancer incidence. Our testing supported the EMMC prediction that cancers of large rapidly dividing tissues predominate late in life. Another important prediction is that an indicator of recent oncogenic environmental change is an unusually high mean fitness loss due to cancer, rather than a high lifetime incidence. The evolutionary model also predicts that large and/or long-lived animals have evolved mechanisms of cancer suppression that may be of value in preventing or controlling human cancers.
Multidimensional plasticity in the Glanville fritillary butterfly: larval performance is temperature, host and family specific
Authors: Verspagen Nadja , Ikonen Suvi , Saastamoinen Marjo , van Bergen Erik
Published: December 2020

Variation in environmental conditions during development can lead to changes in life-history traits with long-lasting effects. Here, we study how variation in temperature and host plant (i.e. the consequences of potential maternal oviposition choices) affects a suite of life-history traits in pre-diapause larvae of the Glanville fritillary butterfly. We focus on offspring survival, larval growth rates and relative fat reserves, and pay specific attention to intraspecific variation in the responses (G × E × E). Globally, thermal performance and survival curves varied between diets of two host plants, suggesting that host modifies the temperature impact, or vice versa. Additionally, we show that the relative fat content has a host-dependent, discontinuous response to developmental temperature. This implies that a potential switch in resource allocation, from more investment in growth at lower temperatures to storage at higher temperatures, is dependent on the larval diet. Interestingly, a large proportion of the variance in larval performance is explained by differences among families, or interactions with this variable. Finally, we demonstrate that these family-specific responses to the host plant remain largely consistent across thermal environments. Together, the results of our study underscore the importance of paying attention to intraspecific trait variation in the field of evolutionary ecology.
scCODA: A Bayesian model for compositional single-cell data analysis
Authors: Büttner M. , Ostner J. , Müller CL. , Theis FJ. , Schubert B.
Published: December 2020

Compositional changes of cell types are main drivers of biological processes. Their detection through single-cell experiments is difficult due to the compositionality of the data and low sample sizes. We introduce scCODA (https://github.com/theislab/scCODA), a Bayesian model addressing these issues enabling the study of complex cell type effects in disease, and other stimuli. scCODA demonstrated excellent detection performance and identified experimentally verified cell type changes that were missed in original analyses.
From neuron to muscle to movement: a complete biomechanical model ofHydracontractile behaviors
Authors: Wang Hengji , Swore Joshua , Sharma Shashank , Szymanski John , Yuste Rafael , Daniel Thomas , Regnier Michael , Bosma Martha , Fairhall Adrienne L.
Published: December 2020

How does neural activity drive muscles to produce behavior? The recent development of genetic lines inHydrathat allow complete calcium imaging of both neuronal and muscle activity, as well as systematic machine learning quantification of behaviors, makes this small Cnidarian an ideal model system to understand and model the complete transformation from neural firing to body movements. As a first step to achieve this, we have built a biomechanical model ofHydra, incorporating its neuronal activity, muscle activity and body column biomechanics, incorporating its fluid-filled hydrostatic skeleton. Our model is based on experimental measurements of neuronal and muscle activity, and assumes gap junctional coupling among muscle cells and calcium-dependent force generation y muscles. With these assumptions, we can robustly reproduce a basic set ofHydra’sbehaviors. We can further explain puzzling experimental observations, including the dual kinetics observed in muscle activation and the different engagement of ecto- and endodermal muscle in different behaviors. This work delineates the spatiotemporal control space ofHydramovement and can serve as a template for future efforts to systematically decipher the transformations in the neural basis of behavior.
Transformer protein language models are unsupervised structure learners
Authors: Rao Roshan , Meier Joshua , Sercu Tom , Ovchinnikov Sergey , Rives Alexander
Published: December 2020

Abstract

Unsupervised contact prediction is central to uncovering physical, structural, and functional constraints for protein structure determination and design. For decades, the predominant approach has been to infer evolutionary constraints from a set of related sequences. In the past year, protein language models have emerged as a potential alternative, but performance has fallen short of state-of-the-art approaches in bioinformatics. In this paper we demonstrate that Transformer attention maps learn contacts from the unsupervised language modeling objective. We find the highest capacity models that have been trained to date already outperform a state-of-the-art unsupervised contact prediction pipeline, suggesting these pipelines can be replaced with a single forward pass of an end-to-end model.1
Computational model for migration of human osteoblasts in direct current electric field
Authors: Dawson Jonathan Edward , Sellmann Tina , Porath Katrin , Bader Rainer , Rienen Ursula van , Appali Revathi , Köhling Rüdiger
Published: December 2020

Under both physiological (development, regeneration) and pathological conditions (cancer metastasis), cells migrate while sensing environmental cues in the form of mechanical, chemical or electrical stimuli. Although it is known that osteoblasts respond to exogenous electric fields, the underlying mechanism of electrotactic collective movement of human osteoblasts is unclear. Theoretical approaches to study electrotactic cell migration until now mainly used reaction-diffusion models, and did not consider the effect of electric field on single-cell motility, or incorporate spatially dependent cell-to-cell interactions. Here, we present a computational model that takes into account cell interactions and describes cell migration in direct current electric field. We compare this model within vitroexperiments in which human primary osteoblasts are exposed to direct current electric field of varying field strength. Our results show that cell-cell interactions and fluctuations in the migration direction together lead to anode-directed collective migration of osteoblasts.

Author summary

Electrotactic migration of cells involves directed movement of a large number of single cells under the influence of external electric field. Influencing the migration behaviour of osteoblasts by external direct current electric field offers a promising approach towards building highly effective implants for bone regeneration. We present a computational model for electrotactic migration of osteoblasts subject to external direct current electric field. Our model considers individual cells that interact with each other and the external electric field, and, replicates the experimental observations, based on single-cell analysis, of the response of osteoblasts to electrical stimulation of varying strengths for 7 hours. Our results suggest that tracking trajectories of individual cells provide a way of determining the role of various interactions of a cell in collective migration. Our model provides a framework that links single cell response to the large scale collective dynamics.
Syntheses and structures of three macrocyclic supramolecular complexes and one ZnII-containing coordination polymer generated from a semi-rigid multidentate N-containing ligand
Authors: Niu Xiang-Long , Wei Lin , Liu Jian-Cheng , Jia Wan-He , Ma Jian-Ping , Wang Lei , Wang Jian-Cheng , Dong Yu-Bin
Published: December 2020

Semirigid organic ligands can adopt different conformations to construct coordination polymers with more diverse structures when compared to those constructed from rigid ligands. A new asymmetric semirigid organic ligand, 4-{2-[(pyridin-3-yl)methyl]-2H-tetrazol-5-yl}pyridine (L), has been prepared and used to synthesize three bimetallic macrocyclic complexes and one coordination polymer, namely, bis(μ-4-{2-[(pyridin-3-yl)methyl]-2H-tetrazol-5-yl}pyridine)bis[dichloridozinc(II)] dichloromethane disolvate, [Zn2Cl4(C12H10N6)2]·2CH2Cl2, (I), the analogous chloroform monosolvate, [Zn2Cl4(C12H10N6)2]·CHCl3, (II), bis(μ-4-{2-[(pyridin-3-yl)methyl]-2H-tetrazol-5-yl}pyridine)bis[diiodidozinc(II)] dichloromethane disolvate, [Zn2I4(C12H10N6)2]·2CH2Cl2, (III), and catena-poly[[[diiodidozinc(II)]-μ-4-{2-[(pyridin-3-yl)methyl]-2H-tetrazol-5-yl}pyridine] chloroform monosolvate], {[ZnI2(C12H10N6)]·CHCl3}
n
, (IV), by solution reaction with ZnX
2 (X = Cl and I) in a CH2Cl2/CH3OH or CHCl3/CH3OH mixed solvent system at room temperature. Complex (I) is isomorphic with complex (III) and has a bimetallic ring possessing similar coordination environments for both of the ZnII cations. Although complex (II) also contains a bimetallic ring, the two ZnII cations have different coordination environments. Under the influence of the I− anion and guest CHCl3 molecule, complex (IV) displays a significantly different structure with respect to complexes (I)–(III). C—H...Cl and C—H...N hydrogen bonds, and π–π stacking or C—Cl...π interactions exist in complexes (I)–(IV), and these weak interactions play an important role in the three-dimensional structures of (I)–(IV) in the solid state. In addition, the fluorescence properties of L and complexes (I)–(IV) were investigated.
Understanding the complexity of neurodevelopmental profiles of females in prison
Authors: Kirby Amanda , Williams W. Huw , Clasby Betony , Hughes Nathan , Cleaton Mary Ann Megan
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the relationship between patterns of functioning in four domains (attention and concentration; social and communication; coordination and organisation; and literacy and numeracy) in women in prison. Also, to consider potential associations between functioning and previous Neurodevelopmental Disorder (NDD) diagnoses, previous mental health diagnoses and history of head injury, self-harm and attempted suicide.

Design/methodology/approach

Women in one Scottish prison were invited to participate; 87 consented. Women were screened for functional difficulties and asked about their relevant educational and medical history.

Findings

Half of participants reported difficulties in one or more domains. All possible combinations of functional difficulties were found. Only eight women reported previous NDD diagnoses. Functional difficulties were significantly associated with history of self-harm, history of attempted suicide and mental health diagnoses. In total, 32% of women reported at least one head injury, but this was not significantly associated with functional difficulties.

Research limitations/implications

The sample was comparatively small and questions were self-report. Analyses were based on within-cohort comparisons due to a lack of appropriate general population data.

Practical implications

There is a clear need for timely, practical and comprehensive profiling of females in the Justice System. Current systems do not appear to adequately identify women with functional difficulties or other adversity. Greater use of interdisciplinary working and shared training is indicated, as is a move from categorical diagnostic systems towards dimensional approaches.

Originality/value

This study is the first to investigate associations between difficulties associated with NDDs, mental health difficulties and head injury in women in prison.
Improving emotional well-being for hospital-based patients with dementia
Authors: Petty Stephanie , Griffiths Amanda , Coleston Donna Maria , Dening Tom
Published: December 2020

Purpose

Improving hospital care for people with dementia is a well-established priority. There is limited research evidence to guide nursing staff in delivering person-centred care, particularly under conditions where patients are emotionally distressed. Misunderstood distress has negative implications for patient well-being and hospital resources. The purpose of this study is to use the expertise of nurses to recommend ways to care for the emotional well-being of patients with dementia that are achievable within the current hospital setting.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative study was conducted in two long-stay wards providing dementia care in a UK hospital. Nursing staff (n = 12) were asked about facilitators and barriers to providing emotion-focused care. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.

Findings

Nursing staff said that resources existed within the ward team, including ways to gather and present personal information about patients, share multidisciplinary and personal approaches, work around routine hospital tasks and agree an ethos of being connected with patients in their experience. Staff said these did not incur financial cost and did not depend upon staffing numbers but did take an emotional toll. Examples are given within each of these broader themes.

Research limitations/implications

The outcome is a short-list of recommended staff actions that hospital staff say could improve the emotional well-being of people with dementia when in hospital. These support and develop previous research.

Originality/value

In this paper, frontline nurses describe ways to improve person-centred hospital care for people with dementia.
The Value Relevance of Corporate Social Responsibility Expenditure: Evidence from Regulatory Decisions
Authors: Bose Sudipta , Saha Amitav , Abeysekera Indra
Published: December 2020

We examine the value relevance of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) expenditure of Bangladeshi banks from 2007–2014 in response to a regulatory directive on banking firms’ engagement in CSR activities. We find a positive association between CSR expenditure and a firm's market value. Evidence of an inverse U‐shaped curvilinear association between CSR expenditure and market value suggests that the impact of CSR expenditure on a firm's market value has a certain limit. We also document that unexpected or abnormal components of CSR expenditure comprise value‐relevant information. Our study provides empirical evidence to support the value relevance of CSR expenditure as an explanation for why firms should invest in CSR and why they should inform various stakeholders about their CSR activities.
Adolescent oxycodone exposure inhibits withdrawal‐induced expression of genes associated with the dopamine transmission
Authors: Carpenter Marco D. , Manners Melissa T. , Heller Elizabeth A. , Blendy Julie A.
Published: December 2020

Prescription opioid misuse is a major public health concern among children and adolescents in the United States. Opioids are the most commonly abused drugs and are the fastest growing drug problem among adolescents. In humans and animals, adolescence is a particularly sensitive period associated with an increased response to drugs of abuse. Our previous studies indicate that oxycodone exposure during adolescence increases morphine reward in adulthood. How early drug exposure mediates long‐term changes in the brain and behavior is not known, but epigenetic regulation is a likely mechanism. To address this question, we exposed mice to oxycodone or saline during adolescence and examined epigenetic modifications at genes associated with dopamine activity during adulthood at early and late withdrawal, in the ventral tegmental area (VTA). We then compared these with alterations in the VTA of adult‐treated mice following an equivalent duration of exposure and withdrawal to determine if the effects of oxycodone are age dependent. We observed persistence of adolescent‐like gene expression following adolescent oxycodone exposure relative to age‐matched saline exposed controls, although dopamine‐related gene expression was transiently activated at 1 day of withdrawal. Following prolonged withdrawal enrichment of the repressive histone mark, H3K27me3, was maintained, consistent with inhibition of gene regulation following adolescent exposure. By contrast, mice exposed to oxycodone as adults showed loss of the repressive mark and increased gene expression following 28 days of withdrawal following oxycodone exposure. Together, our findings provide evidence that adolescent oxycodone exposure has long‐term epigenetic consequences in VTA of the developing brain.
Deglaciation dynamics of the Scandinavian Ice Sheet in the Salpausselkä zone, southern Finland
Authors: Lunkka Juha P. , Palmu Jukka‐Pekka , Seppänen Anu
Published: December 2020

Deglaciation patterns of the Scandinavian Ice Sheet in the Salpausselkä zone, southern Finland were studied. Digital elevation models (DEM/LiDAR‐imageries) were used to map and categorize glacifluvial formations of the study area, and evidence for ice re‐advance and retreat phases and their extent across the Younger Dryas Salpausselkä zone was collected. The results suggest that the Finnish Lake District Ice Lobe, located in SE Finland, retreated a minimum of 60 km north of the proximal side of the present First Salpausselkä ridge prior to the Younger Dryas, most probably during the Allerød interstadial (c. 13 900–12 700 years ago). This retreat phase was followed by a re‐advance after which the First Salpausselkä was formed (maximum age 13 300±900 years ago) in front of the Finnish Lake District Ice Lobe’s ice margin. Subsequently, ice retreated further north and the Second Salpausselkä in front of the Finnish Lake District Ice Lobe margin was formed, according to OSL‐age determinations between 11 500 and 12 000 years ago. Previous research indicates that a similar retreat and re‐advance event to that of the Finnish Lake District Ice Lobe did not take place in the area covered by the Baltic Sea Ice Lobe to the southwest. Overall, the results suggest that the ice retreat of the Finnish Lake District Ice Lobe was of the same magnitude as the contemporary Allerød interstadial ice retreat event along the western flank of the Scandinavian Ice Sheet in Norway and minor ice‐sheet oscillations in central Sweden.
Virtual reality rehabilitation in children with brain injury: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Choi Ja Young , Yi Sook‐Hee , Ao Lijuan , Tang Xin , Xu Xuan , Shim Dain , Yoo Beomki , Park Eun Sook , Rha Dong‐wook
Published: December 2020

Aim

To investigate the efficacy of a virtual reality rehabilitation system of wearable multi‐inertial sensors to improve upper‐limb function in children with brain injury.

Method

Eighty children (39 males, 41 females) with brain injury including cerebral palsy aged 3 to 16 years (mean age 5y 8mo, SD 2y 10mo) were assessed as part of a multicentre, single‐blind, randomized controlled trial. The intervention group received a 30‐minute virtual reality intervention and a 30‐minute session of conventional occupational therapy while the control group received 60 minutes of conventional occupational therapy per session, with 20 sessions over 4 weeks. The virtual reality rehabilitation system consisted of games promoting wrist and forearm articular movements using wearable inertial sensors. The Melbourne Assessment of Unilateral Upper Limb Function‐2 (MA‐2), Upper Limb Physician’s Rating Scale, Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory Computer Adaptive Test, and computerized three‐dimensional motion analysis were performed.

Results

Both groups (virtual reality, n=40; control, n=38) significantly improved after treatment compared to baseline; however, the virtual reality group showed more significant improvements in upper‐limb dexterity functions (MA‐2, virtual reality group: Δ=10.09±10.50; control: Δ=3.65±6.92), performance of activities of daily living, and forearm supination by kinematic analysis (p<0.05). In the virtual reality group, children with more severe motor impairment showed significant improvements compared to those with less severe impairment.

Interpretation

The virtual reality rehabilitation system used in this study, which consists of wearable inertial sensors and offers intensive, interactive, and repetitive motor training, is effective in children with brain injury.

What this paper adds

Both virtual reality rehabilitation and conventional occupational therapy were effective for upper‐limb training.

Virtual reality training was superior in improving dexterity, performance of activities of daily living, and active forearm supination motion.

The effect of virtual reality training was significant in children with more severe motor impairments.
Carbon subsidies shift a northern peatland biofilm community towards heterotrophy in low but not high nutrient conditions
Authors: Myers Jordan M. , Kuehn Kevin A. , Wyatt Kevin H.
Published: December 2020

Producer–decomposer interactions within aquatic biofilms can range from mutualistic associations to competition depending on available resources. The outcomes of such interactions have implications for biogeochemical cycling and, as such, may be especially important in northern peatlands, which are a global carbon sink and are expected to experience changes in resource availability with climate change. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of nutrients and organic carbon on the relative proportion of primary producers (microalgae) and heterotrophic decomposers (bacteria and fungi) during aquatic biofilm development in a boreal peatland. Given that decomposers are often better competitors for nutrients than primary producers in aquatic ecosystems, we predicted that labile carbon subsidies would shift the biofilm composition towards heterotrophy owing to the ability of decomposers to outcompete primary producers for available nutrients in the absence of carbon limitation.

We manipulated nutrients (nitrate and phosphate) and organic carbon (glucose) in a full factorial design using nutrient‐diffusing substrates in an Alaskan fen.

Heterotrophic bacteria were limited by organic carbon and algae were limited by inorganic nutrients. However, the outcomes of competitive interactions depended on background nutrient levels. Heterotrophic bacteria were able to outcompete algae for available nutrients when organic carbon was elevated and nutrient levels remained low, but not when organic carbon and nutrients were both elevated through enrichment.

Fungal biomass was significantly lower in the presence of glucose alone, possibly owing to antagonistic interactions with heterotrophic bacteria. In contrast to bacteria, fungi were stimulated along with algae following nutrient enrichment.

The decoupling of algae and heterotrophic bacteria in the presence of glucose alone shifted the biofilm trophic status towards heterotrophy. This effect was overturned when nutrients were enriched along with glucose, owing to a subsequent increase in algal biomass in the absence of nutrient limitation.

By measuring individual components of the biofilm and obtaining data on the trophic status, we have begun to establish a link between resource availability and biofilm formation in northern peatlands. Our results show that labile carbon subsidies from outside sources have the potential to disrupt microbial coupling and shift the metabolic balance in favour of heterotrophy. The extent to which this occurs in the future will probably depend on the timing and composition of bioavailable nutrients delivered to surface waters with environmental change (e.g. permafrost thaw).
Lifestyle habits and the risk factors of dementia: Evidence from Japan
Authors: Chen Fengming , Yoshida Hiroshi
Published: December 2020

Aim

In this study, we seek to empirically understand the relationship between lifestyle habits and dementia risk.

Methods

Through an original online survey, we first confirm the significant difference in the dementia risk indicators between good and bad lifestyle habits. Then, using regression analysis to hold other factors equal, we examine the relationships between lifestyle habits and an aggregate dementia risk indicator.

Results

Through the t‐test results, we find that the average scores of dementia risk for respondents avoiding good habits and preferring bad habits are significantly higher than those of the respondents favoring good habits and avoiding bad habits. Our empirical findings showed that Japanese‐style dietary habits significantly correlate with a decreased dementia risk. An additional 1‐point increase in eating habits will reduce dementia risk scores by 0.148 points, on average. Furthermore, we also confirm that walking (more than three times per week) and watching TV (almost every day) help prevent dementia.

Conclusions

We conclude that maintaining a good lifestyle helps prevent dementia. In particular, good eating habits, both in terms of types of food and eating routines, are essential to avoid the development of dementia. Most of these lifestyle habits belong to the targets of the “Health Japan 21” project. Therefore, our findings might provide some convincing evidence for promoting the project, which will not only extend healthy life expectancy, but also reduce the increasing number of older adults with dementia. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2021; 21: 203–208.
Surface layer of Pt‐O‐Ce bonds on CeOx nanowire with high ORR activity converted by proton beam irradiation
Authors: Chauhan Shipra , Mori Toshiyuki , Kobayashi Tomohiro , Yamamoto Shunya , Ito Shigeharu , Auchterlonie Graeme , Wepf Roger , Ueda Shigenori , Ye Fei
Published: December 2020

To develop the state‐of‐the‐art polymer membrane fuel cells. Both maximization of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity on Pt cathode and minimization of Pt content in the cathode are required. For this challenge, the defect interface on oxide support was modified by proton beam irradiation method. Pt‐CeOx nanowire/C (Pt/C = 0.02) was fabricated using the proton beam irradiation method. Since the radical density generated by proton beam irradiation is two orders of magnitude greater than that of electron beam irradiation, the CeOx nanowire surface was fully converted to a thin layer of Pt‐O‐Ce bonds under proton beam irradiation. The ORR activity observed for fabricated sample with above active surface layer was higher than that of conventional Pt/C (Pt/C = 0.2) and comparable to that of Pt‐CeOx nanowire/C (Pt/C = 0.2) fabricated by conventional methods. From the combination of microanalysis characterization and surface atomistic simulation, we concluded that the Pt‐O‐Ce bond was formed on defect‐rich regions of the CeOx nanowire and this leads to a maximized ORR activity on the fabricated sample. Based on all experimental data, it is concluded that the surface modification of CeOx nanowire support using proton beam irradiation is useful for a lowering the Pt content of the cathode with high ORR activity.
HDAC2 promotes the EMT of colorectal cancer cells and via the modular scaffold function of ENSG00000274093.1
Authors: Qi Zhi‐Peng , Yalikong Ayimukedisi , Zhang Jia‐Wei , Cai Shi‐Lun , Li Bing , Di Sun , Lv Zhen‑Tao , Xu En‐Pan , Zhong Yun‐Shi , Zhou Ping‐Hong
Published: December 2020

Histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2), a member of the Histone deacetylase family, plays a vital role in various carcinomas. In this study, we identified that HDAC2 expression levels are associated with liver metastasis, higher T stages and poor prognosis in colorectal cancer. HDAC2 down‐regulation via lentivirus‐mediated expression of HDAC2‐targeting shRNA reduced the in vitro migration and invasion ability of HCT116 cell as well as their liver metastasis in nude mouse xenografts. Mechanistically, HDAC2 promotes epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) in colorectal cancer cells by combining HDAC1 with EZH2 (a key histone methyltransferase), possibly through the modular scaffold function of a new lncRNA, ENSG00000274093.1. HDAC2 thus appears to promote CRC cell migration and invasion through binding HDAC1 and EZH2 via ENSG00000274093.1.
Do sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors lead to fracture risk? A pharmacovigilance real‐world study
Authors: Zhao Bin , Shen Juan , Zhao Jun , Pan Hui
Published: December 2020

Aims/Introduction

Given the mechanism of action of sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is), these drugs can also reduce bone density and increase fracture risk. We aimed to identify and characterize fracture‐related adverse events that are associated with SGLT2is.

Materials and Methods

In this observational, retrospective, pharmacovigilance, real‐world study, we used disproportionality and Bayesian analyses to compare fracture‐related adverse event reporting in patients who received SGLT2is from the first quarter in 2004 to the fourth quarter in 2019 in the Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System. We also compared the effect on combined therapy with SGLT2is and other glucose‐lowering medications (GLMs), and compared their onset times and outcomes.

Results

A total of 317 SGLT2is‐associated fractures were identified. Affected patients tended to be aged >45 years (68.76%) and were more often male than female (58.04% vs 34.07%). SGLT2is‐associated fracture is most commonly reported with canagliflozin (51.10%), dapagliflozin (24.60%) and empagliflozin (23.66%). SGLT2is or SGLT2is combined with GLMs do not show an association with fracture risk under disproportionality and Bayesian analyses. SGLT2i‐associated fractures result in hospitalization in 66.64% of patients and death in 9.38% of patients. GLMs show an increased hospitalization rate compared with SGLT2is (69.72% vs 55.14%, P < 0.0001) and GLMs plus SGLT2is (69.72% vs 61.20%, P = 0.0197).

Conclusions

Based on the Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System database, no association is noted between fracture risk and SGLT2is, or SGLT2is combined with GLMs. Long‐term follow up and high‐quality studies need to further verify and explore the relationship between SGLT2is and fractures.
Digital Immediate Complete Denture for a Patient with Rhabdomyosarcoma: A Clinical Report
Authors: Mendonça Gustavo , Edwards Sean P. , Mayers Colin A. , Meneghetti Priscila Ceolin , Liu Fei
Published: December 2020

Fabricating an immediate complete denture can be very challenging in some clinical situations. This clinical report describes a digital workflow to fabricate a printed maxillary immediate complete denture for a patient with a severely compromised maxilla. Digital data obtained by using an intraoral scanner was utilized to reconstruct the three‐dimensional (3D) image of the jaws at the desirable vertical dimension of occlusion. After performing the virtual teeth extraction and alveoloplasty, the denture base and teeth were designed. The resulting data were exported to a 3D printer for denture fabrication and the 3D printed (additively manufactured) denture was successfully inserted immediately after the surgery. After initial healing and confirmation of good retention and function, a new printed denture was fabricated by digitally duplicating the relined denture maintaining the same teeth positions but adjusting the base to a new intraoral scan of the healed ridge.