bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Responses of morphological and physiological traits to herbivory by snails of three invasive and native submerged plants
Authors: Huang Xiaolong , Yu Jinlei , Guan Baohua , Xie Hongmin , Liu Shuailing , He Hu , Li Kuanyi
Published: September 2021

The submerged plant species Carolina fanwort (Cabomba caroliniana) has become a dominant invasive aquatic plant in the Lake Taihu Basin (LTB) in China. Introduced species may escape their original specialist enemies and encounter fewer enemies in their new environment. They were assumed to have suffered less herbivory than native species as they are relatively unpalatable (the enemy release hypothesis [ERH]). The objective of this study was to compare the responses of C. caroliniana with those of co-occurring native species to herbivory from native herbivores. We conducted a mesocosm experiment to record the responses of C. caroliniana and two commonly co-occurring native submerged plant counterparts, water thyme (Hydrilla verticillata) and Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum), to herbivory by two native generalist gastropod snails, Radix swinhoei and Sinotaia quadrata. Plant morphological traits (total biomass, shoot/root [S/R] biomass ratio and relative growth rate [RGR]) and physiological traits (leaf total nonstructural carbohydrate [TNC], lignin, and cellulose) were recorded. The snail S. quadrata rarely influenced the plant traits of the three submerged plants. With the increasing numbers of R. swinhoei treatments, most of the plant traits of H. verticillata and M. spicatum changed, while those of C. caroliniana showed a relatively stable fluctuation. This result indicates that C. caroliniana is more resistant to herbivory by the snail R. swinhoei, which is consistent with the ERH hypothesis. This finding indicates that herbivorous snail species contributes to the invasion of C. caroliniana, which potentially alters the species composition of submerged plants in the plant community.
A literature review of pharmacist’s impact on lifestyle modifications among obese, hypertensive patients
Authors: Gonzalez Gonzalez Yaran K , Yaun Kristen , Shah Pooja , Iglesias George , Hale Genevieve Marie , Khanfar Nile M
Published: September 2021

Objectives

Previous trials have confirmed a positive relationship between obesity and hypertension. The purpose of this article is to identify the impact of pharmacists in lifestyle adherence among obese, hypertensive patients.

Methods

A literature search was performed at an academic institution using secondary databases, PubMed/MEDLINE and EBSCOhost. Reviews, observational and experimental reports published in English between 2010 and 2020 were included. Terms searched were pharmacy, pharmacist, lifestyle modifications, adherence, compliance, hypertension, obesity, consultation, intervention. Effect on lifestyle modifications consisted of change in blood pressure values, weight, body mass index, diet/sodium intake and/or exercise.

Key findings

Six hundred seventy-five articles were reviewed with 10 meeting inclusion criteria. The role of a pharmacist has a positive impact on compliance in lifestyle adherence with obese, hypertensive patients. Additionally, age, gender marital status, education, monthly income, knowledge level and beliefs of hypertension and co-morbidities all can affect adherence to lifestyle modifications.

Conclusions

The pharmacist has a vital role in the management of hypertension and obesity through frequent interactions with patients to increase adherence to lifestyle modifications.
Exploring the role of binarity in the origin of the bimodal rotational velocity distribution in stellar clusters
Authors: Kamann Sebastian , Bastian Nate , Usher Christopher , Cabrera-Ziri Ivan , Saracino Sara
Published: September 2021

Many young- and intermediate-age massive stellar clusters host bimodal distributions in the rotation rates of their stellar populations, with a dominant peak of rapidly rotating stars and a secondary peak of slow rotators. The origin of this bimodal rotational distribution is currently debated and two main theories have been put forward in the literature. The first is that all/most stars are born as rapid rotators and that interacting binaries break a fraction of the stars, resulting in two populations. The second is that the rotational distribution is a reflection of the early evolution of pre-main sequence stars, in particular, whether they are able to retain or lose their protoplanetary discs during the first few Myr. Here, we test the binary channel by exploiting multi-epoch Very Large Telescope/MUSE observations of NGC 1850, an ∼100 Myr massive cluster in the Large Magellanic Cloud, to search for differences in the binary fractions of the slow- and fast-rotating populations. If binarity is the cause of the rotational bimodality, we would expect that the slowly rotating population should have a much larger binary fraction than the rapid rotators. However, in our data we detect similar fractions of binary stars in the slow and rapidly rotating populations (5.9 ± 1.1 and 4.5 ± 0.6 per cent, respectively). Hence, we conclude that binarity is not a dominant mechanism in the formation of the observed bimodal rotational distributions.
The causal effect of environment on halo mass and concentration
Authors: Cadiou Corentin , Pontzen Andrew , Peiris Hiranya V , Lucie-Smith Luisa
Published: September 2021

Understanding the impact of environment on the formation and evolution of dark matter haloes and galaxies is a crucial open problem. Studying statistical correlations in large simulated populations sheds some light on these impacts, but the causal effect of an environment on individual objects is harder to pinpoint. Addressing this, we present a new method for resimulating a single dark matter halo in multiple large-scale environments. In the initial conditions, we ‘splice’ (i.e. insert) the Lagrangian region of a halo into different Gaussian random fields, while enforcing consistency with the statistical properties of Lambda cold dark matter. Applying this technique, we demonstrate that the mass of haloes is primarily determined by the density structure inside their Lagrangian patches, while the haloes’ concentration is more strongly affected by environment. The splicing approach will also allow us to study, for example, the impact of the cosmic web on accretion processes and galaxy quenching.
General-relativistic treatment of tidal g-mode resonances in coalescing binaries of neutron stars – II. As triggers for precursor flares of short gamma-ray bursts
Authors: Kuan Hao-Jui , Suvorov Arthur G , Kokkotas Kostas D
Published: September 2021

In some short gamma-ray bursts, precursor flares occurring ∼ seconds prior to the main episode have been observed. These flares may then be associated with the last few cycles of the inspiral when the orbital frequency is a few hundred Hz. During these final cycles, tidal forces can resonantly excite quasi-normal modes in the inspiralling stars, leading to a rapid increase in their amplitude. It has been shown that these modes can exert sufficiently strong strains on to the neutron star crust to instigate yieldings. Due to the typical frequencies of g- modes being ∼100 Hz, their resonances with the orbital frequency match the precursor timings and warrant further investigation. Adopting realistic equations of state and solving the general-relativistic pulsation equations, we study g-mode resonances in coalescing quasi-circular binaries, where we consider various stellar rotation rates, degrees of stratification, and magnetic field structures. We show that for some combination of stellar parameters, the resonantly excited g1 and g2 modes may lead to crustal failure and trigger precursor flares.
V1 as an egocentric cognitive map
Authors: Linton Paul
Published: September 2021

We typically distinguish between V1 as an egocentric perceptual map and the hippocampus as an allocentric cognitive map. In this article, we argue that V1 also functions as a post-perceptual egocentric cognitive map. We argue that three well-documented functions of V1, namely (i) the estimation of distance, (ii) the estimation of size, and (iii) multisensory integration, are better understood as post-perceptual cognitive inferences. This argument has two important implications. First, we argue that V1 must function as the neural correlates of the visual perception/cognition distinction and suggest how this can be accommodated by V1’s laminar structure. Second, we use this insight to propose a low-level account of visual consciousness in contrast to mid-level accounts (recurrent processing theory; integrated information theory) and higher-level accounts (higher-order thought; global workspace theory). Detection thresholds have been traditionally used to rule out such an approach, but we explain why it is a mistake to equate visibility (and therefore the presence/absence of visual experience) with detection thresholds.
COPII Sec23 proteins form isoform-specific endoplasmic reticulum exit sites with differential effects on polarized growth
Authors: Chang Mingqin , Wu Shu-Zon , Ryken Samantha E , O’Sullivan Jacquelyn E , Bezanilla Magdalena
Published: September 2021

Coat Protein complex II (COPII), a coat protein complex that forms vesicles on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), mediates trafficking to the Golgi. While metazoans have few genes encoding each COPII component, plants have expanded these gene families, leading to the hypothesis that plant COPII has functionally diversified. In the moss Physcomitrium (Physcomitrella) patens, the Sec23/24 gene families are each composed of seven genes. Silencing Sec23/24 revealed isoform-specific contributions to polarized growth, with the closely related Sec23D/E and Sec24C/D essential for protonemal development. Focusing on Sec23, we discovered that Sec23D/E mediate ER-to Golgi transport and are essential for tip growth, with Sec23D localizing to presumptive ER exit sites. In contrast, Sec23A, B, C, F, and G are dispensable and do not quantitatively affect ER-to-Golgi trafficking. However, Δsec23abcfg plants exhibited reduced secretion of plasma membrane cargo. Of the four highly expressed protonemal Sec23 genes, Sec23F/G are members of a divergent Sec23 clade specifically retained in land plants. Notably, Sec23G accumulates on ER-associated foci that are significantly larger, do not overlap with, and are independent of Sec23D. While Sec23D/E form ER exit sites and function as bona fide COPII components essential for tip-growing protonemata, Sec23G and the closely related Sec23F have likely functionally diversified, forming separate and independent ER exit sites and participating in Golgi-independent trafficking pathways.
Duncan Tanner Essay Prize Winner 2020
Authors: Morris George
Published: September 2021

Between 1899 and 1907, the medium Rosalie Thompson—giving voice to her dead daughter, Nelly—participated in a number of experimental seances with the Society for Psychical Research (SPR), which were formative in the development of the society’s theories of telepathy, personality and survival. Using the extensive séance notes taken by the researchers, and the range of published materials related to the case, this article situates psychical research as an intimate practice; its scientific method relied on the production of intimate evidence by the medium, including the intimacy of touch; its leading proponents were neighbours, friends and relatives, who began communicating via Thompson once key members began to die from 1900. By keeping the focus on the life of Thompson herself, however, the article seeks to use the ‘small history’ of Mrs Thompson to tell a bigger and more complex story about intimacy in early twentieth-century Britain.
How and why? Technology and practices used by university mathematics lecturers for emergency remote teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Ní Fhloinn Eabhnat , Fitzmaurice Olivia
Published: September 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic led to closures of university campuses around the world from March 2020 onwards. With little or no time for preparation, lecturers turned to emergency remote teaching to continue to educate their students. Online mathematics education poses particular challenges in terms of both the hardware and software necessary for effective teaching, due to issues with mathematical symbols and notation, among others. In this paper, we report upon an online survey of 257 university mathematics lecturers across 29 countries, which explores what hardware and software they used for emergency remote teaching, for what purposes they used these and what training and support were made available to them at the time. We also consider what approaches they took to emergency remote teaching and what were their reasons for this.
Willingness of Mothers to Receive Reminders for Routine Vaccination Appointments in Northern Nigeria: A Multi-Centre Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Ibraheem Rasheedat Mobolaji , Bello Afeez Oyesola , Ibrahim Olayinka Rasheed , Garba Bilkisu Ilah , Aliu Rasaki , Abdulkadir Mohammed Baba , Hashim Rabiu , Ibrahim Lawal Magaji , Mohammed Salihu Sheni , Sambo Amina Hannatu , Ahmed Grace , Akintola Moshood Adebayo
Published: September 2021

Background

Routine vaccination, a cost-effective means of preventing deadly childhood disease, has a low coverage in Nigeria. The study assessed the willingness of mothers to receive reminder messages for routine vaccination appointments in Northern Nigeria.

Methods

A multi-centre cross-sectional study involving at least 363 mother–infant pairs per centre from five states in Northern Nigeria. Data collected include the socio-demographic details, responses on parental phone ownership, mothers’ willingness to receive reminders for immunization appointments and the reminder type characteristics. Data analysis was done with SPSS.

Results

Of the 1952 mother–infant pairs, ownership of at least one household phone was 97.7%. In total, 1613 (82.6%) mothers were willing to receive reminders. A majority (62.2%) of mothers preferred phone calls. A day before the vaccination appointment was the preferred timing (78.1%), and the predominant communication language was the local language for each region.

The odds of being willing to receive reminders were 3.1 times, 2.6 times and 1.8 times higher in those with no formal education, primary education and secondary education, respectively, compared with mothers with tertiary education, each p < 0.05. Mothers who delivered at home were significantly less likely to want reminder messages (p = 0.03).

Conclusion

Eight of 10 women in Northern Nigeria are willing to receive a reminder for their child. The predominant mode of reminder preferred is phone calls using the local language. Deployment of mobile phone reminders strategy in Northern Nigeria as a means to improve vaccination uptake is feasible. The institution of this strategy can be in collaboration with service providers.
Utilization of telemedicine in orthopaedic surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic: a review of elbow examination and assessment
Authors: Emara Khaled M. , Diab Ramy Ahmed , Abdelsalam Ahmed , Gemeah Mostafa , Emara Ahmed K.
Published: September 2021

The recent Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic made social distancing vital to limiting the spread of infection. As a result many patients postponed their hospital and orthopaedic clinic visits for the fear of contracting the virus, which in turn led to serious complications caused by negligence and lack of follow-up in elbow patients. The pandemic has been an ongoing threat; therefore, establishing an effective virtual assessment technique for patient follow-up has become a valuable option. The authors conducted a systematic approach for proper virtual assessment of patients with elbow disorders using telemedicine.
Optimizing reproductive health management in lupus and Sjogren's syndrome
Authors: Birru Talabi Mehret , Himes Katherine P. , Clowse Megan E.B.
Published: September 2021

Purpose of review

People with childbearing capacity who are diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and Sjogren's syndrome (SS) have specific and important reproductive health considerations.

Recent findings

Recommendations from the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) and the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) provide rheumatologists and other clinicians with guidance for reproductive health management of patients with rheumatic diseases. Patient-centered reproductive health counseling can help clinicians to operationalize the EULAR and ACR guidelines and enhance patient care.

Disease activity monitoring, risk factor stratification, and prescription of pregnancy-compatible medications during pregnancy help to anticipate complications and enhance pregnancy outcomes in SLE and SS. Assisted reproductive technologies are also safe among people with well-controlled disease. Safe and effective contraceptive methods are available for patients with SLE and SS, and pregnancy termination appears to be safe among these patients.
In Vivo Syndesmotic Motion After Rigid and Flexible Fixation Using 4-Dimensional Computerized Tomography
Authors: Wong Murray T. , Wiens Charmaine , LaMothe Jeremy , Edwards W. Brent , Schneider Prism S.
Published: September 2021

Introduction:

Maintaining reduction after syndesmotic injury is crucial to patient function; however, malreduction remains common. Flexible suture button fixation may allow more physiologic motion of the syndesmosis compared with rigid screw fixation. Conventional syndesmotic imaging fails to account for physiologic syndesmotic motion with ankle range of motion (ROM), providing misleading results. Four-dimensional computerized tomography (4DCT) can image joints through a dynamic ROM. Our purpose was to compare syndesmotic motion after rigid and flexible fixation using 4DCT.

Methods:

We analyzed 13 patients with syndesmotic injury who were randomized to receive rigid (n = 7) or flexible (n = 6) fixation. Patients underwent bilateral ankle 4DCT while moving between ankle dorsiflexion and plantar flexion. Measures of syndesmotic position and rotation were extracted from 4DCT to determine syndesmotic motion as a function of ankle ROM.

Results:

Uninjured ankles demonstrated significant decreases in syndesmotic width of 1.0 mm with ankle plantar flexion (SD = 0.6 mm, P < 0.01). Initial rigid fixation demonstrated reduced motion compared with uninjured ankles in 4 of 5 measures (P < 0.01) despite all patients in the rigid fixation group having removed, loose, or broken screws by the time of imaging. Rigid fixation led to less motion than flexible fixation in 3 measures (P = 0.02–0.04). There were no observed differences in syndesmotic position or motion between flexible fixation and uninjured ankles.

Conclusion:

Despite the loss of fixation in all subjects in the rigid fixation group, initial rigid fixation led to significantly reduced syndesmotic motion. Flexible fixation recreated more physiologic motion compared with rigid fixation and may be used to reduce rates of syndesmotic malreduction.

Level of Evidence:

Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Strategies for Lynch syndrome identification in selected and unselected gynecological cancers
Authors: Carnevali Ileana , Sahnane Nora , Chiaravalli Anna Maria , Di Lauro Eleonora , Facco Carla , Facchi Sofia , Casarin Jvan , Ghezzi Fabio , Sessa Fausto , Tibiletti Maria Grazia
Published: September 2021

Background

Endometrial carcinoma represents a sentinel cancer for Lynch syndrome (LS) identification. It is crucial to highlight how other types of tumors can arise in the gynecological tract acting as sentinel tumors in LS patients.

Up to now, no established LS patient management strategy has incorporated the presence of these additional candidate sentinel tumors to improve the prevention and management of LS tumors.

Methods

In order to investigate the involvement of the most frequent gynecological cancers in gynecological cancers, we studied different subsets of gynecological cancers using both somatic approaches, including mismatch repair (MMR) gene immunohistochemical expression, microsatellite instability, and germline analyses ofMSH2, MSH6, MLH1, PMS2 and EPCAM genes.

A total of 261 patients referring to the Cancer Genetic Counselling Service of our institution were included in the study. In detail, our series was composed of 131 patients affected by uterus cancers including endometrial, isthmus and non-HPV endocervical carcinomas, 113 patients affected by ovarian cancers and 17 patients affected by synchronous endometrial/ovarian carcinomas (SEOC).

In addition, we studied 115 cases of endometrial cancers identified by 2 years of universal testing (endometrial cancers/UTs) using IHC analysis of four MMR proteins.

Results and conclusions

The incidence of MMR defective gynecological cancers ranged from 7.1 to 47.1% depending on cancer site and selection. LS patients carriers of pathogenetic MMR variants were identified in 19.8% of uterus cancers, 35.3% of SEOC, 4.4% of ovarian cancers. In addition, pathogenetic MMR variants were identified in 4.3% of endometrial cancers/universal testing investigated with universal screening.

In conclusion, gynecological cancers are heavily involved in LS and our study shows that MMR screening using immunohistochemical pattern and MSI analysis of endometrial and ovarian cancers as well as of rare entities such as non-HPV related endocervical cancers and synchronous endometrial and ovarian cancers are sentinels for LS.

Tumor testing approach improves early identification of MMR defective gynecological cancers and this is an effective strategy to detect high-risk patients and to offer them and their relatives personalized cancer prevention.
Epigenetic clocks in the pediatric population: when and why they tick?
Authors: Wang Jing , Zhou Wen-Hao
Published: September 2021

Recent research efforts have provided compelling evidence of genome-wide DNA methylation alterations in pediatrics. It is currently well established that epigenetic clocks, composed of DNA methylation sites, can estimate the gestational and chronological age of cells and tissues from different ages. Also, extensive research is aimed at their correlation with early life exposure and pediatric diseases. This review aimed to systematically summarize the epigenetic clocks in the pediatric population. Publications were collected from PubMed and Web of Science databases up to Apr 2021. Epigenetic clocks, DNA methylation clocks, epigenetic age acceleration or deceleration, pediatric and the pediatric population were used as search criteria. Here, we first review the currently applicative pediatric epigenetic clocks. We then highlight the interpretation for epigenetic age deviations in the pediatric population and their association with external factors, developmental trajectories, and pediatric diseases. Considering the remaining unknown of pediatric clocks, research strategies into them are also discussed. In all, pediatric epigenetic clocks may act as potent tools to understand development, growth and diseases in early life.
Influencing factors on women's attitudes toward menopause: a systematic review
Authors: Dashti Sareh , Bahri Narjes , Fathi Najafi Tahereh , Amiridelui Masoumeh , Latifnejad Roudsari Robab
Published: September 2021

Importance:

Menopause is a natural stage of the reproductive life of a woman. This natural event might affect activities of daily living and cause problems for women. Positive attitudes toward menopause can improve women's quality of life and reduce the severity of menopausal symptoms.

Objective:

The aim of this systematic review was to assess the factors influencing women's attitudes toward menopause.

Evidence review:

This systematic review was conducted based on the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guideline in medical databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and Google Scholar, as well as Magiran, and SID until October 2020.

Findings:

A total of 7,512 articles were identified. Eight articles were included in the review after excluding the duplicates and screening the articles based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The majority of the studies used the Attitude Toward Menopause Scale to assess the attitudes toward menopause. This variable differed between the studies conducted in different regions and countries. Furthermore, postmenopausal women had more positive attitudes toward menopause compared with peri- or premenopausal women. Other influencing factors of attitudes toward menopause included age, menopausal symptoms, psychological and socioeconomical status, and profession and ethnicity.

Conclusion and relevance:

The findings showed that menopausal stage, menopausal symptoms, and psychological and socioeconomic status can influence the attitude of women toward menopause. Therefore, these factors should be considered in interventions that aim to improve women's attitudes toward menopause.
Adolescent, Parent, and Provider Perspectives of a Social-Media–Based Support Tool for Parents of Teens in Treatment for Substance Use
Authors: Schulte Marya T. , Kelleghan Annemarie R.
Published: September 2021

Adolescent substance use disorder contributes to negative psychosocial and physical health outcomes. Parents best support their child's treatment and recovery when they are equipped with knowledge and skills; however, barriers hinder parental engagement. Social-media-based groups present an opportunity for parents who may not otherwise seek support. Qualitative data were collected via focus groups to examine the opinions of adolescents, parents, and treatment providers on the potential utility and possible concerns of a Facebook-based parent support group; input constituted the development phase for an online group (PURPOSE). Fifty-eight participants, recruited through adolescent treatment programs, took part in six focus groups: two parent (n = 18), two adolescent (n = 21), and two provider (n = 19) groups. Groups were audio recorded and transcribed, and themes were extracted. Three main themes emerged: (a) traditional support groups and treatment services, (b) PURPOSE intervention content and delivery, and (c) issues related to PURPOSE implementation. Traditional treatment/support groups can be helpful, but participation in them is limited. Emotional support offered by peers is valuable, but parents also need and seek out psychoeducation, parenting skills, and self-care support. PURPOSE could offer easy access to skills and real-time peer support.
Remote patient triage: Shifting toward safer telehealth practice
Authors: Kobeissi Mahrokh M. , Ruppert Susan D.
Published: September 2021

Telehealth is a tool used to diagnose and treat patients at a distance. Telehealth quickly became essential during the COVID-19 pandemic as a result of stay-at-home orders. Regulatory waivers encouraged the use of telehealth as an alternative to the in-person encounter to limit the spread of disease. The pandemic incited a rapid growth in telehealth, and new legislation, new technologies, and providers new to virtual care changed the delivery of traditional telehealth. Postpandemic planning is necessary to support the safe integration of telehealth in the health care system. The purpose of this article is to discuss the current issues affecting telehealth and offer recommendations for safer virtual care. Critical considerations, beginning with an assessment of remote patient acuity, are needed to ensure the standard of care for telehealth is equivalent to the in-person setting. A triage protocol to screen patients seeking virtual services is required to prevent underestimation of severity of illness, sort patients to place of service, and determine if a need exists to escalate to an in-person evaluation or higher level of care. A standard approach to triage may minimize the risks to patient safety and support the appropriate use of telehealth technologies.
Eltrombopag treatment for severe immune thrombocytopenia during pregnancy: a case report
Authors: Mendicino Francesco , Santoro Cristina , Martino Enrica , Botta Cirino , Baldacci Erminia , Ferretti Antonietta , Muto Brunella , Lucia Eugenio , Caracciolo Daniele , Vigna Ernesto , Morelli Michele , Gentile Massimo
Published: September 2021

Primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by isolated thrombocytopenia (platelet count <100 × 109/l) in the absence of other causes or disorders associated. The incidence of ITP in pregnancy is one to two cases per 1000 gestations. ITP could be diagnosed before or during pregnancy; sometimes a relapse of a previously diagnosed ITP can occur. Intravenous immune globulins (IVIg) and corticosteroids are the standard frontline therapy because of their well known safety profile either for the mother or for the neonate. Treatments for refractory patients are limited by potential fetal risk. We report the case of a patient with ITP along pregnancy, refractory to corticosteroids and IVIg, successfully treated with, the thrombopoietin receptor agonist (TPO-RA) eltrombopag. Patient received this compound for almost the whole pregnancy and in particular for the whole first trimester, without any complication for the mother and the neonate. Although transient administration of TPO-RAs in pregnancy seems to be well tolerated, their use during the whole gestation is still controversial; this is the reason of the description of this case, which did not show any complications, and thus it could add useful information on this field.
Nurses' Intent to Leave their Position and the Profession During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Raso Rosanne , Fitzpatrick Joyce J. , Masick Kevin
Published: September 2021

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to describe the relationships between perceptions of the pandemic impact on clinical nurses' and nurse leaders' intent to leave their current position and the profession and the differences in pandemic impact and intent to leave variables based on background factors.

BACKGROUND

There is much discussion and concern about the COVID-19 pandemic impact on nurses' health and the nursing workforce.

METHODS

More than 5000 nurses from a national sample participated in a cross-sectional, descriptive study. Participants rated their perceptions of the pandemic impact on their practice and their intent to leave their position and profession.

RESULTS

Pandemic impact was rated high overall and was highest in nurses with 25+ years of experience and in managers/directors. Eleven percent of the total sample indicated they intended to leave their position, and 20% were undecided. Nurses who rated pandemic impact at the highest level had higher intent to leave their position. Of the respondents, less than 2% indicated they were leaving the nursing profession, whereas 8% were undecided.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the 1st quantitative report of perceived level of pandemic impact on direct care nurses and nurse managers/directors at the time of this writing. The combination of those who intend to leave and those who are uncertain about leaving their positions could cause instability in the workforce if not reversed. Organizational attention to nurse well-being, work environment and staffing is imperative.
A Qualitative Exploration of Chief Nursing Officer Perspectives on Maintaining Magnet® Designation
Authors: Urden Linda D. , Baclig Jannise T. , Sanchez Kimberly
Published: September 2021

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to determine chief nursing officer (CNO) perspectives on how to sustain the infrastructure required for successful American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet® redesignation.

BACKGROUND

American Nurses Credentialing Center Magnet designation is a prestigious achievement reflective of years of dedication, innovation, mentoring, and leadership support. As challenging as the initial attainment of Magnet status can be, sustaining the success and becoming redesignated is considered even more difficult by many CNOs. However, there have been no published reports indicating how to be successful in Magnet redesignation.

METHOD

A grounded theory qualitative approach was used, and data were collected through telephone interviews with CNOs who had successfully attained at least 1 redesignation.

RESULTS

Fourteen CNOs participated; data were organized into 6 themes and 15 subthemes describing the critical elements for Magnet redesignation.

CONCLUSION

Relationships among the 6 themes and subthemes are theorized in the form of a wheel with 6 spokes. When “set in motion,” the wheel gathers momentum and all of the model elements become coalesced into the organizational ethos.
Cartilage Remodeling in Nasal Tip Rhinoplasty Using “Lateral Crural Steal” and “Tongue in Groove” Strategies: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Gentile Pietro , Cervelli Valerio
Published: September 2021

Background:

The authors present their experience using “Lateral Crural Steal” (LCS) and “Tongue in Groove” (TING) techniques in nasal tip remodeling.

Objectives:

The paper aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the use of LCS and TING in nasal tip remodeling for aesthetic improvement.

Methods:

A randomized controlled trial was conducted. Thirty-five patients affected by low and boxy nasal tips were treated with LCS and TINGs (study group [SG]), comparing results with the control group (CG) (n = 30) treated with cartilage grafts. The preoperative analysis has been performed with an accurate clinical evaluation, a photographic assessment, and a computed tomography scan. Postoperative follow-up took place at 1, 2, and 4 weeks, 3, 6, and 12 months, and then annually.

Results:

A total of 82.9% (n = 29) of SG patients showed excellent cosmetic and functional results after 1 year compared with the CG patients, who showed the same results in only 40% (n = 12) of cases. The tip projection maintenance and contour restoring in the SG were higher than that in the CG (P < 0.0001 versus CG).

Conclusions:

The use of LCS and TING was safe and effective in this series of cases performed.
Late Bleeding Following Cleft Palate Repair: An Under-Reported Finding?
Authors: Wheeler Jonathan S. , Sanders Megan
Published: September 2021

The objective of this article is to assess the incidence of late bleeding following cleft palate repair (palatoplasty) in children. This is a retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database of patients treated for Cleft Lip and Palate in a tertiary academic pediatric hospital setting over 2 hospitals (Middlemore and Starship Hospitals) under the same multidisciplinary team of the Auckland Regional Cleft and Craniofacial Service, New Zealand. All patients with a diagnosis of Cleft Lip and/or Palate undergoing primary cleft palate repair over an 11 year period until March 2020 were included in the study. Our results found there were 482 patients with a new diagnosis of Cleft Lip and/or Palate from Jan 2009 through to March 2020. Three hundred sixty-six of those patients underwent primary palatoplasty at an average age of 10.5 months (range 8–18 months). The sub-types of cleft palate diagnoses were one-third Veau I, one-third Veau II, and the remaining one-third were Veau III, IV, and submucous cleft palate. One-third were syndromic. A total of 6 patients were re-admitted to hospital after discharge from their primary admission with bleeding from the cleft palate surgical site. Of the 6 patients re-admitted, 5 needed blood transfusions and 4 required an urgent return to the operating room. The authors found the rate of late bleeding following primary cleft palate repair in our unit is 1:61 operations or 1.6%. Late bleeding following cleft palate surgery is not well reported in the literature.
Infraeyebrow Blepharoplasty Using Dynamic Suspension Technique Between Dermis-Fascia Flap and Frontalis in Upper Eyelid Lifting and Eyebrow Augmentation
Authors: Cao Zilong , Liu Liqiang , Fan Jincai , Tian Jia , Gan Cheng , Jiao Hu , Yang Zengjie , Zhang Tiran
Published: September 2021

Objective:

Upper eyelid laxity affects facial aesthetics and the eyebrow arch in the East Asian population is generally low. The authors developed infraeyebrow blepharoplasty using a dynamic suspension technique between the dermis-fascia flap and frontalis for upper eyelid lifting and eyebrow augmentation.

Methods:

A retrospective study was performed on 43 female patients with upper eyelid laxity from August 2015 to October 2019. The epidermis and superficial dermis of the infraeyebrow was removed from the surgical marking area with the deep dermis and fascia preserved. The eyebrow skin flap was separated from the frontalis surface which fully exposed the area around eyebrow arch. The preserved dermis-fascia flap was folded and suspended to frontalis in the superior margin of eyebrow arch.

Results:

Forty-three patients (median age 54 years [range, 38–70]) underwent this operation. Mean follow-up was 25 months (range, 8–42) was assessed. All incisions healed well and were almost invisible. The eyebrow area improved with upper eyelid skin lift and eyebrow augmentation; 40 cases were “very satisfied” with their appearance. Three cases were “not very satisfied,” including 1 case with numbness in surgical area. 2 cases had slight bilateral asymmetry of the upper eyelids.

Conclusions:

The dynamic suspension technique is worthy of clinical application because it can correct upper eyelid laxity, augment the low eyebrow arch, and obtain an invisible scar by reducing the incision tension.
Implementation of a Surgical Critical Care Service Reduces Failure to Rescue in Emergency Gastrointestinal Surgery in Rural Kenya
Authors: Many Heath R. , Otoki Kemunto , Parker Andrea S. , Parker Robert K.
Published: September 2021

Objective:

We aimed to evaluate the implementation of a dedicated Surgical critical care service (SCCS) on failure to rescue (FTR) rates in rural Kenya.

Summary Background Data:

FTR adversely impacts perioperative outcomes. In the resource-limited contexts of low- and middle-income countries, emergency gastrointestinal surgery carries high morbidity and mortality rates. Quality improvement initiatives that decrease FTR rates are essential for improving perioperative care.

Methods:

All patients who underwent emergency gastrointestinal surgery between January 2016 and June 2019 at Tenwek Hospital in rural Kenya were reviewed. Critical care capabilities were constant throughout the study period. A supervised surgical resident was dedicated to the daily care of critically ill surgical patients beginning in January 2018. The impact of the SCCS initiation on the outcome of FTR was evaluated, controlling for patient complexity via the African Surgical Outcomes Study Surgical Risk Score.

Results:

A total of 484 patients were identified, consisting of 278 without and 206 with an active SCCS. A total of 165 (34.1%) patients experienced postoperative complications, including 49 mortalities (10.1%) yielding an FTR rate of 29.7%. The FTR rate decreased after SCCS implementation from 36.8% (95% CI: 26.7%–47.8%) to 21.8% (95% CI: 13.2%–32.6%) (P = 0.035) despite an increase in the average patient African Surgical Outcomes Study score from 14.5 (95% CI, 14.1–14.9) to 15.2 (95% CI, 14.7–15.7) (P =0.03).

Conclusions:

The implementation of an SCCS in rural Kenya resulted in decreased rates of FTR despite an increase in patient complexity and severity of critical illness.
Seeing in the swamp: hydrogen sulfide inhibits eye metabolism and visual acuity in a sulfide-tolerant fish
Authors: Allore Claire A. , Rossi Giulia S. , Wright Patricia A.
Published: September 2021

In fish, vision may be impaired when eye tissue is in direct contact with environmental conditions that limit aerobic ATP production. We hypothesized that the visual acuity of fishes exposed to hydrogen sulfide (H2S)-rich water would be altered owing to changes in cytochrome c oxidase (COX) activity. Using the H2S-tolerant mangrove rivulus (Kryptolebias marmoratus), we showed that a 10 min exposure to greater than or equal to 200 µM of H2S impaired visual acuity and COX activity in the eye. Visual acuity and COX activity were restored in fish allowed to recover in H2S-free water for up to 1 h. SinceK. marmoratusare found in mangrove pools with H2S concentrations exceeding 1000 µM, visual impairment may impact predator avoidance, navigation and foraging behaviour in the wild.
From the knitting shop: the first physical and dynamic model of the taenioglossan radula (Mollusca: Gastropoda) aids in unravelling functional principles of the radular morphology
Authors: Krings Wencke , Karabacak Hasan , Gorb Stanislav N.
Published: September 2021

The radula is the structure used for food processing in Mollusca. It can consist of a membrane with stiffer teeth, which is, together with alary processus, muscles and odontophoral cartilages, part of the buccal mass. In malacology, it is common practice to infer potential tooth functions from morphology. Thus, past approaches to explain functional principles are mainly hypothesis driven. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a workflow testing hypotheses on the function of teeth and buccal mass components and interaction of structures, which can contribute to understanding the structure as a whole. Here, in a non-conventional approach, we introduce a physical and dynamic radular model, based on morphological data ofSpekia zonata(Gastropoda, Paludomidae). Structures were documented, computer-modelled, three-dimensional-printed and assembled to gather a simplistic but realistic physical and dynamic radular model. Such a bioinspired design enabled studying of radular kinematics and interaction of parts when underlain supporting structures were manipulated in a similar manner as could result from muscle contractions. The presented work is a first step to provide a constructional manual, paving the way for even more realistic physical radular models, which could be used for understanding radular functional morphology and for the development of novel gripping devices.
Single-cell stochastic modelling of the action of antimicrobial peptides on bacteria
Authors: Teimouri Hamid , Nguyen Thao N. , Kolomeisky Anatoly B.
Published: September 2021

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) produced by multi-cellular organisms as their immune system’s defence against microbes are actively considered as natural alternatives to conventional antibiotics. Although substantial progress has been achieved in studying the AMPs, the microscopic mechanisms of their functioning remain not well understood. Here, we develop a new theoretical framework to investigate how the AMPs are able to efficiently neutralize bacteria. In our minimal theoretical model, the most relevant processes, AMPs entering into and the following inhibition of the single bacterial cell, are described stochastically. Using complementary master equations approaches, all relevant features of bacteria clearance dynamics by AMPs, such as the probability of inhibition and the mean times before the clearance, are explicitly evaluated. It is found that both processes, entering and inhibition, are equally important for the efficient functioning of AMPs. Our theoretical method naturally explains a wide spectrum of efficiencies of existing AMPs and their heterogeneity at the single-cell level. Theoretical calculations are also consistent with existing single-cell measurements. Thus, the presented theoretical approach clarifies some microscopic aspects of the action of AMPs on bacteria.
Sand-throwing behaviour in pit-building antlion larvae: insights from finite-element modelling
Authors: Büsse Sebastian , Büscher Thies H. , Heepe Lars , Gorb Stanislav N. , Stutz Hans Henning
Published: September 2021

Sandy pitfall traps of antlions are elaborate constructions to capture prey. Antlions exploit the interactions between the particles in their habitat and build a stable trap. This trap is close to the unstable state; prey items will slide towards the centre—where the antlion ambushes—when entering the trap. This is efficient but requires permanent maintenance. According to the present knowledge, antlions throw sand, mainly to cause sandslides towards the centre of the pit. We hypothesized that: (i) sand-throwing causes sandslides towards the centre of the pit and (ii) sand-throwing constantly maintains the pitfall trap and thus keeps its efficiency high. Using laboratory experiments, as well as finite-element analysis, we tested these hypotheses. We show, experimentally and numerically, that sand that accumulates at the centre of the pit will be removed continuously by sand-throwing, this maintenance is leading to slope condition close to an unstable state. This keeps the slope angle steep and the efficiency of the trap constant. Furthermore, the resulting sandslides can relocate the trapped prey towards the centre of the pit. This study adds further insights from specific mechanical properties of a granular medium into the behavioural context of hunting antlion larvae.
Streptomyces botrytidirepellens sp. nov., a novel actinomycete with antifungal activity against Botrytis cinerea
Authors: Jiang Mengqi , Xu Xi , Song Jia , Li Dongmei , Han Liyuan , Sun Xiujun , Guo Lifeng , Xiang Wensheng , Zhao Junwei , Wang Xiangjing
Published: September 2021

The fungal pathogen Botrytis cinerea is the causal agent of devastating gray mold diseases in many economically important fruits, vegetables, and flowers, leading to serious economic losses worldwide. In this study, a novel actinomycete NEAU-LD23T exhibiting antifungal activity against B. cinerea was isolated, and its taxonomic position was evaluated using a polyphasic approach. Based on the genotypic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data, it is concluded that the strain represents a novel species within the genus

Streptomyces

, for which the name Streptomyces botrytidirepellens sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NEAU-LD23T (=CCTCC AA 2019029T=DSM 109824T). In addition, strain NEAU-LD23T showed a strong antagonistic effect against B. cinerea (82.6±2.5%) and varying degrees of inhibition on nine other phytopathogenic fungi. Both cell-free filtrate and methanol extract of mycelia of strain NEAU-LD23T significantly inhibited mycelial growth of B. cinerea. To preliminarily explore the antifungal mechanisms, the genome of strain NEAU-LD23T was sequenced and analyzed. AntiSMASH analysis led to the identification of several gene clusters responsible for the biosynthesis of bioactive secondary metabolites with antifungal activity, including 9-methylstreptimidone, echosides, anisomycin, coelichelin and desferrioxamine B. Overall, this research provided us an excellent strain with considerable potential to use for biological control of tomato gray mold.