bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Whole genome sequencing and antibiotic diffusion assays, provide new insight on drug resistance in the genus Pedobacter
Authors: Ullmann Ingvild Falkum , Nygaard Anders Benteson , Tunsjø Hege Smith , Charnock Colin 
Published: May 2020

ABSTRACT
A total of four strains of the ‘environmental superbug’ Pedobacter isolated from sludge produced at Norwegian drinking water treatment plants, were characterized by whole genome sequencing and antibiotic susceptibility assays. As with previous studies on members of this genus, we found that the isolates were multi-drug resistant, and that this resistance included clinically important beta-lactams, aminoglycosides and the fluoroquinolone ciprofloxacin. Using the minION sequencing platform (Oxford Nanopore Technologies) combined with HiSeq PE150 Illumina sequencing data, the four isolates were assembled into genomes of single contigs. Analysis of the genomes revealed potential genetic factors possibly underlying some of the specific resistances observed. Metallo-beta-lactamase activity was detected in one isolate, and the same isolate contained a putative metallo-betalactamase gene resembling pedo-2. Furthermore, several genes related to multidrug efflux systems were found using the resistance database CARD. Additionally, the present study extends our knowledge on the phylogeny of this genus, adding four new genomes to the existing 50.
Expansion of shrubs could result in local loss of soil bacterial richness in Western Greenland
Authors: Canini Fabiana , Zucconi Laura , Coleine Claudia , D'Alò Federica , Onofri Silvano , Geml József 
Published: May 2020

ABSTRACTClimate warming in Greenland is facilitating the expansion of shrubs across wide areas of tundra. Given the close association between plants and soil microorganisms and the important role of soil bacteria in ecosystem functioning, it is of utmost importance to characterize microbial communities of arctic soil habitats and assess the influence of plant edaphic factors on their composition. We used 16S rRNA gene amplicons to explore the bacterial assemblages of three different soil habitats representative of a plant coverage gradient: bare ground, biological soil crusts dominated by mosses and lichens and vascular vegetation dominated by shrubs. We investigated how bacterial richness and community composition were affected by the vegetation coverage, and soil pH, moisture and carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) contents. Bacterial richness did not correlate with plant coverage complexity, while community structure varied between habitats. Edaphic variables affected both the taxonomic richness and community composition. The high number of Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASVs) indicators of bare ground plots suggests a risk of local bacterial diversity loss due to expansion of vascular vegetation.
Trigonella foenum-graecum seeds extract plays a beneficial role on brain antioxidant and oxidative status in alloxan-induced Wistar rats
Authors: Pradeepkiran Jangampalli Adi , Nandyala Venkata Subbaiah , Bhaskar Matcha 
Published: May 2020

AbstractContextTrigonella foenum-graecum (TriFG) exhibits increased scavenger enzymatic activities and reduces the production of reactive oxygen species in diabetic rats.ObjectiveThe present study was aimed to investigate the effect of TriFG on lipid peroxidation levels and antioxidant status in brain tissue of rats exposed to alloxan.Materials and MethodsHealthy male rats (180 ± 10 g) were allocated into five groups. Animals in group 1 maintained on normal tap water served as controls and rats in groups 2, 3, 4, and 5 were treated as experimental groups. Rats in group 2 were intraperitoneally injected with alloxan (120 mg/kg BW) and treated as diabetic rats, whereas rats in groups 3 and 4 were maintained on same experimental regimen as that of rats in groups 1 and 2, respectively, and in addition, they were orally gavaged with herbal extracts of TriFG (0.25 g/kg BW). Diabetic rats treated with glibenclamide in group 5 were used as positive controls.Results and DiscussionSignificant (P &lt; 0.001) increase in the antioxidant enzymes with a significant (P &lt; 0.001) decrease in the lipid peroxidation levels were observed in the brain tissue of diabetic rats treated with TriFG extract as compared to diabetic and glibenclamide-treated rats. No significant changes were observed in pro- and antioxidant levels in brain tissue of rats treated with TriFG extract alone when compared to normal rats. In diabetic rats, brain mitochondrial and cytosolic enzymes like succinate dehydrogenase, glutamate dehydrogenase, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity levels were significantly (P &lt; 0.05) decreased with reversely increased was observed in lactate dehydrogenase activity (P &lt; 0.05).ConclusionsThe findings of the present study suggested that TriFG, through its antioxidant properties, protects brain tissue by mitigating oxidative stress induced by alloxan-exposed rats. TriFG extract significantly increased the antioxidant and oxidative properties in diabetic rats when compared with the control group rats.
Shifting from tobacco growing to alternatives in Malawi? A qualitative analysis of policy and perspectives
Authors: Lencucha Raphael , Moyo Takondwa , Labonte Ronald , Drope Jeffrey , Appau Adriana , Makoka Donald 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Tobacco is the primary export commodity in Malawi and an important contributor to foreign earnings. The entrenchment of tobacco interests within government has partly explained why Malawi has lagged in its efforts to address the health consequences of tobacco and has been a vocal opponent of global tobacco control. Despite the extensive historical and entrenched relationship between the economy of Malawi and tobacco production, there have been important shifts at the highest policy levels towards the need to explore diversification in the agricultural sector. There is explicit recognition that alternatives to tobacco production must be pursued. This study provides an analysis of the policies and perspectives that characterize contemporary government approaches to tobacco and alternatives in Malawi by interviewing key government officials working on tobacco policy and reviewing recent policy documents. This research finds that there is openness and movement towards reducing tobacco growing in Malaw, including efforts to reduce tobacco dependency. Rather than a singular tobacco policy discourse in the country, there is a somewhat conflictual set of policies and perspectives on the future of tobacco in Malawi. Informing these policies and perspectives is the interplay between the economics of agricultural production (tobacco vs other crops), global markets (ranging from the ability to generate export earnings to the inability to compete with wealthier countries’ non-tobacco crop subsidies) and the lack of developed supply and value chains other than those created by the transnational tobacco industry. The implications for government policy supporting a move away from tobacco dependence are not straightforward: there is a need to fill the supply chain gap for alternative crops, which requires not only strong intersectoral support within the country (and some challenge to the residual pro-tobacco narratives) but also international support.
Digitising the NHS
Authors: Hamilton Johanna 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
When Jeremy Hunt commissioned the Wachter Review in 2015, it was to find out how the NHS could upgrade and transform through the effective use of digital working hand in glove with education. Sam Shah, NHS Clinician and former Director of Digital Development at NHSX, talks to Johanna Hamilton AMBCS about the challenges of transforming the world’s fifth largest employer.
Aspergillus-related lung mass masquerading as a lung tumour
Authors: Mohamed Saifullah , Patel Akshay J , Darr A , Jawad Faisal , Steyn Richard 
Published: May 2020

ABSTRACT
Aspergillus is a common environmental pathogen. However, clinically significant disease only occurs in a small proportion of patients. Although rare in its occurrence, it remains a considerable cause of morbidity and mortality in certain cohorts of patients. We describe a rare case of Aspergillus disease masquerading as a primary lung malignancy. Computer tomography pulmonary angiogram scan demonstrated a right upper lobe 8 x 6.5 cm soft-tissue lesion. Positron emission tomography CT demonstrated this lesion to be intensely fluorodeoxyglucose avid. Initial bronchoscopy demonstrated occluded subsegmental right upper lobe bronchus with white friable material. Follow-up bronchoscopy demonstrated evidence of a previous inflammatory process with cavitation and destruction of sub-lobar bronchial tree. Serial chest radiographs demonstrated almost complete resolution of the right upper lobe mass. Thus, this presentation of an Aspergillus-related lung mass masquerading as a primary lung malignancy provided several important learning points pertaining to diagnosis and ensuing management.
Implementation of a Multicomponent Fall Prevention Program: Contracting With Patients for Fall Safety
Authors: Bargmann Arrah L , Brundrett Stacey M 
Published: May 2020

Abstract

INTRODUCTION
Falls during hospitalizations can increase the length and cost of a hospital stay. Review of patient safety reports on a 26-bed medical-surgical telemetry unit revealed that the number of falls went from 6 in 2015 to 12 in 2016. The reports identified a knowledge gap in the patient population and nursing staff related to high fall risk interventions. A literature review suggests that patient-staff safety agreements, in combination with proper implementation of Clinical Practice Guidelines, can successfully increase education and adherence to fall prevention measures and reduce the number of inpatient falls.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
The objective of this evidence-based practice project was to determine if the implementation of a patient fall safety agreement in combination with an existing evidence-based fall prevention bundle reduces the number of falls. Based on the literature review, the unit developed a multicomponent fall prevention program that emphasizes staff and patient education. The program consists of (1) assessment of the patient’s fall risk using the Johns Hopkins Fall Assessment Tool, (2) daily patient education on factors contributing to the patient’s fall risk during the shift assessment, (3) an educational handout on fall risk factors maintained at the bedside, (4) ensuring compliance with implementation of previously existing fall prevention measures, and (5) a patient fall safety agreement.

RESULTS
During the first 4 months, the fall rate decreased by 55% and staff compliance with interventions for high fall risk patients increased to 89%. To achieve added compliance, the unit implemented an incentive program, which resulted in the increased adherence to the fall risk interventions. The unit experienced 87 and 88 consecutive fall-free days, which was the longest consecutive days since May 2015. This project has reached sustainment and the unit continues to see a low fall rate, well below the national average for medical-surgical units.

CONCLUSION
One of the largest obstacles to this project was staff and leadership turnover. However, the project found that patient fall safety agreements facilitate a dialogue among staff and patients as well as encourage patients to take ownership of their own care. They improve the safety of patients and create a collaborative environment for nurses to conduct safe, quality patient care.
The Next Generation Fornax Survey (NGFS): VII. A MUSE view of the nuclear star clusters in Fornax dwarf galaxies
Authors: Johnston Evelyn J , Puzia Thomas H , D’Ago Giuseppe , Eigenthaler Paul , Galaz Gaspar , Häußler Boris , Mora Marcelo D , Ordenes-Briceño Yasna , Rong Yu , Spengler Chelsea , Vogt Frédéric , Côté Patrick , Grebel Eva K , Hilker Michael , Mieske Steffen , Miller Bryan , Sánchez-Janssen Ruben , Taylor Matthew A , Zhang Hong-Xin 
Published: May 2020

ABSTRACT
Clues to the formation and evolution of nuclear star clusters (NSCs) lie in their stellar populations. However, these structures are often very faint compared to their host galaxy, and spectroscopic analysis of NSCs is hampered by contamination of light from the rest of the system. With the introduction of wide-field integral field unit (IFU) spectrographs, new techniques have been developed to model the light from different components within galaxies, making it possible to cleanly extract the spectra of the NSCs and study their properties with minimal contamination from the light of the rest of the galaxy. This work presents the analysis of the NSCs in a sample of 12 dwarf galaxies in the Fornax Cluster observed with the Multi-Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE). Analysis of the stellar populations and star formation histories reveal that all the NSCs show evidence of multiple episodes of star formation, indicating that they have built up their mass further since their initial formation. The NSCs were found to have systematically lower metallicities than their host galaxies, which is consistent with a scenario for mass assembly through mergers with infalling globular clusters, whilst the presence of younger stellar populations and gas emission in the core of two galaxies is indicative of in-situ star formation. We conclude that the NSCs in these dwarf galaxies likely originated as globular clusters that migrated to the core of the galaxy that have built up their mass mainly through mergers with other infalling clusters, with gas-inflow leading to in-situ star formation playing a secondary role.
The formation of type Ia supernovae from carbon–oxygen–silicon white dwarfs
Authors: Wu Chengyuan , Wang Bo , Wang Xiaofeng , Maeda Keiichi , Mazzali Paolo 
Published: May 2020

ABSTRACT
The carbon–oxygen white dwarf (CO WD)+He star channel is thought to be one of the promising scenarios that produce young type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia). Previous studies found that if the mass-accretion rate is greater than a critical value, the He-accreting CO WD will undergo inwardly propagating (off-centre) carbon ignition when it increases its mass close to the Chandrasekhar limit. Previous works supposed that the inwardly propagating carbon flame would reach the centre, leading to the production of an oxygen–neon (ONe) WD that may collapse into a neutron star but not an SN Ia. However, it is still uncertain how the carbon flame propagates under the effect of mixing mechanisms. In the present work, we aim to investigate the off-centre carbon burning of He-accreting CO WDs by considering the effect of convective mixing. We found that the temperature of the flame is high enough to burn the carbon into silicon-group elements in the outer part of the CO core even if convective overshooting is considered, but the flame would quench somewhere inside the WD, resulting in the formation of a C–O–Si WD. Owing to the inefficiency of thermohaline mixing, the C–O–Si WD may explode as an SN Ia if it continues to grow in mass. Our radiation transfer simulations show that SN ejecta with silicon-rich outer layers will form high-velocity absorption lines in Si ii, leading to some similarities to a class of high-velocity SNe Ia in spectral evolution. We estimate that the birthrate of SNe Ia with Si-rich envelopes is ∼$1\times 10^{-4}\, \mbox{yr}^{-1}$ in our Galaxy.
Spikey: self-lensing flares from eccentric SMBH binaries
Authors: Hu Betty X , D’Orazio Daniel J , Haiman Zoltán , Smith Krista Lynne , Snios Bradford , Charisi Maria , Di Stefano Rosanne 
Published: May 2020

ABSTRACT
We examine the light curves of two quasars, motivated by recent suggestions that a supermassive black hole binary (SMBHB) can exhibit sharp lensing spikes. We model the variability of each light curve as due to a combination of two relativistic effects: the orbital relativistic Doppler boost and gravitational binary self-lensing. In order to model each system, we extend previous Doppler plus self-lensing models to include eccentricity. The first quasar is identified in optical data as a binary candidate with a 20-yr period (Ark 120), and shows a prominent spike. For this source, we rule out the lensing hypothesis and disfavour the Doppler-boost hypothesis due to discrepancies in the measured versus recovered values of the binary mass and optical spectral slope. The second source, which we nickname Spikey, is the rare case of an active galactic nucleus identified in Kepler’s high-quality, high-cadence photometric data. For this source, we find a model, consisting of a combination of Doppler modulation and a narrow symmetric lensing spike, consistent with an eccentric SMBHB with a mass of $M_{\text{tot}} = 3\times 10^{7} {\, \mathrm{M}_{\odot }}$, rest-frame orbital period T = 418 d, eccentricity e = 0.5, and seen at an inclination of 8○ from edge-on. This interpretation can be tested by monitoring Spikey for periodic behaviour and recurring flares in the next few years. In preparation for such monitoring, we present the first X-ray observations of this object taken by the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory.
Will COVID-19 fiscal recovery packages accelerate or retard progress on climate change?
Authors: Hepburn Cameron , O’Callaghan Brian , Stern Nicholas , Stiglitz Joseph , Zenghelis Dimitri 
Published: May 2020

AbstractThe COVID-19 crisis is likely to have dramatic consequences for progress on climate change. Imminent fiscal recovery packages could entrench or partly displace the current fossil-fuel-intensive economic system. Here, we survey 231 central bank officials, finance ministry officials, and other economic experts from G20 countries on the relative performance of 25 major fiscal recovery archetypes across four dimensions: speed of implementation, economic multiplier, climate impact potential, and overall desirability. We identify five policies with high potential on both economic multiplier and climate impact metrics: clean physical infrastructure, building efficiency retrofits, investment in education and training, natural capital investment, and clean R&D. In lower- and middle-income countries (LMICs) rural support spending is of particular value while clean R&D is less important. These recommendations are contextualized through analysis of the short-run impacts of COVID-19 on greenhouse gas curtailment and plausible medium-run shifts in the habits and behaviours of humans and institutions.
Effect of biologics on radiographic progression of peripheral joint in patients with psoriatic arthritis: meta-analysis
Authors: Wu Dongze , Li Chen , Zhang Shuo , Wong Priscilla , Cao Yihan , Griffith James F , Zhang Xinlu , Gu Jieruo , Tam Lai-Shan 
Published: May 2020

Abstract

Objectives
To determine the efficacy of biologics in preventing radiographic progression in peripheral joints of PsA patients.

Methods
Studies were searched in MEDLINE, Web of Science, and abstracts from the last three EULAR and ACR meetings up to 31 December 2019. Primary and secondary endpoints were the proportion of patients without radiographic progression and the mean change in total radiographic score at week 24.

Results
Eleven studies, involving 5382 patients, 9 drugs and 18 treatments, were included. Patients receiving biologics were more likely to achieve radiographic non-progression compared with placebo [odds ratio: pooled: 2.40, 95% CI: 2.00, 2.87; TNF inhibitors (TNFi): 2.94, 95% CI: 2.38, 3.63; IL inhibitors (ILi): 2.15, 95% CI: 1.69, 2.74; abatacept: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.03, 2.28] and have significantly lower radiographic progression [standardized mean difference (SMD): pooled: −2.16, 95% CI: −2.91, −1.41; TNFi: −2.82, 95% CI: −4.31, −1.33; ILi: −1.60, 95% CI: −2.49, −0.72; abatacept: −0.40, 95% CI: −0.59, −0.21]. Concomitant MTX therapy was not superior to monotherapy (SMD: pooled: 0.01, 95% CI: −0.07, 0.08; biologics: 0.01, 95% CI: −0.09, 0.11; placebo: −0.01, 95% CI: −0.13, 0.12). The effect of ustekinumab and secukinumab on radiographic progression was not influenced by prior anti-TNF therapy (SMD: −0.08, 95% CI: −0.25, 0.10).

Conclusion
Biologic agents may retard radiographic progression in PsA patients in terms of bone erosion and joint space narrowing compared with placebo. MTX seems to have no added effect. Prior anti-TNF therapy seems to not influence the radiographic efficacy of IL blockers.
The Effect of High-Fidelity, Interprofessional Simulation on Teamwork Skills and Attitudes Toward Interprofessional Education
Authors: Lee Charlotte , Milbury Bernadette , Movius Maureen , Zhuang Jianrong 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
High-fidelity simulation is increasingly popular in interprofessional education (IPE). This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of high-fidelity simulation in teaching IPE content to prelicensure trainees. A quasi-experimental study took place at a simulation center in Southern California. It assessed medical and nursing students’ teamwork skills and attitudes toward IPE before and after high-fidelity simulation. Multivariate analysis of variance results revealed a decline in positive attitudes toward IPE postintervention in both medical and nursing students. No changes in teamwork skills and no differences between nursing and medical trainees were found. The implications of the study’s findings are discussed.
Development and Validation of a Marginality Index for Nursing Students
Authors: Englund Heather M. 
Published: May 2020

Abstract

AIM
The purpose of this study was to develop a marginality tool that speaks specifically to the domain of nursing education.

BACKGROUND
Minority nursing students in the United States have consistently reported feelings associated with the process of marginalization. Given the dearth of instruments that measure marginality directly, the concept has not been sufficiently investigated in nursing students

METHOD
The Englund Marginality Index (EMI) was administered to 323 nursing students currently enrolled in a baccalaureate nursing program in Wisconsin. A psychometric evaluation of the index was performed.

RESULTS
The EMI consists of 19 items and explained 70 percent of the variance. Cronbach’s α coefficient for the instrument was .90. Test-retest correlation was strong at r = .92, a strong support for the temporal stability of the instrument.

CONCLUSION
The findings from this study demonstrate that the EMI is a valid and reliable measure of marginality.