bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Therapeutic modulation of inflammasome pathways
Authors: Chauhan Dhruv , Vande Walle Lieselotte , Lamkanfi Mohamed 
Published: August 2020

AbstractInflammasomes are macromolecular complexes formed in response to pathogen‐associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and danger‐associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) that drive maturation of the pro‐inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)‐1β and IL‐18, and cleave gasdermin D (GSDMD) for induction of pyroptosis. Inflammasomes are highly important in protecting the host from various microbial pathogens and sterile insults. Inflammasome pathways are strictly regulated at both transcriptional and post‐translational checkpoints. When these checkpoints are not properly imposed, undue inflammasome activation may promote inflammatory, metabolic and oncogenic processes that give rise to autoinflammatory, autoimmune, metabolic and malignant diseases. In addition to clinically approved IL‐1‐targeted biologics, upstream targeting of inflammasome pathways recently gained interest as a novel pharmacological strategy for selectively modulating inflammasome activation in pathological conditions.
Pathways between toothache and children's oral health‐related quality of life
Authors: Rauber Everton Daniel , Menegazzo Gabriele Rissotto , Knorst Jessica Klöckner , Bolsson Gabriela Bohrer , Ardenghi Thiago Machado 
Published: August 2020

AbstractBackgroundToothache is considered a multifactorial health problem that is associated with oral diseases and comorbidities.AimEvaluate the direct and indirect pathways between toothache and children's oral health‐related quality of life (COHRQoL).DesignThis is a cross‐sectional study conducted with a random sample of children from southern Brazil. The variables included demographic, socioeconomic, behavioral, and oral health characteristics. Toothache was collected through the question 'Have you had toothache in the last 12 months?'. COHRQoL was collected by the Child Perceptions Questionnaire 8‐10 in his Brazilian version. The pathways between the associated variables, toothache, and COHRQoL were analyzed through structural equation modeling.ResultsA total of 449 schoolchildren were evaluated. The prevalence of toothache was 50.1% (95% confidence interval: 45.4%‐54.8%). The poorer COHRQoL was directly affected by the presence of toothache. Considering the indirect pathways, the low household income, high household crowding, low age, the use of public health service, and the untreated dental caries influenced indirectly in the worst COHRQoL via toothache.ConclusionThis study determined that COHRQoL was directly influenced by toothache. Meanwhile, indirect pathways were observed. These findings justify initiatives that highlight the importance of the reduction of oral diseases that can lead to pain experiences.
Quantitative Results of Perfusion Utilising Hyperspectral Imaging on Non‐diabetics and Diabetics: A Pilot Study
Authors: Lee Christina J. , Walters Elliot , Kennedy Christopher J. , Beitollahi Ariya , Evans Karen K. , Attinger Christopher E. , Kim Paul J. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThere is a paucity of quantitative measures of microvascular perfusion values in the skin. Newly developed, handheld hyperspectral imaging devices identify unique spectral fingerprints of oxygenated and deoxygenated haemoglobin in the superficial microvasculature. Establishing value ranges for healthy patients without vascular complications will subsequently help standardise assessments for perfusion defects. In particular, diabetics who are prone to vascular calcifications and lower extremity wounds may benefit. A total of 73 subjects were enrolled in the study and split in two cohorts: 36 ‘non‐diabetic’ non‐vascularly compromised patients and 37 ‘diabetic’ patients with a formal diagnosis of diabetes but without history of pedal ulceration. Values of oxygenated haemoglobin (HT‐Oxy) and deoxygenated haemoglobin (HT‐DeOxy) from both devices are analysed.
Systematic review of interventions to improve nurses’ work environments
Authors: Paguio Jenniffer Torralba , Yu Doris Sau Fung , Su Jing Jing 
Published: August 2020

AbstractAimsTo evaluate the current evidence that examined the effects of nurses’ work environment interventions on nurse, patient, and hospital outcomes; and the key intervention characteristics.DesignQuantitative systematic review without meta‐analysis.Data SourcesNine databases (British Nursing Index, CINAHL, EMBASE, Global Health, Global Health Archives, MEDLINE, Ovid Nursing, PubMed, and Web of Science) were searched following Systematic review Without Meta‐analysis guideline to elicit studies that examined effects of interventions aimed at improving nurses’ work environments among peer‐reviewed publications from inception to April 2019.MethodsDatabase search used the following keywords: nurs*, patient, hospital, healthcare intervention, organizational improvement, nurs*adj4 outcome, patient adj4 outcome*, hospital adj4 outcome*, and their MeSH terms. The Cochrane's Risk of Bias in Non‐Randomized Studies of Intervention (ROBINS‐I) was used for quality appraisal. Donabedian model of Quality of Care was used as the framework to categorize interventions components focusing on structure and process aspects of the nurse work environments.ResultsThe interventions included the use of accreditation process, educational strategies, and participatory approach. By defining the interventions which demonstrated positive effects on the nurse, patient, and hospital outcomes as effective, it appears that they are more consistently characterized as focusing on process improvement, adopting participatory approach, with greater involvement of frontline and nurse executives and at unit‐level implementation.ConclusionAlthough the heterogeneity in the design of the review studies precludes making conclusive insights on the best evidence to improve nurses’ work environments, the review informs the major research gaps in the topic area and the ways to design better interventions to enhance the outcomes.ImpactThe study provides insights on intervention components and strategies that can contribute to healthy nurse work environments. By adapting unit‐level process improvements that actively involve frontline and nurse executives, nurse leaders may provide a more directed approach towards achieving favourable outcomes.
ICAM‐1 and MKL‐1 polymorphisms impose considerable impacts on coronary heart disease occurrence
Authors: Wu Cungang , Huang Chao 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThis study was aimed to explore the correlation of intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM‐1) K469E and megakaryoblastic leukaemia factor‐1 (MKL‐1) −184C/T polymorphisms with the susceptibility to coronary heart disease (CHD) in the Chinese Han population. 100 CHD patients and 91 healthy people that had no blood connection with each other were enrolled in this case‐control study. ICAM‐1 and MKL‐1 polymorphisms were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR‐RFLP) approach. Multiple logistic regression was used to analyse the correlation between polymorphisms of ICAM‐1 and MKL‐1 and CHD susceptibility. Differences of genotype and allele frequencies of the two SNPs between case and control groups were analysed by chi‐square test. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were indicated relative susceptibility of CHD. The distributions of ICAM‐1 and MKL‐1 polymorphisms in each group conformed to Hardy‐Weinberg equilibrium (HWE). After adjusting for traditional risk factors, the TT genotype frequency of MKL‐1 −184C/T polymorphism was found significantly higher in case group than in control group (P < .05). Meanwhile, T allele frequency increased in case group compared with control group, and the differences had statistical significance (P = .04, OR = 2.34, 95% CI = 1.34‐5.26). Logistic regression analysis in this study proved that smoking, hypertension, diabetes and triglyceride (TG) were all risk factors for CHD ICAM‐1 K469E polymorphism has no association with the onset of CHD. But MKL‐1 −184C/T polymorphism is associated with the risk of CHD and T allele might be a susceptibility factor for CHD.
Intersexual differences in density‐dependent dispersal and their evolutionary drivers
Authors: Plazio Elisa , Margol Tomasz , Nowicki Piotr 
Published: August 2020

AbstractDispersal is well recognized as a major driver of evolutionary processes in local populations. Nevertheless, dispersal abilities should also be perceived as a life‐history trait, being subject to evolutionary changes in response to various drivers. Empirical studies investigating these drivers rarely consider that they may influence male and female dispersal differently. The purpose of our study was to document intersexual differences in density‐dependent emigration from local habitat patches. As a model system, we used a metapopulation ofMaculinea (Phengaris) teleiusbutterfly, in which densities of both sexes vary greatly throughout the flying season. Following intensive mark–release–recapture surveys, the parameters and predictors of dispersal were analysed with the Virtual Migration model and the multi‐state recapture model. The emigration rate in males was substantially higher in the early season, especially at smaller habitat patches. With the proportion of females increasing with the season progression, males became reluctant to emigrate from their natal patches. In turn, higher female emigration in the later part of the season was most strongly associated with female tendency to reduce intraspecific competition experienced by their offspring. Our findings provide evidence for the impact of reproductive strategies on dispersal in both sexes. The difference in reproductive strategies of males and females explains sex‐biased dispersal in different parts of the season, which carries important implications for metapopulation functioning.
Two Anaerobic Ciliates (Ciliophora, Armophorea) from China: Morphology and SSU rDNA Sequence, with Report of a New Species, Metopus paravestitus nov. spec
Authors: Li Song , Zhuang Wenbao , Pérez‐Uz Blanca , Zhang Qianqian , Hu Xiaozhong 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThe morphology and phylogeny of two metopid ciliates, collected from anaerobic habitats in China, were investigated using live observation, protargol staining method, and SSU rDNA sequencing. The new species Metopus paravestitus nov. spec. can be distinguished by a combination of the following features: oblong cell with densely arranged ectobiotic prokaryotes perpendicular to cell surface, filiform intracytoplasmic structures packed in the anterior portion of the cell. Our work also demonstrates the wide geographical distribution of Metopus es (Müller, 1776) Lauterborn, 1916. The order Metopida is consistently depicted as a paraphylum in SSU rDNA phylogeny. Metopus paravestitus nov. spec. is closely related to its marine congeners than to freshwater forms. The present study confirms once again the non‐monophyly of the genus Metopus and genus Metopidae.
Staffing Levels and COVID‐19 Cases and Outbreaks in U.S. Nursing Homes
Authors: Gorges Rebecca J. , Konetzka R. Tamara 
Published: August 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVESNursing homes have experienced a disproportionate share of COVID‐19 cases and deaths. Early analyses indicated that baseline quality was not predictive of nursing home cases, but a more nuanced study of the role of nurse staffing is needed to target resources and better respond to future outbreaks. We sought to understand whether baseline nurse staffing is associated with the presence of COVID‐19 in nursing homes and whether staffing impacts outbreak severity.DESIGNWe analyzed Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) facility‐level data on COVID‐19 cases and deaths merged with nursing home and county characteristics. We used logistic regressions to examine the associations of staffing levels from Nursing Home Compare with the outcomes of any COVID‐19 cases and, conditional on at least one case, an outbreak. Among facilities with at least one case, we modeled count of deaths using hurdle negative binomial‐2 regressions.SETTINGAll nursing homes in the CMS COVID‐19 Nursing Home Dataset with reports that passed the CMS Quality Assurance Check as of June 25, 2020.PARTICIPANTSResidents of nursing homes that met COVID‐19 reporting requirements.MEASUREMENTSA nursing home is defined as having at least one case is if one or more confirmed or suspected COVID‐19 case among residents or staff is reported. Conditional on at least one case, we examine two outcomes: an outbreak, defined as confirmed cases/certified beds >10% or total confirmed and suspected cases/beds >20% or >10 deaths, and the total number of deaths attributed to COVID‐19 among residents and staff.RESULTSA total of 71% of the 13,167 nursing homes that reported COVID‐19 data as of June 14 had at least one case among residents and/or staff. Of those, 27% experienced an outbreak. Higher registered nurse‐hours are associated with a higher probability of experiencing any cases. However, among facilities with at least one case, higher nurse aide (NA) hours and total nursing hours are associated with a lower probability of experiencing an outbreak and with fewer deaths. The strongest predictor of cases and outbreaks in nursing homes is per capita cases in the county.CONCLUSIONThe prevalence of COVID‐19 in the community remains the strongest predictor of COVID‐19 cases and deaths in nursing homes, but higher NA hours and total nursing hours may help contain the number of cases and deaths.
The effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy combined with hair transplantation surgery for the treatment of alopecia
Authors: Fan Zhe‐Xiang , Gan Yuyang , Qu Qian , Wang Jin , Lunan Yang , Liu Bingcheng , Chen Ruosi , Hu Zhi‐Qi , Miao Yong 
Published: August 2020

AbstractBackgroundTransplanted hair follicles suffer from various injuries, which are difficult to prevent. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) was reported to be an excellent procedure to promote capillary regeneration and reduce ischemia‐reperfusion injury.AimTo evaluate the clinical efficacy of HBOT as an adjuvant therapy for hair transplantation surgery.MethodsThirty‐four patients with II‐IV alopecia were divided into the control group and HBOT group randomly. The control group was treated with routine FUE procedure, while HBOT group combined with HBOT. Patients were treated with 100% oxygen under 2.0 atmospheres absolute pressure for 60 minutes through a facemask during HBOT and take the therapy daily for 7 days continuously after operation. Satisfaction and clinical improvement were evaluated at the fourth week and the sixth month postoperatively.ResultsItching and folliculitis were significantly decreased in HBOT group (11.8% vs 35.3%). In addition, HBOT resulted in a lower postoperative shedding rate (27.6 ± 2.6% vs 69.1 ± 2.4%); nevertheless, the survival rate at 9 months showed no significant difference between HBOT (96.9 ± 0.5%) and control (93.8 ± 0.6%). The early postoperative satisfaction in control group was much lower than HBOT group (52.9% vs 88.2%), whereas all patients showed satisfaction with the final result.ConclusionHyperbaric oxygen therapy is able to minimize the postsurgical follicle shedding and lead to less folliculitis and itching, which provides evidence for HBOT to act as an adjuvant therapy for hair transplantation surgery.
International optimism: Correlates and consequences of dispositional optimism across 61 countries
Authors: Baranski Erica , Sweeny Kate , Gardiner Gwendolyn ,   Members of the International Situations Project, Funder David C. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractObjectiveThe current exploratory study sought to examine dispositional optimism, or the general expectation for positive outcomes, around the world.MethodDispositional optimism and possible correlates were assessed across 61 countries (N = 15,185; mean age = 21.92; 77% female). Mean‐level differences in optimism were computed along with their relationships with individual and country‐level variables.ResultsWorldwide, mean optimism levels were above the midpoint of the scale. Perhaps surprisingly, country‐level optimism was negatively related to gross domestic product per capita, population density, and democratic norms and positively related to income inequality and perceived corruption. However, country‐level optimism was positively related to projected economic improvement. Individual‐level optimism was positively related to individual well‐being within every country, although this relationship was less strong in countries with challenging economic and social circumstances.ConclusionsWhile individuals around the world are generally optimistic, societal characteristics appear to affect the degree to which their optimism is associated with psychological well‐being, sometimes in seemingly anomalous ways.
Development of SSR markers from transcriptome data for the pear rust pathogenGymnosporangium asiaticum
Authors: Weng Han , Tao Si‐Qi , Liang Ying‐Mei 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThe pear‐cypress rustGymnosporangium asiaticumis one of the most significant causal agents of pear rust in Asian pear, severely affecting the pear industry. Research on the genetic diversity of this widespread pathogen has been hampered due to the absence of molecular markers. In the current study, we developed 16 novel microsatellite markers forG. asiaticumfrom transcriptome data by combining next‐generation sequencing and PCR screening. These polymorphic markers were tested on 96 individuals from nine provinces in China. The number of alleles for these markers ranged from two to nine, with an average of five at each locus. The polymorphic information content ranged from 0.0411 to 0.7666, with an average of 0.4417. In addition, the observed (HO) and expected (HE) heterozygosities were 0.0312–0.6941 and 0.0417–0.8000, respectively. We also observed low‐to‐moderate levels of genetic differentiation and extremely significant gene flow between the nine provinces. Of these 16 developed simple sequence repeat loci, 11 were transferable to otherGymnosporangiumspecies. These new microsatellite markers can be used in future large‐scale studies of the genetic structure and diversity ofG. asiaticum.
Echocardiographic predictors of first onset of atrial fibrillation in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease
Authors: Baron Toaldo Marco , Mazzoldi Chiara , Romito Giovanni , Poser Helen , Contiero Barbara , Cipone Mario , Guglielmini Carlo 
Published: August 2020

AbstractBackgroundAtrial fibrillation (AF) occurs in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) as a consequence of left atrial (LA) dilatation, and it affects survival and quality of life.ObjectivesTo evaluate the usefulness of echocardiography in predicting the first occurrence of AF in dogs with MMVD.AnimalsForty‐four client‐owned dogs with MMVD, 22 dogs that developed AF, and 22 dogs that maintained sinus rhythm.MethodsRetrospective observational study. Medical databases were reviewed for dogs that developed AF during the year after diagnosis of MMVD (AF group). The last echocardiographic examination obtained while still in sinus rhythm was used to derive selected variables. For each dog with AF, a control dog matched for body weight, class of heart failure, and LA dimension was selected. Echocardiographic results including LA volumes and LA speckle tracking echocardiography (STE)‐derived variables were measured.ResultsAmong the tested echocardiographic variables, only LA diameter (P = .03) and left ventricular internal diameter in diastole (P = .03) differed significantly between groups, whereas body weight‐indexed variables of cardiac dimension as well as LA volumes and volume‐derived functional variables were not different. Among the STE‐derived variables, peak atrial longitudinal strain (PALS) results differed significantly between the AF group (23.8% ± 8.6%) and the control group (30.5% ± 9.6%; P = .03). A value of PALS ≤28% predicted AF occurrence with sensitivity and specificity of 0.80 and 0.65, respectively.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceAbsolute cardiac diameters and LA STE (in particular, PALS) are useful echocardiographic predictors for the development of AF in dogs with MMVD.
Teachers as Orchestrators of Neuronal Plasticity: Effects of Teaching Practices on the Brain
Authors: Brault Foisy Lorie‐Marlène , Matejko Anna A. , Ansari Daniel , Masson Steve 
Published: August 2020

ABSTRACTStudents' behavioral outcomes are often used by both researchers and teachers to evaluate the effectiveness of pedagogical interventions. Extensive research using behavioral metrics has found that some interventions are more effective than others in certain contexts. However, there has been less focus on how different interventions impact the processing of academic skills at a neural level. To explore this question, we conducted a narrative review of literature examining two or more interventions related to the same subject of learning. We discuss five main themes that encompass different pedagogical practices: (1) orienting attention toward particular features; (2) teaching a particular strategy; (3) changing the level of cognitive engagement; (4) setting an educational context; and (5) interacting with the learner. We provide examples of how these pedagogical practices lead to changes in both brain and behavior. This review provides insights into how teachers orchestrate neural plasticity through different pedagogical choices.
Capturing open ocean biodiversity: Comparing environmental DNA metabarcoding to the continuous plankton recorder
Authors: Suter Leonie , Polanowski Andrea Maree , Clarke Laurence John , Kitchener John Andrew , Deagle Bruce Emerson 
Published: August 2020

AbstractEnvironmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding is emerging as a novel, objective tool for monitoring marine metazoan biodiversity. Zooplankton biodiversity in the vast open ocean is currently monitored through continuous plankton recorder (CPR) surveys, using ship‐based bulk plankton sampling and morphological identification. We assessed whether eDNA metabarcoding (2 L filtered seawater) could capture similar Southern Ocean zooplankton biodiversity as conventional CPR bulk sampling (~1,500 L filtered seawater per CPR sample). We directly compared eDNA metabarcoding with (a) conventional morphological CPR sampling and (b) bulk DNA metabarcoding of CPR collected plankton (two transects for each comparison, 40 and 44 paired samples, respectively). A metazoan‐targeted cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) marker was used to characterize species‐level diversity. In the 2 L seawater eDNA samples, this marker amplified large amounts of non‐metazoan picoplanktonic algae, but eDNA metabarcoding still detected up to 1.6 times more zooplankton species than morphologically analysed bulk CPR samples. COI metabarcoding of bulk DNA samples mostly avoided nonmetazoan amplifications and recovered more zooplankton species than eDNA metabarcoding. However, eDNA metabarcoding detected roughly two thirds of metazoan species and identified similar taxa contributing to community differentiation across the subtropical front separating transects. We observed a diurnal pattern in eDNA data for copepods which perform diel vertical migrations, indicating a surprisingly short temporal eDNA signal. Compared to COI, a eukaryote‐targeted 18S ribosomal RNA marker detected a higher proportion, but lower diversity, of metazoans in eDNA. With refinement and standardization of methodology, eDNA metabarcoding could become an efficient tool for monitoring open ocean biodiversity.