bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Gene family amplification facilitates adaptation in freshwater unionid bivalve Megalonaias nervosa
Authors: Rogers Rebekah L. , Grizzard Stephanie L. , Titus‐McQuillan James E. , Bockrath Katherine , Patel Sagar , Wares John P. , Garner Jeffrey T. , Moore Cathy C. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractFreshwater unionid bivalves currently face severe anthropogenic challenges. Over 70% of species in the United States are threatened, endangered or extinct due to pollution, damming of waterways and overfishing. These species are notable for their unusual life history strategy, parasite–host co‐evolution and biparental mitochondrial inheritance. Among this clade, the washboard mussel Megalonaias nervosa is one species that remains prevalent across the Southeastern United States, with robust population sizes. We have created a reference genome for M. nervosa to determine how genome content has evolved in the face of these widespread environmental challenges. We observe dynamic changes in genome content, with a burst of recent transposable element proliferation causing a 382 Mb expansion in genome content. Birth–death models suggest rapid expansions among gene families, with a mutation rate of 1.16 × 10−8 duplications per gene per generation. Cytochrome P450 gene families have experienced exceptional recent amplification beyond expectations based on genome‐wide birth–death processes. These genes are associated with increased rates of amino acid changes, a signature of selection driving evolution of detox genes. Fitting evolutionary models of adaptation from standing genetic variation, we can compare adaptive potential across species and mutation types. The large population size in M. nervosa suggests a 4.7‐fold advantage in the ability to adapt from standing genetic variation compared with a low diversity endemic E. hopetonensis. Estimates suggest that gene family evolution may offer an exceptional substrate of genetic variation in M. nervosa, with Psgv = 0.185 compared with Psgv = 0.067 for single nucleotide changes. Hence, we suggest that gene family evolution is a source of 'hopeful monsters’ within the genome that may facilitate adaptation when selective pressures shift. These results suggest that gene family expansion is a key driver of adaptive evolution in this key species of freshwater Unionidae that is currently facing widespread environmental challenges. This work has clear implications for conservation genomics on freshwater bivalves as well as evolutionary theory. This genome represents a first step to facilitate reverse ecological genomics in Unionidae and identify the genetic underpinnings of phenotypic diversity.
Reliability and validity of Japanese version of Unified Multiple System Atrophy Rating Scale
Authors: Chikada Ayaka , Mitsui Jun , Matsukawa Takashi , Ishiura Hiroyuki , Toda Tatsushi , Ogata Katsuhisa , Goto Jun , Wenning Gregor K. , Tsuji Shoji 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackground/AimThe Unified Multiple System Atrophy Rating Scale (UMSARS) has been broadly used to assess the progression of multiple system atrophy (MSA). In this study, we translated UMSARS into Japanese and tested the reliability and validity of the translated version for the assessment of Japanese patients with MSA.MethodUMSARS was translated into Japanese. For the evaluation of the reliability of the translated version, 60 and 70 participants with MSA were assessed by two neurologists using the Japanese versions of UMSARS‐I and UMSARS‐II, respectively. For the validation, 70 participants with MSA were evaluated by one neurologist using the Japanese versions of UMSARS‐I and UMSARS‐II, and other scales. Cronbach's alpha coefficient, Cohen's kappa coefficient [κ (w)], and Spearman rank correlation were calculated.ResultsCronbach's alpha coefficients of the Japanese versions of UMSARS‐I and UMSARS‐II were 0.87 and 0.90, respectively. The κ (w) values of UMSARS‐I and UMSARS‐II items were 0.61‐0.81 and 0.51‐0.86, respectively. The total UMSARS‐I score correlated well with the scores of Barthel Index, Schwab and England Activities of Daily Living Scale, Functional Independence Measure, and Movement Disorder Society‐Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS‐UPDRS) part 2 (Spearman rank correlations, −0.75, −0.71, −0.82, and 0.81, respectively). The total UMSARS‐II score correlated well with the scores of International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale and MDS‐UPDRS part 3 (Spearman rank correlations, 0.85 and 0.86, respectively).ConclusionsThe Japanese version of UMSARS is reliable and valid for the assessment of the clinical severity of MSA in Japan.
Psychological capital, well‐being, and patient safety attitudes of nurses and midwives: A cross‐sectional survey
Authors: Elliott Rosalind , Fry Margaret 
Published: December 2020

AbstractNursing and midwifery are unarguably stressful endeavors requiring high levels of psychological capital and coping strategies. The impact of the work environment on patient safety outcomes suggests that high nurse/midwife stress may be associated with more adverse patient events. The purpose of this study was to explore the psychological capital of clinical nurses and midwives and identify explanatory factors (including psychological capital, well‐being, and health‐related behaviors) contributing to attitudes to patient safety. A descriptive web‐ and paper‐based survey comprising a convenience sample of nurses and midwives in acute health facilities in Sydney, Australia, was performed (October 2018 and April 2019). Variables included psychological capital, psychological well‐being, work culture, and attitudes to patient safety. Descriptive statistics were performed and a regression model was specified (a statistical significance of P < 0.05 was set a priori). Psychological capital, depression score, and work engagement had a significant effect on patient safety perceptions when controlling for other factors. The findings suggest that nurse and midwife well‐being is an important consideration when striving to improve patient safety.
Photosystem II heat tolerances characterize thermal generalists and the upper limit of carbon assimilation
Authors: Perez Timothy M. , Socha Annika , Tserej Olga , Feeley Kenneth J. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe heat tolerance of photosystem II (PSII) may promote carbon assimilation at higher temperatures and help explain plant responses to climate change. Higher PSII heat tolerance could lead to (a) increases in the high‐temperature compensation point (Tmax); (b) increases in the thermal breadth of photosynthesis (i.e. the photosynthetic parameter Ω) to promote a thermal generalist strategy of carbon assimilation; (c) increases in the optimum rate of carbon assimilation Poptand faster carbon assimilation and/or (d) increases in the optimum temperature for photosynthesis (Topt). To address these hypotheses, we tested if the Tcrit, T50and T95PSII heat tolerances were correlated with carbon assimilation parameters for 21 plant species. Our results did not support Hypothesis 1, but we observed that T50may be used to estimate the upper thermal limit for Tmaxat the species level, and that community mean Tcritmay be useful for approximating Tmax. The T50and T95heat tolerance metrics were positively correlated with Ω in support of Hypothesis 2. We found no support for Hypotheses 3 or 4. Our study shows that high PSII heat tolerance is unlikely to improve carbon assimilation at higher temperatures but may characterize thermal generalists with slow resource acquisition strategies.
Models of cultural heritage buildings in a procedurally generated geospatial environment
Authors: Tobiáš Pavel , Cajthaml Jiří 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThis article presents a methodology combining building information modelling, CAD, procedural modelling, 3D GIS, and digital cartography to create information models of cultural heritage buildings and their geospatial environments both in history and nowadays. The results of the workflow are 3D web scenes where the most historically significant buildings are presented as detailed 3D textured information models. These models consist of 3D representations of specific architectural elements, which contain semantic information and attributes. Other valuable buildings are modelled classically in CAD and they can be identified as one complete object each, and thus the users can view concise information about the history and important aspects of the buildings. Finally, the common conurbation is generated procedurally. The 3D visualizations can be viewed in a web browser without any plugins needed, and can familiarize users from the general public with the architectural structure of the objects of interest and their environment.
Sustained Exposure to High Carbohydrate Availability Does Not Influence Iron-Regulatory Responses in Elite Endurance Athletes
Authors: McKay Alannah K.A. , Peeling Peter , Pyne David B. , Tee Nicolin , Welveart Marijke , Heikura Ida A. , Sharma Avish P. , Whitfield Jamie , Ross Megan L. , van Swelm Rachel P.L. , Laarakkers Coby M. , Burke Louise M. 
Published: December 2020

This study implemented a 2-week high carbohydrate (CHO) diet intended to maximize CHO oxidation rates and examined the iron-regulatory response to a 26-km race walking effort. Twenty international-level, male race walkers were assigned to either a novel high CHO diet (MAX = 10 g/kg body mass CHO daily) inclusive of gut-training strategies, or a moderate CHO control diet (CON = 6 g/kg body mass CHO daily) for a 2-week training period. The athletes completed a 26-km race walking test protocol before and after the dietary intervention. Venous blood samples were collected pre-, post-, and 3 hr postexercise and measured for serum ferritin, interleukin-6, and hepcidin-25 concentrations. Similar decreases in serum ferritin (17–23%) occurred postintervention in MAX and CON. At the baseline, CON had a greater postexercise increase in interleukin-6 levels after 26 km of walking (20.1-fold, 95% CI [9.2, 35.7]) compared with MAX (10.2-fold, 95% CI [3.7, 18.7]). A similar finding was evident for hepcidin levels 3 hr postexercise (CON = 10.8-fold, 95% CI [4.8, 21.2]; MAX = 8.8-fold, 95% CI [3.9, 16.4]). Postintervention, there were no substantial differences in the interleukin-6 response (CON = 13.6-fold, 95% CI [9.2, 20.5]; MAX = 11.2-fold, 95% CI [6.5, 21.3]) or hepcidin levels (CON = 7.1-fold, 95% CI [2.1, 15.4]; MAX = 6.3-fold, 95% CI [1.8, 14.6]) between the dietary groups. Higher resting serum ferritin (p = .004) and hotter trial ambient temperatures (p = .014) were associated with greater hepcidin levels 3 hr postexercise. Very high CHO diets employed by endurance athletes to increase CHO oxidation have little impact on iron regulation in elite athletes. It appears that variations in serum ferritin concentration and ambient temperature, rather than dietary CHO, are associated with increased hepcidin concentrations 3 hr postexercise.
The Use of Fluorescently Labeled ARC1779 Aptamer for Assessing the Effect of H2O2 on von Willebrand Factor Exocytosis
Authors: Avdonin Piotr P. , Trufanov Sergey K. , Rybakova Elena Yu. , Tsitrina Aleksandra A. , Goncharov Nikolay V. , Avdonin Pavel V. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractHere, we propose a new approach for quantitative estimation of von Willebrand factor (vWF) exposed on the surface of endothelial cells (ECs) using the ARC1779 aptamer that interacts with the vWF A1 domain. To visualize complex formation between vWF and the aptamer, the latter was conjugated with the Cy5 fluorescent label. Cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were stained with the ARC1779-Cy5 conjugate and imaged with a fluorescence microscope. The images were analyzed with the CellProfiler software. vWF released from the Weibel–Palade bodies was observed as bright dot-like structures of round and irregular shape, the number of which increased several times after HUVEC exposure to histamine or thrombin. Staining with ARC1779-Cy5 also revealed long filamentous vWF structures on the surface of activated HUVEC. vWF secretion by ECs is activated by the second messengers cAMP and Ca2+. There is evidence that hydrogen peroxide also acts as a second messenger in ECs. In addition, exogenous H2O2formed in leukocytes can enter ECs. The aim of our study was to determine the effect of H2O2on the vWF exposure at the surface of HUVEC using the proposed method. It was shown that hydrogen peroxide at concentration 100 µM, which is lower than the cytotoxicity threshold of H2O2for cultured HUVEC, increased several times the number of dot-like structures and total amount of vWF exposed on plasma membrane of HUVEC, which suggest that H2O2acts as a mediator that activates exocytosis of Weibel–Palade bodies and vWF secretion in the vascular endothelium during inflammation and upon elevated generation of endogenous reactive oxygen species in ECs.
Pre-eclampsia complicated by severe hyponatraemia
Authors: Montebello Annalisa , Thake John , Vella Sandro , Vassallo Josanne 
Published: December 2020

A 41-year-old woman was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia at 35 weeks gestation. She was treated with antihypertensives but, unfortunately, her condition became complicated by severe hyponatraemia. Her sodium levels rapidly dropped to 125 mmol/L. The cause for the hyponatraemia was the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion. She was initially managed with fluid restriction, but an emergency caesarean section was necessary in view of fetal distress. Her sodium levels returned to normal within 48 hours of delivery.Pre-eclampsia is rarely associated with hyponatraemia. A low maternal sodium level further increases the mother’s risk for seizures during this state. Additionally, the fetal sodium rapidly equilibrates to the mother’s and may result in fetal tachycardia, jaundice and polyhdraminios. All these factors may necessitate an emergency fetal delivery.
Clinical pattern and predictors of stroke treatment outcome among hospitalised patients who had a stroke at Felege Hiwot comprehensive specialised hospital, northwest Ethiopia: a retrospective cross-sectional study
Authors: Kefale Belayneh , Ewunetei Amien , Molla Mulugeta , Tegegne Gobezie Temesgen , Degu Amsalu 
Published: December 2020

ObjectivesThis study aimed to assess the clinical pattern and predictors of stroke treatment outcomes among hospitalised patients in Felege Hiwot comprehensive specialised hospital (FHCSH) in northwest Ethiopia.DesignA retrospective cross-sectional study.SettingThe study was conducted medical ward of FHCSH.ParticipantsThe medical records of 597 adult patients who had a stroke were included in the study. All adult (≥18 years) patients who had a stroke had been admitted to the medical ward of FHSCH during 2015–2019 were included in the study. However, patients with incomplete medical records (ie, incomplete treatment regimen and the status of the patients after treatment) were excluded in the study.ResultsIn the present study, 317 (53.1%) were males, and the mean age of the study participants was 61.08±13.76 years. About two-thirds of patients (392, 65.7%) were diagnosed with ischaemic stroke. Regarding clinical pattern, about 203 (34.0%) of patients complained of right-side body weakness and the major comorbid condition identified was hypertension (216, 64.9%). Overall, 276 (46.2%) of them had poor treatment outcomes, and 101 (16.9%) of them died. Patients who cannot read and write (AOR=42.89, 95% CI 13.23 to 111.28, p<0.001), attend primary school (AOR=22.11, 95% CI 6.98 to 55.99, p<0.001) and secondary school (AOR=4.20, 95% CI 1.42 to 12.51, p<0.001), diagnosed with haemorrhagic stroke (AOR=2.68, 95% CI 1.62 to 4.43, p<0.001) and delayed hospital arrival more than 24 hours (AOR=2.92, 95% CI 1.83 to 4.66, p=0.001) were the independent predictors of poor treatment outcome.ConclusionsApproximately half of the patients who had a stroke had poor treatment outcomes. Ischaemic stroke was the most predominantly diagnosed stroke type. Education status, types of stroke and the median time from onset of symptoms to hospitalisation were the predictors of treatment outcome. Health education should be given to patients regarding clinical symptoms of stroke. In addition, local healthcare providers need to consider the above risk factors while managing stroke.
Cost-effectiveness of prehabilitation prior to elective surgery compared to usual preoperative care: protocol for a systematic review of economic evaluations
Authors: Rombey Tanja , Eckhardt Helene , Quentin Wilm 
Published: December 2020

IntroductionPreoperative functional capacity is an important predictor of postoperative outcomes. Prehabilitation aims to optimise patients’ functional capacity before surgery to improve postoperative outcomes. As prolonged hospital stay and postoperative complications present an avoidable use of healthcare resources, prehabilitation might also save costs.The aim of this systematic review is to investigate the cost-effectiveness of prehabilitation programmes for patients awaiting elective surgery compared with usual preoperative care. The results will be useful to inform decisions about the implementation of prehabilitation programmes and the design of future economic evaluations of prehabilitation programmes.Methods and analysisWe will search PubMed, Embase, the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination Database, the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform and ClinicalTrials.gov for full or partial economic evaluations of preoperative prehabilitation programmes conducted in any population compared with usual preoperative care. Studies will be included regardless of the type, design and perspective of the economic evaluation, and their publication year, language or status. Initial searches were performed between 30 April and 4 May 2020.Study selection, data extraction and assessment of the included studies’ risk of bias and methodological quality will initially be performed by two independent reviewers and, if agreement was sufficiently high, by one reviewer. We will extract data regarding the included studies’ basic characteristics, economic evaluation methods and cost-effectiveness results.A narrative synthesis will be performed. The primary endpoint will be cost-effectiveness based on cost–utility analyses. We will discuss heterogeneity between the studies and assess the risk of publication bias. The certainty of the evidence will be determined using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval is not required as the systematic review will not involve human participants. We plan to present our findings at scientific conferences, pass them on to relevant stakeholder organisations and publish them in a peer-reviewed journal.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42020182813
Implementation and adherence of routine pertussis vaccination (DTP) in a low-resource urban birth cohort
Authors: Gunning Christian E , Mwananyanda Lawrence , MacLeod William B , Mwale Magdalene , Thea Donald M , Pieciak Rachel C , Rohani Pejman , Gill Christopher J 
Published: December 2020

IntroductionReliable information on rates of up-to-date coverage and timely administration of routine childhood immunisations are critical for guiding public health efforts worldwide, yet prospective observation of vaccination programmes within individual communities is rare. Here, we provide a longitudinal analysis of the directly observed administration of a three-dose primary vaccination series to infants in a low-resource community in Lusaka, Zambia.MethodsThroughout 2015, we recruited a longitudinal birth cohort of mother/infant pairs (initial enrolment, 1981 pairs; attending, 1497 pairs) from the periurban informal settlement of Chawama compound, located in Lusaka, Zambia. We prospectively monitored the administration of scheduled diphtheria–tetanus–pertussis (DTP) vaccinations across the first 14–18 weeks of life. We analysed study attendance and vaccine coverage, both overall and stratified by age group. We employed Kaplan-Meier analyses to estimate delays in age-appropriate administration of vaccine doses. We also assessed schedule timing violations, including early and compressed dose administration.ResultsAt study completion, first dose (DTP1) rates were high (92.9% of attending), whereas third dose completion (DTP3) rates were far lower (61.9%). Missed vaccinations and study dropout both contributed to the low DTP3 completion rates. DTP1 was administered very late (at or after 10 weeks) to 61 infants (4.1%). DTP1 was administered too early to 64 infants (4.3%), and 77 (5.1%) received consecutive doses below the minimum recommended spacing of 28 days.ConclusionsWe observe substantial individual variation in the timing of early childhood DTP doses, though following this birth cohort proved challenging. Our results indicate that timely administration of both DTP1 and DTP3 remains a challenge in this community. These directly-observed, individual-based results provide an important counterpoint to more course-grained, survey-based national and province estimates of up-to-date vaccine coverage. This study also highlights the challenges of vaccine hesitancy and suboptimal utilisation of (no-cost) healthcare services in a low-resource urban setting.
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and well-being of communities: an exploratory qualitative study protocol
Authors: Shahil Feroz Anam , Akber Ali Naureen , Akber Ali Noshaba , Feroz Ridah , Nazim Meghani Salima , Saleem Sarah 
Published: December 2020

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic has certainly resulted in an increased level of anxiety and fear in communities in terms of disease management and infection spread. Due to fear and social stigma linked with COVID-19, many individuals in the community hide their disease and do not access healthcare facilities in a timely manner. In addition, with the widespread use of social media, rumours, myths and inaccurate information about the virus are spreading rapidly, leading to intensified irritability, fearfulness, insomnia, oppositional behaviours and somatic complaints. Considering the relevance of all these factors, we aim to explore the perceptions and attitudes of community members towards COVID-19 and its impact on their daily lives and mental well-being.Methods and analysisThis formative research will employ an exploratory qualitative research design using semistructured interviews and a purposive sampling approach. The data collection methods for this formative research will include indepth interviews with community members. The study will be conducted in the Karimabad Federal B Area and in the Garden (East and West) community settings in Karachi, Pakistan. The community members of these areas have been selected purposively for the interview. Study data will be analysed thematically using NVivo V.12 Plus software.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval for this study has been obtained from the Aga Khan University Ethical Review Committee (2020-4825-10599). The results of the study will be disseminated to the scientific community and to the research subjects participating in the study. The findings will help us explore the perceptions and attitudes of different community members towards the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on their daily lives and mental well-being.