bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Nested information processing in the living world
Authors: Wurtz Tilmann 
Published: May 2021

AbstractLiving organisms create, copy, and make use of information, the content depending on the level of organization. In cells, a network of signal chain proteins regulates gene expression and other cell functions. Incoming information is encoded through signal reception, processed by the network, and decoded by the synthesis of new gene products and other biological functions. Signaling proteins represent nodes, and signal transmission proceeds via allosteric binding, chemical and structural modifications, synthesis, sequestering, and degradation. The induction of the gene caudal type homeobox 2 (CDX2) in the mammalian preimplantation embryo is outlined as a demonstration of this concept. CDX2 is involved in the decision of cells to enter the trophoblast lineage. Two signal chains are coordinated into an information processing model with the help of logic gates. The model introduces a formal structure that incorporates experimental and morphological data. Above the cell level, information flow relates to tissue formation and functioning, and whole cells play the role of network nodes. This is described for the anatomical patterning of bone with implications for bone formation and homeostasis. The information usage in cells and tissues is set into a context of the nervous system and the interaction of human individuals in societies, both established scenes of information processing.
Youth Unemployment and Stigmatization Over the Business Cycle in Europe*
Authors: Ayllón Sara , Valbuena Javier , Plum Alexander 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThis paper studies the dynamics of the scarring effect of youth unemployment over the business cycle in 12 European countries. On the one hand, we analyse differences associated with the negative effect of past unemployment experiences on future labour market status. And, on the other hand, we consider the potential stigmatization of prospective young workers – that is, the extent to which employers are more reluctant to hire individuals with a history of unemployment. Our results are based on data from the EU‐SILC for the period 2004 to 2015 and provide support in favour of a significant scarring effect of unemployment among youths that is highly heterogeneous across the countries under analysis and that increased substantially during the Great Recession. In contrast, the evidence of stigma effects was found to be rather weak.
Hematohidrosis of the mid‐face and hands treated with oral oxybutynin
Authors: Tirthani Kiran , Sardana Kabir , Mathachan Sinu Rose 
Published: May 2021

AbstractHematohidrosis is a rare condition characterized by blood in the sweat. We report a case of hematohidrosis of the mid‐face and hands in a 13‐year‐old girl who was treated successfully with oral oxybutynin and discuss the therapeutic rationale.
Medical care of newborns born to mothers with confirmed or suspected severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infections in Japan
Authors: Morioka Ichiro , Toishi Satoshi , Kusaka Takashi , Wada Kazuko , Mizuno Katsumi ,   for the Committee of Neonatal Medicine in Japan Pediatric Society
Published: May 2021

AbstractBackgroundThere are currently no definitive guidelines regarding newborns born to mothers with confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection. This study aimed to investigate the medical care and management that provided or would provide for such newborns.MethodsA web survey was conducted between September and October 2020. A total of 624 hospitals, which generally accept pregnant women for delivery, were involved in this study. The survey included the number of newborns born to mothers with confirmed SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and evaluated policies regarding the medical care and management of newborns born to mothers with confirmed or suspected SARS‐CoV‐2 infection.ResultsPregnant women with confirmed or suspected SARS‐CoV‐2 infection were accepted or planned to be accepted in 54% (334) of the hospitals. Out of 52 newborns born to mothers with confirmed SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA was detected from the nasopharyngeal swab of one newborn shortly after birth. The types of personal protective equipment during the delivery, the separation of the newborns from the mothers, the SARS‐CoV‐2 testing methods, and the use of incubators during the quarantine period were uniformly provided. However, the methods of ventilator treatment in the event of respiratory disorders, feeding during maternal isolation, and de‐quarantine and discharge criteria varied.ConclusionsThis survey demonstrated that one newborn detected a SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA shortly after birth out of 52 newborns who were born to mothers with confirmed SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. The policies regarding medical care and management for these newborns in Japan were provided.
The role of plant health in the sustainable production of seed yams in Nigeria: A challenging nexus between plant health, human food security, and culture
Authors: Morse Stephen 
Published: May 2021

AbstractYam (Dioscorea rotundata) is a root and tuber crop throughout West Africa and has significant nutritional, economic, and cultural value, which underpins its importance for the food security of many people who live there. The crop is propagated vegetatively, primarily via the planting of small whole tubers (seed yams) and pieces (setts) cut from larger tubers. However, the use of such vegetative material means that a variety of pests (primarily insects and nematodes) and diseases (primarily fungal and viral) can carry over and multiply from season to season. This paper sets out the plant health issues associated with yam, and how these have been addressed by improving the availability of good quality planting material, especially via the Yam Minisett Technique (YMT) and the more recently developed Adapted Yam Minisett Technique (AYMT). Both approaches are based on the planting of “minisetts” treated with pesticide to produce seed yam free of pests and fungal pathogens, but there have been challenges regarding their adoption by farmers. The paper explores these challenges and how these attempts to improve plant health fit into a wider discussion of the sustainability of yam production in West Africa given that there are other driving forces of climate change, globalization, and urbanization at play in the region.
Pathophysiology of infection with SARS‐CoV‐2—What is known and what remains a mystery
Authors: Sridhar Siddharth , Nicholls John 
Published: May 2021

AbstractCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), caused by coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), has caused extensive disruption and mortality since its recent emergence. Concomitantly, there has been a race to understand the virus and its pathophysiology. The clinical manifestations of COVID‐19 are manifold and not restricted to the respiratory tract. Extrapulmonary manifestations involving the gastrointestinal tract, hepatobiliary system, cardiovascular and renal systems have been widely reported. However, the pathophysiology of many of these manifestations is controversial with questionable support for direct viral invasion and an abundance of alternative explanations such as pre‐existing medical conditions and critical illness. Prior research on SARS‐Co‐V and NL63 was rapidly leveraged to identify angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor as the key cell surface receptor for SARS‐CoV‐2. The distribution of ACE2 has been used as a starting point for estimating vulnerability of various tissue types to SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. Sophisticated organoid and animal models have been used to demonstrate such infectivity of extrapulmonary tissues in vitro, but the clinical relevance of these findings remains uncertain. Clinical autopsy studies are typically small and inevitably biased towards patients with severe COVID‐19 and prolonged hospitalization. Technical issues such as delay between time of death and autopsy, use of inappropriate antibodies for paraffin‐embedded tissue sections and misinterpretation of cellular structures as virus particles on electron micrograph images are additional problems encountered in the extant literature. Given that SARS‐CoV‐2 is likely to circulate permanently in human populations, there is no doubt that further work is required to clarify the pathobiology of COVID‐19.
Campylobacter jejuni ST50, a pathogen of global importance: A comparative genomic analysis of isolates from Australia, Europe and North America
Authors: Wallace Rhiannon L. , Cribb Danielle M. , Bulach Dieter M. , Ingle Danielle J. , Joensen Katrine G. , Nielsen Eva Møller , Leekitcharoenphon Pimlapas , Stingl Kerstin , Kirk Martyn D. 
Published: May 2021

SummaryCampylobacter jejuni is the leading cause of bacterial gastroenteritis globally, and infections are often transmitted through consumption of raw or undercooked poultry. Campylobacter jejuni ST50 is among the top ten sequence types (STs) reported in the collected isolates listed at PubMLST records from poultry, food and clinical sources for Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania and South America. This study was designed to determine the most commonly reported C. jejuni STs globally using the PubMLST database and assess similarities between genomes of C. jejuni ST50 isolates from geographically distinct locations. To gain a better understanding of C. jejuni diversity, we compared draft genome sequences of 182 ST50 isolates recovered from retail or caecal poultry samples in Oceania, Europe and North America that were collected over a period of 9 years (2010 to 2018). Overall, phylogenetic analysis revealed that isolates from geographically distinct locations tended to cluster based on the continent where the sample was collected. Among ST50 isolates from Europe and North America, we identified resistance determinants associated with phenotypic resistance to beta‐lactams (EU: 55%; GB: 43.1%), tetracyclines (CA: 77.3%; EU: 37.5%; GB: 9.8%; US: 43.5%) and fluoroquinolones (EU: 60.0%; GB: 15.7%); no resistance determinants were identified in isolates from Australia. In general, the majority of the virulence genes, with rare exceptions such as wlaN, cj1138, hddA and rfbC, were evenly distributed throughout the genomes of all ST50 isolates in this study. Genomic‐based characterization of C. jejuni ST50 isolates from poultry on three continents highlighted that geographically distinct isolates have evolved independently but only represent a glimpse into the diversity of C. jejuni.
The Development and Application of a Kinetic Theory for Modeling Dispersed Particle Flows
Authors: Reeks Michael W. 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
This Freeman Scholar article reviews the formulation and application of a kinetic theory for modeling the transport and dispersion of small particles in turbulent gas-flows. The theory has been developed and refined by numerous authors and now forms a rational basis for modeling complex particle laden flows. The formalism and methodology of this approach are discussed and the choice of closure of the kinetic equations involved ensures realizability and well posedness with exact closure for Gaussian carrier flow fields. The historical development is presented and how single-particle kinetic equations resolve the problem of closure of the transport equations for particle mass, momentum, and kinetic energy/stress (the so-called continuum equations) and the treatment of the dispersed phase as a fluid. The mass fluxes associated with the turbulent aerodynamic driving forces and interfacial stresses are shown to be both dispersive and convective in inhomogeneous turbulence with implications for the build-up of particles concentration in near wall turbulent boundary layers and particle pair concentration at small separation. It is shown how this approach deals with the natural wall boundary conditions for a flowing particle suspension and examples are given of partially absorbing surfaces with particle scattering and gravitational settling; how this approach has revealed the existence of contra gradient diffusion in a developing shear flow and the influence of the turbulence on gravitational settling (the Maxey effect). Particular consideration is given to the general problem of particle transport and deposition in turbulent boundary layers including particle resuspension. Finally, the application of a particle pair formulation for both monodisperse and bidisperse particle flows is reviewed where the differences between the two are compared through the influence of collisions on the particle continuum equations and the particle collision kernel for the clustering of particles and the degree of random uncorrelated motion (RUM) at the small scales of the turbulence. The inclusion of bidisperse particle suspensions implies the application to polydisperse flows and the evolution of particle size distribution.
Fifteen-minute consultation: oral ulceration in children
Authors: Johnston Laura , Warrilow Laura , Fullwood Isobel , Tanday Ajit 
Published: May 2021

ObjectiveTo review common presentation of oral ulcers in children and discuss management of symptoms and subsequent investigation.ConclusionAlthough a common presentation in children, diagnosis can be challenging. Thorough history taking is critical towards diagnosis and supports signposting to relevant specialities. Clinicians should be able to support first-line symptomatic management of oral ulceration.
Experiences of cancer immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ExCIm)—insights of people affected by cancer and healthcare professionals: a qualitative study protocol
Authors: Jennings Stephen , Anstey Sally , Bower Janet , Brewster Alison , Buckman John , Fenlon Deborah , Fitzsimmons Deborah , Watts Tessa 
Published: May 2021

IntroductionThere is a global interest in cancer immunotherapy. Clinical trials have found that one group, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), has demonstrated clinical benefits across various cancers. However, research focused on the experiences of people affected by cancer who have undergone this treatment using qualitative methodology is currently limited. Moreover, little is known about the experiences and education needs of the healthcare staff supporting the people receiving these immunotherapies. This study therefore seeks to explore the experiences of using ICIs by both the people affected by cancer and the healthcare professionals who support those people, and use the findings to make recommendations for ICI supportive care guidance development, cancer immunotherapy education materials for healthcare professionals, cancer policy and further research.Methods and analysisPatient participants (n=up to 30) will be recruited within the UK. The sample will incorporate a range of perspectives, sociodemographic factors, diagnoses and ICI treatments, yet share some common experiences. Healthcare professionals (n=up to 15) involved in supporting people receiving immunotherapy will also be recruited from across the UK. Data will be generated through in-depth, semistructured interviews. Reflexive thematic analysis will be used to obtain thorough understanding of individual’s perspectives on, and experiences of, immunotherapy. Study dates are as follows: December 2019–March 2022.Ethics and disseminationThe research will be performed in accordance with the UK Policy for Health and Social Care Research and Cardiff University’s Research Integrity and Governance Code of Practice (2018). The study received ethical approval from the West Midlands and Black Country Research Ethics Committee in October 2019. Health Research Authority and Health and Care Research Wales approvals were confirmed in December 2019. All participants will provide informed consent. Findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals, non-academic platforms, the Macmillan Cancer Support website, disseminated at relevant national and international conferences and presented via a webinar. The study is listed on the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network Central Portfolio.
Diagnostic performance of food consumption for bacteraemia in patients admitted with suspected infection: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Takada Toshihiko , Fujii Kotaro , Kudo Masataka , Sasaki Sho , Yano Tetsuhiro , Yagi Yu , Tsuchido Yasuhiro , Ito Hideyuki , Fukuhara Shunichi 
Published: May 2021

ObjectivesA previous study reported that food consumption is useful to rule out bacteraemia in hospitalised patients. We aimed to validate the diagnostic performance of (1) food consumption and (2) a previously reported algorithm using food consumption and shaking chills for bacteraemia in patients admitted to hospital with suspected infection.DesignProspective cohort study.SettingDepartment of General Medicine in two acute care hospitals in Japan.ParticipantsA total of 2009 adult patients who underwent at least two blood cultures on admission.Primary outcome measuresThe reference standard for bacteraemia was judgement by two independent specialists of infectious diseases. Food consumption was evaluated by the physician in charge asking the patient or their caregivers the following question on admission: ‘What percentage of usual food intake were you able to eat during the past 24 hours?’ResultsAmong 2009 patients, 326 patients were diagnosed with bacteraemia (16.2%). Diagnostic performance of food consumption was sensitivity of 84.4% (95% CI 80.1 to 88), specificity of 19.8% (95% CI 18 to 21.8), positive predictive value (PPV) of 16.9% (95% CI 15.2 to 18.9) and negative predictive value (NPV) of 86.8% (95% CI 83.1 to 89.8). The discriminative performance was an area under the curve of 0.53 (95% CI 0.50 to 0.56). The performance of the algorithm using food consumption and shaking chills was sensitivity of 89% (95% CI 85.1 to 91.9), specificity of 18.8% (95% CI 17 to 20.7), PPV of 17.5% (95% CI 15.7 to 19.4) and NPV of 89.8% (95% CI 86.2 to 92.5).ConclusionOur results did not show the usefulness of food consumption and the algorithm using food consumption and shaking chills for the diagnosis of bacteraemia in patients admitted to hospital with suspected infection.
Implementation of a complex intervention to improve hospital discharge: process evaluation of a cluster randomised controlled trial
Authors: Rachamin Yael , Grischott Thomas , Neuner-Jehle Stefan 
Published: May 2021

ObjectivesTo study the implementation of a cluster randomised controlled effectiveness-implementation hybrid trial testing the effectiveness of a medication review at hospital discharge combined with a communication stimulus between hospital physicians (HPs) and general practitioners (GPs) on rehospitalisation of multimorbid older patients.DesignExtension of Grant’s mixed method process evaluation framework to trials with multilevel clustering.SettingGeneral internal medicine wards in Swiss hospitals.ParticipantsConvenience samples of 15 chief physicians (of 21 hospitals participating in the effectiveness trial), 60 (74) senior HPs, 65 (164) junior HPs and 187 (411) GPs.Implementation strategyTwo-hour teaching sessions for senior HPs on a patient-centred, checklist-guided discharge routine.Process evaluation componentsData collection on recruitment, delivery and response from chief physicians (semistructured interviews), senior HPs, junior HPs, GPs (surveys) and patients (via HPs). Quantitative data were summarised using descriptive statistics, and interviews analysed using thematic analysis.Outcome measuresIntervention dose (quantitative), implementation fidelity (qualitative), feasibility and acceptability, facilitators and barriers, implementation support strategies.ResultsRecruitment of hospitals was laborious but successful, with 21 hospitals recruited. Minimal workload and a perceived benefit for the clinic were crucial factors for participation. Intervention dose was high (95% of checklist activities carried out), but intervention fidelity was limited (discharge letters) or unknown (medication review). Recruitment and retention of patients was challenging, partly due to patient characteristics (old, frail) and the COVID-19 pandemic: Only 612 of the anticipated 2100 patients were recruited, and 31% were lost to follow-up within the first month after discharge. The intervention was deemed feasible and helpful by HPs, and the relevance of the topic appreciated by both HPs and GPs.ConclusionsThe results from this evaluation will support interpretation of the findings of the effectiveness study and may inform researchers and policy makers who aim at improving hospital discharge.Trial registration numberISRCTN18427377.
Effect of nalbuphine on rocuronium injection pain
Authors: Huang Wenfang , Huang Jinjin , Wang Dongpi , Hu Yaoqin , Wang Jiangmei , Lin Hongfei 
Published: May 2021

ObjectiveRocuronium-associated intravenous injection pain occurs frequently in children during induction of anesthesia. The aim of this study was to systematically evaluate the benefits of nalbuphine in patients with rocuronium-associated injection pain.MethodsNinety children undergoing tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy in our hospital between October 2019 and September 2020 were randomly divided into the following groups, with 30 patients per group: control group (group C), lidocaine group (group L), and nalbuphine group (group N). Routine 0.1 mg/kg midazolam and 2 mg/kg propofol were injected intravenously. After sedation, children in group C, group L, and group N were administered an intravenous injection of saline, lidocaine (10 mg/mL), or nalbuphine hydrochloride (2 mg/mL), respectively, at a dosage of 0.1 mL/kg. Intravenous injection of rocuronium stock solution (0.6 mg/kg) was administered 2 minutes later. Pain was evaluated using Ambeshs 4-pointscale. The incidence of rocuronium injection pain was compared among the three groups, and postoperative adverse reactions, such as drowsiness, bradycardia, hypotension, and respiratory depression, were evaluated.ResultsThe incidence of injection pain among children in group N was significantly lower than that in group C and group L (p<0.05). The incidence of drowsiness in group N was significantly higher than that in the other groups (p<0.05). The incidences of hypotension, bradycardia, and respiratory depression were not significantly different among the three groups (p>0.05).ConclusionsIntravenous nalbuphine during induction of anesthesia effectively prevented rocuronium-associated injection pain in children. Drowsiness is a complication.