bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Child maltreatment and sleep: Two pathways explaining the link
Authors: Pfaff Angela , Schlarb Angelika Anita 
Published: August 2021

SummaryMany children suffer from maltreatment and show the aftermath of these experiences even in adulthood. Child maltreatment can lead to impaired sleep. This study examines pathways in which the association between child maltreatment and impaired sleep can be explained. In a cross‐sectional questionnaire survey, maltreatment experiences (Childhood Trauma Questionnaire), romantic relationship satisfaction (Couple Satisfaction Index), attachment (Revised Adult Attachment Scale), cognitive hyperarousal (Emotion Control Questionnaire‐rehearsal) and insomnia symptoms (Insomnia Severity Index) were assessed in 314 individuals aged 18–83 years and currently in a committed romantic relationship. Eligible participants (N = 57, aged 18–70 years) took part in an additional sleep assessment (actigraphy) and completed a questionnaire on sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index). Demographic data were also assessed. Impaired subjective sleep was significantly predicted by child maltreatment experiences. In addition, rumination and romantic relationship satisfaction mediated the association between child maltreatment and adult sleep quality. A serial mediation from child maltreatment via comfort with closeness and romantic relationship satisfaction on sleep quality was found. Therapeutic treatments should focus more on sleep quality. Furthermore, they should also consider rumination to decrease the effect of child maltreatment on sleep quality. Sleep should also be taken into account in emotional regulation therapies for children as well as couples therapy in adulthood to decrease the effect of sleep impairments and child maltreatment on further life.
Evaluation of serum cardiac troponin‐I concentrations for diagnosis of infective endocarditis in dogs
Authors: Kilkenny Eoin , Watson Claire , Dukes‐McEwan Joanna , Bode Elizabeth F. , Hezzell Melanie J. , Payne Jessie Rosie , Borgeat Kieran 
Published: August 2021

AbstractBackgroundInfective endocarditis (IE) in dogs is associated with severe disease and a high case fatality rate but often presents with nonspecific clinical signs.Hypothesis/ObjectivesSerum concentration of cardiac troponin‐I (cTnI) is elevated in dogs with IE and can differentiate dogs with IE from dogs with other diseases with similar clinical features. Concentration of serum cTnI is negatively correlated with survival time in dogs with IE.AnimalsSeventy‐two client‐owned dogs; 29 with IE, 27 with stage‐B myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD), and 16 with immune‐mediated disease (IMD).MethodsRetrospective clinical cohort study. Concentration of serum cTnI was measured in all dogs at time of diagnosis. Clinical findings and echocardiographic interpretation were also recorded. Statistical analyses included Kruskal‐Wallis test, pairwise Mann‐Whitney U tests, receiver operator characteristic, and Cox proportional hazards.ResultsSerum concentration of cTnI was significantly higher in the IE group (0.69 ng/mL [0.03‐80.8]) than in the MMVD (0.05 ng/mL [0.02‐0.11], P < .001) and IMD groups (0.05 ng/mL [0.03‐0.57], P < .001). Increased cTnI was a moderately accurate predictor of IE (area under the curve 0.857 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.745‐0.968, P < .001). A cTnI cutoff of 0.625 ng/mL had 100% specificity (95% CI 90%‐100%) and 52% sensitivity (95% CI 33%‐70%) in this study sample. There was no association between cTnI concentration and survival time in dogs with IE (hazard ratio 1.013, 95% CI 0.993‐1.034, P = .2).Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceCardiac troponin‐I concentrations are higher in dogs with IE compared to dogs with preclinical MMVD or IMD. In dogs with a compatible clinical presentation, serum cTnI concentrations >0.625 ng/mL are supportive of IE.
Sensitivity analysis and uncertainty quantification of a seismic risk model for road networks
Authors: Allen Eduardo , Chamorro Alondra , Poulos Alan , Castro Sebastián , de la Llera Juan Carlos , Echaveguren Tomás 
Published: August 2021

AbstractNatural hazards may cause significant disruptions to road infrastructure, subsequently affecting road agencies, users, and productive activities. Despite the existence of infrastructure fragilities to seismic hazard and some operational consequences on network mobility, previous research has not modeled risk in terms of traffic disruptions and consequent travel time delays in subduction environments, analyzing the sensitivity to model parameters and quantified model uncertainty. This study proposes a risk framework to evaluate operational consequences in interurban road networks exposed to seismic hazard using travel time delays and propagate uncertainty in the model. Risk values are evaluated using Monte Carlo simulations, and uncertainty is propagated using a polynomial chaos expansion meta‐model. The framework was applied to a very critical interurban network in central Chile. Results demonstrate that the parameters that most significantly influence risk are fragility, loss of road capacity, and traffic volume.
Random fields representation over manifolds via isometric feature mapping‐based dimension reduction
Authors: Feng De‐Cheng , Liang Yan‐Ping , Ren Xiaodan , Li Jie 
Published: August 2021

AbstractGenerating random fields over irregular geometries (e.g., two‐dimensional (2D) manifolds embedded in the three‐dimensional (3D) Euclidean space) is a great challenge because the geometry structure is complex and the correlation function can hardly be derived, thus the traditional methods, for example, spatial discretization methods or series expansion methods, cannot be directly adopted. To solve this issue, the present paper develops a two‐stage strategy to simulate random fields over manifolds. The core idea is to map the manifolds into the 2D Euclidean space through Isometric feature mapping (Isomap), with which the geodesic distance between points in the mapped 2D Euclidean space and the original manifold space is kept as the same. Therefore, the correlation function can be readily derived and the conventional methods can be directly employed to generate random fields. To validate the proposed method, several different types of manifolds are dimensionally reduced to 2D planar domains, and the stochastic harmonic function method is used to generate the random fields. Finally, case studies on the stochastic finite element analysis of two different structures are also performed to demonstrate the applicability and efficiency of the proposed method.
Extra‐large G‐proteins influence plant response to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum by regulating glucosinolate metabolism in Brassica juncea
Authors: Tiwari Ruchi , Kaur Jagreet , Bisht Naveen C. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractHeterotrimeric G‐proteins are one of the highly conserved signal transducers across phyla. Despite the obvious importance of G‐proteins in controlling various plant growth and environmental responses, there is no information describing the regulatory complexity of G‐protein networks during pathogen response in a polyploid crop. Here, we investigated the role of extra‐large G‐proteins (XLGs) in the oilseed crop Brassica juncea, which has inherent susceptibility to the necrotrophic fungal pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. The allotetraploid B. juncea genome contains multiple homologs of three XLG genes (two BjuXLG1, five BjuXLG2, and three BjuXLG3), sharing a high level of sequence identity, gene structure organization, and phylogenetic relationship with the progenitors’ orthologs. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR analysis revealed that BjuXLGs have retained distinct expression patterns across plant developmental stages and on S. sclerotiorum infection. To determine the role of BjuXLG genes in the B. juncea defence response against S. sclerotiorum, RNAi‐based suppression was performed. Disease progression analysis showed more rapid lesion expansion and fungal accumulation in BjuXLG‐RNAi lines compared to the vector control plants, wherein suppression of BjuXLG3 homologs displayed more compromised defence response at the later time point. Knocking down BjuXLGs caused impairment of the host resistance mechanism to S. sclerotiorum, as indicated by reduced expression of defence marker genes PDF1.2 and WRKY33 on pathogen infection. Furthermore, BjuXLG‐RNAi lines showed reduced accumulation of leaf glucosinolates on S. sclerotiorum infection, wherein aliphatic glucosinolates were significantly compromised. Overall, our data suggest that B. juncea XLG genes are important signalling nodes modulating the host defence pathways in response to this necrotrophic pathogen.
Is His‐optimized superior to conventional cardiac resynchronization therapy in improving heart failure? Results from a propensity‐matched study
Authors: Senes Jacopo , Mascia Giuseppe , Bottoni Nicola , Oddone Daniele , Donateo Paolo , Grimaldi Teresa , Minneci Calogero , Bertolozzi Iacopo , Brignole Michele , Puggioni Enrico , Coluccia Giovanni 
Published: August 2021

AbstractBackgroundHis bundle pacing (HBP), alone or optimized in association with coronary sinus pacing (HBP+LV) has recently been proposed as an alternative to conventional cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). However, there is lack of controlled studies that assessed clinical outcome.MethodsWe did a single‐center, propensity‐score matched, case‐control study of comparison of HBP and HBP+LV versus conventional CRT in patients with heart failure (HF) and standard indications for CRT. The study group patients were consecutively enrolled in the year 2019. The control group patients were selected, by propensity score matching, among those CRT implantations performed in the years 2015–2018.ResultsThere were 27 patients in each group. In the active group, 12 (44%) patients received HBP alone and 12 (44%) patients HBP+LV pacing. HBP failed in three (11%) patients. In the control group, conventional CRT was achieved in 26 (96%) patients and failed in one. Paced QRS width was shorter in the active than in the control group (128 ± 18 vs. 148 ± 27 ms, p = .004). During a mean of 9.6 months of follow‐up, a composite clinical outcome of death, hospitalization for HF or worsening HF occurred in three (11%) in the active group and in four (15%) in the control group, p = .58. No difference was also observed with softer endpoints: NYHA class (1.9 ± 0.7 vs. 2.1 ± 0.7), subjective improvement (74% vs. 74%) and LV ejection fraction (40.7% vs. 40.7%).ConclusionCompared with conventional CRT, a shorter QRS width can be obtained with HBP alone or in association with coronary sinus pacing but we were unable to show a better clinical outcome. There is urgent need for large, randomized trials.
High‐quality evergreen azalea genome reveals tandem duplication‐facilitated low‐altitude adaptability and floral scent evolution
Authors: Wang Xiuyun , Gao Yuan , Wu Xiaopei , Wen Xiaohui , Li Danqing , Zhou Hong , Li Zheng , Liu Bing , Wei Jianfen , Chen Fei , Chen Feng , Zhang Chengjun , Zhang Liangsheng , Xia Yiping 
Published: August 2021

SummaryAzalea belongs to Rhododendron, which is one of the largest genera of flowering plants and is well known for the diversity and beauty in its more than 1000 woody species. Rhododendron contains two distinct groups: the most high‐altitude and a few low‐altitude species; however, the former group is difficult to be domesticated for urban landscaping, and their evolution and adaptation are little known. Rhododendron ovatum has broad adaptation in low‐altitude regions but possesses evergreen characteristics like high‐altitude species, and it has floral fragrance that is deficient in most cultivars. Here we report the chromosome‐level genome assembly of R. ovatum, which has a total length of 549 Mb with scaffold N50 of 41 Mb and contains 41 264 predicted genes. Genomic micro‐evolutionary analysis of R. ovatum in comparison with two high‐altitude Rhododendron species indicated that the expansion genes in R. ovatum were significantly enriched in defence responses, which may account for its adaptability in low altitudes. The R. ovatum genome contains much more terpene synthase genes (TPSs) compared with the species that lost floral fragrance. The subfamily b members of TPS are involved in the synthesis of sesquiterpenes as well as monoterpenes and play a major role in flora scent biosynthesis and defence responses. Tandem duplication is the primary force driving expansion of defence‐responsive genes for extensive adaptability to the low‐altitude environments. The R. ovatum genome provides insights into low‐altitude adaptation and gain or loss of floral fragrance for Rhododendron species, which are valuable for alpine plant domestication and floral scent breeding.
A 13.96‐kb chromosomal deletion of two genes is responsible for the tomato seed size in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus)
Authors: Li Na , Kong Shengnan , Zhou Dan , Shang Jianli , Wang Jiming , Li Nannan , Liu Lifeng , Ma Shuangwu 
Published: August 2021

AbstractSeed size is an important agronomic trait in watermelon, but the candidate genes and underlying molecular mechanism are not fully known. In the present study, genetic analysis of the BC1 population derived from two parental lines revealed that watermelon seed size is controlled by a single locus and medium seeds are dominant to tomato seeds. In addition, we constructed a genetic linkage map. The total length of the linkage map was 1629.92 cM, with an average distance of .16 cM. QTL mapping and resequencing analysis identified a 13.96‐kb chromosomal deletion on chromosome 2. There were only two genes (Cla97C02G045390 and Cla97C02G045400) present in the corresponding region. Transcriptome data of tomato seed and medium seed watermelons showed that the two genes were always highly expressed in medium seed plants but expressed at low or no levels in tomato seed plants. Moreover, two markers indicated that the genes were related to watermelon seed size. Our present study provides key genetic variation and potential candidate gene of watermelon seed size and lays the foundation for the molecular mechanism of seed size.
Leveraging digital technologies to boost productivity in the informal sector in Sub‐Saharan Africa
Authors: Nguimkeu Pierre , Okou Cedric 
Published: August 2021

AbstractIn many developed countries, automation has stoked fears of job losses by less‐skilled workers. In Sub‐Saharan Africa, by contrast, the adoption of low‐skill‐biased digital technologies complementary to informal workers offers the potential of a poverty‐reducing trajectory by enabling productivity and creating more job opportunities. While informality is pervasive in Sub‐Saharan African economies, building pathways to full formalization in the region has had limited success to date. Instead of focusing on formalization as an imperative policy goal, more realistic short to medium term policies should leverage low‐skill‐biased digital technologies to upgrade the skills of workers and enhance the productivity of firms in the informal sector. Moreover, more productive informal firms will likely seek to formalize if they perceive a positive tradeoff with the gains of being formal, arising from a conducive business environment mixing proper regulations, opportunities, and incentives. This paper summarizes what we know on digital technologies in Sub‐Saharan Africa, and highlights their role as catalysts for productivity enhancement, job creation, entrepreneurship, access to credit, and financial inclusion in the informal sector. It also documents key challenges faced by governments in harnessing the benefits and risks of digitization for the informal sector and suggests a blueprint to help policymakers in Sub‐Saharan Africa address them.
Public preferences for five electricity grid decarbonization policies in California
Authors: Boudet Hilary , Zanocco Chad , Stelmach Greg , Muttaqee Mahmood , Flora June 
Published: August 2021

AbstractThe climate crisis and associated push for distributed, renewable electricity generation necessitate policy changes to decarbonize and modernize the electricity grid. Some of these changes—e.g., smart meter rollouts and tax credits for solar panel adoption—have received attention in the media and from social scientists to understand public perceptions and responses. Others—e.g., allowing peer‐to‐peer electricity sales, promoting residential electrification, requiring solar panels on new development, funding microgrids, and paying customers to allow for utility control of electricity use—have received less attention. Here, we explore public perceptions of these understudied policies among California residents (n = 804), a state recognized for innovative energy policy. A majority of respondents supported only one of the policies—requiring solar panels on new development. Others elicited more indecision; few were strongly opposed. In general, male respondents and those with college degrees were more supportive of such policies, as were those more concerned about climate change and with a more open orientation to smart home technologies.
Controlled single and repeated impact testing for material plastic behaviour characterisation under high strain rates
Authors: Breumier Simon , Trudeau‐Lalonde Francis , Lafrance Thierry , Robert Etienne , Villani Aurélien , Kermouche Guillaume , Lévesque Martin 
Published: August 2021

AbstractInstrumented single‐shot experiments provide crucial information of a material's response to impact events that can be used in shot‐peening modelling. However, no authors successfully used such test for constitutive model identification and validation as existing test rig generally cannot provide an accurate determination of the shot trajectory in three dimensions over a wide velocity range. In this work, a shot‐peening test rig that can propel single shot under the process conditions with a high aiming accuracy is presented. The test rig propels industrial shot by sudden pressurised gas release. A methodology to recover the propelled shot three‐dimensional trajectory within a 200‐μm accuracy using two high‐frequency cameras is developed in an open‐source in‐house code. The test rig can propel 0.5‐, 1.19‐ and 2.5‐mm‐diameter shot at velocity ranging from 0.8 to 143 m s−1 and can send several shots at the same position when using the largest shot diameter. Two potential applications of the set‐up are presented for (i) coefficient of restitution measurement with different shooting angles and velocities and (ii) crystal plasticity finite element model validation using the impact dent topology, the shot displacement curve and the crystal misorientation field under the dent.
Strategies and indicators to address health equity in health service and delivery systems: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Brushett Sara , Caldwell Hilary A.T. , Cameron Emma Stirling , Carrea Cecilia , Embrett Mark , Fierlbeck Katherine , Hajizadeh Mohammad , Kirk Sara F.L. , Rothfus Melissa , Sampalli Tara , Sim Meaghan 
Published: August 2021

ABSTRACT

Objective:
The purpose of this review is to describe how health service and delivery systems support health equity, and to identify strategies and indicators being used to measure health equity.

Introduction:
It is widely acknowledged that a population health and equity approach is needed to improve the overall health of the population. The health service and delivery system plays an important role in this approach. Despite this, system transformation to address health inequities has been slow. This is due, in part, to the lack of evidence-based guidance on how health service and delivery systems can address and measure health equity integration. Most studies focus on health equity integration in the public health sector at a provincial or national level, but less is known about integration within the health service and delivery system. More information is needed to understand how that transformation is occurring, or could occur, to make a meaningful contribution toward improving population health outcomes.

Inclusion criteria:
This scoping review will identify studies that describe the strategies and indicators that health service and delivery systems are using to integrate health equity and how progress is measured. Evidence from qualitative, quantitative, mixed method studies, and gray literature will be included.

Methods:
This review will be conducted in accordance with JBI methodology for scoping reviews. A comprehensive search strategy, developed with a librarian scientist, will be used to identify relevant sources. Titles, abstracts, and full texts will be evaluated against inclusion criteria. Information will be extracted by two independent reviewers. Data will be synthesized and presented narratively, with tables and figures where appropriate.
National treatment outcome and predictors of death and treatment failure in multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in Ethiopia: a 10-year retrospective cohort study
Authors: Tola Habteyes , Holakouie-Naieni K , Mansournia Mohammad Ali , Yaseri Mehdi , Gamtesa Dinka Fikadu , Tesfaye Ephrem , Mahamed Zemedu , Sisay Million Molla 
Published: August 2021

ObjectivesTreatment success rate in patients treated for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is low, but predictors of treatment failure and death have been under-reported. Thus, we aimed to determine the national proportion of treatment success rate in the past 10 years and factors that predict treatment failure and death in patients with MDR-TB in Ethiopia.SettingA retrospective cohort study with a 10-years follow-up period was conducted in 42 MDR-TB treatment-initiating centres in Ethiopia.ParticipantsA total of 3395 adult patients with MDR-TB who had final treatment outcome and who were treated under national TB programme were included. Data were collected from clinical charts, registration books and laboratory reports. Competing risk survival analysis model with robust standard errors (SE) was used to determine the predictors of treatment failure and death.Primary and secondary outcomesTreatment outcome was a primary outcome whereas predictors of treatment failure and death were a secondary outcome.ResultsThe proportion of treatment success was 75.7%, death rate was 12.8%, treatment failure was 1.7% and lost to follow-up was 9.7%. The significant predictors of death were older age (adjusted hazard ratio (AHR)=1.03; 95% CI 1.03 to 1.05; p<0.001), HIV infection (AHR=2.0; 95% CI 1.6 to 2.4; p<0.001) and presence of any grade of anaemia (AHR=1.7; 95% CI 1.4 to 2.0; p<0.001). Unlike the predictors of death, all variables included into multivariable model were not significantly associated with treatment failure.ConclusionIn the past 10 years, although MDR-TB treatment success in Ethiopia has been consistently favourable, the proportion of patients who died is still considerable. Death could be attributed to advanced age, HIV infection and anaemia. Prospective cohort studies are necessary to further explore the potentially modifiable predictors of treatment failure.