bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Subjective measurement of the Stiles‐Crawford effect of the first kind with variation in accommodation
Authors: Nilagiri Vinay Kumar , Suheimat Marwan , Lambert Andrew J , Atchison David A 
Published: August 2021

AbstractPurposeTo measure the Stiles‐Crawford effect of the first kind (SCE‐I), corresponding to central vision, with innovative technology to evaluate changes in the directionality and photoreceptor alignment with accommodation.MethodsA uniaxial Maxwellian system (spot size in pupil 0.5 mm diameter) was employed, incorporating a spatial light modulator to flicker at 2 Hz between two 2.3° fields corresponding to test (peripheral pupil) and reference (pupil centre) positions. Participants determined thresholds at 13 positions along the horizontal pupil meridian by indicating if the test field was brighter or dimmer than the reference field. Thresholds were determined by a staircase procedure after four reversals at each pupil location. After pupil dilation, seven emmetropes were tested at 0 D to 6 D accommodation stimulus levels in 2 D intervals. Data were fit by the Gaussian function, both when the fits were unforced or forced to pass through the sensitivity expected for the reference point. Directionality (ρ) and peak location values were determined for unforced and forced fits.ResultsRegression slopes for ρ as a function of accommodation stimulus were not significant. There was a tendency for to shift temporally with increasing accommodation across the 6 D stimulus range. This was not significant for regression fitting (–0.059 mm/D, R2 = 0.06, p = 0.20), but a paired t‐test for 0 and 6 D stimuli showed a weakly significant change of 0.62 mm (p = 0.05). The differences between the two fitting approaches were small and non‐significant.ConclusionsDirectionality did not change with accommodation, but the pupil peak location showed a significant temporal shift of approximately 0.62 mm with 6 D accommodation stimulus. It is possible that substantial changes in the directionality and a shift in the direction of peak location might occur at very high levels of accommodation.
Drosophila yellow‐h encodes dopaminechrome tautomerase: A new enzyme in the eumelanin biosynthetic pathway
Authors: Barek Hanine , Zhao Heya , Heath Katerina , Veraksa Alexey , Sugumaran Manickam 
Published: August 2021

AbstractMelanin is a widely distributed phenolic pigment that is biosynthesized from tyrosine and its hydroxylated product, dopa, in all animals. However, recent studies reveal a significant deviation from this paradigm, as insects appear to use dopamine rather than dopa as the major precursor of melanin. This observation calls for a reconsideration of the insect melanogenic pathway. While phenoloxidases and laccases can oxidize dopamine for dopaminechrome production, the fate of dopaminechrome remains undetermined. Dopachrome decarboxylase/tautomerase, encoded by yellow‐f/f2 of Drosophila melanogaster, can convert dopaminechrome into 5,6‐dihydroxyindole, but the same enzyme from other organisms does not act on dopaminechrome, suggesting the existence of a specific dopaminechrome tautomerase (DPT). We now report the identification of this novel enzyme that biosynthesizes 5,6‐dihydroxyindole from dopaminechrome in Drosophila. Dopaminechrome tautomerase acted on both dopaminechrome and N‐methyl dopaminechrome but not on dopachrome or other aminochromes tested. Our biochemical and molecular studies reveal that this enzyme is encoded by the yellow‐h gene, a member of the yellow gene family, and advance our understanding of the physiological functions of this gene family. Identification and characterization of DPT clarifies the precursor for melanin biosynthetic pathways and proves the existence of an independent melanogenic pathway in insects that utilizes dopamine as the primary precursor.
Global impact of physical inactivity and implications for public health nursing
Authors: Moxley Elizabeth , Webber‐Ritchey Kashica J. , Hayman Laura L. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractPhysicalinactivity has been a public health problem worldwide for more than a decade. Of those who are physically active, a substantial percentage engage solely in low or very low physical activity (PA) levels. In the last 3 decades, the prevalence of PA in the United States has decreased with approximately 80% of adults not meeting the recommended guidelines for aerobic and muscle strengthening PA. The PA levels of youth have dramatically decreased with 85% of adolescents reporting no PA. Regular PA participation can aid in preventing chronic diseases. A strong inverse dose‐response relationship exists between PA and the incidence of cardiovascular disease, all‐cause and cardiovascular mortality. Moreover, low cardiorespiratory fitness levels are a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases: the leading cause of death and disability globally. Conversely, high amounts of moderate‐to‐vigorous intensity PA at levels 3–5 times recommended in guidelines reduce risk for all cause mortality. Socio‐ecological determinants of PA are essential considerations for promoting across the life course. In health care and community settings, public health nurses have opportunities to promote PA through a socio‐ecological approach across the life course of individuals and diverse populations.
Primary care nurses’ challenges, opportunities, and facilitators of elder abuse intervention in Malaysia
Authors: Mohd Mydin Fadzilah Hanum , Othman Sajaratulnisah , Choo Wan Yuen , Mohd Hairi Noran Naqiah , Mohd Hairi Farizah , Ali Zainudin , Abdul Aziz Suriyati 
Published: August 2021

AbstractObjectivesTo explore the views of nurses on challenges, perceived roles and improvement strategies concerning elder abuse intervention in Malaysia.Design and sampleEleven focus group discussions were conducted using a semi‐structured interview based on the socio‐ecological framework. The data were analyzed using a multistep process of thematic analysis.ResultsThree themes emerged from the data analysis: (1) The predicament: being unwilling or not able to intervene (2) Bridging the older people and health system gap (3) Getting to grips with the barriers. There are multifactorial contributors identified at the individual, interpersonal, organizational, community and policy levels in each theme. These factors interact across the levels to influence nurses’ capability to intervene in elder abuse.ConclusionA framework is needed to articulate Malaysian nurses’ role in elder abuse intervention in terms of personal and professional development through culturally sensitive education and the establishment of clinical guidelines in the primary care setting. Strengthening organizational support and the institution of national policy and permissive reporting laws of elder abuse will empower the primary care nurses to address elder abuse in primary care settings and communities.
“It Was Actually Pretty Easy”: COVID‐19 Compliance Cost Reductions in the WIC Program
Authors: Barnes Carolyn , Petry Sarah 
Published: August 2021

AbstractIn recent years, scholars have examined the barriers to accessing public assistance benefits. Research identifies learning, compliance, and psychological costs as deterring program use. Compliance costs reflect the burdens of following program rules, which may entail providing documentation, responding to discretionary demands of bureaucrats, or attending appointments to maintain benefits. Studies identify one element of compliance costs—quarterly appointments—as a barrier to continued WIC participation. This article draws on 44 in‐depth qualitative interviews with participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). We examine how WIC participants perceive the reduction of compliance costs following the implementation of remote appointments in response to the COVID‐19 pandemic. WIC participants report satisfaction with remote appointments and a reduction in the compliance costs of accessing and maintaining benefits. We conclude by recommending longer term changes to policy and practices to increase access and continuity in WIC receipt.
Contribution of the mutation T865G in TPH1 gene to the genetic potentiality of housed Mongolian sheep to year‐round breeding
Authors: Liu Chenhui , Jiang Xunping , Chi Shaxuan , Bo Dongdong , Liu Guiqiong 
Published: August 2021

AbstractSeasonal breeding is widespread in sheep and significantly affects the development of the housed sheep industry. To improve and balance the reproduction performance of sheep, year‐round breeding has the goal of modern sheep farming. The tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH), which initiates and regulates biosynthesis of melatonin, is an important player in the formation of mammalian year‐round breeding. However, little is known about its role in regulation of sheep seasonal breeding. In this study, a missense mutation, T865G in TPH1 gene was detected in 328 individuals of six Mongolian sheep groups. It was positively selected among Mongolian sheep. This mutation may appear between 13,683 and 350,973 years ago and only exist in Hu sheep now. In Hu sheep, the frequency of allele T was 89.66%, and that of allele G was 10.34%. The TPH1 protein structure and property analysis suggested that this mutation from T to G affect the three‐dimensional structure and reduce the hydropathicity of catalytic core. When the allele is T, the protein activity is twice that of the allele G, and their difference was significant (p < .05). In conclusion, T865G is an ancient mutation of TPH1 gene and affects the function of TPH protein, which may contribute to the genetic potentiality of Mongolian sheep to year‐round breeding.
Saltwater and nutrient legacies reduce net ecosystem carbon storage despite freshwater restoration: insights from experimental wetlands
Authors: Lee Dong Yoon , Kominoski John S. , Kline Michael , Robinson Michelle , Roebling Suzy 
Published: August 2021

Net ecosystem carbon balance is a comprehensive assessment of ecosystem function that can test restoration effectiveness. Coastal peatlands are globally important carbon sinks that are vulnerable to carbon loss with saltwater intrusion. It is uncertain how wetland carbon stocks and fluxes change during freshwater restoration following exposure to saltwater and elevated nutrients. We restored freshwater to sawgrass (Cladium jamaicense) peat monoliths from freshwater marshes of the Everglades (Florida, U.S.A.) that had previously been exposed to elevated salinity (approximately9 ppt) and phosphorus (P) loading (1 g P m−2 year−1) in wetland mesocosms. We quantified changes in water and soil physicochemistry, plant and soil carbon and nutrient standing stocks, and net ecosystem productivity during restoration. Added freshwater immediately reduced porewater salinity from >8 to approximately 2 ppt, but elevated porewater dissolved organic carbon persisted. Above‐ and belowground biomass, leaf P concentrations, and instantaneous rates of gross ecosystem productivity (GEP) and ecosystem respiration (ER) remained elevated from prior added P. Modeled monthly GEP and ER were higher in marshes with saltwater and P legacies, resulting in negative net ecosystem productivities that were up to 12× lower than controls. Leaf litter breakdown rates and litter P concentrations were 2× higher in marshes with legacies of added saltwater and P. Legacies of saltwater and P on carbon loss persisted despite freshwater restoration, but recovery was greatest for freshwater marshes exposed to saltwater alone. Our results suggest that restoration in nutrient‐limited freshwater wetlands exposed to saltwater intrusion and nutrient enrichment is a slow process.
Ventilatory support at home for children: A joint position paper from the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand/Australasian Sleep Association
Authors: Chawla Jasneek , Edwards Elizabeth A. , Griffiths Amanda L. , Nixon Gillian M. , Suresh Sadasivam , Twiss Jacob , Vandeleur Moya , Waters Karen A. , Wilson Andrew C. , Wilson Susan , Tai Andrew 
Published: August 2021

AbstractThe goal of this position paper on ventilatory support at home for children is to provide expert consensus from Australia and New Zealand on optimal care for children requiring ventilatory support at home, both non‐invasive and invasive. It was compiled by members of the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (TSANZ) and the Australasian Sleep Association (ASA). This document provides recommendations to support the development of improved services for Australian and New Zealand children who require long‐term ventilatory support. Issues relevant to providers of equipment and areas of research need are highlighted.
Comparing Environmental Risk Regulations in China and the United States
Authors: Li Huanhong , Xu Jianhua , Wiener Jonathan B. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractThe relative stringency of risk regulation across countries may have significant implications for public health and environmental outcomes, as well as for economic and trade impacts. In this study, we build on prior literature—which has often employed qualitative case studies, and has often focused on comparing the United States and Europe—by using a quantitative evidential reasoning approach to compare the relative stringency of federal/central level written rules for 45 randomly selected environmental risks in the United States and China. We find that, on average, in this sample of 45 environmental risks, the written rules for environmental risk regulation were more stringent in the United States than in China. Within this sample, we find that relative stringency was selective, leaning in both directions, as the United States and China each regulated some risks more stringently than the other; for example, the US written rules were more stringent for risks of toxic chemicals and most air pollutants, whereas China's written rules were more stringent for risks in agriculture. We also observe nuanced differences in relative regulatory stringency within sectors and risks; even where one country regulated one risk more stringently, the other country may regulate certain aspects of that risk more stringently. We comment on possible explanations for the patterns we observe. Our methods and findings may contribute to better understanding of comparative risk regulation across the United States and China, and worldwide. We also recognize that in addition to the written rules studied here, countries may also vary in their implementation.
The 1918 epidemic and a V‐shaped recession: evidence from historical tax records*
Authors: Dahl Christian Møller , Hansen Casper Worm , Jensen Peter Sandholt 
Published: August 2021

AbstractWe exploit high‐quality vital statistics data and annual income data, obtained from historical municipality tax records, to study the economic aftermath of the 1918 influenza epidemic in Denmark. We find that average income followed a V‐shaped path from 1917 to 1919, and (if anything) municipalities with higher mortality rates because of the 1918 influenza epidemic experienced more pronounced declines and recoveries. In addition, national month‐by‐industry unemployment data show that unemployment rates were high during the epidemic, but decreased again a couple of months after the epidemic receded. Evidence from the Danish stock‐market exchange also indicates that the epidemic only had short‐lived effects on the economy.
Survey of cytokines on ocular surfaces of atopic dogs by multiplex analysis using two sampling methods – a pilot study
Authors: Pressanti Charline , Ravailhe Elodie , Castellote‐Brun Jessie , Amalric Nicolas , Lecru Line‐Alice , Kondratjeva Jevgenija , Moog Fabien , Combarros Daniel , Douet Jean‐Yves , Cadiergues Marie Christine 
Published: August 2021

BackgroundConjunctivitis in atopic dogs has already been described yet is rarely observed, and likely underdiagnosed in practice.ObjectivesTo assay various cytokines in tears and conjunctivae from atopic and normal dogs, and to compare canine atopic dermatitis‐associated conjunctivitis with controls.AnimalsTen atopic and ten normal client‐owned dogs.Methods and materialsOcular surfaces were sampled bilaterally in a prospective study, using two different methods. Tear samples were obtained with a sterile swab previously moistened with saline solution (method A). Conjunctival impressions were obtained with a conjunctival impression device (method B). For each sample, the concentrations of a panel of 13 cytokines were measured by multiplex analyses. CADESI‐4, pruritus (PS) and conjunctival (CS) scores were determined.ResultsAmong the measured cytokines, only granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (GM‐CSF), keratinocyte‐derived chemokine (KC)‐like and interleukin (IL)‐8 were above the limit of quantification in most samples. Absolute amounts of each cytokine were always higher in samples obtained with method A than with method B. GM‐CSF amounts were lower in atopic dogs (method A, P=0.02; method B, P=0.0005). KC levels were higher in atopic dogs, yet the differences were not significant. IL‐8 amounts were higher in atopic dogs (method A, P=0.0003; method B, P=0.006).Conclusions and clinical relevanceRegardless of the method, these preliminary results suggest an overexpression of IL‐8 in conjunctivae and tears of atopic dogs despite subtle conjunctival symptoms. As IL‐8 is commonly found in many inflammatory conditions, further studies are needed to determine its specificity in atopic conjunctivitis.
Hypertrophied human adipocyte spheroids as in vitro model of weight gain and adipose tissue dysfunction
Authors: Ioannidou Anna , Alatar Shemim , Schipper Ruby , Baganha Fabiana , Åhlander Matilda , Hornell Amanda , Fisher Rachel M. , Hagberg Carolina E 
Published: August 2021

Key points
Adipocyte enlargement is a key feature of obesity and associated with insulin resistance and metabolic disease
The cause and consequences of adipocyte enlargement have remained hard to study in vitro due to a lack of human cell models with representative morphology
This paper provides an easily set up spheroid culture method, HUVAS (human unilocular vascularized adipocyte spheroids), for the differentiation and culturing of human adipocytes with a more unilocular morphology
We show that providing adipocyte progenitors with a vascular differentiation niche is key for achieving in vitro differentiated adipocytes with large lipid droplets
Lipid treatment of the HUVAS spheroids can further adipocyte enlargement and induce cellular dysfunction, mimicking the in vivo effects of weight gain
The model will allow a wider research community to perform mechanistic studies of the factors impacting on human adipocyte differentiation and growth, increasing our understanding of how obesity develops and why it has such detrimental consequences on whole body metabolism
AbstractThe rise in obesity prevalence has created an urgent need for new and improved methods to study human adipocytes and the pathogenic effects of weight gain in vitro. Despite the proven advantage of culturing adipocyte progenitors as 3D structures, the majority of studies continue to use traditional 2D cultures which result in small, multilocular adipocytes with poor representability. We hypothesized that providing differentiating pre‐adipocytes with a vascular growth niche would mimic in vivo adipogenesis and improve the differentiation into unilocular adipocytes. Here we present HUVAS (human unilocular vascularized adipocyte spheroids), a simple, easily applicable culture protocol that allows for the differentiation of human adipocytes with a more unilocular morphology and larger lipid droplets than previous protocols. Moreover, we offer a protocol for inducing adipocyte enlargement in vitro, resulting in larger lipid droplets and development of several key features of adipocyte dysfunction, including altered adipokine secretion, impaired lipolysis and insulin resistance. Taken together, our HUVAS model offers an improved culture system for studying the cellular and molecular mechanisms causing metabolic dysfunction and inflammation in human adipose tissue during weight gain.
Sexual dimorphism in liver cell cycle and senescence signalling pathways in young and old rats
Authors: Lomas‐Soria Consuelo , Cox Laura A. , Nathanielsz Peter W. , Zambrano Elena 
Published: August 2021

AbstractAt the molecular level, cellular ageing involves changes in multiple gene pathways. Cellular senescence is both an important initiator and a consequence of natural ageing. Senescence results in changes in multiple cellular mechanisms that result in a natural decrease in cell cycle activity. Liver senescence changes impair hepatic function. Given the well‐established sexual dimorphism in ageing, we hypothesized that the natural hepatic ageing process is driven by sex‐dependent gene mechanisms. We studied our well‐characterized normal, chow‐fed rat ageing model, lifespan ∼850 days, in which we have reported ageing of metabolism, reproduction and endocrine function. We performed liver RNA‐seq on males and females at 110 and 650 days to determine changes in the cell cycle and cellular senescence signalling pathways. We found that natural liver ageing shows sexual dimorphism in these pathways. RNA‐seq revealed more male (3967) than female (283) differentially expressed genes between 110 and 650 days. Cell cycle pathway signalling changes in males showed decreased protein and expression of key genes (Cdk2, Cdk4, Cycd and PCNA) and increased expression ofp57 at 650 vs 110 days. In females, protein and gene expression of cell growth regulators, e.g. p15 and p21, which inhibit cell cycle G1 progression, were increased. The cell senescence pathway also showed sexual dimorphism. Igfbp3, mTOR and p62 gene and protein expression decreased in males while those ofTgfb3 increased in females. Understanding the involvement of cell cycling and cellular senescence pathways in natural ageing will advance evaluation of mechanisms associated with altered ageing and frailty trajectories.
imageKey points
In rats RNA‐seq analysis showed sexual dimorphism in gene expression across the life‐course between 110 and 650 days of life.
Fourteen times more liver transcriptome and six times more pathway changes were observed in males compared with females.
Significant changes were observed in several signalling pathways during ageing. Bioinformatic analysis were focused on changes in genes and protein products related to cell cycle and cellular senescence pathways.
Males showed decreased protein product and expression of the key genes Cdk2 and Cdk4 responsible for cell cycle progression while females increased protein product and expression of p21 and p15, key genes responsible for cell cycle arrest.
In conclusion, normative rat hepatic ageing involves changes in cellular pathways that control cell cycle arrest but through changes in different genes in males and females. These findings identify mechanisms that underlie the well‐established sexual dimorphism in ageing.