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Background and Aims: Given the significance of addressing neonatal mortality in pursuing the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal on child health, research focus on this area is crucial. Despite the persistent high rates of neonatal mortality rate (NMR) in Bangladesh, there remains a notable lack of robust evidence addressing inequalities in NMR in the country. Therefore, this study aims to fill the knowledge gap by comprehensively investigating inequalities in NMR in Bangladesh. Methods: The Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) data from 2000 to 2017 were analyzed. The equity stratifiers used to measure the inequalities were wealth status, mother's education, place of residence, and subnational region. Difference (D) and population attributable fraction (PAF) were absolute measures, whereas population attributable risk (PAR) and ratio (R) were relative measures of inequality. Statistical significance was considered by estimating 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for each estimate. Results: A declining trend in NMR was found in Bangladesh, from 50.2 in 2000 to 31.9 deaths per 1000 live births in 2017. This study detected significant wealth‐driven (PAF: −20.6, 95% CI: −24.9, −16.3; PAR: −6.6, 95% CI: −7.9, −5.2), education‐related (PAF: −11.6, 95% CI: −13.4, −9.7; PAR: −3.7, 95% CI: −4.3, −3.1), and regional (PAF: −20.6, 95% CI: −27.0, −14.3; PAR: −6.6, 95% CI: −8.6, −4.6) disparities in NMR in all survey points. We also found a significant urban–rural inequality from 2000 to 2014, except in 2017. Both absolute and relative inequalities in NMR were observed; however, these inequalities decreased over time. Conclusion: Significant variations in NMR across subgroups in Bangladesh highlight the need for comprehensive, and targeted interventions. Empowering women through improved access to economic resources and education may help address disparities in NMR in Bangladesh. Future research and policies should focus on developing strategies to address these disparities and promote equitable health outcomes for all newborns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study addresses the suicide risk predicting challenge by exploring the predictive ability of machine learning (ML) models integrated with theory‐driven psychological risk factors in real‐time crisis hotline chats. More importantly, we aimed to understand the specific theory‐driven factors contributing to the ML prediction of suicide risk. Method: The dataset consisted of 17,654 crisis hotline chat sessions classified dichotomously as suicidal or not. We created a suicide risk factors‐based lexicon (SRF), which encompasses language representations of key risk factors derived from the main suicide theories. The ML model (Suicide Risk‐Bert; SR‐BERT) was trained using natural language processing techniques incorporating the SRF lexicon. Results: The results showed that SR‐BERT outperformed the other models. Logistic regression analysis identified several theory‐driven risk factors significantly associated with suicide risk, the prominent ones were hopelessness, history of suicide, self‐harm, and thwarted belongingness. Limitations: The lexicon is limited in its ability to fully encompass all theoretical concepts related to suicide risk, nor to all the language expressions of each concept. The classification of chats was determined by trained but non‐professionals in metal health. Conclusion: This study highlights the potential of how ML models combined with theory‐driven knowledge can improve suicide risk prediction. Our study underscores the importance of hopelessness and thwarted belongingness in suicide risk and thus their role in suicide prevention and intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over half of older adults experience polypharmacy, including medications that may be inappropriate or unnecessary. Deprescribing, which is the process of discontinuing or reducing inappropriate and/or unnecessary medications, is an effective way to reduce polypharmacy. This review summarizes (1) the process of deprescribing and conceptual models and tools that have been developed to facilitate deprescribing, (2) barriers, enablers, and factors associated with deprescribing, and (3) characteristics of deprescribing interventions in completed trials, as well as (4) implementation considerations for deprescribing in routine practice. In conceptual models of deprescribing, multilevel factors of the patient, clinician, and health‐care system are all related to the efficacy of deprescribing. Numerous tools have been developed for clinicians to facilitate deprescribing, yet most require substantial time and, thus, may be difficult to implement during routine health‐care encounters. Multiple deprescribing interventions have been evaluated, which mostly include one or more of the following components: patient education, medication review, identification of deprescribing targets, and patient and/or provider communication about high‐risk medications. Yet, there has been limited consideration of implementation factors in prior deprescribing interventions, especially with regard to the personnel and resources in existing health‐care systems and the feasibility of incorporating components of deprescribing interventions into the routine care processes of clinicians. Future trials require a more balanced consideration of both effectiveness and implementation when designing deprescribing interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let R$R$ be a non‐Archimedean Banach ring, satisfying some mild technical hypothesis that we will specify later on. We prove that it is possible to associate to R$R$ a homotopical Huber spectrum Spah(R)${\rm Spa\,}^h(R)$ via the introduction of the notion of derived rational localization. The spectrum so obtained is endowed with a derived structural sheaf OSpah(R)${\mathcal {O}}_{{\rm Spa\,}^h(R)}$ of simplicial Banach algebras for which the derived C̆ech–Tate complex is strictly exact. Under some hypothesis, we can prove that there is a canonical morphism of underlying topological spaces |Spa(R)|→|Spah(R)|$|{\rm Spa\,}(R)| \rightarrow|{\rm Spa\,}^h(R)|$ that is a homeomorphism in some well‐known examples of non‐sheafy Banach rings, where Spa(R)${\rm Spa\,}(R)$ is the usual Huber spectrum of R$R$. This permits the use of the tools from derived geometry to understand the geometry of Spa(R)${\rm Spa\,}(R)$ in cases when the classical structure sheaf H0(OSpa(R))$H^0({\mathcal {O}}_{{\rm Spa\,}(R)})$ is not a sheaf. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Antipsychotic use is a safety concern among older patients in home health care (HHC), particularly for those with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). The objective of this study was to examine the prevalence and predictors of antipsychotic use among older adults with and without ADRD who received HHC, and the association of antipsychotic use with outcomes among patients living with ADRD. Methods: In this secondary analysis of adults ≥65 years receiving care from an HHC agency in New York in 2019 (N = 6684), we used data from the Outcome and Assessment Information Set, Medicare HHC claims, and home medication review results in the electronic HHC records during a 60‐day HHC episode. ADRD was identified by diagnostic codes. Functional outcome was the change in the composite activities of daily living (ADL) score from HHC admission to HHC discharge (measured in 5833 patients), where a positive score means improvement and a negative score means decline. Data were analyzed using logistic (predictors) and linear regression (association with outcome) analyses. Results: The point prevalence of antipsychotic use was 17.2% and 6.6% among patients with and without ADRD, respectively. Among patients living with ADRD, predictors of antipsychotic use included having greater ADL limitations (odds ratio [OR] = 1.30, p = 0.01), taking more medications (OR = 1.04, p = 0.02), having behavioral and psychological symptoms (OR = 5.26, p = 0.002), and living alone (OR = 0.52, p = 0.06). Among patients living with ADRD, antipsychotic use was associated with having less ADL improvement at HHC discharge (β = −0.70, p < 0.001). Conclusions: HHC patients living with ADRD were more likely to use antipsychotics and to experience worse functional outcomes when using antipsychotics. Antipsychotics should be systematically reviewed and, if contraindicated or unnecessary, deprescribed. Efforts are needed to improve HHC patients' access to nonpharmacological interventions and to provide education for caregivers regarding behavioral approaches to manage symptoms in ADRD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accelerated testing has been commonly used for the assessment of reliability of products or systems. In particular, it has been used to produce models for predicting the reliability of electronic components as a function of design and environmental parameters, or to qualify reliability. Extensive literature exists on different aspects ranging from defining type of stresses and type of censoring data, to optimizing test plans for efficient and relevant testing. On the other hand, design of experiments methodology is commonly used for studying the robustness of systems and for quality applications. This being said, combining both approaches, taking into account the system's physics of failure, is scarcely put into practice in a context of reliability prediction. Yet, this could significantly improve reliability prediction, especially in the case of electronic components which constantly go through technological progress with new parameters or properties to consider. After first presenting existing predictive reliability guides, models and parameters related to accelerated life testing, the purpose of this article is to provide a review of what has been done concerning the combination of such approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Endotoxemia commonly occurs in severe and fatal COVID‐19, suggesting that concomitant bacterial stimuli may amplify the innate immune response induced by SARS‐CoV‐2. We previously demonstrated that the endogenous glucagon like peptide 1 (GLP‐1) system in conjunction with increased procalcitonin (PCT) is hyperactivated in patients with severe Gram‐negative sepsis and modulated by type 2 diabetes (T2D). We aimed to determine the association of COVID‐19 severity with endogenous GLP‐1 activation upregulated by increased specific pro‐inflammatory innate immune response in patients with and without T2D. Materials and Methods: Plasma levels of total GLP‐1, IL‐6, and PCT were estimated on admission and during hospitalisation in 61 patients (17 with T2D) with non‐severe and severe COVID‐19. Results: COVID‐19 patients demonstrated ten‐fold increase of IL‐6 levels regardless of disease severity. Increased admission GLP‐1 levels (p = 0.03) accompanied by two‐fold increased PCT were found in severe as compared with non‐severe patients. Moreover, GLP‐1 and PCT levels were significantly increased in non‐survived as compared with survived patients at admission (p = 0.01 and p = 0.001, respectively) and at 5 to 6 days of hospitalisation (p = 0.05). Both non‐diabetic and T2D patients demonstrated a positive correlation between GLP‐1 and PCT response (r = 0.33, p = 0.03, and r = 0.54, p = 0.03, respectively), but the intensity of this joint pro‐inflammatory/GLP‐1 response was modulated by T2D. In addition, hypoxaemia down‐regulated GLP‐1 response only in T2D patients with bilateral lung damage. Conclusions: The persistent joint increase of endogenous GLP‐1 and PCT in severe and fatal COVID‐19 suggests a role of concomitant bacterial infection in disease exacerbation. Early elevation of endogenous GLP‐1 may serve as a new biomarker of COVID‐19 severity and fatal outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: One‐third of psoriasis cases occur in the pediatric population. Pediatric psoriasis has a negative long‐term impact on the quality of life of children and their families. However, data regarding the impact of pediatric psoriasis on parental sleep quality are scarce. Objectives: This study examined the effects of pediatric psoriasis on the quality of parents' sleep compared to parents of healthy, non‐psoriatic children. Methods: A cross‐sectional questionnaire study was conducted from September 2020 to November 2021, using the validated Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The study population included parents of patients aged 2–18 years diagnosed with psoriasis and parents of healthy children of the same gender and ethnicity. We further compared sleep quality between parents of children with mild and moderate‐to‐severe psoriasis, and fathers to mothers. Results: A total of 301 parents were enrolled; 151 parents of 83 children diagnosed with psoriasis and 150 parents of 124 healthy controls. Parents of children with psoriasis had significantly longer sleep latency (p = 0.031), worse subjective sleep quality (p = 0.043), and greater use of sleep medications (p < 0.001). The comparison between parents of moderate–severe with mild psoriatic children as well as mothers with fathers showed no statistical significance. Conclusion: Poor sleep quality was demonstrated among parents of children diagnosed with psoriasis compared to parents of healthy children. This finding is crucial for the direction of treatment efforts regarding parental well‐being and functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: A shared care model was implemented in 2006 in Queensland to facilitate paediatric oncology, haematology and palliative care patients receiving care as close to home as possible. Following initial diagnosis, care planning and treatment at the tertiary children's hospital, appropriate local care was coordinated by Regional Case Managers (RCMs) established at each of 10 Shared Care Units (SCUs). This enabled safe and quality regional care supported by a statewide network providing clinical governance and education. This paper examines learnings from 15 years of this shared care. Setting: Ten hospitals throughout Queensland facilitated a statewide model of shared care for paediatric oncology, haematology and palliative care patients, supported by a tertiary hub in Brisbane. Participants: Regional Case Managers in Shared Care Units and their supporting staff. Design Staff from SCUs were surveyed and focus group interviews conducted. Results: The paper reviews the attributes, knowledge and experience required for RCMs. Standards of care were supported through education workshops, clinical placements, chemotherapy credentialing, guidelines and standards. RCMs facilitated communication and information sharing with the tertiary centre, advocated for their cohort of patients locally and streamlined and supported the family's experience of care. Conclusion: The RCM role provided invaluable clinical leadership for the care of paediatric oncology, haematology and palliative patients across Queensland. As new treatments evolve, the expertise and coordination provided by the RCMs will be even more critical. Achieving high‐quality shared care outcomes is underpinned by the RCMs drive to achieve statewide safety and support for this cohort of children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examines the influence of three types of hypercaloric diets on metabolic parameters, inflammatory markers, and oxidative stress in experimental model. Male Wistar rats (n = 40) were randomized in control (C), high‐sucrose (HS), high‐fat (HF), and high‐fat with sucrose (HFHS) for 20 weeks. Nutritional, metabolic, hormonal, and biochemical profiles, as well as histological analysis of adipose and hepatic tissues were performed. Inflammation and oxidative stress were determined. HF model caused obesity and comorbidities as glucose intolerance and arterial hypertension. In relation to hormonal and biochemical parameters, there was no significant difference between the groups. All groups showed increased deposition of fat droplets in the hepatic tissue, even though adipocyte areas were similar. Biomarkers of oxidative stress in serum and adipose tissues were similar among the groups. HF model was effective in triggering associated obesity and comorbidities in male rats, but all hypercaloric diets were unable to promote oxidative stress and inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The regulation of flavonoid biosynthesis is only partially explored in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). The genetic basis underlying flavonoid variation in pepper fruit was studied.Variation of flavonoids in fruit of a segregating F2 population was studied using LC–MS followed by quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis. Near‐isogenic lines (NILs), BC1S1 populations, virus‐induced gene silenced (VIGS) and transgenic overexpression were used to confirm the QTL and the underlying candidate gene.A major QTL for flavonoid content was found in chromosome 5, and a CaMYB12‐like transcription factor gene was identified as candidate gene. Near‐isogenic lines (NILs) contrasting for CaMYB12‐like confirmed its association with the flavonoid content variation. Virus‐induced gene silencing (VIGS) of CaMYB12‐like led to a significant decrease in the expression of several flavonoid pathway genes and a drastic decrease in flavonoid levels in silenced fruits. Expression of CaMYB12‐like in the tomato slmyb12 mutant led to enhanced levels of several flavonoids in the fruit skin. Introgression of the CaMYB12‐like allele into two cultivated varieties also increased flavonoid content in their fruits.A combination of metabolomic, genetic and gene functional analyses led to discovery of CaMYB12‐like as a major regulator of flavonoid variation in pepper fruit and demonstrated its potential to breed for high‐flavonoid content in cultivated pepper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess how age‐friendly deprescribing trials are regarding intervention design and outcome assessment. Reduced use of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) can be addressed by deprescribing—a systematic process of discontinuing and/or reducing the use of PIMs. The 4Ms—"Medication", "Mentation", "Mobility", and "What Matters Most" to the person—can be used to guide assessment of age‐friendliness of deprescribing trials. Data Source: Published literature. Study Design: Scoping review. Data Extraction Methods: The literature was identified using keywords related to deprescribing and polypharmacy in PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, ProQuest, CINAHL, and Cochrane and snowballing. Study characteristics were extracted and evaluated for consideration of 4Ms. Principal Findings: Thirty‐seven of the 564 trials identified met the review eligibility criteria. Intervention design: "Medication" was considered in the intervention design of all trials; "Mentation" was considered in eight trials; "Mobility" (n = 2) and "What Matters Most" (n = 6) were less often considered in the design of intervention. Most trials targeted providers without specifying how matters important to older adults and their families were aligned with deprescribing decisions. Outcome assessment: "Medication" was the most commonly assessed outcome (n = 33), followed by "Mobility" (n = 13) and "Mentation" (n = 10) outcomes, with no study examining "What Matters Most" outcomes. Conclusions: "Mentation" and "Mobility", and "What Matters Most" have been considered to varying degrees in deprescribing trials, limiting the potential of deprescribing evidence to contribute to improved clinical practice in building an age‐friendly health care system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although climatologically dry, the western slopes of the southern Andes of Peru (WSA) can experience precipitation extremes (PEs) during the summer (December–February) resulting in great economic and human losses. Generally, WSA has a positive upslope gradient in precipitation, meaning more rain falls at higher elevations, but observations have shown this gradient can become negative with higher rainfall near the coastal cities. In this study we analyse 2000–2019 regional atmospheric patterns associated with different upslope precipitation gradients and PEs in WSA using principal component analysis methods and surface station observations. Results show important changes in the atmospheric circulation patterns during the occurrence of PE events. A prevailing pattern of negative southerly wind anomalies and regional warming of the southeastern Pacific Ocean leads to significant increases in moisture along the coast of WSA. Eastern moisture flows associated with the presence of the Bolivian High are observed at upper levels of the atmosphere and transport water vapour from the Amazon to the western side of the Andes. Additionally, there is a blocking effect aloft in response to an intense gradient of geopotential height that attenuates the easterly circulations. These large‐scale mechanisms act to concentrate high precipitable water amounts and high levels of convective available potential energy in the troposphere which favours the vertical velocities essential to trigger PEs. These results increase our knowledge of the large‐scale characteristics of PEs to help with forecasting these impactful events and protecting the more than 1.8 million people living in WSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Data regarding diabetic foot ulcers in patients after solid organ transplantation, particularly kidney transplantation, are limited. Chronic immunosuppression may be associated with impaired wound healing and a higher risk of amputations. In this study, we characterised the clinical presentation and outcomes of patients after kidney transplantation admitted to the diabetic foot unit, compared to non-kidney-transplant patients.Materials and Methods: Data on the baseline characteristics, clinical presentation, and outcomes of all patients admitted to the diabetic foot unit of a large tertiary centre between the years 2014 and 2019 were collected. The most recent admission of each patient was considered. Primary outcomes were major amputations and 1 year mortality rate.Results: During the study period, 537 patients were hospitalised, 18 of them were receiving immunosuppressive therapy due to kidney transplantation. Baseline characteristics of the patients were broadly similar, except that smoking was reported by 22.0% of the non-transplant patients and by none of the post-transplant patients (p = 0.01). Post-transplant patients tended to be younger (59.4 ± 11.1 vs. 65.3 ± 12.2; p = 0.07), were more likely to have type-1 diabetes (16.7% vs. 5.2%; p = 0.07) and had lower glucose levels upon admission (9.4 ± 4.3 vs. 12.0 ± 6.4 mmol/L; p = 0.07). Overall, 30% of the patients underwent major amputation, in-patient mortality rate was 9.3%, and 1 year mortality rate was 27.2%. Rates were similar in the post-transplant versus the non-post-transplant patients (p = 0.83, 1.00, 0.59, respectively).Conclusions: Post-transplant patients did not incur worse outcomes in spite of immunosuppressive therapy. Limb salvage efforts should be pursued in these patients similar to the overall population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the worldwide increase in people speaking more than one language, a better understanding of the behavioural and neural mechanisms governing lexical selection, lexical access in multiple languages and code switching has attracted widespread interest from several disciplines. Previous studies documented higher costs when processing a non‐native (L2) than a native (L1) language or when switching from L2 to L1. However, studies on auditory language reception are still scarce and did not take into account the degree of switching experience. Accordingly, in the present study, we combined behavioural and electrophysiological measurements to assess lexical access in L1 and L2 as well as code switching in professional simultaneous interpreters, trainee interpreters, foreign language teachers and Anglistics students, while the participants performed a bilingual auditory lexical decision task. The purpose of this study was to expand the knowledge on code switching in auditory language processing and examine whether the degree of simultaneous interpretation experience might reduce switching costs. As a main result, we revealed that L2 compared to L1 trials, as well as switch compared to non‐switch trials, generally resulted in lower accuracies, longer reaction times and increased N400 amplitudes in all groups of participants. Otherwise, we did not reveal any influence of switching direction and interpretation expertise on N400 parameters. Taken together, these results suggest that a late age of L2 acquisition leads to switching costs, irrespective of proficiency level. Furthermore, we provided first evidence that simultaneous interpretation training does not diminish switching costs, at least when focusing on lexical access. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mutations in the E3 ubiquitin ligase parkin cause autosomal recessive Parkinson's disease (PD). Together with PTEN‐induced kinase 1 (PINK1), parkin regulates the clearance of dysfunctional mitochondria. New mitochondria are generated through an interplay of nuclear‐ and mitochondrial‐encoded proteins, and recent studies suggest that parkin influences this process at both levels. In addition, parkin was shown to prevent mitochondrial membrane permeability, impeding mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) escape and subsequent neuroinflammation. However, parkin's regulatory roles independent of mitophagy are not well described in patient‐derived neurons. Objectives: We sought to investigate parkin's role in preventing neuronal mtDNA dyshomeostasis, release, and glial activation at the endogenous level. Methods: We generated induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)–derived midbrain neurons from PD patients with parkin (PRKN) mutations and healthy controls. Live‐cell imaging, proteomic, mtDNA integrity, and gene expression analyses were employed to investigate mitochondrial biogenesis and genome maintenance. To assess neuroinflammation, we performed single‐nuclei RNA sequencing in postmortem tissue and quantified interleukin expression in mtDNA/lipopolysaccharides (LPS)‐treated iPSC‐derived neuron–microglia co‐cultures. Results: Neurons from patients with PRKN mutations revealed deficits in the mitochondrial biogenesis pathway, resulting in mtDNA dyshomeostasis. Moreover, the energy sensor sirtuin 1, which controls mitochondrial biogenesis and clearance, was downregulated in parkin‐deficient cells. Linking mtDNA disintegration to neuroinflammation, in postmortem midbrain with PRKN mutations, we confirmed mtDNA dyshomeostasis and detected an upregulation of microglia overexpressing proinflammatory cytokines. Finally, parkin‐deficient neuron–microglia co‐cultures elicited an enhanced immune response when exposed to mtDNA/LPS. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that parkin coregulates mitophagy, mitochondrial biogenesis, and mtDNA maintenance pathways, thereby protecting midbrain neurons from neuroinflammation and degeneration. © 2022 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In strontium‐ and magnesium‐doped LaGaO3 (LSGM) electrolyte‐based solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC), lanthanum‐doped CeO2 (LDC) is usually used as buffer layer material to prevent reactions between LSGM electrolyte and NiO‐based anode. In literature, based on results for one particular LSGM composition, a fixed buffer layer composition of 40% La‐doped ceria (LDC40) has been used even with electrolytes of different LSGM compositions. In this study, we report the results of a comprehensive study of phase formations between various LSGM and LDC compositions. Our results show that only one LSGM/LDC combination results in no additional phases. For the other combinations, at least one and often two additional phases, LaSrGaO4 and LaSrGa3O7, result. Because LaSrGa3O7 has much lower conductivity, it is necessary to select combinations that avoid this phase. We propose that the combination that results in no additional phase should be considered favorably for SOFCs. For other LSGM compositions, LDC50 should be used as a buffer layer instead of LDC40 as is presently done in SOFC studies. Alternately, if LDC40 is preferred for buffer layer, then lower Sr content LSGM compositions should be used as electrolytes. These combinations are likely to lead to better long‐term SOFC performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Penicillin allergy labels are frequently encountered in children and are associated with significant harms. Most children are falsely labelled and can safely tolerate a penicillin but delabelling strategies are underutilised and paediatric‐specific resources are lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate an allergy assessment tool for children in hospital. Methods: We evaluated a paediatric‐adapted penicillin allergy assessment tool, using an online survey of clinicians in a tertiary paediatric hospital, with 10 hypothetical potential penicillin allergy or adverse reaction cases (including non‐allergy reactions). For each case, respondents were asked to use the tool to assign a reaction phenotype and recommend management. We determined the tool's sensitivity, specificity and acceptability to end users. Results: We evaluated 30 complete survey responses from senior and junior medical staff, nurses and pharmacists. The tool's overall sensitivity was 80.7% (95% confidence interval (CI) 74.2–87.1%) for assigning the correct reaction phenotype and 85.3% (95% CI 79.4–91.3%) for appropriate management. The tool had high sensitivity for identifying immediate hypersensitivity reactions at 95.6% (95% CI 90.2–100%). Most respondents agreed or strongly agreed that they would use the tool in their practice (22/30, 73.3%). Conclusion: This survey evaluated a paediatric‐adapted penicillin allergy assessment tool in a tertiary paediatric hospital among multidisciplinary clinician groups. The tool performed well overall and had high safety in identifying immediate hypersensitivity reactions. Further research to support implementation of allergy assessment and delabelling programmes among children is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Pain management is important to post‐acute functional recovery, yet older persons with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) are often undertreated for pain. The main objectives were (1) to examine the relationship between ADRD and analgesic use among Medicare home health care (HHC) recipients with daily interfering pain, and (2) to examine the impact of analgesic use on functional outcome in patients with and without ADRD. Methods: We analyzed longitudinal data from the Outcome and Assessment Information Set, Medicare HHC claims, and HHC electronic medical records during a 60‐day HHC episode. The sample included 6048 Medicare beneficiaries ≥65 years receiving care from an HHC agency in New York in 2019 who reported daily interfering pain. Analgesic use was assessed during HHC medication reconciliation and included any analgesic, non‐opioid analgesic, and opioid. ADRD was identified from ICD‐10 codes (HHC claims) and cognitive impairment symptoms (Outcome and Assessment Information Set [OASIS]). Functional outcome was measured as change in the composite Activity of Daily Living (ADL) limitation score in the HHC episode. Results: ADRD was related to a lower likelihood of using any analgesic (odds ratio [OR] = 0.66, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.49, 0.90, p = 0.008) and opioids (OR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.47, 0.62, p < 0.001), but not related to non‐opioid analgesic use (OR = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.74, 1.18, p = 0.58). Stratified analyses showed that any analgesic use (β = −0.43, 95% CI: −0.73, −0.13, p = 0.004) and non‐opioid analgesic use (β = −0.31, 95% CI: −0.56, −0.06, p = 0.016) were associated with greater ADL improvement in patients with ADRD, but not in patients without ADRD. Opioid use was not significantly related to ADL improvement regardless of ADRD status. Conclusions: HHC patients with ADRD may be undertreated for pain, yet pain treatment is essential for functional improvement in HHC. HHC clinicians and policymakers should ensure adequate pain management for older persons with ADRD for improved functional outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim: Road traffic collisions (RTC) are known to be one of the major causes of maxillofacial trauma (MFT). The road user factor is of crucial importance in the prevalence, severity, and treatment of maxillofacial injuries. The aims of the study were to determine the prevalence of maxillofacial trauma among road users, to illustrate injury patterns and to identify road users at high risk. Methods: This historical prospective multi‐center study was based on Israel's Trauma Registry between 2008‐2018, which included 4829 hospitalized patients following RTC with MFT. Data were analyzed according to six road user types (vehicle driver, passenger, bicyclist, motorcyclist, pedestrian, and e‐bike/scooter), maxillofacial injury location, and maxillofacial treatment. Results: MFT, which accounted for 5% of the hospitalized RTC injuries, was not equally distributed among road users, as bicyclists and e‐bike/scooters were more prone to maxillofacial trauma (7.2% and 10.1%, respectively) than vehicle drivers (3.2%). Children (age 0‐14 years) comprised almost half of the cyclists, 25% of the pedestrians and 20% of the passengers. Some MFT patients experienced multiple injuries, with the majority involving jaw and facial bones and to a lesser extent the mouth, teeth, gingivae, and alveolar bone (mouth and dento‐alveolar (DA) trauma). Approximately 30% of hospitalized road casualties with MFT underwent MF surgery, with the need for surgery lowest among pedestrians. Conclusion: Hospitalized road casualties had different types of MFT in terms of prevalence, location, severity, and treatment, depending on the road user type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Badges are endemic to online interaction sites, from question and answer (Q&A) websites to ride sharing, as systems for rewarding participants for their contributions. This article studies how badge design affects people's contributions and behavior over time. Past work has shown that badges "steer" people's behavior toward substantially increasing the amount of contributions before obtaining the badge, and immediately decreasing their contributions thereafter, returning to their baseline contribution levels. In contrast, we find that the steering effect depends on the type of user, as modeled by the rate and intensity of the user's contributions. We use these measures to distinguish between different groups of user activity, including users who are not affected by the badge system despite being significant contributors to the site. We provide a predictive model of how users change their activity group over the course of their lifetime in the system. We demonstrate our approach empirically in three different Q&A sites on Stack Exchange with hundreds of thousands of users, for two types of activities (editing and voting on posts). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the fine chemicals industry, reaction screening and optimisation are essential to development of new products. However, this screening can be extremely time and labor intensive, especially when intuition is used. Machine learning offers a solution through iterative suggestions of new experiments based on past experimental data, but knowing which machine learning strategy to apply in a particular case is still difficult. Here, we develop chemically‐motivated virtual benchmarks for reaction optimisation and compare several strategies on these benchmarks. The benchmarks and strategies are encompassed in an open‐source framework named Summit. The results of our tests show that Bayesian optimisation strategies perform very well across the types of problems faced in chemical reaction optimisation, while many strategies commonly used in reaction optimisation fail to find optimal solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/aims: Electric-Powered Bikes and powered scooters present a new method of transportation and are becoming commonly used worldwide. However, the reports on traumatic dental injuries related to their use are scarce. The aim of this study was to report the frequency and severity of dental and maxillofacial injuries associated with electric-powered bikes and scooters in Israel between the years 2014 and 2019.Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study based on data from the Israeli National Trauma Registry (INTR). The INTR provides comprehensive data on hospitalized patients from all six Level I trauma centers (TC) and 15 of the 20 Level II TCs in Israel. All injured patients who were hospitalized due to a traffic collision between 2014 and 2019 were identified. The data for those hospitalized due to an e-bike or motorized scooter accident were extracted as well as for pedestrians who were injured as a result of a crash with these vehicles.Results: A total of 3,686 hospital admissions were related to electric-powered bikes and scooters. Of those, 378 (10.3%) were oral and maxillofacial injuries. Most of the oral and maxillofacial injuries were attributed to powered bikes (321 out of 378; 84.92%) and the rest to powered scooters. There was a constant increase in general as well as the oral and maxillofacial injuries during the study years. Almost 20% of the cases involved injuries to the teeth. Overall, 291 pedestrians were reported to be injured due to electric-powered bikes and scooters; 29 (9.97%) of them, suffered from oral and maxillofacial injuries. Most of those were children aged 0-15 years (41.38%) and elders older than 60 years (37.39%).Conclusions: Trauma related to electric-powered bikes and scooters is an increasing concern. Dental professionals should be actively involved in educational and legislative efforts focusing on the prevention of e-bike and scooter-related injuries, in general, and specifically maxillofacial injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although usually not a first-line imaging modality in the setting of acute pelvic pain, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is able to depict and characterize a wide range gynecologic diagnoses with high accuracy. Lack of ionizing radiation renders MRI particularly useful for assessment of pregnant women and children. Furthermore, inherent high soft-tissue resolution of MRI allows accurate diagnosis without intravenous contrast use, which is advantageous for patients with renal insufficiency and pregnant patients. Familiarity with the typical MRI appearance of various acute gynecologic conditions helps establish the correct diagnosis. This article reviews the common MRI findings of acute gynecologic processes, in both pregnant and nonpregnant patients. Level of Evidence: 3 Technical Efficacy Stage: 3 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2020;51:1291-1309. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Most of the trauma patients who die in the first 24 h from arrival to the hospital do so as a result of haemorrhagic shock. Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) facilitates expedient proximal aortic control, potentially bridging a needed gap for partial or non‐responders to traditional resuscitation en route to emergent definitive haemostasis. This resuscitation tool continues to evolve and has recently achieved some consensus defined indications for its use. The aim of this study is designed to examine the potential utility of REBOA among trauma victims who die within 24 h of arrival. Methods: Data of all trauma patients who died in the first 24 h, from 2012 to 2017 were extracted from the National Trauma Registry in the Gertner Institute for Epidemiology and Health Policy Research. Patients who died in the first half an hour, and those with neck and thorax injuries were excluded. Demographics, clinical and injury data were collected. Results: Overall, 129 patients were included; 74% male and 26% female with the mean age of 46.4 years. A total of 76% suffered blunt trauma and 24% penetrating trauma. Mean survival time was 5.87 h. The cause of death was major abdominal organ injury in 47.2%, injury to major abdominal vessel in 23.3% and pelvic fractures in 21.7%. A total of 69 patients (53.5%) ultimately required delayed resuscitative thoracotomy in the operation room. Conclusion: Registry data suggest that there is a subset of patients presenting to modern trauma centres who might benefit from REBOA in order to avoid death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: We report reference‐quality genome assemblies and annotations for two accessions of soybean (Glycine max) and for one accession of Glycine soja, the closest wild relative of G. max. The G. max assemblies provided are for widely used US cultivars: the northern line Williams 82 (Wm82) and the southern line Lee. The Wm82 assembly improves the prior published assembly, and the Lee and G. soja assemblies are new for these accessions. Comparisons among the three accessions show generally high structural conservation, but nucleotide difference of 1.7 single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (snps) per kb between Wm82 and Lee, and 4.7 snps per kb between these lines and G. soja. snp distributions and comparisons with genotypes of the Lee and Wm82 parents highlight patterns of introgression and haplotype structure. Comparisons against the US germplasm collection show placement of the sequenced accessions relative to global soybean diversity. Analysis of a pan‐gene collection shows generally high conservation, with variation occurring primarily in genomically clustered gene families. We found approximately 40–42 inversions per chromosome between either Lee or Wm82v4 and G. soja, and approximately 32 inversions per chromosome between Wm82 and Lee. We also investigated five domestication loci. For each locus, we found two different alleles with functional differences between G. soja and the two domesticated accessions. The genome assemblies for multiple cultivated accessions and for the closest wild ancestor of soybean provides a valuable set of resources for identifying causal variants that underlie traits for the domestication and improvement of soybean, serving as a basis for future research and crop improvement efforts for this important crop species. Significance Statement: Accurate shared genome assemblies provide a framework and coordinate system for collaborative research, and provide essential genomic information, including genes, non‐coding regions and information on evolutionary histories. Here, we report high‐quality genome assemblies for two important soybean cultivars, including major improvements to the most widely used reference assembly, and also for a close wild relative of soybean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The normal function of the anal sphincter complex is crucial for quality of life, as it is the mechanism by which fecal continence is maintained. Additionally, the anal sphincter complex is an integral part of the coordinated effort of defecation. As imaging plays an important role in assessment of pathologic conditions involving the anal region, understanding the normal anatomy of the anal sphincter complex is important for correct image interpretation and accurate diagnosis. This review discusses the anatomy and function of the anal sphincter complex, important technical considerations for MRI, and various inflammatory, infectious, and neoplastic processes, as well as pathologic structural conditions that affect the anal region. Level of Evidence: 5 Technical Efficacy Stage: 3 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2019;50:1018-1032. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For lithium‐sulfur (Li−S) batteries to be practically applicable in large scale, high mass loading and high S content are required for the sulfur (S) cathodes. Most reported S cathode preparation procedures, such as melt infiltration of S into carbon scaffolds followed by conventional solvent‐based slurry casting, are time‐consuming, costly, and lack control with respect to the electrode composition and quality. Here we report the use of a facile room‐temperature procedure that is especially useful in the preparation of high density, high mass loading S cathodes with convenient control of S content and electrode architecture. The solvent‐free and binder‐free procedure is enabled by the use of holey graphene (hG) as a unique dry‐pressable electrode scaffold host to effectively encapsulate S in the conductive matrix. The entire process can be completed within just a few minutes at room temperature, in comparison to much longer time required for most other methods. With effective S utilization, the high mass loadings and high densities of the dry‐pressed hG‐hosted S cathodes result in excellent areal (up to 20 mAh/cm2) and volumetric performance (1787 mAh/cm3 is the highest reported to date), respectively. The hG‐enabled dry‐press method therefore offers an attractive processing option for S composite cathode fabrication toward practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urbanization in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (Northwest China) has gained momentum in the last three decades. The Chinese government supports infrastructure development in this border region and construction sites have been emerging everywhere. Often framed as a planned nation‐state project of sinicization from above, from an ethnographic perspective infrastructure development involves a much more diverse set of actors and their different motives. The construction sector offers a gateway for global and national architectural designs and manpower to enter the making of local cityscapes. Besides engaging with the political economy of construction activities, this article outlines the meaning of the construction site as a place where social and ethnic senses of locality are negotiated. The data show that many of the economic, material, social and design mobilities on the construction site in Xinjiang extend eastwards to the rest of China rather than to Central Asian countries which are geographically much closer. Power relations and ethnic issues become interwoven into the construction of new cityscapes. In particular, the domination of Han actors in the planning and implementation of construction projects shapes not only the materiality of the built environment but also related senses of locality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The clinical phenotype of patients II-3, II-6 and II-13, with correlation to the deleterious mutation found in the AGPAT2 gene, suggests high probability of type 1 CGL. Homozygosity for the mutation in our pedigree is associated with a severe clinical presentation demonstrated by extremely excessive triglyceride values accompanied with low HDL values, DM resulting in early complication onset and hypoleptinaemia. Together with the characteristic phenotype, and the deleterious mutation, the pathogenicity of this mutation is very likely; heterozygosity for the mutation demonstrate a phenotype consisting of glucose intolerance and hypertriglyceridaemia, which may be considered a partial phenotype. [Extracted from the article]

Aim: To measure individual and environmental risk factors predicting reported child injuries.Methods: A prospective, follow-up study was performed including 380 parents of children aged 1-6 years, living in various communities throughout Israel. Parents were interviewed three times, 3 months apart. Injuries were defined as including minor injuries that required parental attention and medically attended injuries: doctor or nurse visit, emergency medical services or hospitalisation. Parents reported the level of safety for both indoor and outdoor environments, covering 11 items pertaining to safety elements dedicated to prevent child injury. Socio-demographic and parents' attitudes towards child injury were also measured.Results: During the 6-month follow-up period, 37% of parents reported that their child was injured, and 29% of them received medical attention. Reported outdoor safety environment was found to be a predictor of child injury, suggesting that the risk of child injury is higher among children living in unsafe outdoor environments. However, this depended on levels of religiosity (with an odds ratio of 2.48 and 95% confidence interval of 1.09-5.64 for traditional families and an odds ratio of 3.65 and 95% confidence interval of 1.58-8.46 for religious families).Conclusions: Safe environments play a major role in decreasing the risk of injury among children. In order to decrease injury rates among young children, attention should be given to the immediate outdoor environment in which children grow up and play. Decision makers might particularly want to pay closer attention to the influence of religious backgrounds on child safety through safe environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pelvic floor dysfunction encompasses a spectrum of functional disorders that result from impairment of the ligaments, fasciae, and muscles supporting the pelvic organs. It is a prevalent disorder that carries a lifetime risk over 10% for undergoing a surgical repair. Pelvic floor weakness presents as a wide range of symptoms, including pain, pelvic pressure or bulging, urinary and fecal incontinence, constipation, and sexual dysfunction. A correct diagnosis by clinical examination alone can be challenging, particularly in cases involving multiple compartments. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows noninvasive, radiation-free, high soft-tissue resolution evaluation of all three pelvic compartments, and has proved a reliable technique for accurate diagnosis of pelvic floor dysfunction. MR defecography with steady-state sequences allows detailed anatomic and functional evaluation of the pelvic floor. This article provides an overview of normal anatomy and function of the pelvic floor and discusses a practical approach to the evaluation of imaging findings of pelvic floor relaxation, pelvic organ prolapse, fecal incontinence, and obstructed defecation.Level Of Evidence: 5 Technical Efficacy: Stage 2 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2018;47:1155-1170. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Introduction: The significance of asymptomatic bacteriuria in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients remains controversial. We hypothesized that the presence of asymptomatic bacteriuria as a sole clinical manifestation of urinary tract infection (UTI) in asymptomatic MHD patient may contribute to the chronic inflammatory response. Our aim was to explore the relationship between asymptomatic bacteriuria and elevated levels of inflammatory markers in MHD patients. Methods: A randomized open‐label single center study of 114 MHD patients was conducted. Forty‐six patients presented negative urine culture and 41 subjects were excluded due to different reasons. The remaining 27 patients (mean age of 71.5 ± 12.2 years, 63% men), fulfilling the criteria for having asymptomatic bacteriuria, were randomly assigned to either the treatment group (13 patients) or the observational group (14 subjects). The treatment group received 7 days of antibiotic treatment given according to bacteriogram sensitivity. After 3 months of follow‐up all measurements of the study were repeated. The primary end point was change in inflammatory biomarkers from baseline by the end of the study. Findings: There were no statistically significant differences in white blood cell changes (P = 0.27), ferritin (P = 0.09), C‐reactive protein (P = 0.90), and interleukin‐6 (P = 0.14) levels between the groups from baseline to the end of study or at the end of the study. Analyzing cross‐sectional data, asymptomatic bacteriuria was found to not be a predictor of higher levels of inflammatory parameters at baseline. Discussion: Asymptomatic bacteriuria is not a modifiable risk factor for chronic inflammation in the MHD population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims We investigated the 4-year outcomes of three protocols of pelvic floor physical therapy and anticholinergic drug in women with wet over-active bladder (OAB). Methods One hundred and sixty-four women were randomly allocated to one of four interventions: drug therapy (DT), bladder training (BT), pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT), or combined pelvic floor rehabilitation (CPFR) that includes BT, PFMT, and behavioral advice. The active treatment in each group lasted 3 months. Of the 132 women who completed a 1-year follow-up, 120 women (90%) responded to our questionnaires and therefore were included in this study. Outcome measures were the number of voids per day, number of urgency urinary incontinence (UUI) episodes per week, completely dry rate and Incontinence Quality of Life questionnaire (I-QOL) at 4 years. Results After 4 years of follow-up, the outcome measures improved significantly and equally in all four groups. The median number of UUI episodes/week dropped by 3, 1, 2, and 2 in the DT, BT, PFMT, and CPFR groups, respectively ( P = ns). The dry rates were 25%, 31%, 44%, 34% in the DT, BT, PFMT, and CPFR groups, respectively ( P = ns). I-QOL scores improved significantly in all four groups. Conclusions Women who suffer from wet-OAB may experience the same degree of long-term improvement following various pelvic floor physical therapy protocols as they would from drug therapy. Neurourol. Urodynam. 36:755-758, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ubiquitylation controls protein function and degradation. Therefore, ubiquitin ligases need to be tightly controlled. We discovered an evolutionarily conserved allosteric restraint mechanism for Nedd4 ligases and demonstrated its function with diverse substrates: the yeast soluble proteins Rpn10 and Rvs167, and the human receptor tyrosine kinase FGFR1 and cardiac IKS potassium channel. We found that a potential trimerization interface is structurally blocked by the HECT domain α1-helix, which further undergoes ubiquitylation on a conserved lysine residue. Genetic, bioinformatics, biochemical and biophysical data show that attraction between this α1-conjugated ubiquitin and the HECT ubiquitin-binding patch pulls the α1-helix out of the interface, thereby promoting trimerization. Strikingly, trimerization renders the ligase inactive. Arginine substitution of the ubiquitylated lysine impairs this inactivation mechanism and results in unrestrained FGFR1 ubiquitylation in cells. Similarly, electrophysiological data and TIRF microscopy show that NEDD4 unrestrained mutant constitutively downregulates the IKS channel, thus confirming the functional importance of E3-ligase autoinhibition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims To find out if information leaflets reduce anxiety levels before urodynamic studies (UDS). Methods One hundred and four patients (age 60 ± 15 years) who were referred for multichannel UDS were prospectively recruited and randomized into 2 groups: (1) received a leaflet containing detailed information regarding the examination; (2) did not receive a leaflet. Patients who were unable to complete the questionnaire due to mental disorders and patients who had previously undergone UDS were excluded. The leaflets were mailed to the patients in group 1 one month before the examination. This leaflet included information on how the examination would be performed, its purpose, recommended preparation, potential complications, and common events that might occur in association with the examination, such as incontinence. Emotional distress was measured by the State Anxiety Inventory (SAI)-a validated questionnaire composed of 20 items measuring anxiety. These measures are divided into two psychological domains: (1) positive well being; (2) psychological distress. Patients filled out the SAI immediately before entering the examination room. Results Demographics and clinical and psychological co-morbidities were similar between the groups. The 'psychological distress' score was significantly lower in group 1 (13.1 ± 2.9 vs. 24.8 ± 5.8, P < 0.001), whereas there was no difference in the 'positive well being' score. Conclusions We recommend providing patients with an information leaflet on UDS since it significantly reduces anxiety levels. Neurourol. Urodynam. 35:805-808, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective This article considers the sociopsychological implications of terrorism, which are sometimes neglected in preparedness plans. Methods Using Israeli experiences as a case study, this article briefly reviews four points of connection between terrorism and its psychological and social legacies: the sociopolitical aspects of terrorism, the unexpected nature of terrorism, normalization of terrorism and public resilience, and social aspects of medical care for terror-related injuries. Results The Israeli experience suggests preparedness plans should include planning for the sociopsychological effects of terrorism on targeted populations and may, in certain contexts, use Israeli approaches as a model. Conclusions Experience gained in Israel and elsewhere can set the stage for an appropriate response plan striving not only for preparedness but also resilience. Efforts should be made to advance local capabilities, response plans, and resilience by drawing on the experience of others in coping with the terror threat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims To compare the pain perception between intraurethral instillation of 2% lidocaine gel and liquid paraffin during Urodynamic study in men. Methods A randomized, single-blind comparison trial was conducted. Forty men scheduled to undergo multichannel Urodynamic study were randomized to receive either 10 ml of 2% lidocaine gel (group 1, n = 20) or 10 ml of liquid paraffin (group 2, n = 20). Patients recorded their pain on a 0-10 visual analog scale prior to lubricant instillation, immediately after lubricant instillation, after the introduction of the Urodynamic catheter, 5 and 30 min after the catheter was taken out. Results pain scores were significantly higher in group 1 compared to group 2 immediately after the instillation of the lubricants (4.2 ± 1.5 vs. 2.6 ± 0.9, P < 0.001) and after catheterization (4.8 ± 1.5 vs. 3.5 ± 1.1, P < 0.01). There were no differences in the pain scores between the two groups in the other time points that were evaluated. Conclusions Liquid paraffin is more efficient than 2% lidocaine gel in reducing urethral pain during Urodynamic study in men. Pain scores were specifically better during the instillation of the lubricant and during the delivery of the urethral catheter. Neurourol. Urodynam. 34:450-453, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species of the P seudallescheria boydii/ S cedosporium apiospermum complex ( PSC) are emerging fungal pathogens able to chronically colonize the airways of patients with cystic fibrosis ( CF). As P . boydii was found more frequently colonizing the lungs of CF patients in France than in other European countries in a previous report, the present study was conducted in order to clarify distribution of PSC species in France and to characterize their natural habitat. The highest densities of PSC isolates were found in human-impacted areas, i.e . agricultural areas, fluids obtained from wastewater treatment plants, playgrounds and industrial areas. PSC was not detected from soil samples collected in forests. Most PSC culture-positive soil samples exhibited a pH range of 6-8. S cedosporium dehoogii, the most abundant species, was detected in all human-impacted area types except vineyards, whereas S cedosporium aurantiacum was mostly found in agricultural areas. P seudallescheria boydii and S . apiospermum were predominantly isolated from seashores and playgrounds respectively. P seudallescheria minutispora was found only once from a playground. This study highlights potential sources of contamination of the patients, especially in the CF context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cucurbitacins are a group of bitter-tasting oxygenated tetracyclic triterpenes that are produced in the family Cucurbitaceae and other plant families. The natural roles of cucurbitacins in plants are probably related to defence against pathogens and pests. Cucurbitadienol, a triterpene synthesized from oxidosqualene, is the first committed precursor to cucurbitacins produced by a specialized oxidosqualene cyclase termed cucurbitadienol synthase. We explored cucurbitacin accumulation in watermelon in relation to bitterness. Our findings show that cucurbitacins are accumulated in bitter-tasting watermelon, Citrullus lanatus var. citroides, as well as in their wild ancestor, C. colocynthis, but not in non-bitter commercial cultivars of sweet watermelon ( C. lanatus var. lanatus). Molecular analysis of genes expressed in the roots of several watermelon accessions led to the isolation of three sequences ( CcCDS1, CcCDS2 and ClCDS1), all displaying high similarity to the pumpkin CpCPQ, encoding a protein previously shown to possess cucurbitadienol synthase activity. We utilized the Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain BY4743, heterozygous for lanosterol synthase, to probe for possible encoded cucurbitadienol synthase activity of the expressed watermelon sequences. Functional expression of the two sequences isolated from C. colocynthis ( CcCDS1 and CcCDS2) in yeast revealed that only CcCDS2 possessed cucurbitadienol synthase activity, while CcCDS1 did not display cucurbitadienol synthase activity in recombinant yeast. ClCDS1 isolated from C. lanatus var. lanatus is almost identical to CcCDS1. Our results imply that CcCDS2 plays a role in imparting bitterness to watermelon. Yeast has been an excellent diagnostic tool to determine the first committed step of cucurbitacin biosynthesis in watermelon. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent theories emphasize the dynamic aspects of emotions. However, the physiological measures and the methodological approaches that can capture the dynamics of emotions are underdeveloped. In the current study, we investigated whether moment-to-moment changes in autonomic nervous system ( ANS) activity are reliably associated with the unfolding of emotional experience. We obtained cardiovascular and electrodermal signals from participants while they viewed emotional movies. We found that the ANS signals were temporally aligned across individuals, indicating a reliable stimulus-driven response. The degree of response reliability was associated with the emotional time line of the movie. Finally, individual differences in ANS response reliability were strongly correlated with the subjective emotional responses. The current research offers a methodological approach for studying physiological responses during dynamic emotional situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Aims To estimate the effect of plantar-flexion on the wave amplitude of involuntary detrusor contraction and the severity of urinary urgency during filling cystometry in patients with detrusor overactivity (DO). Methods Twenty-two consecutive patients with DO were enrolled. During urodynamics, the mean peak detrusor pressures of each contraction were documented and compared. At the beginning of the 2nd or 3rd wave, patients were asked to perform continuous plantar-flexion by pushing their tiptoes against the floor. Following each wave, patients were asked to grade the severity of the urgency by a visual analogue scale (VAS). Results The mean peak detrusor pressure without plantar-flexion was 58 cmH2O (95% CI: 46.3-69.7) compared to 31 cmH2O (95% CI: 23.1-38.9) with plantar-flexion ( P < 0.001). All patients reported a reduced degree of urgency during plantar-flexion reflected in a significant reduction in mean VAS score from 9.3 (95% CI: 9-9.5) to 4.7 (95% CI: 3.9-5.4; P < 0.0001). Conclusions Self-performed plantar-flexion maneuver might reduce the severity of urinary urgency and the magnitude of overactive detrusor contractions, which may have a role in the conservative therapy of detrusor overactivity. Neurourol. Urodynam. 33:1247-1250, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, there is a global concern about patients presenting with inflammatory syndrome with variable clinical features. B, High-magnification slit photography depicting corneal edema and keratic precipitates gl This is the first documented case of bilateral acute anterior uveitis as a part of a multisystem inflammatory syndrome secondary to COVID-19 infection. We present this case of ocular involvement in a systemic inflammatory syndrome secondary to COVID-19 infection to emphasize the importance for the health care providers to be aware of the possible inflammatory ocular manifestation during and after a COVID-19 infection. [Extracted from the article]

The breath analyzer is an indispensable tool for identifying alcohol levels among drivers. While numerous studies have shown high correlations between blood and breath alcohol concentrations, most are limited by the study design. This study seeks to assess this relationship by minimizing potential measurement bias, document time from alcohol consumption to testing, and adjusting for potential confounders. A blinded study was performed using conditions closely resembling those in the field. The Draeger 7110 MKIII IL breath analyzer was used to assess breath alcohol concentrations ( Br AC). Participants were 61 healthy volunteers aged 21-37 years with body mass index ≤30 and no history of alcoholism. A total of 242 valid blood/breath tests were performed in four test sets. The study results showed a high correlation coefficient between Br AC and blood alcohol concentration ( BAC) levels ( r = 0.983) with high sensitivity (97%) and specificity (93%). This strong association between the breath analyzer and BAC persisted even after adjustment for various stages of alcohol absorption. These results illustrate the high diagnostic sensitivity of the breath analyzer in field-tested conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of various types of metal oxide and metal sulfide nanostructures through the thermal decomposition of single-source molecular precursors is presented. By varying the reaction conditions, such as solvent, precursor concentration, temperature, and time, we were able to control the shape of Fe3O4 (rectangles and belt-like structures), CoO nanofibers, and SnO2 nanowires. Two sulfides are also presented: CdS filling a vertically aligned ZnO nanowire array (to create a hybrid structure) and SnS wires. The formation of various phases of iron oxide and cobalt oxide is also shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Few studies have investigated whether the presence or absence of attending physicians (AP) in the emergency department (ED) during the management of trauma patients by residents. Methods: Six level 1 trauma center admissions for years 2006-2008 were analyzed to determine whether presence of an AP affected the time spent in the ED, post-ED disposition, and in-hospital mortality. Results: Patient demographics differed in relation to the presence of APs ( P < 0.01). Patients with ISS > 25 who died during hospitalization were more often managed when APs were present. Male patients, those <65, and patients with Injury Severity Score (ISS) > 16 were more often treated in the presence of an AP ( P < 0.01). Penetrating, terror trauma, motor vehicle collision and assaults were more often managed in the presence APs. Presence of APs differed by hospital ( P < 0.0001). Adjusted logistic regression revealed that patients spent less time in the ED, went directly to the operating room or the ICU for definitive care, if an AP was present. Conclusions: Presence of an attending physician improved and focused patient triage, disposition decisions, and outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two major arms of the inflammatory response are the NF-κB and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathways. Here, we show that enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) employs the type III secretion system to target these two signalling arms by injecting host cells with two effector proteins, NleC and NleD. We provide evidence that NleC and NleD are Zn-dependent endopeptidases that specifically clip and inactivate RelA (p65) and JNK, respectively, thus blocking NF-κB and AP-1 activation. We show that NleC and NleD co-operate and complement other EPEC effectors in accomplishing maximal inhibition of IL-8 secretion. This is a remarkable example of a pathogen using multiple effectors to manipulate systematically the host inflammatory response signalling network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Man-made disasters such as acts of terrorism may affect a society's resiliency and sensitivity to prolonged physical and psychological stress. The Israeli Tel Aviv stock market TA-100 Index was used as an indicator of reactivity to suicide terror bombings. After accounting for factors such as world market changes and attack severity and intensity, the analysis reveals that although Israel's financial base remained sensitive to each act of terror across the entire period of the Second Intifada (2000-06), sustained psychological resilience was indicated with no apparent overall market shift. In other words, we saw a 'normalisation of terror' following an extended period of continued suicide bombings. The results suggest that investors responded to less transitory global market forces, indicating sustained resilience and long-term market confidence. Future studies directly measuring investor expectations and reactions to man-made disasters, such as terrorism, are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper seeks to understand evacuation behaviour in a case of spontaneous evacuation. During the Second Lebanon War of 2006, more than one-third of residents in north Israel spontaneously evacuated—the remainder stayed in situ. Using a telephone survey of 665 respondents residing in north Israel, we were able to characterise the behaviour of evacuees and non-evacuees. The main reasons cited for evacuating were fear of injury to self or family, the effect on children, inability to remain in a protective space, and family pressure. The main reasons cited for remaining at home were no suitable alternative, did not perceive a high level of danger, had to go to work, and there is no place like home. There were no significant differences with regard to most socio-demographic characteristics of the population. These findings should aid emergency managers in preparing the population for a future emergency and in engaging in effective dialogue with the population during an emergency on the evacuation option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]