bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transmission Electron Microscopy to Follow Ultrastructural Modifications of Erythroblasts Upon ex vivo Human Erythropoiesis
Authors: Dussouchaud Alice , Jacob Julieta , Secq Charles , Verbavatz Jean-Marc , Moras Martina , Larghero Jérôme , Fader Claudio M. , Ostuni Mariano A. , Lefevre Sophie D.
Published: February 2022

Throughout mammal erythroid differentiation, erythroblasts undergo enucleation and organelle clearance becoming mature red blood cell. Organelles are cleared by autophagic pathways non-specifically targeting organelles and cytosolic content or by specific mitophagy targeting mitochondria. Mitochondrial functions are essential to coordinate metabolism reprogramming, cell death, and differentiation balance, and also synthesis of heme, the prosthetic group needed in hemoglobin assembly. In mammals, mitochondria subcellular localization and mitochondria interaction with other structures as endoplasmic reticulum and nucleus might be of importance for the removal of the nucleus, that is, the enucleation. Here, we aim to characterize by electron microscopy the changes in ultrastructure of cells over successive stages of human erythroblast differentiation. We focus on mitochondria to gain insights into intracellular localization, ultrastructure, and contact with other organelles. We found that mitochondria are progressively cleared with a significant switch between PolyE and OrthoE stages, acquiring a rounded shape and losing contact sites with both ER (MAM) and nucleus (NAM). We studied intracellular vesicle trafficking and found that endosomes and MVBs, known to be involved in iron traffic and heme synthesis, are increased during BasoE to PolyE transition; autophagic structures such as autophagosomes increase from ProE to OrthoE stages. Finally, consistent with metabolic switch, glycogen accumulation was observed in OrthoE stage.
Heritage Speakers as Part of the Native Language Continuum
Authors: Wiese Heike , Alexiadou Artemis , Allen Shanley , Bunk Oliver , Gagarina Natalia , Iefremenko Kateryna , Martynova Maria , Pashkova Tatiana , Rizou Vicky , Schroeder Christoph , Shadrova Anna , Szucsich Luka , Tracy Rosemarie , Tsehaye Wintai , Zerbian Sabine , Zuban Yulia
Published: February 2022

We argue for a perspective on bilingual heritage speakers as native speakers of both their languages and present results from a large-scale, cross-linguistic study that took such a perspective and approached bilinguals and monolinguals on equal grounds. We targeted comparable language use in bilingual and monolingual speakers, crucially covering broader repertoires than just formal language. A main database was the open-access RUEG corpus, which covers comparable informal vs. formal and spoken vs. written productions by adolescent and adult bilinguals with heritage-Greek, -Russian, and -Turkish in Germany and the United States and with heritage-German in the United States, and matching data from monolinguals in Germany, the United States, Greece, Russia, and Turkey. Our main results lie in three areas. (1) We found non-canonical patterns not only in bilingual, but also in monolingual speakers, including patterns that have so far been considered absent from native grammars, in domains of morphology, syntax, intonation, and pragmatics. (2) We found a degree of lexical and morphosyntactic inter-speaker variability in monolinguals that was sometimes higher than that of bilinguals, further challenging the model of the streamlined native speaker. (3) In majority language use, non-canonical patterns were dominant in spoken and/or informal registers, and this was true for monolinguals and bilinguals. In some cases, bilingual speakers were leading quantitatively. In heritage settings where the language was not part of formal schooling, we found tendencies of register leveling, presumably due to the fact that speakers had limited access to formal registers of the heritage language. Our findings thus indicate possible quantitative differences and different register distributions rather than distinct grammatical patterns in bilingual and monolingual speakers. This supports the integration of heritage speakers into the native-speaker continuum. Approaching heritage speakers from this perspective helps us to better understand the empirical data and can shed light on language variation and change in native grammars. Furthermore, our findings for monolinguals lead us to reconsider the state-of-the art on majority languages, given recurring evidence for non-canonical patterns that deviate from what has been assumed in the literature so far, and might have been attributed to bilingualism had we not included informal and spoken registers in monolinguals and bilinguals alike.
Cognitive Control Challenge Task Across the Lifespan
Authors: Politakis Vida Ana , Slana Ozimič Anka , Repovš Grega
Published: February 2022

Meeting everyday challenges and responding in a goal-directed manner requires both the ability to maintain the current task set in face of distractors—stable cognitive control, and the ability to flexibly generate or switch to a new task set when environmental requirements change—flexible cognitive control. While studies show that the development varies across individual component processes supporting cognitive control, little is known about changes in complex stable and flexible cognitive control across the lifespan. In the present study, we used the newly developed Cognitive Control Challenge Task (C3T) to examine the development of complex stable and flexible cognitive control across the lifespan and to gain insight into their interdependence. A total of 340 participants (229 women, age range 8–84 years) from two samples participated in the study, in which they were asked to complete the C3T along with a series of standard tests of individual components of cognitive control. The results showed that the development of both stable and flexible complex cognitive control follows the expected inverted U-curve. In contrast, the indeces of task set formation and task set switching cost increase linearly across the lifespan, suggesting that stable and flexible complex cognitive control are subserved by separable cognitive systems with different developmental trajectories. Correlations with standard cognitive tests indicate that complex cognitive control captured by the C3T engages a broad range of cognitive abilities, such as working memory and planning, and reflects global processing speed, jointly suggesting that the C3T is an effective test of complex cognitive control that has both research and diagnostic potential.
Engaging the Arts for Wellbeing in the United States of America: A Scoping Review
Authors: Pesata Virginia , Colverson Aaron , Sonke Jill , Morgan-Daniel Jane , Schaefer Nancy , Sams Kelley , Carrion Flor Maria-Enid , Hanson Sarah
Published: February 2022

There is increasing interest today in how the arts contribute to individual and community wellbeing. This scoping review identified and examined ways in which the arts have been used to address wellbeing in communities in the United States. The review examined 44 publications, with combined study populations representing a total of 5,080 research participants, including marginalized populations. It identified the types of artistic practices and interventions being conducted, research methods, and outcomes measured. It highlights positive associations found across a broad spectrum of psychological, physical, and social outcomes, including improvements in self-esteem and identity formation, cognition, physical balance, and physical conditioning. It also reports negative outcomes of arts interventions that may be underreported. The study identifies the need for core outcomes sets and reporting guidelines for advancing evidence synthesis in this area.
The Impact of Network Embeddedness on the Innovation Performance of New Generation of Employees in the Post-COVID-19 Era—The Mediating Role of Psychological Contract
Authors: Wang Jianhua , Ma Junwei , Li Yongzhou
Published: February 2022

The innovation activities of new generation of employees have the characteristics of double network embeddedness, and the degree of psychological contract fulfilment is an important factor that affects their innovation performance. Based on the attributes of internal network embeddedness and external network embeddedness, this paper builds a hypothesis model of the relationship between network embeddedness, psychological contract and innovation performance. It explores the impact and mechanism of network embeddedness on the innovation performance of new generation of employees and the mediating role of the psychological contract. Empirical research shows that network embeddedness has a positive effect on the innovation performance of new generation of employees. The psychological contract has a mediating role in network embeddedness on innovation performance of new generation of employees. These conclusions continue and deepen the research on network embeddedness and innovation performance and further enrich and expand the application of social networks in the research of individual innovation performance of new generation of employees.
Environmental Value and Pro-environmental Behavior Among Young Adults: The Mediating Role of Risk Perception and Moral Anger
Authors: Li Xin , Liu Zhenhui , Wuyun Tena
Published: February 2022

This study aims to identify the relationship between students’ environmental value (EV) and pro-environmental behavior (PEB) within a values-belief-norm framework. To conduct an empirical study, we used a sample of 558 online surveys and adopted the partial least squares path modeling method to test the relationships between variables in the conceptual model. The results indicate that EV positively predicted PEB among young adults. In addition, we highlight that risk perception (RP) and moral anger (MA) play critical chain mediating roles in the relationship between EV and PEB. This study has meaningful implications for practitioners seeking to encourage the public’s ecofriendly behavior by suggesting ways to encourage RP and stimulate individuals’ moral emotions about the environment.
An Experimental Study on Anchoring Effect of Consumers’ Price Judgment Based on Consumers’ Experiencing Scenes
Authors: Zong Yi , Guo Xiaojie
Published: February 2022

Consumers are prone to cognitive biases in decision-making due to the impact of time restrictions, specific environment, and project inducements in the process of experience. Compared with traditional marketing scenarios, it is easy to bias decision makers due to the existence of anchor information. Research on anchoring effect focuses on psychology, economics, law, and medicine instead of the price judgment of consumers. This article uses experimental research to explore the existence and influencing factors of anchoring effect when consumers judge and estimate the price of a product in experiencing scenes. In this article, the hypothesis is that anchoring effect exists and is influenced by factors including anchor value, gender, emotion, personality, knowledge and skill, time pressure, early warning indication, cognitive need, and self-confidence level under external and internal anchor conditions. Subjects judged and estimated different prices after product experience through the design of different decision-making scenarios of external (high anchors and low anchors) and internal anchors, and finally, the anchoring index (AI) and the mean skew index were used to calculate the anchoring effect. The experimental results showed that consumers were affected by anchoring effect when making price judgment in experiencing scenes. In addition to the factors of time pressure and self-confidence level, gender, personality, knowledge, and skill all had a significant influence on anchoring effect under external anchor conditions. Finally, this article provides advice for enterprise marketing planners including setting reasonable anchor values, highlighting the design of experiencing scenes, and developing differentiation strategies.
Exploring the Relationship Between Learning Goal Orientation and Knowledge-Sharing Among Information Communication Technology Consultants: The Role of Incentive Schemes
Authors: Song Linpei , Ma Zhuang , Huang Jun
Published: February 2022

Knowledge sharing (KS) is critical for consulting companies to develop sustainable competitive advantages. While the importance of KS in the information communication technology (ICT) sector has been proved, the assumed linear relationships in KS mechanisms are confronted with KS dilemmas: consultants’ intention to maximize personal gains from KS resulting in restrained KS efforts, for fear of losing value after sharing knowledge with colleagues. Drawing on motivation theory and goal orientation perspective, this study examines the roles of learning goal orientation (LGO) and incentive schemes in KS among ICT consultants. The multiple regression analyses of 389 consultants’ responses from 14 Chinese and 8 Korean ICT consulting companies demonstrated an inverted U-shape relationship between LGO and knowledge sharing; incentive schemes moderate this relationship. The findings shed light on the knowledge-sharing dilemma, with theoretical implications to research regarding goal-orientation, knowledge sharing, and managerial practices about the motivation and incentives of ICT consultants.
The Role of Mental Health and Sustainable Learning Behavior of Students in Education Sector Influences Sustainable Environment
Authors: Gu Zhaoliang , Li Pu , Zhang Aiai , Xu Xiaoqiang , Gu Fengmiao
Published: February 2022

Mental health has been declared as the essential component of overall human wellbeing. However, there has been a very steep rate of depression and anxiety in students that exhibit their social and personal burdens. It has been widely accepted that the wellbeing and mental health of individuals are a mix of psychological, genetic, social, lifestyle factors, and environmental exposure. Due to the pandemic, the shift from traditional classroom learning to e-learning has also disturbed the mental health of students, which consequently affects environmental stability. The current study has also measured the effect on the mental health of e-learning behaviors (psychological motivation, peer collaboration, cognitive problem-solving, interaction with the instructor, community support, and learning management). The population of the study was the undergraduate students enrolled in the colleges of China, and they were chosen via convenient sampling. The findings of the study show that mental health has a significant positive effect on the e-learning behavior of the students and consequently affects environmental sustainability. Educational institutions are improving their e-learning programs by understanding the preferences and challenges of students regarding online learning. Educational institutions should revise their policies on online education and teaching methodologies. Furthermore, the current study has taken undergraduate students as the sample. In future studies, these relationships can be checked in higher education as well.
Association Between Hormonal Birth Control, Substance Use, and Depression
Authors: Newman Sharlene D.
Published: February 2022

Objective

The current study examined the impact of the use of hormonal birth control, cannabis (CB), and alcohol on depression symptoms.

Study Design

Survey data from 3,320 college-aged women collected over a 2-year period. Depression symptoms were assessed using the PHQ-9.

Results

Individuals taking hormonal birth control (N = 998; age = 19.1 ± 1.6 years) had lower overall depression scores than did those not taking birth control (N = 2,322; age = 19.1 ± 1.8 years) with 15.2% of those not taking hormonal birth control had depressive symptoms while 12.1% of those in the birth control group had depressive symptoms. Additionally, those taking hormonal birth control had higher scores on the alcohol and CB use assessment. A between-subjects ANOVA with depression score as the dependent variable found significant effects hormonal birth control use, CB and alcohol use, as well as a significant interaction between CB use and hormonal birth control use.

Conclusions

While there are some limitations (e.g., the between subjects design makes it such that there may be uncontrolled differences between groups), the results suggest that hormonal birth control use may help to reduce depressive symptoms.

Implications

More studies examining the impact of hormonal birth control and substance use on depression are required. The results suggest a potential interaction between CB and hormonal birth control use on depression symptoms that is not observed for alcohol. This implies that alcohol and CB may be linked to depression via different mechanisms.
Covid-19 and Increased Risk of Physician Suicide: A Call to Detoxify the U.S. Medical System
Authors: Kakarala Sophia E. , Prigerson Holly G.
Published: February 2022

Suicide among physicians is a longstanding problem, with risk factors exacerbated by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. In this article, we explore suicidal thoughts and behaviors among physicians and risk factors created or intensified by the work environment, such as overwork and loss of autonomy. We discuss the ways in which the COVID-19 pandemic has made the medical work environment more stressful (e.g. greater exposure to traumatic experiences and employment insecurity) and, consequently, elevated physician suicide risk. We also review evidence that the medical system in the United States has not adequately protected physicians' mental health. Lack of confidentiality, stigma, cost, and time, as well as intrusive medical licensing applications, remain barriers to physicians seeking help. Work pressures imposed by insurance companies and financial incentives to increase revenue while cutting costs compound physicians' work stress. We conclude that system-wide changes to the practice of medicine and policies regarding healthcare delivery are needed to improve physicians' work environments, as is research addressing the impact of the interventions to reduce their suicidal risk. The proposed changes, and greater access to timely and confidential mental health services amid and in the aftermath of the pandemic, may prove promising approaches to reduce physicians' suicide risk.
Coping Ability and Promotion Countermeasures of Medical and Health Institutions Reputation Crisis: A Case Study in Hubei Province
Authors: Liu Yang , Li Xiaofang , Ding Rui , He Tianrun , Wang Xian-jia
Published: February 2022

At present, the doctor–patient relationships in Chinese medical and health institutions (MHI) are increasingly tense, and the reputation crisis challenges are being faced by MHI more frequently. However, the reputation crisis management level of the MHI is directly related to the future development and construction of the MHI and is an important management link that cannot be ignored. Therefore, how to quantify the impact of the relevant crisis on hospitals has become a major problem. First of all, this paper uses the situational crisis communication theory (SCCT) to combine the characteristics of hospital reputation crisis with the theory and classification of MHI reputation crisis from three perspectives: victim crisis, accidental crisis, and preventable crisis. Second, a more comprehensive analysis of MHI reputation crisis management model is conducted in the research cases, based on the relevant data of Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College Huazhong University of Science and Technology (UH), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College Huazhong University of Science and Technology (TJ), Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University (ZN), Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University (RM), and Maternal and Child Hospital of Hubei Province (MC). Third, we divide MHI reputation positioning into four types, namely robust, growth, fragile, and sensitive, and innovate SCCT to build a new MHI crisis classification type. Finally, this paper provides appropriate crisis management strategies for sample MHI based on the above examples and theories. Furthermore, we realize the lifecycle management of MHI reputation by identifying, evaluating and responding to reputation issues. This study provides a theoretical reference for the MHI reputation crisis management level and the adjustment of future management strategies.
The Influence of Mental Health on Job Satisfaction: Mediating Effect of Psychological Capital and Social Capital
Authors: Cao Xin , Zhang Heng , Li Peng , Huang Xiaozhi
Published: February 2022

Using data from the 2018 Chinese Family Panel Studies (CFPS), based on the mood-congruent theory, this study aims to explore the mechanisms of mental health on job satisfaction from the internal perspective (psychological capital) and external perspective (social capital). The results showed that (1) the two components of mental health have different effects on job satisfaction. The positive component of mental health had a positive effect on job satisfaction, while the negative component of mental health had a negative effect on job satisfaction; (2) Psychological capital and social capital play a mediating role in the relationship between mental health and job satisfaction. (3) After considering the potential endogenous problems between mental health and job satisfaction and conducting additional robustness analysis, including changing dependent variable and changing independent variable, our main results and influence mechanisms are remain robust and reliable. With the emergence of an increasingly competitive knowledge economy era, employees' mental health plays an important role in job satisfaction. Thus, it is imperative for managers to enhance employees' job satisfaction and better implement humanistic management by nurturing employees' psychological and social capital through the mental health.
The Effect of Total Cholesterol Variability on Clinical Outcomes After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Authors: Liang Yanting , Wang Haochen , Liu Fengyao , Yu Xueju , Liang Yan , Yin Han , Liu Yuting , Jiang Cheng , Wang Yu , Bai Bingqing , Liu Anbang , Shi Xiaohe , Li Weiya , Liu Quanjun , Chen Yilin , Guo Lan , Ma Huan , Geng Qingshan
Published: February 2022

Aim

Exploring the risk factors of prognosis in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is of great importance. Our aim of the study is to investigate the association between variability in total cholesterol (TC) level and major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) in patients after PCI.

Methods

Between April 2004 and December 2009, 909 patients who underwent primary PCI and with at least three TC values were included in the final study. TC variability was calculated using four indices: standard deviation (SD), coefficient of variation (CV), the average successive variability (ASV), variability independent of the mean (VIM). MACCE comprised all-cause mortality, non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), unplanned revascularization, hospitalization for heart failure, and non-fatal stroke.

Results

There were 394 cases of MACCE during the follow-up period. When the subjects were divided into quartile groups by CV of TC, high CV groups were associated with a higher hazard ratio of MACCE than for lower CV groups. In multivariable adjusted models, TC variability and MACCE remained correlated [HR (95% CI): Q2, 1.17 (0.86–1.58); Q3, 1.38 (1.03–1.85); Q4, 1.63 (1.22–2.17)]. Similar patterns of MACCE were noted by quartiles of SD, ASV, and VIM.

Conclusion

Visit-to-visit TC variability is positively correlated with MACCE in patients after PCI.
The Security Versus Freedom Dilemma. An Empirical Study of the Spanish Case
Authors: Herranz de Rafael Gonzalo , Fernández-Prados Juan S.
Published: February 2022

One of the classic debates in public opinion, now more prevalent due to the COVID-19 pandemic, has been the dilemma between freedom and security. Following a theoretical review, this article sets out to establish the sociodemographic profiles and those variables that can correlate and/or explain the inclination towards one or the other, that is, the dependent variable “freedom-security,” such as victimization or the assessment of surveillance. The analysis is based on the results of a survey prepared by the Center for Sociological Research (CIS, in Spanish) and administered to a sample of 5,920 Spaniards. The conclusions indicate that the majority inclination is for security, especially among older men, with elementary education attainment level and right-wing ideology. Furthermore, although victimization correlated with the dependent variable, the perception of being a possible victim led to a preference for safety rather than the actual experience of having been a victim. Finally, the positive assessment of surveillance through technologies such as video cameras explains or is strongly associated with security, making it a promising line of research for future work and a means to improve the understanding of the analyzed dilemma.
Comparison of Race Time-Differences Between and Within Para and Able-Bodied Cross-Country Skiers
Authors: Carlsen Camilla H. , Severin Cecilia , Sandbakk Øyvind , Baumgart Julia K.
Published: February 2022

Purpose

To compare differences in race time (i.e., the average percent difference in race time for each skier compared to the winner, RTdiffs) between female and male Para and able-bodied (AB) skiers, and to examine whether RTdiffs change across seasons.

Methods

Race data from World Cups (WCs), World Championships (WCHs), and Paralympic/Olympic Winter Games (PWG/OWGs) of the 2011–2020 seasons was extracted from the website of the International Paralympic Committee and the International Ski Federation. All individual distance races for female and male visually impaired standing (VI), physically impaired sitting (SIT) and standing (STAND), and AB skiers with ≥10 competitors were included in the analyses. We investigated the main effect of skiing groups (i.e., VI, STAND, SIT, and AB skiers) and sex on RTdiffs for top-3 and top-8 skiers. Furthermore, the main effect of season and skiing group on RTdiffs for top-3 and top-8 skiers were investigated. All models were adjusted for distance, skiing style (classical- and freestyle), and event type (WC, WCH, and PWG/OWG).

Results

RTdiffs were significantly larger in Para compared to AB skiers (top-3: 2.1 vs. 0.9%; top-8: 6.2 vs. 2.1%, all p < 0.01), and in female compared to male skiers (top-3: 1.8 vs. 1.3%; top-8: 4.9 vs. 3.5%, all p < 0.05). For top-3 skiers, RTdiffs did not significantly differ between the Para categories (all p > 0.2), while for top-8 skiers RTdiffs were significantly larger for VI compared to SIT and STAND (7.0 vs. 5.5 and 5.6%, respectively, all p < 0.05). RTdiffs were stable across the 2011–2020 seasons for top-3 skiers (VI: 1.7–3.6%, STAND: 1.1–2.2%, SIT: 1.0–3.9%, AB: 0.4–1.1%; all p > 0.1) and top-8 skiers (VI: 3.4–12.0%, STAND: 2.6–5.7%, SIT: 1.9–5.9%, AB: 0.1–1.7%; all p > 0.1).

Conclusion

The larger RTdiffs in Para compared to AB skiers indicate larger variability in performance, which are in part disability related. Female skiers displayed larger RTdiffs than their male counterparts, indicating larger variability in performance among the female skiers. Our results provide insights about performance demands in Para cross-country skiing, which is of relevance for coaches and skiers.
Amputation Predisposes to Higher Cancer-Specific Mortality Than Limb Salvage Surgery in Pediatric Patients With Osteosarcoma of the Limbs: A Propensity Matching Analysis
Authors: Wang Jinkui , Tang Jie , Tan Xiaojun , Zhanghuang Chenghao , Jin Liming , Li Mujie , Zhang Zhaoxia , Mi Tao , He Dawei
Published: February 2022

Objective

With the development of osteosarcoma treatment, limb salvage surgery is gradually replacing amputation as the primary surgical option. Most pediatric osteosarcomas of the limbs undergo limb-salvage surgery. We aimed to use propensity score matching (PSM) analysis test the difference in cancer-specific mortality (CSM) between amputation and limb-salvage surgery in pediatric patients with Osteosarcoma of the limbs. PSM is a statistical method used to deal with data from an Observational Study. The PSM method is designed to reduce the influence of biases and confounding variables to make a more reasonable comparison between experimental and control groups.

Methods

Patient information was downloaded from the SEER (surveillance, epidemiology, and End Results) database from 2004 to 2018. We included all primary pediatric osteosarcoma patients who underwent limb salvage or amputation. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to explore the factors influencing patient choice of amputation. Differences in CSM and other causes of mortality (OSM) between limb salvage and amputation were analyzed using cumulative incidence plots and competitive risk regression tests after 1:1 proportional propensity score matching.

Results

A total of 1,058 pediatric patients with limbs Osteosarcoma were included. Patients who underwent amputations were more likely to be male (OR 1.4, P = 0.024) and more likely to have distant metastasis (OR 2.1, P < 0.001). Before propensity matching, CSM was 1.4 times higher in patients undergoing amputation than in patients undergoing limb salvage (P = 0.017) and 3.4 times higher in OSM (P = 0.007). After adjustment for propensity matching, CSM was 1.5 times higher in patients undergoing amputation than in patients undergoing limb salvage (P = 0.028), but there was no significant difference in OSM (HR 3.2, P = 0.078).

Conclusions

Our results suggested that amputation is associated with a 1.5-fold increase in CSM in pediatric patients with limbs Osteosarcoma. Therefore, in the surgical selection of pediatric patients with Osteosarcoma, limb salvage surgery should be the first choice in the absence of other contraindications.
Scientific Assessment of the Welfare of Trapped Mammals—Key Considerations for the Use of the Sharp and Saunders Humaneness Assessment Model
Authors: Beausoleil Ngaio J. , Baker Sandra E. , Sharp Trudy
Published: February 2022

Scientific assessment of the impacts of trapping on mammal welfare is necessary to inform cost-benefit analyses of using traps in wildlife management, improve trap performance and trapping processes and develop international trap standards. The Sharp and Saunders humaneness assessment model was developed specifically for assessing welfare impacts in vertebrate wildlife management and has been used to assess the impacts of trapping various mammals. It is a specific version of the more general Five Domains model for welfare assessment which is based on the understanding that welfare state reflects the sum of the animal’s mental experiences. Our experience of applying the Sharp and Saunders model allows us to make key recommendations for those wishing to use it. First, the exact parameters of the trapping scenario to be assessed must be decided. Second, assessments should be based on published data, as well as integrating both scientific and practitioner expertise to provide rigorous and relevant outcomes. Third, conclusions about welfare impacts should be based on the appropriate indicators. As far as is possible, mental experiences should be inferred using animal-based indicators, and some representation should be provided of the scorers’ confidence in the data on which assessment is based. Careful consideration of these points will help optimize the value of information produced using the model for wildlife management decision-making.
Ammonia and Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Dairy Cows on Straw-Based Litter Systems
Authors: Almeida João G. R. , Lorinquer Elise , Robin Paul , Ribeiro-Filho Henrique M. N. , Edouard Nadège
Published: February 2022

Increasing concerns regarding environmental impacts of animal production require a better understanding of the factors that influence nitrogen (N) excretion by animals and the processes that influence N volatilization into ammonia (NH3) and nitrous oxide (N2O) from manure. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of diet characteristics and climatic factors on manure composition, as well as the resulting NH3 and N2O emissions in the barn and during storage of a straw-based litter system. Two groups of three dairy cows were housed in mechanically ventilated rooms and fed with a grass-based diet (GD) or a total mixed diet (MD). The resulting solid manures were stored in ventilated tunnels. The experiment was conducted in autumn (AUT) and spring (SPR). NH3 and N2O emissions were recorded continuously (28 days in the barn, 85 days for storage). NH3–N emissions in the barn were higher for GD-AUT than for MD-AUT, which was consistent with the larger and unbalanced amount of crude and degradable protein in GD, and corroborated by higher milk urea N contents. More than 80% of the NH3–N volatilization occurred during the first week of manure storage, when the temperature of the manure heap peaked. N2O–N emissions were negligible in the barn. During storage, N2O–N emissions peaked immediately after the first week. Higher N2O–N emissions were related to higher rainfall, which may have increased the moisture content and decreased the temperature of the manure heap, thus generating the conditions necessary for nitrification and denitrification processes.
Characteristics of Swell-like Waves in the East Coast of Korea Using Atmospheric and Wave Hindcast Data
Authors: Jeong Sang-Hun , Heo Ki-Young , Son Jun-Hyeok , Jo Young-Heon , Choi Jin-Yong , Kwon Jae-Il
Published: February 2022

The long-term trend of swell-like waves invading the east coast of Korea was identified by using observations and hindcast data from 1979 to 2016. We defined a swell-like wave as a wave with a height of 2 m and a peak period of 10 s on the basis of a literature review of human casualties and property damage in the region. In total, 179 swell-like wave cases were detected from 1979 to 2016, with 132 cases caused by extratropical cyclones (ETCs). The track density analysis indicated that the ETCs were mainly generated on the east coast of China, over the East/Japan Sea, and over the Kuroshio-Oyashio extension region and then moved northeast. This reflects the prevailing wind direction, which was the most significant factor in generating the swell-like waves. The number of swell-like waves has been significantly increasing since the 2000s. This increasing trend of swell-like waves is linked with the synoptic eddy activity with a correlation of 0.53. They were associated with the reversed meridional gradient of surface air temperature and the consequent negative vertical wind shear anomaly near 40° N.
Quantum Dynamics of Hydrogen-like Ions in a Spatially Nonuniform Magnetic Field: A Possible Application to Fusion Plasma
Authors: Fadhel Sara , Meftah Mohammed Tayeb , Chenini Keltoum
Published: February 2022

In this work, we direct our attention to the study of the effect of a nonuniform and strong magnetic field on the quantum properties of ions in plasma. We have assumed that the strong magnetic field is a sum of two magnetic fields: one, the most intense, has a toroidal geometry, whereas the other of less intensity (about the third of the first) is poloidal. Regarding the quantum properties, we have focused our attention on obtaining the corresponding eigenenergy of n hydrogen-like ion in this nonuniform magnetic field. Using the obtained eigenenergy, we investigated the spectral line shape (Lyman-alpha) of three types of ions: He+, C5+, and Ar17+ for different magnetic field magnitudes. In this study, we considered only Doppler and electronic Stark broadening of the spectral line shapes.
Targeting PTB for Glia-to-Neuron Reprogramming In Vitro and In Vivo for Therapeutic Development in Neurological Diseases
Authors: Contardo Matilde , De Gioia Roberta , Gagliardi Delia , Comi Giacomo Pietro , Ottoboni Linda , Nizzardo Monica , Corti Stefania
Published: February 2022

In vivo cell reprogramming of glial cells offers a promising way to generate new neurons in the adult mammalian nervous system. This approach might compensate for neuronal loss occurring in neurological disorders, but clinically viable tools are needed to advance this strategy from bench to bedside. Recently published work has described the successful neuronal conversion of glial cells through the repression of a single gene, polypyrimidine tract-binding protein 1 (Ptbp1), which encodes a key RNA-binding protein. Newly converted neurons not only express correct markers but they also functionally integrate into endogenous brain circuits and modify disease symptoms in in vivo models of neurodegenerative diseases. However, doubts about the nature of “converted” neurons, in particular in vivo, have been raised, based on concerns about tracking reporter genes in converted cells. More robust lineage tracing is needed to draw definitive conclusions about the reliability of this strategy. In vivo reprogramming and the possibility of implementing it with approaches that could be translated into the clinic with antisense oligonucleotides targeting a single gene like Ptbp1 are hot topics. They warrant further investigation with stringent methods and criteria of evaluation for the ultimate treatment of neurological diseases.
Intraamygdaloid Oxytocin Reduces Anxiety in the Valproate-Induced Autism Rat Model
Authors: László Kristóf , Kiss Orsolya , Vörös Dávid , Mintál Kitti , Ollmann Tamás , Péczely László , Kovács Anita , Zagoracz Olga , Kertes Erika , Kállai Veronika , László Bettina , Hormay Edina , Berta Beáta , Tóth Attila , Karádi Zoltán , Lénárd László
Published: February 2022

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder affecting about 1.5% of children, and its prevalence is increasing. Anxiety is one of the most common comorbid signs of ASD. Despite the increasing prevalence, the pathophysiology of ASD is still poorly understood, and its proper treatment has not been defined yet. In order to develop new therapeutic approaches, the valproate- (VPA) induced rodent model of autism can be an appropriate tool. Oxytocin (OT), as a prosocial hormone, may ameliorate some symptoms of ASD. Methods: In the present study, we investigated the possible anxiolytic effect of intraamygdaloid OT on VPA-treated rats using the elevated plus maze test. Results: Our results show that male Wistar rats prenatally exposed to VPA spent significantly less time in the open arms of the elevated plus maze apparatus and performed significantly less head dips from the open arms. Bilateral OT microinjection into the central nucleus of the amygdala increased the time spent in the open arms and the number of head dips and reduced the anxiety to the healthy control level. An OT receptor antagonist blocked the anxiolytic effects of OT. The antagonist by itself did not influence the time rats spent in the open arms. Conclusions: Our results show that intraamygdaloid OT has anxiolytic effects in autistic rats.
Flexural Behavior of RC Beams Using Fe-Based Shape Memory Alloy Rebars as Tensile Reinforcement
Authors: Hong Ki-Nam , Yeon Yeong-Mo , Ji Sang-Won , Lee Sugyu
Published: February 2022

Recently, various studies for the use of Fe-based shape memory alloy (Fe-SMA) in the construction field have been widely conducted. However, most of the studies for using Fe-SMA are carried out for applying Fe-SMA for strengthening deteriorated structures. However, if Fe-SMA is used as a reinforcement for new structures, the disadvantages of conventional prestressed concrete can be effectively solved. Therefore, in this work, an experimental study was conducted to evaluate the flexural behavior of concrete beams in which Fe-SMA rebars were used as tensile reinforcement. For the study, ten specimens were constructed with the consideration of the cross-sectional area and activation of Fe-SMA rebars as experimental variable. Activation of the Fe-SMA rebars by electrical resistance heating applied an eccentric compressive force to the specimen to induce camber. The camber increased by an average of 0.093 mm as the cross-sectional area of the Fe-SMA rebar increased by 100 mm2. It was also confirmed through the four-point bending tests that the initial crack loads of the activated specimens were 47.6~112.8% greater than those of the nonactivated specimens. However, the ultimate strength of the activated specimens showed a slight difference of 3% to those of the nonactivated specimens. Therefore, it was confirmed that the effect of Fe-SMA activation on the ultimate strength of specimens was negligible.
Oncogenic Events Dictate the Types and Locations of Gynecological Malignancies Originating from Krt8+ Mesothelial and Müllerian-Derived Epithelial Cells
Authors: Park Eun-Sil , Xiang Dongxi , Xie Ying , Bronson Roderick T. , Li Zhe
Published: February 2022

Ovarian and uterine cancers are the most prevalent types of gynecological malignancies originating from mesothelial and/or Müllerian-derived epithelial cells. Recent genomic studies have identified common mutations in them that affect signaling pathways such as p53, PTEN/PI3K, RAS, and WNT pathways. However, how these mutations and their corresponding deregulated pathways affect gynecological cancer development from their cells-of-origin remains largely elusive. To address this, we performed the intrabursal injection of Cre-expressing adenovirus under the control of Krt8 promoter (Ad-K8-Cre) to mice carrying combinations of various conditional alleles for cancer genes. We found that Ad-K8-Cre specifically targeted mesothelial cells, including ovarian surface epithelial (OSE) cells (mainly the LGR5+ subset of OSE cells) and mesothelial cells lining the fallopian tube (FT) serosa; the injected Ad-K8-Cre also targeted Müllerian-derived epithelial cells, including FT epithelial cells and uterine endometrial epithelial cells. The loss of p53 may preferentially affect Müllerian-derived epithelial cells, leading to the development of uterine and ovarian malignancies, whereas PTEN-loss may preferentially affect mesothelial cells, leading to the development of ovarian endometrioid malignancies (upon KRAS-activation or APC-loss) or adenoma on the FT surface (upon DICER-loss). Overall, our data suggest that different Krt8+ mesothelial and epithelial cell types in the female reproductive system may have different sensitivities toward oncogenic mutations and, as a result, oncogenic events may dominantly determine the locations and types of the gynecological malignancies developed from them.
Gene Editing with CRISPR/Cas Methodology and Thyroid Cancer: Where Are We?
Authors: Fuziwara Cesar Seigi , de Mello Diego Claro , Kimura Edna Teruko
Published: February 2022

Important advances on the role of genetic alterations in thyroid cancer have been achieved in the last two decades. One key reason is linked to the development of technical approaches that allowed for the mimicking of genetic alterations in vitro and in vivo and, more recently, the gene editing methodology. The CRISPR/Cas methodology has emerged as a tangible tool for editing virtually any DNA sequence in the genome. To induce a double-strand break and programmable gene editing, Cas9 endonuclease is guided by a single-guide RNA (sgRNA) that is complementary to the target sequence in DNA. The gene editing per se occurs as the cells repair the broken DNA and may erroneously change the original DNA sequence. In this review, we explore the principles of the CRISPR/Cas system to facilitate an understanding of the mainstream technique and its applications in gene editing. Furthermore, we explored new applications of CRISPR/Cas for gene modulation without changing the DNA sequence and provided a Dry Lab experience for those who are interested in starting “CRISPRing” any given gene. In the last section, we will discuss the progress in the knowledge of thyroid cancer biology fostered by the CRISPR/Cas gene editing tools.
Brachytherapy for the Conservative Treatment of Female Peri-Urethral Carcinoma
Authors: Andraud Mickaël , Kissel Manon , Sun Roger , Rassy Elie , Espenel Sophie , Achkar Samir , Morice Philippe , Haie-Meder Christine , Gouy Sébastien , Chargari Cyrus
Published: February 2022

Introduction: Peri-urethral cancers (PUC) are rare tumors. Brachytherapy (BT), either monotherapy or combined with radiation therapy, is a preferred treatment option to spare the morbidity of surgery and achieve organ preservation. We report, to the best of our knowledge, the largest experience of brachytherapy among women with PUC. Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective review of the medical records of female patients with PUC who underwent low- or pulse-dose-rate BT with or without external beam radiotherapy at Gustave Roussy between 1990 and 2018. Patients were categorized according to the treatment intention into a primary and recurrent group. The Kaplan–Meier method was used for survival analysis, and the Cox proportional-hazard model was used for univariate analysis. Brachythewharapy-related adverse events were reported according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4. Results: We identified 44 patients with PUC who underwent BT. Of the 44 patients, 22 had primary tumors and 22 had recurrent tumors. Histologies were mainly adenocarcinoma (n = 20) and squamous cell carcinoma (n = 14). The median prescribed dose was 60 Gy for the 24 patients treated with BT alone and 20 Gy (IQ range: 15–56.25 Gy) for the 20 patients treated with BT in combination with EBRT. With a median follow-up of 21.5 months (range 7.5–60.8), a total of six patients experienced local relapse (17.5%). The 2-year overall survival probability was 63% (95%CI: 49.2–81.4%). The most common toxicities were acute genito-urinary grade 1–2 toxicities. At the last follow-up, four patients experienced focal necrosis. Conclusions: In this cohort of women with PUC undergoing BT, we observed an 80% probability of local control with acceptable morbidity. Though survival was poor, with high metastatic relapse probability, BT was useful to focally escalate the dose and optimize local control in the context of an organ sparing strategy.
Identification of Early-Onset Metastasis in SF3B1 Mutated Uveal Melanoma
Authors: Drabarek Wojtek , van Riet Job , Nguyen Josephine Q. N. , Smit Kyra N. , van Poppelen Natasha M. , Jansen Rick , Medico-Salsench Eva , Vaarwater Jolanda , Magielsen Frank J. , Brands Tom , Eussen Bert , Bosch Thierry. P. P. van den , Verdijk Robert M. , Naus Nicole C. , Paridaens Dion , de Klein Annelies , Brosens Erwin , van de Werken Harmen J. G. , Kilic Emine ,   on behalf of the Rotterdam Ocular Melanoma Study Group
Published: February 2022

Approximately 25% of all uveal melanoma (UM) contain driver mutations in the gene encoding the spliceosome factor SF3B1, and whilst patients with such SF3B1 mutations generally have an intermediate risk on developing metastatic disease, a third of these patients develop early metastasis within 5 years after diagnosis. We therefore investigated whether clinical and/or genetic variables could be indicative of short progression-free survival (PFS < 60 months) or long PFS (PFS ≥ 60 months) for SF3B1-mutated (SF3B1mut) UM patients. We collected 146 SF3B1mut UM from our Rotterdam Ocular Melanoma Studygroup (ROMS) database and external published datasets. After stratification of all SF3B1mut UM using short PFS vs. long PFS, only largest tumor diameter (LTD) was significantly larger (mean: 17.7 mm (±2.8 SD) in the short PFS SF3B1mut group vs. the long PFS group (mean: 14.7 (±3.7 SD, p = 0.001). Combined ROMS and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) transcriptomic data were evaluated, and we identified SF3B1mut-specific canonical transcripts (e.g., a low expression of ABHD6 indicative for early-onset metastatic disease) or distinct expression of SF3B1mut UM aberrant transcripts, indicative of early- or late-onset or no metastatic SF3B1mut UM.