bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effect of inactivation of aldehyde dehydrogenase on pheromone production by a gut bacterium of an invasive bark beetle, Dendroctonus valens
Authors: Cao Qingjie , Koski Tuuli‐Marjaana , Li Huiping , Zhang Chi , Sun Jianghua
Published: August 2022

Semiochemical‐based management strategies are important for controlling bark beetles, such as invasive Red Turpentine Beetle (Denroctonus valens), the causal agent for mass mortality of pine trees (Pinus spp.) in China. It has been previously shown that the pheromone verbenone regulates the attack density of this beetle in a dose‐dependent manner and that the gut bacteria of D. valens are involved in verbenone production. However, molecular functional verification of the role of gut bacteria in the pheromone production of D. valens is still lacking. To better understand the molecular function of gut bacterial verbenone production, we chose a facultative anaerobic gut bacterium (Enterobacter xiangfangensis) of D. valens based on its strong ability to convert cis‐verbenol to verbenone, as shown in our previous study, and investigated its transcriptomics in the presence or absence of cis‐verbenol under anaerobic conditions (simulating the anoxic environment in the beetle's gut). Based on this transcriptome analysis, aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH1) was identified as a putative key gene responsible for verbenone production and was knocked‐down by homologous recombination to obtain a mutant E. xiangfangensis strain. Our results show that these mutants had significantly decreased the ability to convert the monoterpene precursor to verbenone compared with the wild‐type bacteria, indicating that ALDH1 is primarily responsible for verbenone conversion for this bacterium species. These findings provide further mechanistic evidence of bacterially mediated pheromone production by D. valens, add new perspective for functional studies of gut bacteria in general, and may aid the development of new gene silencing‐based pest management strategies.
The GPR88 agonist RTI‐13951‐33 reduces alcohol drinking and seeking in mice
Authors: Ben Hamida Sami , Carter Michelle , Darcq Emmanuel , Sourty Marion , Rahman Md Toufiqur , Decker Ann M. , Jin Chunyang , Kieffer Brigitte L.
Published: August 2022

GPR88 is an orphan G‐protein‐coupled receptor that is considered a potential target to treat neuropsychiatric disorders, including addiction. Most knowledge about GPR88 function stems from knockout mouse studies, and in vivo pharmacology is still scarce. Here we examine the effects of the novel brain‐penetrant agonist RTI‐13951‐33 on several alcohol‐related behaviours in the mouse. In the intermittent‐access‐two‐bottle‐choice paradigm, the compound reduced excessive voluntary alcohol drinking, while water drinking was intact. This was observed for C57BL/6 mice, as well as for control but not Gpr88 knockout mice, demonstrating efficacy and specificity of the drug in vivo. In the drinking‐in‐the‐dark paradigm, RTI‐13951‐33 also reduced binge‐like drinking behaviour for control but not Gpr88 knockout mice, confirming the alcohol consumption‐reducing effect and in vivo specificity of the drug. When C57BL/6 mice were trained for alcohol self‐administration, RTI‐13951‐33 decreased the number of nose‐pokes over a 4‐h session and reduced the number of licks and bursts of licks, suggesting reduced motivation to obtain alcohol. Finally, RTI‐13951‐33 did not induce any place preference or aversion but reduced the expression of conditioned place preference to alcohol, indicative of a reduction of alcohol‐reward seeking. Altogether, data show that RTI‐13951‐33 limits alcohol intake under distinct conditions that require consummatory behaviour, operant response or association with contextual cues. RTI‐13951‐33 therefore is a promising lead compound to evaluate GPR88 as a therapeutic target for alcohol use disorders. More broadly, RTI‐13951‐33 represents a unique tool to better understand GPR88 function, disentangle receptor roles in development from those in the adult and perhaps address other neuropsychiatric disorders.
Impacts of recreational cannabis legalization on cannabis use: a longitudinal discordant twin study
Authors: Zellers Stephanie M. , Ross J. Megan , Saunders Gretchen R. B. , Ellingson Jarrod M. , Anderson Jacob E. , Corley Robin P. , Iacono William , Hewitt John K. , Hopfer Christian J. , McGue Matt K. , Vrieze Scott
Published: August 2022

Aims

To estimate the effect of recreational legalization on cannabis use frequency and sources of variance across legal environments.

Design

Longitudinal discordant twin and gene–environment interaction models in twins recruited from birth records and assessed prospectively.

Setting

The United States, including states with different recreational cannabis policies before and after 2014, when recreational cannabis was first legalized.

Participants

Two longitudinal, prospectively assessed samples of American twins aged 24–47 (n = 1425 in legal states, n = 1996 in illegal states), including 111 monozygotic pairs discordant for residence.

Measurements

Current cannabis use frequency (measured continuously and ordinally) was the primary outcome, and the predictor was recreational status of cannabis (legal/illegal) in the participant’s state of residence at the time of assessment. Covariates include age, sex and cannabis use frequency prior to 2014.

Findings

Accounting for pre‐2014 use, residents of legal states used cannabis more frequently than residents of illegal states (b = 0.21, P = 8.08 × 10−5). Comparing 111 pairs of monozygotic twins discordant for residence confirmed the effect (b = 0.18, P = 0.014). There was inconclusive evidence for genetic influences on cannabis use frequency that were specific to the legal environment [χ2 = 2.9 × 10−9, degrees of freedom (d.f.) = 1, P > 0.999]. Existing genetic influences were moderated by the legal environment, as the genetic correlation between marijuana use before and after legalization was lower in states that legalized (rgenetic = 0.24) compared with states that did not (rgenetic = 0.78, Pdifference = 0.016).

Conclusions

In the United States, there appears to be a ~ 20% average increase in cannabis use frequency attributable to recreational legalization, consistent across increasingly rigorous designs. In addition, the heritability of cannabis use frequency appears to be moderated by legalization.
Dermoscopic findings and histopathological correlation in large cell acanthoma
Authors: Jung Jang Hwan , Jeong Sun Mun , Kwon Do Ik , Seong Seol Hwa , Jang Ji Yun , Kim Joon Hee , Park Jong Bin , Suh Kee Suck , Jang Min Soo
Published: August 2022

Since large cell acanthoma (LCA) has many overlapping clinical and histopathological features with other epidermal pigmented tumours, an additional method to differentiate it would be of great clinical significance. A retrospective study was performed on 33 lesions (26 patients) to identify distinct dermoscopic findings of LCA and to describe dermoscopic‐histopathological correlations. The results revealed that dermoscopy significantly aids in the distinction of LCA from other epidermal tumours included in the differential diagnosis. Yellow opaque homogeneous background, brown dots, and moth‐eaten border are common findings, and prominent skin markings and short white streaks are additional distinguishing features. Several important findings that are common in other diseases are rare in LCA.
Disturbing Disruptions and Aspirational Participation as an Academic Anthropologist: Reflections on COVID‐19, Neoliberalism, and Climate Change
Authors: Fazzino David
Published: August 2022

In this article, I outline my aspirational participation as an academic anthropologist in the three arenas wherein my worth, and hence expendability, is measured: teaching, scholarship, and service. I reflect on the personal, social, and ecological impacts of my anthropological fieldwork and development over the last two decades in light of the life‐altering effects of COVID‐19. While reflexive turns continue to guide the accountability of researchers to ourselves and our interlocutors in writing and research processes, further consideration of how and where we show up in our teaching and at professional meetings will help to address how neoliberalism has shaped our discipline, leading to a greater realization of anthropology’s transformative potential to address social justice and ecological concerns. I suggest that rather than lamenting the pause provided by COVID‐19 and longing for anthropology and academia as it was, or as we imagined it to be, this disruption might give us pause to draw from our reflexive tradition. The world has been remade, providing anthropologists with additional tools to address our elitism and ecological footprint, including the destruction wrought by our contribution to climate change on some of the same communities for whom we advocate.
Identifying data‐fields for a gastrointestinal cancer clinical quality and safety registry: a systematic literature review
Authors: Unasa Hanson , Hutchinson Alexandra , DeSouza Steve , Poole Lydia , Knudsen Caroline , Hill Andrew , MacCormick Andrew D.
Published: August 2022

Background

Despite considerable advancements in Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer (UGIC) care in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand (AAoNZ), the absolute number of deaths remains high. Clinical Quality and Safety Registries (CQRs) enable benchmarking and performance appraisal, however an AAoNZ CQR does not exist. To create this, we first aim to identify all national and international UGIC CQRs and amalgamate their data fields and definitions through a systematic review.

Methods

A Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) compliant systematic review was performed using Scopus, Embase, Cochrane and MEDLINE databases. Human studies, in English, reporting on the development of and/or results of all CQRs focused on UGIC were included. Individual data fields were extracted and placed into four categories. Data fields could be further synthesized into data field subcategories if there were direct similarities among studies.

Results

A total of 32 studies—23 national audits or registries and nine international benchmarking studies—were included, encompassing 899 073 patients in 48 countries. Of the total of 1710 individual data fields, 1526 (89.2%) were reported with a definition. The most number of data fields related to Treatment Factors (41.2%), with least number pertaining to Outcomes (7.8%).

Conclusions

This systematic review has amalgamated all data fields and definitions from UGIC CQRs or studies. Establishing an AAoNZ Clinical and Quality Safety Registry for our population will enable us to benchmark the performance of our UGIC care internationally. Further studies are indicated in the context of the use of the Delphi method to facilitate this process.
A case‐study approach to mapping Corporate Citizenship
Authors: Homer Stephen T.
Published: August 2022

This explores what responsible business practice within the context of Malaysia, an Eastern collective society, diverging from the Western individualistic society where most Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) research originates. A bottom‐up approach was adopted, incorporating different stakeholder perspectives of a case‐study firm, widely acknowledged for its CSR programs. Concept mapping method was selected because it is a structural conceptualization method designed to organize and represent ideas from an identified group adding structure to disorganized and subjective ideas. By using concept mapping all the various perspectives and ideas were brought together to create a single conceptualization. The findings from the concept mapping present 101 statements which produced seven clusters; Products & Services, Community Oriented, Stakeholder & Business Value, Employee Oriented, Legal & Ethical Responsibilities, Environmental & Social Oriented, and Philanthropic Oriented. These clusters covered the whole conceptual domain of Corporate Citizenship and demonstrated multiple CSR theories, including corporate sustainability, stakeholder concept, and shared value, were apparent, while also uncovering some unique aspects from the normative stakeholder perspective. The implications of this study suggest that while some aspects of globally institutionalized CSR are generically accepted, there are contextually specific aspects which need to be considered as these may contradict or conflict with the “global” standards.
A rapidly expanding cutaneous tumour in the context of a Janus kinase inhibitor agent following allogeneic stem cell transplant
Authors: Davies Anna , Salisbury Jon , Mehra Varun , Papa Sophie , Basu Tanya
Published: August 2022

Ruxolitinib is a selective, Janus kinase (JAK)1 and JAK2 inhibitor, which is effective in management of chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGvHD). However, the ensuing immunosuppressive effects can give rise to aggressive cutaneous tumours, including Merkel cell carcinoma. We present this case to highlight the development of cutaneous tumours with ruxolitinib, an increasingly used therapy, and the challenge of managing such tumours in the context of refractory cGvHD.

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Thick crusted plaques on the periorificial area in a young woman
Authors: Pathania Yashdeep Singh , Budania Anil , Mudugal Ravikumar , Sureka Binit , Khera Sudeep
Published: August 2022

We report a young woman with periorificial erosions and thick crusts mimicking pemphigus foliaceous, who was found to have an underlying pancreatic malignancy with normal blood glucose and glycosylated haemoglobin levels.

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Severe atopic dermatitis and concurrent severe hidradenitis suppurativa successfully treated with dupilumab
Authors: Cho Min Kyung , Shin Jung U , Kim Dong Hyun , Lee Hee Jung
Published: August 2022

We report a clinical experience of treating concomitant atopic dermatitis and hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) with dupilumab. This report is particularly noticeable in terms of disease severity and treatment duration compared to previous reported cases, suggesting long-term dupilumab therapy can contribute to disease control even in patients with severe HS.
Sustained and rebound effect of repeated low‐level red‐light therapy on myopia control: A 2‐year post‐trial follow‐up study
Authors: Xiong Ruilin , Zhu Zhuoting , Jiang Yu , Kong Xiangbin , Zhang Jian , Wang Wei , Kiburg Katerina , Yuan Yixiong , Chen Yanping , Zhang Shiran , Xuan Meng , Zeng Junwen , Morgan Ian G. , He Mingguang
Published: August 2022

Background

To evaluate the long‐term efficacy and safety of continued repeated low‐level red‐light (RLRL) therapy on myopia control over 2 years, and the potential rebound effect after treatment cessation.

Methods

The Chinese myopic children who originally completed the one‐year randomised controlled trial were enrolled. Children continued RLRL‐therapy were defined as RLRL‐RLRL group, while those who stopped and switched to single‐vision spectacle (SVS) in the second year were RLRL‐SVS group. Likewise, those who continued to merely wear SVS or received additional RLRL‐therapy were SVS‐SVS and SVS‐RLRL groups, respectively. RLRL‐therapy was provided by an at‐home desktop light device emitting red‐light of 650 nm and was administered for 3 min at a time, twice a day and 5 days per week. Changes in axial length (AL) and cycloplegic spherical equivalence refraction (SER) were measured.

Results

Among the 199 children who were eligible, 138 (69.3%) children attended the examination and 114 (57.3%) were analysed (SVS‐SVS: n = 41; SVS‐RLRL: n = 10; RLRL‐SVS: n = 52; RLRL‐RLRL: n = 11). The baseline characteristics were balanced among four groups. In the second year, the mean changes in AL were 0.28 ± 0.14 mm, 0.05 ± 0.24 mm, 0.42 ± 0.20 mm and 0.12 ± 0.16 mm in SVS‐SVS, SVS‐RLRL, RLRL‐SVS and RLRL‐RLRL group, respectively (p < 0.001). The respective mean SER changes were −0.54 ± 0.39D, −0.09 ± 0.55D, −0.91 ± 0.48D, and −0.20 ± 0.56D (p < 0.001). Over the 2‐year period, axial elongation and SER progression were smallest in RLRL‐RLRL group (AL: 0.16 ± 0.37 mm; SER: −0.31 ± 0.79D), followed by SVS‐RLRL (AL: 0.44 ± 0.37 mm; SER: −0.96 ± 0.70D), RLRL‐SVS (AL: 0.50 ± 0.28 mm; SER: −1.07 ± 0.69D) and SVS‐SVS group (AL: 0.64 ± 0.29 mm; SER: −1.24 ± 0.63D). No self‐reported adverse events, functional or structural damages were noted.

Conclusions

Continued RLRL therapy sustained promising efficacy and safety in slowing myopia progression over 2 years. A modest rebound effect was noted after treatment cessation.
Fire severity and post‐fire mulching effects on N transformation rates of temperate soils during the first critical winter–spring period
Authors: Fernández‐Fernández María , Rütting Tobias , González‐Prieto Serafin J.
Published: August 2022

Wildfires are increasing worldwide and, therefore, the extents of their on‐ and off‐site impacts are particularly important on soil erosion and nutrient cycles. To mitigate post‐fire erosion, mulching is increasingly being used, but its effects on the nitrogen (N) cycle are poorly known. To fill this gap of knowledge, gross N fluxes were modelled with Ntrace to compare with unburnt soils (US) the effects of intermediate (BI) and high severity (BH) burning, and post‐fire straw mulching (BIM and BHM). Two wildfires, two‐time points after the fire and 20 soil‐treatment combinations were studied. The mineralization of soil organic N to NH4+ (MSON) increased in BI (1.9–6.9×) with respect to US, with no clear trends observed in BH and mulched treatments. In most soils, NH4+ immobilisation in labile () and recalcitrant soil organic matter (SOM) () was more important than abiotic NH4+ fixation () and together were larger (3.5–11×) in BI than in US, while contrasting results were found depending on time after a fire (BH, BHM, BIM) and wildfire characteristics (BHM, BIM). Autotrophic nitrification () was included in the best model for all soils, whereas heterotrophic nitrification (OSON) was undetectable in most BH soils. Total nitrification ( + OSON) decreased with time after the fire in BH, increased in US and BI, and was differently affected by mulching depending on fire severity and time from the fire. While NO3− immobilisation () was frequently modelled only for BI soils, the dissimilatory NO3− reduction to NH4+ (DNRA) was retained in the best models for all soils and it was reduced by soil burning, whereas a short‐lived increase was induced by mulching. Denitrification (), modelled for most soils, was negatively affected by burning and positively by mulching. In summary, wildfires tended to increase MSON and , decrease DNRA and and had no clear influence on and nitrification. These effects are usually mitigated by mulching which, however, tended to enhance nitrification.

Highlights

Direction and magnitude of changes in soil gross N fluxes depend on fire severity.

Usually, wildfires increased MSON and , and decreased DNRA and .

No clear post‐fire trend was found for and nitrification.

Fire effects on gross N fluxes are (partially) counterbalanced by mulching.
Hidden effects of habitat restoration on the persistence of pollination networks
Authors: Gaiarsa Marilia P. , Bascompte Jordi
Published: August 2022

Past and recent studies have focused on the effects of global change drivers such as species invasions on species extinction. However, as we enter the United Nations Decade of Ecosystem Restoration the aim must switch to understanding how invasive‐species management affects the persistence of the remaining species in a community. Focusing on plant‐pollinator interactions, we test how species persistence is affected by restoration via the removal of invasive plant species. Restoration had a clear positive effect on plant persistence, whereas there was no difference between across treatments for pollinator persistence in the early season, but a clear effect in late season, with higher persistence in unrestored sites. Network structure affected only pollinator persistence, while centrality had a strong positive effect on both plants and pollinators. Our results suggest a hidden effect of invasive plants—although they may compete with native plant species, invasive plants may provide important resources for pollinators, at least in the short term.
Developmental plasticity in thermal tolerance: Ontogenetic variation, persistence, and future directions
Authors: Pottier Patrice , Burke Samantha , Zhang Rose Y. , Noble Daniel W. A. , Schwanz Lisa E. , Drobniak Szymon M. , Nakagawa Shinichi
Published: August 2022

Understanding the factors affecting thermal tolerance is crucial for predicting the impact climate change will have on ectotherms. However, the role developmental plasticity plays in allowing populations to cope with thermal extremes is poorly understood. Here, we meta‐analyse how thermal tolerance is initially and persistently impacted by early (embryonic and juvenile) thermal environments by using data from 150 experimental studies on 138 ectothermic species. Thermal tolerance only increased by 0.13°C per 1°C change in developmental temperature and substantial variation in plasticity (~36%) was the result of shared evolutionary history and species ecology. Aquatic ectotherms were more than three times as plastic as terrestrial ectotherms. Notably, embryos expressed weaker but more heterogenous plasticity than older life stages, with numerous responses appearing as non‐adaptive. While developmental temperatures did not have persistent effects on thermal tolerance overall, persistent effects were vastly under‐studied, and their direction and magnitude varied with ontogeny. Embryonic stages may represent a critical window of vulnerability to changing environments and we urge researchers to consider early life stages when assessing the climate vulnerability of ectotherms. Overall, our synthesis suggests that developmental changes in thermal tolerance rarely reach levels of perfect compensation and may provide limited benefit in changing environments.
Potential rebound effects of teleworking on residential and daily mobility
Authors: Hostettler Macias Laura , Ravalet Emmanuel , Rérat Patrick
Published: August 2022

The practice of teleworking has been growing steadily in recent years with the development of ICT and the flexibilisation of work. The Covid‐19 pandemic and its stay‐at‐home restrictions have further accelerated this trend. As teleworking reduces the frequency of commuting, it also reduces CO2emissions and may be seen as a tool to regulate mobility. However, and especially since working from home enables more flexible working, teleworking may have various ‘rebound‘ effects on daily and residential mobility practices. Rebound effects include possible increases in the frequency or distance of journeys, such as an increase in non‐work‐related travel on teleworking days, as well as effects such as residential relocation or multilocal dwelling. In this article we intend to introduce and categorize the existing literature on the potential rebound effects of teleworking on residential and daily mobility. By critically assessing the literature we have identified the major lessons, while also noticing the limits of the research and a scarcity of qualitative approaches to understand how and why people who telework reinvest their non‐commuting time in other forms of mobility. Also missing in the literature is the longitudinal aspect, that is, the consideration of long‐term changes. These gaps have led us to formulate our proposition of a research agenda, where the lifestyle and life course approaches have emerged as crucial tools to understanding the motivations for teleworking and the respective rebound effects on residential and daily mobility.
Diet, nutrition, and cognitive function: A narrative review of Japanese longitudinal studies
Authors: Otsuka Rei
Published: August 2022

In aging societies, the number of older people with cognitive decline and dementia is increasing. Proper nutrition is a key factor that can help in the prevention of these age‐related impairments. This narrative review of longitudinal studies in Japan outlines the relationship between nutrition and the brain and focuses on Japanese nutritional epidemiologic studies. The results of Japanese cohort studies suggest that rather than a single food or nutrient, a nutritionally balanced diet that integrates a variety of foods and nutrients can contribute to the maintenance of brain function and be effective in preventing dementia. In addition, this review considers a nutritional approach to reducing the severity of cognitive decline in individuals with mild cognitive impairment and dementia, and suggests lifelong strategies for the prevention of cognitive decline. It is important that we consider the practice of eating not only as a way to obtain nutrients, but also as an important lifestyle habit to maintain our physical and mental health. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2022; 22: 825–831.
Epidemiological aspects of headache after different types of COVID‐19 vaccines: An online survey
Authors: Magdy Rehab , Khedr Diana , Yacoub Osama , Attia Abeer , Abdelrahman Mona A. , Mekkawy Doaa
Published: August 2022

Background

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) vaccine–related side effects are a key concern with the emergence of various types of vaccines in the market. We aimed to assess the frequency and characteristics of headache following different types of COVID‐19 vaccines.

Methods

Fully vaccinated people were recruited by a convenience sample through an online survey from September 1 to December 1, 2021. Detailed analysis of headache following vaccination was investigated. Participants with a history of pre‐existing headaches were telephone interviewed by a neurologist to ascertain the type of headache.

Results

A total of 1372 participants participated (mean age 32.9 ± 11.1). The highest frequency of headache was reported with the adenoviral vector type (302/563, 53.6%), followed by mRNA vaccines (129/269, 48%) and then the inactivated type (188/540, 34.8%). Recipients of the adenoviral vector type had a significantly longer latency between vaccination and the headache onset (median 8 h [5:12]) than recipients of the inactivated type (median 4 h [2:8], p < 0.001). Headache intensity was significantly higher with the adenoviral vector type (median 6 [5:8]) than with the inactivated type (median 5 [4:7], p < 0.001). Adenoviral vector vaccines would increase the likelihood of headache by 2.38 times more than inactivated vaccines (odds ratio [OR] 2.38, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.83–3.04, p < 0.001). Female sex and thyroid disease were significantly associated with headache related to COVID‐19 vaccines (OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.16–1.99; OR 3.97, 95% CI 1.55–10.2, respectively).

Conclusion

Recipients of the COVID‐19 vaccine should be counseled that they may experience headaches, especially after the adenoviral vector type. However, the intensity of such headache is mild to moderate and can resolve within a few days. Based on the current study design and the potential recall bias, these results may not be generalizable and should be preliminary.
Women accused of killing with others: Experiences of the Scottish criminal justice system
Authors: McPherson Rachel
Published: August 2022

This article examines homicide cases in which women have been accused of killing alongside another person or persons – an area which until now has not been examined in a Scottish context. The findings presented demonstrate that being accused of killing with another person or persons can have particularly adverse effects for women: claims of domestic abuse are more likely to be rejected and ultimately, existing tendencies to construct women as deviant within the criminal justice system will be exacerbated, resulting in more severe punishment when they are convicted under the doctrine of art and part liability. It is concluded that closer attention must be paid to the criminalisation of women who are accused of offending alongside another person or persons, particularly in Scotland where less attention has been paid to how doctrines of derivative liability operate in practice.
Curcumin reduces inflammation in rat apical periodontitis
Authors: Justo Mariana Pagliusi , Cardoso Carolina de Barros Morais , Cantiga‐Silva Cristiane , de Oliveira Pedro Henrique Chaves , Sivieri‐Araújo Gustavo , Azuma Mariane Maffei , Ervolino Edilson , Cintra Luciano Tavares Angelo
Published: August 2022

Aim

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of systemic curcumin administration on the severity of apical periodontitis (AP).

Methodology

Forty male Wistar rats weighing 250–280 g each, age 2.5 months, were distributed into four groups (n = 10): control untreated rats (C), control rats treated with curcumin (CUR), rats with pulp exposure‐induced apical periodontitis (AP) and rats with pulp exposure‐induced apical periodontitis treated with curcumin (AP‐CUR). Curcumin treatment was administered orally once daily for 15 days before pulp exposure and continued for 30 days after pulp exposure. The rats were sacrificed at 30 days, and the jaws were collected and reconstructed in a programme specific for micro‐CT. The jaws were processed for analysis of the inflammatory process using haematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemical assays for interleukin tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐α), interleukin (Il)‐6 and Il‐1β. Tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) and osteocalcin (OCN) staining were used to analyse the resorptive process on the bone surface of periapical area. Kruskal–Wallis with Dunn's test was performed for nonparametric data and anova with Tukey's test for parametric data, p < .05.

Results

Micro‐CT revealed no statistically significant differences in bone resorption between the AP and AP‐CUR groups (p > .05). The levels of inflammatory cell infiltration and immunoreactivity for the proinflammatory cytokines TNF‐α, Il‐6 and Il‐1β were significantly higher in the periapical lesions of the AP group than in the AP‐CUR group (p < .05). The number of TRAP‐positive multinucleated cells was higher in the AP group than in the AP‐CUR group (p < .05). In OCN‐positive cells, no differences were observed between the AP and AP‐CUR groups (p > .05).

Conclusions

Oral supplementation with curcumin had a significant effect on the AP severity in rats, suggesting an anti‐inflammatory effect of curcumin on AP development.
Proteolytic activity and characteristics of skipjack tuna trypsin loaded alginate–chitosan beads as affected by drying methods and trehalose/glycerol
Authors: Patil Umesh , Nagarajarao Ravishankar Chandragiri , Balange Amjad Khansaheb , Zhang Bin , Benjakul Soottawat
Published: August 2022

Trypsin‐loaded beads were produced using alginate and chitosan ionotropic gelation. Effects of drying methods (air‐drying and freeze‐drying) on characteristics and relative trypsin activity (RTA) of beads were studied. More homogeneous, spherical and smoother surface with larger size of beads and higher RTA were obtained by freeze‐drying method than those of air‐drying. Trehalose and/or glycerol at different concentrations (2.5 and 5%, w/v) were added in encapsulating materials and RTA of beads after freeze‐drying and after simulated gastric digestion (SGD) was monitored. Freeze‐dried trypsin beads with 5% glycerol (FDTB‐G5) showed highest RTA after SGD. Moreover, highest degradation was attained when fish mince and sodium caseinate were hydrolysed with FDTB‐G5 at a level of 100% of proteins tested in in vitro simulated gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, FDTB‐G5 had better physical characteristics, which could withstand acidic condition and retain trypsin activity, thus favouring proteolysis when delivered to intestinal tract.
The relationship between subjective socioeconomic status and health in adults with and without intellectual disability
Authors: McMahon Martin , Hatton Chris , Hardy Claire , Preston Nancy J.
Published: August 2022

Background

This study investigated if subjective socioeconomic status (SSS) is related to self‐rated health (SRH) and objective indicators of health in people with and without intellectual disability.

Methods

Participants were 217 adults with, and 2350 adults without intellectual disability in Jersey. In the intellectual disability sample, 85 (39.2%) participants consented independently, while 132 (60.8%) participants consented through proxy procedures. The MacArthur Scale of Subjective Social Status was used to measure SSS. The Euro‐Qol EQ‐5D‐5L and a five‐point scale ranging from poor to excellent health were used to measure SRH.

Results

Higher SSS and younger age were predictors of better SRH for the proxy‐report intellectual disability group. Being employed was associated with higher EQ‐5D‐5L index values for all intellectual disability groups.

Conclusion

As SSS was only related to SRH in the proxy intellectual disability group, further research with a larger intellectual disability sample is needed to explore its utility further.
Cross‐Cultural Adaptation and Psychometric Properties of the Japanese Version of the Attitudes toward Singlehood Scale1,2,3,4
Authors: Tan Chee‐seng , Cheng Siew‐may , Nakayama Tomokazu , Cong Chin wen
Published: August 2022

The nine‐item Attitudes toward Singlehood Scale (AtSS) is a newly developed measurement for people to self‐report their manners toward staying single. The original English‐version AtSS shows sound psychometric properties in the Malaysian and Indian contexts. To necessarily adapt the AtSS in cross‐cultural studies, we developed the Japanese version of the AtSS (AtSS‐J) and examined its psychometric qualities in a sample of 316 Japanese undergraduate students. The participants answered an online survey consisting of the AtSS‐J, a (single‐item) preference for being single, the Mini‐Social Phobia Inventory, the Single Item Narcissism Scale, and the Satisfaction with Life Scale. Confirmatory factor analysis supports that the AtSS‐J has a second‐order factor structure (error covariance specified between Items 3 and 5) composed of three first‐order specific factors (affect, behavior, and cognition). Both Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega estimates indicated good reliability in the AtSS‐J. Moreover, convergent and discriminant validity of the AtSS‐J are evident, while the concurrent validity with life satisfaction as criterion variable showed inconsistent results. Overall, our findings offer preliminary support to the usability of the AtSS‐J.
Real‐life experiences with bulevirtide for the treatment of hepatitis delta—48 weeks data from a German centre
Authors: Zöllner Caroline , Hofmann Jörg , Lutz Katrin , Tacke Frank , Demir Münevver
Published: August 2022

In July 2020, the entry inhibitor bulevirtide was approved in the European Union for the treatment of chronic hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infection. We describe the first 48 weeks of bulevirtide therapy in eight patients (n = 7 male, n = 1 female; n = 3 compensated cirrhosis) treated at our centre. Median ALT values declined from 82 to 34 U/L after 48 weeks. Median HDV RNA dropped from 13 380 000 to 3135 copies/ml. One patient showed no significant response and was discontinued at week 16. Overall, we observed a favourable safety profile and a marked biochemical and virological response in the majority of our patients.
Partial sex linkage and linkage disequilibrium on the guppy sex chromosome
Authors: Qiu Suo , Yong Lengxob , Wilson Alastair , Croft Darren P. , Graham Chay , Charlesworth Deborah
Published: August 2022

The guppy Y chromosome has been considered a model system for the evolution of suppressed recombination between sex chromosomes, and it has been proposed that complete sex‐linkage has evolved across about 3 Mb surrounding this fish's sex‐determining locus, followed by recombination suppression across a further 7 Mb of the 23 Mb XY pair, forming younger “evolutionary strata”. Sequences of the guppy genome show that Y is very similar to the X chromosome. Knowing which parts of the Y are completely nonrecombining, and whether there is indeed a large completely nonrecombining region, are important for understanding its evolution. Here, we describe analyses of PoolSeq data in samples from within multiple natural populations from Trinidad, yielding new results that support previous evidence for occasional recombination between the guppy Y and X. We detected recent demographic changes, notably that downstream populations have higher synonymous site diversity than upstream ones and other expected signals of bottlenecks. We detected evidence of associations between sequence variants and the sex‐determining locus, rather than divergence under a complete lack of recombination. Although recombination is infrequent, it is frequent enough that associations with SNPs can suggest the region in which the sex‐determining locus must be located. Diversity is elevated across a physically large region of the sex chromosome, conforming to predictions for a genome region with infrequent recombination that carries one or more sexually antagonistic polymorphisms. However, no consistently male‐specific variants were found, supporting the suggestion that any completely sex‐linked region may be very small.
Efficacy of contact lenses for myopia control: Insights from a randomised, contralateral study design
Authors: Weng Rebecca , Lan Weizhong , Bakaraju Ravi , Conrad Fabian , Naduvilath Thomas , Yang Zhi‐kuan , Sankaridurg Padmaja
Published: August 2022

Purpose

To determine the efficacy of two myopia control contact lenses (CL) compared with a single‐vision (SV) CL.

Methods

Ninety‐five Chinese children with myopia, aged 7–13 years in a 1‐year prospective, randomised, contralateral, cross‐over clinical trial with 3 groups; bilateral SVCL (Group I); randomised, contralateral wear of an extended depth of focus (EDOF) CL and SVCL (Group II) and MiSight® CL and SVCL (Group III). In Groups II and III, CL were crossed over at the 6‐month point (Stage 1) and worn for a further 6 months (Stage 2). Group I wore SVCL during both stages. At baseline and the end of each stage, cycloplegic spherical equivalent refractive error (SE) and axial length (AL) were measured. Six‐monthly ΔSE/ΔAL across groups was analysed using a linear mixed model (CL type, stage, eye and eye* stage included as factors). Intra‐group paired differences between eyes were determined.

Results

In Group I, mean (SD) ΔSE/ΔAL with SVCL was −0.41 (0.28) D/0.13 (0.09) mm and −0.25 (0.27) D/0.16 (0.09) mm for stages 1 and 2, with a mean paired difference between eyes of 0.01 D/0.01 mm and 0.05 D/−0.01 mm, respectively. ΔSE/ΔAL with SVCL was similar across Groups I to III (Stage 1: p = 0.89/0.44, Stage 2: p = 0.70/ 0.64). In Groups II and III, ΔSE/ΔAL was lower with the EDOF and MiSight® CL than the contralateral SVCL in 68% to 94% of participants, and adjusted 6‐month ΔSE/ΔAL with EDOF was similar to MiSight® (p = 0.49/0.56 for ΔSE/ΔAL, respectively). Discontinuations across the three groups were high, but not different between the groups (33.3%, 48.4% and 50% for Groups I to III, respectively [p = 0.19]) and most discontinuations occurred immediately after baseline.

Conclusions

Extended depth of focus and MiSight® CL demonstrated similar efficacy in slowing myopia. When switched from a myopia control CL to SVCL, myopia progression was similar to that observed with age‐matched wearers in SVCL and not suggestive of rebound.
Understanding anthropogenic impacts on zoogeochemistry is essential for ecological restoration
Authors: Abraham Andrew J. , Duvall Ethan , Ferraro Kristy , Webster Andrea B. , Doughty Christopher E. , le Roux Elizabeth , Ellis‐Soto Diego
Published: August 2022

Ecological restoration is critical for climate and biodiversity resilience over the coming century. Today, there is strong evidence that wildlife can significantly influence the distribution and stoichiometry of elements across landscapes, with subsequent impacts on the composition and functioning of ecosystems. Consequently, any anthropogenic activity that modifies this important aspect of zoogeochemistry, such as changes to animal community composition, diet, or movement patterns, may support or hinder restoration goals. It is therefore imperative that the zoogeochemical effects of such anthropogenic modifications are quantified and mapped at high spatiotemporal resolutions to help inform restoration strategies. Here, we first discuss pathways through which human activities shape wildlife‐mediated elemental landscapes and outline why current frameworks are inadequate to characterize these processes. We then suggest improvements required to comprehensively model, validate, and monitor element recycling and redistribution by wildlife under differing wildlife management scenarios and discuss how this might be implemented in practice through a specific example in the southern Kalahari Desert. With robust ecological forecasting, zoogeochemical impacts of wildlife can thus be used to support ecological restoration and nature‐based solutions to climate change. If ignored in the restoration process, the effects of wildlife on elemental landscapes may delay, or even prevent, restoration success.
Western modernity, cities, and race: Challenges to decolonial praxis in the African diaspora in the Americas
Authors: Góes Juliana
Published: August 2022

How do we decolonize cities? By demanding control over their land and organizing their communities according to ethnic traditions and ancestral ontologies, Afro‐descendant movements in the Americas create territories of life—self‐determined collectives in which people can experience new forms of life. Decolonial authors who have studied these communities define them as a path to decoloniality—a rupture with modern/colonial logics. However, most of the studies focus on communities in rural areas. Why are urban spaces not vital to the debates about decoloniality? Do cities pose specific challenges to the creation of territories of life? This paper explores these questions. Analyzing the urban experience of the African diaspora in the Americas, I argue that urban spaces challenge decoloniality because cities are often represented as the spatial and racial image of Western modernity, as white places of progress and development. I also argue this representation is based on Black people's evisceration. Finally, this paper seeks to contribute to decolonial urban struggles. Thus, I propose an urban decolonial praxis—an analytical lens and a praxis of research committed to decoloniality to explore cities' decolonization through the redefinition of territories of life, the redefinition of what ‘being urban’ means, and the wide range of urban resistances.
How I wonder what you are: Children's songs as a source of mental and internal state information
Authors: Sudo Mioko , Cheung Zoe Ka Pui , Okada Yasuko , Daniels Jaxenne
Published: August 2022

This study investigated (1) whether children's songs could be potential sources of internal state information and (2) cross‐cultural/linguistic differences in the availability of such information. We coded for expressions of mental states and other internal states in 255 English songs, likely accessed by children in the United States, and 255 Japanese songs, likely accessed by Japanese children. The majority of the songs in both samples contained at least one internal state expression, with songs containing four to five tokens and two types of internal state expressions on average. Japanese songs had more types of internal state expressions than English songs when comparing the two samples in proportion scores that controlled for the length of songs. However, differences between English and Japanese songs were negligible in the absolute frequency of tokens and types of internal state expressions, with the exception that Japanese songs were richer in ambiguous internal state expressions.
25 years of psychology research on the “strong black woman”
Authors: Thomas Zharia , Banks Jasmine , Eaton Asia A. , Ward L. Monique
Published: August 2022

The Strong Black woman (SBW) schema refers to the U.S. cultural gender role expectation of Black women as resilient despite adversity, selfless, and serving as caretakers and providers. Previous scholars have examined the nature, origins, and consequences of this schema, including the ways in which Black women navigate the SBW in their workplaces, communities, and relationships. Overall, research frames the schema as a paradox, noting that endorsing the SBW can compromise Black women's health while simultaneously encouraging resilience. In this review, we aim to provide a descriptive and holistic analysis for understanding gaps in the literature, as well as providing suggestions for the future. Using a scoping review, we examine the current state of social science knowledge about the SBW, focusing on its character, socialization practices, and consequences for Black women's physical and mental health. We end by discussing directions for future research on the SBW schema.
Characterization of the novel HLA‐B*53:64 allele by next‐generation sequencing
Authors: Gatouillat Grégory , Tabary Thierry , Tonye‐Libyh Marcelle , Giusti Delphine , Pham Bach Nga
Published: August 2022

HLA‐B*53:64 differs from HLA‐B*53:01:01:01 by one nucleotide substitution at position 1617 in exon 4.
DNA and coding/non‐coding RNA methylation analysis provide insights into tomato fruit ripening
Authors: Guo Susu , Zheng Yanyan , Meng Demei , Zhao Xiaoyan , Sang Zhaoze , Tan Jinjuan , Deng Zhiping , Lang Zhaobo , Zhang Bo , Wang Qing , Bouzayen Mondher , Zuo Jinhua
Published: August 2022

Ripening is the last, irreversible developmental stage during which fruit become palatable, thus promoting seed dispersal by frugivory. In Alisa Craig fruit, mRNAs with increasing m5C levels, such as STPK and WRKY 40, were identified as being involved in response to biotic and abiotic stresses. Furthermore, two mRNAs involved in cell wall metabolism, PG and EXP‐B1, also presented increased m5C levels. In the Nr mutant, several m5C‐modified mRNAs involved in fruit ripening, including those encoding WRKY and MADS‐box proteins, were found. Targets of long non‐coding RNAs and circular RNAs with different m5C sites were also found; these targets included 2‐alkenal reductase, soluble starch synthase 1, WRKY, MADS‐box, and F‐box/ketch‐repeat protein SKIP11. A combined analysis of changes in 5mC methylation and mRNA revealed many differentially expressed genes with differentially methylated regions encoding transcription factors and key enzymes related to ethylene biosynthesis and signal transduction; these included ERF084, EIN3, AP2/ERF, ACO5, ACS7, EIN3/4, EBF1, MADS‐box, AP2/ERF, and ETR1. Taken together, our findings contribute to the global understanding of the mechanisms underlying fruit ripening, thereby providing new information for both fruit and post‐harvest behavior.
The type III polyketide synthase supergene family in plants: complex evolutionary history and functional divergence
Authors: Guo Dongmei , Wang Hanyan , Zhang Shumin , Lan Ting
Published: August 2022

Type III polyketide synthases (PKSs) are key enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of a variety of plant specialized metabolites, including flavonoids, stilbenes, and sporopollenin, to name a few. These enzymes likely played vital roles in plant adaptation during their transition from aquatic to terrestrial habitats and their colonization of specific ecological environments. Members of this supergene family have diverse functions, but how type III PKSs and their functions have evolved remains poorly understood. Here, we conducted comprehensive phylogenomics analysis of the type III PKS supergene family in 60 species representing the major plant lineages and elucidated the classification, origin, and evolutionary history of each class. Molecular evolutionary analysis of the typical chalcone synthase and stilbene synthase types revealed evidence for strong positive natural selection in both the Pinaceae and Fabaceae lineages. The positively selected sites of these proteins include residues at the catalytic tunnel entrance and homodimer interface, which might have driven the functional divergence between the two types. Our results also suggest that convergent evolution of enzymes involved in plant flavonoid biosynthesis is quite common. The results of this study provide new insights into the origin, evolution, and functional diversity of plant type III PKSs. In addition, they serve as a guide for the enzymatic engineering of plant polyketides.