bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Comparative Overview of Disability-Related Employment Laws and Policies in 193 Countries
Authors: Heymann Jody , Wong Elizabeth , Waisath Willetta
Published: April 2021

People with disabilities experience significantly worse employment outcomes than individuals without disabilities. In a study of 91 countries, employment-to-population ratios were significantly lower for people with disabilities. Moreover, studies find clear evidence of discrimination in wages, training, and promotions. The United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (CRPD) commits countries to enact legislation prohibiting discrimination and guaranteeing reasonable accommodation. However, there has yet to be a global systematic analysis of the extent to which countries are upholding their CRPD commitments. We built the first global database to document employment-related legislative provisions in all countries for persons with disabilities. We report on non-discrimination protections and reasonable accommodation across all 193 UN member states. We found progress and ongoing gaps. Sixty-two percent of countries broadly prohibit disability-based employment discrimination, but far fewer prohibit indirect discrimination (33%) and harassment (30%). Just over half (52%) of countries guarantee reasonable accommodation to workers with disabilities. Similarly, just over half of countries (53%) do not prohibit pay discrimination or discrimination in promotion/demotion. In conclusion, we discuss the need to address gaps in national legislation and to enhance efforts to implement and enforce existing legal rights.
Women and Policing: An Assessment of Factors Related to the Likelihood of Pursuing a Career as a Police Officer
Authors: Diaz Vanessa M. , Nuño Lidia E.
Published: April 2021

Law enforcement is still considered a male dominated occupation resulting in the underrepresentation of women in sworn personnel positions. While it is critical for police departments to have a more representative police force, there is a lack of research on the factors that affect the likelihood of women entering policing. Past studies suggest that men and women have similar reasons for joining policing. However, research on the factors that deter potential candidates from pursuing this career path is limited. This paper examines factors that may affect the likelihood of women pursuing a career in policing. We rely on data collected from a sample of undergraduate students enrolled in criminal justice courses (n = 421). Our results show that, relative to men, women are less likely to be interested in pursuing a career as a police officer. However, more than half of the women in our sample reported interest in pursuing a career in policing. We find that for men and women, the likelihood for pursuing a career in policing was affected by a number of personal characteristics and the current socio-political climate. While a notable limitation of our study is its limited generalizability, overall, our findings offer some promise for the potential of representative policing.
Ab interno 180-degree trabeculectomy with a dual blade in a patient with refractory primary congenital glaucoma
Authors: Koylu Mehmet Talay , Mutlu Fatih Mehmet , Yilmaz Alper Can
Published: April 2021

A 13-year-old female patient with refractory primary congenital glaucoma (PCG) in the right eye who had a history of multiple glaucoma operations underwent ab interno 180-degree trabeculectomy with the Kahook Dual Blade (KDB) targeting the nasal and inferior angles. On postoperative day 1, the intraocular pressure (IOP) of the right eye reduced from 43 to 15 mmHg while on medical therapy. The patient maintained this IOP level throughout the 6-month follow-up. Ab interno KDB trabeculectomy targeting both nasal and inferior angles may be an effective and safe procedure for the treatment of PCG even in eyes with a history of previously failed glaucoma procedures.
Treatment of neovascular age related macular degeneration during COVID-19 pandemic: The short term consequences of unintended lapses
Authors: Sekeroglu Mehmet Ali , Kilinc Hekimsoy Hilal , Horozoglu Ceran Tugce , Doguizi Sibel
Published: April 2021

Aim:

To investigate the short-term effects of COVID-19 pandemic related unintended treatment lapses on neovascular age related macular degeneration (nAMD) patients.

Methods:

In this prospective cross-sectional study, 140 patients who had at least one anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injection for nAMD within 12 months before COVID-19 pandemic and who had at least 3 months of unintended lapse for control visits during pandemic were recruited and underwent a detailed opthalmological examination and optical coherence tomography imaging.

Results:

Of these 140 eyes, 113 (80.7%) were active with presence of either intraretinal and/or subretinal fluid and necessitated intravitreal anti-VEGF injections; and 20 (14.3%) of them complicated with subretinal hemorrhage. The mean interval of clinical visits and intravitreal antiVEGF injections were found to be prolonged during COVID-19 pandemics, which demonstrates a statistically significant lapse for both ( p = 0.001 and p = 0.003 consecutively). The decreased visual acuity due to lapse was positively correlated with number of intravitreal anti-VEGF injections at last 6 months before COVID-19 pandemic ( r = 0.217, p = 0.010) and central subfoveal thickness at first post-COVID-19 visit ( r = 0.175, p = 0.038); and negatively correlated with follow-up duration ( r = −0.231, p = 0.006) and number of control visits ( r = −0.243, p = 0.004). Fifteen (16.9%) of the 89 patients who had drusen in the fellow eye before COVID-19 pandemic evolved to nAMD with an accompanying subretinal and/or intraretinal fluid.

Conclusion:

Unintended lapses during COVID-19 pandemic resulted with poor functional and structural outcomes for nAMD patients, especially for those at the beginning of the treatment period and who still have an unstable clinical course.
Multimodal imaging of optic disc melanocytoma
Authors: Mazzini Cinzia , Vicini Giulio , Nicolosi Cristina , Pieretti Giulia , Rizzo Stanislao
Published: April 2021

Purpose:

To describe the findings of four patients (four eyes) with optic disc melanocytoma (ODM), using multimodal imaging.

Methods:

Retrospective case series.

Results:

On ocular ultrasonography ODMs appeared as hyperechogenic lesions with moderate-to-high internal reflectivity. On blue-light fundus autofluorescence, ODMs showed total hypoautofluorescence, while, on infrared reflectance images appeared as bright and well-marginated lesions. MultiColor composite images showed reddish-brown lesions with well-defined margins. Swept-source optical coherence tomography revealed elevated lesions covering the optic disc with an irregular hyperreflective surface, dishomogeneous internal structure with hyperreflective dots, and posterior shadowing. In all cases optical coherence tomography angiography detected intratumoral blood vessels which were not detectable with fluorescein angiography.

Conclusion:

Multimodal imaging in ODM might be useful both at presentation, increasing the diagnostic accuracy, and at follow-up, providing helpful details, that can help to rule out the possibility of malignant transformation and other ocular complications.
Criminalization or instrumentalism? New trends in the field of border criminology
Authors: Brandariz José A
Published: April 2021

The crimmigration literature has underlined the increasing merging of criminal law and immigration law practices and procedures. Border criminology literature, in turn, has recently scrutinized the penal scenario in which this alleged fusion is taking place. Both pieces of scholarship, though, largely overlook the agonistic coexistence of border control interests and crime prevention aims, as well as the preference given to immigration enforcement arrangements over criminal law procedures in many jurisdictions. By drawing on a number of cases mainly—albeit not exclusively—taken from Spanish crimmigration policies, this article examines what may be called the ‘instrumentalism’ strategies that are notably transforming crime control practices targeting noncitizens, and the criminal justice system in its entirety.
Health literacy responsiveness: a cross-sectional study among pregnant women in Denmark
Authors: Brorsen Eva , Rasmussen Trine D. , Ekstrøm Claus T. , Osborne Richard H. , Villadsen Sarah F.
Published: April 2021

Aims: Communication barriers in healthcare encounters contribute to ethnic inequality in health outcomes. This study aimed to examine, in a large national Danish sample of women, whether ethnicity was associated with pregnant women’s Active engagement with healthcare providers. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 1898 pregnant women attending 19 Danish maternity wards. The key variable of interest was maternal ethnicity among ethnic Danish, European, African and Asian immigrant women and their descendants. Syrian immigrant women were studied as a subgroup. The outcome was the health literacy questionnaire domain Ability to engage actively with healthcare providers (five-item domain scored from ‘cannot do/always difficult’ (1) to ‘always easy’ (5)) which is a reflection of a respondent’s lived experiences of engaging with healthcare providers. Adjusted mixed effect multivariate linear regression was used to compare Active engagement across groups expressed as the mean difference (95% confidence interval). Results: Lower means of Active engagement were reported for immigrant women compared to ethnic Danish women in all models. When adjusting for age, parity, complications and occupation, the difference between ethnic Danish women’s Active engagement and other groups was smallest among European –0.15 (–0.26 to –0.05), slightly larger in African –0.19 (–0.40 to 0.02), and largest in Asian immigrant women –0.31 (–0.41 to –0.21). Syrian immigrant women had the largest difference –0.42 (–0.58 to –0.27). Conclusions: Pregnant immigrant women reported lower means of Active engagement than ethnic Danish women did. Increased health literacy responsiveness in maternity care is required to mitigate the potential for differential care and health inequity.
Socio-economic differences in smoking among adolescents in a school-based smoking intervention: The X:IT II study
Authors: Bast Lotus S. , Lund Lisbeth , LauemØller Stine G. , Kjeld Simone G. , Due Pernille , Andersen Anette
Published: April 2021

Aims: Socio-economic inequalities in health behaviour may be influenced by health interventions. We examined whether the X:IT II intervention, aiming at preventing smoking in adolescence, was equally effective among students from different occupational social classes (OSC). Methods: We used data from the multi-component school-based smoking preventive intervention X:IT II, targeting 13- to 15-year-olds in Denmark. The intervention was tested in 46 schools with 2307 eligible students at baseline (response rate=86.6%) and had three main intervention components: smoke-free school time, smoke-free curriculum and parental involvement. We used a difference-in-difference design and estimated the change in current smoking after the first year of implementation in high versus low OSC. Analyses were based on available cases ( N=1190) and imputation of missing data at follow-up ( N=1967). Results: We found that 1% of the students from high OSC and 4.9% from low OSC were smokers at baseline (imputed data), and 8.2% of the students from high OSC and 12.2% from low OSC were smokers at follow-up. Difference-in-difference estimates were close to zero, indicating no differential trajectory. Conclusions: As intended, the X:IT II intervention, designed to apply equally to students from all socio-economic groups, did not seem to create different trajectories in current smoking among adolescents in high and low socio-economic groups. To diminish social inequality in health, future studies should carefully consider the ability to affect all socio-economic groups equally, or even to appeal mainly to participants from lower socio-economic groups, as they are often the ones most in need of intervention.
Bodies, non-human matter and the micropolitical production of sociomaterial dis/advantage
Authors: Fox Nick J , Alldred Pam
Published: April 2021

This article sets out a more-than-human framework within which to explore the contribution of non-human matter to social inequality. Applying an approach based in Deleuzian ethology, we extend three invitations: to address the multiplicity and fluidity of dis/advantage, to explore its production in everyday interactions, and to acknowledge non-human as well as human matter in the emergence of dis/advantage. The article examines how the interactions between human and non-human matter produce and reproduce context-specific bodily capacities and incapacities, and consequently ‘a thousand tiny dis/advantages’. These dis/advantages may accumulate to produce substantive inequalities and social divisions. An illustrative re-reading of Paul Willis’s 1970s study of the cultural reproduction of social inequality Learning to Labour reveals the complex ways in which daily encounters between human and non-human matter produce both transient and lasting dis/advantage. We conclude with a discussion of the implications of this more-than-human perspective for the sociological study of inequality.
Automated caries detection with smartphone color photography using machine learning
Authors: Duong Duc Long , Kabir Malitha Humayun , Kuo Rong Fu
Published: April 2021

Untreated caries is significant problem that affected billion people over the world. Therefore, the appropriate method and accuracy of caries detection in clinical decision-making in dental practices as well as in oral epidemiology or caries research, are required urgently. The aim of this study was to introduce a computational algorithm that can automate recognize carious lesions on tooth occlusal surfaces in smartphone images according to International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS). From a group of extracted teeth, 620 unrestored molars/premolars were photographed using smartphone. The obtained images were evaluated for caries diagnosis with the ICDAS II codes, and were labeled into three classes: “No Surface Change” ( NSC); “Visually Non-Cavitated” ( VNC); “Cavitated” ( C). Then, a two steps detection scheme using Support Vector Machine (SVM) has been proposed: “ C versus (VNC  +  NSC)” classification, and “ VNC versus NSC” classification. The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of best model were 92.37%, 88.1%, and 96.6% for “ C versus (VNC  +  NSC),” whereas they were 83.33%, 82.2%, and 66.7% for “ VNC versus NSC.” Although the proposed SVM system required further improvement and verification, with the data only imaged from the smartphone, it performed an auspicious potential for clinical diagnostics with reasonable accuracy and minimal cost.
An optimized variational mode extraction method for rolling bearing fault diagnosis
Authors: Pang Bin , Nazari Mojtaba , Sun Zhenduo , Li Jiaying , Tang Guiji
Published: April 2021

The fault feature signal of rolling bearing can be characterized as the narrow-band signal with a specific resonance frequency. Therefore, resonance demodulation analysis is a powerful damage detection technique of bearings. In addition to the fault feature signal, the measured vibration signals carry various interference components, and these interference components become a serious obstacle of fault feature extraction. Variational mode extraction is a novel signal analysis method designed to retrieve a specific signal component from the composite signal. Variational mode extraction is founded on a similar basis as variational mode decomposition, while it shows better accuracy and higher efficiency compared with variational mode decomposition. In this study, variational mode extraction is introduced to the resonance demodulation analysis of bearing fault. As the results of variational mode extraction analysis are greatly influenced by the choice of two parameters, that is, the balancing factor α and the initial guess of center frequency ωd, an optimized variational mode extraction method is further developed. First, a new fault information evaluation index for measuring the richness of fault characteristics of the signal, termed ensemble impulsiveness and cyclostationarity, is formulated. Second, the ensemble impulsiveness and cyclostationarity is used as the fitness function of particle swarm optimization to automatically determine the optimal values of α and ωd. Finally, the validity of optimized variational mode extraction method is verified by simulated and experimental analysis, and the superiority of optimized variational mode extraction method is highlighted through comparison with two other advanced resonance demodulation analysis approaches, that is, the improved kurtogram and infogram. The analysis results indicate that optimized variational mode extraction method has a powerful capability of resonance demodulation analysis.
Levels of What?Investigating Drivers’ Understanding of Different Levels of Automation in Vehicles
Authors: Novakazi Fjollë , Johansson Mikael , Strömberg Helena , Karlsson MariAnne
Published: April 2021

Extant levels of automation (LoAs) taxonomies describe variations in function allocations between the driver and the driving automation system (DAS) from a technical perspective. However, these taxonomies miss important human factors issues and when design decisions are based on them, the resulting interaction design leaves users confused. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to describe how users perceive different DASs by eliciting insights from an empirical driving study facilitating a Wizard-of-Oz approach, where 20 participants were interviewed after experiencing systems on two different LoAs under real driving conditions. The findings show that participants talked about the DAS by describing different relationships and dependencies between three different elements: the context (traffic conditions, road types), the vehicle (abilities, limitations, vehicle operations), and the driver (control, attentional demand, interaction with displays and controls, operation of vehicle), each with associated aspects that indicate what users identify as relevant when describing a vehicle with automated systems. Based on these findings, a conceptual model is proposed by which designers can differentiate LoAs from a human-centric perspective and that can aid in the development of design guidelines for driving automation.
Influence of tool edge form factor and cutting parameters on milling performance
Authors: Zhao Xuefeng , Qin Hao , Feng Zhiguo
Published: April 2021

Tool edge preparation can improve the tool life, as well as cutting performance and machined surface quality, meeting the requirements of high-speed and high-efficiency cutting. In general, prepared tool edges could be divided into symmetric or asymmetric edges. In the present study, the cemented carbide tools were initially edge prepared through drag finishing. The simulation model of the carbide cemented tool milling steel was established through Deform software. Effects of edge form factor, spindle speed, feed per tooth, axial, and radial cutting depth on the cutting force, the tool wear, the cutting temperature, and the surface quality were investigated through the orthogonal cutting simulation. The simulated cutting force results were compared to the results obtained from the orthogonal milling experiment through the dynamometer Kistler, which verified the simulation model correctness. The obtained results provided a basis for edge preparation effect along with high-speed and high effective cutting machining comprehension.
The unique role of novel linguistic labels on the disengagement of visual attention
Authors: Calignano Giulia , Valenza Eloisa , Vespignani Francesco , Russo Sofia , Sulpizio Simone
Published: April 2021

Do novel linguistic labels have privileged access to attentional resources compared to non-linguistic labels? This study explores this possibility through two experiments with a training and an attentional overlap task. Experiment 1 investigates how novel label and object-only stimuli influence resource allocation and disengagement of visual attention. Experiment 2 tests the impact of linguistic information on visual attention by comparing novel tones and labels. Because disengagement of attention is affected both by the salience of the perceptual stimulus and by the degree of familiarity with the stimulus to be disengaged from, we compared pupil size variations and saccade latency under different test conditions: (a) consistent with (i.e., identical to) the training; (b) inconsistent with the training (i.e., with an altered feature), and (c) deprived of one feature only in Experiment 1. Experiment 1 indicated a general consistency advantage (and deprived disadvantage) driven by linguistic label-object pairs compared to object-only stimuli. Experiment 2 revealed that tone-object pairs led to higher pupil dilation and longer saccade latency than linguistic label-object pairs. Our results suggest that novel linguistic labels preferentially impact the early orienting of attention.
Acceptability of collecting speech samples from the elderly via the telephone
Authors: Diaz-Asper Catherine , Chandler Chelsea , Turner R Scott , Reynolds Brigid , Elvevåg Brita
Published: April 2021

Objective

There is a critical need to develop rapid, inexpensive and easily accessible screening tools for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We report on the efficacy of collecting speech via the telephone to subsequently develop sensitive metrics that may be used as potential biomarkers by leveraging natural language processing methods.

Methods

Ninety-one older individuals who were cognitively unimpaired or diagnosed with MCI or AD participated from home in an audio-recorded telephone interview, which included a standard cognitive screening tool, and the collection of speech samples. In this paper we address six questions of interest: (1) Will elderly people agree to participate in a recorded telephone interview? (2) Will they complete it? (3) Will they judge it an acceptable approach? (4) Will the speech that is collected over the telephone be of a good quality? (5) Will the speech be intelligible to human raters? (6) Will transcriptions produced by automated speech recognition accurately reflect the speech produced?

Results

Participants readily agreed to participate in the telephone interview, completed it in its entirety, and rated the approach as acceptable. Good quality speech was produced for further analyses to be applied, and almost all recorded words were intelligible for human transcription. Not surprisingly, human transcription outperformed off the shelf automated speech recognition software, but further investigation into automated speech recognition shows promise for its usability in future work.

Conclusion

Our findings demonstrate that collecting speech samples from elderly individuals via the telephone is well tolerated, practical, and inexpensive, and produces good quality data for uses such as natural language processing.
Former Employer’s Prestige, the TMT’s Post-Migration Rewards in the Biopharma Industry
Authors: Malik Tariq H. , Huo Chunhui
Published: April 2021

Recruiters and researchers of TMT (top management teams) tend to emphasize the human capital and social capital of the executive in the interfirm migration, but they ignore the role of the former employer’s prestige. We address this issue to argue that the former employer’s organizational prestige attracts the recruiter’s attention to the TMT, and we propose that the TMT from high-prestige organization attracts high rewards than the TMT from a low-prestige organization. We used data from the biotechnology sector on 1,468 TMTs, their 1,482 hiring events, 783 recruiters, 168 source employers—in the interfirm movement of the TMTs from 1997 to 2005. We used three measures for predictors of the organizational prestige of the former employer, and the regression analysis shows some reflections of those predictors of rewards of the hired executive. The result shows that the organizational age, size, and alliance network of the former employer emit value signals to the recruiter. These components of organizational prestige predict increase in the rewards after controlling for the human capital of the TMT. The study contributes to organizational context as a predictor of value, institutional theory, and general implications for practice and policy.
International Students’ Experience With Health Care in Japan
Authors: Soneta Masumi , Kondo Akiko , Abuliezi Renaguli , Kimura Aya
Published: April 2021

The number of foreign residents and visitors in Japan is increasing, which necessitates culturally competent care in hospitals. This study aimed to describe the experience of international students who visited hospitals in Japan. In total, nine international graduate students in a medical university participated in semi-structured interviews in English. The interview contents were transcribed and analyzed using content analysis. While participants were satisfied with an efficient medical system and kind staff, they also had difficulty communicating with staff and receiving health care due to language and cultural differences. Participants desired Japanese health care staff speak English, as well as have English documents. The differences from their own countries were mainly medical fees, insurance, the medical system itself, and use of English to communicate with foreign patients. It is necessary to improve staff’s English skills, provide English documents, use multilanguage interpreter services, and explain Japanese hospitals’ medical system.
Do Relationship Marketing Constructs Enhance Consumer Retention? An Empirical Study Within the Hotel Industry
Authors: Salem Suha Fouad
Published: April 2021

The increasing growth of new hotels in the Malaysian domestic market indicates that the hospitality and tourism industry is growing rapidly. As a result, there will be high competition as customers can easily switch from one hotel to the other. Therefore, to maintain competition in the market, it is crucial for hotels to recognize the importance of conflict handling, trust, and customer commitment in maintaining good relationships with their customers. Hence, the objective of this study is to study, relationship marketing constructs such as conflict handling, trust, and commitment are evaluated based on their direct and indirect relationships with customer retention. Overall, 188 questionnaires were collected from hotel guests in Malaysia to evaluate the structural relationships between these constructs and the performance of the measurement model using SmartPLS 3.2.3. Moreover, the importance-performance map analysis (IPMA) was used to identify measures that could be utilized to enhance management activities. The research outcomes of this study indicated that customer retention is directly influenced by conflict handling, whereas customer engagement is directly affected by trust, conflict handling, and commitment. However, conflict handling, commitment, and trust indirectly affected customer retention via customer engagement. The IPMA also revealed several aspects to help decision-makers and managers prioritize their actions efficiently. The results of this study revealed that customer engagement and conflict handling had the highest effect, whereas commitment and customer engagement had the highest performance on customer retention in the hotel industry. Therefore, to maintain customer loyalty, it is recommended that hotel managers prioritize their customers’ complaints and resolve them effectively.
Extended thromboprophylaxis for medically ill patients with cancer: a systemic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Osataphan Soravis , Patell Rushad , Chiasakul Thita , Khorana Alok A. , Zwicker Jeffrey I.
Published: April 2021

Hospitalized medically ill patients with cancer are at increased risk of both venous thromboembolism and bleeding. The safety and efficacy of extended thromboprophylaxis in patients with cancer are unclear. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature using of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane CENTRAL databases to identify cancer subgroups enrolled in randomized controlled trials evaluating extended thromboprophylaxis following hospitalization. The primary outcomes were symptomatic and incidental venous thromboembolic events and hemorrhage (major hemorrhage and clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding). Four randomized controlled trials reported the outcomes of extended thromboprophylaxis in 3655 medically ill patients with active or history of cancer. The rates of venous thromboembolic events were similar between the extended-duration and standard-duration groups (odds ratio [OR], 0.85; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.61-1.18; I2 = 0%). However, major and clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding occurred significantly more frequently in the extended-duration thromboprophylaxis group (OR, 2.10; 95% CI, 1.33-3.35; I2 = 8%). Extended thromboprophylaxis in hospitalized medically ill patients with cancer was not associated with a reduced rate of venous thromboembolic events but was associated with increased risk of hemorrhage. This study protocol was registered on PROSPERO as #CRD42020209333.
mTOR inhibitor improves autistic-like behaviors related to Tsc2 haploinsufficiency but not following developmental status epilepticus
Authors: Petrasek Tomas , Vojtechova Iveta , Klovrza Ondrej , Tuckova Klara , Vejmola Cestmir , Rak Jakub , Sulakova Anna , Kaping Daniel , Bernhardt Nadine , de Vries Petrus J. , Otahal Jakub , Waltereit Robert
Published: April 2021

Background

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), a multi-system genetic disorder often associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is caused by mutations of TSC1 or TSC2, which lead to constitutive overactivation of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). In several Tsc1+/- and Tsc2+/- animal models, cognitive and social behavior deficits were reversed by mTOR inhibitors. However, phase II studies have not shown amelioration of ASD and cognitive deficits in individuals with TSC during mTOR inhibitor therapy. We asked here if developmental epilepsy, common in the majority of individuals with TSC but absent in most animal models, could explain the discrepancy.

Methods

At postnatal day P12, developmental status epilepticus (DSE) was induced in male Tsc2+/- (Eker) and wild-type rats, establishing four experimental groups including controls. In adult animals (n = 36), the behavior was assessed in the paradigms of social interaction test, elevated plus-maze, light-dark test, Y-maze, and novel object recognition. The testing was carried out before medication (T1), during a 2-week treatment with the mTOR inhibitor everolimus (T2) and after an 8-week washing-out (T3). Electroencephalographic (EEG) activity was recorded in a separate set of animals (n = 18).

Results

Both Tsc2+/- mutation and DSE caused social behavior deficits and epileptiform EEG abnormalities (T1). Everolimus led to a persistent improvement of the social deficit induced by Tsc2+/-, while deficits related to DSE did not respond to everolimus (T2, T3).

Conclusions

These findings may contribute to an explanation why ASD symptoms in individuals with TSC, where comorbid early-onset epilepsy is common, were not reliably ameliorated by mTOR inhibitors in clinical studies.
Social cognition in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome and idiopathic developmental neuropsychiatric disorders
Authors: Jalal Rhideeta , Nair Aarti , Lin Amy , Eckfeld Ariel , Kushan Leila , Zinberg Jamie , Karlsgodt Katherine H. , Cannon Tyrone D. , Bearden Carrie E.
Published: April 2021

Background

22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS) is a common recurrent neurogenetic condition associated with elevated risk for developmental neuropsychiatric disorders and intellectual disability. Children and adults with 22q11DS often exhibit marked social impairment as well as neurocognitive deficits, and have elevated rates of both autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and psychosis. However, the relationship between the basic processes of social cognition and cognitive ability has not been well studied in 22q11DS. Here, we examined differences in social cognition in 22q11DS, relative to multiple groups of idiopathic neuropsychiatric disorders, and typically developing healthy controls (HC). Additionally, we examined differences in intellectual functioning and its relationship to social cognitive abilities. Finally, we examined the relationship between social cognitive abilities and real-world social behavior.

Methods

We examined social cognition and intellectual functioning in 273 participants (mean age = 17.74 ± 5.18% female = 44.3%): 50 with 22q11DS, 49 youth with first episode psychosis (FEP), 48 at clinical high-risk (CHR) for psychosis, 24 participants with ASD, and 102 HC. Social cognition was assessed using The Awareness of Social Inference Test (TASIT), while reciprocal social behavior was assessed via parent/caregiver ratings on the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS). Participants were also administered the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence, 2nd edition (WASI-II) to assess intellectual functioning.

Results

The 22q11DS group exhibited significantly lower social cognitive abilities compared to CHR, FEP, and HC groups after controlling for intellectual functioning, but not in comparison to the ASD group. Significant positive correlations were found between social cognition, as measured by the TASIT and IQ across groups. In contrast, no significant relationships were found between TASIT and real-world social behavior (SRS) for any group.

Conclusions

Our findings indicate social cognitive deficits are more prominent in 22q11DS than idiopathic neuropsychiatric conditions across the age range, even after adjusting for global intellectual function. These results contribute to our understanding of the intellectual and social vulnerabilities of 22q11DS in comparison to idiopathic neuropsychiatric disorders. Our findings of robust associations between intellectual ability and social cognition emphasizes the importance of accounting for neurocognitive deficits in social skills interventions and tailoring these existing treatment models for 22q11DS and other populations with intellectual impairment.
Early childhood traffic-related air pollution and risk of allergic rhinitis at 2–4 years of age modification by family stress and male gender: a case-control study in Shenyang, China
Authors: Hao Shuai , Yuan Fang , Pang Pai , Yang Bo , Jiang Xuejun , Yan Aihui
Published: April 2021

Background

Few studies have explored the modifications by family stress and male gender in the relationship between early exposure to traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) and allergic rhinitis (AR) risk in preschool children.

Methods

We conducted a case-control study of 388 children aged 2–4 years in Shenyang, China. These children AR were diagnosed by clinicians. By using measured concentrations from monitoring stations, we estimated the exposures of particulate matter less than 10 μm in diameter (PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), carbon monoxide (CO), and sulfur dioxide (SO2) in preschool children aged 2–4 years. After adjusted potential confounding factors, we used logistic regression model to evaluate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for childhood AR with exposure to different air pollutants according to the increasing of the interquartile range (IQR) in the exposure level.

Results

The prevalence of AR in children aged 2–4 years (6.4%) was related to early TRAP exposure. With an IQR (20 μg/m3) increase in PM10 levels, an adjusted OR was significantly elevated by 1.70 (95% CI, 1.19 to 2.66). Also, with an IQR (18 μg/m3) increase in NO2, an elevated adjusted OR was 1.85 (95% CI, 1.52 to 3.18). Among children with family stress and boys, PM10 and NO2 were positively related to AR symptoms. No significant association was found among children without family stress and girls.

Conclusions

Family stress and male gender may increase the risk of AR in preschool children with early exposure to PM10 and NO2.
Wild rice harbors more root endophytic fungi than cultivated rice in the F1 offspring after crossbreeding
Authors: Tian Lei , Wang Enze , Lin Xiaolong , Ji Li , Chang Jingjing , Chen Hongping , Wang Jilin , Chen Dazhou , Tran Lam-Son Phan , Tian Chunjie
Published: April 2021

Background

Rice, which serves as a staple food for more than half of the world’s population, is grown worldwide. The hybridization of wild and cultivated rice has enabled the incorporation of resistance to varying environmental conditions. Endophytic microbiota are known to be transferred with their host plants. Although some studies have reported on the endophytic microbiota of wild and cultivated rice, the inheritance from wild and cultivated rice accessions in next generations, in terms of endophytic microbiota, has not been examined.

Results

In the present study, the endophytic microbial community structures of Asian and African wild and cultivated rice species were compared with those of their F1 offspring. High-throughput sequencing data of bacterial 16S rDNA and fungal internal transcribed spacer regions were used to classify the endophytic microbiota of collected samples of rice. Results indicated that when either African or Asian wild rice species were crossed with cultivated rice accessions, the first generation harbored a greater number of root endophytic fungi than the cultivated parent used to make the crosses. Network analysis of the bacterial and fungal operational taxonomic units revealed that Asian and African wild rice species clustered together and exhibited a greater number of significant correlations between fungal taxa than cultivated rice. The core bacterial genus Acidovorax and the core fungal order Pleosporales, and genera Myrothecium and Bullera connected African and Asian wild rice accessions together, and both the wild rice accessions with their F1 offspring. On the other hand, the core bacterial genus Bradyrhizobium and the core fungal genera Dendroclathra linked the African and Asian cultivated rice accessions together.

Conclusions

This study has theoretical significance for understanding the effect of breeding on the inheritance of endophytic microbiota of rice and identifying beneficial endophytic bacteria and fungi among wild and cultivated rice species, and their F1 offspring.
Population and subspecies diversity at mouse centromere satellites
Authors: Arora Uma P. , Charlebois Caleigh , Lawal Raman Akinyanju , Dumont Beth L.
Published: April 2021

Background

Mammalian centromeres are satellite-rich chromatin domains that execute conserved roles in kinetochore assembly and chromosome segregation. Centromere satellites evolve rapidly between species, but little is known about population-level diversity across these loci.

Results

We developed ak-mer based method to quantify centromere copy number and sequence variation from whole genome sequencing data. We applied this method to diverse inbred and wild house mouse (Mus musculus) genomes to profile diversity across the core centromere (minor) satellite and the pericentromeric (major) satellite repeat. We show that minor satellite copy number varies more than 10-fold among inbred mouse strains, whereas major satellite copy numbers span a 3-fold range. In contrast to widely held assumptions about the homogeneity of mouse centromere repeats, we uncover marked satellite sequence heterogeneity within single genomes, with diversity levels across the minor satellite exceeding those at the major satellite. Analyses in wild-caught mice implicate subspecies and population origin as significant determinants of variation in satellite copy number and satellite heterogeneity. Intriguingly, we also find that wild-caught mice harbor dramatically reduced minor satellite copy number and elevated satellite sequence heterogeneity compared to inbred strains, suggesting that inbreeding may reshape centromere architecture in pronounced ways.

Conclusion

Taken together, our results highlight the power ofk-mer based approaches for probing variation across repetitive regions, provide an initial portrait of centromere variation acrossMus musculus,and lay the groundwork for future functional studies on the consequences of natural genetic variation at these essential chromatin domains.
In-vitro compatibility assay of indigenous Trichoderma and Pseudomonas species and their antagonistic activities against black root rot disease (Fusarium solani) of faba bean (Vicia faba L.)
Authors: Dugassa Alemayehu , Alemu Tesfaye , Woldehawariat Yitbarek
Published: April 2021

Background

Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) cultivation is highly challenged by faba bean black root rot disease (Fusarium solani) in high lands of Ethiopia. To ensure sustainable production of faba beans, searching for eco-friendly disease management options is necessary to curb the progress of the disease timely. The indigenous biocontrol agents that suit local environments may effectively strive with in-situ microorganisms and suppress local pathogen strains. This study aimed to screen antagonistic indigenous compatible Trichoderma and Pseudomonas strains against Fusarium solani. In the pathogenicity test, soil-filled pots were arranged in complete random block design and sown with health faba bean seeds. The effect of some fungicides was evaluated against Fusarium by food poisoning methods to compare with the biocontrol agents. The antagonistic efficacy of biocontrol agents and their compatibility was investigated on Potato dextrose agar medium.

Results

Fusarium solani AAUF51 strain caused an intense root rotting in faba bean plant. The effect of Mancozeb 80% WP at 300 ppm was comparable with Trichoderma and Pseudomonas strains against Fusarium. The mycelial growth of test the pathogen was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) reduced to 86.67 and 85.19% by Trichoderma harzianum AAUW1 and Trichoderma viridae AAUC22 strains in dual culture, respectively. The volatile metabolites of Pseudomonas aeruginosa AAUS31 (77.78%) found the most efficient in reducing mycelial growth of Fusarium followed by Pseudomonas fluorescens AAUPF62 (71.11%) strains. The cell-free culture filtrates of Pseudomonas fluorescens AAUPF62 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa AAUS31 were more efficient than the Trichoderma strain in reducing the growth of Fusarium isolates. There was no zone of inhibition recorded between Trichoderma harzianum AAUW1, Trichoderma viridae AAUC22, Pseudomonas aeruginosa AAUS31, and Pseudomonas fluorescens AAUPF62 strains, hence they were mutually compatible.

Conclusions

The compatible Trichoderma and Pseudomonas strains showed antagonistic potentiality that could be explored for faba bean protection against black root rot disease and might have a future dual application as biocontrol agents.
Transcranial direct current stimulation for balance and gait in repetitive mild traumatic brain injury in rats
Authors: Park Gahee , Suh Jee Hyun , Han Soo Jeong
Published: April 2021

Background

Balance impairment and lack of postural orientation are serious problems in patients with repetitive mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).

Objective

To investigate whether anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the primary motor cortex (M1) can improve balance control and gait in repetitive mTBI rat models.

Methods

In this prospective animal study, 65 repetitive mTBI rats were randomly assigned to two groups: the tDCS group and the control group. To create repetitive mTBI model rats, we induced mTBI in the rats for 3 consecutive days. The tDCS group received one session of anodal tDCS over the M1 area 24 h after the third induced mTBI, while the control group did not receive tDCS treatment. Motor-evoked potential (MEP), foot-fault test, and rotarod test were evaluated before mTBI, before tDCS and after tDCS. The Mann–Whitney U test and Wilcoxon signed rank test were used to assess the effects of variables between the two groups.

Results

Anodal tDCS over the M1 area significantly improved the amplitude of MEP in the tDCS group (p = 0.041). In addition, rotarod duration was significantly increased in the tDCS group (p = 0.001). The foot-fault ratio was slightly lower in the tDCS group, however, this was not statistically significant.

Conclusion

Anodal tDCS at the M1 area could significantly improve the amplitude of MEP and balance function in a repetitive mTBI rat model. We expect that anodal tDCS would have the potential to improve balance in patients with repetitive mTBI.
Genome-wide identification of heat shock factors and heat shock proteins in response to UV and high intensity light stress in lettuce
Authors: Kim Taehoon , Samraj Shafina , Jiménez Juan , Gómez Celina , Liu Tie , Begcy Kevin
Published: April 2021

Background

Heat shock factors (Hsfs) and Heat shock proteins (Hsps) belong to an essential group of molecular regulators involved in controlling cellular processes under normal and stress conditions. The role of Hsfs and Hsps is well known in model plant species under diverse stress conditions. While plants Hsfs are vital components of the signal transduction response to maintain cellular homeostasis, Hsps function as chaperones helping to maintain folding of damaged and newly formed proteins during stress conditions. In lettuce (Lactuca sativa), a highly consumed vegetable crop grown in the field and in hydroponic systems, the role of these gene families in response to artificial light is not well characterized.

Results

Using a genome-wide analysis approach, we identified 32 Hsfs and 22 small heat shock proteins (LsHsps) in lettuce, some of which do not have orthologs in Arabidopsis, poplar, and rice. LsHsp60s, LsHsp90s, and LsHsp100s are highly conserved among dicot and monocot species. Surprisingly, LsHsp70s have three times more members than Arabidopsis and two times more than rice. Interestingly, the lettuce genome triplication did not contribute to the increased number of LsHsp70s genes. The large number of LsHsp70s was the result of genome tandem duplication. Chromosomal distribution analysis shows larger tandem repeats of LsHsp70s genes in Chr1, Chr7, Chr8, and Chr9. At the transcriptional level, some genes of the LsHsfs, LsHsps, LsHsp60s, and LsHsp70s families were highly responsive to UV and high intensity light stress, in contrast to LsHsp90s and LsHsp100s which did not respond to a light stimulus.

Conclusions

Our genome-wide analysis provides a detailed identification of Hsfs and Hsps in lettuce. Chromosomal location and syntenic region analysis together with our transcriptional analysis under different light conditions provide candidate genes for breeding programs aiming to produce lettuce varieties able to grow healthy under hydroponic systems that use artificial light.