bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A super sensitive auxin-inducible degron system with an engineered auxin-TIR1 pair
Authors: Nishimura Kohei , Yamada Ryotaro , Hagihara Shinya , Iwasaki Rie , Uchida Naoyuki , Kamura Takumi , Takahashi Koji , Torii Keiko U. , Fukagawa Tatsuo
Published: January 2020

Auxin-InducibleDegron (AID) technology enables conditional depletion of targeted proteins. However, the applicability of the AID in vertebrate cells has been limited due to cytotoxicity caused by high auxin concentrations. Here, we establish an improved AID system using an engineered orthogonal auxin-TIR1 pair, which exhibits over 1,000 times stronger binding. With ~1,000-fold less auxin concentration, we achieved to generate the AID-based knockout cells in various human and mouse cell lines in a single transfection.
Vacuolar sucrose homeostasis is critical for development, seed properties and survival of dark phases of Arabidopsis
Authors: Vu Duc Phuong , Rodrigues Cristina Martins , Jung Benjamin , Meissner Garvin , Klemens Patrick A.W. , Holtgräwe Daniela , Fürtauer Lisa , Nägele Thomas , Nieberl Petra , Pommerrenig Benjamin , Neuhaus H. Ekkehard
Published: January 2020

Although we know that most of the cellular sucrose is present in the cytosol and vacuole, our knowledge on the impact of this sucrose compartmentation on plant properties is still fragmentary. Here we attempted to alter the intracellular sucrose compartmentation of Arabidopsis mesophyll cells by either, overexpression of the vacuolar sucrose loaderBvTST2.1 or by generation of mutants with decreased vacuolar invertase activity (amiR vi1-2). Surprisingly,BvTST2.1overexpression led to increased monosaccharide levels in leaves, while sucrose remained constant. Latter observation allows the conclusion, that vacuolar invertase activity in mesophyll vacuoles exceeds sucrose uptake in Arabidopsis, which gained independent support by analyses on tobacco leaves transiently overexpressingBvTST2.1 and the invertase inhibitorNbVIF. However, we observed strongly increased sucrose levels in leaf extracts from independentamiR vi1-2lines and non-aqueous fractionations confirmed that sucrose accumulation in corresponding vacuoles.amiR vi1-2lines exhibited impaired early development and decreased weight of seeds. When germinated in the dark, mutant seedlings showed problems to convert sucrose into monosaccharides. Cold temperatures induced marked downregulation of the expression of bothVIgenes, while frost tolerance ofamiR vi1-2mutants was similar to WT indicating that increased vacuolar sucrose levels fully compensate for low monosaccharide concentrations.

Highlight

Vacuolar sucrose accumulation in Arabidopsis is limited by high invertase activity and disturbed vacuolar sucrose homeostasis impairs plant germination, development, seed properties and survival under darkness.
Search for and function of different genes in phloem and xylem of poplar
Authors: Li Xiaoyan , Jiang Xiangning
Published: January 2020

We used the microarray data of poplar gene in the laboratory and the GPDNN model to preprocess the data and conduct the median adjustment, and then studied and analyzed the phloem and xylem genes with good clustering effect. Among them, a gene that was significantly different and related to plant hormones was selected for analysis. Firstly, the function of this gene was predicted to be auxin response factor. All genes of auxin response factor family were selected from poplar transcription factor database for evolutionary and homologous affinity analysis, and the relationship with homology was analyzed according to the expression semaphore correlation between genes. Finally, the number of up-regulated, down-regulated and fine-tuned genes in the tissues of budding, root, xylem and phloem was selected by using the median, and the relationship between the number of up-regulated genes and their semaphores and auxin content in the tissues was analyzed.
Lipidomics of human adipose tissue reveals diversity between body areas
Authors: Al-Sari Naba , Suvitaival Tommi , Mattila Ismo , Ali Ashfaq , Ahonen Linda , Trost Kajetan , Henriksen Trine Foged , Pociot Flemming , Dragsted Lars Ove , Legido-Quigley Cristina
Published: January 2020

Background and aims

Adipose tissue plays a pivotal role in storing excess fat and its composition reflects the history of person’s lifestyle and metabolic health. Broad profiling of lipids with mass spectrometry has potential for uncovering new knowledge on the pathology of obesity, metabolic syndrome, diabetes and other related conditions. Here, we developed a lipidomic method for analyzing human subcutaneous adipose biopsies. We applied the method to four body areas to understand the differences in lipid composition between these areas.

Materials and methods

Adipose tissue biopsies from 10 participants were analyzed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The method development included the optimization of the lipid extraction, the sample amount and the sample dilution factor to detect lipids in an appropriate concentration range. Lipidomic analyses were performed for adipose tissue collected from the abdomen, breast, thigh and lower back. Differences in lipid levels between tissues were visualized with heatmaps.

Results

Lipidomic analysis on human adipose biopsies lead to the identification of 187 lipids in 2 mg of sample. Technical variation of the lipid-class specific internal standards were below 5 %, thus indicating acceptable repeatability. Triacylglycerols were highly represented in the adipose tissue samples, and lipids from 13 lipid classes were identified. Long polyunsaturated triacylglycerols in higher levels in thigh (q<0.05), when compared with the abdomen, breast and lower back, indicating that the lipidome was area-specific.

Conclusion

The method presented here is suitable for the analysis of lipid profiles in 2 mg of adipose tissue. The amount of fat across the body is important for health but we argue that also the distribution and the particular profile of the lipidome may be relevant for metabolic outcomes. We suggest that the method presented in this paper could be useful for detecting such aberrations.
Human POT1 Prevents Severe Telomere Instability Induced by Homology Directed DNA Repair
Authors: Glousker Galina , Briod Anna-Sophia , Quadroni Manfredo , Lingner Joachim
Published: January 2020

The evolutionarily conserved POT1 protein binds single stranded G-rich telomeric DNA and has been implicated in contributing to telomeric DNA maintenance and the suppression of DNA damage checkpoint signaling. Here, we explore human POT1 function through genetics and proteomics discovering that the complete absence of POT1 leads to severe telomere maintenance defects that had not been anticipated from previous depletion studies. Conditional deletion ofPOT1in HEK293E cells gives rise to rapid telomere elongation and length heterogeneity, branched telomeric DNA structures, telomeric R-loops and telomere fragility. We determine the telomeric proteome upon POT1-loss implementing an improved telomeric chromatin isolation protocol. We identify a large set of proteins involved in nucleic acid metabolism that engage with telomeres upon POT1-loss. Inactivation of the homology directed repair machinery suppresses POT1-loss mediated telomeric DNA defects. Our results unravel as major function of human POT1 the suppression of telomere instability induced by homology directed repair.
vLUME: 3D Virtual Reality for Single-molecule Localization Microscopy
Authors: Spark Alexander , Kitching Alexandre , Esteban-Ferrer Daniel , Handa Anoushka , Carr Alexander R. , Needham Lisa-Maria , Ponjavic Aleks , Santos Mafalda Da Cunha , McColl James , Leterrier Christophe , Davis Simon J. , Henriques Ricardo , Lee Steven F.
Published: January 2020

Super-Resolution (SR) Microscopy based on 3D Single-Molecule Localization Microscopy (SMLM) is now well established1,2and its wide-spread adoption has led to the development of more than 36 software packages, dedicated to quantitative evaluation of the spatial and temporal detection of fluorophore photoswitching3. While the initial emphasis in the 3D SMLM field has clearly been on improving resolution and data quality, there is now a marked absence of 3D visualization approaches that enable the straightforward, high-fidelity exploration of this type of data. Inspired by the horological phosphorescence points that illuminate watch-faces in the dark, we presentvLUME (Visualization of the Universe in a Micro Environment, pronounced ‘volume’) a free-for-academic-use immersive virtual reality-based (VR) visualization software package purposefully designed to render large 3D-SMLM data sets.vLUME enables robust visualization, segmentation and quantification of millions of fluorescence puncta from any 3D SMLM technique.vLUME has an intuitive user-interface and is compatible with all commercial VR hardware (Oculus Rift/Quest and HTC Vive, Supplementary Video 1).vLUME accelerates the analysis of highly complex 3D point-cloud data and the rapid identification of defects that are otherwise neglected in global quality metrics.
Creating supported plasma membrane bilayers using acoustic pressure
Authors: Sezgin Erdinc , Carugo Dario , Levental Ilya , Stride Eleanor , Eggeling Christian
Published: January 2020

Model membrane systems are essential tools for biology, enabling study of biological processes in a simplified setting to reveal the underlying physicochemical principles. As cell-derived membrane systems, giant plasma membrane vesicles (GPMVs) constitute an intermediate model between native cellular plasma and artificial membranes. Certain applications, however, require planar membrane surfaces. Here, we report a novel approach for creating supported plasma membrane bilayers (SPMBs) by bursting cell-derived GPMVs using an ultrasonic pressure field generated within an acoustofluidic device. We show that the mobility of outer leaflet molecules is preserved in SPMBs, suggesting that they are accessible on the surface of the bilayers. Such model membrane systems will be useful for many applications requiring detailed characterization of plasma membrane dynamics.
NREM consolidation and increased spindle counts improve age-related memory impairments and hippocampal representations
Authors: Yuan Robin K. , Lopez Matthew R. , Ramos-Alavarez Manuel-Miguel , Normandin Marc E. , Thomas Arthur S. , Uygun David S. , Cerda Vanessa R. , Grenier Amandine E. , Wood Matthew T. , Gagliardi Celia M. , Guajardo Herminio , Muzzio Isabel A.
Published: January 2020

Age-related changes in sleep patterns have been linked to cognitive decline. Specifically, increasing age is associated with increasing fragmentation of sleep and wake cycles. However, it remains unknown if improvements in sleep architecture can ameliorate cellular and cognitive deficits. We evaluated how changes in sleep architecture following sleep restriction affected hippocampal representations and memory in young and old mice. After training in a hippocampus- dependent object/place recognition task, control animals were allowed to sleepad libitum, while experimental animals underwent 5 hours of sleep restriction (SR). Interestingly, old SR mice exhibited successful object/place learning comparable to young control mice, whereas young SR and old control mice did not. Successful learning correlated with the presence of two hippocampal cell types: 1) “Context” cells, which remained stable throughout training and testing, and 2) “Object” cells, which shifted their preferred firing location when objects were introduced to the context and moved during testing. As expected, EEG analysis revealed more fragmented sleep and fewer spindles in old controls than young controls during the post-training sleep period. However, following the acute SR session, old animals exhibited increased consolidation of NREM and increased spindle count, while young mice only displayed changes in REM bout length. These results indicate that consolidation of NREM sleep and increases in spindle count serve to ameliorate age-related memory deficits and allow hippocampal representations to adapt to changing environments.

eTORC Blurb

Age-related cognitive decline is associated with poor sleep quality. This study shows that acute sleep restriction serves to improve memory, hippocampal representations, and sleep quality in old mice, having the opposite effect in young animals. These findings indicate that improving sleep quality may mitigate age-related cognitive decline.

Highlights

Acute sleep restriction improves memory in old mice, but adversely affects young ones

Acute sleep restriction makes hippocampal representations more flexible in old mice

Acute sleep restriction improves sleep quality and increases spindle count in old mice

Acute sleep restriction decreases hippocampal flexibility in young mice
Bidirectional transfer of Engrailed homeoprotein across the plasma membrane requires PIP2
Authors: Amblard Irène , Dupont Edmond , Alves Isabel , Miralvès Julie , Queguiner Isabelle , Joliot Alain
Published: January 2020

1.

Homeoproteins are a class of transcription factors sharing the unexpected property of intercellular trafficking. It confers to homeoproteins a paracrine mode of action, shown to exert a wide range of physiological functions, during development and in the adult. Internalization and secretion, the two steps of intercellular transfer, rely on unconventional mechanisms but the cellular mechanisms at stake still need to be fully characterized. Thanks to the design of new quantitative and sensitive assays dedicated to the study of homeoprotein transfer in cell culture, we demonstrate a core role of the phosphoinositides PIP2together with cholesterol in the translocation of Engrailed2 (EN2) homeoprotein across the plasma membrane. Both secretion and internalization are regulated according to PIP2levels, challenged by drug or enzymatic treatments. In addition, EN2 specifically interacts with PIP2and the reduced affinity of a paracrine deficient mutant of EN2 supports a role of PIP2in homeoprotein physiological function. We propose that the two ways plasma membrane translocation steps accounting for homeoprotein secretion and internalization respectively are parts of a common process.

Summary Statement

Deciphering the mechanism of homeoprotein intercellular trafficking
An indenide-tethered N-heterocyclic stannylene
Authors: Bischof Tobias , Evans Kieren J. , Haddow Mairi F. , Mansell Stephen M.
Published: January 2020

The structure of (μ-1κN:2(η2),κ2
N,N′-(2-{[2,6-bis(propan-2-yl)phenyl]azanidyl}ethyl)[2-(1H-inden-1-yl)ethyl]azanido)(1,4,7,10,13,16-hexaoxacyclooctadecane-1κ6
O)lithiumtin, [LiSn(C8H16O4)(C25H31N2)], at 100 K has monoclinic (P21/n) symmetry. Analysis of the coordination of the Sn to the indenyl ring shows that the Sn interacts in an η2 fashion. A database survey showed that whilst this coordination mode is unusual for Ge and Pb compounds, Sn displays a wider range of coordination modes to cyclopentadienyl ligands and their derivatives.
A cubic B-spline quasi-interpolation method for solving two-dimensional unsteady advection diffusion equations
Authors: Mittal Ramesh Chand , Kumar Sudhir , Jiwari Ram
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to extend the cubic B-spline quasi-interpolation (CBSQI) method via Kronecker product for solving 2D unsteady advection-diffusion equation. The CBSQI method has been used for solving 1D problems in literature so far. This study seeks to use the idea of a Kronecker product to extend the method for 2D problems.

Design/methodology/approach

In this work, a CBSQI is used to approximate the spatial partial derivatives of the dependent variable. The idea of the Kronecker product is used to extend the method for 2D problems. This produces the system of ordinary differential equations (ODE) with initial conditions. The obtained system of ODE is solved by strong stability preserving the Runge–Kutta method (SSP-RK-43).

Findings

It is found that solutions obtained by the proposed method are in good agreement with the analytical solution. Further, the results are also compared with available numerical results in the literature, and a reasonable degree of compliance is observed.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the CBSQI method is used for the first time for solving 2D problems and can be extended for higher-dimensional problems.
The role of facilities management in green retrofit of existing buildings in the United Arab Emirates
Authors: Mawed Mahmoud , Tilani Vinay , Hamani Karima
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Green retrofitting is acknowledged as an essential strategy toward achieving long-term sustainability in the built environment. To implement this strategy successfully, the role of facility managers cannot be ignored. The purpose of this paper is to investigate present practices that are used in managing the existing facilities, to highlight the elements that govern the process of green retrofitting, and discuss the efforts and contribution of facility managers in enhancing the environmental performance of the existing facilities stock in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Design/methodology/approach

This study suggests that an adequate level of awareness of the benefits of green retrofit amongst owners and decision-makers is mostly dependent on facilities management (FM) professionals, who must establish effective communication channel with senior management. FM professionals in the UAE are well equipped and competent in greening existing buildings and can simultaneously lead a building to the path of achieving green building certification.

Findings

To examine the role of FM in a green retrofit and its current status in the UAE built environment, a two-step qualitative method was adopted. The study started by conducting semi-structured interviews with FM professionals and then assessing the insights obtained from the interviews against an actual case study of a LEED Existing Building certified facility.

Research limitations/implications

Interviews were limited to FM professionals in the private sector and the results from one case study should be considered cautiously.

Originality/value

This paper emphasizes the primordial role of FM professionals in promoting green retrofit in the UAE.
Emerging sustainable facilities management practices in health-care sector
Authors: Nazeer Sabrina Fathima , Ramachandra Thanuja , Gunatilake Sachie , Senaratne Sepani
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Health-care (HC) is one of the most polluting industries and recognised as the second energy-intensive sector, emitting 8 per cent out of total 40 per cent of total carbon emissions. Integrating sustainability to facilities management operations is imperative and could significantly contribute to reducing energy consumption, waste and day-to-day operational costs of buildings. The integration of sustainability into FM practices depends on factors such as facility type, organisational scale, business sector and organisation characteristics. This paper aims to explore the SFM practice with a specific focus on HC-specific FM services and respective sustainable practice that could be integrated into FM operations.

Design/methodology/approach

A Delphi survey was administered to ten experts in two rounds, who are specialised in FM and sustainable practices in the HC sector. Data gathered from the survey were analysed using the Relative Importance Index to identify the most significant FM services and sustainable practices.

Findings

The study found 9 significant FM services and 49 sustainable in HC. The top three significant FM services include “building services (BS)”, “space planning (SP)” and “quality management (QM)”. Further, “identifying applications for energy-saving measures” and “ensure onsite, off-site storage and transport of wastes” were found as the topmost significant sustainable practices. The relevancy of these identified sustainable practices to the principles of sustainability was determined. The results showed that 22, 18 and 09 sustainable practices were relevant to environmental, social and economic principles of sustainability, respectively.

Originality/value

There is a dearth of literature that integrates sustainable FM practices in HC sector, and this study fulfills this research gap. The study is novel in offering a framework to integrate sustainability into FM practice in HC sector.
An empirical study of green supplier collaboration in the Chinese manufacturing sector: the double-edged sword effect ofguanxi
Authors: Geng Ruoqi , Mansouri Afshin , Aktas Emel , Yen Dorothy A.
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Drawing on institutional complexity, this study aims to explore the interaction effect of formal and informal institutional forces on the adoption of green supplier collaboration (GSC) practices by Chinese manufacturing firms.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper hypothesises that the effect of the formal institutional forces on GSC in China is influenced by an informal institutional variable,guanxi, which is the interpersonal relationship between employees of the supplier and the manufacturer. To test the conceptual framework, hierarchical moderated regression analyses are conducted using multi-respondent data from 408 randomly sampled manufacturing companies in China.

Findings

Guanxihas a double-edged sword effect on the adoption of GSC practices. Specifically,guanxireduces the negative impact of the perceived costs and the complexity of regulations on the adoption of GSC practices, but it also weakens the positive effect of suppliers’ advice and community pressures on the adoption of GSC practices.

Research limitations/implications

Results contribute to supply chain management literature by offering novel theoretical and empirical insights on the Chinese institutional environment governed by both formal and informal institutional variables.

Practical implications

Consideringguanxi’s double-edged sword effect on the adoption of GSC, manufacturing companies are advised to carefully leverage theirguanxito maintain an institutional and contingent view of the environmental consequences in China.

Originality/value

This study empirically examines the effect of formal and informal institutional environments on the adoption of GSC practices in emerging economies.
Implementation of policy regarding restrictive practices in England
Authors: Deveau Roy , Leitch Sarah
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Concerns about the overuse, misuse and potential abuse of restrictive interventions used to manage people who may exhibit behaviour described as challenging led to revised guidance in England. The purpose of this paper is to examine the implementation of this guidance in organisations providing services for people with learning disabilities.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey collected data from professionals, on leadership, data use, staff issues and post-incident review.

Findings

Most senior leaders were seen as acting on the guidance. Data collected were regarded as generally accurate, but less than half of the managers were seen as likely to respond to consistently high or increasing use of restrictive practices. Frontline staff and managers were seen as very significant for reducing restrictive practices. Uncertainty was shown regarding the goals and activities needed to provide post-incident review.

Research limitations/implications

This exploratory survey may be useful for organisations wanting to audit their implementation of government policy and/or for research on a wider scale to indicate how well societies are implementing policy to reduce restrictive practices. Further research on the survey’s validity and reliability is required.

Practical implications

Further action is needed to encourage all organisations to implement best practice and government policy. This survey showed that some organisations appear to be committed to and potentially achieving reductions in restrictive practices.

Originality/value

This paper describes the first survey designed to evaluate organisational efforts to implement an important policy initiative.
Cellular senescence contributes to age‐dependent changes in circulating extracellular vesicle cargo and function
Authors: Alibhai Faisal J. , Lim Fievel , Yeganeh Azadeh , DiStefano Peter V. , Binesh‐Marvasti Tina , Belfiore Alyssa , Wlodarek Lukasz , Gustafson Dakota , Millar Sean , Li Shu‐Hong , Weisel Richard D. , Fish Jason E. , Li Ren‐Ke
Published: January 2020

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as important regulators of inter‐cellular and inter‐organ communication, in part via the transfer of their cargo to recipient cells. Although circulating EVs have been previously studied as biomarkers of aging, how circulating EVs change with age and the underlying mechanisms that contribute to these changes are poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that aging has a profound effect on the circulating EV pool, as evidenced by changes in concentration, size, and cargo. Aging also alters particle function; treatment of cells with EV fractions isolated from old plasma reduces macrophage responses to lipopolysaccharide, increases phagocytosis, and reduces endothelial cell responses to vascular endothelial growth factor compared to cells treated with young EV fractions. Depletion studies indicate that CD63+ particles mediate these effects. Treatment of macrophages with EV‐like particles revealed that old particles increased the expression of EV miRNAs in recipient cells. Transfection of cells with microRNA mimics recapitulated some of the effects seen with old EV‐like particles. Investigation into the underlying mechanisms using bone marrow transplant studies revealed circulating cell age does not substantially affect the expression of aging‐associated circulating EV miRNAs in old mice. Instead, we show that cellular senescence contributes to changes in particle cargo and function. Notably, senolytic treatment of old mice shifted plasma particle cargo and function toward that of a younger phenotype. Collectively, these results demonstrate that senescent cells contribute to changes in plasma EVs with age and suggest a new mechanism by which senescent cells can affect cellular functions throughout the body.
Fatty acid amide hydrolase is lower in young cannabis users
Authors: Jacobson Maya R. , Watts Jeremy J. , Da Silva Tania , Tyndale Rachel F. , Rusjan Pablo M. , Houle Sylvain , Wilson Alan A. , Ross Ruth A. , Boileau Isabelle , Mizrahi Romina
Published: January 2020

We have recently shown that levels of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), the enzyme that metabolizes the endocannabinoid anandamide, are lower in the brains of adult cannabis users (CUs) (34 ± 11 years of age), tested during early abstinence. Here, we examine replication of the lower FAAH levels in a separate, younger cohort (23 ± 5 years of age). Eighteen healthy volunteers (HVs) and fourteen CUs underwent a positron emission tomography scan using the FAAH radioligand [11C]CURB. Regional [11C]CURB binding was calculated using an irreversible two‐tissue compartment model with a metabolite‐corrected arterial plasma input function. The FAAH C385A genetic polymorphism (rs324420) was included as a covariate. All CUs underwent a urine screen to confirm recent cannabis use and had serum cannabinoids measured. One CU screened negative for cannabinoids via serum and was removed from analysis. All HVs reported less than five lifetime cannabis exposures more than a month prior to study initiation. There was a significant effect of group (F1,26 = 4.31; P = .048) when two A/A (rs324420) HVs were removed from analysis to match the genotype of the CU group (n = 16 HVs, n = 13 CUs). Overall, [11C]CURB λk3 was 12% lower in CU compared with HV. Exploratory correlations showed that lower brain [11C]CURB binding was related to greater use of cannabis throughout the past year. We confirmed our previous report and extended these findings by detecting lower [11C]CURB binding in a younger cohort with less cumulative cannabis exposure.
Impact of Qingdao's smoke‐free legislation on hospitalizations and mortality from acute myocardial infarction and stroke: an interrupted time–series analysis
Authors: Xiao Hong , Qi Fei , Jia Xiaorong , Wang Yani , Zhang Hua , Li Shanpeng , Yang Gonghuan , Wan Xia , Naghavi Mohsen
Published: January 2020

Background and Aims

More than 20 cities in China have enacted local smoke‐free laws that prohibit smoking in public places. Only two of these cities have examined the health impact of the law. Enacted in 2013, Qingdao's smoke free‐law was stricter than most other municipal smoke‐free laws because it did not allow designated smoking rooms. This study aimed to estimate the impact of Qingdao's smoke‐free legislation on acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and stroke.

Design, Setting and Participants

We used an interrupted time–series design adjusting for underlying secular trends, seasonal patterns and meteorological factors to estimate the impact of the smoke‐free law on AMI and stroke events among permanent residents aged 35 years or older in Qingdao, China. The study period was from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2015, with a post‐ban follow‐up of approximately 2.5 years.

Measurement

Outcome measures were weekly numbers of hospitalizations and deaths due to AMI/stroke.

Findings

A total of 10 371 and 56 101 patients were hospitalized, with a principal discharge diagnosis of AMI and stroke, respectively; 32 196 AMI and 49 711 stroke deaths occurred during the study period. Following the smoke‐free legislation, an incremental 20% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 14–26%] and 8% (95% CI = 3–13%) decrease per year was observed in AMI and stroke hospitalization rates, respectively. Neither the immediate nor gradual change in AMI nor stroke mortality rates associated with the law was statistically significant (P > 0.05). Post‐hoc subgroup analyses indicated that statistically significant reductions in AMI hospitalizations were evident among both the 35–64 (18% per year, 95% CI = 12–27%) and 65–84 (20% per year, 95% CI = 12–27%) age groups. Statistically significant reductions in stroke hospitalization were only in the older subgroup (13% per year, 95% CI = 8–18%).

Conclusions

The 2013 smoke‐free legislation in Qingdao, China was associated with reduction in hospitalization from acute myocardial infarction and stroke among permanent residents aged 35 years or older. There was no statistically significant reduction in mortality from acute myocardial infarctions or stroke.
Affective Citizenship and Peripheral Intimacies: Children’s Inter‐ethnic Relations in South Korean Schools
Authors: Walton Jessica
Published: January 2020

This paper examines how issues of citizenship and belonging within an emergent “multicultural” South Korea are articulated through inter‐ethnic relations among elementary school children. Based on ethnographic data and drawing on theories of affective citizenship and intimacy, I argue that affective dimensions of citizenship provide insight into everyday dynamics of exclusion and inclusion, through which citizenship, especially a sense of belonging, is negotiated and contested. This has implications for global citizenship education in South Korea.
Nurse‐led psychological intervention reduces anxiety symptoms and improves quality of life following percutaneous coronary intervention for stable coronary artery disease
Authors: Chang Zongxia , Guo Ai‐qing , Zhou Ai‐xia , Sun Tong‐Wen , Ma Long‐le , Gardiner Fergus W. , Wang Le‐xin
Published: January 2020

Objective

To study the effect of nurse‐led counselling on the anxiety symptoms and the quality of life following percutaneous coronary intervention for stable coronary artery disease.

Design

Randomised control trial.

Setting

Rural and remote China.

Participants

Rural and remote patients were consecutively recruited from a medical centre located in China between January and December 2014.

Interventions

The control group received standard pre‐procedure information from a ward nurse on the processes of the hospitalisation and percutaneous coronary intervention, and post‐procedural care. The intervention group received a structured 30‐minute counselling session the day before and 24 hours after the percutaneous coronary intervention, by nurse consultants with qualifications in psychological therapies and counselling. The health outcomes were assessed by a SF‐12 scale and the Seattle Angina Questionnaire at 6 and 12 months after percutaneous coronary intervention. The anxiety and depression symptoms were evaluated by a Zung anxiety and depression questionnaire.

Main outcome measures

Cardiac outcomes, quality of life and mental health status.

Results

Eighty patients were randomly divided into control (n = 40) and intervention groups (n = 40). There was a significant increase in the scores of the three domains of Seattle Angina Questionnaire 12 months after percutaneous coronary intervention in the intervention group (P < .01). The mental health and physical health scores also increased (P < .01). In the control group, the mean scores of Zung self‐rating anxiety scale 12 months following percutaneous coronary intervention were higher than the baseline scores, and higher than in the intervention group (P < .01).

Conclusions

Counselling by a clinician qualified in psychological therapies and counselling significantly reduces anxiety symptoms and improves quality of life.
Reduced fetal movements at term in singleton low risk pregnancies—Is there an association with placental histopathological findings?
Authors: Levy Michal , Kovo Michal , Izaik Yakira , Luwisch Cohen Isca , Schreiber Letizia , Ganer Herman Hadas , Barda Giulia , Bar Jacob , Weiner Eran
Published: January 2020

Introduction

Maternal perception of fetal movements has long been considered an indicator of fetal well‐being. A sudden decrease in the number of fetal movements is suggestive of fetal compromise. We aimed to determine whether the maternal perception of reduced fetal movements (RFM) is associated with placental pathological lesions in a low‐risk term population.

Material and methods

Our study was a case‐control study that was performed in a single university center. Placental histopathology, maternal demographics, labor characteristics, and neonatal outcomes of term, singleton pregnancies with maternal perception of RFM during the 2 weeks prior to delivery were collected. To isolate the effect of RFM on placental pathology, we excluded cases complicated by preterm birth, hypertensive disorders, diabetes mellitus, small‐for‐gestational‐age and congenital/genetic anomalies. We compared pregnancy outcomes and placental pathology between the RFM group and a control group matched for gestational age and mode of delivery. Placental lesions were classified according to the “Amsterdam” criteria. Composite adverse neonatal outcome was defined as one or more of the following: sepsis, transfusion, hypoglycemia, phototherapy, respiratory morbidity, cerebral morbidity, necrotizing enterocolitis and fetal/neonatal death. Multivariable regression analysis was performed to identify independent associations with adverse neonatal outcome.

Results

We included patients who gave birth from January 2008 until May 2019. The study group included 203 term pregnancies with RFM during the 2 weeks prior to delivery, which was matched with 203 controls. The RFM group was characterized by a higher rate of placental weight <10th percentile (22.6% vs. 3.9%, P < .001), a higher rate of maternal vascular malperfusion lesions (30.5% vs. 18.7%, P = .007) and lesions of maternal inflammatory response (43.3% vs. 29.5%, P = .005). At delivery, the RFM group had higher rates of cesarean delivery due to non‐reassuring fetal heart rate monitoring (P = .01), 5‐minute Apgar score ≤7 (P = .03), neonatal intensive care unit admissions (P < .001) and composite adverse neonatal outcomes (P = .007). Using multivariable analysis, RFM (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1‐4.8), and placental maternal vascular malperfusion lesions (aOR 1.2, 95% CI 1.0‐2.9) were independently associated with adverse neonatal outcome.

Conclusions

After excluding important placental‐related morbidities, RFM was associated with a higher rate of placental weight <10th percentile and placental maternal vascular malperfusion lesions vs. controls. This study suggests a placental involvement in the association between RFM at term and adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Spinning in the rain: Interactions between spider web morphology and microhabitat use
Authors: Haberkern Andrea M. , Fernandez‐Fournier Philippe , Avilés Leticia
Published: January 2020

Although the effects of abiotic factors on species distributions and habitat selection have been widely investigated, studies have rarely succeeded at identifying the factors behind selection at the microhabitat level. Spider webs are extended phenotypes expected to be subject to fitness trade‐offs. We tested the hypothesis that spiders with three‐dimensional webs (tangle and sheet‐and‐tangle), which require more material to be built than two‐dimensional orbicular webs, occupy microhabitats where they are better protected from strong rains. We show that tangle and sheet‐and‐tangle webs were indeed significantly more likely to be under immediate cover than expected by chance and than orb webs. Tangle webs occurred closest to the cover and were largely protected, whereas sheet‐and‐tangle webs, likely due to their larger size and mostly horizontal position, tended to be more exposed. Sheet‐and‐tangle webs, however, occurred more often against tree trunks, where we show rain to be less intense. We further show that the proportion of 3D webs under immediate cover increased with annual precipitation along a dry to wet gradient in western Ecuador, an effect absent for 2D webs. The latter finding suggests that, in addition to using leaves for structural support, spiders with 3D webs seek microhabitat locations to shelter themselves and their webs from strong rains. Our findings illustrate how microhabitat selection may allow organisms to cope with abiotic factors at broader geographical scales, thus influencing organismal fitness and community structure.

Abstract in Spanish is available with online only
Área de Conservación Guanacaste, northwestern Costa Rica: Converting a tropical national park to conservation via biodevelopment
Authors: Janzen Daniel H. , Hallwachs Winnie
Published: January 2020

The ~30,000 hectare classical Costa Rican Parque Nacional Santa Rosa has used about 35 years and $107 million to be converted to the 169,000 ha government‐NGO hybrid Área de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG). This semi‐decentralized conservation entity has today a staff of ~150 paraprofessional resident Costa Ricans, biodeveloping at least 650,000 multicellular species (Eucaryotes) into perpetuity for ACG survival through being integrated with its local, regional, national, and international society. ACG began in 1985 as an ongoing exercise of landscape‐level ecosystem rescue and restoration of a continuous swath from 6 km out in the Pacific ocean, across dry forested lowlands, up and over the volcanic Cordillera Guanacaste, and down into the rain‐forested Caribbean lowlands. It is being impacted by climate change, yet its diverse ecosystems hold hope for major biodiversity survival, albeit in new community assemblages. It quickly became simultaneously a biophysical challenge and an administratively novel challenge in decentralized conservation in a democratic tropical country. ACG specializes at being managed by on‐the‐job stimulated and trained residents with minimal formal education, searching for ways to involve ACG in its society without damaging its wildness, and pioneering ways to render wild biodiversity to being a welcome member at society's negotiating table. It continues to pay its bills through government subsidy, generous donors, payments for services, project grants, and huge in‐kind contributions from mutualisms. ACG hopes that the concept will spread south–south to other tropical countries while they still have some of their wild biodiversity with which to integrate.

Abstract in Spanish is available with online material.
Fixing the territory, a turning point: The paradoxes of the Wichí maps of the Argentine Chaco
Authors: Preci Alberto
Published: January 2020

Indigenous mapping is a powerful political tool for long‐marginalized populations to create visibility and establish land claims. In the case of Argentina, a country that was built on a denial of the presence of Indigenous peoples in the national territory, the emergence of these maps stemming from participatory processes coincided with the recognition of these communities' territorial rights in 1994. However, this mapping of Indigenous territories freezes extremely dynamic and complex socio‐spatial realities just as it inflects their representations. In this paper, I reassess the weight and the role that Indigenous cartographic representations play in the evolution of these populations' spatial capital. Paradoxically, they give rise to more contradictions than they clarify. These paradoxes demonstrate the varied relationships different generations maintain with their territory, just as they concern its structure and its cartographic form. Therefore, based on the case of the Wichí of the Argentinian Chaco, this paper contributes to the understanding of contemporary issues of indigeneity by adopting a critical approach to Indigenous cartography. Whereas in Argentina cartographic knowledge is undergoing a process of decolonization, this does not apply to the legal system or to society as a whole.
ALDH1A3‐mTOR axis as a therapeutic target for anticancer drug‐tolerant persister cells in gastric cancer
Authors: Kawakami Ryuhei , Mashima Tetsuo , Kawata Naomi , Kumagai Koshi , Migita Toshiro , Sano Takeshi , Mizunuma Nobuyuki , Yamaguchi Kensei , Seimiya Hiroyuki
Published: January 2020

Tumors consist of heterogeneous cell populations that contain cancer cell subpopulations with anticancer drug‐resistant properties called “persister” cells. While this early‐phase drug tolerance is known to be related to the stem cell‐like characteristic of persister cells, how the stem cell‐related pathways contribute to drug resistance has remained elusive. Here, we conducted a single‐cell analysis based on the stem cell lineage‐related and gastric cell lineage‐related gene expression in patient‐derived gastric cancer cell models. The analyses revealed that 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU) induces a dynamic change in the cell heterogeneity. In particular, cells highly expressing stem cell‐related genes were enriched in the residual cancer cells after 5‐FU treatment. Subsequent functional screening identified aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A3 (ALDH1A3) as a specific marker and potential therapeutic target of persister cells. ALDH1A3 was selectively overexpressed among the ALDH isozymes after treatment with 5‐FU or SN38, a DNA topoisomerase I inhibitor. Attenuation of ALDH1A3 expression by RNA interference significantly suppressed cell proliferation, reduced the number of persister cells after anticancer drug treatment and interfered with tumor growth in a mouse xenograft model. Mechanistically, ALDH1A3 depletion affected gene expression of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) cell survival pathway, which coincided with a decrease in the activating phosphorylation of S6 kinase. Temsirolimus, an mTOR inhibitor, reduced the number of 5FU‐tolerant persister cells. High ALDH1A3 expression correlated with worse prognosis of gastric cancer patients. These observations indicate that the ALDH1A3‐mTOR axis could be a novel therapeutic target to eradicate drug‐tolerant gastric cancer cells.
Parental stress and parenting in Chinese immigrant families: The mediating role of social support
Authors: Liu Shu‐Wen , Zhai Fuhua , Gao Qin
Published: January 2020

As the population of Chinese immigrants has been growing rapidly in the United States, it has been understudied on the parenting behaviours as well as the roles parental stress and social support playing in parenting in this group. This study investigated whether parental stress was associated with parenting and whether this relationship was mediated by social support in a sample of 255 Chinese immigrant parents from the Survey of Asian American Families in New York City. Regression analyses with a rich array of control variables found that a higher level of parental stress and the presence of one or more stressors such as unemployment, low income, and low education were positively associated with the use of harsh discipline and parent–child conflicts and negatively associated with positive parenting practices. Social support functioned as a significant mediator in the relationships between parental stress and positive parenting practices but not in the relationships of parental stress with parent–child conflict or the use of harsh discipline.
Child maltreatment, maladaptive cognitive schemas, and perceptions of social support among young women care leavers
Authors: Lanctôt Nadine
Published: January 2020

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the associations between child maltreatment, cognitive schemas of disconnection/rejection reported in emerging adulthood, and social support perceived in emerging adulthood among young women who have exited placements in residential care. The sample is derived from a longitudinal study conducted with 132 young women who had been placed in residential care during adolescence in Montreal (Canada) in 2008–2009. The present study relied solely on the last measurement wave of this study, which was conducted approximately 5 years (2012–2014) after Wave 1. At this time, participants were out of residential care (mean age = 19.4 years). Results showed that the more severe the retrospective accounts of child maltreatment were, the less social support young women perceived as available to them in emerging adulthood. When the tendency to endorse disconnection/rejection schemas is considered, the direct connection between maltreatment and perceived social support disappears, and we instead see an indirect relationship through these schemas. Findings suggest that programs and services must go beyond identifying social‐support networks for young women care leavers. Considerable effort should be devoted to helping these young women develop the skills they need to build and maintain trusting relationships with significant people around them.