bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Foreign Investment and Upgrading in the Garment Sector in Africa and Asia
Authors: Calabrese Linda , Balchin Neil
Published: April 2022

In many developing countries, the apparel industry is seen as a ‘stepping stone’ towards industrialisation. Countries rely on foreign investment to enter the garment sector by engaging in simple assembly production and aim to gradually upgrade along the value chain by building their networks and capabilities. By comparing case studies in Africa and Asia, this article shows that foreign investors contribute differently to upgrading and creating linkages. The study reviews the historical experiences of Bangladesh, Cambodia, Lesotho and Madagascar to understand the roles played by various types of foreign investors in contributing to upgrading. The model of production of these investors and their embeddedness in the host countries’ markets shape their contribution towards upgrading. This has important policy implications, suggesting that government policies aiming to develop the garment sector beyond the assembly stage need to correctly identify and attract the investors that are most likely to be or become ‘embedded’. The case studies also highlight the importance of creating a domestic class of entrepreneurs that can actively contribute to the development of the garment industry.
The Dynamics of Governance and Sustainable Development Goals in the Global South
Authors: Liu Hong , Lee Celia , Alden Chris
Published: April 2022

This special issue on ‘The Dynamics of Governance and Sustainable Development Goals in the Global South’, with a focus on the ‘Asian Models of Governance’, aims to fill the gap by contributing to expanding and advancing the transnational knowledge transfer literature by bringing new cases from the Global South. It also hopes to further advance the discussions translating some aspects of Asian experiences of governance in developing an outcome‐driven knowledge and policy transfer model for SDGs. The articles in this issue of Global Policy were selected from papers first presented at the London School of Economics – IDEAS and Nanyang Technological University – Nanyang Centre for Public Administration (LSE‐IDEAS and NTU‐NCPA) Joint Workshop on the Dynamics of Knowledge Transfer and Governance in the Global South, held at the London School of Economics in November 2019.
Polycentric Urbanization and Sustainable Development in China
Authors: Heikkila Eric J. , Xu Ying
Published: April 2022

This paper addresses urbanization in the context of China's efforts to meet its commitments regarding the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This paper focuses specifically on governmental policies to promote polycentricity, with multiple urban centers of a similar scale within metropolitan areas, rather than a traditional single, dominant central business district. Polycentric urban forms have the potential to reduce average commuting times, thereby impacting greenhouse gas emissions. Polycentricity may also enhance access to employment and other opportunities for marginalized households. To this end, we examine the nexus between emerging polycentric urbanization patterns in Chinese cities and modes of governance at the national and local levels. Changsha, in Hunan province, is selected as a case study to illuminate the issues. Our analysis shows that fiscal considerations and other national and local governance imperatives can play a crucial role in determining how urbanization evolves. While China is unique in many ways, there are also important commonalities with other countries in the global South that are experiencing rapid urbanization, so the insights generated here may be more broadly applicable.
Parasitic flowering plant collections embody the extended specimen
Authors: Teixeira‐Costa Luiza , Heberling J. Mason , Wilson Carol A. , Davis Charles C.
Published: April 2022

The widespread digitization of natural history collections, combined with novel tools and approaches is revolutionizing biodiversity science. The ‘extended specimen’ concept advocates a more holistic approach in which a specimen is framed as a diverse stream of interconnected data. Herbarium specimens that by their very nature capture multispecies relationships, such as certain parasites, fungi and lichens, hold great potential to provide a broader and more integrative view of the ecology and evolution of symbiotic interactions. This particularly applies to parasite–host associations, which owing to their interconnectedness are especially vulnerable to global environmental change.

Here, we present an overview of how parasitic flowering plants is represented in herbarium collections. We then discuss the variety of data that can be gathered from parasitic plant specimens, and how they can be used to understand global change impacts at multiple scales. Finally, we review best practices for sampling parasitic plants in the field, and subsequently preparing and digitizing these specimens.

Plant parasitism has evolved 12 times within angiosperms, and similar to other plant taxa, herbarium collections represent the foundation for analysing key aspects of their ecology and evolution. Yet these collections hold far greater potential. Data and metadata obtained from parasitic plant specimens can inform analyses of co‐distribution patterns, changes in eco‐physiology and species plasticity spanning temporal and spatial scales, chemical ecology of tripartite interactions (e.g. host–parasite–herbivore), and molecular data critical for species conservation. Moreover, owing to the historic nature and sheer size of global herbarium collections, these data provide the spatiotemporal breadth essential for investigating organismal response to global change.

Parasitic plant specimens are primed to serve as ideal examples of extended specimen concept and help motivate the next generation of creative and impactful collection‐based science. Continued digitization efforts and improved curatorial practices will contribute to opening these specimens to a broader audience, allowing integrative research spanning multiple domains and offering novel opportunities for education.
Epigenetic quantification of immunosenescent CD8+ TEMRA cells in human blood
Authors: Salumets Ahto , Tserel Liina , Rumm Anna P. , Türk Lehte , Kingo Külli , Saks Kai , Oras Astrid , Uibo Raivo , Tamm Riin , Peterson Hedi , Kisand Kai , Peterson Pärt
Published: April 2022

Age‐related changes in human T‐cell populations are important contributors to immunosenescence. In particular, terminally differentiated CD8+ effector memory CD45RA+ TEMRA cells and their subsets have characteristics of cellular senescence, accumulate in older individuals, and are increased in age‐related chronic inflammatory diseases. In a detailed T‐cell profiling among individuals over 65 years of age, we found a high interindividual variation among CD8+ TEMRA populations. CD8+ TEMRA proportions correlated positively with cytomegalovirus (CMV) antibody levels, however, not with the chronological age. In the analysis of over 90 inflammation proteins, we identified plasma TRANCE/RANKL levels to associate with several differentiated T‐cell populations, including CD8+ TEMRA and its CD28− subsets. Given the strong potential of CD8+ TEMRA cells as a biomarker for immunosenescence, we used deep‐amplicon bisulfite sequencing to match their frequencies in flow cytometry with CpG site methylation levels and developed a computational model to predict CD8+ TEMRA cell proportions from whole blood genomic DNA. Our findings confirm the association of CD8+ TEMRA and its subsets with CMV infection and provide a novel tool for their high throughput epigenetic quantification as a biomarker of immunosenescence.
European countries have different rates of sperm cryopreservation before vasectomy and at the time of reversal
Authors: Degraeve Amandine , Roumeguere Thierry , Tilmans Gilles , Marotta Marie‐Laura , Huyghe Eric , Fournier Georges , Faix Antoine , Spinoit Anne‐Françoise , Decaestecker Karel , Herve François , Boitrelle Florence , Lahdensuo Kanerva , Van damme Julien ,   the Société Belge d'Urologie (SBU), the Belgische Vereniging voor Urologen (BVU), the Association Française d'Urologie (AFU), the Nederlandse Vereniging voor Urologie (NVU), the Société d'Andrologie de Langue Française (SALF), the Finnish Urological Society (FUS).
Published: April 2022

Introduction

Effective male contraceptive options are condoms and vasectomy. Vasectomy should not be considered a reversible method of contraception even if vasovasostomy can be offered to men to restore fertility after vasectomy. Therefore, there is a real questioning among urologists concerning cryopreservation before vasectomy. We carried out an international survey concerning the practice of cryopreservation before vasectomy and during vasovasostomy.

Material and methods

An online anonymous survey was submitted from January to June 2021 to six European urological societies. The 31‐items questionnaire included questions about demography, habits of cryopreservation before vasectomy or during vasectomy reversal, and in case of urogenital cancers.

Results

228 urologists from six urological societies in five different countries (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, Finland) answered the questionnaire. French urologists were more in favor of cryopreservation before vasectomy than other European urologists (p < 0.0001). They also significantly found that not talking about cryopreservation before vasectomy is a medical fault unlike other urologists (p < 0.0001). The specialization in andrology did not influence the choice of cryopreservation before vasectomy (p = 0.9452). The majority of urologists did not perform intraoperative sperm extraction during vasovasostomy (81%; n = 127) with a significant difference between urologists with or without andrology training (p = 0.0146). Success rates after vasovasostomy are significantly better for robot‐assisted surgery (p = 0.0159) or with a microscope (p = 0.0456) versus without a microscope.

Conclusion

Cryopreservation before definitive sterilization significantly varies among European urologists and seems to be mostly dictated by habits than by knowledge. An international consensus is needed to standardize practices and guide patients’ choices.
Towards a geography of queer temporalities: Time, space and rural–urban migrant gay men's exploration of sexuality in China
Authors: Luo Muyuan , Li Tangmei , Qi Shaojie
Published: April 2022

Building on the geography of sexualities and queer temporality studies, this research investigates the entanglement of sexuality, time and space with a case study of rural–urban migrant gay men in China. Based on participant observations and in‐depth interviews with 46 Chinese rural–urban migrant gay men, we identify three forms of queer temporality – queer biographical time, queer life stage, and queer clock time – emerging from Chinese gay men's life stories. We also demonstrate how these different forms of queer temporality are conditioned by and influence certain spatial practices among our informants. In doing so, this analysis contributes to the geographical research on sexuality by challenging the rural/urban dichotomy in the existing literature on the one hand, and exploring the possibilities for a geography of queer temporality on the other.
Eastern Europe: The ‘other’ geographies in the colonial global economy
Authors: Balogun Bolaji
Published: April 2022

This article engages with the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and its entanglement with the maintenance of the transatlantic colonial economy established by its powerful imperial neighbours. In doing so, the article signals an argument that the processes of the colonial global economy cannot be reduced to the West, but are also essential in the development of ‘other’ European geographies that have been thought of as detached, non‐complicit and irrelevant to transatlantic narratives of slavery and empires. The focus here is directed towards the benefits of ‘associated trades’ that, when viewed through Charles Mills's ‘racial contract’ framework, offer an alternative longue durée of connected geographies that makes visible Eastern Europe's links to the benefits of the colonial global economy.
Effect of crude protein reduction in blood, performance, immunological, and intestinal histological parameters of broiler chickens
Authors: Kuritza Leandro Nagae , De Almeida Leopoldo Malcorra , Dos Santos Marley Conceição , Bassi Lucas Schmidt , Sonálio Katiucia Cristine , Maiorka Alex , De Oliveira Simone Gisele
Published: April 2022

We aimed to evaluate the effects of the reduction in dietary crude protein (CP) on blood urea, uric acid, performance, immunity, and intestinal histology of broilers. Four diets were formulated with 22.50%, 21.50%, 20.50%, and 19.50% of CP (1 to 21 days) and 19.20%, 18.20%, 17.20%, and 16.20% of CP (22 to 42 days), meeting the requirements of essential amino acids in all diets. A total of 800 male Ross chicks were randomly allocated to 32 pens, with 25 birds each (n = 8). Blood and intestines had been collected for analysis. Uric acid decreased and urea increased with the reduction of CP (p < 0.05). Reduction in performance and intestinal parameters (villus, crypt, and goblet cells) was observed with the reduction of CP (p < 0.05). Lower levels of CP resulted in alteration (p < 0.05) in CD4 and CD8 lineages (21 and 42 days). Broken‐line models estimated (p < 0.05) the CP requirement for growth between 21% and 21.3% (1 to 21 days) and between 17.2% and 17.4% (22 to 42 days) and CP requirements between 17.2% and 18.2% for maximum response of immune cells (42 days). Reduction in dietary CP has a negative impact on performance, immune response, and intestinal histology of broilers, even with adequate levels of essential amino acids.
Mexican‐origin youths’ language brokering for fathers and mothers: Daily experiences and youths’ diurnal cortisol slopes
Authors: Kim Su Yeong , Wen Wen , Chen Shanting , Yan Jinjin , Song Jiaxiu , Zhang Minyu , Zeiders Katharine H.
Published: April 2022

This study examined the associations of language brokering stressintensityandexposurewith Mexican‐origin youths’ cortisol responses when brokering for fathers and mothers, and the moderating role of youths’ brokering efficacy in these relations. Participants were 289 adolescents (Mage = 17.38,SD = .94, 52% girls) in immigrant families. When brokering for mothers, stressexposurewas related to flatter (less healthy) same‐day diurnal slopes in youth. When brokering for fathers, daily brokering efficacy buffered the detrimental link between stressintensityand youths’ same‐day cortisol slopes. When brokering for fathers/mothers, stressintensityandexposurewere related to flatter (less healthy) next‐day diurnal slopes. Although daily brokering stress can relate to youth physiologic functioning, feeling efficacious about brokering may buffer the negative ramifications of stress.
Cutaneous immune-related adverse events and photodamaged skin in patients with metastatic melanoma: could nicotinamide be useful?
Authors: De Giorgi Vincenzo , Colombo Jacopo , Trane Luciana , Silvestri Flavia , Venturi Federico , Zuccaro Biancamaria , Doni Laura , Stanganelli Ignazio , Covarelli Piero
Published: April 2022

Cutaneous immune-related adverse events (irAEs) occur in more than one-third of patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors; they are often the first clinical manifestation, although they may occur months after initiation of therapy. We noticed that our patients usually have these cutaneous AEs on photodamaged skin. In fact, out of 19 patients being treated for metastatic melanoma, 8 (42%), all of whom had significant cutaneous actinic damage, developed cutaneous irAEs earlier and in a more serious form than those without such damage. Thus, we gave a high oral dose of nicotinamide (500 mg twice daily) to the patients with metastatic melanoma who had photodamaged skin, and continued this for the entire duration of the immunotherapy. The appearance of the first signs of cutaneous irAEs was 180 days after starting therapy in nicotinamide-treated patients, compared with 65 days for patients not treated with nicotinamide.
Effects and acceptance of semipermeable gloves compared to cotton gloves in patients with hand dermatoses: Results of a controlled intervention study
Authors: Heichel Theres , Sonsmann Flora Karla , John Swen‐Malte , Krambeck Kathrin , Maurer Julia , Nienhaus Albert , Nordheider Kathrin , Stasielowicz Lukasz , Wilke Annika , Brans Richard
Published: April 2022

Background

Semipermeable gloves might be an alternative to cotton gloves in management of hand dermatoses.

Objectives

To compare acceptance and tolerability of gloves made of cotton or a semipermeable Sympatex membrane in patients with hand dermatoses and their effect on skin lesions when worn overnight.

Methods

A total of 199 patients with work‐related symmetrical hand dermatoses were asked to wear a cotton glove (COT) on one hand and a Sympatex glove underneath a cotton glove (SYM/COT) on the other hand for 19 consecutive nights. The severity of skin lesions was regularly examined. A questionnaire on acceptance and tolerability was used in a subset of 126 patients.

Results

Data on skin lesions were available for 183 participating patients (92%). The severity did not differ substantially between hands covered with SYM/COT or COT over time. Questionnaire data were available for 120 patients (95%). SYM/COT received better ratings regarding climate conditions while COT showed superiority in wearing comfort, practicality and appearance.

Conclusions

Both SYM/COT and COT were well tolerated and accepted in patients with hand dermatoses. Hence, SYM/COT may serve as suitable alternative for COT as comfort gloves supporting therapeutic efforts. The observed slight differences may influence the decision when selecting the glove type.
Effectiveness of a rectal cancer education video on patient expectations
Authors: Streith Lucas D. , Yip Silas J. Y. , Brown Carl J. , Karimuddin Ahmer A. , Raval Manoj J. , Phang P. Terry , Ghuman Amandeep
Published: April 2022

Aim

Discrepancy between patient expectations and outcomes can negatively affect patient satisfaction and quality of life. We aimed to assess patient expectations of bowel, urinary, and sexual function after rectal cancer treatments, and whether a preoperative education video changed expectations.

Methods

A total of 45 patients were assessed between January 2018 and January 2021 in a tertiary care hospital in Vancouver, Canada. Patients included were rectal cancer patients who had neoadjuvant chemoradiation and were listed for low anterior resection but had not yet had surgery. Following surgical consultation but before surgery, a questionnaire assessing expectations of lifestyle after treatments was administered. Patients then watched an educational video and repeated the questionnaire to assess for changes in expectations.

Results

Patient scores indicated expectation that control of bowel movements, urination, and sexual function would sometimes be problematic, but had a range from occasionally problematic to good function. Significant change after the video was seen in the expectation of needing medications for bowel control, and 44%–69% of individual patient answers changed from prevideo to post‐video, depending on the question. The education video was scored as helpful or very helpful by 82% of patients.

Conclusions

Patients have varying expectations of problematic control of bowel, urinary, and sexual function following rectal cancer treatments. A pretreatment education video resulted in a trend toward changed expectations for functional outcomes in most patients. Further educational modalities for patients may provide more uniform expectations of function and increase patient satisfaction after rectal cancer treatments.
Spatial analysis to inform the mitigation hierarchy
Authors: Jones Kendall R. , von Hase Amrei , Costa Hugo M. , Rainey Hugo , Sidat Naseeba , Jobson Benjamin , White Thomas B. , Grantham Hedley S.
Published: April 2022

Human activities such as urbanization, infrastructure and agriculture are driving global biodiversity declines. In an attempt to balance economic development goals with biodiversity conservation, governments and industry apply a decision‐making framework known as the mitigation hierarchy, with a goal of achieving no net loss or net gain outcomes for biodiversity. Successful application of the mitigation hierarchy requires biodiversity assessments and spatial planning to inform the design of mitigation policies, identify priority areas for biodiversity conservation and impact avoidance, assess the biodiversity impacts of developments, and identify appropriate mitigation measures including offsetting residual impacts. However, guidance on the necessary data and assessment techniques is often lacking, especially in countries where formal mitigation policies do not exist or are in their infancy. Here, we discuss and demonstrate analyses that can help answer some key questions for formulating effective mitigation policies and applying the mitigation hierarchy. We focus on data and analyses that can inform the avoidance and offset steps in particular, and demonstrate these techniques using a case study in Mozambique. While these analyses will not replace field‐based assessments for projects, they offer rapid, low‐cost approaches to support scoping and development of mitigation policy, planning and decision‐making, especially in relatively data‐poor regions.
Donor leukocyte trafficking during human ex vivo lung perfusion
Authors: Lee Andy Chao Hsuan , Edobor Arianna , Wignakumar Thirushan , Lysandrou Maria , Johnston Laura K. , McMullen Phillip , Mirle Vikranth , Diaz Ashley , Piech Ryan , Rose Rebecca , Jendrisak Martin , di Sabato Diego , Shanmugarajah Kumaran , Fung John , Donington Jessica , Madariaga Maria Lucia
Published: April 2022

Background

Ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) is used to assess and preserve lungs prior to transplantation. However, its inherent immunomodulatory effects are not completely understood. We examine perfusate and tissue compartments to determine the change in immune cell composition in human lungs maintained on EVLP.

Methods

Six human lungs unsuitable for transplantation underwent EVLP. Tissue and perfusate samples were obtained during cold storage and at 1‐, 3‐ and 6‐h during perfusion. Flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, and bead‐based immunoassays were used to measure leukocyte composition and cytokines. Mean values between baseline and time points were compared by Student's t test.

Results

During the 1st hour of perfusion, perfusate neutrophils increased (+22.2 ± 13.5%, p < 0.05), monocytes decreased (−77.5 ± 8.6%, p < 0.01) and NK cells decreased (−61.5 ± 22.6%, p < 0.01) compared to cold storage. In contrast, tissue neutrophils decreased (−22.1 ± 12.2%, p < 0.05) with no change in monocytes and NK cells. By 6 h, perfusate neutrophils, NK cells, and tissue neutrophils were similar to baseline. Perfusate monocytes remained decreased, while tissue monocytes remained unchanged. There was no significant change in B cells or T cell subsets. Pro‐inflammatory cytokines (IL‐1b, G‐CSF, IFN‐gamma, CXCL2, CXCL1 granzyme A, and granzyme B) and lymphocyte activating cytokines (IL‐2, IL‐4, IL‐6, IL‐8) increased during perfusion.

Conclusions

Early mobilization of innate immune cells occurs in both perfusate and tissue compartments during EVLP, with neutrophils and NK cells returning to baseline and monocytes remaining depleted after 6 h. The immunomodulatory effect of EVLP may provide a therapeutic window to decrease the immunogenicity of lungs prior to transplantation.
Coping with dialects from birth: Role of variability on infants’ early language development. Insights from Norwegian dialects
Authors: Kartushina Natalia , Mayor Julien
Published: April 2022

Previous research suggests that exposure to accent variability can affect toddlers’ familiar word recognition and word comprehension. The current preregistered study addressed the gap in knowledge on early language development in infants exposed to two dialects from birth and assessed the role of dialect similarity in infants’ word recognition and comprehension. A 12‐month‐old Norwegian‐learning infants, exposed to native Norwegian parents speaking the same or two Norwegian dialects, took part in two eye‐tracking tasks, assessing familiar word form recognition and word comprehension. Their parents’ speech was assessed for similarity by native Norwegian speakers. First, in contrast to previous research, our results revealed no listening preference for words over nonwords in both monodialectal and bidialectal infants, suggesting potential language‐specific differences in the onset of word recognition. Second, the results showed evidence for word comprehension in monodialectal infants, but not in bidialectal infants, suggesting that exposure to dialectal variability impacts early word acquisition. Third, perceptual similarity between parental dialects tendentially facilitated bidialectal infants’ word recognition and comprehension. Forth, the results revealed a strong correlation between the raters and parents’ assessment of similarity between dialects, indicating that parental estimations can be reliably used to assess infants’ speech variability at home. Finally, our results revealed a strong relationship between word recognition and comprehension in monodialectal infants and the absence of such a relationship in bidialectal infants, suggesting that either these two skills do not necessarily align in infants exposed to more variable input, or that the alignment might occur at a later stage.
Assessing the impact of aid on public health expenditure in aid recipient countries
Authors: Lim Yoojin , Kim Youngwan , Connolly Daniel
Published: April 2022

Motivation

The relationship between aid flows and recipients' spending on health is an important component of the ongoing attempt to measure and improve aid effectiveness.

Purpose

This article aims to reveal complex interactions occurring between donors, who use surveillance and monitoring to ensure that their aid is effective, and recipients who are pursuing individual political survival in conjunction with national development.

Methods and approach

This study applies a fixed‐effects model to a dataset of 111 aid recipients from 2000–2018.

Findings

This study finds that the impact of democracy, government effectiveness, and political stability on public health spending declines as more aid is introduced.

Policy implications

The findings suggest that aid could lead to reductions in health expenditure when the donor community’s surveillance focuses more on risky or untrustworthy recipients and indirectly creates incentives for good recipients to divert funding away from the health sector.
Fiscal multipliers, expectations and learning in a macroeconomic agent‐based model
Authors: Reissl Severin
Published: April 2022

This paper evaluates the government expenditure multiplier and the influence of agents' expectations and consumption choices thereupon in a pre‐existing estimated macroeconomic agent‐based model. If the simple consumption heuristic of the baseline model is replaced by inter‐temporal optimization subject to a budget constraint based on agents' estimations of future income, the multiplier becomes significantly smaller. When agents' beliefs about the effects of expenditure shocks are explicitly introduced, they can strongly increase or decrease the multiplier. If agents are allowed learn about the effects of government expenditure on their income from repeated shocks, they are able to correctly predict these effects.
Thinking biases and their role in persecutory delusions: A systematic review
Authors: De Rossi Giorgia , Georgiades Anna
Published: April 2022

Aim

Thinking biases are posited to be involved in the genesis and maintenance of delusions. Persecutory delusions are one of the most commonly occurring delusional subtypes and cause substantial distress and disability to the individuals experiencing them. Their clinical relevance confers a rationale for investigating them. Particularly, this review aims to elucidate which cognitive biases are involved in their development and persistence.

Methods

MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO and Global Health were searched from the year 2000 to June 2020. A formal narrative synthesis was employed to report the findings and a quality assessment of included studies was conducted.

Results

Twenty five studies were included. Overall, 18 thinking biases were identified. Hostility and trustworthiness judgement biases appeared to be specific to persecutory delusions while jumping to conclusions, self‐serving attributional biases and belief inflexibility were proposed to be more closely related to other delusional subtypes. While the majority of the biases identified were suggested to be involved in delusion maintenance, hostility biases, need for closure and personalizing attributional biases were believed to also have aetiological influences.

Conclusions

These findings show that some cognitive biases are specific to paranoid psychosis and appear to be involved in the formation and/or persistence of persecutory delusions.
Fairy ring‐induced soil potassium depletion gradients reshape microbial community composition in a montane grassland
Authors: Rodríguez Antonio , Ibáñez Mercedes , Bol Roland , Brüggemann Nicolas , Lobo Agustín , Jimenez Juan José , Ruess Liliane , Sebastià M.‐Teresa
Published: April 2022

Fairy rings promoting circular greening belts in the vegetation can shape soil microbial communities by altering soil conditions. Knowledge about soil variables involved in this process is incomplete. We characterised the soil microbial communities of six fairy rings in a montane grassland using phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profiling, and studied if changes in soil properties corresponded to changes in soil microbial PLFA patterns. Exchangeable potassium (K) decreased inside the current rings, while soil moisture increased in the zones where the greening belts were two years before sampling (R2015). Fairy ring associated changes in PLFA composition were highly related to soil K. Gram‐negative bacteria were associated with the zones outside the ring with the highest K content, whereas Gram‐positive bacteria proportions increased inside the ring‐affected zones. An environmental stress indicator, the iso to anteiso ratio of PLFA 17:0, decreased in the R2015 zones, coinciding with the highest soil moisture contents. Our findings highlight the unreported importance of soil K in fairy ring dynamics affecting microbial communities. This common omission could lead to incorrect conclusions. Hence, the effects of fairy rings on soil should be further tested.

Highlights

Exchangeable potassium (K) decreased inside the current fairy rings.

Fairy ring associated changes in PLFA microbial composition were present related to soil K.

Soil moisture increased in the zones where the rings were 2 years before sampling.

An environmental stress indicator decreased in those areas.
Rare sudden unexpected death in epilepsy SCN5A variants cause changes in channel function implicating cardiac arrhythmia as a cause of death
Authors: Soh Ming S. , Bagnall Richard D. , Semsarian Christopher , Scheffer Ingrid E. , Berkovic Samuel F. , Reid Christopher A.
Published: April 2022

Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is a leading cause of premature death in epilepsy. The underlying pathological mechanisms are likely to be multifactorial. Cardiac arrhythmia has been suggested as a cause of death in some patients with SUDEP. SCN5A encodes the cardiac Nav1.5 sodium channel. SCN5A variants that result in either loss or gain of channel function cause cardiac arrhythmias. Rare SCN5A variants have been reported in SUDEP cases, but the impact of these variants on channel function is unknown. Here, we use whole‐cell voltage clamp recordings to perform functional analyses of rare SCN5A SUDEP variants, p.V223G, p.I397V, and p.R523C. Expression and biophysical properties, including activation, inactivation, and recovery from inactivation, were probed. Each SCN5A variant significantly impacted human NaV1.5 channel function, indicating that they could cause cardiac arrhythmias. The patient carrying the p.R523C variant was on lamotrigine, an antiseizure medication implicated in SUDEP. Therapeutic concentration of lamotrigine caused a slowing of the rate of recovery from inactivation and a hyperpolarizing shift in the voltage of inactivation of human NaV1.5 wild‐type, but not p.R523C channels, implicating a gene‐by‐drug interaction. These data suggest that SCN5A arrhythmogenic variants may confer increased risk of sudden death in individuals with epilepsy.
Female preferences for conspecific males indicate reproductive isolation between sympatric Labeotropheus Ahl from Lake Malaŵi
Authors: Pauers Michael J. , Grudnowski Jacob A.
Published: April 2022

In sexually reproducing taxa, reproductive isolation is key to speciation. Given the speed with which behavioral reproductive isolation evolves, this form of isolation is of particular importance to rapidly evolving species. Here we examine behavioral reproductive isolation in a sympatric, congeneric pair of rock‐dwelling cichlids from Lake Malaŵi, testing the hypothesis that females should prefer conspecific males. We used a pair of Labeotropheus, L. fuelleborni Ahl and L. trewavasae Fryer, from the Chidunga Rocks in southwestern Lake Malaŵi, to test this hypothesis, with the prediction that females would approach conspecific males more frequently than they would heterospecific males. When given a choice between a male L. fuelleborni and L. trewavasae, we found that females did approach males of their own species more frequently than males of the opposite species, and that differences in length and the number of eggspots on the anal fin between the stimulus males had no effect on a female's choice. These results are consistent with behavioral reproductive isolation between these sympatric species, and add further support to the hypothesis that sexual selection played a key role in the speciation of cichlid fishes from Lake Malaŵi.
When not teaming up puts parents at risk: Coparenting and parental burnout in dual‐parent heterosexual families in Switzerland
Authors: Favez Nicolas , Max Aline , Bader Michel , Tissot Hervé
Published: April 2022

Parental burnout refers to loss of energy and pleasure in the parental role. It is predictive of psychopathological outcomes in parents and dysfunctional parenting behaviors. Support of parental duties is central to alleviation of parental burden and prevention of burnout. Coparenting is the concept related to interparental mutual support in rearing a child. However, the links between coparenting and parental burnout have yet to be assessed. We thus aimed in this study to assess which dimensions of coparenting are linked with parental burnout. A total of 306 participants from the French‐speaking part of Switzerland (120 fathers, 186 mothers) completed online questionnaires about parental burnout, their coparental relationship, and sociodemographic characteristics. We performed hierarchical regressions, entering sociodemographic characteristics in a first block and coparenting dimensions in a second block. Results showed that (i) a higher number of children and having younger children are linked to higher burnout; (ii) coparenting exposure to conflict is related to higher burnout, whereas endorsement of the partner's parenting is related to lower burnout; and (iii) no interaction effect occurs between sociodemographic characteristics and coparenting variables. Coparenting thus significantly contributes to the occurrence of burnout syndrome. Working on the coparental relationship preventively in parental educational programs or at a relational systemic level in therapy may help prevent burnout. Treating one parent only may not be sufficient to alleviate burnout, as negative coparenting could counter the effect of individual therapy.
Very high cycle fatigue behaviors of GH4169 superalloy at room and high temperatures
Authors: Zhang Zhen , Teng Zhenjie , Wang Jingyu , Huang Zhiyong , Münstermann Sebastian
Published: April 2022

The fatigue behavior of a Ni‐based superalloy of grade GH4169 has been investigated at room temperature and high temperature (RT and HT) up to a very high cycle regime using ultrasonic and electromagnetic fatigue systems. The experiments reveal that mixed‐mode cracking occurred in the first crack growth stage at HT. It was followed by a horizontal crack propagation stage regardless of the initial orientation of the crack. Complex pod‐like structures occur in the grain after being loaded by a large number of cycles at RT. These structures are induced by the interaction of dislocation movement with γ″ precipitates. With the help of transmission electron microscopy investigations, it could be shown that shear bands indicate that the sliding movement dominates the superalloy's microstructure variation.
Identifying the microstructural features associated with void nucleation during elevated‐temperature deformation of copper
Authors: Noell Philip J. , Deka Nipal , Sills Ryan B. , Boyce Brad L.
Published: April 2022

The microstructural‐scale mechanisms that produce cracks in metals during deformation at elevated temperatures are relevant to applications that involve thermal exposure. Prior studies of cavitation during high‐temperature deformation, for example, creep, suffered from an inability to directly observe the microstructural evolution that occurs during deformation and leads to void nucleation. The current study takes advantage of modern high‐speed electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) detectors to observe cavitation in oxygen‐free, high‐conductivity copper in situ during deformation at 300°C. Most voids formed at the triple junction between a twin boundary and a high‐angle grain boundary (HAGB). This finding does not contradict previous studies that suggested that twins are resistant to cracking—it reveals that cracks in HAGBs originate at twin/HAGB triple junctions and that cracks preferentially grow along HAGBs rather than the accompanying twins. Atomistic simulations explored the origins of this observation and suggest that twin/HAGB triple junctions are microstructural weak points.
Assessing the vulnerability of plant functional trait strategies to climate change
Authors: Andrew Samuel C. , Gallagher Rachael V. , Wright Ian J. , Mokany Karel
Published: April 2022

Aim

Our ability to understand how species may respond to changing climate conditions is hampered by a lack of high‐quality data on the adaptive capacity of species. Plant functional traits are linked to many aspects of species life history and adaptation to environment, with different combinations of trait values reflecting alternate strategies for adapting to varied conditions. If the realized climate limits of species can be partially explained by plant functional trait combinations, then a new approach of using trait combinations to predict the expected climate limits of species trait combinations may offer considerable benefits.

Location

Australia.

Time period

Current and future.

Methods

Using trait data for leaf size, seed mass and plant height for 6,747 Australian native species from 27 plant families, we model the expected climate limits of trait combinations and use future climate scenarios to estimate climate change impacts based on plant functional trait strategies.

Results

Functional trait combinations were a significant predictor of species climate niche metrics with potentially meaningful relationships with two rainfall variables (R2 = .36 & .45) and three temperature variables (R2 = .21, .28, .30). Using this method, the proportion of species exposed to conditions across their range that are beyond the expected climate limits of their trait strategies will increase under climate change.

Main conclusions

Our new approach, called trait strategy vulnerability, includes three new metrics. For example, the climate change vulnerability (CCV) metric identified a small but important proportion of species (4.3%) that will on average be exposed to conditions beyond their expected limits for summer temperature in the future. These potentially vulnerable species could be high priority targets for deeper assessment of adaptive capacity at the genomic or physiological level. Our methods can be applied to any suite of co‐occurring plants globally.
Caregivers of children feel confident about using the Internet for health information
Authors: Delemere Emma , Maguire Rebecca
Published: April 2022

Background

Caregivers of children may rely on internet sources, health care providers, peers or family for health information.

Objective

To examine the impact of sociodemographic factors on the use of the internet for health information by caregivers of children, and the impact on self‐efficacy, effort and frustration.

Methods

Using data from the 2019 Health Information National Trends Survey, the effects of information source on self‐efficacy, effort and frustration was examined using the complex samples module of SPSS.

Results

The internet was the most common source of health information for caregivers of children (n = 247), with high confidence, low frustration and effort reported. Younger, higher educated and higher income caregivers were significantly more likely to use the internet for health information. Information from Health Care Providers (HCPs) was associated with greater confidence, and information from peers associated with lesser effort and frustration. No significant effects on self‐efficacy, effort or frustration for online health information was noted compared to other sources.

Conclusions

Efforts to reduce barriers to online health information may be required for some groups of caregivers, and health care providers may have a role to play in this.
Ex vivo—In vivo correlation of retinol stratum corneum penetration studies by confocal Raman microspectroscopy and tape stripping
Authors: Krombholz Richard , Fressle Stefanie , Lunter Dominique
Published: April 2022

Skin penetration studies of topically applied drugs are a challenging topic in the development of semisolid formulations. The most commonly used methods can be differentiated by their character into ex vivo/in vivo, invasive/non‐invasive and offline/in‐line measurements. In this study, we compare ex vivo tape stripping, an invasive technique, which is often used, to confocal Raman microspectroscopy (CRM), ex and in vivo, to establish a correlation between those methods. Retinol was used as a model drug, applied in an oil‐in‐water emulsion, to compare the skin penetration profiles obtained by the different methods.
Analysis of 275 DIY recipes for eye cosmetics and their possible safety issues
Authors: Couteau Céline , Girard Emma , Coiffard Laurence
Published: April 2022

Some consumers have become very suspicious of certain health products such as medicines, medical devices and cosmetics. This can lead them to choose to make such products themselves. The aim of this work was therefore to analyse recipes for eye makeup and makeup removal products, as well as eyelash and eye contour care products. We collected recipes for do‐it‐yourself products found on blogs and social media (YouTube channels, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and TikTok) in French and English and then analyse their composition as well as how practical it is to make these recipes. We compiled and studied 275 recipes for products that can be used in or around the eye (periocular area). This work has shown that the quantities of the various ingredients are very imprecise, that the proposed substances are not suitable for the intended use and that the preservation of the finished products is not sufficiently guaranteed. The results obtained suggest that recipes for products intended for use in the eye or in the periocular area are not safe to use and that their use is likely to have relatively serious consequences.
The effect of age on the magnitude and longevity of Th1‐directed CD4 T‐cell responses to SARS‐CoV‐2
Authors: Nattrass Ryan G. , Krafft Lisa , Zjablovskaja Polina , Schuster Marc , Kasmapour Bahram , Sarisoy Cem , Minich Jessica , Bach Elena , Streeck Hendrik
Published: April 2022

Age is associated with changes in the immune system which increase the risk for severe COVID‐19. Here, we investigate SARS‐CoV‐2‐reactive CD4 T cells from individuals recovered from SARS‐CoV‐2 infection with mild COVID‐19 symptoms after 3, 6 and 9 months using incubation with SARS‐CoV‐2 S1, S2 and N‐peptide pools, followed by flow cytometry for a Th1‐activation profile or proliferation analyses. We found that SARS‐CoV‐2‐reactive CD4 T cells are decreasing on average after 9 months but highly polyfunctional CD4 T cells can peak after 6‐month recovery. We show that individuals older than 60 years of age have significantly more SARS‐CoV‐2‐reactive T cells in their blood after 3 months of recovery compared to younger individuals and that the percentage of SARS‐CoV‐2‐reactive Th1‐directed CD4 T cells in the blood of mild‐COVID‐19‐recovered individuals correlates with age. Finally, we show that individuals over the age of 40 have significantly increased the amounts of highly polyfunctional SARS‐CoV‐2‐S‐peptide‐reactive CD4 T cells, compared to SARS‐CoV‐2 naïve individuals, than those under the age of 40. These findings suggest that in individuals recovered from mild COVID‐19, increased age is associated with significantly more highly polyfunctional SARS‐CoV‐2‐reactive CD4 T cells with a Th1‐profile and that these responses persist over time.
Plagiarism among nursing students: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Fadlalmola Hammad Ali , Elhusein Amal Mohamed , Swamy D. S. Veerabhadra , Hussein Mohammed Khalid , Mamanao Daniel Mon , Mohamedsalih Wahieba Eltegani
Published: April 2022

Aim

To summarize the findings from literature regarding the prevalence of plagiarism and its various types, knowledge, and attitudes of students toward plagiarism, factors associated with plagiarism, and the applied interventions to decrease the incidence of plagiarism.

Background

Plagiarism is a major form of academic dishonesty practiced by students at all educational levels.

Introduction

Academic dishonesty was defined as any unauthorized help that adds to students' formal academic performance. These dishonest behaviors can be categorized as falsifying information, hiding errors, collaborating with colleagues when not allowed, and plagiarism.

Methods

Systematic search of databases was conducted in September 2021 to identify studies that discussed plagiarism in nursing studies. We included 31 studies in this systematic review and meta‐analysis, with a total of 9,175 nursing students. The analysis was conducted using RevMan software.

Results

Plagiarism was the most frequent academic misconduct among nursing students (practiced by 55.3%). Paraphrasing without referencing was the most practiced form (39.53%), while submitting others' work without acknowledgment was the least one (9.61%). Most students were aware of the concept of plagiarism (80.8%) and had positive ethical attitudes toward it (88.26%). Plagiarism was negatively associated with age, parenting, and completing semester credits. However, it was positively correlated with average grades and liberal educators. Plagiarism was a significant predictor of clinical misconduct.

Discussion

A gap in the students' knowledge and skills were noticed. These gaps may be contributing to the high occurrence of plagiaristic acts, besides the unethical attitudes.

Conclusion

Plagiarism is a serious academic misconduct practice that can be associated with subsequent clinical misconduct. There is a need to fill the knowledge and skills gap, and to set effective policies.

Implication for nursing and health policy

In their attempts to eliminate plagiarism, nurse educators are encouraged to provide effective educational training and practical tasks, in order to fill the gaps in knowledge and skills. Additionally, implementing clear and effective punishment policies would prevent intentional plagiaristic acts. This would aid in introducing qualified nurses accountable for the health of patients.