bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sarcolemma wounding activates dynamin‐dependent endocytosis in striated muscle
Authors: McDade Joel R. , Naylor Molly T. , Michele Daniel E.
Published: September 2020

Plasma membrane repair is an evolutionarily conserved mechanism by which cells can seal breaches in the plasma membrane. Mutations in several proteins with putative roles in sarcolemma integrity, membrane repair, and membrane transport result in several forms of muscle disease; however, the mechanisms that are activated and responsible for sarcolemma resealing are not well understood. Using the standard assays for membrane repair, which track the uptake of FM 1‐43 dye into adult skeletal muscle fibers following laser‐induced sarcolemma disruption, we show that labeling of resting fibers by FM1‐43 prior to membrane wounding and the induced FM1‐43 dye uptake after sarcolemma wounding occurs via dynamin‐dependent endocytosis. Dysferlin‐deficient muscle fibers show elevated dye uptake following wounding, which is the basis for the assertion that membrane repair is defective in this model. Our data show that dynamin inhibition mitigates the differences in FM1‐43 dye uptake between dysferlin‐null and wild‐type muscle fibers, suggesting that elevated wound‐induced FM1‐43 uptake in dysferlin‐deficient muscle may actually be due to enhanced dynamin‐dependent endocytosis following wounding, though dynamin inhibition had no effect on dysferlin trafficking after wounding. By monitoring calcium flux after membrane wounding, we show that reversal of calcium precedes the sustained, slower increase of dynamin‐dependent FM1‐43 uptake in WT fibers, and that dysferlin‐deficient muscle fibers have persistently increased calcium after wounding, consistent with its proposed role in resealing. These data highlight a previously unappreciated role for dynamin‐dependent endocytosis in wounded skeletal muscle fibers and identify overactive dynamin‐dependent endocytosis following sarcolemma wounding as a potential mechanism or consequence of dysferlin deficiency.
Superfrogs in the city: 150 year impact of urbanization and agriculture on the European Common Frog
Authors: Niemeier Stephanie , Müller Johannes , Struck Ulrich , Rödel Mark‐Oliver
Published: September 2020

Despite growing pressure on biodiversity deriving from increasing anthropogenic disturbances, some species successfully persist in altered ecosystems. However, these species' characteristics and thresholds, as well as the environmental frame behind that process are usually unknown. We collected data on body size, fluctuating asymmetry (FA), as well as nitrogen stable isotopes (δ15N) from museum specimens of the European Common Frog, Rana temporaria, all originating from the Berlin–Brandenburg area, Germany, in order to test: (a) if specimens have changed over the last 150 years (1868–2018); and (b) if changes could be attributed to increasing urbanization and agricultural intensity. We detected that after the Second World War, frogs were larger than in pre‐war Berlin. In rural Brandenburg, we observed no such size change. FA analysis revealed a similar tendency with lower levels in Berlin after the war and higher levels in Brandenburg. Enrichment of δ15N decreased over time in both regions but was generally higher and less variable in sites with agricultural land use. Frogs thus seem to encounter favorable habitat conditions after pollution in postwar Berlin improved, but no such tendencies were observable in the predominantly agricultural landscape of Brandenburg. Urbanization, characterized by the proportion of built‐up area, was not the main associated factor for the observed trait changes. However, we detected a relationship with the amount of urban greenspace. Our study exemplifies that increasing urbanization must not necessarily worsen conditions for species living in urban habitats. The Berlin example demonstrates that public parks and other urban greenspaces have the potential to serve as suitable refuges for some species. These findings underline the urgency of establishing, maintaining, and connecting such habitats, and generally consider their importance for future urban planning.
Long‐term active restoration of extremely degraded alpine grassland accelerated turnover and increased stability of soil carbon
Authors: Bai Yanfu , Ma Lina , Degen Abraham A. , Rafiq Muhammad K. , Kuzyakov Yakov , Zhao Jingxue , Zhang Rui , Zhang Tao , Wang Wenyin , Li Xiaogang , Long Ruijun , Shang Zhanhuan
Published: September 2020

Soil nutrient contents and organic carbon (C) stability are key indicators for restoration of degraded grassland. However, the effects of long‐term active restoration of extremely degraded grassland on soil parameters have been equivocal. The aims of this study were to evaluate the impact of active restoration of degraded alpine grassland on: (a) soil organic matter (SOM) mineralization; and (b) the importance of biotic factors for temperature sensitivity (Q10) of SOM mineralization. Soils were sampled from intact, degraded and restored alpine grasslands at altitudes ranging between 3,900 and 4,200 m on the Tibetan Plateau. The samples were incubated at 5, 15 and 25°C, and Q10 values of SOM mineralization were determined. Structural equation modeling was used to evaluate the importance of vegetation, soil physico‐chemical properties and microbial parameters for Q10 regulation. The Q10 of N mineralization was similar among intact, degraded and restored soils (0.84–1.24) and was higher in topsoil (1.09) than in subsoil (0.92). The best predictive factor of CO2‐Q10 for intact grassland was microbial biomass, for degraded grassland was basal microbial respiration, and for restored grassland was soil bulk density. Restoration by planting vegetation decreased the Q10 of SOM mineralization as soil bulk density, the most important negative predictor, increased in restored grassland. The Q10 of SOM mineralization in topsoil was 14% higher than in subsoil because of higher microbial abundance and exo‐enzyme activities. The NH4+ content was greatest in intact soil, while NO3− content was greatest in degraded soil. The SOM mineralization rate decreased with grassland degradation and increased after long‐term (>10 years) restoration. In conclusion, extremely degraded grassland needs proper long‐term management in active restoration projects, especially for improvement of soil nutrients in a harsh environment.
Managing menopause at work: The contradictory nature of identity talk
Authors: Steffan Belinda
Published: September 2020

This article explores how older women experience and manage menopause at work by asking how female workers construct their work identity around their experiences of menopause at work. Based on qualitative data from 21 women in Edinburgh, UK, findings suggest that women engaged in conflicting behaviors to manage and make sense of their menopausal bodies at work. On the one hand, women engaged in a highly resilient, neoliberal discourse around controlling and managing the symptoms at work. Conversely, data emerged reflecting a negative and self‐deprecating identity talk in how women described themselves in relation to the menopause. This article responds to the call for more nuanced empirical work on factors affecting extending working lives and experiences of menopause at work. While research output generally acknowledges the need for organizations to better understand individuals’ needs at work and not to be blinded by anti‐ageing discourses, this article recognizes that individual women themselves must also heed this advice to more effectively navigate the menopause through continued labor force participation. This article also concludes that menopause management at work must consider that individual women face their own unique cocktail of menopause symptoms, as such blanket human resources policies on their own might be inadequate to improve employment outcomes of women challenged and interrupted by the menopause.
Groundwater Plans in the United States: Regulatory Frameworks and Management Goals
Authors: Gage Allison , Milman Anita
Published: September 2020

Groundwater management plans are an important tool for preventing and addressing degradation and depletion of the resource. Through plans, water users and regulators set forth goals and identify strategies to address the needs of multiple resource users while considering physical constraints of the groundwater resource. This research examines the status of groundwater management plans in the United States, identifying in which states groundwater management plans are produced and the circumstances that lead to the inclusion of quantifiable goals in those plans. Findings indicate that legal and regulatory requirements for quantifiable goals can lead to the development of more comprehensive groundwater management plans, and, that such goals can be set even when uncertainties exist.
A systematic review with meta‐analysis of the effects of arm exercise training programs on arteriovenous fistula maturation among people with chronic kidney disease
Authors: Nantakool Sothida , Rerkasem Kittipan , Reanpang Termpong , Worraphan Salinee , Prasannarong Mujalin
Published: September 2020

This study systematically reviewed the evidence and quantified the effectiveness of arm exercise training programs, before and after arteriovenous fistula (AVF) operation on AVF maturation, among people with chronic kidney disease. Scopus, CINAHL, PubMed, Science Direct, Cochrane Library, and reference lists were searched. Experimental studies that investigated the effect of arm exercise before and post‐operation on AVF maturations were included. Screened and extracted data were administered by two independent reviewers. Seven studies with preoperative exercise were included in a systematic review, while five studies were analyzed in a meta‐analysis. Preoperative exercise significantly increased vessel diameters and grip strength after training. Postoperative exercise had higher clinical and ultrasonographic (US) maturation rates and arterial blood flow than controls (risk ratio [RR], 1.44; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.23–1.69; RR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.02–1.57; weight mean difference, 166.03; 95% CI, 27.58–304.49, respectively). Subgroup analysis showed that isometric exercise training promoted clinical and US maturations (RR, 2.40; 95% CI, 1.51–3.82; RR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.02–2.30, respectively), whereas isotonic exercise promoted clinical maturation (RR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.03–1.34). Grip strength had a greater trend in the intervention group than controls (standardized mean difference, 0.59; 95% CI, −0.06 to 1.25). In conclusion, arm exercise training improves vascular function, which is essential before surgery. The meta‐analysis suggested that arm exercise training promotes AVF clinical and US maturations after surgery. Subgroup analysis suggested that isometric‐arm exercise training may have a larger effect on AVF maturation. However, more studies are needed to draw a solid conclusion.
Student views on transition to higher education in Ireland: Challenges, impacts and suggestions
Authors: Denny Eleanor
Published: September 2020

This paper examines students’ perspectives on the main transitional challenges experienced when commencing higher education. It explores which students are most affected by the transition and is the first paper to provide an overview of student recommendations to help improve the transition in an Irish context. The study involves large‐scale surveys and focus groups across four higher education institutions and explores a range of transitional challenges (including academic, social and course‐specific aspects). Over 1,100 student suggestions to improve transition are analysed and many of these recommendations could be easily implemented beyond Ireland. Ten overall recommendations are made which include, among others, specific supports for mature students and those with longer commuting distances, course‐specific introductory skills modules to be given by current students, a first year ‘starter’ pack with course‐specific orientation materials, and the introduction of a student‐shadowing programme for prospective students.
Novel mullite‐cordierite ceramic refractory fabricated from halloysite and talc
Authors: Cheraitia Abdallah , Redjimi Zahia , Bououdina Mohamed
Published: September 2020

This research work aims to fabricate industrial refractory bricks using cheap and abundant kaolin DD3 constituted of Halloysite. The fabrication process consists on mixing the crushed raw materials (Kaolin/Clay, Fireclay, Talc) with the respective proportions and an optimized granulometry, shaped by a uniaxial hydrostatic pressure of 250 bars, followed by drying at 100°C and sintering at 1300°C. The addition of Talc ‐ at first with water, Fireclay and AP/DD3‐ as a source of MgO promotes the increase of Cordierite formation in order to obtain high heat resistance shock and reduced thermal expansion. Three assays are studied with AP Clay and DD3 Kaolin weight ratios (100/0, 50/50 and 0/100) % corresponding to (ER0, ER1 and ER2) respectively. Mineralogical analysis results of the new refractory bricks, indicate the presence of Mullite and Cordierite as major phases besides Corundum and Quartz as minor phases. All products (ER0, ER1 and ER2) are found to be argillaceous refractory with Alumina concentration (40 < Al2O3 < 45%, FC 40 group) and a melting point higher than 1600°C. The mechanical resistance of the samples is of the same order of magnitude; reaching 51 MPa.
Antioxidant potential of extracts from peels and stems of yellow‐fleshed and white cassava varieties
Authors: Ekeledo Esther , Latif Sajid , Abass Adebayo , Müller Joachim
Published: September 2020

This study focused on the exploration of the potentials of extracting antioxidants from peels and stems of yellow‐fleshed and white cassava varieties. The effect of particle size (0.2 and 0.5 mm) and variety on the phenolic content and antioxidant activity was assessed. The peels of the yellow‐fleshed cassava variety with a particle size of 0.2 mm showed the highest phenolic content with 681.5 GAE mg 100 g−1 and antioxidant activity of 19% and 425 μM TE g−1 dry matter using DPPH and FRAP assays respectively. The stems of the white cassava with a particle size of 0.2 mm exhibited high phenolic content (442.4 GAE mg 100 g−1) and antioxidant activity of 12.8% and 234 μM TE g−1, better than the stem of the yellow‐fleshed cassava. These results indicate that phenolic and antioxidant extractions were influenced by variety, the plant parts and particle size for the antioxidant assays.
Deliberative Democracy and the Paradox of Participation
Authors: Tamano Kazushi
Published: September 2020

Citizen involvement and participatory governance have been adopted as essential components of urban development policies in many countries. For instance, participatory budgeting in Porto Alegre was successful in mobilizing and empowering poor people. However, in many cases, participation is merely a buzzword which often leads to co‐optation. In this article, we propose an explanatory model of participatory governance for making comparative analyses and compare participatory budgeting in the 1990s in Brazil with the Japanese community policy of the 1970s. Based on this, our analysis identifies the paradox of participation and the importance of gatekeeping functions. As a consequence of enhanced citizen participation, the power of the bureaucratic administration becomes dominant unless politicians and the legislature retain their autonomy in decision‐making. If the gatekeeping functions of involvement and decision‐making are monopolized by the administrative body urban development is de‐politicized, which, in turn, leads to co‐optation by government and exclusion. It is important to retain the function of politics to deepen democracy through citizen participation in urban development.
Guidelines for reporting randomized controlled trials in paediatric dentistry based on the CONSORT statement
Authors: Jayaraman Jayakumar
Published: September 2020

Background

The significance of randomized controlled trials (RCT) depends on how thoroughly the results were reported. Reporting of RCTs should be accurate and transparent and encompasses design, implementation, analysis, and results of the trial. The Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) statement and its extension were developed to guide the researchers to report clinical trials in a systematic manner. Despite this recommendation, the overall reporting quality of RCTs still remains suboptimal.

Aim

To describe the relevance and importance of CONSORT reporting guidelines and explain the items using examples derived from randomized trials published in Paediatric Dentistry.

Methods

This is a narrative review that illustrates the importance of reporting items in the CONSORT guidelines from relevant sources. RCTs published in the International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry between 2017 and 2020 were identified from PubMed and Scopus databases and through handsearching. An explanation has been provided for each of the 37 items in the 2010 CONSORT checklist and 17 items in the CONSORT extension for reporting abstracts.

Conclusion

This explanation and elaboration document would enable investigators to report trials in Paediatric Dentistry with accuracy and transparency as well as for reviewers and editors in evaluating the suitability of RCTs for publication.
Corticosteroids alleviate lipopolysaccharide‐induced inflammation and lung injury via inhibiting NLRP3‐inflammasome activation
Authors: Yang Jia‐Wei , Mao Bei , Tao Ru‐Jia , Fan Li‐Chao , Lu Hai‐Wen , Ge Bao‐Xue , Xu Jin‐Fu
Published: September 2020

The role of corticosteroids in acute lung injury (ALI) remains uncertain. This study aims to determine the underlying mechanisms of corticosteroid treatment for lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced inflammation and ALI. We used corticosteroid treatment for LPS‐induced murine ALI model to investigate the effect of corticosteroid on ALI in vivo. Moreover, LPS‐stimulated macrophages were used to explore the specific anti‐inflammatory effects of corticosteroids on NLRP3‐inflammasome in vitro. We found corticosteroids attenuated LPS‐induced ALI, which manifested in reduction of the alveolar structure destruction, the infiltration of neutrophils and the inflammatory cytokines release of interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) and interleukin‐18 (IL‐18) in Lung. In vitro, when NLRP3‐inflammasome was knocked out, inflammatory response of caspase‐1 activation and IL‐1β secretion was obviously declined. Further exploration, our results showed that when corticosteroid preprocessed macrophages before LPS primed, it obviously inhibited the activation of caspase‐1 and the maturation of IL‐1β, which depended on inhibiting the nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) signal pathway activation. However, when corticosteroids intervened the LPS‐primed macrophages, it also negatively regulated NLRP3‐inflammasome activation through suppressing mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) production. Our results revealed that corticosteroids played a protection role in LPS‐induced inflammation and ALI by suppressing both NF‐κB signal pathway and mtROS‐dependent NLRP3 inflammasome activation.
Speciation and gene flow across an elevational gradient in New Guinea kingfishers
Authors: Linck Ethan , Freeman Benjamin G. , Dumbacher John P.
Published: September 2020

Closely related species with parapatric elevational ranges are ubiquitous in tropical mountains worldwide. The gradient speciation hypothesis proposes that these series are the result of in situ ecological speciation driven by divergent selection across elevation. Direct tests of this scenario have been hampered by the difficulty inferring the geographic arrangement of populations at the time of divergence. In cichlids, sticklebacks and Timema stick insects, support for ecological speciation driven by other selective pressures has come from demonstrating parallel speciation, where divergence proceeds independently across replicated environmental gradients. Here, we take advantage of the unique geography of the island of New Guinea to test for parallel gradient speciation in replicated populations of Syma kingfishers that show extremely subtle differentiation across elevation and between historically isolated mountain ranges. We find that currently described high‐elevation and low‐elevation species have reciprocally monophyletic gene trees and form nuclear DNA clusters, rejecting this hypothesis. However, demographic modelling suggests selection has likely maintained species boundaries in the face of gene flow following secondary contact. We compile evidence from the published literature to show that although in situ gradient speciation in labile organisms such as birds appears rare, divergent selection and post‐speciation gene flow may be an underappreciated force in the origin of elevational series and tropical beta diversity along mountain slopes.
Rapid evolution and plasticity of genitalia
Authors: Dale Broder E. , Ghalambor Cameron K. , Handelsman Corey A. , Ruell Emily W. , Reznick David N. , Angeloni Lisa M.
Published: September 2020

Genital morphology exhibits tremendous variation and is intimately linked with fitness. Sexual selection, nonmating natural selection and neutral forces have been explored as potential drivers of genital divergence. Though less explored, genitalia may also be plastic in response to the developmental environment. In poeciliid fishes, the length of the male intromittent organ, the gonopodium, may be driven by sexual selection if longer gonopodia attract females or aid in forced copulation attempts or by nonmating natural selection if shorter gonopodia allow predator evasion. The rearing environment may also affect gonopodium development. Using an experimental introduction of Trinidadian guppies into four replicate streams with reduced predation risk, we tested whether this new environment caused the evolution of genitalia. We measured gonopodium length after rearing the source and introduced populations for two generations in the laboratory to remove maternal and other environmental effects. We split full‐sibling brothers into different rearing treatments to additionally test for developmental plasticity of gonopodia in response to predator cues and food levels as well as the evolution of plasticity. The introduced populations had shorter gonopodia after accounting for body size, demonstrating rapid genital evolution in 2–3 years (8–12 generations). Brothers reared on low food levels had longer gonopodia relative to body size than those on high food, reflecting maintenance of gonopodium length despite a reduction in body size. In contrast, gonopodium length was not significantly different in response to the presence or absence of predator cues. Because the plastic response to low food was maintained between the source and introduced populations, there was no evidence that plasticity evolved. This study demonstrates the importance of both evolution and developmental plasticity in explaining genital variation.
Kinetic modeling of ultrasonic‐assisted extraction of punicalagin from pomegranate peel
Authors: Rakshit Madhulekha , Srivastav Prem P. , Bhunia Kanishka
Published: September 2020

Ultrasonic‐assisted extraction of punicalagin from pomegranate peel was investigated. The influence of individual parameters, namely, solvent volume (20–60 mL), amplitude (30–70%), and duty cycle (60–100%) on punicalagin extraction was studied. The optimal condition of extraction was found to be: 40 mL solvent volume, 60% amplitude, and 90% duty cycle. Different kinetic models such as Peleg's model, first order kinetics, power law model, and mass transfer model were used to mathematically describe the extraction mechanism. Initial extraction rate, equilibrium punicalagin concentration, effective diffusivity, model constants, and diffusional exponent have been calculated using these models. The study revealed that first order kinetics () best fitted the experimental data. Fifteen other hydrolysable tannins were identified using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry in the polyphenolic extract obtained under optimized condition.

Practical application

There has been a paradigm change to functional food due to prevailing lifestyle diseases. Hence, the interest in the extraction of bioactive compounds from food processing by‐products has increased as a result of various health benefits exhibited by these compounds. Punicalagin (C48H28O30) is an ellagitannin that is predominantly found in pomegranate peel. It is a great natural source of antioxidants, and therefore, it can find its application in products such as food additives, pharmaceuticals (as drugs and supplements), and cosmetics. The finding of this study emphasizes the kinetic investigation of the punicalagin extraction process to describe the mechanisms that drive them.
Lifestyle Risk Factors and Cognitive Outcomes from the Multidomain Dementia Risk Reduction Randomized Controlled Trial, Body Brain Life for Cognitive Decline (BBL‐CD)
Authors: McMaster Mitchell , Kim Sarang , Clare Linda , Torres Susan J. , Cherbuin Nicolas , DʼEste Catherine , Anstey Kaarin J.
Published: September 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the efficacy of a multidomain intervention to reduce lifestyle risk factors for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and improve cognition in individuals with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) or mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

DESIGN

The study was an 8‐week two‐arm single‐blind proof‐of‐concept randomized controlled trial.

SETTING

Community‐dwelling individuals living in Canberra, Australia, and surrounding areas.

PARTICIPANTS

Participants were 119 individuals (intervention n = 57; control n = 62) experiencing SCD or MCI.

INTERVENTION

The control condition involved four educational modules covering dementia and lifestyle risk factors, Mediterranean diet, physical activity, and cognitive engagement. Participants were instructed to implement this information into their own lifestyle. The intervention condition included the same educational modules and additional active components to assist with the implementation of this information into participants’ lifestyles: dietitian sessions, an exercise physiologist session, and online brain training.

MEASUREMENTS

Lifestyle risk factors for AD were assessed using the Australian National University‐Alzheimer's Disease Risk Index (ANU‐ADRI), and cognition was assessed using Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale‐Cognitive subscale, Pfeffer Functional Activities Questionnaire, Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), Trail Making Test‐B, and Category Fluency.

RESULTS

The primary analysis showed that the intervention group had a significantly lower ANU‐ADRI score (χ2 = 10.84; df = 3; P = .013) and a significantly higher cognition score (χ2 = 7.28; df = 2; P = .026) than the control group. A secondary analysis demonstrated that the changes in lifestyle were driven by increases in protective lifestyle factors (χ2 = 12.02; df = 3; P = .007), rather than a reduction in risk factors (χ2 = 2.93; df = 3; P = .403), and cognitive changes were only apparent for the SDMT (χ2 = 6.46; df = 2; P = .040). Results were robust to intention‐to‐treat analysis controlling for missing data.

CONCLUSION

Results support the hypothesis that improvements in lifestyle risk factors for dementia can lead to improvements in cognition over a short time frame with a population experiencing cognitive decline. Outcomes from this trial support the conduct of a larger and longer trial with this participant group.
Plasma isoprostanoids assessment as Alzheimer’s disease progression biomarkers
Authors: Peña‐Bautista Carmen , Álvarez Lourdes , Baquero Miguel , Ferrer Inés , García Lorena , Hervás‐Marín David , Cháfer‐Pericás Consuelo
Published: September 2020

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease worldwide. So, there is a need to identify AD early diagnosis and monitoring biomarkers in blood samples. The aim of this study was to analyse the utility of lipid peroxidation biomarkers in AD progression evaluation. Participants (n = 19) were diagnosed with AD at early stages (Time 0, T0), and they were re‐evaluated 2 years later (Time 1, T1). Plasma biomarkers from AD patients were determined at both times. Some analytes, such as dihomo‐isoprostanes (17‐epi‐17‐F2t‐dihomo‐IsoP, 17‐F2t‐dihomo‐IsoP, Ent‐7(RS)‐7‐F2t‐dihomo‐IsoP), and neuroprostanes (10‐epi‐10‐F4t‐NeuroP) showed very high probability of showing an increasing trend over time. Baseline values allowed to develop an affordable preliminary regression model to predict long‐term cognitive status. So, some lipid peroxidation biomarkers would deserve consideration as useful progression AD biomarkers. The developed prediction model would constitute an important minimally invasive approach in AD personalized prognosis and perhaps could have some interest also in experimental treatments evaluation.

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Deficiency of the serine peptidase Kallikrein 6 does not affect the levels and the pathological accumulation of a‐synuclein in mouse brain
Authors: Samantha Sykioti Vasia , Karampetsou Mantia , Chalatsa Ioanna , Polissidis Alexia , Michael Iacovos P , Pagaki‐Skaliora Marina , Nagy Andras , Emmanouilidou Evangelia , Sotiropoulou Georgia , Vekrelli s Kostas
Published: September 2020

Several lines of evidence indicate that the propagation of misfolded α‐synuclein (α‐syn) plays a central role in the progression and manifestation of Parkinson's disease. Pathogenic α‐syn species can be present in the extracellular space. Thus, the identification and modulation of the key enzymes implicated in extracellular α‐syn turnover becomes vital. Kallikrein peptidase 6 has been identified as one of the major α‐syn degrading enzymes and has been implicated in the clearance of extracellular α‐syn. However, the physiological role of this enzyme in regulating α‐syn, in vivo, still remains elusive. Here, by utilizing Klk6 knock‐out (Klk6−/−) mice as our experimental model, we provide insight into the physiologic relevance of endogenous KLK6 expression on α‐syn processing. Behavioral phenotyping showed that Klk6−/− mice display no gross behavioral abnormalities. Further in vivo characterization of this mouse model, in the context of α‐syn accumulation, showed that KLK6 deletion had no impact on the protein levels of intracellular or extracellular α‐syn. Upon in vivo administration of α‐syn pre‐formed fibrils (PFF), α‐syn pathologic accumulations were evident both in the brains of Klk6−/−mice and wt mice without significant differences. Intrastriatal delivery of active KLK6, did not affect secreted α‐syn levels observed in the A53T α‐syn over‐expressing mice. These findings suggest that in the in vivo setting of PFF pathology induction, KLK6 alone is not able to modulate pathology transmission. Our study raises implications for the use of recombinant α‐syn fibrils in α‐syn turnover studies.

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Real‐world assessment, relevance, and problems in use of personal protective equipment in clinical dermatology practice in a COVID referral tertiary hospital
Authors: Arora Pooja , Sardana Kabir , Sinha Surabhi
Published: September 2020

Background

Doctors and healthcare workers (HCW) are at frontline in control of the pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus infection (COVID‐19). The virus is transmitted by contact, droplet, and airborne transmission; hence, hand hygiene, social distancing, environmental disinfection, and use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) form important components to protect HCWs from cross‐infection. Appropriate use of PPE is of paramount importance not only to reduce the risk of transmission but also to maintain adequate stock for those who are dealing directly with COVID‐19 patients.

Aims

In this article, we aim to provide the rationale for appropriate use of PPE in the dermatology setting in the current scenario. We have also discussed the scientific evidence for use of each component of protection and the practical problems faced in our COVID referral tertiary hospital.

Methods

Our review was based on articles that have studied or analyzed the efficacy of various protective measures being utilized by health workers against spread of COVID‐19. This was done by carrying out a PUBMED search with terms “coronavirus, COVID‐19, personal protective equipment (PPE), transmission, mask, face shields, goggles, gloves.” We also scrutinized the various pragmatic issues being faced by doctors in our setup while using PPE.

Results

In order to maximize the appropriate use of PPE, the rationale for use needs to be understood and problems encountered in daily practice need to be addressed.

Conclusion

Adherence to protective measures and use of PPE is of utmost importance for HCWs to prevent cross‐infection in this pandemic. The use of PPE can limit transmission to a great extent, but appropriate use and avoiding misuse is equally important in the dermatology setting in order to avoid depletion of stock. It is also essential to consider various practical issues with use of PPE and device measures to avoid them so that breach in protocols can be prevented and spread of infection minimized.
Single Bidders and Tacit Collusion in Highway Procurement Auctions
Authors: Barrus David , Scott Frank
Published: September 2020

Collusion in auctions can take different forms, such as refraining from bidding. Certain aspects of highway procurement auctions facilitate collusive outcomes. We collect data on asphalt paving auctions conducted in Kentucky from 2005‐2007. We determine the potential service area of each asphalt plant and potential bidders for each paving project. We analyze firms’ bid participation decisions, including variables affecting costs as well as competitive and strategic effects. In many geographic markets where firms face only a few identifiable rivals, county boundaries serve as a coordinating mechanism for softening competition, significantly influencing firms’ decisions whether and how much to bid.
Angelman syndrome and melatonin: What can they teach us about sleep regulation
Authors: Buonfiglio Daniella , Hummer Daniel L. , Armstrong Ariel , Christopher Ehlen John , DeBruyne Jason P.
Published: September 2020

In 1965, Dr Harry Angelman reported a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting three unrelated children who had similar symptoms: brachycephaly, mental retardation, ataxia, seizures, protruding tongues, and remarkable paroxysms of laughter. Over the past 50 years, the disorder became Angelman's namesake and symptomology was expanded to include hyper‐activity, stereotypies, and severe sleep disturbances. The sleep disorders in many Angelman syndrome (AS) patients are broadly characterized by difficulty falling and staying asleep at night. Some of these patients sleep less than 4 hours a night and, in most cases, do not make up this lost sleep during the day—leading to the speculation that AS patients may “need” less sleep. Most AS patients also have severely reduced levels of melatonin, a hormone produced by the pineal gland exclusively at night. This nightly pattern of melatonin production is thought to help synchronize internal circadian rhythms and promote nighttime sleep in humans and other diurnal species. It has been proposed that reduced melatonin levels contribute to the sleep problems in AS patients. Indeed, emerging evidence suggests melatonin replacement therapy can improve sleep in many AS patients. However, AS mice show sleep problems that are arguably similar to those in humans despite being on genetic backgrounds that do not make melatonin. This suggests the hypothesis that the change in nighttime melatonin may be a secondary factor rather than the root cause of the sleeping disorder. The goals of this review article are to revisit the sleep and melatonin findings in both AS patients and animal models of AS and discuss what AS may tell us about the underlying mechanisms of, and interplay between, melatonin and sleep.
Renal pelvic rupture, intrapelvic haematoma and retroperitoneal haemorrhage associated with obstructive ureterolithiasis in a cat
Authors: Cockburn E. , Battersby I. A. , Doyle R. S.
Published: September 2020

A neutered female cat presented with a 9‐day history of hyporexia and depression. The referring veterinarian had identified moderate non‐regenerative anaemia, haematuria and suspected unilateral obstructive ureterolithiasis. Subsequent ultrasonography revealed moderate distension of the left renal pelvis with echogenic material, ureteral distension and ureterolithiasis. A partial ureteral obstruction was suspected. After 4 days of medical management, there was further distension of the renal pelvis with well‐delineated echogenic material and an accumulation of perinephric fluid. A left nephroureterectomy was performed. Renal pelvic rupture with intrapelvic haematoma and retroperitoneal haemorrhage was confirmed by histopathology. Eighteen months following surgery, the cat remained clinically well with normal renal values.
A test of island biogeographic theory applied to estimates of gene flow in a Fijian bird is largely consistent with neutral expectations
Authors: Gyllenhaal Ethan F. , Mapel Xena M. , Naikatini Alivereti , Moyle Robert G. , Andersen Michael J.
Published: September 2020

Islands were key to the development of allopatric speciation theory because they are a natural laboratory of repeated barriers to gene flow caused by open water gaps. Despite their proclivity for promoting divergence, little empirical work has quantified the extent of gene flow among island populations. Following classic island biogeographic theory, two metrics of interest are relative island size and distance. Fiji presents an ideal system for studying these dynamics, with four main islands that form two large‐small pairs. We sequenced thousands of ultraconserved elements (UCEs) of the Fiji bush‐warblerHorornis ruficapilla, a passerine distributed on these four Fijian islands, and performed a demographic analysis to test hypotheses of the effects of island size and distance on rates of gene flow. Our demographic analysis inferred low levels of gene flow from each large island to its small counterpart and little or none in the opposite direction. The difference in the distance between these two island pairs manifested itself in lower levels of gene flow between more distant islands. Both findings are generally concordant with classic island biogeography. The amount of reduction in gene flow based on distance was consistent with predictions from island biogeographic equations, while the reduction from small to large islands was possibly greater than expected. These findings offer a hypothesis and framework to guide future study of interisland gene flow in archipelagos as the study of island biogeography progresses into the genomic era.
From Is to Can Be: Language as a tool for recognising, exploring and supporting learner disjunction
Authors: Konopasky Abigail
Published: September 2020

Supporting learners in moments of tension created by clinical situations that are unfamiliar, unexpected, or inconsistent with prior understanding requires careful listening. Here Konopasky offers linguistic tools that can help.
Wave energy alters biodiversity by shaping intraspecific traits of a habitat‐forming species
Authors: Vozzo Maria L. , Cumbo Vivian R. , Crosswell Joseph R. , Bishop Melanie J.
Published: September 2020

The role of habitat‐forming species in promoting biodiversity is widely acknowledged to vary across environmental gradients according to the extent to which they modify resources and environmental conditions. Population‐ and individual‐level traits of habitat‐forming species that influence species interactions may vary across gradients, but the importance of this indirect effect of environmental context is seldom considered. Here, we conducted surveys and field experiments to partition the effects of wave exposure on habitat‐provisioning for invertebrates by oysters into direct and indirect effects, arising from morphological variation of the oysters. A survey of nine sites with varying degrees of wave exposure in Port Jackson, Australia revealed a decline in oyster densities and surface area as wave energy increased. Correlated to declining oyster surface area was a decrease in the richness and abundance of associated invertebrates. By contrast, taxon diversity increased with increasing wave energy. Experimental deployments of oysters at high and low wave energy sites confirmed that variations in oyster morphology was a phenotypically plastic response to environmental conditions. Oyster recruitment was also lower at high as compared to low wave energy sites, further contributing to the variation in oyster habitat among sites. A colonisation experiment in which exposed and sheltered morphologies of oysters were deployed under high and low wave energy conditions in a fully orthogonal design found that invertebrate communities were influenced by both the wave energy of sites and by habitat structure. Our study suggests that in some instances the indirect effects of environment on habitat availability, arising from changes in habitat‐forming species density and morphology, may be as, or even more, important than the direct effects. Understanding how traits of habitat‐forming species respond to environmental conditions, and how intraspecific trait‐variation cascades to influence associated communities is critical to predicting when and where positive species interactions will be greatest.
New oral anticoagulants for nonvalvular atrial fibrillation with stable coronary artery disease: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Cen Zhifu , Meng Qiuyu , Cui Kaijun
Published: September 2020

Background

New oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are effective and safe in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). Limited evidence is available regarding outcomes for NVAF patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods

A systematic search of Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Register was performed. Two reviewers independently performed data extraction and quality assessment using the Cochrane Collaboration risk‐of‐bias assessment tool. We evaluated all primary publications and secondary analyses comparing NOACs with any other OAC agent for preventing stroke in patients with both NVAF and stable CAD from phase III clinical randomized control trials. The primary outcomes were stroke, systemic embolism (SE), major bleeding, and intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), and the secondary outcomes were cardiovascular (CV) death, all‐cause death, and myocardial infarction (MI).

Results

Four articles with a total of 19 266 patients were included in this study. The pooled results showed a relative risk for stroke/SE with NOACs of 0.83 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.71‐0.97), for major bleeding 0.85 (95% CI: 0.63‐1.14), for ICH 0.36 (95% CI: 0.19‐0.54), for MI 1.00 (95% CI: 0.82‐1.20), for CV death 0.94 (95% CI: 0.83‐1.06), and for all‐cause death 0.95 (95% CI: 0.85‐1.07).

Conclusion

NOACs were effective in preventing stroke/SE and reducing the risk of ICH in patients with both NVAF and CAD.
In vivo light‐sheet microscopy resolves localisation patterns of FSD1, a superoxide dismutase with function in root development and osmoprotection
Authors: Dvořák Petr , Krasylenko Yuliya , Ovečka Miroslav , Basheer Jasim , Zapletalová Veronika , Šamaj Jozef , Takáč Tomáš
Published: September 2020

Superoxide dismutases (SODs) are enzymes detoxifying superoxide to hydrogen peroxide while temporal developmental expression and subcellular localisation are linked to their functions. Therefore, we aimed here to reveal in vivo developmental expression, subcellular, tissue‐ and organ‐specific localisation of iron superoxide dismutase 1 (FSD1) in Arabidopsis using light‐sheet and Airyscan confocal microscopy. FSD1‐GFP temporarily accumulated at the site of endosperm rupture during seed germination. In emerged roots, it showed the highest abundance in cells of the lateral root cap, columella, and endodermis/cortex initials. The largest subcellular pool of FSD1‐GFP was localised in the plastid stroma, while it was also located in the nuclei and cytosol. The majority of the nuclear FSD1‐GFP is immobile as revealed by fluorescence recovery after photobleaching. We found that fsd1 knockout mutants exhibit reduced lateral root number and this phenotype was reverted by genetic complementation. Mutant analysis also revealed a requirement for FSD1 in seed germination during salt stress. Salt stress tolerance was coupled with the accumulation of FSD1‐GFP in Hechtian strands and superoxide removal. It is likely that the plastidic pool is required for acquiring oxidative stress tolerance in Arabidopsis. This study suggests new developmental and osmoprotective functions of SODs in plants.
Nudging a Slow‐Moving High‐Margin Product in a Supply Chain with Constrained Capacity
Authors: Zhang Na , Kannan Karthik , Shanthikumar George
Published: September 2020

For a slow‐moving high‐margin product, we demonstrate the viability of an information‐based nudging strategy. The motivation to study this problem was because a firm faced availability constraints for one of its slow‐moving high‐margin products, but the available quantities still exceeded the current demand. To identify customers to nudge, we develop a support vector machine (SVM) approach to rank order the customers based on their propensity to purchase the product. The underlying notion in our approach is that Type I errors, to be defined in the paper, in our classifier are not necessarily problematic but are potential nudging targets. Also, as a consequence, traditional ways of evaluating classifiers (with Type I and Type II errors) are not appropriate. Therefore, we conduct a field experiment to evaluate how well the identified customers are nudged through information and/or couponing. We find that in terms of the successful nudges, our SVM‐based approach performed better than other approaches. The experiment also generated insights about when couponing as opposed to information is more effective when nudging.
Between Open‐minded Critical Thinking and Closed‐minded Allegiance: Educational Tensions in Societies Involved in Intractable Conflict
Authors: Bar‐Tal Daniel , Vered Soli , Fuxman Shai
Published: September 2020

In modern democratic societies, one of the main roles of education is to promote critical thinking and open‐mindedness. However, this objective can sometimes be seen as clashing in many societies with another one of education's primary objectives—to inculcate in the younger generation a set of common values and beliefs that reinforces collective identity. The current article examines the tension between these two educational goals—fostering open‐mindedness and critical‐thinking skills, on the one hand, and promoting closed‐minded national identity, on the other hand, in the context of intractable conflicts. In particular, we offer an analysis of the unique challenges of nurturing open‐minded and critical thinking among students in the presence of processes and content common in education systems of conflict‐ridden societies. These challenges are discussed in relation to the role that open‐mindedness and critical thinking could play in promoting peace‐building processes were they not hindered by nationalistic educational approaches designed to ensure unwavering support of the conflict.
What Determines Where Public Investment Goes? Regional Governance and the Role of Institutional Rules and Power
Authors: An Brian Y. , Bostic Raphael W.
Published: September 2020

As an embodiment of the collaborative governance model, metropolitan planning organizations in the United States allocate federal, state, and local funds to member municipalities for transportation projects across their regions. To examine how institutional rules and power shape where public investment goes, the authors consider the extent to which the allocation of local voting power in regional governing policy boards influences the spatial allocation of transportation investments. The analysis shows that the power structure of regional policy boards is consistently a major factor associated with the observed geographic distribution of investments. Moreover, the results suggest that the degree of power concentration of the dominant city in the region influences whether the remaining cities’ power matters. These results suggest that institutional governance rules may be more important than previously recognized.