bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Disperse azo dyes, arylamines and halogenated dinitrobenzene compounds in synthetic garments on the Swedish market
Authors: Carlsson Josefine , Åström Tim , Östman Conny , Nilsson Ulrika
Published: May 2022

Background

Azobenzene disperse dyes (azo DDs) are well‐known as textile allergens, but the knowledge of their occurrence in garments is low. The numerous azo DDs and dye components found in textiles constitute a potential health risk, but only seven azo DDs are included in the European baseline patch test series (EBS).

Objectives

To investigate non‐regulated azo DDs and dye components in synthetic garments on the Swedish market.

Methods

High‐performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and computerized data mining.

Results

Sixty‐two azo DDs were detected, with Disperse Red 167:1 occurring in 67%, and 14 other DDs each found in >20% of the garments. Notably, the EBS dyes were less common, three even not detected, while arylamines were frequently detected and exceeded 1 mg/g in several garments. Also, halogenated dinitrobenzenes were identified in 25% of the textiles.

Conclusion

Azo DDs and dye components, in complex compositions and with large variations, occurred frequently in the synthetic garments. The arylamines were shown to occur at much higher levels compared to the azo DDs, suggesting the former constitute a potentially higher health risk. The role of arylamines and halogenated dinitrobenzenes in textile allergy has to be further investigated.
Denim dyeing effluent treatment by electrocoagulation for maximum reduction in indigo and sulphur black dye discharge
Authors: Mudasir Maryam , Rehman Sami Ur , Fahad Muhammad , Raza Ifra , Alam Feroz
Published: May 2022

The waste effluents of two different dyes including one vat dye Indigo and one sulphur dye (Stay Black) were treated using continuous electrocoagulation (EC) technique at a denim dyeing plant. A coagulator reactor of 3 L capacity was designed to treat 7.9 L/h to 65.4 L/h of the dye wastewater. Process parameters like pH, flow rate, number of electrodes and material of electrodes were optimised to obtain maximum decrease in chemical oxygen demand (COD) and colour of the effluents before discharge. It was found that by controlling process parameters, COD can be reduced up to 79% and 90% for low concentrated Indigo and sulphur Stay Black dyes, respectively, with a reduction of colour value 98% and 70%, respectively, while for higher effluent concentrations EC efficiency was reported for 81% and 72.3% colour and COD removal, respectively, for indigo dye and 89.3% and 77.6% colour and COD removal, respectively, for sulphur dye. Hence results of the proposed study could provide important information to design a scale up large reactor unit to commercially apply on denim dyeing discharge and control pollution limits of sulphur and sulphates during denim dyeing.
Reducing uncertainty in climate change responses of inland fishes: A decision‐path approach
Authors: Lynch Abigail J. , Myers Bonnie J. E. , Wong Jesse P. , Chu Cindy , Tingley Ralph W. , Falke Jeffrey A. , Kwak Thomas J. , Paukert Craig P. , Krabbenhoft Trevor J.
Published: May 2022

Climate change will continue to be an important consideration for conservation practitioners. However, uncertainty in identifying appropriate management strategies, particularly for understudied species and regions, constrains the implementation of science‐based solutions and adaptation strategies. Here, we share a decision‐path approach to reduce uncertainty in climate change responses of inland fishes to inform conservation and adaptation planning. With the Fish and Climate Change database (FiCli), a comprehensive, online, public database of peer‐reviewed literature on documented and projected climate impacts to inland fishes, users can identify relevant studies and associated management recommendations via geographic regions, response types (i.e., fish assemblage dynamics, demographic, distributional, evolutionary, phenological), fish taxa, and traits (e.g., thermal guilds, feeding type, parental care, habitat type) and use a suite of summary tools to make more informed decisions. For both data‐rich and data‐poor scenarios, we demonstrate that this approach can reduce uncertainty in understanding climate change responses. Using thermal sensitivity as an example, we also establish the utility of FiCli database to address other user‐defined, management‐relevant questions via supplementary analyses. This decision‐path approach can be applied to rapid assessments, management decisions, and policy development and may serve as a model for other conservation decision‐making processes.
Progress toward a universal biomedical data translator
Authors: Fecho Karamarie , Thessen Anne E. , Baranzini Sergio E. , Bizon Chris , Hadlock Jennifer J. , Huang Sui , Roper Ryan T. , Southall Noel , Ta Casey , Watkins Paul B. , Williams Mark D. , Xu Hao , Byrd William , Dančík Vlado , Duby Marc P. , Dumontier Michel , Glusman Gustavo , Harris Nomi L. , Hinderer Eugene W. , Hyde Greg , Johs Adam , Su Andrew I. , Qin Guangrong , Zhu Qian ,   The Biomedical Data Translator Consortium
Published: May 2022

Clinical, biomedical, and translational science has reached an inflection point in the breadth and diversity of available data and the potential impact of such data to improve human health and well‐being. However, the data are often siloed, disorganized, and not broadly accessible due to discipline‐specific differences in terminology and representation. To address these challenges, the Biomedical Data Translator Consortium has developed and tested a pilot knowledge graph‐based “Translator” system capable of integrating existing biomedical data sets and “translating” those data into insights intended to augment human reasoning and accelerate translational science. Having demonstrated feasibility of the Translator system, the Translator program has since moved into development, and the Translator Consortium has made significant progress in the research, design, and implementation of an operational system. Herein, we describe the current system’s architecture, performance, and quality of results. We apply Translator to several real‐world use cases developed in collaboration with subject‐matter experts. Finally, we discuss the scientific and technical features of Translator and compare those features to other state‐of‐the‐art, biomedical graph‐based question‐answering systems.
The Role of Institutions: A Cross‐country Analysis of Renminbi Trading in Foreign Exchange Markets
Authors: Zucker‐Marques Marina , da Silva Pedro Perfeito
Published: May 2022

We explore how China's geographically targeted policies impact RMB overseas use individually or in combination. The policies include swap agreements, clearing banks, investment quotas, and direct trading between Chinese renminbi (RMB) and non‐USD currencies. Adopting a fuzzy‐set qualitative comparative analysis and using Bank of International Settlements cross‐country data on foreign exchange markets, we find that institution building has lowered the barriers to international adoption of the RMB. Specifically, for countries economically close to China, high RMB trading is explained by either (i) having a clearing bank in the host market and direct quotations between the RMB and the local currency, or (ii) being a financial center and having access to the Chinese capital market. This combination of policies is explained by the creation of (i) “trading posts” that provide RMB liquidity abroad, and (ii) channels that allow actors to “recycle” offshore RMB funds. We triangulate our results with interviews conducted with senior People's Bank of China officials.
First dose‐ranging study of remimazolam in Japanese patients undergoing gastrointestinal endoscopy: Phase II investigator‐initiated clinical trial
Authors: Ichijima Ryoji , Ikehara Hisatomo , Maeda Takeshi , Sugita Tomomi , Horii Toshiki , Iwao Aya , Ogura Kanako , Kusano Chika , Kondo Yuko , Suzuki Takahiro , Gotoda Takuji
Published: May 2022

Objectives

Remimazolam, an ultra‐short‐acting benzodiazepine, has been used for procedural sedation in the United States. We conducted an investigator‐initiated clinical trial to determine the appropriate dose of remimazolam required for sedation during gastrointestinal endoscopy in Japanese subjects.

Methods

In this single‐center, open‐label, uncontrolled, phase II trial, a three‐stage cohort investigated the appropriate initial and additional doses of remimazolam required for gastrointestinal endoscopy. This study was designed with advice from the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency. The initial and additional doses were 2 mg and 1 mg/dose, 3 mg and 1 mg/dose, and 5 mg and 2 mg/dose in cohorts 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Each cohort included 10 cases of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and colonoscopy. The primary end‐point was the success rate of sedation during gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Results

Sedation was successful in all gastrointestinal endoscopies in cohorts 1 and 2. In cohort 1, sedation was achieved in five (25.0%) and 10 (50.0%) participants with the initial dose and total dose (initial dose + additional dose ≤ the initial dose of the next cohort), respectively, before endoscopy. In cohort 2, sedation was achieved in 11 (55.0%) and 18 (90.0%) participants with the initial dose and total dose, respectively, before endoscopy. No patient in either cohort lost consciousness or required flumazenil or manual ventilation.

Conclusion

Initial and additional doses of 3 mg and 1 mg/dose of remimazolam, respectively, were shown to be effective and safe for sedation during gastrointestinal endoscopy in Japanese patients.
An age‐ and length‐structured statistical catch‐at‐length model for hard‐to‐age fisheries stocks
Authors: Zhang Fan , Cadigan Noel G.
Published: May 2022

It is challenging in fisheries stock assessment to estimate cohort dynamics from length‐based data for hard‐to‐age stocks, and existing approaches, for example, age‐structured catch‐at‐length models (ACL) are unable to account for length‐dependent processes within each cohort. Fisheries‐dependent data are usually considered the default input to stock assessment models. However, with widespread recognition of the uncertainty of fisheries‐dependent data and the increasing availability of high‐quality survey data, a new situation emerges in some fisheries where a stock assessment model based only on survey data can provide good estimation of population dynamics. We develop an age‐ and length‐structured statistical catch‐at‐length model (ALSCL) to estimate age‐based dynamics from survey catch‐at‐length data. This approach also provides a good basis to then integrate fisheries‐dependent data in the model. ALSCL can explicitly include length‐dependent mortality and growth within each cohort by simultaneously tracking the three‐dimensional dynamics across time, age, and length. We first use simulations of yellowtail flounder (Limanda ferruginea, Pleuronectidae) and bigeye tuna (Thunnus Obesus, Scombridae) to demonstrate that ALSCL outperforms ACL by providing more accurate estimates of age‐based population dynamics when length‐dependent processes are important. Next, we apply ALSCL to estimate the cohort dynamics of female yellowtail flounder on the Grand Bank off Newfoundland using survey catch‐at‐length, weight‐at‐length, and maturity‐at‐length data. We consider ALSCL as a hybrid between ACL and length‐structured stock assessment models that keeps the advantages of both, and its ability to simultaneously track age and length dynamics is an important step toward the next‐generation of fisheries stock assessment models.
Collaborative governance platforms and outcomes: An analysis of Clean Cities coalitions
Authors: Lee Heewon
Published: May 2022

Collaborative efforts across sectors, scales, and government levels have been effective in addressing the goals to reduce petroleum use and mitigate environmental issues in the U.S. While community contexts shape local collaborative governance, diverse local interests do not necessarily translate into collaborations without proper facilitating efforts. This study expands the theoretical discussion on the concept of collaborative platforms, which is understudied despite their wide use as a governance instrument to catalyze local collaboration. Specifically, the way platforms mediate to create local collaborations among diverse local‐level interests and improve outcomes has not been studied much to date. Using data on the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Cities program to promote local collaborative governance related to alternative fuels, this paper examines the way collaborative platforms create, scale, and affect the outcome of supplying alternative fueling infrastructure. The results of multi‐level mixed‐effects models indicate that the collaborative platform integrates local interests to create and scale local collaboration, and achieves better outcomes leveraging local interests.
A revised Red List of British butterflies
Authors: Fox Richard , Dennis Emily B. , Brown Andrew F. , Curson Jon
Published: May 2022

Regular reassessment of extinction risk is critical to prioritise conservation action during the current period of rapid, anthropogenic biodiversity change.

Butterflies are a flagship group for insect monitoring and conservation, as they are highly visible, well studied and exhibit rapid responses to environmental change. Here, we use systematic population monitoring data from the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme and citizen‐science derived occurrence records to provide an updated assessment of extinction risk in Great Britain (GB) by applying current International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria to 62 butterfly species.

The resulting regional Red List categorises four species as Regionally Extinct, 24 (41% of the remaining, extant species) as threatened (8 Endangered and 16 Vulnerable), 5 (9%) as Near Threatened and 29 (50%) as Least Concern. Recent reduction in population size (Criterion A) based on smoothed, long‐term time series of abundance and occurrence data, was responsible for most of the threatened or Near Threatened categorisations.

While the status of some species improved, likely due to conservation efforts, the revised Red List demonstrates an ongoing deterioration in the status of GB butterflies, with a 26% increase in threatened species since the previous assessment.

A greater proportion of butterflies was classed as threatened than for most other GB taxa. While this may stem from greater data availability for butterflies than most other groups (thus allowing tests of extinction risk against more criteria), it highlights the need to reinvigorate conservation efforts for these charismatic insects.
Impacts of yeast β‐glucan on thermal aggregation and flavour adsorption capacity of Spanish mackerel myosin
Authors: Xu Yongxia , Lv Yanan , Yin Yiming , Zhao Honglei , Yi Shumin , Li Xuepeng , Li Jianrong
Published: May 2022

The effects of yeast β‐glucan (YG) on the aggregation and flavour adsorption capacity of Spanish mackerel myosin under two‐step heat treatments were investigated. The surface hydrophobicity and active sulfhydryl content of heat‐induced myosin was increased by the addition of YG, reaching the maximum values of 81.46 and 17.49 mol per 105 g after heating at 90 °C for 10 min. YG incorporation significantly decreased the α‐helix content of myosin to the minimum value of 48.27%, whereas the β‐sheet was increased. The addition of YG promoted the unfolding of myosin, exposing more hydrophobic bonding sites, thus enhancing the flavour‐binding capacity of myosin. Lengthy heating at 90 °C combined with YG addition accelerated the cross‐linking and aggregation of myosin, leading to the re‐embedding of the exposed hydrophobic groups as much as the reduction of flavour‐binding sites. However, YG's unique porous structure could also boost the flavour adsorption ability of myosin containing YG.
The effects of high‐pressure homogenization, drying pH and propylene glycol on the emulsifying properties of pea protein powder
Authors: Burger Travis G. , Mayfield Caleb , Baumert Joseph L. , Zhang Yue
Published: May 2022

Pea protein is a promising option for plant protein‐based emulsification, but commercial proteins have limited functional properties related to their poor physicochemical properties such as solubility. To address this issue, this research investigated the effects of high‐pressure homogenisation and extraction conditions on the solubility and emulsification properties of pea protein. Heating during extraction can denature pea protein and simulate the reduced functional properties of commercial proteins. Homogenising at 10 000 psi combined with the heating process during extraction significantly improved the solubility and emulsification properties of pea protein. Freeze drying at pH 9.0 improved the solubility of pea protein and lowered the droplet size of resultant emulsions compared to pH 7.0. Extracting the protein in propylene glycol to inhibit hydrophobic interactions slightly improved solubility but decreased the emulsification properties. The combination of homogenisation during heating and freeze drying at an elevated pH produced the optimum solubility and emulsification properties. These results suggest that high‐pressure homogenisation and drying at elevated pH levels can be effective tools to limit the functionality‐reducing effects of denaturation that occurs during the commercial extraction of pea protein. This information can be used to design better production methods for pea protein and improve its functional properties.
The Devil's Envy: On Christ as Angelic Justifier and Demonic Stumbling Block
Authors: Case Brendan
Published: May 2022

At least since Augustine, Christian theology, especially but not only in the Latin West, has been dominated by an account of angelic origins in which the Incarnation was a response to humanity’s fall, itself occasioned by the prior angelic fall, whose cause in turn was the proud desire to be like God. (We’ll call this the ‘pride‐account’). Nonetheless, that Augustinian view has been balanced from the beginning by an ‘envy‐account’, which stresses instead Wisdom’s claim, ‘Through the Devil’s envy, death entered the world’ (Wisd. 2:24). The earliest extra‐biblical versions of the envy‐account – developed in the Latin, Syriac, and Arabic ‘Life of Adam and Eve’ traditions – take the object of Satan’s envy to have been Adam in particular. In the thirteenth century, however, Robert Grosseteste, as part of his extended defense of the idea that the Son would have been incarnate even without sin, argued instead that the Devil and his angels fell in rejecting the to‐be‐incarnate Christ, whose merits serve to ‘justify’ not only unfallen humanity, but even the holy angels. On this view, which arguably has biblical roots in Hebrews 1 and Revelation 12, and which reached its apogee in Milton’s Paradise Lost, ‘the Devil’s envy’ was directed at the God‐man in particular.
Does venture capital investment enhance corporate innovation? Evidence from Korea
Authors: Lee Kyounghun , Oh Frederick Dongchuhl , Shin Donglim , Yoon Heejin
Published: May 2022

We examine whether venture capital (VC) investment enhances corporate innovation in Korea. Using a matched sample of 802 firms from 1998 to 2012, we find that after the first round of VC investment, VC‐backed firms are more innovative than non‐VC‐backed firms. Our results suggest that the positive influence of VC investment largely comes from the ability of VC firms to reduce information asymmetry between investors and ventures: VC funds managed by independent venture capitalists significantly enhance corporate innovation, whereas those managed by governmental venture capitalists do not. Furthermore, this positive influence becomes more pronounced where there is greater information asymmetry. Finally, we show that funds with profit‐based compensation structures are more likely to encourage corporate innovation than those with fee‐based compensation structures.
The costs and benefits of larger brains in fishes
Authors: Fischer Stefan , Jungwirth Arne
Published: May 2022

The astonishing diversity of brain sizes observed across the animal kingdom is typically explained in the context of trade‐offs: the benefits of a larger brain, such as enhanced cognitive ability, are balanced against potential costs, such as increased energetic demands. Several hypotheses have been formulated in this framework, placing different emphasis on ecological, behavioural, or physiological aspects of trade‐offs in brain size evolution. Within this body of work, there exists considerable taxonomic bias towards studies of birds and mammals, leaving some uncertainty about the generality of the respective arguments. Here, we test three of the most prominent such hypotheses, the ‘expensive tissue’, ‘social brain’ and ‘cognitive buffer’ hypotheses, in a large dataset of fishes, derived from a publicly available resource (FishBase). In accordance with predictions from the ‘expensive tissue’ and the ‘social brain’ hypothesis, larger brains co‐occur with reduced fecundity and increased sociality in at least some Classes of fish. Contrary to expectations, however, lifespan is reduced in large‐brained fishes, and there is a tendency for species that perform parental care to have smaller brains. As such, it appears that some potential costs (reduced fecundity) and benefits (increased sociality) of large brains are near universal to vertebrates, whereas others have more lineage‐specific effects. We discuss our findings in the context of fundamental differences between the classically studied birds and mammals and the fishes we analyse here, namely divergent patterns of growth, parenting and neurogenesis. As such, our work highlights the need for a taxonomically diverse approach to any fundamental question in evolutionary biology.
Full‐scale, near real‐time multi‐regional input–output table for the global emerging economies (EMERGING)
Authors: Huo Jingwen , Chen Peipei , Hubacek Klaus , Zheng Heran , Meng Jing , Guan Dabo
Published: May 2022

Multi‐regional input–output (MRIO) models are widely used to analyze the economic interdependencies between regions in the context of global trade and environmental research. MRIO tables enable us to teleconnect the sectors in different regions along the supply chain and track both direct and indirect impacts of global production. Yet emerging economies—despite reshaping international trade patterns and playing an increasingly important role in the world economy—are not adequately represented in existing MRIO databases, which lack key detail on countries and sectors. To bridge this gap, our study presents EMERGING: Up‐to‐date and full‐scale MRIO tables covering 135 sectors in 245 economies over the period from 2015 to 2019. We describe in detail the steps in the development of the database and reconciliation and validation of bilateral trade data and national statistics. The EMERGING database is also designed to incorporate more official and publicly available data from national statistical institutes to ensure a high level of data quality, especially for these economies. We compare both national production‐based and consumption‐based value added generated from the EMERGING MRIO with the results from four major MRIO databases. Although global value‐added accounts are similar across databases, we find significant discrepancies at the level of individual countries and sectors concerning conflicting benchmark data.
Life cycle assessment of Indonesian canned crab (Portunus pelagicus)
Authors: Wiloso Edi Iswanto , Romli Muhammad , Nugraha Bambang Arif , Wiloso Adisa Ramadhan , Setiawan Arief Ameir Rahman , Henriksson Patrik J. G.
Published: May 2022

Indonesia is an archipelagic country with abundant marine wealth that makes it the world's second largest producer of fish after China. While most of Indonesia's capture marine fisheries (80%) are consumed domestically, around 90% of blue swimming crab (BSC) products are exported, mainly in cans. This makes up almost half of all BSC products on the global market, with the United States and the European Union being the main importers. We carried out a life cycle assessment (LCA) of canned BSC products from Indonesia. Our LCA evaluated the production of “one tonne of canned BSC” at market as a functional unit (FU), with a cradle‐to‐market system boundary, encompassing wild capture, preprocessing, processing, and distribution to the port of destination at home and abroad. The processing stage was found to be the highest contributor (hotspot) for most of the impact categories considered, mainly due to the use of tin cans for packaging. Despite producing less by‐catch, BSC caught with traps resulted in around threefold greater global warming impact per FU than those caught using nets. We also concluded that BSC meat produced in Java is environmentally preferable to that from Sumatra, as most of the shells were sold as coproducts. In addition to recycling and substitution of packaging materials, environmental improvements can also be obtained by increasing the number of shell‐processing facilities outside Java. The results of this study can be used by the Indonesian government to develop more sustainable practices to avoid overexploitation of BSC and limit its environmental impacts.
Associations of age at menarche and age at menopause with diabetes among postmenopausal women in Chongqing, China
Authors: Yuan Yun , Bu Xiaoqing , Xiao Meng , Chen Liling , Tang Wenge , Yuan Xinyu , Ding Xianbin , Tang Xiaojun
Published: May 2022

Background

Existing studies on the association of age at menarche and age at natural menopause with diabetes are conflicting.

Objective

To explore the associations of age at menarche and age at natural menopause with diabetes, and to estimate whether body mass index, abdominal obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia would influence the relationships.

Methods

In this cross‐sectional study, 5090 postmenopausal women were included from the China Multi‐Ethnic Cohort Study (CMEC) baseline in Chongqing province. Questionnaires, physical examinations, and biological samples testing were conducted. Logistic regression was used to generate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). And restricted cubic splines were performed to evaluate the pattern of association between ages at menarche and menopause with diabetes.

Results

The adjusted ORs for diabetes grouped by age at menarche (<12, 12–17, >17 years) were 0.76 (95%CI: 0.42–1.40), 1.00 (reference), and 0.73 (95%CI: 0.57–0.94). Similarly, the adjusted ORs for diabetes grouped by age at menopause (<44, 44–52, >52 years) were 1.38 (95%CI: 1.04–1.82), 1.00 (reference), and 1.11 (95%CI: 0.89–1.39). No significant interaction of age at menarche and menopause with body mass index, abdominal obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia in odds of diabetes was observed.

Conclusion

Late menarche is associated with a lower prevalence of diabetes, while early natural menopause is associated with a higher prevalence of diabetes. No significant effect modification was observed by body mass index, abdominal obesity, hypertension, or dyslipidemia.
The use of self‐report questionnaires in an analysis of the multidimensional aspects of pain and a correlation with the psychological profile and quality of life in patients with burning mouth syndrome: A case‐control study
Authors: Canfora Federica , Calabria Elena , Pecoraro Giuseppe , D′Aniello Luca , Aria Massimo , Marenzi Gaetano , Sammartino Pasquale , Mignogna Michele Davide , Adamo Daniela
Published: May 2022

Background

The symptomatology in Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS) is complex and it should be considered in accordance with a biopsychosocial model.

Objectives

To evaluate the multidimensional aspects of pain with a complete battery of tests and to analyse its relationship with potential predictors such as mood disorders, sleep and quality of life.

Methods

Forty patients with BMS versus an equal number of age and sex‐matched healthy controls were enrolled. The VAS, SF‐MPQ, BPI, PD‐Q, BDI‐II, STAI, PSQI, ESS, SF‐36 and OHIP‐14 were administered.

Results

The scores of the VAS, SF‐MPQ, BPI, PD‐Q, BDI‐II, STAI, PSQI, SF‐36 and OHIP‐14 were statistically significantly higher in the BMS patients than the controls (p < .001**). A strongly linear correlation between pain (VAS, SF‐MPQ, BPI and PD‐Q) and disease onset (STAI, BDI‐II, PSQI and sub‐items of SF‐36 and OHIP‐14) was found. In the multiple regression analysis, the contributions of the BDI‐II and OHIP‐14 were found to be statistically significant with the SF‐MPQ, PD‐Q and BPI in terms of severity and interference, while the contributions of the STAI and sleep were found to be statistically significant with the SF‐MPQ and BPI in terms of severity and interference, respectively.

Conclusions

Pain tests are differently correlated with mood and quality of life. Therefore, a complete analysis of the patient requires several tools to better understand the multidimensional aspects of pain in BMS.
Changes in transmucosal buprenorphine utilization for opioid use disorder treatment during the COVID‐19 pandemic in Kentucky
Authors: Lei Feitong , Lofwall Michelle R. , Freeman Patricia R. , Slade Emily , Vickers‐Smith Rachel , Slavova Svetla
Published: May 2022

Purpose

With surging opioid‐involved overdoses, maintaining access to opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment is critical during the COVID‐19 pandemic. We examined changes in transmucosal buprenorphine prescribing for OUD treatment in Kentucky after the national COVID‐19 emergency declaration, with a focus on rural‐urban differences.

Methods

Using 2019‐2020 prescription monitoring data, we performed segmented regression analysis for an interrupted time series design to evaluate changes in weekly rates (per 100,000 residents) of dispensed prescriptions, unique individuals with dispensed prescriptions, and average days’ supply for dispensed prescriptions of transmucosal buprenorphine.

Findings

The weekly rates of dispensed prescriptions and unique individuals with dispensed prescriptions were higher for rural residents than urban residents. After the national COVID‐19 emergency declaration, rural and urban residents experienced similar immediate drops in the rate of dispensed prescriptions (rural –33.4; urban –24.3) and unique patients with dispensed prescriptions (rural –25.0; urban –17.1), followed by similar sustained increases. Both measures surpassed the prepandemic levels in mid‐June 2020. Patients residing in urban areas received averagely longer prescriptions at baseline (urban: 11.0 days; rural: 10.5 days). The average weekly days’ supply increased in the week after the national emergency declaration, but the estimated increase was higher (P = .004) for urban (0.8 days) versus rural (0.5 days) residents.

Conclusions

Transmucosal buprenorphine utilization increased during the COVID‐19 pandemic after experiencing interruption during the initial weeks of the pandemic. Future studies should evaluate the contribution of the relaxed telemedicine buprenorphine prescribing regulations during the COVID‐19 national emergency on initiation and maintenance of buprenorphine treatment.
Nail fold microangiopathy in adolescents with type 1 diabetes: Relation to diabetic vascular complications
Authors: Abdelmaksoud Abeer Ahmed , Daifallah Shaymaa Maher , Salah Nouran Yousef , Saber Ahmed Salah
Published: May 2022

Objectives

Microangiopathy is implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic vascular complications. Nail fold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) is an easy non‐invasive tool of microvasculature assessment. This study compares the NVC changes in adolescents with Type1 diabetes (T1D) to healthy controls and correlates them to diabetic vascular complications.

Methods

Hundred thirty‐five adolescents with T1D (disease duration 5 years) were compared to 135 matched controls. Diabetes duration, insulin therapy, fundus, and Toronto clinical scoring system (TCSS) were assessed. Fasting lipids, fraction‐C of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C), urinary albumin creatinine ratio (UACR), nerve conduction velocity, and NVC were performed.

Results

NVC changes were found in 120 adolescents with T1D (88.8%). These changes were significantly higher in adolescents with T1D than controls (p < .001). Significant positive relation was found between NVC changes and TCSS (p = .006), diabetes duration (p = .001), HbA1C (0.008), cholesterol (p = .011), LDL (0.016), UACR (p < .001), and nerve conduction velocity (p < .001). Multivariate logistic regression study revealed that diabetic nephropathy and neuropathy were independently associated with NVC changes (p < .001 and p = .007, respectively).

Conclusion

Adolescents with T1D have significantly higher NVC changes than controls. These changes were more evident in those having vascular complications than those without. Thus, NVC can be a potential non‐invasive tool for early assessment and follow‐up of the microvasculature among adolescents with T1D.
A newly evolved chimeric lysin motif receptor‐like kinase in Medicago truncatula spp. tricycla R108 extends its Rhizobia symbiotic partnership
Authors: Luu Thi‐Bich , Ourth Anna , Pouzet Cécile , Pauly Nicolas , Cullimore Julie
Published: May 2022

Rhizobial lipochitooligosaccharidic Nod factors (NFs), specified by nod genes, are the primary determinants of host specificity in the legume–Rhizobia symbiosis.

We examined the nodulation ability of Medicago truncatula cv Jemalong A17 and M. truncatula ssp. tricycla R108 with the Sinorhizobium meliloti nodF/nodL mutant, which produces modified NFs. We then applied genetic and functional approaches to study the genetic basis and mechanism of nodulation of R108 by this mutant.

We show that the nodF/nodL mutant can nodulate R108 but not A17. Using genomics and reverse genetics, we identified a newly evolved, chimeric LysM receptor‐like kinase gene in R108, LYK2bis, which is responsible for the phenotype and can allow A17 to gain nodulation with the nodF/nodL mutant. We found that LYK2bis is involved in nodulation by mutants producing nonO‐acetylated NFs and interacts with the key receptor protein NFP. Many, but not all, natural S. meliloti and S. medicae strains tested require LYK2bis for efficient nodulation of R108.

Our findings reveal that a newly evolved gene in R108, LYK2bis, extends nodulation specificity to mutants producing nonO‐acetylated NFs and is important for nodulation by many natural Sinorhizobia. Evolution of this gene may present an adaptive advantage to allow nodulation by a greater variety of strains.
The tomato cytochrome P450 CYP712G1 catalyses the double oxidation of orobanchol en route to the rhizosphere signalling strigolactone, solanacol
Authors: Wang Yanting , Durairaj Janani , Suárez Duran Hernando G. , van Velzen Robin , Flokova Kristyna , Liao Che‐Yang , Chojnacka Aleksandra , MacFarlane Stuart , Schranz M. Eric , Medema Marnix H. , van Dijk Aalt D. J. , Dong Lemeng , Bouwmeester Harro J.
Published: May 2022

Strigolactones (SLs) are rhizosphere signalling molecules and phytohormones. The biosynthetic pathway of SLs in tomato has been partially elucidated, but the structural diversity in tomato SLs predicts that additional biosynthetic steps are required. Here, root RNA‐seq data and co‐expression analysis were used for SL biosynthetic gene discovery.

This strategy resulted in a candidate gene list containing several cytochrome P450s. Heterologous expression in Nicotiana benthamiana and yeast showed that one of these, CYP712G1, can catalyse the double oxidation of orobanchol, resulting in the formation of three didehydro‐orobanchol (DDH) isomers.

Virus‐induced gene silencing and heterologous expression in yeast showed that one of these DDH isomers is converted to solanacol, one of the most abundant SLs in tomato root exudate. Protein modelling and substrate docking analysis suggest that hydroxy‐orbanchol is the likely intermediate in the conversion from orobanchol to the DDH isomers.

Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated the occurrence of CYP712G1 homologues in the Eudicots only, which fits with the reports on DDH isomers in that clade. Protein modelling and orobanchol docking of the putative tobacco CYP712G1 homologue suggest that it can convert orobanchol to similar DDH isomers as tomato.
Circadian and diel regulation of photosynthesis in the bryophyte Marchantia polymorpha
Authors: Cuitun‐Coronado David , Rees Hannah , Colmer Joshua , Hall Anthony , de Barros Dantas Luíza L. , Dodd Antony N.
Published: May 2022

Circadian rhythms are 24‐h biological cycles that align metabolism, physiology, and development with daily environmental fluctuations. Photosynthetic processes are governed by the circadian clock in both flowering plants and some cyanobacteria, but it is unclear how extensively this is conserved throughout the green lineage. We investigated the contribution of circadian regulation to aspects of photosynthesis in Marchantia polymorpha, a liverwort that diverged from flowering plants early in the evolution of land plants. First, we identified in M. polymorpha the circadian regulation of photosynthetic biochemistry, measured using two approaches (delayed fluorescence, pulse amplitude modulation fluorescence). Second, we identified that light‐dark cycles synchronize the phase of 24 h cycles of photosynthesis in M. polymorpha, whereas the phases of different thalli desynchronize under free‐running conditions. This might also be due to the masking of the underlying circadian rhythms of photosynthesis by light‐dark cycles. Finally, we used a pharmacological approach to identify that chloroplast translation might be necessary for clock control of light‐harvesting in M. polymorpha. We infer that the circadian regulation of photosynthesis is well‐conserved amongst terrestrial plants.
The AP2/ERF transcription factor LATE FLOWERING SEMI‐DWARF suppresses long‐day‐dependent repression of flowering
Authors: Shim Yejin , Lim Chaemyeong , Seong Gayeong , Choi Yumin , Kang Kiyoon , Paek Nam‐Chon
Published: May 2022

The vegetative‐to‐reproductive transition requires the complex, coordinated activities of many transcriptional regulators. Rice (Oryza sativa), a facultative short‐day (SD) plant, flowers early under SD (≤10 h light/day) and late under long‐day (LD; ≥14 h light/day) conditions. Here, we demonstrate that rice LATE FLOWERING SEMI‐DWARF (LFS) encodes an APETALA2/ETHYLENE RESPONSIVE FACTOR (AP2/ERF) transcription factor that promotes flowering under non‐inductive LD conditions. LFS showed diurnal expression peaking at dawn, and transcript levels increased gradually until heading. Mutation of LFS delayed flowering under LD but not SD conditions. Expression of the LD‐specific floral repressor gene LEAFY COTYLEDON2 AND FUSCA3‐LIKE 1 (OsLFL1) was upregulated in lfs knockout mutants, and LFS bound directly to the GCC‐rich motif in the OsLFL1 promoter, repressing OsLFL1 expression. This suggests that increased LFS activity during vegetative growth gradually attenuates OsLFL1 activity. Subsequent increases in Early heading date 1, Heading date 3a, and RICE FLOWERING LOCUS T 1 expression result in flowering under non‐inductive LD conditions. LFS did not affect the expression of other OsLFL1 regulators, including OsMADS50, OsMADS56, VERNALIZATION INSENSITIVE3‐LIKE 2, and GERMINATION DEFECTIVE 1, or interact with them. Our results demonstrate the novel roles of LFS in inducing flowering under natural LD conditions.
Amplifying effects of recurrent drought on the dynamics of tree growth and water use in a subalpine forest
Authors: Oberleitner Florian , Hartmann Henrik , Hasibeder Roland , Huang Jianbei , Losso Adriano , Mayr Stefan , Oberhuber Walter , Wieser Gerhard , Bahn Michael
Published: May 2022

Despite recent advances in our understanding of drought impacts on tree functioning, we lack knowledge about the dynamic responses of mature trees to recurrent drought stress. At a subalpine forest site, we assessed the effects of three years of recurrent experimental summer drought on tree growth and water relations of Larix decidua Mill. and Picea abies (L. Karst.), two common European conifers representative for contrasting water‐use strategies. We combined dendrometer and xylem sap flow measurements with analyses of xylem anatomy and non‐structural carbohydrates and their carbon‐isotope composition. Recurrent drought increased the effects of soil moisture limitation on growth and xylogenesis, and to a lesser extent on xylem sap flow. P. abies showed stronger growth responses to recurrent drought, reduced starch concentrations in branches and increased water‐use efficiency when compared to L. decidua. Despite comparatively larger maximum tree water deficits than in P. abies, xylem formation of L. decidua was less affected by drought, suggesting a stronger capacity of rehydration or lower cambial turgor thresholds for growth. Our study shows that recurrent drought progressively increases impacts on mature trees of both species, which suggests that in a future climate increasing drought frequency could impose strong legacies on carbon and water dynamics of treeline species.
Contribution of copy number variations to the risk of severe eating disorders
Authors: Kushima Itaru , Imaeda Miho , Tanaka Satoshi , Kato Hidekazu , Oya‐Ito Tomoko , Nakatochi Masahiro , Aleksic Branko , Ozaki Norio
Published: May 2022

Aim

Eating disorders (EDs) are complex, multifactorial psychiatric conditions. Previous studies identified pathogenic copy number variations associated with NDDs (NDD‐CNVs) in ED patients. However, no statistical evidence for an association between NDD‐CNVs and EDs has been demonstrated. Therefore, we examined whether NDD‐CNVs confer risk for EDs.

Methods

Using array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH), we conducted a high‐resolution CNV analysis of 71 severe female ED patients and 1045 female controls. According to the American College of Medical Genetics guidelines, we identified NDD‐CNVs or pathogenic/likely pathogenic CNVs in NDD‐linked loci. Gene set analysis was performed to examine the involvement of synaptic dysfunction in EDs. Clinical data were retrospectively examined for ED patients with NDD‐CNVs.

Results

Of the samples analyzed with aCGH, 70 severe ED patients (98.6%) and 1036 controls (99.1%) passed our quality control filtering. We obtained 189 and 2539 rare CNVs from patients and controls, respectively. NDD‐CNVs were identified in 10.0% (7/70) of patients and 2.3% (24/1036) of controls. Statistical analysis revealed a significant association between NDD‐CNVs and EDs (odds ratio = 4.69, P = 0.0023). NDD‐CNVs in ED patients included 45,X and deletions at KATNAL2, DIP2A, PTPRT, RBFOX1, CNTN4, MACROD2, and FAM92B. Four of these genes were related to synaptic function. In gene set analysis, we observed a nominally significant enrichment of rare exonic CNVs in synaptic signaling in ED patients (odds ratio = 2.55, P = 0.0254).

Conclusion

Our study provides the first preliminary evidence that NDD‐CNVs may confer risk for severe EDs. The pathophysiology may involve synaptic dysfunction.
Local institutions and public service outsourcing: Managerial professionalism, mayoral strength, and electoral rules
Authors: Wei Wenchi , Zhang Zhiwei , Yang Kaifeng
Published: May 2022

This research examines how institutional contexts matter for US municipalities' service outsourcing decisions, deriving data from the ICMA's multiple rounds of surveys concerning local institutions and service delivery choices. We focus on seven pivotal local institutions that address managerial professionalism, mayoral strength, and electoral rules. Moreover, a composite index measuring the general nature of the municipal structure on a political–administrative scale is constructed based on the local institutions examined. The empirical estimations use the existence of initiatives and popular referenda allowing citizen voters to adjust local statutes as instrumental variables for local institutions. We find that municipalities with a council‐manager municipal form, a professional manager, a weak mayor, and nonpartisan and at‐large elections of council members outsource less services. Professional managers can moderate the effects of contextual factors on government outsourcing decisions. Moreover, municipalities with a more political or a less administrative municipal structure outsource a larger portion of services.
Evaluating biological properties of topsoil for post‐mining ecological restoration: different assessment methods give different results
Authors: D'Agui Haylee M. , van der Heyde Mieke E. , Nevill Paul G. , Mousavi‐Derazmahalleh Mahsa , Dixon Kingsley W. , Moreira‐Grez Benjamin , Valliere Justin M.
Published: May 2022

Salvaged native topsoil is a scarce, highly valuable resource in post‐mining restoration, being the main source of organic matter and nutrients and a major repository of plant propagules and soil microbes. During the mining process, topsoil is often stockpiled, and factors such as stockpile depth, season of stripping, and storage time can adversely affect topsoil functionality. We aimed to determine if soil functionality differs between undisturbed native reference topsoils and stockpiled topsoils of various age and origin, and whether measures of soil microbial community composition, soil respiration, and plant growth provide comparable assessments of soil functionality. We investigated this using select biological assessments of undisturbed native reference topsoils and stockpiled topsoils collected from seven mine sites representing a range of climate, soil, commodity, and vegetation types across the major mining province of Western Australia. Biotic properties of stored topsoil were idiosyncratic and variable across mine sites, and results differed based on the biotic measure being assessed. Biomass was generally lower for plants grown in stockpiled topsoils than for plants grown in native reference topsoils across mine sites. However, no single biotic measure provided an accurate assessment of soil functionality as reflected in plant growth responses. Overall, stockpiling adversely affected soil functionality and further research is needed to improve topsoil management procedures that may be site‐ and biome‐specific.
The impacts of a combined exercise on executive function in children with ADHD: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Liang Xiao , Qiu Hui , Wang Peng , Sit Cindy H. P.
Published: May 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of aerobic and neurocognitive exercise with moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity levels on executive functions (EFs) and sleep quality in children with attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Methods

In a parallel two‐group randomized controlled trial (RCT) design, 80 children with ADHD aged 6–12 years (Mage = 8.46 ± 1.50) were assigned to either a 12‐week combined aerobic‐and neurocognitive‐exercise experimental group (EG; three sessions per week for 60‐min) or a wait‐list control group (CG). Forty children with typical development aged 6–12 years (Mage = 8.49 ± 1.51) were recruited as healthy controls (HC). A Polar heart rate (HR) monitor was used to track the exercise intensity (60%–80% predicted HRmax) throughout the intervention. Three core EFs (inhibitory control [IC], working memory [WM], and cognitive flexibility [CF]) were assessed by computer‐based neurocognitive tasks, and sleep quality and physical activity (PA) levels were assessed by self‐report questionnaires.

Results

The results showed that the exercise intervention was beneficial for improving three core EFs, shortening sleep latency and decreasing sleep disturbances. The intervention effects on EFs and sleep quality appeared to be sustained for at least 12 weeks in EG. In addition, children with ADHD after intervention showed non‐significant differences in IC, CF and multiple sleep quality outcomes compared with HC. Furthermore, a significant PA‐EFs‐sleep correlation was found in children with ADHD after the intervention.

Conclusion

The findings suggest that a 12‐week combined aerobic and neurocognitive exercise intervention appears to be an effective treatment program for EFs and sleep quality in children with ADHD.
“Pseudowashout” artifact on liver haemangioma on CEUS: what to expect and how to avoid!
Authors: Papachristodoulou Angeliki , Rafailidis Vasileios , Chartambilas Evangelos , Yusuf Gibran Timothy , Prassopoulos Panos
Published: May 2022

Not applicable