bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Truly ubiquitous CRESS DNA viruses scattered across the eukaryotic tree of life
Authors: Zhao Lele , Lavington Erik , Duffy Siobain
Published: September 2021

Until recently, most viruses detected and characterized were of economic significance, associated with agricultural and medical diseases. This was certainly true for the eukaryote‐infecting circular Rep (replication‐associated protein)‐encoding single‐stranded DNA (CRESS DNA) viruses, which were thought to be a relatively small group of viruses. With the explosion of metagenomic sequencing over the past decade and increasing use of rolling‐circle replication for sequence amplification, scientists have identified and annotated copious numbers of novel CRESS DNA viruses – many without known hosts but which have been found in association with eukaryotes. Similar advances in cellular genomics have revealed that many eukaryotes have endogenous sequences homologous to viral Reps, which not only provide ‘fossil records’ to reconstruct the evolutionary history of CRESS DNA viruses but also reveal potential host species for viruses known by their sequences alone. The Rep protein is a conserved protein that all CRESS DNA viruses use to assist rolling‐circle replication that is known to be endogenized in a few eukaryotic species (notably tobacco and water yam). A systematic search for endogenous Rep‐like sequences in GenBank's non‐redundant eukaryotic database was performed using tBLASTn. We utilized relaxed search criteria for the capture of integrated Rep sequence within eukaryotic genomes, identifying 93 unique species with an endogenized fragment of Rep in their nuclear, plasmid (one species), mitochondrial (six species) or chloroplast (eight species) genomes. These species come from 19 different phyla, scattered across the eukaryotic tree of life. Exogenous and endogenous CRESS DNA viral Rep tree topology suggested potential hosts for one family of uncharacterized viruses and supports a primarily fungal host range for genomoviruses.
A meta‐analysis of the executive function components inhibition, shifting, and attention in intellectual disabilities
Authors: Spaniol M. , Danielsson H.
Published: September 2021

Background

Executive function is a concept for higher‐order cognitive functions, which have the role of controller and modulator of cognitive abilities. The consensus in the literature is that people with an intellectual disability perform significantly lower on executive function tasks than groups matched on chronological age. The comparison with groups matched on mental age is less clear. Therefore, the objective of this meta‐analysis was to investigate to what extent executive function is impaired in people with intellectual disability compared with a typically developing control group matched on mental age. It was also investigated if the executive function component and intellectual disability aetiology moderated the effect.

Methods

Eligibility criteria were participants with intellectual disability (IQ ≤ 75) without a dual diagnosis; a comparison group matched on mental age; executive function outcome reported in a group comparison study design with n ≥ 10. Working memory tasks and ratings of executive function were not included. The literature search yielded 6637 potentially interesting articles. Twenty‐six studies (with 99 effect sizes) including 1395 participants were included in the quantitative synthesis.

Results

A multilevel random‐effects meta‐analysis found that people with intellectual disability performed statistically significantly lower than the mental age‐matched group on the executive function tasks, g = −0.34, 95% confidence interval = [−0.53, −0.16]. However, the heterogeneity between effect sizes was large. The intellectual disability aetiology moderator was significant, but it only reduced the heterogeneity marginally.

Conclusion

The overall conclusion is that individuals with an intellectual disability have more problems with executive function tasks than mental age‐matched controls. Limitations are the large unexplained variance and the remarkably high number (69) of different tests that were used, which make more detailed conclusions problematic. This meta‐analysis implies that future studies need to be of better quality, to have higher power, and to a higher degree use the same executive function tests.
The impact of physical pain and depression on sleep quality in older adults with chronic disease
Authors: Tsai Li‐Chuan , Chen Shu‐Ching , Chen Yen‐Chin , Lee Li‐Yun
Published: September 2021

Aims and objectives

This study's purpose was to identify the correlates of sleep quality in older adults with chronic disease.

Background

Sleep quality is a common problem in older adults that may be affected by physical and mental status.

Design

A cross‐sectional correlational design was employed.

Methods

The study was conducted between July 2019 and April 2020 in a teaching hospital of southern Taiwan. The Geriatric Depression Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Numerical Rating Scale were used to assess depression, sleep quality and physical pain respectively.

Results

Of the 120 older adults (age >65 years) with chronic disease, the average Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score was 5.67. A total of 45.8% subjects had sleep disturbance. Older adults who were living with a partner and those who urinated at night were significantly more likely to report sleep disturbance. The presence of sleep disturbance was associated with greater levels of depression and higher levels of physical pain.

Conclusion

Living with a partner, nocturia, physical pain and depression were associated with the presence of sleep disturbance in older adults with chronic disease.

Relevance to clinical practice

The results of this study can help healthcare providers understand the factors associated with sleep disturbance in older adults with chronic disease, thereby facilitating the early resolution of sleep disturbance issues in this population.
Adherence to lifestyle modifications and its associated factors in hypertensive patients
Authors: Dhakal Amrita , K.C. Takma , Neupane Mahesh
Published: September 2021

Aims and objectives

To find out the adherence to lifestyle modifications and its associated factors in hypertensive patients.

Background

Low adherence to lifestyle modifications leads to poor therapeutic effectiveness, decreased quality of life, poor health outcomes and increased health care costs. Various factors play an important role in determining the adherence level varying among the different cultural, social and national contexts.

Design

A cross‐sectional analytical research design was carried out.

Methods

Information from 264 patients with hypertension was collected at the Outpatient Department of Manmohan Cardiothoracic, Vascular and Transplant Center, Kathmandu. A standard tool of WHO Steps Survey Questionnaire and Hypertension Fact Questionnaire was used for data collection. Chi‐square test and binary logistic regression were used for analysis using SPSS 16.

Result

The overall adherence to lifestyle modifications was determined as 20.8% with the adherence rate being lowest up to 30.3% for adequate intake of fruits and vegetables. Likewise, 52.5% of patients had average knowledge of hypertension management. Age (p = .021), education (p = .001), occupation(p = .026), household income (p = .007) and family history(p = .011) had statistically significant association with the level of adherence. Younger age (AOR = 1.85 CI = 0.79–4.33) remained as the independent predictor of high adherence to lifestyle modifications. The study followed the STROBE checklist for reporting cross‐sectional study.

Conclusion

This study identified that adherence to lifestyle modification is low in older patients. More effective lifestyle modification counselling and educational approaches focusing on the older age groups as well as considering educational level, occupation, family income and family history of hypertension are required to improve their level of adherence.

Relevance to clinical practice

Nurses are frequently acquainted with the hypertensive patients in hospitals where they need to provide health teaching on lifestyle modifications. This study identifies the factors that need to be considered while counselling the hypertensive patients.
Can targeted interventions change the factors influencing variation in management of infants with bronchiolitis? A survey of Australian and New Zealand clinicians: A paediatric research in emergency departments international collaborative (PREDICT) study
Authors: Haskell Libby , Tavender Emma J , O'Brien Sharon , Wilson Catherine L , Borland Meredith L , Cotterell Elizabeth , Babl Franz E , Zannino Diana , Sheridan Nicolette , Oakley Ed , Dalziel Stuart R
Published: September 2021

Aim

This study aimed to determine whether targeted interventions, proven to be effective at improving evidence‐based bronchiolitis management, changed factors previously found to influence variation in bronchiolitis management.

Methods

This survey assessed change in factors influencing clinicians' (nurses and doctors) bronchiolitis management at baseline and post‐intervention in a cluster randomised controlled trial of targeted, theory‐informed interventions aiming to de‐implement non‐evidence‐based bronchiolitis management (no use of chest X‐ray, salbutamol, antibiotics, glucocorticoids and adrenaline). Survey questions addressed previously identified factors influencing bronchiolitis management from six Theoretical Domains Framework domains (knowledge; skills; beliefs about consequences; social/professional role and identity; environmental context and resources; social influences). Data analysis was descriptive.

Results

A total of 1958 surveys (baseline = 996; post‐intervention = 962) were completed by clinicians from the emergency department and paediatric inpatient units from 26 hospitals (intervention = 13; control = 13). Targeted bronchiolitis interventions significantly increased knowledge of the Australasian Bronchiolitis Guideline (intervention clinicians = 74%, control = 39%, difference = 34.7%, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 25.6–43.8%), improved skills in diagnosing (intervention doctors = 89%, control = 76%, difference = 12.6%, 95% CI = 6.2–19%) and managing bronchiolitis (intervention doctors = 87%, control = 76%, difference = 9.9%, 95% CI = 3.7–16.1%), positively influenced both beliefs about consequences regarding salbutamol use (intervention clinicians = 49%, control = 29%, difference = 20.3%, 95% CI = 13.2–27.4%) and nurses questioning non‐evidence‐based bronchiolitis management (chest X‐ray: intervention = 71%, control = 51%, difference = 20.8%, 95% CI = 11.4–30.2%; glucocorticoids: intervention = 64%, control = 40%, difference = 21.9%, 95% CI = 10.4–33.5%) (social/professional role and identity). A 14% improvement in evidence‐based bronchiolitis management favouring intervention hospitals was demonstrated in the cluster randomised controlled trial.

Conclusion

Targeted interventions positively changed factors influencing bronchiolitis management resulting in improved evidence‐based bronchiolitis care. This study has important implications for improving bronchiolitis management and future development of interventions to de‐implement low‐value care.
Extreme precipitation increases the productivity of a desert ephemeral plant community in Central Asia, but there is no slope position effect
Authors: Zang Yong‐Xin , Ma Jian‐Ying , Zhou Xiao‐Bing , Tao Ye , Yin Ben‐Feng , Zhang Yuan‐Ming
Published: September 2021

Questions

Anthropogenic climate change has become a critical environmental problem and is profoundly affecting various ecosystems, especially desert ecosystems. However, very few studies have explored the effects of extreme precipitation on the community structure and ecosystem functions in drylands. Moreover, whether local microtopography will interact with extreme precipitation on plant growth by changing water retention and other processes is still unclear.

Location

The Gurbantunggut Desert in Central Asia.

Methods

We conducted a two‐year field experiment to assess the effect of extreme precipitation (+65% of ambient growing‐season precipitation amounts) on the composition and productivity of a desert ephemeral plant community growing in sand dunes of the Gurbantunggut Desert in Central Asia. We further determined how much slope position modulates this response.

Results

We found that the cover, density, height, species richness, and biomass of ephemeral plants increased with an increase in precipitation, and the strongest direct effect of biomass was a positive effect on density of ephemeral plants. Additionally, no significant differences in the sensitivity of biomass to the increased precipitation were found between slope positions.

Conclusions

The results indicate that extreme precipitation primarily increased the above‐ground net primary production by increasing the density, rather than the height and species richness, of the ephemeral community; no interactive effects were observed between sand dune slope positions and the sensitivity of biomass to the extreme precipitation treatment.
Pre‐ and post‐fire architectural guilds of subtropical dune thicket species in the southeastern Cape Floristic Region
Authors: Strydom Tiaan , Grobler B. Adriaan , Kraaij Tineke , Cowling Richard M.
Published: September 2021

Aim

South Africa's subtropical dune thicket represents an interesting case for investigating plant architecture since, unlike most other dry rain forest formations, dune thicket is subject to regular fire. We asked the following questions: (a) what are the different architectural guilds amongst subtropical dune thicket species in mature, closed canopy stands; (b) what are the architectural guilds of the same species but in the early stages of resprouting post fire; (c) do pre‐fire guilds predict post‐fire guilds; (d) what is the significance of our findings for explaining temporal (post‐fire) and spatial patterns of subtropical dune thicket species?

Location

Cape St Francis, southeastern Cape Floristic Region, South Africa.

Methods

We used univariate and multivariate methods to identify architectural guilds amongst 11 commonly occurring dune thicket species in closed (light‐limited), long unburnt vegetation and in recently burnt stands where vegetative regrowth (sprouts) is exposed to light.

Results

We found three distinct architectural guilds in unburnt subtropical dune thicket, namely hedge formers, lateral spreaders and vertical growers. In burnt thicket we also identified three resprouting architectures, namely weak resprouters, moderate resprouters and strong resprouters. There was no strong congruence between the unburnt and resprouting architectures.

Conclusion

Based on the ecologies of each guild, certain expectations originated from the results of the study. We expect frequently burnt landscapes to be dominated by strongly resprouting hedge formers and lateral spreaders, infrequently burnt landscapes to be dominated by strongly resprouting lateral spreaders, and fire‐free landscapes to be dominated by weakly resprouting vertical growers.
A warning framework for avoiding vessel‐bridge and vessel‐vessel collisions based on generative adversarial and dual‐task networks
Authors: Zhang Bo , Xu Zhaofeng , Zhang Jian , Wu Gang
Published: September 2021

The vessel‐bridge and vessel‐vessel collisions are likely to occur on the river. For avoiding the two kinds of collisions, a video‐based framework about early warning is proposed in this paper, which mainly contains vessel positioning, vessel trajectory data augmentation, and trajectory anomaly detection and prediction. At first, a real‐time vessel positioning method is proposed based on homography. In this method, the buoys are used as the control points, whose instantaneous world coordinates are obtained based on aerial photography, for solving the homography. Based on the obtained homography, the pixel coordinates of the identified vessel center can be mapped to the corresponding world coordinates, which realizes the vessel positioning. Second, the trajectory generative adversarial networks with multiple critics (TGANs‐MC) is proposed to enrich the historical trajectories, especially the abnormal trajectories. TGANs‐MC contains a generator and multiple critics. The generator is based on a recurrent neural network (RNN) for generating the variable‐length trajectory sequence. The critic uses 1D convolution and 1D adaptive pooling to obtain the trajectory feature. Multiple critics with different structures are used in TGANs‐MC to guide the generator to generate diverse trajectories. Third, a dual‐task network is proposed to find the vessels with abnormal trajectories for warning vessel‐bridge collision and predict the trajectories of vessels for warning vessel‐vessel collision. The dual‐task network adopts the structure of an RNN‐based encoder‐decoder, and it has two branches so that it can jointly perform the dual tasks. The anomaly detection branch uses supervised binary classification and outputs the risk degree. The attention mechanism is adopted in the prediction branch. Finally, a real‐time collision warning system is developed, which is applied on a bridge.
Loss of YggS (COG0325) impacts aspartate metabolism in Salmonella enterica
Authors: Vu Huong N. , Downs Diana M.
Published: September 2021

YggS is a pyridoxal 5′‐phosphate (PLP)‐binding protein of the conserved COG0325 family. Despite a connection with vitamin B6 homeostasis in many species, neither a precise biochemical activity nor the molecular mechanism of how YggS contributes to cellular function has been described. In a transposon mutagenesis screen, we found that insertions in aspC (encoding a PLP‐dependent aspartate aminotransferase, EC 2.6.1.1) in a Salmonella enterica strain lacking yggS caused a synthetic growth defect, which could be rescued by the addition of exogenous aspartate. Characterization of spontaneous suppressors which improved the growth of the yggS aspC double mutant suggested that this synthetic aspartate limitation was dependent on TyrB, a PLP‐dependent aromatic amino acid aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.57). Genetic and biochemical data were consistent with the hypothesis that TyrB activity was inhibited by accumulated pyridoxine 5′‐phosphate and α‐keto acids caused by a yggS mutation. This study provides data consistent with a working model implicating YggS in modulating concentrations of B6 vitamers via transamination.
In vivo biophysical characterization of very high power, short duration, temperature‐controlled lesions
Authors: Stabile Giuseppe , Schillaci Vincenzo , Strisciuglio Teresa , Arestia Alberto , Agresta Alessia , Shopova Gergana , De Simone Antonio , Solimene Francesco
Published: September 2021

Introduction

A very high‐power short‐duration (vHPSD) strategy of radiofrequency (RF) ablation aims to minimize conductive heating and increase resistive heating. This study aimed to clarify the contribution of contact force (CF) and temperature and their interrelationship in making an adequate lesion with the vHPSD catheter.

Methods

We enrolled 46 consecutive patients undergoing first catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF). The vHPSD ablation was performed applying 90 W, for 4 s, with an irrigation of 8 ml/min. During an application, an impedance drop (ID) ≥10 Ω was regarded as an adequate lesion formation.

Results

The mean procedural time was 95 ± 15 min. First‐pass isolation was reached in 89% of patients and at the end of the procedure all pulmonary veins were isolated. No steam pop nor procedural complication occurred. A total of 3829 qualified RF points were analyzed and the median values of ID, CF and maximum temperature were respectively 10.6 (IQR 8.6–13.1) Ohm, 9 (5.8–13.8) g, 46.8 (44.1–49.8) °C. The mean ID significantly increased in parallel with the increasing CF as well as with the increasing maximum temperature. In the multivariable analysis only the CF and the maximum temperature were independent predictors of ID. From receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, a CF of 8 g and a maximum temperature of 47°C are the optimal cutoff discriminatory value for adequate lesion formation.

Conclusions

The vHPSD ablation is highly effective and safe. The CF and the maximum temperature are independent predictors of adequate lesion formation assessed by means of ID.
Two calcium‐dependent protein kinases enhance maize drought tolerance by activating anion channel ZmSLAC1 in guard cells
Authors: Li Xi‐Dong , Gao Yong‐Qiang , Wu Wei‐Hua , Chen Li‐Mei , Wang Yi
Published: September 2021

Stomatal closure is an important process to prevent water loss in plants response to drought stress, which is finely modulated by ion channels together with their regulators in guard cells, especially the S‐type anion channel AtSLAC1 in Arabidopsis. However, the functional characterization and regulation analyses of anion channels in gramineous crops, such as in maize guard cells are still limited. In this study, we identified an S‐type anion channel ZmSLAC1 that was preferentially expressed in maize guard cells and involved in stomatal closure under drought stress. We found that two Ca2+‐dependent protein kinases ZmCPK35 and ZmCPK37 were expressed in maize guard cells and localized on the plasma membrane. Lesion of ZmCPK37 resulted in drought‐sensitive phenotypes. Mutation of ZmSLAC1 and ZmCPK37 impaired ABA‐activated S‐type anion currents in maize guard cells, while the S‐type anion currents were increased in the guard cells of ZmCPK35‐ and ZmCPK37‐overexpression lines. Electrophysiological characterization in maize guard cells and Xenopus oocytes indicated that ZmCPK35 and ZmCPK37 could activate ZmSLAC1‐mediated Cl‐ and NO3‐ currents. The maize inbred and hybrid lines overexpressing ZmCPK35 and ZmCPK37 exhibited enhanced tolerance and increased yield under drought conditions. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that ZmSLAC1 plays crucial roles in stomatal closure in maize, whose activity is regulated by ZmCPK35 and ZmCPK37. Elevation of ZmCPK35 and ZmCPK37 expression levels is a feasible way to improve maize drought tolerance as well as reduce yield loss under drought stress.
Hsp70, sHsps and ubiquitin proteins modulate HsfA6a‐mediated Hsp101 transcript expression in rice (Oryza sativa L.)
Authors: Singh Garima , Sarkar Neelam K. , Grover Anil
Published: September 2021

Hsp100 chaperones disaggregate the aggregated proteins and are vital for maintenance of protein homeostasis. The level of Hsp100 synthesised in the cells has a bearing on the survival of plants under heat stress. The Hsp100 transcription machinery is activated within minutes of the onset of heat stress. The heat shock factor HsfA6a plays a major role in the transcriptional regulation of the Hsp101 gene in rice plants. Through yeast‐2‐hybrid library screening, we identified small heat shock proteins (sHSPs), Hsp70 and ubiquitin as HsfA6a interacting proteins (HIPs). The bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays showed the physical interaction of HsfA6a with Hsp16.9A‐CI and Hsp18.0‐CII in the cytosolic region and with cHsp70‐1 in the nucleus. With the Hsp101 promoter: reporter gene assays, using yeast cells and rice protoplasts, we show that CI‐sHsps and CII‐sHsps are negative regulators and Hsp70 positive regulator of the HsfA6a activity in modulation of Hsp101 transcription. We also noted that the HsfA6a interactors, Hsp70 and CI‐sHsps and CII‐sHsps, physically interact with each other. We noted that HsfA6a binds with the CI‐sHsp and Hsp70 promoters, implying that HsfA6a has a role in transcriptional regulation of its interacting proteins. Furthermore, we noted that the mutation of the ubiquitin/sumoylation acceptor site lysine 10 to alanine (K10A) of HsfA6a enhanced its DNA binding potential on the Hsp101 promoter, implying that these modifiers are possibly involved in modulation of HsfA6a activity. Our work shows that Hsp70, CI‐sHsps and CII‐sHsp, and ubiquitin proteins coordinate with HsfA6a in mediating the Hsp101 transcription process in rice.
Spillover Effects of Minority Representation on Majority Bureaucrats’ Behavioral Change
Authors: Li Danyao
Published: September 2021

Representative bureaucracy scholarship has rarely examined whether passive representation of minorities changes the behavior of majority bureaucrats. To address this omission, this article explicitly tests the relationship between the two, in the context of traffic law enforcement. Using individual‐level data over multiple years in Washington and South Carolina, analyses show that minority representation has spillover effects on decisions made by White officers. They are more likely to treat drivers of color similarly to White drivers, when working on a more racially representative police force. These findings support an underexplored causal mechanism whereby representation improves policy results for historically underprivileged groups, making a theoretical contribution to representative bureaucracy. It also has managerial implications for practitioners who seek to reform future law enforcement for greater racial equity in policing outcomes.
Holding out the promise of Lasswell's dream: Big data analytics in public policy research and teaching
Authors: El‐Taliawi Ola G. , Goyal Nihit , Howlett Michael
Published: September 2021

While the emergence of big data raises concerns regarding governance and public policy, it also creates opportunities for diversifying the toolkit for analysis for the policy sciences as a whole, i.e., research concerning policy analysis as well as policy studies. Further, it opens avenues for practice, which together with research requires adaptation in teaching curricula if policy education were to remain relevant. However, it is not clear to what extent this opportunity is being realized in public policy research and teaching. In this study, we examine the prevalence of big data analytics in public policy research and pedagogy using bibliometric analysis and topic modeling for the former, and content analysis of course titles and descriptions for the latter. We find that despite significant scope for application of various big data techniques, the use of these analytic techniques in public policy has been largely limited to select institutions in a few countries. Further, data science has received limited attention in policy pedagogy, once again with significant geographic variation in its prevalence. We conclude that, to stay relevant, the policy sciences need to pay more attention to the integration of big data techniques in policy research, pedagogy, and thereby practice.
Dynamical analysis of an age‐structured SIRE epidemic model with two routes of infection in environment
Authors: Lu Jingjing , Chen Qiaoling , Teng Zhidong , Zheng Tingting
Published: September 2021

In this study, an SIRE epidemic model including infection age, relapse age, and effect of protection for susceptible in environmental virus infectious diseases is investigated. We use the function to represent the protection of susceptible so as to reduce the probability that susceptible are exposed to the polluted environment and become infected, and the function represents the protection of susceptible so as to reduce the probability that susceptible are directly contact with infected persons and become infected. We obtain threshold and the basic properties of solutions. Further, we see that when the disease‐free equilibrium exists and is unique and globally asymptotically stable, and when , besides the disease‐free equilibrium, the model has a unique endemic equilibrium that is locally asymptotically stable. Furthermore, we only obtained the system is uniformly persistence without the global asymptotical stability of endemic equilibrium when . The numerical examples show that there exists a stable manifold of endemic equilibrium when .
Care earnings in the United States and 24 European countries: The role of social policy and labour market institutions
Authors: Ferragina Emanuele , Parolin Zachary
Published: September 2021

Care occupations are gendered and remain relatively poorly paid, particularly in the United States. Prior research on the ‘care penalty’ primarily points to individual, relational, and market‐valuation factors in explaining the relative earnings of care workers. This study integrates these explanations with a comparative institutional perspective. Using higher‐quality data and methods than previous comparative research in the field—that is, harmonized micro‐data from the Current Population Survey and EU‐SILC from 2005 to 2016, country and year fixed effects models, and a counterfactual analysis—we find that national variance in labour market and welfare state institutions explains most of the difference in the relative earnings of reproductive care workers between the United States and European countries. Higher rates of collective bargaining coverage, stronger employment protection and welfare state spending contribute to higher relative earnings for reproductive care occupations, and lower relative earnings for high‐status nurturant care occupations. Differences in the relative earnings of care workers appear to be mostly a construct of social policy and labour market institutions rather than individual, relational, and market‐valuation factors.
The impact of chronic Epstein–Barr virus infection on the liver graft of pediatric liver transplant recipients: A retrospective observational study
Authors: Shizuku Masato , Kamei Hideya , Yoshizawa Atsushi , Ito Yoshinori , Ogura Yasuhiro , Yoshikawa Junichi , Kurata Nobuhiko , Jobara Kanta , Kodera Yasuhiro
Published: September 2021

Background

Chronic high Epstein–Barr virus loads (CHEBV) are commonly observed in pediatric liver transplant patients. However, it is unclear how CHEBV impacts the liver graft. The aim of this study was to clarify the clinical and pathological impacts of CHEBV on the liver graft.

Methods

From 2012 to 2020, we retrospectively investigated 46 pediatric liver transplant patients (under 16 years) who survived ≥6 months. The patients were divided into two groups: CHEBV group (EBV DNA >10 000 IU/ml of whole blood for ≥6 months) and nonchronic high EBV (NCHEBV) group (patients who did not meet CHEBV criteria). Tacrolimus was reduced to <3.0 ng/ml in patients with EBV DNA >5000 IU/ml. Blood biochemistry data and pathological findings, obtained at the time of protocol and episodic biopsies, were compared between the two groups.

Results

Out of 46 patients, 28 CHEBV and 18 NCHEBV patients were enrolled. The blood biochemical examination did not show a significant difference between the two groups. In addition, no significant differences between the two groups were found in the pathological findings, including frequency of late acute rejection and the progression of fibrosis at the time of both protocol and episodic biopsies. Appropriate adjustment of immunosuppression for CHEBV management may have contributed to the prevention of the progression of fibrosis.

Conclusion

CHEBV had little adverse effect on the liver graft. Graft fibrosis might have been avoided through optimal dose modification of tacrolimus. Further long‐term monitoring is necessary because CHEBV may affect the pediatric liver graft in the long term.
Comparison of CD34+ cell mobilization, blood graft cellular composition, and post‐transplant outcome in myeloma patients mobilized with filgrastim or pegfilgrastim added to low‐dose cyclophosphamide: A prospective multicenter study
Authors: Anu Partanen , Antti Turunen , Raija Silvennoinen , Marja Pyörälä , Jaakko Valtola , Timo Siitonen , Mervi Putkonen , Marja Sankelo , Anu Sikiö , Karri Penttilä , Taru Kuittinen , Jukka Pelkonen , Pentti Mäntymaa , Esa Jantunen , Ville Varmavuo
Published: September 2021

Background

Scarce data exist on the impact of granulocyte‐colony stimulating factor (G‐CSF) type on the mobilizing capacity of CD34+ cells, graft cellular composition, and outcome in myeloma (MM) patients.

Patients and Methods

In this prospective multicenter study, 70 patients with MM received filgrastim (FIL) and 20 patients received pegfilgrastim (PEG) as a G‐CSF after low‐dose cyclophosphamide. Flow cytometry was used to analyze the mobilization of CD34+ cells and cellular composition of blood grafts, hematologic recovery, and survival after auto‐SCT according to the G‐CSF choice.

Results

The CD34+ cell yield of the first apheresis was higher in the FIL group (5.3 vs. 4.2 × 106/kg, p = .025). The better mobilizing capacity was observed in the FIL group especially after bortezomib‐based induction based on the higher first apheresis yield of CD34+ cells (7.5 vs. 4.4 × 106/kg, p = .001). The median CD19+ cell count (1.0 vs. 0.4 × 106/kg, p = .010) and the number of CD3+ T lymphocytes (43.1 vs. 31.8 × 106/kg, p = .122) in the infused graft were higher in the patients mobilized with FIL. Both early (day +15) (56 vs. 108 × 109/L, p = .002) and later platelet recovery at 6 months (191 vs. 226 × 109/L, p = .026) were faster in the PEG group.

Conclusion

G‐CSF type seems to impact on the mobilization capacity and cellular composition of infused graft and also platelet recovery post‐transplant. A randomized study might be warranted to verify the effects of G‐CSF choice in the mobilization field.
Development of a veterinary trauma score (VetCOT) in canine trauma patients with performance evaluation and comparison to the animal trauma triage score: A VetCOT registry study
Authors: Chik Colin , Hayes Galina M. , Menard Julie
Published: September 2021

Objective

To develop a population‐derived, parsimonious, and objective risk stratification model for dogs following trauma and compare its predictive performance to the animal trauma triage (ATT) score.

Design

Observational cohort study using data from the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Veterinary Committee on Trauma (VetCOT) trauma registry acquired between September 2013 and October 2017.

Setting

Nine Level I and Level II veterinary trauma centers.

Animals

Nine hundred eighty‐four dogs assessed within 24 h of traumatic injury.

Interventions

None.

Measurements and Main Results

Patient mortality was 10.8%. The VetCOT model was constructed based on 4 variables: plasma lactate and ionized calcium obtained within 6 h of admission, and presence or absence of clinical signs consistent with either head or spinal trauma. The VetCOT score had good discriminatory performance (AUROC = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.83‐0.91) comparable to that of the 6 variable ATT score for the same population (area under the receiver operator characteristic [AUROC] = 0.87; 95% CI, 0.84–0.90). No statistical difference in discriminatory performance between the 2 scores was identified (P = 0.98). The VetCOT score showed good calibration on this population (Hosmer–Lemeshow test P = 0.93), whereas the ATT score failed to calibrate (P = 0.02) due to overprediction of mortality at low scores. Sensitivity and specificity for outcome of the VetCOT score at a risk probability cutoff of 0.5 for this population were 28.97% and 97.95%, respectively.

Conclusions

The VetCOT score is a more parsimonious model with comparable discriminatory performance and superior calibration to the ATT score for risk stratification in dogs following trauma. Further prospective validation studies are required to confirm the discriminatory performance of the VetCOT score.
Gene tree quality affects empirical coalescent branch length estimation
Authors: Forthman Michael , Braun Edward L. , Kimball Rebecca T.
Published: September 2021

Assessing effects of gene tree error in coalescent analyses have widely ignored coalescent branch lengths (CBLs) despite their potential utility in estimating ancestral population demographics and detecting species tree anomaly zones. However, the ability of coalescent methods to obtain accurate estimates remains largely unexplored. Errors in gene trees should lead to underestimates of the true CBL, and for a given set of comparisons, longer CBLs should be more accurate. Here, we furthered our empirical understanding of how error in gene tree quality (i.e., locus informativeness and gene tree resolution) affect CBLs using four datasets comprised of ultraconserved elements (UCE) or exons for clades that exhibit wide ranges of branch lengths. For each dataset, we compared the impact of locus informativeness (assessed using number of parsimony‐informative sites) and gene tree resolution on CBL estimates. Our results, in general, showed that CBLs were drastically shorter when estimates included low informative loci. Gene tree resolution also had an impact on UCE datasets, with polytomous gene trees producing longer branches than randomly resolved gene trees. However, resolution did not appear to affect CBL estimates from the more informative exon datasets. Thus, as expected, gene tree quality affects CBL estimates, though this can generally be minimized by using moderate filtering to select more informative loci and/or by allowing polytomies in gene trees. These approaches, as well as additional contributions to improve CBL estimation, should lead to CBLs that are useful for addressing evolutionary and biological questions.
The Effect of Whole Egg Intake on Muscle Mass: Are the Yolk and Its Nutrients Important?
Authors: Santos Heitor O. , Gomes Gederson K. , Schoenfeld Brad J. , de Oliveira Erick P.
Published: September 2021

Whole egg may have potential benefits for enhancing muscle mass, independent of its protein content. The yolk comprises ∼40% of the total protein in an egg, as well as containing several nonprotein nutrients that could possess anabolic properties (e.g., microRNAs, vitamins, minerals, lipids, phosphatidic acid and other phospholipids). Therefore, the purpose of this narrative review is to discuss the current evidence as to the possible effects of egg yolk compounds on skeletal muscle accretion beyond those of egg whites alone. The intake of whole egg seems to promote greater myofibrillar protein synthesis than egg white intake in young men. However, limited evidence shows no difference in muscle hypertrophy when comparing the consumption of whole egg versus an isonitrogenous quantity of egg white in young men performing resistance training. Although egg yolk intake seems to promote additional acute increases on myofibrillar protein synthesis, it does not seem to further enhance muscle mass when compared to egg whites when consumed as part of a high-protein dietary patterns, at least in young men. This conclusion is based on very limited evidence and more studies are needed to evaluate the effects of egg yolk (or whole eggs) intake on muscle mass not only in young men, but also in other populations such as women, older adults, and individuals with muscle wasting diseases.
Optimizing Whole-Body Kinematics During Single-Leg Jump Landing to Reduce Peak Abduction/Adduction and Internal Rotation Knee Moments: Implications for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury Risk
Authors: Gupta Dhruv , Reinbolt Jeffrey A. , Donnelly Cyril J.
Published: September 2021

Knee abduction/adduction moment and knee internal rotation moment are known surrogate measures of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) load during tasks like sidestepping and single-leg landing. Previous experimental literature has shown that a variety of kinematic strategies are associated or correlated with ACL injury risk; however, the optimal kinematic strategies needed to reduce peak knee moments and ACL injury are not well understood. To understand the complex, multifaceted kinematic factors underpinning ACL injury risk and to optimize kinematics to prevent the ACL injury, a musculoskeletal modeling and simulation experimental design was used. A 14-segment, 37-degree-of-freedom, dynamically consistent skeletal model driven by force/torque actuators was used to simulate whole-body single-leg jump landing kinematics. Using the residual reduction algorithm in OpenSim, whole-body kinematics were optimized to reduce the peak knee abduction/adduction and internal/external rotation moments simultaneously. This optimization was repeated across 30 single-leg jump landing trials from 10 participants. The general optimal kinematic strategy was to bring the knee to a more neutral alignment in the transverse plane and frontal plane (featured by reduced hip adduction angle and increased knee adduction angle). This optimized whole-body kinematic strategy significantly reduced the peak knee abduction/adduction and internal rotation moments, transferring most of the knee load to the hip.
Mindful Engagement Mediates the Relationship Between Motivational Climate Perceptions and Coachability for Male High School Athletes
Authors: Iwasaki Susumu , Fry Mary D. , Hogue Candace M.
Published: September 2021

The purpose of this study was to examine the mediating role of mindful engagement in the relationship between male high school athletes’ motivational climate perceptions on their teams (i.e., caring, task-, and ego-involving climate) to athlete coachability. Athletes (N = 164, Mage = 15.58 years) from multiple sports completed measures assessing mindful engagement in sport (Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale—Revised), Caring Climate Scale, task- and ego-involving climate perceptions (Perceived Motivational Climate in Sport Questionnaire), and coachability (Athletic Coping Skills Inventory). Initial bivariate correlations linked mindful engagement and coachability positively with perceptions of a caring and task-involving climate and negatively with ego-involving climate perceptions. Structural equation modeling analyses then revealed mindful engagement mediated the relationship between climate and coachability. Encouraging coaches and players to foster a caring/task-involving climate might assist in enhancing athletes’ mindful engagement in sport, which may positively influence the degree to which they are coachable.
Compassionate Coach and Psychological Quality of Life in Portuguese Athletes: Effect of Mediating Variables
Authors: Oliveira Sara , Cunha Marina , Rosado António , Ferreira Cláudia
Published: September 2021

This study aimed to test a model that hypothesized that the compassionate coach, as perceived by the athletes, has an impact on athlete-related social safeness and psychological health, through shame and self-criticism. The sample comprised 270 Portuguese adult athletes, who practiced different competitive sports. The path analysis results confirmed the adequacy of the proposed model, which explained 45% of the psychological health’s variance. Results demonstrated that athletes who perceive their coaches as more compassionate tend to present higher levels of social safeness (feelings of belonging to the team) and of psychological health, through lower levels of shame and self-criticism. These novel findings suggest the importance of the adoption of supportive, warm, safe, and compassionate attitudes from coaches in athletes’ mental health. This study also offers important insights by suggesting that feelings of acceptance and connectedness in team relationships may be at the root of athletes’ emotional processes and well-being.
Centrifugation and index matching yield a strong and transparent bioinspired nacreous composite
Authors: Amini Ali , Khavari Adele , Barthelat Francois , Ehrlicher Allen J.
Published: September 2021

A match made clear

The fabrication of strong and tough composites is of interest in many technologies, such as the combination of mechanical performance with transparency for robust display systems. Amini
et al
. combined and centrifuged glass flakes with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) to make a transparent composite. By doping the glass flakes, it was possible to alter the refractive index of PMMA to maximize optical clarity. Such composites show good strength and toughness and could have a wide range of potential applications as an alternative to current glass composites. —MSL
Mitochondrial disease: Replace or edit?
Authors: Adashi Eli Y. , Rubenstein Donald S. , Mossman Jim A. , Schon Eric A. , Cohen I. Glenn
Published: September 2021

Questions over mitochondrial replacement suggest a role for mitochondrial DNA editing
Regulation of biomolecular condensates by interfacial protein clusters
Authors: Folkmann Andrew W. , Putnam Andrea , Lee Chiu Fan , Seydoux Geraldine
Published: September 2021

A Pickering-stabilized intracellular emulsion

Pickering emulsions, droplet suspensions stabilized by solid particles, were discovered more than 100 years ago and are well studied in foods, oils, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. The particles adsorb to the droplet interface and prevent the emulsion from coarsening. Folkmann
et al
. report that P granules, biomolecular condensates in
Caenorhabditis elegans
, are an example of an intracellular Pickering emulsion (see the Perspective by Snead and Gladfelter). Biomolecular condensates are cellular compartments that form without traditional lipid membranes. This work raises the possibility that Pickering agents fulfill the role of membranes in biomolecular condensates. —DJ
Coherent perfect absorption at an exceptional point
Authors: Wang Changqing , Sweeney William R. , Stone A. Douglas , Yang Lan
Published: September 2021

Absorbingly exceptional

Most oscillating systems have a resonance or multiple resonances at which they ring out and are most sensitive to excitation. In non-Hermitian systems, open systems with gain and loss, the resonances have been found to coalesce into an exceptional point when the gain and loss can be engineered. Complementing these resonant exceptional points, Wang
et al
. show that controlling the absorption of a coupled microresonator system can produce a new kind of absorbing exceptional point. They also show how these exceptional points are distinct and how systems can be engineered to exhibit new scattering behavior. —ISO
Ultralow–switching current density multilevel phase-change memory on a flexible substrate
Authors: Khan Asir Intisar , Daus Alwin , Islam Raisul , Neilson Kathryn M. , Lee Hye Ryoung , Wong H.-S. Philip , Pop Eric
Published: September 2021

Flexing computer memory

Phase change materials leverage changes in structure into differences in electrical resistance that are attractive for computer memory and processing applications. Khan
et al
. developed a flexible phase change memory device with layers of antimony telluride and germanium telluride deposited directly on a flexible polyimide substrate. The device shows multilevel operation with a low switching current density. The combination of phase change and mechanical properties is attractive for the large number of emerging applications for flexible electronics. —BG
Early cross-coronavirus reactive signatures of humoral immunity against COVID-19
Authors: Kaplonek Paulina , Wang Chuangqi , Bartsch Yannic , Fischinger Stephanie , Gorman Matthew J. , Bowman Kathryn , Kang Jaewon , Dayal Diana , Martin Patrick , Nowak Radoslaw P. , Villani Alexandra-Chloé , Hsieh Ching-Lin , Charland Nicole C. , Gonye Anna L.K. , Gushterova Irena , Khanna Hargun K. , LaSalle Thomas J. , Lavin-Parsons Kendall M. , Lilley Brendan M. , Lodenstein Carl L. , Manakongtreecheep Kasidet , Margolin Justin D. , McKaig Brenna N. , Rojas-Lopez Maricarmen , Russo Brian C. , Sharma Nihaarika , Tantivit Jessica , Thomas Molly F. , Sade-Feldman Moshe , Feldman Jared , Julg Boris , Nilles Eric J. , Musk Elon R. , Menon Anil S. , Fischer Eric S. , McLellan Jason S. , Schmidt Aaron , Goldberg Marcia B. , Filbin Michael R. , Hacohen Nir , Lauffenburger Douglas A. , Alter Galit
Published: September 2021

Preexisting cross-coronavirus immunity influences the early development of SARS-CoV-2 humoral immunity after COVID-19.