bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Global drought trends and future projections
Authors: Vicente-Serrano Sergio M. , Peña-Angulo Dhais , Beguería Santiago , Domínguez-Castro Fernando , Tomás-Burguera Miquel , Noguera Iván , Gimeno-Sotelo Luis , El Kenawy Ahmed
Published: October 2022

Drought is one of the most difficult natural hazards to quantify and is divided into categories (meteorological, agricultural, ecological and hydrological), which makes assessing recent changes and future scenarios extremely difficult. This opinion piece includes a review of the recent scientific literature on the topic and analyses trends in meteorological droughts by using long-term precipitation records and different drought metrics to evaluate the role of global warming processes in trends of agricultural, hydrological and ecological drought severity over the last four decades, during which a sharp increase in atmospheric evaporative demand (AED) has been recorded. Meteorological droughts do not show any substantial changes at the global scale in at least the last 120 years, but an increase in the severity of agricultural and ecological droughts seems to emerge as a consequence of the increase in the severity of AED. Lastly, this study evaluates drought projections from earth system models and focuses on the most important aspects that need to be considered when evaluating drought processes in a changing climate, such as the use of different metrics and the uncertainty of modelling approaches.

This article is part of the Royal Society Science+ meeting issue ‘Drought risk in the Anthropocene’.
Using machine learning to identify novel hydroclimate states
Authors: Marvel Kate , Cook Benjamin I.
Published: October 2022

Anthropogenic climate change is expected to alter drought risk in the future. However, droughts are not uncommon or unprecedented, as documented in tree-ring-based reconstructions of the summer average Palmer drought severity index (PDSI). Using an unsupervised machine-learning method trained on these reconstructions of pre-industrial climate, we identify outliers: years in which the spatial pattern of PDSI is unusual relative to ‘normal' variability. We show that in many regions, outliers are more frequently identified in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. This trend is more pronounced when the regional drought atlases are combined into a single global dataset. By definition, outlier patterns at the 10% level are expected to occur once per decade, but from 1950 to 2000 more than 6 years per decade are identified as outliers in the global drought atlas (GDA). Extending the GDA through 2020 using an observational dataset suggests that anomalous global drought conditions are present in 80% of years in the twenty-first century. Our results indicate, without recourse to climate models, that the world is more frequently experiencing drought conditions that are highly unusual in the context of past natural climate variability.

This article is part of the Royal Society Science+ meeting issue ‘Drought risk in the Anthropocene’.
Status and prospects for drought forecasting: opportunities in artificial intelligence and hybrid physical–statistical forecasting
Authors: AghaKouchak A. , Pan B. , Mazdiyasni O. , Sadegh M. , Jiwa S. , Zhang W. , Love C. A. , Madadgar S. , Papalexiou S. M. , Davis S. J. , Hsu K. , Sorooshian S.
Published: October 2022

Despite major improvements in weather and climate modelling and substantial increases in remotely sensed observations, drought prediction remains a major challenge. After a review of the existing methods, we discuss major research gaps and opportunities to improve drought prediction. We argue that current approaches are top-down, assuming that the process(es) and/or driver(s) are known—i.e. starting with a model and then imposing it on the observed events (reality). With the help of an experiment, we show that there are opportunities to develop bottom-up drought prediction models—i.e. starting from the reality (here, observed events) and searching for model(s) and driver(s) that work. Recent advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning provide significant opportunities for developing bottom-up drought forecasting models. Regardless of the type of drought forecasting model (e.g. machine learning, dynamical simulations, analogue based), we need to shift our attention to robustness of theories and outputs rather than event-based verification. A shift in our focus towards quantifying the stability of uncertainty in drought prediction models, rather than the goodness of fit or reproducing the past, could be the first step towards this goal. Finally, we highlight the advantages of hybrid dynamical and statistical models for improving current drought prediction models.

This article is part of the Royal Society Science+ meeting issue ‘Drought risk in the Anthropocene’.
Benchmark worst droughts during the summer monsoon in India
Authors: Mishra Vimal , Mujumdar Milind , Mahto Shanti Shwarup
Published: October 2022

During the summer monsoon (June–September) season, drought poses challenges for agricultural activities and water availability in India. We develop a framework considering the timing, areal coverage and severity that can be used for the assessment of meteorological droughts as the monsoon season progresses. We estimate the benchmark worst droughts within the monsoon season (June, July, August and September) using the long-term (1901–2020) gridded rainfall. The benchmark worst droughts were identified considering the extent and severity of drought using the Drought Severity Coverage Index (DSCI). The worst meteorological drought in June, July, August and September occurred in 1923, 2002, 1937 and 1907 with a return period of 68, 200, 147, 188 years, respectively. The worst drought in the entire summer monsoon season occurred in 1918, which had a return period of 238 years. The benchmark droughts during June 1923, July 2002 and monsoon 1918 were associated with the warm sea surface temperature over the equatorial Pacific Ocean. The other two droughts (1937 and 1907) were linked with the off-equatorial warming over the Indo-Pacific region. The leading mode of variability in the Standardized Precipitation Index obtained from empirical orthogonal function analysis showed that the western and central parts of the country are most affected by droughts during the summer monsoon season. The second leading mode exhibited declining trends in rainfall with a bipolar spatial variability centred over the Gangetic Plain and southern India. The estimated DSCI for a 2–500 return period can be used for the drought assessment during the monsoon season in India.

This article is part of the Royal Society Science+ meeting issue ‘Drought risk in the Anthropocene’.
The contribution of a catchment-scale advice network to successful agricultural drought adaptation in Northern Thailand
Authors: Goodwin Daniel , Holman Ian , Sutcliffe Chloe , Salmoral Gloria , Pardthaisong Liwa , Visessri Supattra , Ekkawatpanit Chaiwat , Rey Dolores
Published: October 2022

The intensification of drought affects agricultural production, leading to economic losses, environmental degradation and social impacts. To move toward more resilient system configurations requires understanding the processes that shape farmers' adaptation amidst complex institutional contexts. Social networks are an important part of collective action for supporting adaptive capacity and there are continuing calls to strengthen network connectivity for agricultural governance under the impacts of climate change. Through a survey of 176 farmers in northern Thailand, we explore the extent to which the characteristics of information shared in a catchment advice network are associated with adaptations. Statistical analyses reveal the perceived efficacy of communications as well as farmers’ relative closeness in the advice network to be positively associated with adaptation to drought. We identify a capacity for local actors to bridge information bottlenecks in the network and opportunities for institutions to enhance their dissemination of information to reach less networked farmers. We find that not all adaptations are perceived as effective against future drought and infer opportunities to support engagement with extension services, encourage the sharing of local knowledge and experience and devise policy and interventions to strengthen advice networks for more resilient agricultural systems.

This article is part of the Royal Society Science+ meeting issue ‘Drought risk in the Anthropocene’.
The economics of managing water crises
Authors: Barbier Edward B.
Published: October 2022

The growing risk of water crises, including drought, is one of the greatest challenges in the coming decades. Averting such crises will be especially daunting, given that they are just as much a failure of water management as they are a result of scarcity. A major shortcoming is the persistent
underpricing of water
. The increasing environmental and social costs associated with freshwater scarcity are not routinely reflected in markets. Nor have we developed adequate policies and institutions to handle these costs. This creates perverse incentives that fail to balance water exttraction with supply, protect freshwater ecosystems and generate water-saving innovations. However, drought is proving to be a catalyst for governance and policy reform, and steps can be taken to overcome the underpricing of water. Several examples are explored to illustrate the economic challenge. They include removing the barriers to water markets and trading, reallocating subsidies for water supply and sanitation to expand delivery in developing countries and reforming environmentally harmful irrigation and agricultural policies. The article also explains how ending underpricing can foster a comprehensive strategy for water-saving innovation that can ‘bend’ the global water use curve.

This article is part of the Royal Society Science+ meeting issue ‘Drought risk in the Anthropocene’.
Resilience to hydrological droughts in the northern Murray-Darling Basin, Australia
Authors: Quentin Grafton R. , Chu Long , Kingsford Richard T. , Bino Gilad , Williams John
Published: October 2022

We respond to the problem of declining streamflows in the northern Murray–Darling Basin, Australia, a region that suffers from hydrological droughts and a drying trend. We partitioned the effect of meteorological trends from anthropogenic drivers on annual streamflow, quantified the effect of annual streamflow decline on waterbird abundance, estimated the effects of streamflow change on a measure of ecosystem resilience, and calculated the net benefits of in-stream water reallocation. The anthropogenic drivers of hydrological droughts were assessed by comparing the Lower Darling (hereafter the Barka) River, which has large recorded water extractions, with the adjacent Paroo River, which has very little recorded water extractions. Findings include: (1) only about one-third of the recent reduced streamflow of the Barka River is due to a meteorological drying trend; (2) statistically significant declines in waterbird species richness and abundance have occurred on both rivers between 1983–2000 and 2001–2020; (3) declines in waterbird abundance have been much larger along the Barka River than the Paroo River; and (4) ecosystem resilience, as measured by waterbird abundance, wasgreater on the Paroo River. Our four-step framework is applicable in any catchment with adequate time-series data and supports adaptive responses to hydrological droughts.

This article is part of the Royal Society Science+ meeting issue ‘Drought risk in the Anthropocene’.
Drought risk in the Anthropocene: from the jaws of death to the waters of life
Authors: Bevan James
Published: October 2022

In this closing article, Sir James Bevan, Chief Executive of the Environment Agency, sets the scene on the Anthropocene: what this new epoch means for humans and nature, how we got here, and where we need to go next. This article sets out the alarming impact that the epoch's most distinctive feature, climate change caused by human activity, is having on drought risk and extreme weather. In response to these challenges, Sir James will review the progress made by world leaders at COP26, and set out what needs to happen next to mitigate the worst impacts of runaway climate change and to adapt to impacts that are irrevocable. In particular, he will examine what needs to be done to escape what in 2019 he called the ‘jaws of death’, the point on water companies' planning charts some 20 years from now where if we don't intervene water demand will outstrip supply. Sir James will set out what the Environment Agency is doing alongside business, government, civil society and what the Royal Society can do to help. Finally this article argues why we should be optimistic we can turn the climate crisis into an opportunity to create a better world.

This article is part of the Royal Society Science+ meeting issue ‘Drought risk in the Anthropocene’.
Impact of relative compensation to executive directors with marketing experience on marketing performance: toward an integrative framework
Authors: Sharma Piyush , Leung Tak Yan , Adithipyangkul Pattarin
Published: October 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to combine the agency theory and efficiency wage theory to explore the effects of relative compensation for executive directors with marketing experience on two marketing outcomes (marketing efficiency and market share) and the moderating roles of ownership type (private vs state-owned enterprises) and market concentration in this process.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 2,753 firm-year observations from Chinese listed companies (from 2010 to 2014) were retrieved from China Stock Market and Accounting Research database and analyzed using firm random-effects with industry, year and region fixed effects.

Findings

Relative compensation has a positive effect on both marketing efficiency and market share, and these effects are moderated by ownership type and market concentration. Specifically, the positive effect of relative compensation on marketing efficiency and market share are stronger for central state-owned enterprises (SOEs) compared to local SOEs and private-owned enterprises but the results are mixed for market concentration.

Research limitations/implications

This study shows that paying higher compensation to the executive directors with marketing experience can enhance marketing performance, but the data does not allow identification of the actual actions taken by these directors for this.

Practical implications

This study highlights the importance of appropriate compensation for directors with marketing experience to motivate them to make better marketing decisions to overcome the challenges posed by market concentration and agency conflicts.

Originality/value

This paper points out the importance of having directors with marketing experience and paying them suitable compensation to motivate them to be more effective.
Additive manufacture of ionic polymer–metal composite actuators using digital light processing techniques
Authors: Engel Kyle , Kilmartin Paul Andrew , Diegel Olaf
Published: October 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to develop a additive manufacturing (AM) process for the fabrication of ionic polymer–metal composite (IPMC) devices with complex designs that would be time-consuming to replicate using conventional manual methods. These IPMC devices have considerable potential in electroactive polymers (EAPs) and soft actuators.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents a novel three–dimensional (3D) AM technique to develop IPMCs. Digital light processing (DLP) fabrication of soft EAPs was undertaken using a vat-based AM method, followed by deposition of cost-effective outer silver electrodes.

Findings

DLP-fabricated devices were compared to conventional Nafion™-117 devices. DLP layer-by-layer fabrication of these devices allowed for good resolution for a range of printed objects. Electrical actuation of the DLP-produced IPMCs showed tip displacements of up to 3 mm, and greater actuation was seen in the presence of lithium rather than magnesium cations. The IMPCs showed good ion exchange capacities, while electrochemical analysis showed the reversible formation and removal of AgCl layers in addition to ion movement.

Practical implications

The AM of these devices allows for rapid prototyping as well as potential use in the development of multiple degrees of freedom actuators and devices.

Originality/value

An original resin formulation was developed for DLP 3D printing. This formula is chemically distinct from the conventional Nafion™-117 membranes that can be purchased. Additionally, this method allows for the manufacture of complex objects that would be difficult to machine by hand. These findings are of value to both the fields of polymer chemistry and AM.
Bacterioplankton dispersal and biogeochemical function across Alaskan Arctic catchments
Authors: Lee Raymond M. , Griffin Natasha , Jones Erin , Abbott Benjamin W. , Frei Rebecca J. , Bratsman Samuel , Proteau Mary , Errigo Isabella M. , Shogren Arial , Bowden William B. , Zarnetske Jay P. , Aanderud Zachary T.
Published: October 2022

In Arctic catchments, bacterioplankton are dispersed through soils and streams, both of which freeze and thaw/flow in phase, seasonally. To characterize this dispersal and its potential impact on biogeochemistry, we collected bacterioplankton and measured stream physicochemistry during snowmelt and after vegetation senescence across multiple stream orders in alpine, tundra, and tundra‐dominated‐by‐lakes catchments. In all catchments, differences in community composition were associated with seasonal thaw, then attachment status (i.e. free floating or sediment associated), and then stream order. Bacterioplankton taxonomic diversity and richness were elevated in sediment‐associated fractions and in higher‐order reaches during snowmelt. Families Chthonomonadaceae, Pyrinomonadaceae, and Xiphinematobacteraceae were abundantly different across seasons, while Flavobacteriaceae and Microscillaceae were abundantly different between free‐floating and sediment‐associated fractions. Physicochemical data suggested there was high iron (Fe+) production (alpine catchment); Fe+ production and chloride (Cl−) removal (tundra catchment); and phosphorus (SRP) removal and ammonium (NH4+) production (lake catchment). In tundra landscapes, these ‘hot spots’ of Fe+ production and Cl− removal accompanied shifts in species richness, while SRP promoted the antecedent community. Our findings suggest that freshet increases bacterial dispersal from headwater catchments to receiving catchments, where bacterioplankton‐mineral relations stabilized communities in free‐flowing reaches, but bacterioplankton‐nutrient relations stabilized those punctuated by lakes.
Detection and discrimination of sedative‐hypnotics in spiked beverage dry residues using attenuated total reflectance‐Fourier transform infrared (ATR‐FTIR) spectroscopy combined with chemometrics
Authors: Teoh Way Koon , Mohamed Sadiq Nabeesathul Sumayya , Saisahas Kasrin , Phonchai Apichai , Kunalan Vanitha , Md Muslim Noor Zuhartini , Limbut Warakorn , Abdullah Ahmad Fahmi Lim , Chang Kah Haw
Published: October 2022

Drugs‐facilitated crimes (DFCs) involve the incapacitation of victims under the influence of drugs. Conventionally, a drug administration act is often determined through the examination of biological samples; however, dry residues from any surface, such as drinking glass if related to a DFC could be a potential source of evidence. This study was aimed to establish an attenuated total reflectance‐Fourier transform infrared (ATR‐FTIR) spectroscopy coupled with chemometrics for the determination of spiked sedative‐hypnotics from dry residues of a drug‐spiked beverage. In this study, four sedative‐hypnotics, namely diazepam, ketamine, nimetazepam, and xylazine were examined using ATR‐FTIR spectroscopy. Subsequently, the ATR‐FTIR profiles were compared and decomposed by principal component analysis (PCA) followed by linear discriminant analysis (LDA) for their detection and discrimination. Visual comparison of ATR‐FTIR profiles revealed distinct spectra among the tested drugs. An initial unsupervised exploratory PCA model indicated the separation of four main sedative‐hypnotics clusters, and the proposed PCA score‐LDA model had allowed for a 100% accurate classification. Discrimination of sedative‐hypnotics from a dry beverage previously spiked with these drugs was also possible upon an additional extraction procedure. In conclusion, ATR‐FTIR coupled with PCA score‐LDA model was useful in detecting and discriminating sedative‐hypnotics, including those that had been previously spiked into a beverage.
Forensic authentication method for audio recordings generated by Voice Recorder application on Samsung Galaxy Watch4 series
Authors: Park Nam In , Lim Seong Ho , Byun Jun Seok , Kim Jin‐Hwan , Lee Ji Woo , Chun Chanjun , Kim Yonggang , Jeon Oc‐Yeub
Published: October 2022

The number of smartwatch users has been rapidly increasing in recent years. A smartwatch is a wearable device that collects various types of data using sensors and provides basic functions, such as healthcare‐related measurements and audio recording. In this study, we proposed the forensic authentication method for audio recordings from the Voice Recording application in the Samsung Galaxy Watch4 series. First, a total of 240 audio recordings from each of the four different models, paired with four different smartphones for synchronization via Bluetooth, were collected and verified. To analyze the characteristics of smartwatch audio recordings, we examined the transition of the audio latency, writable audio bandwidth, timestamps, and file structure between those generated in the smartwatches and those edited using the Voice Recording application of the paired smartphones. In addition, the devices with the audio recordings were examined via the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) tool and compared with the timestamps stored in the file system. The experimental results showed that the audio latency, writable audio bandwidth, and file structure of audio recordings generated by smartwatches differed from those generated by smartphones. Additionally, by analyzing the file structure, audio recordings can be classified as unmanipulated, manipulation has been attempted, or manipulated. Finally, we can forensically authenticate the audio recordings generated by the Voice Recorder application in the Samsung Galaxy Watch4 series by accessing the smartwatches and analyzing the timestamps related to the audio recordings in the file system.
Adsorptive cytapheresis for ulcerative colitis with focus on removing platelets and platelet‐aggregates
Authors: Schneider Matthias , Waitz Grit , Prophet Heinrich , Schober Hans‐Christof , Ramlow Wolfgang
Published: October 2022

Introduction

Platelet abnormalities and secondary thrombocytosis are clinical features of ulcerative colitis (UC) and seem to play a relevant role in pathogenesis. This work analyzed the adsorption characteristics of the adsorber Immunopure.

Methods

A prospective study was performed to investigate the module in vitro with blood from healthy donors in a down‐scaled recirculation model and in vivo in six patients suffering from UC. Furthermore, adsorber beads were investigated by immunofluorescence analyses. Apheresis was performed over 5 weeks at weekly intervals.

Results

In vitro as well as in vivo, the module showed a strong adsorption of platelets, monocytes, CD14+CD16+ monocytes, neutrophils, and platelet leukocyte aggregates (PLAs). Five of the six patients benefited from the treatment (83%), and four (67%) went into remission. On average, the CAI was reduced by 6.4 points.

Conclusion

Immunopure treatments improved the course of the disease and were well tolerated. The module strongly adsorbs platelets and platelet‐aggregates.
Another “education by stone”: An archaeological case study in Brazil's environmental law
Authors: Lesser Chris N.
Published: October 2022

Brazilian law protects environments understood to be the remnants of historical ecologies. This article uses oral histories, silicate plant fossils, and stable isotopes to excavate one such protected fragment of Brazil's Atlantic Forest. Located on a former plantation in the Paraíba Valley of Rio de Janeiro, a region central to state and market formation, and to Atlantic slavery in the nineteenth century, this “forest” contains ecological histories different from those encoded in environmental law. Rather than a legislative failure, this incongruence constitutes an important structural feature of the juridical authority that marginalizes embodied ways of learning about the environment. This fundamental tension, related to who can know this place and by what means, has important implications for understanding the social meanings of environmental politics in the Atlantic world, which emerged in the context of the abolition of slavery. Environmental laws provided means of claiming knowledge and control over spaces of social reproduction created by freedpersons post abolition, underwriting enduring forms of land and labor management. [environmental legislation, land conflict, plantations, race, Brazil]
Modern tools applied to classic structures: Approaches for mammalian male germ cell RNA granule research
Authors: Chukrallah Lauren G. , Snyder Elizabeth M.
Published: October 2022

First reported in the 1800s, germ cell granules are small nonmembrane bound RNA‐rich regions of the cytoplasm. These sites of critical RNA processing and storage in the male germ cell are essential for proper differentiation and development and are present in a wide range of species from Caenorhabditis elegans through mammals. Initially characterized by light and electron microscopy, more modern techniques such as immunofluorescence and genetic models have played a major role in expanding our understanding of the composition of these structures. While these methods have given light to potential granule functions, much work remains to be done. The current expansion of imaging technologies and omics‐scale analyses to germ cell granule research will drive the field forward considerably. Many of these methods, both current and upcoming, have considerable caveats and limitations that necessitate a holistic approach to the study of germ granules. By combining and balancing different techniques, the field is poised to elucidate the nature of these critical structures.
Biallelic variants in CEP164 cause a motile ciliopathy‐like syndrome
Authors: Devlin Laura A. , Coles Janice , Jackson Claire L. , Barroso‐Gil Miguel , Green Ben , Walker Woolf T. , Thomas N. Simon , Thompson James , Rock Simon A. , Neatu Ruxandra , Powell Laura , Molinari Elisa ,   Genomics England Research Consortium, Wilson Ian J. , Cordell Heather J. , Olinger Eric , Miles Colin G. , Sayer John A. , Wheway Gabrielle , Lucas Jane S.
Published: October 2022

Ciliopathies may be classed as primary or motile depending on the underlying ciliary defect and are usually considered distinct clinical entities. Primary ciliopathies are associated with multisystem syndromes typically affecting the brain, kidney, and eye, as well as other organ systems such as the liver, skeleton, auditory system, and metabolism. Motile ciliopathies are a heterogenous group of disorders with defects in specialised motile ciliated tissues found within the lung, brain, and reproductive system, and are associated with primary ciliary dyskinesia, bronchiectasis, infertility and rarely hydrocephalus. Primary and motile cilia share defined core ultra‐structures with an overlapping proteome, and human disease phenotypes can reflect both primary and motile ciliopathies. CEP164 encodes a centrosomal distal appendage protein vital for primary ciliogenesis. Human CEP164 mutations are typically described in patients with nephronophthisis‐related primary ciliopathies but have also been implicated in motile ciliary dysfunction. Here we describe a patient with an atypical motile ciliopathy phenotype and biallelic CEP164 variants. This work provides further evidence that CEP164 mutations can contribute to both primary and motile ciliopathy syndromes, supporting their functional and clinical overlap, and informs the investigation and management of CEP164 ciliopathy patients.
Management of copy number variants associated with incomplete penetrance and variable expressivity—Results of a French survey
Authors: Lejamtel Floriane , Oheix Cécile , Morales Elisa , Martinovic Jelena , Labrune Philippe , Petit François Mickaël , Receveur Aline , Achour‐Frydman Nelly , Benachi Alexandra , Puisney‐Dakhli Chloé , Vivanti Alexandre Joseph
Published: October 2022

Increasing interest regarding neurodevelopmental disorders and democratization of chromosomal microarray analysis have led to growing identification of neuro‐susceptibility copy number variations (CNVs). These CNVs have incomplete penetrance and variable expressivity (PIEV), which makes phenotypic features hard to predict. The French Consortium “AchroPuce” has provided a list of 17 CNVs that should be considered as PIEV CNVs. This list led to consensual French practices of healthcare professionals in postnatal diagnosis. However, no consensus was established in prenatal diagnosis and fetal pathology. 121 French health professionals were surveyed their opinions and practices regarding reporting of PIEV CNVs to patients, in order to identify key points so as to establish French recommendations. The survey showed that professionals in favor of reporting PIEV CNVs to patients in prenatal diagnosis and fetal pathology (respectively, 76% and 84% of respondents) considered highlighted that multidisciplinary consultation is the main point‐of‐care management before family survey. This statement is close to recommendations published worldwide. As a consequence, multidisciplinary expertise should be the basis of French recommendations concerning the reporting of PIEV CNVs and genetic counseling in prenatal diagnosis and fetal pathology.
A novel variant in AFF3 underlying isolated syndactyly
Authors: Khan Hammal , Koh Glenn , Chong Angie En Qi , Zahid Muhammad , Hussain Shabir , Ali Hamid , Ahmad Wasim , Xue Shifeng
Published: October 2022

Isolated syndactyly is a common limb malformation with limited known genetic etiology. We used exome sequencing to discover a novel heterozygous missense variant c.2915G > C: p.Arg972Pro in AFF3 on chromosome 2q11.2 in a family with isolated syndactyly in hands and feet. AFF3 belongs to a family of nuclear transcription activating factors and is involved in limb dorsoventral patterning. The variant Arg972Pro is located near the C terminus, a region that is yet to be associated with human disorders. Functional studies did not show a difference in the stability or subcellular localization of the mutant and wild type proteins. Instead, overexpression in zebrafish embryos suggests that Arg972Pro is a loss‐of‐function allele. These results suggest that variants in the C terminus of AFF3 may cause a phenotype distinct from previously characterized AFF3 variants.
Plasma metabolome of healthy and Rhodococcus equi‐infected foals over time
Authors: Sanclemente Jorge L. , Rivera‐Velez Sol M. , Horohov David W. , Dasgupta Nairanjana , Sanz Macarena G.
Published: October 2022

Background

Foals that develop pulmonary ultrasonographic lesions on Rhodococcus equi (R. equi) endemic farms are treated with antibiotics because those at risk of developing clinical pneumonia (~20%) cannot be recognised early. Candidate biomarkers identified using metabolomics may aid targeted treatment strategies against R. equi.

Objectives

(1) To describe how foal ageing affects their plasma metabolome (birth to 8 weeks) and (2) to establish the effects that experimental infection with Rhodococcus equi (R. equi) has on foal metabolome.

Study design

Experimental study.

Methods

Nine healthy newborn foals were experimentally infected with R. equi as described in a previous study. Foals were treated with oral antibiotics if they developed clinical pneumonia (n = 4, clinical group) or remained untreated if they showed no signs of disease (n = 5, subclinical group). A group of unchallenged foals (n = 4) was also included in the study. By the end of the study period (8 weeks), all foals were free of disease. This status was confirmed with transtracheal wash fluid evaluation and culture as well as thoracic ultrasonography. Plasma metabolomics was determined by GC–MS weekly for the study duration (8 weeks).

Results

Foals' plasma metabolome was altered by ageing (birth to 8 weeks) and experimental infection with R. equi as demonstrated using multivariate statistical analysis. The intensities of 25 and 28 metabolites were altered by ageing and infection (p < 0.05) respectively. Furthermore, 20 metabolites changed by more than 2‐fold between clinical and subclinical groups.

Main limitations

The number of foals is limited. Foals were experimentally infected with R. equi.

Conclusions

Ageing and R. equi infection induced changes in the plasma metabolome of foals. These results provide an initial description of foal's plasma metabolome and serve as background for future identification of R. equi pneumonia biomarkers.
Metabolic profiling and biochemical analysis of stored Hass avocado fruit by GC‐MS and UHPLC‐UV‐VIS revealed oxidative stress as the main driver of ‘blackspot’ physiological disorder
Authors: Uarrota Virgilio G. , Hernández Ignacia , Ponce Excequel , Bauer Claudia M. , Maraschin Marcelo , Pedreschi Romina
Published: October 2022

The goal of this study was to use GC‐MS and UHPLC‐UV‐VIS‐based metabolomic tools combined with chemometric analysis to discriminate between fruit with blackspot physiological disorder independently of storage condition (regular air or controlled atmosphere) and without blackspot (hereafter referred to as ‘Control’). The study looked at polar metabolites, enzymes, fatty acids and oxidative stress markers. Fruit with high levels of lenticel damage are more likely to develop blackspot, which appears to be exacerbated by H2O2 and peroxidation of lipids. Lower catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and phenylalanine‐ammonia lyase (PAL) activities together with lower levels of polyphenols (syringic acid, epigallocatechin, quercetin and vanillic) and fatty acids (linolenic, linoleic and palmitic acid), as well as ß‐sitosterol, methyl‐3‐hydroxybutyrate, glyceric acid, hydroxyl butanoic acid, L‐threonic acid, hydroxyl glutaric acid and xylose contributed to a higher prevalence of blackspot disorder in stored Hass avocados, which was accompanied by upregulation of soluble proteins. Finally, chemometric analysis revealed a positive relationship between blackspot disorder with gluconic, palmitoleic, galactose oxime, glyceric, hydroxyglutaric, MDA, syringic and oleic acid, as well as a negative relationship with catechin, epigallocatechin, SOD, CAT and tagatose. The study concluded that oxidative stress is the main driver of ‘Blackspot’ physiological disorder.
An immunogenetic investigation of 30 autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases and their links to psychiatric disorders in a nationwide sample
Authors: Nudel Ron , Allesøe Rosa Lundbye , Werge Thomas , Thompson Wesley K. , Rasmussen Simon , Benros Michael E.
Published: October 2022

Autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases (AIIDs) involve a deficit in an individual's immune system function, whereby the immune reaction is directed against self‐antigens. Many AIIDs have a strong genetic component, but they can also be triggered by environmental factors. AIIDs often have a highly negative impact on the individual's physical and mental wellbeing. Understanding the genetic underpinning of AIIDs is thus crucial both for diagnosis and for identifying individuals at high risk of an AIID and mental illness as a result thereof. The aim of the present study was to perform systematic statistical and genetic analyses to assess the role of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles in 30 AIIDs and to study the links between AIIDs and psychiatric disorders. We leveraged the Danish iPSYCH Consortium sample comprising 65 534 individuals diagnosed with psychiatric disorders or selected as part of a random population sample, for whom we also had genetic data and diagnoses of AIIDs. We employed regression analysis to examine comorbidities between AIIDs and psychiatric disorders and associations between AIIDs and HLA alleles across seven HLA genes. Our comorbidity analyses showed that overall AIID and five specific AIIDs were associated with having a psychiatric diagnosis. Our genetic analyses found 81 significant associations between HLA alleles and AIIDs. Lastly, we show connections across AIIDs, psychiatric disorders and infection susceptibility through network analysis of significant HLA associations in these disease classes. Combined, our results include both novel associations as well as replications of previously reported associations in a large sample, and highlight the genetic and epidemiological links between AIIDs and psychiatric disorders.
SiC nanograins stabilized Si–C–B–N fibers with ultrahigh‐temperature resistance
Authors: Tian Yuan , Long Xin , Shao Changwei , Wang Yingde
Published: October 2022

Continuous ceramic fibers with ultrahigh‐temperature stability are in high demand for applications in advanced space propulsion and thermal protection systems. In this study, SiC nanograins stabilized Si–C–B–N ceramic fibers were prepared using chemically modified polyborosilazane via a polymer‐derived method. The fabricated Si–C–B–N fibers exhibited a rather high tensile strength of approximately 1.8 GPa and a high strength retention of approximately 90% after annealing at 2100°C for 0.5 h under a nitrogen atmosphere. The ultrahigh‐temperature stability can be contributed to the presence of thermodynamically stable SiC nanograins and the encapsulation of SiC nanograins by the BN(C) phase and amorphous Si–C–B–N matrix. Our work offers a convenient strategy for preparing Si‐based ceramic fibers with ultrahigh‐temperature stability at beyond 2000°C.
Superiority of complete bi‐atrial ablation procedure for atrial fibrillation in rheumatic mitral valve disease
Authors: Li Haojie , Yu Chunyu , Gao Ge , Wang Shuiyun , Liu Sheng , Wang Xianqiang , Zheng Zhe
Published: October 2022

Introduction

The necessity of complete bi‐atrial lesion created by radiofrequency clamp and pen for nonparoxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease (RMVD) remains unclear.

Methods

From January 2014 to December 2018, patients with RMVD concomitant with nonparoxysmal AF who underwent mitral valve surgery concomitant surgical ablation were retrospectively enrolled. We divided patients into Group A (complete bi‐atrial lesion set created by radiofrequency clamp and pen) and Group B (simplified lesion sets created by radiofrequency clamp alone including bi‐atrial ablation with incomplete mitral isthmus line and stand‐alone left atrial ablation) according to the surgical ablation lesion sets. Propensity score matching was applied to analyze freedom from atrial tachyarrhythmias between the two groups.

Results

Two hundred eight (38.5%) and 332 (61.5%) patients were divided into Group A and Group B, respectively. In Group B, the proportion of patients with recurrent atrial flutter in the subgroup of bi‐atrial ablation with incomplete mitral isthmus line was higher than that in Group A (p = .044). After propensity score matching, there were 203 patients in each group. Better freedom from atrial tachyarrhythmias without antiarrhythmic drugs was obtained in Group A (83.1%, 79.6%, and 65.4%) than Group B (73.1%, 68.4%, and 52.7%) at 12, 36, and 60 months after operation (p = .012).

Conclusion

The application of radiofrequency clamp and pen to create complete bi‐atrial lesion set in surgical ablation for nonparoxysmal AF in RMVD was associated with superior long‐term efficacy.
Review of the spotted lizard loaches, Pseudohomaloptera (Cypriniformes: Balitoridae) with a re‐description of Pseudohomaloptera sexmaculata and description of a new species from Sumatra
Authors: Randall Zachary S. , Somarriba Gabriel A. , Tongnunui Sampan , Page Lawrence M.
Published: October 2022

A review of the six recognized species of Pseudohomaloptera is provided. Counts in the original description of Pseudohomaloptera sexmaculata Fowler (1934) were incorrect and led to confusion in identifying populations of Pseudohomaloptera in mainland Southeast Asia, and the species is re‐described. The validity of Homaloptera septemmaculata Fowler (1934) is investigated and confirmed as a junior synonym of P. sexmaculata. P. sexmaculata and Pseudohomaloptera leonardi, similar morphologically and often misidentified, are widely distributed in mainland Southeast Asia, with P. sexmaculata in the Chao Phraya, Mae Klong and Pran Buri River basins, and P. leonardi in the Malay Peninsula and the Chao Phraya and Mekong River basins. Pseudohomaloptera yunnanensis and Pseudohomaloptera vulgaris have been reported from the Mekong basin of Thailand and Laos but appear to be restricted to Yunnan Province, China. A new species of Pseudohomaloptera is described from Sumatra. This is the southern‐most species and first record for the genus from the Indonesian island. An identification key is provided for all species of the genus.
Multifamily therapy in the community mental health network: A pragmatic randomized and controlled study
Authors: Domínguez Vázquez Iria , Nuño Gómez Laura , Freixa Fontanals Neus , Hidalgo Arjona Carmen , Cervera Gemma , Corominas Díaz Antoni , Balcells‐Oliveró Mercè
Published: October 2022

Multifamily therapy (MFT) is a psychotherapeutic group intervention for patients with severe mental disorders (SMDs) and their families. The present study is a multicenter, randomized, and controlled trial that analyzes the benefit of MFT during outpatient treatment. The recruited patients were randomly assigned to the experimental group (n = 26), which received 24 MFT sessions in addition to their treatment as usual (TAU), or to the control group (n = 29), which received only TAU (individual and family sessions). Six months after the inclusion in the MFT, the experimental group showed a significant decrease in number of visits to the psychiatric emergency services, number of psychiatric admissions, and the days of admission. The need for hospital care 6 months after recruitment was also lower in the experimental group compared to the control group. These results suggest that the implementation of MFT during outpatient treatment facilitates community management of people diagnosed with mental health problems.
Comparison of mouth rinsing performance between adults and children using a contactless vital sensing camera
Authors: Kanada Hisako , Yamamoto Yushi , Sato Hideo , Chinju Kohei , Ariyasu Yuichi , Kawaji Maria , Iwashita Yoichiro , Hashiguchi Makiko , Yamasaki Youichi
Published: October 2022

Background

Evaluating mouth rinsing skills is useful for assessing oral function, however current evaluation methods are subjective.

Objectives

This study compared mouth rinsing between adults and children using a contactless camera to capture lip motion.

Methods

The subjects comprised 16 adults and 13 children with no oral dysfunction. A compact vital sensing camera adapted from a Microsoft Xbox One Kinect Sensor® (Kinect) was placed 100 cm from the floor and 120 cm from the subject; 5, 10 and 15 ml of water were used as samples. Participants were instructed to hold the sample in the oral cavity, close the lips and move the sample alternatively left and right for 15 s. Maximum/minimum displacement from the reference plane and rinsing cycle for each sample were analysed by one‐way analysis of variance.

Results

In adults, there was no significant difference in the maximum/minimum displacement between the left and right sides of the angulus oris due to differences in sample amount. In children, the right maximum significantly differed between the 5‐ and 15‐ml and 10‐ and 15‐ml samples, while the left maximum significantly differed between the 5‐ and 10‐ml and 5‐ and 15‐ml samples. The right minimum significantly differed between the 5‐ and 10‐ml samples, as did the duration of mouth rinsing between the 5‐ and 15‐ml samples.

Conclusions

In children, lip movement and mouth rinsing duration tended to decrease with increasing sample volume. Evaluating lip movement using a contactless vital sensing camera is useful for assessing children's development of oral function.
Silmitasertib, a casein kinase 2 inhibitor, induces massive lipid droplet accumulation and nonapoptotic cell death in head and neck cancer cells
Authors: Su Ying‐Wen , Huang Wen‐Yu , Lin Huan‐Chau , Liao Po‐Nien , Lin Ching‐Yung , Lin Xiang‐Yu , Huang Sing‐Han , Chen Yi‐Ting , Wu Pao‐Shu
Published: October 2022

Background

Accumulating evidence shows that high expression of casein kinase 2 (CK2) and phosphorylated acetyl CoA carboxylase (pACC) in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) correlates with decreased survival rates. Computational analysis has shown that ACC is a potential substrate for CK2, and its inhibition can suppress ACC phosphorylation in vitro. CX‐4945, also known as silmitasertib, is an orally administered, highly specific, ATP‐competitive inhibitor of CK2 and is under clinical investigation as a treatment for malignancies. We hypothesize that inhibition of CK2 by CX‐4945 can reduce CK2‐downstream phosphorylation of ACC as a therapeutic strategy against SCCHN.

Methods

Three aggressive SCCHN cell lines (OSC‐19, FaDu and HN31) were cultured to investigate the anticancer mechanism of the CK2 inhibitor, CX‐4945. Cell cycle analysis, Annexin V/PI staining, and cleavage of PARP were performed to detect apoptosis. Western blot, electron microscopy and analysis of acidic vesicular organelle development were used to detect autophagy. Interference with cellular metabolism by CX‐4945 treatment was determined by Seahorse XF24 Extracellular Flux Analyzer and mass spectrometry.

Results

Cellular metabolism was impeded by CX‐4945 in aggressive SCCHN cells by Seahorse XF24 Extracellular Flux Analyzer and mass spectrometry, and consequently time‐ and dose‐dependent lipid droplet accumulation and non‐apoptotic cell death were observed. The lipogenic enzyme ACC was demonstrated to be associated with CK2, and its repressive phosphorylation could be removed by the CK2 inhibitor CX‐4945. Overexpression of ACC resulted in impaired cell survival following transient transfection.

Conclusion

The findings demonstrate that CK2 inhibition impairs normal cellular energy metabolism and may be an attractive therapy for treating aggressive SCCHN.
Beyond the brain localization of complex traits: Distributed white matter markers of personality
Authors: Stendel Moriah S. , Chavez Robert S.
Published: October 2022

Objective

Extensive work in personality neuroscience has shown mixed results in the ability to localize reliable relationships between personality traits and neuroimaging measures. However, recent work in translational neuroimaging has recognized that multifaceted psychological dispositions are not represented in discrete, highly localized brain areas. As such, standard univariate neuroimaging analyses may not be well‐suited for capturing broad personality traits supported by distributed networks.

Method

The present study uses an out‐of‐sample predictive modeling approach to identify multivariate signatures of Big Five personality traits within the structural integrity of white matter pathways using diffusion magnetic resonance imaging. In Study 1 (N = 491), we trained a ridge regression model to predict each of the Big Five traits and tested these models in an independent hold‐out subsample.

Results

We found that models for both Neuroticism and Openness were significantly related to predictive accuracy in the hold‐out sample. Study 2 (N = 108) applied Study 1's predictive models to an independent set of data collected on a different scanner and using a different Big Five scale. Here, we found that the model for Neuroticism remained a significant predictor of individual difference.

Conclusion

Our findings provide evidence that this white matter signature of Neuroticism generalizes across differences in measurement and samples.