bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prognostic factors and survival outcome of primary pulmonary acinar cell carcinoma
Authors: Meng Fan‐jie , Sun Zhao‐nan , Wang Zhi‐Na , Ma Hong‐Ming , Zhang Wen‐cheng , Gao Zhou‐yong , Ji Lin‐lin , Feng Fu‐kai , Yang Bo , Wang Chun‐yang , Chen Zi‐yi , Zhang Nan , Wang Guang‐shun
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The objective of our study was to investigate the epidemiologic characteristics and prognostic factors in patients with pulmonary acinar cell carcinoma (PACC).

Methods

PACC patients diagnosed between 1975 and 2016 were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. The trend in PACC incidence was assessed using joinpoint regression software. Overall survival (OS) and disease‐specific survival (DSS) were evaluated using the Kaplan–Meier method and log‐rank test. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed to identify the independent prognostic factors for OS and DSS. Nomograms to predict survival possibilities were constructed based on the identified independent prognostic factors.

Results

A total of 2918 patients were identified with PACC. The mean age was 65.2 ± 8.95 years with a female to male of 1.6:1. The incidence of PACC steadily increased by an annual percentage change (APC) of 3.2% (95% CI 2.1–4.4, p < 0.05). Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that age, gender, race, stage, grade, tumor size, number of positive lymph nodes, surgery, and chemotherapy were independent prognostic factors for survival. Nomograms specifically for PACC were constructed to predict 1‐ and 5‐year OS and DSS possibility, respectively. The concordance index (C‐index) and calibration plots showed the established nomograms had robust and accurate performance.

Conclusion

PACC was rare but the incidence has been steadily increasing over the past four decades. Survival has improved in recent years. Surgery or chemotherapy could provide better OS and DSS. The established nomograms specifically for PACC were robust and accurate in predicting 1‐ and 5‐year OS and DSS.
Building ecological networks with local ecological knowledge in hyper‐diverse and logistically challenging ecosystems
Authors: Ong Lisa , Campos‐Arceiz Ahimsa , Loke Vivienne P. W. , Pura Param bin , Tunil Charang Muhamad Tauhid bin , Din Husin Sudin A/L , Angah Rizuan bin , Amirrudin Nurul Ain binti , Tan Wei Harn , Lily Ong , Solana‐Mena Alicia , McConkey Kim R.
Published: August 2021

Collecting interaction data to build frugivory or seed dispersal networks is logistically challenging in ecosystems that have very high plant and animal diversity and/or where fieldwork is difficult or dangerous. Consequently, the majority of available networks are from ecosystems with low species diversity or they represent a subset of the community.

Here, we propose an approach applying local ecological knowledge (LEK) of indigenous communities to build quantitative interaction databases and networks that would otherwise be difficult to achieve with direct observations. Indigenous communities live in many hyper‐diverse ecosystems and the people within these communities often have detailed knowledge of ecological processes.

Working in a Sundaland biodiversity hotspot—Royal Belum State Park, Peninsular Malaysia—we used visually oriented interviews with indigenous people (Orang Asli, in the Jahai and Temiar ethnic subgroups), field data and published records to collate interactions, and their estimated frequency of occurrence, of animal fruit consumption and seed dispersal.

We documented 2,063 fruit consumption and 1,360 seed dispersal interactions among 164 plant species and 34 animal taxa, the latter representing groups of closely related species or individual species. The majority of the interactions (97%) were identified by the LEK interviews, with the additional methods (field data and published records) used to support and marginally expand the interview data. The metrics for the networks we built reflect those of networks structured by biological mechanisms, supporting the validity of our novel approach.

LEK is highly relevant for building detailed databases for ecological interactions in hyper‐diverse and/or challenging ecosystems. Such ecosystems are among the most vulnerable on earth, harbouring ecological interactions that are often poorly documented at a community level. We show how LEK can broaden our knowledge of such sensitive ecosystems, but our approach is useful for any ecosystem in which people hold rich LEK.
TAPER: Pinpointing errors in multiple sequence alignments despite varying rates of evolution
Authors: Zhang Chao , Zhao Yiming , Braun Edward L. , Mirarab Siavash
Published: August 2021

Erroneous data can creep into sequence datasets for reasons ranging from contamination to annotation and alignment mistakes and reduce the accuracy of downstream analyses. As datasets keep getting larger, it has become difficult to check multiple sequence alignments visually for errors, and thus, automatic error detection methods are needed more than ever before. Alignment masking methods, which are widely used, remove entire aligned sites and may reduce signal as much as or more than they reduce the noise.

The alternative we propose here is a surprisingly under‐explored approach: looking for errors in small species‐specific stretches of the multiple sequence alignments. We introduce a method called TAPER that uses a novel two‐dimensional outlier detection algorithm. Importantly, TAPER adjusts its null expectations per site and species, and in doing so, it attempts to distinguish the real heterogeneity (signal) from errors (noise).

Our results show that TAPER removes very little data yet finds much of the error. The effectiveness of TAPER depends on several properties of the alignment (e.g. evolutionary divergence levels) and the errors (e.g. their length).

By enabling data clean up with minimal loss of signal, TAPER can improve downstream analyses such as phylogenetic reconstruction and selection detection. Data errors, small or large, can reduce confidence in the downstream results, and thus, eliminating them can be beneficial even when downstream analyses are not impacted.
Inferring species absence from zero‐sighting records using analytical Bayesian models with population growth
Authors: Barnes Belinda , Giannini Fiona , Parsa Mahdi , Ramsey David
Published: August 2021

The eradication of invasive species and surveillance to detect new incursions are important for protecting native biodiversity and agricultural productivity, and are being applied across increasingly large areas due to improvements in eradication tools and funding commitments. For an effective and cost‐efficient assessment of eradication success or population absence, quantitative frameworks play a critical role, with many current methods relying on Bayesian stochastic models to simulate the monitoring and detection processes.

While flexible, Bayesian simulation models of monitoring systems can be computationally expensive, particularly when applied over large areas or when trying to capture rare events. In addition, it can be difficult to gain insight into system behaviour from large simulation models. Here, we develop analytical solutions for the posterior distributions of these simulation models and derive expressions for statistics of interest, such as the probability of pest absence and population size, given no detections.

Solutions are fast and simple to apply and explicitly expose the nonlinear interactions between system drivers—prior assumptions, population growth and detection processes. Using an example application, we demonstrate that solutions are equivalent to published simulation results, with the potential to simplify and extend current analysis. We also show that model results without population growth, results with deterministic growth and results with stochastic growth can be quite different, with the potential to affect management decisions.

Analytical solutions for the posterior distributions of these Bayesian models offer a powerful and efficient means of assessing population absence following eradication or surveillance programmes, which complements current simulation‐based methods.
Association of malignant neoplasms with semen quality in Guangdong province, China: A propensity score matching analysis
Authors: Fan Zhaoyu , Wang Qiling , Xu Ruijun , Wang Yaqi , Liu Tingting , Li Yingxin , Duan Yonggang , Liu Yuewei , Zhang Xinzong
Published: August 2021

Background

Previous studies have reported lower semen quality in malignant neoplasm patients before antineoplastic treatments, but the adverse effects of malignant neoplasms on semen quality have rarely been quantitatively evaluated. In addition, due to the lack of a comparable control group and limited types of studied malignant neoplasms, the results remain inconsistent and inconclusive.

Objectives

To quantitatively evaluate the potential adverse effects of specific malignant neoplasms on semen quality.

Materials and methods

We conducted a cross‐sectional study to investigate 445 malignant neoplasm patients undergoing sperm cryopreservation for fertility preservation in Guangdong province, China during 2016–2019. A propensity score matching method was used to select a comparable control group from 9170 sperm donation volunteers. Each subject was analyzed for semen quality. Multivariate linear regression models were employed to assess the association between malignant neoplasm and semen quality.

Results

Using the propensity score matching method, 413 (92.8%) malignant neoplasm patients were successfully matched with 798 sperm donation volunteers. Overall, malignant neoplasms were significantly associated with a 0.3 ml, 17.1 × 106/ml, 67.6 × 106, 9.8%, 10.2%, and 6.4% reduction in semen volume, sperm concentration, total sperm number, total motility, progressive motility, and normal forms, respectively. Malignant neoplasm of testis, nasopharynx and digestive organs, Hodgkin lymphoma, non‐Hodgkin lymphoma, and leukemia were significantly associated with a reduction in sperm motility and normal forms, while malignant neoplasm of testis, Hodgkin lymphoma, and leukemia were also significantly associated with reduced sperm concentration and/or total sperm number. The reduction in sperm concentration and total sperm number associated with malignant neoplasms was significantly greater in subjects < 30 years.

Discussion and conclusion

We found that malignant neoplasms were significantly associated with a reduction in semen quality, which varied across the type of malignant neoplasms. Our results highlight the needs to examine semen quality for young malignant neoplasm patients, especially those who are expected to conceive.
Punishment mechanisms and cooperation in public goods games: Experimental evidence
Authors: Peng Hui‐Chun
Published: August 2021

This paper proposes the majority‐voting punishment mechanism and compares its effect on the contribution decision with other punishment mechanisms when individuals have homogeneous or heterogeneous marginal per capita returns on public goods. The experimental results show that if individuals are homogeneous, the majority‐voting punishment mechanism is an alternative to encourage cooperation and reduce antisocial punishment. But, if individuals are heterogeneous, the individual and majority‐voting punishment mechanisms are similarly effective in promoting cooperation in the organization. Furthermore, whatever punishment mechanism is implemented, organizations should pay attention to the problem of antisocial punishment.
Regulatory authority and clinical acceptability: Physicians' responses to regulatory drug safety warnings
Authors: Bhasale Alice L. , Sarpatwari Ameet , Lipworth Wendy , Møllebæk Mathias , McEwin Eliza J. , Gautam Nileesa , Santiago Ortiz Adrian , Mintzes Barbara J.
Published: August 2021

Aims

Medicines regulators issue post‐market safety warnings to advise of newly uncovered risks, but with mixed impacts. We aimed to identify factors influencing the use of regulatory warnings by primary care and specialist physicians in the US and Australia.

Methods

Semi‐structured qualitative interviews were carried out with 40 primary care physicians, endocrinologists and other generalist specialists in Boston (USA) and Australia. Coding and analysis were performed inductively and iteratively to identify and examine key factors. Analysis centred around four areas: physicians' awareness of drug safety information, preferred information sources, opinion‐forming and sharing of information with patients.

Results

Uncertainty, trust and clinical authority emerged as factors influencing use of advisories. Although regulators were trusted as authoritative institutions, they appeared to lack clinical authority, and physicians validated regulatory information against other trusted sources including evidence, expert opinion and experience. Specialists became aware of drug safety issues through specialised literature, using evidence and clinical consensus to form opinions. Primary care physicians, fielding high volumes of information, relied on convenient, accessible information sources including the media and the “clinical grapevine” for awareness, and on clinical colleagues, specialists and experience for interpretation. Communicating risk to patients was complicated by uncertainty; physicians tailored information to patients' health literacy and information needs. US physicians were more aware of their national regulator's post‐market safety role than Australian physicians of theirs.

Conclusion

Drug safety warnings may not be optimally received or used. Regulators should consider strategies that increase trust, clinical relevance and accessibility, and address physicians' needs in communicating risk to patients.
Saving lives through early diagnosis: the promise and role of point of care testing for sickle cell disease
Authors: Dexter Daniel , McGann Patrick T.
Published: August 2021

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a devastating and under‐recognised global child health issue affecting over 300,000 infants annually, with the highest prevalence in India and sub‐Saharan Africa. Most affected infants born in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMIC) lack access to SCD testing and die from complications in the first years of life without a formal diagnosis. The majority of deaths are preventable with early diagnosis and provision of inexpensive interventions. Despite global recognition of the urgent need, expansion of SCD newborn screening (NBS) programmes beyond the pilot stage has been obstructed by a dependence on an expensive and logistically challenging centralised laboratory testing model. Recently, several point‐of‐care tests (POCT) for SCD have been developed with promising field validation studies. Here, we summarise the state of POCT for SCD, review barriers and unanswered questions, and discuss optimal strategies for utilising POCT to address the growing global burden of SCD. There is an urgent need to prospectively evaluate the ability of POCT to reduce the morbidity and high early mortality of SCD. To impact a sustainable reduction to this end, it is essential to link a diagnosis with comprehensive SCD care, including wide and affordable access to affordable hydroxycarbamide therapy.
Disease outcomes and biomarkers of progression in smouldering Waldenström macroglobulinaemia
Authors: Zanwar Saurabh , Abeykoon Jithma P. , Ansell Stephen M. , Gertz Morie A. , Colby Colin , Larson Dirk , Paludo Jonas , He Rong , Warsame Rahma , Greipp Patricia T. , King Rebecca L. , Thompson Carrie A. , Witzig Thomas E. , Lacy Martha Q. , Gonsalves Wilson , Nowakowski Grzegorz S. , Dingli David , Go Ronald S. , Habermann Thomas M. , Vincent Rajkumar S. , Kyle Robert A. , Kumar Shaji , Kapoor Prashant
Published: August 2021

Patients with asymptomatic/smouldering Waldenström macroglobulinaemia (SWM) have a variable risk of progression to active WM. Our study evaluated 143 patients with SWM consecutively seen between January 1996 and December 2013. With a median [95% confidence interval (CI)] follow‐up of 9·5 [8·1–11·5] years, the cumulative rate of progression was 11% at 1 year, 38% at 3 years and 55% at 5 years. On multivariate analysis, haemoglobin (Hb) ≤123 g/l [risk ratio (RR) 2·08; P = 0·009] and β2‐microglobulin (β2M) ≥2·7 µg/ml (RR 2·0; P = 0·01) were independent predictors of a shorter time‐to‐progression (TTP) to active WM. Patients with myeloid differentiation factor 88 wild type (MYD88WT) genotype (n = 11) demonstrated a trend toward shorter TTP [median (95% CI) 1·7 (0·7–8·7) vs. 4·7 (2·4–7·7) years for the MYD88L265P cohort, n = 42; P = 0·11]. The presence of C‐X‐C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) mutation (n = 29) did not impact the TTP (median: 3 years for CXCR4WT vs. 5·6 years for CXCR4MUT, P = 0·34). The overall survival (OS) for patients with SWM (median: 18·1 years) was comparable to an age‐, sex‐ and calendar year‐matched USA population (median: 20·3 years, P = 0·502). In conclusion, Hb and β2M at diagnosis represent independent predictors of progression to active WM. Comparable survival of SWM and a matched USA population argues against pre‐emptive intervention in this patient population.
Recurrent bacterial infections, but not fungal infections, characterise patients with ELANE‐related neutropenia: a French Severe Chronic Neutropenia Registry study
Authors: Rotulo Gioacchino A. , Plat Geneviève , Beaupain Blandine , Blanche Stéphane , Moshous Despina , Sicre de Fontbrune Flore , Leblanc Thierry , Renard Cécile , Barlogis Vincent , Vigue Marie‐Gabrielle , Freycon Claire , Piguet Christophe , Pasquet Marlène , Fieschi Claire , Abou‐Chahla Wadih , Gandemer Virginie , Rialland Fanny , Millot Frédéric , Marie‐Cardine Aude , Paillard Catherine , Levy Pacifique , Aladjidi Nathalie , Biosse‐Duplan Martin , Bellanné‐Chantelot Christine , Donadieu Jean ,   the French Severe Chronic Neutropenia Registry
Published: August 2021

Among 143 patients with elastase, neutrophil‐expressed (ELANE)‐related neutropenia enrolled in the French Severe Chronic Neutropenia Registry, 94 were classified as having severe chronic neutropenia (SCN) and 49 with cyclic neutropenia (CyN). Their infectious episodes were classified as severe, mild or oral, and analysed according to their natural occurrence without granulocyte‐colony stimulating factor (G‐CSF), on G‐CSF, after myelodysplasia/acute leukaemia or after haematopoietic stem‐cell transplantation. During the disease’s natural history period (without G‐CSF; 1913 person‐years), 302, 957 and 754 severe, mild and oral infectious events, respectively, occurred. Among severe infections, cellulitis (48%) and pneumonia (38%) were the most common. Only 38% of episodes were microbiologically documented. The most frequent pathogens were Staphylococcus aureus (37·4%), Escherichia coli (20%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (16%), while fungal infections accounted for 1%. Profound neutropenia (<200/mm3), high lymphocyte count (>3000/mm3) and neutropenia subtype were associated with high risk of infection. Only the p.Gly214Arg variant (5% of the patients) was associated with infections but not the overall genotype. The first year of life was associated with the highest infection risk throughout life. G‐CSF therapy achieved lower ratios of serious or oral infectious event numbers per period but was less protective for patients requiring >10 µg/kg/day. Infections had permanent consequences in 33% of patients, most frequently edentulism.
The incidence and type of cancer in patients with ataxia‐telangiectasia via a retrospective single‐centre study
Authors: Bakhtiar Shahrzad , Salzmann‐Manrique Emilia , Donath Helena , Woelke Sandra , Duecker Ruth P. , Fritzemeyer Stefanie , Schubert Ralf , Huenecke Sabine , Kieslich Matthias , Klingebiel Thomas , Bader Peter , Zielen Stefan
Published: August 2021

Ataxia‐telangiectasia (A‐T) is a hereditary immune system disorder with neurodegeneration. Its first neurologic symptoms include ataxic gait in early childhood, with slowly progressive cerebellar ataxia, oculomotor apraxia, oculocutaneous telangiectasia, and progressive muscle weakness. Neonatal screening for severe T‐cell deficiency was recently found to diagnose A‐T patients with a significantly reduced naïve T‐cell pool. Our study includes 69 A‐T patients between 8 January 2002 and 1 December 2019. Nineteen cases of cancer were diagnosed in 17 patients (25%), with a median overall survival [OS; 95% cumulative indcidence (CI)] of 26·9 years for the entire cohort. The 15‐year OS of 82·5% (72–95%) was significantly decreased among A‐T patients with malignancies, who had a median OS of 2·11 years, with a two‐year‐estimated OS of 50·7% (31–82%). Haematological malignancies were the major causes of death within the initial years of life with a 15 times increased risk for death [HR (95% CI): 6·9 (3·1–15.2), P < 0·001] upon malignancy diagnosis. Male patients with A‐T are at a higher cancer risk than their female counterparts. This manuscript highlights the need for cancer surveillance and prevention, as well as optimal treatment in this cohort.
Dissimilarities in species assemblages among Amazonian mineral licks
Authors: Griffiths Brian M. , Cooper William Justin , Bowler Mark , Gilmore Michael P. , Luther David
Published: August 2021

Mineral lick elevation, size, and distance to the closest human community are all associated with mammal and bird species visitations. The most frequently hunted licks have similar species assemblages. Results indicate high variability in species assemblages at different mineral licks suggesting different species‐specific resource needs at different licks.

Abstract in Spanish is available with online material.
SHARPIN regulates the development of clear cell renal cell carcinoma by promoting von Hippel‐Lindau protein ubiquitination and degradation
Authors: Yin Rusha , Liu Shuai
Published: August 2021

SHANK‐associated RH domain interacting protein (SHARPIN) plays an important role in carcinogenesis, as well as inflammation and immunity. Our study explored the effects and underlying mechanisms of SHARPIN in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). By analyzing The Cancer Genome Atlas database, we found that upregulated SHARPIN in patients with ccRCC led to a poor prognosis. Semiquantitative immunohistochemical analysis of clinical samples was carried out and the results suggested the positive association between SHARPIN and hypoxia‐induced factor‐2α (HIF‐2α). Von Hippel‐Lindau protein (pVHL) is a tumor suppressor that contributes to degrading HIF‐2α. Mechanically, SHARPIN promoted the ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of pVHL, resulting in the sustained activation of HIF‐2α. The α and β domains of pVHL and ubiquitin‐like domain of SHARPIN are required for the interaction. The knockdown of SHARPIN effectively inhibited acquired sorafenib resistance in ccRCC cell lines and tumor growth in xenograft models. In conclusion, our work reveals a novel posttranslational regulation of SHARPIN on pVHL, indicating that SHARPIN could be a potential target for ccRCC treatment.
Smoke Gets in the Eye: A systematic review of case reports of ocular complications of crack cocaine use
Authors: Gohil Hemant , Miskovic Miroslav , Buxton Jane A. , Holland Simon P. , Strike Carol
Published: August 2021

Issues

Use of crack cocaine and associated medical complications persists globally. Some reports in medical literature describe a sight‐threatening condition commonly referred to as ‘crack eye’ or ‘crack eye syndrome’. The purpose of this review is to describe what is known about crack eye from case reports in peer‐reviewed literature.

Approach

A structured search was completed in MEDLINE, TOXLINE, EMBASE, PsychInfo, Scopus and Biomed Central, to collect case reports and case series on corneal complications attributed to crack cocaine smoking.

Key Findings

Of 111 articles screened, 11 contained case reports or series. Thirty individual cases of ‘crack eye’ were reported. The majority (63%) of cases had bilateral involvement; 83% of all cases with microbial culture results had corneal infections. Aggressive treatment caused an improvement in 95% of all cases and 23% of all cases were lost to follow up. Of those who received treatment for corneal complications associated with crack cocaine, 22% remained with significant visual impairment (hand motions only) in the affected eye.

Implications

Clinicians should consider crack cocaine involvement in patients presenting with corneal disease without known predisposing factors, and elicit comprehensive drug histories to prevent a reduction in visual acuity.

Conclusion

Corneal complications of crack cocaine smoking are caused by a number of synergistic factors, including direct toxicity of crack cocaine vapours to surface cells, impairment of neurogenic support to corneal epithelial integrity, desiccation of the eye surface due to diminished blinking reflex, low level chemical burns and mechanical denudement of surface cells through eye rubbing.
Piscine predation on juvenile salmon in sub‐arctic Alaskan rivers: Associations with season, habitat, predator size and streamflow
Authors: Schoen Erik R. , Sellmer Kristen W. , Wipfli Mark S. , López Juan A. , Ivanoff Renae , Meyer Benjamin E.
Published: August 2021

Predation on anadromous salmon can have important consequences for both predators and prey. Salmon provide large seasonal pulses of energy and nutrients via carcasses, eggs and juveniles to many freshwater consumers, and conversely, predation can represent a significant source of mortality for juvenile salmon. Recent declines of Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) populations in Alaska have raised concern that predation might inhibit their recovery. Here, we quantify patterns of predation by freshwater fishes on juvenile salmon across seasons, habitats, predator sizes and streamflow levels in the Arctic‐Yukon‐Kuskokwim region of Alaska. We analysed piscivore stomach contents and identified prey using DNA sequence “barcoding.” In coastal rivers, juvenile pink (O. gorbuscha) and chum (O. keta) salmon contributed heavily to Arctic grayling (Thymallus arcticus) and Dolly Varden char (Salvelinus malma) diets, coho salmon (O. kisutch) prey were rare, and Chinook salmon were not detected. In interior rivers, Arctic grayling, burbot (Lota lota) and northern pike (Esox lucius) consumed small numbers of Chinook salmon. Predation on Chinook salmon was documented disproportionately in sloughs during a summer of exceptionally high streamflow. Dietary and distributional patterns suggested northern pike and burbot may exclude salmon from sloughs in low‐gradient river reaches that would otherwise provide suitable rearing habitat. The data also provided tentative support for the hypothesis that high streamflow induces juvenile Chinook salmon to move from mainstem habitats into sloughs, where they face an increased risk of mortality. Incorporating predation risk into climate adaptation, fisheries management and habitat restoration decisions may help to facilitate Chinook salmon recovery.
Quantifying the energetic cost of food quality constraints on resting metabolism to integrate nutritional and metabolic ecology
Authors: Ruiz Thomas , Koussoroplis Apostolos‐Manuel , Danger Michael , Aguer Jean‐Pierre , Morel‐Desrosiers Nicole , Bec Alexandre
Published: August 2021

Consumer metabolism controls the energy uptake from the environment and its allocation to biomass production. In natural ecosystems, available energy in food often fails to predict biomass production which is also (co)limited by the relative availability of various dietary compounds. To date, the link between energy metabolism and the effects of food chemical composition on biomass production remains elusive. Here, we measured the resting metabolic rate (RMR) of Daphnia magna along ontogeny when undergoing various (non‐energetic) nutritional constraints. All types of dietary (co)limitations (Fatty acids, Sterols, Phosphorus) induced an increase in mass‐specific RMR up to 128% between highest and lowest quality diets. We highlight a strong negative correlation between RMR and growth rate indicating RMR as a promising predictor of consumer growth rate. We argue that quantifying the energetic cost imposed by food quality on individual RMR may constitute a common currency enabling the integration of nutritional and metabolic ecology.
Looming extinctions due to invasive species: Irreversible loss of ecological strategy and evolutionary history
Authors: Bellard Céline , Bernery Camille , Leclerc Camille
Published: August 2021

Biological invasions are one of the main drivers of biodiversity decline worldwide. However, many associated extinctions are yet to occur, meaning that the ecological debt caused by invasive species could be considerable for biodiversity. We explore extinction scenarios due to invasive species and investigate whether paying off the current extinction debt will shift the global composition of mammals and birds in terms of ecological strategy and evolutionary history. Current studies mostly focus on the number of species potentially at risk due to invasions without taking into account species characteristics in terms of ecological or phylogenetic properties. We found that 11% of phylogenetic diversity worldwide is represented by invasive‐threatened species. Furthermore, 14% of worldwide trait diversity is hosted by invasive‐threatened mammals and 40% by invasive‐threatened birds, with Neotropical and Oceanian realms being primary risk hotspots. Projected extinctions of invasive‐threatened species result in a smaller reduction in ecological strategy space and evolutionary history than expected under randomized extinction scenarios. This can be explained by the strong pattern in the clustering of ecological profiles and families impacted by invasive alien species (IAS). However, our results confirm that IAS are likely to cause the selective loss of species with unique evolutionary and ecological profiles. Our results also suggest a global shift in species composition away from those with large body mass, which mostly feed in the lower foraging strata and have an herbivorous diet (mammals). Our findings demonstrate the potential impact of biological invasions on phylogenetic and trait dimensions of diversity, especially in the Oceanian realm. We therefore call for a more systematic integration of all facets of diversity when investigating the consequences of biological invasions in future studies. This would help to establish spatial prioritizations regarding IAS threats worldwide and anticipate the consequences of losing specific ecological profiles in the invaded community.
Addressing social inequity through improving relational care: A social–ecological model based on the experiences of migrant women and midwives in South Wales
Authors: Goodwin Laura , Jones Aled , Hunter Billie
Published: August 2021

Background

Migrant and ethnic inequalities in maternal and perinatal mortality persist across high‐income countries. Addressing social adversity and inequities across the childbirth trajectory cannot be left to chance and the good intentions of practitioners. Robust, evidence‐based tools designed to address inequity by enhancing both the quality of provision and the experience of care are needed.

Methods

An inductive modelling approach was used to develop a new evidence‐based conceptual model of woman–midwife relationships, drawing on data from an ethnographic study of relationships between migrant Pakistani women and midwives, conducted between 2013 and 2016 in South Wales, UK. Key analytic themes from early data were translated into social–ecological concepts, and a model was developed to represent how these key themes interacted to influence the woman–midwife relationship.

Results

Three key concepts influencing the woman–midwife relationship were developed from the three major themes of the underpinning research: (1) Healthcare System; (2) Culture and Religion; and (3) Family Relationships. Two additional weaving concepts appeared to act as a link between these three key concepts: (1) Authoritative Knowledge and (2) Communication of Information. Social and political factors were also considered as contextual factors within the model. A visual representation of this model was developed and presented.

Conclusions

The model presented in this paper, along with future work to further test and refine it in other contexts, has the potential to impact on inequalities by facilitating future discussion on cultural issues, encouraging collaborative learning and knowledge production and providing a framework for future global midwifery practice, education and research.

Patient or Public Contribution

At the outset of the underpinning research, a project involvement group was created to contribute to study design and conduct. This group consisted of the three authors, an Advocacy Officer at Race Equality First and an NHS Consultant Midwife. This group met regularly throughout the research process, and members were involved in discussions regarding ethical/cultural/social issues, recruitment methods, the creation of participant information materials, interpretation of data and the dissemination strategy. Ideas for the underpinning research were also discussed with members of the Pakistani community during community events and at meetings with staff from minority ethnic and migrant support charities (BAWSO, Race Equality First, The Mentor Ring). Local midwives contributed to study design through conversations during informal observations of antenatal appointments for asylum seekers and refugees.
Massive open online courses and consumer goals
Authors: Howarth Jason , D’Alessandro Steven , Johnson Lester , White Lesley
Published: August 2021

Massive open online courses (MOOCS) are increasingly used by higher education providers to promote their fee‐paying courses. But while multiple studies have examined the reasons why individuals enrol into MOOCs, little is understood about the effects of course engagement on their later educational goals. The current work addresses this gap by investigating the impact of MOOC engagement on participants’ future study goals and educational brand choices. This research uses a mixed methods approach to examine the goals and selection preferences of students following their engagement with a MOOC. This is accomplished through two separate longitudinal studies of MOOC participants. The first study consists of two sets of individual interviews (pre and post‐MOOC). The second involves the use of pre‐ and post MOOC surveys of participants enroled into courses on project management and cyber security. The findings show that engagement with a MOOC can positively influence the future academic goals of students, as well as their choice of academic provider. These results highlight the marketing potential of Massive Open Online Courses as a pathway into higher education. The goal framework used in this study is also likely to have broader applicability for understanding goal‐oriented behaviour in other consumer domains.
Physicochemical and bioactive compounds at edible ripeness of eleven varieties of avocado (Persea americana) cultivated in the Andean Region of Peru
Authors: Huaman‐Alvino Cinthya , Chirinos Rosana , Gonzales‐Pariona Fernando , Pedreschi Romina , Campos David
Published: August 2021

This work aimed evaluating some physicochemical compounds, hydrophilic (H‐AC) and lipophilic (L‐AC) antioxidant capacity of eleven avocado genotypes grown in the Andes. The results show great variability in physical and chemical properties, dry matter (DM) and lipid contents with ranges of 18.4–39.3% and 10.1–23.2%, respectively. All genotypes had high oleic acid content (50.4–69.9%) and a high unsaturated fatty acid/saturated fatty acid ratio (UFA/SFA, from 3.05 to 6.05), while the unsaponifiable fraction contained mainly β‐sitosterol (140.83–235.51 mg/100 g DM) and α‐tocopherol (17.44–71.29 µg/g DM). Total phenolic compounds (TPC), H‐AC and L‐AC ranged from 0.48 to 0.88 mg EAG/g DM, 5.37 to 14.00 and 1.87 to 6.71 μmol ET/g DM, respectively. Although the genotype influences avocado characteristics, climatic conditions in the Andean region seem to be important for the biosynthesis of metabolites of interest and should be considered in future studies.
A performance evaluation framework of public health distribution network for essential medicines: lessons from the select Indian states
Authors: Kumar Rahul , Das Debadyuti
Published: August 2021

The present work has been carried out to develop a performance evaluation framework of distribution network design in public health with specific reference to essential medicines based on six different types of public health distribution networks (PHDNs) prevalent across six Indian states. We evaluated the performance of PHDNs on the criteria of cost and service and also on the sub‐criteria of cost and service by following the analytic hierarchy process. We utilized the pairwise comparison method in determining the relative importance of criteria and sub‐criteria by seeking responses from several experts and subsequently evaluated the PHDNs on all sub‐criteria in a 7‐point Likert scale by seeking views from the same experts. Finally, we developed the “cost–service matrix,” in which cost and service have been depicted in the horizontal and vertical axes, respectively. We demonstrated the performance of six PHDNs in this matrix in terms of cost and service by plotting scores obtained by them on cost and service, respectively. The findings of the study provide rich insights to the policy planners of public health.
Three easy fixes for sire use can enhance genetic progress in community‐based breeding programmes
Authors: Mueller Joaquín P. , Getachew Tesfaye , Rekik Mourad , Rischkowsky Barbara , Abate Zelalem , Goshme Shenkute , Wale Yeshiwas , Haile Aynalem
Published: August 2021

We analysed options to optimize the use of sires in sheep and goat community‐based breeding programmes (CBBP) for three scenarios occurring under field conditions: premature sale of selection candidates, fixed service periods of selected sires and incomplete sire pedigrees. The first scenario was studied by looking at the outcome of combinations of selection pressures in successive selection stages. A compromise of early sale of sire candidates and genetic progress can be obtained by selecting in two stages, such that selection pressure in the first stage is chosen in terms of achieving an acceptable selection potential after the second stage. Simulations showed the dependency of this compromise on selection accuracies and correlation between selection criteria. For a typical sheep CBBP, only 20% of the top three months weighting male lambs need to be retained to achieve 80% of the potential selection differential on six months weight. For the second scenario, two alternatives to fixed service periods were analysed. When across‐age BLUP EBVs are not available, individual sires can be programmed to stay in service according to their initial ranking. In typical sheep, CBBPs genetic progress can be increased by about 9% over response to selection with optimum fixed sire service periods. When BLUP EBVs are available, a simulated retrospective analyses of across‐age selection of sires in two current sheep CBBPs increased more than twofold the average breeding values actually observed. Thirdly, we studied the benefit of considering possible sires and their mating probabilities when estimating BLUP breeding values instead of setting such sires as unknown. In a current goat CBBP with up to three possible sires included in the pedigree, the accuracy of breeding values nears the accuracy when sires are known and are higher than accuracies when sires are unknown or when possible sires are ignored.
Inhibition of BUB1 suppresses tumorigenesis of osteosarcoma via blocking of PI3K/Akt and ERK pathways
Authors: Huang Zhen , Wang Shenglin , Wei Hongxiang , Chen Hui , Shen Rongkai , Lin Renqin , Wang Xinwen , Lan Wenbin , Lin Rongjin , Lin Jianhua
Published: August 2021

Osteosarcoma (OS) is a primary malignant bone tumour that mainly affects teenagers, with patients displaying poor prognosis. Budding uninhibited by benzimidazoles 1 (BUB1), a type of serine/threonine kinase that is linked to pro‐tumorigenic phenomena, has not been well studied in OS. Hence, this study aimed to explore the role of BUB1 in OS. The expression of BUB1 in OS specimens and cell lines was assessed using immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis. Univariate and multivariate analyses were applied to evaluate the impact of BUB1 on patient survival. Cell counting kit‐8, wound‐healing and Transwell assays, as well as flow cytometry, were used to investigate the influence of BUB1 inhibition on OS in vitro. Moreover, a tumour xenograft model was established to investigate the in vivo effect of BUB1 inhibition on OS tumour growth. Results showed that BUB1 was overexpressed in OS specimens and cell lines. Furthermore, BUB1 overexpression was closely associated with the poor clinical outcomes of patients with OS. Inhibition of BUB1 markedly suppressed cell proliferation and tumour growth, cell migration, invasion and induced cell apoptosis of OS by blocking the PI3K/Akt and ERK signalling pathways. Thus, our study suggested that overexpression of BUB1 protein contributed to poor survival of OS patients and that inhibition of BUB1 resulted in considerable anti‐tumour activity associated with proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis of OS.
Mortality and skin pathology of farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) caused by exposure to the jellyfish Physalia physalis in Ireland
Authors: Mitchell Susie Olivia , Bresnihan Sophie , Scholz Felix
Published: August 2021

In October 2019, during Tropical Storm Lorenzo, an unusual bloom of Physalia physalis (commonly known as the Portuguese man o’ war) appeared on the west coast of Ireland. The jellyfish were observed aggregating in high numbers surrounding salmon pens on two Atlantic salmon farms with tentacles extending underwater through the nets into the pens. Acute skin lesions and mortality were reported as a consequence of exposure to P. physalis on both sites. The impact of noxious zooplankton species such as P. physalis may pose a significant and more frequent threat in future if increased adverse weather events continue to transport these and other jellyfish outside their normal range. This is the first published record of Physalia physalis causing mortality in cultured fish.
Design, development, and performance evaluation of an ohmic extractor to valorize fruit by‐products based on Taguchi method: Reduced energy consumption and enhanced total phenolics
Authors: Gavahian Mohsen , Chu Rachael
Published: August 2021

In this study, an ohmic extractor system was designed and developed, and system performance was compared with the conventional method for the extraction of bioactive compounds from pineapple peels. Besides, the Taguchi approach was used to find the optimal processing conditions. Dependent parameters were voltage, frequency, and electrode surface area. Independent parameters include come‐up time, heating rate, energy consumption, specific energy consumption, and total phenolics. The highest heating rate was 13°C min−1 which showed that optimal processing conditions can reduce the come‐up time by eight folds. Also, the optimized ohmic system had a higher heating rate in comparison with the conventional method (13 vs. 9°C min−1). Besides, it was revealed that changing the processing parameters in the range explored in the present study can save up to 33% of total energy consumption. Furthermore, the ohmic system saved a substantial amount of energy (up to 55%) in comparison with the conventional process while enhancing the total phenolics to achieve up to 89.25 mg GAE per 100 g FW of total phenolic compounds [Correction added on 16 November, after first online publication: The word “by 12.6%” has been removed from the preceding sentence to improve clarity.]. Therefore, this extraction approach can provide profit to farmers and food factories and contribute to achieving sustainable development goals by reducing energy consumption and enhancing resource efficiency through the efficient valorization of agricultural by‐products such as pineapple peels.

Practical Applications

The ohmic extraction system, which was designed and developed in this study, is scalable and affordable. It can help farmers and food factories to enhance their profit through the valorization of their production by‐products. Besides, using fruit by‐products (e.g., pineapple peels) as raw materials for extraction can cut the expenses required for sample preparation, which can be regarded as an approach for relatively low‐cost extraction of phenolic compounds in the ohmic systems. Furthermore, the innovative valorization platform proposed in this study showed to be time‐ and energy‐saving for obtaining high‐quality extracts. Therefore, this system can contribute to achieving sustainable development goals.
Physiological markers of rapid antidepressant effects of allopregnanolone
Authors: Lambert Peter M. , Lu Xinguo , Zorumski Charles F. , Mennerick Steven
Published: August 2021

The rise of ketamine and brexanolone as rapid antidepressant treatments raises the question of common mechanisms. Both drugs act without the long onset time of traditional antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. The drugs also share the interesting feature of benefit that persists beyond the initial drug lifetime. Here, we briefly review literature on functional changes that may mark the triggering mechanism of rapid antidepressant actions. Because ketamine has a longer history of study as a rapid antidepressant, we use this literature as a template to guide hypotheses about common action. Brexanolone has the complication of being a formulation of a naturally occurring neurosteroid; thus, endogenous levels need to be considered when studying the impact of exogenous administration. We conclude that network disinhibition and increased high‐frequency oscillations are candidates to mediate acute triggering effects of rapid antidepressants.
Temporary labor migration and skill transfer in Japan: Migration experiences and outcomes of technical intern trainees from Vietnam and China
Authors: Siu Kaxton , Koo Anita
Published: August 2021

We interviewed Vietnamese and Chinese technical intern trainees who went to Japan under Japan's Technical Intern Training Program (TITP). We showed how Vietnam's and China's temporary labor‐export institutional arrangements differed, and contributed to the two countries’ intern trainees having varied migration experiences and outcomes. We also explored the reasons TITP failed to achieve its stated objective—international skill transfer. Guided by human capital theory, we attempt to make sense of the different migration expectations and experiences of Vietnamese and Chinese trainees under different institutional arrangements and contribute to the debate of temporary labor migration and international skill transfer. We argue that the government of a temporary migrant labor‐sending country must exercise sufficiently good socio‐technical infrastructural governance to steward labor‐export policy and industrial policy to match national development goals in order to make international skill transfer possible.