bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Kan T: F Reedom
Authors: Rwin Terence I
Published: November 2023

Kant has argued that if there is a categorical imperative of morality, it has the features he ascribes to it in the different formulations of the categorical imperative. He does not claim to have shown thereby that there is a categorical imperative, or that it is a supreme principle of morality, or that it requires the treatment of persons as ends. He still needs to prove both (1) that there is a categorical imperative, giving a reason to all rational agents as such, irrespective of their particular empirical motives and inclinations, and (2) that this is the principle of morality.
Mill: Earlier Utilitarianism and its Critics
Authors: Rwin Terence I
Published: November 2023

The most influential and most widely read defence of utilitarianism is Mill’s short book Utilitarianism, published in 1861. This book is the result of Mill’s reflexions on utilitarianism over the previous thirty years.His reflexions make clear his views of the significant developments in controversy about utilitarianism from Bentham onwards. Since the developments explain some features of Mill’s statement of utilitarianism, it is useful to survey them before turning to Utilitarianism itself. We should look at these developments through Mill’s eyes, since his conception of the history of utilitarianism influences his view of what needs to be done. But we should also ask whether he is right about the main philosophical issues involved, and about the merits of the different sides.
Moore
Authors: Rwin Terence I
Published: November 2023

Principia Ethica is a critical essay on some of the main doctrines of Sidgwick, with a secondary focus on Kant. In the course of his examination of Sidgwick’s utilitarianism and Kant’s ‘metaphysical’ system, Moore also discusses Mill, Spencer, and some neo-Hegelian doctrines (e.g., about internal relations). But his main claims in moral philosophy are all directly relevant to Sidgwick. Moore follows Sidgwick and Price in their rejection of attempts to define all basic moral concepts. He agrees with their realist metaphysics of morality, and so he recognizes moral properties. He departs from Sidgwick in taking ‘good’, rather than ‘right’ and ‘ought’ to be the basic indefinable ethical term, but his arguments about ‘good’ are (as he points out) similar to those that Sidgwick uses for ‘right’ and ‘ought’.
Versions of Naturalism
Authors: Rwin Terence I
Published: November 2023

Conceptions of morality that appeal to facts about human nature have held a central place in the sequence of theories that we have considered in this book. It is fairly easy to see why they have a central place in a discussion of ancient moral theories; for Plato, Aristotle, Epicureans, and Stoics all support their moral conclusion by explicit claims to facts about the essential characteristics of human beings. It may be less obvious that this emphasis on appeals to nature is appropriate in a discussion of mediaeval theories; for one might argue that the theological starting points of these theories make claims about human nature relatively unimportant, or at least secondary. But we have found that this is not a good reason to deny that mediaeval theories are naturalistic.
On Evil’s Vague Necessity
Authors: Almeida Michael J
Published: November 2023

It is the standard position on the existence of evil that a perfect being could not permit even one instance of evil that serves no purpose. Among those who have defended the standard position on evil is William Rowe.
In Vitro Labelling
Authors: Cunningham Martin W , Harris Dennis W , Mundy Christopher R
Published: November 2023

Radioactive tracers are uniquely suitable for labelling of biological molecules, because their behaviour in enzyme catalysed reactions mimics that of their non-radioactive isotopes. Progress in nucleic acid research has depended on the availability of suitable radioactive labels, and on methods for incorporating them into nucleic acids.
Solubilization, Purification, and Molecular Characterization of Receptors: Principles and Strategy
Authors: Haga T , Haga k. , Hulme E C
Published: November 2023

Most hormone and neurotransmitter receptors are transmembrane glycoproteins. The exceptions are receptors for steroids and thyroid hormones, which are soluble DNA-binding proteins and will not be dealt with in this book. The function of transmembrane receptors is to communicate the information that hormones or neurotransmitter molecules are present on the outside of cells to the inside, so that there is a sense in which such receptors can be regarded as allosteric proteins, whose functions are elicited when they bind allosteric ligands, namely the cognate hormones and neurotransmitters.
Purification of the epidermal growth factor receptor from A431 cells
Authors: Yotou George N Pana , Gregoriou Mary
Published: November 2023

The EGF receptor is a 170 k Da membrane-spanning glycoprotein. An extracellular, EGF-binding domain is connected to the cytoplasmic catalytic domain by a single tran smembrane link of 23 amino acids (1). Binding of EGF results in a variety of events, including clustering and internalization of EGF-receptor complexes, phosphorylation of cellular proteins and of the receptor itself at tyrosine residues, changes in ion fluxes, increase in protein synthesis, and finally, upon prolonged stimulation, DNA synthesis and cell division (2,3).
Structure activity relationships of human IL-2: identification of residues that bind the IL-2 receptor
Authors: Ju G , Sauve K , Bailon P , Tsien W -H , Lin P , Hakimi J , Toome, V , Greene W C
Published: November 2023

The biological functions of human interleukin-2 (IL-2) are mediated through binding to specific receptors on the surface of target cells. These IL-2 receptors (IL-2R) exist in at least three forms that bind IL-2 with high, intermediate, or low affinity. The high affinity IL-2R is composed of at least two subunits, the IX chain, or p55, and the β chain, or p70. Molecular cloning and expression of these two subunits demonstrate that the α chain corresponds to the low affinity receptor,2−4 while the βchain corresponds to the intermediate affinity receptor. The complex of p55 and p70, with the addition of other components, gives rise to the high affinity receptor.
Approaches to immunotherapy with defined populations of IL-2-cultured NK cells, immune T cells, or tumour infiltrating lymphocytes
Authors: Herberman R B , Basse P , Jain R K , Melder R J , Goldfarb R H , Gorelik E , Ernstoff M S , Kirkwood, J M , Whiteside T L
Published: November 2023

During the past several years, several preclinical and clinical studies have indicated that adoptive cellular immunotherapy, particularly in combination with interleukin 2 (IL-2), can have substantial therapeutic efficacy. In the clinical studies, complete or partial regressions of large, advanced metastatic lesions in some patients with malignant melanoma or renal cell carcinoma have been particularly encouraging. However, the results to date have been less than optimal. In many of the preclinical studies, significant decreases in the number of experimental metastases have often not been accompanied by cures or substantial prolongation of survival. Similarly, in the clinical studies, at least 70–80 per cent of the treated patients have not shown objective responses from such therapy. There clearly appears to be a pressing need to improve upon the promising first generation results and to devise approaches to increase the rate and duration of therapeutic responses. In addition, the use of very high numbers of adoptively transferred cells together with high doses of IL-2 has resulted in appreciable toxicity, and it would be very desirable to develop effective strategies that would be accompanied by decreased toxicity.
Characterization of RNA
Authors: Grabowski Paula J
Published: November 2023

Characterization of RNA is necessary to identify the transcripts of newly-described genes, to establish the pattern of splicing and 3’ end formation, to quantify levels of RNA species in differing cell types, or to test the functional importance of a sequence or secondary structure in an RNA molecule of interest. Thus, experimental tools that accomplish these goals have widespread usefulness in diverse areas of molecular biology, biochemistry, and cell biology. The purpose of this chapter is to present a concise series of experimental procedures that can be used for the rapid and decisive characterization of RNA. Due to recent advances in studies of nuclear pre-mRNA splicing, including remarkable growth in the identification of alternatively spliced genes, methods will be emphasized that are particularly useful in these areas. In addition, this chapter will address problems encountered in the detection of small sequence changes in otherwise long RNA chains, and the measurement of low abundance RNA species.
Extracellular steroid-binding proteins
Authors: Hammond Geoffrey l.
Published: November 2023

Steroid hormones in the blood and extracellular compartments of most vertebrate species interact with two high-affinity plasma proteins that are generally known as sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG). These proteins are structurally unrelated and do no resemble other plasma proteins that bind steroids with low affinity and limited specificity, such as albumin and orosomucoid, or any other steroid-binding proteins, including the intracellular steroid hormone receptors and enzymes responsible for steroid biosynthesis or metabolism. It is generally assumed that plasma SHBG and CBG function primarily as transport proteins and limit the metabolic clearance of biologically active steroids, but recent advances in our understanding of their structures indicate that they may act in much more sophisticated ways than previously considered (1, 2). It is the purpose of this review to highlight this information, and to provide a perspective on how these proteins may regulate the activities of steroid hormones.
Subcellular fractionation of mitochondria
Authors: Rice J E , Lindsay J G
Published: November 2023

Mitochondria are ubiquitous organelles which are present in the cytoplasm of the vast majority of animal and plant cells. They are also one of the best characterized organelles and indeed were the first membrane-bound particles to be isolated in an intact functional state from living tissues. Together with chloroplasts, they are unique in containing the only sites of extranuclear DNA, both possessing small, separate genomes which are capable of independent transcription and translation.
Theories of gel electrophoresis of high molecular weight DNA
Authors: Southern E M , Elder J K
Published: November 2023

This book is about the practicalities of DNA analysis by pulsed field gel electrophoresis but there are a number of reasons to be concerned with theoretical aspects also. First, the main purpose of the method is to measure the size of large DNA molecules; there is no other convenient way of doing this, and to obtain accurate transformation of mobility to size it is important to understand the relationship between the two quantities. Second, understanding the physical basis of the process may lead to technical improvements; for example, more rapid separations, greater resolution, or separation of bigger sizes. Much has been written about the processes underlying the separation, and it is not the purpose of this chapter to review all of these treatments. Rather, it provides a relatively simple treatment designed to give the reader and practitioner some insight into the workings of the system.
Cloning from PFGE-purified genomic DNA fragments and YACs
Authors: Whittaker Paul A , Anand Rakesh
Published: November 2023

An important step in the analysis of complex genomes is the construction of physical maps at the level of overlapping cloned DNA. Such cloned DNA maps provide both positional information and access to DNA fragments in a form that can be used for molecular analysis (e.g. probe isolation, sequencing, etc.). As a result, they have become an important tool in the structural and functional characterization of large genes, or the identification of disease genes by positional cloning. Preparative pulsed field gels, from which genomic DNA or YAC DNA is recovered for subsequent cloning, can facilitate the construction of these cloned DNA maps.
Sedimentation equilibrium in the analytical ultracentrifuge
Authors: Winzor Donald J , Harding Stephen E
Published: November 2023

For many years analytical ultracentrifugation was the major source of information on the heterogeneity and molecular size of macromolecules. In the field of protein chemistry the question of solute heterogeneity is now usually addressed by gel electrophoretic and gel chromatographic techniques, and the molecular weight is either calculated from the amino acid sequence or obtained by mass spectrometry. Because such molecular weight values refer only to the covalently linked polypeptide chain(s), they provide no information about the macro molecular state of the functional protein or enzyme. In its simplest application molecular weight measurement by analytical ultracentrifugation is therefore used to characterize quaternary structure, which affords an example of a self-association equilibrium that has gone to completion.
Stopped-flow techniques
Authors: Eccleston John F , Hutchinson Jon P
Published: November 2023

There are many methods for measuring the equilibrium binding constant of a protein with a ligand, where the ligand can be a small molecule or another macromolecule such as a protein or nucleic acid, as described in other chapters in this book. However, many biological processes are controlled not by equilibrium constants but by the kinetics of the interaction between protein and ligand and for this reason it is necessary to measure the association and dissociation rate constants in order to understand a system fully. Although this can be done using surface plasmon resonance techniques (see Volume 1, Chapter 6), and in certain cases by NMR measurements (see Chapter 10), rapid-reaction methods are generally the method of choice if a suitable intrinsic optical probe exists in the system or an extrinsic probe can be introduced.
Nuclease inhibitors
Authors: Kleanthous Colin , Pommer Ansgar J
Published: November 2023

Nucleases are involved in a wide variety of biological functions in prokaryotes and eukaryotes including DNA repair, RNA maturation, and recombination as well as having less well-understood roles in processes such as angiogenesis in mammals and self-incompatibility in plants (1, 2). The hydrolysis of a phosphodiester bond has the potential to be toxic to the host cell unless controlled in some way. In the case of restriction enzymes, the recognition sequences of which may occur many times in a bacterial genome, toxicity is avoided by accompanying methylases which ‘detoxify’ the recognition sequence. In other instances-for example where the nuclease is relatively non-specific in its choice of cleavage sequence-such a strategy is not possible, in which case cell death can be avoided by the action of inhibitor proteins. Hence, nuclease inhibitors serve an important cellular role, exemplified by the inhibitor ICAD which inhibits the activity of caspase-activated deoxyribonuclease, an enzyme involved in the degradation of DNA during apoptosis (3).
Subcellular Localization Of Biological Molecules
Authors: Cumming Richard , Durrant Ian , Fallon Rachel
Published: November 2023

The complexity of higher organisms is due in part to the wide variety of tissues and cells which have become specialized for different functions. Cells can often be differentiated from each other on the basis of size, shape, fine structural differences and phenotypic molecular markers. Techniques such as tissue culture can help to elucidate the function of individual cell types by growing and manipulating them under controlled conditions. A further degree of complexity comes from the organization of structures within the cell; at the simplest level we can divide the cell into nucleus and cytoplasm, while sophisticated techniques allow distinction between many different structures such as mitochondria, lyzosomes, ribosomes, etc. It is now widely appreciated that these structures perform varied cellular functions and that different molecules are localized within different subcellular compartments (e.g. neuronal compartmentalization of cytoskeletal proteins) (1). In addition to the well-known movement of nucleic acids between the nucleus and the cytoplasm, it is now known, for example, that translocation of specific molecules from one region of the cell to another appears to represent the mechanism of action of molecules including steroids, cyclic nucleotides and receptors.
Pharmacological Techniques
Authors: Beresford Isabel J M , Allen Michael J
Published: November 2023

Radioligands are essential for many types of pharmacological assay. A vast array of radiolabelled agents is now commercially available, including agonists and antagonists for a huge number of receptors, markers of G protein activation, signal transduction molecules, enzyme substrates and ions. Suppliers of these agents include Amersham Pharmacia Biotech, American Radiolabeled Chemicals, Cambridge Research Biochemicals, ICN Pharmaceuticals Ltd, NEN Life Science Products and Sigma-Aldrich Co. Ltd (for addresses see Appendix). In this chapter, we provide protocols for receptor binding and functional assays for enzymes, ion channels and G-protein-coupled receptors.
Evaluation of a Formulation of Bacillus subtilis for Control of Phytophthora Blight of Bell Pepper
Authors: Hansel Jeana , Saville Amanda C. , Ristaino Jean Beagle
Published: November 2023

Phytophthora blight, caused by Phytophthora capsici, is one of the most economically significant diseases of bell pepper in the United States. Over the past several decades, isolates of P. capsici exhibiting resistance to mefenoxam and other fungicides have been reported. Fungicide resistance coupled with an increased market for organically grown crops has led to interest in biological control as a disease management option. In this work, an isolate of Bacillus subtilis (AFS032321) was evaluated for control of Phytophthora blight of bell pepper in the greenhouse and field. A 28% active ingredient wettable powder formulation of the strain was applied as a soil drench at transplanting prior to inoculation. Treatment with this formulation of B. subtilis significantly reduced the area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) by up to 52% compared to untreated control plants in greenhouse tests. Comparisons between applying the biocontrol weekly after seeding for 5 weeks versus a single application at transplanting (5 weeks) indicated no significant benefits of additional applications. The formulation of B. subtilis reduced disease caused by a mefenoxam-resistant isolate of P. capsici, while mefenoxam failed. The biocontrol efficacy of formulated strains was not affected in different soil types or potting media. However, disease was more severe in sandy soils. In field experiments that were conducted with a mefenoxam-sensitive isolate, disease incidence and severity of Phytophthora blight were significantly reduced at all rates of B. subtilis in 2019 except the 16.8 kg ha−1 rate. In both years, mefenoxam was more effective than B. subtilis in controlling disease in the field. B. subtilis did not affect the spatial dynamics of pathogen spread within rows. While the precise mechanism(s) of action is unclear, in vitro dual-culture tests suggest direct antagonism, as B. subtilis significantly inhibited colony growth of P. capsici. AgBiome has recently released a new formulation of the AFS032321 strain named Theia, with higher active ingredients for commercial applications and biocontrol of P. capsici.
Theoretical and Pragmatical Challenges in Game Studies in Brazil
Authors: Andrade Vinicius Oliveira de , Moraes Yago Luksevicius de , Tavares Hermano
Published: November 2023

Background:

The video game industry is increasing worldwide and Brazil is the leading market in South America. Abuse of video games has been an international concern for a few decades and the World Health Organization included gaming disorder in the 11th version of the International Classification of Diseases.

Method:

In this article, we cite some academic works and our own experiences to reflect about obstacles commonly found by researchers, beginning with the lack of a consensual definition of what is gaming. Then, we show some characteristics of the Brazilian scenario regarding research about gaming in general and clinical practices about gaming disorder in particular and discuss how sociopolitical traits may impact them.

Conclusions:

Finally, we discuss some options to avoid pathologizing normal behaviour and the importance of connections between psychiatrists and other groups from within and outside academia, such as researchers from game design and politicians, respectively.

Arrière-plan:

L’industrie des jeux vidéo se développe dans le monde entier et le Brésil est le marché principal d’Amérique du Sud. L’abus de jeux vidéo est une préoccupation internationale depuis quelques décennies et l’Organisation mondiale de la santé a inclus le trouble du jeu dans la 11e version de la classification internationale des maladies.

Mèthode:

Dans cet article, nous passons en revue certains obstacles fréquemment rencontrés par les chercheurs, à commencer par l’absence de définition consensuelle de ce qu’est le jeu. Ensuite, nous montrons certaines caractéristiques du scénario brésilien concernant la recherche sur le jeu en général et les pratiques cliniques sur le trouble du jeu en particulier, et nous discutons de la manière dont les caractéristiques sociopolitiques peuvent les influencer.

Conclusion:

Enfin, nous discutons de certaines options pour éviter de pathologiser un comportement normal et de l’importance des liens entre les psychiatres et d’autres groupes à l’intérieur et à l’extérieur du monde universitaire, tels que respectivement les chercheurs en conception de jeux et les politiciens.
Longitudinal follow-up of quiescent lens injury secondary to intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor injection
Authors: Sun Chuan-bin , Li Bo , Xu Dan-ni , Wang Yue-ye , Liu Zhe
Published: November 2023

A longitudinal follow-up of quiescent lens injury caused by intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injection was reported. A 55-year-old man complained of unilateral diplopia in the right eye soon after the fourth intravitreal anti-VEGF injection for macular edema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion elsewhere. At presentation, ophthalmic examination revealed an evident track-like posterior capsule damage of the lens accompanied by clustered lens epithelial cell proliferation along each side of the posterior capsule break, yet without subcapsular cataract formation. At the 3-month follow-up, slitlamp examination showed a bit denser track-like opacification of the posterior lenticular capsule that was surrounded by mild disc-like posterior capsular opacification. Over another 3 months of follow-up, the posterior capsule damage kept stable. Although rare, quiescent lens injury might occur after intravitreal anti-VEGF injection, attention should also be paid to the lens besides fundus conditions when patients complained of visual disturbance soon after uneventful intravitreal injections.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging as a Predictor of Outcome in Congenital Lymphatic Malformations of the Neck
Authors: Penington Anthony , Holmes Angela , Vrazas John
Published: November 2023

Objectives:

To identify factors on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that predict the outcomes of children with congenital lymphatic malformations (LMs) of the neck.

Design:

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting:

The Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, a quaternary pediatric referral hospital.

Patients:

All children referred to the vascular anomalies service with LM identified at birth or in the first month of life were born between 1991 and 2015.

Outcome measurements:

Pattern of involvement on MRI imaging, need for intervention for respiratory difficulty, documented episodes of infection, and aesthetic outcomes.

Results:

MRI images were available for 27 of 30 patients with LM of the neck present at or soon after birth. Of these, 10 (37%) met the primary outcome of undergoing any intervention whose intention was stated to be for airway compromise, which occurred between 7 days and 4 years of age. The intervention was more likely when MRI showed parapharyngeal involvement (P < .001), although not all cases with parapharyngeal disease required respiratory intervention. Risk increases if other regions of the neck were also involved. Overall, 2 broad patterns of disease were identified, a “posterior pattern” which was typically macrocystic and unilateral, and an “anterior pattern” which was microcystic and bilateral and more likely to have airway compromise. Thirteen patients (48%) had documented episodes of infection.

Conclusion:

Patterns of disease on MRI are identified which are associated with a greater risk of requiring intervention for airway obstruction. Children with congenital LM of the neck are at high risk of infective episodes.
Treatment strategies for malignant pulmonary nodule: beyond lobectomy. Point-counterpoint
Authors: Chang Aliss Tsz Ching , Ng Calvin S.H. , Nezami Nariman
Published: November 2023

Purpose of review

Technological advancement in low-dose computed tomography resulted in an increased incidental discovery of early-stage lung cancer and multifocal ground glass opacity. The demand for parenchyma-preserving treatment strategies is greater now than ever. Pulmonary ablative therapy is a groundbreaking technique to offer local ablative treatment in a lung-sparing manner. It has become a promising technique in lung cancer management with its diverse applicability. In this article, we will review the current development of ablative therapy in lung and look into the future of this innovative technique.

Recent findings

Current literature suggests that ablative therapy offers comparable local disease control to other local therapies and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), with a low risk of complications. In particular, bronchoscopic microwave ablation (BMWA) has considerably fewer pleural-based complications due to the avoidance of pleural puncture. BMWA can be considered in the multidisciplinary treatment pathway as it allows re-ablation and allows SBRT after BMWA.

With the benefits which ablative therapy offers and its ability to incorporate into the multidisciplinary management pathway, we foresee ablative therapy, especially BMWA gaining significance in lung cancer treatment. Future directions on developing novel automated navigation platforms and the latest form of ablative energy would further enhance clinical outcomes for our patients.
Hemarthrosis in a Pediatric Patient With Immune Thrombocytopenia and Lyme Arthritis
Authors: Wheeler Jonathan A. , Rodriguez Vilmarie , Jacobson-Kelly Amanda E.
Published: November 2023

The presentation of immune thrombocytopenia is dependent on the degree of thrombocytopenia, with no to mild bleeding symptoms, primarily mucocutaneous bleeding. Severe bleeding in other organ systems is a rare complication. Spontaneous hemarthrosis is rare in patients without hemophilia. We report a child presenting with oral and cutaneous petechial lesions and left knee hemarthrosis without trauma. Laboratory findings showed severe thrombocytopenia consistent with immune thrombocytopenia. Serologic tests were consistent with Lyme disease. Hemarthrosis was presumed secondary to Lyme disease monoarticular joint inflammation with bleeding exacerbated by severe thrombocytopenia. Hemarthrosis resolved and platelet counts normalized following immunoglobulin infusion, steroid course, and antibiotics.
Implementation Science Research in Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
Authors: Woods-Hill Charlotte Z. , Wolfe Heather , Malone Sara , Steffen Katherine M. , Agulnik Asya , Flaherty Brian F. , Barbaro Ryan P. , Dewan Maya , Kudchadkar Sapna R. ,   and the Excellence in Pediatric Implementation Science (ECLIPSE) for the Pediatric Acute Lung Injury and Sepsis Investigators (PALISI) Network
Published: November 2023

OBJECTIVES:

Delay or failure to consistently adopt evidence-based or consensus-based best practices into routine clinical care is common, including for patients in the PICU. PICU patients can fail to receive potentially beneficial diagnostic or therapeutic interventions, worsening the burden of illness and injury during critical illness. Implementation science (IS) has emerged to systematically address this problem, but its use of in the PICU has been limited to date. We therefore present a conceptual and methodologic overview of IS for the pediatric intensivist.

DESIGN:

The members of Excellence in Pediatric Implementation Science (ECLIPSE; part of the Pediatric Acute Lung Injury and Sepsis Investigators Network) represent multi-institutional expertise in the use of IS in the PICU. This narrative review reflects the collective knowledge and perspective of the ECLIPSE group about why IS can benefit PICU patients, how to distinguish IS from quality improvement (QI), and how to evaluate an IS article.

RESULTS:

IS requires a shift in one’s thinking, away from questions and outcomes that define traditional clinical or translational research, including QI. Instead, in the IS rather than the QI literature, the terminology, definitions, and language differs by specifically focusing on relative importance of generalizable knowledge, as well as aspects of study design, scale, and timeframe over which the investigations occur.

CONCLUSIONS:

Research in pediatric critical care practice must acknowledge the limitations and potential for patient harm that may result from a failure to implement evidence-based or professionals’ consensus-based practices. IS represents an innovative, pragmatic, and increasingly popular approach that our field must readily embrace in order to improve our ability to care for critically ill children.
Microbacterium nymphoidis sp. nov. and Microbacterium festucae sp. nov., two novel species with high plant-promoting potential isolated from wetland plants in China
Authors: Li Chunyi , Jin Xiaoqian , Yang Fu , Zhao Jiayi , Wang Siyu , Sun Qiwu , Li Lubin , Liu Lei
Published: November 2023

Two novel plant growth-promoting, rod-shaped, Gram-positive and non-motile rhizobacteria, W1NT and W2RT, were isolated from wetland plants Festuca elata and Nymphoides peltatum, respectively, in China. The results of the 16S rRNA sequence alignment analysis showed that they were related to

Microbacterium

, with the highest similarity to

Microbacterium ketosireducens

(98.7 %) and

Microbacterium laevaniformans

(98.5 %) for strain W1NT, and to

Microbacterium terricola

(98.1 %) and

Microbacterium marinum

(98.0 %) for strain W2RT. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences and 92 conserved concatenated proteins suggested that the two strains belong to the genus

Microbacterium

and were placed in two separate novel phylogenetic clades. The genome sizes of the two strains were 3.2 and 3.7 Mb, and the G+C contents were 71.7 and 68.5 mol%, respectively. The comparative genome results showed that the average nucleotide identity values between W1NT and W2RT and other species ranged from 73.5 to 83.6 %, and the digital DNA–DNA hybridization values ranged from 19.7 to 26.8 %. These two strains show physiological and biochemical features that differ from those of closely related species. Rhamnose, galactose and glucose were present in the characteristic sugar fractions of strains W1NT and W2RT. The peptidoglycan of strains W1NT and W2RT contained the amino acids ornithine, alanine and aspartic acid. C15 : 0 anteiso, C17 : 0 anteiso and C16 : 0 iso were the predominant cellular fatty acids in W1NT and W2RT. Phosphatidylglycerol and diphosphatidylglycerol are major polar lipid components. Strain W1NT not only formed bacterial biofilms but also had the ability to solubilize phosphorus and produce indole-3-acetic acid. Strain W2RT had siderophore-producing and lignin-degrading properties. Based on their genetic and phenotypic characteristics, strains W1NT and W2RT were classified as novel bacteria in the genus

Microbacterium

and designated as Microbacterium festucae sp. nov. (type strain W1NT=ACCC 61807T=GDMCC 1.2966T=JCM 35339T) and Microbacterium nymphoidis sp. nov. (type strain W2RT=ACCC 61808T=GDMCC 1.2967T=JCM 35340T).
Roseateles amylovorans sp. nov., isolated from freshwater
Authors: Guliayeva Darya , Akhremchuk Artur , Sikolenko Maxim , Evdokimova Olesya , Valentovich Leonid , Sidarenka Anastasiya
Published: November 2023

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, amylolytic bacterial strain, designated as bsSlp3-1T, was isolated from the Slepian water system, a freshwater reservoir. Strain bsSlp3-1T was found to be aerobic, oxidase-positive and catalase-negative, grew at 5–37 °C (optimum, 28 °C), pH 5.0–9.5 (optimum, pH 7.0) and low NaCl concentration (up to 1.0 %). Comparative analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity revealed that strain bsSlp3-1T clustered with

Roseateles

species and is closely related to

Roseateles depolymerans

KCTC 42856T (98.7 %) and

Roseateles terrae

CCUG 52222T (98.6 %). Whole-genome comparisons using average nucleotide identity and digital DNA–DNA hybridization values suggested that strain bsSlp3-1T represents a novel species within the genus

Roseateles

and is most closely related to

Roseateles aquatilis

CCUG 48205T (81.2 and 25.6 %, respectively). The genome of strain bsSlp3-1T consisted of a single circular chromosome with size 6 289 366 bp and DNA G+C content of 66.8 mol%. The predominant cellular fatty acids of bsSlp3-1T were cis-9-hexadecanoic and hexadecenoic acids. According to the data obtained in this work, strain bsSlp3-1T represents a novel

Roseateles

species for which the name Roseateles amylovorans sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is bsSlp3-1T (=BIM B-1768T=NBIMCC 9098T=VKM B-3671T).
The validated touch-video database
Authors: Smit Sophie , Rich Anina N
Published: November 2023

Visually observing a touch quickly reveals who is being touched, how it might feel, and the broader social or emotional context, shaping our interpretation of such interactions. Investigating these dimensions is essential for understanding how tactile experiences are processed individually and how we empathise with observed sensations in others. Here, we expand available resources for studying visually perceived touch by providing a wide-ranging set of dynamic interactions that specifically focus on the sensory qualities of touch. The Validated Touch-Video Database (VTD) consists of a set of 90 videos depicting tactile interactions with a stationary left hand, viewed from a first-person perspective. In each video, a second hand makes contact either directly (e.g., with fingers or an open palm) or using an object (e.g., a soft brush or scissors), with variations across dimensions such as hedonic qualities, arousal, threat, touch type, and the object used. Validation by 350 participants (283 women, 66 men, 1 non-binary) involved categorising the videos as neutral, pleasant, unpleasant, or painful and rating arousal and threat levels. Our findings reveal high inter-subject agreement, with painful touch videos eliciting the highest arousal and threat ratings, while neutral touch videos served as a baseline. Exploratory analyses revealed women rated the videos as more threatening and painful than men, suggesting potential gender differences in the visual perception of negatively valenced touch stimuli. The VTD provides a comprehensive resource for researchers investigating the sensory and emotional dimensions of observed touch.
“Limping gallop”: leader resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Vuori Johanna
Published: November 2023

Purpose

This article provides an in-depth study of leader resilience during the prolonged COVID-19 crisis.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is based on interviews with leaders in the hotel, retail and manufacturing industries during the pandemic. The analytical framework is individual resilience as both a process and an outcome. The analysis method is a combination of deductive and inductive content analysis.

Findings

This study offers a rich description of the interaction among the behavioural, situational and individual factors influencing leaders during the various stages of the global COVID-19 crisis.

Originality/value

Highlighting the role of leaders' personal reflections on the interaction between resilience factors and leaders' identity work, this paper contributes to the field by introducing an extended model of leader resilience.
Demographic study of the box tree moth Cydalima perspectalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) feeding on Buxus hyrcana (Buxales: Buxaceae)
Authors: Loghmani Ghodsiyeh , Rahmani Shima , Kiadaliri Hadi
Published: November 2023

Cydalima perspectalis (Walker 1859) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) is a destructive pest that has recently been reported from the ancient Hyrcanian forests feeding on leaves and shoots of Buxus hyrcana Pojarkova.

To gain a deeper insight into the biology and population dynamics of C. perspectalis, a laboratory population was studied under controlled conditions. The moth was reared on B. hyrcana at 25 ± 1°C, 65 ± 10% RH and 16 h:8 h (L:D), and the data obtained were used to build a life table, adjusted to allow for the evaluation of the stage duration, for both males and females.

The mean adult survival was 11.94 ± 0.26 days, the pre‐oviposition period lasted, on average, for 6.71 ± 0.18 days and the mean fecundity attained was 58.19 ± 7.81 eggs/female. Newly emerged females had a life expectancy (exj) of 14 days and males 19 days.

The intrinsic rate of increase for the population was 0.05 ± 0.00 days−1, and the net reproductive rate was 24.05 ± 3.95 offspring/female. The biological and ecological data obtained allowed for the estimation of C. perspectalis biotic potential, thus contributing to the development of sustainable control methods for this pest and, consequently, to a reduction of the damage caused to box trees.
Implicit association tests: Stimuli validation from participant responses
Authors: Hogenboom Sally A. M. , Schulz Katrin , van Maanen Leendert
Published: November 2023

The Implicit Association Test (IAT, Greenwald et al., J. Pers. Soc. Psychol., 74, 1998, 1464) is a popular instrument for measuring attitudes and (stereotypical) biases. Greenwald et al. (Behav. Res. Methods, 54, 2021, 1161) proposed a concrete method for validating IAT stimuli: appropriate stimuli should be familiar and easy to classify – translating to rapid (response times <800 ms) and accurate (error < 10%) participant responses. We conducted three analyses to explore the theoretical and practical utility of these proposed validation criteria. We first applied the proposed validation criteria to the data of 15 IATs that were available via Project Implicit. A bootstrap approach with 10,000 ‘experiments’ of 100 participants showed that 5.85% of stimuli were reliably valid (i.e., we are more than 95% confident that a stimulus will also be valid in a new sample of 18‐ to 25–year‐old US participants). Most stimuli (78.44%) could not be reliably validated, indicating a less than 5% certainty in the outcome of stimulus (in)validity for a new sample of participants. We then explored how stimulus validity differs across IATs. Results show that only some stimuli are consistently (in)valid. Most stimuli show between‐IAT variances, which indicate that stimulus validity differs across IAT contexts. In the final analysis, we explored the effect of stimulus type (images, nouns, names, adjectives) on stimulus validity. Stimulus type was a significant predictor of stimulus validity. Although images attain the highest stimulus validity, raw data show large differences within stimulus types. Together, the results indicate a need for revised validation criteria. We finish with practical recommendations for stimulus selection and (post‐hoc) stimulus validation.
Design in Translational Research: Co‐creating for the Future of Healthcare Design at the Live Well Collaborative
Authors: Ilhan Isil Oygur , Vogel Craig M. , Dunseath Linda
Published: November 2023

Translational research targets implementing knowledge from labs, clinics, and the community in healthcare practice.

Great partnerships provide an excellent setting for innovative design to take place. See how many pieces have fallen into place to implement translational research in a healthcare setting—a partnership that's leading to better health outcomes.
Association of possible sarcopenia with major chronic diseases and multimorbidity among middle‐aged and older adults: Findings from a national cross‐sectional study in China
Authors: Zhao Xiaoguang , Zhang Hongjun , Yu Jiabin , Wang Jin
Published: November 2023

Aim

This study investigated the prevalence of possible sarcopenia (PSA) in a large sample of middle‐aged and older adults, and determined the association between PSA, major chronic diseases and the number of chronic diseases.

Methods

A total of 14 917 adults aged ≥40 years were included in the analysis. The handgrip strength and the five‐time chair stand test were used to assess PSA. The participants' major chronic diseases were divided into 14 categories. Four categories were created based on the participants' number of chronic illnesses: 0, 1, 2 and ≥3.

Results

The present study found an overall prevalence of PSA of 23.6% among Chinese middle‐aged and older adults aged ≥40 years, with the risk increasing with advancing age. PSA was significantly associated with most categories of chronic diseases and multimorbidity. The closely independent associations were obtained for stroke; emotional, nervous or psychiatric problems; chronic lung disease, asthma, heart disease, hypertension and arthritis or rheumatism. Compared with participants with 0 chronic disease, those with two or more chronic diseases had higher odds for PSA. However, the association between PSA and the number of chronic diseases varied in different sex and age groups.

Conclusions

The findings suggest that PSA is associated with major chronic diseases among middle‐aged and older adults. People with two or more chronic diseases have a greater likelihood of PSA compared with those without chronic diseases, and the association between PSA and the number of chronic diseases largely depended on sex and age. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2023; 23: 925–931.
The presence of native aromatic species in understorey plant communities predicts reduced infestation by olive fruit flies in olive orchards on Lesvos Island
Authors: Stattegger Sophie R. , Tscheulin Thomas , Mescher Mark C. , Kizos Thanasis , De Moraes Consuelo M. , Meyer Stefan
Published: November 2023

The olive fruit fly (Bactrocera oleae) (Rossi) is the most economically important insect pest in many olive cultivation areas worldwide. However, levels of infestation by this pest show remarkable variability, even among orchards in close proximity to one another. While the factors driving this variability remain uncertain, there is evidence that the presence of native plants species can influence pest populations in agro‐ecosystems via various mechanisms, suggesting that variation in the composition of understorey plant communities might plausibly play a role. In this study, we first used field trapping and plant community surveys to explore the effect of the native understorey plants Cistus creticus (Cistaceae), Lavandula stoechas (Lamiaceae), Origanum onites (Lamiaceae) and Sarcopoterium spinosum (Rosaceae) on the abundance of B. oleae across 40 olive orchards on Lesvos Island (Greece). These four plant species are widely spread in many olive orchards. Our results revealed a relationship between the plant community and the intensity of flies captured in McPhail traps, and identified the plant species C. creticus and S. spinosum whose presence was negatively correlated with fly abundance (estimate = −0.047, −0.091, respectively). The subsequent laboratory behavioural experiments revealed that exposure to olfactory cues from C. creticus and S. spinosum reduced fly attraction to odours from the olive host (Olea europaea) by 10%. These results thus reveal a relationship between the infestation levels by B. oleae and the composition of the plant community in olive orchards on Lesvos and suggest a plausible mechanism via which olfactory cues from native aromatic species might influence fly recruitment. More generally, these findings highlight the potentially important role of understorey communities in mediating resistance to B. oleae and other agricultural pests.
Rapamycin extenuates experimental colitis by modulating the gut microbiota
Authors: Guo Xue , Xu Jing , Huang Chen , Zhang Yan , Zhao Hailan , Zhu Minzheng , Wang Jiaqi , Nie Yuqiang , Xu Haoming , Zhou Yongjian , Zhou Youlian
Published: November 2023

Background and Aim

Autophagy and gut microbiota correlates closely with the inflammatory bowel disease. Herein, we aimed to study the roles of rapamycin on the gut microbiota in inflammatory bowel disease.

Methods

Acute colitis was induced with dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) and 2,4,6‐trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid solution in mice. Mice were administered with rapamycin or hydroxychloroquine. Weight loss, disease activity index scores, histopathological score, serum inflammatory cytokines, intestinal permeability, and colonic autophagy‐related proteins were detected. Cecal content was also preserved in liquid nitrogen and subsequently analyzed following the 16S DNA sequencing. The antibiotic cocktail‐induced microbiome depletion was performed to further investigate the relationship between autophagy activation and gut microbiota.

Results

Compared with the control group, the colonic autophagy‐related proteins of P62, mTOR, and p‐mTOR increased significantly, while the levels of LC3B and ATG16L1 decreased (all P < 0.05) in the model group. After rapamycin intervention, the colonic pathology of mice improved, while the disease activity index score decreased substantially; the colon length increased, and the expression of IL‐6 and TNF‐α decreased. Following hydroxychloroquine treatment, some indicators suggested aggravation of colitis. Principal coordinates analysis showed that the DSS group was located on a separate branch from the rapamycin group but was closer to the hydroxychloroquine group. Compared with the DSS group, the rapamycin group was associated with higher abundances of f_Lactobacillaceae (P = 0.0151), f_Deferribacteraceae (P = 0.0290), g_Lactobacillus (P = 0.0151), g_Mucispirillum (P = 0.0137), s_Lactobacillus_reuteri (P = 0.0028), and s_Clostridium_sp_Culture_Jar‐13 (P = 0.0082) and a lower abundance of s_Bacteroides_sartorii (P = 0.0180). Linear discriminant analysis effect size showed that rapamycin increased the abundances of Lactobacillus‐reuteri, Prevotellaceae, Paraprevotella, Christensenella and Streptococcus and decreased those of Peptostreptococcaceae and Romboutsia Bacteroides‐sartorii. Besides, the improvement effect of autophagy activation on colitis disappears following gut microbiome depletion.

Conclusion

The therapeutic effects of rapamycin on extenuating experimental colitis may be related to the gut microbiota.