bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Māori Approach to Environmental Economics: Te ao tūroa, te ao hurihuri, te ao mārama—The Old World, a Changing World, a World of Light
Authors: Rout Matthew , Awatere Shaun , Mika Jason Paul , Reid John , Roskruge Matthew
Published: August 2021

Māori, the Indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand, have an intrinsically environmental approach to economics. This approach—informed by the Māori worldview—was refined over the first millennium of inhabitation, before colonization brought the intrusion of Western institutions and the consequent involution of Māori institutions. Māori view humans as embedded within a wider nonhuman community of nature that is simultaneously spiritual and material. Māori understand “nature” as a unified spiritual-socioecology. Economics is just one facet of this whole, a facet fundamentally entwined with the whole such that all economic relationships have inherently social, spiritual, and ecological elements. At the core of Māori relationships with nature is the ethic of kaitiakitanga, or the act of guardianship over the spiritual-socioecology. Māori have a responsibility to actively care for their human and nonhuman community, to act with mana (authority and dignity), to respect nature’s tapu (sacredness), and to maintain nature’s mauri (life force). The Māori economy is underpinned by an integrated, nuanced, and adaptive framework of beliefs and institutions that constrains decision-making, ensuring the consideration of the human, nonhuman, and spiritual domains across time while simultaneously being calibrated toward delivering mutually beneficial outcomes within kin-group networks. This ensures that economic success does not come at the expense of other people, nature, or future generations. An economy based on a Māori worldview is, fundamentally, an environmental economy.

Following colonization, Māori suffered a loss of mana. Land was sold below market rate or stolen, and after massive deforestation and significant loss of native flora and fauna, Aotearoa New Zealand’s tapu was desecrated and its mauri reduced. In the mid- to late-20th century, Māori political activism and a resultant tribunal examining actions and omissions by the state during land acquisition resulted in Māori regaining mana. Consequently, Māori have overcome the drastic change in rights to their remaining land to act as kaitiaki (guardians) of this remaining land in ways both congruent with traditional practices (te ao tūroa) and adapted to changed context (te ao hurihuri). Māori have realigned the imposed governance structures of their organizations to reinstate their original focus on the intergenerational well-being of human and nonhuman communities, reinvigorating the influence of mana in business, and its capacity to create a virtuous circle. Māori have managed to thrive in the settler and global economy not despite their environmentally grounded economic approach, but because of it.
Cartilage Curvature Reshaping: A Quantitative Assessment
Authors: As’adi Kamran , Hashemian Seyed Jafar , Salehi Seyed Hamid , Mousavi Seyed Jaber
Published: August 2021

Background

Horizontal mattress suturing is frequently performed during rhinoplasty and otoplasty procedures to control the curvature of the cartilages. Despite the popularity of this technique, there are no quantitative methods for determining the effects of mattress sutures in the cartilage reshaping.

Objectives

The aim of this experimental study was to quantify the straightening effect of mattress suturing on the convexity of ear cartilage in a rabbit model.

Methods

Eleven young adult male New Zealand white rabbits were used in this study. A horizontal mattress suture with spacing 3 mm × 6 mm was placed in a rectangle demarcated on the left ear in the area with maximum convexity. Preoperative and postoperative photographs were taken before and immediately after surgery, respectively. The radius of curvature (ROC), the first-order derivative (FOD), and the second-order derivative (SOD) were calculated to quantify the net cartilage reshaping, the changes in each point, and the homogeneity of the newly shaped cartilage, respectively.

Results

The mean ROCs were 1.112 cm and 2.169 cm before and after surgery, respectively, and this increase was statistically significant. The mean FOD for each point slope index was statistically lower after surgery (0.269 before surgery vs 0.135 after surgery). The mean SOD also significantly decreased after surgery (0.007 before surgery vs 0.003 after surgery). The values of the SOD remained positive after surgery, indicating that changes in the curvature were homogeneous.

Conclusions

A quantitative measurement method was introduced to directly quantify the controlling effect of a mattress suture. This method makes it possible to achieve the important task of comparing the effect of horizontal mattress suturing with that of other cartilage-reshaping techniques.
A de novo protein structure prediction by iterative partition sampling, topology adjustment and residue-level distance deviation optimization
Authors: Liu Jun , Zhao Kai-Long , He Guang-Xing , Wang Liu-Jing , Zhou Xiao-Gen , Zhang Gui-Jun
Published: August 2021

Motivation

With the great progress of deep learning-based inter-residue contact/distance prediction, the discrete space formed by fragment assembly cannot satisfy the distance constraint well. Thus, the optimal solution of the continuous space may not be achieved. Designing an effective closed-loop continuous dihedral angle optimization strategy that complements the discrete fragment assembly is crucial to improve the performance of the distance-assisted fragment assembly method.

Results

In this article, we proposed a de novo protein structure prediction method called IPTDFold based on closed-loop iterative partition sampling, topology adjustment and residue-level distance deviation optimization. First, local dihedral angle crossover and mutation operators are designed to explore the conformational space extensively and achieve information exchange between the conformations in the population. Then, the dihedral angle rotation model of loop region with partial inter-residue distance constraints is constructed, and the rotation angle satisfying the constraints is obtained by differential evolution algorithm, so as to adjust the spatial position relationship between the secondary structures. Finally, the residue distance deviation is evaluated according to the difference between the conformation and the predicted distance, and the dihedral angle of the residue is optimized with biased probability. The final model is generated by iterating the above three steps. IPTDFold is tested on 462 benchmark proteins, 24 FM targets of CASP13 and 20 FM targets of CASP14. Results show that IPTDFold is significantly superior to the distance-assisted fragment assembly method Rosetta_D (Rosetta with distance). In particular, the prediction accuracy of IPTDFold does not decrease as the length of the protein increases. When using the same FastRelax protocol, the prediction accuracy of IPTDFold is significantly superior to that of trRosetta without orientation constraints, and is equivalent to that of the full version of trRosetta.

Availabilityand implementation

The source code and executable are freely available at https://github.com/iobio-zjut/IPTDFold.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Microbial Cell-Free DNA Identifies Etiology of Bloodstream Infections, Persists Longer Than Conventional Blood Cultures, and Its Duration of Detection Is Associated With Metastatic Infection in Patients With Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-Negative Bacteremia
Authors: Eichenberger Emily M , de Vries Christiaan R , Ruffin Felicia , Sharma-Kuinkel Batu , Park Lawrence , Hong David , Scott Erick R , Blair Lily , Degner Nicholas , Hollemon Desiree H , Blauwkamp Timothy A , Ho Carine , Seng Hon , Shah Pratik , Wanda Lisa , Fowler Vance G , Ahmed Asim A
Published: August 2021

Background

Microbial cell-free DNA (mcfDNA) sequencing of plasma can identify the presence of a pathogen in a host. In this study, we evaluated the duration of pathogen detection by mcfDNA sequencing vs conventional blood culture in patients with bacteremia.

Methods

Blood samples from patients with culture-confirmed bloodstream infection were collected within 24 hours of the index positive blood culture and 48 to 72 hours thereafter. mcfDNA was extracted from plasma, and next-generation sequencing was applied. Reads were aligned against a curated pathogen database. Statistical significance was defined with Bonferroni adjustment for multiple comparisons (P < .0033).

Results

A total of 175 patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (n = 66), gram-negative bacteremia (n = 74), or noninfected controls (n = 35) were enrolled. The overall sensitivity of mcfDNA sequencing compared with index blood culture was 89.3% (125 of 140), and the specificity was 74.3%. Among patients with bacteremia, pathogen-specific mcfDNA remained detectable for significantly longer than conventional blood cultures (median 15 days vs 2 days; P < .0001). Each additional day of mcfDNA detection significantly increased the odds of metastatic infection (odds ratio, 2.89; 95% confidence interval, 1.53–5.46; P = .0011).

Conclusions

Pathogen mcfDNA identified the bacterial etiology of bloodstream infection for a significantly longer interval than conventional cultures, and its duration of detection was associated with increased risk for metastatic infection. mcfDNA could play a role in the diagnosis of partially treated endovascular infections.
Positional behavior and canopy use of black snub-nosed monkeys Rhinopithecus strykeri in the Gaoligong Mountains, Yunnan, China
Authors: Yang Yin , Youlatos Dionisios , Behie Alison M , Belbeisi Roula Al , Huang Zhipang , Tian Yinping , Wang Bin , Zhou Linchun , Xiao Wen
Published: August 2021

Studies on positional behavior and canopy use are essential for understanding how arboreal animals adapt their morphological characteristics and behaviors to the challenges of their environment. This study explores canopy and substrate use along with positional behavior in adult black snub-nosed monkeys Rhinopithecus strykeri, an endemic, critically endangered primate species in Gaoligong Mountains, southwest China. Using continuous focal animal sampling, we collected data over a 52-month period and found that R. strykeri is highly arboreal primarily using the high layers of the forest canopy (15–30 m), along with the terminal zone of tree crowns (52.9%), medium substrates (41.5%), and oblique substrates (56.8%). We also found sex differences in canopy and substrate use. Females use the terminal zones (56.7% versus 40.4%), small/medium (77.7% versus 60.1%), and oblique (59.9% versus 46.5%) substrates significantly more than males. On the other hand, males spend more time on large/very large (39.9% versus 22.3%) and horizontal (49.7% versus 35.2%) substrates. Whereas both sexes mainly sit (84.7%), and stand quadrupedally (9.1%), males stand quadrupedally (11.5% versus 8.3%), and bipedally (2.9% versus 0.8%) more often than females. Clamber, quadrupedalism, and leap/drop are the main locomotor modes for both sexes. Rhinopithecus strykeri populations never enter canopies of degenerated secondary forest and mainly use terminal branches in the middle and upper layers of canopies in intact mid-montane moist evergreen broadleaf forest and hemlock coniferous broadleaf mixed forests across their habitat.
Comparative frequency and prognostic impact of myocardial injury in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and Influenza
Authors: Biasco Luigi , Klersy Catherine , Beretta Giulia S , Valgimigli Marco , Valotta Amabile , Gabutti Luca , Bruna Roberto Della , Pagnamenta Alberto , Tersalvi Gregorio , Ruinelli Lorenzo , Artero Andrea , Senatore Gaetano , Jüni Peter , Pedrazzini Giovanni B
Published: August 2021

Aims

Myocardial injury (MINJ) in Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) identifies individuals at high mortality risk but its clinical relevance is less well established for Influenza and no comparative analyses evaluating frequency and clinical implications of MINJ among hospitalized patients with Influenza or COVID-19 are available.

Methods and results

Hospitalized adults with laboratory confirmed Influenza A or B or COVID-19 underwent highly sensitive cardiac T Troponin (hs-cTnT) measurement at admission in four regional hospitals in Canton Ticino, Switzerland. MINJ was defined as hs-cTnT >14 ng/L. Clinical, laboratory and outcome data were retrospectively collected. The primary outcome was mortality up to 28 days. Cox regression models were used to assess correlations between admission diagnosis, MINJ, and mortality. Clinical correlates of MINJ in both viral diseases were also identified. MINJ occurred in 94 (65.5%) out of 145 patients hospitalized for Influenza and 216 (47.8%) out of 452 patients hospitalized for COVID-19. Advanced age and renal impairment were factors associated with MINJ in both diseases. At 28 days, 7 (4.8%) deaths occurred among Influenza and 76 deaths (16.8%) among COVID-19 patients with a hazard ratio (HR) of 3.69 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.70–8.00]. Adjusted Cox regression models showed admission diagnosis of COVID-19 [HR 6.41 (95% CI 4.05–10.14)] and MINJ [HR 8.01 (95% CI 4.64–13.82)] to be associated with mortality.

Conclusions

Myocardial injury is frequent among both viral diseases and increases the risk of death in both COVID-19 and Influenza. The absolute risk of death is considerably higher in patients admitted for COVID-19 when compared with Influenza.
Pathways From Early-Life SES to Dementia Risk in Old Age: The Role of Personality
Authors: Sesker Amanda A , O’Súilleabháin Páraic S , Lee Ji Hyun , Aschwanden Damaris , Luchetti Martina , Stephan Yannick , Terracciano Antonio , Sutin Angelina R
Published: August 2021

Objectives

This study investigates the association between childhood socioeconomic status (cSES) and risk of cognitive impairment in older adulthood, and whether the Five-Factor Model personality traits mediated this association.

Methods

A sample of 9,995 participants (mean age = 67.01 years) from the Health and Retirement Study were followed up every 2 years from 2006 to 2018. cSES was tested as a predictor of risk of dementia and risk of cognitive impairment not dementia (CIND). Personality was tested as a mediator of these associations. Models were adjusted for age, gender, ethnicity, race, education, and baseline year.

Results

Although effect sizes were modest, results indicated that lower cSES was associated with a higher risk of dementia (hazard ratio = 0.88 [0.775–0.985]). Higher cSES was also associated with higher conscientiousness and lower neuroticism. Conscientiousness and neuroticism each accounted for 7.9% of the total effect of cSES on dementia. Results were similar for CIND.

Discussion

Early childhood socioeconomic factors may contribute to cognitive impairment in older adulthood, an association mediated, in part, through adult personality traits.
Improving depth estimations of African earthquakes using teleseismic data, and influence for the East-African rift seismic hazard characterization
Authors: Gounon Alisson , Letort Jean , Cotton Fabrice , Weatherill Graeme , Sylvander Matthieu , Latour Soumaya
Published: August 2021

Well-constrained earthquake depth estimations are important for seismic hazard determination. As local networks of the East-African Rift are usually too sparse for reliable depth estimations, we used detections of pP and sP phase arrivals (the so-called depth phases) at teleseismic distance to constrain earthquake depths in this region. We rely on a fully automatic Cepstral analysis approach, first validated at the global scale using the ISC-EHB catalogue, then applied on the East-African seismicity. We investigated 9575 earthquakes from magnitude 2 since 2005 which allows us to constrain the depth estimation of 584 events with magnitude mainly above 3.5, complemented by 139 reliable depth estimations from previous studies based on teleseismic data as well. To ensure a final catalogue as complete as possible, we also identified from regional catalogues 113 earthquakes assumed to be well constrained, based on network geometry empirical criteria. Thanks to this study, we finally propose new earthquake depth distributions for the seismic source zonation defined by Poggi et al., in order to estimate the seismic hazard of the East African Rift region. Including those new distributions in the source models leads to significant changes of seismic hazard assessments results.
Impact of a multifaceted intervention to improve emergency care on newborn and child health outcomes in Rwanda
Authors: Hategeka Celestin , Lynd Larry D , Kenyon Cynthia , Tuyisenge Lisine , Law Michael R
Published: August 2021

Implementing context-appropriate neonatal and paediatric advanced life support management interventions has increasingly been recommended as one of the approaches to reduce under-five mortality in resource-constrained settings like Rwanda. One such intervention is ETAT+, which stands for Emergency Triage, Assessment and Treatment plus Admission care for severely ill newborns and children. In 2013, ETAT+ was implemented in Rwandan district hospitals. We evaluated the impact of the ETAT+ intervention on newborn and child health outcomes. We used monthly time-series data from the DHIS2-enabled Rwanda Health Management Information System from 2012 to 2016 to examine neonatal and paediatric hospital mortality rates. Each hospital contributed data for 12 and 36 months before and after ETAT+ implementation, respectively. Using controlled interrupted time-series analysis and segmented regression model, we estimated longitudinal changes in neonatal and paediatric hospital mortality rates in intervention hospitals relative to matched concurrent control hospitals. We also studied changes in case fatality rate specifically for ETAT+-targeted conditions. Our study cohort consisted of 7 intervention hospitals and 14 matched control hospitals contributing 142 424 neonatal and paediatric hospital admissions. After controlling for secular trends and autocorrelations, we found that the ETAT+ implementation had no statistically significant impact on the rate of all-cause neonatal and paediatric hospital mortality in intervention hospitals relative to control hospitals. However, the case fatality rate for ETAT+-targeted neonatal conditions decreased immediately following implementation by 5% (95% confidence interval: −9.25, −0.77) and over time by 0.8% monthly (95% confidence interval: −1.36, −0.25) in intervention hospitals compared with control hospitals. Case fatality rate for ETAT+-targeted paediatric conditions did not decrease following the ETAT+ implementation. While ETAT+ focuses on improving the quality of hospital care for both newborns and children, we only found an impact on neonatal hospital mortality for ETAT+-targeted conditions that should be interpreted with caution given the relatively short pre-intervention period and potential regression to the mean.
Decreased Susceptibility to Dihydrofolate Reductase Inhibitors Associated With Genetic Polymorphisms in Ugandan Plasmodium falciparum Isolates
Authors: Kreutzfeld Oriana , Tumwebaze Patrick K , Byaruhanga Oswald , Katairo Thomas , Okitwi Martin , Orena Stephen , Rasmussen Stephanie A , Legac Jennifer , Conrad Melissa D , Nsobya Sam L , Aydemir Ozkan , Bailey Jeffrey A , Duffey Maelle , Cooper Roland A , Rosenthal Philip J
Published: August 2021

Background

The Plasmodium falciparum dihydrofolate reductase (PfDHFR) inhibitors pyrimethamine and cycloguanil (the active metabolite of proguanil) have important roles in malaria chemoprevention, but drug resistance challenges their efficacies. A new compound, P218, was designed to overcome resistance, but drug-susceptibility data for P falciparum field isolates are limited.

Methods

We studied ex vivo PfDHFR inhibitor susceptibilities of 559 isolates from Tororo and Busia districts, Uganda, from 2016 to 2020, sequenced 383 isolates, and assessed associations between genotypes and drug-susceptibility phenotypes.

Results

Median half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50s) were 42 100 nM for pyrimethamine, 1200 nM for cycloguanil, 13000 nM for proguanil, and 0.6 nM for P218. Among sequenced isolates, 3 PfDHFR mutations, 51I (100%), 59R (93.7%), and 108N (100%), were very common, as previously seen in Uganda, and another mutation, 164L (12.8%), had moderate prevalence. Increasing numbers of mutations were associated with decreasing susceptibility to pyrimethamine, cycloguanil, and P218, but not proguanil, which does not act directly against PfDHFR. Differences in P218 susceptibilities were modest, with median IC50s of 1.4 nM for parasites with mixed genotype at position 164 and 5.7 nM for pure quadruple mutant (51I/59R/108N/164L) parasites.

Conclusions

Resistance-mediating PfDHFR mutations were common in Ugandan isolates, but P218 retained excellent activity against mutant parasites.
Fine cryo-SEM observation of the microstructure of emulsions frozen via high-pressure freezing
Authors: Nishino Yuri , Miyazaki Kanako , Kaise Mizuho , Miyazawa Atsuo
Published: August 2021

An emulsion, a type of soft matter, is complexed with at least two materials in the liquid state (e.g. water and oil). Emulsions are classified into two types: water in oil (W/O) and oil in water (O/W), depending on the strength of the emulsifier. The properties and behavior of emulsions are directly correlated with the size, number, localization and structure of the dispersed phases in the continuous phase. Therefore, an understanding of the microstructure comprising liquid-state emulsions is essential for producing and evaluating these emulsions. Generally, it is impossible for conventional electron microscopy to examine liquid specimens, such as emulsion. Recent advances in cryo-scanning electron microscopy (cryo-SEM) could allow us to visualize the microstructure of the emulsions in a frozen state. Immersion freezing in slush nitrogen has often been used for preparing the frozen samples of soft matters. This preparation could generate ice crystals, and they would deform the microstructure of specimens. High-pressure freezing contributes to the inhibition of ice-crystal formation and is commonly used for preparing frozen biological samples with high moisture content. In this study, we compared the microstructures of immersion-frozen and high-pressure frozen emulsions (O/W and W/O types, respectively). The cryo-SEM observations suggested that high-pressure freezing is more suitable for preserving the microstructure of emulsions than immersion freezing.
Strategies of grain number determination differentiate barley row types
Authors: Thirulogachandar Venkatasubbu , Koppolu Ravi , Schnurbusch Thorsten
Published: August 2021

Gaining knowledge on fundamental interactions of various yield components is crucial to improve yield potential in small grain cereals. It is well known in barley that increasing grain number greatly improves yield potential; however, the yield components determining grain number and their association in barley row types are less explored. In this study, we assessed different yield components such as potential spikelet number (PSN), spikelet survival (SSL), spikelet number (SN), grain set (GS), and grain survival (GSL), as well as their interactions with grain number by using a selected panel of two- and six-rowed barley types. Also, to analyze the stability of these interactions, we performed the study in the greenhouse and the field. From this study, we found that in two-rowed barley, grain number determination is strongly influenced by PSN rather than SSL and/or GS in both growth conditions. Conversely, in six-rowed barley, grain number is associated with SSL instead of PSN and/or GS. Thus, our study showed that increasing grain number might be possible by augmenting PSN in two-rowed genotypes, while for six-rowed genotypes SSL needs to be improved. We speculate that this disparity of grain number determination in barley row types might be due to the fertility of lateral spikelets. Collectively, this study revealed that grain number in two-rowed barley largely depends on the developmental trait, PSN, while in six-rowed barley, it mainly follows the ability for SSL.
The dual-targeted prolyl aminopeptidase PAP1 is involved in proline accumulation in response to stress and during pollen development
Authors: Ghifari Abi S , Teixeira Pedro F , Kmiec Beata , Singh Neha , Glaser Elzbieta , Murcha Monika W
Published: August 2021

Plant endosymbiotic organelles such as mitochondria and chloroplasts harbour a wide array of biochemical reactions. As a part of protein homeostasis to maintain organellar activity and stability, unwanted proteins and peptides need to be completely degraded in a stepwise mechanism termed the processing pathway, where at the last stage single amino acids are released by aminopeptidases. Here, we determined the molecular and physiological functions of a prolyl aminopeptidase homologue PAP1 (At2g14260) that is able to release N-terminal proline. Transcript analyses demonstrate that an alternative transcription start site gives rise to two alternative transcripts, generating two in-frame proteins PAP1.1 and PAP1.2. Subcellular localization studies revealed that the longer isoform PAP1.1, which contains a 51 residue N-terminal extension, is exclusively targeted to chloroplasts, while the truncated isoform PAP1.2 is located in the cytosol. Distinct expression patterns in different tissues and developmental stages were observed. Investigations into the physiological role of PAP1 using loss-of-function mutants revealed that PAP1 activity may be involved in proline homeostasis and accumulation, required for pollen development and tolerance to osmotic stress. Enzymatic activity, subcellular location, and expression patterns of PAP1 suggest a role in the chloroplastic peptide processing pathway and proline homeostasis.
Cytokinin regulates apical hook development via the coordinated actions of EIN3/EIL1 and PIF transcription factors in Arabidopsis
Authors: Aizezi Yalikunjiang , Shu Huazhang , Zhang Linlin , Zhao Hongming , Peng Yang , Lan Hongxia , Xie Yinpeng , Li Jian , Wang Yichuan , Guo Hongwei , Jiang Kai
Published: August 2021

The apical hook is indispensable for protecting the delicate shoot apical meristem while dicot seedlings emerge from soil after germination in darkness. The development of the apical hook is co-ordinately regulated by multiple phytohormones and environmental factors. Yet, a holistic understanding of the spatial–temporal interactions between different phytohormones and environmental factors remains to be achieved. Using a chemical genetic approach, we identified kinetin riboside, as a proxy of kinetin, which promotes apical hook development of Arabidopsis thaliana in a partially ethylene-signaling-independent pathway. Further genetic and biochemical analysis revealed that cytokinin is able to regulate apical hook development via post-transcriptional regulation of the PHYTOCHROME INTERACTING FACTORs (PIFs), together with its canonical roles in inducing ethylene biosynthesis. Dynamic observations of apical hook development processes showed that ETHYLENE INSENSITVE3 (EIN3) and EIN3-LIKE1 (EIL1) are necessary for the exaggeration of hook curvature in response to cytokinin, while PIFs are crucial for the cytokinin-induced maintenance of hook curvature in darkness. Furthermore, these two families of transcription factors display divergent roles in light-triggered hook opening. Our findings reveal that cytokinin integrates ethylene signaling and light signaling via EIN3/EIL1 and PIFs, respectively, to dynamically regulate apical hook development during early seedling development.
Two Genomic Loci Control Three Eye Colors in the Domestic Pigeon (Columba livia)
Authors: Maclary Emily T , Phillips Bridget , Wauer Ryan , Boer Elena F , Bruders Rebecca , Gilvarry Tyler , Holt Carson , Yandell Mark , Shapiro Michael D
Published: August 2021

The iris of the eye shows striking color variation across vertebrate species, and may play important roles in crypsis and communication. The domestic pigeon (Columba livia) has three common iris colors, orange, pearl (white), and bull (dark brown), segregating in a single species, thereby providing a unique opportunity to identify the genetic basis of iris coloration. We used comparative genomics and genetic mapping in laboratory crosses to identify two candidate genes that control variation in iris color in domestic pigeons. We identified a nonsense mutation in the solute carrier SLC2A11B that is shared among all pigeons with pearl eye color, and a locus associated with bull eye color that includes EDNRB2, a gene involved in neural crest migration and pigment development. However, bull eye is likely controlled by a heterogeneous collection of alleles across pigeon breeds. We also found that the EDNRB2 region is associated with regionalized plumage depigmentation (piebalding). Our study identifies two candidate genes for eye colors variation, and establishes a genetic link between iris and plumage color, two traits that vary widely in the evolution of birds and other vertebrates.
The intersection of mineralocorticoid receptor activation and the FGF23–Klotho cascade: a duopoly that promotes renal and cardiovascular injury
Authors: Epstein Murray , Freundlich Michael
Published: August 2021

The nexus of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) amplifies the morbidity and mortality of CKD, emphasizing the need for defining and establishing therapeutic initiatives to modify and abrogate the progression of CKD and concomitant CV risks. In addition to the traditional CV risk factors, disturbances of mineral metabolism are specific risk factors that contribute to the excessive CV mortality in patients with CKD. These risk factors include dysregulations of circulating factors that modulate phosphate metabolism, including fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) and soluble Klotho. Reduced circulating levels and suppressed renal Klotho expression may be associated with adverse outcomes in CKD patients. While elevated circulating concentrations or locally produced FGF23 in the strained heart exert prohypertrophic mechanisms on the myocardium, Klotho attenuates tissue fibrosis, progression of CKD, cardiomyopathy, endothelial dysfunction, vascular stiffness and vascular calcification. Mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) activation in nonclassical targets, mediated by aldosterone and other ligands, amplifies CVD in CKD. In concert, we detail how the interplay of elevated FGF23, activation of the MR and concomitant reductions of circulating Klotho in CKD may potentiate each other’s deleterious effects on the kidney and heart, thereby contributing to the initiation and progression of kidney and cardiac functional deterioration, acting through multipronged, albeit complementary, mechanistic pathways.
First E-Cigarette Flavor and Device Type Used: Associations With Vaping Persistence, Frequency, and Dependence in Young Adults
Authors: Sargent James D , Stoolmiller Mike , Dai Hongying , Barrington-Trimis Jessica L , McConnell Rob , Audrain-McGovern Janet , Leventhal Adam M
Published: August 2021

Introduction

Type of e-cigarette flavoring and device during first use might differentiate later e-cigarette use and dependence. This retrospective cross-sectional study examined associations of recalled first nicotine vaping device and flavor used with current vaping frequency/dependence.

Aims and Methods

A young adult cohort from Los Angeles, California, USA completed web-based surveys (N = 2553). Using cross-sectional data from 971 reporting ever vaping nicotine, multivariable hurdle regressions tested associations between recalled first flavor (fruit/sweet, menthol/mint, other) and device (Juul, disposable, mod, box, pod, pen, other) vaped with past-30-day vaping status (yes/no) and frequency (1–30 days), and with any vaping dependence symptoms (yes/no) and count (1–10 symptoms).

Results

The most common first-flavor was sweet (71%); the most common first-device was a vape pen (37%), then Juul (22%). First-flavor of mint/menthol (vs. other; adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 2.22[95% CI = 1.16 to 4.25]), and first-device mod (AOR = 2.40[95% CI = 1.34 to 4.31]) and non-Juul pod (2.64[95% CI = 1.41 to 4.92]) (vs. pen) were associated with past-30-day vaping, and twice as many vaping days (adjusted rate ratios [ARRs] range: 1.96–2.12; ps < .05). First flavor of mint/menthol (vs. other; AOR: 1.95[95% CI = 1.003 to 3.79) and first device mod, box, non-Juul pod, and other (AORs range: 2.36–4.01; ps < .05) were associated with nicotine dependence. First device Juul, mod, box, and non-Juul pod were also associated with more dependence symptoms (ARRs range:1.38–1.59; ps < .05).

Conclusions

Exposure to mint/menthol and certain devices (mod, box, Juul, and non-Juul pods) at first e-cigarette use may be associated with more frequent e-cigarette use and nicotine dependence symptoms in young adulthood. Mint/menthol and certain devices warrant consideration in regulation of e-cigarettes based on product characteristics.

Implications

Characteristics (flavor and device type) of first e-cigarette product used were associated with higher usage and more dependence. Pending replication with prospective designs, the findings suggest certain flavors (mint/menthol) and devices (pods, mods) merit consideration in regulation because of their possible link with continued use and dependence among young people.
HISTONE DEACETYLASE 6 suppresses salicylic acid biosynthesis to repress autoimmunity
Authors: Wu Zhenjiang , He Lei , Jin Ye , Chen Jing , Shi Huazhong , Wang Yizhong , Yang Wannian
Published: August 2021

Salicylic acid (SA) plays an important role for plant immunity, especially resistance against biotrophic pathogens. SA quickly accumulates after pathogen attack to activate downstream immunity events and is normally associated with a tradeoff in plant growth. Therefore, the SA level in plants has to be strictly controlled when pathogens are absent, but how this occurs is not well understood. Previously we found that in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), HISTONE DEACETYLASE 6 (HDA6), a negative regulator of gene expression, plays an essential role in plant immunity since its mutation allele shining 5 (shi5) exhibits autoimmune phenotypes. Here we report that this role is mainly through suppression of SA biosynthesis: first, the autoimmune phenotypes and higher resistance to Pst DC3000 of shi5 mutants depended on SA; second, SA significantly accumulated in shi5 mutants; third, HDA6 repressed SA biosynthesis by directly controlling the expression of CALMODULIN BINDING PROTEIN 60g (CBP60g) and SYSTEMIC ACQUIRED RESISTANCE DEFICIENT 1 (SARD1). HDA6 bound to the chromatin of CBP60g and SARD1 promoter regions, and histone H3 acetylation was highly enriched within these regions. Furthermore, the transcriptome of shi5 mutants mimicked that of plants treated with exogenous SA or attacked by pathogens. All these data suggest that HDA6 is vital for plants in finely controlling the SA level to regulate plant immunity.
An Improved Technique for Isolation and Characterization of Single-Spore Isolates of Plasmodiophora brassicae
Authors: Lv Mingcan , Liu Yifan , Wu Yue , Zhang Jing , Liu Xuyao , Ji Ruiqin , Feng Hui
Published: August 2021

Clubroot, caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae, is a soilborne disease that occurs in cruciferous crops worldwide. P. brassicae usually exists as a mixture of several pathotypes, which has hampered the research on resistance mechanisms of cruciferous crops against P. brassicae. In this study, clubroot galls were collected from a field in Shenyang, China, as a pathogen source to develop an efficient protocol for a single-spore isolation system of P. brassicae by optimizing the seedling age for inoculation, host inoculation method, and plant culture method. The operational steps of the single-spore isolation method were optimized as follows: the use of 2-day-old seedlings for inoculation, substituting a cryobox (100 × 2.0-ml vials) for culture dishes, the addition of nutrient solution culture, and microscopic observations of single spores. The rate of infection success was substantially improved, and single-spore isolates of four pathotypes (4, 8, 9, and 11) were acquired in this system. Subsequently, the optimized system was used to isolate and characterize the pathotypes of single-spore isolates of P. brassicae collected from five fields in regions in China. Approximately four to nine pathotypes were isolated from each region. Among these, pathotype 4 was the most prevalent. This study provides a source of valuable information that can eventually be used for the genetic analysis of host–P. brassicae interaction.
Floral Microbes Suppress Growth of Monilinia laxa with Minimal Effects on Honey Bee Feeding
Authors: Crowley-Gall Amber , Trouillas Florent P. , Niño Elina L. , Schaeffer Robert N. , Nouri Mohamed T. , Crespo Maria , Vannette Rachel L.
Published: August 2021

Management of Monilinia laxa, the causal agent of brown rot blossom blight in almond (Prunus dulcis), relies heavily on the use of chemical fungicides during bloom. However, chemical fungicides can have nontarget effects on beneficial arthropods, including pollinators, and select for resistance in the pathogen of concern. Almond yield is heavily reliant on successful pollination by healthy honey bees (Apis mellifera); thus, identifying sustainable, effective, and pollinator-friendly control methods for blossom blight during bloom is desirable. Flower-inhabiting microbes could provide a natural, sustainable form of biocontrol for M. laxa, while potentially minimizing costly nontarget effects on almond pollinators and the services they provide. As pollinators are sensitive to floral microbes and their associated taste and scent cues, assessing effects of prospective biocontrol species on pollinator attraction is also necessary. Here, our objective was to isolate and identify potential biocontrol microbes from an array of agricultural and natural flowering hosts and test their efficacy in suppressing M. laxa growth in culture. Out of an initial 287 bacterial and fungal isolates identified, 56 were screened using a dual culture plate assay. Most strains reduced M. laxa growth in vitro. Ten particularly effective candidate microbes were further screened for their effect on honey bee feeding. Of the 10, nine were found to both strongly suppress M. laxa growth in culture and not reduce honey bee feeding. These promising results suggest a number of strong candidates for augmentative microbial biocontrol of brown rot blossom blight in almond with potentially minimal effects on honey bee pollination.
Cognitive Rehabilitation Programs for Survivors of Breast Cancer Treated With Chemotherapy: A Systematic Review
Authors: Syed Alwi Syarifah Maisarah , Narayanan Vairavan , Che Din Normah , Mohd Taib Nur Aishah
Published: August 2021

Background:

Chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) is a condition experienced by many survivors of breast cancer. At present, there are a limited number of rehabilitation programs tailored to improve the cognitive performance of these survivors.

Purpose:

This systematic review aims to evaluate the existing evidence-based cognitive rehabilitation programs designed for survivors of breast cancer with CRCI.

Methods:

Electronic databases, including PubMed and CINAHL Plus, were used to identify the relevant articles. The search was restricted to studies published in the English language from inception to March 2020. The methodological quality of the studies included here was examined using the Quality Criteria for Rating Studies of Cognitive Rehabilitation.

Results:

The search strategy identified 1557 studies, 10 of which met the inclusion criteria. The studies included randomized controlled trial (n = 6), quasi-randomized controlled trial (n = 1), and single-arm trial (n = 3).

Discussion and Limitations:

Seven of the 10 studies were considered high-quality cognitive rehabilitation research. Cognitive training (n = 4), compensatory strategies (n = 5), and a combination of cognitive training and compensatory strategies (n = 1) were shown to improve executive function, working and verbal memory, processing speed, and attention.

Conclusion:

Cognitive rehabilitation programs demonstrated positive outcomes for survivors of breast cancer with cognitive impairment. However, because of methodological concerns and the diversity in the programs' parameters and outcome measures, an explicit recommendation could not be established. The findings may guide future research, policies, and practices related to cognitive rehabilitation programs for survivors of breast cancer.
Long-Term Post-traumatic Stress Disorder After Orthopaedic Injury: Prevalence and Risk Factors
Authors: LaRose Micaela , Cunningham Daniel , Paniagua Ariana , Gage Mark J.
Published: August 2021

Objectives:

To evaluate the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in individuals who are further removed from injury (up to 3 years) and to identify injury-specific characteristics that are associated with an increased risk for persistent PTSD symptoms.

Design:

Cross-sectional, retrospective cohort.

Setting:

Level I trauma center.

Patients/Participants:

Two hundred forty-three patients operatively treated for orthopaedic trauma between March 2017 through June 2018.

Intervention:

Orthopaedic trauma requiring operative intervention.

Main Outcome Measurements:

The primary outcome was score on the PTSD Checklist for the DSM-5 (PCL-5) survey. A score of 31 or higher was considered concerning for PTSD.

Results:

Forty-nine of 239 respondents (20.5%) scored positive for PTSD. Multivariate analysis demonstrated an increased risk of PTSD for patients with a history of smoking and those who required delayed reoperation (greater than 90 days postoperative). White race and low-energy mechanisms of injury were associated with decreased risk of PTSD. Fracture locations were not associated with a higher likelihood of PTSD.

Conclusions:

The prevalence of PTSD symptoms in patients up to 3 years after surgery remains higher than the estimated prevalence of PTSD in the general US population. It is similar to previously documented rates of PTSD for patients less than 1 year after injury. Long-term complication requiring reoperation was associated with an increased risk of persistent PTSD symptoms. Orthopaedic providers should be mindful of PTSD symptoms not only in the immediate postoperative period but throughout the treatment course particularly for those with identified PTSD risk factors.

Level of Evidence:

Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Fifty-five months progression-free survival with crizotinib treatment in coexistence of ALK and ROS1 rearrangements in lung adenocarcinoma: an extremely rare case and review of the literature
Authors: Korkmaz Mustafa , Eryilmaz Melek Karakurt
Published: August 2021

We wanted to present a case with coexistence of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) and c-ros oncogene 1 (ROS1) rearrangements that has been in remission for a long time with crizotinib. A 62-year-old nonsmoker male patient was diagnosed with Non-small cell lung cancer. Progression developed 9 months after the treatment, and coexistence of ALK and ROS1 positivity were detected in driver mutation analysis performed with fluorescent in situ hybridization. Crizotinib 2 × 250 mg was started in November 2016. The treatment of the patient, who has been in remission for approximately 55 months since then, continues. Until recently, the use of next-generation sequencing (NGS) was not common, but the more frequent epidermal growth factor receptor, then ALK, and finally ROS1 mutation were studied in tumor tissues. Sometimes ROS1 was not studied because there was not enough tissue left. We think that this rate will increase a little more with the widespread use of NGS from now on. Showing that ALK and ROS1 are positive together, longer survivals can be obtained by choosing therapies that are responsive to both.
Successful treatment of two patients with unresectable lung squamous cell carcinoma with tislelizumab regardless of programmed death-ligand 1 expression: a report of two cases
Authors: Wu Qiaoyuan , Cao Yunliang , Li Yi , Jiang Ni , Dong Hui , Dong Yudi , Chen Fang , Yue Guojun , Luo Qing
Published: August 2021

Since the treatment of lung squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) was limited due to a lack of appropriate biomarkers and novel target agents. Immune checkpoint inhibitors can offer an effective treatment for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Here, we described the cases of two patients with SCC who showed a good response following treatment with tislelizumab. We encountered two patients with unresectable lung SCC who were treated with immunotherapy and chemotherapy. One patient had negatively programmed death-ligand 1 expression, and the primary lesion becomes a thick wall cavity after the tislelizumab combined with chemotherapy. Another patient was diagnosed with advanced lung SCC with negative programmed death-ligand 1 expression. After the treatment, the fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/computed tomography indicated that no abnormal increase in radioactivity uptake and tend to complete remission. We found a significant response or even complete response in unresectable SCC treated with tislelizumab combined with chemotherapy. Our cases added evidence of the feasibility and efficacy of tislelizumab combined with chemotherapy in unresectable lung SCC.
Frameworks to Guide Faculty Development for Health Professions Education: A Scoping Review
Authors: Fallis Drew , Irwin Scott , Cervero Ronald , Durning Steven
Published: August 2021

Introduction:

The authors explored the existence of explicit definitions, guiding competency frameworks, and learning theory to inform health professions education faculty development (FD) programs. The authors analyzed identified frameworks based on thematic focus, scope of targeted faculty, and design structure.

Methods:

A scoping review was used to identify health professions education literature between 2005 and 2020. Frameworks were characterized according to the scope of the faculty targeted and design structure, and then, domains were grouped into topical categories for analysis.

Results:

Twenty-three articles met the criteria for data extraction, of which only one (4.3%) described the explicit use of a learning theory and three (13%) included an explicit definition of FD. One (4.3%) used a recognized framework, whereas 12 (52.2%) developed a novel framework based on an existing outline. Ten (43.5%) described de novo framework development. Only three (13.0%) used entrustable professional activities or similar constructs. Five (21.7%) programs targeted multiple health professions, 11 (47.8%) targeted a single health profession, and seven (30.5%) targeted a specific specialty within a health profession. Only two frameworks included a developmental component.

Discussion:

Few authors describe an explicit definition, learning theory, or use a pre-established framework when framing their FD programs. The use of entrustable professional activities to structurally link competencies to work practices is also uncommon, as well as the use of developmental structures designed to support progressive FD over time.