bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Low-intensity extracorporeal shock wave therapy promotes recovery of sciatic nerve injury and the role of mechanical sensitive YAP/TAZ signaling pathway for nerve regeneration
Authors: Li Hui-Xi , Zhang Zhi-Chao , Peng Jing
Published: October 2021

Background:

Histological and functional recovery after peripheral nerve injury (PNI) is of significant clinical value as delayed surgical repair and longer distances to innervate terminal organs may account for poor outcomes. Low-intensity extracorporeal shock wave therapy (LiESWT) has already been proven to be beneficial for injured tissue recovery on various pathological conditions. The objective of this study was to explore the potential effect and mechanism of LiESWT on PNI recovery.

Methods:

In this project, we explored LiESWT's role using an animal model of sciatic nerve injury (SNI). Shockwave was delivered to the region of the SNI site with a special probe at 3 Hz, 500 shocks each time, and 3 times a week for 3 weeks. Rat Schwann cells (SCs) and rat perineurial fibroblasts (PNFs) cells, the two main compositional cell types in peripheral nerve tissue, were cultured in vitro, and LiESWT was applied through the cultured dish to the adherent cells. Tissues and cell cultures were harvested at corresponding time points for a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence staining. Multiple groups were compared by using one-way analysis of variance followed by the Tukey-Kramer test for post hoc comparisons.

Results:

LiESWT treatment promoted the functional recovery of lower extremities with SNI. More nerve fibers and myelin sheath were found after LiESWT treatment associated with local upregulation of mechanical sensitive yes-associated protein (YAP)/transcriptional co-activator with a PDZ-binding domain (TAZ) signaling pathway. In vitro results showed that SCs were more sensitive to LiESWT than PNFs. LiESWT promoted SCs activation with more expression of p75 (a SCs dedifferentiation marker) and Ki67 (a SCs proliferation marker). The SCs activation process was dependent on the intact YAP/TAZ signaling pathway as knockdown of TAZ by TAZ small interfering RNA significantly attenuated this process.

Conclusion:

The LiESWT mechanical signal perception and YAP/TAZ upregulation in SCs might be one of the underlying mechanisms for SCs activation and injured nerve axon regeneration.
Sensitivity of treatment-free survival to subgroup analyses in patients with advanced melanoma treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors
Authors: Mantia Charlene M. , Werner Lillian , Stwalley Brian , Ritchings Corey , Tarhini Ahmad A. , Atkins Michael B. , McDermott David F. , Regan Meredith M.
Published: October 2021

Patients with advanced melanoma treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors can experience ongoing disease control after treatment discontinuation without subsequent systemic anticancer therapy. We previously defined a novel outcome, treatment-free survival (TFS), as the time between protocol therapy cessation and subsequent therapy initiation/death. We assessed the effect of established prognostic variables [lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), programmed death ligand 1 status, BRAF mutation status, performance status, and sex] on TFS in different treatment scenarios: treatment until toxicity/progression with frequent early cessation (nivolumab plus ipilimumab), treatment until toxicity/progression with a well-tolerated regimen (nivolumab), and treatment for a short fixed duration (ipilimumab). Data were pooled from 1077 patients with advanced melanoma treated in the CheckMate 069 and 067 trials. TFS was defined as the area between the Kaplan–Meier curves for time to therapy cessation and time to subsequent therapy initiation/death. TFS was estimated by restricted mean (r-mean) survival time at 36 months since randomization. Clinically meaningful TFS (r-mean TFS 3.7–12.7 months) was observed across all patient subgroups. TFS was longest in patients treated with nivolumab plus ipilimumab. The largest differences in r-mean TFS were observed with LDH in the nivolumab plus ipilimumab and ipilimumab treatment groups (TFS difference 4.7 and 4.9 months, respectively). In the nivolumab group, there was little difference in TFS across subgroups (r-mean TFS 3.7–5.5 months). TFS was sensitive to prognostic subgroup differences; however, duration of treatment affected the sensitivity of TFS. These results provide further support for TFS as a clinical outcome measure.
Histopathological Rate of Ocular Surface Squamous Neoplasia in Clinically Suspected Pterygium Specimens: 10-Year Results
Authors: Modabber Milad , Lent-Schochet Daniella , Li Jennifer Y. , Kim Esther
Published: October 2021

Purpose:

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of histopathologically confirmed ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) in clinically diagnosed pterygium samples at a tertiary center in Northern California, over a 10-year period (2009–2019).

Methods:

A retrospective chart review of patients older than 18 years with clinically diagnosed benign pterygium requiring excision was conducted. Clinically suspected pterygia were excised using standard techniques and routinely submitted to the University of California Davis for pathologic evaluation. Demographic, clinical, surgical, and pathological information were recorded and analyzed. The prevalence rate of OSSN was calculated.

Results:

A total of 348 consecutive specimens were evaluated. The mean (±SD) age of the patients was 58 ± 12 years, with a near equal sex representation. A total of 57 (16%) pterygia were recurrent at initial presentation. Histopathologic results demonstrated a single case of OSSN. This patient did not have a documented history of carcinoma in other organs or any history of herpes virus, human papilloma virus, or human immunodeficiency virus infection.

Conclusions:

The prevalence of histopathological OSSN in clinically suspected pterygia within our sample was approximately 0.3%. Because of shared clinical characteristics of pterygia and OSSN, a high index of suspicion and judicious use of anterior segment optical coherence tomography enable for effective preoperative diagnosis of OSSN. However, in the absence of clinical expertise or high-resolution optical coherence tomography, routine tissue pathologic examination may be warranted.
Development and implementation of virtual clinical skills experiences for psychiatric nurse practitioner students
Authors: Davis Anjanetta , Moore Lori , Farmer Joe , Lewis Shannon
Published: October 2021

The educational preparation of nurse practitioner (NP) students includes didactic content and clinical experiences. These clinical experiences can be via clinical rotations or simulation. Although there is no specific list of clinical skills to prepare NP students for professional practice, the National Organization for Nurse Practitioner Faculties identifies core competencies for the basic education of NP students. These core competencies can be fulfilled through simulated clinical experiences. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many institutions had to develop alternate methods of facilitating simulated clinical experiences for their NP students. Because of national, state, and university guidelines to transition all face-to-face educational activities to a virtual format, a Southeastern university simulation program developed and implemented virtual clinical skills experiences for psychiatric mental health NP students. Based on student survey results, the utilization of standardized patients in this virtual clinical skills experience proved beneficial and improved NP students' interviewing and communication skills via a telehealth format.
Extramedullary Infiltration in Pediatric Acute Myeloid Leukemia on Surveillance Magnetic Resonance Imaging and its Relationship With Established Risk Factors
Authors: Kim Eu Hyun , Im Soo Ah , Lee Jae Wook , Kim Seongkoo , Cho Bin
Published: October 2021

Purpose:

Extramedullary infiltration (EMI) is a rare condition defined by the accumulation of myeloid tumor cells beyond the bone marrow. The clinical significance is still controversial. This study was aimed to evaluate the incidence, characteristics, and prognostic significance of EMI on complete magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) investigation in newly diagnosed pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients who are asymptomatic without clinical evidence to suspect EMI.

Materials and Methods:

Retrospective clinical and radiologic review of 121 patients with MRI examination at the time of initial diagnosis of AML without any clinical evidence suggestive of EMI was performed. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the presence or absence of EMI, and the relationship between EMI and established risk factors was analyzed. Initial white blood cell count, the occurrence of an event (including relapse, death, and primary refractory disease), survival status, and detailed information on cytogenetic/molecular status was performed by a thorough review of electronic medical records system. All patients underwent full imaging evaluation with the contrast-enhanced whole body and some regional MRI at the time of initial diagnosis.

Results:

The median age at diagnosis was 10.77 years (range, 0.37 to 18.83 y). Based on the risk stratification system of AML, 36, 45, and 40 patients are classified as low-risk, intermediate-risk, and high-risk groups, respectively. MRI at the time of the initial diagnosis of AML revealed 35 of 121 patients (28.9%) with EMI. The most common site of EMI was a skull, followed by the lower extremity bone and meninges of the brain. The median age at diagnosis was significantly younger in patients with EMI (7.87 vs. 11.08 y, P=0.0212). Low incidence of FLT3/ITD mutation, low incidence of AML-ETO gene rearrangement, and the larger extent and more severe degree of bone marrow involvement was related with EMI. However, there was no significant prognostic difference in event-free survival and overall survival regardless of the presence of EMI in the overall patient population and each risk group. The location of EMI occurrence was also not related to prognosis.

Conclusions:

Even if EMI symptoms are not evident, surveillance MRI scans at the initial diagnosis of pediatric AML patients are very helpful in detecting a significant number of EMIs. Younger age, some molecular features, and more severe bone marrow involvement of AML patients were related with EMI. However, there was no significant prognostic difference between patients with or without EMI regardless of risk group. Further prospective investigation is necessary to validate the prognostic effect of EMI in a larger group of patients with different risk groups.
Perception and predictors of health locus of control at rehabilitation discharge and 1 year after traumatic spinal cord injury
Authors: Swinney Molly J. , Sepehri Arash , Stokic Dobrivoje S.
Published: October 2021

This retrospective study examined the perception and predictors of health locus of control (LOC) in 71 individuals with a spinal cord injury (SCI) at discharge from inpatient rehabilitation (average age 39 years, 77% male, 54% black, 51% cervical SCI, 51% incomplete SCI and average time post-SCI 20 days). We also determined if health LOC beliefs and predictors change over the 1st year after SCI in a representative subsample of 36 individuals. The participants completed surveys regarding the health LOC, self-esteem and depression whereas demographic and SCI information were retrieved from medical records. At inpatient discharge, 55% of SCI individuals endorsed the doctor LOC category compared to internal (14%), other people (6%), chance (3%) or multiple LOC categories (22%). A similar pattern was found at 1-year postinjury (doctor LOC 44% and non-doctor LOC combined 56%). A backward stepwise regression revealed that white race (P = 0.093), >12 years of education (P = 0.001) and cervical level of SCI (P = 0.033) were significant predictors of the doctor LOC category at inpatient discharge (overall classification accuracy 76%). Similarly, >12 years of education (P = 0.055), cervical level of SCI at inpatient discharge (P = 0.033) and higher self-esteem at 1-year post-SCI (P = 0.113) were significant predictors of the doctor LOC category at 1-year post-SCI (overall classification accuracy 78%). We conclude that health LOC remains stable over the 1st year after SCI with the majority of individuals believing that the control over outcomes of their health is in the hands of doctors. These findings have implications for the provision of rehabilitation services after SCI.
Mindfulness-based intervention in preterm young adolescents: benefits on neurobehavioural functioning and its association with white-matter microstructural changes
Authors: Siffredi Vanessa , Liverani Maria Chiara , Van De Ville Dimitri , Freitas Lorena G. A. , Tolsa Cristina Borradori , Hüppi Petra Susan , Leuchter Russia Hà-Vinh
Published: October 2021

Very preterm (VPT) young adolescents are at high risk of executive, behavioural and socio-emotional difficulties. Previous research has shown significant evidence of the benefits of mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) on these abilities. This study aims to assess the association between the effects of MBI on neurobehavioral functioning and changes in white-matter microstructure in VPT young adolescents who completed an 8-week MBI program. Neurobehavioural assessments and multi-shell diffusion MRI were performed before and after MBI in 32 VPT young adolescents. Combined diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) measures were extracted on well-defined white matter tracts (TractSeg). A multivariate data-driven approach (partial least squares correlation) was used to explore associations between MBI-related changes on neurobehavioural measures and microstructural changes. Our finding showed an enhancement of global executive functioning after MBI that was associated with a general pattern of significant increase in fractional anisotropy (FA) and decrease in axonal dispersion (ODI) in white-matter tracts involved in executive processes. Young VPT adolescents with lower gestational age at birth showed the greatest gain in white-matter microstructural changes after MBI.

Highlights

Very preterm adolescents (VPT) completed an 8-week mindfulness-based intervention (MBI)

Improvement in overall executive functioning was observed after MBI

Executive gain was associate with white-matter microstructural changes

The increase in microstructural properties was in tracts involved in executive processes

VPT with lower gestational age show bigger gains in microstructural changes

CRediT roles

Vanessa Siffredi:Conceptualization; Data curation; Formal analysis; Investigation; Methodology; Project administration; Software; Visualization; Writing - original draft; Writing - review & editing -Maria Chiara Liverani:Conceptualization; Data curation; Investigation; Methodology; Project administration; Writing - review & editing.- Dimitri Van De Ville: Methodology; Resources; Software; Supervision; Writing - review & editing.- Lorena Freitas:Data curation; Investigation; Writing - review & editing. -Cristina Borradori Tolsa:Conceptualization; Funding acquisition; Investigation; Project administration; Resources; Supervision; Validation; Writing - review & editing. -Petra Susan Hüppi:Conceptualization; Funding acquisition; Methodology; Project administration; Resources; Supervision; Validation; Writing - review & editing. -Russia Hà-Vinh Leuchter:Conceptualization; Funding acquisition; Investigation; Methodology; Project administration; Resources; Supervision; Validation; Writing - review & editing.
COVID-19 Vaccine Perceptions and Uptake in a National Prospective Cohort of Essential Workers
Authors: Lutrick Karen , Groom Holly , Fowlkes Ashley L. , Groover Kimberly , Gaglani Manjusha , Rivers Patrick , Naleway Allison L. , Nguyen Kimberly , Herring Meghan , Dunnigan Kayan , Phillips Andrew , Parker Joel , Lamberte Julie Mayo , Prather Khaila , Thiese Matthew S. , Baccam Zoe , Tyner Harmony , Yoon Sarang
Published: October 2021

Introduction

In a multi-center prospective cohort of essential workers, we assessed knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) by vaccine intention, prior SARS-CoV-2 positivity, and occupation, and their impact on vaccine uptake over time.

Methods

Initiated in July 2020, HEROES-RECOVER cohort provided socio-demographics and COVID-19 vaccination data. Using follow-up two surveys approximately three months apart, COVID-19 vaccine KAP, intention, and receipt was collected; the first survey categorized participants as reluctant, reachable, or endorsers.

Results

A total of 4,803 participants were included in the analysis. Most (70%) were vaccine endorsers, 16% were reachable, and 14% were reluctant. By May 2021, 77% had received at least one vaccine dose. KAP responses strongly predicted vaccine uptake, particularly positive attitudes about safety (aOR=5.46, 95% CI: 1.4-20.8) and effectiveness (aOR=5.0, 95% CI: 1.3-19.1). Participants prior SARS-CoV-2 infection were 22% less likely to believe the COVID-19 vaccine was effective compared with uninfected participants (aOR 0.78, 95% CI: 0.64-0.96). This was even more pronounced in first responders compared with other occupations, with first responders 42% less likely to believe in COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness (aOR=0.58, 95% CI 0.40-0.84). KAP responses shifted positively, with reluctant and reachable participant scores modestly increasing in positive responses for perceived vaccine effectiveness (7% and 12%, respectively) on the second follow-up survey; 25% of initially reluctant participants received the COVID-19 vaccine.

Discussion

Our study demonstrates attitudes associated with COVID-19 vaccine uptake and a positive shift in attitudes over time. First responders, despite potential high exposure to SARS-CoV-2, and participants with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection were more vaccine reluctant.

Conclusions

COVID-19 vaccine KAP responses predicted vaccine uptake and associated attitudes improved over time. Perceptions of the COVID-19 vaccine can shift over time. Targeting messages about the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness in reducing SARS-CoV-2 virus infection and illness severity may increase vaccine uptake for reluctant and reachable participants.
Developing better digital health measures of Parkinson’s disease using free living data and a crowdsourced data analysis challenge
Authors: Sieberts Solveig K. , Borzymowski Henryk , Guan Yuanfang , Huang Yidi , Matzner Ayala , Page Alex , Bar-Gad Izhar , Beaulieu-Jones Brett , El-Hanani Yuval , Goschenhofer Jann , Javidnia Monica , Keller Mark S. , Li Yan-chak , Venuto Charles S. , Saqib Mohammed , Smith Greta , Stanescu Ana , Zielinski Robbie ,   the BEAT-PD DREAM Challenge Consortium, Jayaraman Arun , Evers Luc J.W. , Foschini Luca , Mariakakis Alex , Pandey Gaurav , Shawen Nicholas , Synder Phil , Omberg Larsson
Published: October 2021

One of the promising opportunities of digital health is its potential to lead to more holistic understandings of diseases by interacting with the daily life of patients and through the collection of large amounts of real world data. Validating and benchmarking indicators of disease severity in the home setting is difficult, however, given the large number of confounders present in the real world and the challenges in collecting ground truth data in the home. Here we leverage two datasets with continuous wrist-worn accelerometer data coupled with frequent symptom reports in the home setting, to develop digital biomarkers of symptom severity. Using these data, we performed a public benchmarking challenge in which participants were asked to build measures of severity across 3 symptoms (on/off medication, dyskinesia, and tremor). 42 teams participated and performance was improved over baseline models for each subchallenge. Additional ensemble modeling across submissions further improved performance, and the top models validated in a subset of patients whose symptoms were observed and rated by trained clinicians.
Clinical characteristics of pregnant women infected with Coronavirus Disease 2019 in China: a nationwide case-control study
Authors: Li Qin , Chen Lian , Jiang Hai , Zheng Danni , Wang Yuanyuan , Mei Jie , Ma Xudong , Wei Yuan , Zhao Yangyu , Qiao Jie
Published: October 2021

OBJECTIVE

To formally compare the clinical course of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in pregnant women with their nonpregnant counterparts.

METHODS

Clinical data of pregnant women with confirmed COVID-19 in the designated hospitals of mainland China were retrieved up to April 12, 2020 through an epidemic reporting system maintained at the National Health Commission of the People’s Republic China. Each pregnant patient was randomly matched to a nonpregnant woman with confirmed COVID-19 in the same hospital as control, then their clinical courses were formally compared.

RESULTS

138 pregnant women had been identified as confirmed COVID-19 cases. Among them, 17 severe cases and 1 maternal death were recorded, which was less than their nonpregnant peers (23 severe cases and 3 death). 57.2% had been infected with SARS-CoV-2 during the third trimester, including 13 severe cases and 1 maternal death. 7.3% of pregnant patients had diarrhea and 3.6% had nausea or vomiting, compared with related proportion as 15.2% (OR: 0.38, 95%CI: 0.15, 0.96) and 10.1% (OR: 0.25, 95%CI: 0.07, 0.89) in nonpregnant patients. Pregnant patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 in early pregnancy presented similar laboratory tests with their nonpregnant peers, however, with pregnancy progresses, increased inflammation, coagulation and hepatic injury markers happened more and more frequently (p<0.001) in pregnant patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Being pregnant did not represent a risk for severe condition when compared with their nonpregnant peers. Patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 in early pregnancy were even at lower risk of severe illness than those infected in late pregnancy.

What are the novel findings of this work?

Compared with non-pregnant COVID-19 patients, pregnant patients tend to present less symptom, had unique laboratory findings, and tend to at lower risk of COVID-19–related death. Patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 in the early pregnancy tend to be in the less severe condition of illness than those infected in late pregnancy.

What are the clinical implications of this work?

Vital comparisons of the clinical course upon COVID-19 between pregnant and nonpregnant women in childbearing age are, unfortunately, lacking. Through formally comparisons between the two groups, the present study provides more reliable evidence towards the management of pregnant women with COVID-19.
Autoimmune conditions following mRNA (BNT162b2) and inactivated (CoronaVac) COVID-19 vaccination: a descriptive cohort study among 1.1 million vaccinated people in Hong Kong
Authors: Li Xue , Gao Le , Tong Xinning , Chan Vivien K.Y. , Chui Celine S.L. , Lai Francisco T.T. , Wong Carlos K.H. , Wan Eric Y.F. , Chan Esther W.Y. , Lau Kui Kai , Lau Chak Sing , Wong Ian C.K.
Published: October 2021

Background

Concerns regarding the autoimmune safety of COVID-19 vaccines may negatively impact vaccine uptake. We aimed to describe the incidence of autoimmune conditions following BNT162b2 and CoronaVac vaccination and compare these with age-standardized incidence rates in non-vaccinated individuals.

Methods

This is a descriptive cohort study conducted in public healthcare service settings. Territory-wide longitudinal electronic medical records of Hong Kong Hospital Authority users (≥16 years) were linked with COVID-19 vaccination records between February 23, 2021 and June 30, 2021. We classified participants into first/second dose BNT162b2 groups, first/second dose CoronaVac groups and non-vaccinated individuals for incidence comparison. The study outcomes include hospitalized autoimmune diseases (16 types of immune-mediated diseases across six body systems) within 28 days after first and second dose of vaccination. Age-standardized incidence rate ratios (IRRs) with exact 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using Poisson distribution.

Results

This study included around 3.9 million Hong Kong residents, of which 1,122,793 received at least one dose of vaccine (BNT162b2: 579,998; CoronaVac: 542,795), and 721,588 completed two doses (BNT162b2: 388,881; CoronaVac: 332,707). Within 28 days following vaccination, cumulative incidences for all autoimmune conditions were below 9 per 100,000 persons, for both vaccines and both doses. None of the age-standardized incidence rates were significantly higher than the non-vaccinated individuals, except for an observed increased incidence of hypersomnia following the first dose of BNT162b2 (standardized IRR: 1.47; 95% CI: 1.10–1.94).

Conclusions

Autoimmune conditions requiring hospital care are rare following mRNA and inactivated virus COVID-19 vaccination with similar incidence to non-vaccinated individuals. The association between first dose BNT162b2 vaccination and immune-related sleeping disorders requires further research. Population-based robust safety surveillance is essential to detect rare and unexpected vaccine safety events.

Funding

Research Grant from the Food and Health Bureau, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (Ref. No. COVID19F01).
The Wolbachia CinB Nuclease is Sufficient for Induction of Cytoplasmic Incompatibility
Authors: Sun Guangxin , Zhang Mengwen , Chen Hongli , Hochstrasser Mark
Published: October 2021

Wolbachia are obligate intracellular bacteria that can alter reproduction of their arthropod hosts, often through a mechanism called cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI). In CI, uninfected females fertilized by infected males yield few offspring, but if both are similarly infected, normal embryo viability results (called ‘rescue’). CI factors (Cifs) responsible for CI are pairs of proteins encoded by linked genes. The downstream gene in each pair encodes either a deubiquitylase (CidB) or a nuclease (CinB). The upstream gene products, CidA and CinA, bind their cognate enzymes with high specificity. Expression of CidB or CinB in yeast inhibits growth, but growth is rescued by expression of the cognate CifA protein. By contrast, transgenic Drosophila male germline expression of both cifA and cifB was reported to be necessary to induce CI-like embryonic arrest; cifA expression alone in females is sufficient for rescue. This pattern, seen with genes from several Wolbachia strains, has been called the ‘2-by-1’ model. Here we show male germline expression of the cinB gene alone, from a distinct clade of cif genes from wNo Wolbachia, is sufficient to induce nearly complete loss of embryo viability. This male sterility is fully rescued by cognate cinAwNo expression in the female germline. The proteins behave similarly in yeast. CinBwNo toxicity depends on its nuclease active site. These results demonstrate that highly divergent CinB nucleases can induce CI, that rescue by cognate CifA factors is a general feature of Wolbachia CI systems, and that CifA is not required in males for CI induction.

Importance

Wolbachia are bacteria that live within the cells of many insects. Like mitochondria, they are only inherited from females. Wolbachia often increase the number of infected females to promote spread of infection using a type of male sterility called cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI): when uninfected females mate with infected males, most embryos die; if both are similarly infected, embryos develop normally, giving infected females an advantage in producing offspring. CI is being used against disease-carrying mosquitoes and agricultural pests. Wolbachia proteins called CifA and CifB, which bind one other, cause CI, but how they work has been unclear. Here we show that a CifB protein singly produced in fruit fly males causes sterility in crosses to normal females, but this is rescued if the females produce the CifA partner. These findings clarify a broad range of observations on CI and will allow more rational approaches to using it for insect control.
Trap-TRAP, a versatile tool for tissue-specific translatomics in zebrafish
Authors: Corbacho Jorge , Sanabria-Reinoso Estefanía , Fernández-Miñan Ana , Martínez-Morales Juan R.
Published: October 2021

Developmental and physiological processes depend on the transcriptional and translational activity of heterogeneous cell populations. A main challenge in gene expression studies is dealing with this intrinsic complexity while keeping sequencing efficiency. Translating ribosome affinity purification (TRAP) methods have allowed cell-specific recovery of polyribosome-associated RNAs by genetic tagging of ribosomes in selected cell populations. Here we combined the TRAP approach with adapted enhancer trap methods (trap-TRAP) to systematically generate zebrafish transgenic lines suitable for tissue-specific translatome interrogation. Through the random integration of the eGFP:rpl10a cassette, we have generated stable lines driving expression in a variety of tissues, including the retina, skeletal muscle, lateral line primordia, rhombomeres, or jaws. To increase the range of applications, a UAS:TRAP transgenic line compatible with available Gal4 lines was also generated and tested. The resulting collection of lines and applications constitutes a resource for the zebrafish community in developmental genetics, organ physiology and disease modelling.
Building new compartments for unconventional protein secretion from the early and late Golgi membranes
Authors: Curwin Amy J. , Brouwers Nathalie , Nakano Akihiko , Kurokawa Kazuo , Malhotra Vivek
Published: October 2021

CUPS, a compartment for unconventional secretion of signal sequence lacking proteins, is built during starvation. CUPS, lacking the Golgi specific glycosyltransferases, form by COPI independent extraction of membranes from the early Golgi cisterna, require PI4P for their biogenesis and PI3P for stability. We now show that a PI4P effector Drs2 of the trans-Golgi network, relocates to a new compartment monikered TCUPS because it touches CUPS. Although localized to TCUPS, Drs2 is required for CUPS formation specifically by interacting with Rcy1, and this process is essential for unconventional secretion. Visualizing cells by 4D SCLIM technology revealed that tubules emanating from TCUPS are often collared by CUPS and severed. Incidentally, while CUPS are stable, TCUPS are vesiculated at late stages of starvation. This mirrors the dynamics of the early and late Golgi during conventional protein secretion. TCUPS and CUPS thus emerge as the functional equivalent of early and late Golgi of the conventional secretory pathway, thus representing key compartments in unconventional secretion.
Innexin function dictates the spatial relationship between distal somatic cells in the Caenorhabditis elegans gonad without impacting the germline stem cell pool
Authors: Tolkin Theadora , Mohammad Ariz , Starich Todd , Nguyen Ken C. Q. , Hall David H. , Schedl Tim , Hubbard E. Jane Albert , Greenstein David
Published: October 2021

Gap-junctional signaling mediates myriad cellular interactions in metazoans. Yet, how gap junctions control the positioning of cells in organs is not well understood. Innexins compose gap junctions in invertebrates and affect organ architecture. Here, we investigate the roles of gap-junctions in controlling distal somatic gonad architecture and its relationship to underlying germline stem cells in Caenorhabditis elegans. We show that a reduction of soma–germline gap-junctional activity causes displacement of distal sheath cells (Sh1) towards the distal end of the gonad. We confirm, by live imaging, transmission electron microscopy, and antibody staining, that bare regions—lacking somatic gonadal cell coverage of germ cells—are present between the distal tip cell (DTC) and Sh1, and we show that an innexin fusion protein used in a prior study encodes an antimorphic gap junction subunit that mispositions Sh1. We determine that, contrary to the model put forth in the prior study based on this fusion protein, Sh1 mispositioning does not markedly alter the position of the borders of the stem cell pool nor of the progenitor cell pool. Together, these results demonstrate that gap junctions can control the position of Sh1, but that Sh1 position is neither relevant for GLP-1/Notch signaling nor for the exit of germ cells from the stem cell pool.
Influence of practitioners' characteristics on risk assessment in Green Building projects in emerging economies: a case of Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Hung Duy , Do Quang Nhat Huu , Macchion Laura
Published: October 2021

Purpose

Risks are considered a significant obstacle to Green Building (GB) development and have recently received significant attention from both construction practitioners and academics. This study aimed to identify critical GB risks and explore the relationship between participants' characteristics and risk assessment.

Design/methodology/approach

Firstly, a list of GB risks was developed based on a comprehensive literature review and interviewing GB experts. After that, a survey of 207 construction professionals was then conducted to validate these GB risk factors. Finally, this research adopted the ANOVA test and hierarchical regression analysis to examine the relationship between participants' characteristics and risk assessment.

Findings

The results provided a list of GB risks classified and evaluated according to the GB project life cycle and, thus, may serve as a helpful reference for GB practitioners. Notably, the ANOVA analysis revealed that risk assessment negatively correlates with participants' GB experience, while their industry experience does not affect risk assessment. Furthermore, the hierarchical regression analysis proved that participant roles do not moderate the association between risk assessment and GB experience.

Originality/value

This study contributed to GB literature by implementing empirical research on GB risks in a developing country. The results implied the essential role of professionals with rich GB experience in risk management in GB projects. Furthermore, this research could help construction practitioners understand GB risks adequately and thereby have better risk-management strategies for future GB projects.
Becoming cynical and depersonalized: how incivility, co-worker support and service rules affect employee job performance
Authors: Baker Melissa A. , Kim Kawon
Published: October 2021

Purpose

Customer incivility is commonplace across service industries. Yet, there is little that is known about how uncivil customers affect employees. The purpose of this study is to examine how uncivil customer interactions affect employees’ cynicism, depersonalization and job performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Study 1 uses the qualitative critical incident technique to content analyze employee perceptions of customer incivility and how it affects their job performance. Study 2 uses a 2 (incivility frequency: high vs low) × 2 (co-worker support: high vs low) × 2 (service rule commitment: high vs low) quasi-experimental between-subjects design.

Findings

Results find that there is a significant interaction effect of customer incivility frequency, co-worker emotional support and service rule commitment on employee cynicism and depersonalization, which leads to decreased job performance and more harmful experiences to other customers.

Practical implications

The findings provide practical implications on the importance of managing customer incivility, providing co-worker support and how this affects employee attitudes and service they deliver to other customers.

Originality/value

The results build upon the incivility, co-worker support and service rule commitment literature, conservation of resources theory, as well as identifying key variables core to hospitality and tourism research: cynicism and depersonalization that provide important implications for actions of tourism and hospitality firms.
The origin and evolution of the concept of servitization: a co-word and network analysis
Authors: Pinillos María‐José , Díaz-Garrido Eloísa , Martín-Peña María-Luz
Published: October 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the origins and evolution of the concept of servitization by studying the definitions of servitization provided in the literature. Servitization represents an academic field that has grown rapidly since its inception. However, the conceptualization of servitization varies greatly, in part because of the number of studies on this topic and the fact that it has been analyzed in a range of disciplines using a number of theoretical approaches. There is a need to standardize the vocabulary to create a general definition that can support the development of theory in this domain and help legitimize servitization as a research area.

Design/methodology/approach

This study conducts a systematic, quantitative analysis of a broad set of definitions of servitization. Specifically, this study performs content analysis (combining co-word analysis and social network analysis) and consensus analysis. This study develops a strategic diagram to represent the morphology of the research network.

Findings

The definitions of servitization are deconstructed and analyzed in depth to create a comprehensive picture of the research on this topic. This analysis reveals the origins and evolution of this research area. The results show a low degree of consensus among scholars regarding the concept of servitization. This study proposes a definition that should be widely accepted thanks to its inclusion of the core terms from other definitions. Explicit recognition of multiple approaches to defining the term can help practitioners and researchers. Predictions about future progress in this area are discussed.

Originality/value

A universal definition of servitization is proposed based on the results of co-word and network analysis. This definition unifies a range of multidisciplinary viewpoints. From a practical perspective, the key vocabulary in servitization research is highlighted.
Serum zinc levels in patients with phlegmons as a marker of the severity of infection and the potential of zinc supplementation to reduce the risk of recurrence
Authors: Iijima Shigeruko , Takayama Noriko
Published: October 2021

We analyzed the serum zinc levels of 37 patients with 40 phlegmon lesions. The mean serum zinc level was 52.1 ± 16.4 μg/dL. The serum zinc level was negatively correlated with the C‐reactive protein (CRP) level (r = −0.66) and white blood cell (WBC) count (r = −0.56). It was also positively correlated with the serum levels of albumin, hemoglobin, and hematocrit (r = 0.57, 0.50, and 0.50, respectively). Patients with serum zinc levels of <60 μg/dL had higher CRP levels and WBC counts (p < 0.005 and p < 0.05, respectively) and lower albumin, hemoglobin, and hematocrit levels (p < 0.001, p < 0.01, and p < 0.01, respectively), and were more likely to be hospitalized (p < 0.05) than those with serum zinc levels of ≥60 μg/dL. Patients with low serum zinc levels were given zinc tablets. Three of the seven patients who developed recurrent phlegmons did not develop any further lesions after taking zinc tablets for >10 months. Of the remaining patients, one only developed a minimal lesion, and another two experienced recurrence twice but did not have any further lesions for 10 and 15 months, respectively. These findings indicate that in patients with phlegmons the serum zinc level is a suitable marker of the severity of infection, and zinc supplementation reduces the risk of further recurrence in patients whose lesions relapse.
Social character, interdependence, and the dualities of other‐directedness
Authors: Shilling Chris , Mellor Philip A.
Published: October 2021

David Riesman's exploration of the other‐directed characterological form, suited to corporate capitalism and the rise of the service sector, became one of the most influential sociological analyses of the twentieth century. Yet sociologists interested in the contemporary fate of those dispositional qualities suited to mutual adjustment confront a paradox: why, in an age of increasing interdependencies apparently conducive to the sustenance of other‐directedness, are we witnessing rising concerns about the resurgence of social sectarianism? Most accounts of this tension rely upon structuralist explanations of late modernity's disruptive impact, or psychologistic accounts of group allegiance. In contrast, we develop a meso‐level analysis that highlights an increasingly consequential duality at the heart of other‐directedness itself: the qualities associated with this characterological form still facilitate selective forms of mutuality, but the demands it places upon people in the current era have also prompted growing levels of resentment and antagonism.
Learning and application of intracorporal slipping knot techniques in minimally invasive surgery
Authors: Romero Philipp , Carstensen Leonie , Kössler‐Ebs Julia , Wennberg Erica , Müller‐Stich Beat P. , Nickel Felix , Günther Patrick
Published: October 2021

Aim

Intracorporal knot tying (ICKT) and suturing in minimally invasive surgery (MIS) are key skills for advanced procedures. The best choice for an intracorporal slipping knot tying technique had not been defined. The aim of this study was to compare two intracorporal slipping knot techniques: the classical C‐loop technique (Variant I) and the square‐to‐slip technique without changing leadership hand (Variant II).

Methods

A laparoscopic box trainer including laparoscope was used for ICKT. A total of 120 slipping knots were evaluated in two groups with different levels of surgical education. The first group (n = 5) consisted of senior surgical physicians proficient in laparoscopic surgery. The second group (n = 10) comprised medical students without any prior experience in laparoscopic surgery. The medical student group received a 1‐hour hands‐on training session. Participants were assessed using the Global Rating Scale of the Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills, procedural implementation, knot quality, and task time.

Results

In the medical student group, performance in all parameters was greater for Variant I compared with Variant II (P < .005). Contrary to the students group, senior physicians demonstrated significantly faster task time in Variant II compared with Variant I (P = .001). No significant differences were observed in the remaining parameters.

Conclusion

For novices, the intracorporal slipping knot is easier to learn with the C‐loop technique (Variant I) than with the square‐to‐slip technique (Variant II). For surgeons experienced in MIS, the square‐to‐slip technique without changing leadership hand (Variant II) was superior to the slipping knot in the C‐loop technique (Variant I) only by time savings. The knot quality, as the most important variable, showed equally good results between both ICKT techniques.
A chromosome‐scale genome assembly and annotation of the spring orchid (Cymbidium goeringii)
Authors: Chung Oksung , Kim Jungeun , Bolser Dan , Kim Hak‐Min , Jun Je Hoon , Choi Jae‐Pil , Jang Hyun‐Do , Cho Yun Sung , Bhak Jong , Kwak Myounghai
Published: October 2021

Cymbidium goeringii, commonly known as the spring orchid, has long been favoured for horticultural purposes in Asian countries. It is a popular orchid with much demand for improvement and development for its valuable varieties. Until now, its reference genome has not been published despite its popularity and conservation efforts. Here, we report the de novo assembly of the C. goeringii genome, which is the largest among the orchids published to date, using a strategy that combines short‐ and long‐read sequencing and chromosome conformation capture (Hi‐C) information. The total length of all scaffolds is 3.99 Gb, with an N50 scaffold size of 178.2 Mb. A total of 29,556 protein‐coding genes were annotated and 3.55 Gb (88.87% of genome) repetitive sequences were identified. We constructed pseudomolecular chromosomes using Hi‐C, incorporating 89.4% of the scaffolds in 20 chromosomes. We identified 220 expanded and 106 contracted genes families in C. goeringii after divergence from its close relative. We also identified new gene families, resistance gene analogues and changes within the MADS‐box genes, which control a diverse set of developmental processes during orchid evolution. Our high quality chromosomal‐level assembly of C. goeringii can provide a platform for elucidating the genomic evolution of orchids, mining functional genes for agronomic traits and for developing molecular markers for accelerated breeding as well as accelerating conservation efforts.
Withdrawal from cocaine conditioning progressively alters AMPA receptor‐mediated transmission in the ventral hippocampus
Authors: Preston Collin J. , Wagner John J.
Published: October 2021

Drugs of abuse, such as cocaine, produce aberrant changes in synaptic transmission and plasticity that emerge throughout withdrawal. One region of the brain that displays a high degree of synaptic plasticity, as well as connectivity with mesolimbic structures such as the nucleus accumbens, is the ventral hippocampus (vH). Here, we investigated the effects of an escalating cocaine dosing schedule on vH CA1 excitatory transmission by measuring place preference and recording excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) at three different withdrawal time points: withdrawal day (WD) 2, 9 or 28. Behaviourally, this escalating cocaine‐conditioning protocol was capable of producing conditioned place preference that persisted through WD28. Physiologically, cocaine conditioning produced an increase in vH excitatory transmission on WD2 that appeared to be the result of an increase in calcium‐impermeable (CI)‐AMPA receptor density. Excitatory transmission was still enhanced in cocaine‐treated animals on WD9; however, a significant increase in the contribution of calcium‐permeable (CP)‐AMPA receptors to EPSCs was detected as compared with WD2. By WD28, these CP‐AMPA receptors provided a major contribution to vH CA1 excitatory transmission, resulting in synaptic responses distinct from WD2 and WD9. Taken together, these results highlight progressive changes in vH synaptic transmission during withdrawal that may enhance cocaine contextual associations.
The Quadratic‐Exponential‐Pubertal‐Stop model is valid for analysing human growth patterns and developing novel growth references
Authors: Holmgren Anton
Published: October 2021

Aim

Human growth patterns are important, especially in paediatrics and public health, and the aim of this review was to provide an overview of human growth, especially secular changes of growth and pubertal growth.

Methods

This review of human growth was mainly based on studies published during the 20th and early 21st centuries. Special attention was paid to secular changes, pubertal growth, Nordic growth studies and the contribution of the Quadratic‐Exponential‐Pubertal‐Stop (QEPS) growth model for analysing growth patterns.

Results

Human growth patterns showed wide variations between different individuals, sexes and populations and over time. There were ongoing positive secular change in height in four of the Nordic countries, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, over four decades. Childhood weight status had linear correlations with specific pubertal growth, in both healthy children and those with severe obesity. The QEPS model provided novel estimates of pubertal growth that made it possible to conduct more detailed analyses of pubertal growth than before. Growth references, adjusted for puberty, have been developed, and future opportunities for using the QEPS model for growth studies are highlighted.

Conclusion

The QEPS was a valid growth model for analysing human growth patterns and developing novel types of growth references.