bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identifiability of pharmacological models for online individualization
Authors: Wahlquist Ylva , Gojak Amina , Soltesz Kristian
Published: November 2021

There is a large variability between individuals in the response to anesthetic drugs, that seriously limits the achievable performance of closed-loop controlled drug dosing. Full individualization of patient models based on early clinical response data has been suggested as a means to improve performance with maintained robustness (safety). We use estimation theoretic analysis and realization theory to characterize practical identifiability of the standard pharmacological model structure from anesthetic induction phase data and conclude that such approaches are not practically feasible.
A switch in the development: microRNA arm usage screening in zebrafish suggests an important role of arm switching events in ontogenesis
Authors: Oliveira Arthur C. , Bovolenta Luiz A. , Figueiredo Lucas , Patton James G. , Pinhal Danillo
Published: November 2021

In metazoan, regulatory molecules tightly control gene expression. Among them, microRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators of several important features, like cell proliferation, differentiation, and homeostasis. During miRNA biogenesis, the canonical strand that loads onto RISC can be switched, in a process called “arm switching.” Due to the miRNA-to-target pairing peculiarities, switching events can lead to changes on the gene-targeted repertoire, promoting the modulation of a distinct set of biological routes. To understand how these events affect cell regulation, we conducted an extensive and detailed in silico analysis of RNA-seq datasets from several tissues and key developmental stages of zebrafish. We identified interesting patterns of miRNA arm switching occurrence, mainly associated with the control of protein coding genes during embryonic development. Additionally, our data show that miRNA isoforms (isomiRs) play an important role in differential arm usage. Our findings provide new insights on how such events emerge and coordinate gene expression regulation, opening perspectives for novel investigations in the area.
Analysis of Corticosteroids in Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICE) Induced Myocarditis – A Systematic Review of 352 Screened Articles
Authors: Sheikh Mona , Patel Saumil , Nagpal Shavy , Yulkselen Zeynep , Zahid Samina , Jha Vivek , Sánchez-Velazco Diana F
Published: November 2021

Introduction

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICI) are used as a single agent or as a combination therapies for early or late-stage malignancies. The common malignancies that ICI targets include the following: melanoma, lung cancer, renal cell carcinoma, and hematological malignancies such as Hodgkin’s lymphoma. ICI use is associated with many immune-related adverse events, and ICI-induced myocarditis is one of the rare and most severe AE with a high mortality rate. There are no consensus evidence-based treatment guideline; the expert recommendation is to use high-dose steroids. We aim in this review to assess the effectiveness of steroids in treating ICI-induced myocarditis.

Methods

We searched the following database Pubmed, Scopus, Cinhale, and Google Scholar, using the following keywords: ICI-induced myocarditis, treatment, steroid. We included articles in the English language, case reports, case series, and published in the last five years.

Results

352 articles were screened using PRISMA guidelines. After excluding the articles that were duplicate, irrelevant, and did not meet inclusion criteria, 35 articles with a total number of 50 patients were included. All patients treated with ICI either as a single or combination regimen. The onset of symptoms post initiation varied from one day to a year. 46 out of the 50 cases received high doses of Intravenous steroids as a loading dose followed by an oral or intravenous maintenance dose. Out of 50 patients 14 patients (28 %) died but 34 (68 %) patients survived, and 2 (4 %) patients data were not available. The mean age of the patients was 66.31 ± 14.071 (range 23-88 years), 29 were male (58%), 21 were female (42%). Most of the cases were from the USA (42%), followed by Australia (20 %), Japan (14%), Germany, France, and China (4%), Switzerland, Canada, and Spain (2%), and for (6%) cases. A total of 23 patients had cardiovascular comorbidities (46%), which were HTN (14 patients, 60.87%), hyperlipidemia (5 patients, 21.73%), and less than 1 % of patients had myocardial ischemia, congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and peripheral vascular disease. While 26 patients (52%) had normal basal cardiac status.

Conclusion

Our results showed that high doses of steroids were effective in controlling cardiac myocyte inflammation and mortality by 28%. Race was not included in the analysis as it was not reported. More in – depth studies are needed to provide a broader representation of steroids in myocarditis.
Integrated analyses of the single-cell ATAC-seq and RNA-seq reveal the epigenetic landscape of human ovarian aging
Authors: Xu Yunzhao , Chen Jinling , Gu Shuting , Liu Yuanlin , Ni Huihua , Huang Yan , Gao Sainan , Sheng Nan , Zhang Xiaojing , He Xin , Zhou Songlin , Ge Wenliang
Published: November 2021

Studying the molecular mechanisms of ovarian aging is crucial for understanding the age-related fertility issues in females. Recently, a single-cell transcriptomic roadmap of ovarian aging based on non-human primates revealed the molecular signatures of the oocytes at different developmental stages. Herein, we present the first epigenetic landscape of human ovarian aging, through an integrated analysis of the single-cell assay for transposase-accessible chromatin using sequencing (scATAC-seq) and single-cell RNA-seq. We depicted the transcriptional profiles and chromatin accessibility of the ovarian tissues isolated from old (n=4) and young (n=2) donors. The unsupervised clustering of data revealed seven distinct cell populations in the ovarian tissues and six subtypes of oocytes, which could be distinguished by age difference. Further analysis of the scATAC-seq data from the young and old oocytes revealed that the interaction between the Notch signaling pathway and AP-1 family transcription factors may crucially determine oocyte aging. Finally, a machine-learning algorithm was applied to calculate the optimal model based on the single-cell dataset for predicting oocyte aging, which exhibited excellent accuracy with a cross-validated area under the receiver operating characteristics score of 0.99. In summary, this study provides a comprehensive understanding of human ovarian aging at both the transcriptomic and epigenetic levels, based on an integrated analysis of large-scale single-cell datasets. We believe our results will shed light on the discovery of potential therapeutic targets or diagnostic markers for age-related ovarian disorders.
Core and rod structures of a thermophilic cyanobacterial light-harvesting phycobilisome
Authors: Kawakami Keisuke , Hamaguchi Tasuku , Hirose Yuu , Kosumi Daisuke , Miyata Makoto , Kamiya Nobuo , Yonekura Koji
Published: November 2021

Cyanobacteria, glaucophytes, and rhodophytes utilize giant, light-harvesting phycobilisomes (PBSs) for capturing solar energy and conveying it to photosynthetic reaction centers. PBSs are compositionally and structurally diverse, and exceedingly complex, all of which pose a challenge for a comprehensive understanding of their function. To date, three detailed architectures of PBSs by cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) have been described: a hemiellipsoidal type, a block-type from rhodophytes, and a cyanobacterial hemidiscoidal-type. Here, we report cryo-EM structures of a pentacylindrical allophycocyanin core and phycocyanin-containing rod of a thermophilic cyanobacterial hemidiscoidal PBS. The structures define the spatial arrangement of protein subunits and chromophores, crucial for deciphering the energy transfer mechanism. They reveal how the pentacylindrical core is formed, identify key interactions between linker proteins and the bilin chromophores, and indicate pathways for unidirectional energy transfer.
The impact of China's trade, aid and FDI on African economies
Authors: Cudjoe Derrick Anquanah , Yumei He , Hu Hanhui
Published: November 2021

Purpose

This study examines the impact of China’s trade, aid and foreign direct investment (FDI) on the economic growth of Africa.

Design/methodology/approach

Our study covered 41 countries in Africa, cutting across the western, eastern, central, southern and northern sub-regions. The study adopted the dynamic system generalized method of moments (SGMM), feasible generalized least squares (FGLS) and Dumitrescu–Hurlin Panel Granger causality techniques for estimations.

Findings

Overall, FDI, trade and aid from China have a nonlinear relationship with Africa’s economic growth. The findings reveal a key novelty in that the marginal effect on real per capita GDP increases when China’s FDI interacts with the manufacturing sector in Africa. These findings are robust to long-run estimations.

Research limitations/implications

Given that we have examined the short-and long-run symbiotic effects of China’s FDI and Africa’s manufacturing sector and China’s aid and Africa’s manufacturing sector, more studies are warranted in this area, particularly to produce further empirical evidence of these findings. Moreover, future work could focus on investigating the country-specific effects of China’s trade, China’s FDI and China’s aid on real GDP per capita in each African country as our results reflect within-country elasticities.

Originality/value

This study provides new evidence on the impact of China’s trade, aid and FDI on the growth of African economies. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to empirically explore the long-run effects of China’s trade, FDI and aid on economic growth in African countries. This study also tests the claim of the displacement of Africa’s manufacturing industry by its Chinese counterparts.
Sustainability reporting at EU level: leading by example?
Authors: Bryan Katharina
Published: November 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to contribute to research on public sector sustainability reporting, by focussing on the sustainability reporting of EU institutions and agencies. It seeks to examine to what extent the EU is leading by example in this area and to highlight the challenges for developing sustainability reporting at EU level.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on the European Court of Auditors’ (ECA) review on reporting on sustainability and presents the results of qualitative research, including a survey conducted among EU institutions and agencies. Additional secondary literature analysis puts the review's findings into the current research context on sustainability reporting.

Findings

The paper provides an overview of how the EU and its institutions and agencies report on sustainable development. It finds that the EU, as well as its institutions and agencies, are not yet leading by example on sustainability reporting. Of the 53 EU institutions and agencies surveyed, only 2 published sustainability reports. Additionally, the paper identifies key challenges for sustainability reporting in the public sector and highlights future research areas.

Originality/value

This is the first academic article on sustainability reporting of EU institutions and agencies. It contributes to our understanding of the status and challenges of public sector, supranational sustainability reporting and the auditing of such activities.
All grown up? Market maturity and investment in London's purpose-built student accommodation sector
Authors: Livingstone Nicola , Sanderson Danielle
Published: November 2021

Purpose

The UK's purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) sector has seen significant institutional investment in recent decades. This paper unpacks contemporary trends and perspectives on the sector. It questions whether PBSA has moved from being an “alternative” to “mainstream” residential asset class, framing the analysis through the lens of market maturity.

Design/methodology/approach

The methods triangulate perspectives drawn from literature on the evolution of PBSA as an asset class with illustrations of investment trends across the UK between 2005 and 2020 using data from Real Capital Analytics (RCA), combined with findings from 40 semi-structured interviews with investors and stakeholders in PBSA in the UK London is the focus of the work, whilst other regional cities are integrated for comparison.

Findings

The results demonstrate that London's PBSA market is ahead of trends currently being replicated in regional cities. However, the regions currently offer greater return potential and opportunities for risk taking compared to London, where yields are compressed, and the market is considered lower risk. The concept of maturity remains useful as a framework for evaluating markets, however a more granular analysis of sectors is necessary to further understand asset classes within sectors. PBSA continues to trade at a premium across the UK; it is considered the most mature residential asset class.

Practical implications

The emergence of PBSA as an asset class continues to play a developing role within the residential sector and UK investment market. Risk, value and local context remain key when integrating PBSA into institutional portfolios, and as the first to consider the UK market from a qualitative research approach, this research provides a snapshot of these influences in 2021.

Originality/value

Our approach offers original insight into investment trends across the UK and is the first to focus reflections on the London market specifically. The research highlights the role of PBSA as a vanguard asset class for investors into residential, situating its growth within the framework of market maturity and drawing out market nuances from interviews.
Ontologies application in the sharing economy domain: a systematic review
Authors: Mohamad Ummul Hanan , Ahmad Mohammad Nazir , Zakaria Ahmad Mujahid Ubaidillah
Published: November 2021

Purpose

This systematic literature review (SLR) paper presents the overview and analysis of the existing ontologies application in the SE domain. It discusses the main challenges in terms of its ontologies development and highlights the key knowledge areas for subdomains in the SE domain that provides a direction to develop ontologies application for SE systematically. The SE is not as straightforward as the traditional economy. It transforms the existing economy ecosystem through peer-to-peer collaborations mediated by the technology. Hence, the complexity of the SE domain accentuates the need to make the SE domain knowledge more explicit.

Design/methodology/approach

For the review, the authors only focus on the journal articles published from 2010 to 2020 and mentioned ontology as a solution to overcome the issues specific for the SE domain. The initial identification process produced 3,326 papers from 10 different databases.

Findings

After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, a final set of 11 articles were then analyzed and classified. In SE, good ontology design and development is essential to manage digital platforms, deal with data heterogeneity and govern the interoperability of the SE systems. Yet the preference to build an application ontology, lack of perdurant design and minimal use of the existing standard for building SE common knowledge are deterring the ontology development in this domain. From this review, an anatomy of the SE key subdomain areas is visualized as a reference to further develop the domain ontology for the SE domain systematically.

Originality/value

With the arrival of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), the sharing economy (SE) has become one of the important domains whose impact has been explosive, and its domain knowledge is complex. Yet, a comprehensive overview and analysis of the ontology applications in the SE domain is not available or well presented to the research community.
Gross profit manipulation in emerging economies: evidence from India
Authors: Bansal Manish , Kumar Ashish , Kumar Vivek
Published: November 2021

Purpose

This study aims to explore peer performance as the motivation behind gross profit manipulation through two different channels, namely, cost of goods sold (COGS) misclassification and revenue misclassification.

Design/methodology/approach

Gross profit expectation model (Poonawala and Nagar, 2019) and operating revenue expectation model (Malikov et al., 2018) are used to measure COGS and revenue misclassification, respectively. The panel data regression models are used to analyze the data for this study.

Findings

The study results show that firms engage in gross profit manipulation to meet the industry’s average gross margin, implying that peer performance is an important benchmark that firms strive to achieve through misclassification strategies. Further results exhibit that firms prefer COGS misclassification over revenue misclassification for manipulating gross profit, implying that firms choose the shifting strategy based on the relative advantage of each shifting tool.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that firms that just meet or slightly beat industry-average profitability levels are highly likely to engage in classification shifting (CS). Thus, investors and analysts should be careful when evaluating such firms by comparing them with other firms in the same industry.

Originality/value

First, this study is among earlier attempts to investigate CS motivated by peer performance. Second, this study investigates both tools of gross profit manipulation by taking a uniform sample of firms over the same period and provides compelling evidence that firms prefer one shifting tool over another depending on the relative advantage of each shifting tool.
Low serum 3‐methyl histidine level is associated with aortic stiffness in maintenance hemodialysis patients
Authors: Chang Yu‐Chi , Wang Chih‐Hsien , Lai Yu‐Hsien , Lin Yu‐Li , Kuo Chiu‐Huang , Hsu Bang‐Gee , Tsai Jen‐Pi
Published: November 2021

3‐Methylhistidine (3MH) is an indicator of muscle catabolism. Subclinical protein malnutrition is an independent predictor of aortic stiffness (AS). We aimed to study the relationship between serum 3MH level and AS among patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). Carotid‐femoral pulse wave velocity was applied to measure AS of 110 MHD patients. Serum 3MH levels were analyzed using high‐performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. AS was defined as cfPWV >10 m/s. Forty‐five (40.9%) patients were categorized as having AS. Multivariable logistic (odds ratio: 0.792, p < 0.001) and linear (β = −0.322, p < 0.001) regression analysis revealed that serum 3MH is an independent factor associated with AS among MHD patients. The diagnostic power of 3MH for AS in patients undergoing MHD was 0.691 (95% CI: 0.595–0.775, p = 0.0002). Low serum 3MH levels could be a potential biomarker related to AS among MHD patients.
A Revolution in Catholic Thought on Poverty: Engaging the Poor Means Engaging in History
Authors: Kelly Thomas M.
Published: November 2021

Perhaps nowhere else has the Vatican II document Gaudium et Spes been appropriated more radically and completely than by the Catholic Church of Latin America. The gathering of bishops at Medellín, Colombia in 1968 and the documents produced there represent a significant appropriation of the new possibilities opened up by Gaudium et Spes. The new emphasis on “justice” allowed the church to leave older “charity” approaches aside and the “dynamism” embodied by social doctrinal change would allow this episcopal body to affirm a preferential option for the poor that was both multifaceted and revolutionary. A careful consideration of documents from the Medellín Conference reveals the strong influence of Gaudium et Spes, especially in how the Latin American Church moved beyond the traditional societas perfectas model of church/state relations indicative of past centuries with its new commitment to transforming the world. This article highlights certain texts of Gaudium et Spes and their influence upon the Medellín documents.
Puerarin attenuates preeclampsia‐induced trophoblast mobility loss and inflammation by modulating miR‐181b‐5p/RBAK axis
Authors: Guo Jinjuan , Bian Weiqiao , Jiang Huadong
Published: November 2021

Problem

Preeclampsia (PE) is a serious pregnancy complication characterized by inflammation and impaired trophoblast motility. Puerarin (Pue) is a functional compound with anti‐PE potential. The current study aimed to explore the therapeutic effects of Pue on PE as well as the associated mechanism by focusing on the interaction between Pue and microRNAs (miRs).

Methods of study

Human villous trophoblast HTR‐8/SVneo cells were treated with TNF‐α and Pue, and a change in miR expression profile was determined. The anti‐PE effects of Pue were validated in rat models by measuring blood pressure, 24‐h proteinuria, and cytokine levels. The mechanism was explored by focusing on miR‐181b‐5p/RBAK axis.

Results

The induction of PE increased blood pressure and 24‐h proteinuria, and induced TNF‐α, IL‐1β, and IL‐6 levels, which was reversed by Pue. In in vitro assays, TNF‐α suppressed viability, induced apoptosis and inflammatory response, and inhibited migration in trophoblasts, which was attenuated by Pue. At molecular level, the expression level of miR‐181b‐5p was both induced in vivo and in vitro with the development of PE symptoms, contributing to the inhibited expression of RBAK. The induced expression of miR‐181b‐5p under Pue treatment showed that the reinduction of miR‐181b‐5p counteracted the effects of Pue, indicating the key role of the miR in the protective effects of Pue against PE.

Conclusions

The current study verified the anti‐PE function of Pue: the compound suppressed inflammatory response associated with PE, and improved trophoblast motility. The effects depended on the inhibition of miR‐181b‐5p that inhibited the expression of RBAK.
Rural suicide risk and physical ill health: A qualitative study of the Victorian Suicide Register, 2009‐2015
Authors: Kennedy Alison J. , Adams Jessie , Dwyer Jeremy , Brumby Susan
Published: November 2021

Objective

To gain new insight into contextual factors shaping how physical ill health acts as a stressor in rural suicides—informing the development of appropriate targeted interventions.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Non‐metropolitan Victoria, Australia.

Sample

802 rural (non‐metropolitan) suicide deaths between the years 2009 and 2015.

Main outcome measure

Qualitative data from the Victorian Suicide Register relating to physical ill health of suicide decedents.

Results

Thematic analysis identified 4 themes: (a) ‘living with physical ill health in a rural area’ highlights both practical and cultural challenges associated with managing physical ill health within the context of life in a rural setting; (b) ‘causes and experience of chronic pain’ highlights rural risk factors for chronic pain, how pain was experienced and treatment managed; (c) ‘when living an independent, contributing life is no longer possible’ describes the debilitating physical and mental outcomes of chronic ill health and pain; and (d) ‘the cumulative impact of physical ill health and other factors on suicide risk’ highlights the complexity of risk factors—in combination with (or as a result of) physical ill health—that contribute to a suicide death.

Conclusion

Identified themes suggest pathways to improve understanding and support for those experiencing physical ill health and associated suicide risk. These supports include contextually and culturally appropriate rural services to provide effective and necessary treatment, pain relief and mental health support; acknowledgement and response to a culture of alcohol misuse as an (ultimately ineffective) coping strategy; proactive psychosocial support mechanisms; and alternative approaches to support including consideration of innovative peer support models.
Use of a standardized reporting template: can we improve report quality in pancreatic and peri‐ampullary malignancy?
Authors: Hodnett Robert , MacCormick Andrew , Ibrahim Rashid , Miles Gemma , Puckett Mark , Aroori Somaiah
Published: November 2021

Background

Accurate pancreatic and periampullary cancer staging with resectability assessment is vital to optimize surgical management and improve patient outcomes. The aim of this study is to assess the usefulness of a standardized reporting template.

Methods

Retrospective review of all surgically managed patients with pancreatic or periampullary malignancy between January 2018 and June 2019. Pre‐operative CT imaging report was anonymised and audited against a modified NCCN reporting template. The same imaging studies were re‐reported by two experienced GI radiologists using the same template.

Results

Fifty‐nine patients (37 male) with median age of 68 years (36–83) underwent surgery for suspected pancreatic/peri‐ampullary malignancy. The median time between pre‐operative CT scan and surgery was 56.5 days (14–225). The use of reporting template resulted in significant increase in number of reported key features (p < 0.005), interobserver agreed features (p < 0.005) and overall k‐value assessed interobserver agreement (p < 0.005). Template reports correlated closely with key intraoperative findings whilst primary free text reports did not (k‐value 0.85–0.96 versus 0.20–0.46, p < 0.05).

Conclusion

The use of a reporting template resulted in a more complete and accurate pancreatic/peri‐ampullary tumour evaluation, improved inter‐observer relatability and correlation with intraoperative findings.
Risk prediction with imperfect survival outcome information from electronic health records
Authors: Hou Jue , Chan Stephanie F. , Wang Xuan , Cai Tianxi
Published: November 2021

Readily available proxies for the time of disease onset such as the time of the first diagnostic code can lead to substantial risk prediction error if performing analyses based on poor proxies. Due to the lack of detailed documentation and labor intensiveness of manual annotation, it is often only feasible to ascertain for a small subset the current status of the disease by a follow‐up time rather than the exact time. In this paper, we aim to develop risk prediction models for the onset time efficiently leveraging both a small number of labels on the current status and a large number of unlabeled observations on imperfect proxies. Under a semiparametric transformation model for onset and a highly flexible measurement error model for proxy onset time, we propose the semisupervised risk prediction method by combining information from proxies and limited labels efficiently. From an initially estimator solely based on the labeled subset, we perform a one‐step correction with the full data augmenting against a mean zero rank correlation score derived from the proxies. We establish the consistency and asymptotic normality of the proposed semisupervised estimator and provide a resampling procedure for interval estimation. Simulation studies demonstrate that the proposed estimator performs well in a finite sample. We illustrate the proposed estimator by developing a genetic risk prediction model for obesity using data from Mass General Brigham Healthcare Biobank.
The perceptions of early childhood children and parents towards children's participation rights: ‘Yes, I and I Disagree!’
Authors: Aydilek Çiftçi Münire , Yücesan Yasemin
Published: November 2021

In this study, the primary purpose is to analyse early childhood children's and their parents’ perceptions towards ‘children's participation rights. Accordingly, this study applies a phenomenology model pattern which is one of the qualitative research approaches. Fifteen children between 48 and 72 months and one of the parents (mother or father) participated in this study. The semi‐structured interview technique was selected to collect data. Content analysis was applied to analyse the data, and specific codes and themes were created. The findings obtained from data analysis were discussed with the participation ladder proposed by Roger Hart.
Endoscopic biliary drainage for malignant distal biliary obstruction: Which is better – endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography or endoscopic ultrasound?
Authors: Bang Ji Young , Hawes Robert , Varadarajulu Shyam
Published: November 2021

Presently, following endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)‐guided biopsy, an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with transpapillary stenting is performed for palliation of malignant distal biliary obstruction (MDBO). However, technical failure and postprocedure pancreatitis are limitations to ERCP. Endoscopic ultrasonography‐guided biliary drainage (EUS‐BD) after a failed ERCP has a 90% technical success rate and has been shown to be superior when compared to percutaneous methods, making EUS an increasingly recognized option for biliary drainage. Supporting this approach, findings from recently concluded randomized trials suggest that the safety profile and technical outcomes for EUS‐BD are comparable or even superior to that of ERCP for primary biliary decompression in patients with MDBO. Also, EUS‐BD is increasingly being utilized in patients with altered surgical anatomy in lieu of percutaneous techniques and balloon‐assisted enteroscopy. A growing body of evidence supports the notion that, in the future, EUS may become the primary modality by which biliary decompression is undertaken in the majority of patients with MDBO. The roadmap to this eventuality may require further optimization of procedural techniques, technological innovations, and cost reduction.
An easy and rapid staining method for confocal microscopic observation and reconstruction of three‐dimensional images of echinoderm larvae and juveniles
Authors: Tokanai Kohei , Kamei Yasuhiro , Minokawa Takuya
Published: November 2021

The morphologies of the internal organs of echinoderm larvae and juveniles are difficult to study using conventional optical microscopes because of their structural complexity and opaqueness. This paper describes an easy and rapid protocol involving Nile blue staining followed by benzyl alcohol/benzyl benzoate (BABB) clearing to overcome this limitation. This method was developed for a three‐dimensional (3D) analysis of the internal structures of advanced larvae and juveniles of echinoderms (the sea lily Metacrinus rotundus, the sea urchin Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus, and the sand dollar Scaphechinus mirabilis) and is suitable for obtaining serial optical images by confocal microscopy without the use of specific antibodies or special reagents for labeling. Nile blue is an easy‐to‐use stain that offers several advantages for confocal microscopy such as it can stain various tissues with strong fluorescent signals without substantial bleaching during observation. We found that the strong fluorescence signal of Nile blue quickly yielded clear high‐resolution optical section images for 3D reconstruction. BABB clearing rendered opaque larvae highly transparent. The clearing procedure was also easy and quick. During the process, agarose embedding prior to staining and clearing was found to be critical for handling the samples of less than 500‐μm length and stabilizing their orientations. To conclude, the protocol described is useful for performing a rapid and accurate 3D morphological analysis of echinoderm larvae and juveniles.
Environmental constraints, biological growth and fleet dynamics of a developing fishery: A model study of the Barents Sea snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio, Majidae) fishery
Authors: Hogrenning Egil , Eide Arne
Published: November 2021

The snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio, Majidae) has recently entered the Barents Sea, and a crab fishery is developing. Information on how the crab appeared and where it is moving is limited. We study how the characteristics of the fleet may affect the further development of the fishery. A spatial model is constructed as a grid of cells given a carrying capacity for crab determined by environmental data, assumed to reflect crabs' preferences. The biological dynamics are modelled using cellular automata, describing the growth and movements of the crabs. The fleet dynamics is represented by scenarios of fleet behaviour and aptitude, using standard theories of harvest production and economics. Pattern‐oriented modelling is used to calibrate the model. The fishery started in the Loophole, but is anticipated to expand as the crabs populate adjacent areas. We use simulations to explore a potential geographical expansion of the fishery. The fleet is assumed to continually expand the current fishing area by initiating fishing in adjacent areas, relying only on their own judgement to locate promising fishing grounds. We find an inability to successfully quantify the amount of crabs in the areas subject to exploration and the willingness to take risks to be two forces contributing to a long‐term utilization of the stock. Both forces appear to make the fishers explore non‐lucrative grounds, potentially leading them to lucrative grounds. However, information from other sources indicating the presence of crabs at various locations appears to be necessary to ensure a more complete exploration of the fishery.
Comparative soft‐tissue preservation in Holocene‐age capelin concretions
Authors: Mojarro Angel , Cui Xingqian , Zhang Xiaowen , Jost Adam B. , Bergmann Kristin D. , Vinther Jakob , Summons Roger E.
Published: November 2021

Determining how soft tissues are preserved and persist through geologic time are continuing challenge because decay begins immediately after senescence while diagenetic transformations generally progress over days to millions of years. However, in recent years, carbonate concretions containing partially‐to‐fully decayed macroorganisms have proven to be remarkable windows into the diagenetic continuum revealing insights into the fossilization process. This is because most concretions are the result of biologically induced mineral precipitation caused by the localized decay of organic matter, which oftentimes preserves a greater biological signal relative to their host sediment. Here we present a comparative lipid biomarker study investigating processes associated with soft‐tissue preservation within Holocene‐age carbonate concretions that have encapsulated modern capelin (Mallotus villosus). We focus on samples collected from two depositional settings that have produced highly contrasting preservation end‐members: (1) Kangerlussuaq, Greenland: a marine environment, which, due to isostatic rebound, has exposed strata containing concretions exhibiting exceptional soft‐tissue preservation (6–7 kya), and (2) Greens Creek, Ottawa, Canada: a paleo brackish‐to‐freshwater marine excursion containing concretions exhibiting skeletal remains (~11 kya). Lipid biomarker analysis reveals endogenous capelin tissues and productive waters at Kangerlussuaq that are in sharp contrast to Greens Creek concretions, which lack appreciable capelin and environmental signals. Comparable distributions of bacterial fatty acids and statistical analyses suggest soft‐tissue preservation within concretions is agnostic to specific heterotrophic decay communities. We, therefore, interpret preservation within carbonate concretions may represent a race between microbially induced authigenic precipitation and decay. Namely, factors resulting in exceptional preservation within concretions likely include: (1) organic matter input, (2) rate of decay, (3) carbonate saturation, (4) porewater velocity, and (5) rate of authigenic (carbonate) precipitation resulting in arrested decay/bacterial respiration due to cementing pore spaces limiting the diffusion of electron acceptors into the decay foci.
Reticulocalbin 1 is required for proliferation and migration of non‐small cell lung cancer cells regulated by osteoblast‐conditioned medium
Authors: Fu Haijing , Chen Rui , Wang Yue , Xu Yang , Xia Chun , Zhang Bing
Published: November 2021

Reticulocalbin1 (RCN1) is implicated in tumorigenesis and tumour progression. However, whether RCN1‐mediated bone metastasis of non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells was elusive. Here, we assessed the effect of osteoblast‐conditioned medium (CM) on proliferation and migration of NSCLC cell line, NCI‐H1299 and NCI‐H460 cells, and identified the soluble mediators in CMs from osteoblasts and NSCLC cells using MTT, Clonogenicity, Transwell, wound healing, RT‐PCR, and Western blotting assays, and LC‐MS/MS analysis, respectively. Furthermore, the role of RCN1 was investigated in NSCLC cells cultured with or without osteoblast‐CM. Tumour growth and bone resorption were measured in a nude mouse model bearing NCI‐H1299 cells transduced with shRNA/RCN1 vector using in vivo imaging technique and micro‐CT. The results showed that RCN1 with a higher abundance in osteoblast‐CM, which was present in extracellular vesicles (EVs), enhanced RCN1 expression in NSCLC cells. Osteoblast‐CM partially offset the inhibitory effect of RCN1 depletion on proliferation and migration of NSCLC cells. RCN1 depletion‐induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress caused by increasing GRP78, CHOP, IRE1α, p‐IRE1α, p‐PERK and p‐JNK, which was positively regulated by self‐induced autophagy, contributed to suppression of proliferation and migration in NCI‐H1299 cells. Therefore, osteoblasts produced RCN1 to transfer into NSCLC cells partially through EVs, facilitating proliferation and migration of NSCLC cells via blocking ER stress. RCN1 could be required for proliferation and migration of NSCLC cells regulated by osteoblast‐CM.
Long‐term follow‐up of hand eczema in hairdressers: a prospective cohort study of Danish hairdressers graduating from 1985 to 2007
Authors: Havmose M. , Thyssen J.P. , Zachariae C. , Johansen J.D.
Published: November 2021

Background

Occupational hand eczema is common among hairdressers and implementing effective preventive measures requires a good understanding of the disease’s epidemiology.

Objective

To investigate the long‐term development of hand eczema (HE) in hairdressers.

Methods

A prospective cohort study of all hairdressers graduating from Danish hairdressing vocational schools from 1985 to 2007 was conducted. A self‐administered questionnaire was sent in 2009 with follow‐up in 2020. Data from the Danish labour market supplementary pension scheme provided information on yearly affiliation with the hairdressing trade.

Results

The cumulative lifetime prevalence of HE increased from 42.3% at baseline to 45.2% at follow‐up (odds ratio [OR], 1.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.0‐1.2). The incidence rate decreased from 42.8 cases/1000 person‐years (95% CI, 40.8–44.8) at baseline to 3.4 cases/1000 person‐years (95% CI, 2.5–4.6) within the follow‐up period. HE onset occurred within 8 years of beginning an apprenticeship for >90% of cases and occurred within the apprenticeship period for 68% of cases. The risk factors associated with having had HE at baseline were a previous positive patch test (adjusted OR [aOR], 5.3; 95% CI, 4.2–6.6), a history of atopic dermatitis (aOR, 3.4; 95% CI, 2.9–4.0) and female sex (aOR, 1.8; 95% CI 1.4–2.3). The most important risk factors at follow‐up were previous HE (aOR, 10.1; 95% CI, 7.3–13.8) and a positive patch test within the follow‐up period (aOR, 4.5; 95% CI, 3.0–6.8). Among the hairdressers who had HE at baseline, 65.5% exhibited remission, whereas 34.6% had persistent and often severe HE at follow‐up. Hairdressers with persistent HE were the subgroup of the study population most frequently affected by the risk factors identified for HE.

Conclusions

Primary prevention of HE should focus on hairdressing apprentices and fully trained hairdressers who have recently graduated. Approximately one‐third of trained hairdressers develop persistent and often severe HE, emphasizing the need for early intervention.
Relationship between visual and neurodevelopmental measures at 2 years with visual acuity and stereopsis at 4.5 years in children born at risk of neonatal hypoglycaemia
Authors: Paudel Nabin , Thompson Benjamin , Chakraborty Arijit , Harding Jane , Jacobs Robert J , Wouldes Trecia A , Yu Sandy TY , Anstice Nicola S ,   the CHYLD Study Team
Published: November 2021

Purpose

Mild to moderate vision loss affects many children and can negatively impact a child's early literacy and academic achievement. Nevertheless, there is no consensus on which factors present in early childhood indicate the need for long‐term ophthalmic follow up, particularly in children with a history of perinatal adversity. This study identified the relationship between visual, cognitive, motor and demographic factors at 2 years of age and visual acuity (VA) and stereoacuity at 4.5 years of age.

Methods

Five hundred sixteen children identified as being at risk of neonatal hypoglycaemia were recruited soon after birth. At 2 years of age, binocular VA, stereoacuity and non‐cycloplegic refraction were measured and a clinical neuro‐developmental assessment with the Bayley Scales of Infant Development III (BSID‐III) was conducted by a trained examiner. Monocular VA and stereoacuity were measured at 4.5 years of age.

Results

Three hundred twenty‐eight children completed both the 2 and 4.5 year vision and neurodevelopmental assessments. Multiple linear regression showed oblique astigmatism and motor function at 2 years were significantly associated with VA at 4.5 years of age, while spherical equivalent refraction, motor scores and stereoacuity at 2 years were significantly associated with stereoacuity at 4.5 years of age. BSID‐III motor scores had the best sensitivity (81.8%) and specificity (51.5%) for identifying impaired stereoacuity at 4.5 years. However, all measures at 2 years were poorly associated with VA at 4.5 years old.

Conclusion

Vision and neurodevelopmental measures at 2 years were poorly associated with visual function at 4.5 years of age. However, lower scores on tests of motor function at 2 years may be associated with vision abnormalities, particularly reduced stereopsis, at 4.5 years of age and referral for comprehensive vision assessment for these children may be warranted.
Peptide‐coating 2D and small chemical molecules prolong the passage of porcine spermatogonia stem cells
Authors: Zhang Ying , de Lima Camila Bruna , Zhou Zhe , Shen Qiaoyan , Zhu Zhenshuo , Hua Jinlian
Published: November 2021

Porcine spermatogonia stem cells (pSSCs) are the only type of somatic stem cell that can pass genetic information to the successive generations. Little is known about pSSCs vitality in vitro, and due to their increasing importance in stem cell research, here, we optimized a protocol to culture pSSCs and explored their potential fate in vitro. Utilizing a feeder‐free culture system with a 2D peptide‐coating and small chemical molecules (including CHIR99021, Repsox, vitamin C, folic acid, and CD lipid concentrate), we were able to prolong the culture time of pSSCs by at least three months compared with previous methods. Moreover, we found that pSSCs could proliferate and self‐renew in the seminiferous tubules of infertile mice. However, they could not perform meiosis. Our study shows that this feeder‐free culture system optimizes cell culture and may facilitate advanced research on SSC biology and genetic manipulation of germ cells.
Exploring local perceptions, implementation, benefits, and limitations of community‐based restoration projects in Mexico
Authors: Ortega‐Álvarez Rubén , Tobón Wolke , Urquiza‐Haas Tania , Ruiz‐González Sylvia P. , Koleff Patricia
Published: November 2021

Environmental restoration success depends on the involvement of local communities, from the co‐design of projects to their execution and follow‐up. Nonetheless, community‐based restoration has been poorly assessed and is frequently not incorporated into planning of institutional programs. Based on an online questionnaire addressing rural and indigenous communities involved in restoration projects across Mexico, we explored the local perceptions of restoration efforts, the main characteristics of actors' responsibilities in projects, benefits, and limitations of activities, and recommendations for performing community‐based programs. Results showed that communities have an active participation from the assessment of goals to implementation of activities. Restoration is an important activity to generate revenues, recover the use of natural resources, and foster conservation. Most projects considered local knowledge, but were performed for a short term and constrained by funding. Restoration activities mainly focused on vegetation recovery, while animals were widely used for monitoring progress of actions. Our results suggest that communities are no longer involved as mere labor forces, but have an active role as critical decision makers in all process stages and in providing recommendations to enhance joint efforts with other stakeholders. Still, according to the literature review of Mexican restoration projects that contextualized our findings, less than 6% of the publications reported the incorporation of communities into restoration projects. This highlights the relevance of our work to portray community‐restoration and emphasizes the importance to promote collective responses to sustainably manage natural resources, while strengthening a collaborative restoration agenda with communities, which is critical to enhance restoration success worldwide.
Are police obsolete in Minneapolis? Racial capitalism and police abolition
Authors: Gramlich Jack Post
Published: November 2021

Objective

This article seeks to illustrate the theoretical foundations of the contemporary abolitionist movement. It aims to equip scholars and practitioners with an understanding of conceptual linkages between the beliefs, goals, and practices of abolitionists.

Methods

This is a case study of organizing in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It draws from policing data, local news, and statements by community organizers and political leaders.

Results

Minneapolis police transfer power away from Black communities as part of a racial capitalist system. The racial contract, which facilitates political acceptance of police behavior, is a pillar of this system. Police abolition responds to racial capitalism. Based in the city's black community, Minneapolis abolitionists aspire to build new social structures to support public health and eventually render policing obsolete.

Conclusion

Racial capitalism is an indispensable component of the system of policing in Minneapolis, and the local abolitionist movement represents a political alternative in which state programs prevent harm.
CIPK9 targets VDAC3 and modulates oxidative stress responses in Arabidopsis
Authors: Kanwar Poonam , Sanyal Sibaji K. , Mahiwal Swati , Ravi Barkha , Kaur Kanwaljeet , Fernandes Joel L. , Yadav Akhilesh K. , Tokas Indu , Srivastava Ashish K. , Suprasanna Penna , Pandey Girdhar K.
Published: November 2021

Calcium (Ca2+) is widely recognized as a key second messenger in mediating various plant adaptive responses. Here we show that calcineurin B‐like interacting protein kinase CIPK9 along with its interacting partner VDAC3 identified in the present study are involved in mediating plant responses to methyl viologen (MV). CIPK9 physically interacts with and phosphorylates VDAC3. Co‐localization, co‐immunoprecipitation, and fluorescence resonance energy transfer experiments proved their physical interaction in planta. Both cipk9 and vdac3 mutants exhibited a tolerant phenotype against MV‐induced oxidative stress, which coincided with the lower‐level accumulation of reactive oxygen species in their roots. In addition, the analysis of cipk9vdac3 double mutant and VDAC3 overexpressing plants revealed that CIPK9 and VDAC3 were involved in the same pathway for inducing MV‐dependent oxidative stress. The response to MV was suppressed by the addition of lanthanum chloride, a non‐specific Ca2+ channel blocker indicating the role of Ca2+ in this pathway. Our study suggest that CIPK9‐VDAC3 module may act as a key component in mediating oxidative stress responses in Arabidopsis.