bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cryptic interactions revisited from ecological networks: Mosses as a key link between trees and hummingbirds
Authors: Fontúrbel Francisco E. , Osorio Felipe , Riffo‐Donoso Valentina , Carvallo Gastón O. , Rydin Håkan
Published: October 2020

Ecological interactions are the glue of biodiversity, structuring communities and determining their functionality. However, our knowledge about ecological interactions is usually biased against cryptic interactions (i.e. overlooked interactions involving inconspicuous species). Mosses are a neglected component in community ecology despite being diverse and abundant in boreal and temperate forests. Therefore, the cryptic relationships of trees as hosts for epiphytic mosses, and vertebrates using mosses as nesting material, may have important consequences for community structuring.

We built species‐ and individual‐based ecological networks to characterise tree–moss associations in 120 tree individuals representing 13 species, which hosted 19 moss species. We also used those ecological networks to simulate the effects of non‐random extinctions due to selective logging, to assess the presence of moss species in hummingbird nests (30 nests), whether these mosses were a subset of those found on the trees if moss diversity varies with tree height and whether these moss–tree relationships are phylogenetically constrained.

We found a nested pattern in the tree–moss network. Taller trees were the most connected, with tree height positively related to number of moss species, network degree and centrality. Extinction simulations showed changes in network topology, with the strongest effect from the removal of the most connected tree species. However, tree and moss networks were not influenced by phylogenetic relatedness. The hummingbird Sephanoides sephaniodes selectively collected mosses; the moss species used as nesting material by hummingbirds were a subset of available species. These complex relationships among trees, birds and mosses underpin the importance of neglected components in the community.

We found that tree–moss associations were non‐random, showing a positive relationship between tree height and moss diversity. Those associations are the reflection of preferences beyond relative abundances in the forest, and the removal of certain tree species (due to selective logging) may have cascade effects in the community. Furthermore, the lack of phylogenetic correspondence suggests that tree–moss associations are governed by ecological factors (host tree preferences). Moss–hummingbird associations are non‐random, as hummingbirds (that pollinate these trees) are actively selecting mosses for nest building, stressing the importance of cryptic interactions as a community‐structuring process.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Student–teacher relationship quality and prosocial behaviour: The mediating role of academic achievement and a positive attitude towards school
Authors: Longobardi Claudio , Settanni Michele , Lin Shanyan , Fabris Matteo Angelo
Published: October 2020

Background

The current research investigated the association between teacher–student relationship (both teacher‐perceived and student‐perceived relationship quality) and students’ prosocial behaviours, as well as the mediating roles of students’ attitudes towards school and perceived academic competence in this association.

Sample

Four hundred and fifty‐nine Italian primary students (aged 4–9, Mage = 7.05, SDage = 1.37) and 47 teachers (aged 26–60, Mage = 48.35, SDage = 8.13) participated and finished all the questionnaires and scales.

Methods

Multiple regression analyses and bootstrapping analyses were employed to test the direct and the mediating effects between the teacher/student‐perceived relationship and students’ prosocial behaviours.

Results

Results indicated that (1) teacher–student relationship was positively associated with students’ prosocial behaviour; and (2) students’ attitudes towards school could significantly mediate the association between teacher/student‐perceived relationship and students’ prosocial behaviours.

Conclusions

Our understanding of how teacher–student relationship helps to enhance students’ prosocial behaviours, as well as the intervention programmes that aim to enhance students’ prosocial behaviours, may benefit from these findings.
Exploring the relationship between clout and cognitive processing in MOOC discussion forums
Authors: Moore Robert L. , Yen Cherng‐Jyh , Powers F. Eamonn
Published: October 2020

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between clout and cognitive processing in massive open online course (MOOC) discussion forum posts. Cognitive processing, a category variable generated by the automated text analysis tool, Linguistic Inquiry Word Count (LIWC), is made up of six sub‐scores (insight, causation, discrepancy, tentativeness, certainty and differentiation). Clout is a nontransparent summary variable in LIWC that can be used to understand the level of confidence conveyed in the text. Because clout is nontransparent, we do not know the algorithm used to calculate its value. To better understand this variable, this study examined cognitive processing alongside clout. In this study, a series of linear mixed models were fitted to evaluate, after controlling for gender, degree and type of post, if the focal relationship between each sub‐score of cognitive processing as the predictor variables and clout as the dependent variable changed across courses with different pacing (self‐paced or instructor‐paced). Next, the focal relationship between each predictor and clout was examined with or without regard to pacing. Findings showed words classified as showing discrepancy, certainty or differentiation were negatively associated with clout scores.
CD109 regulates in vivo tumor invasion in lung adenocarcinoma through TGF‐β signaling
Authors: Taki Tetsuro , Shiraki Yukihiro , Enomoto Atsushi , Weng Liang , Chen Chen , Asai Naoya , Murakumo Yoshiki , Yokoi Kohei , Takahashi Masahide , Mii Shinji
Published: October 2020

Stromal invasion is considered an important prognostic factor in patients with lung adenocarcinoma. The mechanisms underlying the formation of tumor stroma and stromal invasion have been studied in the lung; however, they are still unclear. CD109 is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol‐anchored glycoprotein highly expressed in several types of human malignant tumors including lung cancers. In this study, we investigated the in vivo functions of CD109 protein in malignant lung tumors. Initially, we identified an association between higher expression of CD109 protein in human lung adenocarcinoma and a significantly worse prognosis, according to immunohistochemical analysis. We also showed that CD109 deficiency significantly reduced the area of stromal invasive lesions in a genetically engineered CD109‐deficient lung adenocarcinoma mouse model, which correlated with the results observed in human lung adenocarcinoma. Furthermore, we identified latent TGF‐β binding protein‐1 (LTBP1) as a CD109‐interacting protein using mass spectrometry and confirmed their interaction by co‐immunoprecipitation. Importantly, increased CD109 expression enhanced stromal TGF‐β activation in the presence of LTBP1. Therefore, these data suggest the significance of the regulation of TGF‐β signaling through CD109 and LTBP1 interaction in tumor stroma and also reveal the importance of CD109 expression levels in promoting lung cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, and thus predicting the outcome of patients suffering from lung adenocarcinoma. Therefore, CD109 protein could be a potential therapeutic target for this disease.
Bushfires – Climate, people and policies
Authors: Richards Keith
Published: October 2020

This Commentary considers the causal chain responsible for bushfires, prompted by the severe episode in SE Australia in 2019–2020. While not denying the role of climate and climate change, it focuses on ignition and fuel supply as areas where intervention might occur in order to mitigate future fire risk.
NIST RM 8301 Boron Isotopes in Marine Carbonate (Simulated Coral and Foraminifera Solutions): Inter‐laboratory δ11B and Trace Element Ratio Value Assignment
Authors: Stewart Joseph A. , Christopher Steven J. , Kucklick John R. , Bordier Louise , Chalk Thomas B. , Dapoigny Arnaud , Douville Eric , Foster Gavin L. , Gray William R. , Greenop Rosanna , Gutjahr Marcus , Hemsing Freya , Henehan Michael J. , Holdship Philip , Hsieh Yu‐Te , Kolevica Ana , Lin Yen‐Po , Mawbey Elaine M. , Rae James W. B. , Robinson Laura F. , Shuttleworth Rachael , You Chen‐Feng , Zhang Shuang , Day Russell D.
Published: October 2020

The boron isotopic ratio of 11B/10B (δ11BSRM951) and trace element composition of marine carbonates are key proxies for understanding carbon cycling (pH) and palaeoceanographic change. However, method validation and comparability of results between laboratories requires carbonate reference materials. Here, we report results of an inter‐laboratory comparison study to both assign δ11BSRM951 and trace element compositions to new synthetic marine carbonate reference materials (RMs), NIST RM 8301 (Coral) and NIST RM 8301 (Foram) and to assess the variance of data among laboratories. Non‐certified reference values and expanded 95% uncertainties for δ11BSRM951 in NIST RM 8301 (Coral) (+24.17‰ ± 0.18‰) and NIST RM 8301 (Foram) (+14.51‰ ± 0.17‰) solutions were assigned by consensus approach using inter‐laboratory data. Differences reported among laboratories were considerably smaller than some previous inter‐laboratory comparisons, yet discrepancies could still lead to large differences in calculated seawater pH. Similarly, variability in reported trace element information among laboratories (e.g., Mg/Ca ± 5% RSD) was often greater than within a single laboratory (e.g., Mg/Ca < 2%). Such differences potentially alter proxy‐reconstructed seawater temperature by more than 2 °C. These now well‐characterised solutions are useful reference materials to help the palaeoceanographic community build a comprehensive view of past ocean changes.
SiC‐based porous ceramic carriers for heat‐conductive phase change materials through carbothermal reduction method
Authors: Liu Xiaoqian , Zhou Yang , Liu Xufeng , Li Runfeng , Li Shibo , Li Cuiwei
Published: October 2020

Iron tailings remain the environment‐damaging waste from the iron ore, and high porosity porous ceramics are an attractive material to “turn waste into treasure.” To improve the thermal conductivity, porous ceramics with high silicon carbide content have been prepared by carbothermal reduction sintering process using argillaceous fine‐grained iron tailings with high silica content. The carbothermal reduction reaction mechanism and the components and properties of samples in sintering process are investigated. The results show that reaction components in the tailings are mainly SiO2 and Fe2O3 and liquid phase is generated rapidly between 1200°C and 1300°C, producing foaming effect and significantly improving the porosity. Moreover carbothermal reduction of SiO2 occurs above 1300°C. After sintering at 1600°C for 2 hours, the apparent porosity and thermal conductivity of porous iron tailing ceramics are 81.1% and 0.58 W/(m·K), respectively. Compared with the ordinary porous iron tailing ceramics with the same porosity, the thermal conductivity of those herein is increased by 6.6 times. This study is instructive for the development of low‐cost preparation technology of phase change material carriers.
Evaluation of the effect of COVID‐19 pandemic on anxiety severity of physicians working in the internal medicine department of a tertiary care hospital: a cross‐sectional survey
Authors: Uyaroğlu Oğuz Abdullah , Başaran Nursel Çalık , Ozisik Lale , Karahan Sevilay , Tanriover Mine Durusu , Guven Gulay Sain , Oz Serife Gul
Published: October 2020

Background

Internists who have an important role in the global response to the COVID‐19 pandemic are under both physical and psychological pressures.

Aims

To assess the anxiety among physicians working in the internal medicine department of a tertiary care hospital who are on the frontline of the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Methods

This single‐centre, non‐intervention, cross‐sectional descriptive study was conducted using an online survey questionnaire from 1 April to 14 April 2020. Physicians of the Department of Internal Medicine were invited to participate with a self‐administered questionnaire. The degree of symptoms of anxiety was assessed by the Turkish versions of the 7‐item Generalised Anxiety Disorder scale and Beck Anxiety Inventory, respectively.

Results

A total of 113 participants consented for the study and completed the questionnaire. The median age was 29 (IQR = 5) years and 53.1% were male. A total of 72 internists (63.7%) worked as ‘frontline’ healthcare workers directly engaged in diagnosing, treating or caring for patients with or suspected to have COVID‐19. Female gender was significantly associated with high scores and levels in all scales compared to the male gender (P < 0.005). Having family members over 65 years old and with chronic diseases were significantly associated with high anxiety scores and levels (P < 0.005).

Conclusions

In this survey of internists in a university hospital equipped with clinics, wards and intensive care unit for patients with COVID‐19, female gender and having family members over 65 years old and with chronic diseases were associated with increased anxiety levels.
Why do young nurses leave their organization? A qualitative descriptive study
Authors: Çamveren H. , Arslan Yürümezoğlu H. , Kocaman G.
Published: October 2020

Background

Nurse turnover is a major problem all over the world. It is known that young nurses who constitute the new nurse labour force are more likely to leave their organization, especially in their first year. However, qualitative studies that approach the problem from the perspective of young nurses and focus on the reasons for their decision to leave their organization are limited.

Aim

To understand the reasons for young nurses’ leaving their organization and determine their experiences, focusing on their point of view.

Methods

The study had a descriptive qualitative design and was conducted between January and February 2019. Purposeful sampling was used, and the sample included 15 nurses that voluntarily decided to leave a university hospital in Turkey and agreed to participate in the study. Data were collected with semi‐structured interviews, and the interviews were audio‐recorded. The data obtained from the interviews were evaluated by content analysis.

Findings

The young nurses’ reasons for leaving their organization were found to be in three categories: the Negative work environment, Nursing shortage, and Unsatisfied individual expectations. The Negative work environment category included the subcategories of lack of professional solidarity, lack of support from managers, inadequacy of preceptorship process, and horizontal violence. The Nursing shortage category consisted of the subcategories of excessive workload and overtime. The category of Unsatisfied individual expectations comprised the subcategories of work–social life imbalance, availability of alternative options, and family‐related reasons.

Conclusion and implications for nursing policy

It was determined that the young nurses left their organization because they did not receive sufficient support from their managers and colleagues during the transition period. This finding shows that nurse executives must have the managerial skills and understanding to regulate the work environment, increase peer support, and carefully plan each stage of the transition process for the retention of young nurses in their organization. In addition, nurse executives should encourage and be involved with policy making and policymakers and other managers in their organizations to develop institutional and national strategies to ensure that young nurses remain in nursing.
Owston’s civet Chrotogale owstoni: a priority for conservation breeding
Authors: Willcox D. , Taylor O. , Jimerson J. , Underwood G. , Nguyen Van Thai
Published: October 2020

Owston’s civet Chrotogale owstoni is categorized as Endangered on The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The species is the only member of the genus Chrotogale and is restricted to Vietnam, Lao PDR and southern China. Its restricted distribution, taxonomic status as the sole member of its genus, declining conservation status and the known absence of any effective protection within its range make the Owston’s civet a global priority for carnivore conservation. In April 2019, 57 stakeholders, including civil society organizations, zoos from Europe and the region, representatives of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Species Survival Commission (SSC) and the Vietnamese government, gathered in Hanoi, Vietnam, to identify what priority in situ and ex situ actions are needed to avert the extinction of Owston’s civet. The result was the development of a 10 year conservation strategy for this species, part of which includes establishing a conservation‐breeding programme. Conservation‐breeding programmes for globally threatened species in South East Asia are on the whole failing because of poor planning, conflicting institutional objectives and lack of resources. This short report summarizes some of the outputs from the conservation‐planning workshop, and how zoos and other facilities can support the recovery of Owston’s civet in Indochina.
Social media posts reveal the geographic range of the Critically Endangered clown wedgefish, Rhynchobatus cooki
Authors: McDavitt Matthew T. , Kyne Peter M.
Published: October 2020

The shark‐like rays of the family Rhinidae (wedgefishes) are globally threatened with extinction. The poorly known clown wedgefish, Rhynchobatus cooki has historically been recorded only from fish markets in Singapore and Jakarta, Indonesia. Its natural geographic range has until now gone undocumented. Social media posts revealed the first wild records of this Critically Endangered species; six records were located between 2015 and 2020 from small‐scale fisheries in Lingga and Singkep Islands, Indonesia. These results demonstrate the utility of social media searches to identify biogeographic records of cryptic and data‐poor species.
Promoting Active Aging: Lessons Learned in an Implementation Pilot in Primary Care
Authors: Callahan Kathryn E. , Willard James , Foley Kristie L. , Miller Michael E. , Houston Denise K. , Kritchevsky Stephen B. , Williamson Jeff D. , Applegate William B. , Girma Feben , Whitehead Sarah E. , Rejeski W. Jack
Published: October 2020

BACKGROUND

Physical activity (PA) preserves mobility, but few practices screen older adults for mobility impairment or counsel on PA.

DESIGN

“Promoting Active Aging” (PAA) was a mixed‐methods randomized‐controlled pilot, to test the feasibility and acceptability of a video‐based PA counseling tool and implementation into practice of two mobility assessment tools.

SETTING

Three primary care practices affiliated with Wake Forest Baptist Health.

PARTICIPANTS

Adults aged 65 years and older who presented for primary care follow‐up and were willing and able to answer self‐report questions and walk 4 meters (n = 59).

INTERVENTION

Video‐based PA counseling intervention versus control video, “Healthy Eating.”

MEASUREMENTS

Potential participants completed mobility assessments: self‐report (Mobility Assessment Tool‐short form (MAT‐sf)) and performance based (4‐meter walk test). We assessed PAAʼs implementation—feasibility, acceptability, and value—via interviews and surveys. Effectiveness was measured via participant attendance at a PA information session.

RESULTS

Of 92 patients approached, 89 (96.7%) agreed to mobility assessment. Eighty‐nine completed MAT‐sf, and 97.8% (87/89) completed 4‐meter walk test. Sixty‐seven (75%) met eligibility criteria, and 59 (88%) consented to be randomized either to the PA counseling intervention (Video‐PA) or to active control (Video‐C). Most participants viewed the walk test positively (51/59; 86.4%). Staff reported that completion of patient surveys, MAT‐sf, and videos required significant staff time and support (median = 26 minutes for all), resulting in low acceptability of MAT‐sf and the videos. Attendance at a PA information session did not differ by randomization group (Video‐PA = 11/29 (37.9%); Video‐C = 12/30 (40%); 95% confidence interval for difference in proportion = −0.29 to 0.25).

CONCLUSIONS

Mobility assessment, particularly a 4‐meter walk test, was feasible in primary care. Tablet‐based assessment (MAT‐sf) and video counseling tools, selected to reduce staff effort, instead required significant time to implement. Future work to promote PA should identify effective ways to facilitate adoption of PA in sedentary older adults that do not burden staff.
PKC‐ and PKA‐dependent phosphorylation modulates TREK‐1 function in naïve and neuropathic rats
Authors: García Guadalupe , Méndez‐Reséndiz Karina A. , Oviedo Norma , Murbartián Janet
Published: October 2020

PKC and PKA phosphorylation inhibit TREK‐1 channels downstream of Gs protein‐coupled receptor activation in vitro. However, the role of phosphorylation of TREK‐1 in neuropathic pain is unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether altered TREK‐1 channel function by PKA and PKC modulators contributes to antiallodynia in neuropathic rats. Furthermore, we investigated if the in vitro described sites for PKC and PKA phosphorylation (S300 and S333, respectively) participate in the modulation of TREK‐1 in naïve and neuropathic rats. L5/L6 spinal nerve ligation (SNL) induced tactile allodynia. Intrathecal injection of BL‐1249 (TREK‐1 activator) reversed nerve injury‐induced tactile allodynia, whereas spadin (TREK‐1 blocker) produced tactile allodynia in naïve rats and reversed the antiallodynic effect induced by BL‐1249 in neuropathic rats. Intrathecal administration of rottlerin or Rp‐cAMPs (PKC and PKA inhibitors, respectively) enhanced the antiallodynia observed with BL‐1249 in neuropathic rats. In contrast, pretreatment with PdBu or forskolin (PKC and PKA activators, respectively) reduced the BL‐1249‐induced antiallodynia. Intrathecal injection of two high‐activity TREK‐1 recombinant channels, using a in vivo transfection method with lipofectamine, with mutations at PKC/PKA phosphosites (S300A and S333A) reversed tactile allodynia in neuropathic rats, with no effect in naïve rats. In contrast, transfection of two low‐activity TREK‐1 recombinant channels with phosphomimetic mutations at those sites (S300D and S333D) produced tactile allodynia in naïve rats and interfered with antiallodynic effects of rottlerin/BL‐1249 or Rp‐cAMPs/BL‐1249. Data suggest that TREK‐1 channel activity can be dynamically tuned in vivo by PKC/PKA to provoke allodynia and modulate its antiallodynic role in neuropathic pain.

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Student Self‐Reported Positive Purpose Over Two Years in Urban Middle Schools
Authors: Hatchimonji Danielle R. , Gregory Anne , Osher David , Selby Edward A. , Elias Maurice J.
Published: October 2020

We used Developmental Systems Theory as a framework for understanding the role of contextual factors in the development of purpose in urban adolescents. The sample included primarily low‐socioeconomic students of color attending urban middle schools (n = 2,629; 10–16 years of age). Longitudinal data were collected at four time points across two years. We used hierarchical linear modeling to model change in purpose. On average, purpose declined over time. We also identified several predictors of intercept and slope. For example, Black youth had a higher average purpose intercept, as well as a steeper average decline than other racial/ethnic groups. Females demonstrated a higher average purpose intercept than males, but this effect disappeared when academic achievement was added to the model.
Emergency department visits for nontraumatic dental conditions: a systematic literature review
Authors: Akinlotan Marvellous A. , Ferdinand Alva O.
Published: October 2020

Objective

To summarize the literature on factors associated with emergency department (ED) use for nontraumatic dental conditions (NTDCs).

Methods

Following a database search, empirical studies were included if they examined factors associated with ED visits for NTDCs. The factors identified in these studies were further categorized using the Andersen Behavioral Model. Where appropriate, odds ratios (ORs) predicting the likelihood of NTDC ED visits were extracted to obtain summary estimates using random effects models.

Results

Sixty‐three articles were included. Nontraumatic dental ED visits made up about 2.2 percent of all ED visits. Having public health insurance coverage such as Medicaid [OR = 2.17, 95 percent confidence interval (CI) = 1.79–2.64], and being uninsured (OR = 2.80, 95 percent CI = 2.39–3.39) were predictive of ED visits for NTDCs. Adults were more likely to use the ED for NTDCs compared to children and older adults. Rural adults had increased odds of ED use for NTDCs compared to urban adults (OR = 1.31, 95 percent CI = 1.12–1.52). Among younger children, regular dental care without sealant placement was associated with increased ED use for NTDCs. In the United States, both expansion and restriction of Medicaid dental coverage for adults were associated with increased ED visits for NTDCs.

Conclusions

Policy makers and health care providers should address modifiable factors such as accessible dental care for the uninsured, and comprehensive dental coverage for those with public dental benefits. Targeted interventions should focus on young adults, children with special needs, and subpopulations with low socioeconomic status and chronic health conditions.
Four Pillars of the Montessori Method and Their Support by Current Neuroscience
Authors: Catherine L'Ecuyer , Javier Bernacer , Francisco Güell
Published: October 2020

Maria Montessori developed an educational program during the first half of the 20th century. Nowadays, the Montessori method (MM) is considered one of the main alternatives to teacher‐paced conventional preschool education. This review aims to open a dialogue between the MM and current understanding of neurodevelopment. Four conceptual pillars of the MM—the sensitive periods, the education of the senses, the prepared environment, and spontaneous activities through repetition—are discussed. According to the MM, the teacher provides children with an environment that, leaning on maturational time windows, should promote sensory development through spontaneous repetition. We describe brain changes in 3‐ to 6‐year‐old children due to development and externally‐provided experience. Then, it is discussed whether these pillars are supported by neuroscience. Finally, the influences of Montessori are explained, and we suggest possible lines of research to underpin the neuroscientific grounds of the MM.
Dipeptidyl‐peptidases: Key enzymes producing entry forms of extracellular proteins in asaccharolytic periodontopathic bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis
Authors: Nemoto Takayuki K. , Ohara Nemoto Yuko
Published: October 2020

Porphyromonas gingivalis, a pathogen of chronic periodontitis, is an asaccharolytic microorganism that solely utilizes nutritional amino acids as its energy source and cellular constituents. The bacterium is considered to incorporate proteinaceous nutrients mainly as dipeptides, thus exopeptidases that produce dipeptides from polypeptides are critical for survival and proliferation. We present here an overview of dipeptide production by P. gingivalis mediated by dipeptidyl‐peptidases (DPPs), e.g., DPP4, DPP5, DPP7, and DPP11, serine exopeptidases localized in periplasm, which release dipeptides from the N‐terminus of polypeptides. Additionally, two other exopeptidases, acylpeptidyl‐oligopeptidase (AOP) and prolyl tripeptidyl‐peptidase A (PTP‐A), which liberate N‐terminal acylated di‐/tri‐peptides and tripeptides with Pro at the third position, respectively, provide polypeptides in an acceptable form for DPPs. Hence, a large fraction of dipeptides is produced from nutritional polypeptides by DPPs with differential specificities in combination with AOP and PTP‐A. The resultant dipeptides are then incorporated across the inner membrane mainly via a proton‐dependent oligopeptide transporter (POT), a member of the major facilitator superfamily. Recent studies also indicate that DPP4 and DPP7 directly link between periodontal and systemic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus and coagulation abnormality, respectively. Therefore, these dipeptide‐producing and incorporation molecules are considered to be potent targets for prevention and treatment of periodontal and related systemic diseases.
Acne fulminans concomitant with vasculitis‐like symptoms mimicking Henoch‐Schoenlein purpura
Authors: Xu Xiaoxi , Li Xiaohua , Pradhan Sushmita , Li Wei
Published: October 2020

Acne fulminans is a severe form of acne vulgaris accompanied by systemic symptoms. A 17‐year‐old Chinese boy presented with an outbreak of necrotic lesions on his face eight days after the onset of palpable purpura, arthralgia, fever, abdominal pain, and proteinuria. He was successfully treated with oral prednisolone and isotretinoin. Vasculitis‐like symptoms are rarely reported in acne fulminans; therefore, the physician needs to maintain awareness of this uncommon presentation.
Managing Cellphone Services for Customer Satisfaction: Evidence from the Base‐of‐the‐Pyramid Markets
Authors: Khuntia Jiban , Mayya Raveesh , Mithas Sunil , Agarwal Ritu
Published: October 2020

This study investigates how value‐added services (VAS) and customer care services (CCS) moderate the association between satisfaction with the core telephone service and overall customer satisfaction in base‐of‐the‐pyramid (BOP) markets. We propose that customers respond to VAS and CCS differently due to variations in price evaluations of these services. We further examine how the interactions among the service dimensions may differ for local and global telephone providers. We used an archival dataset from a survey of more than 3200 cellphone customers across 34 providers in seven South Asian countries that include India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Srilanka, Nepal, Bhutan, and Maldives to test our conjectures. We find that satisfaction with VAS negatively moderates the relationship between core connection satisfaction and overall satisfaction, and satisfaction with CCS positively moderates the relationship between core connection satisfaction and overall satisfaction. Furthermore, the positive and negative interaction effects are stronger for global vs. local providers. We discuss contributions and managerial implications of the findings.
Dual‐Channel Distribution: The Case for Cost Information Asymmetry
Authors: Gao Long , Guo Liang , Orsdemir Adem
Published: October 2020

Dual channel distribution benefits upstream manufacturers but may irritate downstream retailers. The channel conflict only seems to aggravate when retailers are put at information disadvantage. We show this need not be the case. (i) We demonstrate upstream private information can improve channel efficiency and consumer surplus. The main mechanism is the offsetting interplay of signaling distortion and double marginalization: with private selling cost, the manufacturer may signal her cost by cutting the wholesale price; the price cut encourages the retailer to buy more, thereby reducing double marginalization and improving channel efficiency. (ii) We qualify the received wisdom. The general insight that cost information asymmetry reduces efficiency does not work in dual‐channel settings. We show incorporating cost information asymmetry can change dual‐channel equilibrium substantially—it can turn the retailer and channel from the victims of manufacturer encroachment to its beneficiaries. Also, we rationalize why the retailer can benefit from his information disadvantage, and when he can gain from the manufacturer’s selling cost improvement, despite retail competition. (iii) We demonstrate our results are robust for other prevailing arrangements, for example, two‐part tariffs, price competition, imperfect substitution, and simultaneous moves. Our results suggest a more nuanced view of manufacturer encroachment: as private cost information can ease channel conflict and improve consumer surplus, previous studies may have overestimated the harm of encroachment. By highlighting the critical role of cost information asymmetry, this study sharpens our understanding of dual‐channel theory and practice.
Cryospheric processes in Quaternary and Cretaceous hyper‐arid plateau desert oases
Authors: Wu Chihua , Rodríguez‐López Juan Pedro
Published: October 2020

Winter supercooling of oasis waters in hyper‐arid plateau deserts leads to the formation of ice floes on oases water surfaces. Multi‐year satellite imagery from recent oases in the Badain Jaran Desert (China) reveals dynamic cryospheric processes including ice floe, ice jams abutting on border ice, hinge and transverse cracks, multiple ice lobes related to aufeis formation on the ice floe surface indicating oases water level oscillations linked with short‐term variations of the groundwater input. Oasis ice floe break up and transportation by strong desert winds produce an effective gouge and abrasion mechanism of oasis margin sediments, incorporating them both into the oasis bottom, and as supra‐ice floe debris that ultimately will be released to the bottom of the oasis as dropstones as the ice cover melts. Supercooling conditions in the Badain Jarain Desert oases suggest that anchor ice can form in the oases bottoms from fazil ice crystals generated in open supercooled oasis waters. Mud dropstones and diamicton in Cretaceous wet interdune facies from China suggest ice‐rafting processes in oases. Rounded and subangular mud intraclasts are mud boudins formed by in situ boudinage of mud interdune sediments due to the combined effect of compaction by prograding aeolian sediments and aufeis formation. Anchor ice formed in the oases bottoms lifted them up due to floatability and released them as dropstones to the oasis bottom when melted. Cryospheric processes in hyper‐arid oases are more active than expected and may play a significant role in intraclast reworking. The recognition of these processes is critical for Mesozoic palaeoclimates.
Catch‐up industrial policy and economic transition in China
Authors: Lin Justin Yifu , Wang Wei , Xu Venite Zhaoyang
Published: October 2020

This paper studies how catch‐up industrial policies in China affect economic development in a two‐sector neoclassical growth model. To fulfil their aspirations of catching up with the output of the capital‐intensive sector of developed countries, Chinese political leaders adopted industrial policies that subsidise this target sector at the expense of other sectors from 1952 until the economic reform in 1978. The static effect of this industrial policy distorts the allocation of resources across sectors and lowers the aggregate TFP. The dynamic effect discourages the accumulation of capital. We show that although the output of the capital‐intensive sector boosts initially, it will be lower than its first‐best counterpart in the long run if catch‐up aspirations are too strong. Our theoretical predictions are consistent with the experience of the Chinese economy from 1952 to 1978.
Investigation of covers and chemical treatment for the suppression of cyanobacteria in water treatment systems
Authors: Box Justin , Otto John , Kent William , Higgins Brendan T.
Published: October 2020

Algal growth in water treatment plants can lead to the introduction of toxin and odour compounds from cyanobacteria and causes filter fouling. Here, we investigate the use of woven polypropylene covers and a proprietary copper sulfate formulation (EarthTec) to prevent algal growth within mesocosms designed to simulate settling basins. Chlorophyll a, soluble nutrients, weather patterns and cyanobacterial gene abundance were measured. The covers suppressed algal and cyanobacterial growth in mesocosms, likely due to a combination of light blockage and prevention of insects from entering the mesocosms. In contrast, mesocosms amended with EarthTec exhibited little difference from the control mesocosms in terms of algal growth. qPCR analysis revealed that only a small fraction of cyanobacteria in the system contained genes necessary for the production of the microcystin toxin. Despite differences between mesocosms and full‐scale settling basins, the data here suggest that woven covers can suppress algal growth while minimising evaporative water losses.
The sweat glands’ maximum ion reabsorption rates following heat acclimation in healthy older adults
Authors: Gerrett Nicola , Amano Tatsuro , Inoue Yoshimitsu , Kondo Narihiko
Published: October 2020

New Findings

What is the central question to this study?

Do the sweat glands’ maximum ion reabsorption rates increase following heat acclimation in healthy older individuals and is this associated with elevated aldosterone concentrations?

What is the main finding and its importance?

Sweat gland maximum ion reabsorption rates improved heterogeneously across body sites, which occurred without any changes in aldosterone concentration following a controlled hyperthermic heat acclimation protocol in healthy older individuals.

We examined whether the eccrine sweat glands’ ion reabsorption rates improved following heat acclimation (HA) in older individuals. Ten healthy older adults (>65 years) completed a controlled hyperthermic (+0.9°C rectal temperature, Tre) HA protocol for nine non‐consecutive days. Participants completed a passive heat stress test (lower leg 42°C water submersion) pre‐HA and post‐HA to assess physiological regulation of sweat gland ion reabsorption at the chest, forearm and thigh. The maximum ion reabsorption rate was defined as the inflection point in the slope of the relation between galvanic skin conductance and sweat rate (SR). We explored the responses again after a 7‐day decay. During passive heating, the Tb thresholds for sweat onset on the chest and forearm were lowered after HA (P < 0.05). However, sweat sensitivity (i.e. the slope), the SR at a given Tre and gross sweat loss did not improve after HA (P > 0.05). Any changes observed were lost during the decay. Pilocarpine‐induced sudomotor responses to iontophoresis did not change after HA (P ≥ 0.801). Maximum ion reabsorption rate was only enhanced at the chest (P = 0.001) despite unaltered aldosterone concentration after HA. The data suggest that this adaptation is lost after 7 days’ decay. The HA protocol employed in the present study induced partial adaptive sudomotor responses. Eccrine sweat gland ion reabsorption rates improved heterogeneously across the skin sites. It is likely that aldosterone secretion did not alter the chest sweat ion reabsorption rates observed in the older adults.
Regulation of glycolysis by the hypoxia‐inducible factor (HIF): implications for cellular physiology
Authors: Kierans S. J. , Taylor C. T.
Published: October 2020

Under conditions of hypoxia, most eukaryotic cells can shift their primary metabolic strategy from predominantly mitochondrial respiration towards increased glycolysis to maintain ATP levels. This hypoxia‐induced reprogramming of metabolism is key to satisfying cellular energetic requirements during acute hypoxic stress. At a transcriptional level, this metabolic switch can be regulated by several pathways including the hypoxia inducible factor‐1α (HIF‐1α) which induces an increased expression of glycolytic enzymes. While this increase in glycolytic flux is beneficial for maintaining bioenergetic homeostasis during hypoxia, the pathways mediating this increase can also be exploited by cancer cells to promote tumour survival and growth, an area which has been extensively studied. It has recently become appreciated that increased glycolytic metabolism in hypoxia may also have profound effects on cellular physiology in hypoxic immune and endothelial cells. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms central to mediating this reprogramming are of importance from both physiological and pathophysiological standpoints. In this review, we highlight the role of HIF‐1α in the regulation of hypoxic glycolysis and its implications for physiological processes such as angiogenesis and immune cell effector function.

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5‐HT1A receptor‐mediated attenuation of synaptic transmission in rat medial vestibular nucleus impacts on vestibular‐related motor function
Authors: Han Lei , Wu Kenneth Lap‐Kei , Kwan Pui‐Yi , Chua Oscar Wing‐Ho , Shum Daisy Kwok‐Yan , Chan Ying‐Shing
Published: October 2020

Key points

Chemogenetic activation of medial vestibular nucleus‐projecting 5‐HT neurons resulted in deficits in vestibular‐mediated tasks, including negative geotaxis, balance beam and rota‐rod tests.

The 5‐HT1A receptor mediates the vestibular‐related behavioural effects of 5‐HT in the vestibular nucleus.

5‐HT1A receptor activation attenuated evoked excitatory postsynaptic currents and evoked inhibitory postsynaptic currents via a presynaptic mechanism in the vestibular nucleus.

While the anxiolytic effects of serotonergic neuromodulation are well studied, its role in sensorimotor coordination and postural control is unclear. In this study, we show that an increase of serotonin (5‐hydroxytryptamine, 5‐HT) at the medial vestibular nucleus (MVN), a brainstem centre for vestibulospinal coordination, by either direct cannula administration or chemogenetic stimulation of MVN‐projecting serotonergic neurons, adversely affected performance of rats in vestibular‐mediated tasks, including negative geotaxis, balance beam and rota‐rod tests. Application of the 5‐HT1 and 5‐HT7 receptor co‐agonist 8‐hydroxy‐2‐(di‐n‐propylamino) tetralin recapitulated the effect of 5‐HT, while co‐administration of the specific 5‐HT1A receptor antagonist WAY 100135 effectively abolished all 5‐HT‐induced behavioural deficits. This indicated that 5‐HT1A receptors mediated the effects of 5‐HT in the rat MVN. Using whole‐cell patch‐clamp recording, we demonstrated that 5‐HT1A receptor activation attenuated both evoked excitatory and evoked inhibitory postsynaptic currents through a presynaptic mechanism in the rat MVN. The results thus highlight the 5‐HT1A receptor as the gain controller of vestibular‐related brainstem circuits for posture and balance.
Influence of sex on the age‐related adaptations of neuromuscular function and motor unit properties in elite masters athletes
Authors: Piasecki Jessica , Inns Thomas B. , Bass Joseph J. , Scott Reece , Stashuk Daniel W. , Phillips Bethan E. , Atherton Philip J. , Piasecki Mathew
Published: October 2020

Key points

Masters athletes maintain high levels of activity into older age and allow an examination of the effects of aging dissociated from the effects of increased sedentary behaviour.

Evidence suggests masters athletes are more successful at motor unit remodelling, the reinnervation of denervated fibres acting to preserve muscle fibre number, but little data are available in females.

Here we used intramuscular electromyography to demonstrate that motor units sampled from the tibialis anterior show indications of remodelling from middle into older age and which does not differ between males and females.

The age‐related trajectory of motor unit discharge characteristic differs according to sex, with female athletes progressing to a slower firing pattern that was not observed in males.

Our findings indicate motor unit remodelling from middle to older age occurs to a similar extent in male and female athletes, with discharge rates progressively slowing in females only.

Motor unit (MU) remodelling acts to minimise loss of muscle fibres following denervation in older age, which may be more successful in masters athletes. Evidence suggests performance and neuromuscular function decline with age in this population, although the majority of studies have focused on males, with little available data on female athletes. Functional assessments of strength, balance and motor control were performed in 30 masters athletes (16 male) aged 44–83 years. Intramuscular needle electrodes were used to sample individual motor unit potentials (MUPs) and near‐fibre MUPs in the tibialis anterior (TA) during isometric contractions at 25% maximum voluntary contraction, and used to determine discharge characteristics (firing rate, variability) and biomarkers of peripheral MU remodelling (MUP size, complexity, stability). Multilevel mixed‐effects linear regression models examined effects of age and sex. All aspects of neuromuscular function deteriorated with age (P < 0.05) with no age × sex interactions, although males were stronger (P < 0.001). Indicators of MU remodelling also progressively increased with age to a similar extent in both sexes (P < 0.05), whilst MU firing rate progressively decreased with age in females (p = 0.029), with a non‐significant increase in males (p = 0.092). Masters athletes exhibit age‐related declines in neuromuscular function that are largely equal across males and females. Notably, they also display features of MU remodelling with advancing age, probably acting to reduce muscle fibre loss. The age trajectory of MU firing rate assessed at a single contraction level differed between sexes, which may reflect a greater tendency for females to develop a slower muscle phenotype.
How to run successful meetings in person and virtually
Authors: Swift Whilmari
Published: October 2020

Running successful meetings is an essential operation for all businesses and team building exercises. The Covid‐19 pandemic has further highlighted the need for effective communication within and between teams, as many have been forced to work apart. Although many teams are now returning to practices full‐time, being able to adapt and switch between in‐person, and virtual communication is essential. This article discusses what successful meetings look like and highlights some key meeting rules that help to ensure specific targets are met.
Salivary gland disease in dogs and cats
Authors: de la Puerta Benito , Emmerson Terry
Published: October 2020

Background

In general practice it is common to be presented with patients that suffer from salivary gland disease, particularly salivary sialoceles. This disease affects all salivary glands, although most commonly the sublingual salivary gland. There are various treatment approaches that should be considered. The second most common salivary gland disease is salivary gland neoplasia, particularly adenocarcinomas – surgery can be curative when the tumour is confined to the capsule; however, in many cases, these tumours are more invasive and local reoccurrence can occur.

Aim of the article

This article discusses the different treatments for salivary sialoceles, paying particular attention to the different approaches for the surgical resection of the mandibular and sublingual salivary gland. It also discusses the surgical treatment methods for parotid and zygomatic sialoceles, as well as salivary gland neoplasia and other less common pathologies.