bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Feeling Accountable: Interpreting Park-Based Science in the 21st Century
Authors: Merson Martha , Char Cynthia , McFarland Melinda , Hristov Nickolay I. , Allen Louise C.
Published: April 2022

In the 21st century, national park interpreters reveal the significance of natural resources while facilitating dialog and audience-centered experiences. Interpreters adopting such approaches encounter visitors’ eager responses to silence to requests for a less interactive form of engagement. At several parks interpreters were simultaneously asked to showcase park-based science using visualizations to invite discussion. Survey and interview data from interpreters participating in the educational initiative Interpreters and Scientists Working on Our Parks (iSWOOP), revealed that interpreters found ways to surmount the challenges they encountered. Accountability theory provides a lens for understanding how interpreters chose to respond when visitors’ expectations conflicted with their assignments. Supervisors’ actions made a difference particularly when they granted a green light for experimentation; allowed the interpreter latitude to shift location and topic; and dedicated time for interpreters to prepare and refine their approaches so they could successfully facilitate richly intellectual and emotional, place-based interpretation with visitors.
Deciphering the Increased Prevalence of TP53 Mutations in Metastatic Prostate Cancer
Authors: Zhang Wensheng , Dong Yan , Sartor Oliver , Zhang Kun
Published: April 2022

The prevalence of TP53 mutations in advanced prostate cancers (PCa) is 3 to 5 times of the quantity in primary PCa. By an integrative analysis of the Cancer Genome Atlas and Catalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancer data, we revealed the supporting evidence for 2 complementary hypotheses: H1 - TP53 abnormalities promote metastasis or therapy-resistance of PCa cells, and H2—part of TP53 mutations in PCa metastases occur after the diagnosis of original cancers. The plausibility of these hypotheses can explain the increased prevalence of TP53 mutations in PCa metastases. With H1 and H2 as the general assumptions, we developed mathematical models to decipher the change of the percentage frequency (prevalence) of TP53 mutations from primary tumors to metastases. The following results were obtained. Compared to TP53-normal patients, TP53-mutated patients had poorer biochemical relapse-free survival, higher Gleason scores, and more advanced t-stages ( P < .01). Single-nucleotide variants in metastases more frequently occurred on G bases of the coding sequence than those in primary cancers ( P = .03). The profile of TP53 hotspot mutations was significantly different between primary and metastatic PCa as demonstrated in a set of statistical tests ( P < .05). By the derived formulae, we estimated that about 40% TP53 mutation records collected from metastases occurred after the diagnosis of the original cancers. Our study provided significant insight into PCa progression. The proposed models can also be applied to decipher the prevalence of mutations on TP53 (or other driver genes) in other cancer types.
Representation in music: College students’ perceptions of ensemble repertoire
Authors: Cumberledge Jason P , Williams Matthew L
Published: April 2022

Culturally responsive pedagogy in music education is becoming increasingly crucial for all students, in all types of music programs, and at all levels of education as demographic shifts occur in schools. In music ensembles, the selection of repertoire is a critical component of culturally responsive pedagogy. The purpose of this study was to investigate student perceptions of repertoire in college music ensembles. This study was guided by the following research questions: (a) Do students perceive current ensemble repertoire as representative and supportive of their self-identities? (b) What are these perceptions according to students’ race or ethnicity, gender, and ensemble type? (c) What factors do students consider important in directors’ selection of repertoire? (d) How are directors’ current repertoire selection practices, as experienced by the respondents, informed by or responsive to gender and racial diversity in the ensembles? Respondents ( N = 278) were graduate and undergraduate college students enrolled in band, choir, or orchestra. Data were collected through an online questionnaire. Overall, respondents felt that current repertoire practices were representative and supportive, although male respondents rated composer gender as lower in importance in repertoire selection than both females and those not identifying as male or female. White students indicated that they felt repertoire selection was more representative of their gender than Black, Indigenous, and other students of color. Respondents also indicated a desire for more underrepresented composers in ensemble repertoire. Numerous implications are provided, including the need for an increased focus on culturally responsive repertoire selection processes in teacher preparation programs.
Multiple Sclerosis Severity Score (MSSS) improves the accuracy of individualized prediction in MS
Authors: Kalincik Tomas , Kister Ilya , Bacon Tamar E , Malpas Charles B , Sharmin Sifat , Horakova Dana , Kubala-Havrdova Eva , Patti Francesco , Izquierdo Guillermo , Eichau Sara , Ozakbas Serkan , Onofrj Marco , Lugaresi Alessandra , Prat Alexandre , Girard Marc , Duquette Pierre , Grammond Pierre , Sola Patrizia , Ferraro Diana , Alroughani Raed , Terzi Murat , Boz Cavit , Grand’Maison Francois , Bergamaschi Roberto , Gerlach Oliver , Sa Maria J , Kappos Ludwig , Cartechini Elisabetta , Lechner-Scott Jeannette , van Pesch Vincent , Shaygannejad Vahid , Granella Franco , Spitaleri Daniele , Iuliano Gerardo , Maimone Davide , Prevost Julie , Soysal Aysun , Turkoglu Recai , Ampapa Radek , Butzkueven Helmut , Cutter Gary ,   for MSBase Study Group
Published: April 2022

Background:

The MSBase prediction model of treatment response leverages multiple demographic and clinical characteristics to estimate hazards of relapses, confirmed disability accumulation (CDA), and confirmed disability improvement (CDI). The model did not include Multiple Sclerosis Severity Score (MSSS), a disease duration-adjusted ranked score of disability.

Objective:

To incorporate MSSS into the MSBase prediction model and compare model accuracy with and without MSSS.

Methods:

The associations between MSSS and relapse, CDA, and CDI were evaluated with marginal proportional hazards models adjusted for three principal components representative of patients’ demographic and clinical characteristics. The model fit with and without MSSS was assessed with penalized r2 and Harrell C.

Results:

A total of 5866 MS patients were started on disease-modifying therapy during prospective follow-up (age 38.4 ± 10.6 years; 72% female; disease duration 8.5 ± 7.7 years). Including MSSS into the model improved the accuracy of individual prediction of relapses by 31%, of CDA by 23%, and of CDI by 24% (Harrell C) and increased the amount of variance explained for relapses by 49%, for CDI by 11%, and for CDA by 10% as compared with the original model.

Conclusion:

Addition of a single, readily available metric, MSSS, to the comprehensive MSBase prediction model considerably improved the individual accuracy of prognostics in MS.
In-plane compression of graded hierarchical honeycombs
Authors: Wang Yuyang , Lu Guoxing , San Ha Ngoc , Wang Li
Published: April 2022

Hierarchical and graded honeycomb structures are extensively applied in many fields due to their excellent compression properties and energy absorption capacity. In the present study, the segmented graded hierarchical honeycomb structures with triangle substructures (GHT) are constructed to numerically investigate the in-plane crushing performance by the nonlinear finite element analysis code ABAQUS/Explicit. GHT exhibits the best energy absorption capacity compared to graded regular hexagonal honeycomb structures (GRH), graded hierarchical structures with Kagome substructures (GHK) and graded hierarchical structures with hexagonal substructures (GHH). The comprehensive effect of inertia and yield strength at each layer is illustrated by investigating the deformation modes under different loading speeds. The plateau stress is discussed in two ways: the overall average plateau stress corresponding to the whole structure and the segmental plateau stress corresponding to the specific layer. The relationship between overall average plateau stress, relative density and loading speed for the graded structure is established based on one-dimensional shock wave theory and compared with the uniform structure. The segmental properties of plateau stress at both impact and fixed ends are investigated in detail by combining theoretical analysis and deformation characteristics, and the results show good consistency with the simulation results at low, medium, and high loading speed conditions. Finally, the concept of cyclic graded structure is introduced, which can further optimize the energy absorption capacity and provide guidance for the design of new multifunctional structures.
A snapshot of an eCohort: A comparison of the LifeGene population at baseline with the Swedish general population
Authors: Rissanen Ritva
Published: April 2022

Aims:

With access to technologies and internet around the globe, opportunities have been provided to contact and recruit participants at a more rapid pace, without face-to-face contact. However, ‘eCohorts’ may yield substantial volunteer bias. Few studies have compared eCohorts to general populations or samples where traditional research methods have been applied. To our knowledge, no prior analyses have reported on Swedish-based LifeGene eCohort, in comparison with the Swedish general population. The aim of this study was to compare the LifeGene eCohort at baseline with the Swedish general population.

Methods:

The LifeGene eCohort ( n = 39,862) was compared with the general population in Sweden represented by weighted data from the Swedish Public Health agency and Statistics Sweden. LifeGene is a nationwide project with yearly data collection. Descriptive statistics were used to compare demographic characteristics, and self-reported data on diagnosis of depression.

Results:

The LifeGene eCohort overrepresented younger people, females, those with a higher socio-economic status, non-smokers and people with a diagnosis of depression. Surprisingly, the eCohort included a larger percentage of people born outside of Sweden compared to the general population, which is not in line with previous studies.

Conclusion:

The results show that the participants in the LifeGene eCohort are different regarding demographic variables and some health indicators from the Swedish general population. Hence, if comparisons are made between the LifeGene eCohort and a general population it becomes important to be aware of the differences that might exist between the different cohort populations and how these might affect the estimates.
Diagnoses of infectious diseases among Norwegian-born children to immigrant parents – the role of parental socioeconomic position
Authors: M.K.R. Kjøllesdal , A.S. Labberton , A. Reneflot , S. Qureshi , P. Surén
Published: April 2022

Aims:

Children of immigrants have a higher incidence of infectious disease than native children. Our aim was to assess the role of parental socioeconomic position for diagnoses of infectious disease among children of immigrants.

Methods:

Data from the Norwegian Patient Registry (on diagnoses from secondary/tertiary care), Medical Birth Registry of Norway, and Statistics Norway were linked by the national personal identification number. Seven diagnostic infection categories were included from 2008 onwards. The study population included children born in Norway aged 0–10 years between 2008 and 2018 ( N = 988,647). Hazards of infection diagnoses by parental region of origin (adjusted for sex, birth year, parental education, household income and mother’s parity) and by parental education and household income were assessed by Cox regression.

Results:

High parental education was associated with lower hazard of infection diagnoses among children of Norwegian-born parents, but associations were less consistent among children with immigrant parents. Lower household income was related to hazard of most infectious diagnoses among children with both Norwegian-born and immigrant parents. Assessed by region diagnoses of viral and bacterial infections and infections of the musculoskeletal system and soft tissue were not associated with household income. Parental education and household income did not explain differences in hazard of infection diagnoses between children born to immigrant versus Norwegian-born parents.

Conclusions:

Socioeconomic disadvantage did not explain differences in hazard of being diagnosed with infectious disease in secondary/tertiary care between children with immigrant versus Norwegian-born parents.
Niacin promotes the efflux of lysosomal cholesterol from macrophages via the CD38/NAADP signaling pathway
Authors: Yang Shenghua , Zhang Fan , Li Quanwen , Li Quanzhong
Published: April 2022

The accumulation of free cholesterol in macrophage lysosomes significantly enhances atherogenesis. Our recent study demonstrated that the cluster of differentiation 38 (CD38)/nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP)/Ca2+ signaling pathway plays a critical role in the efflux of lysosomal free cholesterol from macrophages in atherosclerosis. Niacin, known as nicotinic acid, is one of the oldest lipid-lowering medications showing unique anti-atherosclerotic activity. However, it is unknown whether this anti-atherosclerosis activity is associated with the efflux of lysosomal compartmentalized cholesterol in macrophages. In this study, we investigated the anti-atherosclerotic effects of niacin on the reduction of lysosomal free cholesterol via CD38/NAADP signaling in macrophages derived from low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLr−/−) mice. Fluorescent filipin and Nile red labeling coupled with confocal microscopy demonstrated that niacin reduced free cholesterol accumulation in lysosomes in a concentration-dependent manner. Transmission electron microscopy also showed that niacin markedly decreased cholesterol crystal formation in lysosomes in oxidized LDL-containing LDLr−/− bone marrow–derived macrophages. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays showed that niacin increased NAADP production in a concentration-dependent manner, which was inhibited by small interfering RNA interference of CD38. Therefore, niacin may promote the efflux of lysosomal cholesterol from macrophages via the CD38/NAADP signaling pathway.
“I am the Face of My Future Generation”: Latina First-Generation Undergraduates Aspiring to Careers in Health Care and Medicine
Authors: Smith Katie N.
Published: April 2022

Given the need for Latinx/a/o health care providers in the United States, understanding how students choose these fields is critical to achieving more equitable systems. This study uses community cultural wealth to investigate how Latina first-generation college students choose and pursue health care careers. Findings show that women employed multiple sources of capital to learn about career options, challenge inequalities in health systems, and to give back to family, especially to honor past and future generations of women.
The Effect of Thumb Carpometacarpal Joint Corticosteroid Injections on Outcomes Following Arthroplasty
Authors: Tawfik Amr M. , Elkhechen Justin N. , Aryee Jomar , Sirch Francis , Filtes Peter , Katt Brian M.
Published: April 2022

Background:

Prior studies suggest steroid injections may affect infection rates following thumb carpometacarpal joint (CMCJ) arthroplasty. However, it is unclear whether injections prior to CMCJ arthroplasty affect functional outcomes, primarily Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (qDASH).

Methods:

We retrospectively identified patients who underwent thumb CMCJ arthroplasty from 2015 to 2019. Patients who had qDASH scores reported preoperatively, and at 5 and 11 months postoperatively were included. Charts were reviewed for the presence or absence of prior corticosteroid injection to the CMCJ and complications. Delta qDASH was calculated by subtracting the patients’ postoperative qDASH scores from the preoperative qDASH scores.

Results:

In all, 350 CMCJ arthroplasty patients were identified, 177 who had received at least 1 steroid injection and 173 who were steroid-naïve. No significant differences existed in delta qDASH scores postoperatively between the injection and naïve groups at 5 months (28.5 vs 28.6) or 11 months (31.2 vs 31.9). Whereas there were no significant differences in rates of major complications between the 2 groups, minor complications were higher in the injection group (16.4% vs 9.2%). Patients who received more than 3 injections did not have worse 5-month or 11-month delta qDASH scores or complication rates than those with fewer than 3.

Conclusions:

Preoperative CMCJ steroid injection status does not affect major complication rates or functional outcomes following CMCJ arthroplasty. However, injections increase the rate of minor complications. The qDASH and complication rates following CMCJ arthroplasty are not affected by receiving greater than 3 injections preoperatively.
The Effect Immobilization Mechanisms Have on Radiographic Outcomes and Complication Rates in the Conservative Treatment of Distal Radius Fractures: A Systematic Review
Authors: Jamnik Adam A. , Chacon Jose , Xiao Angel X. , Wagner Eric R. , Gottschalk Michael B.
Published: April 2022

Distal radius fractures (DRFs) are among the most common fractures in the United States. Despite their high incidence, there is no consensus on the optimal type of cast or splint to treat these fractures. The purpose of this systematic review is to evaluate the available literature pertaining to the outcomes for different constructs used to conservatively treat DRFs. A literature search of PubMed, Medline, and Embase was conducted to identify research comparing the outcomes of various immobilization mechanisms. In particular, endpoints included complications (eg, loss of reduction, pain), radiographic outcomes, and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) scores. A total of 1655 articles were identified during the literature search, and 22 ultimately fulfilled inclusion criteria. These 22 studies included 1826 conservatively treated DRFs. The different immobilization mechanisms were divided into 8 groupings: above-elbow casts, above-elbow splints, below-elbow casts, below-elbow splints, gutter or spica casts, gutter or spica splints, dorsal-volar splints, and dorsal splints. Qualitative review of the studies determined that below-elbow constructs result in equal or better functional and radiologic outcomes when compared with above-elbow constructs. Meta-analysis demonstrated that a statistically significant difference ( P = .04) existed in the incidence of loss of reduction between the immobilization constructs, although post hoc analysis did not detect significant differences between 2 particular constructs.
Innovative Methodological Approach to Analyze Innovation and Social Impact
Authors: Bellavista Joan , Elboj-Saso Carmen , García Yeste Carme , Villarejo-Carballido Beatriz
Published: April 2022

The scientific literature has presented evidence of the links between innovation and change and has published excellent methodologies to analyze them. Nowadays, international scientific programs like Horizon Europe prioritize social impact and co-creation; researchers need to develop methodologies to analyze the link of innovation with change and new knowledge and specially with social impact. This paper presents an innovative methodological approach to this endeavor using Social Media Analytics to investigate citizens' participation in paying attention to and differentiating between innovations with social impact and innovations without social impact. The method used to address this aim is Social Media Analytics, specifically through a Twitter sample on innovation and social impact composed of 16,794 tweets obtained during January–June 2021. The result obtained indicates that the definition of methodologies to capture citizens’ participation in paying attention to and differentiating between innovation and social impact is crucial for advancing this innovative methodological approach to analyze innovation with social impact.
The behavior and forming performance of vapor hydroforming process of thin aluminum sheets: Numerical and experimental analysis
Authors: Jebri Leila , Lazghab Tarek , Toumi Mohamed , Soula Mohamed
Published: April 2022

This paper presents a study on the formability prediction, thickness variation, the influence of the gradient temperature, and prediction damage and failure behavior of aluminum sheets in a hydroforming vapor process through experimental and numerical investigations. A vapor hydroforming process that takes advantage of the coupling between thermal and mechanical loads applied to sheet metal is introduced. Uniaxial tensile tests and an optimization program developed in Matlab and based on the inverse method were conducted for identifying the coefficients of the Johnson-Cook law at room and at different temperatures. In parallel, a finite element model of the hydroforming vapor process was developed using ABAQUS/Explicit to reproduce the behavior of the aluminum sheet, where the behavior of the coupled thermo viscoelastic material and to the damage prediction of the plate being tested is analyzed using Johnson-Cook model. The results confirm the feasibility of the forming process. The variation of sheet thickness, the thinning mode of the tested sheet, and the effects of the hydroforming temperature are studied. A good agreement was achieved between experimental data and numerical results.
Extending the description of the clinical research nursing workforce
Authors: A Fisher Cheryl , A Griffith Catherine , Lee Hyacinth , Smith Hazel A , T Jones Carolynn , A Grinke Kathleen , Keller Rosemary , Cusack Georgie , Browning Shaunagh , Hill Gordon
Published: April 2022

Background

The role of Clinical Research Nurses across the globe has not been evaluated to identify similarities or differences among specific activities.

Aims

This study’s aims were to determine differences in Clinical Research Nurses most frequently performed activities, if these activities are reflective of those previously described in the literature, and job titles Clinical Research Nurses use to self-identify.

Methods

An online cross-sectional survey distributed via snowball sampling through email, social media, and research nurses’ networks included questions on frequency of activities performed and information related to job titles. Pearson’s chi-square test is analyzed for associations between the groups.

Results

Respondents returned 252 questionnaires, 233 were eligible for analysis. Research nurse activities performed internationally showed both similarities and differences. Any between country comparisons will be limited to the United States and the United Kingdom. The three most common tasks reported were recruitment 120 (51.5%), monitoring the research participant for potential adverse events 187 (80.2%) and providing nursing leadership within the interdisciplinary team 169 (72.5%).

Conclusion

Considering the context and range of activities of the original Clinical Research Nursing Domain of Practice, broadening the framework to include the leadership domain will better serve as a foundation for the specialty practice.
Promoting a gender-affirming environment in research: implications for research nurses
Authors: Thangthaeng Nopporn , Hillard Mallory A , Cayford Melody , Barrett Sophia , Ducar Dallas , Larkin Mary E
Published: April 2022

Background: Approximately 25 million people around the world identify as transgender, and the numbers are growing. While visibility of transgender communities has increased, significant healthcare disparities remain. Transgender individuals report being less inclined to share their sex assigned at birth due to fear of stigmatization and mistrust of the medical community. The mistrust and inequity experienced by transgender individuals are not limited to clinical care and may extend to clinical research as well.

Aim and method: The aim of this paper is to start a conversation about barriers to participating in research and the role of research staff, specifically the Clinical Research Nurse, in promoting engagement of transgender individuals in clinical research trials.

Discussion and conclusions: A discussion of safety considerations, data integrity, and implications for data management is included. Because disparities may result in large part from lack of education and knowledge on best practices for providing care for this population, recommendations for fostering a culture of competence and gender-affirming care among research professionals featuring the role of the research nurse will be discussed.
Insulin Titration Guidelines for Patients With Type 1 Diabetes: It Is About Time!
Authors: Walsh John , Roberts Ruth , Bailey Timothy S. , Heinemann Lutz
Published: April 2022

Purpose:

A proposal that an Insulin Advisory Committee develop insulin titration guidelines 100 years after its discovery.

Findings:

Glucose control metrics remain poor despite significant advances in diabetes technology.

A century after the introduction of insulin, health care providers and patients with type 1 diabetes have worldwide access to a variety of insulin delivery devices (IDDs), glucose monitors, bolus calculators (BCs), continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), and automated insulin delivery (AID) systems. However, these advances have not enabled most patients to achieve today’s clear A1c and time-in-range goals. Much of this failure arises from the lack of clear insulin titration guidelines for determining appropriate insulin doses. The lack of dosing clarity results in local physicians, clinics, and individual patients managing insulin titrations as they see fit, creating significant inefficiencies for reaching recommended glycemic goals. This review (1) details the widespread problems generated by nonphysiological dose settings in today’s BCs, insulin pumps, and AID systems; (2) presents a method to develop and implement optimized total daily doses of insulin to correct the most common problem of hyperglycemia; (3) discusses using large device databases to provide clear insulin titration guidelines that optimize BC settings from an optimized total daily dose (TDD) of insulin for patients with T1D; and (4) recommends the formation of an Insulin Advisory Committee to clarify the steps to take toward universal insulin titration guidelines, optimized BC settings, and a systematic logic for their use in insulin delivery devices.
Global Health Jurisprudence: COVID-19 Pandemic and Pharmaceutical Patents
Authors: Khobragade Jagdish Wamanrao
Published: April 2022

The onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic has claimed millions of lives across the globe, and since its emergence, it has brought to the fore the urgency of addressing public health issues from a global perspective. Notwithstanding the calls for collective action and ambitious global initiatives launched under the aegis of the World Health Organization (WHO), the search for effective new drugs and vaccines and their equitable and affordable access remain captive to the contentious issue of balancing the commercial (intellectual property) rights of the medicine manufacturers and the basic right to health of the vast majority of humankind. There has been a divide among the governments of the developed and developing countries as they jockey to seek trade concessions and intellectual property (IP) waivers in multilateral Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) forums to ensure affordable treatment for their population. Neither the multilateral trade talks nor the parallel global initiatives, especially the ambitious COVID-19 Technology Access Pool (C-TAP) project, has made the promised progress, thus showing that the ground reality is a far cry from the appealing ideas of global solidarity. The pandemic continues to take its toll; calls for a global response to global challenges are getting louder and shriller by the day. The present study attempts to trace the history of collective action in the realm of public health from the social and commercial perspectives. It is to seek a globalized approach to global health issues within the framework of distributive justice. It is observed that the present global framework found a sound economic sense with little scope for global health jurisprudence.
Assessing and Extending Colorblind Racism Theory Using National Survey Data
Authors: Hamilton Amber M. , Hartmann Douglas , Larson Ryan
Published: April 2022

Eduardo Bonilla-Silva’s work on colorblind racism has become a prominent theoretical framework for analyzing racial attitudes, ideologies, and discourses in the contemporary United States. However, the scholarship has yet to produce an empirically rigorous, quantitative assessment of colorblind racism to document the theory’s generalizability and assess it as a theory of racial attitudes. In this article, we build upon the rich body of qualitative research to develop a novel measurement model of colorblind racism using nationally representative survey data. We then use the model to estimate the impact of adherence to colorblind beliefs on support for affirmative action policies and awareness of structural disadvantage. Our findings indicate a good model fit, and that awareness of structural disadvantages acts as a mediator between colorblind racism and affirmative action support. We use our findings to develop colorblind racism theory, especially regarding structural disadvantage, both empirically and theoretically; we also consider the implications of these findings and colorblind theory more generally for the study of racial attitudes in the post-Trump era.
Book review: Aakash Singh Rathore, Ambedkar’s Preamble: A Secret History of the Constitution of India
Authors: Kumar Sanjay
Published: April 2022

Aakash Singh Rathore, Ambedkar’s Preamble: A Secret History of the Constitution of India. Penguin & Vintage Publication, 2020, 236 pp. (hardcover). ISBN 978-0-670-09324-3.
Book review: Looking Back: The 1947 Partition of India 70 Years On, Edited by Rakhshanda Jalil, Tarun K. Saint and Debjani Sengupta
Authors: Barman Rup Kumar
Published: April 2022

Looking Back: The 1947 Partition of India 70 Years On, Edited by Rakhshanda Jalil, Tarun K. Saint and Debjani Sengupta (Hyderabad: Orient Blackswan, 2019). xxxviii + 355pp, ₹995.00 (Paperback).
‘More collaborative and open’: As systemic psychotherapists become more familiar with videoconferencing, are the advantages of the medium becoming more apparent? A focus group study with UK systemic practitioners
Authors: Burbach Frank R. , Stiles Katie M. , Brown Katherine , Allen Victoria M. E. , Mc Kenny Richard
Published: April 2022

Three semi-structured online focus group interviews were conducted with 17 systemic psychotherapists in the UK 1 year after the transition to videoconferencing therapy (or ‘teletherapy’) prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Thematic analysis identified 23 themes within 10 superordinate themes including Advantages of working online; Changes to the therapeutic relationship; Comparison to in-person therapy; Using therapeutic techniques online; Disadvantages of working online; Adapting to the affordances and constraints of technology. Whilst experiences were mildly positive overall, participants responded with almost twice as many positive comments as negative ones and described themselves as likely to continue working online. This study explores the advantages of online delivery which were described in the focus groups and posits that these digital affordances will lead to the development of more collaborative and invitational approaches.
On Embedding Indigenous Musics in Schools: Examining the Applicability of Possible Models to One School District’s Approach
Authors: Prest Anita , Goble J. Scott , Vazquez-Cordoba Hector
Published: April 2022

Recent curriculum policy changes in British Columbia (BC) require that educators in all subject areas—including music—embed local Indigenous knowledge, pedagogies, and worldviews in their classes. Yet facilitating such decolonizing cross-cultural music education activities requires knowledge that music educators may not currently possess. We use four models created by an Indigenous Arts scholar to examine the interface of Indigenous and Western art musics in performing arts settings: (a) integration, (b) nation-to-nation music trading and reciprocal presentation, (c) a combination of the first two models, and (d) non-integrative encounters that are in relationship but have irreconcilable elements. We consider the applicability of these models in music education settings, using them to analyze our findings from a study in which we explored the ways teachers have embedded local First Nations songs and drumming in classes in a single metropolitan school district in BC.
Genome Editing Technology and Its Application to Metabolic Engineering in Rice
Authors: Sukegawa Satoru , Toki Seiichi , Saika Hiroaki
Published: April 2022

Genome editing technology can be used for gene engineering in many organisms. A target metabolite can be fortified by the knockout and modification of target genes encoding enzymes involved in catabolic and biosynthesis pathways, respectively, via genome editing technology. Genome editing is also applied to genes encoding proteins other than enzymes, such as chaperones and transporters. There are many reports of such metabolic engineering using genome editing technology in rice. Genome editing is used not only for site-directed mutagenesis such as the substitution of a single base in a target gene but also for random mutagenesis at a targeted region. The latter enables the creation of novel genetic alleles in a target gene. Recently, genome editing technology has been applied to random mutagenesis in a targeted gene and its promoter region in rice, enabling the screening of plants with a desirable trait from these mutants. Moreover, the expression level of a target gene can be artificially regulated by a combination of genome editing tools such as catalytically inactivated Cas protein with transcription activator or repressor. This approach could be useful for metabolic engineering, although expression cassettes for inactivated Cas fused to a transcriptional activator or repressor should be stably transformed into the rice genome. Thus, the rapid development of genome editing technology has been expanding the scope of molecular breeding including metabolic engineering. In this paper, we review the current status of genome editing technology and its application to metabolic engineering in rice.
Supervised promoter recognition: a benchmark framework
Authors: Perez Martell Raul I. , Ziesel Alison , Jabbari Hosna , Stege Ulrike
Published: April 2022

Motivation

Deep learning has become a prevalent method in identifying genomic regulatory sequences such as promoters. In a number of recent papers, the performance of deep learning models has continually been reported as an improvement over alternatives for sequence-based promoter recognition. However, the performance improvements in these models do not account for the different datasets that models are evaluated on. The lack of a consensus dataset and procedure for benchmarking purposes has made the comparison of each model’s true performance difficult to assess.

Results

We present a framework called Supervised Promoter Recognition Framework (‘SUPR REF’) capable of streamlining the complete process of training, validating, testing, and comparing promoter recognition models in a systematic manner. SUPR REF includes the creation of biologically relevant benchmark datasets to be used in the evaluation process of deep learning promoter recognition models. We showcase this framework by comparing the models’ performances on alternative datasets, and properly evaluate previously published models on new benchmark datasets. Our results show that the reliability of deep learning ab initio promoter recognition models on eukaryotic genomic sequences is still not at a sufficient level, as overall performance is still low. These results originate from a subset of promoters, the well-known RNA Polymerase II core promoters. Furthermore, given the observational nature of these data, cross-validation results from small promoter datasets need to be interpreted with caution.
Predict the role of lncRNA in kidney aging based on RNA sequencing
Authors: Li Jie , Gao Fanfan , Wei Limin , Chen Lei , Qu Ning , Zeng Lu , Luo Yulong , Huang Xinmei , Jiang Hongli
Published: April 2022

Background

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in physiological and pathological processes. However, no studies have been conducted on the relationship between lncRNAs and renal aging.

Results

First, we evaluated the histopathology of young (3-month-old) and old (24-month-old) C57BL/6J mouse kidneys. Masson trichrome staining and PAS staining showed interstitial collagen deposition and fibrosis, mesangial matrix expansion, a thicker basement membrane and renal interstitial fibrosis in old mouse kidneys. Senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal)-positive areas in the kidneys of old mice were significantly elevated compared to those of young mice. Then, we analyzed the differential expression of lncRNAs and mRNAs in the kidneys of young and old mouse kidneys by RNA-seq analysis. 42 known and 179 novel differentially expressed lncRNAs and 702 differential mRNAs were detected in the mouse kidney. Next, we focused on the differentially expressed mRNAs and lncRNAs by RNA-seq. GO and KEGG analyses were performed based on differentially expressed mRNAs between young and old mouse kidneys. Transregulation based on RIsearch and the correlation coefficient of mRNA-lncRNA were also calculated. The mRNA-lncRNA network was constructed by choosing a Spearman correlation coefficient > 0.9 or <-0.9. GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses revealed that differentially expressed mRNAs participated in aging-related pathways. A total of 10 lncRNAs and trans-regulated mRNAs were constructed. Finally, we validated the role of lncRNA Gm43360 by CCK-8, flow cytometry, western blot and SA-β-gal staining. The expression level of Adra1a was positively correlated and Csnk1a1 was negatively correlated with lncRNA Gm43360. The cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) results showed that lncRNA Gm43360 promoted cell viability. LncRNA Gm43360 increased the percentage of S phase cells and decreased the percentage of G1 phase cells compared with the negative control. LncRNA Gm43360 decreased the expression of p53, p21 and SA-β-gal.

Conclusions

LncRNA Gm43360 may play a protective role in kidney aging.
Phylogenetic position of Bopyroides hippolytes, with comments on the rearrangement of the mitochondrial genome in isopods (Isopoda: Epicaridea: Bopyridae)
Authors: Wu Ruiwen , Guo Rongxiu , Xi Qianqian , Paulay Gustav , An Jianmei
Published: April 2022

Background

Classification of parasitic bopyrids has traditionally been based on morphological characteristics, but phylogenetic relationships have remained elusive due to limited information provided by morphological data and tendency for loss of morphological features as a result of parasitic lifestyle. Subfamily Argeiinae was separated from Bopyrinae based on morphological evidence, although the assignment of all genera has not been phylogenetically evaluated. Bopyroides hippolytes has been traditionally classified in Bopyrinae, but divergent morphological characters make this assignment questionable. To investigate the relationship of bopyrines, we sequenced the complete mitochondrial genome of B. hippolytes and four mitochondrial genes of two other Bopyrinae.

Results

The phylogenetic trees based on separate and combined cox1and 18S sequence data recovered Bopyridae as robustly monophyletic, but Bopyrinae as polyphyletic. Bopyroides hippolytes was a close sister to Argeia pugettensis, type species to Argeiinae. Mitochondrial phylogenomics also suggested that B. hippolytes was close to Argeiinae. We also found a novel gene order in B. hippolytes compared to other isopods.

Conclusions

Bopyroides hippolytes should be excluded from the Bopyrinae and has a close affinity with Argeia pugettensis based on molecular and morphological data. The conserved syntenic blocks of mitochondrial gene order have distinctive characteristics at a subordinal level and may be helpful for understanding the higher taxonomic level relationships of Isopoda.
Response of soil microbial community structure and function to different altitudes in arid valley in Panzhihua, China
Authors: Zhang Runji , Tian Xianrui , Xiang Quanju , Penttinen Petri , Gu Yunfu
Published: April 2022

Background

Altitude affects biodiversity and physic-chemical properties of soil, providing natural sites for studying species distribution and the response of biota to environmental changes. We sampled soil at three altitudes in an arid valley, determined the physic-chemical characteristics and microbial community composition in the soils, identified differentially abundant taxa and the relationships between community composition and environmental factors.

Results

The low, medium and high altitudes were roughly separated based on the physic-chemical characteristics and clearly separated based on the microbial community composition. The differences in community composition were associated with differences in soil pH, temperature, and SOC, moisture, TN, TP, AN, AP and SMBC contents. The contents of organic and microbial biomass C, total and available N and available P, and the richness and diversity of the microbial communities were lowest in the medium altitude. The relative abundances of phyla Proteobacteria, Gemmatimonadetes, Actinobacteria and Acidobacteria were high at all altitudes. The differentially abundant amplified sequence variants (ASVs) were mostly assigned to Proteobacteria and Acidobacteria. The highest number of ASVs characterizing altitude were detected in the high altitude. However, the predicted functions of the communities were overlapping, suggesting that the contribution of the communities to soil processes changed relatively little along the altitude gradient.

Conclusions

The low, medium and high altitudes were roughly separated based on the physicochemical characteristics and clearly separated based on the microbial community composition. The differences in community composition were associated with differences in soil pH, temperature, and SOC, moisture, TN, TP, AN, AP and SMBC contents.
Electrocardiographic patterns predict the presence of collateral circulation and in-hospital mortality in acute total left main occlusion
Authors: Liu Chunwei , Yang Fan , Zhang Jingxia , Hu Yuecheng , Xiao Jianyong , Gao Mingdong , Wang Le , Li Ximing , Guo Zhigang , Cong Hongliang , Liu Yin
Published: April 2022

Background

Data on the clinical characteristics, electrocardiogram (ECG) findings and outcomes of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) due to total unprotected left main (ULM) artery occlusion is limited.

Methods

Between 2009 and 2021, 44 patients with AMI due to total ULM occlusion underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) at our institution. The ECG, collateral circulation, clinical and procedural characteristics, and in-hospital mortality were retrospectively evaluated.

Results

Twenty five patients presented with shock and 18 patients had in-hospital mortality. Nineteen patients presented with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), while 25 presented with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). ST-segment elevation (STE) in I and STEMI were associated with the absence of collateral circulation, while STE in aVR was associated with its presence. In the NSTEMI group, patients with STE in both aVR and aVL showed more collateral filling of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) territory, while patients with STE in aVR showed more collateral filling of the LAD and the left circumflex artery territory. Compared with total ULM occlusion, patients with partial ULM obstruction presented with more STE in aVR, less STE in aVR and aVL, and less STEMI. Shock, post-PCI TIMI 0–2 flow, non-STE in aVR, STEMI, and STE in I predicted in-hospital mortality. STEMI and the absence of collateral flow were significantly associated with shock.

Conclusions

STE in the precordial leads predicted the absence of collateral circulation while STE in aVR and STE in both aVR and aVL predicted different collateral filling territories in ULM occlusion. STE in I, non-STE in aVR, and STEMI predicted in-hospital mortality in these patients.
Multiparametric CMR imaging of myocardial structure and function changes in diabetic mini-pigs with preserved LV function: a preliminary study
Authors: Shao Guozhu , Cao Yukun , Cui Yue , Han Xiaoyu , Liu Jia , Li Yumin , Li Na , Shi Heshui
Published: April 2022

Background

The purpose of this study is to dynamically monitor the myocardial structure and function changes in diabetic mini-pigs by 1.5 T cardiac magnetic resonance.

Methods

Three male mini-pigs underwent cardiac magnet resonance (CMR) imaging, and histologic examination. T1-mapping was acquired at basal, mid and apical segments. CMR feature-tracking (CMR-FT) is used to quantify left ventricle global longitudinal (LVGLS), circumferential (LVGCS) and radial strain (LVGRS). Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) was evaluated using a commercially available software.

Results

Left ventricular mass (LVM), myocardial native T1 value, extracellular volume (ECV) value and EAT were increased gradually after 6 months of modeling, while LVGLS decreased gradually after 6 months of modeling (LVM: 24.5 (23.4, 26.7) vs. 42.7 (41.4, 44.6) g/m2, p < 0.001; Native T1: 1005.5 (992.6, 1010.7) vs. 1028.7 (1015.5, 1035.6) ms, p = 0.041; EAT: 16.1 (14.5, 18.2) vs. 24.6 (20.8, 26.9) mL, p = 0.020; ECV: 21.4 (20.2, 23.9) vs. 28.9 (26.7, 30.3) %, p = 0.011; LVGLS: − 22.8 (− 21.4, − 23.9) vs. − 17.4 (− 17.2, − 19.2)%, p = 0.008). The diffuse myocardial interstitial fibrosis was found in histology samples.

Conclusion

The progressive impairments in LV structure and myocardial deformation occurs in diabetic mini-pigs. T1 mapping and CMR-FT technology are promising to monitor abnormal changes of diabetic myocardium in the early stage of diabetic cardiomyopathy.