bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reducing adverse events associated with the glucagon stimulation test for the assessment of growth hormone deficiency in adults with a high prevalence of pituitary hormone deficiencies
Authors: Gogna Reetu , Jung Caroline , McLachlan Kylie , Krishnamurthy Balasubramanian , Hong Alice , Derbyshire Maresa , Kiburg Katerina V. , Zacharin Margaret , MacIsaac Richard J. , Sachithanandan Nirupa , Caputo Carmela
Published: March 2021

Design

A retrospective review of the adverse events (AEs) in 78 patients during the glucagon stimulation test (GST) for the assessment of growth hormone deficiency (GHD) before and after protocol amendments which aimed to reduce AEs in a group of patients with a high prevalence of pituitary hormone deficiencies.

Patients

Based on our observations of frequent AEs during the standard GST protocol in an initial 25 patients (cohort 1), a modified protocol was introduced to include the routine administration of 20 mg of hydrocortisone pre‐GST in a subsequent 53 patients (cohort 2). Post hoc analysis of the effect of glucocorticoid dosing pre‐GST on AEs was examined in those receiving <20 mg hydrocortisone (group A, n = 19) vs ≥20 mg hydrocortisone (group B, n = 59).

Measurements

AEs including hypotension, hypoglycaemia and nausea/vomiting.

Results

Of the 78 patients undergoing the GST, 79% had ≥2 hormone deficiencies. Rates of AEs were 41% vs 30% for hypotension, 60% vs 28% for hypoglycaemia (p < .05) and 20% vs 13% for nausea/vomiting in cohort 1 compared with cohort 2, respectively. Post hoc analysis revealed lower rates of AEs in those receiving ≥20 mg hydrocortisone (group B) compared to those receiving <20 mg due to a reduction in hypoglycaemic events (82% vs 26%, p < .001) and hypotension (50% vs 27%, p = .05). Similar numbers of patients in group A and group B met criteria for GHD.

Conclusions

In patients with a high prevalence of pituitary deficiencies, a modified GST protocol of additional stress dose glucocorticoid attenuated the frequency of AEs without appearing to compromise the performance of the GST.
European Surveillance System on Contact Allergies (ESSCA): Characteristics of patients patch tested and diagnosed with irritant contact dermatitis
Authors: Loman Laura , Uter Wolfgang , Armario‐Hita José C. , Ayala Fabio , Balato Anna , Ballmer‐Weber Barbara K. , Bauer Andrea , Bircher Andreas J. , Buhl Timo , Czarnecka‐Operacz Magdalena , Dickel Heinrich , Fuchs Thomas , Giménez Arnau Ana , John Swen M. , Kränke Birger , Kręcisz Beata , Mahler Vera , Rustemeyer Thomas , Sadowska‐Przytocka Anna , Sánchez‐Pérez Javier , Scherer Hofmeier Kathrin , Schliemann Sibylle , Simon Dagmar , Spiewak Radoslaw , Spring Philip , Valiukevičienė Skaidra , Wagner Nicola , Weisshaar Elke , Pesonen Maria , Schuttelaar Marie L. A. ,   ESSCA Working Group
Published: March 2021

Background

Irritant contact dermatitis (ICD) is caused by the acute locally toxic effect of a strong irritant, or the cumulative exposure to various weaker physical and/or chemical irritants.

Objectives

To describe the characteristics of patients with ICD in the population patch tested in the European Surveillance System on Contact Allergies (ESSCA;www.essca-dc.org) database.

Methods

Data collected by the ESSCA in consecutively patch tested patients from January 2009 to December 2018 were analyzed.

Results

Of the 68 072 patients, 8702 were diagnosed with ICD (without concomitant allergic contact dermatitis [ACD]). Hand and face were the most reported anatomical sites, and 45.7% of the ICD was occupational ICD (OICD). The highest proportions of OICD were found in metal turners, bakers, pastry cooks, and confectionery makers. Among patients diagnosed with ICD, 45% were found sensitized with no relevance for the current disease.

Conclusions

The hands were mainly involved in OICD also in the subgroup of patients with contact dermatitis, in whom relevant contact sensitization had been ruled out, emphasizing the need for limiting irritant exposures. However, in difficult‐to‐treat contact dermatitis, unrecognized contact allergy, or unrecognized clinical relevance of identified allergies owing to incomplete or wrong product ingredient information must always be considered.
Effectiveness of noninvasive ventilation in COVID‐19 related‐acute respiratory distress syndrome
Authors: Menzella Francesco , Barbieri Chiara , Fontana Matteo , Scelfo Chiara , Castagnetti Claudia , Ghidoni Giulia , Ruggiero Patrizia , Livrieri Francesco , Piro Roberto , Ghidorsi Luca , Montanari Gloria , Gibellini Giorgia , Casalini Eleonora , Falco Francesco , Catellani Chiara , Facciolongo Nicola
Published: March 2021

Introduction

During this long COVID‐19 pandemic outbreak, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and noninvasive ventilation (NIV) are being widely used to treat patients with moderate to severe acute respiratory failure (ARF). As for now, data on the efficacy of NIV in COVID‐19 acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are lacking, and for this reason it is extremely important to accurately determine the outcomes of this strategy. This study aimed to evaluate clinical data and outcomes of NIV in patients with COVID‐19 ARDS.

Matherials and methods

Seventy‐nine consecutive patients with sudden worsening of respiratory failure were evaluated. All patients (71% male) had a confirmed SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and signs, symptoms and radiological findings compatible with COVID‐19 pneumonia and all of them underwent a trial of NIV. Primary outcomes were NIV success and failure defined by intubation and mortality rate. Secondary outcome was the duration of NIV.

Results

NIV was successful in 38 (48.1%) patients (Table 1). EOT was necessary in 21 patients (26.6%). Death occurred in 20 patients (25.3%). In the group of patients having failed a trial with NIV and then being intubated, compared to those who continued NIV, there was no higher mortality rate. By evaluating the ICU survival outcome of the subgroup of patients intubated after NIV, 57% of the patients were discharged and 43% died.

Conclusion

Previous studies conducted on patients undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation showed higher mortality rate than the present study. Our data showed that NIV can avoid intubation in almost half of the patients. Therefore, this data could reassure clinicians who would consider using NIV in COVID‐19 ARDS‐related treatment.
High fire frequency and the impact of the 2019–2020 megafires on Australian plant diversity
Authors: Gallagher Rachael V. , Allen Stuart , Mackenzie Berin D. E. , Yates Colin J. , Gosper Carl R. , Keith David A. , Merow Cory , White Matthew D. , Wenk Elizabeth , Maitner Brian S. , He Kang , Adams Vanessa M. , Auld Tony D.
Published: March 2021

Aim

To quantify the impact of the 2019–2020 megafires on Australian plant diversity by assessing burnt area across 26,062 species ranges and the effects of fire history on recovery potential. Further, to exemplify a strategic approach to prioritizing plant species affected by fire for recovery actions and conservation planning at a national scale.

Location

Australia.

Methods

We combine data on geographic range, fire extent, response traits and fire history to assess the proportion of species ranges burnt in both the 2019–2020 fires and the past.

Results

Across Australia, suitable habitat for 69% of all plant species was burnt (17,197 species) by the 2019–2020 fires and herbarium specimens confirm the presence of 9,092 of these species across the fire extent since 1950. Burnt ranges include those of 587 plants listed as threatened under national legislation (44% of Australia's threatened plants). A total of 3,998 of the 17,197 fire‐affected species are known to resprout after fire, but at least 2,928 must complete their entire life cycle—from germinant to reproducing adult—prior to subsequent fires, as they are killed by fire. Data on previous fires show that, for 257 species, the historical intervals between fire events across their range are likely too short to allow regeneration. For a further 411 species, future fires during recovery will increase extinction risk as current populations are dominated by immature individuals.

Main conclusion

Many Australian plant species have strategies to persist under certain fire regimes, and will recover given time, suitable conditions and low exposure to threats. However, short fire intervals both before and after the 2019–2020 fire season pose a serious risk to the recovery of at least 595 species. Persistent knowledge gaps about species fire response and post‐fire population persistence threaten the effective long‐term management of Australian vegetation in an increasingly pyric world.
First genomic prediction and genome‐wide association for complex growth‐related traits in Rock Bream (Oplegnathus fasciatus)
Authors: Gong Jie , Zhao Ji , Ke Qiaozhen , Li Bijun , Zhou Zhixiong , Wang Jiaying , Zhou Tao , Zheng Weiqiang , Xu Peng
Published: March 2021

Rock Bream (Oplegnathus fasciatus) is an important aquaculture species for offshore cage aquaculture and fish stocking of marine ranching in East Asia. Genomic selection has the potential to expedite genetic gain for the key target traits of a breeding program, but has not yet been evaluated in Oplegnathus. The purposes of the present study were to explore the performance of genomic selection to improve breeding value accuracy through real data analyses using six statistical models and to carry out genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) to dissect the genetic architecture of economically vital growth‐related traits (body weight, total length, and body depth) in the O. fasciatus population. After quality control, genotypes for 16,162 SNPs were acquired for 455 fish. Heritability was estimated to be moderate for the three traits (0.38 for BW, 0.33 for TL, and 0.24 for BD), and results of GWAS indicated that the underlying genetic architecture was polygenic. Six statistic models (GBLUP, BayesA, BayesB, BayesC, Bayesian Ridge‐Regression, and Bayesian LASSO) showed similar performance for the predictability of genomic estimated breeding value (GEBV). The low SNP density (around 1 K selected SNP based on GWAS) is sufficient for accurate prediction on the breeding value for the three growth‐related traits in the current studied population, which will provide a good compromise between genotyping costs and predictability in such standard breeding populations advanced. These consequences illustrate that the employment of genomic selection in O. fasciatus breeding could provide advantages for the selection of breeding candidates to facilitate complex economic growth traits.
Narrow‐spectrum artificial light silences female fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae)
Authors: Owens Avalon C.S. , Lewis Sara M.
Published: March 2021

The rapid spread of artificial light at night (ALAN) poses myriad problems for nocturnal biodiversity.

Bioluminescent taxa that communicate via glowing lures, warning signals, or courtship advertisements may have their signals obscured by artificial illumination, unless the added light is spectrally tuned to reduce its impact.

Previous research has demonstrated that broad‐spectrum white light inhibits the production of courtship advertisements by male firefly beetles, yet the impact of varying wavelengths of artificial light on both members of the courtship dialogue is largely unknown.

We exposed courting pairs ofPhotinus obscurellusfireflies to five colours of downwelling illumination, at two intensities, and recorded changes in male flash rate and flash intensity, female responsiveness, and the flash pattern composition of both sexes.

All artificial light treatments significantly suppressed courtship activity.

Bright amber light had the greatest impact, suggesting that ALAN which most overlaps the spectrum of firefly bioluminescence will most disrupt firefly courtship.

Our findings contradict similar investigations of non‐bioluminescent taxa and raise concerns about the possibility of a universal standard for ecologically sustainable ALAN.
Retracted: Clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with COVID‐19 pneumonia admitted to an intensive care unit in Faisalabad, Pakistan
Authors: Gul Noor , Usman Umer , Ahmed Umair , Ali Majid , Shaukat Aamir , Imran Mehar Muhammad
Published: March 2021

Aim

To describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of adult patients with severe COVID‐19, with the exploration of risk factors for mortality in the hospital.

Methods

This study included 20 adult patients diagnosed with COVID‐19 admitted to the ICU of DHQ Hospital, Faisalabad (Pakistan). Patients were categorised into the survival group and the death group according to the outcome. We retrieved demographics, clinical manifestations and signs, laboratory indicators, treatment measures and clinical outcomes from the medical record, and summarised the clinical characteristics and outcomes of these patients.

Results

The average age of patients was 70 ± 12 years, of which 40% were male. They were admitted to the ICU 11 days after the onset of symptoms. The most common symptoms on admission were cough (19 cases, 95%), fatigue or myalgia (18 cases, 90%), fever (17 cases, 85%) and dyspnoea (16 cases, 80%). Eleven (55%) patients had underlying diseases, of which hypertension was the most common (11 cases, 55%), followed by cardiovascular disease (4 cases, 20%) and diabetes (3 cases, 15%). Six patients (30%) received invasive mechanical ventilation and continuous renal replacement therapy and eventually died. Acute heart injury was the most common complication (19 cases, 95%). Ten (50%) patients died between 2 and 19 days after admission to the ICU. Compared with dead patients, the average body weight of surviving patients was lower (61.70 ± 2.36 vs 68.60 ± 7.15, P = .01), Glasgow Coma Scale score was higher (14.69 ± 0.70 vs 12.70 ± 2.45, P = .03), with fewer concurrent shocks (2 vs 10, P = .001) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (2 vs 10, P = .001).

Conclusion

The mortality rate is high in critically ill patients with COVID‐19. Lower Glasgow Coma Scale, higher body weight and decreased lymphocyte count appear to be potential risk factors for the death of patients with COVID‐19 in the ICU.
Circular RNA VRK1 facilitates pre‐eclampsia progression via sponging miR‐221‐3P to regulate PTEN/Akt
Authors: Li Ziwei , Zhou Xinyi , Gao Wenyan , Sun Manni , Chen Haiying , Meng Tao
Published: March 2021

Pre‐eclampsia (PE) is a worldwide pregnancy‐related disorder. It is mainly characterized by defect migration and invasion of trophoblast cells. Recently, circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been believed to play a vital role in PE. The expression patterns and the biological functions of circRNAs in PE remain elusive. Here, we performed a circRNA microarray to identify putative PE‐related circRNAs. Bioinformatics analyses were used to screen the circRNAs which have potential relationships with pre‐eclampsia, and we identified a novel circRNA (circVRK1) that was up‐regulated in PE placenta tissues. By using HTR‐8/SVneo cells, circVRK1 knockdown significantly enhanced cell migration and invasion abilities, as well as epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT). Mechanistically, we found that circVRK1 and PTEN could function as the ceRNAs to miR‐221‐3p. Overexpression of miR‐221‐3p promoted cell migration, invasion and EMT via regulating PTEN. The cotransfection of miR‐221‐3p inhibitor or PTEN reversed the effect from circVRK1 knockdown. Moreover, the circVRK1/miR‐221‐3p/PTEN axis greatly regulated Akt phosphorylation. In general, circVRK1 suppresses trophoblast cell migration, invasion and EMT, by acting as a ceRNA to miR‐221‐3p to regulate PTEN, and further inhibit PI3K/Akt activation. The purpose of this paper is to open wide insights to investigate the onset of PE and provide new potential therapeutic targets in PE.
Sequence and Properties of Cagein, a Coiled‐Coil Scaffold Protein Linking Basal Bodies in the Polykinetids of the Ciliate Euplotesaediculatus
Authors: Kloetzel John A. , Aubusson‐Fleury Anne , Butler Maurice D. , Banerjee Deben , Mozzicafreddo Matteo
Published: March 2021

In the hypotrich ciliate Euplotes, many individual basal bodies are grouped together in tightly packed clusters, forming ventral polykinetids. These groups of basal bodies (which produce compound ciliary organelles such as cirri and oral membranelles) are cross‐linked into ordered arrays by scaffold structures known as “basal‐body cages.” The major protein comprising Euplotes cages has been previously identified and termed “cagein.” Screening a E. aediculatus cDNA expression library with anti‐cagein antisera identified a DNA insert containing most of a putative cagein gene; standard PCR techniques were used to complete the sequence. Probes designed from this gene identified a macronuclear “nanochromosome” of ca. 1.5 kb in Southern blots against whole‐cell DNA. The protein derived from this sequence (463 residues) is predicted to be hydrophilic and highly charged; however, the native cage structures are highly resistant to salt/detergent extraction. This insolubility could be explained by the coiled‐coil regions predicted to extend over much of the length of the derived cagein polypeptide. One frameshift sequence is found within the gene, as well as a short intron. BLAST searches find many ciliates with evident homologues to cagein within their derived genomic sequences.
Efficacy of biostimulatory ozone therapy: Case report and literature review
Authors: Lacerda Adrienne Coelho , Grillo Ricardo , de Barros Tarley Eloi Pessoa , Martins Camila Bortolotti , de Carvalho Luposeli Flávio
Published: March 2021

Background

The search for ever more lasting and safe aesthetic modalities is a constant. For this reason, biostimulation is finding more and more space in clinics; relatively simple, effective, and safe procedures, a procedure that delivers what it promises. Biostimulation is nothing more than an increase in collagen production, primarily type I, with the aim of facial or body rejuvenation.

Aims

Evaluated some years ago as remarkable antimicrobial therapy, today it gains notoriety for its versatility in other areas, one of which is biostimulation, which has been growing. This paper aims to report a case of biostimulation through ozone therapy, as well as the protocol used, its indications, and contraindications.

Patients/Methods

A case report of rejuvenation with ozone therapy and a literature review.

Results

Among biostimulatory treatments available, one has been gaining space among professionals and scientific recognition, ozone therapy.

Conclusion

It is a promising aesthetic therapeutic modality with efficient and safe results and high patient compliance and satisfaction.
Intersectional Differences in Protective School Assets by Sexuality, Gender, Race/Ethnicity, and Socioeconomic Status
Authors: Coulter Robert W. S. , Paglisotti Taylor , Montano Gerald , Bodnar Kaitlin , Bersamin Melina , Russell Stephen T. , Hill Ashley V. , Mair Christina , Miller Elizabeth
Published: March 2021

Background

School assets—such as connectedness, caring relationships with adults, high behavioral expectations from adults, and meaningful participation—are associated with positive outcomes for adolescents. However, little is known about how school assets differ among adolescents with intersecting marginalized identities.

Methods

We used the 2013‐2014 California Healthy Kids Survey (N = 320,462 students) to examine differences in school assets with respect to sexuality, gender, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status using adjusted multilevel linear regression models.

Results

Sexual minority, gender minority, racial/ethnic minority, and low socioeconomic status adolescents had significantly lower protective school assets. For all outcomes, the differences between sexual minority and heterosexual adolescents were more pronounced among nontransgender girls than nontransgender boys; however, these differences were not consistently present among racial/ethnic minority students. For school connectedness and meaningful participation, differences for racial/ethnic minorities versus white adolescents were more pronounced among nontransgender girls than nontransgender boys. Differences between transgender adolescents and nontransgender boys were more pronounced for white adolescents compared to some other racial/ethnic minority students. Overall, adolescents with certain multiple marginalized identities had lower school assets.

Conclusions

Interventions are needed to strengthen school assets among marginalized students, thereby helping mitigate health and education inequities.
Detection of Streptococcus equi subsp. equi in guttural pouch lavage samples using a loop‐mediated isothermal nucleic acid amplification microfluidic device
Authors: Boyle Ashley G. , Rankin Shelley C. , O'Shea Kathleen , Stefanovski Darko , Peng Jing , Song Jinzhao , Bau Haim H.
Published: March 2021

Background

Rapid point‐of‐care (POC) detection of Streptococcus equi subsp. equi (S. equi) would theoretically reduce the spread of strangles by identifying index and carrier horses.

Hypothesis

That the eqbE isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay, and the same eqbE LAMP assay tested in a microfluidic device format, are comparable to a triplex real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay that is commonly used in diagnostic labs.

Samples

Sixty‐eight guttural pouch lavage (GPL) specimens from horses recovering from strangles.

Methods

Guttural pouch lavage specimens were tested for S. equi retrospectively using the benchtop eqbE LAMP, the eqbE LAMP microfluidic device, and compared to the triplex qPCR, that detects 2 S. equi‐specific genes, eqbE and SEQ2190, as the reference standard using the receiver operating characteristic area under the curve (ROC).

Results

The 27/68 specimens were positive by benchtop eqbE LAMP, 31/64 by eqbE LAMP microfluidic device, and 12/67 by triplex qPCR. Using the triplex PCR as the reference, the benchtop eqbE LAMP showed excellent discrimination (ROC Area = 0.813, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.711‐0.915) as did the LAMP microfluidic device (ROC Area = 0.811, 95% CI = 0.529‐0.782). There was no significant difference between the benchtop LAMP and LAMP microfluidic device (ROC Area 0.813 ± 0.055 vs 0.811 ± 0.034, P = .97).

Conclusions

The eqbE LAMP microfluidic device detected S. equi in GPL specimens from convalescent horses. This assay shows potential for development as a POC device for rapid, sensitive, accurate, and cost‐efficient detection of S. equi.
A new empirical challenge for local theories of consciousness
Authors: Michel Matthias , Doerig Adrien
Published: March 2021

Local theories of consciousness state that one is conscious of a feature if it is adequately represented and processed in sensory brain areas, given some background conditions. We challenge the core prediction of local theories based on long‐lasting postdictive effects demonstrating that features can be represented for hundreds of milliseconds in perceptual areas without being consciously perceived. Unlike previous empirical data aimed against local theories, localists cannot explain these effects away by conjecturing that subjects are phenomenally conscious of features that they cannot report. We also discuss alternative explanations that localists could offer.
Objectivity, perceptual constancy, and teleology in young children
Authors: Peters Uwe
Published: March 2021

Can young children such as 3‐year‐olds represent the world objectively? Some prominent developmental psychologists—such as Perner and Tomasello—assume so. I argue that this view is susceptible to a prima facie powerful objection: To represent objectively, one must be able to represent not only features of the entities represented but also features of objectification itself, which 3‐year‐olds cannot do yet. Drawing on Burge's work on perceptual constancy, I provide a response to this objection and motivate a distinction between three different kinds of objectivity. This distinction helps advance current research on both objectivity and teleological action explanations in young children.
Primary and isolated cutaneous precursor B‐lymphoblastic lymphoma in an infant
Authors: Jouini Raja , Chabchoub Ines , Khanchel Fatma , Helal Imen , Badri Talel , Ben Brahim Ehsene , Hammami Houda , Chadli‐Debbiche Ashraf
Published: March 2021

Cutaneous lesions may represent the initial sign of various neoplasms in children, including histiocytosis, neuroblastomas, and lymphomas. Primary cutaneous lymphoblastic lymphomas are rare and involve mostly the B‐cell phenotype. Herein, we report a case of isolated, primary B‐lymphoblastic lymphoma in a 7‐month‐old infant and emphasize the importance of early diagnosis.
Admired and disgusted? Third parties’ paradoxical emotional reactions and behavioral consequences towards others’ unethical pro‐organizational behavior
Authors: Tang Pok Man , Yam Kai Chi , Koopman Joel , Ilies Remus
Published: March 2021

Unethical pro‐organizational behavior (UPB) is often visible to co‐workers; however, reactions to UPB are rarely considered in empirical research in spite of their importance to the social dynamics in the workplace. Drawing upon appraisal theory of emotion and the behavioral ethics literature, we predict that observing UPB would lead third parties to experience admiration due to thepro‐organizationalnature of UPB; these third parties would in turn be motivated to display more helping behavior towards the UPB actor. Conversely, we predict that observing UPB would lead third parties to experience disgust due to theunethicalnature of UPB; these third parties would dis‐identify themselves from the UPB actor by instigating incivility. Meanwhile, they would disengage themselves from the UPB actor by avoiding them in subsequent interactions. In addition, the observing employees might also engage in action‐oriented behavior such as whistle‐blowing behavior to sanction the UPB actor. Across an experience‐sampling study with three daily assessments as well as an experimental study, we find support for these predictions. Furthermore, we find that third parties’ moral attentiveness moderates the link between observed UPB and disgust, such that observed UPB leads to heightened feelings of disgust only when third parties have high levels of moral attentiveness. We conclude by discussing the theoretical and practical implications of our work.
Research progress of keratinocyte‐programmed cell death in UV‐induced Skin photodamage
Authors: Tang Ziting , Tong Xiaoliang , Huang Jinhua , Liu Lulu , Wang Dan , Yang Shengbo
Published: March 2021

Programmed cell death (PCD) is a basic component of life and an important terminal path for cells. A variety of biological events are associated with PCD, including the conservation of tissue homeostasis and removal of harmful cells. Overexposure of the skin to UV radiation causes skin photodamage. Keratinocytes are the first line of defence against ultraviolet radiation. During UV radiation, the keratinocyte can undergo four modes of PCD: apoptosis, pyroptosis, necroptosis and autophagy. The molecular mechanisms of these four modes of PCD have been widely studied as potential therapeutic targets for the prevention of UV‐induced skin inflammation, ageing and skin cancer. In this review, we summarize the role of keratinocyte PCD in the pathogenesis of UV‐induced skin photodamage. This article will provide new research directions for the design of intervention strategies for the treatment and prevention of skin photodamage.
The causal theory of knowledge revisited: An interventionist approach
Authors: de Grefte Job , Gebharter Alexander
Published: March 2021

Goldman proposed that a subject knows if and only if is appropriately causally connected to 's believing . He later on abandoned this theory. The main objection to the theory is that the causal connection required by Goldman is compatible with certain problematic forms of luck. In this paper we argue that Goldman's causal theory of knowledge can overcome the luck problem if causation is understood along interventionist lines. We also show that the modified theory leads to the correct results in contexts involving other prominent forms of epistemic luck and compare it with other accounts on the market.
Productivity determinants in the construction sector in emerging country: New evidence from Ecuadorian firms
Authors: Camino‐Mogro Segundo , Bermudez‐Barrezueta Natalia
Published: March 2021

The construction sector is one of the most important sectors for economic development due, among other reasons, to the productive chains that it generates. This paper presents an analysis of the determinants of the total factor productivity (TFP) in the Ecuadorian construction sector during the period 2007–2018. In the first stage, we estimate a production function using the Wooldridge (Economics Letters, 2009, 104, 112–114) estimator to correct the simultaneous determination of inputs and firm unobserved productivity. In the second stage, we analyze the main determinants of TFP. These determinants are classified into four groups: internal, international trade, financial constraints, and external characteristics. Our results suggest that firm age is positively related with TFP but negatively related with TFP growth. Similarly, the fact of being a family firm is negatively related with TFP, but size is positively related with TFP and its growth across the construction subsectors. In addition, we find that access to debt and credit is positively related with productivity, but less‐competitive environment is negatively related with productivity. Finally, our results suggest that TFP and its growth are pro‐cyclical with respect to the gross domestic product. Our results have several managerial implications that are discussed in this article.
Self‐reported cognitive impairment and daily life functioning 7–12 years after seeking care for stress‐related exhaustion
Authors: Ellbin Susanne , Jonsdottir Ingibjörg H. , Eckerström Carl , Eckerström Marie
Published: March 2021

The overall aim of this study was to investigate self‐reported cognitive difficulties, daily life activities, and health/sleep factors in former patients with exhaustion disorder (ED) who still fulfill the clinical criteria for exhaustion 7–12 years after seeking care. The Sahlgrenska Self‐reported Cognitive Impairment Questionnaire (SASCI‐Q) was used to measure cognitive difficulties, daily life activities, and health/sleep factors. Three groups were compared: previous patients still judged to be clinically exhausted seven years or more after seeking care (n = 51); previous patients considered clinically recovered (n = 98); and healthy controls (n = 50). Patients who still fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for ED reported widespread problems related to cognition, fatigue, and daily life functioning compared to the clinically recovered group. Furthermore, despite no longer fulfilling the clinical criteria, the recovered patients still reported more problems related to cognitive functioning and fatigue compared to healthy controls. Thus, this group appeared intermediary between the non‐recovered group and healthy controls regarding self‐reported cognitive functioning. To conclude, ED may have considerable negative long‐term effects, and it is possible that some of these residual symptoms, particularly the cognitive problems and persistent fatigue, are permanent in some patients. Preventive measures should be the primary focus for all stakeholders, since the consequences of stress‐related mental health problems seem to be extensive and long‐lasting.
Not Merely Ideological: The Political Economy of Populism in Government
Authors: Avigur‐Eshel Amit , Filc Dani
Published: March 2021

In recent years the study of populism has followed a "pure" political track, typically employing an ideological perspective. We argue that such a perspective downplays material aspects of populism and limits the ability to analyze populism in government. In order to reinvigorate interest in and concern with the political economy of contemporary populism we rely on the emerging growth model approach in comparative political economy to study the political economy of populism in government. We situate populist socio‐economic policies, understood as those policies aiming at improving the material welfare and wellbeing of "the people", within a growth model analysis whose main insight is the association of economic growth with dynamics in the division of national income between labor and capital. Our empirical analysis of three successive governments of Israel led by the Likud populist party between 2009 and 2018 demonstrates the utility of this approach for the study of populism in government.
Divergent DNA methylation contributes to duplicated gene evolution and chilling response in tea plants
Authors: Tong Wei , Li Ruopei , Huang Jin , Zhao Huijuan , Ge Ruoheng , Wu Qiong , Mallano Ali I. , Wang Yanli , Li Fangdong , Deng Weiwei , Li Yeyun , Xia Enhua
Published: March 2021

The tea plant (Camellia sinensis) is a thermophilic cash crop and contains a highly duplicated and repeat‐rich genome. It is still unclear how DNA methylation regulates the evolution of duplicated genes and chilling stress in tea plants. We therefore generated a single‐base‐resolution DNA methylation map of tea plants under chilling stress. We found that, compared with other plants, the tea plant genome is highly methylated in all three sequence contexts, including CG, CHG and CHH (where H = A, T, or C), which is further proven to be correlated with its repeat content and genome size. We show that DNA methylation in the gene body negatively regulates the gene expression of tea plants, whereas non‐CG methylation in the flanking region enables a positive regulation of gene expression. We demonstrate that transposable element‐mediated methylation dynamics significantly drives the expression divergence of duplicated genes in tea plants. The DNA methylation and expression divergence of duplicated genes in the tea plant increases with evolutionary age and selective pressure. Moreover, we detect thousands of differentially methylated genes, some of which are functionally associated with chilling stress. We also experimentally reveal that DNA methyltransferase genes of tea plants are significantly downregulated, whereas demethylase genes are upregulated at the initial stage of chilling stress, which is in line with the significant loss of DNA methylation of three well‐known cold‐responsive genes at their promoter and gene body regions. Overall, our findings underscore the importance of DNA methylation regulation and offer new insights into duplicated gene evolution and chilling tolerance in tea plants.
Phloem exudate metabolic content reflects the response to water‐deficit stress in pea plants (Pisum sativum L.)
Authors: Blicharz Sara , Beemster Gerrit T.S. , Ragni Laura , De Diego Nuria , Spíchal Lukas , Hernándiz Alba E. , Marczak Łukasz , Olszak Marcin , Perlikowski Dawid , Kosmala Arkadiusz , Malinowski Robert
Published: March 2021

Drought stress impacts the quality and yield of Pisum sativum. Here, we show how short periods of limited water availability during the vegetative stage of pea alters phloem sap content and how these changes are connected to strategies used by plants to cope with water deficit. We have investigated the metabolic content of phloem sap exudates and explored how this reflects P. sativum physiological and developmental responses to drought. Our data show that drought is accompanied by phloem‐mediated redirection of the components that are necessary for cellular respiration and the proper maintenance of carbon/nitrogen balance during stress. The metabolic content of phloem sap reveals a shift from anabolic to catabolic processes as well as the developmental plasticity of P. sativum plants subjected to drought. Our study underlines the importance of phloem‐mediated transport for plant adaptation to unfavourable environmental conditions. We also show that phloem exudate analysis can be used as a useful proxy to study stress responses in plants. We propose that the decrease in oleic acid content within phloem sap could be considered as a potential marker of early signalling events mediating drought response.
Development of a framework for assessing the robustness of drinking water source protection programmes using critical success factors
Authors: Merrett Hew Cameron , Chen Wei Tong , Horng Jao‐Jia
Published: March 2021

Effective implementation of drinking water source protection (DWSP) programmes relies on a range of factors working successfully for the effective protection of water quality. The objective of this research is to develop a weighted scoring framework for assessing the controls applied to risk management in DWSP programmes. The proposed scoring framework for DWSP programmes robustness is based on statistical analysis and pairwise comparisons of the perceptions of DWSP experts and professionals in Taiwan, Australia, and Greece on the importance of the control measures for the hazards involved in managing DWSP programmes. The scores show that although there is consistent opinion on factors for robustness of DWSP programmes, respondents’ background such as country significantly influences how effectively the factors are achieved. The systems in place for DWSP can be complex, and this approach provides a way of assessing the robustness of the programmes for protecting water quality under differing jurisdictional arrangements.
PREPARATION OF ACTIVATED CARBON-ZEOLITE COMPOSITES FROM RICE HUSK ASH
Authors: Miyazaki Miyuki , Shiono Takeshi
Published: March 2021

Rice husk (RH) is a biomass resource that contains about 20 mass% silica. In Southeast Asia countries, RH is used as fuel for thermal power plants, and it produces a large amount of ash (Rice Husk Ash: RHA), as industrial waste. Furthermore, our research group has reported that consolidated zeolite A could be prepared from RHA as a raw material. Zeolite A has hydrophilic micropore in the structure and is used for adsorption and a builder for detergent. From processing point of view, the remaining carbon must be removed before synthesizing of zeolite A. However, the utility of carbon in RHA has not been studied sufficiently. In the present study, therefore, the possibility of usage of both silica and carbon in RHA as a raw material was investigated for the high value-added application of RHA. Before the synthesis of zeolite, activation treatment of carbon was carried out for RHA under specific conditions to make the carbon become porous. The specific surface area was measured by BET for activated RHA. Additionally, hydrothermal treatments were attempted after adjusting the composition of raw materials for the preparation of composites of carbon and zeolite. For the obtained specimens, XRD analysis and SEM were conducted as characterizations to confirm crystalline phases and microstructures respectively. Activation treatment made the specific surface area of RHA larger. As the activation time and temperature increased, silica was crystallized to cristobalite and the reactivity was decreased. The crystalline phase of zeolite A was recognized in the specimens with an appropriate composition. Furthermore, the homogenous zeolite A particles with a size smaller than 1 μm were also observed. Therefore, activated carbon-zeolite composites could be synthesized from RHA.
ANALYSIS OF POLLUTION LOAD CAPACITY BASED ON WET, NORMAL AND DRY YEAR’S RESERVOIR OPERATING PATTERNS IN THE SAGULING RESERVOIR, INDONESIA
Authors: Mushfiroh Arini , Marselina Mariana
Published: March 2021

Saguling Reservoir is one of the Citarum Cascade reservoirs located in the upstream area at an altitude that is 643 meters above sea level in West Java, Indonesia. The Saguling Reservoir functions as a hydroelectric power plant (PLTA), a water supply provider for irrigation, and flood control. This research aims to determine the capacity of the water pollution loading accordance with reservoir operating patterns that consist of dry, normal and wet years, based on Government Regulation No. 37 of 2010 concerning Dams. The pollution load in the reservoir is limited by the Total-P concentration that is caused by the fishery’s activities in the water body, especially concerning the Floating Net Cage (KJA) systems. The analysis of water quality status and optimization of reservoir management was carried out by Discrete Markov discharge classification which conducted in 1998-2018. A trophic status analysis of the Saguling Reservoir showed that the waters have entered the hypereutrophic criteria. This study also reveals that the Saguling Reservoir has the lowest pollution load capacity in the dry year, with values of 5,212.7 ton P per year, followed by 6,003.7 ton P per year during normal years, and 6,423 ton P per year during wet years. These results indicate that the value of the carrying capacity of the Saguling Reservoir will be smaller during the dry years. Therefore, based on this research, the ideal number of KJA that can be accommodate by Saguling Reservoir during the dry, normal and wet years, respectively, 22,141 units, 25,500 units, and 27,284 units. Meanwhile, the actual current number of KJA is 35,482 units, which has exceeded the reservoir’s carrying capacity, especially in the dry years.
Pulmonary surfactant‐associated protein B regulates prostaglandin‐endoperoxide synthase‐2 and inflammation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Wang Yan , Gao Xiaoyu , Li Yuan , Wang Xiao , Li Yuanyuan , Zhang Sainan , Liu Hongyan , Guo Hui , Lu Wenju , Sun Dejun
Published: March 2021

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

It is reported that polymorphism of the gene for pulmonary surfactant‐associated protein B (SFTPB) is associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): what are the function and mechanism of action of SFTPB in COPD?

What is the main finding and its importance?

Under stimulation of the risk factors of COPD, SFTPB expression is decreased, which may be involved in the formation of COPD. The progress of COPD induces an inflammatory response and reduces SFTPB expression. Levels of prostaglandin‐endoperoxide synthase‐2 (PTGS2) and inflammatory responses are changed by SFTPB, which indicates that SFTPB promotes the progression of COPD by PTGS2 and inflammation.

Pulmonary surfactant‐associated protein B (SFTPB) is a critical protein for lung homeostasis, and polymorphism of its gene is associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, few studies have so far confirmed the functional involvement of SFTPB in COPD. Serum SFTPB and inflammatory cytokine levels were measured in 54 patients with acute exacerbation of COPD and 29 healthy controls. A549 cells were induced using 10% cigarette smoke extract (CSE) and treated with dexamethasone to investigate the effect of inflammation on SFTPB expression, and the effect of SFTPB overexpression and silencing on inflammatory cytokines was measured using real‐time PCR and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. SFTPB expression was assessed in mouse lung tissues using immunofluorescence. Serum levels of SFTPB were significantly lower in COPD patients than in controls (P = 0.009). Conversely, levels of interleukin (IL)‐6 and prostaglandin‐endoperoxide synthase‐2 (PTGS2) were increased in COPD patients (IL‐6: P = 0.006; PTGS2: P = 0.043). After CSE treatment, SFTPB mRNA and protein levels were significantly decreased compared to controls (mRNA: P = 0.002; protein: P = 0.011), while IL‐6, IL‐8 and PTGS2 were elevated. Dexamethasone treatment increased SFTPB levels. Following overexpression of SFTPB in A549 cells, mRNA and protein levels of IL‐6, IL‐8 and PTGS2 were significantly reduced, while gene silencing induced the opposite effect. SFTPB levels were significantly reduced in the lung tissue of a mouse model of COPD compared to controls. Reduced SFTPB levels may induce PTGS2 and inflammatory responses in COPD and SFTPB could be a key protein for evaluation of COPD progression.
Evaluation of the Passive Reactor Shutdown System Performance in European Sodium Fast Reactor
Authors: Bubelis Evaldas , Schikorr Michael , Mikityuk Konstantin
Published: March 2021

The ESFR-SMART European project (Contract No. 754501) focuses on the development of innovative safety design options for European sodium-cooled fast reactor (ESFR). The task of Work Package 1.3 is to assess the impact of the new safety measures on the reactor behavior in the transients protected by either active or passive reactor shutdown systems. The aim of Task 4 in this Work Package is to evaluate the passive reactor shutdown system performance in the ESFR core. This paper deals with the results of this evaluation, which is based on the analysis of four transients passively protected by 12 diversified shutdown device (DSD) rods. Simulations have been done with the SIM-SFR system code and demonstrated that DSD rods are capable to shut down ESFR in a timely manner, in order to avoid the negative consequences of the analyzed transients. Although a total loss of heat sink transient is a practically eliminated event, it was included in the analysis to estimate the grace time before the core meltdown.
Thermodynamic Analysis in Bubbling Fluidized Bed Dryers With Spiral and Cone Angles
Authors: Das Hirakh Jyoti , Mahanta Pinakeswar , Saikia Rituraj , Tamuly Plabon
Published: March 2021

Effective thermodynamic analysis is quite necessary for proper system design performance and optimization of system processes. Energy is concerned with the quantitative evaluation of system processes. Nonetheless, exergy gives a qualitative analysis of the system processes. The present investigation deals with the study of exergy and energy analysis of the paddy drying processes in two tapered fluidized bed dryers having the tapered angle 5 deg and 10 deg, respectively, and one cylindrical bubbling fluidized bed dryer. The energy utilization (EU) and energy utilization ratio (EUR) for various operating parameters such as inlet air velocity, mass of paddy, temperature, a spiral, and cone angle are investigated. Similarly, the exergetic efficiency and the rate of exergy destruction are also studied for the same operating parameters. The EU and EUR are found to have an increasing order when the inlet air velocity, temperature, and mass of paddy increase. The trend of EU and EUR also increases with an addition of a spiral inside a dryer. The increasing cone angle of the dryer has a similar impact on EU and EUR as that of other operating parameters. Similarly, exergy utilization and exergetic efficiency also show an increment with the rise in inlet air velocity, mass of paddy, cone angle of dryer, and temperature. The incorporation of a spiral inside a dryer improves exergy utilization and exergetic efficiency. Hence, the conical dryer with a higher cone angle is found to be the best option for drying.
Analysis of Heat Transfer Oscillation and Buoyancy Effects of Supercritical R1234ze(E) Cooled in Horizontal Helically Coiled Tubes
Authors: Jiang Yi-Ran , Hu Peng
Published: March 2021

The helically coiled tubes (HCTs) have been attracting huge attention for enhancing the heat transfer of supercritical fluids and improving energy efficiency. Moreover, the new refrigerant R1234ze(E) has excellent environmental properties and system performance, but few researches have been concentrated on the supercritical R1234ze(E) heat transfer. In this work, the shear stress transport (SST) turbulence model is adopted for the numerical simulation of the cooling heat transfer performance of s-R1234ze(E) in horizontal HCT. The influences of heat flux, mass flux, coil pitch, and tube radius on the heat transfer coefficient, gravitational buoyancy effect, and centrifugal buoyancy effect are, respectively, investigated. Furthermore, the results reveal heat transfer oscillation occurs when Rig*|cosβ|max>0.17, and the oscillation mechanism is analyzed. Different from that in the vertical HCT, the angle between the radial component of gravitational buoyancy and centrifugal force varies continuously in the horizontal helical tube, resulting in the fluid with lower temperature may locate in the inner-left region or the inner-right region. Subsequently, the heat transfer piecewise correlation for supercritical R1234ze(E) in horizontal HCT is developed. The average absolute deviation of the predicted results is 5.88%.