bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Serological responses and six-month trajectories to COVID-19 Comirnaty and Spikevax booster vaccine, September 2021 to January 2022, London, United Kingdom
Authors: Ireland Georgina , Whitaker Heather , Ladhani Shamez N , Baawuah Frances , Subbarao Sathyvani , Elgohari Suzanne , Smith Alexandra , O’Brien Michelle , Whillock Corinne , Martin Oliver , Moss Paul , Ramsay Mary E , Amirthalingam Gayatri , Brown Kevin E
Published: February 2022

In contrast to the increasing levels of high avidity S antibody measured by the Roche assay in the first 6 months following natural infection, marked waning is seen post 2 or 3 doses of vaccine. Although the kinetics differ between those with vaccine-induced immunity compared to those infected prior to vaccination (hybrid immunity), waning rates appear to be similar following 2 or 3 doses of vaccine. These data should allow countries to optimise the timing of future doses of vaccine.
CriSNPr: a single interface for the curated and de-novo design of gRNAs for CRISPR diagnostics using diverse Cas systems
Authors: Ansari Asgar Hussain , Kumar Manoj , Sarkar Sajal , Maiti Souvik , Chakraborty Debojyoti
Published: February 2022

Nucleic acid detection and variant calling through CRISPR-based diagnostics (CRISPRDx) has facilitated clinical decision-making, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. This has been further accelerated through the discovery of newer and engineered CRISPR effectors, expanding the portfolio of such diagnostic applications to a wide variety of pathogenic and non-pathogenic conditions. However, each diagnostic CRISPR pipeline requires customized detection schemes originating from fundamental principles of the Cas protein used, its guide RNA (gRNA) design parameters, and the assay readout. This is particularly relevant for variant detection, an attractive low-cost alternative to sequencing-based approaches for which no in silico pipeline for the ready-to-use design of CRISPR-based diagnostics currently exists. In this manuscript, we fill this lacuna using a unified webserver CriSNPr (CRISPR based SNP recognition), which provides the user the opportunity to de-novo design gRNAs based on six CRISPRDx proteins of choice (Fn/enFnCas9, LwCas13a, LbCas12a, AaCas12b, and Cas14a) and query for ready-to-use oligonucleotide sequences for validation on relevant samples. In addition, we provide a database of curated pre-designed gRNAs and target/off-target for all human and SARS-CoV-2 variants reported so far. CriSNPr has been validated on multiple Cas proteins and highlights its broad and immediate scope of utilization across multiple detection platforms. CriSNPr is available at URL http://crisnpr.igib.res.in/.
E-cadherin is sorted by Rab7 and Snx16 for polarised secretion via Myosin V
Authors: Tanasic Dajana , Berns Nicola , Riechmann Veit
Published: February 2022

E-cadherin has a fundamental role in epithelial tissues by providing cell-cell adhesion. Epithelial homeostasis relies on polarised E-cadherin exocytosis to the lateral plasma membrane, however the secretion mechanisms are unknown. Epithelial plasticity depends on constant E-cadherin endocytosis and recycling, but it is unclear how recycling is facilitated. Here we use the Drosophila follicular epithelium to analyse E- cadherin recycling and secretion. We identify endosomes in the apical region of the epithelium, in which newly translated and endocytosed E-cadherin converge for polarised E-cadherin secretion. Our data provide evidence that Rab7 recruits Snx16 to these endosomes, and that Snx16 moves E-cadherin via tubulation into the Rab11 compartment. Rab11 forms E-cadherin transport vesicles by recruiting its effector Myosin V. We show in living follicles how Myosin V transports E-cadherin along an apical actin network to the zonula adherence. An additional secretion pathway exists in the basal epithelium, where Myosin V moves E-cadherin vesicles along parallel actin bundles to the plasma membrane.
Accelerating the Validation of Endogenous On-Target Engagement and In-cellulo Kinetic Assessment for Covalent Inhibitors of KRASG12C in Early Drug Discovery
Authors: Kantae Vasudev , Polanski Radoslaw , Lewis Hilary J. , Barratt Derek , Srinivasan Bharath
Published: February 2022

Covalent inhibition is a valuable modality in drug-discovery due to its potential ability in decoupling pharmacokinetics from pharmacodynamics by prolonging the residence time of the drug on the target of interest. This increase in target occupancy is limited only by the rate of target turnover. However, a limitation in such studies is to translate the in-vitro inhibition assessment to the appropriate in-cellulo target engagement parameter by covalent probes. Estimation of such parameters is often impeded by the low-throughput nature of current label-free approaches. In this study, an ultra-performance liquid chromatography-multiple reaction monitoring (UPLC-MRM) mass spectrometry platform was utilised to develop a targeted proteomics workflow that can evaluate cellular on-target engagement of covalent molecules in an increased throughput manner. This workflow enabled a throughput increase of 5-10 fold when compared to traditional nanoLC-based proteomics studies. To demonstrate the applicability of the method, KRASG12C was used as a model system to interrogate the interaction of an irreversible covalent small-molecule, compound 25, both in-vitro and in-cellulo. Initial biochemical studies confirmed that the small-molecule forms an adduct with the targeted cysteine on the protein, as assessed at the level of both intact protein and on the target peptide. In-cellulo studies were carried out to quantify target engagement and selectivity assessment in heterozygous NCI-H358 cell line with both WT type and KRASG12C alleles. The workflow enabled evaluation of in-cellulo target engagement kinetics providing mechanistic insights into the irreversible mode of inhibition. In summary, the method has the potential for target agnostic application in the assessment of on-target engagement of covalent probes compatible with the high-throughput requirements of early drug discovery.
The stationary phase-specific sRNAfimR2is a multifunctional regulator of bacterial motility, biofilm formation and virulence
Authors: Raad Nicole , Tandon Disha , Hapfelmeier Siegfried , Polacek Norbert
Published: February 2022

Bacterial pathogens employ a plethora of virulence factors for host invasion, and their use is tightly regulated to maximize infection efficiency and manage resources in a nutrient-limited environment. Here we show that duringEscherichia colistationary phase the small non-coding RNAfimR2regulates fimbrial and flagellar biosynthesis at the post-transcriptional level, leading to biofilm formation as the dominant mode of survival under conditions of nutrient depletion.fimR2interacts with the translational regulator CsrA, antagonizing its functions and firmly tightening control over motility and biofilm formation. Generated through RNase E cleavage,fimR2regulates stationary phase biology independently of the chaperones Hfq and ProQ. TheSalmonella entericaversion offimR2induces effector protein secretion by the type III secretion system and stimulates infection, thus linking the sRNA to virulence. This work reveals the importance of bacterial sRNAs in modulating various aspects of bacterial physiology including stationary phase and virulence.

Highlights

fimR2expression causes biofilm formation and alters bacterial outer membrane architecture

fimR2modulates CsrA activity and sequesters it from its targets

TheSalmonella fimR2variant is functional inE. coli

fimR2is generated through RNase E processing and enhances infectivity
Clonal behaviour of myogenic precursor cells throughout the vertebrate lifespan
Authors: Hughes Simon M. , Escaleira Roberta C. , Wanders Kees , Koth Jana , Wilkinson David G. , Xu Qiling
Published: February 2022

To address questions of stem cell diversity during skeletal myogenesis, a Brainbow-like genetic cell lineage tracing method, dubbed Musclebow, was derived by enhancer trapping in zebrafish. It is shown that at least 15 muscle precursor cells (mpcs) seed each somite, where they proliferate but contribute little to muscle growth prior to hatching. Thereafter, dermomyotome-derived mpc clones rapidly expand while some progeny undergo terminal differentiation, leading to stochastic clonal drift. No evidence of cell lineage-based clonal fate diversity was obtained. Neither fibre nor mpc death was observed in uninjured animals. Individual marked muscle fibres persist across much of the lifespan indicating low rates of nuclear turnover. In adulthood, early-marked mpc clones label stable blocks of tissue comprising a significant fraction of either epaxial or hypaxial somite. Fusion of cells from separate early-marked clones occurs in regions of clone overlap. Wounds are regenerated from many/most local mpcs; no evidence for specialised stem mpcs was obtained. In conclusion, our data indicate that most mpcs in muscle tissue contribute to local growth and repair and suggest that cellular turnover is low in the absence of trauma.

Summary Statement

Musclebow clonal cell lineage analysis is introduced to reveal the cellular dynamics of skeletal muscle formation, repair and maintenance throughout the life of zebrafish.
Sex differences in insular gyri responses to the cold pressor challenge
Authors: Krause-Sorio Beatrix , Macey Katherine E. , Kumar Rajesh , Ogren Jennifer A. , Thomas Albert , Henderson Luke A. , Harper Ronald M. , Macey Paul M.
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Sex differences in autonomic control may contribute to physiological sex differences in cardiovascular disease, thermoregulation, and the experience of pain. We previously showed sex differences in functional mapping of autonomic responses across the insula, a central autonomic control region. Anterior insula response patterns to sympathetic activation (Valsalva) and parasympathetic withdrawal (handgrip) differed between men and women. We here assessed sex differences in autonomic insula gyrus responses to a cold pressor challenge, which involves temperature and pain regulation.

Methods

Functional MRI (fMRI) involved a 1-minute right-foot cold pressor challenge in 22 women (age; mean±std: 50±4 yrs), and 39 men (45±3 yrs). Regions of interest (ROI) comprised left and right anterior short gyrus (ASG), middle short gyrus (MSG), posterior short gyrus (PSG), anterior long gyrus (ALG), and posterior long gyrus (PLG). Two-second time intervals of fMRI signal responses per ROI and concurrently recorded heart rate and blood oxygen saturation (SaO2) were tested for within- and between-group effects over time (repeated measures ANOVA P≤0.05). We tested sex differences in 1) each ROI; 2) lateralization effects; and 3) posterior-to-anterior gradients in responses.

Results

No sex differences emerged in heart rate or SaO2. Women showed larger signal changes in several gyri than men after cold pressor onset and offset. Most consistently, women showed a greater right-over-left hemisphere dominance in cold pressor response compared to men in the MSG, PSG and ALG. Greater right-over-left hemisphere anterior-to-posterior dominance was more pronounced in men.

Conclusions

The findings confirm anterior and right-hemispheric dominance of insular responses during sympathetic activation that includes pain and cold. Although distinct transient male-female differences in fMRI responses appeared during the cold pressor, unlike the Valsalva and handgrip, no sex differences in ASG lateralization emerged, suggesting that the previously found sex differences may not solely relate to regulating blood pressure responses.
Coordination sequences of periodic structures are rational via automata theory
Authors: Kopczyński Eryk
Published: February 2022

The conjecture of Grosse-Kunstleve et al. [(1996), Acta Cryst. A52, 879–889], that coordination sequences of periodic structures in n-dimensional Euclidean space are rational, is proved. This has been recently proven by Nakamura et al. [(2021), Acta Cryst. A77, 138–148]; however, the proof presented here is a straightforward application of classic techniques from automata theory.
Guthali – challenges in marketing Indian handicrafts and handloom
Authors: Attri Rekha , Bairagi Rahul
Published: February 2022

Learning outcomes

After reading and discussing the case, the participant would be able to: comprehend business expansion strategies and challenges of an entrepreneur dealing with handicraft and artefacts, digital marketing, entrepreneurship and marketing strategy; understand how a comprehensive digital marketing plan for the business is developed; discuss the pros and cons of digital marketing.

Case overview/synopsis

The handloom and handicraft industry has been the backbone of India’s rural economy for decades. It is one of the largest employment generators after agriculture, providing livelihood to country’s rural and urban population. The protagonist in the case had a strong inclination towards various art and craft forms, and her passion led her to start her venture – Guthali, wherein she sourced various handicrafts and handlooms from local artisans and after adding value to the fabric or art form through painting, block printing, etc., marketed it to the customers. However, the marketing was full of challenges, with brands like Fab India, enjoying high awareness and customer base. This case highlights the challenges faced by the protagonist to market Indian handicrafts and handloom in the urban market. The readers of the case would be able to learn about various stages involved in developing digital marketing strategies.

Complexity academic level

This case is suitable for postgraduate courses in digital marketing and entrepreneurship to understand the entrepreneurial challenges and come up with digital marketing solutions. This case is equally suitable for management development programmes on how digital marketing can help entrepreneurs grow their businesses.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Subject code

CSS 8: Marketing.
Monetary policy decisions and bank profitability: evidence from an emerging economy
Authors: Dzeha Gloria Clarissa , Boachie Christopher , Kriese Maryam , Kusi Baah Aye
Published: February 2022

Purpose

This study provides empirical evidence for the first time on how different measures of monetary policy affect banking profitability in Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach

Providing empirical evidence on how different measures of monetary policy affect banking profitability in Ghana using 29 banks for period between 2006 and 2016, new monetary indexes are developed and a robust panel random effect models is employed with year effect controls.

Findings

The results show that while increase in monetary policy basis point reduced banking profitability, average monetary policy rate stimulated banking profitability. Interestingly, the monetary policy basis point and rate indexes developed reduced and enhanced banking profitability, respectively. While these results may sound contradictory, they have both theoretical and empirical backing. Thus, basis point increments serve a monetary policy tightening condition which leads to higher loan prices, lower borrowing and declined profitability in the short run. However, in the long run, banks adjusted their loan prices and deposits to reflect basis point changes in their favor, hence the positive effect of average monetary policy rate on banking profitability. Additionally, monetary policy easing which represents decline in monetary policy basis point and rate enhances banking profitability.

Practical implications

These findings imply bank managers may take advantage of monetary policy easing to maximize profits in the banking sector of Ghana. Also, the monetary policy committee must be mindful of monetary policy tightening through basis point change since upward basis point increments reduce banking profitability.

Originality/value

This study provides empirical evidence for the first time on how different measures of monetary policy (developing indexes from monetary policy basis point and monetary policy rate) affect banking profitability in an emerging economy as Ghana.
Perceptions of collective and other unjust punishment in Swiss prisons: a qualitative exploration
Authors: Shaw David , Seaward Helene , Pageau Felix , Wangmo Tenzin , Elger Bernice S.
Published: February 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to describe and analyse Swiss prisoners’ and experts’ views on collective punishment, the practice where a group is punished for one person’s transgression.

Design/methodology/approach

A series of qualitative interviews with prisoners and stakeholders are reported following thematic analysis.

Findings

Despite being forbidden by the Geneva Convention and other international instruments, participants from this study expressed the view that collective punishment continues to be practiced in some form in prisons in Switzerland, violating the rights of prisoners via unjust and arbitrary decision-making, unjust rules, inequalities in prison structures and continuation of incarceration based on the behaviour of others. Families can also be both victims and vectors of collective punishment, and prolonging the detention of prisoners who would otherwise have been released because of rare high-profile cases of reoffending can also be considered a form of collective punishment.

Originality/value

These significant findings suggest that collective punishment in various forms continues to be used in Swiss prisons.
Benford's law for integrity tests of high-volume databases: a case study of internal audit in a state-owned enterprise
Authors: Morales Héctor Rubén , Porporato Marcela , Epelbaum Nicolas
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The technical feasibility of using Benford's law to assist internal auditors in reviewing the integrity of high-volume data sets is analysed. This study explores whether Benford's distribution applies to the set of numbers represented by the quantity of records (size) that comprise the different tables that make up a state-owned enterprise's (SOE) enterprise resource planning (ERP) relational database. The use of Benford's law streamlines the search for possible abnormalities within the ERP system's data set, increasing the ability of the internal audit functions (IAFs) to detect anomalies within the database. In the SOEs of emerging economies, where groups compete for power and resources, internal auditors are better off employing analytical tests to discharge their duties without getting involved in power struggles.

Design/methodology/approach

Records of eight databases of an SOE in Argentina are used to analyse the number of records of each table in periods of three to 12 years. The case develops step-by-step Benford's law application to test each ERP module records using Chi-squared (χ²) and mean absolute deviation (MAD) goodness-of-fit tests.

Findings

Benford's law is an adequate tool for performing integrity tests of high-volume databases. A minimum of 350 tables within each database are required for the MAD test to be effective; this threshold is higher than the 67 reported by earlier researches. Robust results are obtained for the complete ERP system and for large modules; modules with less than 350 tables show low conformity with Benford's law.

Research limitations/implications

This study is not about detecting fraud; it aims to help internal auditors red flag databases that will need further attention, making the most out of available limited resources in SOEs. The contribution is a simple, cheap and useful quantitative tool that can be employed by internal auditors in emerging economies to perform the first scan of the data contained in relational databases.

Practical implications

This paper provides a tool to test whether large amounts of data behave as expected, and if not, they can be pinpointed for future investigation. It offers tests and explanations on the tool's application so that internal auditors of SOEs in emerging economies can use it, particularly those that face divergent expectations from antagonist powerful interest groups.

Originality/value

This study demonstrates that even in the context of limited information technology tools available for internal auditors, there are simple and inexpensive tests to review the integrity of high-volume databases. It also extends the literature on high-volume database integrity tests and our knowledge of the IAF in Civil law countries, particularly emerging economies in Latin America.
The effects of COVID-19 and response measures on poverty, household income and household consumption expenditure in South Korea
Authors: Ha Taiwon
Published: February 2022

Purpose

In response to the pandemic, the Korean government introduced fiscal measures: including the Emergency Disaster Relief Funds which is the first-ever universal benefit in Korea. This paper identifies the effects of the measures on poverty, household income and household consumption expenditure under the disproportionate effect of the pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

This study analysed the Korea Household Income and Expenditure Survey (KHIES) with Changes-in-Changes at five percentiles (5, 25, 50, 75 and 95%) instead of Difference-in-Differences (DD) because the parallel trends assumption of DD cannot be investigated due to the recent KHIES redesign. In addition, it also exmined the effects on vulnerable groups (e.g. female, elderly and young households).

Findings

COVID-19 has had prompt and disproportionate effects on the vulnerable, such as low-income, female and elderly households. However, the government measures had a limited effect. First, the measures could not mitigate the initial income reduction and only had temporary positive effects on income and consumption expenditure. Second, young households tended to save the relief instead of present consumption. Lastly, education disparity was observed at 25 and 50%. Therefore, this study suggests that response measures need to be sustainable and concentrated on the vulnerable.

Originality/value

A large literature estimated effects on either household income or household consumption expenditure, and focused on macroeconomic indices (e.g. marginal propensity to consumption). This study analysed both income (poverty) and consumption expenditure and found policy implications for better welfare system in an economic downturn.
Strategic decision making in project management: a knowledge visualization framework
Authors: Secundo Giustina , Elia Gianluca , Margherita Alessandro , Leitner Karl-Heinz
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Managing a project involves taking a number of critical decisions that can have a crucial impact on the success or failure of the initiative. The analytical definition and visualization of the main components of a project can support project managers engaged to address the right issues at the right time. This article aims to identify crucial crossroads in the management of a project and to provide a visual representation of knowledge involved into a system of project components and decisions.

Design/methodology/approach

A design science process is adopted to define the initial goals and requirements and to develop the knowledge visualization framework. Expert feedback is also gathered to obtain a preliminary validation of the framework.

Findings

Moving from a system view of project dimensions, we identify eight types of strategic decisions, i.e. growth, problem shifting, goals balancing, escalation, rewarding, resource allocation, problem fixing and cooperation. We then present a visualization map of project decision making addressing six categories of knowledge (i.e. “what-knowledge”, “how-knowledge”, “who-knowledge”, “why-knowledge”, “what for-knowledge”, “when-knowledge”).

Research limitations/implications

The framework needs further theoretical refinement in terms of more fine-grained decision types, other determinants and the reciprocal influence in the management of project activities.

Practical implications

The article can support project managers attempting to build a comprehensive view of project decisions, and it can be a basis to develop novel types of knowledge management systems for project-related applications.

Originality/value

The article proposes a new approach to sustain strategic decision making in project management by adopting a knowledge visualization view. Moreover, it provides an operational tool for managers and analysts at different levels engaged into the management of a project.
Insights on management commentary in financial reports: the views of users, preparers and auditors
Authors: Botica Redmayne Nives , Laswad Fawzi , Ehalaiye Dimu , Stent Warwick
Published: February 2022

Purpose

New Zealand (NZ) has no reporting standard or guidance for management commentary (MC) that accompanies financial reports. This is unusual, considering MC is provided by many entities and valued by users. Further, the guidance on MC provided by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) in their Management Commentary Practice Statement 1 (MCPS1), which was issued in 2010, is currently under review. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to examine the views of NZ’s financial reporting stakeholders, particularly users, preparers and auditors of financial reports for insights regarding the usefulness of MC.

Design/methodology/approach

To gain insights into the views of NZ’s financial reporting stakeholders on MC, this paper surveyed users, preparers and auditors of financial statements. This paper includes an analysis of their views on the objectives, content and principles that should underlie MC in financial reporting, based on the IASB’s MCPS1 with consideration of recent work by the IASB on the revision of MCPS1. In addition, the analysis provides insights as to whether the reporting of MC should be made mandatory, and whether assuring MC would increase its usefulness.

Findings

This study found that auditors generally view MC as less useful and more in need of assurance than do preparers and users. Respondents’ ratings indicate that the most important objective for MC is “to enable the assessment of the quality of management’s stewardship”. “Assessing the entity’s future prospects”, and “assessing future cash flows” are also highly rated objectives. The most important principle in preparing MC is identified as “focus on the most important and relevant information”, while the most important content element identified is “the entity's financial performance and position, and cash flows”.

Originality/value

This paper highlights the views of various stakeholders regarding MC reporting, particularly preparers and auditors whose views have not been noted previously in the literature. Also, this study should be of interest to both international and national financial reporting standard setters and regulators. It is particularly timely in view of the current IASB work towards revision and updating of MCPS1, as it provides current insights into what users, preparers and auditors perceive as the most important considerations for MC. This study also has implications for the XRB in NZ, where there is no prior research on stakeholders’ views on MC.
Financial development–ecological footprint nexus in Malaysia: the role of institutions
Authors: Dada James Temitope , Adeiza Adams , Ismail Noor Azizi , Arnaut Marina
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Motivated by the conflicting evidence on the effect of financial development on environmental quality, this study investigates the moderating role of institutional quality in the link between financial development and environmental quality using a robust proxy in Malaysia from 1984 to 2017.

Design/methodology/approach

Ecological footprint is used to measure environmental quality, while financial development is proxied using three measures (domestic credit provided by the private sector, domestic credit provided by the financial sector and domestic credit provided by the banking sector). An index of institutional quality is generated from voice and accountability, government effectiveness, regulatory quality, rule of law and control of corruption. Autoregressive Distributed Lag Bounds Test, Fully Modified Ordinary Least Square and Canonical Cointegrating Regression were used as the estimation techniques.

Findings

The results show that financial development, institutional quality, economic growth and foreign direct investment improve environmental quality in the short run, whereas trade openness and natural resources worsen it. In the long run, financial development, institutional quality, economic growth, trade openness and natural resources deteriorate the environment. Furthermore, findings from the interactive term suggest that institutions and financial development complement each other to affect the environment in the short run. However, institutions and financial development perform a substitutability role in influencing the environment in the long run.

Practical implications

The outcome of this study suggests that there are time lags in the relationship between institutional quality, financial development and ecological footprint in Malaysia. Furthermore, the study offers important policy implications to policymakers in Malaysia and other developing countries on how to mitigate environmental degradation.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the body of knowledge on the moderating role of institutional quality in the relationship between financial development and ecological footprint in Malaysia. It examines the direct and indirect effects of financial development on environmental degradation through institutional quality, which have received less attention in the context of Malaysia. The findings from this study are robust to different proxies and estimation techniques.
What do trainees' really think? Some views of inclusion before and after school placement
Authors: Loveys Megan
Published: February 2022

This article reports on a small‐scale research study utilising semi‐structured interviews to discover and understand trainee teachers perceptions of inclusion in the Primary School. As future educators it is vital that trainee teachers understand, critique, and develop their thinking and around the concept of inclusion to ensure they continue, and hopefully improve, the practice of inclusive teaching and learning. More research is necessary to explore the intricacies of inclusion in the Primary School as the concept is a controversial one. This article makes no claim to uncover the entire ‘story’ of inclusion; rather it offers areas for thought and consideration which will lead and contribute to the ongoing discussion and evaluation of ways of improving the learner experience from the perspective of Primary age‐range trainees.
Visions of Statesmanship Across The Atlantic: Presidential Masculinity and the American Response to Benito Mussolini
Authors: Verheul Jaap
Published: February 2022

This article explores how hegemonic masculinity forged discourses of modern statesmanship in the United States and Italy in the first three decades of the twentieth century. It unpacks the ‘presidential masculinity’ of Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson and compares these gendered performances of political leadership in the United States to Benito Mussolini's Fascist rule in Italy during the 1920s. In doing so, this article contends that the manliness of these three modern leaders rested on a contrasting of pairs: if Roosevelt embodied the hegemonic ideal of the ‘frontiersman‐as‐president’, Wilson personified its ‘unmanly’, bourgeois‐liberal countertype and thereby engendered the initially hospitable view of Mussolini's Fascist masculinity in the United States during the Jazz Age. The article covers the publications in The Atlantic Monthly to reveal how the American disillusion with Wilson's liberal internationalism transformed the Duce into a Fascist surrogate for Roosevelt. In a decade of political, economic and social upheaval, the transatlantic ‘public relations state’ in both the United States and Italy discursively positioned Mussolini as the personification of the masculine ideals of acumen, willpower and virility for the American public; a ‘Doctor‐Dictator’ who, akin to Roosevelt, became a symbol of modern manliness that signified stability, progress and reform. In the process, the Duce's Fascist manhood shaped hegemonic ideals of statesmanship across the Atlantic while hinting at the paltry support for the liberal democracies of the West.
epiGBS2: Improvements and evaluation of highly multiplexed, epiGBS‐based reduced representation bisulfite sequencing
Authors: Gawehns Fleur , Postuma Maarten , van Antro Morgane , Nunn Adam , Sepers Bernice , Fatma Samar , van Gurp Thomas P. , Wagemaker Niels C. A. M. , Mateman A. Christa , Milanovic‐Ivanovic Slavica , Groβe Ivo , van Oers Kees , Vergeer Philippine , Verhoeven Koen J. F.
Published: February 2022

Several reduced‐representation bisulfite sequencing methods have been developed in recent years to determine cytosine methylation de novo in nonmodel species. Here, we present epiGBS2, a laboratory protocol based on epiGBS with a revised and user‐friendly bioinformatics pipeline for a wide range of species with or without a reference genome. epiGBS2 is cost‐ and time‐efficient and the computational workflow is designed in a user‐friendly and reproducible manner. The library protocol allows a flexible choice of restriction enzymes and a double digest. The bioinformatics pipeline was integrated in the Snakemake workflow management system, which makes the pipeline easy to execute and modular, and parameter settings for important computational steps flexible. We implemented bismark for alignment and methylation analysis and we preprocessed alignment files by double masking to enable single nucleotide polymorphism calling with Freebayes (epiFreebayes). The performance of several critical steps in epiGBS2 was evaluated against baseline data sets from Arabidopsis thaliana and great tit (Parus major), which confirmed its overall good performance. We provide a detailed description of the laboratory protocol and an extensive manual of the bioinformatics pipeline, which is publicly accessible on github (https://github.com/nioo‐knaw/epiGBS2) and zenodo (https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4764652).
Dissociative symptomatology mediates the relation between posttraumatic stress disorder severity and alcohol‐related problems
Authors: Patel Herry , O’Connor Charlene , Andrews Krysta , Amlung Michael , Lanius Ruth , McKinnon Margaret C.
Published: February 2022

Background

Up to 50% of individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) endorse problematic alcohol use. Typically, these individuals present with more complex and often more severe PTSD symptoms than those who do not report problematic alcohol use. Emerging literature suggests that heightened symptoms of dissociation are likewise associated with greater PTSD symptom severity. Despite this knowledge, the role of dissociation in the relation between PTSD severity and alcohol‐related problems has yet to be examined. Here, we explore the mediating role of dissociative symptomatology on the association between PTSD severity and alcohol‐related problems within a PTSD treatment‐seeking sample.

Methods

Structural equation modeling was used to test the mediating role of dissociative symptomatology between PTSD severity and alcohol‐related problems. Participants [N = 334; mean age (SD) = 44.29 (9.77), 50% female] were drawn from a clinical intake battery database for PTSD in‐patient treatment services at Homewood Health Care, Guelph, ON, Canada. A subset of battery measures assessing PTSD severity, dissociative symptomatology, and alcohol‐related problems were submitted to analysis.

Results

A significant positive association emerged between PTSD severity and alcohol‐related problems (β = 0.127, p < 0.05) in the absence of dissociative symptomatology. Critically, however, when added to this model, dissociative symptomatology (six unique facets of dissociation assessed by the Multiscale Dissociation Inventory) mediated the relation between PTSD severity and alcohol‐related problems. Specifically, greater PTSD severity was associated with greater dissociative symptomatology (β = 0.566, p < 0.0001), which was in turn associated with greater alcohol‐related problems (β = 0.184, p < 0.05).

Conclusions

These results suggest that dissociative symptomatology plays a key role in explaining the relation between PTSD severity and alcohol‐related problems. Future studies should examine the impact of targeting dissociative symptomatology specifically in treating individuals with PTSD who endorse alcohol‐related problems.
Anatomical and radiographic distribution of hepatic artery and biliary duct system applied to biochemical parameters indicative to hepatobiliary disease in Egyptian donkey (Equus asinus)
Authors: Maher Mohamed Ahmed , Ahmad Ismail M.
Published: February 2022

The current study was performed on ten adult Egyptian donkeys of both sexes for anatomical and radiographic studies in addition to six other donkeys for enzymatic, biochemical and statistical analysis. The aim was to illustrate the normal hepatic arterial and biliary distribution using different anatomic techniques and radiographic imaging besides, establishing an accurate laboratory profile specific for donkeys that used as standard indicators for hepatobiliary dysfunction. The right branch of the hepatic artery in donkey forms a curved arch erupting five branches, unlike the left branch that erupts six branches, being the direct continuation of the main hepatic artery. The caudate lobe artery either originated from the hepatic artery or its right division. The common hepatic duct represented a very clear enlargement called ‘gall tank’ at its terminal pouring intestinal end and compensating absence of gall bladder, cystic and common bile ducts. The intrahepatic biliary distribution is characterized by a segmental ramification into dorsal, intermediate, and ventral branches of bile ductules especially noticed in the undivided right lobe and left lateral lobe. The quadrate lobe is divided according to its biliary drainage into right and left parts where the former is drained by the left hepatic duct while the latter is drained through a branch from R. lobi medialis sinistri. The serum enzymatic activity was slightly similar to that of the horse while some biochemical parameters differentiating the donkey from the horse such as lowered total bilirubin, serum bile acids, and higher triglycerides, blood urea and prolonged prothrombin time.
Creation and maintenance of neo‐vagina with the use of vaginal dilators as first line treatment: Results from a quaternary paediatric and adolescent gynaecology service in Australia
Authors: Wee Amanda , Bagchi Tapasi , Kimble Rebecca
Published: February 2022

Background

Vaginal agenesis is an uncommon condition with an estimated incidence of 1/5000 live female births. There are surgical and non‐surgical treatment options for neo‐vagina creation. Vaginal dilatation has been used to treat vaginal agenesis for over 80 years, but outcome data to date have had poor definitions for ‘success’. The optimal method for neo‐vagina creation varies with vaginal dilator therapy being the most successful first line therapy in women with Mayer‐Rokistansky‐Kuster‐Hauser syndrome, with little literature to guide best practice in women with more complex congenital conditions. There is a paucity of data from Australian and New Zealand paediatric and adolescent gynaecology services on management of women requiring a functional vagina, for any underlying aetiology.

Aims

To determine if creation and maintenance of a functional neo‐vagina for vaginal agenesis with non‐surgical management (via vaginal dilators) should be the first line treatment.

Materials and Methods

Retrospective observational study between January 2005 and June 2015.

Results

Of the 23 women, 21 (91.3%) achieved a successful vaginal length defined as achieving vaginal length >6 cm and maximum width using the largest dilator if not sexually active, or ability to have sexual intercourse without discomfort.

Conclusion

Vaginal dilator therapy remains an effective first line treatment for neo‐vagina creation and maintenance and can be achieved in an outpatient setting with appropriate support.
Assessment of seminal cell‐free DNA as a potential contaminate in studies of human sperm DNA methylation
Authors: Barney Ryan , Stalker Kelaney , Lutes Andrew , Bayles Ammon , Aston Kenneth , Jenkins Tim
Published: February 2022

Background

Human seminal cell‐free deoxyribonucleic acid (cfDNA) methylation patterns have not yet been thoroughly explored; however, recent work in mouse has suggested that some cfDNA encountered in the epididymis may contaminate DNA methylation studies assessing the mature spermatozoa. Such contamination could clearly prove to be a significant confounder, for many reasons, in epigenetic studies of male factor infertility.

Objectives

To explore the nature of seminal cfDNA methylation and the likelihood that it would be retained following standard semen sample processing for epigenetic analysis.

Materials and methods

We assessed 12 semen samples collected at Utah Fertility Center. For each sample, seminal cfDNA was isolated from the sperm pellet. The spermatozoa was split into three aliquots including one exposed to DNase to remove any additional cfDNA (termed “pure spermatozoa”), one not exposed to DNase, and one exposed to DNase but reintroduced to seminal cfDNA. We additionally assessed blood DNA as our benchmark for somatic cell DNA methylation patterns. DNA methylation was measured via Illumina's 850k array and assessed for differential regional methylation.

Results

Forty‐six thousand three hundred fifty‐two differentially methylated regions (FDR > 40) were identified between pure spermatozoa and seminal cfDNA. We found at these sites that the average DNA methylation in cfDNA always fell somewhere between the average methylation in spermatozoa and blood. We also assessed each sperm treatment groups at all 46,352 regions of interest and found no significant differences at any of these sites.

Discussion and conclusion

Our data suggest that seminal cfDNA is a clear mixture of both somatic and germline DNA and that cfDNA is not a contaminating feature in sperm DNA methylation studies following standard protocols in human sperm DNA extraction.
Micro‐straw: An efficient cryopreservation carrier for rare human spermatozoa
Authors: Luo Xue‐Feng , Huang Chuan , Ji Xi‐Ren , Luo Qiang , Tang Yu‐Lin , Zhou Wen‐Jun , Huang Zeng‐Hui , Liu Qian , Fan Li‐Qing , Zhu Wen‐Bing
Published: February 2022

Background

Many cryopreservation carriers have been introduced to freeze rare human spermatozoa, however, these carriers relative attributes and comparative effectivenesses have not yet been systematically studied.

Objectives

Is the micro‐straw cryopreservation carrier more effective for cryopreserving rare human spermatozoa compared with the Cryoplus and a new micro‐straw (LSL straw) carriers?

Materials and methods

This study involves 93 samples from healthy sperm donors and 40 samples from patients diagnosed with oligospermia, asthenospermia, oligoasthenospermia, or obstructive azoospermia. We determined the optimal freeze–thaw protocol for the Micro‐straw carrier. The post‐thaw survival rate, normal sperm morphology, acrosome integrity, and DNA fragmentation for Micro‐straw, Cryoplus, and LSL carriers were then determined. Finally, we verified the effects of freezing using these carriers by comparing the qualities of post‐thaw spermatozoa from patients.

Results

The highest total motility (TM) and progressive motility (PR) survival rates were obtained by placing the Micro‐straw at 1 cm above the LN2 surface for 70 s during freezing and in a 42°C water bath for 40 s during thawing. No differences were observed in the PR survival rate, acrosome integrity, and DNA fragmentation of the post‐thaw spermatozoa from the three carriers. However, the normal morphology rate of spermatozoa frozen using the Micro‐straw carrier was higher than for the Cryoplus carrier (p < 0.05), and the TM survival rate of spermatozoa frozen with the Micro‐straw was higher than that for the LSL carrier (p < 0.01). In verification tests, there were no significant differences in the quality of post‐thaw spermatozoa cryopreserved using these carriers for both rare spermatozoa or epididymal sperm.

Discussion and conclusion

Micro‐straw, Cryoplus, and LSL carriers are all efficient means of freezing rare human spermatozoa. However, the Micro‐straw carrier is more economical, safe, and user‐friendly.
Atypical primary varicella rash: Systematic literature review
Authors: Mazzara Calogero , Milani Gregorio Paolo , Lava Sebastiano A. G. , Bianchetti Mario Giovanni , Gualco Gianluca , Simonetti Giacomo D. , Camozzi Pietro , Kottanattu Lisa
Published: February 2022

Aim

In previously healthy subjects, primary varicella presents with a distinctive vesicular rash that is more intense on the trunk and head than on the extremities. However, an atypical presentation may occasionally develop. We aimed at systematically assessing the characteristics of cases affected by atypical primary varicella rash.

Methods

The United States National Library of Medicine, Excerpta Medica and Web of Science databases were reviewed, without date or language restrictions. Articles were eligible if reporting previously healthy and immunocompetent subjects with a primary varicella rash (i.e., a photo‐localised primary varicella or skin inflammation‐associated primary varicella).

Results

Thirty‐eight reports providing information on 59 cases of atypical primary varicella were identified. Twenty‐four cases (median 8.5 years of age, 19 females) were photo‐localised and 35 (median 4.8 years of age, 15 females) were associated with pre‐existing skin inflammation (including cast occlusion, diaper irritation, operative sites, burns, insect bites, vaccinations or pre‐existing skin disease). The skin rash was monomorphic and without a “starry sky” appearance.

Conclusion

Primary varicella may have a modified presentation in areas of irritation such as sun exposure or pre‐existing inflammation. There is a need for a wider awareness of these modulators of varicella rash.
Immunophenotypic changes in juvenile myelomonocytic leukaemia after treatment with hypomethylating agent: Do they help to evaluate dept of response?
Authors: Oliveira Anita Frisanco , Tansini Aline , Toledo Thais , Balceiro Rafael , Lee Maria Lucia Martino , Villela Neysimelia , Ikeuty Patricia , Metze Konradin , Lopes Luiz Fernando , Lorand‐Metze Irene
Published: February 2022

5‐Azacitidine has been used before stem cell transplantation in juvenile myelomonocytic leukaemia (JMML) patients. Recently, we have described immunophenotypic features in JMML at diagnosis. Here, our aim was to examine the changes in the immunophenotypic features during azacitidine treatment, correlating it with clinical response. Patients treated with 5‐azacitidine were evaluated at diagnosis and after three and six cycles of medication. Among 32 patients entering the study, 28 patients were examined after three cycles and 25 patients after six. Patients showed a reduction in CD34/CD117+ cells: median 3.35% at diagnosis, 2.8% after three cycles and 1.63% after six. B‐cell progenitors were decreased at diagnosis and decreased after treatment. Monocytes decreased: 11.91% to 6.4% and 4.18% respectively. Complete response was associated with increase in classical monocytes. T lymphocytes, reduced at diagnosis, increased in patients responding to 5‐azacitidine. Immunophenotypic aberrancies including expression of CD7 in myeloid progenitors remained after treatment. This feature was associated with a worse response to treatment, as well as presence of NF1. Immunophenotyping was feasible in all patients. Clinical response was associated with a decrease of myeloid progenitors and monocytes and a rise in T lymphocytes although phenotypic aberrancies persisted. The largest effect was observed after three cycles.