bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Yellow-bellied gliders use glide poles to cross the Pacific Highway at Halfway Creek, north-east New South Wales
Authors: Taylor B. D. , Rohweder D. A.
Published: April 2020

The installation of glide poles to enable gliding mammals to cross wide road corridors has become a common feature of highway upgrades in eastern Australia. While frequent use by small species has been well documented, records of use by large glider species are scant. During 15 months of camera monitoring of two glide poles in the median of the Pacific Highway at Halfway Creek, north-east New South Wales, yellow-bellied gliders (Petaurus australis) were detected on nine occasions. On three of these occasions, video footage captured glide launches across the northbound carriageway. Our study provides the first definitive evidence of repeated use of wooden glide poles by the yellow-bellied glider to cross a highway corridor. Glide poles, therefore, have the potential to restore functional connectivity for yellow-bellied gliders at locations where major roads bisect forest habitat.
Gender equality as a challenge for the implementation of environmental law
Authors: Saputri E D , Handayani I G A K R , Nurhaeni I D A , Hermawan S
Published: April 2020

Women’s role in the implementation of public policy law is a way in developing a gender perspective law. This study is normative research that has an objective to investigate the influence of gender equality to the environmental law, it is able to be a reference for the government in setting a policy in the environmental field. In achieving Gender Equality and Justice through environmental policies requires the experiences, aspirations, needs, and problems of women and men that put in the process of planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating in various fields of life and development sector. This strategy is needed ro ensure that all society levels are able to access and participate in decision making, and they get benefits from the results of development based on their needs and aspirations.
Strange Masks of Adapted Identities in Patrick McCabe’sWinterwoodandThe Holy City
Authors: Hermansson Joakim
Published: April 2020

Patrick McCabe’s novels dramatize how people make use of character archetypes, media ideals, and fiction to adapt to new realities. These concerns are especially notable in two of his later novels, The Holy City and Winterwood. In the protagonists’ process of social adaptation, they illustrate how the construction of self-identity is defined by narration, and how a world in flux demands constant re-negotiation of the narrative and adaptation to the new story to make self-identity, life patterns, and their contexts match. In effect, the narratives suggest that engagement in media adaptations can guide audiences to find strategies for social adaptation.
Infective Endocarditis Among Persons Aged 18–64 Years Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Hepatitis C Infection, or Opioid Use Disorder, United States, 2007−2017
Authors: Wong Cecillia Y , Zhu Weiming , Aurigemma Gerard P , Furukawa Nathan , Teshale Eyasu H , Huang Ya-lin A , Peters Philip J , Hoover Karen W
Published: April 2020

Background

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a life-threatening bacterial infection of the heart valves, most often diagnosed in older persons and persons with prior cardiac surgery. It is also associated with injection drug use, a behavior that has increased in recent years along with the US opioid crisis.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of commercial and Medicaid health insurance databases to estimate incident cases of IE in the United States in 2017, stratified by persons living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and opioid use disorder (OUD). We also estimated annual percentage changes (EAPCs) in IE from 2007–2017 among persons with commercial insurance.

Results

The weighted incidence rate of IE was 13.8 cases per 100 000 persons among persons with commercial insurance, and 78.7 among those with Medicaid. The incidence rate of IE among commercially insured persons increased slightly from 2007–2017 (EAPC, 1.0%). It decreased among commercially insured persons living with HIV, from 148.0 in 2007 to 112.1 in 2017 (EAPC, −4.3%), and increased among those with HCV infection, from 172.4 in 2007 to 238.6 in 2017 (EAPC, 3.2%). Among persons aged 18–29 years with HCV infection, IE increased from 322.3 in 2007 to 1007.1 in 2017 (EAPC, 16.3%), and among those with OUD it increased from 156.4 in 2007 to 642.9 in 2017 (EAPC, 14.8%).

Conclusions

The incidence rate of IE increased markedly among young persons with HCV infections or OUD. This increase appears to parallel the ongoing national opioid crisis. Harm reduction with syringe services programs, medications for opioid use disorder, and safe injection practices can prevent the spread of HIV, HCV, and IE.
Long-term prognosis of de novo atrial fibrillation during acute myocardial infarction: the impact of anti-thrombotic treatment strategies
Authors: Hofer Felix , Kazem Niema , Hammer Andreas , El-Hamid Feras , Koller Lorenz , Niessner Alexander , Sulzgruber Patrick
Published: April 2020

Aims

While the prognosis of patients presenting with de novo atrial fibrillation (AF) during the acute phase of myocardial infarction has been controversially discussed, it seems intuitive that affected individuals have an increased risk for both thrombo-embolic events and mortality. However, profound data on long-term outcome of this highly vulnerable patient population are not available in current literature. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the impact of de novo AF and associated anti-thrombotic treatment strategies on the patient outcome from a long-term perspective.

Methods and results

Patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction, treated at the Medical University of Vienna, were enrolled within a clinical registry and screened for the development of de novo AF. After discharge, participants were followed prospectively over a median time of 8.6 years. Primary study endpoint was defined as cardiovascular mortality. Out of 1372 enrolled individuals 149 (10.9%) developed de novo AF during the acute phase of acute myocardial infarction. After a median follow-up time of 8.6 years, a total of 418 (30.5%) died due to cardiovascular causes, including 93 (62.4%) in the de novo AF subgroup. We found that de novo AF was significantly associated with long-term cardiovascular mortality with an adjusted HR of 1.45 (95% CI 1.19–2.57; P < 0.001). While patients with de novo AF were less likely to receive a triple anti-thrombotic therapy as compared to patients with pre-existing AF at time of discharge, this therapeutic approach showed a strong and inverse association with mortality in de novo AF, with an adj. HR of 0.86 (95% CI 0.45–0.92; P = 0.012).

Conclusion

De novo AF was independently associated with a poor prognosis with a 67% increased risk of long-term cardiovascular mortality. Intensified anti-thrombotic treatment in this high-risk patient population might be considered.
Testing the twin testosterone transfer hypothesis—intergenerational analysis of 317 dizygotic twins born in Aberdeen, Scotland
Authors: Talia Chiara , Raja Edwin-Amalraj , Bhattacharya Sohinee , Fowler Paul A
Published: April 2020

STUDY QUESTION

Does having a male co-twin influence the female twin’s reproductive outcomes?

SUMMARY ANSWER

Women with a male co-twin had the same chances of being pregnant and having children compared to same-sex twin pairs.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

According to the twin testosterone transfer (TTT) hypothesis, in an opposite-sex twin pregnancy, testosterone transfer from the male to the female co-twin occurs. A large body of literature supports the negative impact of prenatal testosterone exposure on female’s reproductive health in animal models; however, evidence from human studies remains controversial.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION

This cohort study included all dizygotic female twins in the Aberdeen Maternity and Neonatal Databank (Scotland) born before 1 January 1979. The 317 eligible women were followed up for 40 years for any pregnancies and the outcome of those pregnancies recorded in the same database.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS

Fertility outcomes (number of pregnancies, number of livebirths and age at first pregnancy) were compared between women with a male co-twin (exposed group, n = 151) and those with a female co-twin (unexposed group, n = 166). Population averaged models were used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% CI for all outcomes with adjusting for potential confounders.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

There were no differences in chances of having pregnancies (adj. OR 1.33; 95% CI 0.72, 2.45) and livebirths (adj. OR 1.22; 95% CI 0.68, 2.18) between women from same-sex and opposite-sex twin pairs. Women with a male co-twin were more likely to smoke during pregnancy and, in the unadjusted model, were younger at their first pregnancy (OR 2.13; 95% CI 1.21, 3.75). After adjusting for confounding variables (year of birth and smoking status) the latter finding was no longer significant (OR 1.67; 95% CI 0.90, 3.20).

LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION

The dataset was relatively small. For women without a pregnancy recorded in the databank, we assumed that they had not been pregnant.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

Despite the evidence from animal studies concerning the adverse effects of prenatal testosterone exposure on female health, our results do not support the TTT hypothesis. The finding that women with a male co-twin are more likely to smoke during pregnancy highlights the importance of considering post-socialisation and social effects in twin studies.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)

European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie project PROTECTED (grant agreement No. 722634) and FREIA project (grant agreement No. 825100). No competing interests.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

N/A
Coping with Starvation: Contrasting Lipidomic Dynamics in the Cells of Two Sacoglossan Sea Slugs Incorporating Stolen Plastids from the Same Macroalga
Authors: Rey Felisa , Melo Tânia , Cartaxana Paulo , Calado Ricardo , Domingues Pedro , Cruz Sónia , Domingues M Rosário M
Published: April 2020

Several species of sacoglossan sea slugs are able to sequester chloroplasts from algae and incorporate them into their cells. However, the ability to maintain functional “stolen” plastids (kleptoplasts) can vary significantly within the Sacoglossa, giving species different capacities to withstand periods of food shortage. The present study provides an insight on the comparative shifts experienced by the lipidome of two sacoglossan sea slug species, Elysia viridis (long-term retention of functional chloroplasts) and Placida dendritica (retention of non-functional chloroplasts). A hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry approach was employed to screen the lipidome of specimens from both species feeding on the macroalga Codium tomentosum and after 1-week of starvation. The lipidome of E. viridis was generally unaffected by the absence of food, while that of P. dendritica varied significantly. The retention of functional chloroplasts by E. viridis cells allows this species to endure periods of food shortage, while in P. dendritica a significant reduction in the amount of main lipids was the consequence of the consumption of its own mass to endure starvation. The large proportion of ether phospholipids (plasmalogens) in both sea slug species suggests that these compounds may play a key role in chloroplast incorporation in sea slug cells and/or be involved in the reduction of the oxidative stress resulting from the presence of kleptoplasts.
Caesarean birth by maternal request: a poorly understood phenomenon in low- and middle-income countries
Authors: Harrison Margo S , Garces Ana , Figueroa Lester , Esamai Fabian , Bucher Sherri , Bose Carl , Goudar Shivaprasad , Derman Richard , Patel Archana , Hibberd Patricia L , Chomba Elwyn , Mwenechanya Miusaku , Hambidge Michael , Krebs Nancy F
Published: April 2020

Background

While trends in caesarean birth by maternal request in low- and middle-income countries are unclear, age, education, multiple gestation and hypertensive disease appear associated with the indication when compared with caesarean birth performed for medical indications.

Methods

We performed a secondary analysis of a prospectively collected population-based study of home and facility births using descriptive statistics, bivariate comparisons and multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression.

Results

Of 28 751 patients who underwent caesarean birth and had a documented primary indication for the surgery, 655 (2%) were attributed to caesarean birth by maternal request. The remaining 98% were attributed to maternal and foetal indications and prior caesarean birth. In a multilevel mixed effects logistic regression adjusted for site and cluster of birth, when compared with caesareans performed for medical indications, caesarean birth performed for maternal request had a higher odds of being performed among women ≥35 y of age, with a university or higher level of education, with multiple gestations and with pregnancies complicated by hypertension (P < 0.01). Caesarean birth by maternal request was associated with a two-times increased odds of breastfeeding within 1 h of delivery, but no adverse outcomes (when compared with women who underwent caesarean birth for medical indications; P < 0.01).

Conclusion

Caesarean performed by maternal request is more common in older and more educated women and those with multifoetal gestation or hypertensive disease. It is also associated with higher rates of breastfeeding within 1 h of delivery.
Community health worker-led ART delivery improved scheduled antiretroviral drug refill among men who have sex with men in Lagos State, Nigeria
Authors: Ibiloye Olujuwon , Akande Patrick , Plang Jwanle , Emerenini Franklin , Omole Temiwoluwa , Osindero Olusola , Decroo Tom
Published: April 2020

Background

Stigma affects access and treatment outcomes in men who have sex with men. We assessed the effect of novel community health worker-led antiretroviral therapy delivery (CLAD).

Methods

A retrospective cohort study of routinely collected data was conducted. We used the t-test to compare the mean adherence to scheduled drug refill appointments before and after implementing CLAD.

Results

The mean adherence to drug refill was 1.4 (±0.7 SD) of monthly scheduled refills before CLAD and 4.7 (±1.2 SD) of monthly refills in CLAD (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

The CLAD model was more effective for drug refill appointments than a regular HIV clinic.
Rewriting the human genome, rewriting human rights law? Human rights, human dignity, and human germline modification in the CRISPR era
Authors: van Beers Britta C
Published: April 2020

In most legal orders, human germline modification is either prohibited or severely restricted. A recurring thought in these legal frameworks is that heritable genome editing would result in practices that are at odds with principles of human rights, such as dignity, justice, and equality. However, now that CRISPR is bringing heritable genome editing within human reach, the question has risen as to whether these human rights bans still make sense. The call is growing louder to lift the ban on heritable genome editing for therapeutic purposes as soon as the technology is safe for introduction in the clinic. This article critically examines these recent proposals from a human rights perspective. First, it examines the question as to how realistic the proposed distinction between the therapeutic and the nontherapeutic uses of human germline modification is in the CRISPR era. Second, it argues that these proposals rely on a one-dimensional understanding of the meaning of human rights for this issue. Finally, it suggests that this one-dimensional understanding paves the way for a regime of self-regulation by the scientific community that leaves little room for public debate on the question as to whether or how human germline modification fits in the long-term aspirations of society.
Size as a Proxy for Survival in Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) Mosquitoes
Authors: Jeffrey Gutiérrez Eileen H , Walker Kathleen R , Ernst Kacey C , Riehle Michael A , Davidowitz Goggy
Published: April 2020

The Aedes aegypti mosquito is the primary vector of dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya, and Zika viruses. Infection with the dengue virus alone occurs in an estimated 400 million people each year. Likelihood of infection with a virus transmitted by Ae. aegypti is most commonly attributed to abundance of the mosquito. However, the Arizona-Sonora desert region has abundant Ae. aegypti in most urban areas, yet local transmission of these arboviruses has not been reported in many of these cities. Previous work examined the role of differential Ae. aegypti longevity as a potential explanation for these discrepancies in transmission. To determine factors that were associated with Ae. aegypti longevity in the region, we collected eggs from ovitraps in Tucson, AZ and reared them under multiple experimental conditions in the laboratory to examine the relative impact of temperature and crowding during development, body size, fecundity, and relative humidity during the adult stage. Of the variables studied, we found that the combination of temperature during development, relative humidity, and body size produced the best model to explain variation in age at death.

El mosquito Aedes aegypti es el vector primario de los virus de dengue, fiebre amarilla, chikungunya y Zika. Solamente las infecciones con los virus de dengue ocurren en aproximadamente 400 millones de personas cada año. La probabilidad de infección con un virus transmitido por Ae. aegypti es frecuentemente atribuido a la abundancia del mosquito. No obstante, la región del desierto de Arizona-Sonora tiene una abundancia de Ae. aegypti en la mayoría de las áreas urbanas, pero la transmisión local de estos arbovirus no ha sido reportada en muchas de estas ciudades. Trabajos previos han examinado el rol de las diferencias de longevidad en Ae. aegypti como explicación potencial por estas discrepancias en la transmisión. Para determinar que factores fueron asociados con longevidad en Ae. aegypti en la región, colectamos huevos de ovitrampas en Tucson, Arizona y los criamos debajo de múltiples condiciones experimentales en el laboratorio para examinar el impacto relativo de temperatura y competencia para nutrición durante desarrollo, tamaño del cuerpo, capacidad reproductiva, y humedad relativa durante adultez. De las variables estudiados, encontramos que la combinación de temperatura durante desarrollo, humedad relativa, y tamaño del cuerpo produjo el mejor modelo para explicar variación en edad al tiempo de la muerte.
Optimizing Components of the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool for Acute Concussion Assessment
Authors: Garcia Gian-Gabriel P , Yang Jing , Lavieri Mariel S , McAllister Thomas W , McCrea Michael A , Broglio Steven P ,   on behalf of the CARE Consortium Investigators
Published: April 2020

BACKGROUND

The Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT) could be improved by identifying critical subsets that maximize diagnostic accuracy and eliminate low information elements.

OBJECTIVE

To identify optimal SCAT subsets for acute concussion assessment.

METHODS

Using Concussion Assessment, Research, and Education (CARE) Consortium data, we compared student-athletes’ and cadets’ preinjury baselines (n = 2178) with postinjury assessments within 6 h (n = 1456) and 24 to 48 h (n = 2394) by considering demographics, symptoms, Standard Assessment of Concussion (SAC), and Balance Error Scoring System (BESS) scores. We divided data into training/testing (60%/40%) sets. Using training data, we integrated logistic regression with an engineering methodology—mixed integer programming—to optimize models with ≤4, 8, 12, and 16 variables (Opt-k). We also created models including only raw scores (Opt-RS-k) and symptom, SAC, and BESS composite scores (summary scores). We evaluated models using testing data.

RESULTS

At <6 h and 24 to 48 h, most Opt-k and Opt-RS-k models included the following symptoms: do not feel right, headache, dizziness, sensitivity to noise, and whether physical or mental activity worsens symptoms. Opt-k models included SAC concentration and delayed recall change scores. Opt-k models had lower Brier scores (BS) and greater area under the curve (AUC) (<6 h: BS = 0.072-0.089, AUC = 0.95-0.96; 24-48 h: BS = 0.085-0.093, AUC = 0.94-0.95) than Opt-RS-k (<6 h: BS = 0.082-0.087, AUC = 0.93-0.95; 24-48 h: BS = 0.095-0.099, AUC = 0.92-0.93) and summary score models (<6 h: BS = 0.14, AUC = 0.89; 24-48 h: BS = 0.15, AUC = 0.87).

CONCLUSION

We identified SCAT subsets that accurately assess acute concussion and improve administration time over the complete battery, highlighting the importance of eliminating “noisy” elements. These findings can direct clinicians to the SCAT components that are most sensitive to acute concussion.
What Interventions Do Physical Therapists Provide for Patients With Cardiorespiratory Conditions, Neurological Conditions, and Conditions Requiring Acute Hospital Care? A Systematic Review
Authors: Zadro Joshua R , Cheng Sonia , O’Keeffe Mary , Maher Christopher G
Published: April 2020

Objective

The aim of this systematic review was to determine what percentages of physical therapists provide interventions that are of high value, low value, or unknown value for cardiorespiratory conditions, neurological conditions, or conditions requiring acute hospital care. Whether an intervention was considered high or low value was determined by reference to guidelines or systematic reviews.

Methods

Searches of numerous databases were performed by combining terms synonymous with “practice patterns” and “physical therapy” until April 2018. Studies that investigated what interventions physical therapists provide for any cardiorespiratory condition, neurological condition, or condition requiring acute hospital care through surveys and audits of clinical notes were included. Through the use of medians and interquartile ranges, the percentages of physical therapists who provided interventions that were of high value, low value, or unknown value were summarized.

Results

Twenty-six studies were included. The median percentages of physical therapists who provided interventions of high, low, and unknown value for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ranged from 78% to 96%, 67% to 100%, and 56% to 91%, respectively. These percentages ranged from 61% to 97%, 87% to 98%, and 83% to 98% for adults who were critically ill in intensive care units; 70% to 93%, 38% to 50%, and 8% to 95% before or after cardiac/thoracic surgery; 25% to 96%, 23% to 84%, and 96% for acute stroke; and 11% (high value) and 13% (unknown value) for Parkinson disease, respectively.

Conclusions

This review found patterns of physical therapist practice for cardiorespiratory conditions, neurological conditions, and conditions requiring acute hospital care that were both evidence based and not evidence based. A concern is that a substantial percentage of physical therapists provided interventions that were of low or unknown value despite the availability of high-value interventions.

Impact

This systematic review is the first, to our knowledge, to summarize the percentage of physical therapist treatment choices that were high versus low value for cardiorespiratory conditions, neurological conditions, and conditions requiring acute hospital care. The findings highlight areas of practice where low-value care could be replaced with high-value care—such as in the management of patients who have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or who are in intensive care—and identify an urgent need to develop and test strategies to ensure that patients with these conditions receive the interventions most likely to improve their outcomes.
RNA-Seq Reveals Hawthorn Tree as a New Natural Host for Apple Necrotic Mosaic Virus, Possibly Associated with Hawthorn Mosaic Disease
Authors: Xing Fei , Hou Wanying , Massart Sebastien , Gao Dehang , Li Wenhui , Cao Mengji , Zhang Zhixiang , Wang Hongqing , Li Shifang
Published: April 2020

Apple mosaic disease is widespread in the major apple-producing areas in China and is frequently associated with the presence of the newly identified Apple necrotic mosaic virus (ApNMV), belonging to subgroup 3 of Ilarvirus genus in the family of Bromoviridae. Mosaic symptoms were also observed in a hawthorn tree. Deep sequencing revealed the hawthorn tree with mosaic symptom was infected by ApNMV, which was confirmed by RT-PCR. The complete nucleotide sequences of RNA1 (3,378 nt), RNA2 (2,778 nt), and RNA3 (1,917 nt) of ApNMV from the hawthorn were obtained, sharing 93.8 to 96.8%, 89.7 to 96.1%, and 89.8 to 94.6% nucleotide identities with those from apples and crabapples, respectively. Two hypervariable regions were found, which showed 59.2 to 85.7% and 64.0 to 89.3% sequence identities at position 142 to 198 aa and at position 780 to 864 aa in the POL protein, respectively, between the hawthorn isolate and other isolates (apple, crabapple). A grafting test demonstrated that ApNMV was easily transmissible from hawthorns to apple trees, with severe chlorosis, yellowing, mosaic, curling, and necrosis. In addition, a total of 11,685 hawthorn trees were surveyed for the incidence of mosaic disease from five provinces in China, and only six were found showing typical mosaic symptoms. A total of 145 individual trees (six symptomatic, 68 asymptomatic, and 71 other symptoms) were tested for the presence or absence of ApNMV by RT-PCR. Among them, six symptomatic, four asymptomatic, and 10 other symptomatic trees tested positive for ApNMV. Taken together, these results demonstrated that the hawthorn tree was identified as a new natural host for ApNMV with a relatively low frequency (13.8%, 20 out of 145) in the main producing areas, and it was likely to be the causal pathogen of hawthorn mosaic disease.
Adhatoda Vasica rescues the hypoxia dependent severe asthma symptoms and mitochondrial dysfunction
Authors: Gheware Atish , Panda Lipsa , Khanna Kritika , Bhatraju Naveen Kumar , Jain Vaibhav , Sagar Shakti , Kumar Manish , Singh Vijay Pal , Kannan S , Subramanian V , Mukerji Mitali , Agrawal Anurag , Prasher Bhavana
Published: April 2020

Severe asthma is a chronic airway disease that exhibits poor response to conventional asthma therapies. Growing evidence suggests that elevated hypoxia increases the severity of asthmatic inflammation among patients and in model systems. In this study, we elucidate the therapeutic effects and mechanistic basis of Adhatoda Vasica (AV) aqueous extract on mouse models of acute allergic as well as severe asthma subtypes at physiological, histopathological, and molecular levels. Oral administration of AV extract attenuates the increased airway resistance and inflammation in acute allergic asthmatic mice and alleviates the molecular signatures of steroid (dexamethasone) resistance like IL-17A, KC, and HIF-1α (hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha) in severe asthmatic mice. AV inhibits HIF-1α levels through restoration of expression of its negative regulator-PHD2 (prolyl hydroxylase domain-2). Alleviation of hypoxic response mediated by AV is further confirmed in the acute and severe asthma model. AV reverses cellular hypoxia-induced mitochondrial dysfunction in human bronchial epithelial cells - evident from bioenergetic profiles and morphological analysis of mitochondria. In silico docking of AV constituents reveal higher negative binding affinity for C and O-glycosides for HIF-1α, IL-6, Janus kinase 1/3, TNF-α and TGF-β-key players of hypoxia-inflammation. This study for the first time provides a molecular basis of action and effect of AV whole extract that is widely used in Ayurveda practice for diverse respiratory ailments. Further, through its effect on hypoxia-induced mitochondrial dysfunction, the study highlights its potential to treat severe steroid-resistant asthma.

Significance Statement

Severe asthma is a global health concern with a large fraction unresponsive to current treatment modalities involving corticosteroids. Recent findings suggest that elevated hypoxia has a critical role in severity of asthma. Here, we report therapeutic treatment with aqueous extract of Adhatoda Vasica (AV), an ayurvedic medicine, attenuates sever steroid insensitive asthmatic features in mice. The observed effects of AV are through inhibition of hypoxic response, both in vivo and in vitro. AV also reverses mitochondrial dysfunction, a key consequence associated with hypoxia, and asthma. This study highlights the translational potential of AV for the treatment of severe asthma and provides opportunities for its usage in other disease conditions where hypoxia is pertinent.
Cotton growth, yield, quality and boron distribution as affected by soil-applied boron in calcareous saline soil
Authors: Atique-ur-Rehman  , Qamar Rafi , Hussain Abid , Sardar Hassan , Sarwar Naeem , Javeed Hafiz Muhammad Rashad
Published: April 2020

Boron (B) is deficient in the calcareous, Typic Haplocambid soils of cotton growing belt of Pakistan, and thus is a vital reason for less cotton yield in the region. In order to investigate the growth and quality alterations associated with soil applied B on cotton (cv. CIM-616 and CIM-600) an experiment was conducted. Boron was applied at 0.00, 2.60, 5.52, 7.78 and 10.04 mg B kg−1of soil using borax (Na2B4O7.10H2O), in a complete randomized design with factorial arrangement with four replications. Results revealed that soil applied B @ 2.60 mg B kg−1of soil significantly (P≤0.05) improved cotton growth, yield, quality and B distribution among different parts. Different growth and yield parameters like plant height, leaf area, number of bolls, boll size and weight, seed cotton yield, photosynthesis, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, water use efficiency, GOT, staple length and fiber fineness and strength except B uptake by roots, seed, leaves and stalk plant body which was significantly increased with B (10.04 mg B kg−1) in both cultivars of cotton, but the degree of effects was varied between cultivars. The results indicated that studied traits of both cultivars were significantly (P≤0.05) decreased in B-deficient stressed treatments. Between hybrids, CIM-600 produced significantly (P≤0.05) maximum recorded parameters under 2.60 mg B kg−1application compared than CIM-616. Our findings confirm that the adequate level of B (2.60 mg B kg−1) had pronounced effects on various growth, yield, physiological and fiber quality associated traits, as compared to B uptake traits of cotton cultivars.
Lipid Droplet-Anchored Mitochondria Are More Sensitive to Cold in Brown Adipocytes
Authors: Hammad Mirza Ahmed , Cui Liujuan , Zhang Shuyan , Liu Pingsheng
Published: April 2020

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) are specialized for uncoupled heat production through mitochondria fueled majorly from fatty acids (FA) of lipid droplets (LDs). How the interaction between the two organelles contributes the generation of heat remains elusive. Here we report that LD-anchored mitochondria (LDAM) were observed in BAT of mice raised at three different temperatures, 30°C, 23°C, and 6°C. The biochemical analyses including Western blotting and electron transport chain subunits showed that LDAM were functional at given temperatures. Comparative proteomics analysis was conducted and revealed that these LDAM had protein level differences from cytoplasmic mitochondria (CM) at different temperatures. Higher expressions of proteins at low temperature were observed for i) FA β-oxidation in LDAM including FA synthesis, and uncoupling, ii) pseudo-futile cycle in CM, and iii) two shuttle systems; glycerol 3-phosphate in both CM and LDAM, and citrate malate in CM. Together, these results suggest that LDs and LDAM are a preorganized and functional organelle complex that permits the rapid response to cold environment.
Calcium spikes accompany the cleavage furrow ingression and cell separation during fission yeast cytokinesis
Authors: Poddar Abhishek , Sidibe Oumou , Ray Aniruddha , Chen Qian
Published: April 2020

The role of calcium signaling during cytokinesis has long remained ambiguous. The studies of embryonic cell division discovered that calcium concentration increases transiently at the division plane just before the cleavage furrow ingression, leading to the hypothesis that these calcium transients trigger the contractile ring constriction. However, such calcium transients have only been found in animal embryos and their function remains controversial. Here we explored cytokinetic calcium transients in the model organism fission yeast. We adopted GCaMP, a genetically encoded calcium indicator, to determine the intracellular calcium level. We validated GCaMP as a highly sensitive calcium indicator which allowed us to capture the calcium transients stimulated by osmotic shocks. To identify calcium transients during cytokinesis, we first identified a correlation between the intracellular calcium level and cell division. Next, we discovered calcium spikes at the start of the cleavage furrow ingression and the end of the cell separation using time-lapse microscopy to. Inhibition of these calcium spikes slowed down the furrow ingression and led to frequent lysis of the daughter cells. We conclude that like the larger animal embryos fission yeast triggers cytokinetic calcium transients which promote the ring constriction and daughter cell integrity (194).

Highlight summary for TOC

Calcium rises transiently at the division plane during embryonic cell cytokinesis, but the conservation and function of such calcium transients remain unclear. We identified similar calcium spikes during fission yeast cytokinesis and demonstrated that these spikes promote the contractile ring constriction and the daughter cell integrity (257).
Emotion regulation in service encounters: are customer displays real?
Authors: Lee Shin-Yiing , Sweeney Jillian C. , Soutar Geoffrey Norman
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Despite recognition of the importance of emotions and emotion regulation in service encounters, emotion regulation has been generally studied from an employee perspective. This study investigated customer emotion regulation behaviours (CEREBs) in face-to-face service encounters; arguing for a more nuanced approach through an emotion regulation matrix representing the playing up and downplaying of positive or negative emotions. Motivational factors and service-related situational conditions that influence the likelihood of emotion regulation were also examined.

Design/methodology/approach

Four focus groups and the critical incident technique method were used to obtain data from people who had interacted with service employees within the previous six months.

Findings

There was support for emotion regulation in the four facets of the emotion regulation matrix. Five CEREB dimensions, including verbal behaviours and facial expressions, were evident. Motivational factors and situational conditions that impacted on customer emotion regulation in service encounters were also identified.

Research limitations/implications

The findings were based on two qualitative methods. A quantitative approach should be used to further validate the suggested framework.

Originality/value

Most research on emotion regulation has focused on employees. We examined the phenomenon from a customer viewpoint and in a service encounter context. As customers are not bound by employment rules and conventions, a wider range of emotion regulation behaviours were found. The study used the four-faceted emotion regulation matrix to investigate this, developing a conceptual framework that provides a foundation for future research.
Relational dialectics: researching change in intercultural families
Authors: Rogan Donal , Hopkinson Gillian , Piacentini Maria
Published: April 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to adopt a relational dialectics analysis approach to provide qualitative depth and insight into the ways intercultural families manage intercultural tensions around consumption. The authors pay particular attention to how a relational dialectics analysis reveals a relational change in the family providing evidence to demonstrate how a family’s unique relational culture evolves and transitions.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative insights from a relational-dialectic analysis on 15 intercultural families are used to illustrate the interplay of stability with instability in the management of intercultural dialectic tensions within these families.

Findings

Intercultural dialectical interplay around food consumption tensions are implicit tensions in the household’s relational culture. Examples of dialectical movement indicating relational change are illustrated; this change has developmental consequences for the couples’ relational cultures.

Research limitations/implications

This study provides qualitative insights on relational dialectics in one intercultural family context and reveals and analyses the dialectical dimensions around consumption in the context of intercultural family relationships. The research approach could be considered in other intercultural and relational contexts.

Practical implications

Family narratives can be analysed within the context of two meta-dialectics that directly address how personal relationships evolve; indigenous dialectic tensions within a family can also be identified.

Originality/value

This paper demonstrates the qualitative value of a relational dialectics analysis in revealing how food consumption changes within families are the result of reciprocal or interdependent learning, which has consequences for relational change.
Entrepreneurial orientation, knowledge acquisition and collaborative performance in agri-food value-chains in emerging markets
Authors: Dung Truong Quang , Bonney Lawrence Bryan , Adhikari Rajendra P. , Miles Morgan P.
Published: April 2020

Purpose

This study aims to take a whole-of-chain perspective to explore how entrepreneurial orientation (EO) influences collaborative performance in agri-food value-chains through enhancing the acquisition of knowledge.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected through a survey of 233 actors, including farmers, intermediaries and retailers in one beef cattle value-chain in the Central Highlands, Vietnam. Structural equation modeling was used to test hypotheses.

Findings

The actors’ level of EO within a value-chain is positively associated with collaborative performance within the beef value-chain. Additionally, knowledge acquisition partially mediates the relationship between EO and collaborative performance.

Research limitations/implications

Generalizability is limited because of sampling constraints.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study of EO from a whole-of-chain perspective in agri-food value-chains in an emerging economy and has implications for policymakers and agri-food marketers.
Greenhouse gas implications of replacing fish protein with beef in the lower Mekong Basin
Authors: Galea Ben , Pittock Jamie , Crimp Steven
Published: April 2020

At least 88 new hydropower dams are planned between 2010 and 2030 in the lower Mekong River basin in Southeast Asia as a source of electricity with lower greenhouse gas emissions. Dams result in declines in fish populations that will need to be replaced with other sources of protein for food security. We make the first assessment of emissions should beef production substitute for lost fish in Cambodia and Laos. We assessed two sources of emissions. Replacing lost fish with beef would require as much as 12 million hectares of new pasture. Forest clearing for pastures in Cambodia and Lao PDR would initially emit between 0.859 and 3.015 giga‐tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents (Gt CO2‐eq.). Methane emissions from additional cattle would add at least 0.0013 Gt CO2‐eq./year to Cambodia's total greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to a 20% increase. In Laos at least 0.0005 Gt CO2‐eq./year would be released, a 4–12% increase in annual emissions. We demonstrate that activities displaced by hydropower developments could significantly increase emissions. It shows how enclosure of commons at local scales impacts upon other common pool resources at different scales, raising questions for sustainable and equitable transboundary governance.
Near‐infrared spectroscopy as a potential non‐invasive tool in the assessment of disease activity in vitiligo patients
Authors: De Bruyne Sander , Speeckaert Reinhart , Himpe Jonas , Delanghe Joris R.
Published: April 2020

Vitiligo is a common chronic depigmenting skin disease. We explored the utility of near‐infrared (NIR) spectroscopy in the identification of spectral changes associated with disease activity in vitiligo patients. In vivo spectral measurements were performed directly on the perilesional skin of 70 vitiligo patients. Relative intensities (second derivative) at 1139, 1344, 1646 and 1839 nm appeared to be significantly lower in the perilesional region of patients with active vitiligo compared with stable disease, while the intensity at 1884 nm seemed to be significantly higher. A classification model based on the spectral ranges around those peaks generated a correct prediction in 82.9% of the cases. In conclusion, we can state that NIR spectroscopy could have potential in the assessment of disease activity. However, large‐scale prospective studies are necessary to confirm our preliminary results.
Outcomes in thread lift for face, neck, and nose; A prospective chart review study with APTOS
Authors: Rezaee Khiabanloo Samad , Nabie Reza , Aalipour Ezatollah
Published: April 2020

Introduction

To evaluate the surgical efficacy and outcomes related to midface, mandible, neck (and double chin), and nose lifting with APTOS thread lift.

Methods

In this prospective review chart study, a total of 58 patients were included (from July 2018 to July 2019). All participants underwent facial thread lifting using APTOS. The patients were followed up first week, third, and sixth month after lifting surgery. Outcomes were assessed by two surgeons and patients based on the GAIS score. All data were analyzed by SPSS‐17 software with chi‐square test.

Results

A total of 58 patients (Mean ± SD: 52.52 ± 10.58) (F: 45, Mean ± SD:53.13 ± 11.27 years, M:13, Mean ± SD: 50.38 ± 9.43 years) were included in the study. The most common sites for the face‐lifting surgery were midface and mandibular (N = 45, 77.5%), neck (N = 10, 17.3%), and nose (N = 3, 5.2%), respectively. The level of satisfaction remained unchanged (after 6 months), about 80%, for the patients, increased from 90.7% (first week) to 94.8% (sixth month) after surgery, and increased from 93.1% (first week) to 94.8% (sixth month after surgery). The highest rate of potential complications after the surgery was related to ecchymosis (17 cases, 30%), followed by complications of pain (N = 10, 17.2%), tumefaction (N = 4, 6.9%), and dimple (N = 1, 1.7%) were reported.

Conclusion

The results showed that satisfaction in patients and surgeons increased over time (after 6 months). Postoperative (minor) complications were also assessed and ecchymosis was found to be the most common complication. However, the proportion of postoperative complications was relatively low.
I Might Stay to Myself: Activation and Avoidance of Assistance from Kin
Authors: Mazelis Joan Maya , Mykyta Laryssa
Published: April 2020

Objective

This study explores how low‐income mothers and fathers who recently have had a child avoid and access financial and other instrumental support from kin, and the statements they make about kin support.

Background

New parents without significant financial capital have a strong need for social support from family members. Yet some with access to assistance from family do not activate it, and avoiding support can leave them facing dire circumstances alone.

Method

This article uses data from all four waves of the Time, Love, and Cash among Couples with Children study (TLC3), a qualitative study embedded in the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study. Researchers used a stratified random sampling scheme to select 25 couples from each of three cities. Analysis used open and axial coding techniques on interview transcript
data.

Results

Reports of kin support are widespread, but help is not universally activated. Parents often talk in contradictory ways about activating and avoiding support. Those who access help from family often employ the language of avoidance, particularly when it comes to asking for help. Those who avoid it or claim to avoid it say they do so because of individualistic pride, the pressure of reciprocity, and understandings of what it means to be an independent adult.

Conclusion

This study illustrates the complexity and contradictions in how participants think and talk about kin support, and demonstrates that having to ask for help presents a key barrier to support.
Clinical course of gastroesophageal reflux disease and impact of treatment in symptomatic young patients
Authors: Bonavina Luigi , Fisichella P. Marco , Gavini Sravanya , Lee Yeong Yeh , Tatum Roger P.
Published: April 2020

In symptomatic young patients with gastroesophageal reflux symptoms, early identification of progressive gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is critical to prevent long‐term complications associated with hiatal hernia, increased esophageal acid and nonacid exposure, release of proinflammatory cytokines, and development of intestinal metaplasia, endoscopically visible Barrett's esophagus, and dysplasia leading to esophageal adenocarcinoma. Progression of GERD may occur in asymptomatic patients and in those under continuous acid‐suppressive medication. The long‐term side effects of proton‐pump inhibitors, chemopreventive agents, and radiofrequency ablation are contentious. In patients with early‐stage disease, when the lower esophageal sphincter function is still preserved and before endoscopically visible Barrett's esophagus develops, novel laparoscopic procedures, such as magnetic and electric sphincter augmentation, may have a greater role than conventional surgical therapy. A multidisciplinary approach to GERD by a dedicated team of gastroenterologists and surgeons might impact the patients’ lifestyle, the therapeutic choices, and the course of the disease. Biological markers are needed to precisely assess the risk of disease progression and to tailor surveillance, ablation, and management.
Transient Vibro-Thermography and Nonlinear Resonant Modes
Authors: Kolappan Geetha G. , Roy Mahapatra D. , In Chi-Won , Raulerson D. A.
Published: April 2020

Transient vibro-thermography for nondestructive evaluation and super-resolution imaging of material defects invariably employs nonlinear contact dynamics involving the ultrasonic actuator (horn) and the surface of the target structure. It produces nonlinear resonant modes of vibration in the target structural component. Vibration-induced heat generation is one phenomenon involved here. However, the contribution of nonlinear vibration on the thermal signature is poorly understood. In this study, we consider a metallic component with a thin-walled cavity as a representative sharp feature tuned to the main excitation frequency of the ultrasonic actuator. We have developed a mathematical model to simulate transient thermal signature of structural discontinuity/cavity/defect. The model incorporates a coupled thermo-viscoelastic heat generation process in the bulk material based on the Helmholtz free energy formulation. To capture the source of nonlinear resonant modes, we incorporate the stick-separation contact dynamics due to the ultrasonic horn and the target structural component. Commercial finite element simulation (comsol multiphysics) is used to quantitatively understand the nonlinear vibration response and the thermal transport behavior of the target structure with the cavity. The proposed model accounts for the effects of both the normal and the shear components of deformation contributing on heat generation and captures the nonlinear modal contribution on the heat flux map. The study shows how the geometric feature and material parameters produce an evolution of the nonlinear subsuper harmonics along with the primary harmonics tuned to the excitation frequency. Results obtained from numerical simulations are compared with the experimental results.