bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Understanding links between maternal perinatal posttraumatic stress symptoms and infant socioemotional and physical health
Authors: Huffhines Lindsay , Coe Jesse L. , Busuito Alex , Seifer Ronald , Parade Stephanie H.
Published: May 2022

Maternal posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) are associated with adverse consequences for older children, but very few studies have examined links between perinatal maternal PTSS and infant outcomes. Trauma exposure and psychopathology, including PTSS, is often heightened for women during pregnancy through 1 year postpartum. Therefore, the perinatal period may be a critical time for understanding the risk maternal PTSS and other mental health factors pose to the socioemotional and physical health of infants. The present study explored the relation between maternal PTSS and infant socioemotional and physical health problems in a sample of racially and ethnically diverse mother‐infant dyads (N = 295) assessed prenatally and at 12 months postpartum. This study also examined whether there are: (1) moderating effects of maternal depressive symptoms and parenting stress on these associations and (2) indirect effects of PTSS on infant outcomes through observed maternal sensitivity. Results indicated that postpartum depressive symptoms and parenting stress, rather than PTSS, were associated with greater infant socioemotional health problems. However, prenatal PTSS were associated with greater infant physical health problems when mothers also reported clinically significant levels of postpartum depressive symptoms. Maternal sensitivity was not associated with maternal PTSS, depressive symptoms, or parenting stress, nor was it related to infant socioemotional and physical health; thus, maternal sensitivity was not tested as an intermediary mechanism linking maternal mental health with infant outcomes. Implications for promoting maternal mental health in the perinatal period to bolster socioemotional and physical health of infants are discussed.
Premedicants in cats and dogs: which one should you choose and when?
Authors: Murrell Jo
Published: May 2022

Background: Premedication is an integral part of any anaesthetic protocol and the drugs chosen for premedication will determine the characteristics of the ensuing anaesthetic. Choosing appropriate premedicant drugs for the individual patient is vital to ensure a smooth and stress‐free anaesthetic. Normally, a balanced premedication protocol involving both a sedative and a hypnotic is advocated. This allows the two key aims of premedication – sedation and analgesia – to be met. Synergistic sedation between most sedatives and opioids also means that combining these drugs allows lower doses of each individual agent to be used.

Aim of the article: This article discusses how it is important to know the clinical pharmacology of the different drugs used for premedication in order to make a rational decision about premedicant selection. One way to think about premedicant selection is based on the American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classification system of the cat or dog, whereby the health status of the individual is used to inform about suitable premedication protocols.
Providing critical care to sick tortoises
Authors: Brown Sarah
Published: May 2022

Background: Tortoises, with their slow and unhurried reputation, might seem unlikely candidates for critical care and emergency treatment. Although they may present some challenges in recognising whether intensive or ‘critical’ care is indicated, by addressing first principles from other species and considering tortoises' ectothermic metabolism, simple supportive and monitoring techniques can markedly improve clinical outcomes.

Aim of the article: This article discusses potential emergency presentations and effective clinical assessment of tortoises to determine when critical care is indicated. It also covers hospitalisation, supportive care and medical techniques for critical tortoise patients.
The transcription factor ZEB1 mediates the progression of epithelial ovarian cancer by promoting the transcription of CircANKRD17
Authors: Cai Wang , Zhang Qian
Published: May 2022

Zinc finger E‐box‐binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) is a key transcription factor that regulates the process of epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) in various tumors. However, its role in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is far from understood. The present study aimed to explore the role and potential mechanism of action of ZEB1 in EOC. A quantitative reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction was used to detect ZEB1 expression levels. The Cell Counting Kit‐8 assay, transwell assays, and flow cytometry were used to verify the effects of ZEB1 on the proliferation, invasion, migration, apoptosis, and EMT of EOC, respectively. RNA sequencing identified the effect of knocking down ZEB1 on circular RNAs in EOC cells. Dual‐luciferase activity assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments were used to verify the regulatory effect of ZEB1 on the circular RNA ANKRD17 (CircANKRD17; ID: hsa_circ_0007883) at the transcriptional level. Higher ZEB1 expression was found in EOC tissues and cells and was closely related to tumor metastasis, advanced stages, and lower survival rates. Furthermore, silencing ZEB1 inhibited the proliferation, invasion, migration, and EMT of EOC cells but enhanced cell apoptosis. Mechanistically, knockdown of ZEB1 resulted in the greatest downregulation of CircANKRD17 in EOC cells, and ZEB1 significantly promoted the expression of CircANKRD17 and had no significant effect on ANKRD17 messenger RNA expression. Further experiments verified that ZEB1 mediates the regulation of EOC processes by CircANKRD17. Highly expressed ZEB1 promoted proliferation, invasion, migration, and EMT while it inhibited cell apoptosis in EOC by promoting the transcription of CircANKRD17, providing a potential target for the treatment of EOC.
Adipose tissue‐derived mesenchymal stem cells' acellular product extracellular vesicles as a potential therapy for Crohn's disease
Authors: Altemus Jessica , Dadgar Neda , Li Yan , Lightner Amy L.
Published: May 2022

The breakdown of gastrointestinal tract immune homeostasis leads to Crohn's disease (CD). Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have demonstrated clinical efficacy in treating CD in clinical trials, but there is little known about the mechanism of healing. Considering the critical roles of macrophage polarization in CD and immunomodulatory properties of MSCs, we sought to decipher the interaction between adipose‐derived MSCs and macrophages, including their cytokine production, regulation of differentiation, and pro‐/anti‐inflammatory function. RNA extraction and next generation sequencing was performed in adipose tissue from healthy control patients' mesentery (n = 3) and CD mesentery (n = 3). Infiltrated macrophage activation in the CD mesentery was tested, MSCs and extracellular vesicles (EVs) were isolated to compare the regulation of macrophage differentiation, cytokines production, and self‐renewal capacities in vitro. CD patients' mesentery has increased M1 macrophage polarization and elevated activation. MSCs and their derived EVs, isolated from inflamed Crohn's mesentery, leads to a rapid differentiation of monocytes to a M1‐like polarized phenotype. Conversely, MSCs and their derived EVs from healthy, non‐Crohn's patients results in monocyte polarization into a M2 phenotype; this is seen regardless of the adipose source of MSCs (subcutaneous fat, omentum, normal mesentery). EVs derived from MSCs have the ability to regulate macrophage differentiation. Healthy MSCs and their associated EVs have the ability to drive monocytes to a M2 subset, effectively reversing an inflammatory phenotype. This mechanism supports why MSCs may be an effective therapeutic in CD and highlights EVs as a novel therapeutic for further exploration.
Altered microbial resource limitation regulates soil organic carbon sequestration based on ecoenzyme stoichiometry under long‐term tillage systems
Authors: Song Xiaojun , Li Jingyu , Liu Xiaotong , Liang Guopeng , Li Shengping , Zhang Mengni , Zheng Fengjun , Wang Bisheng , Wu Xueping , Wu Huijun
Published: May 2022

Soil microbial metabolism is critically important for regulating soil carbon (C) sequestration. However, how soil organic C (SOC) stock responds to the changes in microbial resource limitation and microbial C use efficiency (CUE) under long‐term tillage system remains uncertain. Soil samples were randomly collected from a long‐term (19 years) tillage experiment growing winter wheat with three treatments [i.e., moldboard‐plough without straw retention (MPN), no‐tillage with straw retention (NTS), and subsoiling with straw retention (SSS)] and an adjacent natural grassland (GRL) in 2018. We analyzed microbial resource limitation and CUE based on ecoenzyme stoichiometry. Results revealed that the reduction of soil bulk density and total dissolved nitrogen (N) resulted in an increased vector angle. Higher total dissolved N and lower vector length jointly led to higher CUE under long‐term conservation tillage practices (i.e., NTS and SSS). Notably, the higher CUE and soil available phosphorus as well as the lower N limitation both directly contributed explaining the increase in SOC stock under conservation tillage practices. Overall, long‐term conservation tillage practices could alleviate microbial resource limitation by enhancing available nutrients to promote SOC sequestration. Our study provides new knowledge to enhance the understanding of SOC stock regulated by microbial resource limitations and microbial C use efficiency.
Elevated Urinary Rab10 Phosphorylation in Idiopathic Parkinson Disease
Authors: Wang Shijie , Unnithan Shakthi , Bryant Nicole , Chang Allison , Rosenthal Liana S. , Pantelyat Alexander , Dawson Ted M. , Al‐Khalidi Hussein R. , West Andrew B.
Published: May 2022

Background

Pathogenic leucine‐rich repeat kinase 2 LRRK2 mutations may increase LRRK2 kinase activity and Rab substrate phosphorylation. Genetic association studies link variation in LRRK2 to idiopathic Parkinson disease (iPD) risk.

Objectives

Through measurements of the LRRK2 kinase substrate pT73‐Rab10 in urinary extracellular vesicles, this study seeks to understand how LRRK2 kinase activity might change with iPD progression.

Methods

Using an immunoblotting approach validated in LRRK2 transgenic mice, the ratio of pT73‐Rab10 to total Rab10 protein was measured in extracellular vesicles from a cross‐section of G2019S LRRK2 mutation carriers (N = 45 participants) as well as 485 urine samples from a novel longitudinal cohort of iPD and controls (N = 85 participants). Generalized estimating equations were used to conduct analyses with commonly used clinical scales.

Results

Although the G2019S LRRK2 mutation did not increase pT73‐Rab10 levels, the ratio of pT73‐Rab10 to total Rab10 nominally increased over baseline in iPD urine vesicle samples with time, but did not increase in age‐matched controls (1.34‐fold vs. 1.05‐fold, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.004–0.56; P = 0.046; Welch's t test). Effect estimates adjusting for sex, age, disease duration, diagnosis, and baseline clinical scores identified increasing total Movement Disorder Society‐Sponsored Revision of the Unified (MDS‐UPDRS) scores (β = 0.77; CI, 0.52–1.01; P = 0.0001) with each fold increase of pT73‐Rab10 to total Rab10. Lower Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score in iPD is also associated with increased pT73‐Rab10.

Conclusions

These results provide initial insights into peripheral LRRK2‐dependent Rab phosphorylation, measured in biobanked urine, where higher levels of pT73‐Rab10 are associated with worse disease progression. © 2022 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson Movement Disorder Society.
Neuroimaging in Glucocerebrosidase‐Associated Parkinsonism: A Systematic Review
Authors: Filippi Massimo , Balestrino Roberta , Basaia Silvia , Agosta Federica
Published: May 2022

Background

Mutations in the GBA gene cause Gaucher's disease (GD) and constitute the most frequent genetic risk factor for idiopathic Parkinson's disease (iPD). Nonmanifesting carriers of GBA mutations/variants (GBA‐NMC) constitute a potential PD preclinical population, whereas PD patients carrying some GBA mutations/variants (GBA‐PD) have a higher risk of a more aggressive disease course. Different neuroimaging techniques are emerging as potential biomarkers in PD and have been used to study GBA‐associated parkinsonism.

Objective

The aim is to critically review studies applying neuroimaging to GBA‐associated parkinsonism.

Methods

Literature search was performed using PubMed and EMBASE databases (last search February 7, 2022). Studies reporting neuroimaging findings in GBA‐PD, GD with and without parkinsonism, and GBA‐NMC were included.

Results

Thirty‐five studies were included. In longitudinal studies, GBA‐PD patients show a more aggressive disease than iPD at both structural magnetic resonance imaging and 123‐fluoropropylcarbomethoxyiodophenylnortropane single‐photon emission computed tomography. Fluorodeoxyglucose‐positron emission tomography and brain perfusion studies reported a greater cortical involvement in GBA‐PD compared to iPD. Overall, contrasting evidence is available regarding GBA‐NMC for imaging and clinical findings, although subtle differences have been reported compared with healthy controls with no mutations.

Conclusions

Although results must be interpreted with caution due to limitations of the studies, in line with previous clinical observations, GBA‐PD showed a more aggressive disease progression in neuroimaging longitudinal studies compared to iPD. Cognitive impairment, a “clinical signature” of GBA‐PD, seems to find its neuroimaging correlate in the greater cortical burden displayed by these patients as compared to iPD. © 2022 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Federal, state leaders have options to fix workforce shortage
Authors: Ingoglia Chuck
Published: May 2022

You don't need me to tell you how serious the workforce shortage is at substance use and mental health treatment facilities across the nation.
A circularly polarized patch antenna with a slotted parasitic loop
Authors: Li Jian‐Feng , Xu Tao , Tian Xin‐Xin , Hu Zhen‐Xin , Zhang Gray , Ye Liang H.
Published: May 2022

In the letter, a circularly polarized (CP) patch antenna is proposed, which consists of a slotted radiation patch, a slotted parasitic loop with a short pin, and a ground plane. The slot with one open and one circular end is etched in the radiation patch, and the current distribution of the radiation patch is disturbed to excite the first CP mode. The currents distributed on the slotted radiation patch and parasitic loop can superimpose or cancel each other to produce the second CP mode. Impedance matching and the performance of the first CP can be improved by the two slots and short pin introduced into the parasitic loop, but without effect on the second CP mode. A prototype is designed, and a −10 dB impedance bandwidth of 21.3% (3.10–3.84 GHz), a 3‐dB axial‐ratio bandwidth of 10.1% (3.29–3.64 GHz), an in‐band radiation efficiency of 75%, and unidirectional left‐hand circular‐polarized radiation pattern with in‐band gain of 8.0 dBi are realized.
A novel anion exchange membrane based on silicone/polyphenylene oxide with excellent ionic conductivity for AEMFC
Authors: Liu Qian , Wang Zhe , Sui Zhiyin , Shui Tianen , Wang Song
Published: May 2022

To achieve good stability of anion‐exchange membranes. We report an organic–inorganic composite anion exchange membrane based on polyphenylene oxide (PPO) and 3‐[2‐(2‐aminoethylamino)ethylamino]propyl‐trimethoxysilane to improve dimensional stability and mechanical stability without affecting ionic conductivity. The successful synthesis of the membranes was confirmed by FT‐IR, 1H NMR, and EDX. The SiOSi three‐dimensional network cross‐linked structure was formed inside the anion‐exchange membranes by added inorganic fillers. It suppressed the swelling behavior of the membrane after water uptake, with water uptake rate of 48.2%–55.6% and swelling rate of 3.1%–14.2%. It improved the mechanical strength of the membranes with tensile strength of 33.5–37.8 MPa as the ratio of the membrane structure varied. Meanwhile, the flexible chain segments in the polymer structure contributed to the formation of microscopic phase separation structures, and the constructed ion‐conducting channels enabled QPPO‐Si‐5 to reach the highest hydroxide ion conductivity of 78.7 mS/cm at 80°C (ion exchange capacity [IEC] value of 1.2 mmol/g). QPPO‐Si‐1 exhibited better long‐term chemical stability, retaining 48.3% of the initial conductivity (30.8 mS/cm) after 600 h of alkali stability testing at 80°C in 1 M KOH solution. In conclusion, the results of this study provide a facile synthetic strategy with improved membrane's comprehensive performance.
Contrasting reproductive traits of competing parasitoids facilitate coexistence on a shared host pest in a biological control perspective
Authors: Cusumano Antonino , Peri Ezio , Alınç Tuğcan , Colazza Stefano
Published: May 2022

BACKGROUND

Interspecific competition in insect parasitoids is an important ecological phenomenon that has relevant implications for biological pest control. To date, interspecific intrinsic (=larval) competition has been intensively studied, while investigations on extrinsic (=adult) competition have often lagged behind. In this study we examined the role played by parasitoid reproductive traits and host clutch size on the outcome of extrinsic competition between Trissolcus basalis (Wollaston) and Ooencyrtus telenomicida (Vassiliev), two egg parasitoids of the pest Nezara viridula (L). Laboratory experiments were conducted by allowing both parasitoid species to exploit an egg mass made of 10, 20, 30, or 40 hosts through single or simultaneous releases. Furthermore, under field conditions, egg masses consisting of 10 or 40 hosts were exposed in a tomato crop in order to validate laboratory investigation.

RESULTS

The results show that the egg mass size is an important predictor of extrinsic competition in our study system as a higher proportion of T. basalis emerged from large egg masses, while O. telenomicida dominated in small egg masses. Analysis of reproductive traits of parasitoid species indicates that T. basalis has superior abilities in host exploitation compared with O. telenomicida.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that contrasting reproductive traits of two competing egg parasitoid species facilitate coexistence on a shared stink bug host. This work also highlights the importance to consider extrinsic competitive interactions between parasitoid species in a biological control perspective. © 2022 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Metadynamics simulations on the key factors of handedness induction of quinoline oligoamide foldamers with a terminal chiral group
Authors: Zhou Caihua , Liu Zhiwei , Guo Yannv
Published: May 2022

Metadynamics simulation has been used to determine the conformational energy landscapes of several helical quinoline oligoamides bearing β‐pinene‐derived pyridine at either the C or N‐terminus. Based on the experimental results, the helix‐sense preference for four types of foldamers with the chiral terminal group has been verified. To compare to the key factors inducing handedness to helix‐sense preference, a terminal group with three hydrogen bond sites is designed and corresponding foldamers are built. The calculated results show that the delocalization effect and steric hindrance are mainly responsible for a particular helix‐sense preference for the investigated foldamers. The more hydrogen bonds between the terminal group and oligoamide units are formed, the more stable foldamers are.
External knowledge sourcing, knowledge spillovers, and internal collaboration: The effects of intrafirm linkages on firm‐university co‐authorship linkages
Authors: Polidoro Francisco , Lampert Curba Morris , Kim Minyoung
Published: May 2022

Research Summary

Existing literature shows the benefits of firm‐university collaborations. Yet, it has overlooked factors that mitigate concerns with outgoing knowledge spillovers associated with this form of external knowledge sourcing. This study argues that the deterrent effects produced by intrafirm collaborations make a firm more likely to form co‐authorship linkages with a university when its corresponding R&D unit exhibits a higher degree of intrafirm collaboration linkages, especially when that university maintains more linkages with rivals. Analysis at the firm unit‐university‐year level using data on co‐authorship linkages between 157 pharmaceutical firms and the top 400 global universities during a 25‐year period supports these propositions. This study advances research on knowledge sourcing by showing the role of internal collaborations in enabling external knowledge sourcing.

Managerial Summary

A firm whose employees co‐author scientific articles with university‐affiliated researchers gains access to external knowledge it can build on to create innovations. But, these collaborations with academia can also produce knowledge spillovers benefiting rivals, thereby undermining a firm's efforts to protect its knowledge. Using data from the pharmaceutical industry, this study shows that, because collaboration between inventors in a firm's R&D unit with inventors in other units helps protect that firm's knowledge, a firm creates more co‐authorship linkages with a university when its respective R&D unit exhibits higher levels of internal collaboration with other units. This effect underscores the role of internal collaboration in helping a firm boost innovativeness via external collaboration with universities while mitigating concerns with the erosion of knowledge protection.
Asking great questions
Authors: Vance Eric A. , Trumble Ilana M. , Alzen Jessica L. , Smith Heather S.
Published: May 2022

The questions we ask and how we ask them will make a difference in how successful we are in meetings, in collaborations and in our careers as statisticians and data scientists. What makes a question good and what makes a good question great? Great questions elicit information useful for accomplishing the tasks of a project and strengthen the statistician–domain expert relationship. Great questions have three parts: the question, the answer and the paraphrasing of the answer to create shared understanding. We discuss three strategies for asking great questions: preface questions with statements about the intent behind asking the question; follow the question with behaviours and actions consistent with the prefaced words including actions such as listening, paraphrasing and summarizing; and model a collaborative relationship via the asking of a great question. We describe the methods and results of a study that shows how questions can be assessed, that statisticians can learn to ask great questions and that those who have learned this skill consider it to be valuable for their careers. We provide practical guidelines for learning how to ask great questions so that statisticians can improve their collaboration skills and thus increase their impact to help address societal challenges.
Rapid preparation of carbon‐supported ruthenium nanoparticles by magnetic induction heating for efficient hydrogen evolution reaction in both acidic and alkaline media
Authors: Liu Qiming , Lu Bingzhang , Nichols Forrest , Ko Jeffrey , Mercado Rene , Bridges Frank , Chen Shaowei
Published: May 2022

Ruthenium has been hailed as a competitive alternative for platinum toward hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), a critical process in electrochemical water splitting. In this study, we successfully prepare metallic Ru nanoparticles supported on carbon paper by utilizing a novel magnetic induction heating (MIH) method. The samples are obtained within seconds, featuring a Cl‐enriched surface that is unattainable via conventional thermal annealing. The best sample within the series shows a remarkable HER activity in both acidic and alkaline media with an overpotential of only ‐23 and ‐12 mV to reach the current density of 10 mA/cm2, highly comparable to that of the Pt/C benchmark. Theoretical studies based on density functional theory show that the excellent electrocatalytic activity is accounted by the surface metal‐Cl species that facilitate charge transfer and downshift the d‐band center. Results from this study highlight the unique advantages of MIH in rapid sample preparation, where residual anion ligands play a critical role in manipulating the electronic properties of the metal surfaces and the eventual electrocatalytic activity.
Business (un)usual: Critical skills for the next normal
Authors: Ferreira Caitlin , Robertson Jeandri , Pitt Leyland
Published: May 2022

The impact of COVID‐19 on global human resource (HR) management has been swift, dramatic and has fundamentally changed HR processes. The prompt online migration of business has altered the skills required by employees to succeed in the workplace of the future. This research examines the hard and soft skill gaps that exist in the digital marketing and advertising industry. Through the use of two data collection points in 2019 and 2020, the research identified a renewed importance being placed on soft skills in the wake of the COVID‐19 pandemic. Soft skills and the development thereof have become a key focal area of training for new employees as a result of remote working. The identified hard skill gaps are indicative of the future growth areas of the industry, focusing on data analytics, marketing automation and user experience. Future research should consider an expansion to other industry‐specific skills and contrast country‐level skill gaps.
Butterflies teach beautiful lessons about leadership
Authors: Hodges Dawn Z.
Published: May 2022

I have lived an hour away from Callaway Gardens in Georgia for more than 20 years. I've driven past the gates numerous times, but never stopped. Recently, I coaxed my husband into taking me to the Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center in the Gardens. The center is 7,300 square feet with more than 1,000 panes of glass and state‐of‐the‐art mechanical systems. According to the Center's website, it is home to more than 2,000 tropical butterflies of 50 different species, which fluctuate in diversity and density.
Seeking a sustainable solution to Varroa mite
Authors: Clark Kathryn
Published: May 2022

Selective breeding may offer a way forward in protecting honey bee colonies from the devastation caused by Varroa mite infestations. Kathryn Clark reports
Major Morley Hodkin Sewell
Authors: Bradshaw Jeremy
Published: May 2022

A veterinarian and parasitologist who travelled widely and became an expert on tropical diseases of animals. His work directly helped to improve the lives of animals and people in developing countries.
Jeffrey Ronald Brain
Authors: McCartan Charlie , Lucey Mark
Published: May 2022

An equine vet with a special interest in respiratory conditions of horses.
A chronic, non‐healing, ulcerative and proliferative lesion revealed to be squamous cell carcinoma in a camel
Authors: Garcia Jessica , Molinet Elizabeth , Aponte Camille Marie Cordero , Carlson Ariel , Mulon Pierre‐Yves
Published: May 2022

A 20‐year‐old, male, neutered camel presented with an 8‐month history of a proliferative and ulcerated cush pad lesion refractory to topical wound management. The referring veterinarian performed a punch biopsy to further investigate the tissue; findings were consistent with granulation tissue. The patient was referred to University of Tennessee Farm Animal Medicine and Surgery service for additional diagnostics, surgical debridement and intensive wound care. The camel underwent surgical debridement of the lesion, and histopathology was consistent with a squamous cell carcinoma. Bloodwork revealed a severe non‐regenerative anaemia and leukocytosis suspected to be paraneoplastic changes. During hospitalisation, it was identified that the patient suffered from a subluxated fetlock of the left front limb and a fully dropped fetlock of the front right limb due to compensatory over‐weightbearing. Due to poor prognosis of the aggressive squamous cell carcinoma associated with a severe anaemia and concomitant musculoskeletal disease, humane euthanasia was elected.
SAturated Transposon Analysis in Yeast (SATAY) for Deep Functional Mapping of Yeast Genomes
Authors: Michel Agnès H. , Kornmann Benoît
Published: May 2022

Genome-wide transposon mutagenesis followed by deep sequencing allows the genome-wide mapping of growth-affecting loci in a straightforward and time-efficient way.

SAturated Transposon Analysis in Yeast (SATAY) takes advantage of a modified maize transposon that is highly mobilizable in S. cerevisiae. SATAY allows not only the genome-wide mapping of genes required for growth in select conditions (such as genetic interactions or drug sensitivity/resistance), but also of protein sub-domains, as well as the creation of gain- and separation-of-function alleles. From strain preparation to the mapping of sequencing reads, we detail all the steps for the making and analysis of SATAY libraries in any S. cerevisiae lab, requiring only ordinary equipment and access to a Next-Gen sequencing platform.
New Attempts
Authors: Melo João Vicente
Published: May 2022

This chapter explores the evolution of the Mughal and Portuguese geopolitical strategies that paved the way for the second (1591–1592) and third (1595–1775) Jesuit missions to the Mughal court. This chapter also analyses the reactions of the members of the second mission to Akbar’s religious policies and millenarian positions, as well as the diplomatic activities and proselytising strategies of the third Jesuit mission initiated in 1595. This chapter will be focused on the top-down strategy implemented by Jerónimo Xavier and the popular mission developed by Manoel Pinheiro in Lahore. Special attention is given to the roles played by the missionaries and their converts and patrons in the empire’s social, political and economic life, as well as the capacity of the Jesuit missionaries to reach different social groups.
1612–1615
Authors: Melo João Vicente
Published: May 2022

This chapter is dedicated to the evolution of the English strategies vis-à-vis the Mughal Empire following the ‘embassies’ of Paul Canning, Thomas Kerridge and William Edwards, which took place between 1613 and 1615. This chapter reassesses the activities of these three envoys and their attempts to surpass the apparent Jesuit influence at the Mughal court. The evolution of the EIC’s diplomatic manoeuvres will be juxtaposed with the Jesuit efforts to secure a channel of communication between the Mughal court and the Estado da Índia during the Luso-Mughal crisis of 1613–1615.
Radio(chemo)therapy in anaplastic thyroid cancer—high locoregional but low distant control rates—a monocentric analysis of a tertiary referral center
Authors: Schmied Matthias , Lettmaier Sebastian , Semrau Sabine , Traxdorf Maximilian , Mantsopoulos Konstantinos , Mueller Sarina K. , Iro Heinrich , Denz Axel , Grützmann Robert , Fietkau Rainer , Haderlein Marlen
Published: May 2022

Background

Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is a lethal disease with highly aggressive disease progression. This study analyses the influence of radio(chemo)therapy, R(C)T, on disease control, survival rates and predictors for survival.

Patients and methods

A total of 33 patients with ATC, treated at a tertiary referral center between May 2001 and April 2020 were included. Univariate and multivariate analysis were used to investigate correlates of R(C)T and predictors on disease control and survival rates.

Results

Median follow-up was 4 months. In UICC stage IVA and IVB median overall survival (OS) was 8 months, median progression-free survival (PFS) was 6 months. Patients with UICC stage IVA and IVB and patients being irradiated with a radiation dose of more than 60 Gy showed increased OS. Of these patients, 3 were alive and free from disease. All of them receiving cisplatin-based radiochemotherapy and a minimum radiation dose of 66 Gy. UICC stage IVC showed a median OS of 2.5 months and a median PFS of 1 month. Only 2 of 16 patients had local failure.

Conclusion

Depending on UICC stage, RT with high radiation dose can lead to improved OS or at least higher locoregional control. A limiting factor is the high incidence of distant metastases; therefore modern systemic treatment options should be integrated into multimodal therapy concepts.
Alltägliche Grenzüberschreitungen: zur Skandalisierung der klinischen Arzneimittelprüfungen des Psychiaters Roland Kuhn
Authors: Helmchen Hanfried
Published: May 2022

„Testfall Münsterlingen. Klinische Versuche in der Psychiatrie, 1940–1980“ heißt der Bericht einer Untersuchungskommission, die die Regierung des Schweizer Kantons Thurgau 2016 eingesetzt hatte, nachdem mehrere Presseartikel ab 2012 die Arzneimittelprüfungen von Roland Kuhn, dem ehemaligen ärztlichen Direktor der kantonalen Anstalt in Münsterlingen, skandalisiert hatten. Der Bericht problematisiert „aus heutiger Sicht“ „feine Diskrepanzen, in alltäglichen Grenzüberschreitungen“. Solche Grenzüberschreitungen wurden vor allem in fehlender, unzureichender oder nicht belegter Aufklärung und Einwilligung der Patienten gesehen sowie bei der Anwendung der Prüfsubstanzen, die zwischen (meist) akzeptierter oder nicht abgelehnter Einnahme und getarnter oder (selten) angedrohter Applikation per Injektion variierte. Damit zeigt der Bericht einerseits die erhebliche Entwicklung des normativen Kontextes der Behandlung psychisch Kranker in den letzten 70 Jahren und vermag andererseits durch seine detaillierten Schilderungen, heutige Therapeuten für den aktuellen Kontext zu sensibilisieren. Es ist aber vor allem die Geschichte des verantwortlichen Psychiaters Roland Kuhn, des arzneimittelprüfenden Entdeckers der antidepressiven Wirkung des Imipramin. Diese Entdeckungsgeschichte wird aus sehr unterschiedlichen Perspektiven beurteilt und damit auch relativiert und ist zwischen der Beobachtung eines „Provinzpsychiaters“ und ihrer Nobelpreiswürdigkeit angesiedelt; dabei scheinen kritisch bewertete Züge der Eigenart von Kuhns Persönlichkeit auch die gelegentlich negative Tonlage des Kommissionsberichtes beeinflusst zu haben. Festzuhalten ist, dass Kuhn mit seiner qualitativen psychopathologischen Einzelfallbeobachtung die antidepressive Wirkung einer Prüfsubstanz entdeckt hat, die als Hypothese durch nachfolgende quantitative statistische Methoden verifiziert wurde.
Aufarbeitung der DDR-Psychotherapie als transdisziplinäres Forschungsfeld
Authors: Strauß Bernhard , Kirschner Harriet , Paripovic Gordana , Storch Monika , Gallistl Adrian
Published: May 2022

Mehr als 30 Jahre nach der deutschen „Wiedervereinigung“ findet die Forschung zur DDR wieder mehr Interesse, so auch die Untersuchung der psychosozialen Fachdisziplinen und deren Stellung im Gesundheitssystem. Die Übersicht fokussiert auf die Psychotherapie in der DDR, die – verankert in der deutschen Psychotherapietradition und den frühen Entwicklungen nach dem II. Weltkrieg – eine gewisse Eigendynamik entwickelte. Diese ist durch die anfänglich dominierenden Einflüsse aus der Sowjetunion (Pawlowismus), die gesellschaftlichen und politischen Einflüsse innerhalb Ostdeutschlands, aber auch durch die fehlenden Integrationsbemühungen seitens des Westens erklärbar. Im ersten Teil der Übersicht wird ein kurzer Abriss wesentlicher Meilensteine der DDR-Psychotherapie in Anlehnung an Geyers Handbuch gegeben und dargelegt, dass in den vergangenen 3 Jahrzehnten die Fachgeschichte überwiegend bezüglich der im Fach erschienenen Publikationen bzw. Publikationsorgane sowie in Bezug auf einzelne Protagonisten der DDR-Psychotherapie untersucht wurde.
The bone conduction implant BONEBRIDGE increases quality of life and social life satisfaction
Authors: Irmer C. , Volkenstein S. , Dazert S. , Neumann A.
Published: May 2022

Purpose

Transcutaneous active bone conduction hearing aids represent an alternative approach to middle ear surgery and conventional hearing aids for patients with conductive or mixed hearing loss. The aim of this study was to determine quality of life, subjective hearing experience and patients’ satisfaction after implantation of a bone conduction hearing aid.

Methods

This monocentric and retrospective study included twelve adult patients who received a bone conduction hearing aid (Bonebridge, MedEL) consisting of an extracorporeal audio processor and a bone conduction implant (BCI) between 2013 and 2017. On average 40 months after implantation, the patients were asked to answer three questionnaires regarding quality of life (AqoL-8D), self-reported auditory disability (SSQ-12-B) and user’s satisfaction (APSQ) after implantation of the Bonebridge (BB). A descriptive statistical analysis of the questionnaires followed.

Results

12 patients aged 26–85 years (sex: m = 7, w = 5) were recruited. The quality of life of all patients after implantation of the BB (AqoL 8D) averaged an overall utility score of 0.76 (SD ± 0.17). The mean for ‘speech hearing’ in the SSQ-12-B was + 2.43 (SD ± 2.03), + 1.94 (SD ± 1.48) for ‘spatial hearing’ and + 2.28 (SD ± 2.32) for ‘qualities of hearing’. 11 out of 12 patients reported an improvement in their overall hearing. The APSQ score for the subsection ‘wearing comfort’ was 3.50 (SD ± 0.87), ‘social life’ attained a mean of 4.17 (SD ± 1.06). The ‘device inconveniences’ reached 4.02 (SD ± 0.71) and ‘usability’ of the device was measured at 4.23 (SD ± 1.06). The average wearing time of the audio processor in the cohort was 11 h per day, with 8 of 12 patients reporting the maximum length of 12 h per day.

Conclusion

BB implantation results in a gain in the perceived quality of life (AqoL 8D). The SSQ-12-B shows an improvement in subjective hearing. According to the APSQ, it can be assumed that the BB audio processor, although in an extracorporeal position, is rated as a useful instrument with positive impact on social life. The majority stated that they had subjectively benefited from BB implantation and that there were no significant physical or sensory limitations after implantation.
Reliability of the Acoustic Voice Quality Index AVQI and the Acoustic Breathiness Index (ABI) when wearing CoViD-19 protective masks
Authors: Lehnert Bernhard , Herold Jeffrey , Blaurock Markus , Busch Chia-Jung
Published: May 2022

Purpose

Investigating whether the Acoustic Voice Quality Index (AVQI) and the Acoustic Breathiness Index (ABI) are valid and comparable to previous unmasked measurements if the speaker wears a surgical mask or a FFP-2 mask to reduce the risk of transmitting air-borne viruses such as SARS-CoV-2.

Methods

A convenience sample of 31 subjectively healthy participants was subjected to AVQI and ABI voice examination four times: Twice wearing no mask, once with a surgical mask and once with a FFP-2 mask as used regularly in our hospital. The order of the four mask conditions was randomized. The difference in the results between the two recordings without a mask was then compared to the differences between the recordings with each mask and one recording without a mask.

Results

Sixty-two percent of the AVQI readings without a mask represented perfectly healthy voices, the largest AVQI without a mask value was 4.0. The mean absolute difference in AVQI was 0.45 between the measurements without masks, 0.48 between no mask and surgical mask and 0.51 between no mask and FFP-2 mask. The results were neither clinically nor statistically significant. For the ABI the resulting absolute differences (in the same order) were 0.48, 0.69 and 0.56, again neither clinically nor statistically different.

Conclusion

Based on a convenience sample of healthy or only mildly impaired voices wearing CoViD-19 protective masks does not substantially impair the results of either AVQI or ABI results.
Tendon length estimates are influenced by tracking location
Authors: Finni Taija , Peter Annamaria , Khair Ra’ad , Cronin Neil J.
Published: May 2022

Purpose

Measurement of medial gastrocnemius (MG) tendon length using ultrasonography (US) requires the muscle–tendon junction (MTJ) to be located. Previously, the MG MTJ has been tracked from different proximo-distal locations near the MTJ, which could influence estimates of tendon length change due to the different characteristics of the aponeurosis and tendon. We used US to evaluate the effect of tracking point location on MG MTJ displacement during maximal and submaximal (10, 20 and 30% of the non-injured maximal) isometric plantar flexion contractions.

Methods

Displacement behaviour of MTJ was tracked from (1) the exact MTJ; and (2) from an insertion point of a muscle fascicle on the aponeurosis 1.3 ± 0.6 cm proximal to the MTJ, in both limbs of patients with unilateral Achilles tendon rupture (ATR) (n = 22, 4 females, 42 ± 9 years, 177 ± 9 cm, 79 ± 10 kg).

Results

In the non-injured limb, displacement (1.3 ± 0.5 cm vs. 1.1 ± 0.6 cm) and strain (6.7 ± 2.8% vs. 5.8 ± 3.3%) during maximal voluntary contraction were larger when tracking a point on the aponeurosis than when tracking the MTJ (both p < 0.001). The same was true for all contraction levels, and both limbs.

Conclusion

Tracking a point on the aponeurosis consistently exaggerates estimates of tendon displacement, and the magnitude of this effect is contraction intensity-dependent. When quantifying displacement and strain of the Achilles tendon, the MTJ should be tracked directly, rather than tracking a surrogate point proximal to the MTJ. The latter method includes part of the aponeurosis, which due to its relative compliance, artificially increases estimates of MTJ displacement and strain.
Meditation-induced effects on whole-brain structural and effective connectivity
Authors: De Filippi Eleonora , Escrichs Anira , Càmara Estela , Garrido César , Marins Theo , Sánchez-Fibla Marti , Gilson Matthieu , Deco Gustavo
Published: May 2022

In the past decades, there has been a growing scientific interest in characterizing neural correlates of meditation training. Nonetheless, the mechanisms underlying meditation remain elusive. In the present work, we investigated meditation-related changes in functional dynamics and structural connectivity (SC). For this purpose, we scanned experienced meditators and control (naive) subjects using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to acquire structural and functional data during two conditions, resting-state and meditation (focused attention on breathing). In this way, we aimed to characterize and distinguish both short-term and long-term modifications in the brain’s structure and function. First, to analyze the fMRI data, we calculated whole-brain effective connectivity (EC) estimates, relying on a dynamical network model to replicate BOLD signals’ spatio-temporal structure, akin to functional connectivity (FC) with lagged correlations. We compared the estimated EC, FC, and SC links as features to train classifiers to predict behavioral conditions and group identity. Then, we performed a network-based analysis of anatomical connectivity. We demonstrated through a machine-learning approach that EC features were more informative than FC and SC solely. We showed that the most informative EC links that discriminated between meditators and controls involved several large-scale networks mainly within the left hemisphere. Moreover, we found that differences in the functional domain were reflected to a smaller extent in changes at the anatomical level as well. The network-based analysis of anatomical pathways revealed strengthened connectivity for meditators compared to controls between four areas in the left hemisphere belonging to the somatomotor, dorsal attention, subcortical and visual networks. Overall, the results of our whole-brain model-based approach revealed a mechanism underlying meditation by providing causal relationships at the structure-function level.
Landscape configuration affects probability of apex predator presence and community structure in experimental metacommunities
Authors: Wolfe Ellie , Hammill Edd , Memmott Jane , Clements Christopher F.
Published: May 2022

Biodiversity is declining at an unprecedented rate, highlighting the urgent requirement for well-designed protected areas. Design tactics previously proposed to promote biodiversity include enhancing the number, connectivity, and heterogeneity of reserve patches. However, how the importance of these features changes depending on what the conservation objective is remains poorly understood. Here we use experimental landscapes containing ciliate protozoa to investigate how the number and heterogeneity in size of habitat patches, rates of dispersal between neighbouring patches, and mortality risk of dispersal across the non-habitat ‘matrix’ interact to affect a number of diversity measures. We show that increasing the number of patches significantly increases γ diversity and reduces the overall number of extinctions, whilst landscapes with heterogeneous patch sizes have significantly higher γ diversity than those with homogeneous patch sizes. Furthermore, the responses of predators depended on their feeding specialism, with generalist predator presence being highest in a single large patch, whilst specialist predator presence was highest in several-small patches with matrix dispersal. Our evidence emphasises the importance of considering multiple diversity measures to disentangle community responses to patch configuration.
Higher-order theory of mind is especially useful in unpredictable negotiations
Authors: de Weerd Harmen , Verbrugge Rineke , Verheij Bart
Published: May 2022

In social interactions, people often reason about the beliefs, goals and intentions of others. Thistheory of mindallows them to interpret the behavior of others, and predict how they will behave in the future. People can also use this ability recursively: they usehigher-order theory of mindto reason about the theory of mind abilities of others, as in “he thinks that I don’t know that he sent me an anonymous letter”. Previous agent-based modeling research has shown that the usefulness of higher-order theory of mind reasoning can be useful across competitive, cooperative, and mixed-motive settings. In this paper, we cast a new light on these results by investigating how the predictability of the environment influences the effectiveness of higher-order theory of mind. Our results show that the benefit of (higher-order) theory of mind reasoning is strongly dependent on the predictability of the environment. We consider agent-based simulations in repeated one-shot negotiations in a particular negotiation setting known as Colored Trails. When this environment is highly predictable, agents obtain little benefit from theory of mind reasoning. However, if the environment has more observable features that change over time, agents without the ability to use theory of mind experience more difficulties predicting the behavior of others accurately. This in turn allows theory of mind agents to obtain higher scores in these more dynamic environments. These results suggest that the human-specific ability for higher-order theory of mind reasoning may have evolved to allow us to survive in more complex and unpredictable environments.