bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Powdery Mildew Effector CSEP0027 Interacts With Barley Catalase to Regulate Host Immunity
Authors: Yuan Hongbo , Jin Cong , Pei Hongcui , Zhao Lifang , Li Xue , Li Jiali , Huang Wanting , Fan Renchun , Liu Wende , Shen Qian-Hua
Published: September 2021

Powdery mildew is one of the most important fungal pathogen diseases. The genome of barley mildew fungus, Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei (Bgh), encodes a large number of candidate secreted effector proteins (CSEPs). So far, the function and mechanism of most CSEPs remain largely unknown. Here, we identify a Bgh effector CSEP0027, a member of family 41, triggering cell death in Nicotiana benthamiana. CSEP0027 contains a functional signal peptide (SP), verified by yeast secretion assay. We show that CSEP0027 promotes Bgh virulence in barley infection using transient gene expression and host-induced gene silencing (HIGS). Barley catalase HvCAT1 is identified as a CSEP0027 interactor by yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) screening, and the interaction is verified in yeast, in vitro and in vivo. The coexpression of CSEP0027 and HvCAT1 in barley cells results in altered localization of HvCAT1 from the peroxisome to the nucleus. Barley stripe mosaic virus (BSMV)-silencing and transiently-induced gene silencing (TIGS) assays reveal that HvCAT1 is required for barley immunity against Bgh. We propose that CSEP0027 interacts with barley HvCAT1 to regulate the host immunity and likely reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis to promote fungal virulence during barley infection.
Behind the Scenes: The Impact of Bioactive Phenylpropanoids on the Growth Phenotypes of Arabidopsis Lignin Mutants
Authors: El Houari Ilias , Boerjan Wout , Vanholme Bartel
Published: September 2021

The phenylpropanoid pathway converts the aromatic amino acid phenylalanine into a wide range of secondary metabolites. Most of the carbon entering the pathway incorporates into the building blocks of lignin, an aromatic polymer providing mechanical strength to plants. Several intermediates in the phenylpropanoid pathway serve as precursors for distinct classes of metabolites that branch out from the core pathway. Untangling this metabolic network in Arabidopsis was largely done using phenylpropanoid pathway mutants, all with different degrees of lignin depletion and associated growth defects. The phenotypic defects of some phenylpropanoid pathway mutants have been attributed to differentially accumulating phenylpropanoids or phenylpropanoid-derived compounds. In this perspectives article, we summarize and discuss the reports describing an altered accumulation of these bioactive molecules as the causal factor for the phenotypes of lignin mutants in Arabidopsis.
Structural and Evolutionary Analyses of PR-4 SUGARWINs Points to a Different Pattern of Protein Function
Authors: Maia Lorhenn Bryanda Lemes , Pereira Humberto D’Muniz , Garratt Richard Charles , Brandão-Neto José , Henrique-Silva Flavio , Toyama Danyelle , Dias Renata O. , Bachega José Fernando Ruggiero , Peixoto Julia Vasconcellos , Silva-Filho Marcio C.
Published: September 2021

SUGARWINs are PR-4 proteins associated with sugarcane defense against phytopathogens. Their expression is induced in response to damage by Diatraea saccharalis larvae. These proteins play an important role in plant defense, in particular against fungal pathogens, such as Colletothricum falcatum (Went) and Fusarium verticillioides. The pathogenesis-related protein-4 (PR-4) family is a group of proteins equipped with a BARWIN domain, which may be associated with a chitin-binding domain also known as the hevein-like domain. Several PR-4 proteins exhibit both chitinase and RNase activity, with the latter being associated with the presence of two histidine residues H11 and H113 (BARWIN) [H44 and H146, SUGARWINs] in the BARWIN-like domain. In sugarcane, similar to other PR-4 proteins, SUGARWIN1 exhibits ribonuclease, chitosanase and chitinase activities, whereas SUGARWIN2 only exhibits chitosanase activity. In order to decipher the structural determinants involved in this diverse range of enzyme specificities, we determined the 3-D structure of SUGARWIN2, at 1.55Å by X-ray diffraction. This is the first structure of a PR-4 protein where the first histidine has been replaced by asparagine and was subsequently used to build a homology model for SUGARWIN1. Molecular dynamics simulations of both proteins revealed the presence of a flexible loop only in SUGARWIN1 and we postulate that this, together with the presence of the catalytic histidine at position 42, renders it competent as a ribonuclease. The more electropositive surface potential of SUGARWIN1 would also be expected to favor complex formation with RNA. A phylogenetic analysis of PR-4 proteins obtained from 106 Embryophyta genomes showed that both catalytic histidines are widespread among them with few replacements in these amino acid positions during the gene family evolutionary history. We observe that the H11 replacement by N11 is also present in two other sugarcane PR-4 proteins: SUGARWIN3 and SUGARWIN4. We propose that RNase activity was present in the first Embryophyta PR-4 proteins but was recently lost in members of this family during the course of evolution.
Bodies in the Novel Infinite Jest
Authors: Chapman Ana , Chapman Silvia , Cosentino Stephanie
Published: September 2021

This manuscript provides a literary analysis of the use of bodies in the novelInfinite Jestby David Foster Wallace. The novel describes a world where oversaturation of external stimulation leads to the perception of mind and body of self of an individual as prosthetic parts, malleable and deformed, wherein the mind fails to feel bodily sensations and characters experience a complete disconnectedness from the self and others. Indeed, the disembodiment of characters and sensations of disconnection leads them to a compulsive quest for connectedness through the use of masks, made-up feelings, mind–body hybrid pain, corporeal malleability, and prostheses. These portrayals of the disordered and disconnectedness between body and mind or self will be described and compared to clinical conditions characterized by a disconnection between mind and body and impaired body self-awareness. Through this exercise, we argue that the use of scientifically inspired pathologized bodies is a means of conveying the stance of Wallace on or criticism of the degradation of society through excessive entertainment.
Psychometric Properties of the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory–III in an Arabic Clinical Sample Compared With American, Italian, and Dutch Cultures
Authors: Alareqe Naser Abdulhafeeth , Roslan Samsilah , Nordin Mohamad Sahari , Ahmad Nor Aniza , Taresh Sahar Mohammed
Published: September 2021

Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory MCMI–III is a multidimensional measure of psychopathology with excellent construct validity, test-retest reliability as well as internal consistency. Factor analysis of the MCMI-III has produced mixed results, extracting parsimonious three-factor solutions, or replicating the original four-factor solution in psychiatric samples from Western countries. However, little work has been done on the psychometric properties of the MCMI–III, using non-Western psychiatric samples. Outpatients (N = 212) completed the MCMI–III during a semi-structured interview. Eight exploratory factor analysis (EFA) methods were used to explore the underlying structure of MCMI–III. Skewness, kurtosis, and descriptive statistics confirmed that scales of MCMI–III were normally distributed. High-internal consistency was found. The eight EFA methods applied to the 24 clinical scales identified a consensual three-factor solution: factor I (internalizing psychopathology; 18 scales), factor II (externalizing psychopathology; 4 scales) and factor III (psychological disturbance; 2 scales), accounting for a total of 72% of the common variance. Regarding the cross-cultural equivalence of the MCMI–III structure, Tucker's congruence coefficient (Φ) was used and confirmed that internalizing (F1) and externalizing psychopathology (F2) factors obtained in this study are similar to high vs. low psychopathology and emotional constraint factors provided by American study of Haddy et al. (2005) (Φ was 0.86 and 0.97). These two factors are also similar to the general adjustment and antisocial acting out factors provided by the American study of Craig and Bivens (1998) (Φ was 0.82 and 0.96). The first two factors in this study also reflect high similarity with the factor solutions obtained with the Italian and Dutch versions of MCMI-III (Rossi et al., 2007; Pignolo et al., 2017). Despite using a psychiatric sample from a non-Western culture, the two factors identified for this MCMI–III Arabic version were similar to those reported on studies with MCMI–III, using primarily Western samples (Craig and Bivens, 1998; Rossi et al., 2007).
Science Interest, Utility, Self-Efficacy, Identity, and Science Achievement Among High School Students: An Application of SEM Tree
Authors: Alhadabi Amal
Published: September 2021

The current study explored the associations between non–cognitive science-related variables, i.e., science interest, utility, self-efficacy, science identity, and science achievement in a serial mediation model. The study also further explored the potential heterogeneity in the model parameters using one of the data-mining techniques, which is the structural equation model (SEM) Tree. Data on 14,815 high school students were obtained from a large-scale database High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 (HSLS:09). The results highlighted science interest and science utility positively influencing science achievement through a sequential pathway of mediators, including science self-efficacy and science identity. The strength of direct effects considerably varied across students, resulting in classifying them into four subgroups. For instance, among females with a low SES subgroup, developing substantial science interest would result in better science self-efficacy and science identity that flourish science achievement. These valuable findings provide fruitful tailored recommendations, elevating the science achievement in the subgroups (146 words).
Help Is in Your Blood—Incentive to “Double Altruism” Resolves the Plasma Donation Paradox
Authors: Gyuris Petra , Gáspár Baksa Gergely , Birkás Béla , Csókási Krisztina , Kocsor Ferenc
Published: September 2021

Blood donation is considered as one of the purest forms of altruism. Plasma donation, in contrast, despite being a similar process, is mostly a paid activity in which donors are compensated for their contribution to the production of therapeutic preparations. This creates a so-called “plasma paradox:” If remuneration is promised for a socially useful effort, volunteers with altruistic motives might be deterred. At the same time, regular plasma donors who pursue the monetary benefits of donation might drop out if remuneration stops. The same controversy can be caught in the messages of most plasma donation companies as well: They promise a monetary reward (MR), and at the same time, highlight the altruistic component of donation. In this study, we tested the assumption that emphasizing the social significance enhances the willingness to donate blood plasma more effectively than either MR or the combination of these two incentives. This had to be rejected since there was no significant difference between the three scenarios. Furthermore, we also hypothesized that individuals might be more motivated to donate plasma if there is a possibility of offering an MR toward other socially beneficial aims. We found an increased willingness to donate in scenarios enabling “double altruism”, that is, when donating plasma for therapeutic use and transferring their remuneration to nongovernmental organizations, is an option. We propose relying on double altruism to resolve the plasma paradox, and suggest that it could serve as a starting point for the development of more optimized means for donor recruitment.
Where’s the Advantage? Mutual Exclusivity Promotes Children’s Initial Mapping, but Not Long-Term Memory, for Words Compared to Other Strategies
Authors: Bredemann Catherine A. , Vlach Haley A.
Published: September 2021

Children frequently apply a novel label to a novel object, a behavior known as the mutual exclusivity bias (MEB). This study examined how MEB affects children’s retention for word mappings. In Experiment 1, preschoolers (N= 39;Mage= 46.62 months) and adults (N= 24;Mage= 21.63 years) completed an immediate word mapping task and a delayed retention test. Both samples used MEB during referent selection, but neither group displayed higher retention for words mapped via MEB than words mapped via other referent selection strategies at test. Experiment 2 replicated Experiment 1 with preschoolers (N= 85;Mage= 47.78 months) and provided evidence against the possibility that interference from multiple words contributed to children’s faster forgetting of word mappings when using MEB. Experiment 3 presented children (N= 30;Mage= 51.13 months) with an abbreviated version of the task, providing evidence against the alternative hypothesis that cognitive load during learning caused the forgetting observed in Experiments 1 and 2. Taken together, these experiments suggest that MEB supports initial word mapping but may not provide an advantage for long-term retention.
Peer Group Embeddedness and Academic Motivation: A Developmental Perspective
Authors: Reindl Marion
Published: September 2021

The present study focused on the increasing importance of peer group embeddedness on domain-specific academic motivation (intrinsic value and mastery goals) over the course of early adolescence. In this regard, two important research questions were investigated: (1) Does a change in peer group embeddedness influence a change in student intrinsic value and mastery goals? (2) Does this influence increase over the course of early adolescence? The research questions were investigated based on a five-wave longitudinal study over two school years (seventh and eighth grade) in Germany. The final sample comprised 349 students. True- intraindividual-change models showed a positive effect of a change in peer group embeddedness in the first half of eighth grade on the change of all domain-specific motivational dimensions—except for intrinsic value in English—in the second half of the eighth grade. In the seventh grade, a change in peer group embeddedness had no effect on all motivational dimensions. The results were discussed in terms of taking a developmental perspective for both peer group embeddedness and student academic motivation.
“Thinking About Thinking” in Insomnia Disorder: The Effect of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia on Sleep-Related Metacognition
Authors: Galbiati Andrea , Sforza Marco , Scarpellino Alessandro , Salibba Andrea , Leitner Caterina , D’Este Giada , Mombelli Samantha , Ferini-Strambi Luigi , Castronovo Vincenza
Published: September 2021

Metacognition is defined as the ability to reflect on one’s mental state and to govern thoughts and beliefs. Metacognitive dysfunctions are typical of several psychopathologic conditions, and also a feature of insomnia disorder, possibly playing a crucial role in its genesis and maintenance. In the context of insomnia, metacognition describes how individuals react to their own sleep-related thoughts and beliefs, boosting the hyperarousal state experienced by these patients. Up to now, no studies evaluated the effect of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) on metacognitive functioning. Therefore, the aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of CBT-I administered in group format in patients with insomnia disorder. As expected, all patients showed significant improvements in both insomnia and sleep diary parameters after treatment. Furthermore, an improvement was observed also in dysfunctional metacognitive levels, assessed by means of the Metacognitions Questionnaire-Insomnia (MCQ-I). However, 63% of patients still showed a MCQ-I score above the clinical cutoff after treatment. Dividing the sample on the basis of MCQ-I questionnaire scores after CBT-I, we found that patients, who still presented metacognitive impairment, received significant beneficial effects from CBT-I both on insomnia symptoms and on dysfunctional beliefs, but not on dysfunctional metacognitive functioning. These findings suggest that metacognition should be carefully evaluated in insomnia patients and further studies are needed to evaluate long-term implications of this remaining dysfunction.
Semantic Predictability Facilitates Comprehension of Degraded Speech in a Graded Manner
Authors: Bhandari Pratik , Demberg Vera , Kray Jutta
Published: September 2021

Previous studies have shown that at moderate levels of spectral degradation, semantic predictability facilitates language comprehension. It is argued that when speech is degraded, listeners havenarrowed expectationsabout the sentence endings; i.e., semantic prediction may be limited to only most highly predictable sentence completions. The main objectives of this study were to (i) examine whether listeners form narrowed expectations or whether they form predictions across a wide range of probable sentence endings, (ii) assess whether the facilitatory effect of semantic predictability is modulated by perceptual adaptation to degraded speech, and (iii) use and establish a sensitive metric for the measurement of language comprehension. For this, we created 360 German Subject-Verb-Object sentences that varied in semantic predictability of a sentence-final target word in a graded manner (high, medium, and low) and levels of spectral degradation (1, 4, 6, and 8 channels noise-vocoding). These sentences were presented auditorily to two groups: One group (n=48) performed a listening task in an unpredictable channel context in which the degraded speech levels were randomized, while the other group (n=50) performed the task in a predictable channel context in which the degraded speech levels were blocked. The results showed that at 4 channels noise-vocoding, response accuracy was higher in high-predictability sentences than in the medium-predictability sentences, which in turn was higher than in the low-predictability sentences. This suggests that, in contrast to thenarrowed expectationsview, comprehension of moderately degraded speech, ranging from low- to high- including medium-predictability sentences, is facilitated in a graded manner; listeners probabilistically preactivate upcoming words from a wide range of semantic space, not limiting only to highly probable sentence endings. Additionally, in both channel contexts, we did not observe learning effects; i.e., response accuracy did not increase over the course of experiment, and response accuracy was higher in the predictable than in the unpredictable channel context. We speculate from these observations that when there is no trial-by-trial variation of the levels of speech degradation, listeners adapt to speech quality at a long timescale; however, when there is a trial-by-trial variation of the high-level semantic feature (e.g., sentence predictability), listeners do not adapt to low-level perceptual property (e.g., speech quality) at a short timescale.
Everyday Life Meaningfulness for the Community-Dwelling Oldest Old During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Tiilikainen Elisa , Lisko Inna , Kekkonen Eija , Solomon Alina , Ngandu Tiia , Kivipelto Miia , Kulmala Jenni
Published: September 2021

In many countries, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to strong restrictions and changed the everyday lives of older people. In Finland, people aged 70 and over were instructed to stay at home under quarantine-like conditions. Existing studies from other countries have reported increases in negative experiences and symptoms as a result of such restrictions, including psychosocial stress. However, little focus has been given to older people’s experiences of meaningfulness during the pandemic. Using survey and interview data, we ask to what extent have community-dwelling oldest old (80+) experienced meaningfulness during the pandemic, what background factors are associated with meaningfulness and what factors have contributed to everyday life meaningfulness during the pandemic. The data was collected as part of the COVID-19 sub-study of the third follow-up of the Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging and Dementia (CAIDE85+) study, a Finnish population-based cohort study carried out in the eastern part of the country. In the quantitative analyses, meaningfulness was assessed as part of the Experiences of Social Inclusion Scale. The association of meaningfulness with different background factors (gender, age, living alone, self-chosen quarantine or physical isolation, self-rated health, physical functioning, and cognitive capacity) was explored with the Chi-square test. The quantitative findings indicate that the majority of the participants experienced meaningfulness during the pandemic. Participants who did not practice any physical isolation measures and participants with higher self-rated health experienced more meaningfulness. There was no evidence for difference in the prevalence of meaningfulness and other background factors. The qualitative data was analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings indicated that factors contributing to meaningfulness in everyday life were social contacts, daily chores and activities, familiar places and seasonal changes. The small sample size does not provide possibilities for generalizing the results into the wider population of older adults. However, the results provide new understanding of the oldest old’s experiences of meaningfulness in everyday life during the global pandemic. The findings may help find ways to support older people’s meaningfulness in challenging times.
The Effects of a Parent-Implemented Language Intervention on Late-Talkers’ Expressive Skills: The Mediational Role of Parental Speech Contingency and Dialogic Reading Abilities
Authors: Suttora Chiara , Zuccarini Mariagrazia , Aceti Arianna , Corvaglia Luigi , Guarini Annalisa , Sansavini Alessandra
Published: September 2021

Several qualitative and quantitative features of parental speech input support children’s language development and may play a critical role in improving such process in late talkers. Parent-implemented interventions targeting late-talkers have been developed to promote children’s language outcomes by enhancing their linguistic environment, i.e., parental speech input. This study investigated the effect of a parent-implemented intervention in increasing late talkers’ expressive skills through modifications in structural and functional features of parental speech input. Forty-six thirty-one-month-old late talkers differing in their birth condition (either low-risk preterm or full-term) participated in the study with a parent; 24 parent-child dyads received a parent-implemented intervention centered on dialogic reading and focused stimulation techniques, whereas the other 22 dyads constituted the control group. At pre- and post-intervention, dyads took part in a parent-child shared book-reading session and both parental and child’s speech measures were collected and examined. Results showed that the intervention positively affected parents’ use of responses and expansions of children’s verbal initiatives, as well as the parental amount of talking over reading, whereas no structural features of parental input resulted modified. Mediation analyses pointed out that the intervention indirectly enhanced late-talkers’ use of verbal types and tokens through changes in parental use of expansions and amount of talking over reading. As birth status was entered as a covariate in the analysis, these findings can be extended to children with different gestational age. We conclude that the parent-implemented intervention was effective in supporting late-talkers’ gains in language development as a cascade result of the improvements in parental contingency and dialogic reading abilities. These promising findings suggest to examine not only children and parental outcomes but also the intervention mechanisms promoting changes in late-talkers’ language development as a clearer view on such process can inform the development of feasible, ecological and effective programs.
Cognitive Decline in Parkinson’s Disease: A Subgroup of Extreme Decliners Revealed by a Data-Driven Analysis of Longitudinal Progression
Authors: Andersson Sara , Josefsson Maria , Stiernman Lars J. , Rieckmann Anna
Published: September 2021

Cognitive impairment is an important symptom of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and predicting future cognitive decline is crucial for clinical practice. Here, we aim to identify latent sub-groups of longitudinal trajectories of cognitive change in PD patients, and explore predictors of differences in cognitive change. Longitudinal cognitive performance data from 349 newly diagnosed PD patients and 145 healthy controls from the Parkinson Progression Marker Initiative were modeled using a multivariate latent class linear mixed model. Resultant latent classes were compared on a number of baseline demographics and clinical variables, as well as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers and striatal dopamine transporter (DAT) density markers of neuropathology. Trajectories of cognitive change in PD were best described by two latent classes. A large subgroup (90%), which showed a subtle impairment in cognitive performance compared to controls but remained stable over the course of the study, and a small subgroup (10%) which rapidly declined in all cognitive performance measures. Rapid decliners did not differ significantly from the larger group in terms of disease duration, severity, or motor symptoms at baseline. However, rapid decliners had lower CSF amyloidß42 levels, a higher prevalence of sleep disorder and pronounced loss of caudate DAT density at baseline. These data suggest the existence of a distinct minority sub-type of PD in which rapid cognitive change in PD can occur uncoupled from motor symptoms or disease severity, likely reflecting early pathological change that extends from motor areas of the striatum into associative compartments and cortex.
Antidepressant and Anxiolytic Effects of Medicinal Cannabis Use in an Observational Trial
Authors: Martin Erin L. , Strickland Justin C. , Schlienz Nicolas J. , Munson Joel , Jackson Heather , Bonn-Miller Marcel O. , Vandrey Ryan
Published: September 2021

Background: Anxiety and depressive disorders are highly prevalent. Patients are increasingly using medicinal cannabis products to treat these disorders, but little is known about the effects of medicinal cannabis use on symptoms of anxiety and depression. The aim of the present observational study was to assess general health in medicinal cannabis users and non-using controls with anxiety and/or depression.

Methods: Participants (368 Cannabis Users; 170 Controls) completed an online survey assessing anxiety and depressive symptoms, cannabis product use, sleep, quality of life, and comorbid chronic pain. Participants that completed this baseline survey were then invited to complete additional follow-up surveys at 3-month intervals. Baseline differences between Cannabis Users and Controls were assessed using independent-samples t-tests and generalized linear mixed effects models were used to assess the impact of initiating cannabis product use, sustained use, or discontinuation of use on anxiety and depressive symptoms at follow-up.

Results: Medicinal cannabis use was associated with lower self-reported depression, but not anxiety, at baseline. Medicinal cannabis users also reported superior sleep, quality of life, and less pain on average. Initiation of medicinal cannabis during the follow-up period was associated with significantly decreased anxiety and depressive symptoms, an effect that was not observed in Controls that never initiated cannabis use.

Conclusions: Medicinal cannabis use may reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms in clinically anxious and depressed populations. Future placebo-controlled studies are necessary to replicate these findings and to determine the route of administration, dose, and product formulation characteristics to optimize clinical outcomes.
Trade and Deforestation Predict Rat Lungworm Disease, an Invasive-Driven Zoonosis, at Global and Regional Scales
Authors: de Wit Luz A. , Ricketts Taylor H.
Published: September 2021

The introduction of non-native species and deforestation are both important drivers of environmental change that can also facilitate the geographic spread of zoonotic pathogens and increase disease risk in humans. With ongoing trends in globalization and land-use conversions, introduced species and deforestation are ever more likely to pose threats to human health. Here, we used rat lungworm disease, an emerging zoonotic disease caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis and maintained by invasive rats and snails, to explore how these two forms of environmental change can impact zoonotic disease risk. We used logistic regressions to examine the role of global trade in the introduction of A. cantonensis at a country level and used model estimates to predict the probability of introduction as a function of trade. We then used hurdle-based regression models to examine the association between deforestation and rat lungworm disease in two regions where A. cantonensis is already established: Hawaii and Thailand. At the global scale, we found the trade of horticultural products to be an important driver in the spread of A. cantonensis and that the majority of countries at high risk of future A. cantonensis introduction are islands. At country scales, we found deforestation to increase the per-capita risk of A. cantonensis exposure in Hawaii and Thailand. Our study provides a preliminary view of the associations between species introductions, deforestation, and risk of A. cantonensis exposure in people. Better understanding how these two widespread and overlapping forms of environmental change affect human health can inform international biosecurity protocols, invasive species management, and land-use policies.
The Impact of COVID-19 on Hospital Admissions in Croatia
Authors: Kalanj Karolina , Marshall Ric , Karol Karl , Tiljak Mirjana Kujundžić , Orešković Stjepan
Published: September 2021

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted hospital care, as hospitals had to deal with a highly infectious virus, while at the same time continuing to fulfill the ongoing health service needs of their communities. This study examines the direct effects of COVID-19 on the delivery of inpatient care in Croatia.

Materials and Methods: The research is a retrospective, comparative analysis of the hospital admission rate across all Diagnosis Related Group (DRG) classes before and during the pandemic. It is based on DRG data from all non-specialized acute hospitals in Croatia, which account for 96% of national inpatient activity. The study also used COVID-19 data from the Croatian Institute of Public Health (CIPH).

Results: The results show a 21% decrease in the total number of admissions [incident rate ratio (IRR) 0.8, p < 0.0001] across the hospital network during the pandemic in 2020, with the greatest drop occurring in April, when admissions plunged by 51%. The decrease in activity occurred in non-elective DRG classes such as cancers, stroke, major chest procedures, heart failure, and renal failure. Coinciding with this reduction however, there was a 37% increase (IRR 1.39, p < 0.0001) in case activity across six COVID-19 related DRG classes.

Conclusions: The reduction in hospital inpatient activity during 2020, can be attributed to a number of factors such as lock-downs and quarantining, reorganization of hospital operations, the rationing of the medical workforce, and the reluctance of people to seek hospital care. Further research is needed to examine the consequences of disruption to hospital care in Croatia. Our recommendation is to invest multidisciplinary effort in reviewing response procedures to emergencies such as COVID-19 with the aim of minimizing their impact on other, and equally important community health care needs.
The Long-Term Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Loneliness in People Living With Disability and Visual Impairment
Authors: Heinze Nikki , Hussain Syeda F. , Castle Claire L. , Godier-McBard Lauren R. , Kempapidis Theofilos , Gomes Renata S. M.
Published: September 2021

Background: There has been growing concern about the impact of restrictions put in place to contain the coronavirus pandemic on loneliness, particularly in individuals with disabilities. This study explored the longitudinal impact of the pandemic on loneliness in these individuals, with a focus on those living with visual impairment (VI).

Methods: An online survey was conducted in April-2020 and repeated in March 2021 to explore current life circumstances, health-related behaviours, sleep (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) and social well-being, including state anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Index) and loneliness (UCLA Loneliness scale). A convenience sample of 602 participants completed the first survey. Participants who agreed to be re-contacted were invited to take part in the follow-up survey.

Results: Data is presented for the 160 participants who completed both timepoints. At both timepoints, median loneliness was significantly higher in participants with disabilities and those with VI than in participants with no disabilities. While there was no significant change in loneliness in any of the three subgroups, participants with VI experienced the largest increase in median loneliness. Loneliness was associated with having a mental health condition and higher levels of state anxiety at both timepoints.

Conclusions: Individuals with disabilities such as VI experienced consistently higher levels of loneliness than those with no disabilities throughout the pandemic. While loneliness remained relatively stable in individuals with no disabilities, it increased, albeit to a non-significant level, in those with disabilities and particularly those with VI. Interventions designed to alleviate loneliness may benefit from addressing state anxiety.
Mis-Measuring Our Universities: Why Global University Rankings Don’t Add Up
Authors: Gadd Elizabeth
Published: September 2021

Draws parallels between the problematic use of GDP to evaluate economic success with the use of global university rankings to evaluate university success. Inspired by Kate Raworth’sDoughnut Economics,this perspective argues that the pursuit of growth as measured by such indicators creates universities that ‘grow’ up the rankings rather than those which ‘thrive’ or ‘mature.’ Such growth creates academic wealth divides within and between countries, despite the direction of growth as inspired by the rankings not truly reflecting universities’ critical purpose or contribution. Highlights the incompatibility between universities’ alignment with socially responsible practices and continued engagement with socially irresponsible ranking practices. Proposes four possible ways of engendering change in the university rankings space. Concludes by calling on leaders of ‘world-leading’ universities to join together to ‘lead the world’ in challenging global university rankings, and to set their own standards for thriving and maturing universities.
If You Give a Clam an Estuary: The Story of Potamocorbula
Authors: Shrader Kelly H. , Zierdt Smith Emily L. , Parchaso Francis , Thompson Janet K.
Published: September 2021

When you look at San Francisco Bay, what animals do you see? You may see lots of fish, birds, harbor seals, and sea lions. What you do not see is a little clam (Potamocorbula amurensis) that changed the Bay. Many years ago, ships accidentally brought this clam into the Bay from Asia. Soon, they spread out all over in large numbers. Clams pump water through their gills and eat small particles of food that are in the water, like phytoplankton (microscopic aquatic plants) and other microscopic critters. Potamocorbula can pump water faster than other clams, and they can eat more than their share of phytoplankton. Sometimes, Potamocorbula eats phytoplankton faster than phytoplankton can grow! What problems does that cause for other animals that also eat phytoplankton? Does Potamocorbula’s invasion only have negative impacts? In this article, we dive to the bottom of the Bay to find some answers.
Application of Streptomyces Antimicrobial Compounds for the Control of Phytopathogens
Authors: Pacios-Michelena Sandra , Aguilar González Cristobal N. , Alvarez-Perez Olga B. , Rodriguez-Herrera Raul , Chávez-González Mónica , Arredondo Valdés Roberto , Ascacio Valdés Juan A. , Govea Salas Mayela , Ilyina Anna
Published: September 2021

One of the relevant problems in today's agriculture is related to phytopathogenic microorganisms that cause between 30–40% of crop losses. Synthetic chemical pesticides and antibiotics have brought human and environmental health problems and microbial resistance to these treatments. So, the search for natural alternatives is necessary. The genus Streptomyces have broad biotechnological potential, being a promising candidate for the biocontrol of phytopathogenic microorganisms. The efficacy of some species of this genus in plant protection and their continued presence in the intensely competitive rhizosphere is due to its great potential to produce a wide variety of soluble bioactive secondary metabolites and volatile organic compounds. However, more attention is still needed to develop novel formulations that could increase the shelf life of streptomycetes, ensuring their efficacy as a microbial pesticide. In this sense, encapsulation offers an advantageous and environmentally friendly option. The present review aims to describe some phytopathogenic microorganisms with economic importance that require biological control. In addition, it focuses mainly on the Streptomyces genus as a great producer of secondary metabolites that act on other microorganisms and plants, exercising its role as biological control. The review also covers some strategies and products based on Streptomyces and the problems of its application in the field.
Trading Fast and Slow: Fish Marketing Networks Provide Flexible Livelihood Opportunities on an East African Floodplain
Authors: Moreau Marie-Annick , Garaway Caroline J.
Published: September 2021

Domestic marketing networks in inland small-scale fisheries (SSF) provide food and income to millions of the rural poor globally. Yet these contributions remain undervalued, as most trade is informal and unmonitored, and inland fisheries overlooked in research and policy. Taking a commodity chain approach, we provide a case study of access arrangements governing how people come to enter and benefit from the freshwater fish trade on Tanzania's Rufiji River floodplain. We conducted a repeat market survey, interviews, and participant observation with actors at all levels of the district trade over 15 months. Gender, age, and social capital structured participation patterns, with younger men dominating the more lucrative but riskier fresh trade, older men prioritizing steady income from smoked fish, and women culturally constrained to selling a “cooked” product (i.e., fried fish). Nearly all participants were local, with traders drawing on a complex web of relationships to secure supplies. The majority of market vendors cited the trade as their household's most important income source, with women's earnings and consumption of unsold fish likely to have substantial benefits for children's well-being. Our findings reveal a resilient and pro-poor trade system where, starting with small initial investments, people overcame considerable environmental, financial, regulatory, and infrastructural challenges to reliably deliver fish to rural and urban consumers. Preserving the ecological integrity of Rufiji wetlands in the face of hydro-power development and climate change should be a priority to safeguard the livelihoods and well-being of local inhabitants.
Incidence and Outcome of Acute Myocardial Infarction in Patients With Aortic Dissection and Risk Factor Control
Authors: Liu Fang , Qian Si-Chong , Jing Shuai , Wang Zhe , Yang Xin-Chun , Chen Mu-Lei
Published: September 2021

Background and Aims: The contradiction of management modality between acute myocardial infarction(AMI) and aortic dissection(AD) may result in clinical catastrophe. Data on risk factors, incidence, and outcome of AD and AMI are limited, and there have been no studies on the long-term outcomes of AMI in patients with AD. So we aimed to investigate long-term outcomes after AMI in patients with AD, and propose a useful diagnostic paradigm.

Methods: Consecutively enrolled patients with AD and AMI who were referred to our center from 2010 to 2017. Baseline patient characteristics, risk factors, all medical treatments, echocardiographic parameters, laboratory data, and treatment were recorded. All patients were followed up from the first hospitalization until a first heart event, death, or 17 March, 2018.

Results: 0.13% in AMI and 7.49% in AD patients had a concomitant diagnosis of AD and AMI. The average patient age was 53.3 ± 12.1 years and 84.6% were male. The most prevalent vascular risk factors were hypertension (69.2%) and current smoker (64.1%). Of all the 39 patients, 66.7% were managed surgically. Overall in-hospital mortality was 10.3%. The 30-day and 5-year fatality rates were 23.1% and 35.9%, but were higher for female than for male (66.7 vs. 30.3%, log-rank P = 0.045) on 5-year mortality. The overall survival of females was inferior to the males (log-rank P = 0.045).

Conclusions: Patients with AMI and AD exhibit high 5-year fatality rates. For these patients, surgical management tends to have lower mortality. Improved management of hypertension and smoking, may reduce future incidence rates.
Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections, the Challenge Remains
Authors: Nawijn Femke , Hietbrink Falco , Peitzman Andrew B. , Leenen Luke P. H.
Published: September 2021

Background: Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections (NSTIs) are uncommon rapidly spreading infection of the soft tissues for which prompt surgical treatment is vital for survival. Currently, even with sufficient awareness and facilities available, ambiguous symptoms frequently result in treatment delay.

Objectives: To illustrate the heterogeneity in presentation of NSTIs and the pitfalls entailing from this heterogeneity.

Discussion: NSTI symptoms appear on a spectrum with on one side the typical critically ill patient with fast onset and progression of symptoms combined with severe systemic toxicity resulting in severe physical derangement and sepsis. In these cases, the suspicion of a NSTI rises quickly. On the other far side of the spectrum is the less evident type of presentation of the patient with gradual but slow progression of non-specific symptoms over the past couple of days without clear signs of sepsis initially. This side of the spectrum is under represented in current literature and some physicians involved in the care for NSTI patients are still unaware of this heterogeneity in presentation.

Conclusion: The presentation of a critically ill patient with evident pain out of proportion, erythema, necrotic skin and bullae is the classical presentation of NSTIs. On the other hand, non-specific symptoms without systemic toxicity at presentation frequently result in a battery of diagnostics tests and imaging before the treatment strategy is determined. This may result in a delay in presentation, delay in diagnosis and delay in definitive treatment. This failure to perform an adequate exploration expeditiously can result in a preventable mortality.
Urban-Rural Gaps in Breastfeeding Practices: Evidence From Lao People’s Democratic Republic
Authors: Wallenborn Jordyn T. , Valera Camille B. , Kounnavong Sengchanh , Sayasone Somphou , Odermatt Peter , Fink Günther
Published: September 2021

Objectives: Breastfeeding rates are decreasing rapidly in many low and middle-income countries, disproportionately affecting urban residences. We use data from Lao People’s Democratic Republic to identify primary mechanisms underlying the urban-rural gap in breastfeeding practices.

Methods: We used data from the 2017 Lao Social Indicator Survey II. Residence was categorized as large-urban (>1 million), small-urban (<1 Million), and rural. Multivariable logistic regression provided odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CI) to identify factors attributing to the urban-rural differences in complying with World Health Organization’s breastfeeding recommendations for children <24 months.

Results: Mothers in large-urban residences had 3.78 (95% confidence intervals: 1.19, 11.95) and 4.67 (95% CI: 2.30, 9.46) higher odds of non-compliance with exclusive and complementary breastfeeding recommendations, respectively, than mothers living in rural areas in bivariate models. Breastfeeding differentials between small urban and rural residences were largely explained by differences in maternal education and household wealth.

Conclusion: Results of our paper suggest large disparities in breastfeeding practices between large-urban, small-urban, and rural residences.
Model-Based Condition-Monitoring and Jamming-Tolerant Control of an Electro-Mechanical Flight Actuator with Differential Ball Screws
Authors: Di Rito Gianpietro , Luciano Benedetto , Borgarelli Nicola , Nardeschi Marco
Published: September 2021

The work deals with the development of deterministic model-based condition-monitoring algorithms for an electromechanical flight control actuator with fault-tolerant architecture, in which two permanent magnets synchronous motors are coupled with differential ball screws in speed-summing paradigm, so that the system can operate even after a motor fault, an inverter fault or a mechanical jamming. To demonstrate the potential applicability of the system for safety-critical aerospace applications, the failure transients related to major fault modes have to be characterised and analysed. By focusing the attention to jamming faults, a detailed nonlinear model of the actuator is developed from physical first principles and experimentally validated in both time and frequency domains for normal condition and with different types of jamming. The validated model is then used to design the condition-monitoring algorithms and to characterize the system failure transient, by simulating mechanical blocks in different locations of the transmission. The operability after the fault, obtained via fault-tolerant control strategy and position regulator reconfiguration, is also verified, by highlighting and discussing possible enhancements and criticalities.
New Puppets in the Old School: The Applicability of Traditional Internationalisation Theories in the Sharing Economy
Authors: Pérez-Pérez Cristina , Benito-Osorio Diana , García-Moreno Susana María
Published: September 2021

Sharing Economy platforms have expanded their operations all around the globe at an unexpected rate. Due to its “asset-lite” nature, traditional internationalisation theories may not be able to fully explain or predict their expansion patterns. This lack of theoretical background puts at risk the phenomenon’s future and stops traditional companies from coming up with a solid plan to compete against platforms. To ease the creation of a Sharing Economy internationalisation paradigm, this paper intends to review the existing research regarding the internationalisation of sharing platforms as well as the applicability of existing theories. Through a systematic literature review, the existing research was reviewed, and afterwards, internationalisation theories and their distinct factors extracted were noted to address the applicability of these within the singularities of the sharing phenomenon. This classification of factors was done according to the exiting literature in the field. After this research, we can confirm the lack of explanatory power of traditional theories regarding sharing platforms and confirm the insufficient research regarding these operations. We propose a list of factors that should be considered for future research as a guideline for the further development of the Sharing Economy internationalisation theory. Additionally, the factors classification is tested upon the case of the internationalisation of Blablacar, the most extensive carpooling network operating, to check if the theoretical and the practical approaches converge.