bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Queensland Exceptionalism and the Construction of “Southern Folk Devils” in Twentieth Century Public Rhetoric
Authors: Bleakley Paul
Published: March 2022

The history of Queensland has been characterised by intermittent waves of moral panic wherein targeted subpopulations have been singled‐out as scapegoats for the “social problems” facing the state. These panics have been informed by a collective sense of Queensland exceptionalism that gives rise to the construction of folk devils in times of socio‐cultural crisis. Groups selected for scapegoating in Queensland have been, historically, constructed as a product of immoral values spreading from southern states like New South Wales and Victoria, and driven by that spirit of state‐based exceptionalism. Drawing on historical sources, it is argued to characterise these issues as the result of the corruptive influence of more cosmopolitan southern states, is not accurate. Instead, anti‐southern rhetoric was used as a way to abdicate responsibility for domestic problems. The findings dispute the parochial notion of Queensland exceptionalism, providing much‐needed historical context to the study of public discourse in Australia.
Prevalence and determinants of reticular pseudodrusen in the Russian Ural Eye and Medical Study
Authors: Bikbov Mukharram M. , Kazakbaeva Gyulli M. , Rakhimova Ellina M. , Rusakova Iuliia A. , Gilmanshin Timur R. , Zainullin Rinat M. , Panda‐Jonas Songhomitra , Fakhretdinova Albina A. , Tuliakova Azaliia M. , Safiullina Kamilia R. , Bolshakova Natalia I. , Gizzatov Ainur V. , Ponomarev Ildar P. , Jonas Jost B.
Published: March 2022

Purpose

To assess the prevalence of reticular pseudodrusen (RPD) and their determinants.

Methods

The Population‐based Ural Eye and Medical Study conducted in Bashkortostan/Russia included 5899 participants aged 40+ years. Presence of RPDs was assessed on conventional colour fundus photographs, red‐free fundus images and optical coherence tomographic images.

Results

The study included 4914 (83.3%) individuals (mean age: 58.5 ± 10.5 years; range: 40–94 years). Using two age limits (>55 years and 40+ years) for the definitions of RPD and AMD (age‐related macular degeneration), RPD prevalence was 186/4914 (3.8%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.3, 4.3) and 246/4914 (5.0%, 95% CI: 4.4, 5.6), respectively, and the prevalence of any AMD without RPD was 182/4914 (3.7%: 95% CI: 3.2, 4.2) and 224/4914 (4.6%; 95% CI: 4.0, 5.1) respectively. Within the subgroup of early AMD, intermediate AMD and late AMD, RPD prevalence (age limit: 40+ years) was 55.1% (95% CI: 49.5, 60.8), 42.9% (95% CI: 33.8, 51.9) and 33.3% (95% CI: 16.4, 50.3) respectively. In multivariable analysis, higher RPD prevalence (age limit 40+ years) was associated with higher age (odds ratio (OR): 1.08; 95% CI: 1.07, 1.10; p < 0.001), rural region of habitation (OR: 3.81; 95% CI: 2.76, 5.24; p < 0.001) and lower percentage of lymphocytes on leukocyte counts (OR: 0.95; 95% CI: 0.93, 0.97; p < 0.001). Higher prevalence of any AMD without RPD was associated with urban region (OR: 1.58; 95% CI: 1.18, 2.11; p = 0.002), lower diabetes prevalence (OR: 0.55; 95% CI: 0.33, 0.90; p = 0.02) and shorter axial length (OR: 0.85; 95% CI: 0.74, 0.98; p = 0.03), after adjusting for age.

Conclusions

Reticular pseudodrusen (mean prevalence: 3.8% (age limit >55 years); 5.0% (age limit 40+ years)) differs from AMD without RPD in its association with urban region (AMD without RPD: rural region), lower lymphocyte percentage (AMD without RPD: no association) and a lack of associations with axial length (AMD without RPD: shorter axial length) and with diabetes prevalence (AMD without RPD: lower diabetes prevalence).
Population pharmacokinetic‐pharmacodynamic modelling of platelet time‐courses following administration of abrocitinib
Authors: Wojciechowski Jessica , Malhotra Bimal K. , Wang Xiaoxing , Fostvedt Luke , Valdez Hernan , Nicholas Timothy
Published: March 2022

Aims

Abrocitinib is a selective Janus kinase 1 inhibitor for the treatment of moderate‐to‐severe atopic dermatitis. Herein we describe the time‐course of drug‐induced platelet reduction following abrocitinib administration, identify covariates affecting platelet counts, and determine the probability of patients experiencing thrombocytopaenia while receiving abrocitinib.

Methods

This analysis included data from two Phase 2 and three Phase 3 studies in psoriasis and atopic dermatitis patient populations administered abrocitinib 10–400 mg QD orally for up to 12 weeks, with platelet counts determined up to week 16. A semi‐mechanistic model was developed to assess the impact of baseline platelet counts (170, 220 and 270 × 1000/μL), age and race on the platelet nadir and week 12 counts with once‐daily abrocitinib 200 mg or 100 mg.

Results

Decreases in platelet counts were transient with the nadir occurring on average 24 days (95% prediction interval, 23–24) after continuous administration of abrocitinib 200 mg QD. Following administration of once‐daily abrocitinib 200 mg, the probabilities of thrombocytopaenia (<150 × 1000/μL) at the nadir were 8.6% and 95.5% for the typical patient with baseline platelet count of 270 × 1000/μL or 170 × 1000/μL, respectively. Adolescents had a lower probability of thrombocytopaenia compared with adults; platelet count distribution was similar in Asian and Western patients at the nadir and at week 12.

Conclusion

This analysis supports the safety of once‐daily abrocitinib 200 mg and 100 mg dosing regimens, with low probability of thrombocytopaenia during treatment, except for higher risk of low‐grade thrombocytopaenia that diminished after 4 weeks in patients with low baseline platelet counts.
Establishment of a monoclonal antibody against glycosylated CD271 specific for cancer cells in immunohistochemistry
Authors: Fujii Keitaro , Morita Shinkichi , Mochizuki Mai , Shibuya‐Takahashi Rie , Fujimori Haruna , Yamaguchi Kazunori , Abe Jiro , Yamazaki Tomoko , Imai Takayuki , Sugamura Kazuo , Yasuda Jun , Satoh Kennichi , Sato Ikuro , Saito‐Koyama Ryoko , Fujishima Fumiyoshi , Sasano Hironobu , Kato Yukinari , Matsuura Kazuto , Asada Yukinori , Tamai Keiichi
Published: March 2022

Various proteins are highly expressed in cancer (e.g., epidermal growth factor receptor); however, the majority are also expressed in normal cells, although they may differ in expression intensity. Recently, we reported that CD271 (nerve growth factor receptor), a glycosylated protein, increases malignant behavior of cancer, particularly stemlike phenotypes in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). CD271 is expressed in SCC and in normal epithelial basal cells. Glycosylation alterations generally occur in cancer cells; therefore, we attempted to establish a cancer‐specific anti‐glycosylated CD271 antibody. We purified recombinant glycosylated CD271 protein, immunized mice with the protein, and screened hybridomas using an ELISA assay with cancer cell lines. We established a clone G4B1 against CD271 which is glycosylated with O‐glycan and sialic acid. The G4B1 antibody reacted with the CD271 protein expressed in esophageal cancer, but not in normal esophageal basal cells. This specificity was confirmed in hypopharyngeal and cervical cancers. G4B1 antibody recognized the fetal esophageal epithelium and Barrett's esophagus, which possess stem cell–like characteristics. In conclusion, G4B1 antibody could be useful for precise identification of dysplasia and cancer cells in SCC.
Childhood appendicitis and future risk of inflammatory bowel disease – A nationwide cohort study in Sweden 1973–2017
Authors: Kiasat Ali , Ekström Lucas D. , Marsk Richard , Löf‐Granström Anna , Gustafsson Ulf O.
Published: March 2022

Aim

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between juvenile appendicitis, treated conservatively or with appendectomy, and adult risk of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), either ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn's disease (CD). We used nationwide population data from more than 100,000 individuals followed for over four decades.

Method

All Swedish patients discharged with a diagnosis of appendicitis before the age of 16 years between 1973 to 1996 were identified. Everyone diagnosed with appendicitis was matched to an individual in the general population without a history of juvenile appendicitis (unexposed) of similar age, sex and region of residence. The study population was retrospectively followed until 2017 for any development of UC or CD. Cox proportional‐hazards models compared disease‐free survival time between exposed and unexposed individuals, also analysing the impact of treatment (conservative treatment versus appendectomy).

Results

The final cohort consisted of 52,391 individuals exposed to appendicitis (1,674,629 person years) and 51,415 unexposed individuals (1,638,888 person years). Childhood appendicitis with appendectomy was associated with a significantly lower risk of adult IBD [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 0.48 (0.42–0.55)], UC [aHR 0.30 (0.25–0.36)] and CD [aHR 0.82 (0.68–0.97)]. Those treated conservatively had a lower risk of adult UC [aHR 0.29 (0.12–0.69)] but not CD [aHR 1.12 (0.61–2.06)] compared with unexposed individuals.

Conclusion

Juvenile appendicitis treated with appendectomy was associated with a decreased risk of adult IBD, both UC and CD. Those treated conservatively instead of with surgery had a lower risk of UC only. Our findings warrant more research on the role of the appendix and gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of IBD.
Mixed Monetary–Fiscal Policies and Macroeconomic Fluctuations: An Analysis Based on the Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium Model
Authors: Wang Xi , Li Jiayang , Zhang Guangbin
Published: March 2022

The existing literature on macroeconomic policy research is mainly concerned with the impact of a single monetary or fiscal policy on China's macroeconomic fluctuations in a closed economy. However, the effect of a mix of monetary and fiscal policies has been neglected. This paper addresses this issue with an open economy dynamic stochastic general equilibrium model. It applies impulse‐response and welfare analyses to explore the stabilization effect of various mixes of monetary and fiscal policies. The results show that the optimal monetary policy and fiscal policy mix varies in different cases. When government spending shocks happen, the aggressive fiscal policy and passive monetary policy would be the best choice. In contrast, for domestic interest rate shocks, foreign interest rate shocks, and foreign consumption shocks, the passive fiscal policy and aggressive monetary policy are more applicable. This article explains China's economic fluctuations and highlights the importance of mix of monetary and fiscal policies in the face of different shocks.
How infant‐directed actions enhance infants’ attention, learning, and exploration: Evidence from EEG and computational modeling
Authors: Meyer Marlene , van Schaik Johanna E. , Poli Francesco , Hunnius Sabine
Published: March 2022

When teaching infants new actions, parents tend to modify their movements. Infants prefer these infant‐directed actions (IDAs) over adult‐directed actions and learn well from them. Yet, it remains unclear how parents’ action modulations capture infants’ attention. Typically, making movements larger than usual is thought to draw attention. Recent findings, however, suggest that parents might exploit movement variability to highlight actions. We hypothesized that variability in movement amplitude rather than higher amplitude is capturing infants’ attention during IDAs. Using EEG, we measured 15‐month‐olds’ brain activity while they were observing action demonstrations with normal, high, or variable amplitude movements. Infants’ theta power (4–5 Hz) in fronto‐central channels was compared between conditions. Frontal theta was significantly higher, indicating stronger attentional engagement, in the variable compared to the other conditions. Computational modelling showed that infants’ frontal theta power was predicted best by how surprising each movement was. Thus, surprise induced by variability in movements rather than large movements alone engages infants’ attention during IDAs. Infants with higher theta power for variable movements were more likely to perform actions successfully and to explore objects novel in the context of the given goal. This highlights the brain mechanisms by which IDAs enhance infants’ attention, learning, and exploration.
Species‐level CWM values mask contrasting intra‐ versus interspecific trait shifts at subtropical forest edges
Authors: Zheng Shilu , Didham Raphael K. , Yu Mingjian , Webber Bruce L.
Published: March 2022

Altered microclimatic conditions and higher disturbance at forest edges create environmental stress and modify resource gradients from edge to interior, changing the selection pressures acting on individuals. Although community‐weighted trait‐mean (CWM) shifts along edge gradients have been widely documented at the species level, it is unclear how edge effects act at the individual level, and whether the direction of intraspecific trait shifts mirrors that of CWM shifts in response to edge effects. On 20 islands in the Thousand Island Lake, China, we established 484 plots (2 × 2 m) in a stratified random design across distances of 0–128 m from the forest edge. Within each plot, we sampled leaves (n = 34 768) from within and among all 2993 individuals of 68 species and measured five leaf traits (leaf area, LA; specific leaf area, SLA; leaf dry matter content, LDMC; thickness, LT; chlorophyll content, LCC). Using generalized linear mixed models, we found that different leaf traits exhibited contrasting shifts in inter‐ versus intraspecific trait variation in response to edge effects. For SLA, LT and LCC, negative covariance between inter‐ and intraspecific trait shifts resulted in dampening of community‐wide trends compared to CWM response to edge effects. In contrast, the community‐wide trend for LDMC was reinforced due to positive covariance between inter‐ and intraspecific trait shifts, while for LA the direction of covariance shifted from negative to positive on small versus large islands. Together, edge effects alter selection regimes in reassembling plant communities. Predicting the community‐wide consequences depends on the degree to which there is negative versus positive covariance between species sorting and within‐species adaptation. The widely‐used CWM approach can mask contrasting trait selection pressures acting on individuals within local populations. Individual‐level trait variation can improve understanding of community re‐assembly trajectories in response to global environmental change.
Behavioural alterations induced by intermittent ethanol intake and noise exposure in adolescent rats
Authors: Buján Gustavo Ezequiel , D'Alessio Luciana , Serra Héctor Alejandro , Molina Sonia Jazmín , Guelman Laura Ruth
Published: March 2022

Alcohol intake and exposure to noise are common activities of human adolescents performed in entertainment contexts worldwide that can induce behavioural disturbances. Therefore, the aim of the present work was to investigate in an experimental model of adolescent animals whether noise exposure and intermittent ethanol intake, when present individually or sequentially, might be able to modify different behaviours. Adolescent Wistar rats of both sexes were subjected to voluntary intermittent ethanol intake for 1 week followed by exposure to noise for 2 h and tested in a battery of behavioural tasks. Data show that males exposed to noise experienced a deficit in associative memory (AM), increase in anxiety‐like behaviours (ALB) and altered reaction to novelty (RN) when compared with sham animals, whereas females also showed an increase in risk assessment behaviours (RABs) and a decrease in exploratory activity (EA). In contrast, ethanol intake induced an increase in RAB and RN in males and females, whereas females also showed a deficit in AM and EA as well as an increase in ALB. When ethanol was ingested before noise exposure, most parameters were counteracted both in male and females, but differed among sexes. In consequence, it could be hypothesized that an environmental acute stressor like noise might trigger a behavioural counteracting induced by a previous repeated exposure to a chemical agent such as ethanol, leading to a compensation of a non‐adaptive behaviour and reaching a better adjustment to the environment.
Nest architecture is linked with ecological success in songbirds
Authors: Medina Iliana , M. Perez Daniela , Silva Ana C. Afonso , Cally Justin , León Constanza , Maliet Odile , Quintero Ignacio
Published: March 2022

Nests are essential constructions that determine fitness, yet their structure can vary substantially across bird species. While there is evidence supporting a link between nest architecture and the habitat a species occupies, we still ignore what ecological and evolutionary processes are linked to different nest types. Using information on 3175 species of songbirds, we show that—after controlling for latitude and body size—species that build domed nests (i.e. nests with a roof) have smaller ranges, are less likely to colonise urban environments and have potentially higher extinction rates compared to species with open and cavity nests. Domed nests could be a costly specialisation, and we show that these nests take more time to be built, which could restrict breeding opportunities. These diverse strands of evidence suggest that the transition from domed to open nests in passerines could represent an important evolutionary innovation behind the success of the largest bird radiation.
Biomechanical behaviour of implant prostheses and adjacent teeth according to bone quality: A finite element analysis
Authors: Wang Lan , Fu Zhi‐Hui , Hu Zhi‐Hui , Li Min , Qiu Li‐Hua , Gao Zhi
Published: March 2022

The contribution of biomechanical factors in the formation of proximal contact loss has been observed, but there is little research on the mechanisms by which they contribute. Using finite element analysis, this study aimed to analyse the impact of bone quality on the biomechanical behaviour of a dentition consisting of implant prostheses and adjacent teeth. The occlusal load was applied on the implant/tooth crown. In the mesiodistal direction, the adjacent natural tooth mesially to the implant denture had the tendency for mesial movement, while the distal adjacent natural tooth had the tendency for distal movement. For the supporting bone around the mesial adjacent tooth, the maximum/minimum principal stress and strain values on the mesial side of the bone were higher than those on the distal side of the bone. Stress and strain values on the mesial side of the supporting bone around the distal adjacent tooth were lower than those on the distal side. With decreasing bone density, displacements of teeth and the implant denture, principal stresses and equivalent strains on tooth supporting bone increased. Studies on biomechanical behaviours of a tooth‐implant dentition may provide a deeper understanding of implant‐induced dental adaptive processes such as proximal contact loss.
Multiple colonizations and genetic differentiation in goldenrod populations on recently formed nearshore islands
Authors: Kimura Takuma , Yamada Takayuki , Sakaguchi Shota , Ito Motomi , Maki Masayuki
Published: March 2022

Aim

Although the evolution of island endemic plants has long been investigated, the majority of such studies have focused on species with remarkable levels of morphological variation and on islands substantially far from the mainland. Endemic plants on nearshore oceanic islands have received less attention. We investigate the population genetic structure and dynamics in plants endemic to nearshore and recently formed oceanic islands and examined the possibility of multiple colonizations onto the islands.

Location

Japanese mainland Honshu and the adjacent Izu Islands.

Taxon

Solidago virgaurea (Asteraceae).

Methods

Sixteen and nine populations of S. virgaurea complex were sampled from the mainland and islands respectively; phylogeographical and population genetics analyses, including Bayesian Phylogeographic and Ecological Clustering (BPEC) analysis and Discrete Phylogeographic Approach (DPA) to trace the history of colonization events onto the islands, were performed using plastid DNA and nuclear microsatellite DNA variations.

Results

Phylogenetically close plastid DNA haplotypes were shared between the mainland and islands, although the populations of S. virgaurea from different islands tended to exhibit phylogenetically distinct haplotypes. Admixture analyses based on nuclear DNA variations revealed distinct genetic structures between the mainland and island populations. Gene flow among islands is restricted but may partially offset genetic drift on each island.

Main conclusions

The genetic structure observed in this study may not have originated from a single dispersal event and successive expansion but rather from at least three colonization events and subsequent gene flow among island populations. Based on the nuclear DNA variations, the Izu Island populations of S. virgaurea are genetically distinct from the mainland ones. Repeated colonization events may have provided sufficient genetic diversity, which would generally be susceptible to founder effects and exert a driving force for evolutionary adaptation, to these oceanic island populations.
Propionic acid regulates immune tolerant properties in B Cells
Authors: Tian Gui‐Xiang , Peng Ke‐Ping , Yu Yong , Liang Cheng‐Bai , Xie Hai‐Qing , Guo Yu‐Yang , Zhou Shan , Zheng Michael B. W. , Zheng Peng‐Yuan , Yang Ping‐Chang
Published: March 2022

Interleukin 10 (IL‐10)‐producing B cells (B10 cells) are a canonical cell fraction for regulating other activities of immune cells. Posttranscriptional modification of IL‐10 in B10 cells is not yet fully understood. Short‐chain fatty acids play an important role to regulate the functions of immune cells. This study aims to clarify the role of propionic acid (PA), a short‐chain fatty acid, in regulating the expression of IL‐10 in B10 cells. Blood samples were collected from patients with food allergy (FA) and healthy subjects. Serum and cellular components were prepared with the samples, and analysed by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay and flow cytometry, respectively. The results showed that serum PA levels were lower in FA patients. PA concentrations were negatively correlated with serum cytokine Th2 concentrations, specific IgE concentrations in serum and skin prick test results. The peripheral frequency of B10 cells and the production of IL‐10 in B cells were also associated with serum PA concentrations. Activation of B cells by CpG induced the production of IL‐10 and tristetretrprolin (TTP), in which TTP caused the spontaneous decay of IL‐10 mRNA. PA was necessary to stabilize the IL‐10 mRNA in B cells by inducing the production of granzyme B, which resulted in the degradation of the IL‐10 mRNA. Administration of PA attenuated FA response in mice by maintaining homeostasis of B10 cells. In conclusion, PA is needed to stabilize the expression of IL‐10 in B10 cells. PA administration can mitigate experimental FA by maintaining B10 cell functions.
Mass detection of walnut based on X‐ray imaging technology
Authors: Gao Tingyao , Zhang Shujuan , Sun Haixia , Ren Rui
Published: March 2022

In view of the problem of low accuracy in walnut mass detection caused by relatively inconstant density, this study suggested the integration of X‐ray imaging technology and image processing technology with machine learning for walnut mass detection. Using image processing technology to remove the background of walnut X‐ray image and to segment the kernels, the mass prediction models could be constructed after extracting the shape and texture of walnut characteristic parameters and the kernel shape characteristic parameters. The results revealed that when mass prediction models were built based on walnut shape characteristic parameters or constructed with the application of texture characteristic parameters, the determination coefficient (R2) were rather low, even the residual predictive deviation (RPD) less than 1.4, proving that these models were not reliable. However, when mass prediction models were built based on walnut and kernel shape characteristic parameters, the R2 for both partial least squares (PLS) and radial basis function (RBF) models were higher than 0.84. And the RPD values were 1.8133 and 1.7474, respectively. On this basis, when competitive adaptive reweighed sampling (CARS) optimized parameters were adopted, the R2 for both PLS and RBF models were higher than 0.86 and the RPD were 1.8759 and 1.8850, respectively. The result proved that the application of walnut and kernel shape characteristics can improve the accuracy of model prediction. Therefore, using X‐ray imaging technology to detect walnut mass was feasible, which could realized the prompt, accurate and nondestructive detection of walnut mass. This technology provided a novel thought for the accurate grading of walnuts.

Practical Applications

At present, there is a problem of similar size but large mass difference after walnut size classification, which directly affects the commodity value of walnuts. It is necessary to combine multiple characteristics to select and classify walnuts. Mass is an important grading index. With the development of machine vision technology, online detection of fruit mass has been realized. However, due to the relatively inconstant density of walnuts and the limitation of the technology, the machine vision technique cannot obtain internal information. This study used X‐ray transmission to obtain the internal information of walnuts without destroying the walnuts. At the same time, the mass detection models were established by combining the internal and external characteristics of the walnuts to achieve fast, accurate, and nondestructive testing of walnut mass. Automatic mass detection provides technical support for intelligent grading, which has important production significance and economic value for the development of the walnut industry.
Behavioural actions of tuberoinfundibular peptide 39 (parathyroid hormone 2)
Authors: Keller Dávid , Tsuda Mumeko C. , Usdin Ted B. , Dobolyi Arpád
Published: March 2022

Tuberoinfundibular peptide of 39 residues (TIP39) acts via its endogenous class B G‐protein coupled receptorthe parathyroid hormone 2 receptor (PTH2R). Hence, it is also known as parathyroid hormone 2. The peptide is expressed in the brain by a small number of neurons with a highly restricted distribution, which in turn project to a large number of brain regions that contain PTH2R. This peptide neuromodulator system has been extensively investigated over the past 20 years including its behavioural actions, such as its role in the control of nociception, fear and fear incubation, anxiety and depression‐like behaviours, and maternal and social behaviours. It also influences thermoregulation and potentially auditory responses. TIP39 probably exerts direct effect on the neuronal networks controlling these behaviours based on the localization of PTH2R and local TIP39 actions. In addition, TIP39 also affects the secretion of several hypothalamic hormones providing the basis for indirect behavioural actions. Recently developed experimental tools have stimulated further behavioural investigations, and novel results obtained are discussed in this review.
Evidence for alterations to dynamic quantitative sensory tests in patients with chronic temporomandibular myalgia: A systematic review of observational studies with meta‐analysis
Authors: Cayrol Timothée , Meeus Mira , Aron Vladimir , Gatto Claire , Mouraux André , Roussel Nathalie A. , Sallaz Léo , van den Broeke Emanuel N. , Pitance Laurent
Published: March 2022

Background

Conflicting results exist between somatosensory profiles of patients with temporomandibular myalgia (TMDm). The objective of this review was to examine whether adults with TMDm show altered responses to dynamic quantitative sensory tests compared with healthy controls.

Methods

We searched five electronic databases for studies, excluding those without suitable controls or where TMDm was associated with confounding non‐musculoskeletal disorders. Risk of bias was assessed with the SIGN case‐control study checklist. Findings were structured around dynamic quantitative sensory tests and their localization. Where possible, we performed meta‐analysis with a random inverse variance model to compare patients with TMDm and healthy controls. Statistical heterogeneity was estimated with Chi² test and inconsistency index, I².

Results

We extracted data from 23 studies comprising 1284 adults with chronic TMDm and 2791 healthy controls. Risk of bias was assessed as high for 20 studies. Mechanical temporal summation, the most studied phenomenon (14 studies), is increased in the upper limb of patients with TMDm (SMD = 0.43; 95% CI: .11 to .75; p = .009) but not in the jaw area (p = .09) or in the cervical area (p = .29). Very little evidence for altered thermal temporal summation (five studies), conditioned pain modulation (seven studies), exercise‐induced hypoalgesia (two studies), placebo analgesia (two studies), stress‐induced hypoalgesia (one study) and offset analgesia (one study) was found.

Discussion

A major limitation of this review was the risk of bias of included studies. Future studies would benefit from following methodological guidelines and consideration of confounding factors.
Enemies or good neighbors? No indication of spatial or temporal avoidance between two sympatric South American canids
Authors: Di Bitetti M. S. , Iezzi M. E. , Cruz P. , Cirignoli S. , Varela D. , De Angelo C.
Published: March 2022

Niche partitioning is a common mechanism by which sympatric mammal carnivore species mitigate competition and achieve coexistence. This ecological process is usually measured along three axes: diet, space, and time. The Pampas fox (Lycalopex gymnocercus) and the crab‐eating fox (Cerdocyon thous) have similar morphologies and diets and share a wide area of sympatry in South America. We conducted a large camera‐trap survey (~25 000 km2, 234 stations, 10 494 camera‐trap days) in the subtropical savannas of Argentina to understand if the crab‐eating fox and the Pampas fox have a competitive coexistence, which would be evidenced by spatial and temporal avoidance. We predicted that the smaller and less social Pampas fox would avoid, either spatially or temporally, the presumably dominant crab‐eating fox. To study habitat associations, we used single‐species occupancy models. We used two‐species occupancy models to assess if the Pampas fox has a lower probability of occurrence (ψ) or detection (p) at locations occupied by the crab‐eating fox. We used circular statistics to evaluate if the Pampas fox becomes more diurnal in areas with high ψ of the nocturnal crab‐eating fox. These foxes showed different habitat associations. The Pampas fox had lower ψ in forest habitat. The crab‐eating fox had higher ψ at locations with more wetlands. Both foxes had higher ψ at locations with cattle. The ψ and p of the Pampas fox were not negatively affected by those of the crab‐eating fox, and there was no indication of spatial avoidance. Contrary to our prediction, the Pampas fox did not become more diurnal at locations with high ψ of the crab‐eating fox. The coexistence of these species seems to be facilitated by their similarity in body weight, which reduces the chances of intraguild killing, coupled with their divergent niches, which is evidenced in their different habitat preferences within shared landscapes.
What Predicts First‐ and Second‐Language Difficulties? Testing Language and Executive Functioning Skills as Correlates
Authors: Chung Kevin Kien Hoa , Li Xiaomin , Lam Chun Bun , Fung Wing Kai , Liu Catrina
Published: March 2022

This study examined the co‐occurrence of word reading difficulty in Chinese (L1) and English as a second language (L2) and tested language and executive functioning (EF) skills as correlates. Thirty‐nine poor readers in Chinese (PC), 39 poor readers in English (PE), and 26 poor readers of both languages (PB) were compared to 39 average readers who served as controls (C). The co‐occurrence rate of L1–L2 difficulty was 40%. Moreover, PC, PE, and PB performed less well than C on all language and EF skills; PB performed less well than PC, PE, and C on L1 and L2 phonological awareness, L2 morphological awareness, rapid naming, and EF. Findings highlight the role of language and EF skills in L1 and L2 reading development.
Intelligent monitoring and evaluation for the prefabricated construction schedule
Authors: Yan Xuzhong , Zhang Hong , Zhang Wenyu
Published: March 2022

The prefabricated building construction (PBC) project is sensitive to uncertainties due to the highly required coordination and interdependency among the installation activities, which may cause progress delay. Hence, it is necessary to monitor the installation progress and evaluate the schedule in terms of the project duration to take proactive control actions to avoid actual project delay. This study focuses on intelligent monitoring and evaluation for the PBC schedule by combining the computer vision‐based (CVB) technology, a weighted kernel density estimation (WKDE) method, and the earned duration management (EDM) method. Intelligent and real‐time far‐field detection of the prefabricated components (PCs) and workers is achieved through the CVB technology, which is, respectively, used to measure the progress status of the PC installation works and other manual works by means of the WKDE method. The PBC project duration is then predicted based on the monitored progress status to evaluate the schedule through the EDM method. The proposed intelligent schedule monitoring and evaluation method have been illustrated and justified through a field application. This study contributes to achieving intelligent schedule monitoring and evaluation for the PBC project.
Aluminum hydroxide adjuvant diverts the uptake and trafficking of genetically detoxified pertussis toxin to lysosomes in macrophages
Authors: Jaldin‐Fincati Javier R. , Moussaoui Serene , Gimenez Maria Cecilia , Ho Cheuk Y. , Lancaster Charlene E. , Botelho Roberto J. , Ausar Salvador F. , Brookes Roger H. , Terebiznik Mauricio R.
Published: March 2022

Aluminum salts have been successfully utilized as adjuvants to enhance the immunogenicity of vaccine antigens since the 1930s. However, the cellular mechanisms behind the immune adjuvanticity effect of these materials in antigen‐presenting cells are poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the uptake and trafficking of aluminum oxy‐hydroxide (AlOOH), in RAW 264.7 murine and U‐937 human macrophages‐like cells. Furthermore, we determined the impact that the adsorption to AlOOH particulates has on the trafficking of a Bordetella pertussis vaccine candidate, the genetically detoxified pertussis toxin (gdPT). Our results indicate that macrophages internalize AlOOH by constitutive macropinocytosis assisted by the filopodial protrusions that capture the adjuvant particles. Moreover, we show that AlOOH has the capacity to nonspecifically adsorb IgG, engaging opsonic phagocytosis, which is a feature that may allow for more effective capture and uptake of adjuvant particles by antigen‐presenting cells (APCs) at the site of vaccine administration. We found that AlOOH traffics to endolysosomal compartments that hold degradative properties. Importantly, while we show that gdPT escapes degradative endolysosomes and traffics toward the retrograde pathway, as reported for the wild‐type pertussis toxin, the adsorption to AlOOH diverts gdPT to traffic to the adjuvant’s lysosome‐type compartments, which may be key for MHC‐II‐driven antigen presentation and activation of CD4+ T cell. Thus, our findings establish a direct link between antigen adsorption to AlOOH and the intracellular trafficking of antigens within antigen‐presenting cells and bring to light a new potential mechanism for aluminum adjuvancy. Moreover, the in‐vitro single‐cell approach described herein provides a general framework and tools for understanding critical attributes of other vaccine formulations.
Drought affects the performance of native oak seedlings more strongly than competition with invasive crested wattle seedlings
Authors: Santamarina S. , Montesinos D. , Alfaro‐Saiz E. , Acedo C.
Published: March 2022

Two of the most important processes threatening vulnerable plant species are competitive displacement by invasive alien species and water stress due to global warming.Quercus lusitanica,an oak shrub species with remarkable conservation interest, could be threatened by the expansion of the invasive alien treeParaserianthes lophantha. However, it is unclear how competition would interact with predicted reductions in water availability due to global climate change. We set up a full factorial experiment to examine the direct interspecific competition betweenP. lophanthaandQ. lusitanicaseedlings under control and water‐limited conditions.

We measured seed biomass, germination, seedling emergence, leaf relative growth rate, biomass, root/shoot ratio, predawn shoot water potential and mortality to assess the individual and combined effects of water stress and interspecific competition on both species.

Our results indicate that, at seedling stage, both species experience competitive effects and responses. However, water stress exhibited a stronger overall effect than competition. Although both species responded strongly to water stress, the invasiveP. lophanthaexhibited significantly less drought stress than the nativeQ. lusitanicabased on predawn shoot water potential measurements.

The findings of this study suggest that the competition with invasiveP. lophanthain the short term must not be dismissed, but that the long‐term conservation of the native shrubQ. lusitanicacould be compromised by increased drought as a result of global change. Our work sheds light on the combined effects of biological invasions and climate change that can negatively affect vulnerable plant species.
Behavioural and psychological symptoms of early‐onset and late‐onset Alzheimer's disease among Chinese adults: analysis of modifiable factors
Authors: Fang Shuyan , Zhang Shuang , Wang Wenxia , Li Yijing , Zhang Xu , Yu Haisong , Sun Jiao
Published: March 2022

Background

To conduct a comprehensive comparison of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in Chinese people with early‐onset Alzheimer's disease (EOAD) and late‐onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) and analyse the factors of differences.

Methods

A cross‐sectional survey of 93 EOAD and100 LOAD and their caregivers in China from November 2018 to May 2019.

Results

The total Neuropsychiatric Inventory score was significantly higher in LOAD. A higher level of agitation in EOAD was related to a lower quality of life of caregivers and the emotional expression of ignoring people with dementia. Higher euphoria scores in LOAD were associated with reduced negative coping by caregivers and reduced stability and predictability at home.

Conclusion

The early identification and management of specific BPSD of EOAD and LOAD by family members and health professionals may improve the quality of care and life for people with dementia and that of caregivers.
COVID-19 Severity: A New Approach to Quantifying Global Cases and Deaths
Authors: Millimet Daniel L. , Parmeter Christopher F.
Published: March 2022

As the COVID-19 pandemic has progressed, so too has the recognition that cases and deaths have been underreported, perhaps vastly so. Here, we present an econometric strategy to estimate the true number of COVID-19 cases and deaths for 61 and 56 countries, respectively, from 1 January 2020 to 3 November 2020. Specifically, we estimate a ‘structural’ model based on the SIR epidemiological model extended to incorporate underreporting. The results indicate significant underreporting by magnitudes that align with existing research and conjectures by public health experts. While our approach requires some strong assumptions, these assumptions are very different from the equally strong assumptions required by other approaches addressing underreporting in the assessment of the extent of the pandemic. Thus, we view our approach as a complement to existing methods.
The basic distributional theory for the product of zero mean correlated normal random variables
Authors: Gaunt Robert E.
Published: March 2022

The product of two zero mean correlated normal random variables, and more generally the sum of independent copies of such random variables, has received much attention in the statistics literature and appears in many application areas. However, many important distributional properties are yet to be recorded. This review paper fills this gap by providing the basic distributional theory for the sum of independent copies of the product of two zero mean correlated normal random variables. Properties covered include probability and cumulative distribution functions, generating functions, moments and cumulants, mode and median, Stein characterisations, representations in terms of other random variables, and a list of related distributions. We also review how the product of two zero mean correlated normal random variables arises naturally as a limiting distribution, with an example given for the distributional approximation of double Wiener‐Itô integrals.
Genomic full‐length sequence of the HLA‐B*44:348 allele was identified by next generation sequencing
Authors: Loginova Maria , Smirnova Daria , Druzhinina Svetlana , Paramonov Igor
Published: March 2022

Genomic full‐length sequence of the HLA‐B*44:348 allele was identified by next generation sequencing in a Russian individual.
Characterization of the novel HLA‐B*44:03:62 allele by sequencing‐based typing
Authors: Cargou Marine , Elsermans Vincent , Top Isabelle , Wojciechowski Elodie , Visentin Jonathan
Published: March 2022

HLA‐B*44:03:62 differs from HLA‐B*44:03:01:01 by one nucleotide substitution in codon 127 in exon 3.
Dexamethasone attenuated thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection in vascular smooth muscle cell Tgfbr2‐disrupted mice with CCL8 suppression
Authors: Wang Xipeng , Li Qingle , Li Wei , Zhang Tao , Li Xiaoyan , Jiao Yang , Zhang Xuemin , Jiang Jingjun , Zhang Xiaoping , Zhang Xiaoming
Published: March 2022

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

What is the relationship of chemokine (C‐C motif) ligand 8 (CCL8) to thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection (TAAD) formation in postnatal mice with vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) Tgfbr2 disruption, and is dexamethasone a potential treatment?

What is the main finding and its importance?

CCL8 was associated with the formation of TAAD in VSMC Tgfbr2‐disrupted mice. Dexamethasone reduced TAAD formation and inhibited mitogen‐activated protein kinase (p‐p38) and nuclear factor‐κB (p‐p65) signalling pathways. CCL8 might be an important promoter of aortic inflammation. Dexamethasone provided potential therapeutic effects in TAAD treatment.

Aortic inflammation plays a vital role in initiation and progression of thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection (TAAD). Disturbance of the transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) signalling pathway is believed to be one of the pathogenic mechanisms of TAAD. Initially, Myh11‐CreERT2.Tgfbr2f/f male mice were used to build a TAAD mouse model, and bioinformatic analyses revealed enriched inflammatory signal pathways and upregulated chemokine (C‐C motif) ligand 8 (CCL8). So we hypothesized that vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) Tgfbr2 disruption in postnatal mice results in aortic inflammation associated with CCL8 secretion. Real‐time quantitative PCR and serum enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) results confirmed that CCL8 expression began to increase after VSMC Tgfbr2 disruption. Next, we cultured mouse thoracic aortas ex vivo, and observed that the protein expression of CCL8 in culture supernatants was increased by ELISA. Subsequently, the co‐localization of CCL8 with α‐smooth muscle actin or CD68 was found to be significantly increased by immunofluorescence. Then, dexamethasone (DEX) was used to treat TAAD in VSMC Tgfbr2‐disrupted mice; the results of histochemical, immunofluorescence and immunohistochemical staining indicated that DEX therapy reduced CCL8 secretion, inflammatory cell recruitment, aortic medial thickening, elastic fibre fragmentation, extracellular matrix degradation and contractile apparatus impairment, and thereby ameliorated TAAD formation. Western blotting showed that mitogen‐activated protein kinase and nuclear factor‐κB signalling pathways in aorta were overactivated after VSMC Tgfbr2 disruption, but inhibited by DEX therapy. Altogether, CCL8 might be an important promoter in TAAD formation of VSMC Tgfbr2‐disrupted mice, and DEX provided potential therapeutic effects in TAAD treatment.
Assessment of an Improved Delayed X-LES Hybrid Model for the Study of Off-Design Conditions in Centrifugal Pumps
Authors: Fracassi A. , De Donno R. , Ghidoni A. , Noventa G.
Published: March 2022

Centrifugal pumps work in a wide range of conditions, often far from the design condition. The flow field can be characterized by large separations, vortex dynamics, and, in general, unsteady turbulent phenomena. Strongly off-design conditions are characterized by large separations that lead to efficiency loss, vibrations, and even to fatigue failure. Therefore, the capability to predict the flow field in these conditions is of great interest and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) can represent a viable solution, which can also complement or substitute experimental measurements. In this context, the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) approach allows to accurately simulate attached turbulent flows around complex geometries but it fails the prediction of massively separated flows, crucial for the off-design performance. To overcome this limitation, scale-resolving simulations based on the large eddy simulation (LES) can be used. However, their computational cost is too large for a routine use in industry. In centrifugal pumps, where the typical Reynolds number is in the range 105−106, the use of a hybrid RANS–LES model or a wall modeled LES approach seems mandatory to improve the RANS accuracy and reduce the LES computational cost. In this work, an improved version of the extra-large eddy simulation (X-LES) model, the delayed X-LES or DX-LES model, is implemented in the open-source tool-box openfoam v.1812 and is assessed in the computation of the flow field through a centrifugal pump impeller, both at the design and one-quarter loads. The results are compared with experimental data and LES results available in literature.
Mirada antropológica a la guerra de Ucrania. Notas sobre paz, violencia, conflicto y mediación
Authors:   UAM, Giménez Romero Carlos
Published: March 2022

Ucrania. De nuevo la violencia y el inmenso daño y sufrimiento, muertos y heridos, desabastecimiento y angustia, millones de desplazados y refugiados, destrucción y pérdidas de infraestructuras necesarias para la vida, nefastas consecuencias y riesgos de todo tipo. Otra guerra. Y ya suman 35 los escenarios de conflictos armados y de tensión internacional en el mundo (Siria, Yemen, Malí, Chad, Israel/Palestina, Marruecos/Sahara, etc.) Todos ellos con los rasgos comunes de todas las guerras y, al mismo tiempo, cada uno con su particularidad y especificidad.