bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
STAG2 loss-of-function affects short-range genomic contacts and modulates the basal-luminal transcriptional program of bladder cancer cells
Authors: Richart Laia , Lapi Eleonora , Pancaldi Vera , Cuenca-Ardura Mirabai , Pau Enrique Carrillo-de-Santa , Madrid-Mencía Miguel , Neyret-Kahn Hélène , Radvanyi François , Rodríguez Juan Antonio , Cuartero Yasmina , Serra François , Le Dily François , Valencia Alfonso , Marti-Renom Marc A , Real Francisco X
Published: September 2021

Cohesin exists in two variants containing STAG1 or STAG2. STAG2 is one of the most mutated genes in cancer and a major bladder tumor suppressor. Little is known about how its inactivation contributes to tumorigenesis. Here, we analyze the genomic distribution of STAG1 and STAG2 and perform STAG2 loss-of-function experiments using RT112 bladder cancer cells; we then analyze the genomic effects by integrating gene expression and chromatin interaction data. Functional compartmentalization exists between the cohesin complexes: cohesin-STAG2 displays a distinctive genomic distribution and mediates short and mid-ranged interactions that engage genes at higher frequency than those established by cohesin-STAG1. STAG2 knockdown results in down-regulation of the luminal urothelial signature and up-regulation of the basal transcriptional program, mirroring differences between STAG2-high and STAG2-low human bladder tumors. This is accompanied by rewiring of DNA contacts within topological domains, while compartments and domain boundaries remain refractive. Contacts lost upon depletion of STAG2 are assortative, preferentially occur within silent chromatin domains, and are associated with de-repression of lineage-specifying genes. Our findings indicate that STAG2 participates in the DNA looping that keeps the basal transcriptional program silent and thus sustains the luminal program. This mechanism may contribute to the tumor suppressor function of STAG2 in the urothelium.
Cisplatin fastens chromatin irreversibly even at a high chloride concentration
Authors: Moon Hyeon-Min , Park Jin-Sung , Lee Il-Buem , Kang Young-Im , Jung Hae Jun , An Dongju , Shin Yumi , Kim Min Ji , Kim Hugh I , Song Ji-Joon , Kim Jaehoon , Lee Nam-Kyung , Hong Seok-Cheol
Published: September 2021

Cisplatin is one of the most potent anti-cancer drugs developed so far. Recent studies highlighted several intriguing roles of histones in cisplatin's anti-cancer effect. Thus, the effect of nucleosome formation should be considered to give a better account of the anti-cancer effect of cisplatin. Here we investigated this important issue via single-molecule measurements. Surprisingly, the reduced activity of cisplatin under [NaCl] = 180 mM, corresponding to the total concentration of cellular ionic species, is still sufficient to impair the integrity of a nucleosome by retaining its condensed structure firmly, even against severe mechanical and chemical disturbances. Our finding suggests that such cisplatin-induced fastening of chromatin can inhibit nucleosome remodelling required for normal biological functions. The in vitro chromatin transcription assay indeed revealed that the transcription activity was effectively suppressed in the presence of cisplatin. Our direct physical measurements on cisplatin-nucleosome adducts suggest that the formation of such adducts be the key to the anti-cancer effect by cisplatin.
Transliteration of synthetic genetic enzymes
Authors: Wang Yajun , Liu Xiaolin , Shehabat Mouhamad , Chim Nicholas , Chaput John C
Published: September 2021

Functional nucleic acids lose activity when their sequence is prepared in the backbone architecture of a different genetic polymer. The only known exception to this rule is a subset of aptamers whose binding mechanism involves G-quadruplex formation. We refer to such examples as transliteration—a synthetic biology concept describing cases in which the phenotype of a nucleic acid molecule is retained when the genotype is written in a different genetic language. Here, we extend the concept of transliteration to include nucleic acid enzymes (XNAzymes) that mediate site-specific cleavage of an RNA substrate. We show that an in vitro selected 2′-fluoroarabino nucleic acid (FANA) enzyme retains catalytic activity when its sequence is prepared as α-l-threofuranosyl nucleic acid (TNA), and vice versa, a TNA enzyme that remains functional when its sequence is prepared as FANA. Structure probing with DMS supports the hypothesis that FANA and TNA enzymes having the same primary sequence can adopt similarly folded tertiary structures. These findings provide new insight into the sequence-structure-function paradigm governing biopolymer folding.
Broadening the reach and investigating the potential of prime editors through fully viral gene-deleted adenoviral vector delivery
Authors: Wang Qian , Liu Jin , Janssen Josephine M , Tasca Francesca , Mei Hailiang , Gonçalves Manuel A F V
Published: September 2021

Prime editing is a recent precision genome editing modality whose versatility offers the prospect for a wide range of applications, including the development of targeted genetic therapies. Yet, an outstanding bottleneck for its optimization and use concerns the difficulty in delivering large prime editing complexes into cells. Here, we demonstrate that packaging prime editing constructs in adenoviral capsids overcomes this constrain resulting in robust genome editing in both transformed and non-transformed human cells with up to 90% efficiencies. Using this cell cycle-independent delivery platform, we found a direct correlation between prime editing activity and cellular replication and disclose that the proportions between accurate prime editing events and unwanted byproducts can be influenced by the target-cell context. Hence, adenovector particles permit the efficacious delivery and testing of prime editing reagents in human cells independently of their transformation and replication statuses. The herein integrated gene delivery and gene editing technologies are expected to aid investigating the potential and limitations of prime editing in numerous experimental settings and, eventually, in ex vivo or in vivo therapeutic contexts.
Adipose expression of miR-130b and miR-17-5p with wasting, cardiovascular event and mortality in advanced chronic kidney disease patients
Authors: Chan Gordon Chun-Kau , Than Win Hlaing , Kwan Bonnie Ching-Ha , Lai Ka-Bik , Chan Ronald Cheong-Kin , Ng Jack Kit-Chung , Chow Kai-Ming , Cheng Phyllis Mei-Shan , Law Man-Ching , Leung Chi-Bon , Li Philip Kam-Tao , Szeto Cheuk-Chun
Published: September 2021

Background

There are limited data on the association of adipose microRNA expression with body composition and adverse clinical outcomes in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD). We aimed to evaluate the association of adipose miR-130b and miR-17-5p expressions with body composition, functional state, cardiovascular outcome and mortality in incident dialysis patients.

Methods

We performed a single-center prospective cohort study. Patients who were planned for peritoneal dialysis were recruited. miR-130b and miR-17-5p expressions were measured from subcutaneous and pre-peritoneal fat tissue obtained during peritoneal dialysis catheter insertion. Body composition and physical function were assessed by bioimpedance spectroscopy and Clinical Frailty Scale. Primary outcome was 2-year survival. Secondary outcomes were 2-year technique survival and major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) rate.

Results

Adipose expression of miR-130b and miR-17-5p correlated with parameters of muscle mass including intracellular water (miR-130b: r = 0.191, P = 0.02; miR-17-5p: r = 0.211, P = 0.013) and lean tissue mass (miR-17-5p: r = 0.176, P = 0.04; miR-17-5p: r = 0.176, P = 0.004). miR-130b expression predicted frailty significantly (P = 0.017). Adipose miR-17-5p expression predicted 2-year all-cause survival (P = 0.020) and technique survival (P = 0.036), while miR-130b expression predicted incidence of MACE (P = 0.015).

Conclusions

Adipose miR-130b and miR-17-5p expressions correlated with body composition parameters, frailty, and predicted cardiovascular events and mortality in advanced CKD patients.
Zhentang Zhao: past and future of the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility
Authors: Zhao Weijie
Published: September 2021

A synchrotron light source is familiar to many researchers. Biologists use it to determine structures of proteins and other biomacromolecules; material scientists use it to analyze internal structures of different materials; physicists use it to explore the basic matter states; and physicians use it to perform medical imaging. A high-performance synchrotron light source is often the workhorse supporting a prosperous multi-disciplinary research center. In China, that is the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility (SSRF).

Since its opening to users in 2009, SSRF has bred many significant scientific achievements and laid the foundation for the Shanghai Zhangjiang Cluster of Big Science Facilities. On 3 August 2021, National Science Review (NSR) interviewed Professor Zhentang Zhao, Director of the SSRF Science Center and vice president of the Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). Prof. Zhao introduced the construction and development of the synchrotron light source and X-ray free electron laser facilities in Shanghai, as well as how SSRF experiences may be valuable for big science facilities and centers now under construction in China.
“I’m Bored and I’m Stressed”: A Qualitative Study of Exclusive Smokers, ENDS Users, and Transitioning Smokers or ENDS Users in the Time of COVID-19
Authors: Popova Lucy , Henderson Katherine , Kute Nikita , Singh-Looney Manu , Ashley David L , Reynolds Reed M , Nayak Pratibha , Spears Claire Adams
Published: September 2021

Background

To better understand the various influences of COVID-19 on tobacco use, we examined three different tobacco user groups using qualitative methods.

Methods

Ten online focus groups with 61 adults from the Atlanta, GA area were held in October–November 2020: four with exclusive smokers (n = 16), three with Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS) users (dual and exclusive, n = 22), and three with transitioning (recently quit or currently quitting) smokers and/or ENDS users (n = 23).

Results

Exclusive smokers reported smoking more frequently, driven by COVID-19-related stress, time at home, and boredom. They were not motivated to quit during the pandemic, and some considered smoking to be protective against COVID-19. ENDS users reported vaping less, with dual users often increasing their smoking; many were concerned about health effects of smoking and ENDS use during the pandemic. Transitioning smokers/ENDS users worried about their health and wanted to quit, but many found the stress of COVID-19 unbearable without tobacco use.

Conclusions

There were some similarities among the groups, but also pronounced differences. Educational campaigns should capitalize on the teachable moment of COVID-19 to increase perceived risk of smoking. Smokers need access to more adaptive ways to deal with stress (such as mindfulness training) in lieu of smoking and systems-level approaches should address structural determinants of health that cause high levels of stress. The proposed policy to lower nicotine in combusted tobacco products might help smokers choose other means of coping instead of cigarettes by reducing the stress-relieving properties of smoking particularly salient during the pandemic.

Implications

Smokers believe that cigarettes help them deal with the stresses and challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. This needs to be counteracted by educational campaigns to increase perceived harm of smoking, alternative stress-relief strategies, and mandated changes to the combusted tobacco products to make them less appealing.
Subaru Hyper Suprime-Cam revisits the large-scale environmental dependence on galaxy morphology over 360 deg2 atz= 0.3–0.6
Authors: Shimakawa Rhythm , Tanaka Takumi S , Toshikage Seiji , Tanaka Masayuki
Published: September 2021

This study investigates the role of large-scale environments on the fraction of spiral galaxies at z = 0.3–0.6 sliced to three redshift bins of Δz = 0.1. Here, we sample 276220 massive galaxies in a limited stellar mass of 5 × 1010 solar mass (∼M*) over 360 deg2, as obtained from the Second Public Data Release of the Hyper Suprime-Cam Subaru Strategic Program (HSC-SSP). By combining projected two-dimensional density information (Shimakawa et al. 2021, MNRAS, 503, 3896) and the CAMIRA cluster catalog (Oguri et al. 2018, PASJ, 70, S20), we investigate the spiral fraction across large-scale overdensities and in the vicinity of red sequence clusters. We adopt transfer learning to reduce the cost of labeling spiral galaxies significantly and then perform stacking analysis across the entire field to overcome the limitations of sample size. Here we employ a morphological classification catalog by the Galaxy Zoo Hubble (Willett et al., 2017, MNRAS, 464, 4176) to train the deep learning model. Based on 74103 sources classified as spirals, we find moderate morphology–density relations on a 10 comoving Mpc scale, thanks to the wide-field coverage of HSC-SSP. Clear deficits of spiral galaxies have also been confirmed, in and around 1136 red sequence clusters. Furthermore, we verify whether there is a large-scale environmental dependence on rest-frame u − r colors of spiral galaxies; such a tendency was not observed in our sample.
Zircon U–Pb Geochronology and Hf–O Isotope Characteristics of Granitoids from the Capricorn Orogen, Western Australia
Authors: Jahn I , Clark C , Reddy S , Taylor R J M
Published: September 2021

The Capricorn Orogen, Western Australia, is a complex orogenic zone that records the convergence and collision of the Archaean Yilgarn and Pilbara cratons in forming the West Australian Craton (WAC), then over one billion years of subsequent intracontinental reworking. Granites associated with these tectonothermal events (the Dalgaringa, Bertibubba, Moorarie, Durlacher and Thirty Three supersuites) are exposed in the western part of the Capricorn Orogen. This study integrates radiogenic (U–Pb and Hf) and stable isotope (O) analysis of zircon grains from granitic rocks in the Capricorn Orogen to determine their ages and magmatic sources, including the relative contributions of mantle versus crustal material. Granites from the margin of the Yilgarn Craton record periods of crustal growth and reworking during the Archaean that influenced later Proterozoic magmatic events. Components of the Capricorn Orogen, collectively termed the Glenburgh Terrane, have previously been considered to be exotic to the adjacent Pilbara and Yilgarn cratons. However, new U–Pb zircon geochronology and Lu–Hf isotope compositions of basement rocks in the Glenburgh Terrane (the Halfway Gneiss) have similarities to some terranes of the Yilgarn Craton, and are interpreted to represent a reworked portion of the craton that was re-accreted during the Glenburgh Orogeny. Arc magmatism during the Ma Glenburgh Orogeny resulted in a period of crustal growth, with magmas representing a mixture of 50–90 % mantle-derived magmas and 50–10 % magmas derived from an evolved crustal component with an isotopic composition equivalent to that of the Halfway Gneiss. Following assembly of the WAC, granite magmatism in the Capricorn Orogen records a significant change from one dominated by mantle-derived magmatism to one dominated by crustal melting and an increased contribution from metasedimentary material. This transition reflects a geodynamic evolution from subduction–accretion to collision and intracratonic reworking. The isotopic characteristics of granites from the Moorarie Supersuite indicate three distinct sources: (1) a metasedimentary component; (2) an evolved crustal component, comparable with the Glenburgh Terrane; (3) a mafic juvenile component. Following this, the Hf–O compositions of the Durlacher Supersuite indicate that they were derived from reworking of the Moorarie Supersuite granites, and require no juvenile contribution or any additional sedimentary source. The isotopic compositions of the Thirty Three Supersuite pegmatites indicate that they were largely derived from reworking of the Moorarie and Durlacher supersuites.
Protoplasmic streaming of chloroplasts enables rapid photoacclimation in large diatoms
Authors: Silkin Vladimir , Fedorov Alexey , Flynn Kevin J , Paramonov Leonid , Pautova Larisa
Published: September 2021

Long-term (2004–2020) studies showed yearly summer/autumn blooms in the NE Black Sea dominated by large (cell volume > 5000 μm3) diatoms (Pseudosolenia calcar-avis and Proboscia alata). This phenomenon is characterized by high (>250 W m−2 photosynthetically active radiation, PAR) insolation, and low phosphorus concentrations (to analytical zero). These diatoms contained >100 chloroplasts per cell, which at low irradiance are evenly distributed throughout the cell. As light increases (to 1000 μmol photons m−2 s−1 PAR), chloroplasts aggregate within 20 min, usually to the center of the cell. In consequence, the light absorption coefficient is decreased by >3 fold. At elevated photon flux density (PFD), P. calcar-avis also shows a “conveyor” of chloroplasts moving from the aggregate to the cell periphery and back. This mechanism enables a continuous fine-tuning of the cells’ ability to absorb light, likely also facilitating photo-damage repair. This rapid photoacclimation mechanism allows large diatoms to minimize photodamage at high PFD and acclimate well to low PFD. We hypothesize that competitive success of large diatoms in conditions of high light gradients is aided by this short-term rapid photoacclimation enhancing growth rate while minimizing chloroplast repair costs, aided by the ability of large cells to accumulate nutrients for chloroplast synthesis.
Quantifying senescence in bread wheat using multispectral imaging from an unmanned aerial vehicle and QTL mapping
Authors: Hassan Muhammad Adeel , Yang Mengjiao , Rasheed Awais , Tian Xiuling , Reynolds Matthew , Xia Xianchun , Xiao Yonggui , He Zhonghu
Published: September 2021

Environmental stresses from climate change can alter source–sink relations during plant maturation, leading to premature senescence and decreased yields. Elucidating the genetic control of natural variations for senescence in wheat (Triticum aestivum) can be accelerated using recent developments in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based imaging techniques. Here, we describe the use of UAVs to quantify senescence in wheat using vegetative indices (VIs) derived from multispectral images. We detected senescence with high heritability, as well as its impact on grain yield (GY), in a doubled-haploid population and parent cultivars at various growth time points (TPs) after anthesis in the field. Selecting for slow senescence using a combination of different UAV-based VIs was more effective than using a single ground-based vegetation index. We identified 28 quantitative trait loci (QTL) for vegetative growth, senescence, and GY using a 660K single-nucleotide polymorphism array. Seventeen of these new QTL for VIs from UAV-based multispectral imaging were mapped on chromosomes 2B, 3A, 3D, 5A, 5D, 5B, and 6D; these QTL have not been reported previously using conventional phenotyping methods. This integrated approach allowed us to identify an important, previously unreported, senescence-related locus on chromosome 5D that showed high phenotypic variation (up to 18.1%) for all UAV-based VIs at all TPs during grain filling. This QTL was validated for slow senescence by developing kompetitive allele-specific PCR markers in a natural population. Our results suggest that UAV-based high-throughput phenotyping is advantageous for temporal assessment of the genetics underlying for senescence in wheat.
HYPONASTIC LEAVES 1 is required for proper establishment of auxin gradient in apical hooks
Authors: Vacs Paula , Rasia Rodolfo , González-Schain Nahuel
Published: September 2021

During seedling germination under the soil surface, HYPONASTIC LEAVES 1 regulates apical hook development by modulating the formation of an auxin gradient.
The rectification control and physiological relevance of potassium channel OsAKT2
Authors: Huang Ya-Nan , Yang Shun-Ying , Li Jun-Lin , Wang Shao-Fei , Wang Jia-Jin , Hao Dong-Li , Su Yan-Hua
Published: September 2021

AKT2 potassium (K+) channels are members of the plant Shaker family which mediate dual-directional K+ transport with weak voltage-dependency. Here we show that OsAKT2 of rice (Oryza sativa) functions mainly as an inward rectifier with strong voltage-dependency and acutely suppressed outward activity. This is attributed to the presence of a unique K191 residue in the S4 domain. The typical bi-directional leak-like property was restored by a single K191R mutation, indicating that this functional distinction is an intrinsic characteristic of OsAKT2. Furthermore, the opposite R195K mutation of AtAKT2 changed the channel to an inward-rectifier similar to OsAKT2. OsAKT2 was modulated by OsCBL1/OsCIPK23, evoking the outward activity and diminishing the inward current. The physiological relevance in relation to the rectification diversity of OsAKT2 was addressed by functional assembly in the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) akt2 mutant. Overexpression (OE) of OsAKT2 complemented the K+ deficiency in the phloem sap and leaves of the mutant plants but did not significantly contribute to the transport of sugars. However, the expression of OsAKT2-K191R overcame both the shortage of phloem K+ and sucrose of the akt2 mutant, which was comparable to the effects of the OE of AtAKT2, while the expression of the inward mutation AtAKT2-R195K resembled the effects of OsAKT2. Additionally, OE of OsAKT2 ameliorated the salt tolerance of Arabidopsis.
Pulse Dosing of 10-kHz Paresthesia-Independent Spinal Cord Stimulation Provides the Same Efficacy with Substantial Reduction of Device Recharge Time
Authors: Provenzano David , Tate Jordan , Gupta Mayank , Yu Cong , Verrills Paul , Guirguis Maged , Harrison Nathan , Smith Thomas , Azalde Rose , Bradley Kerry
Published: September 2021

Objective

This study was designed to assess whether using pulse dosing (PD) (regularly cycled intermittent stimulation) of high-frequency 10-kHz spinal cord stimulation (10-kHz SCS) can reduce device recharge time while maintaining efficacy in patients with chronic intractable back pain with or without leg pain.

Design

Prospective, multicenter, observational study.

Methods

Patients successfully using 10-kHz SCS at 100%ON (i.e., continuously with no PD) for >3 months were consecutively enrolled. After a 1-week baseline period of documenting their pain twice daily on a 0–10 numerical rating scale (NRS) using 100%ON of their “favorite” program, all subjects were reprogrammed to 14%PD for 10–14 days. If subjects preferred 14%PD to 100%ON, they were programmed to 3%PD; otherwise, they were programmed to 50%PD. Subjects used this next program for another 10–14 days. Subjects then entered a 3-month observational period during which they were requested to use but not limited to their most preferred %PD program. Toward the end of 3 months, subjects completed a 7-day NRS diary and indicated a final %PD program preference. Study endpoints included %PD preference, mean diary NRS by %PD, and daily minutes and patterns of charging.

Results

Of 31 subjects completing the study, 81% preferred less than 100%ON. Among the subjects, 39% preferred 3%PD, 32% preferred 14%PD, 10% preferred 50%PD, and 19% preferred 100%ON. Average daily charge durations were 8.3 ± 3.1 minutes for 3%PD, 13.9 ± 4.9 minutes for 14%PD, 26.2 ± 7.4 minutes for 50%PD, and 43.8 ± 10.9 minutes for 100%ON. Regression modeling suggested that pain relief was weighted as more than twice as influential as charging in preference for reduced %PD.

Conclusions

This prospective study suggests that 10-kHz SCS therapy with PD may be successfully used in a large majority of 10-kHz SCS responders, maintaining efficacy while reducing device charging time by nearly two thirds.
Designing Actionable Solutions and Curriculum for Pain Disparities Education
Authors: Adams Meredith C B , Denizard-Thompson Nancy M , DiGiacobbe Gia , Williams Brandon L , Brooks Amber K
Published: September 2021

The Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) require medical schools to teach their students how to recognize and work toward eliminating health disparities. However, time constraints and a dearth of guidance for educators in teaching pain disparities curricula pose significant challenges. Herein we describe successes and lessons learned after designing, implementing, and evaluating an innovative pain disparities curriculum that was embedded in a longitudinal health equity curriculum for third year medical school students at an academic institution. Although the curriculum was developed for medical school students, the concepts may be broadly applicable to other training settings such as residency and fellowship programs.
America’s Liberal Social Climate and Trends
Authors: Hout Michael
Published: September 2021

The late James A. Davis characterized American public opinion in the Reagan era as “conservative weather” amidst a liberalizing “climate.” By climate, he meant differences between cohorts, while the weather referred to trends within cohorts. Thirty years later, the public opinion climate continues to get more liberal, as each successive cohort continues to be more liberal, on balance, than the ones that came before them. Recent weather complements that by being quite liberal, too. Specifically, 62 percent of variables analyzed were more liberal in recent birth cohorts than they were in the oldest ones, but just 5 percent were more conservative (some did not differ among cohorts, and some were neither liberal nor conservative). Within cohorts, recent measurements were more liberal than early measurements for 51 percent of the variables and more conservative for 11 percent
Measuring Misperceptions
Authors: Orr Lilla V , Huber Gregory A
Published: September 2021

Prior research has reported that Americans hold biased perceptions about the composition of US parties. Survey respondents vastly overestimate the frequency with which partisans belong to other social groups stereotypically associated with their party. We argue that when perceptions of Democrats, Republicans, and members of the American public are directly compared, evidence of relative misperceptions is limited. Drawing on novel survey experimental measures, we find that respondents underestimate many differences in the demographic composition of the Democratic and Republican parties. A few stereotypes thought to be associated with one party or the other may apply to partisans in general. Similar trends appear across parties and among strong partisans. These findings suggest limits on the extent to which inaccurate estimates of who affiliates with each party can be interpreted as evidence of party-specific stereotypes.
Experiences of Physical Therapists and Professional Leaders With Implementing a Toolkit to Advance Walking Assessment Poststroke: A Realist Evaluation
Authors: Salbach Nancy M , McDonald Alison , MacKay-Lyons Marilyn , Bulmer Beverly , Howe Jo-Anne , Bayley Mark T , McEwen Sara , Nelson Michelle , Solomon Patricia
Published: September 2021

Objective

The iWalk study showed significant increase in use of the 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT) and 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) poststroke following provision of a toolkit. This paper examined the influence of contextual circumstances on use of the toolkit and implementation strategy across acute care and inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation settings.

Methods

A theory-based toolkit and implementation strategy was designed to support guideline recommendations to use standardized tools for evaluation of walking, education, and goal-setting poststroke. The toolkit comprised a mobile app, video, and educational guide outlining instructions for 3 learning sessions. After completing learning sessions, 33 physical therapists and 7 professional leaders participated in focus groups or interviews. As part of a realist evaluation, the study compared and synthesized site-specific context-mechanism-outcome descriptions across sites to refine an initial theory of how the toolkit would influence practice.

Results

Analysis revealed 3 context-mechanism-outcomes: (1) No onsite facilitator? No practice change in acute care: Without an onsite facilitator, participants lacked authority to facilitate and coordinate the implementation strategy; (2) Onsite facilitation fostered integration of select practices in acute care: When onsite facilitation occurred in acute care, walk test administration and use of reference values for patient education were adopted variably with high functioning patients; (3) Onsite facilitation fostered integration of most practices in rehabilitation settings: When onsite facilitation occurred, many participants incorporated 1 or both tests to evaluate and monitor walking capacity, and reference values were applied for inpatient and outpatient education and goal setting. Participants preferentially implemented the 10MWT over the 6MWT because set-up and administration were easier and a greater proportion of patients could walk 10 m.

Conclusion

Findings underscore contextual factors and activities essential to eliciting change in assessment practice in stroke rehabilitation across care settings.

Impact

This study shows that to foster recommended walking assessment practices, an onsite facilitator should be present to enable learning sessions and toolkit use.
A Geometric Characterization of the Hjelmslev–Moufang Planes
Authors: De Schepper Anneleen , Schillewaert Jeroen , Van Maldeghem Hendrik , Victoor Magali
Published: September 2021

Hjelmslev–Moufang (HM) planes are point-line geometries related to the exceptional algebraic groups of type $\mathsf{E}_6$. More generally, point-line geometries related to spherical Tits buildings—Lie incidence geometries—are the prominent examples of parapolar spaces: axiomatically defined geometries consisting of points, lines and symplecta (structures isomorphic to polar spaces). In this paper we classify the parapolar spaces with a similar behaviour as the HM planes, in the sense that their symplecta never have a non-empty intersection. Under standard assumptions, we obtain that the only such parapolar spaces are exactly given by the HM planes and their close relatives (arising from taking certain restrictions). On the one hand, this work complements the algebraic approach to HM planes using Jordan algebras and due to Faulkner in his book ‘The Role of Nonassociative Algebra in Projective Geometry’, published by the American Mathematical Society in 2014; on the other hand, it provides a new tool for classification and characterization problems in the general theory of parapolar spaces.
Rethinking Royalism in Herrick’s Hesperides
Authors: Mansky Joseph
Published: September 2021

The scholarly consensus holds that Robert Herrick’s printed book of poems, Hesperides (1648), is the work of a royalist partisan. Yet for all its clear signs of royalism—from the large crown on the title page to the dedication to Prince Charles—Hesperides contains a much wider range of ideological and social commitments. Alongside the absolutist couplets are constitutionalist epigrams; mixed in with the pro-Stuart panegyrics, we find praises of parliamentarians. I trace this diversity to the book’s literary model: the silva or miscellany. Largely seen as a site of royalist community, seventeenth-century manuscript miscellanies were also marked by contestation and fracture. Hesperides likewise ranges across the varieties of royalism (and occasionally even republicanism), reflecting the real ideological diversity among the king’s supporters and sympathizers. The result is a profoundly polyvocal royalism increasingly tending towards constitutional consensus.
Exchange Competition, Entry, and Welfare
Authors: Cespa Giovanni , Vives Xavier
Published: September 2021

We assess the consequences for market quality and welfare of different entry regimes and exchange pricing policies. To do so, we integrate a microstructure model with a free-entry, exchange competition model where exchanges have market power in technological services. Free-entry delivers superior liquidity and welfare outcomes vis-á-vis an unregulated monopoly, but entry can be excessive or insufficient. Depending on the extent of the monopolist’s technological services undersupply compared to the first best, a planner can achieve a higher welfare controlling entry or platform fees. Review of Financial Studies, forthcoming
How Global Is Your Mutual Fund? International Diversification from Multinationals
Authors: Demirci Irem , Ferreira Miguel A , Matos Pedro , Sialm Clemens
Published: September 2021

We show that mutual funds worldwide provide substantial international exposure through their domestic holdings of multinationals. The international exposure of domestic funds increases, on average, by 32 percentage points when we consider international corporate diversification. We find that funds with higher indirect international exposure perform better in both the cross-section and the time series. This effect is primarily driven by the fund managers’ ability to invest in multinationals, rather than the performance of those multinationals. Our findings support the hypothesis that international diversification from multinationals reduces the transaction and information costs of investing abroad.

Authors have furnished an Internet Appendix, which is available on the Oxford University Press Web site next to the link to the final published paper online.
Seroprevalence and clinical outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 in paediatric patients with rheumatic disease
Authors: Walters Heather M , Mian Zanab , Thomas Lydia , Cerise Jane , Eberhard B Anne , Pagano Eileen , Gottlieb Beth S , Steigerwald Katherine , Hui-Yuen Joyce S
Published: September 2021

Objectives

Immunosuppressed paediatric patients with rheumatic disease (RD) may be at risk for severe or critical disease related to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Data remain scarce on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outcomes in paediatric RD patients. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG and to describe COVID-19 outcomes in immunosuppressed paediatric RD patients.

Methods

Patients diagnosed with RD before age 18 years and treated with at least one immunosuppressive medication for at least 3 months were enrolled from a tertiary paediatric rheumatology practice in New York and also underwent routine SARS-CoV-2 IgG testing from May to November 2020. A total of 571 patients were screened and 262 were enrolled. SARS-CoV-2 IgG-positive subjects were assessed for symptoms of COVID-19 infection. SARS-CoV-2 PCR results were recorded where available. Demographic, diagnostic, medication and outcome data were collected.

Results

Of 262 subjects (186 female), 35 (13%) were SARS-CoV-2 IgG positive; 17 (49%) had symptoms suggestive of COVID-19. Of the 17 patients who had SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing, 11 (65%) were PCR positive, 7 of whom were IgG positive. Most SARS-CoV-2 IgG-positive subjects were not PCR tested. The most common symptoms in IgG- and/or PCR-positive subjects were fever, fatigue and cough. No SARS-CoV-2 IgG- or PCR-positive subject developed severe or critical COVID-19 or required hospitalization.

Conclusions

This is the first report of clinical outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection and seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG in a large cohort of paediatric RD patients. Most SARS-CoV-2 IgG-positive subjects had no symptoms of COVID-19 infection. Symptomatic subjects all had mild COVID-19 symptoms, suggesting that the risk of severe or critical COVID-19 in immunosuppressed paediatric RD patients is minimal.
Systemic sclerosis sine scleroderma in children
Authors: Zulian Francesco , Lanzoni Gloria , Castaldi Biagio , Meneghel Alessandra , Tirelli Francesca , Zanatta Elisabetta , Martini Giorgia
Published: September 2021

Objective

Juvenile systemic sclerosis (JSSc) is a rare condition in childhood and its variety with no skin involvement, sine scleroderma (ssJSSc), is anecdotal. We report the first case series of patients with ssJSSc.

Methods

Demographic, clinical and laboratory data of patients with JSSc followed at our centre were retrospectively collected. Patients with no skin involvement but with all of the features RP, positive ANA, intestinal dysmotility and/or interstitial lung disease (ILD) or pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and/or cardiac or renal involvement typical of scleroderma were defined as having ssJSSc and compared with those with classic JSSc (cJSSc).

Results

Among 52 JSSc patients seen in 20 years, five (9.6%) presented with ssJSSc. Their clinical features and those of the only two patients reported in the literature so far were compared with classic JSSc with available complete data. Six patients had cardiac involvement as presenting feature, three primary cardiomyopathy, three secondary to PAH. Two patients died after a brief disease course and one rapidly underwent heart transplantation. In comparison with cJSSc, ssJSSc showed a significantly longer diagnostic delay (20.1 vs 8.3 months, P = 0.017), higher frequency of cardiac involvement (85.7 vs 15.6%, P = 0.001) and worse outcome, intended as mortality or end-stage organ failure rates (42.9% vs 6.2%, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Cardiac involvement represents the most important characteristic of ssJSSc and carries a high morbidity and mortality rate. The longer delay in diagnosis underlines the need for a comprehensive rheumatological work-up in patients with isolated cardiomyopathy or PAH/ILD.
Integrated Cognitive-Behavioral Social Skills Training and Compensatory Cognitive Training for Negative Symptoms of Psychosis: Effects in a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Granholm Eric , Twamley Elizabeth W , Mahmood Zanjbeel , Keller Amber V , Lykins Hannah C , Parrish Emma M , Thomas Michael L , Perivoliotis Dimitri , Holden Jason L
Published: September 2021

Objective

Negative symptoms and cognitive impairment in schizophrenia (SZ) remain unmet treatment needs as they are highly prevalent, associated with poor functional outcomes, and resistant to pharmacologic treatment. The current pilot randomized controlled trial examined the efficacy of an integrated Cognitive-Behavioral Social Skills Training and Compensatory Cognitive Training (CBSST-CCT) intervention compared to Goal-focused Supportive Contact (SC) on negative symptoms and cognitive performance.

Methods

Fifty-five adults with SZ or schizoaffective disorder with moderate-to-severe negative symptoms were randomized to receive 25 twice-weekly, 1-h manualized group sessions (12.5 weeks total duration) of either CBSST-CCT or SC delivered by master’s level clinicians in five community settings. Assessments of negative symptom severity (primary outcomes) and neuropsychological performance, functional capacity, social skills performance, and self-reported functional ability/everyday functioning, psychiatric symptom severity, and motivation (secondary outcomes) were administered at baseline, mid-treatment, post-treatment, and 6-month follow-up.

Results

Mixed-effects models using baseline, mid-treatment, and post-treatment data demonstrated significant CBSST-CCT-associated effects on negative symptom severity, as assessed by the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (p = .049, r = 0.22), with improvements in diminished motivation driving this effect (p = .037, r = 0.24). The CBSST-CCT group also demonstrated improved verbal learning compared to SC participants (p = .026, r = 0.36). The effects of CBSST-CCT appeared to be durable at 6-month follow-up.

Conclusions

CBSST-CCT improved negative symptom severity and verbal learning in high-negative-symptom individuals relative to SC. CBSST-CCT warrants larger investigations to examine its efficacy in treating negative symptoms, along with other symptoms, cognition, and, ultimately, real-world functional outcomes. Clinical Trial registration number NCT02170051.
Protective State Policies and the Employment of Fathers with Criminal Records
Authors: Dwyer Emory Allison
Published: September 2021

A criminal record can be a serious impediment to securing stable employment, with negative implications for the economic stability of individuals and their families. State policies intended to address this issue have had mixed results, however. Using panel data from the Fragile Families study merged with longitudinal data on state-level policies, this study investigates the association between criminal record based employment discrimination policies and the employment of men both with and without criminal records. These state policies broadly regulate what kinds of records can be legally used for hiring and licensing decisions, but have received little attention in prior research. Findings indicate that men with criminal records were less likely to be working if they lived in states with more policies in place to regulate the legal use of those records. Consistent with research linking policies regulating access to records to racial discrimination, black men living in protective states reported this employment penalty even if they did not have criminal records themselves. Thus, these policies, at best, may fail to disrupt entrenched employment disparities and, at worst, may exacerbate racial discrimination.
Divergent Processes Drive Parallel Evolution in Marine and Freshwater Fishes
Authors: Friedman S T , Collyer M L , Price S A , Wainwright P C
Published: September 2021

Evolutionary comparisons between major environmental divides, such as between marine and freshwater systems, can reveal the fundamental processes governing diversification dynamics. Although processes may differ due to the different scales of their biogeographic barriers, freshwater and marine environments nevertheless offer similar opportunities for diversification in benthic, demersal, and pelagic habitats. Here, we compare the evolutionary patterns and processes shaping teleost diversity in each of these three habitats and between marine and freshwater systems. Using specimens from the National Museum of Natural History, we developed a data set of linear measurements capturing body shape in 2266 freshwater and 3344 marine teleost species. With a novel comparative approach, we contrast the primary axis of morphological diversification in each habitat with the major axis defined by phylogenetic signal. By comparing angles between these axes, we find that fish in corresponding habitats have more similar primary axes of morphological diversity than would be expected by chance, but that different historical processes underlie these parallel patterns in freshwater and marine environments. Marine diversification is more strongly aligned with phylogenetic signal and shows a trend toward lineages occupying separate regions of morphospace. In contrast, ecological signal appears to be a strong driver of diversification in freshwater lineages through repeated morphological evolution in densely packed regions of morphospace. In spite of these divergent histories, our findings reveal that habitat has driven convergent patterns of evolutionary diversification on a global scale. [Benthic–pelagic axis; body shape; convergent evolution; morphological diversification; phylogenetic signal.]
Assessment of genotoxicity of silver nanoparticles on lymphocyte cells of albino rats using comet assay
Authors: Salama Mai I , El Morsi Doaa A , Shabka Osama , Emam Nermin M
Published: September 2021

Silver nanoparticles, “AgNPs”, represent a prominent nanoproduct, but most of the previous toxicity studies on its genotoxicity are still limited. The current study aimed to assess the genotoxicity of AgNPs on lymphocyte cells using comet assay and to study the recovery probability. It was conducted on 50 adult male albino rats divided into “Control group”, 10 rats were injected intraperitoneal, “IP”, with distilled water for 28 days, and “Test groups”, 40 rats were injected “IP” with 13 ± 3 nm AgNPs for 28 days, subdivided into group I: 10 rats were injected with 2 mg/kg AgNPs, group Ia: 10 rats were injected with 2 mg/kg AgNPs and left for another 4 weeks without scarification, group II: 10 rats were injected with 4 mg/kg AgNPs, and group IIa: 10 rats were injected with 4 mg/kg and left for another 4 weeks without scarification. There was a highly significant decrease in head parameters with an increase in tail parameters in both groups I and II and in group II more than group I. Moreover, there was a highly significant increase in head parameters with a decrease in tail parameters in group Ia compared with the control group and group IIa. Comets were classified according to the tail intensity and according to visual scoring for DNA damage, which revealed different grades of DNA damage with a degree of reversibility after 4 weeks stoppage of exposure. It could be concluded that AgNPs were considered to cause harmful genotoxic effects to the human body in a dose-dependent manner.
Cellular and molecular characterizations of the irregular internode division zone formation of a slow-growing bamboo variant
Authors: Gao Zhipeng , Guo Lin , Ramakrishnan Muthusamy , Xiang Yu , Jiao Chen , Jiang Jiaweng , Vinod Kunnummal K , Fei Zhangjun , Que Feng , Ding Yulong , Yu Fen , Chen Tianguo , Wei Qiang
Published: September 2021

The key molecular mechanisms underlying the sectionalized growth within bamboo or other grass internodes remain largely unknown. Here, we genetically and morphologically compared the culm and rhizome internode division zones (DZs) of a slow-growing bamboo variant (sgv) having dwarf internodes, with those of the corresponding wild type (WT). Histological analysis discovers that the sgv has an irregular internode DZ. However, the shoot apical meristems in height, width, outside shape, cell number and cell width of the sgv and the WT were all similar. The DZ irregularities first appeared post apical meristem development, in 1-mm sgv rhizome internodes. Thus, the sgv is a DZ irregularity bamboo variant, which has been first reported in bamboo according to our investigation. Transcriptome sequencing analysis finds that a number of cell wall biogenesis and cell division-related genes are dramatically downregulated in the sgv DZ. Interestingly, both transcriptomic and brassinosteroid (BR) contents detection, as well as quantitative real-time PCR analyses show that these irregularities have resulted from the BR signaling pathway defects. Brassinosteroid defect might also cause the erect leaves and branches as well as the irregular epidermis of the sgv. These results suggest that BR signaling pathway plays critical roles in bamboo internode DZ and leaf development from a mutant perspective and also explain the upstream mechanisms causing the dwarf internode of the sgv bamboo.