bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Burden of disease experienced by patients following a watch‐and‐wait policy for locally advanced rectal cancer: A qualitative study
Authors: Pennings Alexander J. , Kimman Merel L. , Gielen Anke H. C. , Beets Geerard L. , Melenhorst Jarno , Breukink Stephanie O.
Published: July 2021

Aim

Patient‐reported outcome measures (PROMs) are increasingly being used in routine cancer care to evaluate treatment and monitor symptoms, function and other aspects of quality of life (QoL). There is no suitable PROM for rectal cancer patients following a watch‐and‐wait (W&W) programme. Insight into patient experiences with this programme is an essential step in the development of a PROM. The aim of this qualitative study was to provide insights into the most important functional outcomes and QoL features experienced by patients during our W&W programme.

Method

Patients with locally advanced rectal cancer who are enrolled in the W&W programme in the Netherlands were interviewed by telephone using a semistructured interview guide. All interviews were digitally audio‐recorded, transcribed verbatim and coded. A thematic approach was used to analyse the data and identify themes and subthemes of importance to patients.

Results

Eighteen patients were interviewed (78% male, mean age 68 years, range 52–83 years). Physical complaints after treatment were present, most notably gastrointestinal problems, neuropathy and fatigue. Furthermore, patients were anxious about a possible recurrence, had a fear of surgery or a stoma, or were experiencing a general feeling of apprehension in daily life. Many patients had different coping mechanisms, such as acceptance, and there were few limitations in daily life.

Conclusion

We identified important functional outcomes, such as gastrointestinal complaints, fatigue and neuropathy, in patients who were enrolled in this W&W programme. Furthermore, an emotional burden and unmet needs were reported by these patients. These findings can be used to improve clinical practice and inform the development of a PROM.
Certified community forests positively impact human wellbeing and conservation effectiveness and improve the performance of nearby national protected areas
Authors: Loveridge Robin , Sallu Susannah M , Pfeifer Marion , Oldekop Johan A , Mgaya Mercy , da Silva Daniel A , Latham Julia , Platts Philip J , Marshall Andrew R
Published: July 2021

Community forests (CFs) aim to improve human wellbeing and conservation effectiveness, though their performance remains contested. A recent innovation in protected area (PA) governance is to combine CFs with forest certification. We assess (1) the impact of certified CFs on wellbeing and conservation effectiveness; (2) gender inequality and elite capture; (3) interaction effects with neighboring national PAs. We used a novel approach that integrates field data consisting of locally identified indicators representative of multidimensional wellbeing, with remotely sensed data on conservation effectiveness and statistical matching to improve causal inference. We found that CFs positively impacted wellbeing, conservation effectiveness, and reduced gender inequality, though they did not reduce elite capture. We also detected positive interaction effects between certified CFs and neighboring national PAs. Our findings suggest that locating contrasting local and national PA governance approaches next to each other may help to maximize wellbeing and conservation benefits within complex multiuse landscapes.
Putting the cat before the wildlife: Exploring cat owners' beliefs about cat containment as predictors of owner behavior
Authors: van Eeden Lily M. , Hames Fern , Faulkner Richard , Geschke Andrew , Squires Zoe E. , McLeod Emily M.
Published: July 2021

Free‐roaming domestic cats pose risks to wildlife, domestic animals, humans, and importantly, the cats themselves. Behavior change campaigns that seek to minimize these risks by increasing cat containment require an understanding of the factors that predict cat owners' containment behaviors. We conducted an online survey in Victoria, Australia (N = 1,024) to identify cat owners' (N = 220) behaviors in containing their cats, explore beliefs and attitudes that predict containment behavior, and compare attitudes about cat containment with respondents that do not own cats (N = 804). We found that 53% of cat owning respondents do not allow any roaming. These respondents were more likely to hold concerns about risks to cats' safety while roaming and less likely to perceive that cats have a right to roam. Concern about impacts to wildlife was not a significant predictor of containment behavior. Expectations that cat owners should manage cats' roaming behavior was a social norm among cat owners and other respondents, and cat containers were more likely to indicate that they would try to change behaviors of their peers that they perceived to be harmful to the environment. Cat containment campaigns could be improved by appealing to owners' concerns about cat well‐being, engaging respected messengers that align with these concerns, including owners who already contain their cats.
Climate relict vulnerable to extinction from multiple climate‐driven threats
Authors: Taillie Paul J. , McCleery Robert A.
Published: July 2021

Aim

Over the gradually warming Holocene, many species’ range limits shifted poleward. However, some populations persisted in climate refugia, such as mountain tops. These climate relict populations are critical components of regional biodiversity, but their isolation renders them vulnerable to other threats, including changes in environmental conditions indirectly related to a warming global climate. We aimed to quantify the role of these indirect climate effects on Florida saltmarsh vole (Microtus pennsylvannicus dukecampbelli; hereafter: “vole”), a poorly understood, endangered climate relict.

Location

The Gulf of Mexico between Sopchoppy and Pine Island, Florida, USA.

Methods

We surveyed for voles broadly across their potential range using camera traps and modelled the relationships between vole occurrence and two climate‐driven threats: hurricane storm surge and shifting vegetation communities. We quantified these threats using both field‐collected and remotely sensed data at fine (3‐m) and coarse (150‐m) spatial scales.

Results

Though seemingly suitable habitat exists outside their previously known range, voles appeared restricted to the outer marshes between the Suwannee and Withlacoochee Rivers. Within this range, the sites we surveyed had shorter grass heights, greaterDistichilsspp. cover, greater potential habitat within 150 m, and were less vulnerable to inundation when compared to sites outside of their range.

Main conclusions

The complex and varied ways in which climate change alters the physical environment can expose small‐ranging species to multiple threats. Even climate relicts, which have endured historical changes in the global climate, may fail to cope with the rapid pace of anthropogenic climate change.
Isoprostane‐8 and GDF‐15 as novel markers of post‐PE syndrome: Relation with prothrombotic factors
Authors: Ząbczyk Michał , Natorska Joanna , Janion‐Sadowska Agnieszka , Metzgier‐Gumiela Agnieszka , Polak Mateusz , Plens Krzysztof , Janion Marianna , Skonieczny Grzegorz , Mizia‐Stec Katarzyna , Undas Anetta
Published: July 2021

Background

Post–pulmonary embolism (PE) syndrome occurs in up to 50% of PE patients. The pathophysiology of this syndrome is obscure.

Objective

We investigated whether enhanced oxidative stress and prothrombotic state may be involved in post‐PE syndrome.

Methods

We studied 101 normotensive noncancer PE patients (aged 56.5 ± 13.9 years) on admission, after 5‐7 days and after a 3‐month anticoagulation, mostly with rivaroxaban. A marker of oxidative stress, 8‐isoprostane, endogenous thrombin potential, fibrinolysis proteins, clot lysis time (CLT) and fibrin clot permeability (Ks), along with PE biomarkers, were determined.

Results

Patients who developed the post‐PE syndrome (n = 31, 30.7%) had at baseline 77.6% higher N‐terminal brain natriuretic propeptide and 46.8% higher growth differentiation factor 15, along with 14.1% longer CLT associated with 34.4% higher plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1 as compared to subjects without post‐PE syndrome (all P < .05). After 5‐7 days, only hypofibrinolysis was noted in post‐PE syndrome patients. When measured at 3 months, prolonged CLT and reduced Ks were observed in post‐PE syndrome patients, accompanied by 23.8% higher growth differentiation factor 15 and 35.8% higher plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1 (all P < .05). 8‐isoprostane levels ≥108 pg/ml (odds ratio=4.36; 95% confidence interval 1.63‐12.27) and growth differentiation factor 15 ≥ 1529 pg/ml (odds ratio=3.89; 95% confidence interval 1.29‐12.16) measured at 3 months were associated with higher risk of developing post‐PE syndrome.

Conclusions

Enhanced oxidative stress and prothrombotic fibrin clot properties could be involved in the pathogenesis of the post‐PE syndrome. Elevated growth differentiation factor 15 assessed at 3 months might be a new biomarker of this syndrome.
The economics of change and stability in social trust: Evidence from (and for) Catalan secession
Authors: Bjørnskov Christan , Borrella‐Mas Miguel Ángel , Rode Martin
Published: July 2021

Consequences of social trust are comparatively well studied, while its societal determinants are often subject to debate. This paper studies both in the context of Catalan attempts to secede from Spain: First, we test whether Catalonia enjoys higher levels of social capital that it is prevented from capitalizing on. Second, the paper examines whether secessionist movements create animosity and political divisions within society that undermine trust. Employing the nine available waves of the European Social Survey for Spain, we only find weak indications that social trust levels are higher in Catalonia than in the rest of the country. Interestingly, we further find testimony of a purely transient “exuberance effect” after secession became a real option, indicating that the long‐run evolution of social trust may best be thought of as a stable punctuated equilibrium.
A reduced‐sucrose diet increases the sensitivity of Drosophila melanogaster to radiation
Authors: Kim Yongjoong , Park Jina , Choi You Yeon , Lee Younghyun , Seo Songwon , Jin Young Woo , Park Sunhoo , Min Kyung‐Jin , Seong Ki Moon
Published: July 2021

Drosophila melanogaster has been increasingly used as an experimental model to understand the health effects of environmental stresses such as radiation exposure and the nutrients depletion. Few studies have examined the physiological changes of radiation exposure combined with other condition such as nutrient depletion. To understand the effects of radiation exposure in the context of poor diet, this study investigated the effects of a sucrose‐deficient diet on the development and life span of Drosophila after radiation exposure. On a low‐sucrose diet (0.1 M), the life span of Drosophila increased strongly after 0.05 Gy radiation exposure, compared to nonirradiated flies, whereas life span was decreased after 1 Gy. These phenomena were more pronounced in female flies than in males. Collectively, these data indicate that a low‐sucrose diet can increase sensitivity to perturbations in life span caused by radiation exposure.
No Greater Love
Authors: Borthwick Kirsty
Published: July 2021

It is in overcoming the powers of death that Christ’s love moves the world to reconciliation and unity. This article examines three present global crises – COVID‐19, climate change, and racial injustice – from the context of Western Europe, exploring how Christ’s love first overcomes the powers of death and then calls us to our own death to self, in pursuit of reconciliation and unity. 2 Corinthians 5:14a, a key inspiration for the theme of the 11th Assembly of the World Council of Churches, sets the movement of Christ’s love in the context of his death and resurrection, in which we share. Taking seriously Christ’s encounter with the powers of death, and our abiding in that love, has pertinent consequences for how we understand movements toward reconciliation and unity in Western Europe today.
A Letter to My Family across the World
Authors: Carvalhaes Cláudio
Published: July 2021

This article reflects on the theme of the 2022 assembly of the World Council of Churches, “Christ’s love moves the world to reconciliation and unity.” It names some of the main forces that pull us away from Christ’s love, that promote enmity rather than reconciliation and division rather than unity, starting with colonization and capitalism. It then moves on to emergence and regeneration, where God’s healing is needed to regenerate the tissues of our society, our hearts, our faith, our ways of living, and our collective life. We must turn to the earth in ways we never have before. We must heed God’s call; we need to listen, to follow. We need a conversion that regenerates us.
Building a Reconciled Community
Authors: Audu Victor
Published: July 2021

The church lives as the reconciled community, which means that the life of the church should display the proper response of humanity to the work of God. To be reconciled to God means to enter into reconciliation with all peoples, nations, and tribes. Paul, in his letter to Philemon, is active in witnessing to the reality of reconciliation. This was a drifting away from slavery. He remained resolute in the establishment of justice. In this manner, the apostle also seeks to establish unity and pave the way for peace within the household church. In the difficult and complex situation posed by the text, Paul’s witness includes bringing to light Onesimus’ wrongdoing while at the same time testifying to the power of forgiveness and the call to Philemon and those of the household church to live reconciled lives before God. Paul advocates this through the acts of love to remove the breaches of communion. Entering into actions of reconciliation witnesses to a common commitment to live in obedience to the reconciling God and therefore opens the actors to the possibility of entering into the reality of healing.
Unsaturated fatty acids augment protein transport via the SecA:SecYEG translocon
Authors: Kamel Michael , Löwe Maryna , Schott‐Verdugo Stephan , Gohlke Holger , Kedrov Alexej
Published: July 2021

The translocon SecYEG and the associated ATPase SecA form the primary protein secretion system in the cytoplasmic membrane of bacteria. The secretion is essentially dependent on the surrounding lipids, but the mechanistic understanding of their role in SecA : SecYEG activity is sparse. Here, we reveal that the unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) of the membrane phospholipids, including tetraoleoyl‐cardiolipin, stimulate SecA : SecYEG‐mediated protein translocation up to ten‐fold. Biophysical analysis and molecular dynamics simulations show that UFAs increase the area per lipid and cause loose packing of lipid head groups, where the N‐terminal amphipathic helix of SecA docks. While UFAs do not affect the translocon folding, they promote SecA binding to the membrane, and the effect is enhanced up to fivefold at elevated ionic strength. Tight SecA : lipid interactions convert into the augmented translocation. Our results identify the fatty acid structure as a notable factor in SecA : SecYEG activity, which may be crucial for protein secretion in bacteria, which actively change their membrane composition in response to their habitat.
Ecological and biogeographic processes drive the proteome evolution of snake venom
Authors: Siqueira‐Silva Tuany , de Lima Luiz Antônio Gonzaga , Chaves‐Silveira Jônatas , Amado Talita Ferreira , Naipauer Julian , Riul Pablo , Martinez Pablo Ariel
Published: July 2021

Aim

The emergence of venom is an evolutionary innovation that favoured the diversification and survival of snakes. The composition of snake venoms is known in detail from venom gland proteomic data. However, there is still a gap of knowledge about the forces that lead to the expression of different toxins in different proportions in the venom cocktail across space and time.

Location

World.

Time period

Modern.

Major taxa studied

Elapidae and Viperidae.

Methods

We integrated proteomic data with phylogenetic comparative methods to understand how ecological and biogeographic processes drive the evolution of snake venom.

Results

We observed that more productive environments favour a more complex venom, with more toxins in similar proportions. We found that taxa that live on islands, where there is lower variability of resources, tended to present less complex venom dominated by few toxins. In such cases, the extent of an island's isolation seems to be a relevant factor for faster fixation of specific venom compositions.

Main conclusion

We show that ecological and biogeographic processes, which can act differentially over time and space, affect the gene expression of toxins in snake venoms.
Acting out or playing along: A typology of citizens' low trust responses to public organizations
Authors: Peeters Rik , Dussauge Laguna Mauricio I.
Published: July 2021

Working under the assumption that societal pockets of low trust in government are likely to proliferate, this introduction to the special issue on “governance in low‐trust settings” integrates insights from the Global South and Global North to analyze how citizens respond to formal rules and service arrangements of public organizations they perceive as untrustworthy. We develop a typology of low trust responses—submission, avoidance, gaming, and resistance—as a counterpart to the well‐established exit‐voice‐loyalty‐neglect framework. We argue that these responses follow from institutional incentives and most likely emerge where people feel the system is not fair or feel like their back is against the wall, and they have the resources to game or resist the system. This article seeks to advance theorizing on governance in low‐trust contexts and enable a better understanding of citizen responses that are inconsistent with the governance mechanisms and service provision in high trust contexts.
The evolution patterns of tourism integration driven by regional tourism‐economic linkages—Taking Poyang Lake region, China, as an example
Authors: Hou Li‐chun , Wu Lian‐xia , Ju Sheng‐li , Zhang Zhi‐rong , Zhu Yin‐jian , Lai Zheng‐qing
Published: July 2021

Tourism integration is a trend in regional tourism economic development and cultural integration. Tourism economic linkages greatly influence regional tourism integration, becoming progressively obvious with the strength of linkages. However, their influence on regions with rich tourism resources and underdeveloped economies are understudied. This article takes the national tourism resources above 3A level in the Poyang Lake region, Jiangxi Province, as the research object, analysing the evolution of regional tourism economic linkages and the development process of tourism integration in the past 17 years by constructing a new gravity model of regional tourism economic linkages and research methods of transportation network accessibility. The results show that the evolution of regional tourism economic linkages and the accessibility of transportation networks significantly impact regional tourism economies and tourism integration evolution. The evolution process of regional tourism development had different stage models; four theoretical models of regional tourism integration evolution were extracted: point‐core model, point‐axis corridor model, multi‐centre ring‐axis model, and network integration model. The construction of the new regional tourism economic linkages model and the proposal of the evolutionary model for tourism integration provide references for study and for formulating the sustainable development of regional tourism integration locally and abroad.
On the synchronization of the business cycles of Mexican states and its relationship to their economic complexity, 2000–2014
Authors: Gómez‐Zaldívar Manuel , Llanos‐Guerrero Alejandra
Published: July 2021

In a recent study, Mejía‐Reyes, Díaz‐Carreño, and Aroca analyzed the synchronization of the business cycles of the states of Mexico. Using an extended gravitational model, they propose and test a set of variables to explain the co‐movement of those cycles. Following on from their work, this paper proposes that one variable in particular, economic complexity, not only explains the synchronization of the business cycles of Mexican states but, in fact, also does a better job at explaining it on its own than the entire set of seven variables proposed by Mejía‐Reyes et al. (2019). The paper provides a more parsimonious specification to explain the co‐movement of the states’ business cycles by using a single variable that contains information on their relative productive structures.
Rao–Blackwellisation in the Markov Chain Monte Carlo Era
Authors: Robert Christian P. , Roberts Gareth
Published: July 2021

Rao–Blackwellisation is a notion often occurring in the MCMC literature, with possibly different meanings and connections with the original Rao–Blackwell theorem as established by C.R. Rao in 1945 and D. Blackwell in 1947, including a reduction of the variance of the resulting Monte Carlo approximations. This survey reviews some of the meanings of the term.
Characteristics of macroreentrant atrial tachycardias using an anatomical bypass: Pseudo‐focal atrial tachycardia case series
Authors: Nakatani Yosuke , Nakashima Takashi , Duchateau Josselin , Vlachos Konstantinos , Krisai Philipp , Takagi Takamitsu , Kamakura Tsukasa , André Clémentine , Goujeau Cyril , Daniel Ramirez F. , Chauvel Remi , Tixier Romain , Takigawa Masateru , Kitamura Takeshi , Cheniti Ghassen , Denis Arnaud , Sacher Frédéric , Hocini Mélèze , Haïssaguerre Michel , Jaïs Pierre , Derval Nicolas , Pambrun Thomas
Published: July 2021

Introduction

Human atria comprise distinct layers. One layer can bypass another, and lead to a downstream centrifugal propagation at their interface. We sought to characterize anatomical substrates, electrophysiological properties, and ablation outcomes of "pseudo‐focal" atrial tachycardias (ATs), defined as macroreentrant ATs mimicking focal ATs.

Methods and Results

We retrospectively analyzed left atrial ATs showing centrifugal propagation with postpacing intervals (PPIs) after entrainment pacing suggestive of a macroreentrant mechanism. A total of 22 patients had pseudo‐focal ATs consisting of 15 perimitral and 7 roof‐dependent flutters. A low‐voltage area was consistently found at the collision site and colocalized with distinct anatomical structures like the: (1) coronary sinus‐great cardiac vein bundle (27%), (2) vein of Marshall bundle (18%), (3) Bachmann bundle (27%), (4) septopulmonary bundle (18%), and (5) fossa ovalis (9%). The mean missing tachycardia cycle length (TCL) was 65 ± 31 ms (22%) on the endocardial activation map. PPI was 0 [0–15] ms and 0 [0–21] ms longer than TCL at the breakthrough site and the opposite site, respectively. While feasible in 21 pseudo‐focal ATs (95%), termination was better achieved by blocking the anatomical isthmus than ablating the breakthrough site [20/21 (95%) vs. 1/5 (20%); p < .001].

Conclusion

Perimitral and roof‐dependent flutters with centrifugal propagation are favored by a low‐voltage area located at well‐identified anatomical structures. Comprehensive entrainment pacing maneuvers are crucial to distinguish pseudo‐focal ATs from true focal ATs. Blocking the anatomical isthmus is a better therapeutic option than ablating the breakthrough site.
Interventional occlusion of left atrial appendage in patients with atrial fibrillation. Gender‐related outcomes in the German LAARGE Registry
Authors: Kleinecke Caroline , Lewalter Thorsten , Sievert Horst , Geist Volker , Zeymer Uwe , Mudra Harald , Pleger Sven , Hochadel Matthias , Senges Jochen , Brachmann Johannes
Published: July 2021

Introduction

Gender‐based differences in atrial fibrillation have been identified, but limited data exist for patients undergoing left atrial appendage occluder (LAAO) implantation. This study reports gender‐related periprocedural and 1‐year outcomes of the prospective, multicenter German left atrial appendage occlusion registry (LAARGE).

Methods

LAARGE enrolled 641 patients who were scheduled for LAAO implantation from July 2014 to January 2016 in 38 hospitals in Germany. The data collected included demographics, clinical characteristics, details of implantation, and outcome. Efficacy and safety at 1‐year follow‐up were assessed by the occurrence of thrombembolic and bleeding events, as well as mortality.

Results

Of 638 patients undergoing LAAO implantation 38.9% were female and 61.1% male. Females were older (76.4 ± 8.2 [females] vs. 75.6 ± 7.7 [males], p = .042) and had a higher stroke risk (CHA2DS2‐VASc score: 4.9 ± 1.5 vs. 4.3 ± 1.5, p < .001). In contrast, males suffered more often from coronary artery (33.1% vs. 53.8%, p < .001) and vascular disease (18.5% vs. 31.0%, p < .001). Technical success was high and similar for both genders (98.4% vs. 97.2%, p = .33). Severe periprocedural complications (6.9% vs. 3.1%, p = .032) occurred more often in females. At 1‐year follow‐up the rates of all‐cause stroke (0.5% vs. 1.3%, p = .65) and severe bleeding (0.0% and 1.0%, p = .29) were low and comparable between the genders. Also, one‐year all‐cause mortality (9.2% vs. 13.1%, p = .14) did not differ significantly.

Conclusion

LAARGE documented in this elderly patient population undergoing LAAO implantation a higher rate of severe periprocedural complications in females. At 1‐year follow‐up similar efficacy and safety outcomes were observed for both genders.
The role of expertise in syndicate formation
Authors: Bourjade Sylvain
Published: July 2021

In most initial public offerings around the world, an underwriter selects syndicate members and uses their information to set the offering price. The objective of this paper is to develop a model of the “book building” process in which the formation of the syndicate is an endogenous decision variable. I analyze when it may benefit the lead underwriter to select syndicate members with different expertise and to acquire all available information about the value of the shares. I show that the underwriter faces a tradeoff between the cost of extracting information and valuation accuracy. Specifically, when the issuer is a low‐risk firm, the costs of acquiring information are higher than the benefits in terms of price accuracy and forming a specialized syndicate is optimal. However, when retail investors' participation is high enough and when the issuer is a high‐risk and transparent firm, the lead underwriter' optimal strategy is to form a diversified syndicate.
Getting old: an endangered seahorse (Hippocampus whitei) lives for up to 7 years in the wild
Authors: Harasti David
Published: July 2021

A long‐term monitoring programme from 2005 to 2021 has allowed the assessment of age and longevity in an endangered seahorse Hippocampus whitei in the wild. Seahorses were marked using visible implant fluorescent elastomer (VIFE) which allows for individual identification. The longest period from marking to last sighting was 6 years 8 months and 17 days for a female. Using a von Bertalanffy growth function model for the species, this individual would have been approximately 7 years 7 months old on last sighting. These observations suggest that seahorses in the wild can live for over 7 years and demonstrate the benefits of using VIFE in long‐term movement, population abundance and life‐history studies of seahorses.
Using hybrid atomic force microscopy and infrared spectroscopy (AFM‐IR) to identify chemical components of the hair medulla on the nanoscale
Authors: Fellows Alexander P. , Casford Mike T. L. , Davies Paul B.
Published: July 2021

Atomic force microscopy integrated with infrared spectroscopy (AFM‐IR) has been used to topographically and chemically examine the medulla of human hair fibres with nanometre scale lateral resolution. The mapping of cross‐sections of the medulla showed two distinct structural components which were subsequently characterised spectroscopically. One of these components was shown to be closely similar to cortical cell species, consistent with the fibrillar structures found in previous electron microscope (EM) investigations. The other component showed large chemical differences from cortical cells and was assigned to globular vacuole species, also confirming EM observations. Further characterisation of the two components was achieved through spectral deconvolution of the protein Amide‐I and ‐II bands. This showed that the vacuoles have a greater proportion of the most thermodynamically stable conformation, namely the antiparallel β‐sheet structures. This chimes with the observed lower cysteine concentration, indicating a lower proportion of restrictive disulphide cross‐link bonding. Furthermore, the large α‐helix presence within the vacuoles points to a loss of matrix‐like material as well as significant intermolecular stabilisation of the protein structures. By analysing the carbonyl stretching region, it was established that the fibrillar, cortical cell‐like components showed considerable stabilisation from H‐bonding interactions, similar to the cortex, involving amino acid side chains whereas, in contrast, the vacuoles were found to only be stabilised significantly by structural lipids.
Bolide fragment detection in Doppler weather radar data using artificial intelligence/machine learning
Authors: Smeresky Brendon , Abell Paul , Fries Marc , Hankey Mike
Published: July 2021

Unsupervised machine learning methods present a promising approach for detecting fragments produced from meteors and bolides as distinct signatures within Doppler weather radar data. A method combining principal component analysis (PCA), t‐distributed statistical neighbor embedding (t‐SNE), and data point pruning based on the nearest neighbor algorithm is introduced as a process to detect outlier meteor signatures from terrestrial weather signatures using the national NOAA WSR‐88D Doppler radar network. This method is applied against unlabeled data from four weather radar sites during two bolide events: the KFWS radar for the Ash Creek bolide and the KDAX, KRGX, and KBBX radars for the Sutter’s Mill bolide. The combined algorithm results in an accuracy rate of 99.7% and can classify the data in <8 min for a 121,000 return sized data set. However, the classifier’s recall and precision rates remained low due to difficulties in correctly classifying true‐positive meteorite fall events. This method enables the expedited detection of materials from bolides and meteors that fall within the national radar network, leading to the faster confirmation of meteorite fall events and subsequent dispatch of recovery teams.
N471D WASH complex subunit strumpellin knock‐in mice display mild motor and cardiac abnormalities and BPTF and KLHL11 dysregulation in brain tissue
Authors: Clemen Christoph S. , Schmidt Andreas , Winter Lilli , Canneva Fabio , Wittig Ilka , Becker Lore , Coras Roland , Berwanger Carolin ,   The German Mouse Clinic Consortium, Hofmann Andreas , Eggers Britta , Marcus Katrin , Gailus‐Durner Valerie , Fuchs Helmut , de Angelis Martin Hrabe , Krüger Marcus , von Hörsten Stephan , Eichinger Ludwig , Schröder Rolf
Published: July 2021

Aims

We investigated N471D WASH complex subunit strumpellin (Washc5) knock‐in andWashc5knock‐out mice as models for hereditary spastic paraplegia type 8 (SPG8).

Methods

We generated heterozygous and homozygous N471DWashc5knock‐in mice and subjected them to a comprehensive clinical, morphological and laboratory parameter screen, and gait analyses. Brain tissue was used for proteomic analysis. Furthermore, we generated heterozygousWashc5knock‐out mice. WASH complex subunit strumpellin expression was determined by qPCR and immunoblotting.

Results

Homozygous N471DWashc5knock‐in mice showed mild dilated cardiomyopathy, decreased acoustic startle reactivity, thinner eye lenses, increased alkaline phosphatase and potassium levels and increased white blood cell counts. Gait analyses revealed multiple aberrations indicative of locomotor instability. Similarly, the clinical chemistry, haematology and gait parameters of heterozygous mice also deviated from the values expected for healthy animals, albeit to a lesser extent. Proteomic analysis of brain tissue depicted consistent upregulation of BPTF and downregulation of KLHL11 in heterozygous and homozygous knock‐in mice. WASHC5‐related protein interaction partners and complexes showed no change in abundancies. HeterozygousWashc5knock‐out mice showing normal WASHC5 levels could not be bred to homozygosity.

Conclusions

While biallelic ablation ofWashc5was prenatally lethal, expression of N471D mutated WASHC5 led to several mild clinical and laboratory parameter abnormalities, but not to a typical SPG8 phenotype. The consistent upregulation of BPTF and downregulation of KLHL11 suggest mechanistic links between the expression of N471D mutated WASHC5 and the roles of both proteins in neurodegeneration and protein quality control, respectively.
Racism, healthcare access and health equity for people seeking asylum
Authors: Willey Suzanne , Desmyth Kath , Truong Mandy
Published: July 2021

People seeking asylum are at risk of receiving poorer quality healthcare due, in part, to racist and discriminatory attitudes, behaviours and policies in the health system. Despite fleeing war and conflict; exposure to torture and traumatic events and living with uncertainty; people seeking asylum are at high‐risk of experiencing long‐term poor physical and mental health outcomes in their host country. This article aims to raise awareness and bring attention to some common issues people seeking asylum face when seeking healthcare in high‐income countries where the health system is dominated by a Western biomedical view of health. Clinical case scenarios are used to highlight instances of racist healthcare policies and practices that create and maintain ongoing health disparities; limited access to culturally and linguistically appropriate health services, and lack of trauma‐informed approaches to care. Nurses and midwives can play an important role in countering racism in healthcare settings; by identifying and calling out discriminatory practice and modelling tolerance, respect and empathy in daily practice. We present recommendations for individuals, organisations and governments that can inform changes to policies and practices that will reduce racism and improve health equity for people seeking asylum.
Field microenvironments regulate crop diel transcript and metabolite rhythms
Authors: Dantas Luíza Lane Barros , Dourado Maíra Marins , de Lima Natalia Oliveira , Cavaçana Natale , Nishiyama Milton Yutaka , Souza Glaucia Mendes , Carneiro Monalisa Sampaio , Caldana Camila , Hotta Carlos Takeshi
Published: July 2021

Most research in plant chronobiology has been done in laboratory conditions. However, laboratories usually fail to mimic natural conditions and their slight fluctuations, highlighting or obfuscating rhythmicity. High‐density crops, such as sugarcane (Saccharum hybrid), generate field microenvironments with specific light and temperature regimes resulting from mutual shading.

We measured the metabolic and transcriptional rhythms in the leaves of 4‐month‐old (4 mo) and 9 mo field‐grown sugarcane. Most of the assayed rhythms in 9 mo sugarcane peaked >1 h later than in 4 mo sugarcane, including rhythms of the circadian clock gene, LATE ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL (LHY).

We hypothesized that older sugarcane perceives dawn later than younger sugarcane as a consequence of self‐shading. As a test, we measured LHY rhythms in plants on the east and the west sides of a field. We also tested if a wooden wall built between lines of sugarcane plants changed their rhythms. The LHY peak was delayed in the plants in the west of the field or beyond the wall; both shaded at dawn.

We conclude that plants in the same field may have different phases resulting from field microenvironments, impacting important agronomical traits, such as flowering time, stalk weight and number.
Trends and variability in polar sea ice, global atmospheric circulations, and baroclinicity
Authors: Simmonds Ian , Li Muyuan
Published: July 2021

We analyze the polar sea ice distribution and the global sea level pressure (SLP) and baroclinicity distributions over the “satellite” period of 1979–2020. In the Arctic, there are statistically significant sea ice extent (SIE) decreases in all calendar months, and the annual mean has lost 2.22 million km2 over the four decades. The Antarctic SIE, in marked contrast, increased up to 2014, then commenced a remarkable retreat (the annual mean ice extent decreased by 2.03 million km2 in the 3 years to 2017), and subsequently increased to near its long‐term average value in 2020. The shifts in seasonal‐mean SLP patterns are consistent with a warming planet. At the synoptic scale, we diagnose the changes in the baroclinicity, the mechanism by which cyclones, fronts, and other weather systems are generated. Through a novel presentation, we give an overview of the relative roles of changes in the vertical shear and static stability in influencing the global trends in baroclinicity. In both the Arctic and Antarctic regions, baroclinicity is shown to have increased in each season (with the sole exception of the Arctic in summer). This increase, coupled with midlatitude decreases in baroclinicity, results in poleward shifts of the storm tracks.
Weight management across preconception, pregnancy, and postpartum: A systematic review and quality appraisal of international clinical practice guidelines
Authors: Harrison Cheryce L. , Teede Helena , Khan Nadia , Lim Siew , Chauhan Ayushi , Drakeley Sheila , Moran Lisa , Boyle Jacqueline
Published: July 2021

This systematic review and quality appraisal evaluated clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for weight management and weight‐related behaviors across preconception, pregnancy, and postpartum. CPGs published in English were identified from research and guideline‐specific databases between 2010 and 2019. Recommendations were categorized into weight (body mass index screening, weight loss, weight gain prevention, and gestational weight gain), diet, food safety, physical activity, and behavioral strategies. Three independent appraisers assessed CPG quality using the Appraisal of Guidelines Research and Evaluation II instrument. Twenty‐two CPGs were included across preconception (n = 2), pregnancy (n = 8), postpartum (n = 2), or a combination (n = 10). Overall, 45% of CPGs were appraised as poor quality, 32% as moderate, and 23% as high. Evaluation of body mass index and supplementation recommendations were most common across CPGs, alongside secondary weight management recommendations for women with obesity in fewer CPGs. Accompanying recommendations for diet, physical activity, and behavior were highly variable between guidelines. We report significant ambiguity in existing guidance and an absence of important considerations, including targeting weight gain prevention and limiting excess gestational weight gain. Results emphasize the need for development of robust, comprehensive, and high quality guidelines on healthy lifestyle and weight management across these formative reproductive life stages.
Chronological changes of serum exosome in preterm infants: A prospective study
Authors: Ohta Motoki , Koshida Shigeki , Jimbo Itsuki , Oda Machi , Inoue Ryo , Tsukahara Takamitsu , Terahara Masaki , Yanagi Takahide , Nakahara Sayuri , Shibata Masami , Tsutsui Hidemi , Yoshida Daisuke , Furukawa Ouki , Maruo Yoshihiro
Published: July 2021

Background

Exosomes, which are observed in all human fluid, including serum, are nanosized extracellular vesicles with a mechanism of intercellular communication. Potential clinical applications of exosomes in neonatal diseases have recently been discussed. However, the characteristics of exosomes in serum during early infancy is unclear.

Methods

In this prospective study, we evaluated the chronological changes in the concentration of serum‐derived exosomes of 20 infants for 12 months after birth.

Results

The average concentration of serum‐derived exosomes was 4.6 × 1010 particles/mL at birth and increased significantly until the age of 48 weeks. There was a moderate correlation between the gestational age and the concentration of serum‐derived exosomes both at birth (r = 0.54, P = 0.01) and during the 8 weeks after birth (r = 0.48, P < 0.001). A multivariable analysis showed that gestational age at birth was associated with the concentration of serum‐derived exosomes at birth (partial regression coefficient, 0.86; 95% confidence interval, 0.37–1.37; P = 0.002).

Conclusions

The concentration of serum‐derived exosomes in preterm infants increased both chronologically and by gestational age after birth. These basic data may help to further understand physiology of exosomes in preterm infants.
Presidential “Pitches” and White House Pressure: Interpersonal Presidential Persuasion in a Shared Lawmaking Environment
Authors: Rottinghaus Brandon , Johnson Isaiah
Published: July 2021

Bargaining is a critical component to exercising shared lawmaking powers. Conventional wisdom holds that presidents are effective at personally persuading members of Congress to support favored legislation, but recent scholarship shows when and how they get involved matters. Yet, we know less about specifically how presidents bargain with members of Congress and which types of interpersonal presidential communication frames persuade members of Congress. Using unique data from the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library concerning the White House’s press for passage of the 1983 budget, this article addresses how presidents position their legislative pitches and to which members. While ideology matters most in predicting members supporting the White House’s preferred legislation, we find a “compromise” pitch from the White House works better for bipartisan‐tagged legislation than appeals to “party unity.” These findings provide a unique window into informal bargaining arrangements and allow us to understand how presidents influence members of Congress.
Unravelling the effects of omalizumab on fibrocytes
Authors: Berger Patrick , Dupin Isabelle
Published: July 2021

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On the Politics of Evolutionary Thought
Authors: Di Feliciantonio Cesare
Published: July 2021

This commentary on Elvin Wyly's paper, ‘The Evolution of Geographic Thought’, aims at stimulating a reflection on the possibilities offered by the politics of evolutionary thought as envisaged in the paper and its use by critical scholars. Through the analysis of the paper's ambivalences towards the politics of evolution and its history, the commentary discusses the limits and the potential of Wyly's effort to destabilise the linearity and unity of evolution.
Multinational firms and human capital investment: A dynamic knowledge‐capital model
Authors: Wang Xin
Published: July 2021

To capture the mixed picture of trade‐induced human capital investment in both developing and developed countries, this paper develops a dynamic general equilibrium model with multinational enterprises (MNEs) and endogenous education investment decision and investigates the impacts of trade cost reduction on human capital accumulation and wage inequality. Illustrated with a numerical example, we show that with endogenous endowment structure, the set of active firm types is mutually determined by trade cost and the discrepancy in the incentives for education attainment between countries. In addition, the exact impacts of trade are determined by changes in the production patterns of firms. When the reduction in trade cost expands the scale of vertical MNEs with headquarters in developed countries, education investment increases in both developing and developed countries. We also show that the distributional impacts of production offshoring are mitigated by human capital accumulation. The conclusions in this paper highlight the importance of education policies in complementing trade policies, as well as the important role of MNEs in shaping the world income and endowments distribution.
Bio-Inspired Design, Modeling, and Control of Robotic Fish Propelled by a Double-Slider-Crank Mechanism Driven Tail
Authors: Zuo Wenyu , Fish Frank , Chen Zheng
Published: July 2021

This paper presents the design, modeling, and control of a three-joint robotic fish propelled by a double-slider-crank (DSC) driven caudal fin. DSC is a mechanism that can use one direct current motor to achieve oscillating foil propulsion. Its design is guided by a traveling wave equation that mimics a fish's undulatory locomotion. After multiple tests, the robotic fish displayed good performance in mimicking a real fish's swimming motion. DSC mechanism is proven to be an effective propulsion technique for a robotic fish. With the help of another servomotor at the first joint of the fish's tail, the robotic fish can have a two-dimensional free-swimming capability. In experiments, the robotic fish can achieve a swimming speed of 0.35 m/s at 3 Hz, equivalent to 0.98 body length (BL) per second. Its steering rate is proportional to a bias angle. The DSC benefits the control of the robotic fish by independently adjusting its steering and swimming speed. This characteristic is studied in a hydrodynamic model that derives the thrust within a DSC frame. Besides the dynamic model, a semiphysics-based and data-driven linear model is established to connect bias angle to robotic fish's heading angle. The linear model is used for designing an observed-state feedback control control, and the controller has been examined in simulation and experiments.
Classification of the Hydraulic Behavior Along the No-Load Curve of Francis Turbines
Authors: Fortin Mélissa , Nennemann Bernd , Deschênes Claire , Houde Sébastien
Published: July 2021

For hydraulic turbines, no-load (NL) is considered a homogeneous family of operating conditions, although the literature exposes a wide variety of flow structures depending on many factors. A better understanding of the flow structures developed during NL operation is necessary, since they generate pressure fluctuations in the turbine causing significant fatigue damage and reducing the life expectancy of the machines. Hydraulic turbines at model scale show that behavioral trends can be identified for NL conditions. This paper presents a classification of NL operating conditions following the swirl level at the runner outlet. The main tendencies linking the cavitation level to the runner speed and the discharge for operating points along NL curves of different turbines are also detailed. To study the NL conditions, data from 26 Francis turbines, measured between 2007 and 2020 at the laboratory of Andritz Hydro Canada Inc., are analyzed. This study demonstrates that NL operating conditions exhibit flow features very similar to those at regular operation with similar runner outlet swirl. The runner acceleration or deceleration with cavitation is related to the flow topology at the runner outlet.
Theoretical Analysis of Rankine Cycle Operating With Zeotropic Mixtures of Carbon Dioxide and Hydrocarbons
Authors: Narayanan Vineed , Venkatarathnam G.
Published: July 2021

There is an increased interest in carbon dioxide-based cycles as it requires smaller turbines than conventional Rankine cycles operating with steam. The focus of this work is the study of the performance of a Rankine cycle operating between 500 and 700 K (226.85 and 426.85 °C). Optimum mixtures of hydrocarbons and carbon dioxide have been worked out for use as working fluids in the above temperature range. This study shows that the use of multicomponent mixtures results in higher efficiency and smaller systems suitable for solar-powered small-scale power cycles. A thermal efficiency of 26.5% and volumetric work of 1945 J/l have been estimated with optimum multicomponent mixture derived in this work with a heat source temperature of 600 K and operating pressures of 100 and 40 bar at expander inlet and exit, respectively.