bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Who gets to play recognitional tag?
Authors: Pinkard Terry
Published: July 2021

With regard to the sociality of agency and the role that second‐person address plays, I propose to contrast and develop (1) a Fichtean‐Darwallian account that seems to tie agency to mutual recognition but tacitly presupposes a more fundamental agency independent of it that enables us to enter the circle of recognition. (2) A Brandomian account that although initially proposing a more robustly social account of agency, ultimately remains entrapped in a game of mirrors. (3) Hegel's own approach recasts the issue by giving up the idea that the sociality of agency can be understood in terms of what I call a game of recognitional tag. Instead, we are inhabiting a practice that involves a social struggle about the very form of this practice, and it is this that Hegel has termed a “struggle for recognition.”
“You” or “We”: The limits of the second‐person perspective
Authors: Honneth Axel
Published: July 2021

The following paper questions the idea behind Stephen Darwall's attempt to ground all moral obligations in a perspective that he calls “second‐personal.” In a first step, I will reconstruct Darwall's argument with the aim of raising doubt over whether the moral norms that supposedly govern interpersonal interactions in fact result from their reference to a “you,” as he claims, rather than from a reference to a collectively implied “we”, as I shall go on to argue (1). Posing this question will then afford me an opportunity to look more closely at Hegel's implicit reservations about Fichte's doctrine of recognition, reservations which I find entirely persuasive (2). In a final step, I will return to Darwall's project. In my view, this project ultimately fails due to its denial of the social, and thus conflictual, character of the moral norms governing participants within the I–you relation (3).
Stabilising role of seed banks and the maintenance of bacterial diversity
Authors: Wisnoski Nathan I. , Lennon Jay T.
Published: July 2021

Coexisting species often exhibit negative frequency dependence due to mechanisms that promote population growth and persistence when rare. These stabilising mechanisms can maintain diversity through interspecific niche differences, but also through life‐history strategies like dormancy that buffer populations in fluctuating environments. However, there are few tests demonstrating how seed banks contribute to long‐term community dynamics and the maintenance of diversity. Using a multi‐year, high‐frequency time series of bacterial community data from a north temperate lake, we documented patterns consistent with stabilising coexistence. Bacterial taxa exhibited differential responses to seasonal environmental conditions, while seed bank dynamics helped maintain diversity over less‐favourable winter periods. Strong negative frequency dependence in rare, but metabolically active, taxa suggested a role for biotic interactions in promoting coexistence. Together, our results provide field‐based evidence that niche differences and seed banks contribute to recurring community dynamics and the long‐term maintenance of diversity in nature.
Gut microbiota modulates seizure susceptibility
Authors: Mengoni Francesca , Salari Valentina , Kosenkova Inna , Tsenov Grygoriy , Donadelli Massimo , Malerba Giovanni , Bertini Giuseppe , Del Gallo Federico , Fabene Paolo Francesco
Published: July 2021

A bulk of data suggest that the gut microbiota plays a role in a broad range of diseases, including those affecting the central nervous system. Recently, significant differences in the intestinal microbiota of patients with epilepsy, compared to healthy volunteers, have been reported in an observational study. However, an active role of the intestinal microbiota in the pathogenesis of epilepsy, through the so‐called “gut–brain axis,” has yet to be demonstrated. In this study, we evaluated the direct impact of microbiota transplanted from epileptic animals to healthy recipient animals, to clarify whether the microbiota from animals with epilepsy can affect the excitability of the recipients’ brain by lowering seizure thresholds. Our results provide the first evidence that mice who received microbiota from epileptic animals are more prone to develop status epilepticus, compared to recipients of “healthy” microbiota, after a subclinical dose of pilocarpine, indicating a higher susceptibility to seizures. The lower thresholds for seizure activity found in this study support the hypothesis that the microbiota, through the gut–brain axis, is able to affect neuronal excitability in the brain.
Dynamic tractography‐based localization of spike sources and animation of spike propagations
Authors: Mitsuhashi Takumi , Sonoda Masaki , Sakakura Kazuki , Jeong Jeong‐Won , Luat Aimee F. , Sood Sandeep , Asano Eishi
Published: July 2021

Objective

This study was undertaken to build and validate a novel dynamic tractography‐based model for localizing interictal spike sources and visualizing monosynaptic spike propagations through the white matter.

Methods

This cross‐sectional study investigated 1900 spike events recorded in 19 patients with drug‐resistant temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) who underwent extraoperative intracranial electroencephalography (iEEG) and resective surgery. Twelve patients had mesial TLE (mTLE) without a magnetic resonance imaging‐visible mass lesion. The remaining seven had a mass lesion in the temporal lobe neocortex. We identified the leading and lagging sites, defined as those initially and subsequently (but within ≤50 ms) showing spike‐related augmentation of broadband iEEG activity. In each patient, we estimated the sources of 100 spike discharges using the latencies at given electrode sites and diffusion‐weighted imaging‐based streamline length measures. We determined whether the spatial relationship between the estimated spike sources and resection was associated with postoperative seizure outcomes. We generated videos presenting the spatiotemporal change of spike‐related fiber activation sites by estimating the propagation velocity using the streamline length and spike latency measures.

Results

The spike propagation velocity from the source was 1.03 mm/ms on average (95% confidence interval = .91–1.15) across 133 tracts noted in the 19 patients. The estimated spike sources in mTLE patients with International League Against Epilepsy Class 1 outcome were more likely to be in the resected area (83.9% vs. 72.3%, φ = .137,p < .001) and in the medial temporal lobe region (80.5% vs. 72.5%, φ = .090,p = .002) than those associated with the Class ≥2 outcomes. The resulting video successfully animated spike propagations, which were confined within the temporal lobe in mTLE but involved extratemporal lobe areas in lesional TLE.

Significance

We have, for the first time, provided dynamic tractography visualizing the spatiotemporal profiles of rapid propagations of interictal spikes through the white matter. Dynamic tractography has the potential to serve as a unique epilepsy biomarker.
The first human induced pluripotent stem cell line of Kashin–Beck disease reveals involvement of heparan sulfate proteoglycan biosynthesis and PPAR pathway
Authors: Liu Huan , Wu Cuiyan , Zhao Hongmou , Zhang Feng’e , Zhao Guanghui , Lin Xialu , Wang Sen , Wang Xi , Yu Fangfang , Ning Yujie , Yang Lei , Liu Peilong , Zhang Feng , Xu Peng , Qu Chengjuan , Lammi Mikko J. , Guo Xiong
Published: July 2021

Kashin–Beck disease (KBD) is an endemic osteochondropathy. Due to a lack of suitable animal or cellular disease models, the research progress on KBD has been limited. Our goal was to establish the first disease‐specific human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) cellular disease model of KBD, and to explore its etiology and pathogenesis exploiting transcriptome sequencing. HiPSCs were reprogrammed from dermal fibroblasts of two KBD and one healthy control donor via integration‐free vectors. Subsequently, hiPSCs were differentiated into chondrocytes through three‐week culture. Gene expression profiles in KBD, normal primary chondrocytes, and hiPSC‐derived chondrocytes were defined by RNA sequencing. A Venn diagram was constructed to show the number of shared differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between KBD and normal. Gene oncology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes annotations were performed, and six DEGs were further validated in other individuals by RT‐qPCR. KBD cellular disease models were successfully established by generation of hiPSC lines. Seventeen consistent and significant DEGs present in all compared groups (KBD and normal) were identified. RT‐qPCR validation gave consistent results with the sequencing data. Glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis—heparan sulfate/heparin; PPAR signaling pathway; and cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) were identified to be significantly altered in KBD. Differentiated chondrocytes derived from KBD‐origin hiPSCs provide the first cellular disease model for etiological studies of KBD. This study also provides new sights into the pathogenesis and etiology of KBD and is likely to inform the development of targeted therapeutics for its treatment.
Teaching foreign language grammar: New solutions, old problems
Authors: Pawlak Mirosław
Published: July 2021

The place of grammar instruction in second or foreign language (L2) pedagogy has always been highly controversial and although there is currently consensus that such pedagogic intervention is beneficial, numerous questions remain as to how it should most propitiously be conducted. Different theoretical perspectives have resulted in a wide array of instructional options intended to enhance the effectiveness of grammar teaching, both with respect to ensuring fuller understanding of grammar rules and helping learners use these rules in communicative interaction. The paper provides a selective overview of such “new solutions” and argues that they have not really contributed much to solving the “old problems” of grammar instruction. Reasons for this state of affairs are considered and some suggestions for how the situation can be improved are offered.
Responses of forest structure, functions, and biodiversity to livestock disturbances: A global meta‐analysis
Authors: Li Binbin V. , Jiang Bingkun
Published: July 2021

Habitat degradation and land‐use change driven by the livestock sector are among the major causes of global biodiversity loss. Forests are crucial in maintaining biodiversity and mitigating climate change. Apart from continuing deforestation, forests also face increasing pressure from livestock grazing in the system, which is less understood compared to grasslands. Through a meta‐analysis of 156 articles with 1936 data entries, this study assesses the effect of livestock on forest biodiversity, structure, and functions, varying with livestock types, livestock density, grazing history, and climatic factors. Our results show that livestock overall had a negative impact on the forest structure and functions, reduced species abundance but increased richness. Medium and large mammals, plant communities, and soil were more negatively affected compared to other groups such as birds and invertebrates. Livestock also influenced the role of forests in mitigating climate change. They changed forest carbon stock by reducing plant biomass; however, they did not significantly impact the soil carbon stock or soil greenhouse gas emissions. Ecosystem attributes were more affected in warmer and drier regions and by single species grazing than the mixed grazing. Past livestock grazing history moderates the impacts of livestock, with the strongest negative effect occurred with a history of 1–5 years. Nonetheless, livestock activities also had a positive impact on forest management, such as reducing forest flammability. Our results also indicate the lack of studies on how higher trophic levels respond to livestock disturbances and how grazing intensity moderates the effect, which includes grazing duration and livestock density. The complex responses of forests to livestock in different conditions call for more adaptive management depending on the conservation targets and evolution history.
PTEN expression and morphological patterns in prostatic adenocarcinoma
Authors: Spieker Andrew J , Gordetsky Jennifer B , Maris Alexander S , Dehan Lauren M , Denney James E , Arnold Egloff Shanna A , Scarpato Kristen , Barocas Daniel A , Giannico Giovanna A
Published: July 2021

Aims

Cribriform morphology, which includes intraductal carcinoma (IDCP) and invasive cribriform carcinoma, is an indicator of poor prognosis in prostate cancer. Phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) loss is a predictor of adverse clinical outcomes. The association between PTEN expression and morphological patterns of prostate cancer is unclear.

Methods and results

We explored the association between PTEN expression by immunohistochemistry, Gleason pattern 4 morphologies, IDCP and biochemical recurrence (BCR) in 163 radical prostatectomy specimens. IDCP was delineated from invasive cribriform carcinoma by p63 positive immunohistochemical staining in basal cells. Combined invasive cribriform carcinoma and IDCP were associated with a higher cumulative incidence of BCR [hazard ratio (HR) = 5.06; 2.21, 11.6, P < 0.001]. When including PTEN loss in the analysis, invasive cribriform carcinoma remained predictive of BCR (HR = 3.72; 1.75, 7.94, P = 0.001), while PTEN loss within invasive cribriform carcinoma did not. Glomeruloid morphology was associated with lower odds of cancer stage pT3 and lower cumulative incidence of BCR (HR = 0.27; 0.088, 0.796, P = 0.018), while PTEN loss within glomeruloid morphology was associated with a higher cumulative incidence of BCR (HR = 4.07; 1.04, 15.9, P = 0.043).

Conclusions

PTEN loss within glomeruloid pattern was associated with BCR. The presence of any cribriform pattern was associated with BCR, despite PTEN loss not significantly associated with invasive cribriform carcinoma. We speculate that other drivers independent from PTEN loss may contribute to poor prognostic features in cribriform carcinoma.
The success of HIV combination prevention: The Dean Street model
Authors: Girometti Nicolò , Delpech Valerie , McCormack Sheena , Khawam Jameel , Nash Sophie , Ogaz Dana , Mohammed Hamish , Gedela Keerti , Nugent Diarmuid , Patel Sheel , Suchak Tara , Tittle Victoria , McOwan Alan , Whitlock Gary
Published: July 2021

The 56 Dean Street combination prevention model, a strong engagement with the LGBTQI community and flexible services adapted to users’ changing needs led to an 80% drop in HIV diagnoses in gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) from 2015 to 2017. We describe the service changes at 56 Dean Street since 2012 which resulted in an increase in the frequency of HIV testing, the introduction of pre‐exposure prophylaxis, earlier HIV diagnosis and a shorter time to viral suppression in those living with HIV. This model could be adapted to deliver similar results in those settings of high HIV prevalence among GBMSM and where access to technological innovation in healthcare and engagement with the community can be achieved.
Microstructure and properties of WC‐8Co cemented carbides prepared by multiple spark plasma sintering
Authors: Chen Zewen , Wang Zhenhua , Wang Boxiang , Yuan Juntang , Huang Lei , Yin Zengbin
Published: July 2021

In this study, WC‐8Co cemented carbides were prepared by spark plasma sintering. When the samples sintered at 1300℃ were cooled to room temperature, the samples were sintered multiple times at 1250℃. The changes in microstructure and mechanical properties of WC‐8Co cemented carbides prepared by multiple spark plasma sintering were studied. The hardness of cemented carbides increased in the first two sintering, reaching 16.5 GPa. However, the hardness decreased seriously in the last two sintering. The attenuation rates of hardness were 6.2% and 2.5% due to the abnormal coarse grains. Furthermore, the crack path along the grain boundary was almost straight, causing a decrease in the indentation fracture toughness of cemented carbides. Additionally, the grains of cemented carbides were abnormally coarsened, and the morphologies of grains became unstable due to multiple sintering.
Development of real‐time fluorescence saltatory rolling circle amplification for rapid detection of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in seafood
Authors: Yuan Ning , Yang Haoyu , Zhang Yunzhe , Xu Hancong , Lu Xin , Xu Hui , Zhang Wei
Published: July 2021

As a marine food‐borne pathogen, Vibrio parahaemolyticus (V. parahaemolyticus) can cause human gastrointestinal disorders and pose a serious threat to food safety and public health worldwide. Using a portable scanner, herein, a real‐time fluorescence saltatory rolling circle amplification (RF‐SRCA) has been established for the rapid detection of V. parahaemolyticus in seafood targeting toxR gene. The RF‐SRCA results could be effectively determined within 20–60 min via real‐time fluorescence curve. Significant specificity of RF‐SRCA was exhibited against 12 V. parahaemolyticus strains and 29 non‐V. parahaemolyticus strains. The sensitivity and detection limit of V. parahaemolyticus in artificially contaminated raw oyster by RF‐SRCA were 3.2 × 100 fg μL−1 and 2.3 × 100 CFU g−1, respectively. Compared with SRCA by electrophoresis, RF‐SRCA has higher sensitivity, lower detection limit, and avoids complicated electrophoresis. Compared with visual SRCA, the RF‐SRCA takes shorter time, provides more accurate results and can eliminate the risk of cross‐contamination. Moreover, 236 seafood samples were investigated for V. parahaemolyticus contamination, and the results showed 100% sensitivity, 95.88% specificity and 98.31% accuracy compared with the ISO method. Therefore, RF‐SRCA possesses great potential as an accurate, specific, sensitive, rapid and convenient molecular diagnostic method for V. parahaemolyticus detection from various seafoods.
Mesenchymal stem cells from different sources show distinct therapeutic effects in hyperoxia‐induced bronchopulmonary dysplasia in rats
Authors: Xie Yingjun , Chen Fei , Jia Lei , Chen Rui , Zhang Victor Wei , Zhong Xinqi , Wang Ding
Published: July 2021

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been shown as an effective medicinal means to treat bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). The widely used MSCs were from Wharton's jelly of umbilical cord (UC‐MSCs) and bone marrow (BM‐MSCs). Amniotic fluid MSCs (AF‐MSCs) may be produced before an individual is born to treat foetal diseases by autoplastic transplantation. We evaluated intratracheal (IT) MSCs as an approach to treat an hyperoxia‐induced BPD animal model and compared the therapeutic effects between AF‐, UC‐ and BM‐MSCs. A BPD animal model was generated by exposing newborn rats to 95% O2. The continued stress lasted 21 days, and the treatment of IT MSCs was conducted for 4 days. The therapeutic effects were analysed, including lung histology, level of inflammatory cytokines, cell death ratio and state of angiogenesis, by sacrificing the experimental animal at day 21. The lasting hyperoxia stress induced BPD similar to the biological phenotype. The treatment of IT MSCs was safe without deaths and normal organ histopathology. Specifically, the treatment was effective by inhibiting the alveolar dilatation, reducing inflammatory cytokines, inducing angiogenesis and lowering the cell death ratio. AF‐MSCs had better therapeutic effects compared with UC‐MSCs in relieving the pulmonary alveoli histological changes and promoting neovascularization, and UC‐MSCs had the best immunosuppressive effect in plasma and lung lysis compared with AF‐MSCs and BM‐MSCs. This study demonstrated the therapeutic effects of AF‐, UC‐ and BM‐MSCs in BPD model. Superior treatment effect was provided by antenatal MSCs compared to BM‐MSC in a statistical comparison.
Native potato (Solanum phureja) powder by Refractance Window Drying: A promising way for potato processing
Authors: Duarte‐Correa Yudy , Vargas‐Carmona María Isabel , Vásquez‐Restrepo Andrés , Ruiz Rosas Ivan David , Pérez Martínez Nely
Published: July 2021

The potato is an important global food crop, and it has the highest global consumption among non‐cereal crops. Frying is the most typical form of preparation; however, it presents some associated health concerns regarding the significant fat intake and the formation of potentially toxic compounds such as acrylamide, furan, among others. The objective of this work was to investigate the use of Refractance Window Drying on the potato pulp obtained from two colored native potato varieties (Papa Roja and Manzana Roja) and the effects of process conditions on the drying rates, as well as the technological properties of the dry powder. The drying process conditions were optimized considering the water temperature (WT) (70–90°C) and drying time (DT) (15–60 min) as independent variables, and some technological properties, as dependent variables. The colored potato powders were evaluated for swelling power, water retention capacity, and oil retention capacity. In addition, antioxidant capacities were evaluated by oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) methodology. The results showed that the optimal drying conditions were DT = 20.5 min and WT = 94.0°C for var. Manzana Roja and DT = 12.1 min and WT = 94.0°C for var. Papa Roja. Regarding technological properties results showed similar behaviors for both varieties, in the range of 0.35–4.68 g/g and 0.80–1.73 g/g for water retention capacity and oil retention capacity, respectively. Finally, the powders obtained from optimal conditions showed antioxidant capacities in the range of 50.09–54.82 μmol TE/g, comparable values with other food matrices such as peach and grapes.

Practical applications

This study indicates that Refractance Window Drying is an adequate procedure for the production of native potato powder with desirable technological properties, and therefore, they can be used as a food ingredient in the development of innovative food products with functional properties.
Effect of pretreatments on drying of red dacca in a single slope solar dryer
Authors: Elangovan Elavarasan , Natarajan Sendhil Kumar
Published: July 2021

Pretreatment of fruits normally increases moisture loss and reduces the overall drying period. The combination of pretreatments and drying assures the least color difference, excellent preservation, and better antioxidant activity. Pretreatment of Red Dacca is soaked in four different solutions, namely honey, lemon juice, sugar syrup, and ascorbic acid, for 10 min. The best solution for pretreatment is investigated among the selected samples. The results indicated that dipping the red dacca in ascorbic acid and lemon juice had a higher impact on moisture loss. The moisture content of the red dacca control samples reduced from 74 to 14% on a wet basis within 8 hr, whereas pretreated red dacca reaches an equilibrium moisture content of 14% within 6 hr. The ascorbic acid dipped samples have shown the best drying rate. The lemon juice samples have the best sensory appeal, whereas honey samples have the best taste over the other samples. The effect of pretreatment on drying characteristics is experimentally investigated on a single slope dryer in both natural and forced convection mode. Pretreated red daca drying is investigated for the first time and the enhancement in performance is compared with three kinds of drying modes.

Practical applications

Due to a lack of processing facilities, the farmers have to sell their products at very low prices. Red dacca is a popularly consumed fruit and it contains various nutritional and health benefits to humans. The drying process is playing an important role in heat‐sensitive product dehydration. Solar drying is a better choice to reduce the loss and produce good quality red dacca after harvesting. In this research, the best drying and pretreatment method for red dacca is identified from existing literature. The finding obtained from this research work will help to increase the shelf life of food samples by reducing the overall drying time without altering the dryer design.
Cost‐effectiveness of a mobile phone text messaging program (KIDNEYTEXT) targeting dietary behaviours in people receiving haemodialysis
Authors: Dawson Jessica , Howell Martin , Howard Kirsten , Campbell Katrina L. , Craig Jonathan C. , Tong Allison , Lee Vincent W.
Published: July 2021

Background

There is little information available to inform the cost‐effectiveness of eHealth interventions in improving patient health outcomes. A trial‐based economic evaluation was undertaken aiming to inform the feasibility of conducting a mobile phone text messaging programme targeting dietary behaviours in people receiving haemodialysis.

Methods

A trial‐based economic evaluation from a health system perspective of a 6‐month pilot randomised controlled trial was undertaken. One hundred and thirty patients receiving haemodialysis from six dialysis units across Sydney, Australia, were enrolled into the KIDNEYTEXT study. Usual care (inperson dietary counselling) was compared with usual care plus three semi‐personalised dietary mobile phone text messages per week over a 6‐month period. The outcomes of this economic evaluation included: cost of intervention, cost‐effectiveness and marginal effects on total costs.

Results

The cost of developing and maintaining the KIDNEYTEXT intervention was US $110 per participant. Total costs were US $1418 higher in the usual care arm compared to the intervention arm. The incremental benefits for quality‐adjusted life adjusted years were 0.01 [95% confidence interval (CI) = −0.03 to 0.06] and dietary adherence (i.e., adherent to three or more dietary guidelines at 6 months) being 0.04 (95% CI = −0.15 to 0.24). The largest component of total costs was related to unplanned admissions to hospital.

Conclusions

Mobile phone text messages targeting dietary behaviours may be cost saving, at the same time as maintaining similar or improved dietary behaviours. A larger trial with a longer follow‐up time is warranted.
Attributional and consequential life cycle assessments in a circular economy with integration of a quality indicator: A case study of cascading wood products
Authors: Tanguay Xavier , Essoua Essoua Gatien Geraud , Amor Ben
Published: July 2021

The growing popularity of the concepts of circular economy and resource cascade has intensified the need for consistent handling of multifunctionality‐related challenges when modeling multiple cycles in life cycle assessment (LCA). In LCA, end‐of‐life upcycling and downcycling effects (also known as quality changes), triggered by the presence of multiple life cycles, have only recently begun to be studied from a consequential perspective, and no studies exist investigating attributional aspects. In this paper, a novel approach that considers quality in attributional LCA is proposed. The attributional, cut‐off, open loop, and proposed approaches are compared in the form of a cascading case study. The implications of integrating quality in both perspectives are contrasted by modeling the same case study under a consequential perspective. By performing sensitivity analysis on the quality parameters in attributional LCA, we found that the integration of quality influences the results of the proposed approach by up to 15%. In the case of consequential LCA, the implementation of quality yields an influence between 97% and 138% of the results for each unit variation of quality. Comparison between the two perspectives of quality shows the same trend of supporting high‐quality cascades. However, the attributional perspective of quality accomplishes this by redistributing impacts, while the consequential perspective affects the external benefits generated by the cascade. Considering the influence of quality on the results of both perspectives, future work should focus on establishing the technical or economic properties that would allow for practical use of quality in various circular economy and resource cascade applications.
ESCAPE‐Allergy: Evaluating screening for children and adolescents with penicillin allergy
Authors: Rischin Kobi J , Mostaghim Mona , Rao Arjun , Smith Bridget , O'Brien Tracey A , Trubiano Jason A , Frith Katie , McMullan Brendan
Published: July 2021

Aim

Penicillin allergy labels are frequently encountered in children and are associated with significant harms. Most children are falsely labelled and can safely tolerate a penicillin but delabelling strategies are underutilised and paediatric‐specific resources are lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate an allergy assessment tool for children in hospital.

Methods

We evaluated a paediatric‐adapted penicillin allergy assessment tool, using an online survey of clinicians in a tertiary paediatric hospital, with 10 hypothetical potential penicillin allergy or adverse reaction cases (including non‐allergy reactions). For each case, respondents were asked to use the tool to assign a reaction phenotype and recommend management. We determined the tool's sensitivity, specificity and acceptability to end users.

Results

We evaluated 30 complete survey responses from senior and junior medical staff, nurses and pharmacists. The tool's overall sensitivity was 80.7% (95% confidence interval (CI) 74.2–87.1%) for assigning the correct reaction phenotype and 85.3% (95% CI 79.4–91.3%) for appropriate management. The tool had high sensitivity for identifying immediate hypersensitivity reactions at 95.6% (95% CI 90.2–100%). Most respondents agreed or strongly agreed that they would use the tool in their practice (22/30, 73.3%).

Conclusion

This survey evaluated a paediatric‐adapted penicillin allergy assessment tool in a tertiary paediatric hospital among multidisciplinary clinician groups. The tool performed well overall and had high safety in identifying immediate hypersensitivity reactions. Further research to support implementation of allergy assessment and delabelling programmes among children is required.
Is there an optimal approach to elective stabilisation of glycaemic control in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus?
Authors: Atlas Gabby , O'Connell Michele A , White Mary
Published: July 2021

Aim

To investigate the effectiveness of inpatient and outpatient interventions in attaining improved glycaemic control in children/adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus and persistently high/deteriorating HbA1c.

Methods

A retrospective study at a tertiary paediatric centre. Admitted individuals who had prior attempts at ambulatory stabilisation were matched with intervention naïve controls who underwent outpatient intervention. The mean age was 14.6 years in the admitted group and 14.7 years in the ambulatory group. Mean duration of diabetes was 6.1 years in the admitted group and 7.3 years in the ambulatory group. Change in HbA1c from baseline was assessed to 12 months.

Results

Mean baseline HbA1c was 11.3% (100 mmol/mol), with 11.4% in the admitted group and 11.2% in the ambulatory group. Sustained reduction in HbA1c at 12 months was seen in both groups (n = 35 in each): mean (standard deviation) 10.1% (1.5) in admitted (mean reduction in HbA1c 1.4%) and 9.7% (1.4) in ambulatory (mean reduction in HbA1c 1.5%). Proportions achieving delta HbA1c ≥2% (22 mmol/mol) at 12 months were 25 and 31% in admitted and ambulatory groups, respectively. A sustained reduction in HbA1c of ≥2% (22 mmol/mol) after 12 months was more likely in those who attained this reduction by 6 months (17/24 who achieved this at 6 months vs. 3/41 who had not).

Conclusions

Both inpatient and outpatient stabilisation strategies achieved sustained improvements in HbA1c. We recommend an individualised approach to stabilisation, with review of the intervention's success at 6 months with further intensification as needed.
Phylogenetic and phenotypic analyses on Dickeya spp. isolated from different host plants in Taiwan
Authors: Wei Xian‐Yong , Deng Wen‐Ling , Chu Chia‐Ching
Published: July 2021

Dickeya spp. cause severe diseases in many crops. Most previous studies in Taiwan identified these pathogens as a single species (Erwinia chrysanthemi), and little is known about their genetic and phenotypic diversity. This study collected 40 Dickeya strains isolated from different host plants in Taiwan and conducted a series of phylogenetic and phenotypic analyses. Reconstruction of maximum likelihood trees revealed that the isolated strains belonged to D. dadantii, D. chrysanthemi, D. undicola, and D. fangzhongdai. Among the 40 tested strains, 32 collected from Phalaenopsis orchids and Welsh onions were classified as D. fangzhongdai, while those isolated from the other hosts were assigned to D. dadantii, D. chrysanthemi, and D. undicola, suggesting that some of these bacteria exhibit host preferences. Inoculation of representative strains of the four Dickeya species onto potato, Phalaenopsis and African violet showed that the maceration potentials varied inter‐ and intra‐specifically and that the differential infection patterns were host‐dependent. Phenotypic assays also revealed that strain‐level variation in maceration potential was associated (in part) with the pathogens' tolerance to hostile pH and temperature or regulation of indigoidine production. Although comparisons of colony morphology and pigment production were not sufficient to differentiate Dickeya species, Biolog analyses identified several nutrients and chemicals potentially capable of differentiating among different species. Overall, our data revealed the genetic diversity and phenotypic characteristics of Dickeya spp. in Taiwan and provided information useful for their identification. The study also presented the first evidence showing that D. undicola, a recently identified species inhabiting surface waters, could naturally infect plants.
Chicxulub impact structure, IODP‐ICDP Expedition 364 drill core: Geochemistry of the granite basement
Authors: Feignon Jean‐Guillaume , de Graaff Sietze J. , Ferrière Ludovic , Kaskes Pim , Déhais Thomas , Goderis Steven , Claeys Philippe , Koeberl Christian
Published: July 2021

The IODP‐ICDP Expedition 364 drilling recovered a 829 m core from Hole M0077A, sampling ˜600 m of near continuous crystalline basement within the peak ring of the Chicxulub impact structure. The bulk of the basement consists of pervasively deformed, fractured, and shocked granite. Detailed geochemical investigations of 41 granitoid samples, that is, major and trace element contents, and Sr–Nd isotopic ratios are presented here, providing a broad overview of the composition of the granitic crystalline basement. Mainly granite but also granite clasts (in impact melt rock), granite breccias, and aplite were analyzed, yielding relatively homogeneous compositions between all samples. The granite is part of the high‐K, calc‐alkaline metaluminous series. Additionally, they are characterized by high Sr/Y and (La/Yb)N ratios, and low Y and Yb contents, which are typical for adakitic rocks. However, other criteria (such as Al2O3 and MgO contents, Mg#, K2O/Na2O ratio, Ni concentrations, etc.) do not match the adakite definition. Rubidium–Sr errorchron and initial 87Sr/86Srt=326Ma suggest that a hydrothermal fluid metasomatic event occurred shortly after the granite formation, in addition to the postimpact alteration, which mainly affected samples crosscut by shear fractures or in contact with aplite, where the fluid circulation was enhanced, and would have preferentially affected fluid‐mobile element concentrations. The initial (ɛNd)t=326Ma values range from −4.0 to 3.2 and indicate that a minor Grenville basement component may have been involved in the granite genesis. Our results are consistent with previous studies, further supporting that the cored granite unit intruded the Maya block during the Carboniferous, in an arc setting with crustal melting related to the closure of the Rheic Ocean associated with the assembly of Pangea. The granite was likely affected by two distinct hydrothermal alteration events, both influencing the granite chemistry: (1) a hydrothermal metasomatic event, possibly related to the first stages of Pangea breakup, which occurred approximately 50 Myr after the granite crystallization, and (2) the postimpact hydrothermal alteration linked to a long‐lived hydrothermal system within the Chicxulub structure. Importantly, the granites sampled in Hole M0077A are unique in composition when compared to granite or gneiss clasts from other drill cores recovered from the Chicxulub impact structure. This marks them as valuable lithologies that provide new insights into the Yucatán basement.
The role of neutral and adaptive genomic variation in population diversification and speciation in two ground squirrel species of conservation concern
Authors: Barbosa Soraia , Andrews Kimberly R. , Goldberg Amanda R. , Gour Digpal S. , Hohenlohe Paul A. , Conway Courtney J. , Waits Lisette P.
Published: July 2021

Understanding the neutral (demographic) and adaptive processes leading to the differentiation of species and populations is a critical component of evolutionary and conservation biology. In this context, recently diverged taxa represent a unique opportunity to study the process of genetic differentiation. Northern and southern Idaho ground squirrels (Urocitellus brunneus—NIDGS, and U. endemicus—SIDGS, respectively) are a recently diverged pair of sister species that have undergone dramatic declines in the last 50 years and are currently found in metapopulations across restricted spatial areas with distinct environmental pressures. Here we genotyped single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from buccal swabs with restriction site‐associated DNA sequencing (RADseq). With these data we evaluated neutral genetic structure at both the inter‐ and intraspecific level, and identified putatively adaptive SNPs using population structure outlier detection and genotype–environment association (GEA) analyses. At the interspecific level, we detected a clear separation between NIDGS and SIDGS, and evidence for adaptive differentiation putatively linked to torpor patterns. At the intraspecific level, we found evidence of both neutral and adaptive differentiation. For NIDGS, elevation appears to be the main driver of adaptive differentiation, while neutral variation patterns match and expand information on the low connectivity between some populations identified in previous studies using microsatellite markers. For SIDGS, neutral substructure generally reflected natural geographical barriers, while adaptive variation reflected differences in land cover and temperature, as well as elevation. These results clearly highlight the roles of neutral and adaptive processes for understanding the complexity of the processes leading to species and population differentiation, which can have important conservation implications in susceptible and threatened species.
Transposable elements and introgression introduce genetic variation in the invasive ant Cardiocondyla obscurior
Authors: Errbii Mohammed , Keilwagen Jens , Hoff Katharina J. , Steffen Raphael , Altmüller Janine , Oettler Jan , Schrader Lukas
Published: July 2021

Introduced populations of invasive organisms have to cope with novel environmental challenges, while having reduced genetic variation caused by founder effects. The mechanisms associated with this “genetic paradox of invasive species” has received considerable attention, yet few studies have examined the genomic architecture of invasive species. Populations of the heart node ant Cardiocondyla obscurior belong to two distinct lineages, a New World lineage so far only found in Latin America and a more globally distributed Old World lineage. In the present study, we use population genomic approaches to compare populations of the two lineages with apparent divergent invasive potential. We find that the strong genetic differentiation of the two lineages began at least 40,000 generations ago and that activity of transposable elements (TEs) has contributed significantly to the divergence of both lineages, possibly linked to the very unusual genomic distribution of TEs in this species. Furthermore, we show that introgression from the Old World lineage is a dominant source of genetic diversity in the New World lineage, despite the lineages' strong genetic differentiation. Our study uncovers mechanisms underlying novel genetic variation in introduced populations of C. obscurior that could contribute to the species' adaptive potential.
Diversity and origin of carotenoid biosynthesis: its history of coevolution towards plant photosynthesis
Authors: Sandmann Gerhard
Published: July 2021

The development of photosynthesis was a highlight in the progression of bacteria. In addition to the photosystems with their structural proteins, the photosynthesis apparatus consists of different cofactors including essential carotenoids. Thus, the evolution of the carotenoid pathways in relation to the functionality of the resulting structures in photosynthesis is the focus of this review. Analysis of carotenoid pathway genes indicates early evolutionary roots in prokaryotes. The pathway complexity leading to a multitude of structures is a result of gene acquisition, including their functional modifications, emergence of novel genes and gene exchange between species. Along with the progression of photosynthesis, carotenoid pathways coevolved with photosynthesis according to their advancing functionality. Cyanobacteria, with their oxygenic photosynthesis, became a landmark for evolutionary events including carotenogenesis. Concurrent with endosymbiosis, the cyanobacterial carotenoid pathways were inherited into algal plastids. In the lineage leading to Chlorophyta and plants, carotenoids evolved to their prominent role in protection and regulation of light energy input as constituents of a highly efficient light‐harvesting complex.
Coordination of plant hydraulic and photosynthetic traits: confronting optimality theory with field measurements
Authors: Xu Huiying , Wang Han , Prentice I. Colin , Harrison Sandy P. , Wright Ian J.
Published: July 2021

Close coupling between water loss and carbon dioxide uptake requires coordination of plant hydraulics and photosynthesis. However, there is still limited information on the quantitative relationships between hydraulic and photosynthetic traits.

We propose a basis for these relationships based on optimality theory, and test its predictions by analysis of measurements on 107 species from 11 sites, distributed along a nearly 3000‐m elevation gradient.

Hydraulic and leaf economic traits were less plastic, and more closely associated with phylogeny, than photosynthetic traits. The two sets of traits were linked by the sapwood to leaf area ratio (Huber value, vH). The observed coordination between vH and sapwood hydraulic conductivity (KS) and photosynthetic capacity (Vcmax) conformed to the proposed quantitative theory. Substantial hydraulic diversity was related to the trade‐off between KS and vH. Leaf drought tolerance (inferred from turgor loss point, –Ψtlp) increased with wood density, but the trade‐off between hydraulic efficiency (KS) and –Ψtlp was weak. Plant trait effects on vH were dominated by variation in KS, while effects of environment were dominated by variation in temperature.

This research unifies hydraulics, photosynthesis and the leaf economics spectrum in a common theoretical framework, and suggests a route towards the integration of photosynthesis and hydraulics in land‐surface models.
Understanding trade union usage of social media: A case study of the Public and Commercial Services union on Facebook and Twitter
Authors: Houghton David J. , Hodder Andy
Published: July 2021

This paper provides the first cross‐platform examination of trade union social media posts, focussing on the online content of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union. Data scraped from the union's Facebook posts (n = 282) were compared with data obtained from the union's Twitter account (n = 1554) to investigate the extent to which social media reflects a union's identity and utilises the language of mobilisation theory to engage with their audience. Across a six‐month period (July–December 2019), findings demonstrated PCS behaved in an interactive manner on social media, avoiding the pitfalls of a ‘bulletin board’ approach through using the language of mobilisation theory. However, content was engaged with users to different extents depending upon which platform the content was posted. Findings also suggest that social media posts can reflect a version of union identity.
Ionizing radiation‐induced “zombie” carcinoma‐associated fibroblasts with suppressed pro‐radioresistance on OSCC cells
Authors: Liu Yangfan , Wu Yang , Yang Miao , Yang Jin , Tong Ruizhan , Zhao Wei , Wu Fanglong , Tian Yuan , Li Xiaoyu , Luo Jingjing , Zhou Hongmei
Published: July 2021

Objectives

This study was to investigate the effect of ionizing radiation (IR) on oral carcinoma‐associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and to further explore subsequent effects of IR‐induced “zombie” CAFs on oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells.

Materials and methods

Three primary CAFs and one primary normal‐associated fibroblasts (NAFs) were separated from human OSCC and normal oral mucosa tissues, identified by immunocytochemistry. Cells were exposed to IR by X‐ray irradiator under different doses. The DNA damage, proliferation, and migration of irradiated CAFs were, respectively, detected by immunofluorescence and wound healing assay, while senescence was detected by β‐galactosidase staining. Finally, the effect of irradiated CAFs on biological behavior and radioresistance of Cal‐27 cells were determined via assays mentioned above.

Results

Oral CAFs were sensitive to IR with DNA damage increasing and proliferation decreasing. 18 Gy IR could not kill oral CAFs but induce them to “zombies,” with arrested proliferation, increased senescence, and reduced migration. “Zombie” CAFs (zCAFs) could enhance proliferation, migration, and invasion of Cal‐27 cells, and show suppressed pro‐radioresistance by reducing DNA damage and facilitating survival.

Conclusions

IR‐induced zCAFs could continuously promote radioresistance of OSCC cells though being suppressed, suggesting the potential promoting effect on tumor relapse post‐radiotherapy that needed further exploring.
Management of oral potentially malignant disorders
Authors: Kerr Alexander Ross , Lodi Giovanni
Published: July 2021

Patients with oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs), including oral leukoplakia and erythroplakia, proliferative verrucous leukoplakia, oral submucous fibrosis, and oral lichen planus/lichenoid lesions, can be challenging to manage. A small proportion will undergo cancer development and determining a patient's cancer risk is key to making management decisions. Yet, our understanding of the natural history of OPMDs has not been fully elucidated, and a precision approach based on the integration of numerous predictive markers has not been validated by prospective studies. Evidence‐based health promotion by clinicians and healthcare systems is not embraced universally. Medical and surgical interventions evaluated by rigorous research measuring important endpoints, such as cancer development, mortality, or survival, are difficult and expensive to run. Most of these studies employ non‐ideal surrogate endpoints and have deep methodologic flaws. Diagnostic criteria for enrolling research subjects are not uniform, and patients with the highest risk for cancer development comprise small proportions of those enrolled. Few studies explore quality of life and patient preferences. It is time to rethink how we approach the management of these patients, across each OPMD, and considering the healthcare infrastructure and cost‐effectiveness. Global networks with well‐characterized patient populations with OPMDs and well‐designed interventional trials using validated outcome measures are needed.