bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
State fragility and human development: a study with special emphasis on social cohesion
Authors: Seyoum Belay
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of state fragility on select indicators of human development and identify aspects of state fragility that have the greatest impact on poverty reduction and sustainable development. The paper also explores the impact of social cohesion on human development as well as the mediating role of state legitimacy in mediating the relationship between social cohesion and human development.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on data from 180 countries and uses ordinary least squares regression and mediation analysis to explore the effects of social cohesion on human development.

Findings

The findings show a significant relationship between state fragility and human development. It suggests that policies and efforts aimed at enhancing social cohesion would have the most significant impact on human development. The findings also show that social cohesion not only has a direct effect on human development but it also has an indirect effect on human development through state legitimacy (mediator).

Practical implications

Even though state fragility has been largely associated with low income countries, different facets of fragility are manifested in various countries regardless of levels of economic development.

Originality/value

The study is timely in view of the evidence of increasing state fragility in many countries. Furthermore, this is the first scholarly work linking lack of social cohesion, state fragility and human development.
The changing work landscape as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic: insights from remote workers life situations in South Africa
Authors: Matli Walter
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The Covid-19 pandemic has affected most organisations' workplaces and productivity. Organisations have had to make provision for staff to operate remotely following the implementation of lockdown regulations around the world, because the pandemic has led to restrictions on movement and the temporary closure of workplace premises. The purpose of this paper is to provide insights from remote workers' experiences in South Africa about immediate conversion from the normal workplace environment to working remotely from home. The structuration theory was adopted to understand the social structural challenges experienced by staff working from home.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected using a Web-based survey, administered when the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in movement restrictions, using the judgemental sampling technique.

Findings

The results are presented using both external and internal features that are linked to the social structures experienced by remote workers who participated in the survey. The key findings indicate that despite the positive aspects of remote working using advances in technology, there are also negative aspects and risks attached to remote working such as work overload and pressures to perform timeously. This can pose severe threats to workers' routines and lifestyle, and the lack of interaction can impinge on their health and general well-being.

Research limitations/implications

The online survey was carried out with first-time remote workers who were the target for the study. Some respondents may have had an affinity for remote working because of the novelty. The sample size may not be generalised, as the collected sample is moderately small, although the purpose of the paper was to report on a small sample size, given the rapidity of the study.

Practical implications

The paper seeks to highlight social structures that exist in South Africa, which accentuate the resource divide for remote workers. Also, the paper aims to encourage organisations (employers) to better understand challenges that workers encountered while working from their homes during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown restrictions.

Originality/value

The relevance of this paper is in its contribution to the structuration theory and remote working literature, as well as to the study of these topics in the context of South Africa.
Aberration of mind or soul: the role of media in perceptions of mass violence
Authors: Meaux Lauren T. , Doran Stephanie C. , Cox Jennifer M.
Published: November 2020

Purpose

Unconscious biases against certain groups aid in forming assumptions which may be promulgated in the USA via popular news media linking rare but memorable violent acts with specific groups. However, the relationship between marginalized group association, assumptions regarding the motive for violent acts and individual media consumption has never been directly examined. This study aims to directly examine this relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

In the present study, individuals read a vignette of a mass shooting in which the perpetrator’s implied religion (i.e. Islam or unknown religion) was manipulated. Participants then indicated their assumptions regarding motive (i.e. terrorism or mental illness) and personal media consumption habits.

Findings

Contrary to hypotheses, differences in assumed motive based on implied religion were not found; participants were not more likely to associate an assumed Muslim perpetrator with terrorism as a motive or consider the assumed non-Muslim perpetrator to be mentally ill.

Originality/value

These unexpected findings are discussed in the context of the data-collection period, which coincidentally overlapped with a well-publicized act of domestic terrorism that led to a unique national debate regarding biased news coverage and associations between religion, ethnicity, terrorism and mental illness.
Healthcare professionals at the Gazan public hospitals: are they collaborative?
Authors: Shaqura Iyad Ibrahim , Baroud Radwan , Sari Ali Akbari
Published: November 2020

Purpose

This study aimed to assess interprofessional collaboration among healthcare professionals at governmental hospitals in the Gaza Strip.

Design/methodology/approach

This is qualitative study at six governmental hospitals, four general and two specialized. Thirty healthcare professionals were purposefully recruited to seven semi-structured interviews and three focus group discussions. Analysis was carried out using the open-coded thematic analysis.

Findings

Eight themes had been identified: (1) unity of goals among health professionals, (2) physicians as team leaders, (3) patient involvement, (4) decision-making and conflict management (5) relationships among professionals, (6) general responsibilities and autonomy, (7) mutual trust and information exchange and (8) collaboration with the community to coordinate care. The first three themes were impediments, whilst “decision-making and conflict resolution” was a significant enabler of interprofessional collaboration. The last four themes were the lowest in their level and varied from one hospital to another as well.

Research limitations/implications

The main limitation in this study was the number of participants; a relatively large sample might be needed for more data saturation. Therefore, health professionals from diverse backgrounds and different managerial levels have been recruited.

Practical implications

Policymakers could rely upon the recommendations in strengthening the enablers of interprofessional collaboration and overcoming barriers, both on system, organizational and individual levels.

Originality/value

This study was conducted at six hospitals of different specialties and sizes, and health professionals from different six professions have been recruited. In addition, two qualitative tools were used, interviews and focus group discussions.
Numerical modelling of changes of pressure inside the protected room during fighting the fire using carbon dioxide
Authors: Boroń Sylwia
Published: November 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to study and assess a new approach for prediction of changes of pressure during gas discharge inside the room protected by fixed gaseous extinguishing system by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations.

Design/methodology/approach

The research program consisted of two stages. The first stage was dedicated to the experimental measurements of pressure changes during extinguishing gas discharge into the test chamber in a real scale (70 m3), for two relief openings that differ in their area. The next step was about performing CFD simulations forecasting pressure changes during gas discharge into the numerically represented test chamber. Estimation of the correctness and usefulness of the CFD model was based on a comparison of the CFD results with standard calculations and experimental measurements.

Findings

Numerical modelling of pressure changes during the carbon dioxide discharge was very close to the experiment. The obtained results had sufficient accuracy (in most cases relative error <15%), while the standard approach predicted pressure changes with an average relative error over 36% and did not estimate the decrease of pressure at all.

Originality/value

Conducted research confirms the viability of the new approach in modelling the pressure changes and indicates additional benefits of the numerical analyses in the determination of the fire safety of protected premises.
Perceived HPWP, presence of creative coworkers and employee innovative performance
Authors: Shih Hsi-An , Nguyen Tuong-Vy , Chiang Yun-Hwa
Published: November 2020

Purpose

Drawing on both social exchange theory (SET) and social cognitive theory, this paper aims to theorize and empirically examine a moderated serial mediation model that investigates the underlying mechanism through which high-performance work practices (HPWPs) influence employee innovative behaviors.

Design/methodology/approach

The hypotheses are tested on data collected from 182 Taiwanese subordinate-supervisor pairs. Hierarchical regression analyzes and bootstrapping were used to analyze the data.

Findings

Findings indicate that employee's individually perceived HPWP is indirectly related to the implementation of workers' creative ideas via information exchange and creative idea generation sequentially. Additionally, the presence of creative coworkers will amplify this serial indirect effect.

Originality/value

This study explicates the underlying theoretical logic linking employee perceived HPWP and individual innovation, i.e. the implementation of the worker's creative ideas by proposing a serial mediation effect. This study also emphasizes the importance of the presence of creative coworkers in the workplace.
A simple and efficient method for separation and purification of troxerutin on the SZ-3 resin
Authors: Li Yuhan , Mu Xiaolin , Kong Haiting , Pan Hongchun , Liu Hong
Published: November 2020

Purpose

In view of the current difficulty of separation of troxerutin, the purpose of the paper is to separate and purify semi-synthetic flavonoid compound troxerutin by macroporous adsorption resin (SZ-3).

Design/methodology/approach

Comparing the adsorption performance and resolution of three different polar resins and choosing a resin to optimize the process parameters such as sample volume, eluent concentration and elution temperature to obtain high-purity troxerutin. After separating and enriching by resin column chromatography, detected the sample by LC-MS analysis.

Findings

This research found that the optimal conditions of the adsorption and desorption were sample volume S = 90 mg/g resin, methanol concentration C = 25%, T = 20 °C. the content of troxerutin increased significantly from 88% to more than 96%. Then confirmed the sample was troxerutin by LC-MS. In addition, the resin could be used for at least 10 cycles in the separation and purification experiments of troxerutin.

Originality/value

Purification of troxerutin with new SZ-3 resin for the first time. Under the optimal conditions, the purity and recovery of troxerutin was 96.4% and 39%. In this study, the authors established a purification process of troxerutin successfully that was simple, economical, environment friendly, with high purity and high recovery rate to provide a reference program for changing the status of troxerutin separation difficulties.
Solvent assisted dyeing of silk fabric using glycerine based eutectic solvent as a swelling agent
Authors: Pawar Sushant Shivaji , Madiwale Pallavi V. , Pawar Ashitosh , Adivarekar Ravindra Vithal
Published: November 2020

Purpose

Dyeing of silk fabric was studied to increase dye uptake using eco-friendly glycerine based eutectic solvent (GES), which acts as a swelling agent.

Design/methodology/approach

The swelling behaviour of silk fabric in GES was analyzed using three-dimensional laser scanning microscope. Dyeing parameters such as time, temperature and GES concentration were optimized using design of experiments.

Findings

In total, 5.34F-value and 0.0014 p-value of ANOVA represent that the model is significant. An optimized GES assisted dyeing was carried out with two different classes of dyes such as Acid Blue 281 and Acid Red 151 and further compared with that of conventional aqueous dyeing method.

Originality/value

At 70°C, silk fabric achieves desired colour strength after 35 min of dyeing (10 min lesser than conventional) using GES assisted dyeing method. % Dye exhaustion of GES assisted dye bath was carried out and found to be very good. Fastness properties such as washing, light and rubbing fastness of conventional and GES assisted dyed silk fabric showed comparable results.
Commentary on “A reflective evaluation of the Bradford positive behaviour support – in reach service”
Authors: Sholl Catherine Sarah
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to consider the needs of children and young people with intellectual disabilities (ID), autism and challenging behaviour including those with mental health difficulties in the light of the article “A reflective evaluation of the Bradford Positive Behaviour Support – In Reach Service”.

Design/methodology/approach

The author’s reflections on experiences of working with this cohort as a clinician and manager are presented in this paper. Also, this paper presents the following: consideration of recent policy, guidance and literature associated with the provision of support to children and young people with ID or autism at risk of residential placement or hospital admission; reflection on gaps in research and practice in how to best support this group of children, young people and families with complex and diverse needs.

Findings

The success of the Bradford and other similar services is discussed along with a reflection about the benefits and potential gaps in Positive Behavioural Support services working to meet the needs of this group of children and young people, and their families.

Originality/value

The importance of areas providing more consistent and high quality multi-agency early preventative support and intensive support for those in crisis is discussed. The need for further research and development of ways of working with this cohort, including harder to reach young people and families, is discussed.
Social and financial performance of MFIs: complementary or compromise?
Authors: Navin Nitin , Sinha Pankaj
Published: November 2020

Purpose

With the ongoing transformation of the microfinance sector, questions have been raised on the ability of microfinance institutions (MFIs) to perform financially well without compromising with their social objectives. The current study attempts to analyse the social and financial performance of Indian MFIs with an objective to find the kind of relationship between these two objectives.

Design/methodology/approach

The dynamic framework of simultaneous equations model is used to find the nature of the relationship which exists between social and financial performance of Indian MFIs.

Findings

The study finds that depth of outreach enables MFIs to achieve financial sustainability. On the other hand, financially strong MFI lend more as reflected by an increase in their average loan size.

Research limitations/implications

Many MFIs still receive subsidies to support their operations. Ideally, adjustments should be made to remove the effect of such subsidies on their cost. However, due to non-availability of data, the study fails to make any adjustment for the subsidies.

Practical implications

The presence of a complementary relationship between social and financial performance in the Indian microfinance sector is quite encouraging for the policymakers during the current time when the sector is becoming less dependent on subsidies. However, the recent upsurge in the average loan size requires attention.

Social implications

The findings suggest that MFIs can achieve financial sustainability while targeting poor clients. This indicates that MFIs can perform socially good along with their financial performance.

Originality/value

Such study is vital when the Indian microfinance sector is moving away from subsidies to become self-reliant and commercialised. Few studies have focused on this aspect of Indian microfinance sector.
Host‐association as major driver of microbiome structure and composition in Red Sea seagrass ecosystems
Authors: Garcias‐Bonet Neus , Eguíluz Víctor M. , Díaz‐Rúa Rubén , Duarte Carlos M.
Published: November 2020

The role of the microbiome in sustaining seagrasses has recently been highlighted. However, our understanding of the seagrass microbiome lacks behind that of other organisms. Here, we analyse the endophytic and total bacterial communities of leaves, rhizomes, and roots of six Red Sea seagrass species and their sediments. The structure of seagrass bacterial communities revealed that the 1% most abundant OTUs accounted for 87.9% and 74.8% of the total numbers of reads in sediment and plant tissue samples, respectively. We found taxonomically distinct bacterial communities in vegetated and bare sediments. Yet, our results suggest that lifestyle (i.e. free‐living or host‐association) is the main driver of bacterial community composition. Seagrass bacterial communities were tissue‐ and species‐specific and differed from those of surrounding sediments. We identified OTUs belonging to genera related to N and S cycles in roots, and members of Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes phyla as particularly enriched in root endosphere. The finding of highly similar OTUs in well‐defined sub‐clusters by network analysis suggests the co‐occurrence of highly connected key members within Red Sea seagrass bacterial communities. These results provide key information towards the understanding of the role of microorganisms in seagrass ecosystem functioning framed under the seagrass holobiont concept.
Sessile bacterium unlocks ability of surface motility through mutualistic interspecies interaction
Authors: Wang Miaoxiao , Geng Shuang , Hu Bing , Nie Yong , Wu Xiao‐Lei
Published: November 2020

In addition to their common planktonic lifestyle, bacteria frequently live in surface‐associated habitats. Surface motility is essential for exploring these habitats for food sources. However, many bacteria are found on surfaces, even though they lack features required for migrating along surfaces. How these canonical non‐motile bacteria adapt to the environmental fluctuations on surfaces remains unknown. Here, we report a previously unknown surface motility mode of the canonical non‐motile bacterium, Dietzia sp. DQ12‐45‐1b, which is triggered by interaction with a dimorphic prosthecate bacterium, Glycocaulis alkaliphilus 6B‐8T. Dietzia cells exhibits ‘sliding’‐like motility in an area where the strain Glycocaulis cells was pre‐colonized with a sufficient density. Our analysis also demonstrates that Dietzia degrade n‐alkanes and provide Glycocaulis with the resulting metabolites for survival, which in turn induced directional migration of Dietzia towards nutrient‐rich environments. Such interaction‐triggered migration was also found between Dietzia and Glycocaulis strains isolated from other habitats, suggesting that this mutualistic relationship ubiquitously occurs in natural environments. In conclusion, we propose a novel model for such a ‘win‐win’ strategy, whereby non‐motile bacteria pay metabolites to dimorphic prosthecate bacteria in return for migrating to seek for nutrients, which may represent a common strategy for canonically non‐motile bacteria living on a surface.
Rare case of apatinib acquired resistance induced by point mutation of WRN p.V697F through activation of the PI3K/AKT apoptosis‐inhibiting pathway
Authors: Yu Ruofei , Bai Hua , Gao Bingyu , Li Tangai , He Xiran , Zhang Pei , Wang Jie
Published: November 2020

Targeted therapy has become the main treatment for non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Apatinib is a new antiangiogenic antitumor drug developed in China which targets vascular endothelial growth factor receptor‐2 (VEGFR‐2). We recently treated a 50‐year‐old female patient who underwent a bronchoscopic biopsy and was subsequently pathologically diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of NSCLC. EML4‐ALK and MINPP1 & PAPSS2‐PTEN fusions were found to be present in tumor tissue and blood. Sequential targeted therapy was commenced with gemcitabine + cisplatin, docetaxel, tegafur, gimeracil, oteracil potassium capsules + carboplatin, and other third‐line chemotherapy involving antineoplastic therapy, but unfortunately the patient showed primary drug resistance to this treatment regimen. Crizotinib was administered but was found to be ineffective. After two months of treatment, the disease had progressed and next generation sequencing (NGS) was subsequently performed. Apatinib was administered thereafter and the patient's symptoms improved after one week. Following administration for one month, CT scan revealed that the primary lung tumor lesions were significantly necrotic and they were narrowed. The patient's symptoms of coughing, phlegm production, and wheezing had also reduced. Her lung disease was under stable control 2.5 months later, but abdominal CT unfortunately revealed a suspected new nidus in the liver. A third gene mutation detection test showed that ALK and PTEN genetic mutations were obviously decreased; however, the patient was found to have developed WRN p.V697F (c.G2089T) point mutation, which was a new gene mutation. We suspected that the WRN gene mutation had led to apatinib resistance. We determined the absolute position of this point mutation to be chr8:30969131 with a transcript number of NM_000553.4. We retrieved information on human somatic cells from the ExAC, 1000 Genomes Browser, ESP database and PubMed databases. All the results indicated that the mutation identified in this study has not been previously reported worldwide.
Object, subject, thing
Authors: VENKATESAN SOUMHYA
Published: November 2020

Tamil Hindu priests transform anthropomorphic clay and stone statues into materially present gods who are alive, aware, and corporeally active. These embodied deities are humanlike but not human, which makes them both a rich resource for human‐divine interactions and a source of discomfort, given their potency and uncanny expressiveness. As a material practice, Hindu animation has its own material logics and technologies, practical theories, and ongoing practices of care. The embodied divinities of Hinduism can thus be brought into conversation with nonreligious animated things, such as humanoid robots. Indeed, Hindu priests’ practices of animation and their accommodations to their embodied divinities might open up different modes of engagement with nonreligious animated things. [animation,material transformations,practical theories,human‐thing accommodations,embodiment,gods and priests,ritual,Hinduism,Tamil Nadu,India]
Bioinformatic analysis identifies key transcriptome signatures in temporal lobe epilepsy
Authors: Chen Qing‐Lan , Xia Lu , Zhong Shao‐Ping , Wang Qiang , Ding Jing , Wang Xin
Published: November 2020

Aims

To identify transcriptome signatures underlying epileptogenesis in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE).

Methods

Robust rank aggregation analysis was used to integrate multiple microarrays in rodent models of TLE and determine differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in acute, latent, and chronic stages. Functional annotation and protein‐protein interaction analysis were performed to explore the potential functions of the DEGs and identify hub genes with the highest intramodular connectivity. The association between hub genes and hippocampal sclerosis/seizure frequency was analyzed using publicly available RNA‐sequencing datasets from TLE patients. We subsequently established a pilocarpine‐induced status epilepticus (SE) model in rats and validated mRNA expression of hub genes by quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT‐PCR).

Results

The DEGs in the acute, latent, and chronic phases of TLE in animal models were prominently enriched in inflammatory response. Hub genes identified in the acute phase mainly participated in biological processes including inflammation, blood‐brain barrier damage, and cell adhesion. The hub genes in the latent phase were related to microglia/macrophage activation (Emr1 and Aif1) and phagocytosis (Cd68, Tyrobp, and Lyz). In the chronic phase, the hub genes were associated with activation of complements and microglia/macrophages. We further found that some hub genes identified in human TLE, such as Tlr2, Lgals3, and Stat3, were positively correlated with seizure frequency. Other hub genes, including Lgals3 and Serpine1, were associated with hippocampus sclerosis. qRT‐PCR analysis confirmed that the mRNA levels of hub genes in rat hippocampus were significantly up‐regulated after SE induction.

Conclusions

Our integrated analysis identified hub genes in different stages of epilepsy. The functional annotations suggest that the activation and phagocytic activities of microglia/macrophages may play critical roles in epileptogenesis of TLE.
First trimester maternal biomarkers: can they reveal causes of cerebral palsy?
Authors: Eskild Anne
Published: November 2020

This commentary is on the original article by Peris et al. on pages 183–189 of this issue.
Inequality, living standards, and growth: two centuries of economic development in Mexico†
Authors: Bleynat Ingrid , Challú Amílcar E. , Segal Paul
Published: November 2020

Historical wage and income data provide both normative measures of living standards, and indicators of patterns of economic development. This study shows that, given limited historical data, median incomes are most appropriate for measuring welfare and inequality, while urban unskilled wages can be used to test dualist models of development. We present new estimates of these series for Mexico from 1800 to 2015 and find that both have historically failed to keep up with aggregate growth: GDP per worker is now over eight times higher than in the nineteenth century, while unskilled urban real wages are only 2.2 times higher, and national median incomes only 2.0 times higher. From the perspective of inequality and social welfare, our findings confirm that there is no automatic positive relationship between economic growth and rising living standards for the majority. From the perspective of development, we argue that these findings are explained by a dual economy model incorporating Lewis's assumption of a reserve army of labour, and we explain why the decline in inequality predicted by Kuznets has not occurred.
Multifaceted not‐for‐profit accountability: Its measurement, cultural context, and impact on perceived social performance
Authors: Jiao Lu
Published: November 2020

This study investigates the multifaceted nature of accountability mechanisms in Australian not‐for‐profit organizations (NFPs), the association between organizational culture and the use of these mechanisms, and the association between accountability mechanisms and perceived NFP social performance. The findings support the theorization of multifaceted accountability mechanisms in NFPs, including upward accountability (to funders), downward accountability (to clients), and lateral accountability (to employees). The findings highlight that the use of lateral accountability mechanisms is positively associated with the use of both upward and downward accountability (i.e. external accountability) mechanisms. Also, it is found that the culture of respect for people is positively associated with the use of all three accountability mechanisms, whereas the culture of outcome orientation is positively associated with the use of upward and lateral accountability mechanisms. Further, the findings suggest that all three types of accountability mechanisms have positive relations with perceived NFP social performance.
Learning to overeat in infancy: Concurrent and prospective relationships between maternal BMI, feeding practices and child eating response among Hispanic mothers and children
Authors: Schneider‐Worthington Camille R. , Berger Paige K. , Goran Michael I. , Salvy Sarah‐Jeanne
Published: November 2020

Background

Parents play a key role in shaping children's eating behaviours and self‐regulation. There is limited data on how maternal weight influences feeding practices in the first year of life.

Objective

To examine the relationships between maternal BMI, feeding practices and infant eating behaviours related to self‐regulation.

Methods

Participants were 160 mother‐infant dyads. A longitudinal design was used to examine concurrent and prospective associations between maternal 6‐month postpartum BMI, mothers' feeding practices at 6 months (Infant Feeding Practices Questionnaire) and children's eating behaviours at 6 months (Baby Eating Behaviour Questionnaire) and 12 months (Child Eating Behaviour Questionnaire).

Results

Higher maternal BMI was associated positively with mothers' use of restrictive feeding practices (β = 0.036, p = 0.033), and inversely with responsivity to infant satiety cues (Spearman partial r = −0.249, p = 0.002) at 6 months. Mother's restrictive feeding practices were associated with infant food responsiveness (β = 0.157, p = 0.009) and emotional overeating (β = 0.118, p = 0.005) at 12 months. Maternal use of responsive feeding practices was associated with lower infant food responsiveness at 6 months (Spearman partial r = −0.173, p = 0.031) and lower emotional overeating at 12 months (Spearman partial r = −0.183, p = 0.022).

Conclusions

Our findings add to studies suggesting that feeding practices can provide mechanistic pathways in the intergenerational transmission of obesity. Postpartum family‐system approaches focusing on maternal health while integrating infant feeding guidance may confer benefits in improving maternal‐child health.
Anti‐adhesive effects of sialic acid and Lactobacillus plantarum on Staphylococcus aureus in vitro
Authors: Lu Yingying , Yang Yuzhuo , Liu Lihua , Yu Tianshu , Zhao Jingjing , Liu Libo , Li Chun
Published: November 2020

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a common food‐borne pathogen that causes severe diseases after adhesion to epithelial cells. Lactobacillus inhibits pathogenic bacterial adhesion and infection. In addition, sialic acid (SA) is widely known for its beneficial biological functions. A new way of reducing the occurrence of diseases and curbing the overuse of antibiotics is ingesting prebiotics and probiotics that regulate the intestinal flora. In this study, we first evaluated the anti‐adhesive effects of several strains of Lactobacillus on S. aureus. The study revealed that the S. aureus adhesion was inhibited by all the strains of Lactobacillus. Besides, the rate of inhibition by L. plantarum Z‐4 was significantly higher than other Lactobacillus species. We then investigated the effects of different SA concentrations (40, 100, 150, 200, and 260 μg/ml) on the growth and adhesion characteristics of L. plantarum and S. aureus. The results showed that SA influences bacterial adhesion by regulating the bacteria's growth characteristics. Finally, the effects of SA combined with Lactobacillus on the adhesion of S. aureus were assessed by competition, exclusion and displacement methods. SA with a concentration of 260 μg/mL combined with L. plantarum had the highest inhibition effect on the competition assays. In addition, the expression of S. aureus adhesion‐related genes was reduced. This provides a new perspective on the application of SA and/or L. plantarum and its potential to resist adhesion of S. aureus.
Longitudinal Outcomes of Children Exposed to Opioids In‐utero: A Systematic Review
Authors: Arter Sara J. , Tyler Brian , McAllister Jennifer , Kiel Elizabeth , Güler Ayse , Cameron Hay M.
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The purpose was to summarize evidence of long‐term outcomes of children, 2 years and older, exposed to opioids in‐utero.

Design

This was a systematic review. Studies were identified by searching the following electronic databases: PubMed, EBSCO HOST/Medline, and Web of Science. Articles were published between 1979 and 2019.

Methods

This systematic review was reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis. Two sets of two independent reviewers extracted data and assessed study quality according to National Institutes of Health quality assessment tools.

Results

Forty‐three articles met inclusion criteria. Synthesis of articles identified trends toward worse outcomes for children with in‐utero opioid exposure in all areas, most notably related to academic success, behavior, cognition, hospitalizations, and vision.

Conclusions

Findings reinforce the necessity of continued research in this area with improved study design. Despite limitations in the current body of evidence, findings from this review are vital knowledge for clinicians, because children exposed to opioids in‐utero are clearly vulnerable to a wide variety of suboptimal health and developmental outcomes.

Clinical Relevance

Recognition of all outcomes across childhood associated with in‐utero opioid exposure will inform improved identification and interventions tailored to the most pressing needs of affected children. Despite the need for continued research, there is sufficient evidence to necessitate close, individualized follow‐up throughout childhood.
Lichenoid proliferative leukoplakia, lichenoid lesions with evolution to proliferative leukoplakia or a continuum of the same precancerous condition? A revised hypothesis
Authors: Gilligan Gerardo , Garola Federico , Piemonte Eduardo , Leonardi Nicolás , Panico René , Warnakulasuriya Saman
Published: November 2020

Background

Multiple white plaques of the oral mucosa are usually associated with potentially malignant disorders such as oral lichen planus, oral lichenoid lesions and proliferative verrucous leukoplakia. Previous studies in the current literature describe a potential clinical overlap in these entities. The aim of this study is to review clinicopathological and evolutive features of these Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders highlighting the dynamic changes of diagnoses.

Discussion

It was previously hypothesized that a subset of patients with oral lichen planus or oral lichenoid diagnosis, could develop multiple white plaques during the natural history of the disease, fulfilling diagnostic criteria for proliferative verrucous leukoplakia. Consequently, these entities could, under certain conditions, obey a continuum of the same precancerous condition in the context of the field cancerization theory, increasing the risk of malignant transformation. Nevertheless, there is limited scientific evidence concerning this issue.

Conclusion

Further studies are needed to understand the biological and evolutive features of the link between these oral potentially malignant disorders. Regardless of its diagnosis, these patients with multifocal white lesions must be carefully monitored to detect early malignant transformation.
Heterogeneity in the extraction of labor from labor power and persistence of wage inequality
Authors: Martins Eduardo Monte Jorge Hey , da Silveira Jaylson Jair , Lima Gilberto Tadeu
Published: November 2020

There is evidence that labor intensity is endogenous to wage compensation and that inter‐ and intra‐industry wage differentials are non‐negligible and persistent. We explore the implications of firms periodically choosing between alternative wage compensation strategies to extract labor from labor power more effectively. The frequency distribution of labor extraction strategies across firms is endogenously time‐varying as driven by satisficing evolutionary dynamics that generate wage inequality as a stable long‐run equilibrium under theoretically and empirically plausible conditions. Firms willing to extract more labor from labor power remunerate workers with a higher wage. Yet a larger proportion of firms following such a strategy does not necessarily result in a lower (higher) average unit labor cost (profit share) and hence in higher average rates of profit and saving‐determined output growth. The larger the proportion of firms that attempt to extract more labor from labor power by remunerating workers with a higher wage, the less these firms are successful. This result can be seen as characterizing another potential contradiction of the capitalist economy.
Microbes, mutualism, and range margins: testing the fitness consequences of soil microbial communities across and beyond a native plant's range
Authors: Benning John W. , Moeller David A.
Published: November 2020

Interactions between plants and soil fungi and bacteria are ubiquitous and have large effects on individual plant fitness. However, the degree to which spatial variation in soil microbial communities modulates plant species’ distributions remains largely untested.

Using the California native plant Clarkia xantiana ssp. xantiana we paired glasshouse and field reciprocal transplants of plant populations and soils to test whether plant–microbe interactions affect the plant’s geographic range limit and whether there is local adaptation between plants and soil microbe communities.

In the field and glasshouse, one of the two range interior inocula had a positive effect on plant fitness. In the field, this benefit was especially pronounced at the range edge and beyond, suggesting possible mutualist limitation. In the glasshouse, soil inocula from beyond‐range tended to increase plant growth, suggesting microbial enemy release beyond the range margin. Amplicon sequencing revealed stark variation in microbial communities across the range boundary.

Plants dispersing beyond their range limit are likely to encounter novel microbial communities. In C. x. xantiana, our results suggest that range expansion may be facilitated by fewer pathogens, but could also be hindered by a lack of mutualists. Both negative and positive plant–microbe interactions will likely affect contemporary range shifts.
Patterns of bilateral asymmetry and allometry in Late Devonian Polygnathus conodonts
Authors: Renaud Sabrina , Ecalle Beverley , Claisse Pénélope , Charruault Anne‐Lise , Ledevin Ronan , Girard Catherine
Published: November 2020

Conodont animals were early jawless vertebrates equipped with a feeding apparatus composed of several tooth‐like elements. The P1 elements, at the rear of the apparatus, were characterized by a robust shape and rapid morphological evolution. Occlusion occurred between paired right and left P1 elements, occasioning some bilateral asymmetry, which, together with allometric growth, may partially obliterate the temporal differences. The present study aims to disentangle these different components of morphological variation in Late Devonian Polygnathus P1 conodont elements. An extensive 2D geometric morphometric analysis of the platform shape was performed through the Famennian record of two outcrops. This analysis was completed by a 3D study on a subset of conodont elements. The 2D and 3D morphometric quantifications provided highly congruent results, showing that the 2D shape constitutes a good approximation of the element geometry. The 3D analysis delivered further insights into the relationship between the geometry of the elements and the constraints related to occlusion. The 2D analysis allowed a quantitative assessment of the variation among species and through time. Allometry and bilateral asymmetry were differently expressed depending on the species considered, suggesting that constraints imposed on pairing by the morphology of the elements varied even among related species. The within‐species variation was so important that it largely obliterated temporal trends; a relationship of Polygnathus shape and conodont biofacies variations through the Famennian nevertheless suggested an evolution driven by ecological interactions between conodont genera.
A dynamic modeling tool to anticipate the effectiveness of invasive plant control and restoration recovery trajectories in South African fynbos
Authors: Hall Stuart A. , Bastos Rita , Vicente Joana , Vaz Ana Sofia , Honrado João P. , Holmes Patricia M. , Gaertner Mirijam , Esler Karen J. , Cabral João Alexandre
Published: November 2020

Invasive alien plants negatively impact ecosystems, necessitating intricate management actions. In a critically endangered vegetation type within the fynbos biome of South Africa, a study was performed comparing different management interventions over plots invaded by Acacia saligna. A dynamic modeling approach was designed to analyze field data and simulate the effectiveness of several restoration methods. Field data for vegetation recovery rates over the course of 2 years were fed into the model, which allowed the extrapolation of multiple recovery trajectories over a long time‐span, not possible to obtain from traditional short‐term field surveys. Our model simulations show that different treatments in similarly degraded states at the time of clearing can result in vastly different recovery trajectories. Active seed sowing was initially most expensive but resulted in the most successful native shrub recovery, decreasing costs of longer‐term follow‐up acacia clearing. Clearing without burning was cheapest but resulted in limited establishment of both native and acacia cover, providing an opportunity for secondary invasion by alien forbs. In this case, biotic thresholds may have been crossed which prevented recovery of certain vegetation components. Active sowing can partially reverse thresholds by restoring shrub cover but not structural diversity. Therefore, even applying this treatment did not resemble vegetation structure of the reference condition after an extended period of 30 years, but does show how restoration can be improved by native seed sowing compared to passive restoration alone. Our model simulations provide a useful tool to support decision‐making by providing management recommendations for optimizing alien plant‐clearing protocols.
Future trajectories of change for an Arctic deep‐sea ecosystem connected to coastal kelp forests
Authors: Vilas Daniel , Coll Marta , Pedersen Torstein , Corrales Xavier , Filbee‐Dexter Karen , Wernberg Thomas
Published: November 2020

Environmental stressors related to climate change and other anthropogenic activities are impacting Arctic marine ecosystems at exceptional rates. Within this context, predicting future scenarios of deep‐sea ecosystems and their consequences linked with the fate of coastal areas is a growing need and challenge. We used an existing food‐web model developed to represent the outer basin of the Malangen fjord, a northern Norwegian deep‐sea ecosystem, to assess the potential effects of plausible future trajectories of change for major drivers in the area, including links to coastal kelp forests. We considered four major drivers (kelp particulate organic matter [POM] production entering the deep sea, fishing effort, king crab invasion, and ocean warming) to project 12 future scenarios using the temporal dynamic module of Ecopath with Ecosim approach. Overall, we found that the impact of warming on the deep‐sea ecosystem structure and functioning, as well as on ecosystem services, are predicted to be greater than changes in kelp forest dynamics and their POM production entering the deep sea and the king crab invasion. Yet, the cumulative impacts are predicted to be more important than noncumulative since some stressors acted synergistically. These results illustrate the vulnerability of sub‐Arctic and Arctic marine ecosystems to climate change and consequently call for conservation, restoration, and adaptation measures in deep‐sea and adjacent ecosystems. Results also highlight the importance of considering additional stressors affecting deep‐sea communities to predict cumulative impacts in an ecosystem‐based management and global change context and the interlinkages between coastal and deep‐sea environments.
Challenging our understanding of western Yellow‐billed Cuckoo habitat needs and accepted management practices
Authors: Wohner Patti J. , Laymon Stephen A. , Stanek Jenna E. , King Sammy L. , Cooper Robert J.
Published: November 2020

Riparian restoration in the southwestern United States frequently involves planting cottonwood (Populus spp.) and willow (Salix spp.). In the absence of flooding and gap‐forming disturbance, planted forests often senesce without further young tree recruitment. This has largely been the case in California riparian systems that historically supported state‐endangered western Yellow‐billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus; Cuckoo). A decline in Cuckoo population numbers in the past 30 years has been associated with forest maturation. Other riparian species of concern show a concomitant decline, indicating the problem is not specific to Cuckoos. Although varying hypotheses exist for recent decline, alternative management practices have not been sufficiently explored to rule out breeding ground habitat quality as a major contributing factor. Few intensive Cuckoo datasets exist to test hypotheses about breeding habitat quality due to extremely low populations in the remaining occupied sites. We used a historical (1986–1996) spot mapping dataset from the South Fork Kern River Valley, CA to identify vegetation characteristics related to Cuckoo and five other sensitive riparian bird territory densities. We found Cuckoo densities were positively associated with increased vertical vegetative structure 1–5 m above ground with a threshold for mean tree height. Sensitive species densities were also related to vertical structure and started to decline with stand height greater than 6–8 m. Naturally regenerated sites had higher densities of most sensitive bird species than planted sites. We provide ideas for restoring mature forest with little vertical structure.
Restoration of southern hemisphere beech (Nothofagaceae) forests: a meta‐analysis
Authors: van Galen Laura G. , Lord Janice M. , Orlovich David A. , Larcombe Matthew J.
Published: November 2020

Nothofagus (southern beech) species form a major component of southern hemisphere forests, and in many regions are becoming an important focus for restoration efforts. However, restoration projects are predominantly carried out at small, local scales using a wide range of different techniques that have produced mixed results. In order to improve outcomes and develop general strategies for southern beech restoration, we review and compare data from previous trials to determine what techniques have been scientifically tested, identify the most effective methods, and pinpoint gaps in current practices. We assessed the effects of restoration techniques, applied in 91 trials from 22 publications across the southern hemisphere, on seedling survival and growth. Providing shelter improved both seedling survival and growth, controlling weeds improved survival, and protecting from herbivores improved seedling growth. Despite being one of the most commonly applied techniques, fertilizer application only marginally improved seedling survival and did not significantly influence seedling growth. Other techniques, such as increasing glasshouse container size or growth time or manipulating soil before planting, showed mixed results. Surprisingly, no trials examined the use of ectomycorrhizal fungal inoculum as a restoration technique. We discuss the outcomes of this review in the context of our current understanding of southern beech regeneration ecology, to inform future Nothofagus restoration practices and suggest where future research should be directed.