bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Three-Dimensional Printed Customized Surgical Guides for the Precise Correction of Complex Midfacial Post-Traumatic Deformities
Authors: Yang Chengshuai , Zhang Chuxi , Wu Jinyang , Xu XiaoFeng , Zhang Yong , Zhang Shilei
Published: October 2021

Purpose:

The introduction of intraoperative computed tomography and image-guided navigation have demonstrated some advantages for the correction of midfacial post-traumatic deformities. However, these methods still do not achieve satisfactory results. The authors sought to describe a novel method for the precise correction of complex midfacial post-traumatic deformities using three-dimensional printing customized surgical guides.

Methods:

Ten patients with midfacial post-traumatic deformities admitted between January 15, 2018 and August 20, 2020 were included. To design the surgical guide for each patient, preoperative planning and simulation datasets were used as a virtual template. Each surgical guide comprised three-dimensional printing cutting guides and customized titanium plates to guide the osteotomy and repositioning of the fracture fragments intraoperatively. Reduction and fixation were confirmed by intraoperative navigation. Postoperative deviation chromatography analysis and clinical examination were conducted to evaluate the surgical outcome. All operations were successfully performed.

Results:

The average difference between the virtual plans and postoperative results was less than 1.5 mm. The 3- to 6-month follow-up evaluation demonstrated that symptoms were alleviated, and postoperative function and esthetics improved considerably.

Conclusions:

Three-dimensional-printed customized surgical guides can accurately and effectively transfer the virtual surgical plan to the patient and could be considered an ideal and valuable option for this potentially complicated procedure.
Secondary Surgery in Metopic Craniosynostosis: Outcomes in a Tertiary Care Craniofacial Center in Australia
Authors: Chaisrisawadisuk Sarut , Anderson Peter J. , Moore Mark H.
Published: October 2021

Metopic craniosynostosis is a condition in which the metopic suture is prematurely fused. Trigonocephaly and hypotelorism are the major abnormal findings associated with synostosis. Fronto-orbital advancement with cranial remodelling procedure is the widely practised method for correction of the deformities. Previously, a few studies have shown a low incidence of secondary raised intracranial pressure after the primary surgery. Thus, we reviewed our database to investigate the outcomes of metopic craniosynostosis treatment between 1999 and 2020 in Cleft and Craniofacial South Australia. One hundred twelve patients (77 males and 35 females) with metopic synostosis were operated. The mean age of primary surgery was 11.1 months (range 2.8–131.7 months). Ten patients (9%) who had secondary raised intracranial pressure underwent secondary surgery. Among those, the mean age of primary and secondary surgery were 5.4 and 57.1 months, respectively. Syndromic patients were significantly revealed to have a higher incidence of secondary raised intracranial pressure. There were three patients (2.7%) who had other secondary procedures (hardware removal and aesthetic contouring procedures). This cohort identified a higher incidence of secondary raised intracranial pressure requiring secondary surgery than previous studies. Syndromic patients were significantly related to secondary raised intracranial pressure. The patients who had raised intracranial pressure tended to have primary correction at younger age. Long-term multidisciplinary follow-up is mandatory. The demand for secondary surgery for metalwork complications or cosmetic contouring is uncommon.
Efficacy of Using Perichondrioadipodermal Flap With Combined Techniques in Prominent Ear Correction
Authors: Ciloglu Nesibe Sinem , Cin Baris , Keskin Ekrem
Published: October 2021

Introduction:

Prominent ear is 1 of the most common congenital deformities of the ear. Incidence is reported as approximately 5%. This deformity can classically be the result of antihelix insufficiency, overprojection of concha or combination of both. Less frequently, folded or overprojectile ear lobule can aggravate the deformity. Surgical techniques can be aimed at concha, antihelix formation, lobule positioning. In our study, postoperative results for the combination of suture otoplasty and perichondrioadipodermal flap techniques in prominent ear surgery is discussed in light of the recent literature.

Methods:

Forty-nine patients that were operated for prominent ear deformity in our clinic between 2010 and 2015 were evaluated. Anatomic structures that cause the anomaly was analyzed by photographing concha-scaphoid angle, antithetical fold absence or presence, position of the ear lobule, conchal depth, size of the auricula, and positioning Frankfort Plane parallel to the ground. The patients were photographed preoperatively, at postoperative first week and postoperative sixth month, respectively. Comparison of age, surgical technique, surgical complications, necessity for revision surgery, additional procedures, follow up time, preoperative, and postoperative helix-mastoid bone distance were evaluated.

Results:

Forty-nine patients have been evaluated. Thirty-one of these patients were female, whereas 18 were male. Age of these patients ranged between 6 and 37. Operations were performed in 47 right side ears, and 44 left side ears (97% bilateral and 7% unilateral otoplasty). Preoperative helix-mastoid bone distance ranged between 21 and 33 mm (mean 26.77), whereas postoperative helix-mastoid bone distance was measured between 12 and 22 mm (mean 16.26). Compared to the preoperative values, helix-mastoid distance difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05).

Conclusions:

Asymmetry and recurrence are the most common late complications of prominent ear surgeries. Perichondrioadipodermal flap can be safely added to the combined surgical techniques protecting the cartilage support, therefore, reducing complication rates, with satisfying results.
Jumping Extracorporeal Free Latissimus Dorsi Myocutaneous Flap for Aesthetic Reconstruction After Anterior Skull Base and Orbital Cancer Resection
Authors: Tashiro Kensuke , Hashimoto Kohei , Lee Haesu
Published: October 2021

The authors introduce successful free latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap transfer, which was temporarily placed onto the face extracorporeally because the position of orbital defect is far from the submandibular microvascular anastomosis region. The authors then secondarily resected the excess part of the flap after 3 weeks of neovascularization period. Although multistage surgery is needed, jumping extracorporeal flap is a useful option to achieve aesthetic outcomes especially in a challenging situation.
Predictors of quality of life among Brazilian medical students during second coronavirus wave
Authors: Barreto Filipe Silva , Andrade Feitosa Ankilma do Nascimento , de Carvalho Baldaçara Raquel Prudente , Baldaçara Leonardo , de Assis Elisangela Vilar , Ferreira Silva José Bruno Nunes
Published: October 2021

Objective

To assess the impact of COVID-19 second wave on quality of life (QoL) of Brazilian medical students.

Methods

The data from 210 medical students were collected through a web-based survey between February and March 2021. We assessed information about sociodemographic characteristics, health conditions, electronics tools-related to physical activity (PA-eTool), and health-associated QoL. Multiple linear regression was performed to identify the potential QoL predictors.

Results

The psychological domain was the most affected, showing lower score during COVID-19 second wave. Being male was a positive predictor in the physical health domain. Spending too much time indoors and sexual minority-group membership were associated with lower perception on psychological well-being. Personal benefit from having PA-eTool accessed and higher income were positively associated with psychological and environmental domains, respectively, and in the overall QoL.

Conclusions

Psychological well-being impairment is a long-term negative impact among Brazilian medical students during COVID-19. By evidencing that students’ QoL has been worsened in this global crisis, supportive interventions provided by community and universities are required to aid those vulnerable students facing mental health or QoL impairment.
White matter microstructural integrity across the adult lifespan: Combined perspective of diffusion tensor and kurtosis imaging
Authors: Taha Hiba , Chad Jordan A. , Chen J. Jean
Published: October 2021

Studies of healthy brain aging have reported diffusivity patterns associated with white matter degeneration using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), which assumes that diffusion measured at the typical b-value (approximately 1000 s/mm2) is Gaussian. Diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) is an extension of DTI that measures non-Gaussian diffusion (kurtosis) to better capture microenvironmental changes by incorporating additional data at a higher b-value. In this study, using UK Biobank data (b values of 1000 and 2000 s/mm2), we investigate (1) the extent of novel information gained from adding diffusional kurtosis to diffusivity observations in aging, and (2) how conventional DTI metrics in aging compare with diffusivity metrics derived from DKI, which are corrected for kurtosis. We find a general pattern of lower kurtosis alongside higher diffusivity among older adults. We also find differences between diffusivity metrics derived from DTI and DKI, emphasizing the importance of accounting for non-Gaussian diffusion. This work highlights the utility of measuring diffusional kurtosis as a simple addition to conventional diffusion imaging of aging.
Risk-utility tradeoff shapes memory strategies for evolving patterns
Authors: Schnaack Oskar H , Peliti Luca , Nourmohammad Armita
Published: October 2021

Keeping a memory of evolving stimuli is ubiquitous in biology, an example of which is immune memory for evolving pathogens. However, learning and memory storage for dynamic patterns still pose challenges in machine learning. Here, we introduce an analytical energy-based framework to address this problem. By accounting for the tradeoff between utility in keeping a high-affinity memory and the risk in forgetting some of the diverse stimuli, we show that a moderate tolerance for risk enables a repertoire to robustly classify evolving patterns, without much fine-tuning. Our approach offers a general guideline for learning and memory storage in systems interacting with diverse and evolving stimuli.
In-depth immunophenotyping with mass cytometry during TB treatment reveals non-canonical T-cell subsets associated with sputum culture conversion
Authors: Chedid Carole , Andrieu Thibault , Kokhreidze Eka , Tukvadze Nestani , Biswas Samanta , Ather Md. Fahim , Uddin Mohammad Khaja Mafij , Banu Sayera , De Maio Flavio , Delogu Giovanni , Endtz Hubert , Goletti Delia , Vocanson Marc , Dumitrescu Oana , Hoffmann Jonathan , Ader Florence
Published: October 2021

Tuberculosis (TB) is a difficult-to-treat infection because of multidrug regimen requirements based on drug susceptibility profiles and treatment observance issues. TB cure is defined by mycobacterial sterilization, technically complex to systematically assess. We hypothesized that microbiological outcome was associated with stage-specific immune changes in peripheral whole blood during TB treatment. The T-cell phenotypes of treated TB patients were prospectively characterized in a blinded fashion using mass cytometry after Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) antigen stimulation, and then correlated to sputum culture status. At two months of treatment, cytotoxic and terminally differentiated CD8+ T-cells were under-represented and naïve CD4+ T-cells were over-represented in positive-versus negative-sputum culture patients, regardless of Mtb drug susceptibility. At treatment completion, an antigen-driven T-cell immune shift towards differentiated subpopulations was associated with TB cure. Overall, we identified specific T-cell profiles associated with slow sputum converters, which brings new insights in TB prognostic biomarker research designed for clinical application.

In patients treated for pulmonary TB, high-dimensional immune profiling with mass cytometry revealed that Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture conversion is associated with newly characterized peripheral CD8+ T-cell phenotypes. This paves the way for new immune biomarkers associated with mycobacterial sterilization.
Differential patterns of change in brain connectivity resulting from severe traumatic brain injury
Authors: Nakuci Johan , McGuire Matthew , Schweser Ferdinand , Poulsen David , Muldoon Sarah F.
Published: October 2021

Background

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) damages white matter tracts, disrupting brain network structure and communication. There exists a wide heterogeneity in the pattern of structural damage associated with injury, as well as a large heterogeneity in behavioral outcomes. However, little is known about the relationship between changes in network connectivity and clinical outcomes.

Methods

We utilize the rat lateral fluid-percussion injury (FPI) model of severe TBI to study differences in brain connectivity in 8 animals that received the insult and 11 animals that received only a craniectomy. Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) is performed 5 weeks after the injury and network theory is used to investigate changes in white matter connectivity.

Results

We find that 1) global network measures are not able to distinguish between healthy and injured animals; 2) injury induced alterations predominantly exist in a subset of connections (subnetworks) distributed throughout the brain; and 3) injured animals can be divided into subgroups based on changes in network motifs – measures of local structural connectivity. Additionally, alterations in predicted functional connectivity indicate that the subgroups have different propensities to synchronize brain activity, which could relate to the heterogeneity of clinical outcomes.

Discussion

These results suggest that network measures can be used to quantify progressive changes in brain connectivity due to injury and differentiate among subpopulations with similar injuries but different pathological trajectories.

Impact Statement

White matter tracts are important for efficient communication between brain regions and their connectivity pattern underlies proper brain function. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) damages white matter tracts and changes brain connectivity, but how specific changes relate to differences in clinical/behavioral outcomes is not known. Using network theory to study injury related changes in structural connectivity, we find that local measures of network structure can identify subgroups of injured rats with different types of changes in brain structure. Our results suggest that these different patterns of change could relate to differences in clinical outcomes.
Parent-of-origin effects in the life-course evolution of cardio-metabolic traits
Authors: Wagh Rucha , Kunte Pooja , Yajnik Chittaranjan S , Prasad Rashmi B
Published: October 2021

Objective

Human traits are heritable, and some of these including metabolic and lipid phenotypes show preferential parental transmissions, or parent-of-origin effects. These have been mostly studied in populations comprising adults. We aimed to investigate heritability and parent-of-origin effects on cardiometabolic and anthropometric traits in a birth-cohort with serial measurements to assess if these effects manifested at an early age.

Research design and methods

We investigated heritability and parent-of-origin effects on cardiometabolic and anthropometric traits in the Pune Maternal Nutrition Study (PMNS) wherein offspring and parents were studied from birth and followed-up for 18 years. Heritability was estimated by calculating association between mid-parental phenotypes and offspring. Maternal and paternal effects on offspring phenotype were modelled by regression after adjusting for age, sex and BMI. Parent-of-origin effects were calculated by the difference between maternal and paternal effects.

Results

Anthropomorphic traits and cardiometabolic traits were robustly heritable. Parent-of-origin effects were observed for glycemic traits at both 6- and 12-years, with a paternal effect at 6-years which transitioned to a maternal effect at 12-years. For insulin and HOMA-S, a negative maternal effect transitioned to a positive one at 12-years. For HOMA-B, a paternal effect at 6-years transitioned to a maternal one at 12-years. Lipid traits consistently showed stronger maternal influence while anthropometric traits did not show any parental biases.

Conclusions

Our study highlights that parental programming of cardiometabolic traits is evident from early childhood and can transition during puberty. Further studies are needed to determine the mechanisms of underlying such effects.
Dormant spores sense amino acids through the B subunits of their germination receptors
Authors: Artzi Lior , Alon Assaf , Brock Kelly P. , Green Anna G. , Tam Amy , Ramírez-Guadiana Fernando H. , Marks Debora , Kruse Andrew , Rudner David Z.
Published: October 2021

Bacteria from the orders Bacillales and Clostridiales differentiate into stress-resistant spores that can remain dormant for years, yet rapidly germinate upon nutrient sensing. How spores monitor nutrients is poorly understood but in most cases requires putative membrane receptors. The prototypical receptor from Bacillus subtilis consists of three proteins (GerAA, GerAB, GerAC) required for germination in response to L-alanine. GerAB belongs to the Amino Acid-Polyamine-Organocation superfamily of transporters. Using evolutionary co-variation analysis, we provide evidence that GerAB adopts a structure similar to an L-alanine transporter from this superfamily. We show that mutations in gerAB predicted to disrupt the ligand-binding pocket impair germination, while mutations predicted to function in L-alanine recognition enable spores to respond to L-leucine or L-serine. Finally, substitutions of bulkier residues at these positions cause constitutive germination. These data suggest that GerAB is the L-alanine sensor and that B subunits in this broadly conserved family function in nutrient detection.
Autosomal recessive SLC30A9 variants in a Proband with a Cerebro-Renal Syndrome and No Parental Consanguinity
Authors: Kleyner Robert , Mohammad Arif , Marchi Elaine , Horowitz Naomi , Haworth Andrea , King Brian , Amble Karen , Gavin Maureen , Velinov Milen , Lyon Gholson J
Published: October 2021

An SLC30A9 associated cerebro renal syndrome was first reported in consanguineous Bedouin kindred by Perez et al in 2017. While the function of the gene has not yet been fully elucidated, it may be implicated in Wnt signaling, nuclear regulation, as well as cell and mitochondrial zinc regulation. In this research report, we present a female proband with two distinct, inherited autosomal recessive loss of function SLC30A9 variants from unrelated parents. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a possible SLC30A9 associated cerebro renal syndrome in a nonconsanguineous family. Furthermore, a limited statistical analysis was conducted to identify possible allele frequency differences between populations. Our findings provide further support for an SLC30A9 associated cerebro renal syndrome and may help further clarify the function of this gene.
Crystal structure of N-terminal degron-truncated human glutamine synthetase
Authors: Chek Min Fey , Kim Sun-Yong , Mori Tomoyuki , Kojima Hisayuki , Hakoshima Toshio
Published: October 2021

Glutamine synthetase (GS) is a decameric enzyme that plays a key role in nitrogen metabolism. Acetylation of the N-terminal degron (N-degron) of GS is essential for ubiquitylation and subsequent GS degradation. The full-length GS structure showed that the N-degron is buried inside the GS decamer and is inaccessible to the acetyltransferase. The structure of N-degron-truncated GS reported here reveals that the N-degron is not essential for GS decamer formation. It is also shown that the N-degron can be exposed to a solvent region through a series of conformational adjustments upon ligand binding. In summary, this study elucidated the dynamic movement of the N-degron and the possible effect of glutamine in enhancing the acetylation process.
Parameterization of magnetic vector potentials and fields for efficient multislice calculations of elastic electron scattering
Authors: Lyon Keenan , Rusz Jan
Published: October 2021

The multislice method, which simulates the propagation of the incident electron wavefunction through a crystal, is a well established method for analysing the multiple scattering effects that an electron beam may undergo. The inclusion of magnetic effects into this method proves crucial towards simulating enhanced magnetic interaction of vortex beams with magnetic materials, calculating magnetic Bragg spots or searching for magnon signatures, to name a few examples. Inclusion of magnetism poses novel challenges to the efficiency of the multislice method for larger systems, especially regarding the consistent computation of magnetic vector potentials A and magnetic fields B over large supercells. This work presents a tabulation of parameterized magnetic (PM) values for the first three rows of transition metal elements computed from atomic density functional theory (DFT) calculations, allowing for the efficient computation of approximate A and B across large crystals using only structural and magnetic moment size and direction information. Ferromagnetic b.c.c. (body-centred cubic) Fe and tetragonal FePt are chosen to showcase the performance of PM values versus directly obtaining A and B from the unit-cell spin density by DFT. The magnetic fields of b.c.c. Fe are well described by the PM approach while for FePt the PM approach is less accurate due to deformations in the spin density. Calculations of the magnetic signal, namely the change due to A and B of the intensity of diffraction patterns, show that the PM approach for both b.c.c. Fe and FePt is able to describe the effects of magnetism in these systems to a good degree of accuracy.
Crystal structures of Zn(cyclam)I2 (second monoclinic polymorph) and Zn(cyclam)I(I3)
Authors: Gavrish Sergey P. , Shova Sergiu , Lampeka Yaroslaw D.
Published: October 2021

The asymmetric unit of the first title compound iodido(1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane-κ4
N
1,N
4,N
8,N
11)zinc(II) iodide, [ZnI(C10H24N4)]I, I, consists of the zinc–cyclam macrocyclic cation with one iodide anion coordinated to the metal ion [Zn—I = 2.6619 (5) Å] and the second present as a counter-ion. The asymmetric unit of the second title compound iodido(1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane-κ4
N
1,N
4,N
8,N
11)zinc(II) triiodide, [ZnI(C10H24N4)]I3, II, consists of half of the centrosymmetric macrocyclic cation, in which the ZnII ion coordinated to an iodide anion [Zn—I = 2.766 (2) Å] is disordered over two positions [Zn...Zn = 0.810 (3) Å], and of the two halves of the crystallographically non-equivalent, non-coordinated, centrosymmetric triiodide anions. In both compounds, the N,N,N,N-tetradentate macrocyclic ligand is present in the most energetically favored trans-III conformation. In the crystals of I, the [Zn(C10H24N4)I]+ cations and the non-coordinated iodide anions are linked by N—H...I and bifurcated N—H...(I,I) hydrogen bonds, resulting in the formation of two-dimensional networks lying parallel to the (001) and (101) planes. In contrast, the crystals of II are built up from infinite chains of the five-coordinate macrocyclic units arranged along the b-axis direction and perpendicular sheets formed of the triiodide counter-ions without significant hydrogen bonding between them.
Humanoid service robots versus human employee: how consumers react to functionally and culturally mixed products
Authors: Jiang Hongyan , Xu Mengmeng , Sun Peizhen , Zhang Jing
Published: October 2021

Purpose

Mixed products, while presenting new business opportunities, raise considerable concerns among managers and researchers. However, whether mixed products (functionally vs culturally) trigger positive or negative consumer reactions is controversial. Hereby, the present research seeks to resolve the conflicting effects by examining the moderating role of service provider type (humanoid service robot vs human employee) in the impact of mixed products on consumer reactions.

Design/methodology/approach

Two studies were conducted to explore the effect of mixed products on consumer reactions. Specifically, study 1 was developed to examine the interplay of mixed products and service provider type in shaping consumers' product attitudes and purchase intentions under an offline shopping scenario; study 2 further provided evidence for the mediating roles of perceived usefulness and perceived enjoyment in the above processes under an online-shopping context.

Findings

The convergent findings of two studies conclude that, when served by a humanoid service robot (vs human employee), consumers exhibit more positive attitudes and higher purchase intentions toward functionally (vs culturally) mixed products. Furthermore, such effect is driven by the perceived usefulness (vs perceived enjoyment) when served by humanoid robot (vs human employee).

Originality/value

First, this is one of the first studies to conceptualize mixed products as the two-dimensional construct (i.e. functionally mixed and culturally mixed), and the findings sheds light on the mixed products literature. Second, this paper introduces service provider type as the boundary condition for the impact of mixed products on consumers' product attitudes and purchase intentions, which expands the match-up hypothesis and schema theory in service marketing. Third, the current research explores the mediating roles of perceived usefulness and perceived enjoyment in the above effects, which could make significant contribution to the motivation theory.
Time flies when chatting online: a social structure and social learning model to understand excessive use of mobile instant messaging
Authors: Wang Chuang , Zhang Jun , Lee Matthew K.O.
Published: October 2021

Purpose

Widespread concerns about excessive use of mobile instant messaging (MIM) have inspired research in different disciplines. However, the focus thus far tends to be on diagnostics and cognitive predictors. There is little understanding from the socio-technical perspective to capture the drivers of excessive use of MIM. To address this research gap, the authors aim to enrich existing literature by adopting a social structure and social learning model (SSSLM) to understand the excessive use of MIM. The authors argue that excessive MIM use is developed and reinforced in highly interactive online communication, through a social learning process.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conduct a cross-sectional online survey to validate our proposed research model on excessive use of mobile instant messaging (MIM). 368 valid responses are obtained from active MIM users in China.

Findings

The results suggest that highly interactive MIM creates a technology-based social structure that facilitates the social learning process of excessive technology use. The influence of perceived interactivity of MIM on excessive MIM use is mediated by a series of contextualized social learning factors. Furthermore, the influences of perceived interactivity on social learning factors are moderated by MIM use experience.

Originality/value

The authors contribute to literature in related fields by highlighting the crucial role of social learning in facilitating excessive technology use. The authors contribute to the social structure and social learning model by contextualizing it into the context of excessive MIM use. Design guidelines are provided with a purpose to inhibit excessive use of MIM.
Use of hydroxychloroquine in dermatology: A multicenter retrospective study in Korea
Authors: Lim Jae Woo , Lee June Hyunkyung , Kim Hee Joo
Published: October 2021

Despite the expanding clinical application of hydroxychloroquine in dermatology, the overall data on hydroxychloroquine use among dermatologists are limited. With retrospective review of the medical records of the 790 patients who were prescribed hydroxychloroquine, we classified the diagnoses into 12 disease categories, the lupus erythematosus group being the largest. The lupus erythematosus group had the longest prescription duration (median, 6.2 months), whereas the photodermatitis group had a significantly shorter prescription duration (median, 0.5 months). The overall good response rate was 77.1%. The photodermatitis group had the best response (88.7%), followed by the lupus panniculitis (85.1%) and lichen planus (84.4%). In conclusion, hydroxychloroquine has proven utility for various inflammatory skin diseases, including but not limited to cutaneous lupus erythematosus.
Le développement financier affecte‐t‐il l'inégalité de revenus en Afrique subsaharienne?
Authors: Fankem Gislain Stéphane Gandjon , Melingui Marthe Dorelle
Published: October 2021

L'objectif de cette étude est d'évaluer l'effet du développement financier sur l'inégalité de revenus pour 27 pays d'Afrique subsaharienne. A cette fin, la méthodologie utilisée repose sur un modèle économétrique spécifié en panel dynamique et estimé par la méthode des moments généralisés en système. Sur la période 2000‐2015, les résultats indiquent que le développement financier réduit l'inégalité de revenus en Afrique Subsaharienne. En outre, ils rejettent l'hypothèse d'une courbe financière de Kuznets. Ces résultats, qui sont robustes au type de mesure de développement financier et à la méthode d'estimation, invitent les décideurs politiques à davantage développer le système financier en vue de diminuer efficacement l'inégalité de revenus en Afrique subsaharienne.
Introduction to the Special Issue: exclusion, expulsion and suspension of students with disabilities: advancing knowledge, preventing educational exclusion
Authors: Armstrong David
Published: October 2021

The papers in this special issue are at the vanguard of advancing knowledge about school suspensions and exclusions and in establishing a critical evidence base which educational policy and school‐based initiatives can access in efforts to re‐enact meaningful inclusion for some of our most vulnerable students. Hosting and showcasing emerging knowledge in this space is an important role for JORSEN as a journal which promotes educational inclusion. This short editorial offers an overview of the papers included in this special issue and suggests common issues in the important emerging field of research into the educational exclusion and suspension of students with disabilities.
Comparison of methods to develop fingerprints on papers impregnated with AB‐PINACA and AB‐FUBINACA
Authors: Gulekci Yakup , Efeoglu Ozseker Pınar , Cavus Yonar Fatma , Daglioglu Nebile
Published: October 2021

Although there have been significant advances in fingerprinting techniques, studies on how these techniques affect other criminal evidence are limited. Synthetic cannabinoids (SC), which are illegal substances frequently encountered in crime scenes and are widely used worldwide, are available in various forms in the market (pill, powder, liquid, and herbal product). These synthetic cannabinoid substances have recently been introduced to places such as prisons and rehabilitation centers, primarily via an infused piece of paper. The first seizure of the paper‐impregnated form of AB‐PINACA and AB‐FUBINACA in Turkey was observed in 2014. This study investigates the effects of fingerprint development methods on the concentrations of these SCs impregnated on paper. Therefore, eccrine and sebaceous fingerprints of volunteers were imprinted on the papers before and after they were impregnated with AB‐PINACA and AB‐FUBINACA. Six different fingerprint development methods were applied. Fingerprint development methods were later checked in 384 fingerprints. AB‐PINACA and AB‐FUBINACA infused on papers were extracted by the liquid−extraction method, and concentrations were analyzed via LC‐MS/MS. After applying Thermanin, 1,2‐indandione, iodine vapor, DFO, and 5‐MTN fingerprint development methods, the concentration levels of AB‐FUBINACA were 26.25, 19.60, 21.43, 17.76, and 17.77 ng/cm2, while the concentration levels of AB‐PINACA were 1.1, 0.98, 1.31, 1.28, and 1.22 ng/cm2, respectively. Finally, although the best fingerprint visualization was obtained on papers that were applied the Ninhydrin method, the method failed to detect SCs on papers.
Novel transaminases from thermophiles: from discovery to application
Authors: Cárdenas‐Fernández Max , Sinclair Oliver , Ward John M.
Published: October 2021

Transaminases (TAs) are promising biocatalysts for chiral amine synthesis; however, only few thermophilic TAs have been described to date. In this work, a genome mining approach was taken to seek novel TAs from nine thermophilic microorganisms. TA sequences were identified from their respective genome sequences and their Pfam were predicted confirming that TAs class I–II are the most abundant (50%), followed by class III (26%), V (16%), IV (8%) and VI (1%). The percentage of open reading frames (ORFs) that are TAs ranges from 0.689% in Thermococcus litoralis to 0.424% in Sulfolobus solfataricus. A total of 94 putative TAs were successfully cloned and expressed into E. coli, showing mostly good expression levels when using a chemical chaperone media containing d‐sorbitol. Kinetic and end‐point colorimetric assays with different amino donors–acceptors confirmed TAs activity allowing for initial exploration of the substrate scope. Stereoselective and non‐stereoselective serine‐TAs were selected for the synthesis of hydroxypyruvate (HPA). Low HPA reaction yields were observed with four non‐stereoselective serine‐TAs, whilst two stereoselective serine‐TAs showed significantly higher yields. Coupling serine‐TA reactions to a transketolase to yield l‐erythrulose (Ery) substantially increased serine conversion into HPA. Combining both stereoselective serine‐TAs and transketolase using the inexpensive racemic D/L‐serine led to high Ery yield (82%). Thermal characterization of stereoselective serine‐TAs confirmed they have excellent thermostability up to 60°C and high optimum temperatures.
Reevaluation of the effect of dietary restriction on different recombinant inbred lines of male and female mice
Authors: Unnikrishnan Archana , Matyi Stephanie , Garrett Karla , Ranjo‐Bishop Michelle , Allison David B. , Ejima Keisuke , Chen Xiwei , Dickinson Stephanie , Richardson Arlan
Published: October 2021

Dietary restriction (DR) was reported to either have no effect or reduce the lifespan of the majority of the 41‐recombinant inbred (RI) lines studied by Liao et al. (Aging Cell, 2010, 9, 92). In an appropriately power longevity study (n > 30 mice/group), we measured the lifespan of the four RI lines (115‐RI, 97‐RI, 98‐RI, and 107‐RI) that were reported to have the greatest decrease in lifespan when fed 40% DR. DR increased the median lifespan of female RI‐115, 97‐RI, and 107‐RI mice and male 115‐RI mice. DR had little effect (<4%) on the median lifespan of female and male 98‐RI mice and male 97‐RI mice and reduced the lifespan of male 107‐RI mice over 20%. While our study was unable to replicate the effect of DR on the lifespan of the RI mice (except male 107‐RI mice) reported by Liao et al. (Aging Cell, 2010, 9, 92), we found that the genotype of a mouse had a major impact on the effect of DR on lifespan, with the effect of DR ranging from a 50% increase to a 22% decrease in median lifespan. No correlation was observed between the changes in either body composition or glucose tolerance induced by DR and the changes observed in lifespan of the four RI lines of male and female mice. These four RI lines of mice give the research community a unique resource where investigators for the first time can study the anti‐aging mechanism of DR by comparing mice in which DR increases lifespan to mice where DR has either no effect or reduces lifespan.
Legacies of forest harvesting on plant diversity and plant community composition in temperate deciduous forest
Authors: Roy Marie‐Ève , Surget‐Groba Yann , Rivest David
Published: October 2021

Aims

To conserve forest natural heritage, sustainable forest harvesting requires the recovery of plant diversity and ecosystem functions following management. There is a need to clarify the temporal dynamics of plant diversity following harvesting, for both even‐aged and uneven‐aged silvicultural systems. To achieve this goal, the temporal dynamics of plant diversity in the herb layer were measured in unmanaged forests (control) and along a chronosequence (<5 years, 15 years and 30 years after harvesting) for even‐aged and uneven‐aged managed forests.

Location

Hardwood forest of southern Quebec, Canada.

Methods

Plant diversity, plant community composition and ecosystem functioning were investigated using metrics exploring richness, evenness and disparity diversity components, and included two scales of diversity partitioning (alpha and beta). Shrub–canopy layer, forest tree species composition and structure, and total forest basal area were also measured.

Results

In both uneven‐aged and even‐aged managed forest stands, we found: (a) a substantial decrease in mean plant phylogenetic diversity compared with unmanaged forest, even 30 years after harvesting (i.e., decrease of 16% and 22%, respectively); and (b) lowest plant alpha‐diversity in the herb layer 15 years after harvesting. Modification of community composition based upon dissimilarity (beta‐diversity) metrics demonstrated more numerous effects of even‐aged management than uneven‐aged management. For forest composition and structure, plant community and plant traits, dissimilarity relative to the unmanaged control was highest 5 years after even‐aged management. Trait‐based communities were more similar to unmanaged forest at the intermediate levels of forest density (i.e., ~20 m2/ha) that were found 5 years after uneven‐aged management.

Conclusions

Forest management clearly affected diversity, community composition and ecosystem functions along the chronosequence, highlighting the strongest effects of more intensive management (i.e., even‐aged) and the need to improve the sustainability of forest management.
SNHG17, as an EMT‐related lncRNA, promotes the expression of c‐Myc by binding to c‐Jun in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Shen Supeng , Liang Jia , Liang Xiaoliang , Wang Gaoyan , Feng Bo , Guo Wei , Guo Yanli , Dong Zhiming
Published: October 2021

Dysregulation of long noncoding RNA SNHG17 is associated with the occurrence of several tumors; however, its role in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains obscure. The present study demonstrated that SNHG17 was upregulated in ESCC tissues and cell lines, induced by TGF‐β1, and associated with poor survival. It is also involved in the epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. The mechanism underlying SNHG17‐regulated c‐Myc was detected by RNA immunoprecipitation, RNA pull‐down, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and luciferase reporter assays. SNHG17 was found to directly regulate c‐Myc transcription by binding to c‐Jun protein and recruiting the complex to specific sequences of the c‐Myc promoter region, thereby increasing its expression. Moreover, SNHG17 hyperactivation induced by TGF‐β1 results in PI3K/AKT pathway activation, promoting cells EMT, forming a positive feedback loop. Furthermore, SNHG17 facilitated ESCC tumor growth in vivo. Overall, this study demonstrated that the SNHG17/c‐Jun/c‐Myc axis aggravates ESCC progression and EMT induction by TGF‐β1 and may serve as a new therapeutic target for ESCC.
Impact of pharmacological interventions on insulin resistance in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Abdalla Mohammed A. , Shah Najeeb , Deshmukh Harshal , Sahebkar Amirhossein , Östlundh Linda , Al‐Rifai Rami H. , Atkin Stephen L. , Sathyapalan Thozhukat
Published: October 2021

Objective

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex endocrine condition affecting women of reproductive age. It is characterized by insulin resistance and is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

The objective was to review the literature on the effect of different pharmacological interventions on insulin resistance in women with PCOS.

Design

We searched PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane library and the Web of Science in April 2020 and updated in March 2021. The study follows the 2020 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta‐ana. Reviwers extracted data and assessed the risk of bias using the Cochrane risk of bias tool.

Results

In 58 randomized controlled trials there were significant reductions in the fasting blood glucose (FBG) with metformin versus placebo (standardized mean difference [SMD]: −0.23; 95% confidence interval [CI]: −0.40, −0.06; I² = 0%, low‐grade evidence), and acarbose versus metformin (mean difference [MD]: −10.50 mg/dl; 95% CI: −15.76, −5.24; I² = 0%, low‐grade evidence). Significant reductions in fasting insulin (FI) with pioglitazone versus placebo (SMD: −0.55; 95% CI: −1.03, −0.07; I² = 37%; p = .02, very‐low‐grade evidence). A significant reduction in homoeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR) was seen with exenatide versus metformin (MD: −0.34; 95% CI: −0.65, −0.03; I² = 0%, low‐grade evidence). No effect on homoeostatic model assessment of beta cells (HOMA‐B) was observed.

Conclusions

Pharmacological interventions, including metformin, acarbose, pioglitazone and exenatide have significant effects on FBG, FI, HOMA‐IR but not on HOMA‐B.
Genomic evidence for adaptive differentiation amongMicrohyla fissipespopulations: Implications for conservation
Authors: Jin Long , Liao Wen Bo , Merilä Juha
Published: October 2021

Aim

Amphibians require both terrestrial and aquatic environments to complete their life cycles. Thus, they are subject to complex selection pressures stemming from different environments, and these selection pressures are likely to vary geographically with variation in temperature and precipitation. Studies of genetic differentiation along geographical clines allow identification of footprints of these selection pressures.

Location

China.

Methods

To identify possible signatures of local adaptation to particular environmental conditions, we conducted a genome‐scan with 20,572 single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) obtained with restriction site‐associated DNA sequencing of pooled samples from 10Microhyla fissipespopulations spanning a 1,398 km long latitudinal gradient in China.

Results

The results revealed significant genetic differentiation among populations (FST=0.090). Numerous outlier SNPs associated with variation in both annual average temperature (n = 69) and precipitation (n = 248) were detected.

Main conclusions

The degree and pattern of population differentiation in the SNPs supported the hypothesis that these SNPs have been subject to directional natural selection associated with temperature and precipitation and, hence, are reflective of geographically varying local adaptation. Hence, conservation and management plans forMicrohyla fissipesshould take into account this heterogeneity in genetic constitution in its populations.
Challenges and opportunities of species distribution modelling of terrestrial arthropod predators
Authors: Mammola Stefano , Pétillon Julien , Hacala Axel , Monsimet Jérémy , Marti Sapho‐Lou , Cardoso Pedro , Lafage Denis
Published: October 2021

Aim

Species distribution models (SDMs) have emerged as essential tools in the equipment of many ecologists, useful to explore species distributions in space and time and answering an assortment of questions related to biogeography, climate change biology and conservation biology. Historically, most SDM research concentrated on well‐known organisms, especially vertebrates. In recent years, these tools are becoming increasingly important for predicting the distribution of understudied invertebrate taxa. Here, we reviewed the literature published on main terrestrial arthropod predators (ants, ground beetles and spiders) to explore some of the challenges and opportunities of species distribution modelling in mega‐diverse arthropod groups.

Location

Global.

Methods

Systematic mapping of the literature and bibliometric analysis.

Results

Most SDM studies of animals to date have focused either on broad samples of vertebrates or on arthropod species that are charismatic (e.g. butterflies) or economically important (e.g. vectors of disease, crop pests and pollinators). We show that the use of SDMs to map the geography of terrestrial arthropod predators is a nascent phenomenon, with a near‐exponential growth in the number of studies over the past ten years and still limited collaborative networks among researchers. There is a bias in studies towards charismatic species and geographical areas that hold lower levels of diversity but greater availability of data, such as Europe and North America.

Conclusions

Arthropods pose particular modelling challenges that add to the ones already present for vertebrates, but they should also offer opportunities for future SDM research as data and new methods are made available. To overcome data limitations, we illustrate the potential of modern data sources and new modelling approaches. We discuss areas of research where SDMs may be combined with dispersal models and increasingly available phylogenetic and functional data to understand evolutionary changes in ranges and range‐limiting traits over past and contemporary time‐scales.
Endoscopy‐guided transesophageal echocardiography for large esophageal varices: Use of the “Double Barrel” technique
Authors: Rhee David W. , Nayar Ambika C. , Yan Joe L. , Gausman Valerie , Park David S. , Vareedayah Ashley A.
Published: October 2021

Rhythm control strategies in patients with esophageal varices and atrial arrhythmias pose a unique challenge. The left atrium should be imaged for a thrombus prior to attempting cardioversion or ablation, but the presence of varices is a relative contraindication for transesophageal echocardiography. We present a safe, novel technique of evaluating for left atrial thrombus with simultaneous transesophageal echocardiography and esophagogastroduodenoscopy using slim probes in a patient with large, high‐risk esophageal varices, and symptomatic atrial flutter with rapid ventricular rates despite medical therapy.
Endosymbionts mediate the effects of antibiotic exposure in the tramp ant Cardiocondyla obscurior
Authors: Ün Çiğdem , Hacker Julia , Heinze Jürgen , Oettler Jan , Schultner Eva
Published: October 2021

1. Bacterial endosymbionts play a fundamental role in insect ecology. Ants host a large diversity of bacterial symbionts, but comparably little is known about how the loss or reduction of symbionts affects ant fitness.

2. We investigated the effects of the rifampicin, a commonly used antibiotic, on colonies from several populations of the globally distributed tramp ant Cardiocondyla obscurior, which differ in their endosymbiont communities.

3. We found that rifampicin treatment negatively affected queen fecundity and colony productivity, even when there was a delay of 3 months between treatment and productivity assessment. In addition, the viability of sperm from males produced in rifampicin‐treated colonies was significantly reduced, pointing towards a trans‐generational effect of antibiotics on male ant fitness. As expected, rifampicin treatment also led to a significant decrease in the titres of Candidatus Westeberhardia cardiocondylae and Wolbachia sp., the main bacterial endosymbionts of this ant.

4. The negative effects of antibiotic exposure on ant and symbiont fitness were modulated by the presence and strain of symbiotic bacteria, revealing a complex relationship between the microbiome and ant fitness.