bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adrenal trauma experience at a major tertiary centre in Sweden: Clinical and radiological findings
Authors: Falhammar Henrik , Koskinen Seppo K. , Kistner Anna
Published: February 2022

Background and Objective

Information on the incidence of adrenal trauma and its association with other injuries is limited. Our objective was to study the incidence of adrenal haemorrhage, its association with other injuries, clinical parameters, and long‐term outcomes.

Patients and Measurements

All patients treated for severe abdominal trauma (Level 1) at Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2018 were included. Patients with a radiological picture of adrenal haematoma were selected. The injury severity score (ISS) was analysed in the entire cohort. Data were collected from the electronic medical files.

Results

In total, 1.7% (n = 29/1743) was affected by adrenal trauma. Right adrenal trauma (n = 20/29;69%) was more common than left (n = 6/29;21%, p < 0.01), and 10% were bilateral (n = 3/29). There was no difference in volume in right versus left adrenal trauma [(median 13 (interquartile range (IQR) (7–15) versus 8 (5–13)] ml, p = 0.30). ISS was 23.4 (17–43) in adrenal haematoma patients, higher compared with other trauma patients 16 (8–27) (n = 1714)(p < 0.001).

Rib fractures, pneumothorax, and liver lacerations were the three most common findings in association with adrenal trauma. The underlying cause in 48% of the cases was falling from height (≥3 m). Biochemical data demonstrated normal sodium and potassium levels while the lowest haemoglobin level was 72 g/l. At follow‐up, 4 (2–6) years after the trauma, except for three patients who died as in‐patients, all other persons were still living. None seemed to have adrenal insufficiency.

Conclusions

Adrenal trauma is rare and does not seem to be associated with clinical features of adrenal insufficiency, even if the bleeding is bilateral.
Contact allergy to antifungals: Results of a 12‐year retrospective study
Authors: Gomes Tiago Fernandes , Calado Rebeca , Matos Ana Luísa , Gonçalo Margarida
Published: February 2022

Background

Contact allergy has been reported as a side effect of topical antifungals (TAFs), although most evidence has come from small case series.

Objective

To investigate the frequency and associated factors of contact allergy to TAFs.

Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis of the data of the Contact Allergy Unit of a University Dermatology Department between January 2009 and April 2021. From a cohort of 3788 patients tested in our unit, aimed testing was performed in 482 patients using TAFs from Chemotechnique Diagnostics (Vellinge, Sweden), allergEAZE, and, in some cases, commercial preparations ‘as is’.

Results

Contact allergy to antifungals was found in 27 patients (0.71% of consecutively tested patients and 5.6% of those who had aimed testing). Foot and leg eczema were the clinical presentation in 12 (44.4%) and 10 (37.0%) patients, respectively. Positive reactions were observed mostly with econazole nitrate 1% alcohol (51.9%), miconazole 1% alcohol (48.9%), tioconazole 28% solution (40.7%), and clotrimazole 5% pet. (18.5%). Fifteen patients (55.6%) had sensitization to more than one antifungal.

Conclusions

Contact allergy to antifungals was uncommon and occurred mostly associated with foot dermatitis. Most patients were sensitized to more than one chemical, particularly to azoles, which may limit future choices of TAF treatment.
The Order of Magnitude: Why SNARC‐like Tasks (Still) Cannot Support a Generalized Magnitude System
Authors: Pitt Benjamin , Casasanto Daniel
Published: February 2022

According to proponents of the generalized magnitude system proposal (GMS), SNARC‐like effects index spatial mappings of magnitude and provide crucial evidence for the existence of a GMS. Casasanto and Pitt (2019) have argued that these effects, instead, reflect mappings of ordinality, which people compute on the basis of differences among stimuli that vary either qualitatively (e.g., musical pitches) or quantitatively (e.g., dots of different sizes). In response to our paper, Prpic et al. (2021) argued that both magnitude and ordinality play a role in SNARC‐like effects. Here, we address each of their arguments and conclude that magnitude is relevant to these effects only insofar as it serves as a basis for ordinality. For this reason and others, SNARC or SNARC‐like effects cannot provide evidence for the putative generalized magnitude system.
Climate‐induced plasticity in leaf traits of riparian plants
Authors: Rubio‐Ríos Juan , Pérez Javier , Salinas María J. , Fenoy Encarnación , Boyero Luz , Casas José Jesús
Published: February 2022

Aim

Leaf litter inputs from riparian vegetation and its decomposition play a key role in energy and nutrient transfer in many stream ecosystems. Instream leaf litter decomposition is driven by both leaf traits and environmental conditions. Therefore, understanding and predicting leaf trait variation under current environmental changes and their putative interactive effects on stream food webs is a critical challenge. Most studies have focussed on the assumed higher interspecific leaf trait variability, with little research addressing an intraspecific perspective.

Location

Andalusia, Spain.

Methods

We assessed the relative effects of climate and soil conditions on the plasticity of leaf traits of four common woody riparian species in permanent low‐order Mediterranean streams across a wide aridity gradient. We used a space‐for‐time substitution approach to predict leaf trait changes and consequences for stream food webs in a future climate change scenario.

Results

Overall, we found that aridity had a major influence on leaf trait plasticity but with opposite patterns depending on plant functional type, although soil was the strongest predictor in some cases. Results indicated that leaf quality—linked to palatability and decomposability—of Alnus glutinosa, Salix atrocinerea and Rubus ulmifolius (deciduous/semi‐deciduous) will decrease with forecasted aridification, whereas the palatability of the evergreen Nerium oleander will increase. We observed higher trait plasticity than interspecific variation for leaf P, Ca and Mg concentrations and C:P ratio.

Main conclusions

Our findings suggest a decrease of intraspecific leaf quality in riparian deciduous species with global warming in a relatively short term. In a longer term, this may merge with the forecasted dieback of deciduous species in riparian corridors of temperate climate zones. These changes have the potential to significantly impair ecosystem functioning of Mediterranean mountain streams currently under deciduous gallery forests.
A new statistical approach for identifying rare species under imperfect detection
Authors: Belmont Jafet , Miller Claire , Scott Marian , Wilkie Craig
Published: February 2022

Aim

Species rarity is often used as a measure to assess the risk of extinction of species, and thus, different methods have been developed to describe the composition of rare species in biological communities. These methods usually depend on species attributes that are not always available and very often ignore imperfect species detection. In this work, we developed a new method to characterize species rarity in a community when species are detected imperfectly. Our modelling framework is based on Bayesian occupancy models to estimate species distributions under imperfect detection using presence‐nondetection data.

Innovation

We propose a finite mixture occupancy model to identify rare species based on their occupancy and class‐membership probabilities. Here, we explored a two‐class finite mixture model to distinguish between rare and common species classes and presented the general modelling framework for a problem with more than two classes. By using simulations, we were able to compare our model results under different scenarios obtaining a high‐classification performance across all of them. Additionally, we applied our model to a data set of Odonata occurrence records that were partially observed due to imperfect detection and quantified the proportion of rare species on a national scale across waterbodies in the United Kingdom.

Main conclusions

Nowadays, biodiversity conservation involves monitoring programmes that target multiple species within a community where individual species responses may vary widely. This high variability makes the task of identifying the ecological processes that drive distributions of rare species difficult. Thus, our method represents a new approach to characterize the composition of a community in terms of species rarity while correcting for detectability bias. Our modelling framework also suggests lines of research and future developments for the understanding of how species rarity can be measured in a wide range of scenarios.
Normative coherence through social entrepreneurship: Fostering women’s empowerment in Myanmar
Authors: Perekrestova Vlada
Published: February 2022

Motivation

Women’s empowerment has been an integral part of the discussion on normative coherence for development, but its implementation is not very effective in Myanmar. Gender must be kept at the forefront of policy analysis in order to avoid unintended consequences for women.

Purpose

The article argues that the Government of Myanmar lacks initiatives on women’s economic empowerment, but that social enterprises could prove to be a more appropriate way to implement international norms in gender equality.

Methods and approach

This case study uses descriptive research to verify how social entrepreneurship can contribute to women's empowerment by increasing women’s participation in the labour market. The empirical part of this study is based on field research undertaken in February 2019.

Findings

In Myanmar, there is still a gap between normative policies and social practices. Women’s legal and actual equality cannot be realized by law and philosophy alone, but also depends on a shift in political, economic, and social actions to ensure that women can participate in the public sphere on an equal basis as men, and enjoy equal economic opportunities. The article explores the role that social enterprises are already playing as an example of how international development norms are implemented at the local level.

Policy implications

The article highlights the appropriateness of social enterprises as catalysts of gender equality and as agents of normative gender coherence for development. Social enterprises take an inclusive and sustainable approach to addressing issues, making women’s livelihoods central.
Time to onset of cannabidiol treatment effect and resolution of adverse events in tuberous sclerosis complex: Post hoc analysis of randomized controlled phase 3 trial GWPCARE6
Authors: Wu Joyce Y. , Cock Hannah R. , Devinsky Orrin , Joshi Charuta , Miller Ian , Roberts Colin M. , Sanchez‐Carpintero Rocio , Checketts Daniel , Sahebkar Farhad
Published: February 2022

Objective

To estimate the timing of cannabidiol (CBD) treatment effect (seizure reduction and adverse events [AEs]) onset, we conducted a post hoc analysis of GWPCARE6 (NCT02544763), a randomized, placebo‐controlled, phase 3 trial in patients with drug‐resistant epilepsy associated with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC).

Methods

Patients received plant‐derived pharmaceutical formulation of highly purified CBD (Epidiolex; 100 mg/ml oral solution) at 25 mg/kg/day (CBD25) or 50 mg/kg/day (CBD50) or placebo for 16 weeks (4‐week titration, 12‐week maintenance). Treatment started at 5 mg/kg/day for all groups and reached 25 mg/kg/day on Day 9 and 50 mg/kg/day on Day 29. Percentage change from baseline in TSC‐associated seizure (countable focal or generalized) count was calculated by cumulative day (i.e., including all previous days). Time to onset and resolution of AEs were evaluated.

Results

Of 224 patients, 75 were randomized to CBD25, 73 to CBD50, and 76 to placebo. Median (range) age was 11.3 (1.1–56.8) years. Patients had discontinued a median (range) of 4 (0–15) antiseizure medications and were currently taking 3 (0–5). Difference in seizure reduction between CBD and placebo emerged on Day 6 (titrated dose, 15 mg/kg/day) and became nominally significant (p < .049) by Day 10. Separation between placebo and CBD in ≥50% responder rate also emerged by Day 10. Onset of AEs occurred during the first 2 weeks of the titration period in 61% of patients (CBD25, 61%; CBD50, 67%; placebo, 54%). In patients with an AE, resolution occurred within 4 weeks of onset in 42% of placebo and 27% of CBD patients and by end of trial in 78% of placebo and 51% of CBD patients.

Significance

Onset of treatment effect occurred within 6–10 days. AEs lasted longer for CBD than placebo, but the most common (diarrhea, decreased appetite, and somnolence) resolved during the 16‐week trial in most patients.
Automated detection of absence seizures using a wearable electroencephalographic device: a phase 3 validation study and feasibility of automated behavioral testing
Authors: Japaridze Giorgi , Loeckx Dirk , Buckinx Tim , Armand Larsen Sidsel , Proost Renée , Jansen Katrien , MacMullin Paul , Paiva Natalia , Kasradze Sofia , Rotenberg Alexander , Lagae Lieven , Beniczky Sándor
Published: February 2022

Objective

Our primary goal was to measure the accuracy of fully automated absence seizure detection, using a wearable electroencephalographic (EEG) device. As a secondary goal, we also tested the feasibility of automated behavioral testing triggered by the automated detection.

Methods

We conducted a phase 3 clinical trial (NCT04615442), with a prospective, multicenter, blinded study design. The input was the one‐channel EEG recorded with dry electrodes embedded into a wearable headband device connected to a smartphone. The seizure detection algorithm was developed using artificial intelligence (convolutional neural networks). During the study, the predefined algorithm, with predefined cutoff value, analyzed the EEG in real time. The gold standard was derived from expert evaluation of simultaneously recorded full‐array video‐EEGs. In addition, we evaluated the patients' responsiveness to the automated alarms on the smartphone, and we compared it with the behavioral changes observed in the clinical video‐EEGs.

Results

We recorded 102 consecutive patients (57 female, median age = 10 years) on suspicion of absence seizures. We recorded 364 absence seizures in 39 patients. Device deficiency was 4.67%, with a total recording time of 309 h. Average sensitivity per patient was 78.83% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 69.56%–88.11%), and median sensitivity was 92.90% (interquartile range [IQR] = 66.7%–100%). The average false detection rate was .53/h (95% CI = .32–.74). Most patients (n = 66, 64.71%) did not have any false alarms. The median F1 score per patient was .823 (IQR = .57–1). For the total recording duration, F1 score was .74. We assessed the feasibility of automated behavioral testing in 36 seizures; it correctly documented nonresponsiveness in 30 absence seizures, and responsiveness in six electrographic seizures.

Significance

Automated detection of absence seizures with a wearable device will improve seizure quantification and will promote assessment of patients in their home environment. Linking automated seizure detection to automated behavioral testing will provide valuable information from wearable devices.
Global assessment of shark strandings
Authors: Wosnick Natascha , Leite Renata D. , Giareta Eloísa P. , Morick Danny , Musyl Michael
Published: February 2022

Marine wildlife stranding is a global phenomenon, and for some taxonomic groups, these events are well monitored and documented. Although sharks are among the most threatened vertebrates, strandings have historically been neglected, with little information on this topic currently available. To address this knowledge gap, a systematic review on scientific publications from indexed databases, multimedia material and citizen science databases was performed. A total of 3150 reports were recovered, with strandings dating back to 1880 including 89 species of sharks from 22 families. Both single/small‐scale and mass stranding events were observed. Species ranged from coastal to oceanic, with reports for small‐, medium‐ and large‐sized sharks. Leopard (Triakis semifasciata, Triakidae), brown smooth‐hound (Mustelus henlei, Triakidae) and salmon sharks (Lamna ditropis, Laminidae) were the species with most records. Females stranded significantly more than males, but juveniles and adults were affected in the same proportion. Shark strandings were reported for 47 countries, and the United States was the most representative location, highlighting the states of California and Oregon. Survival rates were extremely low, indicating that stranded sharks are more vulnerable that other taxonomic groups. Potential and putative causes were identified, being similar to those suggested for marine mammal strandings. Our results indicate that although they occur to a lesser extent when compared to mammals, shark strandings are neglected, and urgent measurements are necessary to better understand, document and to properly respond to these events.
Predicting marital financial deception in a national sample: A person‐centered approach
Authors: Dew Jeffrey , Trujillo Sammi , Saxey Matthew
Published: February 2022

Objective

Examine whether latent classes of marital financial deception exist and what might predict class membership.

Background

Many individuals have reported financially deceiving their spouse in descriptive studies; estimates range between 40% and 60% depending on the study. However, to date no study has examined the nature of marital financial deception in a multivariate context regarding type, frequency, and so on. Further, scholars have not yet studied predictors of marital financial deception in a multivariate context.

Method

We used national data and seven financial deception behaviors for the latent class analysis. We also used multinomial regression to predict latent class membership (N = 946 individuals).

Results

Three classes emerged. Spouses who almost never deceived their spouse, spouses who frequently engaged in most of the deception behaviors, and spouses who sometimes hid minor purchases from or lied generally about their financial behaviors to their spouse. The multinomial logistic regression revealed that perceived marital stability, marital duration, and trust in one's spouse was negatively associated with membership in the minor or major deception groups. Conversely, sexual and emotional infidelity was positively associated with being in the major and minor financial deception groups. Hispanic and Black non‐Hispanic participants were less likely than White non‐Hispanic participants to be in the minor and major financial deception groups.

Conclusion

Although individuals financially deceived their spouses, most were either generally truthful or only engaged in minor types infrequently. Aspects of marital commitment predicted group membership.

Implications

The frequency and severity of marital financial deception is associated with marital commitment.
Insularity promotes plant persistence strategies in edaphic island systems
Authors: Conti Luisa , Méndez‐Castro Francisco E. , Chytrý Milan , Götzenberger Lars , Hájek Michal , Horsák Michal , Jiménez‐Alfaro Borja , Klimešová Jitka , Zelený David , Ottaviani Gianluigi
Published: February 2022

Aim

Trait‐based approaches are being used increasingly in island biogeography, providing key insights into the eco‐evolutionary dynamics of insular systems. However, the determinants of persistence of plant species after they have arrived and established on an island remain largely unexplored. Here, we used three edaphic island systems (i.e., habitat patches distinguished from the landscape matrix by distinct soil conditions and specialized vegetation) to examine relationships between persistence strategies (those associated with clonality, bud bank, seed mass and life‐form) and insularity. We hypothesized that insularity promotes and selects strategies to persist locally, such that species occurring on small and/or isolated edaphic islands show trait values indicative of enhanced persistence and lower functional diversity.

Location

Three European systems of edaphic islands in the Western Carpathians, Moravia and the Cantabrian Range.

Time period

Present.

Major taxa studied

Vascular plants.

Methods

For each system, we used linear models to explore persistence‐related plant trait patterns (mean trait values and functional diversity) in relationship to three insularity metrics (island size, isolation and target effect). We focused on patterns of edaphic island specialists because their presence is confined to the islands.

Results

We found that insularity metrics largely explained the variation of the mean value and diversity of persistence‐related traits of edaphic island plant specialists. Specifically, insularity was positively related to traits supporting local persistence (e.g., more extensive lateral spread) and to a reduced variability in persistence traits. More insular systems showed stronger and more numerous trait–insularity links.

Main conclusions

Insularity can affect plant species diversity, form and function in edaphic island systems, such as selecting for enhanced and less diverse persistence strategies. Plant species occurring in insular systems might therefore avoid or delay local extinction by promoting adaptive strategies to persist in situ.
Interacting institutional logics in policy implementation
Authors: Michel Cynthia L. , Meza Oliver D. , Cejudo Guillermo M.
Published: February 2022

When more actors—politicians, bureaucrats, or citizens—get involved in the process of policy implementation, they bring different understanding of their roles and objectives as participants in the policy. These understandings are the means–ends relationships shaping actors' behavior during the implementation process, analyzed in the literature as institutional logics. How do these institutional logics interact during the process of implementation? We argue that institutional logics do not only seamlessly coexist, but they interact in diverse ways: they may coincide, complement, clash or be unrelated. To make these interactions empirically observable, we put forward a working definition for each of them. Using an in‐depth case study of a participatory budget in Cananea, a municipality in northern Mexico, we show how the way these logics interact affects implementation: by performing their own role, actors advance their own purpose and contribute to the implementation process, even when they understand it differently. We find that the interaction among those logics do not impede effective implementation, as long as they do not clash.
Improved cycling stability of V2O5 modified spinel LiMn2O4 cathode at high cut‐off voltage for lithium‐ion batteries
Authors: Radzi Zulhadi Iskandar , Kufian Mohd Zieauddin , Balakrishan Vengadaesvaran , Pandey Adarsh Kumar , Zainal Abidin Zul Hazrin , Sheikh Raihan Siti Rohani , Abd Rahim Nasrudin , Subramaniam Ramesh
Published: February 2022

Spinel lithium manganese oxide, LiMn2O4 coated with V2O5 layer (labeled as LMO‐VO) has been developed and its electrochemical performances as cathode material for lithium‐ion batteries has been evaluated at high cut‐off voltage (>4.5 V vs. Li/Li+) and compared with pristine LiMn2O4 (labeled as LMO). The crystal structure investigations show that LMO‐VO has longer Li–O bond length for fast Li‐ion diffusion kinetic process. The scanning electron microscopy results indicate that LMO‐VO has finer particles and the V2O5 layer has been successfully coated on the LMO surface uniformly. The highly conductive V2O5 coating layer enhances the ionic conductivity of the LMO cathode, as evidenced by the significant drop of Rct value from the Nyquist plot. Under high operating voltage, the cell employed with coated LMO shows exceptional cycling performance in capacity retention and potential difference. After 300 cycles, the capacity retention per cycle has been boosted from 99.90% to 99.94% by adopting the V2O5 coating layer. In addition, surface coating with V2O5 stabilizes the potential difference at very minimal change for a longer period. This convincingly proves that the V2O5 coating layer not only protects against hydrofluoric acid (HF) attack and greatly restrains the increase of cell polarization at high voltage.
Current treatment modalities in granulomatous cheilitis
Authors: Pathania Yashdeep Singh
Published: February 2022

Background

Granulomatous cheilitis (GC) is a poorly understood disorder of the labial mucosa, which is a subtype under an umbrella term “orofacial granulomatosis.” Several treatment modalities have been tried in the management of GC with suboptimal to optimal results.

Objective

The objective of this article is to discuss various treatment modalities, whether medical or surgical, that have been tried for the management of GC with success.

Methods

A comprehensive literature search was performed to screen articles related to the successful treatment of GC. Articles published in journals indexed in PubMed were searched along with those in Google Scholar. There was no availability of systematic review or meta‐analysis on treatment of GC in the literature search. Recent data has been collected and consolidated from various case reports and case series to provide a concise overview of various treatments applied in GC.

Results

Various treatment modalities have been used in GC including glucocorticoids, antibiotics, immunomodulatory, and biological agents, surgical debulking, and laser therapy. No treatment modality has provided a predictable success. Intralesional corticosteroid therapy has been used more frequently either alone or in combination with other modalities.
Performance of wild Saccharomyces and Non‐Saccharomyces yeasts as starter cultures in dough fermentation and bread making
Authors: Condessa Bárbara Marques Bianchini , da Silva Kamila Veloso , da Silva Juliana Fonseca Moreira , de Morais Paula Benevides , Leal Zimmer Fernanda M. A. , de Almeida Alex Fernando , Niculau Edenilson dos Santos , Nogueira Karolina Lima , Santos Claudia Cristina Auler do Amaral
Published: February 2022

The use of wild Saccharomyces and non‐Saccharomyces yeasts might result in bread with different and attractive sensory characteristics. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of Saccharomyces and non‐Saccharomyces yeasts as starter culture in dough fermentation to bread making and the physicochemical parameters and aromatic profile of bread. All 26 wild yeasts strains isolated from Brazilian Cerrado fruit and tree bark were osmotolerant, and 19.4% were able to ferment maltose. Candida tropicalis ART101.3 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae SC5952 had the best growth capacity under high concentrations of glucose and maltose. Also, they were resistant to lyophilisation. Kinetic parameters of bioreactor cultivations showed high cell growth and lower generation time with 10 g L−1 maltose. Bread produced with C. tropicalis ART101.3 and the control bread had similar physicochemical properties and acceptance of consumers. Bread with S. cerevisiae SC5951 had a lower specific volume and a different colour than control bread; however, the consumers found no significant difference. More than 70% of the consumers demonstrated purchase intention of bread produced with both wild yeasts. The present study shows the potential of native Cerrado yeasts to be used and exploited in industrial processes and contributes to the diversification of bread starter cultures.
Digestive protection of probiotic Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus in Ricotta cheese by monoglyceride structured emulsions
Authors: Melchior Sofia , Calligaris Sonia , Marino Marilena , D’Este Francesca , Honsell Giorgio , Nicoli Maria Cristina , Innocente Nadia
Published: February 2022

This research aimed at studying the potential use of monoglyceride (MG) structured emulsions (MSEs) as delivery and protective systems for probiotic bacteria in Ricotta cheese. To this purpose, a low‐fat commercial Ricotta cheese was added with MSEs formulated with milk, as water phase, and sunflower oil (MSE‐SO) or anhydrous milk fat (MSE‐AMF), as lipid phase. A commercial whole milk Ricotta cheese (W‐RC) was considered as reference. A probiotic Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus strain was inoculated as free cells in W‐RC or embedded into the MSEs and added to the low‐fat Ricotta at the same reference fat content. After physico‐chemical characterisation, L. rhamnosus viability and sample destructuring behaviour upon in vitro digestion were evaluated. At the end of in vitro digestion, both W‐RC and sample containing MSE‐SO were unable to protect cells. By contrast, sample with AMF ensured a sufficient probiotic viability, even after 14 days of storage at 4 °C. This result was attributed to system composition and structure. During the gastric phase, the presence of caseins and MG‐AMF mixed structures induced the formation of clots, entrapping and protecting cells against the acidic pH of the stomach, as confirmed by confocal micrographs and particle size. During the intestinal phase, cell viability was guaranteed by the formation of mixed micelles promoted by MG. It was demonstrated that microbial cells located near MG structures where they found protection.
Aim2 suppresses cigarette smoke‐induced neutrophil recruitment, neutrophil caspase‐1 activation and anti‐Ly6G‐mediated neutrophil depletion
Authors: Donovan Chantal , Kim Richard Y , Galvao Izabela , Jarnicki Andrew G , Brown Alexandra C , Jones‐Freeman Bernadette , Gomez Henry M , Wadhwa Ridhima , Hortle Elinor , Jayaraman Ranjith , Khan Haroon , Pickles Sophie , Sahu Priyanka , Chimankar Vrushali , Tu Xiaofan , Ali Md Khadem , Mayall Jemma R , Nguyen Duc H , Budden Kurtis F , Kumar Vinod , Schroder Kate , Robertson Avril AB , Cooper Matthew A , Wark Peter AB , Oliver Brian G , Horvat Jay C , Hansbro Philip M
Published: February 2022

Increased inflammasome responses are strongly implicated in inflammatory diseases; however, their specific roles are incompletely understood. Therefore, we sought to examine the roles of nucleotide‐binding oligomerization domain–like receptor (NLR) family, pyrin domain–containing 3 (NLRP3) and absent in melanoma‐2 (AIM2) inflammasomes in cigarette smoke–induced inflammation in a model of experimental chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We targeted NLRP3 with the inhibitor MCC950 given prophylactically or therapeutically and examined Aim2−/− mice in cigarette smoke–induced experimental COPD. MCC950 treatment had minimal effects on disease development and/or progression. Aim2−/− mice had increased airway neutrophils with decreased caspase‐1 levels, independent of changes in lung neutrophil chemokines. Suppressing neutrophils with anti‐Ly6G in experimental COPD in wild‐type mice reduced neutrophils in bone marrow, blood and lung. By contrast, anti‐Ly6G treatment in Aim2−/− mice with experimental COPD had no effect on neutrophils in bone marrow, partially reduced neutrophils in the blood and had no effect on neutrophils or neutrophil caspase‐1 levels in the lungs. These findings identify that following cigarette smoke exposure, Aim2 is important for anti‐Ly6G–mediated depletion of neutrophils, suppression of neutrophil recruitment and mediates activation of caspase‐1 in neutrophils.
NR4A nuclear receptors in T and B lymphocytes: Gatekeepers of immune tolerance*
Authors: Hiwa Ryosuke , Brooks Jeremy F. , Mueller James L. , Nielsen Hailyn V. , Zikherman Julie
Published: February 2022

Random VDJ recombination early in T and B cell development enables the adaptive immune system to recognize a vast array of evolving pathogens via antigen receptors. However, the potential of such randomly generated TCRs and BCRs to recognize and respond to self‐antigens requires layers of tolerance mechanisms to mitigate the risk of life‐threatening autoimmunity. Since they were originally cloned more than three decades ago, the NR4A family of nuclear hormone receptors have been implicated in many critical aspects of immune tolerance, including negative selection of thymocytes, peripheral T cell tolerance, regulatory T cells (Treg), and most recently in peripheral B cell tolerance. In this review, we discuss important insights from many laboratories as well as our own group into the function and mechanisms by which this small class of primary response genes promotes self‐tolerance and immune homeostasis to balance the need for host defense against the inherent risks posed by the adaptive immune system.
Influence of blueberry tissue type, wounding and cultivar on susceptibility to infection by Neofusicoccum species
Authors: Tennakoon K. M. Shanika , Ridgway Hayley J. , Jaspers Marlene V. , Jones E. Eirian
Published: February 2022

Aim

Botryosphaeriaceae causing stem blight and dieback of blueberry are important pathogens limiting economic production worldwide. This study investigated the pathogenicity and relative virulence of isolates from the Neofusicoccum species commonly associated with blueberries in New Zealand on different tissues and cultivars of blueberries.

Methods and Results

Both wounded and non-wounded fruit and flower buds and wounded attached soft green and hard green shoots were susceptible to infection by conidia of Neofusicoccum australe, Neofusicoccum parvum and Neofusicoccum ribis. N. ribis was generally most virulent, followed by N. parvum and then N. australe. Inoculation of potting mixture with N. australe or N. ribis conidia showed that potting mixtures were not a source of inoculum for infection of blueberry roots. Wounded and non-wounded leaf buds, fruit and wounded soft green shoots and hard green shoots of the different cultivars tested were susceptible to infection by N. parvum and N. ribis. Whilst the fruit of all cultivars were similarly infected, infection incidence in inoculated leaf buds was lowest in “Blue Bayou” and “Ocean Blue”. Cultivar susceptibility differed when tested on soft green shoots compared with hard green shoots, with shortest lesions developed on “Maru” on soft green shoots, and “Centra Blue” and “Ocean Blue” on hard green shoots.

Conclusions

All tested above-ground blueberry tissues, including non-wounded tissue, were susceptible to Neofusicoccum spp. All the cultivars assessed were susceptible to infection, although they varied in their relative susceptibility depending on the tissue assessed.

Significance and impact of the study

The potential for non-wounded tissue to become infected indicate that fungicides may need to be applied to protect all tissue, not just wounds.
Nurse admissions at a specialized mental health programme: A pre‐Covid‐19 retrospective review (2000–2019)
Authors: Braquehais M. Dolores , Mozo Xulián , Gausachs Eva , Santiago Regina , Llavayol Enric , González‐Irizar Olga , Nieva Gemma , Valero Sergi , Ramos‐Quiroga José A. , Bruguera Eugeni
Published: February 2022

Aims

Nursing is a stressful and emotionally demanding profession. To date, few mental health treatment interventions have been developed for them worldwide. This study aims to explore referral trends in nurses with mental disorders admitted to a pioneer specialized mental health programme in Europe from 2000 to 2019.

Design

A retrospective observational study of 1297 medical e‐records of nurses with mental health disorders admitted to the Galatea Care Programme in Barcelona was conducted.

Methods

Three periods were analysed: 2000–2006, 2007–2012 and 2013–2019. Socio‐demographic and clinical variables were compared. Diagnoses followed Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM‐IV‐TR) criteria.

Results

Gender and age at referral did not change over time. Self‐referrals grew from 85.1% in the first period to 95.3% in the last period; inpatient admissions decreased from 24.1% to 18.2%, although this was not significant; nurses were less frequently on sick leave on admission over time (59.1% vs. 45.7%); they were more likely to have a temporary contract in the second period (9.5% vs. 4.8% and 4%) and prevalence of main diagnosis changed with a considerable decrease in affective and substance use disorders after 2006 and a progressive increase in adjustment disorders during the whole period.

Conclusion

Free, voluntary, highly confidential programmes for nurses with mental disorders may enhance voluntary and earlier help seeking. These findings can be considered when implementing specialized interventions for them in other settings.

What problem did the study address?

Nursing is a stressful and emotionally demanding profession. To date, few specialized mental health services have been developed for them worldwide. This study aims to explore referral trends in nurses with mental disorders admitted to a pioneer programme in Europe, the Galatea Care Programme in Barcelona, from 2000 to 2019.

What were the main findings?

The number of referrals to the programme grew especially after the first 7‐year period. Admissions were more likely to be voluntary during the last period. Prevalence of substance use disorders at admission dropped steadily while prevalence of adjustment disorders progressively increased over the two decades. Nurses were also less likely to be on sick leave at admission.

Where and on whom will the research have impact?

Free, voluntary, highly confidential programmes for nurses with mental disorders may enhance voluntary and earlier help seeking. These findings can be considered when implementing specialized interventions for them in other settings.
Exploring experiential elements, strategies and outcomes of quality participation for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities: A systematic scoping review
Authors: Bruno Natasha , Richardson Alanna , Kauffeldt Kaitlyn D. , Tomasone Jennifer R. , Arbour‐Nicitopoulos Kelly , Latimer‐Cheung Amy E.
Published: February 2022

Objective

Quality participation, defined as satisfying and enjoyable involvement, is one of the most valued life outcomes for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. To broaden understandings of quality participation, our review explored participation experiences of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Method

Utilising an established systematic scoping review methodology, data were collected using three search tools (peer‐reviewed databases, grey literature databases and Google). Inclusion criteria required that children with intellectual and developmental disabilities and/or their proxies provided descriptions of quality participation experiences in any life domain.

Results

A total of 35 articles met the inclusion criteria. Quality participation strategies (30 total) and outcomes (8 total) were categorised according to six experiential elements (autonomy, belongingness, challenge, engagement, mastery and meaning).

Conclusion

Findings provide novel insight for building quality experiences across current and future participation initiatives.
Factors associated with workers' attitudes towards employment of persons with intellectual disabilities in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Elahdi Ayman , Alnahdi Ghaleb H.
Published: February 2022

Background

Persons with intellectual disabilities have the right to pursue and acquire gainful employment and thereby obtain the psychological, social and economic benefits derived from employment.

Aims

This study aimed to examine workers' attitudes towards and perspectives with respect to the challenges of employing persons with intellectual disabilities.

Method

The sample was composed of 168 persons (60% male). Participants responded to a questionnaire that assessed their attitudes towards working with persons with intellectual disabilities (ATWQ) and a challenges questionnaire (CHQ).

Results and Conclusion

This study found that familiarity (frequency of contact) and having a previous work experience with someone with an intellectual disability were positively associated with workers' attitudes towards employing persons with intellectual disabilities. Furthermore, owners and supervisors were more reluctant to accept the practice of employing persons with intellectual disabilities than were employees. No differences were found by gender. Implications based on the findings are discussed herein.
Non‐linear capital structure dynamics
Authors: Botta Marco , Colombo Luca Vittorio Angelo
Published: February 2022

We investigate the capital structure and the dynamic behaviour of firms' debt ratios in a large sample of companies from 52 countries. Our findings support a complex view of capital structure decisions, with firm, macroeconomic and institutional factors interacting in the determination of both the optimal leverage and the adjustment process towards it. This results in a complex non‐linear dynamic behaviour of firms' debt‐to‐equity ratios. These interactions contribute for almost two thirds of the explained heterogeneity of the target leverage, and around one third of the speed of adjustment towards the optimal capital structure. Overall, our results suggest that market timing and pecking order arguments prevail in the short run, while a dynamic trade‐off mechanism with costly readjustment matters mainly in the long run.
Activation of the STING‐IRF3 pathway involved in psoriasis with diabetes mellitus
Authors: Xiaohong Li , Zhenting Zhang , Yunjie Yu , Wei Cai , Xiangjin Xu , Kun Xie , Xin Lin , Lu Lin , Jun Lu , Pin Chen
Published: February 2022

Psoriasis and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) share similar inflammatory pathways in their pathogenesis. The stimulator of interferon genes (STING)‐interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) pathway has recently been shown to play an important role in immune and metabolic diseases. In this study, we investigated the activation of the STING‐IRF3 pathway in human immortalized keratinocytes (HaCaT) cells treated with palmitic acid (PA) and imiquimod (IMQ). Additionally, we detected the STING‐IRF3 pathway in diabetic mice with imiquimod (IMQ)‐induced psoriasis and assessed the potential of STING inhibitor C‐176. Furthermore, skin samples from patients with psoriasis and diabetes were collected for immunohistochemical analysis. The results indicated that the STING‐IRF3 pathway was activated in HaCaT cells. Moreover, the STING pathway was also found to be induced in the skin tissue of diabetic mice with psoriasis; the inflammatory responses were ameliorated by treatment with C‐176. In the skin tissue samples of patients with psoriasis and diabetes, immunohistochemistry showed that the expression levels of STING and phosphorylated IRF3 were also significantly increased. Thus, we conclude that the STING‐IRF3 pathway is involved in the inflammatory response in the manifestation of psoriasis with T2DM. Inhibition of the activation of the STING pathway can ameliorate the development of psoriasis in diabetes and could be targeted for the development of therapeutic agents for these conditions.
Protozoan phagotrophy from predators to parasites: An overview of the enigmatic cytostome‐cytopharynx complex of Trypanosoma cruzi
Authors: Etheridge Ronald Drew
Published: February 2022

Eating is fundamental and from this basic principle, living organisms have evolved innumerable strategies to capture energy and nutrients from their environment. As part of the world's aquatic ecosystems, the expansive family of heterotrophic protozoans uses self‐generated currents to funnel prokaryotic prey into an ancient, yet highly enigmatic, oral apparatus known as the cytostome‐cytopharynx complex prior to digestion. Despite its near ubiquitous presence in protozoans, little is known mechanistically about how this feeding organelle functions. Intriguingly, one class of these flagellated phagotrophic predators known as the kinetoplastids gave rise to a lineage of obligate parasitic protozoa, the trypanosomatids, that can infect a wide variety of organisms ranging from plants to humans. One parasitic species of humans, Trypanosoma cruzi, has retained this ancestral organelle much like its free‐living relatives and continues to use it as its primary mode of endocytosis. In this review, we will highlight foundational observations made regarding the cytostome‐cytopharynx complex and examine some of the most pressing questions regarding the mechanistic basis for its function. We propose that T. cruzi has the potential to serve as an excellent model system to dissect the enigmatic process of protozoal phagotrophy and thus enhance our overall understanding of fundamental eukaryotic biology.
Descriptions of six new species in White Cloud Mountain minnow Tanichthys albonubes complex (Cypriniformes: Tanichthyidae) in southern China
Authors: Jin Jinjin , Li Chao , Zhao Jun
Published: February 2022

Tanichthys albonubes is a critically endangered freshwater fish in South China and is classified as a second‐class state‐protected animal in China. It is also a colourful ornamental fish and has been introduced into many countries and regions around the world. Previous studies have revealed that there are seven cryptic species in the T. albonubes complex. Here, six new species of these cryptic species were diagnosed and described based on external morphology, colour patterns and osteological characteristics: Tanichthys shenzhenensis sp. nov., Tanichthys huidongensis sp. nov., Tanichthys luheensis sp. nov., Tanichthys dongxingensis sp. nov., Tanichthys guipingensis sp. nov. and Tanichthys hainanensis sp. nov. In addition, an identification key to the genus Tanichthys was provided. The key diagnosable characteristics of six new species in T. albonubes complex include the margin colour of dorsal and anal fins, the number of branched dorsal and anal fins, the relative position of the orbitosphenoid to the parasphenoid, the states of the neural complex, the states of the neural spine of the fourth vertebra and the anterior process of the innominatum. These six new species were also well supported by the phylogenetic tree and uncorrected p‐distances based on Cyt b sequences. The distribution pattern of the genus Tanichthys is characterized by point‐like, discontinuous distribution and geographically isolated on a large scale with narrow distribution ranges of each species. This study provides scientific data for the taxonomy, conservation status assessment and evolution of Tanichthys.
Taxonomic re‐appraisal for toothfish (Dissostichus: Notothenioidea) across the Antarctic Polar Front using genomic and morphological studies
Authors: Arkhipkin Alexander I. , Brickle Paul , Lee Brendon , Shaw Paul W. , McKeown Niall J.
Published: February 2022

The Patagonian toothfish, Dissostichus eleginoides, is one of the largest predatory fishes inhabiting Southern Ocean waters spanning the Antarctic Polar Front (APF), a prominent biogeographic boundary restricting gene flow and driving species divergence between Antarctic and sub‐Antarctic waters. In the light of emerging threats to toothfish conservation and sustainability, this study investigated genetic [mtDNA sequences and genome wide nuclear single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)] and morphological data to critically evaluate the taxonomic status of toothfish north (Chile and Patagonian shelf) and south (South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands) of the APF. mtDNA revealed reciprocally monophyletic lineages on either side of the APF with coalescent analysis indicating these diverged during the Pleistocene. Integration with data from other sources suggests the Chilean/Patagonian lineage is endemic. SNP analysis confirmed restricted nuclear gene flow between both groups and revealed a consensus suite of positive outlier SNPs compatible with adaptive divergence between these groups. Finally, several morphological features permit unequivocal assignment of individuals to either of the clades. Based on the genetic, phenotypic and ecological divergence, the authors propose that toothfish on either side of the APF be recognised as distinct species, with the name D. eleginoides used for toothfish occurring in South American waters north of the APF and toothfish south of the APF being classified using the new name D. australis reflecting their southern distribution.