bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effects of glucagon‐like peptide (GLP)‐1 receptor agonists on weight and glycaemic control in Prader–Willi syndrome: A systematic review
Authors: Ng Nicholas Beng Hui , Low Yue Wey , Rajgor Dimple Dayaram , Low Jia Ming , Lim Yvonne Yijuan , Loke Kah Yin , Lee Yung Seng
Published: August 2021

Objective

The mainstay management of hyperphagia and obesity in Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS) relies on dietary restrictions, strict supervision and behavioural modifications, which can be stressful for the patient and caregiver. There is no established pharmacological strategy to manage this aspect of PWS. Theoretically, glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) receptor agonists (GLP1‐RA) used in patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) may be efficacious in weight and glycaemic control of PWS patients. We conducted a systematic review of the literature to summarize the evidence on the use of GLP1‐RA in PWS patients.

Design

Primary studies were searched in major databases using key concepts ‘Prader–Willi syndrome’ and ‘GLP1 receptor agonist’ and outcomes, ‘weight control OR glycaemic control OR appetite regulation’.

Results

Ten studies included, summarizing GLP1‐RA use in 23 PWS patients (age, 13–37 years), who had used either exenatide (n = 14) or liraglutide (n = 9) over a duration of 14 weeks to 4 years. Sixteen (70%) of these patients had T2DM. Ten patients experienced improvement in body mass index, ranging from 1.5 to 16.0 kg/m2, while improvement in HbA1c was seen in 19 of 23 cases, ranging between 0.3% and 7.5%. All five studies reporting appetite or satiety showed improvement in satiety levels. There were no reported serious side effects.

Conclusions

GLP1‐RA appears safe in PWS patients and may have potential benefits for weight, glycaemic and appetite control. Nonetheless, we also highlight a significant gap in the literature on the lack of well‐designed studies in this area, which limits the recommendation of GLP1‐RA use in PWS patients at present.
Sex differences in social odor discrimination by southern giant pouched rats (Cricetomys ansorgei)
Authors: Freeman Angela R. , Ophir Alexander G.
Published: August 2021

Rodents are known to signal using odors to communicate information including their sex, age, reproductive state, and unique identity. Conspecifics can recognize these signals and behaviorally respond in sex‐specific ways. However, we know little about how males and females might differ in their responses to signals from individuals or how the sexes might differ in their ability to recognize their own identity. Such signals of identity are important because they can modulate the behavior of receivers, and allow for responses related to aggression, territory maintenance, affiliation, and reproduction. To assess how males and females might differ in their responses to individual familiar and novel social signals, and their own individual signals compared to novel same‐sex conspecifics, we tested southern giant pouched rats (Cricetomys ansorgei) using a habituation–discrimination paradigm. Only females showed individual recognition and discriminated among males, preferring novel males. Females also discriminated between their own scent and a novel conspecific odor. Males did not discriminate or demonstrate individual recognition. Male and female differences in response to opposite‐sex odors demonstrated that males do not discriminate between familiar and novel reproductively available females, but females discriminate and prefer to investigate novel males.
Understanding the evolution of fiscal performance of Indian states
Authors: Akram Vaseem , Rath Badri Narayan
Published: August 2021

This study investigates the fiscal performance of 21 Indian states for the period 1980–81 to 2017–18. To do so, this study first applies a widely used multidimensional composite index. Second, this study implements data envelopment analysis (DEA) to assess the fiscal performance. The findings reveal that among Indian states, Odisha achieves the first rank and is found to be the best fiscal performing state in recent years. On the contrary, our results indicate that Punjab is the least performing state during 2015–16 to 2017–18. From the policy perspective, least performing states should get more attention from the central government and can adopt the policies of other best performing states, which may improve their fiscal performance.
Cytomegalovirus DNAemia and disease: current‐era epidemiology, clinical characteristics and outcomes in cancer patients other than allogeneic haemopoietic transplantation
Authors: Tay Kim H. , Slavin Monica A. , Thursky Karin A. , Coussement Julien , Worth Leon J. , Teh Benjamin W. , Khot Amit , Tam Constantine S. , Yong Michelle K.
Published: August 2021

Background

High‐intensity chemotherapy and advances in novel immunotherapies have seen the emergence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections in cancer patients other than allogeneic haemopoietic cell transplantation (HCT).

Aim

To evaluate the epidemiology, clinical characteristics and outcomes of CMV infection in this population.

Methods

A retrospective review of cancer patients other than allogeneic HCT who had CMV DNAemia and/or disease from July 2013 till May 2020 at a quaternary cancer centre was performed.

Results

Of 11 485 cancer patients who underwent treatment during this period, 953 patients had CMV DNA testing performed and 238 of them had CMV DNAemia. After excluding patients with allogeneic HCT, 62 patients with CMV DNAemia were identified, of whom 10 had concurrent CMV disease. The most frequent underlying malignancies were B‐cell lymphoproliferative disease (LPD) (31%; 19/62), T‐cell LPD (21%; 13/62), chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (11%; 7/62) and multiple myeloma (10%; 6/62). Most patients had lymphopenia (77%; 48/62), multiple cancer therapies (63%; 39/62 received ≥2 previous therapies), co‐infection (56%; 35/62 had ≥1 co‐infection) and corticosteroid therapy (48%; 30/62) within 1 month before CMV diagnosis. CMV DNAemia and disease were observed in patients receiving novel immunotherapies, including bispecific antibody therapy, chimeric‐antigen receptor T‐cell therapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Conclusion

Patients with haematological malignancy, particularly B‐cell LPD, T‐cell LPD, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and multiple myeloma, were frequently identified to have CMV DNAemia and disease. Lymphopenia, multiple cancer therapies, co‐infection and recent receipt of systemic corticosteroids were also commonly observed. Future studies are necessary to determine optimal identification and management of CMV in these patients.
Intertidal zonation of hemichordates in soft sediments
Authors: Schrage Kharis R. , Tupik Juselyn D. , Allen Jonathan D.
Published: August 2021

Intertidal zonation of organisms is well studied on rocky shores but less so in soft sediment communities. On rocky shores, communities are two dimensional, with biotic factors such as competition and predation setting the lower bound of a zone, whereas abiotic factors such as desiccation set the upper bound. In soft sediment communities, these patterns persist, but with a dynamic three‐dimensional ecosystem occupied by mobile infaunal organisms, zonation can be more difficult to quantify and detect. Hemichordate worms, however, deposit fecal casts at the surface, which can be easily identified and counted, making them a potential model system for identifying zonation in soft‐sediment systems. Here, we describe the intertidal zonation of hemichordate worms at two sites in Maine and Virginia. In Virginia,Saccoglossus kowalevskiioccurs in the mid‐intertidal at densities up to 500 individuals per square meter, whereas a tube‐building polychaete,Spiochaetopterus oculatus, dominates the lower intertidal. In Maine, two hemichordate species,Saccoglossus bromophenolosusandProtoglossus graveolens, co‐occur at densities up to 100 individuals per square meter in the mid‐intertidal, whereas hermit crabs and errant polychaetes are numerically dominant in the low intertidal. Despite known chemical defenses, crustaceans readily consumed hemichordates in lab assays, although polychaetes did not. In a field tethering experiment, loss rates of hemichordate‐flavored agarose pellets increased as tidal height decreased, suggesting that the lower bound of the hemichordate zone could be set by biotic forces such as crustacean predation. Additionally, a field transplant experiment found low survivorship of hemichordates transplanted to the upper intertidal, suggesting that desiccation may set their upper bound. These results are broadly consistent with prior studies of zonation in soft sediments, and expand our limited understanding of basic hemichordate ecology.
What Artists Want, What Artists Need: A Critical History of the Feral Art School, Hull, UK 2018 – Present
Authors: Goodman Jackie , Hudson‐Miles Richard , Jones Jayne
Published: August 2021

The article contextualises the emergence of the Feral Art School, established in Hull in 2018 by artist‐educators following the winding down of Hull School of Art and Design. This alternative art school is the most recent of many established in the UK since the government’s Independent Review of Higher Education Funding & Student Finance or Browne Review. This article argues that the processes of ‘economisation’ enacted by this review have severely threatened the health of arts education in the UK, forcing the closure of provision and increasing barriers to higher education arts education for the disadvantaged. This article uses the example of Feral Art School to demonstrate how provincial art schools might re‐emerge in new, counter‐hegemonic forms. The Feral Art School is run as a Community Interest Company (CIC) with cooperative values. We argue that these values extend to the philosophy of education underpinning all of Feral’s activities.
Patient‐reported experiences of consultation with an advanced nurse practitioner: Factor structure and reliability analysis of the patient enablement and satisfaction survey
Authors: O’Reilly David , Brady Anne‐Marie , Bryant‐Lukosius Denise , Varley Jarlath , Daly Louise , Cotter Patrick , Elliot Naomi , Lehane Elaine , Fleming Sandra , Savage Eileen , Hegarty Josephine , Drennan Jonathan
Published: August 2021

Aim

The aim was to analyse the psychometric properties of a patient‐reported‐experience measure, the Patient Enablement and Satisfaction Survey (PESS), when used to evaluate the care provided by Advanced Nurse Practitioners (ANPs) in terms of factor structure and internal consistency. The PESS is a 20‐item, patient‐completed data collection tool that was originally developed to measure patient experience and enablement following consultation with nurses in general practice.

Design

Cross‐sectional survey; validity and reliability analysis.

Methods

The sample in this study consisted of 178 patients who consulted with 26 ANPs working in four different specialities. Data were collected between June and December 2019. An exploratory factor analysis of the PESS was conducted to determine convergent validity which was supported by parallel analysis and the traditional Kaiser criterion. The internal consistency of individual PESS items was determined via Cronbach's alpha, McDonald's omega, the Average Variance Extracted tests and item‐subscale/total score correlations.

Results

A three‐factor structure (PESS‐ANP) was found through exploratory factor analysis and this was supported by parallel analysis, the traditional Kaiser criterion and the percentage of variance explained criterion. A high degree of internal consistency was reported across all factors. One question was omitted from the analysis (‘Overall Satisfaction’) following the identification of problematic cross‐loadings. The three factor solution was identified as: patient satisfaction, quality of care provision and patient enablement.

Conclusion

The findings of this study propose a three‐factor model that is sufficiently reliable for analysing the experience and enablement of patients following consultation with an ANP.

Impact

Increasingly, patient‐reported experience measures are being used to evaluate patients’ experience of receiving care from a healthcare professional. The PESS was identified to be reliable in evaluating the experience of patients who receive care from an ANP while a three‐factor structure was proposed that can capture specific attributes of this care.
Promoting the integration of technology in teaching: An analysis of the factors that increase the intention to use technologies among Italian teachers
Authors: Menabò Laura , Sansavini Alessandra , Brighi Antonella , Skrzypiec Grace , Guarini Annalisa
Published: August 2021

Background: The rapid spread of COVID‐19 forced many countries to adopt severe containment measures, transferring all didactic activities into virtual environments. However, the integration of technology in teaching may present difficulties, especially in some countries, such as Italy. Objectives: The present study analyzed how the two main factors of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), namely perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use, combined with online teaching self‐efficacy, were associated with the intention to use technology to teach. We posited a moderated moderation model in which perceived usefulness represented the main predictor, with self‐efficacy and perceived ease of use as moderators of intention to use technology to teach. Method: The model was tested through multiple regressions, using the PROCESS macro on SPSS 26 with a sample of 178 upper secondary school teachers in Italy. Results and conclusions: Regressions showed that each variable significantly predicted the intention to use technology. In addition, a moderation effect of self‐efficacy on the perceived usefulness of using technology was found for medium and high‐level of perceived ease of use of technology. Implications: The present study provides targeted implications for distance education policy and practice to promote its adoption (or the blended modality) in Italian upper schools.
Enhancing distance learning of science—Impacts of remote labs 2.0 on students' behavioural and cognitive engagement
Authors: Sung Shannon H. , Li Chenglu , Huang Xudong , Xie Charles
Published: August 2021

Background

With the increasing popularity of distance education, how to engage students in online inquiry‐based laboratories remains challenging for science teachers. Current remote labs mostly adopt a centralized model with limited flexibility left for teachers' just‐in‐time instruction based on students' real‐time science practices.

Objectives

The goal of this research is to investigate the impact of a non‐centralized remote lab on students' cognitive and behavioural engagement.

Methods

A mixed‐methods design was adopted. Participants were the high school students enrolled in two virtual chemistry classes. Remote labs 2.0, branded as Telelab, supports a non‐centralized model of remote inquiry that can enact more interactive hands‐on labs anywhere, anytime. Teleinquiry Instructional Model was used to guide the curriculum design. Students' clickstreams logs and instruction timestamps were analysed and visualized. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine whether engagement levels influence their conceptual learning. Behavioural engagement patterns were corroborated with survey responses.

Results and Conclusions

We found approximate synchronizations between student–teacher–lab interactions in the heatmap. The guided inquiry enabled by Telelab facilitates real‐time communications between instructors and students. Students' conceptual learning is found to be impacted by varying engagement levels. Students' behavioural engagement patterns can be visualized and fed to instructors to inform learning progress and enact just‐in‐time instruction.

Implications

Telelab offers a model of remote labs 2.0 that can be easily customized to live stream hands‐on teleinquiry. It enhances engagement and gives participants a sense of telepresence. Providing a customizable teleinquiry curriculum for practitioners may better prepare them to teach inquiry‐based laboratories online.
Tracing changes in teachers' professional learning network on Twitter: Comparison of teachers' social network structure and content of interaction before and during theCOVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Alwafi Enas
Published: August 2021

Background

The COVID‐19 pandemic has affected teaching and professional learning activities. Teachers may have to rely on online spaces, such as Twitter, to interact with their professional learning networks and get enough support.

Objectives

This study aims to investigate the structure and the content of teachers’ network interactions on Twitter both before and during the COVID19 pandemic.

Methods

Data were analysed for 103 teachers using multiple methods, including social network analysis (SNA) and content and thematic analysis.

Results and Conclusions

Content analysis revealed that teachers’ cognitive and affective posts increased significantly during COVID‐19. Thematic analysis showed that, during COVID‐19, teachers’ post sfocused on issues around digital transformation. SNA showed that the sizes of teachers’ networks and in/out‐ties grew during COVID‐19. Although the study finds that teachers interacted with individuals both within and outside their discipline and their country, most teachers’ interactions were with teachers from similar disciplines and same country. Teachers used Twitter to share information and support each other.

Implications

This study provides recommendations for stimulating professional interactions among teachers. This work shows the potential of SNA and content analysis to analyse teachers’ professional learning networks.
Correlates and predictors of the severity of suicidal ideation in adolescence: an examination of brain connectomics and psychosocial characteristics
Authors: Kirshenbaum Jaclyn S. , Chahal Rajpreet , Ho Tiffany C. , King Lucy S. , Gifuni Anthony J. , Mastrovito Dana , Coury Saché M. , Weisenburger Rachel L. , Gotlib Ian H.
Published: August 2021

Background

Suicidal ideation (SI) typically emerges during adolescence but is challenging to predict. Given the potentially lethal consequences of SI, it is important to identify neurobiological and psychosocial variables explaining the severity of SI in adolescents.

Methods

In 106 participants (59 female) recruited from the community, we assessed psychosocial characteristics and obtained resting‐state fMRI data in early adolescence (baseline: aged 9–13 years). Across 250 brain regions, we assessed local graph theory‐based properties of interconnectedness: local efficiency, eigenvector centrality, nodal degree, within‐module z‐score, and participation coefficient. Four years later (follow‐up: ages 13–19 years), participants self‐reported their SI severity. We used least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regressions to identify a linear combination of psychosocial and brain‐based variables that best explain the severity of SI symptoms at follow‐up. Nested‐cross‐validation yielded model performance statistics for all LASSO models.

Results

A combination of psychosocial and brain‐based variables explained subsequent severity of SI (R2 = .55); the strongest was internalizing and externalizing symptom severity at follow‐up. Follow‐up LASSO regressions of psychosocial‐only and brain‐based‐only variables indicated that psychosocial‐only variables explained 55% of the variance in SI severity; in contrast, brain‐based‐only variables performed worse than the null model.

Conclusions

A linear combination of baseline and follow‐up psychosocial variables best explained the severity of SI. Follow‐up analyses indicated that graph theory resting‐state metrics did not increase the prediction of the severity of SI in adolescents. Attending to internalizing and externalizing symptoms is important in early adolescence; resting‐state connectivity properties other than local graph theory metrics might yield a stronger prediction of the severity of SI.
Cell wall proteomic analysis of the cnidarian photosymbionts Breviolum minutum and Cladocopium goreaui
Authors: Tortorelli Giada , Oakley Clinton A. , Davy Simon K. , van Oppen Madeleine J. H. , McFadden Geoffrey I.
Published: August 2021

The algal cell wall is an important cellular component that functions in defense, nutrient utilization, signaling, adhesion, and cell–cell recognition—processes important in the cnidarian–dinoflagellate symbiosis. The cell wall of symbiodiniacean dinoflagellates is not well characterized. Here, we present a method to isolate cell walls of Symbiodiniaceae and prepare cell‐wall‐enriched samples for proteomic analysis. Label‐free liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry was used to explore the surface proteome of two Symbiodiniaceae species from the Great Barrier Reef: Breviolum minutum and Cladocopium goreaui. Transporters, hydrolases, translocases, and proteins involved in cell‐adhesion and protein–protein interactions were identified, but the majority of cell wall proteins had no homologues in public databases. We propose roles for some of these proteins in the cnidarian–dinoflagellate symbiosis. This work provides the first proteomics investigation of cell wall proteins in the Symbiodiniaceae and represents a basis for future explorations of the roles of cell wall proteins in Symbiodiniaceae and other dinoflagellates.
OsEDM2L mediates m6A of EAT1 transcript for proper alternative splicing and polyadenylation regulating rice tapetal degradation
Authors: Ma Kun , Han Jingluan , Zhang Zixu , Li Heying , Zhao Yanchang , Zhu Qinlong , Xie Yongyao , Liu Yao‐Guang , Chen Letian
Published: August 2021

N6‐methyladenosine (m6A) modification affects the post‐transcriptional regulation of eukaryotic gene expression, but the underlying mechanisms and their effects in plants remain largely unknown. Here, we report that the N6‐adenine methyltransferase‐like domain‐containing protein ENHANCED DOWNY MILDEW 2‐LIKE (OsEDM2L) is essential for rice (Oryza sativa L.) anther development. The osedm2l knockout mutant showed delayed tapetal programmed cell death (PCD) and defective pollen development. OsEDM2L interacts with the transcription factors basic helix‐loop‐helix 142 and TAPETUM DEGENERATION RETARDATION to regulate the expression of ETERNAL TAPETUM 1 (EAT1), a positive regulator of tapetal PCD. Mutation of OsEDM2L altered the transcriptomic m6A landscape, and caused a distinct m6A modification of the EAT1 transcript leading to dysregulation of its alternative splicing and polyadenylation, followed by suppression of the EAT1 target genes OsAP25 and OsAP37 for tapetal PCD. Therefore, OsEDM2L is indispensable for proper messenger RNA m6A modification in rice anther development.
The elusive link between income and obesity
Authors: Mathieu‐Bolh Nathalie
Published: August 2021

Forseveral decades, obesity has been a major public health and public policy issue involving high private and social costs. The literature on the causes of obesity has identified a number of non‐economic and economic causes. Among the latter, poverty seems to be connected to obesity in rich countries. However, a deeper study of the empirical literature suggests that the link between income and obesity is more complex, as it can be negative or positive, or changes when countries develop over time. In recent years, new theoretical explanations of this complex link have emerged. Our literature review of the empirical and theoretical literature aims at better understanding the link between income and obesity, providing an essential foundation for adequate policy making.
Fall From Grace: Increased Loneliness and Depressiveness Among Extraverted Youth During the German COVID‐19 Lockdown
Authors: Alt Philipp , Reim Julia , Walper Sabine
Published: August 2021

The COVID‐19 pandemic has substantially affected young people’s social and emotional life. Based on longitudinal data provided by 843 adolescents (57.3% female) of the German Family Panel (pairfam), we investigated effects of extraversion on changes in loneliness and depressiveness between 2018 and 2019 and the first German COVID‐19 lockdown in the first half of 2020. Findings of latent change modeling show that highly extraverted adolescents experienced a larger rise in depressiveness, and a third of this total effect was mediated through increases in loneliness. These results contradict previous work evidencing lower depressiveness among extraverted youth and challenge the notion of extraversion as a mere protective factor. Under conditions of restricted access to others, this personality trait may become a burden.
Positive and Negative Online Experiences and Loneliness in Peruvian Adolescents During the COVID‐19 Lockdown
Authors: Magis‐Weinberg Lucía , Gys Christopher L. , Berger Estelle L. , Domoff Sarah E. , Dahl Ronald E.
Published: August 2021

Global COVID‐19 lockdowns have disrupted adolescents’ in‐person social networks, increasing likelihood of loneliness. Social media can help adolescents maintain and develop peer relationships across distance. In this short longitudinal study with 735 Peruvian adolescents (ages: 11–17) from low‐to‐middle‐income urban settings, we investigated whether online experiences relate to loneliness during initial stages of lockdown. Loneliness remained constant between week 6 and 11 of lockdown, was higher for females and similar across school‐grades. Positive and negative online experiences were more frequent for older students, and females experienced more negative online experiences than males. Greater positive online experiences related to lower loneliness, with the reverse pattern for negative online experiences. Our results suggest that positive online experiences may mitigate loneliness during physical isolation.
Effects of desmopressin acetate administration in healthy dogs receiving prednisolone
Authors: Galati Pamela , Archer Todd , Jolly Robyn , Sullivant Alyssa , Wills Robert , Lathan Patty
Published: August 2021

Background

Glucocorticoids are used for a variety of purposes in veterinary medicine but often are associated with clinically important adverse effects. Polyuria and polydipsia are the most frustrating adverse effects noted by owners.

Objective

To determine whether administration of desmopressin ameliorates polyuria and polydipsia associated with prednisolone administration.

Animals

Seven healthy adult Walker Hounds.

Methods

Prospective hypothesis testing study. Daily water intake and urine specific gravity (USG) were measured in dogs under 4 separate sequential conditions: no medications (C), prednisolone only (P), prednisolone and desmopressin (PD), and prednisolone after discontinuation of desmopressin (PAD).

Results

When compared to baseline, 6 of 7 dogs became polydipsic after administration of prednisolone (0.5 mg/kg PO q12h). When desmopressin (5 μg/dog SC q12h) was administered to dogs receiving prednisolone, significant decreases in water intake and serum sodium concentration occurred, and USG increased significantly.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Administration of desmopressin to dogs receiving prednisolone significantly decreased water intake and serum sodium concentration, and increased USG. Our results suggest that, in some dogs, desmopressin ameliorates the most important adverse effect of prednisolone noted by owners, but that hyponatremia is an important complication associated with desmopressin use.
Learning and Teaching Pragmatics in the Globalized World: Introduction to the Special Issue
Authors: TAGUCHI NAOKO
Published: August 2021

This special issue presents the current state of second language pragmatics research and instruction situated in the broader scope of globalization. Seven empirical articles included in this issue represent 3 strands of research: (a) pragmatics in lingua franca communication, (b) multilingual and multidialectal pragmatics, and (c) technology‐mediated pragmatics learning and teaching. These articles collectively address how new contexts in today's globalized world have engendered new ways of conceptualizing and teaching pragmatics.
Essential role of γ‐clade RNA‐dependent RNA polymerases in rice development and yield‐related traits is linked to their atypical polymerase activities regulating specific genomic regions
Authors: Jha Vikram , Narjala Anushree , Basu Debjani , T. N. Sujith , Pachamuthu Kannan , Chenna Swetha , Nair Ashwin , Shivaprasad Padubidri V.
Published: August 2021

RNA‐dependent RNA polymerases (RDR) generate double‐stranded (ds)RNA triggers for RNA silencing across eukaryotes. Among the three clades, α‐clade and β‐clade members are key components of RNA silencing and mediators of stress responses across eukaryotes. However, γ‐clade members are unusual in that they are represented in phylogenetically distant plants and fungi, and their functions are unknown.

Using genetic, bioinformatic and biochemical methods, we show that γ‐clade RDRs from Oryza sativa L. are involved in plant development as well as regulation of expression of coding and noncoding RNAs.

Overexpression of γ‐clade RDRs in transgenic rice and tobacco plants resulted in robust growth phenotype, whereas their silencing in rice displayed strong inhibition of growth. Small (s)RNA and RNA‐seq analysis of OsRDR3 mis‐expression lines suggested that it is specifically involved in the regulation of repeat‐rich regions in the genome. Biochemical analysis confirmed that OsRDR3 has robust polymerase activities on both single stranded (ss)RNA and ssDNA templates similar to the activities reported for α‐clade RDRs such as AtRDR6.

Our results provide the first evidence of the importance of γ‐clade RDRs in plant development, their atypical biochemical activities and their contribution to the regulation of gene expression.
Epidemiological assessment of cassava mosaic disease in Burkina Faso
Authors: Soro Monique , Tiendrébéogo Fidèle , Pita Justin S. , Traoré Edwig T. , Somé Koussao , Tibiri Ezechiel B. , Néya James B. , Mutuku J. Musembi , Simporé Jacques , Koné Daouda
Published: August 2021

Surveys were conducted in 2016 and 2017 across the main cassava‐growing regions of Burkina Faso to assess the status of cassava mosaic disease (CMD) and to determine the virus strains causing the disease, using field observation and phylogenetic analysis. CMD incidence varied between regions and across years but was lowest in Hauts‐Bassins (6.0%, 2016 and 5.4%, 2017) and highest in Centre‐Sud (18.5%, 2016) and in Boucle du Mouhoun (51.7%, 2017). The lowest CMD severity was found in Est region (2.0) for both years and the highest in Sud‐Ouest region (3.3, 2016) and Centre‐Sud region (2.8, 2017). The CMD infection was primarily associated with contaminated cuttings in all regions except in Hauts‐Bassins, where whitefly‐borne infection was higher than cuttings‐borne infection in 2016. PCR screening of 687 samples coupled with sequence analysis revealed the presence of African cassava mosaic‐like (ACMV‐like) viruses and East African cassava mosaic‐like (EACMV‐like) viruses as single infections at 79.5% and 1.1%, respectively. Co‐infections of ACMV‐like and EACMV‐like viruses were detected in 19.4% of the tested samples. In addition, 86.7% of the samples positive for EACMV‐like virus were found to be positive for East African cassava mosaic Cameroon virus (EACMCMV). Phylogenetic analysis revealed the segregation of cassava mosaic geminiviruses (CMGs) from Burkina Faso into three clades specific to ACMV, African cassava mosaic Burkina Faso virus (ACMBFV), and EACMCMV, confirming the presence of these viruses. The results of this study show that EACMCMV occurrence may be more prevalent in Burkina Faso than previously thought.
Direct and inverse scattering problems for the first‐order discrete system associated with the derivative NLS system
Authors: Aktosun T. , Ercan R.
Published: August 2021

The direct and inverse scattering problems are analyzed for a first‐order discrete system associated with the semi‐discrete version of the derivative nonlinear Schrödinger (NLS) system. The Jost solutions, the scattering coefficients, the bound‐state dependency and norming constants are investigated and related to the corresponding quantities for two particular discrete linear systems associated with the semi‐discrete version of the NLS system. The bound‐state data set with any multiplicities is described in an elegant manner in terms of a pair of constant matrix triplets. Several methods are presented to solve the inverse problem to recover the potential values in the first‐order discrete system. One of these methods uses a newly derived, standard discrete Marchenko system using as input the scattering data directly coming from the first‐order discrete system. This new Marchenko method is presented in a way that it is generalizable to other first‐order systems both in the discrete and continuous cases for which a Marchenko system and a Marchenko theory are not yet available. Finally, using the time‐evolved scattering data set, the inverse scattering transform is applied on the corresponding semi‐discrete derivative NLS system, and in the reflectionless case certain explicit solution formulas are presented in closed form expressed in terms of the two matrix triplets.
Dizzy triathlete–evidence supporting vestibular etiology
Authors: Manninen Iida‐Kaisa , Jutila Topi , Hirvonen Timo , Mäkinen Laura K. , Blomgren Karin , Hyytiä Tuomas , Klockars Tuomas
Published: August 2021

Dizziness during or after the swimming leg is a common complaint among triathletes. We hypothesized that the dizziness is caused by asymmetrical cooling of the vestibular organ. This caloric response is characterized by involuntary eye movements called nystagmus. Altogether, 125 triathletes completed an electronic questionnaire. Fifteen triathletes who had frequently experienced dizziness during the swimming leg agreed to take part in a cold water swimming test. The test comprised two cold water swimming legs, first without earplugs and then with earplugs to prevent a potential caloric response. Eye movements and possible nystagmus were recorded immediately after the swimming legs. A majority (87%, 109/125) of athletes had experienced dizziness during triathlon races or training. Of these, almost all (97%, 106/109) experienced it during or after swimming. Dizziness affected the triathlon performance in half of the athletes with dizziness (50%, 51/102). Fifteen athletes participated in a cold water swimming test. During the first leg (without earplugs), 11/15 athletes (73%) experienced dizziness. Of these, six had nystagmus (55%), four had uncertain nystagmus (36%), and one did not have nystagmus (9%). Only one of these athletes experienced dizziness during the second leg with earplugs. The prevalence of dizziness among triathletes is notable. A large part of the dizziness is likely to be caused by caloric reaction of the vestibular organ. We recommend earplug usage for triathletes suffering from dizziness during the swimming leg.
Managing people’s (in)ability to be mobile: Geopolitics and the selective opening and closing of borders
Authors: Stoffelen Arie
Published: August 2021

The currently globalising society is characterised by a tension between increasingly intensive transnational mobility of people and continuous territorial regulation of these flows. This situation has led to the increasingly selective opening and closing of borders, providing territorial access to some while keeping out others. In this paper, I reflect on how such management of people’s (in)ability to cross borders has become a geopolitical instrument. I particularly focus on how mobility inequalities are confirmed within the European Union (EU) to protect the geopolitical and political‐economic status quo of the EU itself, but also how this EU‐level process regarding people’s (im)mobility fuelled internal discussions regarding the relation between nation‐state sovereignty and EU‐level decision‐making. I first reflect on the citizenship of people and the cultural political economy framework for explaining this (re‐)constructed selectivity of borders and border‐crossings. Subsequently, I apply these perspectives to the geopolitical construction of two types of border‐crossings in the EU, namely irregular(ised) migration and tourism, to reflect on how EU‐level and national actors selectively utilise structural‐institutional arrangements and semiotic strategies to position themselves within the European framework. By doing so, the paper illustrates the contradictions engrained in the neoliberal system along two lines: (1) generally, the continued territorial logic in the regulation of space in a world increasingly characterised by global economic and human flows, resulting in the blocking of the mobility of some while stimulating the mobility of others in what are supposedly “open” economies; (2) specifically, the explicit (cf. irregular migration) and implicit (cf. tourism) competition between places as to what is the “right,” “legitimate,” or “sovereign” spatial unit to regulate these flows, resulting in the mobilisation of competing political‐economic imaginaries to institutionalise one over the other.
Ultrasonographic diagnosis of a hair foreign body in the urinary bladder of a dog
Authors: de Campos Fonseca Pinto Ana Carolina Brandão , Murakami Masahiro , Steinbach Sarah M. L. , Vickery Whitney , Fulkerson Caroline V.
Published: August 2021

A 13‐year‐old male neutered mixed‐breed dog with a history of gallbladder mucocele and urolithiasis was evaluated by ultrasound. Two hyperechoic, linear foreign bodies with no distal acoustic shadowing were detected in the urinary bladder and urethra. Following the ultrasound examination, the patient underwent cystoscopy, and two single hairs were found and successfully retrieved. Considering that urinary bladder foreign bodies may be a source for urinary tract infection and can act as a nidus for urocystolith formation, removal is recommended. This is the first published report describing ultrasonographic diagnosis of a hair foreign body in the canine urinary bladder and urethra.
Contrast‐enhanced CT findings in a dog with a wood foreign body in the vertebral canal
Authors: Bosma Femke , Gerritsen Rob , Visser Judith , Passon‐Vastenburg Maartje
Published: August 2021

An 8‐year‐old Border collie was presented with progressive tetraparesis, 6 days after oropharyngeal trauma with a wooden stick. Contrast‐enhanced CT of the head and the cervical spine showed heterogeneous enhancement of the soft tissues surrounding the C1 through C3 region, with extension into the ventral vertebral canal at this level. Two separate, small, foreign bodies were visible; one of which was located within the vertebral canal. Surgical exploration confirmed the presence of wooden foreign bodies within the para‐vertebral soft tissues and within the vertebral canal. The dog was clinically normal 6 months postoperatively.
Akt activation‐dependent protective effect of wild ginseng adventitious root protein against UVA‐induced NIH‐3T3 cell damage
Authors: Xu Xiaohao , Sun Guang , Liu Jianzeng , Zhou Jingyuan , Li Jing , Sun Zhuo , Li Xiangzhu , Chen Hong , Zhao Daqing , Jiang Rui , Sun Liwei
Published: August 2021

Prolonged skin exposure to ultraviolet radiation can lead to development of several acute and chronic diseases, with UVA exposure considered a primary cause of dermal photodamage. We prepared a wild ginseng adventitious root extract (ARE) that could alleviate UVA irradiation‐induced NIH‐3T3 cell viability decline. After employing a series of purification methods to isolate main active components of ARE, adventitious root protein mixture (ARP) was identified then tested for protective effects against UVA irradiation‐induced NIH‐3T3 cell damage. The results showed that ARP treatment significantly reduced UVA‐induced cell viability decline and confirmed that the active constituent of ARP was the protein, since proteolytic hydrolysis and heat treatment each eliminated ARP protective activity. Moreover, ARP treatment markedly inhibited UVA‐induced apoptosis, cell cycle arrest and DNA fragmentation, while also significantly reversing UVA effects (elevated Bax levels, reduced Bcl‐2 expression) by reducing Bax levels and increasing Bcl‐2 expression. Mechanistically, ARP promoted Akt phosphorylation regardless of UVA exposure, thus confirming ARP resistance to inactivation by UVA light. Notably, in the presence of Akt inhibitor SC0227, ARP could no longer counteract UVA‐induced cell viability decline and DNA fragmentation. Additionally, our results demonstrated that ARP treatment protected UVA‐irradiated NIH‐3T3 cells by preventing UVA‐induced reduction of collagen‐I expression. Taken together, these results suggest that ARP treatment of NIH‐3T3 cells effectively mitigated UVA‐induced cell viability decline by activating intracellular Akt to reduce UVA‐induced DNA damage, leading to reduced rates of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest after UVA exposure and restoring collagen expression to normal levels.
Blade-vortex interaction detection and extraction under deep neural network-based scale feature model
Authors: Wang Lu , Hu Xiaoqing , Liu Xiaorui , Bao Ming , Guan Luyang
Published: August 2021

A deep neural network (DNN)-based method is proposed, which incorporates a blade-vortex interaction (BVI) aeroacoustic model and the improved Mallat-Zhong discrete wavelet transform (MZ-DWT) analysis, to detect and extract the BVI) signal. First, the optimal scale (OPS) and optimal scale vector (OPSV) features are defined based on the improved MZ-DWT to capture the dominant information of the BVI signal. Then, two types of deep neural network-based scale feature models (DNN-SFMs) are designed and trained to automatically obtain the OPS and OPSV features directly from the waveforms of the BVI signals. Finally, with the obtained OPS and OPSV features, a single-scale detector, multi-scale detector, single-scale extractor, and multi-scale extractor are derived for the BVI signal. The results of extensive experiments (BVI signals containing different types of noises are tested with each type of signal consisting of 10 000 or 9000 samples at each signal-to-noise ratio) demonstrate that the proposed detectors and extractors improve the accuracy and robustness of detection and extraction, respectively, and compared to the existing methods, the computational complexity is greatly reduced.
Auditory oddball responses in Tursiops truncatus
Authors: Schalles Matt D. , Mulsow Jason , Houser Dorian S. , Finneran James J. , Tyack Peter L. , Shinn-Cunningham Barbara
Published: August 2021

Two previous studies suggest that bottlenose dolphins exhibit an “oddball” auditory evoked potential (AEP) to stimulus trains where one of two stimuli has a low probability of occurrence relative to another. However, they reported oddball AEPs at widely different latency ranges (50 vs 500 ms). The present work revisited this experiment in a single dolphin to report the AEPs in response to two tones each assigned probabilities of 0.2, 0.8, and 1 across sessions. The AEP was further isolated from background EEG using independent component analysis, and showed condition effects in the 40–60 ms latency range.
Referee Judgments of Communication in the Field of Play: A Study on Historically Black Colleges and Universities in Division II College Football
Authors: Dix Andrew
Published: August 2021

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the in-game communication of football players from historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) was excessively penalized in the field of play. Previous literature has found that referee bias is commonplace and uncovered evidence that referees socially judge the communicative behaviors of HBCU student athletes differently than the communicative behaviors of student athletes from predominantly White institutions. This led to social judgment theory emerging as the theoretical frame. Quantitative methods were utilized to analyze National Collegiate Athletic Association data for Division II college football. Findings revealed that referees disproportionately flagged football teams from HBCUs in comparison with predominantly White institutions. These results provide implications for theory. The uncovered results also support a well-developed line of communication research that has indicated that excessive penalties are levied against HBCU teams in multiple sports. A rhetorical call to action is made to facilitate officiating change in intercollegiate athletics.
Clustering of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior Associated With Body Composition in Brazilian Older Adults
Authors: Christofoletti Marina , Sandreschi Paula F. , Manta Sofia W. , Confortin Susana C. , Delevatti Rodrigo S. , D’Orsi Eleonora , Benedetti Tânia R. Bertoldo , Rech Cassiano R. , Matias Thiago S.
Published: August 2021

This study described the clustering patterns of moderate to vigorous physical activity and sedentary time (ST) according to handgrip strength and investigated the association between identified clusters of fat and lean mass in older adults from southern Brazil. Objective measures were used for moderate to vigorous physical activity, ST, and body composition outcomes. Two-step cluster and linear regression analyses were conducted according to handgrip strength. Three clusters were identified: all-day sitters, sitters, and active sitters. The prevalence of clusters in the low-strength group was 58.2%, 22.8%, and 19.0%, respectively, while the prevalence of clusters in the high-strength group was 42.1%, 34.8%, and 23.1%, respectively. All-day sitters had 2.6% more fat mass than active sitters with low strength. High levels of ST characterized all cluster profiles; low strength, lack of moderate to vigorous physical activity, and high ST levels among older adults may indicate a subpopulation at a greater risk of overweight and obesity-related diseases.
When the Moon had a magnetosphere
Authors: Green James , Draper David , Boardsen Scott , Dong Chuanfei
Published: August 2021

Early Earth-Moon coupled magnetospheres work together to protect the early atmospheres of both Earth and the Moon.
No ordinary proteins: Adsorption and molecular orientation of monoclonal antibodies
Authors: Kanthe Ankit , Ilott Andrew , Krause Mary , Zheng Songyan , Li Jinjiang , Bu Wei , Bera Mrinal K. , Lin Binhua , Maldarelli Charles , Tu Raymond S.
Published: August 2021

Antibodies adsorbing to the interface are shown to dynamically reorient and unfold to define a quasi-equilibrium state.
Sustained oxygenation accelerates diabetic wound healing by promoting epithelialization and angiogenesis and decreasing inflammation
Authors: Guan Ya , Niu Hong , Liu Zhongting , Dang Yu , Shen Jie , Zayed Mohamed , Ma Liang , Guan Jianjun
Published: August 2021

Sustained release of oxygen accelerates diabetic wound healing by regulating epithelialization, angiogenesis, and inflammation.
Genome-wide synthetic lethal screen unveils novel CAIX-NFS1/xCT axis as a targetable vulnerability in hypoxic solid tumors
Authors: Chafe Shawn C. , Vizeacoumar Frederick S. , Venkateswaran Geetha , Nemirovsky Oksana , Awrey Shannon , Brown Wells S. , McDonald Paul C. , Carta Fabrizio , Metcalfe Andrew , Karasinska Joanna M. , Huang Ling , Muthuswamy Senthil K. , Schaeffer David F. , Renouf Daniel J. , Supuran Claudiu T. , Vizeacoumar Franco J. , Dedhar Shoukat
Published: August 2021

Targeting carbonic anhydrase IX acidifies intracellular pH, disrupts redox homeostasis, and creates vulnerability to ferroptosis.