bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Loss of function variants in DNAJB4 cause a myopathy with early respiratory failure
Authors: Weihl Conrad C. , Töpf Ana , Bengoechea Rocio , Duff Jennifer , Charlton Richard , Garcia Solange Kapetanovic , Domínguez-González Cristina , Alsaman Abdulaziz , Hernández-Laín Aurelio , Franco Luis Varona , Sanchez Monica Elizabeth Ponce , Beecroft Sarah J , Goulee Hayley , Daw Jil , Bhadra Ankan , True Heather , Inoue Michio , Findlay Andrew , Laing Nigel , Olivé Montse , Ravenscroft Gianina , Straub Volker
Published: August 2022

DNAJ/HSP40 co-chaperones are integral to the chaperone network, bind client proteins and recruit them to HSP70 for folding. We performed exome sequencing on patients with a presumed hereditary muscle disease and no genetic diagnosis. This identified four individuals from three unrelated families carrying an unreported homozygous stop gain (c.856A>T; p.Lys286Ter), or homozygous missense variants (c.74G>A; p.Arg25Gln and c.785T>C; p.Leu262Ser) in DNAJB4. Affected patients presented with axial rigidity and early respiratory failure requiring ventilator support between the 1st and 4th decade of life. Selective involvement of the semitendinosus and biceps femoris muscles was seen on MRI scans of the thigh. On biopsy, muscle was myopathic with angular fibers, protein inclusions and occasional rimmed vacuoles. DNAJB4 normally localizes to the Z-disc and was absent from muscle and fibroblasts of affected patients supporting a loss of function. Functional studies confirmed that the p.Lys286Ter and p.Leu262Ser mutant proteins are rapidly degraded in cells. In contrast, the p.Arg25Gln mutant protein is stable but failed to complement for DNAJB function in yeast, disaggregate client proteins or protect from heat shock induced cell death consistent with its loss of function. DNAJB4 knockout mice had muscle weakness and fiber atrophy with prominent diaphragm involvement and kyphosis. DNAJB4 knockout muscle and myotubes had myofibrillar disorganization and accumulated Z-disc proteins and protein chaperones. These data demonstrate a novel chaperonopathy associated with DNAJB4 causing a myopathy with early respiratory failure. DNAJB4 loss of function variants may lead to the accumulation of DNAJB4 client proteins resulting in muscle dysfunction and degeneration.
Genome-wide investigation of multiplexed CRISPR-Cas12a-mediated editing in rice
Authors: Zhang Yingxiao , Wu Yuechao , Li Gen , Qi Aileen , Zhang Yong , Zhang Tao , Qi Yiping
Published: August 2022

We previously reported highly specific genome editing in rice by CRISPR-Cas9 and Cas12a with single DNA double strand break (DSB) (Tang et al., 2018). Two concurrent DSBs by CRISPR-Cas9 could generate defined deletions (Zhou et al., 2014), inversions (Schmidt et al., 2020), and translocations (Beying et al., 2020). Off-target effects of many simultaneous DSBs are unknown in plants. Here, we used whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to investigate off-target effects in rice plants edited by highly multiplexable CRISPR-Cas12a systems (Zhang et al., 2021). Our WGS study revealed highly specific multiplexed genome editing by CRISPR-Cas12a. We found low-frequency large chromosomal deletion and duplication events in plants that endured many (e.g., >50) simultaneous DSBs, but not in plants that endured a lower order DSBs (e.g., <10). While our short reads sequencing may not capture all chromosomal rearrangements, our results nevertheless shed important light on the analysis and regulation of engineered crops derived from multiplexed genome editing.
Grapevine leaf MALDI-MS imaging reveals the localisation of a putatively identified sucrose metabolite associated to Plasmopara viticola development
Authors: Maia Marisa , McCann Andréa , Malherbe Cédric , Far Johann , Cunha Jorge , Eiras-Dias José , Cordeiro Carlos , Eppe Gauthier , Quinton Loïc , Figueiredo Andreia , De Pauw Edwin , Silva Marta Sousa
Published: August 2022

Despite well-established pathways and metabolites involved in grapevine-Plasmopara viticola interaction, information on the molecules involved in the first moments of pathogen contact with the leaf surface and their specific location is still missing. To understand and localise these molecules, we analysed grapevine leaf discs infected with P. viticola with MSI. Plant material preparation was optimised, and different matrices and solvents were tested. Our data shows that trichomes hamper matrix deposition and the ion signal. Results show that putatively identified sucrose presents a higher accumulation and a non-homogeneous distribution in the infected leaf discs in comparison with the controls. This accumulation was mainly on the veins, leading to the hypothesis that sucrose metabolism is being manipulated by the development structures of P. viticola. Up to our knowledge this is the first time that the localisation of a putatively identified sucrose metabolite was shown to be associated to P. viticola infection sites.
Why is Babesia not killed by artemisinin like Plasmodium?
Authors: Si Wenwen , Fang Chuantao , Liu Chuang , Yin Meng , Xu Wenyue , Li Yanna , Yan Xiaoli , Shen Yujuan , Cao Jianping , Sun Jun
Published: August 2022

Babesia spp. are intraerythrocytic apicomplexan organisms digesting hemoglobin similar to intraerythrocytic Plasmodium spp. However, unlike Plasmodium spp., Babesia spp. are not sensitive to artemisinin, The difference between Babesia genomes and Plasmodium genomes revealed that smaller Babesia genomes lack numerous genes, especially haem synthesis-related genes. Single-cell sequencing analysis showed that different groups of B. microti with expressed pentose phosphate pathway (PPP)-related, DNA replication-related, antioxidation-related, glycolysis-related, and glutathione-related genes were not as sensitive to artemether as P. yoelii 17XNL. Especially, PPP-related, DNA replication-related, and glutathione-related genes were inactively expressed compared with P. yoelii 17XNL. Adding iron supply in vivo can promote the reproduction of B. microti. These results suggest that Babesia spp. lack a similar mechanism to that in malaria parasites, by which haem or iron in hemoglobin is utilized, but it likely leads to their insensitivity to artemisinin in turn.

Author summary

Babesia and Plasmodium are similar in many ways, from morphology to life history. In particular, both ingest and break down hemoglobin. However, compared with Plasmodium, Babesia cannot form hemozoin with less pathogenicity and insensitivity to artemisinin. Recent studies suggest that artemisinin can kill malaria parasites through free-radical and iron-capture effects, indicating that iron and haem play a key role in the sensitivity of malaria parasites to artemisinin. The Babesia genome is smaller and does not contain haem synthesis-related genes, indicating low requirements and utilization of haem and iron (HI). Moreover, we found that the expression of PPP-related and DNA replication-related genes is not active, distinctly different from malaria parasites. However, adding iron supply in vivo can increase the infection rate of B. microti. Therefore, we hypothesized that Babesia lacks mechanisms for the efficient utilization of HI, resulting in low requirements for HI, and therefore insensitivity to artemisinin.
Patch-Clamping Drosophila Brain Neurons
Authors: Fernandez-Chiappe Florencia , Muraro Nara I.
Published: August 2022

Drosophila melanogaster is widely used as a model organism in all fields of biomedical research. In neuroscience, vast amounts of information have been gained using this little fly including the identification of neuronal circuits that regulate behaviors, the unraveling of their genetic underpinnings, and the molecular mechanisms involved. With plenty of genetic tools available to manipulate and infer neuronal activity, the direct measurement of electrical properties of fly neurons has lagged behind. This is due to the intricacies of performing electrical recordings in small cells such as fly central neurons. The patch-clamp technique offers the unique possibility of directly measuring the electrical properties of Drosophila neurons. This step-by-step protocol provides detailed advice for mastering this technique.
Does the market reward meeting or beating analyst earnings forecasts? Empirical evidence from China
Authors: Luo Guqiang , Wang Kun Tracy , Wu Yue
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Using a sample of 9,898 firm-year observations from 1,821 unique Chinese listed firms over the period from 2004 to 2019, this study aims to investigate whether the market rewards meeting or beating analyst earnings expectations (MBE).

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use an event study methodology to capture market reactions to MBE.

Findings

The authors document a stock return premium for beating analyst forecasts by a wide margin. However, there is no stock return premium for firms that meet or just beat analyst forecasts, suggesting that the market is skeptical of earnings management by these firms. This market underreaction is more pronounced for firms with weak external monitoring. Further analysis shows that meeting or just beating analyst forecasts is indicative of superior future financial performance. The authors do not find firms using earnings management to meet or just beat analyst forecasts.

Research limitations/implications

The authors provide evidence of market underreaction to meeting or just beating analyst forecasts, with the market's over-skepticism of earnings management being a plausible mechanism for this phenomenon.

Practical implications

The findings of this study are informative to researchers, market participants and regulators concerned about the impact of analysts and earnings management and interested in detecting and constraining managers' earnings management.

Originality/value

The authors provide new insights into how the market reacts to MBE by showing that the market appears to focus on using meeting or just beating analyst forecasts as an indicator of earnings management, while it does not detect managed MBE. Meeting or just beating analyst forecasts is commonly used as a proxy for earnings management in the literature. However, the findings suggest that it is a noisy proxy for earnings management.
Enhancing the effects of creativity training for business school students through art-based methods and blended learning
Authors: Kuo Tsung-Hsien , Tien Han-Kuang
Published: August 2022

Purpose

The content of training (art-based method) and instructional strategies (blended learning) can improve business school students' creativity and attempts to determine how training can be maintained using longitudinal tracking. The study aims to answer (1) whether the incorporation of art-based methods enhances the creativity of students compared to traditional face-to-face (F2F) teaching, and (2) whether such creative training and blended teaching methods have a higher transfer of training.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopted a two-stage design (1) it adopted a 2 × 2 (with or without art-based methods * blended teaching or F2F teaching) between-subject design of experiments with 221 participants and (2) a one-year follow-up study was conducted (participants who were employed for 6 months to one year after graduation) with 187 participants and their directors.

Findings

The results showed that the inclusion of art-based methods in the creative training of students strengthens creative ability of the students; there were no significant differences between blended and traditional learning. The authors examined the effect of transferring creative training through a questionnaire analysis of participants and employers of the participants. Self-regulated and self-directed learning positively influence motivation to transfer, which positively influences creative performance.

Originality/value

The higher the level of self-regulated and self-directed learning of students, the more effective the transfer of creative training is over time.
The impact of task-oriented leadership to subordinates' knowledge creation behavior – based on organismic integration theory
Authors: Ma Fangfei , Zhao Hongchao , Wu Chunbo
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Competitiveness of pharmaceutical companies hugely depends on new knowledge because of ever-changing technologies and forefront of knowledge. Leadership styles appear to influence knowledge management behavior, but there has been little empirical research on employees' knowledge creation behavior as an outcome of leadership. The study examines how task-oriented leadership affects subordinates' knowledge creation behavior. Based on organismic integration theory (OIT), the study proposes that perception of competitive climate and achievement motivation can conduct as mediators.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 877 full-time working employees in five pharmaceutical companies in China. Participants answered demographic questions and completed the task-oriented leadership, perception of competitive climate, achievement motivation, as well as knowledge creation behavior scale. Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypothesized relationships.

Findings

The results review that task-oriented leadership will significantly promote subordinates' knowledge creation behavior. Perception of competitive climate and achievement motivation play mediator roles between task-oriented leadership and subordinates knowledge creation behavior. Perception of competitive climate and achievement motivation have a serial mediating effect between task-oriented leadership and subordinates knowledge creation behavior.

Practical implications

By adopting a task-oriented leadership style through training and development, leaders may stimulate employees more knowledge creation behaviors by transmitting the organization's vision, clarifying their work tasks and setting relatively high-performance standards. Then, organizations should establish a competition mechanism to promote competition among employees, while also preventing malicious competition. Finally, organizations should arouse employees' achievement motivation to stimulate their internal pursuit of success and needs.

Originality/value

Because of the improvement of information technology and the acceleration of knowledge dissemination, the need for new knowledge is becoming more and more urgent in organizations. Knowledge, as a resource that needs to be managed in an organizational environment, has regained researchers' attention. However, a flourishing number of studies explain the organizational knowledge management from the macro level, there is a need to explore how leaders influence their subordinates to create knowledge. From the perspective of extrinsic motivation internalization, this study’s findings contribute to the literature on task-oriented leadership and knowledge creation behavior and expand our understanding of why task-oriented leadership promotes subordinates' knowledge creation behavior.
Performance analysis of textured journal bearing operating with and without nanoparticles in the lubricant
Authors: Byotra Deepak , Sharma Sanjay
Published: August 2022

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the performance improvement of journal bearing by applying the arc-shaped textures on various regions of bearing expressly full, second half and pressure increasing regions operating with and without nanoparticles in the lubricant.

Design/methodology/approach

The Reynolds equation is solved numerically by using the finite element method to obtain static performance parameters such as load-carrying capacity (LCC) and coefficient of friction (COF), which are then compared with untextured bearing at eccentricity ratios of 0.2 to 0.8. Aluminum oxide (Al2O3) and copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles additives are used, and viscosity variation due to the addition of additives in the base lubricant is computed for considering the range of temperatures 50 to 90°C at a weight fraction of 0.1 to 0.5% by using an experimentally validated regression model.

Findings

The results indicate that the maximum LCC and the lower COF are found in the pressure-increasing region. A maximum increase of 34.42% is observed in the pressure-increasing region without nanoparticles, and furthermore, with the addition of Al2O3 and CuO nanoparticles in lubricants in the same region, the LCC increased to 21 and 24%, respectively.

Originality/value

Designers should use optimal parameters from the present work to achieve high bearing performance.
Comparative research on structure function recognition based on deep learning
Authors: Liu Zhongbao , Zhao Wenjuan
Published: August 2022

Purpose

The research on structure function recognition mainly concentrates on identifying a specific part of academic literature and its applicability in the multidiscipline perspective. A specific part of academic literature, such as sentences, paragraphs and chapter contents are also called a level of academic literature in this paper. There are a few comparative research works on the relationship between models, disciplines and levels in the process of structure function recognition. In view of this, comparative research on structure function recognition based on deep learning has been conducted in this paper.

Design/methodology/approach

An experimental corpus, including the academic literature of traditional Chinese medicine, library and information science, computer science, environmental science and phytology, was constructed. Meanwhile, deep learning models such as convolutional neural networks (CNN), long and short-term memory (LSTM) and bidirectional encoder representation from transformers (BERT) were used. The comparative experiments of structure function recognition were conducted with the help of the deep learning models from the multilevel perspective.

Findings

The experimental results showed that (1) the BERT model performed best, with F1 values of 78.02, 89.41 and 94.88%, respectively at the level of sentence, paragraph and chapter content. (2) The deep learning models performed better on the academic literature of traditional Chinese medicine than on other disciplines in most cases, e.g. F1 values of CNN, LSTM and BERT, respectively arrived at 71.14, 69.96 and 78.02% at the level of sentence. (3) The deep learning models performed better at the level of chapter content than other levels, the maximum F1 values of CNN, LSTM and BERT at 91.92, 74.90 and 94.88%, respectively. Furthermore, the confusion matrix of recognition results on the academic literature was introduced to find out the reason for misrecognition.

Originality/value

This paper may inspire other research on structure function recognition, and provide a valuable reference for the analysis of influencing factors.
The link between supervisor support, servicing efficacy and job satisfaction among frontline hotel employees: an investigation in Turkey
Authors: Öksüz Merve , Tosyalı Hikmet , Tosyali Furkan
Published: August 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the association between supervisor support, servicing efficacy and job satisfaction among frontline hotel employees in Turkey. Specifically, the mediating role of servicing efficacy was examined in the link between supervisor support and job satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 421 frontline employees in 4- and 5-star hotels located in the South and South West of Turkey. The authors proposed a conceptual model in which servicing efficacy mediates the link between supervisor support and job satisfaction after controlling for demographic information. Data were analyzed through the structural equation modeling (SEM) framework.

Findings

Results showed that supervisor support positively predicted servicing efficacy and job satisfaction reports of the employees. Those reporting higher servicing efficacy were more likely to report increased job satisfaction. In addition, servicing efficacy partially mediated the link between supervisor support and job satisfaction.

Originality/value

The current study provides new evidence on the link between supervisor support, efficacy beliefs and job satisfaction in the hotel industry. This is the first study investigating the mediating role of servicing efficacy in the association between supervisor support and job satisfaction. Moreover, most previous studies separately focusing on supervisor support, efficacy beliefs and job satisfaction in the hospitality industry were conducted in developed, Western countries. In contrast, research examining work-related constructs and outcomes in Turkey’s hospitality industry has been limited. Thus, both replicated and original findings would contribute to the generalizability of cumulative knowledge in tourism and hospitality.
A lipopolysaccharide‐dependent phage infects a pseudomonad phytopathogen and can evolve to evade phage resistance
Authors: Warring Suzanne L. , Malone Lucia M. , Jayaraman Jay , Easingwood Richard A. , Rigano Luciano A. , Frampton Rebekah A. , Visnovsky Sandra B. , Addison Shea M. , Hernandez Loreto , Pitman Andrew R. , Lopez Acedo Elena , Kleffmann Torsten , Templeton Matthew D. , Bostina Mihnea , Fineran Peter C.
Published: August 2022

Bacterial pathogens are major causes of crop diseases, leading to significant production losses. For instance, kiwifruit canker, caused by the phytopathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa), has posed a global challenge to kiwifruit production. Treatment with copper and antibiotics, whilst initially effective, is leading to the rise of bacterial resistance, requiring new biocontrol approaches. Previously, we isolated a group of closely related Psa phages with biocontrol potential, which represent environmentally sustainable antimicrobials. However, their deployment as antimicrobials requires further insight into their properties and infection strategy. Here, we provide an in‐depth examination of the genome of ΦPsa374‐like phages and show that they use lipopolysaccharides (LPS) as their main receptor. Through proteomics and cryo‐electron microscopy of ΦPsa374, we revealed the structural proteome and that this phage possess a T = 9 capsid triangulation, unusual for myoviruses. Furthermore, we show that ΦPsa374 phage resistance arises in planta through mutations in a glycosyltransferase involved in LPS synthesis. Lastly, through in vitro evolution experiments we showed that phage resistance is overcome by mutations in a tail fibre and structural protein of unknown function in ΦPsa374. This study provides new insight into the properties of ΦPsa374‐like phages that informs their use as antimicrobials against Psa.
A process approach to quality management doublesNEONsensor data quality
Authors: Sturtevant Cove , DeRego Elizabeth , Metzger Stefan , Ayres Edward , Allen Dan , Burlingame Teresa , Catolico Nora , Cawley Kaelin , Csavina Janae , Durden David , Florian Christopher , Frost Shalane , Gaddie Ross , Knapp Elizabeth , Laney Christine , Lee Robert , Lenz Dawn , Litt Guy , Luo Hongyan , Roberti Joshua , Slemmons Caleb , Styers Kevin , Tran Chau , Vance Tanya , SanClements Michael
Published: August 2022

A quality management system is critical for ensuring that the data and services provided by an organization meet the needs of its mission. With a mission to collect long‐term open‐access ecological data to better understand how US ecosystems are changing, the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) is a highly standardized measurement network distributed across the United States and Puerto Rico collecting data on the biosphere and its interfaces with the pedosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere.

In order to achieve high‐quality, comparable data across the network, a quality management system was developed by applying the seven ISO 9001:2015 principles of quality management:customer focus,leadership, engagement of people, process approach, improvement, evidence‐based decision makingandrelationship management. The resultant system is integrated throughout NEON's organizational structure with an approach that connects people and operational processes throughout the data life cycle (process approach).

We describe the system with respect to sensor data (automated measurements), demonstrating its effectiveness through examples, lessons learned and a continuous history of improvement towards quality goals, including a doubling of data quality in NEON's meteorological and soil datasets since 2015 and substantial gains in other sensor datasets.

Owing to a focus on quality management principles and particularly the interconnectedness of human and information systems, NEON's quality management system can serve as a model for networks with a variety of organizational structures and sizes.
Global emergency medicine: A scoping review of the literature from 2021
Authors: Kivlehan Sean M. , Hexom Braden J. , Bonney Joseph , Collier Amanda , Nicholson Benjamin D. , Quao Nana Serwaa A. , Rybarczyk Megan M. , Selvam Anand , Rees Chris A. , Roy Charlotte M. , Bhaskar Nidhi , Becker Torben K. ,   Global Emergency Medicine Literature Review (GEMLR) Group
Published: August 2022

Objective

The objective was to identify the most important and impactful peer‐reviewed global emergency medicine (GEM) articles published in 2021. The top articles are summarized in brief narratives and accompanied by a comprehensive list of all identified articles that address the topic during the year to serve as a reference for clinicians, researchers, and policy makers.

Methods

A systematic PubMed search was carried out to identify all GEM articles published in 2021. Title and abstract screening was performed by trained reviewers and editors to identify articles in one of three categories based on predefined criteria: disaster and humanitarian response (DHR), emergency care in resource‐limited settings (ECRLS), and emergency medicine development (EMD). Included articles were each scored by two reviewers using established rubrics for original (OR) and review (RE) articles. The top 5% of articles overall and the top 5% of articles from each category (DHR, ECRLS, EMD, OR, and RE) were included for narrative summary.

Results

The 2021 search identified 44,839 articles, of which 444 articles screened in for scoring, 25% and 22% increases from 2020, respectively. After removal of duplicates, 23 articles were included for narrative summary. ECRLS constituted the largest category (n = 16, 70%), followed by EMD (n = 4, 17%) and DHR (n = 3, 13%). The majority of top articles were OR (n = 14, 61%) compared to RE (n = 9, 39%).

Conclusions

The GEM peer‐reviewed literature continued to grow at a fast rate in 2021, reflecting the continued expansion and maturation of this subspecialty of emergency medicine. Few high‐quality articles focused on DHR and EMD, suggesting a need for further efforts in those fields. Future efforts should focus on improving the diversity of GEM research and equitable representation.
Noninferior oncological outcomes in adults aged 80 years or older compared with younger patients who underwent radical nephroureterectomy for upper tract urothelial carcinoma
Authors: Yamada Yasufumi , Ikeda Masaomi , Hirayama Takahiro , Murakami Yasukiyo , Koguchi Dai , Matsuda Daisuke , Okuno Norihiko , Taoka Yoshinori , Utsunomiya Takuji , Irie Akira , Matsumoto Kazumasa , Iwamura Masatsugu
Published: August 2022

Aim

Radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) is the gold standard treatment for upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC), but the usefulness of this surgery for older patients is rarely discussed. The prognosis following RNU for patients ≥80 years old remains controversial. We retrospectively investigated the prognosis of UTUC in patients ≥80 years old who underwent RNU.

Methods

Between January 1990 and December 2015, 451 patients with UTUC underwent RNU at six hospitals affiliated with Kitasato University (Kanagawa, Japan), eight patients who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy and two patients with metastases before surgery were excluded. Patients were divided into three groups according to their age at the time of RNU: ≤64 years (n = 135), 65–79 years (n = 254), and ≥80 years (n = 52). Recurrence‐free survival (RFS), cancer‐specific survival (CSS), and overall survival (OS) curves were estimated using Kaplan–Meier analysis for all patients and each pT stage. Independent prognostic factors for survival were examined via multivariate analysis.

Results

RFS and CSS did not significantly differ between the three groups, but OS was significantly poorer in patients ≥80 years old. Stratification by pT stage (≤pT1, ≥pT2, and ≥pT3) yielded the same results. In the multivariate analysis for OS, an age of ≥80 years was a significant independent risk factor (hazard ratio: 3.01, p = .01), but RFS and CSS did not significantly differ.

Conclusion

Oncological outcomes showed the same anticancer effects in patients ≥80 years old who underwent RNU for UTUC compared with those of younger patients. Our study suggests that surgical treatment is a beneficial option for older patients who can tolerate radical surgery.
Correlation of vascular and fluid‐related parameters in neovascular age‐related macular degeneration using deep learning
Authors: Schranz Markus , Told Reinhard , Hacker Valentin , Reiter Gregor S. , Reumueller Adrian , Vogl Wolf‐Dieter , Bogunovic Hrvoje , Sacu Stefan , Schmidt‐Erfurth Ursula , Roberts Philipp K.
Published: August 2022

Purpose

To identify correlations between the vascular characteristics of macular neovascularization (MNV) obtained by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and distinct retinal fluid volumes in neovascular age‐related macular degeneration (nAMD).

Methods

In this prospective interventional study, 54 patients with treatment‐naïve type 1 or 2 nAMD were included and treated with intravitreal aflibercept. At baseline and month 1, each patient underwent a SD‐OCT volume scan and volumetric flow scan using a swept‐source OCTA. A deep learning algorithm was used to automatically detect and quantify fluid in OCT scans. Angio Tool, a National Cancer Institute algorithm, was used to skeletonize MNV properties and quantify lesion size (LS), vessel area (VA), vessel density (VD), total number of endpoints (TNE), total number of junctions (TNJ), junction density (JD), total vessel length (TVL), average vessel length (AVL) and mean‐e‐lacunarity (MEL). Subsequently, linear regression models were used to investigate a correlation between OCTA parameters and fluid quantifications.

Results

The median amount of fluid within the central 6‐mm EDTRS ring was 173.7 nl at baseline, consisting of 156.6 nl of subretinal fluid (SRF) and 2.3 nl of intraretinal fluid (IRF). Fluid decreased significantly in all compartments to 1.76 nl (SRF) and 0.64 nl (IRF).

The investigated MNV parameters did not change significantly after the first treatment.

There was no significant correlation between MNV parameters and relative fluid decrease after anti‐VEGF treatment. Baseline fluid correlated statistically significant but weakly with TNE (p = 0.002, R2 = 0.17), SRF with TVL (p = 0.04, R2 = 0.08), VD (p = 0.046, R2 = 0.08), TNE (p = 0.001, R2 = 0.20) and LS (p = 0.033, R2 = 0.09). IRF correlated with VA (p = 0.042, R2 = 0.08).The amount of IRF at month 1 correlated significantly but weakly with VD (p = 0.036, R2 = 0.08), JD (p = 0.019, R2 = 0.10) and MEL (p = 0.005, R2 = 0.14).

Conclusion

Macular neovascularization parameters at baseline and month 1 played only a minor role in the exudation process in nAMD. None of the MNV parameters were correlated with the treatment response.
Regional variation in responses of a vulnerable bird species to land‐use and climate change
Authors: Almeida Ana Claudia , Tourinho Luara , Ramalho Quezia , Jenkins Clinton N. , Almeida‐Gomes Mauricio
Published: August 2022

Climate and land‐use changes are expected to negatively affect many species and ecological processes, leading to biodiversity loss. However, some species can adapt to these changes. Wide‐ranging species are expected to be less impacted by such changes, but they can occur in different domains with contrasting environmental conditions, resulting in different conservation statuses along their range. To understand whether a species will overall benefit or lose with global change, we evaluated the responses of a wide‐ranging but a vulnerable bird (Crax fasciolata) to separate and combined effects of climate and land‐use changes under different environmental policies in Brazil. Using ecological niche modeling and a land‐use model within the Brazilian political context, we quantified climatic, habitat, and environmental suitability for Crax fasciolata under historical (2000) and future (2050) scenarios. Our findings showed that environmental suitability can increase for Crax fasciolata in Brazil in future, but these effects vary according to the domain and the specific future scenario considered. Climatically suitable areas will increase in all scenarios, and those environmental scenarios that include better habitat conditions will provide more environmentally suitable areas for Crax fasciolata. However, this increase comes from newly suitable areas in the Atlantic Forest and the Amazon, while the Pantanal, the Caatinga, and the Cerrado will lose environmental suitability due to native vegetation loss. Despite the availability of these new areas, reduced landscape permeability may hinder Crax fasciolata from reaching them. This reinforces the urgent call for public policies for native vegetation protection, reforestation, and effective deforestation control.

Abstract in Portuguese is available with online material
Exporting global warming? Coal trade and the shale gas boom
Authors: Knittel Christopher R. , Metaxoglou Konstantinos , Soderbery Anson , Trindade André
Published: August 2022

We examine the effect of the US shale gas boom on the international trade and consumption of coal and emissions. We estimate a structural model that links the domestic to the international coal market and use it to simulate counterfactual scenarios. Our results show that the total quantity of coal traded around the world in the absence of the boom is essentially the same as the actual. Moreover, the change in total coal consumed worldwide is also small. Although a compositional change towards coal with different heat content could have significant environmental effects, we show that this is not the case either. Hence, US coal exports simply displaced other coal exports without affecting the total CO and SO
emissions. Despite the small overall effects, several countries experience a substantial decrease in their imports of US coal and the associated emissions in the absence of the boom.
Guillain–Barré syndrome following influenza vaccination: A 15‐year nationwide population‐based case–control study
Authors: Levison Lotte Sahin , Thomsen Reimar Wernich , Andersen Henning
Published: August 2022

Background and purpose

Influenza vaccination may increase the risk of developing Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) due to an elicited immune response, but the exact magnitude and duration of risk is unclear and hence the aim of this study.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective nationwide population‐based case–control study of prospectively collected data on all patients with first‐time hospital‐diagnosed GBS in Denmark between 2002 and 2016 and 10 age‐, sex‐ and index date‐matched population controls per case. The primary exposure was incident influenza vaccination 1 month prior to admission with GBS. We used medical registries to ascertain a complete hospital contact history of pre‐existing morbidities. To examine duration of GBS risk, we repeated the analysis for five consecutive 1‐month risk periods following vaccination.

Results

Of the 1295 GBS cases and 12,814 controls, 20 cases (1.5%) and 119 controls (0.9%) had received an influenza vaccination within the last month, yielding a comorbidity‐adjusted odds ratio of 1.9 (95% confidence interval 1.1–3.2) for GBS. Stratified analyses by calendar time, gender and age showed similar results. The increased risk of GBS was largely confined to 1 month following influenza vaccination. The population‐attributable fraction of GBS from influenza vaccination in Denmark was 0.4%.

Conclusions

Influenza vaccination was associated with a slightly elevated risk of GBS occurrence within 1 month after vaccination. However, only 1.5% of GBS cases in Denmark are associated with recent influenza vaccination. Thus, the benefit of influenza vaccines in preventing influenza infections and associated morbidity and mortality needs to be weighed against the small absolute risk of GBS.
A comparative investigation on H3K27ac enhancer activities in the brain and liver tissues between wild boars and domesticated pigs
Authors: Zhou Zhimin , Jiang Tao , Zhu Yaling , Ling Ziqi , Yang Bin , Huang Lusheng
Published: August 2022

Dramatic phenotypic differences between domestic pigs and wild boars (Sus scrofa) provide opportunities to investigate molecular mechanisms underlying the formation of complex traits, including morphology, physiology and behaviour. Most studies comparing domestic pigs and wild boars have focused on variations in DNA sequences and mRNA expression, but not on epigenetic changes. Here, we present a genome‐wide comparative study on H3K27ac enhancer activities and the corresponding mRNA profiling in the brain and liver tissues of adult Bama Xiang pigs (BMXs) and Chinese wild boars (CWBs). We identified a total of 1,29,487 potential regulatory elements, among which 11,241 H3K27ac peaks showed differential activity between CWBs and BMXs in at least one tissue. These peaks were overrepresented by binding motifs of FOXA1, JunB, ATF3 and BATF, and overlapped with differentially expressed genes that are involved in female mating behaviour, response to growth factors and hormones, and lipid metabolism. We also identified 4118 nonredundant super‐enhancers from ChIP‐Seq data on H3K27ac. Notably, we identified differentially active peaks located close to or within candidate genes, including TBX19, MSTN, AHR and P2RY1, which were identified in DNA sequence‐based population differentiation studies. This study generates a valuable dataset on H3K27ac profiles of the brain and liver from domestic pigs and wild boars, which helps gain insights into the changes in enhancer activities from wild boars to domestic pigs.
Thermal tolerance of fish to heatwaves in agricultural streams: What does not kill you makes you stronger?
Authors: Dai Qihong , Hostert Lauren E. , Rondon Justin K. , Cao Yong , Suski Cory D.
Published: August 2022

Heatwaves are increasing in frequency and intensity under climate change. Freshwater ecosystems are among the most thermally impacted systems, within which agricultural streams are experiencing the most extreme heatwaves and deserve prioritised focus. Heatwaves are approaching the upper thermal limits of many fishes but have received little attention to date.

To study whether and how fish tolerate heatwaves from a physiological perspective, we simulated single, multiple, and extended heatwaves at 32 and 34°C in the laboratory, based on high‐resolution summer temperatures recorded in agricultural versus forested streams in Illinois, U.S.A.

By investigating the effects of heatwaves on 25°C acclimated fathead minnowPimephales promelas, an important prey species across North America, we witnessed its high thermal resilience, including a rapid return to metabolic homeostasis after single and multiple heatwaves, measured by oxygen consumption rate. During an extended heatwave, fathead minnow were still able to partially lower oxygen consumption rate after the initial exposure. We also found transient increases in their critical thermal maximum, especially after higher intensity and frequency of heatwaves. However, the thermal resilience of fathead minnow did come with costs, including reduced anaerobic capacity indicated by decreased lactate dehydrogenase activity and impaired antioxidant defence indicated by reduced superoxide dismutase in white muscle.

By monitoring metabolic costs and physiological adjustments of fish during and after heatwaves, we showed that fathead minnow were resilient to simulated current and near‐future heatwaves, which may allow them to cope with thermal extremes expected in agricultural streams.

Overall, the real‐time monitoring of fish responses to heatwaves incorporates natural dynamics of thermal patterns. It facilitates mechanistic understandings of how fish react to thermal challenges in the real world and offers opportunities to incorporate high‐resolution metabolic costs into future bioenergetic modelling.
Alloyed Truth: The Historiographical and Political Importance of Error in Ludwig Börne's Journalism
Authors: Swellander Michael
Published: August 2022

This article shows that error was central to Ludwig Börne's thought on journalism's historiographical and political importance and for his notion of the ideal public sphere. In programmatic statements about journalism, Börne insists error is as important as the truth for reflecting the times in which one errs. This article looks at instances where Börne addresses his errors in action: in seemingly banal typos as well as an accidental instance of libel. In all cases, Börne defends error's value for authentically reflecting the present and for facilitating a public sphere based not on reasoned discussion, but on the exchange of Tadel, or reproach. The article builds on scholarship about the political subversiveness of Börne's writing and Vormärz literature more broadly and considers recent discussions of the representation of the present in literature, arguing that Börne saw honest journalism, errors and all, as inherently subversive.
Rapid Determination of Sulfur in Sixty Geological Reference Materials by High Resolution Inductively Coupled Plasma‐Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Qiu Xiaoyun , Shang Qi , He Tao , Zhang Wen , Luo Tao , Chen Haihong , Liu Hong , Hu Zhaochu
Published: August 2022

In this study, a rapid method for the quantification of sulfur mass fractions in geological materials using high‐resolution sector field‐inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry (SF‐ICP‐MS) was developed. The effects of HNO3, Lefort, aqua regia, and HCl on the recoveries of sulfur in three different geological samples were evaluated. It was found that 0.5‐1 h digestion at 90 °C was enough to completely recover sulfur from BCR‐2 (basalt rock), GSS‐25 (loess), and GSD‐7 (stream sediment) using 2 ml aqua regia in both closed and open vessels. Compared with that of traditional digestion methods (e.g., HF‐HBr‐HNO3 acid digestion method), the efficiency of this proposed aqua regia digestion is improved by a factor of approximately 20. No loss of sulfur was observed because sulfur released from geological materials is directly oxidised to sulfate, which inhibits the volatilisation of sulfur. In addition, the effect of the heating‐condensing system combined with two different skimmer cones on the analytical sensitivity of sulfur was investigated. Compared with that of the normal sampling mode, the signal intensity of sulfur is enhanced by a factor of approximately 22 and 10 at a temperature of 140 °C using the S + X cone combination and S + H cone combination, respectively. This improvement is of importance for the determination of sulfur in samples with low sulfur content. The developed method was successfully applied to the determination of sulfur in geological reference materials. Most of the measured sulfur values of sixty geological materials, using both closed and open vessel digestion, are in good agreement with reference values. Compared with closed vessel digestion, the more flexible open vessel acid digestion is simple, fast, and shows great potential for the rapid quantification of sulfur in a large batch of geological and environmental samples.
Role of communication in successful outpatient attendance in a New Zealand hospital: a qualitative study
Authors: Hamilton Kara , Short Sophie , Cudby Kathryn , Werner Max , O'Connor‐Robertson Olivia , Larkins William , Prangley Devon , Ibrahim Ali , Leung Brian , Norris Pauline , Dockerty John D.
Published: August 2022

Background

There are significant implications for both patients and providers when patients do not attend outpatient specialist appointments. Nonattendance has an impact on the efficiency of health care, provider resources and patient health outcomes.

Aims

In this qualitative study we aimed to gather insights on how Dunedin Hospital notifies patients about their appointments, the implications for the hospital and for patients and how the system could be improved.

Methods

We interviewed 13 hospital staff members and nine patients who volunteered to participate because they had missed appointments as a result of communication problems. Interviews were transcribed and analysed thematically using NVivo software.

Results

Dunedin Hospital relies heavily on posted letters to inform people about their appointments, with some also receiving reminder texts closer to the time of the appointment. Frustration with the current system was a common theme among both patients and staff. Almost all patients had missed an appointment because of a letter not arriving. While most patients found that the text reminders were helpful, most said they were sent too late and did not allow enough time for arrangements to be made for their appointments. Almost all patients experienced treatment delays, which caused distress. Most patients believed a self‐booking system would improve the ability to attend their appointments, and most of them wanted to be notified of appointments via email.

Conclusions

We recommend that a patient‐oriented approach to communication should be implemented, and alternative methods of communication should be explored.
Bi‐objective optimization of the tactical allocation of job types to machines: mathematical modeling, theoretical analysis, and numerical tests
Authors: Fotedar Sunney , Strömberg Ann‐Brith , Almgren Torgny
Published: August 2022

We introduce a tactical resource allocation model for a large aerospace engine system manufacturer aimed at long‐term production planning. Our model identifies the routings a product takes through the factory, and which machines should be qualified for a balanced resource loading, to reduce product lead times. We prove some important mathematical properties of the model that are used to develop a heuristic providing a good initial feasible solution. We propose a tailored approach for our class of problems combining two well‐known criterion space search algorithms, the bi‐directional ε‐constraint method and the augmented weighted Tchebycheff method. A computational investigation comparing solution times for several solution methods is presented for 60 numerical instances.
Solving a harvest scheduling optimization problem with constraints on clearcut area and clearcut proximity
Authors: Martins Isabel , Alvelos Filipe , Cerveira Adelaide , Kašpar Jan , Marušák Robert
Published: August 2022

This study aims at solving a harvesting scheduling optimization problem with constraints on the clearcut area with additional constraints on clearcut proximity. The objective function is defined as the net present value generated by harvesting discounted by a penalty for each clearcut. This problem arises to reduce the negative environmental impact of excessive harvesting. We propose the connected‐bucket model, the so‐called bucket model with additional constraints on bucket connectivity and two definitions of stand adjacency, and a Dantzig–Wolfe decomposition. The decomposed model is solved by branch‐and‐price and the connected‐bucket model by a general‐purpose mixed integer programming solver (CPLEX). We compare the quality of the solutions obtained with both approaches for real instances. The branch‐and‐price approach found better solutions for the majority of the instances.