bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pharmacogenetic and whole-brain activity analyses uncover integration of distinct molecular and circuit programs that drive learning
Authors: Nelson Jessica C. , Shoenhard Hannah M. , Granato Michael
Published: February 2022

Habituation is a foundational learning process critical for animals to adapt their behavior to changes in their sensory environment. Although habituation is considered a simple form of learning, the identification of a multitude of molecular pathways including several neurotransmitter systems that regulate this process suggests an unexpected level of complexity. How the vertebrate brain integrates these various pathways to accomplish habituation learning, whether they act independently or intersect with one another, and whether they act via divergent or overlapping neural circuits has remained unclear. To address these questions, we combined pharmacogenetic pathway analysis with unbiased whole-brain activity mapping using the larval zebrafish. This approach revealed five distinct molecular and circuit modules that regulate habituation learning and identified a set of molecularly defined brain regions associated with four of the five modules. Moreover, we find that in module 1 the palmitoyltransferase Hip14 cooperates with dopamine and NMDA signaling to drive plasticity, while in module 3 the adaptor protein complex subunit Ap2s1 drives habituation by antagonizing dopamine signaling, revealing two distinct and opposing roles for dopaminergic neuromodulation in the regulation of learning. Combined, our results define a core set of distinct modules that act in concert to regulate learning-associated plasticity, and provide compelling evidence that even seemingly simple learning behaviors in a compact vertebrate brain are regulated by a complex and overlapping set of molecular and circuit mechanisms.
An improved MS2-MCP imaging system with minimal perturbation of mRNA stability
Authors: Li Weihan , Maekiniemi Anna , Sato Hanae , Osman Christof , Singer Robert H.
Published: February 2022

The MS2-MCP imaging system is widely used to study the mRNA spatial distribution in living cells. Here, we report that the MS2-MCP system may destabilize the tagged mRNA by targeting it to the nonsense-mediated mRNA decay pathway. We introduce an improved version, which has minimal perturbation of the mRNA stability.
A Yap-dependent transcriptional program directs cell migration for embryo axis assembly
Authors: Sousa-Ortega Ana , Vazquez-Marin Javier , Sanabria-Reinoso Estefanía , Polvillo Rocío , Campoy-López Alejandro , Buono Lorena , Loosli Felix , Almuedo-Castillo María , Martinez-Morales Juan R.
Published: February 2022

The condensation of the embryo primary axis is a fundamental landmark in the establishment of the vertebrate body plan. Although the complex morphogenetic movements directing cell convergence towards the midline have been described extensively, little is known on how gastrulating cells interpret mechanical cues. Yap proteins are among the best characterized transcriptional mechanotransducers, yet their role in gastrulation has remained elusive. Here we show that the double knockout of yap and its paralog yap1b in medaka results in an axis assembly failure. Quantitative live imaging reveals that mutant cells display reduced displacement and migratory persistence. By characterizing the Yap-dependent transcriptional program, we identified genes involved in cytoskeletal organization and cell-ECM adhesion, rather than in germ layer specification, as direct Yap targets. Dynamic analysis of Tead sensors and downstream targets reveals Yap is acting in migratory cells, and not as a midline beacon, to direct gastrulating precursors trajectories by promoting cortical actin recruitment and focal adhesions assembly. We propose that Yap is engaged in a mechano-regulatory loop that is essential to maintain the directed cell migration sustaining embryo axis formation.
Brain aging is faithfully modelled in organotypic brain slices and accelerated by prions
Authors: Liu Yingjun , Senatore Assunta , Sorce Silvia , Nuvolone Mario , Guo Jingjing , Gümüş Zeynep H. , Aguzzi Adriano
Published: February 2022

Mammalian models are essential for brain aging research. However, the long lifespan and limited amenability to genetic and pharmacological perturbations have hindered the use of mammals for dissecting aging-regulatory molecular networks and discovering new anti-aging interventions. To circumvent these limitations, we developed an ex vivo model system that faithfully mimics the aging process of the mammalian brain using cultured mouse brain slices. Genome-wide gene expression analyses showed that brain slices spontaneously upregulated senescence-associated genes over time and reproduced many of the transcriptional characteristics of aged brains. Treatment with rapamycin, a classical anti-aging compound, largely abolished the time-dependent transcriptional changes in brain slices. Using this model system, we discovered that prions drastically accelerated the development of age-related molecular signatures and the pace of brain aging. We confirmed this finding in mouse models and human victims of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. These data establish a novel, eminently tractable mammalian model of brain aging, and uncover a surprising acceleration of brain aging in prion diseases.
The effect of fixed and growth mindsets on buying sustainable foods
Authors: Rahnama Hassan , Popkowski Leszczyc Peter T.L.
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Few marketing studies have studied consumer mindsets about sustainable products in developing countries. This paper examines the influence of fixed and growth mindsets on buying sustainable foods in Iran.

Design/methodology/approach

To reach this goal, the authors designed a conceptual model and specified hypotheses. A non-probability survey of 622 people was conducted through a multistage cluster random sampling from two provinces in north Iran: Gilan and Mazandaran. Data were collected through a face-to-face questionnaire. A chi-square test, confirmatory factor analysis, structural equation modelling, the bootstrapping method and the PLS product-indicator approach were used for analyses.

Findings

Results show that fixed and growth mindsets have a positive impact on buying sustainable foods. In addition, these two mindsets have a significant effect on consumers' health concerns and warm glow. The study demonstrates that health concerns, environmental values and convenience orientation mediate the relationship between growth mindset and sustainable shopping. However, for a fixed mindset, environmental values are not a mediator. Further, peer influence significantly moderates the effect of both mindsets and motivational variables—environmental values, convenience orientation and warm glow—on purchasing sustainable foods. This study emphasises the critical role of peer influence and motivation factors, including health concern, convenience and warm glow, on purchasing sustainable foods.

Originality/value

This research introduces a new framework concerning consumer behaviour, in particular, consumer psychology towards buying sustainable foods.
The impact of ownership structure on integrated reporting in European firms
Authors: Zouari Ghazi , Dhifi Kawther
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Within the theoretical framework of corporate governance, the article aims to examine the impact of ownership structure on the level of disclosure of financial and non-financial information in integrated reporting (IR), and the effect is sensitive to national legal systems.

Design/methodology/approach

Regressions on panel data are used to study the impact of ownership structure on IR. The present empirical study was based on a sample of 431 European firms belonging to common or civil law for the period spanning 2012 and 2019.

Findings

The results of the linear regressions corroborate the existence of relationships between the ownership concentration, institutional ownership as well as managerial ownership and IR.

Research limitations/implications

The study have limitations as follows: the role of the ownership structure studied here, the model should incorporate other internal and external control mechanisms to represent reality more fully. The mechanisms include board characteristics, financial market, labor market, the goods and services market, etc. that affect managerial latitude and, therefore, the adoption of IR. Finally, the authors will consider future theoretical and empirical improvement. For example, it would be interesting to extend the theoretical framework to the contributions of cognitive governance and to empirically examine the modeling with a larger sample of firms, including an international comparison.

Originality/value

The study provides evidence as to the disclosure of IR and ownership structure. The originality/value chapter highlights the global need for a generally accepted set of standards for sustainability and IR practices.
A method for measuring women climate vulnerability: a case study in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta
Authors: N.M. Quang
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Across societies, gendered climate response decisions remain top-down and have limited progress because the influenced risk dynamics and their interrelations are not adequately understood. This study aims to address this gap by proposing an interdisciplinary innovative method, called women climate vulnerability (WCV) index, for measuring and comparing a diverse range of risks that threaten to undermine the adaptive capacity and resilience of rural women.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper builds on the literature to identify 12 risk categories across physical, economic and political sectors that affect rural women. These categories and attendant 51 risk indicators form the WCV index. A case study in Ben Tre Province (Vietnam) was used to demonstrate the application of the WCV methodology to rural contexts. The authors combined empirical, survey and secondary data from different sources to form data on the indicators. Structured expert judgment was used to address data gaps. Empirical and expert data were combined using a few weighting steps and a comprehensive coding system was developed to ensure objective evaluation.

Findings

The WCV assessment results reveal a reasonably worrisome picture of women’s vulnerability in Ben Tre as top highest-likelihood and deepest-impact risks predominate in physical and economic risk sectors. Stability, human security and governance categories have lowest scores, demonstrating a fairly politically favourable condition in the province. The medium risk scores captured in land and infrastructure categories reveal promising determinants of the adaptation of women in this rural province. The results demonstrate the usefulness of the WCV index in collecting bottom-up data, evaluating a wide variety of risks that rural women face and pinpointing priority areas that need to be addressed.

Originality/value

The WCV is systematic, customisable and localised. It combines field research and empirical data through structured expert judgment, thus enables researchers to fill data gaps and to do evidence-based assessment about diverse risk vulnerabilities. By doing so, the WCV index gives critical insights into the challenges that rural women face. This enables local governments to better understand cross-sectoral risks, pinpoint priority areas of action and timely channel funding and policy resources to support women where they need it most.
The role of disaster knowledge management in improving housing reconstruction outcomes: with particular reference to Postearthquake reconstruction in Pakistan
Authors: Shaikh Saima , Brown Andre , Enegbuma Wallace Imoudu
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Rural building practices, especially in developing communities, are often plagued by inadequate local construction knowledge and a limited understanding of the best building practice guidelines. This has contributed significantly to compounding the effect of significant catastrophic events. The purpose of this paper is to examine the potential impact of disaster knowledge management (DKM) on improving housing resilience and makes particular reference to the 2005 earthquake in rural Pakistan.

Design/methodology/approach

Our research uses a comprehensive literature review that involves a qualitative approach to research aimed at understanding the 2005 earthquakes, their impacts, reconstruction challenges and DKM. Conventional published journals, articles, previous case studies and books were included. But importantly, to take in relevant local information, the review also took in published government reports, disaster mitigation policy documents, national and international NGOs publications, conference proceedings and news articles. More than 80 research papers and conference proceedings over 21 years, from 2001 to 2021, were analyzed in eight major online databases. These include Google Scholar, Science Direct, Research Gate, Scopus, Jstor, Springer, Emerald and Semantic Scholar.

Findings

The investigation identified that DKM has an important role to play in capacity building and technical knowledge transmission relating to seismic guidelines aimed at improving housing resilience. Consequently, a theoretical framework was developed, focused primarily on the post-2005 rural reconstruction mechanism and the identification of key challenges to disseminating seismic guidelines effectively in relation to rural construction practices.

Originality/value

This paper makes an original contribution by developing a DKM framework via the identification of key challenges that need to be addressed, in relation to rural construction practices, generally, but particularly in the Pakistan context.
Green corporate reputation and innovation: the role of non-supply chain learning and green supply chain knowledge
Authors: Agyabeng-Mensah Yaw , Afum Ebenezer , Baah Charles
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The growing relevance of environmental sustainability calls for identification of factors that contribute to green innovation and build green corporate reputation. Drawing on the resource-based view theory, this study aims to explore the influence of green logistics knowledge, green customer knowledge, green supplier knowledge, green competitor knowledge, non-supply chain learning on green innovation and green corporate reputation.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopts the quantitative research method where questionnaire is used to gather data from managers of the sampled 208 small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The structural equation modelling is used to analyse the survey data and test the proposed hypotheses.

Findings

The findings reveal that non-supply chain learning, green customer knowledge and green competitor knowledge have both direct and indirect impact on green innovation and green corporate reputation. However, green supplier knowledge and green logistics knowledge directly impact green innovation but indirectly impact green corporate reputation through green innovation.

Originality/value

Despite the growing literature exploring the relationship between learning, innovation and reputation, their literature in emerging economies remains underdeveloped. This study provides empirical evidence to confirm the role of non-supply chain learning and green supply chain knowledge in building green corporate reputation and developing green innovation of SMEs in an emerging economy.
COVID-19, stock prices, exchange rates and sovereign bonds: a wavelet-based analysis for Brazil and India
Authors: Yilanci Veli , Pata Ugur Korkut
Published: February 2022

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the impact of the rise in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases on stock prices, exchange rates and sovereign bond yields in both Brazil and India.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors employ the wavelet transform coherence (WTC) and continuous wavelet transform (CWT) techniques on daily data from March 17, 2020 to May 8, 2021.

Findings

The findings show that COVID-19 has no impact on exchange rates but slightly increases sovereign bond yields from 2021 onwards. In contrast, the effect of COVID-19 on stock prices is quite high in both countries. There is a considerable consistency between COVID-19 cases and stock prices across different time–frequency dimensions. The rise in COVID-19 cases has an increasing effect on stock prices in Brazil and India, especially in the high-frequency ranges.

Originality/value

As far as the authors know, no prior study has simultaneously analyzed the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on exchange rates, stock prices and sovereign bonds in Brazil and India.
Exploring intergenerational differences in technology-oriented ethical behavior
Authors: Verma Shivangi , Garg Naval
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The proliferation of information technology (IT) and IT-enabled devices has brought various challenges for modern organizations. These challenges are aggravated by the fact that the employees of different generations have a varying degree of expertise and ethical orientation regarding technology. This study has two primary objectives to have an in-depth understanding of technology-related ethical behavior of a diverse workforce. First, it aims to develop a valid and reliable scale to measure technology-oriented ethical behavior. Second, it investigates variations in technology-oriented ethical behavior among Generation X (pre-millennial), Generation Y (millennial) and Generation Z (post-millennial) using the scale.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is conducted in two steps. The first step, a techno-ethical scale, is developed with the help of the six steps of scale development proposed by Churchill (1979). These steps include exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), reliability analysis (composite reliability) and validity analysis (convergent and divergent validity). In the second step, intergenerational variation in different factors of technology-oriented ethical behavior among generation X, Y and Z employees is explored with the help of ANOVA and mean plots.

Findings

The study suggests a four-dimensional techno-ethical scale comprising fourteen statements. These four dimensions of the scale are the invasion of the right of privacy, defamation, self-enrichment and loafing during office hours. The scale is reported to have adequate reliability and validity estimates. Results also recommend statistically significant variations in all four dimensions of technology-oriented ethical behavior among pre-millennial, millennial and post-millennial. Also, except for self-enrichment, the mean values progressively increase from pre-millennial to post-millennial. Even for self-enrichment, the mean value is highest for post-millennial.

Originality/value

This study is one of the pioneer studies that explore ethical orientation towards technology usage of three generations of employees.
Cylindrical conformal wideband antenna with enhancement of gain using integrated parasitic triangular shaped elements for WiMAX application
Authors: Sahoo Ratikanta
Published: February 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to propose a cylindrical conformal wideband antenna with increased directive behaviour using integrated parasitic triangular-shaped elements for WiMAX application.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed antenna is a wideband directional cylindrical conformal antenna consisting of three fork-shaped dipole elements incorporated with parasitic triangular-shaped reflecting components increases the gain of reference conformal antenna. The novel parasitic elements with triangular shapes are designed on the radiating patch as well as the ground plane side. The parasitic triangular elements enable the antenna to enhance the gain along the end-fire direction.

Findings

The proposed antenna has a 20.2% impedance bandwidth ranging from 3.1 to 3.8 GHz. The half power beam-width (HPBW) of the reference antenna in the H-plane is 122.9° and falls to 99.1° after integrating with parasitic elements at 3.3 GHz, whereas it falls from 56.7° to 54.7° in the E-plane. However, at 3.5 GHz, the reference antenna’s HPBW is at 116.8°, which decreases to 92.4° in the H-plane, whereas it reduces from 57.9 to 53.4° in the E-plane. The proposed antenna has a lower HPBW than reference antennas and achieved a gain enhancement of 1.2 dBi, indicating that the pattern becomes more directed.

Originality/value

In the proposed work, the directive behaviour of cylindrical conformal antenna structure with a 30 mm radius of curvature is improved using parasitic reflective elements. The fabricated antennas’ experimental findings are an excellent contender for wireless point-to-point WiMAX applications because it features a wideband, directional properties, and strong gain over the whole operational frequency range of 3.1–3.8 GHz.
An augmented reality-based system for improving quality of services operations: a study of educational institutes
Authors: Egaji Oche A. , Asghar Ikram , Griffiths Mark G. , Hinton David
Published: February 2022

Purpose

This study aims to evaluate the usability of the augmented reality-based Evoke Education System (EES) to improve service operations in educational settings. The EES uses an animated character (Moe) to interact with children in a classroom by reproducing their teacher's movements and speech.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a quantitative approach for the system usability evaluation. The ESS was evaluated by 71 children aged 6–8 years old, from two primary schools. After interacting with the EES, they completed a system usability questionnaire and participated in a knowledge acquisition test.

Findings

The knowledge acquisition test undertaken on the initial day showed statistically significant improvements for children taught with the EES, compared to children taught through traditional teaching approaches. However, the retest nine days later was not statistically significant (as only one school participated) due to low power. This study used confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), resulting in the identification of five essential factors (likeability, interactiveness, retention, effectiveness/attractiveness and satisfaction) that contribute to the EES's usability. The comparison with existing literature shows that these factors are consistent with the definition of system usability provided by the International Organization for Standardization and current academic literature in this field.

Research limitations/implications

The findings presented in this study are based on the data from only two schools. The research can be extended by involving children from a greater number of schools. Mixed methods and qualitative research approaches can be used for future research in this area to generalise the results.

Originality/value

This study proposes an innovative augmented reality-based education system to help teachers deliver their key messages to the children in a fun way that can potentially increase their knowledge retention.
Changes in the direction of the diversity–productivity relationship over 15 years of stand development in a planted temperate forest
Authors: Shovon Tanvir Ahmed , Kang Stephanie , Scherer‐Lorenzen Michael , Nock Charles A.
Published: February 2022

Experiments manipulating diversity in both forests and grasslands have often observed a positive diversity–productivity relationship (DPR) which tends to strengthen during plant community development. This pattern is generally attributed to an increase in niche complementarity or facilitation. Most analyses do not examine species dominance and density, which also change over time. Moreover, how neighbourhood‐scale interactions among tree species affect the DPR is not well‐understood.

We analysed growth and mortality data from the Simplex experiment, a part of the BIOTREE tree diversity experiment. Simplex consists of 36 plots each planted with four common and commercially important tree species to create a gradient of tree species evenness at two tree densities (6667 and 3556 trees ha−1). We test whether: (a) the effect of evenness on total above‐ground biomass productivity increase with stand development (year), (b) the effect of evenness on productivity is stronger in dense plots; and (c) intraspecific competition from neighbours negatively affect the growth of dominant species more strongly compared to co‐dominant species, and whether this negative effect is stronger in denser plots.

The direction of DPR was initially negative because the fast‐growing long‐lived pioneer Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii [Mirb.] Franco) dominated. However, with time, shade‐tolerant Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) increased in abundance (by biomass), and the relationship between evenness and biomass increment changed from negative to positive in high‐density plots. Neighbourhood analyses revealed that for Douglas fir and Norway spruce, conspecifics reduced individual growth rates across density levels and years.

Synthesis. We observed a shift in the diversity–productivity relationship over 15 years in our experiment. Over time, increasing intraspecific competition limited the increment of the abundant Douglas fir in uneven plots, and a persistent increase in the abundance (by biomass) of shade‐tolerant Norway spruce and European beech in even plots led to a higher community biomass increment, which led to a positive DPR. Emergence of a positive DPR in temperate forest plantations requires significant time and is importantly promoted by diversity at the neighbourhood scale (intimate mixtures) as well as higher density planting.
Effect of Medicare Advantage on health care use and care dissatisfaction in mental illness
Authors: Park Sungchul
Published: February 2022

Objective

To examine the effects of Medicare Advantage (MA) enrollment on health care use and dissatisfaction with care received among Medicare beneficiaries with mental illness.

Data Sources

I identified traditional Medicare (TM) and MA beneficiaries with mental illness using the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey for 2012–2016.

Study Design

I included two types of outcomes: four measures of health care use and 10 measures of care dissatisfaction. My primary independent variable was enrollment in TM versus MA. To address selective enrollment into MA, I used an instrumental variable (IV) approach. Following prior research, I decomposed the MA benchmark into exogenous and endogenous components and then used the exogenous component as my instrument.

Data Collection/Extraction Methods

Not Applicable.

Principal Findings

IV analyses showed that compared with TM enrollment, MA enrollment significantly decreased outpatient hospital visits and medical provider visits by 6.73 (95% CI: −12.10 to −1.36) and 36.48 (95% CI: −52.67 to −20.28). However, there were no significant changes in inpatient hospital admissions and prescription drug purchases. Compared with TM enrollment, MA enrollment significantly increased dissatisfaction with out‐of‐pocket expenses by 25.51 percentage points (95% CI: 0.43 to 50.60). However, there were no significant changes in other measures of care dissatisfaction in terms of access to care, quality of care, and prescription medication.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that MA enrollment may lead to low health care use among those with mental illness, indicating efficient care delivery. Also, MA enrollment may not preclude those with mental illness from accessing needed care. However, high dissatisfaction with out‐of‐pocket expenses among MA beneficiaries may imply the use of out‐of‐network providers. Further research is warranted to investigate whether high dissatisfaction with out‐of‐pocket expenses may be attributable to MA's narrow networks for mental services.
Health center use and hospital‐based care among individuals dually enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid, 2012–2018
Authors: Wright Brad , Akiyama Jill , Potter Andrew J. , Sabik Lindsay M. , Stehlin Grace G. , Trivedi Amal N. , Wolinsky Fredric D.
Published: February 2022

Objective

To examine the relationship between federally qualified health center (FQHC) use and hospital‐based care among individuals dually enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid.

Data Sources

Data were obtained from 2012 to 2018 Medicare claims.

Study Design

We modeled hospital‐based care as a function of FQHC use, person‐level factors, a Medicare prospective payment system (PPS) indicator, and ZIP code fixed effects. Outcomes included emergency department (ED) visits (overall and nonemergent), observation stays, hospitalizations (overall and for ambulatory care sensitive conditions), and 30‐day unplanned returns. We stratified all models on the basis of eligibility and rurality.

Data Extraction Methods

Our sample included individuals dually enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid for at least two full consecutive years, residing in a primary care service area with an FQHC. We excluded individuals without primary care visits, who died, or had end‐stage renal disease.

Principal Findings

After the Medicare PPS was introduced, FQHC use in rural counties was associated with fewer ED and nonemergent ED visits per 100 person‐years among both age‐eligible (−14.8 [−17.5, −12.1]; −6.6 [−7.5, −5.6]) and disability‐eligible duals (−11.3 [−14.4, −8.3]; −6 [−7.4, −4.6]) as well as a lower probability of observation stays (−0.8 pp age‐eligible; −0.4 pp disability‐eligible) and unplanned returns (−2.1 pp age‐eligible; −1.9 pp disability‐eligible). In urban counties, FQHC use was associated with more ED and nonemergent ED visits per 100 person‐years (10.6 [8.4, 12.8]; 4.0 [2.6, 5.4]) among disability‐eligible duals (a decrease of more than 60% compared with the pre‐PPS period) and increases in the probability of hospitalization (1.1 pp age‐eligible; 0.8 pp disability‐eligible) and ACS hospitalization (0.5 pp age‐eligible; 0.3 pp disability‐eligible) (a decrease of roughly 50% compared with the pre‐PPS period).

Conclusions

FQHC use is associated with reductions in hospital‐based care among dual enrollees after introduction of the Medicare PPS. Further research is needed to understand how FQHCs can tailor care to best serve this complex population.
Preservation by lyophilization of a human intestinal microbiota: influence of the cultivation pH on the drying outcome and re‐establishment ability
Authors: Haindl Regina , Totzauer Lisa , Kulozik Ulrich
Published: February 2022

Faecal microbiota transplantation is an emerging medical concept for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. This concept, however, has disadvantages as low storability of stool and intensive donor screening. A solution to overcome these problems would be the preservation of an in vitro microbiota through freeze–drying. However, the influence of the entire preservation process, including cultivation and lyophilization, has not been assessed so far. In this study, the influences of the process steps cultivation, drying and re‐cultivation were determined with cell count, production of metabolites, microbial composition and diversity in the system as evaluation criteria. All pH conditions resulted in stable, culturable communities after re‐cultivation. Cell count, richness, diversity and microbial composition were affected by freeze–drying, but these effects were reversible and vanished during re‐cultivation. Hence, the re‐cultivated system did not differ from the system before drying. The metabolism, measured by short‐chain fatty acids as indicators, showed slight changes due to natural dynamics. Consequently, the cultivation prior to drying was identified to have more influence than the drying itself on the preservation process and therefore the biggest potential for optimization. Hence, the highest similarity with the initial stool sample was obtained with pH 6.0 ‐ 6.5 during cultivation.
Rapid gain and loss of predator recognition by an evolutionarily naïve lizard
Authors: Cliff Hannah B. , Jones Menna E. , Johnson Chris N. , Pech Roger P. , Biemans Bart T. , Barmuta Leon A. , Norbury Grant L.
Published: February 2022

The introduction of mammalian predators often results in loss of native biodiversity due to naiveté of native prey to novel predators. In New Zealand, an island system with virtually no native mammalian predators, introduced mammalian predators threaten a large proportion of the native fauna. A critical step in adapting to introduced predators is the ability to recognize and respond to a novel predation threat. Whether New Zealand's lizards can do this has received little attention. We compared the basking behaviour of native McCann's skinks (Oligosoma maccanni) when exposed to a live cat (Felis catus), cat body odour, a model raptor (representing a coevolved predator) or procedural controls. We inferred predator recognition from reductions in individual basking and higher selection for basking sites with greater refuge availability. We tested these behavioural responses for two skink populations: one from an area with high abundance of mammalian predators including feral cats and the other from a fenced conservation reserve where predators have been excluded for over 10 years (3–4 skink generations). Skinks from the high‐predator population reduced basking when exposed to cat and raptor cues, whereas skinks from the predator‐free population did not. These results suggest that within approximately 150 years of exposure to novel predators, McCann's skinks might be able to recognize the threat posed by invasive mammals. However, they also demonstrate that predator recognition and antipredator behaviours may not necessarily be retained once gained. The rapid loss of basking‐related antipredator behaviours might reflect the high fitness costs of reduced basking for this species. Our results indicate that the behavioural response of skinks is flexible and that skinks may maximize individual fitness by balancing the risk of predation with the costs of antipredator behaviours.
Financing Reparative Climate Infrastructures: Capital Switching, Repair, and Decommodification
Authors: Webber Sophie , Nelson Sara , Millington Nate , Bryant Gareth , Bigger Patrick
Published: February 2022

Despite geographical critiques of the financialisation of climate governance, the realities of deteriorating environmental conditions, entrenched market logics, and the concentration of capital in the hands of financiers demand new strategies to contend with climate finance. We envision routes to better futures by surveying “financialised” responses to climate catastrophe that might be harnessed towards more reparative and decommodified ends. We combine ideas of “repair” and “capital switching” to evaluate financial tools for “reparative climate infrastructures” in five cases centred on energy, land, and water in the United States, Australia, Indonesia, and Brazil. Through these cases, we identify three key themes—governance, scale, and the state—that illuminate the socioecological, material, and political dimensions of reparative capital switching. The cases are each hopeful and cautionary. Together they offer a window into the contested terrain of climate finance in the present and highlight the need for critical attention to its strategic possibilities.
A ten‐year retrospective case review of risk factors associated with sleep‐related infant deaths
Authors: Godoy Maria , Maher Matthew
Published: February 2022

Aim

The study aimed to identify risk factors associated with sleep‐related deaths of infants (0–24 months) in the province of Manitoba, Canada, between January 2009 and December 2018.

Methods

A systematic retrospective case review of autopsies and administrative records in Manitoba between 2009 and 2018.

Results

A total of 145 infants died in cases where unsafe sleep environments were known to have contributed to or resulted in their death and where no explained medical causes were identified. Where data complete, all infants had at least one known risk factor for sleep‐related deaths, and 96% had multiple. The most common risk factors increased over time and included objects in the sleeping environment (90% of cases), not approved sleep surfaces (77%) and bedsharing (50%). Indigenous infants, infants of young mothers and infants in low‐income neighbourhoods are overrepresented. Risk factors for Indigenous infants differed from cases involving non‐Indigenous infants.

Conclusion

A high proportion of sleep‐related infant deaths were associated with not approved sleep surfaces and bedsharing, especially for infants under one year. Families in low‐income neighbourhoods, Indigenous families and families with young mothers were disproportionately affected by sleep‐related infant deaths. There is a need to enhance messaging and smoking cessation messaging in Indigenous communities to prevent sleep‐related deaths.
Setting research priorities for management and treatment of hyperhidrosis: the results of the James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership
Authors: Dunford Louise Jane , Radley Kathy , McPhee Margaret , McDonald Louise , Oliver Richard John , Alexandroff Anton , Hussain Hana Amber , Miller Janice Adasa , Tarpey Maryrose , Clifton Andrew Victor
Published: February 2022

Background

Hyperhidrosis is a common skin condition characterized by excessive sweating, which can negatively impact on quality of life. It is under-researched compared with other conditions of similar prevalence.

Aim

To generate a Top 10 list of research priorities for the treatment and management of hyperhidrosis, with equal input from people with hyperhidrosis and healthcare professionals (HCPs).

Methods

A priority setting partnership (PSP) was established and processes from the James Lind Alliance Handbook were followed. An online survey asked participants what questions they would like research to answer. These questions were grouped into ‘indicative questions’, which were ranked in a second survey of 45 indicative questions. The top 23 questions were then taken to a final workshop event attended by key stakeholders, and ranked to generate the Top 10 list of research priorities.

Results

There were 592 questions submitted by 268 respondents for the first survey. For the second survey, 286 participants ranked the indicative questions in order of priority. At the final workshop, the Top 10 list was generated. The top three priorities were: (i) Are there any safe and effective permanent solutions for hyperhidrosis? (ii) What is the most effective and safe oral treatment (drugs taken by mouth) for hyperhidrosis? and (iii) What are the most effective and safe ways to reduce sweating in particular areas of the body?

Conclusions

There are many unanswered research questions that both people with hyperhidrosis and HCPs would like to see answered. The results from this PSP will help to ensure future research funding can be directed to these areas of priority.
Relevance of deceased donor proteinuria for kidney transplantation: A comprehensive national cohort study
Authors: Kuhn Christian , Born Alex , Karolin Andrea , Lang Brian , Binet Isabelle , Golshayan Délaviz , Haidar Fadi , Müller Thomas F. , Schaub Stefan , Immer Franz , Koller Michael , Sidler Daniel ,   the Swiss Transplant Cohort Study
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Proteinuria is frequent in patients with nephropathies and associated with progressive kidney disease and risk for end stage kidney disease. However, the relevance of deceased donor proteinuria on transplant outcome remains uncertain. In this nationwide cohort study, we evaluated the prevalence of proteinuria in deceased donor candidates and measured the impact on outcome after kidney transplantation.

Methods

Data from the Swiss Organ Allocation System and the Swiss Transplant Cohort Study were analyzed, comprising 1725 donors and 1516 recipients transplanted between 2008 and 2019. We correlated urine findings with donor characteristics and quantified the impact of proteinuria on allograft function at 12 months and survival.

Results

Proteinuria influenced allocation decisions in 4.5% of nonimmunological organ declines and was the leading cause for decline in 0.2% of cases. 74.1%, 51.4%, and 35.3% of donor candidates had a baseline proteinuria above 15, 30, and 50 mg protein/mmol urine creatinine, respectively. Proteinuria above 30 mg/mmol was associated with female donor sex, mechanical resuscitation, acute kidney injury, and time delay between ICU entry and urine sampling. Donor proteinuria was not associated with patient or allograft survival, nor allograft function at 12 months.

Conclusion

We report a high prevalence of proteinuria in donor candidates, without evidence of a deleterious impact of proteinuria on graft function and/or survival. Therefore, low‐level proteinuria should not be considered a limiting contraindication for kidney allocation in deceased donor transplant.
The Conflict about the Restitution of Art Works: A Solomonic Proposal
Authors: Frey Bruno S. , Briviba Andre
Published: February 2022

The deep‐seated conflict and controversial debate about the restitution of art is in need of other approaches than the established ones. One side argues that these art works have been looted and belongs to the countries where they originated. Therefore, they must be restituted. The other side argues that some of these art works were bought on a market and were not stolen. Moreover, the art works were well conserved in the Western museums and would otherwise no longer exist. Despite many discussions, the conflict seems to be intractable and has also reached the political sphere. We propose an unorthodox way to mitigate the current conflict and to enable more people to consume culture. The new potential of identically replicating originals is combined with random choice. As the large majority of cultural works of arts are the object of observation, only replication is thought to be well suited to fulfill this requirement. However, we acknowledge the limitations of our proposal with respect to human remains and works of art that are put into use in a cultural context from which it was appropriated.
Migratory regulation by MTA homologous genes is essential for the uniform distribution of planarian adult pluripotent stem cells
Authors: Sato Yuki , Shibata Norito , Hashimoto Chikara , Agata Kiyokazu
Published: February 2022

The migration of adult stem cells in vivo is an important issue, but the complex tissue structures involved, and limited accessibility of the cells hinder a detailed investigation. To overcome these problems, the freshwater planarian Dugesia japonica was used because it has a simple body plan and abundant adult pluripotent stem cells (neoblasts) distributed uniformly throughout its body. To investigate the migratory mechanisms of neoblasts, two planarian homologous genes of metastatic tumor antigen (MTA‐A and MTA‐B), a protein involved in cancer metastasis that functions through histone deacetylation, were identified, and their function was analyzed using RNA interference (RNAi). MTA‐A or MTA‐B knockdown disrupted homeostatic tissue turnover and regeneration in planarians. Whereas neoblasts in MTA‐A (RNAi) and MTA‐B (RNAi) animals were maintained, neoblast differentiation was inhibited. Furthermore, the normal uniform neoblast distribution pattern changed to a branch‐like pattern in MTA‐A (RNAi) and MTA‐B (RNAi) animals. To examine the neoblast migratory ability, a partial X‐ray irradiation assay was performed in D. japonica. Using this assay system, the MTA‐A knockdown neoblasts migrated collectively in a branch‐like pattern, and the MTA‐B knockdown neoblasts were not able to migrate. These results indicated that MTA‐A was required for the exit of neoblasts from the branch‐like region, and that MTA‐B was required for neoblast migration. Thus, the migration mediated by MTA‐A and MTA‐B enabled uniform neoblast distribution and was required for neoblast differentiation to achieve tissue homeostasis and regeneration.
Development cycle of a potential biocontrol agent: the American hoverfly, Eupeodes americanus, and comparison with the commercial biocontrol agent Aphidoletes aphidimyza
Authors: Ouattara Téné Yacine , Fournier Marc , Rojo Santos , Lucas Eric
Published: February 2022

Aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) are a major economic problem in numerous crops, including pepper, melon, and potato. Larvae of the American hoverfly, Eupeodes americanus (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Syrphidae), are common aphidophagous natural enemies in agrosystems in North America. The objective of the present study was to characterize the development cycle of E. americanus in order to evaluate its potential as a biocontrol agent. The development cycle, survival rate, and adult longevity of E. americanus were determined and compared with those of the commercial aphid midge Aphidoletes aphidimyza (Rondani) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) under laboratory conditions, using the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer), as prey. The complete preimaginal development time, pupal development time, egg hatching rate, sex ratio, and survival rate were not different between E. americanus and the commercial A. aphidimyza. The larval developmental time was longer in the syrphid species, increasing the predation window. Finally, the adult longevity of the syrphid was drastically longer than that of A. aphidimyza. These results demonstrate a potential for E. americanus as a new aphidophagous biocontrol agent.
Early plasma biomarker dynamic profiles are associated with acute ischemic stroke outcomes
Authors: Correia Manuel , Silva Isabel , Gabriel Denis , Simrén Joel , Carneiro Angelo , Ribeiro Sara , Dória Hugo Mota , Varela Ricardo , Aires Ana , Minta Karolina , Antunes Rui , Felgueiras Rui , Castro Pedro , Blenow Kaj , Magalhães Rui , Zetterberg Henrik , Maia Luis F.
Published: February 2022

Background

Early outcome prediction after acute ischemic stroke (AIS) might be improved with blood‐based biomarkers. We investigated whether the longitudinal profile of a multi‐marker panel could predict the outcome of successfully recanalized AIS patients.

Methods

We used ultrasensitive single‐molecule array (Simoa) to measure glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), neurofilament light chain (NfL), total‐tau (t‐tau) and ELISA for brevican in a prospective study of AIS patients with anterior circulation large vessel occlusion successfully submitted to thrombectomy. Plasma was obtained at admission, upon treatment, 24 h and 72 h after treatment. Clinical and neuroimaging outcomes were assessed independently.

Results

Thirty‐five patients (64.8%) had good early clinical or neuroimaging outcome. Baseline biomarker levels did not distinguish between outcomes. However, longitudinal intra‐individual biomarker changes followed different dynamic profiles with time and according to outcome. GFAP levels exhibited an early and prominent increase between admission and just after treatment. NfL increase was less pronounced between admission and up to 24 h. T‐tau increased between treatment and 24 h. Interestingly, GFAP rate‐of‐change (pg/ml/h) between admission and immediately after recanalization had a good discriminative capacity between clinical outcomes (AUC = 0.88, p < 0.001), which was higher than admission CT‐ASPECTS (AUC = 0.75, p < 0.01). T‐tau rate‐of‐change provided moderate discriminative capacity (AUC = 0.71, p < 0.05). Moreover, in AIS patients with admission CT‐ASPECTS <9 both GFAP and NfL rate‐of‐change were good outcome predictors (AUC = 0.82 and 0.77, p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Early GFAP, t‐tau and NfL rate‐of‐change in plasma can predict AIS clinical and neuroimaging outcome after successful recanalization. Such dynamic measures match and anticipate neuroimaging predictive capacity, potentially improving AIS patient stratification for treatment, and targeting individualized stroke care.