bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Specific Deletion of Axin1 Leads to Activation of β-Catenin/BMP Signaling Resulting in Fibular Hemimelia Phenotype in Mice
Authors: Xie Rong , Yi Dan , Jie Qiang , Kang Qinglin , Zhang Zeng , Zhang Zhenlin , Xiao Guozhi , Chen Lin , Tong Liping , Chen Di
Published: July 2022

Axin1 and Axin2 are key regulators of canonical Wnt signaling pathway. The roles of Axin1 and Axin2 in skeletal development and in disease development have not been fully defined. Here, we reported that Axin1 and Axin2 are essential for lower limb development. Specific deletion of Axin1 in limb mesenchymal cells leads to fibular hemimelia (FH)-like phenotype, associated with tarsal coalition. Further studies demonstrated that FH disease is associated with additional defects resembling to the proximal femoral focal deficiency (PFFD) in Axin1/Axin2 double knockout (KO) mice. We then provided in vivo evidence showing that Axin1 controls limb development through both canonical β-catenin and BMP signaling pathways. We demonstrated that inhibition of β-catenin or BMP signaling could significantly reverse the FH phenotype in mice. Together, our findings revealed that integration of Wnt and BMP signaling by Axin1 is required for lower limb development. Defects in Axin1 and Axin2 signaling could lead to the development of FH disease.
Control of neuronal terminal differentiation through cell context-dependent CFI-1/ARID3 functions
Authors: Li Yinan , Smith Jayson J. , Marques Filipe , Osuma Anthony , Huang Hsin-Chiao , Kratsios Paschalis
Published: July 2022

ARID3 transcription factors are expressed in the nervous system, but their functions and mechanisms of action are largely unknown. Here, we generatedin vivoa genome-wide binding map for CFI-1, the soleC. elegansARID3 ortholog. We identified 6,396 protein-coding genes as putative direct targets of CFI-1, most of which (77%) are expressed in post-mitotic neurons and encode terminal differentiation markers (e.g., neurotransmitter receptors, ion channels, neuropeptides). To gain mechanistic insights, we focused on two neuron types. In sensory neurons (IL2 class), CFI-1 exerts a dual role: it acts directly to activate, and indirectly to repress, distinct terminal differentiation genes. In motor neurons, however, CFI-1 acts directly as a repressor, continuously antagonizing three transcriptional activators (UNC-3/Ebf, LIN-39/Hox4-5, MAB-5/Hox6-8). By focusing on a glutamate receptor gene (glr-4/GRIK1), we found CFI-1 exerts its repressive activity through proximal binding to theglr-4locus. Further, the core DNA binding domain of CFI-1 is partially required forglr-4repression in motor neurons. Altogether, this study uncovers cell context-dependent mechanisms through which a single ARID3 protein controls the terminal differentiation of distinct neuron types.
Enhancer-promoter contact formation requires RNAPII and antagonizes loop extrusion
Authors: Zhang Shu , Übelmesser Nadine , Barbieri Mariano , Papantonis Argyris
Published: July 2022

Mammalian chromosomes are folded by converging and opposing forces. Here, we tested the role of RNAPII across different scales of interphase chromatin folding in a cellular system allowing for its auxin-mediated degradation. We used Micro-C and computational modeling to characterize subsets of loops differentially gained or lost upon RNAPII depletion. Gained loops, extrusion of which was antagonized by RNAPII, almost invariably formed by engaging new or rewired CTCF anchors. Lost loops selectively concerned contacts between enhancers and promoters anchored by RNAPII. Surprisingly, promoter-promoter contacts were almost insensitive to polymerase depletion and sustained cohesin occupancy in its absence. Selective loss of enhancer-promoter contacts explains the repression of most genes. Together, our findings reconcile the role of RNAPII in transcription with that in setting-up regulatory 3D chromatin architectures genome-wide, while also revealing a direct impact on cohesin loop extrusion.
Searching for intra-locus sexual conflicts in the three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) genome
Authors: Sylvestre Florent , Mérot Claire , Normandeau Eric , Bernatchez Louis
Published: July 2022

Differences between sexes in trait fitness optima can generate intra-locus sexual conflicts that have the potential to maintain genetic diversity through balancing selection. However, these differences are unlikely to be associated with string selective coefficients and as a result are challenging to detect. Additionally, recent studies have highlighted that duplication on sexual chromosomes can create artefactual signals of inter-sex differentiation and increased genetic diversity. Thus, testing the relationship between intra-locus sexual conflicts and balancing selection requires a high-quality reference genome, stringent filtering of potentially duplicated regions, and dedicated methods to detect loci with low levels of inter-sex differentiation. In this study, we investigate intra-locus sexual conflicts in the three-spined stickleback using whole genome sequencing (mean coverage = 12X) of 50 females and 49 males from an anadromous population in the St. Lawrence River, Québec, Canada. After stringent filtering of duplications from the sex chromosomes, we compared three methods to detect intra-locus sexual conflicts. This allowed us to detect various levels of inter-sex differentiation, from stronger single locus effects to small cumulative or multivariate signals. Overall, we found only four genomic regions associated with confidence to intra-locus sexual conflict that displayed associations with long-term balancing selection maintaining genetic diversity. Altogether, this suggests that most intra-locus sexual conflicts do not drive long-term balancing selection and are most likely transient. However, they might still play a role in maintaining genetic diversity over shorter time scales by locally reducing the effects of purifying selection and the rates of genetic diversity erosion.
On distinguishing between canonical tRNA genes and tRNA gene fragments in prokaryotes
Authors: van der Gulik Peter T.S. , Egas Martijn , Kraaijeveld Ken , Dombrowski Nina , Groot Astrid T. , Spang Anja , Hoff Wouter D. , Gallie Jenna
Published: July 2022

Automated genome annotation is essential for extracting biological information from sequence data. The identification and annotation of tRNA genes is frequently performed by the software package tRNAscan-SE, the output of which is listed for selected genomes in the Genomic tRNA database (GtRNAdb). Here, we highlight a pervasive error in prokaryotic tRNA gene sets on GtRNAdb: the mis-categorization of partial, non-canonical tRNA genes as standard, canonical tRNA genes. Firstly, we demonstrate the issue using the tRNA gene sets of 20 organisms from the archaeal taxon Thermococcaceae. According to GtRNAdb, these organisms collectively deviate from the expected set of tRNA genes in 15 instances, including the listing of eleven putative canonical tRNA genes. However, after detailed manual annotation, only one of these eleven remains; the others are either partial, non-canonical tRNA genes resulting from the integration of genetic elements or CRISPR-Cas activity (seven instances), or attributable to ambiguities in input sequences (three instances). Secondly, we show that similar examples of the mis-categorization of predicted tRNA sequences occur throughout the prokaryotic sections of GtRNAdb. While both canonical and non-canonical prokaryotic tRNA gene sequences identified by tRNAscan-SE are biologically interesting, the challenge of reliably distinguishing between them remains. We recommend employing a combination of (i) screening input sequences for the genetic elements typically associated with non-canonical tRNA genes, and ambiguities, (ii) activating the tRNAscan-SE automated pseudogene detection function, and (iii) scrutinizing predicted tRNA genes with low isotype scores. These measures greatly reduce manual annotation efforts, and lead to improved prokaryotic tRNA gene set predictions.
Contribution of hybridization to the evolution of a derived reproductive strategy in ricefishes
Authors: Flury J. M. , Meusemann K. , Martin S. , Hilgers L. , Spanke T. , Böhne A. , Herder F. , Mokodongan D. , Altmüller J. , Wowor D. , Misof B. , Nolte A.W. , Schwarzer J.
Published: July 2022

Transitions between reproductive strategies are costly and involve major changes in life history, behaviour and morphology. Nevertheless, in Sulawesi ricefishes, pelvic-brooding evolved from transfer-brooding in two distantly related lineages within in the genera Adrianichthys and in Oryzias, respectively. Females of pelvic-brooding species carry their eggs attached to their belly until the fry hatches. Despite their phylogenetic distance, both pelvic-brooding lineages share a set of external morphological traits. A recent study found no direct gene-flow between pelvic-brooding lineages suggesting independent evolution of the derived reproductive strategy. It could, however, also be more complex. Pre-existing variation in an admixed population may enable the re-use of genetic variants when subjected to similar external selection pressure, resulting in similar phenotypes.

We thus used a multi-species coalescent (MSC) model and D-statistics to identify gene-tree – species-tree incongruencies, to evaluate the evolution of pelvic-brooding with respect to inter-specific gene-flow not only between pelvic-brooding lineages, but between pelvic-brooding lineages and other Sulawesi ricefish lineages. We found a general network-like evolution in Sulawesi ricefishes and as previously reported, no gene-flow between the pelvic-brooding lineages. Instead, we found hybridization between the ancestor of pelvic-brooding Oryzias and the common ancestor of the four Oryzias species from Lake Poso, home of the pelvic-brooding Adrianichthys lineage. Further, indications of introgression were located within two confidence intervals of quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with pelvic-brooding in O. eversi. We thus hypothesize that a mix of de novo mutations and (ancient) standing genetic variation shaped the evolution of pelvic-brooding.

Significance statement

The evolution of pelvic-brooding in Oryzias eversi (Beloniformes:Adrianichthyidae), was recently described to be independent from another pelvic-brooding ricefish lineage (Adrianichthys) from Sulawesi. We confirmed these results, and detected no gene flow between the two distantly related pelvic-brooding lineages. Instead, we found ancient gene flow from another Orzyias lineage into the pelvic-brooding Oryzias lineage. One of the previously described QTL for pelvic brooding overlaps with a region of high introgression signal. Therefore, we assume that not only de novo mutations contributed to the evolution of pelvic-brooding in Orzyias, but that introduced ancient genetic variation was likely also recruited for the evolution of this derived brooding strategy.
Maternal immune activation alters social affective behavior and sensitivity to corticotropin releasing factor in male but not female rats
Authors: Rieger Nathaniel S. , Ng Alexandra J. , Lee Shanon , Brady Bridget H. , Christianson John P.
Published: July 2022

Prenatal infection increases risk for neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism in offspring. In the rodents, prenatal administration of the viral mimic Polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (Poly I:C) allows for investigation of developmental consequences of gestational sickness on offspring social behavior and neural circuit function. Because maternal immune activation (MIA) disrupts cortical development and sociability, we examined social decision-making in a rat social affective preference (SAP) task. Following Poly I:C (0.5 mg/kg) on gestational day 12.5, male adult offspring (PN 50) exhibited atypical social interactions with stressed conspecifics whereas female SAP behavior was unaffected by maternal Poly I:C. Social responses to stressed conspecifics depend upon the insular cortex where corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) modulates synaptic transmission and SAP behavior. We characterized insular field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSP) in adult offspring of MIA or control treated dams. Male MIA offspring showed decreased sensitivity to CRF (300 nM) while female MIA offspring showed greater sensitivity to CRF compared to sham offspring. These sex specific effects appear to be behaviorally relevant as CRF injected into the insula of male and female rats prior to social exploration testing had no effect in MIA male offspring but increased social interaction in female MIA offspring. We examined the cellular distribution of CRF receptor mRNA but found no effect of maternal Poly I:C in the insula. Together these experiments reveal sex specific effects of prenatal infection on offspring social decision making and identify insular CRF signaling as a novel neurobiological substrate for autism risk.
Assessing the impact of social grants on household welfare using propensity score matching approach
Authors: Zwane Talent , Biyase Mduduzi , Rooderick September
Published: July 2022

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the impact of social grants on rural household welfare in a village located in one of the poorest provinces in South Africa – KwaZulu Natal Province. Actually, since the inception of democratic rule, the South African government has turned to social grants to address the issues of poverty, income inequality and to improve household welfare. The coverage of social grants has increased substantially with more than 17 million (about 34% of the population) South Africans being recipients of social grants. Despite having relatively well-developed social security system, poverty levels in rural parts of South Africa remains very high.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a cross-sectional households survey data conducted in Hlokozi village. A propensity score matching technique, which accounts for non-random selection of households, is applied.

Findings

The results reveal that social grants have a significant and positive impact on rural household welfare. Specifically, the nearest neighbour matching estimates suggest that the causal effect for social grants on household welfare is the region of about R5,830. Consistent with the nearest neighbouring method, the results obtained using the Kernel matching method show that social grants are significant in improving rural household welfare.

Originality/value

While there are a number of studies that have shed some light on how social grant reduces poverty in South Africa, there are some gaps. Firstly, only a few studies have interrogated the impact of social grants on household welfare. Secondly, most of these studies have relied on descriptive analysis, and finally, besides poverty being high in rural areas, research on the impact of social grants on rural household welfare remains thin.
Whereof one cannot speak … a comment on Vollmer (2019)
Authors: Huber Christian
Published: July 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a conceptual reflection based on the author’s personal research experience, reading of the literature and contact with the academic education of emerging scholars.

Design/methodology/approach

In this reflection on the paper “Accounting for tacit coordination: The passing of accounts and the broader case for accounting theory” (Vollmer, 2019), the author argues that the silences of the qualitative empirical management accounting research process may preclude research from understanding the silences of accounting practitioners and shape the trajectory of the discipline as a whole.

Findings

The author presents a slightly exaggerated depiction of the qualitative empirical management accounting research process. From this, the author infers what impedes empirically studying unorthodox phenomena such as the silences of accounting practitioners.

Originality/value

The author offers a critical perspective on the author’s own research process, using accounting silences as way of reflecting on the potential and limitations of empirical research. Finally, the author makes tentative suggestions for opening up the standard research process.
Concentration and probabilistic health risk of polychlorinated biphenyls in cheese samples collected from Tehran, Iran
Authors: Shariatifar Nabi , Maftahi Mahtab , Tooryan Fahimeh , Arabameri Majid
Published: July 2022

This study focused on the measurement of non‐dioxin‐like polychlorinated biphenyls (NDL‐PCBs) in cheese samples (traditional and commercial cheese) by a modified QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe) method by gas chromatography (GC) coupled with triple‐quadrupole (QqQ) tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). The recovery of NDL‐PCBs was in the range of 93.22–109.19%, and relative standard deviation (RSD) was in the range of 4.24–9.04%. Also, the limit of detections (LODs) and the limit of quantifications (LOQs) for the PCB analytes ranged from 0.04 to 0.14 ng/g and 0.120 to 0.420 ng/g respectively. The results showed that the mean level of Ʃ6‐NDL‐PCBs in cheese samples was 9.83 ± 3.12 ng/g and maximum was 18.27 ng/g fat, which was lower than the European Union (EU) standard levels (40 ng/g fat in dairy products). The estimated daily intake of 6 NDL‐PCBs through cheese consumption was lower than the tolerable daily intake. Incremental lifetime cancer risk for children and adults due to six PCBs was 7.03E‐6 and 3.14E‐5, which was lower than the acceptable risk level (10−4).
Signalling in groups: New tools for the integration of animal communication and collective movement
Authors: Demartsev Vlad , Gersick Andrew S. , Jensen Frants H. , Thomas Mara , Roch Marie A. , Manser Marta B. , Strandburg‐Peshkin Ariana
Published: July 2022

Investigations of collective movement and animal communication have often followed distinct, though complementary, trajectories. Both subfields are deeply concerned with how information flows between individuals and shapes subsequent behaviour. Collective movement has largely focused on the dynamics of passive, cue‐mediated group coordination, while animal communication has primarily examined the content and function of active dyadic signal exchanges in sender–receiver frameworks. However, in many social groups, network‐wide signalling and collective movement decisions are tightly linked.

Here we discuss opportunities afforded by using multi‐sensor tracking tags to simultaneously monitor the fine‐scale movements and vocalisations of entire social groups. We highlight how such data can elucidate the role of vocal signals in individual and collective movement while illuminating the structures of entire vocal‐interaction sequences at previously unexamined timescales and across entire communication networks.

We identify practical and analytical challenges associated with these new tools and datasets, and present avenues for addressing them. We specifically address issues associated with the deployment and synchronisation of multiple tags, the processing and interpretation of resulting multidimensional datasets, and the benefits of combining tag‐based data collection with experimental approaches.

Finally, we argue that a comparative approach employing consistent methodologies across a range of environments, populations and systems is needed to shed light on the evolutionary ecology of communication and collective behaviour.
Monitoring vital signs: Wetland vegetation responses to hydrological resources in the Macquarie Marshes NSW, Australia
Authors: Mason Tanya J. , Honeysett Joel , Thomas Rachael F. , Popovic Gordana C. , Hosking Timothy , Shelly Darren J. , Bowen Sharon
Published: July 2022

Human intervention through damming, diversion and extraction of water resources has created regulated dryland river systems. As a result, connectivity between river channels and floodplain wetlands has diminished. Wetland function is fundamentally linked to water availability: flooding exchanges water, nutrients, sediments and biota with the floodplain. Water allocation for environmental flows may mitigate wetland degradation following river regulation by improving hydrological connectivity between rivers and floodplain wetlands. We report the results (2014–15 to 2018–19) of a vegetation monitoring program in the Macquarie Marshes in north western New South Wales. As part of the long‐term program, we monitored semi‐permanent wetland (Water Couch (Paspalum distichum) grassland or sedgeland dominated) and River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) forest/woodland communities along with environmental and water resource availability predictors. During the five‐year period, we found linear and nonlinear responses of functional group abundance and species richness to the water year and to time since last inundation. We also found differences in species assemblages in response to the flow and flooding regime, particularly water year and inundation duration. These results indicated that wetlands continued to express dry and wet phase responses. We also observed a depressed response to the large 2016–17 flood event by a subset of semi‐permanent wetland sites that had not been inundated in 3 years, compared with sites that were more recently inundated. This result indicated that environmental water management, along with protection of natural inundation events, may improve the resilience of floodplain wetlands: increased hydrological connectivity may promote a stronger wetland response when floods occur. Our results indicate that inundation, in part comprised of managed environmental flows, is a primary driver of species assemblage and functional group representation in semi‐arid floodplain wetlands.
Efficiency of diode laser and ultrasonic‐activated irrigation in retreatment of gutta percha and bioceramic sealer: An in vitro study
Authors: Almohareb Rahaf A. , Barakat Reem M. , Aljarallah Noor , Mudhish Halah , Almutairi Amjaad , Algahtani Fahda N.
Published: July 2022

This study was to determine the effectiveness of diode laser (LI) and ultrasonic (UI)‐activated irrigation with or without a surfactant as adjunct techniques during the retreatment of gutta‐percha and tricalcium silicate‐based sealer (BC) sealer. Forty‐two single‐rooted premolars were instrumented and filled with gutta‐percha and BC sealer, then retreated using NiTi retreatment rotary files. Teeth were randomly divided into three equal groups: Control (manual irrigation), UI and LI groups. Each group was subdivided into 2.5% NaOCl irrigant and ChlorCid™️ Surf subgroups. The amount of material removed following UI and LI was significantly greater than that of manual irrigation (p < 0.0001). However, there was no significant difference between the surfactant subgroups, irrespective of irrigation technique (p = 1.00, p = 0.535, p = 0.805). The use of UI and LI adjuncts to NiTi rotary retreatment techniques showed significant improvement in gutta‐percha with BC sealer removal. However, surfactants had no effect on the efficacy.
‘Enabling places’: Rethinking ‘community’ in ageing‐in‐community in Beijing, China
Authors: Li Yuan , Yu Jie , Rosenberg Mark W.
Published: July 2022

Objective(s)

To understand how community as ‘enabling places’ is experienced by older people and brings about enabling resources for supporting ageing in community (AIC).

Methods

From a health geographical perspective, we conceptualize community as enabling places that are produced by the interaction of material, social, and symbolic resources. Focusing on a community‐based care centre (CBCC) in Beijing, China, we conducted semi‐structured interviews with 17 older persons to examine how a CBCC enabled AIC.

Results

The CBCC site created three interdependent spaces and material/social/affective resources for enabling AIC: (1)living space (residential care beds) to create a sense of connection and safety; (2) a CBCC‐supported care space at home to create an atmosphere of trust and safety; and (3) a social space to create feelings of belonging and contribution. Variations in how the three resources interacted produced not only different spaces at the same site for various users but also different AIC experiences for the same user.

Conclusions

Community is not simply a static research context or spatial container. Rather, community as an enabling place involves a dynamic process in which spatial/social/affective resources are encountered and interact. Older people's AIC experiences change as their encounters change in the three types of resources we described and thus their capacities for ageing well change correspondingly. Furthermore, the binary idea of community versus institution needs to be expanded to explore how home, community, and institution are related, in order to create enabling spaces for AIC.
Intergenerational living and learning: The value and risks of co‐locating retirement villages on secondary school campuses – Evaluating the GrandSchools vision
Authors: Trotter Mark , Sanders Paul , Lindquist Marissa , Miller Evonne , Hajirasouli Aso , Blake Andrea , Harrington Rosamund , Olsen Heidi , Tyvimaa Tanja , Pepping Gert‐Jan , Kuys Suzanne , Drogemuller Robin
Published: July 2022

Objectives

GrandSchools is a new concept which co‐locates retirement villages with secondary schools in one physical environment. Designed to enhance the health and well‐being of both younger and older generations, this intergenerational‐shared campus model promotes intergenerational inclusivity and active learning and living. In this paper, we explore stakeholder experts' perceptions of current opportunities and impediments to this proposed intergenerational learning and living model.

Methods

A qualitative study reporting on findings from an industry seminar (n = 50) and key interviews (n = 10) from stakeholders in education, health, higher education, the management and operation of retirement villages, and design firms.

Results

Three key themes summarised participants' assessment of the value, risks and what needs to change in order for intergenerational living and learning to become a reality.

Conclusions

By bringing younger and older generations together in one shared campus location, GrandSchools is a novel idea to promote intergenerational inclusivity, enhancing the health and well‐being of our whole community.
Gifts, Unwanted and Ungiven
Authors: Wulff Helena
Published: July 2022

Against a backdrop of gift‐giving and reciprocity as keys in building and confirming social relationships in the field, this fictional narrative reveals a string of gift‐giving events that did not work out. This outcome is rarely reported on in anthropology, but here one gift was returned immediately, another promised but never produced. There is also the anti‐climactic nature of a parting gift when it is time for the fieldworker to exit the field. The setting is Dublin’s literary world, and the fieldwork includes a number of appreciated gifts, though not always in the form of an equal exchange of objects. The occurrence of unwanted and ungiven gifts that recur through the narrative are thorny reminders of the fragility of friendship in the field. The characters in the narrative are composite except for cameo appearances of named writers.
Safety and efficacy of a purified canine immunoglobulin G formulation for treatment of 76 cats clinically affected by the Australian paralysis tick (Ixodes holocyclus)
Authors: Padula AM
Published: July 2022

Acute adverse reactions in cats administered unrefined canine paralysis tick (Ixodes holocyclus) antiserum are commonly observed by veterinarians and can lead to significant morbidity and potentially fatal. A purified antiserum canine IgG concentrate was chromatographically prepared and aseptically formulated in single doses containing the equivalent of 5 mL of unrefined tick antiserum (TAS). The IgG was used for slow intravenous infusion into clinically affected cats at multiple veterinary clinics on the eastern seaboard of Australia. Overall, 72/76 (95%) of cats survived hospital discharge, an efficacy comparable to published data. A subset of 22 cats previously treated with unrefined TAS and considered high risk were included in the dataset. The safety profile was excellent with 0/76 acute adverse reactions although 2/76 (2.6%) developed mild facial swelling within 2 h of infusion that responded to the antihistamine. In conclusion, cats intravenously infused with purified IgG from canine TAS did not exhibit the expected frequency of acute adverse reactions during infusion and it was both safe and effective for the treatment of tick paralysis in cats.
Flexible Bayesian modelling in dichotomous item response theory using mixtures of skewed item curves
Authors: Gonçalves Flávio B. , Venturelli S. L. Juliane , Loschi Rosangela H.
Published: July 2022

Most item response theory (IRT) models for dichotomous responses are based on probit or logit link functions which assume a symmetric relationship between the probability of a correct response and the latent traits of individuals taking a test. This assumption restricts the use of those models to the case in which all items behave symmetrically. On the other hand, asymmetric models proposed in the literature impose that all the items in a test behave asymmetrically. This assumption is inappropriate for great majority of tests which are, in general, composed of both symmetric and asymmetric items. Furthermore, a straightforward extension of the existing models in the literature would require a prior selection of the items' symmetry/asymmetry status. This paper proposes a Bayesian IRT model that accounts for symmetric and asymmetric items in a flexible but parsimonious way. That is achieved by assigning a finite mixture prior to the skewness parameter, with one of the mixture components being a point mass at zero. This allows for analyses under both model selection and model averaging approaches. Asymmetric item curves are designed through the centred skew normal distribution, which has a particularly appealing parametrization in terms of parameter interpretation and computational efficiency. An efficient Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm is proposed to perform Bayesian inference and its performance is investigated in some simulated examples. Finally, the proposed methodology is applied to a data set from a large‐scale educational exam in Brazil.
Cardiac donors with renal impairment: Usage and outcomes after heart transplant
Authors: Jaiswal Abhishek , Baran David A , Sinphurmsukskul Supanee , Baker William L
Published: July 2022

Introduction

Utilization of hearts from donors with significant renal dysfunction and the impact of donor renal function on outcomes following heart transplant (HT) is unknown. We sought to investigate the trends, characteristics and outcomes associated with these donor hearts and the impact of donor renal function on survival and graft failure in adult HT recipients.

Methods

We reviewed the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR) and summarized trends, characteristics and outcomes of hearts from adult donors by renal impairment. Single‐organ HTs were evaluated and stratified by donors with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFRs) < and ≥30 ml/min. We constructed Cox proportional hazards regression models to compare time‐to‐mortality over 30‐day, 1‐, 3‐, and 5‐year time‐horizons between groups, and the association of donor eGFR group with graft failure.

Results

A total of 162,586 adults were evaluated for cardiac donation, of which, 22,780 (14%) had an eGFR ≤ 30 ml/min. Donors with an eGFR ≤ 30 ml/min increased over time, from 7.2% (358/4966) in 2000 to a high of 19.5% (2283/11,728) in 2020. Such donors were significantly more likely discarded (not offered (7.9% vs. 9.8%, p < .001) or accepted (62.6% vs. 72.2%, p < .001), and less likely to be transplanted (18.0 % vs. 29.5%; p < .001). Of 41,044 HT recipients, 3906 (9.5%) had hearts from such donors. Primary graft failure was similar between groups (OR 1.20, 95% CI .91–1.58; p = .1) while adjusted mortality was lower for recipients from donors with eGFR ≤ 30 ml/min.

Conclusions

More than two‐third of hearts from donors with renal dysfunction are discarded. Recipients from donors with renal dysfunction sustained lower mortality post HT during the study period. Increased evaluation and utilization of donors with renal dysfunction has the potential to expand the critically low donor pool.
Clinical relevance of amyloid in prostate samples: a report on 40 patients
Authors: Foix Maria Pané , Calvo Davinia Fernandez , Condom i Mundó Enric , Novo José Francisco Suarez , Serra Eva Merino , Benett Josep Ronald Garcia , Gàllego Montserrat Gomà , Viladomat Sergi Yun , Julià Francesc Vigués , Vidal i Bel August
Published: July 2022

Objective

To describe the clinical findings in patients with incidental prostatic amyloidosis.

Patients and methods

Retrospective search in the database of the Department of Pathology, Hospital de Bellvitge, for prostate specimens with amyloid. Congo red and immunohistochemical staining of the sections. Review of the patients’ clinical charts for symptoms attributable to systemic amyloidosis.

Results

Amyloid deposition in the prostate was identified and reported in 40 patients between 2001 and 2022. Median age was 76.5 years (range = 62–90 years). Prostate cancer was diagnosed in 25 patients. Only four patients had a previous diagnosis of amyloidosis. In the remaining 36 the prostate sample (31 needle biopsies, two transurethral resections (TUR), two simple prostatectomies, one radical cystectomy for bladder cancer) provided the initial diagnosis. Amyloid deposits were mainly located in the wall of small vessels and rarely in the prostatic stroma. Immunohistochemistry was available in 32 cases, 26 of which were positive for TTR. All patients showed at least one symptom indicative of systemic amyloidosis, the most frequent being hearing loss (55%), carpal tunnel syndrome (42,5%) or other osteoarticular symptoms (tendinopathies, osteoarthritis), cataracts (37.5%) and cardiac symptoms (32.5%), among others.

Conclusion

The prostate is a target tissue for amyloid deposition. The incidental finding of amyloid in prostate corresponds, in the majority of cases, to previously undiagnosed systemic TTR amyloidosis in patients lacking signs of heart involvement but having mainly osteoarticular symptoms, hearing and visual impairment.
Sodium caseinate and OSA‐modified starch as carriers for the encapsulation of lutein using spray drying to improve its water solubility and stability
Authors: Zhang Bo , Yao Yishun , Lu Yifan , Xu Yanfeng , Li Wenhao , Yan Wenjie
Published: July 2022

Lutein is a fat‐soluble substance with plentiful unsaturated carbon–carbon double bonds in the chemical structure. Spray‐drying formulations of lutein emulsions stabilised by a mixture of sodium caseinate (CS) and octenyl succinic anhydride‐modified starch (OS) yield lutein microcapsules. The yield (19.3–65.8%), encapsulation efficiency (74.7–82.9%), moisture (0.92–3.50%), wettability (226.8–392.4 s) and solubility (65.3–95.7%) were obtained in this study. The formulations with CS:OS (7:3) presented the excellent encapsulation efficiency (82.9%), glass transition temperatures (126.77 °C) and retention rate at 50 °C (80.51%), 25 °C (82.49%), and 4 °C (90.68%), and in UV light (75.44%) and lightness (80.40%) after 15 days. Based on the study, encapsulation would be an alternative for generating high value‐added products and could promote lutein's use as a functional ingredient with a ‘clean label’.
Evaluation of formulation design on the physical and structural properties of commercial cream cheeses
Authors: Kim Jiuk , Watkinson Philip , Matia‐Merino Lara , Smith Jeremy R. , Golding Matt
Published: July 2022

This study investigated how the compositional properties and formulation design of commercial cream cheese products model cheese influenced physical and structural properties as compared to a model cheese composition. Of the seven products evaluated, three were block format (B), two were spreadable (S) and two were spreadable light (SL), with fat contents ranging from 13.7 to 35.7%. The majority of cream cheese products indicated the inclusion of starter culture, and all formulations contained one or more stabilisers. Protein/moisture (p/m) ratio, i.e. the effective protein concentration in the non‐fat substance, was seen to most strongly correlate with material properties, with a positive slope for fracture stress (R2 = 0.808) and modulus of deformability (R2 = 0.721). In terms of outliers, the datapoint for SL2 on this modulus versus p/m graph was lower than its regression line, and one rationale is that lower fat content (13.7%) gave a lower modulus from the milkfat component at 10°C test temperature. B1, with the highest p/m of 0.17, had a more dense distribution of larger fat globules coated with proteins than B2 and B3. Fracture stress and modulus of deformability were noted to be higher for full‐fat than for lower fat cheese. In all products, elastic characteristics dominated viscous flow as expected. Findings have demonstrated that significant variance exists across the material properties of commerical cream cheeses, and which shows specific dependencies on their formulation.
Formulation and evaluation of functional attributes of low‐fat mozzarella cheese using okra mucilage as a fat replacer
Authors: Akhtar Aqsa , Khan Rabbia , Khalid Nauman
Published: July 2022

Mozzarella cheese is a fermented product comprised of 30–45% milk fat on a dry basis. The milk fat gives the mozzarella its desirable stretchable properties which are demanding in food processing industries. The current study was designed to use okra mucilage as a carbohydrate‐based fat replacer to prepare low fat mozzarella cheese. For this purpose, the different concentrations of okra mucilage (0.25 to 1.0% (v/v)) were used. The fat contents were significantly reduced in all treatments and the addition of okra mucilage with a concentration of 0.25% (T2) was considered best for its organoleptic properties and 1% (T4) has a positive impact on the textural, functional attributes of low‐fat mozzarella cheese.
The interaction between the Dbf4 ortholog Chiffon and Gcn5 is conserved in Dipteran insect species
Authors: George Smitha , Blum Hannah R. , Torres‐Zelada Eliana F. , Estep Grace N. , Hegazy Youssef A. , Speer Gina M. , Weake Vikki M.
Published: July 2022

Chiffon is the sole Drosophila ortholog of Dbf4, the regulatory subunit for the cell‐cycle kinase Cdc7 that initiates DNA replication. In Drosophila, the chiffon gene encodes two polypeptides with independent activities. Chiffon‐A contains the conserved Dbf4 motifs and interacts with Cdc7 to form the Dbf4‐dependent Kinase (DDK) complex, which is essential for a specialized form of DNA replication. In contrast, Chiffon‐B binds the histone acetyltransferase Gcn5 to form the Chiffon histone acetyltransferase (CHAT) complex, which is necessary for histone H3 acetylation and viability. Previous studies have shown that the Chiffon‐B region is only present within insects. However, it was unclear how widely the interaction between Chiffon‐B and Gcn5 was conserved among insect species. To examine this, we performed yeast two‐hybrid assays using Chiffon‐B and Gcn5 from a variety of insect species and found that Chiffon‐B and Gcn5 interact in Diptera species such as Australian sheep blowfly and yellow fever mosquito. Protein domain analysis identified that Chiffon‐B has features of acidic transcriptional activators such as Gal4 or VP16. We propose that the CHAT complex plays a critical role in a biological process that is unique to Dipterans and could therefore be a potential target for pest control strategies.
The proximal and distal effects of mortality salience on COVID‐19‐related health perceptions and intentions
Authors: Fairlamb Samuel , Cinnirella Marco , Iahr Inbal
Published: July 2022

Health preventative measures are important in reducing transmission of COVID‐19, yet death‐related thoughts might hinder preventative action. Using two online samples (N = 948), we examined how mortality salience (MS) may produce health‐related proximal and distal defenses relevant to COVID‐19, examining health optimism and appearance self‐worth as moderators. MS decreased perceived vulnerability as a proximal defense for those with high health optimism (Study 1), while those with low health optimism decreased perceived response efficacy of face masks and intention to wear a protective face mask (Study 2). Additionally, those with high appearance self‐worth displayed increased intention to wear an aesthetically appealing face mask as a distal defense to MS (Study 2). Our findings demonstrate the importance of considering how mortality concerns may channel health‐defeating and health‐promoting behaviors in respect to COVID‐19 and provide insight into how to produce sustained engagement in health preventative action to combat the pandemic.
Secondary school teachers' use of online formative assessment during COVID‐19 lockdown: Experiences and lessons learned
Authors: Veugen Maria Joanna , Gulikers Judith Theresia Maria , den Brok Perry
Published: July 2022

Introduction

During the COVID‐19 lockdown in 2020, teachers had to shift their teaching and assessment to online. Formative assessment (FA) can help teachers to engage, guide and monitor students' (online) learning. However, more knowledge is needed of how teachers could use the full FA process online.

Methods

In this study data from 50 secondary school teachers, who taught different grade levels and subjects and joined a FA learning network that started before and continued during the lockdown, were collected. The study investigates how they used online FA practices differently than face‐to‐face FA, what challenges and opportunities they experienced in online FA and what lessons they learned and intended to keep. This mixed methods study used data from a questionnaire, interviews and webinars that were segmented, coded and analysed.

Results

Results showed that many teachers implemented new FA strategies and adopted, more often than in their face‐to‐face practice, all the five phases of the FA process in an aligned matter in online FA. Teachers indicated opportunities in stimulating student engagement and guiding and monitoring student learning more at an individual level in the online FA process, but also experienced challenges, mainly in lack of interaction online.

Discussion

The sudden and necessary shift to online FA, due to the COVID‐19 lockdown, challenged teachers to more fundamentally reconsider their assessment practices and assumptions. Teachers intended to make use of these learned lessons to improve their future (blended) FA practice.
Associated factors of primary snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea in patients with sleep bruxism: A questionnaire study
Authors: Huang Zhengfei , Aarab Ghizlane , Chattrattrai Thiprawee , Su Naichuan , Volgenant Catherine M. C. , Hilgevoord Antonius A. J. , de Vries Nico , Lobbezoo Frank
Published: July 2022

Background

By being aware of the associated factors of primary snoring (PS) and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) in sleep bruxism (SB) patients, dentists may contribute to the screening and early recognition of SB patients with PS or OSA.

Objective

To identify the associated factors of PS and OSA from questionnaire‐based data in SB patients.

Methods

A total of 968 self‐reported SB patients (31.6% men; median age 44.5 years) were retrospectively enrolled. Self‐reported sleep‐related breathing status (viz., no sleep‐related breathing condition, PS and OSA) was the dependent variable. Independent variables were questionnaire‐based data on demographics, lifestyle, psychological status, pain and sleep.

Results

For PS, no statistically significant associated factor was identified in analyses. For OSA, increased age (OR = 1.04 [1.03–1.06]), male gender (OR = 3.33 [2.17–5.00]), daily alcohol consumption (OR = 1.96 [1.18–3.33]), depression (OR = 1.10 [1.06–1.14]), daytime sleepiness (OR = 2.94 [1.85–4.76]) and high risk of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD; OR = 2.63 [1.52–4.76]) were found to be significant risk factors, while high risk of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) pain (OR = 0.51 [0.30–0.86]) and chronic pain (OR = 0.73 [0.59–0.90]) were significant protective factors. These results were confirmed in the subsequent network analysis.

Conclusion

Within the limitations of this study, no associated factor is identified for PS. For OSA, dentists should keep in mind that increased age, male gender, daily alcohol consumption, depression, daytime sleepiness and high GERD risk are associated with increased OSA risk in SB patients, while high TMD‐pain risk and chronic pain are associated with decreased OSA risk in this population.
Single‐dose pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of a novel extended duration transdermal buprenorphine solution in cats
Authors: Freise Kevin J. , Reinemeyer Craig , Warren Katherine , Lin Ting‐Li , Clark Terrence P.
Published: July 2022

A novel transdermal buprenorphine solution (TBS) was developed for evaluation in order to make available an extended duration opioid analgesic for cats. Healthy adult cats were administered a single TBS dose of 10 mg (1.57–4.35 mg/kg), 30 mg (4.72–13.0 mg/kg), or 50 mg (7.87–21.7 mg/kg) (4 cats per group) applied topically to the unclipped dorsal cervical skin and plasma buprenorphine concentrations were evaluated through 7 days. To determine the absolute bioavailability of TBS, healthy cats were administered single TBS dose of 20 mg (3.33–4.76 mg/kg) or 0.05 mg (0.008–0.011 mg/kg) IV buprenorphine (6 cats per group). The mean ± standard deviation maximum plasma buprenorphine concentrations (Cmax) were 10.5 ± 6.28, 18.6 ± 8.68, and 22.5 ± 4.47 ng/ml following 10, 30, and 50 mg doses, respectively, with the time of Cmax occurrence (tmax) typically occurring at 2–12 h post‐dosing. Mean plasma buprenorphine terminal half‐lives ranged between 78.3 and 91.2 h. Increasing the dose threefold and fivefold from the 10 mg dose increased the exposure by 2.8‐ and 3.6‐fold, respectively, indicating that plasma buprenorphine exposure increased in a less than proportional manner at doses >30 mg. Transient sedation, mydriasis, and euphoria were observed within 4 h post‐dosing. Mean rectal temperatures were increased 0.6–0.9°C greater than baseline (37.4–37.8°C) through 168 h post‐dosing. The absolute bioavailability was 16.0% (90% CI: [11.8%–21.7%]). Flip‐flop pharmacokinetics were observed with a terminal elimination half‐life of 0.82 ± 0.13 and 64.9 ± 15.0 h for IV buprenorphine and 20 mg of TBS, respectively. A single administration of TBS over a range of doses resulted in extended plasma buprenorphine concentrations and opioid physiological and behavioral effects.
Using the flexibilities of Article 30 TRIPS to implement patent exceptions in pursuit of Sustainable Development Goal 3
Authors: Tesoriero Amy
Published: July 2022

Despite over 25 years passing since TRIPS entered into force, the full potential of the patent exceptions provision under Article 30 TRIPS (Article 30) is yet to be realised. The hesitation by developing states to implement new patent exceptions in their domestic laws has presented a barrier to reconciling the tension between protecting patent rights and achieving access to essential medicines for all as committed by states under Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3). This article addresses the uncertainty of the interpretation of Article 30 through a doctrinal analysis of treaty interpretation rules and the recent Australia‐Tobacco Plain Packaging decisions. It proposes an original interpretation of Article 30 that permits public interest considerations, and uses this interpretation to justify a proposed stockpiling exception for pandemic and epidemic preparedness aimed at facilitating access to essential medicines to achieve SDG 3. Accordingly, developing states should feel more confident about implementing patent exceptions tailored to their public interest needs in pursuit of SDG 3.