bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Whole genome-based characterization of multi-drug resistant Enterobacter and Klebsiella aerogenes isolates from Lebanon
Authors: Merhi Georgi , Amayri Sara , Bitar Ibrahim , Araj George F. , Tokajian Sima
Published: June 2022

Background

Enterobacter spp. are rod-shaped Gram-negative opportunistic pathogens belonging to Enterobacterales. This study aimed at the molecular and genomic characterization of multi-drug resistant Enterobacter spp. isolates recovered from hospitalized patients in a tertiary care hospital in Lebanon.

Materials

A total of 59 Enterobacter spp. clinical isolates consisting of 41 carbapenem-resistant and 18 susceptible by E-test were included in this study. Genotypic identification through whole-genome sequencing was performed and confirmed in silico. Resistance and plasmid profiles were studied using ResFinder4.0 and Plasmid-Finder2.1. Multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) was used to determine the isolates’ clonality.

Results

ANI identified and confirmed that 47 (80%) isolates were E. hormaechei, 11 (18%) were Klebsiella aerogenes and 1 (2%) was an E. cloacae. Carbapenem-resistance was detected among 41 isolates all showing an MIC90 of ≥ 32 µg/ml for ertapenem, imipenem, and meropenem. blaNDM-1 (58.5%), blaACT-16 (54%), and blaOXA-1 (54%) were the most common detected β-lactamases, while blaCTX-M-15 gene (68%) was the main detected extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) encoding gene. Chromosomal ampC gene, carbapenemase encoding genes, and porin modifications were among the detected carbapenem resistance determinants. The carbapenemase encoding genes were linked to three well-defined plasmid Inc groups, IncFII/IncFIB, IncX3, and IncL. MLST typing revealed the diversity within the studied isolates, with ST114 being the most common amongst the studied E. hormaechei.

Conclusion

The spread of carbapenem-resistant isolates in clinical settings in Lebanon is a serious challenge. Screening and continuous monitoring through WGS analysis could effectively limit the dissemination of drug-resistant isolates in hospitalized patients.

Importance

Drug resistance is an increasing global public health threat that involves most disease-causing organisms and antimicrobial drugs. Drug-resistant organisms spread in healthcare settings, and resistance to multiple drugs is common. Our study demonstrated the mechanisms leading to resistance against the last resort antimicrobial agents among members of the Enterobacteriaceae family. The spread of carbapenem-resistant bacteria in clinical settings is a serious challenge. Screening and continuous monitoring could effectively limit the dissemination of drug-resistant isolates in hospitalized patients.
A patient-centric characterization of systemic recovery from SARS-CoV-2 infection
Authors: Ruffieux Hélène , Hanson Aimee L. , Lodge Samantha , Lawler Nathan G. , Whiley Luke , Gray Nicola , Nolan Tui , Bergamaschi Laura , Mescia Federica ,   CITIID-NIHR BioResource COVID-19 Collaboration, Kingston Nathalie , Bradley John R. , Holmes Elaine , Wist Julien , Nicholson Jeremy K. , Lyons Paul A. , Smith Kenneth G.C. , Richardson Sylvia , Bantug Glenn , Hess Christoph
Published: June 2022

The biology driving individual patient responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection remains ill understood. Here, we developed a patient-centric framework leveraging detailed longitudinal phenotyping data, covering a year post disease onset, from 215 SARS-CoV-2 infected subjects with differing disease severities. Our analyses revealed distinct “systemic recovery” profiles with specific progression and resolution of the inflammatory, immune, metabolic and clinical responses, over weeks to several months after infection. In particular, we found a strong intra-patient temporal covariation of innate immune cell numbers, kynurenine- and host lipid-metabolites, which suggested candidate immunometabolic pathways putatively influencing restoration of homeostasis, the risk of death and of long COVID. Based on these data, we identified a composite signature predictive of systemic recovery on the patient level, using a joint model on cellular and molecular parameters measured soon after disease onset. New predictions can be generated using the online toolhttp://shiny.mrc-bsu.cam.ac.uk/apps/covid-systemic-recovery-prediction-app, designed to test our findings prospectively.

Graphical abstract
An open source plant kinase chemogenomics set
Authors: Ercoli Maria Florencia , Ramos Priscila Zonzini , Jain Rashmi , Pilotte Joseph , Dong Oliver Xiaoou , Thompson Ty , Wells Carrow I. , Elkins Jonathan M. , Edwards Aled M , Couñago Rafael M. , Drewry David H. , Ronald Pamela C.
Published: June 2022

129 protein kinases, selected to represent the diversity of the rice (Oryza sativa) kinome, were cloned and tested for expression in E. coli. 40 of these rice kinases were purified and screened using differential scanning fluorimetry (DSF) against 627 diverse kinase inhibitors, with a range of structures and activities targeting diverse human kinases. 37 active compounds were then tested for their ability to modify primary root development in Arabidopsis. Of these, 14 compounds caused a significant reduction of primary root length and two slightly increased root elongation compared with control plants. Two inhibitory compounds bind to the predicted orthologue of Arabidopsis PSKR1, one of two receptors for PSK, a small sulfated peptide that positively controls root development. Inhibition could not be rescued by the exogenous addition of the PSK peptide, suggesting that chemical treatment may inhibit both PSKR1 and its closely related receptor PSKR2. Of the compounds acting as root growth inhibitors in Arabidopsis, six conferred the same effect in rice. Compound RAF265 (CHIR-265), previously shown to bind the human kinase BRAF (B-Raf proto-oncogene, serine/threonine kinase), also binds to nine highly conserved rice kinases tested. The binding of human and rice kinases to the same compound suggests that human kinase inhibitor sets will be useful for dissecting the function of plant kinases.
Brain injuries and complex motor learning suppress Olig2 in a subpopulation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells
Authors: Fang Li-Pao , Liu Qing , Meyer Erika , Welle Anna , Huang Wenhui , Scheller Anja , Kirchhoff Frank , Bai Xianshu
Published: June 2022

Oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) are uniformly distributed in the mammalian brain, however their function is rather heterogeneous in respect to their origin, location, receptor/channel expression and age. The basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor Olig2 is expressed in all OPCs as a pivotal determinant of their differentiation. Here, we identified a subset (2-26%) of OPCs lacking Olig2 in various brain regions including cortex, corpus callosum, CA1 and dentate gyrus. These Olig2 negative (Olig2neg) OPCs were enriched in the juvenile brain and decreased subsequently with age, being rarely detectable in the adult brain. However, the loss of this population was not due to apoptosis or microglia-dependent phagocytosis. Unlike Olig2pos OPCs, these subset cells could not be labelled for the mitotic marker Ki67. And, accordingly, BrdU was incorporated only by a three-day long-term labeling but not by a two-hour short pulse, suggesting these cells do not proliferate any more but were derived from proliferating OPCs. The Olig2neg OPCs exhibited a less complex morphology than Olig2pos ones. Olig2neg OPCs preferentially remain in a precursor stage rather than differentiating into highly branched oligodendrocytes. Changing the adjacent brain environment, e.g. by acute injuries or by complex motor learning tasks stimulated the transition of Olig2pos OPCs to Olig2neg cells in the adult. Taken together, our results demonstrate that OPCs transiently suppress Olig2 upon changes of the brain activity.

Table of Contents Image

Main points: A subset of OPCs do not express Olig2, of which population peaks in the juvenile brain while wanes with age. Plastic changes of the brain by acute injuries or complex motor learning stop the expression of Olig2 in OPCs.
Synaptic homeostasis transiently leverages Hebbian mechanisms for a multiphasic response to inactivity
Authors: Sun Simón(e) D. , Levenstein Daniel , Li Boxing , Mandelberg Nataniel , Chenouard Nicolas , Suutari Benjamin S. , Sanchez Sandrine , Tian Guoling , Rinzel John , Buzsáki György , Tsien Richard W.
Published: June 2022

Neurons use various forms of negative feedback to maintain their synaptic strengths within an operationally useful range. While this homeostatic plasticity is thought to distinctly counteract the destabilizing positive feedback of Hebbian plasticity, there is considerable overlap in the molecular components mediating both forms of plasticity. The varying kinetics of these components spurs additional inquiry into the dynamics of synaptic homeostasis. We discovered that upscaling of synaptic weights in response to prolonged inactivity is nonmonotonic. Surprisingly, this seemingly oscillatory adaptation involved transient appropriation of molecular effectors associated with Hebbian plasticity, namely CaMKII, L-type Ca2+ channels, and Ca2+-permeable AMPARs, and homeostatic elements such as calcineurin. We created a dynamic model that shows how traditionally “Hebbian” and “homeostatic” mechanisms can cooperate to autoregulate postsynaptic Ca2+ levels. We propose that this combination of mechanisms allows excitatory synapses to adapt to prolonged activity changes and safeguard the capability to undergo future strengthening on demand.
Adaptive oscillators provide a hard-coded Bayesian mechanism for rhythmic inference
Authors: Doelling Keith B. , Arnal Luc H. , Assaneo M. Florencia
Published: June 2022

Bayesian theories of perception suggest that the human brain internalizes a model of environmental patterns to reduce sensory noise and improve stimulus processing. The internalization of external regularities is particularly manifest in the time domain: humans excel at predictively synchronizing their behavior with external rhythms, as in dance or music performance. The neural processes underlying rhythmic inferences are debated: whether predictive perception relies on high-level generative models or whether it can readily be implemented locally by hard-coded intrinsic oscillators synchronizing to rhythmic input remains unclear. Here, we propose that these seemingly antagonistic accounts can be conceptually reconciled. In this view, neural oscillators may constitute hard-coded physiological priors – in a Bayesian sense – that reduce temporal uncertainty and facilitate the predictive processing of noisy rhythms. To test this, we asked human participants to track pseudo-rhythmic tone sequences and assess whether the final tone was early or late. Using a Bayesian model, we account for various aspects of participants’ performance and demonstrate that the classical distinction between absolute and relative mechanisms can be unified under this framework. Next, using a dynamical systems perspective, we successfully model this behavior using an adaptive frequency oscillator which adjusts its spontaneous frequency based on the rate of stimuli. This model better reflects human behavior than a canonical nonlinear oscillator and a predictive ramping model, both widely used for temporal estimation and prediction. Our findings suggest that an oscillator may be considered useful as a potential heuristic for a rhythmic prior in the Bayesian sense. Together, the results show that adaptive oscillators provide an elegant and biologically plausible means to subserve (bayesian) rhythmic inference, thereby reconciling numerous empirical observations and a priori incompatible frameworks for temporal inferential processes.
A novel fully-automated system for lifelong continuous phenotyping of mouse cognition and behaviour
Authors: Ho Hinze , Kejzar Nejc , Sasaguri Hiroki , Saito Takashi , Saido Takaomi C. , De Strooper Bart , Bauza Marius , Krupic Julija
Published: June 2022

Comprehensive ethologically-relevant behavioural phenotyping in rodent experiments is essential for deciphering the neural basis of animal cognition. Automated home-cage monitoring systems present a valuable tool to fulfil this need. However, they often involve complex animal training routines, water or food deprivation, and probe a limited range of behaviours. Here, we present a new fully automated AI-driven home-cage system for cognitive and behavioural phenotyping in mice. The system incorporates spontaneous alternation T-maze, novel-object recognition and object-in-place recognition tests combined with monitoring of an animal’s position, water consumption, quiescence and locomotion patterns, all carried out continuously and simultaneously in an unsupervised fashion over long periods of time. Mice learnt the tasks rapidly without any need for water or food restrictions. We applied ethomics approach to show that combined statistical properties of multiple behaviours can be used to discriminate between mice with hippocampal, medial entorhinal and sham lesions and accurately predict genotype of Alzheimer’s disease mouse models on an individual animal level, surpassing the performance of several gold standard cognitive tests. This technology could enable large-scale behavioural screening for genes and neural circuits underlying spatial memory and other cognitive processes.
Rapid mini-chromosome divergence among fungal isolates causing wheat blast outbreaks in Bangladesh and Zambia
Authors: Liu Sanzhen , Lin Guifang , Ramachandran Sowmya R. , Cruppe Giovana , Cook David , Pedley Kerry F. , Valent Barbara
Published: June 2022

Global wheat production is seriously threatened by the filamentous fungal pathogen, Magnaporthe oryzae, causing wheat blast disease. The pathogen was first identified in South America and recently spread across continents to Bangladesh (South Asia) and Zambia (South-central Africa). M. oryzae strains closely related with a South American field isolate B71 was found to have caused the wheat blast outbreaks in South Asia and Africa. Here, we studied the genetic relationship among isolates found on the three continents. Using an improved reference genome for B71 and whole genome sequences of isolates from Bangladesh, Zambia, and South America, we found strong evidence to support that the outbreaks in Bangladesh and Zambia were caused by the introductions of genetically separated isolates. Structural variation analysis using whole genome short-read sequencing data indicate all isolates closely related to B71 maintained at least one supernumerary mini-chromosome and, interestingly, some Zambian isolates contain more than one mini-chromosome. Long-read sequencing and de novo genome assemblies of two Zambian isolates show that both contain a mini-chromosome similar to the B71 mini-chromosome, although pervasive structural variation exists among them. Genome assemblies also provide evidence that one Zambian isolate carries an additional mini-chromosome that is highly divergent from the B71 mini-chromosome. Our findings show that while the core genomes of the multiple introductions are highly similar, the mini-chromosomes have undergone marked diversification. The maintenance of the mini-chromosome during the multiple introductions, and the rapid sequence and structural variation suggests the mini-chromosomes may serve important virulence or niche adaptation roles under diverse environmental conditions.
Simplified Drainless Outpatient Female-to-Male Gender-Affirming Bilateral Mastectomy
Authors: Knudson Sean A. , DeLeon Ashley , Crane Curtis N. , Santucci Richard A.
Published: June 2022

Purpose

Female-to-male gender-affirming top surgery is growing in demand. We ventured to further improve double-incision free nipple graft bilateral mastectomy by utilizing a streamlined method of eliminating dead space and abandoning the practice of postoperative drain placement.

Methods

Patients with gender dysphoria and who underwent streamlined gender-affirming top surgery without drain placement were retrospectively reviewed from August 2017 to June 2020. A literature review was conducted to identify comparative studies with historical complication data. Patient outcomes were analyzed against this aggregated data.

Results

One-hundred and seven patients underwent 214 simplified double incision free nipple graft bilateral mastectomies in an outpatient surgery center. Mean patient age was 27.2 ± 10.4 years. The overall complication rate was 13.1 percent. Hematoma occurred in 2 patients (1.9%). Seroma occurred in 10 patients (9.3%). Wound dehiscence occurred in 2 patients (1.9%). Elective revision rate was 3/107 (2.8%). One patient had acute reoperation due to major hematoma (0.9%). Compared with eleven studies of pooled historical outcomes of patients with drain placement, analysis revealed the drainless group had significantly higher rates of seroma (p = 0.003353), but significantly lower rates of revision (p = 1.37×10−12). Aggregation of our data with two past drainless studies was compared to the eleven drain inclusive studies, revealing significantly lower rates of hematoma (p = 0.001069), nipple areola complex necrosis (p = 0.01034), and revision (p = 2.20×10−16).

Conclusion

Simplified, drainless, outpatient double incision free nipple graft bilateral mastectomy can be performed with comparable outcomes to historical data.
A Multifunctional Anchor for Multimodal Expansion Microscopy
Authors: Cui Yi , Yang Gaojie , Goodwin Daniel R. , O’Flanagan Ciara H. , Sinha Anubhav , Zhang Chi , Kitko Kristina E. , Park Demian , Aparicio Samuel ,   IMAXT Consortium, Boyden Edward S.
Published: June 2022

In situ imaging of biomolecular location with nanoscale resolution enables mapping of the building blocks of life throughout biological systems in normal and disease states. Expansion microscopy (ExM), by physically enlarging specimens in an isotropic fashion, enables nanoimaging on standard light microscopes. Key to ExM is the equipping of different kinds of molecule, with different kinds of anchoring moiety, so they can all be pulled apart by polymer swelling. Here we present a multifunctional anchor, an acrylate epoxide, that enables multiple kinds of molecules (e.g., proteins and RNAs) to be equipped with anchors in a single experimental step. This reagent simplifies ExM protocols and greatly reduces cost (by 2-10 fold for a typical multiplexed ExM experiment) compared to previous strategies for equipping RNAs with anchors. We show that this unified ExM (uniExM) protocol can be used to preserve and visualize RNA transcripts, proteins in biologically relevant ultrastructure, and sets of RNA transcripts in patient-derived xenograft (PDX) cancer tissues, and can support the visualization of other kinds of biomolecular species as well. Thus, uniExM may find many uses in the simple, multimodal nanoscale analysis of cells and tissues.
Short-term molecular consequences of chromosome mis-segregation for genome stability
Authors: Garribba Lorenza , De Feudis Giuseppina , Martis Valentino , Galli Martina , Dumont Marie , Eliezer Yonatan , Wardenaar René , Ippolito Marica Rosaria , Iyer Divya R , Tijhuis Andréa E , Spierings Diana CJ , Schubert Michael , Taglietti Silvia , Soriani Chiara , Gemble Simon , Basto Renata , Rhind Nick , Foijer Floris , Ben-David Uri , Fachinetti Daniele , Doksani Ylli , Santaguida Stefano
Published: June 2022

Chromosome instability (CIN) is the most common form of genome instability and is a hallmark of cancer. CIN invariably leads to aneuploidy, a state of karyotype imbalance. Here, we show that aneuploidy can also trigger CIN. We found that aneuploid cells experience DNA replication stress in their first S-phase and precipitate in a state of continuous CIN. This generates a repertoire of genetically diverse cells that can either continue proliferating or stop dividing. Cycling aneuploid cells display lower karyotype complexity compared to the arrested ones and increased expression of DNA repair signatures. Interestingly, the same signatures were upregulated in highly-proliferative cancer cells, which might enable them to proliferate despite the disadvantage conferred by aneuploidy-induced CIN. Altogether, our study reveals the short-term origins of CIN following aneuploidy and indicates the aneuploid state of cancer cells as a point mutation-independent source of genome instability, providing an explanation for aneuploidy occurrence in tumors.
Sex-specific association between emotion negativity and neural processing of reward feedback in young children
Authors: Chung Yu Sun , Bagdasarov Armen , Gaffrey Michael S.
Published: June 2022

Understanding whether sex-related differences in the associations between emotion negativity and reward processing are present in early childhood has the potential to critically inform the etiology and prevention of psychiatric disorders characterized by dysregulated negative affect. Previous research suggests that altered neural processing of reward is associated with elevated levels of negative affect in adolescents and that the patterns of these associations may show sex-related differences. However, few studies have investigated the relationship between negative affect and reward processing in young children and none have directly examined potential sex-related differences in this relationship during early childhood. The current study investigated potential sex-related differences in neural response to reward feedback using EEG and their sex-specific association with emotional negativity in 140 children 4-7 years of age. Children completed a developmentally appropriate reward processing task while EEG data was recorded. Temporospatial Principal Component Analysis was used to separate overlapping feedback-related ERP components, revealing that males had greater loss-related feedback negativity and gain- and loss-related P200 values than females. At the individual level, males also showed a negative correlation between emotional negativity scores and gain-related P200 amplitudes. In line with prior work in adults for sex differences in attentional biases to emotional stimuli, these results suggest that neural mechanisms leading to sex differences in abnormal development of emotional negativity may emerge during early childhood and grow in magnitude during adolescence.
Effect of CEO transformational leadership on organizational ethical culture and firm performance: the moderating effect of competitive intensity
Authors: Lamsam Nichanal , Charoensukmongkol Peerayuth
Published: June 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to adopt the upper echelon theory to analyze the effect of chief executive officer (CEO) transformational leadership on organizational ethical culture and its subsequent impact on firm performance. The study also integrates the knowledge from the structure–conduct–performance paradigm to test whether the high degree of competitive intensity that firms experience could weaken the effect of organizational ethical culture on firm performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Online survey data were obtained from firms in Thailand that were randomly selected from the directory provided by the Department of Business Development (n = 200). Partial least squares structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data.

Findings

Organizational ethical culture significantly meditates the effect of CEO transformational leadership on firm performance. Moreover, the moderating effect analysis illustrates that the positive effect of organizational ethical culture on firm performance tends to be lower when firms have a high level of competitive intensity in the market.

Originality/value

Overall, this study adds new knowledge to the literature by showing that, although ethical culture created by transformational leaders can lead to high firm performance, the market environment in terms of competitive intensity could mitigate this benefit.
Investigating the impact of ICT-trade nexus on competitiveness in Eastern and Western European countries
Authors: Soylu Özgür Bayram , Adeleye Bosede Ngozi , Ergül Murat , Okur Fatih , Lorente Daniel Balsalobre
Published: June 2022

Purpose

Since competitiveness is crucial in international trade, this paper contributes to the literature by interrogating the information and communication technology (ICT)-trade nexus on competitiveness in Eastern and Western European countries. Does ICT usage promote or hinder the impact of trade openness on competitiveness? This study attempts to answer two questions: (1) is the interaction of trade and ICT significant in promoting competitiveness? (2) Is the effect significantly different by European classification?

Design/methodology/approach

With data on 17 European countries from 2007 to 2020 and using mobile phones and fixed telephone usage as ICT indicators, the study engages the bootstrapped ordinary least squares (BOLS) and method of moments quantile regression (MM-QR) techniques to probe the discourse.

Findings

The empirical findings reveal that (1) the interaction of trade and ICT boost competitiveness; (2) the effect of mobile phone is consistent across the full, East, and West European samples; (3) the interaction effect is also significant across the conditional distribution of competitiveness and (4) mobile phones and fixed broadband usage reveal “leapfrog” effect across the quantiles. Overall, the study submits that ICT usage will enhance the impact of trade, and thus, ICT is a critical enabler of competitiveness in Europe; policy recommendations were discussed.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study examining the interaction effect of trade openness and ICT usage on competitiveness in Europe. In other words, the authors attempt to analyze how ICT usage influences trade-competitiveness dynamics. To fill the gap in the literature, the authors' use a sample of 17 European countries from 2007 to 2020. The variables of interest are the competitiveness index, trade openness, and four ICT indicators (mobile phone, fixed telephone subscriptions, fixed telephone subscriptions, and Internet users).
Officer-involved deaths and the duty to intervene: assessing the impact of DTI policy in New York City, 2000–2019
Authors: Dawson Akiv J. , Blount-Hill Kwan-Lamar , Hodge II Guy
Published: June 2022

Purpose

In the current study, the authors explore changes in multiple police officer-involved deaths (MOIDs) and on changes in the racial makeup of MOID victims in different stages of implementation of a duty-to-intervene (DTI) policy by the New York City Police Department (NYPD).

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use fatal encounters to analyze data on MOIDs involving NYPD officers from 2000 to 2019, including three time periods: pre-DTI, initial DTI, and revised DTI. The authors use non-equivalent dependent variables design and t-tests to determine the significance of differences in MOID occurrence and civilian race between these periods.

Findings

The greatest reduction in MOIDs was observed during the initial DTI period, followed by an uptick in MOIDs during the revised DTI period. We also observed that MOIDs are racialized events that disproportionately impact Black New Yorkers. This remained the case even after the implementation of DTI.

Research limitations/implications

The authors find mixed support for DTI as an administrative control for preventing MOIDs and reducing racial disparities in MOIDs. DTI implementation period, the significant reductions in MOIDs in the initial DTI period, but not the second also lends support for the notion that community pressure (i.e. resurgence of Black Lives Matter) also impacts officer behavior. This suggests that along with strong administrative controls, the behavior of the public may also be an important factor in controlling officer behavior.

Originality/value

This article contributes to the growing literature on duty to intervene and offers an early investigation into DTI as an administrative control for MOIDs using the NYPD as a case study. The authors examine changes in MOIDs and the racial makeup of civilians who were killed in MOIDs in three DTI periods. To the authors’ knowledge, no other study has done this.
Video versus direct laryngoscopy by specialist paramedics in New South Wales: Preliminary results from a new airway registry
Authors: Nichols Martin , Fouche Pieter F , Bendall Jason C
Published: June 2022

Objectives

Video laryngoscopy (VL) is increasingly used as an alternative to direct laryngoscopy (DL) to improve airway visualisation and endotracheal intubation (ETI) success. Intensive Care Paramedics in New South Wales Ambulance, Australia started using VL in 2020, and recorded success in a new advanced airway registry. We used this registry to compare VL to DL.

Methods

The present study was a retrospective analysis of out‐of‐hospital data for ETI by specialist paramedics using an airway registry. We calculated overall and first‐pass success for VL versus DL, and compared success using a Χ2 test.

Results

The DL overall success was 61 out of 78 (78.2%) and VL was 233 out of 246 (94.7%); difference of 16.5% (P < 0.001). First‐pass for DL was successful for 49 out of 78 (62.8%) and for VL in 195 out of 246 (79.3%); difference of 16.5% (P = 0.003). There were five (1.6%) patients where both VL and DL were used and in all instances, DL was used first.

Conclusions

This analysis of a new airway registry used by specialist paramedics in New South Wales shows a substantial increase in overall and first‐pass intubation success with the use of VL when compared to DL.
Gender differences in lifetime and current use of online support for recovery from alcohol use disorder
Authors: Gilbert Paul A. , Saathoff Elizabeth , Russell Alex M. , Brown Grant
Published: June 2022

Background

Digital recovery support services (D‐RSS) use technology to engage individuals seeking recovery from alcohol use disorder (AUD). Given sparse data on use of these emergent services as well as longstanding and stark gender disparities in use of traditional alcohol treatment services, we sought to quantify lifetime and current D‐RSS use and to test associations with several recovery outcomes, with particular attention to gender differences.

Methods

We analyzed data obtained in fall 2020 in a national survey of adults with a resolved alcohol problem (n = 1487). We estimated lifetime and current D‐RSS use, prevalence of various types of D‐RSS, and related outcomes (e.g., recovery stability, relapse events, quality of life). Stratified logistic regression models identified correlates of D‐RSS use for women and men, controlling for demographic and AUD characteristics.

Results

Overall, an estimated 14.9% of the population of adults with a resolved alcohol problem reported lifetime use of D‐RSS, with no difference by gender. Current use was lower and was reported by more men than women (9.9% vs. 5.8%, respectively). Men had higher odds of D‐RSS use if they had <1 year of recovery (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 7.84), 1 to 5 years of recovery (aOR 2.17), and if never married (aOR 3.29). Among women, higher odds of D‐RSS were associated with AUD symptom count (aOR 1.30), being unemployed (aOR 9.85), and having minor children in the household (aOR 3.58). Among women, there was no association between D‐RSS use and recovery stability, relapse events, and quality of life. However, among men D‐RSS use was associated with reporting that the COVID‐19 pandemic had made it more difficult to resist alcohol or drugs and with lower self‐reported quality of life.

Conclusions

D‐RSS are a promising technological approach to support recovery. There is room to increase their use, and gender‐specific approaches may be needed given different correlates of use for women and men. In addition, further research is needed to explore whether D‐RSS may confer benefits through similar mechanisms as in‐person recovery services.
Trade and food security in a climate change‐impacted world
Authors: Brenton Paul , Chemutai Vicky , Pangestu Mari
Published: June 2022

Today's climate‐turbulent world is rife with food insecurity—threatening economic development trajectories by stunting growth, subsequently reducing employability and labor productivity, especially for developing countries. The pandemic has exacerbated these adverse effects and reveals the critical need to put in place policies that can safeguard and sustain trade flows in agricultural products. For the vast majority of countries, food security cannot be guaranteed by domestic production alone. If certain crops are domestically untenable or yields are temporarily poor, imports are essential. Additionally, exports of agricultural products provide a major source of income for some of the poorest people around the world. This article explores the interplay between climate change, the production and the trade of agricultural products, and the resulting food security implications. It then examines the existing trade policies governing agricultural trade and provides recommendations for action at the global, regional, and country levels.
Relationship between anal functional lumen imaging probe (EndoFLIP®) results and the clinical presentation of faecal incontinence
Authors: Desprez Charlotte , Gourcerol Guillaume , Savoye‐Collet Céline , Bridoux Valérie , Duflot Thomas , Leroi Anne‐Marie
Published: June 2022

Aim

Faecal incontinence (FI) subtypes (urge, passive, mixed) are linked to the physiopathological mechanism of FI. Previous studies have failed to demonstrate a consistent relationship between FI subtype and anal sphincter dysfunction. Our aim was to evaluate the relationship between anal sphincter function, assessed using the new EndoFLIP® technology, and FI subtype.

Method

Patients referred for FI were prospectively enrolled between October 2015 and May 2021 in a registry, and data were retrospectively examined. Each patient underwent a clinical assessment as well as three‐dimensional high‐resolution or water‐perfused anorectal manometry, anal EndoFLIP®, and anorectal electrophysiological and endoanal ultrasound tests. The results of the investigations were compared across FI subtypes.

Results

The cohort included 133 patients, 54 (41%) of whom met the criteria for urge FI, 40 (30%) for passive FI and 39 (29%) for mixed FI. The resting anal distensibility index (DI) at 50 ml of distension was significantly lower in patients with urge FI than in patients with passive FI (p = 0.04). At rest, a DI at 50 ml of distension ≥7.3 mm2 mmHg−1 and a DI at 40 ml of distension <1.3 mm2 mmHg−1 were associated with the passive and urge FI subtypes, respectively, with poor discriminatory power (an accuracy of 0.49 compared with 0.33 for random assignment). There were no differences in anorectal manometry, endoanal ultrasound or electrophysiological test results among the urge, passive and mixed FI subgroups (all p > 0.05).

Conclusion

The anal sphincter DI using the EndoFLIP® system displayed poor predictive performance in distinguishing among FI subtypes.
Truly invasive or simply non‐native? Insights from an artificial crested newt hybrid zone
Authors: Hinneberg Heiko , Bamann Thomas , Geue Julia C. , Foerster Katharina , Thomassen Henri A. , Kupfer Alexander
Published: June 2022

Introductions of non‐native species can pose serious threats to native populations and ecosystems. However, the impact of introduced species depends on intrinsic characteristics, local habitat conditions, and the interaction with native species. Case‐specific management strategies may therefore be required. Using phenotypic characters and molecular markers for species identification, we provide insights into an artificial hybrid zone between two closely related newt species, the native Triturus cristatus and the introduced T. carnifex, near Tübingen, south‐west Germany. Our analyses revealed a central Italian origin of the non‐native T. carnifex and suggested their sustained presence in the study area for at least six years, probably much longer. In some ponds, extensive hybridization with native T. cristatus was detected. However, we found no evidence for a displacement of the native species by its non‐native congener. The gradient from pure T. carnifex to pure T. cristatus currently extends over 7 km. A future expansion of the hybrid zone and swamping of a neighboring T. cristatus meta‐population appears unlikely under the local configuration of breeding ponds. We propose to monitor the hybrid zone using genetic markers for evaluating the direction and speed of gene flow, complemented by capture‐recapture studies to reveal trends in species‐specific population sizes. To protect the native T. cristatus, we recommend practitioners to maintain their habitats, for example, by preventing illegal release of gold fish, by counteracting early drying of the breeding ponds, and by regularly cutting back trees and shrubs along the shoreline.
Nonsebaceous lymphadenoma arising as a painless subcutaneous nodule on the eyebrow
Authors: Calco Gina N. , Davis Jessica L. , Chung Jina
Published: June 2022

Salivary gland tumors can rarely present in skin excision specimens and can pose a diagnostic challenge to dermatopathologists. We present an exceptional case of a salivary gland type nonsebaceous lymphadenoma presenting as a painless subcutaneous nodule on the right medial eyebrow of a 16‐year‐old male, mimicking a primary cutaneous adnexal neoplasm. Histologic evaluation revealed a well‐circumscribed to partially encapsulated nodule with a marked lymphoid infiltrate including reactive germinal centers. Within the lymphoid component was a central epithelial cystic neoplasm with tubuloglandular and basaloid differentiation. There was no myoepithelial component to suggest a chondroid syringoma. No sebaceous differentiation was present. The overall histopathological and immunohistochemical findings were consistent with a nonsebaceous lymphadenoma. Dermatopathologists should consider salivary gland type lymphadenoma as a differential diagnosis when encountering a subcutaneous lesion with lymphoid, cystic, glandular, and basaloid components.
Quantifying invasibility
Authors: Pande Jayant , Tsubery Yehonatan , Shnerb Nadav M.
Published: June 2022

Invasibility, the chance of a population to grow from rarity and become established, plays a fundamental role in population genetics, ecology, epidemiology and evolution. For many decades, the mean growth rate of a species when it is rare has been employed as an invasion criterion. Recent studies show that the mean growth rate fails as a quantitative metric for invasibility, with its magnitude sometimes even increasing while the invasibility decreases. Here we provide two novel formulae, based on the diffusion approximation and a large‐deviations (Wentzel–Kramers–Brillouin) approach, for the chance of invasion given the mean growth and its variance. The first formula has the virtue of simplicity, while the second one holds over a wider parameter range. The efficacy of the formulae, including their accompanying data analysis technique, is demonstrated using synthetic time series generated from canonical models and parameterised with empirical data.
6G wireless communication assisted security management using cloud edge computing
Authors: Kamruzzaman M. M.
Published: June 2022

Security management is the process of identifying a company's assets (such as people, buildings, equipment, systems, and information assets) and then developing, documenting, and implementing policies and procedures to secure those assets. Meanwhile, artificial intelligence (AI) applications are flourishing thanks to advances in deep learning and numerous hardware architecture improvements based on cloud edge computing (CEC) issues are associated with the Internet of Things (IoT), including inadequate security measures, user ignorance, and the dreaded active monitoring. Therefore, a 6G wireless communication‐assisted security management using artificial intelligence (WC‐SM‐AI) has been introduced to enhance security. The energy‐efficient 6G real‐time communication framework and the enhanced deep neural network security module are key components of this architecture. The first module optimizes network lifespan and spectral efficiency while reducing energy consumption and latency. Another module offers a more secure network connection while increasing privacy, data integrity, and access. For this reason, this article discusses how AI can strengthen the security of 6G networks while promoting strategy problems and solutions.
Characterisation of kinetics, substrate inhibition and product activation by AMP of bifunctional ADP‐dependent glucokinase/phosphofructokinase from Methanococcus maripaludis
Authors: Vallejos‐Baccelliere Gabriel , Kaufman Sergio B. , González‐Lebrero Rodolfo M. , Castro‐Fernandez Víctor , Guixé Victoria
Published: June 2022

Methanogenic archaea have received attention due to their potential use in biotechnological applications such as methane production, so their metabolism and regulation are topics of special interest. When growing in a nutrient‐rich medium, these organisms exhibit gluconeogenic metabolism; however, under starvation conditions, they turn to glycolytic metabolism. To date, no regulatory mechanism has been described for this gluconeogenic/glycolytic metabolic switch. Here, we report that adenosine monophosphate (AMP) activates both enzymatic activities of the bifunctional adenosine diphosphate (ADP)‐dependent phosphofructokinase/glucokinase from Methanococcus maripaludis (MmPFK/GK). To understand this phenomenon, we performed a comprehensive kinetic characterisation, including determination of the kinetics, substrate inhibition and AMP activation mechanism of this enzyme. We determined that MmPFK/GK has an ordered‐sequential mechanism, in which MgADP is the first substrate to bind and AMP is the last product released. The enzyme also displays substrate inhibition by both sugar substrates; we determined that this inhibition occurs through the formation of catalytically nonproductive enzyme complexes caused by sugar binding. For both activities, the AMP activation mechanism occurs primarily through incremental changes in the affinity for the sugar substrate, with this effect being higher in the GK than in the PFK activity. Interestingly, due to the increase in the sugar substrate affinity caused by AMP, an enhancement in the sugar substrate inhibition effect was also observed for both activities, which can be explained by an increase in sugar binding leading to the formation of dead‐end complexes. These results shed light on the regulatory mechanisms of methanogenic archaeal sugar metabolism, a phenomenon that has been largely unexplored.
‘ES IST EINE DESOLATE IDEE, GENIE WERDEN ZU WOLLEN’: ZUM BÖRSENWERT DES BEGRIFFS GENIE BEI NESTROY
Authors: Dusini Arno
Published: June 2022

In his farces, Johann Nepomuk Nestroy seizes on prevailing stereotypes of genius, treating the concept with an irony that contributed to its critical revision in his day. Drawing on the theories of Michail Bachtin, the article examines how genius – as a term and as a series of (con)figurations – features in Nestroy's works, differentiating between its chronotopic, polyphonic and dialogic dramaturgical functions. Within the sociolinguistic groundedness of Nestroy's settings, the tension between words and action, puns and plot, opens up perspectives on the play between various kinds of capital which drove ʻVormärzʼ society.

Die Possen Johann Nepomuk Nestroys lassen sich die zeittypische Konjunktur des Geniewesens nicht entgehen und haben Teil an seiner kritischen Ironisierung. Ausgehend von Konzepten Michail Bachtins unterscheidet und untersucht der Beitrag eine chronotopische, eine polyphone und eine dialogisch‐dramaturgische Funktion, die Begriff und Figuration des ʻGeniesʼ bei Nestroy  zukommen. In der Spannung von Wortbedeutung und dramatischem Geschehen öffnet sich in der sprachlich‐sozialen Konkretion der Faktur der Stücke ein Blick auf das Spiel der Kapitalien, das die Vormärzgesellschaft umtreibt.
NACH DEM SCHICKSAL: NAPOLEON BEI HEINE UND TOLSTOJ
Authors: Howe Jan Niklas
Published: June 2022

The article uses the contrast between Heinrich Heine and Tolstoyʼs descriptions of Napoleon to explore the paradigm shift from artistic to political figures in nineteenth‐century models of genius. Departing from a brief sketch of five fundamental elements of eighteenth‐century genius aesthetics, it outlines how poetic genius (personified by Goethe) is succeeded by political genius (Napoleon) in Heine's work. Genius as a political category maintains a constitutive underdetermination which accounts for its superlative and enigmatic quality. At the same time, the politicisation of personal genius means that it can be questioned in terms of historical and military achievements. The article demonstrates that this option of critical evaluation, instrumentalised by Heine against Napoleonʼs enemies, is turned against the emperor himself in later nineteenth‐century accounts, as a brief reading of War and Peace exemplifies. Both Heine's exuberant and Tolstoy's polemic depiction of Napoleon are centred on the concept of fate. This focus points to rivalry between literature and politics with regard to the possibility of individual self‐assertion. Genius becomes a way of describing historical events that allows for individual agency in the face of necessity and chance, war and mobilised masses; it also re‐establishes literatureʼs authority to evaluate historical events.

Der Aufsatz zeichnet anhand gegenläufiger Napoleon‐Beschreibungen bei Heine und Tolstoj die Ersetzung des Künstlergenies durch den genialen Feldherrn im neunzehnten Jahrhundert nach. Ausgehend von einer kurzen Skizze zu fünf grundlegenden Elementen der Genieästhetik des achtzehnten Jahrhunderts wird zunächst gezeigt, wie in Heines Schriften poetisches Genie (Goethe) durch politisches Genie (Napoleon) abgelöst wird. Der Genie‐Begriff behält dabei auch als politische Kategorie eine konstitutive Unterbestimmtheit, die ihn zu einem unhintergehbaren Superlativ macht. Allerdings wird die Zuschreibung von Genie hinterfragbar, mit Blick auf tatsächliche politische (etwa militärische) Erfolge. Die Begründung für die Zuschreibung von Genie über Handlungen, bei Heine zur Glorifizierung Napoleons eingesetzt, wird im späteren neunzehnten Jahrhundert gegen den Kaiser selbst gewendet, wie eine kursorische Lektüre von Krieg und Frieden zeigt. Heines begeistertes Porträt und Tolstojs Karrikatur Napoleons sind jeweils um das Konzept des Schicksals zentriert und verweisen auf eine Konkurrenz zwischen Literatur und Politik mit Blick auf die Möglichkeit individueller Selbstbehauptung. Genie bedeutet eine Möglichkeit, in der Beschreibung historischer Ereignisse individuelle Handlungsmöglichkeiten wieder einzuführen, gegenüber den Zwängen von Schicksal, Zufall, Krieg und mobilisierten Massen. Bei Heine wie Tolstoj wird ein literarischer Deutungsanspruch gegenüber historischen Ereignissen artikuliert.
SCHATTEN‐ UND LICHTSEITEN DER GENIETHEORIE OTTO WEININGERS
Authors: Rider Jacques Le
Published: June 2022

Is it possible to separate the wheat from the chaff in Otto Weiningerʼs (in)famous Geschlecht und Charakter and to analyse its theory of genius without taking into consideration the antifeminist and antisemitic context of the work as a whole? This article argues that it is not: Weininger's theory of genius is central to his misogynistic and antisemitic cultural critique. He uses genius as the unassailable subject, ‘the divine in man’, to oppose Ernst Mach's thesis of the ‘unrettbares Ich’ (‘irretrievable self’) that was popularised by Hermann Bahr as a fitting diagnosis of the malaise of modernity.