bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Long‐term recovery of above‐ and below‐ground interactions in restored grasslands after topsoil removal and seed addition
Authors: Resch Monika Carol , Schütz Martin , Ochoa‐Hueso Raúl , Buchmann Nina , Frey Beat , Graf Ulrich , van der Putten Wim H. , Zimmermann Stephan , Risch Anita C.
Published: February 2022

Evaluation of restoration activities is indispensable to assess the extent to which targets have been reached. Usually, the main goal of ecological restoration is to restore biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, but validation is often based on a single indicator, which may or may not cope with whole‐ecosystem dynamics. Network analyses are, however, powerful tools, allowing to examine both the recovery of various biotic and abiotic properties and the integrated response at community and ecosystem level.

We used restoration sites where topsoil was removed from former intensively managed grassland and seeds were added. These sites were between 3 and 32 years old. We assessed how plants, soil biota, soil properties and correlation‐based interactions between biotic communities and their abiotic environment developed over time and compared the results with (i) intensively managed (not restored), and (ii) well‐preserved targeted semi‐natural grasslands.

Plant, nematode, fungal and prokaryotic diversity and community structures of the restored grasslands revealed clear successional patterns and followed similar trajectories towards targeted semi‐natural grasslands. All biotic communities reached targeted diversity levels no later than 18 years post‐restoration.

Ecological networks of intensively managed and short‐term (~4 years) restored grasslands were less tightly connected compared to those found in mid‐ and long‐term (~18–30 years) restored and target grasslands. Restoration specifically enhanced interactions among biotic communities, but reduced interactions between biotic communities and their abiotic environment as well as interactions among abiotic properties in the short‐ and mid‐term.

Synthesis and applications: Overall, our study demonstrated that topsoil removal and seed addition were successful in restoring diverse, tightly coupled and well‐connected biotic communities above‐ and below‐ground similar to those found in the semi‐natural grasslands that were restoration targets. Network analyses proved to be powerful in examining the long‐term re‐establishment of functionally connected biotic communities in restored ecosystems. Thus, we provide an approach to holistically assess restoration activities by notably considering the complexity of ecosystems, much in contrast to most traditional approaches.
Intraspecific trait variation in alpine plants relates to their elevational distribution
Authors: Rixen Christian , Wipf Sonja , Rumpf Sabine B. , Giejsztowt Justyna , Millen Jules , Morgan John W. , Nicotra Adrienne B. , Venn Susanna , Zong Shengwei , Dickinson Katharine J. M. , Freschet Grégoire T. , Kurzböck Claudia , Li Jin , Pan Hongli , Pfund Beat , Quaglia Elena , Su Xu , Wang Wei , Wang Xiangtao , Yin Hang , Deslippe Julie R.
Published: February 2022

Climate warming is shifting the distributions of mountain plant species to higher elevations. Cold‐adapted plant species are under increasing pressure from novel competitors that are encroaching from lower elevations. Plant capacity to adjust to these pressures may be measurable as variation in trait values within a species. In particular, the strength and patterns of intraspecific trait variation along abiotic and biotic gradients can inform us whether and how species can adjust their anatomy and morphology to persist in a changing environment.

Here, we tested whether species specialized to high elevations or with narrow elevational ranges show more conservative (i.e. less variable) trait responses across their elevational distribution, or in response to neighbours, than species from lower elevations or with wider elevational ranges. We did so by studying intraspecific trait variation of 66 species along 40 elevational gradients in four countries in both hemispheres. As an indication of potential neighbour interactions that could drive trait variation, we also analysed plant species’ height ratio, its height relative to its nearest neighbour.

Variation in alpine plant trait values over elevation differed depending on a species’ median elevation and the breadth of its elevational range, with species with lower median elevations and larger elevational range sizes showing greater trait variation, i.e. a steeper slope in trait values, over their elevational distributions. These effects were evidenced by significant interactions between species’ elevation and their elevational preference or range for several traits: vegetative height, generative height, specific leaf area and patch area. The height ratio of focal alpine species and their neighbours decreased in the lower part of their distribution because neighbours became relatively taller at lower elevations. In contrast, species with lower elevational optima maintained a similar height ratio with neighbours throughout their range.

Synthesis. We provide evidence that species from lower elevations and those with larger range sizes show greater intraspecific trait variation, which may indicate a greater ability to respond to environmental changes. Also, larger trait variation of species from lower elevations may indicate stronger competitive ability of upslope shifting species, posing one further threat to species from higher ranges.
Circulating in difference: performances of publicity on and beyond a Yangon train
Authors: Edwards Michael
Published: February 2022

Amid Myanmar's fraught democratic transition, some local Pentecostals took up new opportunities to publicly evangelize to Buddhists, efforts that were met mostly with indifference. This article explores the role of indifference in mediating encounters across difference. Drawing together scholarship on recognition and sincerity, it argues that these evangelists were occupied not just with the challenges of hailing an audience in a tentatively more open public sphere, albeit one shot through with heightened tension around religious belonging; they were also concerned with what I call the performance of publicity: the ways in which publicity is itself publicized, celebrated, circulated, and received – especially online.
Exploring likelihood ratios assigned for siblings of the true mixture contributor as an alternate contributor
Authors: Kelly Hannah , Coble Michael , Kruijver Maarten , Wivell Richard , Bright Jo‐Anne
Published: February 2022

Relatives tend to have more DNA in common than unrelated people. The closer the biological relationship, the higher the chance of alleles being identical by descent between the individuals. Therefore, when considering a mixed DNA profile, close relatives of the true contributor may not always be excluded as a possible contributor to a mixture due to allele sharing. In these situations, it might be more appropriate under the alternate proposition to consider that the DNA could have originated from a relative of the person of interest rather than an unrelated individual. The probabilistic genotyping software STRmix™ automatically provides LRs considering close biological relatives as alternate sources of the DNA. In this paper, we investigate the support for siblings of the true contributor to a mixture (who are not present in the mixture themselves). We interpret the mixtures and assign LRs using STRmix™ and investigate whether the resulting LRs could be used to indicate whether the true contributor could be a sibling of the POI. Most siblings will have one or more alleles that are not observed in the mixture profile. Support for siblings to have contributed can only occur when allelic dropout is a possibility at the loci where the siblings have alleles that are not observed in the profile. In these data, that was only observed in components with assigned template of 588 rfu or less.
Rotational thromboelastometry in children presenting to an Australian major trauma centre: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: George Shane , Wake Elizabeth , Sweeny Amy , Campbell Don , Winearls James
Published: February 2022

Objective

This retrospective cohort study aims to describe patterns of rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM™) results in paediatric trauma following the implementation of a ROTEM‐guided critical bleeding algorithm and major haemorrhage protocol (MHP).

Methods

This retrospective observational study was conducted in a tertiary trauma hospital in Queensland, Australia, where point‐of‐care ROTEM was introduced for paediatric patients in 2014. All children aged less than 18 years who had a ROTEM test during their presentation between January 2014 and December 2017 for a traumatic injury were included in the dataset. Other children with a record in the hospital's trauma registry in the same period were also screened for blood product usage. Data were collected for frequency of ROTEM testing, pathology and ROTEM results, blood product and antifibrinolytic use along with injury related data. Compliance with recommended treatment thresholds for detected coagulopathy was also reviewed.

Results

A total of 1039 children were listed in the trauma registry, including 167 children having a ROTEM test for trauma. Factors significantly associated with having a ROTEM test were older age, higher injury severity score (ISS >12) and penetrating injury. A result exceeding a treatment threshold was returned for 122 (73.1%) of 167 children, with hyperfibrinolysis identified in 88 (52.6%) of 167 and hypofibrinogenaemia identified in 54 (32.3%) of 167. Adherence with the recommended treatments for those children where a treatment threshold was exceeded was low in this cohort.

Conclusion

The use of ROTEM‐guided blood component replacement is an emerging practice in children for both traumatic and non‐traumatic bleeding. Targeted replacement of identified coagulation defects guided by rapid point‐of‐care testing is an emerging alternative to fixed‐ratio‐based protocols. Further research is required to validate treatment thresholds in the paediatric population and further investigate the clinical outcomes for patients as a result of early correction of trauma‐induced coagulopathy.
Daily reality of violence in a rural emergency department: Is violence becoming the new normal?
Authors: Jacob Alycia , Van Vuuren Julia , Kinsman Leigh , Spelten Evelien
Published: February 2022

Objectives

Violence in emergency healthcare is a persistent and concerning problem. The objective of the present study was to explore and understand rural nurses' views on the daily experience and impact of violence, and its perpetrators.

Methods

The present study took a descriptive exploratory approach. Two focus groups were held with nurses from an ED at a rural hospital in New South Wales, Australia.

Results

Violence occurred regularly and had a significant impact on staff. Nurses go to work expecting to search patients for weapons and be physically and verbally abused. Tolerating and being able to manage violence has become a rite of passage.

Conclusions

The present study shows that rural workers, like metropolitan workers, feel experiences of violence are a routine part of their roles. Violence in healthcare is a societal issue, that cannot be solved without a multifactor approach that considers the characteristics of the perpetrators.
Response to ALK‐TKIs in a lung adenocarcinoma patient harboring dual DCTN1‐ALK and ALK‐CLIP4 rearrangements
Authors: Gao Fangfang , Gao Fangfang , Wu Huijuan , Lu Junfeng , Xu Yaping , Zhao Yanqiu
Published: February 2022

Rearrangements involving anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene have been reported in ~5% of non–small‐cell lung cancer patients. These rearrangements are characterized by the identification of various rare fusion partners, with unknown clinical significance. Specifically, the concurrence of different ALK fusions within the same patient, as well as its impact on therapeutic response to ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors (ALK‐TKIs), are rarely reported. Here, we report a 46‐year‐old female who was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma and identified carrying concurrent DCTN1‐ALK and ALK‐CLIP4 rearrangements by next generation sequencing (NGS) (638‐gene panel). This patient showed partial response to crizotinib with a progress‐free survival of 12 months and was then administered alectinib. Our report highlighted the importance of NGS testing in identifying rare ALK rearrangements and provided a novel insight into understanding the efficacy of ALK‐TKI in this subset of patients.
Do Hedge Funds Undertake Activism in the Bond Market? Evidence from Bondholders' Responses to Delay in Financial Reporting*
Authors: Gao Yu , Smith Abbie , Wang Xue
Published: February 2022

We investigate whether hedge funds (HFs) undertake activism in the corporate bond market. Although there is a growing empirical literature investigating HF activism in the equity market, we know little about the role of HF activists in the corporate bond market. The empirical setting is the active enforcement of bondholders' rights during 2003–2007, triggered by issuers' violation of a standard bond covenant requiring timely financial reporting. Using HF holding data of convertible bonds in Form 13F filings, we identify HF interventions. The patterns of HF ownership suggest that HFs actively purchased convertible bonds to increase their ownership before the issuance of default notices. Relative to other interventions, HF interventions are more likely to target companies with higher levels of cash holdings but less likely to target companies with a greater amount of private debt outstanding. Furthermore, we find that HF interventions are associated with elevated bond trading frequency before late filing notifications and issuances of default notices, as well as a wealth transfer from stockholders and non‐intervening bondholders to intervening bondholders. Taken together, the empirical evidence demonstrates that HFs take actions to force the issuance of default notices in response to delay in financial reporting, suggesting that the primary objective of HF activism in this setting is to extract short‐term profit from bond issuers.
Speculative trading preferences of retail investor birth cohorts
Authors: Lepone Grace , Westerholm Joakim , Wright Danika
Published: February 2022

This study examines the effect of investor birth cohorts on speculative investment preferences. Using retail trading and portfolio data from Finland over two decades, we find that individuals who have experienced desirable macro‐economic and social conditions during adolescence, such as high gross domestic product (GDP) growth and low divorce rates, are more likely to invest in speculative stocks. A positive relation is found between the proportion of speculative‐prone cohorts in the stock market and returns of stocks of lottery nature. We provide new evidence on the adverse effect of speculative investments, finding that cohorts with higher speculative investment weights on their portfolios achieve lower absolute and risk‐adjusted returns. We also provide support for earlier research that identifies a positive association between recent portfolio performance and the propensity to invest in speculative stocks.
Atavistic muscles in human anatomy: Evolutionary origins and clinical implications
Authors: Wahl Lauren , Lee Rebecca , Olewnik Łukasz , Iwanaga Joe , Georgiev Georgi P. , Ravi Kumar Satish , Dumont Aaron S. , Tubbs R. Shane
Published: February 2022

The evolution and variations of human anatomy are of great interest to physicians and anatomists. Variations can be categorized as vestigial, accessory or atavistic structures. Vestigial muscles are frequently encountered structures that are normally present but have become rudimentary through evolution. Muscles that disappeared during evolution sometimes arise again, although rarely; such muscles are referred to as atavistic. They arise from failure of suppression of genetic loci. Some common atavistic muscles seen clinically are the extensor digitorum brevis manus, chondroepitrochlearis and plantaris. Atavistic muscles appear more frequently in the upper limb than in any other region of the human body. One explanation for the appearance of these muscles, mainly within the upper limbs, is based on the evolution of the complex upper extremities formed in humans today. Often, the presence of atavistic muscles is asymptomatic, but they can compromise the function of normal anatomical structures and complicate clinical situations if their presence is unknown. They can cause complications if they are confused with soft tissue pathology, if they compress or displace surrounding structures, or if they require an additional blood supply during times of exercise and stress. The purpose of this paper was to describe the common atavistic muscles, their hypothesized evolutionary origins, their potential complications and possible treatments for the diagnosing clinician.
Capitalism and crises: A comparative analysis of mainstream and heterodox perceptions and related ethical considerations
Authors: Kuehnlenz Sophia , Andreoni Valeria , Meyenburg Imko
Published: February 2022

This paper analyses the main perceptions of capitalism and crises from a mainstream and heterodox perspective. Broadly defined within the neoclassical structure, the mainstream approaches support the idea of long‐term stability of capitalism and describe crises as exogenous events. The heterodox perceptions, on the contrary, perceive crises as an internal feature of capitalism and propose to reframe the global economy within the limits of the socio‐environmental systems. Despite the historical recurrence of crises, the neoclassic capitalist framework and the related mainstream perceptions are still dominating the international economic debate. Most of the crises have then been addressed with reforms oriented to adjust some elements of the system without changing the overall economic structure. On the contrary, limited numbers of initiatives have been implemented to reorganise the economy according to the heterodox perspectives. Within this context, further analysis would be needed to investigate the feasibility of the proposed heterodox solutions. By discussing the main perceptions of capitalism and crises and by considering the ethical implications of the mainstream and the heterodox approaches, the present paper contributes to the existing debate around stability of capitalism and provides a starting point for analysis oriented to investigate the feasibility of alternative economic structures.
Electronegative electroretinogram in the modern multimodal imaging era
Authors: Sakti Dhimas H. , Ali Haipha , Korsakova Maria , Saakova Nonna , Mustafic Nina , Fraser Clare L. , Jamieson Robyn V. , Cornish Elisa E. , Grigg John R.
Published: February 2022

Background

The electronegative electroretinogram (ERG) reflecting inner retinal dysfunction can assist as a diagnostic tool to determine the anatomical location in eye disease. The aim of this study is to determine the frequency and aetiology of electronegative ERG in a tertiary ophthalmology centre and to develop a clinical algorithm to assist patient management.

Methods

Retrospective review of ERGs performed at the Save Sight Institute from January 2011 to December 2020. ERGs were performed according to ISCEV standard. The b:a ratio was analysed in dark adapted (DA) 3.0 or 12.0 recordings. Patients with ratio of ≤1.0 were included.

Results

A total of 4421 patients had ERGs performed during study period, of which 139 patients (3.1%) had electronegative ERG. The electronegative ERG patients' median age at referral time was 37 (0.7–90.6) years. The causative aetiologies were photoreceptor dystrophy (48, 34.5%), Congenital Stationary Night Blindness (CSNB) (33, 23.7%), retinal ischemia (18, 12.9%), retinoschisis (15, 10.8%), paraneoplastic autoimmune retinopathy (PAIR) and nonPAIR (14, 10.1%), batten disease (4, 2.9%), and inflammatory retinopathy (4, 2.9%). There were three patients with an unclassified diagnosis. Thirty‐two patients (23%) had good vision and a normal fundus appearance. Eleven patients (7.9%) had good vision and normal results in all multimodal imaging.

Conclusions

The frequency of electronegative ERG in our referral centre was 3.1% with photoreceptor dystrophy as the main aetiology. A significant number of the cases had good vision with normal fundus or normal multimodal imaging. This further highlights the value of an ERG in this modern multimodal imaging era.
Immediate loading of a fully tapered implant with deep apical threads placed in healed alveolar ridges vs. immediate extraction sockets
Authors: Hadaya Danny , Pi‐Anfruns Joan , Bellon Benjamin , Pippenger Benjamin E. , Aghaloo Tara L
Published: February 2022

Objectives

Immediate implant placement and loading is a practice that continues to gain traction in implant dentistry because it reduces treatment time and improves satisfaction. Novel implant designs that facilitate increased primary stability, while not compromising osseointegration and long‐term survival are important to offer immediate solutions for missing teeth. Here, we hypothesize that fully tapered implants can obtain successful osseointegration with high survival rates after immediate loading in fresh extraction sockets and healed sites.

Materials and methods

A total of 13 swine with 73 implants were evaluated. Fully tapered or apically tapered implants were placed in extraction sockets and healed sites. Insertion torque and resonance frequency analysis were determined at placement and euthanasia. Animals were evaluated at: placement, and 1‐week and 12‐weeks after placement. Bone to Implant Contact (BIC), Bone Area/Total Area (BA/TA), and first BIC (fBIC) analyses were conducted.

Results

The fully tapered implant achieved similar primary stability with lower insertion torque at placement. Apically and fully tapered implants had comparable BIC (50.1% vs 59.4%) and ISQ (82.5 vs 80.3) values by 12 weeks in healed sites. In extraction sockets, BIC and ISQ for the apically tapered implant was 35.8% and 73.2 and 37.8% and 79.2 for the fully tapered implants, respectively.

Conclusions

In this short‐term study, immediately loaded fully tapered implants obtained high survival with similar osseointegration ability as apically tapered implants when placed in healed sites and fresh extraction sockets. Fully tapered implants show promise for use in immediate loading and immediate placement.
Hsa_circ_0072309 enhances autophagy and TMZ sensitivity in glioblastoma
Authors: Yuan Fanen , Zhang Si , Sun Qian , Ye Liguo , Xu Yang , Xu Zhou , Deng Gang , Zhang Shenqi , Liu Baohui , Chen Qianxue
Published: February 2022

Aims

Circular RNAs have been reported to play key roles in the progression of various cancers, including gliomas. The present study was designed to investigate the role of hsa_circ_0072309 in autophagy and temozolomide (TMZ) sensitivity in glioblastoma (GBM).

Methods

The effect of hsa_circ_0072309 on autophagy and TMZ sensitivity were examined by GFP‐RFP‐LC3, transmission electron microscopy(TEM), flow cytometry, Western blot, and immunofluorescence. The mechanism of hsa_circ_0072309 regulating p53 signaling pathway was analyzed using Western blot, IP, and rescue experiments.

Results

Low hsa_circ_0072309 expression predicts poor prognosis for glioma patients. The regulation of hsa_circ_0072309 on autophagy and TMZ sensitivity depends on the status of p53. Hsa_circ_0072309 promoted autophagy by p53 signaling pathway and enhanced sensitivity of glioblastoma to temozolomide (TMZ) in p53 wild‐type GBM, but not in p53 mutant GBM. Hsa_circ_0072309 inhibits p53 ubiquitination and increases the stability of p53 protein in the context of p53 wild‐type. MiR‐100 mediates hsa_circ_0072309 regulating p53. P53 inhibitor or autophagy inhibitor could reverse the effect of hsa_circ_0072309 on TMZ sensitivity in p53 wild‐type GBM.

Conclusions

This study revealed a function of hsa_circ_0072309 promoting autophagy by p53 signaling pathway and enhancing TMZ sensitivity. These findings demonstrated that hsa_circ_0072309 may be a potential and promising target in designing the treatment strategy for GBM.
Making a case for the consideration of trust, justice, and power in conservation relationships
Authors: Saif Omar , Keane Aidan , Staddon Sam
Published: February 2022

In conservation, trust and justice are increasingly recognized as both intrinsically valuable and critical for successful socioecological outcomes. However, the interdependence between these concepts has not been explored. The conservation trust literature provides examples of efforts to build trust between conservationists and local actors; yet, these interventions are often conceived to incentivize local cooperation within dominant paradigms. We argue that when trust building is promoted as a technical fix that does not plan in advance to address power asymmetries in conservation practice, inequities may inadvertently be re‐embedded. Therefore, we conceptualized a framework that joins trust, justice, and power so that critical analyses of conservation partnerships can be more effectively undertaken. We drew on environmental justice theory to better calibrate the trust literature for the historical‐political settings of conservation, especially in the Global South. Justice and trust share strong theoretical links where perceptions of justice shape a willingness to trust, and, equally, trust is a precondition for justice to be perceived. Different forms of trust connect to varied domains of justice and power in different ways, which mediates the outcomes of interventions. We applied our framework to case studies to explore how these interdependences play out in practice. Failure of agencies to attend to issues of maldistribution, misrecognition of cultural values and knowledge, and exclusion from participation strongly compromised trust. Moreover, the ways in which nature‐dependent communities and marginalized conservation workers are trusted, or the conditions under which they give trust, can lead to partnerships being perceived as just or unjust. Focusing on trust and justice can help identify power dynamics so they can be addressed more readily and create space for alternative understandings of partnerships.
Evidence of depot‐specific regulation of all‐trans‐retinoic acid biosynthesis in human adipose tissue
Authors: Rubinow Katya B. , Zhong Guo , Czuba Lindsay C. , Chen Judy Y. , Williams Estell , Parr Zoe , Khandelwal Saurabh , Kim Daniel , LaFrance Jeffrey , Isoherranen Nina
Published: February 2022

The prevalence of obesity continues to rise, underscoring the need to better understand the pathways mediating adipose tissue (AT) expansion. All‐trans‐retinoic acid (atRA), a bioactive vitamin A metabolite, regulates adipogenesis and energy metabolism, and, in rodent studies, aberrant vitamin A metabolism appears a key facet of metabolic dysregulation. The relevance of these findings to human disease is unknown, as are the specific enzymes implicated in vitamin A metabolism within human AT. We hypothesized that in human AT, family 1A aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH1A) enzymes contribute to atRA biosynthesis in a depot‐specific manner. To test this hypothesis, parallel samples of subcutaneous and omental AT from participants (n = 15) were collected during elective abdominal surgeries to quantify atRA biosynthesis and key atRA synthesizing enzymes. ALDH1A1 was the most abundant ALDH1A isoform in both AT depots with expression approximately twofold higher in omental than subcutaneous AT. ALDH1A2 was detected only in omental AT. Formation velocity of atRA was approximately threefold higher (p = 0.0001) in omental AT (9.8 [7.6, 11.2]) pmol/min/mg) than subcutaneous AT (3.2 [2.1, 4.0] pmol/min/mg) and correlated with ALDH1A2 expression in omental AT (β‐coefficient = 3.07, p = 0.0007) and with ALDH1A1 expression in subcutaneous AT (β‐coefficient = 0.13, p = 0.003). Despite a positive correlation between body mass index (BMI) and omental ALDH1A1 protein expression (Spearman r = 0.65, p = 0.01), BMI did not correlate with atRA formation. Our findings suggest that ALDH1A2 is the primary mediator of atRA formation in omental AT, whereas ALDH1A1 is the principal atRA‐synthesizing enzyme in subcutaneous AT. These data highlight AT depot as a critical variable for defining the roles of retinoids in human AT biology.
Advance care plan discussion among parents of children with cerebral palsy
Authors: Khalid Farah , Ng Voon Swee Im , Ong Lai Choo , Lim Wei Kang , Li Limin , Adnan Azirah , Ganesan Vigneswari , Teh Chee Ming , Fong Choong Yi
Published: February 2022

Aim

To evaluate parental perception of advance care plan (ACP) discussions in families of Malaysian children with bilateral cerebral palsy (CP) classified in Gross Motor Function Classification System levels IV or V for (1) acceptance of the ACP discussion, (2) feedback on the usefulness of ACP discussion, and (3) exploration of possible factors related to parental acceptance of ACP.

Method

This was a prospective pre‐ and post‐ACP discussion questionnaire study for parents of children with bilateral CP.

Results

Sixty‐nine patients were recruited to the study; 64 (93%) had at least one additional comorbidity. The median age was 8 years (interquartile range 5 years 1 month–11 years 6 months). Fifty‐seven (82.6%) parents found the ACP discussion acceptable, and most reported positive feedback on various components of the discussion (88.4–97.1%). One‐third of participants were not comfortable discussing end‐of‐life care plans. On multivariate analysis, parents who were comfortable discussing end‐of‐life care plans were more likely to find the ACP discussion acceptable (odds ratio 27.78, 95% confidence interval 2.9–265.1, p = 0.004).

Interpretation

Most parents of Malaysian children with bilateral CP reported the ACP discussion as both acceptable and beneficial. Parents need to be comfortable about discussing end‐of‐life care plans for their child to enable the ACP discussion to be an acceptable experience.
Evaluation of carotid artery elastic function using ultrafast pulse wave velocity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Li Yihan , Zhang Jian , An Xin , Li Yuhong
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Ultrafast pulse wave velocity (UFPWV) is an innovative and practical technology that can assess blood vessel elastic function. This study explored the elastic function of the carotid artery using UFPWV and factors influencing pulse wave velocity (PWV) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods

Overall, 120 patients with RA and 60 healthy controls were evaluated. Participants underwent UFPWV and carotid artery intima‐media thickness (cIMT) assessment. The patients were classified into a mild activity group (group A) and a moderate‐to‐severe activity group (group B). Differences in clinical indicators among the groups were determined, and the correlation between each indicator and PWV values was analyzed.

Results

The PWV values were higher in group B than in group A and were higher in group A than in the control group (p < .05). The PWV values in the patient group positively correlated with anticyclic citrullinated peptide (anti‐CCP) antibody, disease course, age, platelets (PLT) count, rheumatoid factor (RF), body mass index (BMI), total cholesterol (TC) level, and triglycerides (TG) level and were negatively correlated with 25‐hydroxyvitamin D3 (25[OH]D3) and hemoglobin (Hb) levels (p < .05). In addition, anti‐CCP antibody, age, RF, and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol were risk factors for arteriosclerosis, whereas Hb and 25(OH)D3 were protective factors (p < .05).

Conclusion

UFPWV allows early and accurate detection of changes in arterial elasticity and enables early intervention to reduce the incidence of cardiovascular events in patients with RA.
Failures to disagree are essential for environmental science to effectively influence policy development
Authors: Norberg Jon , Blenckner Thorsten , Cornell Sarah E. , Petchey Owen L. , Hillebrand Helmut
Published: February 2022

While environmental science, and ecology in particular, is working to provide better understanding to base sustainable decisions on, the way scientific understanding is developed can at times be detrimental to this cause. Locked‐in debates are often unnecessarily polarised and can compromise any common goals of the opposing camps. The present paper is inspired by a resolved debate from an unrelated field of psychology where Nobel laureate David Kahneman and Garry Klein turned what seemed to be a locked‐in debate into a constructive process for their fields. The present paper is also motivated by previous discourses regarding the role of thresholds in natural systems for management and governance, but its scope of analysis targets the scientific process within complex social‐ecological systems in general. We identified four features of environmental science that appear to predispose for locked‐in debates: (1) The strongly context‐dependent behaviour of ecological systems. (2) The dominant role of single hypothesis testing. (3) The high prominence given to theory demonstration compared investigation. (4) The effect of urgent demands to inform and steer policy. This fertile ground is further cultivated by human psychological aspects as well as the structure of funding and publication systems.
Novel lissencephaly‐associated DCX variants in the C‐terminal DCX domain affect microtubule binding and dynamics
Authors: Lin Jun‐Ru , Cheng Ju‐Fang , Liu Yo‐Tsen , Hsu Ting‐Rong , Lin Kao‐Min , Chen Chien , Lin Chia‐Ling , Tsai Meng‐Han , Tsai Jin‐Wu
Published: February 2022

Objective

Pathogenic variants in DCX on the X chromosome lead to lissencephaly and subcortical band heterotopia (SBH), brain malformations caused by neuronal migration defects. Its product doublecortin (DCX) binds to microtubules to modulate microtubule polymerization. How pathogenic DCX variants affect these activities remains not fully investigated.

Methods

DCX variants were identified using whole exome and Sanger sequencing from six families with lissencephaly/SBH. We examined how these variants affect DCX functions using microtubule binding, regrowth, and colocalization assays.

Results

We found novel DCX variants p.Val177AlafsTer31 and p.Gly188Trp, as well as reported variants p.Arg196His, p.Lys202Met, and p.Thr203Ala. Incidentally, all of the missense variants were clustered on the C‐terminal DCX domain. The microtubule binding ability was significantly decreased in p.Val177AlafsTer31, p.Gly188Trp, p.Lys202Met, and previously reported p.Asp262Gly variants. Furthermore, expression of p.Val177AlafsTer31, p.Gly188Trp, p.Arg196His, p.Lys202Met, and p.Asp262Gly variants hindered microtubule growth in cells. There were also decreases in the colocalization of p.Val177AlafsTer31, p.Thr203Ala, and p.Asp262Gly variants to microtubules.

Significance

Our results indicate that these variants in the C‐terminal DCX domain altered microtubule binding and dynamics, which may underlie neuronal migration defects during brain development.
Strong Women and Ambivalent Success: The Gendered Dynamics of China's Psy‐Boom
Authors: Bram Barclay
Published: February 2022

In China, there is a “psy‐boom,” which is understood as the rapid increase in the provision of psychological services and interest in psychological concepts since the initiation of market reforms. This is a heavily gendered phenomenon. This paper seeks to explore why women are drawn into the psy‐boom and what sustains their participation in it. Following a year of fieldwork engaging in various forms of psychotherapy training in the city of Chengdu, the provincial capital of Sichuan province, China, the paper looks in detail at three women who engage in the psy‐boom. The psy‐boom creates a space for these women to try to articulate complex and often competing desires thrown up by the gendered circumstances in which they find themselves. The paper shows how each of these three women draws on their various engagements with the psy‐boom to try to formulate and actualize their visions of the good life.
Cytokine induced 3‐D organotypic psoriasis skin model demonstrates distinct roles for NF‐κB and JAK pathways in disease pathophysiology
Authors: Todorović Viktor , McDonald Heath A. , Hoover Paul , Wetter Joseph B. , Marinopoulos Anastasia E. , Woody Clarissa L. , Miller Loan , Finkielsztein Ariel , Dunstan Robert W. , Paller Amy S. , Honore Prisca , Getsios Spiro , Scott Victoria E.
Published: February 2022

Psoriasis vulgaris is an inflammatory skin disease that affects 2%–3% of the population worldwide. One of the major challenges in discovering novel therapies is the poor translatability of animal models to human disease. Therefore, it is imperative to develop human preclinical models of psoriasis that are amenable to pharmacological intervention. Here, we report a 3‐D reconstituted human epidermis (RHE) culture system treated with cytokines commonly associated with psoriasis (TNFα, IL‐17A and IL‐22) that reproduced some key features of the human disease. The effects on epidermal morphology, gene transcription and cytokine production, which are dysregulated in psoriasis were assessed. Certain morphological features of psoriatic epidermis were evident in cytokine‐stimulated RHEs, including hypogranulosis and parakeratosis. In addition, RHEs responded to a cytokine mix in a dose‐dependent manner by expressing genes and proteins associated with impaired keratinocyte differentiation (keratin 10/K10, loricrin), innate immune responses (S100A7, DEFB4, elafin) and inflammation (IL‐1α, IL‐6, IL‐8, IL‐10, IL‐12/23p40, IL‐36γ, GM‐CSF and IFNγ) typical of psoriasis. These disease‐relevant changes in morphology, gene transcription and cytokine production were robustly attenuated by pharmacologically blocking TNFα/IL‐17A‐induced NF‐κB activation with IKK‐2 inhibitor IV. Conversely, inhibition of IL‐22‐induced JAK1 signalling with ABT‐317 strongly attenuated morphological features of the disease but had no effect on NFκB‐dependent cytokine production, suggesting distinct mechanisms of action by the cytokines driving psoriasis. These data support the use of cytokine‐induced RHE models for identifying and targeting keratinocyte signalling pathways important for disease progression and may provide translational insights into novel keratinocyte mechanisms for novel psoriasis therapies.
The beginning of the end: A revised inventory of divorce initiation
Authors: Parker Michele L. , Diamond Rachel M. , Ledermann Thomas , Tambling Rachel R.
Published: February 2022

Objective

The goal of the present study was to determine the psychometric properties of an extended inventory that assesses the multiple facets of divorce initiation drawn from the existing research, the Revised Divorce Initiation Inventory (DII‐R).

Background

Previous research indicates the role of each partner in the initiation of divorce has relevant implications for emotional and psychological well‐being after the divorce. Much of this research was conducted with a single‐item, categorical assessment of initiator status (e.g., who initiated the divorce?). However, recent studies highlight the complexity of divorce initiation as a multidimensional concept.

Method

A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted with a sample of 408 divorced individuals. Analyses to explore measurement invariance between men and women and construct validity were also conducted.

Results

Findings indicated a four‐factor model (i.e., Legal, Separation, Desire, Responsibility) of 12 items was a good fit to the data. Factor loadings and intercepts were equal across groups.

Conclusion

Divorce initiation is a multifaceted construct that includes dimensions related to separation, legal, desire, and responsibility that should not be measured with a single‐item assessment.

Implications

The DII‐R supports the comprehensive synthesis of ongoing divorce initiation research that may be used to inform clinical practice to intervene in specific areas shown to affect the decision to divorce.
Negative returns on addition to the S&P 500 index and positive returns on deletion? New evidence on the attractiveness of S&P 500 versus S&P 400 indexes
Authors: Vijh Anand M. , Wang Jiawei (Brooke)
Published: February 2022

In recent years, the majority of additions to and deletions from the S&P 500 index have been stocks that were previously or subsequently included in the S&P 400 index. The announcement returns of these changes have been the opposite of what has been documented for all S&P 500 additions and deletions in an extensive literature. During 2016–2020, such “upward additions” to the S&P 500 index resulted in an average announcement excess return of –2.48% over a 3‐day period, while “downward deletions” to the S&P 400 index resulted in an excess return of +1.37%. We explain these new results by the increasing total institutional ownership of S&P 400 stocks. Our results thus show the increasing benefits of being included in the mid‐cap S&P 400 index relative to being included in the large‐cap S&P 500 index.
Widespread mineralization of soft‐bodied insects in Cretaceous amber
Authors: Jiang Hui , Tomaschek Frank , Drew Muscente A. , Niu Changtai , Nyunt Thet Tin , Fang Yan , Schmidt Ute , Chen Jun , Lönartz Mara , Mähler Bastian , Wappler Torsten , Jarzembowski Edmund A. , Szwedo Jacek , Zhang Haichun , Rust Jes , Wang Bo
Published: February 2022

Fossilized tree resin, or amber, commonly contains fossils of animals, plants and microorganisms. These inclusions have generally been interpreted as hollow moulds or mummified remains coated or filled with carbonaceous material. Here, we provide the first report of calcified and silicified insects in amber from the mid‐Cretaceous Kachin (Burmese) amber. Data from light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy‐dispersive and wavelength‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX and WDX), X‐ray micro‐computed tomography (Micro‐CT) and Raman spectroscopy show that these Kachin fossils owe their preservation to multiple diagenetic mineralization processes. The labile tissues (e.g. eyes, wings and trachea) mainly consist of calcite, chalcedony and quartz with minor amounts of carbonaceous material, pyrite, iron oxide and phyllosilicate minerals. Calcite, quartz and chalcedony also occur in cracks as void‐filling cements, indicating that the minerals formed from chemical species that entered the fossil inclusions through cracks in the resin. The results demonstrate that resin and amber are not always closed systems. Fluids (e.g. sediment pore water, diagenetic fluid and ground water) at different burial stages have chances to interact with amber throughout its geological history and affect the preservational quality and morphological fidelity of its fossil inclusions.
Identifying climate thresholds for dominant natural vegetation types at the global scale using machine learning: Average climate versus extremes
Authors: Beigaitė Rita , Tang Hui , Bryn Anders , Skarpaas Olav , Stordal Frode , Bjerke Jarle W. , Žliobaitė Indrė
Published: February 2022

The global distribution of vegetation is largely determined by climatic conditions and feeds back into the climate system. To predict future vegetation changes in response to climate change, it is crucial to identify and understand key patterns and processes that couple vegetation and climate. Dynamic global vegetation models (DGVMs) have been widely applied to describe the distribution of vegetation types and their future dynamics in response to climate change. As a process‐based approach, it partly relies on hard‐coded climate thresholds to constrain the distribution of vegetation. What thresholds to implement in DGVMs and how to replace them with more process‐based descriptions remain among the major challenges. In this study, we employ machine learning using decision trees to extract large‐scale relationships between the global distribution of vegetation and climatic characteristics from remotely sensed vegetation and climate data. We analyse how the dominant vegetation types are linked to climate extremes as compared to seasonally or annually averaged climatic conditions. The results show that climate extremes allow us to describe the distribution and eco‐climatological space of the vegetation types more accurately than the averaged climate variables, especially those types which occupy small territories in a relatively homogeneous ecological space. Future predicted vegetation changes using both climate extremes and averaged climate variables are less prominent than that predicted by averaged climate variables and are in better agreement with those of DGVMs, further indicating the importance of climate extremes in determining geographic distributions of different vegetation types. We found that the temperature thresholds for vegetation types (e.g. grass and open shrubland) in cold environments vary with moisture conditions. The coldest daily maximum temperature (extreme cold day) is particularly important for separating many different vegetation types. These findings highlight the need for a more explicit representation of the impacts of climate extremes on vegetation in DGVMs.
Groundwater Flow Analysis for Inclined Aquifers
Authors: Lenjani Mehdi Zamani
Published: February 2022

Sedimentary deposits that have water in subsurface groundwater system are not often completely horizontal because of the geological features such as: bedding and folding. These deposits typically overlay on sloped impervious layers, and therefore; additional research is necessary for these situations. In this research an analytical model is presented for groundwater flow on inclined impermeable layer. The presented model is preferable to the Paolowsky method regarding its applicability and accuracy. The Dupuit's assumption is used for the formulation. The presented model can be generalized for the situation, having surficial infiltration into and exfiltration from the groundwater system. Several problems of different slope situations and boundary conditions are addressed by the presented model and the results are shown here. The model is compared with numerical model Seep/w and good agreements are obtained when possible.
Quick recovery of a threatened butterfly in well‐connected patches following an extreme drought
Authors: Johansson Victor , Kindvall Oskar , Askling John , Säwenfalk Demieka Seabrook , Norman Hannah , Franzén Markus
Published: February 2022

Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent due to climate change. We therefore need to understand how species respond to these events. In 2018, the worst drought ever recorded hit the island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea, which led to a major decline of the threatened marsh fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia) the succeeding summer.

We compared yearly occupancy among 256 habitat patches between 2018 and 2020 and analysed the colonisation–extinction dynamics between 2019 and 2020 in relation to patch area, connectivity, and habitat quality. Moreover, using capture‐mark‐release data in two patch clusters differing in connectivity, we also compared population sizes before and after the drought and analysed ‘population growth rates’. We also compared yearly abundance of host plants (Succisa pratensis) over time.

Results show a remarkable recovery of the marsh fritillary. Both patch occupancy in 2020 and the number of individuals in the well‐connected patch cluster were higher than before the drought. In contrast, host plants were fewer and smaller, which taken together suggest that the amount of food resources was roughly half in 2020 compared to the pre‐drought conditions. Moreover, the butterfly population in the less connected patch cluster was eight times smaller compared to the population size before the drought. Local colonisations, extinctions, and population growth rates were explained by connectivity.

The ability to quickly recover after extreme droughts is promising in times of climate change. The significance of connectivity for the population dynamics during recovery highlights the importance of maintaining well‐connected patch networks.