bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Membrane bending by protein phase separation
Authors: Yuan Feng , Alimohamadi Haleh , Bakka Brandon , Trementozzi Andrea N. , Fawzi Nicolas L. , Rangamani Padmini , Stachowiak Jeanne C.
Published: May 2020

Membrane bending is a ubiquitous cellular process that is required for membrane traffic, cell motility, organelle biogenesis, and cell division. Proteins that bind to membranes using specific structural features, such as wedge-like amphipathic helices and crescent-shaped scaffolds, are thought to be the primary drivers of membrane bending. However, many membrane-binding proteins have substantial regions of intrinsic disorder, which lack a stable three-dimensional structure. Interestingly, many of these disordered domains have recently been found to form networks stabilized by weak, multi-valent contacts, leading to assembly of protein liquid phases on membrane surfaces. Here we ask how membrane-associated protein liquids impact membrane curvature. We find that protein phase separation on the surfaces of synthetic and cell-derived membrane vesicles creates a substantial compressive stress in the plane of the membrane. This stress drives the membrane to bend inward, creating protein-lined membrane tubules. A simple mechanical model of this process accurately predicts the experimentally measured relationship between the rigidity of the membrane and the diameter of the membrane tubules. Discovery of this mechanism, which may be relevant to a broad range of cellular protrusions, illustrates that membrane remodeling is not exclusive to structured scaffolds, but can also be driven by the rapidly emerging class of liquid-like protein networks that assemble at membranes.

Significance Statement

Cellular membranes take on an elaborate set of highly curved and bent shapes, which are essential to diverse cellular functions from endocytosis to cell division. The prevailing view has been that membrane bending is driven by proteins with curved shapes, which assemble at the membrane surface to form solid scaffolds. In contrast, here we show that proteins which form liquid-like assemblies on membranes are also potent drivers of bending. These “liquid scaffolds” apply compressive stress to the membrane surface, generating a diverse and dynamic family of membrane shapes. These data, which come at a time when liquid-like protein assemblies are being identified throughout the cell, suggest that liquid-like protein assemblies may play an important role in shaping cellular membranes.
Raman spectroscopy-based measurements of single-cell phenotypic diversity in microbial communities
Authors: García-Timermans Cristina , Props Ruben , Zacchetti Boris , Sakarika Myrsini , Delvigne Frank , Boon Nico
Published: May 2020

Microbial cells experience physiological changes due to environmental change, such as pH and temperature, the release of bactericidal agents, or nutrient limitation. This, has been shown to affect community assembly and other processes such as stress tolerance, virulence or cell physiology. Metabolic stress is one such physiological changes and is typically quantified by measuring community phenotypic properties such as biomass growth, reactive oxygen species or cell permeability. However, community measurements do not take into account single-cell phenotypic diversity, important for a better understanding and management of microbial populations. Raman spectroscopy is a non-destructive alternative that provides detailed information on the biochemical make-up of each individual cell.

Here, we introduce a method for describing single-cell phenotypic diversity using the Hill diversity framework of Raman spectra. Using the biomolecular profile of individual cells, we obtained a metric to compare cellular states and used it to study stress-induced changes. First, in twoEscherichia colipopulations either treated with ethanol or non-treated. Then, in twoSaccharomyces cerevisiaesubpopulations with either high or low expression of a stress reporter. In both cases, we were able to quantify single-cell phenotypic diversity and to discriminate metabolically stressed cells using a clustering algorithm. We also described how the lipid, protein and nucleic acid composition changed after the exposure to the stressor using information from the Raman spectra. Our results show that Raman spectroscopy delivers the necessary resolution to quantify phenotypic diversity within individual cells and that this information can be used to study stress-driven metabolic diversity in microbial communities.

Importance

Microbes that live in the same community respond differently to stress. This phenomemon is known as phenotypic diversity. Describing this plethora of expressions can help to better understand and manage microbial processes. However, most tools to study phenotypic diversity only average the behaviour of the community. In this work, we present a way to quantify the phenotypic diversity of single cells using Raman spectroscopy - a tool that can describe the molecular profile of microbes. We demonstrate how this tool can be used to quantify the phenotypic diversity that arises after the exposure of microbes to stress. We also show its potential as an ‘alarm’ system to detect when communities are changing into a ‘stressed’ type.
Handhold-mediated strand displacement: a nucleic acid-based mechanism for generating far-from-equilibrium assemblies through templated reactions
Authors: Cabello-Garcia Javier , Bae Wooli , Stan Guy-Bart V. , Ouldridge Thomas E.
Published: May 2020

Toehold-mediated strand displacement (TMSD) is a nucleic acid-based reaction wherein an invader strand (I) replaces an incumbent strand (N) in a duplex with a target strand (T). TMSD is driven by toeholds, overhanging single-stranded domains inTrecognised byI. Although TMSD is responsible for the outstanding potential of dynamic DNA nanotechnology1, 2, TMSD cannot implement templating, the central mechanism by which biological systems generate complex, far-from equilibrium assemblies like RNA or proteins3, 4. Therefore, we introduce handhold-mediated strand displacement (HMSD). Handholds are toehold analogues located inNand capable of implementing templating. We measure the kinetics of 98 different HMSD systems to demonstrate that handholds can accelerate the rate of invader-target (IT) binding by more than 4 orders of magnitude. Furthermore, handholds of moderate length accelerate reactions whilst allowing detachment of the productITfromN. We are thus able to experimentally demonstrate the use of HMSD-based templating to produce highly-specific far-from-equilibrium DNA duplexes.
PlasmidHawk: Alignment-based Lab-of-Origin Prediction of Synthetic Plasmids
Authors: Wang Qi , Liu Tian Rui , Leo Elworth R. A. , Treangen Todd J
Published: May 2020

With advances in synthetic biology and genome engineering comes a heightened awareness of potential misuse related to biosafety concerns. A recent study employed machine learning to identify the lab-of-origin of DNA sequences to help mitigate some of these concerns. Despite their promising results, this deep learning based approach had limited accuracy, is computationally expensive to train, and wasn’t able to provide the precise features that were used in its predictions. To address these shortcomings, we have developedPlasmidHawkfor lab-of-origin prediction. Compared to a machine learning approach,PlasmidHawkhas higher prediction accuracy;PlasmidHawkcan successfully predict unknown sequences’ depositing labs 63% of the time and 80% of the time the correct lab is in the top 10 candidates. In addition,PlasmidHawkcan precisely single out the signature sub-sequences that are responsible for the lab-of-origin detection. In summary,PlasmidHawkrepresents a novel, explainable, accurate tool for lab-of-origin prediction of synthetic plasmid sequences.PlasmidHawkis available athttps://gitlab.com/treangenlab/plasmidhawk.git
Investigating the entropy generation around an airfoil in turbulent flow
Authors: Saffarian Mohammad Reza , Jamaati Farzad , Mohammadi Amin , Gholami Malekabad Fatemeh , Ayoubi Ayoubloo Kasra
Published: May 2020

Purpose

This study aims to evaluate the amount of entropy generation around the NACA 0012 airfoil. This study takes place in four angles of attack of 0°, 5°, 10° and 16° and turbulent regime. Also, the variation in the amount of generated entropy by the changes in temperature and Mach number is investigated.

Design/methodology/approach

The governing equations are solved using computational fluid dynamics techniques. The continuity, momentum and energy equations and the equations of the SST k-ω turbulence model are solved. The entropy generation at different angles of attack is calculated and compared. The effect of various parameters in the generation of entropy is presented.

Findings

Results show that the major part of the entropy generation is at the tip of the airfoil. Also, increasing the angle of attack will increase the entropy generation. Also, results show that with increasing the temperature of air colliding with the airfoil, the production of entropy decreases.

Originality/value

Entropy generation is investigated in the NACA 0012 airfoil at various angles of attack and turbulent flow using the SST turbulence model. Also, the effects of temperature and Mach number on the entropy generation are investigated.
Analyzing reputation of Swiss universities on Twitter–The role of stakeholders, content and sources
Authors: Vogler Daniel
Published: May 2020

Purpose

This study investigated the reputation of Swiss universities on Twitter. It gives detailed insights on how the reputation of universities was constituted in a digitized media environment.

Design/methodology/approach

The reputation of universities was conceptualized as a multidimensional construct with an overarching scientific and corporate dimension. It was measured for academic and societal stakeholders as well as for the media. Tweets about Swiss universities were collected through the Twitter application programming interface (API) and analyzed with a manual content analysis.

Findings

Academic stakeholders had a stronger focus on the scientific dimension of reputation and evaluated universities more positively than societal stakeholders or the news media. The news media were the main source of negative evaluations of universities on Twitter.

Research limitations/implications

The study showed a dichotomy between the scientific dimension on the one hand, and the corporate dimensions of reputation on the other hand, and thus implies a decoupling of scientific and corporate reputation. However, the findings should be explored beyond Twitter to be more generalizable.

Practical implications

The news media play an important role in the constitution of the scientific and corporate reputation of universities on Twitter. An orientation toward the news media, therefore, remains a promising strategy to manage reputation.

Social implications

The news media are an important source of information for academic and societal stakeholders. Thus, they can contribute to integrating academic and societal stakeholder groups by producing a common base of knowledge of higher education and its organizations.

Originality/value

This is the first study to comprehensively measure the reputation of universities on Twitter.
Custom management development program architecture: in pursuit of critical mass for impact
Authors: Haskins Mark E. , Shaffer George R.
Published: May 2020

Purpose

This article highlights two potentially overlooked and undervalued features of custom management development program architecture that can facilitate and further the positive impact of program participants upon their return to work.

Design/methodology/approach

The insights presented are based on having worked with a number of large, custom management development program clients and seeking to foster greater, better, and a longer lasting impact accruing to the program sponsor when the program participants returned to work.

Findings

Two program design features are highlighted and discussed: (1) tiered critical mass participant throughput and (2) program transportability. A real-world based example is provided to depict these two program design aspects.

Practical implications

The two program design ideas presented are easily understood and immediately actionable for anyone engaged in responding to a custom management development program opportunity with an eye towards enhancing the impact for a sponsoring client.

Originality/value

Organizational sponsors of custom management development programs are interested in their program providers enhancing returning program participants’ ability to impact their work teams, departments, and business units with their program learnings. This article is unique in identifying and describing two potentially overlooked program design considerations that can aid in that pursuit.
Visual mapping of identity: negotiating ethnic identity
Authors: Dekel-Dachs Ofer , Moorlock Emily
Published: May 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to offer a novel participatory visual research method, the mapping of identity (MOI) protocol that embraces the complex nature of contemporary consumers’ lived reality.

Design/methodology/approach

The MOI protocol is a two-phase methodology. The first phase includes collage creation, based on a taxonomy of attachments, followed by an elicitation interview structured around the participant’s collage. In phase two, the categories elicited in phase one are synthesised into key themes in collaboration between the researcher and the participant.

Findings

MOI methodology provides an effective platform for participants to bring together disjointed memories, fragments and thoughts. Two individual cases are presented that seem similar on the surface; however, when deconstructing these narratives, their lived experiences and the effect that these narratives have on the construction of the self are very different. Treating participants as co-researchers and letting the choices they make in their collage creation lead the interview empowers the participant and enables the researcher to better understand their complex identity articulations.

Research limitations/implications

This study contributes a visual methodology capable of exploring and celebrating the complexities of self-identity.

Practical implications

MOI is a useful tool for facilitating self-exploration in liquid markets. Marketing experts should provide materials that are not too confining and facilitate consumers in expressing multiple voices.

Social implications

The participatory nature of MOI methodology allows for the emergence of stories from those that might otherwise go unheard, helping to understand unfamiliar and sometimes unrecognised identities.

Originality/value

Marketing literature recognises the complex nature of contemporary lived reality; however, some of the intricate aspects of this reality have not been dealt with in all their complexity. A reason for this gap is the paucity of suitable research methods. The MOI protocol presented in this paper addresses this, providing an effective visual tool to explore the complex web of contemporary consumer life.
Digital transformation at logistics service providers: barriers, success factors and leading practices
Authors: Cichosz Marzenna , Wallenburg Carl Marcus , Knemeyer A. Michael
Published: May 2020

Purpose

The rapid advancement of digital technologies has fundamentally changed the competitive dynamics of the logistics service industry and forced incumbent logistics service providers (LSPs) to digitalize. As many LSPs still struggle in advancing their digital transformation (DT), the purpose of this study is to discover barriers and identify organizational elements and associated leading practices for DT success at LSPs.

Design/methodology/approach

This study utilizes a two-stage approach. Stage 1 is devoted to a literature review. Stage 2, based on multiple case studies, analyzes information collected across nine international and global LSPs.

Findings

This research derives a practice-based definition of DT in the logistics service industry, and it has identified five barriers, eight success factors and associated leading practices for DT. The main obstacles LSPs struggle with, are the complexity of the logistics network and lack of resources, while the main success factor is a leader having and executing a DT vision, and creating a supportive organizational culture.

Practical implications

The results contribute to the emerging field of DT within the logistics and supply chain management literature and provide insights for practitioners regarding how to effectively implement it in a complex industry.

Originality/value

The authors analyze DT from the perspective of LSPs, traditionally not viewed as innovative companies. This study compares their DT with that of other companies.
Mothers' negotiation of welfare support: the emergence of privatized entitlement
Authors: Benjamin Orly
Published: May 2020

Purpose

Previous accounts of exclusion, primarily those proposed in the context of access to welfare, marginalize the role of negotiation and its potential for highlighting distinct barriers and possibilities within specific institutional configurations. Furthermore, when negotiation is examined in the context of access to social services, it is rarely considered as reflecting changes in exclusion or the need to distinguish among exclusionary outcomes in mothers' lives. The author proposes a conceptualization of the distinction between civic exclusion and isolated exclusion, introducing the latter as a specific condition in which mothers are forced to respond to their children's needs by resorting to privatized entitlement.

Design/methodology/approach

Structured interviews were conducted between 2016 and 2017 with 90 mothers “providing in poverty” from seven marginalized categories in Israel. The interviews were analyzed using a grounded theory perspective.

Findings

Three negotiation positions are revealed: positive citizenship, privatized entitlement and inconsistent gains. These positions reflect specific conditions of civic exclusion, which manifests in the form of multiple disadvantage in the lives of mothers, regardless of available forms of welfare support; and isolated exclusion, which manifests as the inability to protect one's children from harsh material scarcity, regardless of attempts to establish eligibility.

Research limitations/implications

Longitudinal data could better reflect the ramifications of isolated exclusion, particularly when translated into privatized entitlement.

Practical implications

The consequences of isolated exclusion should be studied, in order to prevent negotiation failure leading to this phenomenon.

Originality/value

Up until recently, the notion of exclusion was used without relevant distinctions obscuring the meaning of failing to negotiate access to welfare, in mothers' lives. Conceptualizing negative outcomes of negotiation as leading to isolated exclusion and privatized entitlement clarifies the meaning of poverty as dependency. Further, without relevant distinctions, scholars' and activists' effort to introduce higher commitment to mothers' negotiation among street-level bureaucrats cannot be accounted for.
On ontological approaches to academic research in architecture
Authors: Hurol Yonca
Published: May 2020

Purpose

This study aims to define the main characteristics and possibilities of ontological approaches to research in architecture by considering content, methodologies and subject position in this type of research and questions if there is a future for this type of research or not.

Design/methodology/approach

The primary data collection method of this research is based on the ethos of the author who has taught research courses for many years. This research has also been questioned through the discussions made within a related PhD course.

Findings

Results of this research reveal that the spontaneous ideology of architecture might have influenced the neglection of the ontological approaches in academic research in architecture.

Social implications

Architecture has an interesting position towards reductionism because architectural thinking has ontological characteristics. The ontological approaches to academic research seems to be more applicable to architecture. However, research in architecture does not necessarily have this ontological character.

Originality/value

The “ontological approach to academic research” covers a larger set of research than the method of ontology, which is used to discuss the categories, limitations in research. Thinking on ontological approaches to research is needed because there is a considerable increase in the use of mixed research methods, which combine qualitative and quantitative research. The second reason for this is the criticisms about the unethical reductionism directed towards contemporary science by philosophers. However, there is no sufficient literature on the ontological approaches to research. This is true also for the academic research in architecture.
Monitoring and mentoring strategies for diffusing sustainability in supply networks
Authors: Meqdadi Osama , Johnsen Thomas E. , Johnsen Rhona E. , Salmi Asta
Published: May 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the impact of monitoring and mentoring strategies on sustainability diffusion within supply networks through focal companies and how suppliers engage in implementing these strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reports on three in-depth case studies conducted with focal companies and their suppliers. An interaction approach was adopted to guide the analysis of focal companies’ strategies for implementing and diffusing sustainability in supply networks.

Findings

The monitoring strategy impacts sustainability diffusion at the dyadic level, while the mentoring strategy is a prerequisite for the diffusion of sustainability at the supply network level. The findings suggest that coupling monitoring with mentoring can lead to diffusion beyond first-tier suppliers. Interaction intensity, supplier proactiveness and mindset change facilitate sustainability diffusion in supply networks.

Research limitations/implications

The authors suggest more research be conducted on specific practices within monitoring and mentoring, as some of these imply very different levels of commitment and interaction.

Practical implications

The paper suggests that in the future, companies will be increasingly called upon to adopt cooperative initiatives to enable the diffusion of sustainability in supply networks.

Originality/value

The contribution of the paper lies in its identification of the impacts of monitoring and mentoring strategies on the diffusion of sustainability in networks, revealing different supplier engagement in these strategies, which may foster or hinder sustainability diffusion.
Phylogenetic signal in the topographic niche of trees: Current and historical significance of habitat structure on the species arrangement pattern within East Asian rugged forests
Authors: Kitagawa Ryo , Mimura Makiko , Mori Akira S. , Sakai Akiko
Published: May 2020

Topography often promotes habitat heterogeneity and is a major factor in fine‐grained changes in vegetation. Especially in temperate mountainous regions of East Asia, the distribution of tree species is largely explained by topographic niche differentiation. Because species niche is at least partially a historical product through the evolution of functional traits, phylogenetic signals are expected in the topographic arrangement pattern of species, although this has not been fully investigated. Thus, we examined common temperate trees in a 306 ha watershed on Mt Tanzawa, central Japan. The topographic niche position of each species was explained with two principal component analysis (PCA) axes, which aligned with the topographic structure of the watershed. High scores on PC1 reflected lower elevations, steeper slopes and nearby valleys. Higher scores on PC2 indicated thicker soil, more south‐facing slopes, slighter slope inclinations and nearby valleys. The former indicated the species were aligned on a habitat gradient of land‐surface instability, for which the gradient is typical under the current geological conditions. The latter indicated that a niche axis for resource availability relating to water, nutrients and light or heat existed. A phylogenetic signal, identified by Pagel's λ and the Mantel test, was detected for PC2 scores. However, the species arrangement along PC1 was independent of phylogeny. Our results suggested that the topographic niche of tree species in this area is caused by both relatively recently derived traits regarding adaptation to unstable land surfaces and conservative traits derived through plant evolution.
Reduced ROS‐mediated antibiotic resistance and its reverting by glucose in Vibrio alginolyticus
Authors: Zhang Song , Yang Man‐Jun , Peng Bo , Peng Xuan‐xian , Li Hui
Published: May 2020

Antibiotic‐resistant Vibrio alginolyticus poses a big challenge to human health and food safety. It is urgently needed to understand the mechanisms underlying antibiotic resistance to develop effective approaches for the control. Here we explored the metabolic difference between gentamicin‐resistant V. alginolyticus (VA‐RGEN) and gentamicin‐sensitive V. alginolyticus (VA‐S), and found that the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was altered. Compared with VA‐S, the ROS content in VA‐RGEN was reduced due to the decreased generation and increased breakdown of ROS. The decreased production of ROS was attributed to the decreased central carbon metabolism, which is associated with the resistance to gentamicin. As such a mechanism, we exogenously administrated VA‐RGEN with the glucose that activated the central carbon metabolism and promoted the generation of ROS, but decreased the breakdown of ROS in VA‐RGEN. The gentamicin‐mediated killing was increased with the elevation of the ROS level by a synergistic effect between gentamicin and exogenous glucose. The synergistic effect was inhibited by thiourea, a scavenger of ROS. These results reveal a reduced ROS‐mediated antibiotic resistance mechanism and its reversal by exogenous glucose.
Spit or Swallow? Orality in the Art of Felix Gonzalez‐Torres
Authors: Gordon Theo
Published: May 2020

This essay mobilizes a psychoanalytic understanding of orality to interpret Felix Gonzalez‐Torres's candy pile works. Focusing on two works from 1991, “Untitled” (Lover Boys) and “Untitled” (Lover Boys), both on display at the Metropolitan Arts Centre in Belfast in 2015, I follow the artist's suggestion that taking a sweet and sucking on it courts the participant's oral eroticism, to argue that this encounter also invokes the violence of oral sadism. The significance of this sexual violence is explored in the contexts of queer oppression, censorship and socio‐political conservatism in the United States in 1991 and Northern Ireland in 2015, and of mourning, sex and activism in the ongoing HIV/AIDS pandemic. The ambivalence of oral participation with the candy piles, it is argued, registers intersubjective violence at the intersection of multiple injustices, not least, the overlaps of homophobia and racism in the time of HIV/AIDS.
What's on the Menu? Policies to Reduce Young People's Sugar Consumption
Authors: Griffith Rachel , O'Connell Martin , Smith Kate , Stroud Rebekah
Published: May 2020

Young people in the UK consume far above the maximum recommended levels of added sugar. It is likely that neither they nor their parents fully take account of the future health, social and economic costs of this high sugar consumption. This provides a rationale for policy intervention. The majority of young people's added sugar consumption occurs in the home, where purchases are typically made by parents. This means that understanding the purchase decisions of adults is important for policy design, even if the policies aim to reduce the consumption of young people. We discuss the merits of popular policies, including taxes, advertising restrictions and restrictions on the availability of specific foods, and we identify promising avenues for future research.
Retirement and Healthy Eating
Authors: Celidoni Martina , Dal Bianco Chiara , Rebba Vincenzo , Weber Guglielmo
Published: May 2020

This paper investigates the effect of retirement on healthy eating using data drawn from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). We estimate the causal effect of retiring from work on daily fruit or vegetable consumption by exploiting policy changes in eligibility rules for early and statutory retirement. Our results show that changes in eating behaviour upon retirement are gender‐specific: retirement induces men to reduce healthy eating; it has no effect on women. We further show that, for men, retirement increases the probability of becoming obese.
Health and Employment amongst Older Workers*
Authors: Britton Jack , French Eric
Published: May 2020

Health and employment are strongly correlated. This paper reviews the existing evidence and brings in new evidence on the following issues: (a) the measurement of health; (b) the impact of health on employment rather than just the association between health and employment; (c) the mechanisms by which health impacts employment; and (d) the likely effect of recent retirement and disability policy changes in the UK. Although the magnitude of the estimated effect of health on employment varies greatly from study to study, some of this variation is driven by the health measure used. Given our preferred measure, the evidence suggests that 5–10 per cent of the employment decline between ages 50 and 70 is due to declining health in England, with the largest effects among low‐educated men. Most of the effect comes through declining preferences for work and lower productivity when in bad health, although some of the effect is from government‐provided incentives to not work when in bad health, such as from disability benefits.
A new bacteria‐free strategy induced by MaGal2 facilitates pinewood nematode escape immune response from its vector beetle
Authors: Zhang Chi , Wickham Jacob D. , Zhao Lilin , Sun Jianghua
Published: May 2020

Symbiotic microbes play a crucial role in regulating parasite–host interactions; however, the role of bacterial associates in parasite–host interactions requires elucidation. In this study, we showed that, instead of introducing numerous symbiotic bacteria, dispersal of 4th‐stage juvenile (JIV) pinewood nematodes (PWNs), Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, only introduced few bacteria to its vector beetle, Monochamus alternatus (Ma). JIV showed weak binding ability to five dominant bacteria species isolated from the beetles’ pupal chamber. This was especially the case for binding to the opportunistic pathogenic species Serratia marcescens; the nematodes’ bacteria binding ability at this critical stage when it infiltrates Ma for dispersal was much weaker compared with Caenorhabditis elegans, Diplogasteroides asiaticus, and propagative‐stage PWN. The associated bacterium S. marcescens, which was isolated from the beetles’ pupal chambers, was unfavorable to Ma, because it caused a higher mortality rate upon injection into tracheae. In addition, S. marcescens in the tracheae caused more immune effector disorders compared with PWN alone. Ma_Galectin2 (MaGal2), a pattern‐recognition receptor, was up‐regulated following PWN loading. Recombinant MaGal2 protein formed aggregates with five dominant associated bacteria in vitro. Moreover, MaGal2 knockdown beetles had up‐regulated prophenoloxidase gene expression, increased phenoloxidase activity, and decreased PWN loading. Our study revealed a previously unknown strategy for immune evasion of this plant pathogen inside its vector, and provides novel insights into the role of bacteria in parasite–host interactions.
Are all fauna associated with the same structural features of the foundation species Triodia scariosa?
Authors: Verdon Simon J. , Watson Simon J. , Nimmo Dale G. , Clarke Michael F.
Published: May 2020

Foundation species are species that play important roles in structuring ecological communities. Therefore, conservation managers often aim to promote foundation species. However, it can be unclear which features of foundation species ought to be the focus of management. We studied hummock‐forming grasses in the genus Triodia. Triodia grasses are considered foundation species because they create complex structures used by many fauna species. Although conservation managers often aim to promote extent cover of Triodia, this is only likely to be optimal for species most strongly associated with extent cover or other structural features strongly correlated with extent cover. We tested (i) whether ‘extent cover’ is the most appropriate way to characterise Triodia as habitat and (ii) whether fauna are associated with any non‐Triodia structures. We studied the Triodia structure associations of one mammal, two birds and five reptiles associated with Triodia scariosa at 524 sites in the Murray‐Mallee, Australia (Ningaui yvonneae, Amytornis striatus, Stipiturus mallee, Ctenophorus fordi, Ctenotus atlas, Ctenotus inornatus, Delma australis and Delma butleri). We used site‐level presence–absence data and vegetation structure data to compare parsimony of models built using four Triodia structural features: extent cover, mean height, mean width and mean volume. We also included non‐Triodia vegetation structures in the model selection: extent cover of leaf litter, shrubs and trees. We divided structural features related to extent cover into categories according to their heights. One species was most closely associated with mean Triodia height; one species with mean Triodia width and six species with extent cover of Triodia, although here, Triodia height categories differed between species. Five species were also associated with shrubs or trees. Extent cover of Triodia was generally an appropriate measure of Triodia structure. Nevertheless, we found variation between species. When characterising the structure of foundation species, we recommend testing faunal associations with multiple structural features.
How Markets Shape Values and Political Preferences: A Field Experiment
Authors: Margalit Yotam , Shayo Moses
Published: May 2020

How does engagement with markets affect socioeconomic values and political preferences? A long line of thinkers has debated the nature and direction of such effects, but claims are difficult to assess empirically because market engagement is endogenous. We designed a large field experiment to evaluate the impact of financial markets, which have grown dramatically in recent decades. Participants from a national sample in England received substantial sums they could invest over a 6‐week period. We assigned them into several treatments designed to distinguish between different theoretical channels of influence. Results show that investment in stocks led to a more right‐leaning outlook on issues such as merit and deservingness, personal responsibility, and equality. Subjects also shifted to the right on policy questions. These results appear to be driven by growing familiarity with, and decreasing distrust of markets. The spread of financial markets thus has important and underappreciated political ramifications.
Pain during medical abortion in early pregnancy in teenage and adult women
Authors: Kemppainen Venla , Mentula Maarit , Palkama Vilja , Heikinheimo Oskari
Published: May 2020

Introduction

Women experience pain during medical abortion, yet optimal pain management remains unclear. We studied the pain experience and need of analgesics during early medical abortion (≤63 days of gestation) among teenage and adult women. We also assessed predictive factors of severe pain.

Material and methods

We recruited 140 primigravid women: 60 teenagers and 80 adult women aged between 25 and 35 years old. The group of teenagers included 19 women under the age of 18 years old (minors). The abortion was performed with mifepristone (200 mg) followed by vaginal misoprostol (800 μg), mainly self‐administered at home for adults. Minors were hospitalized during misoprostol administration. Pain medication consisted of ibuprofen 600 mg and paracetamol 1000 mg, first doses taken simultaneously with misoprostol and repeated, if needed, up to three times daily. Additional opiates (mainly tramadol or oxycodone) were administered at hospital if needed. Pain was measured using the visual analogue scale (VAS, 0‐100 mm).

Results

The maximal pain VAS (median, interquartile range) was 75 (54‐91). Of all the women, 57.7% experienced severe pain (VAS ≥70) during abortion care and 93.5% of women needed additional analgesics in addition to prophylactic pain medication. Teenagers needed additional analgesics more often than adults (5 [3‐8] vs 3 [2‐6] times, P = .021); 38.0% of all teenagers (64.7% of the minors) received additional opiates compared with 7.9% in adult women. Severe pain (VAS ≥70) was associated with history of dysmenorrhea (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 2.60 [95% confidence interval [CI] 1.21‐5.59, P = .014]), anxiety at baseline (2.64 [1.03‐6.77], P = .044) and emesis during abortion (5.24 [2.38‐11.57], P < .001). Hospital administration of misoprostol did not lower the risk for severe pain experience (OR 0.84 [95% CI 0.34‐2.05], P = .694). Satisfaction with care was high in study population (median VAS 91 [interquartile range 79‐97]) and was not associated with the use of narcotic analgesic or place of misoprostol administration.

Conclusions

Pain intensity was high both in teenage and adult women undergoing medical abortion, yet satisfaction on care was high. More effective analgesics than ibuprofen and paracetamol should be offered to all women undergoing early medical abortion, especially to those with history of dysmenorrhea. Also, routine use of antiemetics might be advisable.
Systematic review found that using thin catheters to deliver surfactant to preterm neonates was associated with reduced bronchopulmonary dysplasia and mechanical ventilation
Authors: Panza Raffaella , Laforgia Nicola , Bellos Ioannis , Pandita Aakash
Published: May 2020

Aim

Surfactant delivery is a cornerstone for managing respiratory distress in preterm neonates, but data on the best surfactant delivery methods have been conflicting.

Methods

A systematic literature review using the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and Web of Science databases identified papers published up to November 5, 2019. Additional studies were identified from trial registries, conference proceedings and the reference lists of the selected papers.

Results

We identified 15 studies covering 4926 preterm infants. The randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies both showed significant reductions in early intubation rates with use of thin catheters. The relative risk (RR) was 0.63 and the 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was 0.55‐0.72 (P < .01), with an odds ratio (OR) of 0.40 and 95% CI of 0.35‐0.45 (P < .0001). The collective results from the RCTs revealed a significant decrease in bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) rates in the thin catheter group (RR, 0.47; 95% CI 0.33‐0.66; P < .01). These findings were consistent with the observational studies (OR 0.47; 95% CI 0.43‐0.52; P < .01).

Conclusion

Using thin catheters to deliver surfactant in comparison with intubate‐surfactant‐extubate (INSURE) to newborn preterm infants with respiratory distress was associated with a reduced incidence of BPD and less need for mechanical ventilation.
Genomic epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance determinants of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates from Ukraine, 2013–2018
Authors: Boiko Iryna , Golparian Daniel , Jacobsson Susanne , Krynytska Inna , Frankenberg Arkadii , Shevchenko Tetiana , Unemo Magnus
Published: May 2020

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a major health threat compromising the gonorrhoea treatment globally. AMR surveillance including whole genome sequencing (WGS)‐based epidemiology provides ideal resolution to identify and describe AMR gonococcal clones, AMR determinants and populations, which can inform management guidelines and antimicrobial stewardship policies. Our aims were to, for the first time, elucidate the WGS‐based epidemiology and characterize AMR determinants of gonococcal strains spreading in Ukraine, 2013–2018. Gonococcal isolates (n = 150) from Ternopil and Dnipro, Ukraine (2013–2018), were subjected to AMR testing (Etest) for eight antimicrobials and WGS. Overall, 11.3% of isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin, 6.0% to tetracycline, and 0.7% to benzylpenicillin. No isolates were resistant to azithromycin, spectinomycin, ceftriaxone, or cefixime, but one isolate was bordering resistance to both cephalosporins. Twenty‐five MLST STs, 50 NG‐MAST STs, and 34 NG‐STAR types were identified. The phylogenomic analysis revealed six main clusters, mostly associated with the internationally described multidrug‐susceptible gonococcal lineage. Resistance to ciprofloxacin was associated with GyrA S91F and ParC S87R mutations; tetracyclines with rpsJ V57M and tetM; penicillins with mosaic penA‐34.001 and β‐lactamase; mtrR; PorB1b G101D, and PBP1 L421P mutations. One isolate of the multidrug‐resistant NG‐MAST ST1407, MLST ST1901 was found, which was bordering resistance to ceftriaxone and cefixime. The antimicrobial susceptibility of gonococcal strains spreading in Ternopil and Dnipro, Ukraine, in 2013–2018 was surprisingly high. Continued and expanded gonococcal AMR surveillance, ideally including WGS, in Ukraine is essential. This could inform action plans and public health policies to control the spread of AMR gonococcal strains in Ukraine.
The effectiveness of an adaptive digital educational game for the training of early numerical abilities in terms of cognitive, noncognitive and efficiency outcomes
Authors: Vanbecelaere Stefanie , Cornillie Frederik , Sasanguie Delphine , Reynvoet Bert , Depaepe Fien
Published: May 2020

Adaptive educational games provide new opportunities to train early numerical skills. However, empirical evidence for the effectiveness of adaptive educational games is scarce. This study investigated the effectiveness of an adaptive game compared to a nonadaptive game in terms of cognitive, noncognitive and efficiency outcomes. In total, 84 children were randomly assigned to a condition in which children trained early numerical skills with an adaptive version of the Number Sense Game (NSG), or to a condition in which they trained with a nonadaptive version. Early numeracy was evaluated before the training, immediately after the training and 3 weeks after the training. Math anxiety (MA) was assessed before and 3 weeks after the training. The time children practiced with the NSG was used to assess efficiency. Results revealed that children in both conditions improved on early numerical ability, with sustained effects 3 weeks after the training. In both conditions, children’s MA scores were lower after the training. Children in the adaptive condition learned more efficiently compared to the nonadaptive condition, and the interaction between prior knowledge and condition has shown that children with low prior knowledge benefited more from a nonadaptive training while children with high prior knowledge benefited more from an adaptive training in terms of learning efficiency. These results confirm that adaptive educational games can offer solace in terms of the need for differentiation.
Developing a training course to teach research skills to people with learning disabilities: “It gives us a voice. We CAN be researchers!”
Authors: Tuffrey‐Wijne Irene , Lam Claire Kar Kei , Marsden Daniel , Conway Bernie , Harris Claire , Jeffrey David , Jordan Leon , Keagan‐Bull Richard , McDermott Michelle , Newton Dan , Stapelberg Diane
Published: May 2020

Accessible Summary

We are eight people with learning disabilities. We did a training course at a university in London. It was called “Learning how to do research.” We learned about the 10 steps in research, and we practised how to do research.

Part of the course was doing our own research project. Then, we presented it to an audience.

In this article, our tutors describe the course. We say what it was like for us. Most of us were nervous about doing the course, but we learnt a lot from it.

There are not many opportunities for people with learning disabilities to learn about research. We think more people with learning disabilities should have the chance to do it. We hope this article helps other teachers to start a research course.

We can be researchers! Being involved in research gives us a voice.

Background

Within learning disability research, it is important to involve people with learning disabilities at all stages, but there are limited opportunities for them to learn about the research process or to gain research skills.

Method

An eight‐session research training course for people with learning disabilities was developed and piloted at a university in London. The focus was on understanding the research process and gaining practical skills in collecting, analysing and presenting research data. Training methods were experimental, with an emphasis on learning by experience in a “fun” way.

Results

Ten people with learning disabilities completed the course, showing great enthusiasm and commitment. During the final sessions, students developed and conducted their own research projects, choosing “Employment” as their research topic. The training methods were well received. Benefits included an increase in confidence and new work opportunities for several of the students. This paper was co‐authored by the tutors and most of the course graduates.

Conclusion

It is possible for people with learning disabilities to become skilled researchers, but in order to do so, it is important that they have adequate training opportunities. Funding should be made available for more such courses.
Relaxed predation theory: size, sex and brains matter
Authors: Edwards Megan C. , Hoy Julia M. , FitzGibbon Sean I. , Murray Peter J.
Published: May 2020

Australia's wildlife is being considerably impacted by introduced mammalian predators such as cats (Felis catus), dogs (Canis lupus familiaris), and foxes (Vulpes vulpes). This is often attributed to native wildlife being naïve to these introduced predators. A systematic review of the literature reveals that native metatherians (body mass range 0.02–25 kg) do not recognise, and show relaxed antipredator behaviours towards, native and some introduced mammalian predators. Native eutherians (all with body mass < 2 kg), however, do appear to recognise and exhibit antipredator behaviours towards both native and introduced predators. Based on our findings, we propose a novel theory, the ‘Relaxed Predation Theory’. Our new theory is based on the absence of large mammalian predators leading to reduced predation pressure in Australia during the past 40000–50000 years, and on three key differences between Australian metatherians and eutherians: size, sex, and brains. In light of this Relaxed Predation Theory, we make a number of recommendations for the conservation of Australian wildlife: (i) predator avoidance training of suitable species; (ii) exclusion fencing to exclude some, but not all, predators to facilitate the development of antipredator behaviours; (iii) captive breeding programs to prevent the extinction of some species; and (iv) reintroduction of Australia's larger predators, potentially to compete with and displace introduced predators. A more detailed understanding of the responses of Australian mammals to predators will hopefully contribute to the improved conservation of susceptible species.