bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of created and restored nesting sites for the conservation of colonial Laridae in the South of France
Authors: Schwartz Timothée , Besnard Aurélien , Pin Christophe , Scher Olivier , Blanchon Thomas , Béchet Arnaud , Sadoul Nicolas
Published: September 2022

By rapidly modifying key habitat components, habitat restoration is at risk of producing attractive cues for animals without providing habitats of sufficient quality. As such, individual fitness components, such as reproduction, could be reduced and restored habitats could become ecological traps. This risk notably appears by using artificial constructions in restoration projects, yet few studies have evaluated their efficacy in a robust way. We investigated this by analyzing 154 islets that were created or restored to improve the conservation status of 7 colonial Laridae species in the South of France. From 2007 to 2016, we compared occupancy dynamics and breeding parameters of these species between the restored sites and 846 unmanaged nesting sites. We also explored species’ preference for different nesting site characteristics and their respective effect on breeding parameters. Restored nesting sites were 2–9 times as attractive as unmanaged sites for all species except the Black‐headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus). Colonization probability was up to 100 times higher in sites already used by other species the previous year and increased with distance to the shore until >0.2 when distance was over 250 m. Abandonment probability was 29–70% lower when breeding was successful the previous year in all species except the Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis). Productivity and breeding success probability were 2 times higher on managed sites. Distance from the shore was an important attractive characteristic of artificial nesting sites in all species. Other nesting site characteristics had species‐specific effects on colonization, abandonment, and breeding success. Our results indicate that managed nesting sites are successful conservation tools for colonial Laridae in the Mediterranean and do not act as ecological traps. Our study showed that testing the ecological trap hypothesis is a robust way to evaluate the success of restoration projects of breeding habitats.
Improvement of the splanchnic blood flow and hepatic vein oxygenation following revascularization in patients with chronic mesenteric ischaemia
Authors: Høyer Christian , Zacho Helle D. , Stefanov Viktor , Abrahamsen Jan
Published: September 2022

Objectives

Chronic mesenteric ischaemia (CMI) is an underdiagnosed but severe condition. Access to functional testing is often limited and the diagnosis is usually based primarily on symptoms and imaging. One of the functional tests available is measurement of the splanchnic blood flow (SBF). The purpose of the present investigation was to evaluate if changes in the splanchnic perfusion after revascularization can be detected by measuring the SBF and hepatic vein oxygenation.

Materials and Methods

The SBF was measured in 10 patients before and after revascularization of the mesenteric arteries by either percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (n = 9) or open revascularization (n = 1). The SBF was measured indirectly using Fick's principle and using the tracer Tc‐99m Mebrofenin along with assessment of hepatic blood oxygenation, before and after a standard meal, following catheterization of a hepatic vein and the femoral artery.

Results

Nine of 10 patients (90%) achieved a profound increase in SBF after revascularization (mean increase in postprandial response to meal stimulation from 71 ± 95 to 531 ± 295 ml/min, p = 0.001), and an increase in postprandial hepatic vein oxygen saturation (from 52 ± 14% to 59 ± 13%, p = 0.006). The symptoms of the patients diminished accordingly. One patient had no symptom relief, and no increase in postprandial SBF, but an angiographic result with no significant stenosis postrevascularization.

Conclusions

Revascularization increased the SBF and hepatic vein oxygen saturation significantly concurrent with symptom relief and according with the angiographic successful result in the vast majority of patients. A satisfying angiographic result post vascular intervention does not rule out CMI.
Safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic characteristics of vutiglabridin: A first‐in‐class, first‐in‐human study
Authors: Na Joo Young , Yoon Deok Yong , Yoo Hyounggyoon , Lee SeungHwan , Yu Kyung‐Sang , Jang In‐Jin , Yoo Sang‐Ku , Kim Youngah , Oh Jaeseong
Published: September 2022

This study aimed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of vutiglabridin, a potential anti‐obesity treatment under development, for the first time in humans. A randomized, placebo‐controlled, single‐ and multiple‐ascending dose study (SAD and MAD, respectively) was performed in healthy Koreans and Whites. Subjects randomly received a single oral dose of 30–720 mg vutiglabridin or placebo at a ratio of 8:2 in the SAD study or 240–480 mg vutiglabridin or placebo once daily for 14 days in the MAD study. Food effect was also evaluated in 240 mg single dose group. Pharmacokinetics were evaluated through plasma concentrations, and pharmacodynamic biomarkers related to obesity or inflammation were analyzed. Safety and tolerability were assessed throughout the study. Single and multiple doses of vutiglabridin were generally well‐tolerated. The pharmacokinetic parameters show less than dose‐proportionality increase, and plasma concentrations increased more than two‐fold after multiple administrations. The mean half‐life of Koreans and Whites in the MAD study was 110 and 73 h, respectively. The systemic exposure of vutiglabridin was significantly increased when taken with a high‐fat meal, and the systemic exposure was lower in Whites than in Koreans. Vutiglabridin was well‐tolerated in healthy Koreans and Whites. The plasma concentration increased less than the dose‐proportionality manner. These results justify further investigation of vutiglabridin in patients with obesity.
Design and conduct considerations for studies in patients with hepatic impairment
Authors: Ravenstijn Paulien , Chetty Manoranjenni , Manchandani Pooja , Elmeliegy Mohamed , Qosa Hisham , Younis Islam
Published: September 2022

Despite the liver being the primary site for clearance of xenobiotics utilizing a myriad of mechanisms ranging from cytochrome P450 enzyme pathways, glucuronidation, and biliary excretion, there is a dearth of information available as to how the severity of hepatic impairment (HI) can alter drug absorption and disposition (i.e., pharmacokinetics [PK]) as well as their efficacy and safety or pharmacodynamics (PD). In general, regulatory agencies recommend conducting PK studies in subjects with HI when hepatic metabolism/excretion accounts for more than 20% of drug elimination or if the drug has a narrow therapeutic range. In this tutorial, we provide an overview of the global regulatory landscape, clinical measures for hepatic function assessment, methods to stage HI severity, and consequently the impact on labeling. In addition, we provide an in‐depth practical guidance for designing and conducting clinical trials for patients with HI and on the application of modeling and simulation strategies in lieu of dedicated trials for dosing recommendations in patients with HI.
Neurofeminism: Feminist critiques of research on sex/gender differences in the neurosciences
Authors: Friedrichs Kassandra , Kellmeyer Philipp
Published: September 2022

Over the last three decades, the human brain and its role in determining behavior have been receiving a growing amount of attention in academia as well as in society more generally. Neuroscientific explanations of human behavior or other phenomena are often especially appealing to lay people. Therefore, neuroscientific explanations that can affect individuals, groups, or social relations in general should be formulated in a careful and responsible way. One field in which especially feminist scholars request more caution is the neuroscientific examination of sex/gender differences. Feminist scholars have described various ways in which sexist bias might be present in neuroscientific research on sex/gender differences. In this context, they coined the term “neurosexism” to describe the entanglement between neuroscientific work and sexist ideology, and “neurofeminism” as a response to that. Here, we aim to give an overview over the contemporary neurofeminist literature. In the first part, common levels of analysis in the neurofeminist literature are presented and the research level is explored in more detail. In the second part, some common developments in more recent neurofeminist scholarship are discussed. For this, we review recent publications with the aim to provide neuroscientists with a solid understanding of neurofeminist criticism so that they may evaluate neuroscientific claims about on sex/gender differences from this critical perspective.
THE DYNAMIC EFFECTS OF MULTILATERAL TRADE POLICY WITH EXPORT CHURNING
Authors: Mix Carter
Published: September 2022

This article examines the relationship between export churning and the aggregate response to trade policy. I show that export churning—the share of bilateral exports by new or exiting exporters—varies systematically across export destinations and build a multicountry model with destination‐specific investments in exporting capacity that is consistent with churning patterns. The model then predicts that trade liberalizations with minor export destinations deliver higher bilateral export growth than liberalizations with major export destinations, and the data support this prediction. Furthermore, the aggregate effects of trade policy depend critically on the pattern of export churning in the model.
Women's behaviours towards cervical cancer screening in the COVID‐19 pandemic: A moderated‐mediation‐model based on Information‐Motivation‐Behavioural Skills
Authors: Taştekin Ouyaba Ayşe , İnfal Kesim Selma
Published: September 2022

Aims

(1) To establish a predictive model based on the Information‐Motivation‐Behavioural Skills model, which can analyse the factors affecting the behaviours of women towards cervical cancer screening in the COVID‐19 pandemic, and (2) to test the mediating effects of behavioural skills in the model, and (3) to test the moderated mediation effect of age.

Design

A cross‐sectional study was conducted among 354 women aged 30–65 between May and August 2021 in Turkey.

Methods

Data were collected by using an online survey. The direct and indirect effects were tested in the structural equation model and the moderated‐mediation effect was tested in the PROCESS macro.

Results

Behavioural skills mediate the effect of motivation on cervical cancer screening behaviours. In addition, age has a moderated mediation effect on this mediation effect.

Conclusion

Our study revealed that as women's motivation for cervical cancer screening increased, their behavioural skills also increased. It can be stated that middle‐aged and older women with higher behavioural skills are more likely to have screening during the pandemic and to comply with national recommendations.

Impact

This study is the first quantitative study to test the impact of the components of the Information‐Motivation‐Behavioural Skills model on cervical cancer screening during the COVID‐19 pandemic. In addition, the results reveal the mediating effect of behavioural skills in the relationship between motivation and cervical cancer scanning behaviour and the moderated mediation effect of age. Our results can provide insight for nurses into how to triage women with delayed cervical cancer screening, how to build screening capacity, and how intervention strategies should be developed to improve compliance with cervical cancer screening and follow‐up recommendations in women at risk during and after the pandemic.
The guideline for therapeutic drug monitoring guidelines development
Authors: Zeng Linan , Yi Qiusha , Huang Liang , Chen Wenqian , Men Peng , Zhang Jingjing , Jiang Zhimei , Miao Liyan , Zhao Rongsheng , Zhang Xianglin , Zhang Lingli
Published: September 2022

Aim

The guideline is meant to standardize the principles, procedures, and methods for developing therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) guidelines and promoting open, transparent, scientific, and credible TDM guidelines.

Methods

Division of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring, Chinese Pharmacological Society established guideline working groups, declared and managed conflicts of interest. The guideline working groups used the Delphi method to formulate the purpose and scope of the guidelines and questions in the PICO format, searched and synthesized evidence, and integrated with the current situation in China and TDM characteristics to preliminarily develop recommendations for the guideline for TDM guideline development in China. Through internal discussions of the guideline working groups and external peer review, the content was improved, and we eventually formulated a guideline suitable for guiding TDM‐related guidelines.

Results

The guideline provides suggestions for problems to be identified and solved in the planning, development, publishing, and updating stages of TDM guidelines, including forming guideline working groups, planning guidelines, declaration and management of interests, formulating questions and selecting outcomes, preparing the planning proposal, evidence retrieval and synthesis, evidence assessment, developing recommendations, drafting guidelines, external review guidelines, publishing and disseminating guidelines, postevaluation of guidelines, and updating guidelines.

Conclusions

This guideline can provide methodological guidance and reference for the development of TDM guidelines.
Thermodynamic properties and bioactive compounds of mandacaru dried waste
Authors: Gondim Carolina de Miranda , de Figueirêdo Rossana Maria Feitosa , Queiroz Alexandre José de Melo , Esmero Janaína Almeida Dantas , Moura Henrique Valentim , Moreira Inacia dos Santos
Published: September 2022

Mandacaru is a cactus native to the semiarid region of Brazil, of which the fruits are edible, highly perishable and rich in bioactive compounds, present mainly in the peel. The aim of this study was to determine the drying kinetics of the processed peels of the mandacaru fruit at three different temperatures, fit mathematical models to the experimental data, determine the effective diffusivity and the thermodynamic properties and evaluate the influence of the drying conditions on the bioactive compound concentrations. The residues from the mandacaru fruits, composed of the peels, were ground with a 3% ascorbic acid solution to transform them into a homogeneous paste. The peel paste was placed in stainless steel trays, spread out to give an approximately 0.5 cm layer and dried in a convective drying oven with forced air circulation at a velocity of 1.0 m/s at temperatures of 50, 60 and 70°C. Mathematical models found in the literature were fitted to the drying kinetics of the mandacaru fruit peel paste, and of these the Midilli model fitted the experimental data best. The effective diffusivity of the water increased with drying temperature, as also the Gibbs free energy. The activation energy was to the order of 39.15 kJ/mol. The enthalpy presented positive values, decreasing with increase in drying temperature, but the entropy presented negative values, progressively lower with increase in temperature. Important betalain concentrations were determined in the mandacaru fruit peels, especially betaxanthins, an active principal of interest to the food industry as a natural pigment. Despite the decrease in concentration of the bioactive compounds with convective drying, the powders still presented significant amounts, the temperature of 70°C resulting in the highest bioactive compound concentrations in the powder samples.

Practical applications

The use of the data presented here for the thermodynamic properties and bioactive compounds provides support for the use of the dried Mandacaru residues (previously discarded) in the production of new foods, due to knowledge of the processing time and composition of the sample. The Mandacaru peel powder, rich in bioactive compounds, could be incorporated into various food formulations in the bakery and yogurt segments, amongst others.
Determination of probiotic properties of lactic acid bacteria and yeasts isolated from three lacto‐fermented cereals mixed with whey, citrus, and tomato pomace
Authors: Yasar Sulhattin , Yerlikaya Sabire , Sen Arslan Hulya , Akgul Kubra , Simsek Hanife
Published: September 2022

This study tested the probiotic activities of bacteria and yeast isolates from three lacto‐fermented cereal (LFC) products which were earlier shown high probiotic efficacy in farm animals. LFC products were freshly produced by solid‐state fermentation using fresh whey without a starter culture. LFCa is a mixture of barley, whey, citrus pomace, LFCb of rye, whey, citrus pomace, and tomato pomace and LFCc of LFCb with an addition of ground thyme leaves at the end of fermentation. Six bacteria and two yeast species were isolated from LFC products and tested for probiotic activities. Candida spp and Saccharomyces spp exhibited low probiotic activities. However, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolates, namely, Lactobacillus plantarum O33, Pediococcus pentosaceus 10, Lactobacillus paracasei spp. paracasei O54, Enterococcus spp., Lactococcus lactis spp. lactis O3, and Lactobacillus curvatus O32 had overall high survival rates of 76% at pH 4.0, 95% at pH 5.0, 70% at 0.30% of bile salt, high exopolysaccharide production of 85 to 150 mg/L, acceptable aggregation rates of 19% of 4 h co‐aggregation with E. coli and 25% auto‐aggregation, high inhibition zones of 11 to 20 mm in diameter of pathogens and resistance to three antibiotics. Multivariate tests showed that Enterococcus spp. was the one with the highest probiotic efficacy. In conclusion, these LFC products can be used as probiotic supplements.

Novelty impact statement

This study determined the probiotic activity of bacteria and yeasts isolated from lacto‐fermented cereals, previously shown to have high efficacy in animal studies. Yeast isolates exhibited low probiotic abilities, while six lactic acid bacteria isolated exhibited strong probiotic properties. Enterococcus spp. was found with the highest probiotic activities. The results showed that the products or isolated bacteria strains can safely be used in food and feed applications for health benefits.
Effect of fermentation on ameliorative properties of tamarind seed (Tamarindus indica) in sucrose‐induced diabetic‐like biochemical alterations in Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Nwanna Esther E. , Aro Olayemi Philemon , Ogunsuyi Opeyemi Babatunde , Oboh Ganiyu
Published: September 2022

Earlier studies have reported that tamarind seed, which is an underused part of the tamarind fruit tree, may be able to help treat diabetes. The seed has rich nutrient content, but its consumption is limited due to its hard structure and the presence of anti‐nutrients. To get over this constraint, the seed is usually pre‐treated to minimize anti‐nutrients and improve palatability. This study was carried out to determine the effect of fermentation on the ameliorative properties of tamarind seeds in sucrose‐induced diabetic‐like biochemical alterations in Drosophila melanogaster. Flies were divided into six (6) groups of 40 flies each; group I (control) was fed a basal diet, group II was fed 30% sucrose only, and groups III–VI were fed 30% sucrose each and treated with varying concentrations of the sample (raw and fermented) for 14 days. The survival rate and behavioral studies were assessed after treatment. Furthermore, the homogenates were assayed for inhibitory activities of carbohydrate metabolizing enzymes (α‐amylase and α‐glucosidase). Total thiol content and antioxidant enzyme activities like catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione‐S‐transferase were also carried out. The results showed a reduction in survival rate and locomotor performance in the flies fed with high‐sucrose diet (HSD). Elevated levels of α‐amylase, α‐glucosidase, ROS, and significantly reduced antioxidant enzyme activities were also observed in flies fed with HSD. These alterations were ameliorated in flies treated with dietary inclusions of both raw and fermented seeds; while no significant difference was observed between the ameliorative effects of raw and fermented samples against elevated α‐amylase and α‐glucosidase activities. However, fermented samples exhibited significantly higher antioxidant properties. Conclusively, this study revealed that the antidiabetic properties of tamarind seeds were conserved by fermentation with improved antioxidant properties in the Drosophila model of diabetes‐like biochemical alteratios.

Practical applications

The fermentation processing method is one of the earliest in food processing and preservation. This approach has a variety of consequences for the bioactive elements in functional foods, hence, it is important to consider. Tamarind seeds have been reported in several studies for their anti‐hyperglycemic properties, but with a dearth of information on how different processing methods could affect this therapeutic effect. Therefore, this study was carried out to determine the effect of fermentation, a food processing, and preservation method, on some behavioral and biochemical indices in the Drosophila model of diabetes‐like biochemical alterations.
Low methoxy feruloylated pectin from beetroot: Antioxidant and prebiotic properties
Authors: RamachandraRao Sonale Swapna , Pothuvan Kunnummal Saarika , Sori Nidhi , Reddy Jeevan Prasad , Khan Mahejibin
Published: September 2022

Pectin was extracted from beetroot pulp by acid hydrolysis using two concentrations of acid, 0.05 M and 0.1 M HCl and designated BRP1 and BRP2, respectively. CHNS, FTIR, and DSC analyses confirmed the purity and characterized it as a low methoxyl (LM) pectin. DPPH (%) inhibition was 22 and 11 for BRP1 and BRP2 and antioxidant activity determined by FRAP assay was 51 μM TE/g and 15 μM TE/g for BRP1 and BRP2, respectively. BR pectin significantly (p ≤ .05) stimulated the growth of Limosilactobacillus fermentum compared with citrus pectin. The highest prebiotic activity score (0.75) was observed for BRP1, followed by BRP2 (0.66), BR pulp (0.26), and citrus pectin (0.09). In addition, L. fermentum produced a higher amount of SCFA with BRP1 and BRP2 compared to the control. These results confirmed the bioactive and health‐promoting potential of BR pectin and hence can be used as an effective bioactive ingredient for various functional foods.

Novelty impact statement

Extraction of low methoxy pectin was investigated using two different concentrations of acid.

Structural and functional properties of pectin were influenced by acid extraction conditions.

Both pectins contain feruloylated sugars that contribute to their antioxidant properties

L. fermentum produced the highest amount of acetate with BRP1, whereas the highest amount of propionic acid and butyric acid was produced with BRP2.
Retinal organoids provide unique insights into molecular signatures of inherited retinal disease throughout retinogenesis
Authors: Watson Avril , Lako Majlinda
Published: September 2022

The demand for induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC)‐derived retinal organoid and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) models for the modelling of inherited retinopathies has increased significantly in the last decade. These models are comparable with foetal retinas up until the later stages of retinogenesis, expressing all of the key neuronal markers necessary for retinal function. These models have proven to be invaluable in the understanding of retinogenesis, particular in the context of patient‐specific diseases. Inherited retinopathies are infamously described as clinically and phenotypically heterogeneous, such that developing gene/mutation‐specific animal models in each instance of retinal disease is not financially or ethically feasible. Further to this, many animal models are insufficient in the study of disease pathogenesis due to anatomical differences and failure to recapitulate human disease phenotypes. In contrast, iPSC‐derived retinal models provide a high throughput platform which is physiologically relevant for studying human health and disease. They also serve as a platform for drug screening, gene therapy approaches and in vitro toxicology of novel therapeutics in pre‐clinical studies. One unique characteristic of stem cell‐derived retinal models is the ability to mimic in vivo retinogenesis, providing unparalleled insights into the effects of pathogenic mutations in cells of the developing retina, in a highly accessible way. This review aims to give the reader an overview of iPSC‐derived retinal organoids and/or RPE in the context of disease modelling of several inherited retinopathies including Retinitis Pigmentosa, Stargardt disease and Retinoblastoma. We describe the ability of each model to recapitulate in vivo disease phenotypes, validate previous findings from animal models and identify novel pathomechanisms that underpin individual IRDs.
Age discrimination, the right to life, and COVID‐19 vaccination in countries with limited resources
Authors: Lloyd‐Sherlock Peter , Guntupalli Aravinda , Sempé Lucas
Published: September 2022

This paper seeks to develop and apply a simple yardstick based on remaining life expectancy to assess whether specific health policies unfairly discriminate against people on the basis of their age. This reveals that the COVID‐19 vaccine prioritization policies of several countries have discriminated against older people. Conversely, the exclusion of older people from COVID‐19 vaccine testing is shown to be non‐discriminatory, as is some degree of age prioritization for limited acute COVID‐19 care. Age discrimination in vaccine prioritization is shown to be embedded in wider ageist attitudes in health policy, which give the lives of older people a lower social value than the lives of people at younger ages.
Documenting the advocacy experiences among eight Latina mothers of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities
Authors: Rios Kristina , Aleman‐Tovar Janeth
Published: September 2022

Internationally, it has been recognized that parent involvement is an essential component of the special education process for children with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD). Parent involvement often includes parents advocating for their children. However, many parents face barriers when advocating to obtain appropriate special education services for their children with IDD. In the United States, Latinx families face greater systemic barriers (e.g., language and cultural differences) to access services for their own children with IDD. To this end, parents may turn to parent advocacy training programs to learn about special education and feel empowered to advocate for school services for their own children and other families of children with disabilities. Yet, it is unclear how Latinx families advocate for services for their own children and for other Latinx families of children with disabilities after attending an advocacy program. We designed a study to explore the advocacy experiences of eight Latinx families one year after attending an advocacy program. Participants reported that they used three advocacy strategies when advocating for their own children with disabilities: knowledge of special education law, non‐adversarial advocacy strategies, and requests for data. Notably, some participants reported not having an advocacy experience due to the COVID‐19 pandemic. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Noninvasive hydrostatic reduction of an ileocecocolic intussusception in a puppy
Authors: Neumann Geoffrey , Daure Evence
Published: September 2022

A 5‐week‐old male intact Golden Retriever puppy was presented for a history of vomiting and diarrhea with hematochezia. Ultrasound findings confirmed the presence of an ileocecocolic intussusception. Surgical correction was declined because of financial concerns. Based on a pediatric procedure used in humans, an ultrasound‐guided hydrostatic reduction (USGHR) was performed. This procedure consisted in injecting saline rectally under controlled pressure to mechanically reduce the intussusception. Reduction of the intussusception and evaluation of potential complications were concurrently evaluated by ultrasound during the procedure. No recurrence was observed the next day and the puppy was discharged. Follow‐up indicated that the dog was still doing well 6 months later. This case report describes a new technique in veterinary medicine allowing successful nonsurgical reduction of an ileocecocolic intussusception in a dog. This procedure is innovative, simple, and substantially decreases the cost and minimizes morbidity potentially associated with surgical management.
Hybrid‐derived weedy rice maintains adaptive combinations of alleles associated with seed dormancy
Authors: Imaizumi Toshiyuki , Kawahara Yoshihiro , Auge Gabriela
Published: September 2022

Plant hybridization is a pathway for the evolution of adaptive traits. However, hybridization between adapted and nonadapted populations may affect the persistence of combinations of adaptive alleles evolved through natural selection. Seed dormancy is an adaptive trait for weedy rice because it regulates the timing of seed germination and the persistence of the soil seed bank. Hybridization between weedy and cultivated rice has been confirmed with an adaptive introgression of deep seed dormancy alleles from cultivated rice. Here, we explored the influence of hybridization on the conservation of adaptive allele combinations by evaluating natural variation and genetic structure in seed dormancy‐associated genomic regions. Based on sequence variation in the genomic regions associated with seed dormancy, hybrid‐derived weedy rice strains maintained most of the adaptive combinations for this trait observed in the parental weedy rice, despite equal representation of the parental weedy and cultivated rice in the whole genome sequence. Moreover, hybrid‐derived weedy rice strains were more dormant than their parental weedy rice strains, and this trait was strongly influenced by the environment. This study suggests that hybridization between weedy rice (adaptive allelic combinations for seed dormancy) and cultivated rice (nonadaptive combinations) generates weedy rice strains expressing deep seed dormancy caused by genome stabilization through the removal of alleles derived from cultivated rice, in addition to the adaptive introgression of deep seed dormancy alleles derived from cultivated rice. Thus, hybridization between adapted and nonadapted populations appears to be reinforcing the trajectory towards the evolution of adaptive traits.
Transcriptional regulator Sar regulates the multiple secretion systems in Xanthomonas oryzae
Authors: Shao Yanan , Tang Guiyu , Huang Yuanyuan , Ke Wenli , Wang Shasha , Zheng Dehong , Ruan Lifang
Published: September 2022

Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) is a notorious plant pathogen that causes leaf blight of rice cultivars. The pathogenic bacteria possess numerous transcriptional regulators to regulate various biological processes, such as pathogenicity in the host plant. Our previous study identified a new master regulator PXO_RS20790 that is involved in pathogenicity for Xoo against the host rice. However, the molecular functions of PXO_RS20790 are still unclear. Here, we demonstrate that transcriptional regulator Sar (PXO_RS20790) regulates multiple secretion systems. The RNA‐sequencing analysis, bacterial one‐hybrid assay, and electrophoretic mobility shift assay revealed that Sar enables binding of the promoters of the T1SS‐related genes, the avirulence gene, raxX, and positively regulates these genes' expression. Meanwhile, we found that Sar positively regulated the T6SS‐1 clusters but did not regulate the T6SS‐2 clusters. Furthermore, we revealed that only T6SS‐2 is involved in interbacterial competition. We also indicated that Sar could bind the promoters of the T3SS regulators, hrpG and hrpX, to activate these two genes' transcription. Our findings revealed that Sar is a crucial regulator of multiple secretion systems and virulence.
Protocols for Conducting Drone Fieldwork in Togo, West Africa
Authors: West Colin Thor , Saparapa Rajah , Nomedji Koff , Maloney Devon , Moody Aaron
Published: September 2022

Fieldwork is a hallmark of anthropology and the experience of being in the field features prominently in scholarly works. The processes by which anthropologists obtain permission to conduct fieldwork, however, are rarely described. The study presented here discusses in substantial detail how a research project in Togo, West Africa obtained official authorization to conduct un‐crewed aerial vehicle (UAV or “drone”) fieldwork. Anthropologists are continually incorporating new technologies into their work and drones have the potential to become part of our methodological toolkit. For security reasons, however, drone importation and use is carefully controlled by governments. This article describes the processes and protocols by which a team of anthropologists obtained official permission for drone work in a West African country. As such, it provides a guide for how other researchers may obtain similar authorizations in other contexts and anticipate challenges in doing so.
Floristic diversity and vegetation of communities associated with two endemic Dianthus species in the montane steppes of northeastern Iran
Authors: Behroozian Maryam , Ejtehadi Hamid , Memariani Farshid , Reza Joharchi Mohammad , Mesdaghi Mansour
Published: September 2022

The study aimed to analyze vegetation data using a phytosociological method and to identify species composition and relationships between vegetation and environmental data in communities that include two threatened species (Dianthus pseudocrinitus Behrooz. & Joharchi and D. polylepis Bien. ex Boiss.) endemic to the montane steppes of Khorassan‐Kopet Dagh floristic province in northeastern Iran. We sampled 75 vegetation plots in 15 sites where the endemic Dianthus species occur. In order to evaluate community characterization of the species, we investigated floristic composition, life‐form spectrum and the phytogeography of the study sites. In all, 370 plant species were recorded, belonging to 184 genera in 45 families. Floristic analysis revealed that Hemicryptophytes are the dominant life‐form in these habitats, and Iran‐Turanian floristic elements contributed 74.5% of the total number of species. Classification analysis based on TWINSPAN showed a clear separation of the study sites based on Dianthus taxa, which was confirmed by detrended correspondence analysis (DCA). The results reflected the highly diverse flora at all Dianthus sites. Species composition and the distribution of vegetation groups were influenced by some environmental factors. Habitats for both species could be managed by a community ecological approach; our study provided a better knowledge of these communities' ecological and floristic composition to enhance effective management and conservation of the threatened species.
An insect‐pollinated species in a wind‐pollinated genus: case study of the endemic plant, Laramie chickensage Artemisia simplex
Authors: Crawford Madison S. , Handley Joy , Tronstad Lusha M.
Published: September 2022

Artemisia simplex (Laramie chickensage) is an imperiled, endemic plant in southeastern Wyoming, USA. To fill critical information gaps, we measured its seed viability and pollination mechanisms, measures that are lacking for many rare and endemic plants yet critical for the perpetuation of species. Artemisia simplex cover varied among sites and occupied 5.5% (range: 1.3–14.6%) of the area on average. This unique plant typically produced viable seeds under ambient conditions but did not self‐pollinate. Characteristics of the flower and pollen suggest that A. simplex is primarily animal‐pollinated, and we found that both wind and animals transported pollen to the plant, but wind alone produced fewer seeds. Members of the sagebrush genus are widely known to be wind‐pollinated; however, we demonstrated that this species of sagebrush is largely animal‐pollinated. Plant conservation and management plans must consider the mode of pollen transfer, especially when considering the decline of insect pollinators. Pollination provides information about the persistence of plant populations through sexual reproduction, which produces the genetic variation needed for healthy populations.
Interactions between symptoms and psychological status in irritable bowel syndrome: An exploratory study of the impact of a probiotic combination
Authors: Groeger David , Murphy Eileen F. , Tan Hern Tze Tina , Larsen Ida Søgaard , O'Neill Ian , Quigley Eamonn M. M.
Published: September 2022

Background

Stress is an exacerbator of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms, and anxiety and depression are co‐morbidities. Bifidobacterium longum strains 1714® and 35642® attenuate stress responses in healthy people and reduce symptoms in IBS, respectively. Here, we explore relationships between the psychological and visceral effects of the two strains (COMBO) in IBS subjects and biomarkers of stress and inflammation.

Methods

We recruited 40 patients with IBS (Rome III) and mild to moderate anxiety (HADS‐A) and/or depression (HADS‐D) and 57 asymptomatic female controls with low or moderate stress. IBS patients were fed COMBO (1 × 109 cfu/day) for 8 weeks with an 8‐week washout. IBS symptoms, psychometric measures, salivary cortisol awakening response (CAR), and plasma inflammatory biomarkers were assessed every 4 weeks.

Key results

Compared to healthy controls, IBS subjects had a blunted CAR. Treatment with COMBO restored CAR and improved IBS symptoms compared to baseline during the treatment phase. The COMBO reduced HADS‐D, HADS‐A score, and TNF‐α, while sleep quality improved significantly from baseline to the end of the intervention. Surprisingly, these parameters improved further once treatment ended and maintained this improvement by Week 16.

Conclusions and inferences

These findings suggest that the stress response is a major driver of IBS symptoms. The time course of the beneficial effect of COMBO on IBS symptoms suggests that this is achieved through a restoration of the stress response. In contrast, the time course of the effects of COMBO on anxiety and depression in IBS paralleled an anti‐inflammatory effect as indicated by a reduction in circulating levels of TNF‐α.
Willingness to pay for medications among patients with Rome IV Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Authors: Goodoory Vivek C. , Ng Cho Ee , Black Christopher J. , Ford Alexander C.
Published: September 2022

Background

Little is known about willingness to pay for medications among individuals with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Methods

We collected demographic, gastrointestinal symptom, psychological health, quality of life, and healthcare usage data from 752 adults with Rome IV‐defined IBS. We examined willingness to pay for a hypothetical medication in return for improvement in IBS symptoms using a contingent valuation method, according to these variables.

Results

The median amount of money individuals was willing to pay was £1–£50 (IQR £0–£100) per month for a medication with a 100% chance of improving IBS symptoms. Women, compared with men, (92.7% willing to pay “£0,” 89.8% “£1–£50,” 87.3% “£51–£100,” 78.9% “£101–£200,” and 78.5% “more than £200,” p = 0.008) were less likely to be willing to pay for a pill with a 100% chance of improving IBS symptoms whilst those with an annual income of £30,000 or more (12.2% willing to pay “£0,” 25.2% “£1–£50,” 33.5% “£51–£100,” 40.2% “£101–£200,” and 35.1% “more than £200,” p = 0.002) were more likely. We observed a higher willingness to pay among those with lower IBS‐related quality of life (p = 0.002 for trend). Of all 752 individuals, 92.7%, 74.5%, and 58.0% would be willing to pay for a medication that would give them a 100%, 50%, or 30% chance of improving IBS symptoms, respectively.

Conclusion

Patients with IBS are willing to pay for medications which improve IBS symptoms. Future studies should investigate the relative importance of medication pricing, efficacy, and side effect profile among individuals with IBS.
The arts and sciences: The two cultures and the public face of science
Authors: Dirks Nicholas B.
Published: September 2022

At a time when the culture of and discoveries by science are clearly in the ascendant, science needs the arts and humanities more than ever. Paradoxically, however, the two cultures—the arts and the sciences—have become increasingly distinct, seemingly ever more orthogonal to each other.
Putting music to trial: Consensus on key methodological challenges investigating music‐based rehabilitation
Authors: Grau‐Sánchez Jennifer , Jamey Kevin , Paraskevopoulos Evangelos , Dalla Bella Simone , Gold Christian , Schlaug Gottfried , Belleville Sylvie , Rodríguez‐Fornells Antoni , Hackney Madeleine E. , Särkämö Teppo
Published: September 2022

Major advances in music neuroscience have fueled a growing interest in music‐based neurological rehabilitation among researchers and clinicians. Musical activities are excellently suited to be adapted for clinical practice because of their multisensory nature, their demands on cognitive, language, and motor functions, and music's ability to induce emotions and regulate mood. However, the overall quality of music‐based rehabilitation research remains low to moderate for most populations and outcomes. In this consensus article, expert panelists who participated in the Neuroscience and Music VII conference in June 2021 address methodological challenges relevant to music‐based rehabilitation research. The article aims to provide guidance on challenges related to treatment, outcomes, research designs, and implementation in music‐based rehabilitation research. The article addresses how to define music‐based rehabilitation, select appropriate control interventions and outcomes, incorporate technology, and consider individual differences, among other challenges. The article highlights the value of the framework for the development and evaluation of complex interventions for music‐based rehabilitation research and the need for stronger methodological rigor to allow the widespread implementation of music‐based rehabilitation into regular clinical practice.
Progranulin is essential for bone homeostasis and immunology
Authors: Chen Qian , Wu ZuPing , Xie Liang
Published: September 2022

Intercellular communication or crosstalk between immune and skeletal cells is considered a crucial element in bone homeostasis modulation. Progranulin (PGRN) is an autocrine growth factor that is structured as beads‐on‐a‐string and participates in multiple pathophysiological processes, including atherosclerosis, arthritis, neurodegenerative pathologies, cancer, and wound repair. PGRN functions as a competitor that binds to tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1), thereby blocking the TNF‐α pathway. PGRN is regarded as an agonist of chondrogenesis and osteogenesis, delaying the progression of inflammation through the TNFR2 pathway. The exploitation of PGRN may bring benefits for inflammatory bone diseases and the stabilization of bone homeostasis. The PGRN‐modified analog Atsttrin possesses three TNFR‐binding fragments and thereby exerts superior therapeutic effects on multiple preclinical animal models compared to PGRN. In this review, we highlight the emerging roles of PGRN in bone formation, as well as in physiological and TNF‐α–mediated inflammatory conditions revealed in recent discoveries. We address potential therapies for the treatment of inflammatory bone conditions, such as periodontitis, by the use of PGRN and its derivative Atsttrin.
A Unique Surgical Case of Ancient Calcified Intravascular Papillary Endothelial Hyperplasia in the Tibia with Knee Joint Osteoarthritis
Authors: Kitajima Hironori , Shioya Akihiro , Kadoguchi Rie , Han Jia , Sawano Hinako , Yonezawa Katsutaka , Shimizu Yoshiaki , Hiromura Kentaro , Yokoyama Mitsuteru , Nojima Takayuki , Yamada Sohsuke
Published: September 2022

Background

Intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia (IPEH) is a reactive lesion histopathologically characterized by papillary growth of vascular endothelial cells. IPEH is most commonly found in the skin and subcutaneous tissues of the head, neck, and extremities. Furthermore, it has been reported to occur in oral surgery, but its occurrence in bone is extremely rare.

Case Presentation

We present the case of a 77‐year‐old man with a chief complaint of left knee arthralgia. The knee joint X‐ray showed Kellgren–Lawrence grade 4 osteoarthritis and a mass lesion with decreased permeability within the bone in the medial part of the proximal tibia. Computerized tomography (CT) scan of the left knee showed a localized mass in the left proximal tibia with clear margins and granular internal calcification. The preoperative diagnosis was left knee osteoarthritis and a benign tumor of the left proximal tibia (enchondroma or hemangioma). The patient requested surgical treatment, so left total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and resection of the tumor were performed. The pathology revealed a rare intraosseous IPEH with marked calcification.

Conclusions

Since intraosseous IPEH could not be considered from the clinical findings, the pathological diagnosis was the decisive factor. This report showed the world's first case of intraosseous IPEH with marked calcification. Similar to the calcification of intraosseous hemangiomas, we considered the possibility that, in IPEH, the thrombus may fibrosis and organize in concentric circles, causing necrosis at the center and resulting in calcification. TKA was performed on the degenerative knee joint with IPEH, and a good patient outcome was obtained.