bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
SwarmTCR: a computational approach to predict the specificity of T Cell Receptors
Authors: Ehrlich Ryan , Kamga Larisa , Gil Anna , Luzuriaga Katherine , Selin Liisa , Ghersi Dario
Published: November 2020

Motivation

Computationally predicting the specificity of T cell receptors can be a powerful tool to shed light on the immune response against infectious diseases and cancers, autoimmunity, cancer immunotherapy, and immunopathology. With more T cell receptor sequence data becoming available, the need for bioinformatics approaches to tackle this problem is even more pressing. Here we present SwarmTCR, a method that uses labeled sequence data to predict the specificity of T cell receptors using a nearest-neighbor approach. SwarmTCR works by optimizing the weights of the individual CDR regions to maximize classification performance.

Results

We compared the performance of SwarmTCR against a state-of-the-art method (TCRdist) and showed that SwarmTCR performed significantly better on epitopes EBV-BRLF1300, EBV-BRLF1109, NS4B214–222with single cell data and epitopes EBV-BRLF1300, EBV-BRLF1109, IAV-M158with bulk sequencing data (α and β chains). In addition, we show that the weights returned by SwarmTCR are biologically interpretable.

Availability

SwarmTCR is distributed freely under the terms of the GPL-3 license. The source code and all sequencing data are available at GitHub (https://github.com/thecodingdoc/SwarmTCR)

Contact

dghersi@unomaha.edu
“Green washing” or “authentic effort”? An empirical investigation of the quality of sustainability reporting by banks
Authors: Khan Habib Zaman , Bose Sudipta , Mollik Abu Taher , Harun Harun
Published: November 2020

Purpose

This study explores the quality of sustainability reporting (QSR) and the impact of regulatory guidelines, social performance and a standardised reporting framework (using the Global Reporting Initiative [GRI] guidelines) on QSR in the context of banks in Bangladesh.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a sample of 315 banking firm-year observations over 13 years (2002–2014), a content analysis technique is used to develop the 11-item QSR index. Regression analysis is used to test the research hypotheses.

Findings

Initially, QSR evolved symbolically in Bangladesh's banks but, over our investigation period, with QSR indicators gradually improving, the trends became substantive. The influences on QSR were sustainable banking practice regulatory guidelines, social performance and use of the GRI guidelines. However, until banks improve reporting information, such as external verification and trends over time, QSR cannot be regarded as fully substantive.

Research limitations/implications

This study advances QSR research and debate among academic researchers. With regulatory agencies and stakeholders increasingly using sustainability reporting information for decision making, the information's quality is vital.

Originality/value

This study is the first on QSR in the banking industry context, with previous research mostly investigating the quantity of sustainability reporting. The current study also synthesises QSR with sustainability regulation and social performance factors which have rarely been used in the sustainability literature. To gain a holistic understanding of QSR, existing QSR measures are advanced by combining external reporting efforts with banks' internalisation initiatives.
The Asian region and COVID-19: approaches and gaps in controlling the virus
Authors: Mehta Poonam
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The world is facing an unprecedented transformation in its social, economic and financial environments due to the emergence of a new pandemic called coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The norms on social distancing, lockdowns and sealing of international boundaries are the common measures taken by almost all regions of the world. However, the Asian region is found to have a relatively lesser number of infected cases and deaths due to COVID-19 in comparison to the other regions of the world. The present study has been aimed to review the roles of various factors as approaches, such as technology, business–government collaborations, financial bailouts and policies from government side and geographical and demographical factors of the countries in slowing down the transmission of virus in the Asian region including East Asia, South Asia and South East Asia for controlling COVID-19. Besides, the present study has also emphasised the gaps which have disabled the Asian region in controlling the transmission of virus.

Design/methodology/approach

For framing the paper, various articles, national and international reports and academic papers have been reviewed, which are published in the period 2000–2020. The studies are shortlisted on the basis of keywords, such as COVID-19, coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome-like coronavirus ( SARS-CoV-2), pandemic, virus, quarantine, Asia, etc.

Findings

The study has emphasised the roles of government, technology, business–government collaborations and geographical and demographical factors of countries as relevant factors in controlling COVID-19. Also, the study has highlighted inefficient health infrastructure, fear of social stigma and misinformation amongst citizens as those gaps where Asian regions are simultaneously found to be unprepared and inefficient to control the pandemic.

Research limitations/implications

The present review would aid researchers in explaining the relevance of macro-level factors such as technology, business–government collaborations, government policies and financial bailouts and geographical and demographical factors of the region in controlling the transmission of pandemics and epidemics.

Practical implications

The study would assist decision makers, governments and individuals in framing of the various strategies and interventions to control pandemics and epidemics.

Social implications

The present study has explained the relevance of various behavioural and social factors as gaps which are responsible for speeding up the transmission of COVID-19. Here, the study would guide the society in taking various right steps during the phase of pandemic and lockdowns.

Originality/value

Previously, rarely any study has been found which has reviewed the roles of macro-level factors as approaches and gaps in the context of the Asian region to slow down the transmission of COVID-19.
Female CEOs and investment efficiency: evidence from an emerging economy
Authors: Ullah Irfan , Majeed Muhammad Ansar , Fang Hong-Xing , Khan Muhammad Arif
Published: November 2020

Purpose

This study aims to investigate how the presence of female CEOs (FCEOs) affects investment efficiency in emerging economy, where female participation in business activities is limited.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper investigates the impact of CEO gender on investment efficiency by using investment efficiency measures proposed by Biddle et al. (2009), Chen et al. (2011) and Chen et al. (2013).

Findings

The findings suggest that FCEOs are associated with high level of investment efficiency. FCEOs improve corporate governance, streamline management and reduce inefficient investment decisions. In addition, FCEOs focus more on curbing underinvestment than overinvestment when making investment decisions. Furthermore, high financial reporting quality (FRQ) strengthens the effect of FCEOs on investment efficiency. The results suggest that FCEOs do not ameliorate the investment efficiency of state-owned enterprises.

Originality/value

This study enhances our understanding of the effects of FCEOs on corporate investment decisions in a male-dominated society. Efficient use of resources is vital from corporate and societal perspectives. Emerging economies are characterized by the unstable political and economic environment and low participation of females in decision-making. Hence, these economies require efficient utilization of resources. This study also sheds light on the role of FCEOs in curtailing underinvestment in emerging economies. It proves that FRQ is important in emerging economies because it strengthens the governance role of FCEOs.
Influences of climatic and social environment on variable maternal allocation among offspring in Alpine marmots
Authors: Plard Floriane , Chamiot‐clerc Benoit , Cohas Aurélie
Published: November 2020

In an environment with limited resources, parents may trade‐off the number of offspring produced against offspring mass. To maximize fitness under unpredictable environments, females must not only maximize mean annual reproductive success but also minimize between‐year variation in reproductive success. Thus, preferred strategies of maternal allocation might be to maximize the mass of their offspring or to produce a number of offspring of variable body masses.

Many social species have evolved in variable and unpredictable environments where only the social environment can be predicted. If mothers seem to alter their total reproductive allocation to offspring depending on their social environment, how the total expenditure is allocated between the different offspring is still unknown.

Here, we analysed how climatic and social environments influence strategies of maternal allocation and how these strategies impact pup first‐year survival in a wild population of Alpine marmots monitored between 1990 and 2016.

We found that females acted as income breeders using resources immediately available for reproduction. Our results showed that the proportion of maternal mass allocated to offspring varied mainly with litter size. However, how maternal allocation is shared between pups depended on climatic and social environments. In general, mothers tended to have litters of greater average mass and small variability in favourable social environments or when resources are abundant and lighter average pup mass but high variability in unfavourable social environments or when resources are scarce.

This variable allocation could correspond to dynamic bet‐hedging such that mothers influence the variance of pup mass within the litter in response to poor current environmental conditions. Our analysis of first‐year survival showed that females should maximize the body mass of their young whatever the conditions will be because pups of higher mass have higher survival, regardless of environmental conditions. When resources are scarce, this strategy might not be achievable for all pups so that mothers produced variable pups. In large litters, this strategy increased first‐year survival.

Because pup variability affects parental fitness, differential allocation between pups of the same litter could have large consequences on fitness and thus on reproductive strategies of social species.
Fatty acid profiling of bovine milk and cheese from six European areas by GC‐FID and GC‐MS
Authors: Eisenstecken Daniela , Stanstrup Jan , Robatscher Peter , Huck Christian W. , Oberhuber Michael
Published: November 2020

The fatty acid (FA) composition of milk from six European areas, as well as the alteration in the FA profile during cheese production, was studied using both a targeted GC‐FID and an untargeted GC‐MS approach. By applying principal component, partial least square discriminant and chemical similarity enrichment analysis, a discrimination of the geographical areas could be achieved highlighting important FA classes such as odd‐ and branched‐chain FAs for the differentiation. The FA profile remained constant during cheese production, and aroma compounds have been identified as biomarkers for the ripening methods used, namely foil and smear ripening.
Labor Market Effects of Spatial Licensing Requirements: Evidence from CPA Mobility
Authors: CASCINO STEFANO , TAMAYO ANE , VETTER FELIX
Published: November 2020

We exploit the staggered introduction of CPA Mobility provisions in the United States to study the effects of spatial licensing requirements on the labor market for accounting professionals. Specifically, we examine whether the removal of licensing‐induced geographic barriers affects CPA wages and employment levels, as well as the pricing and quality of professional services. We find that, subsequent to the adoption of CPA Mobility provisions, wages of accounting professionals decrease, whereas employment levels are unaffected. The documented wage effect stems from smaller CPA firms, is more pronounced for CPAs holding senior positions, and persists over time. We also find that service prices decline and that this effect is concentrated in local CPA firms. Moreover, we document that the increased wage and price pressure is not associated with deteriorating service quality. Collectively, our results suggest that the removal of occupational licensing barriers has sizable effects on labor supply and service prices. Our findings inform the current regulatory debate on occupational licensing.
Team‐level human resource attributions and performance
Authors: Fan Di , Huang Yufang , Timming Andrew R.
Published: November 2020

Drawing on attribution theory, this study explores the relationship between team‐level human resource attributions (HRAs) and team performance, and explains how transformational leadership moderates this relationship. The data were collected from leaders and subordinates across 77 work teams, for a total of 708 participants employed in seven manufacturing and service organizations in China. The study finds that the relationship between commitment‐focused team‐level HRAs and team performance is mediated by team engagement, and that self‐awareness of transformational leadership significantly strengthens the positive relationship between these variables. However, parallel moderated mediation relationships are not evident between control‐focused team‐level HRAs and team performance. The study is among the first to explore team‐level HRAs and contributes to the scholarly debates on the role of attributions in explaining the so‐called ‘black box’ between HRM and performance.
Patterns and preferences for accessing health and aged care services in older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians
Authors: Larke Benjamin M. , Broe Gerald A. , Daylight Gail , Draper Brian , Cumming Robert G. , Allan Wendy , Donovan Terrence , Costa Daniel , Lah Suncica , Radford Kylie
Published: November 2020

Objectives

To determine preferences for health and aged care services in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians and explore related factors.

Methods

Mixed‐method, cross‐sectional study including 336 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 60 years and older from regional and urban areas.

Results

Exclusive preference for Aboriginal Community Controlled services was most common. This preference significantly increased when preferences for, and use of, aged care and disability services were considered. The likelihood of holding an exclusive preference for Aboriginal Community Controlled services was higher in regional settings compared to urban and in those reporting lower engagement in traditional activities during childhood.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that the majority of older Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people prefer aged and disability care provided by Aboriginal services. Given the anticipated increase in service demand in this population, there is a growing need for culturally safe services, particularly in regional settings.
Neoantigen prediction in human breast cancer using RNA sequencing data
Authors: Hashimoto Sachie , Noguchi Emiko , Bando Hiroko , Miyadera Hiroko , Morii Wataru , Nakamura Takako , Hara Hisato
Published: November 2020

Neoantigens have attracted attention as biomarkers or therapeutic targets. However, accurate prediction of neoantigens is still challenging, especially in terms of its accuracy and cost. Variant detection using RNA sequencing (RNA‐seq) data has been reported to be a low‐accuracy but cost‐effective tool, but the feasibility of RNA‐seq data for neoantigen prediction has not been fully examined. In the present study, we used whole‐exome sequencing (WES) and RNA‐seq data of tumor and matched normal samples from six breast cancer patients to evaluate the utility of RNA‐seq data instead of WES data in variant calling to detect neoantigen candidates. Somatic variants were called in three protocols using: (i) tumor and normal WES data (DNA method, Dm); (ii) tumor and normal RNA‐seq data (RNA method, Rm); and (iii) combination of tumor RNA‐seq and normal WES data (Combination method, Cm). We found that the Rm had both high false‐positive and high false‐negative rates because this method depended greatly on the expression status of normal transcripts. When we compared the results of Dm with those of Cm, only 14% of the neoantigen candidates detected in Dm were identified in Cm, but the majority of the missed candidates lacked coverage or variant allele reads in the tumor RNA. In contrast, about 70% of the neoepitope candidates with higher expression and rich mutant transcripts could be detected in Cm. Our results showed that Cm could be an efficient and a cost‐effective approach to predict highly expressed neoantigens in tumor samples.
Sublethal irradiation promotes the metastatic potential of hepatocellular carcinoma cells
Authors: Cao Yulin , Yin Yuan , Wang Xue , Wu Zhifeng , Liu Yuhang , Zhang Fuzheng , Lin Junhua , Huang Zhaohui , Zhou Leyuan
Published: November 2020

Radiotherapy (RT) represents one of the major treatment methods for cancers. However, many studies have observed that in descendant surviving tumor cells, sublethal irradiation can promote metastatic ability, which is closely related to the tumor microenvironment. We therefore investigated the functions and mechanisms of sublethal irradiated liver nonparenchymal cells (NPCs) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, primary rat NPCs and McA‐RH7777 hepatoma cells were irradiated with 6 Gy X‐ray. Conditioned media (CM) from nonirradiated (SnonR), irradiated (SR), or irradiated plus radiosensitizer celecoxib‐treated (S[R + D]) NPCs were collected and added to sublethal irradiated McA‐RH7777 cells. We showed that CM from sublethal irradiated NPCs significantly promoted the migration and invasion ability of sublethal irradiated McA‐RH7777 cells, which was reversed by celecoxib. The differentially expressed genes in differently treated McA‐RH7777 cells were enriched mostly in the AMP‐activated protein kinase/mammalian target of rapamycin (AMPK/mTOR) signaling pathway. SR increased the migration and invasion ability of HCC cells by inhibiting AMPK/mTOR signaling, which was enhanced by the AMPK inhibitor compound C and blocked by the AMPK activator GSK‐621. Analyses of HCC tissues after neoadjuvant radiotherapy confirmed the effects of radiation on the AMPK/mTOR pathway. Cytokine antibody arrays and further functional investigations showed that matrix metalloproteinase‐8 (MMP‐8) partly mediates the promotion effects of SR on the migration and invasion ability of HCC cells by regulating AMPK/mTOR signaling. In summary, our data indicate that MMP‐8 secreted by irradiated NPCs enhanced the migration and invasion of HCC by regulating AMPK/mTOR signaling, revealing a novel mechanism mediating sublethal irradiation–induced HCC metastasis at the level of the tumor microenvironment.
Prognostic impact of ventilation‐perfusion defects and pulmonary diffusing capacity after single lung transplantation
Authors: Mohammad Milan , Kristensen Anna Warncke , Hedsund Caroline , Greve Anders M. , Perch Michael , Mortensen Jann , Berg Ronan M. G.
Published: November 2020

Background

Ventilation‐perfusion (VQ) scintigraphy and lung function testing are often used to assess allograft function after single lung transplantation (SLTX). However, it is unknown whether allograft defects on VQ scintigraphy presage all‐cause mortality after SLTX.

Objective

To investigate whether allograft defects on VQ scintigraphy portend poorer lung function and increased mortality after SLTX.

Methods

We retrospectively identified 45 consecutive patients in which a VQ scintigraphy was performed as part of the routine workup 12 weeks after SLTX. VQ scintigraphies were scored for matched and mismatched perfusion defects in the allograft. Lung function testing was performed according to established guidelines six months after SLTX. Time to all‐cause mortality was the endpoint.

Results

19 (42%) patients had matched VQ defects. After a median follow‐up of 4.1 (IQR 1.5–7.9) years since SLTX, 35 (78%) had died. Those with matched defects in the allograft had lower diffusing capacity (mean 42 [SD 14] versus mean 54 [SD 18] % of predicted, p < .05) and increased mortality (univariable HR 2.06, 95% CI: 1.05–4.06, p = .04). However, in multivariate analysis, only lower post‐transplantation diffusing capacity remained associated with mortality (HR 1.08, 95% CI: 1.02–1.30 per % lower diffusing capacity of predicted, p = .003).

Conclusion

In SLTX patients, a lower diffusing capacity appeared to explain the increased mortality among those with matched VQ defects in the allograft.
The consumption of processed sugar‐ and starch‐containing foods, and dental caries: a systematic review
Authors: Hancock Sarah , Zinn Caryn , Schofield Grant
Published: November 2020

The relationship between high dietary intakes of sugar (sucrose) and dental caries is well established. Processed sugars and starches have been associated with greater dental caries experience in retrospective studies. The aim of this systematic review was to determine the relationship between the consumption of processed sugar‐ and starch‐containing foods, the frequency of consumption of these foods, and dental caries. Prospective studies were identified in databases searched from 1970 to July 2020, and relevant retrieved papers that examined associations between the consumption of sugar‐ and starch‐containing foods by human participants and dental caries were eligible for inclusion. Five cohort studies were identified for inclusion, all of which evaluated caries risk in young children or pre‐adolescents. The between‐meal consumption of processed sugar‐ and starch‐containing foods was consistently found to be associated with greater caries experience. There were mixed findings on total consumption of processed sugar‐ and starch‐containing foods, owing to a range of confounding factors, including the simultaneous consumption of caries‐protective foods at mealtimes. Although there is a paucity of research of the dietary effects of frequent consumption of processed sugar‐ and starch‐containing foods on dental caries, there is some evidence of plausible associations between this dietary behaviour and dental caries. Future research should investigate the effectiveness of interventions to change the dietary behaviour of high‐frequency consumption of processed sugar‐ and starch‐containing foods to decrease the risk of dental caries.
Elderly patients, isometric exercise, and native vascular access maturation: An unsolved question?
Authors: Tapia González Irati , Esteve Simó Vicent , Ibañez Sara , Moreno Guzman Fátima , Fulquet Nicolás Miquel , Duarte Gallego Verónica , Saurina Solé Anna , Pou Potau Mónica , Yeste Campos Montserrat , de Arellano Serna Manel Ramírez
Published: November 2020

Introduction

The number of elderly patients undergoing hemodialysis is steadily increasing. The choice and management of vascular access (VA) in these patients are difficult, and the role of postoperative isometric exercises on native VA maturation in the elderly population is not clearly established.

Objectives

To assess the effect of postoperative isometric exercises on native VA maturation in patients older than 75 years with advanced chronic kidney disease.

Methodology

This was a randomized single‐center study over a 24‐month period. Postoperative isometric exercises were performed in the exercise group (EG), while the control group (CG) received usual care. Demographic data, muscle strength (using handgrip [HG] dynamometer), Doppler ultrasound (DUS), incidence of VA complications, and clinical and DUS maturation were assessed at 4 and 8 weeks.

Results

A total of 27 patients were included (EG: 14, CG: 13). The mean age of the patients was 79.9 ± 2.8 years; 74.1% were men, and 59.2% had radiocephalic VA. Demographic data, HG, and DUS measurements were similar at baseline. DUS measurements significantly increased in both groups at the end of the study. A significant increase in HG (19.1 ± 7.8 kg vs. 22.9 ± 9.7 kg, P = 0.001) and the highest clinical (CG vs. EG: 46.2% vs. 78.6%; P = 0.049) and DUS maturation (CG vs. EG: 30.8% vs. 71.4%; P = 0.041) were observed in the EG at 8 weeks. Globally, medical or surgical VA complications were lower in the EG and mainly included significant stenosis (CG vs. EG: 23.1% vs. 7.1%), although no significant differences were observed.

Conclusions

Once a native VA is indicated in elderly patients, postoperative isometric exercise should be considered in order to improve the odds of achieving a mature functional arteriovenous fistula. Further studies are required to support our findings in this population.
Impact of thermoplastic extrusion process on chemical, nutritional, technological and sensory properties of gluten‐free breakfast cereals from pigmented rice
Authors: Rivero Meza Silvia Leticia , Louro Massaretto Isabel , Sinnecker Patricia , Schmiele Marcio , Chang Yoon Kil , Noldin Jose Alberto , Lanfer Marquez Ursula Maria
Published: November 2020

The black rice and red rice varieties cultivated in Brazil are rich in dietary fibres, proteins, and phenolic compounds with great antioxidant potential, being a promising alternative for the production of healthy gluten‐free snacks. In this study, pigmented rice flours and their respective extrudates were characterised for the nutrient profile, phenolic compounds, antioxidant capacity, technological properties and colour aspects, and the results were compared through heat map analysis. Black rice snacks presented better nutrient and phenolic profiles, while the red rice snacks stood out for the expansion and texture properties. Both breakfast cereals were nutritive, gluten‐free, hypoallergenic, naturally coloured (no need to add artificial colorants) and presented good sensory acceptance, with the higher scores for the attributes shape, size, colour and crispness.
The threat of COVID‐19 and its influence on nursing staff burnout
Authors: Manzano García Guadalupe , Ayala Calvo Juan Carlos
Published: November 2020

Aims

To evaluate whether the perceived threat of COVID‐19 moderates the influence of work resources and demands on burnout.

Design

A cross‐sectional study.

Methods

We used a convenience sample of 771 nurses working in 10 hospitals in northern Spain. The data on burnout, demand, and resources at work and the perceived threat of COVID‐19 were compiled in the second fortnight of April 2020 using an online questionnaire. We used several hierarchical linear regression models.

Results

Work overload, material and human resources and social support at work were significant in explaining burnout. The perceived threat of COVID‐19 variable was also significant and presented the highest regression coefficient (β = 0.392). The perceived threat of COVID‐19 moderated the relationship between social support at work and burnout.

Conclusion

The perceived threat of COVID‐19 helped to explain the degree of burnout in nurses and moderated the relationship between social support at work and burnout.

Impact

Hospitals should implement strategies to ensure that health emergency situations are not perceived as a threat. In pandemics, the organization should maintain clear, fluid, and regular communication with the nursing staff, which would help increase staff members’ confidence and sense of control.
From premise to practice: Applicability of a consensus statement for supporting adults with IDD who are frail
Authors: Barabash Tori , Ouellette‐Kuntz Hélène , Martin Lynn
Published: November 2020

Background

Study of frailty in adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) is relatively new. To build the body of literature, an international consensus statement on how to support adults with IDD as they become frail was developed based on fictional cases. This study examined the face validity and applicability of the consensus statement to real‐world care planning.

Method

Twenty‐three care plans for adults with IDD who were classified along the frailty continuum were reviewed. Documented goals, actions and outcomes were coded according to the consensus statement's principles and recommendations.

Results

The recommendations ‘Improvement and maintenance are viable goals’ and ‘Intersectoral collaboration is needed’ were documented the most often. Attention to the needs of formal and informal caregivers was mentioned the least often in care plans.

Conclusions

This study provides some support for the face validity of the consensus statement and its applicability to supporting adults with IDD who are frail.
IFN‐γ+IL‐17+Th17 cells regulate fibrosis through secreting IL‐21 in systemic scleroderma
Authors: Xing Xiaojing , Li Anqi , Tan Hong , Zhou Yong
Published: November 2020

This study aimed to explore the function of IFN‐γ+IL‐17+Th17 cells on fibrosis in systemic scleroderma (SSc). Blood and skin samples were collected from 20 SSc cases and 10 healthy individuals. The percentage of IFN‐γ+IL‐17+Th17 cells was detected using flow cytometry. The in vitro induction of IFN‐γ+IL‐17+Th17 cells was performed adopting PHA and rIL‐12. Gene expression was detected via quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR), whereas western blot analysis was adopted for protein analysis. The distribution of IFN‐γ+IL‐17+Th17 cells was significantly increased in SSc cases and positively correlated with SSc stages (P = .031), disease duration (P = .016), activity (P = .025) and skin scores (P < .001). In vitro, IFN‐γ+IL‐17+Th17 cells could promote the expressions of α‐SMA and COL1A1, revealing increased fibroblasts’ proliferation and enhanced collagen‐secreting capacity. In addition, IL‐21 expression was significantly increased in co‐culture medium of IFN‐γ+IL‐17+Th17 cells and fibroblasts (P < .001). IL‐21 neutralizer treatment resulted in the down‐regulation of α‐SMA and COL1A1. IL‐21 was confirmed as an effector of IFN‐γ+IL‐17+Th17 cells in fibrosis process. The distribution of IFN‐γ+IL‐17+Th17 cells was significantly increased in SSc cases and positively correlated with disease activity. IFN‐γ+IL‐17+Th17 cells could promote fibroblast proliferation and enhance collagen‐secreting ability via producing IL‐21, thus contributing to fibrosis in SSc.
Social competence in early childhood: An empirical validation of the SOCIAL model
Authors: Tuerk Carola , Anderson Vicki , Bernier Annie , Beauchamp Miriam H.
Published: November 2020

Social skills are the basis of human interactions and functioning in society. Social competence (SC) is thought to evolve gradually during childhood and adolescence via the interplay of multiple factors. In particular, the early years of life are marked by the emergence of basic social abilities and constitute the foundation for successful social development. The biopsychosocial SOcio‐Cognitive Integration of Abilities modeL (SOCIAL) posits that internal (child‐based), external (environment), and cognitive factors are critical to SC in the context of normal brain maturation; but this has yet to be shown empirically and comprehensively. This study tested the SOCIAL model in a sample of typically developing preschool children. Parents of 103 children (M = 67.59 months, SD = 11.65) completed questionnaires and children underwent neuropsychological assessment of executive functioning (EF), communication skills and social cognition. Three‐step hierarchical regression analyses (1) Internal factors, 2) External factors, 3) Cognitive factors) confirmed that each step of the regression model significantly predicted SC. In the final model, general cognitive and socio‐cognitive factors significantly predicted SC above and beyond internal and external factors: children with lower temperamental negative affect and less parent‐reported executive dysfunction, as well as better non‐verbal communication and theory of mind had better SC. Our findings support the conceptual SOCIAL model, and highlight the importance of internal, external, and cognitive factors for SC in the preschool years. Identification of factors associated with early social development can inform both normative and clinical approaches to identifying intervention loci and optimizing SC in those at risk for maladaptive social functioning.
B‐waves are present in patients without intracranial pressure disturbances
Authors: Riedel Casper Schwartz , Martinez‐Tejada Isabel , Norager Nicolas Hernandez , Kempfner Lykke , Jennum Poul , Juhler Marianne
Published: November 2020

Intracranial pressure (ICP) B‐waves are defined as short, repeating elevations of ICP of up to 50 mmHg with a frequency of 0.5–2 waves/min. The presence of B‐waves in overnight recordings is regarded as a pathological phenomenon. However, the physiology of B‐waves is still not fully understood and studies with transcranial Doppler, as a surrogate marker for ICP, have suggested that B‐waves could be a normal physiological phenomenon. We present four patients without known structural neurological disease other than a coincidentally found unruptured intracranial aneurysm. One of the patients had experienced well‐controlled epilepsy for several years, but was included because ICP under these conditions is unlikely to be abnormal. Following informed consent, all four patients had a telemetric ICP probe implanted during a prophylactic operation with closure of the aneurysm. They underwent overnight ICP monitoring with simultaneous polysomnography (PSG) sleep studies at 8 weeks after the operation. These patients exhibited nocturnal B‐waves, but did not have major structural brain lesions. Their ICP values were within the normal range. Nocturnal B‐waves occurred in close association with sleep‐disordered breathing (SDB) in rapid eye movement (REM) and non‐REM sleep stages. SDB during REM sleep was associated with ramp‐type B‐waves; SDB during non‐REM sleep was associated with the sinusoidal type of B‐wave. We propose that B‐waves are a physiological phenomenon associated with SDB and that the mechanical changes during respiration could have an essential and previously unrecognised role in the generation of B‐waves.
Simulating the forest fuel market as a socio‐ecological system with spatial agent‐based methods: A case study in Carinthia, Austria
Authors: Scholz Johannes , Breitwieser Florian , Mandl Peter
Published: November 2020

The paper presents an agent‐based modeling and simulation approach to model the forest fuel supply chain for heating purposes (i.e., heating plants). The paper focuses on the simulation of the processes of timber harvesting by forest enterprises and the competition of heating plants for the limited resource of wood chips. In particular, the work identifies different stakeholders having an adaptive behavior—with respect to the overall market conditions and timber prices. The agent‐based model developed here—called SimFoMa—uses three types of agents—forest enterprises, heating plants, and traders. The agents are interacting in an environment that has rich information on the forests and road network. The SimFoMa model is applied to a test area, the province of Carinthia, Austria. We defined six different simulation scenarios that cover different market situations—from increasing timber prices, volatile market conditions, or decreasing market conditions—and evaluated the harvest patterns, transport distances and the forest itself. The paper utilizes the agent‐based modeling methodology to model the agent's adaptive behavior of the forest fuel supply chain and to model the competition of heating plants for forest fuels. To evaluate this phenomena we mainly analyze transport distances of the simulation runs. For the test area of Carinthia, the experiments show that the behavior of small forest owners influences the supply of forest fuels. Timber prices not meeting the expectations of small forest owners might not motivate them to produce timber and forest fuels. On the long run the overall forest fuel supply does not meet the demand in the test area Carinthia—hence it relies on biomass imports. Furthermore, we witnessed increasing transport distances from harvest site to heating plant.

Recommendations for Resource Managers

The results of the spatial Agent‐based simulation of the forest fuel market with agents competing for the limited resource forest biomass show that transport distances for forest fuels can vary and may increase over time. Hence, the planning of the forest fuels supply and the respective transport distances is crucial to reduce the carbon footprint of the timber for heating purposes.

As small forest owners produce timber on a more irregular basis (based on the price in the market), the motivation of small forest owners is crucial for the steady supply of biomass for heating purposes—for the case of Carinthia.

In the long run it is not possible to fulfill the demand of biomass for heating purposes for Carinthia, without imports of timber. Again, crucial is the motivation of small forest owners to produce timber.
Moral reasoning as a catalyst for cultural competence and culturally responsive care
Authors: Markey Kathleen
Published: November 2020

The importance of developing cultural competence among healthcare professionals is well recognized. However, the widespread reports of insensitivity and deficiencies in care for culturally diverse patients illuminate the need to review how cultural competence development is taught, learnt and applied in practice. Unless we can alter the ‘hearts and minds’ of practising nurses to provide the care that they know they should, culturally insensitive care will continue operating in subtle ways. This paper explores the ideas behind nurses’ actions and omissions when caring for culturally diverse patients and proposes the need to examine cultural competence development through a moral reasoning lens. Examining cultural competence development through a moral reasoning lens can help empower nurses, whilst nurturing commitment and courage to providing quality care that meets the needs of culturally diverse patients. The model of morality provides a framework that explores how moral motivation and behaviour occur and can provide a vehicle for critically examining the knowledge, skills and attitudes required to provide culturally responsive care.
Multiple pulmonary infantile hemangiomas responsive to oral propranolol
Authors: Galdeano Florencia , Herón Alejandro , Moreno Sivia , Aprea Gabriela , Meneses Marina , Torrelo Antonio
Published: November 2020

Intrathoracic infantile hemangiomas (IHs) are extremely rare. They may be located in the pericardium, trachea, bronchia, diaphragm, mediastinum, or the lungs and may be associated with cutaneous IHs. We present a newborn with multiple pulmonary IHs in the absence of skin lesions that showed a dramatic response to oral propranolol.
Biomarker implementation: Evaluation of the decision‐making impact of CXCL10 testing in a pediatric cohort
Authors: Lamarche Caroline , Sharma Atul K. , Goldberg Aviva , Wang Li , Blydt‐Hansen Tom D.
Published: November 2020

Background

Children are at high risk for subclinical rejection, and kidney biopsy is currently used for surveillance. Our objective was to test how novel rejection biomarkers such as urinary CXCL10 may influence clinical decision‐making to indicate need for a biopsy.

Methods

A minimum dataset for standard decision‐making to indicate a biopsy was established by an expert panel and used to design clinical vignettes for use in a survey. Pediatric nephrologists were recruited to review the vignettes and A) estimate rejection risk and B) decide whether to biopsy; first without and then with urinary CXCL10/Cr level. Accuracy of biopsy decisions was then tested against the biopsy results. IRA was assessed by Fleiss Kappa (κ) for binary choice and ICC for probabilities.

Results

Eleven pediatric nephrologists reviewed 15 vignettes each. ICC of probability assessment for rejection improved from poor (0.28, P < .01) to fair (0.48, P < .01) with addition of CXCL10/Cr data. It did not, however, improve the IRA for decision to biopsy (K = 0.48 and K = 0.43, for the comparison). Change in clinician estimated probability of rejection with additional CXCL10/Cr data was correlated with CXCL10/Cr level (r2 = 0.7756, P < .0001). Decision accuracy went from 8/15 (53.3%) cases to 11/15 (73.3%) with CXCL10/Cr, although improvement did not achieve statistical significance. Using CXCL10/Cr alone would have been accurate in 12/15 cases (80%).

Conclusion

There is high variability in decision‐making on biopsy indication. Urinary CXCL10/Cr improves probability estimates for risk of rejection. Training may be needed to assist nephrologists in better integrate biomarker information into clinical decision‐making.
C‐theories of time: On the adirectionality of time
Authors: Farr Matt
Published: November 2020

‘The universe is expanding, not contracting’. Many statements of this form appear unambiguously true; after all, the discovery of the universe's expansion is one of the great triumphs of empirical science. However, the statement is time‐directed: the universe expands towards what we call the future; it contracts towards the past. If we deny that time has a direction, should we also deny that the universe is really expanding? This article draws together and discusses what I call ‘C‐theories’ of time—in short, philosophical positions that hold time lacks a direction—from different areas of the literature. I set out the various motivations, aims and problems for C‐theories, and outline different versions of antirealism about the direction of time.
Restoration of retired agricultural land to wetland mitigates greenhouse gas emissions
Authors: Bartolucci Nia N. , Anderson Todd R. , Ballantine Kate A.
Published: November 2020

Retired farmland restoration is increasingly seen as a valuable opportunity to improve ecosystem functions in sensitive regions. For example, with expected mass retirement of cranberry farms in New England, there is increasing interest in restoring retired cranberry farms back to wetlands. To understand how restoration of retired cranberry farms to wetland ecosystems influences climate‐related ecosystem functions, we assessed methane and carbon dioxide emissions from different post‐farming management options, including an actively farmed cranberry bog, young and old retired cranberry bogs, young and old restored cranberry bogs, and a natural reference bog. In addition to methane and carbon dioxide, we measured key soil properties influential in greenhouse gas flux, including soil organic matter, moisture, pH, redox potential, and bulk density. Greenhouse gas flux differed significantly by site type, with the restored systems functioning similarly to the natural reference wetland while retired sites had fluxes similar to the actively farmed site. The older restored site had significantly lower emissions of both methane and carbon dioxide than the newly restored site, indicating that over a larger time scale, restored systems may transition from net carbon dioxide sources to sinks. Overall, the results of this study suggest that in addition to the many other ecological benefits, the restoration of wetlands may also play a role in climate change mitigation through their ability to store carbon.
Do plant‐herbivore interactions persist in assisted migration plantings?
Authors: Toledo‐Aceves Tarin , del‐Val Ek
Published: November 2020

Biotic interactions are expected to be impacted by rising temperatures due to climate change, particularly in climate‐threatened ecosystems such as the tropical montane cloud forest (TMCF). In assisted migration plantings, novel interactions between previously non‐overlapping species may emerge while other interactions may disappear. However, these processes require study. Herbivory is particularly important in tree early stages, and can vary with elevation and plant species traits. We assessed whether leaf herbivory occurs in translocated tree saplings and varies with elevation, and whether herbivory affects sapling growth in six shade‐tolerant TMCF tree species translocated to seven enrichment plantings along an elevation gradient (1,250–2,500 m a.s.l.), including sites located above the reported distributional limit of the species, in eastern Mexico. Given the conservative strategy of the studied plant species, limited damage was expected. Since insects are ectothermic, we expected decreasing herbivory pressure with increased elevation. After 4 years, sapling survival was high (77.9–92.1%). Moderate herbivory was recorded in all species and at all sites (1.0–6.6%), with no effect on growth in any of the species. Herbivory decreased with elevation in three species and was unaffected in the other three. The results indicate that plant‐herbivore interactions can continue at new locations; however, the contribution of generalist and specialist insect herbivores requires further study. The reduced herbivory at higher elevation in some species supports the expected trend, which could represent an advantage for upward assisted migration of endangered TMCF tree species in restoration plantings to mitigate climate change effects.
Improving nitrogen‐use efficiency by using ridge tillage in rice paddy soils
Authors: Qin Chuan , Wright Alan L. , Ma Lihua , He Xinhua , Xie Deti , Jiang Xianjun
Published: November 2020

Nitrogen (N) fertilizers are increasingly being used to meet crop demand for the expanding human population. However, historical N‐use efficiency (NUE) is low for rice paddy fields compared to upland ecosystems. This study aimed to investigate the fate of N fertilizer and compared NUE under different tillage regimes in a rice‐based agroecosystem. A long‐term field study of tillage regimes (i.e. flooded paddy field, conventional tillage and ridge tillage) and 15N isotope tracer methods (in situ and incubation) was used to determine N fertilizer fate and uptake. Nitrogen uptake by rice (which represents NUE) significantly differed between tillage regimes (p < .05). Nitrogen‐use efficiency was 31% of applied N fertilizer for ridge tillage, which was the highest among the three tillage regimes, while the lowest NUE occurred for conventional tillage (17%). The soil residual N for ridge tillage was significantly higher (21%), than for the flooded paddy field or conventional tillage. The total gaseous N loss was highest for ridge tillage (28%) and lowest for conventional tillage (17%). Ammonia (NH3) volatilization accounted for the largest proportion of gaseous loss from N fertilizer for all three tillage regimes. However, the largest loss of applied N was with water (runoff and leaching), where N loss accounted for 20% of applied N for ridge tillage but up to 54% for conventional tillage. Ridge tillage changed the soil micro‐topography and water regimes leading to better N conservation. Based on these results, adoption of ridge tillage should significantly improve NUE for rice paddy fields.