bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exosomes in breast cancer management: Where do we stand? A literature review
Authors: Triantafyllou Alexandra , Gazouli Maria , Theodoropoulos Charalampos , Zografos Eleni , Zografos George C. , Michalopoulos Nikolaos V.
Published: January 2022

Background

Exosomes constitute cellular molecular fingertips that participate in intercellular communication both in health and disease states. Hence, exosomes emerge as critical mediators of cancer development and progression, as well as potential biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets.

Objective

To review literature data regarding applications of circulating exosomes in breast cancer management.

Methods

This is a literature review of relevant published studies until April 2020 in PubMed and Google Scholar databases. Original papers in the English language concerning exosome related studies were included.

Results

Exosomes represent molecular miniatures of their parent cells. Several homeostatic mechanisms control exosomal secretion and synthesis. Exosomal exchange among cells creates an intricate intercellular crosstalk orchestrating almost every tissue process, as well as carcinogenesis. Available data highlight exosomes as major mediators of cancer development and progression. The secretion of specific exosomal molecules, particularly miRNAs, correlates with the underlying processes and can be used as a means of tumor detection and prognostic assessment.

Conclusions

Exosomal miRNAs expression profiles and levels closely relate to cancer extent, type and prognosis. Deep comprehension of such correlations and systematization of experimental outcomes will offer a novel approach in cancer detection and management.
Defining usual physiotherapy care in ambulant children with cerebral palsy in the United Kingdom: A mixed methods consensus study
Authors: Rapson Rachel , Latour Jos M. , Marsden Jonathan , Hughes Harriet , Carter Bernie
Published: January 2022

Background

Ambulant children with cerebral palsy (CP) undertake physiotherapy to improve balance and walking. However, there are no relevant clinical guidelines to standardize usual physiotherapy care in the United Kingdom. A consensus process can be used to define usual physiotherapy care for children with CP. The resulting usual care checklist can support the development of clinical guidelines and be used to measure fidelity to usual care in the control groups of trials for children with CP.

Methods

Twelve expert physiotherapists were recruited. In Phase 1, statements on usual care were developed using a survey and two nominal groups. Phase 2 included a literature review to support usual physiotherapy interventions. Phase 3 used a confirmatory survey, which also captured changes to provision during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Consensus was calculated by deriving the mean of the deviations from the median score (MDM). High consensus was deemed to be where MDM < 0.42.

Results

Physiotherapists reached high consensus on five outcome measures (MDM range 0–0.375) and nine areas of assessment (MDM range 0–0.25). Physiotherapists reached moderate consensus on task‐specific training (MDM = 0.75), delivered at weekly intensity for 4–6 weeks (MDM = 0.43). There was high consensus (MDM = 0) that children should participate in modified sport and fitness activities and that children with Gross Motor Function Classification System Level III should be monitored on long‐term pathways (MDM = 0.29).

Conclusions

Physiotherapists reached consensus on two usual care interventions, and a checklist was developed to inform the control groups of future randomized controlled trials. Further consensus work is required to establish clinical guidelines to standardize usual physiotherapy care in the United Kingdom.
Global camera trap synthesis highlights the importance of protected areas in maintaining mammal diversity
Authors: Chen Cheng , Brodie Jedediah F. , Kays Roland , Davies T. Jonathan , Liu Runzhe , Fisher Jason T. , Ahumada Jorge , McShea William , Sheil Douglas , Agwanda Bernard , Andrianarisoa Mahandry H. , Appleton Robyn D. , Bitariho Robert , Espinosa Santiago , Grigione Melissa M. , Helgen Kristofer M. , Hubbard Andy , Hurtado Cindy M. , Jansen Patrick A. , Jiang Xuelong , Jones Alex , Kalies Elizabeth L. , Kiebou‐Opepa Cisquet , Li Xueyou , Lima Marcela Guimarães Moreira , Meyer Erik , Miller Anna B. , Murphy Thomas , Piana Renzo , Quan Rui‐Chang , Rota Christopher T. , Rovero Francesco , Santos Fernanda , Schuttler Stephanie , Uduman Aisha , van Bommel Joanna Klees , Young Hilary , Burton A. Cole
Published: January 2022

The establishment of protected areas (PAs) is a central strategy for global biodiversity conservation. While the role of PAs in protecting habitat has been highlighted, their effectiveness at protecting mammal communities remains unclear. We analyzed a global dataset from over 8671 camera traps in 23 countries on four continents that detected 321 medium‐ to large‐bodied mammal species. We found a strong positive correlation between mammal taxonomic diversity and the proportion of a surveyed area covered by PAs at a global scale (β = 0.39, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.19–0.60) and in Indomalaya (β = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.19–1.2), as well as between functional diversity and PA coverage in the Nearctic (β = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.09–0.85), after controlling for human disturbances and environmental variation. Functional diversity was only weakly (and insignificantly) correlated with PA coverage at the global scale (β = 0.22, 95% CI = −0.02–0.46), pointing to a need to better understand the functional response of mammal communities to protection. Our study provides important evidence of the global effectiveness of PAs in conserving terrestrial mammals and emphasizes the critical role of area‐based conservation in a post‐2020 biodiversity framework.
Krebs von den Lungen‐6 levels in untreated idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: Jiang Dingyuan , Xiao Huijuan , Dong Run , Geng Jing , Xie Bingbing , Ren Yanhong , Dai Huaping
Published: January 2022

Background

Serum Krebs von den Lungen‐6 (KL‐6) has been reported to be elevated in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of KL‐6 and whether the expression value of KL‐6 could indicate the severity of the disease in IPF patients. To address this question, it is necessary to see whether the patients' physical characteristics and other clinical conditions could affect the baseline KL‐6 level.

Design

We conducted a study of 100 patients who were diagnosed with IPF. Lung function, computed tomography (CT), and serological lab tests data were analyzed.

Results

The tests showed that there is a significant elevation of KL‐6 in IPF patients compared with other interstitial lung disease (ILD) and healthy controls. It was noted that serum KL‐6 is a stable biomarker not affected by lung infection and smoking, though IPF patients with antinuclear antibody (ANA) showed higher KL‐6 levels. KL‐6, in conjunction with poor pulmonary function and higher radiological fibrosis scores, indicates the severity of the disease but not poor survival.

Conclusions

It is identified that serum KL‐6 is a useful noninvasive biomarker to help improve the certainty of IPF diagnosis from other interstitial lung disease and assist evaluation of disease severity and prognosis.
Association between age, gender, body mass index, and pulmonary function in preoperative patients with lung cancer
Authors: Xu Weicheng , Liu Yakang , Zeng Bin , Li Xinping
Published: January 2022

Introduction

Many confounding factors such as sex, age, and body mass index (BMI) affect pulmonary function parameters, but there are limited data about the direct and/or indirect effects of small airway function on lung function for differences in confounding factors.

Objectives

This study aimed to use structural equation model (SEM) to explain the influence of the confounding factors (age, sex, and BMI) on the relationship between small airway function and lung function in patients with lung cancer.

Methods

A cross‐sectional observational study was conducted in a single medical center. Subjects were assessed; small airway function was specified by MEF25% and MEF50%; lung function by FVC; pulmonary obstruction by FEV1, FEV1%, and FEV1/FVC; and PEF and PEF% reflected the strength of abdominal muscles. The measurement model was analyzed by confirmatory factor analysis. The SEM was conducted to analyze the structural models of the effects of the confounding factors.

Results

In the measurement model, variables were fit to their domains, the path linking age and sex to pulmonary obstruction was positive and statistically significant, and the path linking sex to muscle strength was also positive and statistically significant. Muscle strength positively and significantly mediates the path between sex and FVC. As a moderator, BMI increased the effects of small airway function on FVC.

Conclusion

Age and sex were directed to pulmonary obstruction, and muscle strength as a mediator between sex and lung function was novel, and BMI adjusted the effects of small airway function on FVC.
An application of the Biobehavioral Family Model: Examining the impact of maternal depression on child asthma mediated by insecure attachment and child depression
Authors: Lim JungHa , Miller Bruce D. , Wood Beatrice L.
Published: January 2022

Objective

Child asthma disparities are prevalent in socio‐economically stressed single‐parent families. Stress impacts childhood asthma mediated by immune and autonomic pathways, but specific family stress pathways are not well established. This study tests the hypothesis, derived from a version of the Biobehavioral Family Model, that single parent maternal depression impacts child asthma mediated by insecure attachment and child depression.

Methods

In a cross‐sectional study, children with asthma (age 7–17 years old) from a socio‐economically disadvantaged population and their single parent mothers (N = 202) were assessed for depression and attachment security. Child asthma disease activity was assessed by symptom report and lung function tests. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test a model in which caregiver depression impacts child asthma disease activity mediated by insecure attachment and child depression.

Results

SEM results indicated that maternal depression statistically predicted child depression (β = 0.21, p < 0.01) and insecure mother–child attachment (β = 0.17, p < 0.05). In addition, insecure attachment statistically predicted child depression (β = 0.50, p < 0.001). Child depression mediated the adverse effects of maternal depression and insecure attachment on child asthma disease activity (β = 0.43, p < 0.01). There was no direct effect of insecure attachment on child asthma.

Conclusion

In single‐parent families, maternal depression may impact child asthma disease activity, mediated serially by insecure attachment and child depression. Longitudinal and/or intervention studies are needed to establish a causal effect. These findings suggest that caregiver depression and parent–child relationships may be important targets for family intervention. These interventions may help improve child asthma outcomes and reduce health disparities.
GSH facilitates the binding and inhibitory activity of novel multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1) modulators
Authors: Hanssen Kimberley M. , Wheatley Madeleine S. , Yu Denise M. T. , Conseil Gwenaëlle , Norris Murray D. , Haber Michelle , Cole Susan P. C. , Fletcher Jamie I.
Published: January 2022

MRP1 (ABCC1) is a membrane transporter that confers multidrug resistance in cancer cells by exporting chemotherapeutic agents, often in a reduced glutathione (GSH)‐dependent manner. This transport activity can be altered by compounds (modulators) that block drug transport while simultaneously stimulating GSH efflux by MRP1. In MRP1‐expressing cells, modulator‐stimulated GSH efflux can be sufficient to deplete GSH and increase sensitivity to chemotherapy, enhancing cancer cell death. Further development of clinically useful MRP1 modulators requires a better mechanistic understanding of modulator binding and its relationship to GSH binding and transport. Here, we explore the mechanism of two MRP1 small molecule modulators, 5681014 and 7914321, in relation to a bipartite substrate‐binding cavity of MRP1. Binding of these modulators to MRP1 was dependent on the presence of GSH but not its reducing capacity. Accordingly, the modulators poorly inhibited organic anion transport by K332L‐mutant MRP1, where GSH binding and transport is limited. However, the inhibitory activity of the modulators was also diminished by mutations that limit E217βG but spare GSH‐conjugate binding and transport (W553A, M1093A, W1246A), suggesting overlap between the E217βG and modulator binding sites. Immunoblots of limited trypsin digests of MRP1 suggest that binding of GSH, but not the modulators, induces a conformation change in MRP1. Together, these findings support the model, in which GSH binding induces a conformation change that facilitates binding of MRP1 modulators, possibly in a proposed hydrophobic binding pocket of MRP1. This study may facilitate the structure‐guided design of more potent and selective MRP1 modulators.
AKT1 mediates multiple phosphorylation events that functionally promote HSF1 activation
Authors: Lu Wen‐Cheng , Omari Ramsey , Ray Haimanti , Wang John , Williams Imade , Jacobs Curteisha , Hockaden Natasha , Bochman Matthew L. , Carpenter Richard L.
Published: January 2022

The heat stress response activates the transcription factor heat shock factor 1 (HSF1), which subsequently upregulates heat shock proteins to maintain the integrity of the proteome. HSF1 activation requires nuclear localization, trimerization, DNA binding, phosphorylation and gene transactivation. Phosphorylation at S326 is an important regulator of HSF1 transcriptional activity. Phosphorylation at S326 is mediated by AKT1, mTOR, p38, MEK1 and DYRK2. Here, we observed activation of HSF1 by AKT1 independently of mTOR. AKT2 also phosphorylated S326 of HSF1 but showed weak ability to activate HSF1. Similarly, mTOR, p38, MEK1 and DYRK2 all phosphorylated S326 but AKT1 was the most potent activator. Mass spectrometry showed that AKT1 also phosphorylated HSF1 at T142, S230 and T527 in addition to S326, whereas the other kinases did not. Subsequent investigation revealed that phosphorylation at T142 is necessary for HSF1 trimerization and that S230, S326 and T527 are required for HSF1 gene transactivation and recruitment of TFIIB and CDK9. Interestingly, T527 as a phosphorylated residue has not been previously shown and sits in the transactivation domain, further implying a role for this site in HSF1 gene transactivation. This study suggests that HSF1 hyperphosphorylation is targeted and these specific residues have direct function in regulating HSF1 transcriptional activity.
Intensive mechanical processing of forage crops to improve fibre digestion
Authors: Pintens David A. , Shinners Kevin J. , Friede Joshua C. , Kalscheur Kenneth F. , Digman Matthew F. , Combs David K.
Published: January 2022

Two intensive forage processing mechanisms, utilising either shredding or impact processing, were used to investigate physical disruption of wilted alfalfa and whole‐plant corn as a potential means to improve fibre digestion. Physical disruption was quantified by a processing level index (PLI) defined as the ratio of treatment leachate conductivity relative to that of an ultimately processed treatment. The goal was to achieve a PLI of at least 60%. Impact processing created more physical disruption than shredding, and the former method was able to achieve the desired PLI goal. Although impact processing significantly reduced particle size of both wilted alfalfa and whole‐plant corn, more than 40% of alfalfa particles were longer than 6.3 mm when the PLI of greater than 60% was achieved. The mean particle‐size of the kernel fraction of processed whole‐plant corn was less than 1 mm after processing with the impact processor. Impact processing of wilted alfalfa significantly increased the rapidly soluble fraction and increased the rate of degradation of DM and potentially digestible fibre (pdNDF) during an in situ digestion experiment. Intensive mechanical processing has the potential to improve ruminant animal utilisation of forage crops through improved fibre digestion.
Everyday racism and the denial of migrant African women’s good caring in aged care work
Authors: Olasunkanmi‐Alimi Temitope , Natalier Kristin , Mulholland Monique
Published: January 2022

There is, in the global north, a “care crisis,” a shortfall in the capacity to provide care for an aging population. Migrant care workers have been positioned as a solution to this crisis, but this positioning sits in tension with research highlighting the widespread racism that questions or denies the skills and commitment of migrant care workers. This study draws on the experiences of 30 migrant African women working in the Australian aged care sector to interrogate the implications of this tension. The authors describe how everyday racism perpetrated by clients and colleagues denied the possibility that migrant African women carers were able or welcome to undertake “good caring.” Applying Tronto's conceptualization of caring as relational, the authors argue that everyday racism symbolically denies African migrant women's participation in key phases of the caring process: “caring about,” “caregiving,” and “care‐receiving.” Everyday racism thus rejects migrant African women's care work at the individual level and reinforces care as a set of practices and dispositions that are unavailable to them.
Community science data suggest the most common raptors (Accipitridae) in urban centres are smaller, habitat‐generalist species
Authors: Cooper Daniel S. , Shultz Allison J. , Şekercioğlu Çağan H. , Osborn Fiona M. , Blumstein Daniel T.
Published: January 2022

As the world becomes more urbanized, identifying traits that allow some species to thrive in cities will be key to predicting which species will probably remain common and which may require conservation attention. Large, diverse, widely distributed and readily documented raptors represent an ideal taxonomic group to understand how species persist and thrive in urban areas. Global community science datasets can reveal patterns that might be obscured in studies limited to a small number of locations, those relying on presence/absence data or those conducted by a small number of observers. We analysed 127 species of raptors (hawks and related species; Family: Accipitridae) using recent community‐science (eBird) records from 59 cities on five continents, modelling two indices of occurrence with five ecological and life history traits, and incorporating phylogenetic relatedness. Based on previous studies of avian traits in urban vs. rural populations, and well as our casual observations of birds in cities across the USA and around the world, we hypothesized that urban raptor communities would be dominated by smaller, ecological‐generalist species regardless of the regional species pool. We defined urban occurrence in two ways: urban abundance (the frequency of breeding season reports within 10 km of a city centre) and species proportion (the relative abundance of each species in the local raptor community). We did not detect a strong phylogenetic signal for either urban occurrence index, suggesting that various unrelated raptor species may become common in cities of the world. In the best‐performing models, both urban indices were significantly negatively associated with body mass, and significantly positively associated with habitat breadth; species proportion was also significantly associated with nest substrate breadth. Our analysis suggests that there may be an ‘archetypal urban raptor’ and that species lacking these traits (e.g. large, specialist taxa) may be at greater conservation risk as global urbanization increases.
Methodological assessment and overall confidence in the results of systematic reviews with network meta‐analyses in Endodontics
Authors: Nagendrababu Venkateshbabu , Faggion Clovis M. , Pulikkotil Shaju Jacob , Alatta Alaa , Dummer Paul M. H.
Published: January 2022

Aim

The aims of the study were to assess the methodological quality of systematic reviews with network meta‐analyses (NMAs) in Endodontics using the ‘A MeaSurement Tool to Assess systematic Reviews’ (AMSTAR 2) tool, and to evaluate the overall confidence in the results of the individual reviews included in the analysis.

Methodology

Systematic reviews with NMAs within the specialty of Endodontics published in English were identified from the PubMed, EbBSCOhost and SCOPUS databases from inception to July 2021. Two reviewers were involved independently in the selection of the reviews, data extraction, methodological quality assessment and overall confidence rating. Disagreements were resolved by discussion between the reviewers to achieve consensus; if disagreements persisted, a third reviewer made the final decision. The methodological quality of the included NMAs was appraised using the AMSTAR 2 checklist, which contains 16 items. The reviewers scored each item—‘Yes’—when the item was fully addressed, ‘Partial Yes’—when the item was not fully addressed, or ‘No’—when the item was not addressed. The overall confidence in the results of each review was classified as ‘High’, ‘Moderate’, ‘Low’ or ‘Critically low’ based on the criteria reported by the AMSTAR 2 developers.

Results

Twelve systematic reviews with NMAs were included. All the NMAs adequately reported Item 1 (‘Did the research questions and inclusion criteria for the review include the components of PICO?’), Item 8 (‘Did the review authors describe the included studies in adequate detail?’), Item 9 (‘Did the review authors use a satisfactory technique for assessing the risk of bias (RoB) in individual studies that were included in the review?’) and Item 16 (‘Did the review authors report any potential sources of conflict of interest, including any funding they received for conducting the review?’), whereas only one NMA reported Item 10 adequately (‘Did the review authors report on the sources of funding for the studies included in the review?’). The overall confidence in the results of eight reviews was categorized as ‘Critically low’, one review was ‘Low’, two reviews were ‘Moderate’ and one review was ‘High’.

Conclusion

The overall confidence in the results for the majority of systematic reviews with NMAs in Endodontics was judged to be ‘Critically low’ as their methodological quality was below the necessary standard. AMSTAR 2 and PRISMA for NMA guidelines are available to guide authors to produce high‐quality systematic reviews with NMAs and for editors and peer‐reviewers when assessing submissions to journals.
Theoretical underpinnings of consumers’ financial capability research
Authors: Lučić Andrea , Barbić Dajana , Uzelac Marija
Published: January 2022

This paper investigates the multidisciplinary theoretical context of financial capability and provides a critical examination of 14 relevant theoretical frameworks. To this end, the paper defines financial capability and develops a new theoretical framework of financial capability termed the personal financial management system. Financial capability is defined as the capacity of consumers to undertake comprehensive financial activities and thereby achieve personal financial well‐being. The exploration of financial capability includes the concepts of financial literacy and psychological financial capability, where the latter represents automatic and controlled mental processes. Recent advances in behavioural science have profoundly changed the realm of personal finances, and it is, therefore, essential to acknowledge the importance of the intuitive reasoning that shapes our financial decision making. As part of the financial management system's throughput, together with individual motivation and opportunity within the personal financial management system, financial capability forms financial behaviour. The framework identifies three groups of relevant antecedents of financial capability including sociodemographic factors, cognitive and affective factors and personality and values. By constructing a comprehensive theoretical model, this paper contributes to the literature by providing greater consistency in the definitions of capability and its related terms, encouraging academic discussion and affirming the much‐needed directions for future research.
How do consumers perceive open‐source seed licenses? Exploring a new credence attribute
Authors: Kliem Lea , Wolter Hendrik
Published: January 2022

Critical consumerism is the conscious choice of purchasing or avoiding products for ethical or environmental reasons. As an increasing share of consumer attempts to purchase sustainably produced food, credence attributes, which are product qualities that are not easily observable or verifiable during purchase or consumption, gain importance. Variety ownership has so far not played any role in food consumption choices but is a new type of credence attribute that may gain relevance through the recent introduction of open‐source seed licenses. Such licenses aim to safeguard agrobiodiversity, ensure long‐term access to plant genetic resources and counter current privatization trends in the seed industry. The labeling of open‐source produce could help to upscale the concept and enable consumers to support the safeguarding of biodiversity through their consumption choices. However, as the first open‐source varieties become available for purchase, consumers’ perspectives on open‐source seed licenses remain unclear. In this paper, we, hence, examine German consumers’ perceptions of open‐source seed licenses. The analysis of 228 thinking‐aloud protocols, based on qualitative data collected in a conventional and an organic supermarket in Berlin, Germany, serves as an empirical basis. We find that most consumers have a highly positive evaluation of open‐source seed licenses, regardless of whether they fully understand the concept or not. The license is widely perceived to provide a counter‐model to current industrial seed‐ and agricultural production. Specifically, it is believed to (1) prevent the privatization of plant genetic resources, (2) contribute to the conservation and enhancement of agrobiodiversity, (3) support (small‐scale) farmers and (4) prevent market concentration. To what extent these perceptions coincide with personal preferences for taste, health, safety and quality remains to be explored. The concept may specifically cater to certain consumer segments, including highly educated, young to middle‐aged, organically minded consumers.
Prevalence and factors associated with gynoid lipodystrophy in Brazilian adolescent girls: a cross‐sectional study
Authors: Soares Juliana L. M. , Rocha Vanessa A. , Sanudo Adriana , Miot Hélio Amante , Bagatin Ediléia
Published: January 2022

Background

Gynoid lipodystrophy (GLD), or female cellulitis, is a chronic multifactorial disorder characterized by the irregular appearance of the skin surface on the thighs and gluteal regions, which affects 80–90% of women after puberty. No curative treatments are available, and there is a paucity of epidemiological studies related to its prevalence, quality of life impact, and risk factors. We aimed to identify the prevalence and factors associated with the development of GLD in Brazilian adolescent girls.

Methods

A cross‐sectional study examined adolescent girls from São Paulo, Brazil. The explored factors were grouped: familial history, gynecological and hormonal characteristics, exercise practice, nutrition and diet, anthropometric measures, body mass index, and body composition, according to GLD severity assessed through multivariate hierarchic statistics.

Results

In total, 184 girls, aged from 12 to 18 years, were included in the study. The overall prevalence of GLD was 77.7% (CI 95% 71.7–82.1%); moderate and severe categories of GLD occurred in 56.5% (CI 95% 48.9–62.5%) of the sample. An impact on the quality of life was identified in 39.7% of the girls. GLD was independently associated with higher body mass index, early menarche, higher carbohydrate intake, lower water consumption, menstrual irregularity, familial report of GLD, and less exercise practice.

Conclusion

Gynoid lipodystrophy is a multifactorial disorder; its onset in adolescent girls is associated with familial occurrence, body composition, diet habits, exercise, and hormonal factors. These results support further interventions for GLD prevention and treatment.
Nuclear magnetic resonance footprint of Wharton Jelly mesenchymal stem cells death mechanisms and distinctive in‐cell biophysical properties in vitro
Authors: Krzyżak Artur T. , Habina‐Skrzyniarz Iwona , Mazur Weronika , Sułkowski Maciej , Kot Marta , Majka Marcin
Published: January 2022

The importance of the biophysical characterization of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) was recently pointed out for supporting the development of MSC‐based therapies. Among others, tracking MSCs in vivo and a quantitative characterization of their regenerative impact by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) demands a full description of MSCs’ MR properties. In the work, Wharton Jelly MSCs are characterized in a low magnetic field (LF) in vitro by using different approaches. They encompass various settings: MSCs cultured in a Petri dish and cell suspensions; experiments‐ 1D‐T
1, 1D‐T
2, 1D diffusion, 2D T
1‐T
2 and D‐T
2; devices‐ with a bore aperture and single‐sided one. Complex NMR analysis with the aid of random walk simulations allows the determination of MSCs T
1 and T
2 relaxation times, cells and nuclei sizes, self‐diffusion coefficients of the nucleus and cytoplasm. In addition, the influence of a single layer of cells on the effective diffusion coefficient of water is detected with the application of a single‐sided NMR device. It also enables the identification of apoptotic and necrotic cell death and changed diffusional properties of cells suspension caused by compressing forces induced by the subsequent cell layers. The study delivers MSCs‐specific MR parameters that may help tracking MSCs in vivo.
Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes: An update
Authors: Lee Chi‐H , Lui David TW , Lam Karen SL
Published: January 2022

The global prevalence of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is rising, along with the epidemic of diabesity. NAFLD is present in >70% of individuals with type 2 diabetes. Although the mutually detrimental relationship between NAFLD and type 2 diabetes has been well established, a multitude of recent studies have further shown that type 2 diabetes is closely linked to the development of cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, liver‐related morbidity and mortality. In contrast, NAFLD also negatively impacts type 2 diabetes both in terms of its incidence and related adverse clinical outcomes, including cardiovascular and chronic kidney diseases. In response to these global health threats, clinical care pathways for NAFLD and guidelines for metabolic dysfunction‐associated fatty liver disease have been developed. Several antidiabetic agents have been evaluated for their potential hepatic benefits with promising results. Furthermore, type 2 diabetes patients are increasingly represented in clinical trials of novel therapeutics for NAFLD. However, despite the wealth of knowledge in NAFLD and type 2 diabetes, lack of awareness of the disease and the potential weight of this problem remains a major challenge, especially among clinicians who are outside the field of hepatology and gastroenterology. This review therefore aimed to provide all diabetes care providers with a summary of the latest evidence that supports NAFLD as an emerging diabetic complication of increasing importance, and to present the current recommendations, focusing on the assessment and therapeutic strategies, on the management of NAFLD among type 2 diabetes patients.
Anterior–posterior pattern formation in ciliates
Authors: Cole Eric , Gaertig Jacek
Published: January 2022

As single cells, ciliates build, duplicate, and even regenerate complex cortical patterns by largely unknown mechanisms that precisely position organelles along two cell‐wide axes: anterior–posterior and circumferential (left–right). We review our current understanding of intracellular patterning along the anterior–posterior axis in ciliates, with emphasis on how the new pattern emerges during cell division. We focus on the recent progress at the molecular level that has been driven by the discovery of genes whose mutations cause organelle positioning defects in the model ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila. These investigations have revealed a network of highly conserved kinases that are confined to either anterior or posterior domains in the cell cortex. These pattern‐regulating kinases create zones of cortical inhibition that by exclusion determine the precise placement of organelles. We discuss observations and models derived from classical microsurgical experiments in large ciliates (including Stentor) and interpret them in light of recent molecular findings in Tetrahymena. In particular, we address the involvement of intracellular gradients as vehicles for positioning organelles along the anterior‐posterior axis.
Necessary evil or systemic failure of care? Use of benzodiazepine and antipsychotic medications in older people seeking emergency department care
Authors: Lee Jacques S.
Published: January 2022

See related article by Kennedy et al. in this issue.
ERα/β/DMP1 axis promotes trans‐differentiation of chondrocytes to bone cells through GSK‐3β/β‐catenin pathway
Authors: Yan Xue , Fan Deng‐Yun , Pi Ya‐Lei , Zhang Ya‐Nan , Fu Peng‐Jiu , Zhang Hui‐Feng
Published: January 2022

Estrogen‐induced premature closing of the growth plate in the long bones is a major cause of short stature after premature puberty. Recent studies have found that chondrocytes can directly trans‐differentiate into osteoblasts in the process of endochondral bone formation, which indicates that cartilage formation and osteogenesis may be a continuous biological process. However, whether estrogen promotes the direct trans‐differentiation of chondrocytes into osteoblasts remains largely unknown. Chondrocytes were treated with different concentrations of 17β‐estradiol, and Alizarin Red staining and alkaline phosphatase activity assay were used to detected osteogenesis. Specific short hairpin RNA and tamoxifen were used to block the estrogen receptor (ER) pathway and osteogenic marker genes and downstream gene expression were detected using real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blot, and immunohistochemistry staining. The findings showed that 17β‐estradiol promoted the chondrocyte osteogenesis in vitro, even at high concentrations. In addition, blocking of the ERα/β pathway inhibited the trans‐differentiation of chondrocytes into osteogenic cells. Furthermore, we found that dentin matrix protein 1 (DMP1), which is a direct downstream molecular of ER, was involved in 17β‐estradiol/ER pathway‐regulated osteogenesis. As well, glycogen synthase kinase‐3 beta (GSK‐3β)/β‐catenin signal pathway also participates in ERα/β/DMP1‐regulated chondrocyte osteogenesis. The GSK‐3β/β‐catenin signal pathway was involved in ERα/β/DMP1‐regulated chondrocyte osteogenesis. These findings suggest that ER/DMP1/GSK‐3β/β‐catenin plays a vital role in estrogen regulation of chondrocyte osteogenesis and provide a therapeutic target for short stature caused by epiphyseal fusion.
The Roles of Celebrities in Public Disputes: Climate Change and the Great Barrier Reef
Authors: Wright Christopher , Nyberg Daniel
Published: January 2022

Celebrities are increasingly important actors in social disputes, with their high public profiles used to amplify political campaigns and business firms utilising celebrity endorsements to promote their brands and justify their actions. Engaging with the conceptual framework of Boltanski and Thévenot’s ‘orders of worth’, we explore the public dispute over coral bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef, analysing the different roles that celebrities have played and how their claims are evaluated. We demonstrate how celebrities as powerful agents for industries and environmental campaigns perform three key roles – popularizers, authorities, and visionaries. Our article contributes to the management literature on public disputes by explaining the evaluative processes underlying sustainability controversies. We also contribute by providing a better understanding of the roles and capacity of celebrities in in public debates over contentious issues. We discuss the policy implications of celebrity roles in addressing the climate crisis and mobilizing action to limit further disruption.
Population genomics of a forest fungus reveals high gene flow and climate adaptation signatures
Authors: Sønstebø Jørn Henrik , Trucchi Emiliano , Nordén Jenni , Skrede Inger , Miettinen Otto , Haridas Sajeet , Pangilinan Jasmyn , Grigoriev Igor V. , Martin Francis , Kauserud Håvard , Maurice Sundy
Published: January 2022

Genome sequencing of spatially distributed individuals sheds light on how evolution structures genetic variation. Populations of Phellopilus nigrolimitatus, a red‐listed wood‐inhabiting fungus associated with old‐growth coniferous forests, have decreased in size over the last century due to a loss of suitable habitats. We assessed the population genetic structure and investigated local adaptation in P. nigrolimitatus, by establishing a reference genome and genotyping 327 individuals sampled from 24 locations in Northern Europe by RAD sequencing. We revealed a shallow population genetic structure, indicating large historical population sizes and high levels of gene flow. Despite this weak substructuring, two genetic groups were recognized; a western group distributed mostly in Norway and an eastern group covering most of Finland, Poland and Russia. This substructuring may reflect coimmigration with the main host, Norway spruce (Picea abies), into Northern Europe after the last ice age. We found evidence of low levels of genetic diversity in southwestern Finland, which has a long history of intensive forestry and urbanization. Numerous loci were significantly associated with one or more environmental factors, indicating adaptation to specific environments. These loci clustered into two groups with different associations with temperature and precipitation. Overall, our findings indicate that the current population genetic structure of P. nigrolimitatus results from a combination of gene flow, genetic drift and selection. The acquisition of similar knowledge especially over broad geographic scales, linking signatures of adaptive genetic variation to evolutionary processes and environmental variation, for other fungal species will undoubtedly be useful for assessment of the combined effects of habitat fragmentation and climate change on fungi strongly bound to old‐growth forests.
Telomeres and anthropogenic disturbances in wildlife: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Salmón Pablo , Burraco Pablo
Published: January 2022

Human‐driven environmental changes are affecting wildlife across the globe. These challenges do not influence species or populations to the same extent and therefore a comprehensive evaluation of organismal health is needed to determine their ultimate impact. Evidence suggests that telomeres (the terminal chromosomal regions) are sensitive to environmental conditions and have been posited as a surrogate for animal health and fitness. Evaluation of their use in an applied ecological context is still scarce. Here, using information from molecular and occupational biomedical studies, we aim to provide ecologists and evolutionary biologists with an accessible synthesis of the links between human disturbances and telomere length. In addition, we perform a systematic review and meta‐analysis on studies measuring telomere length in wild/wild‐derived animals facing anthropogenic disturbances. Despite the relatively small number of studies to date, our meta‐analysis revealed a significant small negative association between disturbances and telomere length (−0.092 [−0.153, −0.031]; n = 28; k = 159). Yet, our systematic review suggests that the use of telomeres as a biomarker to understand the anthropogenic impact on wildlife is limited. We propose some research avenues that will help to broadly evaluate their suitability: (i) further causal studies on the link between human disturbances and telomeres; (ii) investigating the organismal implications, in terms of fitness and performance, of a given telomere length in anthropogenically disturbed scenarios; and (iii) better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of telomere dynamics. Future studies in these facets will help to ultimately determine their role as markers of health and fitness in wildlife facing anthropogenic disturbances.
UK standards for microbiology investigations of ear infection (SMI B1) are inadequate for the recovery of fungal pathogens and laboratory diagnosis of otomycosis: A real‐life prospective evaluation
Authors: Rawson Timothy M. , Fatania Nita , Abdolrasouli Alireza
Published: January 2022

Background

We evaluated the recovery of fungal pathogens from clinical external ear samples from patients with otitis externa (OE) using the UK national Standard Microbiology Investigations of ear infection (SMI B1).

Method

The UK SMI B1 protocol including a single Sabouraud dextrose agar with chloramphenicol (SABC) incubated at 37°C for 48 hours was compared with a standard fungal‐specific culture method using two SABC agar plates incubated at 28 and 37°C for 2 weeks with an extra Candida chromogenic agar incubated at 37°C for 5 days. This real‐life evaluation was undertaken on ear samples from patients with OE from January 2020 to December 2020.

Results

Altogether, 304 individual patient ear swabs were prospectively examined. The positivity rate of UK standard was 14% (42/304) versus 26% (79/304) for the fungal‐specific protocol (p < .05). The standard protocol identified seven compared with 17 species using the fungal‐specific protocol. A total of 93 fungal isolates were recovered; nine different yeasts and eight filamentous fungal species. Candida parapsilosis (38/304; 13%), C. albicans (10/304; 3%) and C. orthopsilosis (6/304; 2%) were common yeast species. Aspergillus niger complex (16/304; 5%) was the most common mould, followed by A. fumigatus complex (3/304; 1%). Many less common and emerging yeasts and moulds were only isolated from samples cultured using a fungal‐specific protocol.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that the UK SMI B1 media and procedures are inadequate to detect all fungal agents causing otomycosis. Fungal‐specific culture protocols increase the recovery rate and diversity of fungal pathogens isolated from external ear samples.
Performing a culture, staging the revolution: Choral singing and traditional music as nation‐building tropes in post‐colonial Mozambique
Authors: de Freitas Marco Roque , de Carvalho João Soeiro
Published: January 2022

This article aims to evaluate the cultural policy of Mozambique's Liberation Front (FRELIMO), focusing on music and dance during the liberation war and transitional period (1964–1975), and during the first 5 years after independence from Portugal (1975–1980). For the first period, we will focus on a repertoire entitled ‘revolutionary anthems’ and for the second, we will analyse Mozambique's sonorous representations in three national and international events: FESTAC77 (1977), the First National Festival of Popular Dance (1978) and the First National Festival of Song and Traditional Music (1980). Building on fieldwork data gathered through several interviews with politicians, radio broadcasters, producers, musicians and archival work, we aim to explain the significance of musical performance for the ‘sonorous construction’ of the ‘new Mozambican man’ project, as envisioned by FRELIMO.
The associations between lifestyle factors and mental well‐being in baccalaureate nursing students: An observational study
Authors: Lee Charlotte T. , Ting Grace K. , Bellissimo Nick , Khalesi Saman
Published: January 2022

Lifestyle factors are modifiable habits that shape the way in which individuals live their lives and can influence mental health. This study examined the associations between lifestyle factors and mental well‐being among baccalaureate nursing students at one Canadian university. A cross‐sectional, observational online survey was distributed at one urban university campus in Ontario, Canada. Baccalaureate nursing students (n = 147) completed the survey containing questions for demographic variables, sleep quality, dietary pattern, alcohol use, physical activity, sitting time, cigarette smoking, depression, anxiety and stress. Linear regression analysis revealed that more sitting time, poor sleep quality, and low dairy consumption were associated with higher scores in depression, anxiety, and psychological stress. In conclusion, poor lifestyle behaviors such as sedentary lifestyle, poor sleep, and low dairy consumption may reduce the mental well‐being of baccalaureate nursing students. Future efforts should aim to establish a causal relationship between lifestyle and mental well‐being, which would contribute to the development of lifestyle interventions to promote mental health.
Alcohol intake, beverage type, and lung function: a multicohort study of Chinese adults
Authors: Wang Dongming , Cao Limin , Zhou Min , Ma Jixuan , Wang Bin , Yuan Jing , Chen Weihong
Published: January 2022

We aimed to investigate whether alcohol intake contributes to lung function levels and which beverage type may have an effect. We investigated 3742 participants from the Wuhai‐Zhuhai Cohort and 12,526 participants from the Dongfeng‐Tongji Cohort, and they were followed up for 3 and 5 years, respectively. Information on the type and daily amount of alcohol intake was collected through face‐to‐face interviews. Lung function was measured by trained physicians using electronic spirometers. Compared with nondrinkers, moderate alcohol intake was significantly associated with a 70.03 and 74.92 mL increase in FEV1 and FVC, respectively (P < 0.05), after adjusting for covariates. With regard to beverage type, red wine was associated with a 105.31 and 98.91 mL increase in FEV1 and FVC, respectively (P < 0.05). Moderate alcohol intake was also associated with a 53.37 and 66.17 mL increase in FEV1 and FVC for liquor, respectively, and a 106.90 and 103.62 mL increase for red wine (all Ps < 0.05). In the longitudinal analyses, moderate alcohol intake and red wine were associated with a 67.77 and 103.77 mL increase in FVC, respectively (P < 0.05). Moderate alcohol intake is associated with increased lung function, especially for red wine. Further studies are needed to investigate the potential mechanism.