bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
After 50 Years, It Is Time to Talk about Value Hierarchy and Inequality
Authors: Trujillo-Torres Lez E , DeBerry-Spence Benét , Grier Sonya A , Askegaard Søren
Published: May 2024

This research enriches the field’s perspective on value and argues that to seriously address inequality during the next 50 years, consumer research must explore processual aspects of value hierarchy and consider its relationship to inequality. Doing so recognizes the duality of structures as embodying outcomes and agency, as well as the need to view value not only as what it is but also as what it does. To begin to address limitations in the literature, we use empirical evidence from an investigation of the cancer care market from 1970 to 2021 to understand how value hierarchy shapes and manifests as inequality. This is conceptualized as: distribution of multilevel resources, consolidation of consumer power, stratification of consumer agency, and (de)credentialization of worthiness. Building on each of these, we discuss a research agenda for future JCR inquiries and introduce “value hierarchy as inequality” as a big-tent issue for consumer research.
Beyond Scarcity: A Social Value-Based Lens for NFT Pricing
Authors: Hofstetter Reto , Fritze Martin P , Lamberton Cait
Published: May 2024

Over the last half-century, consumer research has often depicted scarcity as a dominant factor increasing price. But should we assume that scarcity’s upward pressure on price remains intact, in a world where novel forms of digital products proliferate? In this article, we propose that blockchain-encrypted digital goods, in particular, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), offer good reason to revisit this assumption. In this context, we argue and find that social value can outweigh intrinsic value as a determinant of willingness-to-pay. As a result, when scarcity threatens access to high levels of social value, its effect on price can be negative rather than positive—an inversion of a pattern typically observed for offline collectibles. Secondary data taken from the NFT platform Opensea and a set of experimental studies support this social value-based lens. Given these findings, we propose a research agenda to ground future work in this area. We also suggest that NFTs offer a laboratory in which past theories related to social value, scarcity, and price can be reconsidered and future theories developed, hopefully allowing consumer researchers to lead knowledge development in these domains over the next 50 years.
A robot-based surveillance system for recognising distress hand signal
Authors: Riego del Castillo Virginia , Sánchez-González Lidia , González-Santamarta Miguel Á , Rodríguez Lera Francisco J
Published: May 2024

Unfortunately, there are still cases of domestic violence or situations where it is necessary to call for help without arousing the suspicion of the aggressor. In these situations, the help signal devised by the Canadian Women’s Foundation has proven to be effective in reporting a risky situation. By displaying a sequence of hand signals, it is possible to report that help is needed. This work presents a vision-based system that detects this sequence and implements it in a social robot, so that it can automatically identify unwanted situations and alert the authorities. The gesture recognition pipeline presented in this work is integrated into a cognitive architecture used to generate behaviours in robots. In this way, the robot interacts with humans and is able to detect if a person is calling for help. In that case, the robot will act accordingly without alerting the aggressor. The proposed vision system uses the MediaPipe library to detect people in an image and locate the hands, from which it extracts a set of hand landmarks that identify which gesture is being made. By analysing the sequence of detected gestures, it can identify whether a person is performing the distress hand signal with an accuracy of 96.43%.
The Network Factor of Equity Pricing: A Signed Graph Laplacian Approach
Authors: Uddin Ajim , Tao Xinyuan , Yu Dantong
Published: May 2024

The connections among firms exhibit heterogeneity, complexity, and dynamism, posing a challenge for traditional unsigned network models. This article proposes a signed graph Laplacian approach to construct a dynamic network index (DNI), quantifying the aggregate changes in the market network over time. A larger DNI indicates more significant changes in firms’ interconnectedness and in the market network structure. Firms with higher sensitivity to DNI exhibit lower expected returns. Incorporating DNI into conventional asset pricing models improves return predictability. Results are robust for multiple estimators, various factor models, and different selections of test assets. Our findings suggest that the network factor generates a significant equity risk premium.
Kyasanur forest disease in India: a case report
Authors: Sebastian Anjely P , Varma Muralidhar , Gupta Nitin
Published: May 2024

The presence of bleeding manifestations, generalized erythema, palatal petechiae, conjunctival congestion, haemoconcentration, leucopenia, thrombocytopenia, raised transaminases and coagulopathy in a patient with a history of residence or travel to endemic regions in South India should alert the travel medicine practitioner to the possibility of Kyasanur forest disease.
Sea urchin dermatitis with dermoscopic clues
Authors: Sequeira Viola Elvia , Aithal Vijay , Jithendriya Madhukara
Published: May 2024

This case series explores sea urchin spine injuries, a growing concern due to increased travel. These injuries, even in non-coastal areas, can mimic other foreign bodies and lack inflammation, posing a diagnostic challenge. Dermoscopy aided in visualization and extraction of retained spines, highlighting its utility in managing these injuries.
The binding of cosmological structures by massless topological defects
Authors: Lieu Richard
Published: May 2024

Assuming spherical symmetry and weak field, it is shown that if one solves the Poisson equation or the Einstein field equations sourced by a topological defect, i.e. a singularity of a very specific form, the result is a localized gravitational field capable of driving flat rotation (i.e. Keplerian circular orbits at a constant speed for all radii) of test masses on a thin spherical shell without any underlying mass. Moreover, a large-scale structure which exploits this solution by assembling concentrically a number of such topological defects can establish a flat stellar or galactic rotation curve, and can also deflect light in the same manner as an equipotential (isothermal) sphere. Thus, the need for dark matter or modified gravity theory is mitigated, at least in part.
A native species contributes to biotic homogeneity of urban land snails in Thailand
Authors: Bergey Elizabeth A , Dumrongrojwattana Pongrat , Boonmachai Tuangthong , Nantarat Nattawadee
Published: May 2024

Biotic homogenization or the increasing similarity of biota has been documented in urban land snail assemblages in Europe and North America. The resulting biotic homogeneity is caused by a loss of native species and the establishment of non-native species. Climate affects land snail distributions, and because Thailand (exclusive of the southern peninsula) has an almost uniform climate, we hypothesized that urban land snail populations would show a high degree of taxonomic homogeneity. We sampled 76 sites (e.g. yards, temple grounds, restaurants and hotels) over a 38-day period during the rainy season in 2022. These sites included three regions: central (five provinces), north (two provinces) and northeast (five provinces). Both live snails and shells were counted, and the 10,470 counted individuals represented 25 taxa. Biotic homogeneity was indicated by three taxa comprising 69.9% of individuals. By far the most abundant species was the native species Sarika siamensis, which was found at all 76 sites and comprised 50.4% of all individuals. The other two abundant species were non-native species—the giant African snail Lissachatina fulica (60 sites) and Allopeas gracile (50 sites)—both widespread synanthropic species. Three other non-native species were also found. Among native species, slugs, including semislugs, were widespread but occurred in low numbers, and Pupina sp. occurred in high abundance (mean = 97 individuals/site) at 13 highly watered locations within its native range. Urban snail assemblages were not entirely homogeneous, as assemblages in the north region differed from those in the central and northeast regions. In conclusion, urban snail assemblages in Thailand showed a high degree of biotic homogeneity, in large part due to a native species, S. siamensis, indicating that native synanthropic species can contribute to biotic homogeneity.
Long-term clinical course of two rare cases of synovitis-acne-pustulosis-hyperostosis-osteomyelitis syndrome involving only unilateral femur
Authors: Ito Hiroki , Hirano Yuji
Published: May 2024

Synovitis-acne-pustulosis-hyperostosis-osteomyelitis (SAPHO) syndrome is characterised by aseptic osteitis and is often complicated by pustular dermatitis, such as palmoplantar pustulosis or acne. Although bone lesions are most found in the anterior thoracic region or spine, femoral lesions are not well documented in the literature. There is no established treatment for this condition, and few reports have described its long-term course. Here, we describe two cases of SAPHO syndrome involving the femur and discuss their long-term follow-up. A 40-year-old man (Case 1) presented with right thigh pain. Fifteen years after the initial diagnosis, the pain could be controlled with minomycin, salazosulfapyridine, and methotrexate. X-rays of the femur showed gradual cortical thickening. Although there were waves of pain, it gradually improved with the adjustment of drugs 25 years following the initial diagnosis. A 35-year-old man (Case 2) with right thigh pain was prescribed salazosulfapyridine and methotrexate; however, these were ineffective. Alendronate and guselkumab also proved ineffective. Ultimately, infliximab was started 9 years following disease onset, and pain became manageable. X-rays of the femur showed cortical thickening. SAPHO syndrome can be managed with drug therapies, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, methotrexate, and conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs; however, there are occasional treatment-resistant cases.
Deep learning for the PSIPRED Protein Analysis Workbench
Authors: Buchan Daniel W A , Moffat Lewis , Lau Andy , Kandathil Shaun M , Jones David T
Published: May 2024

The PSIRED Workbench is a long established and popular bioinformatics web service offering a wide range of machine learning based analyses for characterizing protein structure and function. In this paper we provide an update of the recent additions and developments to the webserver, with a focus on new Deep Learning based methods. We briefly discuss some trends in server usage since the publication of AlphaFold2 and we give an overview of some upcoming developments for the service. The PSIPRED Workbench is available at http://bioinf.cs.ucl.ac.uk/psipred.
A-MYB substitutes for B-MYB in activating cell cycle genes and in stimulating proliferation
Authors: Kohler Robin , Engeland Kurt
Published: May 2024

A-MYB (MYBL1) is a transcription factor with a role in meiosis in spermatocytes. The related B-MYB protein is a key oncogene and a master regulator activating late cell cycle genes. To activate genes, B-MYB forms a complex with MuvB and is recruited indirectly to cell cycle genes homology region (CHR) promoter sites of target genes. Activation through the B-MYB-MuvB (MMB) complex is essential for successful mitosis. Here, we discover that A-MYB has a function in transcriptional regulation of the mitotic cell cycle and can substitute for B-MYB. Knockdown experiments in cells not related to spermatogenesis show that B-MYB loss alone merely delays cell cycle progression. Only dual knockdown of B-MYB and A-MYB causes G2/M cell cycle arrest, endoreduplication, and apoptosis. A-MYB can substitute for B-MYB in binding to MuvB. The resulting A-MYB-MuvB complex activates genes through CHR sites. We find that A-MYB activates the same target genes as B-MYB. Many of the corresponding proteins are central regulators of the cell division cycle. In summary, we demonstrate that A-MYB is an activator of the mitotic cell cycle by activating late cell cycle genes.
Genome editing outcomes reveal mycobacterial NucS participates in a short-patch repair of DNA mismatches
Authors: Islam Tanjina , Josephs Eric A
Published: May 2024

In the canonical DNA mismatch repair (MMR) mechanism in bacteria, if a nucleotide is incorrectly mis-paired with the template strand during replication, the resulting repair of this mis-pair can result in the degradation and re-synthesis of hundreds or thousands of nucleotides on the newly-replicated strand (long-patch repair). While mycobacteria, which include important pathogens such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, lack the otherwise highly-conserved enzymes required for the canonical MMR reaction, it was found that disruption of a mycobacterial mismatch-sensitive endonuclease NucS results in a hyper-mutative phenotype, leading to the idea that NucS might be involved in a cryptic, independently-evolved DNA MMR mechanism, perhaps mediated by homologous recombination (HR) with a sister chromatid. Using oligonucleotide recombination, which allows us to introduce mismatches specifically into the genomes of a model for M. tuberculosis, Mycobacterium smegmatis, we find that NucS participates in a direct repair of DNA mismatches where the patch of excised nucleotides is largely confined to within ∼5–6 bp of the mis-paired nucleotides, which is inconsistent with mechanistic models of canonical mycobacterial HR or other double-strand break (DSB) repair reactions. The results presented provide evidence of a novel NucS-associated mycobacterial MMR mechanism occurring in vivo to regulate genetic mutations in mycobacteria.
Effects of dietary seaweed on obesity-related metabolic status: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Łagowska Karolina , Jurgoński Adam , Mori Mari , Yamori Yukio , Murakami Shigeru , Ito Takashi , Toda Toshiya , Pieczyńska-Zając Joanna Maria , Bajerska Joanna
Published: May 2024

Context

Seaweed is a promising source of anti-obesity agents, including polysaccharides, proteins, polyphenols, carotenoids, and n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. The anti-obesity effects of such compounds may be due to several mechanisms, including inhibition of lipid absorption and metabolism, effect on satiety, and inhibition of adipocyte differentiation.

Objective

The aim of this study was to assess the evidence from human randomized controlled trials for the effects of seaweed on body-weight status as well as lipid and nonlipid parameters in adults with overweight and obesity.

Data Sources

Four databases—Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library—were searched from December 2022 to June 2023 using the following key words: Seaweed OR fucoxanthin OR alginates OR fucoidans OR phlorotannin’s OR macroalgae OR marine algae AND obesity OR overweight OR BMI OR body mass index.

Data Extraction

Eleven interventional studies (10 parallel and 1 crossover) were extracted.

Data Analysis

Meta-analysis showed a significant effect, favoring the intervention group for BMI (body mass index) (standardized mean difference [SMD]: -0.40; 95% CI: -0.65 to -0.16 kg/m2; P = 0.0013) and percentage of fat mass (SMD: -1.48; 95% CI: -2.66% to -0.30%, P = 0.0138). The results were seen when refined or extracted brown seaweed (BMI) or only refined brown seaweed (% fat mass) were administered to participants for at least 8 weeks. Moreover, a significant overall effect of seaweed supplementation on total cholesterol (SMD: -7.72; 95% CI: -12.49 to -2.95 mg/dL; P = 0.0015) and low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (SMD: -7.33; 95% CI: -11.64 to -3.02 mg/dL; P < 0.001) was noted. Any significant effects of seaweed on glucose metabolism were not shown.

Conclusion

Edible seaweed supplementation shows potential for managing obesity and disorders of the blood lipid profile when administered to participants for at least 8 weeks.

Systematic Review Registration

PROSPERO registration no. CRD42022378484 (www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO).
Invasive Pneumococcal Disease Epidemiology and Serotype Replacement After the Introduction of the 13-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine in Ontario, Canada, 2007–2022
Authors: Grewal Ramandip , Hillier Kelty , Deeks Shelley L , Yeung Allison H , Wilson Sarah E , Wijayasri Shinthuja , Harris Tara M , Buchan Sarah A
Published: May 2024

Background

New vaccine products were recently authorized for protection against invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in Canada. Our aim was to determine age- and serotype-specific trends in IPD incidence and severity in Canada's largest province, Ontario.

Methods

We included all confirmed IPD cases reported in Ontario and defined the pre–pneumococcal 13-valent conjugate vaccine (PCV13) era (01/2007 to 12/2010), post-PCV13 era (01/2011 to 12/2019), and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic era (01/2020 to 12/2022). We estimated incidence, hospitalization, and case fatality rate (CFR) by age. We grouped IPD cases by vaccine-specific serotypes (PCV13; PCV15-non-PCV13; PCV20-non-PCV13; PCV20-non-PCV15; polysaccharide 23-valent vaccine-non-PCV20; and non-vaccine-preventable [NVP]). We then compared incidence rates by age and serotype group in the pre- and post-PCV13 eras by calculating rate ratios (RRs) and their 95% CIs.

Results

Incidence and hospitalizations declined from the pre- to post-PCV13 era in children aged <5 years (RR, 0.7; 95% CI, 0.6–0.8; and RR, 0.8; 95% CI, 0.7–0.9, respectively), but the CFR increased (1.4% to 2.3%). Other age groups saw smaller declines or more stable incidence rates across the years; hospitalizations increased in adults aged 50–64 years (RR, 1.2; 95% CI, 1.1–1.4) and ≥65 years (RR, 1.1; 95% CI, 1.0–1.1). For all ages, IPD cases and hospitalizations attributable to PCV13 serotypes declined, and those attributable to PCV15-non-PCV13, PCV20-non-PCV13, and NVP serotypes increased. IPD incidence declined during the COVID-19 era.

Conclusions

IPD incidence and hospitalizations due to PCV13 serotypes decreased after PCV13 introduction but increased for other serotypes. Continued surveillance is required to evaluate changes to pneumococcal vaccination programs and ongoing changes to the distribution of IPD-causing serotypes.
Variation in North American Infectious Disease Specialists' Practice Regarding Oral and Suppressive Antibiotics for Adult Osteoarticular Infections: Results of an Emerging Infections Network (EIN) Survey
Authors: Cortés-Penfield Nicolás , Beekmann Susan E , Polgreen Philip M , Ryan Keenan , Marschall Jonas , Sekar Poorani
Published: May 2024

Background

Osteoarticular infections (OAIs) are commonly treated with prolonged intravenous (IV) antimicrobials. The Oral versus Intravenous Antibiotics for Bone and Joint Infection (OVIVA) trial demonstrated that oral (PO) antibiotics are noninferior to IV antibiotics in the treatment of OAIs. We surveyed infectious disease (ID) physicians about their use of PO antibiotics in the treatment of OAIs.

Methods

An Emerging Infection Network survey with 9 questions regarding antibiotic prescribing for the treatment of OAIs was sent to 1475 North American ID physicians. The questions were mostly multiple choice and focused on the use of definitive oral antibiotic therapy (defined as oral switch within 2 weeks of starting antibiotics) and chronic suppressive antibiotic therapy (SAT).

Results

Of the 413 physicians who reported treating OAIs, 91% used oral antibiotics at least sometimes and 31% used them as definitive therapy, most often for diabetic foot osteomyelitis and native joint septic arthritis. The oral antibiotics most frequently used for OAIs included trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, doxycycline/minocycline, and linezolid for Staphylococcus aureus, amoxicillin/cefadroxil/cephalexin for streptococci, and fluoroquinolones for gram-negative organisms. The most common rationales for not transitioning to oral antibiotics included nonsusceptible pathogens, comorbidities preventing therapeutic drug levels, and concerns about adherence. SAT use was variable but employed by a majority in most cases of periprosthetic joint infection managed with debridement and implant retention.

Conclusions

North American ID physicians utilize oral antibiotics and SAT for the management of OAIs, although significant practice variation exists. Respondents voiced a need for updated guidelines.
Isohydricity and hydraulic isolation explain reduced hydraulic failure risk in an experimental tree species mixture
Authors: Moreno Myriam , Simioni Guillaume , Cochard Hervé , Doussan Claude , Guillemot Joannès , Decarsin Renaud , Fernandez-Conradi Pilar , Dupuy Jean-Luc , Trueba Santiago , Pimont François , Ruffault Julien , Jean Frederic , Marloie Olivier , Martin-StPaul Nicolas K
Published: May 2024

Species mixture is promoted as a crucial management option to adapt forests to climate change. However, there is little consensus on how tree diversity affects tree water stress, and the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. By using a greenhouse experiment and a soil-plant-atmosphere hydraulic model, we explored whether and why mixing the isohydric Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis, drought avoidant) and the anisohydric holm oak (Quercus ilex, drought tolerant) affects tree water stress during extreme drought. Our experiment showed that the intimate mixture strongly alleviated Q. ilex water stress while it marginally impacted P. halepensis water stress. Three mechanistic explanations for this pattern are supported by our modeling analysis. First, the difference in stomatal regulation between species allowed Q. ilex trees to benefit from additional soil water in mixture, thereby maintaining higher water potentials and sustaining gas exchange. By contrast, P. halepensis exhibited earlier water stress and stomatal regulation. Second, P. halepensis trees showed stable water potential during drought, although soil water potential strongly decreased, even when grown in a mixture. Model simulations suggested that hydraulic isolation of the root from the soil associated with decreased leaf cuticular conductance was a plausible explanation for this pattern. Third, the higher predawn water potentials for a given soil water potential observed for Q. ilex in mixture can—according to model simulations—be explained by increased soil-to-root conductance, resulting from higher fine root length. This study brings insights into the mechanisms involved in improved drought resistance of mixed species forests.
Sleep and Alertness in Children With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Review of the Literature
Authors: Cortese Samuele , Konofal Eric , Yateman Nigel , Mouren Marie-Christine , Lecendreux Michel
Published: May 2024

Study Objective:

To review evidence on sleep and alertness in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) controlling for potential confounding factors.

Methods:

A PubMed search. Studies using ADHD diagnostic criteria other than DSM-III-R or IV and studies not excluding or controlling for psychiatric comorbidity or medication status were not included in the review. Results from objective studies were combined using meta-analysis.

Results:

From the 46 studies located, 13 were retained. With regard to objective studies, the proportion of subjects who fell asleep during the Multiple Sleep Latency Test, the number of movements in sleep, and the apnea-hypopnea index were significantly higher in children with ADHD than in controls. We found no significant differences in other objective parameters (sleep-onset latency; number of stage changes; percentages of stage 1 sleep, stage 2 sleep, slow-wave sleep, or rapid eye movement sleep; rapid eye movement sleep latency; and sleep efficiency). Limited evidence from subjective studies suggests no significant differences in sleep-onset difficulties and bedtime resistance between children with ADHD and controls, after controlling for comorbidity and medication status. Data on sleep duration, night and morning awakenings, and parasomnias are still very limited.

Conclusion:

Results from our systematic review suggest that children with ADHD have higher daytime sleepiness, more movements in sleep, and higher apnea-hypopnea indexes compared with controls. Given the limited number of studies controlling for confounding factors, further subjective and objective studies are needed to better understand alterations in sleep and alertness in children with ADHD.
The 1619 Project Moral Panic: The Role of Cable News
Authors: Leeds Tyler
Published: May 2024

The U.S. right is in the throes of a moral panic over the study of race and racism in schools. This panic developed in part through the backlash to the 1619 Project, an effort by the New York Times to reframe American history around the legacy of slavery. How was a publication with anti-racist ambitions co-opted by a movement to reject the teaching of anti-racism? I argue that a key element is cable news coverage of the 1619 Project, which over a two-year period moved from explaining structural racism through references to the Project toward characterizing the Project as a threat to schoolchildren. To parse this Fox News-led transformation, I draw on Stuart Hall’s analysis of the media’s role in fomenting a mugging moral panic, which provides a model for integrating research on meaning-making with media routines. Analyzing an original archive of 567 news segments, I conceptualize three methods of discursive articulation, namely acts that connect distinct meanings with the Project, to explain this transformation. While “reverberations” initially echoed the 1619 Project’s structural arguments, “redirections” created connections to controversies and “reductions” tied the Project to terms laden with anti-American associations.
Covering the ‘Scottish position adequately’: Planning Civil Defence in Post-war Scotland, 1948–59
Authors: Douthwaite Jessica
Published: May 2024

This article brings together the histories of post-war Scottish policymaking, local civil defence governance, and the British security state in the first decade of the Cold War, 1948–59. The article addresses three themes: organizational responsibility, evacuation and shelter, and nuclear radiation to show that Scottish cultural, social, and political contexts were distinct from the English precedents set by Whitehall. In the context of developing Cold War security measures, and regional differences, the article argues that Scottish policy-makers negotiated independence over early civil defence planning, while exercising a conciliatory relationship with the central government. Issues raised around regionality posed important questions in Whitehall about the implementation of nuclear era civil defence nationwide. In assessing how this occurred the article augments the debate around Scottish autonomy and administrative distinction in the post-war era and makes a wider contribution to understandings of civil defence cultures in Britain’s Cold War. While studies of civil defence have provided important context to the history of the British Cold War state, local responses to such policy have not been adequately interrogated. This study shows that civil defence is not only an invaluable window onto local government perceptions of Cold War policy but is also a lens onto regional expressions of Second World War memory, post-war recovery, political power, and social organization.
The Art of Speech: Elocution, Speech Training, Speech Therapy, and the Performative Limits of Class in Mid-twentieth-century Britain
Authors: Burchell Andrew
Published: May 2024

This article argues that elocution, speech training, and speech therapy—three professions concerned with the voice—were intimately bound up with a shifting politics of class in early- and mid-twentieth-century Britain. The last two, in particular, attempted to stake new claims in the changed landscape of the post-1945 welfare state. Proponents of speech training distinguished themselves from elocutionists and saw their role to improve children’s speech, but they performatively disavowed class as an organizing category within it. This was paralleled by speech therapy, which emerged as a formal profession in Britain in 1945 through the unification of two separate (and often rival) halves of the profession under a single regulatory college, and which found itself having to justify where its pathologizing of vocal production ended and elocution’s focus on the aesthetics of accent began. I argue that these disavowals provide a useful framework through which to read class dynamics and consider the performative dimensions of class identities at this time. Mobilising select writers and speech experts—who straddled the boundaries of elocution, speech training, and speech therapy—this article shows how a variety of different categories, from gender to geography, were employed as proxies to allow for the problematization of dialect but not accent and to efface ‘class’.
Drought Influences the Structure, Diversity, and Functionality of the Fungal Community Inhabiting the Grapevine Xylem and Enhances the Abundance of Phaeomoniella chlamydospora
Authors: Leal C. , Bujanda R. , Carbone M. J. , Kiss T. , Eichmeier A. , Gramaje D. , Maldonado-González M. M.
Published: May 2024

Grapevine productivity worldwide is increasingly threatened by global warming, potentially exacerbating water scarcity. This study examines drought's effects on grapevine xylem fungal communities, particularly regarding Phaeomoniella chlamydospora, linked to esca and Petri diseases. Investigating 1-year-old grafted grapevines under varied water regimes, including severe, moderate, and no water deficit, the research assessed how drought influences fungal diversity, structure, and interactions within the xylem. Utilizing internal transcribed spacer high-throughput amplicon sequencing and droplet-digital PCR, the study tracked changes in fungal composition and P. chlamydospora prevalence over two growing seasons. The induced water stress not only altered the diversity and composition of the fungal microbiome in the xylem vessels but also affected co-occurrence networks, resulting in less complex networks with fewer correlations between taxa, potentially increasing grapevine vulnerability to various biotic and abiotic stresses. Severe water deficit significantly reduced microbial diversity, leading to a shift in the abundance of pathotrophs such as P. chlamydospora in the xylem. This underscores the interconnectedness between water stress, microbiome dynamics, and plant health. The combination of compromised plant defenses, altered physiological conditions, and shifts in the surrounding microbial community may create conditions conducive to increased P. chlamydospora abundance in the xylem vessels of young vines following water stress.
Optimization of N Fertilizer and Synergistic Intercropping to Enhance the Productivity Advantage of Faba Bean and Effective Control of Chocolate Spot Epidemics
Authors: Ding Huiqiong , Luo Chaosheng , Li Ting , Guo Zengpeng , Dong Yan
Published: May 2024

Intercropping of wheat/faba bean is a common practice within the legume-cereal family. However, the benefits of nitrogen (N) fertilizer-optimized synergistic intercropping in improving faba bean productivity while controlling the prevalence of chocolate spot disease have not been established. This study conducted continuous field experiments spanning two planting seasons to investigate two key findings: (i) Optimizing N fertilizer application can enhance the productivity of intercropped faba bean. (ii) The percentage severity index (PSI) during the period of maximum prevalence rate (Rmax) of faba bean chocolate spot disease poses a substantial challenge to faba bean yield. The results indicated that the land equivalent ratio and transgressive overyielding index for each intercropping treatment increased with higher N fertilizer application, exceeding a value of 1, and the land saving proportion also exceeded 0. Intercropping primarily enhances productivity, as measured by the harvest index (HI), by amplifying the complementary effect rather than the selection effect, thus improving the net benefit of intercropping. The HI of single and intercropped faba bean increased with the N1 and N2 treatments in both planting seasons. However, the HI of single and intercropped faba bean at the N3 level decreased significantly, ranging from 17.85 to 29.62%. Furthermore, a notable negative correlation was established between the PSI during critical epidemic (initial epidemic, maximum epidemic rate, and late epidemic) periods and observed and expected faba bean yields. As the PSI increased, faba bean yields decreased, and the PSI of intercropping at different periods was lower than that observed in the single cropping. Additionally, intercropping with the optimized N fertilizer treatment (N2 treatment) exhibited an enhanced relative control effect on chocolate spot disease in faba bean, ranging from 35.21 to 52.36%. This finding confirmed the productivity advantage of intercropping faba bean. In conclusion, this study suggested that optimizing N fertilizer application can enhance the productivity of intercropped faba bean. Wheat/faba bean intercropping effectively controlled the PSI during the period of Rmax, which would otherwise threaten faba bean yield. Consequently, this practice ensured sustained advantages of wheat/faba bean intercropping.
Dual Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Analysis of Elicited Flax Sheds Light on the Kinetics of Immune Defense Activation Against the Biotrophic Pathogen Oidium lini
Authors: van Aubel Géraldine , Van Cutsem Emmanuel , Emond Amélie , Métillon Göran , Cordier Émilie , Van Cutsem Pierre
Published: May 2024

Flax ( Linum usitatissimum) grown under controlled conditions displayed genotype-dependent resistance to powdery mildew ( Oidium lini) following COS-OGA (comprising chitosan- and pectin-derived oligomers) elicitor application. The present study reveals a two-step immune response in plants preventively challenged with the elicitor: an initial, rapid response characterized by the transcription of defense genes whose protein products act in contact with or within the cell wall, where biotrophic pathogens initially thrive, followed by a prolonged activation of cell wall peroxidases and accumulation of secondary metabolites. Thus, dozens of genes encoding membrane receptors, pathogenesis-related proteins, and wall peroxidases were initially overexpressed. Repeated COS-OGA treatments had a transient effect on the transcriptome response while cumulatively remodeling the metabolome over time, with a minimum of two applications required for maximal metabolomic shifts. Secondary metabolites, in particular terpenoids and phenylpropanoids, emerged as major components of this secondary defense response alongside pathogenesis-related proteins and wall peroxidases. The sustained accumulation of secondary metabolites, even after cessation of elicitation, contrasted with the short-lived transcriptomic response. Wall peroxidase enzyme activity also exhibited cumulative effects, increasing strongly for weeks after a third elicitor treatment. This underscores the plasticity of the plant immune response in the face of a potential infection, and the need for repeated preventive applications to achieve the full protective potential of the elicitor.
Transcriptomic Analysis of Fludioxonil Resistance Mechanisms in Botrytis cinerea
Authors: Acosta Maria Camila Buitrago , Lukasko Nicole T. , Hausbeck Mary K. , Miles Timothy D. , Naegele Rachel P.
Published: May 2024

Botrytis cinerea is a destructive plant pathogen that infects a wide range of economically important crops. Limiting pathogen infection during production and after harvest is largely dependent on fungicide applications; fungicide-resistant isolates of B. cinerea have been recovered from various hosts. Resistance of B. cinerea to fludioxonil has been associated with overexpression of transporter genes ( BcatrB and mfsM2) and mutations on histidine kinase proteins ( Bos1, Bchhk2, Bchhk17). To identify possible mechanisms associated with fludioxonil resistance, the genomic expression of three sensitive and three low-resistant isolates was studied. Overexpression of BcatrB was observed when comparing low-resistant and sensitive isolates but was not specific to the fludioxonil treatment. Seven amino acid substitutions and one deletion were identified in the transcription factor Bcmrr1 in low-resistant isolates, associated with overexpression of BcatrB. The L497 deletion, previously associated with highly resistant isolates (MDR1h), was observed in two low-resistant isolates. Other differentially expressed genes associated with transmembrane transport, oxidoreductase activity, and lipid metabolic processes could be key in understanding the fungicidal mechanism(s) of fludioxonil. Expression profiles were isolate-specific. Following fludioxonil exposure, two sensitive isolates of B. cinerea sensu stricto showed a change in gene expression levels associated with cell membrane and peroxidase activity. In one low-resistant isolate of B. cinerea group S, fludioxonil exposure resulted in the overexpression of stress response genes and MFS transporter Bcstl1; one sensitive and two low-resistant isolates showed no significant changes in gene expression profiles. This work provides insight into the effect of fludioxonil on B. cinerea and potential fungicide resistance mechanisms.

[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license .
Dementia with Lewy bodies
Authors: Jrolf Cheri M.
Published: May 2024

Lewy body dementia is an umbrella term for dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Parkinson disease dementia. These progressive, degenerative brain disorders link dementia with psychosis and parkinsonism and are difficult to diagnose. The diagnosis of DLB is challenging, especially in its early phase, because the presentation is variable. Relevant screening tools and a complete physical examination are essential. Making the correct diagnosis lets patients and caregivers make arrangements, have more timely access to services, improve patient quality of life, and lessen the burden on caregivers.
The opportunity to lead facilitates PA professional well-being
Authors: Bernard Kari Sue , Bostain Nancy
Published: May 2024

Objective:

Physician associates/assistants (PAs) with mature careers represent an important leadership resource for healthcare employers. This study sought to determine whether PA leadership task responsibility interacted with experience level to predict professional well-being.

Methods:

This quantitative study used an archival dataset from a national sample of PAs. The Professional Fulfillment Index was used to measure well-being and career length was used to represent experience level. PA leadership task responsibility was calculated as an aggregate score. Bivariate linear regression with mediation analysis was conducted to determine the relationship between variables.

Results:

An increase in PA experience level predicted higher professional fulfillment and lower burnout, and aggregate leadership task score partially mediated this relationship.

Conclusions:

Granting leadership task responsibility compatible with experience level may enhance PA professional fulfillment, mitigate burnout, and increase PA usefulness for healthcare employers.
Nursemaid's elbow
Authors: Paluch Lauren K.
Published: May 2024

Radial head subluxation, or nursemaid's elbow, is a common orthopedic complaint in children and often is the result of a pulling injury to the affected arm. Although this injury largely is a clinical diagnosis, different imaging modalities may be used to identify it and confirm successful reduction. Multiple manipulative techniques can be used to treat this injury and methods are generally specific to clinician preference. This article reviews the causes, evaluation, and management of radial head subluxation.
Validation of Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System for Detection of Posttraumatic Stress in Children and Adolescents Following Procedures for Acute Orthopaedic Trauma
Authors: May Collin , Nguyen Hillary Brenda , Miller Patricia , Klajn Justyna , Rademacher Emily , O'Connor Michaela , Hedequist Daniel , Shore Benjamin J.
Published: May 2024

OBJECTIVES:

The efficiency and validity of the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) surveys were determined for pediatric orthopaedic trauma patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in a clinic setting.

METHODS:

Design:

Prospective cohort study.

Setting:

Single-institution, Level I trauma center.

Patient Selection Criteria:

All consecutive children aged 8–18 years undergoing procedures or surgery for orthopaedic trauma.

Outcome Measures and Comparisons:

The convergent, divergent, and discriminant validity of the PROMIS Anger and Anxiety computerized adaptive tests (CATs) were evaluated and compared with the previously validated Child PTSD Symptom Scale (CPSS). The efficiency in time to completion of the outcome measures was compared between the CPSS and PROMIS surveys. Cutoffs for increased likelihood of PTSD were established for the PROMIS questionnaires.

RESULTS:

A total of 233 subjects were included in this study (mean age 13.1 years with SD 2.8 years, 71% male). The majority (51%) of injuries were related to sports, and most (60%) involved the upper extremity. Of those included, 41 patients had high levels of PTSD symptoms on the CPSS (18%; 95% CI, 13.1–23.2%). The CPSS took 182 (interquartile range [IQR] 141–228) seconds versus 52 (IQR 36–84) and 52 (IQR 36–70) seconds for PROMIS Anger and Anxiety CATs, respectively. Convergent validity showed patient scores on both PROMIS instruments significantly correlated with CPSS scores (Anger: P < 0.001, r = 0.51; Anxiety: P < 0.001, r = 0.41). Neither PROMIS score correlated with University of California Los Angeles Activity Score (Anger: r = −0.26; Anxiety: r = −0.22), a functional outcome measure, demonstrating divergent validity. Both PROMIS instruments sufficiently discriminated across PTSD risk groups (Anger P < 0.001; Anxiety P < 0.001). A score of at least 53 on PROMIS Anger or at least 48 on PROMIS Anxiety indicated an increased likelihood of PTSD risk.

CONCLUSIONS:

PROMIS Anger and Anxiety CATs are efficient and valid for evaluating posttraumatic stress in children following orthopaedic trauma procedures.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:

Diagnostic Level I. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Active Rheumatoid Arthritis and Scoliosis
Authors: Honda Shintaro , Murata Koichi , Otsuki Bungo , Shimizu Takayoshi , Sono Takashi , Masuda Soichiro , Shima Koichiro , Sakamoto Masaki , Fujii Takayuki , Onishi Akira , Murakami Kosaku , Onizawa Hideo , Tanaka Masao , Morinobu Akio , Matsuda Shuichi
Published: May 2024

Study Design.

Retrospective cohort study.

Objective.

To elucidate the factors related to progression of scoliosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using longitudinal cohort data.

Summary of Background Data.

Thirty percent of patients with RA have lumbar scoliosis. However, the effectiveness of current treatment methods in preventing the progression of scoliosis is not well-understood due to a lack of longitudinal studies.

Methods.

We enrolled 180 patients with RA who were followed up for over two years, all of whom underwent standing spinal X-rays. These patients were categorized based on their disease activity score-28 with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR) into two groups: those in remission (n=76) and those in non-remission (n=104). We evaluated various radiographic measures, including C7 center sacral vertical line (C7-CSVL), pelvic obliquity, major Cobb angle, and curve location.

Results.

Fifty-three (29.4%) patients presented progression of scoliosis during a mean follow-up period of 4.8 years. Patients in the non-remission showed larger Cobb angle at baseline and final follow-up, compared to those in remission. The annual progression rate of the curve was also greater in the non-remission group (1.04 degree /year), than in the remission group (0.59 degree /year, P=0.001). There was no difference in the incidence of new vertebral fractures. The presence of a baseline cobb angle of 10 degree or more (OR: 3.14; 95% CI: 1.38–7.13; P=0.006), glucocorticoid use (OR: 2.88; 95% CI: 1.18–7.06; P=0.021), and non-remission at baseline (OR: 2.83; 95% CI: 1.25–6.41; P=0.012) were significant risk factors for progression of scoliosis.

Conclusion.

RA disease activity is linked to progression of scoliosis in patients with RA. Patients with RA who present with an initial scoliosis of 10 degrees or greater, require glucocorticoids for treatment and are in non-remission at baseline may be at high risk for scoliosis progression.
Lumbar Apex Position as an Independent Risk Factor for Adjacent Segment Diseases in Patients Undergoing Short-Level Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion
Authors: Wang Muyi , Wang Xin , Wu Jingbin , Shen Yifei , Qiu Yong , Sun Xu , Zhou Dong , Jiang Yuqing
Published: May 2024

Study Design.

Retrospective study.

Objective:

To investigate whether lumbar apex position had an impact on the development of adjacent segment disease (ASD) following transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF).

Summary of Background Data.

Previous studies have demonstrated that solely concentrating on lumbar lordosis value is not suitable, and neglecting the significance of lumbar apex can lead to mechanical complications. However, the relationship between lumbar apex and ASD is still not well understood.

Methods.

In this retrospective study, 234 consecutive patients who underwent L3-5 or L4-5 TLIF for degenerative diseases were reviewed. The study evaluated the associations between sagittal parameters and pelvic incidence (PI). Patients were labeled “matched” when lumbar apex position aligned with the theoretical target, and “mismatched” when it did not. Multivariate analysis was applied to find the independent risk factors of ASD. In addition, a focused subanalysis was performed based on the lumbar apex position (ideal match, cranial from ideal, and caudal from ideal).

Results.

After an average follow-up period of 70.6 months, 68 cases were identified as having ASD. Postoperatively, 64.7% (44 of 68) of the patients with ASD exhibited a mismatched lumbar apex, compared with 41% (68 of 166) of those without ASD (P < 0.001). PI correlated significantly with proximal lordosis (PL) and lordosis distribution index (LDI) but not with distal lordosis (DL). Multivariate analysis identified age, L3–5 fusion, postoperative DL, and postoperative mismatched lumbar apex as independent risk factors of ASD. Upon the subanalysis, it was discovered that there were unique compensatory strategies in the cranial and caudal groups, with notable variations in postoperative DL, PL, and LDI among three groups (all P value of <0.05).

Conclusion.

Lumbar apex position significantly influenced the risk of ASD. To restore the lumbar apex to its ideal position, a proper value and distribution of DL should be attained.

Level of Evidence.

4.