bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ignorance is not bliss: evolutionary naiveté in an endangered desert fish and implications for conservation
Authors: Stockwell Craig A. , Schmelzer Madison R. , Gillis Bailey E. , Anderson Cody M. , Wisenden Brian D.
Published: August 2022

Predator naiveté has been invoked to explain the impacts of non-native predators on isolated populations that evolved with limited predation. Such impacts have been repeatedly observed for the endangered Pahrump poolfish,
Empetrichthys latos
, a desert fish species that evolved in isolation since the end of the Pleistocene. We tested Pahrump poolfish anti-predator responses to conspecific chemical alarm cues released from damaged epidermal tissue in terms of fish activity and water column position. Pahrump poolfish behavioural responses to conspecific alarm cues did not differ from responses to a dechlorinated tap water control. As a positive control, the well-studied fathead minnow,
Pimephales promelas
, showed significant alarm cue responses in terms of reduced activity and lowered water column position. The density of epidermal club cells, the presumptive source of alarm cues, was significantly lower in Pahrump poolfish relative to fathead minnows. Therefore, anti-predator competence mediated by conspecific alarm cues does not seem to be a component of the ecology of Pahrump poolfish. These findings provide a proximate mechanism for the vulnerability of Pahrump poolfish to non-native predators, with implications for the conservation and management of insular species.
Matched function of the neuropil processing optic flow in flies and crabs: the lobula plate mediates optomotor responses in
Neohelice granulata
Authors: Barnatan Yair , Tomsic Daniel , Cámera Alejandro , Sztarker Julieta
Published: August 2022

When an animal rotates (whether it is an arthropod, a fish, a bird or a human) a drift of the visual panorama occurs over its retina, termed optic flow. The image is stabilized by compensatory behaviours (driven by the movement of the eyes, head or the whole body depending on the animal) collectively termed optomotor responses. The dipteran lobula plate has been consistently linked with optic flow processing and the control of optomotor responses. Crabs have a neuropil similarly located and interconnected in the optic lobes, therefore referred to as a lobula plate too. Here we show that the crabs' lobula plate is required for normal optomotor responses since the response was lost or severely impaired in animals whose lobula plate had been lesioned. The effect was behaviour-specific, since avoidance responses to approaching visual stimuli were not affected. Crabs require simpler optic flow processing than flies (because they move slower and in two-dimensional instead of three-dimensional space), consequently their lobula plates are relatively smaller. Nonetheless, they perform the same essential role in the visual control of behaviour. Our findings add a fundamental piece to the current debate on the evolutionary relationship between the lobula plates of insects and crustaceans.
Mechanisms of damage prevention, signalling and repair impact disease tolerance
Authors: Prakash Arun , Monteith Katy M. , Vale Pedro F.
Published: August 2022

The insect gut is frequently exposed to pathogenic threats and must not only clear these potential infections, but also tolerate relatively high microbe loads. In contrast to the mechanisms that eliminate pathogens, we currently know less about the mechanisms of disease tolerance. We investigated how well-described mechanisms that prevent, signal, control or repair damage during infection contribute to the phenotype of disease tolerance. We established enteric infections with the bacterial pathogen
Pseudomonas entomophila
in transgenic lines of
Drosophila melanogaster
fruit flies affecting
dcy
(a major component of the peritrophic matrix),
upd3
(a cytokine-like molecule),
irc
(a negative regulator of reactive oxygen species) and

egfr
1

(epithelial growth factor receptor). Flies lacking
dcy
experienced the highest mortality, while loss of function of either
irc
or
upd3
reduced tolerance in both sexes. The disruption of

egfr
1

resulted in a severe loss in tolerance in male flies but had no substantial effect on the ability of female flies to tolerate
P. entomophila
infection, despite carrying greater microbe loads than males. Together, our findings provide evidence for the role of damage limitation mechanisms in disease tolerance and highlight how sexual dimorphism in these mechanisms could generate sex differences in infection outcomes.
Prevalence and mechanisms of environmental hyperoxia-induced thermal tolerance in fishes
Authors: McArley T. J. , Morgenroth D. , Zena L. A. , Ekström A. T. , Sandblom E.
Published: August 2022

Recent evidence has suggested environmental hyperoxia (O
2
supersaturation) can boost cardiorespiratory performance in aquatic ectotherms, thereby increasing resilience to extreme heat waves associated with climate change. Here, using rainbow trout (
Oncorhynchus mykiss
) as a model species, we analysed whether improved cardiorespiratory performance can explain the increased thermal tolerance of fish in hyperoxia (200% air saturation). Moreover, we collated available literature data to assess the prevalence and magnitude of hyperoxia-induced thermal tolerance across fish species. During acute warming, O
2
consumption rate was substantially elevated under hyperoxia relative to normoxia beyond 23°C. This was partly driven by higher cardiac output resulting from improved cardiac contractility. Notably, hyperoxia mitigated the rise in plasma lactate at temperatures approaching upper limits and elevated the critical thermal maximum (+0.87°C). Together, these findings show, at least in rainbow trout, that hyperoxia-induced thermal tolerance results from expanded tissue O
2
supply capacity driven by enhanced cardiac performance. We show 50% of the fishes so far examined have increased critical thermal limits in hyperoxia (range: 0.4–1.8°C). This finding indicates environmental hyperoxia could improve the ability of a large number of fishes to cope with extreme acute warming, thereby increasing resilience to extreme heat wave events resulting from climate change.
What snakes and caecilians have in common? Molecular interaction units and the independent origins of similar morphotypes in Tetrapoda
Authors: Pereira Anieli G. , Grizante Mariana B. , Kohlsdorf Tiana
Published: August 2022

Developmental pathways encompass transcription factors and cis-regulatory elements that interact as
transcription factor-regulatory element
(
TF-RE
) units. Independent origins of similar phenotypes likely involve changes in different parts of these units, a hypothesis promisingly tested addressing the evolution of the rib-associated lumbar (RAL) morphotype that characterizes emblematic animals such as snakes and elephants. Previous investigation in these lineages identified a polymorphism in the
Homology region 1
[
H1
] enhancer of the
Myogenic factor-5
[
Myf5
], which interacts with HOX10 proteins to modulate rib development. Here we address the evolution of
TF-RE
units focusing on independent origins of RAL morphotypes. We compiled an extensive database for
H1-Myf5
and HOX10 sequences with two goals: (i) evaluate if the enhancer polymorphism is present in amphibians exhibiting the RAL morphotype and (ii) test a hypothesis of enhanced evolutionary flexibility mediated by
TF-RE
units, according to which independent origins of the RAL morphotype might involve changes in either component of the interaction unit. We identified the
H1-Myf5
polymorphism in lineages that diverged around 340 Ma, including Lissamphibia. Independent origins of the RAL morphotype in Tetrapoda involved sequence variation in either component of the
TF-RE
unit, confirming that different changes may similarly affect the phenotypic outcome of a given developmental pathway.
Identification and antimicrobial susceptibility of referred Nocardia isolates in Victoria, Australia 2009–2019
Authors: Yeoh Kim , Globan Maria , Naimo Phillip , Williamson Deborah A. , Lea Kerrie , Bond Katherine
Published: August 2022

Introduction. Nocardia is an opportunistic pathogen that can cause significant morbidity and mortality, particularly in the immunocompromised host. Antimicrobial susceptibility profiles vary across

Nocardia

spp. and vary within Australia as well as worldwide. Knowledge of local susceptibility patterns is important in informing appropriate empiric antimicrobial therapy.

Gap Statement. This is the largest study to date in Australia that correlates antimicrobial susceptibility profiles with molecular identification of

Nocardia

species. It is the first study that examines isolates from multiple institutions across the state of Victoria, Australia.

Aim. To investigate the species distribution and antibiotic susceptibility of

Nocardia

spp. isolates referred to the Mycobacterial Reference Laboratory (MRL) in Victoria, Australia from 2009 to 2019.

Methodology. We conducted a retrospective review of

Nocardia

spp. isolates which were identified using molecular sequencing. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using standardized broth microdilution method with Sensititre RAPMYCO1 plates. Species distribution and antibiotic susceptibility profiles were analysed.

Results. In total, 414

Nocardia

isolates were identified to 27 species levels, the majority originating from the respiratory tract (n=336, 81.2 %).

N. nova

(n=147, 35.5 %) was the most frequently isolated, followed by

N. cyriacigeorgica

(n=75, 18.1 %). Species distribution varied by isolate source, with

N. farcinica

and

N. paucivorans

found more commonly from sterile sites. Linezolid and amikacin had the highest proportion of susceptible isolates (100 and 99% respectively), while low susceptibility rates were detected for ceftriaxone (59 %) and imipenem (41 %). Susceptibility to trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole varied by species (0–100 %).

Conclusion. This is the largest study to date in Australia of

Nocardia

species distribution and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns.

N. farcinica

and

N. paucivorans

were more likely to be isolated from sterile sites, while

N. brasiliensis

and N. otitidiscvarium were more likely to be isolated from skin and soft tissue. First line therapeutic antimicrobial recommendations by local guidelines were not necessarily reflective of the in vitro susceptibility of

Nocardia

isolates in this study, with high susceptibility detected for linezolid and amikacin, but poor susceptibility demonstrated for ceftriaxone and imipenem. Profiles for trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole varied across different

Nocardia

species, warranting ongoing susceptibility testing for targeted clinical use.
Reliable multiplex generation of pooled induced pluripotent stem cells for genetic testing
Authors: Smullen Molly , Reichert Julia M , Dawes Pepper , Wang Qi , Readhead Benjamin , Church George M , Lim Elaine T , Chan Yingleong
Published: August 2022

Inducing somatic cells into pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) provides an excellent model for studying systems in-vitro. Understanding the impact of individual donor genetic backgrounds on reprogramming ability would allow researchers to harness these genetic differences and increase the efficiency of the reprogramming process. To better understand the genetic basis of reprogramming cells into iPSCs, we present Induction of Pluripotency from Pooled Cells (iPPC) - an efficient, scalable, and reliable reprogramming procedure. Using our deconvolution algorithm that employs low-coverage pooled sequencing and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), we estimate individual donor proportions of cell lines within large cohorts. With iPPC, we concurrently reprogrammed over one hundred donor LCLs into iPSCs and found strong correlations of individual donors’ reprogramming ability across multiple experiments. We note that individual donors’ reprogramming ability remains consistent across both same-day replicates and multiple experimental runs, and that the expression of certain immunoglobulin precursor genes (IGLV10-54, IGLV3-9, IGLV1-17, IGLV1-6, and IGLV3-1) may impact reprogramming ability. Our process enables a multiplex framework to study the reprogramming ability of different donor cells into iPSCs and also provides a reliable method along with a pooled library of donor iPSCs for downstream research and investigation of other in-vitro phenotypes.
Spatio-temporal summation of perimetric stimuli in healthy observers
Authors: Montesano Giovanni , Mulholland Pádraig , Garway-Heath David F. , Evans Josephine , Ometto Giovanni , Crabb David P.
Published: August 2022

Spatial summation of perimetric stimuli has been used to derive conclusions about the spatial extent of retinal-cortical convergence, mostly from the size of the critical area of summation (Ricco’s area, RA) and critical number of Retinal Ganglion Cells (RGCs). However, spatial summation is known to change dynamically with stimulus duration. Conversely, temporal summation and critical duration also vary with stimulus size. Such an important and often neglected spatio-temporal interaction has important implications for modelling perimetric sensitivity in healthy observers and for formulating hypotheses for changes measured in disease. In this work, we performed experiments on visually heathy observers confirming the interaction of stimulus size and duration in determining summation responses in photopic conditions. We then propose a simplified computational model that captures these aspects of perimetric sensitivity by modelling thetotal retinal input, the combined effect of stimulus size, duration and retinal cones-to-RGC ratio. We additionally show that, in the macula, the enlargement of RA with eccentricity might not correspond to a constant critical number of RGCs, as often reported, but to a constant criticaltotal retinal input. We finally compare our results with previous literature and show possible implications for modelling disease, especially glaucoma.
A Data-Driven Optimization Method for Coarse-Graining Gene Regulatory Networks
Authors: Caranica Cristian , Lu Mingyang
Published: August 2022

One major challenge in systems biology is to understand how various genes in a gene regulatory network (GRN) collectively perform their functions and control network dynamics. This task becomes extremely hard to tackle in the case of large networks with hundreds of genes and edges, many of which have redundant regulatory roles and functions. The existing methods for model reduction usually require the detailed mathematical description of dynamical systems and their corresponding kinetic parameters, which are often not available. Here, we present a data-driven method for coarse-graining large GRNs, named SacoGraci, using ensemble-based mathematical modeling, dimensionality reduction and gene circuit optimization by Markov Chain Monte Carlo methods. SacoGraci requires network topology as the only input and is robust against errors in GRNs. We benchmark and demonstrate its usage with synthetic, literature-based, and bioinformatics-derived GRNs. We hope SacoGraci will enhance our ability to model the gene regulation of complex biological systems.
The role of recombination dynamics in shaping signatures of direct and indirect selection across the Ficedula flycatcher genome
Authors: Chase Madeline A. , Mugal Carina F.
Published: August 2022

Recombination is a central evolutionary process that reshuffles combinations of alleles along chromosomes, and consequently is expected to influence the efficacy of direct selection via Hill-Robertson interference. Additionally, the indirect effects of selection on neutral genetic diversity are expected to show a negative relationship with recombination rate, as background selection and genetic hitchhiking are stronger when recombination rate is low. However, owing to the limited availability of recombination rate estimates across divergent species, less is known about the impact of evolutionary changes in recombination rate on genomic signatures of selection. To address this question, we estimate recombination rate in two Ficedula flycatcher species, the taiga flycatcher (F. albicilla) and collared flycatcher (F. albicollis). We show that recombination rate is strongly correlated with signatures of indirect selection, and that evolutionary changes in recombination rate between species have observable impacts on this relationship. Conversely, signatures of direct selection on coding sequences show little to no relationship with recombination rate, even when restricted to genes where recombination rate is conserved between species. Thus, using measures of indirect and direct selection that bridge micro- and macro-evolutionary timescales, we demonstrate that the role of recombination rate and its dynamics varies for different signatures of selection.
A Phylogeny for Heterostraci (stem-gnathostomes)
Authors: Randle Emma , Keating Joseph N. , Sansom Robert S.
Published: August 2022

The armoured jawless fishes (ostracoderms) are major and widespread components of middle Palaeozoic ecosystems. As successive plesia on the gnathostome lineage, they reveal the early sequences of vertebrate evolution, including the assembly of the vertebrate skeleton. This is predicated however, on understanding of their diversity and interrelationships. The largest ostracoderm clade, the Pteraspidimorphi, is often reconstructed as sister taxon to other boney vertebrates yet they lack a phylogenetic framework, in particular the heterostracans. Problematic heterostracans with a tessellate headshield (‘tessellate-basal’ model) are often regarded as the plesiomorphic condition for the clade but no phylogenetic analysis has included these taxa. Here we review the Heterostraci and present their first comprehensive phylogenetic analysis (131 heterostracan taxa and 12 outgroup taxa). Heterostraci and Ordovician Pteraspidimorphi are recovered as sister-group to all other boney jawless vertebrates in parsimony analyses, however, in no instances do we recover a monophyletic Pteraspidimorphi. Tree visualization reveals lack of resolution results from two conflicting solutions for the heterostracan ‘root’. Stratigraphic congruences provides support for the macromeric Ctenaspisdidae as sister taxon to all other Heterostraci rather than the “tesselate-basal” model. The results presented here are the first phylogenetic hypotheses of heterostracan relationships and it is hoped a first step into an accurate interpretation of character evolution and polarity in this crucial episode of vertebrate evolution.
Urine γ-interferon-inducible protein (IP-10) as a biomarker of histological activity of lupus nephritis
Authors: Prasopsanti Karan , Supasiri Thanarat , Avihingsanon Yingyos , Iampenkhae Kroonpong , Surintrspanont Jerasit , Chongpisan Yuda , Promjean Chutipha , Suttichet Thitima Benjachat , Assawasaksakul Theerada , Oudomying Nont , Kittanamongkolchai Wonngarm
Published: August 2022

Introduction

Conventional markers are not reliable predictors of histological activity of lupus nephritis (LN). We aimed to examine the utility of urine γ-interferon-inducible protein (IP-10) in predicting LN flares, diagnosis of LN, and forecasting treatment response.

Methods

SLE patients who fulfilled the ACR 1997 criteria with history of LN were enrolled. Urine IP-10 was measured at least once during routine quarterly visits, at the time of diagnosis of active LN, and monthly during induction therapy for 6 months.

Results

There were 65 active LN and 46 inactive LN included. The mean urine IP-10 levels among the active and inactive LN were 2.69 (95%CI 2.53-2.86) and 2.18 (95%CI 1.96-2.39) log copies/mcg total RNA respectively (p-value < 0.0001). Clinicopathological discordance was observed in 9 of 55 (16%) biopsied patients (5 with proliferative LN without proteinuric flare and 4 with nephrotic-range proteinuria from glomerulosclerosis). Urine IP-10 predicted histological activity of LN with 91% accuracy, compared to 84% with proteinuric flare. Within two years, half of the clinically inactive LN patients with positive baseline urine IP-10 developed LN flare, whereas no flares were observed in patients with negative baseline urine IP-10. Urine IP-10 levels were not associated with treatment response at 6 months.

Conclusion

Urine IP-10 may reflect histological activity of LN more accurately than conventional markers, especially in patients with clinicopathologic discrepancy. Clinically inactive LN patients with positive urine IP-10 were at a higher risk of developing LN flare.

Key messages

-

The majority of the studies on novel biomarkers in LN lacked renal biopsy and relied on clinical indicators to determine histological activity. As a result, the validity of these studies may be jeopardized.

-

According to this study, clinicopathological discordance was found in 16% of LN patients who underwent renal biopsy. Urine IP-10 outperformed urinary protein level in differentiating histologically active LN from inactive LN (accuracy 91% versus 84%).

-

Within two years, half of the clinically inactive LN patients who had positive urine IP-10 developed LN flares, whereas none of those who had negative urine IP-10 did.

-

Urine IP-10 may aid in the diagnosis of histologically active LN, particularly in patients with clinicopathologic discrepancy. Urine IP-10 monitoring in clinically inactive LN patients may predict the risk of future LN flares.
The Feasibility of a Smartphone-based Digital Therapeutics for Dysarthria after Stroke (DiDaS): Protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial
Authors: Kim Yuyoung , Kim Minjung , Kim Jinwoo , Song Tae-Jin
Published: August 2022

Background

Dysarthria is a motor speech disorder occurring from neurological conditions such as stroke. It leads to serious problems in the intelligibility of patients’ speech, affecting their ability to communicate, quality of life, and emotional well-being. While digital therapeutic approaches for rehabilitation of dysarthria are increasing, clinical evidence of the effectiveness of digital therapeutics has been lacking. A mobile application, D-ST01, has the potential to enhance intensive and repetitive speech rehabilitation due to its high treatment accessibility and its incorporation of gamification, tailored feedback, and interactive functions.

Methods

In our trial, 60 stroke patients with dysarthria within 30 days following the occurrence of stroke will be recruited. In a 1:1 ratio, participants will be randomly assigned to either the intervention group (using D-ST01 for 60 minutes/day, five days/week along with usual stroke care) or the control group (usual stroke care only). This will be a single-blind study in which researchers will evaluate outcome measurements while masked to treatment allocation. After four weeks of treatment intervention, we will compare speech and psychological changes between the two groups.

Conclusions

Our study will evaluate the feasibility of the speech treatment application D-ST01 for patients with post-stroke dysarthria. In addition, it will collect evidence for investigating the future efficacy of a large-scale randomized controlled trial.

Trial registration number

ClinicalTrial.gov #NCT05146765
Observation of water droplets in microporous layers for polymer electrolyte fuel cells by X-ray computed nano-tomography
Authors: Yamaguchi Satoshi , Kato Satoru , Yoshimune Wataru , Setoyama Daigo , Kato Akihiko , Nagai Yasutaka , Suzuki Takahisa , Takeuchi Akihisa , Uesugi Kentaro
Published: August 2022

An X-ray computed nano-tomography (nano-CT) system has been established at the BL33XU beamline of SPring-8. The optical system consists of pseudo-Köhler illumination with a sector condenser zone plate, an apodization Fresnel zone plate as the objective lens, and a Zernike phase plate. The imaging detector is a fiber-coupling type X-ray camera. The performance of the X-ray nano-CT system was confirmed by imaging an X-ray test chart. The system was subsequently applied to the observation of a microporous layer for polymer electrolyte fuel cells and a simulated microporous layer including liquid water. The nano-CT system, which can perform a computed tomography measurement in less than 4 min, allowed visualization of a spherical water droplet produced in the microporous layer. In the present study, the shape of water droplets in a nanoscale porous structure is investigated.
Stock market prediction by applying big data mining
Authors: Alshammari Bedour M. , Aldhmour Fairouz , AlQenaei Zainab M. , Almohri Haidar
Published: August 2022

Purpose

There is a gap in knowledge about the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) because most studies are undertaken in countries outside the Gulf region – such as China, India, the US and Taiwan. The stock market contains rich, valuable and considerable data, and these data need careful analysis for good decisions to be made that can lead to increases in the efficiency of a business. Data mining techniques offer data processing tools and applications used to enhance decision-maker decisions. This study aims to predict the Kuwait stock market by applying big data mining.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology used is quantitative techniques, which are mathematical and statistical models that describe a various array of the relationships of variables. Quantitative methods used to predict the direction of the stock market returns by using four techniques were implemented: logistic regression, decision trees, support vector machine and random forest.

Findings

The results are all variables statistically significant at the 5% level except gold price and oil price. Also, the variables that do not have an influence on the direction of the rate of return of Boursa Kuwait are money supply and gold price, unlike the Kuwait index, which has the highest coefficient. Furthermore, the height score of the variable that affects the direction of the rate of return is the firms, and the accuracy of the overall performance of the four models is nearly 50%.

Research limitations/implications

Some of the limitations identified for this study are as follows: (1) location limitation: Kuwait Stock Exchange; (2) time limitation: the amount of time available to accomplish the study, where the period was completed within the academic year 2019-2020 and the academic year 2020-2021. During 2020, the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), which was a major obstacle, occurred during data collection and analysis; (3) data limitation: The Kuwait Stock Exchange data were collected from May 2019 to March 2020, while the factors affecting the stock exchange data were collected in July 2020 due to the corona pandemic.

Originality/value

The study used new titles, variables and techniques such as using data mining to predict the Kuwait stock market. There are no adequate studies that predict the stock market by data mining in the GCC, especially in Kuwait. There is a gap in knowledge in the GCC as most studies are in foreign countries, such as China, India, the US and Taiwan.
Experts' views onḥiyalin Malaysian Islamic banks: the case oftawarruq-based deposit products
Authors: Syahmi Muhammad Izzul , Mohamad Mohammad Taqiuddin , Ramli Mohd Anuar
Published: August 2022

Purpose

There are two purposes to this study: first, to identify the status ofḥiyal(legal devices) in the offering of deposit products based on thetawarruqcontract in the Malaysian Islamic banking industry and second, to identify the reasons for the widespread offering oftawarruq-based deposit products by Malaysian Islamic banks (IBs).

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses the qualitative method that involved interviews with Malaysian Sharī‘ah experts and Islamic banking operations experts.

Findings

The findings show that Malaysian IBs resolved to use thetawarruqmunaẓẓamcontract in deposit products due to several constraints in the existing banking system and in view of customer preferences.

Research limitations/implications

This study solely focuses ontawarruq-based deposit products due to its extensive application in the Malaysian Islamic banking industry.

Practical implications

The implication of the study is that more stringent procedures are required in the offering oftawarruq-based deposit products as they are extensively utilised and have sparked controversy among Sharī‘ah scholars. Moreover, to retain Malaysia's Islamic banking reputation and trustworthiness, new and less controversial contracts must be developed.

Originality/value

This paper discusses the extensive usage ofḥiyal-based contracts such astawarruqin Islamic banking institutions' deposit products, with justifications from Malaysian Islamic banking experts. The widespread use of thetawarruqmunaẓẓamcontract in deposit-based product offerings is based on a reasonable view considering the constraints that Malaysian Islamic banking is currently facing, with strict operation procedures by Bank Negara Malaysia to ensure real operations and to avoid fictitious elements. This paper reveals the use oftawarruqmunaẓẓamin deposit products which allows the Islamic banking industry to operate effectively under Malaysia's dominant conventional banking system.
Effects of cognitive-person factors on career choice of tertiary students: the moderating role of chance events
Authors: Osei Hannah Vivian , Tepprey Evaristus , Mensah Philip Opoku
Published: August 2022

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the effects of several individual elements vis-a-vis the environment that affects students’ choice of a career. The study assesses the effects of cognitive-person factors on the career decision-making of tertiary students and analyses how chance events moderate these relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used the survey research design to gather data from 302 final-year tertiary students from four (4) Faculties and sixteen (16) academic departments of a Technical University in Ghana. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaires and analysed using the partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM).

Findings

The study reveals that students’ self-efficacy and outcome expectations are two cognitive-person factors that positively and significantly influence students’ career choices. However, chance events of tertiary students were found not to moderate the relationship between cognitive-person factors and students’ career choices.

Practical implications

Understanding how several cognitive-person factors influence the career choice of students through the lens of social career-cognitive theory could enable researchers to advance knowledge in the career choice process. Counselors and guidance coordinators need to motivate and encourage career/job exploration and development by identifying sources of psychosocial support available to students.

Originality/value

This study identifies the cognitive person factors that drive career decisions and provides one of the initial attempts to investigate how chance events moderate students’ cognitive-person career choice relationship.
Family formation and the career trajectories of women engineering PhDs
Authors: Main Joyce B.
Published: August 2022

Purpose

The underrepresentation of women in engineering has important consequences for meeting the need for a larger, talented scientific and technological labor force. Increasing the proportion of women faculty in engineering will help increase the persistence probabilities of women undergraduate and graduate students in engineering, as well as contribute to the range and diversity of ideas toward innovations and solutions to the greatest engineering challenges. This study aims to examine the association among gender, family formation and post-PhD employment patterns of a cohort of engineering doctorates.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the National Science Foundation’s Survey of Doctorate Recipients data, 2001–2010, descriptive and multinomial logit regression analyses are conducted to illustrate the career trajectories of engineering PhDs over a ten-year period.

Findings

The career trajectories of engineering PhDs are nonlinear, and transitions between employment sectors commonly occur over the ten-year time period studied. Although women engineering PhDs with young dependents are less likely to be employed initially after PhD completion, they tend to enter the workforce in the academic sector as time progresses. Early post-PhD employment as a postdoctoral researcher or in the academic sector contributes to the pursuit of the professoriate downstream.

Originality/value

While previous studies tend to focus on the early career outcomes of science and engineering students, this study contributes to the literature by focusing on the long-term career outcomes of engineering doctorates. Research findings provide engineering PhD students and PhDs with more information regarding potential post-PhD career trajectories, highlighting the multitude of career options and transitions that occur over time. Research findings also provide higher education administrators and doctoral program stakeholders with foundational information toward designing and revitalizing professional development programs to help PhD students prepare for the workforce. The findings have the potential to be applied toward helping increase diversity by shaping policies and programs to encourage multiple alternative career pathways to the professoriate.
Explosive wind‐pollination in a monoecious plant, Laportea bulbifera (Urticaceae)
Authors: Tsujimoto Ryutaro , Ohara Masashi
Published: August 2022

Laportea bulbifera (Ulticaceae) is a monoecious plant that has a unique sexual expression: female flowers form on the upper part and male flowers on the lower part on an individual shoot. Therefore, for the seed reproduction, pollen needs to be transferred from the lower (male) to the upper (female) flowers. Our observations of male flowers confirmed that pollen was dispersed upward by “explosive wind pollination.” A male flower has five stamens, and when the petals are open, the stamens are caught in a pistillode. With the growth of the stamens, they are released from the pistillode and then straightened with a spring‐like movement of the filament. At the same time, the anthers dehisce, and the pollen is dispersed. The explosive release of pollen from the anthers and light wind in the habitat (forest edge or gap) contributes to wind pollination in L. bulbifera.
Co‐design or top‐down welfare conditionality? An analysis of the impact of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander submissions to six parliamentary inquiries into the Cashless Debit Card
Authors: Mendes Philip , Roche Steven , Conway Lisa , Castan Lani
Published: August 2022

The former Coalition Commonwealth Government consistently asserted that representative Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (hereafter Indigenous) organisations supported the introduction of the Cashless Debit Card (CDC) in multiple trial sites. Consequently, they depicted the CDC policy as an alleged exemplar of a co‐designed policy model based on partnership with Indigenous community groups. This article examines the validity of this argument by analysing the views expressed by Indigenous organisations via written and oral submissions to the six parliamentary inquiries into the CDC from 2015 to 2020. Our findings suggest that with the exception of the first inquiry, most Indigenous submissions opposed the introduction or the expansion of the CDC. Yet, these critical views received only limited acknowledgement in the inquiry reports, and seem to have little or no impact on government policy concerning the CDC. It appears that the CDC policy is more accurately identified as a top‐down policy imposed by government on local Aboriginal communities which, with some exceptions, neither requested nor consented to the policy.
Characterization of Pleurotus citrinopileatus hydrolysates obtained from Actinomucor elegans proteases compared with that by commercial proteases
Authors: Zhang Weiwei , Shi Kexin , Han Yaqian , Wang Jianming , Yang Chen , Xu Xu , Li Bingye
Published: August 2022

Pleurotus citrinopileatus, a nutritious and palatable edible mushroom, can be used as an appropriate material to prepare high‐grade flavoring agents. Based on this, the current study aimed to investigate the feasibility of a productive protease system from Actinomucor elegans to prepare P. citrinopileatus hydrolysate (PCH). The Actinomucor elegans crude protease (AECP) was prepared from the solid‐state fermentation product of P. citrinopileatus by A. elegans. AECP and four commercial proteases (alcalase, neutrase, papain, and protamex) were applied to acquire five kinds of PCHs. The physical‐chemical properties of PCHs as well as its concentration and composition of nonvolatile compounds were comparatively analyzed. Sensory evaluation and electronic tongue analysis were utilized to evaluate sensory characteristics. AECP was found to be the most effective protease, with the highest hydrolysis degree (35.91%) and protein recovery (81.46%). The result of molecular weight distribution indicated that peptides below 500 Da were the main fraction of AECP hydrolysates, while AECP hydrolysates showed the highest content of monosodium glutamate‐like (20.23 ± 0.16 mg/g) and flavor 5′‐nucleotide (4.30 ± 0.07 mg/g) peptides. In summary, the AECP hydrolysate had superior sensory profiles compared with other hydrolysates. In addition, AECP hydrolysates exhibited favorable kokumi taste in which peptides below 500 Da showed the highest correlation with kokumi by the results of partial least‐squares regression. These results indicated the feasibility of applying PCHs as flavor additives or seasoning in the food industry. AECP might be used as an alternative enzyme choice because of its low cost and high hydrolysis efficiency.

Practical Application

Pleurotus citrinopileatus served as a potential raw material for natural seasonings because of its high protein content and appropriate ratio of umami amino acids to total amino acids. Enzymatic hydrolysis was an efficient approach to improve the flavor of P. citrinopileatus, where the choice of enzyme was one of the most critical factors. The research indicated that P. citrinopileatus hydrolysate prepared by A. elegans crude protease (AECP) exhibited an acceptable flavor, which provided theoretical support for the high‐value utilization of P. citrinopileatus as food seasoning. AECP might be applied as an alternative enzyme resource because of its low cost and high hydrolysis efficiency.
Brachial plexus formation in Jaguarundi (Puma yagouaroundi)
Authors: de Souza Junior Paulo , de Carvalho Natan da Cruz , Medeiros‐do‐Nascimento Renata , Dantas Pedro de Oliveira , Bernardes Fernanda C. S. , Abidu‐Figueiredo Marcelo
Published: August 2022

Puma yagouaroundi is a wild felid with wide distribution on the American continent. This paper aims to describe the origin and motor distribution of the nerves of the brachial plexus of P. yagouaroundi and compare the findings with the available descriptions for the Carnivora order. Fourteen brachial plexuses of specimens collected dead on highways were dissected (five males and two females). In most cases (57%), the brachial plexus originated from the ventral spinal branches of C5, C6, C7, C8 and T1. The C7 branch was the one that most contributed to the formation of the plexus nerves (57.7%). Among all dissected nerves, 23.6% were unisegmental and 76.4% plurisegmental. The radial nerve was the thickest and innervated the largest number of muscles, while the caudal pectoral nerve showed the most varied formation. Intraspecific polymorphisms occurred in the plexus, although the distribution of the nerves to the muscles had an evident constancy among the individuals. Due to the similarities, locoregional blocking techniques may consider the same anatomical landmarks stipulated for domestic cats. Comparison with the descriptions of other carnivorans allows speculating a polymorphism at the plexus origin, in contrast to the conservative innervation of the muscles in the order Carnivora.
Meta‐analysis: hepatitis B reactivation in patients receiving biological therapy
Authors: El Jamaly Hydar , Eslick Guy D. , Weltman Martin
Published: August 2022

Background

The use of biologics poses a moderate to high risk for hepatitis B virus reactivation (HBVr) in chronic carriers.

Aim

To determine the prevalence of HBVr with TNF alpha inhibitors, ustekinumab and vedolizumab

Method

We followed the MOOSE guidelines and conducted a comprehensive literature search. We conducted a systematic search of EMBASE (Ovid), MEDLINE (Ovid) and PubMed. The studies included patients who were chronic and occult HBV carriers with various rheumatological, dermatological or gastroenterological conditions. We used a random effects model using pooled estimates (prevalence of HBVr with 95% confidence intervals (CI)).

Results

We included 29 studies with 1409 patients infected with HBV. The prevalence of HBVr in chronic carriers of HBV was 17.1% (95% CI: 7.0–35.9, n = 5), 16.6% (95% CI: 9.5–27.5%, n = 6), 40.5% (95% CI: 20.3–64.5%, n = 4) and 19.1% (95% CI: 7.3–41.2%, n = 2), respectively, for adalimumab, etanercept, infliximab and ustekinumab. The respective prevalence for reactivation in patients with occult HBV infection was 5.0% (95% CI: 2.8–8.7%, number of studies: n = 18), 2.6% (95% CI: 1.4–4.7%, n = 18), 4.4% (95% CI: 2.2–8.7%, n = 12) and 6.4% (95% CI: 2.2–16.8, n = 5). There were 39 HBVr (26 in chronic HBV and 13 in the occult group) without any hepatic failure or death. In the chronic HBVr group, only three of 24 patients received antiviral prophylaxis.

Conclusions

HBVr prevalence rates differ between the chronic carrier state and the occult carrier state. The uptake of prophylactic antiviral therapy in high‐risk groups was low, contrary to clinical practice guidelines.
Bayesian Treatment Screening and Selection Using Subgroup-Specific Utilities of Response and Toxicity
Authors: Lee Juhee , Thall Peter F. , Msaouel Pavlos
Published: August 2022

A Bayesian design is proposed for randomized phase II clinical trials that screen multiple experimental treatments compared to an active control based on ordinal categorical toxicity and response. The underlying model and design account for patient heterogeneity characterized by ordered prognostic subgroups. All decision criteria are subgroup specific, including interim rules for dropping unsafe or ineffective treatments, and criteria for selecting optimal treatments at the end of the trial. The design requires an elicited utility function of the two outcomes that varies with the subgroups. Final treatment selections are based on posterior mean utilities. The methodology is illustrated by a trial of targeted agents for metastatic renal cancer, which motivated the design methodology. In the context of this application, the design is evaluated by computer simulation, including comparison to three designs that conduct separate trials within subgroups, or conduct one trial while ignoring subgroups, or base treatment selection on estimated response rates while ignoring toxicity.
Spatial Search and Bayes Theorem: A Commentary on Recent Examples from Aircraft Accidents
Authors: O'Kelly Morton E.
Published: August 2022

This paper presents a Bayesian search methodology in the context of missing aircraft, as well as a few other related search operations. The search seeks an item hidden in one of n cells. The parameters controlling the search are the prior probabilities (updated during each phase of the search) and the search quality. Assume the search begins in the area with the maximal prior. The expected length of the search depends on how far the item is from that locale (in essence a measure of the quality of the prior), and the search effectiveness parameter. A perfect (error free) search could find the item in a number of steps as a function of the distance of the object from the starting location. Lower quality search can take a lot longer, though it can ultimately be effective. The Bayesian process works by guiding us to the higher likelihood areas based on the results of failed search. It adds value by eliminating unlikely possibilities. The search can have an element of luck in starting its exploration close to the actual item. Real searches, where this was true, were in fact ultimately successful; real searches which were not so fortunate ended in failure.
A beachcomber's bonanza, or just anotherMicraster?
Authors: Donovan Stephen K.
Published: August 2022

The beach is where the ancient, in the shape of diverse erratics, meets the present in the shape of corrosion, encrusting shells and invertebrate borings. Many of us have favourite beach walks, repeated whenever possible, and educating us in the common and rare clasts that might be encountered in such an ever‐changing environment. After over 12 years of patrolling the coast of north Norfolk, in eastern England, I found a common Chalk echinoid—so why am I excited?
Paroxysmal spinal hemidystonia in neuromyelitis optica
Authors: Gutti Nagendra B. , Kalita Jayantee , Pandey Prakash C.
Published: August 2022

Paroxysmal dystonia occurs because of genetic or structural lesion in the basal ganglia or thalamus, and there is paucity of reporting in spinal pathology. We report a patient with paroxysmal hemidystonia admitted to a tertiary care hospital, India, and review the literature on spinal dystonia in neuromyelitis optica (NMO). A 19‐year‐old woman presented with recurrent visual loss and quadriparesis. She developed paroxysmal hemidystonia after 18 days of a second episode of quadriplegia, during which her muscle power improved to Grade 3. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of her spine showed central T2 hyperintensity extending from C2 to C7 vertebral level, and a cranial MRI was normal. Tibial somatosensory evoked potentials were unrecordable. Aquaporin‐4 antibody was positive in serum, confirming the diagnosis of NMO. Paroxysmal hemidystonia responded to carbamazepine 200 mg thrice daily. Paroxysmal dystonia may occur in a patient with myelitis and may respond to carbamazepine.
Two cases of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults: experience at a single centre in Sydney
Authors: Ko Myung S. , Sullivan Richard P. , Riskallah John , Weatherall Christopher J.
Published: August 2022

We report two cases of middle‐aged men who presented with clinical features that satisfied the diagnostic criteria for multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults (MIS‐A). Both patients were treated for toxic shock syndrome and MIS‐A and have recovered. The purpose of this article is to communicate our experience and challenges of assessing and treating this condition and to raise awareness of the condition.