bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Pluripotent Developmental State Confers a Low Fidelity of Chromosome Segregation
Authors: Deng Chenhui , Ya Amanda , Compton Duane A. , Godek Kristina M.
Published: March 2022

Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) frequently become aneuploid with abnormal chromosome numbers due to mitotic chromosome segregation errors during propagation in culture. Yet, we do not understand why hPSCs exhibit a low mitotic fidelity. Here we investigate the mechanisms responsible for mitotic errors in hPSCs and show that the primary cause is lagging chromosomes with improper merotelic chromosome microtubule attachments in anaphase. Accordingly, we can improve merotelic error correction and reduce lagging chromosome rates in hPSCs using small molecules that prolong mitotic duration or destabilize chromosome microtubule attachments providing chemical strategies to preserve genome stability. Strikingly, we also demonstrate that mitotic error rates correlate with developmental potential decreasing upon differentiation and loss of pluripotency and conversely increasing after reprogramming to a pluripotent state. Thus, chromosome segregation fidelity is inherently low in hPSCs and depends on developmental state in normal human cells.
The RNA Virome of Echinoderms
Authors: Jackson Elliot W. , Wilhelm Roland C. , Buckley Daniel H. , Hewson Ian
Published: March 2022

Echinoderms are a phylum of marine invertebrates that include model organisms, keystone species, and animals commercially harvested for seafood. Despite their scientific, ecological, and economic importance, there is little known about the diversity of RNA viruses that infect echinoderms compared to other invertebrates. We screened over 900 transcriptomes and viral metagenomes to characterize the RNA virome of 38 echinoderm species from all five classes (Crinoidea, Holothuroidea, Asteroidea, Ophiuroidea and Echinoidea). We identified 347 viral genome fragments that were classified to genera and families within nine viral orders - Picornavirales, Durnavirales, Martellivirales, Nodamuvirales, Reovirales, Amarillovirales, Ghabrivirales, Mononegavirales, and Hepelivirales. We compared the relative viral representation across three life stages (embryo, larvae, adult) and characterized the gene content of contigs which encoded complete or near-complete genomes. The proportion of viral reads in a given transcriptome was not found to significantly differ between life stages though the majority of viral contigs were discovered from transcriptomes of adult tissue. This study illuminates the biodiversity of RNA viruses from echinoderms, revealing the occurrence of viral groups in natural populations.
The Root of the Red Maple Paradox: Two distinct regeneration mechanisms determine leaf morphology, physiology, and competitive success inAcer rubrum
Authors: Ostrowsky Laura , Ashton Mark
Published: March 2022

Red maple is one of the most abundant and wide-ranging tree species in eastern North America and has rapidly increased in abundance over the past century following forest disturbances. This species is both a site- and light-generalist and has the unique ability to regenerate in forms that represent multiple stages of forest succession. However, red maple has modest physiological traits compared to its competitors, including low maximum photosynthetic rate, low photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency, and low foliar nutrient content. Red maple’s unremarkable physiology contradicts its competitive success. To untangle this paradox, we examine red maple’s two distinct regeneration mechanisms: seedlings and vegetative sprouts. Red maple can regenerate from seed, but can also sprout clonally from a stump following forest disturbance. We compare the morphology, physiology, and plasticity of these two regeneration mechanisms over 24 years of forest succession using a chronosequence of regenerating forest stands. We found that sprout-origin maples grow on average 6.5x taller and 5.5x faster than seed-origin maples. Sprout-origin trees display greater leaf spectral reflectance in the near-infrared range and greater stomatal density than seed-origin trees, demonstrating vegetative sprouts’ low water-use efficiency. Sprout-origin trees have more robust light-capture traits, including thicker palisade mesophyll than seed-origin trees. Sprouts also have a high plasticity between upper and lower leaves in many morphological and physiological traits, while seed-origin trees exhibited much less plasticity. The two distinct regeneration mechanisms of seed-origin and sprout-origin give rise to red maple trees with dramatically different leaf traits, allowing red maples to regenerate and thrive in a range of ecological conditions. Seed-origin maples are slow-growing, late successional, and shade-tolerant. Sprout-origin maples are fast-growing, early successional, and shade intolerant. This unique bimodal regeneration strategy may explain the red maple paradox and help predict forest composition and structure following disturbance.
CLEAN: Leveraging spatial autocorrelation in neuroimaging data in clusterwise inference
Authors: Park Jun Young , Fiecas Mark
Published: March 2022

While clusterwise inference is a popular approach in neuroimaging that improves sensitivity, current methods do not account for explicit spatial autocorrelations because most use univariate test statistics to construct cluster-extent statistics. Failure to account for such dependencies could result in decreased reproducibility. To address methodological and computational challenges, we propose a new powerful and fast statistical method called CLEAN (Clusterwise inference Leveraging spatial Autocorrelations in Neuroimaging). CLEAN computes multivariate test statistics by modelling brain-wise spatial autocorrelations, constructs cluster-extent test statistics, and applies a refitting-free resampling approach to control false positives. We validate CLEAN using simulations and applications to the Human Connectome Project. This novel method provides a new direction in neuroimaging that paces with advances in high-resolution MRI data which contains a substantial amount of spatial autocorrelation.
Robust and tunable performance of a cell-free biosensor encapsulated in lipid vesicles
Authors: Boyd Margrethe A. , Thavarajah Walter , Lucks Julius B. , Kamat Neha P.
Published: March 2022

Cell-free systems have enabled the development of genetically encoded biosensors to detect a range of environmental and biological targets. By encapsulating these systems in synthetic membranes, we can reintroduce features of the cell membrane, including molecular containment and selective permeability, which together could significantly enhance sensing capabilities. Here, we demonstrate robust and tunable performance of an encapsulated fluoride riboswitch inside of lipid vesicles. The riboswitch remains active upon encapsulation in lipid vesicles and responds to fluoride added to the surrounding solution. We find the sensitivity of the encapsulated sensor can be tuned by varying membrane composition. We then show that encapsulation protects the sensor from degradation by the sample and use two types of genetically encoded outputs to detect fluoride in real-world samples. This work establishes the feasibility of vesicle-encapsulated cell-free systems to detect environmentally relevant small molecules.
Mesocrystalline structure and mechanical properties of biogenic calcite from sea urchin spine
Authors: Cölfen Helmut , Bürgi Hans-Beat , Chernyshov Dmitry , Stekiel Michal , Chumakova Aleksandra , Bosak Alexei , Wehinger Björn , Winkler Bjoern
Published: March 2022

Using X-ray scattering, we measured detailed maps of the diffuse scattering intensity distribution and a number of phonon dispersion branches for a single crystal of inorganically formed natural calcite and for high-quality mesocrystals of biogenic calcite from a Mediterranean sea urchin spine. A comparison shows that the known differences in the mechanical properties between the `strong' biogenic and `brittle' abiotic material should be attributed to the mesoscopic architecture of the crystal rather than to a modification of the calcite crystal structure. The data are rationalized by comparing them to the results of ab initio model calculations of lattice dynamics. For the mesocrystal, they are augmented by the evaluation of the faceting of the constituent nanocrystals.
Social recovery and economy: a thematic analysis of staffs’ experiences with promoting social community participation for residents with co-occurring problems
Authors: Ogundipe Esther , Sælør Knut Tore , Biong Stian
Published: March 2022

Purpose

This study aims to explore and describe staff working in a Norwegian supportive housing site’s experiences with promoting social community participation for residents with co-occurring problems. The research question addressed was: how does residential support staff experience promoting social community participation for residents with co-occurring problems?

Design/methodology/approach

Nine residential support staff participated in qualitative interviews. All interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. The transcripts were analysed using Braun and Clarke's approach to thematic analysis.

Findings

The analysis process resulted in two themes: “It is all about economics” and “Who will pay for it?”

Practical implications

Regarding the Nordic welfare system, the need for a redistribution of financial resources in health services is discussed. The authors recommend that further studies explore people outside the regular health-care system perspectives on how they can contribute to making community inclusion a reality for persons experiencing co-occurring problems.

Originality

This study provides a nuanced understanding of how financial resources can impede or support efforts and opportunities to promote community inclusion for residents experiencing co-occurring problems.
Supply chain insights from social media users’ responses to panic buying during COVID-19: the herd mentality
Authors: Wilk Violetta , Mat Roni Saiyidi , Jie Ferry
Published: March 2022

Purpose

This study applied the herd mentality theory to explore local and global social media users’ responses to panic buying across the USA, UK and Australia during the COVID-19 crisis to understand the implications on operations and supply chains.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 208,806 social media user-generated content (UGC) pieces were collected from Twitter in three countries – the USA, UK and Australia. The analysis of this big qualitative data was performed using machine learning–based software – Leximancer.

Findings

Positive and negative sentiment towards panic buying during the COVID-19 crisis was observed in the UGC. No significant differences in social media UGC sentiment between the three countries were found; however, differences did exist in key themes. This suggests that the focus, not the sentiment, of consumers’ responses to panic buying differed across countries. Social media users follow their location-based and topic-consonant social “herd”, rather than the global “herd”.

Research limitations/implications

This study was the first to show that social media users’ herd mentality differs in a crisis. The herd mentality of social networks is dependent on factors such as the geographic location of the social network (herd), which can differ from the global herd’s reaction, specifically in terms of topics evident in UGC.

Practical implications

Operations and supply chain managers need to include social media UGC analysis in their strategies in crisis management responses. The topics, not the sentiment, of consumers’ responses to panic buying require managerial actions.

Originality/value

This is the first study to show that herd mentality during a crisis, such as COVID-19, is not unidimensional and varies according to the location of the social media network with profound implications for operations and supply chain managers.
Workplace ostracism and job performance: the moderated mediation model of organization-based self-esteem and performance goal orientation
Authors: Kuo Chien-Chih , Wu Chih-Ying
Published: March 2022

Purpose

This study established and examined a moderated mediation model connecting workplace ostracism with job performance. Drawing from the viewpoint of self-esteem threat, the model posits that the effect of workplace ostracism on job performance is mediated by levels of organization-based self-esteem, while the relationship between workplace ostracism and organization-based self-esteem is moderated by performance goal orientation.

Design/methodology/approach

Multisource data were collected from 160 employees and their immediate supervisors in Taiwan.

Findings

As predicted in the research model, workplace ostracism was found to decrease organization-based self-esteem and, therefore, hinder employees' job performance. Performance goal orientation was found to buffer the negative effect of workplace ostracism on job performance via organization-based self-esteem.

Practical implications

To eliminate the negative impact of workplace ostracism, supervisors can help ostracized employees to self-regulate by aligning their performance goal orientation to reduce the perception of self-esteem threat.

Originality/value

This study provides evidence of boundary conditions for the relationship between workplace ostracism and job performance and explores the impact of self-regulation on ostracized employees' organization-based self-esteem and subsequent job performance.
An improved pure pursuit path tracking control method based on heading error rate
Authors: Wang Lihui , Chen ZongLiang , Zhu Wenxing
Published: March 2022

Purpose

In path tracking, pure pursuit (PP) has great superiority due to its simple control. However, when in agricultural applications, the performance and accuracy of PP are not so well; it cannot be tracked in time has slow convergence, and low tracking accuracy. Furthermore, in some severe driving scenarios, PP is insufficient to convey the effects of the tracking error. This paper aims to propose an autonomous driving controller to improve the PP model based on heading error rate (Improved PP-improved search strategy ant colony optimization [ISSACO]).

Design/methodology/approach

First, the heading error rate is added as the control method in the PP model. Second, the predicted heading error was selected as the objective function; the ISSACO is used to obtain the minimum value of the predicted heading error. A PP controller is integrated with the heading error rate by ISSACO to better deal with tracking error by trading off between PP and heading error rate. Third, the ISSACO was used to obtain the optimal values of PP and heading error rate weight. Finally, the error feedback adaptive dynamic adjustment of the improved algorithm is realized to reduce the convergence time and tracking error.

Findings

The proposed method was tested on a four-wheeled vehicle robot, and the effectiveness of its convergence was proved. Experiments show that the proposed method can effectively reduce the tracking error, increase convergence, then improve the robot’s working quality.

Originality/value

An adaptive improved PP path tracking control is proposed, which considers both heading error rate and parameter uncertainties. The new autonomous controller has a simple structure and is easy to implement. It can be adjusted according to the path tracking status to improve the adaptability of the system.
Social media analytics in hospitality and tourism
Authors: Mirzaalian Farshid , Halpenny Elizabeth
Published: March 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of hospitality and tourism studies that have used social media analytics to collect, examine, summarize and interpret “big data” derived from social media. It proposes improved approaches by documenting past and current analytic practice addressed by the selected studies in social media analytics.

Design/methodology/approach

Studies from the past 18 years were identified and collected from five international electronic bibliographic databases. Social media analytics-related terms and keywords in the titles, keywords or abstracts were used to identify relevant articles. Book chapters, conference papers and articles not written in English were excluded from analysis. The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guided the search, and Stieglitz and Dang-Xuan’s (2013) social media analytics framework was adapted to categorize methods reported in each article.

Findings

The research purpose of each study was identified and categorized to better understand the questions social media analytics were being used to address, as well as the frequency of each method’s use. Since 2014, rapid growth of social media analytics was observed, along with an expanded use of multiple analytic methods, including accuracy testing. These factors suggest an increased commitment to and competency in conducting comprehensive and robust social media data analyses. Improved use of methods such as social network analysis, comparative analysis and trend analysis is recommended. Consumer-review networks and social networking sites were the main social media platforms from which data were gathered; simultaneous analysis of multi-platform/sources of data is recommended to improve validity and comprehensive understanding.

Originality/value

This is the first systematic literature review of the application of social media analytics in hospitality and tourism research. The study highlights advancements in social media analytics and recommends an expansion of approaches; common analytical methods such as text analysis and sentiment analysis should be supplemented by infrequently used approaches such as comparative analysis and spatial analysis.
Artificial intelligence in urban services in Malaysia: a review
Authors: Samsurijan Mohamad Shaharudin , Ebekozien Andrew , Nor Azazi Noor Alyani , Shaed Maslina Mohammed , Radin Badaruddin Radin Firdaus
Published: March 2022

Purpose

Studies showed that a proactive delivery system employing innovative artificial intelligence (AI) in urban services might perform better. This has become an important national policy for many countries. Thus, this study aims to explore the influence of AI in urban services in Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

Official documents such as Structure Plan and Government Transformation Programme Policy Document covering various levels of cities in Malaysia, articles related to urban studies mostly written by researchers regarding urban growth in Malaysia and the Urban Development Bulletin from the Federal Department of Town and Country Planning from 1957 to date were reviewed and analysed.

Findings

The findings show that the influence of AI in urban services has long existed and been carefully planned by local authorities since colonial times. The development of global digital technology influences the upgrading of AI in urban services in Malaysia. Also, the success of AI in these municipal services is influenced by the rate of information technology literacy among the urban population. These developments have led to the definition of a conceptual city.

Research limitations/implications

This paper's findings and conclusion were based on reviewed literature but did not compromise the strength of this paper. Thus, as part of the implications for future research, mixed-methods research design has been suggested.

Practical implications

As part of the implications, this article intends to promote AI in urban services in Malaysia and other developing countries with similar urban services challenges.

Originality/value

This paper encourages AI applications in urban services because it enhances service delivery performance. This intends to key stakeholders to promote AI via policies across Malaysia's urban services as part of the study implications.
Diatoms from inland aquatic and soil habitats as indestructible and nonremovable forensic environmental evidence
Authors: Bogusz Iwona , Bogusz Marek , Żelazna‐Wieczorek Joanna
Published: March 2022

Environmental analysis of soil, water, and plants plays a key role in the criminal investigation process, as it not only provides information about the course of the crime, but it can also elucidate the connection between the offender, the victim, and the environment. One particularly useful way of linking the victim and offender to a specific environment is by analyzing their clothing for the presence of diatoms. The present research was conducted upon field experiments. Firstly, it examines the variability of diatom and the quantitative analysis of diatom communities in designated places, each at an increasing distance from the aquatic ecosystem. Secondly, it analyses the differentiation of the structure of diatom communities in designated environments located close to each other. Thirdly, it examines the diatom colonization of selected substrates: cotton, chamois leather, and sponge. Finally, it confirms whether the diatoms which transfer to socks after contact with the selected environment reflect the structure of the diatom communities in that environment, even after the socks had been washed. Our findings indicate that diatom communities vary considerably, even between environments separated by short distances, and that objects placed in a particular environment are colonized by diatoms that reflect the environmental samples, irrespective of the substrate. In addition, after contact with a specific aquatic ecosystem, sock material retained diatom collections that reflected the environment samples, even though the time of exposure was very short and after the socks had been washed. This provides valuable information that can be used as forensic evidence.
The effects of the COVID‐19 pandemic on food security in Australia: A scoping review
Authors: Louie Serena , Shi Yumeng , Allman‐Farinelli Margaret
Published: March 2022

Aim

The COVID‐19 pandemic has disrupted the Australian food supply with potential ramifications on food security. This scoping review aimed to synthesise current evidence on the prevalence of food insecurity and changes to factors related to food insecurity during the COVID‐19 pandemic in Australia.

Methods

A comprehensive search strategy was used to search seven databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, Global Health, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, PsycINFO, Informit Online) and Google Scholar. Included studies were written in English, published in 2020–2021 and examined food security status in Australia during the COVID‐19 pandemic and/or factors associated with food insecurity in free‐living Australian residents. Articles with participants residing in institutional settings, where meals were supplied, were excluded.

Results

A total of 700 records were identified from database, grey literature and hand searching, and nine articles were included. All studies indicated that the prevalence of food insecurity had increased due to negative changes to food availability, accessibility, usability and stability. The downturn in employment and economic circumstances following the onset of the COVID‐19 pandemic appeared to create a new group of food‐insecure Australians consisting of newly unemployed, and international students.

Conclusion

COVID‐19 has exacerbated vulnerabilities in the Australian food supply and food security. Suggested actions include ongoing data collection on the long‐term impact of COVID‐19 on food supply and security in addition to coordinated national and community responses that improve the stability of the local food supply and address underlying determinants of food insecurity.
Efficacy of early enteral nutrition versus total parenteral nutrition for patients with gastric cancer complicated with diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Li Ka , Wang Dan , Zhang Xingxia , Yang Jie , Chen Xinrong
Published: March 2022

Aim

This study aimed to synthesise available data and evaluate the clinical evidence regarding the effect of early enteral nutrition versus total parenteral nutrition on nutritional status and blood glucose in patients with gastric cancer complicated with diabetes mellitus after gastrectomy.

Methods

This systematic review and meta‐analysis was designed, conducted and reported following the PRISMA guideline. We performed searches in PubMed, Embase, Medline, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Chinese Biomedicine Literature Database, Chinese Scientific Journal Database, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure and Wanfang Database. The study designs were randomised controlled trials, quasi‐randomised controlled trials, and controlled clinical trials. The trials compared early enteral nutrition (experimental group) with total parenteral nutrition (control group) in patients with gastric cancer complicated with diabetes mellitus after gastrectomy. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool.

Results

A total of 19 trials (1255 patients) were included. Meta‐analysis showed a significantly shorter length of hospital stay (days; mean difference −5.07, 95% confidence interval [CI] [−6.28, −3.86], p < 0.00001) and a lower post‐operative complications rate (%; odds ratio 0.29, 95% CI [0.16, 0.50], p < 0.0001) in the early enteral nutrition group than in the total parenteral nutrition group. Compared with the total parenteral nutrition group, the early enteral nutrition group had lower blood glucose fluctuation values (mmol/L; mean difference −2.03, 95% CI [−2.44, −1.61], p < 0.00001), lower levels of glycosylated haemoglobin (%; mean difference −0.62, 95% CI [−1.22, −0.03], p = 0.04), higher levels of prealbumin (g/L; p = 0.002), transferrin (g/L; p = 0.002), total protein (g/L; p = 0.001) and haemoglobin (g/L; p = 0.005).

Conclusions

Early enteral nutrition may maintain stable blood glucose levels and improve nutritional status, leading to better therapeutic effectiveness in gastric cancer complicated with diabetes mellitus patients.
The Latent Dirichlet Allocation model applied to airborne LiDAR data: A case study on mapping forest degradation associated with fragmentation and fire in the Amazon region
Authors: Valle Denis , Silva Carlos Alberto , Longo Marcos , Brando Paulo
Published: March 2022

LiDAR data are being increasingly used to provide a detailed characterization of the vertical profile of forests. This characterization enables the generation of new insights on the influence of environmental drivers and anthropogenic disturbances on forest structure as well as on how forest structure influences important ecosystem functions and services. Unfortunately, extracting information from LiDAR data in a way that enables the spatial visualization of forest structure, as well as its temporal changes, is challenging due to the high dimensionality of these data.

We show how the Latent Dirichlet Allocation model applied to LiDAR data (LidarLDA) can be used to identify forest structural types and how the relative abundance of these forest types changes throughout the landscape. The code to fit this model is made available through the open‐source r package LidarLDA in github. We illustrate the use of LidarLDA both with simulated data and data from a large‐scale fire experiment in the Brazilian Amazon region.

Using simulated data, we demonstrate that LidarLDA accurately identifies the number of forest types as well as their spatial distribution and absorptance probabilities. For the empirical data, we found that LidarLDA detects both landscape‐level patterns in forest structure as well as the strong interacting effect of fire and forest fragmentation on forest structure based on the experimental fire plots. More specifically, LidarLDA reveals that proximity to forest edge exacerbates the impact of fires, and that burned forests remain structurally different from unburned areas for at least 7 years, even when burned only once. Importantly, LidarLDA generates insights on the 3D structure of forest that cannot be obtained using more standard approaches that just focus on top‐of‐the‐canopy information (e.g. canopy height models based on LiDAR data).

By enabling the mapping of forest structure and its temporal changes, we believe that LidarLDA will be of broad utility to the ecological research community.
Defective dimerization of FoF1‐ATP synthase secondary to glycation favors mitochondrial energy deficiency in cardiomyocytes during aging
Authors: Bou‐Teen Diana , Fernandez‐Sanz Celia , Miro‐Casas Elisabet , Nichtova Zuzana , Bonzon‐Kulichenko Elena , Casós Kelly , Inserte Javier , Rodriguez‐Sinovas Antonio , Benito Begoña , Sheu Shey‐Shing , Vázquez Jesús , Ferreira‐González Ignacio , Ruiz‐Meana Marisol
Published: March 2022

Aged cardiomyocytes develop a mismatch between energy demand and supply, the severity of which determines the onset of heart failure, and become prone to undergo cell death. The FoF1‐ATP synthase is the molecular machine that provides >90% of the ATP consumed by healthy cardiomyocytes and is proposed to form the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP), an energy‐dissipating channel involved in cell death. We investigated whether aging alters FoF1‐ATP synthase self‐assembly, a fundamental biological process involved in mitochondrial cristae morphology and energy efficiency, and the functional consequences this may have. Purified heart mitochondria and cardiomyocytes from aging mice displayed an impaired dimerization of FoF1‐ATP synthase (blue native and proximity ligation assay), associated with abnormal mitochondrial cristae tip curvature (TEM). Defective dimerization did not modify the in vitro hydrolase activity of FoF1‐ATP synthase but reduced the efficiency of oxidative phosphorylation in intact mitochondria (in which membrane architecture plays a fundamental role) and increased cardiomyocytes’ susceptibility to undergo energy collapse by mPTP. High throughput proteomics and fluorescence immunolabeling identified glycation of 5 subunits of FoF1‐ATP synthase as the causative mechanism of the altered dimerization. In vitro induction of FoF1‐ATP synthase glycation in H9c2 myoblasts recapitulated the age‐related defective FoF1‐ATP synthase assembly, reduced the relative contribution of oxidative phosphorylation to cell energy metabolism, and increased mPTP susceptibility. These results identify altered dimerization of FoF1‐ATP synthase secondary to enzyme glycation as a novel pathophysiological mechanism involved in mitochondrial cristae remodeling, energy deficiency, and increased vulnerability of cardiomyocytes to undergo mitochondrial failure during aging.
Multi‐omic rejuvenation of naturally aged tissues by a single cycle of transient reprogramming
Authors: Chondronasiou Dafni , Gill Diljeet , Mosteiro Lluc , Urdinguio Rocio G. , Berenguer‐Llergo Antonio , Aguilera Mònica , Durand Sylvere , Aprahamian Fanny , Nirmalathasan Nitharsshini , Abad Maria , Martin‐Herranz Daniel E. , Stephan‐Otto Attolini Camille , Prats Neus , Kroemer Guido , Fraga Mario F. , Reik Wolf , Serrano Manuel
Published: March 2022

The expression of the pluripotency factors OCT4, SOX2, KLF4, and MYC (OSKM) can convert somatic differentiated cells into pluripotent stem cells in a process known as reprogramming. Notably, partial and reversible reprogramming does not change cell identity but can reverse markers of aging in cells, improve the capacity of aged mice to repair tissue injuries, and extend longevity in progeroid mice. However, little is known about the mechanisms involved. Here, we have studied changes in the DNA methylome, transcriptome, and metabolome in naturally aged mice subject to a single period of transient OSKM expression. We found that this is sufficient to reverse DNA methylation changes that occur upon aging in the pancreas, liver, spleen, and blood. Similarly, we observed reversion of transcriptional changes, especially regarding biological processes known to change during aging. Finally, some serum metabolites and biomarkers altered with aging were also restored to young levels upon transient reprogramming. These observations indicate that a single period of OSKM expression can drive epigenetic, transcriptomic, and metabolomic changes toward a younger configuration in multiple tissues and in the serum.
Advancing Australian public health initiatives targeting dementia risk reduction
Authors: Siette Joyce , Taylor Nathan , Deckers Kay , Köhler Sebastian , Braithwaite Jeffrey , Valenzuela Michael , Armitage Christopher J.
Published: March 2022

Public health initiatives aim to improve health outcomes for populations by preventing disease and ill‐health consequences of environmental hazards and natural or human‐made disasters. Whilst public health initiatives have been used successfully to modify behaviours for chronic diseases, many initiatives targeting reduced dementia risk in older adults suffer from conceptual and statistical flaws that greatly limit their usefulness. The limited success in modifying lifestyle dementia risk factors has led us to fall short in building a successful roadmap to dementia risk reduction. Here we argue for adopting a population‐level, holistic approach to dementia risk reduction strategies across the lifespan. This approach is supplemented by 10 strategies that focus on improving social policies, harnessing existing policy, legislature and incentive schemes, and identifying feasible approaches to increase recreational and transport‐related physical activity to creating best practice health care that supports healthy brain ageing for all.
Repositioning the (Is)land: Climate Change Adaptation and the Atoll Assemblage
Authors: Jarillo Sergio , Barnett Jon
Published: March 2022

Sinking atolls are an enduring symbol of the power of climate change to destroy inhabited places. Climate impact science and the media share a panoptic gaze on atoll islands seeing them as being small, inert and passive in the face of rising seas. The focus in these accounts is on the power of water as the agent of destruction, while the agency of the assemblage of human and non‐human actors that is the (is)land itself is ignored. Thus, atolls are said to be vulnerable, and the prevailing ideas of adaptation are either international relocation to avoid the sea or seawalls to contain it. Based on qualitative field research in Pacific atolls, this paper examines the connections between island peoples and their terrestrial environments, and the work that they are doing in response to the impacts of climate change. It shows how land is conceived symbolically, socio‐culturally and legally, and considers its role in sustaining livelihoods and anchoring identities through a changing climate.
Sofosbuvir and risk of estimated glomerular filtration rate decline or end‐stage renal disease in patients with renal impairment
Authors: Sulkowski Mark , Telep Laura E. , Colombo Massimo , Durand Francois , Reddy K. Rajender , Lawitz Eric , Bourlière Marc , Cheinquer Nelson , Scherbakovsky Stacey , Ni Liyun , Force Lindsey , Ramroth Heribert , Gaggar Anuj , Chokkalingam Anand P. , Sise Meghan E.
Published: March 2022

Background

Sofosbuvir, a prodrug nucleoside inhibitor of hepatitis C virus, has a predominant circulating metabolite that is renally eliminated. Whether sofosbuvir is associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression is not well understood.

Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis of patients with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) 30–89 mL/min/1.73 m2 treated with sofosbuvir in 76 Phase 2/3 registrational trials. We evaluated eGFR at each study visit. Separately, we performed a retrospective analysis of an administrative claims database (IQVIA PharMetrics Plus™) to compare the risk of incident end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) associated with the use of sofosbuvir or non‐sofosbuvir regimens among patients with CKD using propensity score methods. Exposure, CKD status and outcomes were determined using diagnosis and medication claim codes. Cox proportional hazards methods were used to estimate ESRD risk.

Results

Among 4642 trial participants with baseline stage 2 CKD (eGFR 60–89 ml/min/1.73 m2) and 682 trial participants with stage 3 CKD (eGFR 30–59 ml/min/1.73 m2) mean (SD) eGFR improved from baseline to 4 weeks post‐treatment (+0.7 [9.3] and +2.6 [8.8] ml/min/1.73 m2, respectively; p < 0.001 each). In the second analysis, among 2042 patients with CKD receiving sofosbuvir‐based regimens compared to 431 receiving non‐sofosbuvir‐based regimens, after adjusting for baseline covariates and weighting based on treatment propensity scores, there was no significant difference in risk of ESRD (adjusted HR = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.51–1.42).

Conclusions

Clinical trial participants with CKD did not experience worsening eGFR during sofosbuvir‐based treatment, and sofosbuvir was not associated with an increased risk of ESRD in patients with CKD in a nationally‐representative administrative claims database.
Weekend delivery and maternal–neonatal adverse outcomes in low‐risk pregnancies in the United States: A population‐based analysis of 3‐million live births
Authors: Kim Sooyong , Selya Arielle S.
Published: March 2022

Background

Childbirth is the most common cause of hospital admission in the United States. Previous studies have shown that there might be a “weekend effect” in perinatal care, indicating that mothers and newborns whose deliveries occur during the weekends are at increased risk of having adverse outcomes. This study aims to isolate the association between the weekend delivery and maternal–neonatal adverse outcomes by investigating low‐risk pregnancies in nationwide data.

Methods

A population‐based study of all low‐risk pregnancies (in‐hospital, nonanomalous, term, normal birthweight, and singleton) was conducted based on US national natality data in 2017. Four maternal outcomes (ICU admission, uterine rupture, blood transfusion, and perineal laceration) and three neonatal outcomes (5‐minute Apgar <7, NICU admission, and neonatal death) were defined as adverse outcomes. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the association, adjusting for 23 maternal and neonatal characteristics and risk factors.

Results

Among 3 011 577 low‐risk pregnancies, 6.0% were reported to have at least one of the maternal–neonatal adverse outcomes. Weekend deliveries were significantly associated with six maternal–neonatal adverse outcomes with an exception of neonatal death. In general, weekend deliveries were 1.13 times significantly as likely to have any of seven maternal–neonatal adverse outcomes than weekday deliveries (OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.11‐1.14), being attributed to adverse outcomes of more than 4500 mother–newborn pairs.

Conclusions

Weekend delivery is a consistent risk factor for both mothers and babies at the national level. Furthermore, studies are needed about possible modifiable factors that mediate these associations to ensure safe childbirth regardless of the day of delivery.
Bone health and glucocorticoid‐containing lymphoma therapy — a review of risk factors and preventative measures
Authors: Eyre Toby A. , Jensen Paw , Booth Stephen , El‐Galaly Tarec Christoffer
Published: March 2022

With survival outcomes ever improving for patients with a wide range of lymphoma histologies, the focus on reducing long‐term complications of therapy has increased. Recently published, complimentary population and retrospective series have highlighted the importance of considering bone health in patients treated for lymphoma. Fracture‐related events or the requirement for secondary bone prophylaxis, likely linked to glucocorticoid‐induced osteoporosis (GIO) are substantial and clinically meaningful in a significant minority of patients following routinely employed steroid‐containing immunochemotherapy. In this review, we describe the pathophysiology of GIO, the risk of GIO in observational front‐line lymphoma studies and efficacy of prophylactic measures from several prospective clinical trials are summarized. Finally, areas of importance for future research are discussed and recommendations for GIO risk assessment and management in lymphoma are provided based on the current available literature.
Retirement, Illness and Death of the Analyst
Authors: Pickles Penny
Published: March 2022

This paper is developed from a report to the British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC) in 2016, ‘Recommendations for best practice for responsible retirement’. In expanding the thinking, some of the problems we can have in addressing the painful and difficult decisions we have to make about retirement whilst maintaining both an ethical and compassionate attitude to the topic are discussed. The paper explores potential conflicts that can arise between the needs of both the analyst and the patient in contemplating retirement and managing serious illness. It considers the role of clinical trustees in dealing with fitness to practice issues and with the aftermath of the death of the analyst. The role of our institutions in helping us when problems arise is discussed. Recommendations are made to assist moving forward to make the subject more open to thought and to overcome the resistances we have, both personal and institutional, conscious and unconscious, in accepting that this topic poses a challenge to most analysts and psychotherapists.
Frontiers in quantifying wildlife behavioural responses to chemical pollution
Authors: Bertram Michael G. , Martin Jake M. , McCallum Erin S. , Alton Lesley A. , Brand Jack A. , Brooks Bryan W. , Cerveny Daniel , Fick Jerker , Ford Alex T. , Hellström Gustav , Michelangeli Marcus , Nakagawa Shinichi , Polverino Giovanni , Saaristo Minna , Sih Andrew , Tan Hung , Tyler Charles R. , Wong Bob B.M. , Brodin Tomas
Published: March 2022

Animal behaviour is remarkably sensitive to disruption by chemical pollution, with widespread implications for ecological and evolutionary processes in contaminated wildlife populations. However, conventional approaches applied to study the impacts of chemical pollutants on wildlife behaviour seldom address the complexity of natural environments in which contamination occurs. The aim of this review is to guide the rapidly developing field of behavioural ecotoxicology towards increased environmental realism, ecological complexity, and mechanistic understanding. We identify research areas in ecology that to date have been largely overlooked within behavioural ecotoxicology but which promise to yield valuable insights, including within‐ and among‐individual variation, social networks and collective behaviour, and multi‐stressor interactions. Further, we feature methodological and technological innovations that enable the collection of data on pollutant‐induced behavioural changes at an unprecedented resolution and scale in the laboratory and the field. In an era of rapid environmental change, there is an urgent need to advance our understanding of the real‐world impacts of chemical pollution on wildlife behaviour. This review therefore provides a roadmap of the major outstanding questions in behavioural ecotoxicology and highlights the need for increased cross‐talk with other disciplines in order to find the answers.
The impact of COVID‐19 on adolescent wellness in Chicago
Authors: Ezeoke Ogochukwu M. , Kanaley Madeleine K. , Brown Dannielle A. , Negris Olivia R. , Das Rajeshree , Lombard Lisa S. , Gupta Ruchi S.
Published: March 2022

Purpose

This study aimed to understand the impact of the initial COVID‐19 pandemic remote schooling period on self‐reported wellness among adolescents in Chicago.

Methods

Students (n = 55) completed a 22‐item wellness questionnaire before (February 2020) and shortly after the onset of the COVID‐19 outbreak (April 2020). Precomparisons/postcomparisons (overall and by survey item) were evaluated using two‐sided paired t‐tests with an alpha level of 0.05. Descriptive statistics were used to evaluate mean scores overall by demographic variables.

Results

Significant differences were found in the following areas: Balance (Pre: 7.3, During: 6.4, p = 0.02), Education (Pre: 8.4, During 7.7, p = 0.03) and Friends (Pre:8.0, During: 6.3, p = 0.001). Overall wellness scores varied by demographic variables, though not significantly.

Conclusions

Results suggest the onset of the pandemic impacted students' ability to effectively learn, as well as to maintain balance in their lives and social relationships. Comprehensive support is needed in these areas to promote adolescent wellness.
Obesity aggravates contact hypersensitivity reaction in mice
Authors: Majewska‐Szczepanik Monika , Kowalczyk Paulina , Marcińska Katarzyna , Strzępa Anna , Lis Grzegorz J. , Wong F. Susan , Szczepanik Marian , Wen Li
Published: March 2022

Background

Obesity is associated with chronic, low‐grade inflammation in tissues and predisposes to various complications, including inflammatory skin diseases. However, the link between obesity and contact hypersensitivity (CHS) is not fully understood.

Objectives

We sought to determine the influence of obesity on T helper 1 (Th1)–mediated CHS.

Methods

The activity/phenotype/cytokine profile of the immune cells was tested in vivo and in vitro. Using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), we tested the role of a high‐fat diet (HFD)–induced gut microbiota (GM) dysbiosis in increasing the effects of CHS.

Results

Exacerbated CHS correlates with an increased inflammation‐inducing GM in obese mice. We showed a proinflammatory milieu in the subcutaneous adipose tissue of obese mice, accompanied by proinflammatory CD4+ T cells and dendritic cells in skin draining lymph nodes and spleen. Obese interleukin (IL)‐17A−/−B6 mice are protected from CHS aggravation, suggesting the importance of IL‐17A in CHS aggravation in obesity.

Conclusions

Obesity creates a milieu that induces more potent CHS‐effector cells but does not have effects on already activated CHS‐effector cells. IL‐17A is essential for the pathogenesis of enhanced CHS during obesity. Our study provides novel knowledge about antigen‐specific responses in obesity, which may help with the improvement of existing treatment and/or in designing novel treatment for obesity‐associated skin disorders.
How can guidelines contribute to reducing “preventable” mortality in patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding on antithrombotic drugs?
Authors: Kawaguchi Koichiro , Isomoto Hajime
Published: March 2022

This Editorial refers to the article by T. Matsuhashi et al., p 113‐122 of the issue DEN 34:1.
Differences in the temporal scale of reproductive investment across the slow‐fast continuum in a passerine
Authors: Patrick Samantha C. , Réale Denis , Potts Jonathan R. , Wilson Alastair J. , Doutrelant Claire , Teplitsky Céline , Charmantier Anne
Published: March 2022

Life‐history strategies differ with respect to investment in current versus ‘future’ reproduction, but when is this future? Under the novel ‘temporality in reproductive investment hypothesis’, we postulate variation should exist in the time frame over which reproductive costs are paid. Slow‐paced individuals should pay reproductive costs over short (e.g. inter‐annual) time scales to prevent reproductive costs accumulating, whereas fast‐paced individuals should allow costs to accumulate (i.e. senescence). Using Fourier transforms, we quantify adjustments in clutch size with age, across four populations of blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus). Fast populations had more prevalent and stronger long‐term changes in reproductive investment, whereas slower populations had more prevalent short‐term adjustments. Inter‐annual environmental variation partly accounted for short‐, but not long‐term changes in reproductive investment. Our study reveals individuals differ in when they pay the cost of reproduction and that failure to partition this variation across different temporal scales and environments could underestimate reproductive trade‐offs.