bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nesting activity of cavity‐nesting bees and wasps is lower in small‐scale apple orchards compared to nearby semi‐natural habitats
Authors: Bihaly Áron Domonkos , Kovács‐Hostyánszki Anikó , Szalai Márk , Sárospataki Miklós
Published: August 2020

Commercially reared cavity‐nesting bees have been studied mainly in large, intensively managed orchards. However, knowledge on wild cavity‐nesting bee and wasp communities and their potential limitations in smaller orchards remain insufficient.

We compared the colonization rate of trapnests, nesting success, parasitism and response to flower resources of cavity‐nesting bees and wasps between apple orchards and nearby semi‐natural habitats (SNHs).

Trapnests were placed in orchards and neighbouring SNHs. Colonization dynamics were studied and herbaceous flower resources were estimated. Furthermore, nest and brood cell quantity, number of alive offspring and nest parasitism rate were assessed.

We found a higher colonization rate in the SNHs than in the orchards. Both bees and wasps made more nests, completed more brood cells and had a higher number of alive offspring in the SNHs. The number of bee nests in the orchards showed a positive correlation with the species richness of the flowering plants. The nest parasitism of wasps was higher in the SNHs.

Apple orchards in the studied small‐scale system were generally less colonized by cavity‐nesting hymenopterans than nearby SNHs that can be important reservoirs of these ecosystem service provider hymenopterans. Our results highlight the importance of diverse flowering herbaceous vegetation in the understory that increased the number of bee nests in orchards and that could have a positive effect on the nesting activity of the bee species active in summer. Therefore, management practices that support flowering plant species in the understory vegetation are highly recommended in such orchards.
‘Normal birth’: Time to change our tune?
Authors: Ely Sally , Shek Ka Lai , Dietz Hans Peter
Published: August 2020

Recent research indicates that atraumatic ‘normal vaginal birth’ only occurs in 33–40% of women who intend to achieve a vaginal delivery, depending on how the term ‘normal birth’ is defined. In contrast, the NSW birth policy continues to promote ‘normal birth’, suggesting that the majority of women will achieve ‘normal birth’ and that ‘normal birth’ produces optimal maternal outcomes. Our continued use of the term ‘normal birth’ may be outdated. This article will consider the term ‘normal birth’ with regard to history, politics, policy and obstetric practice, and recommend a reconsideration of terminology.
Tsga10 is essential for arrangement of mitochondrial sheath and male fertility in mice
Authors: Luo Geng , Hou Meiqi , Wang Bo , Liu Zhenxing , Liu Wenqiang , Han Tiantian , Zhang Dazhi , Zhou Xiaopei , Jia Weimin , Tan Yang , Wu Yanling , Wang Jiarui , Zhang Xianqin
Published: August 2020

Background

Male infertility is a major issue in human reproduction health, yet known genetic factors are only responsible for a small fraction of cases. TSGA10 is a testis‐specific protein that is highly conserved among different species. A previous study has reported a homozygous mutation in TSGA10 in a male infertile patient; however, function analysis of Tsga10 genes in knockout mice has not yet been undertaken.

Objectives

The aim of the present work was to analyse the function of TSGA10 protein in the spermatogenesis of Tsga10+/− mice.

Materials and methods

Tsga10+/− mice were generated by CRISPR/Cas9 technology, in vitro fertilization (IVF), western blot, co‐immunoprecipitation and other methods were used to the function analysis.

Results

Heterozygous Tsga10 male mice created by CRISPR/Cas9 were infertile and presented significantly reduced sperm motility because of disordered mitochondrial sheath formation. Furthermore, TSGA10 can interact with GRP78 and NSUN2, which are associated with peri‐implantation lethality and the gonadotropin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) network.

Discussion and conclusion

We demonstrate that deficiency of Tsga10 gene can lead to male infertility in mice. TSGA10 is involved in the correct arrangement of mitochondrial sheath in spermatozoa. Future studies on TSGA10 include an in‐depth exploration of the underlying mechanisms of TSGA10 in spermatogenesis, early embryonic development and GnRH network.
Investigation of recurrent laryngeal palsy rates for potential associations during thyroidectomy
Authors: Moreira Alayne , Forrest Edward , Lee James C. , Paul Eldho , Yeung Meei , Grodski Simon , Serpell Jonathan W.
Published: August 2020

Background

There are many clinical associations and potential mechanisms of injury resulting in recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy (RLNP) after thyroidectomy. One possible cause of RLNP is focal intralaryngeal compression of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN), which may be associated with the tracheal tube (TT). Therefore, we examined current RLNP rates to investigate potential associations, including intralaryngeal, airway, anaesthetic and anthropometric factors.

Methods

We analysed 1003 patients undergoing thyroid surgery at The Alfred from 2010 to 2017, who had anatomically intact RLNs at the conclusion of thyroidectomy. All included patients underwent pre‐ and post‐operative flexible nasendoscopy. The primary outcome was RLNP rate. We analysed potential associated factors including age, sex, operative time, surgical indication, pathology, American Society of Anaesthesiologists Physical Status, Mallampati scores, body mass index, intubation grade, TT size and specimen weight. The independent risk factors were identified by logistic regression analysis.

Results

Overall, RLNP occurred in 83 patients (8.3%) of which one was permanent (0.1%). On univariate analysis, RLNP was associated with male sex (P = 0.02), and duration of surgery (P = 0.002). On multivariate analysis, both male sex (P = 0.047) and duration of surgery (P = 0.04) remained significant. Further, factors postulated to cause intralaryngeal compression of the RLN, including TT size, body mass index, intubation grade and Mallampati score, were not significantly associated with RLNP.

Conclusion

Our study showed a RLNP rate of 8.3%, and associations with longer operative duration, and male sex. Potential intralaryngeal factors were not identified.
Management of primary mycotic aneurysms and prosthetic graft infections: an 8‐year experience with in‐situ cryopreserved allograft reconstruction
Authors: Arasu Rohan , Campbell Ian , Cartmill Andrew , Cohen Toby , Hansen Peter , Muller Juanita , Dave Richa , McGahan Timothy
Published: August 2020

Background

Primary mycotic aneurysms and prosthetic graft infections are traditionally managed by resection of infected vascular tissue and revascularisation with an extra‐anatomical bypass. Long‐term patency for this method has been reported to be poor with associated high reinfection and limb amputation rates. The aim of this study was to analyse the outcomes of those patients in our department between 2010 and 2018 whom had revascularisation with in‐situ arterial reconstruction using cryopreserved allograft as a conduit.

Methods

The data were retrospectively reviewed and 13 patients were identified. There were five patients with primary mycotic aneurysms and eight patients with prosthetic graft infections, three of which were complicated by aortoenteric fistulae (AEF).

Results

There were three peri‐operative mortalities (23%) with all three mortalities related to graft re‐infection and post‐implantation haemorrhage; two of these from uncontrolled bile leaks related to the original AEF with persistent graft contamination. The 10 surviving patients were followed up for a mean duration of 15.8 months with an overall primary graft patency of 89% and no incidence of graft re‐infection or aneurysmal degeneration.

Conclusion

Patients that survived the peri‐operative period demonstrated acceptable medium‐term allograft durability, with the most favourable outcomes observed in those patients who had arterial infections uncomplicated by AEF. The main barrier to more wide‐spread use in our state remains inadequate supply of banked cryopreserved tissue.
Oxidative stress parameters and antioxidants in patients with bipolar disorder: Results from a meta‐analysis comparing patients, including stratification by polarity and euthymic status, with healthy controls
Authors: Jiménez‐Fernández Sara , Gurpegui Manuel , Garrote‐Rojas Daniel , Gutiérrez‐Rojas Luis , Carretero María D. , Correll Christoph U.
Published: August 2020

Objective

To investigate oxidative stress markers and antioxidants in bipolar disorder (BD).

Methods

Electronic MEDLINE/PubMed/Cochrane‐Library/Scopus/TripDatabase search until 06/30/2019 for studies comparing antioxidant or oxidative stress markers between BD and healthy controls (HCs). Standardized mean differences (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for ≥3 studies.

Results

Forty‐four studies (n = 3,767: BD = 1,979; HCs = 1,788) reported on oxidative stress markers malondialdehyde (MDA), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and total nitrites; antioxidants glutathione (GSH), uric acid, and zinc; or antioxidantenhancing enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and GSH‐transferase (GST). Compared with HCs, BD was associated with higher GST (P = .01), CAT (P = .02), nitrites (P < .0001), TBARS (P < .0001), MDA (P = .01), uric acid (P < .0001), and lower GSH (P = .006), without differences in SOD, GPX, and zinc. Compared to HCs, levels were higher in BD‐mania for TBARS (P < .0001) and uric acid (P < .0001); in BD‐depression for TBARS (P = .02); and BD‐euthymia for uric acid (P = .03). Uric acid levels were higher in BD‐mania vs BD‐depression (P = .002), but not vs BD euthymia. TBARS did not differ between BD‐mania and BD‐depression. Medication‐free BD‐mania patients had higher SOD (P = .02) and lower GPX (P < .0001) than HCs. After treatment, BD did not differ from HCs regarding SOD and GPX.

Conclusions

Beyond a single biomarker of oxidative stress, the combination of several parameters appears to be more informative for BD in general and taking into account illness polarity. BD is associated with an imbalance in oxidative stress with some phase‐specificity for uric acid and TBARS and possible treatment benefits for SOD and GPX. Future studies should take into account confounding factors that can modify oxidative stress status and simultaneously measure oxidative stress markers and antioxidants including different blood sources.
Interpretive theory of mind and empathic prosocial moral reasoning
Authors: Harari Yifat , Weinstock Michael
Published: August 2020

Theory of mind (ToM) is seen as fundamental in development of social understanding. The study proposes that interpretive theory of mind (iToM), which follows ToM attainment, underlies important shifts towards mature social understanding. With ToM found to predict the needs orientation in prosocial moral reasoning (PMR), we hypothesized that iToM, unlike ToM, would account for PMR orientations requiring empathic reasoning. Those with iToM recognize the role of subjective processes, such as interpretation, in knowing. They can invoke others’ subjective processes, not just their physical perspectives, in explaining others’ decisions. A study with 225 7‐ to 11‐year‐old children (Mage = 9.04, SD = 0.91) found that iToM, but not ToM, predicted empathic and internalized values PMR orientations when controlling for age, emotion understanding and inhibitory control. These findings show that iToM attainment plays a unique role in developing social understanding such as reflected in empathic reasoning‐based PMR orientations.
Visual cortex changes in children with sickle cell disease and normal visual acuity: a multimodal magnetic resonance imaging study
Authors: Manara Renzo , Dalla Torre Alice , Lucchetta Marta , Ermani Mario , Favaro Angela , Baracchini Claudio , Favaretto Silvia , Viaro Federica , Munaretto Vania , Sartori Stefano , Ponticorvo Sara , Russo Andrea G. , Biffi Alessandra , Sainati Laura , Colombatti Raffaella
Published: August 2020

The visual system is primarily affected in sickle cell disease (SCD), and eye examination is recommended starting in late childhood. So far, to our knowledge, all studies have focused on the retina, neglecting the changes that might be present in the cortical portion of the visual system. We performed a multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evaluation of the visual cortex in 25 children with SCD (mean age: 12·3 ± 1·9 years) and 31 controls (mean age: 12·7 ± 1·6 years). At ophthalmologic examination, 3/25 SCD children had mild visual acuity deficits and 2/25 had mild tortuosity of the retinal vessels. None showed optic pathway infarcts at MRI or Transcranial Doppler abnormal blood velocities, and 6/25 disclosed posterior cerebral artery stenosis (five mild and one severe) at MR‐angiography. Compared to controls, SCD children had increased posterior pericalcarine cortical thickness, with a different trajectory of cortical maturation and decreased connectivity within medial and ventral visual neural networks. Our findings suggest that SCD affects the development and the tuning of the visual cortex, leading to anatomical and functional changes in childhood even in the absence of retinopathy, and set the basis for future studies to determine if these changes can represent useful predictors of visual impairment in adulthood, biomarkers of disease progression or treatment response.
Debate: Promoting capabilities for young people's agency in the COVID‐19 outbreak
Authors: Pavarini Gabriela , Lyreskog David , Manku Kiran , Musesengwa Rosemary , Singh Ilina
Published: August 2020

The COVID‐19 pandemic is having a pervasive effect on young people's mental health and well‐being, giving rise to feelings of deep uncertainty and lack of control. Inspired by Amartya Sen's capabilities framework, we argue that building capacity and creating opportunities for community and civic engagement during this time will help young people gain agency and well‐being. We highlight two key areas for participatory engagement: coproduction of research, and peer‐led interventions. Providing capabilities for young people's agency not only builds personal resilience, but also strengthens the quality of our research, interventions and overall response to the global health crisis.
How Diversity Approaches Affect Ethnic Minority and Majority Adolescents: Teacher–Student Relationship Trajectories and School Outcomes
Authors: Baysu Gülseli , Hillekens Jessie , Phalet Karen , Deaux Kay
Published: August 2020

This study aimed to relate school diversity approaches to continuity and change in teacher–student relationships, comparing Belgian‐majority (N = 1,875, Mage = 14.56) and Turkish and Moroccan‐minority adolescents (N = 1,445, Mage = 15.07). Latent‐Growth‐Mixture‐Models of student‐reported teacher support and rejection over 3 years revealed three trajectories per group: normative‐positive (high support, low rejection) and decreasing‐negative (moderate support, high‐decreasing rejection) for both groups, increasing‐negative (moderate support, low‐increasing rejection) for minority, moderate‐positive (moderate support, low rejection) for majority youth. Trajectories differed between age groups. Student and teacher perceptions of equality and multiculturalism afforded, and assimilationism threatened, normative‐positive trajectories for minority youth. Diversity approaches had less impact on majority trajectories. Normative‐positive trajectories were related to improved school outcomes; they were less likely, but more beneficial for minority than majority youth.
Autosomal dominant neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis: Clinical features and molecular basis
Authors: Naseri Nima , Sharma Manu , Velinov Milen
Published: August 2020

The neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCLs) are at least 13 distinct progressive neurodegenerative disorders unified by the accumulation of lysosomal auto‐fluorescent material called lipofuscin. The only form that occurs via autosomal‐dominant inheritance exhibits adult onset and is sometimes referred to as Parry type NCL. The manifestations may include behavioral symptoms followed by seizures, ataxia, dementia, and early death. Mutations in the gene DNAJC5 that codes for the presynaptic co‐chaperone cysteine string protein‐α (CSPα) were recently reported in sporadic adult‐onset cases and in families with dominant inheritance. The mutant CSPα protein may lead to disease progression by both loss and gain of function mechanisms. Iron chelation therapy may be considered as a possible pharmaceutical intervention based on our recent mechanism‐based proposal of CSPα oligomerization via ectopic Fe‐S cluster‐binding, summarized in this review.
DFR: Differentiable Function Rendering for Learning 3D Generation from Images
Authors: Wu Yunjie , Sun Zhengxing
Published: August 2020

Learning‐based 3D generation is a popular research field in computer graphics. Recently, some works adapted implicit function defined by a neural network to represent 3D objects and have become the current state‐of‐the‐art. However, training the network requires precise ground truth 3D data and heavy pre‐processing, which is unrealistic. To tackle this problem, we propose the DFR, a differentiable process for rendering implicit function representation of 3D objects into 2D images. Briefly, our method is to simulate the physical imaging process by casting multiple rays through the image plane to the function space, aggregating all information along with each ray, and performing a differentiable shading according to every ray's state. Some strategies are also proposed to optimize the rendering pipeline, making it efficient both in time and memory to support training a network. With DFR, we can perform many 3D modeling tasks with only 2D supervision. We conduct several experiments for various applications. The quantitative and qualitative evaluations both demonstrate the effectiveness of our method.
Generating Adversarial Surfaces via Band‐Limited Perturbations
Authors: Mariani G. , Cosmo L. , Bronstein A. M. , Rodolà E.
Published: August 2020

Adversarial attacks have demonstrated remarkable efficacy in altering the output of a learning model by applying a minimal perturbation to the input data. While increasing attention has been placed on the image domain, however, the study of adversarial perturbations for geometric data has been notably lagging behind. In this paper, we show that effective adversarial attacks can be concocted for surfaces embedded in 3D, under weak smoothness assumptions on the perceptibility of the attack. We address the case of deformable 3D shapes in particular, and introduce a general model that is not tailored to any specific surface representation, nor does it assume access to a parametric description of the 3D object. In this context, we consider targeted and untargeted variants of the attack, demonstrating compelling results in either case. We further show how discovering adversarial examples, and then using them for adversarial training, leads to an increase in both robustness and accuracy. Our findings are confirmed empirically over multiple datasets spanning different semantic classes and deformations.
Markets and the crowding out of conservation‐relevant behavior
Authors: Cinner Joshua E. , Barnes Michele L. , Gurney Georgina G. , Lockie Stewart , Rojas Cristian
Published: August 2020

Markets are increasingly being incorporated into many aspects of daily life and are becoming an important part of the conservation solution space. Although market‐based solutions to environmental problems can result in improvements to conservation, a body of social science research highlights how markets may also have unforeseen consequences by crowding out or displacing 3 key types of behaviors potentially relevant to conservation, including people's willingness to engage in collective action and civic duty; tolerance for inflicting harm on others (third‐party externalities); and desire for equity. Better understanding of the contexts and mechanisms through which this crowding out occurs and whether specific market‐based instruments are more prone to different types of crowding out will be crucial to developing novel conservation initiatives that can reduce or prevent crowding out.
Incorporating putatively neutral and adaptive genomic data into marine conservation planning
Authors: Xuereb Amanda , D'Aloia Cassidy C. , Andrello Marco , Bernatchez Louis , Fortin Marie‐Josée
Published: August 2020

The availability of genomic data for an increasing number of species makes it possible to incorporate evolutionary processes into conservation plans. Recent studies show how genetic data can inform spatial conservation prioritization (SCP), but they focus on metrics of diversity and distinctness derived primarily from neutral genetic data sets. Identifying adaptive genetic markers can provide important information regarding the capacity for populations to adapt to environmental change. Yet, the effect of including metrics based on adaptive genomic data into SCP in comparison to more widely used neutral genetic metrics has not been explored. We used existing genomic data on a commercially exploited species, the giant California sea cucumber (Parastichopus californicus), to perform SCP for the coastal region of British Columbia (BC), Canada. Using a RAD‐seq data set for 717P. californicusindividuals across 24 sampling locations, we identified putatively adaptive (i.e., candidate) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) based on genotype–environment associations with seafloor temperature. We calculated various metrics for both neutral and candidate SNPs and compared SCP outcomes with independent metrics and combinations of metrics. Priority areas varied depending on whether neutral or candidate SNPs were used and on the specific metric used. For example, targeting sites with a high frequency of warm‐temperature‐associated alleles to support persistence under future warming prioritized areas in the southern coastal region. In contrast, targeting sites with high expected heterozygosity at candidate loci to support persistence under future environmental uncertainty prioritized areas in the north. When combining metrics, all scenarios generated intermediate solutions, protecting sites that span latitudinal and thermal gradients. Our results demonstrate that distinguishing between neutral and adaptive markers can affect conservation solutions and emphasize the importance of defining objectives when choosing among various genomic metrics for SCP.
Characteristics and incidence of contact dermatitis among hairdressers in north‐eastern Italy
Authors: Piapan Linda , Mauro Marcella , Martinuzzo Chiara , Larese Filon Francesca
Published: August 2020

Background

Hairdressers are at high risk of contact dermatitis (CD) due to skin exposure to numerous irritants and haptens in hair products in combination with frequent wet work.

Objectives

To investigate the characteristics and incidence of CD among hairdressers in north‐eastern Italy.

Methods

A total of 324 hairdressers who had been examined and patch tested in north‐eastern Italy from 1996 to 2016 were retrospectively identified, and compared with 9669 matched controls. Sensitization to allergens of the hairdressing series was analysed among hairdressers attending an occupational medicine clinic in Trieste, Italy. Incidence data were calculated from 1999 to 2016.

Results

Sensitization top‐phenylenediamine, thiuram mix, andN‐isopropyl‐N'‐phenyl‐p‐phenylenediamine was significantly associated with hairdressing and with hand/forearms dermatitis. Frequent sensitizers from hairdressing series were ammonium persulfate, toluene‐2,5‐diamine, andp‐aminobenzene. The overall incidence of CD declined from 2003 (31.7 cases/10 000 workers) to 2016 (20.8 cases/10 000 workers).

Conclusions

Sensitization to several haptens was significantly associated with hairdressing. The incidence of CD among hairdressers in north‐eastern Italy has declined in recent years, but is still high. Preventive efforts are needed to reduce the burden of CD in this professional group.
Association of circadian clock TIMELESS variants and expression with asthma risk in children
Authors: Langwinski Wojciech , Sobkowiak Paulina , Narozna Beata , Wojsyk‐Banaszak Irena , Dmitrzak‐Węglarz Monika , Stachowiak Zuzanna , Nowakowska Joanna , Bręborowicz Anna , Szczepankiewicz Aleksandra
Published: August 2020

Introduction

Bronchial asthma is a chronic respiratory disease characterized by airway inflammation, allergen‐induced hypersensitivity and dyspnea. Most asthmatic patients demonstrate oscillations of disease symptoms within 24 hours regulated by circadian clock genes. We hypothesized that these genes may be regulators of childhood asthma risk.

Objectives

The aim was to investigate whether single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the circadian clock genes are associated with childhood asthma risk. We also aimed to analyze the mRNA level of clock genes in the blood of asthmatic children and NHBE cells stimulated with IL‐13.

Materials and Methods

Peripheral blood was collected from 165 asthmatic and 138 healthy Polish children. NHBE cells were culture at the air‐liquid interface (ALI) with IL‐13 as an in vitro model of allergic inflammation. Using TaqMan probes, we genotyped 32 SNPs in: CLOCK, BMAL1, PER3 and TIMELESS. Expression analysis for TIMELESS was performed using real‐time PCR with SYBR Green. For haplotype and genotype statistical analysis we used Haploview 4.2 and STATISTICA version 12, respectively. Gene expression analysis was performed in DataAssist v3.01.

Results

We found that three polymorphisms in TIMELESS (rs2291739, rs10876890, rs11171856) and two haplotypes (TTTT and CTAC) were associated with asthma risk. We also found significantly decreased expression of TIMELESS in the blood of asthmatic children as compared to the healthy children (P = 0.0289) and in NHBE cells stimulated with IL‐13 (P = 0.0302).

Conclusions

In our study, we showed for the first time that TIMELESS variants and expression may be associated with childhood asthma.
Attitude towards shared learning activities and Interprofessional education among dental students in South India
Authors: Mohammed Ciraj A. , Narsipur Sowmya , Vasthare Ramprasad , Singla Nishu , Yan Ran Arron Lim , Suryanarayana Jagannatha P.
Published: August 2020

Background

Interprofessional Education (IPE) and Interprofessional Collaboration (IPC) are being introduced in healthcare institutions gradually to enable comprehensive learning and its application to enhance community health outcomes.

Objectives

To assess the attitude of dental students towards Interprofessional Education (IPE) and Interprofessional Collaboration (IPC)

To assess whether Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS) is a suitable instrument to measure the attitude of under graduate dental students towards IPE.

To assess how the study year and gender affect the attitude of under graduate dental students towards IPE.

Methods and materials

The research design was a cross‐sectional survey. The dental students of first to fifth year based on availability of students and the existing academic calendar were participated in the study. A total number of 417 validated RIPLS questionnaire were distributed to dental students studying in two dental institutions at Manipal in South India in the year 2017 with the collected response rate of 81.53%. Principal component analysis of the responses was applied to the data along with Varimax rotation and Cronbach alpha to confirm the internal consistency of the questionnaire. Independent sample t test and ANOVA were used to assess the differences between the groups.

Results

Seventy five percent of the respondents were females, and the mean age was 21.26 years (SD = 1.34). The mean scores in RIPLS and all its subscales were high. The mean scores were also higher as the year of study increased and with female students. Senior and female dental students had more encouraging attitudes towards shared learning.

Conclusions

The RIPLS can be utilised to determine the different subscales of learning namely learning behaviour, attitudes, teamwork and collaboration, professional identity perspectives, and roles and responsibilities towards interprofessional education of dental students. The dental students with an Indian outlook, perspective and training had a favourable attitude towards interprofessional learning.
Minimal clinically important differences in functional motor scores in adults with spinal muscular atrophy
Authors: Stolte B. , Bois J.‐M. , Bolz S. , Kizina K. , Totzeck A. , Schlag M. , Kleinschnitz C. , Hagenacker T.
Published: August 2020

Background and purpose

In patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), functional disease scores are frequently used to evaluate the course of the disease and the efficacy of treatment. The aim of the present study was to propose minimal clinically important difference (MCID) values for motor scores in order to estimate the degree of change within a functional score that can be considered clinically meaningful.

Methods

To estimate the MCID, distribution‐based approaches were used. For each assessment [Revised Upper Limb Module (RULM), Hammersmith Functional Motor Scale Expanded (HFMSE) and 6‐min walk test (6MWT)] and subgroup (SMA type 2, SMA type 3, ambulatory and non‐ambulatory), the following MCID values based on a cohort of 51 adults with SMA were calculated: standard error of measurement (SEm), one‐half of standard deviation (1/2 SD) and one‐third of standard deviation (1/3 SD) of patients' baseline scores.

Results

For the overall cohort, the SEm, 1/2 SD and 1/3 SD MCID values were 2.9, 6.4 and 4.3 for the RULM and 4.3, 10.6 and 7.0 for the HFMSE, respectively. Subgroup analysis led to generally lower standard deviations and consecutively lower MCID values due to the significantly different motor functions of the groups. The respective MCID values for the 6MWT were 55.5 m, 71.1 m and 47.8 m.

Conclusions

Our data provide MCID values for functional motor scores commonly used in adults with SMA in order to distinguish statistical effects from ‘real’ changes. A complementary systematic consensus process could help to further adjust the MCID values we propose.
Temporal lobe regions essential for preserved picture naming after left temporal epilepsy surgery
Authors: Binder Jeffrey R. , Tong Jia‐Qing , Pillay Sara B. , Conant Lisa L. , Humphries Colin J. , Raghavan Manoj , Mueller Wade M. , Busch Robyn M. , Allen Linda , Gross William L. , Anderson Christopher T. , Carlson Chad E. , Lowe Mark J. , Langfitt John T. , Tivarus Madalina E. , Drane Daniel L. , Loring David W. , Jacobs Monica , Morgan Victoria L. , Allendorfer Jane B. , Szaflarski Jerzy P. , Bonilha Leonardo , Bookheimer Susan , Grabowski Thomas , Vannest Jennifer , Swanson Sara J. ,   fMRI in Anterior Temporal Epilepsy Surgery (FATES) study
Published: August 2020

Objective

To define left temporal lobe regions where surgical resection produces a persistent postoperative decline in naming visual objects.

Methods

Pre‐ and postoperative brain magnetic resonance imaging data and picture naming (Boston Naming Test) scores were obtained prospectively from 59 people with drug‐resistant left temporal lobe epilepsy. All patients had left hemisphere language dominance at baseline and underwent surgical resection or ablation in the left temporal lobe. Postoperative naming assessment occurred approximately 7 months after surgery. Surgical lesions were mapped to a standard template, and the relationship between presence or absence of a lesion and the degree of naming decline was tested at each template voxel while controlling for effects of overall lesion size.

Results

Patients declined by an average of 15% in their naming score, with wide variation across individuals. Decline was significantly related to damage in a cluster of voxels in the ventral temporal lobe, located mainly in the fusiform gyrus approximately 4‐6 cm posterior to the temporal tip. Extent of damage to this region explained roughly 50% of the variance in outcome. Picture naming decline was not related to hippocampal or temporal pole damage.

Significance

The results provide the first statistical map relating lesion location in left temporal lobe epilepsy surgery to picture naming decline, and they support previous observations of transient naming deficits from electrical stimulation in the basal temporal cortex. The critical lesion is relatively posterior and could be avoided in many patients undergoing left temporal lobe surgery for intractable epilepsy.
Illusion susceptibility in domestic dogs
Authors: Byosiere Sarah‐Elizabeth , Chouinard Philippe A. , Howell Tiffani J. , Bennett Pauleen C.
Published: August 2020

Domestic dogs play many vital roles in human lives; however, relatively little is known about how they perceive the world visually. Given dogs’ recent popularity as a subject in cognitive and behavioural studies, it is important to understand how they visually interpret the world around them. One way to evaluate perception is to assess illusion susceptibility; specifically, how visual information is processed, interpreted and modified post‐retinally. While illusion susceptibility has been used across a variety of species to comparatively assess the similarities and differences in visual processing and perception, this relatively novel methodological approach has only recently been adapted to evaluate perception in domestic dogs. Here, we present a comprehensive overview of the findings from studies that have evaluated domestic dogs’ illusion susceptibility, highlighting the relevance of these results for those studying illusion susceptibility in animals as well as canine behaviour and cognition. More specifically, the ultimate goal of this review is to answer the questions: (a) Are dogs susceptible to visual illusions? (b) If so, are they susceptible to illusions in a way that parallels humans and/or other animals? (c) Are findings, within dogs, consistent and if not, how might these be interpreted and explained?
Targeting the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor–A novel road towards the future treatment of skin diseases
Authors: Stegemann Agatha , Böhm Markus
Published: August 2020

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are members of the superfamily of neurotransmitter‐gated ion channels. The natural ligand for nAChRs is the endogenous neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Among the nAChRs is the α7nAChR. It is not only expressed by neural tissues but also in the skin. A number of different resident cutaneous cell types including epidermal keratinocytes, sebocytes and dermal fibroblasts express functional α7nAChR. Moreover, cells of the immune system such as lymphocytes, macrophages and monocytes, playing an important role in skin homeostasis, also express α7nAChR. Translational research focusing on the exploitation of the α7nAChR in dermatology has revealed that this neuroendocrine receptor could be promising target for the treatment of inflammatory skin diseases. For example, α7nAChR agonists can counteract transforming growth factor‐β1‐mediated responses in dermal fibroblasts, key effector cells in scleroderma. In accordance with this α7nAChR, agonists are effective in both inflammation and non‐inflammation‐driven models of experimentally induced skin fibrosis. Moreover, α7nAChR agonists can modulate expression of proinflammatory cytokines in epidermal keratinocytes that are crucially involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis and other inflammatory skin diseases. Finally, the capability of α7nAChR agonists to suppress ultraviolet light A/B‐induced responses, for example production of proinflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress, the latter crucially involved in dermal photoageing, points to a potential of such agents in the prevention of extrinsic skin ageing. Therefore, emphasis on translational research targeting the α7nAChR in skin may lead to the development of new treatment and prevention modalities against fibrosclerotic skin diseases, psoriasis vulgaris, atopic dermatitis, acne, photodermatoses and extrinsic skin ageing.
Lower proximal cup and outer root sheath cells regenerate hair bulbs during anagen hair follicle repair after chemotherapeutic injury
Authors: Huang Wen‐Yen , Hong Jin‐Bon , Chang Michael , Wang Shih‐Yi , Lai Shih‐Fan , Chien Hsiung‐Fei , Lin Sung‐Jan
Published: August 2020

The cell dynamics and cell origin for anagen hair follicle (HF) repair following chemotherapeutic injury are unclear. We first mapped the HF response to cyclophosphamide (CYP) at natural anagen VI in mice. We found that 30‐60 mg/kg of CYP leads to dose‐dependent HF dystrophy that was spontaneously repaired with anagen resumption, while 120 mg/kg of CYP prematurely induced catagen/telogen entry. To explore how anagen HF repair is achieved in the dystrophic anagen pathway, we analysed the cell dynamics at 30 mg/kg of CYP. Hair bulbs first shrunk due to matrix cell apoptosis associated with DNA double‐strand breaks. DNA damage was repaired, and ordered hair bulb structures were restored within 96 hours. Bulge stem cells did not undergo apoptosis nor proliferation. K5+ basal lower proximal cup cells and outer root sheath cells quickly replenished the cells in the germinative zone and regenerated the concentric layered structures of the lower HF segment. Therefore, anagen HFs are able to summon extra‐bulge progenitor cells in close proximity to the damaged matrix for quick repair after CYP injury.
Bycatch Beknown: Methodology for jurisdictional reporting of fisheries discards – Using Australia as a case study
Authors: Kennelly Steven J.
Published: August 2020

Bycatch remains one of the most important issues in the world's fisheries so its estimation and reporting have been highlighted in many international, regional and jurisdictional guidelines and policies. This paper describes a simple methodology to estimate jurisdictional discards, using Australia's first national bycatch report as a case study. The methodology involves: (a) identifying annual landings for all fisheries and methods; (b) deriving retained:discard ratios for each; (c) where ratios are lacking, using substitute ratios from similar fisheries; (d) applying the ratios from (b) and (c) to the data from (a) to obtain totals; and (e) scoring the quality of the discard information using the US Tier Classification System weighted by estimated discard levels. The results for Australia revealed that, during the last decade, commercial fisheries annually discarded 42.5% of what was caught (87,983t). 70% came from just eight fisheries/methods with 30% coming from the other 299. The Queensland East Coast Prawn Trawl fishery contributed 28.5% of the national total. The quality of discard information was reasonable across most jurisdictions, with a national score of 59.1%. The best quality data came from the Commonwealth due to its observer and (more recent) Electronic Monitoring programmes. Those data also showed that fishers’ logbook information under‐estimated levels of discards (determined from observer data) by 89.7%. This paper provides: (a) the means to develop benchmarks in bycatch management and estimation against which jurisdictions can be compared and performances tracked; and (b) for Australia, priority areas for management intervention to reduce discarding and improve its monitoring.
Nicotine and the nicotinic cholinergic system in COVID‐19
Authors: Tizabi Yousef , Getachew Bruk , Copeland Robert L. , Aschner Michael
Published: August 2020

There is an urgent need to address the devastating pandemic, COVID‐19, caused by SARS‐CoV‐2. The efforts to understand the details of this disease in hope of providing effective treatments are commendable. It is clear now that the virus can cause far more damage in patients with comorbid conditions—particularly in those with respiratory, cardiovascular, or immune‐compromised system—than in patients without such comorbidities. Drug use can further exacerbate the condition. In this regard, the ill effects of smoking are amply documented, and no doubt can be a confounding factor in COVID‐19 progression. Although conflicting hypotheses on the potential role of nicotine in COVID‐19 pathology have recently been offered, we believe that nicotine itself, through its interaction with the nicotinic cholinergic system, as well as ACE2, may not only be of use in a variety of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases, but may also be of potential use in COVID‐19. Thus, on one hand, while we strongly support smoking cessation as a means of harm reduction associated with COVID‐19, on the other hand, we support a potential therapeutic role for nicotine, nicotinic agonists, or positive allosteric modulators of nicotinic cholinergic receptors in COVID‐19, owing to their varied effects including mood regulation, anti‐inflammatory, and purported interference with SARS‐CoV‐2 entry and/or replication.
Novel hybridized adaptive neuro‐fuzzy inference system models based particle swarm optimization and genetic algorithms for accurate prediction of stress intensity factor
Authors: Ben Seghier Mohamed El Amine , Carvalho Hermes , Keshtegar Behrooz , Correia José A. F. O. , Berto Filippo
Published: August 2020

The aim of this study is to develop a new framework for the prediction of stress intensity factor (SIF) using newly developed hybrid artificial intelligence (AI) models. To do so, an adaptive neuro‐fuzzy inference system optimized by two meta‐heuristic algorithms as genetic algorithm (ANFIS‐GA) and particle swarm optimization (ANFIS‐PSO) is proposed. Moreover, a database composed of 150 SIF values obtained using the finite element method (FEM) calculations is used for training and validating the two proposed AI models. The efficiency and accuracy of the proposed AI models were investigated through several assessment criteria. Results showed the outperformance of the ANFIS‐PSO model for accurate prediction of SIF values with R2 = 0.9913, root mean square error (RMSE) = 23.6 and mean absolute error (MAE) = 18.07, whereas both AI models indicate a robust performance in the presence of input variability. Overall, the performed study provides a hybrid AI framework that can serve as an efficient numerical tool for SIF prediction and analysis.
Pueblo Pequeño, Infierno Grande: Shifting the burden of Latinx Spanish teacher retention in the rural South
Authors: Okraski Cornelia V. , Madison Stephanie M.
Published: August 2020

This study explored the experiences of five Latinx Spanish teachers who worked in schools in rural North Carolina and South Carolina. Using data from 25 semistructured interviews and publicly available school/community demographic information, this qualitative multiple‐case study sought to answer the following questions: (a) How do Latinx Spanish teachers in the rural South perceive experiences that help or hinder retention? (b) In what ways are Latinx Spanish teachers navigating their role as advocates for linguistic and cultural diversity in their rural schools and communities? Findings showed that participants were constantly balancing the benefits and challenges of their work in a rural area. Due to the racialized nature of the Spanish language, participants reported instances of Spanish being conflated with immigration which resulted in hostility from both students and adults. Nonetheless, participants felt a sense of responsibility in providing their students with exposure to cultures outside of their own cultural setting. As working conditions can have a profound effect on a teacher's decision to stay in the classroom, the findings suggest that emphasizing the positive aspects of teaching in a challenging context may encourage teacher retention.
Assessing the viability of small aerial drones to quantify recreational fishers
Authors: Provost Euan J. , Butcher Paul A. , Coleman Melinda A. , Kelaher Brendan P.
Published: August 2020

Understanding fishing participation assists sustainable fisheries management. Relative to commercial fisheries, however, accurate quantitative data on recreational fishing is often more challenging to collect. The quality and robustness of recreational fishing surveys to assess fisher numbers may be improved with cost‐effective remote sensing platforms, such as aerial drones. Here, the precision and cost‐effectiveness of drone‐based surveys were compared with more traditional vessel‐based surveys of recreational fishing participation at four locations on the east coast of Australia. Although vessel‐based surveys had greater initial costs, this technique observed more fishers, took less time to complete and did not require post‐processing of video footage. In comparison, the drone‐based video surveys provided greater precision and a permanent record of fishing activity. Currently, drone‐based techniques do not provide a substantial improvement to traditional vessel‐based counts of fishers. The complimentary use of drones appears to be an appropriate application of this technology for supporting fisheries management.
Central venous stenosis in a transplant patient due to thyroid pathology: A teachable moment
Authors: Navaratnarajah Arunraj , Ashby Damien R
Published: August 2020

Central venous stenosis is a well‐recognized complication of central venous catheter use in hemodialysis patients, which may present with significant swelling of the upper limbs, neck, and face. Here, we describe a renal transplant recipient previously on hemodialysis, who underwent endovascular intervention for central venous stenosis after presenting with facial swelling and exertional dyspnoea. His symptoms continued to progress, however, until the underlying thyroid pathology was recognized. Ruling out the possible mimics of central venous stenosis is important in preventing unnecessary intervention. This case highlights the role of specialty bias in the process of diagnosis.
Rapid screening of DON contamination in whole wheat meals by Vis/NIR spectroscopy and computer vision coupling technology
Authors: Zhang Bin , Jiang Xuesong , Shen Fei , He Xueming , Fang Yong , Hu Qiuhui
Published: August 2020

This work intends to develop an online experimental system for screening of deoxynivalenol (DON) contamination in whole wheat meals by visible/near‐infrared (Vis/NIR) spectroscopy and computer vision coupling technology. Spectral and image information of samples with various DON levels was collected at speed of 0.15 m s−1 on a conveyor belt. The two‐type data were then integrated and subjected to chemometric analysis. Discriminant analysis showed that samples could be classified by setting 1000 μg kg−1 as the cut‐off value. The best correct classified rate obtained in prediction was 93.55% based on fusion of spectral and image features, with reduced prediction uncertainty as compared to single feature. However, quantification of DON by quantitative analysis was not successful due to poor model performance. These results indicate that, although not accurate enough to provide conclusive result, this coupling technology could be adopted for rapid screening of DON contamination in cereals and feeds during processing.
Art Forms Emerging: An Approach to Evaluative Diversity in Art
Authors: MATTHEN MOHAN
Published: August 2020

Artworks are rationally evaluable and comparable within their art form, but not from outside. Beethoven's string quartets cannot be evaluated against works of Hindustani music. This is the problem of evaluative diversity: local commensurability, global indeterminacy. This article sketches an approach to the problem based on novel conceptions of aesthetic pleasure and cultural learning, and on the Darwinian Principle of Divergence as applied to cultural evolution.