bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Microaerophilic Fe‐oxidizing micro‐organisms in Middle Jurassic ferruginous stromatolites and the paleoenvironmental context of their formation (Southern Carpathians, Romania)
Authors: Grădinaru Mihaela , Lazăr Iuliana , Ducea Mihai N. , Petrescu Lucian
Published: January 2020

Ferruginous stromatolites occur associated with Middle Jurassic condensed deposits in several Tethyan and peri‐Tethyan areas. The studied ferruginous stromatolites occurring in the Middle Jurassic condensed deposits of Southern Carpathians (Romania) preserve morphological, geochemical, and mineralogical data that suggest microbial iron oxidation. Based on their macrofabrics and accretion patterns, we classified stromatolites: (1) Ferruginous microstromatolites associated with hardground surfaces and forming the cortex of the macro‐oncoids and (2) Domical ferruginous stromatolites developed within the Ammonitico Rosso‐type succession disposed above the ferruginous microstromatolites (type 1). Petrographic and scanning electron microscope (SEM) examinations reveal that different types of filamentous micro‐organisms were the significant framework builders of the ferruginous stromatolitic laminae. The studied stromatolites yield a large range of δ56Fe values, from −0.75‰ to +0.66‰ with predominantly positive values indicating the prevalence of partial ferrous iron oxidation. The lowest negative δ56Fe values (up to −0.75‰) are present only in domical ferruginous stromatolites samples and point to initial iron mobilization where the Fe(II) was produced by dissimilatory Fe(III) reduction of ferric oxides by Fe(III)‐reducing bacteria. Rare‐earth elements and yttrium (REE + Y) are used to decipher the nature of the seawater during the formation of the ferruginous stromatolites. Cerium anomalies display moderate to small negative values for the ferruginous microstromatolites, indicating weakly oxygenated conditions compatible with slowly reducing environments, in contrast to the domical ferruginous stromatolites that show moderate positive Ce anomalies suggesting that they formed in deeper, anoxic–suboxic waters. The positive Eu anomalies from the studied samples suggest a diffuse hydrothermal input on the seawater during the Middle Jurassic on the sites of ferruginous stromatolite accretion. This study presents the first interpretation of REE + Y in the Middle Jurassic ferruginous stromatolites of Southern Carpathians, Romania.
Can the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme check‐lists be used alongside Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation to improve transparency and decision‐making?
Authors: Purssell Edward
Published: January 2020

Aims

The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) Working Group Guidance is widely used to increase the transparency by which evidence is turned into recommendations. Although the process is clearly defined, it may be difficult to use in nursing education and practice because it uses separate terminology and tools to those sometimes used in education, such as those devised by the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP). This paper aims to show how these tools can be used together.

Design

Discussion paper.

Data sources

Documentation from the GRADE Working Group, and the CASP, as of 14 June 2019.

Implications for nursing

All of the items from the CASP check‐list can be incorporated into GRADE which might allow for wider use of its principles in nursing education and practice. Some additions are required, however, to complete the outcome‐level assessment, these being the consistency of the results and possible publication bias. More details on the extent to which the benefits are worth any harms and costs and different types of inconsistency (heterogeneity) would also be useful. This approach is consistent with the Group's Criteria for determining whether the GRADE approach was used.

Conclusion

The CASP tool can be used with minor modification to a GRADE‐like manner. This would allow for GRADE to be taught and used in nursing education and transferred to practice.

Impact

This discussion paper addressed the use of the CASP Randomised Controlled Trial check‐list to undertake GRADE‐like assessments of evidence. With minor modifications to the way CASP is used, it is possible to use this tool to make GRADE‐like assessments of the body of evidence and to critique individual studies. This finding will allow for the full use of the GRADE approach in healthcare education using the CASP tools.
Shareholder coordination and corporate innovation
Authors: Mathers Ani Manakyan , Wang Bin , Wang Xiaohong (Sara)
Published: January 2020

We show that greater shareholder coordination, as proxied by the geographic proximity between institutional investors, is positively related to corporate innovation outcomes. This relationship is driven by coordination among dedicated and independent institutions who have strong monitoring incentives and is more pronounced among firms with lower blockholder ownership and greater information asymmetry where there is greater benefit to monitoring. We propose that shareholder coordination promotes corporate innovation through a reduction in managerial agency problems. Overall, our results are consistent with the notion that greater shareholder coordination enables diffuse shareholders to monitor managers more effectively and enhances corporate innovation.
Noninvasive central pulse pressure is an independent determinant of renal function
Authors: Xiao Wenkai , Wen Yi , Ye Ping , Wang Fan , Cao Ruihua , Bai Yongyi , Wu Hongmei
Published: January 2020

The purpose of this study was to investigate the prognostic properties of different BP measurements for renal function decrement and early chronic kidney disease (CKD) in community‐dwelling populations with normal renal function at baseline. A total of 1426 participants were included and followed for a median of 4.8 years (interquartile range, 4.5‐5.2), and central hemodynamic profile and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were evaluated. One main outcome was the rapid eGFR decline defined as a decline in eGFR of greater than 3 mL/min per 1.73 m2 per year; the other was the new incidence of CKD. At the end of follow‐up, mean eGFR decreased from 93.39 ± 13.46 mL/min per 1.73 m2 to 85.72 ± 14.81 mL/min per 1.73 m2, and the incidence of rapid eGFR decline and CKD were 20.7% and 5.6%, respectively. In multivariate linear regression analysis, central pulse pressure (PP), age, fasting blood glucose, and concentration of homocysteine were independent determinants of the change in renal function. Not only in the prediction of rapid eGFR decline but also in the incident of CKD, baseline central PP was the only BP component that consistently independently associated with both outcomes after adjustment for various confounders. When compared with subjects in the lowest quartile of central PP, those in the highest quartile demonstrated a significantly increased risk of CKD (hazard ratio [HR], 1.57; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08‐2.96; P = .006). The study showed that central PP emerged as an independent predictor of the decline in renal function.
Qualitative properties of spray‐dried blood fruit (Haematocarpus validus) powder and its sorption isotherms
Authors: Sasikumar Raju , Das Mrityunjoy , Sahu Jatindra Kumar , Deka Sankar Chandra
Published: January 2020

This work aims to study the qualitative properties of spray‐dried blood fruit powder (BFP) and to determine sorption isotherm through model fitting. The results showed that maximum yield was obtained with 30% maltodextrin (MD) at 150°C, having 1.57% moisture content and water activity (Aw) value of 0.3, respectively. Other characteristic properties of powder viz., hygroscopicity, bulk density, and solubility were also determined. Field‐emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) was used for morphological and mineral compositional studies. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and particle size distribution (PSD) of BFP were also evaluated. Moisture sorption isotherm (MSI) study of BFP resulted in good fitting with Peleg and GAB model. Therefore, it was concluded that superior quality BFP could be produced by a spray‐drying technique with 30% (w/w) MD and drying at 150°C temperature.

Practical applications

Blood fruit (Haematocarpus validus) has important bioactive compounds, antioxidant properties, and some essential minerals, which play a significant role in human nutrition and traditional medicine for treating arthritis, jaundice, hypertension, cancer, etc. The processing of blood fruit juice/pulp by spray‐drying technique to produce powder is classified among the best processes resulting in better, superior‐quality powders that are ease for packaging, transportation, and with increased shelf life. MSI study helps in providing information regarding food processing operations related to drying, packaging, and storage.
Heat resistance in Escherichia coli and its implications on ground beef cooking recommendations in Canada
Authors: Yang Xianqin , Tran Frances , Klassen Mark D.
Published: January 2020

This study assessed the adequacy of the current cooking recommendations in relation to heat resistant Escherichia coli by evaluating eight potentially heat resistant E. coli strains (four generic and four E. coli O157:H7) along with AW1.7. The D60°C‐values for these strains varied from 1.3 to 9.0 min, with J3 and AW1.7 being the least and most heat resistant strains, respectively. The D60°C‐values for E. coli 62 and 68 were similar and were not affected by growth medium, while the heat resistance of C37, J3, and AW1.7 varied with the growth medium. When heated in extra lean ground beef (100 g) in vacuum pouches, the mean D54°C, D57°C, and D60°C‐values were 44.8, 18.6, and 2.9 min for C37, 13.8, 6.9, and 0.9 min for J3, and 40.5, 9.1, and 6.1 min for AW1.7. Burger temperatures continued to rise after being removed from heat when the target temperature was reached, by 3–5°C, and resting of 1 min would result in a destruction of 133, 374 and 14 log C37, J3 and AW1.7. These findings along with the very low occurrence of heat resistant E. coli expected in ground beef show that cooking ground beef to 71°C should be adequate.
Postoperative quality of life after laparoscopy‐assisted pylorus‐preserving gastrectomy compared with laparoscopy‐assisted distal gastrectomy for early gastric cancer
Authors: Huang Chen , Yu Fengrong , Zhao Gang , Xia Xiang
Published: January 2020

Background and Aim

This study aimed to investigate the postoperative quality of life (QOL) between laparoscopy‐assisted pylorus‐preserving gastrectomy (LAPPG) and laparoscopy‐assisted distal gastrectomy with Billroth I anastomosis (LADGBI) in patients with middle‐third early gastric cancers (EGC).

Methods

From January 2015 to August 2017, a total 91 patients with EGC underwent LAPPG or LADGBI procedure with complete QLQ‐C30 and QLQ‐STO22 in Ren Ji Hospital. Not only do surgical and oncological safety as well as clinicopathologic characteristics analyze, but also chronological changes of QOL and nutritional status were compared for the evaluation of functional advantages.

Results

There was no significant difference in clinicopathologic characteristics and perioperative recovery between LAPPG and LADGBI. During postoperative 2‐year follow up, LAPPG showed significant advantages over LADGBI in emotional functioning, insomnia, appetite loss, reflux, and taste problem and presented larger area in global and functional scales and less area in symptom scales, which means that LAPPG tended to present better improvement and less symptoms than LADGBI for QOL 2 years after surgery. Furthermore, LAPPG could bring about significant improvement in total protein and hemoglobin compared to LADGBI at postoperative 2 years.

Conclusion

LAPPG obtains QOL as well as total protein and hemoglobin superiority and could be recommended to patients with EGC whose tumor located in the middle third of the stomach.
Hybridization of complete PLCA and MRIO databases for a comprehensive product system coverage
Authors: Agez Maxime , Wood Richard , Margni Manuele , Strømman Anders H. , Samson Réjean , Majeau‐Bettez Guillaume
Published: January 2020

Process‐based Life Cycle Assessments (PLCA) rely on detailed descriptions of extensive value chains and their associated exchanges with the environment, but major data gaps limit the completeness of these system descriptions and lead to truncations in inventories and underestimations of impacts. Hybrid Life Cycle Assessments (HLCA) aim to combine the strength of PLCA and Environmentally Extended Input Output (EEIO) analysis to obtain more specific and complete system descriptions. Currently, however, most HLCAs only remediate truncation of processes that are specific to each case study (foreground processes), and these processes are then linked to (truncated) generic background processes from a non‐hybridized PLCA database. A hybrid PLCA‐EEIO database is therefore required to completely solve the truncation problems of PLCA and thus obtain a comprehensive product system coverage. This paper describes the construction of such a database using pyLCAIO, a novel framework and open‐source software enabling the streamlined hybridization of entire PLCA and EEIO databases. We applied this framework to the PLCA database Ecoinvent3.5 and the multiregional EEIO database EXIOBASE 3. Thanks to the correction for truncation in this new hybrid database, the median and average life cycle global warming potential (GWP) of its processes increased by 7% and 14%, respectively. These corrections only reflect the truncations that could be readily identified and estimated in a semi‐automated manner; and we anticipate that further database integration should lead to higher levels of correction in the future.
Granulites record the tectonic evolution from collisional thickening to extensional thinning of the Tongbai orogen in central China
Authors: Zhang Qiang‐Qiang , Gao Xiao‐Ying , Chen Ren‐Xu , Zheng Yong‐Fei
Published: January 2020

A combined study of petrology and geochemistry was carried out for granulites from the Tongbai orogen in central China. The results reveal the tectonic evolution from collisional thickening to extensional thinning of the lithosphere at the convergent plate boundary. Petrographic observations, zircon U–Pb dating, and pseudosection calculations indicate that the granulites underwent four metamorphic stages, which are categorized into two cycles. The first cycle occurred at 490–450 Ma and involves high‐P (HP) metamorphism (M1) at 785–815°C and 10–14 kbar followed by decompressional heating to 840–880°C and 8–9 kbar for medium‐pressure granulite facies metamorphism (M2), defining a clockwise P–T path. The high pressure is indicated by the occurrence of inclusions of rutile+kyanite+K‐feldspar in the garnet mantle. The second cycle occurred at c. 440 Ma and shows an anticlockwise P–T path with continuous heating to ultrahigh‐temperature (UHT) metamorphism (M3) at 890–980°C and 9–11 kbar, followed by decompressional cooling to 740–880°C and 7–9 kbar (M4) till 405 Ma. The HP metamorphism is synchronous with the ultrahigh‐pressure eclogite facies metamorphism in the Qinling orogen, indicating its relevance to the continental collision in the Cambrian. The UHT metamorphism took place at reduced pressures, indicating thinning of the collision‐thickened orogenic lithosphere. Therefore, the Tongbai orogen was initially thickened by the collisional orogeny and then thinned, possibly as a result of foundering of the orogenic root. Such tectonic evolution may be common in collisional orogens where compression during continental collision switched to extension during continental rifting.
Interprofessional Communication and Collaboration During Emergent Birth Center Transfers: A Quality Improvement Project
Authors: Olvera Lauren , Smith Jean Sala , Prater Lyn , Hastings‐Tolsma Marie
Published: January 2020

Introduction

Midwifery care in the birth center setting has proven to be a safe and ideal option for some low‐risk women. Although rare, perinatal complications that require emergent transfer to a higher level of care can occur in community birth settings. Optimal perinatal outcomes during emergent transfers depend on excellent interprofessional communication and collaboration. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to implement interprofessional emergent birth center transfer mock drills in order to improve communication and collaboration among birth center midwives, local paramedics, and receiving hospital staff during emergent birth center transfers.

Process

Birth center midwives and hospital staff provided education sessions on perinatal emergencies and the scope of practice for midwives for local paramedics. Paramedics’ knowledge level was assessed with pretests and posttests, before and after the education sessions, respectively. An interprofessional, collaborative mock drill was then organized and included birth center, paramedic, and hospital staff. All participants received a questionnaire after the drill.

Outcomes

Mean test scores after paramedic education sessions increased by 43.5% (n = 95, P <.001). The Likert‐type scale questionnaire given to mock drill participants after drill completion revealed that 97% indicated probable support for the sustainability of future mock drills in the birth center setting (n = 10).

Discussion

Health care providers can help improve perinatal outcomes during emergent transfers from the community setting by having clearly outlined guidelines and procedures and communicating efficiently with interprofessional members of the health care team. Both interprofessional education sessions and collaborative mock drills are effective methods to increase knowledge of perinatal emergencies, thus improving interprofessional communication and collaboration during emergent birth center transfers.
The introduction of a safety checklist in two UK hospital emergency departments: A qualitative study of implementation and staff use
Authors: Stone Tracey , Banks Jon , Brant Heather , Kesten Joanna , Redfern Emma , Remmers Ann , Redwood Sabi
Published: January 2020

Aims and objectives

To explore the extent to which a checklist designed to support patient safety in hospital Emergency Departments was recognised and used by staff.

Background

Patient crowding in UK Emergency Departments makes it difficult for staff to monitor all patients for signs of clinical deterioration. An Emergency Department Safety Checklist was developed at a UK hospital to ensure patients are regularly monitored. It was subsequently implemented in six hospitals and recommended for use across the National Health Service in England.

Methods

This was a qualitative study in two UK hospital Emergency Departments. Data collection consisted of sixty‐six hours of nonparticipant observation and interviews with twenty‐six staff. Observations were sampled across different days and times. Interviews sampled a range of staff. Data were analysed thematically. The study was undertaken in accordance with COREQ guidelines.

Results

Staff described the Emergency Department Safety Checklist as a useful prompt and reminder for monitoring patients' vital signs and other aspects of care. It was also reported as effective in communicating patient care status to other staff. However, completing the checklist was also described as a task which could be overlooked during busy periods. During implementation, the checklist was promoted to staff in ways that obscured its core function of maintaining patient safety.

Conclusions

The Emergency Department Safety Checklist can support staff in maintaining patient safety. However, it was not fully recognised by staff as a core component of everyday clinical practice.

Relevance to clinical practice

The Emergency Department Safety Checklist is a response to an overcrowded environment. To realise the potential of the checklist, emergency departments should take the following steps during implementation: (a) focus on the core function of clinical safety, (b) fully integrate the checklist into the existing workflow and (c) employ a departmental team‐based approach to implementation and training.
Regional inequality in the U.S.: Evidence from city‐level purchasing power
Authors: Choi Chi‐Young , Choi Horag , Chudik Alexander
Published: January 2020

Using quarterly data for 42 products over the period from 1990 to 2015, we find that there has been a large and growing dispersion of purchasing power across U.S. cities since 1990 and the dispersion varies widely across products. We also find that total factor productivity shock precedes or predicts the rise in regional inequality of purchasing power. We view that the growing regional inequality found in the purchasing power among U.S. cities might have proceeded after nationwide productivity shocks mainly by the cities with higher share of skilled workers through the products with more flexible price adjustments.
Phylogeny and biogeography of the hollies (Ilex L., Aquifoliaceae)
Authors: Yao Xin , Song Yu , Yang Jun‐Bo , Tan Yun‐Hong , Corlett Richard T.
Published: January 2020

The holly genus, Ilex L., in the monogeneric Aquifoliaceae, is the largest woody dioecious genus (>664 spp.), with a near‐cosmopolitan distribution in mesic environments. We constructed a phylogeny based on two nuclear genes, representing 177 species spread across the geographical range, and dated using macrofossil records. The five main clades had a common ancestor in the early Eocene, much earlier than previously suggested. Ilex originated in subtropical Asia and extant clades colonized South America by 30 Ma, North America by 23 Ma, Australia by 8 Ma, Europe by 6 Ma, and Africa by 4 Ma. South and North America were colonized multiple times. Ilex also reached Hawaii (10 Ma) and other oceanic islands. Macrofossil and pollen records show the genus has tracked mesic climates through time and space, and had a wider distribution before late Miocene global cooling. Our phylogeny provides a framework for studies in comparative ecology and evolution.
Incorporating language brokering experiences into bilingualism research: An examination of informal translation practices
Authors: López Belem G.
Published: January 2020

Language brokering is an informal translation practice found in language contact and immigrant contexts where bilingual children and adolescents serve as translators for family members. Language brokering research has yielded mixed findings on its outcomes on emotional well‐being and academic achievement. A lesser studied area has been the examination of the long‐term cognitive and linguistic effects of language brokering experiences. Considering the pervasiveness of immigration and language contact both in the United States and around the world, this paper posits that language brokering is a multidimensional collective experience resulting from structural and familial factors (e.g., immigration and policy) that has implications for emotional, linguistic, cognitive, and sociocultural processes for the broker and the broker's family. By providing an overview of recent research on the cognitive and linguistic impact of language brokering experiences, this paper focuses on the potential lasting effects of this experience and identifies potential areas of future investigation for bilingualism researchers.
‘Becoming mainstream’: the professionalisation and corporatisation of digital nomadism
Authors: Aroles Jeremy , Granter Edward , de Vaujany François‐Xavier
Published: January 2020

Digital nomadism, a mobile lifestyle that encompasses a wide array of professional endeavours, ranging from corporate remote workers to digital entrepreneurs, has benefitted from a steadily growing appeal. Despite this, there is a dearth of research exploring the premises and development of digital nomadism. This paper is concerned with the image of digital nomadism, its underlying structure and practices, and its relation to the current world of work. In order to explore these aspects and problematise digital nomadism, the paper traces the development of digital nomadism and takes inspiration from the Deleuzo‐Guattarian image of the nomad. Adopting a qualitative approach to content analysis, this paper argues that digital nomadism is becoming increasingly institutionalised and professionalised, and, as such, is distant from the emancipatory dimension underlying its discourse and many of its cultural representations. Overall, digital nomadism appears as an extension of capitalist logics, rather than an alternative to them.
Lost at Sea: A New Route to Metaphysical Skepticism
Authors: Segal Aaron
Published: January 2020

Global metaphysical skepticism is the view that we have no knowledge of any substantive metaphysical thesis. Various reasons have been provided in support of global metaphysical skepticism. I provide a new one. The reason, very roughly, is this. Metaphysical theses come together as packages. Such packages are very different from each other. Because the packages are so different, we cannot know of any one of the packages that it isn't true. And because we cannot know of any one of them that it isn't true, we cannot know any substantive metaphysical thesis at all. My paper makes this argument much more precise and defends each of the premises in detail.
Balancing the double‐edged sword effect of increased resistant starch content and its impact on rice texture: its genetics and molecular physiological mechanisms
Authors: Parween Sabiha , Anonuevo Joanne J. , Butardo Vito M. , Misra Gopal , Anacleto Roslen , Llorente Cindy , Kosik Ondrej , Romero Marissa V. , Bandonill Evelyn H. , Mendioro Merlyn S. , Lovegrove Alison , Fernie Alisdair R. , Brotman Yariv , Sreenivasulu Nese
Published: January 2020

Resistant starch (RS) is the portion of starch that escapes gastrointestinal digestion and acts as a substrate for fermentation of probiotic bacteria in the gut. Aside from enhancing gut health, RS contributes to a lower glycemic index. A genome‐wide association study coupled with targeted gene association studies was conducted utilizing a diverse panel of 281 resequenced Indica rice lines comprising of ~2.2 million single nucleotide polymorphisms. Low‐to‐intermediate RS phenotypic variations were identified in the rice diversity panel, resulting in novel associations of RS to several genes associated with amylopectin biosynthesis and degradation. Selected rice lines encoding superior alleles of SSIIa with medium RS and inferior alleles with low RS groups were subjected to detailed transcriptomic, metabolomic, non‐starch dietary fibre (DF), starch structural and textural attributes. The gene regulatory networks highlighted the importance of a protein phosphatase alongside multiple genes of starch metabolism. Metabolomics analyses resulted in the identification of several metabolite hubs (carboxylic acid, sugars and polyamines) in the medium RS group. Among DF, mannose and galactose from the water‐insoluble fraction were found to be highly associated with low and medium RS lines, respectively. Starch structural analyses revealed that a moderate increase in RS is also linked to an elevation of amylose 1 and amylose 2 fractions. Although rice lines with medium RS content negatively affected textural and viscosity properties in comparison to low RS, the textural property of medium RS lines was in the same acceptable range as IR64, a rice mega variety popular in Asia.
Analysis of QTL responsible for grain iron and zinc content in doubled haploid lines of rice (Oryza sativa) derived from an intra‐japonica cross
Authors: Jeong O‐Young , Lee Jeom‐Ho , Jeong Eung‐Gi , Chun Areum , Bombay Maurene , Banzon Ancheta Melanie , Ahn Sang Nag
Published: January 2020

Quantitative trait loci (QTL) related to the grain iron and zinc contents of brown rice were mapped by using a doubled haploid population derived from an intra‐japonica cross between 'Hwaseonchal' and 'Goami 2'. QTL–QTL, background–QTL, and background–background interactions and candidate genes that affect grain iron and zinc contents were preliminarily identified. Twenty‐one iron‐ and zinc‐related QTL were found. The major‐effect QTL qFe7 and qZn7 provided the highest contribution to phenotypic variance for grain iron and zinc contents. The colocation of zinc‐ and iron‐related QTL on chromosomes 1, 4, 7 and 11 may account for the strong correlation between iron and zinc contents. A region on chromosome 7 and epistatic interaction between loci on chromosomes 2 and 10 affected iron content. qZn7 and qZn11.3 exerted additive effects on zinc content. Eleven iron‐ and zinc‐related candidate genes colocated with qFe7, qZn7 and the region on chromosome 7 with an additive effect on iron content. The major‐effect QTL identified here may be useful for breeding biofortified rice.
Distinct genomic traits of acral and mucosal melanomas revealed by targeted mutational profiling
Authors: Zou Zhengyun , Ou Qiuxiang , Ren Yu , Lv Qing , Qin Lanqun , Zhao Lianjun , Su Shu , Wu Xue , Bao Hua , Wang Ao , Zhu Dongqin , Wang Xiaonan , Shao Yang W. , Liu Baorui
Published: January 2020

The incidence of melanoma is rising globally including China. Comparing to Caucasians, the incidence of non‐cutaneous melanomas is significantly higher in Chinese. Herein, we performed genomic profiling of 89 Chinese surgically resected primary melanomas, including acral (n = 54), cutaneous (n = 22), and mucosal (n = 13), by hybrid capture‐based next‐generation sequencing. We show that mucosal melanomas tended to harbor more pathogenic mutations than other types of melanoma, though the biological significance of this finding remains uncertain. Chromosomal arm‐level alterations including 6q, 9p, and 10p/q loss were highly recurrent in all subtypes, but mucosal melanoma was significantly associated with increased genomic instability. Importantly, 7p gain significantly correlated with unfavorable clinical outcomes in non‐cutaneous melanomas, representing an intriguing prognostic biomarker of those subtypes. Furthermore, focal amplification of 4q12 (KIT, KDR, and PDGFRα) and RAD51 deletion were more abundant in mucosal melanoma, while NOTCH2 amplification was enriched in acral melanoma. Additionally, cutaneous melanomas had higher mutation load than acral melanomas, while mucosal melanomas did not differ from other subtypes in mutation burden. Together, our data revealed important features of acral and mucosal melanomas in Chinese including distinctive driver mutation pattern and increased genomic instability. These findings highlight the possibilities of combination therapies in the clinical management of melanoma.
Effects and long‐term follow‐up of using umbilical cord blood–derived mesenchymal stromal cells in pediatric patients with severe BK virus‐associated late‐onset hemorrhagic cystitis after unrelated cord blood transplantation
Authors: Tong Juan , Liu HuiLan , Zheng ChangCheng , Zhu XiaoYu , Tang BaoLin , Wan Xiang , Yao Wen , Song KaiDi , Zhang Lei , Zhang XuHan , Sun ZiMin
Published: January 2020

This is a retrospective study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of umbilical cord blood–derived mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) for the treatment of pediatric patients with severe BK virus–associated late‐onset hemorrhagic cystitis (BKV‐HC) after unrelated cord blood transplantation (UCBT). Thirteen pediatric patients with severe BKV‐HC from December 2013 to December 2015 were treated with MSCs. The number of MSCs transfused in each session was 1 × 106/kg once a week until the symptoms improved. The median follow‐up time was 1432 (89‐2080) days. The median frequency of MSC infusion was 2 (1‐3), with eight cured cases and five effective cases; the total efficacy rate was 100%. The copy number of urine BKV DNA was 4.43 (0.36‐56.9) ×108/mL before MSC infusion and 2.67 (0‐56.3) ×108/mL after MSC infusion; the difference was not significant (P = .219). There were no significant differences in the overall survival, disease‐free survival, and the incidence of relapse and acute and chronic graft‐versus‐host disease between the MSC infusion group and non‐MSC infusion group. There was also no significant difference in the cytomegalovirus, Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV), and fungal and bacterial infection rates between the two groups. Although umbilical cord blood–derived MSCs do not reduce the number of BKV DNA copies in the urine, the cells have a high efficacy rate and minimal side effects in treating severe BKV‐HC after UCBT among pediatric patients. MSCs do not affect the rates of relapse, long‐term infection, or survival of patients with leukemia.
Plasma extracellular microRNAs are related to AIDS/cerebral toxoplasmosis co‐infection
Authors: Pereira Ingrid de Siqueira , Maia Marta Marques , da Cruz Allecineia Bispo , Telles João Paulo Marochi , Vidal Jose Ernesto , Gava Ricardo , Meira‐Strejevitch Cristina Silva , Pereira‐Chioccola Vera Lucia
Published: January 2020

This study investigated the potential of five miRNA candidates for cerebral toxoplasmosis/HIV co‐infection (CT/HIV) biomarkers. miR‐155‐5p, miR‐146a‐5p, miR‐21‐5p, miR‐125b‐5p and miR‐29c‐3p were tested in 79 plasma divided into groups: 32 CT/HIV patients; 27 individuals with asymptomatic toxoplasmosis (AT); and 20 individuals seronegative for toxoplasmosis (NC). From each was collected peripheral blood/EDTA for laboratory diagnosis. Blood cells for DNA extractions (molecular diagnosis), plasma for RNA extractions (gene expression) and ELISA (serological diagnosis). miRNA expression was performed by qPCR, and values were expressed in Relative Quantification (RQ). Among the five miRNAs, miR‐21‐5p and miR‐146a‐5p were up‐expressed in CT/HIV group when compared with AT and NC groups. RQ means for miR‐21‐5p and miR‐146a‐5p in CT/HIV group were 3.829 and 2.500, while in AT group, were 1.815 and 1.661, respectively. Differences between 3 groups were statistically significant (Kruskal‐Wallis ANOVA test), as well as CT/HIV and AT groups (Mann‐Whitney test). Plasma of CT/HIV and AT groups expressed similar levels of miR‐29c‐3p, miR‐155‐5p and miR‐125b‐5p. As NC group was different of CT/HIV and AT groups, differences between three groups were statistically significant (Kruskal‐Wallis ANOVA test). No difference was shown between CT/HIV and AT groups (Mann‐Whitney test). These results suggest the host miRNAs modulation by Toxoplasma gondii.
Tradeoffs among Attributes of Resources in Humanitarian Operations: Evidence from United States Navy
Authors: Apte Aruna , Bacolod Marigee , Carmichael Ryan
Published: January 2020

This study offers a utility framework to identify assets for deployment into humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations. We focus on attributes of the hard assets: capabilities for humanitarian missions, proximity to the affected area, and cost to the organization. We demonstrate the importance of this framework using the case of the United States Navy (USN). On a broader level, we offer a strategy for the decision makers to deploy appropriate assets for executing HADR smartly. Such a method, when employed with relevant data, can enhance efficiency for various organizations involved in HADR, whether military or not. We collected a large amount of data on the assets, specifically ships, of the USN. This collected data alone are a contribution to the literature. We use factor analysis to reduce the dimensionality and make the dataset manageable while simultaneously retaining the variation and maximal information in the data. Our results, in this case, show that planners need to consider costs to truly maximize utility, especially in cases where two assets, or a combination of them, have similar utility ratings but significantly different costs. Our findings also demonstrate that asset capabilities, proximity, and the duration of an HADR response matter. Finally, we employ our framework to illustrate how HADR responses to the 2010 Haiti and 2011 Tohoku earthquakes could have been conducted more effectively and efficiently.
Organizational Citizenship Behavior in the Public Sector: A Systematic Literature Review and Future Research Agenda
Authors: de Geus Christa J. C. , Ingrams Alex , Tummers Lars , Pandey Sanjay K.
Published: January 2020

This article presents a systematic literature review of organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) in the public sector. The findings show that although OCB is gaining more attention in the public sector, research often does not take specific public sector characteristics or concepts into account. Based on the available evidence, the authors develop a framework of antecedents, outcomes, mediators, and moderators of OCB. Three areas for future research are recommended: (1) regarding theory: link OCB to public sector concepts such as bureaucratic red tape, public leadership, and public service motivation; (2) regarding research designs: use stronger survey designs, experiments, and case studies and devote more attention to cross‐sectoral and cross‐country differences; and (3) regarding the consequences of OCB: address the gap in our knowledge of how OCB has an impact on public organizations, including negative impacts.
Biofloc technology as a promising tool to improve aquaculture production
Authors: Khanjani Mohammad Hossein , Sharifinia Moslem
Published: January 2020

Given that the expansion of the aquaculture industry is associated with increased environmental impact and its strong dependence on fishmeal in the diet, the use of biofloc technology can reduce these problems. This technology absorbs inorganic nitrogen from aquaculture wastewater and improves water quality as well as produces microbial protein that is directly used as a suitable feed supplement for aquatic animals. Furthermore, this technology reduces the feed conversion ratio and subsequent production cost. Biofloc is available to aquatic animals throughout the day and provides the necessary nutrients, fatty acids and minerals. Biofloc along with formulated diets provides a complete food chain for aquatic animals’ growth and thus improves growth performance. Since feed constitutes a major part of the aquaculture cost, having accurate information about biofloc system in aquatic animals’ nutrition can be beneficial and helpful. Compared to traditional aquaculture techniques, biofloc technology provides a more sustainable approach with minimal water exchange along with reduced feed intake and transforms it into a low‐cost sustainable technology for sustainable aquaculture development. Overall, this study highlights the significance of developing biofloc technology to improve aquaculture production and could be an alternative system for cultivation of important commercial species in aquaculture.
High‐throughput sequencing provides insight into manipulated soil fungal community structure and diversity during temperate forest restoration
Authors: Lance Andrew C. , Burke David J. , Hausman Constance E. , Burns Jean H.
Published: January 2020

The process of community assembly in fungal communities is poorly understood and may have important implications for restoration. However, there is a shortage of data describing fungal community composition at various stages of restoration. This study describes how microbial inoculation with field‐collected soils or a commercial inoculum influenced fungal communities during temperate tree restoration. We utilized Illumina Mi‐Seq sequencing technology to examine fungal community structure in the rhizosphere soils of trees at the conclusion of one growing season. Inoculation treatment was found to be a significant determinant of fungal community structure in one of our three experimental tree species (Liriodendron tulipifera). We also found a marginally significant influence of inoculation method on fungal community structure in the rhizosphere soils of Quercus rubra, an ectomycorrhizal tree species. Importantly, within these taxa, the use of commercial inocula, while failing to lead to detectable abundances of the inoculated taxa, strongly influenced the resulting fungal community structure after 4 months in the field, relative to control trees that received no such inoculation. We observed lower abundances of Hebeloma, a potentially important ectomycorrhizal genera, in Quercus trees receiving the commercial inoculum compared with control trees; thus, the commercial inoculum might have unexpected consequences for fungal community assembly. Such unintended legacy effects of soil inoculation should be considered in ecological restoration. Furthermore, by taking a time series approach to sampling, high‐throughput sequencing approaches could be used to test the principles of ecological assembly theory, including legacy effects of taxa no longer detectable in the community.
A Comparison of Attachment representations to Mother and Father using the MCAST
Authors: Di Folco Simona , San Martini Pietro , Piermattei Claudia , Zavattini Giulio Cesare , Psouni Elia
Published: January 2020

The aim of the current study was to examine the factorial structure of the Manchester Child Attachment Story Task (MCAST), using a father doll to address the child's attachment representation to father. While the MCAST, a doll story completion task measuring attachment representations in early childhood, has been validated for use with a mother doll, its use for assessing attachment to father is relatively unexplored. Thus, an additional aim was to compare the factorial structure of the child's attachment representation to father and mother, respectively. We analyzed data from 118 first‐grade children who underwent counterbalanced administration of the MCAST with a mother and father doll, respectively, within a period of three months. Exploratory factorial analysis revealed similar, three‐factor solutions for attachment to father and mother, with a first factor capturing the child's (scripted) knowledge of secure base/safe haven and a second factor reflecting intrusive and conflict behavior. The third factor was different in the father and mother representations, capturing self‐care and role‐reversal in attachment to father and disorganization in attachment to mother. Findings support the potential usefulness of the MCAST for exploring the father‐child relationship and highlight a need for further research on early attachment representations to father.
A new target capture phylogeny elucidates the systematics and evolution of wing coupling in sack‐bearer moths
Authors: St Laurent Ryan A. , Mielke Carlos G. C. , Herbin Daniel , Dexter Kelly M. , Kawahara Akito Y.
Published: January 2020

The frenulum is a wing coupling structure that is found on the wings of most families of Lepidoptera. It is a single bristle or set of bristles that originate from the base of the hindwing that often interlocks with the forewing during flight. This wing coupling mechanism is thought to have been a major evolutionary innovation that allowed for enhanced flight in Lepidoptera. The sack‐bearer moths (Mimallonidae) are unusual among Lepidoptera in that not all species within the family have a frenulum. We test the hypothesis that the frenulum is not necessary and is therefore lost in mimallonids that have longer male forewings, because such wings are perhaps better suited to be coupled by other means. To understand the evolution of the frenulum, we inferred the most taxonomically and genetically sampled anchored hybrid enrichment‐based phylogeny of Mimallonidae, including 604 loci from all 41 genera and from 120 species, covering about 40% of the described species in the family. The maximum likelihood tree robustly supports major relationships within the family, and ancestral state reconstruction clearly recovers the frenulum as the plesiomorphic condition in Mimallonidae. Our results show that the frenulum is more often observed in species that have shorter, rather than longer, male forewings. The frenulum has historically been used as an important character for intrafamilial classification in Mimallonidae, but our results conclusively show that this character system is more variable than previously thought. Based on our results, we erect two new subfamilies, Roelofinae St Laurent & Kawahara,subfam.n.and Meneviinae St Laurent, Herbin, & Kawahara,subfam.n., for four genera previously consideredincertae sedis.In the predominantly frenulum‐lacking clade Cicinninae, we describe a new genus,CerradocinnusSt Laurent, Mielke, & Kawahara,gen.n., and the genusGonogrammastat. rev.is revalidated to include many species previously placed inCicinnussensu lato. With these changes,Cicinnuscan now be considered monophyletic. Thirty‐three species are transferred toGonogrammafromCicinnussensu lato.

This published work has been registered on Zoobank,http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:E33100E1‐DA6A‐4814‐A312‐36CBAA168B8B.
A novel surgical technique for enucleation in rabbits to reduce the risk of intra‐ and post‐operative orbital hemorrhage
Authors: Moore Bret A. , Robertson Jessica , Tarbert Danielle K. , Good Kathryn L. , Paul‐Murphy Joanne R.
Published: January 2020

A 10‐year‐old male castrated Holland Lop rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) was presented for severe ulcerative stromal keratitis of the right eye and a luxated hypermature cataract and glaucoma of the left eye. Staged bilateral enucleation was elected. A LigaSure™ electrosurgical bipolar vessel‐sealing device was used as a means to minimize intraoperative and post‐operative hemorrhage, especially that associated with the orbital venous plexus. The LigaSure™ was used to ligate and transect all extraocular muscles, the optic nerve bundle, and the base of the third eyelid with no complications encountered. Overall, the LigaSure™ was easy to use, resulted in minimal hemorrhage, and reduced surgery time. This is the first report of the use of a LigaSure™ to aid in the enucleation of a rabbit. Although only positive results were achieved as an alternative to conventional methodologies, its use in clinical practice should be that of caution until a larger study evaluating the long‐term results is performed.
Phylogeny of Neotropical Seirinae (Collembola, Entomobryidae) based on mitochondrial genomes
Authors: Godeiro Nerivânia Nunes , Pacheco George , Liu Shanlin , Gioia Cipola Nikolas , Berbel‐Filho Waldir Miron , Zhang Feng , Gilbert Marcus Thomas P. , Bellini Bruno Cavalcante
Published: January 2020

Seirinae is one of the most diverse subfamilies of Collembola. To date no detailed phylogeny of Seirinae has been proposed, which leads to difficulties in the understanding of evolutionary patterns regarding this taxon. The main aim of this study is to clarify the phylogenetic relationships within the Neotropical Seirinae, by generating and analysing the mitochondrial genomes of 26 terminal taxa of Entomobryidae, and one species of Paronellidae. Specifically, we first generated Illumina HiSeq 2000 shotgun sequence data from each species, then reconstructed the mitochondrial genome of each species using two methods: MitoZ and MIRA/MITOBim. Using these data, we were able to generate a well‐supported phylogeny that combined all the above species as well as three publicly available mitogenomes from other species. Bayesian and maximum likelihood methods were applied using all 13 protein coding genes. In this way, monophyly for the internal groups of Seirinae was obtained based on molecular evidence for the first time, as was the potential validity of three main internal taxa of the subfamily. We furthermore validated that Tyrannoseira is a distinct lineage and propose the elevation of Lepidocyrtinus to genus. Lastly, we anticipate that these newly available mitogenomes will serve as a useful dataset for future studies on the evolution of the Collembola and Hexapoda.