bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of different head and neck positions and behaviour in ridden elite dressage horses between warm-up and competition
Authors: Kienapfel Kathrin , Bachmann Iris , Piccolo Lara , Ruess Dominik , Gmel Annik
Published: December 2021

Summary

Head and neck position (HNP) has been identified in literature as important influence on wellbeing. It was investigated in ridden elite dressage horses whether there is a relation between the HNP, ethological indicators and the grading in the warm-up area and in the test. 49 starters (83%) of a Grand-Prix Special (CDIO5 *) as part of the CHIO in Aachen 2018 and 2019 were examined. For each horse-rider pair, HNP (angle at vertical (AT), poll angle (PA), neck angel (NA)) used were analysed as well as conflict behavior for 3 minutes each in warm-up area and test. 6571 individual frames were used. The noseline was carried significantly less behind the vertical in test vs. warm-up (5.43 ° ± 4.19 vs. 11.01 ° ± 4.54 behind the vertical; T = 34.0; p < 0.05). The horses showed significantly less conflict behavior in the test vs. warm-up (123 ± 54 vs. 160 ± 75) (T = 76.00; p < 0.01). In the latter, a smaller PA and more defensive behaviour of the horses was observed compared to the test. A correlation between the grading of test and HNP was found (R = 0.38; p < 0.05). The further the noseline was behind the vertical, the higher was the chance of a good rating. The higher riders were ranked in the “FEI world ranking”, the higher were their marks in the competition (2018: r = -0.69, p < 0.05; 2019: r = -0.76, p < 0.05). Horses of riders higher in world ranking tended to show more unusual oral behaviour (r = -0.30, p < 0.05), and a noseline stronger behind the vertical (r = -0.37, p < 0.05) resulting in a smaller NA (r = 0.43, p < 0.05). This are from the point of view of animal welfare problematic results.
Passive epidemiological surveillance in wildlife in Costa Rica identifies pathogens of zoonotic and conservation importance
Authors: Aguilar-Vargas Fernando , Solorzano-Scott Tamara , Baldi Mario , Barquero-Calvo Elías , Jiménez-Rocha Ana , Jiménez Carlos , Piche-Ovares Marta , Dolz Gaby , León Bernal , Corrales-Aguilar Eugenia , Santoro Mario , Alfaro-Alarcón Alejandro
Published: December 2021

Epidemiological surveillance systems for pathogens in wild species have been proposed as a preventive measure for epidemic events. These systems can minimize the detrimental effects of an outbreak, but most importantly, passive surveillance systems are the best adapted to countries with limited resources. Therefore, the present study aims to evaluate the technical and infrastructural feasibility to establish this type of scheme in Costa Rica targeting thedetection of pathogens of zoonotic and conservation importance in wildlife. Between 2018 and 2020, 85 carcasses of free-ranging vertebrates were admitted for post mortem analysis and complementary laboratory analysis, representing a solid basis for the implementation of a passive surveillance system for wildlife diseases in the country. However, we encounter during this research significant constraints that affected the availability of carcasses for analysis, mainly related to the initial identification of cases, detection biases towards events in populated- or easily accessible-areas with nearby located wildlife management centers, further associated with financial disincentives, and limited local logistics capacity. Thus resulting in the exclusion of some geographic regions of the country. This epidemiological surveillance scheme allowed us to estimate the general state of health of the country’s wildlife, establishing the cause of death of the analyzed animals as follows: (i) 46 (54.1%) traumatic events, (ii) 23 (27.1%) infectious agents, (iii) two (2.4%) degenerative illness, (iv) three (3.5%) presumably poisoning, and (v) in 11 (12.9%)undetermined. It also allowed the detection of pathogens such as, canine distemper virus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Toxoplasma gondii, Trypanosoma spp., Angiostrongylus spp., Dirofilaria spp., Baylisascaris spp., among others. As well as recognizing the circulation of these pathogens around national territory and also on those analyzed species. This strategy is crucial in geographical regions defined as critical for the appearance of diseases due to their great biodiversity and social conditions.
Mobile phone communication for improving uptake of antiretroviral therapy in HIV-infected pregnant women: updated systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Tamuzi Jacques L. , Lulendo Gomer , Mbuesse Patrick , Ntambwe Thierry
Published: December 2021

Objective

The aim of this systematic review is to provide some evidence on the use of mobile phone communication for improving ARV adherence during pregnancy, as well as to investigate whether text messaging on mobile phones could improve follow-up in HIV-exposed infants.

Methods

We did a systematic review and meta-analysis, using CENTRAL (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials), Scopus, MEDLINE via PubMed, Web of Science, and CINAHL to search for studies in English published between 5 may 2016 to May 2021 that assessed the effects of mobile phone in HIV-infected pregnant women. We used MetaPro version 3.0 to compute the OR and RR and their 95%CI. We performed random-effects model meta-analysis for estimating pooled outcomes.

Results

Nine studies were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled maternal post-partum retention was (OR 2.20, 95%CI: 1.55 – 3.13, I2 = 53.20%, P < 0.001).

In the same line, the pooled odds of ART uptake was (OR 1.5, 95%CI: 1.07-2.11, I2 =0%, P = 0.020) and we found statistically significant impact of mobile phone on HIV testing at 6 weeks and above among HIV exposed children (OR 1.89, 95%CI: 1.04 – 3. 48, I2 = OR 1.89, 95%CI: 1.04 – 3. 48, I2 =88.04%, P = 0.032).

Conclusion

In comparison to our previous review, this updated review focuses on moderate evidence for mobile phone communication in HIV-infected pregnant women. The results showed that using a mobile phone improved maternal post-partum retention, ART uptake, and infant HIV testing at 6 weeks and older.
Research on collaborative task assignment method of assembly line
Authors: Shen Weilei , Jiang Qiangqiang , Yang Yang
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to construct a task assignment model for U-shaped production lines with collaborative task, which is optimized by minimizing the number of workers and balancing the workload of the operators. The ultimate goal is to increase productivity by increasing the U-line balance and balancing the load on the operators.

Design/methodology/approach

First, task selection and update mechanism are analyzed and the task selection mechanism suitable for collaborative task is proposed. Second, M-COMOSAL is obtained by improving the original COMOSAL. Finally, The M-COMOSAL algorithm and the COMAOSAL algorithm are used to perform job assignment on the double-acting clutch U-shaped assembly line.

Findings

According to the allocation scheme obtained by M-COMSOAL, the beat can be adjusted according to the change of order demand. The final allocation scheme is superior to the COMSOAL algorithm in terms of number of workers, working time, production tempo and balance rate. In particular, compared with the old scheme, the new scheme showed a decrease of 16.7% in the number of employees and a 18.8% increase in the production line balance rate. Thus, the method is helpful to reduce the number of operators and balance the workload.

Originality/value

The new algorithm proposed in this paper for the assignment of collaborative task can minimize the number of workers and balance the load of operators, which is of great significance for improving the balance rate of U-shaped production lines and the utilization of personnel or equipment.
Examining the impact of relational benefits on continuance intention of PBS services: mediating roles of user satisfaction and engagement
Authors: Pattnaik Pinaki Nandan , Shukla Mahendra Kumar
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the dimensionality of relational benefits in public bike sharing (PBS) and explore the mediating role of user satisfaction and engagement on the linkage between relational benefits and continuance intention.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a mixed method approach. Data were collected using convenience sampling technique from 411 users of PBS in Bhubaneswar, India. In the first part of the study, in-depth interviews were conducted to identify a set of relational benefits for scale development. In the second part, CB-SEM was used to establish the reliability and validity of the scale and test the hypotheses linking relational benefits with user satisfaction, engagement and continuance intention.

Findings

The analysis suggests that relational benefit is a second order construct having five distinct yet related dimensions namely economic, convenience, environmental, identity related and health and safety benefits. Also, the impact of relational benefits on continuance intention is positively and significantly mediated through user satisfaction and engagement.

Research limitations/implications

This study is conducted in only one Indian city and is limited to PBS, which, is one of the elements of green transportation and does not cover other modes of transportation. Therefore, generalization of findings beyond this region and the mode of transportation should be done with caution.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the extant management literature by examining the mediating role of user satisfaction and engagement on the linkage between relational benefits and continuance intention which is an unexplored area of research. The study adds to existing knowledge by exploring the dimensionality of relational benefits in PBS context.
Impact of information risk and cost of equity: moderating role of investor attention
Authors: Saleem Sana , Usman Muhammad
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to finds out how investor attention plays the moderating role between the relation of information risk and COE by considering the effect of three different types of information risk, that is private information, lack of quality and transparent information.

Design/methodology/approach

For that purpose, data is collected from all the non-financial firms listed on PSX from 2007 to 2019. Two-step system GMM dynamic panel estimators are applied to test the dynamic nature of the proposed model.

Findings

The findings of the study show that investor attention reduces these three information risks by increasing the stock liquidity and decreasing the crash risk which ultimately decreases the COE. Also, this study examined the role of investor attention between the relations of information risk and corporate investment in the dynamic panel model, where the two-step system generalized method of the moment has been applied. The finding of the study shows that investor attention stimulates the innovative investment by increasing investor confidence and decreasing the agency conflict.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature by providing the novel findings by considering the role of investor attention in reducing the effect of three different types of information risk, that is private information, less quality as well as less transparency of information and further their effect on the cost of equity.
Impact of training design on trainees' motivation: an empirical study
Authors: Yaqub Yasmin , Singh Arun Kumar
Published: December 2021

Purpose

This study aims to advance understanding of the critical role of training variables (trainer performance, transfer design and an identical element) and motivation to improve work through learning (MTIWL) the least researched construct of motivation in human resource development (HRD).

Design/methodology/approach

A self-report online survey was conducted to collect responses from 280 managers working in different industries. Participants attended open skills training program organized by an in-house training institute in India.

Findings

The trainer performance and transfer design had a positive and significant impact on MTIWL. However, an identical element found no significant direct impact on MTIWL.

Practical implications

The trainer performance positively cultivates trainees’ MTIWL and training approaches according to trainees’ preferences improve MTIWL. The training content is needed to resemble with work assignment for enhancement of trainees MTIWL.

Originality/value

This study improved understanding of the impact of training variables on a comprehensive and practical aspect of trainees' motivation in HRD, MTIWL.
The neoclassical and Keynesian standpoint and policy implications regarding the Greek Financial Crisis
Authors: Marangos John
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discover the contradistinctions between the neoclassical and Keynesian paradigms of economics regarding the Greek Financial Crisis.

Design/methodology/approach

The answers to the questions and policies regarding the Greek Financial Crisis cannot be derived by using economic analysis alone; they also depend on the perception of social reality and ethical issues. Based on the assumptions about economic behavior, the answers and policies inevitably reflect the observer's assessment of each economic and non-economic performance dimension, as well as the significance assigned to those performance dimensions. Different views on “social reality” and “what is a good society?” are associated with distinct paradigms and a particular set of social values, which have implications for economic policy formulae. These give rise to alternative answers and policies to the Greek Financial Crisis, based on different assumptions, different methods of analysis and different goals.

Findings

Overall, in contradistinction, the two paradigms recommend quite distinct policies tackling the Greek Financial Crisis, and at the end, both paradigms have different perspectives on ethics and moral fundamentals regarding debt.

Originality/value

Students of the global financial crisis will benefit from this unique approach in testing the two alternative paradigms, between the neoclassical and Keynesian, concerning the Greek Financial Crisis.
Sensor cooperative scheduling method for low-altitude maneuvering target tracking in complex environment
Authors: Zhang Yunpu , Xu Gongguo , Shan Ganlin
Published: December 2021

Purpose

Continuous and stable tracking of the low-altitude maneuvering targets is usually difficult due to terrain occlusion and Doppler blind zone (DBZ). This paper aims to present a non-myopic scheduling method of multiple radar sensors for tracking the low-altitude maneuvering targets. In this scheduling problem, the best sensors are systematically selected to observe targets for getting the best tracking accuracy under maintaining the low intercepted probability of a multi-sensor system.

Design/methodology/approach

First, the sensor scheduling process is formulated within the partially observable Markov decision process framework. Second, the interacting multiple model algorithm and the cubature Kalman filter algorithm are combined to estimate the target state, and the DBZ information is applied to estimate the target state when the measurement information is missing. Then, an approximate method based on a cubature sampling strategy is put forward to calculate the future expected objective of the multi-step scheduling process. Furthermore, an improved quantum particle swarm optimization (QPSO) algorithm is presented to solve the sensor scheduling action quickly. Optimization problem, an improved QPSO algorithm is presented to solve the sensor scheduling action quickly.

Findings

Compared with the traditional scheduling methods, the proposed method can maintain higher target tracking accuracy with a low intercepted probability. And the proposed target state estimation method in DBZ has better tracking performance.

Originality/value

In this paper, DBZ, sensor intercepted probability and complex terrain environment are considered in sensor scheduling, which has good practical application in a complex environment.
The difference between inpatient and outpatient programs regarding trait -anxiety, social support and state-anxiety in during the covid-19 pandemic in Israel
Authors: Michael Amnon , Roska Paola
Published: December 2021

Purpose

COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the well-being and the psychological resilience of different populations, particularly in the addiction field. This study aims to assess anxiety and its severity among patients and staff from different types of addiction services in Israel during this emergency.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was conducted during the period from March–July 2020. Participants included patients and staff (N = 282) from three different types of addiction services, were administered the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the multi-dimensional scale of perceived social support and demographic variables. In addition, a logistic regression model was applied to identify predictors of state anxiety by using statistical package for the social sciences software.

Findings

The results show that therapeutic communities clients reported more social support compared to other subjects. State anxiety has a positive strong correlation with trait anxiety both among patients and staff, and it was found as a crucial predictor of state anxiety in the regression equation. There is no statistically significant correlation between state anxiety and social support, gender or education among clients and staff as one. The state anxiety remains relatively stable and characterizes most people, staff and patients, men and women, medical staff members and other professionals.

Research limitations/implications

The current study has some contributions to the addiction field by understanding the psychological distress of a vulnerable population: substance users in treatment settings. The study population relied on convenient samples and future studies should be planned using a cross-sectional design and should take into account substance use measures. The findings are reinforcing the assumption that state anxiety was likely to increase during the coronavirus pandemic.

Practical implications

Adequate services should be planned to avoid relapse or mental deterioration of people who use drugs during health emergencies.

Originality/value

The research points out the unique and real difficulties of SUD clients, as well as the complexity and risks in their staff members’ works. The authors also saw that staff members need attention and maintenance; they are in the front line.
Evaluating CAP wildflower strips: High‐quality seed mixtures significantly improve plant diversity and related pollen and nectar resources
Authors: Schmidt Annika , Kirmer Anita , Hellwig Niels , Kiehl Kathrin , Tischew Sabine
Published: December 2021

Flower strips are a fundamental part of agri‐environment schemes (AESs) introduced by the European Union to counteract the loss of biodiversity and related ecosystem services in agricultural landscapes. Although vegetation composition of the strips is essential for most fauna groups, comprehensive studies analysing vegetation development and influencing factors are rare.

From 2017 to 2019, we investigated the vegetation composition of 40 perennial wildflower strips (WFSs) implemented in 2015 or 2016, and 20 cereal fields without WFS across Saxony‐Anhalt, Germany. We analysed environmental factors on plot (cover of grasses, shading, soil fertility) and four landscape‐scale levels (habitat diversity, proportion of WFS and open habitats). The provision of nectar and pollen resources was estimated by the newly developed Pollinator Feeding Index (PFI). All strips had been implemented by farmers as AES with species‐rich seed mixtures comprising 30 native forbs.

In all study years, forb species richness, cover and related nectar and pollen supply were much higher on WFSs than on controls, confirming the effectiveness of this AES. Although sown native forbs contributed the most to the high PFI values, spontaneously established forbs expanded the total range of species considerably, especially in winter and spring. While sown forb communities remained similar over time, spontaneous forbs showed a higher species turnover. Altogether, shading and grass cover had the greatest negative effect on the performance of the sown forbs. Landscape variables had only minor effects and were inconsistent in their importance across scale levels and years.

Synthesis and applications. Successfully established perennial wildflower strips (WFSs) sown with species‐rich native seed mixtures provided a forb‐rich and diverse vegetation throughout the AES funding period of 5 years. By supplying feeding resources for pollinators under various landscape situations, WFSs have significant potential to promote farmland biodiversity and related ecosystem services. We recommend the mandatory use of species‐rich wildflower mixtures for perennial flower strips and to avoid their creation in heavily shaded field edges. Advisory services for farmers are necessary to prevent failures in WFS implementation and management and to improve their ecological effectiveness.
Prioritizing terrestrial invasive alien plant species for management in urban ecosystems
Authors: Potgieter Luke J. , Shrestha Namrata , Cadotte Marc W.
Published: December 2021

Invasive alien plant species (IAPs) in urban areas can have detrimental effects on biodiversity, ecosystem services and human well‐being. Urban areas are complex social management mosaics with high land‐use diversity, complex land tenure patterns and many different stakeholder groups, some of which derive benefits from invading species. Urban conservation practitioners face complex decisions about which IAPs require management. Yet most IAPs prioritization frameworks have been designed for and implemented in natural or rural areas and are generally inadequate for guiding effective and sustainable interventions in urbanized areas.

We modified an existing prioritization scheme to develop a framework for prioritizing terrestrial IAPs in urban areas which applies evidence‐based (data‐driven) and stakeholder‐based (local knowledge) assessments to score and rank alien plant species in terms of their priority for management using an objective set of criteria.

The framework consists of 46 criteria, grouped into eight modules which assess invasion status, habitat requirements, biological characteristics, dispersal ability, distribution, impacts (positive and negative) and potential for control for each alien plant species under consideration.

We use the city of Toronto, Canada as a case study to test our framework—a list of 50 IAPs were effectively scored and ranked in order of high to low priority for control. Species with the highest total prioritization scores were Vincetoxicum rossicum (Dog Strangling Vine), Convolvulus arvensis (Field Bindweed) and Taraxacum officinale (Common Dandelion, ranked 1, 2 and 3 respectively).

Many of the identified high priority species align with those previously flagged as of management concern by conservation practitioners, but also include those that are not actively managed due to their perceived lower ecological impacts. These species still require high resource investment for other objectives such as aesthetics. This highlights the complexity of alien plant species management in urban areas.

Synthesis and applications. Prioritizing invasive alien plants for management in urban areas is particularly challenging due to often conflicting ecological, economic and social objectives. We use available evidence and local stakeholder knowledge to develop an objective and systematic prioritization tool which can assist conservation practitioners in selecting priority species for management action in complex urban landscapes.
Parents’ perceptions of secondary school students’ motivation and well‐being before and during the COVID‐19 lockdown: the moderating role of student characteristics
Authors: Hornstra Lisette , van den Bergh Linda , Denissen Jaap J. A. , Diepstraten Isabelle , Bakx Anouke
Published: December 2021

During the COVID‐19 lockdown of spring 2020, Dutch children were being homeschooled. We examined how parents’ (n = 470) perceptions of secondary school students’ (Mage = 14.23 years) need satisfaction, academic motivation and well‐being differed before the lockdown (assessed retrospectively) and during the lockdown. Furthermore, we examined the differential impact of the lockdown for different groups of children based on parental educational level, academic track, gender and special educational needs (SEN). Results indicated that students’ motivation and well‐being as perceived by parents decreased during the lockdown and this could be explained by decreases in need satisfaction. Most student characteristics did not moderate the effects of the lockdown, except for SEN. The lockdown effects were less negative for children with SEN, especially gifted children and children with behavioural disabilities, than for children without SEN. Results are discussed with regard to their practical implications after the lockdown and for future lockdowns.
Deletion of glyceraldehyde‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase (gapN) in Clostridium saccharoperbutylacetonicum N1‐4(HMT) using CLEAVE™ increases the ATP pool and accelerates solvent production
Authors: Monaghan Taylor I. , Baker Joseph A. , Krabben Preben , Davies E. Timothy , Jenkinson Elizabeth R. , Goodhead Ian B. , Robinson Gary K. , Shepherd Mark
Published: December 2021

The development and advent of mutagenesis tools for solventogenic clostridial species in recent years has allowed for the increased refinement of industrially relevant strains. In this study we have utilised CLEAVE™, a CRISPR/Cas genome editing system developed by Green Biologics Ltd., to engineer a strain of Clostridium saccharoperbutylacetonicum N1‐4(HMT) with potentially useful solvents titres and energy metabolism. As one of two enzymes responsible for the conversion of glyceraldehyde‐3‐phosphate (GAP) to 3‐phosphoglyceric acid in glycolysis, it was hypothesised that deletion of gapN would increase ATP and NADH production that could in turn improve solvent production. Herein, whole genome sequencing has been used to evaluate CLEAVE™ and the successful knockout of gapN, demonstrating a clean knockout with no other detectable variations from the wild type sequence. Elevated solvent levels were detected during the first 24 h of batch fermentation, indicating an earlier shift to solventogenesis. A 2.4‐fold increase in ATP concentration was observed, and quantitation of NAD(P)H derivatives revealed a more reducing cytoplasm for the gapN strain. These findings expand our understanding of clostridium carbon metabolism and report a new approach to optimising biofuel production.
Eco‐phylogenetic analyses reveal divergent evolution of vitaminB12metabolism in the marine bacterial family ‘Psychromonadaceae’
Authors: Jin Xingkun , Yang Yaofang , Cao Haihang , Gao Beile , Zhao Zhe
Published: December 2021

Cobalamin (vitamin B12) is an essential micronutrient required by both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Nevertheless, with high genetic and metabolic cost,de novocobalamin biosynthesis is exclusive to a subset of prokaryotic taxa. Many Cyanobacterial and Archaeal taxa have been implicated inde novocobalamin biosynthesis in epi‐ and mesopelagic ocean respectively. However, the contributions ofGammaproteobacteriaparticularly the family ‘Psychromonadaceae’ is largely unknown. Through phylo‐pangenomic analyses using concatenated single‐copy proteins and homologous gene clusters respectively, the phylogenies within ‘Psychromonadaceae’ recapitulate both their taxonomic delineations and environmental distributions. Moreover, uneven distribution of cobalaminde novobiosynthetic operon and cobalamin‐dependent light‐responsive regulon were observed, and of which the linkages to the environmental conditions where cobalamin availability and light regime can be varied respectively were discussed, suggesting the impacts of ecological divergence in shaping their disparate cobalamin‐related metabolisms. Functional analysis demonstrated a varying degree of cobalamin dependency for both central metabolic processes and cobalamin‐mediated light‐responsive regulation, and underlying sequence characteristics ofcis‐ andtrans‐regulatory elements were revealed. Our findings emphasized the potential roles of cobalamin in shaping the ecological distributions and driving the metabolic evolution in the marine bacterial family ‘Psychromonadaceae’, and have further implications for an improved understanding of nutritional interdependencies and community metabolism modulated by cobalamin.
Inbreeding status and implications for Amur tigers
Authors: Ning Y. , Roberts N. J. , Qi J. , Peng Z. , Long Z. , Zhou S. , Gu J. , Hou Z. , Yang E. , Ren Y. , Lang J. , Liang Z. , Zhang M. , Ma J. , Jiang G.
Published: December 2021

Inbreeding more likely occurs in small, isolated and endangered populations, and may influence the sustainable survival of a population. As the Amur tiger Panthera tigris altaica population in China experienced a severe decline in the 1990s, the recovering population may be prone to inbreeding and its potential impacts on population health. However, the inbreeding status has not been evaluated and relationships with health remain poorly understood in wild animals. Based on the genetic samples collected from the main Amur tiger habitats in China, this study analyzed the population inbreeding level, major histocompatibility complex polymorphism, parasitic infections and gut microbial structures and functions, and then explored the influence of inbreeding on these traits. Our results indicated that more than 50% of individual relationships were in cousin or half sibs, and 22.73% of individuals had moderate or high inbreeding coefficients. There was a significant positive correlation between the inbreeding level of an individual and the Toxocara cati parasitic load. Gut microbiota community structure and function were also impacted by inbreeding intensity. In conclusion, results indicate that the Amur tiger population in China has reached a moderate level of inbreeding and that there are direct interactions between inbreeding intensity and parasitic load and gut microbiota. This study thus provides an early warning on the Amur tiger population health and should prompt the construction of national and international ecological corridors and/or the re‐introduction of new individuals to relieve the evident inbreeding pressure.
Cyclic activity of signal transduction pathways in fimbrial epithelium of the human fallopian tube
Authors: van der Ploeg Phyllis , Uittenboogaard Aniek , Bucks Karlijn M. M. , Lentjes‐Beer Marjolein H. F. M. , Bosch Steven L. , van Rumste Minouche M. E. , Vos M. Caroline , van Diest Paul J. , Lambrechts Sandrina , van de Stolpe Anja , Bekkers Ruud L. M. , Piek Jurgen M. J.
Published: December 2021

Introduction

The local environment of the fallopian tube represents the optimal conditions for reproductive processes. To maintain tissue homeostasis, signal transduction pathways are thought to play a pivotal role. Enhancing our understanding of functional signal transduction pathway activity is important to be able to clarify the role of aberrant signal transduction pathway activity leading to female subfertility and other tubal diseases. Therefore, in this study we investigate the influence of the hormonal cycle on the activity of key signal transduction pathways in the fimbrial epithelium of morphologically normal fallopian tubes.

Material and methods

We included healthy pre‐ (n = 17) and postmenopausal (n = 8) patients who had surgical interventions for benign gynecologic conditions. Histologic sections of the fallopian tubes were reviewed by two pathologists and, for the premenopausal patients, hormone serum levels and sections of the endometrium were examined to determine the hormonal phase (early follicular [n = 4], late follicular [n = 3], early luteal [n = 5], late luteal [n = 5]). After laser capture microdissection, total mRNA was extracted from the fimbrial epithelium and real‐time quantitative reverse transcription‐PCR was performed to determine functional signal transduction pathway activity of the androgen receptor (AR), estrogen receptor (ER), phosphoinositide‐3‐kinase (PI3K), Hedgehog (HH), transforming growth factor‐beta (TGF‐β) and canonical wingless‐type MMTV integration site (Wnt) pathways.

Results

The early luteal phase demonstrated high AR and ER pathway activity in comparison with the late luteal phase (p = 0.016 and p = 0.032, respectively) and low PI3K activity compared with the late follicular phase (p = 0.036), whereas the late luteal phase showed low activity of HH and Wnt compared with the early follicular phase (both p = 0.016). Signal transduction pathway activity in fimbrial epithelium from postmenopausal patients was most similar to the early follicular and/or late luteal phase with regard to the AR, ER and PI3K pathways. Wnt pathway activity in postmenopausal patients was comparable to the late follicular and early luteal phase. We observed no differences in HH and TGF‐β pathway activity between pre‐ and postmenopausal samples. The cyclic changes in signal transduction pathway activity suggest a stage‐specific function which may affect the morphology and physiology of the human fallopian tube.

Conclusions

We demonstrated cyclic changes in activity of the AR, ER, PI3K, HH and Wnt pathways throughout the hormonal cycle.
Review article: epidemiology of IBS and other bowel disorders of gut–brain interaction (DGBI)
Authors: Sperber Ami D.
Published: December 2021

The disorders of gut–brain interactions (DGBI) are a spectrum of gastrointestinal (GI) disorders that involve the entire GI tract and are usually categorised into four major anatomic GI regions, oesophageal, gastroduodenal, bowel and anorectal. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a bowel DGBI, is one of the most researched DGBI and has been the subject of copious epidemiological studies. Prevalence rates are based on diagnostic criteria. In the case of IBS, there are three central obstacles to attaining a clear picture of prevalence: the absence of biomarkers, the multitude of diagnostic criteria used over the years, and the heterogeneous nature of the methodology used in epidemiologic surveys. When the results of multiple studies, conducted over a long period of time, using different diagnostic criteria and different research methodology, and involving different study populations are pooled to determine a single summary prevalence rate it is difficult to interpret the results and to determine their reliability and significance. This pitfall is insufficiently recognised and unfortunate because prevalence rates are important for understanding the burden of disease, for allocating healthcare and research resources, and for incentivising and prioritising new treatments. The aims of the present paper are to highlight our knowledge and understanding of IBS epidemiology within the context of other DGBI, and to present strategies to improve epidemiological research, especially in advance of the new Rome V criteria, to be published in 2026.
Is enhancement inherently ableist?
Authors: Chaproniere Lysette
Published: December 2021

Transhumanists and other proponents of enhancement have been criticized for their attitude to disability. Melinda Hall argues that transhumanists denigrate disabled people by devaluing interdependence and vulnerability, and implying that disabled people are dangerous. It might also be thought that further development of enhancement technologies would have bad consequences within current, ableist and otherwise oppressive social contexts. This paper responds to these objections, arguing that enhancement needn't be in conflict with disability justice. While enhancements can be used and promoted in ways that reinforce ableism and other oppression, ways of mitigating these problems might be found by drawing on ideas from the disability rights movement, and social justice movements more broadly. The development of more accessible environments, and a general openness to surprises about which traits promote well‐being, can help to create conditions under which people have genuine choice over which enhancement technologies, if any, to use.
Nomograms including the UBC® Rapid test to detect primary bladder cancer based on a multicentre dataset
Authors: Meisl Christina J. , Karakiewicz Pierre I. , Einarsson Roland , Koch Stefan , Hallmann Steffen , Weiß Sarah , Hemdan Tammer , Malmström Per‐Uno , Styrke Johan , Sherif Amir , Hasan Mudhar N. , Pichler Renate , Tulchiner Gennadi , Palou Joan , Rodríguez Faba Óscar , Hennenlotter Jörg , Stenzl Arnulf , Ritter René , Niegisch Günter , Grunewald Camilla M. , Schlomm Thorsten , Friedersdorff Frank , Barski Dimitri , Otto Thomas , Gössl Andreas , Arndt Christian , Esuvaranathan Kesavan , Kesavan Nisha R. , Zhijiang Zang , Kramer Mario W. , Hennig Martin J. P. , Ecke Thorsten H.
Published: December 2021

Objectives

To evaluate the clinical utility of the urinary bladder cancer antigen test UBC® Rapid for the diagnosis of bladder cancer (BC) and to develop and validate nomograms to identify patients at high risk of primary BC.

Patients and Methods

Data from 1787 patients from 13 participating centres, who were tested between 2012 and 2020, including 763 patients with BC, were analysed. Urine samples were analysed with the UBC® Rapid test. The nomograms were developed using data from 320 patients and externally validated using data from 274 patients. The diagnostic accuracy of the UBC® Rapid test was evaluated using receiver‐operating characteristic curve analysis. Brier scores and calibration curves were chosen for the validation. Biopsy‐proven BC was predicted using multivariate logistic regression.

Results

The sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve for the UBC® Rapid test were 46.4%, 75.5% and 0.61 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.58–0.64) for low‐grade (LG) BC, and 70.5%, 75.5% and 0.73 (95% CI 0.70–0.76) for high‐grade (HG) BC, respectively. Age, UBC® Rapid test results, smoking status and haematuria were identified as independent predictors of primary BC. After external validation, nomograms based on these predictors resulted in areas under the curve of 0.79 (95% CI 0.72–0.87) and 0.95 (95% CI: 0.92–0.98) for predicting LG‐BC and HG‐BC, respectively, showing excellent calibration associated with a higher net benefit than the UBC® Rapid test alone for low and medium risk levels in decision curve analysis. The R Shiny app allows the results to be explored interactively and can be accessed at www.blucab‐index.net.

Conclusion

The UBC® Rapid test alone has limited clinical utility for predicting the presence of BC. However, its combined use with BC risk factors including age, smoking status and haematuria provides a fast, highly accurate and non‐invasive tool for screening patients for primary LG‐BC and especially primary HG‐BC.
Epizoochorous seed dispersal by an Afroalpine savanna primate
Authors: Venkataraman Vivek V. , Miller Carrie , Foxfoot Iris , Lin Bing , Petrie Zack L. , Simberloff Ruth A. , Bernardo Odin , Redon Nathan , Hohn Triana I. , Kerby Jeffrey T. , Nguyen Nga , Fashing Peter J.
Published: December 2021

Primates are prolific dispersers of seeds via endozoochory (i.e., defecation and spitting). In contrast, epizoochorous seed dispersal (i.e., via adhesion to fur) has rarely been observed in primates. On the Guassa Plateau in north‐central Ethiopia, grass‐eating geladas (Theropithecus gelada) regularly carry on their fur the barbed seeds of a commonly eaten plant, a low‐lying herbaceous forb called Agrocharis melanantha [Apiaceae]. Here, we describe the basic ecology of this plant–primate relationship. For 24 months (November 2017–December 2019), we monitored the number and location of A. melanantha seeds on the fur of geladas (n = 225 individuals) from four age‐sex classes: adult males, adult females, juveniles, and infants. Seed accumulation (n = 12649 seeds in total) was seasonal and closely tracked patterns of landscape vegetation phenology, peaking in September near the end of the rainy season. During seasonal periods of heavy seed accumulation, larger animals carried more seeds, which accumulated most often on the hindlimbs and on the long‐haired “cape” (a secondary sexual characteristic) of adult males. Geladas almost never removed seeds during self‐ or social grooming. Rather, data on seed gain and loss from focal follows indicate that geladas gain and lose seeds every few minutes as they walk and sit in an upright feeding position amidst terrestrial vegetation. We estimate that, on average, geladas disperse seeds roughly 80 m from their parent plants. Geladas appear to exert negative and positive fitness impacts on A. melanantha by regularly consuming its herbaceous and underground tissues and dispersing its seeds.

Abstract in Amharic is available with online material.
‘Catching the new’: Exploring the impact of professional networks on innovative work behavior in healthcare
Authors: Di Vincenzo Fausto , Iacopino Valentina
Published: December 2021

In this paper we aim to investigate the impact of professional networks on Innovative Work Behavior in the healthcare setting. We investigate a community of 181 primary care physicians in Italy. Social network analysis techniques and ordinal regression model were used to understand to what extent the degree of collaboration and advice among physicians impacts on their propensity to adopt innovative treatments in clinical practice. Our findings document that the more central physicians are in their professional network occurring with peers, the more likely they are to display an innovative behavior. Results also show that the more connected the physicians are with colleagues employed in hospital settings, the more likely they are to display an innovative behavior. Finally, we found that the degree of centrality in the professional network with peers moderates the relationship between centrality in the network with hospital colleagues and their propensity towards innovative behavior. This study provides managers with new insights into the relational determinants affecting innovative behavior in the workplace and suggests the use of analytical tools to formalize and integrate the professional relationships of different individuals.
Commentary: Three tasks for eco‐anxiety research – a commentary on Thompson et al. (2021)
Authors: Pihkala Panu
Published: December 2021

Based on years of interdisciplinary research about eco‐anxiety, the author discusses here the new research article by Thompson et al. (2021) and depicts three major challenges for eco‐anxiety research. The first challenge is the multifaceted character of anxiety. Eco‐anxiety is related to both motivation and distress, as the results of Thompson et al. (2021) also show. The second challenge is the need to know about the coping skills of the person and the social group, when eco‐anxiety is measured and especially if its relation to pro‐environmental behaviour is studied. There may be high distress, but still the person or group may be able to cope constructively. The third challenge is to integrate knowledge about emotional skills in this kind of research. The author discusses the item related to crying about climate change in recent measures of climate anxiety (Clayton & Karazsia 2020) and links this discussion about coping with the results of Thompson et al. (2021). The new article brings important empirical evidence about the complexity of eco‐anxiety, even while the data is limited.
Spawning strategies ofGalaxias gollumoidesMcDowall and Chadderton (Gollum galaxias) from wetland and stream habitats
Authors: Dunn Nicholas R. , O'Brien Leanne K. , Closs Gerard P.
Published: December 2021

Galaxias gollumoidesMcDowall and Chadderton occurs in contrasting hydrological environments across Southland and Stewart Island, New Zealand. Our study experimentally investigated intraspecific variation inG. gollumoidesfrom wetland and stream habitats, testing for phenotypic divergence in spawning substrate choice, and that spawning timing is influenced by the proximate hydrological and meteorological environments. Wetland and streamG. gollumoidesdisplayed intraspecific behavioural divergence, utilising contrasting spawning substrates across multiple tanks, even when held in common experimental conditions.Galaxias gollumoidesdisplayed intraspecific spawning timing differences with wetland‐sourcedG. gollumoidesspawning earlier than stream‐sourcedG. gollumoides. Spawning also occurred significantly more often during peaks of warmer mean daily water temperature and barometric pressure, than during colder temperature, low‐pressure periods. Interannual variation in initial spawning timing was also attributed to differences in water temperature. In combination, experimental evidence‐ and field‐based observations support our hypothesis thatG. gollumoidescan utilise available substrates in habitats of contrasting hydrology and structure, while spawning timing is controlled by changes in proximate environmental conditions. These characteristics may enhance a population's recruitment success and the species persistence in the fluctuating hydrological environments of ephemeral wetlands and tributary streams that were once likely widespread in Southland.
Are male meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) influenced by social odor context with regard to scent marking behaviors?
Authors: Scauzillo Ryan C. , Ferkin Michael H.
Published: December 2021

Meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) rely on olfactory communication, such as scent marking, to find and secure mating opportunities during the breeding season. Scent marks, and odors in general, provide information about the donors and persist in the environment for extended periods, allowing a wide audience. Whether a vole responds to another scent mark(s), or odor(s), depends on the social context and the information the odor provides about the donor(s). Therefore, we examined if male scent marking toward a social odor or female meadow voles is influenced by information present or previously encountered based on contextual differences in the social odor. We presented males with two odor associations of a male with a female with contextual differences in the age of the rival. We tested male scent marking under two conditions: one with two social odors present, current information, and a second with the females present from previously encountered social information, prior information. It was found that rival male age did not affect the scent marking behavior of males toward a social odor or female voles. Rival male age also did not affect preference as males did not show a preference for either female. The lack of an effect may lie in the properties of scent marks and the natural history of meadow voles during the breeding season. The odor of an individual rival may not represent a strong enough competitive threat to influence a signaler's decisions, but the association could still provide the signaler with valuable information about which females are considered high quality.