bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Overexpression of human alpha-Synuclein leads to dysregulated microbiome/metabolites with ageing in a rat model of Parkinson disease
Authors: Singh Yogesh , Trautwein Christoph , Romani Joan , Salker Madhuri S , Neckel Peter H , Fraccaroli Isabel , Abeditashi Mahkameh , Woerner Nils , Admard Jakob , Dhariwal Achal , Dueholm Morten S , Schäfer Karl-Herbert , Lang Florian , Otzen Daniel , Lashuel Hilal A , Riess Olaf , Casadei Nicolas
Published: December 2020

Since Braak’s hypothesis stating that sporadic Parkinson’s disease follows a specific progression of the pathology from the peripheral to the central nervous system and can be monitored by detecting accumulation of the alpha-Synuclein protein. There is growing interest in understanding how the gut (commensal) microbiome can regulate alpha-Synuclein accumulation which can lead to PD. We studied a transgenic rat model overexpressing the human alpha-Synuclein and found that the protein overexpression resulted in gut alpha-Synuclein expression and aggregation in the gut neurons with advancing age. A progressive gut microbial composition alteration characterized by the reduction of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio could be detected in the young transgenic rat model and interestingly this ratio was then increased with aging. This observation was accompanied in older animals by intestinal inflammation, increase gut permeability and a robust alteration in metabolites production characterized by the increase of succinate level in the feces and serum. Manipulation of the gut bacteria by short-term antibiotics treatment revealed a complete loss of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and reduction in succinate levels. Although antibiotics treatment did not change alpha-synuclein expression in the enteric nervous system of the colon, it can reduce alpha-synuclein expression in the olfactory bulb of the transgenic rats. In summary, synchronous with ageing, our data emphasize that the gut microbiome dysbiosis leads to a specific alteration of gut metabolites which are reflected in the serum and can be modulated by the environment.
Differential Expression ofNPAS4in the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex Following Acute Opioid Intoxication
Authors: Sosnowski David W. , Jaffe Andrew E. , Tao Ran , Deep-Soboslay Amy , Kleinman Joel E. , Hyde Thomas M. , Shu Chang , Sabunciyan Sarven , Maher Brion S.
Published: December 2020

Background and Aims

The physical, emotional, and social impacts of opioid abuse are well known; although preclinical models reveal the neurobiological pathways altered through opioid abuse, comprehensive assessments of gene expression in human brain samples are lacking. The goals of the present study were to compare gene expression in the prefrontal cortex between brain samples of individuals who died of acute opioid intoxication and group-matched controls, and to test if differential gene expression was enriched in gene sets related to opioid use.

Design

Cross-sectional study using human brains donated to the Lieber Institute for Brain Development. Study groups included 72 brain samples from individuals who died of acute opioid intoxication, 53 group-matched psychiatric control samples, and 28 group-matched normal control samples.

Setting

Maryland, USA.

Participants

Postmortem tissue samples of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex from 153 deceased individuals(Mage= 35.42,SD= 9.43 years; 62% male; 77% White).

Measurements

Whole transcriptome RNA sequencing was used to generate exon counts, and differential expression was tested usinglimma-voom.Analyses controlled for relevant sociodemographic characteristics, technical covariates, and cryptic relatedness and batch effects using quality surrogate variable analysis. Gene set enrichment analyses (GSEA) also were conducted.

Findings

Sixteen genes were differentially expressed (i.e., FDR-correctedp< .10) in opioid samples compared to control samples. The top differentially expressed gene,NPAS4(FDR adjustedp= .005), was downregulated in opioid samples and has previously been implicated in cocaine use. Enrichment analyses did not provide evidence for enrichment in pathways obviously related to opioid use.

Conclusions

NPAS4is differentially expressed in the prefrontal cortex of subjects that died of an opioid overdose, providing evidence for another gene with functional relevance to opioid use and overdose.
Genome-wide Copy Number Variations in a Large Cohort of Bantu African Children
Authors: Yilmaz Feyza , Null Megan , Astling David , Yu Hung-Chun , Cole Joanne , Santorico Stephanie A. , Hallgrimsson Benedikt , Manyama Mange , Spritz Richard A. , Hendricks Audrey E. , Shaikh Tamim H.
Published: December 2020

Background

Copy number variations (CNVs) account for a substantial proportion of inter-individual genomic variation. However, a majority of genomic variation studies have focused on single-nucleotide variations (SNVs), with limited genome-wide analysis of CNVs in large cohorts, especially in populations that are under-represented in genetic studies including people of African descent.

Results

In this study, we carried out a genome-wide analysis in > 3400 healthy Bantu Africans from Tanzania using high density (> 2.5 million probes) genotyping arrays. We identified over 400000 CNVs larger than 1 kilobase (kb), for an average of 120 CNVs (SE = 2.57) per individual. We detected 866 large CNVs (≥ 300 kb), some of which overlapped genomic regions previously associated with multiple congenital anomaly syndromes, including Prader-Willi/Angelman syndrome (Type1) and 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. Furthermore, several of the common CNVs seen in our cohort (≥ 5%) overlap genes previously associated with developmental disorders.

Conclusion

These findings may help refine the phenotypic outcomes and penetrance of variations affecting genes and genomic regions previously implicated in diseases. Our study provides one of the largest datasets of CNVs from individuals of African ancestry, enabling improved clinical evaluation and disease association of CNVs observed in research and clinical studies in African populations.
ace2expression is higher in intestines and liver while being tightly regulated in development and disease in zebrafish
Authors: Keskus Ayse Gokce , Tombaz Melike , Arici Burcin I. , Dincaslan Fatma B. , Nabi Afshan , Shehwana Huma , Konu Ozlen
Published: December 2020

Human Angiotensin I Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) that acts as a receptor for SARS-CoV-2 entry is highly expressed in human type II pneumocytes and enterocytes and similarly in other mammals and zebrafish (Danio rerio). The zebrafish genome has a highly conserved, one-to-one ortholog ofACE2, i.e.,ace2, whose expression profile however has not yet been studied during development or in pathologies relevant to COVID-19. Herein, we identified significant development-, tissue- and gender-specific modulations inace2expression based on meta-analysis of zebrafish Affymetrix transcriptomics datasets (ndatasets=107, GPL1319 in GEO database). Co-expression network analysis oface2revealed distinct positively correlated (carboxypeptidase activity and fibrin clot formation), and negatively correlated (cilia biogenesis/transport and chromatin modifications) STRING network modules. Using additional transcriptomics datasets, we showed zebrafish embryos before 3 days post fertilization (dpf) exhibited low levels oface2that increased significantly until 4 dpf implicating a role forace2in organogenesis. Re-analysis of RNA-seq datasets from zebrafish adult tissues demonstratedace2was expressed highly in intestines, variably in liver, and at lower levels in other organs. In addition, zebrafish females and males showed significant dimorphism in their age-dependent expression oface2, and between ovary and testis where the latter had higher levels. Moreover, we demonstratedace2expression was significantly modulated under different physiological and pathological conditions associated with development, diet, infection, and inflammation. Our findings implicate a novel translational role for zebrafishace2in differentiation and pathologies predominantly found in intestines and liver, in which the effects of SARS-CoV-2 could be detrimental.
Broadband X-ray ptychography using multi-wavelength algorithm
Authors: Yao Yudong , Jiang Yi , Klug Jeffrey , Nashed Youssef , Roehrig Christian , Preissner Curt , Marin Fabricio , Wojcik Michael , Cossairt Oliver , Cai Zhonghou , Vogt Stefan , Lai Barry , Deng Junjing
Published: December 2020

Ptychography is a rapidly developing scanning microscopy which is able to view the internal structures of samples at a high resolution beyond the illumination size. The achieved spatial resolution is theoretically dose-limited. A broadband source can provide much higher flux compared with a monochromatic source; however, it conflicts with the necessary coherence requirements of this coherent diffraction imaging technique. In this paper, a multi-wavelength reconstruction algorithm has been developed to deal with the broad bandwidth in ptychography. Compared with the latest development of mixed-state reconstruction approach, this multi-wavelength approach is more accurate in the physical model, and also considers the spot size variation as a function of energy due to the chromatic focusing optics. Therefore, this method has been proved in both simulation and experiment to significantly improve the reconstruction when the source bandwidth, illumination size and scan step size increase. It is worth mentioning that the accurate and detailed information of the energy spectrum for the incident beam is not required in advance for the proposed method. Further, we combine multi-wavelength and mixed-state approaches to jointly solve temporal and spatial partial coherence in ptychography so that it can handle various disadvantageous experimental effects. The significant relaxation in coherence requirements by our approaches allows the use of high-flux broadband X-ray sources for high-efficient and high-resolution ptychographic imaging.
Determination of X-ray pulse duration via intensity correlation measurement of X-ray fluorescence. Erratum
Authors: Inoue Ichiro , Tamasaku Kenji , Osaka Taito , Inubushi Yuichi , Yabashi Makina
Published: December 2020

Corrections to equations and experimental results in the paper by Inoue et al. [(2019). J. Synchrotron Rad.
26, 2050–2054] are made.
1,7,7-Trimethyl-3-(naphthalen-2-ylcarbonyl)bicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-one
Authors: Bendia Sabrina , Ouari Kamel , Ait Ali Mustapha , Firdousi Larbi el , Nazarenko Alexander Y.
Published: December 2020

The title compound, C21H22O2, crystallizes in its keto form. The molecules are connected via weak C—H...O interactions, forming infinite chains perpendicular to the [001] axis.
Flooding in mega-cities: using structural equation modeling to assess flood impact in Dhaka
Authors: Fatemi Md. Nawrose , Okyere Seth Asare , Diko Stephen Kofi , Abunyewah Matthew , Kita Michihiro , Rahman Tahmina
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to bring the more recent discourse on the multilayered and interconnected dimensions of flood vulnerability, damage and risk reduction at the microlevel of global south cities to Dhaka, by looking at multiple factors and their relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional research design was used to generate data from 315 respondents in five neighborhoods in Eastern Dhaka, located in high flood damage zones with previous flood experience, using a structural equation model to test nine hypothetical relationships.

Findings

The model confirms that low socioeconomic conditions often lead households to use social capital to traverse flood vulnerabilities in cities. It also advances this notion to show that flood impact unleashes social capital through collective activities in responding to flooding. Further, it reveals that while socioeconomic conditions influence flood impacts, these also engender the necessary mechanisms to unleash collective responses to flooding.

Practical implications

This paper suggests the need for context-specific interventions that transcend physical and infrastructural responses to integrate socioeconomic conditions as a basis of understanding and addressing flood vulnerabilities. To achieve this requires transcending generic participatory mechanisms to use frameworks that encourage genuine participation and partnerships using coproduction.

Originality/value

This paper engages both the inner city and peri-urban areas of Dhaka to extend current conversations on the various conditions underlying flood impact to offer entry points for integrated flood management interventions at the microlevel. This paper contributes to fill the research gap in Dhaka where very few studies have examined flood damages to residential buildings and its driving factors at the neighborhood level.
Supporting students with coaching or training depending on their basic psychological needs
Authors: Diller Sandra Julia , Muehlberger Christina , Braumandl Isabell , Jonas Eva
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This study aims to investigate how university students' basic psychological needs (autonomy, competence and relatedness) determine whether coaching or training is more supportive for them.

Design/methodology/approach

Real-life coaching (N1 = 110) and training (N2 = 176) processes with students as clients were examined, measuring the students' needs before the coaching/training, their need fulfilment after the coaching/training and their satisfaction and goal attainment/intrinsic motivation after the coaching/training.

Findings

The results show that university students with a higher autonomy need had this need fulfilled to a greater extent through coaching, while university students with a higher competence need had this need fulfilled to a greater extent through training.

Research limitations/implications

The research focused on university students and was conducted at German-speaking universities, so it is unclear to what extent the findings are transferable to other contexts. In addition, future research is needed to further compare other personal development tools, such as mentoring or consulting.

Practical implications

The results depict the relevance of the most appropriate personal development tool (coaching or training) depending on students' needs. Furthermore, coaches should be autonomy-supportive, while trainers should be competence-supportive.

Originality/value

Supporting students with the most appropriate personal development tool is essential for the effectiveness of this tool. Thus, the personal development tool used should reflect students' needs: students with a high autonomy need should receive coaching, while students with a high competence need should receive training.
Consumers' preferences and willingness to pay for domestic chicken cut parts in Ghana: evidence from the Kumasi metropolis
Authors: Osei Mensah James , Etuah Seth , Musah Emmanuel Fiifi , Botchwey Frederick , Oppong Adjei Loretta , Owusu Kofi
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This study aims to analyse consumers' preferences for domestic chicken cut parts and the premium they are willing to pay for the various parts using data from a contingent valuation survey of individual chicken meat consumers in the Kumasi Metropolitan Area of Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach

The willingness to pay premiums are obtained using the double-bounded dichotomous choice approach. Determinants of the consumers' willingness to pay amounts are identified through a multivariate Tobit regression analysis.

Findings

The study finds that the wing is the most preferred chicken part by the consumers followed by the thighs. All consumers who express interest in a particular domestic chicken cut part are willing to pay a premium. Age, sex, years of formal education, household size and income level of the consumers as well as convenience, product availability and perceived wholesomeness of the product are identified as the key factors that influence the willingness to pay amounts.

Research limitations/implications

The findings and recommendations of this study could serve as a guide to domestic poultry meat producers and investors in Ghana and other developing countries on how to process or package the meat for the market or consumers. This could further contribute to policy formulation regarding the development of the domestic poultry meat industry.

Originality/value

The uniqueness of this study is seen in the contributions it makes to the literature on consumer preferences and willingness to pay for chicken cut parts from a developing country perspective where the market for these products is virtually non-existent.
The impact of economic freedom on the gender pay gap: evidence from a survey of UK households
Authors: Apergis Nicholas , Lynch Nicola
Published: December 2020

Purpose

Using survey datasets, the purpose of this work explores the impact of economic freedom on the gender pay gap in the UK.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis combines Economic Freedom of the World data with the Understanding Society (USoc) Microdata series.

Findings

The results document that economic freedom positively affects the gender pay gap. When the components of the index are considered, the findings indicate different effects of various types of policy, i.e. less government spending, stronger trade liberalization conditions and levels of corruption lead to higher gaps; stronger legal and property rights and a sounder money system have no impact on the gap. Moreover, a stronger impact in the manufacturing industry, part-time workers and those who work in the non-London regions is observed.

Practical implications

The findings imply that reductions to government spending programmes can potentially aggravate the gap in hourly wages paid between males and females and should, therefore, be implemented. It may be also possible to provide females the training or education necessary to effectively compete in the workforce, before eliminating any spending programme they rely on.

Originality/value

The first study explores the link between economic freedom and gender pay gap through a unique survey dataset with UK households.
FIIs herding in energy sector of Indian stock market
Authors: Madaan Veena , Shrivastava Monica
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This paper investigates herding behavior and its persistence among foreign institutional investors (FIIs) in the individual stocks of the energy sector of Indian stock exchange by focusing on post turmoil period. The study also examines the relation of herding with the individual return, market return, trading volume and conditional volatility of individual and market return.

Design/methodology/approach

The presence of herding is investigated by Lakonishoket al.(1992) model, value-based and count-based herd ratio measure among FIIs in individual stock of energy sector post turmoil period. Further, run test was employed to check the persistency in herding and multivariate distributed lag to investigate the relationship with the market determinant.

Findings

The result indicates the existence of herding in most of the companies and strong persistence in all the companies. The intensity of buy side herding is higher than sell side. Herding and individual return both are significant driving forces of FIIs herding, while trading volume and market volatility in few companies exhibit inverse relationship.

Research limitations/implications

This study is limited to investigation of energy sector stock.

Social implications

Stock market is significantly influenced by FIIs and their propensity to herd may generate instability in the stock market. Therefore, regulatory authority should continuously monitor the flow of fund by FIIs.

Originality/value

Herding in the individual stock of the energy sector was not previously performed.
Passenger satisfaction and loyalty for app-based ride-sharing services: through the tunnel of perceived quality and value for money
Authors: Ahmed Selim , Choudhury Musfiq Mannan , Ahmed Ezaz , Chowdhury Ujjal Yaman , Asheq Ahmed Al
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the passengers' perception of app or application-based ride-sharing service in Bangladesh. The research directly measures the passengers' perception of perceived quality and value for money of using app-based ride-sharing services in Bangladesh and how it impacts passengers' satisfaction. The study also measures the indirect relationship of perceived quality and value for money and passengers' loyalty through the mediating effects of passenger satisfaction in app-based ride-sharing services.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used an online self-administered survey questionnaire to collect data from the respondents who have experienced app-based ride-sharing services in Bangladesh. In this study, 400 questionnaires were distributed to the respondents online (Google form) and received 281 useful responses that give a 70.25% response rate. The survey data were analyzed based on construct validity, convergent validity and structural equation modeling by using Smart PLS 3.

Findings

The research findings indicate that perceived quality and value for money positively and significantly influence passengers' satisfaction. The passengers' satisfaction has a direct and significant relationship with passenger loyalty. The research findings also indicate that perceived quality and value for money have an indirect relationship with passenger loyalty through the mediating effect of passenger loyalty in app-based ride-sharing services.

Practical implications

Both perceived quality and value for money have been the key drivers of passenger satisfaction and loyalty. Thus, the ride-sharing service providers should emphasize enhancing passenger value perception and quality service to reinforce passenger satisfaction and loyalty by increasing communication with the passengers about their apps. Besides, the service providers need to keep track of passengers' satisfaction levels and adopt necessary initiatives to ensure satisfied passengers toward loyalty.

Originality/value

Limited studies have investigated the impacts of perceived quality and value for money on passenger satisfaction and loyalty to app-based rideshare service. It is a suitable time as the research findings will help ride-sharing service providers enhance their quality performance to compete healthily. Simultaneously, passengers can enjoy improved, and value-added services due to increasing competition among the app-based service providers. Regulators can also emphasize passenger quality services and the importance of money as a proposition while formulating policy and regulations toward the management of ride-sharing companies.
Subtractive proteomic analysis of antigenic extracellular proteins and design a multi‐epitope vaccine against Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Solanki Vandana , Tiwari Monalisa , Tiwari Vishvanath
Published: December 2020

Staphylococcus aureus is a versatile Gram's positive bacterium that can reside as an asymptomatic colonizer, which can cause a wide range of skin, soft‐tissue, and nosocomial infections. A vaccine against multi‐drug resistant S. aureus, therefore, is urgently needed. Subtractive proteomics and reverse vaccinology are newly emerging techniques to design multiepitope‐based vaccines. The analysis of 7290 proteomes (sensitive and resistant strains), five potent nonhuman homologous vaccine targets [(UNIPORT ID Q2FZL3 (Staphopain B), Q2G2R8 (Staphopain A), Q2FWP0 (uncharacterized leukocidin‐like protein 1), Q2G1S6 (uncharacterized protein), and Q2FWV3 (Staphylokinase, putative)] were selected. These proteins were absent in the gut microbiome, which further enhances the significance of these proteins in vaccine design. These five virulence‐associated proteins mainly have a role in the invasion mechanism in the host phagocyte cells. MHC I, MHC II, and B cell epitopes were identified in these five proteins. Finalized epitopes were examined by different online servers to screen suitable epitopes for multi‐epitope based vaccine design. Shortlisted antigenic and nonallergenic associated epitopes were joined with linkers to design 30 variants (VSA1‐VSA30) of multi‐epitope vaccine conjugates. The antigenicity and allergenicity of all the 30 vaccine constructs were identified, and VSA30 was found to have the highest antigenicity and lowest allergenicity, and hence was selected for further study. Accordingly, VSA30 was docked with different HLA allelic variants, and the best‐docked complex (VSA30‐1SYS) was further analyzed by molecular dynamics simulation (MDS). The MDS result confirms the interaction of VSA30 with MHC (HLA‐allelic variant). Thus, the final vaccine construct was in silico cloned in the pET28a vector for suitable expression in a heterologous system. Therefore, the designed vaccine construct VSA‐30 can be developed as an appropriate vaccine to target S. aureus infection. VSA‐30 still needs experimental validation to assure the antigenic and immunogenic properties.
Quantifying carbon in tree bark: The importance of bark morphology and tree size
Authors: Neumann Mathias , Lawes Michael J.
Published: December 2020

Bark contributes approximately 20% to the total above‐ground biomass of trees, yet bark is not properly accounted for when estimating carbon sequestered by trees. Current allometric functions estimate tree volume from diameter measured over the bark, and derive bark density and carbon content from estimates for wood. As the bark density of hardwood species is 40%–50% lower than the wood density, but nearly equivalent in conifers, bark carbon is overestimated for most species. The latter is further exacerbated by variation in bark volume with bark surface morphology.

Fissured bark volume is overestimated by diameter over bark measurements by up to 40%. The vacant space in fissures can be accounted for by a bark fissure index (BFI). We calculate bark carbon for Australian species from a non‐destructive and effective BFI using bark thickness measured in the field.

Bark volume, and in turn bark carbon, scaled inversely with tree size (diameter) so that bark volume comprised 42% of small trees (10 cm diameter at breast height, DBH) but 23% of large trees (50 cm DBH). Our BFI method using a bark thickness gauge (BGM) yielded similar results than using the less time‐efficient contour gauge method (CM) to estimate BFI (bias BGM‐CM −1.3%, non‐significant at p = 0.72). Both BGM and CM had an error of <4% compared to digitized BFI from destructive sampled stem disks. An average of 15 bark gauge measurements per tree estimated bark thickness (and inconsequence BFI) for both fissured and unfissured bark with <20% error relative to the exact value.

Using the bark gauge method, BFI can be rapidly measured from large numbers of trees needed for estimating bark carbon at the community level and modelling carbon uptake, storage and cycling in woody biomes.
Active bone material containing modified recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 2 induces bone regeneration in the alveolar process cleft in rabbits
Authors: Wang Hu , Sun Xue‐Cheng , Zhang Dan , Li Jian‐Hui , Yin Li‐Qiang , Yan Yu‐Fang , Ma Xu , Xia Hong‐Fei
Published: December 2020

The clinical application of most materials used to fill severe bone defects is limited owing to the insufficient ability of such materials to induce bone regeneration over a long repair period. The purpose of this study was to establish a model for the alveolar process cleft in rabbits to evaluate the effect of active bone material in bone defect repair. The active bone material used in this study is a new bone repair material composed of a heterogeneous collagen membrane implanted with modified recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 2. This proposed active bone material can specifically bind to collagen. Twenty‐four young Japanese white rabbits (JWRs) were selected and randomly divided into four groups (normal, control, material, and bone morphogenetic protein groups). The alveolar process cleft model was established by removing an equal volume bone at the left maxillary position. Blood samples were collected from the JWRs 3 and 6 months after the surgery to evaluate the biocompatibility of the active bone materials. Subsequently, the skull model was established, and the appearance was observed. Imaging methods (including X‐ray examination and micro‐computerized tomography scanning), tissue staining, and immunohistochemistry were employed for the evaluation. The bone collagen material and active bone material exhibited high biocompatibility. In addition, the ability of the active bone material to induce bone repair and regeneration was higher than that of the bone collagen material. The active bone material exhibited satisfactory bone regeneration performance in rabbits, indicating its potential as an active material for repairing congenital alveolar process clefts in humans.
Albuminuria and retinal vessel density in diabetes without diabetic retinopathy: the Kailuan Eye Study
Authors: Wang Qian , Liu Lili , Jonas Jost B. , Gao Bixia , Wu Shou Ling , Chen Shuo Hua , Yan Yan Ni , Yang Jing Yan , Zhou Wen Jia , Yang Mo Chi , Chan Szy Yann , Zhang Luxia , Wei Wen Bin , Wang Ya Xing
Published: December 2020

Background

Diabetic retinopathy and chronic kidney disease are both major complications of diabetes mellitus. We explored the relationship between retinal vessel density (VD) and albuminuria in diabetic patients without conventionally defined diabetic retinopathy.

Methods

The cross‐sectional community‐based Kailuan Diabetic Retinopathy Study included patients with type 2 diabetes without diabetic retinopathy who participated in the community‐based longitudinal Kailuan study and who had undergone ocular fundus photography, kidney function assessment, and optical coherence tomographic angiography (OCT‐angiography) for the assessment the retinal perfusion density (PD) and retinal VD.

Results

The study included 447 patients (mean age: 60.9 ± 9.7 years). Higher PD and VD were associated with a lower urinary albumin‐creatinine ratio (uACR) (macular region: p = 0.007: standardized regression coefficient beta: −0.14; and p = 0.008, beta: −0.13, respectively; parafoveal region: p = 0.006, beta: −0.14; and p = 0.007, beta: −0.14, respectively) after adjusting for age and ocular axial length. In a reverse manner, higher uACR was associated with lower PD and VD (macular region: p = 0.009, beta: −0.14; and p = 0.01, beta: −0.14, respectively; parafoveal region: p = 0.008, beta: −0.14; and p = 0.01, beta: −0.14, respectively), after adjusting for diabetes duration, blood pressure, serum concentration of C‐reactive protein and high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol and ocular axial length. In a multivariable model, the prevalence of macroalbuminuria increased by 11% (95% CI: 2%, 18%) and 17% (95% CI: 3%, 30%), respectively, for each mm−1 decrease in VD and each unit decrease in PD.

Conclusions and Relevance

After adjusting for systemic and ocular parameters, diabetic patients without diabetic retinopathy showed a reduction in OCT‐angiographic retinal vascular measurements in association with systemic parameters indicating chronic kidney disease. Optical coherence tomographic (OCT)‐angiographic retinal microvascular parameters may serve as markers for chronic kidney disease.
Genetic factors associated with age‐related macular degeneration: identification of a novel PRPH2 single nucleotide polymorphism associated with increased risk of the disease
Authors: Ulańczyk Zofia , Grabowicz Aleksandra , Mozolewska‐Piotrowska Katarzyna , Safranow Krzysztof , Kawa Miłosz Piotr , Pałucha Andrzej , Krawczyk Mariusz , Sikora Piotr , Matczyńska Ewa , Machaliński Bogusław , Machalińska Anna
Published: December 2020

Purpose

Age‐related macular degeneration (AMD) is associated with multiple environmental and genetic risk factors. Two main risk factors for AMD are variants in the CFH and ARMS2/HTRA1 genes. We investigated over 2000 variants in AMD patients and controls using high‐throughput sequencing methods to search for variants associated with AMD.

Methods

A total of 296 AMD patients and 100 controls were enrolled in this study. Genetic analysis was performed with the Illumina NextSeq 500 system.

Results

Multivariate analysis of patients and controls, adjusted for age, sex and smoking status (pack‐years), revealed that three SNPs were strong risk factors independently associated with AMD: CFH Y402H, ARMS A69S and PRPH2 c.582‐67T>A (rs3818086). The TC genotype in CFH Y402H was associated with 1.90‐fold higher odds, and the CC genotype was associated with 5.66‐fold higher odds of AMD compared with the TT genotype. The GT genotype in ARMS A69S was associated with 2.40‐fold higher odds, and the TT genotype was associated with 6.75‐fold higher odds of disease compared with the GG genotype. In the case of rs3818086, the A allele could be considered a ‘risk’ allele, since AA + TA genotypes were associated with 2.33‐fold higher odds of AMD compared with the TT genotype.

Conclusions

Although PRPH2 mutations have been previously implicated in various forms of retinal degeneration, to the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to show that the rs3818086 variant increases the risk for AMD more than two times. Further studies on larger cohorts are required to elucidate how this variant affects protein structure.
A cis‐regulatory change underlying the motor neuron‐specific loss of Ebf expression in immotile tunicate larvae
Authors: Lowe Elijah K. , Racioppi Claudia , Peyriéras Nadine , Ristoratore Filomena , Christiaen Lionel , Swalla Billie J. , Stolfi Alberto
Published: December 2020

Many species in the tunicate family Molgulidae have independently lost their swimming larval form and instead develop as tailless, immotile larvae. These larvae do not develop structures that are essential for swimming such as the notochord, otolith, and tail muscles. However, little is known about neural development in these nonswimming larvae. Here, we studied the patterning of the Motor Ganglion (MG) of Molgula occulta, a nonswimming species. We found that spatial patterns of MG neuron regulators in this species are conserved, compared with species with swimming larvae, suggesting that the gene networks regulating their expression are intact despite the loss of swimming. However, expression of the key motor neuron regulatory gene Ebf (Collier/Olf/EBF) was reduced in the developing MG of M. occulta when compared with molgulid species with swimming larvae. This was corroborated by measuring allele‐specific expression of Ebf in hybrid embryos from crosses of M. occulta with the swimming species M. oculata. Heterologous reporter construct assays in the model tunicate species Ciona robusta revealed a specific cis‐regulatory sequence change that reduces expression of Ebf in the MG, but not in other cells. Taken together, these data suggest that MG neurons are still specified in M. occulta larvae, but their differentiation might be impaired due to reduction of Ebf expression levels.
Effects of hillside aspect, landscape features, and kleptoparasitism on the reproductive success of the solitary bee Osmia caerulescens
Authors: Tobajas Estefanía , Rosas‐Ramos Natalia , Asís Josep D. , de Paz Víctor , Tormos José , Baños‐Picón Laura
Published: December 2020

Osmia caerulescens is a generalist solitary bee well‐adapted to altered anthropogenic environments, and the kleptoparasitic wasp Sapyga quinquepunctata has been cited among its natural enemies.

We analysed offspring characteristics of O. caerulescens and S. quinquepunctata, at population and individual levels, and compared these characteristics between sunny and shady aspects and between two zones within the valley that differed in landscape complexity (simple and complex zones).

The offspring production of O. caerulescens was higher in sunny aspect at population and individual levels while S. quinquepunctata was positively associated with the zone with a lower proportion of agricultural land (complex zone). We did not detect a relationship between number of brood cells parasitised and number of brood cells established by host. Despite the parasitism being higher in the area with favourable characteristics for both species, the reproductive success of O. caerulescens did not show signs of reduction. At the individual level, nests with fewer brood cells were more likely to be parasitised.

Studying the relationship of environmental factors and landscape features at population and individual levels provides a better understanding of how these characteristics could be driving the offspring production of the solitary bee and their ecological interactions.
Cognition in Organisations: What it Is and how it Works
Authors: Secchi Davide , Cowley Stephen J.
Published: December 2020

Drawing on contemporary work that traces cognition to embodiment, we present a model of cognition in organisations. In so doing, we add a middle ground to previous models: far from opposing macro to micro, we focus on how the meso influences complex adaptive dynamics. Taking peer‐review as an exemplar, we show that organisational needs can be fulfilled by orchestrated coordination. Constrained by brains and bodies (the micro domain) that attune to structural constraints (the macro domain), human beings use material culture – artefacts, language, practices, etc. – to animate what we call social organising in the meso domain. The resulting coordination can anticipate organisational goals such that, as demonstrated in the case of peer‐review, social organising regulates epistemic practice. Flexible, embodied activity enables reviewers and to meet the aims of organised science by pooling the expertise of those involved. They use multi‐scalar dynamics that are mediated by material, temporal and spatial resources that, when concerted, constrain and enable organisational cognition.
Vaccination against GnRH as a prelude to surgical castration of horses
Authors: Birrell John R. , Schulman Martin L. , Botha Alma E. , Ganswindt André , Fosgate Geoffrey T. , Bertschinger Henk J.
Published: December 2020

Background

Surgical castration is one of the most frequently performed surgeries in horses and is associated with various post‐surgical complications ranging in severity.

Objectives

We investigated the effects of administering an anti‐GnRH vaccine to colts for reduction of testis size on the incidence of complications associated with their subsequent surgical castration.

Study design

Randomised open controlled trial.

Methods

Nineteen colts were randomly assigned to one of the three groups. Treatment Groups V1‐57 and V2‐100 received two treatments of Improvac® (Zoetis, South Africa) before their castration in the field on either Day 57 or Day 100 following first treatment, respectively. Controls similarly received placebo treatments followed by castration on Day 57. Serial measurements of testicular dimensions and serum samples for measuring serum testosterone concentrations (STCs) and anti‐GnRH antibody titres (ABTs) were obtained pre‐ and post‐vaccination and on the day of castration. Clinical data recorded for 10 days determined post‐surgical complications.

Results

All vaccinated colts showed a baseline STC concentration at castration with a strong ABT response. Mean testicular volume of Groups V1‐57 and V2‐100 reduced by 49.7% and 30.8%, respectively, on Day 57 and this further reduced in Group V2‐100 by 63.9% at castration on Day 100. Testis size was significantly correlated with post‐surgical preputial (P = 0.001) and scrotal (P = 0.025) swelling.

Main limitations

A study population of young light horse breed colts and a relatively small sample size limited this pilot study.

Conclusions

Administering two doses of Improvac® in colts 28 days apart prior to castration effectively reduced their testicular volumes with associated significant post‐surgical improvement in both the incidence and degree of local swelling. These results may inform mitigation of potential post‐surgical complications associated with castration in the field.
A bird's‐eye view of reservoirs in the Mississippi Basin tips a need for large‐scale coordination
Authors: Miranda Leandro E. , Coppola Giancarlo , Hatcher Hunter R. , Jargowsky Matthew B. , Moran Zachary S. , Rhodes Michael C.
Published: December 2020

Reservoirs are mostly managed at local scales as spatially independent units. A basin‐scale perspective may increase awareness at a broader scope and generate insight not evident at local scales. We examined the array of reservoir attributes and fisheries in the Mississippi Basin to identify management opportunities. The basin is the third largest in the world and includes over 1,700 reservoirs >100 ha, the most of any river basin. Our bird's‐eye view shows a piecemeal approach where reservoirs are mostly administered at the local level. Basin‐wide or catchment coordination to holistically address problems that recur across the basin is mostly lacking. A basin‐wide coordination arrangement could facilitate various facets of reservoir management. We reviewed governance arrangements in major river basins across the globe and concluded that the basin‐wide administrative layer we encourage for the Mississippi Basin may already exist in some basins but may not be directly applicable everywhere.
Dialogue between gastrointestinal tract and skin: New insights into the Helicobacter pylori and atopic dermatitis
Authors: Xue Qian , Li Xia , Li Yuchen , Xu Jun , Wu Zhe , Wang Jingtong
Published: December 2020

Background

Although many studies have focused on the protective function of H pylori in some allergic diseases, it remains unknown as whether H pylori infection exerts a similar protective effect on atopic dermatitis(AD). Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the association between H pylori infection and AD.

Materials and methods

An animal model of H pylori infection‐AD was established by epicutaneous sensitization with calcipotriol after infection with H pylori by gavage. The Treg cells were analyzed by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. The expression of key inflammatory cytokines in dermal tissues was investigated at the mRNA level by real‐time PCR.

Results

Compared with that in the H pylori‐negative AD group, the severity of skin lesions, such as hyperemia, erythema, and swelling, was lower in the H pylori‐positive AD group, while the serum IgE level decreased significantly in the H pylori‐positive AD group. The percentage of CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ Treg cells in the peripheral blood and the number of Foxp3+ cells in dermal tissues increased significantly in the H pylori‐positive AD group. The expression of IL‐10 and TGF‐β was upregulated, while the expression of IL‐4 mRNA was downregulated in dermal tissues in the H pylori‐positive AD group. The adoptive transfer assay showed that the number of CFSE+ Treg cells in the cervical lymph nodes of AD mice was significantly higher than that in normal mice, indicating the Tregs in H pylori‐positive mice had a tendency to migrate to the skin tissue. It was also found that H pylori infection induced CCR4+ Treg cells expansion synchronously in gastric lymph nodes, spleen, blood, mesenteric lymph node (MLN), and cervical lymph nodes by the time of H pylori infection.

Conclusions

H pylori infection alleviated calcipotriol‐inducing AD manifestations by inducing the amplification of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Treg cells in the peripheral blood. H pylori showed possible protection against atopic dermatitis, suggesting an immune dialogue between gastrointestinal tract and skin.
Views about integrating smoking cessation treatment within psychological services for patients with common mental illness: A multi‐perspective qualitative study
Authors: Taylor Gemma M. J. , Sawyer Katherine , Kessler David , Munafò Marcus R. , Aveyard Paul , Shaw Alison
Published: December 2020

Background

Tobacco smoking rates are significantly higher in people with common mental illness compared to those without. Smoking cessation treatment could be offered as part of usual outpatient psychological care, but currently is not.

Objective

To understand patient and health care professionals' views about integrating smoking cessation treatment into outpatient psychological services for common mental illness.

Design

Qualitative in‐depth interviews, with thematic analysis.

Participants

Eleven Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) psychological wellbeing practitioners (PWPs), six IAPT patients, and six stop smoking advisors were recruited from English smoking cessation, and IAPT services.

Results

Patients reported psychological benefits from smoking, and also described smoking as a form of self‐harm. Stop smoking advisors displayed therapeutic pessimism and stigmatizing attitudes towards helping people with mental illness to quit smoking. PWPs have positive attitudes towards smoking cessation treatment for people with common mental illness. PWPs and patients accept evidence that smoking tobacco may harm mental health, and quitting might benefit mental health. PWPs report expertise in helping people with common mental illness to make behavioural changes in the face of mood disturbances and low motivation. PWPs felt confident in offering smoking cessation treatments to patients, but suggested a caseload reduction may be required to deliver smoking cessation support in IAPT.

Conclusions

IAPT appears to be a natural environment for smoking cessation treatment. PWPs may need additional training, and a caseload reduction. Integration of smoking cessation treatment into IAPT services should be tested in a pilot and feasibility study.

Patient or public contribution

Service users and members of the public were involved in study design and interpretation of data.
Associations of toll‐like receptor 4 and 2 gene polymorphisms with susceptibility to ankylosing spondylitis: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Gao Shutao , Zhang Jian , Xu Tao , Xun Chuanhui , Cao Rui , Guo Hailong , Liang Weidong , Sheng Weibin
Published: December 2020

Background

The published evidences on the correlations of toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4) and TLR9 gene polymorphisms and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) were conflicting. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether TLR4 and TLR9 gene polymorphisms conferred susceptibility to AS through a meta‐analysis approach.

Methods

Databases of PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CNKI and Wanfang were retrieved for relevant publications up to 20 June 2020. Study quality was assessed based on Newcastle‐Ottawa scale (NOS). Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were used to judge the associations.

Results

Totally, 13 articles with 3,055 AS cases and 4,238 controls were incorporated into this meta‐analysis, and four most widely reported polymorphisms (TLR4‐rs4986790, TLR4‐rs4986791, TLR9‐rs55704465 and TLR9‐rs187084) were analysed. All included studies were in high quality. The pooled data did not support any significant association between the four studied polymorphisms and AS susceptibility.

Conclusions

The present meta‐analysis suggests there is no significant association between TLR4‐rs4986790, TLR4‐rs4986791, TLR9‐rs55704465 and TLR9‐rs187084 polymorphisms and AS.
COVID‐19‐associated collapsing glomerulopathy: a report of two cases and literature review
Authors: Izzedine Hassan , Brocheriou Isabelle , Arzouk Nadia , Seilhean Danielle , Couvert Philippe , Cluzel Philippe , Pha Micheline , Le Monnier Ophelie , Varnous Shadia , Andreelli Fabrizio , Amoura Zahir , Mathian Alexis
Published: December 2020

Nephrotic range proteinuria has been reported during the course of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) and coronavirus disease (COVID‐19). However, the pathological mechanisms underlying this manifestation are unknown. In this article, we present two cases of collapsing glomerulopathy (CG) associated with acute tubular necrosis during the course of COVID‐19, and review the literature for similar reports. In our two cases, as in the 14 cases reported so far, the patients were of African ancestry. The 14 patients assessed had an APOL1 high‐risk genotype. At the end of the reported period, two patients had died and five patients were still requiring dialysis. The 16 cases detailed in the present report strongly argue in favour of a causal link between SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and the occurrence of CG in patients homozygous for APOL1 high‐risk genotype for which the term COVID‐associated nephropathy (COVIDAN) can be put forward.