bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rethinking equine anaesthetic risk: Development of a novel Combined Horse Anaesthetic Risk Identification and Optimisation tool (CHARIOT)
Authors: Hubbell J. A. E. , Muir W. W. , Hopster K.
Published: September 2021

The most widely used method of assessing the physical status of humans presented for anaesthesia is the American Society of Anaesthesiologists Physical Status Classification System (ASA‐PS). The ASA‐PS has been applied to animals including horses, but its use is problematic. The authors virtually convened a group of internationally recognised equine veterinary anaesthesiologists with the goal of developing a risk assessment tool for the evaluation of healthy and diseased horses presented for anaesthesia. With this survey and analysis, the authors aim to develop a simple rubric system to assess equine anaesthetic risk that augments the ASA‐PS system. The goal is to identify both diseased and healthy horses at increased anaesthetic risk prior to induction of anaesthesia so that measures might be implemented to potentially reduce morbidity and mortality.
Training and assessing numerical abilities across the lifespan with intelligent systems: The example of Baldo
Authors: Ponticorvo Michela , Schembri Massimiliano , Miglino Orazio
Published: September 2021

Baldo is an intelligent system that can be used to assess and train numerical abilities across the lifespan, especially for children and elderly. Baldo includes digital and tangible materials to propose activities, built on the game‐based learning approach, strongly grounded on well‐known and experimentally supported theories about numerical and mathematical cognition. Moreover, Baldo has a special module devoted to motivational and affective dimensions related to mathematic cognition and a tutoring system to select specific activities that are adequate to the actual and potential level of the people involved in the training pathway.
Workplace Predictors of Family Educators' Technology Acceptance Attitudes
Authors: Walker Susan K. , Lee Sun‐Kyung , Hong Seonghee
Published: September 2021

Objective

The purpose of the study was to examine workplace conditions as influences on professional parent and family educator technology acceptance attitudes and to describe their technology use.

Background

The rise of new media and information and communications technologies (ICT) has significantly affected the field of parenting and family education in the first part of the 21st century.

Methods

On the basis of responses from a national sample to an online survey (N = 631 participants), information search and communications technologies (e.g., email) were employed most frequently; social media, texting, and online learning platforms were used infrequently. Structural equation modeling tested a hypothesized model of influences based on a modified technology acceptance model (TAM, Davis, 1989).

Results

Technology attitudes were related directly to perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness of technology. Workplace encouragement and workplace infrastructure indirectly influenced acceptance attitudes as mediated by perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use, respectively. Workplace encouragement also showed a small but direct influence on technology acceptance.

Implications

Adequate technology resources, supports, training, and working in a culture that values technology use offer tangible ways to promote competence and comfort in technology adoption by parenting and family educators, thus helping the profession address necessary and changing needs of families.
COVID‐19 pandemic‐related transition to telehealth in child and adolescent mental health
Authors: Moorman Leslie K.
Published: September 2021

Introduction

This article explores one mental health company's urgent response to the global COVID‐19 pandemic, and the multifaceted implications of quickly transitioning to telehealth services.

Objectives

The purpose of this article is to share information with interdisciplinary professionals about the planning, implementation, and results of transitioning to telehealth services during a pandemic.

Procedures

We compiled practice‐related data regarding company attendance rates and customer and employee satisfaction with telehealth. Data include feedback from more than 40 clinicians and 60 families.

Results

The data suggest there are both benefits and limitations to engaging in telehealth services within a mental health company. Attendance rates increased dramatically, engagement improved with adolescents but proved challenging with the younger children. Telehealth helped overcome many typical barriers to mental health treatment. Concerns remain regarding confidentiality, assessment of abuse and neglect, and ability to read nonverbal social cues.

Conclusion

Families and practitioners experienced the convenience and benefits of telehealth but also expressed concerns over certain limitations. Finding a responsible way to incorporate telehealth into practice postpandemic is a priority for mental health practitioners, both now and in the immediate future.
Haem oxygenase limits Mycobacterium marinum infection‐induced detrimental ferrostatin‐sensitive cell death in zebrafish
Authors: Luo Kaiming , Stocker Roland , Britton Warwick J. , Kikuchi Kazu , Oehlers Stefan H.
Published: September 2021

Iron homeostasis is essential for both sides of the host–pathogen interface. Restricting access of iron slows bacterial growth while iron is also a necessary cofactor for host immunity. Haem oxygenase 1 (HMOX1) is a critical regulator of iron homeostasis that catalyses the liberation of iron during degradation of haem. It is also a stress‐responsive protein that can be rapidly upregulated and confers protection to the host. Although a protective role of HMOX1 has been demonstrated in a variety of diseases, the role of HMOX1 in Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection is equivocal across experiments with different host–pathogen combinations. Here, we use the natural host–pathogen pairing of the zebrafish‐Mycobacterium marinum infection platform to study the role of zebrafish haem oxygenase in mycobacterial infection. We identify zebrafish Hmox1a as the relevant functional paralog of mammalian HMOX1 and demonstrate a conserved role for Hmox1a in protecting the host from M. marinum infection. Using genetic and chemical tools, we show zebrafish Hmox1a protects the host against M. marinum infection by reducing infection‐induced iron accumulation and ferrostatin‐sensitive cell death.
Increasing the spatial and temporal impact of ecological research: A roadmap for integrating a novel terrestrial process into an Earth system model
Authors: Kyker‐Snowman Emily , Lombardozzi Danica L. , Bonan Gordon B. , Cheng Susan J. , Dukes Jeffrey S. , Frey Serita D. , Jacobs Elin M. , McNellis Risa , Rady Joshua M. , Smith Nicholas G. , Thomas R. Quinn , Wieder William R. , Grandy A. Stuart
Published: September 2021

Terrestrial ecosystems regulate Earth's climate through water, energy, and biogeochemical transformations. Despite a key role in regulating the Earth system, terrestrial ecology has historically been underrepresented in the Earth system models (ESMs) that are used to understand and project global environmental change. Ecology and Earth system modeling must be integrated for scientists to fully comprehend the role of ecological systems in driving and responding to global change. Ecological insights can improve ESM realism and reduce process uncertainty, while ESMs offer ecologists an opportunity to broadly test ecological theory and increase the impact of their work by scaling concepts through time and space. Despite this mutualism, meaningfully integrating the two remains a persistent challenge, in part because of logistical obstacles in translating processes into mathematical formulas and identifying ways to integrate new theories and code into large, complex model structures. To help overcome this interdisciplinary challenge, we present a framework consisting of a series of interconnected stages for integrating a new ecological process or insight into an ESM. First, we highlight the multiple ways that ecological observations and modeling iteratively strengthen one another, dispelling the illusion that the ecologist's role ends with initial provision of data. Second, we show that many valuable insights, products, and theoretical developments are produced through sustained interdisciplinary collaborations between empiricists and modelers, regardless of eventual inclusion of a process in an ESM. Finally, we provide concrete actions and resources to facilitate learning and collaboration at every stage of data‐model integration. This framework will create synergies that will transform our understanding of ecology within the Earth system, ultimately improving our understanding of global environmental change, and broadening the impact of ecological research.
Improving predictions of invasive fish ranges combining functional and ecological traits with environmental suitability under climate change scenarios
Authors: Schickele Alexandre , Guidetti Paolo , Giakoumi Sylvaine , Zenetos Argyro , Francour Patrice , Raybaud Virginie
Published: September 2021

Biological invasions represent one of the main threats to marine biodiversity. From a conservation perspective, especially in the context of increasing sea warming, it is critical to examine the suitability potential of geographical areas for the arrival of Range‐Expanding Introduced and Native Species (REINS), and hence anticipate the risk of such species to become invasive in their new distribution areas. Here, we developed an empirical index, based on functional and bio‐ecological traits, that estimates the Invasive Potential (IP; i.e. the potential success in transport, introduction and population establishment) for a set of 13 fishes that are expanding their distributional range into the Mediterranean Sea, the most invaded sea in the world. The IP index showed significant correlation with the observed spreading of REINS. For the six species characterized by the highest IP, we calculated contemporary and future projections of their Environmental Suitability Index (ESI). By using an ensemble modelling approach, we estimated the geographical areas that are likely to be the most impacted by REINS spreading under climate change. Our results demonstrated the importance of functional traits related to reproduction for determining high invasion potential. For most species, we found high contemporary ESI values in the South‐eastern Mediterranean Sea and low to intermediate contemporary ESI values in the Adriatic Sea and North‐western Mediterranean sector. Moreover, we highlighted a major potential future expansion of high ESI values, and thus REINS IP, towards the northern Mediterranean, especially in the northern Adriatic Sea. This potential future northward expansion highlights the risk associated with climate‐induced impacts on ecosystem conservation and fish stock management throughout the entire Mediterranean Sea.
Relationships between overactive bladder and cerebral white matter hyperintensity in outpatients at a memory clinic
Authors: Komiya Hitoshi , Umegaki Hiroyuki , Ogama Noriko , Sakurai Takashi , Kuzuya Masafumi
Published: September 2021

Aim

Cerebral small vessel disease and lower urinary tract symptoms are common in older people. However, the association between white matter hyperintensity (WMH) and overactive bladder (OAB) is not fully understood. We aimed to identify the relationship between WMH and OAB.

Methods

We carried out neuropsychological testing and head magnetic resonance imaging (T2‐weighted and fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery) of 72 outpatients at a memory clinic and evaluated their Overactive Bladder Symptom Score. WMH was assessed using the Fazekas scale, and WMH volumes were determined using Software for Neuro‐Image Processing in Experimental Research. OAB was diagnosed based on a urinary urgency score (the third question of the Overactive Bladder Symptom Score) of two or higher and a total Overactive Bladder Symptom Score of three or higher. Multivariate logistic analysis was carried out, with the presence/absence of overactive bladder as the outcome variable, and age, sex, body mass index and diabetes mellitus as covariates.

Results

Of the 72 participants, 17 (24%) were diagnosed with OAB. WMH assessed by the visual rating scale was not associated with OAB. However, participants with OAB showed significantly higher WMH volume than those without OAB. Regionally, participants with OAB showed high WMH volume in the frontal, occipital and parietal lobes. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that WMH was significantly associated with OAB (OR 1.82, 95% CI 1.11–2.98), after adjustment for clinically important confounders.

Conclusions

Cerebral WMH volume is associated with OAB, independent of age, sex, body mass index and diabetes mellitus. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2021; 21: 996–1002.
MULTI‐AGENT PERSUASION: LEVERAGING STRATEGIC UNCERTAINTY
Authors: Hoshino Tetsuya
Published: September 2021

A principal wishes to persuade multiple agents to take a particular action profile. Each agent cares about both a payoff‐relevant state and other agents' actions. The principal discloses information about the state to control the agents' behavior by using their strategic uncertainty. We show that for any nondegenerate prior, the principal can persuade the agents to take an action profile as a unique rationalizable outcome if that action profile satisfies a generalization of risk dominance. Moreover, this result remains true even if each of the agents is allowed to strategically choose whether to receive information from the principal or not.
Lymphocytoma cutis (cutaneous B‐cell pseudolymphoma): study of 102 cases with emphasis on the histological characteristics and immunohistochemistry of the miliarial type
Authors: Villalobos‐Ayala Romina A. , Espinoza‐Gurrola América A. , Guevara‐Gutiérrez Elizabeth , Solís‐Ledesma Guillermo , Ramos‐Suárez Marina , Rodríguez‐Castellanos Marco A. , Tlacuilo‐Parra Alberto
Published: September 2021

Background

Lymphocytoma cutis (LC) is a benign reactive lymphoproliferative B‐cell process. It has two variants: localized type with solitary lesions and miliarial type with numerous lesions. The objective was to investigate the characteristics of LC with emphasis on the miliarial type.

Methods

Retrospective study, patients with clinical and histopathological diagnosis of LC were included. Age, sex, evolution time, affected site, and type of treatment were investigated. In miliarial‐type LC, the histological and immunohistochemical characteristics were also investigated.

Results

In an 18‐year period, there were 102 patients found with LC: 72 (71%) corresponded to females, the median age was 45 years, the median evolution time was 4 months, and the face was the most predominant affected area in 81 (79%) cases. Localized‐type LC corresponded to 88 (86%) cases, and miliarial type in 14 (14%). The most common treatment was surgery, which was used in 32 (31%) patients, all of whom had localized type (P < 0.01). The most frequent treatment for miliarial‐type LC was corticosteroids in five (36%, P = 0.32), the predominant histopathological pattern was nodular in 10 (71%) specimens, and immunohistochemistry was performed in 11 (79%), where all were positive for CD20 with polyclonality to kappa and lambda light chains.

Conclusions

The importance of LC lies in that it can be clinically and histopathologically confused with cutaneous lymphoma and that it is a rare entity, with its miliarial variant being rarer still. This study provides information on the clinical‐histological characteristics of LC and its immunohistochemistry.
Redundancy within hospital‐related harm prediction tools
Authors: Moran Chris , Bingham Gordon , Tuck Michelle , Crabtree Amelia
Published: September 2021

The predictive ability and efficiency of inpatient harm screening tools is unclear. We performed a retrospective analysis of approximately 25 000 people admitted to our hospital in 2019. We found that the discriminatory ability of the harm screening tools was at best moderate and could be attributed to one or two questions that overlapped with each other in the harm they predicted.
Terahertz probing of low‐temperature degradation in zirconia bioceramics
Authors: Ahmed Shafique , Zhang Man , Koval Vladimir , Zou Lifong , Shen Zhijian , Chen Riqing , Yang Bin , Yan Haixue
Published: September 2021

ZrO2‐based ceramics are widely used in biomedical applications due to its color, biocompatibility, and excellent mechanical properties. However, low‐temperature degradation (LTD) introduces a potential risk for long‐term reliability of these materials. The development of innovative nondestructive techniques, which can explore LTD in zirconia‐derived compounds, is strongly required. Yttria stabilized zirconia, 3Y‐TZP, is one of the well‐developed ZrO2‐based ceramics with improved resistance to LTD for dental crown and implant applications. Here, 3Y‐TZP ceramic powders were pressed and sintered to study the LTD phenomenon by phase transition behavior. The LTD‐driven tetragonal‐to‐monoclinic phase transition was confirmed by XRD. XPS analysis demonstrated that induced LTD reduced the oxygen vacancies which supports these findings. It is proved that after the degradation, the 3Y‐TZP ceramics show the decreased dielectric permittivity at terahertz frequencies due to the crystallographic phase transformation. Terahertz nondestructive probe is a promising method to investigate LTD in zirconia ceramics.
Assessment of PTSD and posttraumatic symptomatology in very young children: A systematic review
Authors: Moner Nina , Soubelet Andrea , Barbieri Lucrezia , Askenazy Florence
Published: September 2021

Context

Very young children are said to be a vulnerable group for exposure to trauma, and for a psychopathological response (e.g., PTSD) after a risk‐exposure. The specific assessment of young children is necessary to enable them to be enrolled in an appropriate care pathway.

Objective

The objective was to identify the instruments available in the English language for the assessment of posttraumatic symptoms in very young children (from 0‐ to 5‐year old).

Design

This article reports on a systematic review, conducted using the search engines Google Scholar, Science Direct, PsycArticles, and PubMed.

Results

Nine instruments are available to specifically assess traumatic symptomatology in very young children (0–7‐year old), five instruments are available for the broader assessment of very young children (1–6‐year old), six instruments are available for the assessment of traumatic symptoms in very young children and in older children (2–18‐year old), one instrument did not correspond to any category. These 21 tools are adapted to different ages, built according to different objectives, and do not rely on the same diagnostic algorithm.

Conclusion

Future research should compare the instruments quantitatively to identify those most specific and sensitive to the assessment of trauma symptoms in young children.
Quality of life and patient‐perceived symptoms in patients with psoriasis undergoing proactive or reactive management with the fixed‐dose combination Cal/BD foam: A post‐hoc analysis of PSO‐LONG
Authors: Jalili A. , Calzavara‐Pinton P. , Kircik L. , Lons‐Danic D. , Pink A. , Tyring S. , de la Cueva P. , Gooderham M. , Segaert S. , Nyholm N. , Thoning H. , Petersen B. , Thaçi D.
Published: September 2021

Background

Psoriasis has important physical and psychosocial effects that extend beyond the skin. Understanding the impact of treatment on health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) and patient‐perceived symptom severity in psoriasis is key to clinical decision‐making.

Objectives

This post hoc analysis of the PSO‐LONG trial data assessed the impact of long‐term proactive or reactive management with fixed‐dose combination calcipotriene 50 µg/g and betamethasone dipropionate 0.5 mg/g (Cal/BD) foam on patient‐reported outcomes (PROs) in patients with psoriasis vulgaris.

Methods

Five hundred and twenty‐one patients from the Phase 3, randomized, double‐blind PSO‐LONG trial were included. An initial 4‐week, open‐label phase of fixed‐dose combination Cal/BD foam once daily (QD) was followed by a 52‐week maintenance phase, at the start of which patients were randomized to a proactive management arm (Cal/BD foam twice weekly) or reactive management arm (vehicle foam twice weekly). Patient‐perceived symptom severity and HRQoL were assessed using the Psoriasis Symptom Inventory (PSI), the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and the EuroQol‐5D for psoriasis (EQ‐5D‐5L‐PSO).

Results

Statistically and clinically significant improvements were observed across all PRO measures. The mean difference (standard deviation) from baseline to Week 4 was −8.97 (6.18) for PSI, −6.02 (5.46) for DLQI and 0.11 (0.15) for EQ‐5D‐5L‐PSO scores. During maintenance, patients receiving reactive management had significantly higher DLQI (15% [p = 0.007]) and PSI (15% [p = 0.0128]) and a numerically lower EQ‐5D‐5L‐PSO mean area under the curve score than patients receiving proactive management (1% [p = 0.0842]).

Conclusions

Cal/BD foam significantly improved DLQI, EQ‐5D‐5L‐PSO and PSI scores during the open‐label and maintenance phases. Patients assigned to proactive management had significantly better DLQI and PSI scores and numerically better EQ‐5D‐5L‐PSO versus reactive management. Additionally, baseline flare was associated with worse PROs than the start of a relapse, and patients starting a relapse also had worse PROs than patients in remission.
Influence of the resin‐coating technique on the bonding performance of self‐adhesive resin cements in single‐visit computer‐aided design/computer‐aided manufacturing resin restorations
Authors: Oda Yutaro , Takahashi Rena , Nikaido Toru , Tagami Junji
Published: September 2021

Objective

This in vitro study investigated the influence of resin coating on the bonding performance of self‐adhesive resin cements in single‐visit computer‐aided design (CAD)/computer‐aided manufacturing (CAM) resin restorations.

Materials and method

CAD/CAM resin (1.5‐mm thick) was mounted on 20 noncoated and 20 resin‐coated human dentin surfaces using dual‐cured self‐adhesive resin cements (Panavia SA Cement Plus or Panavia SA Cement Universal, Kuraray Noritake Dental) in either self‐curing or dual‐curing mode. These specimens were sectioned into beam‐shaped sticks and subjected to microtensile bond strength tests after 24 h of water storage. The obtained data were statistically analyzed with three‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and t tests (α = 0.05).

Results

The three‐way ANOVA results revealed the significant influence of resin coating, resin cement, and curing mode. Resin coating and light curing led to higher bond strengths in almost all groups. Resin‐coated dentin with Panavia SA Cement Plus exhibited a mean bond strength greater than 35 MPa in both self‐curing and dual‐curing modes.

Conclusions

In single‐visit CAD/CAM resin restorations, resin coating, resin cement selection, and curing mode influenced the bonding performance of self‐adhesive resin cements. In addition, resin coating and light curing increased the bond strength of self‐adhesive resin cements. Resin coating and light curing are encouraged for predictable bonding performance of dual‐cured self‐adhesive resin cements in single‐visit CAD/CAM resin restorations.
Role of ethylene and proteolytic N‐degron pathway in the regulation of Arabidopsis seed dormancy
Authors: Wang Xu , Gomes Malaika Maraya , Bailly Christophe , Nambara Eiji , Corbineau Françoise
Published: September 2021

Primary dormant seeds of Arabidopsis thaliana did not germinate in darkness at temperature higher than 10–15°C. Ethylene improved the germination of dormant wild‐type (Col‐0) seeds at 25°C in darkness but seeds of the mutant affected in the proteolytic N‐degron pathway, proteolysis6 (prt6), were insensitive to ethylene suggesting that PRT6 was involved in dormancy release by ethylene. The substrates of the N‐degron pathway, the Ethylene Response Factors from group VII (HRE1, HRE2, RAP2.2, RAP2.3, and RAP2.12), were identified to be involved in this insensitivity with an increased germination in prt6 rap2.2 rap2.3 rap2.12 rather than in prt6 hre1 hre2, which also indicated that the three RAPs acted downstream of PRT6, while the two HREs acted upstream of PRT6. Ethylene reduced the expression of the three RAPs in Col‐0 seeds but they were maintained or induced by ethylene in prt6 seeds. The promoting effect of ethylene was associated with a down‐regulation of dormancy‐related genes in gibberellins (GAs) and abscisic acid (ABA) signaling, such as RGA, RGL2, and ABI5, and with a strong decrease in ABA/GA4 ratio in the presence of ethylene. In contrast, we show that the insensitivity of prt6 seeds to ethylene was mainly related to GA signaling disturbance.
Phenotypic regionalization of the vertebral column in the thorny skateAmblyraja radiata: Stability and variation
Authors: Berio Fidji , Bayle Yann , Riley Cyrena , Larouche Olivier , Cloutier Richard
Published: September 2021

Regionalization of the vertebral column occurred early during vertebrate evolution and has been extensively investigated in mammals. However, less data are available on vertebral regions of crown gnathostomes. This is particularly true for batoids (skates, sawfishes, guitarfishes, and rays) whose vertebral column has long been considered to be composed of the same two regions as in teleost fishes despite the presence of a synarcual. However, the numerous vertebral units in chondrichthyans may display a more complex regionalization pattern than previously assumed and the intraspecific variation of such pattern deserves a thorough investigation. In this study, we use micro‐computed tomography (µCT) scans of vertebral columns of a growth series of thorny skatesAmblyraja radiatato provide the first fine‐scale morphological description of vertebral units in a batoids species. We further investigate axial regionalization using a replicable clustering analysis on presence/absence of vertebral elements to decipher the regionalization of the vertebral column ofA. radiata. We identify four vertebral regions in this species. The two anteriormost regions, named synarcual and thoracic, may undergo strong developmental or functional constraints because they display stable patterns of shapes and numbers of vertebral units across all growth stages. The third region, named hemal transitional, is characterized by high inter‐individual morphological variation and displays a transition between the monospondylous (one centrum per somite) to diplospondylous (two centra per somite) conditions. The posteriormost region, named caudal, is subdivided into three sub‐regions with shapes changing gradually along the anteroposterior axis. These regionalized patterns are discussed in light of ecological habits of skates.
Psychological crisis and emergency intervention for frontline critical care workers during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Gálvez‐Herrer Macarena , Via‐Clavero Gemma , Ángel‐Sesmero José Antonio , Heras‐La Calle Gabriel
Published: September 2021

Aim

To explore the main feelings and coping strategies among frontline critical care workers during the first phase of the COVID‐19 pandemic and to evaluate the level of satisfaction after a psychological crisis and emergency intervention.

Background

The health crisis brought about by the COVID‐19 pandemic has exposed critical care workers to an intense physical and emotional burden. Scientific research recommends psychological crisis and emergency interventions during the acute phase to help cope with the situation and prevent emotional side effects.

Design

A multicentre descriptive study with mixed qualitative and quantitative data was developed.

Methods

Healthcare and non‐healthcare critical care workers from 16 hospitals were included. Psychological crisis assistance was given (for individuals and groups), both face‐to‐face and online, with 18 psychologists for two months. Content analysis from the psychologists’ session reports after each intervention was performed (COREQ). Satisfaction with the intervention was assessed with an ‘ad hoc’ 21‐item online survey.

Results

A total of 553 interventions were carried out (361 individually and 192 in groups). Four themes were identified: 1‐Imbalance between occupational demands and resources; 2‐Acute stress responses; 3‐Personal and professional consequences; and 4‐Protection factors. The main protection factor identified was group cohesion and perceived social support. The mean general satisfaction with the intervention was high and 96.2% (n=252) of the participants would recommend it in future.

Conclusions

A psychological crisis and emergency intervention helped critical care workers during the COVID‐19 pandemic to verbalise and integrate the situation, providing strategies to cope with the experience with a high level of satisfaction from the participants assisted.

Relevance to clinical practice

During the COVID‐19 pandemic, support groups guided by psychologists fostered reflection on aspects related to work, interaction with patients and relatives and social support from workmates that help them for coping with stress, share emotions and experiences and feel understood.
Accumulation of heavy metals in the physical and biological systems of Lake Koka, Ethiopia: Implications for potential health risks
Authors: Tessema Kassahun , Lemma Brook , Fetahi Tadesse , Kebede Elizabeth
Published: September 2021

Lake Koka has several important socioeconomic uses, hydroelectric power generation, domestic water supply, irrigation, recreation and fishery. It is currently under serious threat, however, because of point and nonpoint pollution inputs. The objective of the present study was to examine the concentration of heavy metals (Mn, Cr, Pb, Zn, Cu, Ni and Cd) and their bioaccumulation, and biomagnification factors along the lake's food chain in order to assess the potential human and ecological health risks. Water, sediment and plankton samples were collected from seven sampling sites and fishes were purchased on site from fishers. The analyses were performed using a graphite furnance atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Heavy metals levels in the sediment samples were ranked in the order of Mn > Cr > Pb > Zn > Cu > Ni > Cd. Similarly, the metal concentration in the fish muscles was Cr > Cu > Pb > Cd. The sediment bioaccumulation factor (<1) and water bioaccumulation factor (>1) for Cd, Pb and Cr indicated the lake water exhibited higher concentrations than the sediment. In parallel, the Cr biomagnification factor for zooplankton, catfish, Nile tilapia and common carp was 1.63, 1.18, 1.36 and 2.28, respectively. The Cr concentrations at the Modjo (or Mojo) Upstream, Modjo Downstream and Kentare sites, and the Pb concentrations at riverine sites were above the permissible limits established by the World Health Organization. Cr ranked as fish species > zooplankton > phytoplankton, being above the permissible limits in catfish, Nile tilapia and common carp. Generally, the weekly intake estimates were considerably lower than the tolerable human intake values provided by WHO and others. However, Cr biomagnified along the trophic levels ultimately reaching the top consumers, with Cr (VI) being carcinogenic. The lake is a major fishery source, indicating care must be taken in regard to the weekly intake of the fishes, particularly common carp.
New maximum size record, length–weight relationships and form factor of Hooghly Croaker Panna heterolepis Trewavas, 1977 from the Bay of Bengal (Bangladesh)
Authors: Sabbir Wasim , Hossain Md. Yeamin , Mawa Zannatul , Hasan Md. Rabiul , Rahman Md. Ataur , Islam Md. Akhtarul , Tanjin Sumaya , Rahman Ashekur , Sarker Biplob Kumer , Khan Md. Nuruzzaman
Published: September 2021

The present study analysed the length–weight relationships (LWRs) and form factor (a3.0) of Panna heterolepis Trewavas, 1977 from the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh. A total of 316 specimens were sampled during the pre‐monsoon (n = 96), monsoon (n = 116) and post‐monsoon (n = 104) season (March 2018–February 2019) using a Seine bag net. Individual total length (TL) and body weight (BW) were measured with a measuring board and digital weight balance, respectively. The TL vs. BW relationship indicated a negative allometric growth for P. heterolepis. The present study also provides LWR, a3.0 (0.0070) and a new maximum recorded size (29.50 cm TL and 24.50 cm SL) of P. heterolepis for the first time, data currently lacking in the FishBase online database. The results of the present study will be helpful for stock assessment and management of this fish in the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh and neighbouring countries.
Length–weight relationships of four small indigenous freshwater fishes from the subtropical Ganga River, India
Authors: Alam Absar , Jha Dharm Nath , Verma Sushil Kumar , Verma Hari Om , Mishra Sandeep Kumar , Das Shyamal Chandra Sukla , Kumar Jeetendra , Thakur Venkatesh RamaRao , Gupta Monika , Das Basanta Kumar
Published: September 2021

Basic information on length–weight relationships for a number of small indigenous tropical freshwater fish species is still sparse or not available on the FishBase. The present study reports the weight–length relationships of four species from the Ganga River in India. A total of 795 fresh fish specimens of Pethia gelius, Corica soborna, Parambassis baculis and Aborichthys elongatus were collected from four different locations along stretches of the Ganga River from June 2017 to August 2018. The r2 and b values for the four fish species ranged from 0.949 to 0.998 and 2.55 to 2.849, respectively. Length–weight relationships for P. gelius, P. baculis and A. elongatus represent the first information from the Ganga River. A new record for the maximum size of C. soborna was documented as 8.54 cm TL and 4.25 g.
Extra‐pair paternity in the wood‐feeding cockroachCryptocercus punctulatusScudder: Social but not genetic monogamy
Authors: Yaguchi Hajime , Kobayashi Itaru , Maekawa Kiyoto , Nalepa Christine A.
Published: September 2021

SubsocialCryptocercuscockroaches are the sister group to termites and considered to be socially monogamous. Because genetic monogamy is a suggested requirement for evolution of cooperative breeding/eusociality, particularly in hymenopterans, clarification of the mating biology ofCryptocercuswould help illuminate evolutionary trends in eusocial insects. To investigate possible extra‐pair paternity inC. punctulatus, microsatellite markers were used to analyse offspring parentage, the stored sperm in females and results of experimental manipulation of sperm competition. Extra‐pair paternity was common in field‐collected families, but a lack of maternal alleles in several nymphs suggests sampling error or adoption. Isolating prereproductive pairs and assaying subsequently produced nymphs confirmed that nymphs lacked alleles from the pair male in 40% of families, with extra‐pair male(s) siring 27%–77% of nymphs. Sperm of extra‐pair males was detected in the spermatheca of 51% of paired prereproductive females. Mate switching and surgical manipulation of male mating ability indicated a tendency towards last male sperm precedence. Overall, the results demonstrate that about half of young females are serially monogamous during their maturational year, but bond, overwinter and produce their only set of offspring in company of the last mated male (=pair male). Repeated mating by the pair male increases the number of nymphs sired, but because many females use stored sperm of previous copulatory partners to fertilize eggs, pair males extend parental care to unrelated nymphs. The results suggest that genetic monogamy either developed in the termite ancestor after splitting from theCryptocercuslineage, or that genetic monogamy may not be a strict prerequisite for the evolution of termite eusociality.
Mining RNA‐seq data reveals the massive regulon of GcvB small RNA and its physiological significance in maintaining amino acid homeostasis in Escherichia coli
Authors: Miyakoshi Masatoshi , Okayama Haruna , Lejars Maxence , Kanda Takeshi , Tanaka Yuki , Itaya Kaori , Okuno Miki , Itoh Takehiko , Iwai Noritaka , Wachi Masaaki
Published: September 2021

Bacterial small RNAs regulate the expression of multiple genes through imperfect base‐pairing with target mRNAs mediated by RNA chaperone proteins such as Hfq. GcvB is the master sRNA regulator of amino acid metabolism and transport in a wide range of Gram‐negative bacteria. Recently, independent RNA‐seq approaches identified a plethora of transcripts interacting with GcvB in Escherichia coli. In this study, the compilation of RIL‐seq, CLASH, and MAPS data sets allowed us to identify GcvB targets with high accuracy. We validated 21 new GcvB targets repressed at the posttranscriptional level, raising the number of direct targets to >50 genes in E. coli. Among its multiple seed sequences, GcvB utilizes either R1 or R3 to regulate most of these targets. Furthermore, we demonstrated that both R1 and R3 seed sequences are required to fully repress the expression of gdhA, cstA, and sucC genes. In contrast, the ilvLXGMEDA polycistronic mRNA is targeted by GcvB through at least four individual binding sites in the mRNA. Finally, we revealed that GcvB is involved in the susceptibility of peptidase‐deficient E. coli strain (Δpeps) to Ala‐Gln dipeptide by regulating both Dpp dipeptide importer and YdeE dipeptide exporter via R1 and R3 seed sequences, respectively.
Monitoring malignant T‐cell clones by direct TCR expression assay in patients with leukemic cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma during extracorporeal photopheresis
Authors: Ni Xiao , Maiti Sourindra , Redko Alissa , Bijani Pedram , Duvic Madeleine
Published: September 2021

Background/Purpose

Accurate assessment of malignant T‐cell clones in patients with leukemic cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma (L‐CTCL) is crucial for diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring disease. Although multiple approaches to quantitate malignant T‐cell clones have been reported, a cost‐effective assay with broad coverage is not available. We report a NanoString‐nCounter‐Technology‐based direct TCR expression assay (DTEA) that was previously developed to quantify both TCR‐Vα and TCR‐Vβ usages after adoptive immunotherapy. This study was performed to test the effectiveness of DTEA in assessing malignant T‐cell clones in L‐CTCL patients.

Methods

Total RNAs extracted from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients before starting extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) (n = 15) and during therapy at 3 months and 6 months (n = 12) were used for DTEA, with customized probes for 45 TCR‐Vα and 46 TCR‐Vβ family members.

Results

At baseline, DTEA detected TCR‐Vβ clones in all 15 patients (100%) compared to flow cytometry that detected TCR‐Vβ clones in 9 of 13 patients (69.2%). In addition to predominant TCR‐Vβ clones, DTEA also detected additional TCR‐Vβ clones in 8 of 15 patients (53.3%). Furthermore, DTEA simultaneously identified clonal TCR‐Vα usages, which allowed us to pair TCR‐Vα and TCRVβ usages by malignant T‐cells and identify diversified clonotypes. Changes in the relative frequencies of clonal TCR‐Vβ and TCRVα usages over therapy were consistent with patients’ clinical responses.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that DTEA can effectively assess malignant T‐cell clones by detecting clonal TCR‐Vα and TCR‐Vβ usages. By providing a global view of TCR repertoires, DTEA may also help us understand the origin(s) of malignant T‐cells and pathogenesis of CTCL.
Humanitarian Operations and the UN Sustainable Development Goals
Authors: Besiou Maria , Pedraza‐Martinez Alfonso J. , Van Wassenhove Luk N.
Published: September 2021

During emergencies humanitarian supply chains need to respond swiftly, very often without time for good planning that may end up in excessive waste and emissions. This short‐term focus on saving people's lives during disaster responses may harm communities and the planet in the long‐run. Even long‐term (development) focus on improving the life conditions of the poor may be either unsustainable due to the lack of community involvement or inequitable due to lack of resources. At the same time, countries closer to fulfilling the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs) suffer less from disasters but still struggle with issues such as social equity. There appears to be an important link between humanitarian operations and SDGs. This special issue focuses on this interaction through a rich variety of contributions using different methodologies, data and lenses, while proposing ways to advance the SDGs. The special issue clearly shows the value operations management can bring to short‐term and long‐term problems society faces.
Optimal Pricing and Overbooking of Reservations
Authors: Oh Jaelynn , Su Xuanming
Published: September 2021

We study the optimal design of reservations for a firm with limited capacity. The firm faces a random number of customers, each of whom has a random valuation for service. The reservation policy has two components: pricing and overbooking. For the former, the firm charges a reservation fee (at the time of reservation) and a service price (at the time of service). For the latter, the firm imposes a booking limit that caps the number of reservations it sells. Given the firm's reservation policy, customers make reservations in advance and later decide whether to show up. Denying service to reservation holders is costly. We obtain the following equilibrium results. First, when demand is small relative to capacity, the firm's pricing structure relies on reservation fees prepaid in advance, but when demand is large relative to capacity, it relies on payment received upon service. Second, when demand is low and/or predictable, the firm accepts all reservation requests, but when demand is high and/or variable, the firm uses a booking limit.
Comparison of North/South- and East–West-Facing Solar Collector Pairs With or Without Reflectors
Authors: Rehman Naveed ur , Uzair Muhammad
Published: September 2021

In this paper, the energy collection performance of north/south- and east–west-facing collector pairs, installed at optimized fixed and seasonally adjusted tilt angles, considering both portrait and landscape alignments, and setups with and without reflectors, were numerically compared with each other. For the purpose, a method based on a hybrid ray-tracing model was employed, as developed in this work. A case study, considering an installation site in Auckland (New Zealand), is presented. For this, the fixed and seasonally adjusted optimum tilt angles for the layouts were first obtained. Then, the yearly energy collection for the layouts was evaluated at fixed tilt angles. An hourly analysis was also performed to understand the behavior of these layouts in the morning, and at noon and evening. Then, the effects of seasonal adjustments were investigated for each layout. Finally, the layouts were ranked according to their performance. The north-facing landscape layout with reflectors showed the best performance, followed by its portrait alignment version. The east–west-facing portrait layout with reflectors ranked third. The east–west-facing layouts without reflectors were found to give the poorest performance.
The development of tick taxonomy and systematics in Australia and Papua New Guinea through the works of five late 20th century contributors and with comments on the place of Australasia in the study of the phylogeny and evolution of the ticks
Authors: Barker Dayana , Seeman Owen D. , Barker Stephen C.
Published: September 2021

The largely unique fauna of ticks in Australia and Papua New Guinea (PNG) has been studied for 250 years. Here, we briefly review the early stages of tick taxonomy in the region, then focus on the activities of five people who contributed much to our knowledge of ticks in Australasia during the second half of the 20th century: F.H.S Roberts, David H. Kemp, Douglas E. Moorhouse, Nixon Wilson and Harry Hoogstraal. We provide biographical notes on each and collated publication lists for Roberts, Kemp and Moorhouse. We recognize three eras of tick taxonomy in Australia. First, an era that we refer to as “colonial tick taxonomy”, where ticks were sent from the European colonies to taxonomists in Europe. Second, a brief but significant era that we refer to as “endemic tick taxonomy” defined by the works of F.H.S. Roberts. Thirdly, a final phase of “colonial taxonomy” where ticks were described by workers in the USA. In PNG there has been no phase of endemic tick taxonomy and, while Australian workers are once again describing new tick species, in PNG the USA continues to make the most significant contributions. Through this work, we now see Australasia as one of the “theatres of evolution” of Bothriocroton and Archaeocroton, the Amblyomma-like ticks without eyes. We briefly discuss the current hypotheses for the theatre of evolution of the Ixodida, consider the 22 genus and subgenus-level entities of the Prostriata (Ixodinae) as provisional biological entities, and provide observations on tick phylogenetics and future research. Finally, we outline additional genetic evidence, from a recent whole-transcriptome study, for the two clades of the subfamily Ixodinae (Prostriata), the Australasian Ixodes and all other Ixodes.
Speech intelligibility and talker gender classification with noise-vocoded and tone-vocoded speech
Authors: Villard Sarah , Kidd Gerald
Published: September 2021

Vocoded speech provides less spectral information than natural, unprocessed speech, negatively affecting listener performance on speech intelligibility and talker gender classification tasks. In this study, young normal-hearing participants listened to noise-vocoded and tone-vocoded (i.e., sinewave-vocoded) sentences containing 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, or 32 channels, as well as non-vocoded sentences, and reported the words heard as well as the gender of the talker. Overall, performance was significantly better with tone-vocoded than noise-vocoded speech for both tasks. Within the talker gender classification task, biases in performance were observed for lower numbers of channels, especially when using the noise carrier.
Sport for Development and Transformative Social Change: The Potential of Margaret Archer’s Morphogenetic Approach to Reconceptualize a Long-Standing Problem
Authors: Lindsey Iain , Wiltshire Gareth
Published: September 2021

Frequent calls for sport for development (SFD) to be reoriented toward transformative social change reflect the extent that policies and programs have instead focused on individualized forms of personal development. However, SFD research has yet to substantially address fundamental ontological assumptions and underlying conceptualizations of transformative social change. To addresses this gap, this article considers how Margaret Archer’s Morphogenetic Approach can help explain how transformative social change might occur through SFD activities. Three conceptual contributions are brought into focus: (a) assuming a realist social ontology; (b) making distinctions between structure, culture, and agency; and (c) identifying social change as happening across three temporal phases. The authors conclude by identifying potential benefits and implications of applying the Morphogenetic Approach to consider the potential for SFD to contribute to social change.