bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genome and time-of-day transcriptome of Wolffia australiana link morphological minimization with gene loss and less growth control
Authors: Michael Todd P. , Ernst Evan , Hartwick Nolan , Chu Philomena , Bryant Douglas , Gilbert Sarah , Ortleb Stefan , Baggs Erin L. , Sree K. Sowjanya , Appenroth Klaus J. , Fuchs Joerg , Jupe Florian , Sandoval Justin P. , Krasileva Ksenia V. , Borisjuk Ljudmylla , Mockler Todd C. , Ecker Joseph R. , Martienssen Robert A. , Lam Eric
Published: December 2020

Rootless plants in the genus Wolffia are some of the fastest growing known plants on Earth. Wolffia have a reduced body plan, primarily multiplying through a budding type of asexual reproduction. Here, we generated draft reference genomes for Wolffia australiana (Benth.) Hartog & Plas, which has the smallest genome size in the genus at 357 Mb and has a reduced set of predicted protein-coding genes at about 15,000. Comparison between multiple high-quality draft genome sequences from W. australiana clones confirmed loss of several hundred genes that are highly conserved among flowering plants, including genes involved in root developmental and light signaling pathways. Wolffia has also lost most of the conserved nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat (NLR) genes that are known to be involved in innate immunity, as well as those involved in terpene biosynthesis, while having a significant overrepresentation of genes in the sphingolipid pathways that may signify an alternative defense system. Diurnal expression analysis revealed that only 13% of Wolffia genes are expressed in a time-of-day (TOD) fashion, which is less than the typical ∼40% found in several model plants under the same condition. In contrast to the model plants Arabidopsis and rice, many of the pathways associated with multicellular and developmental processes are not under TOD control in W. australiana, where genes that cycle the conditions tested predominantly have carbon processing and chloroplast-related functions. The Wolffia genome and TOD expression data set thus provide insight into the interplay between a streamlined plant body plan and optimized growth.
Transporter genes in biosynthetic gene clusters predict metabolite characteristics and siderophore activity
Authors: Crits-Christoph Alexander , Bhattacharya Nicholas , Olm Matthew R. , Song Yun S. , Banfield Jillian F.
Published: December 2020

Biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) are operonic sets of microbial genes that synthesize specialized metabolites with diverse functions, including siderophores and antibiotics, which often require export to the extracellular environment. For this reason, genes for transport across cellular membranes are essential for the production of specialized metabolites and are often genomically colocalized with BGCs. Here, we conducted a comprehensive computational analysis of transporters associated with characterized BGCs. In addition to known exporters, in BGCs we found many importer-specific transmembrane domains that co-occur with substrate binding proteins possibly for uptake of siderophores or metabolic precursors. Machine learning models using transporter gene frequencies were predictive of known siderophore activity, molecular weights, and a measure of lipophilicity (log P) for corresponding BGC-synthesized metabolites. Transporter genes associated with BGCs were often equally or more predictive of metabolite features than biosynthetic genes. Given the importance of siderophores as pathogenicity factors, we used transporters specific for siderophore BGCs to identify both known and uncharacterized siderophore-like BGCs in genomes from metagenomes from the infant and adult gut microbiome. We find that 23% of microbial genomes from premature infant guts have siderophore-like BGCs, but only 3% of those assembled from adult gut microbiomes do. Although siderophore-like BGCs from the infant gut are predominantly associated with Enterobacteriaceae and Staphylococcus, siderophore-like BGCs can be identified from taxa in the adult gut microbiome that have rarely been recognized for siderophore production. Taken together, these results show that consideration of BGC-associated transporter genes can inform predictions of specialized metabolite structure and function.
Using yeast surface display to engineer a soluble and crystallizable construct of hematopoietic progenitor kinase 1 (HPK1)
Authors: Lau Wai L. , Pearce Bradley , Malakian Heather , Rodrigo Iyoncy , Xie Dianlin , Gao Mian , Marsilio Frank , Chang Chiehying , Ruzanov Max , Muckelbauer Jodi K. , Newitt John A. , Lipovšek Daša , Sheriff Steven
Published: December 2020

Hematopoietic progenitor kinase 1 (HPK1) is an intracellular kinase that plays an important role in modulating tumor immune response and thus is an attractive target for drug discovery. Crystallization of the wild-type HPK1 kinase domain has been hampered by poor expression in recombinant systems and poor solubility. In this study, yeast surface display was applied to a library of HPK1 kinase-domain variants in order to select variants with an improved expression level and solubility. The HPK1 variant with the most improved properties contained two mutations, crystallized readily in complex with several small-molecule inhibitors and provided valuable insight to guide structure-based drug design. This work exemplifies the benefit of yeast surface display towards engineering crystallizable proteins and thus enabling structure-based drug discovery.
Unravelling the process between career shock and career (un)sustainability: exploring the role of perceived human resource management
Authors: Pak Karen , Kooij Dorien , De Lange Annet H. , Meyers Maria Christina , van Veldhoven Marc
Published: December 2020

Purpose

Employees need a sustainable career to prolong their working lives. The ability, motivation and opportunity to work form an important basis for sustainable careers across the lifespan. However, over the lifespan of their careers employees are likely to experience several career shocks (e.g. becoming chronically ill or being fired) which might result in unsustainable trajectories. This study aims to contribute to the literature on sustainable careers by unraveling the process through which careers shocks relate to career (un)sustainability and what role perceptions of human resource practices play in the process.

Design/methodology/approach

Thirty-three in-depth retrospective interviews with participants of 50 years and older were conducted and analyzed using a template analysis.

Findings

Results showed that career shocks influence career sustainability through a process of changes in demands or changes in resources, which in turn, relate to changes in person–job fit. When person-job–fit diminished, the ability, motivation and opportunity to continue working decreased, whereas when person–job fit improved, the ability, motivation and opportunity to continue working improved as well. Organizations appear to be able to diminish the negative consequences of career shocks by offering job resources such as HR practices in response to career shocks.

Research limitations/implications

A limitation of this study is the retrospective nature of the interviews, which could have resulted in recollection bias.

Practical implications

This study gives HRM practitioners insight into the HR practices that are effective in overcoming career shocks.

Originality/value

This study extends existing literature by including career shocks as possible predictors of sustainable careers.
Internet and mobile banking: the role of engagement and experience on satisfaction and loyalty
Authors: Garzaro Daniela Menezes , Varotto Luís Fernando , Pedro Samara de Carvalho
Published: December 2020

Purpose

In this work, the author verified the effect of interactivity and social presence on engagement with bank customers, how much these relationships affect the experience with the brand and their effect on satisfaction and loyalty, while highlighting the differences between the digital service channels (websites and apps).

Design/methodology/approach

The author conducted a survey, collecting responses from 390 users of banking websites and mobile banking. Structural equation modeling (SEM) analyzed the data, with the use of the PLS-MGA group method.

Findings

Results reveal the positive effects of interactivity and social presence on brand engagement and positive associations between brand engagement, brand experience, satisfaction and loyalty. The results also reveal that brand experience completely mediates the effect of brand engagement on satisfaction and that the effect of social presence on engagement is higher for users of banking websites versus users of mobile banking apps.

Research limitations/implications

There is a possibility of different results in cultures where the use of IT and the use of digital platforms of banking technology are less intense. Furthermore, other segments, besides banking, could be an opportunity to improve knowledge about these effects.

Practical implications

This study contributes to practice by showing the importance of interactive elements and social presence in digital channels to generate engagement with the brand, resulting in more positive experiences that increase bank customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Social implications

This study confirms the relationships between interactivity, social presence and engagement, also confirming that social presence mediates the relationship between interactivity and brand engagement.

Originality/value

An important original contribution is the effect of engagement as an antecedent of the experience with the brand, which results in elevated satisfaction and loyalty of the bank customer.
Health governance: reponses to and effects of COVID-19
Authors: MacVane Phipps Fiona
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The purpose of the IJHG review is to present an overview of the content of papers included in the current issue.

Design/methodology/approach

NA.

Findings

NA.

Practical implications

The practical implications are that readers will be able to gain an overview of the current content and thus select areas of most interest to themselves.

Originality/value

The originality of the IJHG Review is that no other journal in the Emerald suite provides a review of this type.
Digital transformation: challenges faced by organizations and their potential solutions
Authors: Shahi Chinmay , Sinha Manish
Published: December 2020

Purpose

Digital transformation is the way forward for all businesses. The technology is advancing at a rapid pace and the companies need to adapt to the change, not just to take advantage of the enormous opportunities it provides but even to stay relevant in this volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity world. This study aims to define the concept of digital transformation and what it means in today’s business scenario. It helps to understand the different stages of digital maturity, identify the barriers in adopting different technologies and provide solutions to overcome those challenges.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a qualitative study in which opinions of the digital transformation experts were collected using a qualitative questionnaire. Natural language processing (NLP) and text mining techniques were applied along with a thorough analysis of the text to generate the results.

Findings

The study was able to uncover – what it means to be digitally transformed, different challenges an organization faces during the digital transformation journey and their potential solutions.

Originality/value

The existing literature on the topic is scattered and does not provide a roadmap for a company to adopt digital transformation. This study aims to fill up the gap and cover various aspects of the whole transformation process. The uniqueness of the study lies in the use of NLP techniques to perform text analytics on the data.
Investor behavior, stock returns and CDS spreads: evidence from foreign and domestic investors in Korea
Authors: Yang Jin Young , Samitas Aristeidis , Kampouris Ilias
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This study investigates the dynamic relationships among trading behaviors of different investor groups (foreigners, domestic institutions and domestic individuals), stock returns and sovereign CDS (Credit Default Swap) spreads in Korea.

Design/methodology/approach

We employ the VAR (Vector autoregression) model to examine the dynamic relationships between CDS spread changes, stock returns and investors' behavior in the stock market.

Findings

The CDS spread change (stock return) declines (rises) in response to shocks to net foreign flows into the stock market on the same day. Foreigners buy stocks more intensely one day after an increase in the stock return, but they do not respond to CDS spread changes. Domestic individuals trade in the opposite direction of foreigners in response to shocks to both stock returns and CDS spread changes on the same day. Positive net stock purchases of domestic institutions (individuals) predict positive (negative) stock returns and negative (positive) CDS spread changes next day.

Originality/value

This study extends prior studies by examining how different investor groups' trading behaviors in the stock market are associated with not only the stock market but also a closely related market (CDS market). Prior empirical studies on the relation between the stock and CDS markets do not pay attention to possible heterogeneity in trading behavior across different types of investors in the stock market.
Institutional blockholders and the variability of firm performance
Authors: Huang Peng , Lu Yue
Published: December 2020

Purpose

We examine the effect of institutional blockholders on the variability of firm performance.

Design/methodology/approach

We use OLS regression models to estimate the effect of institutional blockholders on within-firm, over-time variability of firm performance.

Findings

We find that firms with more institutional blockholders experience less variable firm performance. In particular, more institutional blockholders are associated with less variability of annual stock returns, ROA and the market-to-book ratio. We further explore several underlying mechanisms through with institutional blockholders reduce firm performance variability. We find that more institutional blockholders are associated with less variable capital expenditures and R&D investments, and less frequent acquisition activities.

Research limitations/implications

A limitation of this paper is that our sample period only covers 1996–2006. Future studies can extend our research to a more recent period (e.g. 2009–2019) to test whether our findings remain valid in other periods.

Practical implications

We document a significant relation between institutional blockholders and firm performance variability in this paper. However, we do not make any judgment as to whether firms should increase their institutional blockholders as it is unclear whether the caused reduction in risk-taking is socially efficient. We argue that the value implication of institutional blockholders depends on the existing blockholder structure and the different levels of risk appetite between the CEO and shareholders. Thus, the decision on the increase or decrease of institutional blockholders should be carefully made based on a firm’s specific characteristics.

Originality/value

This paper is a first study which examines the impact of the presence of institutional blockholders on the variability of firm performance, while most prior studies focus on the stock ownership of institutional blockholders and examine its impact on the level of firm performance.
Enriching TPACK in mathematics education: using digital interactive notebooks in synchronous online learning environments
Authors: Galanti Terrie McLaughlin , Baker Courtney Katharine , Morrow-Leong Kimberly , Kraft Tammy
Published: December 2020

Purpose

In spring 2020, educators throughout the world abruptly shifted to emergency remote teaching in response to an emerging pandemic. The instructors of a graduate-level synchronous online geometry and measurement course for practicing school teachers redesigned their summative assessments. Their goals were to reduce outside-of-class work and to model the integration of content, pedagogy and technology. This paper aims to describe the development of a digital interactive notebook (dINB) assignment using online presentation software, dynamic geometry tools and mathematical learning trajectories. Broader implications for dINBs as assessments in effective distance learning are presented.

Design/methodology/approach

The qualitative analysis in this study consists of a sequence of first-cycle coding of mid-semester surveys and second-cycle thematic categorizations of mid-semester surveys and end-of-course reflections. Descriptive categorization counts along with select quotations from open-ended participant responses provided a window on evolving participant experiences with the dINB across the course.

Findings

Modifications to the dINB design based on teacher mid-semester feedback created a flexible assessment tool aligned with the technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK) framework. The teachers also constructed their own visions for adapting the dINB for student-centered instructional technology integration in their own virtual classrooms.

Originality/value

The development of the dINB enriched the TPACK understandings of the instructors in this study. It also positioned teachers to facilitate innovative synchronous and blended learning in their own school communities. Further analysis of dINB artifacts in future studies will test the hypothesis that practicing teachers’ experiences as learners increased their TPACK knowledge.
Evaluation of certified B Corps in the apparel, footwear and accessory industry
Authors: Li Jitong , Leonas Karen K.
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the sustainability performances of apparel, footwear and accessory (AFA) B Corps, providing companies, especially micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, with reasonable suggestions on how to incorporate the concept of sustainability efficiently.

Design/methodology/approach

This study focused on 117 AFA B Corps. B Corps’ overall sustainability performances consist of their performances in the five areas of governance, workers, community, environment and customers. First, the 117 B Corps’ performances in these areas were compared. Second, multiple regression models were built to predict the B Corps’ sustainability performances based on their inherent characteristics (headquarter location, age, size and industry sector). Third, according to the B Corps’ performances in the five areas, the B Corps were clustered using the hieratical clustering method.

Findings

This study found that the B Corps’ performances in different areas were significantly different and their performances in the area of the community were better than in the other four areas. The B Corps’ characteristics were correlated to their sustainability performances. For example, company size was positively related to the B Corps’ performances in the area of workers. Additionally, Clusters 1, 2 and 3 were identified and characterized by their competitive performances in the areas of governance, workers and community, respectively.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the knowledge of AFA B Corps’ sustainability performances, identifying the weakness and strongness of the sustainable practices accepted by existing AFA B Corps and lending insights regarding how to predict and improve sustainability performances.
The role of brain size on mammalian population densities
Authors: González‐Suárez Manuela , Gonzalez‐Voyer Alejandro , von Hardenberg Achaz , Santini Luca
Published: December 2020

The local abundance or population density of different organisms often varies widely. Understanding what determines this variation is an important, but not yet fully resolved question in ecology. Differences in population density are partly driven by variation in body size and diet among organisms. Here we propose that the size of an organism’ brain could be an additional, overlooked, driver of mammalian population densities.

We explore two possible contrasting mechanisms by which brain size, measured by its mass, could affect population density. First, because of the energetic demands of larger brains and their influence on life history, we predict mammals with larger relative brain masses would occur at lower population densities. Alternatively, larger brains are generally associated with a greater ability to exploit new resources, which would provide a competitive advantage leading to higher population densities among large‐brained mammals.

We tested these predictions using phylogenetic path analysis, modelling hypothesized direct and indirect relationships between diet, body mass, brain mass and population density for 656 non‐volant terrestrial mammalian species. We analysed all data together and separately for marsupials and the four taxonomic orders with most species in the dataset (Carnivora, Cetartiodactyla, Primates, Rodentia).

For all species combined, a single model was supported showing lower population density associated with larger brains, larger bodies and more specialized diets. The negative effect of brain mass was also supported for separate analyses in Primates and Carnivora. In other groups (Rodentia, Cetartiodactyla and marsupials) the relationship was less clear: supported models included a direct link from brain mass to population density but 95% confidence intervals of the path coefficients overlapped zero.

Results support our hypothesis that brain mass can explain variation in species’ average population density, with large‐brained species having greater area requirements, although the relationship may vary across taxonomic groups. Future research is needed to clarify whether the role of brain mass on population density varies as a function of environmental (e.g. environmental stability) and biotic conditions (e.g. level of competition).
A Probabilistic, Parcel‐Level Inundation Prediction Tool for Medium‐Range Flood Forecasting in Large Lake Systems
Authors: Semmendinger Kyla , Foley Jillian , Steinschneider Scott
Published: December 2020

This study contributes a bathtub‐style inundation prediction model with abstractions of coastal processes (i.e., storm surge and wave runup) for flood forecasting at medium‐range (weekly to monthly) timescales along the coastline of large lakes. Uncertainty from multiple data sources are propagated through the model to establish probabilistic bounds of inundation, providing a conservative measure of risk. The model is developed in a case study of the New York Lake Ontario shoreline, which has experienced two record‐setting floods over the course of three years (2017–2019). Predictions are developed at a parcel‐level and are validated using inundation accounts from an online survey and flyover imagery taken during the recent flood events. Model predictions are compared against a baseline, deterministic model that accounts for the same processes but does not propagate forward data uncertainties. Results suggest that a probabilistic approach helps capture observed instances of inundation that would otherwise be missed by a deterministic inundation model. However, downward biases are still present in probabilistic predictions, especially for parcels impacted by wave runup. The goal of the tool is to provide community planners and property owners with a conservative, parcel‐level assessment of flood risk to help inform short‐term emergency response and better prepare for future flood events.
Evaluating the ventilatory effect of transnasal humidified rapid insufflation ventilatory exchange in apnoeic small children with two different oxygen flow rates: a randomised controlled trial*
Authors: Riva T. , Préel N. , Theiler L. , Greif R. , Bütikofer L. , Ulmer F. , Seiler S. , Nabecker S.
Published: December 2020

Transnasal humidified rapid insufflation ventilatory exchange prolongs safe apnoeic oxygenation time in children. In adults, transnasal humidified rapid insufflation ventilatory exchange is reported to have a ventilatory effect with PaCO2 levels increasing less rapidly than without it. This ventilatory effect has yet to be reproduced in children. In this non‐inferiority study, we tested the hypothesis that children weighing 10–15 kg exhibit no difference in carbon dioxide clearance when comparing two different high‐flow nasal therapy flow rates during a 10‐min apnoea period. Following standardised induction of anaesthesia including neuromuscular blockade, patients were randomly allocated to high‐flow nasal therapy of 100% oxygen at 2 or 4 l.kg−1.min−1. Airway patency was ensured by continuous jaw thrust. The study intervention was terminated for safety reasons when SpO2 values dropped < 95%, or transcutaneous carbon dioxide levels rose > 9.3 kPa, or near‐infrared spectroscopy values dropped > 20% from their baseline values, or after an apnoeic period of 10 min. Fifteen patients were included in each group. In the 2 l.kg−1.min−1 group, mean (SD) transcutaneous carbon dioxide increase was 0.46 (0.11) kPa.min−1, while in the 4 l.kg−1.min−1 group it was 0.46 (0.12) kPa.min−1. The upper limit of a one‐sided 95%CI for the difference between groups was 0.07 kPa.min−1, lower than the predefined non‐inferiority margin of 0.147 kPa.min−1 (p = 0.001). The lower flow rate of 2 l.kg−1.min−1 was non‐inferior to 4 l.kg−1.min−1 relative to the transcutaneous carbon dioxide increase. In conclusion, an additional ventilatory effect of either 2 or 4 l.kg−1.min−1 high‐flow nasal therapy in apnoeic children weighing 10–15 kg appears to be absent.
Outcome after surgery for pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect, a long‐term follow‐up study
Authors: Wiezell Erik , F. Gudnason Janus , Synnergren Mats , Sunnegårdh Jan
Published: December 2020

Aim

To study the long‐term outcome after surgery for pulmonary atresia and ventricular septal defect (PA‐VSD), and to determine association between the contribution of major aorto‐pulmonary collateral arteries (MAPCAs) to the pulmonary blood flow, comorbidity and cause of death.

Methods

Patients who had undergone surgery for PA‐VSD from January 1st 1994 to December 31st 2017 were studied retrospectively. Survival was cross‐checked against the Swedish National Population Register.

Results

Seventy patients were identified, giving an incidence of 5.3 newborns per 100 000 live births. In 41 patients (59%) the pulmonary blood flow originated from a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), while 29 patients (41%) had contribution of the pulmonary blood flow from MAPCAs. Extracardiac disease was found in 34 patients (49%), 16 of whom had 22q11‐microdeletion syndrome (23%). Survival at follow‐up was similar in patients with and without MAPCAs (72.4% vs. 75.6%, n.s.), with a median follow‐up time of 14.3 years (3.2–41.8 years). No difference was found in mortality in patients with or without any syndrome or extracardiac disease.

Conclusion

Long‐term survival did not differ between those with and without MAPCAs and no difference in mortality was seen in patients with and without concomitant extracardiac disease or any kind of syndrome.
Sensitization to benzyl salicylate and other allergens in patients with frontal fibrosing alopecia
Authors: Pastor‐Nieto María A. , Gatica‐Ortega María E. , Sánchez‐Herreros Consuelo , Vergara‐Sánchez Aránzazu , Martínez‐Mariscal Jaime , De Eusebio‐Murillo Esther
Published: December 2020

Background

Contact sensitization is frequent among patients with frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) (52%–76%).

Objective

To evaluate the frequency of sensitization/photosensitization in an FFA population.

Methods

A population of FFA patients were patch tested (Spanish Contact Dermatitis Research Group [GEIDAC] baseline; cosmetic and fragrance series), and photopatch tested (sunscreen series).

Results

Thirty‐six patients (mean age: 64.6 years; 35/36: women) were studied. A history of dermatitis was recorded in 69.4% (frequently involving the face). Overall, 80.5% patients showed positive patch‐test reactions. The most frequently positive allergens were nickel sulfate (25%), benzyl salicylate (22%), gallates (16.6%), propolis (16.6%), and limonene hydroperoxides (13.8%). Benzyl salicylate was likely relevant to the dermatitis (labeled on personal care products and most patients reporting clinical improvement with allergen avoidance). Patch tests with sunscreens showed positive reactions to 11 materials (five patients). Photopatch tests were positive in one case.

Conclusion

We speculate a possible relationship between sensitization to benzyl salicylate and FFA. Hypothetically, the most likely explanation is that sensitization to benzyl salicylate involving FFA patients is a consequence of increased exposure to it. It is unclear whether allergen avoidance may impact the prognosis of alopecia. However, it seems to significantly improve the patients´ quality of life by lessening dermatitis and pruritus.
Lichenoid dermatoses with pseudomelanocytic nests vs inflamed melanoma in situ: A comparative study
Authors: Panse Gauri , McNiff Jennifer M.
Published: December 2020

Aims

Pseudomelanocytic nests or “pseudonests” arising in lichenoid dermatoses can be a diagnostic pitfall for melanoma in situ (MIS), especially on sun‐damaged skin. We sought to evaluate histopathological features that may be helpful in distinguishing this benign process from inflamed MIS.

Methods

Ten biopsy specimens containing pseudomelanocytic nests within lichenoid dermatoses and twenty cases of inflamed MIS were retrospectively reviewed. Cases with pseudomelanocytic nests represented either a rash (n = 6) or a discrete non‐melanocytic lesion, such as lichenoid keratosis (n = 4).

Results

All cases with pseudomelanocytic nests showed nests of microphthalmia‐associated transcription factor‐positive cells at the dermoepidermal junction (DEJ) with interface changes and lichenoid inflammation. Pagetoid scatter, confluence of solitary melanocytes at the DEJ and significant cytologic atypia was not seen in any of these cases. In contrast, all cases of inflamed MIS demonstrated confluence of single melanocytes at the DEJ with cytologic atypia (P < 0.001) and 18/20 cases showed pagetoid scatter of melanocytes (P = 0.001).

Conclusions

Our results show that, of the different histopathological features assessed, confluent growth and pagetoid scatter of atypical melanocytes were seen in most cases of inflamed MIS but were absent in all cases with pseudomelanocytic nests. Therefore, in addition to clinicopathological correlation, these features may be useful in differentiating pseudomelanocytic nests arising in lichenoid dermatoses from inflamed MIS.
Lactation as a programming window for metabolic syndrome
Authors: Picó Catalina , Reis Flávio , Egas Conceição , Mathias Paulo , Matafome Paulo
Published: December 2020

The concept of developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) was initially supported by the low birth weight and higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease in adult life, caused by nutrition restriction during foetal development. However, other programming windows have been recognized in the last years, namely lactation, infancy, adolescence and even preconception. Although the concept has been developed in order to study the impact of foetal calorie restriction in adult life, it is now recognized that maternal overweight during programming windows is also harmful to the offspring. This article explores and summarizes the current knowledge about the impact of maternal obesity and obesogenic diets during lactation in the metabolic programming towards the development of metabolic syndrome in the adult life. The impact of maternal obesity and obesogenic diets in milk quality is discussed, including the alterations in specific micro and macronutrients, as well as the impact of such alterations in the development of metabolic syndrome‐associated features in the newborn, such as insulin resistance and adiposity. Moreover, the impact of milk quality and formula feeding in infants’ gut microbiota, immune system maturation and in the nutrient‐sensing mechanisms, namely those related to gut hormones and leptin, are also discussed under the current knowledge.
Analysis of Swiss needle cast disease onPseudotsuga menziesiivar.glaucawithin a Christmas tree plantation in Mexico
Authors: Salgado‐Feregrino Oscar Javier , Velázquez‐Mendoza Juan , Yáñez‐Morales María de Jesús , Jiménez‐Casas Marcos , Alanís‐Martínez Iobana , Valdez Carrasco Jorge
Published: December 2020

Nothophaeocryptopus gaeumanniicauses Swiss needle cast disease in Douglas‐fir forest trees and ornamental plantations. This study analysed disease and pathogen behaviour from summer 2011 to spring 2012. An untreated plot within aPseudotsuga menziesiivar.glaucaplantation in Valle de Bravo, Mexico was divided into 12 sub‐plots. At each sampling date, needles were collected from four trees per sub‐plot. The analysis included seven needle age cohorts from branches from two canopy sections, as well as fallen needles from five random trees inside the entire plot. Airborne ascospores were collected weekly in slide traps. Sequencing identified the pathogen from DNA extracted from 18 mycelial colonies (isolates) and ascospores DNA from four selective slide traps. Disease and pathogen characteristics were mostly similar to other reports, except for ascospores inside pseudothecia on the youngest age class of foliage. Defoliation affected lower canopies frequently, while in the middle canopy it ranged from 6% to 98% depending on the needle age. In fallen needles, mature pseudothecia contained ascospores and isolated colonies developed in an agar‐based medium. Ascospore fluctuation peaked in two periods, but the most relevant occurred from 11 February to 17 March 2012, coinciding with bud break. These results contribute further understanding of SNC disease useful in improving the health of Christmas trees and the less‐studiedP. menziesiivar.glauca.
BREXIT, democracy and the rule of law
Authors: O'Neill Aidan
Published: December 2020

This article employs the image of the antisyzygy, the yoking of opposites, as an analytical tool to understand the dynamic and unresolved tensions built into the very idea of the European Union. It describes the EU as a forming a supranational constitutional space which does not supersede nation states, but instead seeks to preserve their specific identities while promoting and protecting the fundamental values they are called upon to embody as liberal constitutional democracies. The article then critically examines constitutional developments in the UK subsequent to its decision to leave the European Union and suggests that, paradoxically, it may have been the European Union which held the post‐War post‐imperial United Kingdom together and, without it and outside it, we may anticipate the UK's imminent dissolution into its original constituent nations – Brexit leads inexorably to BreUK‐up.
The structural biology of crystallin aggregation: challenges and outlook
Authors: Bari Khandekar Jishan
Published: December 2020

Crystallin aggregation is characterized by light scattering of large molecular aggregates due to their phase separation in the lens. Low‐resolution biophysical studies using multiple techniques have characterized the folding, stability, binding, and aggregation of crystallins in the past but with limited access to their structure, dynamics, and interactions. In this Viewpoint, three schools of experimental structural biology, that is, X‐ray crystallography, solution and solid‐state NMR spectroscopy, and cryo‐electron microscopy, combine to provide atomic resolution details of native crystallins, soluble oligomers, and insoluble amyloid fibrils and amorphous aggregates. Computational structural biology provides additional details on crystallin dynamics and the crucial intercrystallin interactions in these events. Our current understanding of the diverse structural biology of crystallins is consistent with multiple pathways of protein aggregation for different structural intermediates. This Viewpoint combines our efforts with those of others to elucidate the recent progress in these high‐resolution studies and proposes an integrated structural biology approach to resolve the complex lens interactome. Overall, I discuss the outstanding questions and evaluate the experimental and theoretical caveats in the field.
Outcomes of ultrasound‐guided percutaneous nephrolithotomy for the treatment of large stones within non‐functioning atrophic kidneys
Authors: Su Boxing , Ji Chaoyue , Li Jianxing , Xiao Bo , Chen Song , Tang Yuzhe , Liu Yubao , Fu Meng , Bai Wenjie , Hu Weiguo
Published: December 2020

Objectives

To evaluate outcomes in patients who underwent total ultrasound‐guided percutaneous nephrolithotomy for the management of large stones (>2 cm) within non‐functioning atrophic kidneys, and to identify risk factors associated with postoperative persistence of urinary tract infection symptoms in such patients.

Methods

Between December 2014 and May 2019, 56 patients with large stones within non‐functioning atrophic kidneys were treated at Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Beijing, China, with total ultrasound‐guided percutaneous nephrolithotomy. Factors including age, sex, previous medical history, stone burden, stone composition, stone‐free rate, complication rate and postoperative urinary tract infection symptoms were retrospectively evaluated. Uni‐ and multivariate analyses were carried out to identify risk factors that predict persistence of urinary tract infection symptoms after percutaneous nephrolithotomy in such patients.

Results

The final stone‐free rate after auxiliary treatments was 87.5%. The overall complication rate was 17.9%. After a median follow‐up period of 12 months (range 6–40 months), three patients (5.4%) ultimately underwent nephrectomy. A total of 44 patients (78.6%) had no symptoms of urinary tract infection during follow up, whereas 63.6% of patients with diabetes continued to show persistent urinary tract infection symptoms at the latest follow up. Five patients (8.9%) showed improved total renal function, while most patients (83.9%) showed a stable estimated glomerular filtration rate. Diabetes was the only factor showing statistical significance in both univariate and multivariate analyses that predicted persistence of urinary tract infection symptoms after treatment with percutaneous nephrolithotomy.

Conclusions

Ultrasound‐guided percutaneous nephrolithotomy is a safe and feasible procedure that can be carried out in patients with large stones within non‐functioning atrophic kidneys. However, for such patients with diabetes, percutaneous nephrolithotomy is not recommended.
Comfort during the bed bath—A randomised crossover trial on the effect of washing without water versus water and soap in nursing students
Authors: Groven Fabian M. V. , Zwakhalen Sandra M.G. , Odekerken‐Schröder Gaby , Tan Frans , Hamers Jan P. H.
Published: December 2020

Aims and objectives

To compare the washing without water method with the water and soap method regarding comfort perceptions of the bed bath.

Background

Bathing affects nurses’ and care recipients’ comfort. Bedridden care recipients can be bathed in bed with water and soap or with washing without water products. Little is known about the differences between these two bed bath methods regarding comfort perceptions among care recipients and nurses.

Design

Crossover randomised laboratory‐controlled trial, conducted from March 2018–November 2019, according to the CONSORT guidelines.

Methods

Nursing students were randomly allocated roles as a patient (who received both types of bed baths) or a nurse (who provided both types of bed baths). Also, the order in which the bed baths were received/provided was randomised. A total of 97 students were included in the analysis. Student patients filled out the Patient Evaluation of Emotional Comfort Experienced (PEECE) scale to measure emotional comfort and a single‐item question on physical comfort after each bed bath. Student nurses filled out the Physical Demands scale after each bed bath to measure their physical comfort perceptions.

Results

No differences were found between the two bed bathing methods regarding student patients’ emotional or physical comfort levels. Among student nurses, the washing without water method was less physically demanding than the water and soap method.

Conclusions

Taking into account time‐efficiency and physical comfort for nurses, washing without water seems to be a valuable alternative to water and soap from a care recipient comfort perspective, which should be assessed in a clinical setting in future research.

Relevance to clinical practice

The washing without water method is less physically demanding for nurses and takes less time. It does not have a detrimental effect on care recipients’ emotional and physical comfort. The trial is registered at www.trialregister.nl (ID = NL6787).
Identifying barriers and facilitators to recognition and response to patient clinical deterioration by clinicians using a behaviour change approach: A qualitative study
Authors: Walker Rachel M. , Boorman Rhonda J. , Vaux Amanda , Cooke Marie , Aitken Leanne M. , Marshall Andrea P.
Published: December 2020

Background

Failure of clinicians to recognise and respond to patient clinical deterioration is associated with increased hospital mortality. Emergency response teams are implemented throughout hospitals to support direct‐care clinicians in managing patient deterioration, but patient clinical deterioration is often not identified or acted upon by clinicians in ward settings. To date, no studies have used an integrative theoretical framework in multiple sites to examine why clinicians’ delay identification and action on patients’ clinical deterioration.

Aim

To identify barriers and facilitators that influence clinicians’ absent or delayed response to patient clinical deterioration using the Theoretical Domains Framework.

Methods

The Theoretical Domains Framework guided: (a) semi‐structured interviews with clinicians, health consumers and family members undertaken at two sites; (b) deductive analyses of inductive themes to identify barriers and facilitators to optimal care. This study complied with the COREQ research guidelines.

Findings

Seven themes identified: (a) information transfer; (b) ownership of patient care; (c) confidence to respond; (d) knowledge and skills; (e) culture; (f) emotion; and (g) environmental context and resources.

Discussion

The Theoretical Domains Framework identified traditional social and professional hierarchies and limitations due to environmental contexts and resources as contributors to diminished interprofessional recognition and impediments to the development of effective relationships between professional groups. Communication processes were impacted by these restraints and further confounded by inadequate policy development and limited access to regular effective team‐based training. As a result, patient safety was compromised, and clinicians frustrated.

Conclusions

These results inform the development, implementation and evaluation of a behaviour change intervention and increase knowledge about barriers and facilitators to timely response to patient clinical deterioration.

Relevance to clinical practice

Results contribute to understanding of why clinicians delay responding to patient clinical deterioration and suggest key recommendations to identify and challenge traditional hierarchies and practices that prevent interdisciplinary collaboration and decision‐making.
Temperature, rainfall and wind variables underlie environmental adaptation in natural populations of Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Bogaerts‐Márquez María , Guirao‐Rico Sara , Gautier Mathieu , González Josefa
Published: December 2020

While several studies in a diverse set of species have shed light on the genes underlying adaptation, our knowledge on the selective pressures that explain the observed patterns lags behind. Drosophila melanogaster is a valuable organism to study environmental adaptation because this species originated in Southern Africa and has recently expanded worldwide, and also because it has a functionally well‐annotated genome. In this study, we aimed to decipher which environmental variables are relevant for adaptation of D. melanogaster natural populations in Europe and North America. We analysed 36 whole‐genome pool‐seq samples of D. melanogaster natural populations collected in 20 European and 11 North American locations. We used the BayPass software to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and transposable elements (TEs) showing signature of adaptive differentiation across populations, as well as significant associations with 59 environmental variables related to temperature, rainfall, evaporation, solar radiation, wind, daylight hours, and soil type. We found that in addition to temperature and rainfall, wind related variables are also relevant for D. melanogaster environmental adaptation. Interestingly, 23%–51% of the genes that showed significant associations with environmental variables were not found overly differentiated across populations. In addition to SNPs, we also identified 10 reference transposable element insertions associated with environmental variables. Our results showed that genome‐environment association analysis can identify adaptive genetic variants that are undetected by population differentiation analysis while also allowing the identification of candidate environmental drivers of adaptation.
What is anarchist internationalism?
Authors: Kinna Ruth
Published: December 2020

This article outlines a concept of anarchist internationalism as non‐domination. The discussion falls into two parts. The first outlines the general theory, building on the analysis of the anarchist critique of republicanism, describing anarchist internationalism as cosmopolitan and based on a permanent “right of secession.” The second part considers how this general conception was developed in the context of anti‐colonial struggle and nationalist resurgence. It examines Ananda Coomaraswamy and Rudolf Rocker's responses to the global spread of capitalism and the evolution of the European state. Their contrasting critiques of nationalism and images of international community expose shortcomings and biases in the application of non‐domination and tensions which test cosmopolitan ties and voluntary agreements. Yet their work also demonstrates that anarchist internationalism is not a failed dream of class solidarity and that, understood as a principle of non‐domination, it promotes emancipatory, transformative processes directed against static configurations of power.
Reviewer Acknowledgements
Authors: Smith Robert
Published: December 2020

Journal of Education and Training Studies (JETS) would like to acknowledge the following reviewers for their assistance with peer review of manuscripts for this issue. Many authors, regardless of whether JETS publishes their work, appreciate the helpful feedback provided by the reviewers. Their comments and suggestions were of great help to the authors in improving the quality of their papers. Each of the reviewers listed below returned at least one review for this issue.Reviewers for Volume 9, Number 1 Akın Metli, Bilkent Erzurum Laboratory School (BELS), TurkeyFrancisca Serrano, University of Granada, SpainJohn Cowan, Edinburgh Napier University, UKMan-fung Lo, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong KongMichael Baron, University of Melbourne, AustraliaNiveen M. Zayed, MENA College of Management, JordanSadia Batool, Preston University Islamabad, PakistanShu-wen Lin, Sojo University, JapanVeronica Velasco Gonzalez, University of Valladolid, SpainVjacheslav Ivanovich Babich, Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University, Ukraine Robert SmithEditorial AssistantOn behalf of,The Editorial Board of Journal of Education and Training StudiesRedfame Publishing9450 SW Gemini Dr. #99416Beaverton, OR 97008, USAE-mail 1: jets@redfame.comE-mail 2: jets@redfame.orgURL: http://jets.redfame.com