bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A guide to area‐restricted search: a foundational foraging behaviour
Authors: Dorfman Arik , Hills Thomas T. , Scharf Inon
Published: July 2022

Area‐restricted search is the capacity to change search effort adaptively in response to resource encounters or expectations, from directional exploration (global, extensive search) to focused exploitation (local, intensive search). This search pattern is used by numerous organisms, from worms and insects to humans, to find various targets, such as food, mates, nests, and other resources. Area‐restricted search has been studied for at least 80 years by ecologists, and more recently in the neurological and psychological literature. In general, the conditions promoting this search pattern are: (1) clustered resources; (2) active search (e.g. not a sit‐and‐wait predator); (3) searcher memory for recent target encounters or expectations; and (4) searcher ignorance about the exact location of targets. Because area‐restricted search adapts to resource encounters, the search can be performed at multiple spatial scales. Models and experiments have demonstrated that area‐restricted search is superior to alternative search patterns that do not involve a memory of the exact location of the target, such as correlated random walks or Lévy walks/flights. Area‐restricted search is triggered by sensory cues whereas concentrated search in the absence of sensory cues is associated with other forms of foraging. Some neural underpinnings of area‐restricted search are probably shared across metazoans, suggesting a shared ancestry and a shared solution to a common ecological problem of finding clustered resources. Area‐restricted search is also apparent in other domains, such as memory and visual search in humans, which may indicate an exaptation from spatial search to other forms of search. Here, we review these various aspects of area‐restricted search, as well as how to identify it, and point to open questions.
Effects of α5 GABAA receptor modulation on social interaction, memory, and neuroinflammation in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Aranđelović Jovana , Santrač Anja , Batinić Bojan , Todorović Lidija , Stevanović Vladimir , Tiruveedhula Veera Venkata Naga Phani Babu , Sharmin Dishary , Rashid Farjana , Stanojević Boban , Cook James M. , Savić Miroslav M.
Published: July 2022

Aims

GABAergic modulation involved in cognitive processing appears to be substantially changed in Alzheimer's disease (AD). In a widely used 5xFAD model of AD, we aimed to assess if negative and positive allosteric modulators of α5 GABAA receptors (NAM and PAM, respectively) would affect social interaction, social, object and spatial memory, and neuroinflammation.

Methods

After 10‐day treatment with PAM, NAM, or solvent, 6‐month‐old transgenic and non‐transgenic 5xFAD mice underwent testing in a behavioral battery. Gene expressions of IL‐1β, IL‐6, TNF‐α, GFAP, and IBA‐1 were determined in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex by qPCR.

Results

PAM treatment impaired spatial learning in transgenic females compared to solvent‐treated transgenic females, and social recognition in transgenic and non‐transgenic males. NAM treatment declined social interaction in transgenic and non‐transgenic males, while had beneficial effect on cognitive flexibility in non‐transgenic males compared to solvent‐treated non‐transgenic males. Transgenic animals have not fully displayed cognitive symptoms, but neuroinflammation was confirmed. NAM reduced proinflammatory gene expressions in transgenic females and astrogliosis in transgenic males compared to pathological controls.

Conclusion

PAM and NAM failed to exert favorable behavioral effects in transgenic animals. Suppression of neuroinflammation obtained with NAM calls for more studies with GABAergic ligands in amyloid beta‐ and/or tau‐dependent models with prominent neuroinflammation.
New hope for Parkinson's disease treatment: Targeting gut microbiota
Authors: Fan Hong‐Xia , Sheng Shuo , Zhang Feng
Published: July 2022

There might be more than 10 million confirmed cases of Parkinson's disease (PD) worldwide by 2040. However, the pathogenesis of PD is still unclear. Host health is closely related to gut microbiota, which are affected by factors such as age, diet, and exercise. Recent studies have found that gut microbiota may play key roles in the progression of a wide range of diseases, including PD. Changes in the abundance of gut bacteria, such as Helicobacter pylori, Enterococcus faecalis, and Desulfovibrio, might be involved in PD pathogenesis or interfere with PD therapy. Gut microbiota and the distal brain achieve action on each other through a gut‐brain axis composed of the nervous system, endocrine system, and immune system. Here, this review focused on the current understanding of the connection between Parkinson's disease and gut microbiota, to provide potential therapeutic targets for PD.
Granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor with or without immunosuppression reduction in neutropenic kidney transplant recipients
Authors: Sandal Shaifali , Yao Han , Alam Ahsan , Arienzo David D’ , Baran Dana , Cantarovich Marcelo
Published: July 2022

Introduction

Neutropenia post‐kidney transplantation is associated with adverse graft and patient outcomes. We aimed to analyze the effect of granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor (G‐CSF) use with and without immunosuppression reduction on graft outcomes in neutropenic recipients.

Methods

In this retrospective cohort study, we identified 120 recipients with neutropenia, within the first‐year post‐transplant.

Results

Of these, 45.0% underwent no intervention, 17.5% had immunosuppression reduced, 18.3% were only given G‐CSF, and 19.2% had both interventions. Overall, 61 patients experienced the composite outcome of de‐novo DSA, biopsy‐proven acute rejection, and all‐cause graft failure and the cumulative incidence of this outcome did not vary by any of the four interventions (p = .93). When stratifying the cohort by G‐CSF use alone, those who received G‐CSF were more likely to have had severe neutropenia (<500/mm3: 51.1% vs. 12.0%,p < .001), and immunosuppression reduction (51.1% vs. 28.0%,p = .003). However, the composite outcome was not different in the G‐CSF and no G‐CSF cohort (53.3% vs. 49.3%,p = .67), and in a multivariate model, G‐CSF use was not associated with this outcome (aHR = 1.18, 95% CI: .61–2.30). However, a trend towards higher DSA production was noted in the G‐CSF cohort (87.5% vs. 62.2%) and this observation warrants prospective evaluation.

Conclusion

Overall, we conclude that G‐CSF use with or without immunosuppression reduction was not associated with graft outcomes.
Service at risk in delivery operations
Authors: Hekimoğlu Mert Hakan , Park John H. , Kazaz Burak
Published: July 2022

This article examines disruption risks at fulfillment centers and develops risk mitigation strategies based on inventory stocking and delivery decisions. It considers a Fortune 150 firm whose delivery operations are designed to fulfill the orders from contracted business customers within the next day. The firm promises its customers that the probability of late deliveries exceeding a certain threshold will be limited. We coin this requirement as the service‐at‐risk (SaR) constraint. The firm proactively determines the inventory amount to be kept in each fulfillment center. If a disruption occurs, the firm determines the best way to deliver orders from its operational fulfillment centers and vendors under disruption length and demand uncertainty to minimize additional costs and satisfy the SaR constraint. This article makes four main contributions. First, we find a surprising result that total inventory commitment can decrease with risk aversion when there exists a disruption possibility that impacts two nearby facilities together. Using actual data from the motivating firm, the numerical analysis demonstrates that this phenomenon exists in practice. Second, we define a new metric: The Risk Dispersion Index (RDI), which measures the dispersion in risk exposure across fulfillment centers. It leads to a lower and more balanced risk exposure in the firm's delivery operations. Third, we find that a facility may elect to abandon its own customers to serve the customers of a disrupted facility; this behavior becomes more prominent under risk aversion. Fourth, the introduction of demand uncertainty leads to a smaller inventory commitment for a risk‐neutral retailer.
Electroencephalography–functional magnetic resonance imaging of epileptiform discharges: Noninvasive investigation of the whole brain
Authors: Ikemoto Satoru , von Ellenrieder Nicolás , Gotman Jean
Published: July 2022

Simultaneous electroencephalography–functional magnetic resonance imaging (EEG‐fMRI) is a unique and noninvasive method for investigating epileptic activity. Interictal epileptiform discharge‐related EEG‐fMRI provides cortical and subcortical blood oxygen level‐dependent (BOLD) signal changes specific to epileptic discharges. As a result, EEG‐fMRI has revealed insights into generators and networks involved in epileptic activity in different types of epilepsy, demonstrating—for instance—the implication of the thalamus in human generalized spike and wave discharges and the role of the default mode network in absences and focal epilepsy, and has suggested a mechanism for the cortico‐subcortical interactions in Lennox–Gastaut syndrome discharges. EEG‐fMRI can find deep sources of epileptic activity not available to scalp EEG or magnetoencephalography, and provides critical new information to delineate the epileptic focus when considering surgical treatment or electrode implantation. In recent years, methodological advances, such as artifact removal and automatic detection of events, have rendered this method easier to implement, and its clinical potential has since been established by evidence of the impact of BOLD response on clinical decision‐making and of the relationship between concordance of BOLD responses with extent of resection and surgical outcome. This review presents the recent developments in EEG‐fMRI methodology and EEG‐fMRI studies in different types of epileptic disorders as follows: EEG‐fMRI acquisition, gradient and pulse artifact removal, statistical analysis, clinical applications, presurgical evaluation, altered physiological state in generalized genetic epilepsy, and pediatric EEG‐fMRI studies.
Serosurveillance of equine coronavirus infection among Thoroughbreds in Japan
Authors: Kambayashi Yoshinori , Nemoto Manabu , Tsujimura Koji , Ohta Minoru , Bannai Hiroshi
Published: July 2022

Background

Equine coronavirus (ECoV) causes fever, lethargy, anorexia and gastrointestinal signs in horses. There has been limited information about the prevalence and seasonality of ECoV among Thoroughbreds in Japan.

Objectives

To understand the epidemiology and to evaluate the potential risk of ECoV infection to the horse industry in Japan.

Study design

Longitudinal.

Methods

The virus‐neutralisation (VN) test was performed using sera collected three times a year at 4 months intervals from 161 yearlings and at 6–7 months intervals from 181 active racehorses in Japan in 2017–2018, 2018–2019 and 2019–2020. VN titre ≥1:8 was defined as seropositive, and ≥4‐fold increase in titres between paired sera was regarded as indicative of infection.

Results

The VN test showed that 44.1% (71/161) of yearlings were seropositive in August, when they first entered the yearling farm. The infection rate was significantly higher between August and December (60.9%, 98/161) than between December and the following April (5.6%, 9/161; p = 0.002). Among the racehorses, it was significantly higher between November and the following May (15.5%, 28/181) than between the preceding April/May and November (0%; p = 0.02). The morbidity rates during the estimated periods of viral exposure were 39.2% in the yearlings and 4% in the racehorses. No horses showed any severe clinical signs.

Main limitations

Clinical records did not cover the period during horses' absence from the training centre.

Conclusions

ECoV was substantially prevalent in Thoroughbred yearlings and racehorses in Japan, and there was a difference in epizootic pattern between these populations in terms of predominant periods of infection. ECoV infection was considered to be responsible for some of the pyretic cases in the yearlings. However, no diseased horses were severely affected in either population, suggesting that the potential risk of ECoV infection to the horse industry in Japan is low.
Living alongside past trauma: Lived experiences of Australian grandchildren of Holocaust survivors
Authors: Greenfeld Daliya , Reupert Andrea , Jacobs Nicky
Published: July 2022

Objective

We explore the experience of intergenerational transmission of trauma in grandchildren of Holocaust survivors.

Background

Impacts of mass and collective trauma may exceed those initially affected to include the survivor's extended family and, thus, impact families for generations to come. Understanding these impacts is paramount to developing interventions and support programs for the survivors and their families.

Method

Fourteen semistructured interviews were conducted with randomly recruited 11 female and three male Australian grandchildren of Holocaust survivors (Mage = 36.5 years). Data were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Results

Six main themes were identified: knowledge about the past, communication modes about the Holocaust, kinship with other descendants, emotional reactions, the meaning of the Holocaust, and impacts on present life.

Conclusions

The findings demonstrated that intergenerational transmission of trauma occurred and included both features of vulnerability and resilience. Although traumatic content was mainly transmitted through open communication, echoes of the past trauma were also transmitted nonverbally.

Implications

There is scope for developing and formulating guidelines for clinicians working with families of collective trauma survivors to educate the clients and support familial communication pathways. Additional clinical and research implications are discussed.
Hematite‐promoted nitrate‐reducing Fe(II) oxidation by Acidovorax sp. strain BoFeN1: Roles of mineral catalysis and cell encrustation
Authors: Cheng Kuan , Li Han , Yuan Xiu , Yin Yunlu , Chen Dandan , Wang Ying , Li Xiaomin , Chen Guojun , Li Fangbai , Peng Chao , Wu Yundang , Liu Tongxu
Published: July 2022

Although nitrate‐reducing Fe(II) oxidizing (NRFO) bacteria can grow sustainably in natural environments, numerous laboratory studies suggested that cell encrustation‐induced metabolism limitations and cell death occurred more seriously in the absence of natural minerals. Hence, a study on how natural minerals could affect NRFO is warranted. This study examined the impact of hematite on NRFO by Acidovorax sp. BoFeN1 with different electron donors (acetate and Fe(II), acetate alone, and Fe(II) alone) and with nitrate as an electron acceptor. When acetate and Fe(II) were used as the electron donors, the amount of Fe(II) oxidation and nitrate reduction was enhanced in the presence of hematite, whereas no promotion was observed when only acetate was added as an electron donor. Under the conditions with only Fe(II) added as an electron donor, the level of Fe(II) oxidation was increased from 3.07 ± 0.06 to 3.92 ± 0.02 mM in the presence of hematite and nitrate reduction was enhanced. This suggests that hematite promotes microbial nitrate reduction by accelerating the biological oxidation of Fe(II). The main secondary minerals were goethite and lepidocrocite. After adding hematite, the assemblage of iron minerals on the cell surface decreased, and the cell crusts became thinner, indicating that hematite effectively mitigated cell encrustation. Furthermore, hematite accelerated the chemical oxidation of Fe(II) by nitrite. Hence, hematite can promote the NRFO of Acidovorax sp. BoFeN1 via two possible pathways: (i) hematite acts as nucleation sites to mitigate cell encrustation; (ii) hematite catalyzes the biological and chemical oxidation of Fe(II) through the mineral catalysis effects. This study highlights the importance of existing iron minerals on NRFO and sheds light on the survival strategy of NRFO bacteria in anoxic subsurface environments.
The correlation betweeneBirdcommunity science and weather surveillance radar‐based estimates of migration phenology
Authors: Haas Elaina K. , La Sorte Frank A. , McCaslin Hanna M. , Belotti Maria C. T. D. , Horton Kyle G.
Published: July 2022

Aim

Measuring avian migration can prove challenging given the spatial scope and the diversity of species involved. No one monitoring technique provides all the pertinent measures needed to capture this macroscale phenomenon – emphasizing the need for data integration. Migration phenology is a key metric characterizing large‐scale migration dynamics and has been successfully quantified using weather surveillance radar (WSR) data and community science observations. Separately, both platforms have their limitations and measure different aspects of bird migration. We sought to make a formal comparison of the migration phenology estimates derived from WSR and eBird data – of which we predict a positive correlation.

Location

Contiguous United States.

Time period

2002–2018.

Major taxa studied

Migratory birds.

Methods

We estimated spring and autumn migration phenology at 143 WSR stations aggregated over a 17‐year period (2002–2018), which we contrast with eBird‐based estimates of spring and autumn migration phenology for 293 nocturnally migrating bird species at the 143 WSR stations. We compared phenology metrics derived from all species and WSR stations combined, for species in three taxonomic orders (Anseriformes, Charadriiformes and Passeriformes), and for WSR stations in three North American migration flyways (western, central and eastern).

Results

We found positive correlations between WSR and eBird‐based estimates of migration phenology and differences in the strength of correlations among taxonomic orders and migration flyways. The correlations were stronger during spring migration, for Passeriformes, and generally for WSR stations in the eastern flyway. Autumn migration showed weaker correlation, and in Anseriformes correlations were weakest overall. Lastly, eBird‐based estimates slightly preceded those derived from WSR in the spring, but trailed WSR in the autumn, suggesting that the two data sources measure different components of migration phenology.

Main conclusions

We highlight the complementarity of these two approaches, but also reveal strong taxonomic and geographic differences in the relationships between the platforms.
Determinants associated with the incidence of occupational accidents among visiting nurses from home‐visit nursing agencies: Secondary analysis of cross‐national survey data in Japan
Authors: Kashiwagi Masayo , Morioka Noriko
Published: July 2022

Aim

This study aimed to determine the incidence of occupational accidents among home‐visiting nurses from home‐visit nursing agencies and relevant factors.

Methods

Data from a questionnaire survey, conducted in March 2020, concerning home‐visit nursing agencies were used as a secondary source. A total of 9979 agencies were surveyed. The questionnaires included items relating to the number of occupational accidents experienced by visiting nurses that occurred during a 3‐month period. The occurrence of accidents in an agency was set as a dependent variable, and logistic regression analysis was performed on its association with agency attributes. For agencies in which accidents occurred, the number of accidents per 10 full‐time‐equivalent nurses was estimated, and multiple regression analysis was administered to investigate its association with agency attributes.

Results

The findings of the logistic regression analysis revealed that new agencies, a greater number of full‐time‐equivalent nurses, emergency visitation support, and performing an analysis of accident cases for accident prevention were significantly associated with the occurrence of accidents. A median of 3.3 accidents occurred per 10 full‐time‐equivalent nurses at such agencies. Multiple regression analysis showed that a lower number of full‐time‐equivalent nurses was significantly associated with an increase in the frequency of accidents.

Conclusions

These results suggest that to devise and deploy safety measures for visiting nurses, all home‐visit nursing agencies must build reporting and analysis systems for occupational accidents among home‐visiting nurses. Moreover, ensuring safety measures for nurses working in small‐scale agencies is of utmost importance. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2022; 22: 588–596.
N‐terminal Ago‐binding domain of GW182 contains a tryptophan‐rich region that confer binding to the CCR4–NOT complex
Authors: Wakiyama Motoaki , Takimoto Koji
Published: July 2022

GW182 family proteins are a key component of microRNA–protein complex eliciting translational repression and/or degradation of microRNA‐targets. The microRNAs in complex with Argonaute proteins bind to target mRNAs, and GW182 proteins are recruited by association with Argonaute proteins. The GW182 protein acts as a scaffold that links the Argonaute protein to silencing machineries including the CCR4–NOT complex which accelerates deadenylation and inhibits translation. The carboxyl‐terminal effector domain of GW182 protein, also called the silencing domain, has been shown to bind to the subunits of the CCR4–NOT complex, the CNOT1 and the CNOT9. Here we show that a small region within the amino‐terminal Argonaute‐binding domain of human GW182/TNRC6A can associate with the CCR4–NOT complex. This region resides between the two Argonaute‐binding sites and contains reiterated GW/WG‐motifs. Alanine mutation experiments showed that multiple tryptophan residues are required for the association with the CCR4–NOT complex. Furthermore, co‐expression and immunoprecipitation assays suggested that the CNOT9 subunit of the CCR4–NOT complex is a possible binding partner of this region. Our work, taken together with previous studies, indicates that the human GW182 protein contains multiple binding interfaces to the CCR4–NOT complex.
Factors affecting knowledge of recovery‐oriented practice amongst mental health nursing and medical staff working on acute mental health inpatient units
Authors: Hardy Jonathan , Parker Stephen , Hughes Ian , Anand Muthur
Published: July 2022

Over recent decades, the shift to recovery‐oriented practice has been central to mental health policy. Despite this emphasis, mental health services can struggle to meet this expectation. This study explores the knowledge and attitudes in relation to the recovery‐oriented practice of clinical staff working at an Australian acute inpatient mental health unit. The Recovery Knowledge Inventory (RKI) is a widely used self‐report tool that assesses mental health professionals' knowledge and attitudes towards recovery; higher scores indicate higher levels of recovery knowledge and attitudes. Seventy‐four staff members (44 nursing staff and 30 medical staff) completed the RKI via an online survey. The study has been reported according to the STROBE checklist for cross‐sectional studies. The relationships between the RKI scores and a range of variables were considered using inferential statistics, including multivariate regression. Medical staff had higher mean RKI scores than nursing staff, although this did not meet the predefined threshold for a clinically significant difference. More years of mental health experience were associated with increased mean RKI scores for medical staff. This Australian inpatient staff cohort demonstrated higher mean RKI scores than have been observed in recent international studies of mental health professions. However, the recovery knowledge and attitude levels were disappointingly similar to those shown in earlier Australian research completed over a decade ago. Efforts are needed to further enhance the recovery knowledge of clinicians working in mental health inpatient units.
Epidemiological analysis of the first 1000 cases of SARS‐CoV‐2 lineage BA.1 (B.1.1.529, Omicron) compared with co‐circulating Delta in Wales, UK
Authors: Pacchiarini Nicole , Sawyer Clare , Williams Christopher , Sutton Daryn , Roberts Christopher , Simkin Felicity , King Grace , McClure Victoria , Cottrell Simon , Clayton Helen , Beazer Andrew , Williams Catie , Rey Sara M. , Connor Thomas R. , Moore Catherine
Published: July 2022

Background

The Omicron (lineage B.1.1.529) variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) was first reported in Wales, UK, on 3 December 2021. The aim of the study was to describe the first 1000 cases of the Omicron variant by demographic, vaccination status, travel and severe outcome status and compare this to contemporaneous cases of the Delta variant.

Methods

Testing, typing and contact tracing data were collected by Public Health Wales and analysis undertaken by the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre (CDSC). Risk ratios for demographic factors and symptoms were calculated comparing Omicron cases to Delta cases identified over the same time period.

Results

By 14 December 2021, 1000 cases of the Omicron variant had been identified in Wales. Of the first 1000, just 3% of cases had a prior history of travel revealing rapid community transmission. A higher proportion of Omicron cases were identified in individuals aged 20–39, and most cases were double vaccinated (65.9%) or boosted (15.7%). Age‐adjusted analysis also revealed that Omicron cases were less likely to be hospitalised (0.4%) or report symptoms (60.8%). Specifically a significant reduction was observed in the proportion of Omicron cases reporting anosmia (8.9%).

Conclusion

Key findings include a lower risk of anosmia and a reduced risk of hospitalisation in the first 1000 Omicron cases compared with co‐circulating Delta cases. We also identify that existing measures for travel restrictions to control importations of new variants identified outside the United Kingdom did not prevent the rapid ingress of Omicron within Wales.
Exact algorithms for the product configuration problem
Authors: Bogue Eduardo T. , Maciel Lucas , Noronha Thiago F.
Published: July 2022

A software product line (SPL) is a software engineering reusability approach used to create different applications from a shared set of common software features. The product configuration problem (PCP) consists in finding the product, among all the products allowed by the SPL, that best fits the customer's preferences and requirements. PCP is a generalization of the tree knapsack problem (TKP) with additional AND, XOR, and OR constraints. Therefore, this problem is also NP‐hard. Previous work in the literature could solve only instances with up to 500 features. In this paper, we propose a pseudo‐polynomial time dynamic programming algorithm that solves PCP in , where n is the number of features and H is the customer's budget. We also propose an integer linear programming formulation for PCP, which is solved by the CPLEX's branch‐and‐bound algorithm. Computational experiments, performed on realistic instances from the literature, showed that the proposed algorithms were able to find optimal solutions for all the instances with up to 10,000 features.
Phase equilibria of MgO–Al2O3–TiO2 system at 1600°C in air: Emphasis on pseudobrookite and spinel solid solution phases
Authors: Qiu Yuchao , Shi Junjie , Yu Bin , Hou Changle , Dong Jingjing , Li Song , Zhai Yumo , Li Jianzhong , Liu Changsheng
Published: July 2022

The recycling of titanium from titania‐bearing slag is an important part of the circular economy; however, the yield of titania is restricted due to the lack of fundamental thermodynamic data. In the present work, the equilibrium phase relations of MgO–Al2O3–TiO2 system in air at 1600°C have been determined using a high‐temperature equilibration‐quenching technique followed by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy‐energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectrometry, and X‐ray diffraction. Ti4+ was confirmed as the stable valence of titanium, and the rutile and spinel solid solution phases were detected to be coexisting with pseudobrookite solid solution phase, respectively. The formation principles of pseudobrookite and spinel solid solutions were confirmed in view of the corresponding crystal structure and the composition substitution relationship of the oxides at 1600°C. However, great discrepancies were found from the comparison of the present experimental results with the thermodynamic calculations and the literature results, and the present equilibrium phase relations are therefore significant for updating the present titania related thermodynamic database for a superior prediction of the thermodynamic behaviors of relevant process.
Contextual factors influencing patients' experiences of acute deterioration and medical emergency team (MET) encounter: A grounded theory study
Authors: Chung Catherine , McKenna Lisa , Cooper Simon J.
Published: July 2022

Aim

This paper explores the personal, social and structural factors that influence patients' experiences of acute deterioration and medical emergency team (MET) encounter.

Background

Patient experience is recognized as a means of assessing healthcare delivery with a positive experience being linked to high‐quality healthcare, improved patient safety and reduced length of stay. The experience of acute deterioration is unique, extensive and complex. However, little is known about this experience from the patient's perspective.

Design

Constructivist grounded theory, informed by Kathy Charmaz, was used to explore the personal, social and structural factors that influence patients' experiences of acute deterioration and MET encounter.

Methods

Using a semi‐structured interview guide, in‐depth individual interviews were conducted with 27 patients from three healthcare services in Victoria, Australia. Data were collected over a 12‐month period from 2018 to 2019. Interview data were analysed using grounded theory processes.

Findings

Contextual factors exert a powerful influence on patients' experiences of acute deterioration and MET encounter. The most significant factors identified include patients' expectations and illness perception, relationship with healthcare professionals during MET call and past experiences of acute illness. The expectations and perceptions patients had about their disease can condition their overall experience. Healthcare professional–patient interactions can significantly impact quality of care, patient experience and recovery. Patients' experiences of illness and healthcare can impact a person's future health‐seeking behaviour and health status.

Conclusion

Patients' actions and processes about their experiences of acute deterioration and MET encounter are the result of the complex interface of contextual factors.

Impact

The findings from this study have highlighted the need for revised protocols for screening and management of patients who experience acute deterioration.
Consequences of specialized breeding in the Swedish Warmblood horse population
Authors: Bonow Sandra , Eriksson Susanne , Thorén Hellsten Emma , Gelinder Viklund Åsa
Published: July 2022

In many European warmblood studbooks, clear specialization toward either jumping or dressage horses is evident. The Swedish Warmblood (SWB) is also undergoing such specialization, creating a possible need for separate breeding programs and a discipline‐specific Young Horse Test (YHT). This study investigated how far specialization of the SWB breed has proceeded and the potential consequences. Individuals in a population of 122,054 SWB horses born between 1980 and 2020 were categorized according to pedigree as jumping (J), dressage (D), allround (AR), or thoroughbred (Th). Data on 8,713 J horses and 6,477 D horses assessed for eight traits in YHT 1999–2020 were used to estimate genetic parameters within and between J and D horses and between different periods. Future scenarios in which young horses are assessed for either jumping or dressage traits at YHT were also analyzed. More than 80% of horses born in 1980–1985 were found to be AR horses, while 92% of horses born in 2016–2020 belonged to a specialized category. The average relationship within J or D category was found to increase during the past decade, whereas the relationship between these categories decreased. Heritability estimates for gait traits were 0.42–0.56 for D horses and 0.25–0.38 for J horses. For jumping traits, heritability estimates were 0.17–0.26 for J horses and 0.10–0.18 for D horses. Genetic correlations between corresponding traits assessed in J and D horses were within the range 0.48–0.81, with a tendency to be lower in the late study period. In the future scenarios, heritability and genetic variance both decreased for traits that were not assessed in all horses, indicating that estimation of breeding value and genetic progress for these traits could be affected by a specialized YHT. However, ranking of sires based on estimated breeding values (EBVs) and accuracy of EBVs was only slightly altered for discipline‐specific traits. With continued specialization in SWB, specialization of the YHT should thus be considered.
United in Crisis: Abortion Politics in the European Parliament and Political Groups' Disputes over EU Values
Authors: Berthet Valentine
Published: July 2022

Safe and legal access to abortion is precondition for gender equality. Yet, in many EU Member States they remain controversial, endangered or absent. Recently, the European Parliament passed a resolution articulating a defence for a right to abortion in the EU: the Matić resolution. Via an analysis of debates and parliamentary processes around the resolution, this article analyses the different discursive constructions of a right to abortion within the EP by political groups, the different meanings attributed to EU values during abortion debates, and the impact of these constructions on gender equality policymaking in the EP. It found that internal attacks on abortion were increasingly constructed as alien to EU values despite efforts by opponents to reframe such values. Although EU values are undefined, attempts to renegotiate a common EU identity around shared values, even symbolically, are possible because they are dynamic and prone to facilitating unity during crises.
Lack of alignment across yeast‐dependent life‐history traits may limit Drosophila melanogaster dietary specialization
Authors: Wang Xiaocui , Billeter Jean‐Christophe , Maan Martine E.
Published: July 2022

Heterogeneity in food resources is a major driver of local adaptation and speciation. Dietary specialization typically involves multiple life‐history traits and may thus be limited by the extent to which these traits adapt in concert. Here, we use Drosophila melanogaster, representing an intermediate state in the generalist‐specialist continuum, to explore the scope for dietary specialization. D. melanogaster has a close association with yeast, an essential but heterogeneous food resource. We quantify how different D. melanogaster strains from around the globe respond to different yeast species, across multiple yeast‐dependent life‐history traits including feeding, mating, egg‐laying, egg development and survival. We find that D. melanogaster strains respond to different yeast species in different ways, indicating distinct fly strain–yeast interactions. However, we detect no evidence for trade‐offs: fly performance tends to be positively rather than negatively correlated across yeast species. We also find that the responses to different yeast species are not aligned across traits: different life‐history traits are maximized on different yeast species. Finally, we confirm that D. melanogaster is a resource generalist: it can grow, reproduce and survive on all the yeast species we tested. Together, these findings provide a possible explanation for the limited extent of dietary specialization in D. melanogaster.
Cross‐kingdom transcriptomic trends in the evolution of hybrid gene expression
Authors: Behling Anna H. , Winter David J. , Ganley Austen R. D. , Cox Murray P.
Published: July 2022

Hybridization is a route to speciation that occurs widely across the eukaryote tree of life. The success of allopolyploids (hybrid species with increased ploidy) and homoploid hybrids (with unchanged ploidy) is well documented. However, their formation and establishment is not straightforward, with a suite of near‐instantaneous and longer term biological repercussions faced by the new species. Central to these challenges is the rewiring of gene regulatory networks following the merger of distinct genomes inherited from both parental species. Research on the evolution of hybrid gene expression has largely involved studies on a single hybrid species or a few gene families. Here, we present the first standardized transcriptome‐wide study exploring the fates of genes following hybridization across three kingdoms: animals, plants and fungi. Within each kingdom, we pair an allopolyploid system with a closely related homoploid hybrid to decouple the influence of increased ploidy from genome merger. Genome merger, not changes in ploidy, has the greatest effect on posthybridization expression patterns across all study systems. Strikingly, we find that differentially expressed genes in parent species preferentially switch to more similar expression in hybrids across all kingdoms, likely as a consequence of regulatory trans‐acting cross‐talk within the hybrid nucleus. We also highlight the prevalence of gene loss or silencing among extremely differentially expressed genes in hybrid species across all kingdoms. These shared patterns suggest that the evolutionary process of hybridization leads to common high‐level expression outcomes, regardless of the particular species or kingdom.
Deep structure, long‐distance migration and admixture in the colour polymorphic land snail Cepaea nemoralis
Authors: Ramos‐Gonzalez Daniel , Saenko Suzanne V. , Davison Angus
Published: July 2022

Although snails of the genus Cepaea have historically been important in studying colour polymorphism, an ongoing issue is that there is a lack of knowledge of the underlying genetics of the polymorphism, as well as an absence of genomic data to put findings in context. We, therefore, used phylogenomic methods to begin to investigate the post‐glacial history of Cepaea nemoralis, with a long‐term aim to understand the roles that selection and drift have in determining both European‐wide and local patterns of colour polymorphism. By combining prior and new mitochondrial DNA data from over 1500 individuals with ddRAD genomic data from representative individuals across Europe, we show that patterns of differentiation are primarily due to multiple deeply diverged populations of snails. Minimally, there is a widespread Central European population and additional diverged groups in Northern Spain, the Pyrenees, as well as likely Italy and South Eastern Europe. The genomic analysis showed that the present‐day snails in Ireland and possibly some other locations are likely descendants of admixture between snails from the Pyrenees and the Central European group, an observation that is consistent with prior inferences from mitochondrial DNA alone. The interpretation is that C. nemoralis may have arrived in Ireland via long‐distance migration from the Pyrenean region, subsequently admixing with arrivals from elsewhere. This work, therefore, provides a baseline expectation for future studies on the genetics of the colour polymorphism, as well as providing a comparator for similar species.
Director reputational penalties when shareholders disapprove of executive compensation
Authors: Badgett Mary Elizabeth , Brunarski Kelly R. , Colin Campbell T. , Harman Yvette S.
Published: July 2022

We investigate the reputational consequences for directors of firms that receive a low‐support Say‐on‐Pay (SOP) vote. These affected directors face a significantly greater likelihood of losing board seats, both at the voting firm and in the external labor market. However, penalties are not equal for all directors. Directors who serve on compensation committees and at firms with high chief executive officer pay suffer internal penalties. Both internal and external penalties affect directors of low‐support firms with high executive entrenchment. Compensation committee members serving low‐support firms are more likely to receive a negative reelection recommendation from Institutional Shareholder Services and fewer votes for reelection, at both voting and external firms. We provide the first evidence of external labor market penalties when directors fail to align executive compensation contracting with shareholder preferences. Our findings suggest that nonbinding SOP votes provide shareholders with a mechanism to influence director incentives and, therefore, executive compensation.
Experimental and numerical analysis of thermodynamic performance of microwave dryer of onion
Authors: Beigi Mohsen , Harchegani Hossein Beigi , Torki Mehdi , Kaveh Mohammad , Szymanek Mariusz , Khalife Esmail , Dziwulska‐Hunek Agata
Published: July 2022

The present study was designed for the experimental and modeling investigations on thermodynamic analysis of drying onion slices using four microwave power levels (100, 350, 500, and 750 W) and the four samples thicknesses (2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 mm). A multilayer feedforward artificial neural network was employed in order to predict energy and exergy performance of the dryer and the prediction success were compared using three evaluation criteria. The average values for energy efficiency and specific energy loss ranged from 13.52% to 37.94% and from 1.35 to 7.43 MJ/kgwater, respectively. Findings showed that the exergy efficiency changed from 11.79% to 30.84%. In addition, the statistical analysis revealed that higher microwave power levels and the thinner samples significantly (p < .05) enhanced both the energy and exergy efficiencies. The obtained results for exergy improvement potential (accounted for 37.83%–69.41% from the total exergy inlet) indicated that the drying process has good potential for exergy performance improvement. Based on the modeling outcomes, the energy efficiency was well predicted by an artificial neural network with a topology of 3–18–18–1 and LM training algorithm and threshold function of Tan–Tan–Lin. However, the best topology for the exergy efficiency prediction had 3–20–16–1 structure, LM training algorithm and Log–Log–Lin transfer function (R2 of .94).

Practical Applications

In this study, onion slices were dried in a domestic microwave oven and the influence of the power level and thickness of the samples on energy and exergy parameters was investigated. In addition to experimental evaluation, the multi‐layer feed‐forward neural network can be used to model and predict changes in energy efficiency and exergy during the process.
Word finding, prosody and social cognition in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Yap Siew Mei , Davenport Laura , Cogley Clodagh , Craddock Fiona , Kennedy Alex , Gaughan Maria , Kearney Hugh , Tubridy Niall , De Looze Céline , O’Keeffe Fiadhnait , Reilly Richard B. , McGuigan Christopher
Published: July 2022

Background

Impairments in speech and social cognition have been reported in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS), although their relationships with neuropsychological outcomes and their clinical utility in MS are unclear.

Objectives

To evaluate word finding, prosody and social cognition in pwMS relative to healthy controls (HC).

Methods

We recruited people with relapsing MS (RMS, n = 21), progressive MS (PMS, n = 24) and HC (n = 25) from an outpatient MS clinic. Participants completed a battery of word‐finding, social cognitive, neuropsychological and clinical assessments and performed a speech task for prosodic analysis.

Results

Of 45 pwMS, mean (SD) age was 49.4 (9.4) years, and median (range) Expanded Disability Severity Scale score was 3.5 (1.0–6.5). Compared with HC, pwMS were older and had slower information processing speed (measured with the Symbol Digit Modalities Test, SDMT) and higher depression scores. Most speech and social cognitive measures were associated with information processing speed but not with depression. Unlike speech, social cognition consistently correlated with intelligence and memory. Visual naming test mean response time (VNT‐MRT) demonstrated worse outcomes in MS versus HC (p = .034, Nagelkerke’s R2 = 65.0%), and in PMS versus RMS (p = .009, Nagelkerke’s R2 = 50.2%). Rapid automatised object naming demonstrated worse outcomes in MS versus HC (p = .014, Nagelkerke’s R2 = 49.1%). These word‐finding measures showed larger effect sizes than that of the SDMT (MS vs. HC, p = .010, Nagelkerke’s R2 = 40.6%; PMS vs. RMS, p = .023, Nagelkerke’s R2 = 43.5%). Prosody and social cognition did not differ between MS and HC.

Conclusions

Word finding, prosody and social cognition in MS are associated with information processing speed and largely independent of mood. Impairment in visual object meaning perception is potentially a unique MS disease‐related deficit that could be further explored and cautiously considered as an adjunct disability metric for MS.
Ocean and land grabbing in Ghana's offshore petroleum industry: From the agrarian question to the question of industrialization
Authors: Ayelazuno Jasper Abembia , Ovadia Jesse Salah
Published: July 2022

Ghana's petroleum industry is located several nautical miles offshore in the Western Region of the country. Yet, the mechanisms and processes of production and transportation of crude petroleum are accompanied by the dispossessing of the adjoining coastal communities of their means of (re)production both on the ocean and on land. Although the insights of agrarian political economy have been deployed fruitfully to analyse land grabs in Africa, similar efforts are rare when it comes to ocean grabs. With reference to the new development thinking on the ocean economy—or ‘blue economy’—as the new frontier of resource‐based industrialization in Africa, we re‐frame the agrarian question and apply it to the offshore petroleum industry, expanding agrarian political‐economic theory of industrialization beyond its traditional confines of land and agriculture. Our paper makes two main theoretical contributions. First, it contributes to efforts in agrarian political economy to incorporate the ocean and fisheries. Second, we contribute a fresh theoretical framework for analysing offshore petroleum industries and their potential to contribute to industrialization in Africa.