bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
P53 TAD2 Domain (38-61) Forms Amyloid-like Aggregates in Isolation
Authors: Gadhave Kundlik , Kapuganti Shivani K , Mishra Pushpendra Mani , Giri Rajanish
Published: April 2021

In many cases, when cellular machinery is unable to restore changed protein conformations, they start sticking through exposed hydrophobic patches and form aggregates. A strong association between protein aggregation and Human diseases (such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s disease) is well proven. p53 is a transcription factor that is also known as the guardian of the genome associated with cellular processes such as DNA repair, apoptosis, senescence, control of cell cycle, stress signaling and cellular homeostasis. The loss of function mutations in p53 have been implicated in several cancers. Experimental evidences have proposed a possible link between cancer and protein aggregation in evidence of the implication of amyloidogenic mutant proteins in ten different types of cancer. Aggregation studies focusing on different P53 domains, mostly, the central core domain and its mutants under the influence of various environmental conditions and P53 TAD domain (1-63) have been reported. P53 TADs interact with diverse cellular factors to modulate the function of P53 and elicit appropriate cellular response under different stress conditions. In this study, the aggregation of P53 TAD2 domain (38-61) have been studied in isolation. The aggregates were generated in-vitro in acidic pH conditions after in-silico scoring for amyloidogenic propensity and characterized using dye-based assays (ThT and bis-ANS fluorescence), CD spectroscopy, and microscopy (SEM, TEM and AFM). It was observed that P53 TAD2 follows nucleation-dependent kinetics and forms amyloid-like aggregates. On reductionists approach, this study highlights the nature of P53 TAD2 domain (amino acids 38-61) aggregation.
High-quality reference genome ofFasciola gigantica: Insights into the genomic signatures of transposon-mediated evolution and specific parasitic adaption in tropical regions
Authors: Luo Xier , Cui Kuiqing , Wang Zhiqiang , Yin Lijuan , Li Zhipeng , Wu Zhengjiao , Feng Tong , Wang Xiaobo , Jin Weikun , Di Wenda , Wang Dongying , ur Rehman Saif , Huang Weiyi , Zhu Xingquan , Zhang Weiyu , Ruan Jue , Liu Qingyou
Published: April 2021

Fasciola giganticaandFasciola hepaticaare causative pathogens offascioliasis, with the widest latitudinal, longitudinal, and altitudinal distribution; however, among parasites, they have the largest sequenced genomes, hindering genomic research. In the present study, we used various sequencing and assembly technologies to generate a new high-qualityFasciola giganticareference genome. We improved the integration of gene structure prediction, and identified two independent transposable element expansion events contributing to (1) the speciation between Fasciola and Fasciolopsis during the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary mass extinction, and (2) the habitat switch to the liver during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum, accompanied by gene length increment. Long interspersed element (LINE) duplication contributed to the second transposon-mediated alteration, showing an obvious trend of insertion into gene regions, regardless of strong purifying selection. Gene ontology analysis of genes with long LINE insertions identified membrane-associated and vesicle secretion process proteins, further implicating the functional alteration of the gene network. We identified 852 excretory/secretory proteins and 3300 protein-protein interactions betweenFasciola giganticaand its host. Among them, copper/zinc superoxide dismutase genes, with specific gene copy number variations, might play a central role in the phase I detoxification process. Analysis of 559 single-copy orthologs suggested thatFasciola giganticaandFasciola hepaticadiverged at 11.8 Ma near the Middle and Late Miocene Epoch boundary. We identified 98 rapidly evolving gene families, including actin and aquaporin, which might explain the large body size and the parasitic adaptive character resulting in these liver flukes becoming epidemic in tropical and subtropical regions.
SVhound: Detection of future Structural Variation hotspots
Authors: Paulin Luis F , Raveendran Muthuswamy , Harris R. Alan , Rogers Jeffrey , von Haeseler Arndt , Sedlazeck Fritz J
Published: April 2021

Recent population studies are ever growing in size of samples to investigate the diversity of a given population or species. These studies reveal ever new polymorphism that lead to important insights into the mechanisms of evolution, but are also important for the interpretation of these variations. Nevertheless, while the full catalog of variations across entire species remains unknown, we can predict which regions harbor additional variations that remain hidden and investigate their properties, thereby enhancing the analysis for potentially missed variants.

To achieve this we implemented SVhound (https://github.com/lfpaulin/SVhound), which based on a population level SVs dataset can predict regions that harbor novel SV alleles. We tested SVhound using subsets of the 1000 genomes project data and showed that its correlation (average correlation of 2,800 tests r=0.7136) is high to the full data set. Next, we utilized SVhound to investigate potentially missed or understudied regions across 1KGP and CCDG that included multiple genes. Lastly we show the applicability for SVhound also on a small and novel SV call set for rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) and discuss the impact and choice of parameters for SVhound. Overall SVhound is a unique method to identify potential regions that harbor hidden diversity in model and non model organisms and can also be potentially used to ensure high quality of SV call sets.
Relationships between research supervisors and students from coursework-based master’s degrees: information usage under social media
Authors: Dong Gunnan , Chiu Dickson K.W. , Huang Po-Sen , Ho Kevin K.W. , Lung Mavis Man-wai , Geng Ying
Published: April 2021

Purpose

Existing studies reflect that traditional teaching–learning relationships between supervisors and graduate students have become disjointed with actuality seriously. In particular, there are practical difficulties in handling many students from coursework-based postgraduate degrees under current university curricula. Therefore, this study aims to explore the relationship between research supervisors and graduate students on social media, which is popular among students.

Design/methodology/approach

This study surveyed 109 graduate students from two majors (population around 100 each) of a university in Hong Kong to explore their information usage for research on social media, related attitudes and their perceived supervisor relationships. The differences between the two majors were also compared.

Findings

The authors’ findings indicated that graduate students were active on social media, and social media has successfully provided effective alternate ways for students to communicate with their research supervisors. Social media could improve relationships between supervisors and research students and among fellow students. Besides education purposes, students also discussed their personal affairs on social media with supervisors, demonstrating enhanced trusted relationships. Graduate students also showed confidence in the further application of social media in higher education. Some differences between respondents from the two programs were also found in terms of communication contents, strengths, personal preferences and purposes for using social media.

Originality/value

Scant studies focus on the relationship between supervisors and graduate students under the current social media environment, especially for students from coursework-based postgraduate degrees. At a deeper level, for the widespread use of social media in the information age, this study explores the specific changes brought about by social media. Therefore, this study is of great theoretical and practical value to graduate education under the current social media environment.
System dynamics modelling of fixed and dynamic Kanban controlled production systems: a supply chain perspective
Authors: K. Jagan Mohan Reddy , A. Neelakanteswara Rao , Lanka Krishnanand , Gopal PRC
Published: April 2021

Purpose

Pull production systems have received much attention in the supply chain management environment. The number of Kanbans is a key decision variable in the pull production system as it affects the finished goods inventory (FGI) and backorders of the system. The purpose of this study is to compare the performance of the fixed and dynamic Kanban systems in terms of operational metrics (FGI and backorders) under the demand uncertainty.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the system dynamics (SD) approach was used to model the performance of fixed and dynamic Kanban based production systems. SD approach has enabled the feedback mechanism and is an appropriate tool to incorporate the dynamic control during the simulation. Initially, a simple Kanban based production system was developed and then compared the performance of production systems with fixed and dynamic controlled Kanbans at the various demand scenarios.

Findings

From the present study, it is observed that the dynamic Kanban system has advantages over the fixed Kanban system and also observed that the variation in the backorders with respect to the demand uncertainty under the dynamic Kanban system is negligible.

Research limitations/implications

In a just-in-time production system, the number of Kanbans is a key decision variable. The number of Kanbans is mainly depended on the demand, cycle time, safety stock factor (SSF) and container size. However, this study considered only demand uncertainty to compare the fixed and dynamic Kanban systems. This paper further recommends researchers to consider other control variables which may influence the number of Kanbans such as cycle time, SSF and container size.

Originality/value

This study will be useful to decision-makers and production managers in the selection of the Kanban systems in uncertain demand applications.
How to overcome online banner blindness? A study on the effects of creativity
Authors: Yang Qiang , Zhou Yuanjian , Jiang Yushi , Huo Jiale
Published: April 2021

Purpose

This study aims to explore whether creativity can overcome banner blindness in the viewing of web pages and demonstrate how visual saliency and banner-page congruity constitute the boundary conditions for creativity to improve memory for banner ads.

Design/methodology/approach

Three studies were conducted to understand the influence of advertising creativity and banner blindness on recognition of banner ads, which were assessed using questionnaires and bias adjustment. The roles of online user tasks (goal-directed vs free-viewing), visual saliency (high vs low) and banner-page congruity (congruent vs incongruent) were considered.

Findings

The findings suggest that creativity alone is not sufficient to overcome the banner blindness phenomenon. Specifically, in goal-directed tasks, the effect of creativity on recognition of banner ads is dependent on banner ads’ visual saliency and banner-page congruity. Creative banners are high on visual saliency, and banner-page congruity yields higher recognition rates.

Practical implications

Creativity matters for attracting consumer attention. And in a web page context, where banner blindness prevails, the design of banners becomes even more important in this respect. Given the prominence of banners in online marketing, it is also necessary to tap the potential of creativity of banner ads.

Originality/value

First, focusing on how creativity influences memory for banner ads across distinct online user tasks not just provides promising theoretical insight on the tackling of banner blindness but also enriches research on advertising creativity. Second, contrary to the popular belief of extant literature, the findings suggest that, in a web page context, improvement in memory for banner ads via creativity is subject to certain boundary conditions. Third, a computational neuroscience software program was used in this study to assess the visual saliency of banner ads, whereas signal detection theory was used for adjustment of recognition scores. This interdisciplinary examination combining the two perspectives sheds new light on online advertising research.
Strategic planning, strategy map and management control: a case study
Authors: Li Hezun , An Na , Liu Junyong
Published: April 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the relationship between the components of the management control system (MCS) based on the reform process of the management system of China Resources Group and the influence of these components on the implementation effect of MCS.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses an exploratory research method and an open-ended grounded theory approach to conduct six formal investigations and several in-depth interviews with employees and senior management in China Resources Group. This paper supplements these data by performing a documentary analysis of the internal documents of China Resources Group such as the statistical yearbook, business plan and meeting records.

Findings

This study puts forward four propositions. The formal strategic planning process creates an application environment for the strategy map and balanced scorecard (BSC), making it easier for an enterprise to adopt these tools. The combination of the strategy map and formal strategic planning helps to build the logical relationship between strategic goals and budget goals and strengthens the correlation between budget and strategy. In diversified organizations applying MCS, the strategy map and BSC facilitate the implementation of the strategy for specialized business units, while the financial measure system facilitates the implementation of the strategy for diversified business units. Strategic boundaries based on financial measures in the MCS help organizations determine the scope of strategic choices before implementing strategies.

Research limitations/implications

Because of the chosen research approach, the research results may lack generalizability and the influence of the strategic planning process on budget participation, budget slack and other budget behaviors has not been fully discussed. Therefore, future studies are expected to provide more evidence regarding strategic planning and budget behaviors.

Practical implications

Before establishing a strategy map and BSC, the enterprise should consider the application environment to ensure their feasibility and legitimacy and construct the BSC system under appropriate conditions. A formal strategic planning process should be formed within the enterprise; that is, a set of detailed management methods should be adopted and clear rules should be used to support the enterprise management control process. The enterprise should add strategic boundaries to the MCS to determine the scope of strategic choices and the budgeting bottom line.

Originality/value

This paper sheds light on the impact of the formal strategic planning process on the organization and contributes new evidence on the key success factors for implementing the strategy map and BSC, enriching the researchers’ understanding of the applicability of the BSC.
A systematic review of consumer information search in online and offline environments
Authors: C. Haridasan Anu , Fernando Angeline Gautami , Saju B.
Published: April 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to identify major themes and potential research opportunities in online and offline consumer search.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic review was conducted based on 118 articles identified from prevalent journal databases. Keywords frequency analysis was carried out to identify the major themes. An inductive thematic analysis was carried out to verify the generated themes.

Findings

Results show that uncertainty, knowledge, perceived risk, price, experience and involvement are the major themes associated with consumer information search. Uncertainty, one of the major themes of offline search, has not been studied in the online search context. Similarly, the previous experience needs to be explored in the context of the offline search. Finally, potential research opportunities for future research has been summarized based on the retrieved themes.

Research limitations/implications

The systematic review provides an in-depth understanding on the current research on information search literature with future research directions.

Practical implications

This study helps retailers to understand the key elements that motivate consumers to perform external information searches from online and offline sources and to curate targeted information provision strategies to influence purchase decisions.

Social implications

Consumers with limited internet availability may access channels prior to decision-making. The themes identified in this study can aid policymakers to design affordable access to these channels.

Originality/value

This study adds to the sparse literature on systematic reviews on consumer search for online and offline channels.
Understanding the influence of perceived susceptibility to addressable TV advertising targeting children on parents’ purchase intentions
Authors: Brinson Nancy H. , Holiday Steven
Published: April 2021

Purpose

Addressable television is an interactive medium that blends online data personalization with traditional TV content to better address individual consumers and improve advertising outcomes. Drawing on the persuasion knowledge model (PKM) and the influence of presumed influence (IPI), this paper aims to examine parents’ beliefs about the nature and persuasive intent of addressable TV advertising targeting their children, and the intervening influence those beliefs have on the parents’ intentions to purchase the advertised products.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used an online survey design to examine the influence that addressable TV ads targeting children have on parents’ consumer behaviors. In total, 196 parents of children aged 3 to 12 completed the study. The majority of respondents had one (23%) or two (40.3%) children were primarily in two-parent (73.5%) or one-parent households (21.9%), and 79.6% indicated that they were mothers. Respondents were 23 to 41 years old (M = 37, SD = 8.03); dominantly Caucasian (77.5%; 16.8% African American); had an education of less than a college degree (65.3%); and a median household income of $50,000–$75,000 (73.5%).

Findings

Findings from this study indicate beliefs that a TV ad personally addressing their children positively influence parents’ purchase intentions, and this influence is partially mediated by perceptions of children’s susceptibility to the ad and perceptions of the likelihood of children’s purchase requests. Beliefs in children’s susceptibility to an ad’s addressability alternatively negatively mediates parents’ purchase intentions when not sequentially mediated by beliefs in the likelihood of children’s purchase requests.

Originality/value

Currently, there is little published research related to parents’ perceptions about the effects of personalized advertising targeting their children in general, and none that consider addressable TV advertising or the indirect influence this targeted advertising has on parents. Thus, this study provides important insights for scholars interested in theoretical implications related to addressable TV advertising, as well as practitioners seeking to enhance addressable TV advertising outcomes.
Experimental field evidence shows milkweed contaminated with a common neonicotinoid decreases larval survival of monarch butterflies
Authors: Knight Samantha M. , Flockhart D. T. Tyler , Derbyshire Rachael , Bosco Mark G. , Norris D. Ryan
Published: April 2021

Neonicotinoid insecticides are the most widely used class of insecticides in the world and can have both lethal and sub‐lethal effects on non‐target organisms in agricultural areas. Monarch butterflies Danaus plexippus have experienced dramatic declines in recent decades and, given that a large proportion of milkweed on the landscape grows in agricultural areas, there is concern about the negative effects of neonicotinoids on this non‐target insect.

In the field, we exposed common milkweed Asclepias syriaca, an obligate host plant of monarch butterflies, to agriculturally realistic levels of clothianidin, a widely used neonicotinoid insecticide. We tested whether this treatment influenced the number of eggs laid and larval survival over 2 years.

Milkweeds were transplanted into 60 experimental plots alongside a corn crop planted with a clothianidin seed coat and 60 control plots alongside an untreated corn crop. The number of eggs, larvae at each stage (first to fifth instar), and the presence of other arthropods were recorded weekly from June to the end of August and survival from egg to fifth instar was estimated using a Bayesian state‐space statistical model.

We counted more eggs in treated plots compared to control plots, suggesting a preference for treated milkweed. The number of plots with arthropods did not differ between treatments, but within treated plots, there was a greater decrease in the number of arthropods throughout the season. There was no evidence that monarchs selected plots with fewer arthropods for oviposition. Larval survival was lower in clothianidin‐treated plots compared to control plots.

Our results suggest milkweed near clothianidin‐treated crops can reduce larval survival of monarch butterflies. While we provide some evidence that clothianidin could also act as an ecological trap for this species, further work is needed to identify additional components of fitness, including individual egg‐laying rates and survival beyond the pupal stage. Our findings add to a growing body of evidence that neonicotinoids can negatively affect non‐target organisms.

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A Raspberry Pi‐based camera system and image processing procedure for low cost and long‐term monitoring of forest canopy dynamics
Authors: Wilkinson Matthew , Bell Michael C. , Morison James I. L.
Published: April 2021

In‐situ, high‐frequency and long‐term monitoring of forest canopy development is vital for improved understanding in many fields of ecology. Although there are well‐established commercial instruments measuring light interception and digital hemispherical photography methods, the equipment cost (thousands of pounds) and lack of field robustness make these instruments not suitable for long‐term unattended measurements and can only give the high‐resolution spatial sampling usually required in forests when used manually, with substantial effort.

Here we present a low‐cost Raspberry Pi camera system that is robust and suitable for the acquisition of long‐term, high‐frequency forest canopy images. The low cost of each camera means multiple systems could be used to provide the required spatial sampling. We also present an open‐source R script for post‐processing these images to provide a semi‐automated processing chain, easily adaptable for use at other forest sites.

Four individual camera systems were tested at a deciduous oak forest in SE England over three growing seasons. These ground‐based camera systems were used to take upward‐facing images of a forest canopy every 30 min. The timing of canopy seasonal development, derived from the novel Raspberry Pi method, compared well with an established technique based on canopy light interception measurements.

With a cost of approximately £80, these systems have the potential to enable unattended widespread forest canopy monitoring at a very low cost, providing high spatial and temporal resolution that has previously been unattainable.
Safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, bioavailability and food effect of single doses of soticlestat in healthy subjects
Authors: Wang Shining , Chen Grace , Merlo Pich Emilio , Affinito John , Cwik Michael , Faessel Hélène
Published: April 2021

Aims

Soticlestat is a first‐in‐class selective inhibitor of cholesterol 24‐hydroxylase, the enzyme that converts brain cholesterol to 24S‐hydroxycholesterol (24HC), a positive allosteric modulator ofN‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptors. Soticlestat is under development as treatment for rare developmental and epileptic encephalopathies.

Methods

In this first‐in‐human study, 48 healthy men and women received single ascending doses of soticlestat oral solution or placebo. Subsequently, nine healthy subjects received soticlestat tablets under fed and fasting conditions to assess the relative oral bioavailability and effects of food. Serial blood and urine samples were collected for pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic assessments.

Results

Soticlestat appeared to be well tolerated up to a single dose of 1350 mg. Adverse events (AEs) were mild in intensity, and dose‐dependent increase in AE prevalence was not apparent. Soticlestat administered via oral solution was rapidly absorbed (median time to maximum plasma concentration [Cmax] 0.250–0.520 h). MeanCmaxand area under plasma concentration–time curve from zero to infinity increased by 183‐ and 581‐fold, respectively, over a 90‐fold dose increase. Mean terminal elimination half‐life was 0.820–7.16 hours across doses. Renal excretion was negligible. Administration of soticlestat tablets, and with food, loweredCmaxbut did not affect overall exposure. Plasma 24HC concentrations generally decreased with increasing dose.

Conclusions

Soticlestat appeared to be well tolerated after a single oral administration of up to 1350 mg and dose‐dependently reduced plasma 24HC concentrations. Systemic exposure increased in a greater than dose‐proportional manner over the dose range evaluated but was not affected by formulation or administration with food.
Repeated exposure to JWH‐018 induces adaptive changes in the mesolimbic and mesocortical dopaminergic pathways, glial cells alterations, and behavioural correlates
Authors: Pintori Nicholas , Castelli Maria Paola , Miliano Cristina , Simola Nicola , Fadda Paola , Fattore Liana , Scherma Maria , Ennas Maria Grazia , Mostallino Rafaela , Flore Giovanna , De Felice Marta , Sagheddu Claudia , Pistis Marco , Di Chiara Gaetano , De Luca Maria Antonietta
Published: April 2021

Background and Purpose

Spice/K2 herbal mixtures, containing synthetic cannabinoids such as JWH‐018, have been marketed as marijuana surrogates since 2004. JWH‐018 has cannabinoid CB1 receptor‐dependent reinforcing properties and acutely increases dopaminergic transmission selectively in the NAc shell. Here, we tested the hypothesis that repeated administration of JWH‐018 (i) modulates behaviour, (ii) affects dopaminergic transmission and its responsiveness to motivational stimuli, and (iii) is associated with a neuroinflammatory phenotype.

Experimental Approach

Rats were administered with JWH‐018 once a day for 14 consecutive days. We then performed behavioural, electrophysiological, and neurochemical evaluation at multiple time points after drug discontinuation.

Key Results

Repeated JWH‐018 exposure (i) induced anxious and aversive behaviours, transitory attentional deficits, and withdrawal signs; (ii) decreased spontaneous activity and number of dopamine neurons in the VTA; and (iii) reduced stimulation of dopaminergic transmission in the NAc shell while potentiating that in the NAc core, in response to acute JWH‐018 challenge. Moreover, (iv) we observed a decreased dopamine sensitivity in the NAc shell and core, but not in the mPFC, to a first chocolate exposure; conversely, after a second exposure, dialysate dopamine fully increased in the NAc shell and core but not in the mPFC. Finally, selected dopamine brain areas showed (v) astrogliosis (mPFC, NAc shell and core, VTA), microgliosis (NAc shell and core), and downregulation of CB1 receptors (mPFC, NAc shell and core).

Conclusion and Implications

Repeated exposure to JWH‐018 may provide a useful model to clarify the detrimental effects of recurring use of Spice/K2 drugs.
Combining chitin biological conduits with small autogenous nerves and platelet‐rich plasma for the repair of sciatic nerve defects in rats
Authors: Lu Chang‐Feng , Wang Bo , Zhang Pei‐Xun , Han Shuai , Pi Wei , Kou Yu‐Hui , Jiang Bao‐Guo
Published: April 2021

Aims

Peripheral nerve defects are often difficult to recover from, and there is no optimal repair method. Therefore, it is important to explore new methods of repairing peripheral nerve defects. This study explored the efficacy of nerve grafts constructed from chitin biological conduits combined with small autogenous nerves (SANs) and platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) for repairing 10‐mm sciatic nerve defects in rats.

Methods

To prepare 10‐mm sciatic nerve defects, SANs were first harvested and PRP was extracted. The nerve grafts consisted of chitin biological conduits combined with SAN and PRP, and were used to repair rat sciatic nerve defects. These examinations, including measurements of axon growth efficiency, a gait analysis, electrophysiological tests, counts of regenerated myelinated fibers and observations of their morphology, histological evaluation of the gastrocnemius muscle, retrograde tracing with Fluor‐Gold (FG), and motor endplates (MEPs) distribution analysis, were conducted to evaluate the repair status.

Results

Two weeks after nerve transplantation, the rate and number of regenerated axons in the PRP‐SAN group improved compared with those in the PRP, SAN, and Hollow groups. The PRP‐SAN group exhibited better recovery in terms of the sciatic functional index value, composite action potential intensity, myelinated nerve fiber density, myelin sheath thickness, and gastrectomy tissue at 12 weeks after transplantation, compared with the PRP and SAN groups. The results of FG retrograde tracing and MEPs analyses showed that numbers of FG‐positive sensory neurons and motor neurons as well as MEPs distribution density were higher in the PRP‐SAN group than in the PRP or SAN group.

Conclusions

Nerve grafts comprising chitin biological conduits combined with SANs and PRP significantly improved the repair of 10‐mm sciatic nerve defects in rats and may have therapeutic potential for repairing peripheral nerve defects in future applications.
Evaluation of an opioid restrictive pain management initiative in adult kidney transplant recipients
Authors: Dualeh Shukri H. A. , McMurry Katie , Herman Alexandra E. , Maryan Samantha , Pacurar Lavinia A. , Waits Seth A. , Tischer Sarah
Published: April 2021

Purpose

Evidence to guide opioid utilization following kidney transplantation is lacking. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the implementation of an opioid restrictive post‐operative pain management protocol in adult kidney transplant recipients.

Methods

We analyzed patients who underwent kidney transplant between 1/1/2017 to 8/15/2018. A standardized, opioid restrictive pain management protocol was implemented in February 2018. The primary outcome was quantity of opioid tablets prescribed at discharge. Secondary outcomes included amount of opioid prescribed within first 30 days, number of patient calls for pain, and opioid prescription in electronic medical record (EMR) at 90 days and 1 year.

Results

After implementation, significantly fewer opioid tablets were prescribed at discharge (4 vs. 60 tablets, p < .001) and less oral morphine milligram equivalence (OME) were prescribed within 30 days of transplant (38 vs. 300, p < .001). In cohort 2, fewer patients received more than one opioid prescription, more patients received truncal block and only 5 patients received patient controlled analgesia compared to all in cohort 1.

Conclusion

A standardized, patient‐centered pain management strategy after kidney transplantation reduced opioid prescribing without increasing readmissions or clinic calls. This data may be used to inform guidelines for appropriate OME prescribing at discharge after kidney transplantation.
Dental trauma in toddlers 1–3 years of age living in multicultural areas of Stockholm, Sweden: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Anderson Maria , Duran Sahin Demet , Tsilingaridis Georgios
Published: April 2021

Background/Aim

Traumatic dental injuries are common and affect many children. The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of dental trauma as well as the costs and resource use in a cohort of children aged 1–3 years in low socioeconomic areas (low income and educational level) of Stockholm.

Materials and Methods

Data were extracted from a larger intervention trial and analyzed for the prevalence and other characteristics of dental trauma as well as patient characteristics of children (n = 1346) from six dental clinics in low‐income, multicultural areas. Variables describing the trauma, socioeconomic status, direct and indirect costs, and time spent at the emergency visit for the dental trauma were retrieved from the dental records. The study also recorded which healthcare profession handled the first and follow‐up visits.

Results

The prevalence of dental trauma in the study cohort was 8.2%, and higher among boys (n = 71) than girls (n = 39). Boys exhibited a significantly higher risk for dental trauma (OR, 1.76; 95% CI = 1.17–2.65). Maxillary incisors were the teeth most often traumatized, and lateral luxation was the most common diagnosis. The mean time spent per child during the first year following the dental trauma was 36 min, and the mean costs per child were EUR 878. The total average per‐child cost (direct and indirect costs) for dental trauma was EUR 2107. Dental visits due to traumatic injuries were significantly less common among children with an immigrant background and in families with an income ≤EUR 2000 per month.

Conclusions

Toddlers in families who have a low socioeconomic status, a foreign background, and live in multicultural areas of Stockholm visit dental clinics for traumatic dental injuries less often than non‐immigrant children living in families with a high socioeconomic status.
The impact of orthodontic treatment on choosing a career in dentistry
Authors: Rouhiainen Vilma , Karaharju‐Suvanto Terhi , Waltimo‐Sirén Janna
Published: April 2021

Introduction

Many studies, globally, have aimed at elucidating reasons to choose a career in dentistry. The most common motives found are reasonable working hours and aspiration to help. The aim of this study was to explore whether eventual past personal experience of orthodontic treatment and particularly the interpersonal skills of the treating orthodontist are of significance in this respect.

Materials and methods

An electronic questionnaire, consisting of multiple choice and descriptive questions about dental history and experiences in dental care, was sent to dental and, as controls, psychology students within the same Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland. The answers between the two groups were compared and differences tested statistically.

Results

The questionnaire was answered by 143 (46.0%) dental students and 94 (17.6%) psychology students. Dental students, compared to psychology students, had more positive views of their dentition and dental treatment in general (p = 0.000). Amongst participants, 47.9% of dental students and 57.4% of psychology students had received orthodontic treatment. Of those, dental students had perceived their orthodontic treatment as less painful (p = 0.001) and less uncomfortable (p = 0.000) than psychology students. Moreover, dental students reported more often experiences of orthodontist taking into account their situation in life during treatment (p = 0.011) and gave more positive descriptions of the orthodontist's interpersonal skills (p = 0.031).

Conclusions

Dental students, compared to psychology students, had statistically significantly more positive personal experiences related to dentistry and orthodontics, supporting our hypothesis that positive experiences with orthodontic treatment likely increase the probability of choosing dentistry as the future career.
Prevalence, clinical characteristics and outcomes of Guillain−Barré syndrome spectrum associated with COVID‐19: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Palaiodimou Lina , Stefanou Maria‐Ioanna , Katsanos Aristeidis H. , Fragkou Paraskevi C. , Papadopoulou Marianna , Moschovos Christos , Michopoulos Ioannis , Kokotis Panagiotis , Bakirtzis Christos , Naska Androniki , Vassilakopoulos Theodoros I. , Chroni Elisabeth , Tsiodras Sotirios , Tsivgoulis Georgios
Published: April 2021

Background and purpose

Mounting evidence supports an association between Guillain−Barré syndrome spectrum (GBSs) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection. However, GBSs in the setting of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) remains poorly characterized, whilst GBSs prevalence amongst COVID‐19 patients has not been previously systematically evaluated using a meta‐analytical approach.

Methods

A systematic review and meta‐analysis of observational cohort and case series studies reporting on the occurrence, clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with COVID‐19‐associated GBSs was performed. A random‐effects model was used to calculate pooled estimates and odds ratios (ORs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs), compared to non‐COVID‐19, contemporary or historical GBSs patients.

Results

Eighteen eligible studies (11 cohorts, seven case series) were identified including a total of 136,746 COVID‐19 patients. Amongst COVID‐19 patients, including hospitalized and non‐hospitalized cases, the pooled GBSs prevalence was 0.15‰ (95% CI 0%–0.49‰; I2 = 96%). Compared with non‐infected contemporary or historical controls, patients with SARS‐CoV‐2 infection had increased odds for demyelinating GBSs subtypes (OR 3.27, 95% CI 1.32%–8.09%; I2 = 0%). In SARS‐CoV‐2‐infected patients, olfactory or concomitant cranial nerve involvement was noted in 41.4% (95% CI 3.5%–60.4%; I2 = 46%) and 42.8% (95% CI 32.8%–53%; I2 = 0%) of the patients, respectively. Clinical outcomes including in‐hospital mortality were comparable between COVID‐19 GBSs patients and non‐infected contemporary or historical GBSs controls.

Conclusion

GBSs prevalence was estimated at 15 cases per 100,000 SARS‐CoV‐2 infections. COVID‐19 appears to be associated with an increased likelihood of GBSs and with demyelinating GBSs variants in particular.
Cross‐sectional area reference values for peripheral nerve ultrasound in adults: A systematic review and meta‐analysis—Part III: Cervical nerve roots and vagal nerve
Authors: Fisse Anna Lena , Katsanos Aristeidis H. , Gold Ralf , Pitarokoili Kalliopi , Krogias Christos
Published: April 2021

Background and purpose

Measurement of the cross‐sectional area (CSA) of cervical nerve roots using ultrasound is useful in the evaluation of inflammatory polyneuropathies, and measurement of CSA of the vagal nerve might give information about involvement of the autonomic nervous system. We performed a systematic review and meta‐analysis of published CSA reference values for cervical nerve roots and vagal nerve.

Methods

We included available‐to‐date nerve ultrasound studies on healthy adults and provide meta‐analysis for CSA of the following nerves: cervical nerve roots C5, C6, and C7 as well as vagal nerve in the carotid sheath at the carotid bifurcation level. We report regression and correlation analyses for age, gender, height, weight, and geographic continent.

Results

We included 11 studies with 885 healthy volunteers (mean age = 42.7 years) and 3149 examined nerve sites. Calculated mean pooled CSA of C5 root was 5.6 mm2 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 4.6–6.7 mm2, n = 911), of C6 root was 8.8 mm2 (95% CI = 7.4–10.3 mm2, n = 909), of C7 root was 9.5 mm2 (95% CI = 8.0–10.9 mm2, n = 909), and of vagal nerve was 2.2 mm2 (95% CI = 1.5–2.9 mm2, n = 420). No heterogeneity was found across studies for any site. Subgroup analysis revealed no significant effects of age, gender, height, weight, and geographic continent on CSA for any of these nerve sites.

Conclusions

We provide the first meta‐analysis on CSA reference values for the cervical nerve roots and the vagal nerve, with no heterogeneity of reported CSA values at all nerve sites. Our data facilitate the goal of an international standardized evaluation protocol.
The effects of human dermal–derived mesenchymal stem cells on the keratinocyte proliferation and apoptosis in psoriasis
Authors: Chang Wenjuan , Liang Nannan , Cao Yue , Xing Jianxiao , Li Jiao , Li Juan , Zhao Xincheng , Li Junqin , Niu Xuping , Hou Ruixia , Yin Guohua , Zhang Kaiming
Published: April 2021

Psoriasis is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease, characterized by epidermal hyperproliferation. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) regulate inflammation and vascular proliferation in the psoriasis lesions. Whether dermal‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (DMSCs), the main MSCs in the dermis, regulate keratinocyte proliferation and apoptosis remains unknown. In the present study, we assessed the proliferation and apoptosis of keratinocytes cocultured with DMSCs isolated from either normal or psoriatic involved skin. Cell growth and apoptotic rates were determined using Cell Count Kit‐8 and annexin V‐FITC staining, respectively. In addition, EDU kit was also used to measure the rate of keratinocyte proliferation. Our results showed that psoriatic DMSCs (pDMSCs) were more potent than normal DMSCs (nDMSCs) in stimulating keratinocyte proliferation. In contrast, the apoptotic rate and expression levels of caspase‐3 protein were lower in pDMSC‐treated than nDMSC‐treated keratinocytes (p < 0.001). Moreover, significantly higher contents of IL‐6, IL‐8, TNF‐α and IFN‐γ were found in the culture medium of pDMSCs than in that of nDMSCs. In conclusion, pDMSCs were more potent than nDMSCs in stimulation of keratinocyte proliferation and secretion of proinflammatory cytokines, but weaker in promoting apoptosis.
Sifting environmental DNA metabarcoding data sets for rapid reconstruction of marine food webs
Authors: D’Alessandro Simone , Mariani Stefano
Published: April 2021

Marine ecosystems are changing rapidly due to ocean warming, overfishing and a raft of other anthropogenic impacts. Such changes are expected to disrupt productivity dynamics and alter marine food webs, with likely negative consequences for ecosystem services. It is, therefore, essential to devise and implement methods that can rapidly and inexpensively monitor changes in the marine food web structure. Unfortunately, conventional methods for surveying marine food webs are typically laborious, expensive and often destructive, resulting in only a small fraction of marine ecosystems being well studied, and an even smaller subset of them being studied through time. Here, we pilot a low‐cost approach to reconstructing trophic networks of marine tropical, temperate and polar regions, using taxonomical inventories arising from published environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding studies, and building trophic links based on primary literature information. Although the trophic webs obtained are a simplified approximation of those constructed with traditional methods, they generate realistic networks that fit with expectations, and allow ecological inference over time scales and costs that are orders of magnitude smaller than that traditionally achieved. We show the potential of a new application of environmental DNA analysis that promises to offer a rapid and scalable approach to gather vital information on ecosystem structure, hence boosting marine monitoring at a time of increasingly rapid environmental changes.
On being ignored
Authors: Wu Joyce
Published: April 2021

Racism in universities to be best described as “being ignored.” This means not having complaints heard, or having your existence and identities overlooked. Being ignored is a powerful tool used by racist institutions to suppress experiences of race and gender inequality. Being ignored is also an effective way to undermine your sense of self and the validity of your experience. This alternative narrative is a typology of the types of ignoring that goes on at the higher education—read and see how many types of ignoring you can relate with!
Identification of Spodoptera frugiperda importin alphas that facilitate the nuclear import of Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus DNA polymerase
Authors: Chen Guo‐Qing , Li Pei , Yan Qing , Wu Yi‐Hong , Wang Hao‐Ran , Chao Shu‐Fen , Wu Li‐Juan , Chen Long , Feng Guo‐Zhong
Published: April 2021

Proteins containing nuclear localization signals (NLSs) are actively transported into the nucleus via the classic importin‐α/β‐mediated pathway, and NLSs are recognized by members of the importin‐α family. Most studies of insect importin‐αs have focused on Drosophila to date, little is known about the importin‐α proteins in Lepidoptera insects. In this study, we identified four putative importin‐α homologues, Spodoptera frugiperda importin‐α1 (SfIMA1), SfIMA2, SfIMA4 and SfIMA7, from Sf9 cells. Immunofluorescence analysis showed that SfIMA2, SfIMA4 and SfIMA7 localized to the nucleus, while SfIMA1 distributed in cytoplasm. Additionally, SfIMA4 and SfIMA7 were also detected in the nuclear membrane of Sf9 cells. SfIMA1, SfIMA4 and SfIMA7, but not SfIMA2, were found to associate with the C terminus of AcMNPV DNA polymerase (DNApol) that harbours a typical monopartite NLS and a classic bipartite NLS. Further analysis of protein–protein interactions revealed that SfIMA1 specifically recognizes the bipartite NLS, while SfIMA4 and SfIMA7 bind to both monopartite and bipartite NLSs. Together, our results suggested that SfIMA1, SfIMA4 and SfIMA7 play important roles in the nuclear import of AcMNPV DNApol C terminus in Sf9 cells.
CCR8 marks highly suppressive Treg cells within tumours but is dispensable for their accumulation and suppressive function
Authors: Whiteside Sarah K. , Grant Francis M. , Gyori David S. , Conti Alberto G. , Imianowski Charlotte J. , Kuo Paula , Nasrallah Rabab , Sadiyah Firas , Lira Sergio A. , Tacke Frank , Eil Robert L. , Burton Oliver T. , Dooley James , Liston Adrian , Okkenhaug Klaus , Yang Jie , Roychoudhuri Rahul
Published: April 2021

CD4+ regulatory T (Treg) cells, dependent upon the transcription factor Foxp3, contribute to tumour immunosuppression but are also required for immune homeostasis. There is interest in developing therapies that selectively target the immunosuppressive function of Treg cells within tumours without disrupting their systemic anti‐inflammatory function. High levels of expression of chemokine (C‐C motif) receptor 8 (CCR8) discriminate Treg cells within tumours from those found in systemic lymphoid tissues. It has recently been proposed that disruption of CCR8 function using blocking anti‐CCR8 antibodies results in reduced accumulation of Treg cells within tumours and disruption of their immunosuppressive function. Here, using Ccr8−/− mice, we show that CCR8 function is not required for Treg cell accumulation or immunosuppression in the context of syngeneic MC38 colorectal adenocarcinoma and B16 melanoma tumours. We observed high levels of CCR8 expression on tumour‐infiltrating Treg cells which were abolished in Ccr8−/− mice. High levels of CCR8 marked cells with high levels of suppressive function. However, whereas systemic ablation of Treg cells resulted in strikingly diminished tumour burden, growth of subcutaneously implanted tumours was unaffected by systemic CCR8 loss. Consistently, we observed minimal impact of systemic CCR8 ablation on the frequency, phenotype and function of tumour‐infiltrating Treg cells and conventional T (Tconv) function. These findings suggest that CCR8 is not required for Treg cell accumulation and immunosuppressive function within tumours and that depletion of CCR8+ Treg cells rather than blockade of CCR8 function is a more promising avenue for selective immunotherapy.