bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Urine marker analysis identifies evidence for persistent glomerular podocyte injury across allograft lifespan
Authors: Naik Abhijit S. , Aqeel Jawad , Wang Su Q , Chowdhury Mahboob , He Kevin , Wiggins Roger C.
Published: August 2021

Long‐term kidney transplant (KT) survival has remained relatively stagnant. Protocol biopsy studies suggest that glomerulosclerosis is a significant contributor to long‐term graft failure. We previously demonstrated that podocyte loss in the first year post‐transplantation predicted long‐term allograft survival. However, whether increased podocyte loss continues over the lifespan of a KT remains unclear. We performed a cross‐sectional analysis of 1182 urine samples from 260 KT recipients up to 19‐years after transplantation. Urine pellet (UP) mRNAs were assayed for podocyte (NPHS2/podocin and nephrin/NPHS1), distal tubule (aquaporin2), and profibrotic cytokine (TGFbeta1). Multivariable generalized estimating equations were used to obtain “population‐averaged” effects for these markers over time post‐KT. Consistent with early stresses both podocyte and tubular markers increased immediately post‐KT. However, only podocyte markers continued to increase long‐term. A role for hypertrophic stresses in driving podocyte loss over time is implied by their association with donor BMI, recipient BMI, and donor‐recipient BMI mismatch at transplantation. Furthermore, UP podocin mRNA was associated with urine TGFbeta1, proteinuria, and reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate, thereby linking podocyte injury to allograft fibrosis and survival. In conclusion we observed that podocyte loss continues long‐term post‐KT suggesting an important role in driving late graft loss.
990. NICOTIANA INGULBA
Authors: Chase Mark W. , Dodsworth Steven , Christenhusz Maarten J. M.
Published: August 2021

Nicotiana ingulba is returned to species level here. It is illustrated from plants cultivated at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, which were grown from seeds collected in the Uluru‐Kata Tjuta National Park in the Northern Territory, Australia. Its taxonomic history, ecology, cytology, etymology and cultivation are discussed.
Millennial‐scale change on a Caribbean reef system that experiences hypoxia
Authors: Figuerola Blanca , Grossman Ethan L. , Lucey Noelle , Leonard Nicole D. , O'Dea Aaron
Published: August 2021

Coastal hypoxia has become an increasingly acknowledged threat to coral reefs that is potentially intensifying because of increased input of anthropogenic nutrients. Almirante Bay (Caribbean Panama) is a semi‐enclosed system that experiences hypoxia in deeper waters which occasionally shoals onto shallow coral reefs, suffocating most aerobic benthic life. To explore the long‐term history of reefs in the bay we extracted reef matrix cores from two reefs that today experience contrasting patterns of oxygenation. We constructed a 1800‐year‐long record of gastropod assemblages and isotope compositions from six U‐Th chronologically‐constrained reef matrix cores. We extracted two cores from each reef at 3 m water depth and two additional cores from a deeper part (4.8 m) of the hypoxia‐exposed reef. Results show that the deeper part of the hypoxic reef slowed in growth and stopped accreting approximately 1500 years BP while the shallow part of the reef continued to accrete to the present day, in agreement with a model of expanding hypoxia at this time. Our proxy‐based approach suggests that the patterns of increasing herbivores and decreasing carbon isotope values in the deeper part of the hypoxic reef may have been driven by an increase in hypoxia via eutrophication caused by either natural changes or human impacts. Similar patterns in these paleoindicators occurred in the shallow part of the hypoxic reef during the last few decades. This suggests that the deep water hypoxia may be expanding to depths as shallow as 3 m and that shallow reefs are at greater risk due to increased human activity.
Advocacy for a citizen‐centric rule of law agenda: How do we bring the rule of law to life?
Authors: Merdzanovic Adis , Nicolaidis Kalypso
Published: August 2021

How do we best defend the rule of law against its attackers, both within the European Union and outside of it? Often, the rule of law has been perceived as a domain belonging to jurists, lawyers, bureaucrats, or politicians. Yet at its most fundamental, the rule of law needs to be thought of from a citizen's perspective. When enforced, it guarantees freedoms and liberties for citizens and enables us to live peacefully. In this article, we propose a citizen‐centric rule of law agenda based on a deep conviction that it is if and when it becomes a citizen‐based societal principle that its many attackers are best countered. We discuss the challenges and necessities of rule of law promotion and propose an assessment approach called the “living list”. We close with a call for citizen‐scholars to fight for the rule of law, the most precious human invention of all time.
Larval development in the Pacific oyster and the impacts of ocean acidification: Differential genetic effects in wild and domesticated stocks
Authors: Durland Evan , De Wit Pierre , Meyer Eli , Langdon Chris
Published: August 2021

The adaptive capacity of marine calcifiers to ocean acidification (OA) is a topic of great interest to evolutionary biologists and ecologists. Previous studies have provided evidence to suggest that larval resilience to high pCO2 seawater for these species is a trait with a genetic basis and variability in natural populations. To date, however, it remains unclear how the selective effects of OA occur within the context of complex genetic interactions underpinning larval development in many of the most vulnerable taxa. Here we evaluated phenotypic and genetic changes during larval development of Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) reared in ambient (~400 µatm) and high (~1600 µatm) pCO2 conditions, both in domesticated and naturalized “wild” oysters from the Pacific Northwest, USA. Using pooled DNA samples, we determined changes in allele frequencies across larval development, from early “D‐stage” larvae to metamorphosed juveniles (spat), in both groups and environments. Domesticated larvae had ~26% fewer loci with changing allele frequencies across developmental stages and <50% as many loci affected by acidified culture conditions, compared to larvae from wild broodstock. Functional enrichment analyses of genetic markers with significant changes in allele frequency revealed that the structure and function of cellular membranes were disproportionately affected by high pCO2 conditions in both groups. These results indicate the potential for a rapid adaptive response of oyster populations to OA conditions; however, underlying genetic changes associated with larval development differ between these wild and domesticated oyster stocks and influence their adaptive responses to OA conditions.
The power and potential of BIOMAP to elucidate host‐microbiome interplay in skin inflammatory diseases
Authors: Alenius Harri , Sinkko Hanna , Moitinho‐Silva Lucas , Rodriguez Elke , Broderick Conor , Alexander Helen , Reiger Matthias , Hjelmsø Mathis Hjort , Fyhrquist Nanna , Olah Peter , Bryce Paul , Smith Catherine , Koning Frits , Eyerich Kilian , Greco Dario , van den Bogaard Ellen H. , Neumann Avidan U. , Traidl‐Hoffmann Claudia , Homey Bernhard , Flohr Carsten , Bønnelykke Klaus , Stokholm Jakob , Weidinger Stephan
Published: August 2021

The two most common chronic inflammatory skin diseases are atopic dermatitis (AD) and psoriasis. The underpinnings of the remarkable degree of clinical heterogeneity of AD and psoriasis are poorly understood and, as a consequence, disease onset and progression are unpredictable and the optimal type and time point for intervention are as yet unknown. The BIOMAP project is the first IMI (Innovative Medicines Initiative) project dedicated to investigating the causes and mechanisms of AD and psoriasis and to identify potential biomarkers responsible for the variation in disease outcome. The consortium includes 7 large pharmaceutical companies and 25 non‐industry partners including academia. Since there is mounting evidence supporting an important role for microbial exposures and our microbiota as factors mediating immune polarization and AD and psoriasis pathogenesis, an entire work package is dedicated to the investigation of skin and gut microbiome linked to AD or psoriasis. The large collaborative BIOMAP project will enable the integration of patient cohorts, data and knowledge in unprecedented proportions. The project has a unique opportunity with a potential to bridge and fill the gaps between current problems and solutions. This review highlights the power and potential of the BIOMAP project in the investigation of microbe‐host interplay in AD and psoriasis.
Individual’s pretreatment psychological symptoms and progress in couples therapy: A person‐centered analysis
Authors: Wu Qiong , Su Tom , McWey Lenore M. , Ledermann Thomas
Published: August 2021

This study examined how individual pretreatment symptoms (depression and anxiety) predicted longitudinal, relational processes in couples therapy (the therapeutic alliance and couple satisfaction). This study included 99 heterosexual couples receiving systemic couples therapy. Partners reported their individual pretreatment symptoms of depression and anxiety before intake. Each member reported their therapeutic alliance with the therapist at the end of sessions 2–8, as well as their couple satisfaction before intake and at the end of sessions 4 and 8. A Latent Profile Analysis revealed four profiles characterizing couples on their pretreatment psychological symptoms, namely both higher (where both members of the couple had higher depressive and anxiety symptoms), female higher, male higher, and both lower profiles. Furthermore, longitudinal, dyadic multilevel models revealed that men in male higher, female higher, and both higher profiles had higher initial alliance levels, compared to men in the both lower profile. In contrast, only female partners in the both higher profile had a higher initial therapeutic alliance than those in the both lower profile. Men in the both higher profile had faster reductions in their alliance, whereas other profiles did not predict changes in male or female alliance. Additionally, the male higher and both higher profiles predicted a lower initial level of couple satisfaction in males but not females. The profiles did not predict changes in couple satisfaction, which may be a result of lowered power due to missing data. Findings were discussed in the context of systemic family theory, with clinical implications for distressed couples.
Untangling local and remote influences in two major petrel habitats in the oligotrophic Southern Ocean
Authors: Jones Daniel C. , Ceia Filipe R. , Murphy Eugene , Delord Karine , Furness Robert W. , Verdy Ariane , Mazloff Matthew , Phillips Richard A. , Sagar Paul M. , Sallée Jean‐Baptiste , Schreiber Ben , Thompson David R. , Torres Leigh G. , Underwood Philip J. , Weimerskirch Henri , Xavier José C.
Published: August 2021

Ocean circulation connects geographically distinct ecosystems across a wide range of spatial and temporal scales via exchanges of physical and biogeochemical properties. Remote oceanographic processes can be especially important for ecosystems in the Southern Ocean, where the Antarctic Circumpolar Current transports properties across ocean basins through both advection and mixing. Recent tracking studies have indicated the existence of two large‐scale, open ocean habitats in the Southern Ocean used by grey petrels (Procellaria cinerea) from two populations (i.e., Kerguelen and Antipodes islands) during their nonbreeding season for extended periods during austral summer (i.e., October to February). In this work, we use a novel combination of large‐scale oceanographic observations, surface drifter data, satellite‐derived primary productivity, numerical adjoint sensitivity experiments, and output from a biogeochemical state estimate to examine local and remote influences on these grey petrel habitats. Our aim is to understand the oceanographic features that control these isolated foraging areas and to evaluate their ecological value as oligotrophic open ocean habitats. We estimate the minimum local primary productivity required to support these populations to be much <1% of the estimated local primary productivity. The region in the southeast Indian Ocean used by the birds from Kerguelen is connected by circulation to the productive Kerguelen shelf. In contrast, the region in the south‐central Pacific Ocean used by seabirds from the Antipodes is relatively isolated suggesting it is more influenced by local factors or the cumulative effects of many seasonal cycles. This work exemplifies the potential use of predator distributions and oceanographic data to highlight areas of the open ocean that may be more dynamic and productive than previously thought. Our results highlight the need to consider advective connections between ecosystems in the Southern Ocean and to re‐evaluate the ecological relevance of oligotrophic Southern Ocean regions from a conservation perspective.
Grassland fallows as key for successful insect conservation
Authors: Frenzel Tobias , Wörsdörfer Anne , Khedhiri Souha , Di Giulio Maurice , Leus Fabienne , Lipperts Marie‐Jo , Martin Daniel , Fischer Klaus
Published: August 2021

There is widescale evidence for declines in insect biodiversity at a global scale. Agricultural intensification is considered to be one of the major causes of these declines. Traditionally managed habitat types, such as hay meadows, harbour a rich diversity of plants and animals but have been often transformed into crop fields or silage grassland.

To evaluate the role of (i) agricultural intensification for insect declines and of (ii) traditionally managed hay meadows and fallows for biodiversity conservation, we here compare bee, hoverfly, and leafhopper assemblages on 45 sites along a gradient of land use intensity in western Germany. We included moist long‐term grassland fallows, three types of hay meadows, and silage grasslands, each represented by nine replicates.

Species numbers of bees and leafhoppers were significantly higher on fallows than other management types. Grassland fallows also harboured the most distinct assemblages, while those of hay meadows and silage grassland were very similar and largely overlapping.

The surprising similarity of hay meadow and silage assemblages may be due to investigating highly mobile taxa within a landscape composed of a fine‐scale mosaic of traditionally managed and intensified grassland. Our results demonstrate the high importance of unmanaged areas, even when the overall land use intensity is still comparatively low.

We suggest that temporal grassland fallows (unmanaged for 3–5 years) should be subsidised in agri‐environmental schemes to increase landscape heterogeneity and to preserve insect diversity.
High‐entropy transparent ceramics: Review of potential candidates and recently studied cases
Authors: Zhang Guangran , Wu Yiquan
Published: August 2021

High‐entropy ceramics have been widely explored and extensively studied since the first demonstration of the configuration entropy stabilized reversible transitions between multiple and single phases by Rost et al. in 2015. Most of the current research on high‐entropy ceramics has focused on properties like thermal conductivity, thermoelectricity, structures, and others. Some recent studies have extended the high‐entropy concept to the field of transparent ceramics. We reviewed these papers and proposed four potential ceramics groups for high‐entropy transparent ceramics including fluoride ceramics, fluorite‐deficient and/or ordered pyrochlore A2B2O7 ceramics, garnet ceramics, and sesquioxide ceramics. In this article, we review ceramic powder synthesis, the fabrication of transparent ceramics, high‐entropy ceramics, and limited cases of high‐entropy transparent ceramics for each category. High‐entropy transparent ceramics with diverse compositions and structures will provide more possibilities for functional transparent ceramics in the future.
The daily routing and scheduling problem of home health care: based on costs and participants’ preference satisfaction
Authors: Xiang Ting , Li Yanfeng , Szeto Wai Yuen
Published: August 2021

Improving the level of service and reducing total costs are the most important objectives for the decision support system of home health care companies. But these objectives are often in conflict. In this study, we aim to minimize the total costs and maximize the participants’ preference satisfaction simultaneously. The problem is formulated as a bi‐objective mixed‐integer linear programming model that considers the skill requirements of patients, hard time windows for the service start time, and the working duration of a nurse. Patient preference satisfaction captures the nurse skill level and nurse–patient familiarity, and nurses’ preference satisfaction captures the overtime duration. To solve this problem, a novel hybrid elitist nondominated sorting genetic algorithm (hybrid NSGA‐II) is developed by embedding a local search algorithm into the basic NSGA‐II framework. Computation results on a set of benchmarking instances show that the developed hybrid NSGA‐II can obtain approximate Pareto‐optimal solutions within a shorter computation time when compared with the ‐constraint method for small instances; it can also perform better than the basic NSGA‐II and SPEA‐II with the size increasing for middle and large instances. Using a small instance, this study also analyzes the problem properties and the trade‐off between total costs and participants’ preference satisfaction.
Construal level moderates a local dominance effect of appearance comparisons in undergraduate women
Authors: Bruchmann Kathryn , Osa Maggie L. , Wong Kahana , Baerg Lindsay
Published: August 2021

Body image concerns are pervasive within university environments. In this study, we suggest that high rates of body image concerns among undergraduate women may be due, in part, to a local dominance effect of appearance comparisons. That is, undergraduate women may increasingly make upward social comparisons with a predominantly thin and fit student population, rather than downward or lateral social comparisons with the size‐diverse global population. The present research tested for and found evidence of this local dominance effect in Study 1 (N = 50), and tested a construal level manipulation as a moderating factor in Study 2 (N = 421). Results suggest that a concrete mindset leads to a local dominance effect, such that self‐evaluations are influenced more by local comparisons than global; however, an abstract mindset appeared to mitigate the harmful effects of appearance comparisons. This research provides preliminary evidence that construal manipulations may serve as an intervention strategy to include in body image interventions in university settings.
Comparative analysis of human induced pluripotent stem cell‐derived mesenchymal stem cells and umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Rajasingh Sheeja , Sigamani Vinoth , Selvam Vijay , Gurusamy Narasimman , Kirankumar Shivaani , Vasanthan Jayavardini , Rajasingh Johnson
Published: August 2021

Generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and their differentiation into mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (iMSCs) have created exciting source of cells for autologous therapy. In this study, we have compared the therapeutic potential of iMSCs generated from urinary epithelial (UE) cells with the available umbilical cord MSCs (UC‐MSCs). For this, adult UE cells were treated with the mRNA of pluripotent genes (OCT4, NANOG, SOX2, KLF4, MYC and LIN28) and a cocktail of miRNAs under specific culture conditions for generating iPSCs. Our non‐viral and mRNA‐based treatment regimen demonstrated a high reprogramming efficiency to about 30% at passage 0. These UE‐iPSCs were successfully differentiated further into ectoderm, endoderm and mesoderm lineage of cells. Moreover, these UE‐iPSCs were subsequently differentiated into iMSCs and were compared with the UC‐MSCs. These iMSCs were capable of differentiating into osteocytes, chondrocytes and adipocytes. Our qRT‐PCR and Western blot data showed that the CD73, CD90 and CD105 gene transcripts and proteins were highly expressed in iMSCs and UC‐MSCs but not in other cells. The comparative qRT‐PCR data showed that the iMSCs maintained their MSC characteristics without any chromosomal abnormalities even at later passages (P15), during which the UC‐MSCs started losing their MSC characteristics. Importantly, the wound‐healing property demonstrated through migration assay was superior in iMSCs when compared to the UC‐MSCs. In this study, we have demonstrated an excellent non‐invasive and pain‐free method of obtaining iMSCs for regenerative therapy. These homogeneous autologous highly proliferative iMSCs may provide an alternative source of cells to UC‐MSCs for treating various diseases.
Combined polygenic risk scores of different psychiatric traits predict general and specific psychopathology in childhood
Authors: Neumann Alexander , Jolicoeur‐Martineau Alexia , Szekely Eszter , Sallis Hannah M. , O’Donnel Kieran , Greenwood Celia M.T. , Levitan Robert , Meaney Michael J. , Wazana Ashley , Evans Jonathan , Tiemeier Henning
Published: August 2021

Background

Polygenic risk scores (PRSs) operationalize genetic propensity toward a particular mental disorder and hold promise as early predictors of psychopathology, but before a PRS can be used clinically, explanatory power must be increased and the specificity for a psychiatric domain established. To enable early detection, it is crucial to study these psychometric properties in childhood. We examined whether PRSs associate more with general or with specific psychopathology in school‐aged children. Additionally, we tested whether psychiatric PRSs can be combined into a multi‐PRS score for improved performance.

Methods

We computed 16 PRSs based on GWASs of psychiatric phenotypes, but also neuroticism and cognitive ability, in mostly adult populations. Study participants were 9,247 school‐aged children from three population‐based cohorts of the DREAM‐BIG consortium: ALSPAC (UK), The Generation R Study (Netherlands), and MAVAN (Canada). We associated each PRS with general and specific psychopathology factors, derived from a bifactor model based on self‐report and parental, teacher, and observer reports. After fitting each PRS in separate models, we also tested a multi‐PRS model, in which all PRSs are entered simultaneously as predictors of the general psychopathology factor.

Results

Seven PRSs were associated with the general psychopathology factor after multiple testing adjustment, two with specific externalizing and five with specific internalizing psychopathology. PRSs predicted general psychopathology independently of each other, with the exception of depression and depressive symptom PRSs. Most PRSs associated with a specific psychopathology domain, were also associated with general child psychopathology.

Conclusions

The results suggest that PRSs based on current GWASs of psychiatric phenotypes tend to be associated with general psychopathology, or both general and specific psychiatric domains, but not with one specific psychopathology domain only. Furthermore, PRSs can be combined to improve predictive ability. PRS users should therefore be conscious of nonspecificity and consider using multiple PRSs simultaneously, when predicting psychiatric disorders.
ATP‐binding cassette (ABC) transporters in cancer: A review of recent updates
Authors: Wang Jing‐Quan , Wu Zhuo‐Xun , Yang Yuqi , Teng Qiu‐Xu , Li Yi‐Dong , Lei Zi‐Ning , Jani Khushboo A , Kaushal Neeraj , Chen Zhe‐Sheng
Published: August 2021

The ATP‐binding cassette (ABC) transporter superfamily is one of the largest membrane protein families existing in wide spectrum of organisms from prokaryotes to human. ABC transporters are also known as efflux pumps because they mediate the cross‐membrane transportation of various endo‐ and xenobiotic molecules energized by ATP hydrolysis. Therefore, ABC transporters have been considered closely to multidrug resistance (MDR) in cancer, where the efflux of structurally distinct chemotherapeutic drugs causes reduced itherapeutic efficacy. Besides, ABC transporters also play other critical biological roles in cancer such as signal transduction. During the past decades, extensive efforts have been made in understanding the structure‐function relationship, transportation profile of ABC transporters, as well as the possibility to overcome MDR via targeting these transporters. In this review, we discuss the most recent knowledge regarding ABC transporters and cancer drug resistance in order to provide insights for the development of more effective therapies.
Fish functional diversity as an indicator of resilience to industrial fishing in Patagonia Argentina
Authors: Rincón‐Díaz Martha Patricia , Bovcon Nelson D. , Cochia Pablo D. , Góngora María Eva , Galván David E.
Published: August 2021

The relationship between fish functional diversity and fishing levels at which its baselines shift is important to identify the consequences of fishing in ecosystem functioning. For the first time, the authors of this study implemented a trait‐based approach in the Argentine Patagonian Sea to identify the vulnerability and spatiotemporal changes in functional diversity of fish assemblages incidentally captured by a trawling fleet targeting the Argentine red shrimp Pleoticus muelleri (Spence Bate, 1888) between 2003 and 2014. The authors coupled seven fish trophic traits to a reconstructed fish assemblage for the study area and by‐catch and evaluated changes in fish species richness and four complementary functional diversity measures (functional richness, redundancy, dispersion and community trait values) along with fishing intensity, temporal use, latitudinal location and depth of fishing grounds, and vessel length. Resident fishes larger than 30 cm in length, with depressed and fusiform bodies, intermediate to high trophic levels, and feeding in benthic, demersal and midwater areas were vulnerable to by‐catch. In addition, fish assemblages exhibited a low functional trait redundancy, likely related to species influxes in a biogeographic ecotone with tropicalisation signs. Significant increases in fish trait richness and dispersion poleward and deep suggested new functional roles in these grounds, matching trends in community body size, reproductive load, maximum depth and trophic level. Finally, a temporal increase in fish species and functional trait removal in fishing grounds led to trait homogenisation since 2003. The authors identified that tipping points in temperate fish functional trait diversity showed the importance of trait‐based approaches within ecosystem‐based fisheries management.
Intensified production of zeolite A: Life cycle assessment of a continuous flow pilot plant and comparison with a conventional batch plant
Authors: Grimaldi Fabio , Ramirez Heidy , Lutz Cécile , Lettieri Paola
Published: August 2021

This study investigates on the environmental impact of an intensified technology for the manufacturing of Zeolite A, one of the largest zeolites employed worldwide by volume and value. The technology under consideration is an oscillatory continuous‐flow synthesis, developed industrially by Arkema, and currently at pilot‐scale. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is used in this work to measure the sustainability of this emerging technology in an anticipatory fashion, before its full deployment, with the aim of driving the process development toward the minimization of the environmental footprint. The assessment explores the full life‐cycle of the production system and comprises comparative analysis, scenario analysis, and a hotspot analysis. Finally, the continuous‐flow technology is benchmarked against the environmental impact of a conventional batch production of zeolite A, based on a full‐scale commercial plant. The results evidence that significant benefits would stem from shifting from batch to continuous‐flow production. The comparative analysis reveals that the extent of the latter advantages depends on the impact category under consideration and directs the next steps of CF system's process development toward pivotal aspects such as the recirculation system to further reduce the system's environmental impacts. Regardless of the chosen production technology, a large share of the total environmental impact hinges on the production of NaOH, a building block of the synthesis, and hence is hardly mitigatable. On the whole, the findings of this work emphasize the need of prioritizing LCA during the development phase of emerging technologies and underline its efficacy to prevent waste of resources and capitals.
Adrenalectomy in ectopic Cushing’s syndrome: A retrospective cohort study from a tertiary care centre
Authors: Lase Ieva , Grönberg Malin , Norlén Olov , Stålberg Peter , Welin Staffan , Janson Eva Tiensuu
Published: August 2021

Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) causing ectopic Cushing's syndrome (ECS) are rare and challenging to treat. In this retrospective cohort study, we aimed to evaluate different approaches for bilateral adrenalectomy (BA) as a treatment option in ECS. Fifty‐three patients with ECS caused by a NEN (35 females/18 men; mean ± SD age: 53 ± 15 years) were identified from medical records. Epidemiological and clinical parameters, survival, indications for surgery and timing, as well as duration of surgery, complications and surgical techniques, were collected and further analysed. The primary tumour location was thorax (n = 30), pancreas (n = 14) or unknown (n = 9). BA was performed in 37 patients. Median time from diagnosis of ECS to BA was 2 months (range 1–10 months). Thirty‐two patients received different steroidogenesis inhibitors before BA to control hypercortisolaemia. ECS resolved completely after surgery in 33 patients and severe peri‐ or postoperative complications were detected in 12 patients. There were fewer severe complications in the endoscopic group compared to open surgery (p = .030). Posterior retroperitoneoscopic BA performed simultaneously by a two surgeon approach had the shortest operating time (p = .001). Despite the frequent use of adrenolytic treatment, BA was necessary in a majority of patients to gain control over ECS. Complication rate was high, probably as a result of the combination of metastatic disease and metabolic disorders caused by high cortisol levels. The two surgeon approach BA may be considered as the method of choice in ECS compared to other BA approaches as a result of fewer complications and a shorter operating time.
Workplace violence and turnover intentions among nurses: The moderating roles of invulnerability and organisational Support – A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Cakal Huseyin , Keshavarzi Saeed , Ruhani Ali , Dakhil‐Abbasi Golnoosh
Published: August 2021

Aims and Objectives

To investigate whether internal and external violence are associated with turnover intentions among nurses during demanding periods of work.

Background

Workplace violence can negatively impact upon mental and physical health and turnover intentions. Research focusing on how dimensions of workplace violence, internal versus external, influence turnover intentions and the factors that mitigate these effect is lacking.

Methods

An online cross‐sectional survey of multi‐item measures was used to collect data from 462 Iranian nurses. We employed path modelling and analysed the data using SPSS and PROCESS macro. A STROBE checklist was used to report findings.

Results

Both dimensions, internal and external, of violence were positively associated with turnover intentions. Moreover, perceived invulnerability and organisational support moderates this association. When individuals perceived invulnerability and perceived organisational support are high, internal violence is no longer indirectly related to turnover intentions via job satisfaction. In a similar vein, when perceived invulnerability and perceived organisational support are low, external violence is not related to intentions to quit. When perceived invulnerability and perceived organisational support are high, however, external violence is indirectly and negatively related to intentions to quit.

Conclusions

Nurses who regard themselves as invulnerable might be motivated to quit when they experience workplace violence. However, they are motivated to stay on the job when they both perceive themselves as invulnerable and the organisation as supporting.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

Organisations should reconsider their policies and approach towards workplace violence especially during periods of intensive work.
Brain FET PET tumor‐to‐white mater ratio to differentiate recurrence from post‐treatment changes in high‐grade gliomas
Authors: Puranik Ameya D. , Rangarajan Venkatesh , Dev Indraja D. , Jain Yash , Purandare Nilendu C. , Sahu Arpita , Choudhary Amitkumar , Gupta Tejpal , Chatterjee Abhishek , Moiyadi Aliasgar , Shetty Prakash , Sridhar Epari , Sahay Ayushi , Patil Vijay M. , Shah Sneha , Agrawal Archi
Published: August 2021

Background and Purpose

Highergrade glial neoplasms undergo standard treatment with surgery, radiotherapy, and alkylating agents. There is often a clinical/neuroimaging dilemma in the post‐treatment setting to differentiate disease recurrence from treatment‐related changes. FET (fluoro‐ethyl‐tyrosine) PET has emerged as a molecular imaging modality for cases where MR imaging is inconclusive. This study aims to develop a cutoff on FET PET for differentiating true recurrence from post‐treatment changes.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed72 patientswith post‐treatment grade 3 or 4 brain gliomas. Five to six mCi of 18F‐FET was injected and static imaging of the brain was performed at 20 min. A tumor‐to‐white matter (T/Wm) ratio was used as semiquantitative parameter. A T/Wm cutoff of 2.5 was used for image interpretation. Imaging findings were confirmed by either histopathologic diagnosis in a multidisciplinary joint clinic or based on follow‐up of clinical and neuroimaging findings.

Results

Forty‐one of 72 patients (57%) showed recurrent disease on FET PET. Thirty‐five of them were confirmed to have tumor recurrence; six patients showed post‐treatment changes. Thirty‐one of 72 patients (43%) showed post‐treatment changes on FET PET; 27 were confirmed as post‐treatment change and four patients had tumor recurrence on subsequent MR imaging. An optimum T/Wm cutoff of 2.65 was derived based on receiver operating characteristic analysis with a sensitivity of 80% and specificity of 87.5%.

Conclusion

Static FET PET can be used as problem‐solving imaging modality with a T/Wm cutoff of 2.65 to differentiate late recurrence from post‐treatment changes in grade 3 or 4 brain gliomas with equivocal MR features.
A new volatility model: GQARCH‐ItÔ model
Authors: Yuan Huiling , Sun Yulei , Xu Lu , Zhou Yong , Cui Xiangyu
Published: August 2021

Volatility asymmetry is a hot topic in high‐frequency financial market. This article proposes a new econometric model, which could describe volatility asymmetry based on high‐frequency data and low‐frequency data. After providing the quasi‐maximum likelihood estimators for the parameters, we establish their asymptotic properties. We also conduct a series of simulation studies to check the finite sample performance and volatility forecasting performance of the proposed model and method. And a real data example is demonstrated that the new model has more substantial volatility prediction power than GARCH‐Itô model in the literature.
Disseminated Rasamsonia argillacea species complex infections in 8 dogs
Authors: Dear Jonathan D. , Reagan Krystle L. , Hulsebosch Sean E. , Li Chai‐Fei , Munro Matthew John Lodge , Byrne Barbara A. , Affolter Verena K. , Wiederhold Nathan , Cañete‐Gibas Connie , Sykes Jane E.
Published: August 2021

Background

Clinical features, treatment, and outcome of opportunistic infections with Rasamsonia spp., a nonpigmented filamentous mold, are not well documented in dogs.

Objectives

Describe clinical, radiographic, pathologic features, and outcome of dogs with disseminated Rasamsonia species complex infections.

Animals

Eight client‐owned dogs.

Methods

Retrospective case series. Medical records were reviewed to describe signalment, history, clinicopathologic and imaging findings, microbiologic and immunologic results, cyto‐ and histopathologic diagnoses, treatment, and outcome.

Results

Presenting complaints were nonspecific with anorexia (n = 5) and back pain (n = 4) most common. Five dogs were German Shepherd dogs. Six dogs had multifocal discospondylitis and 2 had pleural effusion. Six dogs had Rasamsonia piperina and 2 had Rasamsonia argillacea infections with isolates identified using DNA sequencing. Rasamsonia spp. were isolated by urine culture in 5 of 7 dogs. Five of 6 dogs had positive serum Aspergillus galactomannan antigen enzyme immunoassay (EIA) results. Median survival time was 82 days, and 317 days for dogs that survived to discharge. Four died during initial hospitalization (median survival, 6 days). All isolates had low minimum effective concentrations (MECs) to echinocandins with variable minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for azole antifungal drugs.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Rasamsonia spp. infections in dogs are associated with multisystemic disease involving the vertebral column, central nervous system, kidneys, spleen, lymph nodes, lungs, and heart. The infection shares clinical features with other systemic mold infections and can be misidentified when using phenotypical microbiologic methods. Molecular techniques are required to identify the organism and guide appropriate antifungal treatment.
A test of a generalized, optimal habitat selection model for drift‐feeding fishes: brook charr
Authors: Sliger R. , Grossman G. D.
Published: August 2021

Optimality theory is useful for modeling habitat use in animals, although many models have not been rigorously tested. We evaluated the ability of the Grossman et al. net‐energy‐intake (NEI) optimal foraging model for drift‐feeding stream fishes, to predict the holding velocity (microhabitat) of native brook charr (BC; Salvelinus fontinalis) inhabiting a southern Appalachian stream. This model postulates that fish choose holding velocities that maximize their NEI, and is broadly applicable to stream fishes, many of which are drift‐feeders. We used laboratory prey capture success versus water velocity data to quantify the relationship between prey capture success, water velocity, and holding velocity of BC (N = 21, mean standard length = 147 mm ± 14 sd). Parameterization of the Grossman et al. model yielded an optimal holding velocity prediction of 18.5 cm·s−1. Based on fitting criteria from previous work, the model prediction was successful because it fell within the 95% confidence interval (13.5–20.5 cm·s−1) of mean holding velocities (17.0 cm·s−1, N = 26) of BC in Lynn Camp Prong, Tennessee. Consequently, NEI maximization likely is a causal factor affecting BC habitat choice. Our result argues strongly for the general usefulness of this model.
Taking flight: An ecological, evolutionary and genomic perspective on bat telomeres
Authors: Power Megan L. , Foley Nicole M. , Jones Gareth , Teeling Emma C.
Published: August 2021

Over 20% of all living mammals are bats (order Chiroptera). Bats possess extraordinary adaptations including powered flight, laryngeal echolocation and a unique immune system that enables them to tolerate a diversity of viral infections without presenting clinical disease symptoms. They occupy multiple trophic niches and environments globally. Significant physiological and ecological diversity occurs across the order. Bats also exhibit extreme longevity given their body size with many species showing few signs of ageing. The molecular basis of this extended longevity has recently attracted attention. Telomere maintenance potentially underpins bats’ extended healthspan, although functional studies are still required to validate the causative mechanisms. In this review, we detail the current knowledge on bat telomeres, telomerase expression, and how these relate to ecology, longevity and life‐history strategies. Patterns of telomere shortening and telomerase expression vary across species, and comparative genomic analyses suggest that alternative telomere maintenance mechanisms evolved in the longest‐lived bats. We discuss the unique challenges faced when working with populations of wild bats and highlight ways to advance the field including expanding long‐term monitoring across species that display contrasting life‐histories and occupy different environmental niches. We further review how new high quality, chromosome‐level genome assemblies can enable us to uncover the molecular mechanisms governing telomere dynamics and how phylogenomic analyses can reveal the adaptive significance of telomere maintenance and variation in bats.
Testing fundamentalist–momentum trader financial cycles: An empirical analysis via the Kalman filter
Authors: Gusella Filippo , Stockhammer Engelbert
Published: August 2021

This paper proposes an empirical test for Minskyan financial cycles in asset prices, driven by the interaction of fundamentalist and momentum traders. Both agents’ beliefs about the future are unobserved and can be modelled in a state space model. We use the Kalman filter to identify the two behavioral rules and evaluate whether the conditions for the existence of cycles hold. The model is estimated for equity and housing prices for France, Germany, the UK and the United States, for the period 1970–2017, with annual and quarterly data. We find robust empirical support for the existence of endogenous financial cycles in equity markets for all countries and for France, the UK and the United States for housing markets.
Consumer confidence, consumption, and macroeconomic fluctuations: A systemic stock‐flow consistent model
Authors: Sahin Sercin
Published: August 2021

In the past 40 years, consumption and household debt have been the major factor lying behind aggregate fluctuations in economies. This study investigates if the psychological characteristics of households can drive these fluctuations and which policies can be effective in reducing their amplitude. To this end, we have built a system dynamics model based on the stock‐flow consistent framework. Our main finding is that households’ psychological characteristics are the primary determinant of the behavior and stability properties of income, consumption, and household debt. The government can apply countercyclical fiscal or countercyclical transfer policies to tame fluctuations in these variables.
Southern rice black‐streaked dwarf virus hijacks SNARE complex of its insect vector for its effective transmission to rice
Authors: Zhang Lu , Liu Wenwen , Zhang Xiaowan , Li Li , Wang Xifeng
Published: August 2021

Vesicular trafficking is an important dynamic process that facilitates intracellular transport of biological macromolecules and their release into the extracellular environment. However, little is known about whether or how plant viruses utilize intracellular vesicles to their advantage. Here, we report that southern rice black‐streaked dwarf virus (SRBSDV) enters intracellular vesicles in epithelial cells of its insect vector by engaging VAMP7 and Vti1a proteins in the soluble N‐ethylmaleimide‐sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) complex. The major outer capsid protein P10 of SRBSDV was shown to interact with VAMP7 and Vti1a of the white‐backed planthopper and promote the fusion of vesicles into a large vesicle, which finally fused with the plasma membrane to release virions from midgut epithelial cells. Downregulation of the expression of either VAMP7 or Vti1a did not affect viral entry and accumulation in the gut, but significantly reduced viral accumulation in the haemolymph. It also did not affect virus acquisition, but significantly reduced the virus transmission efficiency to rice. Our data reveal a critical mechanism by which a plant reovirus hijacks the vesicle transport system to overcome the midgut escape barrier in vector insects and provide new insights into the role of the SNARE complex in viral transmission and the potential for developing novel strategies of viral disease control.
Adaptive responses to temperature and precipitation variation at the early‐life stages ofPinus sylvestris
Authors: Ramírez‐Valiente José Alberto , Solé‐Medina Aida , Pyhäjärvi Tanja , Savolainen Outi , Heer Katrin , Opgenoorth Lars , Danusevicius Darius , Robledo‐Arnuncio Juan José
Published: August 2021

Early‐stage fitness variation has been seldom evaluated at broad scales in forest tree species, despite the long tradition of studying climate‐driven intraspecific genetic variation. In this study, we evaluated the role of climate in driving patterns of population differentiation at early‐life stages inPinus sylvestrisand explored the fitness and growth consequences of seed transfer within the species range.

We monitored seedling emergence, survival and growth over a 2‐yr period in a multi‐site common garden experiment which included 18 European populations and spanned 25° in latitude and 1700 m in elevation.

Climate–fitness functions showed that populations exhibited higher seedling survival and growth at temperatures similar to their home environment, which is consistent with local adaptation. Northern populations experienced lower survival and growth at warmer sites, contrary to previous studies on later life stages. Seed mass was higher in populations from warmer areas and was positively associated with survival and growth at more southern sites. Finally, we did not detect a survival–growth trade‐off; on the contrary, bigger seedlings exhibited higher survival probabilities under most climatic conditions.

In conclusion, our results reveal that contrasting temperature regimes have played an important role in driving the divergent evolution ofP. sylvestrispopulations at early‐life stages.
Peer‐supported lifestyle interventions on body weight, energy intake, and physical activity in adults: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Lim Siew , Lee Wai Kit , Tan Andy , Chen Mingling , Tay Chau Thien , Sood Surbhi , Pirotta Stephanie , Moran Lisa J. , Daivadanam Meena , Busija Ljoudmila , Skouteris Helen , Awoke Mamaru A. , Hill Briony
Published: August 2021

There is an increasing interest in peer interventions in the management of chronic conditions, but evidence on peer interventions for body weight is lacking. The aim of this study was to examine the efficacy of peer interventions on body weight, energy intake, and physical activity in adults. Interventions delivered by peer (lay member that participants identify with) were included. We searched 14 databases. Outcomes were combined in the meta‐analysis using the inverse variance random‐effects model. From 2435 articles, 65 articles were included in the systematic review and meta‐analysis (n = 15,673). Peer interventions resulted in significant reduction in weight (mean difference [MD] −1.05 kg; 95% confidence interval [CI] −1.68, −0.43; 95% prediction interval [PI] −3.25, 1.14; 28 studies; 7142 participants), BMI (MD −0.24 kg/m2; 95% CI −0.44, −0.04; 95% PI −0.92, 0.45; 25 studies; 6672 participants), waist circumference (MD −0.75 cm; 95% CI −1.29, −0.21; 95% PI −1.36, −0.14; 12 studies; 4280 participants), and significant increase in physical activity (SMD 0.20; 95% CI 0.09, 0.32; 95% PI −0.46, 0.86; 41 studies; 10,778 participants) with no significant effect on energy intake. This study suggests peer interventions are effective in reducing waist circumference, but further research is needed to confirm its effect on other obesity‐related outcomes.