bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inter-laboratory Variability of Caspofungin Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations for Nakaseomyces glabrata isolates – An Irish Tertiary Hospital Experience
Authors: Ali Saied , Collison Meadhbh , McNicholas Sinead , McDermott Sinead
Published: June 2023

Background:
Nakaseomyces glabrata, formerly Candida glabrata, is an opportunistic yeast and an emerging cause of human infections. The use of broth microdilution (BMD) methodologies for caspofungin (CSP) antifungal susceptibility testing (AFST) against N. glabrata is reported to be prone to high inter-laboratory variation. We aimed to compare CSP minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of N. glabrata isolates from our institution with those obtained by the Reference Laboratory for the same isolates.
 
Methods:
All clinically significant N. glabrata isolates from 2019-2021 inclusive were reviewed. AFST was performed locally using the VITEK2 system with the AST-YS08 card while E-tests were performed at Mycology Reference Laboratory (MRL), and agreement between these two methods was evaluated – categorical and essential.
 
Results:
41 isolates were reviewed during the study period – 30 from blood cultures, seven from intra-operative theatre specimens and four from sterile site drain fluids. Despite an essential agreement of 100% within ±2 log2 dilution, marked discrepancies were noted in interpretative breakpoints between assays with 17 Minor and 16 Major category errors. Categorical agreement was 19.5%, with the VITEK2 over-estimating resistance. A Mann-Whitney U Test assessed the relationship of MICs across the AFST modalities, and a statistically significant difference was noted, p<0.01, with a higher mean rank for VITKEK2 outputs. 
 
Conclusion:
While the VITEK2 system is highly applicable, its performance for CSP AFST is unreliable and potentially results in the mis-classification of susceptible isolates as highlighted in our study. The use of VITEK2 AST-YS08 micafungin as a sentinel echinocandin should be explored and/or the evaluation of CSP-specific E-tests as utilised by the MRL. These methods appear more consistent and less prone to the variation seen with BMD for CSP.
Runella salmonicolor sp. nov. and Dyella lutea sp. nov., isolated from paddy field soil
Authors: Park Sunho , Kim Inhyup , Chhetri Geeta , So Yoonseop , Jung Yonghee , Woo Haejin , Seo Taegun
Published: June 2023

Bacterial strains were collected from the soil of a paddy field around Dongguk University in Goyang, Republic of Korea. Two Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, aerobic or facultatively anaerobic bacterial strains were designated S5T and SaT. The results of analysis of phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA and whole-genome sequences indicated that these two strains represented a member of the genus

Runella

and a member of the genus

Dyella

, respectively. S5T exhibited 99.22, 98.10 and 97.68 % similarity to

Runella rosea

HYN0085T,

Runella aurantiaca

YX9T and

Runella slithyformis

DSM 19594T, respectively. S5T grew at 15–40 °C (optimum, 25 °C), at pH 6.5–12.0 (optimum, pH 9.5) and in the presence of 0–0.5 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 0 %). SaT exhibited 99.18 %, 98.36 %, 97.82 % and 97.68 % similarity to

Dyella thiooxydans

ATSB10T, Frateruia defendens DHoT,

Fulvimonas yonginensis

5HGs31-2T and

Dyella ginsengisoli

Gsoil 3046T, respectively, and grew at 20–40 °C (optimum, 30 °C), at pH 5.5–11.0 (optimum, pH 8) and in the presence of 0–4.5 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 2.5 %). The average nucleotide identity difference values of S5T, SaT and the species reference strains were 92.16–93.62 % and 92.71–93.43%, which confirms that the S5T and SaT represent two novel species of the genera

Runella

and

Dyella

, respectively. The draft genome of S5T consisted of 7 048 502 bp, with a DNA G+C content of 44.9 % and that of SaT of 4 398 720 bp with a DNA G+C content of 67.9 %. The phylogenetic, phenotypic and physiological characteristics permitted the distinction of the two strains from their families, and we thus propose the names Runella salmonicolor sp. nov. (type strain S5T = KACC 22689T = TBRC 16343T) and Dyella lutea sp. nov. (type strain SaT=KACC 22690T = TBRC 16344T).
A Dual Color Pax7 and Myf5 In Vivo Reporter to Investigate Muscle Stem Cell Heterogeneity in Regeneration and Aging
Authors: Ancel Sara , Michaud Joris , Sizzano Federico , Tauzin Loic , Oliveira Manuel , Migliavacca Eugenia , Dammone Gabriele , Karaz Sonia , Sánchez-García José L , Metairon Sylviane , Jacot Guillaume , Bentzinger C. Florian , Feige Jérôme N. , Stuelsatz Pascal
Published: June 2023

Increasing evidence suggests heterogeneity in the muscle stem cell (MuSC) pool. In particular, a rare subset of Pax7 positive MuSCs that has never expressed the myogenic regulatory factor Myf5 has enhanced self-renewal and engraftment characteristics. However, the scarcity and limited availability of protein markers make the characterization of these cells challenging. We describe the generation of StemRep reporter mice allowing to monitor Pax7 and Myf5 protein based on equimolar levels of dual nuclear fluorescence. High levels of Pax7 protein and low levels of Myf5 delineate a deeply quiescent MuSC subpopulation with distinct molecular signatures and dynamics of activation, proliferation, and commitment. Aging decreases the number of these cells, and skews the MuSC pool towards Myf5-Highcells with impaired quiescence. Altogether, we describe a novel deeply quiescent MuSC subpopulation whose maintenance is impaired in old muscles, and establish the StemRep line as a versatile tool to study quiescence and MuSC heterogeneity.
wTSA-CRAFT: an open-access web server for rapid analysis of thermal shift assay experiments
Authors: Reys Victor , Kowalewski Julien , Gelin Muriel , Lionne Corinne
Published: June 2023

The automated data processing provided by theTSA-CRAFTtool enables now to reach high throughput speed analysis of thermal shift assays. While the software is powerful and freely available, it still requires installation process and command line efforts that could be discouraging. To simplify the procedure, we decided to make it available and easy to use by implementing it with a graphical interface via a web server, enabling a cross-platform usage from any web browsers. We developed a web server embedded version of theTSA-CRAFTtool, enabling a user-friendly graphical interface for formatting and submission of the input file and visualization of the selected thermal denaturation profiles.

We describe a typical case study of buffer condition optimization of the biologically relevant APH(3’)-IIb bacterial protein in a 96 deep-well thermal shift analysis screening. wTSA-CRAFTis freely accessible for non-commercial usage athttps://bioserv.cbs.cnrs.fr/TSA_CRAFT.
Assessment of diseases and insect pests of apple (Malus domesticaBorkh) in Silte Zone, Southern Ethiopia
Authors: Woto Sebsibe Sh. , Aloto Adimasu A.
Published: June 2023

Assessment research was conducted in sixKebeles(administrative units) of Mirab azerenet and Alicho wuriro Districts of Silte Zone in 2021/21 cropping season, to assess the prevalence and damage of diseases and insect pests of apple and growers experience on pest identification and its management. A total of 60 apple growers were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Powdery mildew and apple scab were more damaging diseases of apple fruit tree in the area and they imply economic threat if not managed and also green apple aphid was the only recorded insect pest that caused leaf curling of apple fruit tree. About 71.7% of respondents were responded powdery mildew as number one disease of apple that hinders apple production. About 76.7% of producers were answered that they didn’t identified insect pests that attack their apple fruit tree. Out of the total respondents 90% (for diseases) and 16.7% (for insects) responded that, winter season was primary period for occurrence of these pests in their apple orchard/nursery. Out of the respondents 61.7% and 85% (for diseases and insect pests) responded that they don’t have any information about management methods. About 85% of respondents replied that, they don’t prune their apple fruit tree in the optimum season and also they don’t know its importance and the method. Generally, the result of current assessment revealed that, awareness of growers on crop agronomy, pest type and its infestation season, and management measures that taken so far were not encouraging. Based on the results of our survey, we recommend the following; timely awareness of apple fruit tree; agronomy, improvement and protection should be provided for growers by agricultural extension workers and other agents.
Evolution of Plasticity in Response to Ethanol between Recently Separated Populations ofD. melanogasterwith Different Ecological Histories
Authors: Boateng-Sarfo George , Scherping Franz , Mammadov Murad , Signor Sarah
Published: June 2023

The evolution of phenotype plasticity by genetic accommodation was theorized but has not been extensively demonstrated. Under this model of evolution when a population encounters a new environment there are widely variable responses amongst different genotypes, which are then pruned by selection into a single adaptive response. Because of the requirement to replicate genotypes, testing this predication requires inbred lines as well as populations that are both adapted and not adapted to a resource. We previously demonstrated thatD. melanogasteradapted to ethanol through genetic accommodation usingD. simulansas an ancestral proxy lineage. However, we wondered how generalizable these results were. Using a new population ofD. melanogasterfrom France and an ancestral range population from Zambia we demonstrated here that the Zambian population is not adapted to ethanol and that the French population has evolved ethanol resistance through genetic accommodation. We also investigated alternative splicing in response to ethanol and find that gene expression and splicing appear to evolve independently of one another, and that the splicing response to ethanol is largely distinct between populations. Thus we have independently replicated evidence for evolution by genetic accommodation inD. melanogaster, suggesting that the evolution of plasticity may be an important contributor to the ability to exploit novel resources.
The platyrrhine primateCebus imitatoruses gaze to adjust grasp posture for food handling and withdraw to the mouth
Authors: Whishaw Ian Q , Mah Megan , Casorso Julia G. , Chacon Evin Murillo , Chalk-Wilayto Janine , Laird Myra , Melin Amanda
Published: June 2023

Orienting a food item held in the hand to withdraw it to the mouth for eating is mediated by vision in catarrhine anthropoids and by nonvisual strategies in strepsirrhines. The present study asks whether vision contributes to the withdraw in a platyrrhine anthropoid, a member of a monophyletic primate suborder whose stem group diverged from catarrhines about 40 million years ago. We examined gaze and hand use in arboreal fruit picking by the Costa Rican capuchin,Cebus imitator, a platyrrhine known for its skilled object-handling and tool use. Videos clips of reach, grasp and withdraw movements and associated gaze were examined frame-by-frame to assess hand shaping and sensory control of eating.Cebus imitatorused vision and touch to reach for and grasp food items with precision or whole hand grasps. They used vision to orient food items held inhand into a precision grip and their withdraw of food items to the mouth was assisted with a vertically oriented hand. The conjoint use of vision, grasp and hand posture by capuchins is discussed in relation to the staged evolution of visual manipulation of objects, one of which is featured in this platyrrhine primate.
Early subcortical response at the fundamental frequency of continuous speech measured with MEG
Authors: Schüller Alina , Schilling Achim , Krauss Patrick , Reichenbach Tobias
Published: June 2023

Most parts of speech are voiced, exhibiting a degree of periodicity with a fundamental frequency and many higher harmonics. Some neural populations respond to this temporal fine structure, in particular at the fundamental frequency. This frequency-following response to speech (speech-FFR) consists of both subcortical and cortical contributions and can be measured through electroen-cephalography (EEG) as well as through magnetoencephalography (MEG), although both differ in the aspects of neural activity that they capture: EEG is sensitive to both radial and tangential sources as well as to deep sources, while MEG is more restrained to the measurement of tangential and superficial neural activity. EEG responses to continuous speech have shown an early subcortical contribution, at a latency of around 9 ms, in agreement with MEG measurements in response to short speech tokens, whereas MEG responses to continuous speech have not yet revealed such an early component. Here we analyze MEG responses to long segments of continuous speech. We find an early subcortical response at a latency of 9 ms, followed by later right-lateralized cortical activities at delays of 20 - 57 ms as well as potential subcortical activities. Our results show that the early subcortical component of the FFR to continuous speech can be measured from MEG, and that its latency agrees with that measured with EEG. They furthermore show that the early subcortical component is temporally well separated from later cortical contributions, enabling an independent assessment of both components towards further aspects of speech processing.
Integrated multi-approaches reveal unique metabolic mechanisms of Vestimentifera to adapt to deep-sea hydrothermal vents
Authors: Sun Qinglei , Yuan Zihao , Sun Yuanyuan , Sun Li
Published: June 2023

Vestimentiferans (Siboglinidae, Polychaeta) thrive in deep-sea hydrothermal vents and depend on chemosynthetic symbiosis for nutrition. Currently, the central carbon metabolisms, especially the sugar synthesis pathways, of vestimentiferans remain obscure. In this study, the genome of the vestimentiferanArcovestia ivanoviwas obtained. Comparative genomics revealed that, unlike other Polychaeta, vestimentiferans possessed trehaloneogenesis and lacked gluconeogenesis. Transcriptome and metabolome detected the expression of trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (TPS), the key enzyme of trehaloneogenesis, and trehalose in vestimentiferan tissues, especially trophosome, suggesting the possibility of trehalose as the main blood sugar in vestimentiferans. Vestimentiferan TPS was most closely related to arthropod TPS and may be transferred from arthropods via transposons that existed in high densities around the vestimentiferan and arthropod TPS loci. Electron microscopy observed vestimentiferan symbionts with packed glycogen granules. Consistently, glycogen biosynthesis was present in vestimentiferan symbionts but absent in other Siboglinidae symbionts. Together this study revealed that vestimentiferans have evolved unique metabolic mechanisms to adapt to hydrothermal vents by utilizing trehaloneogenesis as the major sugar-synthesizing pathway, which produces trehalose to facilitate tolerance of the stresses (such as high temperature and H2S) of the vents. This study also indicated a critical role of bacterial glycogen biosynthesis in the highly efficient symbiont-vestimentiferan cooperation.
Quality management adoption and management accounting change in a sub-Saharan African firm
Authors: Teklay Belaynesh , Bobe Belete Jember
Published: June 2023

Purpose

In this study, the authors investigate how institutions influence the adoption and implementation of a quality management practice (QMP) that was originally developed for Western developed countries but is being used in sub-Saharan African firms. The authors’ aim is to contribute to the literature on how local and broader institutions in sub-Saharan African firms impact the adoption of QMP (specifically ISO 9001:2015) and how the firm's situated rationalities shape the associated change in management accounting practices.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors applied the extended Burns and Scapens framework and employed a case study research approach. The authors collected empirical data through semi-structured interviews and secondary sources and used direct content analysis to analyse the data.

Findings

The authors’ findings suggest that although personal values and commitments to modernising the business are the main drivers of change, the continued dominance of traditional accounting logic restricts the necessary change in management accounting to support effective QMP implementation.

Practical implications

This study emphasises the importance of aligning institutional logics to fully realise the benefits of new strategies and identifies technical competencies, access to information and communication technology, and clarity about the role of management accounting in modernising management practices as critical success factors.

Originality/value

This study is original in that it provides insights into the impact of contextual factors in less developed countries on institutionalising QMP and management accounting change, demonstrating the importance of aligning management accounting change with proposed organisational strategies to fully realise their benefits.
Ensuring student-centered value with skills-denominated credentials
Authors: Thorne Kacey , DeMark Sarah , Heath Tyson , Young Kristian
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The global labor market has been upended and a new landscape has emerged. New models for ensuring the value and relevance of post-secondary education are needed. Learners need better understanding of the value and relevancy which the education provides and more immediate return on the educational investment. Education providers must ensure the relevance of the credentials. Employers require transparency into skills an individual possesses based on the credentials they hold. New models are needed to guide an understanding of credentials so that all have equitable pathways to opportunity. This paper aims to discuss the aforementioned objectives.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors in this paper discuss how Western Governors University implemented a Unified Credential Framework (UCF) for ensuring credentials are relevant, verified, transparent and portable. The UCF is predicated on the use of skills as an underlying foundation.

Findings

Using a structured theory for understanding skills and micro-credentials creates more transparency into what post-secondary credentials represent, and the value they hold for individuals, employers and education providers.

Research limitations/implications

This paper represents a use case where the proposed solution is still emergent. Additional research is warranted as longitudinal data become available on student outcomes and impacts.

Originality/value

This paper presents a model that any organization can implement for clearer line of sight into the value and relevance of post-secondary credentials.
Political environment, employee tenure security and firm performance in middle-income economies
Authors: Boamah Nicholas Addai , Ofori-Yeboah Francis , Appiah Kingsley Opoku
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The study investigates the effect of political instability and employee tenure security on the performance of firms in middle-income economies (MIEs) after controlling for the influence of corruption, international quality certification, external auditor services and firm age. It examines whether ownership and sector effects matter in the explored relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopts the generalized method of moments estimator and collects firm-level cross-sectional data from 77 MIEs.

Findings

The evidence shows that political uncertainty, employee tenure security and firm age negatively impact firm performance. Also, external quality assurance mainly improves firm performance. Additionally, foreign-owned firms benefit from corruption more than their domestic counterparts. Moreover, there are ownership and sector effects in the firm performance drivers.

Practical implications

The findings suggest the need for MIE firm managers to implement policies and programs to improve permanent employees' efficiency, commitment and honesty. Policy makers and political actors must work toward a stable political environment in MIEs. The policy must also focus on at least minimizing corruption.

Originality/value

The study shows the contributions of employee tenure security, political instability and corruption to the performance of MIE firms. It documents sector and ownership effects in the factors influencing firm performance.
Influence of the relationship between logistics outsourcing partners on logistics performance: focusing on logistics management in crisis situations
Authors: Lee Changjoon , Ha Young-Kyou
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This study aims to empirically analyze how the quality of alternatives influences the commitment level in the relationships between companies in supply chains. It also studies how this ultimately influences the associated satisfaction level and logistics performance.

Design/methodology/approach

For this purpose, the authors adopted an extended investment model based on interdependence theory. The authors explored the relationships between logistics outsourcing partners based on the components of the investment model. To examine the correlations between variables, the authors surveyed workers in domestic supply chain–related departments and used a total of 300 valid questionnaires for statistical analysis. The hypotheses were verified through structural equation modeling using SPSS 18.0 and AMOS 18.0.

Findings

The quality of alternatives had a positive influence on the commitment level. Additionally, the commitment level had a positive influence on the satisfaction level but did not have a significant influence on logistics performance. Finally, the satisfaction level exhibited a proportional relationship with logistics performance.

Research limitations/implications

First, this study examined the effects of the relationships between supply chain parties and psychological factors on logistics outsourcing. Second, this study applied the investment model to a logistics outsourcing-related topic. Finally, under the COVID-19 and the trade war, this study is significant as it shows that the existing commonly accepted hypotheses can be overturned.

Originality/value

This study differs from other studies in that it applied the investment model to a logistics outsourcing-related topic.
Being a woman in a “man’s work”: effects of gender roles on occupational commitment and life satisfaction of women
Authors: Çetin Mehmet , Şevik Ümit , Kökalan Özgür
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Based on the role congruity theory (RCT), this study aims to determine the effects of gender roles on life satisfaction and occupational commitment levels of female employees working in law enforcement.

Design/methodology/approach

Hypotheses were tested through a series of hierarchical regression analyses on the data collected from 394 female respondents who are having their first year in law enforcement.

Findings

Both male and female gender roles were positively related to the life satisfaction levels of women working in law enforcement. Female gender role was also positively linked to higher levels of occupational commitment. The link between male gender role and occupational commitment was nonlinear; therefore, the positive relationship between the variables turns into a negative one for higher levels of male gender role.

Originality/value

This study furthers the understanding of RCT and its implications regarding how gender roles link to work-related outcomes, especially for women working in a male-dominated work context.
Leaf litter presence in the non‐growing season prolongs plant legacy effects on soil fungal communities and succeeding plant growth
Authors: He Yifan , Jia Bingbing , Wei Chunqiang , Fan Fengyan , Wilschut Rutger A. , Lu Xinmin
Published: June 2023

Soil microbes can profoundly affect species coexistence and alien plant invasion via plant–soil feedbacks (PSFs). Theoretically, plants can modify soil biotic communities (e.g. fungal and bacterial communities) sequentially via rhizo‐inputs in the growing season and via litter decomposition in the non‐growing season, and in this way affect the performance of plant individuals that establish in the same soil in the following growing season. However, how plants affect soil microbes via sequential rhizosphere and litter inputs and how these soil microbial legacies feedback to subsequent plants remains unclear.

Here, we first explored the sequential effects of living individuals and their leaf litter on soil fungal communities, using 42 common alien and native species in China, and then estimated their PSF effects on three common test species.

Our results show that living plants growing in field soil developed distinct rhizosphere fungal communities within one season. After the removal of conditioning plants, the fungal communities in these conditioned soils changed more dramatically in the absence than in the presence of leaf litter, suggesting that leaf litter inputs prolonged the species‐specific legacies that conspecific living individuals exerted in the soil. Moreover, leaf litter induced general negative effects on all test species in the second growing season. Conditioning plant origin (native vs. alien) and life cycle (annual vs. perennial), respectively, had a slight or no impact on fungal community composition, and conditioning plant origin did not affect PSF responses of the test species.

Synthesis: These findings show that leaf litter prolongs soil fungal legacies of conspecific living individuals, which can lead to carryover effects on heterospecific plant growth in the next season. Our findings highlight the importance of leaf litter for plant–soil interactions and thereby stress the potential importance of plant litter as a driver of plant community dynamics.
Distribution, causal agents, and infection dynamic of emerging ink disease of sweet chestnut in Southern Switzerland
Authors: Prospero Simone , Heinz Malve , Augustiny Eva , Chen Ying‐Yu , Engelbrecht Juanita , Fonti Marina , Hoste Aliona , Ruffner Beat , Sigrist Romina , van den Berg Noelani , Fonti Patrick
Published: June 2023

Emerging diseases caused by both native and exotic pathogens represent a main threat to forest ecosystems worldwide. The two invasive soilborne pathogens Phytophthora cinnamomi and Phytophthora × cambivora are the causal agents of ink disease, which has been threatening Castanea sativa in Europe for several centuries and seems to be re‐emerging in recent years. Here, we investigated the distribution, causal agents, and infection dynamics of ink disease in southern Switzerland. A total of 25 outbreaks were identified, 19 with only P. cinnamomi, 5 with only P. × cambivora, and 1 with both species. Dendrochronological analyses showed that the disease emerged in the last 20–30 years. Infected trees either died rapidly within 5–15 years post‐infection or showed a prolonged state of general decline until death. Based on a generalized linear model, the local risk of occurrence of ink disease was increased by an S‐SE aspect of the chestnut stand, the presence of a pure chestnut stand, management activities, the proximity of roads and buildings, and increasing annual mean temperature and precipitation. The genetic structure of the local P. cinnamomi population suggests independent introductions and local spread of the pathogen.
Informing a home time measure reflective of quality of life: A data driven investigation of time frames and settings of health care utilization
Authors: Dennis Paul A. , Stechuchak Karen M. , Van Houtven Courtney H. , Decosimo Kasey , Coffman Cynthia J. , Grubber Janet M. , Lindquist Jennifer H. , Sperber Nina R. , Hastings S. Nicole , Shepherd‐Banigan Megan , Kaufman Brystana G. , Smith Valerie A.
Published: June 2023

Objective

To evaluate short‐ and long‐term measures of health care utilization—days in the emergency department (ED), inpatient (IP) care, and rehabilitation in a post‐acute care (PAC) facility—to understand how home time (i.e., days alive and not in an acute or PAC setting) corresponds to quality of life (QoL).

Data Sources

Survey data on community‐residing veterans combined with multipayer administrative data on health care utilization.

Study Design

VA or Medicare health care utilization, quantified as days of care received in the ED, IP, and PAC in the 6 and 18 months preceding survey completion, were used to predict seven QoL‐related measures collected during the survey. Elastic net machine learning was used to construct models, with resulting regression coefficients used to develop a weighted utilization variable. This was then compared with an unweighted count of days with any utilization.

Principal Findings

In the short term (6 months), PAC utilization emerged as the most salient predictor of decreased QoL, whereas no setting predominated in the long term (18 months). Results varied by outcome and time frame, with some protective effects observed. In the 6‐month time frame, each weighted day of utilization was associated with a greater likelihood of activity of daily living deficits (0.5%, 95% CI: 0.1%–0.9%), as was the case with each unweighted day of utilization (0.6%, 95% CI: 0.3%–1.0%). The same was true in the 18‐month time frame (for both weighted and unweighted, 0.1%, 95% CI: 0.0%–0.3%). Days of utilization were also significantly associated with greater rates of instrumental ADL deficits and fair/poor health, albeit not consistently across all models. Neither measure outperformed the other in direct comparisons.

Conclusions

These results can provide guidance on how to measure home time using multipayer administrative data. While no setting predominated in the long term, all settings were significant predictors of QoL measures.
Chemical identification and optimization of the 4‐aminophenol colorimetric test for the differentiation between hemp‐type and marijuana‐type cannabis plant samples
Authors: dos Santos Maíra Kerpel , Acosta Alexander , Capote Ryan , Tabassam Bakhtawar , Ley James , Quirke Martin , Almirall José
Published: June 2023

The 4‐ Aminophenol (4‐AP) colorimetric test is a fast, easy‐to‐use, and cost‐effective presumptive assay of cannabis plant material producing different chromophores with THC‐rich cannabis (blue color) and with CBD‐rich cannabis (pink color). The main drawback of the 4‐AP test is a brief observation window where the color rapidly changes to black, limiting the utility of the test. We now report for the first time, the identification of the product chromophores between 4‐AP and CBD/THC as well as propose an explanation and a solution for the color degradation of the chromophores. The identification of the chromophores is provided by spectroscopic (UV–Vis), chromatography, and mass spectrometry (TLC and LC‐QToF‐MS). Oxidation of excess 4‐AP (Reagent A) in the presence of NaOH (Reagent B) produces the black color observed for the previously reported 4‐AP tests and reported in the literature. The adjustment of reactants concentrations and volumes of 4‐AP:THC/CBD to a 1:1 ratio significantly reduces the black oxidation by‐product and increases the observation window up to 2 h instead of the previously reported 5–10 min. For the first time, mass spectrometry and chromatography confirmed that the reaction of THC and CBD with 4‐AP produced chromophores with m/z (M + H) = 420, consistent with proposed indophenol structures. The TLC method developed confirmed the separation between CBD and THC chromophores. The specificity of the test is also reported, showing false positive results for the presence of THC (blue color) for samples of thyme and oregano. LDA and SIMCA models showed that the optimized 4‐AP procedure performs better than the previously reported 4‐AP color test.
fastHaN: a fast and scalable program for constructing haplotype network for large‐sample sequences
Authors: Chi Lianjiang , Zhang Xiaolong , Xue Yongbiao , Chen Hua
Published: June 2023

Haplotype networks can be used to demonstrate the genealogical relationships of DNA sequences within species, and thus are widely applied in population genetics, molecular ecology, epidemiology and evolutionary studies. However, existing programs become computationally infeasible as the sample size increases. Here, we present fastHaN, an efficient and scalable program suitable for constructing haplotype networks for large samples. On a data set with the haplotype length of 30 kb, the Median Joining Network (MJN) algorithm implemented by fastHaN is 3000 times faster than PopART and 70 times faster than NETWORK in single‐threaded mode. The implementation of the Templeton‐Crandall‐Sing (TCS) algorithm is 100 times faster than PopART and 5800 times faster than the TCS software. Moreover, fastHaN also enables multi‐threaded mode with scalability. The source code is freely available on https://github.com/ChenHuaLab/fastHaN/. A web‐based version is also available on https://ngdc.cncb.ac.cn/haplotype/.
Dermatomyositis in a donor and receptor of allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: Auto‐ or alloimmune disease?
Authors: Moreno‐Vílchez Carlos , Jucglà Anna , Fornons‐Servent Rosa , Marcoval Joaquim , Figueras‐Nart Ignasi
Published: June 2023

We present the case of a 63‐year‐old woman who developed dermatomyositis after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Anti‐melanoma differentiation‐associated gene 5 (anti‐MDA5) antibodies were positive and pulmonary involvement was severe and progressive. In addition, we also report that the patient's sister and donor also developed dermatomyositis. She had positive anti‐PL7 antibodies and negative anti‐MDA5 antibodies. The occurrence of autoimmune diseases after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is infrequent and difficult to interpret due to the reconstitution of the immune system and the multifactorial origin of most of these diseases. To our knowledge, this is the first described case of a hematopoietic progenitor transplant donor and recipient developing dermatomyositis. These findings make us wonder whether the dermatomyositis in this case is due to a shared genetic predisposition or to the donor's disease developing in the recipient.
Strongman leadership and the limits to international cooperation
Authors: Higgott Richard , Reid Taelyn
Published: June 2023

Extensive institutional and policy change is necessary for the values of co‐operation and constructive dialogue in international relations to be restored in the current context of the declining world order. But that alone is not sufficient. We also need behavioural changes in the world's top leaders. Hypermasculine and hubristic performance in strongman leader behaviour have consequences for stable world order. While there is robust research on corporate leadership, similar research focusing on the personal socio‐psychological agency of strongman leaders in international relations is in its infancy. This paper uses the psychoanalytic frameworks: of narcissism and hubris syndrome to focus on the styles and practices of strongman leadership in international relations. The cognitive behavioural practices of this kind of leadership on co‐operation and dialogue reflect a set of gender‐performative, hypermasculine practices. While this is not an exercise in feminist scholarship, it is our analytical and not very subtle normative and prescriptive conclusion that any reform of international co‐operation will be greatly limited without a greater gendered understanding and practice of power, if we are to combat the all too easily condoned rebarbative behaviour of strongman leaders in international relations.
Accuracy of physician gestalt in prediction of significant abdominal and pelvic injury in adult blunt trauma patients
Authors: Rodriguez Nicole M. , Mower William R. , Raja Ali S. , Gupta Malkeet , Montoy Juan Carlos , Parry Blair , Chan Virginia , Wong Angela H. K. , Wilcox James , Quiñones Alexandra , Rodriguez Robert M.
Published: June 2023

Objective

Focusing on potential missed injury rates and sensitivity of low‐risk of injury predictions, we sought to evaluate the accuracy of physician gestalt in predicting clinically significant injury (CSI) in the abdomen and pelvis among blunt trauma patients presenting to the emergency department (ED).

Methods

We collected gestalt data on physicians caring for adult blunt trauma patients who received abdominal/pelvic computed tomography (CT) at three Level I and one Level II trauma centers. The primary outcome of CSI was defined as injury on abdominal/pelvic CT requiring hospitalization or intervention. Physicians evaluating trauma patients estimated the likelihood of CSI prior to abdominal/pelvic CT review (response choices: <2%, 2%–10%, 11%–20%, 21%–40%, >40%). We evaluated potential missed injury rates (prevalence of CSI) and sensitivity for prediction categories, as well as calibration and area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve for overall physician gestalt.

Results

Of 2030 patients, 402 (20%) had an injury on abdominal/pelvic CT and 270 (13%) had CSI. The <2% risk of CSI gestalt cutoff had a potential missed injury rate of 5.6% and a sensitivity of 95.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] 91.7%–97.3%). The 0%–10% cutoff of CSI gestalt had a potential missed injury rate of 6.3% (95% CI, 5.0%–7.9%) and a sensitivity of 75.2% (95% CI 69.5%–80.1%). With an overall AUROC of 0.699 (95% CI 0.679–0.719), physician gestalt was moderately accurate and calibrated for the midranges of predicted risk but poorly calibrated at the extremes.

Conclusions

Physician gestalt for the prediction of adult abdominal and pelvic CSI is moderately accurate and calibrated. However, the potential missed CSI rate and low sensitivity of the low perceived risk of injury cutoffs indicate that gestalt by itself is insufficient to direct selective abdominal/pelvic CT use in adult blunt trauma patient evaluation.
Natural allelic variation modifies acute ethanol response phenotypes in wild strains of C. elegans
Authors: van Wijk Marijke H. , Davies Andrew G. , Sterken Mark G. , Mathies Laura D. , Quamme Elizabeth C. , Blackwell GinaMari G. , Riksen Joost A. G. , Kammenga Jan E. , Bettinger Jill C.
Published: June 2023

Background

Genetic variation contributes to the likelihood that an individual will develop an alcohol use disorder (AUD). Traditional laboratory studies in animal models have elucidated the molecular pharmacology of ethanol, but laboratory‐derived genetic manipulations rarely model the naturally occurring genetic variation observed in wild populations. Rather, these manipulations are biased toward identifying genes of central importance in the phenotypes. Because changes in such genes can confer selective disadvantages, they are not ideal candidates for carrying AUD risk alleles in humans. We sought to exploit Caenorhabditis elegans to identify allelic variation existing in the wild that modulates ethanol response behaviors.

Methods

We tested the acute ethanol responses of four strains recently isolated from the wild (JU1511, JU1926, JU1931, and JU1941) and 41 multiparental recombinant inbred lines (mpRILs) derived from them. We assessed locomotion at 10, 30, and 50 min on low and high ethanol concentrations. We performed principal component analyses (PCA) on the different phenotypes, tested for transgressive behavior, calculated heritability, and determined the correlations between behavioral responses.

Results

We observed a range of responses to ethanol across the strains. We detected a low‐concentration locomotor activation effect in some of the mpRILs not seen in the laboratory wild‐type strain. PCA showed different ethanol response behaviors to be independent. We observed transgressive behavior for many of the measured phenotypes and found that multiple behaviors were uncorrelated. The average broad‐sense heritability for all phenotypes was 23.2%.

Conclusions

Genetic variation significantly affects multiple acute ethanol response behaviors, many of which are independent of one another. This suggests that the genetic variation captured by these strains likely affects multiple biological mechanisms through which ethanol acts. Further study of these strains may allow these distinct mechanisms to be identified.
Effect of ultrasonic agitation on marginal adaptation, intratubular penetration and bonding strength of calcium‐silicate‐based endodontic sealers: A laboratory study
Authors: Carneiro V. F. , Alcalde M. P. , do Vale M. S. , Vivan R. R. , Duarte M. A. H. , Vasconcelos B. C.
Published: June 2023

The effect of ultrasonic activation (UA) on marginal adaptation, intratubular penetration and bond strength provided by three calcium silicate‐based sealers was evaluated. Ninety‐six distobuccal root canals of maxillary molars were randomly divided into 8 groups (n = 12) according to the sealer and UA application: EndoSequence BC sealer (ESBC), Sealer Plus BC (SPBC) and Bio‐C Sealer (BCS), using AH Plus (AH) as a control group. The specimens were sectioned at 2, 4 and 6 mm from the apex. The data were statistically analysed using Kruskall–Wallis, Dunn, Mann–Whitney and chi‐squared tests. UA improved the marginal adaptation of ESBC (6 mm), SPBC (all levels), BCS (2/4 mm) and AH (4 mm) (p < 0.05); the bond strength of SBPC (2 mm) and BCS (6 mm) were also improved (p < 0.05). The UA of endodontic silicate‐based sealers improved the marginal adaptation in all levels and the bond strength of SBPC and BCS sealer.
Local and Contextual: John Stuart Mill's The Subjection of Women
Authors: Loizides Antis
Published: June 2023

The reception of John Stuart Mill's The Subjection of Women (1869) has changed considerably during the last half century. In the increasingly positive reading and re‐reading of the book, one criticism persists unchallenged: Mill's argument was universalistic. Not only did his analysis posit a uniform trajectory of both the subjection and the liberation of women, critics argue; also, they add, Mill failed to acknowledge the interrelation of identity and society by adhering to an abstract view of persons. This interpretation does not do justice to Subjection's text and context: Mill's legal prescriptions were not merely a symptom of a liberal theory of progress. He thought the unobstructed participation in the public life of the community the only way out of the vicious circle of habituation and oppression for women. This paper argues that his conclusion was grounded on ethological analyses of English national character, legal history, social institutions, and practices.
Mitigating invalid and mischievous survey responses: A registered report examining risk disparities between heterosexual and lesbian, gay, bisexual, or questioning youth
Authors: Cimpian Joseph R. , Timmer Jennifer D. , Kim Taek H.
Published: June 2023

In a Registered Report, the authors propose a new survey‐bias‐mitigation method—incorporating inverse probability weighting via boosted regression—to better understand lesbian, gay, bisexual, or questioning (LGBQ)‐heterosexual youth risk disparities. This method is tested using the 2019 US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention‐collected Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) national data, which contain 12,847 observations (ages 12–18 [M = 16, SD = 1.25]; 49.1% male [8.7% LGBQ] and 50.9% female [22.4% LGBQ]; nationally representative regarding race and ethnicity). Looking across 44 outcomes, the authors found that the YRBS contains responses that are potentially biased against LGBQ youth in systematic ways, inflating perceived risk for this group in some outcomes. This potential bias is more pronounced among reported males than among reported females, and it is more pronounced for low‐incidence outcomes. For example, the steroid‐use disparity estimate among reported males reduced by 67%, while the reduction in bullying victimization was small and not statistically significant. The authors discuss robustness of results, the new method, and data policy implications.
Sound as a producer of social spaces in museum exhibitions
Authors: Cortez Alcina
Published: June 2023

In recent years, multimodal exhibition practices in which sound appears as a fundamental element have exponentially increased in museums. This phenomenon is based on the recognition that sound is a noteworthy mode to elicit significant museum experiences. Among the various genres, those of sound art and ambiance distinctively convey the idea of social space. In these genres, the spatialization of sound emerges as an outstanding articulator of an idea of space as being socially built according to an understanding that largely transcends Cartesian and Euclidean models. In this study, I discuss the potentialities of sound to construct a space for museum exhibitions based on the idea of space as being socially constructed, as postulated by Lefebvre and Martina Low. The discussion will be supported by the analysis of the exhibitions The Disharmony of Spheres and Stranger than Kindness: The Nick Cave Exhibition.
Scanning holotypes from the Vertebrate Paleontology Collection at the Museu Paraense Emilio Goeldi (Brazil): Tools for research and science outreach
Authors: Kerber Leonardo , Moraes–Santos Heloísa , Ramos Maria Inês Feijó
Published: June 2023

The scanning of paleontological collections is increasingly important for morphological studies and science outreach. In addition to ensuring data sharing, digitization contributes to preserving morphological information in case of damage to the original specimens. In this communication, we aim to report digital versions of the holotypes from the Vertebrate Paleontology Collection at the Museu Paraense Emilio Goeldi, Brazil. For this purpose, eighteen holotypes of Early/Middle Miocene Teleostei from Pirabas Formation, northern Brazil, were scanned using microtomography, and cybertypes were proposed. The CT‐Scan data were stored in a virtual repository, can be freely accessed, and are available for future studies on the morphology of these specimens. Furthermore, these specimens are tiny and fragile, and digital versions can be an alternative to safely handling them. Finally, the digitization of important specimens, at least of holotypes, needs to be a standard practice in museum collections over the next years.
What kind of documents do curators produce? Contemporary cases from Estonia
Authors: Martínez Francisco
Published: June 2023

In this article, I study curating as a way of producing documents. By looking back retrospectively to the array of documents produced during my art projects and reviewing theoretical approaches relevant to the development of archival documentation, I will discuss how art documents can be constitutive of both knowledge and relations. Art documents help to account of and multiply the knowledge that is mobilized during the making of an exhibition, but they also have performative efficacy as connectors—contributing to reach different audiences, to involve diverse participants, and to bring together dissimilar things. Curation activities demand a proactive documentation and archiving since documents play a key role in consolidating the aesthetic value and relational potential of artworks. As a result, an important part of curation has to be dedicated to documentation.
Energy and spirit: Extraction, thermodynamics, and change
Authors: Crockett Clayton
Published: June 2023

This article suggests new ways to think about energy and thermodynamics beyond an extractive, fossil‐fuel model. The predominant economic model of the modern world has been driven by the extraction and exploitation of fossil fuels—first coal and then oil. These are powerful forces, although their development is more complicated than we might suspect. At the same time, they influence the new science of thermodynamics, which is tied to heat and heat engines that are fueled by carbon‐based inputs extracted from the earth. By attending to the work of Nicolas Georgescu‐Roegen, however, we can see how energy and thermodynamics can be linked to a different economic model that is not primarily extractive. And this opens up to new perspectives on energy and change, including one that views energy more explicitly in terms of spirit. We can think about energy as something that avoids the dichotomy of matter and spirit in a way such that it participates in both.