bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Natural killer cell immunosuppressive function requires CXCR3-dependent redistribution within lymphoid tissues
Authors: Ali Ayad , Canaday Laura M. , Feldman H. Alex , Cevik Hilal , Moran Michael T. , Rajaram Sanjeeth , Lakes Nora , Tuazon Jasmine A. , Seelamneni Harsha , Krishnamurthy Durga , Blass Eryn , Barouch Dan H. , Waggoner Stephen N.
Published: May 2021

Natural killer (NK) cell suppression of T cells is a key determinant of viral pathogenesis and vaccine efficacy. This process involves perforin-dependent elimination of activated CD4 T cells during the first three days of infection. Although this mechanism requires cell-cell contact, NK cells and T cells typically reside in different compartments of lymphoid tissues at steady state. Here, we show that NK-cell suppression of T cells is associated with a transient accumulation of NK cells within T cell-rich sites of the spleen during lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection. The chemokine receptor CXCR3 is required for relocation to T-cell zones and suppression of antiviral T cells. Accordingly, this NK-cell migration is mediated by type I interferon (IFN)-dependent promotion of CXCR3 ligand expression. In contrast, adenoviral vectors that weakly induce type I IFN and do not stimulate NK-cell inhibition of T cells also do not promote measurable redistribution of NK cells to T-cell zones. Provision of supplemental IFN could rescue NK-cell migration during adenoviral vector immunization. Thus, type I IFN and CXCR3 are critical for properly positioning NK cells to constrain antiviral T-cell responses. Development of strategies to curtail migration of NK cells between lymphoid compartments may enhance vaccine-elicited immune responses.
Neuronal extracellular vesicles mediate BDNF-dependent dendritogenesis and synapse maturation via microRNAs
Authors: Antoniou Anna , Auderset Loic , Kaurani Lalit , Fischer Andre , Schneider Anja
Published: May 2021

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as novel regulators of several biological processes, in part via the transfer of EV content such as microRNA; small non-coding RNAs that regulate protein production, between cells. However, how neuronal EVs contribute to trans-neuronal signaling is largely elusive. We examined the role of neuron-derived EVs in neuronal morphogenesis downstream signaling induced by brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). We found that EVs perpetuated BDNF induction of dendrite complexity and synapse maturation in naïve hippocampal neurons, which was dependent on the activity of three microRNAs, miR-132-5p, miR-218 and miR-690. These microRNAs were up-regulated in BDNF-stimulated EVs. Moreover, supplementation with BDNF-EVs rescued the block of BDNF-induced phenotypes upon inhibition of miRNA activity. Our data therefore suggest a major role for EVs in BDNF-dependent morphogenesis, and provide new evidence for the functional transfer of microRNAs between neurons. This is not only an important step towards understanding the function of EVs in inter-neuronal signaling, but is also relevant for many disorders characterized by decreased BDNF signaling, such as major depression or cognitive impairment.
Myeloid-mediated IL-1R signaling in immuno-responsive Thy-1 negative fibroblasts is critical for pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: Abebayehu Daniel , Yeh Chiuan-Ren , Bingham Grace C. , Ewald Sarah , Barker Thomas H.
Published: May 2021

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a fatal disease with poorly defined pathogenic mechanism and no cure. It is characterized by chronic inflammation, myofibroblast accumulation, and aberrant extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. Fibrosis progression is considered to occur due to sustained aberrant fibroblast mechanotransduction: sensing “normal” soft tissue as stiff scarred tissue leading to the overproduction of ECM that then stiffens the microenvironment, thus reinforcing a progressive, stiffness-dependent fibrotic program. How chronic inflammation leads to aberrant mechanotransduction is not well understood. Thy-1 is a regulator of mechanotransduction in fibroblasts. Thy-1 expression is lost in fibroblastic foci, the active sites of fibrosis, although the mechanism of this loss is unknown. We demonstrate that in IPF tissue, the αSMA+ fibroproliferative foci express the Type 1 IL-1 receptor (IL-1RI) and IL-1RI-deficient mice did not develop bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Using ASC speck formation during inflammasome activation as a marker of mature IL-1β release, we identified the immune compartment as the source of active IL-1β during bleomycin-induced fibrosis. Furthermore, incubating mouse lung fibroblasts on soft (2kPa) hydrogels with IL-1β was sufficient to reduce Thy-1 surface expression and induce αvβ3 integrin activation. As expected, Thy-1 negative fibroblasts exhibited elevated αvβ3 integrin activation but surprisingly, Thy-1 negative fibroblasts also expressed higher levels of IL-1RI, potentially linking the immuno-responsive and mechanosensitivity of this fibroblast subpopulation. Leveraging the non-resolving fibrosis that occurs in Thy-1-/- mice, we observed that crossing Thy-1-/- mice onto the IL-1RI-/- background was sufficient to reduce fibrosis. Together, these data indicate that Thy-1 negative fibroblasts are an immuno-responsive subpopulation that also display altered mechanotransduction, potentially serving as the link between the noted inflammation and aberrant mechanotransduction observed in IPF.
OsbZIP47 an integrator for meristem regulators during rice plant growth and development
Authors: Prakash Sandhan , Rai Rashmi , Peesapati Raghavaram , Vijayraghavan Usha
Published: May 2021

Stem cell homeostasis by the WUS-CLV negative feedback loop is generally conserved across species; however, its links with other meristem regulators may have species-specific distinctions, rice being an example. We characterize rice OsbZIP47 for vegetative and inflorescence phenotypes in knockdown (OsbZIP47KD) transgenics and uncover its role in meristem maintenance and developmental progression. The shoot apical meristem (SAM) size in five day old OsbZIP47KD seedlings, was reduced as compared to the wild-type (WT). Whereas SAM in older twenty-five-day OsbZIP47KD plants was larger with increased size for L1 and underlying cells. We tested protein interactions of OsbZIP47 with other transcription factors and found partnerships with OsMADS1, RFL, and OSH1. Results from meta-analysis of deregulated panicle transcriptome datasets, in OsbZIP47KD, OsMADS1KD and RFLKD knockdown transgenics, and OSH1 genome-wide binding sites divulge potential targets coregulated by OsbZIP47, OsMADS1, OSH1 and RFL. Transcript analysis in OsbZIP47KD SAM and panicles showed abnormal gene expression for CLAVATA peptide-like signaling FON2-LIKE CLE PROTEIN1 (FCP1), FLORAL ORGAN NUMBER 2 (FON2), and hormone pathway: cytokinin (CK) Isopenteyltransferase2 (OsIPT2), Isopenteyltransferase8 (OsIPT8); auxin biosynthesis OsYUCCA6, OsYUCCA7; gibberellic acid (GA) biosynthesis GA20Ox1, GA20Ox4 and brassinosteriod biosynthesis CYP734A4 genes. The effects on ABBERANT PANICLE ORGANIZATION1 (APO1), OsMADS16, and DROOPING LEAF relate to second and third whorl organ phenotypes in OsbZIP47KD florets. Further, we demonstrate that OsbZIP47 redox status affects its DNA binding to cis elements in the FCP1 locus. Taken together, we provide insights on unique functional roles for OsbZIP47 in rice shoot meristem maintenance, its progression through inflorescence branching and floret development.

One sentence summary

OsbZIP47 regulates rice shoot meristem size, panicle and floret development in concert with other meristem regulators such as OsMADS1, RFL and OSH1.
Circulating CD138 (syndecan-1) enhances APRIL-mediated autoreactive B cell survival and differentiation in MRL/Lpr mice
Authors: Liu Lunhua , Akkoyunlu Mustafa
Published: May 2021

High levels of serum CD138, a heparan sulfate-bearing proteoglycan, correlates with increased disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. Mechanisms responsible for serum CD138 production and its biological function in SLE disease remain poorly understood. In this study, corroborating patient data, we detected an increase in serum CD138 in MRL/Lpr mice parallel to disease activity. Although TCRβ+CD138+ T cells expand in MRL/Lpr mice as the disease progresses, surprisingly, TCRβ+CD138- cells were the primary source of circulating CD138 as the transfer of TCRβ+CD138- cells to young MRL/Lpr mice, but not TCRβ+CD138+ cells, resulted with higher serum CD138 in the recipient mice. We found that elevated trypsin, expressed by TCRβ+CD138- cells, was able to cleave CD138 from T cells. Moreover, suggesting the contribution of cleaved CD138 to the increase in blood CD138, trypsin inhibitors ‘defined trypsin inhibitor’ (DTI) or leupeptin increased CD138 expression on TCRβ+CD138- cells. Furthermore, soluble CD138 was able to bind ‘a proliferation inducing ligand’ (APRIL) and enhanced APRIL-mediated plasma cell generation and autoreactive antibody production through the phosphorylation of extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in B cells. APRIL receptor, ‘transmembrane activator, calcium modulator, and cyclophilin ligand interactor’ (TACI) was involved in the enhancement of APRIL activity by CD138, as the synergistic effect of APRIL and CD138 was ablated on TACI deficient B cells. These findings indicate a regulatory role for soluble CD138 in B cell differentiation and autoreactive antibody secretion in SLE disease.
Food and nutrition education in Australian primary schools: parents' views
Authors: Aydin Gozde , Booth Alison , Margerison Claire , Worsley Anthony
Published: May 2021

Purpose

Primary schools provide continuous, intensive contact with large numbers of children starting from a young age, thus providing an appropriate setting for the promotion of healthy eating through food and nutrition education (FNE). This qualitative study explores the views of Australian primary school parents about FNE in primary schools.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 19 parents of primary school children from Victoria participated in semi-structured interviews. Audio recordings were transcribed and underwent thematic analysis using Nvivo. A total of three themes emerged: FNE topics currently taught in primary schools, essential food skills and knowledge for primary school children and the importance of FNE.

Findings

Most parents thought that FNE is as important as the core subjects of primary school. Parental support for FNE, which is delivered over a prolonged period, and expanded by hands-on content such as cooking and gardening classes was evident. Parents viewed these classes as likely to improve children's food-related knowledge and healthy eating behaviours. Parents expressed appreciation for schools' emphasis on food sustainability and its alignment with school policies and practices. Parents were keen to see more sustainability included in the curriculum.

Practical implications

These results may have implications for curriculum developers and schools, as the findings can assist the design of food and nutrition curricula for primary schools which can empower children as well as their families to make better food-related decisions.

Originality/value

Australian parents' views of FNE in primary schools have been under examined.
Tribological and ageing behavior of Az91D magnesium alloy fortified with nano lanthanum and nanoceria by stir casting for aviation application
Authors: Fahad Mohammed , B. Bavanish
Published: May 2021

Purpose

The aviation field requires a material with the ability to withstand severe environmental conditions. The purpose of this paper is to provide higher wear resistance and improve the lifetime of aircraft. Hence, it is vital to enhance the wear resistance and strength of the material.

Design/methodology/approach

In this investigation, the Az91D magnesium alloy was reinforced with lanthanum (La2O3) and cerium oxide (CeO2) nanoparticles by stir casting and heat treatment process and the tribological and mechanical properties were analyzed.

Findings

The results showed the Az91D/CeO2 composite exhibited higher density (1.96 g/cm3) and lower porosity (1.01%) compared to other materials due to the diffusion of CeO2 nanoparticles in between the atoms of Az91D alloy. The hardness of Az91D/ CeO2 & Az91D/ La2O3 was improved by 38% and 34%, respectively, compared to Az91D alloy owing to the reinforcing effect of hard nanoparticles. Further, the inclusion of nanoparticles decreased the mass loss and showed lower wear rate compared to the Az91D alloy due to the pinning effect of nanoparticles. In addition, the friction coefficient was observed in the order of Az91D > Az91D/ La2O3 > Az91D/ CeO2. Moreover, the heat treatment displayed positive results on the properties of all the materials.

Originality/value

This work is original as the combination of cerium oxide nanoparticles with Az91D magnesium alloy is not tried by earlier investigators. Further, the comparative performance of both lanthanum and cerium oxide nanoparticles on the tribological and mechanical behavior of Az91D alloy has been analyzed for aviation application. This study will provide new information to the scientific world to increase the lifetime of aviation structures.
The connectedness between Sukuk and conventional bond markets and the implications for investors
Authors: Samitas Aristeidis , Papathanasiou Spyros , Koutsokostas Drosos
Published: May 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the connectedness across a variety of Sukuk and conventional bond indices and the implications for optimal asset allocation for the period January 1, 2010–April 30, 2020.

Design/methodology/approach

The data set consists of five major Sukuk (Dow Jones Sukuk, Thompson Reuters BPA Malaysia Sukuk, Indonesia Government Sukuk, S&P MENA Sukuk and Tadawul Sukuk and Bonds Index) and five conventional bond indexes, one for developed (USA) and four for emerging markets (Malaysia, Indonesia, Africa and Qatar). This study investigates the connectedness and volatility spillover effects across the aforementioned indices, by following the Diebold and Yilmaz (2012) approach, based on the time-varying parameter vector autoregressive (TVP-VAR) model. In addition, this paper provides optimal hedge ratios and portfolio weights for investors.

Findings

The empirical results show that Sukuk and conventional bond markets are highly integrated and that total connectedness exhibits sensitivity to exogenous shocks. The Dow Jones and the Malaysian Sukuk indices are the primary shock transmitters to other markets. However, the weak volatility spillovers between the Dow Jones and conventional bonds suggest that opportunities for optimal asset allocation may in fact exist. The highest (lowest) hedging effectiveness can be achieved by taking a short position in Malaysian (Qatarian) bonds.

Originality/value

To the best of the knowledge, this is the largest sample taken into account to investigate the connectedness between Sukuk and conventional bonds.
The impact of message framing and perceived consumer effectiveness on green ads
Authors: Ekebas-Turedi Ceren , Kordrostami Elika , Benoit Ilgım Dara
Published: May 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of ad message framing (self-benefit vs other-benefit messages) and perceived consumer effectiveness (PCE) on green advertising effectiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

The conceptual framework was borrowed from self-congruity theory and was tested with two between-subject design experiments; PCE was measured in the first study and manipulated in the second.

Findings

The findings show that both measured and primed PCE (low vs high) moderate the impact of a green ad’s message framing on consumer responses (i.e. attitude toward the brand and purchase intention). Specifically, an other-benefit message is more effective when consumers perceive that their individual actions can positively influence environmental issues (high PCE). In contrast, a self-benefit message is more effective when consumers perceive that their individual actions might not be enough to influence environmental issues (low PCE). This research also shows that the influence of message framing on consumer responses is mediated by the perceived social responsibility of the company.

Practical implications

This paper offers an outline for designing effective ad campaigns for green products. Managers can determine or manipulate the PCE level of their target market and frame the message in their ad campaign accordingly, which will positively drive perceived social responsibility and, in turn, the ad campaign’s effectiveness.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to both the green advertising and self-congruity literature by showing the moderating effect of PCE on the effectiveness of message framing in green advertising.
Travel distance to flu and COVID-19 vaccination sites for people with disabilities and age 65 and older, Chicago metropolitan area
Authors: Guhlincozzi Aida Rosalia , Lotfata Aynaz
Published: May 2021

Purpose

Having easy access to the flu and COVID-19 vaccination sites may be important for controlling the spread of the infection. Chicago implemented a broad strategy of opening COVID-19 vaccination locations across the city in a variety of locations.

Design/methodology/approach

We defined access as having vaccinations within one mile. Data came from the American Community Survey (ACS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Social Vulnerability Index (SVI), Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Chicago Data Portal. We calculated the street-network distance from the population-weighted centroid of census tracts to the nearest vaccination sites before, during and post COVID-19 pandemic. We compared the demographics of census tracts within one mile to those greater than one mile during each period.

Findings

People age 65 and above and with disabilities saw significant decreases in flu vaccination site access to locations within one mile of their census tract in 2020–2021 compared to 2018–2019. The COVID-19 vaccination sites mimic these flu vaccination site patterns, suggesting a severe lack of geographic access for a group likely to experience limited mobility. Results combining instances of both flu and COVID-19 vaccination sites suggest that making COVID-19 vaccination sites available at flu shot site locations would significantly reduce the number of people with limited mobility lacking geographic access.

Originality/value

Policymakers should explore how this expanded network of vaccination locations could facilitate permanent improvements to access to vaccination sites for people with disabilities.
Repairing trust within teams after organizational change
Authors: Kähkönen Tiina
Published: May 2021

Purpose

This study examines trust-repair practices at the team level after organizational change.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative research approach was adopted, and data were collected from key informants through focus group discussions and interviews. The data analysis involved thematic coding and followed the structured procedure.

Findings

This study found that after organization change, trust can be repaired at the team level by improving team leaders' information sharing and knowledge in change management, and by enforcing communication, collaboration and ethical behaviour among team members.

Research limitations/implications

This paper makes three key contributions by (1) identifying trust violations in teams, (2) proposing trust-repair mechanisms and (3) extending the understanding of trust-repair and preservation at the team level following organizational change.

Practical implications

This paper provides practical information from a real-work context and can improve managers' understanding of active trust-repair.

Originality/value

This paper outlines active trust-repair mechanisms in an organizational change context and expands the current theory by presenting novel insights into organizational trust-repair at the team level. This study contributes to trust literature by proposing promising avenues for future trust-repair research.
Prognostic value of ferroptosis‐related genes in patients with lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Zhu Guangsheng , Huang Hua , Xu Songlin , Shi Ruifeng , Gao Zhouyong , Lei Xi , Zhu Shuai , Zhou Ning , Zu Lingling , Mello Ramon A. De , Chen Jun , Xu Song
Published: May 2021

Background

The prevalence of lung adenocarcinomas (LUADs) has dramatically increased in recent decades. Ferroptosis is a process of iron‐dependent regulatory cell death. It is still unclear whether the expression of ferroptosis‐related genes (FRGs) is involved in the pathogenesis and survival of patients with LUAD.

Methods

We retrieved LUAD data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases and used LASSO Cox regression analysis to select the gene signature suitable for modeling. The risk score was calculated according to the model, and the patients were divided into high‐ and low‐risk groups according to the median risk score. Functional enrichment analysis was carried out by this group, and a model for predicting clinical prognosis was established by combining this group with clinical factors.

Results

Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and single‐sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) analysis showed that there were several immune‐related pathways and immune infiltration differences between high‐ and low‐risk groups. A prognostic model integrating 10 ferroptosis‐related genes (FR‐DEGs), and clinical factors were constructed and validated in an external cohort.

Conclusions

The FR‐DEGs signature was related to immune infiltration, and a model based on FR‐DEGs and clinical factors was established to predict the prognosis of patients with LUAD.
Exploring bias in restraint use: Four strategies to mitigate bias in care of the agitated patient in the emergency department
Authors: Jin Rowen O. , Anaebere Tiffany C. , Haar Rohini J.
Published: May 2021

Agitation is a routine and increasingly common presentation to the emergency department (ED). In the wake of a national examination into racism and police use of force, this article aims to extend that reflection into emergency medicine in the management of patients presenting with acute agitation. Through an overview of ethicolegal considerations in restraint use and current literature on implicit bias in medicine, this article provides a discussion on how bias may impact care of the agitated patient. Concrete strategies are offered at an individual, institutional, and health system level to help mitigate bias and improve care.
Neural recruitment by ephaptic coupling in epilepsy
Authors: Shivacharan Rajat S. , Chiang Chia‐Chu , Wei Xile , Subramanian Muthumeenakshi , Couturier Nicholas H. , Pakalapati Nrupen , Durand Dominique M.
Published: May 2021

Objective

One of the challenges in treating patients with drug‐resistant epilepsy is that the mechanisms of seizures are unknown. Most current interventions are based on the assumption that epileptic activity recruits neurons and progresses by synaptic transmission. However, several experimental studies have shown that neural activity in rodent hippocampi can propagate independently of synaptic transmission. Recent studies suggest these waves are self‐propagating by electric field (ephaptic) coupling. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that neural recruitment during seizures can occur by electric field coupling.

Methods

4‐Aminopyridine was used in both in vivo and in vitro preparation to trigger seizures or epileptiform activity. A transection was made in the in vivo hippocampus and in vitro hippocampal and cortical slices to study whether the induced seizure activity can recruit neurons across the gap. A computational model was built to test whether ephaptic coupling alone can account for neural recruitment across the transection. The model prediction was further validated by in vitro experiments.

Results

Experimental results show that electric fields generated by seizure‐like activity in the hippocampus both in vitro and in vivo can recruit neurons locally and through a transection of the tissue. The computational model suggests that the neural recruitment across the transection is mediated by electric field coupling. With in vitro experiments, we show that a dielectric material can block the recruitment of epileptiform activity across a transection, and that the electric fields measured within the gap are similar to those predicted by model simulations. Furthermore, this nonsynaptic neural recruitment is also observed in cortical slices, suggesting that this effect is robust in brain tissue.

Significance

These results indicate that ephaptic coupling, a nonsynaptic mechanism, can underlie neural recruitment by a small electric field generated by seizure activity and could explain the low success rate of surgical transections in epilepsy patients.
Improved phenological escape can help temperate tree seedlings maintain demographic performance under climate change conditions
Authors: Lee Benjamin R. , Ibáñez Inés
Published: May 2021

Phenological escape, a strategy that deciduous understory plants use to access direct light in spring by leafing out before the canopy closes, plays an important role in shaping the recruitment of temperate tree seedlings. Previous studies have investigated how climate change will alter these dynamics for herbaceous species, but there is a knowledge gap related to how woody species such as tree seedlings will be affected. Here, we modeled temperate tree seedling leaf‐out phenology and canopy close phenology in response to environmental drivers and used climate change projections to forecast changes to the duration of spring phenological escape. We then used these predictions to estimate changes in annual carbon assimilation while accounting for reduced carbon assimilation rates associated with hotter and drier summers. Lastly, we applied these estimates to previously published models of seedling growth and survival to investigate the net effect on seedling demographic performance. Our models predict that temperate tree seedlings will experience improved phenological escape and, therefore, increased spring carbon assimilation under climate change conditions. However, increased summer respiration costs will offset the gains in spring under extreme climate change leading to a net loss in annual carbon assimilation and demographic performance. Furthermore, we found that annual carbon assimilation predictions depend strongly on the species of nearby canopy tree that seedlings were planted near, with all seedlings projected to assimilate less carbon (and therefore experience worse demographic performance) when planted near Quercus rubra canopy trees as opposed to Acer saccharum canopy trees. We conclude that changes to spring phenological escape will have important effects on how tree seedling recruitment is affected by climate change, with the magnitude of these effects dependent upon climate change severity and biological interactions with neighboring adults. Thus, future studies of temperate forest recruitment should account for phenological escape dynamics in their models.
Making black lives don't matter via organizational strategies to avoid the racial debate: The military police in Brazil
Authors: Alcadipani Rafael , Pacheco Lopes da Silva Dennis , Bueno Samira , Sergio de Lima Renato
Published: May 2021

The #BlackLivesMatter movement has raised awareness of the killing of black people by law enforcement agents in the United States specifically and racism in general in different parts of the world. Academics in Management and Organizations have discussed various dimensions of racial inequalities and differences in organizations. However, little discussion has taken place regarding the actual practices deployed by organizations to avoid the racial debate. Based on our experience of doing research into the police in Latin America and engaging in the public debate to stop police killing and the killing of police officers, we discuss here the strategies deployed by the military police forces in Brazil to make black lives don't matter by avoiding discussing the police's role in Brazilian racism. We argue that these strategies make the police to fail to recognize their role in the killing of black people in the country. Despite the Brazilian military police being an extreme case, we suggest organizations maintain more open or more overt strategies that make black lives don't matter and call academics to research and denounce these strategies.
Collective pause: improving staff performance in acute medicine through a brief mindfulness‐based group programme
Authors: Kang Matthew , Gibbs Harry , Selzer Rob , Hudaib Abdul‐Rahman , Aung Ar Kar , Gibbs Jo
Published: May 2021

Background

Hospital wards are a complex and dynamic environment that rely on optimal staff performance. However, there is little research evaluating group interventions to improve staff attention and teamwork.

Aims

To evaluate whether a regular, short and guided group mindfulness practice for staff in an acute general medicine team improves attention and teamwork.

Methods

A 10‐min programme comprising mindfulness exercises and techniques was delivered daily to a multidisciplinary general medicine team based in a tertiary hospital for 4 weeks. This was undertaken immediately prior to the team's interdisciplinary ward round. We used a mixed‐method design, with self‐rated surveys to measure mindfulness and staff perception of hospital safety culture, and a focus group to understand participants' experiences. We estimated mean differences using Kruskal–Wallis tests across 10 time‐points and thematically analysed recorded transcripts.

Results

There was an increase in staff attention to the team meeting as measured by the decentering domain across time (P < 0.001). There was a trend to greater staff openness with a non‐significant increase in curiosity (P = 0.14).

We identified two overarching qualitative themes: feasibility of the programme and impact on staff and workplace. The programme was a calming circuit breaker to staff's day, which aided in feeling more connected to the group and subjectively better ward round experience. The logistics of the programme, including timing, and the facilitator developing trust with the participants, appear important in implementation.

Conclusion

A brief mindfulness‐based intervention delivered to a general medical team improves staff attention at a multidisciplinary team meeting and team functioning.
Epigenetic regulation of N6‐methyladenosine modifications in obesity
Authors: Sun Mingli , Zhang Xinan
Published: May 2021

Obesity is a serious health issue in the world and is related to a higher risk of suffering metabolic diseases. Understanding the molecular basis of obesity is critical to identify new targets to treat obesity and obesity‐associated metabolic diseases. N6‐methyladenosine (m6A) modification is the most common form of ribonucleic acid modification, which has attracted increasing interest of researchers in recent years, as it is reported that m6A has vital functions in diseases and everyday life activities. Recent studies showed that m6A modification was decreased in obese adipose tissue, and appeared to play a regulatory role in many obesity‐associated biological processes, including adipogenesis, lipid metabolism and insulin resistance. In this review, we discussed the emerging advances in m6A modification in obesity to provide a novel therapeutic strategy for fighting against obesity.
How do multimorbidity and lifestyle factors impact the perceived health of adults with intellectual disabilities?
Authors: Olsen M. I. , Halvorsen M. B. , Søndenaa E. , Langballe E. M. , Bautz‐Holter E. , Stensland E. , Tessem S. , Anke A.
Published: May 2021

Background

Adults with intellectual disability (ID) have poorer physical and perceived health than the general population. Knowledge of perceived health predictors is both limited and important for guiding the development of preventive actions. The aims of this study were to investigate (1) the associations between perceived health and demographics, degree of ID, physical health conditions, and weight and physical activity level and (2) lifestyle factors and multimorbidity as predictors for perceived health adjusted for age, gender, and level of ID.

Method

The North Health in Intellectual Disability study is a community based cross‐sectional survey. The POMONA‐15 health indicators were used. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses with poor versus good health as the dependent variable were applied.

Results

The sample included 214 adults with a mean age 36.1 (SD 13.8) years; 56% were men, and 27% reported perceiving their health as poor. In univariate analyses, there were significant associations between poor health ratings and female gender, lower motor function, number of physical health conditions and several indicators of levels of physical activity. In the final adjusted model, female gender [odds ratio (OR) 2.4, P < 0.05], level of ID (OR 0.65, P < 0.05), numbers of physical health conditions (OR 1.6, P < 0.001) and lower motor function (OR 1.5 P < 0.05) were significant explanatory variables for poor perceived health, with a tendency to independently impact failure to achieve 30 min of physical activity daily (OR 2.0, P = 0.07).

Conclusion

Adults with ID with female gender, reduced motor function and more physical health conditions are at increased risk of lower perceived health and should be given attention in health promoting interventions. A lack of physical activity tends to negatively influence perceived health.
THE INTENSIFYING INTERSECTION OF ETHICS, RELIGION, THEOLOGY, AND PEACE STUDIES
Authors: DuBois Heather M.
Published: May 2021

The intersection of ethics, religion, theology, and peace studies is intensifying through increasingly multi‐disciplinary, contextual, explicitly normative scholarship. This book discussion demonstrates this claim through its profiles of an introduction to Christian ethics by Ellen Ott Marshall, a case study of the School of the Americas Watch by Kyle B. T. Lambelet, a case study of the American Jewish Palestine solidarity movement by Atalia Omer, and a global, historical study of Christian ethics by Cecilia Lynch. Though their methods and subjects vary, these authors are collectively renewing a history of mutual enrichment between religious ethics and peace studies, employing theories of lived, ambivalent religion. To begin, this essay provides introductory remarks about the field of peace studies, highlighting the evolving involvement of religious actors. To conclude, it makes a plea for greater use of conflict theory and peace practice in religious ethics.
RELIGIOUS ETHICS AND EMPIRICAL ETHICS
Authors: Moret Ross
Published: May 2021

In recent decades, cognitive and behavioral scientists have learned a great deal about how people think and behave. On the most general level, there is a basic consensus that many judgments, including ethical judgments, are made by intuitive, even unconscious, impulses. This basic insight has opened the door to a wide variety of more particular studies that investigate how judgments are influenced by group identity, self‐conception, emotions, perceptions of risk, and many other factors. When these forms of research engage ethical issues, they are sometimes called empirical ethics. This essay argues that the field of religious ethics would benefit from a more robust engagement with empirical ethics than it has thus far undertaken. In doing so, it offers a brief account of how issues of moral psychology and moral anthropology have been treated in religious ethics, and it highlights ways that the scientific findings challenge some prevailing norms in religious ethics. It ends by suggesting avenues by which religious ethics research could productively engage empirical ethics.
Ultrasound‐guided transurethral urinary bladder biopsy using an endoscopic biopsy forceps in dogs: 27 cases (2016–2019)
Authors: Shimizu N. , Hamaide A. , Soliveres E. , Heimann M. , Noel S. , Bolen G.
Published: May 2021

Objectives

To describe an ultrasound‐guided transurethral bladder biopsy technique using endoscopic forceps and its results in dogs of different sizes with different lesion locations.

Materials and Methods

Medical records of dogs that underwent ultrasound‐guided transurethral bladder biopsy with endoscopic forceps were retrospectively reviewed. Patient signalment, lesion location, use of urinary catheter as a guide, outcome of the procedure and histopathology results were retrieved.

Results

Twenty‐seven dogs underwent this procedure. Biopsy samples were successfully obtained in 23 dogs. Insertion of the endoscopic forceps without a urinary catheter allowed the procedure to be performed in patients with a small urethral diameter without complication. The procedure was unsuccessful in dogs with a urethral diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the biopsy forceps (i.e. 1.8 mm), either due to small patient size or obstructive urethral lesion. All biopsy samples allowed histopathological diagnosis. No complications were reported after the procedure.

Clinical Significance

This non‐invasive biopsy technique should be considered in patients with bladder lesions in which histopathological diagnosis is needed, especially when endoscopic examination is not feasible. By use of the Doppler mode, biopsy retrieval was safe also when the lesion ​was highly vascularised.
Improving the dialogue between public health and ecosystem science on antimicrobial resistance
Authors: Iossa Graziella , White Piran C. L.
Published: May 2021

The concept of health has evolved markedly from a bio‐medical, mechanistic model to include an interdisciplinary perspective where human, animal and ecosystem health are integrated. One Health, EcoHealth and Planetary Health are examples of approaches to health advocating collaboration and interdisciplinarity at multiple levels. In practice, successful integration has been challenging and in particular, understanding of the ecosystem component of health lags behind the human and animal components. Antimicrobial resistance is an important threat to human health, which develops, is maintained and transmitted at the human–animal–environment interface. While the human and livestock components of resistance are well understood, this is not the case for the ecosystem component. This gap in knowledge leads to a poor representation of the environmental dimension of antimicrobial resistance in key policy documents and in interdisciplinary work around this issue. We interviewed a group of leading researchers in public health and ecology to explore their perceptions on the integration of ecosystem and public health research in the context of antimicrobial resistance. Experts from both fields considered that research on antimicrobial resistance is only beginning to consider ecosystems. They highlighted various barriers that have contributed to limited integration, such as conceptual barriers, and a lack of knowledge translators as facilitators. Better interdisciplinary integration is needed to address the challenge of antimicrobial resistance. Improving the dialogues between the disciplines is a necessary first step in this process. Greater engagement of ecologists is needed to build a more complete understanding of the role of ecosystems in human health, and identify how human interactions with ecosystems can both contribute to, and restrict, the development of antimicrobial resistance.
Designing Digital Rollovers: Managing Perceived Obsolescence through Release Times
Authors: Koca Esma , Valletti Tommaso , Wiesemann Wolfram
Published: May 2021

When releasing a new version of a durable product, a firm aims to attract new customers as well as persuade its existing customer base to upgrade. This is commonly achieved through a rollover strategy, which comprises the price of the new product as well as the decision to discontinue the sale of the existing product ( solo rollover) or to sell the existing product at a discounted price ( dual rollover). In this study, we argue that the timing of the new product release is an important—but commonly overlooked—third lever in the design of a successful rollover strategy. The release timing influences the consumers' perception of obsolescence, by which an existing product is considered obsolete merely by reference to a new product. This reinforces the upgrading behavior of existing customers, but it also necessitates deep discounts of the existing product to keep its sale viable in a dual rollover. We analyze the impact of the release timing on solo and dual rollovers in markets for digital goods (i.e., where production costs are negligible) that are composed of naive and sophisticated consumers. Under the assumption that both the old and the new product would offer a similar utility if there was no perceived obsolescence, we show that in both markets a firm selecting the release times from a continuous timeline can induce sufficiently large parts of its existing customer base to upgrade so that a solo rollover is optimal. We also characterize the resulting market segmentation, and we offer managerial as well as policy advice.
Poly ADP‐ribose polymerase‐1 promotes seed‐setting rate by facilitating gametophyte development and meiosis in rice (Oryza sativa L.)
Authors: Li Xiumei , Zhang Yixin , Liu Qinjian , Song Songquan , Liu Jun
Published: May 2021

Poly(ADP‐ribose) polymerases (PARPs), which transfer either monomer or polymer of ADP‐ribose from nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) onto target proteins, are required for multiple processes in DNA damage repair, cell cycle, development, and abiotic stress in animals and plants. Here, the uncharacterized rice (Oryza sativa) OsPARP1, which has been predicted to have two alternative OsPARP1 mRNA splicing variants, OsPARP1.1 and OsPARP1.2, was investigated. However, bimolecular fluorescence complementation showed that only OsPARP1.1 interacted with OsPARP3 paralog, suggesting that OsPARP1.1 is a functional protein in rice. OsPARP1 was preferentially expressed in the stamen primordial and pollen grain of mature stamen during flower development. The osparp1 mutant and CRISPR plants were delayed in germination, indicating that defective DNA repair machinery impairs early seed germination. The mutant displayed a normal phenotype during vegetative growth but had a lower seed‐setting rate than wild‐type plants under normal conditions. Chromosome bridges and DNA fragmentations were detected in male meiocytes at anaphase I to prophase II. After meiosis II, malformed tetrads or tetrads with micronuclei were formed. Meanwhile, the abnormality was also found in embryo sac development. Collectively, these results suggest that OsPARP1 plays an important role in mediating response to DNA damage and gametophyte development, crucial for rice yield in the natural environment.
Generation of Twin Vortex Rope in the Draft-Tube Elbow of a Francis Turbine During Deep Part-Load Operation
Authors: Khozaei Mohammad Hossein , Favrel Arthur , Masuko Toshitake , Yamaguchi Naoki , Miyagawa Kazuyoshi
Published: May 2021

This paper focuses on the generation of twin vortex rope in the draft-tube elbow of a Francis turbine at deep part-load operation through analyzing the results of model tests along with numerical simulations. Model tests, including pressure fluctuations measurements, are conducted over ten speed factors. By considering the frequency of the pressure fluctuations with respect to the swirl intensity at the runner outlet, the part-load operating range is divided into three regimes, with two clear transitions between each occurring at swirl numbers 0.4 and 1.7. For operating conditions with a swirl number S > 0.4, a linear correlation between the frequency of the precessing vortex core and the swirl number is established. During the deep part-load regime (S > 1.7), low-frequency pressure fluctuations appear. Their frequency features another linear correlation with the swirl number. Unsteady computational fluid dynamics simulation of the full domain is performed to elucidate the generation mechanisms of the low-frequency fluctuations. By tracking the center of the vortical structures along the draft-tube, generation of three vortices in the elbow responsible for the pressure fluctuations at the lowest frequency is highlighted: the main precessing vortex core (PVC) hits the draft-tube wall in the elbow resulting in its break down into three vortices rotating with half the rotational speed of the PVC. Two of the vortices rotate with opposite angular position, constituting a structure of twin vortices. The periodic rotation of these three vortices in the elbow induces low-frequency pressure fluctuations.
Beneficiation of Seafloor Massive Sulfides by Liquid–Liquid Extraction
Authors: Nakajima Yasuharu , Yamabe Yuta , Fujita Toyohisa , Dodbiba Gjergj
Published: May 2021

This paper addresses the applicability of liquid–liquid extraction for separating mineral particles by the difference in oil–water partition coefficient, for the seafloor mineral processing of seafloor massive sulfides (SMSs). Measurements of contact angle of sulfide mineral–aqueous solution–oil systems under high-pressure conditions were performed to evaluate the efficiency of liquid–liquid extraction at high pressures. The results showed that the contact angle stayed around 80–100 deg at the pressure range up to 16 MPa, and the changes in the contact angles were within 5 deg with varying pressure. Extraction experiments were carried out by using particles of an SMS ore, which contained Zinc (Zn), Lead (Pb), and Barium (Ba) in the grade of more than 10 mass% and Copper (Cu) in a small percentage, to evaluate the beneficiation performance of liquid–liquid extraction. In the experiments, extraction conditions such as the dosage of chemical reagents and pH in the aqueous solution were varied to optimize both the recovery and selectivity of Cu, Zn, and Pb in the oil phase and those of Ba in the water phase. The experimental results showed that the optimum condition was 200 g/t dosage—pH 7, where the grade and recovery were ca. 37 mass% and ca. 90 mass%, respectively. The beneficiation performance of liquid–liquid extraction would be comparable with that of flotation, adapted to the processing of other SMS ores.
Molecule deposition in mask-shielded regions revealed by selective Mg vapor deposition
Authors: Tsujioka Tsuyoshi , Kusaka Hatsuka , Shimotsu Arimi
Published: May 2021

Vacuum deposition with a shadow mask has been widely used for preparing patterned organic films. We found that, during vacuum deposition of organic molecules with a shadow mask, a small amount of organic molecule was also deposited on the mask-shielded surface. This phenomenon was revealed by selective Mg-vapor deposition using photochromic diarylethenes (DAEs). With this selective Mg deposition, no Mg is deposited on the DAE surface in a colorless state with a low Tg near room temperature, even if the DAE film thickness is at a several-nm level. On the other hand, since Mg is deposited on the colored surface obtained by UV irradiation, the presence or absence of low-Tg organic film with a thickness of several-nm level can be determined by the Mg-deposition property. The Mg nondeposition areas of a mask-shielded region depended on the vacuum level, the space between a substrate and a shadow mask, and the DAE deposition quantity; a lower vacuum level (higher pressures), a thicker space, and a larger deposition quantity resulted in a larger Mg nondeposition area. Vacuum deposition in the high vacuum level (10−4–10−3 Pa) with a substrate-shadow-mask space distance of 60 μm led to an Mg nondeposition width over 100 μm from the mask-shielded edge. These results indicate that the origin is in molecular scattering by a residual gas in a vacuum chamber. When minute organic patterns are prepared using shadow masks, which are effective for obtaining satisfactory performances of organic electronics devices, the influence of small amount of deposition under mask-shielded areas should be taken into account.