bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Compensating Wage Differentials for Job Fatality and Injury Risk in Australia*
Authors: Reynolds Zac , Nahm Daehoon , MacMillan Craig
Published: March 2022

This study explores whether compensating wage differentials (CWDs) are still found for Australian workers using data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey, and risk data from Safe Work Australia. Our study finds evidence of CWDs for the risk of workplace fatalities that are smaller in magnitude compared to the estimates previously reported in the 1990s for Australia. We find limited evidence of CWDs for the risk of workplace non‐fatal injuries. Using panel data and a risk variable that varies by both the worker’s industry and occupation of employment, we find that Australian workers who face the mean level of fatality risk receive a CWD of between 0.13% and 0.44% for a unit increase in risk, depending on the model specification. These estimates correspond to a value of statistical life of $9.7 million and $34.9 million.
Sydney ‘lockout’ liquor licensing law restrictions have been associated with a sustained reduction in emergency department presentations from assaults over 5 years
Authors: Deacon James W , Preisz Paul , Chambers Anthony J
Published: March 2022

Objectives

The present study assessed the impact of changes to the New South Wales Liquor Act in 2014 on assault‐related presentations to the ED of St Vincent's Hospital. This hospital is the primary receiving hospital for the area affected by these laws.

Methods

Patients presenting to the ED with an assault‐related diagnosis were identified from the ED and trauma registry databases from 2009 to 2019 and retrospectively reviewed. The number of presentations in the 5 years prior to the introduction of the laws in 2014 was compared to the number occurring in the 5 years following this. Admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) and in‐hospital death were used as markers for severe injury.

Results

From 2009 to 2019 there were 2983 assault‐related presentations to the ED, with 153 requiring ICU admission and 12 deaths. The mean number of presentations annually fell from 342 to 255 after the introduction of the laws (P = 0.01). The reduction in presentations was sustained for the entire 5‐year period after the introduction of the laws. Although the mean number of patients requiring ICU admission per year fell from 17 to 14, and the mean number of deaths annually fell from 1.6 to 0.8, neither of these were statistically significant.

Conclusions

There has been a significant reduction in assault‐related presentations to St Vincent's Hospital following the changes to the liquor licensing laws that has been sustained for 5 years with no significant decrease in the those with severe assault injuries.
Quantifying and reducing cross‐contamination in single‐ and multiplex hybridization capture of ancient DNA
Authors: Zavala Elena I. , Aximu‐Petri Ayinuer , Richter Julia , Nickel Birgit , Vernot Benjamin , Meyer Matthias
Published: March 2022

The use of hybridization capture has enabled a massive upscaling in sample sizes for ancient DNA studies, allowing the analysis of hundreds of skeletal remains or sediments in single studies. Nevertheless, demands in throughput continue to grow, and hybridization capture has become a limiting step in sample preparation due to the large consumption of reagents, consumables and time. Here, we explored the possibility of improving the economics of sample preparation via multiplex capture, that is, the hybridization capture of pools of double‐indexed ancient DNA libraries. We demonstrate that this strategy is feasible, at least for small genomic targets such as mitochondrial DNA, if the annealing temperature is increased and PCR cycles are limited in post‐capture amplification to avoid index swapping by jumping PCR, which manifests as cross‐contamination in resulting sequence data. We also show that the reamplification of double‐indexed libraries to PCR plateau before or after hybridization capture can sporadically lead to small, but detectable cross‐contamination even if libraries are amplified in separate reactions. We provide protocols for both manual capture and automated capture in 384‐well format that are compatible with single‐ and multiplex capture and effectively suppress cross‐contamination and artefact formation. Last, we provide a simple computational method for quantifying cross‐contamination due to index swapping in double‐indexed libraries, which we recommend using for routine quality checks in studies that are sensitive to cross‐contamination.
Functional recovery after discharge in enhanced recovery video‐assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy: a pilot prospective cohort study
Authors: Huang L. , Kehlet H. , Petersen R. H.
Published: March 2022

Little is known about functional recovery following patient discharge in an established enhanced recovery programme after video‐assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy. We conducted a single‐centre pilot prospective observational cohort study. We hypothesised that patients achieved early functional recovery after discharge. A total of 32 patients aged ≥ 18 years were enrolled. A digital device was used for objective activity measurements, and patient‐reported outcomes were collected as subjective measurements. Primary outcomes were the difference in physical activity; sleep duration; pain; fatigue; and average quality of life scores between pre‐operative baseline and 7 days following discharge. The secondary outcome was the reason for reduced daily activity during the first 7 days after discharge. Median (IQR [range]) length of stay was 3 (2–5 [1–13]) days. Up to post‐discharge day 7, total, lower intensity and moderate‐to‐vigorous activities were lower than pre‐operative activity (p < 0.001; p = 0.005 and p = 0.027, respectively). Numerical rating scale (0–10) pain scores increased postoperatively at rest (mean difference 1.2, p < 0.001) and during walking (mean difference 1.4, p < 0.001). Fatigue assessed by the Christensen Fatigue Scale (1–10) was also increased postoperatively (mean difference 1.7, p = 0.001). There was a reduction in quality of life scores, while sedentary activity and sleep duration were unchanged postoperatively. Dominant reasons for not recovering daily activity included fatigue in 43% and pain in 33% of patients. Despite compliance with an enhanced recovery programme with a median length of hospital stay of 3 days after video‐assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy, functional recovery was not achieved within 7 days after hospital discharge. Reduction in postoperative pain and fatigue are important factors to enhance functional recovery.
Dams, Development, and Racialised Internal Peripheries: Hydraulic Imaginaries as Hegemonic Strategy in Pakistan
Authors: Akhter Majed
Published: March 2022

Dams and other large water infrastructures are more than mere technical projects in Pakistan. They carry a special symbolic burden and are understood by the state as vectors of modernisation. This paper interrogates the making of a statist hydraulic imaginary in Pakistan in the 1960s and its continued relevance today. This imaginary posits a technocratic state as the protagonist in a national narrative of hydro‐modernisation. I argue that the production and dissemination of an imaginary of racialised internal peripheries as places of developmental backwardness is central to the Pakistani state’s infrastructural interventions. I analyse images and narratives from state produced magazines and videos by contextualising them with respect to the cultural politics of hegemony. The paper advances debates in critical infrastructure studies via a critical reading of Antonio Gramsci’s incomplete essay on the “Southern Question”. It develops a tradition of cultural historical materialism—largely neglected by critical water geographers—attuned to the articulation of geographic unevenness, hegemony, and racial difference.
Urban Transformations to Keep All the Same: The Power of Ivy Discourses
Authors: Westman Linda , Castán Broto Vanesa
Published: March 2022

The concept of urban transformations has gathered interest among scholars and policymakers calling for radical change towards sustainability. The discourse represents an entry point to address systemic causes of ecological degradation and social injustice, thereby providing solutions to intractable global challenges. Yet, so far, urban transformations projects have fallen short of delivering significant action in cities. The limited ability of this discourse to enable change is, in our view, linked with a broader dynamic that threatens progressive commitments to knowledge pluralism. There are discourses that, cloaked in emancipatory terminology, prevent the flourishing of radical ideas. The ivy is a metaphor to understand how such discourses operate. Ivy discourses grow from a radical foundation, but they do so while reproducing assumptions and values of mainstream discourses. We are concerned that urban transformations functions as an ivy discourse, which reproduces rather than challenges knowledge systems and relations that sustain hegemony.
Rise from ashes: A dynamic framework of organizational learning and resilience in disaster response
Authors: Nava Lucrezia
Published: March 2022

Natural disasters are increasingly impacting the lives of organizations. The COVID‐19 pandemic has brought attention to how organizations improve their resilience and learn how to emerge stronger after such events. While there has been little integration between the literature on organizational learning and resilience, this article draws on both streams of literature to develop a conceptual framework that distinguishes three different organizational processes emerging in the aftermath of a disaster (resilience, learning from disasters, and learning through disasters). Each response is characterized by a specific outcome, mechanism, and temporal orientation. Moreover, the proposed framework discusses the dynamic relationships between these responses. While learning from disasters and resilience combine in a cyclical dynamic that leads to an upgrade in existing organizational capabilities, learning through disasters involves a transformative dynamic that leads to expanding organizational capabilities in new domains. This article is of value to both practitioners and scholars. For managers, it derives practical implications for improving the organization's capacity for transformation in the aftermath of a disaster such as COVID‐19. For scholars, it contributes to the debate about the long‐term interrelation between different organizational response to disasters and sheds light on the mechanisms of organizational renewal in the aftermath of a disaster.
Zero-Inflated Poisson Models with Measurement Error in the Response
Authors: Zhang Qihuang , Yi Grace Y.
Published: March 2022

Zero-inflated count data arise frequently from genomics studies. Analysis of such data is often based on a mixture model which facilitates excess zeros in combination with a Poisson distribution, and various inference methods have been proposed under such a model. Those analysis procedures, however, are challenged by the presence of measurement error in count responses. In this article, we propose a new measurement error model to describe error-contaminated count data. We show that ignoring the measurement error effects in the analysis may generally lead to invalid inference results, and meanwhile, we identify situations where ignoring measurement error can still yield consistent estimators. Furthermore, we propose a Bayesian method to address the effects of measurement error under the zero-inflated Poisson model and discuss the identifiability issues. We develop a data-augmentation algorithm that is easy to implement. Simulation studies are conducted to evaluate the performance of the proposed method. We apply our method to analyze the data arising from a prostate adenocarcinoma genomic study.
Numeracy skills in young children as predictors of mathematical competence
Authors: Seitz Maximilian , Weinert Sabine
Published: March 2022

As mathematical competence is linked to educational success, professional achievement, and even a country's economic growth, researchers have been interested in early predictors for quite some time. Although there have been numerous studies on domain‐specific numerical abilities predicting later mathematical competence in preschool children, research in toddlers is scarce, especially regarding additional influential aspects, such as domain‐general cognitive abilities and the children's social background. Using a large‐scale dataset, the present study examined predictive effects of numeracy skills in 17‐month‐olds for later mathematical achievement. We found small, positive effects, even when controlling for child‐related variables (i.e., age and sex) and the children's social background (i.e., maternal education and household language). Additionally, we compared results with a domain‐general categorization task and found no distinct effect on mathematical competence. The present results are discussed with regard to the specificities of the dataset, as well as implications for future studies on predictors of mathematical competence.
Using social cognition models to understand why people, such as perfectionists, struggle to respond with self‐compassion
Authors: Biskas Marios , Sirois Fuschia M. , Webb Thomas L.
Published: March 2022

Responding with self‐compassion to lapses in goal pursuit helps people to achieve their goals, yet evidence suggests that some people struggle to respond with self‐compassion. The current research proposes that social cognition models such the Theory of Planned Behaviour and the Prototype Willingness Model could explain why some people, such as those high in perfectionistic concerns, struggle to respond with self‐compassion. We therefore conducted a pre‐registered prospective study that measured participants’ beliefs about self‐compassion, difficulties enacting self‐compassionate responding, perfectionistic concerns, and then tested their ability to be self‐compassionate in response to a recalled and future lapse. The results showed that participants were less likely to respond with self‐compassion to lapses if they held negative beliefs about self‐compassion and experienced difficulties enacting self‐compassion. Participants high in perfectionistic concerns were more likely to have negative beliefs about self‐compassion and experience difficulties enacting self‐compassion. Together, these findings provide evidence that social cognition models can be used to understand self‐compassionate responding and identify why some people struggle to respond with self‐compassion to goal lapses.
Height and body mass index in molecularly confirmed Silver–Russell syndrome and the long‐term effects of growth hormone treatment
Authors: Lokulo‐Sodipe Oluwakemi , Giabicani Eloïse , Canton Ana P. M. , Ferrand Nawfel , Child Jenny , Wakeling Emma L. , Binder Gerhard , Netchine Irène , Mackay Deborah J. G. , Inskip Hazel M. , Byrne Christopher D. , Temple I. Karen , Davies Justin H.
Published: March 2022

Objective

Silver–Russell syndrome (SRS) causes short stature. Growth hormone (GH) treatment aims to increase adult height. However, data are limited on the long‐term outcomes of GH in patients with molecularly confirmed SRS. This study evaluated height, body mass index (BMI) and GH treatment in molecularly confirmed SRS.

Design

An observational study with retrospective data collection.

Patients

Individuals with molecularly confirmed SRS aged ≥13 years.

Measurements

Data were collected on height, height gain (change in height standard deviation score [SDS] from childhood to final or near‐final height), BMI and gain in BMI (from childhood to adulthood) and previous GH treatment.

Results

Seventy‐one individuals (40 female) were included. The median age was 22.0 years (range 13.2–69.7). The molecular diagnoses: H19/IGF2:IG‐DMR LOM in 80.3% (57/71); upd(7)mat in 16.9% (12/71) and IGF2 mutation in 2.8% (2/71). GH treatment occurred in 77.5% (55/71).

Total height gain was greater in GH‐treated individuals (median 1.53 SDS vs. 0.53 SDS, p = .007), who were shorter at treatment initiation (−3.46 SDS vs. −2.91 SDS, p = .04) but reached comparable heights to GH‐untreated individuals (−2.22 SDS vs. −2.74 SDS, p = .7). In GH‐treated individuals, BMI SDS was lower at the most recent assessment (median −1.10 vs. 1.66, p = .002) with lower BMI gain (2.01 vs. 3.58, p = .006) despite similar early BMI SDS to GH‐untreated individuals (median −2.65 vs. −2.78, p = .3).

Conclusions

These results support the use of GH in SRS for increasing height SDS. GH treatment was associated with lower adult BMI which may reflect improved metabolic health even following discontinuation of therapy.
Diabetes mellitus and its association with dental caries, missing teeth and dental services utilization in the US adult population: Results from the 2015–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
Authors: Aldosari Maram , Aldosari Muath , Aldosari Mohammad A. , Agrawal Priyanka
Published: March 2022

Aims

This study aimed to evaluate the associations of self‐reported diabetic status with clinically assessed dental end points, including teeth with untreated coronal and root caries, missing teeth, complete tooth retention, edentulism and routine dental services utilization among adults aged ≥20 years in the United States.

Methods

We pooled data from the 2015–2016 and 2017–2018 cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a nationally representative, cross‐sectional, continuous survey of noninstitutionalized US population. The analysed data included all adult participants aged ≥20 years who completed the dental examination and reported their diabetic status. We estimated the prevalence and average outcomes of dental end points by diabetic status. Regression analyses were employed to evaluate the associations between diabetic status and dental outcomes.

Results

Of 10,249 participants, 1,562 reported having diabetes mellitus, which translates to 11.3% of US adults aged ≥20 years (25.7 million). Compared to non‐diabetic individuals, adults with diabetes had 1.49 (95%CI = 1.1–2.0) and 1.46 (95%CI = 1.2–1.8) times higher odds of developing coronal and root caries respectively. Adults with diabetes were 32% less likely to be fully dentate (OR = 0.68; 95%CI = 0.55–0.83) and had a higher average number of missing teeth (mean ratio = 1.35; 95%CI = 1.18–1.55). There was no association between diabetic status and routine dental services utilization.

Conclusions

Adults with diabetes exhibited worse dental health; nonetheless, there was no difference in dental services utilization. Multidisciplinary efforts from both medical and dental service providers are required to proactively address the well‐being of adults with diabetes in terms of oral health.
Peer assessment: Development and delivery of the OSCE
Authors: McKay Amy , McCall John , Cairns Alison M.
Published: March 2022

Introduction

There is an expectation that healthcare professionals display competence in teaching, assessment and providing feedback. Development begins with formative peer‐assisted learning and teaching in the undergraduate environment. Using peers or near‐peers (in this case having 1 year more experience than the examination cohort) to provide assessment in summative exams remains unexplored. This study investigates how the use of near‐peers compares to marking by academic staff in a summative OSCE.

Materials and Methods

BDS4 Peer assessors (PAs) developed an OSCE question and marking schedule. Each PA (n = 3) was paired with an academic staff assessor (ASA) (n = 3). Peer and academic marked the candidates independently. Two years later, the process was repeated on the same cohort of candidates with the PA now 1‐year post qualification. Statistical analysis compared the scores awarded by PA during each timeframe and against the marks awarded by the ASA.

Results

During round 1, 28 students (62.2%) were awarded the same score by PA and ASA. On 17 occasions, there was a discrepancy (37.8%). Bias was skewed in favour of PA scoring higher (mean difference of differences −0.0667). During round 2, 27 students (55.1%) were awarded the same score by PA and ASA. On 22 occasions (44.9%), there was a discrepancy. Bias was skewed in favour of ASA scoring higher (mean difference of differences 0.0612).

Discussion

Levels of agreement between PA and ASA are strong. Our results show PA mark more leniently as undergraduates and less leniently at 1‐year post graduation.

Conclusions

Peer assessors are able to write OSCE stations, produce marking schemes and effectively assess their near‐peers.
Hearing loss is associated with delayed neural responses to continuous speech
Authors: Gillis Marlies , Decruy Lien , Vanthornhout Jonas , Francart Tom
Published: March 2022

We investigated the impact of hearing loss on the neural processing of speech. Using a forward modelling approach, we compared the neural responses to continuous speech of 14 adults with sensorineural hearing loss with those of age‐matched normal‐hearing peers. Compared with their normal‐hearing peers, hearing‐impaired listeners had increased neural tracking and delayed neural responses to continuous speech in quiet. The latency also increased with the degree of hearing loss. As speech understanding decreased, neural tracking decreased in both populations; however, a significantly different trend was observed for the latency of the neural responses. For normal‐hearing listeners, the latency increased with increasing background noise level. However, for hearing‐impaired listeners, this increase was not observed. Our results support the idea that the neural response latency indicates the efficiency of neural speech processing: More or different brain regions are involved in processing speech, which causes longer communication pathways in the brain. These longer communication pathways hamper the information integration among these brain regions, reflected in longer processing times. Altogether, this suggests decreased neural speech processing efficiency in HI listeners as more time and more or different brain regions are required to process speech. Our results suggest that this reduction in neural speech processing efficiency occurs gradually as hearing deteriorates. From our results, it is apparent that sound amplification does not solve hearing loss. Even when listening to speech in silence at a comfortable loudness, hearing‐impaired listeners process speech less efficiently.
Hidradenitis suppurativa: Morphologic and vascular study of nodular inflammatory lesions by means of optical coherence tomography
Authors: Manfredini Marco , Chello Camilla , Ciardo Silvana , Guida Stefania , Chester Johanna , Lasagni Claudia , Bigi Laura , Farnetani Francesca , Bettoli Vincenzo , Pellacani Giovanni
Published: March 2022

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is an inflammatory disease characterized by a recurrent‐remission trend and clinical lesions that range from asymptomatic to inflamed, deep‐seated nodules with scarring and suppuration. The aim of our study was to identify morphologic and vascular features of HS nodules by means of dynamic optical coherence tomography (D‐OCT) and to define if they are correlated to patient endotype and risk of disease progression. A set of standardized clinical pictures and D‐OCT images were acquired from 57 inflammatory nodules of 40 patients affected by HS. A set of 20 clinical and D‐OCT images were acquired from 20 healthy volunteers as a control group. The comparison of D‐OCT features among HS and control group was analysed. The correlation between HS patient endotype and D‐OCT features of the lesions was calculated. D‐OCT enabled to identify vascular and morphological aspects characterizing HS nodular inflammatory lesions. In addition, several D‐OCT features were significantly different among distinct disease endotypes. The characterization of HS nodular inflammatory lesions through D‐OCT, corresponding to blood vessel dilation and inflammatory associated hyper‐vascularization, may have important clinical consequences in the assessment of HS risk of progression, therapeutic decisions and treatment efficacy monitoring.
A novel cell line from human eccrine sweat gland duct cells for investigating sweating physiology
Authors: Welzel Jessica , Grüdl Sabine , Banowski Bernhard , Stark Holger , Sättler Andrea , Welss Thomas
Published: March 2022

Objective

Human eccrine sweat glands (eSG) represent vital components of the skin involved in regulating body temperature. Especially the eccrine duct, which opens directly into the skin surface and releases the aqueous sweat, constitutes the first contact point with topically applied substances. For scientific investigations and to understand the underlying sweating mechanism on a cellular level defined cellular material is beneficial. We, therefore, strived to generate a cell line derived from human eSG duct cells for identifying new mechanisms in sweating control, as such a standardized cell line is currently lacking.

Material and methods

Isolated primary human eSG duct cells were transduced with simian virus 40 large T antigen (SV40T) by lentiviral transduction. Successfully SV40T‐transduced clones were selected by single‐cell cloning with one clone, named 1D10, being particularly described in this work.

Results

In performed cellular investigations, SV40T‐transduced duct‐derived cells exhibited an extended lifespan with stable population doubling times suggesting its immortality. Besides, 1D10 clonal cell culture demonstrated similarities with parental, primary duct cells regarding gene expression of selected sweat gland‐related markers. When combined with primary coil cells in a hanging drop co‐culture, those transduced duct‐derived cells showed some duct cell‐like features. Further, a certain degree of cellular communication and a specific reaction towards substance application was observed.

Conclusion

Generated and herein described cell line derived from isolated human eSG duct cells is, based on the presented scientific findings, considered as immortal. Besides, this cell line shows some similarity with primary duct cells, although alterations from native glands were detected, among which is loss of expression of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator. Provided some further investigations, presented SV40T‐transduced duct‐cell derived cell line seems a suited surrogate of primary eccrine duct cells.
Transition between two solid‐solutions: Effective and easy way for fine Ce1−xGdxO2−x/2 powders preparation
Authors: Alemayehu Adam , Zákutná Dominika , Kohúteková Soňa , Tyrpekl Václav
Published: March 2022

Ceria, pure or doped, is an important electrolyte material in solid oxide fuel cells, catalysts, and plutonium surrogates. Even though ceria is a widely studied material, its coprecipitation with the most common doping element, gadolinium, remains mostly overlooked. Here, we present a comprehensive study of gadolinium–cerium oxalates prepared by coprecipitation of gadolinium (III) and cerium (III) salts by oxalic acid under different reaction conditions and element ratios. For this purpose, we assessed the effects of basic precipitation conditions on the final oxalate size, shape, and conversion into the corresponding oxides. The results showed that coprecipitation with oxalic acid yields and ideal solid solution, which translates into the oxides. This low‐cost and straightforward synthetic route provides then high‐quality solid solutions of Ge–Gd in the oxide lattice. Thus, this approach has a high industrialization potential, with significant advantages over hydrolysis or hydrothermal techniques.
Anatomy of the proximal septal vein in patients with focal intramural ventricular arrhythmias
Authors: Tam Tsz‐kin , Liang Jackson J. , Ghannam Michael , Latchamsetty Rakesh , Cochet Hubert , Patel Smita , Jongnarangsin Krit , Morady Fred , Bogun Frank
Published: March 2022

Background

Focal ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) originating from the intramural myocardium of the basal septum are difficult to localize and ablate. Proximal septal veins emptying into the great cardiac vein can reach close to the origin of intramural arrhythmias.

Objective

To assess characteristics of proximal septal coronary veins in patients with intramural VAs.

Methods and Results

Among 84 consecutive patients with intramural VAs, 29 patients (age 60 ± 11years, 16 males, ejection fraction 47 ± 13%) underwent preprocedural cardiac computed tomographic angiography (CTA). In 14 of these patients, the intramural site of origin (SOO) was identified with multipolar catheters. The intramural SOO could not be accessed with mapping catheters in the other 15 patients while mapping the coronary venous system. The CTA identified sizable proximal septal veins in all patients in whom the SOO could be accessed with mapping catheters. In the patients in whom the intramural SOO was not identified, the proximal septal veins were often either small (<2 mm at the branching site) or non‐existent (n = 9, p = .001). The proximal septal veins in patients in whom the SOO was identified were larger than in the patients in whom the SOO could not be identified (3.0 ± 0.6 mm vs. 2.1 ± 0.9 mm, p = .01).

Conclusions

Preprocedural imaging with CTAs can be beneficial in identifying the anatomy of proximal septal coronary veins that allow adequate mapping of patients with suspected intramural VAs.
Optimization of beef heat treatment using CFD simulation: Modeling of protein denaturation degree
Authors: Szpicer Arkadiusz , Wierzbicka Agnieszka , Półtorak Andrzej
Published: March 2022

Beef meat is most often eaten after heat treatment, but the quality of the final product is not always satisfactory. In this study, based on CFD modeling and simulation, optimization of the heat treatment process of beef was performed using RSM. The aim of the research was to select the parameters of thermal treatment in order to achieve the highest degree of denaturation of myosin and collagen proteins, and the lowest degree of actin denaturation and weight loss of the final product. The obtained results were verified by experimental studies, which showed statistically significant similarities with those predicted. Depending on the composition of the basic beef meat, heat treatment parameters should be selected individually in order to obtain a product characterized by the highest quality and, consequently, the highest acceptance among consumers. CFD modeling and RSM forecasting was a useful approach to study the unstable heat transfer in the combi steamer and also mapped the temperature distribution over the whole beef load, thus, optimizing the roasting process.

Practical Application

The use of CFD simulations and the RSM model in the meat industry will optimize the process of heat treatment of beef. This innovative method of predicting protein denaturation and thermal leakage will reduce mass losses caused by heat treatment. The consequence of using this model will be the delivery of an optimal dose of heat to the raw material, which will ensure the denaturation of myoglobin and collagen, and the actin will be left undenatured. As a result, the product will be characterized by the highest quality and acceptance of sensory features among consumers. As a result, energy consumption in the production of roast beef will be reduced and the demand for these products among demanding customers will increase.
Seroprevalence and burden of hepatitis C virus infection in WHO South‐East Asia Region: A systematic review
Authors: Goel Amit , Rewari Bharat Bhushan , Sharma Mukta , Konath Nabeel Mangadan , Aggarwal Rakesh
Published: March 2022

Background

This systematic review was aimed to estimate hepatitis C virus (HCV) seroprevalence and burden in disease in WHO South East Asia Region (SEAR).

Methods

Electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Google Scholar) and websites of non‐indexed national medical journals, government and international health agencies were searched to identify English language literature published between 1991 and June 2020. We selected the studies reporting HCV seroprevalence in asymptomatic general (low‐risk) and high‐risk adult populations, that is, persons living with HIV (PLHIV), persons who inject drugs (PWID), sex workers, persons on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD), people in prison, and men sex with men (MSM). Seroprevalence data were combined to estimate weighted pooled prevalence (95% confidence interval) in each group and in each country, using the random‐effects model. Estimated pooled seroprevalences were multiplied with estimated populations at risk to estimate the overall HCV burden.

Results

The analysis included 538 studies (35 Bangladesh, 6 Bhutan, 2 DPR Korea, 323 India, 43 Indonesia, 2 Maldives, 18 Myanmar, 29 Nepal, 11 Sri Lanka, 67 Thailand, and 2 Timor‐Leste). In SEAR, the weighted pooled anti‐HCV seroprevalence was estimated as 0.84% (0.56–1.12) in low‐risk population and 13.67% (10.95–16.40) in PLHIV, 51.44% (43.67–59.20) in PWID, 25.80% (20.34–32.09) in MHD, 8.39% (5.84–11.51) in prison inmates, 2.69% (1.43–4.13) in people with high‐risk sex behavior, and 11.43% (8.61–14.74) in MSM. The total HCV burden in low‐risk and high‐risk populations in SEAR countries was estimated as 12.45 million and 1.65 million, respectively.

Conclusion

Our estimates of HCV seroprevalence and burden should help the respective countries in planning their HCV elimination strategies.
Phylogenetic analyses and reclassification of the oleaginous marine species Nannochloris sp. “desiccata" (Trebouxiophyceae, Chlorophyta), formerly Chlorella desiccata, supported by a high‐quality genome assembly
Authors: Sanders Claire K. , Hanschen Erik R. , Biondi Thomas C. , Hovde Blake T. , Kunde Yuliya A. , Eng Wyatt L. , Kwon Taehyung , Dale Taraka
Published: March 2022

Microalgae are diverse, with many gaps remaining in phylogenetic and physiological understanding. Thus, studying new microalgae species increases our broader comprehension of biological diversity, and evaluation of new candidates as algal production platforms can lead to improved productivity under a variety of cultivation conditions. Chlorella is a genus of fast‐growing species often isolated from freshwater habitats and cultivated as a source of nutritional supplements. However, the use of freshwater increases competition with other freshwater needs. We identified Chlorella desiccata to be worthy of further investigation as a potential algae production strain, due to its isolation from a marine environment and its promising growth and biochemical composition properties. Long‐read genomic sequencing was conducted for C. desiccata UTEX 2526, resulting in a high‐quality, near chromosome level, diploid genome with an assembly length of 21.55 Mbp in only 18 contigs. We also report complete circular mitochondrial and chloroplast genomes. Phylogenomic and phylogenetic analyses using nuclear, chloroplast, 18S rRNA, and actin sequences revealed that this species clades within strains currently identified as Nannochloris (Trebouxiophyceae, Chlorophyta), leading to its reclassification as Nannochloris sp. “desiccata” UTEX 2526. The mode of cell division for this species is autosporulation, differing from the type species N. bacillaris. As has occurred across multiple microalgae genera, there are repeated examples of Nannochloris species reclassification in the literature. This high‐quality genome assembly and phylogenetic analysis of the potential algal production strain Nannochloris sp. “desiccata” UTEX 2526 provides an important reference and useful tool for further studying this region of the phylogenetic tree.
Hybridization fuelled diversification in Spialia butterflies
Authors: Hinojosa Joan C. , Dapporto Leonardo , Pitteloud Camille , Koubínová Darina , Hernández‐Roldán Juan , Vicente Juan Carlos , Alvarez Nadir , Vila Roger
Published: March 2022

The importance of hybridization and introgression is well documented in the evolution of plants but, in insects, their role is not fully understood. Given the fact that insects are the most diverse group of organisms, assessing the impact of reticulation events on their evolution may be key to comprehend the emergence of such remarkable diversity. Here, we used an insect model, the Spialia butterflies, to gather genomic evidence of hybridization as a promoter of novel diversity. By using double‐digest RADseq (ddRADseq), we explored the phylogenetic relationships between Spialia orbifer, S. rosae and S. sertorius, and documented two independent events of interspecific gene flow. Our data support that the Iberian endemism S. rosae probably received genetic material from S. orbifer in both mitochondrial and nuclear DNA, which could have contributed to a shift in the ecological preferences of S. rosae. We also show that admixture between S. sertorius and S. orbifer probably occurred in Italy. As a result, the admixed Sicilian populations of S. orbifer are differentiated from the rest of populations both genetically and morphologically, and display signatures of reproductive character displacement in the male genitalia. Additionally, our analyses indicated that genetic material from S. orbifer is present in S. sertorius along the Italian Peninsula. Our findings add to the view that hybridization is a pervasive phenomenon in nature and in butterflies in particular, with important consequences for evolution due to the emergence of novel phenotypes.
Fluconazole versus micafungin for initial antifungal prophylaxis against Candida in pancreas transplant recipients: A comparative study of two consecutive periods
Authors: López‐Medrano Francisco , Muñoz de la Espada María , Pérez‐Jacoiste Asín María Asunción , Fernández‐Ruiz Mario , Herrero‐Martínez Juan María , Alonso‐Carrillo Jesús , San Juan Rafael , Rodríguez‐Goncer Isabel , Andrés Amado , González Esther , Manrique Alejandro , Justo Iago , Marcacuzco Alberto , Loinaz Carmelo , Jiménez Carlos , Lumbreras Carlos , Aguado José María
Published: March 2022

Background

Invasive fungal infection, particularly intraabdominal candidiasis, exerts a negative impact on the outcome of pancreas transplant recipients (PTRs). Optimal antifungal prophylaxis in this context remains unclear.

Methods

We performed a single‐centre retrospective study to compare the incidence of invasive candidiasis during the first 6 post‐transplant months in a cohort of 218 PTRs over two periods in which different agents for antifungal prophylaxis were used: fluconazole (Fluco‐Px) from March 1995 to June 2012, and micafungin followed by fluconazole (Mica‐Px) from July 2012 to December 2018.

Results

A total of 152 and 66 PTRs received Fluco‐Px and Mica‐Px. Mean age was 39.7 ± 7.8 years, 56.4% (123/218) were males, and 85.3% (186/218) underwent simultaneous pancreas–kidney transplantation. Invasive candidiasis occurred in 21.7% (33/152) of PTRs under Fluco‐Px compared to 24.2% (16/66) of those under Mica‐Px (p‐value = .681). Median time from transplantation to infection was 8 days (interquartile range [IQR]: 6–16) under Fluco‐Px versus 6.5 (IQR: 3.3–15.8) under Mica‐Px (p‐value = .623). Non‐albicans Candida species comprised 27.5% (11/40) and 25.0% (4/16) of episodes under Fluco‐Px and Mica‐Px respectively (p‐value = .849). Surgical site infection was the most common form in both groups (82.5% [33/40] and 87.5% [14/16]; p‐value = .954). Multivariable analysis identified cold ischaemia time of the pancreas and kidney grafts, surgical reintervention and insulin requirement after transplantation as risks factor for invasive candidiasis.

Conclusion

This retrospective study did not reveal a significant benefit from the initial use of micafungin‐based antifungal prophylaxis over fluconazole among PTRs in terms of invasive candidiasis.
Tropical rainforest species have larger increases in temperature optima with warming than warm‐temperate rainforest trees
Authors: Choury Zineb , Wujeska‐Klause Agnieszka , Bourne Aimee , Bown Nikki P. , Tjoelker Mark G. , Medlyn Belinda E. , Crous Kristine Y.
Published: March 2022

While trees can acclimate to warming, there is concern that tropical rainforest species may be less able to acclimate because they have adapted to a relatively stable thermal environment. Here we tested whether the physiological adjustments to warming differed among Australian tropical, subtropical and warm‐temperate rainforest trees.

Photosynthesis and respiration temperature responses were quantified in six Australian rainforest seedlings of tropical, subtropical and warm‐temperate climates grown across four growth temperatures in a glasshouse. Temperature‐response models were fitted to identify mechanisms underpinning the response to warming.

Tropical and subtropical species had higher temperature optima for photosynthesis (ToptA) than temperate species. There was acclimation of ToptA to warmer growth temperatures. The rate of acclimation (0.35–0.78°C °C–1) was higher in tropical and subtropical than in warm‐temperate trees and attributed to differences in underlying biochemical parameters, particularly increased temperature optima of Vcmax25 and Jmax25. The temperature sensitivity of respiration (Q10) was 24% lower in tropical and subtropical compared with warm‐temperate species.

Overall, tropical and subtropical species had a similar capacity to acclimate to changes in growth temperature as warm‐temperate species, despite being grown at higher temperatures. Quantifying the physiological acclimation in rainforests can improve accuracy of future climate predictions and assess their potential vulnerability to warming.
The combustible mix of coalitional and discursive power: British trade unions, social media and the People's Assembly Against Austerity
Authors: Geelan Torsten
Published: March 2022

This article investigates how the British trade union movement sought to challenge the politics of austerity after the North Atlantic financial crisis of 2008 by founding a union‐led coalition: the People's Assembly Against Austerity. To lay the ground for the study, it redefines the concept of discursive power as the capacity of trade unions to influence the public debate by producing and self‐mediating frames and circulating them through the mainstream media, the Internet and social media to a mass audience. Data were collected over 3 years (2013–2015) using interviews and scraping tweets from Twitter. The findings reveal how the People's Assembly created and sustained a heterogenous coalition through a policy of nonpartisanship and a consensus‐driven decentralised network of grassroots local assemblies orchestrated by a national organisation. The article contributes to the literature on trade union revitalisation by demonstrating how combining coalitional and discursive power is a combustible mix that can help revitalise the political influence of trade unions.
Prevalence and potential relevance of hyperuricemia in pediatric kidney transplant recipients—a CERTAIN registry analysis
Authors: Ehren Rasmus , Habbig Sandra , Krupka Kai , Ernst Angela , Bald Martin , König Sabine , Murer Luisa , Özçakar Zeynep Birsin , Pohl Michael , Babenko Nadezhda , Spartà Giuseppina , Staude Hagen , Dello Strologo Luca , Szabó Attila J. , Tönshoff Burkhard , Weber Lutz T.
Published: March 2022

Background

Asymptomatic hyperuricemia is frequently observed in pediatric kidney transplant recipients; symptomatic hyperuricemia, however, is a rare complication. Only few data are available in this patient population. We, therefore, investigated the prevalence of hyperuricemia and its association with kidney transplant function and blood pressure in a multicenter cohort of pediatric kidney transplant recipients.

Methods

This is a retrospective, observational multicenter registry study. All pediatric kidney transplant recipients in the CERTAIN database with at least one documented serum uric acid level and a follow‐up of 5 years posttransplant were eligible. We identified 151 patients with 395 measurements of serum uric acid. We calculated the prevalence of hyperuricemia, analyzed potential risk factors and clinical consequences such as elevated blood pressure and reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 26.

Results

One hundred and ten of 395 (27.8%) serum uric acid levels were above 416 µmol/L (7.0 mg/dL), defined as the upper limit of normal. Univariate analysis showed a significant (p = .026) inverse association of serum uric acid with eGFR overtime. There was no significant association of serum uric acid concentrations with body mass index (z‐score), blood pressure (z‐score), or sex. No episodes of gout were documented.

Conclusion

This study shows that hyperuricemia is present in a considerable number of patients sometime after pediatric kidney transplantation and is associated with lower eGFR. Whether hyperuricemia contributes to faster decline of graft function or to the overall cardiovascular risk of these patients remains to be elucidated.
Mucin distribution in bronchiolar adenoma/ciliated muconodular papillary tumor reveals organoid differentiation simulating the normal lung
Authors: Matoba Hisanori , Ikeyama Meguru , Kobayashi Noriyasu , Takemura Haruka , Hanaoka Takaomi , Sato Yoshiko , Nakayama Jun
Published: March 2022

Bronchiolar adenoma/ciliated muconodular papillary tumor is a lung neoplasm exhibiting various degrees of proximal and distal bronchiolar differentiation. Here, we evaluated distribution of MUC5AC and MUC5B in bronchiolar adenoma/ciliated muconodular papillary tumor for comparison with that seen in normal respiratory tract. In normal respiratory tract, MUC5AC was mainly distributed in large bronchi, while MUC5B was distributed in bronchi, bronchioles, and submucosal glands. In bronchiolar adenoma/ciliated muconodular papillary tumor, MUC5AC was primarily distributed in luminal cells of large airspaces, and MUC5B was distributed in luminal cells of small airspaces and mucinous glands, in addition to large airspaces, regardless of distal or proximal differentiation. In particular, MUC5B was distributed in non‐mucinous club and ciliated cells in both the normal respiratory tract and bronchiolar adenoma/ciliated muconodular papillary tumor. These results indicate that MUC5AC and MUC5B distribution in bronchiolar adenoma/ciliated muconodular papillary tumor is similar to that seen in normal respiratory tract, suggestive of organoid differentiation simulating the normal lung.
Expanding arenas for learning hunting ethics, their grammars and dilemmas: An examination of young hunters’ enculturation into modern hunting
Authors: Tickle Lara , von Essen Erica , Fischer Anke
Published: March 2022

Although hunting is declining in western countries, the number of people taking the hunting exam in Sweden are stable, and new demographic groups are becoming hunters. Through interviews done in Sweden with both new and experienced hunters, as well as focus groups with young hunters at agricultural colleges, we investigate how they navigate praxis and ethical frameworks taught in hunting. Using theories on moral learning, as well as Walzer's thick and thin moral argument, we contrast the views of these young hunters with the ethical principles outlined in the educational literature for the hunting exam. We then present how young hunters reasoned around issues regarding hunting ethics, animal welfare and the place of hunting in modern society, both inside and outside the classroom. The young hunters we spoke to acted as moderators of modern trends in hunting, often bringing ‘destabilising’ influences like social media and female hunters. Young hunters are enculturated into traditional hunting structures and, in the process, caught in a dialectic between modern influences and traditional hunting culture. Our findings highlight challenges such as ‘false consensus’ and ‘ethical trade‐offs’ in the learning of hunting ethics, which emerge potentially due to a lack of space for deliberation on hunting ethics.