bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synchronization Temperature Determines the Location of RSV Fusion During Entry in Cultured Cells
Authors: Cadena-Cruz Christian , De-Avila-Arias Marcio , Costello Heather M. , Hurtado-Gomez Leidy , Martínez-De-La-Rosa Walter , Macchia-Ceballos Gigliola , Rosales-Rada Wendy , Valencia-Villa Gerardo , Villalba-Amarís Pedro , Kararoudi Meisam Naeimi , Peeples Mark E. , San-Juan-Vergara Homero
Published: March 2021

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most frequent cause of bronchiolitis in children under five years of age. No vaccines against this virus are currently available. RSV infection of a cell is initiated by fusion between the virion membrane and a cellular membrane, but it is not clear if the fusion process takes place at the plasma membrane or within an endosome. Most such experiments have been initiated at the traditional synchronization temperature of 4°C, an abnormal temperature for animal cells and one at which cellular homeostasis may be negatively affected. We have compared two synchronization temperatures (4°C and 22°C) to determine the kinetics of RSV entry into human bronchial epithelial cells. Following inoculation, virus entry was halted at different times by the addition of neutralizing antibody or temperature reduction to 4°C. We engineered a virus that encodes an extra viral gene, beta-lactamase fused to the viral phosphoprotein (P), to enable rapid detection after infection initiation. We found that the synchronization temperature used during inoculation determines the site of fusion. Transition from 4°C to 37°C resulted in RSV entry via the endosomal pathway but also induced F-actin disruption and plasma membrane blebbing, whether the cells were inoculated with RSV or not. Transition from 22°C to 37°C resulted in RSV entry by fusion at the plasma membrane and without the F-actin and plasma membrane disruptions. These results suggest that RSV normally enters cells by fusion at the plasma membrane and that the induction of endocytosis by infection synchronization at 4°C may be an artefact caused by distortion of the plasma membrane-supporting cytoskeleton.

Author Summary

In order to understand the overall mechanism driving infection, it is important to determine how the virus enters cells. The pathway that RSV uses to infect cells is unclear. It is a common practice to attach the virions at 4°C to synchronize the viral infection. In this report, we found that warming up primary cultures of undifferentiated normal human bronchial epithelial cells to 37°C from 4°C triggered dramatic changes in their cell membrane and cytoskeleton totally unrelated to the presence of the virions. The assessment of viral content delivery to the cytoplasm using RSV engineered to express BlaM allowed us to find that the virions attached at 4°C or 22°C fused their envelope with endosome or plasma membrane, respectively. Consequently, the entry via endosome after attachment at 4°C is an experimental artefact and RSV infects by fusing its envelope with the plasma membrane. The implications go beyond RSV since the entry of several virus species have been explored by synchronizing the infection after attachment at 4°C.
Dynamics of Florida milk production and total phosphate in Lake Okeechobee
Authors: Park Joseph , Saberski Erik , Stabenau Erik , Sugihara George
Published: March 2021

A central tenant of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) is nutrient reduction to levels supportive of ecosystem health. A particular focus is phosphorus. We examine links between agricultural production and phosphorus loadings in the Everglades headwaters: Kissimmee River basin and Lake Okeechobee, considered an important source of water for restoration efforts. Over a span of 47 years we find strong correspondence between milk production in Florida and total phosphate in the lake, and, over the last decade, evidence that phosphorus in the lake may have initiated a long-anticipated decline in water column loading.
Detection of the germline specific NAC protein paralog enriched by intrinsically disordered regions inDrosophila melanogaster
Authors: Kogan Galina L. , Mikhaleva Elena A. , Olenkina Oxana M. , Ryazansky Sergei S. , Galzitskaya Oxana V. , Abramov Yuri A. , Leinsoo Toomas A. , Akulenko Natalia V. , Gvozdev Vladimir A.
Published: March 2021

Nascent polypeptide associated complex (NAC) consisting of α- and β-subunits is an essential conserved ubiquitously expressed ribosome-associated protein in eukaryotes. NAC is considered as a chaperone and co-translational regulator of nascent protein sorting providing homeostasis of cellular proteins. Here we discovered the germinal cell specific NAC (gNAC) homologue, which differs from the ubiquitously expressed NAC by the presence of expanded intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) at the N- and C-ends of the α- and β-subunits, respectively. We propose these evolutionary acquisition of long IDRs drive gNAC to endow both the specific conformational plasticity for binding client proteins and novel functions regulated by post-transcriptional modifications (PTM). At the same time, we demonstrated that the well-known lethal effect of the loss of ubiquitous NAC-β is suppressed by ectopic expression of its germinal paralog indicating the absence of strict functional differences between the ubiquitous and germline NAC-β subunit paralogs for protein homeostasis.
Automated video tracking and flight analysis show how bumblebees solve a pattern discrimination task using active vision
Authors: MaBouDi HaDi , Roper Mark , Guiraud Marie , Marshall James A.R. , Chittka Lars
Published: March 2021

Active vision, the ability of the visual system to actively sample and select relevant information out of a visual scene through eye and head movements, has been explored in a variety of animal species. Small-brained animals such as insects might rely even more on sequential acquisition of pattern features since there might be less parallel processing capacity in their brains than in vertebrates. To investigate how active vision strategies enable bees to solve visual tasks, here, we employed a simple visual discrimination task in which individual bees were presented with a multiplication symbol and a 45° rotated version of the same pattern (“plus sign”). High-speed videography of unrewarded tests and analysis of the bees’ flight paths shows that only a small region of the pattern is inspected before successfully accepting a target or rejecting a distractor. The bees’ scanning behaviour of the stimuli differed for plus signs and multiplication signs, but for each of these, the flight behaviour was consistent irrespective of whether the pattern was rewarding or unrewarding. Bees typically oriented themselves at ~±30° to the patterns such that only one eye had an unobscured view of stimuli. There was a significant preference for initially scanning the left side of the stimuli. Our results suggest that the bees’ movement may be an integral part of a strategy to efficiently analyse and encode their environment.

Summary statement

Automated video tracking and flight analysis is proposed as the next milestone in understanding mechanisms underpinning active vision and cognitive visual abilities of bees.
Bilateral symmetry of linear streptomycete chromosomes
Authors: Algora-Gallardo Lis , Schniete Jana K , Mark David R. , Hunter Iain S. , Herron Paul R.
Published: March 2021

Here we characterise an uncommon set of telomeres fromStreptomyces rimosusATCC 10970, the parental strain of a lineage of one of the earliest-discovered antibiotic-producers. Following the closure of its genome sequence, we then compared unusual telomeres from this organism with the other five classes of replicon ends found amongst streptomycetes. Closed replicons of streptomycete chromosomes were organised with respect to their phylogeny and physical orientation, which demonstrated that different telomeres were not associated with particular clades and were likely shared amongst different strains by plasmid-driven horizontal gene transfer. Furthermore, we identified a ~50 kb origin island with conserved synteny that is located at the core of all streptomycete chromosomes and forms an axis around which symmetrical chromosome inversions can take place. Despite this chromosomal bilateral symmetry, a bias inparSsites to the right oforiCis maintained across the familyStreptomycetaceaeand suggests that the formation of ParB/parSnucleoprotein complexes on the right replichore is a conserved feature in streptomycetes. Consequently our studies reveal novel features of linear bacterial replicons that, through their manipulation, may lead to improvements in growth and productivity of this important industrial group of bacteria.
Function ofAtPGAP1in GPI anchor lipid remodeling and transport to the cell surface of GPI-anchored proteins
Authors: Bernat-Silvestre César , Sanchez-Simarro Judit , Ma Yingxuan , Johnson Kim , Aniento Fernando , Marcote María Jesús
Published: March 2021

GPI-anchored proteins (GPI-APs) play an important role in a variety of plant biological processes including growth, stress response, morphogenesis, signalling and cell wall biosynthesis. The GPI-anchor contains a lipid-linked glycan backbone that is synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) where it is subsequently transferred to the C-terminus of proteins containing a GPI signal peptide by a GPI transamidase. Once the GPI anchor is attached to the protein, the glycan and lipid moieties are remodelled. In mammals and yeast, this remodelling is required for GPI-APs to be included in Coat Protein II (COPII) coated vesicles for their ER export and subsequent transport to the cell surface. The first reaction of lipid remodelling is the removal of the acyl chain from the inositol group by Bst1p (yeast) and PGAP1 (mammals). In this work, we have used a loss-of-function approach to study the role ofPGAP1/Bst1like genes in plants. We have found thatArabidopsisPGAP1 localizes to the ER and probably functions as the GPI inositol-deacylase which cleaves the acyl chain from the inositol ring of the GPI anchor. In addition, we show that PGAP1 function is required for efficient ER export and transport to the cell surface of GPI-APs.

One sentence summary

GPI anchor lipid remodeling in GPI-anchored proteins is required for their transport to the cell surface inArabidopsis.
Naturally-acquired immunity in Syrian Golden Hamsters provides protection from re-exposure to emerging heterosubtypic SARS-CoV-2 variants B.1.1.7 and B.1.351
Authors: Clark Jordan J. , Sharma Parul , Bentley Eleanor G. , Harding Adam C. , Kipar Anja , Neary Megan , Box Helen , Hughes Grant L. , Patterson Edward I. , Sharp Jo , de Oliveira Tulio , Sigal Alex , Hiscox Julian A. , James William S. , Carroll Miles W. , Owen Andrew , Stewart James P.
Published: March 2021

The ability of acquired immune responses against SARS-CoV-2 to protect after subsequent exposure to emerging variants of concern (VOC) such as B1.1.7 and B1.351 is currently of high significance. Here, we use a hamster model of COVID-19 to show that prior infection with a strain representative of the original circulating lineage B of SARS-CoV-2 induces protection from clinical signs upon subsequent challenge with either B1.1.7 or B1.351 viruses, which recently emerged in the UK and South Africa, respectively. The results indicate that these emergent VOC may be unlikely to cause disease in individuals that are already immune due to prior infection, and this has positive implications for overall levels of infection and COVID-19 disease.
Engineered disulfide reveals structural dynamics of locked SARS-CoV-2 spike
Authors: Qu Kun , Chen Qiuluan , Ciazynska Katarzyna A. , Liu Banghui , Zhang Xixi , Wang Jingjing , He Yujie , Guan Jiali , He Jun , Liu Tian , Zhang Xiaofei , Carter Andrew P. , Xiong Xiaoli , Briggs John A. G.
Published: March 2021

The spike (S) protein of SARS-CoV-2 has been observed in three distinct pre-fusion conformations: locked, closed and open. Of these, the function of the locked conformation remains poorly understood. Here we engineered a SARS-CoV-2 S protein construct “S-R/x3” to arrest SARS-CoV-2 spikes in the locked conformation by a disulfide bond. Using this construct we determined high-resolution structures confirming that the x3 disulfide bond has the ability to stabilize the otherwise transient locked conformations. Structural analyses reveal that wild-type SARS-CoV-2 spike can adopt two distinct locked-1 and locked-2 conformations. For the D614G spike, based on which all variants of concern were evolved, only the locked-2 conformation was observed. Analysis of the structures suggests that rigidified domain D in the locked conformations interacts with the hinge to domain C and thereby restrains RBD movement. Structural change in domain D correlates with spike conformational change. We propose that the locked-1 and locked-2 conformations of S are present in the acidic high-lipid cellular compartments during virus assembly and egress. In this model, release of the virion into the neutral pH extracellular space would favour transition to the closed or open conformations. The dynamics of this transition can be altered by mutations that modulate domain D structure, as is the case for the D614G mutation, leading to changes in viral fitness. The S-R/x3 construct provides a tool for the further structural and functional characterization of the locked conformations of S, as well as how sequence changes might alter S assembly and regulation of receptor binding domain dynamics.
Polymorphs of phenazine hexacyanoferrate(II) hydrate: supramolecular isomerism in a 2D hydrogen-bonded network
Authors: Cvrtila Ivica , Stilinović Vladimir
Published: March 2021

The crystal structures of two polymorphs of a phenazine hexacyanoferrate(II) salt/cocrystal, with the formula (Hphen)3[H2Fe(CN)6][H3Fe(CN)6]·2(phen)·2H2O, are reported. The polymorphs are comprised of (Hphen)2[H2Fe(CN)6] trimers and (Hphen)[(phen)2(H2O)2][H3Fe(CN)6] hexamers connected into two-dimensional (2D) hydrogen-bonded networks through strong hydrogen bonds between the [H2Fe(CN)6]2− and [H3Fe(CN)6]− anions. The layers are further connected by hydrogen bonds, as well as through π–π stacking of phenazine moieties. Aside from the identical 2D hydrogen-bonded networks, the two polymorphs share phenazine stacks comprising both protonated and neutral phenazine molecules. On the other hand, the polymorphs differ in the conformation, placement and orientation of the hydrogen-bonded trimers and hexamers within the hydrogen-bonded networks, which leads to different packing of the hydrogen-bonded layers, as well as to different hydrogen bonding between the layers. Thus, aside from an exceptional number of symmetry-independent units (nine in total), these two polymorphs show how robust structural motifs, such as charge-assisted hydrogen bonding or π-stacking, allow for different arrangements of the supramolecular units, resulting in polymorphism.
Symmetry analysis of complex magnetic structure in monoclinically distorted Er3Cu4Sn4
Authors: Baran Stanisław , Deptuch Aleksandra , Penc Bogusław , Hoser Andreas , Szytuła Andrzej
Published: March 2021

The magnetic structure in Er3Cu4Sn4has been determined using high-resolution powder neutron diffraction, supported by symmetry analysis. At low temperatures, Er3Cu4Sn4assumes a crystal structure of the Tm3Cu4Sn4type (in the monoclinic space groupC2/m). The Er atoms occupy two distinct Wyckoff sites: 2cand 4i. It has been found that the Er magnetic moments on the 2csite form a commensurate antiferromagnetic structure (k1= [0, 0, ½]) below 6 K. The magnetic moments reach 8.91 (8) μBat 1.4 K and are parallel to thebaxis. The Er magnetic moments on the 4isite order below 2 K and form an incommensurate antiferromagnetic sine-modulated structure (k2= [1, 0.4667 (1), ½]), with magnetic moments lying in theacplane and perpendicular to theaaxis. The amplitude of modulation equals 8.7 (1) μBat 1.4 K.
Designing a memorable in-store customer shopping experience: practical evidence from sports equipment retailers
Authors: Bonfanti Angelo , Yfantidou Georgia
Published: March 2021

Purpose

This study aims to detect the dimensions of the in-store customer shopping experience from the sports retailer perspective and to investigate how the role of sports equipment stores is changing.

Design/methodology/approach

This exploratory study performs semi-structured interviews with retail managers of sports equipment stores.

Findings

This research reveals the importance of the dimensions of immersive design, sensorial ambient elements, social relationships, trialability and real experience sharing in designing a memorable in-store shopping experience in sports stores, and it highlights that the store's role in the sports context is transitioning from sales space to an interactive, immersive, engaging and convivial place. It proposes a model to design the in-store customer shopping experience effectively.

Practical implications

Sports equipment managers can make their physical stores as experiential as possible by investing in expert, passionate personnel and technology in order to create a real in-store experience of the product and the sports practice.

Originality/value

While sports equipment retailers acknowledge the importance of providing customers with a memorable shopping experience by creating an evocative environment and placing multiple touchpoints in stores, management scholars have paid limited attention to sports stores. This study explores the ways in which sports retail managers can design their stores effectively in experiential terms.
Income and factor substitution: an investigation on the Solow growth model under the constant elasticity of substitution
Authors: Alatas Sedat
Published: March 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine whether the elasticity of substitution (ES) varies between developed and developing countries.

Design/methodology/approach

The author derives the growth regressions from the Solow model under the constant elasticity of substitution production function by using the first-order Taylor series expansion and estimate them for each country group classified based on time-varying behavior of income per worker using the data-driven algorithm.

Findings

The ES is not unitary and varies among country groups. Developed countries generally have a higher ES than developing countries.

Originality/value

For the first time, the author uses the first-order Taylor series expansion to linearize the steady-state value of income per worker, as the author considers this approach to be relatively more straight-forward and tractable. Furthermore, the author estimates the equations using both cross-section and panel data techniques and employs the data-driven algorithm proposed by Phillips and Sul (2007) to classify countries.
“Post-viral tourism’s antagonistic tourist imaginaries”
Authors: Tzanelli Rodanthi
Published: March 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the antagonistic coexistence of different tourism imaginaries in global post-viral social landscapes. Such antagonisms may be resolved at the expense of the ethics of tourism mobility, if not adjudicated by post-human reflexivity. Currently, unreflexive behaviours involve the refusal to conform to lifesaving “stay-at-home” policies, the tendency to book holidays and the public inspection of death zones.

Design/methodology/approach

Each of the consumption styles explored in this paper to discuss post-COVID-19 tourism recovery corresponds to at least one tourist imaginary, antagonistically placed against social imaginaries of moral betterment, solidarity, scientific advancement, national security and labour equality. A multi-modal collection of audio-visual and textual data, gathered through social media and the digital press, is categorised and analysed via critical discourse analysis.

Findings

Data in the public domain suggest a split between pessimistic and optimistic attitudes that forge different tourism futures. These attitudes inform different imaginaries with different temporal orientations and consumption styles.

Social implications

COVID-has exposed the limits of the capacity to efficiently address threats to both human and environmental ecosystems. As once popular tourist locales/destinations are turned by COVID-2019s spread into risk zones with morbid biographical records their identities alter and their imaginaries of suffering become anthropocentric.

Originality/value

Using Castoriadis’ differentiation between social and radical imaginaries, Foucault’s biopolitical analysis, Sorokin’s work on mentalities and Sorel’s reflections on violence, the author argue that this paper has entered a new phase in the governance and experience of tourism, which subsumes the idealistic basis of tourist imaginaries as cosmopolitan representational frameworks under the techno-cultural imperatives of risk, individualistic growth through the adventure (“edgework”) and heritage preservation. This paper also needs to reconsider the contribution of technology (not technocracy) to sustainable post-COVID-19 scenarios of tourism recovery.
Influence of service quality on consumer loyalty: a mediation analysis of health insurance
Authors: Abdel Fattah Fadi Abdel Muniem , Dahleez Khalid Abed , Darwazeh Riyad Neman , Al Alawi Abrar Mohammed Mubarak
Published: March 2021

Purpose

This study aims to examine the influence of service quality (SQ) on customer loyalty (CL) and the mediating role of customer satisfaction (CS) and customer perceived value (CPV) in health insurance products in Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were conveniently collected through a self-administered questionnaire from subscribers to health insurance products and services in Malaysia. A total of 456 available questionnaires were used in the analysis. Partial least square (PLS) structural equation modelling (V3.3) was used to obtain the study results.

Findings

A positive relationship is observed amongst the studied variables. In addition, CPV partially mediates the proposed relationship and also indirectly mediates the relationship between SQ and CS. Lastly, CS partially mediates the proposed relationship. Hence, all proposed direct and indirect relationships are significant and positive.

Research limitations/implications

This research increases the authors’ understanding of the role of CS, SQ and CPV on CL in the health insurance industry in a developing country. The study also shows that insurance companies must establish positive relationships between insurers and customers by providing excellent SQ to maintain CS and loyalty.

Practical implications

This research will help managers and guide the policymakers to establish a national health financing scheme. Furthermore, these results will guide industry players on how to maintain existing and targeting customers.

Social implications

This study has attempted to provide a comprehensive understanding of CL in the Malaysian health insurance industry. Considering the limited research in the Malaysian health insurance context, this study can provide theoretical contribution and a managerial basis for future studies, including implications for the managers. However, to date, research in this sector under the Malaysian context is not adequate to consider SQ, perceived values and CL factors.

Originality/value

This study has attempted to provide a comprehensive understanding of CL in the Malaysian health insurance industry. Considering the limited research in the Malaysian health insurance context, this study can provide theoretical contribution and a managerial basis for future studies, including implications for the managers.
Re‐engaging in our role with communities: The coupling of occupational therapy and community development
Authors: Irvine‐Brown Laura , Ware Vicki‐Ann , Malfitano Ana Paula Serrata , Di Tommaso Amelia
Published: March 2021

Introduction

A growing number of occupational therapists are re‐engaging in work with communities and populations to advance a social justice agenda. To assist in this endeavour, many are coupling occupational therapy and community development theory, as reflected in the social occupational therapy field. Social occupational therapy practitioners work with groups of people who do not necessarily have a health diagnosis or illness but who nonetheless experience occupational issues due to structural barriers within society. Practitioners work across micro‐ and macro‐levels to not only alleviate symptoms of these issues but also to transform their root causes. Although community development is a logical partner to assist such practice, there are inherent tensions in the coupling of these disciplines. This study aimed to explore what theory occupational therapists were using from occupational therapy and community development to guide them in their social occupational therapy practice.

Methods

This study employed a collaborative and participatory qualitative research method. Four occupational therapy community development practitioners each participated in two one‐on‐one dialogical interviews with the first author. These were transcribed and analysed using Braun and Clarke's method of thematic analysis.

Findings

Findings were grouped into two themes: (a) Occupational therapy and community development – synergies and tensions, and (b) Of the profession but not in it. Findings highlighted the theoretical shortcomings of occupational therapy for community development practice, theoretical tensions between the two disciplines, and the ‘underground’ nature of occupational therapy community development practice.

Conclusion

Practitioners should be supported by the occupational therapy profession to be effective community development practitioners, capable of advancing the profession's vision of social justice. Future research should explore methods to support practitioners to navigate tensions between occupational therapy and community development, and bring this practice ‘above ground’.
Masculinities, emotions and men’s suicide
Authors: River Jo , Flood Michael
Published: March 2021

Men account for approximately 75% of the one million annual suicide deaths worldwide. Emerging research indicates a link between suicide and men's active pursuit of hegemonic masculinity via emotional restriction. However, little is known of the continuum of suicidal men's emotional practice, and particularly how men mobilise emotions to actively pursue or resist hegemonic masculine ideals. This theorised life‐history study aimed to explore the emotional lives of 18 Australian men who had attempted suicide. Findings indicate that men in this study experienced a range of emotions. However, during childhood, they learned that expressing emotions such as sadness reduced masculine standing, whereas expressing emotions such as anger through acts of violence could enhance masculine status. Although the gendering of emotions offered participants multiple avenues of action to pursue or contest masculine ideals, they remained vulnerable to suicide. For some men, it became impossible to conceal escalating feelings of distress. For other men, displays of anger and violence resulted in job loss, relationship breakdown or criminal conviction. Many participants indicated that suicide presented a means of ending painful emotions. Paradoxically, suicide could also become an alternative means of demonstrating masculinity, whereby the body became both the vehicle and object of violence.
Information, market power, and price volatility
Authors: Bergemann Dirk , Heumann Tibor , Morris Stephen
Published: March 2021

We consider demand function competition with a finite number of agents and private information. We show that any degree of market power can arise in the unique equilibrium under an information structure that is arbitrarily close to complete information. Regardless of the number of agents and the correlation of payoff shocks, market power may be arbitrarily close to zero (the competitive outcome) or arbitrarily large (so there is no trade). By contrast, price volatility is always lower than the variance of the aggregate shock across all information structures. Alternative trading mechanisms lead to very distinct bounds as a comparison with Cournot competition establishes.
The effect of microhabitat features, anthropogenic pressure and spatial structure on bird diversity in southern Tunisian agroecosystems
Authors: Hamza Foued , Hanane Saâd
Published: March 2021

In southern Tunisia, oases and olive orchards are the two main agroecosystems, hence the importance of investigating their value for native fauna. Using generalised linear mixed models, we assessed the relative value of oases and olive plantations over the wintering and the breeding periods by comparing their avifauna diversity using the Shannon diversity index. We also used data on a series of microhabitat features, anthropogenic pressure and spatial parameters to identify the best predictors of bird diversity. In total, 32 species belonging to 18 families were recorded. Sedentary birds accounted for 47% of the counts. Our results showed that bird diversity depends on habitat type, being higher in oases than in olive plantations, but not on the season as no difference was recorded during the two periods of wintering and breeding. The assessment of the effects of microhabitat features, anthropogenic pressure and spatial structure revealed that bird diversity was positively influenced by the cover of trees in oases and olive orchards, negatively affected by distance to edge and that to the paved road in the olive orchards and spatially structured in both agroecosystems. Variation partitioning analysis revealed that the pure effect of microhabitat features (tree cover) was important in explaining the bird diversity both in oases and olive orchards. The identification of factors affecting bird diversity is of great importance for the efficient management of these agroecosystems. Special attention should be paid to keeping a good tree cover. This cannot be performed without: (a) increasing irrigation frequency, (b) adequate tree maintenance (pruning) and (c) reduction of pesticide application. Also, the synergy among owners, farmers, managers and researchers is recommended for the conservation of bird diversity in this North African arid agricultural region.
Does Internal Corporate Governance Complement or Substitute for External Auditing? Evidence from China's Anti‐corruption Campaign
Authors: Jin Qinglu , Jin Yuchao , Tian Gary Gang , Xuan Yang
Published: March 2021

Two competing hypotheses have been developed for the relationship between internal corporate governance and external auditing. One proposes a complementary relationship, while the other suggests it is substitutable. This study takes advantage of China's recent anti‐corruption campaign as a quasi‐natural experiment to explore this relationship. Using a difference‐in‐differences approach, we find that, after the campaign, internal corporate governance improved more in SOEs (state‐owned enterprises) than in non‐SOEs. SOEs were less likely to choose Big 10 auditors after the campaign, while audit firms assigned less experienced auditors to their SOE client firms and charged lower audit fees. These effects were more pronounced in SOEs that exhibited greater improvement in corporate governance. Overall, we find the anti‐corruption campaign improved corporate governance in SOEs but, at the same time, reduced external audit quality, which supports the substitution view. We argue that this result might be driven by the fact that SOEs have limited demand for high‐quality accounting information because the Chinese government maintains strong control over the capital markets.
The COVID‐19 pandemic: shocks to human capital and policy responses
Authors: Deng Guichuan , Shi Jing , Li Yanli , Liao Yin
Published: March 2021

The COVID‐19 pandemic is significantly disrupting human capital in labour markets. Workforce reductions cause firm outputs to fall and prices to rise, leading to unprecedented economic costs. To quantify the economic costs, we develop a dynamic general equilibrium macroeconomic model that incorporates susceptible–infectious–recovered epidemiology dynamics, where individuals can be healthy, infected or recovered so that evolution of human capital can be well tracked. We characterise optimal public policy responses to the decline in human capital by either isolating susceptible residents from infected residents to reduce the spread of disease or increases in government spending to improve the recovery and death rates.
Cognitive boosting interventions for impulsivity in addiction: a systematic review and meta‐analysis of cognitive training, remediation and pharmacological enhancement
Authors: Anderson Alexandra C. , Youssef George J. , Robinson Alex H. , Lubman Dan I. , Verdejo‐Garcia Antonio
Published: March 2021

Aims

To evaluate and compare the effects of three cognitive boosting intervention approaches (computerised cognitive training, cognitive remediation and pharmacological cognitive enhancers) on measures of impulsive action and impulsive choice.

Design

Systematic review and meta‐analysis of publications that reported original controlled trials of cognitive boosting interventions.

Setting

Studies conducted anywhere in the world. No language restrictions were applied.

Participants

Treatment‐seeking adults with substance use disorder or gambling disorder.

Measurements

Our primary outcome was a reduction in impulsive action or choice on a validated cognitive measure post‐intervention. We assessed risk of bias using the Cochrane Collaboration tool and determined pooled estimates from published reports. We performed random‐effects analyses for impulsive action and impulsive choice outcomes and planned moderator analyses.

Findings

Of 2204 unique studies identified, 60 were included in the full‐text review. Twenty‐three articles were considered eligible for inclusion in the qualitative synthesis and 16 articles were included in our meta‐analysis. Articles eligible for pooled analyses included five working memory training (computerised cognitive training) studies with 236 participants, three goal management training (cognitive remediation) studies with 99 participants, four modafinil (cognitive enhancer) studies with 160 participants and four galantamine (cognitive enhancer) studies with 131 participants. Study duration ranged from 5 days to 13 weeks, with immediate follow‐up assessments. There were no studies identified that specifically targeted gambling disorder. We only found evidence for a benefit on impulsive choice of goal management training, although only in two studies involving 66 participants (standardised mean difference (SMD) = 0.86; 95% CI = 0.49–1.23; P = 0.02; I2 = 0%, P = 0.95).

Conclusion

Cognitive remediation, and specifically goal management training, may be an effective treatment for addressing impulsive choice in addiction. Preliminary evidence does not support the use of computerised cognitive training or pharmacological enhancers to boost impulse control in addiction.
Outcome of early‐onset fetal growth restriction with or without abnormal umbilical artery Doppler flow
Authors: Gairabekova Diana , van Rosmalen Joost , Duvekot Johannes J.
Published: March 2021

Introduction

Early‐onset fetal growth restriction is a pregnancy complication often coinciding with abnormal Doppler flow in the umbilical artery. Absent or reversed end‐diastolic flow in the umbilical artery is associated with adverse perinatal outcome. As the optimal management of this condition is unclear, the objective of this study was to analyze the time interval from admission to delivery of pregnancies with early‐onset fetal growth restriction, while pursuing a policy of postponing delivery unless active management of labor would be required because of fetal distress or maternal condition. We also assessed short‐ and long‐term perinatal outcome.

Material and methods

In this historical cohort study, all pregnant women with singleton pregnancies, admitted during 2004–2015 with early‐onset fetal growth restriction were included. Pregnancies with absent or reversed end‐diastolic flow (AREDF) were compared with pregnancies with a positive end‐diastolic Doppler flow (PEDF). Time until delivery was determined and perinatal outcome was assessed for both groups.

Results

In our study, 111 women were allocated to the PEDF group and 109 to the AREDF group. In the AREDF group, fetal distress was more often an indication for delivery, in comparison with the PEDF group (p = .004). Median time until delivery in patients admitted between 26 and 28 weeks’ gestation was 6+5 weeks in the PEDF group and 1+4 weeks in the AREDF group (p = .001). No statistically significant difference was found between the Doppler groups in the composite adverse neonatal outcome, which includes at least one of the following outcomes: infant respiratory distress syndrome, sepsis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, necrotizing enterocolitis, intraventricular hemorrhage >grade 2, periventricular leukomalacia and perinatal death (p = .63).

Conclusions

In this study, comprising pregnancies with early‐onset fetal growth restriction, fetal distress was observed more frequently in the AREDF group with the consequence of delivery at an earlier stage of gestation, compared with the PEDF group. AREDF was not associated with increased perinatal morbidity and mortality compared with PEDF.
Pathogens associated with pleuritic pig lungs at an abattoir in Queensland Australia
Authors: Turni C , Meers J , Parke K , Singh R , Yee S , Templeton J , Mone NK , Blackall PJ , Barnes TS
Published: March 2021

Objective

Pleurisy in pigs has economic impacts in the production stage and at slaughter. This study sought to establish if some micro‐organisms can be found in high numbers in lungs with pleurisy by assessing batches of pigs at an abattoir in Queensland Australia.

Design

Samples of lung (including trachea/bronchus and lymph nodes) from a maximum of 5 pleurisy affected pigs were collected from 46 batches of pigs representing 46 Queensland farms.

Procedure

Pleurisy‐affected lung areas were cultured by traditional bacteriological methods and bacteria quantified by plate scores. Additionally, tracheal or bronchial swabs and apical lobe fluid were tested forMycoplasma hyopneumoniaeDNA and the superior tracheobronchial lymph nodes were tested for porcine circovirus type 2 DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). All apparently significant bacteria were identified via PCR or sequencing. Typing was undertaken on some of the bacterial isolates.

Results

The most prevalent pathogens wereM. hyopneumoniae,Streptococcus suisand Porcine Circovirus type 2, being found in 34, 38 and 31 batches, respectively. Other bacteria found wereActinobacillusspecies (29 batches),Pasteurella multocida(24 batches),Mycoplasma flocculare(9 batches),Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae(7 batches),Mycoplasma hyorhinis(4 batches), Bisgaard Taxon 10 (1 batch),Glaesserella parasuis(1 batch),Streptococcus minor(1 batch) andStreptococcus porcinus(1 batch). Most batches had more than one bacterial species.

Conclusion

The high percentage of batches infected withS. suis(83%),M. hyopneumoniae(74%) and PCV2 (70%) and clustering by a batch of these pathogens, as well as the presence of many secondary pathogens, suggests synergy between these organisms may have resulted in pleurisy.
Clinical applications for exosomes: Are we there yet?
Authors: Perocheau Dany , Touramanidou Loukia , Gurung Sonam , Gissen Paul , Baruteau Julien
Published: March 2021

Exosomes are a subset of extracellular vesicles essential for cell–cell communication in health and disease with the ability to transport nucleic acids, functional proteins and other metabolites. Their clinical use as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic carriers has become a major field of research over recent years, generating rapidly expanding scientific interest and financial investment. Their reduced immunogenicity compared to liposomes or viral vectors and their ability to cross major physiological barriers like the blood–brain barrier make them an appealing and innovative option as biomarkers and therapeutic agents. Here, we review the latest clinical developments of exosome biotechnology for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, including the most recent COVID‐19‐related exosome‐based clinical trials. We present current exosome engineering strategies for optimal clinical safety and efficacy, and assess the technology developed for good manufacturing practice compliant scaling up and storage approaches along with their limitations in pharmaceutical industry.
KY19382, a novel activator of Wnt/β‐catenin signalling, promotes hair regrowth and hair follicle neogenesis
Authors: Ryu Yeong Chan , Lee Dong‐Hwan , Shim Jiyong , Park Jiyeon , Kim You‐Rin , Choi Sehee , Bak Soon Sun , Sung Young Kwan , Lee Soung‐Hoon , Choi Kang‐Yell
Published: March 2021

Background and Purpose

The promotion of hair regeneration and growth heavily depends on the activation of Wnt/β‐catenin signalling in the hair follicle, including dermal papilla (DP). KY19382, one of the newly synthesized analogues of indirubin‐3′‐monoxime (I3O), was identified as a Wnt/β‐catenin signalling activator via inhibition of the interaction between CXXC‐type zinc finger protein 5 (CXXC5) and dishevelled (Dvl). Given the close relationship between the Wnt/β‐catenin signalling and hair regeneration, we investigated the effect of KY19382 on hair regrowth and hair follicle neogenesis.

Experimental Approach

In vitro hair induction effects of KY19382 were performed in human DP cells. The hair elongation effects of KY19382 were confirmed through the human hair follicle and vibrissa culture system. In vivo hair regeneration abilities of KY19382 were identified in three models: hair regrowth, wound‐induced hair follicle neogenesis (WIHN) and hair patch assays using C57BL/6 mice. The hair regeneration abilities were analysed by immunoblotting, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and immunohistochemical staining.

Key Results

KY19382 activated Wnt/β‐catenin signalling and elevated expression of ALP and the proliferation marker PCNA in DP cells. KY19382 also increased hair length in ex vivo‐cultured mouse vibrissa and human hair follicles and induced hair regrowth in mice. Moreover, KY19382 significantly promoted the generation of de novo hair follicles as shown by WIHN and hair patch assays.

Conclusion and Implications

These results indicate that KY19382 is a potential therapeutic drug that exhibits effective hair regeneration ability via activation of the Wnt/β‐catenin signalling for alopecia treatments.
Characterising transnational ophthalmic surgical partnerships by engagement and training
Authors: Olivieri Daniel J. , Yu Zane Z. , Tabin Geoffrey C. , Thapa Raba , Greenberg Paul B.
Published: March 2021

Background

Transnational ophthalmic partnerships exist between high‐income countries (HICs) and low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs) in varying capacities. We analyzed partnership stakeholders to better understand and address disparities in ophthalmic surgical care.

Methods

An international Web search was conducted to identify surgeons, foundations or organisations participating in ophthalmic delivery and/or capacity building from 2010 to 2019. Partnerships were defined through clinical activities, education and training and/or research support. Descriptive data on current ophthalmic partnerships were collected from published reports, literature reviews and information on stakeholder webpages. Partnerships were classified by the extent of engagement and training: grade I ‘engagement’ represented documented partnerships of at least 1 year and grade I ‘training’ limited or poorly defined skills transfer programmes, while grade III ‘engagement’ represented partnerships with well‐documented fiscal investment and/or research productivity and grade III ‘training’ established training programmes. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and geospatially depicted on Tableau (Mountain View, CA) and ArcMap software (Redlands, CA).

Results

In total, 209 unique HIC‐LMIC partnerships encompassing 92 unique countries were described. The most common HIC partners were from North America (123; 59%), followed by Europe (75; 36%). The most common LMIC partners were from Africa (102; 49%), followed by Asia‐Pacific (54; 26%) and Latin America (44; 21%). Additionally, partnerships most frequently provided services in cataract (48%), glaucoma (25%) and diabetic retinopathy (25%). The most common ‘engagement’ classifications were grade I (36%) or II (40%); the most common ‘training’ classifications were grade I (61%) or II (23%).

Conclusion

Transnational ophthalmic partnerships exist with varying degrees of both engagement and training. Partnerships are stronger in research collaboration and direct services, and weaker in LMIC‐directed training programmes.
Diet, eating behaviour and weight gain in men and women with overweight/obesity receiving varenicline for smoking cessation
Authors: Svendsen Mette , Heggen Eli , Klemsdal Tor Ole , Tonstad Serena
Published: March 2021

Because trying to quit smoking and not gain weight requires changes in two major behaviours simultaneously we explored eating behaviour in smokers with overweight/obesity making a quit attempt using guideline‐based treatment. Participants were randomized to a carbohydrate‐reduced or fat‐reduced diet. The Three Factor Eating Questionnaire and Binge Eating Scale were completed by 48 of 64 participants in the low‐carbohydrate and 47 of 58 in the fat‐reduced group at randomization, after 6 and 14 weeks. At 6 weeks, no between group differences were seen in eating behaviour scores thus, we combined the sample for further analyses. In the combined sample, restraint increased (3.94 [95% CI 3.05, 4.83]), disinhibition (uncontrolled eating) decreased (−0.86 [95% CI‐1.31, −0.41]) and binge eating decreased (−1.95 [95% CI −2.83, −1.06]), while hunger scores did not change (−0.43 [95% CI −0.89, 0.03]) after 14 weeks. In a general linear model, increase in dietary restraint (P= .012) and decrease in binge eating (P= .040) were associated with lower weight gain (model R2adj= .147). In a smoking cessation program, dietary support regardless of diet was associated with increased dietary restraint and reduced binge eating. Because smoking cessation causes weight gain these results indicate that dietary support leads to eating behaviour changes that may prevent weight gain.
Alcohol‐related cirrhosis is associated with high coronary artery calcium scores in patients undergoing evaluation for orthotopic liver transplantation
Authors: Benrajab Karim , Godman Macy , Emhmed Ali Saad , Sorrell Vincent , Salama Fady , Shah Malay , Mei Xiaonan , Dela Cruz Anna C. , Gedaly Roberto
Published: March 2021

Background and aims

Coronary artery disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in liver transplant patients. Coronary artery calcium (CAC) score has been used to evaluate the risk of CAD in non‐cirrhotic patients. However, its significance in cirrhotic patients is unknown.

This study aimed to identify factors associated with elevated CAC scores in patients with end‐stage liver disease undergoing liver transplant evaluation.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed all patients who underwent liver transplantation evaluation and had coronary CT scan between January 2015 and December 2018. Patients with prior history of CAD were excluded. CAC score was calculated based on the method described by Agatston.

Results

Sixty‐two patients were included. 37.1% had alcohol‐related liver disease and 27.4% had NASH cirrhosis. Mean CAC score was 261.1 ± SD, 463.84. Alcohol‐related liver disease, male gender, and hypertension were significantly associated with CAC score >100 and only alcohol‐related liver disease was associated with CAC score >300. In logistic regression, patients with alcohol‐related liver disease had more than sixfold increase in risk of having CAC scores >100 and 300 (OR 6.14, and 6.70, respectively).

Conclusion

Alcohol‐related liver disease, male gender, and hypertension were significantly associated with an increased CAC score >100. However, alcohol‐related liver disease was the only factor associated with CAC score >300.