bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High SHP2 expression determines the efficacy of PD‐1/PD‐L1 inhibitors in advanced KRAS mutant non‐small cell lung cancer
Authors: Feng Hui‐Bo , Chen Yu , Xie Zhi , Jiang Jie , Zhong Yu‐Min , Guo Wei‐Bang , Yan Wen‐Qing , Lv Zhi‐Yi , Lu Dan‐Xia , Liang Hong‐Ling , Xu Fang‐Ping , Yang Jin‐Ji , Yang Xue‐Ning , Zhou Qing , Zhang Dong‐Kun , Zhang Zhou , Chuai Shao‐Kun , Zhang Heng‐Hui , Wu Yi‐Long , Zhang Xu‐Chao
Published: September 2021

Background

Src homology region 2 domain‐containing phosphatase 2 (SHP2) is a novel target for Kirsten rat sarcoma oncogene (KRAS) mutant cancer. We retrospectively studied the significance of SHP2 in KRAS mutant non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with immunotherapy and its relationship with tumor microenvironment (TME).

Methods

Sixty‐one advanced KRAS mutant NSCLC patients who underwent immunotherapy were enrolled. Next‐generation sequencing (NGS) was used to profile mutation status. The expression of SHP2, phospho‐SHP2 (pSHP2), and programmed death ligand 1 (PD‐L1) were analyzed by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Quantitative multiplexed immunofluorescence cytochemistry (mIFC) analysis was conducted to describe the TME.

Results

SHP2 was heterogeneously expressed in 32 samples in both tumor cells and immune cells and highly expressed (H‐score >10) in 25 (78.1%) samples. The expression levels of SHP2 and pSHP2 were positively correlated. Stromal SHP2 (s‐SHP2) was higher in tumors with PD‐L1 ≥50% versus PD‐L1 <50% (p = 0.039). By quantitative mIFC analysis, the expression of s‐SHP2 had positive correlation with CD8, CD4, CD68, and PD‐L1 levels in stromal area. Patients with high SHP2 expression made up 100.0% of the partial respond (PR) and 80.0% of the stable disease (SD), whereas 50.0% of the progress disease (PD). High SHP2 expression was associated with longer progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) (p < 0.001, p = 0.013). Patients with high expression of both SHP2 and PD‐L1 had longer PFS (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

High SHP2 expression could predict the efficacy of immunotherapy and better survival in advanced KRAS mutant NSCLC. SHP2 may function in both tumor cells and immune cells, warranting further study on the potential diverse effects of SHP2 inhibition in TME.
The management of HER2‐positive early breast cancer: Current and future therapies
Authors: Chen Julia , Colosimo Maree , Lim Elgene
Published: September 2021

Advances in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)‐directed therapies have revolutionised the care of patients with HER2‐positive breast cancer. While adjuvant trastuzumab in combination with chemotherapy has dramatically improved the prognosis for patients with early‐stage disease, up to a quarter of patients will develop recurrent disease. The standard‐of‐care treatment paradigm has evolved with the introduction of newer HER2‐directed therapies and increasing use of neoadjuvant systemic therapy, the latter providing us with important functional data to HER2‐directed therapies and impacting subsequent adjuvant therapy decisions. However, these new strategies come at a cost of increased toxicity and economic burden, and only a subset of patients benefit from such approaches. Thus, ongoing work is required to identify predictive biomarkers of response, to de‐escalate treatment in patients who may do just as well with less therapy, and new therapeutic approaches for patients who do not respond to currently used therapies. In this review, we will examine the current therapeutic landscape, summarise the latest evidence, and list the current treatment algorithms for early stage HER2‐positive breast cancer.
‘Empowering clinicians in smaller sites’: A qualitative study of clinician's experiences with a rural Virtual Paediatric Feeding Clinic
Authors: Luscombe Georgina M. , Hawthorn Juliet , Wu Alison , Green Belinda , Munro Alice
Published: September 2021

Objective

To explore the experiences of ‘spoke site’ allied health and child and family health clinicians in the provision of care through a pilot ‘hub and spoke’ model Virtual Paediatric Feeding Clinic (VPFC) outreach service.

Design

The study was qualitative, with data from virtual interview transcripts analysed using thematic analysis.

Setting

Orange Health Service (‘hub site’) and seven community health centres within the Western NSW Local Health District (‘spoke sites’).

Participants

Nine ‘spoke site’ clinicians (from dietetics, speech pathology, occupational therapy and child and family health nursing), who had participated in the pilot clinic.

Interventions

Participants took part in a semi‐structured interview with a member of the research team.

Main outcome measures

Spoke site clinicians experiences and perceptions of the VPFC.

Results

Four key themes emerged: (1) impact of the VPFC on ‘spoke site’ clinicians, (2) benefits for clients and families, (3) perceptions of the virtual model of care and (4) VPFC service challenges.

Conclusion

The expansion of an existing interdisciplinary Paediatric Feeding Clinic into a virtual service demonstrates the use of technology to bridge a gap in healthcare. Clinicians reported benefits not only for families, but for their own knowledge and confidence in provision of care and reduced professional isolation through connection with discipline‐specific colleagues.
Multiple‐level copy number variations in cell‐free DNA for prognostic prediction of HCC with radical treatments
Authors: Wang Yang , Zhou Kaixiang , Wang Xiangxu , Liu Yang , Guo Dongnan , Bian Zhenyuan , Su Liping , Liu Kun , Gu Xiwen , Guo Xu , Wang Lin , Zhang Hongmei , Tao Kaishan , Xing Jinliang
Published: September 2021

Copy number variations (CNVs) in cell‐free DNA (cfDNA) are emerging as noninvasive biomarkers for various cancers. However, multiple‐level analysis of cfDNA CNVs for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with radical treatments remains uninvestigated. Here, CNVs at genome‐wide, chromosomal‐arm, and bin levels were analyzed in cfDNA from 117 HCC patients receiving radical treatments. Then, the relationship between cfDNA CNVs and clinical outcomes was explored. Our results showed that a concordant profile of CNVs was observed between cfDNA and tumor tissue DNA. Three genome‐wide CNV indicators including tumor fraction (TFx), prediction score (P‐score), and stability score (S‐score) were calculated and demonstrated to exhibit significant correlation with poorer overall survival (OS) and recurrence‐free survival (RFS). Furthermore, the high‐frequency cfDNA CNVs at chromosomal‐arm level including the loss of 4q, 17p, and 19p and the gain of 8q and 1q clearly predicted HCC prognosis. Finally, a bin‐level risk score was constructed to improve the ability of CNVs in predicting prognosis. Altogether, our study indicates that the multiple‐level cfDNA CNVs are significantly associated with OS and RFS in HCC patients with radical treatments, suggesting that cfDNA CNVs detected by low‐coverage whole‐genome sequencing (WGS) may be used as potential prognostic biomarkers of HCC patients.
Evaluating the impact of a community‐based livelihood intervention on child protection: A mixed method approach
Authors: Doh Daniel , Kamara Joseph , Galukande Moses , Renzaho Andre
Published: September 2021

Globally, children face an increasing risk of harm from abuse, violence and neglect. Progress towards securing a safe environment for them is slow and uneven. There is a growing need to understand how innovative community‐driven interventions could address sociocultural practices that harm children. In this paper, we evaluated the impact of the community‐driven urban programme on livelihood, income fortification and socio‐civic transformation intervention (UPLIFT) on child protection in Kampala, Uganda. We used a mixed‐method evaluation approach, which incorporated the difference‐in‐difference analysis and Kernel propensity score matching to estimate the programme's impact, and for the analysis of our qualitative data, we used the thematic approach. There were 663 pre‐intervention participants and 559 post‐intervention participants, aged between 13 and 17 years, in the study. Results showed improvements in various aspects of child protection; for example, there was strengthened community responsibility for child protection services and uptake of policy. However, we found undesirable impacts on situations presenting a serious risk of harm to children. We argue that protecting children against harm is a complex process, often rooted in the sociocultural and religious life of communities, and that child protection interventions must be deliberate about identifying and targeting ingrained sociocultural practices that sustain child abuse.
Accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging staging of tumour and nodal stage in rectal cancer treated by primary surgery: a population‐based study
Authors: Dahlbäck Cecilia , Korsbakke Kevin , Alshibiby Bergman Thule , Zaki Jörgen , Zackrisson Sophia , Buchwald Pamela
Published: September 2021

Aim

The preoperative stage of rectal cancer is an important prognostic factor affecting treatment recommendations. Currently, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used for clinical staging to identify patients who should be recommended for neoadjuvant oncological treatment. The aim of this work was to investigate the accuracy of the preoperative T‐ and N‐stage and also involvement of the mesorectal fascia (MRF) as determined by MRI in a Swedish national cohort.

Method

Patients who had undergone resectional surgery for rectal cancer without neoadjuvant treatment in Sweden in the period 2013–2017 were identified through the Swedish Colorectal Cancer Registry (n = 2062). The T‐ and N‐stage determined by preoperative MRI were compared with the histopathological results. The MRI‐assessed MRF status was compared with the circumferential resection margin.

Results

Sensitivity for differentiating T1‐2 from T3‐4 was 69% and specificity 77%. Sensitivity to detect N1‐2 was 42% and specificity 81%. Sensitivity for MRF positivity was 50% and specificity 92%. Agreement analysed by weighted kappa analysis was 0.47 for T‐stage [confidence interval (CI) 0.44–0.51], 0.24 for N‐stage (CI 0.19–0.24) and 0.20 for MRF status (CI 0.12–0.29).

Conclusion

In this study, accuracy of the preoperative MRI was lower than expected for rectal cancers. Overstaging might lead to potentially harmful neoadjuvant treatment and understaging can lead to a higher risk of tumour recurrence. The results of this study show that efforts should be made to increase the accuracy of the preoperative evaluation in order to optimize treatment recommendations.
Onset Neighborhood Density Slows Lexical Access in High Vocabulary 30‐Month Olds
Authors: Donnelly Seamus , Kidd Evan
Published: September 2021

There is consensus that the adult lexicon exhibits lexical competition. In particular, substantial evidence demonstrates that words with more phonologically similar neighbors are recognized less efficiently than words with fewer neighbors. How and when these effects emerge in the child's lexicon is less clear. In the current paper, we build on previous research by testing whether phonological onset density slows lexical access in a large sample of 100 English‐acquiring 30‐month‐olds. The children participated in a visual world looking‐while‐listening task, in which their attention was directed to one of two objects on a computer screen while their eye movements were recorded. We found moderate evidence of inhibitory effects of onset neighborhood density on lexical access and clear evidence for an interaction between onset neighborhood density and vocabulary, with larger effects of onset neighborhood density for children with larger vocabularies. Results suggest the lexicons of 30‐month‐olds exhibit lexical‐level competition, with competition increasing with vocabulary size.
Conceptual Similarity and Communicative Need Shape Colexification: An Experimental Study
Authors: Karjus Andres , Blythe Richard A. , Kirby Simon , Wang Tianyu , Smith Kenny
Published: September 2021

Colexification refers to the phenomenon of multiple meanings sharing one word in a language. Cross‐linguistic lexification patterns have been shown to be largely predictable, as similar concepts are often colexified. We test a recent claim that, beyond this general tendency, communicative needs play an important role in shaping colexification patterns. We approach this question by means of a series of human experiments, using an artificial language communication game paradigm. Our results across four experiments match the previous cross‐linguistic findings: all other things being equal, speakers do prefer to colexify similar concepts. However, we also find evidence supporting the communicative need hypothesis: when faced with a frequent need to distinguish similar pairs of meanings, speakadjust their colexification preferences to maintain communicative efficiency and avoid colexifying those similar meanings which need to be distinguished in communication. This research provides further evidence to support the argument that languages are shaped by the needs and preferences of their speakers.
Presence of management, entrepreneurship, leadership and marketing topics in the dental school curriculum in Brazil
Authors: D’Assunção Fábio Luiz Cunha , Kalenderian Elsbeth , Carneiro Davi Clementino , Verçosa Maria Vitória Fragoso , dos Santos Jozemar Pereira , Yansane Alfa‐Ibrahim , D’Assunção Verônica Cabral dos Santos Cunha , Felinto Arturo Rodrigues
Published: September 2021

Introduction

To analyse the presence and characteristics of curricular components related to management, entrepreneurship, leadership and marketing as part of the structure and teaching methods of undergraduate courses in dentistry in Brazil.

Materials and Methods

This is an observational study that used the Ministry of Education's Undergraduate Course Accreditation Platform, which included 424 undergraduate courses in Dentistry on the last date of collection (August 31 2019). The following items were analysed as follows: the existence of curricular components in relation to the proposed themes, the most recurring denominations of curricular components, minimum and maximum workload, mandatory/optional classification, theoretical/practical teaching condition and in which year the curricular components were inserted.

Results

367/424 (86.6%) of dentistry courses in Brazil included at least one of the topics: management, entrepreneurship, leadership and marketing curricular components in their curriculum, whilst 57/424 (13.4%) did not have these curricular components in their curricular structure. The most frequent names were "Management" 99 (45.21%) and "Entrepreneurship" 80 (36.5%). There was a predominance of the “theoretical method” and the number of hours varied considerably, with the most common course hours between 40 and 60 h. The majority of curricular components were inserted in the third to fifth year and offered on a compulsory basis.

Conclusion

Most curricular matrices of dentistry courses in Brazil had components related to the topics studied. However, due to the variety of curricular components' names, hours, periods of courses and different teaching methodologies, there is a need to redesign the teaching and learning process, defining educational and evaluation models with common curricular components.
A simple method for estimating the optimum water content for tillage
Authors: Huo Jing , Song Xue , Chen Chong , Zhou Hu , Shang Jianying
Published: September 2021

Simple and quick determination of the optimum water content for tillage (θOPT) is helpful to guide tillage operations. Based on the definition of θOPT that is the water content at the inflection point of the soil water retention curve, a simple method was established to estimate the θOPT from saturated water content (θs) (θOPT = 0.75θs). The validation results on 132 soils with varying texture showed that the root mean squared error and mean error were 0.021 and 0.009 g g−1, respectively. These results confirmed that the θs was valuable information for estimating θOPT and the proposed method could give a reasonable estimation for θOPT.
Spotlight on COVID‐19: eighteen months on
Authors: Zacchigna Serena , Marcello Alessandro , Banks Lawrence
Published: September 2021

In this Editorial, we highlight the contents of The FEBS Journal’s second Special Issue focussed on COVID‐19. The issue covers a variety of aspects related to COVID‐19, ranging from the most recent improvements in therapies and the significant impact of rapidly developed COVID‐19 vaccines to the emergence of variants of SARS‐CoV‐2, the role of the immune system in the various stages of the disease and the impact of the disease in different organs. We hope that this collection of articles will give readers an informative and critical perspective on recent advances in understanding and treating COVID‐19.
Rejuvenation of standing and gait balance in community‐dwelling older individuals: A comparative study between 2006 and 2019
Authors: Watanabe Miyoko , Ishizaka Masahiro , Yakabi Akihiro , Itokazu Masafumi , Kubo Akira , Urano Tomohiko
Published: September 2021

Aim

The present study investigated the rejuvenation of physical function in terms of walking speed and grip strength. Specifically, it examined the rejuvenation of physical functions in community‐dwelling older individuals between 2006 and 2019. The study is novel, because it analyzes this by focusing on gait balance.

Methods

Data were collected from 339 participants (52 men, 287 women) in 2006, and 382 participants (83 men, 299 women) in 2019. They were categorized according to age: early‐stage and late‐stage groups for men, and early‐stage, late‐stage and latest‐stage groups for women. These groups were analyzed by participants' walking speed, grip strength, Timed Up and Go test, Functional Reach test and One‐Leg Standing test. The results were compared based on two factors: time (2006 to 2019) and age group.

Results

The scores for the Timed Up and Go and One‐Leg Standing tests were better in 2019 than in 2006 for all age groups in both older men and women. However, improvement in walking speed was observed only in women. Additionally, the decline in physical function with age was slower for walking speed among men, and Functional Reach and One‐Leg Standing tests among women.

Conclusions

The changes over this 13‐year period showed that the physical function of community‐dwelling older individuals was rejuvenated in terms of improved standing and walking balance. These rejuvenations will aid in preventing falls among community‐dwelling older individuals. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2021; 21: 975–980.
Coordinating physiotherapy care for persons with haemophilia
Authors: Timmer Merel A. , Blokzijl Johan , Schutgens Roger E. G. , Veenhof Cindy , Pisters Martijn F.
Published: September 2021

Introduction

Physiotherapy is highly recommended for persons with haemophilia (PWH), to regain functioning after bleeding and to maintain functioning when dealing with haemophilic arthropathy. However, many PWH live too far from their Haemophilia Comprehensive Care Centre (HCCC) to receive regular treatment at their HCCC. Physiotherapists in primary care may have limited experience with a rare disease like haemophilia.

Aim

To explore experiences of stakeholders with primary care physiotherapy for PWH and develop recommendations to optimize physiotherapy care coordination.

Methods

A RAND approach was used, consisting of a Delphi procedure with e‐mailed questionnaires and a consensus meeting. Included stakeholders were PWH, physiotherapists from HCCC's and primary care physiotherapists. HCCC physiotherapists approached patients from their centre and primary care physiotherapists from their network to fill in the questionnaires. Purposive sampling was used to select participants from the survey sample for the consensus meeting.

Results

Ninety‐six primary care physiotherapists, 54 PWH and eight HCCC physiotherapists completed the questionnaire. Subsequently, four PWH, three primary care physiotherapists and four HCCC physiotherapists participated in the consensus meeting. The questionnaires yielded 33 recommendations, merged into a final list of 20 recommendations based on the consensus meeting. The final rank‐order consists of 13 recommendations prioritized by at least one stakeholder.

Conclusion

Commitment to a formal network is considered not feasible for a rare disease like haemophilia. Development of a practice guideline, easy‐accessible information and contact details, two‐way and open communication between HCCC and primary care and criteria to refer back to the HCCC are recommended.
Phenolic composition, antiproliferative and antiulcerogenic activities of a polyphenol‐rich purified extract from açai (Euterpe oleracea) fruits
Authors: de Oliveira Ana Caroline , Miyagawa Livia Midori , Monteiro Karin Maia , Dias Aécio L.S. , Longato Giovanna B. , Spindola Humberto , Vendramini‐Costa Débora B. , Quetin‐Leclercq Joëlle , Carvalho João E. , Rogez Hervé
Published: September 2021

The bioactivity and phytochemical composition of a partially purified extract of açai (PPEA), concentrated in phenolic compounds (PC) and without the presence of macronutrients, were investigated. The major PC quantified by UHPLC‐DAD‐LTQ‐Orbitrap MS‐MS/MS in the PPEA are anthocyanins. In vitro, PPEA showed a cytostatic effect on the K‐562 lymphoid leukaemia at a concentration of 40 μg PC mL−1, with a GI50 equal to 1.08 μg PC mL−1. In vivo, the extract did not promote acute toxicity in mice in any of the doses tested. The extract displayed gastroprotective activity in rats treated orally with 16, 48 and 160 mg PC kg−1, with a significant decrease in the ulcerative lesion index, compared with the negative control. The lack of toxicity and the bioactivity of the PPEA show that this extract is beneficial to health and useful as a commercial food additive containing natural violet colourant, with pharmaceutical and functional potentials.
Evaluating targeted heuristics for vulnerability assessment in flood impact model chains
Authors: Zischg Andreas Paul , Röthlisberger Veronika , Mosimann Markus , Profico‐Kaltenrieder Rahel , N. Bresch David , Fuchs Sven , Kauzlaric Martina , Keiler Margreth
Published: September 2021

In flood risk management, the choice of vulnerability functions has a remarkable impact on the overall uncertainty of modelling flood damage. The spatial transferability of empirical vulnerability functions is limited, leading to the need for computation and validation of region‐specific vulnerability functions. In data‐scarce regions however, this option is not feasible. In contrast, the physical processes of flood impact model chains can be developed in these regions because of the availability of global datasets. Here we evaluated the implementation of a synthetic vulnerability function into a flood impact model. The function bases on expert heuristics on a targeted sample of representative buildings (targeted heuristics). We applied the vulnerability function in a meso‐scale river basin and evaluated the new function by comparing the resulting flood damage with the damage computed by other approaches, (1) an ensemble of vulnerability functions available from the literature, (2) an individual vulnerability function calibrated with region‐specific data, and (3) the vulnerability function used in flood risk management by the Swiss government. The results show that targeted heuristics can be a valuable alternative for developing flood impact models in regions without any data or only few data on flood damage.
Exchange Rate Sensitivity and the Net Foreign Asset Composition
Authors: GARDBERG MALIN
Published: September 2021

Many currencies, especially from countries with negative net foreign assets, depreciate during financial turbulence. Using a panel of 26 currencies for the period April 2002 to December 2019, I show that the net foreign asset composition is related to the exchange rate sensitivity to global financial market uncertainty changes. Net foreign debt is associated with a higher sensitivity, whereas net equity and FDI are not. Ownership matters too, as this association is stronger for private net liabilities. In emerging markets, this vulnerability arises from net other investments, while G10 currencies are more sensitive the more private net portfolio debt the countries have.
Partner perceptions are associated with objective sensor‐measured adherence to oral appliance therapy in obstructive sleep apnea
Authors: Gjerde Kjersti , Lehmann Sverre , Bjorvatn Bjørn , Berge Morten , Thuen Frode , Berge Thomas , Johansson Anders
Published: September 2021

The aims of the present prospective clinical study were to determine objective, sensor‐measured adherence to a mandibular advancement device (MAD) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and to identify partner‐specific adherence‐related factors. A total of 77 eligible participants with mild, moderate, or severe OSA and who were non‐adherent to continuous positive airway pressure (mean age 56.2 years) participated in the study (32.5% women). The mean (range) observation time between MAD delivery and final follow‐up was 8.3 (3.4–16.5) months. The mean apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) was 26.6 events/hr at baseline and 12.5 events/hr at the 8‐month follow‐up (both p < 0.001). The mean sensor‐measured adherence at the 8‐month follow‐up was 60.1% for ≥4 hr/night of appliance use for ≥5 days/week. Average usage was 6.4 hr/night, when worn. The mean reduction in the AHI was significantly greater in the “good adherence” (Δ 17.4) than the “poor adherence” group (Δ11.0; p < 0.05). From the partner’s perspective, the appliance had a positive effect on sharing a bedroom in the good‐ (55%) compared to the poor‐adherence group (25%; p < 0.05) and on their relationship (51.7% versus 17.9%, respectively; p < 0.05). Regression analyses identified the partner’s snoring and apneas to be the most significant factor predicting good adherence to MAD (odds ratio 4.4, 95% confidence interval 1.4–14.0). In conclusion, social factors, like partner perceptions, were positively associated with adherence, which indicate that partner’s attitudes and support may be a resource that can be utilised to improve adherence in oral appliance treatment of OSA.
Second Language Chinese Computer‐Based Writing by Learners With Alphabetic First Languages: Writing Behaviors, Second Language Proficiency, Genre, and Text Quality
Authors: Lu Xiaojun
Published: September 2021

This study examined the relationship of L2 Chinese proficiency with writing behaviors in L2 Chinese and whether this relationship is mediated by genre. It additionally investigated how writing behaviors relate to L2 Chinese text quality. A sample of 32 L2 writers of Chinese performed two argumentative and two narrative tasks on a computer. Their keystrokes were logged. Participants’ L2 Chinese proficiency was estimated by a cloze test. Writing behaviors were operationalized as online measures of fluency, pausing, and revision. Text quality was assessed via holistic rating. Regression analyses revealed positive relationships of L2 proficiency to fluency, between‐word pause duration, between‐clause and between‐sentence pause frequency, and below‐clause revision frequency. L2 proficiency was also found to negatively correlate with within‐word and between‐word pause frequency and between‐sentence pause duration. Genre did not modulate the relationship of L2 proficiency to writing behaviors. More highly rated L2 Chinese texts were associated with fewer between‐word pauses.
Recent scholarship on eighteenth‐century women's poetry
Authors: Keown Kathleen
Published: September 2021

The eighteenth century was a period of vital importance for the development of women's poetry: with each passing decade, more women began to read and write verse in every available genre and form. Since the late 1980s, this poetry has become increasingly accessible, and individual women poets have been thoroughly integrated into academic research and teaching. This essay provides an overview of recent scholarship on eighteenth‐century women's poetry. It begins by outlining broad trends in women's literary history which have shaped the field, before highlighting the unique challenges that women's poetry presents. It then offers a more focused survey of recently published scholarship, with an emphasis on the last 2 decades. Emerging research themes span from the growth in book history and manuscript investigations, to the resurgence of formalist interpretation. Studies of women's poetry have allowed scholars not only to reassess women's contributions to eighteenth‐century literary history, but to reconsider the very nature of that history—by re‐envisioning how and why poetry was written, innovated, circulated, published, read, and valued within the period. The essay concludes by proposing future directions for the field, including the need for continued recovery work, more critical editions and monograph studies, new methodologies, cross‐period dialogues with scholars of early modern and Romantic women's poetry, and practical initiatives to support precarious early career researchers.
Intra‐session repeatability of anterior chamber depth across the chamber width using Pentacam Scheimpflug imaging in healthy subjects
Authors: Phu Jack , Tong Janelle , Kalloniatis Michael
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Despite the importance of anterior chamber depth (ACD) measurements in disease and ageing, the repeatability and their threshold for change is not known. Our purpose was to determine the intra‐session repeatability of Pentacam Scheimpflug photography for measuring the ACD across the chamber width in healthy subjects and thus inform expected limits of normality.

Methods

Pentacam Scheimpflug photography was used to obtain ACD measurements at 57 points across the central 8mm of the chamber width from one randomly selected eye of 130 healthy (normal vision and no ocular diseases, except age‐normal cataracts) subjects (median age 58.0 years, interquartile range 46.3–63.0 years; 48 males, 82 females). Intra‐session ACD measurements were compared. Univariate and multivariate linear regression was performed to identify categorical and continuous variables demonstrating a significant relationship with ACD and its repeatability.

Results

Bland‐Altman analyses showed no directional or depth‐dependent bias in the difference between the first and second tests (mean bias −0.003 mm, 95% limits of agreement −0.115 to +0.109 mm). Multivariate analysis found gender to be a significant factor (p < 0.0001), but not age (p = 0.69) nor ethnicity (p = 0.65), although the model fit was poor (R2 = 0.004). There were no regional differences in repeatability measures found in males, but six locations in the superior aspect in females were found to be significantly different in their repeatability characteristics. Tolerance limits used to calculate the number of step sizes between <20 and >60‐year‐old age groups found 8.1–11.5 steps for females, and 7.5–9.2 steps for males.

Conclusions

Scheimpflug imaging using the Pentacam has excellent intra‐session repeatability. Only gender appeared to affect repeatability characteristics, manifesting with a greater number of meaningful steps of change between two extremes of age range in females compared to males, which provides guidance for identifying clinically significant and measurable change between tests.
Don't Stop Thinking About Tomorrow: Attitudes De se and De motu
Authors: Winsberg Eric
Published: September 2021

This paper argues that the classification of propositional attitudes into the de re, de dicto, and de se is incomplete. De se attitudes are widely agreed to be closely connected to de re attitudes. But there is a species of belief that is linked to agent‐centered action in the way that de se beliefs are, but is also associated with entities, places, and especially times, under a description. These mark out a fourth kind. One way to think about what makes them distinctive is that, despite being ‘essentially indexical’ they can be retained across different contexts of evaluation without having diagonal content. The paper also discusses the connection between such beliefs and the kinds of utterances (like ‘Don't put off for tomorrow what you can do today’) that are contested as examples of what David Kaplan called ‘monsters.’
OsHyPRP06/R3L1 regulates root system development and salt tolerance via apoplastic ROS homeostasis in rice (Oryza sativa L.)
Authors: Zhao Wenli , Wang Kun , Chang Yanpeng , Zhang Bo , Li Fei , Meng Yuxuan , Li Mengqi , Zhao Quanzhi , An Shiheng
Published: September 2021

Plant root morphology is constantly reshaped in response to triggers from the soil environment. Such modifications in root system architecture involve changes in the abundance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the apoplast and in cell wall (CW) composition. The hybrid proline‐rich proteins (HyPRPs) gene family in higher plants is considered important in the regulation of CW structure. However, the functions of HyPRPs remain to be characterized. We therefore analysed the functions of OsR3L1 (Os04g0554500) in rice. qRT‐PCR and GUS staining revealed that OsR3L1 is expressed in roots. While the r3l1 mutants had a defective root system with fewer adventitious roots (ARs) and lateral roots (LRs) than the wild type, lines overexpressing OsR3L1 (R3L1‐OE) showed more extensive LR formation but with a shorter root length. The expression of OsR3L1 was initiated by the OsMADS25 transcription factor. Moreover, the abundance of OsR3L1 transcripts was increased by NaCl. The R3L1‐OE‐3 line exhibited enhanced salt tolerance, whereas the r3l1–2 mutant showed greater salt sensitivity. The addition of H2O2 increased the levels of OsR3L1 transcripts. Data are presented indicating that OsR3L1 modulates H2O2 accumulation in the apoplast. We conclude that OsR3L1 regulates salt tolerance through regulation of peroxidases and apoplastic H2O2 metabolism.
Unravelling the enigma of seed dispersal in Vanilla
Authors: Pansarin E. R.
Published: September 2021

Vanilla bean is the second most expensive spice in the world. While widely cultivated for centuries due to its importance for industry and gastronomy, its dispersers are unknown.

In the present study, I investigated the system of seed dispersal of Neotropical vanillas based on experimental observations, the morpho‐anatomy of fruits and seeds, and the effect of dormancy breakdown on seed germination.

My results show the central cavity of the fruit contains copious amounts of seed with sclerified coats that are consumed by birds. The combination of gradually opening dehiscent fruits and a well‐developed mesocarp rich in raphide idioblasts reinforces the idea that seed dispersal in Vanilla is more adapted to non‐chewing animals. The digestive acids of birds sclerify the hard seed coats, breaking dormancy and promoting germination at the beginning of the wet season, which is fundamental for seedling survival and for the establishment of plants in the early stages of development during the rainy season.

Zoochory in Vanilla is show for the first time. The chemical scarification of the seed coat is crucial for synchronizing the biological processes involved in seed germination. My evidence on endozoochory and the processes involved in seed germination of Neotropical vanillas provides new insights into understanding of the early evolution of seed dispersal in orchids.
Policy Design for COVID‐19: Worldwide Evidence on the Efficacies of Early Mask Mandates and Other Policy Interventions
Authors: An Brian Y. , Porcher Simon , Tang Shui‐Yan , Kim Eunji Emily
Published: September 2021

To understand the extent to which a policy instrument’s early adoption is crucial in crisis management, we leverage unique worldwide data that record the daily evolution of policy mandate adoptions and COVID‐19 infection and mortality rates. The analysis shows that the mask mandate is consistently associated with lower infection rates in the short term, and its early adoption boosts the long‐term efficacy. By contrast, the other five policy instruments—domestic lockdowns, international travel bans, mass gathering bans, and restaurant and school closures—show weaker efficacy. Governments prepared for a public health crisis with stronger resilience or capacity and those with stronger collectivist cultures were quicker to adopt nationwide mask mandates. From a policy design perspective, policymakers must avoid overreacting with less effective instruments and underreacting with more effective ones during uncertain times, especially when interventions differ in efficacy and cost.
Challenges in measuring multiple impacts hinder performance recognition in forest landscape restoration: experience from seven field projects
Authors: Mansourian Stephanie , Vallauri Daniel
Published: September 2021

Restoring forest landscapes is a necessity as we face the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change, both of which are exacerbated by ongoing forest loss and degradation. Several public and private actors are engaging in initiatives on forest landscape restoration (FLR). Together with partners, WWF has been carrying out FLR pilot projects since the co‐definition by experts convened by WWF and IUCN in 2000 of the term FLR. A series of retrospective reviews and analyses undertaken on its portfolio of field projects have recently helped WWF to better draw lessons, understand what worked in practice and what did not work. Taking stock of this experience, the purpose of this article is to review the metrics of success from seven WWF projects from Latin America, Asia/Pacific, Africa, and Europe that were set up as large‐scale, multi‐objective, forest restoration projects. We highlight and illustrate quantifiable indicators independently defined by these projects and identify current monitoring weaknesses. We then propose a typology of ecological, social, and economic key performance indicators (KPIs) inspired and illustrated by metrics from real projects. We highlight the urgent need to develop a common framework for monitoring FLR, well designed but simple enough to be used by FLR practitioners. It is crucial to help practitioners to improve and carry out effective monitoring, enabling projects to better fine‐tune and adapt restoration interventions, better report back to donors, and inspire story‐telling far beyond numbers of trees or hectares planted.
Predictors of lung function trajectories in population‐based studies: A systematic review
Authors: Okyere Daniel O. , Bui Dinh S. , Washko George R. , Lodge Caroline J. , Lowe Adrian J. , Cassim Raisa , Perret Jennifer L. , Abramson Michael J. , Walters E. Haydn , Waidyatillake Nilakshi T. , Dharmage Shyamali C.
Published: September 2021

Despite the growing body of evidence on lung function trajectories over the life course and their risk factors, the literature has not been systematically synthesized. Publications related to lung function trajectories were identified from PubMed, EMBASE and CINAHL databases. Two authors independently identified publications for inclusion according to predefined selection criteria. Studies that modelled lung function trajectories and reported associated exposures were included. Meta‐analyses could not be conducted due to heterogeneity in the exposures and methods used to model lung function trajectories. Nine publications were eligible for inclusion of which four used group‐based trajectory modelling to model lung function trajectories, while five used latent profile analysis. Studies with repeated lung function measurements over the life course identified more trajectories than others. Only one study spanning from childhood to middle age reported catch‐up trajectory. The following childhood risk factors for subnormal lung function trajectories were observed in at least across two studies: low birth weight, early wheezing, asthma, allergic sensitization, eczema, allergic rhinitis, lower respiratory tract infections, family history of asthma and second‐hand smoke exposure. Adult active asthma and personal cigarette smoking were observed to be associated with accelerated decline lung trajectories. Our review identified 10 risk factors associated with the growth, catch‐up, reduced plateau and decline trajectories of lung function. Intervention directed at childhood asthma and infections, and tobacco smoke exposure at all ages would help promote lung health and prevent subnormal lung function trajectories.
Bottom Incomes and the Measurement of Poverty and Inequality
Authors: Hlasny Vladimir , Ceriani Lidia , Verme Paolo
Published: September 2021

Incomes in surveys suffer from various measurement problems, most notably in the tails of their distributions. We study the prevalence of negative and zero incomes, and their implications for inequality and poverty measurement relying on 57 harmonized data sets from the Luxembourg Income Study and Economic Research Forum databases, covering 12 Mediterranean countries over the period 1995–2016. This paper explains the composition and sources of negative and zero incomes, and assesses the distributional impacts of alternative correction methods on poverty and inequality measures. It finds that the main source of negative disposable incomes is negative self‐employment income, and that high tax, social security withholding, and high self‐paid social security contributions account for negative incomes in some countries. Using detailed information on expenditure, we conclude that households with negative incomes are typically as well off as, or even better off than, other households in terms of material well‐being. On the contrary, zero‐income households are found to be materially deprived. Adjusting poverty and inequality measures for these findings can alter these measures significantly.
Maternal water stress reduces sensitivity of offspring to herbicides in Amaranthus palmeri (Palmer amaranth)
Authors: Osipitan O. Adewale , Matzrafi Maor , Ohadi Sara , Mesgaran Mohsen B.
Published: September 2021

The immediate impact of prevailing environmental conditions on sensitivity of weeds to herbicides is well documented but little is known about the effects of parental environments on the responses of progeny to herbicides. It has been suggested that parental plants subjected to abiotic stress may result in progeny with increased tolerance to stresses. We tested this hypothesis by growing two populations of Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) from California and Kansas under well‐watered (WW) and water‐deficit (25% of WW treatment) conditions to obtain F1 seeds. We then tested the responses of F1 seedlings to various doses of five herbicides with different modes of action. Dose‐response analysis of visual plant injury, aboveground biomass, and chlorophyll content showed that in 16 out of 30 comparisons, sensitivity to herbicides in A. palmeri progeny originated from a maternally water stressed environment was significantly lower than those obtained from WW plants. Only in one case the progeny from stressed plants was significantly more sensitive to herbicide (saflufenacil) than that from non‐stressed plants, and no differences were observed between the two types of progeny in all other (13) comparisons. The reduced sensitivity in progeny from stressed plants was consistent in terms of the evaluated response variables in population from California with the application of S‐metolachlor, rimsulfuron, and simazine; and in population from Kansas with the application of S‐metolachlor and rimsulfuron. Our study suggests that A. palmeri plants experiencing drought during the season may produce progeny that might be more difficult to control because of an increase in herbicide tolerance endowed through transgenerational effects of water stress.
Giardia duodenalis in colony stray cats from Italy
Authors: Guadano Procesi Isabel , Carnio Azzurra , Berrilli Federica , Montalbano Di Filippo Margherita , Scarito Alessia , Amoruso Cristina , Barni Marco , Ruffini Marco , Barlozzari Giulia , Scarpulla Manuela , De Liberato Claudio
Published: September 2021

Giardia duodenalis is the most common intestinal protozoan in humans and animals worldwide, including eight morphologically identical assemblages, infecting pets, livestock, wildlife and human beings. Assemblages A and B are those with the higher zoonotic potential, and they have been detected in several mammals other than humans; the others (C to H) show a higher host specificity. Cats can harbour both the specific Assemblage F and the zoonotic ones A and B. Several studies have been carried out on G. duodenalis genotypes in cats; however, the role of this species in the epidemiology of giardiasis is still poorly understood. In this scenario, the present study carried out the detection and genetic characterization at sub‐assemblage level of G. duodenalis from colony stray cats in central Italy. In the period 2018–2019, 133 cat faecal samples were analysed for the presence of G. duodenalis cysts by a direct immunofluorescence assay. Positive samples were subsequently subjected to molecular analyses for assemblage/sub‐assemblage identification. Forty‐seven samples (35.3%) were positive for G. duodenalis cysts by immunofluorescence. G. duodenalis DNA was amplified at SSU‐rDNA locus from 39 isolates: 37 were positive for zoonotic Assemblage A and 2 showed a mixed infection (A + B). Positive results for the β‐giardin gene were achieved for 25 isolates. Sequence analysis revealed 16 isolates belonging to Sub‐assemblage AII and 8 to Sub‐assemblage AIII. One isolate resulted as ambiguous AI/AIII. Large sequence variability at the sub‐assemblage level was detected, with several double peaks and mutations, making complex a proper isolate allocation. When compared with previous studies, the 35.3% prevalence of G. duodenalis in cats reported in the present article was surprisingly high. Moreover, all positive cats resulted to be infected with zoonotic assemblages/sub‐assemblages, thus indicating stray cats as a possible source of human giardiasis and highlighting the sanitary relevance of cat colonies in the study area.
The peak height insertion gain (PHIG) method for quantifying acoustic feedback in hearing aids
Authors: Alexander Joshua M. , Schmig Stephanie , Wagner Randall P. , Armstrong Steve
Published: September 2021

Hearing aids are commonly fit with ear canals partially or fully open—a condition that increases the risk of acoustic feedback. Feedback limits the audiometric fitting range of devices by limiting usable gain. To guide clinical decision making and device selection, we developed the Peak Height Insertion Gain (PHIG) method to detect feedback spikes in the short-term insertion gain derived from audio recordings. Using a manikin, 145 audio recordings of a speech signal were obtained from seven hearing aids. Each hearing aid was programmed for a moderate high-frequency hearing loss with systematic variations in frequency response, gain, and feedback suppression; this created audio recordings that varied the presence and strength of feedback. Using subjective ratings from 13 expert judges, the presence of feedback was determined and then classified according to its temporal and tonal qualities. These classifications were used to optimize parameters for two versions of the PHIG method based on global and local analyses. When specificity was fixed at 0.95, the sensitivity of the global analysis was 0.86 and increased to 0.95 when combined with the local analysis. Without compromising performance, a clinically expedient version of the PHIG method can be obtained using only a single measurement.
Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics, and Immunogenicity of a Monoclonal Antibody (SCTA01) Targeting SARS-CoV-2 in Healthy Adults: a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Phase I Study
Authors: Li Yinjuan , Qi Lu , Bai Haihong , Sun Chunyun , Xu Shuping , Wang Yu , Han Chunyu , Li Yan , Liu Long , Cheng Xiaoqiang , Liu Ju , Lei Chunpu , Tong Yuanxu , Sun Mingli , Yan Lixin , Chen Weiqiu , Liu Xisheng , Liu Qing , Xie Liangzhi , Wang Xinghe
Published: September 2021

SCTA01 is a novel monoclonal antibody with promising prophylactic and therapeutic potential for COVID-19. This study aimed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK) and immunogenicity of SCTA01 in healthy adults.