bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hematological and immunological responses to naturally occurring bovine respiratory disease in newly received beef calves in a commercial stocker farm
Authors: Akter Afroza , Caldwell James M , Pighetti Gina M , Shepherd Elizabeth A , Okafor Chika C , Eckelkamp Elizabeth A , Edwards J Lannett , Schneider Liesel G
Published: December 2021

The objective was to determine temporal changes in hematological and immune parameters in response to naturally occurring bovine respiratory disease (BRD) in commercially managed stocker calves. Forty newly weaned beef steers purchased from auction markets were housed at a commercial stocker operation in Crossville, TN. Blood samples, rectal temperature, and thoracic ultrasonography (TUS; 1: normal to 3: severe) were collected on days 0, 7, 14, and 21. Castration status (FC: freshly castrated; PC: previously castrated) was determined on arrival based on presence of a fresh castration site at the scrotum. Calves received antibiotics for BRD based on clinical severity scoring (CSS; 0: moribund, 4: moribund) and rectal temperature. Complete blood counts (CBC) were performed. Calves were categorized based on the number of treatments (NumTrt) received (0x, 1x, and 2x). Temporal variations in CBC and immune parameters were analyzed using mixed model repeated measure ANOVA (Proc GLIMMIX; SAS 9.4). Variation of CBCs and immune parameters based on TUS was determined using mixed model ANOVA. There was a NumTrt by day interaction effect on the responses of white blood cells (WBC) (P = 0.04) and haptoglobin (HPT) (P = 0.04). On day 21, WBC were greater in the 2x NumTrt group than other groups, but there were no differences in WBC between NumTrt levels on other days. Haptoglobin was greater in the 2x group on days 14 and 21 than 0x or 1x. Red blood cells (RBC) (P = 0.02) and WBC (P = 0.04) differed between FC and PC groups, and lower RBC and WBC were observed in the FC group. A castration status × day effect for mean corpuscular volume (MCV; P = 0.04) was observed where FC group had higher MCV at days 14 and 21 than the PC group. Tumor necrosis factor-α differed based on NumTrt (P = 0.03) and higher concentrations were found in 2x group. We observed a day effect for IL-1β (P = 0.009) and TNF-α (P = 0.001). Significant effect of TUS on HPT at day 14 (P = 0.0004) and day 21 (P = 0.002) was observed. Combining HPT and platelet explained 15% of the variability in treatment status on a given day, whereas HPT and hemoglobin explained 10% of the variability in lung consolidation status. Although hematological and immunological parameters varied largely in our study, the potential of combining HPT with hematological variables should be studied further. Results from this study would help in understanding temporal changes in CBC and immune parameters in newly received stocker cattle.
Autologous Skin Cell Suspension Application for Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis: A Case Report
Authors: Pang Alan , Pham Theophilus , Felan Sarah , Raghuram Akshay , Brown Elizabeth , Bharadia Deepak , Griswold John
Published: December 2021

Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a drug-mediated disease process that mimics a partial-thickness thermal injury. It has long been treated with frequent wound dressing changes and supportive care. There has been minimal efficacious systemic therapy. The pathophysiology is poorly understood but causes necrosis of keratinocytes at the dermal–epidermal junction leading to sloughing of the epidermis. The disease is rare with high mortality rates associated with long hospital stays. This case report describes the application of autologous skin cell suspension to a patient with TEN after antihypertensive and hyperglycemic therapy. This was associated with minimal wound care and efficacious arrest of patient disease process and timely closure of wound.
Laboratory and Field Evaluations of Two Bait Formulations Against the Invasive Fire Ant, Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
Authors: Yasudai Rino , Matsubara Akira , Hsu Po-Wei , Lee Ching-Chen , Lin Chung-Chi , Scotty Yang Chin-Cheng
Published: December 2021

The red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, was first discovered in Japan in 2017. As this ant remains at the early invasion stage, efforts in establishing a rapid-response framework, such as evaluating available control methods, are urgently needed. Despite the presence of numerous household insecticides against invasive/household pest ants in Japan, the effects of these products on fire ants remain poorly understood. This study assessed the efficacy of two bait products designed to target common household ant pests in Japan on S. invicta through under laboratory and field conditions in Taiwan. The two baits are Arino-su-korori (AK), a granule-formulated bait product with hydramethylnon as an active ingredient (A.I.), and Hyper Arino-su-korori (HAK), a paste-formulated bait with fipronil as A.I., respectively. We showed that both AK and HAK resulted in more than 99% mortalities of fire ant within 8 wk under laboratory conditions and significantly reduce fire ants’ foraging activities in the field. AK generally performed slightly better than HAK in terms of the time required to achieve total laboratory colony elimination and also long-term suppression of field fire ants. Such differences most likely are attributable to the active ingredient’s mode of action and/or formulation and their interactions with fire ant biology. This study demonstrates the feasibility of the two bait products in effectively controlling laboratory and field fire ants, thus representing a promising candidate pest management tool to cope with ongoing/future fire ant invasions in Japan.
Record Longevity and Reproduction of an African Tick, Argas brumpti (Ixodida: Argasidae)
Authors: Shepherd Julian G
Published: December 2021

Argas brumpti Neumann is a large argasid (soft) tick that inhabits the drier areas of eastern and southern Africa. This species typically feeds on a wide variety of small to large mammals (including humans) and lizards, and resides in shallow caves, rocky areas, or dust-bath areas used by large mammals. Individuals of this species, collected as nymphs and adults from a semidesert area of Kenya and subsequently maintained under constant conditions in the laboratory, survived for 27 yr. Furthermore, after 8 yr of starvation and at least 4 yr after the last male died, at least one female laid eggs. The progeny developed into considerable numbers of both males and females, some of which are still living after 26 yr. The longevity of these ticks is apparently a record for any species of tick. The delay in reproduction likely represents long-term storage of viable sperm, also apparently a record for any species of tick.
Just a Glance, or More? Pathways from Counter-Attitudinal Incidental Exposure to Attitude (De)Polarization Through Response Behaviors and Cognitive Elaboration
Authors: Chen Hsuan-Ting , Kim Yonghwan , Chan Michael
Published: December 2021

Using two-wave U.S. panel survey data, this study proposes a moderated serial mediation model to examine through what paths and under what conditions incidental exposure to counter-attitudinal information on social media would enhance or mitigate polarization. The findings suggest that such exposure can indirectly polarize attitude by eliciting passive scanning behaviors, but it can also indirectly attenuate attitude polarization first through active engagement with the counter-attitudinal information, then through cognitively elaborating on the information. However, the indirect depolarizing effect of incidental exposure to counter-attitudinal information on citizens’ attitude depends on the extent to which they are instrumentally motivated. The indirect effect occurs when an individual’s perceived utility of counter-attitudinal information is at a high and a middle level, but not at a low level. Implications of the findings are discussed.
exp: N-body integration using basis function expansions
Authors: Petersen Michael S , Weinberg Martin D , Katz Neal
Published: December 2021

We present the N-body simulation techniques implemented in the exp code. exp uses empirically chosen basis functions to expand the potential field of an ensemble of particles. Unlike other basis function expansions, the derived basis functions are adapted to an input mass distribution, enabling accurate expansion of highly non-spherical objects, such as Galactic discs. We measure the force accuracy in three models, one based on a spherical or aspherical halo, one based on an exponential disc, and one based on a bar-based disc model. We find that exp is as accurate as a direct-summation or tree-based calculation, and in some ways is better, while being considerably less computationally intensive. We discuss optimizing the computation of the basis function representation. We also detail numerical improvements for performing orbit integrations, including time-steps.
Imaging the structural organization of chemical elements in growth cones of developing hippocampal neurons
Authors: Carmona Asuncion , Chen Si , Domart Florelle , Choquet Daniel , Ortega Richard
Published: December 2021

During neurodevelopment, neurons form growth cones, F-actin rich extensions located at the distal end of the neurites. Growth cones allow dendrites and axons to build synaptic connections through a process of neurite guidance whose mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. Calcium is an important element in this process by inducing F-actin reorganization. We hypothesized that other biologically active elements might be involved in the growth cone-mediated neurite guidance mechanisms. We performed super resolution and confocal microscopy of F-actin, followed by synchrotron X-ray fluorescence microscopy of phosphorous, sulfur, chlorine, potassium, calcium, iron and zinc on growth cones from primary rat hippocampal neurons. We identified two main patterns of element organization. First, active growth cones presenting an asymmetric distribution of Ca co-localized with the cytoskeleton protein F-actin. In active growth cones, we found that the distributions of P, S, Cl, K, and Zn are correlated with Ca. This correlation is lost in the second pattern, quiescent growth cones, exhibiting a spread elemental distribution. These results suggest that Ca is not the only element required in the F-actin rich active regions of growth cones. In addition, highly concentrated Fe spots of submicrometer size were observed in calcium-rich areas of active growth cones. These results reveal the need for biological active elements in growth cones during neural development and may help explain why early life deficiencies of elements, such as Fe or Zn, induce learning and memory deficits in children.
Targeting radiation-tolerant persister cells as a strategy for inhibiting radioresistance and recurrence in glioblastoma
Authors: Gu Jintao , Mu Nan , Jia Bo , Guo Qingdong , Pan Luxiang , Zhu Maorong , Zhang Wangqian , Zhang Kuo , Li Weina , Li Meng , Wei Lichun , Xue Xiaochang , Zhang Yingqi , Zhang Wei
Published: December 2021

Background

Compelling evidence suggests that glioblastoma (GBM) recurrence results from the expansion of a subset of tumor cells with robust intrinsic or therapy-induced radioresistance. However, the mechanisms underlying GBM radioresistance and recurrence remain elusive. To overcome obstacles in radioresistance research, we present a novel preclinical model ideally suited for radiobiological studies.

Methods

With this model, we performed a screen and identified a radiation-tolerant persister (RTP) subpopulation. RNA sequencing was performed on RTP and parental cells to obtain mRNA and miRNA expression profiles. The regulatory mechanisms among NF-κB, YY1, miR-103a, XRCC3, and FGF2 were investigated by transcription factor activation profiling array analysis, chromatin immunoprecipitation, western blot analysis, luciferase reporter assays, and the MirTrap system. Transferrin-functionalized nanoparticles (Tf-NPs) were employed to improve blood–brain barrier permeability and RTP targeting.

Results

RTP cells drive radioresistance by preferentially activating DNA damage repair and promoting stemness. Mechanistic investigations showed that continual radiation activates the NF-κB signaling cascade and promotes nuclear translocation of p65, leading to enhanced expression of YY1, the transcription factor that directly suppresses miR-103a transcription. Restoring miR-103a expression under these conditions suppressed the FGF2–XRCC3 axis and decreased the radioresistance capability. Moreover, Tf-NPs improved radiosensitivity and provided a significant survival benefit.

Conclusions

We suggest that the NF-κB–YY1–miR-103a regulatory axis is indispensable for the function of RTP cells in driving radioresistance and recurrence. Thus, our results identified a novel strategy for improving survival in patients with recurrent/refractory GBM.
Postrelease survival of captive-bred Egyptian Vultures is similar to that of wild-hatched Egyptian Vultures and is not affected by release age or season
Authors: Efrat Ron , Hatzofe Ohad , Miller Ygal , Mueller Thomas , Sapir Nir , Berger-Tal Oded
Published: December 2021

Reintroducing species to their historic range or reinforcing extant but endangered populations with individuals from elsewhere are popular conservation efforts to maintain long-term viable populations of animals. These efforts, known as conservation translocations, require proper monitoring of the fate of the animals that are released to assess their success. Nevertheless, effective monitoring is often missing in conservation translocations. Here, we assessed the efficiency of different monitoring methods and estimated survival of captive-bred Egyptian Vultures (Neophron percnopterus) that were released to the wild during the first 15 years of a reintroduction project in Israel. First, we inspected data obtained from different monitoring methods and compared observations of color rings and wing tags to location data from GPS transmitters. Then, we used GPS data to estimate apparent survival of vultures that were released to the wild at different ages and different seasons. Finally, we compared the apparent survival of captive-bred and wild-hatched Egyptian Vultures. We show that only a relatively small portion of the birds were visually observed through color rings and wing tags, compared to those for which data were obtained from GPS transmitters. Using data obtained via GPS transmitters we were able to show that release age and season did not alter apparent survival. In addition, we found no differences in apparent survival between captive-bred and wild-hatched Egyptian Vultures during their first migration or during their first two years postrelease or postfledging. Our results show the importance of continuous and effective monitoring and confirm the efficacy of captive-breeding and release of Egyptian Vultures as a conservation tool. We recommend the continuation of monitoring using GPS transmitters, alongside increased observation-based monitoring efforts.
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION ANALYSIS AND DOSE ASSESSMENT OF THE RADON EMITTED FROM THE MONAZITE-CONTAINING MATTRESS IN GENERAL RESIDENTIAL SPACE BY CFD METHODS
Authors: Lee Choong Wie , Kim Hee Reyoung
Published: December 2021

Recently, mattresses produced from radon-emitting monazite raw materials in the manufacturing process were found to be releasing radon, and a survey by the Korean Nuclear Safety and Security Commission indicated that some of these products exceeded safety standards. In this study, the distribution of the radon resulting from radon-emitting mattresses was evaluated. The computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code FLUENT was used to analyze the distribution of radon in a general living space, and to assess the exposures of residents. Drawings from the Korea Land and Housing Corporation were analyzed to determine the layout and geometry of the general residential space. Based on the results of the CFD simulation, the distribution of radon in the general residential space was analyzed based on the direction of ventilation and distance from the source. The dose was evaluated to analyze the radiological safety, and was determined to be less than 0.101 mSv per year. These results were in accordance with the reference level of 10 mSv from the International Commission on Radiological Protection recommendation and the annual dose limit of 1 mSv per year for processed products in South Korea.
Perceived Social Support and Symptom Loads of Psychiatric Disorders among Adolescents in Residential Youth Care
Authors: Singstad Marianne T , Wallander Jan L , Lydersen Stian , Kayed Nanna
Published: December 2021

Adolescents in residential youth care (RYC) are at high risk for negative psychological and social development outcomes, as they have a high prevalence of mental health problems and perceive less social support than adolescents in the general population. Associations between perceived social support and mental health problems have been investigated, but no in-depth analyses have been published. Such knowledge is crucial to optimize vulnerable adolescents’ care while living in RYC. The present study, therefore, aims to investigate associations between the symptom load of four psychiatric disorders (the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Assessment) and perceived social support (the Social Support Questionnaire) among 400 adolescents in Norwegian RYC facilities. The results reveal that a higher number of different types of support persons was associated with lower symptom loads for emotional disorders. In addition, girls reported lower emotional symptoms when perceiving support from their father, friends, and RYC staff, while boys reported more behavioral symptoms with father support and lower behavioral symptoms with staff support. Authors conclude that RYC staff and friends hold important roles in providing social support when parental support is absent. Authors recommend maintenance of social networks for adolescents in RYC and further development of staff members’ relational skills and competence.
Dose Estimation for Exposure to Radioactive Fallout from Nuclear Detonations
Authors: Simon Steven L. , Bouville André , Beck Harold L. , Anspaugh Lynn R. , Thiessen Kathleen M. , Hoffman F. Owen , Shinkarev Sergey
Published: December 2021

In recent years, the prospects that a nuclear device might be detonated due to a regional or global political conflict, by violation of present nuclear weapons test ban agreements, or due to an act of terrorism, has increased. Thus, the need exists for a well conceptualized, well described, and internally consistent methodology for dose estimation that takes full advantage of the experience gained over the last 70 y in both measurement technology and dose assessment methodology. Here, the models, rationale, and data needed for a detailed state-of-the-art dose assessment for exposure to radioactive fallout from nuclear detonations discussed in five companion papers are summarized. These five papers present methods and data for estimating radionuclide deposition of fallout radionuclides, internal and external dose from the deposited fallout, and discussion of the uncertainties in the assessed doses. In addition, this paper includes a brief discussion of secondary issues related to assessments of radiation dose from fallout. The intention of this work is to provide a usable and consistent methodology for both prospective and retrospective assessments of exposure from radioactive fallout from a nuclear detonation.
A Methodology for Estimating External Doses to Individuals and Populations Exposed to Radioactive Fallout from Nuclear Detonations
Authors: Bouville André , Beck Harold L. , Anspaugh Lynn R. , Gordeev Konstantin , Shinkarev Sergey , Thiessen Kathleen M. , Hoffman F. Owen , Simon Steven L.
Published: December 2021

A methodology of assessment of the doses from external irradiation resulting from the ground deposition of radioactive debris (fallout) from a nuclear detonation is proposed in this paper. The input data used to apply this methodology for a particular location are the outdoor exposure rate at any time after deposition of fallout and the time-of-arrival of fallout, as indicated and discussed in a companion paper titled “A Method for Estimating the Deposition Density of Fallout on the Ground and on Vegetation from a Low-yield Low-altitude Nuclear Detonation.” Example doses are estimated for several age categories and for all radiosensitive organs and tissues identified in the most recent ICRP publications. Doses are calculated for the first year after the detonation, when more than 90% of the external dose is delivered for populations close to the detonation site over a time period of 70 y, which is intended to represent the lifetime dose. Modeled doses in their simplest form assume no environmental remediation, though modifications can be introduced. Two types of dose assessment are considered: (1) initial, for a rapid but only approximate dose estimation soon after the nuclear detonation; and (2) improved, for a later, more accurate, dose assessment following the analysis of post-detonation measurements of radiation exposure and fallout deposition and the access of information on the lifestyle of the exposed population.
Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy in Oligomestatic/Oligoprogressive Sarcoma
Authors: Greto Daniela , Loi Mauro , Stocchi Giulia , Salvestrini Viola , Muratori Francesco , Scoccianti Guido , Roselli Giuliana , Palomba Annarita , Lorenzetti Victoria , Cerbai Cecilia , Desideri Isacco , Francolini Giulio , Bonomo Pierluigi , Campanacci Domenico Andrea , Livi Lorenzo
Published: December 2021

Background

Metastatic soft tissue sarcoma (STS) patients may benefit from local ablative treatments due to modest efficacy of systemic chemotherapy. However, use of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is controversial because of presumed radioresistance of STS.

Methods

Patients treated with SBRT for oligometastatic and oligoprogressive metastatic STS were retrospectively reviewed to assess results in terms of local control (LC), disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS). Incidence and grade of adverse events were reported. Statistical analysis was performed to identify variables correlated with outcome and toxicity.

Results

Forty patients were treated with SBRT to a median biologic effective dose (BED) of 105 (66–305) Gy5 to 77 metastases. Two-year LC, DFS, and OS were 67%, 23%, and 40%. Improved LC was shown in patients receiving a BED >150 Gy5 (hazard ratio [HR], 3.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.6–9.7; P = 0.028). A delay >24 months between primary tumor diagnosis and onset of metastases was associated with improved DFS (HR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.22–0.96; P = 0.01) and OS (HR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.23–0.99; P = 0.03). No toxicity grade ≥3 was observed.

Conclusions

Stereotactic body radiotherapy is effective in metastatic STS with a benign toxicity profile. A BED >150 Gy5 is required to maximize tumor control rates. Metastatic relapse >24 months after diagnosis is correlated to improved survival.
Integrated, Integral, and Exploratory Biomarkers in the Development of Poly(ADP-Ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors
Authors: Konecny Gottfried E. , Chander Cinthiya , Zhang Liying
Published: December 2021

In this article, we highlight biomarkers for poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor (PARPi) sensitivity and resistance and discuss their implications for the clinic. We review the predictive role of a range of DNA repair genes, genomic scars, mutational signatures, and functional assays available or in development. The biomarkers used for patient selection in the specific Food and Drug Administration–approved indications for breast, ovarian, prostate, and pancreatic cancer vary across tumor type and likely depend on disease-specific DNA repair deficiencies but also the specifics of the individual clinical trials that were conducted. Mutations in genes involved in homologous recombination and/or replication fork protection are synthetic lethal with PARPi. Cancers with homologous recombination deficiency exhibit high genomic instability, characterized by genome-wide loss of heterozygosity, among other genomic aberrations. Next-generation sequencing can identify multiple patterns of genomic changes including copy number variations, single-nucleotide variations, insertions/deletions, and structural variations rearrangements characteristic of homologous recombination deficiency. Clinical trial evidence supports the use of BRCA mutation testing for patient selection, and for ovarian cancer, there are 3 commercial assays available that additionally incorporate genomic instability for identifying subgroups of patients that derive different magnitudes of benefit from PARPi therapy. Finally, we summarize new strategies for extending the benefit of PARPi therapy toward broader populations of patients through the use of novel biomarkers. Ultimately, design of a composite biomarker test combining multiple mutational signatures or development of a dynamic assay for functional assessments of homologous recombination may help improve the test accuracy for future patient stratification.
Human cumulative culture and the exploitation of natural phenomena
Authors: Derex Maxime
Published: December 2021

Cumulative cultural evolution (CCE)—defined as the process by which beneficial modifications are culturally transmitted and progressively accumulated over time—has long been argued to underlie the unparalleled diversity and complexity of human culture. In this paper, I argue that not just any kind of cultural accumulation will give rise to human-like culture. Rather, I suggest that human CCE depends on the gradual exploitation of natural phenomena, which are features of our environment that, through the laws of physics, chemistry or biology, generate reliable effects which can be exploited for a purpose. I argue that CCE comprises two distinct processes: optimizing cultural traits that exploit a given set of natural phenomena (Type I CCE) and expanding the set of natural phenomena we exploit (Type II CCE). I argue that the most critical features of human CCE, including its open-ended dynamic, stems from Type II CCE. Throughout the paper, I contrast the two processes and discuss their respective socio-cognitive requirements.

This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘The emergence of collective knowledge and cumulative culture in animals, humans and machines’.
Paradox of diversity in the collective brain
Authors: Schimmelpfennig Robin , Razek Layla , Schnell Eric , Muthukrishna Michael
Published: December 2021

Human societies are collective brains. People within every society have cultural brains—brains that have evolved to selectively seek out adaptive knowledge and socially transmit solutions. Innovations emerge at a population level through the transmission of serendipitous mistakes, incremental improvements and novel recombinations. The rate of innovation through these mechanisms is a function of (1) a society's size and interconnectedness (sociality), which affects the number of models available for learning; (2) fidelity of information transmission, which affects how much information is lost during social learning; and (3) cultural trait diversity, which affects the range of possible solutions available for recombination. In general, and perhaps surprisingly, all three levers can increase and harm innovation by creating challenges around coordination, conformity and communication. Here, we focus on the ‘paradox of diversity’—that cultural trait diversity offers the largest potential for empowering innovation, but also poses difficult challenges at both an organizational and societal level. We introduce ‘cultural evolvability’ as a framework for tackling these challenges, with implications for entrepreneurship, polarization and a nuanced understanding of the effects of diversity. This framework can guide researchers and practitioners in how to reap the benefits of diversity by reducing costs.

This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘The emergence of collective knowledge and cumulative culture in animals, humans and machines’.
The origins of human cumulative culture: from the foraging niche to collective intelligence
Authors: Migliano Andrea Bamberg , Vinicius Lucio
Published: December 2021

Various studies have investigated cognitive mechanisms underlying culture in humans and other great apes. However, the adaptive reasons for the evolution of uniquely sophisticated cumulative culture in our species remain unclear. We propose that the cultural capabilities of humans are the evolutionary result of a stepwise transition from the ape-like lifestyle of earlier hominins to the foraging niche still observed in extant hunter–gatherers. Recent ethnographic, archaeological and genetic studies have provided compelling evidence that the components of the foraging niche (social egalitarianism, sexual and social division of labour, extensive co-residence and cooperation with unrelated individuals, multilocality, fluid sociality and high between-camp mobility) engendered a unique multilevel social structure where the cognitive mechanisms underlying cultural evolution (high-fidelity transmission, innovation, teaching, recombination, ratcheting) evolved as adaptations. Therefore, multilevel sociality underlies a ‘social ratchet’ or irreversible task specialization splitting the burden of cultural knowledge across individuals, which may explain why human collective intelligence is uniquely able to produce sophisticated cumulative culture. The foraging niche perspective may explain why a complex gene-culture dual inheritance system evolved uniquely in humans and interprets the cultural, morphological and genetic origins ofHomo sapiensas a process of recombination of innovations appearing in differentiated but interconnected populations.

This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘The emergence of collective knowledge and cumulative culture in animals, humans and machines’.
Shared intentionality, reason-giving and the evolution of human culture
Authors: O'Madagain Cathal , Tomasello Michael
Published: December 2021

The biological approach to culture focuses almost exclusively on processes of social learning, to the neglect of processes of cultural coordination including joint action and shared intentionality. In this paper, we argue that the distinctive features of human culture derive from humans' unique skills and motivations for coordinating with one another around different types of action and information. As different levels of these skills of ‘shared intentionality’ emerged over the last several hundred thousand years, human culture became characterized first by such things as collaborative activities and pedagogy based on cooperative communication, and then by such things as collaborative innovations and normatively structured pedagogy. As a kind of capstone of this trajectory, humans began to coordinate not just on joint actions and shared beliefs, but on the reasons for what we believe or how we act. Coordinating on reasons powered the kinds of extremely rapid innovation and stable cumulative cultural evolution especially characteristic of the human species in the last several tens of thousands of years.

This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘The emergence of collective knowledge and cumulative culture in animals, humans and machines’.
Experiments in artificial culture: from noisy imitation to storytelling robots
Authors: Winfield Alan F. T. , Blackmore Susan
Published: December 2021

This paper presents a series of experiments in collective social robotics, spanning more than 10 years, with the long-term aim of building embodied models of (aspects of) cultural evolution. Initial experiments demonstrated the emergence of behavioural traditions in a group of social robots programmed to imitate each other’s behaviours (we call these Copybots). These experiments show that the noisy (i.e. less than perfect fidelity) imitation that comes for free with real physical robots gives rise naturally to variation in social learning. More recent experimental work extends the robots’ cognitive capabilities with simulation-based internal models, equipping them with a simple artificial theory of mind. With this extended capability we explore, in our current work, social learning not via imitation but robot–robot storytelling, in an effort to model this very human mode of cultural transmission. In this paper, we give an account of the methods and inspiration for these experiments, the experiments and their results, and an outline of possible directions for this programme of research. It is our hope that this paper stimulates not only discussion but suggestions for hypotheses to test with the Storybots.

This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘The emergence of collective knowledge and cumulative culture in animals, humans and machines’.
Xenorhabdus lircayensis sp. nov., the symbiotic bacterium associated with the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema unicornum
Authors: Castaneda-Alvarez Carlos , Prodan Simona , Zamorano Alan , San-Blas Ernesto , Aballay Erwin
Published: December 2021

Xenorhabdus

is a symbiotic group of bacteria associated with entomopathogenic nematodes of the family Steinernematidae. Although the described Steirnernema species list is extensive, not all their symbiotic bacteria have been identified. One single motile, Gram-negative and non-spore-forming rod-shaped symbiotic bacterium, strain VLST, was isolated from the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema unicornum. Analyses of the 16S rRNA gene determined that the VLST isolate belongs to the genus

Xenorhabdus

, and its closest related species is

Xenorhabdus szentirmaii

DSM 16338T (98.2 %). Deeper analyses using the whole genome for phylogenetic reconstruction indicate that VLST exhibits a unique clade in the genus. Genomic comparisons considering digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH) values confirms this result, showing that the VLST values are distant enough from the 70 % threshold suggested for new species, sharing 30.7, 30.5 and 30.3 % dDDH with

Xenorhabdus khoisanae

MCB,

Xenorhabdus koppenhoeferi

DSM 18168T and

Xenorhabdus miraniensis

DSM 18168T, respectively, as the closest species. Detailed physiological, biochemical and chemotaxonomic tests of the VLST isolate reveal consistent differences from previously described

Xenorhabdus

species. Phylogenetic, physiological, biochemical and chemotaxonomic approaches show that VLST represents a new species of the genus

Xenorhabdus

, for which the name Xenorhabdus lircayensis sp. nov. (type strain VLST=CCCT 20.04T=DSM 111583T) is proposed.
Differences between plasma and CSF p-tau181 and p-tau231 in early Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Pilotto Andrea , Parigi Marta , Bonzi Giulio , Battaglio Beatrice , Ferrari Elisabetta , Mensi Lorenza , Benussi Alberto , Caratozzolo Salvatore , Cosseddu Maura , Turrone Rosanna , Archetti Silvana , Ashton Nicholas J , Zetterberg Henrik , Giliani Silvia , Padovani Alessandro
Published: December 2021

Plasma phosphorylated tau species have been recently proposed as peripheral markers of Alzheimer’s disease pathology. In this cross-sectional study incuding ninety-one subjects, plasma p-tau181 and p-tau231 levels were elevated in the early symptomatic stages of AD, with similar levels than those of CSF. Plasma p-tau231 and p-tau181 were strongly related to CSF tau and amyloid and exhibited a high accuracy – close to CSF p-tau231 and p-tau181 – to identify AD already in the early stage of the disease. The findings might support the use as diagnostic and prognostic peripheral AD biomarkers in both research and clinical settings.
Human serum from SARS-CoV-2 vaccinated and COVID-19 patients shows reduced binding to the RBD of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant
Authors: Schubert Maren , Bertoglio Federico , Steinke Stephan , Heine Philip Alexander , Ynga-Durand Mario Alberto , Zuo Fanglei , Du Likun , Korn Janin , Milošević Marko , Wenzel Esther Veronika , Maass Henrike , Krstanović Fran , Polten Saskia , Pribanić-Matešić Marina , Brizić Ilija , Piralla Antonio , Baldanti Fausto , Hammarström Lennart , Dübel Stefan , Šustić Alan , Marcotte Harold , Strengert Monika , Protić Alen , Pan-Hammarström Qiang , Čičin-Šain Luka , Hust Michael
Published: December 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic is caused by the betacoronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In November 2021, the Omicron variant was discovered and classified as a variant of concern (VOC). Omicron shows substantially more mutations in the spike protein than any previous variant, mostly in the receptor binding domain (RBD). We analyzed the binding of the Omicron RBD to the human ACE2 receptor (hACE2) and the ability of human sera from COVID-19 patients or vaccinees in comparison to Wuhan, Beta or Delta RBDs variants.

All RBDs were produced in insect cells. RBD binding to hACE2 was analyzed by ELISA and microscale thermophoresis (MST). Similarly, sera from 27 COVID-19 patients, 58 fully vaccinated individuals and 16 booster recipients were titrated by ELISA on the fixed RBDs from the original Wuhan strain, Beta, Delta and Omicron VOC.

Surprisingly, the Omicron RBD showed a weaker binding to ACE2 compared to Beta and Delta, arguing that improved ACE2 binding is not a likely driver of Omicron evolution. Serum antibody titers were significantly lower against Omicron RBD compared to the original Wuhan strain. However, a difference of 2.5 times was observed in RBD binding while in other studies the neutralization of Omicron SARS-CoV-2 was reduced by a magnitude of 10x and more. These results indicate an immune escape focused on neutralizing antibodies.

The reduced binding of sera to Omicron RBD adds evidence that current vaccination protocols may be less efficient against the Omicron variant.
Resources Required for Implementation of SARS-CoV-2 Screening in Massachusetts K-12 Public Schools in Winter/Spring 2021
Authors: Lee Stephanie S. , Weitz Michelle , Ardlie Kristin , Bantham Amy , Schuckel Michele Fronk , Goehringer Katey , Hogue Caitlin , Hosking Rosy , Mortimer Kathleen , Saadat Alham , Seaman-Chandler Jill , Linas Benjamin P. , Ciaranello Andrea
Published: December 2021

Importance

CDC guidance emphasizes the importance of in-person education for students in grades kindergarten to 12 (K-12) during the COVID-19 pandemic. CDC encourage weekly SARS-CoV-2 testing of asymptomatic, unvaccinated students and staff (“screening”) to reduce infection risk and provide data about in-school SARS-CoV-2 prevalence where community incidence is high. The financial costs of screening assays have been described, but the human resource requirements at the school and district level to implement a SARS-CoV-2 screening program are not well known.

Objective

To quantify the resources required to implement a screening program in K-12 schools.

Design, Setting, and Participants

A consortium of Massachusetts public K-12 schools was formed to implement and evaluate a range of SARS-CoV-2 screening approaches. Participating districts were surveyed weekly about their programs, including: type of assay used, individual vs. pooled screening, approaches to return of results and deconvolution (identification of positive individual specimens) of positive pools, number and type of personnel implementing the screening program, and hours spent on program implementation.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Costs, resource utilization

Results

In 21 participating districts, over 21 weeks from January to June 2021, the positivity rate was 0.0%-0.21% among students and 0.0%-0.13% among educators/staff, and 4 out of 21 (19%) districts had at least one classroom transition to remote learning at any point due to a positive case. The average weekly cost to implement a screening program, including assay and personnel costs, was $17.00 per person tested; this was $46.68 for individual screenings and $15.61 for pooled screenings. The total weekly costs by district ranged from $1,644-$93,486, and districts screened between 58 and 3,675 people per week. The reported number of personnel working per week ranged from 1-5 to >50, and the total number of hours worked by all personnel ranged from 5-10 to >50.

Conclusion and Relevance

The human resources required to implement SARS-CoV-2 screening in Massachusetts public K-12 schools were substantial. Where screening is recommended for the 2021-22 school year due to high COVID-19 incidence (e.g., where vaccination uptake is low and/or more infectious variants predominate), understanding the human resources required to implement screening will assist districts policymakers in planning.
Antibiotic use for typhoid in India: Estimation from private sector prescription data during 2013-15
Authors: Koya Shaffi Fazaludeen , Farooqui Habib Hasan , Mehta Aashna , Selvaraj Sakthivel , Galea Sandro
Published: December 2021

Background

India’s typhoid burden estimates are based on a limited number of population-based studies and data from a grossly incomplete disease surveillance system. In this study, we estimated the total and sex- and age-specific antibiotic prescription rates for typhoid.

Methods

We used systematic antibiotic prescription by private sector primary care physicians in India. We categorized antibiotics using the WHO classification system and calculated the prescription for various classes of antibiotics.

Results

We analyzed 671 million prescriptions for the three-year period (2013-2015), of which an average of 8.98 million antibiotic prescriptions per year was for typhoid, accounting for 714 prescriptions per 100,000 population. Combination antibiotics are the preferred choice of prescribers in the adult age group, while cephalosporins are the preferred choice in children and young age. The prescription rate decreased from 792/100,000 in 2013 to 635 in 2015.

Conclusion

We report a higher rate of antibiotic prescription for typhoid using prescription data, indicating a higher disease burden than previously estimated. Quinolones are still widely used in monotherapy, and children less than 10 years account for more than a million cases annually, which calls for a routine vaccination program.

What we already know

Typhoid is a major cause of morbidity in India especially among young adults and children.

The reported incidences are based on data from limited number of population-based studies and the disease surveillance program which is largely limited to public healthcare system in India.

The emergence of antibiotic resistance among typhoid is a growing concern.

What this article adds

Age-specific typhoid antibiotic prescription estimate for India, using a large volume of geographically representative medical audit data.

We report a high rate of antibiotic prescription (714/100,000 population) for typhoid indicating a higher disease burden than previously estimated.

Fluroquinolones are still widely used as monotherapy for the treatment of typhoid in India.
OptDesign: Identifying Optimum Design Strategies in Strain Engineering for Biochemical Production
Authors: Jiang Shouyong , Otero-Muras Irene , Banga Julio R. , Wang Yong , Kaiser Marcus , Krasnogor Natalio
Published: December 2021

Computational tools have been widely adopted for strain optimisation in metabolic engineering, contributing to numerous success stories of producing industrially relevant biochemicals. However, most of these tools focus on single metabolic intervention strategies (either gene/reaction knockout or amplification alone) and rely on hypothetical optimality principles (e.g., maximisation of growth) and precise gene expression (e.g., fold changes) for phenotype prediction. This paper introduces OptDesign, a new two-step strain design strategy. In the first step, OptDesign selects regulation candidates that have a noticeable flux difference between the wild type and production strains. In the second step, it computes optimal design strategies with limited manipulations (combining regulation and knockout) leading to high biochemical production. The usefulness and capabilities of OptDesign are demonstrated for the production of three biochemicals in E. coli using the latest genome-scale metabolic model iML1515, showing highly consistent results with previous studies while suggesting new manipulations to boost strain performance. Source code is available at https://github.com/chang88ye/OptDesign.
Evaluating the persistence and utility of five wildVitisspecies in the context of climate change
Authors: Aguirre-Liguori Jonas A. , Morales-Cruz Abraham , Gaut Brandon S.
Published: December 2021

Crop wild relatives (CWRs) have the capacity to contribute novel traits to agriculture. Given climate change, these contributions may be especially vital for the persistence of perennial crops, because perennials are often clonally propagated and consequently do not evolve rapidly. By studying the landscape genomics of samples from fiveVitisCWRs (V. arizonica, V. mustangensis, V. riparia, V. berlandieriandV. girdiana) in the context of projected climate change, we addressed two goals. The first was to assess the relative potential of different CWR accessions to persist in the face of climate change. By integrating species distribution models with adaptive genetic variation, additional genetic features such as genomic load and a phenotype (resistance to Pierce’s Disease), we predicted that accessions from one species (V. mustangensis) are particularly well-suited to persist in future climates. The second goal was to identify which CWR accessions may contribute to bioclimatic adaptation for grapevine (V. vinifera) cultivation. To do so, we evaluated whether CWR accessions have the allelic capacity to persist if moved to locations where grapevines (V. vinifera) are cultivated in the United States. We identified six candidates fromV. mustangensisand hypothesized that they may prove useful for contributing alleles that may mitigate climate impacts on viticulture. By identifying candidate germplasm, this work takes a conceptual step toward assessing the genomic and bioclimatic characteristics of CWRs.