bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
First monk seal from the Southern Hemisphere rewrites the evolutionary history of true seals
Authors: Rule James P. , Adams Justin W. , Marx Felix G. , Evans Alistair R. , Tennyson Alan J. D. , Scofield R. Paul , Fitzgerald Erich M. G.
Published: November 2020

Living true seals (phocids) are the most widely dispersed semi-aquatic marine mammals, and comprise geographically separate northern (phocine) and southern (monachine) groups. Both are thought to have evolved in the North Atlantic, with only two monachine lineages—elephant seals and lobodontins—subsequently crossing the equator. The third and most basal monachine tribe, the monk seals, have hitherto been interpreted as exclusively northern and (sub)tropical throughout their entire history. Here, we describe a new species of extinct monk seal from the Pliocene of New Zealand, the first of its kind from the Southern Hemisphere, based on one of the best-preserved and richest samples of seal fossils worldwide. This unanticipated discovery reveals that all three monachine tribes once coexisted south of the equator, and forces a profound revision of their evolutionary history: rather than primarily diversifying in the North Atlantic, monachines largely evolved in the Southern Hemisphere, and from this southern cradle later reinvaded the north. Our results suggest that true seals crossed the equator over eight times in their history. Overall, they more than double the age of the north–south dichotomy characterizing living true seals and confirms a surprisingly recent major change in southern phocid diversity.
Ornithinimicrobium pratense sp. nov., isolated from meadow soil
Authors: Guo Qiannan , Wang Bo , Zhou Zhengfu , Ke Xiubin , Zhang Lijuan , Chen Ming , Lin Min , Wang Wei , Zhang Wei , Li Xufeng
Published: November 2020

A novel Gram-stain-positive, yellow, short-rod-shaped or coccoid bacterial strain, W204T, was isolated from a soil sample collected from Jiadengyu national forest park in China and characterized using a polyphasic approach. The cell-wall peptidoglycan contained ornithine as the diagnostic diamino acid. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain W204T was closely related to

Ornithinimicrobium flavum

CPCC 203535T (97.4 %, similarity),

Serinicoccus profundi

CGMCC 4.5582T (96.9 %),

Serinicoccus sediminis

GP-T3-3T (96.8 %),

Serinicoccus hydrothermalis

JLT9T (96.7 %),

Ornithinimicrobium cerasi

CPCC 203383T (96.6 %) and

Ornithinimicrobium kibberense

K22-20T (96.6 %). However, the digital DNA–DNA genome hybridization value between strain W204T and the closest related strain

O. flavum

CPCC 203535T was 21.90 %. Complete genome analyses revealed that the size of the genome was 3.54 Mb and the genomic DNA G+C content was 70.79 mol%. The polar lipid profile consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, an unidentified glycolipid, an unidentified phospholipid and an unidentified lipid. The major menaquinone was MK-8(H4). The predominant cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0 and C16 : 0. The phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data suggested that strain W204T should be classified as representative of a novel species of the genus

Ornithinimicrobium

, for which the name Ornithinimicrobium pratense sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is W204T (=GDMCC 1.1391T=KCTC 49237T).
Transmission analysis of a large tuberculosis outbreak in London: a mathematical modelling study using genomic data
Authors: Xu Yuanwei , Stockdale Jessica E. , Naidu Vijay , Hatherell Hollie , Stimson James , Stagg Helen R. , Abubakar Ibrahim , Colijn Caroline
Published: November 2020

Outbreaks of tuberculosis (TB) – such as the large isoniazid-resistant outbreak centred on London, UK, which originated in 1995 – provide excellent opportunities to model transmission of this devastating disease. Transmission chains for TB are notoriously difficult to ascertain, but mathematical modelling approaches, combined with whole-genome sequencing data, have strong potential to contribute to transmission analyses. Using such data, we aimed to reconstruct transmission histories for the outbreak using a Bayesian approach, and to use machine-learning techniques with patient-level data to identify the key covariates associated with transmission. By using our transmission reconstruction method that accounts for phylogenetic uncertainty, we are able to identify 21 transmission events with reasonable confidence, 9 of which have zero SNP distance, and a maximum distance of 3. Patient age, alcohol abuse and history of homelessness were found to be the most important predictors of being credible TB transmitters.
Levitational Cell Cytometry for Forensics
Authors: Urey Deniz Yagmur , Chan Hsi-Min , Durmus Naside Gozde
Published: November 2020

Here, a method for label-free, real-time interrogation, monitoring, detection and sorting of biological rare cells in magnetically-suspended heterogeneous samples is developed. To achieve this, heterogeneous populations of cells were levitated and confined in a microcapillary channel. This strategy enables spatiotemporal differential magnetic levitation of rare fragile dead cells equilibrating at different heights based on the balance between magnetic and corrected gravitational forces. In addition, sorting of fragile rare dead cell populations is monitored in real-time. This technique provides a broadly applicable label-free tool for high resolution, real-time research, as well as forensic evidence processing of rape kits. This method is validated with forensic mock samples dating back to 2003, isolating sperm from epithelial fraction with >90% efficiency and >97% purity. Overall, this method reduces the processing time by over 20-fold down to 20 minutes, eliminating centrifugation and labels, and providing an inexpensive and a high-yield alternative to the current centrifuge-based differential extraction techniques. It can potentially facilitate the forensic downstream genomic analyses, accelerating the identification of suspects, and advancing public safety.
PHAIR – A biosensor for pH measurement in air-liquid interface
Authors: Dabaghi Mohammadhossein , Saraei Neda , Xu Gang , Chandiramohan Abiram , Yeung Jonas , Nguyen Jenny P. , Vukmirovic Milica , Selvaganapathy Ponnambalam Ravi , Hirota Jeremy A.
Published: November 2020

1

In many biological systems, pH can be used as a parameter to understand and study cell dynamics. However, measuring pH in live cell culture is limited by the sensor ion specificity, proximity to the cell surface, and scalability. Commercially available pH sensors are difficult to integrate into a small-scale cell culture system due to their size and are not cost-effective for disposable use. We made PHAIR - a new pH sensor that uses a micro-wire format to measure pH in vitro human airway cell culture. Tungsten micro-wires were used as the working electrodes, and silver micro-wires with a silver/silver chloride coating were used as a pseudo reference electrode. pH sensitivity, in a wide and narrow range, and stability of these sensors were tested in common standard buffer solutions as well as in culture media of human airway epithelial cells grown at the air-liquid interface in a 24 well cell culture plate. When measuring the pH of cells grown under basal and challenging conditions using PHAIR, cell viability and cytokine responses were not affected. Our results confirm that micro-wires-based sensors have the capacity for miniaturization, and detection of diverse ions while maintaining sensitivity. This suggests the broad application of PHAIR in various biological experimental settings.
MiR-17-5p regulates proliferation and apoptosis of uterine fibroids via targeting ESR1
Authors: Luo Lan , Cao Jian-Jun , Zhang Hui-Min , Chen Kun , Liao Xing-Hua , Li Kun
Published: November 2020

The treatment of uterine fibroids and the development of new drugs depend on adeeper understanding of the developmental mechanisms of uterine fibroids. Here, the role of ESR1 and miR-17 on the uterine fibroids cell proliferation and apoptosis and their relationship were investigated in USMCs. Our results showed that ESR1 increased the proliferation of USMCs and inhibited their apoptosis. In addition, ESR1 could directly bind the promoter regionof TP53 and inhibit its expression. MiR-17 increased the apoptosis of USMCs and inhibited their proliferation via decreasing the level of ESR1 by targeting its 3’UTR. Our research provides a new understanding of the development of uterine fibroids and provides a theoretical basis for the treatment of uterine fibroids.
Signaling-based neural networks for cellular computation
Authors: Samaniego Christian Cuba , Moorman Andrew , Giordano Giulia , Franco Elisa
Published: November 2020

Cellular signaling pathways are responsible for decision making that sustains life. Most signaling pathways include post-translational modification cycles, that process multiple inputs and are tightly interconnected. Here we consider a model for phosphorylation/dephosphorylation cycles, and we show that under some assumptions they can operate as molecular neurons or perceptrons, that generate sigmoidal-like activation functions by processing sums of inputs with positive and negative weights. We carry out a steady-state and structural stability analysis for single molecular perceptrons as well as for feedforward interconnections, concluding that interconnected phosphorylation/dephosphorylation cycles may work as multi-layer biomolecular neural networks (BNNs) with the capacity to perform a variety of computations. As an application, we design signaling networks that behave as linear and non-linear classifiers.
Further study on the Brück conjecture and some non-linear complex differential equations
Authors: Pramanik Dilip Chandra , Roy Kapil
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this current paper is to deal with the study of non-constant entire solutions of some non-linear complex differential equations in connection to Brück conjecture, by using the theory of complex differential equation. The results generalize the results due to Pramaniket al.

Design/methodology/approach

39B32, 30D35.

Findings

In the current paper, we mainly study the Brück conjecture and the various works that confirm this conjecture. In our study we find that the conjecture can be generalized for differential monomials under some additional conditions and it generalizes some works related to the conjecture. Also we can take the complex numberain the conjecture to be a small function. More precisely, we obtain a result which can be restate in the following way: Letfbe a non-constant entire function such thatσ2(f)<∞,σ2(f)is not a positive integer andδ(0, f)>0. LetM[f]be a differential monomial offof degreeγMandα(z), β(z)∈S(f)be such thatmax{σ(α), σ(β)} <σ(f). IfM[f]+βandfγM−αshare the value 0 CM, thenM[f]+βfγM−α=c,wherec≠0is a constant.

Originality/value

This is an original work of the authors.
Employment in the informal economy: implications of the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Webb Aleksandra , McQuaid Ronald , Rand Sigrid
Published: November 2020

Purpose

Although the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic appears to disproportionately affect those in informal employment, they often receive less government support than the formally employed. This paper considers definitions of the informal economy and informal employment, explores the rationale for participating in the informal economy and reflects on some effects of the pandemic on these workers.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents a narrative literature review with analysis of the selected academic and policy literature.

Findings

There are considerable short- and long-term implications of the pandemic for informal employment and the informal economy. This occurs against the background of unresolved tensions arising from informal workers' desire for more employment security and employers' striving for continued labour flexibility while transferring costs to government and workers. The COVID-19 pandemic might accelerate current trends and force new solutions to better protect basic work security while helping organisations to remain competitive. Government policies supporting work safety, income security, moves to formalisation of employment and fairness for informal employees are particularly important.

Research limitations/implications

As statistical and qualitative evidence is currently limited, it is too early to identify the full effects of COVID-19 on employment in the informal economy.

Practical implications

The results suggest that governments need to carefully consider explicit support for those in informal employment to create fair, resilient and ethical structures for workers, businesses, economies and wider societies.

Social implications

The paper identifies some of the social implications of COVID-19 for the informal sector.

Originality/value

The analysis offers initial insights into the impacts of a major health, economic and social shock on informal working.
The (mis)use of al-Hilah (legal trick) and al-Makhraj (legal exit) in Islamic finance
Authors: Smolo Edib , Musa Abubakar Muhammad
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the concepts of hilah (legal stratagem or legal trick) and makhraj (legal exit) and to examine their relevance and application in the contemporary Islamic financial services and products.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses the qualitative research approach to provide a theoretical overview of hilah and makhraj literally and technically and to examine their practical applications in Islamic financial products and services. In particular, this paper evaluates several Islamic financial contracts and examines its practices in light of the implications of hilah or makhraj.

Findings

The paper finds that there is a glaring difference in perception and application of hilah and makhraj, as argued by some scholars. It has been found that the principle of hilah has been extensively used in the Islamic finance industry as a way to circumvent the riba prohibition. For example, Islamic financial instruments such as bay’ bithaman al-ajil, bay’ al-‘inah, tawarruq, commodity murabahah, musharakah mutanaqisah and, in some cases, the sale and lease back sukuk are found to be tainted by hilah.

Research limitations/implications

Because this is a theoretical paper, it should be explored in more detail, and critical analysis of Islamic financial services and products should be reviewed in line with these two principles to ascertain if the products and services are in line with Shariah requirements and devoid of hilah practices or not and to align the industry with the maqasid al-Shariah.

Practical implications

This paper identifies a serious challenge that Islamic finance practitioners face in product development in their effort to provide more competitive services to their customers. As a result, it demonstrates the need to proactively use makhraj in innovating Islamic financial products and proffering more sustainable and competitive solutions.

Originality/value

This paper discusses a topic that attempts to dispel the suspicious perceptions of some analysts as to the genuineness of Islamic financial practices.
It’s about time: theorizing amodern time in historical organization studies
Authors: Durepos Gabrielle , Weatherbee Terrance , Mills Albert J.
Published: November 2020

Purpose

This paper features a critique of the treatment of time in modern and postmodern historical organization studies. The authors reply to the critique by drawing on Lefebvre’s notion of rhythm to theorize time in an amodern condition. The purpose of this study is to call on historical organization studies scholars to theoretically engage with time.

Design/methodology/approach

After a pointed literature review of the treatment of time in modern and postmodern historical organization studies, an ANTi-History approach to time is developed through an exploration of how rhythm can inform key ANTi-History facets.

Findings

New insights on key ANTi-History facets are developed in relation to time. These include seeing the past as history through rhythmic actor-networks, a description of relationalism informed by situated rhythms, a suggestion that the performative aspect of history is rhythmic and an illustration of what one might see if they watched an amodern historian at work.

Originality/value

Lefebvre’s concept of rhythm has been largely neglected in historiography and historical organization studies. Rhythm offers a way to understand time in relation to situated actor practices as opposed to the universal clock or chronological time.
An investigation of the Kumamon and Sukjai mascots on destination branding
Authors: Wattanacharoensil Walanchalee , Kantamara Sappawat , Muangasame Kaewta
Published: November 2020

Purpose

This study aims to investigate what the crucial elements are when it comes to using a mascot to brand a destination. This study applies the proposed framework of “mascot usage for destination branding” to two mascot cases, namely, Kumamon and Sukjai. In particular, the Kumamon mascot is first investigated, looking at how it is used to promote Kumamoto, one of the key cities in Kyushu, Japan. Sukjai, another mascot, is then analysed in a similar light. The dominant factors that lead to the success of Kumamon mascot are analysed on the case of Sukjai mascot. The disparity between the two mascot cases allows for a better understanding of the dimensions and practices or lack thereof, that can occur in mascot creation and implementation.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative methodology is applied, and thematic and content analyses are applied to the three data sources, namely, secondary data collection from different data sources in the English and Japanese languages; researcher onsite observation in Kumamoto; and an in-depth interview with purposive sampling experts.

Findings

The findings indicate that according to the proposed framework, Kumamon has shown all three elements of the framework, namely, promoting destination identity and personality, creating differentiation for the location and having strong stakeholder involvement. On the other hand, these elements were found not to be as strong in the Sukjai case. The findings from the case comparison determine several underlining factors, including the national culture, which can help or hinder in laying the groundwork for the successful application of a mascot in destination branding.

Originality/value

This study complements the previous literature on mascot branding and elaborates on the framework of mascot usage for destination branding based on a combination of the three proposed elements.
Emergence of interpersonal helping in times of crises: a theoretical model of prosperity and eradication of interpersonal helping in organizations
Authors: Chou Shih Yung , Ramser Charles , Chang Tree , Han Bo
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to develop a cross-level, theoretical model describing the process by which interpersonal helping becomes conspicuous, as well as the process by which interpersonal helping subsequently prospers or becomes eradicated in the organization.

Design/methodology/approach

A theoretical analysis was performed by drawing upon various management-related theories.

Findings

We propose that organizational crises foster the emergence of interpersonal helping. Additionally, the positive relationship between organizational crises and interpersonal helping is stronger (or weaker) when individuals possess higher levels of other-oriented (or self-oriented) motives. Furthermore, we propose that a sympathetic climate at the unit level and employee job crafting at the individual level result in the prosperity of interpersonal helping, whereas interpersonal helping is eradicated by a sarcastic atmosphere at the unit level and citizenship pressure at the individual level.

Originality/value

Theoretically, we advance the literature by providing future research with a theoretical base for understanding interpersonal helping from a temporal and cross-level perspective. Practically, this article offers some managerial recommendations that help managers nurture interpersonal helping in organizations effectively.
An evidence-based approach to critical incident scenario development
Authors: Jenkins Bryce , Semple Tori , Bennell Craig
Published: November 2020

Purpose

There has been an increasing emphasis on developing officers who can effectively make decisions in dynamic and stressful environments to manage volatile situations. The aim of this paper is to guide those seeking to optimize the limited resources dedicated to police training.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on research related to stress exposure training, principles of adult learning, the event-based approach to training and policing more broadly, the authors show how carefully crafted training scenarios can maximize the benefits of police training.

Findings

The authors’ review highlights various training principles that, if relied on, can result in scenarios that are likely to result in the development of flexible, sound decision-making skills when operating under stressful conditions. The paper concludes with an example of scenario development, which takes the reviewed principles into account.

Originality/value

The authors hope this discussion will be useful for police instructors and curriculum designers in making evidence-informed decisions when designing training scenarios.
Poultry farmers willingness to pay for agricultural tax: evidence from the Bono region, Ghana
Authors: Mensah Nicholas Oppong , Amrago Ernest Christlieb , Asare Jeffery Kofi , Osei Tutu Frank , Donkor Anthony
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the poultry farmer's willingness to pay for agricultural tax in the Dormaa Municipality of Ghana. Besides, the study analysed the mean agricultural tax and constraints impeding the payment of the agricultural tax.

Design/methodology/approach

One hundred (100) poultry farmers were selected for the study. The logit and Kendall’s coefficient of concordance were used to examine the factors that influence payment of agricultural tax and the constraints impeding the payment of the agricultural tax, respectively.

Findings

Instructively, 83% of the respondents were interested in the regressive taxation model relative to 12 and 5% who were interested in the proportional and progressive taxation model, respectively. The empirical results of the logit model revealed that tax awareness, probability of being audited and public service provision of roads influenced the poultry farmer's decision to pay for the agricultural tax. Perception of corruption and high tax rates were the primary constraints impeding the payment of the agricultural tax. The results further revealed that the farmers are willing to pay an average maximum amount of Ghc 152.00 (US 26 dollars) agricultural tax per month.

Originality/value

Despite the increasing relevance of agricultural tax, studies on poultry farmer's willingness to pay agricultural tax have been scarce in West Africa, particularly, Ghana. As a consequence, this paper broadens the frontiers of the existing literature on agricultural tax as well as the constraints impeding the poultry farmers to pay agricultural tax.
Tropane alkaloid contamination of agricultural commodities and food products in relation to consumer health: Learnings from the 2019 Uganda food aid outbreak
Authors: Abia Wilfred A. , Montgomery Holly , Nugent Anne P. , Elliott Christopher T.
Published: November 2020

Tropane alkaloids (TAs) are secondary plant metabolites derived mainly from Solanaceae plant families, with the most virulent invasive species beingDatura stramonium.Datura stramoniumcommonly grows in cereal fields and produce TAs (e.g., hyoscyamine and scopolamine) which may accidentally contaminate cereals (and cereal‐based foods) at occasionally high levels. Dietary exposure to TAs can be toxic and depending on the dose ingested can cause outcomes ranging from anticholinergic effects to acute poisoning and death. In 2019, 315 adults became ill and another five adults died in Uganda following consumption of a “Super Cereal” (a fortified blended food) that was later confirmed to be contaminated by TAs—a scenario which provoked this holistic review on TAs in foodstuffs. Thus, this article provides information on the history, development, occurrences, exposures, and human legislative and health benchmarks for TAs. It describes control strategies for reducing TA contamination of agricultural commodities and resultant health implications following consumption of TA contaminated foodstuffs. Adequate application of food safety control measures (including maximum limits) and good practices, from the start of cereal cultivation through to the final stages of manufacturing of food products can aid in the reduction of seeing toxic plants includingD. stramoniumin cereal fields.
Machine learning in classification and identification of nonconventional vegetables
Authors: Ossani Paulo César , de Souza Douglas Correa , Rossoni Diogo Francisco , Resende Luciane Vilela
Published: November 2020

Vegetables are important in economic, social, and nutritional matters in both the Brazilian and international scenes. Hence, some researches have been carried out in order to encourage the production and consumption of different species such as nonconventional vegetables. These vegetables have an added value because of their nutritional quality and nostalgic appeal due to the reintroduction of these species. For this reason, this article proposes the use of the machine learning technique in the construction of models for supervised classification and identification in an experiment with five leafy special of nonconventional vegetables (Tropaeolum majus, Rumex acetosa, Stachys byzantina, Lactuca cf. indica e Pereskia aculeata) assessing the characteristics of the macro and micro nutrients. In order to evaluate the classifiers’ performance, the cross‐validation procedure via Monte Carlo simulation was considered to confirm the model. In ten replications, the success and error rates were obtained, considering the false positive and false negative rates, sensibility, and accuracy of the classification method. Thus, it was concluded that the use of machine learning is viable because it allows the classification and identification of nonconventional vegetables using few nutritional attributes and obtaining a success rate of over 89% in most of the classifiers tested.
Soy oil conjugated linoleic acid production with solar light photoisomerization
Authors: Gangidi Rahul Reddy
Published: November 2020

The objectives were (1) to produce soy oil conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) triacylglycerides in large quantities with solar light photoisomerization, utilizing iodine as a photosensitizer, (2) to study the temperature variation in the photoisomerized oil during various hours of the day, and (3) to study the variations in solar light intensity during various hours of the day. A 0.5% iodine containing soy oil in glass box with a glass lid was photoisomerized, under natural solar light for 0, 11, and 27 days, and CLA isomers were determined with gas chromatography with flame ionization detector. After 27 days of solar light photoisomerization, the cis‐9, trans‐11 CLA; other cis, trans CLA; trans‐10, cis‐12 CLA; trans, trans CLA, and total CLA were found to be 0.62 ± 0.05%, 1.04 ± 0.09%, 0.54 ± 0.11%, 6.16 ± 0.68%, and 8.37 ± 0.90%, respectively. The concentration of CLA isomers between 0 and 11 days was significantly different (p < .05), and the concentration of CLA isomers between 0 and 27 days was also significantly different (p < .05). There is no significant difference (p > .05) in CLA concentration between 11 and 27 days treatment. The CLA was not found in control soy oil samples. The CLA isomers were measured with GDFID in 45 min instead of 120min. The temperature of the edible oil in glass boxes ranged from 26 °C (8 a.m.) to 56 °C (1 p.m.). The light intensity ranged from 4,146 lux (7 p.m.) to 95,490 lux (12 p.m.). Glass lid on the glass box affected light transmission to a small but statistically significant extent (p < .05). The CLA isomers could be energy efficiently and inexpensively produced in soy oil by solar light photoisomerization, at low temperature and without needing expensive reactor vessels or catalysts.

Practical Application

CLA was produced effectively with the iodine sensitized solar light photoisomerization. CLA is produced in large quantities, inexpensively, for possible food additive applications. Produced CLA is in the form of stable triacylglycerides.
Prediction of fruit quality based on the RGB values of time–temperature indicator
Authors: Yang Jiamin , Xu Yi
Published: November 2020

Time–temperature indicators (TTIs) are cost‐efficient tools that may be used to predict food quality. In this paper, a diffusion TTI was used to predict fruit quality during storage. Both the color changing characters of TTI and the quality parameters, including weight loss, soluble solids content, vitamin C content, titratable acidity, and antioxidant capacity of three kinds of fruits (kiwifruit, strawberry, and mango), were investigated for storage temperatures (5, 10, 15, and 20 °C). The relationships between the color changing properties and fruit quality parameters have been built based on the activation energy (Ea). The results showed that the storage temperature and time had significant effects on the color changing of TTI and fruit quality. The RGB value of TTI decreased with time, and the higher the storage temperature, the faster the RGB value reduced. Also, the higher the storage temperature, the faster the fruit quality changed and the poorer they were. Furthermore, all of the differences of Ea between TTI color response and fruit quality change are less than 25 kJ/mol, which indicates that the TTI can be used to predict these fruit quality. Finally, prediction models were built and validated based on the RGB values of TTI. It provides the possibility for low‐cost quality monitoring and has more application potential in food quality predicting.

Practical Application

By monitoring the color change of diffuse time–temperature indicator (TTI) and the quality change of fruit, the feasibility of TTI for fruit quality monitoring was determined and the quality prediction model was established. The diffusion TTI and fruit quality prediction model can realize the monitoring and predicting of fruit quality based on the TTI, which provides a basis for the combination of TTI Quick Response Code and fruit quality monitoring, with a view to achieving fruit quality status by scanning the Quick Response Code of TTI with mobile phones in the future. This method may provide a new solution to monitor the fruit quality during storage and distribution based on visualization technology that can simplify the methods of detecting fruit quality and achieve fast quality detection. It provides the possibility for low‐cost quality monitoring and has more application potential in food quality predicting. Further studies on diffusion TTI are needed to develop its application in more field of food and make the diffusion TTI an intelligent mean for food quality monitoring and predicting.
Fine‐tuning ethanol oxidation pathway enzymes and cofactor PQQ coordinates the conflict between fitness and acetic acid production by Acetobacter pasteurianus
Authors: Gao Ling , Wu Xiaodan , Xia Xiaole , Jin Zhengyu
Published: November 2020

The very high concentrations required for industrial production of free acetic acid create toxicity and low pH values, which usually conflict with the host cell growth, leading to a poor productivity. Achieving a balance between cell fitness and product synthesis is the key challenge to improving acetic acid production efficiency in metabolic engineering. Here, we show that the synergistic regulation of alcohol/aldehyde dehydrogenase expression and cofactor PQQ level could not only efficiently relieve conflict between increased acetic acid production and compromised cell fitness, but also greatly enhance acetic acid tolerance of Acetobacter pasteurianus to a high initial concentration (3% v/v) of acetic acid. Combinatorial expression of adhA and pqqABCDE greatly shortens the duration of starting‐up process from 116 to 99 h, leading to a yield of 69 g l‐1 acetic acid in semi‐continuous fermentation. As a final result, average acetic acid productivity has been raised to 0.99 g l‐1 h‐1, which was 32% higher than the parental A. pasteurianus. This study is of great significance for decreasing cost of semi‐continuous fermentation for producing high‐strength acetic acid industrially. We envisioned that this strategy will be useful for production of many other desired organic acids, especially those involving cofactor reactions.
Treatment strategy for primary lung cancer in a lung highly compressed by giant emphysematous bullae: A case report
Authors: Kawamoto Nobutaka , Hayashi Masataro , Okita Riki , Okada Masanori , Inokawa Hidetoshi , Kobayashi Taiga , Maeda Tadashi , Ikeda Eiji
Published: November 2020

Lung cancer sometimes develops on the wall of a giant emphysematous bulla (GEB). Herein, we describe a rare case in which lung cancer developed in lung tissue compressed by GEBs. A 62‐year‐old man underwent a computed tomography (CT) scan that revealed two right GEBs. A tumor was suspected in the highly compressed right upper lobe. Since the right bronchus was significantly shifted toward the mediastinum, it was difficult to perform a bronchoscopy. We inserted thoracic drains into the GEBs, and a subsequent CT scan revealed re‐expansion of the remaining right lung and a 3.3 cm tumor in the right upper lobe. The shift of the right bronchus was improved, and bronchoscopy was performed. The tumor was diagnosed as non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Additionally, the GEBs were found to have originated from the right lower lobe. We performed a right upper lobectomy, mediastinal lymph node dissection, and bullectomy of the GEBs via video‐assisted thoracoscopic surgery. In preoperative evaluation of a GEB, assessing re‐expansion and lung lesions of the remaining lung is important, and intracavity drainage of a GEB may be useful.

Key points

Significant findings of the study

Cancer that develops in lung tissue highly compressed by a giant emphysematous bulla is difficult to diagnose.

In the preoperative evaluation of a giant emphysematous bulla, assessing re‐expansion and lung lesions of the remaining lung is important.

What this study adds

After performing intracavity drainage of a giant emphysematous bulla, the remaining lung re‐expands, and the bronchial shift improves; subsequently, bronchoscopy makes it possible to diagnose lung cancer in the remaining lung.
Evaluation of carcinoembryonic antigen‐related cell adhesion molecule 1 blood serum levels in women at high risk for preeclampsia
Authors: Mach Pawel , Andrikos Dimitrios , Schmidt Boerge , Gellhaus Alexandra , Rusch Peter , Birdir Cahit , Andrikos Argyrios , Schmitt Verena , Kimmig Rainer , Singer Bernhard B. , Köninger Angela
Published: November 2020

Problem

The aim of this study was to evaluate the sCEACAM1 concentrations in serum from patients in the first trimester who have a high risk for developing PE during pregnancy.

Method of the study

Carcinoembryonic antigen‐related cell adhesion molecule 1 (CEACAM1) levels were determined with ELISA. The patients (n = 109) were divided into two groups: patients who have a high risk of developing PE early‐onset and a control group. Patients who have a high risk of developing PE were then divided into two subgroups depending on PE development in third trimester of pregnancy: PE in third trimester versus no PE in third trimester.

Results

sCEACAM1 concentrations in patients who were screened as having a high risk for developing PE were significantly higher than in healthy pregnant women in the first trimester (p = .03). The highest sCEACAM1 concentration was found in the high‐risk group with PE development compared to the control group (p = .004).

Conclusion

Elevated sCEACAM1 blood serum levels in women with PE suggest that there is immune dysregulation in early pregnancy, which may be helpful in PE prediction and therapy.
Enrichment and characterization of extracellular vesicles from ex vivo one‐sided human placenta perfusion
Authors: Zabel Rachel R. , Bär Christin , Ji Jinlu , Schultz Rowena , Hammer Martin , Groten Tanja , Schleussner Ekkehard , Morales‐Prieto Diana M. , Markert Udo R. , Favaro Rodolfo R.
Published: November 2020

Problem

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by the placenta are packed with biological information and play a major role in fetomaternal communication. Here, we describe a comprehensive set‐up for the enrichment and characterization of EVs from human placenta perfusion and their application in further assays.

Method of study

Human term placentas were used for 3 h ex vivo one‐sided perfusions to simulate the intervillous circulation. Thereafter, populations of small (sEVs) and large EV (lEVs) were enriched from placental perfusate via serial ultracentrifugation. Following, EV populations were characterized regarding their size, protein concentration, RNA levels, expression of surface markers as well as their uptake and miRNA transfer to recipient cells.

Results

The sEV and lEV fractions from an entire perfusate yielded, respectively, 294 ± 32 µg and 525 ± 96 µg of protein equivalents and 2.6 ± 0.5 µg and 3.6 ± 0.9 µg of RNA. The sEV fraction had a mean diameter of 117 ± 47 nm, and the lEV fraction presented 236 ± 54 nm. CD63 was strongly detected by dot blot in sEVs, whereas only traces of this marker were found in lEVs. Both EV fractions were positive for the trophoblast marker PLAP (placental alkaline phosphatase) and annexin A1. EV internalization in immune cells was visualized by confocal microscopy, and the transfer of placental miRNAs was detected by quantitative real‐time PCR (qPCR).

Conclusions

Enriched EV populations showed characteristic features of sEVs and lEVs. EV uptake and transfer of miRNAs to recipient cells demonstrated their functional integrity. Therefore, we advocate the ex vivo one‐sided placenta perfusion as a robust approach for the collection of placental EVs.
Nasal DNA methylation differentiates severe from non‐severe asthma in African‐American children
Authors: Zhu Tao , Zhang Xue , Chen Xiaoting , Brown Anthony P. , Weirauch Matthew T. , Guilbert Theresa W. , Khurana Hershey Gurjit K. , Biagini Jocelyn M. , Ji Hong
Published: November 2020

Background

Asthma is highly heterogeneous, and severity evaluation is key to asthma management. DNA methylation (DNAm) contributes to asthma pathogenesis. This study aimed to identify nasal epithelial DNAm differences between severe and nonsevere asthmatic children and evaluate the impact of environmental exposures.

Methods

Thirty‐three nonsevere and 22 severe asthmatic African American children were included in an epigenome‐wide association study. Genome‐wide nasal epithelial DNAm and gene expression were measured. CpG sites associated with asthma severity and environmental exposures and predictive of severe asthma were identified. DNAm was correlated with gene expression. Enrichment for transcription factor (TF) binding sites or histone modifications surrounding DNAm differences were determined.

Results

We identified 816 differentially methylated CpG positions (DMPs) and 10 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) associated with asthma severity. Three DMPs exhibited discriminatory ability for severe asthma. Intriguingly, six DMPs were simultaneously associated with asthma, allergic asthma, total IgE, environmental IgE, and FeNO in an independent cohort of children. Twenty‐seven DMPs were associated with traffic‐related air pollution or secondhand smoke. DNAm at 22 DMPs was altered by diesel particles or allergen in human bronchial epithelial cells. DNAm levels at 39 DMPs were correlated with mRNA expression. Proximal to 816 DMPs, three histone marks and several TFs involved in asthma pathogenesis were enriched.

Conclusions

Significant differences in nasal epithelial DNAm were observed between nonsevere and severe asthma in African American children, a subset of which may be useful to predict disease severity. These CpG sites are subjected to the influences of environmental exposures and may regulate gene expression.
Nodal metastasis size predicts disease‐free survival in cutaneous head and neck squamous cell carcinoma involving the parotid but not cervical nodes
Authors: Sood Ashish , Wykes James , McGuinness John , Fowler Allan , Ebrahimi Ardalan
Published: November 2020

Background

The 8th edition American Joint Committee on Cancer nodal (N) staging of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (cSCCHN) is largely based on lymph node metastasis size, despite conflicting data in the literature. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic significance of largest node size in cSCCHN.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of 94 patients undergoing curative‐intent treatment for nodal cSCCHN with surgery ± radiotherapy at Liverpool Hospital, Sydney, Australia was conducted. Survival outcomes were assessed using multivariate Cox regression. The primary end point was disease‐free survival (DFS). Objective measures of model performance were used in exploratory analyses to identify optimal size thresholds for predicting survival.

Results

Nodal metastasis size significantly predicted DFS on multivariate analysis (hazard ratio 1.24; 95% confidence interval 1.06–1.46; P = 0.008). This prognostic impact occurred predominantly in parotid metastases (hazard ratio 1.27; 95% confidence interval 1.07–1.51; P = 0.006); each 1 cm increase in size increased the risk of recurrence or death by 27%, irrespective of the number of involved nodes. In parotid metastases, size thresholds of ≤3, 3–4.5 and >4.5 cm optimized prognostic discrimination. Extranodal extension (ENE) was associated with decreased DFS in nodes ≤3 cm in size (P = 0.025), but not in those >3 cm (P = 0.744).

Conclusion

Size is an important prognostic factor in cSCCHN with parotid metastases, with optimal thresholds of ≤3, >3–4.5 and >4.5 cm. The prognostic impact of ENE was seen only in nodal metastases ≤3 cm in size. These results may have important implications for node size thresholds and inclusion of ENE in the American Joint Committee on Cancer N staging categories.
Glycemic, maternal and neonatal outcomes in women with type 1 diabetes using continuous glucose monitoring during pregnancy – Pump vs multiple daily injections, a secondary analysis of an observational cohort study
Authors: Kjölhede Karin , Berntorp Kerstin , Kristensen Karl , Katsarou Anastasia , Shaat Nael , Wiberg Nana , Knop Filip K. , Kristensen Lars , Dotevall Annika , Elfvin Anders , Sandgren Ulrika , Sengpiel Verena , Englund‐Ögge Linda
Published: November 2020

Introduction

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) provides detailed information about glucose level fluctuations over time. The method is increasingly being used in pregnant women with type 1 diabetes. However, only one previous study compared CGM results related to pregnancy outcomes in women using insulin pumps with those administering multiple daily injections (MDI). We performed a secondary analysis of CGM metrics from an observational cohort of pregnant women with type 1 diabetes and compared insulin pump and MDI therapies in relation to maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Material and methods

The study included 185 pregnant Swedish women with type 1 diabetes undergoing CGM throughout pregnancy. Women were divided according to insulin administration mode, ie MDI (n = 131) or pump (n = 54). A total of 91 women used real‐time CGM and 94 women used intermittently viewed CGM. Maternal demographics and maternal and neonatal outcome data were collected from medical records. CGM data were analyzed according to predefined glycemic indices: mean glucose; standard deviation; percentage of time within, below and above glucose target range; mean amplitude of glycemic excursion; high and low glucose indices; and coefficient variation in percent. Associations between insulin administration mode and CGM data, on the one hand, and maternal and neonatal outcomes, on the other, were analyzed with analysis of covariance and logistic regression, respectively, adjusted for confounders.

Results

There were no differences in maternal characteristics or glycemic indices between the MDI and pump groups, except for a longer duration of type 1 diabetes and higher frequencies of microangiopathy and real‐time CGM among pump users. Despite improvement with each trimester, glucose levels remained suboptimal throughout pregnancy in both groups. There were no differences between the MDI and pump groups concerning the respective associations with any of the outcomes. The frequency of large for gestational age was high in both groups (MDI 49% vs pump 63%) and did not differ significantly.

Conclusions

Pregnant women with type 1 diabetes did not differ in glycemic control or pregnancy outcome, related to MDI or pump administration of insulin. Glycemic control remained suboptimal throughout pregnancy, regardless of insulin administration mode.
Delays in care seeking for young children with accidental skull fractures are common
Authors: Metz James B. , Otjen Jeffrey P. , Perez Francisco A. , Done Stephen L. , Brown Emily C.B. , Wiester Rebecca T. , Jenny Carole , Ganti Sheila , Feldman Kenneth W.
Published: November 2020

Aim

We sought to determine the frequency and patterns of delayed medical care seeking for young children with skull fractures.

Methods

We identified accidental skull fractures <4 years old, 2011–2012. Child abuse paediatricians abstracted retrospective data and paediatric radiologists re‐reviewed images. ‘Delays’ were defined as presentation at ≥6 h. ‘Minor accidents’ included falls <4 feet and low force trauma, while ‘major accidents’ included higher height falls and major force events. We studied the frequency and duration of care delays, the signs or symptoms leading to care, and the duration of delays after signs or symptoms developed.

Results

Two hundred and ten children had accidental skull fractures. Delays were less likely with major accidents (4.9%), than with minor accidents (25.8%) (RR = 0.32 [0.15–0.70]). Children came to care for scalp swelling (STS) (39%), the injury event (36.2%), altered consciousness (15.2%) and vomiting (10.5%). Delayed onset of STS (78.6%) caused most delayed care. Early STS was firm, (17.6%) versus delayed (5.0%), as opposed to soft or fluctuant.

Conclusion

Delayed care seeking is common for minor, but not major accidental infant and toddler skull fractures. Most followed delayed onset of signs and symptoms. Delayed care seeking alone should not imply child abuse.