bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Systematic classification error profoundly impacts inference in high-depth Whole Genome Shotgun Sequencing datasets
Authors: Johnson James , Sun Shan , Fodor Anthony A.
Published: April 2022

There is little consensus in the literature as to which approach for classification of Whole Genome Shotgun (WGS) sequences is best. In this paper, we examine two of the most popular algorithms, Kraken2 and Metaphlan2 utilizing four publicly available datasets. As expected from previous literature, we found that Kraken2 reports more overall taxa while Metaphlan2 reports fewer taxa while classifying fewer overall reads. To our surprise, however, Kraken 2 reported not only more taxa but many more taxa that were significantly associated with metadata. This implies that either Kraken2 is more sensitive to taxa that are biologically relevant and are simply missed by Metaphlan2, or that Kraken2’s classification errors are generated in such a way to impact inference. To discriminate between these two possibilities, we compared Spearman correlations coefficients of each taxa against each taxa with higher abundance from the same dataset. We found that Kraken2, but not Metaphlan2, showed a consistent pattern of classifying low abundance taxa that generated high correlation coefficients with higher abundance taxa. Neither Metaphlan2, nor 16S sequences that were available for two of our four datasets, showed this pattern. Simple simulations based on a variable Poisson error rate sampled from the uniform distribution with an average error rate of 0.0005 showed strikingly strong concordance with the observed correlation patterns from Kraken2. Our results suggest that Kraken2 consistently misclassifies high abundance taxa into the same erroneous low abundance taxa creating “phantom” taxa have a similar pattern of inference as the high abundance source. Because of the large sequencing depths of modern WGS cohorts, these “phantom” taxa will appear statistically significant in statistical models even with a low overall rate of classification error from Kraken. Our simulations suggest that this can occur with average error rates as low as 1 in 2,000 reads. These data suggest a novel metric for evaluating classifier accuracy and suggest that the pattern of classification errors should be considered in addition to overall classification error rate since consistent classification errors have a more profound impact on inference compared to classification errors that do not always result in assignment to the same erroneous taxa. This work highlights fundamental questions on how classifiers function and interact with large sequencing depth and statistical models that still need to be resolved for WGS, especially if correlation coefficients between taxa are to be used to build covariance networks. Our work also suggests that despite its limitations, 16S rRNA sequencing may still be useful as neither of the two most popular 16S classifiers showed these patterns of inflated correlation coefficients between taxa.
CHANGES IN LIFE EXPECTANCY BETWEEN 2019 AND 2021 IN THE UNITED STATES AND 21 PEER COUNTRIES
Authors: Masters Ryan K. , Aron Laudan Y. , Woolf Steven H.
Published: April 2022

BACKGROUND

Prior studies reported large decreases in US life expectancy during 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, disproportionately affecting Hispanic and Black populations and vastly exceeding the average change in life expectancy in other high-income countries. Life expectancy estimates for 2021 have not been reported. This study estimated changes in life expectancy during 2019-2021 in the US population, in US racial/ethnic groups, and in 21 peer countries. The study compared outcomes across five US racial/ethnic groups and is the first to estimate changes in life expectancy during the pandemic in non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native and Asian populations.

METHODS

US and peer country death data for 2019-2021 were obtained from the National Center for Health Statistics, the Human Mortality Database, and overseas statistical agencies. The 21 peer countries included Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, England and Wales, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. Life expectancy was calculated for 2019 and 2020 and estimated for 2021 using a previously validated modeling method.

RESULTS

US life expectancy decreased from 78.85 years in 2019 to 76.98 years in 2020 and 76.44 years in 2021, a net loss of 2.41 years. In contrast, peer countries averaged a smaller decrease in life expectancy between 2019 and 2020 (0.55 years) and a 0.26-year increase between 2020 and 2021, widening the gap in life expectancy between the United States and peer countries to more than five years. The decrease in US life expectancy was highly racialized: whereas the largest decreases in 2020 occurred among non-Hispanic (NH) American Indian/Alaska Native, Hispanic, NH Black, and NH Asian populations, in 2021 the largest decreases occurred in the NH White population.

DISCUSSION

The US mortality experience during 2020 and 2021 was more severe than in peer countries, deepening a US disadvantage in health and survival that has been building for decades. Over the two-year period between 2019 and 2021, US NH American Indian/Alaska Native, Hispanic, and NH Black populations experienced the largest losses in life expectancy, reflecting the ongoing legacy of systemic racism as well as inadequacies in the US handling of the pandemic. The crossover in racialized outcomes between 2020 and 2021, in which the NH White population experienced the largest decreases, likely has multiple explanations.
Kidins220 promotes thymic iNKT cell development by reducing TCR signals, but enhances TCR signals in splenic iNKT cells
Authors: Herr Laurenz A. , Fiala Gina J. , Schaffer Anna-Maria , Raute Katrin , Velasco Cárdenas Rubí M.-H. , Hummel Jonas F. , Ebert Karolina , Tanriver Yakup , Minguet Susana , Schamel Wolfgang W.
Published: April 2022

The stepwise development of thymic invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells is controlled by the TCR signal strength. The scaffold protein Kinase D interacting substrate of 220 kDa (Kidins220) binds to the TCR regulating TCR signaling. T cell-specific Kidins220 knock-out (T-KO) mice contain severely decreased iNKT numbers. Very early in iNKT development TCR signals are reduced in the T-KO. In later steps, TCR signaling is increased in the T-KO leading to enhanced apoptosis of iNKT cells. Kidins220’s absence affects the iNKT1 subset most as it requires the weakest TCR signals for development. We also show that in iNKT1 development, weak TCR signals promote the progressive loss of CD4. In the periphery, Kidins220 switches its role back to promoting TCR signaling as splenic T-KO iNKT cells produce less cytokines and show reduced TCR signaling after in vivo stimulation with α-galactosylceramide. In conclusion, Kidins220 promotes or inhibits TCR signaling depending on the developmental context.

summary statement

We demonstrate that the transmembrane scaffold protein Kidins220 switches its role twice in iNKT cell biology: from a positive to a negative regulator of TCR signal strength during thymic development and back to a positive regulator in the periphery.
TransCRISPR - sgRNA design tool for CRISPR/Cas9 experiments targeting DNA sequence motifs
Authors: Woźniak Tomasz , Sura Weronika , Kazimierska Marta , Kasprzyk Marta Elżbieta , Podralska Marta , Dzikiewicz-Krawczyk Agnieszka
Published: April 2022

Eukaryotic genomes contain several types of recurrent DNA motifs, e.g. transcription factor motifs, miRNA binding sites, repetitive elements. CRISPR/Cas9 can facilitate identification and study of crucial DNA motifs. We present transCRISPR, the first online tool dedicated to search for DNA sequence motifs in the user-provided genomic regions and design optimal sgRNAs targeting them. Users can obtain sgRNAs for chosen DNA motifs, for up to tens of thousands of target regions in 30 genomes, either for the Cas9 or dCas9 system. TransCRISPR provides user-friendly tables and visualizations, summarizing features of identified motifs and designed sgRNAs such as genomic localization, quality scores, closest transcription start sites, and others. Experimental validation of sgRNAs for MYC binding sites designed with transCRISPR confirmed efficient disruption of the targeted motifs and effect on expression of MYC-regulated genes. TransCRISPR is available from https://transcrispr.igcz.poznan.pl/transcrispr/
Synthesis, crystal structure and photophysical properties of chlorido[(E)-3-hydroxy-2-methyl-6-(quinolin-8-yldiazenyl)phenolato]copper(II) monohydrate
Authors: Kachi-Terajima Chihiro , Hagiwara Seiya
Published: April 2022

The reaction between copper(II) chloride dihydrate and the (E)-2-methyl-4-(quinolin-8-yldiazenyl)benzene-1,3-diol ligand in acetonitrile leads to the formation of the title compound, [Cu(C16H12N3O2)Cl]·H2O. The ligand is deprotonated and coordinates with three donor atoms (tridentate) to the CuII ion. Individual molecules of the CuII complex are connected by chloride bridges, forming a one-dimensional coordination polymer. No photoisomerization to the cis isomer of the azo ligand was observed upon irradiation with UV light.
Vulnerability, transgenerationality, parenting styles, and use of psychoactive substances by adolescents
Authors: Castello Ana Lucia , Silva Hugo Rafael , Areco Kelsy , Paiva Paulo , Da Silveira Dartiu
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between parenting styles, family psychological vulnerability environment (FPVE) and drug use among adolescents.

Design/methodology/approach

The quantitative survey using paper and pencil was administered to collect data from 284 parents registered with a paediatric clinic in the city of São Paulo (Brazil), most of whom claimed that their children used drugs. FPVE was measured by eight scales: family relationship patterns and drug use habits; hereditary predisposition to drug use; transmission of moral values to children (reverse); parents’ hereditary predisposition; parental drug use; depression; impulsiveness; and anxiety.

Findings

Dimensions of FPVE that had effect on drug use by adolescents were: the family relationship and drug use patterns of the family of procreation, drug use by the parents and heredity in relation to drug use. Conversely, the family relationship and drug use patterns of the family of origin and the parents’ anxiety, symptoms of depression and impulsiveness did not affect their children’s drug use.

Research limitations/implications

One limit of this study is the sample of parents. These parents were parents of adolescents that were at psychological treatment. The authors do not know if part of parents who declared that their children are not drug users, because the treatment effect. Another limit is that this study did not compare the effect of parents’ drugs misuse with parents that do not use drugs on adolescent drug use. One other limit is that the parents were treated regardless of whether they were mothers or fathers.

Originality/value

This study expands the study of the antecedents of drug use by adolescents, considering FPVE as a construct. Regarding this construct when facing resources limitation, the practitioners can prioritize strategies to prevent adolescent drug use.
Is coolness important to luxury hotel brand management? The linking and moderating mechanisms between coolness and customer brand engagement
Authors: Khoi Nguyen Huu , Le Angelina Nhat-Hanh
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This study aims to contribute by forming the concept of luxury hotel brand (four- and five-star hotel) coolness and revealing its promoting role to customer brand engagement with brand satisfaction and brand love as connecting components and materialism as a contingent factor.

Design/methodology/approach

A conditional model linking luxury hotel brand coolness and customer brand engagement is proposed and tested using the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) technique on a data set of 284 customers.

Findings

Luxury hotel brand coolness reflecting various brand qualities fosters satisfaction and love, which facilitate CBE. Materialism positively moderates the impact of luxury hotel brand coolness on brand satisfaction and love.

Research limitations/implications

Future studies should further generalize the findings by extending the current research on different hospitality services and luxury consumption. Also, more personality traits and personal values should be investigated as moderators.

Practical implications

Luxury hotel brand management should place brand coolness at the center of luxury hotel brand strategies.

Originality/value

This study fills in the gap of unraveling the central role of luxury hotel brand coolness in fostering customer brand engagement with brand satisfaction and love as catalysts and materialism as a contingent condition.
Self-reported unmet health needs of adults with disabilities in Kurdistan, Iran
Authors: Azadnia Arian , Mohamadi Bolbanabad Amjad , Safari Hossein , Afkhamzadeh Abdorrahim , Piroozi Bakhtiar , Ghamari Darya , Khosravi Shiva , Banafshi Zhina , Ebrahimi Ramazan
Published: April 2022

Purpose

Health is one of the most basic human rights. This study aims to examine the pattern of unmet health services needs and barriers to use health services among people with disabilities.

Design/methodology/approach

This cross-sectional study was conducted among people with disabilities in Sanandaj, the capital of a less economically developed province in western Iran in 2020. In total, 548 samples were selected using random sampling, and data were collected using a questionnaire. Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test were used to examine the relationship between independent variables including demographic variables and dependent variables. Statistical tests were performed using STATA software package.

Findings

About 64% and 23% of participants needed outpatient and inpatient services, respectively. The gap between the perceived need and using health services for outpatient and inpatient services was reported to be 55% and 30%, respectively. The main reasons for not seeking the required health care were “insufficient coverage of costs by insurance” and “lack of physical access.” Having supplementary insurance and better economic status were significantly correlated with using outpatient care and having supplementary insurance and type of disability had a significant relationship with using inpatient care.

Originality/value

There was a big gap between the perceived need, seeking for and receiving health services in people with disabilities. Designing and implementing appropriate interventions to reduce barriers on the way of transforming, the need for health services into demand in the population of people with disabilities should be on the agenda of policymakers and relevant managers in the country.
Ethical leadership and sustainability of agro-allied firms: moderating role of environmental dynamism
Authors: Ogaga Ida Austin , Ezenwakwelu Charity A. , Isichei Ejikeme Emmanuel , Olabosinde Taiwo Samuel
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to account for the direct effect of ethical leadership on the sustainability of agro-allied firms and the moderating effect of environmental dynamism on ethical leadership–organisational sustainability relation.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 215 managers participated in the survey, which covered agro-allied firms from the 6 geo-political zones of the country, Nigeria. Partial least square structural equation model was conducted with the aid of SmartPLSv3.

Findings

The result confirms that ethical leadership positively affects the sustainability of firms in the agro-allied sector and also supports that environmental dynamism strengthens the relation between ethical leadership and sustainability of firms.

Originality/value

The study advances ethical leadership literature through a nuanced examination of its relevance in the agricultural sector, while also validating the integrative social contract theory as a theoretical lens used in exploring the relationship. The specific focus on “ethical” leadership and a specific sector of the economy – agro allied firms is a new ground by not just looking at leadership but the ethical consideration part in relation to a specific industry where competition is a key driver to management/leadership performance.
A state-of-art review of circular economy in the supply chain management: scientometric mapping
Authors: Majiwala Hardik , Kant Ravi
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This study aims to summarize the trend and overall aspect of Circular Economy (CE) in supply chain management research as a contribution of the previous research towards the CE concept narrowed in perspective, without presenting a specific application. Further, it is explored to identify the research hotspot, knowledge base, topic, landmark and pivot point in this research.

Design/methodology/approach

The scientometric mapping of CE in supply chain research papers is analyzed using VOSviewer and CiteSpace software to cover the broader field spectrum and overcome a manual review. The Research papers are extracted from the Web of Science core collection comprising keywords “Circular Economy*” and “Supply Chain*”. A number of 1,092 papers are selected from the reputed journals over 20 years (2001–2021) for review.

Findings

The co-operation visualization network analysis initially identifies the descriptive analysis of overall publications, leading authors, countries, institutions and journal sources. The co-occurrences of keywords present the research hotspot. Moreover, the co-citation cluster analysis identifies knowledge base, research topic, landmark and pivot point. Industry 4.0 integrated supply chain, their driver, barrier, challenges and risks need further investigation.

Research limitations/implications

The findings are based on networks visualization analysis principles, which indicate connection, quality and impact of academic works that might be open to accusations. The methodology chosen for the research and findings interpretations are based on researchers' perceptive limitations and subjective judgment.

Originality/value

This review paper covers a diverse view to attain sustainable development goals due to considerable attention from researchers, practitioners and policymakers. Also is expected to set the future direction of the CE in the supply chain research.
Soil carbon and microbes in the warming tropics
Authors: Nottingham Andrew T. , Gloor Emanuel , Bååth Erland , Meir Patrick
Published: April 2022

Climate warming could destabilise the Earth's largest terrestrial store of reactive carbon (C), by accelerating the decomposition of soil organic matter. A third of that C store resides in the tropics. The potential for tropical soils to sequester C, or to act as an additional source of CO2, will depend on the balance of C inputs and outputs, mediated by the response of soil microbial communities and their activity to perturbation.

We review the impact of warming on microbial communities and C storage in humid tropical forest soils over multiple time‐scales.

Recent in situ experiments indicate high sensitivity of tropical forest soil C mineralisation to warming in the short term. However, whether this will translate into long‐term soil C decline remains unclear. At decadal time‐scales, high sensitivity of soil C mineralisation to warming is consistent with the correlation between the inter‐annual variation in the tropical land surface temperature and atmospheric CO2 growth rate, and with simulations using the Carnegie‐Ames‐Stanford Approach biosphere model. This observed sensitivity may further contribute to climatic change over millennial time‐scales, suggested by radiocarbon dating of organic matter in river basins showing a twofold acceleration in tropical soil C release during the late‐glacial warming period. However, counter to this evidence, long‐term stability of tropical soil C is suggested by observed steady‐state soil C turnover across temperature gradients with elevation, and by the presence of C in tropical soils that pre‐dates the Holocene Thermal Maximum and late‐glacial warming periods.

To help reconcile these recent experimental findings and long‐term observations, we propose mechanisms to explain tropical soil C and microbial responses to warming across multiple time‐scales. Combined in situ experimental and monitoring approaches—large‐scale and cross‐site—are urgently needed to resolve the interplay of these mechanisms across spatial and temporal scales, to shape a better understanding of the relationship between soil microbes and C storage in tropical soils.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
How signals interact in multimodal displays: Insights from a robotic frog
Authors: Willink Beatriz
Published: April 2022

In Focus: Caldart, M. V., M. B. dos Santos & G. Machado (2021). Function of a multimodal signal: a multiple hypothesis test using a robot frog Journal of Animal Ecology, https://doi.org/10.1111/1365‐2656.13620. Animals can communicate using signals perceived by different sensory systems, and many combine multiple sensory modalities in their display repertoires. Why these multimodal displays evolve and how they function to transmit information between individuals are crucial questions in behavioural and evolutionary research. Most empirical studies addressing these questions assume, even if implicitly, that signals of different modalities have independent effects on receiver responses. Nonetheless, the potential for interactions between signals as an explanation for the function of multimodal displays has been recognized for over two decades. Caldart et al. (2021) use a robotic frog and a receiver‐based approach to test four alternative hypotheses for the function of multimodal (acoustic + visual) displays in the stream‐dwelling frog Crossodactylus schmidti. Their results lend support to an inter‐signal interaction mechanism, whereby inclusion of visual signals modifies the context in which an acoustic display is interpreted. In contrast, the results in Caldart et al. (2021) are less consistent with the hypotheses that emphasize the quality‐related information encoded in different signal modalities and a hypothesis that focuses on signal transmission across heterogeneous environments. These results showcase how experimental manipulation of different signal modalities and tests of multiple alternative hypotheses are key to clarifying the function of multimodal displays.
Researcher–practitioner partnerships and in‐school laboratories facilitate translational research in reading
Authors: Landi Nicole , Kleinman Daniel , Agrawal Vishakha , Ashton Grace , Coyne‐Green Aviva , Roberts Pat , Blair Nancy , Russell Jay , Stutzman Annie , Scorrano Danielle , Frazier Najah , Pugh Kenneth R. , Hoeft Fumiko
Published: April 2022

Educational neuroscience approaches have helped to elucidate the brain basis of Reading Disability (RD) and of reading intervention response; however, there is often limited translation of this knowledge to the broader scientific and educational communities. Moreover, this work is traditionally lab‐based, and thus the underlying theories and research questions are siloed from classroom practices. With growing awareness of the neurobiological origins of RD and increasing popularity of putative ‘brain‐based’ approaches in clinics and classrooms, it is imperative that we create more direct and bidirectional communication between scientists and practitioners. Such direct collaborations can help dispel neuromyths, and lead to increased understanding of the promises and pitfalls of neuroscience approaches. Moreover, direct partnerships between researchers and practitioners can lead to greater ecological validity in study designs to improve upon the translational potential of findings. To this end, we have forged collaborative partnerships, and built cognitive neuroscience laboratories within independent reading disabilities schools. This approach affords frequent and ecologically valid neurobiological assessment as children's reading improves in response to intervention. It also permits the creation of dynamic models of leading and lagging relationships of students' learning, and identification of individual‐level predictors of intervention response. The partnerships also provide in‐depth knowledge of student characteristics and classroom practices, which, when combined with the data we acquire, may facilitate optimisation of instructional approaches. In this commentary, we discuss the creation of our partnerships, the scientific problem we are addressing (variable response to reading intervention), and the epistemological significance of researcher–practitioner bi‐directional learning.
The market distortion effects of mortgage tightening and transaction taxes: Evidence from Hong Kong residential resale market
Authors: Ho Lok Sang , Hu Mengna , Wei Xiangdong , Wong Gary Wai Chung
Published: April 2022

By using transaction‐level data, we study if two popular policies intended to cool an overheated housing market would serve their intended purposes. We found both mortgage tightening and Special Stamp Duties (SSD) actually led to higher starter home prices in Hong Kong. Mortgage tightening shifted the demand for bigger homes to that for smaller ones. The SSD that applies to resales within a specified period of the original purchase lowered turnover across the housing market. The decline in turnover is, as expected, sharpest for small flats, implying a dramatic shrinkage in second‐hand supply of such homes, driving their prices up. We also found transactions bunching as many homes are held till the SSD is no longer applicable, indicating lock‐in effects. Relative to those that are not subject to the SSD, the prices of properties subject to the levy are found to be lower by 6.8%.
Effects of sodium chloride partial substitution with bitterness‐treated potassium and magnesium chloride on some properties of white‐brined cheese
Authors: ALQtaishat Nour , Saleh Mohammed , Al‐Ismail Khalid , Abu Ghoush Mahmoud
Published: April 2022

Blocking bitterness imparted from salt replacers to develop nonbitter sodium‐free salts is a major challenge in the food industry and a potential strategy to improve public health. This study aimed to treat the bitterness of potassium and magnesium chloride and investigate the effects of partially substituting sodium chloride with different formulations of these treated salts on white brined cheese properties. An 80% reduction of sodium content (i.e. 2.69% in the control to 0.66% in one treatment) was achieved. Sensory testing showed that 50% sodium substitution with treated potassium exhibited higher overall and saltiness‐liking scores than the control. Substitution with treated potassium chloride increased bitterness acceptability score having a value of 7.8/9 at Week 4.
Cytokine release syndrome and successful response to pembrolizumab therapy in a patient with EGFR‐mutated non‐small‐cell lung cancer: A case report
Authors: Zhang Meng , Cheng Yuan , Hu Yan , Nie Ligong
Published: April 2022

A therapeutic option for advanced non‐small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)‐tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) resistance is a clinical challenge. The clinical outcomes of pembrolizumab in those patients is inconclusive. Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) is a rarely reported immune‐related adverse event in the field of immune checkpoint inhibitors therapy, raising challenges given the paucity of data with such presentations. We present the unique case of a 67‐year‐old female with advanced EGFR‐mutated NSCLC who successfully responded to pembrolizumab after EGFR‐TKI resistance. However, the patient developed CRS after pembrolizumab initiation and presented with fever, rash, hypotension, hypoxemia, tachycardia, and multiple organ dysfunction. Blood tests showed elevated levels of peripheral CD8+ T cells, C‐reactive protein, and tumor necrosis factor‐α. The symptoms rapidly improved after corticosteroid initiation. Based on the present case, we propose that pembrolizumab might be a potential salvage therapy for patients with advanced EGFR‐mutated NSCLC after EGFR‐TKI resistance; CRS would be a sign of the antitumor effect of PD‐1 inhibitors in those patients. However, CRS can be a fatal adverse effect and clinicians must remain vigilant for the rare toxicities to make prompt diagnosis and treatment.
The United States: Political Developments and Data in 2021
Authors: KATZ RICHARD S.
Published: April 2022

Politics in the United States in 2021 was dominated by four major events and two non‐events, setting the stage for what was likely to be an acrimonious 2022. The major events were the storming of the Capitol and the inauguration of a new President, both in January, the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in August, and ongoing conflicts surrounding Covid‐19. The non‐events were the (non‐)passage of Joe Biden's Build Back Better plan and national voting rights legislation. The continuing drama concerned investigations arising from the Capitol riot, Supreme Court reconsideration of established law about libel and abortion, and challenges to redistricting based on the 2020 census as well as other electoral legislation, all in the run‐up to the 2022 election.
Anthelmintic resistance of gastrointestinal nematodes in dairy calves within a pasture‐based production system of south West Western Australia
Authors: Mauger M. , Kelly G. , Annandale C. H. , Robertson I. D. , Waichigo F. K. , Aleri J. W.
Published: April 2022

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal nematodes among post‐weaned calves aged between 4 and 12 months old within a pasture‐based system of south west Australia and quantify the level of anthelmintic resistance. Pre‐treatment FECs were monitored on 14 dairy farms. Anthelmintic resistance was assessed on 11 of the farms. Control FECs were compared with anthelmintic FECs at 14 days post‐treatment with doramectin (injectable), levamisole (oral), fenbendazole (oral) and a levamisole/abamectin combination (pour‐on). Results demonstrate a strong level of anthelmintic resistance, with at least one class of anthelmintic failing to achieve a 95% reduction in FEC in one or more gastrointestinal nematode species. Doramectin was fully effective against Ostertagia, but C. oncophora displayed resistance in 91% of the farms. Conversely, levamisole was fully effective against C. oncophora, but Ostertagia displayed resistance in 80% of the farms. Fenbendazole resistance was present in both C. onocphora and Ostertagia in 64% and 70% of the farms, respectively. Trichostrongylus showed low resistance, occurring in doramectin (14%) and levamisole/abamectin combination (14%). This study confirms that anthelmintic resistance is common. Regular FEC reduction testing is recommended to monitor and guide decision‐making for appropriate anthelmintic usage.
Insults according to notions of intelligence: Perspectives from education and newsmedia
Authors: Rix Jonathan
Published: April 2022

Background

The terms idiot, imbecile, and moron are generally associated with notions of intelligence, having served both scientific and mundane roles across cultural‐historical contexts and in many different countries. This study seeks to explore the degree to which the use of these terms is an everyday part of our lives and to map out the meanings being attached to them.

Methods

This study reports on their current usage in two arenas: within 29 academic papers published from 2016 to 2021, reporting on interviews or observations undertaken in educational contexts; and within 134 articles from four English language newspapers published in the first three months of 2021. Using a discursive and thematic approach to the analysis, it considers the degree to which these may be considered slur or taboo words, and whether they can be linked to discriminatory practices frequently experienced by groups with whom they are associated.

Findings

It is evident is that people use the terms differently in different arenas. However, they see them as negative, associate them with stereotypical characteristics, are happy to apply them to others, but want to avoid having them applied to themselves.

Conclusion

This study shows how widely these words are used across social contexts, and suggests that as with other historical terms for marginalized populations we need to regard them as slurs and treat them as taboo.
LAPTM4B‐35 promotes cancer cell migration via stimulating integrin beta1 recycling and focal adhesion dynamics
Authors: Liu Minxia , Yan Ruyu , Wang Junjie , Yao Zhihong , Fan Xinyu , Zhou Kecheng
Published: April 2022

Metastasis is the main cause of cancer patients' death despite tremendous efforts invested in developing the related molecular mechanisms. During cancer cell migration, cells undergo dynamic regulation of filopodia, focal adhesion, and endosome trafficking. Cdc42 is imperative for maintaining cell morphology and filopodia, regulating cell movement. Integrin beta1 activates on the endosome, the majority of which distributes itself on the plasma membrane, indicating that endocytic trafficking is essential for this activity. In cancers, high expression of lysosome‐associated protein transmembrane 4B (LAPTM4B) is associated with poor prognosis. LAPTM4B‐35 has been reported as displaying plasma membrane distribution and being associated with cancer cell migration. However, the detailed mechanism of its isoform‐specific distribution and whether it relates to cell migration remain unknown. Here, we first report and quantify the filopodia localization of LAPTM4B‐35: mechanically, that specific interaction with Cdc42 promoted its localization to the filopodia. Furthermore, our data show that LAPTM4B‐35 stabilized filopodia and regulated integrin beta1 recycling via interaction and cotrafficking on the endosome. In our zebrafish xenograft model, LAPTM4B‐35 stimulated the formation and dynamics of focal adhesion, further promoting cancer cell dissemination, whereas in skin cancer patients, LAPTM4B level correlated with poor prognosis. In short, this study establishes an insight into the mechanism of LAPTM4B‐35 filopodia distribution, as well as into its biological effects and its clinical significance, providing a novel target for cancer therapeutics development.
Early childhood development and its association with maternal parity
Authors: Islam M Mofizul , Khan Md Nuruzzaman
Published: April 2022

Background

Maternal parity, which is usually measured as the number of children born to a mother, has a substantial impact on the social and environmental factors around children and their development. This paper estimates the Early Childhood Development Index (ECDI) of 3‐ and 4‐year‐old children in Bangladesh and examines the relationship between maternal parity and early childhood development.

Methods

The study analysed nationally representative data from the Bangladesh Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2019. The dataset had 9453 children aged from 36 to 59 months. The ECDI was computed following the UNICEF's approach involving psychometric computation of four domains of development: physical, literacy‐numeracy, learning and social–emotional. Since the dataset has a hierarchical structure, we used multilevel logistic regression.

Results

A quarter (25%) of the children were not on track in their early childhood development. Seventy‐one percent were not developmentally on track in the literacy‐numeracy domain, 27% were not in the social–emotional and smaller percentages were not in learning (9%) and physical (1%) domains. There was a significant negative association between maternal parity and ECDI (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 0.95; 95% CI: 0.91–0.99). Attendance at early childhood education programmes was significantly associated with early childhood development (AOR 1.73; 95% CI: 1.47–2.03). Also, female children, those who were not stunted, located in rural areas, received parental stimulation activities, lived in relatively wealthy households or had mothers who had received secondary or further education were more likely than others to be on track of early childhood development.

Conclusions

Early childhood development is negatively correlated with maternal parity. The literacy‐numeracy domain constitutes the major developmental delay. Programmes for parental awareness should be widely expanded.
Habitat‐based biodiversity assessment for ecosystem accounting in the Murray–Darling Basin
Authors: Mokany Karel , Ware Chris , Harwood Thomas D. , Schmidt Rebecca K. , Ferrier Simon
Published: April 2022

Understanding how biodiversity is changing over space and time is crucial for well‐informed decisions that help retain Earth's biological heritage over the long term. Tracking changes in biodiversity through ecosystem accounting provides this important information in a systematic way and readily enables linking to other relevant environmental and economic data to provide an integrated perspective. We derived biodiversity accounts for the Murray–Darling Basin, Australia's largest catchment. We assessed biodiversity change from 2010 to 2015 for all vascular plants, all waterbirds, and 10 focal species. We applied a scalable habitat‐based assessment approach that combined expected patterns in the distribution of biodiversity from spatial biodiversity models with a time series of spatially complete data on habitat condition derived from remote sensing. Changes in biodiversity from 2010 to 2015 varied across regions and biodiversity features. For the entire Murray–Darling Basin, the expected persistence of vascular plants increased slightly from 2010 to 2015 (from 86.8% to 87.1%), mean species richness of waterbirds decreased slightly (from 12.5 to 12.3 species), whereas for the focal species the estimated area of habitat increased for 8 species and decreased for 1 species. Regions in the north of the Murray–Darling Basin generally had decreases in biodiversity from 2010 to 2015, whereas in the south biodiversity was stable or increased. Our results demonstrate the benefits of habitat‐based biodiversity assessments in providing fully scalable biodiversity accounts across different biodiversity features, consistent with the United Nations System of Environmental Economic Accounting – Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA EA) framework.
Genetic analyses are more sensitive than morphological inspection at detecting the presence of threatened Mojave desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) remains in canid scat and raven pellets
Authors: Parker Lillian D. , Quinta Jessica D. , Rivera Isabel , Cypher Brian L. , Kelly Erica C. , Campana Michael G. , Fleischer Robert C. , Boarman Ryan , Boarman William I. , Maldonado Jesús E.
Published: April 2022

Subsidization of predator populations increases predation pressure on prey species, which is exacerbated when natural resources are scarce. Estimating the frequency of predation by subsidized predators on vulnerable species, especially low‐density, long‐lived species such as the federally threatened Mojave desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii), allows landscape managers to evaluate the need for actions like reducing subsidies, discouraging predation by taste aversion, or predator removal. Most studies of Mojave desert tortoise predation have relied on morphological analysis to identify hard parts in predator scat. Here, we developed and validated a qPCR assay to test for the presence of Mojave desert tortoise in DNA extracted from scat and pellets. We used the assay to detect tortoise DNA in scat and pellets collected in a conservation easement adjacent to Boulder City, Nevada, from three Mojave desert tortoise predators: coyotes (Canis latrans), desert kit foxes (Vulpes macrotis arsipus), and common ravens (Corvus corax)—all of which consume anthropogenic resources. We compared the results of our qPCR assay to results from morphological analysis of the same samples and found that the qPCR method is much more sensitive at detecting the presence of tortoise remains. Although neither method can determine whether consumption was the result of predation or scavenging, nor how many individual tortoises were consumed, our findings indicate that conservation managers may benefit from focusing efforts on reducing subsidies that attract and support predators and on reducing tortoise mortality from predation.
Acute kidney injury after hip fracture in organ transplant recipients
Authors: Moon Jun‐Ki , Kim Hyosang , Chang Jae Suk , Moon Sung Ho , Kim Ji Wan
Published: April 2022

Background

This study aimed to investigate the incidence and risk factors of acute kidney injury (AKI) after hip fracture in organ transplant recipients.

Methods

In this single‐center retrospective cohort study, 795 elderly patients who underwent hip fracture surgery were enrolled. AKI was defined according to Acute Kidney Injury Network criteria. Among the 795 patients, 23 underwent kidney transplantation (KT) and 20 underwent liver transplantation (LT). The incidence of AKI, dialysis requirement, and renal recovery rate were investigated.

Results

AKI occurred in 83 patients (10.5%), of whom 9 (39.1%), 3 (15%), and 71 (9.5%) were in the KT, LT, and nontransplantation groups, respectively. The incidence rates of AKI and severe AKI (17.4% vs. 1.4%) were significantly higher in the KT group than in the nontransplantation group (P = .001 for both). The renal recovery rate was significantly lower in the KT group than in the nontransplantation group (P = .033). The multivariate analysis revealed that male; body mass index; CKD; alkaline phosphatase; intraoperative hypotension; and history of KT were independent predictors of AKI development.

Conclusions

AKI and severe AKI after hip fracture occurred more frequently in the KT recipients with lower renal recovery rates. Transplanted kidneys are more vulnerable to AKI after hip fracture.
Epidemiology of skin diseases in Germany: systematic review of the current state of research – part 3: infectious skin diseases
Authors: Hansen Inga , Augustin Matthias , Schäfer Ines , Mohr Nicole
Published: April 2022

The aim of this work was to systematically collect all previously published population‐based epidemiological data on skin diseases in Germany. A systematic literature search was performed using PubMed/MEDLINE for the period of the last 15 years. With the aim to include all dermatological diseases, a diagnostic list based on the ICD‐11 catalogue was compiled. This list included 1,347 skin diseases and formed the basis for the search. The present part 3 of the publication series deals with infectious skin diseases. The results on cutaneous tumor diseases (part 1) and non‐infectious skin diseases (part 2) form the other parts of this publication series.

The literature search yielded 4,605 hits, of which 72 papers on 43 different skin diseases were included in the synthesis. Among them were twelve hits on infectious dermatoses, of which six papers were related to measles. The highest lifetime prevalence rates were found for varicella and verrucae vulgaris.

This work is the first systematic literature review that aimed to report all available epidemiological data on skin diseases in Germany. It was found that representative data on many infectious diseases are not yet available. Among the included studies, a high heterogeneity was found with regard to the methodology. Nevertheless, these epidemiological data have a wide range of uses and can serve as a reference for various epidemiological questions.
Early‐life respiratory trajectories and neurodevelopmental outcomes in infants born very and extremely preterm: A retrospective study
Authors: Yu Wen‐Hao , Chu Chi‐Hsiang , Lin Yung‐Chieh , Chen Ray‐Bing , Iwata Osuke , Huang Chao‐Ching
Published: April 2022

Aim

To determine whether early‐life respiratory trajectories are associated with neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) in infants born very and extremely preterm.

Method

The daily type of respiratory supports in the first 8 weeks after birth were analysed in 546 infants (285 males, 261 females; median gestational age = 28.0 weeks, interquartile range = 3 weeks), comprising 301 infants born very preterm (gestation = 28–30 weeks) and 245 infants born extremely preterm (gestation <28 weeks), who survived to discharge from 2004 to 2018 and received follow‐up assessment by Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development at a corrected age of 24 months. NDI included cognition or motor impairment, moderate and severe cerebral palsy, or visual and hearing impairment.

Results

Clustering analysis identified three respiratory patterns with increasing severity: improving; slowly improving; and delayed improvement. These were significantly associated with increasing rates of NDI in infants born very and extremely preterm and smaller head circumference in infants born extremely preterm (both p < 0.001). By day 28, the proportion of infants who were under different categories of ventilation support significantly differed according to the three trajectory groups in infants born very and extremely preterm (both p < 0.05). Models that included adverse respiratory trajectories demonstrated more negative impacts on neurodevelopment than those without.

Interpretation

An adverse early‐life respiratory trajectory was associated with NDI at follow‐up, especially in infants born extremely preterm, suggesting a lung–brain axis of preterm birth.

What this paper adds

Clustering analysis identified three respiratory trajectories with increasing severity in infants born preterm.

Increasing severity of respiratory trajectories was associated with increasing rates of neurodevelopmental impairment.

Adverse respiratory trajectories had a significantly negative impact on neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Biogeographic deconstruction of phylogenetic and functional diversity provides insights into the formation of regional assemblages
Authors: Molina‐Venegas Rafael , Ottaviani Gianluigi , Campetella Giandiego , Canullo Roberto , Chelli Stefano
Published: April 2022

Evolutionary history and environmental filtering shape the phylogenetic and functional structure of regional assemblages. However, detecting the footprint of such eco‐evolutionary drivers is challenging because these may often counter each other's signature. Here, we examined whether a biogeographic deconstruction approach of phylogenetic (PD) and functional diversity (FD) patterns may help in identifying eco‐evolutionary signals in extant regional assemblages. As model system, we used forest understorey angiosperms found in three regions of Italy (Alpine, Mediterranean, Continental). We quantified PD and FD of all species inhabiting the three regions (regional assemblages). Then, we computed PD and FD for the subsets of species restricted to each region (biogeographic elements), also examining diversity patterns of species found across the three regions (widespread element). We used aboveground and belowground traits capturing major plant functions to calculate FD. Additionally, we assessed FD patterns decoupled from phylogeny. We found that species restricted to climatically harsh regions (Alpine and Mediterranean elements) were phylogenetically and functionally clustered, whereas widespread species were characterised by overdispersion. Species confined to the climatically intermediate (Continental) region were randomly sorted. By including all species occurring within a region, the patterns found for the region‐restricted species blurred. Phylogenetically decoupled FD patterns were qualitatively similar to non‐decoupled ones with the exception of the Alpine element, where we detected a clear signature of functional differentiation between closely related species. This suggests that recent speciation events contributed to shaping the Alpine flora. Compared to the belowground compartment, aboveground traits showed a more coherent pattern with that of all‐trait FD – likely because most biomass is allocated aboveground in forest understoreys. This biogeographic deconstruction study illustrates which type of eco‐evolutionary insights can be gained by implementing multifaceted and integrated approaches at the macroecological scale.