bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Virtual screening for small molecule pathway regulators by image profile matching
Authors: Rohban Mohammad H. , Fuller Ashley M. , Tan Ceryl , Goldstein Jonathan T. , Syangtan Deepsing , Gutnick Amos , DeVine Ann , Nijsure Madhura P. , Rigby Megan , Sacher Joshua R. , Corsello Steven M. , Peppler Grace B. , Bogaczynska Marta , Boghossian Andrew , Ciotti Gabrielle E. , Hands Allison T. , Mekareeya Aroonroj , Doan Minh , Gale Jennifer P. , Derynck Rik , Turbyville Thomas , Boerckel Joel D. , Singh Shantanu , Kiessling Laura L. , Schwarz Thomas L. , Varelas Xaralabos , Wagner Florence F. , Kafri Ran , Eisinger-Mathason T.S. Karin , Carpenter Anne E.
Published: July 2021

Identifying chemical regulators of biological pathways is a time-consuming bottleneck in developing therapeutics and research compounds. Typically, thousands to millions of candidate small molecules are tested in target-based biochemical screens or phenotypic cell-based screens, both expensive experiments customized to each disease. Here, our uncustomized, virtual profile-based screening approach instead identifies compounds that match to pathways based on phenotypic information in public cell image data, created using the Cell Painting assay. Our straightforward correlation-based computational strategy retrospectively uncovered the expected, known small molecule regulators for 32% of positive-control gene queries. In prospective, discovery mode, we efficiently identified new compounds related to three query genes, and validated them in subsequent gene-relevant assays, including compounds that phenocopy or pheno-oppose YAP1 overexpression and kill a Yap1-dependent sarcoma cell line. This image profile-based approach could replace many customized labor- and resource-intensive screens and accelerate the discovery of biologically and therapeutically useful compounds.

One sentence summary

If a genetic perturbation impacts cell morphology, a computational query can reveal compounds whose morphology “matches”.
A small-molecule fluorescent probe for live-cell imaging of endocytosis
Authors: Seino Ryo , Iwashita Hidefumi , Takahashi Masataka , Ezoe Takatoshi , Ishiyama Munetaka , Ueno Yuichiro
Published: July 2021

Endocytosis involves plasma membrane-derived vesicles for the recycling of intra- and extracellular components. Increasing evidence suggests that endocytosis is related to maintaining intracellular homeostasis and defense against disease. Consequently, investigation of the endocytic pathway attracts considerable scientific interest. This study reports live-cell imaging of endocytosis using the newly-developed fluorescent probe ECGreen. We demonstrate that ECGreen is not membrane permeable and its fluorescence signal increases in acidic conditions. Because of these characteristics, ECGreen remains on the plasma membrane, and then shows increased fluorescence when it is internalized into the acidic vesicles formed in the endocytic process. ECGreen allows direct observation of the internalized vesicle; it is a valuable new probe for endocytic imaging.
Neural-specific alterations in glycosphingolipid biosynthesis and cell signaling associated with two human ganglioside GM3 Synthase Deficiency variants
Authors: Dookwah Michelle , Wagner Shannon K. , Ishihara Mayumi , Yu Seok-Ho , Ulrichs Heidi , Kulik Michael J. , Zeltner Nadja , Dalton Stephen , Strauss Kevin A. , Aoki Kazuhiro , Steet Richard , Tiemeyer Michael
Published: July 2021

GM3 Synthase Deficiency (GM3SD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder resulting from pathogenic variants in the ST3GAL5 gene, which encodes GM3 synthase, a glycosphingolipid (GSL)-specific sialyltransferase. This enzyme adds a single α3-linked sialic acid to the terminal galactose of lactosylceramide (LacCer) to produce the monosialylated ganglioside GM3. In turn, GM3 is extended by other glycosyltransferases to generate nearly all the complex gangliosides enriched in neural tissue. Pathogenic mechanisms that account for neural phenotypes associated with GM3SD are not known. To explore how loss of GM3 impacts neural-specific glycolipid glycosylation and cell signaling, GM3SD patient fibroblasts bearing one of two different ST3GAL5 variants were reprogrammed to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and then differentiated to neural crest cells (NCCs). GM3 and GM3-derived gangliosides were undetectable in iPSCs and NCCs from both variants, while LacCer precursor levels were elevated compared to wildtype (WT). NCCs of both variants synthesized elevated levels of neutral lacto- and globo-series, as well as minor alternatively sialylated, GSLs compared to WT. Shifts in ceramide profiles associated with iPSC and NCC GSLs were also detected in GM3SD variants. Altered GSL profiles in the GM3SD cells were accompanied by dynamic changes in the cell surface proteome, protein O-GlcNAcylation, and receptor tyrosine kinase abundance. GM3SD cells also exhibited increased apoptosis and sensitivity to erlotnib, an inhibitor of epidermal growth factor receptor signaling. Pharmacologic inhibition of O-GlcNAcase increased protein O-GlcNAcylation and significantly rescued baseline and erlotnib-induced apoptosis. Collectively, these findings indicate broad effects on cell signaling during differentiation of GM3SD patient-derived iPSCs to NCCs. Thus, human GM3SD cells provide a novel platform to investigate structure/function relationships that connect GSL diversity to cell signaling, cell survival, and neural differentiation.
Habit formation viewed as structural change in the behavioral network
Authors: Yamada Kota , Toda Koji
Published: July 2021

Habit formation is a process in which an action becomes involuntary. While goal-directed behavior is driven by its consequences, habits are elicited by a situation rather than its consequences. Existing theories have proposed that actions are controlled by corresponding two distinct systems. Although canonical theories based on such distinctions are starting to be challenged, a few theoretical frameworks that implement goal-directed behavior and habits within a single system. Here, we propose a novel theoretical framework by hypothesizing that behavior is a network composed of several responses. With this framework, we have shown that the transition of goal-directed actions to habits is caused by a change in a single network structure. Furthermore, we confirmed that the proposed network model behaves in a manner consistent with the existing experimental results reported in animal behavioral studies. Our results revealed that habit could be formed under the control of a single system rather than two distinct systems. By capturing the behavior as a single network change, this framework provides a new perspective on studying the structure of the behavior for experimental and theoretical research.

Author summary

To obtain the desired consequences, organisms need to respond based on the knowledge of the consequences obtained by the response and the change in the environment caused by it. Such a process is called goal-directed behavior, which is flexible, but requires high computational cost. Once the same response is repeatedly performed under the same environment, the response becomes automatic, and transforms into a habit. In the canonical views, such a change from goal-directed response to habit was explained by the associative structures between the corresponding systems, goal-directed, and habit systems. However, the dichotomy in the mechanisms of behavior between goal-directed responses and habits has recently been challenged. Here, we show that, instead of assuming two explicitly distinguished mechanisms as in the canonical views, behavior is regarded as a network consisting of multiple responses, and that changes in the structure of the network cause two behavioral features, goal-directed behavior and habit. The transition from goal-directed behavior to habit has been operationally defined by sensitivity to the reward obtained by the response. We replicate such an experimental paradigm in the simulation and show that the behavioral network model can reproduce the empirical results on habit formation obtained from animal experiments. Our results demonstrate that habit formation can be explained in terms of changes in the network structure of behavior without assuming explicitly distinct systems and thus, provide a new theoretical framework to study the psychological, biological, and computational mechanisms of the behavior.
Structure of the {U13} polyoxo cluster U13O8Cl
x
(MeO)38–x
(x = 2.3, MeO = methoxide)
Authors: Fichter Sebastian , Radoske Thomas , Ikeda-Ohno Atsushi
Published: July 2021

The structure of a new type of polyoxo cluster complex that contains thirteen uranium atoms, {U13}, is reported. The complex crystallized from methanol containing tetravalent uranium (UIV) with a basic organic ligand, and was characterized as dichloridooctacosa-μ2-methanolato-octakis(methanolato)octa-μ4-oxido-tridecauranium, [U13(CH3O)35.7Cl2.3O8] or [U13(μ4-Ooxo)8Cl
x
(MeO)38–x
] (x = 2.3, MeO = methoxide) (I), by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The characterized {U13} polyoxo cluster complex (I) possesses a single cubic uranium polyhedron at the centre of the cluster core. To the best of our knowledge, this is the very first example of a polyoxo actinide complex that bears a single cubic polyhedron in its structure. The cubic polyhedron in I is well comparable in shape with those in bulk UO2. The U—O bonds in the cubic polyhedron of I are, however, significantly shorter than those not only in bulk UO2 but also in another analogue in the {U38} cluster. This shortening of U—O bonds, together with BVS calculations and the overall negative charge (2−) of I, suggests that the central uranium atom in I, which forms the single cubic coordination polyhedron, is presumably oxidized to the pentavalent state (UV) from the original tetravalent state (UIV). Complex I is, hence, the first example of a polyoxo cluster possessing a single cubic coordination polyhedron of UV.
ExxonMobil and the Chad-Cameroon Pipeline (A)
Authors: Mead Jenny , Werhane Patricia H. , Freeman R. Edward , Wicks Andrew C.
Published: July 2021

This case presents the dilemma of a multinational oil and gas company, ExxonMobil, as it factors in the ethical issues related to the environment and cultural differences in deciding whether to proceed with building a pipeline in Chad and Cameroon, two of the poorest and most corrupt developing countries in West Africa. The many players in this project included the World Bank--which cofinanced the project and put restrictions into place that would hopefully prevent pipeline-related government corruption in both Chad and Cameroon--and many environmental and human rights groups that warned of potential disaster. The case also covers the environmental and social analysis of the areas that would be affected by the pipeline.
Improving energy efficiency of HVAC systems in buildings: a review of best practices
Authors: Simpeh Eric Kwame , Pillay Jon-Patrick George , Ndihokubwayo Ruben , Nalumu Dorothy Julian
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems account for approximately half of all energy usage in the operational phase of a building's lifecycle. The disproportionate amount of energy usage in HVAC systems against other utilities within buildings has proved a huge cause for alarm, as this practice contributes significantly to global warming and climate change. This paper reviews the status and current trends of energy consumption associated with HVAC systems with the aim of interrogating energy efficiency practices for improving HVAC systems' consumption in buildings in the context of developing countries.

Design/methodology/approach

The study relied predominantly on secondary data by analysing the relevant body of literature and proposing conceptual insights regarding best practices for improving the energy efficiency of HVAC systems in buildings. The systematic review of the literature (SLR) was aided by the PRISMA guiding principle. Content analysis technique was adopted to examine germane scholarly articles and finally grouped them into themes.

Findings

Based on the SLR, measures for enhancing the energy efficiency of HVAC systems in buildings were classified based on economic considerations ranging from low-cost measures such as the cost of tuning the system, installing zonal control systems, adopting building integrated greenery systems and passive solar designs to major approaches such as HVAC smart technologies for energy management which have multi-year pay-back periods. Further, it was established that practices to improve energy efficiency in buildings range from integrated greening system into buildings to HVAC system which are human-centred and controlled to meet human modalities.

Practical implications

There is a need to incorporate these energy efficiency practices into building regulations or codes so that built environment professionals would have a framework within which to design their buildings to be energy efficient. This energy efficient solution may serve as a prerequisite for newly constructed buildings.

Originality/value

To this end, the authors develop an integrated optimization conceptual framework mimicking energy efficiency options that may complement HVAC systems operations in buildings.
The relationship between cross-border acquisitions and R&D investments by Indian firms – substituting or complementing
Authors: Singal Ajay Kumar , Ahsan Faisal Mohammad
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Emerging economy firms seek strategic assets through cross-border acquisitions (CBAs) to upgrade their capabilities. The paper explores the relation between emerging economy firms' investments in CBAs and subsequent investments in domestic R&D. It investigates the underlying mechanism that links a firm's decision to pursue CBAs and the outcomes from the CBAs. The main idea behind the study is that firms have higher possibility of creating value from cross-border acquisitions when they simultaneously invest in domestic R&D though both investments are constrained by financial and managerial resources.

Design/methodology/approach

The hypotheses are tested on a panel data set of 296 Indian firms over a period of 13 years (2003–2015). The authors use a two-stage Heckman procedure for testing their hypotheses. In the first stage, a probit model predicts the probability of a firm being a cross-border acquirer. The second stage model is estimated by a pooled-data GLS (generalized least squares) regression technique.

Findings

The authors find a nonlinear (inverted U-shaped) relationship between firm's investments in CBAs and domestic R&D. This suggests a complementary relation between investments in CBAs and a firm's domestic R&D at lower levels of investments in CBAs. At higher levels of investments in CBAs, CBA investments begin to substitute for firm's domestic R&D investments. For firms with higher international product-market experience and those operating in the hi-tech industry, the relationship between investments in CBAs and domestic R&D is complementary even at higher levels of CBA investments.

Originality/value

The study highlights the role of an emerging market firm's investment in domestic R&D as a link between the decision to invest in CBAs and related outcomes thereof. Emerging market firms face resource constraints while pursuing simultaneous investments in CBAs and R&D, but investment in R&D is essential for realizing the acquisition objectives. The authors also establish the significance of industry context and experiential learning in deciding the allocation of resources between CBAs and internal R&D.
Leadership styles and organisational innovation in Vietnam: does employee creativity matter?
Authors: Nguyen Nhat Tan , Hooi Lai Wan , Avvari Mohan V.
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to look into the role of transformational leadership and transactional leadership as predictors of employee creativity and organisational innovation. Employee creativity is examined as a potential mediator in the leadership styles–organisational innovation relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional, quantitative design was adopted and structural equation modelling (SEM) techniques were used to analyse data collected from 369 employees working in 39 public coffee enterprises in Vietnam.

Findings

Transformational leadership and transactional leadership were significant predictors of employee creativity and organisational innovation. Specifically, transformational leadership was instrumental to employee creativity and organisational innovation while transactional leadership was detrimental to these two variables. Additionally, employee creativity partially mediated the relationships between the two leadership styles and organisational innovation.

Practical implications

Results of this study benefit the management of organisations and policy makers by providing an insight of which leadership style will effectively suit public enterprises to promote employee creativity and foster organisational innovation.

Originality/value

While there is a lack of studies investigating organisational innovation in organisational methods and that the interrelationships between leadership styles, employee creativity and organisational innovation are not fully understood, this study pioneers in examining relationships between leadership styles and organisational innovation that is being mediated by employee creativity. Figuring out that organisational innovation is more likely to be fostered by the positive influence of leadership behaviours and the improvement of employee creativity, in particular, the significant role of employee creativity represents important contributions of the current study.
Impeller in suction pipe Thai Phaya-Nakh for agriculture
Authors: Noosomton Jaruphant
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The suction pipes are important in agriculture and are used widely in water management and agricultural–mechanical industry in ASEAN. Thus, this paper aims to present design of new impeller in suction pipe and include shape blade impeller to optimize for suction head, which has been higher than efficiency local-type by the performance. It mostly depends on the hydrodynamic characteristics, e.g. lift, drag and ratio, which is known as the “Thai Phaya-Nakh pipe”.

Design/methodology/approach

By approach NACA methodology and use applied technique: leading edge of blade, skew-line, cambered-line, developed area and advanced number etc., for analyzing data which the result of CFD simulation.

Findings

The models were tested in field by using motor at rotation speed 1500 rpm and found that the summarized average suction efficiency of the new impeller was estimated to be 72%, which has been greater than that of the local-type impeller with an average suction efficiency of 28% to 2.6 times. In addition, the amount of required electrical energy was reduced by 18%.

Originality/value

Then after analyzing the data from the static pressure distribution flow rate of impeller models, it is found that the new curved impeller has higher flow rate than the local type impeller. Thus, this study suggests the shape new impeller has higher flow rate than the local type impeller.
Consequential factors of Big Data's Analytics Capability: how firms use data in the competitive scenario
Authors: Contreras Pinochet Luis Hernan , Amorim Guilherme de Camargo Belli , Lucas Júnior Durval , Souza Cesar Alexandre de
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The article's objective is to analyze the consequent factors of Big Data Analytics Capability for firms in the competitive scenario, using different analytical models.

Design/methodology/approach

The research had a quantitative approach, using a survey of data from firms located in the state of São Paulo – Brazil. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to validate the model.

Findings

The results reveal that all hypotheses were accepted. Business value was the construct that had the most explanatory power in the model. It is necessary to invest more in analytical tools, as well as people trained in the analysis of these models, in addition to a change of mindset, which will dictate the bias of the firm's strategic decision-making. The Big Data analysis is evident from firms' growing investments, particularly those that operate in complex and fast-paced environments.

Practical implications

The proposed theoretical model makes it possible to verify firms' analytical structure and whether they are better positioned to analyze customer data and information in real-time, generate insights and implement solutions to maintain and improve their market position.

Originality/value

The contribution of this article is to present a proposal to expand the research models in the literature that analyzed the direct and indirect relationship between “Big Data Analytics Capability” and “Product Innovation Performance”.
Blockchain as a mean to secure Internet of Things ecosystems – a systematic literature review
Authors: El-Masri Mazen , Hussain Eiman Mutwali Abdelmageed
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Blockchain is evolving to become a platform for securing Internet of things (IoT) ecosystems. Still, challenges remain. The purpose of this literature review is to highlight the applicability of blockchain as a medium to secure IoT ecosystems. A two-dimensional framework anchored on (1) IoT layers and (2) security goals is used to organize the existent IoT security threats and their corresponding countermeasures identified in the reviewed literature. The framework helped in mapping the IoT security threats with the inherent features of blockchain and accentuate their prominence to IoT security.

Design/methodology/approach

An approach integrating computerized natural language processing (NLP) with a systematic literature review methodology was adopted. A large corpus of 2,303 titles and abstracts of blockchain articles was programmatically analyzed in order to identify the relevant literature. The identified literature was subjected to a systematic review guided by a well-established method in IS research.

Findings

The literature evidently highlights the prominence of blockchain as a mean to IoT security due to the distinctive features it encompasses. The authors’ investigation revealed that numerous existent threats are better addressed with blockchain than conventional mechanisms. Nevertheless, blockchain consumes resources such as electricity, time, bandwidth and disk space at a rate that is not yet easily accessible to common IoT ecosystems.

Research limitations/implications

Results suggest that a configurational approach that aligns IoT security requirements with the resource requirements of different blockchain features is necessary in order to realize the proper balance between security, efficiency and feasibility.

Practical implications

Practitioners can make use of the classified lists of convention security mechanisms and the IoT threats they address. The framework can help underline the countermeasures that best achieve their security goals. Practitioners can also use the framework to identify the most important features to seek for in a blockchain technology that can help them achieve their security goals.

Originality/value

This study proposes a novel framework that can help classify IoT threats based on the IoT layer impacted and the security goal at risk. Moreover, it applies a combined man-machine approach to systematically analyze the literature.
Analyzing employee perspectives on the impact of COVID-19 on sustainable practices: a study of five-star hotels in India
Authors: Mehta Kamakshi , Sharma Shikha
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Given the pace of global environmental degradation, companies and individuals alike are exploring ways and means of protecting the environment. In this context, the attitudes of hoteliers and their employees toward sustainability are key to the successful implementation of these practices. This paper aims to consider the impact of attitude development and COVID-19 on the sustainability performance of hotels. The study also explores contributions made by hotels to environmental sustainability and society more generally.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on interviews and survey questionnaires completed by employees of five-star hotels in India, and qualitative methods were used to process the data.

Findings

The findings of this study confirm the devastating impact of COVID-19 on both economic and societal sustainability in what otherwise would be a profitable sector of the economy.

Practical implications

The study has implications for hoteliers, the government, environmental agencies and for employees and could assist with the formulation of recovery packages by government and in the development of new standard operating procedures to enable hotels to step-up on the self-recovery path.

Originality/value

The paper provides an analysis of the direct effects of the pandemic on financial sustainability and its mediating impact on the efforts of hotels to attain sustainable environment.
Extraction of Cr from chrome containing leather waste to develop composite at optimum casting parameters using response surface methodology
Authors: Islam Anas , Dwivedi Shashi Prakash , Dwivedi Vijay Kumar
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to extract the Cr from chrome containing leather waste (CCLW) in order to develop composite at optimum casting parameters using RSM technique. Chrome containing leather wastes (CCLW) is one of the significant cause of pollution that is exhaled by the leather industries. One of the technique to address the problem of pollution that is created by CCLW is to recycle it and produce some fruitful results from it. This will not only minimize the levels of harmful emissions to some extent but also give some befitting results.

Design/methodology/approach

The current work is all about exploring the ways by which CCLW could be used as a reinforcing material with aluminum. In this work, alumina has been used as a secondary reinforcement particle together with CCLW as with the help of stir casting process. The parameters of stir casting have been optimized by using “Response Surface Methodology.”

Findings

To maximize the hardness and tensile strength the values of optimal input casting parameters as found by the experimental results (response surface methodology) are as follows: the pre-heating temperature of collagen and alumina must be 166 °C and 300 °C, respectively, while the wt.% of collagen and alumina present in the matrix must be 2.45% and 5% sequentially 180 s of stirring time.

Originality/value

The hardness of the finally tested composite is 67.12 BHN (approx) which has been enhanced by 52.54% as compared to the base material. Tensile strength of composite also enhanced about 18% with respect to base material developed at the optimum combination of casting parameters.
A computational review of the line integral analytical formulation of the polyhedral gravity signal
Authors: Tsoulis Dimitrios , Gavriilidou Georgia
Published: July 2021

The generally shaped polyhedron is a widely used model in gravity field modelling and interpretation. Its induced gravity signal – gravitational potential and its derivatives up to second order – has been studied extensively in the geophysical literature. The class of solutions with special interest is the one which leads to closed analytical expressions, as these offer an exact representation of the gravity signal of finite three‐dimensional distributions while being at the same time linked to a flexible means of geometric modelling. Of the several mathematical algorithms available, the line integral approach involves no approximations and is, however, connected with certain singularities, occurring for specific relative positions of the computation point with respect to the polyhedral source. The present contribution analyses the algorithmic details of the polyhedral line integral approach focusing on its geometric and computational aspects. Following the definitions of the individual coordinate systems and the two‐step application of the Gauss divergence theorem for each face and polygonal boundary of the source, the geometric insight of the algorithm is presented, which permits a deeper understanding of the significance of the involved numerical singular terms. An overview of the line integral analytical approach for the polyhedral gravity signal is presented with emphasis on its geometric and computational aspects. Matlab code and results for the two considered case studies, a prismatic source and asteroid Eros, are provided as electronic supplement.
From farm to fork: Colistin voluntary withdrawal in Portuguese farms reflected in decreasing occurrence of mcr‐1‐carrying Enterobacteriaceae from chicken meat
Authors: Ribeiro Sofia , Mourão Joana , Novais Ângela , Campos Joana , Peixe Luísa , Antunes Patrícia
Published: July 2021

Expansion of mcr‐carrying Enterobacteriaceae (MCR‐E) is a well‐recognized problem affecting animals, humans and the environment. Ongoing global control actions involve colistin restrictions among food‐animal production, but their impact on poultry‐derived products is largely unknown, justifying comprehensive farm‐to‐fork studies. Occurrence of MCR‐E among 53 chicken‐meat batches supplied from 29 Portuguese farms shortly after colistin withdrawal was evaluated. Strains (FT‐IR/MLST/WGS), mcr plasmids and their adaptive features were characterized by cultural, molecular and genomic approaches. We found high rates of chicken‐meat batches (80%–100% – 4 months; 12% – the last month) with multiple MDR + mcr‐1‐carrying Escherichia coli (Ec‐including ST117 and ST648‐Cplx) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kp‐ST147‐O5:K35) clones, some of them persisting over time. The mcr‐1 was located in the chromosome (Ec‐ST297/16‐farms) or dispersed IncX4 (Ec‐ST602/ST6469/5‐farms), IncHI2‐ST2/ST4 (Ec‐ST533/ST6469/5 farms and Kp‐ST147/6‐farms) or IncI2 (Ec‐ST117/1‐farm) plasmids. WGS revealed high load and diversity in virulence, antibiotic resistance and metal tolerance genes. This study supports colistin withdrawal potential efficacy in poultry production and highlights both poultry‐production chain as a source of mcr‐1 and the risk of foodborne transmission to poultry‐meat consumers. Finally, in the antibiotic reduction/replacement context, other potential co‐selective pressures (e.g., metals‐Cu as feed additives) need to be further understood to guide concerted, effective and durable actions under 'One Health' perspective.
Tree mycorrhizal type and tree diversity shape the forest soil microbiota
Authors: Singavarapu Bala , Beugnon Rémy , Bruelheide Helge , Cesarz Simone , Du Jianqing , Eisenhauer Nico , Guo Liang‐Dong , Nawaz Ali , Wang Yanfen , Xue Kai , Wubet Tesfaye
Published: July 2021

There is limited knowledge on how the association of trees with different mycorrhizal types shapes soil microbial communities in the context of changing tree diversity levels. We used arbuscular (AM) and ectomycorrhizal (EcM) tree species as con‐ and heterospecific tree species pairs (TSPs), which were established in plots of three tree diversity levels including monocultures, two‐species mixtures and multi‐tree species mixtures in a tree diversity experiment in subtropical China. We found that the tree mycorrhizal type had a significant effect on fungal but not bacterial alpha diversity. Furthermore, only EcM but not AM TSPs fungal alpha diversity increased with tree diversity, and the differences between AM and EcM TSPs disappeared in multi‐species mixtures. Tree mycorrhizal type, tree diversity and their interaction had significant effects on fungal community composition. Neither fungi nor bacteria showed any significant compositional variation in TSPs located in multi‐species mixtures. Accordingly, the most influential taxa driving the tree mycorrhizal differences at low tree diversity were not significant in multi‐tree species mixtures. Collectively, our results indicate that tree mycorrhizal type is an important factor determining the diversity and community composition of soil microbes, and higher tree diversity levels promote convergence of the soil microbial communities.

Significance statement

More than 90% of terrestrial plants have symbiotic associations with mycorrhizal fungi which could influence the coexisting microbiota. Systematic understanding of the individual and interactive effects of tree mycorrhizal type and tree species diversity on the soil microbiota is crucial for the mechanistic comprehension of the role of microbes in forest soil ecological processes. Our tree species pair (TSP) concept coupled with random sampling within and across the plots, allowed us the unbiased assessment of tree mycorrhizal type and tree diversity effects on the tree‐tree interaction zone soil microbiota. Unlike in monocultures and two‐species mixtures, we identified species‐rich and converging fungal and bacterial communities in multi‐tree species mixtures. Consequently, we recommend planting species‐rich mixtures of EcM and AM trees, for afforestation and reforestation regimes. Specifically, our findings highlight the significance of tree mycorrhizal type in studying ‘tree diversity – microbial diversity – ecosystem function’ relationships.
Lexical Differentiation between Human and Animal Genitalia in the Old EnglishMedicina de Quadrupedibus
Authors: Christiansen Bethany
Published: July 2021

This paper examines the Old English words for sexual anatomy in the medical textMedicina de quadrupedibus(‘medicines made from quadrupeds’), a close translation of the LatinLiber medicinae ex animalibus. The Anglo‐Saxon translator used different terms for human genitalia and animal genitalia, specifically, the wordteorsfor a human penis andscytelfor an animal penis;herþan(and possiblyherþbylg) for human testicles andsceallanfor animal testicles; andinnoðfor human uterus andhriffor animal uterus. On the other hand, rather than showing differentiation, the polite termsgecynd‘nature; sex; genitals’ andgecyndlim‘genitals’ translate Latinnatura‘nature; sex; genitals’ for both human and animal genitalia. This apparent exception to the pattern of differentiation results from the semantic congruity of OEgecyndand Latinnatura. The principled differentiation of the various terms is probably not lexicalized as such in Old English, but rather represents a specific stylistic choice of the Anglo‐Saxon translator of theMedicina de quadrupedibusto emphasize the difference between humans and animals.
Impact of pelvic dynamic acquisition on final reading of 18F‐Fluorocholine positron emission tomography in patients with prostate adenocarcinoma: True need or unnecessary burden?
Authors: Latge Adrien , Heimburger Céline , Severac Francois , Meyer Nicolas , Somme François , Imperiale Alessio
Published: July 2021

Introduction

Despite the increasing use of 18F‐fluorocholine (18F‐FCH) positron emission tomography (PET) in patients with prostate cancer, the acquisition protocol remains debated. We have evaluated the influence of the pelvic dynamic phase on the final reading of whole‐body 18F‐FCH PET, to assess the need for a two‐stage protocol. Reading the physician’s experience and patient’s previous treatment profile was also considered as potential influencing factors on final PET interpretation.

Methods

All 18F‐FCH PET/CT performed from January 2018 to September 2019 in patients with prostate cancer and including a pelvic dynamic phase followed by a delayed whole‐body acquisition were retrospectively retrieved. PET/CT were analysed by one expert nuclear medicine physician and one resident. The whole‐body scan was analysed blinded (first reading) and nonblinded from the results of the dynamic phase.

Results

221 consecutive PET/CT were selected from 201 patients previously treated by radical prostatectomy (n = 31), pelvic radiation therapy (n = 60), or both (n = 94). 24 patients had no previous treatments, and 12 benefited from other focal treatments. In the whole population, dynamic acquisition modified final interpretation of 32/221 scans (14.5%) for residents, 26 (11.8%) for experts and 19 (8.6%) for consensual reading. No influence of previous treatments was found. The availability of a dynamic phase would have been responsible for treatment modification in 5/221 scans (2.3%). Considering only the prostate bed, dynamic acquisition modified the final interpretation in 7/125 (5.6%) studies (consensual reading) from patients with previous prostatic surgery and 4/84 (4.8%) scans from patients without a history of prostatic surgical intervention. No significant influence of dynamic acquisition was found on the final PET interpretation on prostate lodge accordingly to previous prostatic surgery.

Conclusion

The dynamic phase changes the interpretation of 18F‐FCH PET in about 9% of cases and the therapeutic strategy in <3% of patients. The influence of the early phase reduces with physician experience. Patient's treatment profile does not appear to have a significant influence on the variability of interpretation, also including the prostate bed.
Language disorder as a marker for schizophrenia
Authors: Hartopo Dhenni , Kalalo Royke Tony
Published: July 2021

A language disorder is a significant symptom of schizophrenia. A psychiatrist can find this disorder when interviews with a patient. Screening and diagnosis in patients with schizophrenia alone rely heavily on interviews conducted on patients and any instructions captured from patients both verbally and nonverbally. A psychiatrist can also analyze the language aspects in schizophrenia from a language level perspective ranging from phonetic to pragmatic. This analysis paves the way for the process of interference detection since the prodromal phase. Language disorder in schizophrenia is often associated with impaired thinking processes. However, with the development of science and technology today, there is an objective and quantitative method of computational analysis of language through the Natural Language Processing process with a semantic space model that allows a psychiatrist to learn aspects of the human language process, especially in semantic and pragmatic aspects. The review provides a groundbreaking proposal for biomarkers for schizophrenia that have not been available so far through the assessment of language disorders in patients with schizophrenia. Objective and accurate detection of language disorders in schizophrenia can be a modality for psychiatrists to screen, make diagnoses, determine prognosis, evaluate therapies, and monitor recurrence using existing technology media.
European Academy of Neurology/Peripheral Nerve Society guideline on diagnosis and treatment of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy: Report of a joint Task Force—Second revision
Authors: Van den Bergh Peter Y. K. , van Doorn Pieter A. , Hadden Robert D. M. , Avau Bert , Vankrunkelsven Patrik , Allen Jeffrey A. , Attarian Shahram , Blomkwist‐Markens Patricia H. , Cornblath David R. , Eftimov Filip , Goedee H. Stephan , Harbo Thomas , Kuwabara Satoshi , Lewis Richard A. , Lunn Michael P. , Nobile‐Orazio Eduardo , Querol Luis , Rajabally Yusuf A. , Sommer Claudia , Topaloglu Haluk A.
Published: July 2021

Objective

To revise the 2010 consensus guideline on chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP).

Methods

Seventeen disease experts, a patient representative, and two Cochrane methodologists constructed 12 Population/Intervention/Comparison/Outcome (PICO) questions regarding diagnosis and treatment to guide the literature search. Data were extracted and summarized in GRADE summary of findings (for treatment PICOs) or evidence tables (for diagnostic PICOs).

Results

Statements were prepared according to the GRADE Evidence‐to‐Decision frameworks. Typical CIDP and CIDP variants were distinguished. The previous term “atypical CIDP” was replaced by “CIDP variants” because these are well characterized entities (multifocal, focal, distal, motor, or sensory CIDP). The levels of diagnostic certainty were reduced from three (definite, probable, possible CIDP) to only two (CIDP and possible CIDP), because the diagnostic accuracy of criteria for probable and definite CIDP did not significantly differ. Good Practice Points were formulated for supportive criteria and investigations to be considered to diagnose CIDP. The principal treatment recommendations were: (a) intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) or corticosteroids are strongly recommended as initial treatment in typical CIDP and CIDP variants; (b) plasma exchange is strongly recommended if IVIg and corticosteroids are ineffective; (c) IVIg should be considered as first‐line treatment in motor CIDP (Good Practice Point); (d) for maintenance treatment, IVIg, subcutaneous immunoglobulin or corticosteroids are recommended; (e) if the maintenance dose of any of these is high, consider either combination treatments or adding an immunosuppressant or immunomodulatory drug (Good Practice Point); and (f) if pain is present, consider drugs against neuropathic pain and multidisciplinary management (Good Practice Point).
NJUCal‐1: A New Calcite Oxygen Isotope Reference Material for Microbeam Analysis
Authors: Li Rucao , Wang Xiao‐Lei , Chen Huayong , Zheng Hui , Guan Yue , Gu Jing , Jin Guishan
Published: July 2021

Calcite is a common mineral in various types of rocks and mineral deposits, and its oxygen isotopic compositions are widely used to reconstruct palaeotemperature and to trace rock genesis and ore‐forming processes. However, the availability of high‐quality matrix‐matched calcite reference materials for oxygen isotope microanalysis is limited. A new natural calcite specimen (NJUCal‐1) was analysed in this study to investigate its potential as a reference material for microbeam oxygen isotope measurement. Detailed textural and major elemental examinations reveal no internal zoning of ground grains. During six measurement sessions, a total of 463 spot analyses of oxygen isotope ratios were applied on ~ 200 randomly selected grains using secondary ion mass spectrometry, Nanjing. Taking all six sessions together, the spot‐to‐spot repeatability is 0.28‰ (2s), and the repeatability is better than 0.31‰ (2s) for individual sessions, indicating that the NJUCal‐1 calcite is quite homogeneous in its oxygen isotopic compositions and can be used as a new reference material for microbeam oxygen isotope measurement. The mean δ18OVPDB value determined by gas source isotope ratio mass spectrometry is −22.58 ± 0.16‰ (2s, n = 22), which is proposed as the recommended value for this potential reference material.
Plasma hsa‐mir‐19b is a potential LevoDopa therapy marker
Authors: Chis Aimee Rodica , Moatar Alexandra Ioana , Dijmarescu Cristina , Rosca Cecilia , Vorovenci Ruxandra Julia , Krabbendam Inge , Dolga Amalia , Bejinar Cristina , Marian Catalin , Sirbu Ioan Ovidiu , Simu Mihaela
Published: July 2021

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder among the elderly, the diagnostic and prognostic of which is based mostly on clinical signs. LevoDopa replacement is the gold standard therapy for PD, as it ameliorates the motor symptoms. However, it does not affect the progression of the disease and its long‐term use triggers severe complications. There are no bona fide biomarkers for monitoring the patients’ response to LevoDopa and predicting the efficacy of levodopa treatment. Here, we have combined qPCR microRNA array screening with analysis of validated miRs in naïve versus Levodopa‐treated PD patients. We have identified plasma miR‐19b as a possible biomarker for LevoDopa therapy and validated this result in human differentiated dopaminergic neurons exposed to LevoDopa. In silico analysis suggests that the LevoDopa‐induced miR‐19b regulates ubiquitin‐mediated proteolysis.
Strong phenotypic trait correlations between mating partners do not result from assortative mating in wild great tits (Parus major)
Authors: Holtmann Benedikt , Dingemanse Niels J.
Published: July 2021

There is considerable debate about the occurrence of assortative mating between phenotypic traits measured within natural populations. Meta‐analyses have implied that assortative mating occurs generally in natural populations, but recent work indicates these conclusions largely result from biased data. Specifically, estimates of phenotypic correlations between mating partners do not solely result from nonrandom associations between individual‐level traits of partners but also from other biological processes (joint phenotypic plasticity, indirect genetic effects), methodological practices (observer bias) and other unexplained residual correlations (e.g. correlated measurement error). This paper puts this critique to test. First, we estimated the overall phenotypic correlation between phenotypic traits of mating partners for a wild population of great tits. Second, we estimated various key variance components to reveal the extent to which phenotypic correlations between partners resulted from assortative mating, reversible plasticity, social partner effects and methodological practices. We performed our analyses for a range of phenotypic traits (body mass, breathing rate, exploration behaviour, wing and tarsus length) to derive general conclusions not hinging on the specifics of the traits involved. Our analyses support the conclusion that patterns of assortative mating exist at first glance but occur because of the biasing effects of correlated residuals likely caused by a combination of phenotypic responses to unknown environmental factors or measurement error—not because of intrinsic patterns of assortative mating.
Convective drying of cambuci, a native fruit from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest: Effect of pretreatments with ethanol and freezing
Authors: Rojas Meliza Lindsay , Gomes Bruna de Oliveira , Carvalho Gisandro Reis , Santos Karoline Costa , Guedes Jaqueline Souza , Bitencourt Bruna Sousa , Augusto Pedro Esteves Duarte
Published: July 2021

Cambuci is a native fruit from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, with high sensorial and nutritional potential. However, this fruit is very perishable, which impairs its exploration and study. This work reported the convective drying of cambuci for the first time, as an approach to achieve stability. Moreover, it also evaluated for the first time the combination of ethanol and freezing pretreatments to convective drying. Pretreatments were performed by immersion of fresh and previously frozen and thawed cambuci slices in ethanol (5 min at 25°C). Pretreated samples were then convectively dried (50°C, 1 m/s). Drying time was reduced up to ~36% by combining the pretreatments, which was associated with the reduction in the external resistance to mass transfer, once the convective mass transfer coefficient increased up to 94%. In contrast, pretreatments that include freezing had a greater influence on reducing the internal resistance to mass transfer, increasing the effective diffusive coefficient. In addition, the thermal surface profile evidenced the temperature increased faster and reached high levels in pretreatments that include freezing, which could be correlated to their higher drying rates and structure modifications. The obtained results corroborate the modifications produced by freezing and the effects of ethanol on the surface of samples significantly accelerate the convective drying of cambuci.

Practical Applications

The present investigation shows that convective drying is a feasible alternative for cambuci processing. Further, being this fruit very perishable, with short harvest and production far from the markets, freezing is a common practice to preserve them in the farms. Consequently, the impact of this unit operation was also evaluated. In addition, the proposed pretreatments (freezing and ethanol) have great application potential to improve the conventional convective drying of fruits. It has been shown that the combination of pretreatments accelerated drying, reducing the processing time by 36%.