bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biochemical characterization of Bombyx mori α‐N‐acetylgalactosaminidase belonging to the glycoside hydrolase family 31
Authors: Ikegaya M. , Miyazaki T. , Park E. Y.
Published: March 2021

Horizontal gene transfer is an important evolutionary mechanism not only for bacteria but also for eukaryotes. In the domestic silkworm Bombyx mori, a model species of lepidopteran insects, some enzymes are known to have been acquired by horizontal transfer; however, the enzymatic features of protein BmNag31, belonging to glycoside hydrolase family 31 (GH31) and whose gene was predicted to be transferred from Enterococcus sp. are unknown. In this study, we reveal that the transcription of BmNag31 increases significantly during the prepupal to pupal stage, and decreases in the adult stage. The full‐length BmNag31 and its truncated mutants were heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli and characterized. Its catalytic domain exhibits α‐N‐acetylgalactosaminidase activity and the carbohydrate‐binding module family 32 domain shows binding activity towards N‐acetylgalactosamine, similar to the Enterococcus faecalis homolog, EfNag31A. Gel filtration chromatography and blue native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analyses indicate that BmNag31 forms a hexamer whereas EfNag31A is monomeric. These results provide insights into the function of lepidopteran GH31 α‐N‐acetylgalactosaminidase.
Emerging roles of extracellular vesicles in COVID‐19, a double‐edged sword?
Authors: Xia Xiaohuan , Yuan Ping , Liu Yihan , Wang Yi , Cao Weijun , Zheng Jialin C.
Published: March 2021

The sudden outbreak of SARS‐CoV‐2‐infected disease (COVID‐19), initiated from Wuhan, China, has rapidly grown into a global pandemic. Emerging evidence has implicated extracellular vesicles (EVs), a key intercellular communicator, in the pathogenesis and treatment of COVID‐19. In the pathogenesis of COVID‐19, cells that express ACE2 and CD9 can transfer these viral receptors to other cells via EVs, making recipient cells more susceptible for SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. Once infected, cells release EVs packaged with viral particles that further facilitate viral spreading and immune evasion, aggravating COVID‐19 and its complications. In contrast, EVs derived from stem cells, especially mesenchymal stromal/stem cells, alleviate severe inflammation (cytokine storm) and repair damaged lung cells in COVID‐19 by delivery of anti‐inflammatory molecules. These therapeutic beneficial EVs can also be engineered into drug delivery platforms or vaccines to fight against COVID‐19. Therefore, EVs from diverse sources exhibit distinct effects in regulating viral infection, immune response, and tissue damage/repair, functioning as a double‐edged sword in COVID‐19. Here, we summarize the recent progress in understanding the pathological roles of EVs in COVID‐19. A comprehensive discussion of the therapeutic effects/potentials of EVs is also provided.
Extending the role of nursing assistants in mental health inpatient settings: A multi‐method study
Authors: Roche Michael A. , Glover Suzanne , Luo Xiaoou , Joyce Mark , Rossiter Chris
Published: March 2021

With continued growth in the demand for nursing care, many organizations have incorporated nursing assistants into the acute care workforce. However, role descriptions are often generic and do not provide clarity in specialist areas such as mental health inpatient settings. Issues have been noted regarding the role of assistants, delegation, and their integration with the nursing team. This study extended an existing set of care activities and explored the perceptions of nursing assistants and registered nurses regarding these activities. A modified Delphi approach added 14 new care activities for nursing assistants. A follow‐up survey found significant differences between nursing assistants and registered nurses regarding utilization of the activities, delegation, teamwork, and role clarity. Future research must incorporate the perspectives of those with lived experience of mental health issues, and develop an understanding of the interactions between nursing assistant care activities and other factors such as local supports, skillmix, and the practice environment, as these may impact how an organization can introduce nursing assistants to specialty areas while maintaining consumer and staff safety.
Heat stress affects floral morphology, silique set and seed quality in chamber and field grown winter canola
Authors: Pokharel Meghnath , Stamm Michael , Hein Nathan T. , Jagadish Krishna S. V.
Published: March 2021

The impact of heat stress coinciding with reproductive stages in winter canola was studied using walk‐in controlled environment chambers and field‐based tents. Six different cultivars (46W94, Edimax CL, Mercedes, Popular, DKW44‐10 and DKW46‐15) were used in both the experiments following a split‐plot design. Under controlled environment chambers, all six cultivars were exposed to HDT (day/night; 34/15°C), HNT (23/20°C), HDNT (34/20°C) and control (23/15°C) conditions for 14 days coinciding with flowering. Under field conditions, custom built ‘heat tents’ were used to impose heat stress starting seven days after 50% of flowering till maturity. The results demonstrated that HDT and HDNT induced significant impact on floral morphology, extreme levels of floral sterility and complete yield loss with two weeks of stress exposure during flowering. However, biomass, seed weight and oil concentration at maturity were either significantly increased or unchanged which demonstrated significant post‐stress phenotypic plasticity in canola to overcome damage caused by short episode of HDT and HDNT during flowering. The long duration heat stress under field conditions recorded significant decrease in yield parameters and oil concentration in the canola cultivars. Incorporating greater post‐stress phenotypic plasticity will help develop canola as an ideal alternative crop under future climates associated with enhanced frequency of short heat stress episodes coinciding with critical reproductive stages.
A novel relaxor (Bi,Na,Ba)(Ti,Zr)O3 lead‐free ceramic with high energy storage performance
Authors: Bilal Muhammad Kashif , Wang Jian , Bashir Rabia , Liu Huan , Asif Sana Ullah , Xie Jiyang , Hu Wanbiao
Published: March 2021

Energy storage ceramic capacitors advance in high power density and working voltage, but challenge in simultaneously large recoverable energy density (Wrec), high energy efficiency (η), and good thermal stability. To achieve this, a novel lead‐free ceramic system (1‐x)(Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3‐x(BaZr0.3Ti0.7O3) [(1‐x)BNT‐xBZT] was explored by tailoring the ferroelectric relaxor states. The introduction of BZT gradually promotes the transformation of ferroelectric states into relaxor states at around the room temperature for x = 0.3‐0.5 that presents a pinched P‐E loop. The optimized composition of x = 0.45 possesses a large Wrec of up to 2.6 J/cm3 and ultrahigh ƞ of 94%, with only a small variation (±8%) in Wrec and the high ƞ (90%) over a broad temperature range (−30°C to 180°C), demonstrating the superior performances compared to many existing lead‐free ceramics. The remarkable advantages of the novel BNT‐BZT lead‐free ceramics explored in this study are thus promising for the high‐efficiency and temperature‐stable energy storage capacitor applications.
Flash sintering of cationic conductive ceramics: A way to build multilayer systems
Authors: Lachal Marie , El Khal Hana , Bouvard Didier , Chaix Jean‐Marc , Bouchet Renaud , Steil Marlu Cesar
Published: March 2021

Flash Sintering (FS), that allows densifying ceramics at low furnace temperature in a few seconds, requires a reversible electrochemical reaction to enable the current flow through the electrode / material interface. For Li+ pure ionic conductors such as Li1.3Al0.3Ti1.7(PO4)3 (LATP), the best material to ensure this fast charge transfer reaction is a mixed Li+/e− conductor, eg, LiCoO2 (LCO). This paper demonstrates the feasibility of FS on LCO between two Pt electrodes and on multi‐layers systems using LCO or LATP+LCO composite as electrodes. It is shown that a composite electrode both allows the flash event to occur and prevents the delamination possibly observed with pure LCO by lowering interfacial stresses.
Design Thinking: Assessing the health needs of college students with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities
Authors: Milroy Jeffrey J. , Oakes Lindsey R. , Hickerson Benjamin D.
Published: March 2021

Background

There is a dearth of literature related to well‐being of college students with IDD. The purpose of this study was to use design thinking to identify health‐related innovations for college students with IDD.

Method

Two design thinking events were conducted with participants (n = 16). Subsequent web‐based surveys with a separate group of students with IDD (n = 18) assessed feasibility of each innovation. Collaborative group discussions were used to assess each innovation, and quantitate data were used to assess innovation feasibility.

Results

A total of 16 innovations were constructed: 4 sexual health, dating and relationships, 2 drugs and/or alcohol, 2 exercise and physical activity, 2 socializing, leisure and recreation, 2 food and nutrition and 4 mental health.

Conclusion

Design thinking methods are a suitable strategy to use with individuals with IDD and led to the development of innovations with high relevancy and feasibility for college students with IDD.
Trajectories of body mass index and risk of incident hypertension among a normal body mass index population: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Xu Jiahui , Zhang Rui , Guo Rongrong , Wang Yali , Dai Yue , Xie Yanxia , Zheng Jia , Sun Zhaoqing , Xing Liying , Sun Yingxian , Zheng Liqiang
Published: March 2021

It is unclear whether there are different body mass index (BMI) trajectories among a population with normal BMI levels, and the association between BMI patterns and incident hypertension is not well characterized. This prospective cohort study includes surveys conducted at baseline and three follow‐ups. 3939 participants who are free of hypertension at baseline or first two follow‐ups were enrolled. At baseline, the age of participants ranged from 35 to 82 years and the mean age was 45.9 years. The BMI trajectories were identified using latent mixture modeling with data from the baseline and first two follow‐ups. The effects of different BMI trajectories on the development of hypertension were analyzed using a Cox proportional hazard model. Four distinct BMI trajectories were identified over the study period (2004‐2010): normal‐stable (n = 1456), normal‐increasing (n = 2159), normal‐fluctuated (n = 166), and normal‐sharp‐increasing (n = 158). Relative to the normal‐stable BMI group, the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) after adjustment for confounding factors of the normal‐increasing, normal‐fluctuated, and normal‐sharp‐increasing groups were 1.244 (1.103‐1.402), 1.331 (1.008‐1.756), and 1.641 (1.257‐2.142), respectively. Additionally, subgroup analysis showed that the normal‐fluctuated BMI trajectory was associated with a significantly higher risk of hypertension only in women (HR = 1.362; 95% CI = 1.151‐1.611). The BMI trajectories were significant predictors of hypertension incidence, and increasing BMI trajectories within the currently designated normal range were associated with an increased hypertension risk, especially in women.
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is a risk factor for glucose intolerance onset in men regardless of alanine aminotransferase status
Authors: Miyake Teruki , Matsuura Bunzo , Furukawa Shinya , Yoshida Osamu , Hirooka Masashi , Kumagi Teru , Ishihara Toru , Kanzaki Sayaka , Nakaguchi Hironobu , Miyazaki Masumi , Nakamura Yoshiko , Yamamoto Yasunori , Koizumi Yohei , Tokumoto Yoshio , Takeshita Eiji , Ikeda Yoshio , Abe Masanori , Kitai Kohichiro , Hiasa Yoichi
Published: March 2021

Introduction

Fatty liver disease (FLD) is a surrogate condition for glucose intolerance development. FLD may involve normal or abnormal liver enzyme levels. Whether FLD is a risk factor for glucose intolerance, regardless of liver enzyme levels, remains unknown. We assessed relationships between the development of impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and FLD, liver enzyme abnormalities, and alcohol consumption.

Materials and Methods

We retrospectively evaluated 8,664 participants with more than two annual health check‐ups. Participants were classified according to sex, alcohol consumption, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, and fatty liver status.

Results

In univariate analyses, IFG onset among men was related to normal or high ALT levels with FLD in the nonalcoholic and alcoholic groups (P‐trend < 0.01). In multivariate analyses, IFG onset among nonalcoholic men was associated with normal or high ALT levels with FLD, independent of potential confounding factors (P‐trend < 0.01). However, IFG onset was non‐independently associated with any condition among alcoholic men. In univariate analyses, IFG onset among women was related to normal or high ALT levels with FLD in the nonalcoholic group (P‐trend < 0.01) and high ALT levels with FLD in the alcoholic group (P‐trend < 0.05). In multivariate analyses, IFG onset was independently associated with only normal ALT levels in nonalcoholic FLD women.

Conclusions

Among nonalcoholic men and women, FLD was a risk factor for IFG onset, including normal ALT concentrations. Care is needed for individuals with nonalcoholic FLD, regardless of liver injury, possibly helping reduce glucose intolerance risk.
Transitional shared decision‐making processes for patients with complex needs: A feasibility study
Authors: Schusselé Filliettaz Séverine , Moiroux Stéphane , Marchand Gregory , Gilles Ingrid , Peytremann‐Bridevaux Isabelle
Published: March 2021

Introduction

Shared decision‐making (SDM) processes, combining patients' and professionals' perspectives, are especially necessary for patients with complex needs (CNs) during their care transitions. In 2016, we started implementing interprofessional and interinstitutional SDM processes (IIPs) for patients admitted to a short‐stay unit (SSU) for inpatient care and then followed‐up by primary care providers. Two types of IIPs were identified: (a) iterative IIPs, and (b) meeting IIPs. These differed in terms of the timing of SDM processes: whereas the former were multilateral and iterative, meeting IIPs were simultaneous. However, the two processes had similar outcomes and participants had similar characteristics. The intervention included other components, such as CNs assessment and a care coordinator position. The present study aimed to assess the feasibility of the intervention's implementation.

Methods

The intervention's feasibility was assessed using fidelity and coverage indicators. We collected data from the patients' records on (a) patients' and professionals' characteristics, (b) the fidelity (CNs evaluations and occurrences of IIPs), and (c) the intervention's coverage (types of IIPs, participants).

Results

The study included 453 patients between September 2017 and February 2019: mean age of 82.3 years, 65.6% women and 61.1% considered to have CNs. For patients with CNs, iterative IIPs and meeting IIPs occurred in 78.3% and 23.8% of cases, respectively. 35.1% of iterative IIPs and 8.8% of meeting IIPs for patients with CNs involved patients or their informal caregivers, inpatient professionals, primary care physicians and homecare professionals.

Discussion

These results showed that an intervention targeting the implementation of formalized IIPs for SDM in transitional care was feasible. However, to improve the evaluation of such interventions, other methods should be used to measure their appropriateness and acceptability. Additionally, assessing the effects of IIPs would legitimize their funding, supporting their sustainability and generalisability.
Economic Uncertainty and Bank Lending
Authors: WU WEI‐SHAO , SUARDI SANDY
Published: March 2021

This paper shows that economic uncertainty proxied by the variance risk premium (VRP) has an important explanatory power for bank credit supply and demand. Higher VRP exerts a negative influence on both loan demand and supply, increases loan spreads, reduces loan size and maturity, and increases the proportion of collateralized loans. These effects are substantive in the syndicated loan market and are worse off during economic recessions. Upon isolating the effect of uncertainty on bank credit supply from loan demand, we find that VRP dominates credit supply, which suggests that bank credit shortages can potentially aggravate economic downturn during recessions.
Money in the Equilibrium of Banking1
Authors: CAO JIN , ILLING GERHARD
Published: March 2021

Money is both the medium for transaction and the most liquid asset for banks. We examine both roles of money in an integrated framework, where banks are subject to aggregate illiquidity risk. An active central bank can replicate the constrained efficient allocation, which, however, cannot be implemented in the market equilibrium: due to moral hazard problems, banks invest excessively in illiquid assets, forcing the central bank to provide liquidity at low interest rates. An interest rate policy aiming to reduce systemic liquidity risk is dynamically inconsistent. Instead, the constrained efficiency can be achieved by imposing ex ante liquidity coverage requirement.
Couple teletherapy in the era of COVID‐19: Experiences and recommendations
Authors: Hardy Nathan R. , Maier Candice A. , Gregson Ty J.
Published: March 2021

The unprecedented times of the novel Coronavirus quarantine and subsequent stay‐at‐home orders have changed the way many couple therapists provide clinical services. Understanding couple therapists’ experiences with teletherapy is important for optimizing future telehealth delivery with couples. Thus, the purpose of this mixed methods survey study was to explore couple therapists’ experiences of transitioning from in‐person/traditional therapy to online/telehealth delivery. A total of 58 couple therapists completed an online survey for this study. Reported are both quantitative and qualitative findings. Overall, this study found that couple therapists experienced a positive shift from traditional/in‐person therapy to online/telehealth therapy, with a majority of couple therapists (74%) reporting they would continue providing teletherapy after the novel Coronavirus pandemic and social distancing regulations had ended. Thematic analysis was used to identify themes from couple therapists’ experiences related to advantages, challenges, and recommendations for practice. Implications for clinical training and future research are discussed.
The significance of endocan immunohistochemical expression in chronic plaque psoriasis
Authors: Abdou Asmaa Gaber , Hammam Mostafa , Saad Eman , Hassan Reem Ahmed Abdelaziz
Published: March 2021

Background

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with immune‐mediated mechanism. Endocan is a soluble dermatan sulfate proteoglycan expressed by endothelium of blood vessels.

Aims

The present study aims to evaluate immunohistochemical localization of endocan in psoriatic skin in comparison with normal skin and to correlate its expression with the clinical and pathological data of psoriasis.

Patients/Methods

Skin biopsies from 36 psoriatic patients and 40 normal subjects were taken and processed for immunohistochemical staining of endocan.

Results

Endocan was expressed in 63.9% and in 36.1% of epidermal keratinocytes and dermal endothelial and inflammatory cells of psoriatic skin, respectively, compared with its expression in 30% of epidermis of normal skin. Diffuse epidermal expression of endocan was in favor of cases with more angiogenesis and its intense expression was in favor of marked acanthosis and with cases affecting trunk as main presentation. Positive dermal endocan expression was significantly associated with marked parakeratosis and with more angiogenesis.

Conclusion

Endocan is over‐expressed in psoriatic skin from epidermal keratinocytes and dermal endothelial and inflammatory cells. Endocan enhances angiogenesis and proliferation of psoriatic skin contributing to pathogenic mechanisms of psoriasis.
Prevalence and characteristics of ventricular septal defects in a non‐racehorse equine population (2008‐2019)
Authors: De Lange Lisa , Vera Lisse , Decloedt Annelies , Van Steenkiste Glenn , Vernemmen Ingrid , van Loon Gunther
Published: March 2021

Background

Ventricular septal defects (VSDs) are the most common congenital cardiac defect in horses.

Objectives

To identify prevalence, age, breed, and sex distribution of VSD and to describe associated clinical and ultrasonographic findings.

Animals

Hospital‐based population of 21 136 horses presented to the equine internal medicine department.

Methods

Medical records over a 12‐year period were reviewed for VSD confirmed by ultrasonography. Age, breed, sex, sport discipline, murmur, clinical signs, outcome, VSD type, VSD size, shunt velocity, cardiac dimensions, concomitant cardiac anomalies, and valvular regurgitations were recorded.

Results

From 1894 horses that underwent echocardiography, 54 had a VSD: 42 as an isolated lesion and 12 as part of complex congenital heart disease (CHD). Median age was 5 years (range, 0‐26) and 1 year (range, 0‐8), respectively. Warmbloods and males were overrepresented. In the isolated VSD group, only 15% had associated clinical signs and most horses had a perimembranous VSD (pmVSD; 36/42). Horses with a pmVSD and clinical signs showed a significantly lower maximal shunt velocity (3.77 vs 5.20 m/s;P < .001), higher VSD/Aortic root (Ao) diameter (0.52 vs 0.38;P= .05), higher left atrium/Ao diameter (1.94 vs 1.22;P < .001), and higher pulmonary artery/Ao diameter (1.15 vs 0.88;P= .005) compared to horses without clinical signs. All horses with complex CHD had clinical signs and abnormal cardiac dimensions.

Conclusion and Clinical Importance

Most isolated VSD were diagnosed only at a later age and were not associated with clinical signs. Horses with complex CHD were more likely to have or develop clinical signs at younger age.
Use of waggle dance information in honey bees is linked to gene expression in the antennae, but not in the brain
Authors: Kennedy Anissa , Peng Tianfei , Glaser Simone M. , Linn Melissa , Foitzik Susanne , Grüter Christoph
Published: March 2021

Communication is essential for social animals, but deciding how to utilize information provided by conspecifics is a complex process that depends on environmental and intrinsic factors. Honey bees use a unique form of communication, the waggle dance, to inform nestmates about the location of food sources. However, as in many other animals, experienced individuals often ignore this social information and prefer to rely on prior experiences, i.e., private information. The neurosensory factors that drive the decision to use social information are not yet understood. Here we test whether the decision to use social dance information or private information is linked to gene expression differences in different parts of the nervous system. We trained bees to collect food from sugar water feeders and observed whether they utilize social or private information when exposed to dances for a new food source. We performed transcriptome analysis of four brain parts (11–16 bees per tissue type) critical for cognition: the subesophageal ganglion, the central brain, the mushroom bodies, and the antennal lobes but, unexpectedly, detected no differences between social or private information users. In contrast, we found 413 differentially expressed genes in the antennae, suggesting that variation in sensory perception mediates the decision to use social information. Social information users were characterized by the upregulation of biogenic amine genes, while private information users upregulated several genes coding for odour perception. These results highlight that decision‐making in honey bees might also depend on peripheral processes of perception rather than higher‐order brain centres of information integration.
Intestinal inflammations increase efflux of innate lymphoid cells from the intestinal mucosa to the mesenteric lymph nodes through lymph‐collecting ducts
Authors: Horiuchi Kazuki , Higashiyama Masaaki , Kurihara Chie , Matsumura Kouji , Tanemoto Rina , Ito Suguru , Mizoguchi Akinori , Nishii Shin , Wada Akinori , Inaba Kenichi , Sugihara Nao , Hanawa Yoshinori , Shibuya Naoki , Okada Yoshikiyo , Watanabe Chikako , Komoto Shunsuke , Tomita Kengo , Hokari Ryota
Published: March 2021

Introduction

Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are abundant in the intestinal mucosa, forming boundaries externally. Herein, ILCs were directly obtained from intestinal lymph using a lymph fistula rat model and analyzed under physiological and pathological conditions.

Methods

Thoracic duct (TD) lymphocytes were collected by cannulation with/without preceded mesenteric lymphadenectomy, which were comparable to lymphocytes flowing through mesenteric lymphatic vessels (MLVs) or TD, respectively. The collected ILCs were classified according to gene transcription factors and analyzed by flow cytometry. The effect of IL‐25 or indomethacin was studied.

Results

The proportion of total ILCs in the MLVs (MLV‐ILCs) was significantly higher than that in TD (TD‐ILCs, 0.01% vs. 0.003%, respectively). Physiologically, there were several significant differences in the MLV‐ILCs compared with TD‐ILCs, including the proportion of ILC2 (42.3% vs. 70.9%) and ILC3 (33.3% vs. 13.8%), and the proportion of α4‐integrin‐positive cells (36.8% vs. 0.3%). IL‐25 significantly increased the proportion of MLV‐ILC2 after 3 days. Indomethacin‐induced intestinal injury increased the proportion of MLV‐ILC3 in the early phase within 12 h.

Conclusion

Intestinal ILCs were found to migrate through MLVs. The altered mobilization of MLV‐ILCs after stimuli suggests that ILCs play an important role in regulating the immune responses at the secondary lymph nodes.
A decentralized unsupervised structural condition diagnosis approach using deep auto‐encoders
Authors: Jiang Kejie , Han Qiang , Du Xiuli , Ni Pinghe
Published: March 2021

In this paper, the ideas of deep auto‐encoder (DAE) and manifold learning are adopted to solve the problem of structural condition diagnosis. A scalable decentralized end‐to‐end unsupervised structural condition diagnostic framework is proposed. Three damage diagnosis mechanisms are clarified. The structural damage diagnosis approaches are presented from the latent coding domain and the time domain, respectively. In the latent coding domain, an undercomplete DAE is established to extract the distribution of the low‐dimensional manifold of the signal. On the contrary, in the time domain, an overcomplete DAE is adopted to extract the reconstruction error of the signal. Subsequently, normalized damage quantitative indicators are developed in the two domains. The damage localization method is also clarified. The proposed method can extract features directly from original vibration data without the need for additional signal preprocessing techniques. More importantly, the algorithm relies only on the output signals and does not require a numerical or scale model. This framework can be used to identify, locate, and quantify structural damages. The validity of the diagnostic framework is verified using a well‐designed laboratory benchmark structure. A large‐scale grandstand structure is further used to prove the ability of the proposed method for identifying slight structural damage caused by the loosening of joint bolts. The results clearly demonstrate an elegant performance of the proposed damage detection algorithm in structural condition assessment and damage localization.
A haustorial‐expressed lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase from the cucurbit powdery mildew pathogen Podosphaera xanthii contributes to the suppression of chitin‐triggered immunity
Authors: Polonio Álvaro , Fernández‐Ortuño Dolores , de Vicente Antonio , Pérez‐García Alejandro
Published: March 2021

Podosphaera xanthii is the main causal agent of cucurbit powdery mildew and a limiting factor of crop productivity. The lifestyle of this fungus is determined by the development of specialized parasitic structures inside epidermal cells, termed haustoria, that are responsible for the acquisition of nutrients and the release of effectors. A typical function of fungal effectors is the manipulation of host immunity, for example the suppression of pathogen‐associated molecular pattern (PAMP)‐triggered immunity (PTI). Chitin is a major component of fungal cell walls, and chitin oligosaccharides are well‐known PAMP elicitors. In this work, we examined the role of PHEC27213, the most highly expressed, haustorium‐specific effector candidate of P. xanthii. According to different computational predictions, the protein folding of PHEC27213 was similar to that of lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) and included a conserved histidine brace; however, PHEC27213 had low sequence similarity with LPMO proteins and displayed a putative chitin‐binding domain that was different from the canonical carbohydrate‐binding module. Binding and enzymatic assays demonstrated that PHEC27213 was able to bind and catalyse colloidal chitin, as well as chitooligosaccharides, acting as an LPMO. Furthermore, RNAi silencing experiments showed the potential of this protein to prevent the activation of chitin‐triggered immunity. Moreover, proteins with similar features were found in other haustorium‐forming fungal pathogens. Our results suggest that this protein is a new fungal LPMO that catalyses chitooligosaccharides, thus contributing to the suppression of plant immunity during haustorium development. To our knowledge, this is the first mechanism identified in the haustorium to suppress chitin signalling.
Enforcement officials' coping strategies in a changing regulatory environment
Authors: Liu Ning , Tang Shui‐Yan , Lo Carlos Wing‐Hung , Zhan Xueyong
Published: March 2021

Enforcement officials' coping strategies evolve with changes in job attitudes, work situations, and institutional support. As the institutional context becomes more challenging with stronger performance management and transparency pressures, enforcement officials are less likely to movetowardregulatees. Besides, in a more challenging context, officials with higher pay satisfaction and societal support are more likely to movetowardregulatees. Yet officials are consistently less likely to movetowardregulatees if they receive fewer resources or more government support. These correlations are supported by results from two rounds of surveys with environmental regulatory enforcement officials in China. Our interviews and archival documents helped unearth changes in institutional contexts and enforcement activities between and after our two surveys. This study advances a dynamic view of coping among street‐level bureaucrats by showing how changes in institutional contexts may reshape the motivational bases of coping strategies.
Analysis of lesional color to differentiate infantile hemangiomas from port‐wine birthmarks in infants less than 3 months old: A pilot study
Authors: O’Brien Kathleen F. , Frieden Ilona J. , Zeymo Alexander , Vasic Jelena , Silverman Robert , Goldberg Gerald , Carver DeKlotz Cynthia Marie
Published: March 2021

Background

In their early phase, infantile hemangiomas (IH) can sometimes be difficult to differentiate from port‐wine birthmarks (PWB). Until recently, inexpensive diagnostic tools have not been readily available.

Objective

To determine the diagnostic utility of widely available colorimetric technology when differentiating PWB from IH in photographs of infants less than 3 months old.

Methods

Multi‐center, retrospective analysis of RGB (red, green, and blue) and HSL (hue, saturation, lightness) values collected using electronic colorimeters from images of clinically confirmed untreated IH or PWB. Subgroup analysis of flat vascular birthmarks was subsequently performed.

Results

Images of 119 IH (specifically, 45 flat IH) and 59 PWB were identified. PWB had significantly (P < .001) higher RGB values of all primary colors, most notably for blue and green (mean difference: >50), irrespective of thickness. RGB or RGB with HSL values had an excellent accuracy (90%), sensitivity (92%), specificity (98%), and positive predictive value (98%) when discriminating PWB from flat IH. IH could be distinctly clustered from PWB when combining their RGB with HSL values.

Conclusion

Electronic colorimeters with emphasis on blue and green values, are able to differentiate PWB from IH, irrespective of thickness, with a high degree of accuracy. A larger scale evaluation is now required.
Pruritus assessment tools for 6 to 7‐year‐old children: KidsItchyQoL and ItchyQuant
Authors: Kong Ha Eun , Francois Sandy , Smith Shelby , Spraker Mary , Lawley Leslie P. , Lee Grace , Chen Kuang‐Ho , Roberts James S. , Chen Suephy C.
Published: March 2021

Background/Objectives

Measures of pruritus severity and quality of life (QoL) are necessary for the development of therapeutics for children with chronic pruritus. In children, questionnaires need to be developed for specific age groups given the differences in cognitive levels. In this study, we aimed to develop tools to assess QoL and pruritus severity in children 6 to 7‐years‐old with chronic pruritus.

Methods

Based on open interviews with children, we developed a cartoon‐annotated QoL instrument, KidsItchyQoL, and validated an existing pruritus severity instrument, ItchyQuant, that measures pruritus impact and severity for the preceding week. Both instruments were administered to 100 children aged 6‐7 years with chronic pruritus. The data were analyzed for reliability, reproducibility, construct validity, and responsiveness.

Results

We found the 14‐item KidsItchyQoL to be reliable (Cronbach's α = 0.846) and reproducible (intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.66) as was the ItchyQuant (ICC = 0.47). With respect to construct validity, examination of eigenvalues of the inter‐item polychoric correlation matrix suggested three dominant factors. A subsequent confirmatory factor analysis suggested that a 3‐dimensional simple structure model with correlated factors provided a reasonable data representation. The responsiveness of KidsItchyQoL and ItchyQuant (P = .005, GLM procedure) were demonstrated with scores changing as expected with the self‐reported change of itch severity.

Conclusions

These results demonstrate promise for a new set of reliable research tools to assess QoL and pruritus severity in children 6 to 7 years of age.
Pediatric primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma treated with brachytherapy
Authors: Linggonegoro Danny W. , McCormack Lindsay , Grenier Pierre‐Olivier , Vrooman Lynda M. , Devlin Phillip M. , Huang Jennifer T.
Published: March 2021

Primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma (PC‐ALCL) is a CD30+ lymphoproliferative disorder that rarely occurs in children. Although there are currently no consensus guidelines for the treatment of cutaneous lymphoma in the pediatric population, the isolated form of PC‐ALCL is typically managed by surgical excision or external beam radiation therapy. We report the case of a 6‐year‐old girl with primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma that was treated with brachytherapy with no recurrence after 21 months of follow‐up, suggesting that brachytherapy may be considered as a treatment for pediatric cutaneous large cell anaplastic lymphoma.
From Social Dominance Orientation to Political Engagement: The Role of Group Status and Shared Beliefs in Politics Across Multiple Contexts
Authors: Prati Francesca , Pratto Felicia , Zeineddine Fouad , Sweetman Joseph , Aiello Antonio , Petrović Nebojša , Rubini Monica
Published: March 2021

In three surveys of adults in five nations, we investigated how shared beliefs about the political system motivate individuals' political engagement. Specifically, we tested whether individuals' beliefs that the political context is fair, noncorrupt, and their belief that they could influence politics motivates political engagement to a higher extent for higher‐ compared to lower‐status group members. In a novel use of social dominance theory, we theoretically conceived of these political beliefs as legitimizing ideologies, so that we predicted that people with higher social dominance orientation endorse these beliefs, which in turn enhance the motivation to engage in politics to support current social hierarchical systems. Moreover, we expected that these relationships would be stronger for higher‐ compared to lower‐status groups. These hypotheses were tested considering different levels of group status: wealth status within a country (Study 1), political‐regional differences within a country (Study 2), and international status (i.e., between countries; Study 3), and they were largely supported.
Oil shocks and directional predictability of macroeconomic uncertainties of developed economies: Evidence from high‐frequency data†
Authors: Shahzad Syed Jawad Hussain , Gupta Rangan , Demirer Riza , Pierdzioch Christian
Published: March 2021

Using high‐frequency (daily) data on macroeconomic uncertainties and the partial cross‐quantilogram approach, we examine the directional predictability of disentangled oil‐price shocks for the entire conditional distribution of uncertainties of five advanced economies (Canada, Euro Area, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States). Our results show that oil‐demand, oil‐supply, and financial‐risk‐related shocks can predict the future path of uncertainty; however, the predictive relationship is contingent on the initial level of macroeconomic uncertainty and the size of the shocks. Our results suggest that macroeconomic uncertainty is indeed predictable at high frequency, and that oil‐price shocks capture valuable predictive information regarding the future path of macroeconomic uncertainties.
An analysis of the spatial and temporal distribution of large‐scale data production events in OpenStreetMap
Authors: Grinberger A. Yair , Schott Moritz , Raifer Martin , Zipf Alexander
Published: March 2021

Organized mapping activities within OpenStreetMap frequently lead to the production of massive amounts of data over a short period. In this article we utilize a novel procedure to identify such large‐scale data production events in the history of OpenStreetMap and analyze their patterns. We find that events account for a significant share of OpenStreetMap data and that organizational practices have shifted over time towards local knowledge‐based events and well‐organized data imports. However, regions in the “Global South” remain dependent on remote mapping events, pointing to uneven geographies of representation. We also find that events are frequently followed by periods of increased activity, with the exact nature of effects depending on contextual elements such as previous events. These findings portray organized activities as a significant and unique component which requires consideration when using OpenStreetMap data and analyzing their quality.
Stable perovskite solar cells with efficiency exceeding 24.8% and 0.3-V voltage loss
Authors: Jeong Mingyu , Choi In Woo , Go Eun Min , Cho Yongjoon , Kim Minjin , Lee Byongkyu , Jeong Seonghun , Jo Yimhyun , Choi Hye Won , Lee Jiyun , Bae Jin-Hyuk , Kwak Sang Kyu , Kim Dong Suk , Yang Changduk
Published: March 2021

Operating in wet conditions

The high efficiency of the complex organic molecule Spiro-OMeTAD as a hole-transporting material for perovskite solar cells requires the use of hygroscopic dopants that decrease stability. Jeong
et al.
synthesized hydrophobic fluorinated analogs of Spiro-OMeTAD as hole-transporting materials that have favorable shifting of the electronic state for hole extraction and used them to fabricate perovskite solar cells. A champion device had a certified power conversion efficiency of 24.8% and an open-circuit voltage near the Shockley-Queisser limit. These devices could maintain more than 87% of the original power conversion efficiency under 50% relative humidity for more than 500 hours.

Science
, this issue p.
1615
Photon-recoil imaging: Expanding the view of nonlinear x-ray physics
Authors: Eichmann U. , Rottke H. , Meise S. , Rubensson J.-E. , Söderström J. , Agåker M. , Såthe C. , Meyer M. , Baumann T. M. , Boll R. , De Fanis A. , Grychtol P. , Ilchen M. , Mazza T. , Montano J. , Music V. , Ovcharenko Y. , Rivas D. E. , Serkez S. , Wagner R. , Eisebitt S.
Published: March 2021

Nonlinear x-ray spectroscopy

The extension of nonlinear optics to the x-ray spectral domain is a promising direction in the development of x-ray spectroscopy. Although theoretical concepts of nonlinear x-ray spectroscopy were developed decades ago, scientists still struggle to implement them because of the elusive nature of nonlinear effects. Eichmann
et al.
now present atomic momentum spectroscopy (AMS), which is based on the detection of the scattered atom after momentum transfer from x-ray photons (see the Perspective by Pfeifer). The authors show how AMS can observe stimulated x-ray Raman scattering signals at the neon K edge on a single-atom level and distinguish them from other competing processes. These results pave the way for future nonlinear x-ray spectroscopy methods for the study of x-ray–matter interactions.

Science
, this issue p.
1630
; see also p.
1568
A singular periodic Ambrosetti–Prodi problem of Rayleigh equations without coercivity conditions
Authors: Yu Xingchen , Lu Shiping
Published: March 2021

In this paper, we use the Leray–Schauder degree theory to study the following singular periodic problems: [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is a continuous function with [Formula: see text], function [Formula: see text] is continuous with an attractive singularity at the origin, and [Formula: see text] is a constant. We consider the case where the friction term [Formula: see text] satisfies a local superlinear growth condition but not necessarily of the Nagumo type, and function [Formula: see text] does not need to satisfy coercivity conditions. An Ambrosetti–Prodi type result is obtained.
Bound on Amplitude of a MEMS Resonator by Approximating the Derivative of the Lyapunov Function in Finite Time
Authors: Naik Raghavendra D. , Mhalsekar Shridhar D.
Published: March 2021

We propose a methodology to obtain the amplitude of a nonlinear differential equation that may not satisfy Lyapunov’s global stability criterion. This theory is applied to the MEMS resonator which has a high-quality factor. The derivative of the Lyapunov function approximated for a finite time and an optimization problem was formulated. The local optima were obtained using the Karush–Kuhn–Tucker conditions, for which the amplitude was analytically formulated. The obtained amplitude, when compared with that by the numerical method, showed the validity of the analytical approximation for a useful range of the nonlinearity, but accurate only at an excitation frequency [Formula: see text]. This methodology will be useful to approximate the damping in a system if one obtains the amplitude from the experimental data near this excitation frequency.
Building a Hyper-Stability Structure: The Mechanisms of Social Stability Maintenance in Xi’s China
Authors: WANG HSIN-HSIEN , TZENG WEI-FENG
Published: March 2021

Having been a stable authoritarian regime for more than seven decades, China is an excellent example of how authoritarian regimes can resist pressure from a rapidly transforming society. Its capacity to adapt to social change and maintain a strong hold on power has been observed by students of Chinese politics in the nature of its institutions. These include fragmented governments, decentralization, flexible governance, adaptive capacity, consultative functions, bargained mechanisms, and responsiveness. Xi Jinping’s rise to power and the introduction of information and communications technology (ICT) in recent years have brought about the evolution of the Chinese Communist Party’s methods for governing society. Changes in its governing strategy have merited a review of our understanding of the Chinese regime and inspired an investigation into how social stability is maintained in China. In this paper, we review previous descriptions of China’s authoritarianism and observe the policies the Xi regime has adopted to strengthen state power. We propose that for the purposes of social control, the Xi administration has been building a hierarchical state machine and expanding this machine to the digital sector of society, a campaign which we call “institutional autocratization.” These efforts to establish a hyper-stability structure with new technologies may indeed have strengthened Xi’s rule.
Post-Democracy and Historicism: The Hidden Origin of the Korea-Japan Trade War
Authors: YUN JI-WHAN
Published: March 2021

Since Japan’s imposition of export controls against Korea in July 2019 and its following countermoves, including the termination of the General Security of Military Information Agreement, the governments of both countries have presented their own narratives of the origin of this trade war, both of which mirror theories of international politics. Nonetheless, these narratives mask several domestic origins. Most importantly, this paper demonstrates that behind the trade war, there has been a preoccupation of the two governments with mutually irreconcilable version forms of historicism. One is Korea’s pro-naturalist historicism, seeing Korean history as being preordained by the universal laws of human progress and defining Japan as a historical reactionary. The other is Japan’s anti-naturalist historicism, upholding internationalism as a new driving force of history that will transform Japan from a war criminal state into a proper subject in international society while criticizing Korea as being a drag on this transformation. This paper argues that, resulting from decades-long neoliberal politics that have disturbed the state-society balance, the national structure of post-democracy has encouraged each government to push historicism to its limit as an alternative source of political legitimacy in lieu of democratic accountability. Concretely, it shows that post-democracy has determined (1) the historicist framing of emerging conflicts, (2) the government’s legislative struggles to realize historicist policies, and (3) the incontestability of historicist hostility by other ideas in each country.
Cross-cultural adaptation of the Pain Catastrophizing Scale in Greek clinical population
Authors: Christakou Anna
Published: March 2021

Background: Catastrophizing is an important psychological construct in mediating the behavioral response toward pain.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to examine the psychometric properties of the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) in Greek clinical population.

Methods: The scale was administered in 376 patients with chronic cervical and lumbar pain. Test–retest reliability, internal consistency (Cronbach [Formula: see text]) and concurrent validity were assessed. Exploratory (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) were used to test the factorial validity of the hypothesized three factor structure.

Results: The PCS factors suggested high levels of test–retest reliability, whereas Cronbachs’ [Formula: see text] values were acceptable. The EFA yielded a three-factor solution and indicated a marginal fit to the data. CFA procedures indicated a rather acceptable fit to the data. The concurrent validity of the instrument was confirmed.

Conclusion: PCS seems to be a reliable and valid instrument in Greek patients with chronic cervical and lumbar pain.
Cost of capital and asset characteristic value
Authors: Shen Bill Y.
Published: March 2021

We propose a possible alternative to WACC as cost of capital for a business investment decision through option theory. The cost of capital in this new definition becomes forward-looking and easy to compute with traded market information as inputs. More importantly, it is a fair value- based approach and does not depend on investors’ own expectation. An important parameter “asset characteristic value” is identified and its role is further illustrated by using Merton’s capital structure model. Asset characteristic value can be calibrated by using stock price or credit spread observed from a secondary market.