bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Significant Broad Spectrum Antiviral activity of Bi121 Against Different Variants of SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Subhadra Bobban , Agrawal Ragini , Pal Virender Kumar , Chenine Agnes-Laurence , Mattathil Jeffy George , Singh Amit
Published: February 2022

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic infected 343 million people with over 5.59 million deaths. New mutated lineages of SARS-CoV-2 such as Omicron are evolving faster. Broad-spectrum viral inhibitors that block the initial stage of infection by reducing virus proliferation and disease severity is an unmet global medical need. We studied Bi121, a standardized polyphenolic-rich compound isolated from Pelargonium sidoides, against recombinant Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (rVSV)-pseudotyped SARS-CoV-2S (spike) that represent mutations in the spike protein of six different variants of SARS-CoV-2. Bi121 was effective in neutralizing all six rVSV-ΔG-SARS-CoV-2S variants expressing different mutations. The antiviral activity of Bi121 was then assessed against three variants of SARS-CoV-2 (USA WA1/2020, Hongkong/VM20001061/2020, B.1.167.2 (Delta)) using RT-qPCR and plaque assays in two different cell lines (Vero cells and HEK-ACE2). Bi121 showed significant activity toward all the three variants tested, suggesting a broad-spectrum activity.
Cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation disrupts neuroplasticity of intracortical motor circuits
Authors: Liao Wei-Yeh , Sasaki Ryoki , Semmler John G. , Opie George M.
Published: February 2022

While previous research using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) suggest that cerebellum (CB) influences the neuroplastic response of primary motor cortex (M1), the role of different indirect (I) wave inputs in M1 mediating this interaction remains unclear. The aim of this study was therefore to assess how CB influences neuroplasticity of early and late I-wave circuits. 22 young adults (22 ± 2.7 years) participated in 3 sessions in which I-wave periodicity repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (iTMS) was applied over M1 during concurrent application of cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation over CB (tDCSCB). In each session, iTMS either targeted early I-waves (1.5 ms interval; iTMS1.5), late I-waves (4.5 ms interval; iTMS4.5), or had no effect (variable interval; iTMSSham). Changes due to the intervention were examined with motor evoked potential (MEP) amplitude using TMS protocols measuring corticospinal excitability (MEP1mV) and the strength of CB-M1 connections (CBI). In addition, we indexed I-wave activity using short-interval intracortical facilitation (SICF) and low-intensity single-pulse TMS applied with posterior-anterior (MEPPA) and anterior-posterior (MEPAP) current directions. Following both active iTMS sessions, there was no change in MEP1mV, CBI or SICF (all P > 0.05), suggesting that tDCSCB broadly disrupted the excitatory response that is normally seen following iTMS. However, although MEPAP also failed to facilitate after the intervention (P > 0.05), MEPPA potentiated following both active iTMS sessions (both P < 0.05). This differential response between current directions suggests that the disruptive effects of CB modulation on M1 plasticity may be selectively mediated by AP-sensitive circuits (also likely recruited with MEP1mV, CBI, and SICF).
Orexin action on the dopaminergic system modulates theta during REM sleep and wakefulness
Authors: Bandarabadi Mojtaba , Li Sha , Tafti Mehdi , Colombo Giulia , Becchetti Andrea , Vassalli Anne
Published: February 2022

Both dopaminergic (DA) and orexinergic (OX) systems establish brain-wide neuromodulatory circuits that profoundly influence brain states and behavioral outputs. To unravel their interactions, we inactivated OX-to-DA neurotransmission by selective disruption of HcrtR1/OxR1, or HcrtR2/OxR2, or both receptors, in DA neurons. Chronic loss of OXR2 in DA neurons (OxR2Dat-CKO mice) dramatically increased electrocorticographic (EcoG) theta rhythms in wakefulness and REM sleep. Episode duration and total times spent in ‘active’ wakefulness and REMS were prolonged, and theta/fast-gamma wave coupling was enhanced in both states. Increased theta in OxR2DatCKO mice baseline wake was accompanied by diminished infra-theta and increased fast-gamma activities, i.e. the mice exhibited signs of constitutive electrocortical hyperarousal, albeit uncoupled with locomotor activity. These effects were not seen in OxR1-ablated dopaminergic mutants, which tended to show opposite phenotypes, resembling those caused by the loss of both receptors. Our data establish a clear, genetically-defined link between monosynaptic orexin-to-dopaminergic connectivity and the power of theta oscillations, with a differential role of OXR2 in cross-frequency wave coupling and attentional processes.
A novel fully-spliced accessory gene in equine lentivirus with distinct Rev-responsive element
Authors: Zhang Xiangmin , Li Jiwei , Zhang Mengmeng , Bai Bowen , Ma Weiwei , Lin Yuezhi , Guo Xing , Wang Xue-Feng , Wang Xiaojun
Published: February 2022

All lentiviruses encode an accessory protein Rev, whose main biological function is to mediate the nuclear export of unspliced and incompletely spliced viral transcripts by binding to a viral cis-acting element (termed the Rev-responsive element, RRE) that is located within env-encoding region. Equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) is a member of the Lentivirus genus in the Retroviridae family, and is considered an important model for the study of lentivirus pathogenesis. Here, we identified a novel transcript from the EIAV genome that encodes a viral protein, named Mat, with unknown function. The transcript mat is fully spliced and comprises parts of the coding regions of MA and TM. Interestingly, the expression of Mat depends on Rev and the CRM1 pathway. Rev could specifically bind to Mat mRNA to promote its nuclear export. We further identified that the first exon of Mat mRNA, which is located within the Gag-encoding region, acts as an unreported RRE. Altogether, we identified a novel fully spliced transcript mat with an unusual RRE, which interacts with Rev for nuclear export through the CRM1 pathway. Our findings may help to expend the understanding of gene transcription and expression of lentivirus.

Author summary

In lentiviruses, the nuclear export of viral transcripts is an important step in controlling viral gene expression. Generally, the unspliced and incompletely spliced (that is, intron-containing) transcripts are exported via the CRM1-dependent export pathway in a process mediated by the viral Rev protein by binding to the Rev-responsive element (RRE) located within the Env-coding region. However, the completely spliced (intronless) transcripts are exported via an endogenous cellular pathway which is Rev independent. Here we identified a novel intronless transcript from EIAV and demonstrated that it encodes a viral protein, termed Mat. Interestingly, we have determined that the expression of Mat depends on Rev, and identified that the first exon of Mat mRNA could specifically bind to Rev and be exported to the cytoplasm, which suggests that first exon of Mat mRNA is a second RRE of EIAV. These findings update the EIAV genome structure and highlight the diversification of post-transcriptional regulation patterns in EIAV, and provides important insights into the Rev-dependent nuclear export of completely spliced transcripts in lentiviruses.
Stable temporal relationships as a first step towards causal inference: an application to antibiotic resistance
Authors: Baraz Avi , Chowers Michal , Nevo Daniel , Obolski Uri
Published: February 2022

Epidemiological studies often analyze data as static, essentially averaging observed associations across time. Overlooking time trends is especially problematic in settings subject to rapid changes. A prominent example for such a setting is antibiotic resistance, which has reached concerning levels, and poses a global healthcare challenge. Bacteria constantly evolve and hence antibiotic resistance is characterized by time-varying relationships with clinical and demographic covariates. In this paper, we speculate that covariates with a causal effect are expected to have stable relationships with resistance over calendar time. To this end, we applied time-varying coefficient models in a retrospective cohort analysis of a large clinical dataset from an Israeli hospital, and have shown their advantages in describing covariate-resistance relationships. We found both time-stable and time-varying covariate-resistance relationships. These results serve as initial evidence towards causal interpretation of these relationships, as one may expect time-stable rather than time-varying relationships to correspond with causal effects. We further conducted data-driven simulations, that have illustrated how results from time-varying coefficient models must be carefully interpreted with respect to causal claims. Potentially, identification of causal covariate-resistance relationships can lead to new medical interventions and healthcare policies, and improve the generalization of existing predictive models for antibiotic resistance.
Learning probabilistic protein-DNA recognition codes from DNA-binding specificities using structural mappings
Authors: Wetzel Joshua L. , Zhang Kaiqian , Singh Mona
Published: February 2022

Knowledge of how proteins interact with DNA is essential for understanding gene regulation. While DNA-binding specificities for thousands of transcription factors (TFs) have been determined, the specific amino acid-base interactions comprising their structural interfaces are largely unknown. This lack of resolution hampers attempts to leverage these data in order to predict specificities for uncharacterized TFs or TFs mutated in disease. Here we introduce rCLAMPS (Recognition Code Learning via Automated Mapping of Protein-DNA Structural interfaces), a probabilistic approach that uses DNA-binding specificities for TFs from the same structural family to simultaneously infer both which nucleotide positions are contacted by particular amino acids within the TF as well as a recognition code that relates each base-contacting amino acid to nucleotide preferences at the DNA positions it contacts. We apply rCLAMPS to homeodomains, the second largest family of TFs in metazoans, and demonstrate that it learns a highly effective recognition code that can predict de novo DNA-binding specificities for TFs. Furthermore, we show that the inferred amino acid-nucleotide contacts reveal whether and how nucleotide preferences at individual binding site positions are altered by mutations within TFs. Our approach is an important step towards automatically uncovering the determinants of protein-DNA specificity from large compendia of DNA-binding specificities, and inferring the altered functionalities of TFs mutated in disease.
In vitro direct regeneration and Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated in planta transformation of Ocimum sanctum L.
Authors: Khan Sana , Husain Zakir , Rahman Laiq ur
Published: February 2022

Ocimum sanctum is a multipurpose herb with highly significant medicinal properties. An in vitro direct regeneration protocol for propagation of a valuable medicinal plant Ocimum sanctum, using petiole explants has been successfully developed. The protocol employed regeneration of shoots directly, without any intervening callus using Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium fortified with 3 mg L-1 BAP + 1 mg L-1 NAA. The maximum regeneration frequency of 98% with 9.6 shoots per explants was achieved. Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated genetic transformation (ATMT) protocol (transient and stable) was established using LBA4404 strain harboring pBI121 with uid-A reporter gene and neomycin phosphotransferase (npt-II) as selection marker. The putative transformants were screened on MS with 50 mg L-1 kanamycin and subsequently rooted on the half-strength MS medium. The confirmation was done via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using npt-II and gus-A gene-specific primers. The maximum stable transformation frequency 70% ± 0.35. Thus, it is apparent that the established in vitro direct regeneration and ATMT method was suitable for integrating novel genes and modulating the metabolic flux for obtaining desired agronomic trait in planta.
The evolution of coordination: A phylogenetic meta-analysis and systematic review
Authors: Keeble Liam , Wallenberg Joel C. , Price Elizabeth E.
Published: February 2022

To solve many cooperative problems, humans must have evolved the ability to solve physical problems in their environment by coordinating their actions. There have been many studies conducted across multiple different species regarding coordinating abilities. These studies aim to provide data which will help illuminate the evolutionary origins of cooperative problem solving and coordination. However, it is impossible to make firm conclusions about the evolutionary origins of coordinating abilities without a thorough comparative analysis of the existing data. Furthermore, there may be certain aspects of the literature that make it very difficult to confidently address evolutionary and meta-analytic questions. This study aimed to rectify this by using meta-analysis, phylogenetic analysis, and systematic review to analyse the data already obtained across multiple studies, and to assess the reliability of this data. We found that many studies did not provide the information necessary for meta analysis, or were not comparable enough to other studies to be included in analyses, meaning meta analyses were underpowered or could not be conducted due to low samples of both studies and different species. Overall, we found that many studies reported small positive effects across studies, but the standard errors of these effects frequently traversed zero.
Antipsychotic drugs selectively decorrelate long-range interactions in deep cortical layers
Authors: Heindorf Matthias , Keller Georg B.
Published: February 2022

Psychosis is characterized by a diminished ability of the brain to distinguish externally driven activity patterns from self-generated activity patterns. Antipsychotic drugs are a class of small molecules with relatively broad binding affinity for a variety of neuromodulator receptors that, in humans, can prevent or ameliorate psychosis. How these drugs influence the function of cortical circuits, and in particular their ability to distinguish between externally and self-generated activity patterns, is still largely unclear. To have experimental control over self-generated sensory feedback we used a virtual reality environment in which the coupling between movement and visual feedback can be altered. We then used widefield calcium imaging to determine the cell type specific functional effects of antipsychotic drugs in mouse dorsal cortex under different conditions of visuomotor coupling. By comparing cell type specific activation patterns between locomotion onsets that were experimentally coupled to self-generated visual feedback and locomotion onsets that were not coupled, we show that deep cortical layers were differentially activated in these two conditions. We then show that the antipsychotic drug clozapine disrupted visuomotor integration at locomotion onsets also primarily in deep cortical layers. Given that one of the key components of visuomotor integration in cortex is long-range cortico-cortical connections, we tested whether the effect of clozapine was detectable in the correlation structure of activity patterns across dorsal cortex. We found that clozapine as well as two other antipsychotic drugs, aripiprazole and haloperidol, resulted in a strong reduction in correlations of layer 5 activity between cortical areas and impaired the spread of visuomotor prediction errors generated in visual cortex. Our results are consistent with the interpretation that a major functional effect of antipsychotic drugs is a selective alteration of long-range layer 5 mediated communication.
A Novel Cytoskeletal Action of Xylosides
Authors: Mencio Caitlin P. , Tilve Sharada , Suzuki Masato , Higashi Kyohei , Katagiri Yasuhiro , Geller Herbert M.
Published: February 2022

Proteoglycan glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chains are attached to a serine residue in the protein through a linkage series of sugars, the first of which is xylose. Xylosides are chemicals which compete with the xylose at the enzyme xylosyl transferase to prevent the attachment of GAG chains to proteins. These compounds have been employed at concentrations in the millimolar range as tools to study the role of GAG chains in proteoglycan function. In the course of our studies with xylosides, we conducted a dose-response curve for xyloside actions on neural cells. To our surprise, we found that concentrations of xylosides in the nanomolar to micromolar range had major effects on cell morphology. These effects are due to changes in cytoskeletal dynamics. Concentrations of xylosides which were effective in altering morphology did not alter GAG chain synthesis rates, nor did they produce any changes in gene expression as determined by RNAseq of treated cells. These observations support a novel action of xylosides on neuronal cells.
Volumetric development of hippocampal subfields and hippocampal white matter connectivity: Relationship with episodic memory
Authors: Dick Anthony Steven , Ralph Yvonne , Farrant Kristafor , Reeb-Sutherland Bethany , Pruden Shannon , Mattfeld Aaron T.
Published: February 2022

The hippocampus is a complex structure composed of several distinct subfields and has been at the center of scientific study examining the neural foundations of episodic memory. To date, there is little consensus regarding the structural development of the hippocampus and its subfields assessed both volumetrically and through anatomical connectivity, nor how the development of the related substructures influences episodic memory. In the current cross-sectional study, using a large sample of 830, 3- to 21-year-olds from a unique and publicly available dataset we examined the following questions: 1) Is there elevated grey matter volume of the hippocampus and its respective subfields in late compared to early development? 2) How does hippocampal volume compare with the rest of the cerebral cortex at different developmental stages? and 3) What is the relation between hippocampal volume, and the connectivity of the hippocampus with cortex as measured by diffusion-weighted imaging, with episodic memory performance? We found hippocampal subfield volumes exhibited a non-linear relation with age. Specifically, hippocampal subfield volumes showed a lag in volumetric change with age when compared to adjacent cortical regions (e.g., entorhinal cortex). We also observed a significant reduction in cortical volume across older cohorts, while hippocampal volume showed the opposite pattern. In addition to age-related differences in grey matter volume, several distinct subfields are significantly related to episodic memory. We did not, however, find any associations with episodic memory performance and connectivity through the uncinate fasciculus, fornix, or cingulum. The results are discussed in the context of current research and theories of hippocampal development and its relation to episodic memory.
Enhancer–silencer transitions in the human genome
Authors: Huang Di , Ovcharenko Ivan
Published: February 2022

Dual-function regulatory elements (REs), acting as enhancers in some cellular contexts and as silencers in others, have been reported to facilitate the precise gene regulatory response to developmental signals in Drosophila melanogaster. However, with few isolated examples detected, dual-function REs in mammals have yet to be systematically studied. We herein investigated this class of REs in the human genome and profiled their activity across multiple cell types. Focusing on enhancer–silencer transitions specific to the development of T cells, we built an accurate deep learning classifier of REs and identified about 12,000 silencers active in primary peripheral blood T cells that act as enhancers in embryonic stem cells. Compared with regular silencers, these dual-function REs are evolving under stronger purifying selection and are enriched for mutations associated with disease phenotypes and altered gene expression. In addition, they are enriched in the loci of transcriptional regulators, such as transcription factors (TFs) and chromatin remodeling genes. Dual-function REs consist of two intertwined but largely distinct sets of binding sites bound by either activating or repressing TFs, depending on the type of RE function in a given cell line. This indicates the recruitment of different TFs for different regulatory modes and a complex DNA sequence composition of these REs with dual activating and repressive encoding. With an estimated >6% of cell type–specific human silencers acting as dual-function REs, this overlooked class of REs requires a specific investigation on how their inherent functional plasticity might be a contributing factor to human diseases.
Neurodevelopmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders in Cobalamin C Disease: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Nguyen Minh G , Tronick Lauren , Modirian Faraz , Mardach Rebecca , Besterman Aaron D
Published: February 2022

Cobalamin C disease is the most common complementation class of Cobalamin disorders. Here, we present a case of a 14-year-old male with early-onset cblC disease and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) admitted to our inpatient medical service for behavioral decompensation. We use this case to highlight key aspects of the neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders associated with cblC disease. By incorporating a comprehensive review of existing literature, we highlight salient domains of psychological impairment in cblC disease, discuss the full range of neuropsychiatric presentations, and review clinical management implications unique to cblC disease.
Hybridoma Screening by Antibody Capture: Detection of Intracellular Binding by Immunofluorescence
Authors: Greenfield Edward A.
Published: February 2022

Hybridoma screening by immunofluorescence stainings of whole cells can be adapted to screen for antibodies to internal proteins by permeabilizing the cells before applying the hybridoma supernatants. In this protocol, cells are attached to a solid support (glass slides), which makes them easy to manipulate and transfer between different reagent solutions.
Exploring relationship among semiotic product packaging, brand experience dimensions, brand trust and purchase intentions in an Asian emerging market
Authors: Shukla Mahima , Misra Richa , Singh Deepak
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Over recent years, brand semiotics have been gaining the marketing practitioners' attention for designing their brand strategy. Hence, to address this gap, the current study investigates the effect of semiotic product packaging on brand experience dimensions, brand trust and purchase intent of reputed major brands of fast-moving consumer good (FMCG) products.

Design/methodology/approach

The data for this study were collected by administering a questionnaire-based survey from 254 respondents from the Delhi National Capital Region (NCR) of India, using systematic sampling. Structural equation modeling has been used to test the conceptual model and examine the hypotheses developed in the study.

Findings

The results present evidence of the growing influence of semiotic product packaging upon consumer brand trust and purchase intentions. The study suggests that brand semiotics positively influence customer brand experience, brand trust and purchase intention of FMCG products.

Practical implications

The research findings will benefit FMCG companies to identify how to apply semiotics in packaging to improve consumers' brand experience and influence intent to purchase.

Originality/value

Research in brand semiotics on product packaging is limited, as most prior studies focus on brand semiotics in advertising, product design improvement and retail design. The present study has investigated the impact of semiotics on brand experience dimensions in product packaging, which is emerging as a critical concern for the FMCG sector particularly in the post-COVID period.
Working mothers in East and West Germany: a cluster analysis using a three-stage approach
Authors: Ziegler Yvonne , Graml Regine , Khachatryan Kristine , Uli Vincenzo
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The second Frankfurt Career Study was conducted in 2017 in East and West Germany to analyze the impact of motherhood on female professional advancement in the specific national context of Germany. In addition, this study aims to present a unique perspective of the similarities and dissimilarities between the Western and Eastern parts of the country.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is presented as a three-stage statistical approach based on quantitative data generated from a survey conducted among 2,130 working mothers. In the first step, the authors performed a multiple correspondence analysis to explore the relationships between important categorical variables. Using the object scores obtained in the first step, we then ran a hierarchical cluster analysis, followed by the third and last step: using the k-means clustering method to partition the survey respondents into groups.

Findings

The authors found that working mothers in Germany are distributed according to four clusters mainly described by demographics and orientation toward work. East Germany has been found as a more egalitarian context than West Germany with respect to family system arrangements. However, the upper bound of the sample in West Germany presented an atypical female breadwinner model in high-performance households.

Originality/value

The authors want to contribute to previous investigations on the topic by providing a more comprehensive view of the phenomenon, especially comparing the two different family systems and social norms from the Eastern and Western parts of the country. The authors ask whether and how career perspectives and female labor supply are influenced by drivers such as work–family conflict determinants, working mothers demographics, partner support and employer support.
COVID-19 health misinformation: using design-based research to develop a theoretical framework for intervention
Authors: Houlden Shandell , Veletsianos George , Hodson Jaigris , Reid Darren , Thompson Christiani P.
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Because health misinformation pertaining to COVID-19 is a serious threat to public health, the purpose of this study is to develop a framework to guide an online intervention into some of the drivers of health misinformation online. This framework can be iterated upon through the use of design-based research to continue to develop further interventions as needed.

Design/methodology/approach

Using design-based research methods, in this paper, the authors develop a theoretical framework for addressing COVID-19 misinformation. Using a heuristic analysis of research on vaccine misinformation and hesitancy, the authors propose a framework for education interventions that use the narrative effect of transportation as a means to increase knowledge of the drivers of misinformation online.

Findings

This heuristic analysis determined that a key element of narrative transportation includes orientation towards particular audiences. Research indicates that mothers are the most significant household decision-makers with respect to vaccines and family health in general; the authors suggest narrative interventions should be tailored specifically to meet their interests and tastes, and that this may be different for mothers of different backgrounds and cultural communities.

Originality/value

While there is a significant body of literature on vaccine hesitancy and vaccine misinformation, more research is needed that helps people understand the ways in which misinformation works upon social media users. The framework developed in this research guided the development of an education intervention meant to facilitate this understanding.
Implementing a strategic campus-wide approach to authentic assessment: considerations and recommendations for implementation
Authors: Brown Melanie , Nomikoudis Milton , Bouilheres Frederique , Nkhoma Clara , Akbari Mohammadreza
Published: February 2022

Purpose

This article addresses the experience of academic developers and academic staff during the transition of assessment practices in an English-speaking international university campus in South East Asia. The project examined in the study was born out of the institutional strategy focused on producing graduates ready for employment.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study from a Business discipline highlights key factors in curricula change from the academic perspective.

Findings

This study focuses on what it meant for the academic teaching and academic development teams to work together to bridge the broadly strategic with the local practical implementation. Potential implications for others embarking on academic development within large-scale strategic projects are also provided.

Originality/value

This paper offers a discussion of the symbiotic relationship between management, academic staff and academic developers (Roxå and Mårtensson, 2008) generated by the transition to authentic assessment as a key element in the development of student employability.
Service learning in Indonesia: developing undergraduate students' leadership during COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Ferdiansyah Sandi , Winarno Ahmad , Ardhita Zally
Published: February 2022

Purpose

This phenomenological case study reports how 16 participating students built their leadership skill through a community-based service-learning project as a part of their undergraduate program at an Islamic university in Indonesia. Education for sustainability framework promoted by Warwick (2016) was employed to portray students' leadership development and explore their lived experience while doing service-learning project in their neighborhood.

Design/methodology/approach

Phenomenological case study was employed to portray how the participants engaged in projects that empower the community during their service amidst the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. They were interviewed using online platforms such as WhatsApp and Zoom Meeting. To triangulate the data, the photos elicited during their field study posted in social media were also presented as visual data. The interview data and photo elicitation were transcribed, interpreted using interpretative phenomenological analysis and thematically analyzed.

Findings

The findings of the study showcase that the student participants transformed their sense of agency as learners into leaders. The service-learning program has also become a springboard for them to engage in the community service and build strategy to fill the local community's need, especially amid the pandemic of COVID-19.

Research limitations/implications

There are two limitations in regards to this study. First, this study only examined data garnered from a small number of participants that could not be used to overgeneralize the results of the study. Second, the participants were interviewed upon the completion of their service-learning project. It did not investigate the sustainability of the projects that the participants had carried out after the service-learning program ended.

Originality/value

While ample previous studies investigated how service-learning program that involved undergraduate students were enacted during COVID-19 pandemic, the present study specifically looked into how participants exercise their leadership skill upon the implementation of service-learning from education for sustainability framework promoted by Warwick (2016).
Time-efficiency factors in road tunnel rescue as perceived by Swedish operative personnel – an interview study
Authors: Hylander Johan , Saveman Britt-Inger , Björnstig Ulf , Gyllencreutz Lina , Westman Anton
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Major incidents in road tunnels remain a collaborative challenge for the emergency services (fire and rescue service, police and ambulance), emergency dispatch centres (EDCs) and infrastructure owners. The aim of this paper is to investigate how collaborative partners to the ambulance services perceive the rescue effort and to identify factors that may influence its efficiency.

Design/methodology/approach

Focus group and individual interviews were conducted with 19 participants who were infrastructure owners or had operational or tactical responsibilities with the emergency services or EDCs in two regions in Sweden with multiple road tunnels. The collected data were analysed using qualitative content analysis.

Findings

Three main categories described efficiency factors during and after an incident: (1) coordinating the initial information (using a shared terminology), (2) achieving situational awareness (identifying those persons in need) and (3) lessons (not) learnt (lack of joint tactical plans and exercises). The emerging theme was access, assess and evaluate.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that establishing national policies and collaborative forums might yield more efficiently managed rescue efforts in road tunnel incidents in Sweden and other countries with similar organisational structures.

Originality/value

This study offers new insights on interoperability during responses to complex underground incidents.
Chameleons of Kurdish Turkey: Ethnographic reflections on a queer counter/insurgency
Authors: Karakuş Emrah
Published: February 2022

This article examines the intimacies and socialities of queer and transgender Kurds shaped by the sex work economy and ongoing conflict between the Turkish state and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). In their struggle for livelihoods, they manoeuvre through various forms of surveillance by the state and one another, necessitating what some call a chameleon subjectivity that protects one from surveillance. Central to the dynamics of their socialities are norms based on how they paid the price (bedel) to earn the right to be in the sex work economy. These everyday socialities are now intimately and increasingly interwoven with the institutions, discourses and practices of securitization in Kurdish Turkey, turning queer Kurds into particular kinds of political subjects.
How do marital formation and dissolution differ across employment statuses? Analysis of Japanese non‐regular employees
Authors: Esteban‐Pretel Julen , Fujimoto Junichi
Published: February 2022

Over time, Japan has seen an increase in non‐regular employment and a shift away from marriage. To uncover any link between these issues, this paper uses Japanese Labour Force Survey microdata to examine annual transitions between marital statuses and how such transitions vary across labour market statuses, in particular between male regular and non‐regular employees. We find, for different age groups, that the odds ratio of marriage for male non‐regular employees is 30% to 40% lower than that for male regular employees even after controlling for education. We also find that the odds ratio of divorce for married couples is twice as large when the husband is a non‐regular employee than when the husband is a regular employee. Our analysis sheds light on the challenges faced by Japanese males with non‐regular jobs in enjoying stable marital relationships and it reveals the regional heterogeneity of such challenges.
Horner syndrome after cervical spine corticosteroid injection
Authors: Hassold Nolan , Pina Vegas Laura , Jelin Germain , Forien Marine , Palazzo Elisabeth , Dieudé Philippe , Ottaviani Sébastien
Published: February 2022

Horner syndrome is a rare condition caused by a lesion of the sympathetic cervical chain. Multiple cervical disorders are associated with such lesions. Here we report the first case of Horner syndrome after cervical facet joint corticosteroid injection.
When Does Transparency Improve Institutional Performance? Evidence from 20,000 Projects in 183 Countries
Authors: Honig Dan , Lall Ranjit , Parks Bradley C.
Published: February 2022

Access to information (ATI) policies are often praised for strengthening transparency, accountability, and trust in public institutions, yet evidence that they improve institutional performance is mixed. We argue that an important impediment to the effective operation of such policies is the failure of bureaucrats to comply with information requests that could expose poor performance. Analyzing a new data set on the performance of approximately 20,000 aid projects financed by 12 donor agencies in 183 countries, we find that enforcement matters: the adoption of ATI policies by agencies is associated with better project outcomes when these policies include independent appeals processes for denied information requests but with no improvement when they do not. We also recover evidence that project staff adjust their behavior in anticipation of ATI appeals, and that the performance dividends of appeals processes increase when bottom‐up collective action is easier and mechanisms of project oversight are weak.
Cannabis‐related allergies: An international overview and consensus recommendations
Authors: Skypala Isabel J. , Jeimy Samira , Brucker Hannelore , Nayak Ajay P. , Decuyper Ine I. , Bernstein Jonathan A. , Connors Lori , Kanani Amin , Klimek Ludger , Lo Shun Chi Ryan , Murphy Kevin R. , Nanda Anil , Poole Jill. A. , Walusiak‐Skorupa Jolanta , Sussman Gordon , Zeiger Joanna S. , Goodman Richard E. , Ellis Anne K. , Silvers William S. , Ebo Didier G. ,   The International Cannabis Allergy Collaboration
Published: February 2022

Cannabis is the most widely used recreational drug in the world. Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica have been selectively bred to develop their psychoactive properties. The increasing use in many countries has been accelerated by the COVID‐19 pandemic. Cannabis can provoke both type 1 and type 4 allergic reactions. Officially recognized allergens include a pathogenesis‐related class 10 allergen, profilin, and a nonspecific lipid transfer protein. Other allergens may also be relevant, and recognition of allergens may vary between countries and continents. Cannabis also has the potential to provoke allergic cross‐reactions to plant foods. Since cannabis is an illegal substance in many countries, research has been hampered, leading to challenges in diagnosis since no commercial extracts are available for testing. Even in countries such as Canada, where cannabis is legalized, diagnosis may rely solely on the purchase of cannabis for prick‐to‐prick skin tests. Management consists of avoidance, with legal issues hindering the development of other treatments such as immunotherapy. Education of healthcare professionals is similarly lacking. This review aimed to summarize the current status of cannabis allergy and proposes recommendations for the future management of this global issue.
Damage in hidradenitis suppurativa: a narrative review emphasizing the need for a novel outcome measure
Authors: Fritsche Madelaine , Okun Martin , Kirby Joslyn S.
Published: February 2022

Cutaneous damage caused by hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is an important contributor to disease burden, independent of active lesions. Outcome measures used to specifically assess damage are becoming commonplace in the assessment of inflammatory diseases. However, no standardized method for assessing HS damage currently exists. The purpose of this study was to review outcome measures in HS that include constructs of both active disease and damage, review damage-specific instruments used in other inflammatory and destructive diseases, and review instruments used to assess scars of various aetiologies. This ultimately provides insight into how attributes of different tools can be applied to develop an outcome measure specific to HS damage.

What is already known about this topic? Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, relapsing, inflammatory skin condition, which causes consequent cutaneous damage and scarring. Damage caused by HS is highly prevalent and an important contributor to its morbidity. Damage is an important component of inflammatory diseases that has proven its utility in a number of outcome measures; however, no standardized method for assessing HS damage currently exists.

What does this study add? This narrative review assesses outcome measures used to measure damage in other inflammatory and destructive diseases. Instruments used to assess damage in other diseases can provide a starting point for the development of a damage outcome measure for HS.
Paclitaxel in vitro reversibly sensitizes the excitability of IB4(−) and IB4(+) sensory neurons from male and female rats
Authors: Villalba‐Riquelme Eva , de la Torre‐Martínez Roberto , Fernández‐Carvajal Asia , Ferrer‐Montiel Antonio
Published: February 2022

Background and Purpose

Paclitaxel produces a chemotherapy‐induced peripheral neuropathy that persists in 50–60% of cancer patients upon treatment. Evidence from animal models suggests an axonopathy of peripheral A‐ and C‐type fibres that affects their excitability. However, direct effects of paclitaxel on sensory neuron excitability and sexual dimorphism remain poorly understood.

Experimental Approach

We used a long‐lasting (10 days in vitro) primary culture of rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons to investigate the time course effect of paclitaxel on the electrical activity of IB4(−) and IB4(+) sensory neurons of female and male adult Wistar rats.

Key Results

Paclitaxel strongly and reversibly stimulated spontaneous activity and augmented action potential tonic firing in IB4(−) and IB4(+) neurons in both sexes, peaking at 48 h post‐treatment and virtually disappearing at 96 h. Paclitaxel decreased the current rheobase for action potential firing by reducing and accelerating the after‐hyperpolarization phase. Molecularly, paclitaxel modulated Na+ and K+ ion currents. Particularly, the drug significantly augmented the function of Nav1.8, TRPV1 and TRPM8 channels. Furthermore, paclitaxel increased Nav1.8 and TRPV1 expression at 48 h post‐treatment. Notably, we observed that female DRG neurons appear more sensitive to paclitaxel sensitization than their male counterparts.

Conclusions and Implications

Our data indicate that paclitaxel similarly potentiated IB4(−) and IB4(+) electrogenicity and uncover a potential sex dimorphism in paclitaxel‐induced chemotherapy‐induced peripheral neuropathy. Our in vitro, pre‐clinical, chemotherapy‐induced peripheral neuropathy paradigm provides a tool for studying the dynamics and underlying molecular mechanisms contributing to nociceptor sensitization in peripheral neuropathies and for testing desensitizing compounds.
Real‐Time Microstructure Rendering with MIP‐Mapped Normal Map Samples
Authors: Tan Haowen , Zhu Junqiu , Xu Yanning , Meng Xiangxu , Wang Lu , Yan Ling‐Qi
Published: February 2022

Normal map‐based microstructure rendering can generate both glint and scratch appearance accurately. However, the extra high‐resolution normal map that defines every microfacet normal may incur high storage and computation costs. We present an example‐based real‐time rendering method for arbitrary microstructure materials, which significantly reduces the required storage space. Our method takes a small‐size normal map sample as input. We implicitly synthesize a high‐resolution normal map from the normal map sample and construct MIP‐mapped 4D position‐normal Gaussian lobes. Based on the above MIP‐mapped 4D lobes and a LUT (lookup table) data structure for the synthesized high‐resolution normal map, an efficient Gaussian query method is presented to evaluate ‐NDFs (position‐normal distribution functions) for shading. We can render complex scenes with glint and scratch surfaces in real time (30 fps) with a full high‐definition resolution, and the space required for each microstructure material is decreased to 30 MB.
A renewed call for conservation leadership 10 years further in the feral cat Trap‐Neuter‐Return debate and new opportunities for constructive dialogue
Authors: Debrot Adolphe O. , Ruijter Martin N. M. , Endarwin Wempy , van Hooft Pim , Wulf Kai , Delnevo Adrian J.
Published: February 2022

It has been 10 years since a seminal paper in the journal Conservation Biology called for stronger leadership from the conservation community in countering the growing inappropriate use of Trap‐Neuter‐Return (TNR) as a method to control feral cat, Felis catus, populations. The practice is rapidly spreading to areas of wildlife and conservation significance, and the need to counter this development is extremely urgent. So far, the promulgation of TNR has been based on a narrow, single‐species approach to animal welfare. However, a new, yet little‐noticed, species‐inclusive perspective on animal welfare includes the consideration of collateral animal suffering for a more equitable assessment of TNR. Each setting, depending on the level of conservation required, may call for different methods for the management of free‐roaming cats. TNR is just one such method and its appropriateness depends on the specific wildlife conservation needs for each area specified.
Evolution of bulbar function in spinal muscular atrophy type 1 treated with nusinersen
Authors: Weststrate Harriet , Stimpson Georgia , Thomas Lily , Scoto Mariacristina , Johnson Emily , Stewart Alexandra , Muntoni Francesco , Baranello Giovanni , Conway Eleanor ,   SMA p‐FOIS Working Group*
Published: February 2022

Aim

To assess the evolution of bulbar function in nusinersen‐treated spinal muscular atrophy type 1 (SMA1).

Method

This single‐centre retrospective study identified 24 patients (14 females and 10 males) with SMA1, treated with nusinersen between 2017 and 2020. We adapted and validated the Paediatric Functional Oral Intake Scale (p‐FOIS), which is an outcome measure to assess bulbar function. Analysis considered SMA1 subtype, nutritional support, and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Infant Test of Neuromuscular Disorders (CHOP INTEND) and p‐FOIS scores at initiation of nusinersen treatment (baseline) and at 6, 12, and 24 months after initiation.

Results

The median age at baseline was 11 months (range 1 month–7 years 6 months). Median age at initiation of tube feeding was 8 months (range 0–2 years 2 months). Fourteen patients were tube fed at baseline. The median p‐FOIS score was 3 at baseline and 2 at 12 and 24 months. Four patients, all with type 1c SMA, remained orally fed at 24 months. Median CHOP INTEND scores increased from 32 at baseline to 42 at 12 and 24 months.

Interpretation

Impaired bulbar function persisted as a significant complication in most nusinersen‐treated patients with SMA1, in contrast to the improvement in motor abilities demonstrated in the majority. p‐FOIS allows for tracking of bulbar function progression and treatment response. Larger, prospective studies investigating the longer‐term impacts of nusinersen on bulbar function are warranted.
Sean Hughes
Authors: Hughes Sean
Published: February 2022

The year 2020 started with an exciting move to a new office quickly followed by lockdowns and challenges—some completely unanticipated.
Patrick van der Pijl
Authors: van der Pijl Patrick
Published: February 2022

Without missing a beat, business increased and workflow has improved—all while becoming a company more focused on people and relationships.
Richard Eisermann
Authors: Eisermann Richard
Published: February 2022

Agility and creativity enabled the Design team to meet early challenges and take the lead in defining how to work remotely and in communicating crucial information.
Kerstin Navik
Authors: Navik Kerstin
Published: February 2022

The necessity of doing more remote research in the past two years has presented a new challenge—maintaining the security of the data gathered.