bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Queen loss increases worker survival in leaf-cutting ants under paraquat-induced oxidative stress
Authors: Majoe Megha , Libbrecht Romain , Foitzik Susanne , Nehring Volker
Published: March 2021

Longevity is traded off with fecundity in most solitary species, but the two traits are positively linked in social insects. In ants, the most fecund individuals (queens and kings) live longer than the non-reproductive individuals, the workers. In many species, workers may become fertile following queen loss, and recent evidence suggests that worker fecundity extends worker lifespan. We postulated that this effect is in part owing to improved resilience to oxidative stress, and tested this hypothesis in three Myrmicine ants:
Temnothorax rugatulus,
and the leaf-cutting ants
Atta colombica
and
Acromyrmex echinatior
. We removed the queen from colonies to induce worker reproduction and subjected workers to oxidative stress. Oxidative stress drastically reduced survival, but this effect was less pronounced in leaf-cutting ant workers from queenless nests. We also found that, irrespective of oxidative stress, outside workers died earlier than inside workers did, likely because they were older. Since
At. colombica
workers cannot produce fertile offspring, our results indicate that direct reproduction is not necessary to extend the lives of queenless workers. Our findings suggest that workers are less resilient to oxidative stress in the presence of the queen, and raise questions on the proximate and ultimate mechanisms underlying socially mediated variation in worker lifespan.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Ageing and sociality: why, when and how does sociality change ageing patterns?’
Social modulation of ageing: mechanisms, ecology, evolution
Authors: Quigley Tyler P. , Amdam Gro V.
Published: March 2021

Human life expectancy increases, but the disease-free part of lifespan (healthspan) and the quality of life in old people may not show the same development. The situation poses considerable challenges to healthcare systems and economies, and calls for new strategies to increase healthspan and for sustainable future approaches to elder care. This call has motivated innovative research on the role of social relationships during ageing. Correlative data from clinical surveys indicate that social contact promotes healthy ageing, and it is time to reveal the causal mechanisms through experimental research. The fruit fly
Drosophila melanogaster
is a prolific model animal, but insects with more developed social behaviour can be equally instrumental for this research. Here, we discuss the role of social contact in ageing, and identify lines of study where diverse insect models can help uncover the mechanisms that are involved.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Ageing and sociality: why, when and how does sociality change ageing patterns?’
Hard-working helpers contribute to long breeder lifespans in cooperative birds
Authors: Downing Philip A. , Griffin Ashleigh S. , Cornwallis Charlie K.
Published: March 2021

In many species that raise young in cooperative groups, breeders live an exceptionally long time despite high investment in offspring production. How is this possible given the expected trade-off between survival and reproduction? One possibility is that breeders extend their lifespans by outsourcing parental care to non-reproductive group members. Having help lightens breeder workloads and the energy that is saved can be allocated to survival instead. We tested this hypothesis using phylogenetic meta-analysis across 23 cooperatively breeding bird species. We found that breeders with helpers had higher rates of annual survival than those without helpers (8% on average). Increased breeder survival was correlated with reduced investment in feeding offspring, which in turn depended on the proportion of feeding provided by helpers. Helpers had similar effects on female and male breeder survival. Our results indicate that one of the secrets to a long life is reduced investment in parental care. This appears to be a unique feature of cooperative societies with hard-working helpers.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Ageing and sociality: why, when and how does sociality change ageing patterns?’
How social behaviour and life-history traits change with age and in the year prior to death in female yellow-bellied marmots
Authors: Kroeger Svenja B. , Blumstein Daniel T. , Martin Julien G. A.
Published: March 2021

Studies in natural populations are essential to understand the evolutionary ecology of senescence and terminal allocation. While there are an increasing number of studies investigating late-life variation in different life-history traits of wild populations, little is known about these patterns in social behaviour. We used long-term individual based data on yellow-bellied marmots (Marmota flaviventer) to quantify how affiliative social behaviours and different life-history traits vary with age and in the last year of life, and how patterns compare between the two. We found that some social behaviours and all life-history traits varied with age, whereas terminal last year of life effects were only observed in life-history traits. Our results imply that affiliative social behaviours do not act as a mechanism to adjust allocation among traits when close to death, and highlight the importance of adopting an integrative approach, studying late-life variation and senescence across multiple different traits, to allow the identification of potential trade-offs.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Ageing and sociality: why, when and how does sociality change ageing patterns?’
Globetrotting strangles: the unbridled national and international transmission of Streptococcus equi between horses
Authors: Mitchell Catriona , Steward Karen F. , Charbonneau Amelia R. L. , Walsh Saoirse , Wilson Hayley , Timoney John F. , Wernery Ulli , Joseph Marina , Craig David , van Maanen Kees , Hoogkamer-van Gennep Annelies , Leon Albertine , Witkowski Lucjan , Rzewuska Magdalena , Stefańska Ilona , Żychska Monika , van Loon Gunther , Cursons Ray , Patty Olivia , Acke Els , Gilkerson James R. , El-Hage Charles , Allen Joanne , Bannai Hiroshi , Kinoshita Yuta , Niwa Hidekazu , Becú Teótimo , Pringle John , Guss Bengt , Böse Reinhard , Abbott Yvonne , Katz Lisa , Leggett Bernadette , Buckley Tom C. , Blum Shlomo E. , Cruz López Fátima , Fernández Ros Ana , Marotti Campi Maria Cristina , Preziuso Silvia , Robinson Carl , Newton J. Richard , Schofield Ellen , Brooke Ben , Boursnell Mike , de Brauwere Nicolas , Kirton Roxane , Barton Charlotte K. , Abudahab Khalil , Taylor Ben , Yeats Corin A. , Goater Richard , Aanensen David M. , Harris Simon R. , Parkhill Julian , Holden Matthew T. G. , Waller Andrew S.
Published: March 2021

The equine disease strangles, which is characterized by the formation of abscesses in the lymph nodes of the head and neck, is one of the most frequently diagnosed infectious diseases of horses around the world. The causal agent,

Streptococcus equi

subspecies

equi

, establishes a persistent infection in approximately 10 % of animals that recover from the acute disease. Such ‘carrier’ animals appear healthy and are rarely identified during routine veterinary examinations pre-purchase or transit, but can transmit

S. equi

to naïve animals initiating new episodes of disease. Here, we report the analysis and visualization of phylogenomic and epidemiological data for 670 isolates of

S. equi

recovered from 19 different countries using a new core-genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST) web bioresource. Genetic relationships among all 670 S.

equi

isolates were determined at high resolution, revealing national and international transmission events that drive this endemic disease in horse populations throughout the world. Our data argue for the recognition of the international importance of strangles by the Office International des Épizooties to highlight the health, welfare and economic cost of this disease. The Pathogenwatch cgMLST web bioresource described herein is available for tailored genomic analysis of populations of

S. equi

and its close relative

S. equi

subspecies

zooepidemicus

that are recovered from horses and other animals, including humans, throughout the world. This article contains data hosted by Microreact.
The humanFLT1regulatory element directs vascular expression and modulates angiogenesis pathwaysin vitroandin vivo
Authors: Stolper Julian , Voges Holly K. , See Michael , Mehdiabadi Neda Rahmani , Chahal Gulrez , Drvodelic Mark , Eichenlaub Michael , Labonne Tanya , Schultz Benjamin G. , Hidalgo Alejandro , Centanin Lazaro , Wittbrodt Jochen , Porrello Enzo R. , Elliott David A. , Ramialison Mirana
Published: March 2021

There is growing evidence that mutations in non-codingcis-regulatory elements (CREs) disrupt proper development. However, little is known about human CREs that are crucial for cardiovascular development. To address this, we bioinformatically identified cardiovascular CREs based on the occupancy of the CRE by the homeodomain protein NKX2-5 and cardiac chromatin histone modifications. This search defined a highly conserved CRE within theFLT1locus termedenFLT1. We show that the humanenFLT1is an enhancer capable of driving reporter transgene expressionin vivothroughout the developing cardiovascular system of medaka. Deletion of the humanenFLT1enhancer (ΔenFLT1) triggered molecular perturbations in extracellular matrix organisation and blood vessel morphogenesisin vitroin endothelial cells derived from human embryonic stem cells and vascular defectsin vivoin medaka. These findings highlight the crucial role of the humanFLT1enhancer and its function as a regulator and buffer of transcriptional regulation in cardiovascular development.
Microbiota of Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome are Distinct from Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome
Authors: White Bryan , Welge Michael , Auvil Loretta , Berry Matthew , Bushell Colleen , Schaeffer Anthony J , Yaggie Ryan E , Griffith James W , Klumpp David J
Published: March 2021

Urologic chronic pelvic pain syndrome patients include men chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) and patients, mainly women, with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS or IC). CP/CPPS is marked by severe chronic pelvic pain of unknown etiology that is differentially associated with prostatic inflammation. Microbes are known to modulate sensory responses, and microbiota are increasingly understood to drive normal biological processes and pathogenesis, including inflammation. Recent studies have linked fecal dysbiosis with chronic pelvic pain in IC/BPS, suggesting a role for microbiota in modulating UCPPS pain. Similarly, dysbiosis has been reported in CP/CPPS patients, but the relationship between with the dysbiosis of IC/BPS patients is unclear. Here, we characterized the fecal microbiota of men with CP/CPPS and women and men with IC/BPS. Similar to recent reports, we identified fecal dysbiosis in men with CP/CPPS relative to healthy controls among specific phyla and overall differences in diversity and richness. Interestingly, we also observed differences between CP/CPPS microbiota and IC/BPS microbiota that were not likely due to sex differences. These findings suggest that CP/CPPS is marked by changes in the gut microbiome, but these changes differ from IC/BPS. Taken together, UCPPS appears associated with distinct dybioses among CP/CPPS and IC/BPS, raising the possibility of distinct contributions to underlying pelvic pain mechanisms and/or etiologies.
Auxin-triggered changes in the Arabidopsis root tip (phospho)proteome reveal novel root growth regulators
Authors: Nikonorova Natalia , Murphy Evan , Fonseca de Lima Cassio Flavio , Zhu Shanshuo , van de Cotte Brigitte , Vu Lam Dai , Balcerowicz Daria , Li Lanxin , Kong Xiangpei , De Rop Gieljan , Beeckman Tom , Friml Jiří , Vissenberg Kris , Morris Peter C. , Ding Zhaojun , De Smet Ive
Published: March 2021

Auxin plays a dual role in growth regulation and, depending on the tissue and concentration of the hormone, it can either promote or inhibit division and expansion processes in plants. Recent studies revealed that, beyond transcriptional reprogramming, alternative auxin-controlled mechanisms regulate root growth. Here, we explored the impact of different auxin concentrations on the root tip proteome and phosphoproteome, generating a unique resource. From the phosphoproteome data we pinpointed (novel) growth regulators, such as the RALF34-THE1 module. Our results together with previously published studies suggest that auxin, H+-ATPases, cell wall modifications and cell wall sensing receptor-like kinases are tightly embedded in a pathway regulating cell elongation. Furthermore, our study assigned a novel role to MKK2 as a regulator of primary root growth and a (potential) regulator of auxin biosynthesis and signalling, and suggests the importance of the MKK2 Thr31phosphorylation site for growth regulation in theArabidopsisroot tip.

ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY

An auxin-triggered Arabidopsis root tip (phospho)proteome reveals novel root growth regulators
Ontoclick: a web browser extension to facilitate biomedical knowledge curation
Authors: Xu Anthony , Venkateswaran Aravind , Zhou Lianguizi , Zankl Andreas
Published: March 2021

Knowledge curation from the biomedical literature is very valuable but can be a repetitive and laborious process. The paucity of user-friendly tools is one of the reasons for the lack of widespread adoption of good biomedical knowledge curation practices. Here we present Ontoclick, a web browser extension that streamlines the process of annotating a text span with a relevant ontology term. We hope this tool will make biocuration more accessible to a wider audience of biomedical researchers.

Ontoclick is freely available under the GPL-3.0 license on the Chrome Web Store and on the Mozilla Add-Ons for Firefox Store. Source code and documentation are available at:https://github.com/azankl/Ontoclick

Contact:andreas.zankl@sydney.edu.au
runBioSimulations: an extensible web application that simulates a wide range of computational modeling frameworks, algorithms, and formats
Authors: Shaikh Bilal , Marupilla Gnaneswara , Wilson Mike , Blinov Michael L. , Moraru Ion I. , Karr Jonathan R.
Published: March 2021

Comprehensive, predictive computational models have significant potential for science, bioengineering, and medicine. One promising way to achieve more predictive models is to combine submodels of multiple subsystems. To capture the multiple scales of biology, these submodels will likely require multiple modeling frameworks and simulation algorithms. Several community resources are already available for working with many of these frameworks and algorithms. However, the variety and sheer number of these resources make it challenging to find and use appropriate tools for each model, especially for novice modelers and experimentalists. To make these resources easier to use, we developed runBioSimulations (https://run.biosimulations.org), a single web application for executing a broad range of models. runBioSimulations leverages community resources, including BioSimulators, a new open registry of simulation tools. These resources currently enable runBioSimulations to execute nine frameworks and 44 algorithms, and they make runBioSimulations extensible to additional frameworks and algorithms. runBioSimulations also provides features for sharing simulations and interactively visualizing their results. We anticipate that runBioSimulations will foster reproducibility, stimulate collaboration, and ultimately facilitate the creation of more predictive models.
BORCS6 is involved in the enlargement of lung lamellar bodies inLrrk2knockout mice
Authors: Araki Miho , Takatori Sho , Ito Genta , Tomita Taisuke
Published: March 2021

Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Parkinson disease. It has been shown thatLrrk2knockout (KO) rodents have enlarged lamellar bodies (LBs) in their alveolar epithelial type II cells, although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here we performed proteomic analyses on LBs isolated fromLrrk2KO mice and found that the LB proteome is substantially different inLrrk2KO mice compared with wild-type mice. InLrrk2KO LBs, several Rab proteins were increased, and subunit proteins of BLOC-1-related complex (BORC) were decreased. The amount of surfactant protein C was significantly decreased in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid obtained fromLrrk2KO mice, suggesting that LB exocytosis is impaired inLrrk2KO mice. We also found that the enlargement of LBs is recapitulated in A549 cells upon KO ofLRRK2or by treating cells with LRRK2 inhibitors. Using this model, we show that KO ofBORCS6, a BORC subunit gene, but not other BORC genes, causes LB enlargement. Our findings implicate the LRRK2-BORCS6 pathway in the maintenance of LB morphology.
Exploration of interethnic variation and repurposed drug efficacy in the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 Infection (COVID-19)
Authors: Almarzooq Ammar Ali
Published: March 2021

The COVID-19 global pandemic has led to repurposing of drugs, with little underlying evidence for treatment safety and efficacy. This may increase complications for patients with acute viral respiratory infections. UGT1A1 and CYP2D6 enzymes are involved in the metabolism of atazanavir and fluvoxamine repurposed for COVID-19. This study aimed to elucidate the role of interethnic variation in these enzymes in the efficacy of repurposed drug therapies. A retrospective cohort of 101 Jordanian Arab samples were genotyped using Affymetrix DMET Plus Premier Package. Comprehensive global population genetic structure analyses were performed for CYP2D6 and UGT1A1 allele frequencies across multi-ethnic populations of over 131,000 global subjects from 417 published reports, revealing that Jordanian Arabs share the closest sequence homology to European and Near East populations. The East Asian populations have significantly over-representaiton of individuals with diplotype pairs for reduced atazanavir metabolism compared to the African populations and are more likely to show impaired UGT1A1 metabolism. East Asian populations are also 4.4x more likely to show impaired fluvoxamine metabolism than South Central Asian and Oceanian populations, and 8x more likely than other ancestry populations. The results here support previous findings that interethnic variation should be used for developing proper population-specific dosage guidelines.
The functioning of dynamic capabilities: explaining the role of organizational innovativeness and culture
Authors: Ghosh Somonnoy , Srivastava Bhupen K.
Published: March 2021

Purpose

Using the knowledge-based view of the firm, dynamic capability literature and known dimensions of organizational innovativeness (OI), this article develops two testable models that attempt to explain: (1) how innovativeness functions as a source of capability dynamization and (2) how organizational culture (OC) critically determines this function of innovativeness.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a cross-sectional design and maximum variation sampling to identify organizations from the population of formal Indian business firms with the aim of controlling the effects of moderating variables such as their size, age, nature of business and ownership. Measurement instruments are borrowed from the literature. The cleaned dataset (n = 453 cases from 13 organizations) is randomly split into two-halves, which are used separately for extracting and confirming underlying factors. Rigorous procedure for assessing scale psychometric properties has been followed. The hypotheses are tested using structural equation modelling (SEM).

Findings

Except for a couple of paths that turned out insignificant, the data by and large support the study hypotheses. While market innovativeness failed to emerge as a factor, the capability dynamizing dimensions of innovativeness significantly predict its outcome dimensions of product and process innovativeness. Barring the effect of “trust”, they also fully mediate the effect of the rest of the culture factors on these outcome dimensions. Importantly, they are substantively determined by the culture factors, suggesting that the capability dynamizing dimensions are embedded in culture.

Originality/value

The primary contribution of this study is that besides accounting for how firm innovativeness can possibly explain the dynamism in dynamic capabilities, the results indicate a critical influence of culture in determining the potency of the dynamizing mechanisms. This has important implications for theory and practice.
Three decades of export competitiveness literature: systematic review, synthesis and future research agenda
Authors: Paul Justin , Dhiman Rahul
Published: March 2021

Purpose

This review has two purposes: (1) to systematically analyse the literature on export competitiveness (EC) and (2) to provide an overview of various determinants and the methodological trends in the subject field, making it possible to develop a roadmap for future researchers.

Design/methodology/approach

The systematic literature review (SLR) method was employed in this paper. The authors have covered three decades of research articles published in Scopus listed journals between 1991 and 2020. The determinants of EC are synthesized and widely used theories, and methodologies are identified and classified. The authors have also provided directions for future research.

Findings

The key determinants identified are labour and capital productivity, labour costs, exchange and real effective exchange rate (REER), domestic gross domestic product (GDP), trade liberalization and barriers. The findings reveal that EC is now a scientific measure, since the studies in this subject field have moved towards measuring EC and its determinants.

Originality/value

There has been no comprehensive review in this area exploring the theories, context, constructs and methodologies until now. Therefore, this review provides deep insights into the topic and also offers a unified picture of the subject field.
Green service attributes and amplifiers of the warm emotions evoked by them
Authors: Leisen Pollack Birgit
Published: March 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to provide insights into mechanism by which environmentally friendly initiatives positively affect a service firm's revenue stream. First, it explores attributes consumers associate with green services. Second, it affirms the mediating role of warm emotions in connecting green services to satisfaction and customer loyalty. Third, it investigates a set of amplifiers of warm emotions. These are the green tendencies of the consumer and perceived motives for adopting environmentally friendly practices.

Design/methodology/approach

This research involved two studies. A critical incident study was used to tap into the consumer's perspective on green services. A total of 262 attributes of green services were categorized into overarching themes. A quantitative study addressed the mediating relationships and amplifiers of warm emotions. Pooled across three services, a total of 846 observations were analyzed.

Findings

The findings reveal that a consumer views a service as environmentally friendly if it exhibits green attributes in either the core service, service delivery process, service environment or peripheral service activities. The results of Study II affirm that warm emotions mediate the relationship between perceptions of the environmental friendliness of a service and customer satisfaction as well as customer loyalty. The study findings suggest that positive emotions are further strengthened by the level of greenness of the consumer and by a firm's money saving motives as well as environmental preservation motives the consumer attributes to the adoption of green practices.

Originality/value

This study advances the authors' understanding of what attributes consumers associate with service greenness. This research expands on the service greenness and positive emotions connection by including an initial set of amplifiers of positive emotions to include the greenness of the consumer and motives for adopting green practices.
The impacts of the Covid‐19 pandemic on employment in Cameroon: A general equilibrium analysis
Authors: Madai Boukar Ali , Mbock Olivier , Kilolo Jean‐Marc Malambwe
Published: March 2021

This paper presents a computable general equilibrium (CGE) model that assesses the impacts of the Covid‐19 pandemic on different economic sectors in Cameroon. A special feature of the CGE model used in this study is that it accounts for the importance of the informal sector in Cameroon. Indeed, more than 80% of the employed work in the informal sector, which is characterized by the precariousness and instability of income and employment over time and space. Simulation results suggest that economic sectors such as construction, education, hotels and restaurants and commerce should receive special attention, as they have experienced the most severe employments losses. This calls for a differentiated support from the government to protect employment in these industries.
All about ideology? Reading Piketty´s with Latin American lenses
Authors: Sánchez‐Ancochea Diego
Published: March 2021

This review essay evaluates Capital and Ideology in light of the Latin American experience. Given its history of exploitation and high levels of inequality, the region constitutes an essential case study. By considering the Latin America case, we can also benefit from the many insights coming from within the region and often overlooked by the Anglo‐Saxon (dominant) literature. The paper makes two different arguments. First, asymmetries in economic and political power are the main drivers of long‐term inequality. Following insights from structuralism, I show how the organization of the global economy has shaped domestic patterns of income distribution in many parts of the world. The dependent character of economic development together with the power of domestic elites explain Latin America's stubborn inequality; ideology has historically been more an instrument than an underlying driver. Second, we cannot understand the evolution of income distribution without considering the role of dictatorships. While Capital and Ideology explains convincingly why liberal democracies are not working, it never properly considers the risk and costs of (conservative) authoritarian regimes. In thinking about policy responses, the essay also highlights the importance of strengthening democracy, fighting dictatorships, and enhancing the influence of social movements.
Population‐level changes in outcomes and Medicare cost following the introduction of new cancer therapies
Authors: Youn Bora , Wilson Ira B. , Mor Vincent , Trikalinos Nikolaos A. , Dahabreh Issa J.
Published: March 2021

Objective

To examine the population‐level impacts of the introduction of novel cancer therapies with high cost in the United States, using immunotherapies in advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) as an example.

Data Sources

Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results data in 2012‐2015 linked to Medicare fee‐for‐service claims until 2016.

Study Design

We examined population‐level trends in treatment patterns, survival, and Medicare spending in patients diagnosed with advanced NSCLC, the leading cause of cancer death in the United States, between 2012 and 2015. We estimated the percentage of patients who received any antineoplastic therapy within two years of diagnosis, including novel immunotherapies. We compared the trends in overall survival and mean two‐year Medicare spending per each patient before and after the introduction of immunotherapies in 2015.

Data Collection/Extraction Methods

Not Applicable.

Principal Findings

The percentage of patients treated with any antineoplastic therapy remained the same at 46.7% in 2012 and 2015, whereas the use of immunotherapies increased from 0% to 15.2%. The two‐year survival rate and median survival increased by 3.3 percentage points (95% CI: 2.0, 4.5) and 0.4 months (CI: 0.0, 0.9), respectively, during the same period. The mean two‐year total Medicare spending and outpatient spending per patient increased by $5735 (CI: 3479, 8040) and $7661 (CI: 5902, 9311), respectively, which were largely attributable to the increases in immunotherapy spending by $5806 (CI: 5165, 6459).

Conclusions

The introduction of lung cancer immunotherapies was accompanied by improvements in survival and increases in spending between 2012 and 2015 in the Medicare population. As novel immunotherapies and other target therapies continue to change the clinical management of various cancers, further efforts are needed to ensure their effective and efficient use, and to understand their population‐level impacts in the United States.
Considerations for improvising fortified extruded rice products
Authors: Saha Sreyajit , Jha Shipra , Tiwari Amit , Jayapalan Sudeepan , Roy Anupam
Published: March 2021

Micronutrient fortification of rice by extrusion is an effective strategy to enhance micronutrient levels within rice‐consuming individuals. The success of extrusion‐based fortification is associated with micronutrient retention, enhanced bioavailability, low postprocessing losses, prolonged storage stability, and minimal sensory changes. The success of an optimally fortified product is primarily reliant upon the compositional considerations, but many attributes of extrudates can be indebted to the processing parameters too. Hence, an exhaustive investigation of this technology has been taken‐up here, emphasizing on the compositional parameters in association with process parameters, which influence the final quality attributes like nutrient stability, bioavailability, and sensory properties. Based on these attributes of the end product, a collected data have been presented here to bring out the optimal compositional requirements. These together with cooking processes, extrusion process parameters, and storage conditions will enable formulate a product with enhanced sensory acceptance, better retention during cooking and storage, improved texture, and acceptable color. This review will thus help to optimize a need‐based product, its quality, and enhance benefits of fortified extruded rice products.
Carbon catabolite regulation of secondary metabolite formation, an old but not well‐established regulatory system
Authors: Ruiz‐Villafán Beatriz , Cruz‐Bautista Rodrigo , Manzo‐Ruiz Monserrat , Passari Ajit Kumar , Villarreal‐Gómez Karen , Rodríguez‐Sanoja Romina , Sánchez Sergio
Published: March 2021

Secondary microbial metabolites have various functions for the producer microorganisms, which allow them to interact and survive in adverse environments. In addition to these functions, other biological activities may have clinical relevance, as diverse as antimicrobial, anticancer and hypocholesterolaemic effects. These metabolites are usually formed during the idiophase of growth and have a wide diversity in their chemical structures. Their synthesis is under the impact of the type and concentration of the culture media nutrients. Some of the molecular mechanisms that affect the synthesis of secondary metabolites in bacteria (Gram‐positive and negative) and fungi are partially known. Moreover, all microorganisms have their peculiarities in the control mechanisms of carbon sources, even those belonging to the same genus. This regulatory knowledge is necessary to establish culture conditions and manipulation methods for genetic improvement and product fermentation. As the carbon source is one of the essential nutritional factors for antibiotic production, its study has been imperative both at the industrial and research levels. This review aims to draw the utmost recent advances performed to clarify the molecular mechanisms of the negative effect exerted by the carbon source on the secondary metabolite formation, emphasizing those found in Streptomyces, one of the genera most profitable antibiotic producers.
Efficient effort allocation in line‐transect distance sampling of high‐density species: When to walk further, measure less‐often and gain precision
Authors: Knights Kathryn , McCarthy Michael A. , Camac James , Guillera‐Arroita Gurutzeta
Published: March 2021

Line‐transect distance sampling is widely used to estimate population densities using distances of observed targets from transect lines to model detectability. When the target taxa are high density, the frequent measuring of distances may make the method seem impractical. We present a method that improves the efficiency of distance sampling when the target species occurs at high density. Only a proportion of targets are measured to model the detection function, and the time saved on the survey is then used to cover a longer total length of transect and accrue a larger ‘count only’ sample. This approach can improve the precision of the population density estimate when the cost of measuring the distance to a detected target is more than half the cost of walking to the next target.

We find the optimal proportion of distances to measure that minimises the variance of the density estimate for a fixed survey budget. We quantify how much this optimised strategy increases the precision of the density estimate compared with conventional line‐transect distance sampling. We then use simulated distance sampling data to test our expressions, and illustrate circumstances under which the optimised approach would be beneficial using distance sampling data on high‐density plants.

The simulations indicate that the optimised method delivers benefits in precision, but the magnitude of the benefit is lower than predicted from our expressions, which are based on an asymptotic approximation of the variance. We apply an adjustment to the predicted benefit equation to account for this difference, and show that, in all three plant case studies, the optimised approach could improve the precision gained from a distance sampling survey between 20% and 50%.

This new approach could broaden the ecological contexts in which distance sampling is applied, to include estimation of densities of abundant taxa where plots are conventionally used. The method may have interesting applications for other survey types, including multispecies surveys or those using cues or signs that occur at high density.
Functional genomic analyses highlight a shift in Gpr17‐regulated cellular processes in oligodendrocyte progenitor cells and underlying myelin dysregulation in the aged mouse cerebrum
Authors: Rivera Andrea D. , Pieropan Francesca , Chacon‐De‐La‐Rocha Irene , Lecca Davide , Abbracchio Maria P. , Azim Kasum , Butt Arthur M.
Published: March 2021

Brain ageing is characterised by a decline in neuronal function and associated cognitive deficits. There is increasing evidence that myelin disruption is an important factor that contributes to the age‐related loss of brain plasticity and repair responses. In the brain, myelin is produced by oligodendrocytes, which are generated throughout life by oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs). Currently, a leading hypothesis points to ageing as a major reason for the ultimate breakdown of remyelination in Multiple Sclerosis (MS). However, an incomplete understanding of the cellular and molecular processes underlying brain ageing hinders the development of regenerative strategies. Here, our combined systems biology and neurobiological approach demonstrate that oligodendroglial and myelin genes are amongst the most altered in the ageing mouse cerebrum. This was underscored by the identification of causal links between signalling pathways and their downstream transcriptional networks that define oligodendroglial disruption in ageing. The results highlighted that the G‐protein coupled receptor Gpr17 is central to the disruption of OPCs in ageing and this was confirmed by genetic fate‐mapping and cellular analyses. Finally, we used systems biology strategies to identify therapeutic agents that rejuvenate OPCs and restore myelination in age‐related neuropathological contexts.
New approaches to predict leaf area in woody tree species from the Atlantic Rainforest, Brazil
Authors: Santos José Nailson B. , Jarma‐Orozco Alfredo , Antunes Werner Camargos , Mendes Keila R. , Figueiroa Joselma M. , Pessoa Luciana M. , Pompelli Marcelo F.
Published: March 2021

Many issues involving leaf areas (LA) allometry, such as the possibility of adjusting morphometric models based on the leaves of different species and the influence model performance on intraspecific variability, are still unclear. In this work, we described allometric equations for 14 different woody tropical species. This study’s novelty is to show how a generalised allometric equation accurately estimates LAs of different species with similar leaf morphologies [oblong: Ŷ = 0.6356(LW)1.0260, and elliptical: Ŷ = 0.6552(LW)1.0094]. Natural variation that occurs in the leaf development does not represent an obstacle to the implementation of generalised models. In general, simple linear models are considered ineffective to describe the full range of leaf variation. Extrapolation of these equations to other woody species of similar leaf morphology can be compared with models developed for oblong and elliptical leaves, based on the principle that in potential models, the variation of the intercept coefficient (β0) tended to 0.5 for leaves more elongated to 0.7 in less elongated leaves. While the angular coefficient (β1) tended to vary from 0.97 for less elongated leaves, up to 1 when the relationship between LA is remarkably close to a rectangle.
Impact of the intersection of anaesthesia and gender on burnout and mental health, illustrated by the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Lorello G. R. , Gautam M. , Barned C. , Peer M.
Published: March 2021

Physician burnout and poor mental health are prevalent and often stigmatised. Anaesthetists may be at particular risk and this is further increased for women anaesthetists due to biases and inequities within the specialty. However, gender‐related risk factors for and experiences of burnout and poor mental health remain under‐researched and under‐reported. This negatively impacts individual practitioners, the anaesthesia workforce and patients and carries significant financial implications. We discuss the impact of anaesthesia and gender on burnout and mental health using the COVID‐19 pandemic as an example illustrating how women and men differentially experience stressors and burnout. COVID‐19 has further accentuated the gendered effects of burnout and poor mental health on anaesthetists and brought further urgency to the need to address these issues. While both personal and organisational factors contribute to burnout and poor mental health, organisational changes that recognise and acknowledge inequities are pivotal to bolster physician mental health.
Enhanced recovery pathways and patient‐reported outcome measures in gynaecological oncology
Authors: Chen Q. , Mariano E. R. , Lu A. C.
Published: March 2021

Comprehensive peri‐operative care for women with gynaecological malignancy is essential to ensure optimal clinical outcomes and maximise patient experience through the continuum of care. Implementation of peri‐operative enhanced recovery pathways in gynaecological oncology have been repeatedly shown to improve postoperative recovery, decrease complications and reduce healthcare costs. With increasing emphasis being placed on patient‐centred care in the current healthcare environment, incorporation of patient‐reported outcome data collection and analysis within the enhanced recovery pathway as part of quality measurement is not only useful, but necessary. Inclusion of patient‐reported outcome enhanced recovery pathway evaluation enables clinicians to capture authentic patient‐reported parameters such as subtle symptoms, changes in function and multiple dimensions of well‐being, directly from the source. These data guide the treatment course by encouraging shared decision‐making between the patient and clinicians and provide the necessary foundation for ongoing peri‐operative quality improvement efforts. Elements of the gynaecological oncology enhanced recovery pathway are divided into five phases of care: pre‐admission; pre‐operative; intra‐operative; postoperative; and post‐discharge. The development process starts with detailing each step of the patient's journey in all five phases, then identifying stakeholder groups responsible for care at each of these phases and assembling a multidisciplinary team including: gynaecologists; anaesthetists; nurses; nutritionists; physical therapists; and others, to provide input into the institutional pathway. To practically integrate patient‐reported outcomes into an enhanced recovery pathway, a validated measurement tool should be incorporated into the peri‐operative workflow. The ideal tool should be concise to facilitate longitudinal assessments by the clinical staff.
Corneal sub‐basal nerve plexus assessment and its association with phenotypic features and lymphocyte subsets in Sjögren's Syndrome
Authors: Barcelos Filipe , Hipólito‐Fernandes Diogo , Martins Catarina , Ângelo‐Dias Miguel , Cardigos Joana , Monteiro Ricardo , Alves Nuno , Vaz‐Patto José , da Cunha‐Branco Jaime , Borrego Luís‐Miguel
Published: March 2021

Purpose

To assess and compare corneal sub‐basal nerve plexus morphology with circulating lymphocyte subsets, immunologic status and disease activity in Sjögren syndrome (SjS) patients.

Methods

Fifty‐five SjS patients, 63 Sicca patients (not fulfilling SjS criteria), 18 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and 20 healthy controls (HC) were included. Systemic disease activity in SjS was assessed with the ESSDAI score. Lymphocyte subpopulations were studied with flow cytometry. Corneal confocal microscopy and ImageJ software were used to characterize corneal sub‐basal nerve plexus in terms of nerve density (CNFD), length (CNFL) and tortuosity (CNFT). Conventional dry eye tests were also performed.

Results

CNFL and CNFD were lower in SjS, Sicca and RA groups, compared to HC (p < 0.001 for both SjS and Sicca); CNFL p = 0.005, CNFD p = 0.018 in RA). CNFT was higher in SjS, followed by Sicca, RA and HC. A negative correlation was found between ESSDAI score and CNFL (r=−0.735, p = 0.012). CNFL correlated negatively with IL21+CD8+T cells (r=−0.279, p = 0.039) and a positively with total memory (r = 0.299, p = 0.027), unswitched memory (r = 0.281, p = 0.038) and CD24HiCD27+ (r = 0.278, p = 0.040) B cells. CNFD showed a tendency to significance in its negative correlation with ESSDAI (r=−0.592, p = 0.071) and in its positive correlation with switched memory B cells (r = 0.644, p = 0.068).

Conclusions

This is the first study aiming to correlate ocular findings with lymphocyte subsets in SjS. The associations founded between CNFL and CNFD and disease activity, IL21+ follicular T cells and some B‐cell subsets suggest that corneal nerve damage may parallel systemic disease activity and inflammatory cells' dynamics.
RPL34‐AS1–induced RPL34 inhibits cervical cancer cell tumorigenesis via the MDM2‐P53 pathway
Authors: Zhu Yuanhang , Ren Chenchen , Jiang Dongyuan , Yang Li , Chen Yannan , Li Feiyan , Wang Baojin , Zhang Yali
Published: March 2021

Ribosomal proteins (RPs) are important components of ribosomes and related to the occurrence and development of tumors. However, little is known about the effects of the RP network on cervical cancer (CC). In this study, we screened differentially expressed RPL34 in CC by high‐throughput quantitative proteome assay. We found that RPL34 acted as a tumor suppressor and was downregulated in CC and inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities of CC cells. Next, we verified that RPL34 regulated the CC through the MDM2‐P53 pathway by using Act D medicine, MDM2 inhibitor, and a series of western blotting（WB）assays. Moreover, an antisense lncRNA, RPL34‐AS1, regulated the expression of RPL34 and participated in the tumorigenesis of CC. RPL34 can reverse the effect of RPL34‐AS1 in CC cells. Finally, by RNA‐binding protein immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay we found that eukaryotic initiation factor 4A3 (EIF4A3), which binds to RPL34‐AS1, regulated RPL34‐AS1 expression in CC. Therefore, our findings indicate that RPL34‐AS1–induced RPL34 inhibits CC cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis through modulation of the MDM2‐P53 signaling pathway, which provides a meaningful target for the early diagnosis and treatment of CC.
‘Their status will be affected by that child’: How masculinity influences father involvement in the education of learners with intellectual disabilities
Authors: Karisa Amani , McKenzie Judith , De Villiers Tania
Published: March 2021

Background

Parents play a critical role in the formal education of their children. However, a limited body of scientific knowledge exists on fathers' involvement in the formal education of their children with disabilities, particularly in Global South settings. This study sought to understand how father involvement is constructed in the formal education of learners with intellectual disabilities in an African context.

Methods

The study uses data from a broad qualitative case study of one special school in Kenya. Data were collected from eight fathers, six mothers, nine teachers and six children with disabilities using individual interviews, key informant interviews and focus group discussions. A document review was also conducted. The data were analysed thematically.

Results

Two themes emerging from the data are presented, named using selected quotes from the participants thus: ‘He's a monster, you're the one who gave birth to him’ and ‘The excuse that he has work to do’. Father involvement in the education of learners with intellectual disabilities is influenced by the need of the fathers to protect their identities as men in a society whose cultural norms and values associates manliness with strength and perfection, and disability with weakness and imperfection. Father involvement is also impacted by the teachers' perceptions of the fathers' masculinity. Additionally, father involvement is influenced by the ways fathers cope with the threats to their masculinity.

Conclusion

Perceptions of masculinity and disability intersect to construct father involvement in the formal education of learners with intellectual disabilities in this African context.
Short‐term outcomes of a COVID‐adapted triage pathway for colorectal cancer detection
Authors: Miller Janice , Maeda Yasuko , Au Stephanie , Gunn Frances , Porteous Lorna , Pattenden Rebecca , MacLean Peter , Noble Colin L. , Glancy Stephen , Dunlop Malcolm G. , Din Farhat V. N.
Published: March 2021

Aim

The dramatic curtailment of endoscopy and CT colonography capacity during the coronavirus pandemic has adversely impacted timely diagnosis of colorectal cancer (CRC). We describe a rapidly implemented COVID‐adapted diagnostic pathway to mitigate risk and maximize cancer diagnosis in patients referred with symptoms of suspected CRC.

Method

The ‘COVID‐adapted pathway’ integrated multiple quantitative faecal immunochemical tests (qFIT) to enrich for significant colorectal disease with judicious use of CT with oral contrast to detect gross pathology. Patients reporting ‘high‐risk’ symptoms were triaged to qFIT+CT and the remainder underwent an initial qFIT to inform subsequent investigation. Demographic and clinical data were prospectively collected. Outcomes comprised cancer detection frequency.

Results

Overall, 422 patients (median age 64 years, 220 women) were triaged using this pathway. Most (84.6%) were referred as ‘urgent suspicious of cancer’. Of the 422 patients, 202 (47.9%) were triaged to CT and qFIT, 211 (50.0%) to qFIT only, eight (1.9%) to outpatient clinic and one to colonoscopy. Fifteen (3.6%) declined investigation and seven (1.7%) were deemed unfit. We detected 13 cancers (3.1%), similar to the mean cancer detection rate from all referrals in 2017–2019 (3.3%). Compared with the period 1 April–31 May in 2017–2019, we observed a 43% reduction in all primary care referrals (1071 referrals expected reducing to 609).

Conclusion

This COVID‐adapted pathway mitigated the adverse effects on diagnostic capacity and detected cancer at the expected rate within those referred. However, the overall reduction in the number of referrals was substantial. The described risk‐mitigating measures could be a useful adjunct whilst standard diagnostic services remain constrained due to the ongoing pandemic.