bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Atomic resolution Protein Allostery from the multi-state Structure of a PDZ Domain
Authors: Ashkinadze Dzmitry , Kadavath Harindranath , Chi Celestine N. , Friedmann Michael , Strotz Dean , Kumari Pratibha , Minges Martina , Cadalbert Riccardo , Königl Stefan , Güntert Peter , Vögeli Beat , Riek Roland
Published: November 2021

Recent methodological advances in solution NMR allow the determination of multi-state protein structures and provide insights into correlated motion at atomic resolution as demonstrated here for the well-studied PDZ2 domain of protein human tyrosine phosphatase 1E for which protein allostery was predicted. Two-state protein structures were calculated for both the free form and in complex with the RA-GEF2 peptide using the exact nuclear Overhauser effect (eNOE) method. In the apo protein states an allosteric conformational preselection step comprising almost 60% of the domain was detected with an “open” ligand welcoming state and a “closed” state that obstructs the binding site by the distance between the β-sheet, α-helix 2 and sidechains of residues Lys38 and Lys72. Observed apo-holo structural rearrangements of induced fit-type are in line with previously published evolution-based analysis covering ~25% of the domain with only a partial overlap with the protein allostery of the open form. These presented structural studies highlight the presence of a dedicated highly optimized dynamic interplay of the complexity of the PDZ2 domain owed by the structure-dynamics landscape.
Cryo-EM structure of the octameric pore of Clostridium perfringens β-toxin
Authors: Bruggisser Julia , Iacovache Ioan , Musson Samuel C. , Degiacomi Matteo T. , Posthaus Horst , Zuber Benoît
Published: November 2021

Clostridium perfringens is one of the most widely distributed and successful pathogens. It causes multiple severe diseases in animals and humans and produces an impressive arsenal of toxins with pore-forming properties, most of them belonging to the hemolysin-like family of β-pore forming toxins (β-PFTs). One of the most potent toxins produced by C. perfringens is β-toxin (CPB). This toxin is the main virulence factor of type C strains and essential for the development of a fatal necrotic enteritis in humans and newborn animals. In the present study, we describe the cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of CPB in styrene maleic acid (SMA) discs, which represents the membrane-inserted pore form, at near atomic resolution. We show that CPB forms a homo-oligomeric pore with eightfold symmetry and similar conformation to the hetero-oligomeric pores of the bi-component leukocidins, with important differences in the receptor binding region and the N-terminal latch domain. Intriguingly, the octameric CPB pore complex contains a second 16-stranded β-barrel protrusion atop of the cap domain that is formed by the N-termini of the eight protomers. We propose that CPB defines a new subclass of the hemolysin-like family of β-PFTs s. In addition, we show that the β-barrel protrusion domain can be changed or modified without affecting the pore forming ability, thus making the pore particularly attractive for macromolecule sensing and nanotechnology. The cryo-EM structure of the octameric pore of CPB will facilitate future developments in both nanotechnology and basic research.
HSFs drive stress type-specific transcription of genes and enhancers
Authors: Himanen Samu V , Puustinen Mikael C , Da Silva Alejandro J , Vihervaara Anniina , Sistonen Lea
Published: November 2021

Reprogramming of transcription is critical for the survival under cellular stress. Heat shock has provided an excellent model to investigate nascent transcription in stressed cells, but the molecular mechanisms orchestrating RNA synthesis during other types of stress are unknown. We utilized PRO-seq and ChIP-seq to study how Heat Shock Factors, HSF1 and HSF2, coordinate transcription at genes and enhancers upon oxidative stress and heat shock. We show that pause-release of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) is a universal mechanism regulating gene transcription in stressed cells, while enhancers are activated at the level of Pol II recruitment. Moreover, besides functioning as conventional promoter-binding transcription factors, HSF1 and HSF2 bind to stress-induced enhancers to trigger Pol II pause-release from poised gene promoters. Importantly, HSFs act at distinct genes and enhancers in a stress type-specific manner. HSF1 binds to many chaperone genes upon oxidative and heat stress but activates them only in heat-shocked cells. Under oxidative stress, HSF1 and HSF2 trans-activate genes independently of each other, demonstrating, for the first time, that HSF2 is a bona fide transcription factor. Taken together, we show that HSFs function as multi-stress-responsive factors that activate specific genes and enhancers when encountering changes in temperature and redox state.
High-resolution mapping and digital atlas of subcortical regions in the macaque monkey based on matched MAP-MRI and histology
Authors: Saleem Kadharbatcha S , Avram Alexandru V , Glen Daniel , Yen Cecil Chern-Chyi , Ye Frank Q , Komlosh Michal , Basser Peter J
Published: November 2021

Subcortical nuclei and other deep brain structures are known to play an important role in the regulation of the central and peripheral nervous systems. It can be difficult to identify and delineate many of these nuclei and their finer subdivisions in conventional MRI due to their small size, buried location, and often subtle contrast compared to neighboring tissue. To address this problem, we applied a multi-modal approach inex vivonon-human primate (NHP) brain that includes high-resolution mean apparent propagator (MAP)-MRI and five different histological stains imaged with high-resolution microscopy in the brain of the same subject. By registering these high-dimensional MRI data to high-resolution histology data, we can map the location, boundaries, subdivisions, and micro-architectural features of subcortical gray matter regions in the macaque monkey brain. At high spatial resolution, diffusion MRI in general, and MAP-MRI in particular, can distinguish a large number of deep brain structures, including the larger and smaller white matter fiber tracts as well as architectonic features within various nuclei. Correlation with histology from the same brain enables a thorough validation of the structures identified with MAP-MRI. Moreover, anatomical details that are evident in images of MAP-MRI parameters are not visible in conventional T1-weighted images. We also derived subcortical template “SC21” from segmented MRI slices in three-dimensions and registered this volume to a previously published anatomical template with cortical parcellation (Reveley et al., 2017; Saleem and Logothetis, 2012), thereby integrating the 3D segmentation of both cortical and subcortical regions into the same volume. This newly updated three-dimensional D99 digital brain atlas (V2.0) is intended for use as a reference standard for macaque neuroanatomical, functional, and connectional imaging studies, involving both cortical and subcortical targets. The SC21 and D99 digital templates are available as volumes and surfaces in standard NIFTI and GIFTI formats.
Selective Inhibitory Circuit Dysfunction after Chronic Frontal Lobe Contusion
Authors: Nolan Amber L. , Sohal Vikaas S. , Rosi Susanna
Published: November 2021

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of neurologic disability; the most common deficits affect prefrontal cortex-dependent functions such as attention, working memory, social behavior, and mental flexibility. Despite this prevalence, little is known about the pathophysiology that develops in frontal cortical microcircuits after TBI. We investigated if alterations in subtype-specific inhibitory circuits are associated with cognitive inflexibility in a mouse model of frontal lobe contusion that recapitulates aberrant mental flexibility as measured by deficits in rule reversal learning. Using patch clamp recordings and optogenetic stimulation, we identified selective vulnerability in the non-fast spiking, somatostatin-expressing (SOM+) subtype of inhibitory neurons in layer V of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) two months after injury. These neurons exhibited reduced intrinsic excitability and a decrease in their synaptic output onto pyramidal neurons. By contrast, fast spiking, parvalbumin-expressing (PV+) interneurons did not show changes in intrinsic excitability or synaptic output. Impairments in SOM+ inhibitory circuit function were also associated with network hyperexcitability. These findings provide evidence for selective disruptions within specific inhibitory microcircuits that may guide the development of novel therapeutics for TBI.
Directed Evolution of Aptamer Discovery Technologies
Authors: Wu Diana , Gordon Chelsea K.L. , Shin John H. , Eisenstein Michael , Soh H. Tom
Published: November 2021

Conspectus

Although antibodies are a powerful tool for molecular biology and clinical diagnostics, there are many emerging applications for which nucleic acid-based aptamers can be advantageous. However, generating high-quality aptamers with sufficient affinity and specificity for biomedical applications is a challenging feat for most research laboratories. In this Account, we describe four techniques developed in our lab to accelerate the discovery of high quality aptamer reagents that can achieve robust binding even for challenging molecular targets. The first method is particle display, in which we convert solution-phase aptamers into aptamer particles that can be screened via fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) to quantitatively isolate individual aptamer particles based on their affinity. This enables the efficient isolation of high-affinity aptamers in fewer selection rounds than conventional methods, thereby minimizing selection biases and reducing the emergence of artifacts in the final aptamer pool. We subsequently developed the multi-parametric particle display (MPPD) method, which employs two-color FACS to isolate aptamer particles based on both affinity and specificity, yielding aptamers that exhibit excellent target binding even in complex matrices like serum. The third method is a click chemistry-based particle display (click-PD) that enables the generation and high-throughput screening of “non-nattural” aptamers with a wide range of base modifications. We have shown that these base-modified aptamers can achieve robust affinity and specificity for targets that have proven challenging or inaccessible with natural nucleotide-based aptamer libraries. Lastly, we describe the non-natural aptamer array (N2A2) platform, in which a modified benchtop sequencing instrument is used to characterize base-modified aptamers in a massively parallel fashion, enabling the efficient identification of molecules with excellent affinity and specificity for their targets. This system first generates aptamer clusters on the flow-cell surface that incorporate alkyne-modified nucleobases, and then performs a click reaction to couple those nucleobases to an azide-modified chemical moiety. This yields a sequence-defined array of tens of millions of base-modified sequences, which can then be characterized in a high-throughput fashion. Collectively, we believe that these advancements are helping to make aptamer technology more accessible, efficient, and robust, thereby enabling the use of these affinity reagents for a wider range of molecular recognition and detection-based applications.
Genome assembly of the JD17 soybean provides a new reference genome for Comparative genomics
Authors: Yi Xinxin , Liu Jing , Chen Shengcai , Wu Hao , Liu Min , Xu Qing , Lei Lingshan , Lee Seunghee , Zhang Bao , Kudrna Dave , Fan Wei , Wing Rod A. , Yang Chunyan , Zhang Mengchen , Zhang Jianwei , Wang Xuelu , Chen Nansheng
Published: November 2021

Cultivated soybean (Glycine max) is an important source for protein and oil. Many elite cultivars with different traits have been developed for different conditions. Each soybean strain has its own genetic diversity, and the availability of more high-quality soybean genomes can enhance comparative genomic analysis for identifying genetic underpinnings for its unique traits. In this study, we constructed a high-quality de novo assembly of an elite soybean cultivar Jidou 17 (JD17) with chromsome contiguity and high accuracy. We annotated 52,840 gene models and reconstructed 74,054 high-quality full-length transcripts. We performed a genome-wide comparative analysis based on the reference genome of JD17 with three published soybeans (WM82, ZH13 and W05), which identified five large inversions and two large translocations specific to JD17, 20,984 - 46,912 PAVs spanning 13.1 - 46.9 Mb in size, and 5 - 53 large PAV clusters larger than 500kb. 1,695,741 - 3,664,629 SNPs and 446,689 - 800,489 Indels were identified and annotated between JD17 and them. Symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) genes were identified and the effects from these variants were further evaluated. It was found that the coding sequences of 9 nitrogen fixation-related genes were greatly affected. The high-quality genome assembly of JD17 can serve as a valuable reference for soybean functional genomics research.
Using AnnoTree to get more assignments, faster, in DIAMOND+MEGAN microbiome analysis
Authors: Gautam Anupam , Felderhoff Hendrik , Bağci Caner , Huson Daniel H.
Published: November 2021

In microbiome analysis, one main approach is to align metagenomic sequencing reads against a protein-reference database such as NCBI-nr, and then to perform taxonomic and functional binning based on the alignments. This approach is embodied, for example, in the standard DIAMOND+MEGAN analysis pipeline, which first aligns reads against NCBI-nr using DIAMOND and then performs taxonomic and functional binning using MEGAN. Here we propose the use of the AnnoTree protein database, rather than NCBI-nr, in such alignment-based analyses to determine the prokaryotic content of metagenomic samples. We demonstrate a 2-fold speedup over the usage of the prokaryotic part of NCBI-nr, and increased assignment rates, in particular, assigning twice as many reads to KEGG. In addition to binning to the NCBI taxonomy, MEGAN now also bins to the GTDB taxonomy.

IMPORTANCE

The NCBI-nr database is not explicitly designed for the purpose of microbiome analysis and its increasing size makes its unwieldy and computationally expensive for this purpose. The AnnoTree protein database is only one quarter the size of the full NCBI-nr database and is explicitly designed for metagenomic analysis, and so should be supported by alignment-based pipelines.
Analysis of BIM functionalities diffusion in the construction industry: the case of the MENA region
Authors: El Hajj Claudette , Martínez Montes Germán , Jawad Dima
Published: November 2021

Purpose

This paper researches the diffusion patterns of various BIM functionalities across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) construction industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The study grounds on the innovation diffusion theory proposition that both the internal and external factors drive the widespread adoption of innovative trends. The study empirically analyzes the diffusion patterns of BIM by employing and comparing three mathematical influence models: internal, external and mixed models.

Findings

The results of the questionnaires point out that the mixed model as having the highest explanatory power and shows that the internal influence factors outperform the external factors in affecting the diffusion of BIM functionalities in the MENA Architectural, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry.

Research limitations/implications

This paper can be of significant value for academic researchers as well as BIM business developers who are interested in emerging markets via providing an enhanced understanding of the adoption process of different BIM functionalities as well as a theoretical basis for explaining the diffusion patterns of information technology innovations in the AEC industry.

Originality/value

This study is among the first applications of the influence models to examine the adoption of BIM functionalities in the AEC industry and the very first across the MENA region.
Sustainability practices during COVID-19: an institutional perspective
Authors: Klymenko Olena , Lillebrygfjeld Halse Lise
Published: November 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how sustainable practices in supply chains are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic through the lens of institutional theory.

Design/methodology/approach

This research applies a twofold data collection approach: 1) qualitative semistructured interviews and 2) secondary data collection that includes sustainability reports, newspaper articles, journal articles, strategic plans, research reports and statements made by authorities and stakeholders concerning decision-making. In total, managers representing six companies in Norway were interviewed.

Findings

The study suggests that during the COVID-19 pandemic, companies tend to focus on short-term decisions and economic issues. The long-term focus on sustainability has, however, increased at the cluster level. The research also indicates that the pandemic has led to the development of new business routines that may transform institutional norms. The diversity of institutional contexts can, on the one hand, drive sustainability transitions through pressures and supportive programs but, on the other hand, also hinder the development of sustainability thinking.

Research limitations/implications

Institutional factors must be included when analyzing the effects of crises and sustainable transitions. Researchers are encouraged to explore the COVID-19 implications in the form of longitudinal studies.

Practical implications

Policymakers can benefit from in-depth knowledge on the adverse effects of an institutional environment on sustainability. For managers, the outbreak of the pandemic can afford them additional time to revise their strategies and seek innovation. The pandemic highlights the need to build more resilient and sustainable systems that will aid managers in responding rapidly during future uncertainties and enduring sustainability trajectories in operations.

Originality/value

The paper offers an in-depth investigation of COVID-19 effects on the sustainability of supply chains by drawing on institutional theory.
Functional responsibility for internal communication management and its integration in contemporary businesses
Authors: Zaumane Ieva , Leščevica Maira
Published: November 2021

Purpose

Despite the proven link between internal communication and more effective business results, only a few attempts have been made to answer the essential question of who is responsible for managing internal communication in an organisation. This paper aims to examine the presence of internal communication management (ICM) practices in companies in Latvia and launch a new discussion on who should manage internal communication in a modern company to support business strategy and development.

Design/methodology/approach

In the first phase of the study, a survey was conducted in three business sectors in Latvia involved in managing and implementing the internal communications function. Using the multiple case study method, the second phase of the study examined in-depth, ICM and the implementation practices in four different Latvian companies. In total, 13 in-depth interviews were conducted within 4 companies, and thematic analysis was used to analyse the material gained from the interviews.

Findings

The target companies and relevant professionals from different fields have divergent opinions about who should manage the internal communication function. From the research across four companies, it was concluded that internal communication was implemented in a fragmented manner. There was a weak understanding of the meaning and goal of internal communication. The potential of effective internal communication in reaching strategic goals has not been realised. Responsibility for ICM is often limited to the reactive performance of public relations departments, human resources or marketing specialists. The companies clearly did not have a defined scope of responsibilities for managing internal communication amongst the different parts of their organisations. It can be concluded that company managers should pay attention to how internal communication is conducted, clearly delegate this function to a manager and define the expected results that meet the company’s strategic goals. The results of this research can be used to inform recommendations for integrating the ICM function.

Originality/value

Only a few research papers have discussed responsibility for internal communication functions. This research particularly fills this gap and emphasises the need to assign responsibility for an organisation’s ICM function as it is the core factor in strategic implementation and input related to business goals.
Building trust among channel members via power sources
Authors: Kumar Sushant , Jebarajakirthy Charles , Das Manish
Published: November 2021

Purpose

Building on encapsulated interest account and motivated cognition account, this study aims to investigate how channel members extend trust in a channel leader when the channel leader applies various non-coercive power sources (e.g. referent, expert, legitimate and reward power). Besides, the study explored the changes in channel members’ trust in a channel leader when each non-coercive power source is coupled with coercive power sources.

Design/methodology/approach

Using survey items from previously validated scales, the study collected responses from 237 channel members of 3 paint distribution channels in India. Data were analysed using structural equation modelling and multi-group moderation analysis techniques.

Findings

Findings indicated that expert and reward power sources enhance trust in channel leaders while affective commitment mediates the effects of all the non-coercive power sources on trust. Further, coercive power weakens the effects of expert power on trust.

Research limitations/implications

The study is based on a cross-sectional survey and confines to the paint industry in India. Replicating this study in other countries and industries will better generalise the study’s findings.

Practical implications

The study recommends that channel managers use power sources to build trust in channel leaders. Consequently, they will be able to emphasise those specific power sources while developing channel management strategies.

Originality/value

The study contributes to a greater understanding of the power-trust relationship.
Influence of service quality, loyalty programme and perceived value on word-of-mouth behavior of domestic and international airline passengers in India
Authors: Pappachan Joemon
Published: November 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the combined effect of airline service quality (ASQ), loyalty programme and perceived value (PV) on word-of-mouth (WOM) behavior of passengers’ traveling to domestic and international destinations from India.

Design/methodology/approach

Passenger’s perception on service quality, loyalty programme and PV varies with flight type, which can affect WOM. This study was designed to know whether destination based difference in passengers’ perception on airline services affects their WOM. Hence, a sample of 554 frequent passengers was taken, which includes 358 domestic and 196 international passengers. The responses were collected using well-structured questionnaire. The hypothetical model was developed and tested using structural equation modeling using analysis of a moment structures (AMOS).

Findings

Travel destination (flight) type moderates significantly the effect of ASQ on WOM behavior. ASQ affects WOM behavior more in domestic passengers. PV and loyalty programme do not moderate significantly with respect to destination type. PV was found to have significant influence on international passengers. However, loyalty programme was significant among domestic passengers.

Practical implications

Airline managers can develop appropriate marketing strategies targeting the passenger influencing attributes. ASQ is the most significant attribute applicable to both flight types. The airlines can focus on attractive ticket fares for international passengers and more loyalty programme benefits for domestic passengers.

Originality/value

This study examined the combined effect of ASQ, loyalty programme and PV on WOM behavior of passengers traveling in domestic and international sectors, which has not been researched yet.
Finding Your Way Around the HILDA Survey Data
Authors: Watson Nicole
Published: November 2021

The Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey data is a valuable resource for researchers and policy makers. The HILDA Survey is a nationally representative household panel study with 20 waves of data collected between 2001 and 2020. This article helps researchers new to the HILDA Survey gain an understanding of the survey, the data and its documentation.
Impact of microbial transglutaminase and cooking time on functional properties of Mozzarella cheese analogues
Authors: Hebishy Essam , Nagarajah Jevan , Thompson Luke S , Shennan Sarah , Best Lauren , Ajayi Oluseyi Moses , Iheozor‐Ejiofor Pamela , Tucker Nick , Onarinde Bukola A
Published: November 2021

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of microbial transglutaminase (TGase) at different concentrations (0, 2.5 and 7.5 units/g (U/g) protein) using different cooking times (15, 20 and 25 min at 85°C) on Mozzarella cheese analogue (MCA) properties. Results have shown that protein cross‐linking activity of TGase can improve the colour, texture, microstructure and meltability of the cheese when used at a concentration of 2.5 U/g protein and 20‐min cooking time. TGase concentration, cooking time and the combination of these factors significantly (P < 0.05) affected the colour (L*, a* and b*) and texture properties (hardness, adhesiveness, springiness, gumminess, resilience and cohesion) but had no significant (P > 0.05) effect on pH.
The revival of zero‐based budgeting: drivers and consequences of firm‐level adoptions
Authors: Coyte Rodney , Messner Martin , Zhou Shan
Published: November 2021

The paper examines the recent revival of zero‐based budgeting (ZBB) in the US. Using archival data, we show that the renewed interest in ZBB was linked to the activities of a hedge fund, 3G Capital, which introduced the practice in newly acquired firms. Other firms picked up the practice, particularly so in some industries, and justified adoption mainly on the basis of expected cost savings. In addition, we show that these adopting firms were smaller than non‐adopters, suggesting that less complexity favours adoption. We also find some evidence that they were more strongly leveraged than non‐adopters, suggesting a cost discipline effect of debt financing. However, in terms of the consequences of adoption, we do not find evidence for significant cost savings in adopting firms overall, although we find some evidence of significant cost savings among those firms referencing 3G in their SEC filings.
Life with big cats: local perceptions of big cat species
Authors: Corcoran W. , Fisher B.
Published: November 2021

Land use change, agricultural and urban expansion, and anthropogenic climate change are the major drivers of biodiversity loss across the globe. Big cats (a casual term including species such as tigers, lions, mountain lions, jaguars, leopards, snow leopards, and cheetahs) are impacted by these global changes. As human settlement and activity increasingly overlap with big cat habitat, the frequency of human conflict over wildlife is rising, often precipitating direct costs to people living near big cats. Big cats are rare, they play many critical roles in the ecosystems they inhabit, and are often flagship conservation species because they are poster‐charismatic megafauna. As many of the costs of conservation are borne by locals, local acceptance of big cats on the landscape is fundamental to the success of in‐situ conservation of these species. Here, we explore this issue by conducting a systematic literature review of articles that directly measure local perceptions (or acceptance) of big cats quantitatively. We normalized all perception data so we could synthesize results across places and species. The final set of data included the views of 14 253 locals from 45 papers, interrogating five different question types on local perceptions of big cats. Across these studies, we found that locals generally hold neutral or slightly positive perceptions of big cats – particularly for tigers and mountain lions. On average, livestock owners have more negative perceptions of big cats compared to non‐livestock owners. Geographically, there are large portions of big cat population ranges where no research on local perceptions exist. These results call for two things (1) rethinking the perception that locals largely hold negative views toward big cats across their ranges and (2) more systematic research across big cat species ranges to better understand local perceptions, what drives those perceptions, and how they impact the outcomes of conservation approaches.
Declines in alcohol consumption in Australia: some challenges to the theory of collectivity
Authors: Mojica‐Perez Yvette , Callinan Sarah , Livingston Michael
Published: November 2021

Background and Aims

There is significant debate about whether or not changes in per‐capita alcohol consumption occur collectively across the entire distribution of drinking. This study used data from a decade of declining drinking in Australia to test the collectivity of drinking trends.

Design

Repeated cross‐sectional surveys (2010, 2013, 2016, 2019), analysed with quantile regression techniques assessing trends in drinking for 20 quantile groups.

Setting

Australia.

Participants

A general population sample (total n = 85 891; males = 39 182, females = 46 709) aged 14 years and over.

Measurements

Past‐year volume of alcohol consumed was measured using standard graduated frequency survey questions. Models were stratified by sex and age group.

Findings

Throughout the whole population, alcohol consumption had declined in all percentile groups, with the largest proportional declines evident for light and moderate drinkers [e.g. drinkers in the 25th percentile declined by 32.7%; 95% confidence interval (CI) = ‐41.6, ‐22.3% per wave]. Broadly collective declines were also found for younger men and women with significant declines in every percentile group, but older groups showed some evidence of polarization. For example, women aged 45–64 years significantly increased their consumption (2.9% per wave, 95% CI = 0.3–5.5%), while consumption for those in the 25th percentile fell significantly (‐16.7%, 95% CI = –27.6, ‐4.2%).

Conclusions

The declines in Australian drinking since 2010 have included important deviations from the collectivity predicted by Skog's influential theory of collectivity of drinking, with markedly different patterns evident among different demographic groups.
Therapeutic success of sodium thiosulfate in treating cutaneous calciphylaxis in a patient with hyperphosphataemic familial tumoral calcinosis
Authors: Requena Sheila , Santos‐Juanes Jorge , Morales Patricia , Gómez Carlos
Published: November 2021

Calciphylaxis is a potencially disorder in patients with hyperphosphatemic familial tumoral calcinosis (HFTC). Patients commonly present livedo racemosa and retiform purpura, which may progress to necrosis and very painful ulcers. Treatment with sodium thiosulfate provides good results; however, intralesional and intravenous treatment can be limited by its adverse effects. Topical sodium thiosulfate has been successfully reported for cutaneous calcification associated with connective tissue diseases and calciphylaxis in patients with chronic kidney disease. We provide a case report of a patient with HFTC and calciphylaxis who was treated with topical sodium thiosulfate with a rapid and complete response with no side effects.
Laparoscopic Hartmann's reversal combined with interval lymphadenectomy after emergency surgery for perforated colon cancer: A case report
Authors: Uchino Tairin , Komatsu Shunichiro , Matsumura Tatsuki , Fukami Yasuyuki , Saito Takuya , Osawa Takaaki , Kurahashi Shintaro , Kaneko Kenitiro , Sano Tsuyoshi
Published: November 2021

A 55‐year‐old man underwent Hartmann's procedure for generalized peritonitis caused by perforation of sigmoid colon cancer, which was histologically diagnosed as tubular adenocarcinoma penetrating the muscularis propria (T3). The extent of lymph node dissection was insufficient for the advanced cancer, according to the concept of complete mesocolic excision. Two months after surgery, he underwent laparoscopic Hartmann's reversal, combined with interval lymphadenectomy. En bloc resection of the colostomy, rectal stump and associated mesentery was performed with high ligation of the inferior mesenteric artery. Subsequently, the intestinal continuity was restored by end‐to‐end anastomosis. The postoperative course was uneventful except for infection at the stoma site. No lymph node metastasis was found by histological examination of the resected specimen, with no evidence of cancer recurrence 8 months after the initial surgery.
Low levels of minimal residual disease after induction chemotherapy for BCR‐ABL1‐negative acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in adults are clinically relevant
Authors: Šálek Cyril , Folber František , Froňková Eva , Pecherková Pavla , Jelínková Hana , Hrabovský Štěpán , Horáček Jan M. , Cetkovský Petr , Mayer Jiří , Trka Jan , Doubek Michael ,   the Czech Leukemia Study Group – for Life (CELL)
Published: November 2021

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the significance of low‐level minimal/measurable residual disease (MRD) during early consolidation treatment in adult BCR‐ABL1–negative acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. The MRD load was monitored by immunoglobulin/T‐cell receptor rearrangements and assessed as negative [complete MRD response (CMR)], positive non‐quantifiable (MRDnq) and positive quantifiable (MRDq). MRDnq before the first and second consolidation blocks had a comparable negative effect on survival as MRDq. The 5‐year overall survival for CMR, MRDnq and MRDq at week 11 was 74·0%, 42·3% and 35·0% respectively. No central nervous system infiltration and MRD at week 11 were independent prognostic factors for survival on multivariate analysis (hazard ratios 0·32 and 2·25).
Environmental variation associated with topography explains butterfly diversity along a tropical elevation gradient
Authors: Cómbita José Luís , Giraldo Carlos E. , Escobar Federico
Published: November 2021

Few studies have evaluated the role of topography on the diversity patterns of biological communities along elevation gradients. We evaluated the influence of microclimate and vegetation structure associated with topographic variation on the richness and composition of species of different families of butterflies on a mountain located in a dry enclave (Chicamocha River Canyon) in the northern Andes, Colombia. We captured butterflies over four months at 18 elevations (300 to 1500 m a.s.l.) in two topographic positions (riverbed and hillslope) using an entomological net and traps baited with fermented fruit. In general, butterfly richness increased with elevation in both topographic positions. However, the richness–elevation relationship changed with butterfly family. The riverbed and hillslope sites host different assemblages of butterflies, and this pattern that was consistent for most families. In the riverbed, two sets of species are recognized along the elevation gradient (one below 700 m a.s.l. and the other above 1000 m a.s.l.), mainly owing to species replacement. On the hillslopes, there was no clear pattern of grouping associated with elevation. Microclimate differences between the riverbed and hillslope sites along the elevation gradient were related to the vegetation structure and explained the variation in butterfly species composition. Our results highlight the role of topography not only by explaining the response of species richness and composition to environmental variation determined by elevation, but also as a factor that must be considered in the planning and management of biodiversity conservation in the mountains.

Abstract in Spanish is available with online material.
When e‐learning takes centre stage amid COVID‐19: Dental educators' perspectives and their future impacts
Authors: Goh Charlene E. , Lim Li Zhen , Müller Andre M. , Wong Mun Loke , Gao Xiaoli
Published: November 2021

Introduction

The COVID‐19 pandemic has necessitated an unprecedented shift from face‐to‐face teaching to e‐learning. Previous surveys revealed the negative impact of COVID‐19 on dental education and the physical and psychological well‐being of dental students. This qualitative study aimed to investigate the perspectives of dental educators towards e‐learning during the pandemic and the impact of this experience on their future adoption of e‐learning.

Materials and Methods

Semi‐structured interviews with dental educators from the National University of Singapore were conducted over Zoom. Audio recordings were transcribed verbatim and subjected to thematic analysis. Data saturation was reached. Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ) was followed.

Results

Fifteen out of 22 (68%) eligible dental educators were interviewed. Educators had minimal prior e‐learning experience. They encountered difficulties in engaging students, assessing students' understanding and adapting their teaching. A practical challenge was to ensure the well‐rounded training of competent dentists with adequate patient‐interaction skills through e‐learning. Self‐motivation of the audience, class size, type of teaching and complexity of the material were perceived as factors influencing the suitability of the e‐learning format. Educators reported an increased confidence after this emergency e‐learning experience. Some considered sustaining or expanding e‐learning in their future teaching practice and highlighted the need for continued investment and institutional support, training on the pedagogy of e‐learning modalities and curriculum redesign to accommodate blended learning approaches.

Conclusions

Although the shift to e‐learning during the COVID‐19 pandemic presented a myriad of challenges, dental educators gained experience and confidence which may accelerate the pace of future e‐learning adoption and innovation.
Intensive human land uses negatively affect vertebrate functional diversity
Authors: Etard Adrienne , Pigot Alex L. , Newbold Tim
Published: November 2021

Land‐use change is the leading driver of global biodiversity loss thus characterising its impacts on the functional structure of ecological communities is an urgent challenge. Using a database describing vertebrate assemblages in different land uses, we assess how the type and intensity of land use affect the functional diversity of vertebrates globally. We find that human land uses alter local functional structure by driving declines in functional diversity, with the strongest effects in the most disturbed land uses (intensely used urban sites, cropland and pastures), and among amphibians and birds. Both tropical and temperate areas experience important functional losses, which are only partially offset by functional gains. Tropical assemblages are more likely to show decreases in functional diversity that exceed those expected from species loss alone. Our results indicate that land‐use change non‐randomly reshapes the functional structure of vertebrate assemblages, raising concerns about the continuation of ecological processes sustained by vertebrates.
Simulated driving in the epilepsy monitoring unit: Effects of seizure type, consciousness, and motor impairment
Authors: Kumar Avisha , Martin Reese , Chen William , Bauerschmidt Andrew , Youngblood Mark W. , Cunningham Courtney , Si Yang , Ezeani Cel , Kratochvil Zachary , Bronen Jared , Thomson James , Riordan Katherine , Yoo Ji Yeoun , Shirka Romina , Manganas Louis , Krestel Heinz , Hirsch Lawrence J. , Blumenfeld Hal
Published: November 2021

People with epilepsy face serious driving restrictions, determined using retrospective studies. To relate seizure characteristics to driving impairment, we aimed to study driving behavior during seizures with a simulator. Patients in the Yale New Haven Hospital undergoing video‐electroencephalographic monitoring used a laptop‐based driving simulator during ictal events. Driving function was evaluated by video review and analyzed in relation to seizure type, impairment of consciousness/responsiveness, or motor impairment during seizures. Fifty‐one seizures in 30 patients were studied. In terms of seizure type, we found that focal to bilateral tonic–clonic or myoclonic seizures (5/5) and focal seizures with impaired consciousness/responsiveness (11/11) always led to driving impairment; focal seizures with spared consciousness/responsiveness (0/10) and generalized nonmotor (generalized spike–wave bursts; 1/19) usually did not lead to driving impairment. Regardless of seizure type, we found that seizures with impaired consciousness (15/15) or with motor involvement (13/13) always led to impaired driving, but those with spared consciousness (0/20) or spared motor function (5/38) usually did not. These results suggest that seizure types with impaired consciousness/responsiveness and abnormal motor function contribute to impaired driving. Expanding this work in a larger cohort could further determine how results with a driving simulator may translate into real world driving safety.
Evaluation of fingertip pulse oximeters for monitoring haemoglobin oxygen saturation in arterial blood and pulse rate in isoflurane‐anaesthetised horses breathing greater than 90 percent oxygen
Authors: Sage A. M. , Ambrisko T. D. , Martins F. D. C. , Dantino S. C. , Keating S. C. J. , Strahl‐Heldreth D. E. , Wilkins P. A.
Published: November 2021

Background

Pulse oximetry is a noninvasive method for continuous monitoring of oxygen saturation (SpO2) and pulse rate (PR) used in equine anaesthesia. Despite species differences in the oxyhaemoglobin dissociation curve, pulse oximeters validated for humans are commonly used in veterinary medicine. These devices are expensive and at an increased risk for damage when used for equine anaesthesia. Human fingertip pulse oximeters (FPO) may be useful as an inexpensive alternative to standard devices.

Objectives

Evaluate accuracy and repeatability of FPOs applied to tongues of anaesthetised horses breathing >90% oxygen.

Study design

Prospective clinical study.

Methods

Duplicate SpO2and PR measurements from eight pulse oximeters (PO; seven FPOs and reference PO) placed in random order on tongues of horses under inhalational anaesthesia were recorded. A standard portable PO (RPO) was used as reference SpO2and invasive blood pressure trace or manual pulse palpation as reference PR. Nonparametric Bland‐Altman analysis was performed. Acceptable coefficient of repeatability (CR) value was ≤6% SpO2. Agreements were accepted if limits of agreement were ≤ ±3% difference in SpO2and ≤ ±10% relative difference in PR. Only PR values between 25 and 50 beats per minute and their corresponding SpO2measurements were used for agreement analysis.

Results

SpO2repeatability and agreement were unacceptable for all devices. The agreement of PR measurements was acceptable for one FPO and the RPO.

Main limitations

Utilisation of devices designed for the human oxyhaemoglobin dissociation curve, high number of absent or erroneous readings, use of healthy horses, small sample size, unavailability of co‐oximetry, lack of a desaturation protocol and difficulty with proper placement of FPOs on horse tongues are all considered limitations in this study.

Conclusions

Accuracy of FPOs used in anaesthetised horses was poor. Their use in equine anaesthesia for SpO2monitoring is not recommended, but some models may be considered for continuous PR monitoring in conjunction with intermittent manual confirmation.
Common and different characteristics among combinations of physical frailty and sarcopenia in community‐dwelling older adults: The Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study
Authors: Lee Daehyun , Kim Miji , Won Chang Won
Published: November 2021

Aim

Physical frailty and sarcopenia are geriatric syndromes associated with adverse health outcomes. However, the common and different conditions associated with physical frailty and sarcopenia remain unclear. This study aimed to compare the clinical characteristics of older adults with physical frailty and sarcopenia.

Methods

This cross‐sectional study analyzed 2028 community‐dwelling older adults, aged 70–84 years (mean age 75.9 ± 4.0 years; 50.1% men). Physical frailty was defined using the Fried frailty phenotype, whereas sarcopenia was defined using the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2014 and 2019 criteria.

Results

The prevalence of physical frailty was 5.5%, whereas that of sarcopenia, using the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2014 and 2019, was 9.1% and 17.5%, respectively. The concordance of physical frailty with sarcopenia was higher in the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 criteria than in 2014. Frail‐only participants had a higher incidence of disability, cognitive dysfunction, poor self‐perceived health, and depressive symptoms than the sarcopenic‐only participants. Frail‐and‐sarcopenic participants showed a lower body mass index (≥23 kg/m2) than frail‐only participants. Furthermore, in frail‐and‐sarcopenic participants, recurrent falls (16.9% vs 5.5%) were higher than in the neither‐frail‐nor‐sarcopenic participants; falls with fracture (11.5% vs 1.7%) and fear of falling (59.0% vs 36.7%) were higher in frail‐and‐sarcopenic participants than in sarcopenic‐only participants.

Conclusions

This study showed significant differences between physical frailty and sarcopenia among community‐dwelling older adults. Older adults with physical frailty and sarcopenia were more likely to have higher fall‐related outcomes than the others. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2022; 22: 42–49.