bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The fibrillin microfibril/elastic fibre network: A critical extracellular supramolecular scaffold to balance skin homoeostasis
Authors: Adamo Christin S. , Zuk Alexandra V. , Sengle Gerhard
Published: September 2020

Supramolecular networks composed of fibrillins (fibrillin‐1 and fibrillin‐2) and associated ligands form intricate cellular microenvironments which balance skin homoeostasis and direct remodelling. Fibrillins assemble into microfibrils which are not only indispensable for conferring elasticity to the skin, but also control the bioavailability of growth factors targeted to the extracellular matrix architecture. Fibrillin microfibrils (FMF) represent the core scaffolds for elastic fibre formation, and they also decorate the surface of elastic fibres and form independent networks. In normal dermis, elastic fibres are suspended in a three‐dimensional basket‐like lattice of FMF intersecting basement membranes at the dermal‐epidermal junction and thus conferring pliability to the skin. The importance of FMF for skin homoeostasis is illustrated by the clinical features caused by mutations in the human fibrillin genes (FBN1, FBN2), summarized as “fibrillinopathies.” In skin, fibrillin mutations result in phenotypes ranging from thick, stiff and fibrotic skin to thin, lax and hyperextensible skin. The most plausible explanation for this spectrum of phenotypic outcomes is that FMF regulate growth factor signalling essential for proper growth and homoeostasis of the skin. Here, we will give an overview about the current understanding of the underlying pathomechanisms leading to fibrillin‐dependent fibrosis as well as forms of cutis laxa caused by mutational inactivation of FMF‐associated ligands.
A DNA repair player, ring finger protein 43, relieves etoposide‐induced topoisomerase II poisoning
Authors: Lerksuthirat Tassanee , Wikiniyadhanee Rakkreat , Stitchantrakul Wasana , Chitphuk Sermsiri , Stansook Nauljun , Pipatpanyanugoon Nut , Jirawatnotai Siwanon , Dejsuphong Donniphat
Published: September 2020

Ring finger protein 43 (RNF43) is an E3 ubiquitin ligase which is well‐known for its role in negative regulation of the Wnt‐signaling pathway. However, the function in DNA double‐strand break repairs has not been investigated. In this study, we used a lymphoblast cell line, DT40, and mouse embryonic fibroblast as cellular models to study DNA double‐strand break (DSB) repairs. For this purpose, we created RNF43 knockout, RNF43−/− DT40 cell line to investigate DSB repairs. We found that deletion of RNF43 does not interfere with cell proliferation. However, after exposure to various types of DNA‐damaging agents, RNF43−/− cells become more sensitive to topoisomerase II inhibitors, etoposide, and ICRF193, than wild type cells. Our results also showed that depletion of RNF43 results in apoptosis upon etoposide‐mediated DNA damage. The delay in resolution of γH2AX and 53BP1 foci formation after etoposide treatment, as well as epistasis analysis with DNAPKcs, suggested that RNF43 might participate in DNA repair of etoposide‐induced DSB via non‐homologous end joining. Disturbed γH2AX foci formation in MEFs following pulse etoposide treatment supported the notion that RNF43 also functions DNA repair in mammalian cells. These findings propose two possible functions of RNF43, either participating in NHEJ or removing the blockage of 5′ topo II adducts from DSB ends.
Patient and caregiver preferences for haemophilia A treatments: A discrete choice experiment
Authors: Su Jun , Li Nanxin , Joshi Namita , Ng Xinyi , Botteman Marc , Shah Rachel , Jain Nisha , Lyn Nicole , Preblick Ronald
Published: September 2020

Introduction

Long‐acting products are changing the haemophilia A treatment landscape by giving patients and caregivers treatment options with varying product attributes.

Aim

A discrete choice experiment (DCE) was used to elicit treatment attribute preferences among patients with haemophilia A and caregivers of children with haemophilia A.

Materials & methods

A survey of sociodemographics and preferences was completed by an online panel of adult patients with haemophilia A and caregivers of children (<18 years) with haemophilia A. The DCE included a series of questions in which respondents chose their preferred option from pairs of hypothetical treatment profiles with systematic variation in the levels of six attributes (safety concerns with too much clotting, bleed protection, dosing frequency, length of time the product has been approved for use, product type and joint health studies). Preference weights and relative attribute importance scores were estimated using random parameters logit models.

Results

One hundred and thirteen patients (mean age: 35.5 years) and 96 caregivers (mean age of child: 10.3 years) were included. For patients with haemophilia A, the top three attributes ranked from the most to least important were: (a) dosing frequency; (b) bleed protection; and (c) safety concerns with too much clotting. For caregivers of children with haemophilia A, the ranking was as follows: (a) safety concerns; (b) bleed protection; and (c) dosing.

Conclusions

Patients with haemophilia A viewed dosing as the most important driver of treatment decision‐making whereas caregivers of children with haemophilia A valued safety the most.
High expression of a vascular stricture‐related marker is predictive of an early response to tolvaptan, and a low fractional excretion of sodium is predictive of a poor long‐term survival after tolvaptan administration for liver cirrhosis
Authors: Adachi Takuya , Takaki Akinobu , Sato Shuichi , Tobita Hiroshi , Kobashi Haruhiko , Kinomura Masaru , Nakatsuka Atsuko , Oyama Atsushi , Wada Nozomu , Sakata Masahiro , Takeuchi Yasuto , Yasunaka Tetsuya , Onishi Hideki , Shiraha Hidenori , Okada Hiroyuki
Published: September 2020

Aim

Tolvaptan is a newly available diuretic that has a specific function in water reabsorption inhibition. Given that spironolactone or furosemide induces the aggravation of cirrhotic hyponatremia and dehydration, tolvaptan affects the management strategy of liver cirrhosis. Representative predictive markers of its response include renal function‐related markers such as urea nitrogen or creatinine. However, vascular function‐related markers have not been well investigated. We investigated the effect of the vascular function‐related marker asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and the effective arterial blood volume (EABV) marker, fractional excretion of sodium (FENa), on the early tolvaptan response and survival in liver cirrhosis.

Methods

We prospectively recruited 49 patients who required add‐on tolvaptan for refractory ascites or edema. Laboratory data were obtained immediately before and 1 day after tolvaptan administration. Patients exhibiting >1.5 kg weight loss after 1 week were categorized as early responders to tolvaptan. Patients were followed for a median of 200 days and were assessed for survival.

Results

Early responders showed lower creatinine levels (<1.0 mg/dL), and higher ADMA levels (≥0.61 nmol/mL) than others in a multivariate analysis. Patients with a shorter survival were positive for hepatocellular carcinoma and had a low FENa (<0.35%).

Conclusion

Early responders showed higher ADMA levels reflecting vascular stricture, suggesting that higher vascular tonus is required for a tolvaptan early response. Patients with a shorter survival showed a lower FENa, reflecting a lower EABV and suggesting that adequate EABV is required for the prolonged survival after tolvaptan administration.
End‐user preferences for plantain food products in Nigeria and implications for genetic improvement
Authors: Amah Delphine , Stuart Esmé , Mignouna Djana , Swennen Rony , Teeken Béla
Published: September 2020

Plantain is an important food security crop for farming households in Nigeria. This study investigates the relative importance of plantain food products and their quality descriptors from the perspective of farmers in Southern‐Nigeria, to inform end‐user oriented and socially inclusive breeding strategies that drive hybrid adoption. Surveys were conducted in twelve rural communities in three states in the plantain belt of Nigeria, consisting of key informant interviews, sex‐disaggregated focused group discussions and individual interviews. Dodo (fried plantains), boli (roasted plantains), boiled plantain, plantain with beans and porridge were the most common food products identified in the study areas. Fruit size, pulp texture (firmness/softness), colour, maturity stage and taste were identified as the most critical characteristics, with impact on quality of processed food products. There were significant differences between states regarding the importance of plantain food products, but little interstate and gender differences for fresh fruit and food product quality characteristics.
Impact of variation in reagent combinations for one‐stage clotting assay on assay discrepancy in nonsevere haemophilia A
Authors: Suzuki Atsuo , Suzuki Nobuaki , Kanematsu Takeshi , Okamoto Shuichi , Tamura Shogo , Kikuchi Ryosuke , Katsumi Akira , Kiyoi Hitoshi , Kojima Tetsuhito , Matsushita Tadashi
Published: September 2020

Introduction

Factor VIII activity (FVIII:C) is measured by one‐stage clotting assay (OSA) or chromogenic substrate assay (CSA). Significant differences in FVIII:C between OSA (FVIII:C1st) and CSA (FVIII:CChr) are described as assay discrepancy in nonsevere haemophilia A (HA). A large number of reagent combinations (APTT reagent and FVIII‐deficient plasma) are used for OSA, but the impact of variations in reagent combinations on assay discrepancy has not been fully characterized.

Aim

To clarify the variations in FVIII:C1st/FVIII:CChr ratios according to OSA reagent combination in HA subjects with/without assay discrepancy.

Methods

Thirty‐nine patients previously diagnosed with nonsevere HA were enrolled, and their FVIII genes were investigated and FVIII:C levels were assessed by a single CSA reagent and 11 OSA reagent combinations. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to predict possible cut‐off values of the FVIII:C1st/FVIII:CChr ratio to define FVIII assay discrepancy for each reagent combination.

Results

Patients were categorized into nondiscrepant (n = 25), discrepant (n = 5) and unclassified (n = 9) groups according to their genotypes and information in the database. The FVIII:C1st/FVIII:CChr ratio in nondiscrepant HA varied widely, depending on the APTT reagents and FVIII‐deficient plasma used. The ratio in discrepant HA patients differed with respect to their genotype and the reagent combination used. ROC curve analyses revealed that cut‐off values to distinguish the assay discrepancy differed depending on the reagents used, but revealed two novel genotype variants, p.Cys573Gly and p.Gly582Arg, associated with FVIII assay discrepancy.

Conclusion

Our findings showed that the FVIII:C1st/FVIII:CChr ratio is dependent on the reagent combination used for OSA.
Abusive supervision, emotion regulation, and performance
Authors: Moin Muhammad Farrukh , Wei Feng , Weng Qingxiong (Derek)
Published: September 2020

This study examined the abusive supervision’s influence on emotion regulation and outcomes. Based on COR theory, we investigated whether supervisor abuse has a direct relationship with the emotional labor strategies of surface acting (monitoring external emotions) and deep acting (monitoring internal feelings). In turn, we investigated the indirect relationship of supervisor abuse on outcomes (i.e., emotional exhaustion, job satisfaction, and task performance) via these emotional labor strategies. Using lagged and dyadic sample (210 subordinates and 30 supervisors), we found that abusive supervision predicted surface and deep acting and that the indirect associations of supervisor abuse on outcomes via emotional labor strategies were also significant. The present investigation empirically supports the theorized links and offers notable implications for personnel selection and assessment.
Early childhood caries and oral health‐related quality of life of Brazilian children: Does parents' resilience act as moderator?
Authors: Bittencourt Jéssica Madeira , Martins Letícia Pereira , Paiva Saul Martins , Pordeus Isabela Almeida , Martins‐Júnior Paulo Antônio , Bendo Cristiane Baccin
Published: September 2020

Background

Early childhood caries (ECC) is the most common chronic disease in childhood. Measures to reduce the prevalence of ECC cannot be taken without recognizing that oral health is influenced by biopsychosocial factors on individual and community levels.

Aim

To evaluate the impact of ECC on OHRQoL and moderation effect of parents' resilience.

Design

Population‐based, cross‐sectional study with 497 children (4‐6 years old) at preschools in Ribeirão das Neves, MG, Brazil. Parents self‐completed the Brazilian version of the early childhood oral health impact scale (B‐ECOHIS), the Resilience Scale and questionnaires about socioeconomic and oral health behaviour factors. Calibrated dentists conducted examinations for ECC (ICDASepi) and pulp consequences (pufa). Data analysis used multivariate Poisson regression for complex sample (P < .05).

Results

Model#1, adjusted for parents' resilience and socioeconomic factors, revealed that preschoolers with pulp involvement had 2.36 (95% CI: 1.60‐3.49) and fistula/abscess had 3.57 (95% CI: 2.23‐5.72) more prevalence of negative impact on OHRQoL than preschoolers with ECC without pulp consequences. In Model#2, resilience was removed from the analysis and the strength of associations almost did not change (OHRQoL vs pulp involvement RP = 2.33;95% CI: 1.58‐3.43; OHRQoL vs fistula/abscess RP = 3.65;95% CI: 2.22‐5.99).

Conclusion

Early childhood caries with pulp consequences had negative impact on OHRQoL of preschoolers and families, and it is not moderated by parents' resilience.
Maize genotypes with deep root systems tolerate salt stress better than those with shallow root systems during early growth
Authors: Wang Hao , Liang Liyan , Liu Shuo , An Tingting , Fang Yan , Xu Bingcheng , Zhang Suiqi , Deng Xiping , Palta Jairo A. , Siddique Kadambot H. M. , Chen Yinglong
Published: September 2020

Maize (Zea mays L.) is susceptible to salinity but shows genotypic variation for salt tolerance. How maize genotypes with contrasting root morphological traits respond to salt stress remains unclear. This study assessed genotypic variation in salinity tolerance of 20 maize genotypes with contrasting root systems exposed to NaCl for 10 days (0, 50 mM or 100 mM NaCl, added in four increments every other day from 14 days after transplanting, DAT) in a semi‐hydroponic phenotyping system in a temperature‐controlled greenhouse. Considerable variation was observed for each of the 12 measured shoot and root traits among the 20 genotypes under NaCl treatments. Salt stress significantly decreased biomass production by up to 54% in shoots and 37% in roots compared with the non‐saline control. The 20 genotypes were classified as salt‐tolerant (8 genotypes), moderately tolerant (5) and salt‐sensitive (7) genotypes based on the mean shoot dry weight ratio (the ratio of shoot dry weight at 100 mM NaCl and non‐saline control) ± one standard error. The more salt‐tolerant genotypes (such as Jindan52) had less reductions in growth, and lower shoot Na+ contents and higher shoot K+/Na+ ratios under salt stress. The declared salt tolerance was positively correlated with shoot height, shoot dry weight and primary root depth, and negatively correlated with shoot Na+ content at 100 mM NaCl. Primary root depth is critical for identifying salt responsiveness in maize plants and could be suggested as a selection criterion for screening salt tolerance of maize during early growth. The selected salt‐tolerant genotypes have potentials for cultivation in saline soils and for developing high‐yielding salt‐tolerant maize hybrids in future breeding programmes.
Blood pressure measurement protocol determines hypertension phenotypes in a Middle Eastern population
Authors: Warda Hazem M. , Elshorbagy Amany K. , Habib Amira , Wagdi Ahmed , Mihailidou Anastasia S. , Warda Mamdouh
Published: September 2020

Clinic blood pressure (BP) measurement remains a crucial step in managing hypertension. While the number of measures recorded in different settings varies, with typically 1‐3 measures, there has been no prior justification for the actual number of measures required. We investigated the pattern of BP variability over 5 consecutive automated readings (R1‐R5) and the influence of patient characteristics on this pattern to identify the phenotype of hypertension in a Middle Eastern population. There were 1389 outpatients (51% men, 49% women), age range (18‐87 y) who had 5 unattended automated consecutive BP measurements with one‐minute intervals using the validated Datascope Mindray Passport V Monitor with the patient blinded from the results. Mean (±SEM) SBP for R1 (136.0 ± 2 mm Hg) was similar to R2 (136.2 ± 2 mm Hg). Thereafter SBP progressively declined till R5 by total of 5.5 mm Hg. The SBP decline was less (4.2 mm Hg) in older (>50 years) vs younger participants (8.1 mm Hg; P < .001) and was blunted in diabetic and hypertensive participants. Overall, 43% of participants had R2 > R1, and 24% additionally had R5 > R1. Age was a strong independent predictor of having both R2 > R1 and R5 > R1, as well as diabetes. Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) decreased by average 2.8 mm Hg from R1 to R5. Females had a 5‐fold greater total decline in DBP vs males (P < .001). Using the mean of 5 BP measures resulted in fewer participants being classified as hypertensive (36% of the population) compared to using one measurement (46%), or established BP guidelines which use different combinations of R1‐R3 (37%‐42%). Our findings in a Middle Eastern population highlight the importance of the BP measurement protocol in combination with patient characteristics in determining whether a patient is diagnosed with hypertension. Protocols that rely on different combinations of only 3 measures (R1‐3) will classify more participants as hypertensive, compared to using 5 measures or disregarding a high R2.
Respiratory syncytial virus infection‐induced mucus secretion by down‐regulation of miR‐34b/c‐5p expression in airway epithelial cells
Authors: Du Xizi , Yang Yu , Xiao Gelei , Yang Ming , Yuan Lin , Qin Ling , He Ruoxi , Wang Leyuan , Wu Mengping , Wu ShuangYan , Feng Juntao , Xiang Yang , Qu Xiangping , Liu Huijun , Qin Xiaoqun , Liu Chi
Published: September 2020

Severe RSV infection is the main cause of hospitalization to children under the age of five. The regulation of miRNAs on the severity of RSV infection is unclear. The aim of the study was to identify the critical differential expression miRNAs (DE miRNAs) that can regulate the pathological response in RSV‐infected airway epithelial cells. In this study, miRNA and mRNA chips of RSV‐infected airway epithelia from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) were screened and analysed, separately. DE miRNAs‐targeted genes were performed for further pathway and process enrichment analysis. DE miRNA‐targeted gene functional network was constructed on the basis of miRNA‐mRNA interaction. The screened critical miRNA was also investigated by bioinformatics analysis. Then, RSV‐infected human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs) were constructed to verify the expression of the DE miRNAs. Finally, specific synthetic DE miRNAs mimics were used to confirm the effect of DE miRNAs on the RSV‐infected HBECs. 45 DE miRNAs were identified from GEO62306 dataset. Our results showed that hsa‐mir‐34b‐5p and hsa‐mir‐34c‐5p decreased significantly in HBECs after RSV infection. Consistent with the biometric analysis, hsa‐mir‐34b/c‐5p is involved in the regulation of mucin expression gene MUC5AC. In RSV‐infected HBECs, the inducement of MUC5AC production by decreased hsa‐mir‐34b/c‐5p was partly mediated through activation of c‐Jun. These findings provide new insights into the mechanism of mucus obstruction after RSV infection and represent valuable targets for RSV infection and airway obstruction treatment.
Limited genetic parallels underlie convergent evolution of quantitative pattern variation in mimetic butterflies
Authors: Bainbridge Hannah E. , Brien Melanie N. , Morochz Carlos , Salazar Patricio A. , Rastas Pasi , Nadeau Nicola J.
Published: September 2020

Mimetic systems allow us to address the question of whether the same genes control similar phenotypes in different species. Although widespread parallels have been found for major effect loci, much less is known about genes that control quantitative trait variation. In this study, we identify and compare the loci that control subtle changes in the size and shape of forewing pattern elements in two Heliconius butterfly co‐mimics. We use quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis with a multivariate phenotyping approach to map the variation in red pattern elements across the whole forewing surface of Heliconius erato and Heliconius melpomene. These results are compared with a QTL analysis of univariate trait changes, and show that our resolution for identifying small effect loci is somewhat improved with the multivariate approach, but also that different loci are detected with these different approaches. QTL likely corresponding to the known patterning gene optix were found in both species but otherwise, a remarkably low level of genetic parallelism was found. This lack of similarity indicates that the genetic basis of convergent traits may not be as predictable as assumed from studies that focus solely on Mendelian traits.
Clinical decision‐making for shoulder surgery referral: An art or a science?
Authors: Taylor Karen , Baxter George D. , Tumilty Steve
Published: September 2020

Rationale

Decision‐making in musculoskeletal health care is complex, with discrepancy among clinical providers and variation in the per cent of referrals for specialist care. To date, there is an increased focus on specialist referrals, risking overuse of expensive testing and contributing to unnecessary treatment.

Aims and Objectives

This report will considerer the difficulties of primary care musculoskeletal decision‐making using shoulder injuries as an example, presenting a solution based on multi‐criteria decision‐making analysis with online software. The associated issues involved in clinical decision‐making are complex. Contributing to the components of complexity are; the multifaceted aetiology of shoulders, the experience and knowledge of providers, and the burden of patient demands. Notwithstanding, funding considerations, resource allocation availability and other associated issues around clinical decision‐making. Considering the many facets and complexities of clinical decision‐making, this is an area where multi‐criteria decision‐making analysis (MCDM) may be appropriate. The MCDM analysis approach is increasingly being used in health care and can assist in the organizing and weighting of identified key clinical factors. MCDM could be applied to the challenges of musculoskeletal care with the potential to decrease decision‐making variability. Furthermore, the significance of each key clinical factor that musculoskeletal decision‐making is based on are to date unclear.

Conclusion

Therefore, this preliminary report offers a start towards clarifying key factors and an approach for implementing improved shoulder clinical care decision‐making which could then be adapted and applied to other body sites.
Review of antimicrobial peptides as promoters of food safety: Limitations and possibilities within the food industry
Authors: León Madrazo Anaí , Segura Campos Maira Rubi
Published: September 2020

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a group of molecules that has gained interest in research due to their important role in the inhibition of bacterial agents. Their structure shows heterogeneity among the different types of AMPs. However, most of them stand out for their cationic nature and amphipathic character that allows them to interact with membrane components of bacterial cells. Some features such as high selectivity and thermostability have attracted the interest of the food industry toward the application of AMPs in food preservation due to their ability to inhibit foodborne pathogens and spoilage microorganisms. Despite this, there is a limited number of AMPs used as food preservatives nowadays. Therefore, this review aims to offer an overview of AMPs, challenges, and potential applications in the food industry.
Eliciting Stance and Mitigating Therapist Authority in Open Dialogue Meetings
Authors: Ong Ben , Barnes Scott , Buus Niels
Published: September 2020

Open Dialogue is a collaborative systemic approach to working with families in crisis. A core feature is the creation of dialogue through the elicitation of a multiplicity of voices. Using conversation analysis, we studied 14 hr of Open Dialogue sessions. We found that therapists recurrently produced utterances containing “I’m wondering.” These utterances topicalized particular issues and invited stance positions from other participants while also allowing the therapist to mitigate their deontic authority and present potentially disaligning stances. Therapists thus exercised authority in eliciting stances, but provided recipients with multiple avenues for responding. These findings illustrate that therapist authority is not necessarily antithetical to dialogue and, in well‐crafted forms, may even be necessary for the creation of polyphony through the elicitation of multiple stances.
Alzheimer’s disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review of proteomic studies
Authors: Diniz Pereira Jessica , Gomes Fraga Vanessa , Morais Santos Anna Luiza , Carvalho Maria das Graças , Caramelli Paulo , Braga Gomes Karina
Published: September 2020

Similar to dementia, the risk for developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) increases with age, and T2DM also increases the risk for dementia, particularly Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although T2DM is primarily a peripheral disorder and AD is a central nervous system disease, both share some common features as they are chronic and complex diseases, and both show involvement of oxidative stress and inflammation in their progression. These characteristics suggest that T2DM may be associated with AD, which gave rise to a new term, type 3 diabetes (T3DM). In this study, we searched for matching peripheral proteomic biomarkers of AD and T2DM based in a systematic review of the available literature. We identified 17 common biomarkers that were differentially expressed in both patients with AD or T2DM when compared with healthy controls. These biomarkers could provide a useful workflow for screening T2DM patients at risk to develop AD.

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Tissue clearing technique: Recent progress and biomedical applications
Authors: Tian Ting , Yang Zhaoyang , Li Xiaoguang
Published: September 2020

Organisms are inherently three dimensional, thus comprehensive understanding of the complicated biological system requires analysis of organs or even whole bodies in the context of three dimensions. However, this is a tremendous task since the biological specimens are naturally opaque, a major obstacle in whole‐body and whole‐organ imaging. Tissue clearing technique provides a prospective solution and has become a powerful tool for three‐dimensional imaging and quantification of organisms. Tissue clearing technique aims to make tissue transparent by minimizing light scattering and light absorption, thus allowing deep imaging of large volume samples. When combined with diverse molecular labeling methods and high‐throughput optical sectioning microscopes, tissue clearing technique enables whole‐body and whole‐organ imaging at cellular or subcellular resolution, providing detailed and comprehensive information about the intact biological systems. Here, we give an overview of recent progress and biomedical applications of tissue clearing technique. We introduce the mechanisms and basic principles of tissue clearing, and summarize the current tissue clearing methods. Moreover, the available imaging techniques and software packages for data processing are also presented. Finally, we introduce the recent advances in applications of tissue clearing in biomedical fields. Tissue clearing contributes to the investigation of structure‐function relationships in intact mammalian organs, and opens new avenues for cellular and molecular mapping of intact human organs. We hope this review contributes to a better understanding of tissue clearing technique and can help researchers to select the best‐suited clearing protocol for their experiments.
Reducing time between referral and diagnosis in paediatric outpatient neurodevelopmental and behavioural clinics
Authors: Creen Julie , Kennedy‐Behr Ann , Gee Kellee , Wilks Leigh , Verdonck Michele
Published: September 2020

Aim

This study investigated the impact of a transdisciplinary advanced allied health practitioner (AAHP) in a public hospital general paediatric outpatient department for children referred for concerns with neurodevelopment, learning and/or behaviour. It was hypothesised that time from referral to initial consultation and diagnosis was reduced for children initially assessed by AAHP. It was also hypothesised that children seen by AAHP were less likely to require a medical specialist appointment.

Methods

De‐identifiable data were gathered from hospital records both retrospectively and prospectively for each group. Data were collected from: 75 children who attended a medical consultation only clinic in 2014; 75 children who attended an AAHP clinic and a medical officer in 2014 and 75 children who attended an AAHP clinic and a medical officer 2 years after establishment in 2016/2017.

Results

On average, 52% children were managed independently by the AAHP. Wait time from referral to consultation significantly decreased from 169 days to 48 days. Similarly, time from referral to diagnosis significantly reduced by almost a half, from 57.2 to 30.59 weeks.

Conclusion

This study provides preliminary evidence that utilisation of transdisciplinary AAHPs in general paediatric outpatient departments may reduce waitlists, reduce amount of medical specialist appointments required and provide earlier diagnosis for children with neurodevelopmental, behavioural and/or learning difficulties.
Sweat the small stuff: The human microvasculature and heart disease
Authors: Katunaric Boran , Cohen Katie E. , Beyer Andreas M. , Gutterman David D. , Freed Julie K.
Published: September 2020

Traditionally thought of primarily as the predominant regulator of myocardial perfusion, it is becoming more accepted that the human coronary microvasculature also exerts a more direct influence on the surrounding myocardium. Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) not only precedes large artery atherosclerosis, but is associated with other cardiovascular diseases such as heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. It is also highly predictive of cardiovascular events in patients with or without atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. This review focuses on this recent paradigm shift and delves into the clinical consequences of CMD. Concepts of how resistance arterioles contribute to disease will be discussed, highlighting how the microvasculature may serve as a potential target for novel therapies and interventions. Finally, both invasive and non‐invasive methods with which to assess the coronary microvasculature both for diagnostic and risk stratification purposes will be reviewed.
Late onset complete heart block after transcatheter aortic valve replacement treated with permanent His‐bundle pacing
Authors: Patel Sati , Jamoor Khaled , Khan Arfaat , Maskoun Waddah
Published: September 2020

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a rapidly growing procedure. Conduction disease post‐TAVR is frequent and routinely monitored for periprocedurally. Permanent pacemaker placement is relatively common and usually associated with worse outcomes post‐TAVR. We report a case of very late presenting complete heart block post‐TAVR treated with His‐bundle pacing. Our case underscores the need for larger studies to further evaluate the utility of long‐term cardiac monitoring post‐TAVR and outcomes of His‐bundle pacing in this population.
Effects of Cost‐Information Transparency on Intertemporal Price Discrimination
Authors: Jiang Baojun , Sudhir K. , Zou Tianxin
Published: September 2020

A firm’s product‐cost information is increasingly transparent to consumers as the firm itself or third parties publish such information, which reduces consumers’ uncertainty for the product’s cost. Using a dynamic model of firm pricing with forward‐looking consumer choices, this study assesses how cost transparency affects the firm’s intertemporal price discrimination and profit, as well as the consumers’ strategic waiting decisions and surplus. Ceteris paribus, if consumers believe a durable product has a lower cost, they will expect a larger future price drop and tend to delay purchases, impeding the firm’s ability to engage in intertemporal price discrimination. Without cost transparency, consumers may infer products with higher prices to have higher costs, giving a low‐cost firm incentives to mimic a high‐cost firm’s high price to encourage consumers to buy early. In contrast, a high‐cost firm may choose to distort its price to avoid a low‐cost firm’s price mimicry. Cost transparency reveals the product’s true cost to consumers, limiting the low‐cost firm’s ability to mimic prices. Thus, cost transparency will benefit (harm) a firm with a high (low) cost. In equilibrium, cost transparency will increase the firm’s sales volume and induce more consumers to buy the product earlier instead of later, attenuating strategic waiting by consumers. We also find that cost transparency can lead to higher prices and hurt consumers if the firm has a high cost. In expectation, cost transparency leads to higher firm profits and consumer surplus, facilitating a firm’s new product innovation.
Establishment of a multilevel linear model to analyse the factors affecting piglet litter performance at birth
Authors: Wang Chao , Liu Ze‐Xue , Wu Ying‐Hui , Wei Hong‐Kui , Peng Jian
Published: September 2020

This study aimed to establish a feasible model for analysing factors affecting piglet litter performance at birth. Data of 61,984 litters were collected from 16 herds, and general linear model (GLM), multilevel Poisson regression model (MPM) and multilevel linear model (MLM) were established to compare their goodness of fit for these data. Influencing factors of piglet litter performance at birth were analysed using the established optimal model. Results showed the intraclass correlation coefficients of total born piglets (TBP), piglets born alive (PBA), low‐birth‐weight piglets (LBW), and average birth weight of piglets (ABW) reached 27.89%, 23.88%, 24.66% and 22.27%, respectively (p < .05). Akaike's information criterion and Bayesian information criterion in MLM of TBP, PBA, LBW and ABW were lower than those in GLM. Pearson residuals in MPM increased to nearly 1 after introduction of a discrete scale factor, and the p values in MPM were similar to those in MLM. Analyses of MLM indicated crossbred sows with good management supplemented with oregano essential oil and farrowing at warm season had higher TBA, PBA and ABW, but lower LBW than other sows (p < .05). In conclusion, MLM is superior to GLM and can replace MPM in analysing discrete data with hierarchical structure in pig production. More importantly, other potential influencing factors of litter performance at birth can be analysed using the established MLM in the future.
Using the past to manage the future: the role of palaeoecological and long‐term data in ecological restoration
Authors: Manzano Saúl , Julier Adele C. M. , Dirk Cherie J. , Razafimanantsoa Andriantsilavo H. I. , Samuels Igshaan , Petersen Hana , Gell Peter , Hoffman M.Timm , Gillson Lindsey
Published: September 2020

Global change in its various expressions has impacted the structure and function of ecosystems worldwide, compromising the provision of fundamental ecosystem services and creating a predicament for the societies that benefit from them. Restoration ecology plays a key role in securing ecological integrity and societal well‐being, and hence represents a global priority. However, human perception seldom goes back to the beginning of significant ecosystem degradation, making ecosystem assessment and restoration practices difficult. Long‐term data, historical records, and paleoecological information can increase our understanding of ecological responses to natural or anthropogenic impacts and can directly contribute to the understanding and design of effective restoration practices. Here, examples from different ecosystems (drylands, grasslands, shrublands, savannas, forests, coastal environments, and wetlands) brought together from around the world illustrate (1) how to develop appropriate restoration references under the current uncertain global change scenario; (2) how long‐term perspectives on drivers of change can help to identify critical ecological elements, thus contributing to defining restoration goals; and (3) how to incorporate information from the past as guidance for present interventions and landscape management. The building of community and the specificity of paleoecological and historical records of ecological change over time will be key in facilitating the translation of long‐term information into the living process of ecological restoration practice.
Fiscal policy and economic activity in South Asia
Authors: Beyer Robert C. M. , Milivojevic Lazar
Published: September 2020

This paper analyzes whether fiscal policy in South Asia amplifies or smoothens business cycle fluctuations. It estimates several econometric models to explore the cyclicality of government spending and tax buoyancy. In South Asia, tax revenue increases less than one to one with changes in gross domestic product (GDP), but public spending increases more than proportionally. For each percentage point change in GDP growth, government expenditure changes by 1.3 percentage points. While changes in tax revenue have no significant impact on economic activity, the government spending multiplier is positive and significant: each additional US dollar (USD) of spending leads to an immediate increase in GDP of 0.2 USD and to an increase of 0.4 USD in the medium run. The impact of public spending on economic activity is entirely due to capital expenditure, which is also more procyclical. Procyclical public spending and a positive expenditure multiplier imply that fiscal policy in South Asia amplifies boom‐and‐bust cycles. These results are in line with those of other emerging markets and developing economies and robust to different model specifications and estimation strategies.
Working conditions and factory survival: Evidence from better factories Cambodia
Authors: Robertson Raymond , Brown Drusilla , Dehejia Rajeev
Published: September 2020

A large and growing literature has identified several conditions, including exporting, that contribute to plant survival. A prevailing sentiment suggests that anti‐sweatshop activity against plants in developing countries adds to the risk of closure, making survival more difficult by imposing external constraints that may interfere with optimizing behavior. Using a relatively new plant‐level panel data set from Cambodia, this paper applies survival analysis to estimate the relationship between changes in working conditions and plant closure. The results find little, if any, evidence that improving working conditions increases the probability of closure. In fact, some evidence suggests that improvements in standards relating to compensation are positively correlated with the probability of plant survival.
Evaluating universal primary education in Uganda: School fee abolition and educational outcomes
Authors: Kan Sophia , Klasen Stephan
Published: September 2020

This paper analyzes the effect of lifting primary school fees on educational attainment in Uganda. After the abolishment of school fees in 1997, the enrollment rate more than doubled. Two decades later, we know little about the effect of the policy on educational attainment. With recent data on eight cohorts exposed to free education, we analyze the impact of the policy on years of completed primary school, completion of primary school, and transitioning to secondary school. We use a straightforward regression analysis with cohort dummies and household fixed effects to control for unobserved heterogeneity. We find that lifting school fees had no effect on the years of primary school achievement and the likelihood of primary school completion. We find some weak evidence that the likelihood of those who completed primary education to start secondary school increased after Universal Primary Education.
Being on hemodialysis during the COVID‐19 outbreak: A mixed‐methods’ study exploring the impacts on dialysis adequacy, analytical data, and patients’ experiences
Authors: Sousa Helena , Ribeiro Oscar , Costa Elísio , Frontini Roberta , Paúl Constança , Amado Leonilde , Miranda Vasco , Ribeiro Fernando , Figueiredo Daniela
Published: September 2020

For individuals with end‐stage renal disease (ESRD), the novel coronavirus can present several additional challenges in disease self‐management. This study aimed to explore the impacts of the COVID‐19 pandemic in non‐COVID‐19 patients with ESRD undergoing in‐center hemodialysis (HD). A mixed‐methods study was conducted with a purposive sample recruited from one dialysis unit in Portugal. Quantitative data were collected retrospectively from patients' medical records from February 2020 (T1—before the outbreak) and from April 2020 (T2—during lockdown). Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 20 patients (66.9 ± 11.9 years old) undergoing HD for an average of 46.1 months (±39.5) in April 2020. Overall results suggested that dialysis adequacy and serum albumin levels decreased significantly at T2, while phosphorus levels increased. The findings from thematic analysis suggested several psychosocial negative impacts and impacts on disease and treatment‐related health behaviors (eg, difficulties managing dietary restrictions during the lockdown and diminished physical activity), which can partially explain these quantitative results. However, some patients were also able to find positive impacts in this experience and problem‐focused and emotional strategies were identified to cope with the demands of COVID‐19. Several recommendations have been made to mitigate patients’ emotional, relational, and educational unmet needs during the current pandemic and in the event of new outbreaks.
Changes in sandy soil hydro‐physical properties as function of biochar and biogas slurry amendments
Authors: Abdo Ahmed I.
Published: September 2020

Raising a sandy soil's ability to retain more water is an important strategy to manage sandy soils. Combined application of biochar and slurry was hypothesized to be an appropriate strategy for improving soil hydro‐physical properties. A two‐season field trial was conducted by cultivating peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) on a sandy soil under permanent overhead sprinkler irrigation. Rice straw biochar at 0, 10, 20 and 30 Mg ha−1 and biogas slurry at 0, 5, 10 and 15 Mg ha−1 were applied. Results indicated that all biogas slurry rates were more effective than biochar on improving all investigated parameters apart from infiltration rate and hydraulic conductivity which were higher with 30 Mg ha−1 of biochar than with 15 Mg ha−1 of slurry. Soil bulk density (g m−3) decreased significantly from 1.76 for the control to record 1.72 and 1.62 under biochar and slurry, respectively. Soil moisture contents at different tensions were the highest under the maximum combination rates, while biochar singly gave lower contents than slurry. The combined effect of 10 and 15 Mg ha−1 biochar and slurry, respectively, surpassed their individual effects. With strong coefficients of determination (R2 ranges from 0.88 to 0.98) and identical curves of estimated and predicted variables, it is possible to have accurate predictions for the changes in soil hydro‐physical properties linked with different combinations of biochar and biogas slurry.
Effects of polymer materials on the transformation and utilization of soil nitrogen and yield of wheat under drip irrigation
Authors: Tian Xiaoming , Wang Kaiyong , Fan Hua , Wang Jiqing , Wang Lina
Published: September 2020

Nitrogen management is the key to improve crop yield. Polymer materials are widely used as water‐retaining agents in agriculture, but little is known about how polymer materials affect the transformation and utilization of soil nitrogen. This study focused on the effects of three polymer materials (humic acid extracted from cottonseed meal, H; modified polymer prepared by using polyacrylamide as main raw material, P; and composite polymer material composed of humic acid and modified polymer, HP) on the characteristics of soil and plant nitrogen accumulation in soils with/without plants under drip irrigation. The results showed that polymer materials increased the nitrogen accumulation and dry weight of leaf, spike axis + husk and grain, but decreased those of stem. Among them, the H treatment had the highest nitrogen uptake (34.5 kg·hm−2) after flowering stage, and the P treatment had the highest nitrogen transport (21.1% higher than no polymer materials, CK). Moreover, the wheat yields for the H and P treatments significantly increased by 19.7% and 12.6%, respectively. Polymer materials had an inhibitory effect on nitrogen fractions (soil total nitrogen (TN) and microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN) at the early stage of the culture, but there were significant improvements at the flowering and mature stages. The effects of polymer materials on the storage of TN and its fractions were different. Among them, the storages of soil TN, nitrate‐nitrogen (SNO3‐‐N), and ammonium‐nitrogen (SNH4+‐N) for the H treatment were increased, but the SNO3‐‐N in soil with plants was decreased by 1,317 kg·hm−2 compared with that in soil without plants, and the decrease was the largest among the decreases caused by the three polymer materials; the soil SNO3‐‐N for the P treatment was increased, but also the decrease in the SNO3‐‐N was smaller than that for the H treatment; the SNO3‐‐N for the HP treatment was increased, but the SNH4+‐N was decreased. Redundancy analysis showed that humic acid and modified polymer materials mainly increased soil MBN, NH4+‐N, and nitrogen accumulation of plant organs except for stem, which finally increases wheat yield.
Remnants of middle Triassic oceanic lithosphere in the western Indus–Tsangpo suture zone, southwestern Tibet
Authors: Liu Qiang , Liu Feng , Li Hualiang , Zong Keqing
Published: September 2020

Discontinuous ophiolites within the Indus–Tsangpo suture zone (ITSZ) in southern Tibet represent remnants of Neo‐Tethyan oceanic lithosphere, which are considered to have formed during the late Jurassic to early Cretaceous. We report field observations, petrological and geochronological data for some mafic intrusions in a tectonic mélange in the southern ophiolitic belt of the western ITSZ. Zircon from a gabbro yields an age of 243 ± 1 Ma with εHf(t) values of +7.9 to +13.2. Rare earth element (REE) pattern of this rock resembles that of normal mid‐ocean ridge basalt. We suggest that such gabbro and surrounding mafic–ultramafic rocks represent the remnants of middle Triassic oceanic lithosphere in the ITSZ. Our findings indicate that the Neo‐Tethys Ocean between India and the Lhasa terrane existed from at least the middle Triassic, contrasting with the commonly held view that the Neo‐Tethys Ocean opened along the northern edge of Gondwana during the late Triassic–early Jurassic.