bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Humoral and cellular immune response to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐2 vaccination in haemodialysis and kidney transplant patients
Authors: Swai Joel , Gui Ming , Long Mao , Wei Zhu , Hu Zixuan , Liu Shaojun
Published: September 2021

End‐stage renal disease (ESRD) patients are amongst the vulnerable groups and thus prioritized in the Coronavirus disease‐2019 vaccination programmes. However, this cohort was excluded from vaccine‐trials and yet shares the same vaccination scheme with the general population. Here, we explore trends of immune response‐proportions amongst ESRD patients on renal replacement therapy for up to 4 weeks post‐vaccination completion with Pfizer/Moderna vaccines. From inception to 10 July 2021, we searched six online‐databases for articles reporting humoral and cellular immune response proportions for up to 4 weeks post booster‐vaccination. We pooled the responders' proportions by meta‐analysis and conducted a meta‐regression stratifying outcomes by significant confounders. Twenty‐seven eligible studies reported 2789 ESRD patients. 1337, 1452 and 477 were on haemodialysis, received kidney transplantation, and healthy controls, respectively. Haemodialysis patients' proportions of humoral and cellular immune responses varied from 87.29% (80.77–93.81)–88.78% (86.76–90.80) and 62.86% (56.56, 69.17)–85.78% (78.99, 92.57), respectively, between first‐ and fourth‐weeks. Kidney transplant patients' proportions of humoral and cellular immune responses ranged from 2.6% (0.06–13.48)–29.87% (27.68, 32.07) and 5.13% (0.63–17.3)–59.84% (54.57–65.10), respectively, between first‐ and fourth‐weeks. All healthy controls maintained ≥93% proportions of both responses throughout the follow‐up. Study design and country of study influenced the pooled response proportions. Conclusively, haemodialysis and kidney transplant patients have lower proportions of humoral and cellular immune responses than healthy controls. However, haemodialysis patients' response proportions improve, reaching near healthy‐control levels by the fourth week. Kidney transplant patients' lower responses' proportions also improve but remain significantly lower than healthy controls throughout four‐weeks. The “one‐size‐fits‐all” vaccination scheme might be inadequate for kidney transplant patients.
No fact of the middle
Authors: Khoo Justin
Published: September 2021

Amiddle factis a true proposition about what would have happened hadAbeen true (whereAis in fact false), whose truth isn't entailed by any non‐counterfactual facts. I argue that there are no middle facts; if there were, we wouldn't know them, and our ignorance of them would result in ignorance about whether regret is fitting in cases where we clearly know it is. But there's a problem. Consider an unflipped fair coin which is such that no non‐counterfactual fact determines that it would have landed heads had it been flipped (or tails had it been flipped). If there are no middle facts, it's not true that it would have landed heads had it been flipped nor that it would have landed tails had it been flipped. Yet each counterfactual is still possibly true for all we know. I argue that we can resolve this tension in the anti‐middle fact position, further strengthening the case against middle facts.
Preforming floral primordia converge on a narrow range of stages at dormancy despite multiple effects of temperature on development
Authors: Schaub Eileen P. , Mulder Christa P. H. , Diggle Pamela K.
Published: September 2021

Phenological studies often focus on relationships between flowering date and temperature or other environmental variables. Yet in species that preform flowers, anthesis is one stage of a lengthy developmental process, and effects of temperature on flower development in the year(s) before flowering are largely unknown.

We investigated the effects of temperature during preformation on flower development in Vaccinium vitis‐idaea. Using scanning electron microscopy, we established scores for developing primordia and examined effects of air temperature, depth of soil thaw, time of year and previous stage on development.

Onset of flower initiation depends on soil thaw, and developmental change is greatest at early stages and during the warmest months. Regardless of temperature and time during the season, all basal floral primordia pause development at the same stage before whole‐plant dormancy.

Once primordia are initiated, development does not appear to be influenced by air temperature differences within the range of variation among our sites. There may be strong endogenous flower‐level controls over development, particularly the stage at which morphogenesis ceases before dormancy. However, the strength of such internal controls in the face of continuing temperature extremes under a changing climate is unclear.
Reading light: leaf spectra capture fine‐scale diversity of closely related, hybridizing arctic shrubs
Authors: Stasinski Lance , White Dawson M. , Nelson Peter R. , Ree Richard H. , Meireles José Eduardo
Published: September 2021

Leaf reflectance spectroscopy is emerging as an effective tool for assessing plant diversity and function. However, the ability of leaf spectra to detect fine‐scale plant evolutionary diversity in complicated biological scenarios is not well understood.

We test if reflectance spectra (400–2400 nm) can distinguish species and detect fine‐scale population structure and phylogenetic divergence – estimated from genomic data – in two co‐occurring, hybridizing, ecotypically differentiated species of Dryas. We also analyze the correlation among taxonomically diagnostic leaf traits to understand the challenges hybrids pose to classification models based on leaf spectra.

Classification models based on leaf spectra identified two species of Dryas with 99.7% overall accuracy and genetic populations with 98.9% overall accuracy. All regions of the spectrum carried significant phylogenetic signal. Hybrids were classified with an average overall accuracy of 80%, and our morphological analysis revealed weak trait correlations within hybrids compared to parent species.

Reflectance spectra captured genetic variation and accurately distinguished fine‐scale population structure and hybrids of morphologically similar, closely related species growing in their home environment. Our findings suggest that fine‐scale evolutionary diversity is captured by reflectance spectra and should be considered as spectrally‐based biodiversity assessments become more prevalent.
Insect eggs trigger systemic acquired resistance against a fungal and an oomycete pathogen
Authors: Alfonso Esteban , Stahl Elia , Glauser Gaétan , Bellani Etienne , Raaymakers Tom M. , Van den Ackerveken Guido , Zeier Jürgen , Reymond Philippe
Published: September 2021

Plants are able to detect insect eggs deposited on leaves. In Arabidopsis, eggs of the butterfly species Pieris brassicae (common name large white) induce plant defenses and activate the salicylic acid (SA) pathway. We previously discovered that oviposition triggers a systemic acquired resistance (SAR) against the bacterial hemibiotroph pathogen Pseudomonas syringae.

Here, we show that insect eggs or treatment with egg extract (EE) induce SAR against the fungal necrotroph Botrytis cinerea BMM and the oomycete pathogen Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis Noco2. This response is abolished in ics1, ald1 and fmo1, indicating that the SA pathway and the N‐hydroxypipecolic acid (NHP) pathway are involved.

Establishment of EE‐induced SAR in distal leaves potentially involves tryptophan‐derived metabolites, including camalexin. Indeed, SAR is abolished in the biosynthesis mutants cyp79B2 cyp79B3, cyp71a12 cyp71a13 and pad3‐1, and camalexin is toxic to B. cinerea in vitro.

This study reveals an interesting mechanism by which lepidopteran eggs interfere with plant–pathogen interactions.
Why isn’t there an Uber for live music? The digitalisation of intermediaries and the limits of the platform economy
Authors: Azzellini Dario , Greer Ian , Umney Charles
Published: September 2021

Online platforms have disrupted parts of the capitalist economy, but assessing the magnitude of this effect is difficult. Much is known about major platforms, but less about the conditions under which they take over—or fail to take over—a given market. Unlike explanations emphasising slow take‐up by entrepreneurs or worker resistance, we argue that historical and organisational characteristics of markets make them resistant to the platform model. In Germany and the UK, intermediaries have digitalised to varying degrees. Three market characteristics have combined to limit ‘platformisation’: (1) irreducibly qualitative assessments of value; (2) the complexity and contingencies inherent in the task that resist unbundling (3) fragmentation of the organisational field. Hence we show how the dynamics of work in live music limit the traction of the platform model. However, partial and hybrid forms of digitalisation still contribute towards intensified discipline over live music workers, threatening pay and working conditions.
Favours within 'the tribe': Social support in coworking spaces
Authors: Wright Adrian , Marsh Dorota , Wibberley Gemma
Published: September 2021

Emerging from the changing social, technological and cultural changes to work, coworking has been positioned as a new economic engine composed of collaboration and community, providing support for entrepreneurship, innovation and soft infrastructure for economic development. However, an alternative interpretation of coworking suggests it responds to the isolation and insecurity of self‐employment by the formation of ‘community’ to provide mutual support to navigate precarious work conditions. Faced with contrasting accounts of coworking, using in‐depth interviews and ethnography of a coworking space, this paper explores the support members of the community offer by drawing on the concept of social support. It contributes to our understanding of social support in an entrepreneurial context and explores a more nuanced and darker side to social support in coworking spaces. While coworkers engaged with others to provide emotional, informational and instrumental support, social support also revealed exchange relationships underpinned by reciprocity, which reinforced precarious work conditions.
Effect of CD146+ SHED on bone regeneration in a mouse calvaria defect model
Authors: Rikitake Kodai , Kunimatsu Ryo , Yoshimi Yuki , Nakajima Kengo , Hiraki Tomoka , Aisyah Rizky Putranti Nurul , Tsuka Yuji , Abe Takaharu , Ando Kazuyo , Hayashi Yoko , Nikawa Hiroki , Tanimoto Kotaro
Published: September 2021

Objective

Stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED) have bone regeneration ability and potential therapeutic applications. CD146, a cell adhesion protein expressed by vascular endothelial cells, is involved in osteoblastic differentiation of stem cells. The effect of CD146 on SHED‐mediated bone regeneration in vivo remains unknown. We aimed to establish efficient conditions for SHED transplantation.

Materials and methods

SHED were isolated from the pulp of an extracted deciduous tooth and cultured; CD146‐positive (CD146+) and CD146‐negative (CD146−) populations were sorted. Heterogeneous populations of SHED and CD146+ and CD146− cells were transplanted into bone defects generated in the skulls of immunodeficient mice. Micro‐computed tomography was performed immediately and 4 and 8 weeks later. Histological and immunohistochemical assessments were performed 8 weeks later.

Results

Bone regeneration was observed upon transplantation with CD146+ and heterogeneous populations of SHED, with significantly higher bone regeneration observed with CD146+ cells. Bone regeneration was higher in the CD146− group than in the control group, but significantly lower than that in the other transplant groups at 4 and 8 weeks. Histological and immunohistochemical assessments revealed that CD146+ cells promoted bone regeneration and angiogenesis.

Conclusion

Transplantation of CD146+ SHED into bone defects may be useful for bone regeneration.
Ambulance clinicians’ attitudes to older patients’ self‐determination when the patient has impaired decision‐making ability: A Delphi study
Authors: Svensson Anders , Bremer Anders , Rantala Andreas , Andersson Henrik , Devenish Scott , Williams Julia , Holmberg Mats
Published: September 2021

Objective

The proportion of older people is increasing and reflects in the demand on ambulance services (AS). Patients can be more vulnerable and increasingly dependent, especially when their decision‐making ability is impaired. Self‐determination in older people has a positive relation to quality of life and can raise ethical conflicts in AS. Hence, the aim of this study was to empirically explore attitudes among Swedish ambulance clinicians (ACs) regarding older patients’ self‐determination in cases where patients have impaired decision‐making ability, and who are in urgent need of care.

Materials and methods

An explorative design was adopted. A Delphi technique was used, comprising four rounds, involving a group (N = 31) of prehospital emergency nurses (n = 14), registered nurses (n = 10) and emergency medical technicians (n = 7). Focus group conversations (Round 1) and questionnaires (Rounds 2–4) generated data. Round 1 was analysed using manifest content analysis, which ultimately resulted in the creation of discrete items. Each item was rated with a five‐point Likert scale together with free‐text answers. Consensus (≥70%) was calculated by trichotomising the Likert scale.

Results

Round 1 identified 108 items which were divided into four categories: (1) attitudes regarding the patient (n = 35), (2) attitudes regarding the patient relationship (n = 8), (3) attitudes regarding oneself and one's colleagues (n = 45), and (4) attitudes regarding other involved factors (n = 20). In Rounds 2–4, one item was identified in the free text from Round 2, generating a total of 109 items. After four rounds, 72 items (62%) reached consensus.

Conclusions

The findings highlight the complexity of ACs’ attitudes towards older patients’ self‐determination. The respect of older patients’ self‐determination is challenged by the patient, other healthcare personnel, significant others and/or colleagues. The study provided a unique opportunity to explore self‐determination and shared decision‐making. AS have to provide continued ethical training, for example to increase the use of simulation‐based training or moral case deliberations in order to strengthen the ACs’ moral abilities within their professional practice.

Implications for practice

Ambulance services must develop opportunities to provide continued training within this topic. One option would be to increase the use of simulation‐based training, focusing on ethical aspects of the care. Another option might be to facilitate moral case deliberations to strengthen the ACs’ abilities to manage these issues while being able to share experiences with peers. These types of interventions should illuminate the importance of the topic for the individual AC, which, in turn, may strengthen and develop the caring abilities within an integrated care team.
The “Sandwich Generation” Revisited: Global Demographic Drivers of Care Time Demands
Authors: Alburez‐Gutierrez Diego , Mason Carl , Zagheni Emilio
Published: September 2021

Generational overlap affects the care time demands on parents and grandparents worldwide. Here, we present the first global estimates of the experience of simultaneously having frail older parents and young children (“sandwichness”) or young grandchildren (“grandsandwichness”) for the 1970–2040 cohorts, using demographic methods and microsimulations. We find that sandwichness is more prevalent in the Global South—for example, almost twice as prevalent in sub‐Saharan Africa as it is in Europe for the 1970 cohort—but is expected to decline globally by one‐third between 1970 and 2040. The Global North might have reached a peak in the simultaneous care time demands from multiple generations but the duration of the grandsandwich state will increase by up to one year in Africa and Asia. This increasing generational overlap implies more care time demands over the entire adult life course, but also opens up an opportunity for the full potential of grandparenthood to materialize.
Evaluation of distal radial artery cross‐sectional internal diameter in neonates and infants by ultrasound and adequate selection of an intra‐arterial catheter size
Authors: Mavarez Ana C. , Ripat Caroline , Char Steven , Abuchaibe Vanessa , Galarza Marta , Halliday Norman , Varga Eliane Q.S.
Published: September 2021

Background

Radial artery catheterization in neonates, infants, and young children is a common and useful invasive procedure that brings technical placement challenges and potential complications due to the small diameter size of the radial artery in these patients. The aim of this study is to determine appropriate catheter sizes in infants up to 6 months of age.

Materials and Methods

A total of fifty infants undergoing general anesthesia or hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit were included. Images of the radial artery diameter were obtained from the infant's wrist using Philips EPIQ Diagnostic Ultrasound System CVX Release 4.0. All images obtained were distal in the forearm, medial to the border of the styloid process of the radius, at the point of maximal impulse of the radial artery, and with the wrist at a 45‐degree angle position. We recorded postmenstrual age, chronological age, gender, weight, location, comorbidities, medications, weight, and vital signs of each individual.

Results

In this single cohort study of 50 children whose ages ranged from 0 to 6 months chronological age, their radial artery diameters were averaged proportionally to their weight and age. Use of a 22G catheter would result in 100% occlusion of the diameter of the artery in most study subjects. Use of a 24G catheter would result in a range of 75%–99% occlusion depending on weight, postmenstrual age, and chronological age of the infants.

Conclusions

In view of these findings, we recommend using US to measure the diameter of the radial artery and choose the most appropriate catheter size before proceeding with US‐guidance for radial artery cannulation in infants. This will prevent inappropriate sizing of the catheter and the thrombotic complications this can incur.
Electroencephalographic assessment of infant spinal anesthesia: A pilot prospective observational study
Authors: Whitaker Emmett E. , Chao Jerry Y. , Holmes Gregory L. , Legatt Alan D. , Yozawitz Elissa G. , Purdon Patrick L. , Shinnar Shlomo , Williams Robert K.
Published: September 2021

Introduction

Spinal anesthesia is utilized as an alternative to general anesthesia in infants for some surgeries. After spinal anesthesia, infants often become less conscious without administration of sedative medications. The aim of this study was to assess electroencephalographic (EEG) correlates after spinal anesthesia in a cohort of infants.

Patients and Methods

This pilot study included 12 infants who underwent spinal anesthesia. Unprocessed electroencephalography was recorded. The electroencephalogram was interpreted by four neurologists. Processed analyses compared electroencephalogram changes 30 min after spinal anesthesia to baseline.

Results

Following spinal anesthesia, all 12 infants became sedated. Electroencephalography in all 12 demonstrated Stage 2 sleep with the appearance of sleep spindles (12–14 Hz) in the frontal and central leads in 8/12 (67%) of subjects. The median time to onset of sleep spindles was 24.7 interquartile range (21.2, 29.9) min. The duration of sleep spindles was 25.1 interquartile range (5.8, 99.8) min. Voltage attenuation and background slowing were the most common initial changes. Compared to baseline, the electroencephalogram 30 min after spinal anesthesia showed significantly increased absolute delta power (p = 0.02) and gamma power (p < 0.0001); decreases in beta (p = 0.0006) and higher beta (p < 0.0001) were also observed. The Fast Fourier Transform power ratio difference for delta/beta was increased (p = 0.03). Increased coherence was noted in the delta (p = 0.02) and theta (p = 0.04) bandwidths.

Discussion

Spinal anesthesia in infants is associated with increased electroencephalographic slow wave activity and decreased beta activity compared to the awake state, with appearance of sleep spindles suggestive of normal sleep. The etiology and significance of the observed voltage attenuation and background slowing remains unclear.

Conclusions

The EEG signature of infant spinal anesthesia is distinct from that seen with general anesthesia and is consistent with normal sleep. Further investigation is required to better understand the etiology of these findings. Our preliminary findings contribute to the understanding of the brain effects of spinal anesthesia in early development.
Characterization of epidermal bladder cells in Chenopodium quinoa
Authors: Otterbach Sophie L. , Khoury Holly , Rupasinghe Thusitha , Mendis Himasha , Kwan Kim H. , Lui Veronica , Natera Siria H. A. , Klaiber Iris , Allen Nathaniel M. , Jarvis David E. , Tester Mark , Roessner Ute , Schmöckel Sandra M.
Published: September 2021

Chenopodium quinoa (quinoa) is considered a superfood with its favourable nutrient composition and being gluten free. Quinoa has high tolerance to abiotic stresses, such as salinity, water deficit (drought) and cold. The tolerance mechanisms are yet to be elucidated. Quinoa has epidermal bladder cells (EBCs) that densely cover the shoot surface, particularly the younger parts of the plant. Here, we report on the EBC's primary and secondary metabolomes, as well as the lipidome in control conditions and in response to abiotic stresses. EBCs were isolated from plants after cold, heat, high‐light, water deficit and salt treatments. We used untargeted gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) to analyse metabolites and untargeted and targeted liquid chromatography‐MS (LC–MS) for lipids and secondary metabolite analyses. We identified 64 primary metabolites, including sugars, organic acids and amino acids, 19 secondary metabolites, including phenolic compounds, betanin and saponins and 240 lipids categorized in five groups including glycerolipids and phospholipids. We found only few changes in the metabolic composition of EBCs in response to abiotic stresses; these were metabolites related with heat, cold and high‐light treatments but not salt stress. Na+ concentrations were low in EBCs with all treatments and approximately two orders of magnitude lower than K+ concentrations.
Risk aversion and elite‐group ignorance
Authors: Kinney David , Bright Liam Kofi
Published: September 2021

Critical race theorists and standpoint epistemologists argue that agents who are members of dominant social groups are often in a state of ignorance about the extent of their social dominance, where this ignorance is explained by these agents' membership in a socially dominant group (e.g., Mills 2007). To illustrate this claim bluntly, it is argued: 1) that many white men do not know the extent of their social dominance, 2) that they remain ignorant as to the extent of their dominant social position even where this information is freely attainable, and 3) that this ignorance is due in part to the fact that they are white men. We argue that on Buchak's (2010, 2013) model of risk averse instrumental rationality, ignorance of one's privileges can be rational. This argument yields a new account of elite‐group ignorance, why it may occur, and how it might be alleviated.
Multi‐infections, competitive interactions, and pathogen coexistence
Authors: Dutt Agathe , Andrivon Didier , Le May Christophe
Published: September 2021

Multiple infections, either simultaneous or sequential, affecting a single plant or crop are now recognized to be common in plant disease epidemics. These multiple infections thus generate a range of competitive interactions (exploitation competition, apparent competition, or interference competition) that directly impact competitors’ life history traits, and hence fitness. While a theoretical framework, based primarily on three ecological theories—niche exclusion, the “tragedy of the commons”, and the virulence–transmission trade‐off, provides insights into potential outcomes of multiple infections on pathogen evolution and virulence and on disease dynamics, experimental observations, although rather rare so far, strongly suggest that unexpected outputs can also occur. This review therefore attempts to provide a comprehensive overview of both theoretical and empirical knowledge about multiple infection in plants. It highlights the need for a detailed assessment of pathogen life history traits and their modulation according to competition types, host receptivity, and pathogen life strategies for a better understanding and prediction of the evolutionary and demographic outcomes of multiple infections, as well as research questions still open in this emerging field of plant pathology.
Monitoring of Brazilian wheat blast field populations reveals resistance to QoI, DMI, and SDHI fungicides
Authors: Vicentini Samara N. C. , Casado Priscila S. , de Carvalho Giselle , Moreira Silvino I. , Dorigan Adriano F. , Silva Tatiane C. , Silva Abimael G. , Custódio Adriano A. P. , Gomes Ana Carolina S. , Nunes Maciel João L. , Hawkins Nichola , McDonald Bruce A. , Fraaije Bart A. , Ceresini Paulo C.
Published: September 2021

Wheat blast is one of the most important and devastating fungal diseases of wheat in South America, South‐east Asia, and now in southern Africa. The disease can reduce grain yield by up to 70% and is best controlled using integrated disease management strategies. The difficulty in disease management is compounded by the lack of durable host resistance and the ineffectiveness of fungicide sprays. New succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDHI) fungicides were recently introduced for the management of wheat diseases. Brazilian field populations of the wheat blast pathogen Pyricularia oryzae Triticum lineage (PoTl) sampled from different geographical regions in 2012 and 2018 were shown to be resistant to both QoI (strobilurin) and DMI (azole) fungicides. The main objective of the current study was to determine the SDHI baseline sensitivity in these populations. Moderate levels of SDHI resistance were detected in five out of the six field populations sampled in 2012 and in most of the strains isolated in 2018. No association was found between target site mutations in the sdhB, sdhC, and sdhD genes and the levels of SDHI resistance, indicating that a pre‐existing resistance mechanism not associated with target site mutations is probably present in Brazilian wheat blast populations.
Effects of UV radiation on transcript and metabolite accumulation are dependent on monochromatic light background in cucumber
Authors: Palma Carolina Falcato Fialho , Castro‐Alves Victor , Rosenqvist Eva , Ottosen Carl‐Otto , Strid Åke , Morales Luis Orlando
Published: September 2021

During recent years, we have advanced our understanding of plant molecular responses to ultraviolet radiation (UV, 280–400 nm); however, how plants respond to UV radiation under different spectral light qualities is poorly understood. In this study, cucumber plants (Cucumis sativus “Lausanna RZ F1”) were grown under monochromatic blue, green, red, and broadband white light in combination with UV radiation. The effects of light quality and UV radiation on acclimatory responses were assessed by measuring transcript accumulation of ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL 5 (HY5), CHALCONE SYNTHASE 2 (CHS2), and LIGHT HARVESTING COMPLEX II (LHCII), and the accumulation of flavonoids and hydroxycinnamic acids in the leaves. The growth light backgrounds differentially regulated gene expression and metabolite accumulation. While HY5 and CHS2 transcripts were induced by blue and white light, LHCII was induced by white and red light. Furthermore, UV radiation antagonized the effects of blue, red, green, and white light on transcript accumulation in a gene‐dependent manner. Plants grown under blue light with supplementary UV radiation increased phenylalanine, flavonol disaccharide I and caffeic acid contents compared to those exposed only to blue light. UV radiation also induced the accumulation of flavonol disaccharide I and II, ferulic acid hexose and coumaric acid hexose in plants grown under green light. Our findings provide a further understanding of plant responses to UV radiation in combination with different light spectra and contribute to the design of light recipes for horticultural practices that aim to modify plant metabolism and ultimately improve crop quality.
Comparative transcriptome analysis of root types in salt tolerant and sensitive rice varieties in response to salinity stress
Authors: Cartagena Joyce A. , Yao Yao , Mitsuya Shiro , Tsuge Takashi
Published: September 2021

Salinity tolerance in rice is a very important trait, especially in areas that are affected by soil salinity, such as tsunami‐devastated areas and coastal regions in rice‐producing countries. The roots are the key organs that first detect and respond to salinity stress; thus, it is important to have an understanding of how roots contribute to salinity tolerance in agricultural crops. After salinity treatment of the salt tolerant (Mulai) and sensitive (IR29) rice varieties, it appeared that among the three types of roots, the L‐type lateral roots (LLR) were the most sensitive to salinity stress in Mulai and the most tolerant in IR29. The nodal roots (NR) and the S‐type lateral roots (SLR) were all negatively affected by salinity treatment in both rice varieties. In order to elucidate the molecular mechanism of the difference in stress response among rice root types, the RNA‐seq transcriptome profiles of NR, LLR, and SLR were analyzed in Mulai and IR29. Between the two rice varieties, more transporters were found to participate in the regulation of salt tolerance in Mulai roots, such as those involved in ion and sugar transport. In IR29, many of the genes detected were associated with transcription regulation, including stress‐inducible genes such as NAC, WRKY and MYB. Among the different root types, gene expression in LLR and SLR were significantly regulated in both rice varieties. Taken together, the genes identified in this study may be utilized in the varietal improvement of rice with very specific root traits that can enhance tolerance to salinity stress.
Metabolomics in salmonid aquaculture research: Applications and future perspectives
Authors: Lulijwa Ronald , Alfaro Andrea C. , Young Tim
Published: September 2021

Salmonids are the third major farmed finfish species after carps and tilapines, and thus contribute to global food fish production. However, as the aquaculture industry continues to grow, several challenges have emerged. Left unchecked, current problems will hinder aquaculture development. Metabolomics is one of the powerful biotechnological tools that will contribute to solving some of the pressing problems. This review aims to summarise findings and identify gaps from studies that used metabolomics in farmed salmon research. We extracted methodological information for comparison, highlighted analytical platform usages and identified most studied salmonids and sample types. We reviewed key articles to highlight the latest research themes. From the identified research gaps, future perspectives regarding potential use of metabolomics to solve issues in ecotoxicology, thermotolerance, nutrition, post‐harvest quality, health and disease, and husbandry practices are provided. The survey also highlighted improvements in execution of metabolomics protocols in aquaculture.
On the silver jubilee of crustacean antimicrobial peptides
Authors: Matos Gabriel Machado , Rosa Rafael Diego
Published: September 2021

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are widely distributed effector molecules that provide a first line of defence for organisms that lack adaptive immunity, such as crustaceans. They also represent bioactive molecules with great potential as therapeutic agents in aquaculture and biomedicine. Over the last years, an intensive research effort has been devoted to the identification and characterisation of antimicrobials in crustaceans resulting in the recognition of twelve gene‐encoded AMP families to date. In addition to classical linear and multi‐domain AMPs, crustaceans also rely on the production of unconventional ones, such as lysozymes and AMPs encrypted in large proteins carrying nonimmune functions. Besides their molecular and functional diversity, crustaceans have a particular AMP repertoire usually composed of diverse multigene families of taxonomically restricted peptides/polypeptides. In fact, only a few families of AMPs are shared between crustaceans and their close arthropod relatives. This review celebrates the silver jubilee of the discovery of the first crustacean AMPs and presents an updated and comprehensive overview in terms of structure, diversity and biological properties, emphasising their role in immune responses and in host‐microbe interactions. We also discuss the main progress achieved so far and major challenges remaining.
Clinical endometritis with Trueperella pyogenes reduces reproductive performance and milk production in dairy cows
Authors: Paiano Renan B. , Bonilla Jeannine , Moreno Andrea M. , Baruselli Pietro S.
Published: September 2021

The aim of this study was to identify the impact of Trueperella pyogenes in cows with clinical endometritis (CE) on reproductive performance and milk production in affected cows. In total, 230 lactating Holstein dairy cows from six commercial dairy herds were sampled once between 28 and 33 days post‐partum. Cows included in the present study did not receive antibiotic or anti‐inflammatory treatments prior to the experimental period. Clinical endometritis (CE) was characterized as cow with vaginal mucus score = 3 (>50% of purulent vaginal discharge) and >18% polymorphonuclear neutrophilic leukocyte (PMNL). The body condition scores (BCS) and milk production were evaluated at the time of enrolment. The identification of isolated bacteria was carried out through the analysis of MALDI‐TOF MS (matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry). According to uterine health, three groups of dairy cows were formed: healthy control cows without T. pyogenes (n = 147), CE cows with T. pyogenes (n = 22) and CE cows without T. pyogenes (n = 61). CE cows with T. pyogenes had lower BCS, milk production and conception at first AI (p < .01) than CE cows without T. pyogenes and control cows. Furthermore, CE cows with T. pyogenes had higher (p < .01) service per pregnancy and had greater (p < .01) days to get pregnant than CE cows without T. pyogenes and control cows. This study demonstrates that CE cows with T. pyogenes had impaired reproductive performance and milk production when compared to cows without CE and CE cows without T. pyogenes. This information can contribute to a strategic treatment in cows affected by clinical endometritis, favouring the rational use of antibiotics on dairy farms.
Feminist ethnography in the study of religion
Authors: Gillson Gwendolyn
Published: September 2021

What does it mean to be a feminist ethnographer of religion? As a methodological, epistemological, and theoretical framework, feminist ethnography prioritizes participant observation that recognizes copresence, power, and reciprocity between the researcher and her interlocutors and is essential to the study of religion. However, the nature of religious studies as a discipline contributes to a fundamental misunderstanding about the place and importance of feminist ethnography. The normative white, patriarchal, Protestant narratives that form the basis of the field work against its widespread acceptance within the academy. This article brings together scholarship in religious studies with that of anthropology, sociology, and other disciplines to illustrate the significance of feminist ethnography in the study of religion in order to challenge these unspoken and problematic assumptions. By appreciating the outlined “building blocks,” scholars of religion can come to value and potentially employ feminist ethnography in their own work.
Going with the flow: Experimental simulation of sediment transport from a foraminifera perspective
Authors: Ash‐Mor Anat , Almogi‐Labin Ahuva , Bouchet Vincent M. P. , Seuront Laurent , Guy‐Haim Tamar , Ben‐Avraham Zvi , Bookman Revital
Published: September 2021

Transport of continental shelf sediments to the deep ocean can be studied from displaced symbiont‐bearing larger benthic foraminifera found in turbidity current deposits. The larger benthic foraminifera habitat depth, physical characteristics and preservation serve as indicators for understanding sediment transport dynamics near the seabed and in the water column. Here, an experiment was designed to explore sediment transport in a closed flume system using simulated high current velocities. Shelf sediments from the Gulf of Eilat/Aqaba, dominated by Amphistegina papillosa and Operculina ammonoides, were subjected to 60 cm s−1 and 80 cm s−1 current velocities while collected in a 10 cm vertical sediment trap. Larger benthic foraminifera abundance, shell physical properties and preservation were analyzed and compared with the original bulk sediments. The experiment results showed that at 80 cm s−1 velocity, larger benthic foraminifera shells of all sizes and preservations are efficiently resuspended and transported in large quantities throughout the water column, as opposed to their transport as bedload by the lower velocity current. Larger benthic foraminifera shape also has a role in the transport distances and accumulation depths. Operculina ammonoides shells were found to be more portable, compared to Amphistegina papillosa, due to their flatter discoid shape. The results suggest that a threshold velocity of ca 80 cm s−1 was needed to generate the thick coarse deposits found in the Gulf of Eilat/Aqaba slope sedimentary record, which were previously suggested to be triggered by large magnitude seismic events. Lower velocities probably winnowed minor amounts of larger benthic foraminifera shells (with little or no coarser sediments) that were deposited as a thin sand layer may point to lower magnitude seismic triggers. In conclusion, larger benthic foraminifera shells are transported and deposited in accordance with their hydrodynamic properties, resulting in assemblage differentiation along the transport pathway. This study shows that the fossil biogenic composition in slope sediments includes valuable information on current velocities, transport dynamics and possible triggers in the geological record.
Perforin, COVID‐19 and a possible pathogenic auto‐inflammatory feedback loop
Authors: Cunningham Louise , Kimber Ian , Basketter David , Simmonds Peter , McSweeney Sheila , Tziotzios Christos , McFadden John P.
Published: September 2021

During COVID‐19 infection, reduced function of natural killer (NK) cells can lead to both compromised viral clearance and dysregulation of the immune response. Such dysregulation leads to overproduction of cytokines, a raised neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio and monocytosis. This in turn increases IL‐6 expression, which promotes scar and thrombus formation. Excess IL‐6 also leads to a further reduction in NK function through downregulation of perforin expression, therefore forming a pathogenic auto‐inflammatory feedback loop. The perforin/granzyme system of cytotoxicity is the main mechanism through which NK cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes eliminate virally infected host cells, as well as being central to their role in regulating immune responses to microbial infection. Here, we present epidemiological evidence suggesting an association between perforin expression and resistance to COVID‐19. In addition, we outline the manner in which a pathogenic auto‐inflammatory feedback loop could operate and the relationship of this loop to genes associated with severe COVID‐19. Such an auto‐inflammatory loop may be amenable to synergistic multimodal therapy.
Detection of the novel allele, A*01:380:01:02, in a Bahraini individual by next generation sequencing
Authors: Alvares Marion , Al Mahri Ayeda , Jannang Raysha , Al Yafei Zain , ElGhazali Gehad
Published: September 2021

HLA‐A*01:380:01:02 is a variant of A*01:01:01:01, differing by five nucleotide substitutions.
Characterization of the novel HLA‐DQA1*01:80 allele by next generation sequencing
Authors: Jacob Valentine , Farce Fabienne , Kaveri Rangolie , Desoutter Judith , Guillaume Nicolas
Published: September 2021

HLA‐DQA1*01:80 differs from HLA‐DQA1*01:04:01 by one nucleotide substitution in codon −18 in exon 1.
Evaluation of immunodiagnostic tests for human gnathostomiasis using different antigen preparations of Gnathostoma spinigerum larvae against IgE, IgM, IgG, IgG1‐4 and IgG1 patterns of post‐treated patients
Authors: Ieamsuwan Issariya , Watthanakulpanich Dorn , Chaisri Urai , Adisakwattana Poom , Dekumyoy Paron
Published: September 2021

Objectives

The aims of the study were two‐fold: (1) antigen (Ag) preparation and evaluation of three antigens of Gnathostoma spinigerum infective larvae (GsL3), crude somatic antigen (CSAg), excretory‐secretory antigen (ESAg) and partially purified antigens (namely P1Ag, P2Ag and P3Ag) to differentiate IgE, IgG, IgG1–4 and IgM for human gnathostomiasis diagnosis; and (2) application of the selected ELISA for following up stored sera of patients treated with ivermectin (IVM) and albendazole (ABZ).

Methods

Different antigens were analysed by antibodies of gnathostomiasis cases, other parasite infections and healthy controls using indirect ELISA to differentiate IgE, IgG, IgG1–4 and IgM. Then, prominent antigen and immunoglobulin were used in antibody predictions of gnathostomiasis cases treated with albendazole or ivermectin.

Results

Sensitivity of all evaluated ELISAs: IgM‐, IgG‐, IgG1‐ and IgG4‐ELISA, was 100%. IgM‐ELISA with CSAg and P3Ag exhibited the highest specificity of 99%. IgG‐ELISA with P2Ag resulted in the highest specificity of 92.3%. IgG1‐ELISA with P2Ag and P3Ag showed excellent results with 100% specificity. Finally, P2Ag evaluated IgG1 of the followed‐up cases with ABZ and IVM. Decreasing antibody IgG1 levels were mostly found in both treatments at Month 9 and long follow‐up was over 12 months. A Gnathostoma worm was extracted from each two treated patients.

Conclusions

Using IgG1‐ELISA against P2Ag and P3Ag gave excellent results with 100% sensitivity and specificity. These tests can be an alternative to immunoblotting for gnathostomiasis. IgG1 decreased at least 9 months in most cases, so long‐term treatment should be performed over 1 year.
Molecular mechanisms and hormonal regulation underpinning morphological dormancy: a case study using Apium graveolens (Apiaceae)
Authors: Walker Matthew , Pérez Marta , Steinbrecher Tina , Gawthrop Frances , Pavlović Iva , Novák Ondřej , Tarkowská Danuše , Strnad Miroslav , Marone Federica , Nakabayashi Kazumi , Leubner‐Metzger Gerhard
Published: September 2021

Underdeveloped (small) embryos embedded in abundant endosperm tissue, and thus having morphological dormancy (MD) or morphophysiological dormancy (MPD), are considered to be the ancestral state in seed dormancy evolution. This trait is retained in the Apiaceae family, which provides excellent model systems for investigating the underpinning mechanisms. We investigated Apium graveolens (celery) MD by combined innovative imaging and embryo growth assays with the quantification of hormone metabolism, as well as the analysis of hormone and cell‐wall related gene expression. The integrated experimental results demonstrated that embryo growth occurred inside imbibed celery fruits in association with endosperm degradation, and that a critical embryo size was required for radicle emergence. The regulation of these processes depends on gene expression leading to gibberellin and indole‐3‐acetic acid (IAA) production by the embryo and on crosstalk between the fruit compartments. ABA degradation associated with distinct spatiotemporal patterns in ABA sensitivity control embryo growth, endosperm breakdown and radicle emergence. This complex interaction between gibberellins, IAA and ABA metabolism, and changes in the tissue‐specific sensitivities to these hormones is distinct from non‐MD seeds. We conclude that the embryo growth to reach the critical size and the associated endosperm breakdown inside MD fruits constitute a unique germination programme.
Fungal social influencers: secondary metabolites as a platform for shaping the plant‐associated community
Authors: Rangel Lorena I. , Hamilton Olivia , de Jonge Ronnie , Bolton Melvin D.
Published: September 2021

Fungal secondary metabolites (FSMs) are capable of manipulating plant community dynamics by inhibiting or facilitating the establishment of co‐habitating organisms. Although production of FSMs is not crucial for survival of the producer, their absence can indirectly impair growth and/or niche competition of these fungi on the plant. The presence of FSMs with no obvious consequence on the fitness of the producer leaves questions regarding ecological impact. This review investigates how fungi employ FSMs as a platform to mediate fungal–fungal, fungal–bacterial and fungal–animal interactions associated with the plant community. We discuss how the biological function of FSMs may indirectly benefit the producer by altering the dynamics of surrounding organisms. We introduce several instances where FSMs influence antagonistic‐ or alliance‐driven interactions. Part of our aim is to decipher the meaning of the FSM ‘language’ as it is widely noted to impact the surrounding community. Here, we highlight the contribution of FSMs to plant‐associated interaction networks that affect the host either broadly or in ways that may have previously been unclear.
Black ground truths and police abolition
Authors: Winston Celeste
Published: September 2021

This essay offers the concept of Black ground truths as a critical geographic method for scholarship and organising. Black ground truths encompass Black experiential practices of understanding the present world's limitations and building toward new, more liberated geographic possibilities. Centring the movement for police abolition, this essay urges us to look to existing Black liberatory place‐making praxes to better understand how to transfigure sites of policing and other forms of racial violence.