bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Expression of fibrosis‐related genes in liver allografts: Association with histology and long‐term outcome after pediatric liver transplantation
Authors: Voutilainen Silja H. , Kosola Silja K. , Lohi Jouko , Jahnukainen Timo , Pakarinen Mikko P. , Jalanko Hannu
Published: May 2021

Background

Unexplained graft fibrosis and inflammation are common after pediatric liver transplantation (LT).

Objective

We investigated the graft expression of fibrogenic genes and correlated the findings with transplant histopathology and outcome.

Methods

Liver biopsies from 29 recipients were obtained at a median of 13.1 (IQR: 5.0–18.4) years after pediatric LT. Control samples were from six liver‐healthy subjects. Hepatic expression of 40 fibrosis‐related genes was correlated to histological findings: normal histology, fibrosis with no inflammation, and fibrosis with inflammation. Liver function was evaluated after a subsequent follow‐up of 9.0 years (IQR: 8.0–9.4).

Results

Patients with fibrosis and no inflammation had significantly increased gene expression of profibrotic TGF‐β3 (1.17 vs. 1.02 p = .005), CTGF (1.64 vs. 0.66 p = .014), PDGF‐α (1.79 vs. 0.98 p = .049), PDGF ‐β (0.99 vs. 0.76 p = .006), integrin‐subunit‐β1 (1.19 vs. 1.02 p = .045), α‐SMA (1.12 vs. 0.58 p = .013), type I collagen (0.82 vs. 0.53 p = .005) and antifibrotic decorin (1.15 vs. 0.99 p = .045) compared to patients with normal histology. mRNA expression of VEGF A (0.84 vs. 1.06 p = .049) was lower. Only a few of the studied genes were upregulated in patients with both fibrosis and inflammation. The gene expression levels showed no association with later graft outcome.

Conclusions

Altered hepatic expression of fibrosis‐related genes is associated with graft fibrosis without concurrent inflammation.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 as a potential cause of type 1 diabetes facilitated by spike protein receptor binding domain attachment to human islet cells: An illustrative case study and experimental data
Authors: Venkatesh Nisha , Astbury Natalie , Thomas Merlin C. , Rosado Carlos J. , Pappas Evan , Krishnamurthy Balasubramanian , MacIsaac Richard J. , Kay Thomas W. H. , Thomas Helen E. , O'Neal David N.
Published: May 2021

Aims

Aim of this study is to report severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection, responsible for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), as a possible cause for type 1 diabetes by providing an illustrative clinical case of a man aged 45 years presenting with antibody‐negative diabetic ketoacidosis post‐recovery from COVID‐19 pneumonia and to explore the potential for SARS‐CoV‐2 to adhere to human islet cells.

Methods

Explanted human islet cells from three independent solid organ donors were incubated with the SARS‐CoV‐2 spike protein receptor biding domain (RBD) fused to a green fluorescent protein (GFP) or a control‐GFP, with differential adherence established by flow cytometry.

Results

Flow cytometry revealed dose‐dependent specific binding of RBD‐GFP to islet cells when compared to control‐GFP.

Conclusions

Although a causal basis remains to be established, our case and in vitro data highlight a potential mechanism by which SARS‐CoV‐2 infection may result in antibody‐negative type 1 diabetes.
Renewing creative work for business innovation: Architectural practice in the trading zone
Authors: Stang Våland Marianne , Svejenova Silviya , Clausen Rune Thorbjørn Jason
Published: May 2021

How do organizations in creative industries renew creative work for business innovation? What challenges do they experience in the process? Drawing on an eight‐month ethnography in an architectural practice, this article suggests that renewal of creative work takes place in two main trading zones: a creative business trading zone of managers and architects trading with the conception of architectural practice as a business, and a creative process trading zone of architects and process facilitators trading with the process of architectural design. We show how resolving challenges within and moving across trading zones enables managers and architects to renew the architectural design process and establish renewal as a business innovation. The study advances the understanding of innovation in creative industries by proposing trading zones as arenas for negotiating art‐business tensions and ‘tools’ for renewing creative work, to make way for business innovation while preserving the autonomy of the creative professionals.
An integrated information systems architecture for the agri‐food industry
Authors: Branco Frederico , Gonçalves Ramiro , Moreira Fernando , Au‐Yong‐Oliveira Manuel , Martins José
Published: May 2021

As information systems and technologies grow in usage in the agri‐food industry, the same has happened to the relevance of Information Systems (IS) that allow for a parallel control, monitoring and management of the organizations' activities and business processes. As the literature proves, the benefits of implementing adequate and interoperable IS are very numerous and tend to represent a significant determinant regarding the organizations' overall success. Despite this, to the best of our knowledge there currently is no IS architecture designed to serve the specificities of the agri‐food industry. With this study a novel information systems architecture for the agri‐food sector is proposed. The artefact is composed by 12 integrated main components and a set of subcomponents aimed at supporting all the monitoring, control and management activities. In order to validate the proposed architecture a case study was implemented at a mushroom production organization. This allowed us to perceive the ability of our artefact to serve as the basis for the development of IS that address all of the organization's business and environmental needs.
Retinoblastoma: from discovery to clinical management
Authors: Martínez‐Sánchez Mayra , Hernandez‐Monge Jesús , Rangel Martha , Olivares‐Illana Vanesa
Published: May 2021

The retinoblastoma gene (RB1) was the first tumour suppressor cloned; the role of its protein product (RB) as the principal driver of the G1 checkpoint in cell cycle control has been extensively studied. However, many other RB functions are continuously reported. Its role in senescence, DNA repair and apoptosis, among others, is indications of the significance of RB in a vast network of cellular interactions, explaining why RB loss or its malfunction is one of the leading causes of a large number of paediatric and adult cancers. RB was first reported in retinoblastoma, a common intraocular malignancy in the paediatric population worldwide. Currently, its diagnosis is clinical, and in nondeveloped countries, where the incidence is higher, it is performed in advanced stages of the disease, compromising the integrity of the eye and the patient's life. Even though new treatments are being continuously developed, enucleation is still a major choice due to the late disease stage diagnosis and treatments costs. Research into biomarkers is our best option to improve the chances of good results in the treatment and hopes of patients' good quality of life. Here, we recapitulated the history of the disease and the first treatments to put the advances in its clinical management into perspective. We also review the different functions of the protein and the progress in the search for biomarkers. It is clear that there is still a long way to go, but we should offer these children and their families a better way to deal with the disease with the community's effort.
Measurement of large serine integrase enzymatic characteristics in HEK293 cells reveals variability and influence on downstream reporter expression
Authors: Chao George , Travis Clair , Church George
Published: May 2021

Large serine integrases (LSIs) offer tremendous potential for rapid genetic engineering as well as building biological systems capable of responding to stimuli and integrating information. Currently, there is no unified metric for directly measuring the enzymatic characteristics of LSI function, which hinders evaluation of their suitability to specific applications. Here, we present an experimental protocol for recording DNA recombination in HEK293 cells in real‐time through fluorophore expression and software which fits the kinetic data to a model tailored to LSI recombination dynamics. Our model captures the activity of LSIs as three parameters: expression level (Kexp), catalytic rate (kcat), and substrate affinity (Kd). The expression level and catalytic rate for phiC31 and Bxb1 varied greatly, suggesting disparate routes to high recombination efficiencies. Moreover, the expression level and substrate affinity jointly impacted downstream reporter expression, potentially by obstructing transcriptional machinery. We validated these observations by swapping between promoters and mutating key recombinase residues and DNA recognition sites to individually modulate each parameter. Our model for identifying key LSI parameters in cellulo provides insight into selecting the optimal recombinase for various applications as well as for guiding the engineering of improved LSIs.
Why is the histomorphological diagnosis of tumours of minor salivary glands much more difficult?
Authors: Ihrler Stephan , Agaimy Abbas , Guntinas‐Lichius Orlando , Haas Christian J , Mollenhauer Martin , Sandison Ann , Greber Lukas
Published: May 2021

Aims

There is a widespread perception among clinicians and pathologists that the histomorphological assessment of minor salivary gland (MinSG) tumours is more difficult and hampered by more misdiagnoses than that of major salivary gland tumours. This is based on a vague, subjective clinical impression, lacking scientific proof. The aim of the present study was to identify and statistically verify potential reasons that could explain this difference.

Methods and results

We identified 14 putative clinical, pathological and combined clinicopathological reasons that, altogether, could explain the phenomenon of the perceived greater diagnostic difficulty associated with MinSG tumours. We performed a comprehensive literature search and a statistical comparison of data from a large personal consultation series (biased for difficult cases) with cumulated data from straightforward, unselected (non‐consultation) series from the literature. By performing this comparison, we identified, with statistical significance, a comprehensive series of reasons, as well as of consequences, of the greater difficulty in diagnosing MinSG tumours.

Conclusions

Among the 14 criteria, high frequencies of initial incisional biopsies and of a low‐grade category in malignant tumours emerged as the two most important reasons for enhanced diagnostic difficulty. Very rare entities, unusual locations, shortcomings in clinicopathological communication, and pecularities of the special anatomical location of the hard palate, such as tumour necrosis, mucosal ulceration, pseudoinvasion, and the peculiar phenomenon of ‘tumoral–mucosal fusion’, contribute to further diagnostic difficulties. The awareness of these shortcomings and pitfalls enables us to provide a series of recommendations for clinicians and pathologists that might aid in assessment and reduce the rate of misdiagnosis of MinSG tumours.
Antiproliferative effects of bioaccessible fractions of honeys from Sicilian black honeybee (Apis mellifera ssp. sicula) on human colorectal carcinoma cells
Authors: Cilla Antonio , López‐García Gabriel , Barberá Reyes , Frazzitta Anna , Restivo Ignazio , Tesoriere Luisa , Attanzio Alessandro
Published: May 2021

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antiproliferative activity of bioaccessible fractions (BFs) obtained by the internationally standardized INFOGEST static digestion method to Sicilian honeys of three distinct floral origins (Sulla, Thistle and Dill) and the Manuka honey (gold standard), and to compare their effects based on total polyphenol content (TPC). Differentiated CaCo‐2 cells (intestinal‐like) and non‐differentiated CaCo‐2 and HCT‐116 colonic tumour‐like cells were incubated for 24 h with BFs of honeys to test viability, apoptosis, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), ROS and cell cycle. TPC after digestion ranked in the following order: Dill > Thistle > Sulla > Manuka. No decrease in cell viability in differentiated CaCo‐2 cells was observed, while a reduction to 25–85% (CaCo‐2) and 20–80% (HCT‐116) of viability was obtained. This descent in viability was caused by a cell cycle block with an increase in apoptosis through dissipation of MMP and raise in ROS levels, being Thistle and Dill the most effective honeys followed by Sulla and finally Manuka, in agreement with TPC after digestion.
Functional electrographic flow patterns in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation predict outcome of catheter ablation
Authors: Szili‐Torok Tamas , Kis Zsuzsanna , Bhagwandien Rohit , Wijchers Sip , Yap Sing‐Chien , Hoogendijk Mark , Dumas Nadege , Haeusser Philip , Geczy Tamas , Kong Melissa H. , Ruppersberg Peter
Published: May 2021

Aims

Electrographic flow (EGF) mapping is a method to detect action potential sources within the atria. In a double‐blinded retrospective study we evaluated whether sources detected by EGF are related to procedural outcome.

Methods

EGF maps were retrospectively generated using the Ablamap® software from unipolar data recorded with a 64‐pole basket catheter from patients who previously underwent focal impulse and rotor modulation‐guided ablation. We analyzed patient outcomes based on source activity (SAC) and variability. Freedom from atrial fibrillation (AF) was defined as no recurrence of AF, atypical flutter or atrial tachycardia at the follow‐up visits.

Results

EGF maps were from 123 atria in 64 patients with persistent or long‐standing persistent AF. Procedural outcome correlation with SAC peaked at >26%. S‐type EGF signature (source‐dependent AF) is characterized by stable sources with SAC > 26% and C‐type (source‐independent AF) is characterized by sources with SAC ≤ 26%. Cases with AF recurrence at 3‐, 6‐, or 12‐month follow‐up showed a median final SAC 34%; while AF‐free patients had sources with significantly lower median final SAC 21% (p = .0006). Patients with final SAC and Variability above both thresholds had 94% recurrence, while recurrence was only 36% for patients with leading source SAC and variability below threshold (p = .0001). S‐type EGF signature post‐ablation was associated with an AF recurrence rate 88.5% versus 38.1% with C‐type EGF signature.

Conclusions

EGF mapping enables the visualization of active AF sources. Sources with SAC > 26% appear relevant and their presence post‐ablation correlates with high rates of AF recurrence.
Brachial‐ankle pulse wave velocity and cardio‐ankle vascular index are associated with future cardiovascular events in a general population: The Nagahama Study
Authors: Yasuharu Tabara , Setoh Kazuya , Kawaguchi Takahisa , Nakayama Takeo , Matsuda Fumihiko ,   the Nagahama study group
Published: May 2021

Faster pulse wave velocity (PWV) is known to be associated with the incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The aim of this study was to clarify the hypothesis that PWV may be associated with future CVD events even when its time‐dependent changes were adjusted. We also investigated a prognostic significance of cardio‐ankle vascular index, another index of arterial stiffness. Study participants included 8850 community residents. The repeated measures of the clinical parameters at 5.0 years after the baseline were available for 7249 of the participants. PWV was calculated using the arterial waveforms measured at the brachia and ankles (baPWV). The cardio‐ankle vascular index was calculated by estimated pulse transit time from aortic valve to tibial artery. During the 8.53 years follow‐up period, we observed 215 cases of CVD. The incidence rate increased linearly with baPWV quartiles (per 10 000 person‐years: Q1, 2.7; Q2, 12.6; Q3, 22.5; Q4, 76.2), and the highest quartile was identified as an independent determinant of incident CVD by conventional Cox proportional hazard analysis adjusted for known risk factors [hazard ratio (HR), 4.00; p = .007]. Per unit HR of baPWV (HR, 1.15; p < .001) remained significant in the time‐dependent Cox regression analysis including baPWV and other clinical values measured at 5‐year after the baseline as time‐varying variables (HR, 1.14; p < .001). The cardio‐ankle vascular index was also associated with CVD with similar manner though the associations were less clear than that of baPWV. baPWV is a good risk marker for the incidence of CVD.
Effectiveness of antidiabetic agents for treatment of gestational diabetes: A methodological quality assessment of meta‐analyses and network meta‐analysis
Authors: Bidhendi Yarandi Razieh , Amiri Mina , Ramezani Tehrani Fahimeh , Behboudi‐Gandevani Samira
Published: May 2021

Aims/Introduction

Despite there being several meta‐analyses on the effects of antidiabetic agents in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus, the reliability of their findings is a concern, mainly due to undetermined methodological quality of these studies. This study aimed to assess the methodological quality of available meta‐analyses and provide a summary estimation of the effectiveness of treatments modalities.

Materials and Methods

PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus databases were comprehensively searched for retrieving relevant meta‐analyses published in English up to May 2020. A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR‐2) was applied to evaluate methodological quality of eligible meta‐analyses. A network meta‐analysis was used to calculate the pooled odds ratio of maternal and neonatal outcomes in gestational diabetes mellitus patients treated with metformin or glyburide compared with those treated with insulin. The rank network analysis was carried out for ranking of the treatments and reporting the most efficient treatment.

Results

A total of 27 and 17 studies were included for qualitative and quantitative syntheses, respectively; of these, just four studies were classified as high quality. The results showed that metformin had the highest probability of being the best treatment, compared with insulin and glyburide, for the majority of adverse neonatal outcomes, whereas glyburide was the best treatment in reducing the risk of adverse maternal outcomes. The results were not significantly changed after excluding low‐quality studies.

Conclusions

This review study of available literature shows that metformin can be a superior option in most neonatal and maternal adverse pregnancy outcomes in women with gestational diabetes mellitus; the results need to be further updated by including future more qualified studies.
Drugs for preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting in adults after general anesthesia: An abridged Cochrane network meta‐analysis
Authors: Weibel Stephanie , Pace Nathan L. , Schaefer Maximilian S. , Raj Diana , Schlesinger Tobias , Meybohm Patrick , Kienbaum Peter , Eberhart Leopold H. J. , Kranke Peter
Published: May 2021

Objective

In this abridged version of the recently published Cochrane review on antiemetic drugs, we summarize its most important findings and discuss the challenges and the time needed to prepare what is now the largest Cochrane review with network meta‐analysis in terms of the number of included studies and pages in its full printed form.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review with network meta‐analyses to compare and rank single antiemetic drugs and their combinations belonging to 5HT₃‐, D₂‐, NK₁‐receptor antagonists, corticosteroids, antihistamines, and anticholinergics used to prevent postoperative nausea and vomiting in adults after general anesthesia.

Results

585 studies (97 516 participants) testing 44 single drugs and 51 drug combinations were included. The studies’ overall risk of bias was assessed as low in only 27% of the studies. In 282 studies, 29 out of 36 drug combinations and 10 out of 28 single drugs lowered the risk of vomiting at least 20% compared to placebo. In the ranking of treatments, combinations of drugs were generally more effective than single drugs. Single NK1 receptor antagonists were as effective as other drug combinations. Of the 10 effective single drugs, certainty of evidence was high for aprepitant, ramosetron, granisetron, dexamethasone, and ondansetron, while moderate for fosaprepitant and droperidol. For serious adverse events (SAEs), any adverse event (AE), and drug‐class specific side effects evidence for intervention effects was mostly not convincing.

Conclusions

There is high or moderate evidence for at least seven single drugs preventing postoperative vomiting. However, there is still considerable lack of evidence regarding safety aspects that does warrant investigation.
Transactional Dependence and Technological Upgrading in Global Value Chains
Authors: Deng Ziliang , Ma Xufei , Zhu Ziyan
Published: May 2021

Whether and how original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) engage in technological upgrading matters for the sustainable development of global value chains (GVCs). Drawing on a power‐dependence perspective, we hypothesize that OEMs’ dependence on the lead firms may weaken OEMs’ technological upgrading. We further identify technology‐related boundary conditions to moderate such a dependence‐upgrading relationship. We analyse a large longitudinal sample of Chinese OEMs that provide original equipment manufacturing for overseas lead firms and find strong support for the hypotheses. Our findings highlight the importance of considering the eroding effect of power‐asymmetric transactional dependence in shaping OEMs’ upgrading trajectory. By focusing on the power asymmetry in the transactional dependence between OEMs and lead firms in GVCs, this study opens a new and broad avenue for future GVC studies. The study also extends power‐dependence theory by identifying the hindering effect of high power asymmetry on avoidance activities.
Civil rights as patient experience: How healthcare organizations handle discrimination complaints
Authors: Kirkland Anna , Hyman Mikell
Published: May 2021

The nondiscrimination clause of the Affordable Care Act, known as Section 1557, formally expanded patients' civil rights in nearly every healthcare setting in the United States in 2010. Regulations required healthcare organizations to name a person to handle grievances and set up an internal grievance process for resolving them. Drawing on interviews with 58 healthcare grievance handlers, this study examines how healthcare organizations respond to patients' discrimination complaints. We find that organizations incorporated the new right into preexisting complaint and grievance procedures, treating possible patient civil rights violations as patient experience problems. Grievance handlers smooth over problems using customer service strategies. These procedures diminish the efforts of policymakers to expand civil rights protections in healthcare. For civil rights to provoke real organizational change, discrimination complaints would need to be handled by professionals attuned to rights consciousness.
Manipulating phloem transport affects wood formation but not local nonstructural carbon reserves in an evergreen conifer
Authors: Rademacher Tim , Fonti Patrick , LeMoine James M. , Fonti Marina V. , Basler David , Chen Yizhao , Friend Andrew D. , Seyednasrollah Bijan , Eckes‐Shephard Annemarie H. , Richardson Andrew D.
Published: May 2021

How variations in carbon supply affect wood formation remains poorly understood in particular in mature forest trees. To elucidate how carbon supply affects carbon allocation and wood formation, we attempted to manipulate carbon supply to the cambial region by phloem girdling and compression during the mid‐ and late‐growing season and measured effects on structural development, CO2 efflux and nonstructural carbon reserves in stems of mature white pines. Wood formation and stem CO2 efflux varied with a location relative to treatment (i.e., above or below the restriction). We observed up to twice as many tracheids formed above versus below the treatment after the phloem transport manipulation, whereas the cell‐wall area decreased only slightly below the treatments, and cell size did not change relative to the control. Nonstructural carbon reserves in the xylem, needles and roots were largely unaffected by the treatments. Our results suggest that low and high carbon supply affects wood formation, primarily through a strong effect on cell proliferation, and respiration, but local nonstructural carbon concentrations appear to be maintained homeostatically. This contrasts with reports of decoupling of source activity and wood formation at the whole‐tree or ecosystem level, highlighting the need to better understand organ‐specific responses, within‐tree feedbacks, as well as phenological and ontogenetic effects on sink‐source dynamics.
Precision restoration: a necessary approach to foster forest recovery in the 21st century
Authors: Castro Jorge , Morales‐Rueda Fernando , Navarro Francisco B. , Löf Magnus , Vacchiano Giorgio , Alcaraz‐Segura Domingo
Published: May 2021

Forest restoration is currently a primary objective in environmental management policies at a global scale, to the extent that impressive initiatives and commitments have been launched to plant billions of trees. However, resources are limited and the success of any restoration effort should be maximized. Thus, restoration programs should seek to guarantee that what is planted today will become an adult tree in the future, a simple fact that, however, usually receives little attention. Here, we advocate for the need to focus restoration efforts on an individual plant level to increase establishment success while reducing negative side effects by using an approach that we term “precision forest restoration” (PFR). The objective of PFR will be to ensure that planted seedlings or sowed seeds will become adult trees with the appropriate landscape configuration to create functional and self‐regulating forest ecosystems while reducing the negative impacts of traditional massive reforestation actions. PFR can take advantage of ecological knowledge together with technologies and methodologies from the landscape scale to the individual‐plant scale, and from the more traditional, low‐tech approaches to the latest high‐tech ones. PFR may be more expensive at the level of individual plants, but will be more cost‐effective in the long term if it allows for the creation of resilient forests able to provide multiple ecosystem services. PFR was not feasible a few years ago due to the high cost and low precision of the available technologies, but it is currently an alternative that might reformulate a wide spectrum of ecosystem restoration activities.
Priority areas for restoring ecosystem services to enhance human well‐being in a dry forest
Authors: Costa Thayná L. da S. Rabêlo , Mazzochini Guilherme G. , Oliveira‐Filho Ary T. , Ganade Gislene , Carvalho Adriana R. , Manhães Adriana P.
Published: May 2021

Habitat destruction reduces biodiversity and affects ecosystem functioning, putting at risk the provision of ecosystem services (ESs) essential for human well‐being. Ecological restoration using native species with multiple uses may offer a long‐term supply of natural resources for vulnerable human populations. We selected priority areas for restoration in the Brazilian Seasonally Dry Tropical Forest (Caatinga), targeting areas with high ES demand but low supply. We estimated the supply and demand for three ESs: (1) food/medicine, (2) wood production, and (3) pollination. We estimated ES supply using maps of the potential geographical distribution of 194 native plant species used by the local population as a means of livelihood. For ES demand, we used maps of population density, rural municipalities, wood productivity, and crops dependent on pollination. We used a large‐scale prioritization tool (Zonation) to select two scenarios for each ES: (1) ES supply‐only and (2) ES supply + ES demand, selecting only nonvegetated areas. To select priority areas, where the potential occurrence of species (ES supply) corresponds to areas of high demand for the same services, we overlapped the maps of the two scenarios for each ES. The highest percentage of scenario overlap occurred for food/medicine ES (45%), whereas pollination showed the lowest percentage of overlap (10%), indicating little similarity between potential ES supply and demand areas. Our study shows the importance of including ES in ecological restoration opportunities, taking into account the vulnerable human population in dry regions and their demand for natural resources.
Analyzing spillover effects of development of Asian highway on regional growth of Northeast Asian countries
Authors: Kim Euijune , Moon Seung‐Woon , Yi Yoojin
Published: May 2021

We develop a multinational multiregional computable general equilibrium (MMCGE) model to analyze the economic impacts of connecting two missing links on Asian Highway Route 1 (AH1) in 20 Northeast Asian regions. The major sources of economic benefits from the completion of two cross‐border transportation networks connecting Japan and China via the Korean peninsula are travel time (cost) reductions and decreased transportation rate. These variables are major shocks to the model, which identifies wider economic benefits through the supply and demand linkages among economic agents in these nations. In terms of the spillover effects on the 20 regions, the best alternative among the three proposed development projects is the redevelopment and operation of the North Korea Highway between South Korea and China. The development of the AH1 section from Tokyo, Japan to Dongbei, in Northeast China, has a synergy effect on the Chinese economy, generating 0.538% GDP growth. Our simulation of the model provides public agents and stockholders with analytical and strategic insights into the investment efficiency, effectiveness, and priority level of the proposed highway project in terms of national and regional economic goals.
Long‐read genome assembly and genetic architecture of fruit shape in the bottle gourd
Authors: Xu Pei , Wang Ying , Sun Fengshuo , Wu Rongling , Du Huilong , Wang Yuhong , Jiang Libo , Wu Xiaohua , Wu Xinyi , Yang Liming , Xing Nailin , Hu Yaowen , Wang Baogen , Huang Yunping , Tao Ye , Gao Qiang , Liang Chengzhi , Li Yanwei , Lu Zhongfu , Li Guojing
Published: May 2021

The bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria, Cucurbitaceae) is an important horticultural crop exhibiting tremendous diversity in fruit shape. The genetic architecture of fruit shape variation in this species remains unknown. We assembled a long‐read‐based, high‐quality reference genome (ZAAS_Lsic_2.0) with a contig N50 value over 390‐fold greater than the existing reference genomes. We then focused on dissection of fruit shape using a one‐step geometric morphometrics‐based functional mapping approach. We identified 11 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) responsible for fruit shape (fsQTLs), reconstructed their visible effects and revealed syntenic relationships of bottle gourd fsQTLs with 12 fsQTLs previously reported in cucumber, melon or watermelon. Homologs of several well‐known and newly identified fruit shape genes, including SUN, OFP, AP2 and auxin transporters, were comapped with bottle gourd QTLs.
Nurse Practitioners’ Implementation of Evidence‐Based Practice Into Routine Care: A Scoping Review
Authors: Clarke Vanessa , Lehane Elaine , Mulcahy Helen , Cotter Patrick
Published: May 2021

Background

Implementation of evidence‐based practice (EBP) is essential for ensuring high‐quality health care at minimum cost. Although all nurses have a responsibility to implement EBP at an individual patient level, nurse practitioners (NPs) as clinical leaders have additional responsibilities in leading and collaborating with transdisciplinary teams to implement EBP across patient groups and embed practice change into routine care.

Aim

To explore the factors affecting the implementation of EBP into routine care by NPs. Specifically, to examine NP beliefs, levels of EBP implementation, and barriers and enablers to EBP implementation into routine care.

Methods

A scoping review was conducted using the Arksey and O'Malley (International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 8, 2005, 19) framework. The electronic databases CINAHL, Medline, and PsycINFO were searched for studies published between 2009 and 2018 along with gray literature and reference lists of included articles. Abstracts and studies were screened using predefined eligibility criteria. Data extraction was undertaken using a standardized framework and data synthesis completed.

Results

Seven studies were included in the review. Findings indicated NPs valued EBP and believed it to be important in standardizing patient care. NPs’ implementation of EBP was found to be relatively low overall. It was not possible to fully determine the extent to which NPs implemented EBP into routine care. NPs experienced similar barriers to EBP implementation as do nurse generalists such as lack of time, lack of EBP competence, lack of support from colleagues and managers, and inadequate resources. In particular, NPs identified collaborative practice issues as factors affecting EBP implementation. Identified barriers included physician‐driven practice and the need to maintain professional and political boundaries. Supportive collaborative relationships and having professional confidence were identified facilitators.

Linking Evidence to Action

An exploration of NPs’ experience of interprofessional collaboration when implementing EBP into routine care is needed to identify requirements for support in this area.
INVESTIGATION AND TREATMENT OF AIR POLLUTION FROM INCENSE BURNING IN VIETNAM
Authors: Thuy Nguyen Thi , Khoi Tran Tien , Anh Thu Dang Thi , Thuy Vo Thi Thanh , Anh Duy Hoang Cong , Thanh Hien Lam Pham , Huy Nguyen Nhat
Published: May 2021

Indoor air pollution caused by combustion is a common problem in low-and middle-income countries which negatively affects human health. In Asian countries, burning incense in temples, pagodas, or residences is popular. This study consists of three contents (i) monitoring air quality parameters, including total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs), particulate matter (i.e. PM10 and PM2.5), and CO2 concentration in five pagodas in Ho Chi Minh City and Binh Duong province; (ii) determining air pollutants concentration generated by incense burning in room; and (iii) investigating incense smoke removal ability of photocatalytic devices. The results showed that the average air pollutants concentration in the pagodas was 625-1,108 ppb of TVOCs, 1,935-2,967 ppm of CO2, 1,175-2,137 μg/m3 of PM2.5, and 1,589-2,871 μg/m3 of PM10 in which TVOCs, PM2.5, and PM10 were presented at the threshold of direct impact on human health. Burning seven types of incense in a room revealed that the cinnamon incense smoke contained the highest concentration of TVOCs. Using photocatalytic devices for incense smoke treatment showed that the photocatalyst provided the best removal efficiency of VOCs (48.13%) was zinc salt-impregnated titanium dioxide with Zn/Ti molar ratio of 0.5% and calcined at 500 oC. This result was initially successful in finding a way to low down VOCs concentration generated from incensation to allowable level (490 ppb).
Fundaciones. Beatriz Sarlo en el siglo XIX
Authors: Laera Alejandra
Published: May 2021

Este ensayo sistematiza los abordajes de la literatura argentina del siglo XIX hechos por Beatriz Sarlo en función de un proyecto crítico más amplio, en el que ha privilegiado el siglo XX y en particular sus primeras décadas, y que ha desarrollado por lo menos hasta el presente siglo. La hipótesis central es que la insistencia en analizar el momento fundacional de la literatura argentina y la obra y figura de escritores como Sarmiento y Echeverría, se debe al objetivo de encontrar un primer momento modernizador previo a la modernidad cultural de los años que investigó en su ya clásico Una modernidad periférica. Buenos Aires 1920 y 1930 (1988). Asimismo, el ensayo propone pensar el estudio inicial de Sarlo dedicado a Juan María Gutiérrez en relación con una historia de la literatura narrada desde una perspectiva moderna, pero también con su propia posición como crítica.
Highly selective and vertical etch of silicon dioxide using ruthenium films as an etch mask
Authors: Mitchell William J. , Thibeault Brian J. , John Demis D. , Reynolds Thomas E.
Published: May 2021

Highly selective and vertical profile etching of thermally grown SiO2 films using thin metallic Ru mask films was investigated in a commercial inductively coupled plasma etcher. The effects of varying chamber pressure, substrate bias, and gas composition on etch performance were all investigated. Selectivities (measured as the SiO2 etch rate divided by the Ru etch rate) ranging from 50 to as high as 370 were measured under various process conditions without compromising the etch profile quality. It was found that fluorocarbon gas mixtures (CF4/CHF3 and CF4/C4F8) gave the best results. The addition of SF6 to the gas mixture dramatically reduced selectivity, resulting in significant Ru mask faceting and necking in the etched pillars and is not recommended for use in a standard Ru/SiO2 etch process.
Physics of phonation offset: Towards understanding relative fundamental frequency observations
Authors: Serry Mohamed A. , Stepp Cara E. , Peterson Sean D.
Published: May 2021

Relative fundamental frequency (RFF) is a promising assessment technique for vocal pathologies. Herein, we explore the underlying laryngeal factors dictating RFF behaviours during phonation offset. To gain physical insights, we analyze a simple impact oscillator model and follow that with a numerical study using the well-established body-cover model of the vocal folds (VFs). Study of the impact oscillator suggests that the observed decrease in fundamental frequency during offset is due, at least in part, to the increase in the neutral gap between the VFs during abduction and the concomitant decrease in collision forces. Moreover, the impact oscillator elucidates a correlation between sharper drops in RFF and increased stiffness of the VFs, supporting experimental RFF studies. The body-cover model study further emphasizes the correlation between the drops in RFF and collision forces. The numerical analysis also illustrates the sensitivity of RFF to abduction initiation time relative to the phase of the phonation cycle, and the abduction period length. In addition, the numerical simulations display the potential role of the cricothyroid muscle to mitigate the RFF reduction. Last, simplified models of phonotraumatic vocal hyperfunction are explored, demonstrating that the observed sharper drops in RFF are associated with increased pre-offset collision forces.
Informational masking in the modulation domain
Authors: Conroy Christopher , Kidd Gerald
Published: May 2021

Uncertainty regarding the frequency spectrum of a masker can have an adverse effect on the ability to focus selective attention on a target frequency channel, yielding informational masking (IM). This study sought to determine if uncertainty regarding the modulation spectrum of a masker can have an analogous adverse effect on the ability to focus selective attention on a target modulation channel, yielding IM in the modulation domain, or “modulation IM.” A single-interval, two-alternative forced-choice (yes-no) procedure was used. The task was to detect 32-Hz target sinusoidal amplitude modulation (SAM) imposed on a broadband-noise carrier in the presence of masker SAM imposed on the same carrier. Six maskers, spanning the range from 8 to 128 Hz in half-octave steps, were tested, excluding those that fell within a two-octave protected zone surrounding the target. Psychometric functions (d′-vs-target modulation depth) were measured for each masker under two conditions: a fixed (low-uncertainty/low-IM) condition, in which the masker was the same on all trials within a block, and a random (high-uncertainty/high-IM) condition, in which it varied randomly from presentation-to-presentation. Thresholds and slopes extracted from the psychometric functions differed markedly between the conditions. These results are consistent with the idea that IM occurs in the modulation domain.
Automatic detection and classification of baleen whale social calls using convolutional neural networks
Authors: Rasmussen Jeppe Have , Širović Ana
Published: May 2021

Passive acoustic monitoring has proven to be an indispensable tool for many aspects of baleen whale research. Manual detection of whale calls on these large data sets demands extensive manual labor. Automated whale call detectors offer a more efficient approach and have been developed for many species and call types. However, calls with a large level of variability such as fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) 40 Hz call and blue whale (B. musculus) D call have been challenging to detect automatically and hence no practical automated detector exists for these two call types. Using a modular approach consisting of faster region-based convolutional neural network followed by a convolutional neural network, we have created automated detectors for 40 Hz calls and D calls. Both detectors were tested on recordings with high- and low density of calls and, when selecting for detections with high classification scores, they were shown to have precision ranging from 54% to 57% with recall ranging from 72% to 78% for 40 Hz and precision ranging from 62% to 64% with recall ranging from 70 to 73% for D calls. As these two call types are produced by both sexes, using them in long-term studies would remove sex-bias in estimates of temporal presence and movement patterns.
Morning Preconditioning Exercise Does Not Increase Afternoon Performance in Competitive Runners
Authors: Dahl Even Brøndbo , Øygard Eivind , Paulsen Gøran , Rud Bjarne , Losnegard Thomas
Published: May 2021

Purpose: Preconditioning exercise is a widely used strategy believed to enhance performance later the same day. The authors examined the influence of preconditioning exercises 6 hours prior to a time-to-exhaustion (TTE) test during treadmill running. Methods: Ten male competitive runners (age = 26 [3] y, height = 184 [8] cm, weight = 73 [9] kg, maximum oxygen consumption = 72 [7] mL·kg−1·min−1) did a preconditioning session of running (RUN) or resistance exercise (RES) or no morning exercise (NoEx) in a randomized order, separated by >72 hours. The RUN consisted of 15 minutes of low-intensity running and 4 × 15 seconds at race pace (21–24 km·h−1) on a treadmill; RES involved 5 minutes of low-intensity running and 2 × 3 repetitions of isokinetic 1-leg shallow squats with maximal mobilization. Following a 6-hour break, electrically evoked force (m. vastus medialis), countermovement jump, running economy, and a TTE of approximately 2 minutes were examined. Results: Relative to NoEx, no difference was seen for RUN or RES in TTE (mean ± 95% CI: −1.3% ± 3.4% and −0.5% ± 6.0%) or running economy (0.2% ± 1.6% and 1.9% ± 2.7%; all Ps > .05). Jump height was not different for the RUN condition (1.0% ± 2.7%]) but tended to be higher in RES than in the NoEx condition (1.5% ± 1.6%, P = .07). The electrically evoked force tended to reveal low-frequency fatigue (reduced 20:50-Hz peak force ratio) only after RES compared to NoEx (−4.5% ± 4.6%, P = .06). Conclusion: The RUN or RES 6 hours prior to approximately 2 minutes of TTE running test did not improve performance in competitive runners.
Making the hard problem of consciousness easier
Authors: Melloni Lucia , Mudrik Liad , Pitts Michael , Koch Christof
Published: May 2021

Championing open science, an adversarial collaboration aims to unravel the footprints of consciousness
Comparison of Coccidioidin and Spherulin in Complement Fixation Tests for Coccidioidomycosis
Authors: Huppert M. , Krasnow I. , Vukovich K. R. , Sun S. H. , Rice E. H. , Kutner L. J.
Published: May 2021

Coccidioidin, an extract from the saprophytic mycelial form of
Coccidioides immitis
, has been a very useful antigen preparation in serological tests for coccidioidomycosis. Its sensitivity has been very good for detecting most types of clinical disease, but tests with coccidioidin have been negative for 40% or more of patients with chronic pulmonary disease, the clinical entity which must be differentiated from other cavitary, nodular, or fibrotic pulmonary disease, e.g., tuberculosis and cancer. The specificity of coccidioidin has also been good although it results in positive tests for an average of 16% among patients with noncoccidioidal mycoses. Recently spherulin, an extract from the parasitic endosporulating spherule form of
C. immitis
, was reported to be more sensitive than coccidioidin in concurrent complement fixation tests with sera from selected cases. We have compared coccidioidin and spherulin in concurrent complement fixation tests with 614 sera submitted routinely for coccidioidal serology and with 159 selected sera from patients with noncoccidioidal mycoses. Among the former, spherulin was positive with 25% and coccidioidin with 23%, and correlation of titer scores was highly significant. Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences with respect to frequency of positive specimens, titer scores, or diagnosis for current coccidioidomycosis. The results with sera from noncoccidioidal mycoses revealed marked differences. Coccidioidin was positive with 20%, and spherulin was positive with 48%. The titer scores with spherulin were consistently and significantly higher, and there was no correlation for results with the two antigens. Thus, coccidioidin and spherulin were equally sensitive, but spherulin was considerably less specific.
Elimination of false-positive cytomegalovirus immunoglobulin M-fluorescent-antibody reactions with immunoglobulin M serum fractions
Authors: Robertson P W , Kertesz V , Cloonan M J
Published: May 2021

The cytomegalovirus fluorescent-antibody test for immunoglobline M (IgM) antibody was found positive in seven of nine infants with congenital rubella infection, in addition to eight of eight infants with confirmed cytomegalovirus infection. When the test was repeated on IgM fractions of the same sera freed from IgG by ultracentrifugation, only negative reactions were observed in those from the rubella-infected infants, whereas IgM fractions from the cytomegalovirus-infected infants remained positive.
Isolation of an obligately anaerobic Streptococcus pneumoniae from blood culture
Authors: Yatabe j a , baldwin K L , Martin W J
Published: May 2021

An obligately anaerobic strain of Streptococcus pneumoniae was isolated from blood culture in a 14-month-old child with an upper respiratory tract infection.
Rapid method for auxotyping multiple strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Authors: Short H B , Ploscowe V B , Weiss J A , Young F E
Published: May 2021

A rapid method for auxotyping strains was developed that uses microtiter plates. This miniplate technique enables rapid identification of major auxotypes present in clinical strains. Additional growth requirements can be identified by adding individual amino acid supplements to complete gonococcal genetic medium. Analysis of 8 clones from 40 patients revealed that 10 had more than 1 auxotype. Deoxyribonucleic acid-mediated transformation can be used to establish whether the strains with apparently more than one auxotype are defective in the same locus in each of the involved biosynthetic pathways. Selection of more than one clone is required in precise epidemiological studies.