bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification of bile acid and fatty acid species as candidate rapidly bactericidal agents for topical treatment of gonorrhoea
Authors: Palace Samantha G , Fryling Kyra E , Li Ying , Wentworth Adam J , Traverso Giovanni , Grad Yonatan H
Published: June 2021

Background

Novel therapeutic strategies are urgently needed for Neisseria gonorrhoeae, given its increasing antimicrobial resistance. Treatment of oropharyngeal N. gonorrhoeae infections has proven particularly challenging, with most reported treatment failures of the first-line drug ceftriaxone occurring at this site and lower cure rates in recent trials of new antibiotics reported for oropharyngeal infections compared with other sites of infection. However, the accessibility of the oropharynx to topical therapeutics provides an opportunity for intervention. Local delivery of a therapeutic at a high concentration would enable the use of non-traditional antimicrobial candidates, including biological molecules that exploit underlying chemical sensitivities of N. gonorrhoeae but lack the potency or pharmacokinetic profiles required for effective systemic administration.

Methods

Two classes of molecules that are thought to limit gonococcal viability in vivo, bile acids and short- and medium-chain fatty acids, were examined for rapid bactericidal activity.

Results

The bile acids deoxycholic acid (DCA) and chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA), but not other bile acid species, exerted extremely rapid bactericidal properties against N. gonorrhoeae, reducing viability more than 100 000-fold after 1 min. The short-chain fatty acids formic acid and hexanoic acid shared this rapid bactericidal activity. All four molecules are effective against a phylogenetically diverse panel of N. gonorrhoeae strains, including clinical isolates with upregulated efflux pumps and resistance alleles to the most widely used classes of existing antimicrobials. DCA and CDCA are both approved therapeutics for non-infectious indications and are well-tolerated by cultured epithelial cells.

Conclusions

DCA and CDCA are attractive candidates for further development as anti-gonococcal agents.
Smart Mathematical Manipulation οf Spectral Signals: Stability Indicating, fοr the Estimation of Sοlifenacin Succinate: Anti-Muscarinic Drug, in Existence οf Its Acid Degradatiοn Product
Authors: Fayed Ahmed S , Hegazy Maha A , Kamel Ebraam B , Eissa Maya S
Published: June 2021

Backgrοund

Fοur rapid, smart, and easy tο apply spectrοphοtοmetric methοds were developed fοr the estimatiοn οf sοlifenacin succinate (SΟL) with its acid-induced degradation prοduct.

Οbjective

Development οf stability-indicating, smart, sensitive, cheap spectrοphοtοmetric methοds fοr determinatiοn οf SΟL in the presence οf its acid degradate.

Methοds

Methοd A is a dual wavelength methοd where twο wavelengths were selected (262 and 289 nm) and utilized tο determine SΟL in the presence οf its acid degradate. Methοd B involves develοping the first derivative (1D) οf the absοrptiοn spectra. Peak signal was detected at 276 nm. Methοd C is a ratiο difference methοd where the drug is determined by the difference in signal between twο selected wavelengths, at 240 and 259 nm. Methοd D is dependent οn measuring the peak signal οf the first derivative οf the ratiο spectra (1DD) at 269 nm.

Results

Calibratiοn curves οf the suggested methοds exhibited linearity. The selectivity οf the suggested methοds were ascertained using different labοratοry-prepared mixtures οf SΟL with its acid degradate, indicating specificity οf SΟL with accepted recοvery values. The suggested methοds have been successfully applied tο the analysis οf SΟL in its pharmaceutical dοsage fοrm withοut the invοlvement οf additives.

Cοnclusiοn

The presented wοrk applied fοur resοlutiοn techniques, based οn absοrbance, derivative, and/οr ratiο spectra, fοr the analysis οf SΟL in the presence οf its acid degradate.

Highlights

The study οf degradatiοn pathways οf drugs is οf great impοrtance. Hence, acid hydrοlysis οf SΟL was achieved and then SΟL was determined alοng with its acid degradate.
Determination of Six Tetracyclines in Eggs and Chicken by Dispersive Liquid-Liquid Microextraction Combined with High-Performance Liquid Chromatography
Authors: Yang Yi , Yin Shuo , Wu Ling , Li Yongxin , Sun Chengjun
Published: June 2021

Background

The wide usage of tetracyclines in livestock farming may result in drug residues in foods. Therefore, it is necessary to develop reliable methods for the determination of tetracyclines in foods.

Objective

A dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) combined with HPLC method was developed for the analysis of six tetracyclines in eggs and chicken.

Methods

After deproteinization, tetracyclines in acidic solutions were concentrated by vortex-assisted DLLME. After the addition of NaCl (35% for eggs and 20% for chicken), a mixture of ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate and ethyl acetate (300 μL–50 μL for eggs and 200 μL–60 μL for chicken) was used as the extractant. After centrifugation, the extract was collected for HPLC analysis.

Results

The developed method showed good linear relationships (10.0–500 μg/kg), low method detection limits (0.219–1.42 μg/kg) and quantification limits (0.731–4.72 μg/kg), and satisfactory relative recoveries (87.1–104%), with intra-day and inter-day RSDs in the ranges of 0.853–8.62% and 1.65–11.8%, respectively. The established method was successfully applied for the determination of six tetracyclines in eggs and different parts of chicken. The contents of tetracyclines in all samples were lower than their maximum residue limits.

Conclusion

A DLLME-HPLC method has been developed for the analysis of six tetracyclines in animal-derived foods using ionic liquid and ethyl acetate as the extractant.

Highlights

The developed method is simple, sensitive, cost-effective, and has strong anti-interference abilities. This method has been successfully applied to the analysis of six tetracyclines in eggs and chicken.
Finding Your Crowd: The Role of Government Level and Charity Type in Revenue Crowd-Out
Authors: Grasse Nathan J , Searing Elizabeth A M , Neely Daniel G
Published: June 2021

The literature on the relationship between government funding and private donations finds evidence of both crowd-out (a reduction in private donations due to the receipt of government funding) and crowd-in (increased donations rather than a reduction). This study uses organizational-level data and information regarding funding from multiple levels of government in Canada to provide an important contribution to the literature, which has traditionally relied upon aggregated measures of government funding. Results from dynamic panel estimations suggest that effects vary by type of charity and level of government funding source, with some subsectors displaying crowd-in, some crowd-out, and some both phenomenon depending on the level of government providing funding. These findings encourage more research into the context and variation involved in crowd-out, raising practical and theoretical questions about whether a uniform effect across subsectors or level of government funding should be expected.
Keeping Kids in Care: Reducing Administrative Burden in State Child Care Development Fund Policy
Authors: Jenkins Jade Marcus , Nguyen Tutrang
Published: June 2021

With limited federal requirements for block grants, states have developed very different welfare policies, often with onerous recertification or reporting requirements, creating barriers to continuous program enrollment. Examined through the framework of Administrative Burden, our study examines how changes to burdensome policies in states’ Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) programs affect the length of children’s continuous enrollment in child care through the CCDF program, known as subsidy “spells.” We exploit state-level changes in three key policies during a 10-year period (2004–13) that capture administrative burden: (1) length of eligibility redetermination; (2) reporting requirements for income changes; and (3) grace period for care before termination. Using state fixed effects analyses in a sample of 38 states using data from the Administration for Children and Families and multiple other sources, we find that administrative burdens meaningfully and robustly affect continuous enrollment in CCDF; switching to a 12-month redetermination period, as required 2014 Child Care and Development Block Grant reauthorization, increases children’s continuous enrollment in CCDF care (i.e., state median spell length) by 30%. In contrast, requiring all changes in family income to be reported while enrolled in CCDF decreases spell length by 7%. Results underscore the importance of reducing administrative burdens related to compliance costs to better support low-income citizens, especially those with young children, and improve child development.
The Professional Agency Narrative—Conceptualizing the Role of Professional Knowledge in Frontline Work
Authors: Cecchini Mathilde , Harrits Gitte Sommer
Published: June 2021

The street-level bureaucracy literature teaches us that frontline workers draw on both policy logics and social, cultural, and personal logics in their work. This has been conceptualized as the state agency narrative and citizen agency narrative, and it is both well documented and well theorized. However, the literature on street-level bureaucracy and frontline work is remarkably silent on how to understand the role of professional knowledge in frontline work. In this article, we seek to fill this gap by theorizing and empirically demonstrating how frontline work is characterized by what we call a professional agency narrative centering on problem solving and the use of knowledge on “what works.” We do so through in-depth qualitative analyses of data from two empirical studies on frontline work in schools. The first is an interview study consisting of 42 semi-structured interviews with Danish preschool and school teachers on the topic of prevention of social and health risks. The second study is an ethnographic study consisting of more than 500 h of observation, two focus groups with teachers and seven semi-structured interviews with teachers on the topic of health risk prevention in Danish schools. Based on the analysis of this rich qualitative data, we develop the concept of the professional agency narrative and discuss how this concept can contribute to the broader literatures on street-level work and the management of street-level work.
Preparation and evaluation of reduction-responsive micelles based on disulfide-linked chondroitin sulfate A-tocopherol succinate for controlled antitumour drug release
Authors: Cai Songjin , Xie Xin , Yuan Qinglan , Ding Jian , Meng Lijia , Li Junzhi , He Ming , Li Weidong , Yu Jingmou
Published: June 2021

Objectives

The study was to construct reduction-responsive chondroitin sulfate A (CSA)-conjugated TOS (CST) micelles with disulfide bond linkage, which was used for controlled doxorubicin (DOX) release and improved drug efficacy in vivo.

Methods

CST and non-responsive CSA-conjugated TOS (CAT) were synthesized, and the chemical structure was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy, fluorescence spectrophotometer and dynamic light scattering. Antitumour drug DOX was physically encapsulated into CST and CSA by dialysis method. Cell uptake of DOX-based formulations was investigated by confocal laser scanning microscopy. In vitro cytotoxicity was studied in A549 and AGS cells. Furthermore, antitumour activity was evaluated in A549-bearing mice.

Key findings

CST and CAT can form self-assembled micelles, and have low value of critical micelle concentration. Notably, DOX-containing CST (D-CST) micelles demonstrated reduction-triggered drug release in glutathione-containing media. Further, reduction-responsive uptake of D-CST was observed in A549 cells. In addition, D-CST induced stronger cytotoxicity (P < 0.05) than DOX-loaded CAT (D-CAT) against A549 and AGS cells. Moreover, D-CST exhibited significantly stronger antitumour activity in A549-bearing nude mice than doxorubicin hydrochloride and D-CAT.

Conclusions

The reduction-responsive CST micelles enhanced the DOX effect at tumour site and controlled drug release.
COVID-19 response during the winter season in Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh
Authors: Islam Md Bayezid , Sultana Tahmina , Marium Marzia , Mahfuz Mahzabeen , Rahman Syed Mahbubur
Published: June 2021

The refugee camps, home of around a million Rohingya, in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, have witnessed a series of disease outbreaks including COVID-19. Here, we report the actions that have been taken to address the COVID-19 outbreak during the winter season among Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.
Toward an understanding of the detection and function of R-loops in plants
Authors: Gao Jingjing , Zhang Pengyue , Li Xinxu , Wu Wenqi , Wei Hairong , Zhang Wenli
Published: June 2021

Although lagging behind studies in humans and other mammals, studies of R-loops in plants have recently entered an exciting stage in which the roles of R-loops in gene expression, genome stability, epigenomic signatures, and plant development and stress responses are being elucidated. Here, we review the strengths and weaknesses of existing methodologies, which were largely developed for R-loop studies in mammals, and then discuss the potential challenges of applying these methodologies to R-loop studies in plants. We then focus on recent advances in the functional characterization of R-loops in Arabidopsis thaliana and rice. Recent studies in plants indicate that there are coordinated relationships between R-loops and gene expression, and between R-loops and epigenomic signatures that depend, in part, on the types of R-loops involved. Finally, we discuss the emerging roles of R-loops in plants and directions for future research.
Annotated Copies of Early Editions of Johnson's Dictionary: A Preliminary Account
Authors: Considine John
Published: June 2021

Early responses to Johnson’s Dictionary of the English Language included manuscript annotations, sometimes very extensive, in copies of the dictionary. This article surveys twenty-one copies of eighteenth-century editions of the dictionary with critical or informative annotations, bearing on etymology or usage, adding new words or senses, or improving the supply and referencing of quotations. Some of these copies are extant in institutional or private collections, and others are unlocated. The annotators include Johnson himself; members of his circle including Edmund Burke, Samuel Dyer, Edmond Malone, Hester Piozzi, and George Steevens; and other readers including Leigh Hunt, Horne Tooke, Noah Webster, and John Wilkes.
Smoothed particle radiation hydrodynamics: two-moment method with local Eddington tensor closure
Authors: Chan T K , Theuns Tom , Bower Richard , Frenk Carlos
Published: June 2021

We present a new smoothed particle hydrodynamics-radiative transfer method (sph-m1rt) that is coupled dynamically with sph. We implement it in the (task-based parallel) swift galaxy simulation code but it can be straightforwardly implemented in other sph codes. Our moment-based method simultaneously solves the radiation energy and flux equations in sph, making it adaptive in space and time. We modify the m1 closure relation to stabilize radiation fronts in the optically thin limit. We also introduce anisotropic artificial viscosity and high-order artificial diffusion schemes, which allow the code to handle radiation transport accurately in both the optically thin and optically thick regimes. Non-equilibrium thermochemistry is solved using a semi-implicit sub-cycling technique. The computational cost of our method is independent of the number of sources and can be lowered further by using the reduced speed-of-light approximation. We demonstrate the robustness of our method by applying it to a set of standard tests from the cosmological radiative transfer comparison project of Iliev et al. The sph-m1rt scheme is well-suited for modelling situations in which numerous sources emit ionizing radiation, such as cosmological simulations of galaxy formation or simulations of the interstellar medium.
Geonomics: Forward-Time, Spatially Explicit, and Arbitrarily Complex Landscape Genomic Simulations
Authors: Terasaki Hart Drew E , Bishop Anusha P , Wang Ian J
Published: June 2021

Understanding the drivers of spatial patterns of genomic diversity has emerged as a major goal of evolutionary genetics. The flexibility of forward-time simulation makes it especially valuable for these efforts, allowing for the simulation of arbitrarily complex scenarios in a way that mimics how real populations evolve. Here, we present Geonomics, a Python package for performing complex, spatially explicit, landscape genomic simulations with full spatial pedigrees that dramatically reduces user workload yet remains customizable and extensible because it is embedded within a popular, general-purpose language. We show that Geonomics results are consistent with expectations for a variety of validation tests based on classic models in population genetics and then demonstrate its utility and flexibility with a trio of more complex simulation scenarios that feature polygenic selection, selection on multiple traits, simulation on complex landscapes, and nonstationary environmental change. We then discuss runtime, which is primarily sensitive to landscape raster size, memory usage, which is primarily sensitive to maximum population size and recombination rate, and other caveats related to the model’s methods for approximating recombination and movement. Taken together, our tests and demonstrations show that Geonomics provides an efficient and robust platform for population genomic simulations that capture complex spatial and evolutionary dynamics.
Heterogeneous Histories of Recombination Suppression on Stickleback Sex Chromosomes
Authors: Sardell Jason M , Josephson Matthew P , Dalziel Anne C , Peichel Catherine L , Kirkpatrick Mark
Published: June 2021

How consistent are the evolutionary trajectories of sex chromosomes shortly after they form? Insights into the evolution of recombination, differentiation, and degeneration can be provided by comparing closely related species with homologous sex chromosomes. The sex chromosomes of the threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) and its sister species, the Japan Sea stickleback (G. nipponicus), have been well characterized. Little is known, however, about the sex chromosomes of their congener, the blackspotted stickleback (G. wheatlandi). We used pedigrees to obtain experimentally phased whole genome sequences from blackspotted stickleback X and Y chromosomes. Using multispecies gene trees and analysis of shared duplications, we demonstrate that Chromosome 19 is the ancestral sex chromosome and that its oldest stratum evolved in the common ancestor of the genus. After the blackspotted lineage diverged, its sex chromosomes experienced independent and more extensive recombination suppression, greater X–Y differentiation, and a much higher rate of Y degeneration than the other two species. These patterns may result from a smaller effective population size in the blackspotted stickleback. A recent fusion between the ancestral blackspotted stickleback Y chromosome and Chromosome 12, which produced a neo-X and neo-Y, may have been favored by the very small size of the recombining region on the ancestral sex chromosome. We identify six strata on the ancestral and neo-sex chromosomes where recombination between the X and Y ceased at different times. These results confirm that sex chromosomes can evolve large differences within and between species over short evolutionary timescales.
Peromyscus fraterculus(Rodentia: Cricetidae)
Authors: Cornejo-Latorre Cristian , Cortés-Calva Patricia , Álvarez-Castañeda Sergio Ticul
Published: June 2021

Peromyscus fraterculus (Miller, 1892) is a small rodent commonly called the northern Baja deermouse. Its pelage is dark, the tail is considerably longer than the body, and the number of caudal vertebrae ranges from 30 to 34. The geographic distribution of P. fraterculus includes the area west of the Colorado River, from southern California in the United States of America southward to the Baja California Peninsula, Mexico, south of La Paz Isthmus. It is found in a broad variety of habitats from sea level to 1,175 m. P. fraterculus does not have special conservation status, although the island populations have conservation issues, mainly due to the introduction of non-native species. It is listed as “Least Concern” (LC) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.
NOVA2 regulates neural circRNA biogenesis
Authors: Knupp David , Cooper Daphne A , Saito Yuhki , Darnell Robert B , Miura Pedro
Published: June 2021

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are highly expressed in the brain and their expression increases during neuronal differentiation. The factors regulating circRNAs in the developing mouse brain are unknown. NOVA1 and NOVA2 are neural-enriched RNA-binding proteins with well-characterized roles in alternative splicing. Profiling of circRNAs from RNA-seq data revealed that global circRNA levels were reduced in embryonic cortex of Nova2 but not Nova1 knockout mice. Analysis of isolated inhibitory and excitatory cortical neurons lacking NOVA2 revealed an even more dramatic reduction of circRNAs and establishes a widespread role for NOVA2 in enhancing circRNA biogenesis. To investigate the cis-elements controlling NOVA2-regulation of circRNA biogenesis, we generated a backsplicing reporter based on the Efnb2 gene. We found that NOVA2-mediated backsplicing of circEfnb2 was impaired when YCAY clusters located in flanking introns were mutagenized. CLIP (cross-linking and immunoprecipitation) and additional reporter analyses demonstrated the importance of NOVA2 binding sites located in both flanking introns of circRNA loci. NOVA2 is the first RNA-binding protein identified to globally promote circRNA biogenesis in the developing brain.
Reduction of lamin B receptor levels by miR-340-5p disrupts chromatin, promotes cell senescence and enhances senolysis
Authors: Herman Allison B , Anerillas Carlos , Harris Sophia C , Munk Rachel , Martindale Jennifer L , Yang Xiaoling , Mazan-Mamczarz Krystyna , Zhang Yongqing , Heckenbach Indra J , Scheibye-Knudsen Morten , De Supriyo , Sen Payel , Abdelmohsen Kotb , Gorospe Myriam
Published: June 2021

A major stress response influenced by microRNAs (miRNAs) is senescence, a state of indefinite growth arrest triggered by sublethal cell damage. Here, through bioinformatic analysis and experimental validation, we identified miR-340-5p as a novel miRNA that foments cellular senescence. miR-340-5p was highly abundant in diverse senescence models, and miR-340-5p overexpression in proliferating cells rendered them senescent. Among the target mRNAs, miR-340-5p prominently reduced the levels of LBR mRNA, encoding lamin B receptor (LBR). Loss of LBR by ectopic overexpression of miR-340-5p derepressed heterochromatin in lamina-associated domains, promoting the expression of DNA repetitive elements characteristic of senescence. Importantly, overexpressing miR-340-5p enhanced cellular sensitivity to senolytic compounds, while antagonization of miR-340-5p reduced senescent cell markers and engendered resistance to senolytic-induced cell death. We propose that miR-340-5p can be exploited for removing senescent cells to restore tissue homeostasis and mitigate damage by senescent cells in pathologies of human aging.
Revising Conventional Wisdom About Histoplasmosis in the United States
Authors: Benedict Kaitlin , Toda Mitsuru , Jackson Brendan R
Published: June 2021

Studies performed during the 1940s–1960s continue to serve as the foundation of the epidemiology of histoplasmosis given that many knowledge gaps persist regarding its geographic distribution, prevalence, and burden in the United States. We explore 3 long-standing, frequently cited, and somewhat incomplete epidemiologic beliefs about histoplasmosis: (1) histoplasmosis is the most common endemic mycosis in the United States, (2) histoplasmosis is endemic to the Ohio and Mississippi River Valleys, and (3) histoplasmosis is associated with bird or bat droppings. We also summarize recent insights about the clinical spectrum of histoplasmosis and changes in underlying conditions associated with the severe forms. Continuing to identify prevention opportunities will require better epidemiologic data, better diagnostic testing, and greater awareness about this neglected disease among health care providers, public health professionals, and the general public.
A network of stress-related genes regulates hypocotyl elongation downstream of selective auxin perception
Authors: Rigal Adeline , Doyle Siamsa M. , Ritter Andrés , Raggi Sara , Vain Thomas , O’Brien José Antonio , Goossens Alain , Pauwels Laurens , Robert Stéphanie
Published: June 2021

The plant hormone auxin, a master coordinator of development, regulates hypocotyl elongation during seedling growth. We previously identified the synthetic molecule RubNeddin 1 (RN1), which induces degradation of the AUXIN/INDOLE-3-ACETIC ACID (AUX/IAA) transcriptional repressors INDOLE-3-ACETIC ACID-INDUCIBLE3 (IAA3) and IAA7 in planta and strongly promotes hypocotyl elongation. In the present study, we show that despite the structural similarity of RN1 to the synthetic auxin 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic-acid (2,4-D), direct treatments with these compounds in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) result in distinct effects, possibly due to enhanced uptake of RN1 and low-level, chronic release of 2,4-D from RN1 in planta. We confirm RN1-induced hypocotyl elongation occurs via specific TRANSPORT INHIBITOR RESISTANT1 (TIR1)/AUXIN SIGNALING F-BOX (AFB) receptor-mediated auxin signaling involving TIR1, AFB2, and AFB5. Using a transcriptome profiling strategy and candidate gene approach, we identify the genes ZINC FINGER OF ARABIDOPSIS THALIANA10 (ZAT10), ARABIDOPSIS TOXICOS EN LEVADURA31 (ATL31), and WRKY DNA-BINDING PROTEIN33 (WRKY33) as being rapidly upregulated by RN1, despite being downregulated by 2,4-D treatment. RN1-induced expression of these genes also occurs via TIR1/AFB-mediated auxin signaling. Our results suggest both hypocotyl elongation and transcription of these genes are induced by RN1 via the promoted degradation of the AUX/IAA transcriptional repressor IAA7. Moreover, these three genes, which are known to be stress-related, act in an inter-dependent transcriptional regulatory network controlling hypocotyl elongation. Together, our results suggest ZAT10, ATL31, and WRKY33 take part in a common gene network regulating hypocotyl elongation in Arabidopsis downstream of a selective auxin perception module likely involving TIR1, AFB2, and AFB5 and inducing the degradation of IAA7.
Proton motive force in plant photosynthesis dominated by ΔpH in both low and high light
Authors: Wilson Sam , Johnson Matthew P. , Ruban Alexander V.
Published: June 2021

The proton motive force (pmf) across the thylakoid membrane couples photosynthetic electron transport and ATP synthesis. In recent years, the electrochromic carotenoid and chlorophyll absorption band shift (ECS), peaking ∼515 nm, has become a widely used probe to measure pmf in leaves. However, the use of this technique to calculate the parsing of the pmf between the proton gradient (ΔpH) and electric potential (Δψ) components remains controversial. Interpretation of the ECS signal is complicated by overlapping absorption changes associated with violaxanthin de-epoxidation to zeaxanthin (ΔA505) and energy-dependent nonphotochemical quenching (qE; ΔA535). In this study, we used Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) plants with altered xanthophyll cycle activity and photosystem II subunit S (PsbS) content to disentangle these overlapping contributions. In plants where overlap among ΔA505, ΔA535, and ECS is diminished, such as npq4 (lacking ΔA535) and npq1npq4 (also lacking ΔA505), the parsing method implies the Δψ contribution is virtually absent and pmf is solely composed of ΔpH. Conversely, in plants where ΔA535 and ECS overlap is enhanced, such as L17 (a PsbS overexpressor) and npq1 (where ΔA535 is blue-shifted to 525 nm) the parsing method implies a dominant contribution of Δψ to the total pmf. These results demonstrate the vast majority of the pmf attributed by the ECS parsing method to Δψ is caused by ΔA505 and ΔA535 overlap, confirming pmf is dominated by ΔpH following the first 60 s of continuous illumination under both low and high light conditions. Further implications of these findings for the regulation of photosynthesis are discussed.
Who Backs Separation? An Empirical Assessment of the Objective and Subjective Markers of Identity in Support for Secession in Catalonia
Authors: Guinjoan Marc
Published: June 2021

Objective markers of distinctiveness such as language, ethnicity, religion, or origin are instrumental in the formation of territorial identities. In turn, territorial identity tends to be the most powerful factor in explaining differences in support for secession. Along with this subjective identity, objective markers of distinctiveness also play a role in explaining support for secession. In this article, I argue that the literature lacks an empirical assessment of how objective and subjective markers of identity are related to support for secession. In particular, I argue that most of the effect of objective markers on support for secession is indirectly expressed via (changes in) identity. Results from survey data from Catalonia (2015–2020, N = 30,000), confirm that a large share of the effect of the region’s objective markers—language and ancestry—on secession is, as expected, mediated. This evidence has both theoretical and empirical implications for studies on identity formation and support for secession.
Prediction of shiftworker alertness, sleep, and circadian phase using a model of arousal dynamics constrained by shift schedules and light exposure
Authors: Knock Stuart A , Magee Michelle , Stone Julia E , Ganesan Saranea , Mulhall Megan D , Lockley Steven W , Howard Mark E , Rajaratnam Shantha M W , Sletten Tracey L , Postnova Svetlana
Published: June 2021

Study Objectives

The study aimed to, for the first time, (1) compare sleep, circadian phase, and alertness of intensive care unit (ICU) nurses working rotating shifts with those predicted by a model of arousal dynamics; and (2) investigate how different environmental constraints affect predictions and agreement with data.

Methods

The model was used to simulate individual sleep-wake cycles, urinary 6-sulphatoxymelatonin (aMT6s) profiles, subjective sleepiness on the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS), and performance on a Psychomotor Vigilance Task (PVT) of 21 ICU nurses working day, evening, and night shifts. Combinations of individual shift schedules, forced wake time before/after work and lighting, were used as inputs to the model. Predictions were compared to empirical data. Simulations with self-reported sleep as an input were performed for comparison.

Results

All input constraints produced similar prediction for KSS, with 56%–60% of KSS scores predicted within ±1 on a day and 48%–52% on a night shift. Accurate prediction of an individual’s circadian phase required individualized light input. Combinations including light information predicted aMT6s acrophase within ±1 h of the study data for 65% and 35%–47% of nurses on diurnal and nocturnal schedules. Minute-by-minute sleep-wake state overlap between the model and the data was between 81 ± 6% and 87 ± 5% depending on choice of input constraint.

Conclusions

The use of individualized environmental constraints in the model of arousal dynamics allowed for accurate prediction of alertness, circadian phase, and sleep for more than half of the nurses. Individual differences in physiological parameters will need to be accounted for in the future to further improve predictions.
“Jocks Gone Wild”: Masculinity, Sexual Bullying, and the Legal Normalization of Boys’ Victimization
Authors: Small Jamie L
Published: June 2021

The enactment of sexual violence is a key mechanism in the reproduction of masculinity. Yet most previous research examines the victimization of women and girls, even though men and boys do sometimes experience sexual violence. I take the case of sexual bullying on a high school athletic team to investigate the legal construction of teenaged boys’ sexual victimization. I examine the police investigation and subsequent prosecution of five youths who were charged with felonies related to sexual bullying. Data are threefold: 1) audio recordings of police detective interviews with 21 witnesses; 2) in-depth interviews with three attorneys who worked on the case; and 3) media reports about the case. This is an innovative approach because there is little knowledge about the analytical logics of sex crime investigations, as scholarly research often focuses on legal outcomes. Findings show that key actors involved in the case, including many of the boys, were ultimately able to contain the stigmatizing threat of male-male sexual bullying by invoking a discourse of comedy and friendship. This research has theoretical implications for masculinity studies, sociology of law, and scholarship on sexual assault.
Effects of bale feeder design on hay waste, intake, and apparent diet digestibility in gestating beef cows
Authors: Sexten Austin J , Moore Mikayla F , McMurphy Casey P , Mourer Gant L , Linneen Sara K , Brown Michael A , Richards Chris J , Lalman David L
Published: June 2021

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of feeder design on hay intake, apparent diet digestibility, and hay waste in gestating beef cows. Native tallgrass prairie hay and a protein supplement was fed throughout both experiments. In Exp. 1, 56 crossbred cows were used in a Latin square arrangement. Feeder design treatments included a conventional open bottom steel ring (OBSR), an open bottom polyethylene pipe ring (POLY); a sheeted bottom steel ring (RING), and a sheeted bottom steel ring with a basket (BASK). Cows were weighed and allotted based on BW to one of four previously grazed 2.0 ha paddocks equipped with a concrete feeding pad. Fourteen cows were assigned to each paddock and three round bales were fed consecutively within each treatment period. The cows acclimated to the feeders while the first bale was being consumed. Subsequently, hay waste data were collected while the second and third bale within each period were being consumed. Waste was measured for each bale at 24, 48, 72, and 96 h after each bale was introduced into the pen. Hay waste was significantly affected by hay feeder design with 19.7, 21.1, 12.4, and 5.5% of original bale weight wasted for OBSR, POLY, RING, and BASK, respectively (P < 0.01). There was a feeder design × day interaction (P < 0.01) with greater waste when the bale was first introduced into the pen in OBSR, POLY, and RING feeders and gradually declining thereafter, while waste from the BASK feeder was consistently low. There was a tendency (P = 0.06) for cows eating from OBSR feeders to consume less hay than cows eating from RING feeders. Feeder design did not influence apparent diet digestibility (P = 0.46). In Exp. 2, 64 crossbred cows (body weight = 590 ± 59 kg) were used to determine waste, forage intake, and apparent diet digestibility when hay was fed from a sheeted bottom steel ring (RING) or a RING feeder with a cone insert (CONE). More hay was wasted when cows were fed from RING feeders compared to CONE feeders (11.9% vs. 4.8%, P < 0.01). Feeder design had no effect on DMI or apparent digestibility (P > 0.45). Hay savings from adopting a more conservative feeder design can have a dramatic influence on hay utilization by beef cows and thus on cost of production.
Selected Genotypes with the Genetic Background ofVitis aestivalisandVitis labruscaAre Resistant toXiphinema index
Authors: Schurig Juliane , Ipach Ulrike , Helmstätter Brigitte , Kling Lilo , Hahn Matthias , Trapp Oliver , Winterhagen Patrick
Published: June 2021

The ectoparasitic nematode Xiphinema index transmits grapevine fanleaf virus (GFLV) during feeding on grapevine roots, causing fanleaf degeneration in the plant. Hence, resistance breeding is a key to develop novel rootstocks to overcome such threats. In past years, various grapevine species were screened, and a few candidates with partial resistance were identified. However, they were hardly sufficient for viticulture because of their many agronomical defects. To develop reliably resistant rootstocks applicable in viticulture, multiple Vitis spp. genotypes were analyzed using root inoculation with nematodes in glass vials as an early and easy evaluation test. Resistance levels were evaluated 35 days after inoculation based on nematode reproduction factors, focusing on juveniles and eggs. Infection of grapevines with GFLV was analyzed after inoculation with viruliferous X. index. With this fast screening system, putative candidates with resistances against X. index have been identified for future breeding programs. Particularly, genotypes with the genetic background of Vitis aestivalis and Vitis labrusca were found to be nematode-resistant.
Functional Annotation of circRNAs in Tea Leaves After Infection by the Tea Leaf Spot Pathogen, Lasiodiplodia theobromae
Authors: Yang Yuanyou , Jiang Xinyue , Shi Jiayan , Wang Yu , Huang Honglin , Yang Yuqin , Li Dongxue , Jiang Silong , Wang Delu , Chen Zhuo
Published: June 2021

Tea leaf spot, caused by Lasiodiplodia theobromae, is an important disease that can seriously decrease the production and quality of tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze) leaves. The analysis of circular RNA (circRNA) in tea leaves after infection by the pathogen could improve understanding about the mechanism of host–pathogen interactions. In this study, high-performance sequencing of circRNA from C. sinensis Fuding-dabaicha leaves that had been infected with L. theobromae was conducted using the Illumina HiSeq 4000 platform. In total, 192 and 153 differentially expressed circRNAs from tea leaves were significantly up- and downregulated, respectively, after infection with L. theobromae. A gene ontology analysis indicated that the differentially expressed circRNA-hosting genes for DNA binding were significantly enriched. The genes with significantly differential expressions that were annotated in the specified database (S genes) were σ factor E isoform 1, triacylglycerol lipase SDP1, DNA-directed RNA polymerase III subunit 2, WRKY transcription factor WRKY24, and regulator of nonsense transcripts 1 homolog. A Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis indicated that the significantly enriched circRNA-hosting genes involved in the plant–pathogen interaction pathway were Calmodulin-domain protein kinase 5 isoform 1, probable WRKY transcription factor 33, U-box domain-containing protein 35, probable inactive receptor-like protein kinase At3g56050, WRKY transcription factor WRKY24, mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase YODA, SGT1, and protein DGS1. Functional annotation of circRNAs in tea leaves infected by L. theobromae will provide a valuable resource for future research on host–pathogen interactions.
Early Findings on the Use of Clinical Pathways for Management of Unwarranted Variation in Cancer Care
Authors: Jackman David M. , Foster Emily , Hamilton Joanna M. , Tremonti Carole , Bunnell Craig A. , Stuver Sherri O. , Jacobson Joseph O.
Published: June 2021

Clinical pathways have the potential to improve complex clinical decision-making in cancer care. The authors implemented pathways with customized content to assist oncologists to select treatments, aiming for an on-pathway rate of 70%–85%. Treatment decisions were captured as on or off pathway, and metrics were shared monthly with users. Oncologists were categorized into quintiles based on on-pathway performance during the first 90 days of use. On-pathway rates were then calculated for days 91–360 (N = 121). Median on-pathway quintile rates varied from 50% to 100% in the initial 90-day period. During follow-up, median on-pathway rates shifted into the prespecified goal range for all groups. Clinical pathways resulted in greater uniformity in medical oncology practice. Monthly feedback about usage, familiarity with the electronic platform, and regular content updates are some factors that may influence on-pathway rates. Clinical pathways hold promise to manage unwarranted variation in cancer care.
A Novel Curriculum Assessment Tool, Based on AAMC Competencies, to Improve Medical Education About Sexual and Gender Minority Populations
Authors: Zumwalt Ann C. , Carter Erin E. , Gell-Levey Isabelle M. , Mulkey Nat , Streed Carl G. , Siegel Jennifer
Published: June 2021

Problem

Medical education aspires to mitigate bias in future professionals by providing robust curricula that include perspectives of and practices for caring for sexual and gender minority (SGM) populations; however, implementation of these ideals remains challenging. Medical school leaders motivated to improve curricula on caring for SGM populations must survey their school’s current curricula to identify strengths and opportunities for improvement. In 2014, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) published 30 SGM competencies that curricula should address. Here the authors describe the development of a tool to efficiently assess whether an undergraduate medical education (UME) curriculum adequately incorporates the AAMC-recommended SGM competencies.

Approach

In 2018, Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) convened a group of faculty and students with experience and expertise regarding SGM health. The group distilled the 30 AAMC competencies into 12 SGM topic areas that should be addressed in any UME curriculum, and they developed a curriculum assessment tool to evaluate the presence and timing of these topic areas in the BUSM curriculum. This tool was distributed to all course and clerkship directors responsible for the required UME curriculum at BUSM to investigate where these topic areas are addressed (May–June 2019).

Outcomes

The curriculum assessment tool identified several strengths in the preclerkship and clerkship curricula, including faculty willingness and enthusiasm to include SGM content. The assessment tool also revealed that some SGM topic areas are underrepresented in the BUSM curriculum, particularly during clerkships.

Next Steps

The curriculum assessment tool described here is a straightforward, standardized instrument to map SGM topic areas within any UME curriculum. It is designed to be comprehensible by individuals who are not familiar with SGM health. The tool minimizes barriers to medical curricular change by providing a mechanism to assess and understand how SGM health is incorporated into existing curricula.
Heart Rate Variability and Pain Sensitivity in Chronic Low Back Pain Patients Exposed to Passive Viewing of Photographs of Daily Activities
Authors: Bandeira Pâmela M. , Reis Felipe J.J. , Muniz Fernanda D.N. , Chaves Anna C.S. , Fernandes Orlando , Arruda-Sanchez Tiago
Published: June 2021

Objective:

Investigation if emotional reactivity by measuring heart rate variability (HRV) and pressure pain sensitivity during a passive visualization task in participants with chronic low back pain (CLBP).

Materials and Methods:

This case-control study was composed of 47 participants with CLBP and 47 asymptomatic participants. Both groups were submitted to a passive visualization task using 27 pictures from PHODA (Photograph Series of Daily Activities). HRV frequency domains were measured before, during, and after the task. Pressure pain threshold and pain intensity were also measured before and after the task.

Results:

The adjusted mean difference was statistically significant for HRV frequency domains during the visualization task, including low frequency [−5.92; 95% confidence interval (CI)=−9.60 to −2.23], high frequency (−0.71; 95% CI=−1.02 to −0.39), and low-frequency/high-frequency ratio (8.82; 95% CI=5.19 to 12.45). Pressure pain threshold decreased after the task in the CLBP group in all body sites, and pain intensity increased (−0.8; 95% CI=−1.16 to −0.39).

Discussion:

Aversive environmental stimuli, such as visual cues, may generate defensive physiological reactions. HRV can provide a measure that reflects the perceptions of threat and safety in the environment. Participants with CLBP presented changes in sympathovagal balance during passive visualization of pictures of daily activities, higher pain sensitivity, and high pain intensity when they were exposed to a passive visualization task using pictures of daily living that may arouse fears of harm.
Intraoperative Neuromonitoring Auxiliary Significance of DNEP for MEP-positive Event During Severe Spinal Deformity Surgery
Authors: Chen Jian , Deng Yao-long , Sui Wen-yuan , Yang Jing-fan , Xu Jing , Huang Zi-fang , Yang Jun-lin
Published: June 2021

Study Design:

This was a retrospective analysis.

Objective:

The objective of this study was to assess the intraoperative neuromonitoring auxiliary significance of descending neurogenic–evoked potential (DNEP) for motor-evoked potential (MEP) during severe spinal deformity surgery when MEP-positive event occurs.

Summary of Background Data:

MEP detection is the most widely applied neurological monitoring technique in spinal deformity surgery. MEP is quite vulnerable to anesthesia, blood pressure, and other intraoperative factors, leading to a high false-positive rate of MEP (3.2%–45.0%), which has greatly interfered with the surgical process. At present, the widely used “presence-or-absence” alarm criteria of MEP is not enough to solve the problem of false positive of MEP.

Methods:

A total of 205 cases undergoing severe spinal deformity correction were retrospectively studied. Overall, 74 MEP-positive cases were classified as 2 subgroups: DNEP (+) and DNEP (−) groups. The MEP recovery, wake-up test, and Frankle grade were used to assess the neurological functions. The perioperative and long-term neurological outcomes were assessed.

Results:

There were significant differences in preoperative scoliosis angle and kyphosis angle between DNEP (−) and DNEP (+) groups. Patients in DNEP (−) group showed more MEP improvement (81.5%), compared with the DNEP (+) group (53.2%). The Wake-up test showed 59.3% motor function deficit cases in DNEP (−) group, which was lower than the 87.2% in DNEP (+) group. More patients in DNEP (−) group had normal nerve function (Frankel level E) than those in DNEP (+) group immediately after surgery, as well as at follow-up.

Conclusions:

MEP-positive cases with intraoperative DNEP (−) showed superior prognosis after severe spinal deformity surgery. Intraoperative DNEP could be regarded as an important quantitative tool to assist MEP to monitor neurological injury and can serve as a temporary substitution monitoring technique after MEP is lost.