bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Downregulation of NRARP exerts anti‐tumor activities in the breast tumor cells depending on Wnt/β‐catenin‐mediated signals: The role of miR‐130a‐3p
Authors: Poodineh Jafar , Sirati‐Sabet Majid , Rajabibazl Masoumeh , Ghasemian Majid , Mohammadi‐Yeganeh Samira
Published: July 2022

The Notch‐regulated ankyrin repeat protein (NRARP) functions as a molecular link between Notch and Wnt signaling pathways. Although it has recently been identified to be overexpressed in breast cancer (BC), the molecular mechanisms that regulate NRARP remain unknown. Since microRNAs (miRNAs) regulate gene expression post‐transcriptionally, miRNA dysregulation could explain the abnormal gene expression. Here, we identified miR‐130a‐3p as an NRARP regulator and evaluated its effects on the behavior of BC cells. Quantitative real‐time PCR was performed to assess the transcriptional levels of miR‐130a‐3p and NRARP in BC cells. Next, miR‐130a‐3p was transiently transfected into BC cells to assess its influence on NRARP expression. Owing to the positive regulatory effects of NRARP on the Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway, we also analyzed the expression levels of five Wnt/β‐catenin pathway genes and one downstream target gene in BC cells. We then assessed anti‐tumor activities of miR‐130a‐3p in BC cells using the MTT proliferation assay, the soft agar colony formation assay for anchorage‐independent growth (AIG), as well as scratch and transwell assays for cell migration. The results showed that miR‐130a‐3p was downregulated in BC cells, whereas NRARP was upregulated. Overexpression of miR‐130a‐3p inhibited the expression of NRARP and some Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway genes, as well as exerted anti‐tumor effects as evidenced by decreased cell proliferation, AIG, and migration of BC cells. In conclusion, the tumor‐suppressive function of miR‐130a‐3p in BC may be mediated by inhibiting NRARP and Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway. As a result, miR‐130a‐3p could be introduced as a therapeutic target for miRNA therapy in BC.
Healthy adolescent development and the juvenile justice system: Challenges and solutions
Authors: Cavanagh Caitlin
Published: July 2022

Adolescents are developmentally distinct from adults in ways that merit a tailored response to juvenile crime. Normative adolescent brain development is associated with increases in risk taking, which may include criminal behavior. Juvenile delinquency peaks during the adolescent years and declines in concert with psychosocial maturation. However, current U.S. approaches to juvenile justice are misaligned with youth's developmental needs and may undermine the very psychosocial development necessary for youth to transition out of crime and lead healthy adult lives. In this article, I discuss empirically supported and efficacious responses to juvenile crime in the United States, as well as opportunities for further developmental reform of the juvenile justice system. Developmentally appropriate responses to juvenile crime prioritize community‐based corrections and engage youth's social context in the rehabilitative process. The juvenile justice system shares the responsibility to prepare youth to live fulfilling, productive adult lives; that responsibility can be achieved by partnering with developmental scientists to inform juvenile justice practice and policy.
Aquagenic wrinkling of the palms: review of the literature
Authors: Yang Karen , Zhou Cici , Luke Janiene
Published: July 2022

Aquagenic wrinkling of the palms (AWP) is a rare dermatological disease characterized by development of rapid and excessive wrinkling and oedema of the palms and transient whitish or yellowish papules without erythema on the palmar surfaces after immersion in water. This phenomenon can be accompanied by pain and/or pruritus. The most common treatment of AWP involves aluminium-based topicals. This article discusses the associations, pathological mechanisms and treatment options of AWP.
Menopause, skin and common dermatoses. Part 1: hair disorders
Authors: Kamp Erin , Ashraf Mariha , Musbahi Esra , DeGiovanni Claudia
Published: July 2022

Menopause, which usually occurs between the age of 45 and 55 years, is associated with falling oestrogen levels due to ovarian follicle depletion. The impact on the cardiovascular system and bone density are well documented; however, further research required to establish the impact on the skin and hair. In this first part of a four-part review, we examine the effect of menopause on the hair. We performed a literature review on dermatology and hair in menopause. Androgens and oestrogens are involved with regulation of the hair cycle, with a reduction in anagen hairs seen in postmenopausal women. Female pattern hair loss and frontal fibrosing alopecia have both been associated with the perimenopausal and postmenopausal states. It is clear that menopause and the change in hormone levels have an impact on the hair cycle and common hair conditions. However, further research is required, particularly to understand the therapeutic targets and role of hormonal therapy.
Catalyzing success in community‐based conservation
Authors: Fariss Brandie , DeMello Nicole , Powlen Kathryn A. , Latimer Christopher E. , Masuda Yuta , Kennedy Christina M.
Published: July 2022

Efforts to devolve rights and engage Indigenous Peoples and local communities in conservation have increased the demand for evidence of the efficacy of community‐based conservation (CBC) and insights into what enables its success. We examined the human well‐being and environmental outcomes of a diverse set of 128 CBC projects. Over 80% of CBC projects had some positive human well‐being or environmental outcomes, although just 32% achieved positive outcomes for both (i.e., combined success). We coded 57 total national‐, community‐, and project‐level variables and controls from this set, performed random forest classification to identify the variables most important to combined success, and calculated accumulated local effects to describe their individual influence on the probability of achieving it. The best predictors of combined success were 17 variables suggestive of various recommendations and opportunities for conservation practitioners related to national contexts, community characteristics, and the implementation of various strategies and interventions informed by existing CBC frameworks. Specifically, CBC projects had higher probabilities of combined success when they occurred in national contexts supportive of local governance, confronted challenges to collective action, promoted economic diversification, and invested in various capacity‐building efforts. Our results provide important insights into how to encourage greater success in CBC.
Preservatives in non‐cosmetic products: Increasing human exposure requires action for protection of health
Authors: Lidén Carola , Andersson Niklas , White Ian R.
Published: July 2022

The widespread use of skin sensitizing preservatives is well‐known. Contact allergy to preservatives is often caused by their presence in cosmetic products. Preservative use in non‐cosmetic products is less well‐known. We have reviewed European Union (EU) legislations on classification and labelling, biocides and cosmetics, concerning conditions for use of the most used sensitizing preservatives (including formaldehyde‐releasing substances, isothiazolinones and parabens). We have analysed temporal trends in their use in non‐cosmetic products (tonnes, number of products, concentrations), based on annual reports to the Swedish Products Register 1995–2018; and we discuss implications for stakeholders. Major changes over time are that the use of most of the preservatives has increased by tonnes and/or by number of products, and that several use concentrations have declined following harmonized classification as a skin sensitizer with low concentration limits for this classification. We conclude that the massive increase in use of preservatives is alarming, and that urgent action is needed for protection of health. Their use in non‐cosmetic products is broad, increasing and often undisclosed. In the EU, legislations concerning chemicals can provide relevant restrictions to reduce their use and associated health risks, monitored by efficient surveillance. Prevention would be benefited by better coordination between legislations.
Modeling Sonority in Terms of Pitch Intelligibility With the Nucleus Attraction Principle
Authors: Albert Aviad , Nicenboim Bruno
Published: July 2022

Sonorityis a fundamental notion in phonetics and phonology, central to many descriptions of the syllable and various useful predictions in phonotactics. Although widely accepted, sonority lacks a clear basis in speech articulation or perception, given that traditional formal principles in linguistic theory are often exclusively based on discrete units in symbolic representation and are typically not designed to be compatible with auditory perception, sensorimotor control, or general cognitive capacities. In addition, traditional sonority principles also exhibit systematic gaps in empirical coverage. Against this backdrop, we propose the incorporation of symbol‐based and signal‐based models to adequately account for sonority in a complementary manner. We claim that sonority is primarily a perceptual phenomenon related to pitch, driving the optimization of syllables as pitch‐bearing units in all language systems. We suggest a measurable acoustic correlate for sonority in terms ofperiodic energy, and we provide a novel principle that can account for syllabic well‐formedness, thenucleus attraction principle(NAP). We present perception experiments that test our two NAP‐based models against four traditional sonority models, and we use a Bayesian data analysis approach to test and compare them. Our symbolic NAP model outperforms all the other models we test, while our continuous bottom‐up NAP model is at second place, along with the best performing traditional models. We interpret the results as providing strong support for our proposals: (i) the designation of periodic energy as the acoustic correlate of sonority; (ii) the incorporation of continuous entities in phonological models of perception; and (iii) the dual‐model strategy that separately analyzes symbol‐based top‐down processes and signal‐based bottom‐up processes in speech perception.
Inhibition of L‐type voltage‐gated calcium channel‐mediated Ca2+ influx suppresses the collective migration and invasion of ameloblastoma
Authors: Li Shujin , Kim Hyun‐Yi , Lee Dong‐Joon , Park Sung‐Ho , Otsu Keishi , Harada Hidemitsu , Jung Young‐Soo , Jung Han‐Sung
Published: July 2022

Objectives

Ameloblastoma (AM) has been known as a benign but locally invasive tumour with high recurrence rates. Invasive behaviour of the AM results in destruction of the adjacent jawbone and the non‐detectable remnants during surgery, interrupting the complete elimination of cancer cells.

Methods

To explore novel targets for the tumour cell invasion, a transcriptomic analysis between AM and odontogenic keratocyst were performed through next‐generation sequencing in detail.

Results

Enrichment of CACNA1C gene (encoding Cav1.2) in AM, a subunit of the L‐type voltage‐gated calcium channel (VGCC) was observed for the first time. The expression and channel activity of Cav1.2 was confirmed by immunostaining and calcium imaging in the patient samples or primary cells. Verapamil, L‐type VGCC blocker revealed suppression of the Ca2+‐induced cell aggregation and collective invasion of AM cells in vitro. Furthermore, the effect of verapamil in suppressing AM invasion into the adjacent bone was confirmed through orthotopic xenograft model specifically.

Conclusion

Taken together, Cav1.2 maybe considered to be a therapeutic candidate to decrease the collective migration and invasion of AM.
Analysis of food preference and competition based on stomach contents of fish species inhabiting fresh and brackish waters in South Korea
Authors: Ji Chang Woo , Lee Dae‐Seong , Lee Da‐Yeong , Park Young‐Seuk , Kwak Ihn‐Sil
Published: July 2022

We analysed the stomach contents of fish species inhabiting fresh and brackish waters of South Korea to improve our understanding of feeding preferences and competition among them. The stomach contents of 54 fish species contained 237 genera, 187 families, 84 orders, 37 classes and 25 phyla. Faunal food items included 164 genera, 129 families, 47 orders, 23 classes and 16 phyla. Floral food items were relatively limited, comprising 73 genera, 58 families, 37 orders, 14 classes and nine phyla. The most consumed faunal food item was Chironomidae (Diptera), whereas the most consumed floral food item was Fragilariaceae (Fragilariales). The 54 fish species were classified into six groups using hierarchical and nonmetric multidimensional analysis based on their food preferences: Group 1 (G1) fishes were zooplanktivores; group 2 (G2) fishes mainly consumed Malacostraca, Maxillopoda and other fishes (e.g. Osmeriformes); groups 3 (G3) and 4 (G4) consumed Chlorophyta, Cyanobacteria and Bacillariophyta; and groups 5 (G5) and 6 (G6) consumed macroinvertebrates. Network analysis was used to link fishes with their food items. The highest hub score for food items was for macroinvertebrates, including Diptera (13.9), Ephemeroptera (11.1) and Trichoptera (8.2). Niche breadth analysis represented the diversity of food items among the feeding groups (G1–G6). Food item diversity was high for planktivores (G1 and G3) and omnivores (G4). Conversely, the dietary diversity of carnivores (G2) and insectivores (G5) was limited. Competitive relationships between fishes, as represented by the niche overlap in G5 (insectivores), were higher than those between other groups.
“Where Do You Draw the Line?”: Working Out the Boundaries between “Art” and “Non‐Art” in Life Drawing Classes
Authors: Steinbock Rotem , Goodman Yehuda C.
Published: July 2022

Based on participant observations in life drawing classes at an art academy in Jerusalem, this article examines the diverse ways artists‐in‐the‐making work out the boundaries between “art” and “non‐art.” First, the classes serve as a rite of passage in which actors deploy discursive, spatial, and sensorial practices to relate to and represent the live model as a unique object of art. Second, using the model evokes moral deliberations through which students attempt to articulate how an “artistic” way of seeing the body differs from other uses of an exposed (mainly female) body prevalent in society. Third, students positioned as religiousothersnegotiate their participation in this Western artistic tradition, using their alterity to destabilize the art/non‐art boundary. These various negotiations demonstrate how the “art” category and art students’ sense of an artistic self, body, and belonging are formed through a pragmatic, relational, and multifaceted boundary work.
Faster ocean warming threatens richest areas of marine biodiversity
Authors: Brown Stuart C. , Mellin Camille , García Molinos Jorge , Lorenzen Eline D. , Fordham Damien A.
Published: July 2022

The vulnerability of marine biodiversity to accelerated rates of climatic change is poorly understood. By developing a new method for identifying extreme oceanic warming events during Earth's most recent deglaciation, and comparing these to 21st century projections, we show that future rates of ocean warming will disproportionately affect the most speciose marine communities, potentially threatening biodiversity in more than 70% of current‐day global hotspots of marine species richness. The persistence of these richest areas of marine biodiversity will require many species to move well beyond the biogeographic realm where they are endemic, at rates of redistribution not previously seen. Our approach for quantifying exposure of biodiversity to past and future rates of oceanic warming provides new context and scalable information for deriving and strengthening conservation actions to safeguard marine biodiversity under climate change.
Islands in the ice: Potential impacts of habitat transformation on Antarctic biodiversity
Authors: Lee Jasmine R. , Waterman Melinda J. , Shaw Justine D. , Bergstrom Dana M. , Lynch Heather J. , Wall Diana H. , Robinson Sharon A.
Published: July 2022

Antarctic biodiversity faces an unknown future with a changing climate. Most terrestrial biota is restricted to limited patches of ice‐free land in a sea of ice, where they are adapted to the continent's extreme cold and wind and exploit microhabitats of suitable conditions. As temperatures rise, ice‐free areas are predicted to expand, more rapidly in some areas than others. There is high uncertainty as to how species' distributions, physiology, abundance, and survivorship will be affected as their habitats transform. Here we use current knowledge to propose hypotheses that ice‐free area expansion (i) will increase habitat availability, though the quality of habitat will vary; (ii) will increase structural connectivity, although not necessarily increase opportunities for species establishment; (iii) combined with milder climates will increase likelihood of non‐native species establishment, but may also lengthen activity windows for all species; and (iv) will benefit some species and not others, possibly resulting in increased homogeneity of biodiversity. We anticipate considerable spatial, temporal, and taxonomic variation in species responses, and a heightened need for interdisciplinary research to understand the factors associated with ecosystem resilience under future scenarios. Such research will help identify at‐risk species or vulnerable localities and is crucial for informing environmental management and policymaking into the future.
Compound impact of land use and extreme climate on the 2020 fire record of the Brazilian Pantanal
Authors: Ferreira Barbosa Maria Lucia , Haddad Isadora , da Silva Nascimento Ana Lucia , Máximo da Silva Gabriel , Moura da Veiga Renata , Hoffmann Tânia Beatriz , Rosane de Souza Anielli , Dalagnol Ricardo , Susin Streher Annia , Souza Pereira Francisca R. , Oliveira e Cruz de Aragão Luiz Eduardo , Oighenstein Anderson Liana
Published: July 2022

Aim

Our aim was to quantify the influence of climate and land use on major fires that occurred during the 2020 drought over the Brazilian Pantanal region.

Location

Alto Paraguay Basin, central‐western flank of Brazil.

Time period

2003–2020.

Methods

We calculated climatic and burned area anomalies and Spearman's correlation between precipitation and sea surface temperature (SST). We assessed water coverage to identify the impact of the 2020 drought. We produced fire recurrence maps, identified the areas that burned for the first time in 2020, and estimated the carbon loss. Lastly, we assessed the burned areas within land‐use classes and land tenure.

Results

The anomalies showed that climatic variables in 2020 had an atypical behaviour, being hotter and drier than the historical average. The water surface area in the Pantanal has been decreasing annually from 2003, and in 2020 the reduction was 34% greater than the annual average. Burned areas in 2020 were 200% greater than the long‐term average, and 35% of the burned areas occurred for the first time in this year. We showed that 84% of these new fires occurred within natural vegetation, with 39% of the burned areas occurring in forests, an increase of 514%. Forest fires were responsible for 47% of the carbon loss in 2020. Finally, 70% of the fires in 2020 occurred within rural properties, 5% in indigenous lands and 10% in protected areas.

Main conclusions

The unprecedented fires in 2020 were not only a result of atypical climate, but also a consequence of the intensification of fire‐related human activities. Rural properties play a major role in Pantanal fires, requiring law enforcement and a consistent plan for increasing the protection of the conservation areas. We argue that ineffective fire prevention and the lack of suppression strategies were also key in enhancing the magnitude of these fires.
Revealing molecular architecture of FLT3 internal tandem duplication: Development and clinical validation of a web‐based application to generate accurate nomenclature
Authors: Ding Yi , Smith Geoffrey Hughes , Deeb Kristin , Schneider Thomas , Campbell Andrew , Zhang Linsheng
Published: July 2022

Introduction

FLT3 internal tandem duplicate (ITD) is associated with unfavorable prognosis of acute myeloid leukemia; targeted therapy improves clinical outcome. We propose that FLT3‐ITD detected by next generation sequencing (NGS) should be reported with the same nomenclature pattern as single nucleotide variants so that the mutation can be better interpreted clinically.

Methods

A Python‐based web application was developed to generate FLT3‐ITD nomenclature as recommended by the Human Genome Variation Society (HGVS). Assembled FLT3‐ITD sequences from 84 patients and 11 artificially created ITD sequences were used for the validation of this web‐based application. Each sequence was inspected manually to confirm that the nomenclature was accurate.

Results

Accurate nomenclatures were generated for 113 of 114 sequencing results and 7 artificial sequences. One assembled sequence and four artificial sequences were not named accurately; warning statements were automatically generated to alert further inspection. Of the 105 unique FLT3‐ITDs, the ITD lengths range from 18 to 300 bp. Depending whether the ITD involves intron or extends into exon 15, three patterns were recognized. Only 44 (42%) ITDs were pure duplications, and three types of variants were identified at the 5′ of ITD. When ITD involves intronic sequence, the protein may comprise inserted amino acids encoded by the intron, due to disrupted RNA splicing.

Conclusion

The web application generates accurate FLT3‐ITD nomenclature from NGS results except in rare situations. The HGVS nomenclatures provide information on the molecular architecture of FLT3‐ITDs and reveal details of complex insertions with partial duplications.
Dynamic response of YAG polycrystalline and single‐crystal transparent ceramics: Experiments and mesoscopic simulations
Authors: Cao Xiuxia , Li Tong , Yu Yin , Li Xuhai , Qi Jianqi , Meng Chuanmin , He Hongliang , Hu Jianbo , Wu Qiang
Published: July 2022

Due to superior mechanical and optical properties, yttrium–aluminum–garnet (YAG) is emerging as a potential transparent armor material. Its dynamic behavior, however, remains largely unexplored. In this work, both impact experiments and mesoscopic simulations have been performed to better understand the dynamic response of YAG polycrystalline and single‐crystal transparent ceramics. Experimental results demonstrate that the two samples have remarkably different dynamic behaviors with the increasing shock pressure, in which the Hugoniot elastic limit basically keeps unchanged (∼14 GPa) in YAG polycrystalline ceramic, whereas it varies from 11 to 31 GPa in YAG single crystals. Moreover, elastic precursor decay is visible only in single‐crystal samples. Mesoscopic simulations with a lattice‐spring model reveal that the difference arises from the distinct fracture mode in the two samples. Less damage and coarser fragmentations in YAG single crystal also suggest a probability of better ballistic resistance as transparent armor materials.
Spontaneous abortion among Toxoplasma gondii IgG seropositive women: Molecular detection, genotype identification, and serological assessment with conventional ELISA and avidity ELISA
Authors: Khademi Seyedeh Zahra , Ghaffarifar Fatemeh , Dalimi Abdolhossein , Davoodian Parivash , Abdoli Amir
Published: July 2022

Objectives

It has been generally believed that women who exposed to Toxoplasma gondii before pregnancy and have anti‐T. gondii IgG antibody are immunized and their newborns will be protected from congenital infection. This study is aimed to investigate the role of T. gondii infection in spontaneous abortion through serological and molecular methods in southern Iran.

Study design

Blood samples were taken from 50 spontaneously aborted mothers and anti‐T. gondii antibodies were assessed using conventional enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and avidity ELISA methods. The placenta and blood samples of aborted women were used for detection of the parasite's DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method targeting the RE gene. The parasite genotypes were determined by PCR‐restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method using SAG3 and GRA6 genes.

Results

IgG antibody was detected in 28% (14/50) of mothers, but all samples were negative for IgM antibody. In the avidity ELISA test, 26% (13/50) of the samples had a high avidity index, suggesting chronic infection, while a low avidity index was detected in one case (2%), which suggests acute infection. The parasite's DNA was detected in 18% (9/50) and 14% (7/50) of blood and placenta samples, respectively. All DNA positive samples were IgG positive. All isolates were belonged to the T. gondii type III genotype.

Conclusion

The results suggest that T. gondii seropositive women are not protected from congenital transmission. However, the results should be interpreted cautiously until further studies will be confirmed these results.
Current treatment of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Paternostro Rafael , Trauner Michael
Published: July 2022

Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) comprises a wide spectrum of pathologies ranging from non‐alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL), characterized by simple steatosis without inflammation, to non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), characterized by steatosis of the liver accompanied by inflammation and hepatocyte ballooning, which can lead to advanced fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Apart from lifestyle modifications such as weight loss, a Mediterranean diet and physical activity, only a few NAFLD‐specific pharmacological treatment options such as Vitamin E and Pioglitazone are considered by current international guidelines. However, recently randomized controlled trials with GLP‐1 agonists, FXR and PPAR ligands as well as other agents have been published and may expand the therapeutic armamentarium for NAFLD in the near future. Finally, knowledge about treating complications of end‐stage liver disease due to NASH becomes an increasingly important cornerstone in the treatment of the broad disease spectrum of NAFLD. In this review, we summarize currently available and future treatment options for patients with NAFLD that may help internal medicine specialists treat the complete clinical spectrum of this highly prevalent liver disease.
How Does Gratitude Promote Prosocial Behavior? Developmental Differences in the Underlying Motivation1
Authors: Oguni Ryuji , Otake Keiko
Published: July 2022

Gratitude promotes prosocial behavior, but the developmental differences in the underlying motivation remain unclear. We investigated whether the effect of gratitude on prosocial behavior is driven by fairness or generosity motivations, and whether the underlying motivation differs by developmental stage. University students (Experiment 1) and elementary school children (Experiment 2) were assigned to either a gratitude or a neutral group. The former group recalled an event that elicited feelings of gratitude, while the latter group recalled a neutral event from their morning routine. Prosocial behavior was assessed using the three resource‐allocation tasks that can distinguish between fairness and generosity motivations. In these tasks, the participants allocated rewards to themselves and another individual. The results indicate that the effect of gratitude on prosocial behavior is driven by generosity motivation in university students (Experiment 1), while it is driven by fairness motivation in elementary school children (Experiment 2). These results reveal developmental differences in the underlying motivation for gratitude on prosocial behavior.
Morphological plasticity in response to salinity change in the euryhaline diatom Pleurosira laevis (Bacillariophyta)
Authors: Kamakura Shiho , Ashworth Matt P. , Yamada Kazumasa , Mikami Daichi , Kobayashi Atsushi , Idei Masahiko , Sato Shinya
Published: July 2022

Pleurosira laevis is a salt‐tolerant diatom distributed around the world. The valve of P. laevis has distinct structures called ocelli, which are sharply defined areas with fine, densely packed pores. Two formae of this diatom, P. laevis f. laevis and P. laevis f. polymorpha, are distinguished from each other by their flat or dome‐shaped valve faces and degree of elevation of the ocelli, respectively. In this study, we established 4 strains of P. laevis isolated from freshwaters or coastal areas in Japan and the United States, and tracked the formation of newly formed valves with the fluorescent SDV‐specific dye PDMPO in culture under several salinity conditions. The result clearly demonstrated the morphological plasticity of the valves, controlled by environmental salinity. The laevis form and polymorpha form valves were produced at salinities of 2 and 7, respectively. The salinity thresholds dictating the morphological plasticity of the valve were consistent in all 4 strains. A similar morphology to the polymorpha form was reproduced in a freshwater medium with the addition of sorbitol, suggesting that osmotic pressure plays a key role in this morphological plasticity. The highly reproducible and easily manipulated change in morphology makes this diatom an ideal model for lab experiments focusing on the molecular and genetic factors involved with valve morphogenesis.
APASL‐ACLF Research Consortium–Artificial Intelligence (AARC‐AI) model precisely predicts outcomes in acute‐on‐chronic liver failure patients
Authors: Verma Nipun , Choudhury Ashok , Singh Virendra , Duseja Ajay , Al‐Mahtab Manum , Devarbhavi Harshad , Eapen Chundamannil E. , Goel Ashish , Ning Qin , Duan Zhongping , Hamid Saeed , Jafri Wasim , Butt Amna Shubhan , Shukla Akash , Tan Soek‐Siam , Kim Dong Joon , Hu Jinhua , Sood Ajit , Goel Omesh , Midha Vandana , Ghaznian Hashmik , Sahu Manoj Kumar , Lee Guan Huei , Treeprasertsuk Sombat , Shah Samir , Lesmana Laurentius A. , Lesmana Rinaldi C. , Prasad V. G. Mohan , Sarin Shiv K. ,   APASL ACLF Research Consortium (AARC) for APASL ACLF Working Party
Published: July 2022

Background and Aims

We hypothesized that artificial intelligence (AI) models are more precise than standard models for predicting outcomes in acute‐on‐chronic liver failure (ACLF).

Methods

We recruited ACLF patients between 2009 and 2020 from APASL‐ACLF Research Consortium (AARC). Their clinical data, investigations and organ involvement were serially noted for 90‐days and utilized for AI modelling. Data were split randomly into train and validation sets. Multiple AI models, MELD and AARC‐Model, were created/optimized on train set. Outcome prediction abilities were evaluated on validation sets through area under the curve (AUC), accuracy, sensitivity, specificity and class precision.

Results

Among 2481 ACLF patients, 1501 in train set and 980 in validation set, the extreme gradient boost‐cross‐validated model (XGB‐CV) demonstrated the highest AUC in train (0.999), validation (0.907) and overall sets (0.976) for predicting 30‐day outcomes. The AUC and accuracy of the XGB‐CV model (%Δ) were 7.0% and 6.9% higher than the standard day‐7 AARC model (p < .001) and 12.8% and 10.6% higher than the day 7 MELD for 30‐day predictions in validation set (p < .001). The XGB model had the highest AUC for 7‐ and 90‐day predictions as well (p < .001). Day‐7 creatinine, international normalized ratio (INR), circulatory failure, leucocyte count and day‐4 sepsis were top features determining the 30‐day outcomes. A simple decision tree incorporating creatinine, INR and circulatory failure was able to classify patients into high (~90%), intermediate (~60%) and low risk (~20%) of mortality. A web‐based AARC‐AI model was developed and validated twice with optimal performance for 30‐day predictions.

Conclusions

The performance of the AARC‐AI model exceeds the standard models for outcome predictions in ACLF. An AI‐based decision tree can reliably undertake severity‐based stratification of patients for timely interventions.
Panzootic chytrid fungus exploits diverse amphibian host environments through plastic infection strategies
Authors: Torres‐Sánchez María , Villate Jennifer , McGrath‐Blaser Sarah , Longo Ana V.
Published: July 2022

While some pathogens are limited to single species, others can colonize many hosts, likely contributing to the emergence of novel disease outbreaks. Despite this biodiversity threat, traits associated with host niche expansions are not well understood in multihost pathogens. Here, we aimed to uncover functional machinery driving multihost invasion by focusing on Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), a pathogen that infects the skin of hundreds of amphibians worldwide. We performed a meta‐analysis of Bd gene expression using data from published infection experiments and newly generated profiles. We analysed Bd transcriptomic landscapes across the skin of 14 host species, reconstructed Bd isolates phylogenetic relationships, and inferred the origin and evolutionary history of differentially expressed genes under a phylogenetic framework comprising other 12 zoosporic fungi. Bd displayed plastic infection strategies when challenged by hosts with different disease susceptibility. Our analyses identified sets of differentially expressed genes under host environments with similar infection outcome. We stressed nutritional immunity and gene silencing as important processes required to overcome challenging skin environments in less susceptible hosts. Overall, Bd genes expressed during amphibian skin exploitation have arisen mainly via gene duplications with great family expansions, increasing the gene copy events previously described for this fungal species. Finally, we provide a comprehensive gene data set that can be used to further examine eco‐evolutionary hypotheses for this host‐pathogen system. Our study supports the idea that host environments exert contrasting selective pressures, such that gene expression plasticity could be one of the evolutionary keys leading to the success of multihost pathogens.
NLR we there yet? Nucleocytoplasmic coordination of NLR‐mediated immunity
Authors: Lüdke Daniel , Yan Qiqi , Rohmann Philipp F. W. , Wiermer Marcel
Published: July 2022

Plant intracellular nucleotide‐binding leucine‐rich repeat immune receptors (NLRs) perceive the activity of pathogen‐secreted effector molecules that, when undetected, promote colonisation of hosts. Signalling from activated NLRs converges with and potentiates downstream responses from activated pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) that sense microbial signatures at the cell surface. Efficient signalling of both receptor branches relies on the host cell nucleus as an integration point for transcriptional reprogramming, and on the macromolecular transport processes that mediate the communication between cytoplasm and nucleoplasm. Studies on nuclear pore complexes (NPCs), the nucleoporin proteins (NUPs) that compose NPCs, and nuclear transport machinery constituents that control nucleocytoplasmic transport, have revealed that they play important roles in regulating plant immune responses. Here, we discuss the contributions of nucleoporins and nuclear transport receptor (NTR)‐mediated signal transduction in plant immunity with an emphasis on NLR immune signalling across the nuclear compartment boundary and within the nucleus. We also highlight and discuss cytoplasmic and nuclear functions of NLRs and their signalling partners and further consider the potential implications of NLR activation and resistosome formation in both cellular compartments for mediating plant pathogen resistance and programmed host cell death.
Identification of potential biomarkers and survival analysis for oral squamous cell carcinoma: A transcriptomic study
Authors: de Paula Souza Daniela Paola Santos , dos Reis Pereira Queiroz Lorena , de Souza Marcela Gonçalves , de Jesus Sabrina Ferreira , Gomes Emisael Stênio Batista , Vitorino Rogério Trancoso , Santos Sérgio Henrique Sousa , Farias Lucyana Conceição , de Paula Alfredo Maurício Batista , D'Angelo Marcos Flávio Silveira Vasconcelos , de Carvalho Fraga Carlos Alberto , Guimarães André Luiz Sena
Published: July 2022

Objective

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most common neoplasms worldwide. The current study aimed to identify potential biomarkers associated with OSCC survival.

Materials and Methods

Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in atypical OSCC cases were identified using two public datasets: The Cancer Genome Atlas and the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to identify the cutoff, and the candidate DEGs related to survival. Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression analysis using the categorized genes were employed to identify genes that impact the overall survival in OSCC.

Results

A total of 263 OSCC samples and 105 healthy tissues were used to identify 295 upregulated and 131 downregulated genes expressed only in non‐smokers. ROC analyses identified 25 candidate genes associated with death. Survival analyses demonstrated that the following DEGs, namely CSTA, FGFR2, MMP19, OLR1, PCSK1, RAMP2, and CGB5, are potential OSCC prognostic factors.

Conclusion

We found that CSTA, FGFR2, MMP19, OLR1, PCSK1, RAMP2, and CGB5 are associated with a low survival rate in OSCC. However, further studies are needed to validate our findings and facilitate the development of these factors as potential biomarkers for OSCC survival.
Can antioxidant responses be induced by habitat fragmentation process?
Authors: Bani Luciano , Orioli Valerio , Giacchini Roberto , Parenti Paolo , Dondina Olivia , Prokić Marko , Faggio Caterina , Campli Giulia
Published: July 2022

Animal populations are increasingly forced to live in small residual natural or semi‐natural areas due to habitat loss and fragmentation. Here, the viability of populations is often compromised by intrinsic threat factors typical of small and isolated populations, such as inbreeding depression, genetic drift and environmental and demographic stochasticity. Under these circumstances, organisms may have low fitness due to inadequate physiological responses needed to face environmental challenges. However, few studies have investigated the relationship between habitat fragmentation and stress defences. In this study, we aimed to test whether an increase in the level of individual inbreeding produced an increase in the antioxidant system response. To this purpose, we genotyped 151 individuals of fire salamander Salamandra salamandra (Amphibia: Urodela) within five sampling populations, located in forest landscapes with different degree of fragmentation in northern Italy. For 113 individuals we also measured the glutathione‐S‐transferase (GST) and catalase (CAT) enzyme activity. Results showed a significant increase in individual GST activity for increasing levels of inbreeding, whereas no relationship was found for CAT. We also measured acetylcholinesterase to test the possible confounding effects of pesticides that might have occurred in fragmented landscapes with forests interspersed with agricultural areas. However, no difference in this enzyme activity was found among sampling populations. We argue that high levels of GST activity may be symptomatic of oxidative stress derived from inbreeding. An increased frequency of homozygous deleterious alleles due to inbreeding may cause homeostatic alterations and trigger the expression of GST for protection against hydrogen peroxide reactive oxygen species. We suggest using GST as a biomarker for environmental stressors with great caution and not to underestimate that the sources of stress deriving from habitat fragmentation could lead to an unbalance in the oxidative status, possibly increasing population susceptibility to infectious diseases and, potentially, spillover events and zoonoses.
Revision Total Hip Arthroplasty with Severe Acetabular Defect: A Preliminary Exploration and Attempt of Robotic‐Assisted Technology
Authors: Zhang Shuai , Liu Yu‐bo , Ma Ming‐yang , Cao Zheng , Kong Xiang‐peng , Chai Wei
Published: July 2022

Background

Robotic‐assisted technology may be useful in hip revision cases with acetabular defects. However, data on the use of robotic‐assisted technology for such complex diseases is lacking.

Case Presentation

This case study described the adoption of MAKO robotic‐assisted treatment of revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) combined with severe acetabular defect (Paprosky type IIIB). Robotic‐assisted technology accurately achieved preoperative planning; the acetabular component and augment were placed in the original position and angle as planned. Robotic‐assisted acetabular reaming was successful in a single pass, preserving the remaining acetabular bone mass very well with no procedure‐related complications. The Harris Hip Score (HHS) at 6 months postoperatively was 84 and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) Osteoarthritis Index was 24.

Conclusion

Robotic‐assisted technology can help in the accurate reconstruction of acetabular defect in complex hip revision surgery.
Can remotely sensed vegetation patterns signal dryland restoration success?
Authors: Qiu Yanning , Xu Zhiwei , Xu Chi , Holmgren Milena
Published: July 2022

Active restoration is frequently implemented to restore degraded drylands globally, yet predicting the overall success of these restoration projects remains challenging. Here, we aim to explore if vegetation spatial patterns can be used to monitor ecosystem recovery and anticipate the success of restoration practices. We combined field surveys and high‐resolution drone images to analyze how vegetation spatial patterns change after the large‐scale straw checkerboards restoration projects in the sand dune systems of the Tengger Desert in northern China. We found that vegetation cover, plant species richness, and diversity increased rapidly, approaching the level of the naturally vegetated sand dunes, after 5 years of restoration. Soil fertility remained low despite the positive vegetation change. Along with the recovery process, we found a larger diversity of patch sizes (i.e. spatial variance) with an increasing proportion of large‐size patches. These patterns, combined with a constant positive recovery rate in vegetation cover, are consistent with theoretical predictions used to anticipate transitions to alternative ecosystem states. Although some indicators may be masked by the artificial planting scheme and community succession process during recovery, our results show that vegetation spatial patterns can be used to forecast and monitor the possible recovery of drylands.
Quantifying Bias and Inaccuracy of Upper‐Level Aggregation in the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices for Germany and the Euro Area
Authors: Herzberg Julika , Knetsch Thomas A. , Schwind Patrick , Weinand Sebastian
Published: July 2022

Current measurement practices of the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) produce an upward bias of about one‐ninth of a percentage point in German inflation due to changing consumption being disregarded and preliminary data being used in the compilation of expenditure weights. The statistical uncertainty produced by these sources of mismeasurement can be illustrated by an interdecile range of about one‐quarter of a percentage point. The annual updating of the quantity component of the weights, implemented in 2012, has reduced the substitution component, making the disregard of changing consumption virtually a non‐issue for the euro area HICP. The measurement of the German HICP is impaired by the extrapolation of expenditure weights. The use of preliminary national accounts data since 2012 has not led to an improvement. This source of mismeasurement is likely to be relevant for the euro area HICP as well but cannot be quantified due to data constraints.
Hiding in the open: Consideration of nonsuicidal self‐injury by proxy as a clinically meaningful construct
Authors: Mann Adam J. D. , Tull Matthew T. , Gratz Kim L.
Published: July 2022

Nonsuicidal self‐injury (NSSI) is defined as the deliberate destruction of one's own body tissue without suicidal intent and for purposes not socially sanctioned. However, this definition limits the understanding and assessment of NSSI by excluding a clinically relevant form of NSSI that is both self‐driven and associated with self‐injurious intentions: NSSI by proxy. Specifically, we propose that NSSI by proxy be defined as the intentional destruction of one's own body tissue through the elicitation of another being's (e.g., human, animal) actions, wherein the agency of the person being injured is a critical facet of the behavior. We review the literature supporting the clinical relevance of this behavior, as well as its similarities to traditional NSSI. Next, we propose four behaviors that may be conceptualized as NSSI by proxy, and identify two other behaviors that warrant further investigation. Finally, we identify future directions for research in this area and implications for the assessment and treatment of NSSI.
The industrialisation thesis, revisited: Understanding welfare expansion in China through social expenditure data (2000–2019)
Authors: Hong Ijin , Ngok Kinglun
Published: July 2022

China is undergoing important reforms in its welfare system, and some scholars agree that a new ‘social policy era’ took place in the 2000s–2010s. Although welfare development theories—typically, the industrialisation thesis and the power resources approach—are well established in social policy research, welfare change and its determinants in China are still poorly understood in international literature. Making use of official statistics at the provincial level, this study examines whether industrialisation is associated with welfare development in China during the ‘social policy era’ (2000–2019). We contribute to welfare development literature by, first, measuring welfare effort in China while addressing comparability issues (the ‘dependent variable problem’); and, secondly, testing the industrialisation thesis, amongst others, through a fixed‐effects time‐series‐cross‐section data analysis on provincial‐level statistics covering 30 provinces during 20 time points (2000–2019). Results show that the industrialisation theory is indeed important for welfare development in China, but several less‐developed provinces also experienced substantial improvement in their welfare spending irrespective of their local revenues, suggesting that redistribution at the level of the central government and political reform are increasingly important topics for future welfare studies in China.
Redefining weeds for the post‐herbicide era
Authors: Merfield Charles N.
Published: July 2022

In the 50th edition of Weed Research the Editor‐in‐Chief introduced the concept of ‘the post‐herbicide era’. This appears increasingly prescient as herbicides continue to face ever‐increasing legislative restrictions and evolved resistance. They are also an important enabler of intensive agriculture which is a key contributor to the planetary crises, such as climate change and biodiversity loss. Integrated weed management (IWM) is the clear direction of travel for both weed science and practice, and is increasingly being holistically integrated into overall crop management. However, most definitions of ‘weeds’ date from the era of intensive agriculture, so may not be suitable for the post‐herbicide era and IWM. It is argued that deciding if a plant is a weed is fundamentally a ‘value judgement’, so weeds are, therefore, ethical and social constructs, and not a scientific concept. The proposed definition is ‘A plant, or population of plants, in a specific time and place, causing significant harm, either immediately or in the longer term, based on a holistic analysis of both their positive and negative attributes’. Thus, plants are defined as weeds on a case‐by‐case basis, that is, at a specific time and place, which counters the belief that a particular plant species are weeds. Significant harm is the value statement at the heart of the definition. As seedbanks and living plants persist from year to year and plants can become invasive, a caveat about the harm being in the future is required. The analysis of harm must also be holistic, for example, consider all ecosystem services that the plants provide. ‘Other plants’ or ‘aliae plantae’ are suggested to describe non‐crop plants that are not weeds that this definition creates.