bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Potential drug‐drug interactions in acute poisonings managed in the intensive care unit: Occurrence, risk factors and relationship to patient severity on admission
Authors: Mainoli Beatrice , Gonçalves Nilza , Ferreira Joaquim J. , Mégarbane Bruno
Published: December 2021

Beyond the direct toxicity resulting from each drug in the poisoned patient, additional toxicities may result from drug‐drug interactions (DDIs). We aimed to determine the frequency of potential DDIs in the poisoned patient and investigate whether DDIs are associated with severity. We conducted a 1‐year cohort study in a toxicological ICU. DDIs were identified using an electronic interaction‐checker tool. Among our 354 ICU poisoned patients, 134 (38%) presented at least one potential DDI between acute poisoning drugs and 180 (51%) at least one potential DDI between acute poisoning and long‐term treatment drugs. Using multivariate analyses, previous suicide attempt was associated with the presence of potential DDIs between acute poisoning drugs in suicide attempt patients (P = 0.014). Chronic alcoholism (P = 0.005) and tobacco smoking (P = 0.022) were associated with the presence of potential DDIs between acute poisoning and long‐term treatment drugs in recreational drug users. Presence of potential DDIs between acute poisoning and long‐term treatment drugs was associated with catecholamine infusion (P = 0.022) in suicidal self‐exposure patients. Presence of potential pharmacodynamic DDIs between acute poisoning and long‐term treatment drugs was associated with aspiration pneumonia onset in recreational drug users (P = 0.03). ICU poisoned patients present a high rate of potential DDIs that may influence the outcome.
Interleukin‐25 recognition by its unique receptor IL‐17Rb via two discrete linear and cyclic epitopes
Authors: Wu Tao , Ma Huaijun , He Ping , Zhang Cheng , Wu Qingchen
Published: December 2021

Interleukin‐17 (IL‐17) is a family of pro‐inflammatory cytokines and has been involved in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The IL‐17E, also known as IL‐25, is a distinct member of this family that binds to its unique receptor IL‐17Rb to induce the activation of nuclear factor kappa‐light‐chain enhancer of activated B cells. Here, we systematically examined the intermolecular recognition and association of IL‐25 with IL‐17Rb and demonstrated that the IL‐25 primarily adopts two discrete linear and cyclic epitopes to interact with IL‐17Rb. The two epitopes are separately located in the monomers 1 and 2 of IL‐25 homodimer and cover sequences 125DPRGNSELLYHN136 and 77ELDRDLNRLPQDLY90. They totally contribute 71.6% binding energy to the full‐length IL‐25. The linear epitope targets a site spanning over the extracellular fnIIID1 and fnIIID2 domains of IL‐17Rb, while the cyclic epitope primarily binds at the fnIIID1 domain. In addition, we also found that the linear and cyclic epitopes are natively folded into ordered single‐stranded and double‐stranded conformations in IL‐25 protein context, respectively, but would become largely disordered when splitting from the context to be free peptides, which, however, cannot bind effectively to IL‐17Rb as them in the native state. In this respect, we extended the cyclic epitope to cover the whole IL‐25 double‐stranded region and added a disulfide bridge across its two strands at three selected anchor residue pairs. It is revealed that the disulfide‐stapled peptides can be constrained into a native‐like conformation and thus exhibit an improved binding potency to IL‐17Rb as compared to their unstapled counterpart.
Social needs screening during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Mayo Rachel , Kliot Tamara , Weinstein Rebecca , Onigbanjo Mutiat , Carter Rebecca
Published: December 2021

Background

Millions of Americans lost their jobs as a result of the COVID‐19 pandemic, placing immeasurable stress on families and making it difficult for parents to support their children's basic needs. Research shows that screening for social determinants of health is an important part of a child's well visit, noting that awareness of these factors leads to more holistic and improved quality of care. Due to increased precautions during the COVID‐19 pandemic and a significant decrease in well‐child visits and in‐person appointments, there was a marked decrease in the number of face‐to‐face opportunities for these screenings. In a time of increased need, methods such as telephone screenings represent an opportunity to assess needs and connect patients and families with helpful resources.

Methods

This study occurred in Baltimore, Maryland at the University of Maryland Pediatrics at Midtown outpatient practice (PAM). Five paediatric resident physicians and 17 medical students developed a telephone welfare screening tool and called families receiving primary care at the clinic over a 9‐week period. The team documented identified needs and used a community resources database to provide resources to families over the phone. Data regarding the identified needs was collected and analysed throughout the screening process.

Results

Volunteers contacted 671 families using our finalized screening tool. Of those, 349 answered the telephone call (52%), and 328 (49%) agreed to participate in the screening. Results showed that families commonly identified food insecurity (20%) and symptoms of depression (18%). This was consistent across families' home locations as analysed by postal ZIP code.

Conclusions

This study suggests that telephone screening is a feasible and informative method for identifying and addressing the social needs of paediatric primary care patients and their families. Furthermore, our study supports the notion that there are significant and widespread social needs resulting from the COVID‐19 pandemic.
Risk and protective factors of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease in paediatric obesity: A nationwide nested case–control study
Authors: Putri Resthie R. , Casswall Thomas , Hagman Emilia
Published: December 2021

Not all children with obesity carry a similar risk of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We investigated the effect of obesity severity, metabolic risk parameters, and obesity treatment outcome on later risk of NAFLD in paediatric obesity. We conducted a nested case–control study of children and adolescents enrolled in the Swedish Childhood Obesity Treatment Register (BORIS) (2001–2016). NAFLD was ascertained from the National Patient Register. Five controls per case were matched by sex and age at index date and at the obesity treatment initiation. Seventy‐six pairs (n cases = 76, n controls = 241) were included in the analysis (29% females, mean age at obesity treatment initiation was 10.8 ± 3.07 years). Mean age of NAFLD diagnosis was 14.2 ± 3.07 years. The risk for NAFLD increased with severe obesity (odds ratio [OR]: 3.15, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.69–5.89), impaired fasting glucose (OR: 5.29, 95% CI: 1.40–20.06), high triglycerides (OR: 2.33, 95% CI: 1.22–4.43) and weight gain (OR: 4.67, 95% CI: 1.51–14.49 per body mass index standard deviation score [BMI SDS] unit). Relative weight loss of at least 0.25 BMI SDS units reduced NAFLD risk independently of other risk factors (OR: 0.09, 95% CI: 0.01–0.56). Severe obesity, impaired fasting glucose and high triglycerides are risk factors for future NAFLD in paediatric obesity. Successful obesity treatment almost eliminates the risk for NAFLD independently of obesity severity, IFG and high triglycerides.
THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD BOTANIC GARDEN: SHARING THE SCIENTIFIC WONDER AND IMPORTANCE OF PLANTS WITH THE WORLD
Authors: Thorogood Chris J.
Published: December 2021

The University of Oxford Botanic Garden is the UK's oldest botanic garden, established as a physic garden in 1621 in which medicinal plants were grown for teaching purposes. Today, the garden holds a collection of over 5000 taxa, some of which have international conservation importance. The collections of Oxford Botanic Garden are discussed with a focus on their historic, conservation and research value, and their potential for engaging people with the importance of plants at a time when it has never been more urgent in the face of global challenges.
SIBTHORP'S FLORA GRAECA EXPEDITION AND TEACHING LINNAEAN BOTANY IN OXFORD PHYSIC GARDEN
Authors: Harris Stephen A.
Published: December 2021

John Sibthorp (1758–96) and Ferdinand Bauer (1760–1826) explored the eastern Mediterranean between 1786 and 1787, collecting specimens and seeds, and making field sketches. In Oxford, Bauer produced watercolours from his sketches as Sibthorp reorganised the Physic Garden to make it appropriate for teaching Linnaean botany. This paper shows how Sibthorp, a dedicated teacher, incorporated Bauer's illustrations and living plants collected during their travels, into his annual lecture course.
The use of cash assistance in the Covid‐19 humanitarian response: accelerating trends and missed opportunities
Authors: Lawson‐McDowall Julie , McCormack Ruth , Tholstrup Sophie
Published: December 2021

The operational and socioeconomic consequences of Covid‐19 have made cash assistance the global go‐to relief modality, whether through humanitarian or social protection channels. Cash has proven to be an adaptable means of saving lives and supporting livelihoods and mitigating the pandemic's impacts on local economies while giving recipients the flexibility to decide what they require. Many humanitarian organisations have increased the scale of cash programmes, while government‐administered social assistance mechanisms have been utilised on a huge scale. The crisis has bolstered attention on why linkages between social protection and humanitarian cash are important, including how to work together more effectively to enable better coverage of those in need. This paper has been developed with inputs from across the CALP Network. It explores how cash and voucher assistance—with a focus on humanitarian response—has been scaled up or adjusted in response to Covid‐19, and how it is changing ways of working.
An unusual case of prenatal diagnosis of isolated subaortic left brachiocephalic vein with HDlive flow and spatiotemporal image correlation(STIC)
Authors: Li Tian‐gang , Ma Bin , Yao Li‐guo
Published: December 2021

Subaortic left brachiocephalic vein (LBCV) is rare in prenatal diagnosis. Reported herein is a case of subaortic a LBCV diagnosed using the HDlive flow and spatiotemporal image correlation with postnatal outcomes evaluation in our hospital.
Conflict monitoring and attentional adjustment during binocular rivalry
Authors: Drew Alice , Torralba Mireia , Ruzzoli Manuela , Morís Fernández Luis , Sabaté Alba , Pápai Márta Szabina , Soto‐Faraco Salvador
Published: December 2021

To make sense of ambiguous and, at times, fragmentary sensory input, the brain must rely on a process of active interpretation. At any given moment, only one of several possible perceptual representations prevails in our conscious experience. Our hypothesis is that the competition between alternative representations induces a pattern of neural activation resembling cognitive conflict, eventually leading to fluctuations between different perceptual outcomes in the case of steep competition. To test this hypothesis, we probed changes in perceptual awareness between competing images using binocular rivalry. We drew our predictions from the conflict monitoring theory, which holds that cognitive control is invoked by the detection of conflict during information processing. Our results show that fronto‐medial theta oscillations (5–7 Hz), an established electroencephalography (EEG) marker of conflict, increases right before perceptual alternations and decreases thereafter, suggesting that conflict monitoring occurs during perceptual competition. Furthermore, to investigate conflict resolution via attentional engagement, we looked for a neural marker of perceptual switches as by parieto‐occipital alpha oscillations (8–12 Hz). The power of parieto‐occipital alpha displayed an inverse pattern to that of fronto‐medial theta, reflecting periods of high interocular inhibition during stable perception, and low inhibition around moments of perceptual change. Our findings aim to elucidate the relationship between conflict monitoring mechanisms and perceptual awareness.
Associations of sex, oral hygiene and smoking with oral species in distinct habitats at age 32 years
Authors: Benn Angela M. L. , Heng Nicholas C. K. , Thomson W. Murray , Sissons Chris H. , Gellen Lisa S. , Gray Andrew R. , Broadbent Jonathan M.
Published: December 2021

The oral microbiome is ecologically diverse, complex, dynamic, and little understood. We describe the microbiota of four oral habitats in a birth cohort at age 32 and examine differences by sex, oral hygiene, and current smoking status, dental caries, and periodontal health. Oral biofilm samples collected from anterior labial supragingival, posterior lingual supragingival, subgingival, and tongue sites of 841 Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study members were analysed using checkerboard DNA‐DNA hybridization; focusing on 30 ecologically important bacterial species. The four habitats exhibited distinct microbial profiles that differed by sex. Streptococcus gordonii was more dominant in supragingival and tongue biofilms of males; Porphyromonas gingivalis exhibited higher relative abundance in subgingival biofilm of females. Males had higher scores than females for periodontal pathogens at supragingival sites. The relative abundance of several putative caries and periodontal pathogens differed in smokers and non‐smokers. With poor oral hygiene significantly higher proportions of Gram‐negative facultative anaerobes were present in subgingival biofilm and there were higher scores for the principal components characterised by putative cariogenic and periodontal pathogens at each site. Distinctive microenvironments shape oral biofilms and systematic differences exist by sex, oral hygiene, and smoking status.
Ascendant altruism and asset price bubbles
Authors: Bosi Stefano , Ha‐Huy Thai , Pham Cao‐Tung , Pham Ngoc‐Sang
Published: December 2021

We consider an overlapping generations economy with altruism toward parents and a long‐lived asset that delivers no dividends (pure bubble asset). We explore the role of ascendant altruism on the dynamic properties of equilibrium and rational bubbles in the cases of exogenous and endogenous growth.
Mechanisms of social evaluation in infancy: A preregistered exploration of infants’ eye‐movement and pupillary responses to prosocial and antisocial events
Authors: Tan Enda , Hamlin Jane Kiley
Published: December 2021

Past research shows infants selectively touch and look longer at characters who help versus hinder others (Social evaluation by preverbal infants.Nature, 2007, 450, 557; Three‐month‐olds show a negativity bias in their social evaluations.Developmental Science, 2010, 13, 923); however, the mechanisms underlying this tendency remain underspecified. The current preregistered experiment approaches this question by examining infants’ real‐time looking behaviors during prosocial and antisocial events, and exploring how individual infants’ looking behaviors correlate with helper preferences. Using eye‐tracking, 34 five‐month‐olds were familiarized with two blocks of the “hill” scenario originally developed by Kuhlmeier et al. (Attribution of dispositional states by 12‐month‐olds.Psychological Science, 2003, 14, 402), in which a climber tries unsuccessfully to reach the top of a hill and is alternately helped or hindered. Infants’ visual preferences were assessed after each block of 6 helping and hindering events by proportional looking time to the helper versus hinderer in an image of the characters side by side. Results showed that, at the group level, infants looked longer at the helper after viewing 12 (but not after viewing 6) helping and hindering videos. Moreover, individual infants’ average preference for the helper was predicted by their looking behaviors, particularly those suggestive of an understanding of the climber's unfulfilled goal. These results shed light on how infants process helping/hindering scenarios, and suggest that goal understanding is important for infants’ helper preferences.
Social engagement for mental health: An international survey of older populations
Authors: Yen Hsin‐Yen , Chi Mei‐Ju , Huang Hao‐Yun
Published: December 2021

Background and purpose

Social engagement is an important active aging strategy to promote older adults’ mental health. The purposes of this study were to compare social engagement in older populations around the world and explore associations with mental health outcomes.

Materials and methods

An international cross‐sectional survey was conducted from 2017 to 2019. Data were retrieved from The International Social Survey Programme for a secondary data analysis across 30 countries. This study applied the Taxonomy of Social Activities and its six levels as operational definitions for a consistent concept of social engagement for international comparisons.

Results

In total, 9403 older adults with a mean age of 72.85 ± 6.40 years responded. The highest levels of older adults’ social engagement were found in Switzerland, Thailand, and New Zealand. Older adults of a higher age, with a lower educational level, who were permanently sick or disabled, who had no partner, who were widowed or whose civil partner had died, who lived alone, and who had lower self‐placement in society had significantly lower social engagement than did their counterparts. In the regression model, older adults’ social engagement positively predicted general health, self‐accomplishment, and life satisfaction, but negatively predicted loneliness and depression.

Conclusions

In aging societies worldwide, encouraging older adults' social engagement would be beneficial to promote mental health.

Implications for nursing practice and health policies

Community professional nurses can develop strategies of social engagement based on the needs and sociodemographic factors of older adults to improve their mental health. Developing efficient strategies and local policies by learning from successful experiences in other countries is important to promote social engagement in aging societies.
Ultrastrong, elastic, and fatigue‐resistant SiC nanowires network
Authors: Lu De , Wang Hongjie , Su Lei , Niu Min , Guo Pengfei , Gao Hongfei , Zhuang Lei , Cai Zhixin , Xu Liang
Published: December 2021

Light, strong, and elastic ceramics are of great interest for widespread engineering applications but it is always been a challenge to design and fabricate such materials for the conflict that lightweight structure usually requires high porosity while high porosity often leads to low strength. Here, we report a lightweight (90.9% porosity) and ultra‐strong SiC nanowires network (SiC NN) constructed by highly inter‐bonded nanowires in a layered distribution through a facile way. The resulting lamellar SiC NN (L‐SiC NN) exhibits a nearly complete compressive resilience from 20% strain while showing significantly high compressive stress (5.7 MPa). In particular, the L‐SiC NN shows high storage modulus (12.3 MPa), small damping ratio (0.046), frequency invariant from 20 to 100 Hz, and fatigue resistance up to 100 000 compression‐release cycles. In addition, the L‐SiC NN possesses high‐temperature stability up to 1100°C in air and low thermal conductivity of 0.121 W m‐1 k‐1. These integrated features make the L‐SiC NN an attractive substitute for thermal insulators and mechanical energy storage in a harsh environment.
In situ hot‐stage TEM of the phase and domain evolution in quenched Na1/2Bi1/2TiO3–BaTiO3
Authors: Fetzer Ann‐Katrin , Wohninsland Andreas , Lalitha K.V. , Kleebe Hans‐Joachim
Published: December 2021

Quenching relaxor ferroelectric 0.94(Na1/2Bi1/2)TiO3–0.06BaTiO3 (NBT‐6BT) enhances the depolarization temperature (Td), linked to the stabilization of ferroelectric order. The thermal evolution of the domain structure and phase assemblage provides insights about the onset of ferroelectric order in quenched materials. Unpoled furnace cooled and quenched NBT‐6BT ceramics were studied using in situ temperature‐dependent transmission electron microscopy. The rhombohedral to tetragonal structural transition in furnace cooled and quenched samples occurs in a comparable temperature range of 120°C–220°C. While the tetragonal phase is characterized by polar nanoregions (PNRs) and no domain contrast in the furnace cooled state, the quenched composition exhibits an increased fraction of lamellar domains, which are partially stable up to 300°C, thus benefiting the delayed depolarization. This is further corroborated by the dielectric data indicating earlier freezing of PNR dynamics in the quenched state. The reversibility of the phase transition is demonstrated by successive cooling, where quenched NBT‐6BT features an increased grainy PNR contrast after the experiment, followed by a kinetically delayed coalescence of PNRs back into lamellar domains. This demonstrates that the stabilized ferroelectric state upon quenching is associated with the conversion of polar units on the nanometer scale into long‐range domain structures.
The ratio of length at first maturity to maximum length across marine and freshwater fishes
Authors: Chen Zhaomin , Bigman Jennifer , Xian Weiwei , Liang Cui , Chu Elaine , Pauly Daniel
Published: December 2021

The prevailing determinant of maturation in fishes is thought to be a redirection of energy from growth to reproduction. Instead, the Gill Oxygen Limitation Theory predicts that maturation, and thus reproduction, is induced when a fish reaches a critical ratio of oxygen supply to demand (Qm/Qmaint). The consistency of this critical ratio has been previously documented in many fishes, but a broader test was lacking. In this study, the authors assess if this critical ratio is consistent across 132 unique fish species, as measured by the slope of the relationship betweenLmaxDandLmD, whereLmaxis the maximum length reached in a given population,Lmis the mean size at first maturity in that population andDis a gill‐related exponent which renders theLmaxD/LmDratio equivalent to theQm/Qmaintratio. The authors found that across all species, theLmaxD/LmDratio was 1.40 (95%c.i.1.38–1.42), which was not significantly different from that previously estimated across other species groups (1.35, 95%c.i.1.22–1.53), especially when phylogenetic relationships were considered (1.25, 95% Bayesian credible interval 1.09–1.40). The consistency of theLmaxD/LmDratio across taxa, which expresses the difference in metabolic rate at maturity and maximum size, suggests that the scaling of gill surface area is the factor that underlies this ratio, and which triggers the maturation in fishes.
Towards precision medicine in lymphoid malignancies
Authors: Bühler Marco M. , Martin‐Subero José I. , Pan‐Hammarström Qiang , Campo Elias , Rosenquist Richard
Published: December 2021

Careful histopathologic examination remains the cornerstone in the diagnosis of the clinically and biologically heterogeneous group of lymphoid malignancies. However, recent advances in genomic and epigenomic characterization using high‐throughput technologies have significantly improved our understanding of these tumors. Although no single genomic alteration is completely specific for a lymphoma entity, some alterations are highly recurrent in certain entities and thus can provide complementary diagnostic information when integrated in the hematopathological diagnostic workup. Moreover, other alterations may provide important information regarding the clinical course, that is, prognostic or risk‐stratifying markers, or response to treatment, that is, predictive markers, which may allow tailoring of the patient's treatment based on (epi)genetic characteristics. In this review, we will focus on clinically relevant diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive biomarkers identified in more common types of B‐cell malignancies, and discuss how diagnostic assays designed for comprehensive molecular profiling may pave the way for the implementation of precision diagnostics/medicine approaches. We will also discuss future directions in this rapidly evolving field, including the application of single‐cell sequencing and other omics technologies, to decipher clonal dynamics and evolution in lymphoid malignancies.
COVID‐19 hospitalization is associated with pulmonary/diffusion abnormalities but not post‐acute sequelae of COVID‐19 severity
Authors: Lam Grace Y. , Befus Dean , Damant Ronald W. , Ferrara Giovanni , Fuhr Desi P. , Laratta Cheryl R. , Lau Angela , Stickland Michael K. , Varughese Rhea A. , Wong Eric Y. , Smith Maeve P.
Published: December 2021

Coronavirus disease‐19 (COVID‐19) has resulted in much acute morbidity and mortality worldwide. There is now a growing recognition of the post‐acute sequela of COVID‐19, termed long COVID. However, the risk factors contributing to this condition remain unclear. Here, we address the growing controversy in the literature of whether hospitalization is a risk factor for long COVID. We found that hospitalization is associated with worse pulmonary restriction and reduction in diffusion capacity at 3 months post‐infection. However, the impact on mental health, functional and quality of life is equally severe in those who have and have not been hospitalized during the acute infection. These findings suggest that hospitalization is a risk factor for pulmonary complications of long COVID but not the overall severity of long COVID.
Gender differences in modifiable risk factors for hip fracture: 10‐year follow‐up of a prospective study of 0.5 million Chinese adults
Authors: Yao Pang , Parish Sarah , Bennett Derrick A. , Du Huaidong , Yang Ling , Chen Yiping , Guo Yu , Yu Canqing , Zhou Gang , Lv Jun , Li Liming , Chen Zhengming , Clarke Robert ,   China Kadoorie Biobank Collaborative Group
Published: December 2021

Background

Little is known about the incidence rates and importance of major modifiable risk factors for hip and major osteoporotic fractures in low‐ and middle‐income countries. We estimated the age‐ and sex‐specific incidence of hip, major osteoporotic, and any fractures and their associated risk factors in Chinese adults.

Methods

This was a prospective study of 512,715 adults, aged 30–79 years, recruited from 10 diverse areas in China from 2004 to 2008 and followed up for 10 years. Age‐ and sex‐specific incidence rates were estimated, and Cox regression was used to yield adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and population attributable fractions for risk factors.

Results

The incidence rates of hip fracture in Chinese adults were 5.1 (95% confidence interval [CI] 5.0–5.3) per 10,000 person‐years; they were higher in women than in men and increased by two‐ to threefold per 10‐year older age. Among men, five risk factors for hip fracture, including low education (HR = 1.23; 95% CI 1.04–1.45), regular smoker (1.22, 1.03–1.45), lower weight (1.59, 1.34–1.88), alcohol drinker (1.18, 1.02–1.36), and prior fracture (1.62, 1.33–1.98), accounted for 44.3% of hip fractures. Among women, lower weight (1.30, 1.15–1.46), low physical activity (1.22, 1.10–1.35), diabetes (1.62, 1.41–1.86), prior fracture (1.54, 1.33–1.77), and self‐rated poor health (1.29, 1.13–1.47) accounted for 24.9% of hip fractures. Associations of risk factors with major osteoporotic or any fractures were weaker than those with hip fractures.

Conclusions

The age‐ and sex‐specific incidence rates of hip fracture in Chinese adults were comparable with those in Western populations. Five potentially modifiable factors accounted for half of the hip fractures in men and one quarter in women.
Suspected human intravenous immunoglobulin‐induced acute haemolytic anaemia in a dog
Authors: Koo Y. , Yun T. , Chae Y. , Lee D. , Choi D. , Oh J. , Kim J. , Kim H. , Yang M. P. , Kang B. T.
Published: December 2021

A 2‐year‐old mixed breed dog presented with a 1‐year history of crust and erosion on the nasal planum. Because histopathological examination revealed ruptured intraepidermal pustules and superficial dermal inflammation, the dog was diagnosed with pemphigus foliaceus. Human intravenous immunoglobulin was administered in two consecutive doses of 0.5 g/kg/day due to poor therapeutic response to previous immunosuppressive therapy. From Day 3 after the first dose of human intravenous immunoglobulin, tachypnoea, pale mucous membrane, haemoglobinuria and haemoglobinemia were observed, thus confirming haemolytic anaemia. Other drug‐induced haemolytic anaemias were excluded because no additional drugs had been administered before the haemolysis occurred. Immune‐mediated haemolytic anaemia was also excluded because the direct antiglobulin test was negative. Two transfusions were performed, and haemolysis was not observed from Day 4 of haemolytic anaemia onset. In conclusion, human intravenous immunoglobulin‐induced haemolytic anaemia should be considered in dogs that develop haemolysis following the administration of human intravenous immunoglobulin.
Beckettite, Ca2V6Al6O20, a new mineral in a Type A refractory inclusion from Allende and clues to processes in the early solar system
Authors: Ma Chi , Krot Alexander N. , Paque Julie , Tschauner Oliver , Nagashima Kazuhide
Published: December 2021

Beckettite (Ca2V6Al6O20; IMA 2015‐001) is a newly discovered refractory mineral, occurring as micrometer‐sized grains intergrown with hibonite and perovskite, and surrounded by secondary grossular, anorthite, coulsonite, hercynite, and corundum. It occurs within highly altered areas in a V‐rich, Type A Ca‐Al‐rich inclusion (CAI), A‐WP1, from the Allende CV3 carbonaceous chondrite. The type beckettite has an empirical formula of (Ca1.99Na0.01)(V3+3.47Al1.40Ti4+0.57Mg0.25Sc0.08Fe2+0.04)(Al5.72Si0.28)O20, with a triclinic structure in space group P and cell parameters a = 10.367 Å, b = 10.756 Å, c = 8.895 Å, α = 106.0°, β = 96.0°, γ = 124.7°, V = 739.7 Å3, and Z = 2, which leads to a calculated density of 3.67 g cm−3. Beckettite’s general formula is Ca2(V,Al,Ti,Mg)6Al6O20 and the endmember formula is Ca2V6Al6O20. Beckettite is slightly 16O‐depleted (Δ17O = −16 ± 2‰) compared to the coexisting hibonite and spinel −24 ± 2‰. Beckettite is a primary high‐temperature mineral resulting from igneous crystallization of an 16O‐rich V‐rich CAI melt together with V‐bearing hibonite, perovskite, burnettite, spinel, and paqueite. Subsequently, beckettite experienced an incomplete isotope exchange with an 16O‐poor aqueous fluid (Δ17O = −3 ± 2‰) on the Allende parent asteroid.
Population differences in the length and early‐life dynamics of telomeres among European pied flycatchers
Authors: Kärkkäinen Tiia , Laaksonen Toni , Burgess Malcolm , Cantarero Alejandro , Martínez‐Padilla Jesús , Potti Jaime , Moreno Juan , Thomson Robert L. , Tilgar Vallo , Stier Antoine
Published: December 2021

Telomere length and shortening rate are increasingly being used as biomarkers for long‐term costs in ecological and evolutionary studies because of their relationships with survival and fitness. Both early‐life conditions and growth, and later‐life stressors can create variation in telomere shortening rate. Studies on between‐population telomere length and dynamics are scarce, despite the expectation that populations exposed to varying environmental constraints would present divergent telomere length patterns. The pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) is a passerine bird breeding across Eurasia (from Spain to western Siberia) and migrating through the Iberian Peninsula to spend the nonbreeding period in sub‐Saharan Africa. Thus, different populations show marked differences in migration distance. We studied the large‐scale variation of telomere length and early‐life dynamics in the pied flycatcher by comparing six European populations across a north–south gradient (Finland, Estonia, England and Spain) predicting a negative effect of migration distance on adult telomere length, and of nestling growth on nestling telomere dynamics. There were clear population differences in telomere length, with English birds from midlatitudes having the longest telomeres. Telomere length did not thus show consistent latitudinal variation and was not linearly linked to differences in migration distance. Early‐life telomere shortening rate tended to vary between populations. Fast growth was associated with shorter telomeres in the early life, but faster nestling growth affected telomeres more negatively in northern than southern populations. While the sources of between‐population differences in telomere‐related biology remain to be more intensively studied, our study illustrates the need to expand telomere studies at the between‐population level.
Drivers of neutral and adaptive differentiation in pike (Esox lucius) populations from contrasting environments
Authors: Sunde Johanna , Yıldırım Yeşerin , Tibblin Petter , Bekkevold Dorte , Skov Christian , Nordahl Oscar , Larsson Per , Forsman Anders
Published: December 2021

Understanding how eco‐evolutionary processes and environmental factors drive population differentiation and adaptation are key challenges in evolutionary biology of relevance for biodiversity protection. Differentiation requires at least partial reproductive separation, which may result from different modes of isolation such as geographic isolation (allopatry) or isolation by distance (IBD), resistance (IBR), and environment (IBE). Despite that multiple modes might jointly influence differentiation, studies that compare the relative contributions are scarce. Using RADseq, we analyse neutral and adaptive genetic diversity and structure in 11 pike (Esox lucius) populations from contrasting environments along a latitudinal gradient (54.9–63.6°N), to investigate the relative effects of IBD, IBE and IBR, and to assess whether the effects differ between neutral and adaptive variation, or across structural levels. Patterns of neutral and adaptive variation differed, probably reflecting that they have been differently affected by stochastic and deterministic processes. The importance of the different modes of isolation differed between neutral and adaptive diversity, yet were consistent across structural levels. Neutral variation was influenced by interactions among all three modes of isolation, with IBR (seascape features) playing a central role, wheares adaptive variation was mainly influenced by IBE (environmental conditions). Taken together, this and previous studies suggest that it is common that multiple modes of isolation interactively shape patterns of genetic variation, and that their relative contributions differ among systems. To enable identification of general patterns and understand how various factors influence the relative contributions, it is important that several modes are simultaneously investigated in additional populations, species and environmental settings.
Identification of TbPBN1 in Trypanosoma brucei reveals a conserved heterodimeric architecture for glycosylphosphatidylinositol‐mannosyltransferase‐I
Authors: Cowton Andrew , Bütikofer Peter , Häner Robert , Menon Anant K.
Published: December 2021

Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)‐anchored proteins are found in all eukaryotes and are especially abundant on the surface of protozoan parasites such as Trypanosoma brucei. GPI‐mannosyltransferase‐I (GPI‐MT‐I) catalyzes the addition of the first of three mannoses that make up the glycan core of GPI. Mammalian and yeast GPI‐MT‐I consist of two essential subunits, the catalytic subunit PIG‐M/Gpi14 and the accessory subunit PIG‐X/Pbn1(mammals/yeast). T. brucei GPI‐MT‐I has been highlighted as a potential antitrypanosome drug target but has not been fully characterized. Here, we show that T. brucei GPI‐MT‐I also has two subunits, TbGPI14 and TbPBN1. Using TbGPI14 deletion, and TbPBN1 RNAi‐mediated depletion, we show that both proteins are essential for the mannosyltransferase activity needed for GPI synthesis and surface expression of GPI‐anchored proteins. In addition, using native PAGE and co‐immunoprecipitation analyses, we demonstrate that TbGPI14 and TbPBN1 interact to form a higher‐order complex. Finally, we show that yeast Gpi14 does not restore GPI‐MT‐I function in TbGPI14 knockout trypanosomes, consistent with previously demonstrated species specificity within GPI‐MT‐I subunit associations. The identification of an essential trypanosome GPI‐MT‐I subcomponent indicates wide conservation of the heterodimeric architecture unusual for a glycosyltransferase, leaving open the question of the role of the noncatalytic TbPBN1 subunit in GPI‐MT‐I function.
Chromosome‐specific painting unveils chromosomal fusions and distinct allopolyploid species in the Saccharum complex
Authors: Yu Fan , Zhao Xinwang , Chai Jin , Ding Xueer , Li Xueting , Huang Yongji , Wang Xianhong , Wu Jiayun , Zhang Muqing , Yang Qinghui , Deng Zuhu , Jiang Jiming
Published: December 2021

Karyotypes provide key cytogenetic information on the phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary origins in related eukaryotic species. Despite our knowledge of the chromosome numbers of sugarcane and its wild relatives, the chromosome composition and evolution among the species in the Saccharum complex have been elusive owing to the complex polyploidy and the large numbers of chromosomes of these species.

Oligonucleotide‐based chromosome painting has become a powerful tool of cytogenetic studies especially for plant species with large numbers of chromosomes. We developed oligo‐based chromosome painting probes for all 10 chromosomes in Saccharum officinarum (2n = 8x = 80). The 10 painting probes generated robust fluorescence in situ hybridization signals in all plant species within the Saccharum complex, including species in the genera Saccharum, Miscanthus, Narenga and Erianthus.

We conducted comparative chromosome analysis using the same set of probes among species from four different genera within the Saccharum complex. Excitingly, we discovered several novel cytotypes and chromosome rearrangements in these species.

We discovered that fusion from two different chromosomes is a common type of chromosome rearrangement associated with the species in the Saccharum complex. Such fusion events changed the basic chromosome number and resulted in distinct allopolyploids in the Saccharum complex.
Using structural variants to understand the ecological and evolutionary dynamics of fungal plant pathogens
Authors: Hartmann Fanny E.
Published: December 2021

Deletions, duplications, insertions, inversions and translocations are commonly referred to as structural variants (SVs). Fungal plant pathogens have compact genomes, facilitating the generation of accurate maps of SVs for these species in recent studies. Structural variants have been found to constitute a significant proportion of the standing genetic variation in fungal plant pathogen populations, potentially leading to the generation of accessory genes, regions or chromosomes enriched in pathogenicity factors. Structural variants are involved in the rapid adaptation and ecological traits of pathogens, including host specialization and mating. Long‐read sequencing techniques coupled with theoretical and experimental approaches have considerable potential for elucidating the phenotypic effects of SVs and deciphering the evolutionary and genomic mechanisms underlying the formation of SVs in fungal plant pathogens.
Pulp changes from rapid maxillary expansion: A systematic review
Authors: de Andrade Vieira Walbert , Oliveira Millena Barroso , Machado Leonardo de Souza , Cericato Graziela Oro , Lima Igor Felipe Pereira , Paranhos Luiz Renato
Published: December 2021

Introduction

This study aimed to systematically review the current evidence on the occurrence of pulp changes as side effects from orthopaedic rapid maxillary expansion (ORME) or surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion (SARME).

Methods

An electronic search was performed in eleven databases. The eligibility criteria included clinical studies assessing vitality, sensibility or dimensions of the pulp chamber of permanent teeth before and after ORME or SARME, without restrictions on publication year or language. The risk of bias was analysed with the NIH ‘Quality Assessment Tool for Before‐After (Pre‐Post) Studies with No Control Group’ and the ‘JBI for quasi‐experimental studies’ tool. The GRADE tool was used to assess the certainty of evidence.

Results

The initial search resulted in 1,197 records, from which only seven before‐after studies were included. There was a change in the pulpal blood flow (PBF) of maxillary incisors and canines up to 5 days after SARME, which gradually returned after 7 days to 3 months. After ORME, one study observed an increased PBF and one study observed a reduced PBF, which gradually returned after the end of expansion. Two studies observed that both ORME and SARME caused temporary changes in pulp sensibility. Three studies observed a significant reduction in the pulp chamber after ORME or SARME. The outcomes presented a very low certainty of evidence.

Conclusions

Although limited, the evidence shows that ORME and SARME caused temporary changes in pulp vitality and sensibility, with the possibility of inducing a reduction in pulp chamber dimensions.
Investigating the causal linkage among economic growth and renewable and non‐renewable energy consumption: cases of Germany, the UK and France
Authors: El‐Karimi Mounir
Published: December 2021

This empirical study examines the causal links among renewable energy consumption (REC) and non‐renewable energy consumption (NREC) and economic growth in Germany, the UK and France between 1980 and 2019. To this purpose, we use two different approaches: Toda and Yamamoto (Journal of Econometrics, 66, 1995, 225) time causality test and Lemmens et al. (International Journal of Forecasting, 24, 2008, 414) frequency causality test. For UK and France, the results show no significant causality between Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and REC, which supports the neutrality hypothesis. Regarding NREC, similar findings are obtained. However, for Germany, the time approach indicates bi‐directional causality between REC and GDP, while the frequency approach shows uni‐directional causality from REC to GDP in the long‐run. Therefore, there is a consensus on the growth hypothesis in Germany. Furthermore, the frequency analysis displays also one way causal nexus running from Germany’s GDP to NREC in long horizons. The policymakers in UK and France should take into account that renewables and energy conservation policies are neutral in respect to economic growth. As for Germany, measures of reducing NREC would not significantly damage GDP, and renewable energies promotion plan would be beneficial for economic growth.
Condensed tannins as antioxidants that protect poplar against oxidative stress from drought and UV‐B
Authors: Gourlay Geraldine , Hawkins Barbara J. , Albert Andreas , Schnitzler Jörg‐Peter , Peter Constabel C.
Published: December 2021

Condensed tannins (CTs, proanthocyanidins) are widespread polymeric flavan‐3‐ols known for their ability to bind proteins. In poplar (Populus spp.), leaf condensed tannins are induced by both biotic and abiotic stresses, suggesting diverse biological functions. Here we demonstrate the ability of CTs to function as physiological antioxidants, preventing oxidative and cellular damage in response to drought and UV‐B irradiation. Chlorophyll fluorescence was used to monitor photosystem II performance, and both hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde content was assayed as a measure of oxidative damage. Transgenic MYB‐overexpressing poplar (Populus tremula × P. tremuloides) with high CT content showed reduced photosystem damage and lower hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde content after drought and UV‐B stress. This antioxidant effect of CT was observed using two different poplar MYB CT regulators, in multiple independent lines and different genetic backgrounds. Additionally, low‐CT MYB134‐RNAi transgenic poplars showed enhanced susceptibility to drought‐induced oxidative stress. UV‐B radiation had different impacts than drought on chlorophyll fluorescence, but all high‐CT poplar lines displayed reduced sensitivity to both stresses. Our data indicate that CTs are significant defences against oxidative stress. The broad distribution of CTs in forest systems that are exposed to diverse abiotic stresses suggests that these compounds have wider functional roles than previously realized.
Goal conflict in retirement: Implications for satisfaction, goal pursuit, and health
Authors: Yarrington Julia S. , Tomlinson Jennifer M. , Zhang Yiyue , Sherry Ariel
Published: December 2021

We investigated goal conflict between romantic relationships and individual goals. In Study 1, 25 retired couples (N = 50) discussed a goal perceived as conflicting with the relationship. Dyadic results suggest both actor and partner general perceptions of goal conflict predicted lower relationship satisfaction. Goal conflict around the goal discussed predicted lower responsiveness from partners, higher negative affect, and diastolic blood pressure reactivity. In Study 2, goal conflict in retired, married individuals (N = 185) was negatively associated with closeness, self‐efficacy, and mental and physical health. Relationship satisfaction was a mechanism behind associations with goal conflict across studies. This research demonstrates negative implications of goal conflict for relationship and individual well‐being during retirement. Findings contribute to a growing literature suggesting that goals and support for growth are important as we age. Further, results suggest that goal conflict is detrimental to health, which is essential to protect in older adulthood.
Light‐ and laser‐based treatments for granuloma annulare: A systematic review
Authors: Mukovozov Ilya M. , Kashetsky Nadia , Richer Vincent
Published: December 2021

Background

Granuloma annulare (GA) is challenging to treat, especially when generalized. A systematic review to support the use of light‐ and laser‐based treatments for GA is lacking.

Methods

We performed a systematic review by searching Cochrane, MEDLINE, and Embase. Title, abstract, full‐text screening, and data extraction were done in duplicate. Quality appraisal was performed using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tool for case series.

Results

Thirty‐one case series met the inclusion criteria, representing a total of 336 patients. Overall, psoralen ultraviolet light A (PUVA) showed the greatest frequency of cases with complete response (59%, n = 77/131), followed by photodynamic therapy (PDT) (52%, n = 13/25), ultraviolet light B (UVB)/narrowband UVB (nbUVB)/excimer laser (40%, n = 19/47), UVA1 (31%, n = 27/86), and lasers (29%, n = 8/28). Overall across treatment modalities, higher response rates were seen in localized GA compared to generalized GA.

Conclusions

The body of evidence for light‐ and laser‐based treatment of GA is sparse. Our results suggest that PUVA has a high clearance rate for GA but its use may be limited by concerns of carcinogenesis. Although PDT has the second highest clearance rate, adverse effects, small sample sizes, impractical treatment delivery (especially with generalized disease), and long‐term concerns of carcinogenesis may limit its use. Although UVB/nbUVB/excimer laser appeared slightly less effective than other light therapies, we recommend UVB/nbUVB/excimer laser therapy as a first‐line treatment for patients with generalized GA given wider availability and a favorable long‐term safety profile.