bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The SARS-CoV-2 protein NSP2 impairs the microRNA-induced silencing capacity of human cells
Authors: Zou Limei , Moch Clara , Graille Marc , Chapat Clément
Published: January 2022

The coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is the cause of the ongoing pandemic of COVID-19. Given the absence of effective treatments against SARS-CoV-2, there is an urgent need for a molecular understanding of how the virus influences the machineries of the host cell. The SARS-CoV-2 generates 16 Non-Structural Proteins (NSPs) through proteolytic cleavage of a large precursor protein. In the present study, we focused our attention on the SARS-CoV-2 protein NSP2, whose role in the viral pathogenicity is poorly understood. Recent proteomic studies shed light on the capacity of NSP2 to bind the 4EHP-GIGYF2 complex, a key factor involved in microRNA-mediated silencing of gene expression in human cells. In order to gain a better understanding of the function of NSP2, we attempted to identify the molecular basis of its interaction with 4EHP-GIGYF2. Our data demonstrate that NSP2 physically associates with the endogenous 4EHP-GIGYF2 complex in the cytoplasm. Using co-immunoprecipitation and in vitro interaction assays, we identified both 4EHP and a central segment in GIGYF2 as binding sites for NSP2. We also provide functional evidence that NSP2 impairs the function of GIGYF2 in mediating mRNA silencing using reporter-based assays, thus leading to a reduced activity of microRNAs. Altogether, these data reveal the profound impact of NSP2 on the post-transcriptional silencing of gene expression in human cells, pointing out 4EHP-GIGYF2 targeting as a possible strategy of SARS-CoV-2 to take over the silencing machinery and to suppress host defenses.
Wearable technology for health monitoring during pregnancy: an observational cross-sectional survey study
Authors: Wakefield Colin , Yao Lena , Self Steve , Frasch Martin G.
Published: January 2022

Objective

Telemedicine has advanced to the forefront of healthcare delivery, including maternal-fetal medicine. Smart wearable electrocardiogram (ECG) devices can enable pregnant women to monitor their health and that of their fetuses. Such technology would be a logical extension of the telemedicine ecosystem. However, it is not known how pregnant women perceive the ability to use such technologies.

Design

Observational cross-sectional study.

Setting

Online survey in the United States in 2019.

Population

A representative sample of 507 women aged 18-45 were polled from 45 states.

Methods

Study participants were recruited using the SurveyMonkey Audience Polling system and responded virtually.

Main Outcome Measures

Women were asked to identify willingness to use a wearable ECG device the size of a patch-sized large band-aid on their abdomen. Ten binary or multiple-choice questions were used to gauge population interest and related demographics towards the usage of a wearable ECG device.

Results

91% of women expecting to become pregnant in the next five years accept wearable ECG technology as a mechanism for increased frequency of monitoring of maternal and fetal health throughout the pregnancy outside the hospital. 78% of women demonstrated a willingness to wear devices day and night or at least during sleep and 42% of women would spend up to $200 on such a device.

Conclusions

Even though conducted prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, this study clearly indicates a high degree of readiness of prospective pregnant women for telemedicine with continuous health monitoring of the mother-fetus dyad during the entire antepartum period.

Funding

n/a
The small GTPase Arf1 regulates ATP synthesis and mitochondria homeostasis by modulating fatty acid metabolism
Authors: Enkler Ludovic , Pennauer Mirjam , Szentgyörgyi Viktoria , Prescianotto-Baschong Cristina , Riezman Isabelle , Wiesyk Aneta , Kucharczyk Roza , Spiess Martin , Riezman Howard , Spang Anne
Published: January 2022

Lipid mobilization through fatty acid β-oxidation is a central process essential for energy production during nutrient shortage. In yeast, this catabolic process starts in the peroxisome from where β-oxidation products enter mitochondria and fuel the TCA cycle. Little is known about the physical and metabolic cooperation between these organelles. We found that expression of fatty acid transporters and of the rate-limiting enzyme involved in β-oxidation are decreased in cells expressing a hyperactive mutant of the small GTPase Arf1, leading to an accumulation of fatty acids in lipid droplets. As a consequence, mitochondria became fragmented and ATP synthesis decreased. Genetic and pharmacological depletion of fatty acids phenocopied the arf1 mutant mitochondrial phenotype. Although β-oxidation occurs mainly in mitochondria in mammals, Arf1’s role in fatty acid metabolism is conserved. Together, our results indicate that Arf1 integrates metabolism into energy production by regulating fatty acid storage and utilization, and presumably organelle contact-sites.
Humans recognize affective cues in primate vocalizations: Acoustic and phylogenetic perspectives
Authors: Debracque C. , Clay Z. , Grandjean D. , Gruber T.
Published: January 2022

Humans are adept in extracting affective information from the vocalisations of not only humans but also other animals. Current research has mainly focused on phylogenetic proximity to explain such cross-species emotion recognition abilities. However, because research protocols are inconsistent across studies, it remains unclear whether human recognition of vocal affective cues of other species is due to cross-taxa similarities between acoustic parameters, the phylogenetic distances between species, or a combination of both. To address this, we first analysed acoustic variation in 96 affective vocalizations, including agonistic and affiliative contexts, of humans and three other primate species – rhesus macaques, chimpanzees and bonobos – the latter two being equally phylogenetically distant from humans. Using Mahalanobis distances, we found that chimpanzee vocalizations were acoustically closer to those of humans than to those of bonobos, confirming a potential derived vocal evolution in the bonobo lineage. Second, we investigated whether 68 human participants recognized the affective basis of vocalisations through tasks by asking them to categorize (‘A vs B’) or discriminate (‘A vs non-A’) vocalisations based on their affective content. Results showed that participants could reliably categorize and discriminate most of the affective vocal cues expressed by other primates, except threat calls by bonobos and macaques. Overall, participants showed greatest accuracy in detecting chimpanzee vocalizations; but not bonobo vocalizations, which provides support for both the phylogenetic proximity and acoustic similarity hypotheses. Our results highlight for the first time the importance of both phylogenetic and acoustic parameter level explanations in cross-species affective perception, drawing a more complex picture to explain our natural understanding of animal signals.
In situ tomographic study of a 3D-woven SiC/SiC composite part subjected to severe thermo-mechanical loads
Authors: Turpin Léonard , Roux Stéphane , Caty Olivier , King Andrew , Denneulin Sébastien , Martin Éric
Published: January 2022

A high-temperature multi-axial test is carried out to characterize the thermo-mechanical behaviour of a 3D-woven SiC/SiC composite aeronautical part under loads representative of operating conditions. The sample is L-shaped and cut out from the part. It is subjected to severe thermal gradients and a superimposed mechanical load that progressively increases up to the first damage. The sample shape and its associated microstructure, the heterogeneity of the stress field and the limited accessibility to regions susceptible to damage require non-contact imaging modalities. An in situ experiment, conducted with a dedicated testing machine at the SOLEIL synchrotron facility, provides the sample microstructure from computed micro-tomographic imaging and thermal loads from infrared thermography. Experimental constraints lead to non-ideal acquisition conditions for both measurement modalities. This article details the procedure of correcting artefacts to use the volumes for quantitative exploitation (i.e. full-field measurement, model validation and identification). After proper processing, despite its complexity, the in situ experiment provides high-quality data about a part under realistic operating conditions. The influence of the mesostructure on fracture phenomena can be inferred from the tomography in the damaged state. Experiments show that the localization of damage initiation is driven by the geometry, while the woven structure moderates the crack propagation. This study widens the scope of in situ thermo-mechanical experiments to more complex loading states, closer to in-service conditions.
Crystal structure of a short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase from Burkholderia phymatum in complex with NAD
Authors: Alenazi Jawaher , Mayclin Stephen , Subramanian Sandhya , Myler Peter J. , Asojo Oluwatoyin A.
Published: January 2022

Burkholderia phymatum is an important symbiotic nitrogen-fixing betaproteobacterium. B. phymatum is beneficial, unlike other Burkholderia species, which cause disease or are potential bioagents. Structural genomics studies at the SSGCID include characterization of the structures of short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases (SDRs) from multiple Burkholderia species. The crystal structure of a short-chain dehydrogenase from B. phymatum (BpSDR) was determined in space group C2221 at a resolution of 1.80 Å. BpSDR shares less than 38% sequence identity with any known structure. The monomer is a prototypical SDR with a well conserved cofactor-binding domain despite its low sequence identity. The substrate-binding cavity is unique and offers insights into possible functions and likely inhibitors of the enzymatic functions of BpSDR.
The influence of the onboard servicescape on cruisers’ experiential state, delight and memorability
Authors: Sorrentino Annarita , Ferretti Marco , Risitano Marcello , Del Chiappa Giacomo , Okumus Fevzi
Published: January 2022

Purpose

This study aims to examine the effects of the servicescape on experiential state, delight and memorability in the context of the cruise experience. This study also analyzes the moderating effects of sociodemographic characteristics (income and place of residency) and prior travel experience.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on the Stimulus-Organism-Response theory, structural equation modeling via partial least squares path modeling was applied to a sample of 415 cruisers. A multi-group analysis was used to test the moderating effects.

Findings

Study results confirm the predictive role of the servicescape in creating experience, delight and memorability, with a place of residence, past travel experience and income exerting moderating effects on the aforementioned relationships.

Practical implications

The results offer useful insights for managers who operate not only in the cruise industry but also in other service contexts. Moreover, the moderating effects offer novel insights into smarter marketing on the part of service companies oriented toward value co-creation.

Originality/value

Only a few recent studies have focused on the servicescape in the context of the cruise industry. This study contributes to the literature by providing a theoretical framework and empirical evidence for analyzing the role of the onboard servicescape in cruisers’ experience, delight and memorability while also considering the moderating effects that of sociodemographic and travel-related characteristics exert on the different paths.
Women’s centrality of life domains: the Israeli case
Authors: Kay Avi , Sharabi Moshe
Published: January 2022

Purpose

This article aims to provide an examination of the impact of Jewish religious tradition on attitudes toward life domains among Jewish Israeli women. This is the first study of importance of life-domains among women in the ultra-Orthodox community: the fastest growing population in Israel. This population exhibits a unique occupational pattern in which women are the primary economic actors. As women are transitioning into more central occupational and economic players throughout the world, this research has both theoretical and practical implications.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 567 employed Jewish Israeli women (309 secular, 138 traditional and 120 ultra-Orthodox) completed a survey about relative importance of life domains. Responses were analyzed via mean-comparison tests, ANOVA and regression analysis.

Findings

Surprisingly, religiosity was associated with higher lower work centrality. Work centrality was the highest among ultra-Orthodox women, and family centrality the lowest. Centrality of religion increased and centrality of leisure decreased with religiosity. No differences emerged regarding centrality of community.

Research limitations/implications

A limitation of this study is that attitudes toward life domains are based on one-time responses to one question. With that, the psychometric characteristics of the measure and its wide-spread use indicate its acceptability and applicability for the issue studied.

Practical implications

The data point to changes in the attitudes of ultra-Orthodox women toward life-domains. Those changes and the increased presence of these women at the workplace challenge both organizational and community leaders to reexamine how to best react to and benefit from the above.

Social implications

Ultra-orthodox society is a fundamentalist, enclave society that has, generally, been able to retain traditional internal social and familial patterns until now. However, increased exposure of community members – and particularly women – to a variety of organizations and individuals operating in them, may be contributing to changes in attitudes of those women regarding their traditional social and familial roles.

Originality/value

This study closes gaps in research examining the impact of religion and of gender on work attitudes. It does so among women in the fastest growing population of Israel, that exhibit a unique occupational pattern that can contribute to both theoreticians and policy planners regarding implications of the transition of women to more central economic roles.
Urban solid waste challenges and opportunities to promote sustainable developing cities through the fourth industrial revolution technologies
Authors: Ebekozien Andrew , Aigbavboa Clinton , Emuchay Faith Ebekozien , Aigbedion Marvelous , Ogbaini Iliye Faith , Awo-Osagie Andrew Igiebor
Published: January 2022

Purpose

In less than a decade to Sustainable Development Goals, the urban solid waste (USW) emanating from households, especially in developing countries, calls for concern. Several policies have been suggested and some implemented, but the challenges facing USW management remain, especially in developing nations. Past studies demonstrated that the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) technologies can be used to improve urban public services. The role of 4IR in mitigating the challenges of USW is yet to receive in-depth research in Nigeria. Thus, the study investigated 4IR role regarding mitigating the challenges facing USW.

Design/methodology/approach

Seven cities across Nigeria, including the Federal Capital Territory, were used as the study area to achieve the research objectives via a qualitative research design. Thirty-two semi-structured interviews were conducted from selected regulators, households, legislators, ICT experts, NGOs and waste managers. A thematic approach was adopted to analyse the collated data.

Findings

Findings group the USW challenges into five categories. The 4IR technologies can be used to manage USW; thus, they create an opportunity to integrate and promote sustainable clean cities.

Research limitations/implications

This study is confined to the 4IR role concerning mitigating the encumbrances facing USW in Nigeria and proffered feasible policies to enhance a sustainable healthy environment.

Practical implications

Proffered policy solutions will stir policymakers and construction practitioners to think outside the box and offer and better understand how 4IR technologies can be utilised to mitigate those challenges. The outcome will create sustainable clean cities as part of the implication contribution to the body of knowledge.

Originality/value

Evidence from the reviewed literature shows a paucity of literature focussed on 4IR roles in mitigating the encumbrances facing USW in Nigeria. Therefore, this study contributes to the existing research work on 4IR concerning its role in enhancing USW in Nigeria and, by extension, to other developing countries.
Education in the pandemic economy: attitudes towards distance learning as a drive of university students’ decision making
Authors: Toumpalidou Soultana Anna , Konstantoulaki Kleopatra
Published: January 2022

Purpose

Over the past year, the widespread pandemic has changed people’s lifestyles around the world. Educational services providers had to adapt to this new reality. Therefore, distance learning has been widely used by universities all over the world, even though some institutions were not prepared for this sudden change to their service provision. As such distance learning methods, while they are not new in the academic community, were massively introduced and redesigned to help students’ attend lectures and acquire new knowledge. The introduction of new technologies has further helped students’ and teaching staff speed up the process and improve methods of teaching and learning, including access to educational material, virtual classes and live meetings. The aim of this paper is to tap on the new form of higher education provision in the pandemic economy; more specifically, the authors aim to assess the impact of this change on university students’ and investigate the effect of attitudes towards distance learning as a drive of university students’ decision-making.

Design/methodology/approach

Distance learning has been widely used by Greek universities, even though some institutions were not prepared for this sudden change to their teaching methods. To assess the impact of this change on university students, research was conducted on 1,550 students’ at Democritus University of Thrace, Greece, and a two-step cluster analysis was conducted to reveal three equally sized clusters, namely, technology mature, technology conservatives and sceptics of e-learning.

Findings

The results reveal that although students’ found distance learning implementation the satisfactory, most of them are sceptical about the future of distance learning methods. Their main objections focus on the way distance learning is practiced. They also shared their objections regarding the future of e-learning and online exams.

Originality/value

This study is based on the extant pros and cons of distance learning and provides new knowledge on students’ attitudes towards distance learning. This where the manuscript offers value, as to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study in the post COVID-19 era that offers new empirical data relating to attitudes towards online services provision in the higher education sector.
FHSA: fractional harmony search algorithm for polyphase code design in radar signal processing
Authors: Rao Sirasani Srinivasa , V. Subba Ramaiah
Published: January 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to design and develop a technique for polyphase code design for the radar system.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed fractional harmony search algorithm (FHSA) performs the polyphase code design. The FHSA binds the properties of the harmony search algorithm and the fractional theory. An optimal fitness function based on the coherence and the autocorrelation is derived through the proposed FHSA. The performance metrics such as power, autocorrelation and cross-correlation measure the efficiency of the algorithm.

Findings

The performance metrics such as power, autocorrelation and cross-correlation is used to measure the efficiency of the algorithm. The simulation results show that the proposed optimal phase code design with FHSA outperforms the existing models with 1.420859, 4.09E−07, 3.69E−18 and 0.000581 W for the fitness, autocorrelation, cross-correlation and power, respectively.

Originality/value

The proposed FHSA for the design and development of the polyphase code design is developed for the RADAR is done to reduce the effect of the Doppler shift.
Antecedents and consequences of community-based tourism in border district of Jammu and Kashmir
Authors: Iqbal Zaffar , Ahmed Sharief
Published: January 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the factors influencing community participation in destination building and its consequences for the local inhabitants in the form of social, tourism and economic development.

Design/methodology/approach

Data for this study was collected from 214 questionnaires from residents of different tourist destinations in the Poonch district of J&K. This study used explorative factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling techniques for determining the structural estimates between constructs.

Findings

The results revealed that the personal and economic factors have the most significant impact followed by the social factor and least by the environmental factor upon the local community participation. Moreover, the respondents agreed that destination development has contributed a lot in terms of economic and followed by other two factors.

Originality/value

The study makes a significant theoretical contribution to the community-based tourism literature by portraying the influence of various factors on community participation and its repercussions and, moreover, the study has used the social exchange theory with a different area. Furthermore, the study has made a number of practical implications for the local authority for sustainable tourism as well as community development.
Infaq during movement lockdown: the perspective from social responsibility theory
Authors: Abd Jalil Mohamad Isa , Lada Suddin , Allah Pitchay Anwar , Bakri Mohd Ashari , Ghazali Mohd Fahmi , Abdul Hamid Mohamad Rizal
Published: January 2022

Purpose

Within a few days, the National Disaster Management Agency’s COVID-19 Fund (NADMA) has collected RM 5.5 m in donations from individuals and companies. These data shows that voluminous Malaysians are willing to help although they are in a difficult situation. Grounded in the Social Responsibility theory, this paper aims to examine the factors that motivate infaq (donation) behaviour in Malaysia during Movement Control Order (MCO).

Design/methodology/approach

The quantitative questionnaire survey method was used to obtain the data. This research’s unit analysis was of individuals who had done any help during COVID-19 MCO in Malaysia. The respondents were from all states in Malaysia, 20 years old and above and constituted of all races.

Findings

Although the religiosity factor did not play a significant role as a moderator, the results of the study found that all factors from the social responsibility theory had a significant positive relationship to Infaq behaviour during an emergency.

Practical implications

Identifying the vital driving factors that determine the infaq offer makes it possible for fundraisers to entirely focus on developing better approaches that can increase the role that these driving factors can play and possibly improve the impact on those previously unaffected factors.

Originality/value

From the authors’ knowledge, the research paper on helping effort during an emergency is minimal, let alone the research on infaq behaviour. This paper’s originality lies in the relationship between infaq behaviour, emergency and social responsibility theory which has never been explored before by other researchers.
Integrating supplier innovation in the fuzzy front end: based on an analysis of the task environment
Authors: Li Na , Pei XuDong
Published: January 2022

Purpose

Integrating supplier innovation is considered an effective strategy to reduce uncertainty at the fuzzy front end (FFE). However, the large number of supplier innovation resources and the task environment forces buying firms to precisely identify more valuable or interesting innovation resources for integration. The impact of the interaction between supplier innovation and task environment on FFE performance needs to be further explored. Therefore, this paper aims to propose a contingency framework to examine the relationship between supplier innovation (technology-push and market-pull) and buying firm’s FFE performance in different task environments, with the aim of clarifying which supplier innovation resources should be integrated to create high FFE performance in the face of an uncertain task environment.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey data from new product development team leaders in Chinese high-tech firms were collected and analyzed. Furthermore, using multiple regression analysis, the relationship among supplier innovation, task environment and FFE performance was examined.

Findings

The results show that although both technology-push and market-pull supplier innovation can improve FFE performance, there are significant differences between the influences of these two types of supplier innovation in the face of different task environments.

Practical implications

Practical guidelines are provided for buyer managers on how to effectively identify the “best” supplier innovation resources to improving the effectiveness and efficiency of supplier involvement in the FFE.

Originality/value

This paper deepens the knowledge of identifying supplier innovation resources in the FFE and enriches the research on supplier-enable FFE innovation.
‘I don’t want my face on the front page of The Sun’: the ‘Baby P effect’ as a barrier to social worker discretion
Authors: Murphy Ciarán
Published: January 2022

Purpose

The backdrop to the Munro Review of Child Protection was a narrative propagated in the British national press, and perpetuated particularly by the then opposition Conservative Party, that the case of “Baby P” evidenced the English child protection system was “failing” and in need of reform. Subsequently, the review asserted that the system had become “over-bureaucratised” and “defensive” at the expense of social worker discretion in the interests of the individual child, highlighting the need for “radical reform”. This paper aims to report on the extent of, and continued barriers to, social worker discretion within the contemporary English child protection.

Design/methodology/approach

As an ethnographic case study of a single English child protection team, the study used a sequential and iterative mixed method design, encompassing observation, document analysis, focus groups, questionnaire, interviews and “Critical Realist Grounded Theory”.

Findings

The study found that social worker discretion was continuing to be undermined by the “Baby P effect”; not only in the sense of increasing numbers of children within the system but also by the perpetual fear of being “named”, “blamed” and “shamed”, akin to Peter Connelly’s social workers.

Originality/value

The paper considers how discretion is manifested in contemporary child protection, especially in the context of the “child-centred” system envisaged by the Munro Review. It concludes that the British media and politicians have a continued role to play in reducing the risk associated with the social worker’s discretionary space.
Improving the performance of civil engineering projects through the integrated design process
Authors: Keusters Guus , Bakker Hans , Houwing Erik-Jan
Published: January 2022

Purpose

Civil engineering projects around the world have been underperforming for a long time. While the complexity of these projects will continue to increase, there is an urgent need to perform better. Although the integrated design process is critical for project success, the literature lacks studies describing the link to project performance. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the dominant variables that affect the integrated design process and consequently project performance.

Design/methodology/approach

A multiple case study was conducted to determine the dominant variables that affect the integrated design process and project performance. The research included four projects. Semi-structured interviews were the main source of data.

Findings

The cases indicated that the extent to which an integrated approach is achieved in the design process is essential for project performance. This applies to the integration of stakeholders’ interests as well as the integration of disciplines. Above all, it was concluded that the project team participants’ competencies for integration are a dominant factor for project performance, as the integrated design process has changed from a technical challenge to an integrative one.

Originality/value

This study provides insights into the dominant variable of the integrated design process that affects project performance, which is underexposed in the literature. The study results reveal the importance of competencies related to integration and adoption of the design problem context, which are not yet included in civil engineering design methods. In this respect, empathy is introduced as a new and critical competence for the civil engineering industry, which needs further research.
Rankings for smart city dialogue? Opening up a critical scrutiny
Authors: Aleksandrov Evgenii , Dybtsyna Elena , Grossi Giuseppe , Bourmistrov Anatoli
Published: January 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to explore whether and how contemporary rankings reflect the dialogic development of smart cities.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on the synthesis of smart city (SC), rankings and dialogic accounting literature. It first analyses ranking documents and related methodologies and measures and then reflects on four SC rankings, taking a critical stand on whether they provide space for the polyphonic development of smart cities.

Findings

This study argues that rankings do not include divergent perspectives and visions of smart cities, trapping cities in a mirage of multiple voices and bringing about a lack of urban stakeholder engagement. In other words, there is a gap between the democratic demands on smart cities and what rankings provide to governments when it comes to dialogue. As such, rankings in their existing traditional and technocratic form do not serve the dynamic and complex nature of the SC agenda. This, in turn, raises the threat that rankings create a particular notion of smartness across urban development with no possibility of questioning it.

Originality/value

The paper responds to recent calls to critically examine the concept of the SC and the role that accounting has played in its development. This study brings new insights regarding the value of dialogic accounting in shaping a contemporary understanding of rankings and their criticalities in the SC agenda.
Dietary approach to stop hypertension and obesity among Iranian adults: Yazd health study-TAMYZ and Shahedieh cohort
Authors: Sarkhosh-Khorasani Sahar , Mozaffari-Khosravi Hassan , Nadjarzadeh Azadeh , Mirzaei Masoud , Hosseinzadeh Mahdieh
Published: January 2022

Purpose

Established data revealed a relationship between obesity and increasing the risk of mortality and morbidity of chronic diseases. There are conflicting data regarding the association between adherence of dietary approach to stop hypertension (DASH) and obesity. Therefore, this study aims to investigate this relationship among a large sample of Iranian adults.

Design/methodology/approach

This cross-sectional study was performed by 10,693 individuals; 6750 individuals related to Yazd Health Study living in the urban area and 3943 individuals related to Shahedieh cohort study living in the suburb area. Dietary intake was evaluated by using a validated food frequency questionnaire. In all participants, anthropometric indices including body mass index were measured. The DASH score was considered using gender-specific quintiles of DASH items. To evaluate the relationship of DASH diet and obesity, multivariate logistic regression analysis was used.

Findings

By adjusting confounders, participants in highest quintiles of DASH diet were compared to the lowest have lower odds of obesity in suburb area (odds ratio [OR]: 0.78; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.63, 0.96), in urban (OR: 0.71; 95% CI: 0.52, 0.99) and in whole population of both studies (OR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.63, 0.90). Besides, more compliance of women to this diet in urban (OR: 0.64; 95% CI: 0.48, 0.85) and population of both studies (OR: 0.77; 95% CI: 0.62, 0.96) were associated with reduced odds of central obesity.

Research limitations/implications

Considering this study limitations, the following can be mentioned: in this cross-sectional study, the causal relationship between DASH diet and obesity could not be assessed. Consequently, further prospective studies are required in this area. Second, although a valid food frequency questionnaire was used, but there was a measurement error and an error in the classification of people participating in the study. Moreover, we cannot reject the possibility of residual confounding bias because unknown or unmeasured confounders may exist that affected our results. Finally, our participants with odds of obesity might have been advised to reduce their fat intake, which led them to alter their dietary habits. However, such possibility cannot be resolved in a cross-sectional study.

Originality/value

DASH dietary pattern could decrease odds of obesity in both urban and suburb area and central obesity in urban area only. Further prospective studies are needed for causal conclusion.
Selection and evaluation of reference genes for quantitative real‐time PCR analysis in lac insect (Kerria lacca)
Authors: Wang Weiwei , Ling Xiaofei , Bashir Nawaz Haider , Lu Qin , Zhang Jinwen , Li Tichu , Chen Hang
Published: January 2022

The screening and identification of suitable reference genes are key steps in experiments involving the quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction. However, the reference genes of Kerria lacca, a lac insect with considerable economic significance, have not been investigated. In this study, we used five statistical algorithms (ΔCt, geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, and RefFinder) to evaluate the stability of eight candidate reference genes (18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, β‐ACT, EF1‐α, RPL10, RPL13, RPS11, and RPS15) in different developmental stages and tissues of K. lacca and under dsRNA treatment. Our results showed that the most stable reference genes were 28S rRNA and RPS11 for the developmental stages, RPL13 and RPS11 for different tissues, and β‐ACT and EF1‐α for dsRNA treatments. Although the target genes FAS and 17β‐HSD showed consistent expression profiles (alone or in combination) when normalized to the expression levels of the stable genes, those changed when the least stable reference gene (18S rRNA) was used. These results highlight that suitable reference genes should be chosen according to the specific experimental conditions used. The reliability and stability of different reference genes can provide a firm foundation for gene expression analysis in lac insects.
Development of a FungalBraid Penicillium expansum‐based expression system for the production of antifungal proteins in fungal biofactories
Authors: Gandía Mónica , Moreno‐Giménez Elena , Giner‐Llorca Moisés , Garrigues Sandra , Ropero‐Pérez Carolina , Locascio Antonella , Martínez‐Culebras Pedro V. , Marcos Jose F. , Manzanares Paloma
Published: January 2022

Fungal antifungal proteins (AFPs) have attracted attention as novel biofungicides. Their exploitation requires safe and cost‐effective producing biofactories. Previously, Penicillium chrysogenum and Penicillium digitatum produced recombinant AFPs with the use of a P. chrysogenum‐based expression system that consisted of the paf gene promoter, signal peptide (SP)‐pro sequence and terminator. Here, the regulatory elements of the afpA gene encoding the highly produced PeAfpA from Penicillium expansum were developed as an expression system for AFP production through the FungalBraid platform. The afpA cassette was tested to produce PeAfpA and P. digitatum PdAfpB in P. chrysogenum and P. digitatum, and its efficiency was compared to that of the paf cassette. Recombinant PeAfpA production was only achieved using the afpA cassette, being P. chrysogenum a more efficient biofactory than P. digitatum. Conversely, P. chrysogenum only produced PdAfpB under the control of the paf cassette. In P. digitatum, both expression systems allowed PdAfpB production, with the paf cassette resulting in higher protein yields. Interestingly, these results did not correlate with the performance of both promoters in a luciferase reporter system. In conclusion, AFP production is a complex outcome that depends on the regulatory sequences driving afp expression, the fungal biofactory and the AFP sequence.
Release strategies and ecological factors influence mitigation translocation outcomes for burrowing owls: a comparative evaluation
Authors: Hennessy S. M. , Wisinski C. L. , Ronan N. A. , Gregory C. J. , Swaisgood R. R. , Nordstrom L. A.
Published: January 2022

Mitigation translocations are increasing and if they are to fulfill their regulatory intent, the application of best‐practice principles to release strategy and monitoring is required. With an investment of 3 years, we engaged with stakeholders, including developers, to improve outcomes from mitigation translocations of an at‐risk species, the western burrowing owl Athene cunicularia hypugaea (BUOW). We evaluated the consequences of two primary translocation methods, displacement (i.e. exclusion from burrow) and translocation, against control owls, using a suite of success metrics focused on dispersal, survival and reproduction. We also tested the provision of visual and acoustic conspecific cues to dampen dispersal away from release sites. Within the displaced group, BUOW settled closer to the origin site if burrows were available nearby. Although translocated BUOW dispersed farther from the release site than displaced BUOW, this difference disappeared when conspecific cues were present. BUOW were 20 times more likely to settle at the release site when conspecifics or their cues were present. Translocating animals over longer distances (>17.5 km) reduced the incidence of BUOW returning to the origin site. When avoiding direct impacts to BUOW is not feasible, a determination of the most beneficial translocation method must be made, driven by site‐specific conditions and the feasibility of implementing best management practices. The known costs of translocation to survival may be offset by long‐term advantages such as the establishment of breeding populations inside protected areas. Mitigation translocations can benefit from carefully devised and tested hypotheses to determine what works and what does not; we advocate the increased use of evidence in mitigation translocation to guide management decisions and policies.
Preventing driveline infection during left ventricular assist device support by the HeartMate 3: A survey‐based study
Authors: Saeed Omar , Moss Noah , Barrus Bryan , Vidula Himabindu , Shah Samit , Feitell Scott , Masser Kristi S. , Kilic Arman , Moin Danyaal , Atluri Pavan , Barati Edo
Published: January 2022

Purpose

Driveline infection (DLI) is a significant source of morbidity and mortality during left ventricular assist device (LVAD) support yet limited studies are available to describe the center‐level prevalence, preventive practices, and their potential effectiveness.

Methods

We surveyed LVAD centers in the United States to determine program burden and preventive practices for DLI during HeartMate (HM) 3 support. An online, anonymous, question‐based survey was sent to expert providers at implanting centers. Only a single respondent completed the survey for each center. As an exploratory analysis, we compared specific DLI preventive practices between centers with low (≤10%) and high (>10%) reported prevalence of DLI.

Results

Seventy‐eight centers responded to the survey (response rate: 50%). Respondents were comprised of 37 (47%) heart failure cardiologists, 27 (35%) LVAD coordinators, and 14 (18%) cardiothoracic surgeons. The prevalence of DLI during HM3 was reported as ≤10% by 27 (35%), 11%–25% by 36 (46%), and >25% by 16 (19%) centers. Thirteen (17%) centers had a body mass index threshold for device placement, 29 (37%) utilized a counter incision, 66 (81%) placed an anchor stitch, and 69 (88%) used an external device to stabilize the DL. Proportionally, more centers with a low DLI prevalence used a wound vacuum 6 (22%) versus 3 (6%, p = 0.03) than those with high DLI.

Conclusion

Variation exists in reported prevalence and practices of preventing and managing driveline infections across centers during HM3 support. Further studies are warranted to develop and assess the effectiveness of standardized preventive strategies.
Benjamin Esterman (1906–1994) and the binocular visual field scoring grid that became a world standard for assessing driver eligibility
Authors: Bro Tomas
Published: January 2022

The visual field grid developed by the ophthalmologist Benjamin Esterman (1906‐1994) is today an accepted standard for assessing driver eligibility in many parts of the world. However, little is published about the scientific process that led to the test or about the person who developed it. The aim of this article is to portray the ophthalmologist Benjamin Esterman, and to discuss the visual field grid with his name and its current role in assessing driving eligibility.
Postoperative administration of ketorolac compared to other drugs for pain control after third molar surgery: A meta‐analysis of double‐blind, randomized, clinical trials
Authors: Isiordia‐Espinoza Mario Alberto , Alonso‐Castro Ángel Josabad , Serafín‐Higuera Nicolás , Castañeda‐Santana Demian Ismael , de la Rosa Coronado Maximiliano , Bologna‐Molina Ronell Eduardo
Published: January 2022

Aims

The aim of this study was to evaluate the analgesic effectiveness and adverse reactions of ketorolac in comparison with other drugs when administered postoperatively after third molar surgery.

Methods

PubMed and Google Scholar were utilized to search for articles comparing the efficacy and safety of ketorolac and other analgesic agents after third molar surgery. Data from papers with a lower risk of bias were recorded. The overall evaluation of analgesia onset, general and subgroup evaluation of the number of patients requiring rescue analgesic medication, general and subgroup assessment of the study medication (satisfaction on the study drugs), and the overall estimation of adverse effects were performed using the Review Manager Software 5.3 to analyse the data and obtain the meta‐analysis plot.

Results

The subgroup evaluation of the study medication showed that patients who received ketorolac 30 mg were more satisfied than those who were given parecoxib 1 mg (odds ratio [OR] = 8.57, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.66–20.08, P = .00001), parecoxib 2 mg (OR = 7.17, 95% CI = 2.88–17.86, P = .0001), parecoxib 5 mg (OR = 3.03, 95% CI = 1.69–5.41, P = .0002), and parecoxib 10 mg (OR = 2.42, 95% CI = 1.36–4.32, P = .003). Moreover, patients who received ketorolac reported fewer adverse reactions compared with those who had received opioid analgesics (OR = 0.14, 95% CI = 0.32–1.76, P = .0001).

Conclusions

The data from this study demonstrates that the postoperative administration of ketorolac 30 mg presents better results on patient satisfaction when compared to parecoxib 1 mg to 10 mg, and presents a similar satisfaction to parecoxib 20 mg following third molar removal.
A narrative review of molecular mechanism and therapeutic effect of cannabidiol (CBD)
Authors: Peng Jiangling , Fan Mingjie , An Chelsea , Ni Feng , Huang Wendong , Luo Jiankang
Published: January 2022

Cannabidiol (CBD) is an abundant non‐psychoactive phytocannabinoid in cannabis extracts which has high affinity on a series of receptors, including Type 1 cannabinoid receptor (CB1), Type 2 cannabinoid receptor (CB2), GPR55, transient receptor potential vanilloid (TRPV) and peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor gamma (PPARγ). By modulating the activities of these receptors, CBD exhibits multiple therapeutic effects, including neuroprotective, antiepileptic, anxiolytic, antipsychotic, anti‐inflammatory, analgesic and anticancer properties. CBD could also be applied to treat or prevent COVID‐19 and its complications. Here, we provide a narrative review of CBD's applications in human diseases: from mechanism of action to clinical trials.
Evolution of cephalic structures in extreme myrmecophiles: a lesson from Clavigeritae (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae)
Authors: Jałoszyński Paweł , Luo Xiao‐Zhu , Beutel Rolf Georg
Published: January 2022

Pselaphinae is a large subfamily, comprising over 10 000 species of the megadiverse Staphylinidae (rove beetles). A remarkable feature of this group is the extreme structural diversity of different body regions, especially the head and its appendages. Within Pselaphinae, Clavigeritae stand out as a clade of highly specialized myrmecophiles. We examined internal and external head structures of the clavigerite species Diartiger kubotai Nomura, using state‐of‐the‐art techniques. The cephalic morphology indicates in a phylogenetic context that the loss of eyes in some Clavigeritae was the latest of major evolutionary changes. We compiled the largest set of morphological data ever scored for the subfamily, comprising 155 characters of the head. Parsimony analyses and Bayesian inference yielded a similar phylogenetic pattern, largely congruent with results published previously. We retrieved Pselaphinae as a clade, and Faronitae as sister to all remaining groups of the subfamily. Faronitae are followed by a “Euplectitae grade” and non‐monophyletic Goniaceritae, Batrisitae and Pselaphitae. Clavigeritae are monophyletic, but have evolved within the pselaphite grade. The enigmatic Colilodion Besuchet, recently shifted from Clavigeritae to a paraphyletic Pselaphitae, was placed as sister to extant clavigerites based on an array of cephalic synapomorphies. The current classification of Pselaphinae is unstable and deep changes should be made maintaining only monophyletic units, whereas most of the supertribes are paraphyletic. Characters of the head, with a concentration of mouthparts and sensory structures, and essential parts of the digestive tract and the nervous system, are highly informative phylogenetically. Study of internal structures, presently still at a very preliminary stage, obviously is essential for understanding the evolution of Pselaphinae. Future genetic investigations may reveal mechanisms behind the unique structural megadiversity in this exceptional group of rove beetles.