bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Patterns and drivers of plant diversity across Australia
Authors: Mokany Karel , McCarthy James K. , Falster Daniel S. , Gallagher Rachael V. , Harwood Thomas D. , Kooyman Robert , Westoby Mark
Published: October 2022

Biodiversity analyses across continental extents are important in providing comprehensive information on patterns and likely drivers of diversity. For vascular plants in Australia, community‐level diversity analyses have been restricted by the lack of a consistent plot‐based survey dataset across the continent. To overcome these challenges, we collated and harmonised plot‐based vegetation survey data from the major data sources across Australia and used them as the basis for modelling species richness (α‐diversity) and community compositional dissimilarity (β‐diversity), standardised to 400 m2, with the aim of mapping diversity patterns and identifying potential environmental drivers. The harmonised Australian vegetation plot (HAVPlot) dataset includes 219 552 plots, of which we used 115 083 to analyse plant diversity. Models of species richness and compositional dissimilarity both explained approximately one‐third of the variation in plant diversity across Australia (D2 = 33.0% and 32.7%, respectively). The strongest environmental predictors for both aspects of diversity were a combination of temperature and precipitation, with soil texture and topographic heterogeneity also important. The fine‐resolution (≈ 90 m) spatial predictions of species richness and compositional dissimilarity identify areas expected to be of particular importance for plant diversity, including south‐western Australia, rainforests of eastern Australia and the Australian Alps. Arid areas of central and western Australia are predicted to support assemblages that are less speciose or unique; however, these areas are most in need of additional survey data to fill the spatial, environmental and taxonomic gaps in the HAVPlot dataset. The harmonised data and model predictions presented here provide new insight into plant diversity patterns across Australia, enabling a wide variety of future research, such as exploring changes in species abundances, linking compositional patterns to functional traits or undertaking conservation assessments for selected components of the flora.
Seeing credit and property rights from below: The experience of Catalan smallholders in the eighteenth century
Authors: Congost Rosa , Garcia‐Orallo Ricard , Saguer Enric
Published: October 2022

The Catalan case in south‐western Europe offers us the opportunity to take a detailed look at the impact a lowering of the interest rate may have had on the poor of a specific area. It is vital to examine how property rights operated in specific contexts, given the close relationship between land and credit markets. Our working hypothesis is that, in some instances where property rights were redefined, as happened in eighteenth‐century Catalonia, the reduction of the interest rate in secured loans benefitted the poorer social groups. The findings of this research, in line with those of some development economists, suggest that only an empirical and bottom‐up perspective allows for a proper analysis of the eradication of poverty by placing it within the real picture of social change.
Long‐term progression‐free survival in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia treated with novel agents: An analysis based on indirect comparisons
Authors: Messori Andrea
Published: October 2022

Objective

In chronic lymphocytic leukemia, growing evidence has accumulated about long‐term outcomes of first‐line treatments. Our objective was to perform indirect comparisons across first‐line treatments.

Methods

We applied the Shiny method, an artificial intelligence technique that analyses Kaplan–Meier curves and reconstructs patient‐level data. Reconstructed patient data were then evaluated through standard survival statistics and indirect head‐to‐head comparisons. The endpoint was progression‐free survival (PFS).

Results

Seven first‐line treatments were studied (1983 patients). Three treatments based on either ibrutinib or venetoclax (i.e., ibrutinib monotherapy, ibrutinib+ rituximab/obinutuzumab, and venetoclax+obinutuzumab) showed a very similar survival pattern. The PFS for these three treatments was significantly better than that of the remaining four treatments (fludarabine+cyclophosphamide+rituximab, chlorambucil+obinutuzumab, bendamustine+rituximab, and chlorambucil monotherapy). Regarding chlorambucil+ obinutuzumab, a significant between‐trial variability was found.

Conclusions

Long‐term results are particularly favorable to ibrutinib (alone or in combination) and discourage further use of chlorambucil. As in other studies based on the Shiny method, the multi‐treatment Kaplan–Meier graph summarized the available evidence in comparative terms. The evidence generated this way contributes to define the place in therapy of individual agents.
Screening for occult cancer after unprovoked venous thromboembolism: Assessing the current literature and future directions
Authors: Patel Sarah S. , Tao Derrick , McMurry Hannah S. , Shatzel Joseph J.
Published: October 2022

While significant evidence has established an increased rate of thrombosis in patients with cancer, the risk of occult malignancy in the setting of an unprovoked thrombosis is less clear. Despite continued interest in developing an effective screening system for occult malignancy following unprovoked venous thromboembolism (VTE), discrepancies in the literature and guideline recommendations leave providers uncertain whether to screen or perform further diagnostics for this patient population. Evidence suggests that screening for malignancy can detect cancer sooner in patients with unprovoked VTE, but there is a lack of high‐quality evidence demonstrating improvements in survival who receive early detection. In the following manuscript, we summarize VTE in relation to cancer epidemiology and pathophysiology. Our literature review summarizes the spectrum of testing strategies for occult malignancy following unprovoked VTE, including biomarker detection methods and various imaging approaches. We evaluate the benefit of additional diagnostic strategies, review current guidelines on the issue, and provide guidance to the reader on the best practice for investigating undiagnosed malignancy in patients with unprovoked VTE.
Effect of stress wave propagation phenomenon on the determination of strain energy density theory parameters and dynamic J‐integral
Authors: Saribay Murat
Published: October 2022

Dynamic loading for stationary cracks leads to results that are many times greater in magnitude than their static counterparts. If the dynamic loading is in the form of impact type, stress wave propagation effects become dominant. FRAC3D program comprises enriched element formulation which doesn't require excessive mesh refinement around crack tip for accuracy. Strain energy density (SED) theory parameters and dynamic J‐integral are sought in this study to simulate and understand wave propagation phenomenon in detail. Structures under the effect of wave propagations yield more reliable J‐integral values by taking the average of the results from multiple domain sizes. Governed by stress waves, space‐time variations of minimum energy density locations strongly influence fracture characterization for straight and curved crack fronts. Details given in numerical examples section of this paper make a great contribution to understanding of the response for cracked structures subjected to sudden loading.
Mammalian body size evolution was shaped by habitat transitions as an indirect effect of climate change
Authors: Huang Shan , Saarinen Juha J. , Eyres Alison , Eronen Jussi T. , Fritz Susanne A.
Published: October 2022

Aim

Body size evolution has long been hypothesized to have been driven by factors linked to climate change, but the specific mechanisms are difficult to disentangle due to the wide range of functional traits that covary with body size. In this study, we investigated the impact of regional habitat changes as a potential indirect effect of climate change on body size evolution.

Location

Europe and North America.

Time period

The Neogene (~23–2 million years ago).

Major taxa

Five orders of terrestrial mammals: Artiodactyla, Carnivora, Perissodactyla, Proboscidea and Primates.

Methods

We compared the two continental faunas, which have exceptional fossil records of terrestrial mammals and underwent different processes of habitat transition during the Neogene. Using Bayesian multilevel regression models, we assessed the variation in the temporal dynamics of body size diversity among ecographic groups, defined by their continent of occurrence and dietary preference.

Results

Model comparisons unanimously supported a combined effect of diet and continent on all metrics of body size frequency distributions, rejecting the shared energetic advantage of larger bodies in colder climates as a dominant mechanism of body size evolution. Rather, the diet‐specific dynamics on each continent pinpointed an indirect effect of climate change – change in habitat availability, and thus the resource landscape as a key driver of mammalian evolution.

Main conclusions

Our study highlights dietary preference as a mechanistic link between mammalian evolution and habitat transition mediating an indirect climate‐change effect and demonstrates the complexity of climatic influence on biodiversity. Our findings suggest that the intensified habitat modification today likely poses a bigger threat than climate change in itself to living mammals, and perhaps all endotherms.
A global analysis of viviparity in squamates highlights its prevalence in cold climates
Authors: Zimin Anna , Zimin Sean V. , Shine Richard , Avila Luciano , Bauer Aaron , Böhm Monika , Brown Rafe , Barki Goni , de Oliveira Caetano Gabriel Henrique , Castro Herrera Fernando , Chapple David G. , Chirio Laurent , Colli Guarino R. , Doan Tiffany M. , Glaw Frank , Grismer L. Lee , Itescu Yuval , Kraus Fred , LeBreton Matthew , Martins Marcio , Morando Mariana , Murali Gopal , Nagy Zoltán T. , Novosolov Maria , Oliver Paul , Passos Paulo , Pauwels Olivier S. G. , Pincheira‐Donoso Daniel , Ribeiro‐Junior Marco Antonio , Shea Glenn , Tingley Reid , Torres‐Carvajal Omar , Trape Jean‐François , Uetz Peter , Wagner Philipp , Roll Uri , Meiri Shai
Published: October 2022

Aim

Viviparity has evolved more times in squamates than in any other vertebrate group; therefore, squamates offer an excellent model system in which to study the patterns, drivers and implications of reproductive mode evolution. Based on current species distributions, we examined three selective forces hypothesized to drive the evolution of squamate viviparity (cold climate, variable climate and hypoxic conditions) and tested whether viviparity is associated with larger body size.

Location

Global.

Time period

Present day.

Taxon

Squamata.

Methods

We compiled a dataset of 9061 squamate species, including their distributions, elevation, climate, body mass and reproductive modes. We applied species‐level and assemblage‐level approaches for predicting reproductive mode, both globally and within biogeographical realms. We tested the relationships of temperature, interannual and intra‐annual climatic variation, elevation (as a proxy for hypoxic conditions) and body mass with reproductive mode, using path analyses to account for correlations among the environmental predictors.

Results

Viviparity was strongly associated with cold climates at both species and assemblage levels, despite the prevalence of viviparity in some warm climates. Viviparity was not clearly correlated with climatic variability or elevation. The probability of being viviparous exhibited a weak positive correlation with body size.

Conclusions

Although phylogenetic history is important, potentially explaining the occurrence of viviparous species in regions that are warm at present, current global squamate distribution is characterized by a higher relative abundance of viviparity in cold environments, supporting the prediction of the “cold‐climate” hypothesis. The roles of climatic variation and hypoxia are less important and not straightforward. Elevation probably exerts various selective pressures and influences the prevalence of viviparity primarily through its effect on temperature rather than on oxygen concentration.
Adaptive mechanisms of tall wheatgrass to salinity and alkalinity stress
Authors: Andrioli Romina Jessica
Published: October 2022

Tall wheatgrass ‐Elymus elongatus (Host) Runemark‐ has long been used for forage production in temperate areas where salinity, alkalinity, waterlogging, or water scarcity hinder growth of other fodder species, and has a broad history of being included in revegetation programs of saline land and in wheat breeding programs. Despite its renown as a suitable species for unfavourable soil environments, the physiological mechanisms underlying its tolerance to abiotic stresses are scattered across the literature and this precludes answering the question that has motivated this review: how does tall wheatgrass endure inhospitable soil environments? The review starts with an outline of saline, alkaline and saline‐alkaline soils, and their associated waterlogging or water scarcity events. This is followed by a delineation of the physiological mechanisms responsible for plant tolerance to such soils, with an emphasis on the mechanisms associated with tall wheatgrass. Briefly outlined, tall wheatgrass has shown evidence of possessing mechanisms to allow the continuity of water influx ‐where salinity or drought leads to reduced water availability‐, strategies to avoid ion toxicity and to acquire essential nutrients, and ability to cope with high pH levels, waterlogging and excess reactive oxygen species produced as a consequence of stress. Seeking the answer to this inquiry, this review also contributes to the understanding of forage production and quality in these fragile soil environments.
Reinvestigation of unidentified causative variants in FXI‐deficient patients: Focus on gene segment deletions
Authors: De Mazancourt Philippe , Harroche Annie , Pouymayou Katia , Sigaud Marianne , Falaise Céline , Stieltjes Natalie , Castet Sabine‐Marie , Tardy Brigitte , Zawadzki Christophe , Goudemand Jenny , Dargaud Yesim
Published: October 2022

Introduction

Data on failure to identify the molecular mechanism underlying FXI deficiency by Sanger analysis and the contribution of gene segment deletions are almost inexistent.

Aims and methods

Prospective and retrospective analysis was conducted on FXI‐deficient patients’ DNA via Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), or Sanger sequencing and Multiplex Probe Ligation‐dependent Assay (MLPA) to detect cryptic causative gene variants or gene segment deletions.

Results

Sanger analysis or NGS enabled us to identify six severe and one partial (median activity 41 IU/dl) FXI deficient index cases with deletions encompassing exons 11–15, the whole gene, or both. After Sanger sequencing, retrospective evaluation using MLPA detected seven additional deletion cases in apparently homozygous cases in non‐consanguineous families, or in previously unsolved FXI‐deficiency cases. Among the 504 index cases with a complete genetic investigation (Sanger/MLPA, or NGS), 23 remained unsolved (no abnormality found [n = 14] or rare intronic variants currently under investigation, [n = 9]). In the 481 solved cases (95% efficiency), we identified F11 gene‐deleted patients (14 cases; 2.9%). Among these, whole gene deletion accounted for four heterozygous cases, exons 11–15 deletion for five heterozygous and three homozygous ones, while compound heterozygous deletion and isolated exon 12 deletion accounted for one case each.

Conclusion

Given the high incidence of deletions in our population (2.9%), MLPA (or NGS with a reliable bioinformatic pipeline) should be systematically performed for unsolved FXI deficiencies or apparently homozygous cases in non‐consanguineous families.
Virtual crossmatching and epitope analysis in kidney transplantation: What the physician involved in kidney transplantation should know?
Authors: Nishikawa Kouhei , Masui Satoru , Ishida Hideki
Published: October 2022

Solid‐phase single antigen bead (SAB) assay for detection of anti‐human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibodies and high‐resolution HLA typing have enabled tremendous progress in virtual crossmatch (VXM) technology in recent years. However, misinterpretation of the SAB assay may result in detrimental consequences after kidney transplantation. Meanwhile, epitope analysis could be an effective method to estimate immunizing eplets, which may provide ancillary information for better understanding of the SAB assay. To perform epitope analysis appropriately, it is necessary to understand the basic principles related to histocompatibility testing and the characteristics of the SAB assay. Therefore, knowledge of the properties and limitations of the SAB assay is critical. In this review, we aim to describe the fundamental concepts regarding immunobiological assessment, including HLA, anti‐HLA antibodies, and SAB assay, and explain epitope analysis using examples.
Compatibility of ethnic and national identifications under multicultural policies
Authors: Igarashi Akira
Published: October 2022

Immigrants' national and ethnic identifications have been assumed to contradict each other. However, while studies in psychology generally support this association, under the condition in which national identifications are conceptualized as inclusive, ethnic identifications do not necessarily contradict national identifications. I hypothesize that in a country where tolerant multicultural policies are introduced, immigrants' ethnic and national identifications may be compatible. To test this hypothesis, data collected from respondents with an immigrant background in the European Social Survey 2014 were analysed with multilevel modelling. The results support the hypothesis: in a country with tolerant multicultural policies, ethnic and national identifications are positively associated, while in a country with strict policies, the identifications are negatively associated. This study indicates that the association between ethnic and national identifications is not always negative, but this is dependent on context.
Response of Nd3+ and Sm3+ precipitating into rhabdophane and the leaching mechanism of associated monazite ceramics
Authors: Zhao Xiaofeng , Teng Yuancheng , Li Yuxiang , Zheng Xiayu , Zheng Qiuyu , Ma Rui , Liu Guangyuan , Liu Yang , Ahuja Rajeev , Luo Wei
Published: October 2022

Rhabdophane has been considered an important permeable reactive barrier to isolate groundwater radionuclides, and evaluating its precipitation response to different species of radionuclide in acid solutions is critical. In this work, the effects of pH values on the precipitation behavior of Nd3+ and Sm3+ into La‐rhabdophane are systematically investigated. Some specific issues such as ions removal, precipitation reaction kinetics, and crystal growth affected ions incorporation are discussed in detail, along with uncovering the veil of the Ln (La, Nd, and Sm) leaching mechanism of associated La0.666Nd0.167Sm0.167PO4 monazite ceramic based on dissolution experiments and density functional theory. The results reveal that Nd3+ and Sm3+ can be removed more than 98% in pH = 1 solution within 12 h, whereas uneven precipitation process to form unexpected stoichiometric ratio of rhabdophane has been observed in 30–50 nm short crystal. Grain growth effects based on spark plasma sintering can contribute to homogenize the materials composition with obtaining La0.666Nd0.167Sm0.167PO4 monazite ceramics. Furthermore, the binding energy of Ln–O in (1 0 0) surface of monazite plays an important role in controlling the leaching stability of Ln3+, associated with the leaching activities are energetically favorable in the order of La > Nd > Sm for La0.666Nd0.167Sm0.167PO4 monazite.
Secrets of the night: roost sites and sleep disturbance factors during the autumn migration of first‐year white storkCiconia ciconia
Authors: Siekiera Joachim , Jankowiak Łukasz , Profus Piotr , Sparks Tim H. , Tryjanowski Piotr
Published: October 2022

The migration phase of birds is divided into two main states: stopovers and actual migratory flights. For soaring birds, such as storks, nighttime is especially important to conserve energy and to start the next day in favourable weather conditions. Although there is a large number of recent studies on white storkCiconia ciconia, for example using advanced technologies such as GPS technology, the nocturnal behaviour of the species is still an enigma. Thus, we GSM–GPS‐tagged 90 immature storks and checked their nocturnal behaviour, especially roost disturbance, during their first autumn migration from breeding grounds in southern Poland to wintering places in Africa. Storks roosted on three types of site: on buildings, on the ground or in trees. Birds that roosted on the ground had a higher probability of nighttime disturbance than those that used trees or buildings. The probability of disturbance at night was also related to longitude and latitude; the most easterly birds and those at the start of the migration route were disturbed more often during the night. Furthermore, and interestingly, environmental conditions at roosts were also significantly related to the probability of disturbance; birds roosting at tree sites with higher NDVI (greener) and with higher levels of artificial light both had a lower probability of disturbance. A possible explanation of this could be related to lower potential predatory pressure at night. We found that after long flights birds were disturbed more often at night, and that disturbed birds migrated further the next day. For a better understanding of the nocturnal behaviour of storks, as well as of other migratory birds, the use of modern technological tools with greater precision is recommended.
Effect of baseline resting heart rate on the risk of all‐cause death in Chinese patients with hypertension
Authors: Yulong Xia , Fangfang Fan , Ya Huo , Yaping Wei , Meiqing Huang , Yan Zhang , Jianping Li , Lishun Liu , Jing Zhou , Yong Huo
Published: October 2022

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between baseline resting heart rate (RHR) and all‐cause death in the China Stroke Primary Prevention Trial (CSPPT). A post hoc analysis was conducted using data from 20,648 hypertensive adults without cardiovascular disease in the CSPPT and with baseline RHR data available. Over a median follow‐up duration of 4.5 years, the baseline RHR and risk for all‐cause death had a nonlinear relationship. The risk of all‐cause death was higher in participants with an RHR ≥85 bpm (hazard ratio 1.42; 95% confidence interval 1.03–1.96, p = .031) than in those with a baseline RHR of 75–80 bpm. The effect of RHR on all‐cause death during the treatment period was modified by the folate level (p = .020) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) during treatment(p = .056). The effect of RHR on the risk of all‐cause death was stronger when the folate level was low than when it was high; the risk was higher when the RHR was < 75 bpm or ≥80 bpm than when it was 75–80 bpm. RHR had a greater effect on the risk of all‐cause death when SBP during treatment was well controlled than when it was not; again, the risk was higher when the RHR was < 75 bpm or ≥80 bpm than when it was 75–80 bpm. A higher baseline RHR resulted in an increased risk of all‐cause mortality in Chinese adults with hypertension but no history of stroke or myocardial infarction.
Chromatin architectural alterations due to null mutation of a major CG methylase in rice
Authors: Wang Jinbin , Li Xiaochong , Dong Qianli , Li Changping , Li Juzuo , Li Ning , Ding Baoxu , Wang Xiaofei , Yu Yanan , Wang Tianya , Zhang Zhibin , Yu Yiyang , Lang Man , Zeng Zixian , Liu Bao , Gong Lei
Published: October 2022

Associations between 3D chromatin architectures and epigenetic modifications have been characterized in animals. However, any impact of DNA methylation on chromatin architecture in plants is understudied, which is confined to Arabidopsis thaliana. Because plant species differ in genome size, composition, and overall chromatin packing, it is unclear to what extent findings from A. thaliana hold in other species. Moreover, the incomplete chromatin architectural profiles and the low‐resolution high‐throughput chromosome conformation capture (Hi‐C) data from A. thaliana have hampered characterizing its subtle chromatin structures and their associations with DNA methylation. We constructed a high‐resolution Hi‐C interaction map for the null OsMET1‐2 (the major CG methyltransferase in rice) mutant (osmet1‐2) and isogenic wild‐type rice (WT). Chromatin structural changes occurred in osmet1‐2, including intra‐/inter‐chromosomal interactions, compartment transition, and topologically associated domains (TAD) variations. Our findings provide novel insights into the potential function of DNA methylation in TAD formation in rice and confirmed DNA methylation plays similar essential roles in chromatin packing in A. thaliana and rice.
Evaluation of abdominal gas by plain abdominal radiographs
Authors: Barba Elizabeth , Livovsky Dan M. , Relea Lucia , Alcalá‐Gonzalez Luis G. , Quiroga Sergio , Accarino Anna , Azpiroz Fernando
Published: October 2022

Background

Our aim was to determine the reliability of plain abdominal radiographs for the evaluation of abdominal gas content in patients with functional digestive symptoms.

Methods

Abdominal CT scan scout views, mimicking a conventional plain abdominal radiograph, were obtained from 30 patients both during episodes of abdominal distension and basal conditions. Physicians (n = 50) were instructed to rate the estimated volume of gas in the 60 images presented in random sequence using a scale graded from 0 to ≥600 ml.

Key Results

The gas volumes estimated in the scout views differed from those measured by CT by a median of 90 (95% CI 70–102) ml, and the misestimation was not related to the absolute volume in the image. The accuracy of the observers, measured by their mean misestimation, was not related to their specialty or the training status (misestimation by 96 (95% CI 85–104) ml in staff vs 78 (70–106) ml in residents; p = 0.297). The accuracy was independent of the order of presentation of the images. Gas volume measured by CT in the images obtained during episodes of abdominal distension differed by a median of 39 (95% CI 29–66) ml from those during basal conditions, and this difference was misestimated by a median of 107 (95% CI 94–119) ml. The accuracy of these estimations was not related to the absolute gas volumes (R = −0.352; p < 0.001) or the magnitude of the differences.

Conclusions & Inferences

Plain abdominal radiographs have limited value for the evaluation of abdominal gas volume in patients with functional gut disorders.
Considered effective? How policy evaluations and threat perceptions affect support for surveillance in the context of terrorism
Authors: Trüdinger Eva‐Maria , Ziller Conrad
Published: October 2022

Surveillance policies aimed at combating terrorism and improving public security can also lead to constraints on civil liberties. In view of this trade‐off between the potential benefits and risks of surveillance, it is particularly important to study how effectiveness considerations shape public support for surveillance. We argue that effectiveness perceptions enhance policy support, but that the manner in which citizens view policy effectiveness depends on their perceptions of threats related to terrorism and to violations of civil liberties. Using data from a factorial survey experiment in Germany, we show that policy effectiveness is the most relevant predictor of citizens' support for different surveillance measures. Moreover, we find evidence that depending on the scope of surveillance, respondents perceiving threats to their liberty rely much less heavily on policy effectiveness as a criterion for evaluating policies, compared to those whose threat perception is low.

Related Articles

Awan, Imran. 2012.“‘I Am a Muslim Not an Extremist’: How the Prevent Strategy Has Constructed a ‘Suspect’ Community.” Politics & Policy 40(6): 1158–85. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2012.00397.x.

Doan, Alesha E., and Corinne Schwarz. 2020. “Father Knows Best: ‘Protecting’ Women through State Surveillance and Social Control in Anti‐Abortion Policy.” Politics & Policy 48(1): 6–37. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12337.

Jenkins‐Smith, Hank C., and Kerry G. Herron. 2009. “Rock and a Hard Place: Public Willingness to Trade Civil Rights and Liberties for Greater Security.” Politics & Policy 37(5): 1095–129. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2009.00215.x/abstract.
Crotonylation versus acetylation in petunia corollas with reduced acetyl‐CoA due to PaACL silencing
Authors: Yang Weiyuan , Li Xin , Jiang Guiyun , Long Yu , Li Hui , Yu Shujun , Zhao Huina , Liu Juanxu
Published: October 2022

Protein acetylation and crotonylation are important posttranslational modifications of lysine. In animal cells, the correlation of acetylation and crotonylation has been well characterized and the lysines of some proteins are acetylated or crotonylated depending on the relative concentrations of acetyl‐CoA and crotonyl‐CoA. However, in plants, the correlation of acetylation and crotonylation and the effects of the relative intracellular concentrations of crotonyl‐CoA and acetyl‐CoA on protein crotonylation and acetylation are not well known. In our previous study, PaACL silencing changed the content of acetyl‐CoA in petunia (Petunia hybrida) corollas, and the effect of PaACL silencing on the global acetylation proteome in petunia was analyzed. In the present study, we found that PaACL silencing did not significantly alter the content of crotonyl‐CoA. We performed a global crotonylation proteome analysis of the corollas of PaACL‐silenced and control petunia plants; we found that protein crotonylation was closely related to protein acetylation and that proteins with more crotonylation sites often had more acetylation sites. Crotonylated proteins and acetylated proteins were enriched in many common Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways. However, PaACL silencing resulted in different KEGG pathway enrichments of proteins with different levels of crotonylation sites and acetylation sites. PaACLB1‐B2 silencing did not led to changes in the opposite direction in crotonylation and acetylation levels at the same lysine site in cytoplasmic proteins, which indicated that cytoplasmic lysine acetylation and crotonylation might not depend on the relative concentrations of acetyl‐CoA and crotonyl‐CoA. Moreover, the global crotonylome and acetylome were weakly positively correlated in the corollas of PaACL‐silenced and control plants.
From the sea to aquafeed: A perspective overview
Authors: Eroldoğan Orhan Tufan , Glencross Brett , Novoveska Lucie , Gaudêncio Susana P. , Rinkevich Buki , Varese Giovanna Cristina , de Fátima Carvalho Maria , Tasdemir Deniz , Safarik Ivo , Nielsen Søren Laurentius , Rebours Céline , Lada Lukić Bilela , Robbens Johan , Strode Evita , Haznedaroğlu Berat Z. , Kotta Jonne , Evliyaoğlu Ece , Oliveira Juliana , Girão Mariana , Vasquez Marlen I. , Čabarkapa Ivana , Rakita Slađana , Klun Katja , Rotter Ana
Published: October 2022

Aquaculture has been one of the fastest‐growing food production systems sectors for over three decades. With its growth, the demand for alternative, cheaper and high‐quality feed ingredients is also increasing. Innovation investments on providing new functional feed alternatives have yielded several viable alternative raw materials. Considering all the current feed ingredients, their circular adaption in the aquafeed manufacturing industry is clearly of the utmost importance to achieve sustainable aquaculture in the near future. The use of terrestrial plant materials and animal by‐products predominantly used in aquafeed ingredients puts a heavily reliance on terrestrial agroecosystems, which also has its own sustainability concerns. Therefore, the aquafeed industry needs to progress with functional and sustainable alternative raw materials for feed that must be more resilient and consistent, considering a circular perspective. In this review, we assess the current trends in using various marine organisms, ranging from microorganisms (including fungi, thraustochytrids, microalgae and bacteria) to macroalgae and macroinvertebrates as viable biological feed resources. This review focuses on the trend of circular use of resources and the development of new value chains. In this, we present a perspective of promoting novel circular economy value chains that promote the re‐use of biological resources as valuable feed ingredients. Thus, we highlight some potentially important marine‐derived resources that deserve further investigations for improving or addressing circular aquaculture.
Food Expensiveness in Scotland's Remote Areas: An Analysis of Household Food Purchases☆
Authors: Revoredo‐Giha Cesar , Russo Carlo
Published: October 2022

The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether consumers in Scotland's remote areas suffer from food prices that are higher than the average national prices (i.e., whether a “remoteness premium” exists). The question has been raised by several organizations in those communities looking at the high prices in local stores. This paper provides a new perspective using actual purchasing prices of a sample of 5,252 households in Scotland for 2017 and 2018. In this way, households' ability to shop for lower prices is considered, unlike in previous studies. An expensiveness index was computed to measure the expensiveness of food at household level and control for differences in quality. It showed that consumers in remote areas pay a small premium (0.3 to 0.4 percent) with respect to average prices, which is statistically significant but economically not relevant. To understand the effect of several factors, AHEI was regressed on a number of explanatory variables including local area characteristics and household demographics and consumers' shopping strategy. The results were used to simulate three hypothetical scenarios related to impact of changes in the population's age, access to discount stores, and social deprivation on food expensiveness.
Othering through language: English as an Additional Language in England’s educational policy and practice
Authors: Szymczyk Aleksandra , Popan Cosmin , Arun Shoba
Published: October 2022

About one‐fifth of the total school population in England was recorded as having English as an Additional Language (EAL) in 2018. This paper reflects on the problems presented by the lack of a comprehensive national strategy and guidance for EAL provision, support, and training, and how these issues reveal the existence of ethnocentrism within educational policy and practice in England. The findings are based on interviews with educational staff and participant observation in schools conducted in three schools in Manchester, UK between December 2019 and February 2020 as part of the Horizon 2020 MiCREATE project. The authors question whether categorizing multilingual pupils in opposition to monolingual English speakers serves any practical purpose or merely ‘others’ these children, and they call for broader recognition of multilingualism within the national curriculum and educational practice.
How do we decide how representative our donors are for public health surveillance?
Authors: O'Brien Sheila F. , Drews Steven J. , Lewin Antoine , Russell Alton , Davison Katy , Goldman Mindy ,   International Society for Blood Transfusion, Transfusion Transmitted Infectious Disease Working Party, Surveillance, Risk Assessment & Policy Sub‐group
Published: October 2022

Background

Surveillance of blood donors is fundamental to safety of the blood supply. Such data can also be useful for public health policy but tend to be underutilized. When the COVID‐19 pandemic arrived, blood centers around the world measured blood donor SARS‐CoV‐2 seroprevalence to inform public health policy. There is now a movement toward blood centers becoming more involved in public health research and surveillance post‐pandemic. However, blood donors are a healthy population and not representative of all segments of the general population. In this article, we explain how blood centers can evaluate their donor base to understand which part of the general population they are representative of.

Study Design and Methods

Methodologic approaches for evaluating samples relative to the target population were reviewed. Blood donor data that are available to most blood centers were identified and application to assess representativeness of blood donors was evaluated.

Results

Key aspects of blood donor data to compare with general population data include donor selection criteria, health indicators, geography, and demographics. In some cases, statistical adjustment can improve representativeness.

Discussion

Comparing key blood donor data with corresponding general population data can define the subset of the general population for which a particular blood center's donors may be representative of. We suggest that donors are an ideal convenience population for surveillance of infectious agents which are frequently asymptomatic and main routes of transmission are not deferrable, for studying the natural history of disease in an initially well population, and for vaccination serology surveillance.
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the HIV care continuum: a mixed methods systematic review protocol
Authors: Ojukwu Emmanuela , Chan Chrystal , Ibitoye Bukola Mary , Tawfik Abdulaziz , Nguyen Yvonne , Omobhude Favour , Oveisi Sourena
Published: October 2022

Objective:

The objective of this systematic review is to synthesize evidence on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the HIV care continuum for persons living with or at risk of living with HIV.

Introduction:

The COVID-19 pandemic affected the self-management and care of people living with HIV. Self-regulation to acquire recurring treatment for HIV is essential for managing symptoms as well as viral suppression. Therefore, this review will systematically appraise and synthesize primary literature on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on all phases of the HCC for people living with, or at risk of acquiring, HIV.

Inclusion criteria:

This systematic review will include quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods studies. The search will be limited to studies reporting findings from March 2020. Selected studies must focus on one or more steps of the HIV care continuum, which are diagnosis of HIV infection, linkage to care, retention in care, adherence to antiretroviral therapy, and viral suppression. There are no age, gender, or geographic location restrictions for this review. Studies that examined the impact on other diseases as well as HIV will be included only if the data for HIV can be extracted separately.

Methods:

The JBI methodology for convergent integrated mixed methods systematic reviews will guide this review. The following databases will be searched: MEDLINE (Ovid), CINAHL (EBSCOhost), CAB Direct, and Embase. Articles will be screened by 2 independent reviewers. In the case of a disagreement between reviewers, a third independent reviewer will resolve the conflict. Articles will be appraised for methodological quality and their data extracted using an original extraction tool created for the study's purpose.

Systematic review registration number:

PROSPERO CRD42021285677
Metodologías para la enseñanza de cuidados paliativos en estudiantes de áreas de la salud
Authors: Arias-Rojas Mauricio , Posada López Carolina , Carreño-Moreno Sonia , Arredondo Holgín Edith
Published: October 2022

Introducción: la necesidad de la enseñanza de los cuidados paliativos a los profesionales de la salud es cada vez más imperante en el mundo y en Latinoamérica. Los educadores deben reconocer los avances para la enseñanza de los cuidados paliativos a través de nuevas formas de aprendizaje. Objetivo: caracterizar las metodologías, contenidos y efectos de la enseñanza del cuidado paliativo en estudiantes del área de la salud en literatura publicada entre los años 2016 y 2020. Métodos: se realizó una revisión de literatura tipo scoping review.Se revisaron artículos publicados en revistas indexadas en las bases de datos Medline, Cuiden, Lilacs, CINAHL durante el periodo 2016-2020 en inglés, español y portugués. Se seleccionaron 25 investigaciones luego de realizar el proceso de crítica de la evidencia. Resultados: los estudios incluidos fueron en su mayoría realizados con metodologías cuantitativas, en Estados Unidos y con poblaciones de estudiantes de enfermería. La información extraída de los artículos se organizó en cuatro temas: 1) cursos educativos en cuidado paliativo, 2) estrategias de simulación, 3) conocimientos en cuidados paliativos de los estudiantes, y 4) actitudes y emociones de los estudiantes ante los cuidados paliativos. Conclusiones: las estrategias encontradas para enseñar los cuidados paliativos incluyen cursos completamente virtuales o en multimodalidad y simulación clínica o en laboratorios. En general, la evidencia muestra el interés que existe por parte de los estudiantes para recibir este tipo de curso y la importancia que tienen en su desarrollo profesional.
Experimental Investigation of Boiling Heat Transfer in a Liquid Chamber With Partially Soluble Nanofluids
Authors: Unno Noriyuki , Yuki Kazuhisa , Kibushi Risako , Mitani Atsuyuki
Published: October 2022

Boiling heat transfer (BHT) is a promising technique for cooling the high heat flux emitted from next-generation electronic devices. However, critical heat flux (CHF) is a significant problem in BHT because it restricts the maximum performance of cooling devices using BHT. Nanofluid has been widely used to increase the CHF. In this study, the authors investigated the BHT of a compact cooling device at low pressure using a calcium carbonate nanofluid composed of partially soluble particles in water. The experimental result found that the CHF with the calcium carbonate nanofluid is 170 W/cm2 and does not deteriorate compared with nanofluid composed of insoluble nanoparticles. Furthermore, the total thermal resistance in the compact cooling device did not increase with the calcium carbonate nanofluid until 3000 min, while CHF was observed with the insoluble nanofluid at 1200 min.
Impact of Blood Rheology on Transition to Turbulence and Wall Vibration Downstream of a Stenosis
Authors: Pinto Costa Rayanne , Nwotchouang Blaise Simplice Talla , Yao Junyao , Biswas Dipankar , Casey David , McKenzie Ruel , Sebastian Frederick , Amini Rouzbeh , Steinman David A. , Loth Francis
Published: October 2022

Previous experimental flow studies have demonstrated a delay (∼20%) in transition to turbulence for whole blood compared to a Newtonian analog fluid in both a straight pipe and eccentric stenosis model with ridged walls. The impact of wall compliance on the transition to turbulence of blood compared to Newtonian analog and on wall vibration is unknown. The present study employed flexible walls downstream of an eccentric stenosis model and examined the wall vibration during the transition to turbulence with whole blood and a Newtonian analog. Measurements of tube wall vibration velocity (WVV) were used as an indicator of the turbulence level within the flexible tube. WVV was measured at 5, 10, and 15 diameters downstream of the stenosis using a laser Doppler vibrometer at Reynolds numbers 0, 200, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500, 550, 600, 650, 700, and 750. The root mean squares (RMS) of the measured WVV were utilized as an indirect measure of fluid velocity fluctuations present at that location, and hence, an indicator of transition to turbulence. WVV RMS was near-constant until approximately Reynolds number 400. It increased monotonically with Reynolds number for both whole blood and the Newtonian fluid. No differences in the transition to turbulence were observed between whole blood and the Newtonian fluid, as the WVV RMS curves were remarkably similar in shape. This result suggests that rheology had minimal impact on the WVV downstream of a stenosis for transition to turbulence since the fluids had a similar level of vibration.
Acoustic scattering and the exact Green function
Authors: Martin P. A.
Published: October 2022

Acoustic waves are scattered by a bounded three-dimensional sound-soft obstacle. The scattered field can be given explicitly in terms of the exact Green function, defined as the solution of the scattering problem when the incident waves are generated by a point source. Methods for constructing the exact Green function are described, with emphasis on a recent paper by Rother and Hawkins [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 149, 2179–2188 (2021)]. These methods include boundary integral equations and null-field equations.
Charting metastasis
Authors: Baek Amy E.
Published: October 2022

A subpopulation of melanoma cells responds to microenvironmental cues and disseminates from lesions.
The DdrR Coregulator of the Acinetobacter baumannii Mutagenic DNA Damage Response Potentiates UmuDAb Repression of Error-Prone Polymerases
Authors: Cook Deborah , Flannigan Mollee D. , Candra Belinda V. , Compton Kaylee D. , Hare Janelle M.
Published: October 2022

Acinetobacter baumannii
is a nosocomial pathogen that acquires antibiotic resistance genes through conjugative transfer and carries out a robust mutagenic DNA damage response. After exposure to conditions typically encountered in health care settings, such as antibiotics, UV light, and desiccation, this species induces error-prone UmuD′
2
C polymerases.
Allele Diversity of the Major Histocompatibility Complex in the Common Hamster (Cricetus cricetus) in Urban and Rural Populations
Authors: Feoktistova N. Y. , Meschersky I. G. , Karmanova T. N. , Gureeva A. V. , Surov A. V.
Published: October 2022

Based on the results of targeted sequencing on the Illumina platform we compared the allelic diversity of exon 2 of the DRB gene in urban (city of Simferopol) and rural populations of the common hamster. The urban population significantly differs from the rural one in terms of the composition and diversity of gene alleles. For individuals living in the city, a larger number of alleles, higher values of haplotype and nucleotide diversity indices, and a smaller proportion of individuals with a homozygous genotype were noted. Both populations are characterized by a significant excess of non-synonymous substitutions over synonymous ones and almost every allele of a gene corresponds to a different amino acid sequence. However, the influence of positive selection on the diversity of variants of antigen-binding sites in the alleles of the DRB gene in urban conditions is much more pronounced. The data suggest that resistance of common hamsters living in specific and varied conditions of the urban environment to various kinds of pathogenic load is higher than in rural populations.