bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Driving forces of repurchasing social enterprise products
Authors: Wu Hsueh Ling , Chen Tser Yieth , Chen Bo Heng
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to use utilitarian benefits, hedonic benefits and corporate social responsibility to influence the consumer’s sense of brand identity and brand trust in social enterprise products and, thus, favourably affect repurchase intention.

Design/methodology/approach

This study dispatched 430 questionnaires in Taiwan. The top six social enterprises in the organic food industry in Taiwan that accounted for 84.0% of total green organic stores and they were selected for field investigation. This study used structural equation modelling.

Findings

The main path indicates that corporate social responsibility has a largely positive effect going through brand identity and brand trust, and then affecting the decision to repurchase. Therefore, the image of` corporate social responsibility was the greatest driving force. The secondary path indicated that utilitarian benefits positively affected brand identity and brand trust, which, in turn, positively affected repurchase intention. Therefore, utilitarian benefits were the secondary driving force of repurchasing social enterprise products.

Practical implications

This study indicates that social enterprises need to carry out effective corporate social responsibility to create a sense of strong brand trust in consumers’ minds. Empirical results can benefit social marketers for their product launches and promotions. Social enterprises can realize consumer differentiation preferences. With the effective grasp the information of consumer perception, the social marketers can turn passive into active and catch the marketing opportunities by the brand identity and trust to the content of the marketing programs design.

Originality/value

The novelty of this study is to propose an identity-repurchase intention (IRI) model, based on consumer information processing lens and self-congruency theory, to investigate the social enterprise perspective.
Tree species mixing affects soil microbial functioning indirectly via root and litter traits and soil parameters in European forests
Authors: Gillespie Lauren M. , Hättenschwiler Stephan , Milcu Alexandru , Wambsganss Janna , Shihan Ammar , Fromin Nathalie
Published: July 2021

Plant community composition influences soil microbial communities through plant trait variations that lead to changes in nutrient and organic carbon inputs into the soil by root exudates and plant litter. Although plant litter and living roots are known to influence microbial functioning independently, their relative effects are rarely measured simultaneously in naturally occurring plant communities.

Here, we sought to evaluate how forest floor litter and absorptive roots affect broad functions of soil microbial communities, and how this may be influenced by tree species mixing. To do so, forest floor litter, absorptive roots and soil were sampled from mono‐specific and three‐species mixed stands in four mature, natural forest ecosystems across Europe. The direct effects of tree species mixing, its indirect effects via litter and root traits, and the effects of soil parameters on microbial biomass, catabolic activity and diversity, and denitrification were analysed.

Results did not show direct tree mixture effects on the soil microbial parameters we measured but did suggest indirect influences via tree mixture effects on traits of above‐ground litter and absorptive roots and soil parameters. Mixed forests composed of any three tree species modified soil microbial functioning by influencing nutrient availability in forest floor litter and root resource acquisition. Tree mixing also modified soil microbial functioning and catabolic diversity by influencing soil fertility and physicochemical properties.

Our findings suggest an indirect but present influence of tree species mixing on the activity of heterotrophic soil microbial communities across four different forest ecosystems ranging from Mediterranean to boreal forests. Our study contributes to a better mechanistic understanding of mixed tree species effects on soil microbial functioning via the modification of forest floor litter properties and traits of absorptive roots represented by the tree community beyond simple species number consideration, and potentially via soil properties.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Spatial dynamics of pathogen transmission in communally roosting species: Impacts of changing habitats on bat‐virus dynamics
Authors: Lunn Tamika J. , Peel Alison J. , McCallum Hamish , Eby Peggy , Kessler Maureen K. , Plowright Raina K. , Restif Olivier
Published: July 2021

The spatial organization of populations determines their pathogen dynamics. This is particularly important for communally roosting species, whose aggregations are often driven by the spatial structure of their environment.

We develop a spatially explicit model for virus transmission within roosts of Australian tree‐dwelling bats (Pteropus spp.), parameterized to reflect Hendra virus. The spatial structure of roosts mirrors three study sites, and viral transmission between groups of bats in trees was modelled as a function of distance between roost trees. Using three levels of tree density to reflect anthropogenic changes in bat habitats, we investigate the potential effects of recent ecological shifts in Australia on the dynamics of zoonotic viruses in reservoir hosts.

We show that simulated infection dynamics in spatially structured roosts differ from that of mean‐field models for equivalently sized populations, highlighting the importance of spatial structure in disease models of gregarious taxa. Under contrasting scenarios of flying‐fox roosting structures, sparse stand structures (with fewer trees but more bats per tree) generate higher probabilities of successful outbreaks, larger and faster epidemics, and shorter virus extinction times, compared to intermediate and dense stand structures with more trees but fewer bats per tree. These observations are consistent with the greater force of infection generated by structured populations with less numerous but larger infected groups, and may flag an increased risk of pathogen spillover from these increasingly abundant roost types.

Outputs from our models contribute insights into the spread of viruses in structured animal populations, like communally roosting species, as well as specific insights into Hendra virus infection dynamics and spillover risk in a situation of changing host ecology. These insights will be relevant for modelling other zoonotic viruses in wildlife reservoir hosts in response to habitat modification and changing populations, including coronaviruses like SARS‐CoV‐2.
Maribellus comscasis sp. nov., a novel deep‐sea Bacteroidetes bacterium, possessing a prominent capability of degrading cellulose
Authors: Zheng Rikuan , Cai Ruining , Liu Rui , Liu Ge , Sun Chaomin
Published: July 2021

Bacteroidetes are thought to be specialized for the degradation of algae‐derived ocean polysaccharides. Here, we show that Bacteroidetes are the predominant phylum in deep‐sea sediments and possess more genes associated with polysaccharides degradation than other bacteria. We have isolated a novel Bacteroidetes species from the deep‐sea sediments by using a special polysaccharide containing medium, Maribellus comscasis WC007, which possesses 82 putative polysaccharide utilization loci (PULs) containing 374 glycoside hydrolases and 82 SusC/D pairs (Sus indicates starch utilization system; SusC represents the actual TonB‐dependent transporter, and SusD is an associated substrate‐binding outer membrane lipoprotein) together with 58 sigma/antisigma factors. Through an in‐depth analysis of these PULs, strain WC007 can efficiently degrade numerous different polysaccharides including cellulose, pectin, fucoidan, mannan, xylan and starch, which are verified by growth assays. Notably, we find that cellulose has the most significant growth‐promoting effect on M. comscasis WC007. And based on scanning electron microscope observation, transcriptomics and metabolomics, we further report on the underlying mechanisms of cellulose degradation and utilization, as well as potential contributions to the carbon cycle. Overall, our results suggest that Bacteroidetes may play key roles in the carbon cycle, likely due to their high abundance and prominent polysaccharide degradation capabilities.
Assembly of the amphibian microbiome is influenced by the effects of land‐use change on environmental reservoirs
Authors: Barnes Elle M. , Kutos Steve , Naghshineh Nina , Mesko Marissa , You Qing , Lewis J. D.
Published: July 2021

A growing focus in microbial ecology is understanding how beneficial microbiome function is created and maintained through various assembly mechanisms. This study explores the role of both the environment and disease in regulating the composition of microbial species in the soil and on amphibian hosts. We compared the microbial communities of Plethodon cinereus salamanders along a land‐use gradient in the New York metropolitan area and paired these with associated soil cores. Additionally, we characterized the diversity of bacterial and fungal symbionts that putatively inhibit the pathogenic fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. We predicted that variation in skin microbial community composition would correlate with changes seen in the soil which functions as the regional species pool. We found that salamanders and soil share many microbial taxa but that these two communities exhibit differences in the relative abundances of the bacterial phyla Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Proteobacteria and the fungal phyla Ascomycota and genus Basidiobolus. Microbial community composition varies with changes in land‐use associated factors creating site‐specific compositions. By employing a quantitative, null‐based assembly model, we identified that dispersal limitation, variable selection, and drift guide assembly of microbes onto their skin, creating high dissimilarity between individuals with likely consequences in disease preventative function.
Clinical impact of patient‐centered care for hemodialysis patients using routine assessment of symptom burden
Authors: Ito Minoru , Nawano Takaaki , Masakane Ikuto , Yamaguchi Ichiro , Kudo Kenichi , Nagasawa Junichiro , Yabuki Kiyotaka
Published: July 2021

The study aimed to verify the impact of our clinical strategy, which emphasizes patient‐centered care, based on patient‐reported outcome measures (PROMs) results in hemodialysis patients. We developed our original PROM (comprising 20 items) to assess patients' symptom burden. To confirm the validity of our clinical pattern, we performed various analyses using PROM data. We retrospectively enrolled 383 individuals (mean age 66.3 years; 252 men), collected their PROM data in December 2013, and followed them up for 3 years. We noted a lower mortality rate and a lower prevalence of itching in our facilities than in previous surveys and reports in Japan. Furthermore, we observed that the severity of symptom burden affected medium‐term prognosis. This is the first study to report the results of patient‐centered medical practice utilizing PROMs in dialysis care. Careful attention should be paid to patients' symptom burden, as performed in objective data management.
Feasibility of an outpatient‐based pulmonary rehabilitation program for lung cancer patients during radiation therapy
Authors: Ahn Hye Joon , Jeon Jae Yong , Kim Su Ssan , Song Si Yeol , Kim Won , Lee Sei Won , Kim A Hyun , Lee Seung Hak
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Data are lacking regarding pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) programs in patients with lung cancer receiving radiation therapy. This study aimed to confirm the feasibility of an outpatient‐based PR program in lung cancer patients during radiation therapy.

Methods

A retrospective chart review was performed of 40 patients with lung cancer who had undergone radiation therapy between July and December 2019. The patients received an outpatient‐based PR program for a total of eight sessions two times weekly comprising 60 min per session. Feasibility was assessed based on the completion rate, adverse events, and satisfaction with the PR program. Functional evaluations using 6‐min walk and grip strength tests were conducted before and after PR. Patient quality of life was assessed by the EORTC QLQ‐C30 questionnaire before and after PR.

Results

The completion rate for the PR program was 72.5% among the 40 patients. No adverse events related to PR were reported. The overall satisfaction was 5.7 ± 1.1 on a seven‐point Likert scale in all participants. The mean 6‐min walk test distance increased significantly from 419.1 to 446.2 m. The improvement in grip strength in the dominant hand after PR was not significant. The social functioning score in the EORTC QLQ‐C30 improved significantly.

Conclusion

The results of this study showed the feasibility without serious adverse effects of a 4‐week outpatient‐based PR program for lung cancer patients undergoing outpatient‐based radiation therapy. This program might improve patient physical function and quality of life.
Commodity boom‐bust cycles and the resource curse in Australia: 1900 to 2007
Authors: Bhattacharyya Sambit
Published: July 2021

The Australian economy experienced very frequent and sizeable terms of trade shocks. These shocks at times were more pronounced than commodity exporting developing countries and disproportionately benefited the extreme top end of income distribution. Did they derail overall economic progress? Circumstantial evidence suggests that they did not, but hard econometric evidence appears to be rare. In this paper, I revisit the Australian resource curse question from a long‐run perspective. Using time series data on commodity prices, real GDP, real wages, non‐farm GDP, manufacturing share of GDP, and manufacturing share of employment covering the period 1900 to 2007, I find very little evidence of a resource curse. Commodity booms in general and positive agricultural price shocks in particular appear to have impacted the rest of the economy positively both in short‐ and long‐run. The positive effect is primarily led by expansion in manufacturing. This is perhaps reflective of trade protection, labour and credit market flexibility, and relatively open skilled migration in Australia especially during the post‐war period.
Plant richness and blooming cover affect abundance of flower visitors and network structure in Colombian orchards
Authors: Vaca‐Uribe Jessica L. , Figueroa Laura L. , Santamaría Maikol , Poveda Katja
Published: July 2021

Pollination is essential to fruit production. How plant diversity and blooming events in and around orchards affect the pollinator community and the plant‐flower‐visitor network in neotropical systems remains largely unknown.

We surveyed the flower visitors in deciduous fruit trees and alternative blooming resources (other crops, hedgerows and weeds) in Colombia across 6 orchards over 12 months. We evaluated whether plant species richness and blooming cover influenced abundance and richness of flower visitors, as well as network‐level connectance and specialization. We also assessed the role of alternative blooming resources for the flower visitors of deciduous fruit trees.

Overall, we found 66 taxa of flower visitors, 35 of which visited deciduous fruit trees. There was a greater abundance of flower visitors when there was higher richness of weedy species and greater blooming cover of deciduous fruit trees. Networks were less connected when there was lower crop and weedy species richness. Finally, flower visitor abundance and specialization increased when there were multiple hedgerow species in bloom with a high blooming cover.

We highlight the importance of maintaining alternative blooming resources in and around the orchards to support deciduous fruit tree pollinators and diversity in the plant flower‐visitor network.
Genome scanning reveals novel candidate genes for vertebral and teat number in the Beijing Black Pig
Authors: Niu N. , Wang H. , Shi G. , Liu X. , Liu H. , Liu Q. , Yang M. , Wang L. , Zhang L.
Published: July 2021

Porcine vertebral and teat numbers are variable and important economic traits in pig production. However, the quantitative trait loci (QTL) and candidate genes for both of these traits in the Beijing Black Pig are not yet known. In the present study, number of vertebrae and number of teats were obtained for 891 individuals of the Beijing Black Pig and genotyped using the Illumina Porcine 50 K BeadChip. Genome scanning was performed to detect associated variants and candidate genes for both traits using a genome‐wide association study by tassel software. For vertebral number, 15 significant SNPs were located on SSC7. According to linkage disequilibrium analysis on SSC7, a haplotype block of 221 kb from 97.4 to 97.6 Mb was shown to contain a good candidate gene ABCD4. Interestingly, on SSC12, we recorded a novel QTL containing three significant SNPs and 34 annotated genes from 24.0 to 25.7 Mb for vertebral number. Of the 34 genes, nine Hox family genes (HOXB 1–7, 9, and 13) were found to be good candidate genes. Using the 34 genes, a gene ontology analysis was performed to detect enrichment of anterior/posterior pattern specification. For teat number, a novel chromosome‐wide significant QTL was identified on SSC10. In this QTL region, one significant SNP was identified. The nearest gene, NTRK2, was regarded as a candidate gene. The present results expanded the QTL for vertebral and teat numbers and provided useful molecular markers for breeding in the Beijing Black Pig population.
Using quantitative fetal fibronectin to predict term labour onset in Australian rural women: A pilot study
Authors: North Robert , Geraghty Anthony , Luscombe Georgina , Frakking Thuy
Published: July 2021

Background

Many women living in rural and remote Australia are required to travel large distances to birth in a hospital with maternity facilities, incurring considerable financial, social and emotional burden for them and their families. No studies to date have investigated the use of quantitative fetal fibronectin (qfFN) to predict term labour in asymptomatic pregnant women. A tool which is able to more accurately predict term labour has the potential to guide informed travel decision‐making for women and healthcare professionals in rural and remote Australia.

Aim

The aim of this study is to determine if qfFN can reliably predict term labour in asymptomatic women from rural and remote areas.

Materials and Methods

Thirty‐nine women from rural Australia provided 71 fFN samples between June 2016 and October 2018, from 37 weeks’ gestation, with at least one week between samples for those providing multiple samples. Days from fFN sampling until spontaneous onset of labour were recorded. Using generalised estimating equation modelling we examined the utility of fFN as a predictor for onset of labour at term after adjusting for confounders.

Results

There was a small‐to‐moderate negative correlation (rs −0.27, P < 0.05) between time until labour and fFN. Quantitative fFN was observed to be a significant predictor of time until labour after adjusting for confounding variables (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

fFN levels may play a role in predicting term labour in rural women; however, future studies with a larger sample size are required to validate the findings of our pilot study.
UN Peacekeeping and Households' Well‐Being in Civil Wars
Authors: Bove Vincenzo , Salvatore Jessica Di , Elia Leandro
Published: July 2021

Civil wars affect the economic conditions of households by disrupting economic transactions and harming their psychological well‐being. To restore basic conditions for local economic recovery in conflict‐torn regions, the international community has only a limited number of tools at its disposal. We ask whether UN peacekeeping is one instrument to mitigate the negative effect of conflict on households' economic well‐being. We argue that, by reducing violence and heightening perceptions of safety, UN missions (i) encourage labor provision and economic exchanges, and (ii) instill confidence by reducing the psychological impact of daily stressors. Combining high‐frequency household survey data and information on subnational deployment of UN peacekeepers in South Sudan, we show that peacekeepers' military presence improves security (observed and perceived), which in turn revitalizes local economies and households' subjective well‐being. These improvements ultimately boost households' consumption, partially countering the negative effect of ongoing civil wars by keeping local communities' economy afloat.
Rebel Strategies and the Prospects for Peace
Authors: Qiu Xiaoyan
Published: July 2021

Prominent formal theories of conflict provide considerable insight into how civil wars begin and end, but offer little understanding of how they proceed during wartime. One prevalent pattern is that rebel strategies vary significantly within conflicts over time, from guerrilla to conventional tactics. Why do rebels switch between different fighting strategies? How does the transition affect civil war negotiations? I develop a model of rebel–government negotiation in which rebels choose fighting strategies throughout a multiperiod war. The analysis shows that rebels switch from guerrilla to conventional tactics after gaining strength, and the expectation of growth delays rebels' transition to conventional fighting. The potential switch between different fighting strategies hurts the prospects for peace and prolongs civil wars. I identify the generic conditions under which peace is infeasible, no matter how belligerents negotiate. These conditions characterize the incipient stages of many rebellions, thereby explaining the lack of serious negotiations early on.
A case of acute pancreatitis induced by voriconazole during treatment of cryptococcal meningitis
Authors: Song Qun Li , Guan Yue
Published: July 2021

Acute pancreatitis refers to pancreatic enzyme activation caused by a variety of aetiologies, and mainly characterized by local inflammation of the pancreas, with or without diseases of other organ function changes. The main clinical features are abdominal pain and elevated trypsin levels in the blood. Common causes of acute pancreatitis include cholelithiasis, alcohol consumption and hyperlipidaemia, among which drugs are considered to be one of the rare causes of pancreatitis. The patient in this case was a 16‐year‐old adolescent female who developed acute severe pancreatitis during the treatment of cryptococcal meningitis with voriconazole for 35 days. Following diagnosis that pancreatitis was induced by voriconazole, the drug was immediately stopped and the patient was discharged after symptomatic treatment. The phenomenon of voriconazole‐induced pancreatitis is extremely rare, but we hope that this report can arouse greater attention and vigilance of the majority of medical personnel to improve the safety of patients' medication, especially for children or minors.
Effects of dipyrone and acetylsalicylic acid on contractions of distal cauda epididymis duct, serum testosterone and sperm count in rats
Authors: Martins Ana Beatriz Melo , Bezerra Mayara Samala , da Costa Gomes Luana Talinne , Trajano Francisco Mateus Gonçalves , Dantas Pedro Brüch , de Sena Maele Oliveira , Gavioli Elaine Cristina , da Silva Junior Edilson Dantas
Published: July 2021

The effects of dipyrone and acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) on male fertility are still not fully understood, mainly considering the epididymis as a putative target for their anti‐fertility effects. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of dipyrone and ASA on the contractions of distal cauda epididymis duct, serum testosterone levels and sperm parameters in rats. Firstly, we checked the in vitro effects of dipyrone and ASA (10–1000 μM) on the contractions of distal cauda epididymis duct by pharmacological experiments. We also evaluated the effects of in vivo treatment with dipyrone and ASA 100 mg/kg (p.o.) for 15 days on epididymal duct contractions, serum testosterone levels and sperm parameters. In vitro dipyrone or ASA decreased the epididymal duct contractions induced by phenylephrine or carbachol. We observed that in vivo treatment with both drugs decreased the daily sperm production, serum testosterone levels and sperm count through epididymis without altering the epididymal duct contractions and sperm transit time through epididymis. In conclusion, in vitro dipyrone and ASA were able to diminish the contractions of epididymal duct, whilst in vivo administration decreased the sperm count throughout epididymis as a consequence of a low sperm production caused by reduced testosterone levels.
The association between modifiable perioperative parameters and renal function after nephrectomy
Authors: Mano Roy , Tin Amy L. , Silagy Andrew W. , Haywood Samuel C. , Huang Chun , Benfante Nicole E. , Fischer Gregory W. , Vickers Andrew J. , Russo Paul , Coleman Jonathan A. , McCormick Patrick J. , Mincer Joshua S. , Ari Hakimi Abraham
Published: July 2021

Objective

To evaluate the association between intraoperative anaesthetic parameters, primarily intraoperative hypotension, and postoperative renal function in patients undergoing nephrectomy.

Patients and Methods

We reviewed data from 3240 consecutive patients who underwent nephrectomy between 2010 and 2018. Anaesthetic parameters evaluated included duration of hypotension, tachycardia, hypothermia, volatile anaesthetic use and mean arterial pressure in the post‐anaesthesia care unit. Outcomes included acute kidney injury (AKI) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) within the first year after nephrectomy. Associations between anaesthetic parameters and outcomes were evaluated with multivariable logistic regression and generalised estimating equation, respectively, adjusted for predictors of renal function after nephrectomy.

Results

Before nephrectomy, 677 (21%) patients had moderate–severe chronic kidney disease. A quarter of patients (n = 809) had postoperative AKI and 35% (n = 746) had Stage ≥3 chronic kidney disease 12‐months after surgery. Only 12% of patients (n = 386) had >5 min of intraoperative hypotension. While not statistically significant, longer duration of intraoperative hypotension was associated with slightly higher rates of AKI (odds ratio [OR] per 10‐min 1.14, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.98, 1.32). Prolonged hypothermia was associated with increased rate of AKI (OR per 10‐min 1.02, 95% CI 1.00, 1.04), and decreased eGFR (change in eGFR per 10‐min −0.19, 95% CI −0.27, −0.12); however, these results have limited clinical significance.

Conclusions

Under current practice, intraoperative anaesthetic parameters are tightly maintained, restricting the significance of their effect on postoperative renal function. Future studies should evaluate whether haemodynamic parameters during the early postoperative period, when they are monitored less frequently, are associated with renal functional outcome.
Application of single cell genomics to focal epilepsies: A call to action
Authors: Khoshkhoo Sattar , Lal Dennis , Walsh Christopher A.
Published: July 2021

Focal epilepsies are the largest epilepsy subtype and associated with significant morbidity. Somatic variation is a newly recognized genetic mechanism underlying a subset of focal epilepsies, but little is known about the processes through which somatic mosaicism causes seizures, the cell types carrying the pathogenic variants, or their developmental origin. Meanwhile, the inception of single cell biology has completely revolutionized the study of neurological diseases and has the potential to answer some of these key questions. Focusing on single cell genomics, transcriptomics, and epigenomics in focal epilepsy research, circumvents the averaging artifact associated with studying bulk brain tissue and offers the kind of granularity that is needed for investigating the consequences of somatic mosaicism. Here we have provided a brief overview of some of the most developed single cell techniques and the major considerations around applying them to focal epilepsy research.
Does etiology really matter for epilepsy surgery outcome?
Authors: Jehi Lara , Braun Kees
Published: July 2021

Multiple factors influence the outcomes of epilepsy surgery. Prognostic indicators varying from clinical characteristics, imaging findings, ictal, and interictal electrophysiological activity have been linked to surgical outcomes. In this review, we focus on the relatively under‐studied role of the underlying epilepsy histopathology in driving post‐surgical outcomes, specifically focusing on the broad categories of seizure outcomes and cognitive outcomes. For each of these two outcomes of interest, we answer two questions: 1)‐ does etiology matter? and 2)‐ how could it matter? The goal is to review the existing literature on the relationship between etiology and surgical outcomes to provide the best possible judgment as to whether a causal relationship exists between histopathology and the ultimate surgical outcome as an initial step. Then, we delve into the possible mechanisms via which such relationships can be explained. We conclude with a call to action to the epilepsy surgery and histopathology research community to push the mechanistic understanding of the pathology‐outcome interaction and identify actionable knowledge and biomarkers that could inform patient care in a timely fashion.
Anticipated effects of abiotic environmental change on intraspecific social interactions
Authors: Fisher David N. , Kilgour R. Julia , Siracusa Erin R. , Foote Jennifer R. , Hobson Elizabeth A. , Montiglio Pierre‐Olivier , Saltz Julia B. , Wey Tina W. , Wice Eric W.
Published: July 2021

Social interactions are ubiquitous across the animal kingdom. A variety of ecological and evolutionary processes are dependent on social interactions, such as movement, disease spread, information transmission, and density‐dependent reproduction and survival. Social interactions, like any behaviour, are context dependent, varying with environmental conditions. Currently, environments are changing rapidly across multiple dimensions, becoming warmer and more variable, while habitats are increasingly fragmented and contaminated with pollutants. Social interactions are expected to change in response to these stressors and to continue to change into the future. However, a comprehensive understanding of the form and magnitude of the effects of these environmental changes on social interactions is currently lacking. Focusing on four major forms of rapid environmental change currently occurring, we review how these changing environmental gradients are expected to have immediate effects on social interactions such as communication, agonistic behaviours, and group formation, which will thereby induce changes in social organisation including mating systems, dominance hierarchies, and collective behaviour. Our review covers intraspecific variation in social interactions across environments, including studies in both the wild and in laboratory settings, and across a range of taxa. The expected responses of social behaviour to environmental change are diverse, but we identify several general themes. First, very dry, variable, fragmented, or polluted environments are likely to destabilise existing social systems. This occurs as these conditions limit the energy available for complex social interactions and affect dissimilar phenotypes differently. Second, a given environmental change can lead to opposite responses in social behaviour, and the direction of the response often hinges on the natural history of the organism in question. Third, our review highlights the fact that changes in environmental factors are not occurring in isolation: multiple factors are changing simultaneously, which may have antagonistic or synergistic effects, and more work should be done to understand these combined effects. We close by identifying methodological and analytical techniques that might help to study the response of social interactions to changing environments, highlight consistent patterns among taxa, and predict subsequent evolutionary change. We expect that the changes in social interactions that we document here will have consequences for individuals, groups, and for the ecology and evolution of populations, and therefore warrant a central place in the study of animal populations, particularly in an era of rapid environmental change.
Increased all‐cause mortality in concomitant atopic dermatitis and asthma: A nationwide registry‐based study
Authors: Ali Zarqa , Ulrik Charlotte Suppli , Egeberg Alexander , Thyssen Jacob Pontoppidan , Francis Thomsen Simon
Published: July 2021

Background

Excess mortality has been reported for adults with atopic dermatitis (AD) and asthma.

Objective

To assess the mortality rate in adults with concomitant AD and asthma.

Methods

Adults with hospital‐diagnosed AD were matched (1:4) with non‐AD individuals from the background population.

Results

The study cohort comprised 8,095 adults with AD (of which 1,201 (14.8%) had concomitant asthma) and 32,380 reference individuals without AD from the background population (of which 878 (2.7%) had asthma). A total of 1,057, 330, 55 and 99 deaths were observed among subjects with neither AD nor asthma, AD only, asthma only, and subjects with concomitant AD and asthma, respectively. The mortality rate per 1,000 person‐years was 4.75 (95% CI 4.47–5.05) for subjects with neither AD nor asthma, 7.17 (95% CI 5.92–10.05) for asthma only, 7.09 (95% CI 6.37–7.90) for AD only and 10.87 (95% CI 8.92–13.23) for concomitant AD and asthma. Risk for all‐cause mortality was increased in subjects with concomitant AD and asthma compared to asthma only (HR 1.52, 95% CI 1.07–2.15) and neither AD nor asthma (HR 2.27, 95% CI 1.83–2.81) but not compared to subjects with AD only (HR 1.10, 95% CI 0.87–1.39). However, compared to AD only subjects with AD and asthma had increased risk of death due to pulmonary disease (HR 1.81, 95% CI 1.04–3.15).

Conclusion

Adults with AD, asthma or both conditions have increased risk of death, and further concomitant AD and asthma have increased risk of death compared with asthma alone.
Unilateral basal ganglia restricted diffusion in anti‐leucine‐rich glioma‐inactivated 1 encephalitis mimicking cerebral infarction: A report on two cases and literature review
Authors: Poh Mervyn Q. W. , Chiew Hui Jin , Xu Zheyu , Tan Kevin , Lim Tchoyoson C. C. , Yeo Tianrong
Published: July 2021

Background

Magnetic resonance imaging T1‐weighted basal ganglia hyperintensity is observed in patients with anti‐leucine‐rich glioma‐inactivated 1 encephalitis presenting with faciobrachial dystonic seizure (FBDS), but not in patients without FBDS.

Case presentation

We report two patients with anti‐leucine‐rich glioma‐inactivated 1 encephalitis who developed ‘infarct‐like’ basal ganglia magnetic resonance imaging changes: one did not have FBDS, whereas the other developed FBDS 2 months after initial presentation. The lack of FBDS and unilateral basal ganglia restricted diffusion without T1‐hyperintensity resulted in the initial misdiagnosis of ischemic stroke in both cases.

Conclusion

Our report adds to the heterogeneity of anti‐leucine‐rich glioma‐inactivated 1 encephalitis and highlights the need to consider this diagnosis in patients who present atypically.
Affordability and features of home scales for self‐weighing
Authors: Park Ji Seok , Bramante Carolyn , Vakil Rachit , Lee Grace , Gudzune Kimberly
Published: July 2021

Self‐weighing is an evidence‐based weight management strategy, which requires patients to have a home scale. For clinicians to effectively counsel patients on self‐weighing, they should be aware of the costs and features available in typical home scales. Our objective was to describe the cost and features of the top bathroom scales available online. We performed content analysis of top 100 scales listed on a popular online retailer. Two coders independently extracted price and scale features (i.e., digital connectivity, body mass index [BMI] calculation, maximum weight accommodated). We used t‐tests and ANOVA, as appropriate, to examine the relationships between price and features. Among the 97 scales included, mean scale price was $28.99 (SD $21.06; range $7.20–$139.95). Of the advanced features, 20.6% of scales had digital connectivity and 28.9% calculated BMI. Scales with advanced features cost significantly more than scales without (digital connectivity: $49.18 vs. $23.74, P < 0.001; BMI calculation: $42.92 vs. $23.33, P < 0.001). Most scales (76.2%) had a maximum weight of 351–400 lbs, and only 17.5% could accommodate >400 lbs. Price was higher for scales with a higher maximum weight (P = 0.002). No scale with maximum weight > 500 lbs had advanced features. Scales that have digital connectivity for telemedicine or can accommodate higher weights are less commonly available online and their costs may be prohibitive for some patients who need these features. Future research might consider testing whether insurance coverage for scales improves scale access and patient weight management outcomes.
Talking about volcanoes: institutional narratives, the nature of risk, and Mount Mayon in the Philippines
Authors: Bankoff Greg
Published: July 2021

Volcanoes are talked about as if they are one and the same thing. If they are differentiated, they are referred to as active or inactive, and classified according to their structure and composition. Volcanoes, however, do not mean the same thing to all people. Mount Mayon in Albay province, Philippines, is a case in point. Through interviews with a volcanologist, an engineer, a politician, a historian, and a local resident, this paper explores what people think a volcano is and the risks it poses. These informants do not share a common narrative. Their personal storylines are embedded in public narratives that are fixed in time and place, and master narratives that reflect the social values and standards of their group or profession. How stories are told, what is said, and the context within which they emerge constitute an institutional narrative that is important to understanding better how people perceive risk and improving disaster risk management.
Effects on the thickness of single‐layer mouthguards with different model positions on the forming table and different sheet frame shapes for the forming device
Authors: Takahashi Mutsumi , Bando Yogetsu
Published: July 2021

Background/Aim

Effectiveness and safety of mouthguards are greatly affected by their thickness. The aim of this study was to clarify the influence of the frame shape of the forming device on how the model position on the forming table affects the anterior and posterior mouthguard thickness.

Materials and Methods

Mouthguards were thermoformed using 4.0‐mm‐thick ethylene‐vinyl‐acetate sheets and a vacuum forming device. Square sheets were fixed with the square frame of the forming device. Circular sheets were fixed to the forming device with a circular frame. The model was placed with its anterior rim positioned 40, 30, 20, or 10 mm from the front of the forming table. The model position was marked on the forming table so that it was constant under each condition. Six mouthguards were fabricated for each condition. Mouthguard thicknesses of the incisal edge, labial and buccal surfaces, and the cusp were measured. Differences in the rate of thickness reduction due to frame shapes and model positions were analyzed by two‐way ANOVA.

Results

Difference in the thickness reduction rate depending on the frame shape was observed on the labial and buccal surfaces, and it was significantly greater with the circular frame than with the square frame (p < .01). In the anterior region, the thickness reduction rate tended to increase as the model position was moved toward the front of the forming table. The thickness reduction rate of the posterior portion was lowest when the model's molar was positioned at the center of the forming table.

Conclusions

The labial thickness of the mouthguard was not affected by the frame shape if the distance from the model to the frame was larger than the model height. However, the buccal thickness was thinner with the circular frame than with the square frame regardless of the model position.
“Some Mother's Child Has Gone Astray”: Neuroscientific Approaches to a Therapeutic Jurisprudence Model of Juvenile Sentencing1
Authors: Perlin Michael L. , Lynch Alison J.
Published: July 2021

There is a robust body of evidence that tells us that the juvenile brain is not fully developed by age 18, and this evidence should and does raise important questions about the sentencing of juveniles in criminal cases. This evidence, though, must be considered in the context of public opinion (about certain juvenile crimes that have been subject to saturation publicity) in the context of judges' decisionmaking (where such judges do not want to be perceived as “soft on crime”). The conflict between what we now know and what (false) “ordinary common sense” demands (in the way of enhanced punishments) flies squarely in the face of therapeutic jurisprudence precepts. If the legal process is to seek to maximize psychological well‐being and if it is to coincide with an “ethic of care,” then, it is necessary for those involved in the criminal justice system to speak publicly about this topic, and to “call out” those – be they elected politicians, editorial writers and commentators in the conservative media, or judges – who urge retributive and punitive sentences for adolescents and children. In this paper, we will first give a brief overview about the current neuroscientific findings about juvenile brain development in the context of criminal behavior, and then discuss the current sentencing standards and regulations that are in place. Then, we will discuss the impact of therapeutic jurisprudence as a framework for advocating for juvenile clients, in order to maximize and preserve their psychological well‐being and to mitigate trauma. Finally, we will offer recommendations for how experts can work with attorneys who are presenting sentencing arguments, in order to make the most comprehensive, scientifically persuasive case for leniency in juvenile sentencing.
Quantitative imaging and dynamics of tumor therapy with viruses
Authors: Kemler Iris , Karamched Bhargav , Neuhauser Claudia , Dingli David
Published: July 2021

Cancer therapy remains challenging due to the myriad presentations of the disease and the vast genetic diversity of tumors that continuously evolve and often become resistant to therapy. Viruses can be engineered to specifically infect, replicate, and kill tumor cells (tumor virotherapy). Moreover, the viruses can be “armed” with therapeutic genes to enhance their oncolytic effect. Using viruses to treat cancer is exciting and novel and in principle can be used for a broad variety of tumors. However, the approach is distinctly different from other cancer therapies since success depends on establishment of an infection within the tumor and ongoing propagation of the oncolytic virus within the tumor itself. Therefore, the target itself amplifies the therapy. This introduces complex dynamics especially when the immune system is taken into consideration as well as the physical and other biological barriers to virus growth. Understanding these dynamics not only requires mathematical and computational models but also approaches for the noninvasive monitoring of the virus and tumor populations. In this perspective, we discuss strategies and current results to achieve this important goal of understanding these dynamics in pursuit of optimization of oncolytic virotherapy.
Large variability in response to projected climate and land‐use changes among European bumblebee species
Authors: Prestele Reinhard , Brown Calum , Polce Chiara , Maes Joachim , Whitehorn Penelope
Published: July 2021

Bumblebees (Bombus ssp.) are among the most important wild pollinators, but many species have suffered from range declines. Land‐use change, agricultural intensification, and the associated loss of habitat have been identified as drivers of the observed dynamics, amplifying pressures from a changing climate. However, these drivers are still underrepresented in continental‐scale species distribution modeling. Here, we project the potential distribution of 47 European bumblebee species in 2050 and 2080 from existing European‐scale distribution maps, based on a set of climate and land‐use futures simulated through a regional integrated assessment model and consistent with the RCP–SSP scenario framework. We compare projections including (1) dynamic climate and constant land use (CLIM); (2) constant climate and dynamic land use (LU); and (3) dynamic climate and dynamic land use (COMB) to disentangle the effects of land use and climate change on future habitat suitability, providing the first rigorous continental‐scale assessment of linked climate–land‐use futures for bumblebees. We find that direct climate impacts, although variable across species, dominate responses for most species, especially under high‐end climate change scenarios (up to 99% range loss). Land‐use impacts are highly variable across species and scenarios, ranging from severe losses (up to 75% loss) to considerable gains (up to 68% gain) of suitable habitat extent. Rare species thereby tend to be disproportionally affected by both climate and land‐use change. COMB projections reveal that land use may amplify, attenuate, or offset changes to suitable habitat extent expected from climate impact depending on species and scenario. Especially in low‐end climate change scenarios, land use has the potential to become a game changer in determining the direction and magnitude of range changes, indicating substantial potential for targeted conservation management.
Spatiotemporal variability and origin of CO2 and CH4 tree stem fluxes in an upland forest
Authors: Barba Josep , Poyatos Rafael , Capooci Margaret , Vargas Rodrigo
Published: July 2021

The exchange of multiple greenhouse gases (i.e., CO2 and CH4) between tree stems and the atmosphere represents a knowledge gap in the global carbon cycle. Stem CO2 and CH4 fluxes vary across time and space and are unclear, which are their individual or shared drivers. Here we measured CO2 and CH4 fluxes at different stem heights combining manual (biweekly; n = 678) and automated (hourly; n > 38,000) measurements in a temperate upland forest. All trees showed CO2 and CH4 emissions despite 20% of measurements showing net CH4 uptake. Stem CO2 fluxes presented clear seasonal trends from manual and automated measurements. Only automated measurements captured the high temporal variability of stem CH4 fluxes revealing clear seasonal trends. Despite that temporal integration, the limited number of automated chambers made stand‐level mean CH4 fluxes sensitive to “hot spots,” resulting in mean fluxes with high uncertainty. Manual measurements provided better integration of spatial variability, but their lack of temporal variability integration hindered the detection of temporal trends and stand‐level mean fluxes. These results highlight the potential bias of previous studies of stem CH4 fluxes solely based on manual or automated measurements. Stem height, temperature, and soil moisture only explained 7% and 11% of the stem CH4 flux variability compared to 42% and 81% for CO2 (manual and automated measurements, respectively). This large unexplained variability, in combination with high CH4 concentrations in the trees' heartwood, suggests that stem CH4 fluxes might be more influenced by gas transport and diffusivity through the wood than by drivers of respiratory CO2 flux, which has crucial implications for developing process‐based ecosystem models. We postulate that CH4 is likely originated within tree stems because of lack of a consistent vertical pattern in CH4 fluxes, evidence of CH4 production in wood incubations, and low CH4 concentration in the soil profile but high concentrations within the trees' heartwood.