bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dynamics of skin microbiota in shoulder surgery infections
Authors: Fatima Naireen , Bjarnsholt Thomas , Bay Lene
Published: September 2021

Post‐surgical infections arise due to various contributing factors. Most important is the presence of potential pathogenic microorganisms in the skin complemented by the patient´s health status. Cutibacterium acnes is commonly present in the pilosebaceous glands and hair follicle funnels in human skin. After surgical intervention, these highly prevalent, slow‐growing bacteria can be found in the deeper tissues and in proximity of implants. C. acnes is frequently implicated in post‐surgical infections, often resulting in the need for revision surgery. This review summarizes the current understanding of microbial dynamics in shoulder surgical infections. In particular, we shed light on the contribution of C. acnes to post‐surgical shoulder infections as well as their colonization and immune‐modulatory potential. Despite being persistently found in post‐surgical tissues, C. acnes is often underestimated as a causative organism due to its slow growth and the inefficient detection methods. We discuss the role of the skin environment constituted by microbial composition and host cellular status in influencing C. acnes recolonization potential. Future mapping of the individual skin microbiome in shoulder surgery patients using advanced molecular methods would be a useful approach for determining the risk of post‐operative infections.
Effects of grazing adaptation on herbage intake, milk production, and body weight change in lactating dairy cows after turning out to pasture in early spring
Authors: Mitani Tomohiro , Nakajima Sawako , Oh Seongjin , Kawai Masahito , Ueda Koichiro
Published: September 2021

The present study investigated the effects of adaptation to grazing in early spring on the herbage intake, milk production, and body weight changes in lactating dairy cows. The experiment included 12 Holstein lactating cows during early spring. Six cows were allowed to gradually adapt to grazing (ADP) over 10 days. They were allowed to graze on a pasture for 4 h during the first week and for 19 h during the remaining 3 days (adaptation period). During the 10‐day period, the remaining six cows were housed in a barn (CON). Cows in both groups received adequate silage, hay, and concentrate during the adaptation period. Subsequently, cows in both groups were allowed to graze together for 19 h for 4 weeks (experimental period). No cow received supplements during the experimental period. In the first week of the experimental period, the ADP cows showed a higher herbage intake than the CON cows. During the subsequent weeks, there were no differences in herbage intake between the two groups. At the start of the experimental period, milk production and body weight of the ADP cows were higher than those of the CON cows, and this difference lasted until the end of the experiment.
FGF5 and EPAS1 gene polymorphisms are associated with high‐altitude adaptation in Nepalese goat breeds
Authors: Sasazaki Shinji , Tomita Koichiro , Nomura Yuto , Kawaguchi Fuki , Kunieda Tetsuo , Shah Manoj Kumar , Mannen Hideyuki
Published: September 2021

Several studies have reported the gene polymorphisms associated with high‐altitude adaptation in goats. The FGF5 gene is a regulator in the hair‐growth and a SNP c.‐253G>A located within 5′UTR has been reported to cause long‐haired phenotype. The EPAS1 gene is a transcription factor for various genes that have hypoxia‐adaptive functions and a nonsynonymous SNP (Q579L) located in exon 5 has been reported to be associated with the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration. Nepal has large difference in altitudes in the north–south direction and four indigenous goat breeds are bred depending on the altitude. We used a total of 130 animals in Nepal, Chyangra (n = 37), Sinhal (n = 24), Khari (n = 33), and Terai (n = 36), and genotyped these two gene polymorphisms to compare the gene frequencies among the breeds and investigate the associations between breeding altitudes and allele frequencies. The genotyping results revealed that the mutant allele frequency in both polymorphisms tended to increase, as the breeding altitude of each population increased. In addition, correlation coefficients showed a relatively strong positive correlation between the breeding altitude and the mutant allele frequencies (r = 0.87 in FGF5 and r = 0.68 in EPAS1). These results suggested that both polymorphisms would significantly contribute to the high‐altitude adaptation in Nepalese goat breeds.
Antihistamine use during breastfeeding with focus on breast milk transfer and safety in humans: A systematic literature review
Authors: Ngo Elin , Spigset Olav , Lupattelli Angela , Panchaud Alice , Annaert Pieter , Allegaert Karel , Nordeng Hedvig
Published: September 2021

Current data on use of antihistamines during breastfeeding and risks to the breastfed infant are insufficient. The aim of this systematic review was to provide an overview of studies measuring the levels of antihistamines in human breast milk, estimating the exposure for breastfed infants and/or reporting possible adverse effects on the breastfed infant. An additional aim was to review the antihistamine product labels available in the European Union (EU) and the United States. We searched seven online databases and identified seven human lactation studies that included 25 mother–infant pairs covering cetirizine, clemastine, ebastine, epinastine, loratadine, terfenadine and triprolidine. In addition, one study investigated the impact of chlorpheniramine or promethazine on prolactin levels among 17 women, and one study investigated possible adverse drug reactions in 85 breastfed infants exposed to various antihistamines. The relative infant dose was below 5% for all antihistamines, ranging from 0.3% for terfenadine to 4.5% for clemastine. Most product labels of the 10 antihistamines with available information in both the EU and the United States reported lack of evidence and recommended to avoid use during breastfeeding. The knowledge gap on antihistamines and lactation is extensive, and further human studies are warranted to ensure optimal treatment of breastfeeding women with allergy.
Targeting autotaxin impacts disease advance in the SOD1‐G93A mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Gento‐Caro Ángela , Vilches‐Herrando Esther , Portillo Federico , González‐Forero David , Moreno‐López Bernardo
Published: September 2021

A preclinical strategy to broaden the search of potentially effective treatments in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) relies on identifying factors controlling motor neuron (MN) excitability. These partners might be part of still unknown pathogenic pathways and/or useful for the design of new interventions to affect disease progression. In this framework, the bioactive membrane‐derived phospholipid lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) affects MN excitability through LPA receptor 1 (LPA1). Furthermore, LPA1 knockdown is neuroprotective in transgenic ALS SOD1‐G93A mice. On this basis, we raised the hypothesis that the major LPA‐synthesizing ectoenzyme, autotaxin (ATX), regulates MN excitability and is a potential target to modulate disease development in ALS mice. We show here that PF‐8380, a specific ATX inhibitor, reduced intrinsic membrane excitability (IME) of hypoglossal MNs in brainstem slices, supporting that baseline ATX activity regulates MN IME. PF‐8380‐induced alterations were prevented by a small‐interfering RNA directed against mRNA for lpa1. These outcomes support that impact of ATX‐originated lysophospholipids on MN IME engages, at least, the G‐protein‐coupled receptor LPA1. Interestingly, mRNAatx levels increased in the spinal cord of pre‐symptomatic (1–2 months old) SOD1‐G93A mice, thus preceding MN loss. The rise in transcripts levels also occurred in cultured spinal cord MNs from SOD1‐G93A embryos, suggesting that mRNAatx upregulation in MNs is an etiopathogenic event in the ALS cell model. Remarkably, chronic administration in the drinking water of the orally bioavailable ATX inhibitor PF‐8380 delayed MN loss, motor deterioration and prolonged life span in ALS mice. Treatment also led to a reduction in LPA1‐immunoreactive patches in transgenic animals mostly in MNs. These outcomes support that neuroprotective effects of interfering with ATX in SOD1‐G93A mice rely, at least in part, on LPA1 knockdown in MNs. Therefore, we propose ATX as a potential target and/or a biomarker in ALS and highlight ATX inhibitors as reasonable tools with therapeutic usefulness for this lethal pathology.
Design and development of novel fasudil derivatives as potent antibreast cancer agent that improves intestinal flora and intestinal barrier function in rats
Authors: Liang Jinghui , Tang Mu , Wang Lieliang , Huang Rui , Fu Ailong , Zhou Juying
Published: September 2021

This study was conducted to develop novel fasudil derivatives after incorporation of substituted thiazoles as potent anti‐breast cancer (BC) agents. The compounds were developed using a facile synthetic route in excellent yields. The entire set of developed compounds was tested for inhibitory activity against rho‐associated coiled‐coil kinase (ROCK; ROCK1 and ROCK2) kinase, where they exhibit potent and selective inhibition of ROCK1 as compared to ROCK2. The most potent ROCK2 inhibitor, compound6hsignificantly inhibited the viability of BC cells (MCF‐7). It also causes inhibition of migration and invasion of MCF‐7 cells. Moreover, the anti‐BC activity of compound6hwas studied in 7,12 dimethyl Benz(a)anthracene (DMBA)‐induced BC in female Sprague Dawley rats. Results suggest that it causes significant improvement in the bodyweight of the animals with a reduction in oxidative stress in the liver and mammary tissues of rats. It showed improvement in the intestinal barrier function of rats by restoring the level of Diamine oxidase,d‐lactate, and endotoxin. In western blot analysis, it showed improvement in (ZO‐1), occludin, and claudin‐1 in the colon tissue of the rat as compared to the DMBA group. Our study demonstrated the development of the novel class of fasudil derivatives potent anti‐BC agent that improves intestinal flora and intestinal barrier function in rats.
Dominant‐negative pathogenic variant BRIP1 c.1045G>C is a high‐risk allele for non‐mucinous epithelial ovarian cancer: A case‐control study
Authors: Flaum Nicola , van Veen Elke M. , Smith Olivia , Amico Stephanie , Newman William G. , Crosbie Emma J. , Edmondson Richard , Smith Miriam J. , Evans D. Gareth
Published: September 2021

BRIP1 is a moderate susceptibility epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) gene. Having identified the BRIP1 c.1045G>C missense variant in a number of families with EOC, we aimed to investigate the frequency of this and BRIP1.2392C>T pathogenic variant in patients with breast cancer (BC) and/or EOC. A case‐control study of 3767 cases and 2043 controls was undertaken investigating the presence of these variants using Sanger sequencing and gene panel data. Individuals with BC and/or EOC were grouped by family history. BRIP1 c.1045G>C was associated with increased risk of BC/EOC (OR = 37.7; 95% CI 5.3–444.2; P = 0.0001). The risk was highest for women with EOC (OR = 140.8; 95% CI 23.5–1723.0; P < 0.0001) and lower for BC (OR = 11.1; 95% CI 1.2–106.5; P = 0.1588). BRIP1 c.2392C>T was associated with smaller risks for BC/EOC (OR = 5.4; 95%CI 2.4–12.7; P = 0.0003), EOC (OR = 5.9; 95% CI 1.3–23.0; p = 0.0550) and BC (OR = 5.3; 95%CI 2.3–12.9; P = 0.0009). Our study highlights the importance of BRIP1 as an EOC susceptibility gene, especially in familial EOC. The variant BRIP1 c.1045G>C, rs149364097, is of particular interest as its dominant‐negative effect may confer a higher risk of EOC than that of the previously reported BRIP1 c.2392C>T nonsense variant. Dominant‐negative missense variants may confer higher risks than their loss‐of‐function counterparts.
Multimodality imaging approach for the diagnosis of a left atrial mass
Authors: Mansour Layal , Bellouche Yahia , Mansour Mohamad Jihad , Le Ven Florent , Mansourati Jacques
Published: September 2021

Background

Cardiac masses may be incidentally found or in relation to the clinical presentation. Depending on the complexity of the lesion, a multimodality imaging approach may be necessary for a proper diagnosis.

Case Report

We report the case of a 64‐year‐old male patient who was referred for pre‐chemotherapy work‐up of a metastatic scrotal melanoma. Echocardiography showed incidental heterogeneous left atrial mass. Further investigation using cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography angiography, and positron emission tomography confirmed the findings that were consistent with a left atrial myxoma vascularized by a left circumflex coronary‐cameral fistula.

Conclusions

When the clinical context may be misleading, assessment of a cardiac mass with a multimodality approach is essential in order to define its exact benign or malignant nature.
Eight‐carbon volatiles are more toxic to wild‐type Drosophila melanogaster than to flies with blocked immune system mutations
Authors: Almaliki Hadeel S. , Drazanin Emina , Sadovnik Ratchell , Yin Guohua , Bennett Joan W.
Published: September 2021

Previous work using a Drosophila melanogaster Meigen (Diptera: Drosophilidae) bioassay suggested that the innate immune response of the fly might contribute to the toxicity of certain fungal volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Here, we exposed wild‐type or immune‐deficient strains (NOS, Imd, and Toll) of Drosophila male adults to two concentrations (0.02 and 0.1 µmol ml‐1) of volatilized chemical standards of 1‐octen‐3‐ol, 3‐octanone, and 3‐octanol, and their viability was monitored for 24 h. All fly strains were killed within 2 h when exposed to 1‐octen‐3‐ol at 0.1 µmol ml‐1. The wild‐type, red‐eyed (OregonR) strain was more resistant to all three compounds at both concentrations than the white‐eyed strain (w1118) with wild‐type immune genes. Of the three compounds tested, 3‐octanol at 0.02 µmol ml‐1 was the least toxic to all Drosophila strains. Of the white‐eyed fly mutants, the NOS mutant was more resistant to VOC exposure than the white‐eyed strains carrying no defects in the immune system. The white‐eyed RelE20 (Imd) mutant flies were more susceptible to 0.02 µmol ml‐1 of 1‐octen‐3‐ol than the red‐eyed spz6 (Toll) mutants. Unexpectedly, the most resistant to the eight‐carbon (8‐C) volatiles was displayed by double mutant flies carrying blocked immune system mutations in both the Imd and Toll pathways (RelE20spz6). These data suggest that components of the wild‐type innate immune system of Drosophila are responsible for causing death in flies exposed to 8‐C volatiles.
Invasive alien plants in plant health revisited: another 10 years
Authors: Starfinger Uwe , Schrader Gritta
Published: September 2021

Ten years ago, the authors gave an overview of the early history of invasive alien plants in plant health. In the last decade, the field has seen further development, which is reported here. This includes new activities at the global scale, e.g. in the International Plant Protection Convention and the Convention on Biological Diversity, on a regional scale, e.g. in the EU and the region of the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization, and on a national scale. New activities include a prioritization scheme for the pest risk analysis of invasive alien plants, new Standards and regulations, and a further development of the cooperation between the environmental and plant health sectors.
When leverage ratio meets derivatives: Running out of options?*
Authors: Haynes Richard , McPhail Lihong
Published: September 2021

This paper examines the impact of Basel III leverage ratio on the competitive landscape of US derivatives markets. Because the leverage ratio focuses on notional amounts and does not fully recognize offsetting positions and risk‐mitigating collateral, it is more likely the binding constraint for derivatives. The leverage ratio also put heterogeneous constraints on different types of institutions and activities. Using daily positions of clearing members and their customers on S&P 500 E‐mini futures options, we test the following four hypotheses when the public disclosure of the leverage ratio became mandatory in January 2015: (1) banks lose market share to nonbanks; (2) US banks lose market share to European banks; (3) banks' clearing activities shift away from customer accounts to house accounts; (4) low‐delta options are affected most by the leverage ratio. All hypotheses are confirmed in the data. Short‐dated US Treasury futures options, which receive zero exposure in the leverage ratio calculation, do not exhibit such behavior. Our evidence suggests that the leverage ratio requirement pushes derivatives activities toward less constrained institutions and market segments.
Soil microbial sensitivity to temperature remains unchanged despite community compositional shifts along geothermal gradients
Authors: Moinet Gabriel Y. K. , Dhami Manpreet K. , Hunt John E. , Podolyan Anastasija , Liáng Liyĭn L. , Schipper Louis A. , Whitehead David , Nuñez Jonathan , Nascente Adriano , Millard Peter
Published: September 2021

Climate warming may be exacerbated if rising temperatures stimulate losses of soil carbon to the atmosphere. The direction and magnitude of this carbon‐climate feedback are uncertain, largely due to lack of knowledge of the thermal adaptation of the physiology and composition of soil microbial communities. Here, we applied the macromolecular rate theory (MMRT) to describe the temperature response of the microbial decomposition of soil organic matter (SOM) in a natural long‐term warming experiment in a geothermally active area in New Zealand. Our objective was to test whether microbial communities adapt to long‐term warming with a shift in their composition and their temperature response that are consistent with evolutionary theory of trade‐offs between enzyme structure and function. We characterized the microbial community composition (using metabarcoding) and the temperature response of microbial decomposition of SOM (using MMRT) of soils sampled along transects of increasing distance from a geothermally active zone comprising two biomes (a shrubland and a grassland) and sampled at two depths (0–50 and 50–100 mm), such that ambient soil temperature and soil carbon concentration varied widely and independently. We found that the different environments were hosting microbial communities with distinct compositions, with thermophile and thermotolerant genera increasing in relative abundance with increasing ambient temperature. However, the ambient temperature had no detectable influence on the MMRT parameters or the relative temperature sensitivity of decomposition (Q10). MMRT parameters were, however, strongly correlated with soil carbon concentration and carbon:nitrogen ratio. Our findings suggest that, while long‐term warming selects for warm‐adapted taxa, substrate quality and quantity exert a stronger influence than temperature in selecting for distinct thermal traits. The results have major implications for our understanding of the role of soil microbial processes in the long‐term effects of climate warming on soil carbon dynamics and will help increase confidence in carbon‐climate feedback projections.
Decreased growth of wild soil microbes after 15 years of transplant‐induced warming in a montane meadow
Authors: Purcell Alicia M. , Hayer Michaela , Koch Benjamin J. , Mau Rebecca L. , Blazewicz Steven J. , Dijkstra Paul , Mack Michelle C. , Marks Jane C. , Morrissey Ember M. , Pett‐Ridge Jennifer , Rubin Rachel L. , Schwartz Egbert , van Gestel Natasja C. , Hungate Bruce A.
Published: September 2021

The carbon stored in soil exceeds that of plant biomass and atmospheric carbon and its stability can impact global climate. Growth of decomposer microorganisms mediates both the accrual and loss of soil carbon. Growth is sensitive to temperature and given the vast biological diversity of soil microorganisms, the response of decomposer growth rates to warming may be strongly idiosyncratic, varying among taxa, making ecosystem predictions difficult. Here, we show that 15 years of warming by transplanting plant–soil mesocosms down in elevation, strongly reduced the growth rates of soil microorganisms, measured in the field using undisturbed soil. The magnitude of the response to warming varied among microbial taxa. However, the direction of the response—reduced growth—was universal and warming explained twofold more variation than did the sum of taxonomic identity and its interaction with warming. For this ecosystem, most of the growth responses to warming could be explained without taxon‐specific information, suggesting that in some cases microbial responses measured in aggregate may be adequate for climate modeling. Long‐term experimental warming also reduced soil carbon content, likely a consequence of a warming‐induced increase in decomposition, as warming‐induced changes in plant productivity were negligible. The loss of soil carbon and decreased microbial biomass with warming may explain the reduced growth of the microbial community, more than the direct effects of temperature on growth. These findings show that direct and indirect effects of long‐term warming can reduce growth rates of soil microbes, which may have important feedbacks to global warming.
Time trends in cancer incidence in Australian people living with HIV between 1982 and 2012
Authors: Wong Ian K. J. , Grulich Andrew E. , Poynten Isobel Mary , Polizzotto Mark N. , van Leeuwen Marina T. , Amin Janaki , McGregor Skye , Law Matthew , Templeton David J. , Vajdic Claire M. , Jin Fengyi
Published: September 2021

Objectives

The aim of the study was to describe time trends in cancer incidence in people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Australia between 1982 and 2012.

Methods

A population‐based prospective study was conducted using data linkage between the national HIV and cancer registries. Invasive cancers identified in PLHIV were grouped into AIDS‐defining cancers (ADCs), infection‐related non‐ADCs (NADCs), and non‐infection‐related NADCs. Crude and age‐standardized incidence rates of cancers were calculated and compared over five time periods: 1982–1995, 1996–1999, 2000–2004, 2005–2008 and 2009–2012, roughly reflecting advances in HIV antiretroviral therapy. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) compared with the Australian general population were calculated for each time period. Generalized linear models were developed to assess time trends in crude and age‐standardized incidences.

Results

For ADCs, the crude and age‐standardized incidences of Kaposi sarcoma and non‐Hodgkin lymphoma substantially declined over time (P‐trend < 0.001 for all) but SIRs remained significantly elevated. For infection‐related NADCs, there were significant increases in the crude incidences of anal, liver and head and neck cancers. Age‐standardized incidences increased for anal cancer (P‐trend = 0.002) and liver cancer (P‐trend < 0.001). SIRs were significantly elevated for anal cancer, liver cancer and Hodgkin lymphoma. For non‐infection‐related NADCs, the crude incidence of colorectal, lung and prostate cancers increased over time, but age‐standardized incidences remained stable.

Conclusions

Continuous improvements and high coverage of antiretroviral therapy have reduced the incidence of ADCs in PLHIV in Australia. Clinical monitoring of anal and liver cancers in people living with HIV should be performed, given the increasing incidence of these cancers.
Evaluation of an inner city HIV pre‐exposure prophylaxis service tailored to the needs of people who inject drugs
Authors: Grimshaw Ceilidh , Boyd Lynsey , Smith Matt , Estcourt Claudia S. , Metcalfe Rebecca
Published: September 2021

Objectives

HIV prevention strategies including pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) must reach all in need to achieve elimination of transmission by 2030. Mainstream provision may inadvertently exclude key populations. Incidence of HIV in people who inject drugs (PWID) in Glasgow, Scotland's largest city, is increasing, partly due to sexual transmission. Scotland provides publicly funded oral PrEP for individuals at sexual risk of HIV through sexual health services; however, uptake by PWID has been negligible. We developed a tailored outreach PrEP service based in the local homeless health centre. We used active case finding, flexibility of assessment location, supervised community daily dispensing and active follow‐up to optimise uptake and adherence. We describe a two‐year service evaluation.

Methods

We reviewed the case records of all PWID identified by the outreach team as being at higher risk of sexual acquisition for whom PrEP was considered between November 2018 and November 2020. Evaluation focused on PrEP uptake, adherence and monitoring. We conducted a descriptive statistical analysis.

Results

Of 41 PWID assessed as eligible, 32 (78.0%) commenced PrEP. The proportion of PrEP‐covered days was 3320/3400 days (97.6%); 31/32 (96.9%) had regular HIV serology monitoring. The service was feasible to run, but it relied on outreach provision and liaison with other services.

Discussion

Tailored PrEP services can reach PWID effectively. Uptake and adherence were high but the model was resource‐intensive. Appropriately tailored PrEP delivery may be required to meet the needs of this and other key populations who experience barriers to accessing mainstream services.
Influence of direct oral anticoagulants on thrombin generation on Ceveron TGA
Authors: Pfrepper Christian , Behrendt Lisa‐Charlott , Bönigk Hagen , Siegemund Thomas , Metze Michael , Franke Dirk , Petros Sirak , Siegemund Annelie
Published: September 2021

Introduction

Monitoring of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) with calibrated anti‐Xa assay is limited by the high intra‐ and interindividual variations of the test results. Thrombin generation (TG) is a global hemostatic assay that reflects the patient´s individual coagulation status. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of DOACs on TG measured with a fully automated assay system.

Methods

All consecutive patients under apixaban and rivaroxaban coming to the outpatient coagulation center MVZ Limbach, Magdeburg, Germany between October 2017 and April 2020 were included. DOAC plasma levels were correlated with TG assessed using the fully automated Ceveron TG analyzer.

Results

A total of 703 rivaroxaban and 252 apixaban containing plasma samples were included. There was a significant correlation between DOAC plasma levels and all TG parameters except for lag time regarding apixaban. Time to peak and peak thrombin followed an exponential regression curve, while this was linear for the endogenous thrombin potential (ETP). Apixaban showed a lower correlation coefficient for all TG parameters compared with rivaroxaban, and thrombin generation was less influenced by apixaban than rivaroxaban at plasma levels >100 ng/ml. The sensitivity and negative predictive value of normal TG parameters for the prediction of DOAC plasma levels <30 ng/ml was >85%.

Conclusion

The present data show a moderate predominantly nonlinear correlation between TG parameters and plasma levels of apixaban and rivaroxaban. Rivaroxaban has a stronger effect on TG than apixaban.
Are workers rewarded for inconsistent performance?
Authors: Özdemir Anil , Dietl Helmut , Rossi Giambattista , Simmons Rob
Published: September 2021

This paper examines whether workers are rewarded for inconsistent performance by salary premia. Some earlier research suggests that performance inconsistency leads to salary premia, while other research finds premia for consistent performance. Using detailed salary and performance data for top‐level footballers in Italy’s Serie A, we find that inconsistency is penalized for some important dimensions of basic performance measures associated with key skills of players, specifically clearances, aerial duels won, and shots on target.
Inequality at work and employees' perceptions of organisational fairness
Authors: Gallie Duncan , Felstead Alan , Green Francis , Henseke Golo
Published: September 2021

The need to promote fairness at work, as a way of both enhancing employee well‐being and raising productivity, has become increasingly central to political discourse. There has been little research, however, on perceptions of fairness across the diverse spectrum of employees in the workforce—the extent to which they regard their organisations as fair and the work experiences that most strongly inform their judgements about fairness. The paper draws on a representative national sample of British employees to examine the distribution and potential determinants of their views about the overall fairness of their organisations and how these differ by occupational class and sex. As well as pointing to the central importance of employee voice and the quality of supervisory treatment, it shows that the level of work intensity and job security are strongly associated with evaluations of fairness. In contrast, the effects of pay policies are relatively modest.
Copper oxide‐ and copper‐modified antibacterial ceramic surfaces
Authors: Acikbas Gokhan , Calis Acikbas Nurcan
Published: September 2021

In the present study, copper oxide (CuO) and copper (Cu) particles were characterized and investigated to observe the effects of antimicrobial activity on ceramic tile surfaces. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) techniques were used for particle characterization. A new formulation of antimicrobial glaze was achieved by the combination of two glaze compositions with different Cu and CuO content to obtain micro–nano hybrid surface morphology to provide the antibacterial property. Surface morphology of coated ceramic surfaces was examined by SEM in detail and water contact angles were measured with goniometer. The relationships between antibacterial effect, phase evolution, surface topography, and wettability of surfaces were determined. The tenorite phase of CuO was observed on both Cu‐ and CuO‐modified surfaces. Both Cu and CuO particles in glazed ceramic surfaces showed the similar antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The antibacterial activity was dependent on mainly tenorite phase crystallization. The amount of the tenorite phase that was slightly higher in the case of Cu‐incorporated surfaces instead of CuO and hence the bactericidal effect was slightly more pronounced. Although the developed surfaces are not hydrophobic, they show antibacterial properties.
Thermal niche dimensionality could limit species’ responses to temperature changes: Insights from dung beetles
Authors: Calatayud Joaquín , Hortal Joaquín , Noriega Jorge Ari , Arcones Ángel , Espinoza Verónica R. , Guil Noemí , Lobo Jorge M.
Published: September 2021

Aim

Adequate responses of species to climate changes require that thermal changes remain compatible across different key biological aspects (e.g. reproduction, feeding and development). However, limits of thermal compatibility to such biological aspects are largely unknown in extant ectotherm groups. To fill this gap, we studied the intraspecific congruence of thermal responses across biological aspects.

Location

Iberian Peninsula.

Taxon

Scarabaeidae Dung beetles.

Methods

We studied the role of temperature in determining the diel, seasonal and geographical occurrences of 16 dung beetle species. We fitted polynomial GLMs of the abundance/occurrence of each species as a function of temperature and alternative predictors for each spatiotemporal scale, using deviance partitioning to explore the relative contribution of temperature. We used the fitted models to estimate realized thermal niche attributes at these three spatiotemporal scales, and assessed their intraspecific congruence through the correlation of niche attributes from different scales.

Results

We found that temperature has relatively low—but not negligible—explanatory capacity at the three spatiotemporal scales, once alternative predictors are taken into account. More importantly, the estimated thermal responses were largely incongruent across scales, indicating that these species have multidimensional thermal niches.

Main conclusions

The multidimensionality of thermal niches entails that species’ adjustments to fulfil temperature requirements for one biological aspect (such as seasonal ontogenetic cycles) may result in detrimental effects on other elements (e.g. diel activity). These trade‐offs could expose individuals to inadequate temperatures at certain moments, reducing populations’ performance. Paradoxically, the weak effects of temperature we found may have severe consequences for species responses to warming if temperature regulates essential aspects of their biology in divergent ways.
CAR‐T therapy: Prospects in targeting cancer stem cells
Authors: Cui Xiaoyue , Liu Rui , Duan Lian , Cao Dan , Zhang Qiaoling , Zhang Aijie
Published: September 2021

Cancer stem cells (CSCs), a group of tumour cells with stem cell characteristics, have the ability of self‐renewal, multi‐lineage differentiation and tumour formation. Since CSCs are resistant to conventional radiotherapy and chemotherapy, their existence may be one of the root causes of cancer treatment failure and tumour progression. The elimination of CSCs may be effective for eventual tumour eradication. Because of the good therapeutic effects without major histocompatibility complex (MHC) restriction and the unique characteristics of CSCs, chimeric antigen receptor T‐cell (CAR‐T) therapy is expected to be an important method to eliminate CSCs. In this review, we have discussed the feasibility of CSCs‐targeted CAR‐T therapy for cancer treatment, summarized current research and clinical trials of targeting CSCs with CAR‐T cells and forecasted the challenges and future direction from the perspectives of toxicity, persistence and potency, trafficking, infiltration, immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment, and tumour heterogeneity.
Virus infections of the European Eel in North Rhine Westphalian rivers
Authors: Danne Linna , Horn Lisa , Feldhaus Anita , Fey Daniel , Emde Sebastian , Schütze Heike , Adamek Mikolaj , Hellmann John
Published: September 2021

Viral infections have been suggested to play a role in the decline of the panmictic population of the European eel (Anguilla anguilla). However, despite the importance of knowledge about pathogenic eel viruses, little is known about their spread in the wild European eel population and only a few eel pathogenic viruses have been described so far. In this study, we aimed to investigate the health status of the A. anguilla stock in North Rhine Westphalia (NRW) State of Germany. For this purpose, we examined tissue samples of 16 elvers, 100 yellow eels and 6 silver eels, sampled from the rivers Rhine, Lippe and Ems. Virus detection was performed via a combination of cell culture and PCR. Next to the detection of frequently encountered pathogenic eel viruses (anguillid herpesvirus 1 and eel virus European X (EVEX)), we isolated the eel picornavirus 1 (EPV‐1) from tissue of yellow eels and elvers and demonstrate the distribution of EPV‐1 in wild eel population in NRW.
Rapid proliferation of the parasitic copepod, Salmincola californiensis (Dana), on kokanee salmon, Oncorhynchus nerka (Walbaum), in a large Colorado reservoir
Authors: Lepak Jesse M. , Hansen Adam G. , Hooten Mevin B. , Brauch Daniel , Vigil Estevan M.
Published: September 2021

Ecologically and economically valuable Pacific salmon and trout (Oncorhynchus spp.) are widespread and susceptible to the ectoparasite Salmincola californiensis (Dana). The range of this freshwater copepod has expanded, and in 2015, S. californiensis was observed in Blue Mesa Reservoir, Colorado, USA, an important kokanee salmon (O. nerka, Walbaum) egg source for sustaining fisheries. Few S. californiensis were detected on kokanee salmon in 2016 (<10% prevalence; 2 adult S. californiensis maximum). By 2020, age‐3 kokanee salmon had 100% S. californiensis prevalence and mean intensity exceeding 50 adult copepods. Year and kokanee salmon age/maturity (older/mature) were consistently identified as significant predictors of S. californiensis prevalence/intensity. There was evidence that S. californiensis spread rapidly, but their population growth was maximized at the initiation (the first 2–3 years) of the invasion. Gills and heads of kokanee salmon carried the highest S. californiensis loads. S. californiensis population growth appears to be slowing, but S. californiensis expansion occurred concomitant with myriad environmental/biological factors. These factors and inherent variance in S. californiensis count data may have obscured patterns that continued monitoring of parasite–host dynamics, when S. californiensis abundance is more stable, might reveal. The rapid proliferation of S. californiensis indicates that in 5 years a system can go from a light infestation to supporting hosts carrying hundreds of parasites, and concern remains about the sustainability of this kokanee salmon population.
What are the prospects for ultrasound technology in food processing? An update on the main effects on different food matrices, drawbacks, and applications
Authors: Arruda Tarsila Rodrigues , Vieira Patty , Silva Bárbara Moreira , Freitas Talma Duarte , do Amaral Ana Júlia Bento , Vieira Erica Nascif Rufino , Leite Júnior Bruno Ricardo de Castro
Published: September 2021

Ultrasound is a promising technology that emerges as a sustainable and low‐cost alternative to conventional food processing. Various advantages are related to this technology, including the improvement of food quality, maintenance of food preservation, reduced processing time, and monitoring of food processes. Despite the extensive knowledge about ultrasonic technologies, it is continually updated, and new applications are constantly discovered. Reported results show that ultrasound can be applied, alone or in assisted conditions, to several food matrices, such as meats, fresh products, juices, cereals, and fermented products. However, its use still presents some challenges that include the difficulty of large‐scale applications. Recent studies evidenced current prospects for ultrasound technology, especially by improving novel food processes, such as depolymerization, extraction, emulsion production, and even assisting the removal of pesticides in fresh foods. This review summarizes the main applications and strategies of ultrasound technology in food processing. In addition, the challenges and future perspectives of this technology are also updated.

Practical applications

Ultrasound is a widespread technology in food processing, and a great number of applications have been attributed to ultrasound in last decades. This low‐cost alternative offers several advantages, such as reduction in time processing (e.g., elimination of process steps), enhanced efficiency, better attributes to different food products, also, its nondestructive nature allows the retention of product characteristics (textural, nutritional, and sensorial aspects). All these properties made ultrasound an interesting tool for improving food shelf life. Recently, new ultrasound utilities had been discovered, especially in association other processing techniques. An update on ultrasound applications is currently required, providing further essential scope for industrial implementation of ultrasound (i.e., processing operations, food matrix, benefits, limitations).
Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of foodborne pathogens in value‐added commodities procured from farmers' markets in Central Virginia
Authors: Kim Chyer , Fatani Abeer , Almuqati Rehab , Rahemi Alireza , Abujamous Abeer , Wynn Crystal , Nartea Theresa , Ndegwa Eunice , Rutto Laban , Dhakal Ramesh
Published: September 2021

Food safety concerns associated with products purchased at farmers' markets have arisen, highlighting the growing need for farmers' market consumer and producer awareness of potential public health issues. The focus of this quantitative research study was to assess the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of foodborne pathogens in select value‐added commodities (i.e., animal treats, soil amendments, herbs, honey, dressings, exotic foods, etc.) randomly procured from farmers' markets in Central Virginia. Between March and November 2017, collection of 194 samples originating from 40 individual farmers' market vendors selling at 11 different farmers' markets transpired. Detection of potentially harmful bacterial species within collected samples was as follows: 0.5% Campylobacter, 24.5% Escherichia coli, 16.7% Listeria, and 1.0% Salmonella. Bacterial isolates (n = 155) of Campylobacter, E. coli, Listeria, and Salmonella were tested for their susceptibility to 12 antimicrobials. Tetracycline and ampicillin resistance showed the highest frequency among E. coli (approximately 30%) isolates. Nalidixic acid resistance was the highest in Listeria isolates (79.4%). Approximately 17% of E. coli isolates and more than 50% of each Campylobacter, Listeria, and Salmonella isolates exhibited multidrug resistance (MDR). No E. coli isolates had matching pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis profiles demonstrating that the isolates had a high degree of genomic diversity and farm specificity. This study demonstrated an emerging public health threat of the presence of MDR arising from farmers' market‐acquired value‐added commodities. The importance of this research study highlights the value of implementing good agricultural and handling practices from farm (producer vendors) to table (consumers) to avert potential foodborne illness occurrence. Future research to determine potential reasons and supply chain interventions for the observed prevalence of MDR bacterial isolates from farmers' market value‐added products is paramount.
Controlling Campylobacter jejuni in vitro and in chicken using combinations of citrus‐based and trisodium phosphate formulations
Authors: Solís‐Soto Luisa , Prabhakarankutty Laiju Kuzhippillymyal , García Santos , Ortíz‐Reyes Yaraymi , Heredia Norma
Published: September 2021

Campylobacter frequently contaminates chicken. Trisodium phosphate (TSP) is used for chicken decontamination; however, reduction of chemical preservatives is desirable. This study analyzed the efficacy of two commercial citrus‐based products (CitroSan [CS] and Citrol‐K Ultra [CK]) alone and in combination with TSP for reduction of Campylobacter in vitro and in chicken. The minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the preservatives alone or in combination was determined against Campylobacter jejuni. Their ability to reduce bacteria in raw chicken and their effect on the sensorial characteristics of the meat were determined. The MBCs obtained were 0.5 ± 0.04% for TSP, 0.05 ± 0.0006% for CS, and 0.0006 ± 0.0001% for CK. When combined, bactericidal concentrations varied. Following contact with TSP–CS and TSP–CK for 6 hr, C. jejuni was reduced from 106 to <100 CFU/g. Concentrations below those used in industry (2% TSP, 0.3% CS, and 0.05% CK) were added on the raw chicken skin before (B: treated with TSP and then inoculated) and after (A: inoculated and then treated with TSP) inoculation of Campylobacter. TSP (A) reduced C. jejuni by 92.6% after 24 hr, whereas TSP (B) caused a 36% reduction. TSP (A and B) in combination with both CS and CK caused 98.9 and 95.9% reduction, respectively, after 120 hr. The CS–CK combination (without TSP) reduced bacteria to undetectable levels after 48 hr. No significant differences were detected in the sensorial characteristics of treated wings. All the combinations tested, but especially 0.3% TSP + 0.0003% CK represent alternatives to control C. jejuni in chicken and reduce or avoid synthetic preservatives.
Family reports of end‐of‐life care among veterans in home‐based primary care: The role of hospice
Authors: Kinder Daniel , Smith Dawn , Ersek Mary , Wachterman Melissa , Thorpe Joshua , Davis Darlene , Kutney‐Lee Ann
Published: September 2021

Background

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)'s home‐based primary care (HBPC) program provides coordinated, interdisciplinary care to seriously ill and disabled veterans, but few evaluations have considered end‐of‐life (EOL) care in this population. The aim of this study was to describe veterans' use of community‐based hospice services while enrolled in HBPC and their associations with bereaved families' perceptions of care.

Methods

This study was a retrospective analysis of electronic medical record and bereaved family survey (BFS) data for veterans who died while enrolled in VA's HBPC program between October 2013 and September 2019. Seven regional VA networks called Veteran Integrated Service Networks participated in BFS data collection. The final sample included 3967 veterans who were receiving HBPC services at the time of death and whose next‐of‐kin completed a BFS. The primary outcome was the BFS global rating of care received in the last 30 days of life. Adjusted proportions for all BFS outcomes were examined and compared between those who received community‐based hospice services and those who did not.

Results

Overall, 52.6% of BFS respondents reported that the care received by HBPC‐enrolled veterans in the last 30 days of life was excellent using the BFS global rating. Among families of HBPC‐enrolled veterans who received community‐based hospice services, the BFS global rating was roughly eight percentage points higher than those who did not (55.7 vs. 47.0%, p < 0.001). On 12 of the 14 secondary BFS outcomes, veterans who received hospice scored higher than those who did not.

Conclusions

Receipt of hospice services while enrolled in HBPC was associated with higher ratings of EOL care by bereaved family members. Integration of community hospice partners for qualifying veterans who are enrolled in the HBPC program represents a potential opportunity to improve the overall experience of EOL care for veterans and their families.
Invasive mammary carcinoma in a black‐handed spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi)
Authors: Díaz‐Delgado J. , Douglas P. , Stoneburg S. , Cirqueira C. , Gomez G.
Published: September 2021

Mammary neoplasia is rare in nonhuman primates other than macaques; records in New World primates are exceedingly rare. We report the pathologic and immunohistochemical features of an invasive carcinoma no special type with neuroendocrine differentiation in a captive, black‐handed spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi).
Optimization of capsaicin‐induced dermal blood flow measurement by laser Doppler imaging in cynomolgus macaque
Authors: Tsai Sheung Pun , Lo Jeffrey B. , Yeung Jeremy M. , Allen Phillip C. , Roberts Jeffrey A. , Hwa Granger G.C.
Published: September 2021

Background

Capsaicin is used in several areas of non‐human primate research including allodynia and dermal blood flow (DBF). The capsaicin‐induced DBF increase was measured using laser Doppler imaging (LDI), but this response is known to diminish upon repeated topical applications. Refinement of the experimental procedures could improve the rigor and reproducibility of the DBF migraine model.

Methods

Optimal anatomical site in cynomolgus was determined, and conditions and experimental settings for DBF measurement using LDI were established. Then, two study design trial structures were compared.

Results

Medial thigh was the preferrable site, and an ethanol‐Tween 20 formulation of capsaicin was desirable. A 1‐week washout for contralateral side or 2‐week washout for ipsilateral side was necessary to eradicate capsaicin desensitization.

Conclusions

With the established technicality in DBF measurements in cynomolgus macaques, the capsaicin‐induced DBF model may be utilized in translational medical research in developing migraine therapeutics.