bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Australian and New Zealand dietetics graduate outcomes survey: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Blair Merran , Palermo Claire , Gibson Simone , Mitchell Lana
Published: May 2022

Aim

There is a paucity of comprehensive and current employment data for dietitians. It is unclear if, and where, dietetics graduates are being employed and if they are sufficiently prepared to meet workforce and community needs. The aim of this study was to identify employment outcomes for recent dietetics graduates from Australia and New Zealand at 4–6 months post degree completion.

Methods

A cross‐sectional survey was distributed to graduates from accredited dietetics degrees across Australian and New Zealand. Those who completed their university study in 2020 were eligible to participate. Descriptive statistics and frequencies were analysed and open text answers underwent summative content analysis.

Results

A total of 294 usable survey responses were received from 631 eligible graduates (response rate 47%). Seventy‐five percent of graduates were employed in any field and 60% were employed in a role that required their degree. The most common area of dietetics employment was private practice, followed by hospital practice. Most commonly, graduates who did not need their degree to get their job were employed in healthcare‐related roles, or nutrition‐ and food‐related roles.

Conclusions

These findings are important for curricula development to ensure that students are suitably prepared for available employment opportunities. Work‐integrated learning experiences may need to shift focus to skill development, rather than a specific job role, to better prepare graduates for the jobs of the future. Further monitoring of employment outcomes is necessary to track changes over time.
Physico‐chemical properties, antioxidant activity, and ACE inhibitory activity of protein hydrolysates from wild jujube seed
Authors: Han Rongxin , Shao Shuai , Zhang Hongyin , Qi Hongyu , Xiao Fengqin , Shen Yingxin , Fan Lin , Wang Haidong , Zhao Daqing , Li Guangzhe , Yan Mingming
Published: May 2022

Wild jujube seed protein (WJSP) as one kind of functional food material has attracted much attention due to its highly nutritive and medicinal value in anti‐inflammatory and improving immunomodulatory ability. However, owing to its large molecular weight and complex structure, biological activities of WJSP were greatly limited and cannot be fully utilized by the human body. Therefore, how to improve the bioavailability of WJSP and develop promising WJSP nutritious materials is a great challenge. In this work, wild jujube seed protein hydrolysates (WJSPHs) were prepared from WJSP via enzymatic hydrolysis method, and their physico‐chemical properties, antioxidant activity, and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity in vitro have been investigated for the first time. SDS–PAGE electrophoresis and size–exclusion chromatographic results indicate that WJSPHs have lower molecular weight distribution (< 5,000 Da) than WJSP. Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) results illustrated that random coil is the main secondary structure of WJSPHs. Antioxidant experiments indicate that WJSPHs exhibit high radicals‐scavenging ability of 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals (94.60%), 2,2′‐azinobis‐(3‐ethylbenzthiazoline‐6‐sulfonate) (ABTS+) radicals (90.84%), superoxide radicals (44.77%), and hydroxyl radicals (47.77%). In vitro, WJSPHs can significantly decrease the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA), and increase the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px) in HepG2 cells. Moreover, ACE activity was found that can be significantly inhibited by WJSPHs (73.02%). Therefore, all previously mentioned results suggest that WJSPHs may be a promising antioxidant food to prevent oxidative‐related diseases in future.

Practical Application

This study shows that WJSPHs exhibit high antioxidant activity and ACE inhibitory activity in vitro, which provide potential application value as antioxidant peptides to prevent oxidative‐related diseases.
Consumer search and optimal information
Authors: Dogan Mustafa , Hu Ju
Published: May 2022

This article studies an information design problem in a sequential consumer search environment. Consumers, whose valuation of firms' products is uncertain, observe a noisy signal about the valuation upon being matched with a firm. The goal is to characterize those signal structures that maximize consumer surplus. We show that the consumer‐optimal signal structure can be found within the class of conditional unit‐elastic demand signal distributions. A rich set of properties and comparative statics of the consumer‐optimal signal distributions are also derived.
Elucidating effect of different photosynthetic pigments on Lipaphis erysimi preference and population build‐up on diverse Brassica juncea genotypes
Authors: Samal Ipsita , Singh Naveen , Bhoi Tanmaya K. , Dhillon Mukesh K.
Published: May 2022

Brassica juncea is the most important oilseed crop in India, and Lipaphis erysimi is a major pest of this crop. The study aimed at knowing the role of photosynthetic pigments in host preference and population build‐up by L. erysimi on diverse B. juncea genotypes. We found significant differences among test genotypes for aphid preference, multiplication rate and population build‐up, and chlorophyll A, chlorophyll B, total chlorophyll, total carotenoids and Soil Plant Analysis Development (SPAD) chlorophyll and Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) values in healthy and aphid damaged flowers, immature siliquae and grain filled siliquae. The L. erysimi damage reduced all the photosynthetic pigments across plant parts of test B. juncea genotypes. The aphid damage resulted in change in chlorophyll B in flowers and total chlorophyll in immature siliquae showed positive association with leaf preference, while total carotenoids in flowers and grain filled siliquae had negative association with leaf and bud preference by L. erysimi. Chlorophylls A and B in the siliquae showed significant and positive association with multiplication rate and population build‐up of L. erysimi on B. juncea. Change in chlorophyll A, total chlorophyll and total carotenoids because of aphid damage contributed to 38.6% variation in host preference and 21.9% variation in multiplication rate and population build‐up of L. erysimi on different B. juncea genotypes. Genotypes PM 30, RH 749, PDZ 6, Pusa 119‐1‐3, Pusa 119‐1‐1 and Kranti were found with least leaf and bud preference, lower aphid multiplication rate and population build‐up, and higher amounts of different chlorophylls and total carotenoids, suggesting their use in aphid resistance breeding programme.
Collaborative inter‐organisational relationships and management control change
Authors: Biswas Sharlene , Akroyd Chris
Published: May 2022

This study examines the changing use of controls to manage an ongoing inter‐organisational collaborative relationship. We do this by studying the development of an open innovation relationship using a case study informed by concepts from neo‐old institutional economics and Simons’ levers of control. Data was collected via semi‐structured interviews and an analysis of documents. Our findings suggest that initially, governance structures and formal safeguards were applied diagnostically, which resulted in low levels of trust. Over time, the development of a collaborative relationship through investments in relational specificity has resulted in a more interactive style of control, which has increased trust.
Crossing at y/our own peril: Biocultural boundary crossing in anthropology
Authors: Cabana Graciela S. , Mendoza Marcela , Smith Lindsay A. , Delfino Hugo , Martínez Carla , Mazza Bárbara , Teruya Rossi Loruhama , Di Fabio Rocca Francisco
Published: May 2022

Biocultural approaches in anthropology originated from a desire to dissolve the nature/culture divide that is entrenched in the discipline. Whereas biocultural approaches were born under the umbrella of medical anthropology, by the late 1990s, biology‐centered approaches to bioculturalism had been mostly taken up by human biologists in biological anthropology. It was at this point that biology‐inclined approaches began to gel into an informal interdiscipline, biocultural anthropology. Much like any other discipline, biocultural anthropology developed research and professional norms with erected boundaries around acceptable work and workers. We draw from scholarly work in interdisciplinary studies to explore those norms and boundaries from the perspective of our collaborative, multimethod, and interdisciplinary project that combines “biology” and “culture” in unconventional ways. We provide examples of the obstacles, barriers, and risks we experienced and the costs exacted on the research project and the researchers due to the nature of our boundary crossings. By exploring biocultural anthropology from the edges of acceptability, we expose the unacknowledged boundary work in contemporary biocultural anthropology, and by extension, in its parent discipline, anthropology.
Associations between fetal heart rate variability and umbilical cord occlusions‐induced neural injury: An experimental study in a fetal sheep model
Authors: Ghesquière Louise , Perbet Romain , Lacan Laure , Hamoud Yasmine , Stichelbout Morgane , Sharma Dyuti , Nguyen Sylvie , Storme Laurent , Houfflin‐Debarge Véronique , De Jonckheere Julien , Garabedian Charles
Published: May 2022

Introduction

This study evaluated the association between fetal heart rate variability (HRV) and the occurrence of hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy in a fetal sheep model.

Material and methods

The experimental protocol created a hypoxic condition with repeated cord occlusions in three phases (A, B, C) to achieve acidosis to pH <7.00. Hemodynamic, gasometric and HRV parameters were analyzed during the protocol, and the fetal brain, brainstem and spinal cord were assessed histopathologically 48 h later. Associations between the various parameters and neural injury were compared between phases A, B and C using Spearman's rho test.

Results

Acute anoxic–ischemic brain lesions in all regions was present in 7/9 fetuses, and specific neural injury was observed in 3/9 fetuses. The number of brainstem lesions correlated significantly and inversely with the HRV fetal stress index (r = −0.784; p = 0.021) in phase C and with HRV long‐term variability (r = −0.677; p = 0.045) and short‐term variability (r = −0.837; p = 0.005) in phase B. The number of neurological lesions did not correlate significantly with other markers of HRV.

Conclusions

Neural injury caused by severe hypoxia was associated with HRV changes; in particular, brainstem damage was associated with changes in fetal‐specific HRV markers.
Cord clamping beyond 3 minutes: Neonatal short‐term outcomes and maternal postpartum hemorrhage
Authors: Winkler Andreas , Isacson Manuela , Gustafsson Anna , Svedenkrans Jenny , Andersson Ola
Published: May 2022

Background

Delaying cord clamping (CC) for 3‐5 minutes reduces iron deficiency and improves neurodevelopment. Data on the effects of CC beyond 3 minutes in relation to short‐term neonatal outcomes and maternal risk of postpartum hemorrhage are scarce.

Methods

This was a prospective observational study performed in two delivery departments. Pregnant women with vaginal deliveries were included. Time to CC, estimated postpartum blood loss, and perinatal data were recorded. Spearman's correlation analysis and comparisons between newborns clamped before and after 3 minutes were performed.

Results

In total, 904 dyads were included. The mean gestational age ± standard deviation was 40.1 ± 1.2 weeks. CC was performed at a median time of 6 minutes (range 0‐23.5). Apgar scores at 5 and 10 minutes were positively correlated with time to CC (correlation coefficient .140, P < .001 and .161, < .001). There was no correlation between CC time and bilirubin level (correlation coefficient .021, P = .54). The median postpartum blood loss was 300 mL (70‐2550 mL), with a negative correlation between CC time and postpartum blood loss (−0.115, P = .001). The postpartum blood loss was larger in the group clamped at ≤3 minutes (median [interquartile range] 400 mL [300‐600] vs 300 mL [250‐450], [P = .003]].

Conclusions

Umbilical CC times beyond 3 minutes in vaginal deliveries were not associated with negative short‐term outcomes in newborns and were associated with a smaller maternal postpartum blood loss. Although CC time as long as 6 minutes could be considered as safe, further research is needed to decide the optimal timing.
In vitro cytotoxicity and docking study of novel symmetric and asymmetric dihydropyridines and pyridines as EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors
Authors: Mansour Basem , Bayoumi Waleed A. , El‐Sayed Magda A. , Abouzeid Laila A. , Massoud Mohammed A. M.
Published: May 2022

Quinolines have a weighty effect as anticancer agents and 1,4‐DHPs have demonstrated efficacy as anticancer agents in several studies, as well. New hybrid models of symmetric and asymmetric 1,4‐DHPs and pyridines linked at C3 of 2‐chloroquinoline as a new anticancer scaffold, were designed and synthesized. Hantszch 1,4‐DHPs method was adopted for chemical synthesis. MTT assay was performed for the evaluation of cytotoxicity, and EGFR tyrosine kinase assay was performed to investigate binding to our selected compounds, measured by ELISA. The IC50 expressed in µM values revealed that compounds 4a,b, and 5i,k showed the best results against the tested four cell lines than the reference drug 5‐Flurouuracil. Compound 5k displayed the most potent cytotoxic activity with IC50 values in the low µM range (12.03 ± 1.51: 20.09 ± 2.16 µM), compared with 5‐Fu IC50 range (40.74 ± 2.46: 63.81 ± 2.69 µM). The incorporation of 2‐chloroquinoline at C3 to C4 of 1,4‐DHP could be proposed as an anticancer scaffold rather than its analogous pyridines. Ester fragments connected to 1,4‐DHPs ring as a lipophilic part are essential for anticancer activity. The chirality at C4 improved the anticancer activity. The hydrogen and halogen bond facilitated protein‐ligand binding mode and affinity.
Simplification of 2D Polygonal Partitions via Point‐line Projective Duality, and Application to Urban Reconstruction
Authors: Vuillamy J. , Lieutier A. , Lafarge F. , Alliez P.
Published: May 2022

We address the problem of simplifying two‐dimensional polygonal partitions that exhibit strong regularities. Such partitions are relevant for reconstructing urban scenes in a concise way. Preserving long linear structures spanning several partition cells motivates a point‐line projective duality approach in which points represent line intersections, and lines possibly carry multiple points. We propose a simplification algorithm that seeks a balance between the fidelity to the input partition, the enforcement of canonical relationships between lines (orthogonality or parallelism) and a low complexity output. Our methodology alternates continuous optimization by Riemannian gradient descent with combinatorial reduction, resulting in a progressive simplification scheme. Our experiments show that preserving canonical relationships helps gracefully degrade partitions of urban scenes, and yields more concise and regularity‐preserving meshes than common mesh‐based simplification approaches.
A SPoARC of Music: Musicians Spatialize Melodies but not All‐Comers
Authors: Guida Alessandro , Porret Axelle
Published: May 2022

Recent studies on the spatial positional associated response codes (SPoARC) effect have shown that when Western adults are asked to keep in mind sequences of verbal items, they mentally spatialize them along the horizontal axis, with the initial items being associated with the left and the last items being associated with the right. The origin of this mental line is still debated, but it has been theorized that it necessitates specific spatial cognitive structures to emerge, which are built through expertise. This hypothesis is examined by testing for the first time whether Western individuals spatialize melodies from left to right and whether expertise in the musical domain is necessary for this effect to emerge. Two groups (musicians and non‐musicians) of participants were asked to memorize sequences of four musical notes and to indicate if a subsequent probe was part of the sequence by pressing a “yes” key or a “no” key with the left or right index finger. Left/right‐hand key assignment was reversed at mid‐experiment. The results showed a SPoARC effect only for the group of musicians. Moreover, no association between pitch and hand responses was observed in either of the two groups. These findings suggest a crucial role of expertise in the SPoARC effect.
Using weather radar to help minimize wind energy impacts on nocturnally migrating birds
Authors: Cohen Emily B. , Buler Jeffrey J. , Horton Kyle G. , Loss Scott R. , Cabrera‐Cruz Sergio A. , Smolinsky Jaclyn A. , Marra Peter P.
Published: May 2022

As wind energy rapidly expands worldwide, information to minimize impacts of this development on biodiversity is urgently needed. Here we demonstrate how data collected by weather radar networks can inform placement and operation of wind facilities to reduce collisions and minimize habitat‐related impacts on nocturnally migrating birds. We found over a third of nocturnal migrants flew through altitudes within the rotor‐swept zone surrounding the North American Great Lakes, a continentally important migration corridor. Migrating birds concentrated in terrestrial stopover habitats within 20‐km from shorelines, a distance well beyond the current guidelines for construction of new land‐based facilities, and their distributions varied seasonally and at local and regional scales, creating predictable opportunities to minimize impacts from wind energy development and operation. Networked radar data are available across the United States and other countries and broad application of this approach could provide information critical to bird‐friendly expansion of this globally important energy source.
Needle tract seeding after endoscopic ultrasound‐guided tissue acquisition of pancreatic tumors: Nationwide survey in Japan
Authors: Kitano Masayuki , Yoshida Makoto , Ashida Reiko , Kita Emiri , Katanuma Akio , Itoi Takao , Mikata Rintaro , Nishikawa Kenichiro , Matsubayashi Hiroyuki , Takayama Yukiko , Kato Hironari , Takenaka Mamoru , Ueki Toru , Kawashima Yohei , Nakai Yousuke , Hashimoto Shinichi , Shigekawa Minoru , Nebiki Hiroko , Tsumura Hidetaka , Okabe Yosinobu , Ryozawa Shomei , Harada Yoshiyuki , Mitoro Akira , Sasaki Tamito , Yasuda Hiroaki , Miura Natsuki , Ikemoto Tetsuya , Ozawa Eisuke , Shioji Kazuhiko , Yamaguchi Atsushi , Okuzono Toru , Moriyama Ichiro , Hisai Hiroyuki , Fujita Koichi , Goto Takuma , Shirahata Nakao , Iwata Yoshinori , Okabe Yoshihiro , Hara Kazuo , Hashimoto Yusuke , Kuwatani Masaki , Isayama Hiroyuki , Fujimori Nao , Masamune Atsushi , Hatamaru Keiichi , Shimokawa Toshio , Okazaki Kazuichi , Takeyama Yoshifumi , Yamaue Hiroki ,   Committee of Clinical Research, Japan Pancreas Society
Published: May 2022

Objectives

Endoscopic ultrasound‐guided tissue acquisition (EUS‐TA) plays a crucial role in the diagnosis of pancreatic tumors. The present study aimed to investigate the current status of needle tract seeding (NTS) after EUS‐TA of pancreatic tumors based on a nationwide survey in Japan.

Methods

Patients who underwent surgical resection of primary pancreatic tumors after EUS‐TA performed between April 2010 and March 2018 were surveyed. The incidence rates of NTS were determined, and compared in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs) and other tumors, and in patients who underwent transgastric and transduodenal EUS‐TA of PDACs. The detailed features and prognosis of patients with NTS were also assessed.

Results

A total of 12,109 patients underwent surgical resection of primary pancreatic tumors after EUS‐TA. The overall incidence rate of NTS was 0.330%, and the NTS rate was significantly higher in patients with PDAC than in those with other tumors (0.409% vs. 0.071%, P = 0.004). NTS was observed in 0.857% of patients who underwent transgastric EUS‐TA, but in none of those who underwent transduodenal EUS‐TA. Of the patients with NTS of PDACs, the median time from EUS‐TA to occurrence of NTS and median patient survival were 19.3 and 44.7 months, respectively, with 97.4% of NTS located in the gastric wall and 65.8% of NTS resected. The patient survival was significantly longer in patients who underwent NTS resection than in those without NTS resection (P = 0.037).

Conclusions

Needle tract seeding appeared only after transgastric not after transduodenal EUS‐TA. Careful follow‐up provides an opportunity to remove localized NTS lesions by gastrectomy.
Do Nudges Reduce Borrowing and Consumer Confusion in the Credit Card Market?
Authors: Adams Paul , Guttman‐Kenney Benedict , Hayes Lucy , Hunt Stefan , Laibson David , Stewart Neil
Published: May 2022

We study nudges that turn out to have precise null effects in reducing long‐run credit card debt. We test nudges across two field experiments covering 183,441 UK cardholders. Our first experiment studies nudges added to monthly credit card statements. Our second experiment studies letters and email nudges (separate from monthly statements) sent to cardholders who signed up to automatically pay the minimum required payment. In a follow‐up survey to our second experiment, we find that 96% of respondents underestimate the time it would take to fully repay a debt if the cardholder made only the minimum required payment. The nudges reduce this confusion, but underestimation remains overwhelmingly common.
Polatuzumab vedotin plus bendamustine and rituximab in patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma in the real world
Authors: Vodicka Prokop , Benesova Katerina , Janikova Andrea , Prochazka Vit , Belada David , Mocikova Heidi , Steinerova Katerina , Duras Juraj , Karban Josef , Hanackova Veronika , Sykorova Alice , Obr Ales , Trneny Marek
Published: May 2022

Objectives

Polatuzumab vedotin with bendamustine and rituximab (Pola‐BR) was approved for treatment of transplant‐ineligible patients with relapsed/refractory DLBCL (R/R DLBCL). However, the number of patients treated in the GO29365 trial including the extension cohort was limited, and more data evaluating the efficacy of this treatment regimen is needed.

Methods

We analyzed 21 patients with R/R DLBCL to determine real‐life efficacy and safety of Pola‐BR regimen. Data of all patients entered the database of the NiHiL project (NCT03199066).

Results

Median overall survival was 8.7 months, and progression‐free survival 3.8 months. The overall response rate was 33%. Grade 3–4 neutropenia was detected in 29%, thrombocytopenia in 38%, anemia in 19%, infections in 24% cases, and peripheral neuropathy in 5%. Discontinuation of treatment was caused by progression in 50%, adverse events in 31%, and intended bridging to CAR‐T therapy in 19%.

Conclusion

Although the outcome of patients is worse than in GO29365 trial, the use of Pola‐BR regimen in the real world demonstrates tolerable toxicity profile and efficacy in transplant‐ineligible patients with R/R DLBCL. Moreover, this regimen might represent a perspective option as a bridge to CAR‐T therapy.
Can there be a feature‐placing language?
Authors: Filcheva Krasimira
Published: May 2022

The aim of this article is to argue against the real possibility of languages without subject‐predicate structure, so‐called feature‐placing languages. They were first introduced by Strawson (1959/1990), later given formal expression through Quine's Predicate Functor Logic (Quine, 1960, Quine, 1971/Quine, 1976, Quine, 1992), and further elaboration in (Hawthorne & Cortens, 1995). I argue that, on the presumption that feature‐placing languages are not mere notational variants on first‐order languages, the idea of such languages is incoherent. The argument for this view rests on two highly plausible views about the conditions for the possibility of sentential meaning in natural languages. If accepted, these two views jointly imply that the sentences of feature‐placing languages lack sufficient internal structure to meet the conditions for sentential meaning. Feature‐placing languages cannot then count as genuine languages.
Methodology for classification and definition of epilepsy syndromes with list of syndromes: Report of the ILAE Task Force on Nosology and Definitions
Authors: Wirrell Elaine C. , Nabbout Rima , Scheffer Ingrid E. , Alsaadi Taoufik , Bogacz Alicia , French Jacqueline A. , Hirsch Edouard , Jain Satish , Kaneko Sunao , Riney Kate , Samia Pauline , Snead O. Carter , Somerville Ernest , Specchio Nicola , Trinka Eugen , Zuberi Sameer M. , Balestrini Simona , Wiebe Samuel , Cross J. Helen , Perucca Emilio , Moshé Solomon L. , Tinuper Paolo
Published: May 2022

Epilepsy syndromes have been recognized for >50 years, as distinct electroclinical phenotypes with therapeutic and prognostic implications. Nonetheless, no formally accepted International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) classification of epilepsy syndromes has existed. The ILAE Task Force on Nosology and Definitions was established to reach consensus regarding which entities fulfilled criteria for an epilepsy syndrome and to provide definitions for each syndrome. We defined an epilepsy syndrome as “a characteristic cluster of clinical and electroencephalographic features, often supported by specific etiological findings (structural, genetic, metabolic, immune, and infectious).” The diagnosis of a syndrome in an individual with epilepsy frequently carries prognostic and treatment implications. Syndromes often have age‐dependent presentations and a range of specific comorbidities. This paper describes the guiding principles and process for syndrome identification in both children and adults, and the template of clinical data included for each syndrome. We divided syndromes into typical age at onset, and further characterized them based on seizure and epilepsy types and association with developmental and/or epileptic encephalopathy or progressive neurological deterioration. Definitions for each specific syndrome are contained within the corresponding position papers.
Study on small crack growth behavior of laser powder bed fused Ti6Al4V alloy
Authors: Wu Liangliang , Jiao Zehui , Yu Huichen
Published: May 2022

The small fatigue crack growth (FCG) behavior in Ti6Al4V alloy manufactured by selective laser melting (SLM) was experimentally investigated on an in situ fatigue testing machine. A semi‐elliptical artificial defect was introduced into the specimen to simulate the pore defects induced during additive manufacturing (AM) process. The results indicated that the fatigue life was mainly consumed in the small FCG stage. The FCG rate was significantly affected by microstructure at the early small FCG stage with great fluctuations. With the increase of crack length, the effect of microstructure decreased. Compared with long crack growth data, it was found that small crack can still grow below the threshold value of long crack, and at the same stress intensity factor (SIF) ΔK, the FCG rate of small crack was higher than that of long crack. Therefore, the small crack growth behavior should be considered in fatigue life prediction for SLM Ti6Al4V.
Condition‐dependent immune function in a freshwater snail revealed by stable isotopes
Authors: Seppälä Otto , Yohannes Elizabeth , Salo Tiina
Published: May 2022

The immune system is costly to maintain and use because it requires a lot of energy. This can make parasite resistance dependent on host nutritional state. The dependence of immune function on host condition can have broad ecological (e.g., disease dynamics) and evolutionary (e.g., expression of trade‐offs related to parasite resistance) consequences.

Research on the dependence of immune function on host condition is typically conducted in laboratory experiments that manipulate either the quantity or composition of available resources. Such studies are essential in establishing conceptual frameworks, but their results are difficult to generalise to natural populations because the experimental treatments may deviate from natural variation in host resource level and use.

We examined the condition dependence of immune function in a generalist freshwater snail Lymnaea stagnalis by relating the activity of two immune parameters of snail haemolymph, phenoloxidase (PO)‐like and antibacterial activity, to snail resource level and use using field‐collected individuals. We measured several variables that reflect the snails’ quality based on their recent (i.e., within the past few days; amount and stable isotope composition [δ15N and δ13C] of produced faeces) and longer‐term (i.e., weeks to months; stable isotope composition of tissues) resource use.

The PO‐like activity of the snails’ haemolymph was condition‐dependent. Snails that had recently consumed food from higher trophic levels, presumably including more animal protein (high δ15N values of faeces), had a stronger defence. Additionally, snails with low energy (i.e., lipid) reserves in their tissues (high δ13C values of tissues) showed higher PO‐like activity. The antibacterial activity of the snails’ haemolymph was not condition dependent.

The finding of the importance of the composition of recently consumed food on immune function (namely PO‐like activity) suggests that the parasite resistance of snails may change rapidly depending on the type of resources available in their environment. Thus, environmental variation may influence the outcome of host–parasite interactions on fine spatial and temporal scales. Furthermore, the negative relationship between the snails’ energy reserves and PO‐like activity suggests substantial energetic costs of immune activity in L. stagnalis.
Risk stratification of adolescents for the screening of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Abrams Gary A. , Ware Deanna , Byrne Margaret M. , Hecht Eric M.
Published: May 2022

Background

Non‐alcoholic fatty liver conditions in adolescence are associated with premature mortality in adulthood. Effective screening could impact the population burden of this disease.

Objectives

We sought to determine which adolescents should be screened for non‐alcoholic fatty liver using vibration‐controlled transient elastography.

Methods

We simulated a non‐alcoholic fatty liver screening program of 938 adolescents from the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey of 2017/2018. We stratified subjects by body mass index and metabolic parameters and analyzed our data using standard diagnostic statistical measures.

Results

The weighted prevalence of non‐alcoholic fatty liver and non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease was 24.4%, and 3.8%, respectively. For all subjects with obesity (21.8% of the population), screening identified 61.8% of the non‐alcoholic fatty liver cases. In a category of all subjects with obesity and overweight subjects with metabolic abnormalities (26.7% of the population), screening identified 71.2% of non‐alcoholic fatty liver cases.

Conclusions

The two groups most likely to benefit by transient elastography screening are adolescents with obesity and overweight adolescents with one metabolic abnormality. These criteria reduce the number of individuals to be tested by approximately 80% (from an approximate 32 million adolescents to 6–7.5 million adolescents), while retaining a diagnostic accuracy of 84%–85%.
SLOSS‐based inferences in a fragmented landscape depend on fragment area and species–area slope
Authors: Liu Jinliang , MacDonald Zachary G. , Si Xingfeng , Wu Lingbing , Zeng Di , Hu Guang , Ding Ping , Yu Mingjian
Published: May 2022

Aims

Whether a Single Large Or Several Small (SLOSS) habitat patches contain more species is central to the debate about how habitat fragmentation threatens species diversity. However, the geographical and biogeographical variables that affect emergent SLOSS patterns remain poorly understood. Here, we quantified SLOSS‐based diversity patterns of woody plant, bird and spider assemblages in a subtropical archipelago of land bridge islands.

Location

Thousand Island Lake, Zhejiang Province, China.

Taxon

Woody plants, birds and spiders.

Methods

We analysed species accumulation curves and species–area relationships (SARs) to quantify SLOSS‐based patterns of all, common and rare species for each taxon across different groupings of islands. Differences in the number of species between a single large island and sets of several small islands were measured in these analyses using a Saturation index (SI) and SLOSS index. Generalized additive models were used to assess the relationships between SI and SLOSS index values and the maximum area of islands included in the analysis, the slope of SARs (i.e. z‐score) and the degree of nestedness.

Results

SI values increased with the maximum area of islands for three taxa, while SLOSS index values only increased with the maximum island area for woody plants. SI values increased as z‐scores of woody plants decreased, and showed a quadratic relationship for birds and spiders. SLOSS index values decreased as z‐scores of three taxa increased. The degree of nestedness and SI values or SLOSS index values were weakly correlated with all, rare and common species in the three taxa.

Main conclusions

SLOSS‐based inferences of fragmentation effects are contingent on variation in the maximum area of patches included in analyses and the slope of SARs in fragmentated landscapes. Whether conservation efforts should prioritize a single large or several small patches depends on the geographical (e.g. maximum fragment area) and biogeographical (e.g. slope of SAR) attributes of a fragmentated landscape.
Incredible affinity of Kattosh with PPAR‐γ receptors attenuates STZ‐induced pancreas and kidney lesions evidenced in chemicobiological interactions
Authors: Rashid Md. Mamunur , Rahman Md. Atiar , Islam Md. Shahidul , Hossen Md. Amjad , Reza A. S. M. Ali , Ahmed A. M. Abu , Alnajeebi Afnan M. , Babteen Nouf Abubakr , Khan Mala , Aboelenin Salama Mostafa , Soliman Mohamed Mohamed , Habib Alaa H. , Alharbi Hend F.
Published: May 2022

Since ancient times, plants have been used as green bioresources to ensure a healthier life by recovering from different diseases. Kattosh (Lasia spinosa L. Thwaites) is a local plant with various traditional uses, especially for arthritis, constipation and coughs. This research investigated the effect of Kattosh stem extract (LSES) on streptozotocin‐induced damage to the pancreas, kidney, and liver using in vitro, in vivo and in silico methods. In vitro phytochemical, antioxidative and anti‐inflammatory effects of LSES were accomplished by established methods followed by antidiabetic actions in in vivo randomized controlled intervention in STZ‐induced animal models for four weeks. In an in silico study, LSES phytocompounds interacted with antidiabetic receptors of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐gamma (PPAR, PDB ID: 3G9E), AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK, PDB ID: 4CFH) and α‐amylase enzyme (PDB ID: 1PPI) to verify the in vivo results. In addition, LSES showed promising in vitro antioxidative and anti‐inflammatory effects. In contrast, it showed a decrease in weekly blood glucose level, normalized lipid profile, ameliorated liver and cardiac markers, managed serum AST and ALT levels, and increased glucose tolerance ability in the animal model study. Restoration of pancreatic and kidney damage was reflected by improving histopathological images. In ligand–receptor interaction, ethyl α‐d‐glucopyranoside of Kattosh showed the highest affinity for the α‐amylase enzyme, PPAR, and AMPK receptors. Results demonstrate that the affinity of Kattosh phytocompounds potentially attenuates pancreatic and kidney lesions and could be approached as an alternative antidiabetic source with further clarification.
Evaluating diagnostic performance of Truenat MTB Plus for gastrointestinal tuberculosis
Authors: Sharma Kusum , Sharma Megha , Sharma Vishal , Sharma Megha , Samanta Jayanta , Sharma Aman , Kochhar Rakesh , Sinha Saroj Kant
Published: May 2022

Background and Aim

Prompt and accurate diagnosis of gastrointestinal tuberculosis (GITB) along with simultaneous detection of drug resistance is inevitable for tuberculosis elimination. Truenat MTB Plus (TruPlus), a chip‐based real‐time polymerase chain reaction assay, was evaluated for the first time for diagnosing GITB and detecting rifampicin resistance.

Methods

Fifty ileocecal biopsy specimens (5 microbiologically confirmed GITB [culture‐positive], 25 clinically confirmed GITB [culture‐negative], and 20 control patients) processed in the Department of Microbiology between 2011 and 2021 were subjected to TruPlus assay, Xpert MTB RIF assay multiplex polymerase chain reaction. Their performance was evaluated against both culture and composite reference standard.

Results

The overall sensitivity and specificity of TruPlus in diagnosing GITB was 70% (21/30) and 100%, respectively. The sensitivity was 60% (3/5) for microbiologically confirmed cases and 72% (18/25) for clinically confirmed cases. Performance of TruPlus was superior to Xpert (sensitivity = 30%; P = 0.001) and comparable with MPCR (sensitivity = 83.33%; P = 0.13). Both TruPlus and MPCR had moderate agreement with reference standards, and MPCR detected additional three cases. Both TruPlus and Xpert correctly reported Rifampicin resistance in three cases.

Conclusions

TruPlus, with its greater portability and higher sensitivity than Xpert, could serve as an important tool for diagnosing GITB and rifampicin resistance at outreach endemic areas.
Do Firms Respond to Gender Pay Gap Transparency?
Authors: BENNEDSEN MORTEN , SIMINTZI ELENA , TSOUTSOURA MARGARITA , WOLFENZON DANIEL
Published: May 2022

We examine the effect of pay transparency on the gender pay gap and firm outcomes. Using a 2006 legislation change in Denmark that requires firms to provide gender‐disaggregated wage statistics, detailed employee‐employer administrative data, and difference‐in‐differences and difference‐in‐discontinuities designs, we find that the law reduces the gender pay gap, primarily by slowing wage growth for male employees. The gender pay gap declines by 2 percentage points, or 13% relative to the prelegislation mean. Despite the reduction of the overall wage bill, the wage transparency mandate does not affect firm profitability, likely because of the offsetting effect of reduced firm productivity.
Development of the Spiritual Harm and Abuse Scale
Authors: Koch Daniel , Edstrom Leihua
Published: May 2022

Both religiosity and spirituality have been shown to have positive effects on multiple aspects of well‐being, mental health, and healing. Religiosity and spirituality are also positive mediating factors in healing from abuse broadly. Religious or spiritual abuse has the capacity for harming one's religiosity and/or spirituality. When abuse occurs in a religious setting, it has the effect of making it less likely that religion and/or spirituality can be used as a coping strategy to heal from that very abuse. Little is known about the underlying factors that constitute the larger concept of spiritual abuse. A total of 66 survey prompts were pulled from the existing quantitative and qualitative literature on spiritual abuse, focusing on both external events and internal states that often result from spiritual abuse. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted on survey responses (N = 3222), resulting in six factors: (1) maintaining the system, (2) internal distress, (3) embracing violence, (4) controlling leadership, (5) harmful God‐image, and (6) gender discrimination. The resulting 27‐item scale, which includes 11 additional “critical items,” can be used in clinical settings to get quick, detailed information about a client's exposure to spiritual abuse and possible resulting consequences.
Beyond levels and labels: applying self‐determination theory to support readers
Authors: Svrcek Natalie Sue , Abugasea Heidt Marium
Published: May 2022

Reading levels and levelled reading have been tried and true teaching tools used for assessment and to guide the teaching of reading in classrooms for decades. However, identifying students' reading levels does not necessarily lead to success in reading for students. In strictly adhering to an instructional routine based on reading levels and choosing books based on those levels, we miss valuable opportunities to identify and celebrate children's current and learned reading practices, and importantly adhere to students' reading interests. In this article, we draw on self‐determination theory from the field of motivation to rethink how we are framing our students as readers, and further urge educators to look critically at their use of reading levels and levelled reading. As opposed to solely relying on the tried and tested ways of working with readers, we instead offer an opportunity for teachers to bolster students' well‐being by focusing on their motivational needs and their efficacy as readers. In designing reading instruction and activities around students' interests, choice, abilities, and interactions in the class community, we can empower students, foster their lifelong love of reading, and support their development as strong and strategic readers.
Behaviour change communication for child feeding in social assistance: A scoping review and expert consultation
Authors: Barnett Inka , Meeker Jessica , Roelen Keetie , Nisbett Nick
Published: May 2022

To increase the effectiveness of social assistance on child nutrition, programmes are increasingly combined with behaviour change communication for improved infant and young child feeding (BCC for IYCF). Unfortunately, there is limited knowledge about which BCC strategies are most effective when combined with social assistance. A systematic scoping review and an expert consultation was conducted to (1) describe the landscape of BCC for IYCF strategies used in social assistance within low‐ and middle‐income countries and (2) to examine the effects of these BCC strategies on IYCF practices and child nutrition. Ten quantitative, three qualitative and four mixed methods studies were reviewed and complemented by 12 expert consultations carried out between August and October 2020. In most of the studies attendance in BCC for IYCF was conditional for receiving social assistance, although experts agreed that this conditionality may be counterproductive. A variety of BCC strategies were used with two being most common—group sessions with pre‐determined topics and individual counselling. Context‐specific adaptation, interactive delivery and building on existing IYCF knowledge emerged as crucial but was perceived as economically infeasible in social assistance programmes. Given the variety of BCC strategies and inconsistency in outcomes, it is impossible to draw conclusions regarding effectiveness. Nevertheless, tentative evidence suggests that the promotion of existing nutrition services, educational group sessions and individual counselling may be effective in improving IYCF. BCC for IYCF can make social assistance more beneficial, but may increase costs, demands on beneficiaries, and deviate from the original focus of the programmes.
A night pavement crack detection method based on image‐to‐image translation
Authors: Liu Chao , Xu Boqiang
Published: May 2022

Deep learning provides an efficient automated method for pavement condition surveys, but the datasets used for this model are usually images taken in good lighting conditions. If images are taken at night, this model cannot work effectively. This paper proposes a method for normalizing pavement images at night, which includes three main steps. First, the image feature point detection and matching method is used to process images taken during the day and night. Then, paired images of pavement during the day and night are obtained. Second, with the help of the image‐to‐image translation model, those paired images are used for training, and the best model for converting night images into day images is selected. Third, a convolutional neural network (CNN) based on VGGNet is constructed, and pavement images taken during the day are used for training. After that, six types of images are used and tested separately, namely, those taken during the day and the night, converted by the proposed method and converted by traditional methods. As evaluated by various evaluation indices and visualization methods, the detection performance of the CNN model can be significantly improved by using the proposed method of converted night‐to‐day images.
Bulked Segregant Analysis‐Sequencing identification of candidate genes for salt tolerance at the seedling stage of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor)
Authors: Zhang Kuangye , Zhang Zhipeng , Lu Feng , Wang Yanqiu , Ke Fulai , Zhu Zhengxing , Duan Youhou , Wang Jiaxu , Wu Han , Zhang Fei , Zhu Kai
Published: May 2022

Sorghum has high salt tolerance, and the localization and discovery of salt tolerance regulatory genes in sorghum is an effective way to develop and utilize saline soils. The aim of this study was to locate sorghum salt tolerance genes using a F2 segregating population combined with bulked segregation analysis (BSA) sequencing technology to explore the salt tolerance potential of sorghum. The results showed that the effective data percentage of all four samples (salt‐tolerant parent, salt‐tolerant offspring pool, salt‐sensitive parent and salt‐sensitive offspring pool) was above 99.90%. By comparing sequencing results of each of the two offspring pools with the reference genome, we found 903,025 SNP variants and 438,453 InDel variants between the two offspring pools. A total of 163 polymorphic loci were found in the genome‐wide screening of SNP‐index values close to 0.75 for the salt‐tolerant offspring pool and 0.25 for the non‐salt‐tolerant offspring pool. A total of 20 candidate genes were screened according to ANNOVAR annotation results. The Sobic.001G283700 gene encoding glycerol‐3‐phosphate acyltransferases (GPATs) was found to be closely associated with salt stress tolerance.
Does political ideology affect the stringency of environmental policy?
Authors: Tawiah Vincent
Published: May 2022

The political‐ideological assumption postulates that different political parties have different preferences toward the urgency of environmental sustainability. This article examines the relationship between political ideology and environmental policy stringency. I employ robust econometric specification on 23 OECD countries over 23 years. Results show a significant relationship between political ideology and environmental policy stringency. However, contrary to expectation, I find that environmental policies are less stringent in leftist governments. The findings suggest that leftist governments have not successfully incorporated their perceived environmentalism ideology into stringent environmental policies due to their lesser preference for law and order. I also find that the electoral politics view theory does not hold in the relationship between political ideology and environmental policy stringency. The findings, which are robust to various econometric identifications and alternative measurement of variables, add new insights on partisan politics and environmental sustainability.

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