bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How pedagogical relations in early years settings are reconfigured by interactive touchscreens
Authors: Samuelsson Robin , Price Sara , Jewitt Carey
Published: August 2021

While interactive touchscreens are currently entering into educational practice, little is known about what this means for learning in early childhood and, in particular, how touchscreens shape action and communication. In this paper, we examine the interactions of 2‐year‐olds and their teachers in a multilingual preschool in Sweden. We analyse the communicative environment between the children, teachers and shared touchscreens and books in the context of reading. A mixed‐methods analysis was used, taking a concept of action that includes both verbal, non‐verbal utterances and digital touch. The analysis shows a reconfiguration to the interactional dynamic where children perform comparable amounts of actions in sessions with the touchscreen and book reading but less talk during the touchscreen sessions. However, while talking less, children display other types of communicative actions. We analyse the changing interactional dynamic that follows, its implications to learning and early childhood pedagogical practice and how interaction can be reconceptualised as cycles of communication and action in which educational scaffolding unfolds.

Practitioner notes

What is already known about this topic

Touchscreens are a significant part of children's lives and educational curricula.

There is considerable uncertainty on how touchscreens can be incorporated into early childhood education.

Little is known about how educational social interaction changes with touchscreens such as iPads.

What this paper adds

A mixed methods multimodal analysis of the changing actions and dynamics of iPads as compared with bookreading.

Children's patterns of communication change towards less talk and more bodily communication, while teachers’ actions remain somewhat similar.

Touch actions change the dynamics of interaction, can alter the pedagogical situation and bring a reconceptualisation towards a cyclical and embodied view of interaction.

Implications for practice and/or policy

New patterns of action may require a recalibration of educational practices.

Teachers need to attend to new sets of touch actions that children use to communicate and act with as displays of knowledge.

The use of touch screens should be seen as complementary to established practices of language and literacy training (such as book reading) rather than replacing them.
What do blockchain technologies imply for digital creative industries?
Authors: Patrickson Bronwin
Published: August 2021

As the technology that powers cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, blockchains are associated with volatile and (as yet) largely unregulated financial trade, but they are also about more than money. This capacity to help automate, incentivize and authenticate global trade has numerous potential applications. Blockchain technologies promise efficient transactions, greater accountability of trade and increased/direct payment for creative enterprise. As such, despite their lingering technical challenges, these nascent technologies are already being employed within a wide variety of creative innovation processes. Based upon research into their potential applications within Scotland's digital creative industries, this study explores the ways in which these emerging technologies might disrupt digital creative industries, such as digital media production, digital art, web/interface/experience design, application development, extended reality and gaming, both in Scotland and beyond. Of particular interest are the ways that these emerging technologies might transform value exchange and intellectual property management. Early results indicate that blockchain technologies are poised to substantially disrupt the sale and distribution of creative digital works. Yet, whilst these emerging technologies can encourage open innovation, it also seems likely that they will just as often be used to streamline existing systems designed to control and potentially exploit creativity. The implications for digital disruption theories are discussed, highlighting the need for frameworks that can also account for second‐order disruptions.
The mutation screening in candidate genes related to thyroid dysgenesis by targeted next‐generation sequencing panel in the Chinese congenital hypothyroidism
Authors: Zhang Rui‐Jia , Yang Guang‐lin , Cheng Feng , Sun Feng , Fang Ya , Zhang Cao‐Xu , Wang Zheng , Wu Feng‐Yao , Zhang Jun‐Xiu , Zhao Shuang‐Xia , Liang Jun , Song Huai‐Dong
Published: August 2021

Objective

Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is known to be due to thyroid dyshormonogenesis (DH), which is mostly inherited in an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern or thyroid dysgenesis (TD), whose inheritance pattern is controversial and whose molecular etiology remains poorly understood.

Design and Methods

The variants in 37 candidate genes of CH, including 25 genes related to TD, were screened by targeted exon sequencing in 205 Chinese patients whose CH cannot be explained by biallelic variants in genes related to DH. The inheritance pattern of the genes was analyzed in family trios or quartets.

Results

Of the 205 patients, 83 patients carried at least one variant in 19 genes related to TD, and 59 of those 83 patients harbored more than two variants in distinct candidate genes for CH. Biallelic or de novo variants in the genes related to TD in Chinese patients are rare. We also found nine probands carried only one heterozygous variant in the genes related to TD that were inherited from a euthyroid either paternal or maternal parent. These findings did not support the monogenic inheritance pattern of the genes related to TD in CH patients. Notably, in family trio or quartet analysis, of 36 patients carrying more than two variants in distinct genes, 24 patients carried these variants inherited from both their parents, which indicated that the oligogenic inheritance pattern of the genes related to TD should be considered in CH.

Conclusions

Our study expanded the variant spectrum of the genes related to TD in Chinese CH patients. It is rare that CH in Chinese patients could be explained by monogenic germline variants in genes related to TD. The hypothesis of an oligogenic origin of the CH should be considered.
Histoplasma capsulatum var. duboisii: A KwaZulu‐Natal, South Africa public sector perspective
Authors: Khathali Lerato Claudia , Nhlonzi Gamalenkosi Bonginkosi , Mwazha Absalom
Published: August 2021

Background

Histoplasma capsulatum var. duboisii (H. duboisii) causes potentially fatal disease in the immunocompromised patient, and the literature on these cases is limited. The study was undertaken to describe the cases of H. duboisii seen in a resource‐limited setting.

Methods

A 5‐year retrospective, laboratory‐based histopathologic review of all H. duboisii cases.

Results

A total of 24 patients were diagnosed with cutaneous H. duboisii infection. The male‐to‐female ratio was 1.4. All the patients were human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive, and 70.83% (17 of 24 patients) were on antiretroviral therapy. The clinically identified lesions were as follows: plaques, nodular plaques, papules, papulo‐pustules, and umbilicated papules. Histopathological appraisal revealed organisms typical of H. duboisii. The commonest epidermal alterations were interface change, parakeratosis, spongiosis, ulceration, acanthosis, hyperkeratosis, transepidermal elimination, and exocytosis in decreasing order. The dermal changes included histiocytic pattern (n = 14), neutrophil‐rich (n = 13), non‐necrotizing granulomatous inflammation (n = 9), and karyorrhexis (n = 6). Histoplasma was confirmed in 53% (8 of 15 samples) of the tissue samples submitted for routine fungal culture.

Conclusion

This study showed the demographics, clinical and histopathology features of H. duboisii infection in a resource‐limited setting. Further research on histopathological features of this rare infection is essential to expand on the knowledge base and support findings in this study.
994. NICOTIANA INSECTICIDA
Authors: Chase Mark W. , Christenhusz Maarten J. M.
Published: August 2021

The new species Nicotiana insecticida, which is remarkable in its insect trapping abilities, is described here. It is illustrated from plants that were grown from seeds collected near the Minilya Roadhouse on the Northwest Coastal Highway in Western Australia, Australia. They were cultivated at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Its distinguishing features, taxonomy, ecology, cytology and cultivation are discussed.
Population structure, gene flow, and sex‐biased dispersal in the reticulated flatwoods salamander (Ambystoma bishopi): Implications for translocations
Authors: Williams Steven T. , Elbers Jean P. , Taylor Sabrina S.
Published: August 2021

Understanding patterns of gene flow and population structure is vital for managing threatened and endangered species. The reticulated flatwoods salamander (Ambystoma bishopi) is an endangered species with a fragmented range; therefore, assessing connectivity and genetic population structure can inform future conservation. Samples collected from breeding sites (n = 5) were used to calculate structure and gene flow using three marker types: single nucleotide polymorphisms isolated from potential immune genes (SNPs), nuclear data from the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), and the mitochondrial control region. At a broad geographical scale, nuclear data (SNP and MHC) supported gene flow and little structure (FST = 0.00–0.09) while mitochondrial structure was high (ΦST = 0.15–0.36) and gene flow was low. Mitochondrial markers also exhibited isolation by distance (IBD) between sites (p = 0.01) and within one site (p = 0.04) while nuclear markers did not show IBD between or within sites (p = 0.17 and p = 0.66). Due to the discordant results between nuclear and mitochondrial markers, our results suggest male‐biased dispersal. Overall, salamander populations showed little genetic differentiation and structure with some gene flow, at least historically, among sampling sites. Given historic gene flow and a lack of population structure, carefully considered reintroductions could begin to expand the limited range of this salamander to ensure its long‐term resilience.
Fatigue of engineered metallic materials using small‐crack theory under constant‐ and variable‐amplitude loading
Authors: Newman James C.
Published: August 2021

The current paper reviews application of an improved FASTRAN life‐prediction code to predict fatigue behavior of notched coupons made of an aluminum alloy and a titanium alloy. For each material, fatigue‐crack‐growth‐rate data were determined over a very wide range in rates from threshold (small‐crack region) to near fracture on standard crack‐growth specimens. In the low‐rate regime, small‐crack data were used on the aluminum alloy, whereas a compression pre‐cracking constant‐amplitude method was used on the titanium alloy. A characteristic microstructural flaw size was determined from fatigue‐test data on notched coupons under constant‐amplitude loading. These data were then used to predict fatigue behavior of similar notched coupons under various spectrum loadings. For variable‐amplitude loading conditions, an improved “rainflow‐on‐the‐fly” subroutine was used in the life‐prediction code. Comparisons are made between previous life predictions and those made with the current code under variable‐amplitude loading. In general, the new code produced longer fatigue lives than older versions. The new code worked well using the same initial microstructural flaw size for a given material under both constant‐ and variable‐amplitude loading.
Evaluating the relevance of species sorting and physiological plasticity of phytoplankton communities grown in a multifactor environment
Authors: Marzetz Vanessa , Wacker Alexander
Published: August 2021

The two important mechanisms influencing the response of phytoplankton communities to alterations of abiotic factors in their environment are difficult to distinguish: species sorting resulting from a change in interspecific competitive pressure, and phenotypic plasticity (here explicitly physiological plasticity i.e. species‐specific physiological adjustment). A shift in species composition as well as physiological adjustments in species can lead to changes in fatty acid composition that determine the food quality for zooplankton consumers.

We used phytoplankton communities consisting of five species and exposed them to two different light intensities, two light conditions (constant and variable), and two levels of phosphorus supply. Changes in fatty acid and species composition were analyzed. We compared community pairs differing in one factor by calculating the Bray‐Curtis similarity index for the composition of both variables. Comparing the Bray‐Curtis similarity index of the species composition with the index of the fatty acid composition was used to estimate the effects of species sorting and physiological plasticity.

Changes in nutrient supply influenced fatty acid responses based on species sorting and physiological plasticity the most. On one hand, the relevance of physiological plasticity was highest at cultivation in different nutrient supplies but the same light environment. Conversely with low nutrients species sorting appeared to dominate the response to changes in light, while at high nutrients physiological plasticity appeared to influence the response. Overall, under low phosphorus supply the communities showed a lower total fatty acid content per carbon and had increased proportions of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids. Instead, communities in low light produced more of eicosapentaenoic acid.

Our results suggest that the relevance of species sorting and physiological plasticity in shaping the community response highly depends on the environmental factors that influence the system. Nutrient supply had the largest effect, while light had more limited conditional effects. However, all of these factors are important in shaping the food quality of the phytoplankton community for higher trophic levels.
Youth prediabetes and type 2 diabetes: Risk factors and prevalence of dysglycaemia
Authors: Saleh Mohamed , Kim Joon Young , March Christine , Gebara Nour , Arslanian Silva
Published: August 2021

Background

The American Diabetes Association recommends risk‐based screening for dysglycaemia (prediabetes and type 2 diabetes) in youth with overweight/obesity plus ≥1 risk factor. However, evidence for these recommendations is lacking.

Objectives

Examine the association between the number of risk factors and the prevalence of dysglycaemia in youth with overweight/obesity at initial presentation.

Methods

In a paediatric obesity registry, youth (>10 and <20 years old, body mass index ≥85th percentile) were categorized into four groups according to number of risk factors (1, 2, 3 and ≥4). Based on oral glucose tolerance test, participants were classified into normal glucose tolerance or dysglycaemia.

Results

Of 635 youth, 31.5% had prediabetes and 6.1% had type 2 diabetes. The prevalence of dysglycaemia was 23.1% with 1 risk factor and increased to 44.9% with ≥4 risk factors (p = 0.025). Dyslipidaemia, family history of type 2 diabetes and maternal history of gestational diabetes were significantly associated with dysglycaemia. Fasting and 2‐h insulin, 2‐h glucose increased (all p < 0.0001) and ALT increased (p = 0.001) with increasing risk factors. Insulin sensitivity and β‐cell function deteriorated significantly with increasing risk factors.

Conclusion

Screening for dysglycaemia in youth with obesity and any additional risk factor is warranted to target early management.
A Markovian approach to modeling a periodic order‐up‐to‐level policy under stochastic discrete demand and lead time with lost sales
Authors: Duc Nguyen Trong Tri , Tai Pham Duc , Buddhakulsomsiri Jirachai
Published: August 2021

In this paper, a periodic order‐up‐to‐level policy is developed by using a Markovian approach. Customer demand is modeled by using an empirical distribution. Unmet customer demand is considered as lost sales. The internal storage capacity is limited, and excessive units are stored in external storage space. Replenishment lead time is discrete and stochastic. Because of the characteristics of the demand and lead time, the demand during the lead time and the demand during the protection interval are empirical. The Markovian approach is used to estimate the system measures of performance, including the expected inventory on‐hand, expected lost sales, and expected over‐storage. The successive overrelaxation algorithm is implemented to overcome the dimensional issue of the Markov model. The optimal policy that minimizes the total cost is obtained by using a customized golden section search procedure. The proposed method is applied to a real dataset of consumable products. In addition, the effectiveness of the approach is demonstrated by a comparison with a simulation. The results indicate that the model from our approach can accurately describe the behavior of the periodic order‐up‐to‐level review system.
Measuring progress to healing: A challenge and an opportunity
Authors: Bull Richard Hillson , Staines Karen Louise , Collarte Agnes Juguilon , Bain Duncan Shirreffs , Ivins Nicola M. , Harding Keith Gordon
Published: August 2021

Complete healing is problematic as an endpoint for evaluating interventions for wound healing. The great heterogeneity of wounds makes it difficult to match groups, and this is only possible with multivariate stratification and/or very large numbers of subjects. The substantial time taken for wounds to heal necessitates a very lengthy study. Consequently, high quality randomised controlled trials demonstrating an effect of an intervention to a satisfactory level of statistical significance and with a satisfactory level of generalisability are extremely rare. This study determines that the healing of venous leg ulcers receiving multi‐component compression bandaging follows a linear trajectory over a 4‐week period, as measured by gross area healed, percentage area healed, and advance of the wound margin. The linear trajectories of these surrogates make it possible to identify an acceleration in healing resulting from an intervention, and allows self‐controlled or crossover designs with attendant advantages of statistical power and speed. Of the metrics investigated, wound margin advance was the most linear, and was also independent of initial ulcer size.
Neither historical climate nor contemporary range fully explain the extant patterns of molecular diversity in marine species
Authors: Nielsen Erica S. , Beger Maria , Henriques Romina , von der Heyden Sophie
Published: August 2021

Aim

Intraspecific diversity is a significant component of adaptive potential, and thus, it is important to identify the evolutionary processes that have and will continue to shape the molecular diversity of natural populations. This study aims to untangle the possible drivers of intraspecific molecular diversity by testing whether patterns of historical climatic stability or contemporary range position correlate with molecular diversity.

Location

South African coastline.

Taxa

The cape urchin (Parechinus angulosus), common shore crab (Cyclograpsus punctatus) and granular limpet (Scutellastra granularis).

Methods

Species distributions were hindcasted to the Last Glacial Maximum to assess the biogeography of the study species. Linear models were built to compare the relationships between historical climatic stability or contemporary distributional ranges with extant genetic (mtDNA) and genomic (SNP) diversity.

Results

We found large differences in the historical ranges among species and time periods. Regions of higher habitat stability corresponded to regions of higher molecular diversity, but historical climatic variability was not a predictor of molecular diversity within linear models. Lower genetic diversity values, and higher genetic differentiation, were detected in edge populations, but this was not consistent across marker type or species.

Main conclusions

Both historical and contemporary processes are potentially driving patterns of diversity, but a large portion of the variation in molecular diversity remains unexplained. Our findings suggest that marine species within cool‐temperate bioregions in the Southern Hemisphere may have more complex biogeographic and evolutionary histories than terrestrial taxa and/or coastal species within northern, formerly glaciated regions.
Bioinformatics analysis of the prognostic value of NEK8 and its effects on immune cell infiltration in glioma
Authors: Xiao Meng , Du Chaoyang , Zhang Chuanbo , Zhang Xinzhong , Li Shaomin , Zhang Dainan , Jia Wang
Published: August 2021

Glioma is the most common malignancy of the nervous system with high rates of recurrence and mortality, even after surgery. The 5‐year survival rate is only about 5%. NEK8 is involved in multiple biological processes in a variety of cancers; however, its role in glioma is still not clear. In the current study, we evaluated the prognostic value of NEK8, as well as its role in the pathogenesis of glioma. Using a bioinformatics approach and RNA‐seq data from public databases, we found that NEK8 expression is elevated in glioma tissues; we further verified this result by RT‐PCR, Western blotting and immunochemistry using clinical samples. Functional enrichment analyses of genes with correlated expression indicated that elevated NEK8 expression is associated with increased immune cell infiltration in glioma and may affect the tumour microenvironment via the regulation of DNA damage/repair. Survival analyses revealed that high levels of NEK8 are associated with a poorer prognosis; higher WHO grade, IDH status, 1p/19q codeletion, age and NEK8 were identified as an independent prognostic factor. These findings support the crucial role of NEK8 in the progression of glioma via effects on immune cell infiltration and suggest that it is a new prognostic biomarker.
Multitoxin immunoaffinity analysis of aflatoxins and ochratoxin A in spices
Authors: Iha Maria Helena , Rodrigues Matheus Leandro , Trucksess Mary Wat
Published: August 2021

A multitoxin method for aflatoxins (AFs) and ochratoxin A (OTA) was modified and validated to analyze black pepper, colorífico, nutmeg, paprika, and turmeric. The method consisted of acetonitrile, NaHCO3 and methanol extraction solution, multimycotoxin immunoaffinity column purification and isolation, reversed‐phase liquid chromatography separation, and fluorescence detection. The limit of detection was <0.1 ng/g for AFs and OTA. Mean recoveries of added AFs ranged from 68 to 88% with relative standard deviation of repeatability (RSDr) values <15%; aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) from 69 to 92% with RSDr <17%; and OTA from 75 to 110% with RSDr <10% at spiked levels ranged from 8 to 40 ng/g for AFs, 4 to 20 ng/g for AFB1, and 4 to 20 ng/g for OTA, respectively. Recoveries of added aflatoxin G2 were approximately 50% at spiked levels ranged from 1 to 5 ng/g. Recoveries of aflatoxin B2 and aflatoxin G1 were >70%. The linearity of the method for AFs ranged from 0.4 to 100 ng/g, for OTA from 0.2 to 40 ng/g with R2 values exceeding 0.99. Results of a single laboratory validation study validated the performance of this method meeting the method acceptability criteria. No differences in toxin detection were determined in robustness testing in which minor changes were introduced to the method.
Development of an olfactory test method for measuring perception of everyday food odors among older adults
Authors: Honnens de Lichtenberg Broge Eva , Wendin Karin , Hyldig Grethe , Bredie Wender L. P.
Published: August 2021

Age related decline in olfactory function has major implications for food intake in older adults as the sense of smell is essential to the perception of food. The aim of this study was to develop an olfactory test method that addresses the consequences of decline in intensity perception in relation to food appreciation. This test was developed in four steps: (a) Selection of diverse food odors, evaluated on perceived familiarity. (b) Standardization of an intensity reference level for food odors in relation to 1‐butanol. (c) Assessment of shelf‐life stability. (d) Test–retest reliability for intensity and identification. Fourteen food odors comprising asparagus, bacon, banana, cinnamon, curry, coffee, fried meat, mushroom, onion, orange, raspberry, thyme, toasted bread, and vanilla obtained satisfactory familiarity score, test–retest reliability, and a stable shelf‐life except for cooked fish which was therefore excluded. This food odor test is a promising tool for evaluating olfactory performance in older people in relation to common foods and changes in preferences. However, more work is needed to further evaluate the method in practice in a larger cohort including older adults and a reference group.

Practical Applications

This food odor test using complex food odors is relevant in settings where meals are customized to improve food intake in older adults.
Diabetes and cardiovascular diseases are associated with the worsening of intermittent hypoxaemia
Authors: Karhu Tuomas , Myllymaa Sami , Nikkonen Sami , Mazzotti Diego R. , Kulkas Antti , Töyräs Juha , Leppänen Timo
Published: August 2021

Intermittent hypoxaemia is a risk factor for numerous diseases. However, the reverse pathway remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated whether pre‐existing hypertension, diabetes or cardiovascular diseases are associated with the worsening of intermittent hypoxaemia. Among the included 2,535 Sleep Heart Health Study participants, hypertension (n = 1,164), diabetes (n = 170) and cardiovascular diseases (n = 265) were frequently present at baseline. All participants had undergone two polysomnographic recordings approximately 5.2 years apart. Covariate‐adjusted linear regression analyses were utilized to investigate the difference in the severity of intermittent hypoxaemia at baseline between each comorbidity group and the group of participants free from all comorbidities (n = 1,264). Similarly, we investigated whether the pre‐existing comorbidities are associated with the progression of intermittent hypoxaemia. Significantly higher oxygen desaturation index (β = 1.77 [95% confidence interval: 0.41–3.13], p = 0.011), desaturation severity (β = 0.07 [95% confidence interval: 0.00–0.14], p = 0.048) and desaturation duration (β = 1.50 [95% confidence interval: 0.31–2.69], p = 0.013) were observed in participants with pre‐existing cardiovascular diseases at baseline. Furthermore, the increase in oxygen desaturation index (β = 3.59 [95% confidence interval: 1.78–5.39], p < 0.001), desaturation severity (β = 0.08 [95% confidence interval: 0.02–0.14], p = 0.015) and desaturation duration (β = 2.60 [95% confidence interval: 1.22–3.98], p < 0.001) during the follow‐up were higher among participants with diabetes. Similarly, the increase in oxygen desaturation index (β = 2.73 [95% confidence interval: 1.15–4.32], p = 0.001) and desaturation duration (β = 1.85 [95% confidence interval: 0.62–3.08], p = 0.003) were higher among participants with cardiovascular diseases. These results suggest that patients with pre‐existing diabetes or cardiovascular diseases are at increased risk for an expedited worsening of intermittent hypoxaemia. As intermittent hypoxaemia is an essential feature of sleep apnea, these patients could benefit from the screening and follow‐up monitoring of sleep apnea.
Child maltreatment and sleep: Two pathways explaining the link
Authors: Pfaff Angela , Schlarb Angelika Anita
Published: August 2021

Many children suffer from maltreatment and show the aftermath of these experiences even in adulthood. Child maltreatment can lead to impaired sleep. This study examines pathways in which the association between child maltreatment and impaired sleep can be explained. In a cross‐sectional questionnaire survey, maltreatment experiences (Childhood Trauma Questionnaire), romantic relationship satisfaction (Couple Satisfaction Index), attachment (Revised Adult Attachment Scale), cognitive hyperarousal (Emotion Control Questionnaire‐rehearsal) and insomnia symptoms (Insomnia Severity Index) were assessed in 314 individuals aged 18–83 years and currently in a committed romantic relationship. Eligible participants (N = 57, aged 18–70 years) took part in an additional sleep assessment (actigraphy) and completed a questionnaire on sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index). Demographic data were also assessed. Impaired subjective sleep was significantly predicted by child maltreatment experiences. In addition, rumination and romantic relationship satisfaction mediated the association between child maltreatment and adult sleep quality. A serial mediation from child maltreatment via comfort with closeness and romantic relationship satisfaction on sleep quality was found. Therapeutic treatments should focus more on sleep quality. Furthermore, they should also consider rumination to decrease the effect of child maltreatment on sleep quality. Sleep should also be taken into account in emotional regulation therapies for children as well as couples therapy in adulthood to decrease the effect of sleep impairments and child maltreatment on further life.
Evaluation of serum cardiac troponin‐I concentrations for diagnosis of infective endocarditis in dogs
Authors: Kilkenny Eoin , Watson Claire , Dukes‐McEwan Joanna , Bode Elizabeth F. , Hezzell Melanie J. , Payne Jessie Rosie , Borgeat Kieran
Published: August 2021

Background

Infective endocarditis (IE) in dogs is associated with severe disease and a high case fatality rate but often presents with nonspecific clinical signs.

Hypothesis/Objectives

Serum concentration of cardiac troponin‐I (cTnI) is elevated in dogs with IE and can differentiate dogs with IE from dogs with other diseases with similar clinical features. Concentration of serum cTnI is negatively correlated with survival time in dogs with IE.

Animals

Seventy‐two client‐owned dogs; 29 with IE, 27 with stage‐B myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD), and 16 with immune‐mediated disease (IMD).

Methods

Retrospective clinical cohort study. Concentration of serum cTnI was measured in all dogs at time of diagnosis. Clinical findings and echocardiographic interpretation were also recorded. Statistical analyses included Kruskal‐Wallis test, pairwise Mann‐Whitney U tests, receiver operator characteristic, and Cox proportional hazards.

Results

Serum concentration of cTnI was significantly higher in the IE group (0.69 ng/mL [0.03‐80.8]) than in the MMVD (0.05 ng/mL [0.02‐0.11], P < .001) and IMD groups (0.05 ng/mL [0.03‐0.57], P < .001). Increased cTnI was a moderately accurate predictor of IE (area under the curve 0.857 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.745‐0.968, P < .001). A cTnI cutoff of 0.625 ng/mL had 100% specificity (95% CI 90%‐100%) and 52% sensitivity (95% CI 33%‐70%) in this study sample. There was no association between cTnI concentration and survival time in dogs with IE (hazard ratio 1.013, 95% CI 0.993‐1.034, P = .2).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Cardiac troponin‐I concentrations are higher in dogs with IE compared to dogs with preclinical MMVD or IMD. In dogs with a compatible clinical presentation, serum cTnI concentrations >0.625 ng/mL are supportive of IE.
Sensitivity analysis and uncertainty quantification of a seismic risk model for road networks
Authors: Allen Eduardo , Chamorro Alondra , Poulos Alan , Castro Sebastián , de la Llera Juan Carlos , Echaveguren Tomás
Published: August 2021

Natural hazards may cause significant disruptions to road infrastructure, subsequently affecting road agencies, users, and productive activities. Despite the existence of infrastructure fragilities to seismic hazard and some operational consequences on network mobility, previous research has not modeled risk in terms of traffic disruptions and consequent travel time delays in subduction environments, analyzing the sensitivity to model parameters and quantified model uncertainty. This study proposes a risk framework to evaluate operational consequences in interurban road networks exposed to seismic hazard using travel time delays and propagate uncertainty in the model. Risk values are evaluated using Monte Carlo simulations, and uncertainty is propagated using a polynomial chaos expansion meta‐model. The framework was applied to a very critical interurban network in central Chile. Results demonstrate that the parameters that most significantly influence risk are fragility, loss of road capacity, and traffic volume.
Random fields representation over manifolds via isometric feature mapping‐based dimension reduction
Authors: Feng De‐Cheng , Liang Yan‐Ping , Ren Xiaodan , Li Jie
Published: August 2021

Generating random fields over irregular geometries (e.g., two‐dimensional (2D) manifolds embedded in the three‐dimensional (3D) Euclidean space) is a great challenge because the geometry structure is complex and the correlation function can hardly be derived, thus the traditional methods, for example, spatial discretization methods or series expansion methods, cannot be directly adopted. To solve this issue, the present paper develops a two‐stage strategy to simulate random fields over manifolds. The core idea is to map the manifolds into the 2D Euclidean space through Isometric feature mapping (Isomap), with which the geodesic distance between points in the mapped 2D Euclidean space and the original manifold space is kept as the same. Therefore, the correlation function can be readily derived and the conventional methods can be directly employed to generate random fields. To validate the proposed method, several different types of manifolds are dimensionally reduced to 2D planar domains, and the stochastic harmonic function method is used to generate the random fields. Finally, case studies on the stochastic finite element analysis of two different structures are also performed to demonstrate the applicability and efficiency of the proposed method.
Extra‐large G‐proteins influence plant response to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum by regulating glucosinolate metabolism in Brassica juncea
Authors: Tiwari Ruchi , Kaur Jagreet , Bisht Naveen C.
Published: August 2021

Heterotrimeric G‐proteins are one of the highly conserved signal transducers across phyla. Despite the obvious importance of G‐proteins in controlling various plant growth and environmental responses, there is no information describing the regulatory complexity of G‐protein networks during pathogen response in a polyploid crop. Here, we investigated the role of extra‐large G‐proteins (XLGs) in the oilseed crop Brassica juncea, which has inherent susceptibility to the necrotrophic fungal pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. The allotetraploid B. juncea genome contains multiple homologs of three XLG genes (two BjuXLG1, five BjuXLG2, and three BjuXLG3), sharing a high level of sequence identity, gene structure organization, and phylogenetic relationship with the progenitors’ orthologs. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR analysis revealed that BjuXLGs have retained distinct expression patterns across plant developmental stages and on S. sclerotiorum infection. To determine the role of BjuXLG genes in the B. juncea defence response against S. sclerotiorum, RNAi‐based suppression was performed. Disease progression analysis showed more rapid lesion expansion and fungal accumulation in BjuXLG‐RNAi lines compared to the vector control plants, wherein suppression of BjuXLG3 homologs displayed more compromised defence response at the later time point. Knocking down BjuXLGs caused impairment of the host resistance mechanism to S. sclerotiorum, as indicated by reduced expression of defence marker genes PDF1.2 and WRKY33 on pathogen infection. Furthermore, BjuXLG‐RNAi lines showed reduced accumulation of leaf glucosinolates on S. sclerotiorum infection, wherein aliphatic glucosinolates were significantly compromised. Overall, our data suggest that B. juncea XLG genes are important signalling nodes modulating the host defence pathways in response to this necrotrophic pathogen.
Calcifying pseudoneoplasms of the neuraxis (CAPNON). A case report
Authors: Li Wei‐Qing , Wang Shen‐Hao , Zhang Zheng‐Wei , Chen Jun , Li Yi‐Ming , Lv Ze‐Chao , Cao Hao‐Tian , Ma Xiao‐Mei , Liu Hui‐Min , Zhu Zhi
Published: August 2021

Calcifying pseudoneoplasms of the neuraxis (CAPNON) are rare, slow‐growing, benign lesions occurring throughout the neuroaxis that are frequently misdiagnosed and overlooked by clinicians. Here, we report a case of a 56‐year‐old woman who presented with a history of recurrent headache for the previous six years. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a 2.3‐cm‐sized solid mass in the right frontal lobe that was surrounded by marked edematous areas. The lesion demonstrated dense calcification and avid enhancement. The lesion was initially diagnosed as oligodendroglioma, and then found to be CAPNON based on histopathology of a surgically resected tissue. Genetic analysis revealed a nonsense mutation in the CUL4B gene. The patient's condition appeared to reflect a reactive, rather than neoplastic, process. Clinicians should be prepared to detect such pseudotumors histopathologically in order to avoid unnecessary differential tests of neoplastic or infectious diseases, as well as potentially harmful therapies.
Is His‐optimized superior to conventional cardiac resynchronization therapy in improving heart failure? Results from a propensity‐matched study
Authors: Senes Jacopo , Mascia Giuseppe , Bottoni Nicola , Oddone Daniele , Donateo Paolo , Grimaldi Teresa , Minneci Calogero , Bertolozzi Iacopo , Brignole Michele , Puggioni Enrico , Coluccia Giovanni
Published: August 2021

Background

His bundle pacing (HBP), alone or optimized in association with coronary sinus pacing (HBP+LV) has recently been proposed as an alternative to conventional cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). However, there is lack of controlled studies that assessed clinical outcome.

Methods

We did a single‐center, propensity‐score matched, case‐control study of comparison of HBP and HBP+LV versus conventional CRT in patients with heart failure (HF) and standard indications for CRT. The study group patients were consecutively enrolled in the year 2019. The control group patients were selected, by propensity score matching, among those CRT implantations performed in the years 2015–2018.

Results

There were 27 patients in each group. In the active group, 12 (44%) patients received HBP alone and 12 (44%) patients HBP+LV pacing. HBP failed in three (11%) patients. In the control group, conventional CRT was achieved in 26 (96%) patients and failed in one. Paced QRS width was shorter in the active than in the control group (128 ± 18 vs. 148 ± 27 ms, p = .004). During a mean of 9.6 months of follow‐up, a composite clinical outcome of death, hospitalization for HF or worsening HF occurred in three (11%) in the active group and in four (15%) in the control group, p = .58. No difference was also observed with softer endpoints: NYHA class (1.9 ± 0.7 vs. 2.1 ± 0.7), subjective improvement (74% vs. 74%) and LV ejection fraction (40.7% vs. 40.7%).

Conclusion

Compared with conventional CRT, a shorter QRS width can be obtained with HBP alone or in association with coronary sinus pacing but we were unable to show a better clinical outcome. There is urgent need for large, randomized trials.
High‐quality evergreen azalea genome reveals tandem duplication‐facilitated low‐altitude adaptability and floral scent evolution
Authors: Wang Xiuyun , Gao Yuan , Wu Xiaopei , Wen Xiaohui , Li Danqing , Zhou Hong , Li Zheng , Liu Bing , Wei Jianfen , Chen Fei , Chen Feng , Zhang Chengjun , Zhang Liangsheng , Xia Yiping
Published: August 2021

Azalea belongs to Rhododendron, which is one of the largest genera of flowering plants and is well known for the diversity and beauty in its more than 1000 woody species. Rhododendron contains two distinct groups: the most high‐altitude and a few low‐altitude species; however, the former group is difficult to be domesticated for urban landscaping, and their evolution and adaptation are little known. Rhododendron ovatum has broad adaptation in low‐altitude regions but possesses evergreen characteristics like high‐altitude species, and it has floral fragrance that is deficient in most cultivars. Here we report the chromosome‐level genome assembly of R. ovatum, which has a total length of 549 Mb with scaffold N50 of 41 Mb and contains 41 264 predicted genes. Genomic micro‐evolutionary analysis of R. ovatum in comparison with two high‐altitude Rhododendron species indicated that the expansion genes in R. ovatum were significantly enriched in defence responses, which may account for its adaptability in low altitudes. The R. ovatum genome contains much more terpene synthase genes (TPSs) compared with the species that lost floral fragrance. The subfamily b members of TPS are involved in the synthesis of sesquiterpenes as well as monoterpenes and play a major role in flora scent biosynthesis and defence responses. Tandem duplication is the primary force driving expansion of defence‐responsive genes for extensive adaptability to the low‐altitude environments. The R. ovatum genome provides insights into low‐altitude adaptation and gain or loss of floral fragrance for Rhododendron species, which are valuable for alpine plant domestication and floral scent breeding.
A 13.96‐kb chromosomal deletion of two genes is responsible for the tomato seed size in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus)
Authors: Li Na , Kong Shengnan , Zhou Dan , Shang Jianli , Wang Jiming , Li Nannan , Liu Lifeng , Ma Shuangwu
Published: August 2021

Seed size is an important agronomic trait in watermelon, but the candidate genes and underlying molecular mechanism are not fully known. In the present study, genetic analysis of the BC1 population derived from two parental lines revealed that watermelon seed size is controlled by a single locus and medium seeds are dominant to tomato seeds. In addition, we constructed a genetic linkage map. The total length of the linkage map was 1629.92 cM, with an average distance of .16 cM. QTL mapping and resequencing analysis identified a 13.96‐kb chromosomal deletion on chromosome 2. There were only two genes (Cla97C02G045390 and Cla97C02G045400) present in the corresponding region. Transcriptome data of tomato seed and medium seed watermelons showed that the two genes were always highly expressed in medium seed plants but expressed at low or no levels in tomato seed plants. Moreover, two markers indicated that the genes were related to watermelon seed size. Our present study provides key genetic variation and potential candidate gene of watermelon seed size and lays the foundation for the molecular mechanism of seed size.
Leveraging digital technologies to boost productivity in the informal sector in Sub‐Saharan Africa
Authors: Nguimkeu Pierre , Okou Cedric
Published: August 2021

In many developed countries, automation has stoked fears of job losses by less‐skilled workers. In Sub‐Saharan Africa, by contrast, the adoption of low‐skill‐biased digital technologies complementary to informal workers offers the potential of a poverty‐reducing trajectory by enabling productivity and creating more job opportunities. While informality is pervasive in Sub‐Saharan African economies, building pathways to full formalization in the region has had limited success to date. Instead of focusing on formalization as an imperative policy goal, more realistic short to medium term policies should leverage low‐skill‐biased digital technologies to upgrade the skills of workers and enhance the productivity of firms in the informal sector. Moreover, more productive informal firms will likely seek to formalize if they perceive a positive tradeoff with the gains of being formal, arising from a conducive business environment mixing proper regulations, opportunities, and incentives. This paper summarizes what we know on digital technologies in Sub‐Saharan Africa, and highlights their role as catalysts for productivity enhancement, job creation, entrepreneurship, access to credit, and financial inclusion in the informal sector. It also documents key challenges faced by governments in harnessing the benefits and risks of digitization for the informal sector and suggests a blueprint to help policymakers in Sub‐Saharan Africa address them.
Public preferences for five electricity grid decarbonization policies in California
Authors: Boudet Hilary , Zanocco Chad , Stelmach Greg , Muttaqee Mahmood , Flora June
Published: August 2021

The climate crisis and associated push for distributed, renewable electricity generation necessitate policy changes to decarbonize and modernize the electricity grid. Some of these changes—e.g., smart meter rollouts and tax credits for solar panel adoption—have received attention in the media and from social scientists to understand public perceptions and responses. Others—e.g., allowing peer‐to‐peer electricity sales, promoting residential electrification, requiring solar panels on new development, funding microgrids, and paying customers to allow for utility control of electricity use—have received less attention. Here, we explore public perceptions of these understudied policies among California residents (n = 804), a state recognized for innovative energy policy. A majority of respondents supported only one of the policies—requiring solar panels on new development. Others elicited more indecision; few were strongly opposed. In general, male respondents and those with college degrees were more supportive of such policies, as were those more concerned about climate change and with a more open orientation to smart home technologies.
Controlled single and repeated impact testing for material plastic behaviour characterisation under high strain rates
Authors: Breumier Simon , Trudeau‐Lalonde Francis , Lafrance Thierry , Robert Etienne , Villani Aurélien , Kermouche Guillaume , Lévesque Martin
Published: August 2021

Instrumented single‐shot experiments provide crucial information of a material's response to impact events that can be used in shot‐peening modelling. However, no authors successfully used such test for constitutive model identification and validation as existing test rig generally cannot provide an accurate determination of the shot trajectory in three dimensions over a wide velocity range. In this work, a shot‐peening test rig that can propel single shot under the process conditions with a high aiming accuracy is presented. The test rig propels industrial shot by sudden pressurised gas release. A methodology to recover the propelled shot three‐dimensional trajectory within a 200‐μm accuracy using two high‐frequency cameras is developed in an open‐source in‐house code. The test rig can propel 0.5‐, 1.19‐ and 2.5‐mm‐diameter shot at velocity ranging from 0.8 to 143 m s−1 and can send several shots at the same position when using the largest shot diameter. Two potential applications of the set‐up are presented for (i) coefficient of restitution measurement with different shooting angles and velocities and (ii) crystal plasticity finite element model validation using the impact dent topology, the shot displacement curve and the crystal misorientation field under the dent.
Colonial Legacies
Authors: Nugent Gabriella
Published: August 2021

In Colonial Legacies, Gabriella Nugent examines a generation of contemporary artists born or based in the Congo whose lens-based art attends to the afterlives and mutations of Belgian colonialism in postcolonial Congo. Focusing on three artists and one artist collective, Nugent analyses artworks produced by Sammy Baloji, Michèle Magema, Georges Senga and Kongo Astronauts, each of whom offers a different perspective onto this history gleaned from their own experiences. In their photography and video art, these artists rework existent images and redress archival absences, making visible people and events occluded from dominant narratives. Their artworks are shown to offer a re-reading of the colonial and immediate post-independence past, blurring the lines of historical and speculative knowledge, documentary and fiction. Nugent demonstrates how their practices create a new type of visual record for the future, one that attests to the ramifications of colonialism across time.