bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
133 Value-based care for healthy children with first episode of febrile neutropenia
Authors: Grandjean-Blanchet Charlotte , Villeneuve Stephanie , Beck Carolyn , Cada Michaela , Rosenfield Daniel , Science Michelle , Fantauzzi Michelle , Butchart Sheila , Ostrow Olivia
Published: October 2021

Primary Subject area

Emergency Medicine - Paediatric

Background

While the management of febrile neutropenia in patients with cancer has clear, evidence-based guidelines, the management of previously healthy, immunocompetent children with a febrile illness and first episode of neutropenia is less understood. These patients are often similarly treated with empiric antibiotics and hospitalization despite studies demonstrating that this population, if they are well-appearing with a short history of neutropenia, is at low risk of serious bacterial infections. Therefore, less aggressive management should be considered in patients meeting low risk criteria.

Objectives

The aim of our quality improvement (QI) study was to decrease the number of unnecessary hospitalizations and empiric antibiotics prescribed by 50% over a 12-month period for otherwise healthy, well appearing patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with a first episode of febrile neutropenia.

Design/Methods

A team of stakeholders from Hematology, Infectious Disease, Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine was assembled. A review of the literature, peer institutions and local practices of managing febrile neutropenia in healthy children was performed. Using the Model for Improvement, a guideline for the management of healthy children with first episode of febrile neutropenia was developed and refined using PDSA cycles. In January 2020, the guideline was launched for clinical use in the ED. Education, targeted audit and feedback, pathway modifications, and reminders were used to address knowledge gaps and staff turnover. A family of measures was analyzed using run charts and statistical process control (SPC) methods.

Results

Eighteen months of baseline data identified nineteen low risk patients with 84% either hospitalized and/or received antibiotics. It was also uncovered that many patients were misdiagnosed with neutropenia by excluding bands from the absolute neutrophil count (ANC). After the first twelve months of the intervention, sixteen patients met low risk criteria. Hospitalization and/or antibiotics use for this population decreased to 25% and all blood cultures were negative. Recognition of true severe febrile neutropenia also improved. Forty-one patients had a neutrophil count < 0.5, but an ANC > 0.5. Hospitalization and/or antibiotics use for this population decreased from 52% to 10%.

Conclusion

Through a multi-faceted, multidisciplinary QI study, we improved resource stewardship and value-based care by reducing unnecessary hospitalizations and antibiotics in low risk patients with a first episode of febrile neutropenia. Next steps include iterations to the guideline to increase impact along with sustainability planning. This work can easily be adopted by other pediatric and community sites caring for children.
149 Virtual Care: A Quality Improvement Project on the Experience of Paediatricians during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: McCrady Emma , Strychowsky Julie , Woolfson Jessica
Published: October 2021

Primary Subject area

Practice/Office Management

Background

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, in-person visits were the standard of care for paediatricians at our centre. With the pandemic onset, virtual care (VC) was adopted at an unprecedented scale and pace. Studies have reported positive patient VC experience; however, few have explored physician experience. This quality improvement (QI) initiative sought to qualify the VC experience of local paediatricians during the pandemic, with the intention of implementing VC clinical practice changes at the department level.

Objectives

To determine key factors that have supported and challenged the adoption of, and that will support integration of, VC in the future.

Design/Methods

The Donabedian model for healthcare QI was used to evaluate VC experience through an online survey with a focus on structure, process, and outcome measures. All physicians affiliated with the Department of Paediatrics (generalists and subspecialists in medicine and surgery) were invited to participate via email. Three reminder emails were sent at 2-week intervals. Descriptive statistics were reported.

Results

The response rate was 32.3% (63 of 195 physicians). The majority of respondents were subspecialists (84.1%), and at academic centres (87.5%) (Table 1). Pre-pandemic, only 30.1% used VC and saw <10% of patients virtually. During March-May 2020, 93.8% transitioned to VC, with > 50% seeing over 75% of patients virtually. By summer 2020, VC use declined, but remained higher than pre-pandemic (53.6% seeing < 25% of patients). OTN and telephone were platforms most used (32.8% and 28.6%, respectively). Most conducted visits from their work location (55.2%) versus home (44.8%).

VC experience was considered positive by most physicians (73.6%), and only 18.8% found VC difficult to use despite technical difficulties reported by 41.5% (Figure 1). Physicians with ≤ 5 years in practice were most likely to find VC convenient (93.8%). Challenges with VC included lack of physical exam, diagnostic uncertainty, lower patient volumes, and poor patient VC etiquette. Regardless of practice location, specialty, years in practice, and prior experience, 96% would continue VC to 25% of patients, ideally for patients who live far away (26.4%) and for follow-ups of patients with established diagnoses (21.4%).

Conclusion

A rapid transition to VC during the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with challenges but also positive experiences. Willingness to continue VC was high. VC experience could be improved with greater patient education and focus on select patient populations. Future research is needed to improve practice efficiency and to inform regulatory guidelines for VC at a local level.
The Equilibrium Consequences of Indexing
Authors: Bond Philip , García Diego
Published: October 2021

We develop a benchmark model to study the equilibrium consequences of indexing in a standard rational expectations setting. Individuals incur costs to participate in financial markets, and these costs are lower for individuals who restrict themselves to indexing. A decline in indexing costs directly increases the prevalence of indexing, thereby reducing the price efficiency of the index and augmenting relative price efficiency. In equilibrium, these changes in price efficiency in turn further increase indexing, and raise the welfare of uninformed traders. For well-informed traders, the share of trading gains stemming from market timing increases relative to stock selection trades.
Electronic Transferable Records: A Gap in Qatari Law That Urgently Needs Filling
Authors: Mahasneh Nisreen
Published: October 2021

Qatar has sought to encourage the development of international trade and investment through advancements in its law. In light of the growing importance of electronic operations, it has adopted the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law’s (UNCITRAL) model laws on electronic commerce and electronic signatures. However, they alone are insufficient to respond fully to the present-day needs of international trade. An area in which Qatari law is still wanting is the electronic transfer of records that originated on paper. This article assesses the extent to which current Qatari legislation relating to the assignment of rights, bills of lading, and commercial papers is suited to the transfer of such records by electronic means and identifies aspects on which it falls short. To fill this gap, Qatar should adopt the 2017 UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records and ensure that it is applied as widely as possible, internally, internationally, and in civil and commercial dealings.
Management of acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding by pharmaco-induced vasospasm embolization therapy
Authors: Li Ming-Feng , Liang Huei-Lung , Chiang Chia-Ling , Lin Yih-Huie
Published: November 2021

Background:

To report the clinical outcomes of vasospasm embolization technique in treating lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB).

Methods:

Fifty LGIB patients (32 men and 18 women; mean age, 70.4 years) with positive contrast extravasation on multidetector computed tomography were treated with pharmaco-induced vasospasm embolization by semiselective catheterization technique. Distal rectal bleeding was excluded. The bleedings in three patients were considered to be tumor related. Eighteen underwent regular hemodialysis, and 22 showed unstable hemodynamic at intervention.

Results:

Forty-two bleeders were found in superior mesenteric territory and eight in the inferior mesenteric territory. Successful, immediate hemostasis was achieved in 49 (98%) patients. Early recurrent bleeding (<30 days) was found in 13 (26.5%) patients with 6 local rebleeding (12.2%), 5 new-foci bleeding (10.2%), and 2 uncertain foci bleeding (4.1%). Repeated vasospasm embolization therapy was given to five patients, with successful hemostasis in four. All the three tumor-related bleeding patients undergoing vasospasm embolization had ceased bleeding and discharged. Patient-based primary and overall clinical successes were achieved in 73.5% and 83.7%, and lesion-based primary and overall clinical successes were 83.0% and 86.7%, respectively. The 30-day mortality rate was 21.3%, and the 1- and 2-year survival rates were 51.5% and 43.8%. No major procedure-related complications (eg, bowel ischemia) were encountered.

Conclusion:

This study confirmed our prior preliminary conclusion that pharmaco-induced vasospasm embolization is easy, safe, and effective for LGIB. This treatment may be considered the first-line alternative approach for LGIB, especially for patients of advanced age with complex medical problems and/or when vasa rectal embolization isn’t feasible.
O-GlcNAcase inhibitor has protective effects in intracerebral hemorrhage by suppressing the inflammatory response
Authors: He Yating , Liu Haijie , liu Ye , Li Xiaowen , Fan Mengmeng , Shi Kaibin , Li Minshu
Published: October 2021

Background

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is aggravated by immune cells that participate in the inflammatory response from the blood–brain barrier (BBB). O-Glycosylation has been reported to regulate the inflammatory response in the central nervous system but its cerebral protective effects remain unknown. Therefore, this study was carried out to investigate the protective effects of O-GlcNAcylation in a murine model of ICH and the possible mechanisms involved.

Methods

The effects of O-GlcNAcylation on hematoma and edema formation were tested using pathological and dry/wet weight methods, whereas its effects on neural function were determined using neurologic tests. The effect of O-GlcNAcylation on BBB integrity was determined by Evans blue dye extrusion. Flow cytometry was used to quantify the immune cells in the central nervous system. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the protective effect of O-GlcNAcylation in ICH.

Results

The hematoma volume was significantly lower in the prevention and treatment groups than in the control group after ICH induction, indicating that O-GlcNAcylation had reduced the formation of cerebral hematoma in ICH. In the prevention and treatment groups, the modified neurological severity score, corner turn test and rotating rod test results were improved and the BBB integrity was better than that in the control group. O-GlcNAcylation also regulated the microglia, neutrophils and other central nervous system immune cells after ICH, effectively reducing the inflammatory response.

Conclusions

O-GlcNAcylation played an important role in suppressing the inflammatory response, enhancing the BBB integrity and reducing edema after ICH.
Extrachromosomal viral DNA produced by transcriptionally active endogenous viral elements in non-infected banana hybrids impedes quantitative PCR diagnostics of banana streak virus infections in banana hybrids
Authors: Ricciuti Emeline , Laboureau Nathalie , Noumbissié Guy , Chabannes Matthieu , Sukhikh Natalia , Pooggin Mikhail M. , Iskra-Caruana Marie-Line
Published: November 2021

The main edible and cultivated banana varieties are intra- and interspecific hybrids of the two main Musa species, Musa acuminata and Musa balbisiana, having diploid genomes denoted A and B, respectively. The B genome naturally hosts sequences of banana streak virus (BSV) named endogenous BSV (eBSV). Upon stress, eBSVs are identified as the origin of BSV infection for at least three BSV species, causing banana streak disease. For each of the three species, BSV and eBSV share >99.9 % sequence identity, complicating PCR-based diagnosis of viral infection in the B genome-containing bananas. Here, we designed a quantitative PCR-based method to only quantify episomal BSV particles produced, overcoming the limitation of eBSV also being detected by qPCR by using it as a ‘calibrator’. However, our results revealed unexpected variation of eBSV amplification in calibrator plants composed of a clonal population of 53 replicating virus-free banana hybrids with the same AAB genotype. Our in-depth molecular analyses suggest that this calibrator variation is due to the variable abundance of non-encapsidated extrachromosomal viral DNA, likely produced via the transcription of eBSVs, followed by occasional reverse transcription. We also present evidence that accumulation of viral transcripts in AAB plants is downregulated both at post-transcriptional and transcriptional levels by an RNA interference mechanism that keeps the plants free of virus infection. Finally, we recommend that such eBSV amplification variation be taken into account to establish a quantitative viral diagnostic for banana plants with the B genome.
The amino acid transporter CG1139 is required for retrograde transport and fast recovery of gut enterocytes after Serratia marcescens intestinal infection
Authors: Socha Catherine , Pais Inês S. , Lee Kwang-Zin , Lestradet Matthieu , Ferrandon Dominique
Published: October 2021

The intestinal tract is constantly exposed to microbes. Severe infections can arise following the ingestion of pathogenic microbes from contaminating food or water sources. The host directly fights off ingested pathogens with resistance mechanisms, the immune response, or withstands and repairs the damages inflicted either by virulence factors or the host immune effectors, through tolerance/resilience mechanisms. In a previous study, we reported the existence in Drosophila melanogaster of a novel evolutionarily conserved resilience mechanism to intestinal infections with a hemolysin-positive Serratia marcescens strain (SmDb11), the purge of the apical cytoplasm of enterocytes. The epithelium becomes very thin and recovers rapidly, regaining its normal thickness within several hours. Here, we found that this recovery of gut enterocyte morphology is based on the host internal reserves and not on ingested food. Indeed, we observed a retrograde transport of amino acids from the host hemolymph to the enterocytes. We have identified several amino acid transporters required for recovery and we focused on the SLC36 family transporter CG1139. CG1139 is required for the retrograde transport of amino acids. RNA sequencing revealed that genes involved in the positive regulation of growth were observed in wild-type but not CG1139 mutant guts, in which the expression of Myc and genes involved in Insulin signaling is down-regulated. Functional analysis revealed that Myc is also required for the recovery of the thick gut epithelium after infection. Altogether, our results show the importance of an amino acid transporter in the fast regrowth of the enterocytes upon infection. Unexpectedly, we found that this transporter acts non cell-autonomously and can regulate the transcription of other genes, suggesting a signaling function of CG1139 that therefore appears to act as a transceptor.
Social entrepreneurial sustainability during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Kamaludin Mohammed Faiz , Xavier Jesrina Ann , Amin Muslim
Published: November 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore and understand the needed entrepreneurial actions required to attain sustainability during the COVID-19 pandemic. Social entrepreneurial sustainability is defined as the process of developing sustainable solutions for social, economic or environmental problems that are not being addressed by the market. This paper intends to get a clearer picture of how social entrepreneurial sustainability is affected by the exogenous shocks caused by the pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative exploratory approach using a case study design was used. Semi-structured interviews with five CEOs and founders of accredited social enterprises in Malaysia that have proven sustainable were conducted. Triangulation was applied in this study through three different data sources to confirm and validate the emerging findings.

Findings

The findings reveal various innovative revenue-generating activities and business processes taken by social entrepreneurs to be sustainable during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as pivoting and forging new partnerships. Themes such as technical innovation and social innovation are critical concepts that need to be differentiated and understood. The introduction of a new construct termed “mission agility” will be of significant interest to academicians studying social entrepreneurship and sustainability.

Practical implications

The practical implications of this study suggest that if social enterprises implement the recommended strategies, they may achieve both short-term and long-term social entrepreneurial sustainability during the pandemic crisis and progressively into the post-pandemic era.

Originality/value

This study is unique by using two methods of data collection. By providing vital empirical evidence through primary and secondary data, the paper will offer robust findings and proposes recommendations on entrepreneurial strategies to foster the recovery and sustainability of social enterprises during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Effect of process parameters during electric discharge machining of maraging steel and optimization using Taguchi-DEAR method
Authors: Sameer MD , Birru Anil Kumar , Srinu G. , Naresh Ch
Published: October 2021

Purpose

The electric discharge machining (EDM) involves electrons discharged from the electrode and machining progresses due to the removal of the material from the component. This a thermal-based machining process primarily used for hard to machine components with conventional methods. This process is used to make intricate cavities and contours. The fabricated part is the replica of the tool material with high surface finish and good dimensional accuracy. This study aims to evaluate the comprehensive effect of process parameters on electric discharge machining of maraging steel.

Design/methodology/approach

Multiple criteria Decision making (MCDM) techniques are used to select the best parameters by comparing several responses to achieve the desired goal. There are different MCDM techniques available for optimization of machining parameters. In the current investigation, multi-objective optimization by data envelopment analysis based ranking (DEAR) approach was used for machining Maraging C300 grade steel.

Findings

The Taguchi L9 runs were planned with process parameters such as current (Amp), Tool diameter (mm) and Dielectric pressure (MPa). The effect of process parameters on the responses, namely, material removal rate (MRR), tool wear rate (TWR) and surface roughness (SR) were evaluated. High MRR is found at 15 A current, 14 mm tool diameter and dielectric pressure of 0.2 MPa. Optimum process parameters experiment showed reduced crack density.

Originality/value

An effort was made successfully to enhance the responses using the DEAR method and establish the decision making of selecting the optimal parameters by comparing the results obtained by machining maraging steel C300 grade.
An Open‐Source Web Application for Regional Analysis of GRACE Groundwater Data and Engaging Stakeholders in Groundwater Management
Authors: McStraw Travis Clinton , Pulla Sarva T. , Jones Norman L. , Williams Gustavious P. , David Cédric H. , Nelson James E. , Ames Daniel P.
Published: October 2021

Since 2002, National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) allows scientists of various disciplines to analyze and map changes in total water storage globally. Although the raw data are available to the public, the process of viewing, manipulating, and analyzing GRACE data can be difficult for those without strong technological backgrounds in programming or geospatial software. This is particularly true for water managers in developing countries, where GRACE data could be a valuable asset for sustainable water resource management. To address this problem, we developed an open‐source utility for subsetting GRACE datasets to selected regions of interest and packaged that utility in a web application that allows water managers to quickly and easily access and visualize GRACE data. For a selected region, we use data from the three Global Land Data Assimilation System land surface models: Noah, variable infiltration capacity, and Catchment Land Surface Model, and decompose the GRACE data for total water storage into surface water, soil moisture, and groundwater components along with associated uncertainty estimates. The resulting groundwater data are in the form of groundwater storage changes over time, and a better understanding of groundwater storage trends helps water managers to more effectively respond to drought and agricultural demand in a selected region and thereby more sustainably manage groundwater resources. We demonstrate these uses in a case study from the Hindu‐Kush Himalayan region.
The landscape of climate change adaptation aspirations in the US non‐profit conservation sector
Authors: Skikne Sarah , Cross Molly , Press Daniel , Zavaleta Erika
Published: November 2021

Despite extensive recommendations for adapting conservation to climate change, limited knowledge exists about how practitioners aim to respond. To address this gap, we analyzed proposals for on‐the‐ground climate adaptation projects submitted by US conservation non‐profits, which play a central role in conserving biodiversity. We assessed 415 proposals submitted between 2011 and 2015 to the Wildlife Conservation Society's Climate Adaptation Fund, a US‐based fund focused solely on adaptation for wildlife and ecosystems. We evaluated the distribution of proposed projects across conservation targets, strategies, and activities, and their geographic alignment with climate impacts. Proposals most often targeted river and riparian ecosystems, fish, and birds. Attention on amphibians and invertebrates was disproportionately low relative to their climate vulnerability. Proposals commonly included efforts to restore previous structures and functions, while relatively few described facilitating change (e.g., supporting future‐adapted species). Proposal density was highest along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, geographically aligned with non‐profit density and public opinion on climate change. There was no geographic alignment between exposure and proposed responses to five of six climate threats (warming, aridity, wildfire, inland flooding, sea level rise). Our findings identify gaps in adaptation attention, and can enhance strategic resource allocation, targeted capacity building, and adaptation outcomes for conservation.
The relationship between COVID‐19 and HLA in kidney transplant recipients, an evaluation of predictive and prognostic factors
Authors: Ertosun Mustafa Gökhan , Özkan Özlenen , Darbaş Şule , Özel Deniz , BİLGE Uğur , Sayin Ekinci Nurten , Yilmaz Vural Taner , Uçar Fahri , Koçak Hüseyin , Özkan Ömer
Published: November 2021

Introduction

The purpose of this study was to determine the predictive and prognostic factors for COVID‐19 infection and its relationship with human leukocyte antigen (HLA) in kidney transplant recipients.

Material and method

Three hundred fifty kidney transplant recipients were included in the study. Recipients were divided into two groups: COVID‐19(+) (n = 100) and control (n = 250). The relationships between HLA frequencies, COVID‐19 infection, and prognostic factors (age, donor type, immunosuppression protocol, etc.) were then evaluated. Logistic regression analysis, heatmap, and decision tree methods were used to determine predictive and prognostic factors. The study was performed retrospectively.

Results

Advanced age and deceased transplantation emerged as predictive of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, while the presence of HLA‐A*11, the HLA match ratio, and high‐dose tacrolimus were identified as prognostic factors in kidney transplant recipients. HLA‐A10, HLA‐B*13, HLA‐B22, and HLA‐B*55 were shown to be associated with SARS‐CoV‐2 infection at univariate analysis, and HLA‐B*57, HLA‐DRB1*11, and HLA‐DRB1*13 at logistic regression analysis.

Conclusion

HLA‐A10, HLA‐B*13, HLA‐B*55, HLA‐B*57, HLA‐DRB1*11, and HLA‐DRB1*13 were identified for the first time in the literature associated with SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in kidney transplant recipients.
Bleeding complications in bcr‐abl‐negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN): A retrospective single‐center study of 829 MPN patients
Authors: Wille Kai , Huenerbein Karlo , Jagenberg Ellen , Sadjadian Parvis , Becker Tatjana , Kolatzki Vera , Meixner Raphael , Marchi Hannah , Fuchs Christiane , Griesshammer Martin
Published: October 2021

In patients with bcr‐abl‐negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), concerns are often raised about the use of anticoagulants because of an increased bleeding risk. However, there are few MPN studies focusing on bleeding. To investigate bleeding complications in MPN, we report our retrospective, single‐center study of 829 patients with a median follow‐up of 5.5 years (range: 0.1–35.6). A first bleeding event occurred in 143 of 829 patients (17.2%), corresponding to an incidence rate of 2.29% per patient/year. During the follow‐up period, one out of 829 patients (0.1%) died due to bleeding. Regarding anticoagulation, most bleeding occurred in patients on antiplatelet therapies (60.1%), followed by patients on anticoagulation therapies (20.3%) and patients not on anticoagulation (19.6%). In multivariate analysis, administration of antiplatelet (HR 2.31 [1.43, 3.71]) and anticoagulation therapies (HR 4.06 [2.32, 7.09]), but not age, gender or mutation status, was associated with an increased bleeding risk. Comparing the “probability of bleeding‐free survival” between the MPN subtypes, no significant difference was observed (p = 0.91, log‐rank test). Our retrospective study shows that antiplatelet and anticoagulation therapies significantly increase the risk of bleeding in MPN patients without affecting mortality. However, there is no reason to refrain from guideline‐conform primary or secondary anticoagulation in MPN patients.
Substrate specificity and complex stability of coproporphyrin ferrochelatase is governed by hydrogen‐bonding interactions of the four propionate groups
Authors: Gabler Thomas , Sebastiani Federico , Helm Johannes , Dali Andrea , Obinger Christian , Furtmüller Paul G. , Smulevich Giulietta , Hofbauer Stefan
Published: October 2021

Coproporpyhrin III is the substrate of coproporphyrin ferrochelatases (CpfCs). These enzymes catalyse the insertion of ferrous iron into the porphyrin ring. This is the penultimate step within the coproporphyrin‐dependent haeme biosynthesis pathway. This pathway was discovered in 2015 and is mainly utilised by monoderm bacteria. Prior to this discovery, monoderm bacteria were believed to utilise the protoporphyrin‐dependent pathway, analogously to diderm bacteria, where the substrate for the respective ferrochelatase is protoporphyrin IX, which has two propionate groups at positions 6 and 7 and two vinyl groups at positions 2 and 4. In this work, we describe for the first time the interactions of the four‐propionate substrate, coproporphyrin III, and the four‐propionate product, iron coproporphyrin III (coproheme), with the CpfC from Listeria monocytogenes and pin down differences with respect to the protoporphyrin IX and haeme b complexes in the wild‐type (WT) enzyme. We further created seven LmCpfC variants aiming at altering substrate and product coordination. The WT enzyme and all the variants were comparatively studied by spectroscopic, thermodynamic and kinetic means to investigate in detail the H‐bonding interactions, which govern complex stability and substrate specificity. We identified a tyrosine residue (Y124 in LmCpfC), coordinating the propionate at position 2, which is conserved in monoderm CpfCs, to be highly important for binding and stabilisation. Importantly, we also describe a tyrosine‐serine‐threonine triad, which coordinates the propionate at position 4. The study of the triad variants indicates structural differences between the coproporphyrin III and the coproheme complexes.

Enzyme

EC 4.99.1.9
Accelerated shifts in terrestrial life zones under rapid climate change
Authors: Elsen Paul R. , Saxon Earl C. , Simmons B. Alexander , Ward Michelle , Williams Brooke A. , Grantham Hedley S. , Kark Salit , Levin Noam , Perez‐Hammerle Katharina‐Victoria , Reside April E. , Watson James E. M.
Published: October 2021

Rapid climate change is impacting biodiversity, ecosystem function, and human well‐being. Though the magnitude and trajectory of climate change are becoming clearer, our understanding of how these changes reshape terrestrial life zones—distinct biogeographic units characterized by biotemperature, precipitation, and aridity representing broad‐scale ecosystem types—is limited. To address this gap, we used high‐resolution historical climatologies and climate projections to determine the global distribution of historical (1901–1920), contemporary (1979–2013), and future (2061–2080) life zones. Comparing the historical and contemporary distributions shows that changes from one life zone to another during the 20th century impacted 27 million km2 (18.3% of land), with consequences for social and ecological systems. Such changes took place in all biomes, most notably in Boreal Forests, Temperate Coniferous Forests, and Tropical Coniferous Forests. Comparing the contemporary and future life zone distributions shows the pace of life zone changes accelerating rapidly in the 21st century. By 2070, such changes would impact an additional 62 million km2 (42.6% of land) under “business‐as‐usual” (RCP8.5) emissions scenarios. Accelerated rates of change are observed in hundreds of ecoregions across all biomes except Tropical Coniferous Forests. While only 30 ecoregions (3.5%) had over half of their areas change to a different life zone during the 20th century, by 2070 this number is projected to climb to 111 ecoregions (13.1%) under RCP4.5 and 281 ecoregions (33.2%) under RCP8.5. We identified weak correlations between life zone change and threatened vertebrate richness, levels of vertebrate endemism, cropland extent, and human population densities within ecoregions, illustrating the ubiquitous risks of life zone changes to diverse social–ecological systems. The accelerated pace of life zone changes will increasingly challenge adaptive conservation and sustainable development strategies that incorrectly assume current ecological patterns and livelihood provisioning systems will persist.
Anthropogenic drivers of avian community turnover from local to regional scales
Authors: Di Cecco Grace J. , Hurlbert Allen H.
Published: October 2021

Anthropogenic change has altered the composition and function of ecological communities across the globe. As a result, there is a need for studies examining observed community compositional change and determining whether and how anthropogenic change drivers may be influencing that turnover. In particular, it is also important to determine to what extent community turnover is idiosyncratic or if turnover can be explained by predictable responses across species based on traits or niche characteristics. Here, we measured turnover in avian communities across North America from 1990 to 2016 in the Breeding Bird Survey using an ordination method, and modeled turnover as a function of land use and climate change drivers from local to regional scales. We also examined how turnover may be attributed to species groups, including foraging guilds, trophic groups, migratory distance, and breeding biomes. We found that at local scales, land use change explained a greater proportion of variance in turnover than climate change variables, while as scale increased, trends in temperature explained a greater proportion of variance in turnover. We also found across the study region, turnover could be attributed to one of a handful of species undergoing strong expansions or strong declines over the study time period. We did not observe consistent patterns in compositional change in any trait groups we examined except for those that included previously identified highly influential species. Our results have two important implications: First, the relative importance of different anthropogenic change drivers may vary with scale, which should be considered in studies’ modeling impacts of global change on biodiversity. Second, in North American avian communities, individual species undergoing large shifts in population may drive signals in compositional change, and composite community turnover metrics should be carefully selected as a result.
Economic values of reproductive, growth, feed efficiency and carcass traits in Nellore cattle
Authors: Souza Flávia M. , Lopes Fernando B. , Rosa Guilherme J. M. , Magnabosco Cláudio U.
Published: October 2021

A bioeconomic model was developed to calculate the economic value (ev) of reproductive and growth performance, feed efficiency and carcass traits of a seedstock Nellore herd. Data from a full‐cycle cattle operation (1,436 dams) located in the Brazilian Cerrado were assessed. The ev was calculated by the difference in profit before and after one‐unit improvement in the trait, with others remaining unchanged. The ev was standardized by the phenotypic standard deviation of each trait. Preweaning average daily gain (ADG) was the most economically important trait evaluated (R$ 58.04/animal/year), followed by age at first calving (R$ 44.35), postweaning ADG (R$ 31.43), weight at 450 days (R$ 25.36), accumulated productivity (R$ 21.43), ribeye area (R$ 21.35), calving interval (R$ 19.97), feed efficiency (R$ 15.24), carcass dressing per cent (R$ 8.27), weight at 120 days (R$ 6.22), weight at 365 days (R$ 6.06), weight at weaning (210 days, R$ 5.82), stayability (R$ 5.70) and the probability of early calving (R$ 0.32). The effects of all traits on profits are evidence that their selection may result in the economic and genetic progress of the herd if there is genetic variability.
Prognostic evaluation and immune infiltration analysis of five bioinformatic selected genes in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Lai Enjiang , Tai Yang , Jiang Jingsun , Zhao Chong , Xiao Yang , Quan Xin , Wu Hao , Gao Jinhang
Published: November 2021

Despite the development in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment in recent years, the therapeutic outcome of HCC remains unfavourable. This study examines the prognosis of HCC from a genetic level using clinical databases and single‐cell data to identify genes with a high prognostic value. Three up‐regulated genes (UBE2S, PTTG1, and CDC20) and two down‐regulated genes (SOCS2 and DNASE1L3) in HCC tissues were identified. Various analyses confirmed its correlation with tumour stage (p < 0.01) and patient survival time (log‐rank p < 0.001). Immune analysis, single‐cell analysis, and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) were employed to provide insight on how they affect cancer progression, and we observed a close relation between these genes and tumour immune infiltration. Eventually, we constructed a risk score system that risk score = (0.0465) × UBE2S + (0.1851) × CDC20 + (−0.0461) × DNASE1L3 + (−0.2279) × SOCS2 (5‐year area under curve = 0.706). The risk score system may serve as an effective novel prognostic system for HCC patients. This study might provide novel ideas for prognostic or therapeutic biomarkers for HCC.
What is unknown in using microbiota as a therapeutic?
Authors: Sung Joseph J Y , Wong Sunny H
Published: November 2021

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has been used extensively in the treatment of various gastrointestinal and extraintestinal conditions, despite that there are still a lot of missing gaps in our knowledge in the gut microbiota and its behavior. This article describes the unknowns in microbiota biology (undetected microbes, uncertain colonization, unclear mechanisms of action, uncertain indications, unsure long‐term efficacy, or side effects). We discuss how these unknowns may affect the therapeutic uses of FMT, and the potentials and caveats of other related microbiota‐based therapies. When used as an experimental therapy or last resort in difficult conditions, caution should be taken against inadvertent complications. Clear documentations of post‐treatment events should be made mandatory, classified, and graded as in clinical trials. Further robust scientific experiments and properly designed clinical studies are needed.
‘There’s Many a Slip “Twixt the Cup and the Lip”’: HR Management Practices and Firm Performance
Authors: Vossaert Lien , Anseel Frederik , Collewaert Veroniek , Foss Nicolai J.
Published: October 2021

Divergent but complementary perspectives have been articulated regarding how management practices and their implementation influence firm performance. Integrating such perspectives in the human resource (HR) management literature, we examine how HR management practices formulated at firm level interact with HR decisions at lower levels, and how this affects firm performance. HR implementation models have proposed that consistency in HR practices across organizational levels and units is key; conversely, idiosyncratic deals (i‐deals) theory advances individualization as a central principle, suggesting that lower‐level initiative in making decisions that reflect local circumstances should have beneficial effects. Addressing the interplay between the consistency and individualization perspectives in a sample of 870 employees nested in 36 firms, we present evidence suggesting that individualized HR decisions positively affect firm performance only in the presence of strong firm‐level HR practices. This interplay occurs through two mediating social exchange processes: perceived organizational support and perceived distributive justice.
Strigolactones: New players in the nitrogen–phosphorus signalling interplay
Authors: Marro Nicolás , Lidoy Javier , Chico María Ángeles , Rial Carlos , García Juan , Varela Rosa M. , Macías Francisco A. , Pozo María J. , Janoušková Martina , López‐Ráez Juan A.
Published: October 2021

Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are among the most important macronutrients for plant growth and development, and the most widely used as fertilizers. Understanding how plants sense and respond to N and P deficiency is essential to optimize and reduce the use of chemical fertilizers. Strigolactones (SLs) are phytohormones acting as modulators and sensors of plant responses to P deficiency. In the present work, we assess the potential role of SLs in N starvation and in the N–P signalling interplay. Physiological, transcriptional and metabolic responses were analysed in wild‐type and SL‐deficient tomato plants grown under different P and N regimes, and in plants treated with a short‐term pulse of the synthetic SL analogue 2′‐epi‐GR24. The results evidence that plants prioritize N over P status by affecting SL biosynthesis. We also show that SLs modulate the expression of key regulatory genes of phosphate and nitrate signalling pathways, including the N–P integrators PHO2 and NIGT1/HHO. The results support a key role for SLs as sensors during early plant responses to both N and phosphate starvation and mediating the N–P signalling interplay, indicating that SLs are involved in more physiological processes than so far proposed.
Effect of Gamma Rays on Seed Germination Survival Rate and Morphology of Stevia rebaudiana Hybrid
Authors: Abdullah Shamsiah , Mohamad Fauzi Nor Yasmin , Khalid Aida Khalida , Osman Mohamad
Published: October 2021

The effects of gamma radiation are investigated by studying seed germination, survival rate and morphological characteristics of Stevia rebaudiana. Improvement of stevia plant through mutagenesis could be one of the ways to produce stevia with delay flowering.
Robust Multicollinearity Diagnostic Measure For Fixed Effect Panel Data Model
Authors: Ismaeel Shelan Saied , Midi Habshah , Sani Muhammed
Published: October 2021

It is now evident that high leverage points (HLPs) can induce the multicollinearity pattern of a data in fixed effect panel data model. Those observations that are responsible for this phenomenon are called high leverage collinearity-enhancing observations (HLCEO). The commonly used within group ordinary least squares (WOLS) estimator for estimating the parameters of fixed effect panel data model is easily affected by HLCEOs. In their presence, the WOLS estimates may produce large variances and this would lead to erroneous interpretation. Therefore, it is imperative to detect the multicollinearity which is caused by HLCEOs. The classical Variance Inflation Factor (CVIF) is the commonly used diagnostic method for detecting multicollinearity in panel data. However, it is not correctly diagnosed multicollinearity in the presence of HLCEOs. Hence, in this paper three new robust diagnostic methods of diagnosing multicollinearity in panel data are proposed, namely the RVIF (WGM-FIMGT), RVIF (WGM-DRGP) and RVIF (WMM) and compared their performances with the CVIF. The numerical evidences show that the CVIF incorrectly diagnosed multicollinearity but our proposed methods correctly diagnosed no multicollinearity in the presence of HLCEOs where RVIF (WGM-FIMGT) being the best method as it has the least computational running time.
New Mechanistic Insights into Purine Biosynthesis with Second Messenger c-di-AMP in Relation to Biofilm-Related Persistent Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Infections
Authors: Li Liang , Li Yi , Zhu Fengli , Cheung Ambrose L. , Wang Genzhu , Bai Guangchun , Proctor Richard A. , Yeaman Michael R. , Bayer Arnold S. , Xiong Yan Q.
Published: November 2021

Persistent endovascular infections caused by MRSA, including vascular graft infection syndromes and infective endocarditis, are significant and growing public health threats. A particularly worrisome trend is that most MRSA isolates from these patients are “susceptible”
in vitro
to conventional anti-MRSA antibiotics, such as VAN and daptomycin (DAP), based on Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute breakpoints.
Candida albicans Isolates 529L and CHN1 Exhibit Stable Colonization of the Murine Gastrointestinal Tract
Authors: McDonough Liam D. , Mishra Animesh A. , Tosini Nicholas , Kakade Pallavi , Penumutchu Swathi , Liang Shen-Huan , Maufrais Corrine , Zhai Bing , Taur Ying , Belenky Peter , Bennett Richard J. , Hohl Tobias M. , Koh Andrew Y. , Ene Iuliana V.
Published: November 2021

Understanding how fungi colonize the GI tract is increasingly recognized as highly relevant to human health. The animal models used to study
Candida albicans
commensalism commonly rely on altering the host microbiome (via antibiotic treatment or defined diets) to establish successful GI colonization by the
C. albicans
reference isolate SC5314.
The Role Transition of Dietary Species Richness in Modulating the Gut Microbial Assembly and Postweaning Performance of a Generalist Herbivore
Authors: Li Guoliang , Shi Chao , Song Yiran , Chu Haiyan , Zhang Zhibin
Published: November 2021

The plant species diversity varies greatly under the influence of both climate change and human disturbance, which may negatively affect the productivity as well as the variability of organisms (e.g., small herbivores) at the next trophic level. It is still unknown how gut microbiota of small herbivores respond to such changes in dietary species richness.
Zircon (U-Th)/He thermochronology of Grand Canyon resolves 1250 Ma unroofing at the Great Unconformity and <20 Ma canyon carving
Authors: Thurston Olivia G. , Guenthner William R. , Karlstrom Karl E. , Ricketts Jason W. , Heizler Matthew T. , Timmons J. Michael
Published: November 2021

Our study used zircon (U-Th)/He (ZHe) thermochronology to resolve cooling events of Precambrian basement below the Great Unconformity surface in the eastern Grand Canyon, United States. We combined new ZHe data with previous thermochronometric results to model the <250 °C thermal history of Precambrian basement over the past >1 Ga. Inverse models of ZHe date-effective uranium (eU) concentration, a relative measure of radiation damage that influences closure temperature, utilize He diffusion and damage annealing and suggest that the main phase of Precambrian cooling to <200 °C was between 1300 and 1250 Ma. This result agrees with mica and potassium feldspar 40Ar/39Ar thermochronology showing rapid post–1400 Ma cooling, and both are consistent with the 1255 Ma depositional age for the Unkar Group. At the young end of the timescale, our data and models are also highly sensitive to late-stage reheating due to burial beneath ∼3–4 km of Phanerozoic strata prior to ca. 60 Ma; models that best match observed date-eU trends show maximum temperatures of 140–160 °C, in agreement with apatite (U-Th)/He and fission-track data. Inverse models also support multi-stage Cenozoic cooling, with post–20 Ma cooling from ∼80 to 20 °C reflecting partial carving of the eastern Grand Canyon, and late rapid cooling indicated by 3–7 Ma ZHe dates over a wide range of high eU. Our ZHe data resolve major basement exhumation below the Great Unconformity during the Mesoproterozoic (1300–1250 Ma), and “young” (20–0 Ma) carving of Grand Canyon, but show little sensitivity to Neoproterozoic and Cambrian basement unroofing components of the composite Great Unconformity.
Oceanic strike-slip faults represent active fluid conduits in the abyssal sub-seafloor
Authors: Hensen Christian , Scholz Florian , Liebetrau Volker , Kaul Norbert , Nuzzo Marianne , Schmidt Mark , Batista Luis , Villinger Heinrich , Terrinha Pedro
Published: November 2021

We present pore-fluid geochemistry and heat-flow data along the SWIM1 fault in the Horseshoe Abyssal Plain (northeastern Atlantic Ocean). The SWIM1 fault is part of the transcurrent plate boundary between Africa and Eurasia and cuts through as much as 5-km-thick sediments overlying >140 Ma oceanic lithosphere. In a number of places, restraining segments (as long as 15 km) of the SWIM1 fault generate anticlines (positive flower structures) that protrude as ∼100-m-high hills above the abyssal plain. Heat flow and gradients of dissolved constituents in pore water are enhanced at these seafloor highs. Transport-reaction modeling confirms that slow advection of deep-seated fluids, depleted in Mg and enriched in Sr and CH4, can explain the observations. The geochemical signature is similar to the one observed at deep-sea mud volcanoes located eastward on the SWIM1 fault. The upward-migrating fluids have interacted with carbonate rocks at maximum 5 km depth, which represent the oldest sedimentary unit on top of the basement. We argue that deep-rooted fluids can generally be mobilized and transported upward along flower structures that formed in restraining-bend segments of long strike-slip faults. Such tectonic settings represent largely unrecognized corridors for mass exchange between lithosphere and ocean.