bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genetic Basis of Variation in Cocaine and Methamphetamine Consumption in Outbred Populations ofDrosophila melanogaster
Authors: Baker Brandon M. , Carbone Mary Anna , Huang Wen , Anholt Robert R. H. , Mackay Trudy F. C.
Published: March 2021

We usedDrosophila melanogasterto map the genetic basis of naturally occurring variation in voluntary consumption of cocaine and methamphetamine. We derived an outbred advanced intercross population (AIP) from 37 sequenced inbred wild-derived lines of theDrosophila melanogasterGenetic Reference Panel (DGRP), which are maximally genetically divergent, have minimal residual heterozygosity, are not segregating for common inversions, and are not infected withWolbachia pipientis. We assessed consumption of sucrose, methamphetamine-supplemented sucrose and cocaine-supplemented sucrose, and found considerable phenotypic variation for consumption of both drugs, in both sexes. We performed whole genome sequencing and extreme QTL mapping on the top 10% of consumers for each replicate, sex and condition, and an equal number of randomly selected flies. We evaluated changes in allele frequencies among high consumers and control flies and identified 3,033 variants significantly (P< 1.9 × 10-8) associated with increased consumption, located in or near 1,962 genes. Many of these genes are associated with nervous system development and function, and 77 belong to a known gene-gene interaction subnetwork. We assessed the effects of RNA interference (RNAi) on drug consumption for 22 candidate genes; 17 had a significant effect in at least one sex. We constructed allele-specific AIPs which were homozygous for alternative candidate alleles for 10 SNPs and measured average consumption for each population; nine SNPs had significant effects in at least one sex. The genetic basis of voluntary drug consumption in Drosophila is polygenic and implicates genes with human orthologs and associated variants with sex- and drug-specific effects.

Significance Statement

The use of cocaine and methamphetamine presents significant socioeconomic problems. However, identifying the genetic underpinnings that determine susceptibility to substance use is challenging in human populations. The fruit fly,Drosophila melanogaster,presents a powerful genetic model since we can control the genetic background and environment, 75% of disease-causing genes in humans have a fly counterpart, and flies - like humans - exhibit adverse effects upon cocaine and methamphetamine exposure. We showed that the genetic architecture underlying variation in voluntary cocaine and methamphetamine consumption differs between sexes and is dominated by variants in genes associated with connectivity and function of the nervous system. Results obtained from the Drosophila gene discovery model can guide studies on substance abuse susceptibility in human populations.
ERP implementation at ABC mining company
Authors: Nandi Madhavi , Nandi Santosh
Published: March 2021

Learning outcomes

After reading and discussing this case, students will learn to identify the content and context of enterprise resource planning (ERP) implementation that is important from an operations standpoint. Through this case, student will discuss and evaluate the scenarios of ERP implementation arising from different deployment alternatives. Students will also learn to comprehend the case organization’s unique operational context and explore the challenges of introducing change into workplace environment and stakeholders’ overall expectations.

Case overview/synopsis

This case introduces students to the dilemmas of managerial decision-making that large companies face while implementing organization-wide technological upgrades, such as ERP. The case is set at a time point where ABC Mining Company – a large public-sector mining company – was trying to identify the most optimal ERP option based on its organizational structure and organizational processes. The information related to ABC’s organizational context included their business, structural and operational scenarios at the time. The information related to ABC’s stakeholders’ expectations reflected their perception about ERP and future implications. The information related to managerial conflicts reflected the understandings of the managers, in terms of need for ERP, needed skill to handle ERP and different types of ERP implementations that others have adopted. The case calls students for extensive analysis of the gathered information to identify and evaluate impacts and risks of all possible ERP alternates, and finally pick upon the most optimal ERP alternate. The case assumes a live 90-min class session conducted by an instructor. The instructor is recommended to assign the case to students for mandatory pre-reading before coming to class. The instructor is provided with a teaching plan to navigate the case.

Complexity academic level

The case is designed as an introductory case for an undergraduate or a graduate course pertaining strategic decision-making of ERP systems implementation.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Subject code

CSS 11: Strategy.
The implications of loneliness among school principals
Authors: Dor-Haim Peleg , Oplatka Izhar
Published: March 2021

Purpose

This paper explores the subjective interpretations of school principals' experiences of loneliness in the workplace and the implications of those experiences. The study poses two questions: (1) How do school principals perceive that their experience of loneliness affects their emotional well-being? (2) How do school principals perceive that the experience of loneliness influences their performance at work?

Design/methodology/approach

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 elementary and secondary school principals in Israel. A qualitative research methodology was employed to collect and analyze the data.

Findings

Data analysis resulted in four overarching themes, which captured the subjective consequences of principals' experiences of loneliness at work: a negative effect on work performance, emotional distress, physical health consequences and a positive perspective on loneliness.

Originality/value

Expanding upon the current knowledge regarding principals' perceived outcomes of loneliness may help to deepen our understanding of principals' emotional experiences and functioning at work. This examination is of great value as previous research has demonstrated the central role of principals on school success.
RNA release via membrane vesicles in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 is associated with the growth phase
Authors: Pérez‐Cruz Carla , Briansó Ferran , Sonnleitner Elisabeth , Bläsi Udo , Mercadé Elena
Published: March 2021

Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 membrane vesicles (MVs) are known to play a role in cell‐to‐cell communication. Several studies have shown that the MV composition and physicochemical properties vary according to the bacterial growth stage, but the impact this might have on the externalization of RNA via MVs has not been addressed. Therefore, a study to characterize the RNA content from MVs retrieved at different growth phases was conducted. First, the transcriptome analyses revealed a higher abundance of around 300 RNA species in MVs when compared with the cells. The vesiculation rate along the growth curve was determined, showing that the release of MVs increased during the transition to the stationary phase, whereas it decreased in the late stationary phase. RNA‐seq of MVs retrieved along the transition to the stationary phase demonstrated that the RNA cargo of vesicles did not vary. However, the amount of smaller RNAs (<200 nt) inside MVs retrieved in the late exponential phase was higher than in the stationary phase MVs. These results indicate that the externalization of RNA via MVs occurs during late exponential phase and implies the secretion of different types of MVs during growth.
Survival finance and the politics of equal pay
Authors: Sobering Katherine
Published: March 2021

Wage gaps constitute a major component of workplace inequality. While scholars have explored the causes and consequences of differences in pay, very few question the basic presumption that workers are paid differently in the first place. Drawing on ethnographic research in a worker cooperative with a policy of equal pay, this article analyses how the organization compensated its members in the context of low wages, economic uncertainty, and insufficient social benefits. Over time, I found that members justified small variations that led to wage difference without amending their commitment to pay equity. This was made possible through a system of survival finance, a set of compensation practices that supports the reproduction of both individual members and the organization as a whole. Whereas members understood money wages as market‐based incentives for labor, the cooperative enacted its principles of equality and fairness by compensating members with alternative currencies (time) and additional benefits (zero interest rate credit) to help make ends meet. The article concludes by reflecting on the challenges of equalizing pay and its implications for reducing workplace inequality.
Regulating digital therapeutics for mental health: Opportunities, challenges, and the essential role of psychologists
Authors: Carl Jenna R. , Jones Deborah J. , Lindhiem Oliver J. , Doss Brian D. , Weingardt Kenneth R. , Timmons Adela C. , Comer Jonathan S.
Published: March 2021

With so many promising digital therapeutics for anxiety and obsessive‐compulsive (OC) spectrum problems, there is an urgent need to consider how evolving regulatory oversight of digital therapeutics is poised to shift how these tools are developed, evaluated, reimbursed, and delivered. In this commentary, we discuss both opportunities and potential pitfalls associated with emerging government regulations of digital therapeutics for mental health, and we consider how applying the traditional ‘prescription‐based’ medical approval paradigm to digital therapeutics for mental health could ultimately undermine and limit the broad accessibility of these software‐based innovations that have been explicitly designed to expand the accessibility of care. For example, the vast majority of behavioural and mental health providers do not have ‘prescription privileges’ (a term originally rooted in pharmacologic practices), and as a result, under current regulations in the U.S. would not be authorized to make FDA‐cleared digital therapeutics available to their patients. This is particularly concerning given that most digital therapeutics for mental health are directly rooted in psychological and behavioural science, yet psychologists would not be authorized to incorporate these innovations into their practice. We consider how synchronizing regulatory standards across countries may prove useful, and we conclude by arguing that multidisciplinary teams making regulatory decisions concerning digital therapeutics for mental health must include representation from the discipline and practice of psychology.

Practitioner points

Emerging government regulations of digital therapeutics for mental health present both opportunities and potential pitfalls

Applying the traditional ‘prescription‐based’ medical approval paradigm to digital therapeutics for mental health could ultimately undermine the broad accessibility of these software‐based innovations.

Synchronizing regulatory standards across countries may prove useful.

Multidisciplinary teams making regulatory decisions concerning digital therapeutics for mental health must include representation from the field of psychology.
Activation of soluble guanylyl cyclase signalling with cinaciguat improves impaired kidney function in diabetic mice
Authors: Harloff Manuela , Prüschenk Sally , Seifert Roland , Schlossmann Jens
Published: March 2021

Background and Purpose

Diabetic nephropathy is the leading cause for end‐stage renal disease worldwide. Until now, there is no specific therapy available. Standard treatment with inhibitors of the renin‐angiotensin system just slows down progression. However, targeting the NO/sGC/cGMP pathway using sGC activators does prevent kidney damage. Thus, we investigated if the sGC activator cinaciguat was beneficial in a mouse model of diabetic nephropathy, and we analysed how mesangial cells (MCs) were affected by related conditions in cell culture.

Experimental Approach

Type 1 diabetes was induced with streptozotocin in wild‐type and endothelial NOS knockout (eNOS KO) mice for 8 or 12 weeks.. Half of these mice received cinaciguat in their chow for the last 4 weeks. Kidneys from the diabetic mice were analysed with histochemical assays and by RT‐PCR and western blotting. . Additionally, primary murine MCs under diabetic conditions were stimulated with 8‐Br‐cGMP or cinaciguat to activate the sGC/cGMP pathway.

Key Results

The diabetic eNOS KO mice developed most characteristics of diabetic nephropathy, most marked at 12 weeks. Treatment with cinaciguat markedly improved GFR, serum creatinine, mesangial expansion and kidney fibrosis in these animals. We determined expression levels of related signalling proteins. Thrombospondin 1, a key mediator in kidney diseases, was strongly up‐regulated under diabetic conditions and this increase was suppressed by activation of sGC/cGMP signalling.

Conclusion and Implications

Activation of the NO/sGC/PKG pathway with cinaciguat was beneficial in a model of diabetic nephropathy. Activators of sGC might be an appropriate therapy option in patients with Type 1 diabetes.

LINKED ARTICLES

This article is part of a themed issue on cGMP Signalling in Cell Growth and Survival. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v179.11/issuetoc
Changes in local brain function in mild cognitive impairment due to semantic dementia
Authors: Cui Liang , Chen Keliang , Huang Lin , Sun Jiawei , Lv Yating , Jia Xize , Guo Qihao
Published: March 2021

Aims

Mild cognitive impairment due to semantic dementia represents the preclinical stage, involving cognitive decline dominated by semantic impairment below the semantic dementia standard. Therefore, studying mild cognitive impairment due to semantic dementia may identify changes in patients before progression to dementia. However, whether changes in local functional activity occur in preclinical stages of semantic dementia remains unknown. Here, we explored local functional changes in patients with mild cognitive impairment due to semantic dementia using resting‐state functional MRI.

Methods

We administered a battery of neuropsychological tests to twenty‐two patients with mild cognitive impairment due to semantic dementia (MCI‐SD group) and nineteen healthy controls (HC group). We performed structural MRI to compare gray matter volumes, and resting‐state functional MRI with multiple sub‐bands and indicators to evaluate functional activity.

Results

Neuropsychological tests revealed a significant decline in semantic performance in the MCI‐SD group, but no decline in other cognitive domains. Resting‐state functional MRI revealed local functional changes in multiple brain regions in the MCI‐SD group, distributed in different sub‐bands and indicators. In the normal band, local functional changes were only in the gray matter atrophic area. In the other sub‐bands, more regions with local functional changes outside atrophic areas were found across various indicators. Among these, the degree centrality of the left precuneus in the MCI‐SD group was positively correlated with general semantic tasks (oral sound naming, word‐picture verification).

Conclusion

Our study revealed local functional changes in mild cognitive impairment due to semantic dementia, some of which were located outside the atrophic gray matter. Driven by functional connectivity changes, the left precuneus might play a role in preclinical semantic dementia. The study proved the value of frequency‐dependent sub‐bands, especially the slow‐2 and slow‐3 sub‐bands.
Population pharmacokinetic analysis of apomorphine sublingual film or subcutaneous apomorphine in healthy subjects and patients with Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Agbo Felix , Crass Ryan L. , Chiu Yu‐Yuan , Chapel Sunny , Galluppi Gerald , Blum David , Navia Bradford
Published: March 2021

Apomorphine is an on‐demand treatment of “OFF” episodes in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). A joint parent‐metabolite population pharmacokinetic (PK) model characterized apomorphine and apomorphine‐sulfate following administration of apomorphine sublingual film (APL) and two formulations of subcutaneous apomorphine. Overall, 2485 samples from 87 healthy subjects and 71 patients with PD and “OFF” episodes were analyzed using nonlinear mixed‐effects modeling. Apomorphine PK was adequately described by a two‐compartment model with first‐order transit absorption via both routes of administration and first‐order metabolism to apomorphine‐sulfate with one‐compartment disposition and first‐order elimination. Bioavailability of apomorphine sublingual film was ~ 18% relative to subcutaneous apomorphine. Among covariates tested, only body weight had a large effect on apomorphine exposure (maximum plasma concentration and area under the concentration–time curve [AUC0–∞]), with greater weight resulting in lower exposure. Model‐predicted apomorphine exposure was similar between apomorphine sublingual film 30 mg and subcutaneous apomorphine 5 mg (median AUC0–24, 66.7 ng•h/mL, geometric mean ratio of 0.99; 90% confidence interval [CI], 0.96−1.03) and was comparable between apomorphine sublingual film 35 mg and subcutaneous apomorphine 6 mg (median AUC0–24, 75.4 and 80.0 ng•h/mL, respectively; geometric mean ratio of 0.94; 90% CI, 0.90−0.97) administered every 2 h for a maximum of 5 doses per day. In a typical patient with PD, predicted apomorphine exposure increased with increasing doses of apomorphine sublingual film; however, the increase was less than dose proportional. Similar apomorphine exposure was predicted in patients with mild renal impairment versus normal renal function. PK properties of apomorphine sublingual film support its administration for a wide range of patients with PD and “OFF” episodes, regardless of demographic and clinical characteristics.
Introducing alcohol as a drug in medicine reviews with pharmacists: Findings from a co‐design workshop with patients
Authors: Madden Mary , Morris Stephanie , Ogden Margaret , Lewis David , Stewart Duncan , O'Carroll Ronan E. , McCambridge Jim
Published: March 2021

Introduction

Alcohol poses a range of potential problems to people taking medications, but health professionals are usually not comfortable talking about drinking with patients. The Medicines and Alcohol Consultation aims to increase the capacity of pharmacists to conduct person‐centred reviews in which alcohol is regarded as another drug to be discussed alongside medications. This paper explores sensitivities in discussing alcohol and views on the legitimacy of the Medicines and Alcohol Consultation intervention concept at a pharmacy‐user intervention co‐design workshop.

Methods

A co‐design workshop was held with 14 people recruited from UK community pharmacies who regularly drank alcohol and took medications for long‐term conditions. This formed one element of a broader, iterative, intervention co‐production process. Workshop discussions were audio‐recorded and analysed thematically.

Results

The basic intervention concept resonated well, though not entirely unproblematically. Participants were interested in receiving information on how medications interact with alcohol and how this might affect their own conditions, with which to make their own informed choices. Linking alcohol use to medicines gave legitimacy to pharmacists to raise alcohol in medicines reviews. Sensitivity in talking about alcohol was linked to vulnerability to negative judgement.

Discussion and Conclusions

Changing the framing of alcohol in medicines reviews, away from being regarded as a ‘lifestyle issue’ to being considered a drug directly linked to medicines use, safety and effectiveness, was welcomed by participants in this study.
Therapeutic inertia in the management of dyslipidaemia and hypertension in incident type 2 diabetes and the resulting risk factor burden: Real‐world evidence from primary care
Authors: Ling Joanna Z.J. , Montvida Olga , Khunti Kamlesh , Zhang Anthony L. , Xue Charlie C. , Paul Sanjoy K.
Published: March 2021

Objective

To investigate trends in the prevalence of hypertension and dyslipidaemia in incident type 2 diabetes (T2DM), time to antihypertensive (AHT) and lipid‐lowering therapy (LLT), and the association with systolic blood pressure (SBP) and lipid control.

Research Design and Methods

Using The Health Improvement Network UK primary care database, 254 925 people with incident T2DM and existing dyslipidaemia or hypertension were identified. Among those without atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) history and not on AHT or LLT at diagnosis, the adjusted median months to initiating an AHT or an LLT, and the probabilities of high SBP or lipid levels over 2 years in people initiating therapy within or after 1 year were evaluated according to high and low ASCVD risk status.

Results

At diabetes diagnosis, 66% and 66% had dyslipidaemia and hypertension, respectively. During 2005 to 2016, dyslipidaemia prevalence increased by 10% in people aged <60 years, while hypertension prevalence remained stable in all age groups. Among those with high ASCVD risk status in the age groups 18 to 39, 40 to 49, and 50 to 59 years, the median number of months to initiation of therapy were 20.4 (95% confidence interval [CI] 20.3‐20.5), 10.9 (95% CI 10.8‐11.0), and 9.5 (95% CI 9.4‐9.6) in the dyslipidaemia subcohort, and 28.1 (95% CI 28.0‐28.2), 19.2 (95% CI 19.1‐19.3), and 19.9 (95% CI 19.8‐20.0) in the hypertension subcohort. Among people with high and low ASCVD risk status, respectively, compared to early LLT initiators, those who initiated LLT after 1 year had a 65.3% to 85.3% and a 65.0% to 85.3% significantly higher probability of failing lipid control at 2 years of follow‐up, while late AHT initiators had a 46.5% to 57.9% and a 40.0% to 58.7% significantly higher probability of failing SBP control.

Conclusions

Significant delay in initiating cardioprotective therapies was observed, and time to first prescription was similar in the primary prevention setting, irrespective of ASCVD risk status across all T2DM diagnosis age groups, resulting in poor risk factor control at 2 years of follow‐up.
Dispersal–reproduction trade‐off in the leaf beetleGalerucella grisescens
Authors: Nasu Shota , Tokuda Makoto
Published: March 2021

Dispersion–reproduction trade‐offs are important to explore the evolutionary mechanism of dispersal strategies and the adaptive significance of dispersion in insects. In our previous study, variations in hindwing length were found in Japanese populations of the leaf beetleGalerucella grisescens(Joannis) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). They were distinctly divided into either long‐winged (LW) or short‐winged (SW) morphs in the field. The LW morphs were distributed widely in Japan, whereas the SW morphs were found in restricted areas in Honshu, the main island of Japan. We examined the possible existence of trade‐offs between dispersion and reproduction inG.grisescensby laboratory experiments. Larval duration and adult body size (head width) were not significantly different between LW and SW strains, but adult body weight was larger in some LW strains than in SW strains, most likely due to the size of hindwings and legs as well as to the development of flight muscles. Although the pre‐oviposition period was not significantly different among strains, female longevity and fertility were significantly higher in SW than in LW strains. Long‐winged individuals displayed flutter behaviours, suggesting their flight dispersal abilities, but SW individuals did not. Femurs of LW individuals were significantly longer on all legs compared to SW strains and the former walked faster than the latter. The present results indicate the presence of a dispersion–reproduction trade‐off inG. grisescens, in which SW strains have advantages in reproductive abilities and LW strains in dispersal abilities.
Physical activity in hemodialysis patients on nondialysis and dialysis days: Prospective observational study
Authors: Malhotra Rakesh , Kumar Ujjala , Virgen Patricia , Magallon Bryan , Garimella Pranav S. , Chopra Tushar , Kotanko Peter , Ikizler T. Alp , Trzebinska Danuta , Cadmus‐Bertram Lisa , Ix Joachim H.
Published: March 2021

Introduction

The physical decline in patients with end‐stage kidney disease (ESKD) is associated with morbidity and mortality. Prior studies have attempted to promote physical activity at the time of dialysis; however, physical activity patterns on the nondialysis days are unknown. This study aimed to quantify physical activity on dialysis and nondialysis days in hemodialysis patients using a wearable actigraph.

Methods

In this prospective study, subjects receiving hemodialysis were recruited from two outpatient dialysis units in urban San Diego and rural Imperial County, CA, between March 2018 and April 2019. Key inclusion criteria included: (1) receiving thrice weekly hemodialysis for ≥3 months, (2) age ≥ 18 years, and (3) able to walk with or without assistive devices. All participants wore a Fitbit Charge 2 tracker for a minimum of 4 weeks. The primary outcome was the number of steps per day. Each participant completed the Physical Activity Questionnaire, the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)‐9, the PROMIS Short form Fatigue Questionnaire at baseline, and the Participant Technology Experience Questionnaire at day 7 after study enrolment.

Findings

Of the 52 recruited, 45 participants (urban = 25; rural = 20) completed the study. The mean age was 61 ± 15 years, 42% were women, 64% were Hispanic, and the mean dialysis vintage was 4.4 ± 3.0 years. For those with valid Fitbit data (defined as ≥10 hours of wear per day) for 28 days (n = 45), participants walked an average of 3688 steps per day, and 73% of participants were sedentary (<5000 steps/day). Participants aged >80 years were less active than younger (age < 65 years) participants (1232 vs. 4529 steps, P = 0.01). There were no statistical differences between the groups when stratified by gender (women vs. men [2817 vs. 4324 steps, respectively]), urbanicity (rural vs. urban dialysis unit [3141 vs. 4123 steps, respectively]), and dialysis/nondialysis day (3177 vs. 4133 steps, respectively). Due to the small sample size, we also calculated effect sizes. The effect size was medium for the gender differences (cohen's d = 0.57) and small to medium for urbanicity and dialysis/nondialysis day (d = 0.37 and d = 0.33, respectively). We found no association between physical activity and self‐reported depression and fatigue scale. The majority of participants (62%, 28/45) found the Fitbit tracker easy to wear and comfortable.

Discussion

ESKD participants receiving hemodialysis are frequently sedentary, and differences appear more pronounced in older patients. These findings may assist in designing patient‐centered interventions to increase physical activity among hemodialysis patients.
Aspirin and pre‐eclampsia prevention in women with pre‐existing diabetes: a retrospective study
Authors: Lah Siehoon , Cheung N Wah , Lee Vincent , Athayde Neil , Inglis Emma , Padmanabhan Suja
Published: March 2021

Background

Aspirin is routinely prescribed in high‐risk pregnancies to prevent pre‐eclampsia; however, there is a paucity of data in women with pre‐existing diabetes.

Aims

To assess the efficacy and safety of aspirin in women with pre‐existing diabetes in preventing pre‐eclampsia.

Methods

A retrospective review of women with pre‐existing diabetes who attended antenatal clinics in a tertiary referral hospital between 2013 and 2019 was conducted. Cases were those receiving aspirin prior to 16 weeks, with pre‐eclampsia as the primary outcome. The relationship between early pregnancy glycaemic control and pre‐eclampsia was also assessed.

Results

Of the 164 women included in the study, 45 received aspirin. There were no differences in pre‐eclampsia (odds ratio (OR) 0.9 (0.3–3.0), P = 0.924) or any other measure of placental insufficiency (OR 1.7 (0.7–4.3), P = 0.243) between the aspirin and control groups after adjusting for baseline differences. Aspirin therapy was associated with an increased risk of postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) (OR 3.1 (1.1–9.1), P = 0.041). The incidence of pre‐eclampsia increased stepwise according to early pregnancy HbA1c subgroups of ≤6.0% (n = 47), 6.1–7.5% (n = 57) and > 7.5% (n = 39), with rates of 0, 12.3 and 20.5% (P = 0.007) respectively.

Conclusions

The aspirin group had a higher baseline risk of pre‐eclampsia and placental insufficiency, therefore the absence of difference between the groups favoured the efficacy of aspirin. PPH was highlighted as a potential complication of therapy, and early pregnancy HbA1c as a novel risk stratification tool for pre‐eclampsia in women with pre‐existing diabetes.
Valence‐induced effects on the electrical properties of NiMn2O4 ceramics with different Ni sources
Authors: Guan Fang , Wu Yiquan , Milisavljevic Iva , Cheng Xin , Huang Shifeng
Published: March 2021

Spinel‐structured NiMn2O4 ceramics, with different valence Ni sources, were originally prepared using Ni2O3 and NiO as raw materials, and the effects of different valence Ni sources on their electrical properties were first investigated. XRD patterns show that both Ni2O3‐based and NiO‐based NiMn2O4 ceramics are single cubic spinel structures. SEM/EDS images indicate that the NiMn2O4 ceramics exhibited high density at the experiment‐determined sintering temperatures. XPS results and Raman drifts prove that the Ni valence‐induced changes in Mn ions at B sites played a significant role in the electrical properties and thermal stability of NiMn2O4 ceramics. Compared with NiO‐based NiMn2O4, the resistivity at 25°C (ρ25°C) of Ni2O3‐based NiMn2O4 increased dramatically from 3109 to 106958 Ω cm, the thermal constant (B25/50) increased from 3264 to 4473 K, and the resistance shifts after annealing for 1000 h at 150°C decreased from 0.80% to 0.74%. The investigation of the relationship between the material properties and valence of Ni sources has provided a new and effective way for designing the spinel‐structured negative temperature coefficient (NTC) materials by modulating the valence of ions at A sites in the raw materials.
Life cycle GHG assessment of magnetic bearing and oil lubricated bearing water cooled chillers
Authors: Byrd Emillo , Netzel Benjamin , Adams David Brent , Zhang Hao
Published: March 2021

Chillers are an important component of the heating ventilation, and air conditioning industry which is one of the largest energy consuming sectors. Magnetic bearing systems have been adopted in the chiller industry to improve compressor efficiency. A life cycle assessment (LCA) of greenhouse gas emissions of magnetic bearing chillers, with a particular focus on the manufacturing stage, has not previously been conducted. This study evaluated global warming potentials of two water chiller systems, an oil lubricated bearing system, and a magnetic bearing system, over their life cycle stages including raw material extraction, manufacturing, transportation, use, and the end of life. The standard ISO 14044 LCA framework was employed to assess the two 500‐ton cooling capacity chillers from a US chiller manufacturing company. Uncertainty analysis was conducted on carbon emission factors from the research literature and sensitivity analysis was conducted on key variables including power mix emission factor, chiller efficiency, and transportation method. The results show that magnetic bearing systems perform better with respect to life cycle GHG emissions. For a general water chiller system life cycle, over 90% of the emissions result from electricity consumption during the use stage with the next largest emissions arising from material extraction and manufacturing. While the material use and manufacturing GHG emissions are similar in the two systems, due to its higher compressor efficiency the magnetic bearing system generates fewer GHG emissions in the use stage. Sensitivity analysis was conducted on electricity mix, non‐standard part load value (NPLV), and transportation method. When the factor values were varied with 5% steps to ±25%, the chiller efficiency and power mix emission factors behaved in similar ways in improving life cycle GHG emissions. NPLV, however, becomes more challenging to improve despite the long history of research on compressor efficiency. This study not only provides analytical data at the product level as to how much GHG emissions can be reduced by improving compressor efficiency and incorporating clean energy, but also provides life cycle GHG inventory data for different end of life and transportation strategies.
Infant precursors of executive function in Down syndrome
Authors: Schworer E. K. , Fidler D. J. , Kaur M. , Needham A. W. , Prince M. A. , Daunhauer L. A.
Published: March 2021

Background

Although early features of infant cognition are predictive of executive function (EF) in typically developing (TD) children, there is little information regarding the developmental origins of EF in neurogenetic conditions, such as Down syndrome (DS).

Methods

The current study compared the performance of infants with and without DS on three dimensions that are hypothesised EF precursors: visual engagement, attention shifting and action planning. Additionally, the relationship between these EF precursors at Time 1 and EF performance at Time 2 (6 months later) was examined in the DS group. Participants were 36 infants with DS, M chronological age = 12.65 months, SD = 2.11; M developmental age = 8.84 months, SD = 2.22, and 36 TD infants, M chronological age = 8.62, SD = 3.06; M developmental age = 8.64 months, SD = 3.40.

Results

Infants with DS visually engaged with objects for longer durations and demonstrated challenges with action planning compared with TD infants at Time 1. Attention shifting at Time 1 significantly predicted EF performance at Time 2 in the DS group.

Conclusions

This study provides evidence that an early atypical presentation of EF precursors is detectable during infancy in DS and is predictive of subsequent EF performance. These findings contribute to the identification of areas of early cognitive risk in DS and can inform future interventions in this population.
A prospective study on surgical management of foot deformities in Charcot Marie tooth disease
Authors: Ramdharry Gita , Singh Dishan , Gray Julia , Kozyra Damian , Skorupinska Mariola , Reilly Mary M. , Laurá Matilde
Published: March 2021

Foot deformities are frequently observed in patients with Charcot Marie tooth disease (CMT) and orthopaedic surgery is often required. Currently there is no evidence‐based guideline on surgical management and only a few studies which have evaluated long‐term outcomes of surgical procedures. The aim of the study was to evaluate longitudinally the effect of foot surgery in a cohort of CMT patients. Twenty‐five CMT adult patients were assessed using a comprehensive group of validated scales and questionnaires before and after surgery. A wide range of surgical procedures was performed by one team of dedicated foot ankle orthopaedic surgeons. Foot alignment as measured by the foot posture index, pain, quality of life and callosities significantly improved after one year and the improvement was maintained up to 4 years after surgery. There was a trend towards a reduction in the number of falls post‐operatively. Surgery had no effect on fatigue, balance and CMT examination score. Our findings showed significant improvement of pain, foot alignment, callosities and quality of life after surgery and suggested that foot deformity correction in adults with CMT performed in a specialised foot and ankle unit is beneficial.
Use of ultrasound fetal shoulder soft tissue thickness measurement in estimation of fetal weight
Authors: Aliyeva Mehriban , Aydın Serdar
Published: March 2021

Aims

Birth weight (BW) estimation with ultrasound is of great importance in delivery decision and management of complications of delivery. The aim was to evaluate the effect of femur, humerus, and clavicular soft tissue thickness on BW and developed a formula for proper estimation of fetal weight.

Methods

This prospective cohort study, included 231singleton pregnancies, with 34 and 42 weeks of gestation, delivered within 48 h after ultrasound examination. In addition to four biometric ultrasound measures, shoulder soft tissue thickness, thigh and arm soft tissue thickness were measured from outer margin of skin to outer margin of bone shaft by same investigator. Spearman correlation test was used to assess correlations between soft tissue thickness measurements and BW. Linear regression model was used and R2 to test accuracy of the new formula.

Results

The mean humerus soft tissue thickness (HSTT) was 12 ± 3.5 mm (6–23.9 mm), mean femur soft tissue thickness (FSTT) was 15.9 ± 3.8 mm (7.3–32 mm), mean clavicular soft tissue thickness (CSTT) was 12.9 ± 3.2 mm (7.3–24 mm). There was a low correlation between BW and FSTT (r = 0.21, p = 0.001) and CSTT (r = 0.18, p = 0.005). Best fit formula was Log (BW) = −5697 + 7.2 (HC) + 15.3 (AC) + 22.6 (FL) + 17 (CSTT), was significantly correlated with BW (R2 = 0.60).

Conclusion

BW increased as the ultrasound shoulder soft tissue thickness increased. Adding soft tissue thickness measurements to fetal biometry is similar in terms of estimating fetal weight from the existing estimated fetal weight formula.
Gender differences in quality of life and preferences for location‐specific amenities across cities
Authors: Reynolds Curtis Lockwood , Weinstein Amanda L.
Published: March 2021

The quality of life literature revealed the role that natural resources and local consumption amenities play in household preferences for cities and their growing importance in determining the success of cities. As women's control over household resources has increased, a growing body of consumer behavior literature has been documenting gender differences in preferences for consumer goods. Yet, the quality of life literature does not seem to make any distinction along gender lines in determining preferences for local consumption amenities. We estimate the quality of life across US cities separately for unmarried men and women, and using a rich set of location‐specific amenities, examine which amenities cause preferences to differ between men and women. Our results suggest that men and women's valuations of cities are correlated, suggesting commonality in preferences for many location‐based amenities, most notably natural resources, but there are also important deviations in valuations especially for local public goods and gender role attitudes.
Competition and facilitation among fungal plant parasites affect their life‐history traits
Authors: Dutt Agathe , Anthony Rault , Andrivon Didier , Jumel Stéphane , Le Roy Gwenola , Baranger Alain , Leclerc Melen , Le May Christophe
Published: March 2021

Multi‐infections may result in either competitive exclusion or coexistence on the same host of pathogen genotypes belonging to the same or different species. Epidemiological consequences of multiple infections, particularly how the development and transmission of a pathogen can be modified by the presence of another pathogen, are well documented. However, understanding how life history strategies of each pathogen modulate co‐infection outcomes remains quite elusive. To analyze how co‐infection drives changes in life history traits and affects co‐existence in epidemic pathogens, we infected detached pea stipules with two fungal species, Peyronellaea pinodes and Phoma medicaginis var. pinodella (considering two strains per species), part of the ascochyta blight complex but presenting different life history strategies. All pairwise combinations (including self‐pairs) between two strains of each species were tested. Strains were inoculated simultaneously, but apart from one another on the stipule. For each strain, four life history traits were measured: incubation period, necrosis area six days after inoculation, latent period and offspring production. Results show that, in co‐infection, when resources are highly allocated to lesion development, the time between inoculation and the appearance of reproduction structures (latent period) and offspring production decreased, and vice‐versa relative to single infections. The direction and/or magnitude of these responses to co‐infection depend on the co‐infecting strains. Moreover, these changes were always higher in self‐pairs than in mixed co‐infections. These results suggest facilitation between co‐infecting strains, resulting in the selection of an intermediate level of virulence (here measured as the lesion development) at the expense of pathogen offspring production. This strategy allows the development and reproduction of each co‐infecting strain when sharing limited resources. However, the direction and strength of these life history traits variations in co‐infection depend on the life history strategy of the co‐infecting strains, with a clear difference between ‘opportunists', ‘scavengers' and ‘pioneer colonisers'.
Suppression of a plant hormone gibberellin reduces growth of invasive plants more than native plants
Authors: Liu Yanjie , Oduor Ayub M. O. , Dai Zhi‐Cong , Gao Fang‐Lei , Li Junmin , Zhang Xue , Yu Fei‐Hai
Published: March 2021

Subsequent to escape from intense herbivory in the native range, invasive plants are expected to reduce allocation to costly anti‐herbivory defences and have greater competitive ability than co‐occurring native species. Given that invasive alien plants often occur in open habitats where light is less limited, it is reasonable to hypothesize that invasive plants should express high concentrations of gibberellins that enable them to allocate more biomass to roots, and thus have higher competitive ability than native plants. To test this prediction, we grew five congeneric pairs of invasive alien plants and native plants under two levels of nutrient availability (low versus high) and treated a half of the plants with a gibberellin biosynthesis inhibitor, paclobutrazol. Paclobutrazol significantly decreased aboveground, belowground and total biomass of the test plants. Interestingly, the effects on belowground biomass were significantly stronger for invasive plants than for native plants. A similar pattern was found for total biomass (marginally significant effect p = 0.0592). Additionally, paclobutrazol decreased root mass fraction for invasive plants, but tended to increase it for native plants. Our findings suggest that plant hormones can differently regulate biomass allocation of invasive and native plants, and thus contribute to greater growth of invasive plants compared to native plants.
Drug‐induced enterocolitis syndrome: Similarities and differences compared with food protein‐induced enterocolitis syndrome
Authors: Mori Francesca , Liccioli Giulia , Fuchs Oliver , Barni Simona , Giovannini Mattia , Sarti Lucrezia , Novembre Elio , Caubet Jean‐Christoph
Published: March 2021

In 2014, drug‐induced enterocolitis syndrome (DIES) was described for the first time. It is still a poorly known disease with symptoms that typically resemble those of food protein–induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES). To date, six more cases of DIES have been described and new clinical diagnostic criteria have been proposed based on those in the international guidelines for FPIES. In this paper, the authors describe three more cases of DIES. In addition, similarities and differences with FPIES have been deeply analyzed. To date, several unanswered questions need to be addressed, but clinicians must be instructed how to identify DIES, in order to make an allergy workup and give definite therapeutic indications to patients, especially in children where DIES seems to be more frequent.
The Brassica mature pollen and stigma proteomes: preparing to meet
Authors: Robinson Reneé , Sollapura Vishwanath , Couroux Philippe , Sprott Dave , Ravensdale Michael , Routly Elizabeth , Xing Tim , Robert Laurian S.
Published: March 2021

Successful pollination in Brassica brings together the mature pollen grain and stigma papilla, initiating an intricate series of molecular processes meant to eventually enable sperm cell delivery for fertilization and reproduction. At maturity, the pollen and stigma cells have acquired proteomes, comprising the primary molecular effectors required upon their meeting. Knowledge of the roles and global composition of these proteomes in Brassica species is largely lacking. To address this gap, gel‐free shotgun proteomics was performed on the mature pollen and stigma of Brassica carinata, a representative of the Brassica family and its many crop species (e.g. Brassica napus, Brassica oleracea and Brassica rapa) that holds considerable potential as a bio‐industrial crop. A total of 5608 and 7703 B. carinata mature pollen and stigma proteins were identified, respectively. The pollen and stigma proteomes were found to reflect not only their many common functional and developmental objectives, but also the important differences underlying their cellular specialization. Isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) was exploited in the first analysis of a developing Brassicaceae stigma, and revealed 251 B. carinata proteins that were differentially abundant during stigma maturation, providing insight into proteins involved in the initial phases of pollination. Corresponding pollen and stigma transcriptomes were also generated, highlighting functional divergences between the proteome and transcriptome during different stages of pollen–stigma interaction. This study illustrates the investigative potential of combining the most comprehensive Brassicaceae pollen and stigma proteomes to date with iTRAQ and transcriptome data to provide a unique global perspective of pollen and stigma development and interaction.
The Forces Required for Rolling Steel Strip Under Tension
Authors: Nádai A.
Published: March 2021

In the continuous mills which have been installed during the last ten years, wide strips of steel are being rolled hot or cold. While the sheets are reduced under the lateral pressure of the rolls, tensile stresses are set up in the rolled strips. The influence of front or of back tension on the roll pressures is investigated and a theory developed for the rolling process considering tension.

The localized compression of wide sheets or strips under simultaneous application of tensile stresses is discussed under various conditions of surface friction, such as solid friction, uniform surface shearing stresses or a resistance to slipping proportional to the relative velocity of slip. Simultaneous pulling reduces considerably the pressures otherwise required for deforming metal through concentrated compression.

The theory of the rolling of wide sheets is discussed with particular reference to the influence of front and of back tension upon the rolling pressures and the results of such computations are shown in several examples. Treatment of the equations aims at a simplified use of certain variables and parameters which are needed in such computations.