bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genomic heterogeneity and copy number variant burden are associated with poor recurrence‐free survival and 11q loss in human papillomavirus‐positive squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx
Authors: Schrank Travis P. , Lenze Nicholas , Landess Lee P. , Hoyle Alan , Parker Joel , Lal Asim , Sheth Siddharth , Chera Bhishamjit S. , Patel Samip N. , Hackman Trevor G. , Major M. Ben , Issaeva Natalia , Yarbrough Wendell G.
Published: April 2021

Background

Human papillomavirus–positive (HPV+) squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx (OPSCC) is the most prevalent HPV‐associated malignancy in the United States. Favorable treatment outcomes have led to increased interest in treatment de‐escalation to reduce treatment morbidity as well as the development of prognostic markers to identify appropriately low‐risk patients. Intratumoral genomic heterogeneity and copy number alteration burden have been demonstrated to be predictive of poor outcomes in many other cancers; therefore, we sought to determine whether intratumor heterogeneity and genomic instability are associated with poor outcomes in HPV+ OPSCC.

Methods

Tumor heterogeneity estimates were made based on targeted exome sequencing of 45 patients with HPV+ OPSCC tumors. Analysis of an additional cohort of HPV+ OPSCC tumors lacking matched normal sequencing allowed copy number analysis of 99 patient tumors.

Results

High intratumorally genomic heterogeneity and high numbers of copy number alterations were strongly associated with worse recurrence‐free survival. Tumors with higher heterogeneity and frequent copy number alterations were associated with loss of distal 11q, which encodes key genes related to double‐strand break repair, including ATM and MRE11A.

Conclusions

Both intratumor genomic heterogeneity and high‐burden copy number alterations are strongly associated with poor recurrence‐free survival in patients with HPV+ OPSCC. The drivers of genomic instability and heterogeneity in these tumors remains to be elucidated. However, 11q loss and defective DNA double‐strand break repair have been associated with genomic instability in other solid tumors. Copy number alteration burden and intratumoral heterogeneity represent promising avenues for risk stratification of patients with HPV+OPSCC.
An Assessment of Radial Potential Functions for the Halogen Bond: Pseudo‐Diatomic Models for Axially Symmetric Complexes B⋅⋅⋅ClF (B=N2, CO, PH3, HCN, and NH3)
Authors: Legon Anthony C.
Published: April 2021

The radial potential energy is calculated ab initio at the explicitly correlated level of theory CCSD(T)(F12c)/cc‐pVTZ‐F12 for the five axially symmetric, halogen‐bonded complexes B⋅⋅⋅ClF (B=N2, CO, PH3, HCN, and NH3) as a function of the intermolecular distance r. The PE curves are fitted by the Hulburt‐Hirschfelder analytical function under the assumption of a pseudo‐diatomic model. The spectroscopic constants
and
, and
of the intermolecular stretching mode
are calculated by two closely related approaches. The first involves derivatives of a polynomial fitted to the ab initio calculated points near to re and evaluated at r=re. The second uses the constants of the fitted H−H function. Both procedures are tested on 35ClF by fitting (a) its RKR‐type function and (b) the CCSD(T)(F12c)/cc‐pVTZ‐F12 version. The complexes OC⋅⋅⋅ClF and H3P⋅⋅⋅ClF behave differently from the other three. A point of inflection/secondary minimum with a shortened r(C⋅⋅⋅Cl) and an increased r(Cl−F) detected for B=CO, suggests a second isomer with a significant contribution from the valence‐bond structure OC+Cl⋅⋅⋅F−. The shape of the ab initio calculated function for H3P⋅⋅⋅ClF is different from those involving B=N2, HCN, or NH3, a difference attributed to H3PCl+⋅⋅⋅F−character. The ab initio generated curve for H3P⋅⋅⋅ClF is, nevertheless, satisfactorily fitted by the three‐parameter H−H function.
Phenotypic and Functional Study of Human Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells
Authors: Li Guangming , Cheng Liang , Su Lishan
Published: April 2021

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are a distinct lineage of bone‐marrow‐derived cells that reside mainly in blood and lymphoid organs in the steady state but are also present in sites of infection, inflammation, and cancer. The protocols in this article describes (1) detection and quantification of human pDCs in peripheral blood; (2) isolation of human pDCs by magnetic‐activated cell sorting (MACS) and fluorescence‐activated cell sorting (FACS); (3) evaluation of human pDC function by stimulation with TLR7 or TLR9 agonists; (4) detection of human pDCs in lymphoid tissues of humanized mice (hu‐mice) by flow cytometry; (5) functional study of human pDC in hu‐mice in vivo; and (6) specific depletion of human pDCs in vivo in hu‐mice using monoclonal antibody targeting human pDCs. These assays thus provide comprehensive methods for phenotypic and functional studies in vitro and for the investigation of human plasmacytoid dendritic cells in hu‐mice in vivo. © 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.

This article was corrected on 27 July 2022. See the end of the full text for details.

Basic Protocol 1: Analysis of pDCs in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Basic Protocol 2: pDC separation using MACS beads

Alternate Protocol 1: pDC sorting using flow cytometer

Basic Protocol 3: Evaluation of human pDC function by stimulation with TLR agonists in vitro

Alternate Protocol 2: Intracellular staining of cytokines in pDCs

Basic Protocol 4: Phenotypic analysis of human pDCs from lymphoid organs in humanized mice

Basic Protocol 5: Functional study of human pDCs in humanized mice during HIV infection

Basic Protocol 6: pDC depletion and assessment of pDC depletion in acute HIV‐infected in humanized mice
Polydimethylsiloxane‐based capacitive motion sensor and its read‐out circuit
Authors: Yildirim Omer , Bozyel Ibrahim , Saka Kubra , Kayikcioglu Temel , Gokcen Dincer
Published: April 2021

A capacitive motion sensor that can detect human walking and motions up to a certain distance was designed using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as the primary sensor material. A read‐out circuit was designed to detect capacitive coupling with the sensor material caused by the motion in the surrounding. The read‐out circuit consists of sensing, filtering, and amplifying stages. A high‐pass filter was used to avoid DC components, and to eliminate adverse impacts of 50Hz noise in the sensing signal, a sixth‐order low‐pass filter consisting of active Sallen–Key and passive RC filters was utilized. The signals obtained from the complete read‐out circuit revealed that the sensor system could accurately detect human movements up to 2 m away. Also, different signal patterns were obtained from the output of the sensor system for various human motions.
Preclinical development of a molecular clamp‐stabilised subunit vaccine for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Authors: Watterson Daniel , Wijesundara Danushka K , Modhiran Naphak , Mordant Francesca L , Li Zheyi , Avumegah Michael S , McMillan Christopher LD , Lackenby Julia , Guilfoyle Kate , van Amerongen Geert , Stittelaar Koert , Cheung Stacey TM , Bibby Summa , Daleris Mallory , Hoger Kym , Gillard Marianne , Radunz Eve , Jones Martina L , Hughes Karen , Hughes Ben , Goh Justin , Edwards David , Scoble Judith , Pearce Lesley , Kowalczyk Lukasz , Phan Tram , La Mylinh , Lu Louis , Pham Tam , Zhou Qi , Brockman David A , Morgan Sherry J , Lau Cora , Tran Mai H , Tapley Peter , Villalón‐Letelier Fernando , Barnes James , Young Andrew , Jaberolansar Noushin , Scott Connor AP , Isaacs Ariel , Amarilla Alberto A , Khromykh Alexander A , van den Brand Judith MA , Reading Patrick C , Ranasinghe Charani , Subbarao Kanta , Munro Trent P , Young Paul R , Chappell Keith J
Published: April 2021

Objectives

Efforts to develop and deploy effective vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) continue at pace. Here, we describe rational antigen design through to manufacturability and vaccine efficacy of a prefusion‐stabilised spike (S) protein, Sclamp, in combination with the licensed adjuvant MF59 ‘MF59C.1’ (Seqirus, Parkville, Australia).

Methods

A panel recombinant Sclamp proteins were produced in Chinese hamster ovary and screened in vitro to select a lead vaccine candidate. The structure of this antigen was determined by cryo‐electron microscopy and assessed in mouse immunogenicity studies, hamster challenge studies and safety and toxicology studies in rat.

Results

In mice, the Sclamp vaccine elicits high levels of neutralising antibodies, as well as broadly reactive and polyfunctional S‐specific CD4+ and cytotoxic CD8+ T cells in vivo. In the Syrian hamster challenge model (n = 70), vaccination results in reduced viral load within the lung, protection from pulmonary disease and decreased viral shedding in daily throat swabs which correlated strongly with the neutralising antibody level.

Conclusion

The SARS‐CoV‐2 Sclamp vaccine candidate is compatible with large‐scale commercial manufacture, stable at 2–8°C. When formulated with MF59 adjuvant, it elicits neutralising antibodies and T‐cell responses and provides protection in animal challenge models.
An endangered flightless grasshopper with strong genetic structure maintains population genetic variation despite extensive habitat loss
Authors: Hoffmann Ary A. , White Vanessa L. , Jasper Moshe , Yagui Hiromi , Sinclair Steve J. , Kearney Michael R.
Published: April 2021

Conservation research is dominated by vertebrate examples but the shorter generation times and high local population sizes of invertebrates may lead to very different management strategies, particularly for species with low movement rates. Here we investigate the genetic structure of an endangered flightless grasshopper, Keyacris scurra, which was used in classical evolutionary studies in the 1960s. It had a wide distribution across New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria in pre‐European times but has now become threatened because of land clearing for agriculture and other activities. We revisited remnant sites of K. scurra, with populations now restricted to only one area in Victoria and a few small patches in NSW and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). Using DArtseq to generate SNP markers as well as mtDNA sequence data, we show that the remaining Victorian populations in an isolated valley are genetically distinct from the NSW populations and that all populations tend to be genetically unique, with large FST values up to 0.8 being detected for the SNP datasets. We also find that, with one notable exception, the NSW/ACT populations separate genetically into previously described chromosomal races (2n = 15 vs. 2n = 17). Isolation by distance was detected across both the SNP and mtDNA datasets, and there was substantial differentiation within chromosomal races. Genetic diversity as measured by heterozygosity was not correlated with the size of remaining habitat where the populations were found, with high variation present in some remnant cemetery sites. However, inbreeding correlated negatively with estimated habitat size at 25–500 m patch radius. These findings emphasize the importance of small habitat areas in conserving genetic variation in such species with low mobility, and they highlight populations suitable for future translocation efforts.
The efficacy of DNA barcoding in the classification, genetic differentiation, and biodiversity assessment of benthic macroinvertebrates
Authors: Ge Yihao , Xia Chengxing , Wang Jun , Zhang Xiujie , Ma Xufa , Zhou Qiong
Published: April 2021

Macroinvertebrates have been recognized as key ecological indicators of aquatic environment and are the most commonly used approaches for water quality assessment. However, species identification of macroinvertebrates (especially of aquatic insects) proves to be very difficult due to the lack of taxonomic expertise in some regions and can become time‐consuming. In this study, we evaluated the feasibility of DNA barcoding for the classification of benthic macroinvertebrates and investigated the genetic differentiation in seven orders (Insecta: Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Coleoptera, and Odonata) from four large transboundary rivers of northwest China and further explored its potential application to biodiversity assessment. A total of 1,144 COI sequences, belonging to 176 species, 112 genera, and 53 families were obtained and analyzed. The barcoding gap analysis showed that COI gene fragment yielded significant intra‐ and interspecific divergences and obvious barcoding gaps. NJ phylogenetic trees showed that all species group into monophyletic species clusters whether from the same population or not, except two species (Polypedilum. laetumandPolypedilum. bullum). The distance‐based (ABGD) and tree‐based (PTP and MPTP) methods were utilized for grouping specimens into Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) and delimiting species. The ABGD, PTP, and MPTP analysis were divided into 177 (p = .0599), 197, and 195 OTUs, respectively. The BIN analysis generated 186 different BINs. Overall, our study showed that DNA barcoding offers an effective framework for macroinvertebrate species identification and sheds new light on the biodiversity assessment of local macroinvertebrates. Also, the construction of DNA barcode reference library of benthic macroinvertebrates in Eurasian transboundary rivers provides a solid backup for bioassessment studies of freshwater habitats using modern high‐throughput technologies in the near future.
Groundwater subsidizes tree growth and transpiration in sandy humid forests
Authors: Ciruzzi Dominick M. , Loheide Steven P.
Published: April 2021

As drought variability increases in forests around the globe, it is critical to evaluate and understand ecosystem attributes that ameliorate drought impacts. Trees in arid and semi‐arid ecosystems can sustain tree growth and transpiration during drought by accessing shallow groundwater, yet the extent to which groundwater influences forest growth and transpiration in humid environments has largely been unexplored. We quantified groundwater's influence on tree growth and transpiration in northern humid forests with sandy soils. We hypothesized that even in wet regions, soil droughts occur relatively frequently in forests with sandy soils and result in water stress and reduced tree growth. Further, we hypothesized these reductions in productivity are ameliorated if the forest can access shallow groundwater during dry conditions. We evaluated tree growth responses using tree cores in Pinus resinosa trees and estimated forest groundwater use from diel water table fluctuations across sites covering a 1‐ to 9‐m depth‐to‐groundwater (DTG) gradient. In areas of shallow groundwater (DTG < 2.5 m), we observed twice as much tree growth and high, frequent groundwater use (up to 81% of non‐rainy summer days). Groundwater's influence on tree growth and transpiration declined as groundwater deepened along the DTG gradient in the range 1–5 m below land surface. These findings suggest that water provided by a shallow water table subsidizes evapotranspiration in humid forests and results in enhanced tree growth. Our research provides a basis for understanding the role of groundwater in conferring drought resistance in humid forests to help guide sustainable water and forest management decisions.
A seed–seedling conflict forAtriplex polycarpashrubs competing with exotic grasses and their residual dry matter
Authors: Coleman Mitchell L. , Mayence C. Ellery , White Michael D. , Jacobsen Anna L. , Pratt R. Brandon
Published: April 2021

Native saltbush,Atriplex polycarpa, shrub populations are widely diminished and fragmented in the southern San Joaquin Desert of California due to habitat conversion and invasion by exotic annual grasses of mostly Mediterranean origin. The role these grasses play in saltbush population demography is not well understood. We hypothesized that saltbush seedling recruitment and growth is limited by the competitive interactions with exotic grasses, preventing saltbush stands from maintaining their populations and expanding. We predicted that saltbush seedling recruitment would be reduced by (1) light and moisture competition with the grasses; and (2) the physical barrier of grass residual dry matter (RDM) formed during senescence. To test our predictions, we investigated saltbush seedling recruitment under field conditions across six saltbush populations. We examined how variations in edaphic structure and water availability by site may have affected saltbush seedling recruitment and longer‐term population dynamics. In experimental plots where saltbush seeds were sowed, exotic grass RDM reduced saltbush seedling emergence compared to seeds sown in the absence of RDM; competition post‐emergence was not significant. Saltbush seedlings transplanted into the field had lower mortality and less herbivory in invaded grassy habitats compared to seedlings planted in bare zones in between established, mature saltbush shrubs. Edaphic variation and water availability by site were likely key factors affecting the success of both grass invasion and saltbush recruitment. Our results suggest that there is a seed–seedling conflict: Sites favorable for saltbush seedling emergence (minimal grass cover among mature shrubs) are unfavorable for seedling survival due to high herbivory. Conversely, sites favorable for saltbush seedling survival (high grass coverage away from mature shrubs) are unfavorable for seedling emergence. The RDM produced by grasses represents an important stabilizing feedback favoring continued grass dominance.
Transcriptional signatures associated with rubella virus‐specific humoral immunity after a third dose of MMR vaccine in women of childbearing age
Authors: Haralambieva Iana H. , Eberhard Katherine G. , Ovsyannikova Inna G. , Grill Diane E. , Schaid Daniel J. , Kennedy Richard B. , Poland Gregory A.
Published: April 2021

Multiple factors linked to host genetics/inherent biology play a role in interindividual variability in immune response outcomes after rubella vaccination. In order to identify these factors, we conducted a study of rubella‐specific humoral immunity before (Baseline) and after (Day 28) a third dose of MMR‐II vaccine in a cohort of 109 women of childbearing age. We performed mRNA‐Seq profiling of PBMCs after rubella virus in vitro stimulation to delineate genes associated with post‐vaccination rubella humoral immunity and to define genes mediating the association between prior immune response status (high or low antibody) and subsequent immune response outcome. Our study identified novel genes that mediated the association between prior immune response and neutralizing antibody titer after a third MMR vaccine dose. These genes included the following: CDC34; CSNK1D; APOBEC3F; RAD18; AAAS; SLC37A1; FAS; and JAK2. The encoded proteins are involved in innate antiviral response, IFN/cytokine signaling, B cell repertoire generation, the clonal selection of B lymphocytes in germinal centers, and somatic hypermutation/antibody affinity maturation to promote optimal antigen‐specific B cell immune function. These data advance our understanding of how subjects’ prior immune status and/or genetic propensity to respond to rubella/MMR vaccination ultimately affects innate immunity and humoral immune outcomes after vaccination.
Catalytic Enantioselective Rotation of Watermill‐Shaped Dinuclear Pd Complexes
Authors: Komiya Naruyoshi , Ikeshita Masahiro , Tosaki Koichi , Sato Atsushi , Itami Nao , Naota Takeshi
Published: April 2021

The catalytic enantioselective rotation of double‐paddled, watermill‐shaped palladium complexes is described in this report. The achiral syn‐ and chiral anti‐forms of binuclear trans‐bis(salicylaldiminato)palladium(II) complexes doubly linked with polymethylene bridges (1) were synthesized and subsequently characterized by spectroscopic and single crystal XRD analyses. The heptamethylene‐linked complex 1 b undergoes highly controllable rotation between the achiral syn and chiral anti‐forms at ambient temperature, while the hexamethylene‐linked analogue 1 a does not exhibit this rotational motion under the same conditions, due to its shorter bridges, and 1 c (with octamethylene linkers) undergoes uncontrollable rapid rotation even at lower temperatures. The kinetics of the dynamic rotation of syn‐1 b to the anti‐isomer in solution were examined on the basis of 1H NMR analyses. The data showed that the rotational rate can be greatly modified by varying the solvent or adding a carboxylic acid. The enantioselective rotation of syn‐1 b can be induced using a catalytic amount of (2R,3R)‐2,3‐bis(3,5‐dimethylbenzoyl)tartaric acid (2 a) to afford (R)‐anti‐1 b, with an initial enantiomeric excess of 63 % ee and an equilibrium value of 27 % ee. Curve fitting of data for the parallel reversible transformations of syn‐1 b to (R) and (S)‐anti‐1 b gave the forward and reverse first‐order rate constants k1, k−1 (for syn to (R)‐anti), k2 and k−2 (syn‐ to (S)‐anti), and verified that the enantioselective nature of the present catalytic enantioselective rotation is controlled kinetically during the initial stage (k1>k2) and thermodynamically in the equilibrium state (k1/k−1>k2/k−2). The specific changes induced in the transition states in response to the use of various solvents and adducts are discussed herein on the basis of the activation parameters for the rotation of syn‐1 b, as determined from plots of the kinetic data as functions of time.
Encapsulated NiCo2S4‐based straight bamboo‐shaped N‐CNT as efficient and stable oxygen electrocatalysts
Authors: Gao Cunyuan , Ma Kongshuo , Zhao Zhenlu
Published: April 2021

Developing highly effective and stable non‐precious bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts is crucial and challenging. Herein, we report nano‐mediated straight bamboo‐shaped nitrogen‐doped carbon nanotubes modified with encapsulated NiCo2S4‐based nanoparticles (E‐NiCo2S4/SBS‐NCNTs) by electrodeposition and procedural calcination strategy, in which nitrogen‐doped carbon nanotubes with straight bamboo shape (SBS‐NCNTs) show more average diameter and encapsulated NiCo2S4‐based nanoparticles (E‐NiCo2S4) are coated by carbon, and what makes us even more excited is that they are evenly dispersed on SBS‐NCNTs surface, not just at the tip or inside. When applied for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), E‐NiCo2S4/SBS‐NCNTs show excellent catalytic activity, and onset potential (Eonset) in OER and ORR is only 1.52 V and 0.95 V (vs. RHE) in 0.1 M KOH, respectively. More importantly, the hybrids exhibit good methanol tolerance, with almost unchanged for ORR performance after adding 0.5 M methanol, and it has highly stability, the current density dropped by 22% after 7 h of reaction. The interaction of NiCo2S4 with the external carbon layer can greatly enhance the electrocatalytic activity toward the OER and it has a complete 4e– reaction process toward the ORR. The excellent electrocatalytic activity is mainly due to synergistic enhancement effect, in which SBS‐NCNTs with highly catalytic activity provide good conductivity, expose more active sites and promotes fast mass transfer; Carbon‐coated NiCo2S4‐based nanoparticles can improve the local work function of SBS‐NCNT through synergistic electronic interaction, promoting O2 adsorption, ensure rapid electron transport, and enable SBS‐NCNT to improve its electrocatalytic activity. Because of the weakness of Ostwald effect and synergistic enhancement, the stability and catalytic activity of NiCo2S4‐based nanoparticles can be greatly improved. All these advantages can synergistically improve the electrocatalytic efficiency and make it become one of the most promising bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts.
Measurement and analysis of the scattering properties of cement surfaces of urban environment in the millimeter waveband
Authors: Hou Chunzhi , Wu Zhensen , Wu Jiaji , Lu Changsheng , Zhang Rui , Lin Leke , Zhao Qiang , Cao Yunhua
Published: April 2021

The use of the low‐frequency scattering coefficient leads to inaccurate receiving‐power predictions in the millimeter‐wave band. The inaccurate signal will hinder optimization of the base station location. In the millimeter waveband, a building surface becomes rougher in an urban environment. The scattering becomes increasingly significant and a non‐negligible factor. In this article, the scattering characteristics of rough cement wall surfaces are studied to improve the scattering coefficients for millimeter waveband communications. The ray tracing method is adopted, and the lambertian and directive models are incorporated into this method, respectively. Moreover, the signal distributions of rough cement wall surfaces are acquired through an outdoor experiment at different incidence angles. The results reveal that the scatterings that are embedded into ray tracing are better than those which were not considered in the ray tracing, compared with the experiment. The directive model agrees more with the measurements than the lambertian model. The scattering coefficientSand exponentαRof the directive model are 0.19 and 1 in the millimeter waveband, respectively, which disagree with the results at low frequencies. The scattering properties can be applied to simulate signal propagation in urban environments to improve the reliability of mobile telecommunication systems.
Performance of fire breaks installed within EPS‐insulated façade systems
Authors: Lalu Octavian , Lennon Tom , Darmon Ruxandra , Anghel Ion
Published: April 2021

External Thermal Insulation Composite Systems (ETICS) are used in most European countries for the thermal rehabilitation of existing buildings or as a method to improve the thermal performance of new constructions. This paper describes an ad‐hoc intermediate‐scale experimental study to evaluate the behavior of ETIC systems in case of a fire and shows the impact of different positions and types of fire breaks on global performance. The intention of this experimental intermediate scale methodology is to be used as a screening test and not to replace or reproduce the large‐scale testing regime. The results of this study show that interruption of the combustible insulation may have a contribution in limiting the vertical fire spread and can significantly reduce the damaged area affected by the heat exposure.
“We are not named”: Black women and the politics of citation in anthropology
Authors: Smith Christen A. , Garrett‐Scott Dominique
Published: April 2021

Black women anthropologists are not cited within the discipline at a rate consistent with our scholarly production and visibility in the field. Despite our training, practice, and prolific writing, authors who publish in top‐tier anthropology journals rarely cite Black women. This citational absence reveals a paradox: although Black women play key roles in the discipline as leaders and service providers, our intellectual contributions are undervalued. We are symbolically visible yet academically eclipsed. This article examines the epistemological erasure of Black women's contributions to anthropology in the United States. Through a pilot study, we measure Black women's citation rates in some of the highest ranked anthropology journals (according to impact factor). Moving away from a one‐dimensional gender analysis toward a two‐dimensional, intersectional analysis that analyzes race and gender, we find that Black women are underrepresented in citations in top‐tier anthropology journals relative to their absolute representation in the field. This reveals a significant and disturbing trend: Black women anthropologists are rarely cited in top‐tier anthropology journals, and in the rare instances they are cited, they are cited by other Black anthropologists. There is a need for an intersectional analysis of the politics of power and inequality in anthropology, one that not only pays attention to gender discrimination but also racial discrimination.
Inhibition of oxidative stress and apoptosis by camel milk mitigates cyclosporine‐induced nephrotoxicity: Targeting Nrf2/HO‐1 and AKT/eNOS/NO pathways
Authors: Arab Hany H. , Eid Ahmed H. , Gad Amany M. , Yahia Rania , Mahmoud Ayman M. , Kabel Ahmed M.
Published: April 2021

Cyclosporine (CsA) is a widely used immunosuppressive agent that incurs marked nephrotoxicity in the clinical setting. Thus, there is a need for finding safe/effective agents that can attenuate CsA‐induced kidney injury. Meanwhile, the underlying mechanisms for CsA‐associated nephrotoxicity are inadequately investigated, in particular, the AKT/eNOS/NO pathway. Here, the present work aimed to explore the potential of camel milk, a natural product with distinguished antioxidant/anti‐inflammatory actions, to ameliorate CsA‐induced nephrotoxicity in rats. The molecular mechanisms related to renal oxidative aberrations and apoptosis were studied, including Nrf2/HO‐1 and AKT/eNOS/NO pathways. The kidney tissues were inspected using histopathology, ELISA, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. The present findings demonstrated that camel milk (10 ml/kg) significantly lowered creatine, BUN, and NGAL nephrotoxicity markers and the aberrant histopathology, with similar efficacy to the reference quercetin. Moreover, camel milk suppressed the renal oxidative stress, as evidenced by significantly lowering NOX‐1 and lipid peroxides and significantly augmenting the renal antioxidant moieties (GSH, GPx, and SOD), thereby, driving the restoration of Nrf2/HO‐1 pathway. Meanwhile, camel milk counteracted the pro‐apoptotic reactions by significantly lowering Bax protein expression, caspase‐3 activity/cleavage, and PARP cleavage, alongside significantly increasing the expression of the proliferation signal PCNA. Regarding the anti‐apoptotic AKT/eNOS/NO pathway, camel milk activated its signaling by significantly increasing the protein expression of PI3Kp110, p‐AKT(Ser473)/total AKT, and p‐eNOS (Ser1177)/total eNOS besides significantly boosting the renoprotective NO levels. In conclusion, these findings reveal that camel milk may be a promising candidate for the alleviation of CsA‐induced nephrotoxicity.
Emplacement ages and petrogenesis of intermediate‐acid intrusive rocks in the Lajishan region of the Central Qilian Belt, China: Constraints from zircon U–Pb ages, Hf isotopes, and whole‐rock geochemistry
Authors: Wang Dongsheng , Wang Tao , Yan Jing , Li Meng
Published: April 2021

As a major tectonic unit along the southwestern rim of the Central Qilian Belt, the Lajishan region plays an important role in the amalgamation of continental plates in the Qilian Orogenic Belt. In this study, zircon laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for U–Pb dating and Hf isotope analysis, as well as geochemical analysis of intermediate‐acid intrusive rocks from the Lajishan area were conducted. Results show that formation ages of the intermediate‐acid intrusive rocks are 438–452 Ma. Whole‐rock geochemistry results show that the diorite and monzodiorite are metaluminous, low‐ to medium‐K series, and characterized by obvious Nb, Ta, and Ti depletions as well as large‐ion lithophile element and light rare earth element enrichments. The εHf(t) values of zircons from monodiorite range from +2.71 to +10.59 and the two‐stage model ages range from 751 to 1,253 Ma. A large transversal span of εHf(t) values suggests that the source of depleted mantle was mixed with a small amount of older crustal material. The diorite and monzodiorite show a covariant relationship between εHf(t) values and Th/U ratios, which imply the existence of source heterogeneity. The diorites and monzodiorites were most likely produced in an arc setting. The granites are low K in composition and metaluminous to weakly peraluminous. In view of obvious Nb, Ta, and Ti depletions as well as large‐ion lithophile element and light rare earth element enrichments, parent magmas of the granites are suggested to have formed with the participation of crustal source materials. The εHf(t) values of zircons from granite range from +5.82 to +8.90, and the two‐stage model ages range from 861 to 1,057 Ma, indicating that magmas of the granites were mainly derived from partial melting of depleted mantle or juvenile thickened lower crust. The granites were most likely produced in an arc setting and share a similar source with the diorite and monzodiorite. Correlation between major oxides and SiO2 show that during the formation of the three kinds of rocks, crystallization and differentiation both played important roles. Combined with published data from the Central Qilian Belt and its vicinity, our results conclude that the northward subduction of oceanic crust contributed to the formation of an Early Palaeozoic subduction–accretion system in the Lajishan region. This model reveals a tectonic–magmatic thermal event and provides important insights into the tectonic evolution process in the Qilian region, as well as the Central Orogenic Belt during the Early Palaeozoic.
Perivenous Stellate Cells Are the Main Source of Myofibroblasts and Cancer‐Associated Fibroblasts Formed After Chronic Liver Injuries
Authors: Wang Shan‐Shan , Tang Xinyu Thomas , Lin Minghui , Yuan Jia , Peng Yi Jacky , Yin Xiujuan , Shang GuoGuo , Ge Gaoxiang , Ren Zhenggang , Zhou Bo O.
Published: April 2021

Background and Aims

Studies of the identity and pathophysiology of fibrogenic HSCs have been hampered by a lack of genetic tools that permit specific and inducible fate‐mapping of these cells in vivo. Here, by single‐cell RNA sequencing of nonparenchymal cells from mouse liver, we identified transcription factor 21 (Tcf21) as a unique marker that restricted its expression to quiescent HSCs.

Approach and Results

Tracing Tcf21
+ cells by Tcf21‐CreER (Cre‐Estrogen Receptor fusion protein under the control of Tcf21 gene promoter) targeted ~10% of all HSCs, most of which were located at periportal and pericentral zones. These HSCs were quiescent under steady state but became activated on injuries, generating 62%‐67% of all myofibroblasts in fibrotic livers and ~85% of all cancer‐associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in liver tumors. Conditional deletion of Transforming Growth Factor Beta Receptor 2 (Tgfbr2) by Tcf21‐CreER blocked HSC activation, compromised liver fibrosis, and inhibited liver tumor progression.

Conclusions

In conclusion, Tcf21‐CreER–targeted perivenous stellate cells are the main source of myofibroblasts and CAFs in chronically injured livers. TGF‐β signaling links HSC activation to liver fibrosis and tumorigenesis.
Employment outcomes and job satisfaction of international public health professionals: What lessons for public health and COVID‐19 pandemic preparedness? Employment outcomes of public health graduates
Authors: Treviño‐Reyna Goel , Czabanowska Katarzyna , Haque Sharmi , Plepys Christine M. , Magaña Laura , Middleton John
Published: April 2021

The profile of public health professionals (PHPs) and COVID‐19 preparedness is assessed against the employment outcomes (EO), precarious employment (PE), and job satisfaction (JS) of the European Public Health Master programme alumni. The study is descriptive, cross‐sectional, conducted from May‐October 2020. A survey was developed to assess the EO, PE and JS. Participants were recruited by email. SPSS statistics 26 version was used to perform descriptive analysis. A total of 189 PHPs participated (65% response) with majority women (66%), the mean age was 36 years. Participants were employed (80%), in non‐governmental organisations (20%), and academia (19%). Common employment positions were managerial (37%) and consultancy (18%). Majority of PHPs were exposed to PE (81%), the most frequent elements were ‘temporary employment’ (54%), and ‘the lack of labour union’ (53%). The JS of PHPs was ‘satisfied’. A blend of scientific public health knowledge and interpersonal competencies, reforms in current employment conditions, development of professional entities to safeguard PHPs' rights, and continuous investment in public health is necessary for PHPs to strengthen COVID‐19 pandemic preparedness. Furthermore, monitoring and evaluation of EO and JS are crucial to prepare PHPs according to the needs of the employment market and to be aware of PHPs' needs.
Health workforce management in the context of the COVID‐19 pandemic: A survey of physicians in Serbia
Authors: Dinić Milan , Šantrić Milićević Milena , Mandić‐Rajčević Stefan , Tripković Katica
Published: April 2021

Background & Aim

The study describes the experiences and opinions of Serbian physicians regarding workforce management during the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Materials & Methods

A total of 1553 licensed physicians (65% males; average age 44.0 years) responded to an online survey in September 2020. Differences in the respondents' general data and attitudes regarding workforce management and outbreak preparedness in Serbia were analysed in relation to their engagement during the COVID‐19 pandemic (Pearson χ2 and the independent samples t‐test, p < 0.05). The logistic regression model explained the need for changing health workforce management.

Results

The results reveal that the physicians engaged in the fight against the spread of COVID‐19 (64.4% of the respondents) more often than their counterparts, were clinicians from the public sector, younger, with less work experience, influenced negatively by the pandemic, and reassigned to other positions (p < 0.001). Health workers dissatisfied with workplace preparedness and those reassigned due to COVID‐19 were by 2.61 times and 1.38 times, respectively, more likely than their counterparts to consider changes in health workforce management.

Discussion & Conclusion

COVID‐19 underlines the need for changes in health workforce management during public health emergencies. An internal incident management team and a panel of external experts may support health workforce management during the prolonged and rapidly changing crises.
COVID‐19 Rumination Scale (C‐19RS): Initial psychometric evidence in a sample of Dutch employees
Authors: Nikolova Irina , Caniëls Marjolein C. J. , Curseu Petru L.
Published: April 2021

Objectives

Starting with the spring of 2020, COVID‐19 pandemic has impacted nearly every aspect of our lives. Due to its threatening nature, along with the rapid rise in contamination and mortality figures, the spread of the virus has caused a considerable rise in individuals' anxieties. To enable the assessment of the COVID‐19‐triggered individual rumination, we developed and tested a COVID‐19 Rumination Scale (C‐19RS).

Design and Methods

Demographics (i.e., gender, age and education) and several items assessing the proximity of one's exposure to the virus (i.e., whether one's family and close friends are affected) were evaluated as antecedents of C‐19RS that provided evidence for the criterion validity of the scale. A sample of 523 Dutch employees working in different companies and sectors completed the online survey in March 2020.

Results

Results showed that women, older individuals and workers with lower educational level ruminated considerably more about COVID‐19. In keeping with prior theoretical and empirical work on stress and coping, we established that COVID‐19 ruminative thoughts can unlock withdrawal coping reactions (i.e., self‐handicapping) and drain individual's energy (i.e., causing emotional exhaustion), whereby providing evidence for the predictive validity of the new instrument. In addition, we examined how the COVID‐19 rumination evolved during the nearly 3‐week period of the data collection, a time‐frame that coincided with the introduction of the national restrictive measures in the Netherlands. Results showed a drop in the level of rumination, which might be indicative of potential habituation with the stressor.

Conclusions

The results supported the sound psychometric qualities of the scale.
Contemporary hormonal contraception and cervical cancer in women of reproductive age
Authors: Iversen Lisa , Fielding Shona , Lidegaard Øjvind , Hannaford Philip C.
Published: April 2021

To determine cervical cancer risk associated with contemporary hormonal contraceptives, we conducted a cohort study of women aged 15 to 49 living in Denmark from 1995 to 2014, using routinely collected information about redeemed prescriptions, incident cancer and potential confounders. Poisson regression calculated adjusted cervical cancer risks among different contraceptive user groups by duration of use, time since last use, hormonal content and cancer histology. During >20 million person‐years, 3643 incident cervical cancers occurred. Ever users of any hormonal contraceptives compared to never users had a relative risk (RR) of 1.19 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.10‐1.29). Increased risks were seen in current or recent users of any hormonal: RR 1.30 (95% CI 1.20‐1.42) and combined: RR 1.40 (95% CI 1.28‐1.53), but not progestin‐only contraception: RR 0.91 (95% CI 0.78‐1.07). Current or recent users of any hormonal contraception had an increased risk of both adenocarcinoma (RR 1.29, 95% CI 1.05‐1.60) and squamous cancer (RR 1.31, 95% CI 1.19‐1.44). The risk pattern among any hormonal and combined contraceptive users generally increased with longer duration of use and declined after stopping, possibly taking longer to disappear among prolonged users. Combined products containing different progestins had similar risks. Approximately one extra cervical cancer occurred for every 14 700 women using combined contraceptives for 1 year. Most women in our study were not vaccinated against human papillomavirus (HPV) infections. Our findings reinforce the urgent need for global interventions such as systematic screening, treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and HPV vaccination programmes to prevent cervical cancer, especially among users of combined contraceptives.
Water security on Java island*
Authors: Hasan Mohamad , Ridwan Dadang
Published: April 2021

Some places in Java are under pressure regarding their water supply mainly due to high‐density population within a limited area. More serious land subsidence has reached 1–20 cm/year in some areas due to over‐abstraction of deep ground water.

To overcome water scarcity on Java, Indonesia built 24 dams with a total storage capacity of 2,150 million m3 for irrigation covering an area of 196,000 ha, thereby reducing flood volume to 5,010 m3/s, with an additional water supply of 29.0 m3/s and electricity power of 147 MW.

The role of other stakeholders such as the farming community and the business and private sectors is that they need to take action to prepare innovative agricultural facilities, for example, to save water with high‐value crops. The application of micro‐irrigation with high‐value crops, which has been successful on pilot basis, has a great potential market in Java. The economic value of water is more than 100 times higher compared with conventional irrigation systems for lowland rice.
“The Door Was Always There”: Transnational Youth Leveraging Their Multiliteracies for Civic Justice
Authors: Thakurta Ankhi G.
Published: April 2021

In this practitioner research study, I explored how a pedagogy of multiliteracies supported the civic learning of eight middle and high school Indonesian American youth in a summer literacy program. Tracing how transnational youth face barriers to civic learning and engagement in times of rising inequality and xenophobia, I analyzed the ways in which program participants engaged with a curriculum featuring discussions of contemporary civic issues, transnational literary texts, and opportunities for expression. I found how, using their multiliteracies and border‐crossing lives as resources, participants critiqued systemic issues hidden in everyday interactions, expressed the tensions of claiming transnational identities, and repurposed academic literacies to argue for civic justice. I name the affordances of using multiliteracies‐oriented civic pedagogies that center the semiotic resources, identities, and experiences of transnational youth, as well as the civic openings that such learners themselves identify.
Continuity and Change? Reading Young Adult Literature Through a Technology‐Focused Critical Lens
Authors: Glazer Jeremy , Seglem Robyn , Garcia Antero
Published: April 2021

This article offers a way to leverage young adult literature in guiding students to consider the meanings of continuity and change within their own development. Borrowing theories of change from the evolutionary sciences, we developed a critical lens focusing on the role of technology in young adult literature. Based on a comprehensive review of Michael L. Printz Award and Honor titles and YALSA Teens’ Top Ten books from the past two decades, we identified how two theories of evolution, gradualism and punctuated equilibrium, offer a frame for interpreting young adult literature. Through an examination of the novels Asking for It by Louise O’Neill and Butter by Erin Jade Lange, we demonstrate how these theories can be used in the language arts classroom to enhance discussions about change brought on by technology to provoke deep, intertextual readings of young adult literature.
Descriptive assessment of conversational skills: Towards benchmarks for young adults with social deficits
Authors: Hood Stephanie A. , Beauchesne Britany M. , Fahmie Tara A. , Go Alexandra
Published: April 2021

Descriptive assessments are necessary to identify social norms and establish a foundation for experimental analysis. Much of the social skills intervention literature involves goals that have been selected through interviews and direct observation of behavior without a reference to desired outcomes. The purpose of the current study was to extend research on descriptive assessments of conversations by including additional measures and examining conversational behavior across contexts. We conducted a descriptive assessment of social skills exhibited by 16 neurotypical young adults. Participants had 10‐min conversations in groups and 1‐on‐1 with friends and novel individuals. We then assessed variability within and across participants on a wide array of relevant measures. Throughout the conversations, participants shared the conversation time equally, spent most of the conversation time making on‐topic comments, and gazed at their conversation partner more frequently while listening than while speaking. These descriptive data extend current research, inform future experimental analyses, and may guide clinical decisions.
An analysis of a system under pandemic conditions
Authors: Oblak Mara K.
Published: April 2021

Recent events have emphasized the need for behavior‐analytic service delivery models that can remain clinically consistent and produce high‐quality outcomes while adapting to environmental change. This paper reports outcomes of an organization that adapted to changes in its service delivery model during a worldwide pandemic. The organization utilized components from the Comprehensive Application of Behavior Analysis to Schooling (CABAS®) model. The components were interconnected within the system and linked by specific interlocking contingencies. Performance data were used to make decisions within the organization on both individual and organizational levels during the transition to telehealth for clients and staff. Results are discussed in terms of how the interconnectedness of components within the organization contributed to the reliable, positive outcomes of the system during the transition to telehealth.