bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact of management of cover crop–soybean agroecosystems on rhizosphere microbial communities
Authors: Escobar Ortega Jhovana S. , Aguilar Vásquez Noemi N. , Ávila Alba Teresa , García de Salamone Inés E. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractKnowledge of the rhizosphere and use of quality microbial bioinputs are tools to achieve agricultural sustainability. The impact of management of cover crop–soybean agroecosystems on rhizosphere microbial communities was evaluated. A field experiment in a randomized complete block design with factorial arrangement in sub‐divided plots was performed. Effects of fertilization (0 and 45 kg·ha−1), oats, rye and control without cover crops, plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) co‐inoculation of Azospirillum brasilense and Pseudomonas fluorescens, and three sampling times on microbial counts, community‐level physiological profiles (CLPP) and terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T‐RLFP) were studied. CLPP were drastically changed at three sampling times: before glyphosate, after glyphosate and at soybean harvest. Before glyphosate application, the interaction between PGPR inoculation and coverage treatments modified the functional and structural profiles of the rhizosphere microbial communities. Furthermore, the highest microbial counts and the greatest functional diversity indices were observed before glyphosate application but significantly decayed after glyphosate application and at soybean harvest, showing a permanent impact of glyphosate application on the rhizosphere microbial community functionality, which was confirmed with several statistical analyses. For the cover crop–soybean agroecosystems, we can conclude that the rhizosphere microbial communities showed high sensitivity to glyphosate. PGPR inoculation only increased the aerial biomass of rye at the jointing and grain‐filling stages. Inoculated plants without fertilization and non‐inoculated plants with fertilization showed similar aerial biomass production of this crop. This work demonstrates that different management decisions can change plant–microorganism relationships in the rhizospheres of cover crops and impact aboveground biomass production. A better understanding of microbial ecology will allow the sustainable use of available resources.Highlights
A field experiment was conducted using oats and rye as cover crops in succession with soybean.
Management decisions changed plant–microorganism relationships and impact on microbial ecology.
Management of cover crops with glyphosate had negative impacts on rhizosphere microbial communities.
Co‐inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense and Pseudomonas fluorescens increased the aerial biomass production of rye.
An online survey of equestrian headcollar use and safety
Authors: Marlin D. J. , Williams J. M. , Pickles K. J. 
Published: May 2021

SummaryBackgroundHeadcollars (halters, US) are one of the most commonly used pieces of equestrian ‘tack’. Despite this, there appears to be minimal information on their use, or more importantly, risk factors for injury of horses/handlers.ObjectiveTo explore headcollar use and safety in equestrians.Study designQuantitative cross‐sectional survey.MethodsAn online survey (19 questions) exploring headcollar use and safety was disseminated through equestrian social media. Frequency analysis and multivariable modelling identified how headcollar type was linked to use and injury risk.ResultsMost respondents (88%; n = 4786) used headcollars multiple times daily but for short time periods (66%, n = 3388, <30 min). A horse being injured as a result of wearing a headcollar was reported by 1615 (31%) respondents with 15% of incidents also injuring a person. Fractures (horses) occurred in 134 incidents, and 167 equine fatalities were reported. Across all headcollar types, the odds of injury risk increased by 1.7 times (confidence intervals (CI): 1.07–2.41, P<0.02) using a headcollar when mucking out. During travelling, headcollar use reduced the odds of risk of injury by 0.7 times (CI: 0.43–0.98, P<0.04). The odds of injury risk reduced when using leather (Odds ratio (OR): 0.8, CI: 0.66–0.96, P<0.01) or synthetic (OR: 0.8, CI: 0.58–0.85, P<0.0001) safety headcollars compared with standard headcollars of the same material. Thematic analysis identified three key themes: (1) need for increased education: fit, safety features and basic horse handling, (2) ‘safer’ leather headcollars, and (3) increased safety focus required.Main limitationsData were self‐reported and may be subject to memory recall errors; online surveys are subject to self‐selection bias.ConclusionsIncreased user knowledge of risk factors for headcollar injury, combined with standardised guidance on how to correctly fit and use headcollars, would be beneficial to reduce injury risk.
Human food use increases plant geographical ranges in the Sonoran Desert
Authors: Flower Carolyn , Hodgson Wendy C. , Salywon Andrew M. , Maitner Brian S. , Enquist Brian J. , Peeples Matthew A. , Blonder Benjamin 
Published: May 2021

AbstractAimClimate is usually regarded as the main determinant of plant species distributions. However, past human use of species for food might also have influenced distributions. We hypothesized that human‐mediated dispersal has resulted in food plants occupying more of their potential geographical range. We also hypothesized that key ecological traits could predispose a species to occupy more of its potential climatic geographical range and be selected by humans for food.LocationThe Sonoran Desert of south‐western North America.Time periodPresent day.Major taxa studiedFood plants.MethodsWe used ethnobotanical data and data from large botanical ecoinformatics databases to estimate realized (dispersal‐ and climate‐constrained) and potential (climate‐constrained) ranges for food plants and their used and unused congeners.ResultsWe found that food plants fill more of their potential geographical ranges than their unused congeners. We also found that succulence and annual growth interacted with food usage to increase range filling.Main conclusionsHuman food use has expanded the distribution of many plant species in the Sonoran Desert.
Labour market integration and transnational lived citizenship: Aspirations and belonging among refugees in Germany
Authors: Müller Tanja R. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractTransnational lived citizenship has gained prominence as a means to analyse mobility and foreground activist notions of citizenship over legal status. I argue that lived citizenship and transnational movements are strongly intertwined with aspirations and belonging. I use the material example of labour market integration as the space of enactments of citizenship and analyse the patterns of belonging those create and contest. I develop my argument through the empirical example of labour market integration of refugees in Germany. I demonstrate how such integration transforms social, and more importantly, economic location and in turn creates complex and often contradictory forms of transnational allegiances. I ultimately argue that lived citizenship can in important ways advance aspirations of refugees and migrants. At the same time, transnational lives and multiple allegiances are often hindered by state‐based citizenship and the rights this confers. Legal status thus remains an important marker of citizenship.
Belonging in the land down under: Black Africans in Australia
Authors: Fozdar Farida 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBlack African migrants have recently become a visible presence in Australia. Many arrived through the humanitarian resettlement programme, but far greater numbers come through the “skilled stream”. This paper explores recent research into these populations to tease out how material, social and existential elements of settlement intersect with belonging. As a heuristic, it uses Ager and Strang's ten markers and means of integration: material aspects (employment, housing, education and health); social connections internally and externally; facilitators (language, cultural knowledge, safety, stability); and rights and citizenship. A range of challenges to positive settlement and integration are identified, using these domains. However, Australian research has focused almost exclusively on African migrants of refugee background, with most sampling South Sudanese, making generalization impossible, even dangerous. The urgent need for research using wider samples, and more large‐scale quantitative work, is called for and a range of policy recommendations suggested.
A remote household‐based approach to influenza self‐testing and antiviral treatment
Authors: Heimonen Jessica , McCulloch Denise J. , O'Hanlon Jessica , Kim Ashley E. , Emanuels Anne , Wilcox Naomi , Brandstetter Elisabeth , Stewart Mark , McCune David , Fry Scott , Parsons Sean , Hughes James P. , Jackson Michael L. , Uyeki Timothy M. , Boeckh Michael , Starita Lea M. , Bedford Trevor , Englund Janet A. , Chu Helen Y. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBackgroundHouseholds represent important settings for transmission of influenza and other respiratory viruses. Current influenza diagnosis and treatment relies upon patient visits to healthcare facilities, which may lead to under‐diagnosis and treatment delays. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of an at‐home approach to influenza diagnosis and treatment via home testing, telehealth care, and rapid antiviral home delivery.MethodsWe conducted a pilot interventional study of remote influenza diagnosis and treatment in Seattle‐area households with children during the 2019‐2020 influenza season using pre‐positioned nasal swabs and home influenza tests. Home monitoring for respiratory symptoms occurred weekly; if symptoms were reported within 48 hours of onset, participants collected mid‐nasal swabs and used a rapid home‐based influenza immunoassay. An additional home‐collected swab was returned to a laboratory for confirmatory influenza RT‐PCR testing. Baloxavir antiviral treatment was prescribed and delivered to symptomatic and age‐eligible participants, following a telehealth encounter.Results124 households comprising 481 individuals self‐monitored for respiratory symptoms, with 58 home tests administered. 12 home tests were positive for influenza, of which eight were true positives confirmed by RT‐PCR. The sensitivity and specificity of the home influenza test were 72.7% and 96.2%, respectively. There were eight home deliveries of baloxavir, with 7 (87.5%) occurring within 3 hours of prescription and all within 48 hours of symptom onset.ConclusionsWe demonstrate the feasibility of self‐testing combined with rapid home delivery of influenza antiviral treatment. This approach may be an important control strategy for influenza epidemics and pandemics.
A novel protocol to assess the impact of prescription stimulants on blood pressure in adults using ambulatory blood pressure monitoring
Authors: Cluett Jennifer L. , Ishak Anthony M. , Mukamal Kenneth J. , Juraschek Stephen P. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractPrescription stimulants are an important cause of secondary hypertension and their use is increasing in adult patients who are also at risk for essential hypertension. Although stimulants increase blood pressure, a systematic approach for assessing their impact in individual patients is lacking. We developed a protocol using ambulatory blood pressure monitoring for up to 36 h to compare blood pressure over two sequential days. Average blood pressure on the first day (without stimulant medication) was compared to average blood pressure on the second day (after re‐starting stimulant medication). We describe the outcomes of this protocol for a case series of eleven adults. Patients demonstrated one of three outcomes: normal blood pressure on both days, hypertension on both days, or hypertension only on the day patients received their stimulant medications. This novel protocol provides valuable information on the blood pressure effects of stimulant medications and allows clinicians to make personalized decisions regarding treatment.
Rutaecarpine targets hERG channels and participates in regulating electrophysiological properties leading to ventricular arrhythmia
Authors: Zhan Ge , Wang Fang , Ding Yun‐qi , Li Xiang‐hua , Li Yue‐xin , Zhao Zheng‐rong , Li Jia‐xin , Liu Yan , Zhao Xin , Yan Cai‐chuan , Li Bao‐xin 
Published: May 2021

AbstractDrug‐mediated or medical condition‐mediated disruption of hERG function accounts for the main cause of acquired long‐QT syndrome (acLQTs), which predisposes affected individuals to ventricular arrhythmias (VA) and sudden death. Many Chinese herbal medicines, especially alkaloids, have risks of arrhythmia in clinical application. The characterized mechanisms behind this adverse effect are frequently associated with inhibition of cardiac hERG channels. The present study aimed to assess the potent effect of Rutaecarpine (Rut) on hERG channels. hERG‐HEK293 cell was applied for evaluating the effect of Rut on hERG channels and the underlying mechanism. hERG current (IhERG) was measured by patch‐clamp technique. Protein levels were analysed by Western blot, and the phosphorylation of Sp1 was determined by immunoprecipitation. Optical mapping and programmed electrical stimulation were used to evaluate cardiac electrophysiological activities, such as APD, QT/QTc, occurrence of arrhythmia, phase singularities (PSs), and dominant frequency (DF). Our results demonstrated that Rut reduced the IhERG by binding to F656 and Y652 amino acid residues of hERG channel instantaneously, subsequently accelerating the channel inactivation, and being trapped in the channel. The level of hERG channels was reduced by incubating with Rut for 24 hours, and Sp1 in nucleus was inhibited simultaneously. Mechanismly, Rut reduced threonine (Thr)/ tyrosine (Tyr) phosphorylation of Sp1 through PI3K/Akt pathway to regulate hERG channels expression. Cell‐based model unables to fully reveal the pathological process of arrhythmia. In vivo study, we found that Rut prolonged QT/QTc intervals and increased induction rate of ventricular fibrillation (VF) in guinea pig heart after being dosed Rut for 2 weeks. The critical reasons led to increased incidence of arrhythmias eventually were prolonged APD90 and APD50 and the increase of DF, numbers of PSs, incidence of early after‐depolarizations (EADs). Collectively, the results of this study suggest that Rut could reduce the IhERG by binding to hERG channels through F656 and Y652 instantaneously. While, the PI3K/Akt/Sp1 axis may play an essential role in the regulation of hERG channels, from the perspective of the long‐term effects of Rut (incubating for 24 hours). Importantly, the changes of electrophysiological properties by Rut were the main cause of VA.
Functional differences of Toll‐like receptor 4 in osteogenesis, adipogenesis and chondrogenesis in human bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Khodabandehloo Fatemeh , Aflatoonian Reza , Zandieh Zahra , Rajaei Farzad , Sayahpour Forugh‐Azam , Nassiri‐Asl Marjan , Baghaban Eslaminejad Mohamadreza 
Published: May 2021

AbstractMultipotent human bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) are promising candidates for bone and cartilage regeneration. Toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4) is expressed by hMSCs and is a receptor for both exogenous and endogenous danger signals. TLRs have been shown to possess functional differences based on the species (human or mouse) they are isolated from therefore, the effects of knockdown of TLR4 were evaluated in humans during the differentiation of MSCs into bone, fat and chondrocyte cells in vitro. We investigated the expression profile of TLR4 during the differentiation of hMSCs into three different lineages on days 7, 14 and 21 and assessed the differentiation potential of the cells in the presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS, as an exogenous agonist) and fibronectin fragment III‐1c (FnIII‐1c, as an endogenous agonist). TLR4 expression increased following the induction of hMSC differentiation into all three lineages. Alkaline phosphatase activity revealed that FnIII‐1c accelerated calcium deposition on day 7, whereas LPS increased calcium deposition on day 14. Chondrogenesis increased in the presence of LPS; however, FnIII‐1c acted as a reducer in the late stage. TLR4 silencing led to decreased osteogenesis and increased adipogenesis. Furthermore, Wnt5a expression was inversely related to chondrogenesis during the late stage of differentiation. We suggest that understanding the functionality of TLR4 (in the presence of pathogen or stress signal) during the differentiation of hMSCs into three lineages would be useful for MSC‐based treatments.
Geriatrics: Moving forward with 2020 vision
Authors: Pandit Sonia G. , Walke Lisa M. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractGeriatricians have long debated the parameters, positioning, and prospects of their specialty. The year 2020 started full of promise as many organizations anticipated assessing themselves using perfect, or 2020, vision. While challenging on several levels, the momentous combination of events in 2020—the COVID‐19 pandemic, Racial Justice Movement, and the November elections—provided Geriatric Medicine several opportunities to firmly secure a position in the mainstream. As we reflect on the new perspectives, programs, and partnerships initiated in 2020, five broader lessons emerge that can help safeguard the future of Geriatrics: the field could employ more intentional “direct to consumer” marketing strategies, expand the scope of what it means to be a patient advocate, pursue new strategic partnerships, take the opportunity to address racial injustice, and leverage existing skillsets to expand scope of care for patients. Given the interdisciplinary nature of Geriatrics, it is fitting that many of these lessons build upon this collaborative philosophy and are derived from domains outside of health care. So in an unexpected way, the events of 2020 may actually help Geriatrics see, with 2020 vision, how to remain mainstream. With this new clarity, Geriatrics holds renewed promise to truly become specialists in whole‐person care and it is our hope that, with insight from the lessons shared here, the specialty brings this vision to fruition in the current decade and beyond.
C‐bouton components on rat extensor digitorum longus motoneurons are resistant to chronic functional overload
Authors: Kissane Roger W. P. , Ghaffari‐Rafi Arash , Tickle Peter G. , Chakrabarty Samit , Egginton Stuart , Brownstone Robert M. , Smith Calvin C. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractMammalian motor systems adapt to the demands of their environment. For example, muscle fibre types change in response to increased load or endurance demands. However, for adaptations to be effective, motoneurons must adapt such that their properties match those of the innervated muscle fibres. We used a rat model of chronic functional overload to assess adaptations to both motoneuron size and a key modulatory synapse responsible for amplification of motor output, C‐boutons. Overload of extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles was induced by removal of their synergists, tibialis anterior muscles. Following 21 days survival, EDL muscles showed an increase in fatigue resistance and a decrease in force output, indicating a shift to a slower phenotype. These changes were reflected by a decrease in motoneuron size. However, C‐bouton complexes remained largely unaffected by overload. The C‐boutons themselves, quantified by expression of vesicular acetylcholine transporter, were similar in size and density in the control and overload conditions. Expression of the post‐synaptic voltage‐gated potassium channel (KV2.1) was also unchanged. Small conductance calcium‐activated potassium channels (SK3) were expressed in most EDL motoneurons, despite this being an almost exclusively fast motor pool. Overload induced a decrease in the proportion of SK3+ cells, however, there was no change in density or size of clusters. We propose that reductions in motoneuron size may promote early recruitment of EDL motoneurons, but that C‐bouton plasticity is not necessary to increase the force output required in response to muscle overload.
Sustainable veterinary anaesthesia: single centre audit of oxygen and inhaled anaesthetic consumption and comparisons to a hypothetical model
Authors: McMillan M. 
Published: May 2021

ObjectivesSingle centre carbon footprint audit of oxygen and inhaled anaesthetic agent consumption. Study design: Retrospective audit with hypothetical intervention.Materials and MethodsRecords of 100 consecutive anaesthetics were examined. Consumption of oxygen and inhaled anaesthetic agent were estimated from oxygen flowmeter and vaporiser settings. Carbon dioxide equivalents (kg CO2e) were calculated. Records were reassessed to identify potential reductions in oxygen flow. Animals >5 kg were assigned to use circle systems set at a maintenance flow of 1 L/min following a short transitional period of higher flow. Animals <5 kg were assigned to Mapleson‐A breathing systems at a flow of 1 L/min. Potential reductions in oxygen and inhaled anaesthetic agent consumption and CO2e were calculated.ResultsA total of 14,370 minutes of anaesthesia were audited. Median bodyweight of the animals was 12.1 (interquartile range 5 to 25.8) kg. Median anaesthetic time was 110 (interquartile range 73.8 to 205) minutes. It was estimated 43,132 L of oxygen were used to vaporise 2605 mL of liquid sevoflurane and 1654 mL of liquid isoflurane. Potential oxygen consumption was 16,798 L, lowering sevoflurane consumption to 1123 mL and isoflurane to 589 mL. Using the suggested technique, oxygen and inhaled anaesthetic agent could have been reduced in 97% of anaesthetics with a median inhaled anaesthetic agent reduction of 59% (interquartile range 43 to 71%). Carbon footprint of the inhaled anaesthetic agent used was calculated as 1.82 metric tonnes of CO2e. This could have been lowered to 0.67 metric tonnes (63% reduction).Clinical SignificanceLarge reductions in oxygen and inhaled anaesthetic agent consumption and therefore greenhouse gas emission and financial expenditure can be made if we audit and adapt our practices.