bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Functional succession of actively growing soil microorganisms during rewetting is shaped by precipitation history
Authors: Sieradzki Ella T. , Greenlon Alex , Nicolas Alexa M. , Firestone Mary K. , Pett-Ridge Jennifer , Blazewicz Steven J. , Banfield Jillian F. 
Published: June 2022

AbstractRewetting of seasonally dry soils induces a burst of microbial activity and carbon mineralization that changes nutrient availability and leads to succession. Yet the microbial functions that underpin this succession are not well described. Further, it’s unclear how previous precipitation frames microbial capacities after rewetting and how long these effects persist. We used isotopically-labeled water to rewet seasonally dry annual grassland soil that experienced either mean annual or reduced precipitation during the previous two years, and sampled at five subsequent time points. We used quantitative stable isotope probing (qSIP)-informed genome- resolved metagenomics to identify growing microorganisms, predict their capabilities, and analyze how these traits differed over time and between precipitation treatments. Organisms that grew after wetup were more abundant than non-growing organisms prior to the wet-up, suggesting that traits that initiate succession are pre-defined at the end of the prior plant growing season or via survival over the summer. Fast-growing organisms had fewer carbohydrate active enzyme (CAZy) genes per genome than slower-growing organisms, suggesting that although fast-growers were capable of degrading complex C, they may not specialize in this process. Differential abundance of CAZy genes in growing organisms throughout the succession implies that substrate availability varied with time. In contrast, the abundance of peptidases in growing organisms differed between precipitation treatments, but not over time following wet-up. Before wet-up, the soil organisms’ gene inventories were different between the two precipitation treatments. Surprisingly, this legacy effect waned after just one week. Thus, pre-wetup differences in microbial functional capacity converged shortly after rewetting.
The conserved, secreted protease inhibitor MLT-11 is necessary for C. elegans molting and embryogenesis
Authors: Ragle James Matthew , Levenson Max T. , Clancy John C. , Vo An A. , Pham Vivian , Ward Jordan D. 
Published: June 2022

ABSTRACTApical extracellular matrices (aECMs) are associated with all epithelia and form a protective layer against biotic and abiotic threats in the environment. C. elegans molting offers a powerful entry point to understanding developmentally programmed aECM remodeling. Several protease inhibitors are implicated in molting, but their functions remain poorly understood. Here we characterize mlt-11, an unusual protease inhibitor with 10 conserved Kunitz domains. MLT-11 oscillates and is localized in the cuticle and in lysosomes in larvae and in the embryonic sheath starting at the 3-fold embryo stage. mlt-11 (RNAi) produced a developmental delay, motility defects, failed apolysis, and a defective cuticle barrier. mlt-11 null and C-terminal Kunitz domain deletion mutants are embryonic lethal while N-terminal deletions cause a rolling phenotype indicative of cuticle structure abnormalities. mlt-11 activity is primarily necessary in seam and hypodermal cells and accordingly mlt-11 (RNAi) causes defects in localization of the collagens ROL-6 and BLI-1 over the cuticle. mlt-11 (RNAi) molting phenotypes can be suppressed by genetically inhibiting endocytosis. Our model is that MLT-11 is acting in the aECM to coordinate remodeling and timely ecdysis.
Malaysia's low-cost housing solid waste management in the era of COVID-19: the role of fourth industrial revolution technologies
Authors: Ebekozien Andrew , Samsurijan Mohamad Shaharudin , Aigbavboa Clinton , Malek Nor Malina 
Published: June 2022

PurposeStudies have shown that managing household solid waste from low-cost housing in urban and sub-urban communities is challenging, especially in developing countries and COVID-19 era. Previous research proved that the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) technologies could be engaged to improve urban public services such as household solid waste. Thus, the study investigated 4IR role in improving low-cost housing solid waste management (LCHSWM) in the COVID-19 era across Malaysia's cities.Design/methodology/approachThe researchers selected four Malaysian cities (Pulau Pinang, Kuala Lumpur, Kuching and Putrajaya) to achieve the study's objectives via a qualitative research design. The study engaged forty experts through semi-structured virtual interviews. A thematic approach was used to analyse the collected data.FindingsFindings identified initial high implementation and maintenance costs, unwillingness to accept change, inadequate knowledge and skilled personnel to manage the operation, amongst others, as the perceived challenges facing 4IR technologies in managing low-cost housing solid waste across Malaysian cities in the COVID-19 era. Also, the study proffered measures to improve 4IR technologies usage.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper is limited to the perceived contributory challenges and proffered measures to improve 4IR technologies usage in managing LCHSW across Malaysian cities in the COVID-19 era.Practical implicationsProffered measures will stir policymakers and the political class (city councils) to start thinking of an all-inclusive approach to addressing the issue of LCHSW in the 21st century. As part of the practical implications, the possible outcome might enhance collaboration between the public and private sectors to better service delivery to mitigate environmental degradation.Originality/valueAs revealed in the review, there is a paucity of literature regarding digital technology's roles in mitigating LCHSW across Malaysian cities in the COVID-19 era.
Normal mesenchymal stem cells can improve the abnormal function of T cells in psoriasis via upregulating transforming growth factor‐β receptor
Authors: Jiao Juanjuan , Zhao Xincheng , Wang Ying , Liang Nannan , Li Juan , Yang Xiaohong , Xing Jianxiao , Zhou Ling , Li Junqin , Hou Ruixia , Li Xinhua , Zhang Kaiming 
Published: June 2022

AbstractPsoriasis, a chronic inflammatory skin disease, is a refractory disorder. Previous studies have shown that the imbalance of the T‐helper (Th)17/regulatory T cells (Treg) results in the immune imbalance of T cells in psoriatic patients, and that mesenchymal stem cells display an immunosuppressive role by promoting the differentiation of T cells into Treg, leading to a reduction in the proportion of Th17/Treg. Utility of mesenchymal stem cells is becoming a new approach for the treatment of immune disorders. Following co‐culture of dermal mesenchymal stromal cells (DMSC) and CD3+ T cells with or without transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β receptor inhibitor, the biological function and relative signal pathway of CD3+ T cells were assessed by flow cytometry, transwell, real‐time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting, respectively. Normal DMSC were more potent than psoriatic DMSC in inhibition of CD3+ T‐cell proliferation, and stimulation of CD3+ T‐cell apoptosis than psoriasis DMSC. Moreover, normal DMSC decreased the ratio of Th17/Treg, while enhancing the immunosuppressive effect of Tregs on effector T cells. However, TGF‐β receptor (TGF‐βR) inhibitor attenuated the effect of normal DMSC on CD3+ T cells and Th17/Treg ratio. Additionally, the normal DMSC were more potent than the psoriatic DMSC in increasing TGF‐β receptors and activation of TGF‐β/SMAD pathway in psoriatic CD3+ T cells. In conclusion, normal DMSC can partially improve the biological function and immunosuppressive ability of psoriatic CD3+ T cells, possibly via upregulating the TGF‐β receptors.
Diagnostic reference value of antibody levels measured using enzyme immunoassay for subacute sclerosing panencephalitis
Authors: Kume Yohei , Hashimoto Koichi , Iida Keiji , Maeda Hajime , Miyazaki Kyohei , Ono Takashi , Chishiki Mina , Suzuki Yuichi , Go Hayato , Suyama Kazuhide , Hosoya Mitsuaki 
Published: June 2022

AbstractHigh measles‐specific antibody titers in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) have important diagnostic significance for subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), a progressive neurological disorder caused by measles virus variants. However, the diagnostic reference value of antibody levels and the usefulness of the CSF/serum ratio measured using enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) for SSPE diagnosis remain unclear. To facilitate SSPE diagnosis using EIAs, measles immunoglobulin G (IgG) titers in the CSF and serum of patients with and without SSPE were measured and their CSF/serum antibody ratios evaluated. Serum and CSF antibody levels were compared among three patients with SSPE (59 paired samples), 37 non‐SSPE patients, and 2618 patients of unknown backgrounds. Of the 59 paired samples from three patients with SSPE, 56 paired samples (94.9%) showed CSF measles IgG levels ≥0.5 IU/mL and a CSF/serum ratio ≥0.05, whereas non‐SSPE cases showed CSF measles IgG levels <0.1 IU/mL and a CSF/serum ratio <0.03. Of the 2618 CSF samples with unknown backgrounds, 951 showed measurable IgG levels with EIA, with a CSF/serum ratio peak of 0.005–0.02, with a 90th percentile of 0.05. Assuming the SSPE criteria as CSF measles IgG ≥0.5 IU/mL and a CSF/serum ratio ≥0.05, only 20 samples (0.8%) with unknown backgrounds were categorized as having SSPE. Conversely, assuming the non‐SSPE criteria as CSF measles IgG <0.1 IU/mL and a CSF/serum ratio <0.03, 2403 samples (92%) with unknown backgrounds were categorized as not having SSPE. In conclusion, high CSF/serum ratios (≥0.05) and high measles CSF IgG levels (≥0.5 IU/mL) may be useful for diagnosing SSPE.
Indirect facilitation between prey promotes asymmetric apparent competition
Authors: Lorusso Nicholas S. , Faillace Cara A. 
Published: June 2022

Abstract

Apparent competition is one mechanism that can contribute to the complex dynamics observed in natural systems, yet it remains understudied in empirical systems. Understanding the dynamics that shape the outcome of processes like apparent competition is vital for appreciating how they influence natural systems.

We empirically evaluated the role of indirect trophic interactions in driving apparent competition in a model laboratory system. Our experimental system was designed to let us evaluate combined direct and indirect interactions among species.

Here we describe the results of a factorial experiment using two noncompeting prey (Colpidium kleini, a heterotroph, and Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, an autotroph) consumed by a generalist predator Euplotes eurystomus to explore the dynamics of apparent competition. To gain intuition into the potential mechanism driving the asymmetry in the observed results, we further explored the system using structural equation modelling.

Our results show an important role of positive interactions and indirect effects contributing to apparent competition in this system with a marked asymmetrical outcome favouring one prey, Chlamydomonas. The selected structural equation supports a role of indirect facilitation; although Chlamydomonas (a photoautotroph) and Colpidium (a bacterivore) use different resources and therefor do not directly compete, Colpidium reduces bacteria that may compete with Chlamydomonas. In addition, formation of colonies by Chlamydomonas in response to predation by Euplotes provides an antipredator defence not available to Colpidium.

Asymmetric apparent competition may be more common in natural systems than the symmetric interaction originally proposed in classic theory, suggesting that exploration of the mechanisms driving the asymmetry of the interaction can be a fruitful area of further research to better our understanding of interspecific interactions and community dynamics.
Risk of incident type 2 diabetes in patients with psoriatic arthritis: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of cohort studies
Authors: Yuan Ziqi , Guo Yan 
Published: June 2022

AbstractObjectivesTo determine the risk of type 2 diabetes among patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA).MethodsElectronic database searches of PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library were performed from inception to June 2020 and updated in May 2022. Cohort studies were included if they reported hazard ratios (HR) or relative risks with 95% confidence interval (CI) of incident diabetes in patients with PsA compared with non‐rheumatic populations. Pooled HR and 95% CI were calculated using a DerSimonian and Laird method random‐effects model.ResultsA total of 5 studies comprising 37 811 PsA patients with 174 825 patient‐years and 476 838 non‐rheumatic controls with 2 945 358 patient‐years were identified and included in our data analysis. During the follow‐up, 2335 and 23 035 incident diabetes were observed in PsA and non‐rheumatic control groups, corresponding to a crude incidence rate of 13.4 and 7.8 per 1000 patient‐years, respectively. The pooled age‐ and gender‐adjusted, and fully adjusted HR of incident diabetes in patients with PsA compared with non‐rheumatic populations were 1.54 (95% CI: 1.43‐1.67, I2 = 50.8%) and 1.38 (95% CI: 1.31‐1.47, I2 = 0.0%), respectively.ConclusionsOur study indicates a 38% increase in the risk of type 2 diabetes among patients with PsA, with an incidence rate of 13.4 per 1000 patients‐years. These findings suggest the awareness of managing diabetes with careful screening of PsA patients in daily practice.
Examining the Effects of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on Executive Compensation*
Authors: De Simone Lisa , McClure Charles , Stomberg Bridget 
Published: June 2022

ABSTRACTAs part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), the US Congress repealed a long‐standing exception that allowed companies to deduct executives' qualified performance‐based compensation in excess of $1 million. The purpose of this study is to examine whether Congress achieved its stated objective of reversing a shift in executive compensation away from cash compensation and toward performance pay, which Congress believed led executives to focus on short‐term results rather than the long‐term success of the company. Across a battery of tests, including a difference‐in‐differences design that exploits the staggered time‐series implementation of the deduction limit, we find evidence compatible with the new deduction limit having no effect on executives' salary, performance pay or total compensation, inconsistent with Congressional intent. Our results suggest that taxes are not a first‐order effect of executive pay and that tax regulation could be relatively ineffective at curbing executive compensation.
Access to dental care barriers and poor clinical oral health in Australian regional populations
Authors: Crocombe LA , Chrisopoulos S , Kapellas K , Brennan D , Luzzi L , Khan S 
Published: June 2022

AbstractBackgroundThis paper investigated the associations between oral health with behavioural, demographic, periodontitis risk, financial and access to dental care barriers and compared the results in three Australian regional areas.MethodsData were obtained from the Australian National Study of Adult Oral Health (2017–18). Oral health status was measured using DMFT‐score, and mean numbers of decayed, missing or filled teeth and periodontitis prevalence using the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) Periodontal Classification. The analysis included these dependent variables by three regional areas, seven socio‐demographic variables, two periodontal disease risk factors, two preventive dental behaviours, two barriers to dental care and three access to dental care variables.ResultsOf the 15,731 people interviewed, 5,022 were examined. There was no significant difference in periodontitis prevalence between the regions. All the socio‐demographic characteristics, periodontal disease risk factors and preventive dental behaviours were significantly associated with at least one of the dental caries indicators. In multivariable analysis, there was no significant association between regional location with any of the four clinical dental caries variables.ConclusionPoorer oral health outside major cities was associated with household income, education level, higher smoking, usual reason for and frequency of dental visiting.
Lower iron stores were associated with suboptimal gross motor scores in infants at 3–7 months
Authors: Ljungblad Ulf Wike , Tangeraas Trine , Paulsen Henriette , Lindberg Morten 
Published: June 2022

AbstractAimTo investigate associations between iron status and gross motor scores in infants aged 3–7 months.MethodsIn a prospective study, 252 infants aged 3–7 months were examined using the age‐standardised Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) prior to analysing iron status in 250 infants. Combined AIMS and ferritin results were assessed in 226 infants, whereas AIMS and reticulocyte haemoglobin (ret‐Hb) results were obtained for 61 infants. We used logistic regressions and receiver operator characteristics to analyse our data.ResultsWith AIMS z‐score <10th percentile as outcome measure, optimal cut‐off value for ferritin was 51 μg/L (sensitivity 86%, specificity 81%) and 28 pg for ret‐Hb (sensitivity 86%, specificity 85%). The area under the curve for ferritin and ret‐Hb was 0.886 and 0.896, respectively (n = 61). Ferritin <51 μg/L predicted an AIMS z‐score <10th percentile in a logistic regression (OR 3.3, 95% CI 1.4–7.5, p = 0.006, n = 226). Six of 14 (43%) infants with ret‐Hb <28 pg scored <10th percentile on AIMS compared to 1/47 (2.1%) infants with ret‐Hb ≥28 μg/L (Exact, p < 0.001).ConclusionReticulocyte haemoglobin of <28 pg and ferritin <51 μg/L were associated with suboptimal gross motor scores in infants 3–7 months.
Dispositional causes of burnout, satisfaction, and performance through the fear of COVID‐19 during times of pandemic
Authors: Raja Usman , Jahanzeb Sadia , Malik Muhammad Abdur Rahman , Baig Muhammad Usman Anwar 
Published: June 2022

AbstractRooted in research into personality, we propose that the Big Five traits would be related to fear of COVID‐19 (FOC), which in turn would lead to heightened job burnout, reduced job satisfaction, and decreased performance. Utilizing a three‐wave time‐lagged design, we collected our data from employees working in the United States and Canada (N = 300 × 3). We found good support for our hypotheses. Extraversion, neuroticism, and conscientiousness had significant direct effects on FOC. Fear of COVID‐19 was positively related to job burnout and negatively related to job satisfaction and performance. Extraversion, neuroticism, and conscientiousness had significant indirect effects on burnout, job satisfaction, and job performance via FOC. Hence, this study identifies a key mechanism, an individual's worry about losing their valuable resources (e.g. their health, and that of their family members and friends, etc.), through which selected dimensions of personality might affect employees' work outcomes. We discuss our findings and provide suggestions for future research in this domain.
Alcohol consumption and smoking in relation to psoriasis: a Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Wei Jiahe , Zhu Jiahao , Xu Huiqing , Zhou Dan , Elder James T. , Tsoi Lam C. , Patrick Matthew T. , Li Yingjun 
Published: June 2022

Abstract

Background
Alcohol consumption and smoking have been reported to be associated with psoriasis risk. However, a conclusion with high-quality evidence of causality could not be easily drawn from regular observational studies.

Objectives
This study aims to assess the causal associations of alcohol consumption and smoking with psoriasis.

Methods
Genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary-level data for alcohol consumption (N = 941 280), smoking initiation (N = 1 232 091), cigarettes per day (N = 337 334) and smoking cessation (N = 547 219) was obtained from the GSCAN consortium (Sequencing Consortium of Alcohol and Nicotine use). The GWAS results for lifetime smoking (N = 462 690) were obtained from the UK Biobank samples. Summary statistics for psoriasis were obtained from a recent GWAS meta-analysis of eight cohorts comprising 19 032 cases and 286 769 controls and the FinnGen consortium, comprising 4510 cases and 212 242 controls. Linkage disequilibrium score regression was applied to compute the genetic correlation. Bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses were conducted to determine casual direction using independent genetic variants that reached genome-wide significance (P &lt; 5 × 10–8).

Results
There were genetic correlations between smoking and psoriasis. MR revealed a causal effect of smoking initiation [odds ratio (OR) 1·46, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1·32–1·60, P = 6·24E-14], cigarettes per day (OR 1·38, 95% CI 1·13–1·67, P = 0·001) and lifetime smoking (OR 1·96, 95% CI 1·41–2·73, P = 7·32E-05) on psoriasis. Additionally, a suggestive causal effect of smoking cessation on psoriasis was observed (OR 1·39, 95% CI 1·07–1·79, P = 0·012). We found no causal relationship between alcohol consumption and psoriasis (P = 0·379). The reverse associations were not statistically significant.

Conclusions
Our findings provide causal evidence for the effects of smoking on psoriasis risk.
What is already known about this topic? Alcohol consumption and smoking have been reported to be associated with psoriasis risk.Whether alcohol consumption and smoking have a causal effect on psoriasis risk remains unclear.
What does this study add? This Mendelian randomization study shows a causal association between smoking, but not alcohol consumption, and the risk of developing psoriasis.Restricting smoking could be helpful in reducing the burden of psoriasis.
Long‐term surgical complications following pelvic exenteration: Operative management of the empty pelvis syndrome
Authors: Sutton Paul A. , Brown Kilian G. M. , Ebrahimi Nargus , Solomon Michael J. , Austin Kirk K. S. , Lee Peter J. 
Published: June 2022

AbstractAimPelvic exenteration (PE) has become the standard of care for locally advanced and recurrent rectal cancer. The high short‐term morbidity reported from this procedure is well established; however, longer term complications of such radical surgery and their management have not been fully addressed. This study aimed to investigate the incidence, indications and outcomes of long‐term (more than 90‐day) reoperative surgery in this group of patients, with a focus on the empty pelvis syndrome (EPS).MethodsClinical data were extracted from a prospectively maintained database, with additional data pertaining to indications, operative details and outcomes of reoperative surgery obtained from electronic medical records. Patients were excluded if reoperative surgery was endoscopic or radiologically guided, was for the investigation or treatment of recurrent disease, or was clearly unrelated to previous surgery.ResultsOf 716 patients who underwent PE, 75 (11%) required 101 reoperative abdominal or perineal procedures, 52 (51%) of which were in 40 (6%) patients for complications of EPS. This group were more likely to have undergone a total PE (65% vs. 43%; P < 0.01) with either major bony (70% vs. 50%; P < 0.01) and/or nerve (40% vs. 25%; P = 0.03) resections at index exenteration. The patho‐anatomy, surgical management and outcomes of these patients are described herein, considering separately complications of entero‐cutaneous fistula, entero‐perineal fistula, small bowel obstruction and local management of perineal wound complications.ConclusionSix per cent of PE patients will require re‐intervention for the management of EPS. Reliable strategies for preventing EPS remain elusive; however, surgical management is feasible with acceptable short‐term outcomes with the optimum strategy to be selected on an individual patient basis.