bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sublethal Impacts of Novaluron on Tarnished Plant Bug (Hemiptera: Miridae) Adults
Authors: Catchot Beverly D , Musser F R , Gore J , Krishnan N , Cook D R , Stewart S D , Lorenz G M , Brown S , Seiter N , Catchot A L , Kerns D L , Jackson R , Knighten K S
Published: January 2021

Tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris Palisot de Beauvois (Hemiptera: Miridae), has become a primary pest of cotton in the Midsouthern United States. Insect growth regulators such as novaluron are an important part of L. lineolaris management. While novaluron is lethal to nymphs, it does not kill adults, so it has been used when nymphs are the primary stage present. However, cotton yield protection was observed from an application of novaluron when adults were the predominant stage present. To explain this, a series of studies were conducted to examine sublethal impacts of novaluron to L. lineolaris adults. Novaluron ingestion by adults reduced hatch rate and sometimes reduced oviposition rate. Ingestion by either males or females reduced hatch rates, but the reduction was greater from female exposure. Contact exposure of adults with novaluron residues within 1 d of application reduced hatch rate by about 50%, but the impact on oviposition was inconsistent. A field study showed reduced hatch rate from contact exposure to mixed-age natural populations, but the overall net reproductive rate was not reduced. Surface exposure of eggs to novaluron did not reduce hatch rate. Overall, exposure of tarnished plant bug adults to novaluron, regardless of adult age or exposure route, reduced egg viability. However, the impact on oviposition rate and net reproductive rate varied with adult age and exposure route. This understanding of sublethal impacts of novaluron, in addition to lethal impacts on nymphs, should be considered when choosing application times to maximize effects on L. lineolaris populations.
Economic Injury Levels for Bt-resistant Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Cotton
Authors: Del Pozo-Valdivia Alejandro I , Reisig Dominic D , Braswell Lewis , Greene Jeremy K , Roberts Phillip , Taylor Sally V
Published: January 2021

Thresholds for Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) in cotton Gossypium hirsutum L. have been understudied since the widespread adoption of Bt cotton in the United States. Our study was possible due to the widespread presence of H. zea populations with Cry-toxin resistance. We initiated progressive spray timing experiments using three Bt cotton brands (Deltapine, Stoneville, and Phytogen) widely planted across the U.S. Cotton Belt expressing pyramided toxins in the Cry1A, Cry2, and Vip3Aa19 families. We timed foliar insecticide treatments based on week of bloom to manipulate H. zea populations in tandem with crop development during 2017 and 2018. We hypothesized that non-Bt cotton, cotton expressing Cry toxins alone, and cotton expressing Cry and Vip3Aa19 toxins would respond differently to H. zea feeding. We calculated economic injury levels to support the development of economic thresholds from significant responses. Pressure from H. zea was high during both years. Squares and bolls damaged by H. zea had the strongest negative yield associations, followed by larval number on squares. There were fewer yield associations with larval number on bolls and with number of H. zea eggs on the plant. Larval population levels were very low on varieties expressing Vip3Aa19. Yield response varied across experiments and varieties, suggesting that it is difficult to pinpoint precise economic injury levels. Nonetheless, our results generally suggest that current economic thresholds for H. zea in cotton are too high. Economic injury levels from comparisons between non-Bt varieties and those expressing only Cry toxins could inform future thresholds once H. zea evolves resistance to Vip3Aa19.
Dualities for Bounded Prelinear Hilbert Algebras
Authors: San Martín Hernán J , Sígal Valeria A
Published: January 2021

This paper deals about dualities for bounded prelinear Hilbert algebras. In particular, we give an Esakia-style duality between the algebraic category of bounded prelinear Hilbert algebras and a category of H-spaces whose morphisms are certain continuous p-morphisms.
Air Pollution Monitoring Using WSN Nodes with Machine Learning Techniques: A Case Study
Authors: Rosero-Montalvo Paul D , López-Batista Vivian F , Arciniega-Rocha Ricardo , Peluffo-Ordóñez Diego H
Published: January 2021

Air pollution is a current concern of people and government entities. Therefore, in urban scenarios, its monitoring and subsequent analysis is a remarkable and challenging issue due mainly to the variability of polluting-related factors. For this reason, the present work shows the development of a wireless sensor network that, through machine learning techniques, can be classified into three different types of environments: high pollution levels, medium pollution and no noticeable contamination into the Ibarra City. To achieve this goal, signal smoothing stages, prototype selection, feature analysis and a comparison of classification algorithms are performed. As relevant results, there is a classification performance of 95% with a significant noisy data reduction.
Analysis of Differentially Expressed Genes ofChrysoperla sinicaRelated to Flight Capacity by Transcriptome
Authors: Liu Zhong-Fang , Liang Yao-yao , Sun Xiao-ting , Yang Jing , Zhang Peng-Jiu , Gao Yue , Fan Jian-Bin , Fan Ren-Jun
Published: January 2021

The lacewing Chrysoperla sinica (Tjeder) is a common natural enemy of many insect pests in China and is frequently employed for biological control programs. Adults make migratory flights after emergence, which reduces their effectiveness as biological control agents. Previously, we proved that 2-d-old unmated females exhibited significantly stronger flight ability than 3-d-old ones. Meanwhile, 3-d-old unmated adults flew significantly longer distances than mated ones. In this study, Illumina RNA sequencing was performed to characterize differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between virgin and mated adults of different ages in a single female strain of C. sinica. In total, 713,563,726 clean reads were obtained and de novo assembled into 109,165 unigenes with an average length of 847 bp (N50 of 1,754 bp), among which 4,382 (4.01%) unigenes matched known proteins. Based on these annotations, many putative transcripts were related to C. sinica’s flight capacity and muscle structure, energy supply, growth, development, environmental adaptability, and metabolism of nutritional components and bioactive components. In addition, the differential expression of transcripts between different ages and mating status were analyzed, and DEGs participating in flight capacity and muscles were detected, including glutathione hydrolase, NAD-specific glutamate dehydrogenase, aminopeptidase, and acidic amino acid decarboxylase. The DEGs with functions associated with flight capacity and muscles exhibited higher transcript levels for younger (2 d--old) virgins. This comprehensive C. sinica transcriptomic data provide a foundation for a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the flight capacity to meet the physiological demands of flight muscles in C. sinica.
Examination of incidence, mortality and disability-adjusted life years and risk factors of breast cancer in 49 Asian countries, 1990–2019: estimates from Global Burden of Disease Study 2019
Authors: Sharma Rajesh
Published: January 2021

Background

This study presents an up-to-date, comprehensive and comparative examination of breast cancer’s temporal patterns in females in Asia in last three decades.

Methods

The estimates of incidence, mortality, disability-adjusted-life-years and risk factors of breast cancer in females in 49 Asian countries were retrieved from Global Burden of Disease 2019 study.

Results

In Asia, female breast cancer incidence grew from 245 045[226 259–265 260] in 1990 to 914 878[815 789–1025 502] in 2019 with age-standardized incidence rate rising from 21.2/100 000[19.6–22.9] to 35.9/100 000[32.0–40.2] between 1990 and 2019. The death counts more than doubled from 136 665[126 094–148 380] to 337 822[301 454–375 251]. The age-standardized mortality rate rose marginally between 1990 and 2019 (1990: 12.1[11.0–13.1]; 2019: 13.4[12.0–14.9]). In 2019, age-standardized incidence rate varied from 17.2/100 000[13.95–21.4] in Mongolia to 122.5[92.1–160.7] in Lebanon and the age-standardized mortality rate varied 4-fold from 8.0/100 000 [7.2–8.8] in South Korea to 51.9[39.0–69.8] in Pakistan. High body mass index (5.6%), high fasting plasma glucose (5.6%) and secondhand smoke (3.5%) were the main contributory risk factors to all-age disability-adjusted-life-years due to breast cancer in Asia.

Conclusion

With growing incidence, escalating dietary and behavioural risk factors and lower survival rates due to late-disease presentation in low- and medium-income countries of Asia, breast cancer has become a significant public health threat. Its rising burden calls for increasing breast cancer awareness, preventive measures, early-stage detection and cost-effective therapeutics in Asia.
The origin of low-surface-brightness galaxies in the dwarf regime
Authors: Jackson R A , Martin G , Kaviraj S , Ramsøy M , Devriendt J E G , Sedgwick T , Laigle C , Choi H , Beckmann R S , Volonteri M , Dubois Y , Pichon C , Yi S K , Slyz A , Kraljic K , Kimm T , Peirani S , Baldry I
Published: January 2021

Low-surface-brightness galaxies (LSBGs) – defined as systems that are fainter than the surface-brightness limits of past wide-area surveys – form the overwhelming majority of galaxies in the dwarf regime (M⋆ < 109 M⊙). Using NewHorizon, a high-resolution cosmological simulation, we study the origin of LSBGs and explain why LSBGs at similar stellar mass show the large observed spread in surface brightness. NewHorizon galaxies populate a well-defined locus in the surface brightness–stellar mass plane, with a spread of ∼3 mag arcsec−2, in agreement with deep Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Stripe 82 data. Galaxies with fainter surface brightnesses today are born in regions of higher dark matter density. This results in faster gas accretion and more intense star formation at early epochs. The stronger resultant supernova feedback flattens gas profiles at a faster rate, which, in turn, creates shallower stellar profiles (i.e. more diffuse systems) more rapidly. As star formation declines towards late epochs ( z < 1), the larger tidal perturbations and ram pressure experienced by these systems (due to their denser local environments) accelerate the divergence in surface brightness, by increasing their effective radii and reducing star formation, respectively. A small minority of dwarfs depart from the main locus towards high surface brightnesses, making them detectable in past wide surveys (e.g. standard-depth SDSS images). These systems have anomalously high star formation rates, triggered by recent fly-by or merger-driven starbursts. We note that objects considered extreme or anomalous at the depth of current data sets, e.g. ‘ultra-diffuse galaxies’, actually dominate the predicted dwarf population and will be routinely visible in future surveys like the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST).
A source of gamma rays coincident with the shell of the supernova remnant CTB 80
Authors: Araya M , Herrera C
Published: January 2021

CTB 80 (G69.0+2.7) is a relatively old (50–80 kyr) supernova remnant (SNR) with a complex radio morphology showing three extended radio arms and a radio and X-ray nebula near the location of the pulsar PSR B1951+32. We report on a study of the GeV emission in the region of CTB 80 with Fermi-Large Area Telescope data. An extended source with a size of 1.3°, matching the size of the infrared shell associated to the SNR, was discovered. The GeV emission, detected up to an energy of ∼20 GeV, is more significant at the location of the northern radio arm where previous observations imply that the SNR shock is interacting with ambient material. Both hadronic and leptonic scenarios can reproduce the multiwavelength data reasonably well. The hadronic cosmic ray energy density required is considerably larger than the local Galactic value and the gamma-ray leptonic emission is mainly due to bremsstrahlung interactions. We conclude that GeV particles are still trapped or accelerated by the SNR producing the observed high-energy emission when interacting with ambient material.
A minimal timescale for the continuum in 4U 1608-52 and Aql X-1
Authors: Mohamed K , Sonbas E , Dhuga K S , Göğüş E , Tuncer A , Abd Allah N N , Ibrahim A
Published: January 2021

Similar to black hole X-ray binary transients, hysteresis-like state transitions are also seen in some neutron-star X-ray binaries. Using a method based on wavelets and light curves constructed from archival Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer observations, we extract a minimal timescale over the complete range of transitions for 4U 1608-52 during the 2002 and 2007 outbursts and the 1999 and 2000 outbursts for Aql X-1. We present evidence for a strong positive correlation between this minimal timescale and a similar timescale extracted from the corresponding power spectra of these sources.
A parsec-scale faint jet in the nearby changing-look Seyfert galaxy Mrk 590
Authors: Yang Jun , van Bemmel Ilse , Paragi Zsolt , Komossa S , Yuan Feng , Yang Xiaolong , An Tao , Koay J Y , Reynolds C , Oonk J B R , Liu Xiang , Wu Qingwen
Published: January 2021

Broad Balmer emission lines in active galactic nuclei (AGN) may display dramatic changes in amplitude, even disappearance and re-appearance in some sources. As a nearby galaxy at a redshift of z = 0.0264, Mrk 590 suffered such a cycle of Seyfert type changes between 2006 and 2017. Over the last 50 yr, Mrk 590 also underwent a powerful continuum outburst and a slow fading from X-rays to radio wavelengths with a peak bolometric luminosity reaching about 10 per cent of the Eddington luminosity. To track its past accretion and ejection activity, we performed very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) observations with the European VLBI Network (EVN) at 1.6 GHz in 2015. The EVN observations reveal a faint (∼1.7 mJy) radio jet extending up to ∼2.8 mas (projected scale ∼1.4 pc) toward north, and probably resulting from the very intensive AGN activity. To date, such a parsec-scale jet is rarely seen in the known changing-look AGN. The finding of the faint jet provides further strong support for variable accretion as the origin of the type changes in Mrk 590.
Flexible comparison of batch correction methods for single-cell RNA-seq using BatchBench
Authors: Chazarra-Gil Ruben , van Dongen Stijn , Kiselev Vladimir Yu , Hemberg Martin
Published: January 2021

As the cost of single-cell RNA-seq experiments has decreased, an increasing number of datasets are now available. Combining newly generated and publicly accessible datasets is challenging due to non-biological signals, commonly known as batch effects. Although there are several computational methods available that can remove batch effects, evaluating which method performs best is not straightforward. Here, we present BatchBench (https://github.com/cellgeni/batchbench), a modular and flexible pipeline for comparing batch correction methods for single-cell RNA-seq data. We apply BatchBench to eight methods, highlighting their methodological differences and assess their performance and computational requirements through a compendium of well-studied datasets. This systematic comparison guides users in the choice of batch correction tool, and the pipeline makes it easy to evaluate other datasets.
Insight into formation propensity of pseudocircular DNA G-hairpins
Authors: Živković Martina Lenarčič , Gajarský Martin , Beková Kateřina , Stadlbauer Petr , Vicherek Lukáš , Petrová Magdalena , Fiala Radovan , Rosenberg Ivan , Šponer Jiří , Plavec Janez , Trantírek Lukáš
Published: January 2021

We recently showed that Saccharomyces cerevisiae telomeric DNA can fold into an unprecedented pseudocircular G-hairpin (PGH) structure. However, the formation of PGHs in the context of extended sequences, which is a prerequisite for their function in vivo and their applications in biotechnology, has not been elucidated. Here, we show that despite its ‘circular’ nature, PGHs tolerate single-stranded (ss) protrusions. High-resolution NMR structure of a novel member of PGH family reveals the atomistic details on a junction between ssDNA and PGH unit. Identification of new sequences capable of folding into one of the two forms of PGH helped in defining minimal sequence requirements for their formation. Our time-resolved NMR data indicate a possibility that PGHs fold via a complex kinetic partitioning mechanism and suggests the existence of K+ ion-dependent PGH folding intermediates. The data not only provide an explanation of cation-type-dependent formation of PGHs, but also explain the unusually large hysteresis between PGH melting and annealing noted in our previous study. Our findings have important implications for DNA biology and nanotechnology. Overrepresentation of sequences able to form PGHs in the evolutionary-conserved regions of the human genome implies their functionally important biological role(s).
Reversible chromatin condensation by the DNA repair and demethylation factor thymine DNA glycosylase
Authors: Deckard Charles E , Sczepanski Jonathan T
Published: January 2021

Chromatin structures (and modulators thereof) play a central role in genome organization and function. Herein, we report that thymine DNA glycosylase (TDG), an essential enzyme involved in DNA repair and demethylation, has the capacity to alter chromatin structure directly through its physical interactions with DNA. Using chemically defined nucleosome arrays, we demonstrate that TDG induces decompaction of individual chromatin fibers upon binding and promotes self-association of nucleosome arrays into higher-order oligomeric structures (i.e. condensation). Chromatin condensation is mediated by TDG’s disordered polycationic N-terminal domain, whereas its C-terminal domain antagonizes this process. Furthermore, we demonstrate that TDG-mediated chromatin condensation is reversible by growth arrest and DNA damage 45 alpha (GADD45a), implying that TDG cooperates with its binding partners to dynamically control chromatin architecture. Finally, we show that chromatin condensation by TDG is sensitive to the methylation status of the underlying DNA. This new paradigm for TDG has specific implications for associated processes, such as DNA repair, DNA demethylation, and transcription, and general implications for the role of DNA modification ‘readers’ in controlling chromatin organization.
Tribes of Trust or Distrust, “Attitude Roots” and Encouraging Scientific Participation in the Tobacco Harm-Reduction Debate
Authors: Kozlowski Lynn T
Published: January 2021

Implications This commentary provides an analysis of non-scientific influences on the tobacco harm reduction debate. It makes use of the “attitude roots” model and the issue of misplace trust and distrust. Greater participation in the debate by experts is encouraged, along with efforts to minimize the effects of non-scientific, biasing effects on judgments.
Vertical sexual habitat segregation in a wintering migratory songbird
Authors: Cooper Nathan W , Thomas Mark A , Marra Peter P
Published: January 2021

Sexual habitat segregation during the wintering period is a widespread phenomenon and has important implications for the ecology and conservation of migratory birds. We studied Black-and-white Warblers (Mniotilta varia) wintering in second-growth scrub and old-growth mangrove forest in Jamaica to quantify sexual habitat segregation and explore whether patterns of habitat occupation have consequences on physical condition. We used this information along with a body size analysis and simulated territorial intrusions to assess whether behavioral dominance or habitat specialization was responsible for habitat segregation. Based on standardized capture data, we found that females were more abundant than males in both scrub and mangrove forests. Foraging observations, however, suggested vertical segregation within each habitat, with females foraging primarily near the ground and males in the mid-canopy and canopy, indicating that our sex ratio estimates may be biased. Using 2 measures of body condition, we show that males were in better body condition than females, regardless of habitat. We found that males were on average slightly larger than females, and home range analysis and simulated territorial intrusions indicated that males were more territorial than females. We argue that the observed vertical sexual habitat segregation is likely caused by behavioral dominance rather than habitat specialization. Winter body condition is known to carry over to affect migration timing, reproductive success, and annual survival in other songbirds, and therefore sexual habitat segregation may have important implications for year-round population dynamics in Black-and-white Warblers.
Selective redox signaling shapes plant–pathogen interactions
Authors: Bleau Jade R , Spoel Steven H
Published: January 2021

A review of recent progress in understanding the mechanisms whereby plants utilize selective and reversible redox signaling to establish immunity.
Three-dimensional reconstructions of haustoria in two parasitic plant species in the Orobanchaceae
Authors: Masumoto Natsumi , Suzuki Yuki , Cui Songkui , Wakazaki Mayumi , Sato Mayuko , Kumaishi Kie , Shibata Arisa , Furuta Kaori M , Ichihashi Yasunori , Shirasu Ken , Toyooka Kiminori , Sato Yoshinobu , Yoshida Satoko
Published: January 2021

Parasitic plants infect other plants by forming haustoria, specialized multicellular organs consisting of several cell types, each of which has unique morphological features and physiological roles associated with parasitism. Understanding the spatial organization of cell types is, therefore, of great importance in elucidating the functions of haustoria. Here, we report a three-dimensional (3-D) reconstruction of haustoria from two Orobanchaceae species, the obligate parasite Striga hermonthica infecting rice (Oryza sativa) and the facultative parasite Phtheirospermum japonicum infecting Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). In addition, field-emission scanning electron microscopy observation revealed the presence of various cell types in haustoria. Our images reveal the spatial arrangements of multiple cell types inside haustoria and their interaction with host roots. The 3-D internal structures of haustoria highlight differences between the two parasites, particularly at the xylem connection site with the host. Our study provides cellular and structural insights into haustoria of S. hermonthica and P. japonicum and lays the foundation for understanding haustorium function.
A Retrospective Analysis of Gabapentinoid and Opioids to Opioid Monotherapy for Pain Relief in Patients with Chronic Neck and Low Back Pain
Authors: Knezevic Nebojsa Nick , Aijaz Tabish , Camacho-Ortega Alvaro , Candido Kenneth D
Published: January 2021

Objective

We compared the reduction in pain and opioid consumption in patients with chronic spinal pain on concomitant gabapentinoids and opioids with patients using opioids only.

Design

This was a retrospective chart review of patients with chronic neck or low back pain who were on opioids with at least a 24-month follow-up.

Setting

Single-center pain clinic in an urban setting.

Subjects

167 patients with chronic spinal pain lasting at least six months.

Methods

Patients on gabapentin or pregabalin were included in the gabapentinoid group, while the other patients were included in the non-gabapentinoid group. Primary outcome was assessment of pain scores measured via a numeric rating scale (NRS), and secondary outcomes were response to the treatment (>2 point reduction on NRS) and daily opioid use measured in morphine milliequivalents.

Results

Pain scores were reduced in the first six months and plateaued after that in both groups. At the end of 24 months, the average pain score was 6.71 in the gabapentinoid group, while the average pain score was 7.18 in the non-gabapentinoid group. There was no statistical significance between the groups (p = 0.28). There was no difference in response to treatment in gabapentinoid group (33.3%) when compared with non-gabapentinoid group (32.7%). We also failed to find any significant difference in daily opioid usage between the two groups.

Conclusion

Gabapentinoids may not lead to reduction in pain or opioid consumption in patients with chronic spinal pain. A careful approach must be adopted while prescribing gabapentinoids in the chronic spinal pain patient population.
Evaluation of the Relationship Between Geographic Proximity and Treatment for People Referred to a Metropolitan Multidisciplinary Pain Clinic
Authors: Giummarra Melita J , Arnold Carolyn A , Beck Ben Ben
Published: January 2021

Objective

This study examined which patient characteristics are associated with traveling further to attend a metropolitan, publicly funded pain management service, and whether travel distance was associated with differences in treatment profile, duration, and percentage of appointments attended.

Design

Cross-sectional observational cohort study.

Method

Patients ≤70 years of age with a single referral between January 2014 and June 2018 who had not died within 12 months of their first appointment and who had a usual place of residence were included (N = 1,684; mean age = 47.2 years; 55.5% female). Travel distance was calculated with the HERE Routing API on the basis of historical travel times for each scheduled appointment.

Results

Median travel time was 27.5 minutes (Q1, Q3: 12.5, 46.2). Ordinal regression showed that women had 20% lower odds of traveling further, but people who were overweight or obese (odds ratio [OR] = 1.4–2.3), unemployed (OR = 1.27), or taking higher opioid dosages (OR = 1.79–2.82) had higher odds of traveling further. People traveling >60 minutes had fewer treatment minutes (median = 143 minutes) than people living within 15 minutes of the pain clinic (median = 440 minutes), and a smaller proportion of those traveling >60 minutes attended group programs vs. medical appointments only (n = 35, 17.0%) relative to those living within 15 minutes of their destination (n = 184, 32.6%). People living 16–30 minutes from the clinic missed the highest proportion of appointments.

Conclusions

Although people traveling further for treatment may be seeking predominantly medical treatment, particularly opioid medications, the present findings highlight the need to further explore patient triage and program models of care to ensure that people living with persistent disabling pain can access the same level of care, regardless of where they live.
A dynamical study of fusion hindrance with the Nakajima–Zwanzig projection method
Authors: Abe Yasuhisa , Boilley David , Hourdillé Quentin , Shen Caiwan
Published: January 2021

A new framework is proposed for the study of collisions between very heavy ions which lead to the synthesis of Super-Heavy Elements (SHE), to address the fusion hindrance phenomenon. The dynamics of the reaction is studied in terms of collective degrees of freedom undergoing relaxation processes with different time scales. The Nakajima–Zwanzig projection operator method is employed to eliminate fast variables and derive a dynamical equation for the reduced system with only slow variables. There, the time evolution operator is renormalised and an inhomogeneous term appears, which represents a propagation of the given initial distribution. The term results in a slip to the initial values of the slow variables. We expect that gives a dynamical origin for the so-called “injection point $s$” introduced by Swiatecki et al. in order to reproduce absolute values of measured cross sections for SHE. A formula for the slip is given in terms of physical parameters of the system, which confirms the results recently obtained with a Langevin equation, and permits us to compare various incident channels.
Physical and mental health of older people while cocooning during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Bailey L , Ward M , DiCosimo A , Baunta S , Cunningham C , Romero-Ortuno R , Kenny R A , Purcell R , Lannon R , McCarroll K , Nee R , Robinson D , Lavan A , Briggs R
Published: January 2021

Background

Cocooning or shielding, i.e. staying at home and reducing face-to-face interaction with other people, was an important part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic for older people. However, concerns exist regarding the long-term adverse effects cocooning may have on their physical and mental health.

Aim

To examine health trajectories and healthcare utilization while cocooning in a cohort of community-dwelling people aged ≥70 years.

Design

Survey of 150 patients (55% female, mean age 80 years and mean Clinical Frailty Scale Score 4.8) attending ambulatory medical services in a large urban university hospital.

Methods

The survey covered four broad themes: access to healthcare services, mental health, physical health and attitudes to COVID-19 restrictions. Survey data were presented descriptively.

Results

Almost 40% (59/150) reported that their mental health was ‘worse’ or ‘much worse’ while cocooning, while over 40% (63/150) reported a decline in their physical health. Almost 70% (104/150) reported exercising less frequently or not exercising at all. Over 57% (86/150) of participants reported loneliness with 1 in 8 (19/150) reporting that they were lonely ‘very often’. Half of participants (75/150) reported a decline in their quality of life. Over 60% (91/150) agreed with government advice for those ≥70 years but over 40% (61/150) reported that they disliked the term ‘cocooning’.

Conclusions

Given the likelihood of further restrictions in coming months, clear policies and advice for older people around strategies to maintain social engagement, manage loneliness and continue physical activity and access timely medical care and rehabilitation services should be a priority.
Distinct transcriptional profile of blood mononuclear cells in Behçet’s disease: insights into the central role of neutrophil chemotaxis
Authors: Verrou Kleio-Maria , Vlachogiannis Nikolaos I , Ampatziadis-Michailidis Giannis , Moulos Panagiotis  , Pavlopoulos Georgios A , Hatzis Pantelis , Kollias George , Sfikakis Petros P
Published: January 2021

Objectives

Both innate and adaptive immune responses are reportedly increased in Behçet’s disease (BD), a chronic, relapsing systemic vasculitis lying at the intersection between autoinflammation and autoimmunity. To further study pathophysiologic molecular mechanisms operating in BD, we searched for transcriptome-wide changes in blood mononuclear cells from these patients.

Methods

We performed 3ʹ mRNA next-generation sequencing-based genome-wide transcriptional profiling followed by analysis of differential expression signatures, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways, GO biological processes and transcription factor signatures.

Results

Differential expression analysis clustered the transcriptomes of 13 patients and one healthy subject separately from those of 10 healthy age/gender-matched controls and one patient. Among the total of 17 591 expressed protein-coding genes, 209 and 31 genes were significantly upregulated and downregulated, respectively, in BD vs controls by at least 2-fold. The most upregulated genes comprised an abundance of CC- and CXC-chemokines. Remarkably, the 5 out of top 10 upregulated biological processes involved leucocyte recruitment to peripheral tissues, especially for neutrophils. Moreover, NF-kB, TNF and IL-1 signalling pathways were prominently enhanced in BD, while transcription factor activity analysis suggested that the NF-kB p65/RELA subunit action underlies the observed differences in the BD transcriptome.

Conclusion

This RNA-sequencing analysis in peripheral blood mononuclear cells derived from patients with BD does not support a major pathogenetic role for adaptive immunity-driven mechanisms, but clearly points to the action of aberrant innate immune responses with a central role played by upregulated neutrophil chemotaxis.
POTENTIAL EXPOSURE LEVELS FROM BROADCAST TRANSMITTERS IN GHANA
Authors: Deatanyah P , Menyeh A , Amoako J K , Abavare E K K , Osei-Donkor A , Quarshie E
Published: January 2021

The protection of man and his environment from undue exposure from radio frequency electromagnetic field requires identification of the location where exposures are likely to be higher than safe levels established by international safety standards. A wideband measurement with a spectrum analyzer and a log-periodic antenna in conjunction with the three-point spatial average method was used. The results ranged from 16.21 to 2907.00 mVm−1 and complied with a maximum of 1.08% of the ICNIRP reference level. Private frequency modulation (FM) sources were identified as the major source of exposure to the public with a mean value of 337.70 ± 133.70 mVm−1 against 122.30 ± 36.47 mVm−1 for the public FM transmitters. Even though the result was lower than a workplace assessment, it was, however, higher than similar works conducted in Africa and Palestine. Finally, four sensitive locations were identified for further research work.
The brain network in support of social semantic accumulation
Authors: Zhang Guangyao , Xu Yangwen , Zhang Meimei , Wang Shaonan , Lin Nan
Published: January 2021

Some studies have indicated that a specific ‘social semantic network’ represents the social meanings of words. However, studies of the comprehension of complex materials, such as sentences and narratives, have indicated that the same network supports the online accumulation of connected semantic information. In this study, we examined the hypothesis that this network does not simply represent the social meanings of words but also accumulates connected social meanings from texts. We defined the social semantic network by conducting a meta-analysis of previous studies on social semantic processing and then examined the effects of social semantic accumulation using a functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) experiment. Two important findings were obtained. First, the social semantic network showed a stronger social semantic effect in sentence and narrative reading than in word list reading, indicating the amplitude of social semantic activation can be accumulated in the network. Second, the activation of the social semantic network in sentence and narrative reading can be better explained by the holistic social-semantic-richness rating scores of the stimuli than by those of the constitutive words, indicating the social semantic contents can be integrated in the network. These two findings convergently indicate that the social semantic network supports the accumulation of connected social meanings.
Vicarious praise and pain: parental neural responses to social feedback about their adolescent child
Authors: van Houtum Lisanne A E M , Wever Mirjam C M , Janssen Loes H C , van Schie Charlotte C , Will Geert-Jan , Tollenaar Marieke S , Elzinga Bernet M
Published: January 2021

Social feedback, such as praise or critique, profoundly impacts our mood and social interactions. It is unknown, however, how parents experience praise and critique about their child and whether their mood and neural responses to such ‘vicarious’ social feedback are modulated by parents’ perceptions of their child. Parents (n = 60) received positive, intermediate and negative feedback words (i.e. personality characteristics) about their adolescent child during a magnetic resonance imaging scan. After each word, parents indicated their mood. After positive feedback their mood improved and activity in ventromedial prefrontal cortex and posterior cingulate cortex/precuneus increased. Negative feedback worsened parents’ mood, especially when perceived as inapplicable to their child, and increased activity in anterior cingulate cortex, anterior insula, dorsomedial prefrontal cortex and precuneus. Parents who generally viewed their child more positively showed amplified mood responses to both positive and negative feedback and increased activity in dorsal striatum, inferior frontal gyrus and insula in response to negative feedback. These findings suggest that vicarious feedback has similar effects and engages similar brain regions as observed during feedback about the self and illustrates this is dependent on parents’ beliefs of their child’s qualities and flaws. Potential implications for parent–child dynamics and children’s own self-views are discussed.
Testing the effects of species interactions and water limitation on tree seedling biomass allocation and physiology
Authors: Kerr Kelly L , Zenes Nicole , Trugman Anna T , Anderegg William R L
Published: January 2021

Species interactions mediate tree responses to water limitation because competition and/or facilitation alter plant physiology and growth. However, because it is difficult to isolate the effects of plant–plant interactions and water limitation from other environmental factors, the mechanisms underlying tree physiology and growth in coexisting plants under drought are poorly understood. We investigated how species interactions and water limitation impact the physiology and growth of trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides), narrowleaf cottonwood (Populus angustifolia) and ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) seedlings in a controlled environment growth chamber, using aspen as a focal species. Seedlings were grown in pots alone or with a con- or hetero-specific seedling, and were subjected to a water limitation treatment. Growth, water status and physiological traits were measured before, during and after the treatment. Under well-watered conditions, the presence of another seedling affected growth or biomass allocation in all species, but did not impact the physiological traits we measured. Under water limitation, the presence of a competing seedling had a marginal impact on seedling growth and physiological traits in all species. Throughout the study, the magnitude and direction of seedling responses were complex and often species-specific. Our study serves as an important step toward testing how species’ interactions modify physiological responses and growth in well-watered and water-limited periods.
Explaining Age Differences in the Motivating Potential of Intergenerational Contact at Work
Authors: Burmeister Anne , Hirschi Andreas , Zacher Hannes
Published: January 2021

Understanding the effects of intergenerational contact at work is important given aging and increasingly age-diverse workforces. The aim of this research was to better understand who derives motivational benefits from intergenerational contact, and the processes by which this occurs. To do so, we adopted a motivational lens grounded in need-based theories of work motivation and lifespan development theory. We argue that the motivating effect of intergenerational contact on work engagement via sense of belonging is more pronounced for older compared with younger employees due to changes in goal priorities across the lifespan. Specifically, we posit the generativity motive and perceived remaining time at work as lifespan-related mechanisms that explain the moderating effects of age on the links between intergenerational contact and work engagement. In Study 1, a laboratory experiment with 45 younger and 45 older participants in Switzerland, we found support for a causal effect of intergenerational contact on sense of belonging. In Study 2, a three-wave field study with 560 employees in Germany, we found that sense of belonging mediated the relation between intergenerational contact and work engagement. Furthermore, perceived remaining time at work explained the moderating effect of age on the link between sense of belonging and work engagement. By highlighting age differences in the motivating potential of intergenerational contact, we advance research on intergroup contact, employee motivation, and workforce aging.
Repeated colonization of caves leads to phenotypic convergence in catfishes (Siluriformes:Trichomycterus) at a small geographical scale
Authors: Flórez Juan Sebastián , Cadena Carlos Daniel , Donascimiento Carlos , Torres Mauricio
Published: January 2021

Across various animal groups, adaptation to the challenging conditions of cave environments has resulted in convergent evolution. We document a Neotropical cavefish system with ample potential to study questions related to convergent adaptation to cave environments at the population level. In the karstic region of the Andes of Santander, Colombia, cave-dwelling catfish in the genus Trichomycterus exhibit variable levels of reduction of eyes and body pigmentation relative to surface congeners. We tested whether cave-dwelling, eye-reduced, depigmented Trichomycterus from separate caves in Santander were the result of a single event of cave colonization and subsequent dispersal, or of multiple colonizations to caves by surface ancestors followed by phenotypic convergence. Using mitochondrial DNA sequences to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships, we found that caves in this region have been colonized independently by two separate clades. Additional events of cave colonization – and possibly recolonization of surface streams – may have occurred in one of the clades, where surface and cave-dwelling populations exhibit shallow differentiation, suggesting recent divergence or divergence with gene flow. We also identify potentially undescribed species and likely problems with the circumscription of named taxa. The system appears promising for studies on a wide range of ecological and evolutionary questions.
Yield Losses and Control by Sedaxane and Fludioxonil of Soilborne Rhizoctonia, Microdochium, and Fusarium Species in Winter Wheat
Authors: Brown Matthew , Jayaweera Dasuni P. , Hunt Annabel , Woodhall James W. , Ray Rumiana V.
Published: January 2021

Soilborne Rhizoctonia, Microdochium, and Fusarium species are major causal agents of seedling and stem-base diseases of wheat. Currently, seed treatments are considered the most effective solution for their control. Rhizoctonia solani anastomosis groups (AGs) 2-1 and 5, R. cerealis, Microdochium, and Fusarium spp., were used in series of field experiments to determine their capability to cause soilborne and stem-base disease and to quantify their comparative losses in the establishment and yield of wheat. The effectiveness and response to seed treatment formulated with 10 g sedaxane and 5 g fludioxonil 100 kg−1 against these soilborne pathogens were also determined. Our results showed that damping-off caused by soilborne R. cerealis was associated with significant reductions in the emergence and establishment, resulting in stunted growth and low plant numbers. The pathogen also caused sharp eyespot associated with reductions in the ear partitioning index. R. solani AG 2-1 and AG 5 were weakly pathogenic and failed to cause significant damping-off, root rot, and stem-base disease in wheat. Fusarium graminearum and F. culmorum applied as soilborne inoculum failed to cause severe disease. Microdochium spp. caused brown foot rot disease and soilborne M. nivale reduced wheat emergence. Applications of sedaxane and fludioxonil increased plant emergence and reduced damping-off, early stem-base disease, and brown foot rot, thus providing protection against multiple soilborne pathogens. R. cerealis reduced the thousand grain weight by 3.6%, whereas seed treatment including fludioxonil and sedaxane against soilborne R. cerealis or M. nivale resulted in a 4% yield increase.
From Burnout to Wholehearted Engagement: A Qualitative Exploration of Psychiatry Residents’ Experience of Stress
Authors: Corgan Sondra , Ford Winkel Abigail , Sugarman Rebekah , Young John Q.
Published: January 2021

Purpose

Physician burnout is endemic across medical education and has numerous deleterious effects. Given the prevalence and negative effects of burnout, there is an urgent need to understand how residents experience and cope with stress and develop explanatory models that inform the development of more effective interventions.

Method

Using a qualitative, constructivist approach informed by grounded theory, the authors conducted semistructured interviews from March to April 2019, in which psychiatry residents were asked about their experiences of stress and how they coped. First- through fourth-year trainees at Zucker Hillside Hospital at Northwell Health, Glen Oaks, New York, were invited. Two authors independently and inductively coded deidentified transcripts. A constant comparative approach was used to analyze data and support construction of themes. Theoretic sufficiency was observed after 14 interviews.

Results

The authors constructed an explanatory model for how residents cope with stress and whether they tended toward burnout or wholehearted engagement. The model included 3 themes: self-care, work relationships, and meaning making. Self-care, including time spent with others, provided connection and belonging that bolstered physicians’ developing identities. Interpersonal relationships at work profoundly influenced the experience of residents. Positive peer and supervisor relationships enhanced confidence and perseverance. Negative role models and conflict engendered feelings of inadequacy. The ability to shift perspective and build meaning through examining moral values in the face of challenges was crucial for residents who reported success at coping with stress. Residents identified personal psychotherapy as an especially important strategy to facilitate meaning making.

Conclusions

These findings provide guidance for how residency programs may help residents cope with stress and move away from burnout toward wholehearted engagement. Strategies may include reducing barriers to self-care and to accessing help early in training, creating spaces that promote peer connection and providing training in addressing conflict, and facilitating engagement in meaning-making activities.
Chronic Pain in Young Athletes
Authors: Hsu Connie , Loecher Nele , Park Anna L. , Simons Laura E.
Published: January 2021

Background:

It is common for youth to engage in sport and unfortunately also common for chronic pain to emerge in childhood. The convergence of chronic pain and sports participation in youth has not been extensively studied.

Objective:

The goal of this study was to examine the association between athletic identity (AI) and pain-related distress and functioning in youth with chronic pain.

Participants:

Our cohort consisted of 305 youth ages 8 to 21, 83.6% of whom reported being currently engaged or previously involved in sport. Correlation and regression analyses were completed to evaluate the relationship between AI and pain-related distress and functioning in our cohort of chronic pain patients.

Results:

Children currently involved in sport had higher total AI and social AI, lower fear of pain, and lower functional disability. Greater negative affectivity-AI had the strongest relationship with pain-related distress, including pain catastrophizing, fear and avoidance of pain, and anxiety. Stronger social AI was associated with lower levels of depression and pain-related avoidance of activities. Functional disability was not significantly associated with AI, but was lowest in individuals currently involved in sport.

Conclusion:

Our study provides evidence that focusing on continued sports engagement in the context of chronic pain is associated with less pain-related distress and functional limitations when compared with those who discontinue sports involvement, thus may serve as a buffer in the context of chronic pain. The association of AI with pain-related distress suggests that there is emotional significance in the degree to which youth identify as an athlete. This may be beneficial to clinically assess in youth with chronic pain.