bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A randomized clinical study to examine the oral hygiene efficacy of a novel herbal toothpaste with zinc over a 6‐month period
Authors: Nandlal B. , Sreenivasan Prem K. , Shashikumar Pratibha , Devishree G. , Bettahalli Shivamallu Avinash
Published: April 2021

Objectives

This clinical investigation examined the effects of brushing with a test toothpaste containing natural ingredients, that is, clove (Syzgium Aromaticum), aloe vera (Aloe Barbadensis), amla (Emblica Officinalis), neem (Azadirachta Indica), tulsi (Ocimum Basillicum) and honey (from Apis Mellifera) along with zinc salts and fluoride in comparison with a dentifrice formulated with fluoride alone on dental plaque and gingivitis over a 6‐month period.

Materials and Method

One hundred and eighty (180) subjects with mean plaque index scores greater than 1.5 (Turesky Modified Quigley Hein Plaque Index) and gingival index scores >1.0 (Loe and Silness gingival index) in good general health and who met other study criteria were enrolled in the clinical study. Subjects were evaluated for plaque and gingival index scores and were randomly assigned to perform twice‐daily oral hygiene with either the test or the control toothpaste for the next 6 months. One hundred and fifty (150) subjects [test toothpaste (n = 72) and control toothpaste (n = 78)] completed the 6‐month clinical study with evaluable data. Post‐treatment assessments identical to baseline were conducted after 3‐month and 6‐month use of an assigned product after subjects refrained from oral hygiene for 12 h prior to each evaluation. Comparisons of the treatment groups with respect to baseline‐adjusted gingival, plaque, and bleeding index scores at the follow‐up examinations were performed using analyses of covariance (ANCOVA). All statistical tests of hypotheses were two‐sided and employed a level of significance of p < 0.05.

Results

No significant intergroup differences were noted between treatment groups for age and gender by two‐sample t‐test and chi‐square analyses, respectively (p > 0.05). Furthermore, the treatment groups demonstrated no differences at baseline for plaque, gingival and bleeding index scores by a two‐sample t‐test (p > 0.05). At 3‐month and 6‐month examination, the test toothpaste exhibited progressive reductions in plaque, gingival and bleeding scores as compared to control toothpaste as showed by ANCOVA (p < 0.001). In comparison with the control, the test demonstrated reductions in 23.5%, 25.6%, and 73.3% for dental plaque, gingival index and bleeding index outcomes, respectively, at the final visit. Reductions in the frequencies of sites with higher clinical scores were noted over the study with more sites registering improvements in the test group than in the control group.

Conclusions

Routine oral hygiene with the test toothpaste formulated with herbal ingredients and zinc demonstrated a clinical adjunctive improvement in oral hygiene and parameters of gingival health as compared to brushing with a fluoride toothpaste.
Identification of new Anopheles gambiae transcriptional enhancers using a cross‐species prediction approach
Authors: Schember I. , Halfon M. S.
Published: April 2021

The success of transgenic mosquito vector control approaches relies on well‐targeted gene expression, requiring the identification and characterization of a diverse set of mosquito promoters and transcriptional enhancers. However, few enhancers have been characterized in Anopheles gambiae to date. Here, we employ the SCRMshaw method we previously developed to predict enhancers in the A. gambiae genome, preferentially targeting vector‐relevant tissues such as the salivary glands, midgut and nervous system. We demonstrate a high overall success rate, with at least 8 of 11 (73%) tested sequences validating as enhancers in an in vivo xenotransgenic assay. Four tested sequences drive expression in either the salivary gland or the midgut, making them directly useful for probing the biology of these infection‐relevant tissues. The success of our study suggests that computational enhancer prediction should serve as an effective means for identifying A. gambiae enhancers with activity in tissues involved in malaria propagation and transmission.
Metabolic dysfunction induced by a high‐fat diet modulates hematopoietic stem and myeloid progenitor cells in brown adipose tissue of mice
Authors: Mincham Kyle T , Panchal Kunjal , Hart Prue H , Lucas Robyn M , Feelisch Martin , Weller Richard B , Matthews Vance B , Strickland Deborah H , Gorman Shelley
Published: April 2021

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) may be an important metabolic regulator of whole‐body glucose. While important roles have been ascribed to macrophages in regulating metabolic functions in BAT, little is known of the roles of other immune cells subsets, particularly dendritic cells (DCs). Eating a high‐fat diet may compromise the development of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs)—which give rise to DCs—in bone marrow, with less known of its effects in BAT. We have previously demonstrated that ongoing exposure to low‐dose ultraviolet radiation (UVR) significantly reduced the ‘whitening’ effect of eating a high‐fat diet upon interscapular (i) BAT of mice. Here, we examined whether this observation may be linked to changes in the phenotype of HSPCs and myeloid‐derived immune cells in iBAT and bone marrow of mice using 12‐colour flow cytometry. Many HSPC subsets declined in both iBAT and bone marrow with increasing metabolic dysfunction. Conversely, with rising adiposity and metabolic dysfunction, conventional DCs (cDCs) increased in both of these tissues. When compared with a low‐fat diet, consumption of a high‐fat diet significantly reduced proportions of myeloid, common myeloid and megakaryocyte–erythrocyte progenitors in iBAT, and short‐term hematopoietic stem cells in bone marrow. In mice fed the high‐fat diet, exposure to low‐dose UVR significantly reduced proportions of cDCs in iBAT, independently of nitric oxide release from irradiated skin [blocked using the scavenger 2‐(4‐carboxyphenyl)‐4,4,5,5‐tetramethylimidazoline‐1‐oxyl‐3‐oxide potassium salt (cPTIO)], but did not significantly modify HSPC subsets in either tissue. Further studies are needed to determine whether changes in these cell populations contribute towards metabolic dysfunction

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Intranasal immunization with Ag85B peptide 25 displayed on Lactococcuslactis using the PilVax platform induces antigen‐specific B‐ and T‐cell responses
Authors: Blanchett Samuel , Tsai Catherine JY , Sandford Sarah , Loh Jacelyn MS , Huang Lucy , Kirman Joanna R , Proft Thomas
Published: April 2021

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) remains a global epidemic despite the widespread use of Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG). Consequently, novel vaccines are required to facilitate a reduction in Mtb morbidity and mortality. PilVax is a peptide delivery strategy for the generation of highly specific mucosal immune responses and is based on the food‐grade bacterium Lactococcus lactis that is used to express selected peptides engineered within the Streptococcus pyogenes M1T1 pilus, allowing for peptide amplification, stabilization and enhanced immunogenicity. In the present study, the dominant T‐cell epitope from the Mtb protein Ag85B was genetically engineered into the pilus backbone subunit and expressed on the surface of L. lactis. Western blot and flow cytometry confirmed formation of pilus containing the peptide DNA sequence. B‐cell responses in intranasally vaccinated mice were analyzed by ELISA while T‐cell responses were analyzed by flow cytometry. Serum titers of peptide‐specific immunoglobulin (Ig) G and IgA were detected, confirming that vaccination produced antibodies against the cognate peptide. Peptide‐specific IgA was also detected across several mucosal sites sampled. Peptide‐specific CD4+ T cells were detected at levels similar to those of mice immunized with BCG. PilVax immunization resulted in an unexpected increase in the numbers of CD3+CD4–CD8– [double negative (DN)] T cells in the lungs of vaccinated mice. Analysis of cytokine production following stimulation with the cognate peptide showed the major cytokine producing cells to be CD4+ T cells and DN T cells. This study provides insight into the antibody and peptide‐specific cellular immune responses generated by PilVax vaccination and demonstrates the suitability of this vaccine for conducting a protection study.
Imposing water deficit on modern and wild wheat collections to identify drought‐resilient genotypes
Authors: Morsy Sabah M. , Elbasyoni Ibrahim S. , Abdallah Ahmed M. , Baenziger Petter Stephen
Published: April 2021

Breeding for drought tolerance is the most effective approach to mitigate drought effects. The prime goal of the current study was to identify potentially drought‐tolerant wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes. Therefore, an extensive collection of wheat genotypes (2,100) was evaluated under two water regimes, that is water deficit (WD, 50% ETc ‘crop Evapotranspiration’) and well‐watered (WW, 100% of ETc) across several environments in Egypt. The number of days to flowering (NDF), plant height (PH) and grain yield (GY) were recorded under both water regimes across environments. Additionally, three yield‐based drought indices and water‐use efficiency (WUE) were calculated for the top 30% yielding genotypes (that produced economical GY; 3.58 ton ha−1 for WD and 7.5 ton ha−1 for WW). The results indicated a significant effect for environments, water stress, and genotypes, as well as the second‐ and third‐order interactions across all traits. WD significantly reduced PH, NDF, and GY by 5.0 cm, 10.6 days and 50.0%, respectively. PH, NDF and GY were highly correlated. However, the direction and magnitude of correlation under normal conditions were different from those under WD. For example, under WW conditions, late flowering and taller genotypes tended to produce higher GY. In contrast, under WD, earlier and shorter wheat genotypes tended to produce higher GY. According to the drought tolerance index (DTI), 254 genotypes were considered drought tolerance (DTI > 1). Based on WUE, DTI and GY under WD, 80 genotypes outperformed the commercially grown Egyptian cultivars. Our results implied that the evaluated collection might be a valuable source not only for drought‐tolerant genotypes but also for highly yielding water‐efficient genotypes under favourable conditions in Egypt and similar geographic regions.
Heat stress lowers yields, alters nutrient uptake and changes seed quality in quinoa grown under Mediterranean field conditions
Authors: Matías Javier , Rodríguez María José , Cruz Verónica , Calvo Patricia , Reguera María
Published: April 2021

The global expansion of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) cultivation has been related to the nutritional properties of its seeds and the ability of this crop to cope with stress. However, research works evaluating the agronomic impact of quinoa cultivation out of the Andean region are still limited, especially under Mediterranean field conditions. In this work, the agronomic performance, seed composition and nutrient uptake (NU) of five quinoa varieties were analysed in two consecutive years (2017–2018) under field conditions in Southwestern Europe. High temperatures were recorded during 2017 growing season, resulting in significantly lower yields (1.6 t/ha) compared to 2018 (2.5 t/ha). High‐temperature stress coincided with flowering stage in those medium‐to‐long cycle varieties and was well correlated with detrimental effects on the vegetative stage of short and medium cycle varieties. Seed composition and mineral content of quinoa varied among varieties subjected to heat stress, which could be due to differences in the stress response. Protein and fibre contents were higher under high temperatures, while fats and carbohydrates contents decreased. Nutrient uptake, utilisation and partitioning were reduced under heat stress, probably due to heat‐protection mechanisms and associated biochemical changes. Early maturing varieties showed better adaptation, especially Marisma, which achieved the highest yield in both years (3.0 t/ha, on average). Overall, the results here presented support to the potential of quinoa cultivation in Europe highlighting the necessity to further explore varieties better adapted to elevated temperatures, a common stress affecting the Mediterranean area.
Development of microfibers for bone regeneration based on alkali‐free bioactive glasses doped with boron oxide
Authors: Gaddam Anuraag , Gołębiewski Przemysław , Fernandes Hugo R. , Pysz Dariusz , Neto Ana S. , Diduszko Ryszard , Malinowska Agnieszka , Stępień Ryszard , Cimek Jarosław , Buczyński Ryszard , Ferreira José M. F.
Published: April 2021

In this paper, we present a new series of alkali‐free bioactive glasses (BG) based on FastOs®composition (38.49 SiO2– 36.07 CaO – 19.24 MgO – 5.61 P2O5– 0.59 CaF2, expressed in mol %), which was modified by partially replacing silicon dioxide network‐former with boron trioxide network‐former, utilizing calcium oxide as a charge compensator. The main objective of this study was to obtain a new family of bioactive glasses suitable for the fabrication of glass fibers. The BGs were prepared by melt quenching technique and their structural and thermal properties were determined. Glass rods were used to obtain fibers by the classic drawing technique. The bioactivity of the fibers was subsequently assessed through immersion tests in simulated body fluid (SBF) to establish their ability to form hydroxyl carbonated (HCA) apatite onto their surfaces. Glasses with moderate substitution of SiO2with B2O3exhibited enhanced thermal properties, allowing to significantly suppress the crystallization trend, and favoring to draw the fibers. The structure of the studied glasses was obtained by NMR spectroscopy. The structure‐property correlations were established by their relationship to the configurational entropy. Smaller amounts of substitution resulted in larger entropy of the glasses. Moreover the SBF tests revealed an extensive formation of HCA, comparable to the parent FastOs®BG composition, which assures fast bonding to the bone. Thus, presented glass fibers may be considered as promising materials for wool‐like bone implants or as reinforcing constituent of biopolymer matrix composites.
The effects of thickness and shade on translucency parameters of contemporary, esthetic dental ceramics
Authors: Pop‐Ciutrila Ioana Sofia , Ghinea Razvan , Dudea Diana , Ruiz‐López Javier , Pérez Maria M. , Colosi Horatiu
Published: April 2021

Objective

To analyze translucency variations among four different contemporary esthetic ceramic systems having different shades and thicknesses.

Material and Methods

Ceramic specimens having different shades and translucencies were tested: leucite reinforced glass–ceramic (ECAD), conventional feldspathic ceramic (Noritake), zirconia reinforced lithium silicate glass–ceramic (Suprinity) and hybrid ceramic (Enamic). Specimens of 0.6, 0.9, 1.2, 1.5 and 2.0‐mm thickness (n = 3/group, 615 total) were prepared. Translucency (TP) and Relative Translucency (RTP) Parameters were calculated from spectroradiometric color readings. Effects of shade and thickness for a given system were statistically analyzed using MANOVA and Tukey post‐hoc multiple comparisons tests. Translucency variations were assessed comparatively with literature‐based perceptibility and acceptability thresholds.

Results

TP/RTP values of all ceramic materials decreased with increasing thickness. The most translucent specimens were 0.6‐mm thick ECAD HT‐A3.5 (TP = 31.99) and ECAD HT‐C2 (RTP = 23.75), while the least translucent was 2‐mm thick Enamic T‐3 M2 (TP = 7.27; RTP = 4.79). Thickness and material type significantly influenced translucency (p < 0.001). Noritake and ECAD LT showed similar translucency values, as well as Suprinity HT and ECAD LT.

Conclusions

For ceramic restorations thicker than 0.9‐mm, any thickness increase of 0.3–0.5 mm produces a perceptible but clinically acceptable translucency variation. Increases in thickness larger than 0.6‐mm will result in an unacceptable translucency shift. Dental practitioners need to recognize key factors that influence translucency of ceramic restorations in order to choose the optimal material, shade, translucency, and thickness suitable for different clinical scenarios. While shade plays a minor role in translucency variation, ceramic type and restoration thickness significantly affect overall translucency.
Physiological Responses of Mesodiniummajor to Irradiance, Prey Concentration and Prey Starvation
Authors: Drumm Kirstine , Norlin Andreas , Kim Miran , Altenburger Andreas , Juel Hansen Per
Published: April 2021

Ciliates within the Mesodinium rubrum/Mesodinium major species complex harbor chloroplasts and other cell organelles from specific cryptophyte species. Mesodinium major was recently described, and new studies indicate that blooms of M. major are just as common as blooms of M. rubrum. Despite this, the physiology of M. major has never been studied and compared to M. rubrum. In this study, growth, food uptake, chlorophyll a and photosynthesis were measured at six different irradiances, when fed the cryptophyte, Teleaulax amphioxeia. The results show that the light compensation point for growth of M. major was significantly higher than for M. rubrum. Inorganic carbon uptake via photosynthesis contributed by far most of total carbon uptake at most irradiances, similar to M. rubrum. Mesodinium major cells contain ~four times as many chloroplast as M. rubrum leading to up to ~four times higher rates of photosynthesis. The responses of M. major to prey starvation and refeeding were also studied. Mesodinium major was well adapted to prey starvation, and 51 d without prey did not lead to mortality. Mesodinium major quickly recovered from prey starvation when refed, due to high ingestion rates of > 150 prey/predator/d.
A literature review of the economics of COVID‐19
Authors: Brodeur Abel , Gray David , Islam Anik , Bhuiyan Suraiya
Published: April 2021

The goal of this piece is to survey the developing and rapidly growing literature on the economic consequences of COVID‐19 and the governmental responses, and to synthetize the insights emerging from a very large number of studies. This survey: (i) provides an overview of the data sets and the techniques employed to measure social distancing and COVID‐19 cases and deaths; (ii) reviews the literature on the determinants of compliance with and the effectiveness of social distancing; (iii) mentions the macroeconomic and financial impacts including the modelling of plausible mechanisms; (iv) summarizes the literature on the socioeconomic consequences of COVID‐19, focusing on those aspects related to labor, health, gender, discrimination, and the environment; and (v) summarizes the literature on public policy responses.
Public–private research collaborations: Longitudinal field‐level analysis of determinants, frequency, and impact
Authors: Abramo Giovanni , Apponi Francesca , D'Angelo Ciriaco Andrea
Published: April 2021

This study on public–private research collaboration measures the variation over time of the propensity of academics to collaborate with colleagues from private companies. It also investigates the change in weights of the main drivers underlying the academics’ propensity to collaborate, and whether the type profile of the collaborating academics changes. To do this, the study applies an inferential model on a dataset of professors working in Italian universities in consecutive periods, 2010–2013 and 2014–2017. The results, obtained at overall and field levels, support the formulation of policies aimed at fostering public–private research collaborations, and should be taken into account in postassessment of their effectiveness.
No relation of Need for Cognition to basic executive functions
Authors: Gärtner Anne , Grass Julia , Wolff Max , Goschke Thomas , Strobel Anja , Strobel Alexander
Published: April 2021

Objective

Need for Cognition (NFC) refers to a personality trait describing the relatively stable intrinsic motivation of individuals to invest cognitive effort in cognitive endeavors. Higher NFC is associated with a more elaborated, central information processing style and increased recruitment of resources in cognitively demanding situations. To further clarify the association between cognitive resources and NFC, we examined in two studies how NFC relates to executive functions as basic cognitive abilities.

Method

In Study 1, 189 healthy young adults completed an NFC scale and a battery of six commonly used inhibitory control tasks (Stroop, antisaccade, stop‐signal, flanker, shape‐matching, word‐naming). In Study 2, 102 healthy young adults completed the NFC scale and two tasks for each of the three executive functions inhibitory control (go‐nogo, stop‐signal), shifting (number‐letter, color‐shape), and working memory updating (two‐back, letter‐memory).

Results

Using a Bayesian approach to correlation analysis, we found no conclusive evidence that NFC was related to any executive function measure. Instead, we obtained even moderate evidence for the null hypothesis.

Conclusions

Both studies add to more recent findings that shape the understanding of NFC as a trait that is less characterized by increased cognitive control abilities but rather by increased willingness to invest effort and exert self‐control via motivational processes.
How isomaltulose and oligofructose affect physicochemical and sensory properties of muffins?
Authors: Castelló María Luisa , Echevarrías Andrea , Rubio‐Arraez Susana , Ortolá María Dolores
Published: April 2021

This article analyses, the replacement of sucrose in muffins with nine different combinations of isomaltulose and oligofructose. Being a structural isomer of sucrose with approx. 50% of sucrose sweetness, isomaltulose is non‐cariogenic and with a low glycemic profile but having the same calories as sucrose. Oligofructose is composed of fructose polymers, with a reduced caloric value and prebiotic effect. Specifically, height, percentage of alveoli, water content, Aw, mechanical, and optical properties have been measured along with a sensory evaluation. The results showed that all combinations of sweeteners gave place to softer muffins than control ones. Moreover, isomaltulose caused a darkening of the products likely due to an enhancement of the Maillard reactions. The highest amount of isomaltulose and the absence of sucrose meant the worst score in sweetness and flavor due to the low sweetening powder of isomaltulose.
Incidence and risk factors of anti‐tuberculosis drug induced liver injury (DILI): Large cohort study involving 4652 Chinese adult tuberculosis patients
Authors: Jiang Fanrong , Yan Huadong , Liang Lili , Du Jingyuan , Jin Susu , Yang Shiqing , Wang Hongxia , Hu Ting , Zhu Yuying , Wang Guangming , Hu Yaoren , Cai Ting , Aithal Guruprasad P.
Published: April 2021

Background and Aims

Anti‐tuberculosis drugs remain as an important cause of drug‐induced liver injury (DILI) worldwide. Adverse drug reactions reduce the effectiveness of treatment. We aimed to determine the incidence and risk factors associated with anti‐tuberculosis DILI (ATDILI).

Methods

Using established criteria and causality assessment methods, risk factors for ATDILI were identified in a contemporary cohort and validated in another cohort prospectively. Independent determinants of ATDILI were identified using Cox regression analysis.

Results

In the derivation cohort (n = 3155), 170 (5.4%) developed ATDILI of which 27 (15.9%) developed jaundice; 9(5.3%) developed acute liver failure (ALF) and 3 died. Among HBsAg positive patients, 11/27 (40.7%) of ATDILI developed after 3 months of starting treatment. In addition, of 218 (6.9%) who developed raised alanine transferase (ALT) levels ≥3 times upper limit normal, 193 (88.5%) resolved and 25 (11.4%) progressed to DILI. Age (HR = 1.014, 95% CI: 1.005‐1.023), baseline ALT (HR = 1.014, 95% CI: 1.003‐1.024), haemoglobin (HR = 1.011, 95% CI: 1.002‐1.020) and HBsAg positivity (HR = 1.516, 95% CI: 1.004‐2.290) were independent risk factors for DILI. In the second cohort (n = 1497) of which 85 (5.7%) developed ATDILI. Age (HR = 1.029, 95% CI: 1.003‐1.056), baseline AST (HR = 1.036, 95% CI: 1.010‐1.062), previous TB treatment (HR = 3.894, 95% CI: 1.304‐11.625) and active drinking (HR = 3.624, 95% CI: 1.147‐11.454) were risk factors for developing jaundice.

Conclusion

Elevation of ALT of ≥3 × ULN during anti‐TB treatment resolves in the vast majority without developing serious consequences. In two cohorts involving 4652 patients, incidence of ALF and death because of ATDILI are low. Age, baseline ALT, haemoglobin and HBsAg positivity are risk factors for the development of DILI and these inform monitoring and management of these patients.
Going Nowhere: Ambivalence about Drug Treatment during an Overdose Public Health Emergency in Vancouver
Authors: Fast Danya
Published: April 2021

The declaration of an overdose public health emergency in Vancouver has generated an “affective churn” of intervention across youth‐focused drug treatment settings, including the expanded provision of opioid agonist therapy. In this article, I track moments when young people became swept up in the momentum of this churn and the future possibilities that treatment seemed to promise. I also track moments when treatment and what happened next engendered a sense of stagnation, arguing that the churn of intervention ensnared many youth in rhythms of starts and stops that generated significant ambivalence toward treatment. The colonial past and present deepened this ambivalence among some Indigenous young people and informed moments of refusal. Youth's lives unfolded through but also around treatment programs, in zones of the city where drug use could generate a sense of momentum that was hooked not on futures, but on the sensorial possibilities of the now. [North America, overdose, drug treatment interventions, youth, affect]
Taming Time: Configuring Cancer Patients as Research Subjects
Authors: Bogicevic Ivana , Svendsen Mette N.
Published: April 2021

This article explores how incurable cancer patients in the affluent Danish welfare state are recruited to clinical trials. We show that patients’ impending death constitutes their potential for being configured as research subjects. To produce valuable data, patients who enroll in trials and health care professionals must engage in daily “time practices” that prolong the threshold between life and death. When death becomes inevitable, the limit of configuring dying cancer patients as research subjects is reached. Navigating this temporal logic, health care professionals balance the boundary between patients’ instrumental worth as research subjects and their intrinsic worth as dying cancer patients. Whereas previous studies have critically uncovered how clinical trials operate at socioeconomic margins, we point to the ways in which clinical trials operate through temporal margins. We argue that clinical trials are dependent on configuring marginal societal spaces and marginal bodies from which to produce knowledge.
Cold‐induced vasodilation in abstinent smokers with and without a 12‐hour nicotine patch
Authors: Lee Kichang , Cheatham Christopher C. , Mack Gary W.
Published: April 2021

This study was designed to identify the effects of a 12‐h nicotine patch administration on cold induced vasodilation (CIVD) in healthy young chronic smokers following 16 h of abstinence from smoking. Two laser Doppler probes and temperature thermocouples were placed on the dorsal part of the distal phalanx of the middle and ring fingers of 7 smokers (>12 cigarettes/day). Following 16 h of abstinence from smoking, smokers were tested with and without administration of a 21 mg transdermal nicotine patch (NicoDerm®). Each participant's right hand was immersed in cold (~5°C) water for 40 min. Cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC) was calculated from non‐invasive arterial finger blood pressure and skin blood flow and expressed as a percentage of peak CVC observed during hand skin heating to 44°C. For comparison purposes, the CIVD response of a non‐smoking cohort without nicotine patch (n = 10) was also examined. Baseline CVC was similar in smokers and non‐smokers (27.8 ± 12.6 CVC % peak). The initial vasoconstriction during cold‐water immersion decreased skin blood flow to 4.0 ± 3.9 CVC % peak in both smokers and non‐smokers. The onset of CIVD in smokers (4.5 ± 1.5 min) was delayed compared to non‐smoker (3.3 ± 0.8 min, p < .05). The area under the CVC %peak‐time curve during cold‐water immersion averaged 1250 ± 388 CVC %peak · min in non‐smokers which was larger (p < .05) than smokers with or without nicotine (789 ± 542 and 862 ± 517 CVC %peak · min, respectively). Chronic smoking impaired the CIVD response to cold‐water immersion of the hand; however, the impaired CIVD response in 16 h of abstinence from smoking was not influenced by application of a 21 mg transdermal nicotine patch.
Revisiting the taxonomy of Helictotrichon schmidii (Poaceae, Poeae, Aveninae) from India, with updated regional distribution and conservation status
Authors: Prasad Dileshwar , Jaiswal Shubham , Tripathi Shailja , Yadav Rekha , Agnihotri Priyanka
Published: April 2021

The taxonomy of Helictotrichon schmidii is discussed, a lectotype and a detailed description are provided, and its distribution in the Western Himalaya, India is expanded by new data. Detailed micromorphological study revealed that the species is closely allied to the genus Tzveleviochloa by having the lemma tip entire to slightly cleft and 2‐aristate like Trisetum, lodicule asymmetrically lobed and ovary densely hirsute at the apex. Thus, a new combination in the genus Tzveleviochloa is proposed, and its circumscription, especially lemma, ovary and lodicules, and taxonomy is clarified. In addition, comparison is made among the three closely related oat‐like perennial grasses, Helictotrichon s. str., Trisetopsis and Tzveleviochloa.
A rhomboid‐like protease gene from an interspecies translocation confers resistance to cyst nematodes
Authors: Kumar Avneesh , Harloff Hans‐Joachim , Melzer Siegbert , Leineweber Johanna , Defant Birgit , Jung Christian
Published: April 2021

Plant‐parasitic nematodes are severe pests in crop production worldwide. Chemical control of nematodes has been continuously reduced in recent decades owing to environmental and health concerns. Therefore, breeding nematode‐resistant crops is an important aim if we are to secure harvests. The beet cyst nematode impairs root development and causes severe losses in sugar beet production. The only sources for resistance are distantly related wild species of the genus Patellifolia. Nematode resistance had been introduced into the beet genome via translocations from P. procumbens.

We sequenced three translocations and identified the translocation breakpoints. By comparative sequence analysis of three translocations, we localized the resistance gene Hs4 within a region c. 230 kb in size. A candidate gene was characterized by CRISPR‐Cas‐mediated knockout and overexpression in susceptible roots.

The gene encodes a rhomboid‐like protease, which is predicted to be bound to the endoplasmic reticulum. Gene knockout resulted in complete loss of resistance, while overexpression caused resistance.

The data confirm that the Hs4 gene alone protects against the pest. Thus, it constitutes a previously unknown mechanism of plants to combat parasitic nematodes. Its function in a nonrelated species suggests that the gene can confer resistance in crop species from different plant families.
Experimental simulations of climate change induced mismatch in oak and larval development rates impact indicators of fitness in a declining woodland moth
Authors: Senior Vicki L. , Botham Marc , Evans Karl L.
Published: April 2021

Consequences of climate change‐driven shifts in the relative timing of spring activities of interacting species are insufficiently understood, especially for insects. We use a controlled experiment which simulates a trophic mismatch scenario in which lepidopteran larvae predominately feed on older leaves due to foliage developing faster than larvae growth rates. As a case study our experiment uses Orthosia cerasi, which is a widespread but declining woodland moth whose UK declines appear to be driven by warming temperatures. In the control experiment larvae are fed young oak Quercus robur leaves (bud burst stages six and seven), whilst in the treatment newly emerged larvae are fed young leaves but then gradually transition to feed on older leaves (post bud burst stage seven). We assess impacts on duration of the larval stage, pupal size and overwintering duration and survival. Larvae in the phenological mismatch treatment had a longer larval period, and smaller and lighter pupae. Larval diet did not carry over to influence emergence dates as earlier pupation of control larvae was balanced by an equivalent increase in the duration of the pupal stage. Increased time spent as larvae could increase predation rates from avian predators, whilst slowing the seasonal decline in food availability for those bird species. Reduced pupal size and weight are indicators of lower fecundity in emerging adults. Notably, we find that adults emerging from the mismatch treatment exhibited greater rates of abnormal vestigial wing development, which is likely to further reduce fitness. Trophic mismatches in which caterpillars have reduced availability of young leaves may thus contribute to the population declines observed in many woodland moth species due to increased mortality at larval stages, and adverse effects of early life conditions that reduce the reproductive success of emerging adults.
Agent‐based models to investigate sound impact on marine animals: bridging the gap between effects on individual behaviour and population level consequences
Authors: Mortensen Lars O. , Chudzinska Magda Ewa , Slabbekoorn Hans , Thomsen Frank
Published: April 2021

Marine ambient sound levels have risen due to noisy human activities, such as shipping, fishing, seismic surveys and piling for windfarms. Marine mammals and fishes are two prominent taxonomic groups that are exposed to this noise pollution, which may experience detrimental effects at the population level. Acoustic effects on individual behaviour such as deterrence, disturbance, distraction and masking of biologically relevant sounds, can be translated energetically to changes in vital rates (growth, maturation, reproduction and survival) in a population consequences of acoustic disturbance (PCAD) approach. However, we typically neglect spatial variation in species distributions and noise pollution, while abiotic factors like temperature, bathymetry and currents, as well as habitat quality in terms of feeding or hiding opportunities, will also have a geographically variable impact on potential consequences. We here address the conceptual integration of agent based models (ABM) into the PCAD framework, as a suitable theoretical tool with high potential for the exploration of these spatial factors and their modifying role in noise impact assessment studies. We review five ABM case studies, including investigations into: 1) effects of movement strategy on the impact of explosions in harbour porpoise; 2) effects of disturbance sensitivity on pile driving impact on migrating cod; 3) impact of seismic survey sounds on Atlantic mackerel distribution and movement; 4) population‐level impact of mitigation of harbour porpoise bycatch with pingers; and 5) population effects of alternative windfarm construction scenarios in harbour porpoise. We discuss similarities and differences among these studies in sound and species mapping approaches and we evaluate model realism and pattern validation. We believe that ABMs are a valuable tool for integrating spatial information into ecological impact studies that investigate acoustic disturbance, for any type of sound source, and for both marine mammals and fish.
Unifying community detection across scales from genomes to landscapes
Authors: Hudon Stephanie F. , Zaiats Andrii , Roser Anna , Roopsind Anand , Barber Cristina , Robb Brecken C. , Pendleton Britt A. , Camp Meghan J. , Clark Patrick E. , Davidson Merry M. , Frankel‐Bricker Jonas , Fremgen‐Tarantino Marcella , Forbey Jennifer Sorensen , Hayden Eric J. , Richards Lora A. , Rodriguez Olivia K. , Caughlin T. Trevor
Published: April 2021

Biodiversity science encompasses multiple disciplines and biological scales from molecules to landscapes. Nevertheless, biodiversity data are often analyzed separately with discipline‐specific methodologies, constraining resulting inferences to a single scale. To overcome this, we present a topic modeling framework to analyze community composition in cross‐disciplinary datasets, including those generated from metagenomics, metabolomics, field ecology and remote sensing. Using topic models, we demonstrate how community detection in different datasets can inform the conservation of interacting plants and herbivores. We show how topic models can identify members of molecular, organismal and landscape‐level communities that relate to wildlife health, from gut microbes to forage quality. We conclude with a future vision for how topic modeling can be used to design cross‐scale studies that promote a holistic approach to detect, monitor and manage biodiversity.
Leaf direction: Lamina joint development and environmental responses
Authors: Xu Jing , Wang Jia‐Jia , Xue Hong‐Wei , Zhang Guang‐Heng
Published: April 2021

Plant architecture plays a major role in canopy photosynthesis and biomass production, and plants adjust their growth (and thus architecture) in response to changing environments. Leaf angle is one of the most important traits in rice (Oryza sativa L.) plant architecture, because leaf angle strongly affects leaf direction and rice production, with more‐erect leaves being advantageous for high‐density plantings. The degree of leaf bending depends on the morphology of the lamina joint, which connects the leaf and the sheath. In this review, we discuss cell morphology in different lamina joint tissues and describe the underlying genetic network that governs this morphology and thus regulates leaf direction. Furthermore, we focus on the mechanism by how environmental factors influence rice leaf angle. Our review provides a theoretical framework for the future genetic improvement of rice leaf orientation and plant architecture.
GmST1, which encodes a sulfotransferase, confers resistance to soybean mosaic virus strains G2 and G3
Authors: Zhao Xue , Jing Yan , Luo Zhenghui , Gao Sainan , Teng Weili , Zhan Yuhang , Qiu Lijuan , Zheng Hongkun , Li Wenbin , Han Yingpeng
Published: April 2021

Soybean mosaic virus (SMV) is one of the most widespread and devastating viral diseases worldwide. The genetic architecture of qualitative resistance to SMV in soybean remains unclear. Here, the Rsvg2 locus was identified as underlying soybean resistance to SMV by genome‐wide association and linkage analyses. Fine mapping results showed that soybean resistance to SMV strains G2 and G3 was controlled by a single dominant gene, GmST1, on chromosome 13, encoding a sulfotransferase (SOT). A key variation at position 506 in the coding region of GmST1 associated with the structure of the encoded SOT and changed SOT activity levels between RSVG2‐S and RSVG2‐R alleles. In RSVG2‐S allele carrier “Hefeng25”, the overexpression of GmST1 carrying the RSVG2‐R allele from the SMV‐resistant line “Dongnong93‐046” conferred resistance to SMV strains G2 and G3. Compared to Hefeng25, the accumulation of SMV was decreased in transgenic plants carrying the RSVG2‐R allele. SMV infection differentiated both the accumulation of jasmonates and expression patterns of genes involved in jasmonic acid (JA) signalling, biosynthesis and catabolism in RSVG2‐R and RSVG2‐S allele carriers. This characterization of GmST1 suggests a new scenario explaining soybean resistance to SMV.
Virus‐induced plant volatiles mediate the olfactory behaviour of its insect vectors
Authors: Chang Xuefei , Wang Fang , Fang Qi , Chen Fei , Yao Hongwei , Gatehouse Angharad M. R. , Ye Gongyin
Published: April 2021

Plant viruses can manipulate their hosts to release odours that are attractive or repellent to their insect vectors. However, the volatile organic compounds (VOCs), either individually or as mixtures, which play a key role in the olfactory behaviour of insect vectors remains largely unknown. Our study focused on green rice leafhoppers (GRLHs) vectoring rice dwarf virus (RDV) revealed that RDV infection significantly induced the emission of (E)‐β‐caryophyllene and 2‐heptanol by rice plants, which influenced the olfactory behaviour of both non‐viruliferous and viruliferous GRLHs. (E)‐β‐caryophyllene attracted non‐viruliferous GRLHs to settle on RDV‐infected plants, but neither attracted nor repelled viruliferous GRLHs. In contrast, 2‐heptanol repelled viruliferous GRLHs to settle on RDV‐infected plants, but neither repelled nor attracted non‐viruliferous GRLHs. Suppression of (E)‐β‐caryophyllene synthase OsCAS via CRISPR‐Cas9 to generate oscas‐1 plants enabled us to confirm the important role played by (E)‐β‐caryophyllene in modulating the virus‐vector‐host plant interaction. These novel results reveal the role of these virus‐induced VOCs in modulating the behaviour of its GRLH insect vector and may facilitate the design of new strategies for disease control through manipulation of plant volatile emissions.
Resistance of Antarctic moss Sanionia uncinata to photoinhibition: chlorophyll fluorescence analysis of samples from the western and eastern coasts of the Antarctic Peninsula
Authors: Orekhova A. , Barták M. , Casanova‐Katny A. , Hájek J.
Published: April 2021

Interspecific differences in sensitivity of the Antarctic moss Sanionia uncinata from King George Island (KGI) and James Ross Island (JRI) to photoinhibitory treatment were studied in laboratory conditions using chlorophyll fluorescence techniques.

Slow (Kautsky) and fast (OJIP) kinetics were used for the measurements. Samples were exposed to a short‐term (60 min) photoinhibitory treatment (PIT, 2000 μmol·m−2·s−1 PAR).

The photoinhibitory treatment (PIT) led to photoinhibition which was indicated by the decrease in FV/FM and ΦPSII in KGI but not in JRI samples. However, this decrease was small and full recovery was reached 90 min after PIT termination. Non‐photochemical quenching (NPQ) was activated during the PIT, and rapidly relaxed during recovery. Early stages of photoinhibition showed a drop in FV/FM and ΦPSII to minimum values within the first 10 s of the PIT, with their subsequent increase apparent within fast (0–5 min PIT) and slow (5–50 min PIT) phases of adjustment. The PIT caused a decrease in the performance index (Pi_Abs), photosynthetic electron transport per reaction centre (RC) (ET0/RC). The PIT induced an increase in thermal dissipation per RC (DI0/RC), effectivity of thermal dissipation (Phi_D0), absorption per RC (ABS/RC) and trapping rate per RC (TR0/RC).

In conclusion, PIT led to only slight photoinhibition followed by fast recovery in S. uncinata from KGI and JRI, since FV/FM and ΦPSII returned to pre‐photoinhibitory conditions. Therefore, S. uncinata might be considered resistant to photoinhibition even in the wet state. The KGI samples showed higher resistance to photoinhibition than the JRI samples.
Crossing Minimal Edge‐Constrained Layout Planning using Benders Decomposition
Authors: Sudermann‐Merx Nathan , Rebennack Steffen , Timpe Christian
Published: April 2021

We present a new crossing number problem, which we refer to as the edge‐constrained weighted two‐layer crossing number problem (ECW2CN). The ECW2CN arises in layout planning of hose coupling stations at BASF, where the challenge is to find a crossing minimal assignment of tube‐connected units to given positions on two opposing layers. This allows the use of robots in an effort to reduce the probability of operational disruptions and to increase human safety. Physical limitations imply maximal length and maximal curvature conditions on the tubes as well as spatial constraints imposed by the surrounding walls. This is the major difference of ECW2CN to all known variants of the crossing number problem. Such as many variants of the crossing number problem, ECW2CN is [Formula: see text]‐hard. Because the optimization model grows fast with respect to the input data, we face out‐of‐memory errors for the monolithic model. Therefore, we develop two solution methods. In the first method, we tailor Benders decomposition toward the problem. The Benders subproblems are solved analytically and the Benders master problem is strengthened by additional cuts. Furthermore, we combine this Benders decomposition with ideas borrowed from fix‐and‐relax heuristics to design the Dynamic Fix‐and‐Relax Pump (DFRP). Based on an initial solution, DFRP improves successively feasible points by solving dynamically sampled smaller problems with Benders decomposition. Because the optimization model is a surrogate model for its time‐dependent formulation, we evaluate the obtained solutions for different choices of the objective function via a simulation model. All algorithms are implemented efficiently using advanced features of the GuRoBi‐Python API, such as callback functions and lazy constraints. We present a case study for BASF using real data and make the real‐world data openly available.
Subalpine dwarf shrubs differ in vulnerability to xylem cavitation: An innovative staining approach enables new insights
Authors: Ganthaler Andrea , Mayr Stefan
Published: April 2021

Dwarf shrubs are a key functional group of the high‐elevation vegetation belt. Despite their ecological relevance and high sensitivity to environmental changes, the hydraulic adaptations and species‐specific variations in drought tolerance within this growth form are mostly unknown. Here, we assess the xylem vulnerability to cavitation of important character species of the Alpine dwarf shrub heaths in Central Europe. Due to the high percentage of nonfunctional xylem areas in these species, vulnerability curves were gained by an innovative staining approach with safranin, validated by hydraulic and xylem anatomical measurements. The loss of 50% conducting xylem area appeared in the range of −1.78 to −2.91 MPa. Midday plant water potential during an intense summer drought remained above these critical thresholds but was correlated with cavitation resistance. No trade‐off between hydraulic safety and efficiency was detected across analyzed species. We conclude that the characteristic clustered occurrence of species in the heterogeneous mountain terrain (mainly interpreted as a consequence of varying snow cover dynamics) is also reflected in species‐specific adjustments in xylem hydraulics. The interspecific variety in vulnerability thresholds and plant water potentials during summer drought indicates different hydraulic strategies and adjustments in water relations between these co‐occurring shrubs.