bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Precipitation and temperature shape the biogeography of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi across the Brazilian Caatinga
Authors: Sousa Natália M. F. , Roy Julien , Hempel Stefan , Rillig Matthias C. , Maia Leonor C.
Published: May 2022

Aim

Deterministic and neutral processes shape the biogeography of fungi. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), an important group of plant root symbionts, remains poorly studied in the Neotropics. Here, we provided the first molecular survey of AMF diversity and tested whether the environment or space shapes AMF biogeography along a 12° latitudinal transect in the Brazilian Caatinga, a unique tropical dry forest ecoregion.

Location

Caatinga, Brazil.

Taxon

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Glomeromycotina).

Methods

Soil and root samples were collected across a latitudinal transect of 1500 km within the Brazilian Caatinga. AMF communities were characterized using Illumina LSU amplicon sequencing. Operational taxonomic unit (OTU) richness, composition and phylogenetic niche conservatism were assessed using univariate and multivariate analyses, and the potential for new taxa discovery was assessed with BLAST analysis against reference and environmental sequences sets.

Result

Glomeraceae was the most abundant and diverse family, resembling more dry Saharo‐Arabian and Australian realms or European croplands than other tropical forests from South America, but 10% of the OTUs could be taxa new to science, especially within Archaeospora, Claroideoglomus, Acaulospora, Gigaspora, Dentiscutata and Redeckera. AMF communities showed strong biogeographical structure inconsistent with a classical latitudinal diversity gradient, which further differed between soil and roots. Soil AMF biogeography best correlated with precipitation; community composition converged and richness increased towards both ends of the latitudinal transect where precipitation increased. Root AMF biogeography correlated to temperature, with decreasing diversity at higher temperatures. We found no evidence of phylogenetic niche conservatism.

Main conclusions

Niche‐based processes driven by regional climate, most importantly precipitation and temperature, shape AMF biogeography across the Caatinga, with niche divergence among closely related AMF taxa. Given the expected future decrease in precipitation and increase in temperature, climate change may strongly affect the unique and yet unknown AMF biodiversity in neotropical dry forests.
What kind of learning designs do practitioners create for mobile learning? Lessons learnt from two in‐the‐wild case studies
Authors: Pishtari Gerti , Rodríguez‐Triana María Jesús , Prieto Luis P. , Ruiz‐Calleja Adolfo , Väljataga Terje
Published: May 2022

Background

In the field of Learning Design, it is common that researchers analyse manually design artefacts created by practitioners, using pedagogically‐grounded approaches (e.g., Bloom's Taxonomy), both to understand and later to support practitioners' design practices. Automatizing these high‐level pedagogically‐grounded analyses would enable large‐scale studies on practitioners' design practices. Such an approach would be especially useful in the context of mobile learning, where practitioners' design practices are under‐explored and complex (e.g., involving both formal and informal learning activities, happening between physical and digital spaces).

Objectives

We inquire about the kind of designs that practitioners create in mobile learning by analysing the entire databases of two m‐learning tools, Avastusrada and Smartzoos, which promote inquiry learning outdoors.

Methods

We use supervised machine learning to classify the textual content of the designs based on the cognitive level required from learners, the inquiry‐based learning phases they cover, and their connection with the learning context (e.g., the role played by the situated environment).

Results and Conclusions

Results from the in‐the‐wild studies emphasize practitioners' tendency to design contextualized activities, but that include few higher‐order thinking tasks and elements of inquiry learning. This raises questions about the real‐life pedagogical value of similar mobile learning tools and highlights the need for providing pedagogical guidelines and technical solutions that would promote the adoption of good learning design practices.

Major takeaways from the study

While we show that machine learning techniques (informed by learning design elements) can enable large‐scale studies and provide useful insights, to best understand and support practitioners' design practices it would be necessary to combine them with other quantitative and quantitative analyses (e.g., a qualitative understanding on why practitioners take specific design decisions). Future research could use similar machine learning approaches to explore other design settings, as well as explore scenarios where similar algorithms can be embedded in design tools, to guide practitioners' design practices.
Score Comparability Issues with At‐Home Testing and How to Address Them
Authors: Puhan Gautam , Kim Sooyeon
Published: May 2022

As a result of the COVID‐19 pandemic, at‐home testing has become a popular delivery mode in many testing programs. When programs offer at‐home testing to expand their service, the score comparability between test takers testing remotely and those testing in a test center is critical. This article summarizes statistical procedures that could be used to evaluate potential mode effects at both the item level and the total score levels. Using operational data from a licensure test, we also compared linking relationships between the test center and at‐home testing groups to determine the reporting score conversion from a subpopulation invariance perspective.
Price discrimination through cause‐related marketing
Authors: Shankar Kameshwari , Ghosh Suman
Published: May 2022

A common form of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) by firms is to agree to donate a fixed portion of private good revenues to a charitable cause. In this paper, we explore a new rationale for such CSR known commonly as Cause‐Related Marketing (CRM). We argue that linking private good purchase with charitable donations to a partnering nongovernmental organization (NGO) allows the firm to price discriminate between altruistic consumers who wish to make charitable donations out of their income and nonaltruistic consumers who do not place any value on such donations. The disparity in altruistic propensities translates into a difference in private good value which limits the firm's ability to extract consumer surplus in the private good market. Linking private good sales to charity brings down the variation in private good value and enables the firm to appropriate greater surplus. At the same time, by inducing nonaltruistic consumers to donate through their purchase of the charity‐linked good, CRM may also increase charitable donations to the NGO beyond the level that would be achieved under the standard voluntary contributions equilibrium. We extend our model to consider the effects of CRM on profits and donations when altruistic consumers can choose between donating directly to the NGO out of their income and donating through their purchase of the charity‐linked good. We consider this choice in the context of CRM advertising where firms make the altruism of their consumers public and thus provide exhibition value to donations made through the charity‐linked good. We find that the case for CRM strengthens when we allow the firm to appropriate exhibition utility through advertising while enabling greater donations for the NGO through direct donations as well as CRM.
Challenges and advances in optical 3D mesoscale imaging
Authors: Munck Sebastian , Cawthorne Christopher , Escamilla‐Ayala Abril , Kerstens Axelle , Gabarre Sergio , Wesencraft Katrina , Battistella Eliana , Craig Rebecca , Reynaud Emmanuel G. , Swoger Jim , McConnell Gail
Published: May 2022

Optical mesoscale imaging is a rapidly developing field that allows the visualisation of larger samples than is possible with standard light microscopy, and fills a gap between cell and organism resolution. It spans from advanced fluorescence imaging of micrometric cell clusters to centimetre‐size complete organisms. However, with larger volume specimens, new problems arise. Imaging deeper into tissues at high resolution poses challenges ranging from optical distortions to shadowing from opaque structures. This manuscript discusses the latest developments in mesoscale imaging and highlights limitations, namely labelling, clearing, absorption, scattering, and also sample handling. We then focus on approaches that seek to turn mesoscale imaging into a more quantitative technique, analogous to quantitative tomography in medical imaging, highlighting a future role for digital and physical phantoms as well as artificial intelligence.
Nonsurgical lower eyelid rejuvenation using injectable poly‐d,l‐lactic acid in Asian patients
Authors: Lin Jui‐Yu , Lin Chuan‐Yuan
Published: May 2022

Background

Filler injection for lower eyelid rejuvenation remains a difficult subject due to many complicated anatomic changes as the face ages.

Objectives

To propose an alternative, simple, and effective filler injection method in lower eyelids for Asian patients.

Methods

Any patient who has tear trough deformities, infra‐orbital hollows, nasojugal grooves, dark eye circles, as well as mild eyebags is a potential candidate for this method. Our filler choice is injectable poly‐d,l‐lactic acid (PDLLA; AestheFill; REGEN). PDLLA must be reconstituted with sterile water for injection (SWFI) before administration. When the patient's troughs, grooves, or volume deficit are classes II and III, 3–4 ml of SWFI and 1 ml of lidocaine are used. When the deficits are class I, 5–7 ml of SWFI and 1 ml of lidocaine are used. With the fanning injection technique, a wide region that covers all the deficits is evenly injected. The depth is under the dermis layer. The total amount of filler injection is not more than 2 ml on each side.

Results

Since 2019, we have injected more than 100 patients by following these steps in Taiwan. The level of patient satisfaction is high. Only some mild and transient post‐injection complications such as edema, erythema, and ecchymosis were found.

Conclusions

We propose an alternative, simple and effective method for non‐surgical lower eyelid rejuvenation for Asian patients. However, anyone who wants to perform this procedure should be well‐trained and knowledgeable about the anatomy, product, and procedure to prevent adverse events.
Comparison of the efficacy of cysteamine 5% cream and hydroquinone 4%/ascorbic acid 3% combination cream in the treatment of epidermal melasma
Authors: Sepaskhah Mozhdeh , Karimi Fatemeh , Bagheri Zahra , Kasraee Behrooz
Published: May 2022

Background

Few safe and effective treatments are available for melasma. Cysteamine, a non‐melanocytotoxic molecule is a safer alternative to hydroquinone and usable for long‐term use.

Aim

To evaluate the effect of cysteamine 5% cream in the treatment of melasma.

Methods

Sixty‐five of 80 patients completed this single‐blind, randomized, controlled trial. The patients received cysteamine 5% or hydroquinone 4%/ascorbic acid 3% (HC) cream. The therapeutic response was evaluated by modified MASI (mMASI) and melanin index (SkinColorCatch) after 2 and 4 months of treatment. The effect of treatment on the quality of life was also assessed.

Results

The decrease in mMASI score was from 6.69 ± 2.96 to 4.47 ± 2.16 in the cysteamine group and from 6.26 ± 3.25 to 3.87 ± 2.00 in the HC group after 4 months (p values < 0.001). The melanin index decreased from 37.72 ± 10.17 to 31.47 ± 11.90 in the cysteamine group and from 36.37 ± 10.80 to 23.16 ± 8.83 in the HC group after 4 months (p‐value = 0.003 and <0.001, respectively). The difference between mMASI score at baseline and month 4 was not significant between both groups (p‐value > 0.05). The difference between the melanin index at baseline and month 4 was significantly more pronounced in the HC group (p‐value = 0.002). Quality of life improved in both groups (p‐value < 0.05), but was not significantly different between groups (p‐value > 0.05).

Conclusion

Cysteamine was confirmed to be an effective treatment for melasma, with equivalent results to HC in reducing mMASI score and improving quality of life, despite lesser melanin index reduction observed. Cysteamine and HC efficacy was confirmed in patients recalcitrant to previous treatments, by a significant reduction of mMASI and melanin index.
Histological severity of maternal and fetal inflammation is correlated with the prevalence of maternal clinical signs
Authors: Maki Yohei , Sato Yuichiro , Furukawa Seishi , Sameshima Hiroshi
Published: May 2022

Aim

To evaluate whether there is a stepwise increase in the prevalence of maternal clinical signs according to the severity of histological inflammation in the chorioamniotic membranes, placenta, and umbilical cord in preterm deliveries.

Methods

This retrospective study, conducted between January 2007 and May 2017, included patients with preterm delivery between 22 and 33 weeks. The histological findings of maternal/fetal inflammatory responses were staged and graded according to the Amsterdam Placental Workshop Group consensus statement. Correlations between the histological severity of maternal/fetal inflammatory responses and the prevalence of clinical chorioamnionitis and clinical signs were evaluated using the Cochran–Armitage trend test.

Results

A total of 138 patients were included. The stage and grade of the maternal inflammatory response were correlated with earlier gestational weeks at delivery and lighter birth weight. The prevalence of clinical chorioamnionitis was significantly correlated with a higher stage and grade of the maternal inflammatory response (Gibbs/Lencki criteria: 15.8%/15.8% in Stage 3, 16.3%/14% in Grade 2). No significant correlations were observed between gestational weeks at delivery and birth weight and stage/grade of fetal inflammatory response. The prevalence of clinical chorioamnionitis was significantly correlated with higher stage and grade of fetal inflammatory response (Gibbs/Lencki criteria: 25%/25% in Stage 3 and 29.4%/29.4% in Grade 2).

Conclusion

Correlations exist between the severity of histological maternal/fetal inflammatory responses and the prevalence of clinical chorioamnionitis and positive maternal clinical signs in preterm deliveries. However, the prevalence of clinical chorioamnionitis was 20%–30% even in the most severe fetal inflammatory responses.
Ambiguity in a pandemic recession, asset prices, and lockdown policy
Authors: Morimoto Keiichi , Suzuki Shiba
Published: May 2022

Using an asset pricing model of a multisector production economy including pandemic disaster, we explain the average stock price boom and significant cross‐sectional variation of stock returns in the United States and Japan during the COVID‐19 pandemic recession. We find that two features of the pandemic, namely ambiguity and sector‐specific shocks, are critical determinants of the unusual asset price dynamics observed. Extending the model, we analyze the welfare effects of lockdown policy during pandemics for heterogeneous households. We theoretically show that enforcing a lockdown improves the welfare of asset holders and households working in sectors with positive sector‐specific shocks. Consequently, a Pareto‐optimal lockdown policy controls for the tightness of lockdown to maximize the welfare of households working in sectors with negative sector‐specific shocks.
Historical loss: Implications for physical activity levels in American Indian adults
Authors: John‐Henderson Neha A. , Grant Vernon M. , Johnson Lester R. , Lafromboise Mary Ellen , Malatare Melveena , Salois Emily M. , Oosterhoff Benjamin
Published: May 2022

Purpose

To investigate the relationship between daily thoughts about historical loss and daily levels of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in American Indian (AI) adults residing on the Blackfeet reservation in Browning, Montana.

Methods

The study was designed and conducted using a community‐based participatory research framework and ecological momentary assessment. Over a period of 1 week, 100 AI adults (mean age = 42.18, SD = 14.92) reported how often they thought about historical loss at the end of each day. During this week‐long period, all participants wore a wrist‐accelerometer to passively and objectively measure levels of physical activity.

Findings

We found that Blackfeet AI adults who reported thinking about historical loss more frequently over the course of the week had lower average levels of MVPA over the course of the week compared to Blackfeet AI adults who reported thinking about historical loss less frequently (B = –10.22, 95% CI = –13.83, –6.60). We also found that on days when Blackfeet AI adults thought more about historical loss compared to their weekly average, they had fewer minutes of MVPA compared to their weekly average of minutes of MVPA (B = –0.87, 95% CI = –1.48, –0.27).

Conclusions

Our data indicate that thoughts about historical loss are linked to lower levels of MVPA. Given high incidence of chronic health conditions linked to physical inactivity in AIs, more work is needed to identify the mechanisms through which thoughts about historical loss may inhibit physical activity in this population.
Systematic review of the associations between prenatal sleep behaviours and components of energy balance for regulating weight gain
Authors: Pauley Abigail M. , Moore Ginger A. , Mama Scherezade K. , Molenaar Peter , Downs Danielle Symons
Published: May 2022

This systematic review aimed to examine the magnitude and direction of the associations between prenatal sleep behaviours (i.e. nighttime sleep duration, sleep quality, night awakenings and daytime nap duration) and eating behaviours, physical activity and gestational weight gain. A systematic search was conducted using Medline/PubMed, PsychINFO, CINAHL Complete, ProQuest Dissertations and Thesis A&I, and Web of Science to identify studies with at least one sleep measure, and either eating behaviours, physical activity and/or gestational weight gain. In summary, 11 studies met the review criteria and generated 11 total effect size across 10,900 participants. The majority of the studies were conducted after 2010, which highlights the infancy of this research. Overall, the strengths of the effect size were small: sleep‐gestational weight gain (effect size = 0.29), sleep‐eating behaviours (effect size = 0.13) and sleep‐physical activity (effect size = 0.13). The only effect size that emerged as significant was for the pooled sleep behaviours‐physical activity association; good sleep behaviours were positively associated with higher levels of physical activity. These findings summarize and provide insight on how sleep behaviours are related to prenatal gestational weight gain, eating behaviours and physical activity by identifying the strength and direction of the associations that have been previously unknown. Results support the rationale for future longitudinal and randomized control trials to examine the effects of sleep behaviours on gestational weight gain, eating behaviours and physical activity over the course of pregnancy.
Crowdsourced Adaptive Comparative Judgment: A Community‐Based Solution for Proficiency Rating
Authors: Paquot Magali , Rubin Rachel , Vandeweerd Nathan
Published: May 2022

The main objective of this Methods Showcase Article is to show how the technique of adaptive comparative judgment, coupled with a crowdsourcing approach, can offer practical solutions to reliability issues as well as to address the time and cost difficulties associated with a text‐based approach to proficiency assessment in L2 research. We showcased this method by reporting on the methodological framework implemented in the Crowdsourcing Language Assessment Project and by presenting the results of a first study that demonstrated that a crowd is able to assess learner texts with high reliability. We found no effect of language skills or language assessment experience on the assessment task, but judges who had received formal language assessment training seemed to differ in their decisions from judges who had not received such training. However, the scores generated by the crowdsourced task exhibited a strong positive correlation with the rubric‐based scores provided with the learner corpus used.
Using scenario‐based assessments to examine the feasibility of integrating preventive nutrition services through the primary health care system in Bangladesh
Authors: Nguyen Phuong H. , Pramanik Priyanjana , Billah Sk. Masum , Avula Rasmi , Ferdous Tarana , Sarker Bidhan K. , Rahman Musfikur , Ireen Santhia , Mahmud Zeba , Menon Purnima , Ash Deborah
Published: May 2022

The National Nutrition Services of Bangladesh aims to deliver nutrition services through the primary health care system. Little is known about the feasibility of reshaping service delivery to close gaps in nutrition intervention coverage and utilization. We used a scenario‐based feasibility testing approach to assess potential implementation improvements to strengthen service delivery. We conducted in‐depth interviews with 31 service providers and 12 policymakers, and 5 focus group discussions with potential beneficiaries. We asked about the feasibility of four hypothetical scenarios for preventive and promotive nutrition service delivery: community‐based events (CBE) for pregnant women, well‐child services integrated into immunization contacts; CBE for well‐children, and well‐child visits at facilities. Opinions on service delivery platforms were mixed; some recommended new platforms, but others suggested strengthening existing delivery points. CBE for pregnant women was perceived as feasible, but workforce shortages emerged as a key barrier. Challenges such as equipment portability, upset children and a fast‐moving service environment suggested low feasibility of integrating nutrition into outreach immunization contacts. In contrast, CBE and facility‐based well‐child visits emerged as feasible options, conditional on having the necessary workforce, structural readiness and budget support. On the demand side, enabling factors include using interpersonal communication and involving community leaders to increase awareness, organizing events at a convenient time and place for both providers and beneficiaries, and incentives for beneficiaries to encourage participation. In conclusion, integrating preventive and promotive nutrition services require addressing current challenges in the health system, including human resource and logistic gaps, and investing in creating demand for preventive services.
Further evidence from common garden rearing experiments of heritable traits separating lean and siscowet lake charr (Salvelinus namaycush) ecotypes
Authors: Euclide Peter T. , Jasonowicz Andrew , Sitar Shawn P. , Fischer G. J. , Goetz Frederick W.
Published: May 2022

Genetic evidence of selection for complex and polygenically regulated phenotypes can easily become masked by neutral population genetic structure and phenotypic plasticity. Without direct evidence of genotype‐phenotype associations it can be difficult to conclude to what degree a phenotype is heritable or a product of environment. Common garden laboratory studies control for environmental stochasticity and help to determine the mechanism that regulate traits. Here we assess lipid content, growth, weight, and length variation in full and hybrid F1 crosses of deep and shallow water sympatric lake charr ecotypes reared for nine years in a common garden experiment. Redundancy analysis (RDA) and quantitative‐trait‐loci (QTL) genomic scans are used to identify associations between genotypes at 19,714 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) aligned to the lake charr genome and individual phenotypes to determine the role that genetic inheritance plays in ecotype phenotypic diversity. Lipid content, growth, length, and weight differed significantly among lake charr crosses throughout the experiment suggesting that pedigree plays a large roll in lake charr development. Polygenic scores of 15 SNPs putatively associated with lipid content and/or condition factor indicated that ecotype distinguishing traits are polygenically regulated and additive. A QTL identified on chromosome 38 contained >200 genes, some of which were associated with lipid metabolism and growth, demonstrating the complex nature of ecotype diversity. The results of our common garden study further indicate that lake charr ecotypes observed in nature are predetermined at birth and that ecotypes differ fundamentally in lipid metabolism and growth.
Phenazines and toxoflavin act as interspecies modulators of resilience to diverse antibiotics
Authors: Meirelles Lucas A. , Newman Dianne K.
Published: May 2022

Bacterial opportunistic pathogens make diverse secondary metabolites both in the natural environment and when causing infections, yet how these molecules mediate microbial interactions and their consequences for antibiotic treatment are still poorly understood. Here, we explore the role of three redox‐active secondary metabolites, pyocyanin, phenazine‐1‐carboxylic acid, and toxoflavin, as interspecies modulators of antibiotic resilience. We find that these molecules dramatically change susceptibility levels of diverse bacteria to clinical antibiotics. Pyocyanin and phenazine‐1‐carboxylic acid are made by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, while toxoflavin is made by Burkholderia gladioli, organisms that infect cystic fibrosis and other immunocompromised patients. All molecules alter the susceptibility profile of pathogenic species within the “Burkholderia cepacia complex” to different antibiotics, either antagonizing or potentiating their effects, depending on the drug’s class. Defense responses regulated by the redox‐sensitive transcription factor SoxR potentiate the antagonistic effects these metabolites have against fluoroquinolones, and the presence of genes encoding SoxR and the efflux systems it regulates can be used to predict how these metabolites will affect antibiotic susceptibility of different bacteria. Finally, we demonstrate that inclusion of secondary metabolites in standard protocols used to assess antibiotic resistance can dramatically alter the results, motivating the development of new tests for more accurate clinical assessment.
BB0761, a MepM homolog, contributes to Borrelia burgdorferi cell division and mammalian infectivity
Authors: Thompson Christina , George Sierra , White Maria L. , Eswara Prahathees J. , Ouyang Zhiming
Published: May 2022

M23 family endopeptidases play important roles in cell division and separation in a wide variety of bacteria. Recent studies have suggested that these proteins also contribute to bacterial virulence. However, the biological function of M23 peptidases in pathogenic spirochetes remains unexplored. Here, we describe Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterial pathogen causing Lyme disease, requires a putative M23 family homolog, BB0761, for spirochete morphology and cell division. Indeed, the inactivation of bb0761 led to an aberrant filamentous phenotype as well as the impairment of B. burgdorferi growth in vitro. These phenotypes were complemented not only with B. burgdorferi bb0761, but also with the mepM gene from E. coli. Moreover, the bb0761 mutant showed a complete loss of infectivity in a murine model of Lyme borreliosis. Resistance of the mutant to osmotic and oxidative stresses was markedly reduced. Our combined results indicate that BB0761 contributes to B. burgdorferi cell division and virulence.
Caspase‐6‐cleaved tau is relevant in Alzheimer's disease and marginal in four‐repeat tauopathies: Diagnostic and therapeutic implications
Authors: Theofilas Panos , Piergies Antonia M. H. , Oh Ian , Lee Yoo Bin , Li Song Hua , Pereira Felipe L. , Petersen Cathrine , Ehrenberg Alexander J. , Eser Rana A. , Ambrose Andrew J. , Chin Brian , Yang Teddy , Khan Shireen , Ng Raymond , Spina Salvatore , Seeley Willian W. , Miller Bruce L. , Arkin Michelle R. , Grinberg Lea T.
Published: May 2022

Aim

Tau truncation (tr‐tau) by active caspase‐6 (aCasp‐6) generates tau fragments that may be toxic. Yet the relationship between aCasp‐6, different forms of tr‐tau and hyperphosphorylated tau (p‐tau) accumulation in human brains with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other tauopathies remains unclear.

Methods

We generated two neoepitope monoclonal antibodies against tr‐tau sites (D402 and D13) targeted by aCasp‐6. Then, we used five‐plex immunofluorescence to quantify the neuronal and astroglial burden of aCasp‐6, tr‐tau, p‐tau and their co‐occurrence in healthy controls, AD and primary tauopathies.

Results

Casp‐6 activation was strongest in AD and Pick's disease (PiD) but almost absent in 4‐repeat (4R) tauopathies. In neurons, the tr‐tau burden was much more abundant in AD and PiD than in 4R tauopathies and disproportionally higher when normalising by p‐tau pathology. Tr‐tau astrogliopathy was detected in low numbers in 4R tauopathies. Unexpectedly, about half of tr‐tau positive neurons in AD and PiD lacked p‐tau aggregates, a finding we confirmed using several p‐tau antibodies.

Conclusions

Early modulation of aCasp‐6 to reduce tr‐tau pathology is a promising therapeutic strategy for AD and PiD but is unlikely to benefit 4R tauopathies. The large percentage of tr‐tau‐positive neurons lacking p‐tau suggests that many vulnerable neurons to tau pathology go undetected when using conventional p‐tau antibodies. Therapeutic strategies against tr‐tau pathology could be necessary to modulate the extent of tau abnormalities in AD. The disproportionally higher burden of tr‐tau in AD and PiD supports the development of biofluid biomarkers against tr‐tau to detect AD and PiD and differentiate them from 4R tauopathies at a patient level.
Sec24C mediates a Golgi‐independent trafficking pathway that is required for tonoplast localisation of ABCC1 and ABCC2
Authors: Lv Qiao‐Yan , Han Mei‐Ling , Gao Yi‐Qun , Zhang Chu‐Ying , Wang Ya‐Ling , Chao Zhen‐Fei , Zhong Li‐Yuan , Chao Dai‐Yin
Published: May 2022

Protein sorting is an essential biological process in all organisms. Trafficking membrane proteins generally relies on the sorting machinery of the Golgi apparatus. However, many proteins have been found to be delivered to target locations via Golgi‐independent pathways, but the mechanisms underlying this delivery system remain unknown.

Here, we report that Sec24C mediates the direct secretory trafficking of the phytochelatin transporters ABCC1 and ABCC2 from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to prevacuolar compartments (PVCs) in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Genetic analysis showed that the sec24c mutants are hypersensitive to cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) treatments due to mislocalisation of ABCC1 and ABCC2, which results in defects in the vacuole compartmentalisation of the toxic metals. Furthermore, we found that Sec24C recognises ABCC1 and ABCC2 through direct interactions to mediate their exit from the ER to PVCs, which is independent of brefeldin A‐sensitive post‐Golgi trafficking pathway.

These findings expand our understanding of Golgi‐independent trafficking, which also provide key insights regarding the mechanism of tonoplast protein sorting and open a new perspective on the function of Sec24 proteins.
From island biogeography to landscape and metacommunity ecology: A macroecological perspective of bat communities
Authors: Presley Steven J. , Willig Michael R.
Published: May 2022

The equilibrium theory of island biogeography and its quantitative consideration of origination and extinction dynamics as they relate to island area and distance from source populations have evolved over time and enriched theory related to many disciplines in spatial ecology. Indeed, the island focus was catalytic to the emergence of landscape ecology and macroecology in the late 20th century. We integrate concepts and perspectives of island biogeography, landscape ecology, macroecology, and metacommunity ecology, and show how these disciplines have advanced the understanding of variation in abundance, biodiversity, and composition of bat communities. We leverage the well‐studied bat fauna of the islands in the Caribbean to illustrate the complex interplay of ecological, biogeographical, and evolutionary processes in molding local biodiversity and system‐wide structure. Thereafter, we highlight the role of habitat loss and fragmentation, which is increasing at an accelerating rate during the Anthropocene, on the structure of local bat communities and regional metacommunities across landscapes. Bat species richness increases with the amount of available habitat, often forming nested subsets along gradients of patch or island area. Similarly, the distance to and identity of sources of colonization influence the richness, composition, and metacommunity structure of islands and landscape networks.
Dental follicle cells‐derived small extracellular vesicles inhibit pathogenicity of Porphyromonas gingivalis
Authors: Huang Yanli , Liu Li , Liu Qian , Huo Fangjun , Hu Xingyu , Guo Shujuan , Tian Weidong
Published: May 2022

Objective

It aims to explore the effect of dental follicle cells‐derived small extracellular vesicles (D‐sEVs) with or without lipopolysaccharides (LPS) pretreating on the pathogenicity of Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis).

Methods

The antibacterial effects of D‐sEV were evaluated by measuring the growth, biofilm formation, gingipains, and type IX secretion system (T9SS) expression of P. gingivalis. And the influence of D‐sEV on P. gingivalis adhesion, invasion, cytotoxicity, and host immune response was examined in gingival epithelial cells (GECs). Then P. gingivalis treated with D‐sEV was applied to investigate the pathogenicity in experimental periodontitis of mice.

Results

It showed that both D‐sEV and P. gingivalis LPS‐pretreated D‐sEV (L‐D‐sEV) could target P. gingivalis, inhibit their growth and biofilm formation, and hinder the attachment and invasion in GECs, therefore remarkably decreasing P. gingivalis cytotoxicity and the expression of IL‐1β and IL‐6 in GECs. In addition, they significantly reduced the expression of P. gingivalis virulence factors (gingipains and T9SS). In vivo, it showed that the bacteria in the gingiva were significantly decreased after sEV treatment. Meanwhile, less bone loss and fewer inflammatory cells infiltration and osteoclast formation in D‐sEV and L‐D‐sEV groups.

Conclusion

Both D‐sEV and L‐D‐sEV were proven to inhibit the pathogenicity of P. gingivalis and thus prevented the development of periodontitis.
Fungal phylogeny and plant functional traits structure plant–rhizosphere fungi networks in a subtropical forest
Authors: Zhu Chuchao , Wang Zihui , Luo Wenqi , Feng Jiayi , Chen Yongfa , He Dong , Ellwood M. D. Farnon , Chu Chengjin , Li Yuanzhi
Published: May 2022

Although rhizosphere fungi are essential for plant survival and ecosystem functioning, little is known about the processes that structure plant–fungal association networks. In this study, we constructed association networks between 43 plant species and two groups of root‐associated fungi (mycorrhizal and pathogenic fungi; MF and PF, respectively) in a diverse subtropical forest. We then evaluated the modularity of plant–MF and plant–PF networks and linked them to the functional traits and phylogenies of both plants and fungi. We observed strong modularity in both plant–MF and plant–PF networks. Phylogenetically related fungi tended to emerge in the same modules. MF from distinct modules associated with plants with different specific root length and specific root area in plant–MF networks. PF from distinct modules associated with plants with different dark respiration rate and light compensation point in plant–PF networks. Plant affiliation to modules was explained by both plant traits and phylogeny (22% for plant–MF and 37% for plant–PF networks). In contrast, fungal affiliation to modules was explained by fungal phylogeny (16% for plant–MF and 29% for plant–PF networks). Our results elucidate the link between modularity in plant–root fungal networks and the functional traits and phylogeny of the plants and fungi. Our study highlights the importance of traits and phylogeny in governing root fungal community assembly from network perspective.
QRS fragmentation and prolongation as predictors of exercise capacity in patients after Fontan palliation
Authors: Wilson Lucas H. , Chowdhury Shahryar M, , Jackson Lanier B.
Published: May 2022

Introduction

Patients with Fontan anatomy are at increased risk for exercise intolerance and early morbidity and mortality. QRS complex fragmentation (fQRS) and prolongation have been studied in multiple heart diseases, but their clinical importance is unknown in the Fontan population.

Methods

A retrospective cross‐sectional study was performed. ECGs were evaluated for QRS prolongation (>98 percentile for age) and fQRS (≥3 R‐waves/notches in the R/S complex [more than two in RBBB] in ≥2 contiguous leads). The primary outcome measures were CPET performance.

Results

Total 90 patients (median age 18 years, 57% male, 59% RV dominant) were included; 13% had fQRS and 31% had prolonged QRS. Demographically, patients with fQRS or prolonged QRS were like those without. Peak VO2 (64% vs. 63%, p .45), VE/VCO2 slope (85% vs. 88%, p = .74), and O2 pulse (149% vs. 129%, p = .83) were similar in the fQRS group versus those without. Upon multi‐variable regression, body mass index (β = ‐0.38, p < .01) and QRS duration (β = ‐0.29, p < .01) were independently associated with % predicted VO2; fQRS was not. Lower cardiac index (2.2 vs. 2.8 L/min/m2, p = .03) and higher ventricular end‐diastolic pressure (13 vs. 10 mmHg, p = .02) was seen with fQRS.

Conclusions

QRS fragmentation is present in patients with Fontan physiology. fQRS showed no association with CPET performance but was related to invasive hemodynamic markers of ventricular performance. QRS duration may be a better predictor of exercise function following Fontan.
On‐line hemodiafiltration therapy for end‐stage kidney disease patients: Promises for the future? What's next?
Authors: Canaud Bernard , Davenport Andrew , Golper Thomas A.
Published: May 2022

On‐line hemodiafiltration (OL‐HDF) is currently the most advanced form of blood purification modality leading convective‐based therapies in end‐stage kidney disease patients. By adding a high convective component to the diffusive clearance achieved with highly permeable dialyzers, OL‐HDF reinforces removal of small MWt compounds and enlarges the spectrum of uremic compounds cleared up to middle and large MWt compounds. The biological and clinical benefits of convective‐based therapy are currently also being explored in a revisited hybrid modality, combining an increased internal filtration process with a more open membrane. Regular use of ultrapure dialysis fluid required by convective‐based therapies improves the bio‐incompatibility of the extracorporeal circuit so reducing inflammatory responses. On‐line production of substitution fluid, relying on a cold sterilization by ultrafiltration, has several advantages: First, it is a safe and established process; and second, it provides an unlimited amount of substitution fluid at the same cost as regular ultrapure dialysis fluid. As such, OL‐HDF is adaptable to all substitution modalities (post, pre, or mixed‐HDF), thus allowing the dialytic convective dose to be adjusted to the individual patient needs. The development of OL‐HDF opens new pathways such as task automation simplifying care workflow. All these features make OL‐HDF the most versatile dialysis modality that can be now integrated in various treatment schedules according to session time and frequency (daily, nocturnal, or alternate day) or location (incenter, satellite, or potentially home‐based therapy).
A collection of inducible transcription factor‐glucocorticoid receptor fusion lines for functional analyses in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Shimada Setsuko , Yanagawa Yuki , Munesada Takachika , Horii Yoko , Kuriyama Tomoko , Kawashima Mika , Kondou Youichi , Yoshizumi Takeshi , Mitsuda Nobutaka , Ohme‐Takagi Masaru , Makita Yuko , Matsui Minami
Published: May 2022

Arabidopsis possesses approximately 2000 transcription factors (TFs) in its genome. They play pivotal roles in various biological processes but analysis of their function has been hampered by the overlapping nature of their activities. To uncover clues to their function, we generated inducible TF lines using glucocorticoid receptor (GR) fusion techniques in Arabidopsis. These TF‐GR lines each express one of 1255 TFs as a fusion with the GR gene. An average 14 lines of T2 transgenic TF‐GR lines were generated for each TF to monitor their function. To evaluate these transcription lines, we induced the TF‐GR lines of phytochrome‐interacting factor 4, which controls photomorphogenesis, with synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone. These phytochrome‐interacting factor 4‐GR lines showed the phenotype described in a previous report. We performed screening of the other TF‐GR lines for TFs involved in light signaling under blue and far‐red light conditions and identified 13 novel TF candidates. Among these, we found two lines showing higher anthocyanin accumulation under light conditions and we examined the regulating genes. These results indicate that the TF‐GR lines can be used to dissect functionally redundant genes in plants and demonstrate that the TF‐GR line collection can be used as an effective tool for functional analysis of TFs.
Differential requirements for the Eps15 homology domain proteins EHD4 and EHD2 in the regulation of mammalian ciliogenesis
Authors: Jones Tyler , Naslavsky Naava , Caplan Steve
Published: May 2022

The endocytic protein EHD1 controls primary ciliogenesis by facilitating fusion of the ciliary vesicle and by removal of CP110 from the mother centriole. EHD3, the closest EHD1 paralog, has a similar regulatory role, but initial evidence suggested that the other two more distal paralogs, EHD2 and EHD4 may be dispensable for ciliogenesis. Herein, we define a novel role for EHD4, but not EHD2, in regulating primary ciliogenesis. To better understand the mechanisms and differential functions of the EHD proteins in ciliogenesis, we first demonstrated a requirement for EHD1 ATP‐binding to promote ciliogenesis. We then identified two sequence motifs that are entirely conserved between EH domains of EHD1, EHD3 and EHD4, but display key amino acid differences within the EHD2 EH domain. Substitution of either P446 or E470 in EHD1 with the aligning S451 or W475 residues from EHD2 was sufficient to prevent rescue of ciliogenesis in EHD1‐depleted cells upon reintroduction of EHD1. Overall, our data enhance the current understanding of the EHD paralogs in ciliogenesis, demonstrate a need for ATP‐binding and identify conserved sequences in the EH domains of EHD1, EHD3 and EHD4 that regulate EHD1 binding to proteins and its ability to rescue ciliogenesis in EHD1‐depleted cells.
Entre manos y dedos: deseo fantasmático de una escritura (¿im?)pura
Authors: Castro Juan Cristóbal
Published: May 2022

Este trabajo explora en algunas obras producidas a finales del siglo XX y comienzos del XXI y el lugar de las prácticas escritas mecánicas y manuales en una era de inscripción digital. Interesa analizar estas formas de sobrevivencia, de reapariciones, que se concentran en la difícil relación máquina y mano, precisamente en Sergio Chejfec, Mario Levrero y Jacqueline Goldberg. En cada uno veremos una modalidad distinta de resurgimiento, de re-aparición, de las escrituras a mano y a máquina, inspirados por el impacto de su relación con el trabajo en computador.
A Computational Framework for Atrioventricular Valve Modeling Using Open-Source Software
Authors: Wu Wensi , Ching Stephen , Maas Steve A. , Lasso Andras , Sabin Patricia , Weiss Jeffrey A. , Jolley Matthew A.
Published: May 2022

Atrioventricular valve regurgitation is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with acquired and congenital cardiac valve disease. Image-derived computational modeling of atrioventricular valves has advanced substantially over the last decade and holds particular promise to inform valve repair in small and heterogeneous populations, which are less likely to be optimized through empiric clinical application. While an abundance of computational biomechanics studies has investigated mitral and tricuspid valve disease in adults, few studies have investigated its application to vulnerable pediatric and congenital heart populations. Further, to date, investigators have primarily relied upon a series of commercial applications that are neither designed for image-derived modeling of cardiac valves nor freely available to facilitate transparent and reproducible valve science. To address this deficiency, we aimed to build an open-source computational framework for the image-derived biomechanical analysis of atrioventricular valves. In the present work, we integrated an open-source valve modeling platform, SlicerHeart, and an open-source biomechanics finite element modeling software, FEBio, to facilitate image-derived atrioventricular valve model creation and finite element analysis. We present a detailed verification and sensitivity analysis to demonstrate the fidelity of this modeling in application to three-dimensional echocardiography-derived pediatric mitral and tricuspid valve models. Our analyses achieved an excellent agreement with those reported in the literature. As such, this evolving computational framework offers a promising initial foundation for future development and investigation of valve mechanics, in particular collaborative efforts targeting the development of improved repairs for children with congenital heart disease.
Capturing the Temperature Dependence of Cleavage Fracture Toughness in the Ductile-to-Brittle Transition Regime in Ferritic Steels Using an Improved Engineering Local Approach
Authors: Yankova Maria S. , Jivkov Andrey P. , Patel Rajesh , Sherry Andrew H.
Published: May 2022

Ferritic steels, which are typically used for critical reactor components, including reactor pressure vessels (RPV), exhibit a temperature-dependent probability of cleavage fracture, termed ductile-to-brittle transition. The fracture process has been linked to the interaction between matrix plasticity and second-phase particles. Under high-enough loads, a competition exists between cleavage and ductile fracture, which results from particles rupturing to form microcracks or particles decohering to form microvoids, respectively. Currently, there is no sufficiently adequate model that can predict accurately the reduced probability of cleavage with increasing temperature and the associated increase of plastic deformation. In this work, failure probability has been estimated using a local approach to cleavage fracture incorporating the statistics of microcracks. It is shown that changes in the deformation material properties are not enough to capture the significant changes in fracture toughness. Instead, a correction to the fraction of particles converted to eligible for cleavage microcracks, with an exponential dependence on the plastic strains, is proposed. The proposed method is compared with previous corrections that incorporate the plastic strains, and its advantages are demonstrated. The method is developed for the RPV steel 22NiMoCr37 and using experimental data for a standard compact tension C(T) specimen. The proposed approach offers more accurate calculations of cleavage fracture toughness in the ductile-to-brittle transition regime using only a decoupled model, which is attractive for engineering practice.