bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Secondary foundation species foster novel plant–animal interactions in the forest canopy: evidence from mistletoe
Authors: Zamora Regino , Lázaro‐González Alba , Hódar José A.
Published: June 2020

Forest canopies provide the initial physical and biological framework to secondary, dependent species, such as parasitic plants. In a Mediterranean pine forest, we have taxonomically and functionally characterised the entire arthropod community that interacts with mistletoe during its flowering period.

We hypothesise that a secondary foundation species such as mistletoe enhances the arthropod diversity and abundance, fostering novel plant–animal interactions in the canopy. Our results clearly show contrasting guilds of herbivores (highly specialised) and floral visitors (highly generalist) with markedly different taxonomic and ecological profiles, the latter determining the fruit set of the mistletoe.

By acting as a secondary foundation species, mistletoe, during flowering, increases the diversity and abundance of newcomers in the pine canopy. New species attracted to the canopy include a specialised herbivore, Cacopsylla visci, and a diverse guild of floral visitors, including the orders Hymenoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, and Lepidoptera.

In conclusion, mistletoe creates conditions that support the co‐occurrence of functionally distinct organisms in the canopies, fostering pine forest biodiversity and complexity of ecological interactions.
Preregistration in infant research—A primer
Authors: Havron Naomi , Bergmann Christina , Tsuji Sho
Published: June 2020

Preregistration, the act of specifying a research plan in advance, is becoming more common in scientific research. Infant researchers contend with unique problems that might make preregistration particularly challenging. Infants are a hard‐to‐reach population, usually yielding small sample sizes, they can only complete a limited number of trials, and they can be excluded based on hard‐to‐predict complications (e.g., parental interference, fussiness). In addition, as effects themselves potentially change with age and population, it is hard to calculate an a priori effect size. At the same time, these very factors make preregistration in infant studies a valuable tool. A priori examination of the planned study, including the hypotheses, sample size, and resulting statistical power, increases the credibility of single studies and adds value to the field. Preregistration might also improve explicit decision making to create better studies. We present an in‐depth discussion of the issues uniquely relevant to infant researchers, and ways to contend with them in preregistration and study planning. We provide recommendations to researchers interested in following current best practices.
Development of intraspecific size variation in black coucals, white‐browed coucals and ruffs from hatching to fledging
Authors: Giraldo‐Deck Lina M. , Goymann Wolfgang , Safari Ignas , Dawson Deborah A. , Stocks Michael , Burke Terry , Lank David B. , Küpper Clemens
Published: June 2020

Most studies on sexual size dimorphism address proximate and functional questions related to adults, but sexual size dimorphism usually develops during ontogeny and developmental trajectories of sexual size dimorphism are poorly understood. We studied three bird species with variation in adult sexual size dimorphism: black coucals (females 69% heavier than males), white‐browed coucals (females 13% heavier than males) and ruffs (males 70% heavier than females). Using a flexible Bayesian generalized additive model framework (GAMM), we examined when and how sexual size dimorphism developed in body mass, tarsus length and bill length from hatching until fledging. In ruffs, we additionally examined the development of intrasexual size variation among three morphs (Independents, Satellites and Faeders), which creates another level of variation in adult size of males and females. We found that 27–100% of the adult inter‐ and intrasexual size variation developed until fledging although none of the species completed growth during the observational period. In general, the larger sex/morph grew more quickly and reached its maximal absolute growth rate later than the smaller sex/morph. However, when the daily increase in body mass was modelled as a proportion, growth patterns were synchronized between and within sexes. Growth broadly followed sigmoidal asymptotic models, however only with the flexible GAMM approach, residual distributions were homogeneous over the entire observation periods. These results provide a platform for future studies to relate variation in growth to selective pressures and proximate mechanisms in these three species, and they highlight the advantage of using a flexible model approach for examining growth variation during ontogeny.
Implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator therapy to reduce sudden cardiac death in adults with congenital heart disease: A registry study
Authors: Slater Thomas A. , Cupido Blanche , Parry Helen , Drozd Michael , Blackburn Michael E. , Hares Dominic , Pepper Christopher B. , Birkitt Linda , Cullington Damien , Witte Klaus K. , Oliver James , English Kate M. , Sengupta Anshuman
Published: June 2020

Introduction

The adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) population is rapidly expanding. However, a significant proportion of these patients suffer sudden cardiac death. Recommending implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator (ICD) insertion requires balancing the need for appropriate therapy in malignant arrhythmia against the consequences of inappropriate therapy and procedural complications. Here we present long‐term follow‐up data for ICD insertion in patients with ACHD from a large Level 1 congenital cardiac center.

Methods and Results

All patients with ACHD undergoing ICD insertion over an 18‐year period were identified. Data were extracted for baseline characteristics including demographics, initial diagnosis, ventricular function, relevant medication, and indication for ICD insertion. Details regarding device insertion were gathered along with follow‐up data including appropriate and inappropriate therapy and complications. A total of 136 ICDs were implanted during this period: 79 for primary and 57 for secondary prevention. The most common congenital cardiac conditions in both groups were tetralogy of Fallot and transposition of the great arteries. Twenty‐two individuals in the primary prevention group received appropriate antitachycardia pacing (ATP), 14 underwent appropriate cardioversion, 17 received inappropriate ATP, and 15 received inappropriate cardioversion. In the secondary prevention group, 18 individuals received appropriate ATP, 8 underwent appropriate cardioversion, 8 received inappropriate ATP, and 7 were inappropriately cardioverted. Our data demonstrate low complication rates, particularly with leads without advisories.

Conclusion

ICD insertion in the ACHD population involves a careful balance of the risks and benefits. Our data show a significant proportion of patients receiving appropriate therapy indicating that ICDs were inserted appropriately.
Focal arrhythmia ablation with multipolar mapping: Does it still make sense to stay off‐grid?
Authors: Montgomery Jay A.
Published: June 2020

Multipolar mapping (MPM) has primarily been studied in complex arrhythmia substrates or reentrant circuits. Chieng et al. use a case‐control design to compare MPM and point‐by‐point mapping with an ablation catheter for focal atrial and ventricular tachycardias, showing reduced procedure times and earlier electrograms in the MPM group but no difference in clinical outcomes. It is plausible that faster mapping and better delineation of earliest signals may translate to improved clinical outcomes if studied in a randomized trial in a larger population. Future MPM systems will guide the operator toward the focus in real‐time and may even triangulate the source in three dimensions, giving an estimate of depth within the myocardium or likely focus in the opposite chamber.
Multipolar mapping with the high‐density grid catheter compared with conventional point‐by‐point mapping to guide catheter ablation for focal arrhythmias
Authors: Chieng David , Lahiri Anandaroop , Sugumar Hariharan , Al‐Kaisey Ahmed , Parameswaran Ramanathan , Anderson Robert D. , Prabhu Sandeep , Ling Liang‐Han , Morton Joseph B. , McLellan Alex J. , Lee Geoffrey , Kalman Jonathan M. , McGavigan Andrew D. , Kistler Peter M.
Published: June 2020

Background

Multipolar catheters provide high‐density mapping which may reduce the procedural duration and improve the success of catheter ablation (CA) for focal arrhythmias. The high‐density grid (HDG) catheter is a 16 electrode mapping catheter with bipole recordings at orthogonal splines. The aim of this study is to compare the clinical and procedural features from a cohort who underwent CA for focal arrhythmias using multipolar mapping (MPM) with age and case‐matched cohort using point‐by‐point (PbyP) mapping.

Methods

Consecutive patients undergoing CA for focal arrhythmias between October 2018 and January 2020 guided by MPM were compared with PbyP mapping with the ablation catheter over a similar period. Demographics, procedural features, and outcomes were compared.

Results

A total of 54 patients (27 in MPM vs. 27 in PbyP mapping) underwent CA for 68 focal arrhythmias (26 atrial and 42 ventricular). In the MPM group, the electrogram at the successful site was significantly earlier (39 ± 11 ms) than in the PbyP group (33 ± 7 ms; p = .02). In the MPM group, the mapping time (35 ± 24 vs. 53 ± 31 min in PbyP; p = .03) and procedural duration (126 ± 42 vs. 153 ± 39 min in PbyP; p = .02) were significantly shorter. There was no significant difference in radiofrequency and fluoroscopy times, acute procedural success, and arrhythmia recurrence.

Conclusion

MPM with the HDG catheter for focal tachycardias identified earlier activation times and was associated with shorter mapping and procedure duration with equivalent success to PbyP mapping.
gdnf affects early diencephalic dopaminergic neuron development through regulation of differentiation‐associated transcription factors in zebrafish
Authors: Wong Chee Ern David , Hua Khang , Monis Simon , Saxena Vishal , Norazit Anwar , Noor Suzita Mohd , Ekker Marc
Published: June 2020

Glial cell line‐derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) has been reported to enhance dopaminergic neuron survival and differentiation in vitro and in vivo, although those results are still being debated. Glial cell line‐derived neurotrophic factor (gdnf) is highly conserved in zebrafish and plays a role in enteric nervous system function. However, little is known about gdnf function in the teleost brain. Here, we employed clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR‐associated protein 9 to impede gdnf function in the maintenance of dopaminergic neuron development. Genotyping of gdnf crispants revealed successful deletions of the coding region with various mutant band sizes and down‐regulation of gdnf transcripts at 1, 3 and 7 day(s) post fertilization. Notably, ~20% reduction in ventral diencephalic dopaminergic neuron numbers in clusters 8 and 13 was observed in the gdnf‐deficient crispants. In addition, gdnf depletion caused a modest reduction in dopaminergic neurogenesis as determined by 5‐ethynyl‐2'‐deoxyuridine pulse chase assay. These deleterious effects could be partly attributed to deregulation of dopaminergic neuron fate specification‐related transcription factors (otp,lmx1b,shha,and ngn1) in both crispants and established homozygous mutants with whole mount in‐situ hybridization (WISH) on gdnf mutants showing reduced otpb and lmx1b.1 expression in the ventral diencephalon. Interestingly, locomotor function of crispants was only impacted at 7 dpf, but not earlier. Lastly, as expected, gdnf deficiency heightened crispants vulnerability to 1‐methyl‐4‐phenylpyridinium toxic insult. Our results suggest conservation of teleost gdnf brain function with mammals and revealed the interactions between gdnf and transcription factors in dopaminergic neuron differentiation.

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Gender Differences Regarding the Impact of Change in Cognitive Function on the Functional Status of Intensive Care Unit Survivors: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Son Youn‐Jung , Song Hyo‐Suk , Seo Eun Ji
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This study aimed to identify gender differences with regard to the impact of change in cognitive function on functional status 3 months after receiving critical care.

Design and Methods

This prospective cohort study investigated 152 intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Their functional status and cognitive function were assessed using the validated Korean version of the Modified Barthel Index and Mini‐Mental State Examination, respectively. Hierarchical regression was used to evaluate the impact of change in cognitive function on functional status in ICU survivors by gender.

Findings

The proportion of women suffering from consistent cognitive impairment was significantly higher than that of men. Women had a rate of improvement to normal cognitive function within 3 months after discharge that was higher than that of men. Functional status 3 months after discharge was significantly lower for patients whose cognitive impairment was consistent than that for those whose cognitive function was normal. The impact of change in cognitive function on men (R2 change = .28) was greater than that on women (R2 change = .13).

Conclusions

Persistent cognitive impairment after critical illness had a negative effect on functional status in ICU survivors. Importantly, the negative impact of consistent cognitive impairment was greater in men than in women.

Clinical Relevance

Early careful assessment of functional and cognitive status after critical illness is warranted. Strategies addressing the gender‐specific characteristics related to cognitive improvement should also be developed.
Functional morphology of the ankle extensor muscle‐tendon units in the springharePedetes capensisshows convergent evolution with macropods for bipedal hopping locomotion
Authors: Veiga Gabriela N. , Biewener Andrew A. , Fuller Andrea , van de Ven Tanja M. F. N. , McGowan Craig P. , Panaino Wendy , Snelling Edward P.
Published: June 2020

This study assesses the functional morphology of the ankle extensor muscle‐tendon units of the springharePedetes capensis, an African bipedal hopping rodent, to test for convergent evolution with the Australian bipedal hopping macropods. We dissect and measure the gastrocnemius, soleus, plantaris, and flexor digitorum longus in 10 adult springhares and compare them against similar‐sized macropods using phylogenetically informed scaling analyses. We show that springhares align reasonably well with macropod predictions, being statistically indistinguishable with respect to the ankle extensor mean weighted muscle moment arm (1.63 vs. 1.65 cm, respectively), total muscle mass (41.1 vs. 29.2 g), total muscle physiological cross‐sectional area (22.9 vs. 19.3 cm2), mean peak tendon stress (26.2 vs. 35.2 MPa), mean tendon safety factor (4.7 vs. 3.6), and total tendon strain energy return capacity (1.81 vs. 1.82 J). However, total tendon cross‐sectional area is significantly larger in springhares than predicted for a similar‐sized macropod (0.26 vs. 0.17 cm2, respectively), primarily due to a greater plantaris tendon thickness (0.084 vs. 0.048 cm2), and secondarily because the soleus muscle‐tendon unit is present in springhares but is vestigial in macropods. The overall similarities between springhares and macropods indicate that evolution has favored comparable lower hindlimb body plans for bipedal hopping locomotion in the two groups of mammals that last shared a common ancestor ~160 million years ago. The springhare’s relatively thick plantaris tendon may facilitate rapid transfer of force from muscle to skeleton, enabling fast and accelerative hopping, which could help to outpace and outmaneuver predators.
The vomeronasal organ of wild canids: the fox (Vulpes vulpes) as a model
Authors: Ortiz‐Leal Irene , Torres Mateo V. , Villamayor Paula R. , López‐Beceiro Ana , Sanchez‐Quinteiro Pablo
Published: June 2020

The vomeronasal system (VNS) has been extensively studied within specific animal families, such as Rodentia. However, the study of the VNS in other families, such as Canidae, has long been neglected. Among canids, the vomeronasal organ (VNO) has only been studied in detail in the dog, and no studies have examined the morphofunctional or immunohistochemical characteristics of the VNS in wild canids, which is surprising, given the well‐known importance of chemical senses for the dog and fox and the likelihood that the VNS plays roles in the socio‐reproductive physiology and behaviours of these species. In addition, characterising the fox VNS could contribute to a better understanding of the domestication process that occurred in the dog, as the fox would represent the first wild canid to be studied in depth. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the morphological and immunohistochemical characteristics of the fox VNO. Tissue dissection and microdissection techniques were employed, followed by general and specific histological staining techniques, including with immunohistochemical and lectin‐histochemical labelling strategies, using antibodies against olfactory marker protein (OMP), growth‐associated protein 43 (GAP‐43), calbindin (CB), calretinin (CR), α‐tubulin, Gαo, and Gαi2 proteins, to highlight the specific features of the VNO in the fox. This study found significant differences in the VNS between the fox and the dog, particularly concerning the expression of Gαi2 and Gαo proteins, which were associated with the expression of the type 1 vomeronasal receptors (V1R) and type 2 vomeronasal receptors (V2R), respectively, in the vomeronasal epithelium. Both are immunopositive in foxes, as opposed to the dog, which only expresses Gαi2. This finding suggests that the fox possesses a well‐developed VNO and supports the hypothesis that a profound transformation in the VNS is associated with domestication in the canid family. Furthermore, the unique features identified in the fox VNO confirm the necessity of studying the VNS system in different species to better comprehend specific phylogenetic aspects of the VNS.
New method for large‐scale facial skin sebum quantification and skin type classification
Authors: Qin Jingjing , Qiao Liyuan , Hu Jingjing , Xu Jichao , Du Le , Wang Qianqian , Ye Rui
Published: June 2020

Background

The demand for personalized skin care is increasing rapidly in recent years. In order to provide suitable products for different customers, an accurate assessment of the skin condition is required. It is necessary to establish a remote and convenient method for quantifying skin condition.

Materials and Methods

We established a new method for quantifying the facial sebum excretion, using Sebutape as well as a model for objective skin type classification.

Results

In total, 2173 sebum quantification samples were collected and categorized into 4 skin types. We found good agreement between subjective and objective skin types. 60.33% of the detection is consistent, and the proportion of discrepancies is only 0.55%. The main mismatch is caused by broad criteria for combination type classification. Quantifying the sebum excretion will help to describe and analyze the skin state easily. We found sebum levels in Chinese women peak at the age between 20 and 30 and decrease dramatically after age 40s.

Conclusion

This new sebum quantitative method is well consistent to self‐report skin type. In addition, it provides a powerful tool for the cosmetic industry to evaluate skin condition precisely and recommend personalized products accordingly.
Statin exposure and the risk of dementia in individuals with hypercholesterolaemia
Authors: Lee J.‐W. , Choi E.‐A. , Kim Y.‐S. , Kim Y. , You H.‐S. , Han Y.‐E. , Kim H.‐S. , Bae Y.‐J. , Kim J. , Kang H.‐T.
Published: June 2020

Objectives

This study aimed to examine the association between statin exposure and dementia risk in individuals with hypercholesterolaemia using data from the NHIS‐HEALS database between 2002 and 2015.

Methods

Subjects were classified into statin exposure and statin nonexposure groups according to medication possession ratio. Dementia was defined as those with primary diagnostic dementia codes such as F00‐F03, G30, G31.1, G31.9 or G31.82. Cox proportional hazards regression models were adopted after stepwise adjustment for confounders to investigate the prospective association between statin exposure and dementia risk.

Results

During the follow‐up period (median follow‐up 11.7 years), 711 cases of dementia occurred, accounting for 11.5% of the total study population (statin exposure group, 8.2%; statin nonexposure group, 12.9%). Compared to the statin nonexposure group, fully adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) (95% confidence intervals [CIs]) for overall dementia in the statin exposure group were 0.63 (0.43–0.91) and 0.62 (0.50–0.78) in men and women, respectively. Compared to the statin nonexposure group, the HRs (95% CIs) for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia, vascular dementia and other types of dementia in the statin exposure group were 0.54 (0.32–0.91), 2.45 (0.69–8.68) and 0.59 (0.32–1.07), respectively, in men and 0.53 (0.38–0.73), 1.29 (0.42–3.96) and 0.70 (0.51–0.96), respectively, in women.

Conclusions

Hypercholesterolaemic individuals exposed to statin had a lower risk of overall dementia and Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia in both sexes, and a lower risk of other types of dementia in women, than subjects who were not exposed to statins.
Effects of intermittent treatment with parathyroid hormone (PTH) on osteoblastic differentiation and mineralization of mouse induced pluripotent stem cells in a 3D culture model
Authors: Sato Masahiro , Aoki Hideto , Nakamura Takashi , Onodera Shoko , Yamaguchi Akira , Saito Atsushi , Azuma Toshifumi
Published: June 2020

Background/Objectives

PTH plays an important role in bone remodeling, and different actions have been reported depending on its administration method. iPSCs are promising as a cell source for regeneration of periodontal tissue due to their ability of proliferation and pluripotency. However, the effects of PTH on iPSCs remain mostly unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate in vitro effects of parathyroid hormone (PTH) on osteoblastic differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) in a 3D culture model.

Materials and Methods

Following embryoid body (EB) induction from mouse iPSCs (miPSCs), dissociated cells (miPS‐EB‐derived cells) were seeded onto atelocollagen sponge (ACS) in osteoblast differentiation medium (OBM). Cell‐ACS constructs were divided into three groups: continuous treatment with human recombinant PTH (1‐34) (PTH‐C), intermittent PTH treatment (PTH‐I) or OBM control. To confirm the expression of PTH receptor‐1(PTH1R), the expression of Pth1r and cAMP production over time were assessed. Real‐time PCR was used to assess the expression of genes encoding osterix (Sp7), runt‐related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), collagen type 1 (Col1a1), and osteocalcin (Bglap) at different time points. Mineralization was assessed by von Kossa staining. Histochemical staining was used to analyze alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and immunolocalization of SP7 and BGLAP was analyzed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM).

Results

On days 7 and 14, expression of the Pth1r in miPS‐EB‐derived cells was increased in all groups. Production of cAMP, the second messenger of the PTH1R, tended to increase in the PTH‐I group compared with PTH‐C group on day 14. Expression of Col1a1 in the PTH‐I group on day 14 was significantly higher than other groups. There was a time‐dependent increase in the expression of Sp7 in all groups. On day 14, the expression level of Sp7 in the PTH‐I group was significantly higher than other groups. In von Kossa staining, the PTH‐I group showed higher level of staining compared with other groups on day 14, whereas the level was slightly attenuated in the PTH‐C group. In histochemical staining, ALP‐positive cells were significantly increased in the PTH‐I group compared with other groups on day 14. In CLSM analysis, the numbers of SP7‐ and BGLAP‐positive cells showed a gradual increase over time, and on day 14, a significantly greater SP7 expression was observed in the PTH‐I group than other groups.

Conclusion

These results suggested that the intermittent PTH treatment promotes osteoblastic differentiation and mineralization of miPSCs in the ACS scaffold.
Relationship between periodontal disease and lung cancer: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Wang Jiahe , Yang Xiaoyu , Zou Xiaolong , Zhang Yunhan , Wang Jiantao , Wang Yan
Published: June 2020

Periodontal disease (PD), as a chronic bacterial infection, might cause cardiovascular and some other systemic diseases, with recent studies reporting that it exhibits some connection with lung cancer. While studies have shown that poor oral health might increase the risk of lung cancer, the veracity of these reports is questionable. Therefore, this meta‐analysis was undertaken to investigate the association between PD and the risk of lung cancer. A search was run in PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, CENTRAL, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases up to January 1, 2020. Cohort and case‐control studies investigating the correlation between PD and lung cancer were included. Eligibility assessment and data extraction were conducted independently, and a meta‐analysis was performed to synthesize the data. The association between PD, edentulism, and lung cancer was measured by the adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) or odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) provided in articles. We employed appropriate effect model in terms of I2 (a fixed‐effect model for PD and a random‐effect model for edentulism) to obtain summary effect estimates. Statistical heterogeneity was investigated by chi‐square test and I2 statistics. Newcastle‐Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used to assess the quality of their method. Six cohort studies (eight references) and two case‐control studies, assessed as high‐quality, involving 167 256 participants, were included in the review. The summary estimates based on adjusted data showed an association between PD and a significant risk of lung cancer both in cohort studies (HR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.25‐1.58; I2 = 8.7%) and case‐control studies (OR = 1.51, 95% CI = 1.16‐1.98; I2 = 36.5%). Similar features were found in the sensitivity analysis and subgroups for six cohort studies, of male only (HR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.15‐2.60), setting the lung cancer incidence as endpoint (HR = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.24‐1.57; I2 = 23.9%), and adjusting alcohol for multifactorial HR (HR = 1.38, 95% CI = 1.21‐1.57; I2 = 39.9%). The summary HR for edentulism was 1.93 (95% CI = 1.05‐3.57; I2 = 55.3%). No obvious publication bias was detected. This systematic review and meta‐analysis demonstrated a significant association between PD and the incidence of lung cancer. Further observational studies are required by using standardized measurements to assess the periodontal status and by eliminating confounding factors, such as alcohol and diabetes, to verify such a relationship.
The relationship between epixylic bryophyte communities and microclimate
Authors: Táborská Markéta , Kovács Bence , Németh Csaba , Ódor Péter
Published: June 2020

Aim

Dead wood‐inhabiting bryophyte communities are formed by several important factors. Besides the amount, quality and continuity of the substrate, there are also external factors indirectly influencing their structure. One of the most important is local microclimate. This fact has been recognized by many previous authors, yet studies exploring the direct effect of the microclimate on epixylic bryophytes are still sparse. Based on directly measured values of local temperature, air humidity and canopy openness (CO), we explored the associations between microclimate and epixylic bryophyte communities.

Location

Old‐growth mixed Fagus sylvatica‐Abies alba montane forest in the Czech Republic (West Carpathians).

Methods

The associations between microclimate and bryophyte communities were studied on 61 large logs of Abies alba in advanced decay stage. Air temperature and humidity were measured in three periods of the year 2017, CO was measured in leafless and leaf‐on periods. Water potential (Ψ) values were calculated from the data. The importance of the seasons was compared, the effect of microclimate variables on the species composition of logs was explored by canonical correspondence analysis. The effect on total cover and species richness was analyzed by linear models.

Results

Our analysis revealed a clear relationship between the communities and the microclimatic gradient. The most important factors for bryophyte composition were the spring and summer water potential and CO in the leaf‐on period. Total species richness and cover increased with increasing water potential (relatively cool and humid conditions). Also, the appearance of sensitive epixylic specialists (mainly liverworts) was positively correlated with these microclimatic conditions. On the other hand, species more tolerant to desiccation preferred logs with a drier and warmer microclimate.

Conclusions

Comparing logs with similar physical properties but different microclimates, we confirmed that epixylic bryophyte communities are significantly associated to microclimatic conditions in natural temperate forest.
An advanced local calibration method for mechanistic‐empirical pavement design
Authors: Dong Shi , Yuan Xian‐Xun , Hao Peiwen
Published: June 2020

Model calibration and validation is an important step of empirical modeling. The current local calibration (LC) method suggested by the AASHTOWare mechanistic‐empirical pavement design guide (MEPDG) is defective and can result in a completely distorted prediction of pavement reliability in design. This paper proposes an advanced LC method that integrates a jackknife sampling procedure and an iteratively weighted least squares technique into one coherent LC process. The jackknife sampling method, which has been recommended by AASHTO for model validation, is now used for identifying outliers of the data in order to ensure a homogeneous population. Meanwhile, an iteratively weighted least squares method is proposed to simultaneously estimate the LC coefficients and the standard deviation functions. Two LC case studies for Ontario roads are presented: one for the bottom‐up fatigue cracking models of asphalt concrete pavements and the other for the joint faulting models of Portland cement concrete pavements. The comparison with the traditional split‐data method has shown the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed method. With little modification, the method can be introduced as a general calibration‐validation process for all empirical and mechanistic‐empirical models in engineering disciplines.
Studies on Homalomeneae (Araceae) of Borneo XXIII: a new rheophytic species of Homalomena (Punctulata Clade) from the Tau Range, Sarawak
Authors: Wong Sin Yeng , Boyce Peter C.
Published: June 2020

Homalomena cataractae is described and illustrated as a new species of Steenisian rheophyte belonging to the Homalomena punctulata‐clade from the Tau range, Central Sarawak. A key to the species of the Homalomena punctulata‐clade is provided.
Abscisic acid promotes jasmonic acid biosynthesis via a ‘SAPK10‐bZIP72‐AOC’ pathway to synergistically inhibit seed germination in rice (Oryza sativa)
Authors: Wang Yifeng , Hou Yuxuan , Qiu Jiehua , Wang Huimei , Wang Shuang , Tang Liqun , Tong Xiaohong , Zhang Jian
Published: June 2020

Abscisic acid (ABA) and jasmonic acid (JA) both inhibit seed germination, but their interactions during this process remain elusive. Here, we report the identification of a ‘SAPK10‐bZIP72‐AOC’ pathway, through which ABA promotes JA biosynthesis to synergistically inhibit rice seed germination.

Using biochemical interaction and phosphorylation assays, we show that SAPK10 exhibits autophosphorylation activity on the 177th serine, which enables it to phosphorylate bZIP72 majorly on 71st serine. The SAPK10‐dependent phosphorylation enhances bZIP72 protein stability as well as the DNA‐binding ability to the G‐box cis‐element of AOC promoter, thereby elevating the AOC transcription and the endogenous concentration of JA.

Blocking of JA biosynthesis significantly alleviated the ABA sensitivity on seed germination, suggesting that ABA‐imposed inhibition partially relied on the elevated concentration of JA.

Our findings shed a novel insight into the molecular networks of ABA–JA synergistic interaction during rice seed germination.
Wide cross‐species RNA‐Seq comparison reveals convergent molecular mechanisms involved in nickel hyperaccumulation across dicotyledons
Authors: García de la Torre Vanesa S. , Majorel‐Loulergue Clarisse , Rigaill Guillem J. , Alfonso‐González Dubiel , Soubigou‐Taconnat Ludivine , Pillon Yohan , Barreau Louise , Thomine Sébastien , Fogliani Bruno , Burtet‐Sarramegna Valérie , Merlot Sylvain
Published: June 2020

The Anthropocene epoch is associated with the spreading of metals in the environment increasing oxidative and genotoxic stress on organisms. Interestingly, c. 520 plant species growing on metalliferous soils acquired the capacity to accumulate and tolerate a tremendous amount of nickel in their shoots. The wide phylogenetic distribution of these species suggests that nickel hyperaccumulation evolved multiple times independently. However, the exact nature of these mechanisms and whether they have been recruited convergently in distant species is not known.

To address these questions, we have developed a cross‐species RNA‐Seq approach combining differential gene expression analysis and cluster of orthologous group annotation to identify genes linked to nickel hyperaccumulation in distant plant families.

Our analysis reveals candidate orthologous genes encoding convergent function involved in nickel hyperaccumulation, including the biosynthesis of specialized metabolites and cell wall organization. Our data also point out that the high expression of IREG/Ferroportin transporters recurrently emerged as a mechanism involved in nickel hyperaccumulation in plants. We further provide genetic evidence in the hyperaccumulator Noccaea caerulescens for the role of the NcIREG2 transporter in nickel sequestration in vacuoles.

Our results provide molecular tools to better understand the mechanisms of nickel hyperaccumulation and study their evolution in plants.
Clinicopathological and prognostic significance of PD‐L1 in oral cancer: A preliminary retrospective immunohistochemistry study
Authors: Lenouvel Daniel , González‐Moles Miguel Ángel , Ruiz‐Ávila Isabel , Chamorro‐Santos Clara , González‐Ruiz Lucía , González‐Ruiz Isabel , Ramos‐García Pablo
Published: June 2020

Objective

To evaluate the relation between PD‐L1 expression in oral cavity squamous cell carcinomas and clinicopathological features as well as survival outcomes.

Methods

A retrospective immunohistochemical study was carried out on 55 archived tumours from 55 patients. Tumours were stained for PD‐L1 and scored by the proportion of tumour cells with positive membranous staining. PD‐L1 scores were compared to the patient's clinicopathological characteristics for any significant associations. Kaplan–Meier curves were constructed for PD‐L1 positive and negative tumours to investigate any advantage to survival.

Results

Positive PD‐L1 staining was found in 58% of tumours and was significantly more likely in non‐smokers, non‐drinkers and in tongue squamous cell carcinomas. Increased PD‐L1 was also associated with increased lymphocyte infiltration as well as PD‐L1 staining in lymphocytes and the epithelium adjacent to tumour invasion. No survival benefit was seen from PD‐L1 expression in tumour cells.

Conclusions

PD‐L1 expression is more common in non‐smokers and non‐drinkers, and its presence in the adjacent non‐tumour epithelium suggests it may be involved in early oncogenesis.
General‐Purpose Local Government Defaults: Type, Trend, and Impact
Authors: Yang Lang (Kate) , Abbas Yulianti
Published: June 2020

Local governments default on bonds when they fail to comply with the monetary and nonmonetary aspects of the debt contracts. Analyses of defaults have relied on reports from credit rating agencies, which include only rated bonds undergoing monetary defaults. Using a unique and comprehensive dataset of defaults, we examine all general‐purpose government defaults from 2009 to 2015 and find defaults to be more common than previously reported. We present a typology of defaults and characteristics of defaulted bonds. Most defaults occur among nongeneral obligation bonds and did not affect the yield of future, unrelated credits of the same issuer, providing support to the credit segmentation hypothesis.
Identification and characterization of important sterile and maintainer lines from various genotypes for advanced breeding programmes of onion (Allium cepa)
Authors: Ahmad Rafiq , Hassan Mahmood‐ul‐ , Akhtar Ghanan B. , Saeed Sadia , Khan Sabaz A. , Shah Muhammad Kausar Nawaz , Khan Nadeem
Published: June 2020

Onion is one of the major vegetable crops in terms of production as well as consumption. In the current research, available onion genetic stock was evaluated to identify male‐sterile lines and produce high‐yielding F1 hybrids for future breeding programmes. A mitochondrial DNA‐based marker was mapped and correlated with phenotypic traits to isolate male‐sterile plants. Based on the floral and pollen structure, nine putative male‐sterile lines were identified. On the other hand, for nuclear marker identification at Ms locus, two sets of primers were used, one for Ms dominant allele and another for sterile and maintainer plants. Results revealed that 70% of open pollinated varieties (OPVs) possess plants with sterile cytoplasm coupled with genetic sterility at Ms locus, called sterile “A” line. Approximately 20% of plants in some genotypes were identified with normal (N) cytoplasm having recessive fertility gene at Ms locus, called maintainer “B” line. Based on the present findings, “A”, “B” and “R” (restorer line), future F1 hybrid seed production systems in onion is discussed.
Supply Constrained Location‐Distribution in Not‐for‐Profit Settings
Authors: Park Chong Hyun , Berenguer Gemma
Published: June 2020

Inspired by the World Food Programme's activity in the post‐civil war food crisis in Angola, this study proposes a systematic approach to address the location distribution problem in not‐for‐profit settings, where a limited volume of supply has to be allocated to different demand regions. The use of utility functions is key in our framework because it allows the decision‐maker to establish priorities by representing the heterogeneous effects of distributing supply to different demand locations (location effect) and to different individuals in the same demand location (diminishing returns effect). We propose the use of two fractional objectives with the utility functions embedded into them: an efficiency measure and a new inequity measure related to the Gini coefficient. The suggested problem has the form of a bi‐objective integer linear fractional program and our resolution optimization technique is designed to solve for multiple fractional objective measures. Novel analytical results for the worst‐case performance of the proposed resolution technique are provided. Our numerical experiments assess computational efficiency and provide concrete managerial prescriptions. Finally, an illustrative application of our approach in the context of the food crisis in Angola is presented based on an efficiency‐inequity trade‐off analysis.
An assessment method for dermal structures using cross‐polarized light imaging with a green light‐emitting diode
Authors: Hong Ji Hyuck , Park Sung Jin , Ham Min Seok , Kim Dai Hyun , Rhyu Im Joo , Kye Young Chul , Ahn Hyo Hyun
Published: June 2020

Background

Several experimental methods for evaluating dermal structures exist; however, most of these are not used in dermatology clinics because of cost and functional limitations.

Objective

To propose a simple, non‐invasive method for dermal structure evaluation using a green light‐emitting diode (LED) with cross‐polarized light (CPL) imaging and compare the quality of the images taken using either green or white LED.

Materials and Methods

Skin specimens were taken from fifteen cadavers. Images were captured using CPL photography with a green or white LED. The Commission International d’Eclairage L*a*b* (CIELAB) values were calculated for each image. The skin specimens were processed and stained with Masson's trichrome to visualize collagen fibers with major image scattering. The images were histologically analyzed, and correlational and regression analyses were performed to determine the relationship between the L* values and histologic measurements.

Results

The L* values for the green images were positively correlated with collagen fiber density, reticular collagen bundle diameter, and dermal thickness. They were effective for estimating dermal properties. The L* values for the white images were positively correlated with reticular collagen bundle diameter and dermal thickness. Correlational coefficients for white images were lower than those for green images. In regression analysis, green images showed a higher coefficient of determination (R2) for predicting reticular collagen bundle diameter than white images (0.1128 vs. 0.0827).

Conclusion

Cross‐polarized light imaging with a green LED is a simple, non‐invasive method for evaluating dermal structures. The use of a green LED was also more effective for image analysis.
Dear Reviewer 2: Go F’ Yourself
Authors: Peterson David A. M.
Published: June 2020

Objectives

The objective of this study was to empirically test the wide belief that Reviewer #2 is a uniquely poor reviewer.

Methods

The test involved analyzing the reviewer database from Political Behavior. There are two main tests. First, the reviewer's categorical evaluation of the manuscript was compared by reviewer number. Second, the data were analyzed to test if Reviewer #2 was disproportionately likely to be more than one category below the mean of the other reviewers of the manuscript.

Results

There is no evidence that Reviewer #2 is either more negative about the manuscript or out of line with the other reviewers. There is, however, evidence that Reviewer #3 is more likely to be more than one category below the other reviewers.

Conclusions

Reviewer #2 is not the problem. Reviewer #3 is. In fact, he is such a bad actor that he even gets the unwitting Reviewer #2 blamed for his bad behavior.
Epidemiological characteristics and clinical analyses of chronic cutaneous wounds of inpatients in China: Prevention and control
Authors: Cheng Biao , Jiang Yufeng , Fu Xiaobing , Hao Daifeng , Liu Hongwei , Liu Yi , Huang Zhifeng , Tan Qian , Wang Lingfeng , Hu Dahai , Yang Yanqing , Han Chunmao , Cheng Zhifeng , Ran Xingwu , Li Ying
Published: June 2020

The increased incidence of chronic cutaneous wounds is likely to lead to increased mortality, and therefore, deserves greater attention. More insight is needed into the magnitude of the problem of chronic cutaneous wounds and methods for their prevention and treatment in China. A retrospective analysis of data retrieved from an electronic health‐records database on 3300 patients with chronic skin wounds was conducted from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2018. The patients had been admitted to the medical and surgical wards of 17 third‐grade class‐A hospitals in China. The study's aim was to compare the characteristics (eg, demographic and clinical) associated with different causes and distributions of patients' chronic wounds. Among the 3300 patients, 66.03% were males and 33.97% were females. The mean age was 57 years and the increasing prevalence of chronic skin wounds with aging was quite high. The primary causes of chronic wounds were diabetes or infection, followed by pressure ulcers, trauma, and iatrogenic wounds. The distribution of skin wounds was mainly in the lower extremities (56.1%), followed by the trunk (18.6%). The mean duration of hospital stay was 29 days and the mean recurrence was 3 months. Chronic skin wounds were related to occupation, educational level, lifestyle habits, and income. The main cause of chronic skin wounds has shifted from trauma to chronic disease. Normalization checks, bacterial cultures, and antibiotic use in China need to be standardized and the training of wound specialists should be further strengthened. The association of aging and wound infection was significant. Preventive management and efficient treatment should correspond to the needs of the different regions of China. These results may serve as a reference for other developing countries in their transitional development.
Pigment epithelium‐derived factor attenuates angiogenesis and collagen deposition in hypertrophic scars
Authors: Ma Da , Chen Lin , Shi Junhe , Zhao Yan , Vasani Shruti , Chen Kevin , Romana‐Souza Bruna , Henkin Jack , DiPietro Luisa A.
Published: June 2020

Scar forming wounds are often characterized by higher levels of vascularity than non‐scarring wounds and normal skin, and inhibition of angiogenesis has been shown to inhibit scar formation in some model systems. The rabbit ear hypertrophic scar (HS) model has been widely used to study the mechanisms that underlie the development of HS as well as the effectiveness of various treatments. Although the rabbit ear HS model is well characterized in terms of scar formation, the rate and level of angiogenesis has not been investigated in this model, and the cause‐effect relationship between angiogenesis and rabbit HSs has not been examined. In the current study, full‐thickness excisional wounds were created on the ventral side of New Zealand White rabbit ears to induce HS formation, and the dynamic pattern of angiogenesis and the expression of angiogenic regulatory factors were examined over time. Blood vessel density was found to peak at 2.7% on day 14 post‐wounding, decreasing to 1.7% by day 28. mRNA levels of the proangiogenic factor VEGF‐A peaked at day 14, while the expression of the antiangiogenic factors pigment epithelium‐derived factor (PEDF) and thrombospondin 1 (TSP1) peaked at day 28 post‐wounding. To examine whether inhibition of angiogenesis influences HS formation in this model, wounds were treated with exogenous soluble antiangiogenic agents including recombinant PEDF (rPEDF) and a functional PEDF peptide (PEDF‐335). rPEDF and PEDF‐335 were administered intradermally from day 4 post‐wounding every 3 days until day 19. Intradermal injection of rPEDF or PEDF‐335 both led to decreased angiogenesis and decreased collagen deposition at the wound site. The results support the utility of antiangiogenic therapies, including rPEDF/PEDF‐335, as a potential new strategy for the prevention or treatment of HSs.