bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of practical and clinical experience on dexterity performance measured using haptic virtual reality simulator
Authors: Ziane‐Casenave Sophia , Mauroux Marthe , Devillard Raphaël , Kérourédan Olivia
Published: January 2022

Introduction

Development of dexterity, hand‐eye coordination and self‐assessment are essential during the preclinical training of dental students. To meet this requirement, dental simulators have been developed combining virtual reality with a force feedback haptic interface. The aim of this study was to assess the capability of the VirTeaSy© haptic simulator to discriminate between users with different levels of practical and clinical experience.

Materials and Methods

Fifty‐six volunteers divided into five groups (non‐dentists, 1st/3rd/final‐year dental students, recent graduates) had three attempts to prepare an occlusal amalgam cavity using the simulator. Percentages of volumes prepared inside (%IV) and outside (%OV) the required cavity, skill index and progression rate, referring to the evolution of skill index between trials 1 and 3, were assessed. The dental students and recent graduates completed a questionnaire to gather their opinions about their first hands‐on experience with a haptic simulator.

Results

The results showed no significant difference between the groups at the first attempt. Following the third attempt, the skill index was improved significantly. Analysis of progression rates, characterised by large standard deviations, did not reveal significant differences between groups. The third attempt showed significant differences in skill index and %IV between 1st‐year undergraduate dental students and both non‐dentists and recent dental graduates. The questionnaire indicated a tendency for dental operators to consider the simulator as a complement to their learning and not a substitute for traditional methods.

Conclusion

This study did not show the ability of a basic aptitude test on VirTeaSy© haptic simulator to discriminate between users of different levels of expertise. Optimisations must be considered in order to make simulation‐based assessment clinically relevant.
On subjects, objects, and ground: Life as the form of judgment
Authors: Ng Karen
Published: January 2022

In this paper, I reply to the critics of my book, Hegel's Concept of Life, by taking up the question of how a science of pure thought thinking itself arrives at the conclusion that it must determine itself as life. In particular, I consider how the logical concept of life informs Hegel's understanding of subjects, objects, and ground, and I also take up the relationship between logic and Realphilosophie in Hegel's system. Throughout, I aim to clarify and elaborate on one of the central arguments from my book, namely, that for Hegel, life is the primitive or original form of judgment.
Generative adversarial learning for optimizing ontology alignment
Authors: Xue Xingsi , Huang Qihan
Published: January 2022

The edge computing in knowledge‐defined network (KDN) is a kind of distributed computing architecture, and the format of edge resources stored in different edge computing nodes are different, which yields the data heterogeneity problem and hampers the interaction between edge nodes. Ontology is considered as the solution of data heterogeneity on Semantic Web, and matching ontologies is a high‐efficiency method of addressing the data heterogeneity problem. Ontology meta‐matching investigates how to determine the optimal weights to aggregate multiple similarity measures to achieve high‐quality ontology alignment, which is a challenge about nonlinear mathematical problem in ontology matching domain. To face this challenge, unsupervised learning method such as generative adversarial network (GAN) becomes an effective methodology. GAN consists of two models of different targets that are opposed to each other in training to produce the final best result. To improve the GAN's efficiency, this work further proposes a GAN with simulated annealing algorithm (SA‐GAN), where the stagnation counter is introduced to accelerate GAN's the convergence speed. The experiment uses the famous benchmark in the ontology domain, and the comparisons with the advanced ontology matching systems shows that SA‐GAN is able to find high‐quality alignments to help build bridges between edge nodes on edge computing.
Gemfibrozil, a lipid‐lowering drug, reduces anxiety, enhances memory, and improves brain oxidative stress in d‐galactose‐induced aging mice
Authors: Hakimizadeh Elham , Zamanian Mohammad Yassin , Borisov Vitaliy Viktorovich , Giménez‐Llort Lydia , Ehsani Vahid , Kaeidi Ayat , Hassanshahi Jalal , Khajehasani Fatemeh , Movahedinia Sajjadeh , Fatemi Iman
Published: January 2022

Gemfibrozil (GFZ) is a lipid‐lowering drug with several other effects, such as antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory activities. In the current study, chronic d‐galactose treatment (d‐gal, 150 mg/kg/day; i.p., 6 weeks) induced a model of accelerated aging in male mice and was used to study the behavioral, anti‐oxidative, and neuroprotective effects of GFZ (100 mg/kg/day; p.o.). Anxiety‐like behaviors were assessed using the elevated plus‐maze while working memory was measured by spontaneous alternation in a Y‐maze. Brain oxidative stress was determined by measuring malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities. Neuropathological evaluation of the brain with hematoxylin–eosin and Masson's trichrome staining was also performed. The results demonstrated that the anxious‐like phenotype and the cognitive impairments observed in d‐gal‐treated mice could be prevented in those animals coadministered with GFZ. Besides, the decrease in SOD and GPx antioxidant enzymatic activities and increase of MDA levels were also prevented in the brains of d‐gal plus GFZ treated mice. Preliminary hematoxylin–eosin staining also suggested neuroprotective effects of GFZ. The results of Masson's trichrome staining showed no evidence of fibrosis in brain sections of different experimental groups. The current data provide novel insights into GFZ in the d‐galactose‐induced aging mouse model that open promising future research lines to determine inflammatory mediators and cell signaling underlying these effects.
Hyphae move matter and microbes to mineral microsites: Integrating the hyphosphere into conceptual models of soil organic matter stabilization
Authors: See Craig R. , Keller Adrienne B. , Hobbie Sarah E. , Kennedy Peter G. , Weber Peter K. , Pett‐Ridge Jennifer
Published: January 2022

Associations between soil minerals and microbially derived organic matter (often referred to as mineral‐associated organic matter or MAOM) form a large pool of slowly cycling carbon (C). The rhizosphere, soil immediately adjacent to roots, is thought to control the spatial extent of MAOM formation because it is the dominant entry point of new C inputs to soil. However, emphasis on the rhizosphere implicitly assumes that microbial redistribution of C into bulk (non‐rhizosphere) soils is minimal. We question this assumption, arguing that because of extensive fungal exploration and rapid hyphal turnover, fungal redistribution of soil C from the rhizosphere to bulk soil minerals is common, and encourages MAOM formation. First, we summarize published estimates of fungal hyphal length density and turnover rates and demonstrate that fungal C inputs are high throughout the rhizosphere–bulk soil continuum. Second, because colonization of hyphal surfaces is a common dispersal mechanism for soil bacteria, we argue that hyphal exploration allows for the non‐random colonization of mineral surfaces by hyphae‐associated taxa. Third, these bacterial communities and their fungal hosts determine the chemical form of organic matter deposited on colonized mineral surfaces. Collectively, our analysis demonstrates that omission of the hyphosphere from conceptual models of soil C flow overlooks key mechanisms for MAOM formation in bulk soils. Moving forward, there is a clear need for spatially explicit, quantitative research characterizing the environmental drivers of hyphal exploration and hyphosphere community composition across systems, as these are important controls over the rate and organic chemistry of C deposited on minerals.
Response to and outcomes of the Pfizer BNT162B2 vaccine in hemodialysis patients—A prospective observational study
Authors: Al‐Muhaiteeb Abdullah , AlSahow Ali , Al‐Yousef Anas , AlHelal Bassam , Alrajab Heba , Bahbahani Yousif , dewidar Noha , Fanous George N. M.
Published: January 2022

Introduction

COVID‐19 infection is associated with high mortality among hemodialysis patients. Standard vaccine response is generally lower among these patients. The adequate antibody titer response and the outcome of COVID‐19 vaccine responders versus non‐responders are unknown.

Methods

Hemodialysis patients on maintenance hemodialysis who have received two doses of Pfizer BNT162B2 vaccine were studied. Antibody response was tested after 14 days of the second dose. LIAISON SARS‐CoV2 S1/S2 IgG test by DiaSorin (Italy) was used to assess antibody response. Patients were followed between 3 and 7 months after vaccination for COVID‐19 infection, hospitalization and death related to COVID‐19.

Findings

A total of 138 patients received two doses of Pfizer BNT162B2 vaccine. One hundred and twenty‐seven patients had adequate response to the vaccine with IgG level ≥ 15 AU/ml versus 11 patients had poor response with IgG level ≤ 15 AU/ml. The response was 92% (127/138). Patient with history of prior COVID‐19 infection had higher antibody titer mean of 339 ± 113 versus 157 ± 140 for patient with no prior history of COVID‐19.

Seven patients in both groups had COVID‐19 infection post vaccine. Among the responders, five patients had COIVD‐19 infection and two were hospitalized. These two patients had lower antibody titer of 23.9 and 75.2 AU/ml. In comparison, three patients who were not hospitalized had higher antibody titer 96.3, 118, and 319 AU/ml, respectively. In the non‐responders one patient was hospitalized and one death occurred with rate of infection of 18%.

Discussion

Seropositive patients with low antibody titer might be associated with worse outcome among responders. The ideal antibody titer level among dialysis patient is not known. Also, prior COVID‐19 infection is associated with higher response to vaccine with higher antibody titer. All non‐responders did not have prior COVID‐19 infection. More research is required to further evaluated protective antibody titer.
Role of magnetic resonance imaging in the management of male pelvic fracture urethral injury
Authors: Horiguchi Akio , Edo Hiromi , Shinchi Masayuki , Ojima Kenichiro , Hirano Yusuke , Ito Keiichi , Shinmoto Hiroshi
Published: January 2022

The management of male pelvic fracture urethral injury remains a urological challenge. Pelvic fracture urethral injury can be associated with sequelae, such as urethral gap, erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence. Delayed anastomotic urethroplasty, the gold standard treatment for urethral gaps caused by pelvic fracture urethral injuries, is technically demanding, and reconstructive urologists should preoperatively obtain as much detailed anatomical information as possible. A combination of antegrade and retrograde urethrography is the fundamental preoperative evaluation, but it cannot accurately assess the urethral gap length, the degree of lateral prostatic displacement, the anatomical relationship of the urethra with its surrounding structures (such as the rectum and dorsal venous complex) or periurethral problems (such as minor fistulae or cavitation). To make up for these limitations of urethrography, magnetic resonance imaging has emerged as a non‐invasive, multiplanar and high‐resolution modality for the evaluation of pelvic fracture urethral injury. Magnetic resonance imaging has excellent soft‐tissue contrast, and can clearly show the urethra and periurethral tissues without the effects of radiation, thus enabling clinicians to anticipate the required ancillary techniques for delayed anastomotic urethroplasty and to predict functional outcomes, such as erectile function and urinary continence, after delayed anastomotic urethroplasty. This review discusses the role of magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of pelvic fracture urethral injury and its impact on patient management.
Enterococcal biofilm—A nidus for antibiotic resistance transfer?
Authors: Conwell Michael , Dooley James S. G. , Naughton Patrick J.
Published: January 2022

Enterococci, which are on the WHO list of priority pathogens, are commonly encountered in hospital acquired infection and are becoming increasing significant due to the development of strains resistant to multiple antibiotics. Enterococci are also important microorganisms in the environment, and their presence is frequently used as an indicator of faecal pollution. Their success is related to their ability to survive within a broad range of habitats and the ease by which they acquire mobile genetic elements, including plasmids, from other bacteria. The enterococci are frequently present within a bacterial biofilm, which provides stability and protection to the bacterial population along with an opportunity for a variety of bacterial interactions. Enterococci can accept extrachromosomal DNA both from within its own species and from other bacterial species, and this is enhanced by the proximity of the donor and recipient strains. It is this exchange of genetic material that makes the role of biofilms such an important aspect of the success of enterococci. There remain many questions regarding the most suitable model systems to study enterococci in biofilms and regarding the transfer of genetic material including antibiotic resistance in these biofilms. This review focuses on some important aspects of biofilm in the context of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) in enterococci.
Physical resilience as a moderator of the relationship between frailty and disability in older adults with osteoarthritis
Authors: Park Jungah , Lee JuHee , Lee Hyangkyu , Kim Sanghee , Kim Chang Oh , Park Chang Gi
Published: January 2022

Aims

Frailty is a leading cause of deteriorating physical function of older adults with osteoarthritis. This study examined a model of frailty with the goals of (1) exploring the direct effect of osteoarthritic symptoms on disability and the mediating effect of frailty on disability and (2) determining whether both effects are moderated by physical resilience.

Design

A cross‐sectional descriptive study.

Methods

Data collection was conducted among patients 65–92 years of age (N = 235) who visited primary medical centres for the management of chronic arthritic pain between July and December 2019. Participants completed a questionnaire measuring osteoarthritic symptoms, frailty, physical resilience, and disability. SPSS 25.0 was used to analyse the conditional process model. This study was reported following the STROBE guidelines.

Results

Frailty was shown to be a mediator between osteoarthritic symptoms and disability. Furthermore, physical resilience played a role as a moderator in both the direct and indirect pathways of this mediating relationship.

Conclusion

The findings emphasize the detrimental effects of osteoarthritic symptoms on disability through frailty, and the moderated mediation results suggest that these effects were conditional on physical resilience, which is a modifiable internal resource of individuals. When planning nursing interventions for older adults with osteoarthritis, nurses need to consider physical resilience as a moderator to prevent frailty and disability.
Missed nursing care: Testing the moderation‐mediation energetic and motivational pathways via a nested design
Authors: Srulovici Einav , Yanovich Ortal
Published: January 2022

Aims

To examine: (1) a motivational pathway where head nurse proactive leadership and nurse vigour are linked, which in turn correlates to missed nursing care, and might be moderated by workload; and (2) an energetic pathway where workload and nurse exhaustion are linked, which in turn correlates to missed nursing care, and might be moderated by head nurse proactive leadership.

Design

A cross‐sectional design, with nurses nested in wards.

Methods

During 2018, 196 nurses from 37 wards completed questionnaires that included the 22‐item MISSCARE survey; the 6‐item Work Demand subscale; the 10‐item Proactivity Personality scale; the 5‐item Exhaustion subscale of the Maslach Burnout Inventory; the 5‐item Vigour subscale of the Work Engagement scale; and nurse's and head nurse's sociodemographic characteristics. Moderation‐mediation models were performed using mixed‐linear model analyses.

Results

A moderation‐mediation motivational pathway was supported. Specifically, nurse vigour was higher under low workload when head nurse proactive leadership was high (β = −.09, p = .050), which in turn was associated with lower missed nursing care (β = −.10, p = .045). Yet, a moderation‐mediation energetic pathway was not supported. Specifically, nurse exhaustion was lower under low workload when head nurse proactive leadership was high (β = .14, p = .032), but no association was found between exhaustion and missed nursing care.

Conclusions

This study shows that there is a significant role for nurse agency and nurse ability to cope with scarce resources.

Impact

To date, research has focused mainly on the assumption that missed nursing care is a result of scarce resources. Findings indicate that even under scarce resources, nurses can be motivated to reduce missed nursing care. Emphasis should be placed on promoting and maximizing nurse motivation. This can be achieved by developing and implementing interventions of proactive leadership of head nurses.
Neuronal regulation of glucagon secretion and gluconeogenesis
Authors: Thorens Bernard
Published: January 2022

Hypoglycemia almost never develops in healthy individuals, because multiple hypoglycemia sensing systems, located in the periphery and in the central nervous system, trigger a coordinated counterregulatory hormonal response to restore normoglycemia. This involves not only the secretion of glucagon, but also of epinephrine, norepinephrine, cortisol and growth hormone. Increased hepatic glucose production is also stimulated by direct autonomous nervous connections to the liver that stimulate glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis. This counterregulatory response, however, becomes deregulated in a significant fraction of diabetes patients that receive insulin therapy. This leads to the risk of developing hypoglycemic episodes, of increasing severity, which negatively impact the quality of life of the patients. How hypoglycemia is detected by the central nervous system is being actively investigated. Recent studies using novel molecular biological, optogenetic and chemogenetic techniques allow the characterization of glucose‐sensing neurons, the mechanisms of hypoglycemia detection, the neuronal circuits in which they are integrated and the physiological responses they control. This review discusses recent studies aimed at identifying central hypoglycemia sensing neuronal circuits, how neurons are activated by hypoglycemia and how they restore normoglycemia.
Digital approaches to facially guided orthodontic and periodontal rehabilitation in the anterior esthetic zone: A case report
Authors: Creagh Jesus , Bohner Lauren , Sesma Newton , Coachman Christian
Published: January 2022

Objective

The present case report describes digital approaches to plan an orthodontic and periodontal rehabilitation at the anterior esthetic zone.

Clinical Considerations

A young patient attended to the dental practice with esthetic concerns. The facially driven digital planning showed the need of an interdisciplinary treatment to improve smile harmony. Orthodontic treatment was conducted with aligners, followed by periodontal and restorative approaches. Tooth alignment was performed with 31 aligners, whereas eight aligners were used for refinement. Harmony between pink and white esthetics was improved with crown lengthening, followed by bleaching.

Conclusion

By using a conservative approach, a successful esthetic result was achieved respecting functional and biological principles.

Clinical Significance

Digital resources can be used to the interdisciplinary esthetic planning taking into consideration the harmony between smile and face. This approach allows a predictable outcome of the treatment.
Effects of multicomponent exercise on the muscle strength, muscle endurance and balance of frail older adults: A meta‐analysis of randomised controlled trials
Authors: Li Yao , Gao Yan , Hu Shuang , Chen Hongyu , Zhang Minyi , Yang Yi , Liu Yan
Published: January 2022

Objectives

This study aims to evaluate the effects of multicomponent exercise on the muscle strength, muscle endurance and balance of frail older adults living in the community and provide the latest evidence from published randomised controlled trials (RCTs).

Background

The number of frail older adults is rapidly increasing. Previous studies have reported that multicomponent exercise is one of the best types of intervention for increasing muscle strength, muscle endurance and balance for frail older adults. However, due to the small sample size and lack of evidential support, a meta‐analysis of RCTs remains necessary.

Methods

RCTs reporting the effects of multicomponent exercise on the muscle strength, muscle endurance and balance of frail older adults, published in English, were retrieved from five electronic databases: PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, Embase and Cochrane Library available from their inception up to January 2021. RevMan5.3 software was adopted for statistical analysis. This study followed the PRSIMA checklist.

Results

A total of 10 articles and 667 patients were included in this study. Meta‐analysis showed that multicomponent exercise could improve the muscle strength [MD = 2.46, p = .007], muscle endurance [MD = 2.16, p = .03] and balance [MD = .39, p = .03] of frail older adults, and subgroup analysis showed the muscle endurance of frail older adults was significantly improved as the intervention lasted for >12 weeks.

Conclusions

RCTs provided in this study show the latest evidence that multicomponent exercise can improve the muscle strength, endurance and balance of frail older adults and that long‐duration (>12weeks) multicomponent exercise is more effective for improving muscle endurance.

Relevance to clinical practice

Multicomponent exercise contributes to improving the muscle strength, muscle endurance and balance of frail older adults, so it can be considered as a complement to the physical function management programme for frail older adults.
Falling in and out of love: With and beyond Bourdieu on individual enchantment and disenchantment
Authors: Atkinson Will
Published: January 2022

This paper engages with the theme of individual disenchantment, that is, the process of falling out of love with something that once gave pleasure and purpose. Drawing on the conceptual tools of Pierre Bourdieu, it sketches the process by which individuals become ‘enchanted’ with the stakes of different fields, the phenomenology of enchantment and disenchantment and several ideal typical modes of genesis of disenchantment. Attention is given to intra‐field dynamics but also, going beyond Bourdieu, inter‐field dynamics too. The final section considers the epistemological consequences of constructing trans‐field objects of inquiry.
Adherence to the dietary approaches to stop hypertension diet and non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Sun Yuanyuan , Chen Shuohua , Zhao Xinyu , Wang Yanhong , Lan Yanqi , Jiang Xiaozhong , Gao Xiang , Wu Shouling , Wang Li
Published: January 2022

Background and Aims

The evidence of the relationship between dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH) and non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is limited. Thus, we conducted a cohort‐based case‐control study to examine whether adherence to the DASH diet was associated with lower NAFLD risk in China.

Methods

We included 11 888 participants (2529 incident NAFLD and 9359 non‐NAFLD) from the Kailuan cohort with no history of hepatitis B/C infection and alcohol drinking. DASH score was calculated based on the energy‐adjusted consumption of vegetables, fruits, dairy, beans, grains, meats, fat, sodium and beverage, collected by a validated food frequency questionnaire. We used Logistic regression analysis to determine the NAFLD's risk according to the DASH score.

Results

Higher DASH score was associated with lower risk of NAFLD. Compared with the lowest quintile of DASH score, the highest DASH quintile had a lower risk of occurring NAFLD, with odds ratio (OR) of 0.82 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.70‐0.96) in the multivariate model. Stratified analysis showed that the inverse association was only observed in women (OR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.48‐0.94), and participants with overweight/obesity (OR = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.66‐0.94), fasting blood glucose <6.1 mmol/L (OR = 0.80, 95%: 0.67‐0.96), low density lipoprotein ≥3.4 mmol/L (OR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.53‐0.96), high density lipoprotein ≥1.0 mmol/L (OR = 0.81, 95% CI: 0.69‐0.96), ALT < 40 U/L (OR = 0.79, 95% CI:0.67‐0.93) and C‐reactive protein ≥2.0 mg/L (OR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.40‐0.78).

Conclusions

Adherence to the DASH diet was inversely associated with a lower risk of NAFLD in the Chinese population. DASH diet should be highly recommended, especially for women and people with overweight/obesity and a high CRP level.
Algorithmic management in food‐delivery platform economy in China
Authors: Huang Hui
Published: January 2022

This article investigates the organisation of work under algorithmic control in the platform economy. Based on a 1‐year ethnographic study conducted at top food‐delivery platforms in China, this study finds two main mechanisms for organising labour under algorithmic management: the virtual organisation of labour and algorithm‐driven labour process control. First, platform drivers are reorganised in an outsourced labour force, placed in application‐based virtual‐networked production under sophisticated technological infrastructure. Second, to habituate drivers to the virtual mode of production, food‐delivery platforms utilise four algorithm‐driven control techniques, which are identified as: smart machinery control, information monopoly, management by multi‐stakeholders, and ‘carrots and sticks’. The findings highlight the process of algorithmic design in configuring a digital managerial ecosystem for platform governance and contribute to emerging debates on algorithmic management.
Skin and Mucosal Manifestations in NEMO Syndrome: A Case Series and Literature Review
Authors: Kohn Lucinda L. , Braun Mitchell , Cordoro Kelly M. , McCalmont Timothy H. , Shah Sonal D. , Frieden Ilona J. , Mathur Anubhav N.
Published: January 2022

Objectives

To characterize the skin and mucosal findings of NEMO syndrome.

Methods

Retrospective review of clinical characteristics from a cohort of two families with mutations inIKBKG(the NEMO‐encoding gene). A literature review identified 86 studies describing 192 patients withIKBKGmutations whose data were also included.

Setting

Single center with literature review.

Participants

Patients with mutations inIKBKGfrom our center and reported in the literature.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Skin and mucosal characteristics of patients with NEMO syndrome.

Results

In addition to ectodermal dysplasia and recurrent infections, male patients had findings of ichthyosis, palmoplantar keratoderma, and inflammatory skin diseases. Both male and female patients had mucocutaneous ulcers and slow‐to‐heal chronic wounds. In combination with patients from the literature, 59% (85/144) of males had ectodermal dysplasia with anhidrosis (EDA) features, and 8% and 10% (12/144; 6/63) of males and females had dental findings, respectively. 4% (6/144) of males and 32% (20/63) of females had mucocutaneous ulcers. Ichthyosis/xerosis was present in 15% of males (21/144) but only 2% (1/63) females. Similarly, 13% (18/144) of male patients presented with dermatitis while this was reported in only 2% (1/63) of females.

Conclusions

Our results both confirm and expand upon the known spectrum of mucocutaneous findings in NEMO syndrome. Further genetic studies are needed to correlate specific mutations to clinical and morphologic subtypes.
Intersexual flower differences in an andromonoecious species: small pollen‐rich staminate flowers under resource limitation
Authors: Murakami K. , Katsuhara K. R. , Ushimaru A.
Published: January 2022

Andromonoecy, the presence of perfect and staminate flowers in the same individual, has evolved repeatedly in angiosperms. The staminate flowers are generally smaller than the perfect flowers in species that produce staminate flowers plastically when resources are limited. The smaller staminate flowers are expected to be less attractive to pollinators and have reduced size‐matching with pollinators than perfect flowers. We hypothesized that these potential disadvantages of staminate versus perfect flowers facilitate the evolution of sex‐specific floral morphology, such as allometric relationship between flower size and male reproductive organ.

We compared six floral morphology traits, pollen production, pollinator visits and pollen removal from anthers between staminate and perfect flowers in several natural Commelina communis populations. Nectarless and zygomorphic C. communis flowers have polymorphic stamens with attracting, feeding and pollinating anthers and were visited by diverse pollinators.

Staminate flowers were significantly smaller than perfect flowers, despite a large overlap in size between sexes. The lengths of pollinating stamens did not differ between staminate and perfect flowers, and staminate flowers produced significantly more pollen. We observed significantly more pollinator visits to perfect flowers than to staminate flowers. By contrast, pollen removal from pollinating stamens was significantly higher in staminate flowers than in perfect flowers.

There is sexual dimorphism in flower morphology in C. communis. Staminate flowers with smaller attraction organs, similar pollinating stamens and higher pollen production assure higher pollen donor success relative to perfect flowers. Our results suggest that the morphological changes in staminate flowers enhance pollination success, even with limited resources.
Stem and leaf xylem of angiosperm trees experiences minimal embolism in temperate forests during two consecutive summers with moderate drought
Authors: Guan X. , Werner J. , Cao K.‐F. , Pereira L. , Kaack L. , McAdam S. A. M. , Jansen S.
Published: January 2022

Drought events may increase the likelihood that the plant water transport system becomes interrupted by embolism. Yet our knowledge about the temporal frequency of xylem embolism in the field is frequently lacking, as it requires detailed, long‐term measurements.

We measured xylem embolism resistance and midday xylem water potentials during the consecutive summers of 2019 and 2020 to estimate maximum levels of embolism in leaf and stem xylem of ten temperate angiosperm tree species. We also studied vessel and pit membrane characteristics based on light and electron microscopy to corroborate potential differences in embolism resistance between leaves and stems.

Apart from A. pseudoplatanus and Q. petraea, eight species experienced minimum xylem water potentials that were close to or below those required to initiate embolism. Water potentials corresponding to ca. 12% loss of hydraulic conductivity (PLC) could occur in six species, while considerable levels of embolism around 50% PLC were limited to B. pendula and C. avellana. There was a general agreement in embolism resistance between stems and leaves, with leaves being equally or more resistant than stems. Also, xylem embolism resistance was significantly correlated to intervessel pit membrane thickness (TPM) for stems, but not to vessel diameter and total intervessel pit membrane surface area of a vessel.

Our data indicate that low amounts of embolism occur in most species during moderate summer drought, and that considerable levels of embolism are uncommon. Moreover, our experimental and TPM data show that leaf xylem is generally no more vulnerable than stem xylem.
The sweet and musky scent of home: biogenic ethylene fine‐tunes seed germination in wetlands
Authors: Phartyal S. S. , Rosbakh S. , Gruber M. , Poschlod P.
Published: January 2022

Wetlands are known for comparatively high production of biogenic ethylene from decomposed sediment. Because the gas has various well‐documented effects on seed physiology, we asked whether it can be a vital seed germination cue for wetland plants. Specifically, we explored whether ethylene plays an ecological role in (i) breaking/weakening seed dormancy, (ii) broadening the germination niche width, (iii) promoting germination speed or (iv) altering the germination requirements of six plant species with different occurrence along a hydroperiod gradient.

In a factorial experiment, both ethylene‐treated and untreated seeds were incubated in combinations of temperature (constant versus fluctuating), illumination (light versus darkness) and oxygen (aerobic versus hypoxia) with and without cold stratification.

Our results revealed seed exposure to ethylene did not weaken or break dormancy without cold stratification treatment. However, ethylene helped to broaden the germination niche width, increased overall germination percentage and speed of cold‐stratified (non‐dormant) seeds. This indicates that ethylene helps those seeds that lost dormancy (non‐dormant) to sense favourable water‐saturated versus flooded substrate depending on their requirement for aerobic versus hypoxic conditions to trigger germination.

We conclude that ethylene does not interfere directly with the dormancy‐breaking process in autumn‐dispersed seeds that are naturally cold‐stratified in winter and germinate in spring/summer. However, ethylene plays a crucial ecological role as a ‘flood detector' for different wetland plant communities (reed, mudflat, swamp, shallow water) to synchronize germination of non‐dormant seeds in the most suitable habitat at the right time.
Synchronized flowering in pomegranate, following pruning, is associated with expression of the FLOWERING LOCUS T homolog, PgFT1
Authors: Patil Hemant Bhagwan , Chaurasia Akhilesh Kumar , Kumar Sandeep , Krishna Bal , Subramaniam Vadakanthara Ramakrishnan , Sane Aniruddha Prafullachandra , Sane Prafullachandra Vishnu
Published: January 2022

Flowering in angiosperms is a crucial event that marks the transition from the vegetative to the reproductive phase. In many perennials, pruning is an important horticultural practice that induces synchronized and profuse flowering. In pomegranate, vegetative growth immediately after pruning is associated with activation of PgCENa, a flowering suppressor of the phosphatidyl ethanolamine binding protein (PEBP) family, while a reduction is associated with synchronous flowering. We show that flowering in pomegranate is activated by expression of another PEBP family member, PgFT1, a homolog of the FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) gene that promotes flowering. PgFT1 shows a rapid reduction in expression during the extensive vegetative growth immediately after pruning but shows robust expression during synchronous flowering post‐pruning, in flower‐bearing shoots but not in branches that do not bear flowers. A continuous low‐level flowering in the absence of pruning is associated with continuous but reduced expression of PgFT1. Flowering by heterologous expression of PgFT1 in Arabidopsis is affected by a single amino acid change in the C‐terminal region of PgFT1, which upon correction, promotes flowering in Arabidopsis. Our study provides insights into the molecular mechanisms by which pruning affects flowering pathways in tropical perennial fruit plants such as pomegranate.
Beyond a Numbers Game? Impact of Diversity and Inclusion on the Perception of Organizational Justice
Authors: Hoang Trang , Suh Jiwon , Sabharwal Meghna
Published: January 2022

Organizational justice, diversity, and inclusion are central tenets of social equity in public organizations. This study explores the effects of diversity management and inclusive leadership practices on employees' perceptions of organizational justice. Drawing from FedScope and the 2019 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey, we find that an increase in the number of women and Black, Indigenous and other People of Color (BIPOC) is not sufficient to improve employees' perceptions toward organizational justice; rather, as workforce diversity increases, the perception of organizational justice decreases when the relationship is moderated by an active form of diversity management, such as an organization's policies and programs to promote heterogeneous workgroups. The results suggest that as workplace diversity increases, inclusive leadership practices positively influence organizational justice. The findings also indicate that the impact of diversity and inclusion on employees' perceptions of organizational justice differs by gender and race.
Factors influencing the cariogenic potential of oral nutritional supplements indicated for use in adults with or at risk of malnutrition
Authors: Frydrych Agnieszka M , Banerjee Chandrama , Mansoor Khadija , Kujan Omar
Published: January 2022

Objectives

Malnutrition can be a significant problem among older adults and the medically compromised individuals, contributing to morbidity and mortality. Causes of malnutrition are complex and varied. Oral nutritional supplements (ONS) are often prescribed to individuals with or at risk of malnutrition. Although beneficial, concerns have been raised about their cariogenic potential. The purpose of this study is to report on the currently available ONS in Australia, focusing on factors that impact their cariogenicity.

Methods

A list of ONS was compiled based on their availability in Australia and indication for use in adults with or at risk of malnutrition. Data concerning composition, clinical indications and the recommended daily consumption was ascertained from product labels, company websites and customer services. Measurements of pH and viscosity were obtained for all ONS.

Results

A total of 33 ONS were identified, which were noted to vary in their cariogenic potential.

Conclusions

Recognition of the possible caries risk associated with the use of ONS is important. Awareness facilitates the making of informed decisions when ONS are chosen. When the need arises to use ONS in individuals where the associated caries risk is considered significant, caries preventive protocols should be implemented by the prescriber.
Hope, interreligious democracy, good ancestors, and gossamer threads: A response to Valerie Miles‐Tribble's distinguished faculty lecture
Authors: Davidson Jennifer W.
Published: January 2022

In this response to the 46th Annual Distinguished Faculty Lecture by Valerie Miles‐Tribble at the Graduate Theological Union, I reflect on four questions: (1) What practices can help us cultivate and restore hope when our hope inevitably wanes? (2) How do we vigorously, even relentlessly expose injustices (and our complicities with them) even while we seek to fire the creative energies we need to come up with solutions? (3) How can we, imperfect as we are, be good ancestors or—as the indigenous environmental justice activist Winona LaDuke phrases it: “Be the ancestor our descendants would be proud of?” (4) Where are we threadbare, and what is the thread like that each of us is contributing to the tapestry?
Epidemiological study on the incidence of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in five Western Balkan countries for a 10‐year period: 2006–2015
Authors: Štrbac Mirjana , Vuković Vladimir , Patić Aleksandra , Medić Snežana , Pustahija Tatjana , Petrović Vladimir , Lendak Dajana , Ličina Mirjana Kosanović , Bakić Marijan , Protić Jelena , Pranjić Nurka , Jandrić Ljubica , Sokolovska Nikolina , Ristić Mioljub
Published: January 2022

Background

Large‐scale epidemics of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) have been reported mostly in Asia and Europe, with around 100,000 people affected each year. In the Southeast Europe, Balkan region, HFRS is endemic disease with approximately 100 cases per year. Our aim was to describe epidemiological characteristics of HFRS in five Western Balkan (WB) countries and to describe correlation between HFRS incidence and major meteorological event that hit the area in May 2014.

Methods

National surveillance data of HFRS from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia obtained from 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2015 were collected and analysed.

Results

In a 10‐year period, a total of 1,065 HFRS patients were reported in five WB countries. Cumulative incidence rate ranged from 0.05 to 15.80 per 100.000 inhabitants (in North Macedonia and Montenegro respectively). Increasing number of HFRS cases was reported with a peak incidence in three specific years (2008, 2012, and 2014). Average incidence for the entire area was higher in males than females (5.63 and 1.90 per 100.000 inhabitants respectively). Summer was the season with the highest number of cases and an average incidence rate of 1.74/100.000 inhabitants across 10‐year period. Haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome incidence was significantly increased (7.91/100.000 inhabitants) in 2014, when a few months earlier, severe floods affected several WB countries. A strong significant negative correlation (r = −.84, p < .01) between the monthly incidence of HFRS and the number of months after May's floods was demonstrated for the total area of WB.

Conclusion

Our findings demonstrate that the HFRS incidence had similar distribution (general, age, sex and seasonality) across majority of the included countries. Summer was the season with the highest recorded incidence. Common epidemic years were detected in all observed countries as well as a negative correlation between the monthly incidence of HFRS and the number of months after May's cyclone.
The complete chloroplast genome of Diarthron linifolium (Thymelaeaceae), a species found on a limestone outcrop in eastern Asia
Authors: KIM Sang-Tae , OH Sang-Hun , PARK Jongsun
Published: January 2022

Diarthron linifolium Turcz. is an annual herb usually found in sandy soil or limestone areas. Plants in the genus Diarthron are known to have toxic chemicals that may, however, be potentially useful as an anticancer treatment. Diarthron linifolium is a unique species among the species of the genus distributed in Korea. Here, we determine the genetic variation of D. linifolium collected in Korea with a full chloroplast genome and investigate its evolutionary status by means of a phylogenetic analysis. The chloroplast genome of Korean D. linifolium has a total length of 172,644 bp with four subregions; 86,158 bp of large single copy and 2,858 bp of small single copy (SSC) regions are separated by 41,814 bp of inverted repeat (IR) regions. We found that the SSC region of D. linifolium is considerably short but that IRs are relatively long in comparison with other chloroplast genomes. Various simple sequence repeats were identified, and our nucleotide diversity analysis suggested potential marker regions near ndhF. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that D. linifolium from Korea is a sister to the group of Daphne species.
The complete chloroplast genome of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. isolated in Korea (Fabaceae)
Authors: KIM Mi-Hee , PARK Suhyeon , LEE Junho , BAEK Jinwook , PARK Jongsun , LEE Gun Woong
Published: January 2022

The chloroplast genome of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch was sequenced to investigate intraspecific variations on the chloroplast genome. Its length is 127,689 bp long (34.3% GC ratio) with atypical structure of chloroplast genome, which is congruent to those of Glycyrrhiza genus. It includes 110 genes (76 protein-coding genes, four rRNAs, and 30 tRNAs). Intronic region of ndhA presented the highest nucleotide diversity based on the six G. uralenesis chloroplast genomes. A total of 150 single nucleotide polymorphisms and 10 insertion and deletion (INDEL) regions were identified from the six G. uralensis chloroplast genomes. Phylogenetic trees show that the six chloroplast genomes of G. uralensis formed the two clades, requiring additional studies to understand it.
Taxonomic entity of Saussurea taquetii (Asteraceae) compared with S. japonica and S. pulchella
Authors: SUN Eun-Mi , YUN Seon A , KIM Seung-Chul , IM Hyoung-Tak
Published: January 2022

Saussurea taquetii reported from Jejudo Island is either treated as a synonym of S. japonica or is recognized as a distinct taxon. Saussurea japonica and S. pulchella belong to the sect. Theodorea by having peculiar outer phyllaries with pale purplish scarious apical appendages; they are closely related to each other morphologically and are known to occur widely throughout the Korean Peninsula. To assess the taxonomic status of S. taquetii, we investigated representative populations of S. taquetii from jejudo Island, Korea, and S. japonica from Kyushu in Japan. We conducted a comparative study morphologically using specimens of three species from KH, CNU, and TI. Saussurea taquetii is very similar morphologically and ecologically to S. japonica in Kyushu. Unlike previous floristic treatments, we concluded that the two taxa, S. pulchella and S. taquetii, occur on the Korean Peninsula and on jejudo Island, respectively.
Arctium tomentosum (Asteraceae): A new report of a native genus in the flora of Mongolia
Authors: JAVZANDOLGOR Chuluunbat , BAASANMUNKH Shukherdorj , TSEGMED Zagarjav , OYUNTSETSEG Batlai , GUNDEGMAA Vanjil , CHOI Hyeok Jae
Published: January 2022

Arctium tomentosum Mill. (Asteraceae), from Ulaanbaatar in the Khentei phytogeographical region of Mongolia, is recognized here as a new genus and species of the flora of Mongolia. Arctium differs from other genera of Asteraceae by the hooked apex of the involucral bracts. While A. tomentosum is most similar to A. lappa, it is easily distinguished by the glandular hairs of the corolla limb and the widened inner involucral bracts. Taxonomic notes, a description of the morphology, detailed photos, habitat information, the phenology and a distribution map of A. tomentosum are provided.
Beaufort Sea observations of 11 to 12.5 kHz surface pulse reflections near 50 degree grazing angle from summer 2016 to summer 2017
Authors: Kucukosmanoglu Murat , Colosi John A. , Worcester Peter F. , Dzieciuch Matthew A. , Olson Derek R. , Richards Edward L. , Miller Christopher W.
Published: January 2022

Sea-surface acoustic scattering is investigated using observations from the 2016–2017 Canada Basin Acoustic Propagation Experiment. The motions of the low-frequency acoustic source and/or receiver moorings were measured using long-baseline acoustic navigation systems in which the signals transmitted once per hour by the mooring instruments triggered high-frequency replies from the bottom-mounted transponders. The moorings recorded these replies, giving the direct path and single-bounce surface-reflected arrivals, which have grazing angles near 50°. The reflected signals are used here to quantify the surface scattering statistics in an opportunistic effort to infer the changing ice characteristics as a function of time and space. Five scattering epochs are identified: (1) open water, (2) initial ice formation, (3) ice solidification, (4) ice thickening, and (5) ice melting. Significant changes in the ice scattering observables are seen using the arrival angle, moment of reflected intensity and its probability density function, and pulse time spread. The largest changes took place during the formation, solidification, and melting. The statistical characteristics across the experimental region are similar, suggesting consistent ice properties. To place the results in some physical context, they are interpreted qualitatively using notions of the partial and fully saturated wave fields, a Kirchhoff-like approximation for the rough surface, and a thin elastic layer reflection coefficient model.