bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Learning and Mapping Lyme Disease Patient Trajectories from Electronic Medical Data for Stratification of Disease Risk and Therapeutic Response
Authors: Ichikawa Osamu , Glicksberg Benjamin S. , Kidd Brian , Li Li , Dudley Joel T.
Published: December 2017

Background

Lyme disease (LD) is an epidemic, tick-borne illness with approximately 329,000 incidences diagnosed each year in United States. Long-term use of antibiotics is associated with serious complications, including post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS). The landscape of comorbidities and health trajectories associated with LD and associated treatments is not fully understood. Consequently, there is an urgent need to improve clinical management of LD based on a more precise understanding of disease and patient stratification.

Methods

We used a precision medicine machine-learning approach based on high-dimensional electronic medical records (EMRs) to characterize the heterogeneous comorbidities in a LD population and develop systematic predictive models for identifying medications that influence the risk of subsequent comorbidities.

Findings

We identified 3, 16, and 17 comorbidities at broad disease categories associated with LD within 2, 5, and 10 years of diagnosis, respectively. At higher resolution of ICD-9 levels, we pinpointed specific co-morbid diseases on a timescale that matched the symptoms associated with PTLDS. We identified 7, 30, and 35 medications that influenced the risks of the reported comorbidities within 2, 5, and 10 years, respectively. These medications included six previously associated with the identified comorbidities and 29 new findings. For instance, the first-line antibiotic doxycycline exhibited a consistently protective effect for typical symptoms of LD, including ‘backache Not Otherwise Specified (NOS)’ and ‘chronic rhinitis’, but consistently increased the risk of ‘cataract NOS’, ‘tear film insufficiency NOS’, and ‘nocturia’.

Interpretation

Our approach and findings suggest new hypotheses for precision medicine treatments regimens and drug repurposing opportunities tailored to the phenotypic profiles of LD patients.

Funding

The Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation
A divergent CheW confers plasticity to nucleoid-associated chemosensory arrays
Authors: Guiseppi Annick , Vicente Juan Jesus , Herrou Julien , Byrne Deborah , Barneoud Aurelie , Moine Audrey , Espinosa Leon , Basse Marie-Jeanne , Molle Virginie , Mignot Tâm , Roche Philippe , Mauriello Emilia M.F.
Published: December 2017

Chemosensory systems are highly organized signaling pathways that allow bacteria to adapt to environmental changes. The Frz chemosensory system from M. xanthus possesses two CheW-like proteins, FrzA (the core CheW) and FrzB. We found that FrzB does not interact with FrzE (the cognate CheA) as it lacks the amino acid region responsible for this interaction. FrzB, instead, acts upstream of FrzCD in the regulation of M. xanthus chemotaxis behaviors and activates the Frz pathway by allowing the formation and distribution of multiple chemosensory clusters on the nucleoid. These results, together, show that the lack of the CheA-interacting region in FrzB confers new functions to this small protein.

AUTHOR SUMMARY

Chemosensory systems are signaling complexes that are widespread in bacteria and allow the modulation of different cellular functions, such as taxis and development, in response to the environment. We show that the Myxococcus xanthus FrzB is a divergent CheW lacking the region involved in the interaction with the histidine kinase FrzE. Instead, it acts upstream of FrzCD to allow the formation of multiple distributed Frz chemosensory arrays at the nucleoid. The loss of the CheA-interacting region in FrzB might have been selected to confer plasticity to nucleoid-associated chemosensory systems. By unraveling a new accessory protein and its function, this work opens new insights into the knowledge of the regulatory potentials of bacterial chemosensory systems.
A systematic approach for dissecting the molecular mechanisms of transcriptional regulation in bacteria
Authors: Belliveau Nathan M. , Barnes Stephanie L. , Ireland William T. , Jones Daniel L. , Sweredoski Mike J. , Moradian Annie , Hess Sonja , Kinney Justin B. , Phillips Rob
Published: December 2017

Gene regulation is one of the most ubiquitous processes in biology. But while the catalog of bacterial genomes continues to expand rapidly, we remain ignorant about how almost all of the genes in these genomes are regulated. At present, characterizing the molecular mechanisms by which individual regulatory sequences operate requires focused efforts using low-throughput methods. Here we show how a combination of massively parallel reporter assays, mass spectrometry, and information-theoretic modeling can be used to dissect bacterial promoters in a systematic and scalable way. We demonstrate this method on both well-studied and previously uncharacterized promoters in the enteric bacterium Escherichia coli. In all cases we recover nucleotide-resolution models of promoter mechanism. For some promoters, including previously unannotated ones, the approach allowed us to further extract quantitative biophysical models describing input-output relationships. This method opens up the possibility of exhaustively dissecting the mechanisms of promoter function in E. coli and a wide range of other bacteria.
Deciphering the associations between soil microbial diversity and ecosystem multifunctionality driven by long‐term fertilization management
Authors: Luo Gongwen , Rensing Christopher , Chen Huan , Liu Manqiang , Wang Min , Guo Shiwei , Ling Ning , Shen Qirong
Published: December 2017

An increasing number of studies indicate that microbial diversity plays a crucial role in the mediation of ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF) in natural ecosystems. However, this point remains mostly overlooked in managed ecosystems, especially in agriculture.

Here, we compiled promising strategies for the targeted exploitation of the associations between microbial diversity and EMF of agricultural soils using samples from two long‐term (more than 30 years) experimental field sites in southern China. The two sites experienced a similar monsoon climate and fertilization management practices. We used high‐throughput amplicon sequencing, structural equation modelling and random forest analysis, to analyse our data and validate our hypotheses.

We found that soil physiochemical properties and the C‐, N‐, P‐ and S‐cycle enzyme activities were increased with the increase in microbial diversity. Specifically, a positive linear relationship was observed between microbial diversity and EMF, which was mediated by long‐term fertilization management via changes in soil microbial communities and physiochemical properties. Random forest analysis and SEM showed that the important role of microbial diversity on EMF was maintained even when simultaneously taking multiple multifunctionality drivers (soil physiochemical properties, soil aggregation and enzymatic patterns) into account. In addition, microbial diversity, C‐cycle enzyme activity and pH value are feasible predictors of EMF; these factors were shown to be the main drivers of EMF of arable soils.

Our findings suggest that there may be a limited degree of multifunctional redundancy in arable soils. The relationship we observed between microbial diversity and EMF suggests that management practices that foster more diverse soil microbial communities may have the potential to improve the functioning of agroecosystems.

A plain language summary is available for this article.
Brief telephone interventions for problem gambling: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Abbott Max , Hodgins David C. , Bellringer Maria , Vandal Alain C. , Palmer Du Preez Katie , Landon Jason , Sullivan Sean , Rodda Simone , Feigin Valery
Published: December 2017

Background and aims

Problem gambling is a significant public health issue world‐wide. There is substantial investment in publicly funded intervention services, but limited evaluation of effectiveness. This study investigated three brief telephone interventions to determine whether they were more effective than standard helpline treatment in helping people to reduce gambling.

Design

Randomized clinical trial.

Setting

National gambling helpline in New Zealand.

Participants

A total of 462 adults with problem gambling.

Interventions and comparator

(1) Single motivational interview (MI), (2) single motivational interview plus cognitive–behavioural self‐help workbook (MI + W) and (3) single motivational interview plus workbook plus four booster follow‐up telephone interviews (MI + W + B). Comparator was helpline standard care [treatment as usual (TAU)]. Blinded follow‐up was at 3, 6 and 12 months.

Measurements

Primary outcomes were days gambled, dollars lost per day and treatment goal success.

Findings

There were no differences across treatment arms, although participants showed large reductions in gambling during the 12‐month follow‐up period [mean reduction of 5.5 days, confidence interval (CI) = 4.8, 6.2; NZ$38 lost ($32, $44; 80.6%), improved (77.2%, 84.0%)]. Subgroup analysis revealed improved days gambled and dollars lost for MI + W + B over MI or MI + W for a goal of reduction of gambling (versus quitting) and improvement in dollars lost by ethnicity, gambling severity and psychological distress (allP < 0.01). MI + W + B was associated with greater treatment goal success for higher gambling severity than TAU or MI at 12 months and also better for those with higher psychological distress and lower self‐efficacy to MI (allP < 0.01). TAU and MI were found to be equivalent in terms of dollars lost.

Conclusions

In treatment of problem gambling in New Zealand, brief telephone interventions are associated with changes in days gambling and dollars lost similar to more intensive interventions, suggesting that more treatment is not necessarily better than less. Some client subgroups, in particular those with greater problem severity and greater distress, achieve better outcomes when they receive more intensive treatment.
Association of intralipid intake in extremely low birthweight infants with neurodevelopmental outcomes
Authors: Oh William , Przystac Lynn , McKinley Leslie , Tucker Richard , McGowan Elisabeth C. , Vohr Betty R.
Published: December 2017

Aim

To determine whether high intake of intralipid (IL) in extremely low birthweight (ELBW) neonates is associated with higher rates of neuroimpairment and Bayley III scores at two years of corrected age.

Methods

Quartiles of IL received by 389 ELBW infants were linked to neurodevelopmental outcomes. Logistic regression analyses, adjusted for confounders, were performed to determine the association between IL dose and neuroimpairment. Linear regression analyses were performed to predict Bayley III scores.

Results

No association was found between IL dose and neuroimpairment A significant association was found between higher IL intake and lower Bayley Cognitive, motor and language scores. Adding breast milk intake to the linear regression eliminated the associations.

Conclusion

Higher IL intake was associated with lower cognitive, motor and language scores. Breast milk intake eliminated the latter associations, which underscores the important role of breast milk in developmental outcome.
Successful steroid withdrawal guided by surveillance biopsies—A single‐center experience
Authors: Wehmeier Caroline , Hirt‐Minkowski Patricia , Amico Patrizia , Georgalis Argyrios , Hopfer Helmut , Steiger Jürg , Dickenmann Michael , Schaub Stefan
Published: December 2017

Steroid withdrawal following renal transplantation is challenging and widely debated. This retrospective study aimed at investigating the frequency and determinants of successful steroid withdrawal guided by surveillance biopsies. We analyzed 156 pretransplant DSA‐negative renal transplants receiving basiliximab induction and maintenance immunosuppression with tacrolimus‐mycophenolate‐steroids. The absence of rejection in surveillance biopsies at 3 or 6 months post‐transplant initiated steroid withdrawal, which was monitored by subsequent indication and/or surveillance biopsies. The primary outcome was the frequency of successful (i.e., rejection‐free) steroid withdrawal at 1 year post‐transplant. In the whole study population, successful steroid withdrawal was achieved in 73 of 156 patients (47%). Steroid withdrawal was initiated in 98 of 156 patients (63%) and successful in 73 of 98 patients (74%). Subsequent clinical rejection occurred in only one of 98 patients (1%), whereas 24 of 98 patients (24%) experienced subclinical rejection. Steroid withdrawal was not initiated in 58 of 156 patients (37%) mainly due to current or prior severe (Banff TCMR ≥IA) subclinical rejection. Prediction of successful steroid withdrawal by pretransplant or early post‐transplant parameters was poor. In conclusion, (sub)clinical rejection‐free steroid withdrawal can be expected in about half of pretransplant DSA‐negative patients. As successful steroid withdrawal cannot be well predicted by pre‐ and early post‐transplant parameters, guidance by surveillance biopsies is an attractive strategy.
Disentangling good from bad practices in the selection of spatial or phylogenetic eigenvectors
Authors: Bauman David , Drouet Thomas , Dray Stéphane , Vleminckx Jason
Published: December 2017

Eigenvector mapping techniques are widely used by ecologists and evolutionary biologists to describe and control for spatial and/or phylogenetic patterns in their data. The selection of an appropriate subset of eigenvectors is a critical step (misspecification can lead to highly biased results and interpretations), and there is no consensus yet on how to proceed. We conducted a ten‐year review of the practices of eigenvector selection and highlighted three main procedures: selecting the subset of descriptors minimising the Akaike information criterion (AIC), using a forward selection with double stopping criterion after testing the global model significance (FWD), and selecting the subset minimising the autocorrelation in the model residuals (MIR). We compared the type I error rates, statistical power, and R² estimation accuracy of these methods using simulated data. Finally, a real dataset was analysed using variation partitioning analysis to illustrate to what extent the different selection approaches affected the ecological interpretation of the results. We show that, while the FWD and MIR approaches presented a correct type I error rate and were accurate, the AIC approach displayed extreme type I error rates (100%), and strongly overestimated the R². Moreover, the AIC approach resulted in wrong ecological interpretations, as it overestimated the pure spatial fraction (and the joint spatial‐environmental fraction to a lesser extent) of the variation partitioning. Both the FWD and MIR methods performed well at broad and medium scales but had a very low power to detect fine‐scale patterns. The FWD approach selected more eigenvectors than the MIR approach but also returned more accurate R² estimates. Hence, we discourage any future use of the AIC approach, and advocate choosing between the MIR and FWD approaches depending on the objective of the study: controlling for spatial or phylogenetic autocorrelation (MIR) or describing the patterns as accurately as possible (FWD).
Global environmental change effects on plant community composition trajectories depend upon management legacies
Authors: Perring Michael P. , Bernhardt‐Römermann Markus , Baeten Lander , Midolo Gabriele , Blondeel Haben , Depauw Leen , Landuyt Dries , Maes Sybryn L. , De Lombaerde Emiel , Carón Maria Mercedes , Vellend Mark , Brunet Jörg , Chudomelová Markéta , Decocq Guillaume , Diekmann Martin , Dirnböck Thomas , Dörfler Inken , Durak Tomasz , De Frenne Pieter , Gilliam Frank S. , Hédl Radim , Heinken Thilo , Hommel Patrick , Jaroszewicz Bogdan , Kirby Keith J. , Kopecký Martin , Lenoir Jonathan , Li Daijiang , Máliš František , Mitchell Fraser J.G. , Naaf Tobias , Newman Miles , Petřík Petr , Reczyńska Kamila , Schmidt Wolfgang , Standovár Tibor , Świerkosz Krzysztof , Van Calster Hans , Vild Ondřej , Wagner Eva Rosa , Wulf Monika , Verheyen Kris
Published: December 2017

The contemporary state of functional traits and species richness in plant communities depends on legacy effects of past disturbances. Whether temporal responses of community properties to current environmental changes are altered by such legacies is, however, unknown. We expect global environmental changes to interact with land‐use legacies given different community trajectories initiated by prior management, and subsequent responses to altered resources and conditions. We tested this expectation for species richness and functional traits using 1814 survey‐resurvey plot pairs of understorey communities from 40 European temperate forest datasets, syntheses of management transitions since the year 1800, and a trait database. We also examined how plant community indicators of resources and conditions changed in response to management legacies and environmental change. Community trajectories were clearly influenced by interactions between management legacies from over 200 years ago and environmental change. Importantly, higher rates of nitrogen deposition led to increased species richness and plant height in forests managed less intensively in 1800 (i.e., high forests), and to decreases in forests with a more intensive historical management in 1800 (i.e., coppiced forests). There was evidence that these declines in community variables in formerly coppiced forests were ameliorated by increased rates of temperature change between surveys. Responses were generally apparent regardless of sites’ contemporary management classifications, although sometimes the management transition itself, rather than historic or contemporary management types, better explained understorey responses. Main effects of environmental change were rare, although higher rates of precipitation change increased plant height, accompanied by increases in fertility indicator values. Analysis of indicator values suggested the importance of directly characterising resources and conditions to better understand legacy and environmental change effects. Accounting for legacies of past disturbance can reconcile contradictory literature results and appears crucial to anticipating future responses to global environmental change.
Young consumers’ innovativeness in apparel choices: A model including consumer self‐confidence
Authors: Jürgensen Karin , Guesalaga Rodrigo
Published: December 2017

In industries with network effects, consumer innovators help to trigger the critical mass needed for a product innovation to be successful. Thus, firms can benefit from actions that increase consumer innovativeness in their target markets. Consumer innovativeness has been associated with variables such as hedonic shopping motivation, impulsiveness and status seeking. There is limited work on the impact on consumer innovativeness of consumer characteristics that reflect consumers’ self‐confident ability to choose. This study proposes and tests a model for consumer innovativeness that incorporates variables from previous research and uncovers the importance of consumer self‐confidence. We collect survey data from 534 Chilean girls, ages 10–15. After building constructs with the help of exploratory factor analysis, we analyze the data with linear regression estimation (via OLS). Our results reveal that consumer self‐confidence is positively and significantly related to consumer innovativeness. Our findings also add evidence ‐from a younger age group‐ regarding the significance of status seeking, impulsiveness and hedonic shopping motivation on consumer innovativeness. Results suggest that companies could leverage consumer innovativeness by taking actions to increase consumers’ self‐confidence. Innovative apparel choices in young consumers could possibly also be strengthened by communicating status achievement and by enhancing shopping enjoyment.
Comparison of Marginal and Internal Adaptation of Heat‐Pressed and CAD/CAM Porcelain Laminate Veneers and a 2‐Year Follow‐Up
Authors: Yuce Mert , Ulusoy Mubin , Turk Ayse Gozde
Published: December 2017

Purpose

To compare marginal and internal adaptations of porcelain laminate veneers fabricated with heat‐pressed and CAD/CAM techniques, and to evaluate the clinical performances 2 years after cementation.

Materials and Methods

Thirty heat‐pressed and 31 CAD/CAM porcelain laminate veneers were fabricated for 12 patients. Silicone replicas of each veneer were obtained. Replicas were sectioned into 4 parts to measure adaptations of the veneers. A stereomicroscope was used to measure from 3 locations of replicas for marginal, and 9 locations for internal adaptations at 40x magnification. Clinical evaluations were done at baseline and 6, 12, 18, and 24 months after cementation according to the modified United States Public Health Service (USPHS) criteria. Independent samples t‐test compared the adaptation values between heat‐pressed and CAD/CAM groups. Paired t‐test was used to evaluate marginal and internal adaptations of each group. Differences between the modified USPHS criteria ratings of heat‐pressed and CAD/CAM groups were determined by the Mann‐Whitney U test. Kaplan‐Meier analysis was used to analyze the survival ratings of the veneers (p < 0.05).

Results

The mean marginal adaptation values of heat‐pressed and CAD/CAM veneers were 295 and 314.98 μm, respectively, and there was no statistically significant difference (p = 0.541). Internal adaptation values of groups were not statistically different either (201.82 μm for heat pressed; 195.47 μm for CAD/CAM p = 0.734). When marginal and internal adaptation values were compared within groups, there were significant differences both for heat‐pressed (p < 0.001) and CAD/CAM (p < 0.001). All veneers were rated 100% satisfactory during the 2‐year period.

Conclusion

Within the limitations of this study, fabrication method, whether CAD/CAM or heat‐pressed, had no effect on the marginal and internal adaptation of porcelain laminate veneers. The results showed that both fabrication techniques performed well after 2 years of clinical performance.
Comparison of the CIELab and CIEDE 2000 Color Difference Formulas on Gingival Color Space
Authors: Gómez‐Polo Cristina , Montero Javier , Gómez‐Polo Miguel , Martin Casado Ana
Published: December 2017

Purpose

To evaluate the CIELAB and CIEDE2000 formulas to determine which better reflects the difference in color perception, and whether there are gender differences in color perception.

Materials and Methods

Fifty‐six participants grouped 21 different‐colored disks made of pink porcelain (color range: from 36.8 to 63.9 for L*, from 16.4 to 35.2 for a*, from 6.2 to 21.6 for b*), in which the only requirement was that each group be comprised of disks with chromatically indistinguishable colors. Each participant was free to choose the number and composition of the groups. Using the results obtained, a dissimilarity matrix was generated, and nonmetric multidimensional scaling (MDS) was applied to obtain the coordinates of the disks within a Euclidean space.

Results

The linear correlation coefficient between the interpoint distances of the MDS configuration (MDS_total sample) and the color differences with the CIELAB formula (ΔE*ab) was 0.719 (p < 0.001), whereas with the CIEDE2000 formula (ΔE00), it was 0.726 (p < 0.001). For the configuration obtained in the women's group (MDS_w), the correlations between the interpoint distances and the CIELab color difference was 0.720 (p < 0.001), and the CIEDE2000 color differences was 0.730 (p < 0.001). For the configuration obtained in the men's group (MDS_m), the perceived color differences, calculated with both formulas, were less sensitive, 0.670 for CIELab formula and 0.677 for CIEDE2000 formula.

Conclusions

Considering the limitations of this study, the data analyzed indicated that the CIEDE2000 formula reflected the color differences perceived by the human eye similar to the CIELAB formula (ΔE*ab). Also, women were confirmed to be more sensitive than men to differences in color.
Prevalence of mixed genotype hepatitis C virus infections in the UK as determined by genotype‐specific PCR and deep sequencing
Authors: McNaughton A. L. , Sreenu V. B. , Wilkie G. , Gunson R. , Templeton K. , Leitch E. C. M.
Published: December 2017

The incidence of mixed genotype hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections in the UK is largely unknown. As the efficacy of direct‐acting antivirals is variable across different genotypes, treatment regimens are tailored to the infecting genotype, which may pose issues for the treatment of underlying genotypes within undiagnosed mixed genotype HCV infections. There is therefore a need to accurately diagnose mixed genotype infections prior to treatment. PCR‐based diagnostic tools were developed to screen for the occurrence of mixed genotype infections caused by the most common UK genotypes, 1a and 3, in a cohort of 506 individuals diagnosed with either of these genotypes. The overall prevalence rate of mixed infection was 3.8%; however, this rate was unevenly distributed, with 6.7% of individuals diagnosed with genotype 3 harbouring genotype 1a strains and only 0.8% of samples from genotype 1a patients harbouring genotype 3 (P < .05). Mixed infection samples consisted of a major and a minor genotype, with the latter constituting less than 21% of the total viral load and, in 67% of cases, less than 1% of the viral load. Analysis of a subset of the cohort by Illumina PCR next‐generation sequencing resulted in a much greater incidence rate than obtained by PCR. This may have occurred due to the nonquantitative nature of the technique and despite the designation of false‐positive thresholds based on negative controls.
Uptake of direct‐acting antiviral treatment for chronic hepatitis C in Australia
Authors: Hajarizadeh B. , Grebely J. , Matthews G. V. , Martinello M. , Dore G. J.
Published: December 2017

A government‐funded interferon‐free direct‐acting antiviral (DAA) treatment programme for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been available in Australia since March 2016. This study assessed the levels and patterns of DAA treatment uptake during March‐December 2016 in Australia and described the key features in the development of the programme. All prescriptions in Australia are submitted to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme by dispensing pharmacies. Data on dispensed DAA prescriptions for a longitudinal cohort of individuals, representing a 10% random sample of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme database, were used for estimating DAA treatment uptake and subgroup analyses. The estimated number of 32 400 individuals initiated DAA treatment in 2016, equating to 14% of people with chronic HCV infection in Australia. Most commonly prescribed DAA regimens included sofosbuvir/ledipasvir (56%, n = 18 020), sofosbuvir + daclatasvir (39%, n = 12 600) and sofosbuvir + other agents (4%, n = 1220). Among individuals initiated DAA treatment, 66% (n = 21 430) were men, 43% (n = 13 870) were ≤50 years old and 36% (n = 11 670) had cirrhosis. DAA prescriptions were 62% (n = 20 080) by specialists, 19% (n = 6000) by general practitioners (GP) and 20% (n = 6320) by other physicians. Proportion of individuals prescribed DAA by GPs increased from 8% to 31% and proportion of individuals ≤50 years old increased from 28% to 61% between March and December. In conclusion, rapid treatment scale‐up was observed in the first 10 months of unrestricted DAA programme in Australia. The proportion of prescriptions by GPs increased over time, important for broadened access. A trend towards younger age treatment suggested the broadening of DAA‐treated population, potentially including individuals at higher risk of HCV transmission.
Telomere, telomerase and liver disease
Authors: Aravinthan Aloysious D. , Alexander Graeme J.
Published: December 2017

See Article on Page 144
The relationship among environmental variables, jellyfish and non‐gelatinous zooplankton: A case study in the north of the Gulf of Oman
Authors: Pourjomeh Fatemeh , Shokri Mohammad Reza , Rezai Hamid , Rajabi‐Maham Hassan , Maghsoudlou Elham
Published: December 2017

Processes underlying the temporal and spatial variations observed in the distribution of jellyfish and non‐gelatinous zooplankton in the Gulf of Oman are not well understood. This information gap is clearly a major issue in controlling the harmful blooms of jellyfish and non‐gelatinous zooplankton. Samples of jellyfish and non‐gelatinous zooplankton were collected from six stations in Chabahar Bay and three stations in Pozm Bay within four seasons. At each station, environmental variables were also recorded from bottom and surface water. A total of 83 individuals of medusae representing four species of Scyphozoa (i.e., Cyanea nozakii, Chrysaora sp., Pelagia noctiluca, Catostylus tagi) and species of Hydrozoa (i.e., Diphyes sp., Rhacostoma sp., Aequorea spp.) were observed in the study area. A total of 70,727.25 individuals/m−3 of non‐gelatinous zooplankton dominated by copepods and cladocerans were collected in nine stations within the four seasons. The results of a RELATE analysis yielded no significant association between species composition for jellyfish and non‐gelatinous zooplankton. Among environmental variables, water transparency, nitrite concentration, water depth and temperature were better associated with the total variation in jellyfish species composition than with that of non‐gelatinous zooplankton. Dissolved oxygen, pH, and phosphate concentration were significant environmental variables associated with the variation in the spatial and temporal distribution patterns of non‐gelatinous zooplankton assemblages. Although some jellyfish species (i.e., Rhacostoma sp., Pelagia noctiluca, Catostylus tagi) occur independently of non‐gelatinous zooplankton assemblages, other jellyfish (i.e., Chrysaora sp., Aequorea spp., Cyanea nozakii, Diphyes sp.) are strongly correlated with non‐gelatinous zooplankton assemblages.
Diets of Steller sea lions off the coast of Hokkaido, Japan: An inter‐decadal and geographic comparison
Authors: Goto Yoko , Wada Akihiko , Hoshino Noboru , Takashima Takahiro , Mitsuhashi Masaki , Hattori Kaoru , Yamamura Orio
Published: December 2017

Inter‐decadal and geographic variations in the diets of Steller sea lion, Eumetopias jubatus, were examined based on the contents of 408 stomachs collected from coastal areas around Hokkaido Island during the periods 1994–1998 and 2005–2012. The most important prey species in the 1990s were gadid fishes (walleye pollock [Gadus chalcogrammus], Pacific cod [Gadus microcephalus] and saffron cod [Eleginus gracilis]). The frequency of occurrence and gravimetric contribution of gadids decreased in the 2000s latter period at three study sites (Rausu, Shakotan and Rebun) and were replaced by Okhotsk Atka mackerel (Pleurogrammus azonus) and smooth lumpsucker (Aptocyclus ventricosus). However, analysis based on gravimetric composition indicated that the dietary diversity of prey showed only a slight inter‐decadal difference, reflecting the wide diversity of prey ingested during both study periods. These results indicate that Steller sea lions along the Hokkaido coast are opportunistic feeders that utilize a wide variety of prey, and appear to feed mainly upon prey that is easily obtained.
Links between parental life histories of wild salmon and the telomere lengths of their offspring
Authors: McLennan Darryl , Armstrong John D. , Stewart David C. , McKelvey Simon , Boner Winnie , Monaghan Pat , Metcalfe Neil B.
Published: December 2017

The importance of parental contributions to offspring development and subsequent performance is self‐evident at a genomic level; however, parents can also affect offspring fitness by indirect genetic and environmental routes. The life history strategy that an individual adopts will be influenced by both genes and environment; and this may have important consequences for offspring. Recent research has linked telomere dynamics (i.e., telomere length and loss) in early life to future viability and longevity. Moreover, a number of studies have reported a heritable component to telomere length across a range of vertebrates, although the effects of other parental contribution pathways have been far less studied. Using wild Atlantic salmon with different parental life histories in an experimental split‐brood in vitro fertilization mating design and rearing the resulting families under standardized conditions, we show that there can be significant links between parental life history and offspring telomere length (studied at the embryo and fry stage). Maternal life history traits, in particular egg size, were most strongly related to offspring telomere length at the embryonic stage, but then became weaker through development. In contrast, paternal life history traits, such as the father's growth rate in early life, had a greater association in the later stages of offspring development. However, offspring telomere length was not significantly related to either maternal or paternal age at reproduction, nor to paternal sperm telomere length. This study demonstrates both the complexity and the importance of parental factors that can influence telomere length in early life.
Genomic data reveal cryptic lineage diversification and introgression in Californian golden cup oaks (sectionProtobalanus)
Authors: Ortego Joaquín , Gugger Paul F. , Sork Victoria L.
Published: December 2017

Here we study hybridization, introgression and lineage diversification in the widely distributed canyon live oak (Quercus chrysolepis) and the relict island oak (Q. tomentella), two Californian golden cup oaks with an intriguing biogeographical history.

We employed restriction‐site‐associatedDNAsequencing and integrated phylogenomic and population genomic analyses to study hybridization and reconstruct the evolutionary past of these taxa.

Our analyses revealed the presence of two cryptic lineages withinQ. chrysolepis. One of these lineages shares its most recent common ancestor withQ. tomentella, supporting the paraphyly ofQ. chrysolepis. The split of these lineages was estimated to take place during the late Pliocene or the early Pleistocene, a time corresponding well with the common presence ofQ. tomentellain the fossil records of continental California. Analyses also revealed historical hybridization among lineages, high introgression fromQ. tomentellaintoQ. chrysolepisin their current area of sympatry, and widespread admixture between the two lineages ofQ. chrysolepisin contact zones.

Our results support that the two lineages ofQ. chrysolepisbehave as a single functional species phenotypically and ecologically well differentiated fromQ. tomentella, a situation that can be only accommodated considering hybridization and speciation as a continuum with diffuse limits.
CsLFY is required for shoot meristem maintenance via interaction with WUSCHEL in cucumber (Cucumis sativus)
Authors: Zhao Wensheng , Chen Zijing , Liu Xiaofeng , Che Gen , Gu Ran , Zhao Jianyu , Wang Zhongyi , Hou Yu , Zhang Xiaolan
Published: December 2017

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) is an agronomically important vegetable with indeterminant growth habit, in which leaves are produced from the shoot apical meristem (SAM), and unisexual flowers are generated from the leaf axils. LEAFY (LFY) and its homologs have been shown to play important roles in promoting flower development and branching.

The LFY homolog gene CsLFY was cloned in cucumber. Molecular biology, developmental biology and biochemical tools were combined to explore the biological function of the LFY homologous gene CsLFY in cucumber.

CsLFY was expressed in the SAM, floral meristem and floral organ primordia. Ectopic expression of CsLFY rescued the phenotype of the lfy‐5 mutant in Arabidopsis. Knockdown of CsLFY by RNA interference (RNAi) led to defective shoot development and premature discontinuance of leaf initiation in cucumber. Transcription of CsWUS and putative CsLFY target genes including CsAP3 and CUM1 were significantly reduced in the CsLFY‐RNAi lines. Further biochemical analyses indicated that CsLFY physically interacts with CsWUS in cucumber.

These data suggested that CsLFY has a novel function in regulating shoot meristem maintenance through interaction with CsWUS, and promotes flower development via activation of CsAP3 and CUM1 in cucumber.
Different temperature perception in high‐elevation plants: new insight into phenological development and implications for climate change in the alpine tundra
Authors: Carbognani Michele , Tomaselli Marcello , Petraglia Alessandro
Published: December 2017

In alpine habitats, predicted warmer and longer growing seasons will influence plant phenology, with important implications for species adaptation and vegetation dynamics. However, little is known on the temperature sensitivity of different phenophases and on the characteristics allowing phenological variation among and within species.

By integrating interannual micro‐climatic variability with experimental warming, we explored how the phenology of three alpine species is influenced by temperature and what mechanisms underlie intra‐ and inter‐specific phenological differences.

The present study demonstrated that alpine plants have different temperature responses during their reproductive cycle, do not have constant thermal thresholds and heat‐use efficiencies to achieve the seed dispersal stage and can change their temperature sensitivity to flower along snowmelt gradients. In addition, the length of the reproductive cycle, which proved to be species‐specific under experimental warming, does not seem to be the only life‐history trait under selective pressure due to the short‐length of the snow‐free period.

In a warming climate scenario, the phenology of sexual reproduction will be considerably altered, and alpine plants may be subjected to changes in population dynamics driven by altered perception of environmental cues appropriate for coordinating the timing of key life‐history events.
Progress in understanding Pseudocercospora banana pathogens and the development of resistant Musa germplasm
Authors: Alakonya A. E. , Kimunye J. , Mahuku G. , Amah D. , Uwimana B. , Brown A. , Swennen R.
Published: December 2017

Banana and plantain (Musa spp.) are important food crops in tropical and subtropical regions of the world where they generate millions of dollars annually to both subsistence farmers and exporters. Since 1902, Pseudocercospora banana pathogens, Pseudocercospora fijiensis, P. musae and P. eumusae, have emerged as major production constraints to banana and plantain. Despite concerted efforts to counter these pathogens, they have continued to negatively impact banana yield. In this review, the economic importance, distribution and the interactions between Pseudocercospora banana pathogens and Musa species are discussed. Interactions are further scrutinized in the light of an emerging climate change scenario and efforts towards the development of resistant banana germplasm are discussed. Finally, some of the opportunities and gaps in knowledge that could be exploited to further understanding of this ubiquitous pathosystem are highlighted.
Developing organizational agility in product innovation: the roles of IT capability, KM capability, and innovative climate
Authors: Cai Zhao , Liu Hefu , Huang Qian , Liang Liang
Published: December 2017

This study investigates how to leverage information technology (IT) capability to build organizational agility in the context of product innovation. A moderated mediating model is proposed from the capability‐building processes perspective. The data collected from 194 senior executives of firms in China show that knowledge management capability partially mediates the relationship between IT capability and organizational agility. Innovative climate also positively moderates the indirect relationship between IT capability and organizational agility in the context of product innovation. Discussion, implications, and direction for future research are offered at the end of this paper.
Determination of reaction kinetics using grain size: An application for metamorphic zircon growth
Authors: Miyazaki Kazuhiro , Mori Yasushi , Nishiyama Tadao , Suga Kenshi , Shigeno Miki
Published: December 2017

The reaction kinetics of metamorphic minerals can be subdivided into interface‐ and diffusion‐controlled kinetics. The discrimination of reaction kinetics is crucial for estimating reaction rates. Here, we propose a new and simple method for discriminating reaction kinetics. This method requires measuring only the initial and final grain sizes during growth. The reaction kinetics is inferred from different plotted arrays of initial vs. final grain sizes after the mineral growth. Using metamorphic zircon, we take detrital core sizes as the initial sizes and post‐metamorphic grain sizes as the final sizes. The application of the method to the subduction‐related high‐pressure Nagasaki metamorphic complex in Japan shows that this metamorphic zircon grew under interface‐controlled kinetics even at the relatively low temperature of 440°C. This method is potentially applicable to other minerals that have time‐markers, such as chemical zoning or internal structures that are captured at a given point in time during growth.
Adenosine A1 receptor activates background potassium channels and modulates information processing in olfactory bulb mitral cells
Authors: Rotermund Natalie , Winandy Svenja , Fischer Timo , Schulz Kristina , Fregin Torsten , Alstedt Nadine , Buchta Melanie , Bartels Janick , Carlström Mattias , Lohr Christian , Hirnet Daniela
Published: December 2017

Key points

Adenosine is a widespread neuromodulator in the mammalian brain, but whether it affects information processing in sensory system(s) remains largely unknown.

Here we show that adenosine A1 receptors hyperpolarize mitral cells, one class of principal neurons that propagate odour information from the olfactory bulb to higher brain areas, by activation of background K+ channels.

The adenosine‐modulated background K+ channels belong to the family of two‐pore domain K+ channels.

Adenosine reduces spontaneous activity of mitral cells, whereas action potential firing evoked by synaptic input upon stimulation of sensory neurons is not affected, resulting in a higher ratio of evoked firing (signal) over spontaneous firing (noise) and hence an improved signal‐to‐noise ratio.

The study shows for the first time that adenosine influences fine‐tuning of the input–output relationship in sensory systems.

Neuromodulation by adenosine is of critical importance in many brain regions, but the role of adenosine in olfactory information processing has not been studied so far. We investigated the effects of adenosine on mitral cells, which are projection neurons of the olfactory bulb. Significant expression of A1 and A2A receptors was found in mitral cells, as demonstrated by in situ hybridization. Application of adenosine in acute olfactory bulb slices hyperpolarized mitral cells in wild‐type but not in adenosine A1 receptor knockout mice. Adenosine‐induced hyperpolarization was mediated by background K+ currents that were reduced by halothane and bupivacaine, which are known to inhibit two‐pore domain K+ (K2P) channels. In mitral cells, electrical stimulation of axons of olfactory sensory neurons evoked synaptic currents, which can be considered as input signals, while spontaneous firing independent of sensory input can be considered as noise. Synaptic currents were not affected by adenosine, while adenosine reduced spontaneous firing, leading to an increase in the signal‐to‐noise ratio of mitral cell firing. Our findings demonstrate that A1 adenosine receptors activate two‐pore domain K+ channels, which increases the signal‐to‐noise ratio of the input–output relationship in mitral cells and thereby modulates information processing in the olfactory bulb.
A Finite Element Methodology to Study Soil–Structure Interaction in High-Speed Railway Bridges
Authors: Martínez-De la Concha Antonio , Cifuentes Héctor , Medina Fernando
Published: December 2017

This paper analyzes the dynamic soil–structure interaction (SSI) of a railway bridge under the load transmitted by high-speed trains using the finite element method (FEM). In this type of bridges, the correct analysis of SSI requires proper modeling of the soil; however, this task is one of the most difficult to achieve with the FEM method. In this study, we explored the influence of SSI on the dynamic properties of the structure and the structure's response to high-speed train traffic using commercial finite element software with direct integration and modal superposition methods. High-speed trains are characterized by the high-speed load model (HSLM) in the Eurocode. We performed sensitivity analyses of the influence of several parameters on the model, such as the size and stiffness of the discretized soil, mesh size, and the influence of the dynamic behavior of the excitation. Based on the results, we make some important and reliable recommendations for building an efficient and simple model that includes SSI. We conducted a dynamic analysis of a full model of a general multispan bridge including the piers, abutments, and soil and identified the impact factors that affected the design of the bridge. The analysis revealed that the methodology we propose allows for a more accurate determination of the dynamic effects of the passage of a train over the bridge, compared to the simpler and more widely used analysis of a directly supported isolated deck, which tends to overestimate the impact factors.
Teaching effectiveness analysis plan applied to lectures in medical physiology.
Authors: Casteel C P , Mortillaro N A , Taylor A E
Published: December 2017

To improve and thus strengthen its teaching program, the Department of Physiology at the University of South Alabama voluntarily embarked on a multiphasic self-assessment of its medical teaching program. One phase of the greater assessment plan included an analysis of the teaching methods of each faculty member. To design and implement this phase, the services of a teaching consultant from the College of Education were obtained. The implementation of the objectives as established by the consultant resulted in 1) the development of a systematic and consistent method of evaluating the teaching practices of the faculty through the design of a standard observation instrument for use in analyzing the teaching of each individual; 2) the sampling of the teaching of each of the seven participating faculty members; 3) the collection and critical review of teaching materials used; 4) an analysis of the effectiveness of the faculty; and 5) the submission of a written report of evaluation results. The seven participating faculty members were observed during the delivery of two lectures each presented to the freshman medical class. Based on the analysis of both the lectures and materials used, a written critique of each faculty member was submitted. Lecture strengths and weaknesses, both of individual members and of the whole department were summarized. Finally, the results of a survey taken of the faculty in which the participants were asked to respond to a series of questions regarding the self-assessment program were most favorably accepted by all participating faculty.