bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genes and compounds that increase type VII collagen expression as potential treatments for dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa
Authors: Thompson Elizabeth L. , Pickett‐Leonard Michael , Riddle Megan J. , Chen Weili , Albert Frank W. , Tolar Jakub
Published: March 2022

Dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB) is a skin‐blistering disease caused by mutations in COL7A1, which encodes type VII collagen (C7). There is no cure for DEB, but previous work has shown potential therapeutic benefit of increased production of even partially functional C7. Genome‐wide screens using CRISPR‐Cas9 have enabled the identification of genes involved in cancer development, drug resistance and other genetic diseases, suggesting that they could be used to identify drivers of C7 production. A keratinocyte C7 reporter cell line was created and used in a genome‐wide CRISPR activation (CRISPRa) screen to identify genes and pathways that increase C7 expression. The CRISPRa screen results were used to develop a targeted drug screen to identify compounds that upregulate C7 expression. The C7_tdTomato cell line was validated as an effective reporter for detection of C7 upregulation. The CRISPRa screen identified DENND4B and TYROBP as top gene hits plus pathways related to calcium uptake and immune signalling in C7 regulation. The targeted drug screen identified several compounds that increase C7 expression in keratinocytes, of which kaempferol, a plant flavonoid, also significantly increased C7 mRNA and protein in DEB patient cells.
CIAMS—Checkpoint‐intrigued adversary mitigation scheme for industrial internet of things
Authors: Donald Jose Patris , Joseph Linda
Published: March 2022

The industrial internet of things (IIoT) encompasses smart devices, manufacturing systems, humans, and networks for automated productive outcomes. The placement of devices and networks is vulnerable to distributed denial of service (DDOS) attacks that degrade the productivity and efficiency of IIoT. In this article, we propose a checkpoint‐intrigued adversary mitigation scheme (CIAMS) for improving the security features and recommendations of the detection systems. Features that use the recommendation to provide relevant information maintain their security level. A DDoS attack is dealt with at the outset, resulting in increased productivity. The IIoT's smart devices are less productive and efficient because of this DDoS attack. This CIAMS method is designed to address vulnerability and the ability to survive the features checkpoints. The proposed scheme substantiates the security breach and lag in the checkpoint systems against DDOS attacks. The checkpoints' vulnerability level and surviving features are assessed using a classified learning approach. In this assessment, the degrading features are reimbursed by improving the security functions, control, and access methods. Periodic checkpoint replacement and mutual security measures are used for mitigating the prolonging DDOS impact in the network. The proposed scheme's performance is verified using false positives, service distribution, lag, an efficiency score. Improvements have been made to the industrial environment's service delivery and efficiency. By reducing false positives by 10.35%, the proposed scheme improves service distribution ratio and efficiency score by 11.68% and 12.55% for different devices.
Eliminating the high false‐positive rate in defect prediction through BayesNet with adjustable weight
Authors: Zhao Yanyang , Wang Yawen , Zhang Dalin , Gong Yunzhan
Published: March 2022

In defect prediction, a high false‐positive rate (FPR) caused by class imbalance not only increases the workload of testing and development but also consumes unnecessary costs. Many defect models against class imbalance have been proposed to improve the accuracy of defect prediction, but their ability to reduce FPR is unclear. To solve these problems, we first proposed a BayesNet with adjustable weights, called WBN, to reduce the FPR in software defect prediction, which is an algorithm independent of data preprocessing techniques. The mechanism of our WBN is to change the sampling probability of the misclassified instances when training the defect model, making the BayesNet model focus more on false alarm instances. And then, we investigate the FPR of five mainstream defect models for solving class imbalance and select them as comparison models to test the validity of our methods. The experimental result on eight open‐source projects shows that a) our WBN, in in‐version defect prediction (IVDP) and cross‐version defect prediction (CVDP), effectively reduces FPR with means of 0.384 and 0.322, respectively; b) compared with improved subclass discriminant analysis (ISDA) that is the lowest FPR in all control models, our WBN not only reduced the FPR but maintained recall whose mean value was 0.797, whereas ISDA did not, with an average recall of only 0.397; c) our WBN, in CVDP, not only reduces FPR, but also has significant superiority over five control defect models and baseline. Besides, we also found that the class imbalance difference between the test set and the training set has an impact on CVDP performance, recommending that practitioners choose the best dataset for CVDP from the defect data of the historical version through special technology.
Characterization of non‐planar crack tip displacement fields using a differential geometry approach in combination with 3D digital image correlation
Authors: Camacho‐Reyes Alonso , Vasco‐Olmo Jose M. , James M. Neil , Diaz Francisco A.
Published: March 2022

This paper describes a novel differential geometry method that is used in combination with 3D digital image correlation (3D‐DIC) for crack tip field characterization on non‐planar (curved) surfaces. The proposed approach allows any of the two‐dimensional crack tip field models currently available in the literature to be extended to the analysis of a 3D developable surface with zero Gaussian curvature. The method was validated by analyzing the crack tip displacement fields on hollow thin‐walled cylindrical specimens, manufactured from either 304L or 2024‐T3 alloy that contained a central circumferential crack. The proposed approach was checked via a comparison between experimentally measured displacement fields (3D‐DIC) and those reconstructed from a modified 2D crack tip model (utilizing either 2, 3, or 4 terms of the William's expansion series) and implementing a 3D geometrical correction. Further validation was provided by comparing model‐derived stress intensity factors with values provided by empirical correlations.
Elemental composition and microbial decomposition of different angling baits
Authors: Imbert Alexis , Cucherousset Julien , Parthuisot Nathalie , Boulêtreau Stéphanie
Published: March 2022

Recreational fishing, through groundbaiting, provides a potentially important trophic subsidy to freshwater ecosystems that could promote eutrophication. To date, our understanding of the role of bait properties on their fate when they are not consumed remains limited. The present study aimed to determine if the C:N:P composition of some of the most commonly used angling baits modulated microbial decomposition. The C:N:P composition of 28 models of four commercially available angling baits was assessed and a microcosm experiment was used to quantify microbial decomposition. Elemental composition strongly varied among angling baits, with N content varying by a factor of three and P content varying by a factor of five. Microbial decomposition of angling baits was highly variable and faster for more industrialised baits. Microbial decomposition was five times faster for angling baits rather than natural subsidies (leaves) and was not significantly correlated with high N or P content. Compared to natural subsidies, angling baits were a favourable substrate for bacterial growth. Angling baits represent a source of highly available nutrients and the most‐enriched angling baits might affect ecological processes and water quality in ecosystems with high angling pressure, especially when their use is not regulated.
Responsible agriculture must adapt to the wetland character of mid‐latitude peatlands
Authors: Freeman Benjamin W. J. , Evans Chris D. , Musarika Samuel , Morrison Ross , Newman Thomas R. , Page Susan E. , Wiggs Giles F. S. , Bell Nicholle G. A. , Styles David , Wen Yuan , Chadwick David R. , Jones Davey L.
Published: March 2022

Drained, lowland agricultural peatlands are greenhouse gas (GHG) emission hotspots and a large but vulnerable store of irrecoverable carbon. They exhibit soil loss rates of ~2.0 cm yr−1 and are estimated to account for 32% of global cropland emissions while producing only 1.1% of crop kilocalories. Carbon dioxide emissions account for >80% of their terrestrial GHG emissions and are largely controlled by water table depth. Reducing drainage depths is, therefore, essential for responsible peatland management. Peatland restoration can substantially reduce emissions. However, this may conflict with societal needs to maintain productive use, to protect food security and livelihoods. Wetland agriculture strategies will, therefore, be required to adapt agriculture to the wetland character of peatlands, and balance GHG mitigation against productivity, where halting emissions is not immediately possible. Paludiculture may substantially reduce GHG emissions but will not always be viable in the current economic landscape. Reduced drainage intensity systems may deliver partial reductions in the rate of emissions, with smaller modifications to existing systems. These compromise systems may face fewer hurdles to adoption and minimize environmental harm until societal conditions favour strategies that can halt emissions. Wetland agriculture will face agronomic, socio‐economic and water management challenges, and careful implementation will be required. Diversity of values and priorities among stakeholders creates the potential for conflict. Successful implementation will require participatory research approaches and co‐creation of workable solutions. Policymakers, private sector funders and researchers have key roles to play but adoption risks would fall predominantly on land managers. Development of a robust wetland agriculture paradigm is essential to deliver resilient production systems and wider environmental benefits. The challenge of responsible use presents an opportunity to rethink peatland management and create thriving, innovative and green wetland landscapes for everyone's future benefit, while making a vital contribution to global climate change mitigation.
ERNST TOLLER SPEAKS AT THE WORLD CONGRESS OF WRITERS IN NEW YORK, 8–10 MAY 1939
Authors: von Tippelskirch Karina
Published: March 2022

This article investigates Ernst Toller's last public speech, ‘How Can Culture Survive Exile?’, which he delivered at the World Congress of Writers on 9 May 1939, in New York City. I first discuss the context of the speech, the writers’ congress, which took place alongside the World's Fair in New York and was organised under the auspices of the American PEN Centre and its president, Dorothy Thompson. Following that I describe Toller's relationship with Thompson. I then investigate Toller's speech and his arguments about German culture in exile, the duties and difficulties of exiled writers, and his calls to action. The last part of the article compares the published version of the speech with a later manuscript that has not been published to this day. It was broadcast on 16 May 1939, on the US radio station WNYC. Some passages in the later version differ from the speech that Toller had delivered a week earlier, most importantly by proposing a new initiative to support exiled writers. This change in the later manuscript is interpreted as a response to discussions at the World Congress of Writers. It also shows that after Franco's victory in Spain, Toller continued to develop new initiatives for the future.
A systematic review and narrative synthesis of footwear and orthotic devices used in the management of ankle haemarthrosis and haemarthropathy in haemophilia
Authors: Wilkins Richard A. , Chapman Lara S. , Emmel Jenny C. , Flannery Thuvia , Chapman Graham J. , Walwyn Rebecca E. A. , Redmond Anthony C. , Siddle Heidi J.
Published: March 2022

Introduction

Haemarthrosis is a clinical feature of haemophilia leading to haemarthropathy. The ankle joint is most commonly affected, resulting in significant pain, disability and a reduction in health‐related quality of life. Footwear and orthotic devices are effective in other diseases that affect the foot and ankle, such as rheumatoid arthritis, but little is known about their effect in haemophilia.

Aims

To review the efficacy and effectiveness of footwear and orthotic devices in the management of ankle joint haemarthrosis and haemarthropathy in haemophilia.

Methods

A systematic literature review was conducted. Two review authors independently screened studies for inclusion and appraised methodological quality using Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal checklists. A narrative analysis was undertaken.

Results

Ten studies involving 271 male participants were eligible for inclusion. All studies were quasi‐experimental; three employed a within‐subject design. Two studies included an independent comparison or control group. A range of footwear and orthotic devices were investigated. Limited evidence from non‐randomised studies suggested that footwear and orthotic devices improve the number of ankle joint bleeding episodes, gait parameters and patient‐reported pain.

Conclusion

This review demonstrates a lack of robust evidence regarding the efficacy and effectiveness of footwear and orthotic devices in the management of ankle joint haemarthrosis and haemarthropathy in haemophilia. Methodological heterogeneities and limitations with the study designs, small sample sizes and limited follow‐up of participants exist. Future studies utilising randomised designs, larger sample sizes, long‐term follow‐up and validated patient‐reported outcome measures are needed to inform the clinical management of ankle joint haemarthrosis and haemarthropathy.
Differences in sibling temperament are associated with differences in maternal use of food to soothe during infancy: A sibling analysis
Authors: Ruggiero Cara F. , Marini Michele E. , Llewellyn Clare H. , McHale Susan M. , Paul Ian M. , Savage Jennifer S.
Published: March 2022

Background

Firstborn children are more likely to have obesity than secondborns, which may partially be explained by differential use of food to soothe (FTS) infant distress, which has been inked to higher weight status.

Objectives

To test associations between the birth order and maternal FTS and whether differences in sibling temperament and body mass index (BMI) z‐scores were associated differences in maternal FTS.

Methods

Random effect models assessed associations between birth order and FTS. Linear regressions examined associations between differences in maternal FTS and sibling differences in temperament at 16 weeks and BMI z‐scores at 1 year.

Results

Mothers (n = 117) used contextual‐based FTS more with firstborns than secondborns (2.70 vs. 2.38, p < 0.0001). Sibling differences in negative affect were associated with differences in maternal contextual‐based (R2 = 0.09, p = 0.002) and emotion‐based (R2 = 0.09, p = 0.001) FTS. Sibling differences in effortful control were associated with differences in maternal emotion‐based FTS (R2 = 0.04, p = 0.04). Finally, differences in maternal emotion‐based FTS were associated with sibling differences in BMI z‐scores at age 1 year (R2 = 0.14, p = 0.006).

Conclusions

To promote healthy child weight, mothers should learn to respond to each child's temperament and use alternatives to FTS infant distress.
A global analysis of mosses reveals low phylogenetic endemism and highlights the importance of long‐distance dispersal
Authors: Sanbonmatsu Katie Kobara , Spalink Daniel
Published: March 2022

Aim

Digitization of herbarium specimens and DNA sequencing efforts in the past decade have enabled integrative analyses of patterns of diversity and endemism in a phylogenetic context. Here, we compare the best available floristic databases to a comprehensive specimen database to examine spatial patterns of moss phylogenetic assembly. We test the hypotheses that (1) mosses exhibit phylogenetic regionalization, (2) islands contain significantly high phylogenetic diversity and (3) that moss phylogenetic endemism is low on a global scale.

Location

Global.

Taxon

Mosses.

Methods

We developed a phylogeny of 3654 moss species using 25 markers and compiled a global specimen database from online repositories. We calculated floristic and phylogenetic measures of diversity and endemism and performed randomizations to test for significant deviations from expectations. We use rarefaction and extrapolation to alleviate substantial differences in sampling effort across the globe. We used both phylogenetic and floristic methods to test for spatial regionalization. We compare our specimen‐based results to those obtained using a floristic dataset.

Results

Phylogenetic diversity is more robust to missing data than species richness. Mean phylogenetic distance was significantly higher than expected in areas with high species richness, indicating that reported richness in these areas is likely a product of repeated colonization. Phylogenetic endemism is low globally. Phylogenetic regionalizations cluster into a Holarctic/Holantarctic temperate region, a pantropical region, and a region composed of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

Main Conclusions

Future efforts for collecting, sequencing and databasing moss species should focus on the tropics, particularly Africa and Southeast Asia. We provide further evidence to support several important theories developed in moss biogeography, including the role of long‐distance dispersal in shaping floristic patterns, the dominance of anagenesis in driving patterns of island diversity, and the role of climatic instability in driving patterns of assembly in the Holarctic.
The role of preoperative venography in predicting the difficulty of a transvenous lead extraction procedure
Authors: Aboelhassan Mohamed , Bontempi Luca , Cerini Manuel , Salghetti Francesca , Arabia Gianmarco , Giacopelli Daniele , Fouad Doaa A. , Abdelmegid Mohamed Aboel‐kassem F. , Ahmed Tarek A.N. , Dell'Aquila Andrea , Curnis Antonio
Published: March 2022

Introduction

We hypothesized that an accurate assessment of preoperative venography could be useful in predicting transvenous lead extraction (TLE) difficulty.

Methods and Results

A dedicated preoperative venogram was performed in consecutive patients with cardiac implantable electronic device who underwent TLE. The level of stenosis was classified as without significant stenosis, moderate, severe, and occlusion. The presence of extensive lead‐venous wall adherence (≥50 mm) was also assessed. A total of 105 patients (median age: 71 years; 72% male) with a median of 2 (1–2) leads to extract were enrolled. Preoperative venography showed moderate to severe stenosis in 31 (30%), complete occlusion in 15 (14%), and extensive lead‐venous wall adherence in 50 (48%) patients. Complete TLE success was achieved in 103 (98%) patients. A total of 55 (52%) were advanced extractions as they required a powered mechanical and/or laser sheath. They were more prevalent in the group with extensive lead‐venous wall adherence (72% vs. 34%, p < .001), while no differences were found between patients with and without venous occlusion. In multivariate analysis, the presence of adherence was a predictor of advanced extraction (odds ratio: 2.89 [1.14–7.32], p = .025). The fluoroscopy time was also significantly longer (14.0 [8.2–18.7] vs. 5.1 [2.1–10.0] min, p < .001). The rate of complications did not differ based on the presence of venous lesions.

Conclusion

Although procedural success and complication rates were similar, patients with extensive lead‐venous wall adherence required a longer fluoroscopy time and were three times more likely to need advanced extraction tools. Conversely, the presence of total venous occlusion had no impact on the procedure complexity.
A new Congrid eel, Rhynchoconger smithi sp. nov. (Anguilliformes: Congridae), from the Bay of Bengal, India
Authors: Mohapatra Anil , Ho Hsuan‐Ching , Acharya Smrutirekha , Ray Dipanjan , Mishra Subhrendu Sekhar
Published: March 2022

A new Conger eel species is described based on four specimens collected from Petuaghat fishing harbour, West Bengal, India. The combination of morphological characters and molecular data are discordant with the seven congeners currently recognized. Rhynchoconger smithi sp. nov. can be distinguished by having head smaller than trunk; pre‐anal length more than three times in total length; a small eye, diameter 2.0–2.2 in snout length; rictus ending at a vertical through posterior margin of pupil; ethmovomerine teeth patch small, with 58–74 blunt teeth arranged in seven to eight irregular rows; vomerine teeth patch small, with 18–28 granular teeth arranged in four to six irregular rows, distinctly separated by narrow spaces from the ethmovomerine and maxillary teeth; three supraorbital pores and one supra‐temporal pore; and 159+ to 164 total vertebrae. Moreover, R. smithi differs significantly from four congeners, R. nitens, R. flavus, R. ectenurus and R. gracilior, with Kimura two‐parameter (K2P) distances 14.6%–20.3%.
Long‐term morbidity and mortality in patients with Cushing's syndrome
Authors: Braun Leah T. , Vogel Frederick , Reincke Martin
Published: March 2022

Increased multisystem morbidity and mortality in patients with Cushing's syndrome comprise clinical problems and challenges, both at the time of diagnosis and in remission. Relevant comorbidities and clinical problems include hypertension, diabetes, overweight, myopathy and a high risk for acute complications such as infections and venous thrombembolism. Although there are therapy recommendations for most of these comorbidities, there is a lack of large, prospective studies to confirm and optimise them. Mortality is especially high during active disease and within the first year after diagnosis, as a result of cardiovascular events, infections and suicide. All in all, interdisciplinary therapy management is important for reducing morbidity and mortality over the long‐term.
Randomized experiment on the effect of incentives and mailing strategy on response rates in a mail survey of dentists
Authors: McKernan Susan C. , Reynolds Julie C. , McInroy Brooke , Damiano Peter C.
Published: March 2022

Objectives

Response rates for mail surveys of dentists and other health care providers have declined appreciably over the past several decades. The objective of this study was to update evidence about the impact use of incentives and different mail strategies on response rates in a mail survey of dentists.

Methods

We randomized private practice dentists in Iowa (N = 1267) into six study groups to test the effects of incentives and mail strategy on response rate. Survey incentives included either a $2 bill or a customized pen/stylus; a control group with no incentive was included. Mail strategies included bulk mail or first‐class stamps.

Results

The overall survey response rate was 43%. A $2 bill incentive was associated with significantly higher likelihood of returning a survey compared to the control group with no incentive (48% response rate vs. 40%, respectively). A non‐monetary incentive was not significantly associated with likelihood of response. Use of first‐class stamps compared to bulk mail did not significantly affect response rate.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated the effectiveness of a $2 incentive to increase response rate in a mail survey of dentists. Given the background trend of declining survey participation rates, researchers should consider use of monetary incentives and explore new strategies to increase participation among dentists and other health care providers.
Preliminary evaluation of a non‐invasive device for monitoring intracranial pressure waveforms in dogs
Authors: Bahr Arias M. V. , Conceição R. T. , Guimarães F. C. , Cardoso G. S. , Rocha N. L. F. C.
Published: March 2022

Objectives

The objective of this study was to compare waveforms obtained with a new device for the non‐invasive monitoring of intracranial pressure (ICP) in dogs with and without neurological disease.

Materials and Methods

This prospective study was conducted on both neurologically normal dogs and dogs with neurological diseases. First, non‐invasive ICP waveforms were recorded in normal dogs using the Braincare® BcMM 2000 monitor while the dogs were under general anaesthesia induced for procedures unrelated to this study. The dogs were positioned in lateral recumbency, and the sensor was placed over the skin of the parietal region. Secondly, non‐invasive ICP waveforms were monitored in dogs with brain and spinal disease until waveforms with characteristic peaks were acquired. All the recorded signals were amplified, filtered and digitalized, by the device, and then transferred to a computer for analysis.

Results

Normal pulse waveforms indicating normal brain complacency were observed in eight neurologically normal dogs. In six dogs with brain disease, abnormal pulse waveforms were observed suggesting increased ICP and decreased brain complacency. Four dogs with spinal disease undergoing myelography, had normal waveforms before contrast medium injection and abnormal pulse waveforms during contrast medium injection, indicating a potential increase in ICP.

Clinical Significance

Based on these preliminary observations, this method was capable of detecting abnormal pulse waveforms that suggested increased ICP.
“Passing Down Pollution”: (Inter)generational Toxicology and (Epi)genetic Environmental Health
Authors: Lamoreaux Janelle
Published: March 2022

Concern about the harmful health effects of industrial pollution is increasingly taking on an intergenerational dimension. In environmental health sciences such as toxicology, this has resulted in emphasizing the influence of toxic chemicals, substances, and situations across generations. Toxic relationalities are now being explored through research on gene–environment interaction, including toxicogenomics and epigenetic research through animal experiments and birth cohort studies. Based on fieldwork conducted among reproductive and developmental toxicologists working in Nanjing, China, this article shows how toxicological research both expresses and produces renewed anxieties about “passing down pollution.” These toxicological accounts of intergenerational harm problematically work through overly simplistic renderings of reproduction and biological relatedness. But they also have the potential to catalyze creative understandings of toxic relationalities and responsibilities at a moment when making kin is increasingly seen as key to securing livable futures. [toxicology, environment, epigenetics, kinship, China]
Toward Intergenerational Ethnography: Kinship, Cohorts, and Environments in and Beyond the Biosocial Sciences
Authors: Gibbon Sahra , Lamoreaux Janelle
Published: March 2022

Situated alongside and drawing from emerging inquiry, debate, and reflection about making and unmaking kin at a moment of critical reflection on racial, social, and reproductive inequities and changing environments, this special edition considers how anthropology can ethnographically examine and engage with intergenerational dynamics as they influence different scales and spheres of life. It brings together medical anthropologists and science and technology scholars conducting research in Bangladesh, China, the United Kingdom, South Africa, and the United States as they reflect on the un/making of kin in settings of expert knowledge production and dissemination, including practices of seed collecting, epigenetic science, birth cohort studies, social policy generation, and clinical trials. Contributors to this special issue consider how intergenerational relations and modes of transmission take form in and through biosocial research—both as an object of study and a method of analysis. [intergenerational, environmental change, kinship, biosocial]
Distinct early life stage gene expression effects of hybridization among European and North American farmed and wild Atlantic salmon populations
Authors: Islam Shahinur S. , Xue Xi , Caballero‐Solares Albert , Bradbury Ian R. , Rise Matthew L. , Fleming Ian A.
Published: March 2022

Due to multigeneration domestication selection, farmed and wild Atlantic salmon diverge genetically, which raises concerns about potential genetic interactions among escaped farmed and wild populations and disruption of local adaptation through introgression. When farmed strains of distant geographic origin are used, it is unknown whether the genetic consequences posed by escaped farmed fish will be greater than if more locally derived strains are used. Quantifying gene transcript expression differences among divergent farmed, wild and F1 hybrids under controlled conditions is one of the ways to explore the consequences of hybridization. We compared the transcriptomes of fry at the end of yolk sac absorption of a European (EO) farmed (“StofnFiskur”, Norwegian strain), a North American (NA) farmed (Saint John River, NB strain), a Newfoundland (NF) wild population with EO ancestry, and related F1 hybrids using 44 K microarrays. Our findings indicate that the wild population showed greater transcriptome differences from the EO farmed strain than that of the NA farmed strain. We also found the largest differences in global gene expression between the two farmed strains. We detected the fewest differentially expressed transcripts between F1 hybrids and domesticated/wild maternal strains. We also found that the differentially expressed genes between cross types over‐represented GO terms associated with metabolism, development, growth, immune response, and redox homeostasis processes. These findings suggest that the interbreeding of escaped EO/NA farmed and NF wild population would alter gene transcription, and the consequences of hybridization would be greater from escaped EO farmed than NA farmed salmon, resulting in potential effects on the wild populations.
A MITE variation‐associated heat‐inducible isoform of a heat‐shock factor confers heat tolerance through regulation of JASMONATE ZIM‐DOMAIN genes in rice
Authors: Wu Nai , Yao Yilong , Xiang Denghao , Du Hao , Geng Zedong , Yang Wanneng , Li Xianghua , Xie Tingting , Dong Faming , Xiong Lizhong
Published: March 2022

High temperatures cause huge yield losses in rice. Heat‐shock factors (Hsfs) are key transcription factors which regulate the expression of heat stress‐responsive genes, but natural variation in and functional characterization of Hsfs have seldom been reported.

A significant heat response locus was detected via a genome‐wide association study (GWAS) using green leaf area as an indicative trait. A miniature inverted‐repeat transposable element (MITE) in the promoter of a candidate gene, HTG3 (heat‐tolerance gene on chromosome 3), was found to be significantly associated with heat‐induced expression of HTG3 and heat tolerance (HT). The MITE‐absent variant has been selected in heat‐prone rice‐growing regions.

HTG3a is an alternatively spliced isoform encoding a functional Hsf, and experiments using overexpression and knockout rice lines showed that HTG3a positively regulates HT at both vegetative and reproductive stages. The HTG3‐regulated genes were enriched for heat shock proteins and jasmonic acid signaling. Two heat‐responsive JASMONATE ZIM‐DOMAIN (JAZ) genes were confirmed to be directly upregulated by HTG3a, and one of them, OsJAZ9, positively regulates HT.

We conclude that HTG3 plays an important role in HT through the regulation of JAZs and other heat‐responsive genes. The MITE‐absent allele may be valuable for HT breeding in rice.
Local population collapse of Ross's and lesser snow geese driven by failing recruitment and diminished philopatry
Authors: Weegman Mitch D. , Alisauskas Ray T. , Kellett Dana K. , Zhao Qing , Wilson Scott , Telenský Tomáš
Published: March 2022

Dynamics of free‐ranging animal populations can result from complex interplays of survival, recruitment and movement. Yet incomplete understanding of demography impedes conservation strategies intended to modify population dynamics of focal species. We estimated survival and per capita production of young, as well as emigration and immigration, from 1997 to 2017 in Ross's goose Anser rossii and lesser snow goose Anser caerulescens caerulescens, which are sympatric species of migratory birds that nest in the central Canadian Arctic at one of the largest breeding colonies in North America. We formed age‐structured integrated population models (IPMs) for each species that jointly analyzed live and dead encounter data as well as breeding adult population size and fecundity data to understand drivers of population dynamics. We compared the demography between species because both species increased during the 1990s and early 2000s yet thereafter snow geese declined, while Ross's geese continued to increase, then stabilized and similarly declined. Declines in Ross's and snow goose populations were caused by reduced per capita production of young, and juvenile survival, as well as increased adult and juvenile emigration. Stronger declines in juvenile survival in snow geese explain their earlier population decline compared to Ross's geese. Despite the divergence in population trends in Ross's and snow geese, we found strong synchrony in demographic rates which suggested substantial emigration from this colony and similar responses to environmental conditions. Direct estimation of demographic patterns in the IPM framework permitted hypothesis testing and inference about the role of immigration, even though immigrant sources were unsampled. We provide a novel m‐array implementation specific to a multi‐state Burnham model which greatly improved computational efficiency and convergence of posterior estimates. Our findings are an important reminder of the role that permanent movements can play in animal demography and metapopulation structure.
Cold urticaria in a pediatric cohort: Clinical characteristics, management, and natural history
Authors: Prosty Connor , Gabrielli Sofianne , Mule Pasquale , Le Gallee Madison , Miles Laura May , Le Michelle , Zhang Xun , Ensina Luis F. , Netchiporouk Elena , Ben‐Shoshan Moshe
Published: March 2022

Background

Cold urticaria (coldU) is associated with substantial morbidity and risk of fatality. Data on coldU in children are sparse. We aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics, management, risk of associated anaphylaxis, and resolution rate of coldU in a pediatric cohort. Additionally, we sought to compare these metrics to children with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU).

Methods

We prospectively enrolled children with coldU from 2013–2021 in a cohort study at the Montreal Children's Hospital and an affiliated allergy clinic. Data for comparison with participants with solely CSU were extracted from a previous study. Data on demographics, comorbidities, severity of presentation, management, and laboratory values were collected at study entry. Patients were contacted yearly to assess for resolution.

Results

Fifty‐two children with cold urticaria were recruited, 51.9% were female and the median age of symptom onset was 9.5 years. Most patients were managed with second‐generation H1‐antihistamines (sgAHs). Well‐controlled disease on sgAHs was negatively associated with concomitant CSU (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.69 [95%CI: 0.53, 0.92]). Elevated eosinophils were associated with cold‐induced anaphylaxis (coldA; aOR = 1.38 [95%CI: 1.04, 1.83]), which occurred in 17.3% of patients. The resolution rate of coldU was 4.8 per 100 patient‐years, which was lower than that of CSU (adjusted hazard ratio = 0.43 [95%CI: 0.21, 0.89], p < 10−2).

Conclusion

Pediatric coldU bears a substantial risk of anaphylaxis and a low‐resolution rate. Absolute eosinophil count and co‐existing CSU may be useful predictive factors.
A rare presentation of herpes simplex virus encephalitis occurring in a pediatric patient on dupilumab for atopic dermatitis
Authors: Rao Megana , Grove Daniel , Haggstrom Anita
Published: March 2022

A 4‐year‐old female with a history of atopic dermatitis developed herpes simplex virus (HSV) encephalitis while being treated with dupilumab and concomitant topical steroids. There was no prior history of HSV infections or immunodeficiency. To our knowledge, this is the first case of HSV encephalitis in a patient receiving dupilumab.
Jürgen Habermas and the public intellectual in modern democratic life
Authors: Verovšek Peter J.
Published: March 2022

This paper provides an overview of Jürgen Habermas's writings as a public intellectual and relates this work to recent debates about the proper relationship of theory to practice. In addition to being one of the most influential continental philosophers of the postwar era, Habermas is also the leading public intellectual of the Federal Republic of Germany and increasingly of the European Union as well. Unfortunately, his political writings have not received the attention they deserve. As a result, he is often misconstrued as an ideal theorist who is both ignorant of and apathetic toward ‘real’ politics. By showing how his philosophy relates to his political engagement, I present Habermas as a model for how the philosopher can apply theoretical insights to political developments in an indirect, mediated manner that focuses on debates within the democratic public sphere. This approach has distinct advantages when compared to active participation in the policymaking process and the direct application of philosophy to political practice, both of which threaten the principle of democratic equality in the public sphere.
Rotation‐Invariant Self‐Similarity Descriptor for Multi‐Temporal Remote Sensing Image Registration
Authors: Mohammadi Nazila , Sedaghat Amin , Jodeiri Rad Mahya
Published: March 2022

In this paper, a novel approach for the registration of multi‐sensor remote sensing images with substantial time differences is proposed. The proposed method consists of four main steps. First, robust image features are extracted using the well‐known UR‐SURF (uniform robust‐speeded up robust features) algorithm. Second, the feature descriptors are generated using a novel method based on self‐similarity measure, named RISS (rotation invariant self‐similarity). The RISS descriptor is an inherent rotation‐invariant descriptor based on the gradient orientation histogram of correlation values and is very resistant against illumination differences. Third, the outlier rejection process is performed based on a simple improvement of graph transform matching, named LWGTM (localized weighted graph transformation matching). Finally, the estimation of the transformation model and the rectification process are done using TPS (thin‐plate spline) model and the bilinear interpolation method. Five multi‐sensor remote sensing image pairs with relatively long years of time difference are used for evaluation. The results indicate the capability of the proposed method for reliable remote sensing image registration. The average recall, precision, the number of extracted matched points and the average registration accuracy of the proposed method are about 31.6, 39.5, 4940, and 1.8 pixels, respectively.
Physiological integration between Bermudagrass ramets improves overall salt resistance under heterogeneous salt stress
Authors: Yin Yan‐Ling , Xu Ya‐Nan , Li Xiao‐Ning , Fan Shu‐Gao , Wang Guang‐Yang , Fu Jin‐Min
Published: March 2022

Connected ramets of colonal plants often suffer from different environmental conditions such as light, nutrient, and stress. Colonal Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon [L.] Pers.) can form interconnected ramets and this connection facilitates the tolerance to abiotic stress, which is a kind of physiological integration. However, how bermudagrass responds to heterogeneously distributed salt stress needs to be further elucidated. Here, we demonstrated that severance of stolons aggravated the damage of salt‐stressed ramets, displaying higher relative electrolytic leakage (EL), lower content of chlorophyll, higher accumulation of Na+, and serious oxidative damages. This finding implied the positive effects of the physiological integration of bermudagrass on salt tolerance. The unstressed ramets connected with the stressed one were mildly injured, implying the supporting and sacrifice function of the unstressed ramets. Physiological integration did not mediate the translocation of Na+ among ramets, but induced a higher expression of salt overly sensitive (SOS) genes in the stressed ramets, consequently reducing the accumulation of Na+ in leaves and roots. In addition, physiological integration upregulated the genes expression and enzymes activity of catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) in both stressed and unstressed ramets. This granted a stronger antioxidant ability of the whole clonal plants under salt stress. Enhanced Na+ transfer and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging are mechanisms that likely contribute to the physiological integration leading to the salt tolerance of bermudagrass.
Sugars and the speed of life—Metabolic signals that determine plant growth, development and death
Authors: Wingler Astrid , Henriques Rossana
Published: March 2022

Plant growth and development depend on the availability of carbohydrates synthesised in photosynthesis (source activity) and utilisation of these carbohydrates for growth (sink activity). External conditions, such as temperature, nutrient availability and stress, can affect source as well as sink activity. Optimal utilisation of resources is under circadian clock control. This molecular timekeeper ensures that growth responses are adjusted to different photoperiod and temperature settings by modulating starch accumulation and degradation accordingly. For example, during the night, starch degradation is required to provide sugars for growth. Under favourable growth conditions, high sugar availability stimulates growth and development, resulting in an overall accelerated life cycle of annual plants. Key signalling components include trehalose‐6‐phosphate (Tre6P), which reflects sucrose availability and stimulates growth and branching when the conditions are favourable. Under sink limitation, Tre6P does, however, inhibit night‐time starch degradation. Tre6P interacts with Sucrose‐non‐fermenting1‐Related Kinase1 (SnRK1), a protein kinase that inhibits growth under starvation and stress conditions and delays development (including flowering and senescence). Tre6P inhibits SnRK1 activity, but SnRK1 increases the Tre6P to sucrose ratio under favourable conditions. Alongside Tre6P, Target of Rapamycin (TOR) stimulates processes such as protein synthesis and growth when sugar availability is high. In annual plants, an accelerated life cycle results in early leaf and plant senescence, thus shortening the lifespan. While the availability of carbohydrates in the form of sucrose and other sugars also plays an important role in seasonal life cycle events (phenology) of perennial plants, the sugar signalling pathways in perennials are less well understood.
Osteoporosis and periodontal diseases – An update on their association and mechanistic links
Authors: Yu Bo , Wang Cun‐Yu
Published: March 2022

Periodontitis and osteoporosis are prevalent inflammation‐associated skeletal disorders that pose significant public health challenges to our aging population. Both periodontitis and osteoporosis are bone disorders closely associated with inflammation and aging. There has been consistent intrigue on whether a systemic skeletal disease such as osteoporosis will amplify the alveolar bone loss in periodontitis. A survey of the literature published in the past 25 years indicates that systemic low bone mineral density (BMD) is associated with alveolar bone loss, while recent evidence also suggests a correlation between clinical attachment loss and other parameters of periodontitis. Inflammation and its influence on bone remodeling play critical roles in the pathogenesis of both osteoporosis and periodontitis and could serve as the central mechanistic link between these disorders. Enhanced cytokine production and elevated inflammatory response exacerbate osteoclastic bone resorption while inhibiting osteoblastic bone formation, resulting in a net bone loss. With aging, accumulation of oxidative stress and cellular senescence drive the progression of osteoporosis and exacerbation of periodontitis. Vitamin D deficiency and smoking are shared risk factors and may mediate the connection between osteoporosis and periodontitis, through increasing oxidative stress and impairing host response to inflammation. With the connection between systemic and localized bone loss in mind, routine dental exams and intraoral radiographs may serve as a low‐cost screening tool for low systemic BMD and increased fracture risk. Conversely, patients with fracture risk beyond the intervention threshold are at greater risk for developing severe periodontitis and undergo tooth loss. Various Food and Drug Administration‐approved therapies for osteoporosis have shown promising results for treating periodontitis. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying their connection sheds light on potential therapeutic strategies that may facilitate co‐management of systemic and localized bone loss.
Fusobacterium nucleatum and cancer
Authors: Alon‐Maimon Tamar , Mandelboim Ofer , Bachrach Gilad
Published: March 2022

Accumulating evidence demonstrates that the oral pathobiont Fusobacterium nucleatum is involved in the progression of an increasing number of tumors types. Thus far, the mechanisms underlying tumor exacerbation by F. nucleatum include the enhancement of proliferation, establishment of a tumor‐promoting immune environment, induction of chemoresistance, and the activation of immune checkpoints. This review focuses on the mechanisms that mediate tumor‐specific colonization by fusobacteria. Elucidating the mechanisms mediating fusobacterial tumor tropism and promotion might provide new insights for the development of novel approaches for tumor detection and treatment.
Interconnection of periodontal disease and comorbidities: Evidence, mechanisms, and implications
Authors: Hajishengallis George
Published: March 2022

Periodontitis, a microbiome‐driven inflammatory disease of the tooth‐attachment apparatus, is epidemiologically linked with other disorders, including cardio‐metabolic, cognitive neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases, respiratory infections, and certain cancers. These associations may, in part, be causal, as suggested by interventional studies showing that local treatment of periodontitis reduces systemic inflammation and surrogate markers of comorbid diseases. The potential cause‐and‐effect connection between periodontitis and comorbidities is corroborated by studies in preclinical models of disease, which additionally provided mechanistic insights into these associations. This overview discusses recent advances in our understanding of the periodontitis‐systemic disease connection, which may potentially lead to innovative therapeutic options to reduce the risk of periodontitis‐linked comorbidities.
Oral bacteria, oral health, and adverse pregnancy outcomes
Authors: Xu Biyang , Han Yiping W.
Published: March 2022

The link between oral health and adverse pregnancy outcomes has been suggested by numerous epidemiological studies. More recent studies indicate the relationship between severity of periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Two virulence mechanisms are proposed: direct invasion of oral microorganisms or their components into the fetal‐placenta unit and inflammatory mediators produced in the oral cavity affecting the fetal‐placenta unit. While interventional periodontal therapy still yielded contradictory results, animal studies suggest that maternal supplementation of omega‐3 fatty acids protects the fetus by suppressing inflammation as well as bacteria proliferation in the placenta. This article reviews the recent epidemiological, mechanistic, interventional, and therapeutic studies of oral health and adverse pregnancy outcomes.