bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Habitat‐tree protection concepts over 200 years
Authors: Mölder Andreas , Schmidt Marcus , Plieninger Tobias , Meyer Peter
Published: April 2020

The protection and sustainable management of habitat trees is an integral part of modern forest nature conservation concepts such as retention forestry. Bats, cavity‐nesting birds, arboreal marsupials, and many different saproxylic species depend on habitat trees and their great variety of microhabitats and old‐growth characteristics. With a focus on insights from temperate forests, we traced the development of habitat‐tree protection over 200 years. The idea was first conceptualized by foresters and natural scientists in the early 19th century. At that time, utilitarian conservation aimed to protect cavity trees that provided roosts and nesting holes for insectivorous bats and birds. By the second half of the 19th century, habitat‐tree protection was well known to foresters and was occasionally implemented. Knowledge of the protection of large old trees, a special kind of habitat tree, for sociocultural and aesthetic reasons developed similarly. But, many foresters of that time and in the following decades fundamentally rejected protection of habitat trees for economic reasons. Beginning in the 1970s, forest conservation and integrative forest management became increasingly important issues worldwide. Since then, the protection of habitat trees has been implemented on a large scale. Long‐term views on the development of conservation concepts are important to inform the implementation of conservation today. In particular, historical analyses of conservation concepts allow the testing of long‐term conservation outcomes and make it possible to study the resilience of conservation approaches to changing social or ecological conditions. We encourage all conservation ecologists to assess the practical and conceptual impact of the initial ideas that led to modern conservation concepts in terms of long‐term biodiversity conservation.
THE DETERMINANTS OF PRIVATE CAPITAL FLOWS IN EMERGING ECONOMIES: THE ROLE OF THE FED'S UNCONVENTIONAL MONETARY POLICY
Authors: Gamboa‐Estrada Fredy
Published: April 2020

Previous studies on the effect of the Fed's Unconventional Monetary Policy on capital flows in Emerging Economies have not been conclusive. I analyze if the effect of these policies on capital flows is heterogeneous between countries. This approach could be the smoking gun in this debate as I attempt to find evidence of a specific mechanism by which Unconventional Monetary Policy could affect the pattern of capital flows in Emerging Economies. The results suggest that Unconventional Monetary Policy has a significant effect on capital flows which depends on the type of measure adopted and the degree of financial exposure of each country to the United States. (JEL C23, E52, E58, F21, F32)
Potential role of insulin on the pathogenesis of depression
Authors: Zou Xiao Han , Sun Li Hua , Yang Wei , Li Bing Jin , Cui Ran Ji
Published: April 2020

The regulation of insulin on depression and depression‐like behaviour has been widely reported. Insulin and activation of its receptor can promote learning and memory, affect the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal axis (HPA) balance, regulate the secretion of neurotrophic factors and neurotransmitters, interact with gastrointestinal microbiome, exert neuroprotective effects and have an impact on depression. However, the role of insulin on depression remains largely unclear. Therefore, in this review, we summarized the potential role of insulin on depression. It may provide new insight for clarifying role of insulin on the pathogenesis of depression.
A transdisciplinary approach to a conservation crisis: A case study of the Eurasian curlew (Numenius arquata) in Ireland
Authors: Young Juliette C. , McCluskey Amy , Kelly Seán B. A. , O'Donoghue Barry , Donaghy Anita M. , Colhoun Kendrew , McMahon Barry J.
Published: April 2020

In this article, we build on a growing literature of examples of transdisciplinary approaches to illustrate the catalysts and outcomes of a stakeholder‐driven process to conservation practice. We illustrate this using the case of one of Europe's most rapidly declining bird species, the Eurasian curlew (Numenius arquata). As part of the response to its continuing decline, a stakeholder‐driven workshop was held in Ireland in November 2016, bringing together over 80 stakeholders from a range of governmental, non‐governmental, and private organizations responsible for or interested in curlew conservation and management. This innovative workshop sought to formulate ideas and support the implementation of actions from stakeholders themselves on how to halt further losses of curlews, within the current legislative framework. Four years on, many of the short‐ and medium‐term actions identified during the workshop have been implemented jointly by stakeholders. However, curlew recovery will require continued communication and meaningful engagement with all relevant stakeholders together with increased government support underpinned by increased public awareness and ownership of the curlew's plight. Ultimately, many stakeholders will measure the success of curlew conservation in Ireland by the long‐term viability of the breeding population.
Adults transplanted as children as retransplant candidates: Analysis of outcomes support optimism in a population mislabeled as high risk
Authors: Reyes Jorge D. , Dick Andre A. , Hendele James B. , Perkins James D. , Hsu Evelyn K.
Published: April 2020

Adult liver transplant programs have heretofore been hesitant to perform liver retransplantation in adult patients who underwent primary liver transplantation as a child (P_A). Areas of concern include: (a) potential disruption in care when transferring from a pediatric to an adult transplant center; (b) generally inferior outcomes of retransplantation; (c) reputation of young adults for non‐adherence to post‐transplant regimen; and (d) potential higher work effort for equivalent outcomes. To examine these concerns, we reviewed data on all US liver adult retransplants from 10/01/1987 to 9/30/2017. We propensity matched the P_A patients to patients who received both primary and retransplantation as adults (A_A), with ≥550 days between transplants. A mixed Cox proportional hazards model with program size and time period of transplantation as random variables revealed that retransplantation of P_A patients produced no significantly different graft survival or patient survival rates than retransplantation of the matched A_A patients. Therefore, inferior rates of liver retransplantation in these patients and concerns about continuity of care in changing transplant programs are not as believed in the wider liver transplant community. In conclusion, liver transplant centers should be optimistic about retransplanting adults who received their primary transplants as children.
Opioid‐related overdose deaths among African Americans: Implications for research, practice and policy
Authors: Stevens‐Watkins Danelle
Published: April 2020

Opioid‐related overdose deaths among African Americans have only recently received national attention despite evidence of increase in death rates among this population spanning the past decade. Numerous authors have highlighted how the ‘opioid epidemic’ has largely been portrayed as a problem mostly affecting White America. The purpose of this commentary is to provide a synthesis spotlighting the unique structural and cultural considerations involved in research, practice and policy related to opioid use and treatment for opioid use disorders among African Americans. The commentary concludes with considerations for future research and practice intended to reduce deaths among this group.
Habitat structural complexity explains patterns of feral cat and dingo occurrence in monsoonal Australia
Authors: Stobo‐Wilson Alyson M. , Stokeld Danielle , Einoder Luke D. , Davies Hugh F. , Fisher Alaric , Hill Brydie M. , Mahney Terry , Murphy Brett P. , Stevens Alys , Woinarski John C. Z. , Rangers Bawinanga , Warddeken Rangers  , Gillespie Graeme R.
Published: April 2020

Aim

An interaction between reduced habitat structural complexity and predation by feral cats (Felis catus) has been hypothesized as the primary driver of mammal decline in northern Australia. However, we have a limited understanding of the drivers of the distribution and abundance of feral cats at a landscape scale, including whether the occurrence of a top predator, the dingo (Canis familiaris [dingo]), limits feral cat populations. We modelled feral cat and dingo site occurrence, to provide the first broad‐scale assessment of their distributional patterns and co‐occurrence within monsoonal Australia.

Location

About 370,000 km2 of monsoonal area in the Northern Territory.

Methods

We surveyed 376 sites using camera traps. We used single‐ and two‐species occupancy models to investigate feral cat and dingo site occurrence and the influence of dingoes on feral cat occupancy. We included predictor variables that relate to hypotheses of predator occurrence, including both environmental and disturbance‐related variables.

Results

Feral cat occurrence and dingo occurrence were best predicted by indices of habitat structural complexity; feral cat occurrence declined with increasing productivity, except in areas of relatively high fire activity (fire frequency and extent), and dingo occurrence declined with terrain ruggedness. We found no evidence that dingoes are spatially limiting feral cat occurrence.

Main conclusions

Our findings suggest the protection and enhancement of habitat structural complexity at both the local and landscape scale could enable conservation managers to reduce the exposure of small‐ and medium‐sized mammals to feral cats and dingoes. This can most likely be achieved through improved fire and feral herbivore management, which is a more feasible management option than lethal predator control.
Detecting early gastric cancer: Comparison between the diagnostic ability of convolutional neural networks and endoscopists
Authors: Ikenoyama Yohei , Hirasawa Toshiaki , Ishioka Mitsuaki , Namikawa Ken , Yoshimizu Shoichi , Horiuchi Yusuke , Ishiyama Akiyoshi , Yoshio Toshiyuki , Tsuchida Tomohiro , Takeuchi Yoshinori , Shichijo Satoki , Katayama Naoyuki , Fujisaki Junko , Tada Tomohiro
Published: April 2020

Objectives

Detecting early gastric cancer is difficult, and it may even be overlooked by experienced endoscopists. Recently, artificial intelligence based on deep learning through convolutional neural networks (CNNs) has enabled significant advancements in the field of gastroenterology. However, it remains unclear whether a CNN can outperform endoscopists. In this study, we evaluated whether the performance of a CNN in detecting early gastric cancer is better than that of endoscopists.

Methods

The CNN was constructed using 13,584 endoscopic images from 2639 lesions of gastric cancer. Subsequently, its diagnostic ability was compared to that of 67 endoscopists using an independent test dataset (2940 images from 140 cases).

Results

The average diagnostic time for analyzing 2940 test endoscopic images by the CNN and endoscopists were 45.5 ± 1.8 s and 173.0 ± 66.0 min, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for the CNN were 58.4%, 87.3%, 26.0%, and 96.5%, respectively. These values for the 67 endoscopists were 31.9%, 97.2%, 46.2%, and 94.9%, respectively. The CNN had a significantly higher sensitivity than the endoscopists (by 26.5%; 95% confidence interval, 14.9–32.5%).

Conclusion

The CNN detected more early gastric cancer cases in a shorter time than the endoscopists. The CNN needs further training to achieve higher diagnostic accuracy. However, a diagnostic support tool for gastric cancer using a CNN will be realized in the near future.
Functional roles of microbial symbionts in plant cold tolerance
Authors: Acuña‐Rodríguez Ian S. , Newsham Kevin K. , Gundel Pedro E. , Torres‐Díaz Cristian , Molina‐Montenegro Marco A.
Published: April 2020

In this review, we examine the functional roles of microbial symbionts in plant tolerance to cold and freezing stresses. The impacts of symbionts on antioxidant activity, hormonal signaling and host osmotic balance are described, including the effects of the bacterial endosymbiontsBurkholderia,PseudomonasandAzospirillumon photosynthesis and the accumulation of carbohydrates such as trehalose and raffinose that improve cell osmotic regulation and plasma membrane integrity. The influence of root fungal endophytes and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on plant physiology at low temperatures, for example their effects on nutrient acquisition and the accumulation of indole‐3‐acetic acid and antioxidants in tissues, are also reviewed. Meta‐analyses are presented showing that aspects of plant performance (shoot biomass, relative water content, sugar and proline concentrations andFv/Fm) are enhanced in symbiotic plants at low (−1 to 15 °C), but not at high (20–26 °C), temperatures. We discuss the implications of microbial symbionts for plant performance at low and sub‐zero temperatures in the natural environment and propose future directions for research into the effects of symbionts on the cold and freezing tolerances of plants, concluding that further studies should routinely incorporate symbiotic microbes in their experimental designs.
Diagnostic potential of urinary monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 for Alzheimer’s disease and amnestic mild cognitive impairment
Authors: Xu Y. , Shen Y.‐Y. , Zhang X.‐P. , Gui L. , Cai M. , Peng G.‐P. , Pan X.‐D. , Zhang J. , Gan D. , Li B. , Cheng H.‐P. , Deng J. , Li W.‐W. , Zeng G.‐H. , Shi A.‐Y. , Zhou Z.‐H. , Luo B.‐Y. , Chen X.‐C. , Wang Y.‐J.
Published: April 2020

Background and purpose

The chemokine monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 (MCP‐1) is involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This study aimed to investigate whether urinary MCP‐1 can distinguish patients with AD, patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and cognitively normal (CN) subjects.

Methods

A total of 754 participants, including 97 patients with AD, 50 patients with aMCI and 84 age‐ and sex‐matched CN controls as well as a cohort of 523 CN subjects of different ages, were enrolled from five hospitals located in different areas of China. Urinary MCP‐1 levels were determined using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays. The correlations between urinary MCP‐1 levels and cognition test scores or age were analysed. The optimal diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were determined using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.

Results

In the cohort of CN subjects of different ages, urinary MCP‐1 levels increased with ageing and were correlated with age. The urinary MCP‐1 levels were higher in females than in males. In the cohort composed of patients with AD, aMCI and age‐ and sex‐matched CN controls, urinary MCP‐1 levels were significantly higher in patients with AD and aMCI than in CN controls. There were no differences in urine MCP‐1 levels between the AD group and the aMCI group. The urinary MCP‐1 levels were correlated with the Mini‐Mental State Examination scores and age, and were able to differentiate patients with AD and aMCI from CN subjects.

Conclusions

Urinary MCP‐1 is a potential biomarker for the diagnosis of AD and aMCI.
Financial controls to control corruption in an African country: Insider experts within an enabling environment
Authors: Lassou Philippe J. C. , Hopper Trevor , Soobaroyen Teerooven
Published: April 2020

This study analyses an implementation of a government accounting reform in Benin directed at redressing fraudulent and corrupt practices. Although reforms to improve public administration and to mitigate corruption in Africa often have disappointing outcomes, our case study involving systems for payment of supplier invoices, payroll matters, and debt certificates had encouraging findings. The systems reduced inefficiencies and corrupt practices. An “enabling environment” (its main elements being emancipatory space, empowered participation, and ethical leadership) encouraged the deeper involvement of committed, expert, and ethical local civil servants in establishing effective financial controls. In the context of anticorruption reforms, this illustrates that public sector organizations in Africa should not invariably be regarded as monolithic bureaucratic top‐down entities, staffed by civil servants who are either passive “bystanders,” purely self‐interested “players,” or insufficiently expert, and hence in need for more training, and of imported, expensive, accounting systems implemented by foreign consultants. In contrast, the paper argues that, within a suitable environment, granting indigenous experts enough latitude to enact incremental yet substantive accounting changes at the local level may be more effective.
Hybridizing the Triple Helix: A prerequisite for managing wicked issues
Authors: Thomasson Anna , Kristoferson Caroline Wigren
Published: April 2020

Striving to meet the challenges facing our society today, there is a growth in the number of cross‐sector collaboration. Expectations on these organizations are high in terms of their ability to deliver innovative solutions to wicked issues, but the task is challenging. This study contributes to our understanding of Triple Helix constellations and their ability to take on challenges related to complex and wicked issues. Even if research on hybrid organization is quite extensive, our understanding of how organizations hybridize is still scarce. With a holistic perspective on hybridity, as a point of departure, the purpose in this study is to analyze hybridization in order to investigate to what extent an organization recognize hybridity and adapt strategy and processes in order to exploit hybridity and use it as a source of creativity and innovation. We answer the purpose by combining research on hybrid organization with research on strategy and boundary spanning activities and by analyzing an organization's hybridizing process, using a case study approach. The study contributes to existing research on organizational hybridity theoretically as well as empirically.
The retardation effect of static torsion on fatigue crack growth in strip steel
Authors: Lu Yun‐chao , Chen Te , Yang Feng‐peng , Lan Tian
Published: April 2020

This study is aimed at analysing the effect of static torsion on Mode I fatigue crack growth behaviour. Experiments have been conducted under constant torque or constant twist angle with different load ratios on SAPH440 and DP780 strip steels. The experimental results showed that the application of the static torsion or twist angle extended the fatigue life of the specimens in all cases. The fatigue life showed a positive relationship with the applied torque or twist angle until some critical value. No additional improvement in fatigue life was found after the critical value. The mechanism of the retardation due to static torsion was discussed and supported by the microscope fractography analysis. An effective stress intensity factor expression was proposed based on the fractography analysis to estimate the fatigue crack growth under constant torque in the low torque condition. The parameters introduced in the expression were found to have relationships with the dimensionless quantity related to torque, tensile load, and specimen geometry. The proposed expression achieved reliable estimates of the SAPH440 and DP780 constant torque experimental results.
Institutional trading, investor sentiment, and lottery‐like stock preferences
Authors: Alldredge Dallin M.
Published: April 2020

This paper explores the time‐varying institutional investor preference for lottery‐like stocks. On average, institutional investor holdings reflect an aversion to lottery‐like stocks. However, I find that an institutions’ aversion to lottery‐like stocks is reduced when investor sentiment is low. Moreover, I find that during low sentiment periods, institutional investors have abnormally high trading profits in more positively skewed stocks. These results suggest that institutions reduce their aversion toward lottery‐like stocks during low sentiment periods to profitably trade in lottery‐like stocks.
Plastic pollution in croplands threatens long‐term food security
Authors: Zhang Dan , Ng Ee Ling , Hu Wanli , Wang Hongyuan , Galaviz Pablo , Yang Hude , Sun Wentao , Li Chongxiao , Ma Xingwang , Fu Bin , Zhao Peiyi , Zhang Fulin , Jin Shuqin , Zhou Mingdong , Du Lianfeng , Peng Chang , Zhang Xuejun , Xu Zhiyu , Xi Bin , Liu Xiaoxia , Sun Shiyou , Cheng Zhenhua , Jiang Lihua , Wang Yufeng , Gong Liang , Kou Changlin , Li Yan , Ma Youhua , Huang Dongfeng , Zhu Jian , Yao Jianwu , Lin Chaowen , Qin Song , Zhou Liuqiang , He Binghui , Chen Deli , Li Huanchun , Zhai Limei , Lei Qiuliang , Wu Shuxia , Zhang Yitao , Pan Junting , Gu Baojing , Liu Hongbin
Published: April 2020

Plastic pollution is a global concern given its prevalence in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Studies have been conducted on the distribution and impact of plastic pollution in marine ecosystems, but little is known on terrestrial ecosystems. Plastic mulch has been widely used to increase crop yields worldwide, yet the impact of plastic residues in cropland soils to soil health and crop production in the long term remained unclear. In this paper, using a global meta‐analysis, we found that the use of plastic mulch can indeed increase crop yields on average by 25%–42% in the immediate season due to the increase of soil temperature (+8%) and moisture (+17%). However, the unabated accumulation of film residues in the field negatively impacts its physicochemical properties linked to healthy soil and threatens food production in the long term. It has multiple negative impacts on plant growth including crop yield (at the mean rate of −3% for every additional 100 kg/ha of film residue), plant height (−2%) and root weight (−5%), and soil properties including soil water evaporation capacity (−2%), soil water infiltration rate (−8%), soil organic matter (−0.8%) and soil available phosphorus (−5%) based on meta‐regression. Using a nationwide field survey of China, the largest user of plastic mulch worldwide, we found that plastic residue accumulation in cropland soils has reached 550,800 tonnes, with an estimated 6%–10% reduction in cotton yield in some polluted sites based on current level of plastic residue content. Immediate actions should be taken to ensure the recovery of plastic film mulch and limit further increase in film residue loading to maintain the sustainability of these croplands.
Temporal lags in observed and dark diversity in the Anthropocene
Authors: Trindade Diego P. F. , Carmona Carlos P. , Pärtel Meelis
Published: April 2020

Understanding biodiversity changes in the Anthropocene (e.g. due to climate and land‐use change) is an urgent ecological issue. This important task is challenging because global change effects and species responses are dependent on the spatial scales considered. Furthermore, responses are often not immediate. However, both scale and time delay issues can be tackled when, at each study site, we consider dynamics in both observed and dark diversity. Dark diversity includes those species in the region that can potentially establish and thrive in the local sites’ conditions but are currently locally absent. Effectively, dark diversity connects biodiversity at the study site to the regional scales and defines the site‐specific species pool (observed and dark diversity together). With dark diversity, it is possible to decompose species gains and losses into two space‐related components: one associated with local dynamics (species moving from observed to dark diversity and vice versa) and another related to gains and losses of site‐specific species pool (species moving to and from the pool after regional immigration, regional extinction or change in local ecological conditions). Extinction debt and immigration credit are useful to understand dynamics in observed diversity, but delays might happen in species pool changes as well. In this opinion piece we suggest that considering both observed and dark diversity and their temporal dynamics provides a deeper understanding of biodiversity changes. Considering both observed and dark diversity creates opportunities to improve conservation by allowing to identify species that are likely to go regionally extinct as well as foreseeing which of the species that newly arrive to the region are more likely to colonize local sites. Finally, by considering temporal lags and species gains and losses in observed and dark diversity, we combine phenomena at both spatial and temporal scales, providing a novel tool to examine biodiversity change in the Anthropocene.
Is subarctic forest advance able to keep pace with climate change?
Authors: Rees W. Gareth , Hofgaard Annika , Boudreau Stéphane , Cairns David M. , Harper Karen , Mamet Steven , Mathisen Ingrid , Swirad Zuzanna , Tutubalina Olga
Published: April 2020

Recent climate warming and scenarios for further warming have led to expectations of rapid movement of ecological boundaries. Here we focus on the circumarctic forest–tundra ecotone (FTE), which represents an important bioclimatic zone with feedbacks from forest advance and corresponding tundra disappearance (up to 50% loss predicted this century) driving widespread ecological and climatic changes. We address FTE advance and climate history relations over the 20th century, using FTE response data from 151 sites across the circumarctic area and site‐specific climate data. Specifically, we investigate spatial uniformity of FTE advance, statistical associations with 20th century climate trends, and whether advance rates match climate change velocities (CCVs). Study sites diverged into four regions (Eastern Canada; Central and Western Canada and Alaska; Siberia; and Western Eurasia) based on their climate history, although all were characterized by similar qualitative patterns of behaviour (with about half of the sites showing advancing behaviour). The main associations between climate trend variables and behaviour indicate the importance of precipitation rather than temperature for both qualitative and quantitative behaviours, and the importance of non‐growing season as well as growing season months. Poleward latitudinal advance rates differed significantly among regions, being smallest in Eastern Canada (~10 m/year) and largest in Western Eurasia (~100 m/year). These rates were 1–2 orders of magnitude smaller than expected if vegetation distribution remained in equilibrium with climate. The many biotic and abiotic factors influencing FTE behaviour make poleward advance rates matching predicted 21st century CCVs (~103–104 m/year) unlikely. The lack of empirical evidence for swift forest relocation and the discrepancy between CCV and FTE response contradict equilibrium model‐based assumptions and warrant caution when assessing global‐change‐related biotic and abiotic implications, including land–atmosphere feedbacks and carbon sequestration.
Computerised scoring protocol for identification and quantification of different immune cell populations in breast tumour regions by the use of QuPath software
Authors: Berben Lieze , Wildiers Hans , Marcelis Lukas , Antoranz Asier , Bosisio Francesca , Hatse Sigrid , Floris Giuseppe
Published: April 2020

Aims

As important prognostic and predictive information can be obtained from the composition, functionality and spatial arrangement of different immune cell subtypes, this study aims at characterizing the immune infiltrate in breast tumours.

Methods and results

Tumour‐infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in 62 patients with luminal B‐like breast cancer were characterised by immunohistochemical staining with standard markers, and were subsequently classified and quantified by the use of QuPath software. In different delineated tumour regions, the proportion and density of CD3+, CD4+, CD5+, CD8+, CD20+ and FOXP3+ cells were assessed. The results of the software analysis were compared with those of manual counting for CD8 and CD20 staining. The QuPath scoring protocol slightly overestimated positive, negative and total lymphocyte counts and density, while minimally underestimating the proportion of positively stained lymphocytes. However, for density and proportion, no real differences from manual counting were observed. For all markers, the density of positively stained immune cells was higher in the invasive front than in the tumour centre, pointing to an accumulation of immune cells near the tumour boundaries. When we looked at the proportion of immunohistochemically positive immune cells, we observed enrichment of CD5 (P = 0.025) and CD20 (P < 0.001) at the periphery, and FOXP3 enrichment in the centre (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

The QuPath scoring protocol can adequately identify positively stained immune cells in breast tumours, and allows the evaluation of differences in immune cell proportion and density within different tumour regions. The entire tumour section can be quantitatively assessed quite rapidly, which is a major advantage over manual counting.
High night‐time temperature during flowering and pod filling affects flower opening, yield and seed fatty acid composition in canola
Authors: Pokharel Meghnath , Chiluwal Anuj , Stamm Michael , Min Doohong , Rhodes Davina , Jagadish S.V. Krishna
Published: April 2020

Winter canola (Brassica napus L.) is highly sensitive to increasing temperatures during the reproductive and pod‐filling stages. Although the impact of high day‐time temperature stress on yield and quality has been documented in canola, similar information under high night‐time temperature (HNT) stress is not available. Using six hybrids and four open‐pollinated cultivars, we observed a marked shift in peak flowering towards earlier, cooler hours of the morning under HNT. Averaged across two independent experiments, the photochemical efficiency of photosystem II was significantly decreased (3%), with a significant increase in thylakoid membrane damage (13%) in the leaves of susceptible cultivars under HNT stress. Similarly, the susceptible cultivars also recorded significant reduction in biomass (34%), pod number (22%), pod weight (37%) and total seed weight (40%) per plant while the same set of agronomic traits were not affected among the tolerant cultivars. Quantitative impact of heat stress was confirmed with increased sensitivity to HNT exposure from gametogenesis until maturity resulting in a significantly higher yield loss compared to stress exposure from post‐flowering till maturity. HNT significantly decreased oil concentration, but increased protein concentration and saturated fatty acid levels in seeds of the susceptible cultivars. However, HNT had no impact on the unsaturated fatty acids in both hybrids and the open‐pollinated cultivars. Breeding targets based on fatty acid composition for enhancing canola seed quality may not be easily amenable due to the inconsistency documented with the compositional changes under heat stress. In summary, our findings conclude that canola hybrids are better suited to regions experiencing heat stress, compared to open‐pollinated cultivars, indicating the possibility of a complete shift to hybrid canola cultivation under predicted hotter climates in the future.
A structural model for quality of life of alcoholics
Authors: Gu Minkyung , Lee Hye Kyung , Sok Sohyune R.
Published: April 2020

Aims

To investigate the factors affecting the quality of life of alcoholics and to identify the relationships between these factors to establish and verify a hypothetical model for the quality of life of alcoholics.

Design

Covariance structure analysis using structural equation model.

Methods

Participants were 223 adults who were hospitalized at alcohol addiction treatment centre after being diagnosed with alcoholism in Gyunggi‐do, South Korea. Data included the general characteristics of study participants, depression, abstinence self‐efficacy, stress level, stress coping strategy, social support and quality of life. Data were collected from March – 28 May 2016 and were analysed using SPSS 22.0 and AMOS 22.0.

Results

The factors affecting the quality of life of alcoholics included alcohol abstinence self‐efficacy (β = 0.37, t = 4.56), stress copying strategy (β = 0.23, t = 2.37), stress level (β = −0.20, t = −2.08) and social support (β = 0.14, t = 2.52). Factor analysis and statistical significance level was used for model coefficients and t‐value estimation.

Conclusion

This study suggested that to improve the quality of life of alcoholics, their alcohol abstinence self‐efficacy should be increased, measures to improve their stress coping strategy and ability should be prepared, their stress level should be lowered and the social support system perceived by them should be strengthened. Health professionals need to pay attention to the affecting factors to improve the quality of life of alcoholics.

Impact

Alcoholism is emerging as a social problem, not just an individual problem. Alcohol abstinence self‐efficacy had the greatest direct effect on the quality of life of alcoholics, followed by stress coping strategy, stress level and social support, which had significant direct effects. Depression had significant indirect effect on the quality of life of alcoholics. Health professionals need to pay attention to the affecting factors to improve the quality of life of alcoholics in clinical practice or community fields.
A scoping review of complexity science in nursing
Authors: Olsson Annakarin , Thunborg Charlotta , Björkman Annica , Blom Anneli , Sjöberg Fredric , Salzmann‐Erikson Martin
Published: April 2020

Aim

To describe how complexity science has been integrated into nursing.

Design

A scoping review.

Data source/review method

Academic Search Elite, Scopus, PsycINFO, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, PubMed and Web of Science were searched November 2016, updated in October 2017 and January 2020. The working process included: problem identification, literature search, data evaluation, synthesizing and presentation.

Results

Four categories were found in the included 89 articles: (a) how complexity science is integrated into the nursing literature in relation to nursing education and teaching; (b) patients' symptoms, illness outcome and safety as characteristics of complexity science in nursing; (c) that leaders and managers should see organizations as complex and adaptive systems, rather than as linear machines; and (d) the need for a novel approach to studying complex phenomena such as healthcare organizations. Lastly, the literature explains how complexity science has been incorporated into the discourse in nursing and its development.

Conclusion

The review provided strong support for use in complexity science in the contemporary nursing literature. Complexity science is also highly applicable and relevant to clinical nursing practice and nursing management from an organizational perspective. The application of complexity science as a tool in the analysis of complex nursing systems could improve our understanding of effective interactions among patients, families, physicians and hospital and skilled nursing facility staff as well as of education.

Impact

Understanding complexity science in relation to the key role of nurses in the healthcare environment can improve nursing work and nursing theory development.

The use of complexity science provides nurses with a language that liberates them from the reductionist view on nursing education, practice and management.
The nurse’s experience of decision‐making processes in missed nursing care: A qualitative study
Authors: Abdelhadi Nasra , Drach‐Zahavy Anat , Srulovici Einav
Published: April 2020

Aims

To explore nurses’ perspectives regarding the decision‐making processes that lead to missed nursing care and to identify the personal and contextual attributes involved in these processes.

Design

A qualitative study was undertaken between April – October 2018.

Methods

A total of 28 registered nurses working in different wards in hospital settings participated in nine focus groups with semi‐structured interviews. An interview guide encouraged nurses to share perceptions of missed care and the personal and contextual attributes shaping their decision‐making.

Results

Content analysis revealed three themes related to nurses’ decision‐making processes for whether to omit or delay care. First, nurses emphasized the role of nurses’ agency, suggesting explicit or implicit rationing of care, regardless of scarce resources. Second, nurses distinguished between two modes of thinking that they labelled “automated thinking,” activated in routine situations and “effortful thinking,” initiated in more novel situations. Finally, nurses identified situational factors triggering fluctuations in their awareness such as task type, difficult patients and the presence of relatives and the head nurse.

Conclusions

Nurses are aware of the processes guiding a decision to omit or delay care. They pointed to patient, nurse and ward conditions that serve as cues in their decision whether to miss care. Identifying these cues supports Hammond's cognitive continuum theory of decision‐making and may serve in the development of training programmes for nurses aimed at limiting the phenomenon.

Impact

The study addressed missed nursing care through a decision‐making lens. The findings pointed to nurses’ agency as shaping decisions about whether to miss care and identified the personal and contextual cues that guide nurses’ decisions. These findings call for organizational training programmes encouraging nurses to identify barriers and facilitators of missed nursing care and how to overcome them.
A deviation too many? Healthcare professionals’ knowledge and attitudes concerning patients with intellectual disability disrupting norms regarding sexual orientation and/or gender identity
Authors: Sommarö Susanna , Andersson Agneta , Skagerström Janna
Published: April 2020

Background

People with intellectual disability (ID) have few role models for sexual expression and behaviour, and those who identify as LGBTQ experience dual marginalization. The aim of this study is to explore knowledge and attitudes concerning patients with both ID and norm‐breaking sexuality and/or gender identity among healthcare professionals in habilitation centres.

Method

Data were collected from four focus group interviews that included 19 healthcare professionals from child and adult teams at two Swedish habilitation centres. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.

Results

Three themes were identified as follows: heteronormative treatment in health care, barriers for inclusion and possibilities for inclusion.

Conclusions

Norm‐breaking sexuality and gender identity are still relatively invisible in habilitation centres. People with ID are still predominately desexualized and perceptions regarding their sexuality are lagging behind the rest of society. Conditions that allow for more LGBTQ‐affirmative practice were described by the teams that have undergone LGBTQ training.
Latitudinal patterns of species richness and range size of ferns along elevational gradients at the transition from tropics to subtropics
Authors: Hernández‐Rojas Adriana C. , Kluge Jürgen , Krömer Thorsten , Carvajal‐Hernández César , Silva‐Mijangos Libertad , Miehe Georg , Lehnert Marcus , Weigand Anna , Kessler Michael
Published: April 2020

Aim

To assess the range size patterns of ferns and lycophytes along elevational gradients at different latitudes in an ecographical transition zone and search for predictors of range size from a set of environmental factors.

Location

Mexico, from 15° to 23° N.

Taxon

Ferns and lycophytes.

Methods

All terrestrial and epiphytic species were recorded in 658 plots of 400 m2 along eight elevational gradients. To test whether the range size within assemblages increases with elevation and latitude, we calculated the latitudinal range using the northern and southern limits of each species and averaged the latitudinal range of all species within assemblages weighted by their abundances. We related climatic factors and the changes with latitude and elevation with range size using linear mixed‐effects models.

Results

Species richness per plot increased with elevation up to about 1,500–2,000 m, with strong differences in overall species richness between transects and a reduction with increasing latitude. The mean weighted range size of species within assemblages declined with elevation, and increased with latitude, as predicted by theory. However, we also found marked differences between the Atlantic and Pacific slopes of Mexico, as well as low range size in humid regions. The best models described about 76%–80% of the variability in range size and included the seasonality in both temperature and precipitation, and annual cloud cover.

Main conclusion

Latitudinal and elevational patterns of range size in fern assemblages are driven by an interplay of factors favouring wide‐ranging species (higher latitudes with increasing temperature seasonality; dryer habitat conditions) and those favouring species with restricted ranges (higher elevations; humid habitat conditions), with additional variation introduced by the specific conditions of individual mountain ranges. Climatically stable, humid habitats apparently provide favourable conditions for small‐ranged fern species, and should accordingly be given high priority in regional conservation planning.
Performance of electrophysiology procedures at an academic medical center amidst the 2020 coronavirus (COVID‐19) pandemic
Authors: Rubin Geoffrey A. , Biviano Angelo , Dizon Jose , Yarmohammadi Hirad , Ehlert Frederick , Saluja Deepak , Rubin David A. , Morrow John P. , Waase Marc , Berman Jeremy , Kushnir Alexander , Abrams Mark P. , Garan Hasan , Wan Elaine Y.
Published: April 2020

A global coronavirus (COVID‐19) pandemic occurred at the start of 2020 and is already responsible for more than 74 000 deaths worldwide, just over 100 years after the influenza pandemic of 1918. At the center of the crisis is the highly infectious and deadly SARS‐CoV‐2, which has altered everything from individual daily lives to the global economy and our collective consciousness. Aside from the pulmonary manifestations of disease, there are likely to be several electrophysiologic (EP) sequelae of COVID‐19 infection and its treatment, due to consequences of myocarditis and the use of QT‐prolonging drugs. Most crucially, the surge in COVID‐19 positive patients that have already overwhelmed the New York City hospital system requires conservation of hospital resources including personal protective equipment (PPE), reassignment of personnel, and reorganization of institutions, including the EP laboratory. In this proposal, we detail the specific protocol changes that our EP department has adopted during the COVID‐19 pandemic, including performance of only urgent/emergent procedures, after hours/7‐day per week laboratory operation, single attending‐only cases to preserve PPE, appropriate use of PPE, telemedicine and video chat follow‐up appointments, and daily conferences to collectively manage the clinical and ethical dilemmas to come. We discuss also discuss how we perform EP procedures on presumed COVID positive and COVID tested positive patients to highlight issues that others in the EP community may soon face in their own institution as the virus continues to spread nationally and internationally.
The challenge of simplifying blood pressure screening in children and adolescents
Authors: Stabouli Stella , Antza Christina , Chrysaidou Katerina , Kotsis Vasilios
Published: April 2020

Simplified methods of blood pressure screening could facilitate the clinical routine of the primary care physicians and may increase adherence to pediatric hypertension guidelines. Blood‐pressure‐to‐height ratios are appealing for the simplicity of data needed to evaluate a child's blood pressure status, including only office blood pressure values and height. In several epidemiological studies around the world blood‐pressure‐to‐height ratios showed good predictive power in identifying children with high blood pressure in terms of area under the curve and sensitivity compared to the gold standard National High Blood Pressure Education Program blood pressure tables, but low positive predictive values meaning a high rate of false‐positive cases and possibly increased subsequent work load for primary physicians. Finally, blood‐pressure‐to height ratios seem to be dependent to age, sex, and weight status. In conclusion, blood‐pressure‐to‐height ratios need to be further improved and validated in different pediatric populations before routine clinical use.
Wilms' tumour 1‐associating protein inhibits endothelial cell angiogenesis by m6A‐dependent epigenetic silencing of desmoplakin in brain arteriovenous malformation
Authors: Wang Lin‐jian , Xue Yimeng , Li Hao , Huo Ran , Yan Zihan , Wang Jie , Xu Hongyuan , Wang Jia , Cao Yong , Zhao Ji‐zong
Published: April 2020

Brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are congenital vascular abnormality in which arteries and veins connect directly without an intervening capillary bed. So far, the pathogenesis of brain AVMs remains unclear. Here, we found that Wilms' tumour 1‐associating protein (WTAP), which has been identified as a key subunit of the m6A methyltransferase complex, was down‐regulated in brain AVM lesions. Furthermore, the lack of WTAP could inhibit endothelial cell angiogenesis in vitro. In order to screen for downstream targets of WTAP, we performed RNA transcriptome sequencing (RNA‐seq) and Methylated RNA Immunoprecipitation Sequencing technology (MeRIP‐seq) using WTAP‐deficient and control endothelial cells. Finally, we determined that WTAP regulated Desmoplakin (DSP) expression through m6A modification, thereby affecting angiogenesis of endothelial cells. In addition, an increase in Wilms' tumour 1 (WT1) activity caused by WTAP deficiency resulted in substantial degradation of β‐catenin, which might also inhibit angiogenesis of endothelial cells. Collectively, our findings revealed the critical function of WTAP in angiogenesis and laid a solid foundation for the elucidation of the pathogenesis of brain AVMs.
Mechanical and structural adaptations to migration in the flight feathers of a Palaearctic passerine
Authors: de la Hera Iván , Hernández‐Téllez Irene , Pérez‐Rigueiro José , Pérez‐Tris Javier , Rojo Francisco Javier , Tellería José Luis
Published: April 2020

Current avian migration patterns in temperate regions have been developed during the glacial retreat and subsequent colonization of the ice‐free areas during the Holocene. This process resulted in a geographic gradient of greater seasonality as latitude increased that favoured migration‐related morphological and physiological (co)adaptations. Most evidence of avian morphological adaptations to migration comes from the analysis of variation in the length and shape of the wings, but the existence of intra‐feather structural adjustments has been greatly overlooked despite their potential to be under natural selection. To shed some light on this question, we used data from European robinsErithacus rubeculaoverwintering in Campo de Gibraltar (Southern Iberia), where sedentary robins coexist during winter with conspecifics showing a broad range of breeding origins and, hence, migration distances. We explicitly explored how wing length and shape, as well as several functional (bending stiffness), developmental (feather growth rate) and structural (size and complexity of feather components) characteristics of flight feathers, varied in relation to migration distance, which was estimated from the hydrogen stable isotope ratios of the summer‐produced tail feathers. Our results revealed that migration distance not only favoured longer and more concave wings, but also promoted primaries with a thicker dorsoventral rachis and shorter barb lengths, which, in turn, conferred more bending stiffness to these feathers. We suggest that these intra‐feather structural adjustments could be an additional, largely unnoticed, adaptation within the avian migratory syndrome that might have the potential to evolve relatively quickly to facilitate the occupation of seasonal environments.