bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Research Review: Recommendations for reporting on treatment trials for child and adolescent anxiety disorders – an international consensus statement
Authors: Creswell Cathy , Nauta Maaike H. , Hudson Jennifer L. , March Sonja , Reardon Tessa , Arendt Kristian , Bodden Denise , Cobham Vanessa E. , Donovan Caroline , Halldorsson Brynjar , In‐Albon Tina , Ishikawa Shin‐ichi , Johnsen Daniel Bach , Jolstedt Maral , de Jong Rachel , Kreuze Leonie , Mobach Lynn , Rapee Ronald M. , Spence Susan H. , Thastum Mikael , Utens Elisabeth , Vigerland Sarah , Wergeland Gro Janne , Essau Cecilia A. , Albano Anne Marie , Chu Brian , Khanna Muniya , Silverman Wendy K. , Kendall Philip C.
Published: July 2020

Background

Anxiety disorders in children and young people are common and bring significant personal and societal costs. Over the last two decades, there has been a substantial increase in research evaluating psychological and pharmacological treatments for anxiety disorders in children and young people and exciting and novel research has continued as the field strives to improve efficacy and effectiveness, and accessibility of interventions. This increase in research brings potential to draw together data across studies to compare treatment approaches and advance understanding of what works, how, and for whom. There are challenges to these efforts due largely to variation in studies’ outcome measures and variation in the way study characteristics are reported, making it difficult to compare and/or combine studies, and this is likely to lead to faulty conclusions. Studies particularly vary in their reliance on child, parent, and/or assessor‐based ratings across a range of outcomes, including remission of anxiety diagnosis, symptom reduction, and other domains of functioning (e.g., family relationships, peer relationships).

Methods

To address these challenges, we convened a series of international activities that brought together the views of key stakeholders (i.e., researchers, mental health professionals, young people, parents/caregivers) to develop recommendations for outcome measurement to be used in treatment trials for anxiety disorders in children and young people.

Results and Conclusions

This article reports the results of these activities and offers recommendations for selection and reporting of outcome measures to (a) guide future research and (b) improve communication of what has been measured and reported. We offer these recommendations to promote international consistency in trial reporting and to enable the field to take full advantage of the great opportunities that come from data sharing going forward.
A randomised controlled trial of a relationship‐focussed mobile phone application for improving adolescents’ mental health
Authors: O’Dea Bridianne , Han Jin , Batterham Philip J. , Achilles Melinda R. , Calear Alison L. , Werner‐Seidler Aliza , Parker Belinda , Shand Fiona , Christensen Helen
Published: July 2020

Background

This study evaluated the acceptability and effectiveness of a relationship‐focussed mobile phone application (WeClick) for improving depressive symptoms and other mental health outcomes in adolescents.

Methods

A randomised controlled trial involving 193 youth (M age: 14.82, SD: 0.94, 86.5% female) from Australia was conducted. Youth were recruited via the Internet and randomly allocated to the intervention or a 4‐week wait list control condition, stratified for age and gender. The primary outcome was change in depressive symptom scores measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire for Adolescents (PHQ‐A) at baseline, 4‐week post‐test and 12‐week follow‐up. Secondary outcomes included anxiety, psychological distress, wellbeing, help‐seeking intentions for mental health, social self‐efficacy and social support. Participants in the intervention condition received access to the intervention for four weeks. Thematic analysis was utilised to identify and examine acceptability.

Results

The change in PHQ‐A scores from baseline to 4‐week post‐test did not differ significantly (d = 0.26, p = .138) between the intervention (Mchange = −2.9, SD = 5.3) and wait list control conditions (Mchange = −1.7, SD = 4.3). However, significant between‐group improvements were observed in wellbeing (d = 0.37, p = .023), help‐seeking intentions (d = 0.36, p = .016) and professional help‐seeking intentions for mental health problems (d = 0.36, p = .008). Increases in help‐seeking intentions were sustained at follow‐up in the intervention condition. No differential effects were found for generalised anxiety, separation anxiety, social self‐efficacy or for any social support outcomes. Over 90% of participants indicated the app was enjoyable, interesting and easy to use. The app provided ‘advice and direction’ (n = 42; 46.15%), an ‘opportunity for self‐reflection’ (n = 33; 36.3%) and ‘normalised experiences’ (n = 21; 23.1%).

Conclusions

The WeClick app was found to be effective for improving wellbeing and help‐seeking intentions for mental health in adolescents. A larger, adequately powered trial is now required to establish differential effects on depressive symptoms. This trial was registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR): ACTRN12618001982202.
Age and growth of slender tuna (Allothunnus fallai) in an unexploited temperate population
Authors: Bradley Kirsty A. , Arkhipkin Alexander
Published: July 2020

Many large predatory fishes are in decline and tuna sustainability is high on the global agenda. Slender tuna (SLT), Allothunnus fallai, is data‐poor and a rare contemporary example of a globally unexploited temperate tuna. This study analysed 214 otoliths for age and growth of fish collected in the South Atlantic. Observed ages varied between 9 and 42 years for a size range of 68–90 cm fork length. We reveal important life history data for SLT before exploitation and underline the relevance of data‐poor stocks in understanding wider questions for exploited tuna.
Modeling the combined effect of high hydrostatic pressure and mild heat on the sub‐lethal injury of Listeria monocytogenes by Box–Behnken design
Authors: Zhu Hua , Xu Yanyan , Qi Guohong , Wang Suilou , Wang Haixiang
Published: July 2020

In this study, a predictive model based on the Box–Behnken design of response surface methodology was applied to investigate the effects of high hydrostatic pressure (300, 400 and 500 MPa), temperature (20, 30 and 40°C) and treatment time (5, 10 and 15 min) on the sub‐lethal injury of Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes). The percentage of sub‐lethal injury was calculated by the difference in L. monocytogenes counts observed on nonselective and selective media. The established predictive model presented a goodness of fit to the experimental data (p < .001) with high correlation coefficient value (R2 = .9999) and adjusted correlation coefficient value (Adj‐R2 = .9995), along with an insignificant lack‐of‐fit term (p = .4299). The synergistic effects of pressure, temperature and treatment time on the sub‐lethal injury of L. monocytogenes were found within the tested experimental ranges. Results indicated that the established model has the potential for predicting the effects of high hydrostatic pressure processing on the sub‐lethal injury of L. monocytogenes.

Practical Applications

High hydrostatic pressure (HHP) processing has been an attractive way to replace conventional heat treatments to inactivate microorganisms for the preservation of foods. However, HHP processing can cause microorganisms to enter sub‐lethal injury state which pose a threat to food safety. There is a great need of quantification of injured population of L. monocytogenes in a wide range of pressure and temperature conditions. In this study, the changes of sub‐lethal injury of L. monocytogenes are described, which can be used to assess the HHP treatment efficacy and the synergistic action in food sterilization processes. The modeling for the sub‐lethal injury of L. monocytogenes cells induced by HHP processing combined mild heat was established. The effects of HHP processing on the sub‐lethal injury of L. monocytogenes could be understood further by this modeling which was helpful to facilitate industrial adoption of this technology. Based on these data, there was a reference for us to select appropriate processing parameters to avoid appearance of sub‐lethal injury of L. monocytogenes cells as far as possible during HHP in food industry.
Thermal and high‐pressure treatment stability of egg‐white avidin in aqueous solution
Authors: Dhakal Santosh , Shafaat Hannah , Balasubramaniam V. M.
Published: July 2020

The combined pressure (0.1 and 600 MPa) and thermal (30, 65, 75, 90, and 105°C) treatment effects on the binding properties of egg‐white avidin were investigated using fluorescence spectroscopy titrations with fluorescein‐labeled biotin for various holding times (up to 45 min). Pressure treatment was carried out in a high‐pressure kinetic tester whereas heat treatment was conducted using metal tubes in a temperature‐controlled oil bath. Avidin binding activity and strength decreased by approximately three orders of magnitude with increases in temperature and holding time, while the binding free energy (−52.3 ± 0.47 kJ/mol) remained unaffected by high‐pressure (600 MPa at 30°C) treatment. The thermal inactivation rate constant ranged from 0.009 to 0.793 per min at 65–105°C, 0.1 MPa. Combined pressure (600 MPa)–thermal (65–105°C) treatment reduced the corresponding values by a factor of two to nine, resulting in inactivation rates that ranged from 0.001 to 0.422 per min. Activation energies for avidin inactivation were 120 ± 10 and 149 ± 8 kJ/mol for thermal and combined pressure–thermal treatment, respectively. In conclusion, while heat treatment alone destroyed biotin binding strength of avidin, combined pressure, and heat exhibited antagonistic effects on avidin–biotin binding energies.

Practical Applications

Heat and pressure can have synergistic, additive, or antagonistic effects on food components. The synergistic effect is important from food safety aspect whereas antagonistic effect is desirable to retain food quality attributes during food processing. The parameters of reaction kinetic models, more specifically rate constant and activation energy can be used to evaluate the interactions of heat and pressure during food processing. Egg‐white avidin has been selected in this study to evaluate the interaction between heat and pressure. Information obtained from this study can be used to preserve egg‐white avidin binding activity for various applications including food formulations, biochemical assays and preservation, due to its enormously high binding ability with biotin.
Not your father’s homodonty—stress, tooth shape, and the functional homodont
Authors: Cohen Karly E. , Weller Hannah I. , Summers Adam P.
Published: July 2020

Teeth tell the tale of interactions between predator and prey. If a dental battery is made up of teeth that look similar, they are morphologically homodont, but if there is an unspecified amount of regional specialization in size or shape, they are morphologically heterodont. These are vague terms with no useful functional implication because morphological homodonty does not necessarily equal functional homodonty. Teeth that look the same may not function the same. Conical teeth are prevalent in fishes, superficially tasked with the simple job of puncture. There is a great deal of variation in the shape and placement of conical teeth. Anterior teeth may be larger than posterior ones, larger teeth may be surrounded by small ones, and patches of teeth may all have the same size and shape. Such variations suggest that conical dentitions might represent a single morphological solution for different functional problems. We are interested in the concept of homodonty and using the conical tooth as a model to differentiate between tooth shape and performance. We consider the stress that a tooth can exert on prey as stress is what causes damage. To create a statistical measure of functional homodonty, stress was calculated from measurements of surface area, position, and applied force. Functional homodonty is then defined as the degree to which teeth along the jaw all bear/exert similar stresses despite changes in shape. We find that morphologically heterodont teeth are often functionally homodont and that position is a better predictor of performance than shape. Furthermore, the arrangement of teeth affects their function, such that there is a functional advantage to having several smaller teeth surrounding a singular large tooth. We demonstrate that this arrangement of teeth is useful to grab, rather than tear, prey upon puncture, with the smaller teeth dissipating large stress forces around the larger tooth. We show that measurements of how shape affects stress distribution in response to loading give us a clearer picture of the evolution of conically shaped teeth.
Contrast‐enhanced micro‐computed tomography of articular cartilage morphology with ioversol and iomeprol
Authors: ter Voert Colet E. M. , Kour R. Y. Nigel , van Teeffelen Bente C. J. , Ansari Niloufar , Stok Kathryn S.
Published: July 2020

Non‐ionic, low‐osmolar contrast agents (CAs) used for computed tomography, such as Optiray (ioversol) and Iomeron (iomeprol), are associated with the reduced risk of adverse reactions and toxicity in comparison with ionic CAs, such as Hexabrix. Hexabrix has previously been used for imaging articular cartilage but has been commercially discontinued. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Optiray and Iomeron as alternatives for visualisation of articular cartilage in small animal joints using contrast‐enhanced micro‐computed tomography (CECT). For this purpose, mouse femora were immersed in different concentrations (20%–50%) of Optiray 350 or Iomeron 350 for periods of time starting at five minutes. The femoral condyles were scanned ex vivo using CECT, and regions of articular cartilage manually contoured to calculate mean attenuation at each time point and concentration. For both CAs, a 30% CA concentration produced a mean cartilage attenuation optimally distinct from both bone and background signal, whilst 5‐min immersion times were sufficient for equilibration of CA absorption. Additionally, plugs of bovine articular cartilage were digested by chondroitinase ABC to produce a spectrum of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content. These samples were immersed in CA and assessed for any correlation between mean attenuation and GAG content. No significant correlation was found between attenuation and cartilage GAG content for either CAs. In conclusion, Optiray and Iomeron enable high‐resolution morphological assessment of articular cartilage in small animals using CECT; however, they are not indicative of GAG content.
Hemiselmis andersenii and Chlorella stigmatophora As New Sources of High‐value Compounds: A Lipidomic Approach
Authors: Fernandes Tomásia , Cordeiro Nereida
Published: July 2020

To unlock the potential of Chlorella stigmatophora (Trebouxiophyceae, Chlorophyta) and Hemiselmis andersenii (Cryptophyceae, Cryptophyta) as natural reactors for biotechnological exploitation, their lipophilic extracts were characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy with Attenuated Total Reflectance (FTIR‐ATR) and Gas Chromatography‐Mass Spectrometry (GC‐MS) before and after alkaline hydrolysis. The GC‐MS analysis enabled the identification of 62 metabolites—namely fatty acids (27), aliphatic alcohols (17), monoglycerides (7), sterols (4), and other compounds (7). After alkaline hydrolysis, monounsaturated fatty acids increased by as much as 87%, suggesting that the esterified compounds were mainly neutral lipids. Hemiselmis andersenii yielded the highest Σω3/Σω6 ratio (7.26), indicating that it is a good source of ω3 fatty acids, in comparison to C. stigmatophora (Σω3/Σω6 = 1.24). Both microalgae presented significant amounts of aliphatic alcohols (6.81–10.95 mg · g dw−1), which are recognized by their cholesterol‐lowering properties. The multivariate analysis allowed visualization of the chemical divergence among H. andersenii lipophilic extracts before and after alkaline hydrolysis, as well as species‐specific differences. Chlorella stigmatophora showed to be a valuable source of essential fatty acids for nutraceuticals, whereas H. andersenii, due to its high chemical diversity, seems to be suitable for different fields of application.
Prognostic significance of carotid plaque presence in peritoneal dialysis patients and its association with the apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein A1 ratio
Authors: Chen Yun , Shang Da , Shao Jie , Dai Shuqi , Ge Xiaolin , Hao Chuanming , Zhu Tongying
Published: July 2020

Aim

Atherosclerosis has been reported as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease in the general population. As a phenotype of atherosclerosis, carotid plaque and its influence factors are rarely discussed among dialysis patients. The study aimed to investigate the prognosis‐predictive significance of carotid plaques in patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD), and explore risks factors for carotid plaque presence.

Methods

It was an observational, prospective study. Patients that had undergone stable PD for at least 3 months were recruited and divided into two subgroups: group with carotid plaques and group without carotid plaques. Cox regression model was used to identify independent predictors of all‐cause mortality, cardiovascular events (CVEs), and cardiovascular mortality. Pathogenic factors correlated to the plaque‐occurrence were explored by logistic regression and verified by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

Results

A total of 233 PD patients were recruited. The cohort was followed for up to 86 months. The carotid plaque presence turned out to be an independent risk factor both of CVEs [hazard ratio (HR): 2.659; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.231‐5.741; P = .013] and cardiovascular mortality (HR: 3.716; 95% CI: 1.168‐11.823; P = .026). The apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein A1 (ApoB/ApoA1) ratio was significantly associated with the presence of carotid plaques. ROC analysis indicated that the area under the curve of the ApoB/ApoA1 ratio was higher than that of the traditional lipid metabolism index for detecting plaque presence.

Conclusion

Carotid plaque presence can predict CVEs and cardiovascular mortality in PD patients. The ApoB/ApoA1 ratio is significantly correlated to the carotid plaques and the ApoB/ApoA1 ratio had a greater sensitivity than traditional lipid indices for predicting plaque presence.
The relationships between the results of contemporary tests of anorectal structure and sensorimotor function and the severity of fecal incontinence
Authors: Heitmann Paul T. , Rabbitt Philippa , Schloithe Ann C. , Wattchow David A. , Scott S. Mark , Dinning Phil G.
Published: July 2020

Background

Diagnostic investigations for fecal incontinence (FI) assess the structure and sensorimotor function of the anorectum. Investigations include anorectal manometry, anorectal sensory testing, pudendal nerve terminal motor latencies (PNTML), and endoanal sonography. The severity of FI and results of investigations are often discordant and the rate of symptom resolution following treatment remains <40%. High‐resolution anorectal manometry (HRAM) and three‐dimensional endoanal ultrasound (3D‐US) have been introduced during the last decade. This study aims to assess the strength of relationships between contemporary investigation results and FI severity.

Methods

Adults presenting for investigation of FI were assessed using the St Mark’s FI severity score (SMIS), HRAM, anorectal sensory testing, PNTML, and 3D‐US.

Key Results

246 patients were included. There were significant relationships between the SMIS and HRAM (resting pressure rs = −0.23, 95% CI = (−0.34, −0.11), P < .001; squeeze pressure (rs = −0.26, 95% CI = (−0.37, −0.14), P < .001) and 3D‐US (anterior EAS length rs = −0.22, 95% CI = (−0.34, −0.09), P = .001). The relationships between SMIS and HRAM had a greater effect size in those with urge‐predominant symptoms (resting pressure: rs = −0.40, 95% CI = (−0.57, −0.20), P < .001, squeeze pressure: rs = −0.34, 95% CI = (−0.52, −0.12), P = .003). Overall, the variance in SMIS accounted for by anorectal investigations was 8.6% (R2 = 0.098, adjusted R2 = 0.086, P < .001).

Conclusions and Inferences

Anorectal investigations are not strong predictors of FI severity. These findings may reflect the multifactorial, heterogeneous pathophysiology of FI, the limitations of the SMIS and anorectal investigations, and contributing factors extrinsic to the anorectum.
Intelligent humanoid robots expressing artificial humanlike empathy in nursing situations
Authors: Pepito Joseph Andrew , Ito Hirokazu , Betriana Feni , Tanioka Tetsuya , Locsin Rozzano C.
Published: July 2020

Intelligent humanoid robots (IHRs) are becoming likely to be integrated into nursing practice. However, a proper integration of IHRs requires a detailed description and explanation of their essential capabilities, particularly regarding their competencies in replicating and portraying emotive functions such as empathy. Existing humanoid robots can exhibit rudimentary forms of empathy; as these machines slowly become commonplace in healthcare settings, they will be expected to express empathy as a natural function, rather than merely to portray artificial empathy as a replication of human empathy. This article works with a twofold purpose: firstly, to consider the impact of artificial empathy in nursing and, secondly, to describe the influence of Affective Developmental Robotics (ADR) in anticipation of the empathic behaviour presented by artificial humanoid robots. The ADR has demonstrated that it can be one means by which humanoid nurse robots can achieve expressions of more relatable artificial empathy. This will be one of the vital models for intelligent humanoid robots currently in nurse robot development for the healthcare industry. A discussion of IHRs demonstrating artificial empathy is critical to nursing practice today, particularly in healthcare settings dense with technology.
Visceral obesity and incident cancer and cardiovascular disease: An integrative review of the epidemiological evidence
Authors: Silveira Erika Aparecida , Kliemann Nathalie , Noll Matias , Sarrafzadegan Nizal , de Oliveira Cesar
Published: July 2020

Evidence shows a strong relationship between obesity, cancer and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. However, there is not enough evidence of the role of visceral obesity on both CVD and cancer. Visceral obesity may be more pro‐oncogenic than total body fat. Therefore, it is important to know whether abdominal obesity can lead to both CVD and cancer. The present integrative review aimed at evaluating epidemiological evidence on the potential connection of visceral obesity in the occurrence of cancer and CVD. The following databases were searched: SCOPUS, PubMed, Science Direct, Lilacs, SciELO, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Scopus and ProQuest. The presence of visceral obesity can increase the risk of some specific cancer types, but there is controversial evidence about CVD risk based on sex‐specific and ageing analyses. There is enough evidence that visceral obesity increases the risk of colorectal, pancreatic and gastro‐oesophageal cancer. However, for some types of cancer such as breast, endometrial and renal, visceral obesity is a risk only in post‐menopausal women. Regarding prostate cancer, the evidence is controversial. Despite the risk of visceral obesity being consistently associated with CVD in adults, this association disappears in sex‐specific and older adults analyses. Moreover, in older adults, the results are controversial due to the use of different measures such as waist circumference and visceral adipose tissue. However, the evidence showing visceral obesity as a risk factor to CVD remains controversial. Sex differences, ageing and body mass index (BMI) category can potentially modify this association. Therefore, further epidemiological studies with analyses stratified by sex and samples including older adults aged 65 and older are needed.
Physical exercise and epicardial adipose tissue: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Saco‐Ledo Gonzalo , Valenzuela Pedro L. , Castillo‐García Adrián , Arenas Joaquín , León‐Sanz Miguel , Ruilope Luis M. , Lucia Alejandro
Published: July 2020

We performed a meta‐analysis of the effects of exercise on epicardial adipose tissue (EAT). A systematic search was conducted in PubMed and Scopus (since inception to 1 February 2020) of randomized controlled trials assessing the effects of exercise interventions alone (with no concomitant weight loss intervention) on EAT. The standardized mean difference (Hedges' g) and 95% confidence interval between interventions were computed using a random effects model. Ten studies (including 521 participants who had, on average, overweight/obesity) met all inclusion criteria. Interventions were supervised and lasted 2 to 16 weeks (≥3 sessions·per week). Exercise significantly reduced EAT (g = 0.82 [0.57–1.07]) irrespective of the duration of the intervention or the EAT imaging assessment method. Exercise benefits were separately confirmed for endurance (six studies, n = 287; g = 0.83 [0.52–1.15]) but not for resistance exercise training (due to insufficient data for quantitative synthesis). It was not possible to compare the effect of high‐intensity interval training (HIIT) versus moderate‐intensity continuous training (two studies, one reporting higher benefits with HIIT and the other no differences). Physical exercise interventions—particularly endurance training, with further evidence needed for other exercise modalities—appear as an effective strategy for reducing EAT in individuals with overweight/obesity, which supports their implementation for cardiovascular risk reduction.
Friendly neighbours: Hydraulic redistribution accounts for one quarter of water used by neighbouring drought stressed tree saplings
Authors: Hafner Benjamin D. , Hesse Benjamin D. , Grams Thorsten E. E.
Published: July 2020

Hydraulic redistribution (HR) can buffer drought events of tree individuals, however, its relevance for neighbouring trees remains unclear. Here, we quantified HR to neighbouring trees in single‐ and mixed‐species combinations. We hypothesized that uptake of HR water positively correlates with root length, number of root tips and root xylem hydraulic conductivity and that neighbours in single‐species combinations receive more HR water than in phylogenetic distant mixed‐species combinations. In a split‐root experiment, a sapling with its roots split between two pots redistributed deuterium labelled water from a moist to a dry pot with an additional tree each. We quantified HR water received by the sapling in the dry pot for six temperate tree species. After 7 days, one quarter of the water in roots (2.1 ± 0.4 ml), stems (0.8 ± 0.2 ml) and transpiration (1.0 ± 0.3 ml) of the drought stressed sapling originated from HR. The amount of HR water transpired by the receiving plant stayed constant throughout the experiment. While the uptake of HR water increased with root length, species identity did not affect HR as saplings of Picea abies ((L.) Karst) and Fagus sylvatica (L.) in single‐ and mixed‐species combinations received the same amount of HR water.
Loss of rice PARAQUAT TOLERANCE 3 confers enhanced resistance to abiotic stresses and increases grain yield in field
Authors: Alfatih Alamin , Wu Jie , Jan Sami Ullah , Zhang Zi‐Sheng , Xia Jin‐Qiu , Xiang Cheng‐Bin
Published: July 2020

Plants frequently suffer from environmental stresses in nature and have evolved sophisticated and efficient mechanisms to cope with the stresses. To balance between growth and stress response, plants are equipped with efficient means to switch off the activated stress responses when stresses diminish. We previously revealed such an off‐switch mechanism conferred by Arabidopsis PARAQUAT TOLERANCE 3 (AtPQT3) encoding an E3 ubiquitin ligase, knockout of which significantly enhances resistance to abiotic stresses. To explore whether the rice homologue OsPQT3 is functionally conserved, we generated three knockout mutants with CRISPR‐Cas9 technology. The OsPQT3 knockout mutants (ospqt3) display enhanced resistance to oxidative and salt stress with elevated expression of OsGPX1, OsAPX1 and OsSOD1. More importantly, the ospqt3 mutants show significantly enhanced agronomic performance with higher yield compared with the wild type under salt stress in greenhouse as well as in field conditions. We further showed that OsPQT3 expression rapidly decreased in response to oxidative and other abiotic stresses as AtPQT3 does. Taken together, these results show that OsPQT3 is functionally well conserved in rice as an off‐switch in stress response as AtPQT3 in Arabidopsis. Therefore, PQT3 locus provides a promising candidate for crop improvement with enhanced stress resistance by gene editing technology.
The benefits and perils of job candidates’ signaling their morality in selection decisions
Authors: Yam Kai Chi , Reynolds Scott J. , Wiltermuth Scott S. , Zhang Yajun
Published: July 2020

In this research, we challenge the belief that positive signals of morality always increase job candidates’ appeal to interviewers. In four experiments with both experienced and novice interviewers, we find that signals of the candidates’ morality interact with the nature of the industry such that candidates who send signals of morality are less likely to be selected for jobs in a morally tainted industry, compared to neutral candidates. Moderated mediation analyses indicate that this effect is driven by a perceived lack of job fit (Experiments 1 and 2). Results of Experiment 3 indicate that this moderation effect is limited to candidates who signal morality—candidates applying for jobs in morally tainted industries who signal immorality do not enjoy a competitive advantage over moral or morally neutral candidates. Finally, the framing of the organization, that is, whether critical aspects of the organization are presented as more morally or economically oriented, within morally tainted industries helps mitigate the penalizing effects interviewers put on candidates who signal their morality—a moral frame eliminates this negative effect whereas an economic frame does not (Experiment 4). Together, these studies indicate that a job candidate's morality is a complicated and important quality that can profoundly affect his/her ratings of hireability.
Path‐Dependent Public Servants: Comparing the Influence of Traditions on Administrative Behavior in Developing Asia
Authors: Van der Wal Zeger , Mussagulova Assel , Chen Chung‐An
Published: July 2020

This article compares the motivations and attitudes of public servants in Kazakhstan (n = 627) and Pakistan (n = 207) by analyzing quantitative and qualitative survey data. A comparison of these two developing Asian countries with distinct administrative traditions and path dependencies contributes to the public administration literature on developing countries. This literature often treats public servants in developing countries as a single category, with little contextualization of findings. This study finds that despite an overlap in Islamic societal values, public servants’ motivations and attitudes differ: lower prosocial proclivity and more aspiration for money in Kazakhstan may be partly explained by the Soviet administrative tradition, while prosocial propensity and lower concern with pay in Pakistan may be attributed to the South Asian tradition. The authors conclude that historical legacies help explain cross‐country differences in employee motivation and attitudes. The findings also improve our knowledge about the potential of reforms within the examined conditions.
Drivers of native species regeneration in the process of restoring natural forests from mono‐specific, even‐aged tree plantations: a quantitative review
Authors: Kremer Klaus N. , Bauhus Jürgen
Published: July 2020

A substantial proportion of the existing tree plantations has been established following clearing of native forests. This form of conversion has become widely unaccepted, and there are increasing demands to reverse it through ecological restoration. Yet, there is a lack of integrated knowledge on how best to restore. Here, we reviewed 68 studies to identify the main factors determining establishment success of regeneration of native woody species when restoring natural forests from plantation forests using active and passive approaches, beneath existing canopies, and following their removal. According to the evidence collected, herbivory, within‐gap position, soil properties, and ground cover type and structure had limited influence on regeneration, showing significant effects in less than 26% of cases in which their influence was tested. In contrast, spatial landscape configuration, overstorey structure, ground vegetation structure, overstorey composition, and climate and geomorphology had significant effects in 67, 47, 47, 52, and 63% of cases, respectively. Regeneration diversity and abundance increased with proximity to natural vegetation remnants and seed sources. Lower canopy and understorey stocking levels positively influenced regeneration, as did interventions to reduce them. Canopy cover reduction proved especially effective in warmer regions, in stands of broadleaved species, younger ages (<30 years), higher densities (>1,000 trees/ha), and taller canopies (>20 m). Restoration of native forests can be optimized by adopting interventions that prove most effective, and prioritizing more responsive stand types. However, the specific stand attributes and environmental factors described should be further studied to understand the mechanisms underlying their influence on regeneration.
Seeding is not always necessary to restore native early successional plant communities
Authors: GeFellers James Wade , Buehler David A. , Moorman Christopher E. , Zobel John M. , Harper Craig A.
Published: July 2020

Restoration of native early successional plant communities in the eastern United States is a conservation priority because of declining populations of associated plants and wildlife. Restoration typically involves seeding native species and is often fraught with problems including weedy competition, expensive seed, and slow establishment. Pairing seed bank response with strategic herbicide applications may be an alternative approach for restoring these plant communities. We compared early successional plant communities established by seeding (SD) paired with selective herbicide use to natural revegetation (NR) from the seed bank paired with selective herbicide use at 18 locations that were previously row‐crop or tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus) fields in Tennessee, Alabama, and Kentucky, the United States. We did not detect differences in species diversity and richness, coverage of non‐native grasses and forbs, or number and coverage of native flowering forbs by season between NR and SD treatments at tall fescue or fallow crop sites. Species evenness was greatest in NR and coverage of native‐warm‐season grasses in SD. Species richness and coverage of native forbs were least in untreated tall fescue units (CNTL). More flexibility to use herbicides with NR reduced coverage of sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) in NR units compared to SD units at tall fescue sites. NR was 3.7 times cheaper than seeding. Land managers should consider using an NR approach to establish native early successional plant communities.
Family ties and employment behavior: The role of financial intermediaries
Authors: Liu Wenyuan , Ren Ting
Published: July 2020

We study the interaction effect of financial intermediaries and family ties on labor participation and employment type in China. Although existing studies examine these effects separately, we investigate the effects of both factors in one model. We give empirical evidence to support earlier arguments that family ties negatively affect labor force participation and positively affect self‐/family‐employment behavior and that financial development positively affects labor force participation. Departing from the extant literature, our results overall indicate a compensating effect of financial intermediaries for family ties in labor participation and employment type. We further argue that there are gender, urban/rural, and age differences in the role of financial intermediaries. The effect of financial intermediaries on the strength of family ties is more relevant for female, rural, and younger people compared to male, urban, and older people.
The Impacts of Economic Freedom and Institutional Quality on Migration from African Countries
Authors: Gignarta Tadesse Soka , Guan ZhenZhong , Borojo Dinkneh Gebre
Published: July 2020

The previous empirical literature suggests that socio‐economic conditions and demographic pressures are triggering factors of migration from Africa. We propose that economic freedom and institutional quality indicators of African countries are also important determinants of out‐migration from Africa. Hence, we investigate the effect of economic freedom and institutional quality on migration flow from 44 African countries to major migration destination countries. Aggregate indicators are derived for the quality of institutions and economic freedom using principal component analysis. Controlling for source and destination countries' income levels, population size, cultural, historical and physical distance, our findings provide evidence that migration flow from Africa is significantly determined by the institutional quality and economic freedom indicators in African countries. Our results are strongly robust to different econometric techniques used to control for sample selection bias, zero‐valued observations and endogeneity concern. Hence, improving institutional quality and maintaining economic freedom in African countries matters significantly to control out‐migration from Africa.
Injury prevention effects of stretching exercise intervention by physical therapists in male high school soccer players
Authors: Azuma Nobuhide , Someya Fujiko
Published: July 2020

We aimed to examine the prevalence of injury after physical therapy intervention for muscle tightness and injury prevention in male high school soccer players. A randomized controlled trial was conducted. Participants comprised 124 players from two high schools who competed in national tournament soccer games held from April 2018 to March 2019. Players were randomly divided into intervention (with a 12‐week stretching intervention by physical therapists) and control groups (without the intervention). Players and coaches provided written information regarding injuries and daily training and match times; physical therapists visited each team weekly to collect data and review documentation. Muscle tightness and injury incidence, number, type, location, circumstances, situations, severity, and contents during the 12‐week intervention period and a subsequent 40‐week observation period were compared between groups. Injuries were significantly lower with intervention during the 40‐week observation period (P < .01) but not during the 12‐week intervention period (P = .44). Injury types mainly included disorder, non‐contact, lower‐limb/trunk, and muscle/tendon injuries. Significant interactions were observed for all tightness‐test measurement items. The intervention group showed significant improvements in heel‐buttock distance, and straight leg‐raise and hip rotation angles (pre‐intervention < 12 weeks < 52 weeks), as well as significant improvements in ankle dorsiflexion angles at 12 and 52 weeks (relative to pre‐intervention values). Instructed stretching exercises, personally designed by physical therapists to address muscle tightness, improved the range of motion and trunk flexibility, with a positive effect on the injury rate in male high school soccer players, especially for non‐contact disorder injuries during training.
Teaching in Symbiosis with the Needs of the Brain
Authors: Máčajová Monika
Published: July 2020

Despite of many worldwide economic problems, every developed society focuses its interest on education. This is undoubtedly caused by the fact that the societies have realized that education is the only way to progress and life quality improvement. Therefore, all educational systems in any period of their development have been making their efforts to seek and find newer approaches to more effective learning and teaching. The present study contributes to the line of works that look for new ways of education through discovering and learning principles of the functioning of the human brain. The paper introduces and explains teaching procedures which respect the needs of the brain. A specific emphasis is put on a) brain activity in various periods; b) evaluation procedures related to the theory of brain‑compatible learning; c) the need to articulate new knowledge and problem solving procedures with respect to optimal stimulation of the brain.
Global Development Education—The Way Towards a Global Citizenship and to a Responsible Acting on the Global Market
Authors: Svitačová Eva , Mravcová Anna , Zaťková Tímea
Published: July 2020

The phenomenon of global development education, which can be understood as a tool to achieve complex knowledge of development issues and interdependencies between local and global problems, is becoming part of new curricular documents. In order to achieve a more complex training of future economic actors acting responsibly in the society in which they carry out their professional activities and take on global responsibility, it is important to implement this phenomenon into the school curriculum at economic faculties. The aim is to educate global citizens and at the same time responsible experts for the global market.
Institutional Education of Teachers of Technical Subjects
Authors: Andres Pavel , Vališová Alena
Published: July 2020

Technical teacher education is highly relevant from many perspectives nowadays. Educational reform has brought a number of changes, including legislative measures. The end of 2014 is a milestone, bringing the duty of every teacher/educator to commence studies to complete pedagogical qualification as defined in Act No. 563/2004. The need to address the issue of technical teacher education in the Czech Republic is reflected in the many activities that are aimed at finding answers to questions about the objectives, assessment of the quality of teachers and study programs respectively, and institutions that provide these accredited studies. The paper deals with engineering education and educational psychological preparation of teachers of technical subjects. This indicates the specifics of education in the Czech Republic, confronting them also with foreign experience.
Heterogeneity in human hippocampal CaMKII transcripts reveals allosteric hub-dependent regulation
Authors: Sloutsky Roman , Dziedzic Noelle , Dunn Matthew J. , Bates Rachel M. , Torres-Ocampo Ana P. , Boopathy Sivakumar , Page Brendan , Weeks John G. , Chao Luke H. , Stratton Margaret M.
Published: July 2020

Structural and functional analyses suggest that the hub domain of CaMKII regulates kinase activity.
Lysin LysMK34 ofAcinetobacter baumanniiBacteriophage PMK34 Has a Turgor Pressure-Dependent Intrinsic Antibacterial Activity and Reverts Colistin Resistance
Authors: Abdelkader Karim , Gutiérrez Diana , Grimon Dennis , Ruas-Madiedo Patricia , Lood Cédric , Lavigne Rob , Safaan Amal , Khairalla Ahmed S. , Gaber Yasser , Dishisha Tarek , Briers Yves
Published: July 2020

A. baumanniiis one of the most challenging pathogens for which development of new and effective antimicrobials is urgently needed. Colistin is a last-resort antibiotic, and even colistin-resistantA. baumanniistrains exist. Here, we present a lysin that sensitizesA. baumanniifor colistin and can revert colistin resistance to colistin susceptibility. The lysin also shows a strong, turgor pressure-dependent intrinsic antibacterial activity, providing new insights in the mode of action of lysins with intrinsic activity against Gram-negative bacteria.
COVID-19 and the Gut Microbiome: More than a Gut Feeling
Authors: van der Lelie Daniel , Taghavi Safiyh
Published: July 2020

Due to its fundamental role in the induction, training, and function of the immune system, it is critical to include characterizations of the gut microbiome in clinical trials and studies that aim to broaden our understanding of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Understanding the “gut-lung axes,” where gut microbiome composition influences the lung’s susceptibility to viral infections and viral infections of the lung alter gut microbiome composition toward proinflammatory functional dysbiosis, will be critical in addressing COVID-19, including disease progression, the importance of preexisting conditions, and the risk for developing complications.
SARS-CoV-2 Titers in Wastewater Are Higher than Expected from Clinically Confirmed Cases
Authors: Wu Fuqing , Zhang Jianbo , Xiao Amy , Gu Xiaoqiong , Lee Wei Lin , Armas Federica , Kauffman Kathryn , Hanage William , Matus Mariana , Ghaeli Newsha , Endo Noriko , Duvallet Claire , Poyet Mathilde , Moniz Katya , Washburne Alex D. , Erickson Timothy B. , Chai Peter R. , Thompson Janelle , Alm Eric J.
Published: July 2020

Wastewater-based surveillance is a promising approach for proactive outbreak monitoring. SARS-CoV-2 is shed in stool early in the clinical course and infects a large asymptomatic population, making it an ideal target for wastewater-based monitoring. In this study, we develop a laboratory protocol to quantify viral titers in raw sewage via qPCR analysis and validate results with sequencing analysis. Our results suggest that the number of positive cases estimated from wastewater viral titers is orders of magnitude greater than the number of confirmed clinical cases and therefore may significantly impact efforts to understand the case fatality rate and progression of disease. These data may help inform decisions surrounding the advancement or scale-back of social distancing and quarantine efforts based on dynamic wastewater catchment-level estimations of prevalence.
Calcareous nannofossils anchor chronologies for Arctic Ocean sediments back to 500 ka
Authors: O’Regan Matt , Backman Jan , Fornaciari Eliana , Jakobsson Martin , West Gabriel
Published: July 2020

Poor age control in Pleistocene sediments of the central Arctic Ocean generates considerable uncertainty in paleoceanographic reconstructions. This problem is rooted in the perplexing magnetic polarity patterns recorded in Arctic marine sediments and the paucity of microfossils capable of providing calibrated biostratigraphic biohorizons or continuous oxygen isotope stratigraphies. Here, we document the occurrence of two key species of calcareous nannofossils in a single marine sediment core from the central Arctic Ocean that provide robust, globally calibrated age constraints for sediments younger than 500 ka. The key species are the coccolithophores Pseudoemiliania lacunosa, which went extinct during marine isotope stage (MIS) 12 (478–424 ka), and Emiliania huxleyi, which evolved during MIS 8 (300–243 ka). This is the first time that P. lacunosa has been described in sediments of the central Arctic Ocean. The sedimentary horizons containing these age-diagnostic species can be traced, through lithostratigraphic correlation, across more than 450 km of the inner Arctic Ocean. They provide the first unequivocal support for proposed Pleistocene chronologies of sediment from this sector of the Arctic, and they constitute a foundation for developing and testing other geochronological tools for dating Arctic marine sediments.