bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of individual differences in the locomotor activity of assassin bugs on predator–prey interactions
Authors: Matsumura Kentarou , Miyatake Takahisa
Published: February 2022

Predator–prey interactions affect ecological communities. Consistent individual differences in the behavior, or animal personality, of predators and/or prey can influence inter‐specific interactions. For example, high activity predators may have increased foraging success on low activity prey (i.e., the locomotor crossover hypothesis). On the other hand, the foraging style of predators can be categorized as “active hunting” or “sit‐and‐wait”; this difference impacts the selection pressure on prey and may thus also affect predator–prey interactions. Although some studies have evaluated the joint effect of the personality types of both active hunting predators and prey, few studies have focused on sit‐and‐wait predators with respect to the locomotor crossover hypothesis. Here we tested the locomotor crossover hypothesis using assassin bugs (Amphibolus venator) as a sit‐and‐wait predator and red flour beetles (Tribolium castaneum) as prey. There was no relationship between the personalities of A. venator and T. castaneum with respect to foraging rate; therefore, the present study did not support the locomotor crossover hypothesis. This result suggests that the locomotor crossover hypothesis may be supported in active hunting predators, but not in sit‐and‐wait predators. This study highlights the importance of focusing on predator foraging styles in predator–prey interactions when studying the evolution of animal personality.
Plant competition optimization: A novel metaheuristic algorithm
Authors: Rahmani Amir Masoud , AliAbdi Iman
Published: February 2022

Plant competition is a fundamental process in plant communities. In one neighbourhood, different plants compete with each other to access shared resources. This paper presents a novel evolutionary algorithm, plant competition optimization (PCO) algorithm, inspired by plant competition processes. In this algorithm, each feasible solution to an optimization problem is assumed to be a plant, with the underlying assumption that each plant grows in competition with its neighbours. In contrast to other techniques inspired by natural phenomena, we attempted to fit the formulation with a known plant growth model, Richards' growth model, and simulate what happens in nature. As the number of plants in a specific area increases, the available resources are decreased, and competition occurs in smaller areas. So, to use this aspect of competition, we develop some mathematical formulation to simulate the decrease of neighbouring area for each plant related to its size to compete on the share resources with the other neighbouring plants. This competition will conduct a smart local search around the most fitted solutions in the optimization context. Furthermore, the reproduction is simulated by producing some seeds in their neighbouring area, which a few of them can migrate to far distances as well. Summing up together, the most powerful plants can grow more. Under competition pressure, their neighbouring area will decrease more than the others, producing more seeds in the next generation. Just as happened in nature, the losers of this competition will die. Our algorithm's efficiency is shown by performing numerical tests on well‐known optimization problems and comparing the results with the other evolutionary algorithms. The results confirm that PCO is effective and efficient in finding sub‐optimal solutions and gives better results than genetic algorithm (GA), particle swarm optimization (PSO), simulated annealing (SA), grasshopper optimisation algorithm (GOA), dragonfly algorithm (DA), salp swarm Algorithm (SSA), and comparable results with whale optimization algorithm (WOA) and marine predators algorithm (MPA) on multimodal optimization functions because it efficiently explores the entire search space efficiently and intelligently.
A global review of determinants of native bee assemblages in urbanised landscapes
Authors: Prendergast Kit S. , Dixon Kingsley W. , Bateman Philip W.
Published: February 2022

Loss of natural habitat through land‐use change threatens bees. Urbanisation is a major, increasing form, of habitat loss, and a novel, pervasive form of disturbance known to impact bee diversity and abundance in a variety of often inconsistent ways.

We conducted a comprehensive, semi‐quantitative review, involving 215 studies, on responses of bees to urban landscapes, and local and landscape variables proposed to influence bee abundance and diversity.

Urban areas tend to be favourable habitat for bees compared with agricultural ones, but compared with natural areas, urban areas often host more abundant populations yet fewer species.

Factors associated with urban landscapes, including changes in foraging resources and nesting substrate types and availability, contribute to changes in abundance, species richness, and composition of native bee assemblages. However, the conclusions of studies vary greatly because of the difference in the ecological traits of bees, habitats surveyed, and geographic region, as well as noise in the data resulting from inconsistencies in sampling methodology, and definitions of ‘urban’ and ‘natural’.

Identifying what biotic and abiotic features of cityscapes promote or threaten the persistence of urban bee diversity is critical. We provide a comprehensive evaluation of how bees (both in aggregate and according to their ecological guild) have responded to the urban environment, identify gaps in knowledge in urban bee ecology, and make recommendations to advance our understanding of bees in urban environments to promote conservation of diverse bee communities.
Room‐temperature mechanical properties of a high‐entropy diboride
Authors: Murchie Alec C. , Watts Jeremy L. , Fahrenholtz William G. , Hilmas Gregory E.
Published: February 2022

The mechanical properties of a (Hf,Mo,Nb,Ta,W,Zr)B2 high‐entropy ceramic were measured at room temperature. A two‐step synthesis process was utilized to produce the (Hf,Mo,Nb,Ta,W,Zr)B2 ceramics. The process consisted of a boro/carbothermal reduction reaction followed by solid solution formation and densification through spark plasma sintering. Nominally, phase pure (Hf,Mo,Nb,Ta,W,Zr)B2 was sintered to near full density (8.98 g/cm3) at 2000°C. The mean grain size was 6 ± 2 µm with a maximum grain size of 17 µm. Flexural strength was 528 ± 53 MPa, Young's modulus was 520 ± 12 GPa, fracture toughness was 3.9 ± 1.2 MPa·m1/2, and hardness (HV0.2) was 33.1 ± 1.1 GPa. A Griffith‐type analysis determined the strength limiting flaw to be the largest grains in the microstructure. This is one of the first reports of a variety of mechanical properties of a six‐component high‐entropy diboride.
Chemo‐ and mechanosensing by dendritic cells facilitate antigen surveillance in the spleen*
Authors: Liu Dan , Duan Lihui , Cyster Jason G.
Published: February 2022

Spleen dendritic cells (DC) are critical for initiation of adaptive immune responses against blood‐borne invaders. Key to DC function is their positioning at sites of pathogen entry, and their abilities to selectively capture foreign antigens and promptly engage T cells. Focusing on conventional DC2 (cDC2), we discuss the contribution of chemoattractant receptors (EBI2 or GPR183, S1PR1, and CCR7) and integrins to cDC2 positioning and function. We give particular attention to a newly identified role in cDC2 for adhesion G‐protein coupled receptor E5 (Adgre5 or CD97) and its ligand CD55, detailing how this mechanosensing system contributes to splenic cDC2 positioning and homeostasis. Additional roles of CD97 in the immune system are reviewed. The ability of cDC2 to be activated by circulating missing self‐CD47 cells and to integrate multiple red blood cell (RBC)‐derived inputs is discussed. Finally, we describe the process of activated cDC2 migration to engage and prime helper T cells. Throughout the review, we consider the insights into cDC function in the spleen that have emerged from imaging studies.
Preparation, luminescence properties, and application of temperature sensing and anti‐counterfeiting of La2MgTiO6:Yb3+/Ln3+/Mn4+
Authors: Jiang Zhong , Cheng Hao , Lai Fengqin , Xiao Zongliang , Chen Jiangmin , Sun Jing , You Weixiong
Published: February 2022

The doping of transition metal ions in the up‐conversion (UC) luminescent material doped with Yb3+/Ln3+ is a facile way to increase their UC luminescence intensities and alter their colors. In this study, La2MgTiO6:Yb3+/Mn4+/Ln3+ (Ln3+ = Er3+, Ho3+, and Tm3+) phosphors showing excellent luminescence properties were prepared by a solid‐state method. The sensitivity of the La2MgTiO6:Yb3+/Ln3+/Mn4+ phosphor was double that without Mn4+, because Mn4+ affects the UC emissions of Ln3+ via energy transfer between these ions. Moreover, Mn4+ also acts as a down‐conversion activator, which can combine with UC ions to achieve multi‐mode luminescence at different wavelengths. Under 980 nm excitation, these samples emit green light (from Er3+ and Ho3+) and blue light (from Tm3+). In contrast, under 365 nm excitation, they emit red light (from Mn4+). Further testing revealed that the La2MgTiO6:Yb3+/Mn4+/Ln3+ phosphors have potential applications in temperature sensing and anti‐counterfeiting.
Adolescent gender diversity: sociodemographic correlates and mental health outcomes in the general population
Authors: Ghassabian Akhgar , Suleri Anna , Blok Elisabet , Franch Berta , Hillegers Manon H.J. , White Tonya
Published: February 2022

Background

Gender diversity in young adolescents is understudied outside of referral clinics. We investigated gender diversity in an urban, ethnically diverse sample of adolescents from the general population and examined predictors and associated mental health outcomes.

Methods

The study was embedded in Generation R, a population‐based cohort of children born between 2002 and 2006 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands (n = 5727). At ages 9–11 and 13–15 years, adolescents and/or their parents responded to two questions addressing children’s contentedness with their assigned gender, whether they (a) ‘wished to be the opposite sex’ and (b) ‘would rather be treated as someone from the opposite sex’. We defined ‘gender‐variant experience’ when either the parent or child responded with ‘somewhat or sometimes true’ or ‘very or often true’. Mental health was assessed at 13–15 years, using the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment.

Results

Less than 1% of the parents reported that their child had gender‐variant experience, with poor stability between 9–11 and 13–15 years. In contrast, 4% of children reported gender‐variant experience at 13–15 years. Adolescents who were assigned female at birth reported more gender‐variant experience than those assigned male. Parents with low/medium educational levels reported more gender‐variant experience in their children than those with higher education. There were positive associations between gender‐variant experience and symptoms of anxiety, depression, somatic complaints, rule‐breaking, and aggressive behavior as well as attention, social, and thought problems. Similar associations were observed for autistic traits, independent of other mental difficulties. These associations did not differ by assigned sex at birth.

Conclusions

Within this population‐based study, adolescents assigned females were more likely to have gender‐variant experience than males. Our data suggest that parents may not be aware of gender diversity feelings in their adolescents. Associations between gender diversity and mental health symptoms were present in adolescents.
Exploratory surveys in Taiwan of the roseau cane scale Nipponaclerda biwakoensis Kuwana (Hemiptera: Aclerdidae) and its associated parasitoids
Authors: Cortez Amado O. , Chu Cheng‐Lung , Broadley Hannah J. , Lo Yong‐Sin , Chen Yu‐Chun , Gates Michael W. , Meyerson Laura A. , Hoelmer Kim A. , Gould Juli R. , Hwang Shaw‐Yhi
Published: February 2022

Roseau cane (Phragmites australis (Cav). Trin. ex Steud.) is the dominant plant species of the Mississippi River Delta in Louisiana, USA, and protects the coastline from erosion and storm‐related impacts, maintaining shipping channels and oil infrastructure. Widespread dieback and thinning of P. australis were noted in the Mississippi River Delta in the fall of 2016. Invasive populations of the roseau cane scale (Nipponaclerda biwakoensis Kuwana), which is native to Asia, were found at outbreak levels in the stands. Subsequent research implicated N. biwakoensis in the diebacks. As a safe, cost‐effective and long‐term approach for managing this invasive scale, classical (importation) biological control methods are being considered. As the first step to developing biological control, research evaluating the natural enemies of the N. biwakoensis in the native range is necessary. This study investigated the population dynamics of N. biwakoensis and its associated parasitoids on P. australis in Taiwan from July to November 2019 at five study sites. Scale densities across sites increased over the growing season, peaking in September at 85.77 ± 6.36 scales/stem, which is half as dense as found in Louisiana. Mean parasitism of adult female scales across sites and season was 14.00%, while parasitism on immature scales was lower (3.00%). Four parasitoid wasp species were reared from the scale—Asytymachus lasallei Noyes and Higashiura, Boucekiella depressa Hoffer, Neastymachus japonicus Tachikawa and Aprostocetus sp. Westwood. Neastymachus japonicus was the dominant species parasitizing adult female scales, while A. lasallei was the dominant wasp species parasitizing immature scales. Astymachus lasallei and B. depressa were frequently reared from the same individual host, suggesting multiparasitism or hyperparasitism. Overall, this study provides important information on the identity and role of parasitoids of N. biwakoensis in its native range, which will aid in developing a classical biological control programme for the invasive N. biwakoensis.
Wild bees are less abundant but show better pollination behaviour for sweet cherry than managed pollinators
Authors: Mateos‐Fierro Zeus , Garratt Michael P. D. , Fountain Michelle T. , Ashbrook Kate , Westbury Duncan B.
Published: February 2022

Pollinating insects provide pollination services to many crop species, including sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.), and this can be delivered by both managed and wild pollinators. Managed pollinators are often used to pollinate a range of fruit crops, but increasingly the role of wild insects is being studied. However, the importance of pollinator species depends on their relative abundance and pollination effectiveness, which depends on their foraging activity and their variability throughout the day. In this study, insect visitors of blossoms were observed in commercial sweet cherry orchards to explore abundance, diversity and pollination foraging behaviour of different insect pollinator groups throughout the day. A total of 1,174 pollinators from 31 different species were recorded visiting cherry blossoms over 2 years, of which 71.0% of total visits were by managed pollinators (western honeybee, Apis mellifera L. and buff‐tailed bumblebee, Bombus terrestris L.) compared to 29.0% by wild pollinators. On average, solitary bees visited a sweet cherry blossom for the longest duration (20.7 (±2.0 SE) seconds), whereas wild queen bumblebees visited the greatest number of flowers per minute (mean of 19.0 (±1.3 SE)). As both these pollinator groups contacted cherry stigmas more often and moved more frequently between tree rows than managed bees and hoverflies, they are more likely to facilitate cross‐pollination. The different pollinator groups also showed variation in behavioural parameters throughout the day, but less variation was recorded when all pollinator groups were considered altogether. This suggests diverse pollinator communities might be expected to provide a more stable pollination service to sweet cherry. This study demonstrates that whilst cherry blossoms were more frequently visited by managed pollinators, wild solitary bee and bumblebee behaviours are likely to be more effective at enhancing pollination in sweet cherry orchards, which, in turn, might lead to increased yields.
Co‐extrusion and extrusion microencapsulation: Effect on microencapsulation efficiency, survivability through gastrointestinal digestion and storage
Authors: How Yu‐Hsuan , Lai Ka‐Wai , Pui Liew‐Phing , In Lionel Lian‐Aun
Published: February 2022

Probiotic is a functional food ingredient that is commonly used in the manufacturing of fermented dairy products and vegetable‐based foods. The consumption of probiotics has been claimed to confer health benefits to the host. However, probiotic cells are sensitive to harsh environments such as extreme pH and enzymes in the gastrointestinal tract. Hence, the microencapsulation technique is often adopted to shield probiotics from the outer environment. This review introduces a more advanced extrusion technique called co‐extrusion, which has been used to microencapsulate probiotics over the last few years. Both co‐extrusion technique and extrusion technique in microencapsulating probiotics were discussed extensively in this article. Furthermore, the impact of encapsulating probiotics in contrast with unencapsulated cells was also presented. This review highlighted some of the factors that might cause low viable cell count during microencapsulation and large microbead size. Lastly, the survivability of encapsulated probiotics in gastrointestinal digestion and storage under different temperatures were evaluated and the importance of probiotic microencapsulation was also emphasized.

Practical Applications

The detailed information on extrusion and co‐extrusion techniques for probiotics microencapsulation is presented in this review. This information is useful for researchers and industrialists in understanding and applying both encapsulation techniques on probiotics for different purposes. Through this paper, the readers would also gain more insight into the factors affecting the viability and microbead size of the encapsulated probiotic to further optimize the extrusion and co‐extrusion encapsulation process. Furthermore, the ideal storage temperature and additional drying process for the encapsulated probiotic identified in this review would open opportunities for industrialists to produce functional probiotic products with a high viable cell count.
Rapid, risk‐based levee design framework for greater risk reduction at lower cost than standards‐based design
Authors: Johnson David R. , Wang Jingya , Geldner Nathan B. , Zehr Andrew B.
Published: February 2022

Standards‐based levee design aims to protect against events with specific probabilities, for example eliminating overtopping from a storm surge with a 1% annual exceedance probability (i.e., a “100‐year” event). This allows levee segments to be analyzed independently but ignores interior dynamics and overall risk. We present and implement a framework for calculating optimal risk‐informed design heights. Using this design paradigm and multi‐objective evolutionary algorithms, we identify levee and floodwall design heights that minimize the total system cost and expected flood losses over 50 years. With our model, decision makers may feasibly evaluate hundreds or thousands of alternative designs over a large ensemble of future states of the world. Comparing to the existing design elevations of the Larose to Golden Meadow Hurricane Protection Project in coastal Louisiana, over multiple climate change scenarios, we identify system configurations of similar cost that reduce the expected value of discounted residual risk of 26%–73% ($8–85 million). We also achieve the same residual risk at 90%–97% of the cost of the existing system (saving $19–73 million).
Comprehensive expression analysis for the core cell cycle regulators in the chicken embryo reveals novel tissue‐specific synexpression groups and similarities and differences with expression in mouse, frog and zebrafish
Authors: Alaiz Noya Marta , Berti Federica , Dietrich Susanne
Published: February 2022

The core cell cycle machinery is conserved from yeast to humans, and hence it is assumed that all vertebrates share the same set of players. Yet during vertebrate evolution, the genome was duplicated twice, followed by a further genome duplication in teleost fish. Thereafter, distinct genes were retained in different vertebrate lineages; some individual gene duplications also occurred. To which extent these diversifying tendencies were compensated by retaining the same expression patterns across homologous genes is not known. This study for the first time undertook a comprehensive expression analysis for the core cell cycle regulators in the chicken, focusing in on early neurula and pharyngula stages of development, with the latter representing the vertebrate phylotypic stage. We also compared our data with published data for the mouse, Xenopus and zebrafish, the other established vertebrate models. Our work shows that, while many genes are expressed widely, some are upregulated or specifically expressed in defined tissues of the chicken embryo, forming novel synexpression groups with markers for distinct developmental pathways. Moreover, we found that in the neural tube and in the somite, mRNAs of some of the genes investigated accumulate in a specific subcellular localisation, pointing at a novel link between the site of mRNA translation, cell cycle control and interkinetic nuclear movements. Finally, we show that expression patterns of orthologous genes may differ in the four vertebrate models. Thus, for any study investigating cell proliferation, cell differentiation, tissue regeneration, stem cell behaviour and cancer/cancer therapy, it has to be carefully examined which of the observed effects are due to the specific model organism used, and which can be generalised.
Whole‐exome sequencing of transforming oral lichen planus reveals mutations in DNA damage repair and apoptosis pathway genes
Authors: Xie Fangyi , Gleue Casey A. , Deschaine Maria , Dasari Surendra , Lau Julie S. , Sartori‐Valinotti Julio C. , Meves Alexander , Lehman Julia S.
Published: February 2022

Background

Oral lichen planus confers a 1% risk of transformation to oral squamous cell carcinoma. While prior exome sequencing studies have identified multiple genetic mutations in oral squamous cell carcinoma, mutational analyses of lichen planus‐derived OSCC are lacking. We sought to clarify genomic events associated with oral lichen planus transformation.

Methods

Using rigorous diagnostic criteria, we retrospectively identified patients with non‐transforming oral lichen planus (i.e., known to be non‐transforming with 5 years of clinical follow‐up; n = 17), transforming oral lichen planus (tissue marginal to oral squamous cell carcinoma, n = 9), or oral squamous cell carcinoma arising in lichen planus (n = 17). Gene mutational profiles derived from whole‐exome sequencing on fixed mucosal specimens were compared among the groups.

Results

The four most frequently mutated genes in transforming oral lichen planus and oral squamous cell carcinoma (TP53, CELSR1, CASP8, and KMT2D) identified 12/17 (71%) of oral squamous cell carcinomas and 5/9 (56%) of transforming oral lichen planus but were absent in non‐transforming oral lichen planus. We identified other known oral squamous cell carcinoma mutations (TRRAP, OBSCN, and LRP2) but also previously unreported mutations (TENM3 and ASH1L) in lichen planus‐associated oral squamous cell carcinomas.

Conclusions

These findings suggest alterations in DNA damage response and apoptosis pathways underlie lichen planus‐related oral squamous cell carcinoma transformation and are supported by mutational signatures indicative of DNA damage. This study characterized patterns of mutational events present in oral lichen planus associated with squamous cell carcinoma and in squamous cell carcinoma associated with oral lichen planus but not in non‐transforming oral lichen planus.
Behavioural emergencies in a paediatric hospital environment
Authors: Mitchell Marijke , Newall Fiona , Williams Katrina
Published: February 2022

Aim

Aggression and high‐risk behaviours triggered by children in paediatric hospitals are increasing globally. There is a paucity of research describing behavioural emergencies in paediatric acute care settings.

Methods

We conducted a 1‐year retrospective study of behavioural emergencies that triggered an emergency response team attendance in a quaternary paediatric hospital.

Results

In 2018, 218 children triggered 1050 behavioural emergencies, which utilised 386 h of the emergency response team time. Thirty‐three (15%) children triggered more than five activations each (range 6–272) and nearly half (16) were children with autism spectrum disorder or intellectual disability. More than 80% of children who triggered an emergency team response also had at least one psychiatric co‐morbidity.

Conclusions

Behavioural emergencies, by definition, put staff, children or their families at risk. They occur frequently in hospital with some children repeating these behaviours despite allocation of resources and expertise. New approaches to prevention and amelioration are needed.
Mitogenomics and hidden‐trait models reveal the role of phoresy and host shifts in the diversification of parasitoid blister beetles (Coleoptera: Meloidae)
Authors: López‐Estrada Estefany Karen , Sanmartín Isabel , Uribe Juan Esteban , Abalde Samuel , Jiménez‐Ruiz Yolanda , García‐París Mario
Published: February 2022

Changes in life history traits are often considered speciation triggers and can have dramatic effects on the evolutionary history of a lineage. Here, we examine the consequences of changes in two life history traits, host‐type and phoresy, in the hypermetamorphic blister beetles, Meloidae. Subfamilies Nemognathinae and Meloinae exhibit a complex life cycle involving multiple metamorphoses and parasitoidism. Most genera and tribes are bee‐parasitoids, and include phoretic or nonphoretic species, while two tribes feed on grasshopper eggs. These different life strategies are coupled with striking differences in species richness among clades. We generated a mitogenomic phylogeny for Nemognathinae and Meloinae, confirming the monophyly of these two clades, and used the dated phylogeny to explore the association between diversification rates and changes in host specificity and phoresy, using state‐dependent speciation and extinction (SSE) models that include the effect of hidden traits. To account for the low taxon sampling, we implemented a phylogenetic‐taxonomic approach based on birth‐death simulations, and used a Bayesian framework to integrate parameter and phylogenetic uncertainty. Results show that the ancestral hypermetamorphic Meloidae was a nonphoretic bee‐parasitoid, and that transitions towards a phoretic bee‐parasitoid and grasshopper parasitoidism occurred multiple times. Nonphoretic bee‐parasitoid lineages exhibit significantly higher relative extinction and lower diversification rates than phoretic bee‐and grasshopper‐parasitoids, but no significant differences were found between the latter two strategies. This suggests that Orthopteran host shifts and phoresy contributed jointly to the evolutionary success of the parasitoid meloidae. We also demonstrate that SSE models can be used to identify hidden traits coevolving with the focal trait in driving a lineage's diversification dynamics.
A practical guide on stable isotope analysis for cetacean research
Authors: Teixeira Clarissa R. , Troina Genyffer C. , Daura‐Jorge Fabio G. , Simões‐Lopes Paulo C. , Botta Silvina
Published: February 2022

Trophic ecology information about cetaceans is essential to understand their role in ecosystem dynamics. Stable isotope analysis is a valuable complementary approach to conventional methods usually applied to the study of the foraging behavior of cetaceans because it provides dietary information over different time scales and can potentially use tissues archived in scientific collections. However, the considerable increase in stable isotope analysis by a growing number of cetacean research groups demands the use of proper protocols to ensure that accurate isotopic data are obtained. We provide a theoretical background of stable isotope analysis and its application to assess cetaceans‘ trophic ecology. We review the factors that can influence isotopic measurements and propose a practical guideline with suitable techniques for sample preparation of biological tissues to be employed by researchers to yield reliability in the interpretation of isotopic data. We summarized the main assumptions and inherent limitations that can lead to confounding interpretations of isotopic data, such as species‐ and tissue‐specific discrimination factors, temporal or spatial variation in prey, and baseline isotopic values in the context of cetacean ecology. Our detailed review offers important guidance for researchers who want to use stable isotope analysis to address different ecological questions with cetacean species.
Skull morphometric variability related to offshore and inshore ecotypes of the common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) from northwestern Mexico
Authors: Esteves‐Ponte María Alejandra , Aurioles‐Gamboa David , García‐Rodríguez Francisco J.
Published: February 2022

The distribution of common bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus is associated with environmental factors, which influence morphological adaptations. In the present study, we examined the cranial characteristics of this species from the Pacific Northwest of Mexico to detect the main variations using geometric morphometric analysis. From stable isotope concentrations (δ13C), we identified 24 specimens of the inshore coastal ecotype and 18 of the offshore ecotype. Maturity was determined using the degree of fusion of the maxillae and premaxillae. Allometry was detected in the skull lateral region, indicating that the relationship between shape and size is maintained in adults. After eliminating the allometric effect by discarding the smallest individuals, morphometric comparisons indicated differences between the ecotypes that were associated mainly with the intersection between the frontal bone and zygomatic process, the anteriormost point in the curvature of the zygomatic process, and the meeting of the suture between squamosal and exoccipital bones, with the supramastoid crest to anteriormost in the curvature of the temporal crest of the intersection between the parietal and interparietal. No significant differences were found in the ventral view. The cranial differences between both Tursiops truncatus ecotypes could be mainly associated with the different types of feeding.
Spinal muscular atrophy type 2 patient who survived 61 years: an autopsy case report
Authors: Yamadera Misaki , Saito Toshio , Shinohara Masakazu , Nishio Hisahide , Murayama Shigeo , Fujimura Harutoshi
Published: February 2022

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive neuromuscular disease characterized by progressive muscle weakness due to degeneration of lower motor neurons in the anterior horn of the spinal cord. We analyzed autopsy findings of a male patient with SMA type 2 who survived until 61 years of age. Genetic analysis revealed a homozygous deletion of the survival motor neuron (SMN) gene 1 (SMN1) exon 7, confirming the diagnosis of SMA. Results of further analyses indicated that the patient had two copies of the genuine SMN gene 2 (SMN2) and one copy of a hybrid gene containing SMN2 exon 7 and SMN1 exon 8. Pathological examination revealed moderate neuronal loss of the anterior horn and appearance of heterotopic neurons in the lateral funiculus, whereas a few achromatic neurons were notably localized in the anterior horn of the lumbar segment. Microdysgenesis as a consequence of migration disturbance was found in the white matter of the frontal lobe, postulating the possibility of the maldevelopment of the nervous system.
The link between body size, colouration and thermoregulation and their integration into ecogeographical rules: a critical appraisal in light of climate change
Authors: Goldenberg Jonathan , Bisschop Karen , D'Alba Liliana , Shawkey Matthew D.
Published: February 2022

Biological rules describe general morphological, structural and genetic patterns within and across species. Within these, ecogeographical rules correlate phenotypic variation of organisms with biogeography. The latter have been developed over the last 150 years, and recently have gained renewed attention due to climate change, as researchers try to predict how species will respond to different environmental conditions based on certain phenotypic features. However, there is no agreement whether such rules hold true in our rapidly changing world. Among the ecogeographical rules, six have focused on the contributions of the coloured integument and body size to the thermal balance of individuals. They are therefore particularly relevant for predicting how species' phenotypes will respond to future climatic scenarios. Here, we provide an overview and discuss these ecogeographical rules, particularly in light of thermoregulation, and probe the extent to which these rules apply, and the taxonomic levels at which they are relevant. The predictions of these rules often contradict each other, and indeed we argue that use of the word ‘rule' itself hinders their careful investigation. Moreover, disrupted climate patterns and global warming alter the environmental conditions under which these rules were once formulated. Thus, these rules may be outdated in our current rapidly changing environment. We conclude by proposing a revised concept of ecogeographical rules, where the micro‐environment should have a stronger influence on the phenotype of organisms than its geographical location, and we suggest precautions researchers should take when testing them.
Efficacy and safety of different exercises in preventing cardiac implantable electronic device‐related shoulder impairment
Authors: Cosgun Muharrem Said , Cosgun Cansu
Published: February 2022

Background

Shoulder impairment on the implant side is common after cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) implantation. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of the pendulum exercise (PE) and stretching and strengthening exercises (SSE) in preventing postimplantation shoulder impairment.

Methods

This prospective, randomized study collected data from 89 patients, including 30 in a control group, 31 in a PE group, and 28 in an SSE group. Shoulder functions on the implant side were evaluated by grip strength (GS), range of motion (ROM), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (QuickDASH), and 36‐Item Short‐Form Survey (SF‐36).

Results

Shoulder median flexion and abduction ROM were significantly improved 2‐month postimplantation compared to two‐week postimplantation in PE (156 ± 11 vs. 146 ± 10, p = .002; 147 ± 9 vs. 136 ± 9, p = .001, respectively) and SSE (158 ± 13 vs. 147 ± 11, p = .003; 149 ± 13 vs. 138 ± 9, p = .002, respectively) groups, but not in the control group. Two months after implantation, the two exercise groups showed no significant differences in any assessment. Compared with the PE and SSE groups, the control group had significantly lower GS (p = .012 and p = .002, respectively) and SF‐36 physical component summary (p = .007 and p = .003, respectively) and significantly higher VAS (p = .003 and p = .001, respectively) and QuickDASH (p = .002 and p = .005, respectively) scores 2‐month postimplantation.

Conclusions

PE and SSE for the ipsilateral upper arm starting two‐week after CIED implantation provided similar benefits in preserving shoulder girdle muscle strength, maintaining shoulder motion, relieving shoulder pain, preventing shoulder injury, and improving quality of life, without the risk of lead dislodgement.
Self‐compassion and complete perinatal mental health in women at high risk for postpartum depression: The mediating role of emotion regulation difficulties
Authors: Carona Carlos , Xavier Sandra , Canavarro Maria Cristina , Fonseca Ana
Published: February 2022

Objectives

There is evidence suggesting that self‐compassion is linked to key mechanisms in emotion regulation models of depression and anxiety. However, the majority of prior research has targeted community samples and overlooked the analysis of such mechanisms in relation to positive mental health. This study sought to examine the direct and indirect effects, via emotion regulation difficulties, of self‐compassion on the complete mental health outcomes of women at high risk for postpartum depression (PPD).

Design

Cross‐sectional, correlational study.

Methods

The sample for this study comprised 1053 postpartum women presenting high risk for PPD, as determined by the clinical cut‐off score obtained through the Postpartum Depression Predictors Inventory–Revised. The assessment protocol further included self‐report measures of self‐compassion, depression and anxiety symptoms, flourishing and emotion regulation difficulties. Correlation analyses were conducted to ascertain associations between variables, and path analysis was performed to examine direct and indirect effects.

Results

Difficulties in emotion regulation mediated the links between self‐compassion and negative (distress) and positive (flourishing) mental health outcomes. The overall mediation model explained 48% and 39% of variance for psychological distress and flourishing/positive mental health respectively.

Conclusions

These findings support the applicability of an emotion regulation model of self‐compassion to women identified as being at high risk of developing PPD. Self‐compassion interventions directed at these women are likely to decrease their levels of emotion dysregulation and to improve their complete mental health outcomes.
Impact of pandemics on humanitarian retailing operations: A voucher's case
Authors: Mohamadi Navid , Bakhishi Hataw , Transchel Sandra , Besiou Maria
Published: February 2022

In 2020, the world started a fight against a pandemic that has severely disrupted commercial and humanitarian supply chains. Humanitarian organizations (HOs), like the World Food Programme (WFP), adjusted their programs in order to manage this pandemic. One such program is cash and voucher assistance (CVA), which is used to bolster beneficiaries' freedom of choice regarding their consumption. In this vein, WFP supports local retailers to provide CVA to beneficiaries who do not have access to a functioning market. However, the operations of these stores can suffer from a very high transmission risk of COVID‐19 unless preventive measures are put in place to reduce it. This paper discusses strategies that retailers and HOs can enact to maximize their service and dignity levels while minimizing transmission risk under a CVA program during a pandemic. We argue that HOs providing CVA programs can improve their assistance during a pandemic by implementing strategies that impact the retailing operations of their retailers.
Capacity for change: three core attributes of adaptive capacity that bolster restoration efficacy
Authors: Dudney Joan , D'Antonio Carla , Hobbs Richard J. , Shackelford Nancy , Standish Rachel J. , Suding Katharine N.
Published: February 2022

In the face of rapid environmental change, restoration will need to emphasize innovative approaches that support the long‐term resilience of social and ecological systems. To this end, we highlight the critical, but often overlooked, role of adaptive capacity, which enables restoration practice, governance, and target ecosystems to adapt to directional environmental change. We identify three core attributes of adaptive capacity: (1) diversity, (2) connectivity, and (3) flexibility. For each attribute, we describe key strategies, including enhancing mechanisms of ecological memory, facilitating the generation of beneficial novelty, and developing governance structures that are flexible and anticipatory. These core attributes can also lead to maladaptive outcomes; careful consideration of a social‐ecological system's resilience and vulnerabilities to environmental change will likely be critical to avoid unwanted outcomes. Ultimately, implementing strategies that increase adaptive capacity can bolster restoration efficacy as it seeks to confront the global challenge of rapid environmental change.
The Contribution of Intangible Assets to the Growth of the Russian Economy
Authors: Bobyleva Ksenia V.
Published: February 2022

This paper studies the change in the contribution of intangible assets to economic growth in Russia after applying the Corrado, Hulten and Sichel (2005) approach to estimate an extended list of intangible assets. As a result, intangible assets contribution increased from 0.05 p.p to 0.15 p.p of 3.28 percent of growth in Russia in the period 2004–2014. These estimates show that the inclusion of the expanded list of intangible assets increases growth and redistributes production growth between capital accumulation and the growth of multifactor productivity towards capital accumulation, and between the accumulation of tangible capital and intangible capital towards intangible capital. The results differ from European countries, where intangible assets formed 9 percent of growth in 2004–2014. Comparing the structure of intangible assets in Russia and in Europe and the US, we conclude that in Russia, the highest contribution to the growth of intangible assets is due to intellectual property, while in developed countries, the contributions are distributed more evenly across different types of intangible assets under consideration.
Tuberculosis risk among people with diabetes mellitus in Sub‐Saharan Africa: A systematic review
Authors: Obels Ilja , Ninsiima Sandra , Critchley Julia A. , Huangfu Peijue
Published: February 2022

Objectives

People with diabetes mellitus (DM) have a higher tuberculosis (TB) risk, but the evidence from sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA) was scarce until recently and not included in earlier global summaries. Therefore, this systematic review aims to determine the risk of active TB disease among people with DM in SSA and whether HIV alters this association.

Methods

Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, Global Health and African Index Medicus were searched between January 1980 and February 2021. Cohort, case‐control and cross‐sectional studies from SSA, which assessed the association between DM and active TB, were included if adjusted for age. Two researchers independently assessed titles, abstracts, full texts, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias. Estimates for the association between DM and TB were summarised using a random effects meta‐analysis. PROSPERO: CRD42021241743.

Results

Nine eligible studies were identified, which reported on 110,905 people from 5 countries. Individual study odds ratios (OR) of the TB–DM association ranged from 0.88 (95% CI 0.17–4.58) to 10.7 (95% CI 4.5–26). The pooled OR was 2.77 (95% CI 1.90–4.05). High heterogeneity was reduced in sensitivity analysis (from I2 = 57% to I2 = 6.9%), by excluding one study which ascertained DM by HbA1c. Risk of bias varied widely between studies, especially concerning the way in which DM status was determined.

Conclusions

There is a strong positive association between DM and active TB in SSA. More research is needed to determine whether HIV, a key risk factor for TB in SSA, modifies this relationship.
Structural, Apparent, or Parenthetical? The Tonic Chord in the First-Movement Recapitulation of Beethoven's Piano Sonata Op. 106
Authors: Suurpää Lauri
Published: February 2022

Much ink has been spilled regarding whether mm.224–26, which conclude the first-movement development section of Beethoven's Piano Sonata, Op. 106, the Hammerklavier , should contain A♮ or A♯. By contrast, what happens at the onset of the recapitulation, immediately
after the A♮/A♯ controversy, has been taken for granted. Yet the beginning of the recapitulation features another, less obvious controversy: that of the structural role of the B♯ major chord in m. 227. This article discusses three different Schenkerian ways of interpreting
the B♯ major chord that begins the recapitulation: structural, apparent, and parenthetical. It considers how these readings reflect the musical effect at the onset of the recapitulation, both locally and in the larger context. The essay favors the interpretation of a parenthetical tonic,
arguing that it provides the best account of the multi-layered web of associations at the beginning of the recapitulation.
A Strain Rate-Dependent Constitutive Model for Göttingen Minipig Cerebral Arteries
Authors: Pearson Noah , Boiczyk Gregory M. , Kote Vivek Bhaskar , Sundaramurthy Aravind , Subramaniam Dhananjay Radhakrishnan , Rubio Jose E. , Unnikrishnan Ginu , Reifman Jaques , Monson Kenneth
Published: February 2022

Computational simulations of traumatic brain injury (TBI) are commonly used to advance understanding of the injury–pathology relationship, tissue damage thresholds, and design of protective equipment such as helmets. Both human and animal TBI models have developed substantially over recent decades, partially due to the inclusion of more detailed brain geometry and representation of tissues like cerebral blood vessels. Explicit incorporation of vessels dramatically affects local strain and enables researchers to investigate TBI-induced damage to the vasculature. While some studies have indicated that cerebral arteries are rate-dependent, no published experimentally based, rate-sensitive constitutive models of cerebral arteries exist. In this work, we characterize the mechanical properties of axially failed porcine arteries, both quasi-statically (0.01 s−1) and at high rate (>100 s−1), and propose a rate-sensitive model to fit the data. We find that the quasi-static and high-rate stress–stretch curves become significantly different (p < 0.05) above a stretch of 1.23. We additionally find a significant change in both failure stretch and stress as a result of strain rate. The stress–stretch curve is then modeled as a Holzapfel–Gasser–Ogden material, with a Prony series added to capture the effects of viscoelasticity. Ultimately, this paper demonstrates that rate dependence should be considered in the material properties of cerebral arteries undergoing high strain-rate deformations and provides a ready-to-use model for finite element implementation.
Adaptive Stochastic Resonance for Bolt Looseness Identification Under Strong Noise Background
Authors: Gong Tao , Yang Jianhua , Sanjuán Miguel A. F. , Liu Houguang
Published: February 2022

Nowadays, a large number of mechanical equipment working in harsh working environment will lead to strong background noise, which makes it difficult to extract feature information related to equipment fault. Bolt joint looseness inevitably occurs in engineering, which occupies a large proportion of all types of mechanical equipment faults. Therefore, it is quite difficult to extract the bolt looseness feature information. Based on this problem, a method based on subharmonic resonance and adaptive stochastic resonance (ASR) method is proposed to recognize whether the bolt is loose. First, a typical single bolted joint model is carried out dynamic analysis and numerical simulation, which verifies the specific conditions for the generation of subharmonic frequency related to bolt looseness. Then, a bolt looseness identification method based on ASR and coherence resonance (CR) is proposed. A quality factor index is defined, which is used to identify stochastic resonance (SR) and CR for bolt looseness identification. Finally, the effectiveness of this method is successfully verified by experiment, which effectively identifies bolt looseness under strong noise background.