bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ACE2-expressing endothelial cells in aging mouse brain
Authors: Lim Su Bin , Dawson Valina L. , Dawson Ted M. , Kang Sung-Ung
Published: July 2020

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is a key receptor mediating the entry of SARS-CoV-2 into the host cell. Through a systematic analysis of publicly available mouse brain sc/snRNA-seq data, we found that ACE2 is specifically expressed in small sub-populations of endothelial cells and mural cells, namely pericytes and vascular smooth muscle cells. Further, functional changes in viral mRNA transcription and replication, and impaired blood-brain barrier regulation were most prominently implicated in the aged, ACE2-expressing endothelial cells, when compared to the young adult mouse brains. Concordant EC transcriptomic changes were further found in normal aged human brains. Overall, this work reveals an outline of ACE2 distribution in the mouse brain and identify putative brain host cells that may underlie the selective susceptibility of the aging brain to viral infection.
Identification of pathways modulating Vemurafenib resistance in melanoma cells via a genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 screen
Authors: Jie Hui Goh Corinna , Wong Jin Huei , Farran Chadi El , Tan Ban Xiong , Coffill Cynthia , Loh Yuin-Hain , Lane David , Arumugam Prakash
Published: July 2020

Vemurafenib is a BRAF kinase inhibitor (BRAFi) that is used to treat melanoma patients harbouring the constitutively active BRAF-V600E mutation. However, after a few months of treatment patients often develop resistance to vemurafenib leading to disease progression. Sequence analysis of drug-resistant tumour cells and functional genomic screens have identified several genes that regulate vemurafenib resistance. Reactivation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway is a recurrent feature of cells that develop resistance to vemurafenib. We performed a genome-scale CRISPR-based knockout screen to identify modulators of vemurafenib resistance in melanoma cells with a highly improved CRISPR sgRNA library called Brunello. We identified 33 genes that regulate resistance to vemurafenib out of which 14 genes have not been reported before. Gene Ontology enrichment analysis showed that the hit genes regulate histone modification, transcription and cell cycle. We discuss how inactivation of hit genes might confer resistance to vemurafenib and provide a framework for follow-up investigations.
ReCoNet: Multi-level Preprocessing of Chest X-rays for COVID-19 Detection Using Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Ahmed Sabbir , Yap Moi Hoon , Tan Maxine , Hasan Md. Kamrul
Published: July 2020

Life-threatening COVID-19 detection from radiomic features has become a dire need of the present time for infection control and socio-economic crisis management around the world. In this paper, a novel convolutional neural network (CNN) architecture, ReCoNet (residual image-based COVID-19 detection network), is proposed for COVID-19 detection. This is achieved from chest X-ray (CXR) images shedding light on the preprocessing task considered to be very useful for enhancing the COVID-19 fingerprints. The proposed modular architecture consists of a CNN-based multi-level preprocessing filter block in cascade with a multi-layer CNN-based feature extractor and a classification block. A multi-task learning loss function is adopted for optimization of the preprocessing block trained end-to-end with the rest of the proposed network. Additionally, a data augmentation technique is applied for boosting the network performance. The whole network when pre-trained end-to-end on the CheXpert open source dataset, and trained and tested with the COVIDx dataset of 15,134 original CXR images yielded an overall benchmark accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of 97.48%, 96.39%, and 97.53%, respectively. The immense potential of ReCoNet may be exploited in clinics for rapid and safe detection of COVID-19 globally, in particular in the low and middle income countries where RT-PCR labs and/or kits are in a serious crisis.
Serum-IgG responses to SARS-CoV-2 after mild and severe COVID-19 infection and analysis of IgG non-responders
Authors: Marklund Emelie , Leach Susannah , Axelsson Hannes , Nyström Kristina , Norder Heléne , Bemark Mats , Angeletti Davide , Lundgren Anna , Nilsson Staffan , Andersson Lars-Magnus , Yilmaz Aylin , Lindh Magnus , Liljeqvist Jan-Åke , Gisslén Magnus
Published: July 2020

Background

To accurately interpret COVID-19 seroprevalence surveys, knowledge of serum-IgG responses to SARS-CoV-2 with a better understanding of patients who do not seroconvert, is imperative. This study aimed to describe serum-IgG responses to SARS-CoV-2 in a cohort of patients with both severe and mild COVID-19, including extended studies of patients who remained seronegative more than 90 days post symptom onset.

Results

Forty-seven patients (mean age 49 years, 38% female) were included. All (15/15) patients with severe symptoms and 29/32 (90.6%) patients with mild symptoms of COVID-19 developed SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG antibodies in serum. Time to seroconversion was significantly shorter (median 11 vs. 22 days, P=0.04) in patients with severe compared to mild symptoms. Of the three patients without detectable IgG-responses after >90 days, all had detectable virus-neutralizing antibodies and in two, spike-protein receptor binding domain-specific IgG was detected with an in-house assay. Antibody titers were preserved during follow-up and all patients who seroconverted, irrespective of the severity of symptoms, still had detectable IgG levels >75 days post symptom onset.

Conclusions

Patients with severe COVID-19 both seroconvert earlier and develop higher concentrations of SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG than patients with mild symptoms. Of those patients who not develop detectable IgG antibodies, all have detectable virus-neutralizing antibodies, suggesting immunity. Our results showing that not all COVID-19 patients develop detectable IgG using two validated commercial clinical methods, even over time, are vital for the interpretation of COVID-19 seroprevalence surveys and for estimating the true infection prevalence in populations.
Decreased serum levels of inflammaging marker miR-146a are associated with clinical response to tocilizumab in COVID-19 patients
Authors: Sabbatinelli Jacopo , Giuliani Angelica , Matacchione Giulia , Latini Silvia , Laprovitera Noemi , Pomponio Giovanni , Ferrarini Alessia , Baroni Silvia Svegliati , Pavani Marianna , Moretti Marco , Gabrielli Armando , Procopio Antonio Domenico , Ferracin Manuela , Bonafè Massimiliano , Olivieri Fabiola
Published: July 2020

Background

Current COVID-19 pandemic poses an unprecedented threat to global health and healthcare systems. At least in western countries, the most amount of the death toll is accounted by old people affected by age-related diseases. In this regard, we proposed that COVID-19 severity may be tightly related to inflammaging, i.e. the age-related onset of inflammation, which is responsible for age-related diseases. It has been reported that systemic hyper-inflammation may turn to be detrimental in COVID-19 patients.

Objective

Here, we exploited a recently closed clinical trial (NCT04315480) on the anti-IL-6 drug tocilizumab to assess whether microRNAs regulating inflammaging can be assessed as biomarkers of drug response and outcome.

Methods

Serum levels of miR-146a-5p, −21-5p, and −126-3p were quantified by RT-PCR and Droplet Digital PCR by two independent laboratories on 30 patients with virologically confirmed COVID-19, characterized by multifocal interstitial pneumonia confirmed by CT-scan and requiring oxygen therapy, and 29 age- and gender-matched healthy control subjects. COVID-19 patients were treated with a single-dose intravenous infusion of 8 mg/kg tocilizumab and categorized into responders and non-responders.

Results

We showed that COVID-19 patients who did not respond to tocilizumab have lower serum levels of miR-146a-5p after the treatment (p=0.007). Moreover, among non-responders, those with the lowest serum levels of miR-146a-5p experienced the most adverse outcome (p=0.008).

Conclusion

Our data show that blood-based biomarkers, such as miR-146a-5p, can provide a molecular link between inflammaging and COVID-19 clinical course, thus allowing to enlarge the drug armory against this worldwide health threat.
Risky roots and careful herbivores: Sustained herbivory by a root‐feeding herbivore attenuates indirect plant defences
Authors: Grunseich John M. , Thompson Morgan N. , Hay Allison A. , Gorman Zachary , Kolomiets Michael V. , Eubanks Micky D. , Helms Anjel M.
Published: July 2020

Above‐ground plant tissues produce characteristic blends of volatile compounds in response to insect herbivory. These herbivore‐induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) function in plant defence and mediate foraging decisions by herbivores and their natural enemies. The ecological roles of HIPVs as foraging cues for different trophic levels highlight an important conflict for herbivores that need to locate suitable host plants while avoiding competition and predation.

Plant roots also emit HIPVs following herbivory, but our understanding of root‐produced volatiles and their ecological functions in soil environments remains limited. Moreover, recent studies have documented the effects of temporal dynamics of plant volatile production on ecological interactions, but little is known about how root HIPVs change throughout herbivory or the resulting ecological implications from such changes.

In this study, we examined the roles of HIPVs from roots of cucumber plants Cucumis sativus as foraging cues for a specialist herbivore, striped cucumber beetle Acalymma vittatum and its natural enemies, entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs). We predicted HIPVs from A. vittatum‐damaged roots would attract EPNs, while repelling conspecific larvae that avoid competition, induced plant defences and increased risk of predation by EPNs. To capture the temporal dynamics of root HIPVs, we determined how HIPV‐mediated interactions change over time with sustained herbivory.

Initially (after 24 hr), A. vittatum herbivory on C. sativus, or mechanical wounding, induced greater production of root volatiles. These root HIPVs recruited EPNs and repelled foraging A. vittatum larvae, although larval performance was not affected by prior damage. Sustained (7 days) herbivory by larvae reduced HIPVs to levels indistinguishable from undamaged control roots while mechanically damaged roots continued to produce higher levels of volatiles. Attenuation of HIPVs impaired indirect defence responses of C. sativus by reducing recruitment of EPNs and deterrence of A. vittatum larvae.

These results suggest that root HIPVs function as honest signals that indicate the presence of herbivores, induction of indirect plant defences and increased risk of predation by natural enemies. However, some herbivores may overcome this line of plant defence by attenuating production of HIPVs and thus altering the outcomes of subsequent interactions among plants, herbivores and natural enemies.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
They like it cold, but only in winter: Climate‐mediated effects on a hibernator
Authors: Fietz Joanna , Langer Franz , Schlund Wolfgang
Published: July 2020

Variations in ambient temperature (Ta) profoundly influence energy consumption in endotherms and therefore their survival and fitness. But depending on whether endotherms are hibernating or active, the same changes in Ta may have opposing consequences for their energy consumption.

The aim of this study was therefore to investigate how variations in Ta, occurring during hibernation and during the active period of a hibernator, affect different fitness relevant traits.

To understand whether changes in Ta impact phenology, body mass and reproduction in a small mammalian hibernator, we analysed Ta variations and detailed capture–mark–recapture data on edible dormice Glis glis collected between 1993 and 2016 in South‐West Germany.

Results revealed that during hibernation a Ta increase of 1°C advanced the date of first capture after hibernation by 6 days, but only if food availability during the preceding year was low. In contrast, after years of comparatively high food availability, date of first capture was not affected by Ta, but dormice had a significantly lower body mass after emergence, if Ta during hibernation was elevated (3–6 g per 1°C). We presume that an earlier emergence as well as a lower body mass after emergence potentially reduces the chance to survive.

During the active period of edible dormice, mean spring Ta did not affect the date of birth but was positively associated with litter size, potentially improving reproductive success.

Results of this study highlight that, depending on the physiological state of a hibernator, an increase in Ta can have positive and negative effects on fitness relevant traits.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Group density, disease, and season shape territory size and overlap of social carnivores
Authors: Brandell Ellen E. , Fountain‐Jones Nicholas M. , Gilbertson Marie L. J. , Cross Paul C. , Hudson Peter J. , Smith Douglas W. , Stahler Daniel R. , Packer Craig , Craft Meggan E.
Published: July 2020

The spatial organization of a population can influence the spread of information, behaviour and pathogens. Group territory size and territory overlap and components of spatial organization, provide key information as these metrics may be indicators of habitat quality, resource dispersion, contact rates and environmental risk (e.g. indirectly transmitted pathogens). Furthermore, sociality and behaviour can also shape space use, and subsequently, how space use and habitat quality together impact demography.

Our study aims to identify factors shaping the spatial organization of wildlife populations and assess the impact of epizootics on space use. We further aim to explore the mechanisms by which disease perturbations could cause changes in spatial organization.

Here we assessed the seasonal spatial organization of Serengeti lions and Yellowstone wolves at the group level. We use network analysis to describe spatial organization and connectivity of social groups. We then examine the factors predicting mean territory size and mean territory overlap for each population using generalized additive models.

We demonstrate that lions and wolves were similar in that group‐level factors, such as number of groups and shaped spatial organization more than population‐level factors, such as population density. Factors shaping territory size were slightly different than factors shaping territory overlap; for example, wolf pack size was an important predictor of territory overlap, but not territory size. Lion spatial networks were more highly connected, while wolf spatial networks varied seasonally. We found that resource dispersion may be more important for driving territory size and overlap for wolves than for lions. Additionally, canine distemper epizootics may have altered lion spatial organization, highlighting the importance of including infectious disease epizootics in studies of behavioural and movement ecology.

We provide insight about when we might expect to observe the impacts of resource dispersion, disease perturbations, and other ecological factors on spatial organization. Our work highlights the importance of monitoring and managing social carnivore populations at the group level. Future research should elucidate the complex relationships between demographics, social and spatial structure, abiotic and biotic conditions and pathogen infections.
Behavioural and fitness effects of translocation to a novel environment: Whole‐lake experiments in two aquatic top predators
Authors: Monk Christopher T. , Chéret Bernard , Czapla Philipp , Hühn Daniel , Klefoth Thomas , Eschbach Erik , Hagemann Robert , Arlinghaus Robert
Published: July 2020

Translocation into a novel environment through common fisheries management practices, such as fish stocking, provides opportunities to study behavioural and fitness impacts of translocations at realistic ecological scales. The process of stocking, as well as the unfamiliarity with novel ecological conditions and the interactions with resident fish may affect translocated individuals, leading to alterations of behaviours and causing fitness impacts.

Our objectives were to investigate how aquatic top predators behaviourally establish themselves and compete with resident individuals following introduction in a novel lake environment and to investigate the resulting fitness consequences.

Using high‐resolution acoustic telemetry, we conducted whole‐lake experiments and compared the activity, activity‐space size and fate of translocated and resident individuals in two model top predators, the northern pike Esox lucius (n = 160) and European catfish Silurus glanis (n = 33). Additionally, we compared the reproductive success of translocated and resident northern pike. The experiment was conducted with large (adult) individuals of different origins, resilient to predation, but subject to agonistic interactions and competition with resident fish.

Over a period of several months, the translocated catfish exhibited consistently larger activity‐space sizes than resident catfish, but did not differ from residents in activity and survival. The pike from one of the two translocated origins we tested also showed elevated space‐use, and both translocated origins revealed higher mortality rates than their resident conspecifics, indicating maladjustment to their novel environment. When non‐resident pike reproduced, they overwhelmingly produced hybrid offspring with resident fish, indicating that introductions fostered gene flow of non‐native genes.

Our study indicates that fish introductions result in behavioural and fitness impacts even in large‐bodied top predators that experience low levels of natural predation risk.
When to stay and when to leave? Proximate causes of dispersal in an endangered social carnivore
Authors: Behr Dominik M. , McNutt John W. , Ozgul Arpat , Cozzi Gabriele
Published: July 2020

Reliable estimates of birth, death, emigration and immigration rates are fundamental to understanding and predicting the dynamics of wild populations and, consequently, inform appropriate management actions. However, when individuals disappear from a focal population, inference on their fate is often challenging.

Here we used 30 years of individual‐based mark–recapture data from a population of free‐ranging African wild dogsLycaon pictusin Botswana and a suite of individual, social and environmental predictors to investigate factors affecting the decision to emigrate from the pack. We subsequently used this information to assign an emigration probability to those individuals that were no longer sighted within their pack (i.e. missing individuals).

Natal dispersal (i.e. emigration from the natal pack) showed seasonal patterns with female dispersal peaking prior to the mating season and male dispersal peaking at the beginning of the wet season. For both sexes, natal dispersal rate increased in the absence of unrelated individuals of the opposite sex in the pack. Male natal dispersal decreased with increasing number of pups in the pack and increased in larger packs. Female natal dispersal decreased with increasing number of pups in larger packs, but increased with increasing number of pups in smaller packs. Individuals of both sexes were less likely to exhibit secondary dispersal (i.e. emigration from a pack other than the natal pack) if they were dominant and if many pups were present in the pack.

Our models predicted that 18% and 25% of missing females and males, respectively, had likely dispersed from the natal pack, rather than having died. A misclassification of this order of magnitude between dispersal and mortality can have far‐reaching consequences in the evaluation and prediction of population dynamics and persistence, and potentially mislead conservation actions.

Our study showed that the decision to disperse is context‐dependent and that the effect of individual, social and environmental predictors differs between males and females and between natal and secondary dispersal related to different direct and indirect fitness consequences. Furthermore, we demonstrated how a thorough understanding of the proximate causes of dispersal can be used to assign a dispersal probability to missing individuals. Knowledge of causes of dispersal can then be used within an integrated framework to more reliably estimate mortality rates.
RestoreNet: An emerging restoration network reveals controls on seeding success across dryland ecosystems
Authors: Havrilla Caroline A. , Munson Seth M. , McCormick Molly L. , Laushman Katherine M. , Balazs Kathleen R. , Butterfield Bradley J.
Published: July 2020

Drylands are Earth's largest terrestrial biome and support one‐third of the global population. However, they are also highly vulnerable to land degradation. Despite widespread demand for dryland restoration and rehabilitation, little information is available to help land managers effectively re‐establish native perennial vegetation across drylands.

RestoreNet is an emerging dryland restoration network that systematically tests revegetation techniques across environmental gradients. Using the RestoreNet experimental framework, we tested the effectiveness of restoration treatments (i.e. ConMod nurse plant structures, mulch, pits) that increase soil moisture and seed mixes with different climatic niches to achieve revegetation goals.

Across sites, seedling recruitment was consistently influenced by treatment and seed mix type. Pit and mulch treatments increased total seedling density, with pits promoting the highest seeded species recruitment while limiting non‐native species establishment. Seeding increased total seedling density regardless of seed mix type, but cooler‐adapted seed mixes promoted greater seeded species density and resulted in lower density of unseeded (non‐native) species relative to warmer‐adapted mixes.

Seedling recruitment was also controlled by the temporal and environmental context of restoration with the positive effect of high precipitation greatest in the weeks immediately following seeding. Above‐average precipitation during the study period across most of the sites may partially explain why the highest seeded species recruitment occurred in pit treatments and seed mixes with cooler, wetter niche requirements.

Synthesis and applications. Results from the dryland restoration network, RestoreNet help to better understand variation in seeding and restoration treatment success across space and time in drylands. Relationships between restoration practices and environmental conditions in our study suggest the importance of anticipatory restoration strategies that forecast seasonal and sub‐seasonal weather conditions and select plant species with climate niche requirements appropriate for current and future climate conditions. This information is critical to land managers tasked with improving ecosystem conditions across degraded dryland regions.
The medicalisation of female genital cutting: Harm reduction or social norm?
Authors: Van Eekert Nina , Buffel Veerle , De Bruyn Sara , Van de Velde Sarah
Published: July 2020

Today, female genital cutting is increasingly practised by trained healthcare providers. While opposition to medicalised female genital cutting (FGC) is strong, little is known about the underlying motivation for this medicalisation trend in practising communities. We formulated three hypotheses based on medicalisation theories. The medicalisation of FGC: (i) is stratified and functions as a status symbol, (ii) functions as a harm‐reduction strategy to conform to social norms while reducing health risks and (iii) functions as a social norm itself. Conducting multilevel multinomial regressions using the 2005, 2008 and 2014 waves of the Egyptian Demographic Health Survey, we examined the relationship between the mother’s social position, the normative context in which she lives and her decision to medicalise her daughter’s cut, compared to the choice of a traditional or no cut. We found that an individual woman’s social position, as well as the FGC prevalence and percentage of medicalisation at the governorate level, was associated with a mother’s choice to medicalise her daughter’s cut. Further research on factors involved in decision‐making on the medicalisation of FGC is recommended, as an in‐depth understanding of why the decision is made to medicalise the FGC procedure is relevant to both the scientific field and the broader policy debate.
PARP inhibitors as maintenance therapy in newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer: a meta‐analysis
Authors: Lin Q , Liu W , Xu S , Shang H , Li J , Guo Y , Tong J
Published: July 2020

Background

Up to 70% of patients with advanced ovarian cancer have a relapse after primary therapy. New agents and approaches are urgently needed to avoid or slow down this recurrence.

Objectives

To investigate the efficacy of PARP inhibitors (PARPis) as maintenance treatment in patients with newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer.

Search strategy

PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and Web of Science databases.

Selection criteria

All randomised clinical trials (RCTs) that compared PARPis with placebo as first‐line maintenance therapy in ovarian cancer.

Data collection and analysis

Two reviewers extracted data. Pooled hazard ratio (HR) and risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated.

Main results

PARPis were associated with significant improvement of progression‐free survival (PFS) in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (AeOC) (HR = 0.53, 95% CI 0.40–0.71; P < 0.0001). The benefit was not only in women with BRCA mutations (HR = 0.35, 95% CI 0.29–0.42; P < 0.00001) and homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) (HR = 0.43, 95% CI 0.32–0.60; P < 0.00001), but also in those with nonmutated BRCA (HR = 0.72, 95% CI 0.63–0.82; P < 0.00001) and even non‐HRD (HR = 0.83, 95% CI 0.70–0.99; P = 0.04).

Conclusions

PARP inhibitors are effective as maintenance therapy among patients with newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer after platinum‐based chemotherapy, regardless of BRCA mutation or HRD status.

Tweetable abstract

PARPis provide a significant PFS benefit as first‐line maintenance therapy in patients with newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer.
A systematic review on reported outcomes and outcome measures in female idiopathic chronic pelvic pain for the development of a core outcome set
Authors: Ghai V , Subramanian V , Jan H , Pergialiotis V , Thakar R , Doumouchtsis SK ,   CHORUS: An International Collaboration for Harmonising Outcomes, Research, Standards in Urogynaecology, Women's Health
Published: July 2020

Background

A core outcome set (COS) is required to address inconsistencies in outcome reporting in chronic pelvic pain (CPP) trials.

Objectives

Evaluation of reported outcomes and selected outcome measures in CPP trials by producing a comprehensive inventory to inform a COS.

Search strategy

Systematic review of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) identified from Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Embase and MEDLINE databases.

Selection criteria

RCTs assessing efficacy and safety of medical, surgical and psychological interventions for women with idiopathic CPP.

Data collection and analysis

Two independent researchers extracted outcomes and outcome measures. Similar outcomes were grouped and classified into domains to produce a structured inventory.

Main results

Twenty‐four trials were identified including 136 reported outcomes and outcome measures. Rates of reporting outcomes varied (4–100%) and pelvic pain was the most frequently reported outcome (100%). All trials reported the pain domain; however, only half reported quality of life, clinical effectiveness and adverse events. No differences in outcome reporting were observed in five high‐quality trials (21%). Univariate analysis demonstrated an association between quality of outcome reporting and methodological quality of studies (rs = 0.407, P = 0.048).

Conclusion

There is wide variation in reported outcomes and applied outcome measures in CPP trials. While a COS is being developed and implemented, we propose the interim use of commonly reported outcomes in each domain: pain (pelvic pain, dyspareunia, dysmenorrhoea), life impact (quality of life, emotional functioning, physical functioning), clinical effectiveness (efficacy, satisfaction, cost effectiveness, return to daily activities) and adverse events (surgical, perioperative observations, nonsurgical).

Tweetable abstract

There is significant variation in outcome reporting in CPP trials. Our systematic review forms the basis for the development of a core outcome set.
Competitor densities, habitat, and weather: effects on interspecific interactions between wild deer species
Authors: FERRETTI Francesco , FATTORINI Niccolò
Published: July 2020

There is a growing interest on the potential interplay between weather, habitat, and interspecific competition on population dynamics of wild herbivores. Favorable environmental conditions may buffer the negative effects of competition; conversely, competition may be expected to be stronger under harsh environmental conditions. We investigated relationships between competitor abundance, weather, and habitat cover on density and local distribution of a medium‐sized herbivore, the roe deer Capreolus capreolus, as well as its spatial overlap with fallow deer Dama dama in a Mediterranean protected area. Over 11 years (2007–2017), roe deer density was not affected by spring–summer rainfall in the previous year and decreased with increasing density of fallow deer in the previous year. Hence, over the considered temporal scale, results supported a major role of competition over weather in influencing population trends of roe deer. At a finer spatial scale, roe deer occupancy was negatively affected by local abundance of fallow deer, especially in “poorer” habitats. We found a slight support for a positive effect of fallow deer density on interspecific spatial overlap. Moreover, fine‐scale spatial overlap between deer species increased with decreasing rainfall in spring–summer. Fallow deer were introduced to our study area in historical times and their role as superior competitors over roe deer has been found also in other study areas. We suggest a potential role of harsh weather conditions during the growing season of vegetation (i.e. scarce rainfall) in triggering the potential for ecological overlap, emphasizing the negative effects of interspecific competition.
Contribution of the retronasal odor of soy sauce to salt reduction
Authors: Manabe Mariko , Sakaue Ryoichi , Obata Akio
Published: July 2020

The characteristic odor of soy sauce has been reported to enhance saltiness. However, soy sauce is used not only as a sauce that is added directly to food, but also as a seasoning. In addition, some of the aromatic compounds that contribute to the soy sauce odor change during cooking or heating. In the present study, the effects of the retronasal odor of uncooked and cooked soy sauce on the enhancement of saltiness and palatability of a low‐salt solution were sensory evaluated. A probit analysis indicated that the saltiness‐enhancing effect of the odor of 15% uncooked soy sauce was lost by heating. The odors of soy sauce boiled for 10 min (cooked SS) and the residue of soy sauce heated at 200 °C for 1 min improved the palatability of the low‐salt solution. Gas chromatography (GC) analyses, namely, GC–olfactometry and GC–mass spectrometry, showed that one active candidate aromatic component of soy sauce contributing to saltiness enhancement was 3‐methyl‐1‐butanol (3‐Me‐BuOH). The saltiness‐enhancing effects of cooked SS could be restored by adding 3‐Me‐BuOH, as assessed by the sensory evaluation. These data demonstrated that 3‐Me‐BuOH contributes to saltiness enhancement.

Practical Application

We found that the odor of cooked soy sauce could improve the palatability of low‐salt food. Although the saltiness‐enhancing effect provided by the odor of uncooked soy sauce was lost, the saltiness‐enhancing effect of the odor of cooked soy sauce can be partially restored by adding 3‐methyl butanol. Thus, not only the odor of unheated soy sauce but also the odor of heated soy sauce following addition of 3‐methyl butanol may be useful for developing palatable salt‐reduced food.
Is Audit Committee Equity Compensation Related to Audit Fees?*
Authors: Liu Xinming , Lobo Gerald J. , Yu Hung‐Chao
Published: July 2020

Section 301 of the Sarbanes‐Oxley Act (SOX) implicitly assumes that audit committees can independently determine audit fees. Critics of section 301 have questioned this assumption in particular, and the efficacy of section 301 more generally. In response, the SEC issued a concept release in 2015 calling for public disclosure of the process that audit committees follow for determining auditor compensation. Motivated by these calls and the widespread use of stocks and options to compensate firms' independent directors, we examine the relation between equity compensation granted to audit committee members and audit fees. Using a sample of 3,685 firm‐year observations during 2007–2015, we find a negative relation between audit committee equity compensation and audit fees, consistent with larger equity pay inducing audit committee members to compromise independence by paying lower audit fees. These findings are robust to controlling for endogeneity, firm size, alternative measures of equity compensation, alternative samples, and an alternative treatment of extreme values. We further show that larger equity compensation is associated with lower earnings quality. We also find that the negative effect of equity compensation on audit fees is stronger when city‐level audit market competition is high. However, this negative relation disappears when (i) firms face high litigation risk, (ii) auditors have stronger bargaining power, (iii) the audit committee includes a high proportion of accounting experts, and (iv) auditors are industry experts. Our results are relevant for regulators and investors.
Archival Evidence on the Audit Process: Determinants and Consequences of Interim Effort*
Authors: Christensen Brant E. , Newton Nathan J. , Wilkins Michael S.
Published: July 2020

Using proprietary data from a global accounting firm, we investigate the determinants of auditors' interim effort as well as the impact of interim effort on audit quality, client disclosure timeliness, audit hours, and audit fees. Public statements from accounting firms and regulators suggest various benefits from accelerating auditor effort, but these claims remain largely untested. We find that interim effort is higher for large, complex clients that require integrated audits of both financial statements and internal control over financial reporting. With respect to consequences, we find that allocating relatively more work to the interim period is associated with a reduced likelihood of late 10‐K filings, decreased total audit hours, and higher fees. Although increasing interim period effort is not, on average, associated with a reduced likelihood of misstatement, we do find that current period material weaknesses are less likely with greater interim work. Thus, greater interim effort appears to facilitate the remediation of internal control deficiencies before year‐end. We also show that the benefits of increased interim period effort allocation are much stronger—including improved audit quality—when manager and partner interim involvement is high. Overall, our study provides important new insights on audit production and highlights benefits of reduced hours for auditors, earlier identification of control deficiencies for clients, and more timely financial reports for investors.
Determining marine bioregions: A comparison of quantitative approaches
Authors: Hill Nicole , Woolley Skipton N. C. , Foster Scott , Dunstan Piers K. , McKinlay John , Ovaskainen Otso , Johnson Craig
Published: July 2020

Areas that contain ecologically distinct biological content, called bioregions, are a central component to spatial and ecosystem‐based management. We review and describe a variety of commonly used and newly developed statistical approaches for quantitatively determining bioregions.

Statistical approaches to bioregionalization can broadly be classified as two‐stage approaches that either ‘Group First, then Predict’ or ‘Predict First, then Group’, or a newer class of one‐stage approaches that simultaneously analyse biological data with reference to environmental data to generate bioregions. We demonstrate these approaches using a selection of methods applied to simulated data and real data on demersal fish. The methods are assessed against their ability to answer several common scientific or management questions.

The true number of simulated bioregions was only identified by both of the one‐stage methods and one two‐stage method. When the number of bioregions was known, many of the methods, but not all, could adequately infer the species, environmental and spatial characteristics of bioregions. One‐stage approaches, however, do so directly via a single model without the need for separate post‐hoc analyses and additionally provide an appropriate characterization of uncertainty.

One‐stage approaches provide a comprehensive and consistent method for objectively identifying and characterizing bioregions using both biological and environmental data. Potential avenues of future development in one‐stage methods include incorporating presence‐only and multiple data types as well as considering functional aspects of bioregions.
The accuracy of phenology estimators for use with sparsely sampled presence‐only observations
Authors: Belitz Michael W. , Larsen Elise A. , Ries Leslie , Guralnick Robert P.
Published: July 2020

Phenology is one of the most immediate responses to global climate change, but data limitations have made examining phenology patterns across greater taxonomic, spatial and temporal scales challenging. One significant opportunity is leveraging rapidly increasing data resources from digitized museum specimens and community science platforms, but this assumes reliable statistical methods are available to estimate phenology using presence‐only data. Estimating the onset or offset of key events is especially difficult with incidental data, as lower data densities occur towards the tails of an abundance distribution.

The Weibull distribution has been recognized as an appropriate distribution to estimate phenology based on presence‐only data, but Weibull‐informed estimators are only available for onset and offset. We describe the mathematical framework for a new Weibull‐parameterized estimator of phenology appropriate for any percentile of a distribution and make it available in anrpackage,phenesse. We use simulations and empirical data on open flower timing and first arrival of monarch butterflies to quantify the accuracy of our estimator and other commonly used phenological estimators for 10 phenological metrics: onset, mean and offset dates, as well as the 1st, 5th, 10th, 50th, 90th, 95th and 99th percentile dates. Root mean squared errors and mean bias of the phenological estimators were calculated for different patterns of abundance and observation processes.

Results show a general pattern of decay in performance of estimates when moving from mean estimates towards the tails of the seasonal abundance curve, suggesting that onset and offset continue to be the most difficult phenometrics to estimate. However, with simple phenologies and enough observations, our newly developed estimator can provide useful onset and offset estimates. This is especially true for the start of the season, when incidental observations may be more common.

Our simulation demonstrates the potential of generating accurate phenological estimates from presence‐only data and guides the best use of estimators. The estimator that we developed, phenesse, is the least biased and has the lowest estimation error for onset estimates under most simulated and empirical conditions examined, improving the robustness of these estimates for phenological research.
Are the evaluation criteria used in preclinical endodontic training courses relevant? A preliminary study
Authors: Vantorre Trystan , Bécavin Thibault , Deveaux Etienne , Marchandise Pierre , Chai Feng , Robberecht Lieven
Published: July 2020

This study aimed to evaluate the relevance of a conventional evaluation protocol (CEP) for preclinical endodontic training. Seven dental students performed root canal treatments on an extracted human molar which was then evaluated by CEP (clinical and radiographic observations, including preparing the access cavities, preparing and filling the root canal, and detecting iatrogenic errors). A reference evaluation protocol (REP) based on micro‐computed tomographic images analysis was used as a control. The evaluation scores obtained by CEP and REP were compared using a non‐parametric Wilcoxon’s test. CEP was relevant for access cavity, irrigation, working length and ledge detection training but was no more effective than the REP for evaluating the apical diameter and taper of the root canals, the quality of the fillings, and the presence of perforations and fractured instruments using retro‐alveolar radiographs. The conventional evaluation criteria used in preclinical endodontics should be used with care to detect ‘unsafe’ students.
Novel predictive and therapeutic options for better pregnancy outcome in frozen embryo transfer cycles
Authors: Huber Warren J. , Sauerbrun‐Cutler May‐Tal , Krueger Paula M. , Sharma Surendra
Published: July 2020

Since 1978, in the first decades of in vitro fertilization (IVF), the use of ovarian hyperstimulation allowed for the development and transfer of multiple embryos. As IVF technology improved, the number of multiple pregnancies increased, which led to gradual reduction in the number of embryos that were transferred. Embryo freezing (vitrification) was recommended to allow subsequent transfer if the fresh cycle was unsuccessful. However, experimentation has continued to improve pregnancy outcomes. We discuss here the significance of frozen embryo transfer cycle and the impact of uterine and peripheral immunity dominated by NK cells and regulatory T cells and human chorionic gonadotropin on pregnancy outcome in this innovative mode of IVF therapy.
The Republican Theories of Rousseau and the American Anti‐Federalists
Authors: Zug Charles U.
Published: July 2020

For almost four decades preceding the 1787‐88 ratification debates — during which American Federalists drew severe criticism from the Anti‐Federalists — Enlightenment politics in Europe had been undergoing equally severe criticism from Jean‐Jacques Rousseau. Though largely unaware of each other, both of these critics advanced distinctive republican theories based on civic virtue and individual liberty. Rousseau argued for a republic which would require the near‐total alienation of retained natural rights, abstention from bourgeois commerce, and complete conformity to the general will. The Anti‐Federalists, by contrast, envisioned a republic based on retained natural rights, one that would reconcile the communitarian spirit of antiquity with the commercial values and individual rights of modernity. By comparing and contrasting the most salient features of these contending visions, whose theoretical trajectories are — I argue — crucially opposed, we can glimpse the inherent conflicting requisites of republican government and therewith some of the enduring dilemmas of republican theory.
ASIO and the Monitoring of Irish Republicans in Australia during the “Troubles”
Authors: Smith Evan , Dukova Anastasia
Published: July 2020

After the “Troubles” broke out in Northern Ireland in 1969, the Australian government became increasingly concerned that these international tensions would manifest themselves within the Irish diaspora. Sympathy for Irish Republicanism was identified in a number of nationalist and socialist groups in Australia which were monitored by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO). Although chiefly focused on the Communist Party of Australia, ASIO monitored Irish Republicans alongside other left‐wing groups and social movements. Based on recently released ASIO files, this article explores the extent to which they were surveilled. The article argues that the monitoring of the Irish Republicans can fit into two periods. The first period, from the outbreak of the “Troubles” in 1969 to 1972, was when Irish Republicanism was seen as an extension of the Communist and Trotskyist groups in Australia. The second period, from 1972 through to the late 1970s, saw security services much more concerned about Irish Republicanism as terrorism, as international terrorism and the expansion of the IRA's bombing campaigns outside of Northern Ireland became an increasing concern. This shift in perceptions of Irish Republicanism demonstrates a wider shift in focus for ASIO and the Australian authorities from Cold War counter‐subversion to counter‐terrorism.
The Italian “Fifth Column” in Australia: Fascist Propaganda, Italian‐Australians and Internment
Authors: Papalia Gerardo
Published: July 2020

This article argues that the widespread internment of Italian‐Australian civilians during the Second World War was the product of two overlapping discourses. One was the policy of the Italian Fascist government to consider the Italian diaspora as an extension of Italy. It established an articulated and wide‐ranging network that sustained migrant loyalty through cultural and welfare activities as well as by surveillance and threats of retaliation. The other discourse was the widespread belief, reflected in the Commonwealth's security policy, that all Italian‐Australians were potential adherents to an enemy “Fifth Column”. Whilst there is substantial evidence that Italian migrants sought to resist both discourses, in particular by naturalizing, the overlap between them facilitated the Commonwealth's decision to intern almost one third of male Italian‐Australian civilians. Ultimately, internment caused much suffering: the vast majority of Italian‐Australians, to the extent that they believed in Fascist propaganda, did so mainly out of patriotic pride in Italy and not ideological conviction. At the end of the war, Australian authorities found that no Italian‐Australian had engaged in espionage or in any serious act of sabotage.
The neighbourhood natural environment is associated with asthma in children: A birth cohort study
Authors: Cavaleiro Rufo João , Paciência Inês , Hoffimann Elaine , Moreira André , Barros Henrique , Ribeiro Ana Isabel
Published: July 2020

Background

A lower exposure to the natural environment has been hypothesized to adversely affect the human microbiome and its immunomodulatory capacity. However, the underlying effects of this hypothesis are still not understood. We aimed to evaluate the effect of early‐life exposure to greenness and species richness on the development of allergic diseases and asthma in children.

Methods

A longitudinal study was conducted comprising 1050 children from a population‐based birth cohort recruited in Portugal. Residential normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and species richness index (SRI) were assessed at baseline to estimate their association with allergic diseases and asthma at the ages of 4 and 7.

Results

Significant predisposing associations were observed between the exposure to species richness at baseline and the onset of asthma and wheezing at the age of 7. Children living in neighbourhoods surrounded by high levels of SRI were at a significantly higher risk developing allergic sensitization(OR [95% CI] = 2.00 [1.04:3.86] at age 4; 2.35 [1.20:4.63] at age 7). Living surrounded by greener environments was significantly associated with a lower prevalence of asthma and rhinitis at the age of 7(0.41 [0.18:0.97] and 0.37 [0.15:0.93], respectively).

Conclusions

Living in close proximity to a greener environment at birth has a protective effect on the development of allergic diseases and asthma at the age of 7. Conversely, living in neighbourhoods with a high number of fauna species appears to be associated with a higher risk for allergy, asthma and wheezing.