bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quantifying soil moisture impacts on light use efficiency across biomes
Authors: Stocker Benjamin D. , Zscheischler Jakob , Keenan Trevor F. , Prentice I. Colin , Peñuelas Josep , Seneviratne Sonia I.
Published: March 2018

Terrestrial primary productivity and carbon cycle impacts of droughts are commonly quantified using vapour pressure deficit (VPD) data and remotely sensed greenness, without accounting for soil moisture. However, soil moisture limitation is known to strongly affect plant physiology.

Here, we investigate light use efficiency, the ratio of gross primary productivity (GPP) to absorbed light. We derive its fractional reduction due to soil moisture (fLUE), separated from VPD and greenness changes, using artificial neural networks trained on eddy covariance data, multiple soil moisture datasets and remotely sensed greenness.

This reveals substantial impacts of soil moisture alone that reduce GPP by up to 40% at sites located in sub‐humid, semi‐arid or arid regions. For sites in relatively moist climates, we find, paradoxically, a muted fLUE response to drying soil, but reduced fLUE under wet conditions.

fLUE identifies substantial drought impacts that are not captured when relying solely on VPD and greenness changes and, when seasonally recurring, are missed by traditional, anomaly‐based drought indices. Counter to common assumptions, fLUE reductions are largest in drought‐deciduous vegetation, including grasslands. Our results highlight the necessity to account for soil moisture limitation in terrestrial primary productivity data products, especially for drought‐related assessments.
Sensitivity analysis of the recovery time for a population under the impact of an environmental disturbance
Authors: Ackleh A. S. , Caswell H. , Chiquet R. A. , Tang T. , Veprauskas A.
Published: March 2018

Wildlife populations are often affected by natural or artificial disasters that reduce their vital rates leading to drastic fluctuations in population dynamics. We use a stage‐structured matrix model to study the recovery process of a population given an environmental disturbance. We focus on the time it takes the population to recover to its pre‐event level and develop general formulas to calculate the sensitivity and elasticity of the recovery time to changes in the initial population, vital rates, and event severity. Our results suggest that the recovery time is independent of the initial population size but it is sensitive to the initial structure. Moreover, the recovery time is more sensitive to reductions in vital rates than to the duration of the impact of the event. We explore an application of the model to the sperm whale population in Gulf of Mexico following a disturbance such as the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Recommendations for Resource Managers

Understanding a population's recovery process following a disturbance is important for management and conservation decisions.

This study establishes a general framework that makes it possible to identify the key components in the recovery process.

When applied to a sperm whale population, the recovery time appears to be most sensitive to changes in survival. In addition, the magnitude of impact of a disturbance may have a greater impact on the recovery time than the duration of impact of the disturbance.
Causal inference and temporal predictions in audiovisual perception of speech and music
Authors: Noppeney Uta , Lee Hwee Ling
Published: March 2018

To form a coherent percept of the environment, the brain must integrate sensory signals emanating from a common source but segregate those from different sources. Temporal regularities are prominent cues for multisensory integration, particularly for speech and music perception. In line with models of predictive coding, we suggest that the brain adapts an internal model to the statistical regularities in its environment. This internal model enables cross‐sensory and sensorimotor temporal predictions as a mechanism to arbitrate between integration and segregation of signals from different senses.
Behavioral decoding of working memory items inside and outside the focus of attention
Authors: Mallett Remington , Lewis‐Peacock Jarrod A.
Published: March 2018

How we attend to our thoughts affects how we attend to our environment. Holding information in working memory can automatically bias visual attention toward matching information. By observing attentional biases on reaction times to visual search during a memory delay, it is possible to reconstruct the source of that bias using machine learning techniques and thereby behaviorally decode the content of working memory. Can this be done when more than one item is held in working memory? There is some evidence that multiple items can simultaneously bias attention, but the effects have been inconsistent. One explanation may be that items are stored in different states depending on the current task demands. Recent models propose functionally distinct states of representation for items inside versus outside the focus of attention. Here, we use behavioral decoding to evaluate whether multiple memory items—including temporarily irrelevant items outside the focus of attention—exert biases on visual attention. Only the single item in the focus of attention was decodable. The other item showed a brief attentional bias that dissipated until it returned to the focus of attention. These results support the idea of dynamic, flexible states of working memory across time and priority.
The neural basis of visual symmetry and its role in mid‐ and high‐level visual processing
Authors: Bertamini Marco , Silvanto Juha , Norcia Anthony M. , Makin Alexis D.J. , Wagemans Johan
Published: March 2018

Symmetry is an important and prominent feature of the visual world. It has been studied as a basis for image segmentation and perceptual organization, but it also plays a role in higher level processes, such as face and object perception. Over the past decade, there has been progress in the study of the neural mechanisms of symmetry perception in humans and other animals. There is extended activity in the ventral stream, including the lateral occipital complex (LOC) and VO1; this activity starts in V3 and it occurs independently of the task (automatic response). Additionally, when the task requires processing of symmetry, the activation may emerge for objects that are symmetrical, even though they do not project a symmetrical image. There is also some evidence of hemispheric lateralization, especially for the LOC. We review the studies on the cortical basis of visual symmetry processing and its links to encoding of other aspects of the visual world, such as faces and objects.
From the Cradle to the Grave: The Influence of Family Background on the Career Path of Italian Men
Authors: Michele Raitano , Francesco Vona
Published: March 2018

Using a longitudinal data set that contains detailed information on working histories of Italian men, we investigate the relationship between parental background and sons’ earnings profiles. We find that the parental influence on sons’ earnings persists over the career and that the direct influence controlling for sons’ education is large and grows during the working career. After twenty years of experience, our baseline specification indicates that an additional year of parental education is associated with a 2.0% increase in sons’ wages, while an additional year of son's education is associated with a 4.8% increase. We use educational mobility between parents and sons to disentangle this influence into a glass ceiling effect – a premium for well‐off children who have high educational attainments – and a parachute effect – a premium for well‐off children who acquire less education than their parents. We find that both effects contribute to explain the steeper earnings profiles of the well‐off sons, consistently with the idea that family ties play a crucial allocative role in the Italian labour market.
Impact of left atrial size on isolation area in the acute phase of pulmonary vein isolation using 28 mm cryoballoon
Authors: Chikata Akio , Kato Takeshi , Usuda Kazuo , Fujita Shuhei , Maruyama Michiro , Nagata Yoshiki , Sakagami Satoru , Kanamori Naomi , Yaegashi Takanori , Saeki Takahiro , Kusayama Takashi , Usui Soichiro , Furusho Hiroshi , Kaneko Shuichi , Takamura Masayuki
Published: March 2018

Background

The impact of left atrial (LA) size on isolation area (ISA) using a 28‐mm second‐generation cryoballoon (CB) in the acute phase after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) and the differences of CB from contact force‐guided radiofrequency (RF) ablation have not been fully investigated.

Methods

We examined 85 consecutive patients (CB group, 35; RF group, 50) with drug‐refractory paroxysmal atrial fibrillation who underwent their first PVI procedure at two institutions. We evaluated ISA after PVI using 3D‐Merge computed tomography images (GE Healthcare, Little Chalfont, UK) and high‐resolution electroanatomical mapping.

Results

Total ISA was significantly smaller in the CB group (20.6 ± 6.0 cm2) than in the RF group (29.0 ± 7.1 cm2; P < 0.0001). In the CB group, ISA of the left pulmonary vein (LPV), right pulmonary vein (RPV), and total ISA were not correlated with the left atrial surface area (LASA). The ratios of ISA to LASA (%ISA) of LPV and total ISA negatively correlated with LASA in the CB group (LPV: r = −0.4001, P = 0.0173; total ISA: r = −0.4733, P = 0.0041). In contrast, in the RF group, ISA of LPV, RPV, and total ISA positively correlated with LASA; (LPV: r = 0.5155, P = 0.001; RPV: r = 0.6398, P < 0.0001; total ISA: r = 0.7299, P < 0.0001).

Conclusion

ISA created using CB was significantly smaller than that using RF and did not change regardless of LASA increment. Differences in ISA between the two groups became more prominent in the large atrium.
Value of a novel 16‐lead High‐Definition ECG machine to detect conduction abnormalities in structural heart disease
Authors: Li Guo‐Liang , Saguner Ardan M. , Akdis Deniz , Fontaine Guy Hugues
Published: March 2018

Background

Depolarization abnormalities are hardly detectable by standard 12‐lead electrocardiogram (ECG) in some patients.

Objective

To evaluate the value of the 16‐lead High‐Definition (HD)‐ECG machine to record conduction abnormalities including Epsilon waves in patients with structural heart disease.

Methods

Tracings with 12‐lead ECG, 16‐lead HD‐ECG, and signal‐averaged ECG were studied.

Results

(1) Case of severe coronary artery disease (CAD):

On 16‐lead HD‐ECG, a tiny intra‐QRS signal was noted in lead III, a prolonged P wave in lead II, and fragmentation on top of lead aVL and lead aVF. Proper automatic measurement of the prolonged P wave measuring 190 ms was noted. Signal‐averaging by 16‐lead HD‐ECG in lead III showed the intra‐QRS fragmentation and P wave prolongation of 180 ms.

(2) First patient with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD):

Standard 12‐lead ECG indicated Epsilon waves in lead III, V2, V3, and inverted T waves in V1–V3. 16‐lead HD‐ECG indicated QRS prolongation in lead II, III, aVL, aVF, V2, V3 as opposed to V6, and low amplitudes of QRS complexes in V4R and V3R as a new possible sign of ARVD. Notches in lead V2, widening of QRS complexes in all precordial leads, but shorter QRS in V8‐V9 are also considered as a potential new diagnostic sign of ARVD.

(3) Second ARVD patient:

Notches at the end of the QRS in lead III and a negative initial deflection of the QRS in V1 and V2 were detected by standard 12‐lead ECG. On 16‐lead HD‐ECG, a more pronounced QRS fragmentation was visible.

Conclusion

16‐lead HD‐ECG in both CAD and ARVD seems to be more sensitive than 12‐lead ECG to record electrocardiographic abnormalities.
Thoracic versus nonthoracic MR imaging for patients with an MR nonconditional cardiac implantable electronic device
Authors: Nyotowidjojo Iwan S. , Skinner Kristina , Shah Aakash S. , Bisla Jaskinwal , Singh Satinder , Khoubyari Rostam , Ott Peter , Kalb Bobby , Indik Julia H.
Published: March 2018

Background

Observational studies have explored the safety of magnetic resonance (MR) scanning of patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) that are not Food and Drug Administration approved for MR scanning (“nonconditional”). However, concern has been raised that MR scanning that includes the thoracic region may pose a higher risk. This study examines the safety of MR scanning of thoracic versus nonthoracic regions of patients with CIEDs.

Methods

Patients underwent MR scanning utilizing an institutional protocol. CIED variables examined included sensing value, pacing capture threshold, lead impedance, and battery voltage. Regression analysis of the CIED variable differences (pre‐ to immediately post‐MR and pre‐MR to long‐term follow‐up) was performed to determine if CIED variable differences were dependent on region scanned (thoracic vs nonthoracic), time from CIED implant to MR scanning, or CIED type (pacemaker vs implantable cardioverter defibrillator).

Results

238 patients (38% female, age 65 ± 15 years) underwent 339 MR scans, including 99 MR scans of the thoracic region. CIED variable differences to immediately post‐MR or to long‐term follow‐up were not significantly different from zero (P > 0.05) and there was no dependence upon region scanned (thoracic vs nonthoracic), time from CIED implant to MR scan, or CIED type. One power‐on reset occurred in a patient that underwent a cardiac MR and the CIED was successfully reprogrammed. There were no clinical adverse effects.

Conclusions

CIED variable differences following MR scan were not dependent on the region scanned (thoracic vs nonthoracic) and there were no clinical adverse effects in this prospective cohort.
Low‐dose oral immunotherapy for children with anaphylactic peanut allergy in Japan
Authors: Nagakura Ken‐ichi , Yanagida Noriyuki , Sato Sakura , Nishino Makoto , Asaumi Tomoyuki , Ogura Kiyotake , Ebisawa Motohiro
Published: March 2018

Background

Oral immunotherapy (OIT) is a promising treatment for persons with allergy; however, it can also cause adverse allergic reactions. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of low‐dose OIT for anaphylactic peanut allergy.

Methods

Twenty‐four children (median age, 9.6 years) with anaphylaxis to peanuts were hospitalized for 5 days and then gradually fed increasing amounts of peanut powder up to 133 mg/day. One year later, they underwent an oral food challenge after 2 weeks of peanut avoidance. Those who were asymptomatic after ingesting 795 mg of peanut protein were defined as having achieved sustained unresponsiveness. We measured peanut‐ and Ara h2‐specific immunoglobulin (Ig) E, IgG, and IgG4 levels at 0, 1, 3, 6, and 12 months in the OIT group and at 0 and 12 months in the control group.

Results

At baseline, all children in the OIT group and 8 in the control group had a history of anaphylaxis. The median peanut‐/Ara h2‐specific IgE levels in the OIT and control groups were 55.4/48.6 and 58.2/38.1 kUa/L, respectively. One year later, 8 (33.3%) children in the OIT group exhibited sustained unresponsiveness, while none in the control group did. In the OIT group, the median peanut‐specific IgE levels significantly increased to 194.0 kUa/L, after 1 month and then significantly decreased to 57.5 kUa/L at 12 months. Meanwhile, the median peanut‐ and Ara h2‐specific IgG and IgG4 levels increased significantly after 1 month.

Conclusion

Low‐dose OIT induces immunological changes and has the capability of achieving sustained unresponsiveness in children with peanut anaphylaxis.
Prenatal and early‐life antibiotic use and risk of childhood asthma: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Yoshida Satomi , Ide Kazuki , Takeuchi Masato , Kawakami Koji
Published: March 2018

Background

Although associations between antibiotic exposure in infants and asthma development are reported, few studies have examined the effects of prenatal exposure to antibiotics. We evaluated this association considering the antibiotic types using a large‐scale claim database in Japan.

Methods

This retrospective study using health insurance administrative claim data in Japan included children born between January 2005 and September 2014. We constructed 2 cohorts: initial cohort, with information on children's mothers, and sibling cohort, with at least one sibling. Cox proportional hazard regression and sibling‐matched cohort analyses were performed to determine the association between exposure to antibiotics in utero or the first year of life and asthma development until age 6.

Results

In the initial cohort, antibiotic exposure during the foetal period was associated with early asthma development (until age 3; HR: 1.18, 95% CI: 1.08‐1.30). However, this association disappeared after 3 years. The association between antibiotic exposure in the first year of life and asthma was stronger in early (HR: 2.43, 95% CI: 2.20‐2.69) than later (HR: 1.23, 95% CI: 1.11‐1.36) life. In the sibling cohort, we observed positive associations between foetal exposure and asthma by adjusting for familial factors (HR: 1.34, 95% CI: 1.05‐1.72), which remained during the first year of life (HR: 1.62, 95% CI: 1.27‐2.07).

Conclusions

Exposure to antibiotics during the first year of life was associated with childhood asthma even after adjusting for familial factors. However, a weak association was observed between prenatal antibiotic exposure and asthma development.
Potential effects of multimodal psychosomatic inpatient treatment for patients with functional vertigo and dizziness symptoms – A pilot trial
Authors: Limburg Karina , Schmid‐Mühlbauer Gabriele , Sattel Heribert , Dinkel Andreas , Radziej Katharina , Gonzales Melanie , Ronel Joram , Lahmann Claas
Published: March 2018

Objectives

Functional vertigo and dizziness (VD) are frequent and severely distressing complaints that are often described as hard to treat. Our aim was to provide preliminary data on potential effects of multimodal psychosomatic inpatient therapy for patients with functional VD symptoms in reducing vertigo‐related handicap and related psychopathology, and to evaluate the role of symptom burden and body‐related locus of control in predicting vertigo‐related handicap at follow‐up.

Design

We conducted an uncontrolled clinical pilot trial.

Methods

We included data of n = 72 inpatients with functional VD as a primary symptom and various psychopathological and/or physical comorbidities admitted for multimodal psychosomatic inpatient treatment. Patients completed self‐report questionnaires assessing vertigo‐related handicap (VHQ), somatization (PHQ‐15), depression (BDI‐II), anxiety (BAI), health‐related quality of life (HRQOL; SF‐36), and body‐related locus of control (KLC) at admission (T0), discharge (T1), and 6 months after discharge (T2).

Results

We observed medium effects for the change of vertigo‐related handicap (T0–T1: g = −0.60, T0–T2: g = −0.67) and small effects for the change of somatization (T0–T1: g = −0.29, T0–T2: g = −0.24), mental HRQOL (T0–T1: g = 0.43, T0–T2: g = 0.49), and depression (T0–T1: g = −0.41, T0–T2: g = −0.28) from admission to discharge and admission to follow‐up. Body‐related locus of control did not predict vertigo‐related handicap at follow‐up.

Conclusions

Findings provide preliminary evidence for the beneficial role of psychosomatic inpatient treatment for patients with functional VD symptoms. Potentially relevant predictors of outcome at follow‐up are discussed.

Practitioner points

The change of vertigo‐related handicap and related variables through multimodal psychosomatic inpatient treatment was evaluated in a clinical pilot trial in patients with functional vertigo and dizziness.

We observed medium effects for the change of vertigo‐related handicap and small effects for the change of somatization, mental health‐related quality of life, and depression.

Internal body‐related locus of control at admission did not predict vertigo‐related handicap at follow‐up.
The links between adult attachment and post‐traumatic stress: A systematic review
Authors: Barazzone Natalie , Santos Ines , McGowan John , Donaghay‐Spire Eloise
Published: March 2018

Purpose

The theory of attachment has informed our understanding of survival and well‐being throughout the lifespan. There is a growing interest in the relationship between attachment and symptoms of post‐traumatic stress (PTS). Emerging evidence points to important links between attachment and PTS, yet current theoretical and clinical understandings of PTS symptoms and attachment remain relatively disparate. The current systematic review aimed to synthesize, describe, and critique evidence demonstrating the links between attachment and PTS in adults. It also aimed to explore whether the relationship between attachment and PTS differs according to the nature of the traumatic event.

Methods

Searches were conducted using PsycINFO, the Cochrane Library, Medline, and Google Scholar to identify empirical studies focusing on PTS in adults.

Results

Twenty‐one papers were identified. Attachment was shown to have moderating and mediating influences on the relationship between trauma and PTS. This varied according to the type of trauma, and how symptoms of PTS were reported across the different attachment styles. Methodological rigour varied across studies. Clinical and research implications are discussed, including the consideration of attachment security in assessment and formulation.

Conclusions

Although findings were mixed, this review suggests that there is an important link between attachment and PTS. It supports the current emerging evidence demanding the development of a more unified theoretical framework for attachment, types of trauma, and symptoms of PTS.

Practitioner points

The findings discussed in this review have important implications for the treatment of PTS symptoms.

Consideration of attachment styles in formulations is likely to inform treatment plans.

There is increasing evidence to suggest that assessing and accounting for attachment style in therapy may improve the chances of successful treatment.
Genome and evolution of the shade‐requiring medicinal herb Panax ginseng
Authors: Kim Nam‐Hoon , Jayakodi Murukarthick , Lee Sang‐Choon , Choi Beom‐Soon , Jang Woojong , Lee Junki , Kim Hyun Hee , Waminal Nomar E. , Lakshmanan Meiyappan , van Nguyen Binh , Lee Yun Sun , Park Hyun‐Seung , Koo Hyun Jo , Park Jee Young , Perumal Sampath , Joh Ho Jun , Lee Hana , Kim Jinkyung , Kim In Seo , Kim Kyunghee , Koduru Lokanand , Kang Kyo Bin , Sung Sang Hyun , Yu Yeisoo , Park Daniel S. , Choi Doil , Seo Eunyoung , Kim Seungill , Kim Young‐Chang , Hyun Dong Yun , Park Youn‐Il , Kim Changsoo , Lee Tae‐Ho , Kim Hyun Uk , Soh Moon Soo , Lee Yi , In Jun Gyo , Kim Heui‐Soo , Kim Yong‐Min , Yang Deok‐Chun , Wing Rod A. , Lee Dong‐Yup , Paterson Andrew H. , Yang Tae‐Jin
Published: March 2018

Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer, reputed as the king of medicinal herbs, has slow growth, long generation time, low seed production and complicated genome structure that hamper its study. Here, we unveil the genomic architecture of tetraploid P. ginseng by de novo genome assembly, representing 2.98 Gbp with 59 352 annotated genes. Resequencing data indicated that diploid Panax species diverged in association with global warming in Southern Asia, and two North American species evolved via two intercontinental migrations. Two whole genome duplications (WGD) occurred in the family Araliaceae (including Panax) after divergence with the Apiaceae, the more recent one contributing to the ability of P. ginseng to overwinter, enabling it to spread broadly through the Northern Hemisphere. Functional and evolutionary analyses suggest that production of pharmacologically important dammarane‐type ginsenosides originated in Panax and are produced largely in shoot tissues and transported to roots; that newly evolved P. ginseng fatty acid desaturases increase freezing tolerance; and that unprecedented retention of chlorophyll a/b binding protein genes enables efficient photosynthesis under low light. A genome‐scale metabolic network provides a holistic view of Panax ginsenoside biosynthesis. This study provides valuable resources for improving medicinal values of ginseng either through genomics‐assisted breeding or metabolic engineering.
Novel alleles of rice eIF4G generated by CRISPR/Cas9‐targeted mutagenesis confer resistance to Rice tungro spherical virus
Authors: Macovei Anca , Sevilla Neah R. , Cantos Christian , Jonson Gilda B. , Slamet‐Loedin Inez , Čermák Tomáš , Voytas Daniel F. , Choi Il‐Ryong , Chadha‐Mohanty Prabhjit
Published: March 2018

Rice tungro disease (RTD) is a serious constraint in rice production across tropical Asia. RTD is caused by the interaction between Rice tungro spherical virus (RTSV) and Rice tungro bacilliform virus. RTSV resistance found in traditional cultivars has contributed to a reduction in the incidence of RTD in the field. Natural RTSV resistance is a recessive trait controlled by the translation initiation factor 4 gamma gene (eIF4G). The Y1059V1060V1061 residues of eIF4G are known to be associated with the reactions to RTSV. To develop new sources of resistance to RTD, mutations in eIF4G were generated using the CRISPR/Cas9 system in the RTSV‐susceptible variety IR64, widely grown across tropical Asia. The mutation rates ranged from 36.0% to 86.6%, depending on the target site, and the mutations were successfully transmitted to the next generations. Among various mutated eIF4G alleles examined, only those resulting in in‐frame mutations in SVLFPNLAGKS residues (mainly NL), adjacent to the YVV residues, conferred resistance. Furthermore, our data suggest that eIF4G is essential for normal development, as alleles resulting in truncated eIF4G could not be maintained in homozygous state. The final products with RTSV resistance and enhanced yield under glasshouse conditions were found to no longer contain the Cas9 sequence. Hence, the RTSV‐resistant plants with the novel eIF4G alleles represent a valuable material to develop more diverse RTSV‐resistant varieties.
Changes in photosynthetic rate and stress volatile emissions through desiccation‐rehydration cycles in desiccation‐tolerant epiphytic filmy ferns (Hymenophyllaceae)
Authors: Niinemets Ülo , Bravo León A. , Copolovici Lucian
Published: March 2018

Exposure to recurrent desiccation cycles carries a risk of accumulation of reactive oxygen species that can impair leaf physiological activity upon rehydration, but changes in filmy fern stress status through desiccation and rewatering cycles have been poorly studied. We studied foliage photosynthetic rate and volatile marker compounds characterizing cell wall modifications (methanol) and stress development (lipoxygenase [LOX] pathway volatiles and methanol) through desiccation–rewatering cycles in lower‐canopy species Hymenoglossum cruentum and Hymenophyllum caudiculatum, lower‐ to upper‐canopy species Hymenophyllum plicatum and upper‐canopy species Hymenophyllum dentatum sampled from a common environment and hypothesized that lower canopy species respond more strongly to desiccation and rewatering. In all species, rates of photosynthesis and LOX volatile emission decreased with progression of desiccation, but LOX emission decreased with a slower rate than photosynthesis. Rewatering first led to an emission burst of LOX volatiles followed by methanol, indicating that the oxidative burst was elicited in the symplast and further propagated to cell walls. Changes in LOX emissions were more pronounced in the upper‐canopy species that had a greater photosynthetic activity and likely a greater rate of production of photooxidants. We conclude that rewatering induces the most severe stress in filmy ferns, especially in the upper canopy species.
Adapting legume crops to climate change using genomic approaches
Authors: Mousavi‐Derazmahalleh Mahsa , Bayer Philipp E. , Hane James K. , Valliyodan Babu , Nguyen Henry T. , Nelson Matthew N. , Erskine William , Varshney Rajeev K. , Papa Roberto , Edwards David
Published: March 2018

Our agricultural system and hence food security is threatened by combination of events, such as increasing population, the impacts of climate change, and the need to a more sustainable development. Evolutionary adaptation may help some species to overcome environmental changes through new selection pressures driven by climate change. However, success of evolutionary adaptation is dependent on various factors, one of which is the extent of genetic variation available within species. Genomic approaches provide an exceptional opportunity to identify genetic variation that can be employed in crop improvement programs. In this review, we illustrate some of the routinely used genomics‐based methods as well as recent breakthroughs, which facilitate assessment of genetic variation and discovery of adaptive genes in legumes. Although additional information is needed, the current utility of selection tools indicate a robust ability to utilize existing variation among legumes to address the challenges of climate uncertainty.
Water relations of Calycanthus flowers: Hydraulic conductance, capacitance, and embolism resistance
Authors: Roddy Adam B. , Simonin Kevin A. , McCulloh Katherine A. , Brodersen Craig R. , Dawson Todd E.
Published: March 2018

For most angiosperms, producing and maintaining flowers is critical to sexual reproduction, yet little is known about the physiological processes involved in maintaining flowers throughout anthesis. Among extant species, flowers of the genus Calycanthus have the highest hydraulic conductance and vein densities of species measured to date, yet they can wilt by late morning under hot conditions. Here, we combine diurnal measurements of gas exchange and water potential, pressure–volume relations, functional responses of gas exchange, and characterization of embolism formation using high resolution X‐ray computed microtomography to determine drought responses of Calycanthus flowers. Transpiration from flowers frequently exceeded transpiration from leaves, and flowers were unable to limit transpiration under conditions of high vapour pressure deficit. As a result, they rely heavily on hydraulic capacitance to prevent water potential declines. Despite having high water potentials at turgor loss, flowers were very resistant to embolism formation, with no embolism apparent until tepal water potentials had declined to −2 MPa. Although Calycanthus flowers remain connected to the stem xylem and have high hydraulic capacitance, their inability to curtail transpiration leads to turgor loss. These results suggest that extreme climate events may cause flower failure, potentially preventing successful reproduction.
Differences in leaf thermoregulation and water use strategies between three co‐occurring Atlantic forest tree species
Authors: Fauset Sophie , Freitas Helber C. , Galbraith David R. , Sullivan Martin J.P. , Aidar Marcos P.M. , Joly Carlos A. , Phillips Oliver L. , Vieira Simone A. , Gloor Manuel U.
Published: March 2018

In the first study of leaf energy balance in tropical montane forests, we observed current leaf temperature patterns in the Atlantic forest, Brazil, and assessed whether and why patterns may vary among species. We found large leaf‐to‐air temperature differences that were influenced strongly by radiation and differences in leaf temperature between 2 species due to variation in leaf width and stomatal conductance. We highlight the importance of leaf functional traits for leaf thermoregulation and also note that the high radiation levels that occur in montane forests may exacerbate the threat from increasing air temperatures.
Toll‐like receptors 2 and 3 enhance melanogenesis and melanosome transport in human melanocytes
Authors: Koike Saaya , Yamasaki Kenshi , Yamauchi Takeshi , Inoue Mai , Shimada‐Ohmori Ryoko , Tsuchiyama Kenichiro , Aiba Setsuya
Published: March 2018

Because little is known about how the innate immune response influences skin pigmentation, we examined whether Toll‐like receptor (TLR) agonists participate in melanogenesis and melanosome transportation. We observed thatTLR2/2 agonistHKLMandTLR3 agonist Poly(I:C) increased the amount of extracellular melanin from primary human epidermal melanocytes.HKLM, but not Poly(I:C), increased the melanogenic genes such as tyrosinase and dopachrome tautomerase. Poly(I:C) increased the expression of Rab27A, a molecule that facilitates melanosome transport to perimembranous actin filament.UVBirradiation induced Rab27A and melanosome transportation in a similar manner of Poly(I:C). SiRNAforTLR3 or Rab27A suppressed the perimembranous accumulation of Gp100‐positive vesicles in melanocytes and decreased melanin transfer to neighboring keratinocytes induced by both Poly(I:C) andUVB. These results suggest that the microenvironment in the epidermis and innate immune stimuli, such as microbiome and ultraviolet represented here byTLR2 andTLR3 agonists, could affect the melanogenesis in human melanocytes.
Association between iron‐deficiency anemia and depression: A web‐based Japanese investigation
Authors: Hidese Shinsuke , Saito Kenji , Asano Shinya , Kunugi Hiroshi
Published: March 2018

Aim

This web‐based survey aimed to examine the relation between iron‐deficiency anemia and depression in 11 876 Japanese participants.

Methods

Participants consisted of 1000 individuals with self‐reported history of depression (mean age, 41.4 ± 12.3 years; 499 women) and 10 876 population‐based controls (mean age, 45.1 ± 13.6 years; 5185 women). The 6‐item Kessler Scale (K6) score was used as a psychological distress scale. The design of the study was cross‐sectional.

Results

The rate of self‐reported lifetime history of iron‐deficiency anemia was higher in the depression group in both men (depression, 7.2%; control, 4.0%; P < 0.001; odds ratio [OR], 1.86; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.30–2.68) and women (depression, 33.4%; control, 25.8%; P < 0.001; OR, 1.45; 95%CI, 1.19–1.76). The K6 score in participants with self‐reported history of iron‐deficiency anemia was higher in both the depression (P = 0.004) and control (P < 0.001) groups. In addition, in all participants, the rate of individuals who showed a K6 cut‐off score of 13 or more was higher in those with a self‐reported history of iron‐deficiency anemia (P < 0.001; OR, 1.47; 95%CI, 1.31–1.65). Logistic regression analyses revealed that self‐reported history of depression and the K6 score were positively associated with self‐reported history of iron‐deficiency anemia (all P < 0.01).

Conclusion

Self‐reported history of iron‐deficiency anemia was associated with self‐reported history of depression. Furthermore, self‐reported history of iron‐deficiency anemia was associated with higher psychological distress.
And justice for all: How organizational justice climate deters sexual harassment
Authors: Rubino Cristina , Avery Derek R. , McKay Patrick F. , Moore Brenda L. , Wilson David C. , Van Driel Marinus S. , Witt L. Alan , McDonald Daniel P.
Published: March 2018

Sexual harassment is hurtful for victims, observers, and the organizations that employ them. Although previous studies have identified numerous gender‐specific antecedents such as sex similarity and climate for sexual harassment, the present study considers the role of a more general contextual construct—organizational justice climate. Beyond examining justice climate as a predictor of sexual harassment, we also assess its potential moderation of well‐established relationships between antecedents (i.e., climate for sexual harassment and sex similarity) and sexual harassment at both the individual and unit levels. In two large military samples (Ns = 26,018 and 8,197), we found that psychological and collective justice climates (a) related negatively to sexual harassment and (b) moderated the effects of sex similarity and sexual harassment climate on sexual harassment. These findings indicate that harassment is less prevalent and established antecedents are less impactful when greater value is perceived to be placed on fairness. Moreover, the attenuating effects of justice climate appear interchangeable with those of harassment climate or sex similarity, suggesting that managing justice climate effectively generally helps to deter sexual harassment.
Measurements of Solar Ultraviolet Radiation Exposure at Work and at Leisure in Danish Workers
Authors: Grandahl Kasper , Eriksen Paul , Ibler Kristina Sophie , Bonde Jens Peter , Mortensen Ole Steen
Published: March 2018

Exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation is the main cause of skin cancer and may well present an occupational health and safety problem. In Denmark, skin cancer is a common disease in the general population, but detailed data on solar ultraviolet radiation exposure among outdoor workers are lacking. The aim of this study was to provide objective measurements of solar ultraviolet radiation exposure on working days and at leisure and compare levels of exposure between groups of mainly outdoor, equal‐parts‐outdoor‐and‐indoor and indoor workers. To this end, UV‐B dosimeters with an aluminum gallium nitride (AlGaN) photodiode detector were used to measure the solar ultraviolet radiation exposure of 457 workers in the Danish summer season. Presented as semi‐annual standard erythemal dose (SED) on working days, respectively, at leisure, the results are for mainly outdoor workers 214.2 SED and 64.8 SED, equal‐parts‐outdoor‐and‐indoor workers 131.4 SED and 64.8 SED, indoor workers 55.8 SED and 57.6 SED. The daily SED by month is significantly different (α = 0.05) between mainly outdoor, equal‐parts‐outdoor‐and‐indoor and indoor workers and across professional groups; some of which are exposed at very high levels that is roofers 361.8 SED. These findings substantiate that exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation is indeed an occupational health and safety problem in Denmark.
Impact of Mono‐Fluorination on the Photophysics of the Flavin Chromophore
Authors: Reiffers Anna , Torres Ziegenbein Christian , Engelhardt Alyn , Kühnemuth Ralf , Gilch Peter , Czekelius Constantin
Published: March 2018

Three mono‐fluorinated derivatives of the flavin core system 10‐methyl‐isoalloxazine (MIA) were synthesized. Aqueous solutions of these compounds were characterized by steady‐state and time‐resolved spectroscopy. The positions for the fluorination (6, 7 and 8) were motivated by the nodal structure of the frontier orbitals of MIA. In comparison with MIA, the fluorination results in bathochromic (6F‐ and 7F‐MIA) and hypsochromic (8F‐MIA) shifts of the adiabatic excitation energy of the lowest allowed transition. Shifts of up to ~500 cm−1 were observed. These spectroscopic shifts go along with changes in fluorescence quantum yields and lifetimes. In addition, triplet yields are affected. For 7F‐MIA, a 50% increase in the fluorescence quantum yield as well as a 50% decrease in triplet yield is observed rendering the compound interesting for fluorescence applications. The measured effects are discussed in terms of qualitative perturbation theory.
Evolution and characterisation of the AhRAF4 NB‐ARC gene family induced by Aspergillus flavus inoculation and abiotic stresses in peanut
Authors: Deng Y. , Chen H. , Zhang C. , Cai T. , Zhang B. , Zhou S. , Fountain J. C. , Pan R.‐L. , Guo B. , Zhuang W.‐J.
Published: March 2018

Aflatoxin contamination in peanut is a serious food safety issue to human health around the world. Finding disease resistance genes is a key strategy for genetic improvement in breeding to deal with this issue.

We identified an Aspergillus flavus‐induced NBS‐LRR gene, AhRAF4, using a microarray‐based approach. By comparison of 23 sequences from three species using phytogenetics, protein secondary structure and three‐dimensional structural analyses, AhRAF4 was revealed to be derived from Arachis duranensis by recombination, and has newly evolved into a family of several members, characterised by duplications and point mutations. However, the members of the family descended from A. ipaensis were lost following tetraploidisation.

AhRAF4 was slightly up‐regulated by low temperature, drought, salicylic acid and ethylene, but down‐regulated by methyl jasmonate. The distinct responses upon As. flavus inoculation and the differential reactions between resistant and susceptible varieties indicate that AhRAF4 might play a role in defence responses. Temporal and spatial expression and the phenotype of transformed protoplasts suggest that AhRAF4 may also be associated with pericarp development.

Because tetraploid cultivated peanuts are vulnerable to many pathogens, an exploration of R‐genes may provide an effective method for genetic improvement of peanut cultivars.
Conditional Promotions and Consumer Overspending
Authors: Amornpetchkul Thunyarat (Bam) , Ahn Hyun‐Soo , Şahin Özge
Published: March 2018

This study investigates the effects of conditional promotions (e.g., buy 2 or more, get 30% off; spend $50 or more, get $15 off) on consumer behavior and the seller's profit. When a deal is presented with a minimum purchase quantity or a minimum spending requirement, experimental studies have shown some consumers are induced to spend more in order to obtain a discount. To study this behavior, we model a market in which consumers can be heterogeneous in two dimensions: willingness to pay for the product and deal proneness to a price discount. We examine two types of conditional promotions that are widely used in practice: (i) all‐unit discount, in which a price reduction applies to every unit of a purchase once the minimum requirement is met, and (ii) fixed‐amount discount, in which a fixed amount of discount is awarded to the total expense that meets the requirement. We show that deal‐prone consumers may be induced to overspend when offered a conditional discount. However, consumer overspending benefits the seller only when the market contains a sufficiently large proportion of highly deal‐prone or high‐valuation consumers. Comparing the two types of discounts, we show that the all‐unit discount outperforms the fixed‐amount discount when the regular price for the product is high, whereas the fixed‐amount discount is more profitable than the all‐unit discount when some consumers would make a purchase even without a discount. Our study suggests adopting an appropriate type of conditional discount can effectively improve the seller's profit over what would be obtained through selling at the regular price or a conventional price markdown. Furthermore, we find that conditional discounts can also improve consumer welfare, resulting in win‐win situations for both retailers and consumers.
Coordinating Inventory and Pricing Decisions with General Price‐Dependent Demands
Authors: Shen Xiaobei , Bao Lina , Yu Yimin
Published: March 2018

We consider a periodic review, joint inventory and pricing control problem for a firm that faces general random price‐dependent demands. Any unsatisfied demand can be either backordered or lost immediately. The objective is to maximize the expected profit over a finite selling horizon by coordinating the inventory and pricing decisions in each period. For both the backorder model and the lost sales model, we derive some quite general sufficient conditions to ensure the optimality of a base‐stock list price (BSLP) policy based on the strict monotonicity of demand functions in the realizations of random noises. We are among the first to utilize the strict monotonicity of demand functions in the realizations of random noises for deriving the sufficient conditions. We derive the sufficient conditions in both the backorder model and the lost‐sales model by utilizing the new concept of upper‐set and lower‐set decreasing properties (USDP/LSDP), which is a generalized version of the first‐order stochastic dominance. This study reveals that the optimality of a BSLP policy is robust to more general business environments than what we previously thought. Finally, we also apply the USDP/LSDP in other inventory management problems.
Multilocus sequence analysis reveals a novel phylogroup of Xanthomonas euvesicatoria pv. perforans causing bacterial spot of tomato in Iran
Authors: Osdaghi E. , Taghavi S. M. , Koebnik R. , Lamichhane J. R.
Published: March 2018

A multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) was performed on five housekeeping genes (fusA, gapA, gltA, lacF and lepA) of 22 Xanthomonas euvesicatoria strains recently isolated from alfalfa, pepper and tomato plants in Iran. In addition, 161 strains isolated worldwide from pepper, poinsettia, rose and tomato plants were included in the analysis. All X. euvesicatoria pv. perforans isolates from tomato plants in Iran clustered in a monophyletic group, although five MLSA haplotypes were detected among them. The Iranian tomato strains presented 10 nucleotide differences in the lepA gene sequences compared to the known worldwide population of X. euvesicatoria pv. perforans. Statistical analyses revealed a recombination event that had occurred in the lepA gene of the strains isolated from tomato in Iran. BOX‐PCR analysis confirmed the inclusion of Iranian tomato strains within X. euvesicatoria pv. perforans. Furthermore, X. euvesicatoria pv. euvesicatoria strains isolated from pepper in Iran differed in one nucleotide in the lepA gene sequence from the known worldwide population of the pathovar, and clustered in a group containing strains isolated in Nigeria. The strains isolated from alfalfa in Iran clustered with the type strain of X. euvesicatoria pv. alfalfae. Altogether, the results reveal the existence of a phylogenetically novel population of X. euvesicatoria pv. perforans in Iran which needs further in‐depth analysis to pinpoint the epidemiological impact of these strains.
Adventitious lateral rooting: the plasticity of root system architecture
Authors: Ge Yachao , Fang Xing , Liu Wu , Sheng Lihong , Xu Lin
Published: March 2018

Root formation under natural conditions is plastic in response to multiple signals. Recent studies suggested that theWUSCHEL‐RELATED HOMEOBOX11(WOX11)‐mediated adventitious root formation pathway can occur in the primary root (PR) inArabidopsis thaliana, resulting in the production of a specific type of lateral roots (LRs) in response to wounding or environmental signals. This process differs from the previously characterized process for LR development, which does not requireWOX11. TheWOX11‐mediated PR‐derived roots can be considered like LRs that exhibit an ‘adventitious’ feature. Therefore, we consider these roots to be adventitious lateral roots (adLRs). The identification ofWOX11‐mediated adLRs implies that studying the formation of roots in response to wounding and environmental signals is important for characterizing the plasticity of the root system architecture.
The gene PbTMT4 from pear (Pyrus bretschneideri) mediates vacuolar sugar transport and strongly affects sugar accumulation in fruit
Authors: Cheng Rui , Cheng Yinsheng , Lü Jiahong , Chen Jianqiu , Wang Yingzhen , Zhang Shaoling , Zhang Huping
Published: March 2018

Tonoplast monosaccharide transporters (TMTs) play important roles in vacuolar sugar accumulation in plants. In this study, six TMT genes (PbTMT1–6) were identified in the Pyrus bretschneideri genome database, and their expression profiles were correlated with soluble sugar contents during the pear (P. bretschneideri cv. Ya Li) fruit development process. Subsequently, PbTMT4 was identified as a strong contributor to fructose, glucose and sucrose accumulation in fructescence of pears. Heterologous expression of PbTMT4, in the hexose transporter‐deficient yeast strain EBY.VW4000, facilitated growth in media containing low levels of glucose, fructose, sucrose or sorbitol. In addition, PbTMT4‐transformed tomato plants flowered and bore fruit significantly earlier than wild‐type (WT) plants, and glucose and fructose levels in mature tomatoes were increased by about 32 and 21% compared with those in WT plants. However, no obvious alterations in sucrose content, plant height and weight per fruit were observed. Finally, subcellular localization experiments in transformed Arabidopsis plants showed that PbTMT4 is localized to tonoplast vesicles of protoplasts. These preliminary results suggest that PbTMT4 participates in vacuolar accumulation of sugars, and thus affects plant growth and development.