bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Savannas are not old fields: Functional trajectories of forest expansion in a fire‐suppressed Brazilian savanna are driven by habitat generalists
Authors: Flake Samuel W. , Abreu Rodolfo C. R. , Durigan Giselda , Hoffmann William A.
Published: May 2021

Under fire suppression, many tropical savannas transform into forests. Forest expansion entails changes in environmental variables and plant community structure. We hypothesized that forest expansion into savanna results in a shift in community‐weighted mean functional traits from stress tolerance to competitiveness, with generalist species having trait values intermediate between those of specialists of savanna and forest habitats.

We studied 30 plots distributed over three savanna–forest boundaries undergoing forest expansion in the Brazilian Cerrado, capturing a gradient from open savanna to recently formed forest. We measured functional traits of 116 woody species of savanna specialist, generalist and forest specialist functional groups and quantified changes in species composition and mean traits across the basal area gradient.

We identified two main axes of species traits. The first separated forest and generalist species from savanna specialists, with the latter possessing traits associated with resistance to disturbance and stress— such as thick leaves, thick bark, slower height growth and lower shade tolerance. Our second trait axis separated shrubs and understorey trees from pioneer species. Generalist species’ traits did not differ substantially from forest species, nor did they tend to have a typical pioneer strategy.

Community‐weighted trait means changed linearly with forest development. There was a steady increase in traits associated with competitive dominance rather than stress tolerance and fire resistance, indicating a wholesale shift in the selective environment. Several of these patterns—for example, increasing height and decreasing light requirements—are common in old‐field succession. In contrast to old‐field succession, we found that SLA increased, leaf thickness decreased and wood density stayed constant.

The assembly of forests appears to be shaped by environmental filters that contribute to a functional trajectory distinct from most other studied ecosystems. Our results highlight the importance of the functional composition of the early community and of the early colonizers of the open environment. Differences between savanna and forest specialists reflect the selective effects of the contrasting environments, while the traits of generalists—and their interaction with environmental filters—drive the dynamics of forest expansion.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Maternal effects and fitness consequences of individual variation in bottlenose dolphins' ecological niche
Authors: Strickland Kasha , Mann Janet , Foroughirad Vivienne , Levengood Alexis L. , Frère Céline H.
Published: May 2021

The niche describes the ecological and social environment that an organism lives in, as well as the behavioural tactics used to interact with its environment. A species niche is key to both ecological and evolutionary processes, including speciation, and has therefore been a central focus in ecology.

Recent evidence, however, points to considerable individual variation in a species' or population's niche use, although how this variation evolves or is maintained remains unclear.

We used a large longitudinal dataset to investigate the drivers and maintenance of individual variation in bottlenose dolphins' Tursiops aduncus niche. Specifically, we (a) characterised the extent of individual differences in habitat use, (b) identified whether there were maternal effects associated with this variation and (c) investigated the relationship between habitat use and calving success, a component of reproductive fitness.

By examining patterns of habitat use, we provide evidence that individual dolphins vary consistently between one another in their niche. We further show that such individual variation is driven by a strong maternal effect. Finally, habitat use and calving success were not related, suggesting that use of different habitats results in similar fitness outcomes.

Niche partitioning, maintained by maternal effects, likely facilitates the coexistence of multiple ecotypes within this population.
Phenotypic plasticity is not a cline: Thermal physiology of an intertidal barnacle over 20° of latitude
Authors: Broitman Bernardo R. , Lagos Nelson A. , Opitz Tania , Figueroa Daniela , Maldonado Karin , Ricote Natalia , Lardies Marco A.
Published: May 2021

Our understanding of the plastic and evolutionary potential of ectothermic organisms and their populational impacts in the face of rapid global change remains limited. Studies attempting on the relationship between the magnitude of thermal variability across latitude and the degree of phenotypic plasticity exhibited by marine ectotherms are inconclusive. We state that the latter arises from the narrow range of thermal variability captured by the limited span of the latitudinal gradients studied to date.

Using a mechanistic ecophysiological approach and a satellite‐based assessment of the relevant environmental variables (i.e. temperature and food availability), we studied individuals of the intertidal barnacle Jehlius cirratus from seven local populations widely spread along the Humboldt current system that spanning two biogeographic regions. At the same time, we synthesized published information on the local abundance of our study species across a total of 76 sites representing 20° of latitude, and spanning from 18 to 42°S.

We examined the effects of latitude and environmental variability on metabolic rate plasticity, thermal tolerance (thermal breadth and thermal safety margins) and their impacts on the abundance of this widespread marine invertebrate.

We demonstrate that the phenotypic plasticity of metabolic rate in J. cirratus populations is not related to latitude. In turn, thermal breadth is explained by the temperature variability each population experiences. Furthermore, we found clinal variation with a poleward decrease of the critical thermal minimum, suggesting that episodic extreme low temperatures represent a ubiquitous selective force on the lower thermal limit for ectotherms.

Across our study gradient, plasticity patterns indicate that populations at the equatorial extreme are more vulnerable to a warming climate, while populations located in the biogeographic transitional zone (i.e. high environmental heterogeneity), on the centre of the gradient, display higher levels of phenotypic plasticity and may represent a genetic buffer for the effects of ocean warming. Together, our results suggest the existence of a fitness trade‐off involving the metabolic cost of plasticity and population density that is evident only across the vast latitudinal gradient examined.
The legacy of forest disturbance on stream ecosystem functioning
Authors: Frainer André , McKie Brendan G.
Published: May 2021

Forest clearance is a pervasive disturbance worldwide, but many of its impacts are regarded as transient, diminishing in intensity as forest recovers. However, forests can take decades to centuries to recover after severe disturbances, and temporal lags in recovery of ecosystem properties for different forest habitats are mostly unknown. This includes forest streams, where most studies of the impacts of forest clearance are restricted to the first years of recovery, typically finding that temporary increases in light and nutrient run‐off diminish as forest recovers. Implications of longer term changes remain little investigated.

In a space‐for‐time substitution experiment, we assessed changes in organic matter processing and in the functional and taxonomic composition of litter‐consuming detritivores along a riparian forest age gradient ranging from 1 to 120 years since last timber harvesting.

Variation in organic matter processing and detritivore functional diversity along the forest succession gradient were both expressed as second‐order polynomial relationships (peaking at ~50 years along the forest age gradient). Decomposition rates were lowest in both the more recently clear‐cut and older riparian forest streams.

Variation of litter decomposition rates among litter bags within streams, measured by the coefficient of variation, was lowest in recent clear‐cuts and increased linearly along the succession gradient. This result indicates higher within‐stream heterogeneity in decomposition rates in older forest streams.

Synthesis and applications. We found that the decomposition of leaf litter, a component of carbon cycling in forests, was higher in streams flowing through intermediately aged forest, and that several key attributes of the organisms regulating litter decomposition also varied systematically with forest age. These findings highlight the longer term consequences of forest succession following forest clear‐cutting for stream habitats. Our findings further illustrate complications arising from the use of forested sites as references for newly cleared sites without properly accounting for forest age, given conclusions regarding biotic responses will depend on the age of the reference forests. Finally, our results emphasise the potential of intensive forest management centred on vast, one‐time clear‐cutting events to drive long‐term homogenisation not only in forest age structure but also in the functioning of associated forest stream habitats.

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Degradation of Southeast Asian tropical peatlands and integrated strategies for their better management and restoration
Authors: Mishra Shailendra , Page Susan E. , Cobb Alexander R. , Lee Janice Ser Huay , Jovani‐Sancho Antonio Jonay , Sjögersten Sofie , Jaya Adi , Aswandi  , Wardle David A.
Published: May 2021

About half of the world's tropical peatlands occur in Southeast (SE) Asia, where they serve as a major carbon (C) sink. Nearly 80% of natural peatlands in this region have been deforested and drained, with the majority under plantations and agriculture. This conversion increases peat oxidation which contributes to rapid C loss to the atmosphere as greenhouse gas emissions and increases their vulnerability to fires which generate regional smoke haze that has severe impacts on human health. Attempts at restoring these systems to mitigate environmental problems have had limited success.

We review the current understanding of intact and degraded peatlands in SE Asia to help develop a way forward in restoring these ecosystems. As such, we critically examine them in terms of their biodiversity, C storage, hydrology and nutrients, paying attention to both above‐ground and below‐ground subsystems.

We then propose an approach for better management and restoration of degraded peatlands that involves explicit consideration of multiple interacting ecological factors and the involvement of local communities who rely on converted peatlands for their livelihood.

We make the case that as processes leading to peatland development involve modification of both above‐ground and below‐ground subsystems, an integrated approach that explicitly recognizes both subsystems and their interactions is key to successful tropical peatland management and restoration.

Synthesis and applications. Gaining a better understanding of not just carbon stores and their changes during peat degradation, but also an in‐depth understanding of the biota, nutrient dynamics, hydrology and biotic and abiotic feedbacks, is key to developing better solutions for the management and restoration of peatlands in Southeast Asia. Through the application of science‐ and nature‐based solutions that recognize the interactions among the above‐ground and below‐ground subsystems, and taking into account the livelihood needs of local people, we propose a way to mitigate the ongoing environmental damage that is occurring in these iconic and unique ecosystems.
Digging in the ‘Secret Garden of Politics’: The Institutionalisation and De‐institutionalisation of Membership Ballots in the Selection of Finnish Parliamentary Candidates
Authors: Arter David
Published: May 2021

This article is the first expressly to focus on membership ballots as an instrument in the selection of parliamentary candidates in Finland, a polity in which the nomination process is inclusive and decentralised. A Finnish case study is of comparative interest for three main reasons: (i) Finland is one of the few European countries in which candidate selection is regulated by the state; (ii) challenging much of the literature, the combination of democratised selection procedures and an intraparty preference voting system has not incentivised individualistic parliamentary behaviour and reduced legislative party unity; (iii) contrary to the trend towards the democratisation of nominations elsewhere, membership ballots, from being routinised and internalised in the four larger historic parties, have become the exception rather than the rule in Finland today. Accordingly, this paper assesses the changing trajectory of membership ballots and asks what does their de‐institutionalisation indicate about the [changing] dynamics of intraparty participatory democracy?
Tempering hope with Intimate Knowledge: Contrasting emergences of the concept ‘uninfectious’ in HIV
Authors: Keogh Peter , Dodds Catherine
Published: May 2021

In this paper, we contrast two emergences of the concept of ‘uninfectious’ (that pharmaceuticals can render someone living with HIV non‐infectious) in HIV. First, using Novas’ framing of ‘political economies of hope’, we describe the deployment of ‘uninfectious’ as part of global health campaigns. Second, we draw on Raffles’ (International Social Science Journal, 2002, 54, 325) concept of ‘intimate knowledge’ to theorise our own account of ‘uninfectious’ through a re‐analysis of qualitative data comprising the intimate experiences of people living with or around HIV collected at various points over the last 25 years. Framed as intimate knowledge, ‘uninfectious’ becomes known through people’s multiple engagements with and developing understandings of HIV over a prolonged period. As contingent and specific, intimate knowledge does not register within the biomedical/scientific ontological system that underpins discourses of hope employed in global campaigns. The concept of intimate knowledge offers the potential to critique discourses of hope in biomedicine problematising claims to universality whilst enriching biomedical understandings with accounts of affective, embodied experience. Intimate knowledge may also provide a bridge between different epistemological traditions in the sociology of health and illness.
“Enthusiasm,” “Passion,” and Religious Conversion in the Scottish Enlightenment
Authors: Shaw Ian J.
Published: May 2021

This article analyses the first‐hand accounts of those involved in the 1742 religious revivals in the Scottish parishes of Cambuslang and Kilsyth, particularly those of the parish ministers William McCulloch and James Robe. Although the events were accompanied by dramatic manifestations, with some participants crying out, violently trembling, or falling to the ground, the key focus of interest was on religious conversion. Supporters of the revival sought to create a religious discourse that dealt with criticisms that events were manifestations of “enthusiasm” and unrestrained “passions.” Their accounts drew not only on Reformation and Puritan idioms and approaches but also those of the moderate Enlightenment in an attempt to demonstrate that the events were factual, reasonable, and conformed to Scripture. In their detailed and careful records, McCulloch and Robe were particularly concerned with evaluating the difference between genuine and spurious religious experience. Their approach was shaped by that of Jonathan Edwards. This research supports the contention that in eighteenth‐century Scotland a series of enlightenment religious discourses developed, and these included a distinctive evangelical version. This was, however, contested, being subjected to critique not only by opponents of the revival but also by others in the evangelical community.
Molecular and morphological findings in a sample of oral surgery patients: What can we learn for multivariate concepts for age estimation?
Authors: Siahaan Tatjana , Reckert Alexandra , Becker Julia , Eickhoff Simon B. , Koop Barbara , Gündüz Tanju , Böhme Petra , Mayer Felix , Küppers Lisa , Wagner Wolfgang , Ritz‐Timme Stefanie
Published: May 2021

It has already been proposed that a combined use of different molecular and morphological markers of aging in multivariate models may result in a greater accuracy of age estimation. However, such an approach can be complex and expensive, and not every combination may be useful. The significance and usefulness of combined analyses of D‐aspartic acid in dentine, pentosidine in dentine, DNA methylation in buccal swabs at five genomic regions (PDE4C, RPA2, ELOVL2, DDO, and EDARADD), and third molar mineralization were tested by investigating a sample of 90 oral surgery patients. Machine learning models for age estimation were trained and evaluated, and the contribution of each parameter to multivariate models was tested by assessment of the predictor importance. For models based on D‐aspartic acid, pentosidine, and the combination of both, mean absolute errors (MAEs) of 2.93, 3.41, and 2.68 years were calculated, respectively. The additional inclusion of the five DNAm markers did not improve the results. The sole DNAm‐based model revealed a MAE of 4.14 years. In individuals under 28 years of age, the combination of the DNAm markers with the third molar mineralization stages reduced the MAE from 3.85 to 2.81 years. Our findings confirm that the combination of parameters in multivariate models may be very useful for age estimation. However, the inclusion of many parameters does not necessarily lead to better results. It is a task for future research to identify the best selection of parameters for the different requirements in forensic practice.
Blood alcohol screening and outcomes in trauma team activation patients at a level 1 trauma centre in New Zealand
Authors: Bentley Maria , Ah Yen Damien , Smith Alastair , Christey Grant
Published: May 2021

Objective

A causal relationship between alcohol consumption and injury exists and the prevalence of harmful alcohol intakes in New Zealand adults is high. The present study investigates compliance to blood alcohol (BA) screening policy and the epidemiological profile and hospital‐related outcomes of trauma team activation (TTA) patients with positive BA at a New Zealand level 1 trauma centre.

Methods

A retrospective review of Midland Trauma Registry hospitalisation data between January 2012 and December 2019 was conducted. Eligible patients (n = 2168) were ≥15 years who received TTA at Waikato Hospital. BA screening rates, demographic and event information, injury severity and hospital‐related outcomes were examined.

Results

The average BA screening rate was 94.0% (95% confidence interval 92.9–95.0%) and 17.9% of screened patients were BA+. BA+ patients were younger than BA− (34.7 and 40.5 years, P < 0.0001). More males than females (20.6 and 12.4%, P < 0.0001), Māori (30.8%) compared to non‐Māori (<16.0%) and unemployed/beneficiaries (33.4%) compared to employed patients (15.5%) were BA+. Road transport crashes accounted for the highest proportion (45.2%) but, in comparison there were higher odds of BA+ from interpersonal violence (odds ratio 4.48, P < 0.0001). No difference between BA+ and BA− was observed in survival rate, injury severity scores, length of intensive care and total hospital stay.

Conclusion

Between 2012 and 2019, Waikato Hospital demonstrated high compliance to BA screening policy for TTA patients. Appropriate alcohol awareness initiatives that focus on road safety and interpersonal violence are required to reduce the preventable prevalence and burden of alcohol‐related trauma in the Waikato region.
All together now: Limitations and recommendations for the simultaneous analysis of all eukaryotic soil sequences
Authors: Jurburg Stephanie D. , Keil Petr , Singh Brajesh K. , Chase Jonathan M.
Published: May 2021

The soil environment contains a large, but historically underexplored, reservoir of biodiversity. Sequencing prokaryotic marker genes has become commonplace for the discovery and characterization of soil bacteria and archaea. Increasingly, this approach is also applied to eukaryotic marker genes to characterize the diversity and distribution of soil eukaryotes. However, understanding the properties and limitations of eukaryotic marker sequences is essential for correctly analysing, interpreting, and synthesizing the resulting data. Here, we illustrate several biases from sequencing data that affect measurements of biodiversity that arise from variation in morphology, taxonomy and phylogeny between organisms, as well as from sampling designs. We recommend analytical approaches to overcome these limitations, and outline how the benchmarking and standardization of sequencing protocols may improve the comparability of the data.
Exploring the vertebrate fauna of the Bird’s Head Peninsula (Indonesia, West Papua) through DNA barcodes
Authors: Arida Evy , Ashari Hidayat , Dahruddin Hadi , Fitriana Yuli Sulistya , Hamidy Amir , Irham Mohammad , Kadarusman  , Riyanto Awal , Wiantoro Sigit , Zein Moch Syamsul Arifin , Hadiaty Renny K. , Apandi  , Krey Frengky , Kurnianingsih  , Melmambessy Edy H.P. , Mulyadi  , Ohee Henderite L. , Saidin  , Salamuk Ayub , Sauri Sopian , Suparno  , Supriatna Nanang , Suruwaky Amir M. , Laksono Wahyudi Tri , Warikar Evie L. , Wikanta Hadi , Yohanita Aksamina M. , Slembrouck Jacques , Legendre Marc , Gaucher Philippe , Cochet Christophe , Delrieu‐Trottin Erwan , Thébaud Christophe , Mila Borja , Fouquet Antoine , Borisenko Alex , Steinke Dirk , Hocdé Régis , Semiadi Gono , Pouyaud Laurent , Hubert Nicolas
Published: May 2021

Biodiversity knowledge is widely heterogeneous across the Earth's biomes. Some areas, due to their remoteness and difficult access, present large taxonomic knowledge gaps. Mostly located in the tropics, these areas have frequently experienced a fast development of anthropogenic activities during the last decades and are therefore of high conservation concerns. The biodiversity hotspots of Southeast Asia exemplify the stakes faced by tropical countries. While the hotspots of Sundaland (Java, Sumatra, Borneo) and Wallacea (Sulawesi, Moluccas) have long attracted the attention of biologists and conservationists alike, extensive parts of the Sahul area, in particular the island of New Guinea, have been much less explored biologically. Here, we describe the results of a DNA‐based inventory of aquatic and terrestrial vertebrate communities, which was the objective of a multidisciplinary expedition to the Bird's Head Peninsula (West Papua, Indonesia) conducted between 17 October and 20 November 2014. This expedition resulted in the assembly of 1005 vertebrate DNA barcodes. Based on the use of multiple species‐delimitation methods (GMYC, PTP, RESL, ABGD), 264 molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs) were delineated, among which 75 were unidentified and an additional 48 were considered cryptic. This study suggests that the diversity of vertebrates of the Bird's Head is severely underestimated and considerations on the evolutionary origin and taxonomic knowledge of these biotas are discussed.
Updated APLAR consensus statements on care for patients with rheumatic diseases during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Tam Lai‐Shan , Tanaka Yoshiya , Handa Rohini , Li Zhanguo , Lorenzo Jose Paulo , Louthrenoo Worawit , Hill Catherine , Pile Kevin , Robinson Philip C. , Dans Leonila F. , Hsu Li Yang , Lee Sang‐Min , Cho Jiacai , Hasan A. T. M. Tanveer , Salim Babur , Samreen Saba , Shaharir Syahrul Sazliyana , Wong Priscilla , Chau Jeffrey , Danda Debashish , Haq Syed Atiqul
Published: May 2021

Aim

To update previous guidance of the Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology (APLAR) on the management of patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMD) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic.

Methods

Research questions were formulated focusing on diagnosis and treatment of adult patients with RMD within the context of the pandemic, including the management of RMD in patients who developed COVID‐19. MEDLINE was searched for eligible studies to address the questions, and the APLAR COVID‐19 task force convened 2 meetings through video conferencing to discuss its findings and integrate best available evidence with expert opinion. Consensus statements were finalized using the modified Delphi process.

Results

Agreement was obtained around key aspects of screening for or diagnosis of COVID‐19; management of patients with RMD without confirmed COVID‐19; and management of patients with RMD with confirmed COVID‐19. The task force achieved consensus on 25 statements covering the potential risk of acquiring COVID‐19 in RMD patients, advice on RMD medication adjustment and continuation, the roles of telemedicine and vaccination, and the impact of the pandemic on quality of life and on treatment adherence.

Conclusions

Available evidence primarily from descriptive research supported new recommendations for aspects of RMD care not covered in the previous document, particularly with regard to risk factors for complicated COVID‐19 in RMD patients, modifications to RMD treatment regimens in the context of the pandemic, and COVID‐19 vaccination in patients with RMD.
Role of chemotherapy after curative esophagectomy in squamous cell carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus: A propensity score‐matched analysis
Authors: Zhu Kai , Ren Peng , Yang Yueyang , Wang Ying , Xiao Wanyi , Zhang Hongdian , Yu Zhentao
Published: May 2021

Background

The efficacy of postoperative treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus has not yet been determined. In this retrospective study, we investigated whether postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy (POCT) confers a survival benefit on patients who undergo curative esophagectomy.

Methods

A total of 782 patients were enrolled in our study. The patients were divided into surgery alone (S) and surgery plus postoperative chemotherapy (S + POCT) groups. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to eliminate the differences in baseline characteristics. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS), which was calculated by the Kaplan–Meier method and compared with the log‐rank test. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to identify factors influencing the prognosis.

Results

Of 782 patients, 343 (43.9%) underwent S alone, and 439 (56.1%) underwent S + POCT before PSM. The five‐year OS rates were 42.3% and 47.8% in the S and S + POCT groups (p = 0.080), respectively. After PSM (296 patients per group), the five‐year OS rates were 48.7% and 56.2% in the S and S + POCT groups (p = 0.025), respectively. For different cycles of POCT, patients with more than three cycles had a better survival than those with less than three cycles. The significant predictive factors for OS were pN stage (HR = 1.861, 95% CI: 1.310–2.645, p = 0.001), number of dissected nodes (HR = 0.621, 95% CI: 0.494–0.781, p < 0.001) and POCT received (HR = 0.699, 95% CI: 0.559–0.875, p = 0.002), which were identified by multivariate Cox regression analyses in the matched samples.

Conclusions

POCT appears to improve the OS rate of patients with ESCC after resection, and at least four chemotherapy cycles are necessary. These conclusions warrant further confirmation in large‐scale multicenter randomized controlled trials.
Clinical‐radiological characteristics and intestinal microbiota in patients with pancreatic immune‐related adverse events
Authors: Tan Bei , Chen Min‐jiang , Guo Qi , Tang Hao , Li Yue , Jia Xin‐miao , Xu Yan , Zhu Liang , Wang Meng‐zhao , Qian Jia‐ming
Published: May 2021

Background

The pancreatic immune‐related adverse event (irAE) is a rare but increasingly occurrence disease with limited knowledge, which was associated with the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs).

Methods

In this case series study of pancreatic irAE patients, clinical and radiological manifestations are summarized. Baseline and post‐treatment fecal microbiota of immune‐related acute pancreatitis (irAP) patients were analyzed by the 16 s rDNA amplicon sequencing method.

Results

A total of six patients were enrolled into the study, and the onset of pancreatic irAEs occurred a median of 105 days after a median of 4.5 cycles with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). All patients had an effective response to ICIs. Abdominal pain was the main clinical manifestation. Serum amylase (sAMY) and lipase (sLIP) had dynamic changes parallel to clinical severity. Contrast‐enhanced computed tomography (CT) did not accurately reveal the level of inflammation. However, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was a sensitive imaging method which showed decreased and increased signal intensity of pancreatic parenchyma in T1‐weighted fat‐saturated and diffusion‐weighted imaging, respectively. Glucocorticoids were the main treatment with a rapid initial effect followed by a slow improvement. After reinitiation of ICI therapy, pancreatic irAEs either deteriorated, remained stable or the patient developed severe pancreatic β‐cell destruction without irAP recurrence. The baseline microbiota of irAP had low Bacteroidetes/Firmicutes ratio at phylum level, low relative abundance of Alistipes, Bacteroides and high Lachnospiraceae at genus level, compared to levels of pancreatic β‐cell destruction and post‐treatment of irAP.

Conclusions

Pancreatic irAE patients had corresponding abdominal pain and increase in sAMY/sLIP. MRI was found to be an ideal imaging modality. Treatment with glucocorticoids were the main approach. The microbiota showed relative changes at baseline and during treatment.
Changes in aqueous and vitreous inflammatory cytokine levels in diabetic macular oedema: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Minaker Samuel A. , Mason Ryan H. , Lahaie Luna Gabriela , Farahvash Armin , Garg Anubhav , Bhambra Nishaant , Bapat Priya , Muni Rajeev H.
Published: May 2021

Diabetic macular oedema (DME) is considered a chronic inflammatory disease associated with aberrations in many intraocular cytokines. Studies assessing the role of these cytokines as biomarkers in the diagnosis and management of DME have demonstrated inconsistent findings. We quantitatively summarized data related to 116 candidate aqueous and vitreous inflammatory cytokines as biomarkers in DME. A systematic search without year limitation was performed up to 19 October 2020. Studies were included if they provided data on aqueous or vitreous cytokine concentrations in patients with DME. Effect sizes were generated as standardized mean differences (SMDs) of cytokine concentrations between patients with DME and controls. Data were extracted from 128 studies that included 4163 study eyes with DME and 1281 control eyes. Concentrations (standard mean difference, 95% confidence interval and p‐value) of aqueous IL‐6 (1.28, 0.57–2.00, p = 0.004), IL‐8 (1.06, 0.74–1.39, p < 0.00001), MCP‐1 (1.36, 0.57–2.16, p = 0.0008) and VEGF (1.31, 1.01–1.62, p < 0.00001) and vitreous VEGF (2.27, 1.55–2.99, p < 0.00001) were significantly higher in patients with DME (n = 4163) compared to healthy controls (n = 1281). No differences, failed sensitivity analyses or insufficient data were found between patients with DME and healthy controls for the concentrations of the remaining cytokines. This analysis implicates multiple cytokine biomarker candidates other than VEGF in DME and clarifies previously reported inconsistent associations. As the therapeutic options for DME expand to include multiple agents with multiple targets, it will be critical to manage the treatment burden with tailored therapy that optimizes outcomes and minimizes treatment burden. Intraocular cytokines have the promise of providing a robust individualized assessment of disease status and response to therapy. We have identified key candidate cytokines that may serve as biomarkers in individualized treatment algorithms.
Examination of a brief computerized Cognitive Anxiety Sensitivity intervention on obsessive–compulsive symptoms
Authors: Raines Amanda M. , Koscinski Brandon , Mathes Brittany M. , Portero Amberly K. , Allan Nicholas P. , Schmidt Norman B.
Published: May 2021

Objectives

Despite the existence of several first‐line treatments for obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), many patients fail to experience symptom reduction and/or do not complete treatment. As a result, the field has increasingly moved towards identifying and treating malleable underlying risk factors that may in turn improve treatment efficacy. One salient underlying risk factor, anxiety sensitivity (AS) cognitive concerns, has been found to be uniquely associated with obsessive–compulsive (OC) symptom dimensions. However, no studies have yet examined whether reductions in AS cognitive concerns will lead to subsequent reductions in OC symptoms.

Methods

The current study attempted to fill this gap by recruiting individuals reporting elevations on both AS cognitive concerns and at least one OC symptom dimension. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either a one‐session AS cognitive concerns intervention (n = 35) or a single health information control session (n = 37). AS cognitive concerns were assessed at post‐intervention and one‐month follow‐up.

Results

The active intervention produced significantly greater reductions in AS cognitive concerns post‐intervention than the control intervention. However, this effect was no longer significant at one‐month follow‐up. Further, while there was not an effect of treatment condition on OC symptoms at one‐month follow‐up, changes in AS cognitive concerns from baseline to post‐intervention mediated changes in OC symptoms at one‐month follow‐up.

Conclusions

Findings support previous research attesting to the malleable nature of AS. Extending this research, findings provide initial support for the efficacy of AS interventions among individuals with elevated OC symptoms.

Practitioner points

Clinicians should consider assessing anxiety sensitivity (AS) among patients with obsessive–compulsive disorder.

If elevated, clinicians should consider targeting AS as an adjunct to treatment as usual.
A prognostic immune risk score for diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma
Authors: Ma Shu‐Yun , Tian Xiao‐Peng , Cai Jun , Su Ning , Fang Yu , Zhang Yu‐Chen , Wang Jin‐Ni , Peter Gale Robert , Cai Qing‐Qing
Published: May 2021

We constructed a prognostic score for persons with diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) based on infiltrating immune cells. Data of 956 consecutive subjects were retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus database and assigned to training (GSE10846, n = 305) or validation (GSE87371 n = 206 and GSE117556 n = 445 combined) cohorts. Proportions of non‐lymphoma cells in the sample were inferred using the ESTIMATE algorithm. An immune risk score was constructed comprised of eight types of non‐lymphoma immune cells calculated using the CIBERSORT algorithm. Five‐year survival of subjects with an immune risk score ≤ 0·45 in the training cohort was better than that of subjects with a score > 0·45 (hazard ratio [HR] = 3·99; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2·74, 5·82; P < 0·001). HR in the validation cohort was HR = 2·17 (1·47, 3·21; P < 0·001). Enrichment analyses indicated correlations with genes controlling immune‐related biological processes and pathways. A nomogram comprised of the immune risk score and most covariates including age, lactate dehydrogenase concentration (LDH), lymphoma‐type (germinal centre B cell [GCB] versus non‐GCB), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG‐PS) and rituximab therapy had a C‐statistic of 0·76 compared with C‐statistics of 0·69 and 0·69 for the International Prognostic Index (IPI) and Revised International Prognostic Index (R‐IPI). These data indicate the immune risk score is an accurate, independent survival predictor in persons with DLBCL.
Community identification, social support, and loneliness: The benefits of social identification for personal well‐being
Authors: McNamara Niamh , Stevenson Clifford , Costa Sebastiano , Bowe Mhairi , Wakefield Juliet , Kellezi Blerina , Wilson Iain , Halder Moon , Mair Elizabeth
Published: May 2021

Levels of loneliness across the world have reached epidemic proportions, and their impact upon population health is increasingly apparent. In response, policies and initiatives have attempted to reduce loneliness by targeting social isolation among residents of local communities. Yet, little is known about the social psychological processes underpinning the relationships between community belonging, loneliness, and well‐being. We report three studies which apply the Social Identity Approach to Health to examine the mechanisms underpinning the relationships between community identity, health, and loneliness. Hypotheses were tested through secondary analyses of the 2014–2015 UK Community Life Survey (N = 4,314) as well as bespoke household surveys in a more (N = 408) and less (N = 143) affluent community at high risk of loneliness. Studies 1 and 2a demonstrated that the relationship between community identification and well‐being was mediated by increased social support and reduced loneliness. In Study 2b, community identification predicted well‐being through reduced loneliness, but not through social support. Our results are the first to evidence these relationships and suggest that community‐level interventions that enhance community identification and peer support can promote a potential Social Cure for loneliness.
Prospective collaborative sensemaking for identifying the potential impact of emerging technologies
Authors: Gattringer Regina , Damm Fabio , Kranewitter Philipp , Wiener Melanie
Published: May 2021

Emerging technologies provide new opportunities for organizations but also introduce uncertainty and ambiguity about future developments. One specific risk that firms encounter in the prospective sensemaking process is the failure to adequately judge their potential impact on the organization, if they rely heavily on existing beliefs about the future or the industry. This study explores how opening up the strategy process (through a collaboration of companies from various industries) influences the way actors interpret and make sense of ambiguous and uncertain environments caused by blockchain technology. We recognized that this cross‐industry, prospective sensemaking approach played a noticeable role in the way actors interpreted and reflected on technological change. The diversity of perspectives was framed by the participants as conducive to out‐of‐the‐box thinking and to develop new frames and mental models. In various social and discursive processes, new meanings and application possibilities for the own company were developed. Due to the cross‐industry approach (without competitors), an open learning climate could evolve, intracompany power struggles were prevented and there was no need to develop a ‘common sense’, which facilitated adopting a wide variety of perspectives and thinking in scenarios. Moreover, it was found that skilful facilitators played an important role in initiating and accompanying the sensemaking process.
Use of a panel of four microRNAs in CSF as a predicted biomarker for postoperative neoangiogenesis in moyamoya disease
Authors: Wang Gang , Wen Yunyu , Chen Siyuan , Zhang Guozhong , Li Mingzhou , Zhang Shichao , Qi Songtao , Feng Wenfeng
Published: May 2021

Introduction and Aims

At present, the treatment for moyamoya disease (MMD) primarily consists of combined direct and indirect bypass surgery. Nevertheless, more than half of indirect bypass surgeries fail to develop good collaterals from the dura and temporal muscle. This study aimed to investigate whether microRNAs (miRNAs) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) could serve as biomarkers for the prediction of postoperative collateral formation.

Methods

Moyamoya disease patients with indirect bypass surgery were divided into angiogenesis and non‐angiogenesis groups, CSF was obtained, and miRNA sequencing was performed using the CSF. Candidate miRNAs were filtered and subsequently verified through qRT‐PCR. The diagnostic utility of these differential miRNAs was investigated by using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Finally, the potential biological processes and signaling pathways associated with candidate miRNAs were analyzed using R software.

Results

The expression levels of four miRNAs (miR‐92a‐3p, miR‐486‐3p, miR‐25‐3p, and miR‐155‐5p) were significantly increased in the angiogenesis group. By combining these four miRNAs (area under the curve [AUC] =0.970), we established an accurate predictive model of collateral circulation after indirect bypass surgery in MMD patients. GO and KEGG analyses demonstrated a high correlation with biological processes and signaling pathways related to angiogenesis.

Conclusion

The 4‐miRNA signature is a good model to predict angiogenesis after indirect bypass surgery and help the surgeon to select a appreciate bypass strategy.
BAPTA, a calcium chelator, neuroprotects injured neurons in vitro and promotes motor recovery after spinal cord transection in vivo
Authors: Kang Kyu‐ree , Kim Jin , Ryu Bokyeong , Lee Seul‐Gi , Oh Min‐Seok , Baek Jieun , Ren Xiaoping , Canavero Sergio , Kim C‐Yoon , Chung Hyung Min
Published: May 2021

Aim

Despite animal evidence of a role of calcium in the pathogenesis of spinal cord injury, several studies conducted in the past found calcium blockade ineffective. However, those studies involved oral or parenteral administration of Ca++ antagonists. We hypothesized that Ca++ blockade might be effective with local/immediate application (LIA) at the time of neural injury.

Methods

In this study, we assessed the effects of LIA of BAPTA (1,2‐bis (o‐aminophenoxy) ethane‐N, N, N′, N'‐tetraacetic acid), a cell‐permeable highly selective Ca++ chelator, after spinal cord transection (SCT) in mice over 4 weeks. Effects of BAPTA were assessed behaviorally and with immunohistochemistry. Concurrently, BAPTA was submitted for the first time to multimodality assessment in an in vitro model of neural damage as a possible spinal neuroprotectant.

Results

We demonstrate that BAPTA alleviates neuronal apoptosis caused by physical damage by inhibition of neuronal apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. This translates to enhanced preservation of electrophysiological function and superior behavioral recovery.

Conclusion

This study shows for the first time that local/immediate application of Ca++ chelator BAPTA is strongly neuroprotective after severe spinal cord injury.
Research biases create overrepresented “poster children” of marine invasion ecology
Authors: Watkins Hannah V. , Yan Helen F. , Dunic Jillian C. , Côté Isabelle M.
Published: May 2021

Nonnative marine species are increasingly recognized as a threat to the world's oceans, yet are poorly understood relative to their terrestrial and freshwater counterparts. Here, we conducted a systematic review of 2,203 research articles on nonnative marine animals to determine whether the current literature reflects the known diversity of marine invaders, how much we know about these species, and how frequently their impacts are measured. We found that only 39% of nonnative animals listed in the World Register of Introduced Marine Species appeared in the peer‐reviewed English literature. Of those, fewer than half were the subject of more than one study. There is currently little focus on the consequences of marine introductions: only 9.9% of studies quantified the impact of nonnative species. Finally, our knowledge of nonnative marine species is heavily limited by strong taxonomic biases consistent across all phyla, resulting in one or two disproportionately well‐studied representatives for each phylum, which we refer to as the “poster children” of invasion. These gaps in the literature make it difficult to effectively triage the most detrimental invasive species for management and illustrate the challenges in achieving the global biodiversity goals of preventing and managing the introduction and establishment of invasive species.
PTH‐induced EndMT via miR‐29a‐5p/GSAP/Notch1 pathway contributed to valvular calcification in rats with CKD
Authors: Wang Liting , Tang Rining , Zhang Yuxia , Chen Sijie , Guo Yu , Wang Xiaochen , Liu Zixiao , Liu Hong , Zhang Xiaoliang , Liu Bi‐Cheng
Published: May 2021

Background

Endothelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (EndMT) is a common pathophysiology in valvular calcification (VC) among non‐chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. However, few studies were investigated in CKD‐induced VC. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) was considered to be an important component of EndMT in CKD‐induced cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, determining whether PTH could induce valvular EndMT and elucidating corresponding mechanism involved further study.

Methods

Performing a 5/6 nephrectomy with a high phosphorus diet was done to construct VC models in rats with CKD. miRNA sequencing was used to ascertain changes in microRNA in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) intervened by PTH. VC was observed by Von Kossa staining and scanning electron microscope.

Results

PTH induced valvular EndMT in VC. Global microRNA expression profiling of HUVECs was examined in PTH versus the control in vitro, in which miR‐29a‐5p was most notably decreased and was resumed by PTHrP(7‐34) (PTH‐receptor1 inhibitor). Overexpression of miR‐29a‐5p could inhibit PTH‐induced EndMT in vitro and valvular EndMT in vivo. The dual‐luciferase assay verified that γ‐secretase‐activating protein (GASP) served as the target of miR‐29a‐5p. miR‐29a‐5p‐mimics, si‐GSAP and DAPT (γ‐secretase inhibitor) inhibited PTH‐induced γ‐secretase activation, thus blocking Notch1 pathway activation to inhibit EndMT in vitro. Moreover, Notch1 pathway activation was observed in VC. Blocking Notch1 pathway activation via AAV‐miR‐29a and DAPT inhibited valvular EndMT. In addition, blocking Notch1 pathway activation was also shown to alleviate VC.

Conclusion

PTH activates valvular EndMT via miR‐29a‐5p/GSAP/Notch1 pathway, which can contribute to VC in CKD rats.