bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Smartphone‐based clinical diagnostics: towards democratization of evidence‐based health care
Authors: Hernández‐Neuta I. , Neumann F. , Brightmeyer J. , Ba Tis T. , Madaboosi N. , Wei Q. , Ozcan A. , Nilsson M.
Published: August 2018

Recent advancements in bioanalytical techniques have led to the development of novel and robust diagnostic approaches that hold promise for providing optimal patient treatment, guiding prevention programs and widening the scope of personalized medicine. However, these advanced diagnostic techniques are still complex, expensive and limited to centralized healthcare facilities or research laboratories. This significantly hinders the use of evidence‐based diagnostics for resource‐limited settings and the primary care, thus creating a gap between healthcare providers and patients, leaving these populations without access to precision and quality medicine. Smartphone‐based imaging and sensing platforms are emerging as promising alternatives for bridging this gap and decentralizing diagnostic tests offering practical features such as portability, cost‐effectiveness and connectivity. Moreover, towards simplifying and automating bioanalytical techniques, biosensors and lab‐on‐a‐chip technologies have become essential to interface and integrate these assays, bringing together the high precision and sensitivity of diagnostic techniques with the connectivity and computational power of smartphones. Here, we provide an overview of the emerging field of clinical smartphone diagnostics and its contributing technologies, as well as their wide range of areas of application, which span from haematology to digital pathology and rapid infectious disease diagnostics.
Illuminating the ‘Face’ of Justice: A Meta‐Analytic Examination of Leadership and Organizational Justice
Authors: Karam Elizabeth P. , Hu Jinyu , Davison Robert B. , Juravich Matthew , Nahrgang Jennifer D. , Humphrey Stephen E. , Scott DeRue D.
Published: August 2018

A significant body of research has described effective leader behaviours and has connected these behaviours to positive employee outcomes. However, this research has yet to be systematically integrated with organizational justice research to describe how leader behaviours inform justice perceptions. Therefore, we conduct a meta‐analysis (k = 166, N = 46,034) to investigate how three types of leader behaviours (task, relational, and change) inform four dimensions of organizational justice (procedural, distributive, interpersonal, and informational) referenced to the leader and to the organization. Further, we examine the joint impact of leader behaviours and justice perceptions on social exchange quality (i.e., leader–member exchange), task performance, and job satisfaction. Our results suggest that leader behaviours differentially inform leader‐ and organization‐focused justice perceptions, and the joint effect of leader behaviours and justice perceptions offer more nuanced explanations for outcomes.
Multiclass mycotoxins in lotus seeds analysed by an isotope-labelled internal standard-based UPLC-MS/MS
Authors: Huang Pinxuan , Kong Weijun , Wang Sha , Wang Ruilin , Lu Jinghua , Yang Meihua
Published: August 2018

Objectives

This study aimed to explore the residue levels of multiclass mycotoxins in medicinal and edible lotus seeds.

Methods

A rapid and reliable isotope-labelled internal standard-based UPLC-MS/MS method was developed and validated for sensitive and accurate analysis of multiclass mycotoxins including aflatoxins (AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2), ochratoxin A (OTA), zearalenone (ZEN), deoxynivalenol (DON), fumonisins (FB1 and FB2), T-2 and HT-2 toxins in lotus seeds. Some critical conditions such as extract solution with the addition of isotope-labelled internal standard, type of mobile phase and the elution condition were scientifically optimized. The 11 mycotoxins obtained satisfactory resolution and sensitive detection in multiple reactions monitoring scanning mode combined with the ion switching technology in positive and negative ion switching mode.

Key findings

The developed isotope-labelled internal standard-based UPLC-MS/MS method exhibited an approving linearity (r ≥ 0.9984), high sensitivity (limit of detection in the range of 0.015–30.05 μg/kg), acceptable precision (RSDs ≤6.3%) and good recovery (76.0–116.0%) for 11 analytes, respectively. Ten batches of real lotus seed samples were tested, and three batches out of which were contaminated with AFB1, FB2, T-2 and ZEN. AFB1 showed the highest occurrence rate (30%) with contents of 10.50 and 8.32 μg/kg in two samples over the official limit (5.0 μg/kg).

Conclusions

The monitoring of multiclass mycotoxins in Chinese herbal medicines is in great urgency to ensure the security of consumers. The proposed method could be further utilized for simple, sensitive and rapid detection of more mycotoxins in other complex matrices to compensate for matrix effects.
The endemic Cladophorales (Ulvophyceae) of ancient Lake Baikal represent a monophyletic group of very closely related but morphologically diverse species
Authors: Boedeker Christian , Leliaert Frederik , Timoshkin Oleg A. , Vishnyakov Vasily S. , Díaz‐Martínez Sergio , Zuccarello Giuseppe C.
Published: August 2018

Lake Baikal, the oldest lake in the world, is home to spectacular biodiversity and extraordinary levels of endemism. While many of the animal species flocks from Lake Baikal are famous examples of evolutionary radiations, the lake also includes a wide diversity of endemic algae that are not well investigated with regards to molecular‐biological taxonomy and phylogeny. The endemic taxa of the green algal order Cladophorales show a range of divergent morphologies that led to their classification in four genera in two families. We sequenced partial large‐ and small‐subunit rDNA as well as the internal transcribed spacer region of 14 of the 16 described endemic taxa to clarify their phylogenetic relationships. One endemic morphospecies, Cladophora kusnetzowii, was shown to be conspecific with the widespread Aegagropila linnaei. All other endemic morphospecies formed a monophyletic group nested within the genus Rhizoclonium (Cladophoraceae), a very surprising result, in stark contrast to their morphological affinities. The Baikal clade represents a species flock of closely related taxa with very low genetic differentiation. Some of the morphospecies were congruent with lineages recovered in the phylogenies, but due to the low phylogenetic signal in the rDNA sequences the relationships within the Baikal clade were not all well resolved. The Baikal clade appears to represent a recent radiation, based on the low molecular divergence within the group, and it is hypothesized that the large morphological variation results from diversification in sympatry from a common ancestor in Lake Baikal.
Feeding by common heterotrophic protists on the mixotrophic alga Gymnodinium smaydae (Dinophyceae), one of the fastest growing dinoflagellates
Authors: Jeong Hae Jin , You Ji Hyun , Lee Kyung Ha , Kim So Jin , Lee Sung Yeon
Published: August 2018

Gymnodinium smaydae is one of the fastest growing dinoflagellates. However, its population dynamics are affected by both growth and mortality due to predation. Thus, feeding by common heterotrophic dinoflagellates Gyrodinium dominans, Gyrodinium moestrupii, Oblea rotunda, Oxyrrhis marina, and Polykrikos kofoidii, and the naked ciliate Pelagostrobilidium sp. on G. smaydae was investigated in the laboratory. Furthermore, growth and ingestion rates of O. marina, G. dominans, and Pelagostrobilidium sp. on G. smaydae in response to prey concentration were also determined. Oxyrrhis marina, G. dominans, G. moestrupii, and Pelagostrobilidium sp. were able to feed on G. smaydae, but P. kofoidii and O. rotunda did not feed on this dinoflagellate. The maximum growth rate of O. marina on G. smaydae was 0.411 per day. However, G. smaydae did not support the positive growth of Pelagostrobilidium sp. The maximum ingestion rates of O. marina and Pelagostrobilidium sp. on G. smaydae were 0.27 and 6.91 ng C · predator−1 · d−1, respectively. At the given mean prey concentrations, the highest growth and ingestion rates of G. dominans on G. smaydae were 0.114 per day and 0.04 ng C · predator−1 · d−1, respectively. The maximum growth and ingestion rates of O. marina on G. smaydae are lower than those on most of the other algal prey species. Therefore, O. marina may be an effective predator of G. smaydae, but G. smaydae may not be the preferred prey for supporting high growth of the predator in comparison to other species as inferred from a literature survey.
Three‐year safety, efficacy and persistence data following the daily use of mirabegron for overactive bladder in the clinical setting: A Japanese post‐marketing surveillance study
Authors: Kato Daisuke , Tabuchi Hiromi , Uno Satoshi
Published: August 2018

Objective

The aim of this study was to report the final 3‐year results from a surveillance study evaluating the safety, efficacy, and persistence of mirabegron for treating overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms.

Methods

Patients who had started mirabegron for the treatment of urinary urgency, daytime frequency, and urgency urinary incontinence symptoms associated with OAB were followed for 3 years. Adverse drug reactions (ADRs), residual urine volume measurements, OAB symptoms, Overactive Bladder Symptom Scores (OABSS), and treatment discontinuations were evaluated prospectively. Persistence was estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method.

Results

Of the 1138 patients included in the study (mean ±SD age: 71.9 ± 11.0 years; 574 [50.4%] women), 97 (8.52%) experienced 109 ADRs, with the incidence of ADRs decreasing over time (<1 year: 1.34%–2.37%; ≥1–<2 years: 0.45%–1.60%; ≥2–<3 years: 0.29%–1.10%; 3‐monthly interval data). No significant increases in residual urine volume were observed. The investigators considered mirabegron to be an effective treatment for 842 of 1082 (77.8%) patients. Significant decreases in OABSS were reported throughout (P < 0.001), and 321 (65.1%) patients achieved a minimal clinically important change (MCIC) in OABSS. Most patients who achieved an MCIC within ≤1 year continued to maintain an MCIC throughout the study. Treatment persistence rates after 1, 2, and 3 years of mirabegron treatment were 65.8%, 52.9%, and 46.7%, respectively.

Conclusion

Over 3 years, mirabegron was well tolerated and no cumulative events or delayed ADRs were observed. Mirabegron was an effective treatment with early improvements in OABSS being maintained throughout the treatment period. High persistence was observed after the use of mirabegron.
Solow meets Stone–Geary: Technological progress and the demographic transition
Authors: Nakamura Tamotsu
Published: August 2018

This paper presents a simple yet useful framework to analyze the interactions between population growth and economic development to account for the demographic transition. The nonmonotonic relationship is derived from two key factors: Stone–Geary preferences and increasing child‐raising costs. Increase in income raises fertility through the income effect but reduces it through the substitution of the children by consumption due to increased child‐raising costs. When households are poor, fertility increases with income because the income effect is dominant due to Stone–Geary preferences. When, in contrast, they are rich enough, fertility decreases with income because the substitution effect is dominant. While the population growth rate is constant in the Solow growth model, it changes endogenously in our model. Consequently, it produces rich dynamics of income and population depending on the speed of technological progress.
Automated Pixel‐Level Pavement Crack Detection on 3D Asphalt Surfaces with a Recurrent Neural Network
Authors: Zhang Allen , Wang Kelvin C. P. , Fei Yue , Liu Yang , Chen Cheng , Yang Guangwei , Li Joshua Q. , Yang Enhui , Qiu Shi
Published: August 2018

A recurrent neural network (RNN) called CrackNet‐R is proposed in the article for fully automated pixel‐level crack detection on three‐dimensional (3D) asphalt pavement surfaces. In the article, a new recurrent unit, gated recurrent multilayer perceptron (GRMLP), is proposed to recursively update the internal memory of CrackNet‐R. Unlike the widely used long short‐term memory (LSTM) and gated recurrent unit (GRU), GRMLP is intended for deeper abstractions on the inputs and hidden states by conducting multilayer nonlinear transforms at gating units. CrackNet‐R implements a two‐phase sequence processing: sequence generation and sequence modeling. Sequence generation is specifically developed in the study to find the best local paths that are most likely to form crack patterns. Sequence modeling predicts timely probabilities of the input sequence being a crack pattern. In terms of sequence modeling, GRMLP slightly outperforms LSTM and GRU by using only one more nonlinear layer at each gate. In addition to sequence processing, an output layer is proposed to produce pixel probabilities based on timely probabilities predicted for sequences. The proposed output layer is critical for pixel‐perfect accuracy, as it accomplishes the transition from sequence‐level learning to pixel‐level learning. Using 3,000 diverse 3D images, the training of CrackNet‐R is completed through optimizing sequence modeling, sequence generation, and the output layer serially. The experiment using 500 testing pavement images shows that CrackNet‐R can achieve high Precision (88.89%), Recall (95.00%), and F‐measure (91.84%) simultaneously. Compared with the original CrackNet, CrackNet‐R is about four times faster and introduces tangible improvements in detection accuracy.
G1 and S phase arrest in Candida albicans induces filamentous growth via distinct mechanisms
Authors: Chen Cuilan , Zeng Guisheng , Wang Yue
Published: August 2018

Candida albicans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen. In immunocompromised individuals, it can cause bloodstream infections with high mortality rates. The ability to switch between yeast and hyphal morphologies is a critical virulence factor of C. albicans. In response to diverse environmental cues, several signaling pathways are activated resulting in filamentous growth. Interestingly, cell cycle arrest can also trigger filamentous growth although the pathways involved are not well‐understood. Here, we demonstrate that the cAMP‐PKA pathway is involved in the filamentous growth caused by G1 arrest due to the depletion of the G1 cyclin Cln3 and S phase arrest due to hydroxyurea treatment. The downstream mechanisms involved in filamentation are different between the two cell cycle arrest phenomena. Cln3‐depleted cells require HGC1 and UME6 for filamentous growth, but hydroxyurea‐induced filamentation does not. Also, the hyphal repressor Nrg1 is not involved in the suppression of Cln3‐depletion and hydroxyurea‐induced filamentous growth. The findings highlight the complexity of the signaling networks that control filamentous growth in which different mechanisms downstream of the cAMP‐PKA pathway are activated based on the nature of the inducing signals.
A neglected alliance in battles against parasitic plants: arbuscular mycorrhizal and rhizobial symbioses alleviate damage to a legume host by root hemiparasitic Pedicularis species
Authors: Sui Xiao‐Lin , Zhang Ting , Tian Yu‐Qing , Xue Rui‐Juan , Li Ai‐Rong
Published: August 2018

Despite their ubiquitous distribution and significant ecological roles, soil microorganisms have long been neglected in investigations addressing parasitic plant–host interactions. Because nutrient deprivation is a primary cause of host damage by parasitic plants, we hypothesized that beneficial soil microorganisms conferring nutrient benefits to parasitized hosts may play important roles in alleviating damage.

We conducted a pot cultivation experiment to test the inoculation effect of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (Glomus mosseae), a rhizobium (Rhizobium leguminosarum) and their interactive effects, on alleviation of damage to a legume host (Trifolium repens) by two root hemiparasitic plants with different nutrient requirements (N‐demanding Pedicularis rex and P‐demanding P. tricolor).

Strong interactive effects between inoculation regimes and hemiparasite identity were observed. The relative benefits of microbial inoculation were related to hemiparasite nutrient requirements. Dual inoculation with the rhizobium strongly enhanced promotional arbuscular mycorrhizal effects on hosts parasitized by P. rex, but reduced the arbuscular mycorrhizal promotion on hosts parasitized by P. tricolor.

Our results demonstrate substantial contribution of arbuscular mycorrhizal and rhizobial symbioses to alleviating damage to the legume host by root hemiparasites, and suggest that soil microorganisms are critical factors regulating host–parasite interactions and should be taken into account in future studies.
A systematic review of the vitamin B12, folate and homocysteine triad across body mass index
Authors: Wiebe N. , Field C. J. , Tonelli M.
Published: August 2018

Objective

Multiple studies have explored the association between serum or plasma vitamin B12 status and obesity, in part because of the relationship between elevated homocysteine concentrations and atherosclerosis. This review will address the inconsistent finding of these studies with the objective of determining whether vitamin B12 concentrations are lower in people with higher body mass indices.

Design

MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched to February 2017. Observational studies in general and clinical populations comparing serum/plasma B12 concentrations across groups of different body mass indices were selected. We did network and pairwise meta‐analyses of serum/plasma B12, folate and homocysteine using frequentist techniques. Evidence‐based items potentially indicating risk of bias were assessed.

Results

Of 844 citations, we identified 19 eligible observational studies with 7,055 participants. The overall network, while showing no significant inconsistency between indirect and direct comparisons (P = 0.34), was qualitatively inconsistent. Based on the results of the meta‐regression, in an exploratory sub‐network meta‐analysis where obesity groups were combined, we excluded disease‐specific populations and studies with inadequate description of populations. The direction of the indirect and direct evidence was consistent. The pairwise results from this sub‐network showed lower levels of B12 in people with higher body mass indices: obesity versus control difference in means (MD) −56 pmol L−1 (95% CI −90, −23), obesity versus overweight MD −21 pmol L−1 (95% CI −37, −5) and overweight versus control MD −51 pmol L−1 (95% CI −51, −24). Heterogeneity remained very large for most comparisons, and all the studies carried a high risk for bias.

Conclusions

This review did not establish an inverse association (or J‐curve) between serum or plasma B12 concentrations and body mass index, but the direct pairwise evidence is consistent with an inverse association and supports further investigation.
Dental imaging of trabecular bone structure for systemic disorder screening: A systematic review
Authors: Pachêco‐Pereira Camila , Almeida Fabiana T. , Chavda Suraj , Major Paul W. , Leite Andre , Guerra Eliete N.S.
Published: August 2018

The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the potential use of dental imaging assessment of trabecular bone structure in the maxillomandibular complex as an adjuvant screening tool to identify systemic disorders. Five electronic databases and grey literature were searched. Studies were included if they investigated subjects with altered trabecular bone determined by dental radiographs. The QUADAS‐2 assessed the risk of bias (RoB) among the studies, while the GRADE determined the strength of evidence. A total of 14 studies that included 1,466 individuals were considered eligible for the qualitative analysis. All studies presented an overall low RoB and low concern regarding applicability. Systemic disorders such as osteoporosis, osteogenesis imperfecta, diabetes, and primary hyperparathyroidism, with their respective control groups, were analyzed among the included studies. Osteoporosis was the condition presenting the most significant results, and 72% of the studies detected changes in the maxillomandibular trabecular bone structure. Studies exploring diabetic edentulous patients found less dense trabecular bone pattern (p < 0.05). In summary, periapical and panoramic radiographs, computed tomography, and cone beam computed tomography imaging could be considered useful for the assessment of the mandibular trabecular bone structure of patients affected by osteoporosis and patients with diabetes.
Ventricular arrhythmias involving the His‐Purkinje system in the structurally abnormal heart
Authors: He Beixin Julie , Boyden Penelope , Scheinman Melvin
Published: August 2018

His‐Purkinje‐related ventricular arrhythmias are a subset of ventricular tachycardias that use the specialized cardiac conduction system. These arrhythmias can occur in various different forms of structural heart disease. Here, we review the basic science discoveries and their analogous clinical observations that implicate the His‐Purkinje system as a crucial component of the arrhythmia circuit. While mutations serve the molecular basis for arrhythmias in the heritable cardiomyopathies, transcriptional and posttranslational changes constitute the adverse remodeling leading to arrhythmias in acquired structural heart disease. Additional studies on the electrical properties of the His‐Purkinje network and its interactions with the surrounding myocardium will improve the clinical diagnosis and treatment of these arrhythmias.
Disseminated histoplasmosis in pediatric kidney transplant recipients—A report of six cases and review of the literature
Authors: Ferguson‐Paul Kenice , Park Catherine , Childress Sandra , Arnold Sandra , Ault Bettina , Bagga Bindiya
Published: August 2018

Background

We report a case series of histoplasmosis in KTx patients in a children's hospital in an endemic area.

Methods

All KTx cases from January 1, 2002, to August 31, 2016, were reviewed to identify those with disseminated histoplasmosis.

Results

The attack rate of histoplasmosis among our KTx patients was 6.9 per 100 cases. The median age at the time of diagnosis was 16 years (11‐18). Comorbidities included glomerulosclerosis (3), medullary cystic disease (1), and obstructive uropathy (2) and HIV (1). There were 5 deceased and 1 living‐related donor transplants, and no patient had a history of rejection prior to histoplasmosis. Median time from transplant to histoplasmosis was 14.8 months (IQR 2.2‐38.3) and 33% occurred in the first year after transplant. Urine and/or serum antigens were positive in all patients. They were either treated with amphotericin B and transitioned to an azole or received azole monotherapy. Most (83%) received chronic suppression with itraconazole. No patients died and relapse occurred in 1 patient after repeat transplant.

Conclusions

KTx patients in endemic areas are at risk for disseminated histoplasmosis. Further study is needed to determine which factors portend the need for fungal prophylaxis in this subset of patients.
Morphological and functional seed traits of the wild medicinal plant Dioscorea strydomiana, the most threatened yam in the world
Authors: Mattana E. , Gomez‐Barreiro P. , Lötter M. , Hankey A. J. , Froneman W. , Mamatsharaga A. , Wilkin P. , Ulian T.
Published: August 2018

Morphological and functional seed traits have important roles in characterising the species regeneration niche and help to understand the reproductive biology of rare and threatened plants, which can thus support appropriate plant conservation measures.

Seed morphometric and dispersal kinetics of the critically endangered Dioscorea strydomiana were measured and compared with those of four other Dioscorea species, and seed germination response under constant temperatures (5–35 °C) was compared with that of the congeneric and widespread D. sylvatica.

Seed mass of D. strydomiana (ca. 14 mg) was twice that of D. sylvatica, but similar to or smaller than the other species examined. Seeds of D. strydomiana have the lowest speed of descent and lowest variability in most of the morphological traits considered, suggesting lower phenotypic plasticity but higher variance in the wing‐loading value. Seeds of D. strydomiana reached maximum germination at 15 °C (ca. 47%), which decreased slightly to ca. 37% at 25 °C and was completely inhibited at 35 °C. D. sylvatica seeds started to germinate at 10 °C (ca. 3%), reached 75–80% germination at 15–20 °C and maximum (ca. 90%) at 25–30 °C. Base temperatures for germination (Tb) were 9.3 and 5.7 °C, for D. strydomiana and D. sylvatica, respectively. Due to the higher germination percentages of D. sylvatica, ceiling and optimum temperatures could also be modelled for this species, suggesting higher sensitivity to high temperature for seeds of D. strydomiana.

The detected poor seed lot quality of D. strydomiana suggests difficulties in reproduction from seed, highlighting the need for further investigation and conservation actions for this threatened yam species.
Risk‐management strategies and transpiration rates of wild barley in uncertain environments
Authors: Galkin Eyal , Dalal Ahan , Evenko Alex , Fridman Eyal , Kan Iddo , Wallach Rony , Moshelion Menachem
Published: August 2018

Regulation of the rate of transpiration is an important part of plants' adaptation to uncertain environments. Stomatal closure is the most common response to severe drought. By closing their stomata, plants reduce transpiration to better their odds of survival under dry conditions. Under mild to moderate drought conditions, there are several possible transpiration patterns that balance the risk of lost productivity with the risk of water loss. Here, we hypothesize that plant ecotypes that have evolved in environments characterized by unstable patterns of precipitation will display a wider range of patterns of transpiration regulation along with other quantitative physiological traits (QPTs), compared to ecotypes from less variable environments. We examined five accessions of wild barley (Hordeum vulgare ssp. spontaneum) from different locations in Israel (the B1K collection) with annual rainfall levels ranging from 100 to 900 mm, along with one domesticated line (cv. Morex). We measured several QPTs and morphological traits of these accessions under well‐irrigated conditions, under drought stress and during recovery from drought. Our results revealed a correlation between precipitation‐certainty conditions and QPT plasticity. Specifically, accessions from stable environments (very wet or very dry locations) were found to take greater risks in their water‐balance regulation than accessions from areas in which rainfall is less predictable. Notably, less risk‐taking genotypes recovered more quickly than more risk‐taking ones once irrigation was resumed. We discuss the relationships between environment, polymorphism, physiological plasticity and fitness, and suggest a general risk‐taking model in which transpiration‐rate plasticity is negatively correlated with population polymorphism.
On the alleged normative significance of a platitude
Authors: Gaultier Benoit
Published: August 2018

It seems to be a platitude that the belief thatpis correct iff it is true thatp. And the claim that truth is the correct‐making feature of belief seems to be just another way of expressing this platitude. It is often thought that this indicates that truth constitutes anormativestandard or criterion of correctness for belief because it seems to follow from this platitude that having afalsebelief is believingwrongly, and having atruebelief is believingrightlyorcorrectly. In this paper, I aim to show that when we judge the platitude in question to be indisputably true, we do not endorse that truth is normative for belief but merely the triviality that the belief thatpis true iff it is true thatp.
Amendments fail to hasten biocrust recovery or soil stability at a disturbed dryland sandy site
Authors: Chandler David G. , Day Natalie , Madsen Matthew D. , Belnap Jayne
Published: August 2018

In most drylands, biological soil crusts (biocrusts), an assemblage of lichens, bryophytes, fungi, green algae, and cyanobacteria, are critical to healthy ecosystem function. However, they are extremely sensitive to disturbance and attempts to facilitate their recovery have had variable success. In this study, we applied soil amendments designed to improve soil surface stability and accelerate biocrust recovery on an area disturbed by oil/gas exploration vehicles. Treatments included: (1) control (one time water only); (2) biocrust‐only: biocrust inoculum + nutrients in water; (3) polyacrylamide gels (which are known to stabilize soils) + biocrust inoculum + nutrients in water; (4) gypsum + biocrust inoculum + nutrients in water; and (5) saline (NaCl) solution + biocrust inoculum + nutrients in water. Only the NaCl treatment showed any effects on soil properties and these were only short term. These effects included an increase in soil strength and a reduction in soil aggregate stability, unsaturated hydraulic conductivity (Kh), and cyanobacterial biomass. The inoculated biocrust material failed to develop and even after 10 years, there was only a very low natural recolonization of the plots. These results show that inoculating soils or applying these levels of soil amendments does not guarantee recovery of soil stability or biocrust, and that some sites are unlikely to recover without assistance. Thus, there is a need for more research into ways to enhance soil stability and identify the factors limiting biocrust establishment.
Grain‐size variability within a mega‐scale point‐bar system, False River, Louisiana
Authors: Clift Peter D. , Olson Elizabeth D. , Lechnowskyj Alexandra , Moran Mary Grace , Barbato Allison , Lorenzo Juan M.
Published: August 2018

Point bars formed by meandering river systems are an important class of sedimentary deposit and are of significant economic interest as hydrocarbon reservoirs. Standard point‐bar models of how the internal sedimentology varies are based on the structure of small‐scale systems with little information about the largest complexes and how these might differ. Here a very large point bar (>25·0 m thick and 7·5 × 13·0 km across) on the Mississippi River (USA) was examined. The lithology and grain‐size characteristics at different parts of the point bar were determined by using a combination of coring and electrical conductivity logging. The data confirm that there is a general fining up‐section along most parts of the point bar, with a well‐defined transition from massive medium‐grained sands below about 9 to 11 m depth up into interbedded silts and fine–medium sand sediment (inclined heterolithic strata). There is also a poorly defined increase in sorting quality at the transition level. Massive medium sands are especially common in the region of the channel bend apex and regions upstream of that point. Downstream of the meander apex, there is much less evidence for fining up‐section. Finer sediment accumulated more readily after the establishment of a compound bar in the later stages of construction, at the terminal apex and in the bar tail. This work implies that the best reservoir sands are likely to be located in the centre of the point bar, deposited in a simple bar system. Reservoir quality decreases towards the bar edge. The early‐stage channel plug is largely composed of coarsening‐upward cycles of silt to clay and is dominated by clay and clayey silt material with poor reservoir characteristics.
Public Goods and Minimum Provision Levels: Does the Institutional Formation Affect Cooperation?*
Authors: Martinsson Peter , Persson Emil
Published: August 2018

We investigate experimentally the role of institutional formation on the implementation of a binding minimum contribution level to a public good. Groups either face the minimum level exogenously imposed by a central authority, or are allowed to decide for themselves by means of a group vote whether a minimum level should be implemented. We find that a binding minimum contribution level has a positive and substantially significant effect on cooperation. Interestingly, we do not find an additional positive effect of democracy in the context of our experiment; the minimum‐level intervention is as effective when exogenously implemented as when endogenously chosen.
Testing for similarity in area‐based spatial patterns: Alternative methods to Andresen's spatial point pattern test
Authors: Wheeler Andrew Palmer , Steenbeek Wouter , Andresen Martin A.
Published: August 2018

Andresen's spatial point pattern test (SPPT) compares two spatial point patterns on defined areal units; it identifies areas where the spatial point patterns diverge and aggregates these local (dis)similarities to one global measure. We discuss the limitations of the SPPT and provide two alternative methods to calculate differences in the point patterns. In the first approach we use differences in proportions tests corrected for multiple comparisons. We show how the size of differences matters, as with large point patterns many areas will be identified by SPPT as statistically different, even if those differences are substantively trivial. The second approach uses multinomial logistic regression, which can be extended to identify differences in proportions over continuous time. We demonstrate these methods by identifying areas where pedestrian stops by the New York City Police Department are different from violent crimes for 2006–2016.
A treatment‐support intervention evaluated in South African paediatric populations with HIV infection or tuberculous meningitis
Authors: van Elsland Sabine L. , Peters Remco P.H. , Kok Maarten O. , van Toorn Ronald , Springer Priscilla , Cotton Mark F. , Grobbelaar Cornelis J. , Aarnoutse Rob , van Furth A. Marceline
Published: August 2018

Objectives

To evaluate a paediatric treatment‐support intervention for home‐based treatment of HIV infection or tuberculous meningitis (TBM).

Methods

A randomised‐controlled study comparing local standard care (controls) with standard care plus intervention (combining adherence education, reinforcement and monitoring) in children aged 0–14 years. We recorded adherence measures (self‐report, pill‐count, drug‐assays for isoniazid and rifampicin in urine and pyrazinamide in saliva), difficulties administering medication and PedsQL™questionnaires for health‐related quality‐of‐life (HRQoL) and family impact.

Results

In the HIV group (6‐months follow‐up, n = 195), more children had above‐median HRQoL‐scores in the intervention group than in the control group (P = 0.009). Problems reported administering medication declined between baseline and follow‐up for controls (P = 0.043). Disclosure of HIV status to the child increased between baseline and follow‐up in both groups (intervention P < 0.001; control P = 0.031). In the TBM group (3‐months follow‐up, n = 43), all adherence measures remained high for both intervention and controls, except for rifampicin which declined between baseline and follow‐up in the intervention group (P = 0.031). The intervention group maintained above median HRQoL‐scores between baseline and follow‐up, when the number of children with above‐median HRQoL‐scores decreased in the controls (P = 0.063). More children in the intervention group had above‐median family impact‐scores than controls (P = 0.040).

Conclusions

The low‐cost, culturally friendly treatment‐support intervention had beneficial effects on health‐related quality of life, family impact, caregiver disclosure of HIV status to the child, increased caregiver reporting of medication non‐adherence and caregiver reporting of difficulties administering medication. Treatment adherence was not significantly affected in either HIV or TBM group.
Reduction of ATPase activity in the rice kinesin protein Stemless Dwarf 1 inhibits cell division and organ development
Authors: Fang Jingjing , Yuan Shoujiang , Li Chenchen , Jiang Dan , Zhao Linlin , Peng Lixiang , Zhao Jinfeng , Zhang Wenhui , Li Xueyong
Published: August 2018

Several kinesins, the ATP‐driven microtubule (MT)‐based motor proteins, have been reported to be involved in many basic processes of plant development; however, little is known about the biological relevance of their ATPase activity. Here, we characterized the Oryza sativa (rice) stemless dwarf 1 (std1) mutant, showing a severely dwarfed phenotype, with no differentiation of the node and internode structure, abnormal cell shapes, a shortened leaf division zone and a reduced cell division rate. Further analysis revealed that a substantial subset of cells was arrested in the S and G2/M phases, and multinucleate cells were present in the std1 mutant. Map‐based cloning revealed that STD1 encodes a phragmoplast‐associated kinesin‐related protein, a homolog of the Arabidopsis thaliana PAKRP2, and is mainly expressed in the actively dividing tissues. The STD1 protein is localized specifically to the phragmoplast midzone during telophase and cytokinesis. In the std1 mutant, the substitution of Val‐40‐Glu in the motor domain of STD1 significantly reduced its MT‐dependent ATPase activity. Accordingly, the lateral expansion of phragmoplast, a key step in cell plate formation, was arrested during cytokinesis. Therefore, these results indicate that the MT‐dependent ATPase activity is indispensible for STD1 in regulating normal cell division and organ development.
Cover Image, Volume 16, Issue 3
Authors: Sakai K. , Maeda S. , Yamada Y. , Chambers J. K. , Uchida K. , Nakayama H. , Yonezawa T. , Matsuki N.
Published: August 2018

The cover image, by K. Sakai et al., is based on the Original Article Association of tumour‐infiltrating regulatory T cells with adverse outcomes in dogs with malignant tumours, DOI: 10.1111/vco.12383.

image
Ear canal microbiota – a comparison between healthy dogs and atopic dogs without clinical signs of otitis externa
Authors: Ngo Jerome , Taminiau Bernard , Fall Papa Aboulaye , Daube Georges , Fontaine Jacques
Published: August 2018

Background

The canine skin microbiota has been evaluated using relatively new microbiological techniques; studies have shown a difference in the composition of bacterial populations between healthy dogs and those with canine atopic dermatitis (cAD). However, little has been reported concerning the ear canal microbiota despite the fact that otitis externa is a common problem in dogs with cAD.

Hypothesis/objectives

The study evaluated the ear canal microbiota of healthy dogs and atopic dogs without clinical signs of otitis.

Animals

Nine healthy privately owned dogs and 11 dogs with a diagnosis of cAD.

Methods and materials

Ear swabs from the two groups were used for global bacterial DNA extraction. V1–V3 hypervariable 16S rDNA amplicon libraries were prepared for each sample and sequenced with MiSeq Illumina sequence (V3 kit). Taxonomical assignment and clustering were performed with Mothur using SILVA database.

Results

The ear canal microbiota showed changes in diversity similar to those reported for canine skin and seemed to be stable during the period of the study (28 days). Evidence of dysbiosis was observed in the atopic dogs, with increased abundance of Staphylococcus spp. and Ralstonia spp. (P < 0.05). Escherichia spp. also were found to be more abundant in healthy dogs.

Conclusions and clinical importance

This study demonstrated a shift in bacterial populations between allergic and healthy dogs. The observed results in the ear canal are similar to those reported on the skin and could explain the propensity of allergic dogs to develop bacterial otitis.
Incidence and risk factors for neurological signs after attenuation of single congenital portosystemic shunts in 253 dogs
Authors: Strickland Rhiannon , Tivers Michael S. , Adamantos Sophie E. , Harcourt‐Brown Tom R. , Fowkes Robert C. , Lipscomb Victoria J.
Published: August 2018

Objective

To determine the incidence, outcome, and risk factors for postattenuation neurological signs (PANS) and seizures after attenuation of single congenital portosystemic shunts (CPSS) in dogs.

Study design

Retrospective cohort study.

Sample population

Dogs (N = 253) with single CPSS.

Methods

Medical records of dogs treated by surgical attenuation of a single CPSS between February 2000 and July 2015 were reviewed for signalment and preoperative and postoperative clinical outcomes, including the occurrence of PANS. Univariable and multivariable binary logistic regression was used to assess risk factors for PANS and for seizures.

Results

Twenty‐eight (11.1%) dogs developed PANS, including 12 (4.7%) dogs with seizures. Five (17.9%) dogs with PANS did not survive to discharge. Risk factors for PANS included the presence of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) immediately preoperatively (P = .038, odds ratio [OR] 2.704, CI 1.057‐6.922) and increasing age (P < .001, OR 1.476, CI 1.223‐1.780). Risk factors for seizures included the presence of HE immediately preoperatively (P = .048, OR 3.538, CI 1.013‐12.363) and increasing age (P = .009, OR 1.364, CI 1.082‐1.720). No association was found between the location of portosystemic shunts (extrahepatic and intrahepatic) and post‐operative PANS (P = .532) or seizures (P = .620). Similarly, preemptive administration of levetiracetam did not influence the risk of PANS (P = .991) or seizures (P = .752).

Conclusion

Preoperative HE and older age in dogs with a CPSS increased the odds of developing PANS and seizures in our population. Preemptive administration of levetiracetam did not protect dogs against the development of PANS or seizures.

Clinical significance

Surgical attenuation of a single CPSS should not be excessively delayed, and surgeons should stabilize the clinical signs of HE before surgery to prevent postoperative PANS and seizures.
A simple decision to move in response to touch reveals basic sensory memory and mechanisms for variable response times
Authors: Koutsikou Stella , Merrison‐Hort Robert , Buhl Edgar , Ferrario Andrea , Li Wen‐Chang , Borisyuk Roman , Soffe Stephen R. , Roberts Alan
Published: August 2018

Key points

Short‐term working memory and decision‐making are usually studied in the cerebral cortex; in many models of simple decision making, sensory signals build slowly and noisily to threshold to initiate a motor response after long, variable delays.

When touched, hatchling frog tadpoles decide whether to swim; we define the long and variable delays to swimming and use whole‐cell recordings to uncover the neurons and processes responsible.

Firing in sensory and sensory pathway neurons is short latency, and too brief and invariant to explain these delays, while recordings from hindbrain reticulospinal neurons controlling swimming reveal a prolonged and variable build‐up of synaptic excitation which can reach firing threshold and initiate swimming.

We propose this excitation provides a sensory memory of the stimulus and may be generated by small reverberatory hindbrain networks.

Our results uncover fundamental network mechanisms that allow animals to remember brief sensory stimuli and delay simple motor decisions.

Many motor responses to sensory input, like locomotion or eye movements, are much slower than reflexes. Can simpler animals provide fundamental answers about the cellular mechanisms for motor decisions? Can we observe the ‘accumulation’ of excitation to threshold proposed to underlie decision making elsewhere? We explore how somatosensory touch stimulation leads to the decision to swim in hatchling Xenopus tadpoles. Delays measured to swimming in behaving and immobilised tadpoles are long and variable. Activity in their extensively studied sensory and sensory pathway neurons is too short‐lived to explain these response delays. Instead, whole‐cell recordings from the hindbrain reticulospinal neurons that drive swimming show that these receive prolonged, variable synaptic excitation lasting for nearly a second following a brief stimulus. They fire and initiate swimming when this excitation reaches threshold. Analysis of the summation of excitation requires us to propose extended firing in currently undefined presynaptic hindbrain neurons. Simple models show that a small excitatory recurrent‐network inserted in the sensory pathway can mimic this process. We suggest that such a network may generate slow, variable summation of excitation to threshold. This excitation provides a simple memory of the sensory stimulus. It allows temporal and spatial integration of sensory inputs and explains the long, variable delays to swimming. The process resembles the ‘accumulation’ of excitation proposed for cortical circuits in mammals. We conclude that fundamental elements of sensory memory and decision making are present in the brainstem at a surprisingly early stage in development.
Boosting Secretion of Extracellular Protein by Escherichia coli via Cell Wall Perturbation
Authors: Yang Haiquan , Lu Xiao , Hu Jinyuan , Chen Yuan , Shen Wei , Liu Long
Published: August 2018

Cell surface structure stabilization is important for extracellular secretion of proteins in
Escherichia coli
. As the main constituent of the cell wall, peptidoglycan contributes to cell structure robustness and stability. Here, we perturbed the peptidoglycan network by deleting
dacA
and
dacB
genes encoding
d
,
d
-carboxypeptidase enzymes to improve extracellular protein secretion. This new strategy could enhance the capacity of
E. coli
as a microbial cell factory for extracellular secretion of proteins and chemicals.
Enhancement of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ab and Cry1Fa Toxicity to Spodoptera frugiperda by Domain III Mutations Indicates There Are Two Limiting Steps in Toxicity as Defined by Receptor Binding and Protein Stability
Authors: Gómez Isabel , Ocelotl Josue , Sánchez Jorge , Lima Christina , Martins Erica , Rosales-Juárez Anayeli , Aguilar-Medel Sotero , Abad André , Dong Hua , Monnerat Rose , Peña Guadalupe , Zhang Jie , Nelson Mark , Wu Gusui , Bravo Alejandra , Soberón Mario
Published: August 2018

Spodoptera frugiperda
is the main maize pest in South and North America and also is an invasive pest in different African countries. However, it is poorly controlled by
Bacillus thuringiensis
Cry1A toxins expressed in transgenic crops, which effectively control other lepidopteran pests. In contrast, maize expressing Cry1Fa is effective in the control of
S. frugiperda
, although its effectiveness is being lost due to resistance evolution. Some of the Cry1Ab domain III mutants characterized here show enhanced toxicity for
S. frugiperda
without loss of toxicity to
Manduca sexta
. Thus, these Cry1Ab mutants could provide useful engineered toxins that, along with other Cry toxins, would be useful for developing transgenic maize expressing stacked proteins for the effective control of
S. frugiperda
and other lepidopteran pests in the field.