bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The important choice of reference environment in microevolutionary climate response predictions
Authors: Ergon Rolf
Published: January 2022

It is well documented that individuals of wild populations can adjust to climate change by means of phenotypic plasticity, but few reports on adaptation by means of genetically based microevolution caused by selection. Disentanglement of these separate effects requires that the reference environment (the environmental zero-point) is defined, and this should not be done arbitrarily. The problem is that an error in the reference environment may lead to large errors in predicted microevolution. Together with parameter values and initial mean trait values, the reference environment can be estimated from environmental, phenotypic and fitness data. A prediction error method for this purpose is described, with the feasibility shown by simulations. As shown in a toy example, an estimated reference environment may have large errors, especially for small populations. This may still be a better choice than use of an initial environmental value in a recorded time series, or the mean value, which is often used. Another alternative may be to use the mean value of a past and stationary stochastic environment, which the population is judged to have been fully adapted to, in the sense that the expected geometric mean fitness was at a global maximum. Exceptions are cases with constant phenotypic plasticity, where the microevolutionary changes per generation follow directly from phenotypic and environmental data, independent of the chosen reference environment.
Integrated Tick Management in the Upper Midwest: Impact of Invasive Vegetation Removal and Host-targeted Acaricides onIxodes scapularisInfestation andBorrelia burgdorferiPrevalence of Small Mammals
Authors: Mandli Jordan T. , Lee Xia , Paskewitz Susan M.
Published: January 2022

Integration of tick management strategies has been suggested to overcome ecological variation in tick, host, pathogen, and habitat, yet empirical evidence assessing combined treatment effect on blacklegged ticks,Ixodes scapularisSay, is limited. In this 5-year study (2014-2018) we tested whether combining two methods targeting tick/mammal interactions could reduce juvenileI. scapularis parasitism of two small mammal species,Peromyscus leucopusRafinesque andTamias striatusLinnaeus. Infection of small mammals withBorrelia burgdorferiwas used to evaluate host exposure to feeding ticks. Using a factorial design, removal of invasive vegetation (Amur honeysuckle,Lonicera maackiiRuprecht and common buckthorn,Rhamnus catharticaLinnaeus)was coupled with deployments of permethrin-treated cotton nesting materials (tick tubes) and evaluated against control sites. Removal of invasive vegetation resulted in lower captures ofT. striatussuggesting that treatment impacted reservoir activity in the plots. Deployments of permethrin-treated cotton were effective at reducing the frequency of juvenileI. scapularisparasitism ofP. leucopusby 91% across the study compared to controls. However, tick tubes did not offer consistent protection against mouse exposure toB. burgdorferiexposure. An additive negative effect was detected for juvenile tick intensity onP. leucopuswhen tick tubes were combined with invasive vegetation removal. We conclude that integration of these two methods provides very limited benefit and that permethrin treatment alone offers the best option for reducingI. scapularisinfestation onP. leucopus.
Spread of New Mutations Through Space
Authors: Shaw Kyle , Beerli Peter
Published: January 2022

The terms population size and population density are often used interchangeably, when in fact they are quite different. When viewed in a spatial landscape, density is defined as the number of individuals within a square unit of distance, while population size is simply the total count of a population. In discrete population genetics models, the effective population size is known to influence the interaction between selection and random drift with selection playing a larger role in large populations while random drift has more influence in smaller populations. Using a spatially explicit simulation software we investigate how population density affects the flow of new mutations through a geographical space. Using population density, selectional advantage, and dispersal distributions, a model is developed to predict the speed at which the new allele will travel, obtaining more accurate results than current diffusion approximations provide. We note that the rate at which a neutral mutation spreads begins to decay over time while the rate of spread of an advantageous allele remains constant. We also show that new advantageous mutations spread faster in dense populations.
Return and volatility spillovers between South African and Nigerian equity markets
Authors: Bonga-Bonga Lumengo , Phume Maphelane Palesa
Published: January 2022

Purpose

The paper evaluates the cross-transmission of returns and volatility shocks between Nigeria and South Africa stock markets to infer the extent of interdependence between the two markets. The paper also makes inference to optimal portfolio weights of holding assets in the two markets.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses an asymmetric vector autoregressive-exogenous generalised autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity (VAR-X GARCH) model to assess the extent of returns and volatility spillovers between Nigeria and South Africa.

Findings

The results of the empirical analysis show evidence of shock spillovers from the South African stock market to the Nigerian stock market. Moreover, based on the dynamic Sharpe ratio and portfolio weight optimisation, the results indicate the possibility of portfolio diversification when holding simultaneous positions in the two stock markets.

Practical implications

The results imply the possibility of economic profit for investors who take positions in the two stock markets. The lack of synchronisation of stock markets in the two largest economies in Africa is in contrast with the situations in other regions where stock markets returns of large economies often co-move.

Originality/value

The paper is the first to use the asymmetric VAR-X GARCH model to assess the cross-transmission of shocks between stock markets.
What is in a form? Examining the complexity of application forms and administrative burden
Authors: Brown Jeremiah Thomas , Carey Gemma , Malbon Eleanor
Published: January 2022

Analysis of the welfare state emphasises that access to social security support is a key component of the relationship between the state and the citizen. Recent literature has identified administrative burden as a concept that helps us to understand an emerging dynamic between the state and the citizen, where citizens must deal with increasingly onerous administrative ‘costs’ in order to access services or support from the state. Increased administrative burden has been identified at many stages of access to social security support and government services. Burdens are often talked about in general terms, that is, the amount of administrative complexity associated with a particular welfare service. In this paper, we look at how administrative burden can be found in even the smallest unit of administration—application forms. Taking a form from the Australian National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), we contribute to the growing literature on application forms and administrative burden by developing a framework to assess the complexity of questions on an application form. We show that in areas where citizens lives are complex, questions on forms can constrain the capacity of citizens to accurately represent their circumstances and, in turn, constrain their ability to gain access to support.
Asymmetric Inefficiency in the Market Response to Non‐earnings 8‐K Information*
Authors: Li Xing , Tan Qin
Published: January 2022

This paper examines the pricing efficiency of 8‐K filings for events other than earnings announcements. Since these filings provide timely information that is material to investors and explain variations in quarterly returns to a degree similar to other disclosures, understanding how the stock price absorbs their information is important for investors, regulators, and academics. By testing the statistical correlation between the immediate stock returns in response to these filings and subsequent stock returns before, during, and after the forthcoming earnings announcement, we find evidence of investor overreaction to good news but underreaction to bad news in the immediate window. Essentially, the price increases too much for good news but fails to decrease enough for bad news, resulting in overpricing for both. Most of the correction for this overpricing occurs in the period leading up to the forthcoming earnings announcement, while the rest happens during the announcement. Drawing on Miller (1977), we further illustrate that, in the presence of short‐sale constraints, increase in investor disagreement spurred by interpretation difficulty is the most likely mechanism for the observed overpricing. We fail to find sufficient evidence in support of alternative mechanisms, including managerial disclosure strategies, analyst optimistic bias, and retail investor participation. This asymmetric mispricing for non‐earnings 8‐Ks contrasts with the symmetric mispricing commonly found for other types of disclosures, where investors either systematically underreact or overreact to public information. Our results could broadly speak to the pricing of other public information that is inherently difficult to interpret.
Threat of Exit by Non‐Blockholders and Income Smoothing: Evidence from Foreign Institutional Investors in Japan*
Authors: David Parthiban , Duru Augustine , Lobo Gerald J. , Maharjan Johan , Zhao Yijiang
Published: January 2022

We examine how the threat of exit by non‐blockholders (investors with ownership <5%) relates to firms' income smoothing. Unlike informed blockholders, non‐blockholders lack private information and therefore rely more on reported accounting numbers to evaluate firm performance. To isolate the exit threat, we use the unique setting in Japan where strong firm‐centric social norms and lack of insider access lead non‐blockholding foreign institutions to influence management primarily through the threat of exit. We predict and find that foreign non‐blockholders' exit threat is positively associated with the extent of income smoothing. This effect is more pronounced for firms less embedded in Japan's stakeholder‐based system, firms with greater stock liquidity, and firms with higher US institutional ownership. In addition, smoothing associated with such an exit threat, on average, is informative. Our findings suggest that Japanese firms under non‐blockholders' exit threat increase income smoothing to reduce perceived uncertainty and that such smoothing generally meets non‐blockholders' information needs.
Marula (Sclerocarya birrea subsp. caffra, Anacardiaceae) thrives under climate change in sub‐Saharan Africa
Authors: Jinga Percy , Zingoni Emmanuel , Bobo Enetia D. , Munosiyei Pias
Published: January 2022

Climate change threatens the persistence of some plant species, especially those highly adapted to their microclimates. The aim of the study was to determine the current suitable habitat of marula (Sclerocarya birrea subsp. caffra) and to forecast the habitat under different climate change scenarios. Predictions were made in Maxent using 490 occurrence records, four representative concentration pathways (RCPs) and three general circulation models (GCMs). Variables used were altitude, soil characteristics, monthly precipitation, monthly minimum and maximum temperatures and 19 bioclimatic variables. The current suitable habitat of marula largely occurs in mopane and dry miombo woodlands of southern Africa, including Madagascar. Permutation importance test showed that precipitation in November (30.1%), temperature seasonality (22.1%) and mean temperature of wettest quarter (14.3%) contributed significantly to the model of the current suitable habitat. When forecasted, the suitable habitat expanded under all GCMs and RCPs. On average in 2050, the range expanded by 26.0% (RCP2.6), 33.8% (RCP4.5), 24.8% (RCP6.0) and 42.3% (RCP8.5), while in 2070, it expanded by 30.0% (RCP2.6), 39.9% (RCP4.5), 33.3% (RCP6.0) and 45.1% (RCP8.5). The subspecies is not directly threatened by climate change, but indirect threats remain uncertain.
Serum periostin among infants with severe bronchiolitis and risk of developing asthma: A prospective multicenter cohort study
Authors: Nanishi Makiko , Fujiogi Michimasa , Freishtat Robert J. , Hoptay Claire E. , Bauer Cindy S. , Stevenson Michelle D. , Camargo Carlos A. , Hasegawa Kohei
Published: January 2022

Background

Infants hospitalized for bronchiolitis (severe bronchiolitis) are at high risk for developing childhood asthma. However, the pathobiological link between these conditions remains unclear. We examined the longitudinal relationship of periostin (an extracellular matrix protein upregulated in response to type 2 inflammation) during bronchiolitis with the subsequent development of asthma.

Methods

In a 17‐center prospective cohort study of infants (aged <1 year) with severe bronchiolitis, we measured the serum periostin level at hospitalization and grouped infants into 3 groups: low, intermediate, and high levels. We examined their association with asthma development by age 6 years and investigated effect modification by allergic predisposition (eg, infant's IgE sensitization).

Results

The analytic cohort consists of 847 infants with severe bronchiolitis (median age, 3 months). Overall, 28% developed asthma by age 6 years. In the multivariable model adjusting for nine patient‐level factors, compared to the low periostin group, the asthma risk was significantly higher among infants in the intermediate group (23% vs. 32%, OR 1.68, 95%CI 1.12–2.51, p = .01) and non‐significantly higher in the high‐level group (28%, OR 1.29, 95%CI 0.86–1.95, p = .22). In the stratified analysis, infants with IgE sensitization had a significantly higher risk for developing asthma (intermediate group, OR 4.76, 95%CI 1.70–13.3, p = .002; high group, OR 3.19, 95%CI 1.08–9.36, p = .04). By contrast, infants without IgE sensitization did not have a significantly higher risk (p > .15).

Conclusions

In infants with severe bronchiolitis, serum periostin level at bronchiolitis hospitalization was associated with asthma risk by age 6 years, particularly among infants with an allergic predisposition.
Personal willingness to receive a Covid‐19 vaccine and its relationship with intergroup psychology: Evidence from the Philippines and Pakistan
Authors: Zagefka Hanna , dela Paz Erwine , Macapagal Ma. Elizabeth J. , Ghazal Saima
Published: January 2022

High levels of vaccine hesitancy are an obstacle to the successful management of the Covid‐19 pandemic. In this research, we identify psychological correlates of reluctance to personally receive a Covid‐19 vaccine, with a focus on intergroup relations. Insights are based on two survey studies conducted in traditionally underresearched settings, the Philippines (N = 289) and Pakistan (N = 275). Results show that trust in vaccines, concerning both the vaccine's efficacy and the vaccine's safety, was associated with willingness to use the vaccine. Perceptions of trust were related to intergroup psychology, such that vaccine donations from political opponents rather than allies were trusted less. This meant that in the Philippines, there was a preference to use vaccines from the United States over those from China, although the pattern was less clear in Pakistan. Having said this, the highest levels of trust and willingness to use vaccines in both countries were for vaccines offered by the World Health Organization (WHO). Last but not least, a perception of global common fate of all humans in the face of the pandemic was positively associated with willingness to get vaccinated, even when controlling for concerns about the vaccine's efficacy and safety. Implications are discussed in relation to intergroup psychology and public health management.
How India's mainstream media report on the farmers' protest
Authors: Anand Abhijit , Sharma Parth
Published: January 2022

The recently passed farm laws in the parliament created a huge uproar in India. The government touted them as a historic step that would allow farmers to sell their produce outside the Agricultural Price Marketing Committee/Mandis anywhere in India to wholesale agents, cold storage farms. It allows them to go for contract farming, and so forth. But many farmers groups and opposition parties consider it as a death warrant for them which would eventually expose farmers to vagaries of the market and thereby impoverish them in the long run. Various farmers groups have been protesting against the farm bills since then. India's mainstream media has notoriously sided with the government's narrative and has tried to delegitimize their movement against the farm acts. They have labeled them as separatists, Maoists, and Khalistani terrorists.
Enigma portal case: Pleural effusion
Authors: Wang Rui , Du Yun
Published: January 2022

This is a rare cytopathological case of epithelioid sarcoma.
Clinical practice guidelines for endoscopic papillectomy
Authors: Itoi Takao , Ryozawa Shomei , Katanuma Akio , Kawashima Hiroki , Iwasaki Eisuke , Hashimoto Shinichi , Yamamoto Kenjiro , Ueki Toshiharu , Igarashi Yoshinori , Inui Kazuo , Fujita Naotaka , Fujimoto Kazuma
Published: January 2022

The Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society has developed the “Clinical Practice Guidelines for Endoscopic Papillectomy (EP)” as a fundamental guideline using scientific approach. EP is a recently spreading therapeutic modality for ampullary tumors ranked as high risk endoscopic technique. Because of the paucity of high level of evidence, strength of recommendations had to be determined by a consensus among specialists. These guidelines, shed light on the following five issues: Indications, Preoperative/intraoperative preparations and techniques, Early adverse events, Therapeutic outcomes and remnants/recurrences, and Follow‐up and late adverse events, to guide current clinical practice on EP.
Impact of renal impairment on atrial fibrillation: ESC‐EHRA EORP‐AF Long‐Term General Registry
Authors: Ding Wern Yew , Potpara Tatjana S. , Blomström‐Lundqvist Carina , Boriani Giuseppe , Marin Francisco , Fauchier Laurent , Lip Gregory Y. H. ,   the ESC‐EHRA EORP‐AF Long‐Term General Registry Investigators
Published: January 2022

Background

Atrial fibrillation (AF) and renal impairment share a bidirectional relationship with important pathophysiological interactions. We evaluated the impact of renal impairment in a contemporary cohort of patients with AF.

Methods

We utilised the ESC‐EHRA EORP‐AF Long‐Term General Registry. Outcomes were analysed according to renal function by CKD‐EPI equation. The primary endpoint was a composite of thromboembolism, major bleeding, acute coronary syndrome and all‐cause death. Secondary endpoints were each of these separately including ischaemic stroke, haemorrhagic event, intracranial haemorrhage, cardiovascular death and hospital admission.

Results

A total of 9306 patients were included. The distribution of patients with no, mild, moderate and severe renal impairment at baseline were 16.9%, 49.3%, 30% and 3.8%, respectively. AF patients with impaired renal function were older, more likely to be females, had worse cardiac imaging parameters and multiple comorbidities. Among patients with an indication for anticoagulation, prescription of these agents was reduced in those with severe renal impairment, p < .001. Over 24 months, impaired renal function was associated with significantly greater incidence of the primary composite outcome and all secondary outcomes. Multivariable Cox regression analysis demonstrated an inverse relationship between eGFR and the primary outcome (HR 1.07 [95% CI, 1.01–1.14] per 10 ml/min/1.73 m2 decrease), that was most notable in patients with eGFR <30 ml/min/1.73 m2 (HR 2.21 [95% CI, 1.23–3.99] compared to eGFR ≥90 ml/min/1.73 m2).

Conclusion

A significant proportion of patients with AF suffer from concomitant renal impairment which impacts their overall management. Furthermore, renal impairment is an independent predictor of major adverse events including thromboembolism, major bleeding, acute coronary syndrome and all‐cause death in patients with AF.
Intralesional bone marrow and superior check desmotomy is superior to conservative treatment of equine superficial digital flexor tendonitis
Authors: Murphy David John , Kö‐Peternelj Victoria , Aleri Joshua Wafula
Published: January 2022

Background

Superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) injury is common in racehorses and a significant cause of lost training days and wastage in the industry.

Objectives

To compare the post‐injury performance of Thoroughbred and Standardbred racehorses diagnosed with SDFT tendonitis treated with intralesional bone marrow and superior check desmotomy or managed conservatively and further to compare this performance with that of uninjured racehorses.

Study design

Retrospective and case‐controlled.

Methods

Medical and race records of racehorses treated surgically or managed conservatively for SDFT tendonitis were collated. Signalment, lesion severity and treatment were identified and performance post‐injury compared. Performance of the treatment groups was further assessed by comparison with uninjured racehorses matched for age, sex, number of starts pre‐injury and randomly selected from the cases' last races.

Results

The study population comprised 114 racehorses divided into surgical (39/114), conservative (38/114) and control groups (37/114). Horses that had surgery were more likely to return to racing than those managed conservatively (OR 4.7 95% CI [1.6‐14.3],P = .006). Standardbreds were more likely to return to race compared with Thoroughbreds (OR 4.0 95% CI [1.2‐13.3],P = .03). There was no statistically significant difference in the average number of placings, average number of wins and post‐injury earnings between the surgically treated and conservatively managed groups (P = .9,P = .9 andP = .7, respectively). The average number of lifetime starts post‐injury/post‐selection between surgery, conservative and control groups were not statistically significantly different (P = .2). Surgically treated horses had a statistically significantly shorter time to start post‐injury compared with the conservative group (P = .04).

Main limitations

The retrospective nature of the study precludes an actual fit as a nonrandomised clinical trial and the nonrandomised nature of the allocation of the treatment groups is biased.

Conclusions

Surgical intervention of superficial digital flexor tendonitis in racehorses suffering flexor tendon injury showed a higher likelihood of return to racing than conservative treatment.
Properties and thermal stability of Pickering high internal phase emulsion prepared by TGase cross‐linked collagen fibres
Authors: Tian Xiaojing , Li Shuzhi , Li Yu , Wang Wenhang
Published: January 2022

In this study, high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) were prepared by algal oil and transglutaminase (TGase) cross‐linked collagen fibres, and the properties and thermal stability (90 °C, 40 min) of HIPEs were also investigated. Under 1.0 wt % collagen fibres without TGase, the emulsion prepared by centrifugation could achieve an oil phase volume up to 60%, the non‐centrifuged emulsion could only come up to 50% oil phase volume, however, with the addition of TGase, the HIPEs could be formed with 72% oil phase volume. The obtained HIPEs showed gel‐like morphology. The droplets size of unheated HIPEs decreased as the TGase concentration increased, but the change was not significant when TGase was more than 20 U g−1 collagen fibres. The droplets size of heated HIPEs increased, but it was almost the same as the unheated samples when TGase was more than 30 U g−1 collagen fibres, suggesting good thermal stability.
Neurosyphilis in the Northern Territory of Australia: a clinical guideline
Authors: Birrell Johanna Marie , Lowe Michael , Gunathilake Manoji , Krause Vicki Lynn
Published: January 2022

Background

The Northern Territory (NT) of Australia is currently experiencing a syphilis epidemic. Neurosyphilis is commonly considered in the differential diagnosis for patients presenting with neurologic conditions such as dementia and stroke in the NT.

Aims

To explore the local epidemiologic, diagnostic and treatment complexities of neurosyphilis in the NT and produce a guideline for clinical practice.

Methods

A database search was undertaken and local and global neurosyphilis guidelines were analysed. A guideline was created based on findings of the critical review and consultation with local multidisciplinary experts.

Results

Neurosyphilis is frequently encountered in the NT but studies suggest it is often undertreated. Dementia is the most common clinical presentation locally. Establishing a diagnosis of neurosyphilis is complex and requires stepwise evaluation of clinical, laboratory and radiological findings.

Conclusions

A clinical guideline and algorithm have been developed for the diagnosis and management of patients with neurosyphilis.
Processing map to control the erosion of Y2O3 in fluorine based etching plasmas
Authors: Kindelmann Moritz , Weber Moritz L(ukas) , Stamminger Mark , Buschhaus Rahel , Breuer Uwe , Bram Martin , Guillon Olivier
Published: January 2022

Due to the increasing number of applications for ceramic components in reactive etching processes, the interest in the specific erosion behavior of highly etch‐resistant materials like yttrium oxide (Y2O3) has increased in the past years. Despite the large number of investigations already existing in this field, a more general understanding of the erosion mechanisms still lacks due to the limited comparability of these investigations. The huge difference in the kind of etching setups, processing parameters (bias voltage and plasma gas composition), and sample microstructures prevented consistent conclusions so far. To achieve a more general understanding, this study investigates the erosion behavior Y2O3 under a broad spectrum of plasma etching parameters. Therefore, the bias voltage is increased from 50 to 300 V and the plasma gas composition is gradually changed from Ar‐rich to CF4‐rich compositions. This systematic approach allows to directly correlate the morphology changes caused by plasma erosion with the related plasma etching parameters and enables to better understand their influence on the depth of physical and chemical interactions, surface damage, and etching rate. We discovered three distinct erosion regimes, which exhibit specific erosion characteristics. Using these observations, a schematic processing map for Y2O3 was developed, which could help to estimate the severity of the erosion attack dependent on the processing parameters.
Species‐specific responses to landscape features shaped genomic structure within Alaska galliformes
Authors: Sonsthagen Sarah A. , Wilson Robert E. , Talbot Sandra L.
Published: January 2022

Aim

Connectivity is vital to the resiliency of populations to environmental change and stochastic events, especially for cold‐adapted species as Arctic and alpine tundra habitats retract as the climate warms. We examined the influence of past and current landscapes on genomic connectivity in cold‐adapted galliformes as a critical first step to assess the vulnerability of Alaska ptarmigan and grouse to environmental change. We hypothesize that the mosaic of physical features and habitat within Alaska promoted the formation of genetic structure across species.

Location

Alaska, United States of America.

Taxa

Ptarmigan and Grouse (Galliformes: Tetraoninae).

Methods

We collected double digest restriction‐site‐associated DNA sequence data from six ptarmigan and grouse species (N = 13–145/species) sampled across multiple ecosystems up to ~10 degrees of latitude. Spatial genomic structure was analysed using methods that reflect different temporal scales: (1) principal components analysis to identify major trends in the distribution of genomic variation; (2) maximum likelihood clustering analyses to test for the presence of multiple genomic groupings; (3) shared co‐ancestry analyses to assess contemporary relationships and (4) effective migration surfaces to identify regions that deviate from a null model of isolation by distance.

Results

Levels of genomic structure varied across species (ΦST =0.009–0.042). Three general patterns of structure emerged: (1) east‐west partition located near the Yukon‐Tanana uplands; (2) north‐south split coinciding with the Alaska Range and (3) northern group near the Brooks Range. Species‐specific patterns were observed; not all landscape features were barriers to gene flow for all ptarmigan and grouse and temporal contrasts were detected at the Brooks Range.

Main conclusions

Within Alaska galliformes, patterns of genomic structure coincide with physiographic features and highlight the importance of physical and ecological barriers in shaping how genomic diversity is arrayed across the landscape. Lack of concordance in spatial patterns indicates that species behaviour and habitat affinities play key roles in driving the contrasting patterns of genomic structure.
What drives diversification? Range expansion tops climate, life history, habitat and size in lizards and snakes
Authors: Li Peng , Wiens John J.
Published: January 2022

Aim

A major challenge in ecology and evolutionary biology is to explain the dramatic differences in species richness among clades. Much variation in richness is explained by the differences in diversification rates among clades, and variation in diversification rates is often linked to various traits. But what types of traits are most important for explaining diversification? Here, we compared the impacts of different types of traits on diversification rates among lizard and snake families and tested predictions about the relative importance of ecology vs. morphology, static vs. dynamic traits and alpha vs. beta niche traits.

Location

Global.

Taxon

Squamata.

Methods

We compared the relative impacts of traits related to biogeography (range size, range expansion), climate, life history (viviparity), microhabitat and morphology (body‐size) on diversification rates among all 72 family‐level clades of squamates. We compiled data on traits and tested for relationships between traits and diversification rates using phylogenetic multiple regression models.

Results

The best‐fitting model explained ~60% of the variation in diversification rates across squamate families. This model included only microhabitat (proportion of arboreal species) and a novel, dynamic, ecological/biogeographic beta‐niche trait (rate of range expansion), which explained most variance. Other variables had more variable or non‐significant contributions, including rates of climatic‐niche change. Rates of range expansion were related to species richness, larger body size and faster rates of climatic‐niche change.

Main conclusions

Overall, we provide possibly the most comprehensive comparison of the types of traits that can drive diversification. We also help explain diversity patterns in one of the largest vertebrate clades. We show that the rate of range expansion is the most important variable for explaining diversification rates and richness patterns in squamates. We also identify traits that help explain variation in rates of range expansion among clades.
Segmental facial infantile haemangiomas in the era of propranolol: evaluation at 6 years of age
Authors: Letertre O. , Boccara O. , Prey S. , Pedespan J.‐M. , Boralevi F. , Léauté‐Labrèze C.
Published: January 2022

Background

The long‐term evolution of children with segmental facial infantile haemangioma (SFIH) treated with propranolol remains unstudied.

Objectives

The objective of this study was to evaluate the neurodevelopmental features of children with SFIH treated with propranolol at 6 years of age.

Methods

This retrospective case series study was conducted from January 2008 to June 2020 using data from medical files, patient examinations and appointments spanning 6 years. To be included, patients should present SFIH and have previously received propranolol. A complete physical examination, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the head, echocardiography and ophthalmologic examination should have been performed. Neurodevelopmental features were divided into cognition, audition, vision, orality, motor skills and the occurrence of new symptoms.

Results

Thirty children with SFIH were included. Of these, 11 presented criteria of PHACES. Evaluation of neurodevelopmental features of the children at 6 years of age showed learning difficulties in one case but grade skipping in three cases. There were six cases of unilateral hearing loss that had not been diagnosed at birth, two of oral difficulties and one of minor hypotonia. Early headache was primarily reported as the main new outcome. All children were treated with propranolol, with three following oral steroid therapy. No severe adverse effects were reported. The median length of treatment with propranolol was 16 months, and the median age at treatment cessation was 21 months. Analysis based on segment implication showed the median length of treatment to vary from 12 months (if S3 was spared) to 25 months (if at least S3 was involved). Vascular laser therapy was used in 16 patients (53.3%) and surgery in four.

Conclusion

In this case series, children with SFIH, including patients with PHACES criteria, presented a good tolerance of propranolol, as well as encouraged neurodevelopmental data. Segmental implication appears to have a significant impact on treatment duration and associated complications.
Early‐life infections in association with the development of atopic dermatitis in infancy and early childhood: a nationwide nested case–control study
Authors: Lin T.‐L. , Fan Y.‐H. , Chang Y.‐L. , Ho H.J. , Wu C.‐Y. , Chen Y.‐J.
Published: January 2022

Background

Microbial dysbiosis has been implicated in the development of atopic dermatitis (AD). The risk of development of AD following early‐life infections remains unclear.

Objective

To investigate the impact of early‐life infections on AD development.

Methods

This population‐based nested case–control study was conducted using the Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database. A total of 5454 AD patients and 16 362 control subjects without AD were identified, for the period 1997 to 2013. Demographic characteristics, comorbidities and maternal factors were compared. Adjusted odds ratio (aOR) was calculated to examine the associations between early‐life infections and subsequent AD by conditional stepwise logistic regression analysis.

Results

Mean age was 2.6 ± 2.9 years in both groups. Overall infections (41.8% vs. 28.9%) before the diagnosis of AD were more common in AD patients than in control subjects (P < 0.001). Infectious diseases [aOR, 1.40; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.29–1.51], skin infections (aOR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.40–1.71) and systemic antibiotic exposure (aOR 1.67, 95% CI 1.55–1.79) before AD diagnosis were independently associated with AD development on multivariate analyses. These results were consistent across observation periods (0–1, 1–2 and >2 years after birth) and sensitivity analyses after redefining the index date as 3 or 6 months before the date of AD diagnosis. Other independent risk factors included asthma, allergic rhinitis, intussusception and neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. No association with subsequent AD was found for maternal age at delivery, Caesarean delivery or prenatal antibiotic exposure.

Conclusion

Infections in early life are associated with AD development in infancy and early childhood.
Characterizing the relationships between patient‐reported outcomes and clinician assessments of alopecia areata in a phase 2a randomized trial of ritlecitinib and brepocitinib
Authors: Winnette R. , Banerjee A. , Sikirica V. , Peeva E. , Wyrwich K.
Published: January 2022

Background

The phase 2a ALLEGRO trial (NCT02974868) investigated the safety and efficacy of ritlecitinib (PF‐06651600) and brepocitinib (PF‐06700841) in adults with alopecia areata. No randomized controlled trial for alopecia areata has evaluated correlations between clinician‐assessed hair loss and patient‐reported outcomes.

Objectives

Report scores from the Alopecia Areata Symptom Impact Scale (AASIS; a patient‐reported outcome tool) and explore the relationships of those scores with clinician‐assessed Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) scores at baseline and week 24 of the ALLEGRO trial.

Methods

Adults with alopecia areata were randomized to ritlecitinib (n = 48), brepocitinib (n = 47) or placebo (n = 47). After 24 weeks, the mixed‐effects model with repeated measures was used to calculate the active treatment groups' AASIS score least‐squares mean differences. Relationships between AASIS and SALT scores at baseline and week 24 were evaluated by Pearson's correlation coefficients using pooled data.

Results

Baseline AASIS and SALT scores were similar among treatment groups. Both active treatment groups reported significant improvements in AASIS scores at week 24 (least‐squares mean differences vs. placebo for ritlecitinib, −0.8 to −2.3; brepocitinib, −0.9 to −3.7; P < 0.05 for all). At week 24, the mean SALT scores (standard deviation) improved compared with baseline [ritlecitinib, 54.4 (40.3) vs. 89.4 (15.8); brepocitinib, 31.9 (35.7) vs. 86.4 (18.1)]. The correlation coefficients between AASIS global and subscale scores and SALT scores at week 24 ranged from 0.34 to 0.58; P < 0.05 for all.

Conclusions

Patients randomized to ritlecitinib or brepocitinib reported significantly improved AASIS and SALT scores at week 24 of the ALLEGRO trial compared to placebo. At week 24, medium‐to‐large correlations can be seen between AASIS global and subscale scores and SALT scores. Our experience with AASIS instrument highlighted several aspects that suggest new patient‐reported outcome tools are needed to accurately assess patients' relevant alopecia areata related signs, symptoms and daily functioning.
Genotype diversity promotes the persistence of Daphnia populations exposed to severe copper stress
Authors: Loria Alessandra , Cristescu Melania E. , Gonzalez Andrew
Published: January 2022

When environmental stressors of high intensity are sustained for long periods of time, populations face high probabilities of being extirpated. However, depending on the intensity of the stressor, large populations with sufficient genetic diversity may persist. We report the results of an experiment that tracked the persistence of Daphnia populations exposed to copper contamination. We assessed whether genotypic diversity reduced the risk of extinction. We created monoclonal and multiclonal populations and monitored their population sizes during a 32‐week experiment. Cu was applied at a sub‐lethal concentration and then increased every week until the population sizes dropped to about 10% of the carrying capacity (Cu at 180 μg/L). The concentration was then increased up to 186 μg/L and held stable until the end of the experiment. A survival analysis showed that clonal diversity extended the persistence of Daphnia populations, but copper contamination caused a substantial genetic erosion followed by population extirpation. However, some Cu‐treated populations, mostly multiclonal, showed U‐shaped patterns of growth consistent with evolutionary rescue but these did not lead to lasting population recovery. These results highlight the importance of genetic variation for population persistence, but they also show how quickly it can be lost in contaminated environments.
Female‐induced selective modification of sperm protein SUMOylation—potential mechanistic insights into the non‐random fertilization in humans
Authors: Kekäläinen Jukka , Hiltunen Johannes , Jokiniemi Annalaura , Kuusipalo Liisa , Heikura Marjo , Leppänen Jonna , Malinen Marjo
Published: January 2022

In many species, mate choice continues after the mating via female‐ or egg‐derived biochemical factors that induce selective changes in sperm pre‐fertilization physiology and behaviour. Recent studies have indicated that gamete‐mediated mate choice likely occurs also in humans, but the mechanistic basis of the process has remained virtually unexplored. Here, we investigated whether female‐induced modifications in sperm protein SUMOylation (post‐translational modification of the proteome) could serve as a novel mechanism for gamete‐mediated mate choice in humans. We treated the sperm of ten males with the oocyte‐surrounding bioactive liquid (follicular fluid) of five females and investigated motility, viability and global protein SUMOylation status of the sperm in all (n = 50) of these male–female combinations (full‐factorial design). All the measured sperm traits were affected by male–female combinations, and sperm protein SUMOylation status was also negatively associated with sperm motility. Furthermore, our results indicate that female‐induced sperm protein SUMOylation is selective, potentially allowing females to increase sperm motility in some males, whereas decreasing it in the others. Consequently, our findings suggest that follicular fluid may non‐randomly modify the structure and function of sperm proteome and in this way facilitate gamete‐mediated mate choice in humans and possibly many other species. However, due to the relatively low number of female subjects and their potential infertility problems, our results should be replicated with larger subset of fully fertile women.
Evolution of the stock of electrical and electronic equipment in the Peruvian residential sector
Authors: Gusukuma Marco , Kahhat Ramzy , Cáceres Kathia
Published: January 2022

Consumption of appliances in the residential sector in Peru has been growing continuously during the last 20 years. Although social benefits due to this growth are evident, there are also some related environmental impacts in the use and end‐of‐life (EoL) phases (e.g., inadequate handling or disposal at the EoL stage). Nevertheless, there is also a hidden potential in the growing stock of household appliances, such as their potential exploitation as resources of industrial materials found in urban areas. Thus, the aim of this research paper is to analyze the evolution of the adoption of electronics in Peruvian households and estimate the stock of electrical and electronic equipment and related materials in the residential sector from 2001 to 2019, and greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions due to its use. Material flow analysis is the main methodology used in this research and its application relies on different strategies and the integrated use of official sources. Moreover, a Peruvian input–output table and associated environmental matrices were used to calculate GHG emissions. Results indicate that, in 2019, an average household possessed between 86 and 121 kg of appliances, which means the total stock of household appliances in Peru was in the range of 805,000  to 1,134,000  metric tons, an increase in mass of 70–95% by 2019 compared to 2001. These results will be useful to estimate the urban stock of appliances in the residential sector to help policy‐makers design and implement an adequate e‐waste management system that comprehends the potential of secondary materials embedded in these products.
Treatment of neuroendocrine tumours with 177Lu‐peptide receptor radionuclide therapy: Challenging clinical scenarios and their management
Authors: Navalkissoor Shaunak , Toumpanakis Christos , Caplin Martyn , Gnanasegaran Gopinath
Published: January 2022

Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) for the treatment of patients with neuroendocrine tumours is usually well tolerated, with selection based on existing guidelines. However, there are various scenarios where the risk–benefit analysis of PRRT needs to be evaluated to limit any complications associated with PRRT. This review looks at 11 key scenarios where the risk–benefit of PRRT needs to be closely evaluated.
Oral health‐related quality of life in patients with Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Verhoeff Merel C. , Lobbezoo Frank , van Leeuwen Astrid M. , Schuller Annemarie A. , Koutris Michail
Published: January 2022

Background

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative condition affecting the quality of life. Due to a worsening of oral health in PD patients with the progression of the disease, oral health‐related quality of life (OHRQoL) could be impaired as well.

Objectives

To assess whether PD patients in The Netherlands experience worse OHRQoL than historical controls, and to investigate which factors are associated with OHRQoL in PD patients.

Materials & Methods

In total, 341 PD patients (65.5 ± 8.4 years) and 411 historical controls (62.6 ± 5.3 years) participated. Both groups completed a questionnaire. The PD patients were asked questions regarding demographics, PD, oral health, and OHRQoL. The historical controls filled in demographic information and questions regarding OHRQoL. The latter construct was assessed using the Dutch 14‐item version of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP‐14). Data were analysed using independent samples t‐tests and univariate and multivariate linear regression analysis.

Results

The mean OHIP‐14 score was higher in PD patients (19.1 ± 6.7) than in historical controls (16.5 ± 4.4) (t(239) = 6.5; p < .001). OHRQoL in PD patients was statistically significant associated with motor aspects of experiences of daily living (B = 0.31; t(315) = 7.03; p < .001), worsening of the oral environment during disease course (B = 3.39; t(315) = 4.21; p < .001), being dentate (B = −5.60; t(315) = −4.5; p < .001), tooth wear (B = 2.25; t(315) = 3.29; p = .001), and possible burning mouth syndrome (B = 5.87; t(315) = 2.87; p = .004).

Conclusion

PD patients had a lower OHRQoL than historical controls. Besides, PD‐related variables and oral health‐related variables were associated with OHRQoL.
Management of Fused Anterior Teeth: Review and Clinical Report
Authors: Chen Fangbing , Wang Shaolei , Bai Na , Li Xue , Wang Lizhe , Xia Xiaomin , Liu Jie , Tan Fei
Published: January 2022

The phenomenon of fusion is a type of tooth dysplasia, but few studies have systematically described the treatment of this kind of abnormality. This paper summarizes the treatment methods for fused teeth and classifies the management schemes according to whether the pulp is fused. Then, the treatment for a patient with bilateral anterior tooth fusion is reported. After orthodontic treatment, porcelain veneers were used to restore the normal shape and aesthetic appearance of the anterior teeth.