bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ischemic Preconditioning and Iloprost Reduces Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Jejunal Flaps: An Animal Model
Authors: Tuncer Fatma Betul , Durmus Kocaaslan F. Nihal , Yildirim Alper , Sacak Bulent , Arabaci Tamer Sevil , Sahin Hulya , Cinel Leyla , Celebiler Ozhan
Published: July 2019

Background:

Free jejunal flaps are among the most commonly used flaps for esophageal reconstruction. However, ischemia-reperfusion injury caused by warm ischemia seen during transfer limits their use. Iloprost, a prostacyclin analogue, has been shown to reduce ischemia-reperfusion injury in various organs. The authors investigated tissue damage in jejunal flaps with iloprost and ischemic preconditioning and compared the effectiveness of these two modalities.

Methods:

Thirty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into five groups: sham, ischemia-reperfusion (control), ischemic preconditioning, iloprost, and ischemic preconditioning plus iloprost. All flaps, except those in the sham group, underwent ischemia for 60 minutes and reperfusion for 2 hours. Flap perfusion was assessed by laser Doppler perfusion monitoring. Histologic sections were scored using the Chiu scoring system. Superoxide dismutase and myeloperoxidase levels were measured spectrophotometrically.

Results:

Animals that were administered iloprost and/or underwent ischemic preconditioning had better postischemic recovery of mesenteric perfusion (ischemic preconditioning, 78 percent; iloprost, 83 percent; ischemic preconditioning plus iloprost, 90 percent; versus ischemia-reperfusion, 50 percent; p < 0.05). All intervention groups showed improved histology of jejunal flaps following ischemia-reperfusion injury (ischemic preconditioning, 3; iloprost, 2.3; ischemic preconditioning plus iloprost, 3.2; versus ischemia-reperfusion, 4.7; p < 0.01, p < 0.001, and p < 0.05, respectively). Superoxide dismutase levels were higher in ischemic preconditioning, iloprost plus ischemic preconditioning, and iloprost groups (ischemic preconditioning, 2.7 ± 0.2; ischemic preconditioning plus iloprost, 2.5 ± 0.3; versus ischemia-reperfusion, 1.2 ± 0.1; p < 0.01; iloprost, 2.4 ± 1.1; versus ischemia-reperfusion, 1.2 ± 0.1; p < 0.05). Myeloperoxidase, a marker for neutrophil infiltration, was lower in the iloprost group (iloprost, 222 ± 5; versus ischemia-reperfusion, 291 ± 25; p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

This study showed that both iloprost and ischemic preconditioning reduced reperfusion injury in jejunal flaps. Based on histologic results, iloprost may be a novel treatment alternative to ischemic preconditioning.
Is Epinephrine Safe for Infant Digit Excision? A Retrospective Review of 402 Polydactyly Excisions in Patients Younger than 6 Months
Authors: Mantilla-Rivas Esperanza , Tan Pamela , Zajac Jocelyn , Tilt Alexandra , Rogers Gary F. , Oh Albert K.
Published: July 2019

Background:

Conventional dogma suggests that the use of local anesthetic with epinephrine is contraindicated in the digits because of fear of ischemia and necrosis. Although several reports have refuted this notion, the precept is still propagated in many clinical forums. For many years, the authors have used lidocaine with epinephrine to perform removal of postaxial polydactyly in infants and have observed few complications and no cases of digital ischemia or necrosis. This investigation details the authors’ outcomes with this anesthetic modality in neonates and supports the growing body of literature documenting the safety of using lidocaine with epinephrine in the digits.

Methods:

A retrospective review of all infants younger than 6 months who underwent preaxial and postaxial polydactyly excision and removal of their sequelae of the hand or foot under local anesthesia, from 2011 to 2017, was completed. All demographic characteristics, frequency of complications, and descriptive statistics of the sample clinical group were documented.

Results:

In the 215 patients who met inclusion criteria, a total of 402 procedures were performed. Mean follow-up was 19.9 months for 140 patients, or 264 procedures (65.7 percent). The total complication rate was 2.6 percent. There were two cases of minor bleeding, one wound dehiscence, and four surgical-site infections.

Conclusions:

In 402 procedures of surgical excision of polydactyly in infants, there were few short-term complications, none of which were necrosis or any vascular complication related to the use of epinephrine. The authors believe that, with the use of a low-dose epinephrine injection (1:200,000), the risk for digital infarction is low in this population.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:

Therapeutic, IV.
Ethicists’ Opinions Regarding the Permissibility of Face Transplant
Authors: Suchyta Marissa A , Sharp Richard , Amer Hatem , Bradley Elizabeth , Mardini Samir
Published: July 2019

Background:

Face transplantation can offer functional and aesthetic restoration to patients who have exhausted their reconstructive options, improving quality of life and psychosocial integration. Ethical issues in face transplantation abound, including questions of patient selection and evaluation before transplantation. To date, there has been no study of ethicists’ opinions regarding face transplantation.

Methods:

An online survey of attendees of the 2015 International Conference on Clinical Ethics Consultation (n = 401) assessed ethicists’ opinions about face transplantation. Questions examined the risk-to-benefit ratio of immunosuppression; permissibility of face transplantation in subpopulations (including children and blind patients); donor-recipient age, sex, and ethnicity mismatches; and ethical oversight.

Results:

Most ethicists (84 percent) agreed that it is permissible to perform a face transplantation on an adult in the absence of clear medical contraindications. Most respondents also agreed that it is permissible to perform a face transplantation on a child (62 percent) or a blind patient (61 percent), yet demonstrated less consensus regarding the permissibility of performing a face transplantation on patients with an increased risk of immune rejection. Respondents were generally supportive of age, sex, and ethnicity mismatches, with 43 percent indicating that it is permissible to have a sex mismatch. The majority answered that face transplantation should be covered by federal insurance (74 percent).

Conclusions:

This study provides insight into clinical ethicists’ views regarding face transplantation. Most ethicists support the ethical permissibility of face transplantation, and did not have concerns about age, sex, and ethnicity mismatches. These findings highlight emerging areas of consensus regarding the ethical permissibility of face transplantation.
Odontogenic Tumors: Imaging-Based Review of the Fourth Edition of World Health Organization Classification
Authors: Abdel Razek Ahmed Abdel Khalek
Published: July 2019

The fourth edition of World Health Organization (2017) classified odontogenic tumors according to the tissue of origin. Epithelial odontogenic tumors include ameloblastomas, calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumors, adenomatoid odontogenic tumors, and squamous odontogenic tumors. Mixed epithelial and mesenchymal odontogenic tumors include odontomas, ameloblastic fibromas, dentigenic ghost cell odontogenic tumors, and primordial odontogenic tumors. Mesenchymal odontogenic tumors include cementoblastomas, cement-ossifying fibromas, odontogenic fibromas, and odontogenic myxomas. Malignant odontogenic tumors are either carcinomas or sarcomas. The imaging appearance of odontogenic tumors varies according to its category. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging play an important role in localization, characterization, and extension of odontogenic tumors to the teeth and surrounding tissue.
Breast Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy at 3 T in Biopsy-Proven Breast Cancers
Authors: Galati Francesca , Luciani Maria Laura , Caramanico Claudia , Moffa Giuliana , Catalano Carlo , Pediconi Federica
Published: July 2019

Objectives

The role of functional techniques, such as magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS), as noninvasive tools to increase breast MR imaging reliability has been widely investigated during the last 2 decades. Considering the growing interest in tumor biology and its influence on functional parameters, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between 1H-MRS parameters and breast cancer biomarkers and to evaluate whether the results of 1H-MRS at 3 T can correlate with established breast cancer prognostic factors in our clinical experience.

Materials and Methods

One hundred two patients with biopsy-proven breast cancer underwent 3 T breast MR imaging. Single-voxel 1H-MRS was performed after the T1-weighted sequence, using a PRESS water-suppressed sequence (BREASE). Data were collected from a single rectangular volume of interest that encompassed the lesion. Magnetic resonance images and spectra of 102 Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System 6 lesions were prospectively evaluated by 2 radiologists in consensus. 1H-MRS results were considered positive if the choline peak signal-to-noise ratio was 2 or higher. 1H-MRS findings were then compared with morphological features and to histological findings, such as lesion size, nuclear grade, Ki-67, hormone receptor status, and Her2 expression.

Results

Elevated levels of total choline were detectable in 68/102 cases (66.67%) and undetectable in 34/102 (33.33%). A statistically significant association between the presence of choline peak and higher tumor grading (P < 0.0001), greater Ki-67 value (P < 0.0001), and larger lesion size (P < 0.0001) was found. No statistically significant associations were observed between choline peak and the luminal subgroups, even if higher levels of choline were more frequent in nonluminal A lesions.

Conclusions

Our study confirms that 3 T breast 1H-MRS can be a valid additional tool to obtain further information about breast cancer biology and to predict tumor aggressiveness, because the detection of elevated levels of total choline in the spectrum is associated with a biologically aggressive breast cancer phenotype (large dimensions, grade 3, high values of Ki-67). Our results need to be validated in standardized larger-scale studies.
Description and Impact of a Comprehensive Multispecialty Multidisciplinary Intervention to Decrease Opioid Prescribing in Surgery
Authors: Kaafarani Haytham M. A. , Eid Ahmed I. , Antonelli Donna M. , Chang David C. , Elsharkawy Ahmed E. , Elahad Joana Abed , Lancaster Elizabeth A. , Schulz John T. , Melnitchouk Serguei I. , Kastrinakis William V. , Hutter Matthew M. , Masiakos Peter T. , Colwell Amy S. , Wright Cameron D. , Lillemoe Keith D.
Published: July 2019

Introduction:

Diversion of excess prescription opioids contributes to the opioid epidemic. We sought to describe and study the impact of a comprehensive departmental initiative to decrease opioid prescribing in surgery.

Methods:

A multispecialty multidisciplinary initiative was designed to change the culture of postoperative opioid prescribing, including: consensus-built opioid guidelines for 42 procedures from 11 specialties, provider-focused posters displayed in all surgical units, patient opioid/pain brochures setting expectations, and educational seminars to residents, advanced practice providers, residents and nurses. Pre- (April 2016–March 2017) versu post-initiative (April 2017–May 2018) analyses of opioid prescribing at discharge [median oral morphine equivalent (OME)] were performed at the specialty, prescriber, patient, and procedure levels. Refill prescriptions within 3 months were also studied.

Results:

A total of 23,298 patients were included (11,983 pre-; 11,315 post-initiative). Post-initiative, the median OME significantly decreased for 10 specialties (all P values < 0.001), the percentage of patients discharged without opioids increased from 35.7% to 52.5% (P < 0.001), and there was no change in opioids refills (0.07% vs 0.08%, P = 0.9). Similar significant decreases in OME were observed when the analyses were performed at the provider and individual procedure levels. Patient-level analyses showed that the preinitiative race/sex disparities in opioid-prescribing disappeared post-initiative.

Conclusion:

We describe a comprehensive multi-specialty intervention that successfully reduced prescribed opioids without increase in refills and decreased sex/race prescription disparities.
Long-term Patient-reported Outcomes Following Postmastectomy Breast Reconstruction
Authors: Nelson Jonas A. , Allen Robert J. , Polanco Thais , Shamsunder Meghana , Patel Aadit R. , McCarthy Colleen M. , Matros Evan , Dayan Joseph H. , Disa Joseph J. , Cordeiro Peter G. , Mehrara Babak J. , Pusic Andrea L.
Published: July 2019

Objective:

To better understand the long-term patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in satisfaction and health-related quality of life (QOL) following post-mastectomy reconstruction (PMR) using the BREAST-Q, comparing PROs from patients undergoing implant-based breast reconstruction (IBR) or autologous breast reconstruction (ABR).

Summary of Background Data:

Multiple studies have demonstrated growth in mastectomy rates and concurrent increase in PMR utilization. However, most studies examining PMR PROs focus on short postoperative time periods—mainly within 2 years.

Methods:

BREAST-Q scores from IBR or ABR patients at a tertiary center were prospectively collected from 2009 to 2017. Mean scores and standard deviations (SDs) were calculated for satisfaction with breast, satisfaction with outcome, psychosocial well-being, physical well-being of the chest, and sexual well-being. Satisfaction with breasts and physical well-being of the chest were compared using regression models at postoperative years 1, 3, 5, and 7.

Results:

Overall, 3268 patients were included, with 336 undergoing ABR and 2932 undergoing IBR. Regression analysis demonstrated that ABR patients had greater postoperative satisfaction with breast scores at all timepoints compared with IBR patients. Postoperative radiation and mental illness adversely impacted satisfaction with breast scores. Furthermore, mental illness impacted physical wellbeing of the chest at all timepoints. IBR patients had satisfaction scores that remained stable over the study period.

Conclusion:

This study presents the largest prospective examination of PROs in PMR to date. Patients who opted for ABR had significantly higher satisfaction with their breast and QOL at each assessed time point, but IBR patients had stable long-term satisfaction and QOL postoperatively.
New Nodal Staging for Primary Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors
Authors: Zhang Xu-Feng , Xue Feng , Dong Ding-Hui , Lopez-Aguiar Alexandra G. , Poultsides George , Makris Eleftherios , Rocha Flavio , Kanji Zaheer , Weber Sharon , Fisher Alexander , Fields Ryan , Krasnick Bradley A. , Idrees Kamran , Smith Paula M. , Cho Cliff , Beems Megan , Lv Yi , Maithel Shishir K. , Pawlik Timothy M.
Published: July 2019

Objective:

To determine the prognostic role of metastatic lymph node (LN) number and the minimal number of LNs for optimal staging of patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs).

Background:

Prognosis relative to number of LN metastasis (LNM), and minimal number of LNs needed to evaluate for accurate staging, have been poorly defined for pNETs.

Methods:

Number of LNM and total number of LN evaluated (TNLE) were assessed relative to recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) in a multi-institutional database. External validation was performed using Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) registry.

Results:

Among 854 patients who underwent resection, 233 (27.3%) had at least 1 LNM. Patients with 1, 2, or 3 LNM had a comparable worse RFS versus patients with no nodal metastasis (5-year RFS, 1 LNM 65.6%, 2 LNM 68.2%, 3 LNM 63.2% vs 0 LNM 82.6%; all P < 0.001). In contrast, patients with ≥4 LNM (proposed N2) had a worse RFS versus patients who either had 1 to 3 LNM (proposed N1) or node-negative disease (5-year RFS, ≥4 LNM 43.5% vs 1–3 LNM 66.3%, 0 LNM 82.6%; all P < 0.05) [C-statistics area under the curve (AUC) 0.650]. TNLE ≥8 had the highest discriminatory power relative to RFS (AUC 0.713) and OS (AUC 0.726) among patients who had 1 to 3 LNM, and patients who had ≥4 LNM in the multi-institutional and SEER database (n = 2764).

Conclusions:

Regional lymphadenectomy of at least 8 lymph nodes was necessary to stage patients accurately. The proposed nodal staging of N0, N1, and N2 optimally staged patients.
Choosing the Correct “-ase” in Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Dillon George M. , Stevens Stacie , Dusenbury Wendy L. , Massaro Lori , Toy Florence , Purdon Barbara
Published: July 2019

Alteplase is a tissue plasminogen activator approved for treating acute ischemic stroke (AIS), acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and acute massive pulmonary embolism. Two additional tissue plasminogen activators, tenecteplase and reteplase, are also approved for AMI treatment. However, neither tenecteplase nor reteplase is approved for AIS treatment. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has received reports of accidental administration of tenecteplase or reteplase instead of alteplase in patients with AIS, which can lead to potential overdose. Primary factors contributing to medication errors include use of the abbreviations “TPA,” “tPA,” or “TNK” in written or verbal orders and use of these agents in similar settings. Steps to reduce the likelihood of accidental substitution include use of full brand or generic names and inclusion of the indication in written and verbal orders, addition of alerts in automated dispensing machines and ordering systems, and use of stroke boxes containing alteplase and materials for administration.
Behavioural ecology and infectious disease: implications for conservation of biodiversity
Authors: Herrera James , Nunn Charles L.
Published: July 2019

Behaviour underpins interactions among conspecifics and between species, with consequences for the transmission of disease-causing parasites. Because many parasites lead to declines in population size and increased risk of extinction for threatened species, understanding the link between host behaviour and disease transmission is particularly important for conservation management. Here, we consider the intersection of behaviour, ecology and parasite transmission, broadly encompassing micro- and macroparasites. We focus on behaviours that have direct impacts on transmission, as well as the behaviours that result from infection. Given the important role of parasites in host survival and reproduction, the effects of behaviour on parasitism can scale up to population-level processes, thus affecting species conservation. Understanding how conservation and infectious disease control strategies actually affect transmission potential can therefore often only be understood through a behavioural lens. We highlight how behavioural perspectives of disease ecology apply to conservation by reviewing the different ways that behavioural ecology influences parasite transmission and conservation goals.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Linking behaviour to dynamics of populations and communities: application of novel approaches in behavioural ecology to conservation’.
Mate choice in a polluted world: consequences for individuals, populations and communities
Authors: Candolin Ulrika , Wong Bob B. M.
Published: July 2019

Pollution (e.g. by chemicals, noise, light, heat) is an insidious consequence of anthropogenic activity that affects environments worldwide. Exposure of wildlife to pollutants has the capacity to adversely affect animal communication and behaviour across a wide range of sensory modalities—by not only impacting the signalling environment, but also the way in which animals produce, perceive and interpret signals and cues. Such disturbances, particularly when it comes to sex, can drastically alter fitness. Here, we consider how pollutants disrupt communication and behaviour during mate choice, and the ecological and evolutionary changes such disturbances can engender. We explain how the different stages of mate choice can be affected by pollution, from encountering mates to the final choice, and how changes to these stages can influence individual fitness, population dynamics and community structure. We end with discussing how an understanding of these disturbances can help inform better conservation and management practices and highlight important considerations and avenues for future research.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Linking behaviour to dynamics of populations and communities: application of novel approaches in behavioural ecology to conservation’.
Behaviour, life history and persistence in novel environments
Authors: Maspons Joan , Molowny-Horas Roberto , Sol Daniel
Published: July 2019

Understanding what affects population growth in novel environments is fundamental to forecast organisms' responses to global change, including biological invasions and land use intensification. Novel environments are challenging because they can cause maladaptation, increasing the risk of extinction by negative population growth. Animals can avoid extinction by improving the phenotype–environment match through behavioural responses, notably matching habitat choice and learning. However, the demographic consequences of these responses remain insufficiently understood in part because they have not been analysed within a life-history context. By means of an individual-based model, we show here that matching habitat choice and learning interact with life history to influence persistence in novel environments. In maladaptive contexts, the likelihood of persisting is higher for life-history strategies that increase the value of adults over the value of offspring, even at the cost of decreasing reproduction. Such a strategy facilitates persistence in novel environments by reducing the costs of a reproductive failure while increasing the benefits of behavioural responses. Our results reinforce the view that a more predictive theory for extinction risk under rapid environmental changes requires considering behavioural responses and life history as part of a common adaptive strategy to cope with environmental changes.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Linking behaviour to dynamics of populations and communities: application of novel approaches in behavioural ecology to conservation’.
From individual movement behaviour to landscape-scale invasion dynamics and management: a case study of lionfish metapopulations
Authors: Tamburello Natascia , Ma Brian O. , Côté Isabelle M.
Published: July 2019

Modelling the dynamics of small, interconnected populations, or metapopulations, can help pinpoint habitat patches that are critical for population persistence in patchy habitats. For conservation purposes, these patches are typically earmarked for protection, but for invasive species management, these patches could be targeted to hasten the populations' demise. Here, we show how metapopulation modelling, coupled with an understanding of size-dependent dispersal behaviour, can be used to help optimize the distribution of limited resources for culling specific populations of invasive Indo-Pacific lionfish (
Pterois volitans
) in the western Atlantic. Through simulation using fitted model parameters, we derive three insights that can inform management. First, culling lionfish from target patches reduces the probability of lionfish occupancy at surrounding patches. Second, this effect depends on patch size and connectivity, but is strongest at the local scale and decays with distance. Finally, size-dependent dispersal in lionfish means that size-selective culling can change both a population's size distribution and dispersal potential, with cascading effects on network connectivity, population dynamics and management outcomes. By explicitly considering seascape structure and movement behaviour when allocating effort to the management of invasive species, managers can optimize resource use to improve management outcomes.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Linking behaviour to dynamics of populations and communities: application of novel approaches in behavioural ecology to conservation’.
Integrating social behaviour, demography and disease dynamics in network models: applications to disease management in declining wildlife populations
Authors: Silk Matthew J. , Hodgson David J. , Rozins Carly , Croft Darren P. , Delahay Richard J. , Boots Mike , McDonald Robbie A.
Published: July 2019

The emergence and spread of infections can contribute to the decline and extinction of populations, particularly in conjunction with anthropogenic environmental change. The importance of heterogeneity in processes of transmission, resistance and tolerance is increasingly well understood in theory, but empirical studies that consider both the demographic and behavioural implications of infection are scarce. Non-random mixing of host individuals can impact the demographic thresholds that determine the amplification or attenuation of disease prevalence. Risk assessment and management of disease in threatened wildlife populations must therefore consider not just host density, but also the social structure of host populations. Here we integrate the most recent developments in epidemiological research from a demographic and social network perspective, and synthesize the latest developments in social network modelling for wildlife disease, to explore their applications to disease management in populations in decline and at risk of extinction. We use simulated examples to support our key points and reveal how disease-management strategies can and should exploit both behavioural and demographic information to prevent or control the spread of disease. Our synthesis highlights the importance of considering the combined impacts of demographic and behavioural processes in epidemics to successful disease management in a conservation context.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Linking behaviour to dynamics of populations and communities: application of novel approaches in behavioural ecology to conservation’.
Bridging the divide between scientists and decision-makers: how behavioural ecologists can increase the conservation impact of their research?
Authors: Durant Sarah M. , Groom Rosemary , Kuloba Bernard , Samna Abdoulkarim , Muzuma Uakendisa , Gadimang Phemelo , Mandisodza-Chikerema Rose , Ipavec Audrey , Mitchell Nicholas , Ikanda Dennis , Msuha Maurus
Published: July 2019

Effective conservation management is underpinned by science. Yet, there are often barriers against the incorporation of up-to-date scientific research into decision-making and policy. Here, we draw on experience from a multi-nation approach to conserve cheetah and African wild dogs across Africa, using relationships between scientists and managers established over more than a decade, to better understand scientific information needs of managers. While our analysis focuses on Africa, many of our findings are likely to be relevant to other regions. Managers view science as critical to their decision-making processes and strongly support scientific research, particularly when research directly addresses their information needs. However, managers reported problems in accessing final results and highlighted the need to access raw ecological data from research undertaken within protected areas. Fundamental to improving the management relevance of scientific research is the need for scientists to engage with managers through all steps of the research process, from project design and implementation through to scientific publication and end-of-project agreements. Effective engagement requires open and clear communication; including agreed processes for access to biodiversity data and submission of final results. In order to foster future scientific endeavours and collaborations, systems should be established to better facilitate information exchange, while also safeguarding the rights of scientists to publish their data and protect their academic freedom. Our analysis also calls for a greater awareness of the geo-political context under which science is undertaken, and for increased scientific participation through an inclusive approach that recognizes, and gives credit to, a wider diversity of scientific contributions and expertise.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Linking behaviour to dynamics of populations and communities: application of novel approaches in behavioural ecology to conservation’.
Integrating behaviour and ecology into global biodiversity conservation strategies
Authors: Tobias Joseph A. , Pigot Alex L.
Published: July 2019

Insights into animal behaviour play an increasingly central role in species-focused conservation practice. However, progress towards incorporating behaviour into regional or global conservation strategies has been more limited, not least because standardized datasets of behavioural traits are generally lacking at wider taxonomic or spatial scales. Here we make use of the recent expansion of global datasets for birds to assess the prospects for including behavioural traits in systematic conservation priority-setting and monitoring programmes. Using International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List classifications for more than 9500 bird species, we show that the incidence of threat can vary substantially across different behavioural categories, and that some types of behaviour—including particular foraging, mating and migration strategies—are significantly more threatened than others. The link between behavioural traits and extinction risk is partly driven by correlations with well-established geographical and ecological factors (e.g. range size, body mass, human population pressure), but our models also reveal that behaviour modifies the effect of these factors, helping to explain broad-scale patterns of extinction risk. Overall, these results suggest that a multi-species approach at the scale of communities, continents and ecosystems can be used to identify and monitor threatened behaviours, and to flag up cases of latent extinction risk, where threatened status may currently be underestimated. Our findings also highlight the importance of comprehensive standardized descriptive data for ecological and behavioural traits, and point the way towards deeper integration of behaviour into quantitative conservation assessments.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Linking behaviour to dynamics of populations and communities: application of novel approaches in behavioural ecology to conservation’.
Links between personality, early natal nutrition and survival of a threatened bird
Authors: Richardson Kate M. , Parlato Elizabeth H. , Walker Leila K. , Parker Kevin A. , Ewen John G. , Armstrong Doug P.
Published: July 2019

There is growing recognition that variation in animal personality traits can influence survival and reproduction rates, and consequently may be important for wildlife population dynamics. Despite this, the integration of personality research into conservation has remained uncommon. Alongside the establishment of personality as an important source of individual variation has come an increasing interest in factors affecting the development of personality. Recent work indicates the early environment, including natal nutrition, may play a stronger role in the development of personality than previously thought. In this study, we investigated the importance of three personality metrics (activity, boldness and acclimation time) for estimating survival of a threatened species, the hihi (
Notiomystis cincta
), and evaluated the influence of early natal nutrition on those metrics. Our results showed that boldness (as measured from a one-off cage test) had a positive effect on the probability of juvenile hihi surviving to adulthood. There was also a tendency for juveniles that received carotenoid supplementation in the nest to be bolder than those that did not, suggesting that the early environment had some influence on the expression of boldness in juvenile hihi. Linking the development of personality traits with ultimate effects on vital rates may benefit conservation management, as it could enable developmentally targeted management interventions. To our knowledge, this study is the first to identify potential linkages between early natal nutrition, personality and fitness in a wild-living population.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Linking behaviour to dynamics of populations and communities: application of novel approaches in behavioural ecology to conservation’.
A study of knowledge, experience and beliefs about hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in south western Uganda
Authors: Mugisha Joseph , Mokaya Jolynne , Bukenya Dominic , Ssembajja Fatuma , Mayambala Denis , Newton Robert , Matthews Philippa C , Seeley Janet
Published: July 2019

Introduction

United Nations sustainable development goals aim for the elimination of viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030, leading to efforts to upscale the availability and accessibility of hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination, diagnosis and treatment globally. However, a variety of societal factors, including beliefs, traditions, and stigma, can be a major obstacle to all of these interventions. We therefore set out to investigate how HBV is understood and described in communities in Uganda, and whether there is evidence of potential stigma.

Method

We carried out a qualitative formative study in two sites in South Western Uganda: a village in Kalungu district (site A) and an area on the outskirts of Masaka town (site B). We undertook a rapid assessment to investigate how adults describe HBV infection and their perceptions about the infection. We collected data by conducting a transect walk, observations, community group discussions, and in-depth interviews, sampling a total of 131 individuals. We used inductive content analysis to extract key themes associated with HBV.

Results

There is no specific word for HBV infection in local languages, and knowledge about this infection is varied. While some individuals were completely unfamiliar with HBV infection, some had heard of HBV. Radio was a common source of information. There was awareness of HBV as a cause of liver disease, limited knowledge regarding the cause, mode of transmission and treatment. Stigma in HBV may be rare in this community due to limited understanding and experience of HBV.

Conclusion

There is an ongoing need to improve awareness and understanding of HBV in this community. Careful dissemination of accurate information is required to promote acceptance of interventions for prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
Broad substrate-specific phosphorylation events are associated with the initial stage of plant cell wall recognition inNeurospora crassa
Authors: Horta Maria Augusta Crivelente , Thieme Nils , Gao Yuqian , Burnum-Johnson Kristin E. , Nicora Carrie D. , Gritsenko Marina A. , Lipton Mary S. , Mohanraj Karthikeyan , de Assis Leandro José , Lin Liangcai , Tian Chaoguang , Braus Gerhard H. , Borkovich Katherine A. , Schmoll Monika , Larrondo Luis F. , Samal Areejit , Goldman Gustavo H. , Benz J. Philipp
Published: July 2019

Fungal plant cell wall degradation processes are governed by complex regulatory mechanisms, allowing the organisms to adapt their metabolic program with high specificity to the available substrates. While the uptake of representative plant cell wall mono- and disaccharides is known to induce specific transcriptional and translational responses, the processes related to early signal reception and transduction remain largely unkown. A fast and reversible way of signal transmission are post-translational protein modifications, such as phosphorylations, which could initiate rapid adaptations of the fungal metabolism to a new condition. To elucidate how changes in the initial substrate recognition phase ofNeurospora crassaaffect the global phosphorylation pattern, phospho-proteomics was performed after a short (2 minutes) induction period with several plant cell wall-related mono- and disaccharides. The MS/MS-based peptide analysis revealed large-scale substrate-specific protein phosphorylation and de-phosphorylations. Using the proteins identified by MS/MS, a protein-protein-interaction (PPI) network was constructed. The variance in phosphorylation of a large number of kinases, phosphatases and transcription factors indicate the participation of many known signaling pathways, including circadian responses, two-component regulatory systems, MAP kinases as well as the cAMP-dependent and heterotrimeric G-protein pathways. Adenylate cyclase, a key component of the cAMP pathway, was identified as a potential hub for carbon source-specific differential protein interactions. In addition, four phosphorylated F-Box proteins were identified, two of which, Fbx-19 and Fbx-22, were found to be involved in carbon catabolite repression responses. Overall, these results provide unprecedented and detailed insights into a so far less well known stage of the fungal response to environmental cues and allow to better elucidate the molecular mechanisms of sensory perception and signal transduction during plant cell wall degradation.
Targeted metagenomic sequencing enhances the identification of pathogens associated with acute infection
Authors: Goh Cyndi , Golubchik Tanya , Ansari M Azim , de Cesare Mariateresa , Trebes Amy , Elliott Ivo , Bonsall David , Piazza Paolo , Brown Anthony , Slawinski Hubert , Martin Natalie , Defres Sylviane , Griffiths Mike J , Bray James E , Maiden Martin C , Hutton Paula , Hinds Charles J , Solomon Tom , Barnes Ellie , Pollard Andrew J , Sadarangani Manish , Knight Julian C , Bowden Rory
Published: July 2019

The routine identification of pathogens during infection remains challenging because it relies on multiple modalities such as culture and nucleic acid amplification and tests that tend to be specific for very few of an enormous number of possible infectious agents. Metagenomics promises single-test identification, but shotgun sequencing remains unwieldy and expensive or in many cases insufficiently sensitive to detect the amount of pathogen material in a clinical sample. Here we present the validation and application of Castanet, a method for metagenomic sequencing with enrichment that exploits clinical knowledge to construct a broad panel of relevant organisms for detection at low cost with sensitivity comparable to PCR. Castanet targets both DNA and RNA, works with small sample volumes, and can be implemented in a high-throughput diagnostic setting. We used Castanet to analyse plasma samples from 573 patients from the GAinS sepsis cohort and CSF samples from 243 patients from the ChiMES meningitis cohort that had been evaluated using standard clinical microbiology methods, identifying relevant pathogens in many cases where no pathogen had previously been detected. Castanet is intended for use in defining the distribution of pathogens in samples, diseases and populations, for large-scale clinical studies and for verifying the performance of routine testing regimens. By providing sequence as output, Castanet combines pathogen identification directly with subtyping and phylo-epidemiology.
Ecological divergence in sympatry causes gene misregulation in hybrids
Authors: McGirr Joseph A. , Martin Christopher H.
Published: July 2019

Ecological speciation occurs when reproductive isolation evolves as a byproduct of adaptive divergence between populations. However, it is unknown whether divergent ecological selection on gene regulation can directly cause reproductive isolation. Selection favoring regulatory divergence between species could result in gene misregulation in F1 hybrids and ultimately lower hybrid fitness. We combined 58 resequenced genomes with 124 transcriptomes to test this hypothesis in a young, sympatric radiation ofCyprinodonpupfishes endemic to San Salvador Island, Bahamas, which consists of a dietary generalist and two novel trophic specialists – a molluscivore and a scale-eater. We found more differential gene expression between closely related sympatric specialists than between allopatric generalist populations separated by 1000 km. Intriguingly, 9.6% of genes that were differentially expressed between sympatric species were also misregulated in their F1 hybrids. Consistent with divergent ecological selection causing misregulation, a subset of these genes were in highly differentiated genomic regions and enriched for functions important for trophic specialization, including head, muscle, and brain development. These regions also included genes that showed evidence of hard selective sweeps and were significantly associated with oral jaw length – the most rapidly diversifying skeletal trait in this radiation. Our results indicate that divergent ecological selection in sympatry can cause hybrid gene misregulation which may act as a primary reproductive barrier between nascent species.

Significance

It is unknown whether the same genes that regulate ecological traits can simultaneously contribute to reproductive barriers between species. We measured gene expression in two trophic specialist species ofCyprinodonpupfishes that rapidly diverged from a generalist ancestor. We found genes differentially expressed between species that also showed extreme expression levels in their hybrid offspring. Many of these genes showed signs of selection and have putative effects on the development of traits that are important for ecological specialization. This suggests that genetic variants contributing to adaptive trait divergence between parental species negatively interact to cause hybrid gene misregulation, potentially producing unfit hybrids. Such loci may be important barriers to gene flow during the early stages of speciation, even in sympatry.
Increased sensorimotor activity during categorisation of ambiguous emotional expressions
Authors: Karakale Ozge , Moore Matthew R. , McNair Nicolas , Kirk Ian J.
Published: July 2019

Actions are rarely devoid of emotional content. Thus, a more complete picture of the neural mechanisms underlying mental simulation of observed actions requires more research using emotion information. The present study used electroencephalography (EEG) to investigate mental simulation associated with facial emotion categorisation. Mu rhythm modulation was measured to infer the degree of sensorimotor simulation. Categorising static images of neutral faces as happy or sad was associated with stronger mu suppression than categorising clearly happy or sad faces. Results suggest the sensitivity of the sensorimotor activity to emotional information rather than visual attentional engagement, because further control analyses revealed (1) no effect of emotion type on occipital alpha modulation, and (2) no difference in mu modulation between the conditions of a control task, which required categorising images with the head oriented right, left, or forward as right or left. This finding provides evidence for the role of the sensorimotor activity in a higher form of mental simulation. Consistent with a predictive coding account of action perception, stronger mu suppression during attempted emotion categorisation of neutral faces may involve minimising the mismatch between predicted kinematics of a happy/sad face and the observed stationarity of neutral faces.
Cellular dialogues that enable self-organization of dynamic spatial patterns
Authors: Dang Yiteng , Grundel Douwe , Youk Hyun
Published: July 2019

Cells form spatial patterns by coordinating their gene expressions. How a group of mesoscopic numbers (hundreds-to-thousands) of cells, without pre-defined morphogens and spatial organization, self-organizes spatial patterns remains incompletely understood. Of particular importance are dynamic spatial patterns - such as spiral waves that perpetually move and transmit information over macroscopic length-scales. We developed an open-source, expandable software that can simulate a field of cells communicating with any number of cell-secreted molecules in any manner. With it and a theory developed here, we identified all possible “cellular dialogues” - ways of communicating with two diffusing molecules - and core architectures underlying them that enable diverse, self-organized dynamic spatial patterns that we classified. The patterns form despite widely varying cellular response to the molecules, gene-expression noise, and spatial arrangement and motility of cells. Three-stage, “order-fluctuate-settle” process forms dynamic spatial patterns: cells form long-lived whirlpools of wavelets that, through chaos-like interactions, settle into a dynamic spatial pattern. These results provide a blueprint to help identify missing regulatory links for observed dynamic-pattern formations and in building synthetic tissues.
Assigning metabolic rate measurements to torpor and euthermy in heterothermic endotherms: “torpor”, a new package for R
Authors: Fasel Nicolas J. , Vullioud Colin , Genoud Michel
Published: July 2019

Torpor is a state of controlled reduction of metabolic rate (M) in endotherms. Assigning measurements of M to torpor or euthermy can be challenging, especially when the difference between euthermic M and torpid M is small, in species defending a high minimal body temperature in torpor, in thermolabile species, and slightly below the thermoneutral zone (TNZ). Here, we propose a novel method for distinguishing torpor from euthermy. We use the variation in M measured during euthermic rest and torpor at varying ambient temperatures (Ta) to objectively estimate the lower critical temperature (Tlc) of the TNZ and to assign measurements to torpor, euthermic rest or rest within TNZ. In addition, this method allows the prediction of M during euthermic rest and torpor at varying Ta, including resting M within the TNZ. The present method has shown highly satisfactory results using 28 published sets of metabolic data obtained by respirometry on 26 species of mammals. Ultimately, this novel method aims to facilitate analysis of respirometry data in heterothermic endotherms. Finally, the development of the associated R-package (torpor) will enable widespread use of the method amongst biologists.

Summary statement

The presented method and its associated R-package (torpor) enable the assignment of metabolic rate measurements to torpor or euthermy, ultimately improving the standardization of respirometry analyses in heterotherms.
Lymphocytes contribute to DUX4 target genes in FSHD muscle biopsies
Authors: Banerji Christopher R. S. , Panamarova Maryna , Zammit Peter S.
Published: July 2019

Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is an incurable myopathy linked to overexpression of DUX4. However, DUX4 is difficult to detect in FSHD myoblasts and target gene expression is not a consistent FSHD muscle biopsy biomarker, displaying efficacy only on pathologically inflamed samples. Immune gene misregulation occurs in FSHD muscle biopsies with DUX4 targets enriched for inflammatory processes. However, assessment of the FSHD immune cell transcriptome, and the evaluation of DUX4 and target gene expression has not yet been performed. We show that FSHD lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) display robust DUX4 expression, and express early and late DUX4 targets. Moreover, genes elevated on FSHD LCLs are elevated in FSHD muscle biopsies, correlating with DUX4 target activation and histological inflammation. These genes are importantly unaltered in FSHD myoblasts/myotubes, implying a non-muscle source in biopsies. Our results indicate an immune cell source of DUX4 and target gene expression in FSHD muscle biopsies.