bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Potential Consequences of Post‐Brexit Trade Barriers for Earnings Inequality in the UK
Authors: Griffith Rachel , Levell Peter , Norris Keiller Agnes
Published: June 2021

We examine the distributional consequences of post‐Brexit trade barriers on wages in the UK. We quantify changes in trade costs across industries, accounting for input–output links across domestic industries and global value chains. We allow for demand substitution by firms and consumers, and worker reallocation across industries. We document the impact at the individual and household level. Blue‐collar workers are the most exposed to negative consequences of higher trade costs, because they are more likely to be employed in industries that face increases in trade costs, and are less likely to have good alternative employment opportunities available in their local labour markets. Overall, new trade costs have a regressive impact, with lower‐paid workers facing higher exposure than higher‐paid workers once we account for the exposure of other household members.
Fasting prevents medetomidine‐induced hyperglycaemia and alterations of neurovascular coupling in the somatosensory cortex of the rat during noxious stimulation
Authors: Tokunaga Ryota , Paquette Thierry , Tsurugizawa Tomokazu , Leblond Hugues , Piché Mathieu
Published: June 2021

Medetomidine and isoflurane are commonly used for general anaesthesia in fMRI studies, but they alter cerebral blood flow (CBF) regulation and neurovascular coupling (NVC). In addition, medetomidine induces hypoinsulinemia and hyperglycaemia, which also alter CBF regulation and NVC. Furthermore, sudden changes in arterial pressure induced by noxious stimulation may affect NVC differently under medetomidine and isoflurane anaesthesia, considering their different effects on vascular functions. The first objective of this study was to compare NVC under medetomidine and isoflurane anaesthesia during noxious stimulation. The second objective was to examine whether fasting may improve NVC by reducing medetomidine‐induced hyperglycaemia. In male Wister rats, noxious electrical stimulation was applied to the sciatic nerve in fasted or non‐fasted animals. CBF and local field potentials (LFP) were recorded in the somatosensory cortex to assess NVC (CBF/LFP ratio). The CBF/LFP ratio was increased by medetomidine compared with isoflurane (p = 0.004), but this effect was abolished by fasting (p = 0.8). Accordingly, medetomidine produced a threefold increase in blood glucose (p < 0.001), but this effect was also abolished by fasting (p = 0.3). This indicates that isoflurane and medetomidine anaesthesia alter NVC differently, but the undesirable glucose dependent effects of medetomidine on NVC can be prevented by fasting.
Gender, Religious, and Political Ideologies Among Three‐Generation Families: Implications for Family Conflict
Authors: Gamboni Casey M. , Watters Elizabeth R. , Reed‐Fitzke Kayla
Published: June 2021

Objective

The purpose of the present study was to identify subgroups of families based on ideologies and examine intergenerational conflict predicated by ideological subset.

Background

Gender, religious, and political ideologies are key to understanding how individuals' function both within their families and in society and can provide insight to intergenerational conflict.

Methods

Families (85%–95% White) included individuals across three generations (late, middle, and emerging adulthood). Data from the Longitudinal Study of Generations (LSOG) was used to conduct latent profile analyses.

Results

Three subgroups of families were identified: nontraditional ideology families, traditional ideology families, and adapting ideology families. Using the modified Bolck‐Croon‐Hagenaars (2004) approach, intergenerational conflict between profiles was examined.

Conclusions

Findings provide a snapshot of common groupings of families based on generational members' gender, religious, and political ideologies. Findings indicate that conflict may be reported more frequently by middle‐aged parents or children (i.e., “sandwich generation”) in nontraditional ideology and adapting ideology families.

Implications

Findings suggest that in approximately half of families in this study, emerging adults have similar ideologies to their grandparents, indicating there may not be such extreme differences between generations as are colloquially perceived.
Misidentifications in citizen science bias the phenological estimates of two hard‐to‐identify Elaenia flycatchers
Authors: Gorleri Fabricio C. , Areta Juan I.
Published: June 2021

Citizen science initiatives contain a large volume of observations that can be useful to address ecological questions for a wide array of organisms. However, one limitation of citizen science data is the potential for species misidentification. Although recent studies have shown that citizen science data are relatively accurate for many taxa, the effect of misidentification errors in hard‐to‐identify species remains poorly explored. If misidentification events occur at large scales, ecological estimates can be compromised. Here, we show that misidentifications contained in citizen science databases biased phenological estimates in a pair of migratory and partially overlapping Neotropical flycatchers: the Chilean Elaenia Elaenia chilensis and the Small‐billed Elaenia Elaenia parvirostris. We reviewed and re‐classified 4399 photos of these species from Argentina, Chile and Uruguay. We found that overall identification accuracy was high (c. 90%) for both species when they were allopatric, but dramatically low for Small‐billed Elaenia during autumn migration (from 28.6% to 84.6%) because migrating individuals of Chilean Elaenia were systematically reported as Small‐billed. The phenological estimates for both Elaenias were biased due to the large number of misidentifications concentrated towards the autumn migration period. These errors caused a 1‐week advancement in the estimated arrival, and a 2‐week delay in the estimated departure for Small‐billed Elaenia. For Chilean Elaenia, errors caused a 1‐week delay for the estimated spring peak passage and underestimation of the magnitude of the autumn passage. Our results highlight the importance of performing critical assessments of records when using citizen science databases to describe ecological patterns in species that are hard to identify. The large volume of information provided by citizen science initiatives is useful to describe spatio‐temporal patterns in birds, particularly in those of poorly known regions. However, to further enhance the usefulness of such databases, it is imperative actively to post‐process and contrast patterns derived from documented (and undocumented) records, with a special focus on misidentifications. This will only be possible through a thorough review of the documented data, together with an intimate understanding of the natural history of the study species.
Impact of COVID‐19 telehealth on outpatient test completion
Authors: Liu Tong Lei , Yeo Ai Li , Ravi Ayngaran , Patabendige Ganga , Lim Teik Wen , Bell Sally , Morand Eric , Le Suong
Published: June 2021

Background

Pathology and imaging tests are frequently requested in the outpatient setting despite historically poor completion rates. The impact of COVID‐19 telehealth on test completion rates is unknown.

Aims

To examine the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic and telehealth transition on pathology and imaging test request and completion rates in Australian outpatient clinics.

Methods

We performed a prospective cohort study with historical controls between March–May 2019 and March–May 2020. Pathology and imaging request and completion rates were collected in review consultation patients attending gastroenterology and rheumatology outpatient clinics at a tertiary healthcare system prior and during the early phases of the COVID‐19 pandemic in Melbourne.

Results

A total of 1376 patients was included in the study. Pathology tests were requested more frequently in the COVID‐19 group (n = 582/684, 85.2%) than the control group (n = 492/692, 71.1%, P < 0.001), but completion rates were lower in the COVID‐19 group (n = 443/582, 76.1%) than the control group (n = 426/492 (86.6%), P < 0.001). Imaging tests were requested more frequently in the COVID‐19 group (n = 345/682, 50.6%) than the control group (n = 295/692, 42.6%, P = 0.003), with lower rates of completion in the COVID‐19 group (n = 229/345, 66.4%) than the control group (n = 247/295, 83.7%, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

The COVID‐19 pandemic and telehealth transition have resulted in more frequent pathology and imaging requests but fewer test completion in the outpatients setting. This study has identified new clinical risks associated with the abrupt transition to telehealth during COVID‐19 that should be explored in future studies and appropriately mitigated.
High‐throughput phenotyping of plant growth rate to screen for waterlogging tolerance in lentil
Authors: Lake Lachlan , Izzat Naila , Kong Tielei , Sadras Victor O.
Published: June 2021

The combination of poorly drained soils and high rainfall can cause transient waterlogging and reduce yield of lentil. We screened 111 lentil lines for response to waterlogging in 2019 and 2020 using a pot assay outdoors. At 484 °Cd after emergence (38 d) in 2019 and 452 °Cd after emergence (42 d) in 2020, plants were waterlogged for 184 °Cd (11 d, 2019) and 167 °Cd  (14 d, 2020) and allowed to recover for 323 °Cd (20 d, 2019) and 307 °Cd (26 d, 2020). We combined 2‐D digital images of canopy cover and plant height to derive a 3‐D trait that correlates with biomass to derive plant growth rate. Actual biomass at the end of recovery in the waterlogged plants varied 2.6‐fold with genotype, and genotypic and phenotypic correlations showed associations with plant growth rate both during (rg = .92; rp = .74) and after waterlogging (rg = .75; rp = .72); there was no trade‐off between maintenance of growth during waterlogging and growth during recovery. The ratio of biomass between waterlogged and control plants at the end of recovery was associated with growth rate during recovery (rg = .88, rp = .65) and biomass at the end of waterlogging (rg = .61, rp = .67). Broad‐sense heritability was 0.27 for growth rate during waterlogging, 0.37 for growth rate during recovery, 0.51 for biomass at the end of waterlogging and 0.47 for biomass at the end of recovery. High biomass at the end of recovery correlated with cooler canopies but correlations varied with season and measurement date, and heritability of canopy temperature was low. We identified genotypes with consistently higher tolerance to waterlogging and provide an improved understanding of the physiological response of lentil to hypoxia highlighting the importance of growth rate not only during waterlogging but also during recovery.
Pro‐judge study: Nurses’ professional judgement in nurse staffing systems
Authors: Jacob Nina , Burton Chris , Hale Rachel , Jones Aled , Lloyd Amy , Rafferty Anne Marie , Allen Davina
Published: June 2021

Aims

Aim of this study is to better understand the role of nurses’ professional judgment in nurse staffing systems.

Design

Qualitative comparative case study design of nurse staffing systems in England and Wales.

Methods

Data will be collected through a variety of sources: individual interviews, observations of relevant meetings and analysis of key documents. Ethical approval for the study was granted in August 2020 from The Healthcare Research Ethics Committee (SREC reference: REC741). Data generation will be informed by science and technology studies and practice theories.

Discussion

Ensuring adequate numbers of nurses are available to care for patients in response to shifting demand is an international policy priority. Emerging evidence on the use of formal workforce planning methodologies across the developed world highlights both the centrality of nurses’ professional judgement in nurse staffing methodologies and the urgent need for theoretically informed research to better understand and conceptualise its contribution to decision‐making. This study is designed to address this gap in understanding. It takes advantage of nurses’ experiences of managing the service and staffing impacts of the Covid‐19 pandemic and differences in strategic approaches to nurse staffing systems between England and Wales.

Impact

The research will:

make visible the knowledge and skills that underpin professional judgement in nurse staffing decisions and provide a conceptual language with which to articulate this;

lay the foundations for evidence‐based programmes of nurse education and continuing professional development;

furnish the evidence to inform the development of nurse‐led decision support tools to augment professional judgement; and

generate wider insights into the effectiveness of nurse staffing systems in practice.
How the hospital context influences nurses’ environmentally responsible practice: A focused ethnography
Authors: Kalogirou Maya R. , Dahlke Sherry , Davidson Sandra , Yamamoto Shelby
Published: June 2021

Aim

To describe ways in which a hospital context, physically and culturally, influences nurses’ abilities to promote and engage with environmentally responsible practice.

Design

A focused ethnographic study.

Methods

Data were collected during May and August, 2019. Nurses (n = 22) working in the emergency room and three medicine units within a large Western Canadian hospital were invited to participate. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted, and observations were collected. Reporting is in accordance with the consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research.

Results

Three themes were identified: patient care not environmental care, organizational role and operational efficiency. Overall, participants indicated patient care was their primary priority, and due to their workload, they were unable to simultaneously consider the environmental impact of their work. Participants stated they had difficulties practicing in environmentally responsible ways because they felt unsupported by their hospital organization. Regardless, there was a desire for the organization to support environmentally responsible practices.

Conclusion

Climate change is a major health concern, and partnership between hospitals and nurses is necessary to ensure environmentally responsible healthcare is delivered. We suggest both a top‐down and bottom‐up approach to help develop hospital contexts that are relevant and environmentally responsible.

Impact

Nurses have a professional responsibility to address climate change, yet this study identified that nurses found it challenging to practice in environmentally responsible ways within the hospital context. Challenges they faced are related to their workload, their misaligned nursing priorities and, more importantly, because they felt unsupported by their hospital. Findings are important to both the nursing profession as well as other hospital leaders so that a culture of environmentally responsible healthcare can be developed within hospitals.
Is Humanity under a Duty to Deliver Socioeconomic Human Rights?
Authors: Stemplowska Zofia
Published: June 2021

What’s special about human rights? For Rowan Cruft human rights are special because they capture the importance of the good of the right‐holder. But his account struggles with explaining the existence of global socioeconomic human rights. I argue that such rights exist and show how we should revise Cruft’s account to accommodate this.
Iberian hares with anciently introgressed mitochondrial DNA express a marginal environmental niche
Authors: Carpio Antonio J. , Melo‐Ferreira José , Martinez‐Haro Mónica , Farelo Liliana , Campos Rita , Alves Paulo C. , Acevedo Pelayo
Published: June 2021

Aim

The role of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in local adaptation has been thoroughly debated, and the ancient pervasive mtDNA introgression from Lepus timidus into Lepus granatensis allows testing of this hypothesis. Here, we study the environmental niche of animals with introgressed mtDNA, to gain insights about the potential selective pressures maintaining the introgressed haplotypes.

Location

Iberian Peninsula.

Taxon

Lepus granatensis.

Methods

We modelled the frequency of the L. timidus mtDNA lineage within the L. granatensis distribution area. The response variable was the presence of the L. timidus lineage at the individual level. Finally, the variation in the introgression frequencies was plotted along the environmental gradients (identified by the models), after controlling for latitude.

Results

The results showed that (i) the niche of the introgressed populations occupy marginal environmental conditions relative to the complete niche of L. granatensis, (ii) both latitude and environment, and their overlaid effects, explain the variation in the introgression frequencies, and (iii) after controlling for latitude, clines in mtDNA introgression frequency are associated with transitions in the environmental gradients, even when the analyses were restricted to the territory where the introgressed haplotypes occur.

Main Conclusions

While the strict demographic explanation for mtDNA introgression in L. granatensis implies that geography, resulting from the post‐glacial expansion of the species, explains the gradients of introgression, our results show correlations with environmental gradients that are not geographically structured. Our results relate the prevalence of introgressed mtDNA with more extreme climatic conditions in the range of L. granatensis, suggesting that environmental selective pressures could have played a role in determining the spatial maintenance of mtDNA haplotypes originating from the cold‐adapted species. These results are thus relevant to understand the response of the species to the ongoing processes of global change, which will alter the selective pressures by reducing the specific niche of the introgressed mtDNA lineage.
The relationship between coping strategies and resilience among adolescents with beta‐thalassemia major
Authors: Parviniannasab Ali Mohammad , Rakhshan Mahnaz , Momennasab Marzieh , Soltanian Mitra , Bijani Mostafa
Published: June 2021

Problem

Adolescents with beta thalassemia major face various physical and psychosocial challenges. Resilience plays a protective role in coping with the stress resulting from this disease.

Methods

This descriptive correlational study was carried out on 134 adolescents (age: 11–21 years old) with beta‐thalassemia major who were referred at the Thalassemia Centre in southern Iran from October to December 2018 via convenience sampling method. The Jalowiec Coping scale and Connor‐Davidson resilience scale were the instruments used in this study. Data analysis was done using Pearson correlation coefficient and linear regression.

Findings

Resilience was shown to be correlated with the subscales of confrontive, optimistic, supportant, and evasive coping significantly and positively (p < .001), while in the subscale of emotive coping with resilience, this was not significant. In addition, 38% of variations in the scale of resilience were explained by the five coping subscales.

Conclusions

The findings of this study, indicated the role of courageous coping in promoting resilience and defensive coping as a factor that leads to less resilience than optimal level. Hence, understanding the importance and the role of protective factors and risk factors can help healthcare providers in planning some effective interventions to increase resilience among adolescents with thalassemia.
Epigenetic down‐regulation of microRNA‐126 in scleroderma endothelial cells is associated with impaired responses to VEGF and defective angiogenesis
Authors: Wang Yongqing , Sun John , Kahaleh Bashar
Published: June 2021

Impaired angiogenesis in scleroderma (SSc) is a critical component of SSc pathology. MicroRNA‐126 (miR‐126) is expressed in endothelial cells (MVECs) where it regulates VEGF responses by repressing the negative regulators of VEGF, including the sprouty‐related protein‐1 (SPRED1), and phosphoinositide‐3 kinase regulatory subunit 2 (PIK3R2). MVECs were isolated from SSc skin and matched subjects (n = 6). MiR‐126 expression was measured by qPCR and in situ hybridization. Matrigel‐based tube assembly was used to test angiogenesis. MiR‐126 expression was inhibited by hsa‐miR‐126 inhibitor and enhanced by hsa‐miR‐126 Mimic. Epigenetic regulation of miR‐126 expression was examined by the addition of epigenetic inhibitors (Aza and TSA) to MVECs and by bisulphite genomic sequencing of DNA methylation of the miR‐126 promoter region. MiR‐126 expression, as well as EGFL7 (miR‐126 host gene), in SSc‐MVECs and skin, was significantly down‐regulated in association with increased expression of SPRED1 and PIK3R2 and diminished response to VEGF. Inhibition of miR‐126 in NL‐MVECs resulted in reduced angiogenic capacity, whereas overexpression of miR‐126 in SSc‐MVECs resulted in enhanced tube assembly. Addition of Aza and TSA normalized miR‐126 and EGFL7 expression levels in SSc‐MVECs. Heavy methylation in miR‐126/EGFL7 gene was noted. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that the down‐regulation of miR‐126 results in impaired VEGF responses.
Are EU Institutions Still Green Actors? An Empirical Study of Green Public Procurement
Authors: Badell Diego , Rosell Jordi
Published: June 2021

Analysing the environmental actorness of the EU, more than one voice has spoken of the myth of a Green Europe and a dismantling process of its environmental ambitions. To date, any attempt to quantify this in a homogeneous fashion by different levels of government and institutions has run into serious difficulties. This research, however, uses green public procurement (GPP) as the research instrument to quantify the commitment to environmental policies. We construct the database from tenders published in the Supplement to the Official Journal between 2009 and 2019. Based on more than 743,061 observations, the article finds that the EU's institutions have the lowest GPP adoption rates in relation to all other levels of government. Moreover, it also records marked differences between the EU institutions where the European Parliament is performing better than the European Commission and, during Juncker Commission, EC performs worse.
Transactional links between children daily emotions and internalizing symptoms: a six‐wave ecological momentary assessment study
Authors: Arbel Reout , Mason Tyler B. , Dunton Genevieve F.
Published: June 2021

Background

This study explored the cross‐sectional and longitudinal associations between everyday emotion dimensions and internalizing symptoms during the transition to early adolescence. We tested associations between children’s intensity and instability of daily negative emotions (NE), positive emotions (PE), and daily NE differentiation (NED) with children’s self‐reported and their mothers’ report of children’s internalizing symptoms, across six waves, each wave separated by six months.

Methods

The sample included 199 ethnically diverse mother [Mage at baseline = 40.1 years (SD = 6.1] and child [Mage at baseline = 10.1 (SD = 0.90), 51% girls] dyads, who participated in six 7‐day waves of ecological momentary assessment (EMA). During each wave, children reported on PE (i.e. happy and joyful) and NE (i.e. mad, sad, and stressed) up to eight random times per day through smartphone‐based EMA. Children and mothers reported on children’s internalizing symptoms at each wave. We used random‐intercept cross‐lagged panel models (RI‐CLPMs) to test within‐ and between‐person effects.

Results

At the within‐person level, increased NE and decreased PE intensity, more unstable NE and PE, and decreased NED at any given wave were positively associated with children’s self‐reported internalizing symptoms but not with mother‐reported child symptoms. However, emotion dimensions did not predict child‐reported nor mother‐reported child symptoms at the next wave. At the between‐person level, higher average NE, more unstable PE and NE, and lower NED were positively associated with average child‐reported and mother‐reported child internalizing symptoms.

Conclusions

This study suggests that emotional intensity, instability, and differentiation could be conceptualized as manifestations of internalizing symptoms but not as risk factors for its progression, or residual manifestations of it, among typical children.
Long non‐coding ribonucleic acid urothelial carcinoma‐associated 1 promotes high glucose‐induced human retinal endothelial cells angiogenesis through regulating micro‐ribonucleic acid‐624‐3p/vascular endothelial growth factor C
Authors: Yan Huang , Yao Panpan , Hu Ke , Li Xueyao , Li Hong
Published: June 2021

Aims/Introduction

Emerging evidence has indicated that long non‐coding ribonucleic acids play important roles in the development and progression of diabetic retinopathy (DR). It is reported that urothelial carcinoma‐associated 1 (UCA1) is highly expressed in diabetic lymphoendothelial cells and influences glucose metabolism in rats with DR. The aim of the present study was to explore the role of UCA1 in the mechanism of DR.

Materials and Methods

Gene expression analyses in fibrovascular membranes excised from patients with DR using public microarray datasets (GSE60436). Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was carried out to detect UCA1, micro‐ribonucleic acid (miR)‐624‐3p and vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF‐C) expressions in the blood of patients and human retinal endothelial cells (HRECs). Furthermore, Cell Counting kit‐8, Transwell assay, and tube formation assay were used to identify biological effects of UCA1 on HRECs proliferation, migration ability and angiogenesis in vitro.

Results

UCA1 and VEGF‐C were elevated in DR patients and high glucose‐induced HRECs cell lines, whereas miR‐624‐3p was decreased. UCA1 inhibition inhibited proliferation, angiogenesis and migration of HRECs cells under high‐glucose condition. Luciferase reporter assay showed that UCA1 could sponge with miR‐624‐3p, which could directly target VEGF‐C. Finally, we proved a pathway that UCA1 promoted cell proliferation, migration and angiogenesis through sponging with miR‐624‐3p, thereby upregulating VEGF‐C in high‐glucose‐induced HRECs.

Conclusions

We identified UCA1 as an important factor associated with DR, which could regulate the expression of VEGF‐C by sponging miR‐624‐3p in human retinal endothelial cells. Our results pave the way for further studies on diagnostic and therapeutic studies related to UCA1 in DR patients.
Hidradenitis suppurativa‐specific, patient‐reported outcome measures
Authors: Zouboulis C.C. , Chernyshov P.V.
Published: June 2021

Linked article: C. Kursawe Larsen et al. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2021; 35: 1577–1581. https://doi.org/10.1111/jdv.17148.
The evolutionary and functional implications of the unusual quadrate of Longipteryx chaoyangensis (Avialae: Enantiornithes) from the Cretaceous Jehol Biota of China
Authors: Stidham Thomas A. , O'Connor Jingmai K.
Published: June 2021

While the morphology and evolution of the quadrate among early birds and through the evolutionary origin of birds is not well known, we add to knowledge about that past diversity through description of the morphology of the quadrate in the unusually elongate skull of the Cretaceous enantiornithine bird Longipteryx chaoyangensis. The lateral and caudal surfaces of the quadrate are well exposed in two specimens revealing morphologies typical of early birds and their dinosaurian close relatives like a small otic head and two mandibular condyles. However, both skeletons exhibit quadrates with a unique, enlarged lateral crest that has not been previously described among Mesozoic birds. It is possible that the rostral surface of this lateral expansion served as the origination site for enlarged jaw musculature in a manner similar to the enlarged subcapitular tubercle in extant galloanserine birds. The caudally concave surface of the quadrate likely reflects some aspect of cranial pneumaticity, with its shape and position reminiscent of quadrates found in close non‐avialan maniraptoran relatives. It is possible that this lateral crest has a wider distribution among enantiornithines and other early birds and that the crest has been misidentified as the orbital process in some more damaged specimens. In addition, the enlarged lateral mandibular condyle (relative to the medial condyle) differs from the condition typically reported among enantiornithines and could indicate a difference in jaw function or mechanics in this bird with an elongated rostrum, or simply misinterpretations of morphology. Further examination of the quadrate in temporally early and phylogenetically stemward birds, along with their close outgroups, could greatly impact the study of several different aspects of bird biology including assessment of phylogenetic relationships, interpretation of the function and kinematics of the skull, reconstruction of foraging paleoecology, and evolution of skull morphological diversity among Mesozoic birds.
Whole‐genome sequencing and genome regions of special interest: Lessons from major histocompatibility complex, sex determination, and plant self‐incompatibility
Authors: Vekemans Xavier , Castric Vincent , Hipperson Helen , Müller Niels A. , Westerdahl Helena , Cronk Quentin
Published: June 2021

Whole‐genome sequencing of non‐model organisms is now widely accessible and has allowed a range of questions in the field of molecular ecology to be investigated with greater power. However, some genomic regions that are of high biological interest remain problematic for assembly and data‐handling. Three such regions are the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), sex‐determining regions (SDRs) and the plant self‐incompatibility locus (S‐locus). Using these as examples, we illustrate the challenges of both assembling and resequencing these highly polymorphic regions and how bioinformatic and technological developments are enabling new approaches to their study. Mapping short‐read sequences against multiple alternative references improves genotyping comprehensiveness at the S‐locus thereby contributing to more accurate assessments of allelic frequencies. Long‐read sequencing, producing reads of several tens to hundreds of kilobase pairs in length, facilitates the assembly of such regions as single sequences can span the multiple duplicated gene copies of the MHC region, and sequence through repetitive stretches and translocations in SDRs and S‐locus haplotypes. These advances are adding value to short‐read genome resequencing approaches by allowing, for example, more accurate haplotype phasing across longer regions. Finally, we assessed further technical improvements, such as nanopore adaptive sequencing and bioinformatic tools using pangenomes, which have the potential to further expand our knowledge of a number of genomic regions that remain challenging to study with classical resequencing approaches.
Appraising prediction research: a guide and meta‐review on bias and applicability assessment using the Prediction model Risk Of Bias ASsessment Tool (PROBAST)
Authors: de Jong Ype , Ramspek Chava L. , Zoccali Carmine , Jager Kitty J. , Dekker Friedo W. , van Diepen Merel
Published: June 2021

Over the past few years, a large number of prediction models have been published, often of poor methodological quality. Seemingly objective and straightforward, prediction models provide a risk estimate for the outcome of interest, usually based on readily available clinical information. Yet, using models of substandard methodological rigour, especially without external validation, may result in incorrect risk estimates and consequently misclassification. To assess and combat bias in prediction research the prediction model risk of bias assessment tool (PROBAST) was published in 2019. This risk of bias (ROB) tool includes four domains and 20 signalling questions highlighting methodological flaws, and provides guidance in assessing the applicability of the model. In this paper, the PROBAST will be discussed, along with an in‐depth review of two commonly encountered pitfalls in prediction modelling that may induce bias: overfitting and composite endpoints. We illustrate the prevalence of potential bias in prediction models with a meta‐review of 50 systematic reviews that used the PROBAST to appraise their included studies, thus including 1510 different studies on 2104 prediction models. All domains showed an unclear or high ROB; these results were markedly stable over time, highlighting the urgent need for attention on bias in prediction research. This article aims to do just that by providing (1) the clinician with tools to evaluate the (methodological) quality of a clinical prediction model, (2) the researcher working on a review with methods to appraise the included models, and (3) the researcher developing a model with suggestions to improve model quality.
Comparison among the chloroplast genomes of five species of Chamaerhodos (Rosaceae: Potentilleae): phylogenetic implications
Authors: Li Qin‐Qin , Yu Yan , Zhang Zhi‐Ping , Wen Jun
Published: June 2021

Chamaerhodos is a small genus with ca 7–8 species with a disjunct distribution in Asia and western North America. Due to limited sampling of species and genes in previous studies, little is known about the phylogenetic relationships among the species. Moreover, chloroplast genomic resources for Chamaerhodos have been limited. Herein, we conducted a comparative analysis of the complete chloroplast (cp) genomes of five Chamaerhodos species. The five cp genomes had a typical quadripartite structure with high conservation of gene content and gene order. These five cp genomes encoded an identical set of 129 genes, including 84 protein‐coding genes, 37 tRNA genes and eight rRNA genes. Comparison of the boundaries between the IRs and single copy regions revealed only very slight boundary differences and the five cp genomes showed only little sequence divergence. Seven regions (trnR‐UCU‐atpA, trnS‐GCU‐trnG‐UCC, TrnG‐GCC‐trnfM‐CAU, trnL‐UAA intron, trnH‐GUG‐psbA, trnF‐GAA‐ndhJ, matK‐5′‐trnK‐UUU) were identified as excellent candidate markers. A total of 117, 108, 116, 117 and 118 perfect SSRs were detected in the cp genomes of Ch. altaica, Ch. canescens, Ch. erecta, Ch. sabulosa and Ch. trifida, respectively. A phylogenetic analysis support the monophyly of Chamaerhodos and place it as part of the Fragariinae clade sister to the clade of Dasiphora, Drymocallis and Potaninia. Within Chamaerhodos, Ch. canescens was inferred sister to a clade containing the other four species. The detailed characterization of the Chamaerhodos chloroplast genomes sets the foundation for further studies on the genus and its close relatives in the economically important Rosaceae.
Coordination between compound‐specific chemistry and morphology in plant roots aligns with ancestral mycorrhizal association in woody angiosperms
Authors: Xia Mengxue , Valverde‐Barrantes Oscar J. , Suseela Vidya , Blackwood Christopher B. , Tharayil Nishanth
Published: June 2021

Recent studies on fine root functional traits proposed a root economics hypothesis where adaptations associated with mycorrhizal dependency strongly influence the organization of root traits, forming a dominant axis of trait covariation unique to roots. This conclusion, however, is based on tradeoffs of a few widely studied root traits. It is unknown how other functional traits fit into this mycorrhizal‐collaboration gradient. Here, we provide a significant extension to the field of root ecology by examining how fine root secondary compounds coordinate with other root traits.

We analyzed a dataset integrating compound‐specific chemistry, morphology and anatomy of fine roots and leaves from 34 temperate tree species spanning major angiosperm lineages.

Our data uncovered previously undocumented coordination where root chemistry, morphology and anatomy covary with each other. This coordination, aligned with mycorrhizal colonization, reflects tradeoffs between chemical protection and mycorrhizal dependency, and provides mechanistic support for the mycorrhizal‐collaboration gradient. We also found remarkable phylogenetic structuring in root chemistry. These patterns were not mirrored by leaves. Furthermore, chemical protection was largely decoupled from the leaf economics spectrum.

Our results unveil broad organization of root chemistry, demonstrate unique belowground adaptions, and suggest that root strategies and phylogeny could impact biogeochemical cycles through their links with root chemistry.
High expression of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) plays an important role in the formation of fibrous epulis
Authors: Zeng Xuwen , Xia Siying , Yan Xiangzhen , Hu Congjiao , An Kangkang , Luo Lijun
Published: June 2021

Objectives

Epulis is considered to be a massive reactive lesion rather than a true neoplasia. AhR is thought to be associated with inflammation and development of neoplasms. Here, we aimed to observe the expression of AhR in fibrous epulis and explore its role and possible mechanism in the pathogenesis of epulis.

Materials and Methods

Epulis and normal gingival tissues were collected, and AhR expression was detected at the mRNA and protein levels by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and immunohistochemistry, respectively. The expression levels of proinflammatory cytokines and apoptosis‐related factor genes in human periodontal ligament cells (hPDLCs) and human gingival fibroblasts (hGFs) transfected with AhR short interfering RNA (siRNA) or negative control siRNA, upon stimulation with lipopolysaccharide of Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg‐LPS), were then examined. Finally, the expression levels of the proinflammatory cytokines and apoptosis‐related factor genes in the epulis tissues were observed by qPCR.

Results

AhR expression in fibrous epulis was significantly increased at both the mRNA and protein levels. The expression of proinflammatory cytokines and apoptosis‐related factor genes in hPDLCs transfected with AhR siRNA was significantly decreased when stimulated with Pg‐LPS. The same trends were observed for hGFs. The opposite trend was detected in the epulis tissues.

Conclusion

AhR may be a key factor in fibrous epulis pathogenesis that acts by regulating the expression of BCL2 family genes and inflammatory factor‐related genes.
Molecular phylogeny of Elmidae (Coleoptera: Byrrhoidea) with a focus on Japanese species: implications for intrafamilial classification
Authors: Kobayashi Takuya , Hayashi Masakazu , Kamite Yuuki , Sota Teiji
Published: June 2021

Elmidae (Coleoptera: Byrrhoidea) comprises diverse groups of specialized aquatic beetles, but the phylogenetic positions of the intrafamilial taxonomic groups remain unclear. We performed phylogenetic analyses of 26 genera and 73 elmid species and subspecies representing four of the five currently recognized tribes from Holarctic region (Japan, Europe and North America) using sequence data from up to 585 ultraconserved elements (UCEs). The UCE‐based phylogenetic trees inferred by both maximum‐likelihood and Bayesian inference methods resolved most of the phylogenetic relationships with high support. Our results indicate that a revised classification for the intrafamilial taxonomic groups in Elmidae is necessary. We also examined the correspondence of the character states of ten adult and larval morphological traits to the phylogeny and identified several traits that are potentially useful for defining intrafamilial taxonomic groups in Elmidae. Based on the molecular phylogeny and morphology of adults and larvae, Gonielmis Sanderson syn. n. and Optioservus Sanderson syn. n. are synonymized with Heterlimnius Hinton. Nomuraelmis Satô syn. n. was also synonymized with Stenelmis Dufour. A revised checklist and an identification key to the species groups are provided for Heterlimnius.
The diversification of termites: Inferences from a complete species‐level phylogeny
Authors: Pie Marcio R. , Carrijo Tiago F. , Caron Fernanda S.
Published: June 2021

Termites play a major role in a variety of ecological processes in tropical and subtropical biomes worldwide, such as decomposition, soil formation and aeration, and nutrient cycling. These important ecosystem services were achieved through their highly complex societies and remarkable adaptations, including the evolution of reproductive division of labour, the acquisition of endosymbionts and the capacity for extensive environmental engineering, yet the causes and consequences of their ecological success are still poorly understood. The goals of our study were (a) to provide the first complete, species‐level phylogeny of all currently recognized termite species by integrating the available genetic and taxonomic data, as well as methods of phylogenetic imputation and divergence time estimation; and (b) to explore variation in speciation rates among termite lineages. We provide the inferred relationships as a set of 1,000 pseudo‐posterior trees, which can be used in future comparative analyses. We demonstrate that speciation rates have been relatively constant throughout the history of termites, with two positive shifts in speciation rates: one at their origin of Euisoptera and the other concordant with evolution of Termitidae. On the other hand, there was no obvious trend towards deceleration in speciation rates for termites as a whole, nor within the most species‐rich families. The provided trees might represent a valuable resource for termite comparative studies by summarizing the available phylogenetic information, while accounting for uncertainty in the inferred topologies.
Embedded Metamaterial Subframe Patch for Increased Power Output of Piezoelectric Energy Harvesters
Authors: Farhangdoust Saman , Georgeson Gary , Ihn Jeong-Beom , Mehrabi Armin
Published: June 2021

These days, piezoelectric energy harvesting (PEH) is introduced as one of the clean and renewable energy sources for powering the self-powered sensors utilized for wireless condition monitoring of structures. However, low efficiency is the biggest drawback of PEHs. This paper introduces an innovative embedded metamaterial subframe (MetaSub) patch as a practical solution to address the low throughput limitation of conventional PEHs whose host structure has already been constructed or installed. To evaluate the performance of the embedded MetaSub patch (EMSP), a cantilever beam is considered as the host structure in this study. The EMSP transfers the auxetic behavior to the piezoelectric element (PZT) wherever substituting a regular beam with an auxetic beam is either impracticable or suboptimal. The concept of the EMSP is numerically validated, and the comsol multiphysics software was employed to investigate its performance when a cantilever beam is subjected to different amplitude and frequency. The finite element model results demonstrate that the harvesting power in cases that use the EMSP can be amplified up to 5.5 times compared to a piezoelectric cantilever energy harvester without patch. This paper opens up a great potential of using EMSP for different types of energy harvesting systems in biomedical, acoustics, civil, electrical, aerospace, and mechanical engineering applications.
Optimal Selection of Model Validation Experiments: Guided by Coverage
Authors: Hällqvist Robert , Braun Robert , Eek Magnus , Krus Petter
Published: June 2021

Modeling and Simulation (M&S) is seen as a means to mitigate the difficulties associated with increased system complexity, integration, and cross-couplings effects encountered during development of aircraft subsystems. As a consequence, knowledge of model validity is necessary for taking robust and justified design decisions. This paper presents a method for using coverage metrics to formulate an optimal model validation strategy. Three fundamentally different and industrially relevant use-cases are presented. The first use-case entails the successive identification of validation settings, and the second considers the simultaneous identification of n validation settings. The latter of these two use-cases is finally expanded to incorporate a secondary model-based objective to the optimization problem in a third use-case. The approach presented is designed to be scalable and generic to models of industrially relevant complexity. As a result, selecting experiments for validation is done objectively with little required manual effort.
The Influence of Real Gas Radiation on the Stability and Development of Benard Convection in a Two-Dimensional Layer
Authors: Webb B. W. , Solovjov V. P.
Published: June 2021

The influence of real gas radiation on the thermal and hydrodynamic stability of a two-dimensional layer of radiatively participating H2O and/or CO2 heated from below is investigated. The nongray radiation effects of the two species are treated rigorously using a global spectral approach, the Spectral Line Weighted-sum-of-gray-gases model. The phenomena are explored by solving the full coupled laminar equations of motion, energy, and radiative transfer from the low-Rayleigh number, pure conduction-radiation regime through the onset of buoyancy-induced flow to the developed Bénard convection regime. The evolution of the thermal, hydrodynamic, and radiative heating fields is studied, and the critical Rayleigh number is characterized as a function of participating gas species mole fraction, average layer gas temperature, layer thickness, wall emissivity, and total pressure. It is found that participating radiation in the medium has the effect of stabilizing the layer, delaying transition from a stable conduction regime to buoyancy-induced flow. The development of convective flow and temperature, along with the radiative heating are presented. It is found that the critical Rayleigh number in the radiatively participating gas layer can be more than an order of magnitude higher than the classical convection-only scenario. The onset of instability is found to depend on the species mole fractions, average gas temperature in the layer, wall emissivity, layer thickness, and total pressure. Generally, all other variables being the same, H2O has a greater stabilizing influence on the layer than CO2.
The Self-Paced Submaximal Run Test: Associations With the Graded Exercise Test and Reliability
Authors: Sangan Hannah F. , Hopker James G. , Davison Glen , McLaren Shaun J.
Published: June 2021

Purpose: To assess the reliability and construct validity of a self-paced, submaximal run test (SRTRPE) for monitoring aerobic fitness. The SRTRPE monitors running velocity (v), heart rate (HRex), and blood lactate concentration (B[La]), during three 3-minute stages prescribed by ratings of perceived exertion (RPEs) of 10, 13, and 17. Methods: Forty (14 female) trained endurance runners completed a treadmill graded exercise test for the determination of maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), v at VO2max (vVO2max), and v at 2 mmol·L−1 (vLT1) and 4 mmol·L−1 (vLT2) B[La]. Within 7 days, participants completed the SRTRPE. Convergent validity between the SRTRPE and graded exercise test parameters was assessed through linear regression. Eleven participants completed a further 2 trials of the SRTRPE within a 72-hour period to quantify test–retest reliability. Results: There were large correlations between v at all stages of the SRTRPE and VO2max (r range = .57–.63), vVO2max (.50–.66), and vLT2 (.51–.62), with vRPE 17 displaying the strongest associations (r > .60). Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC3,1) were moderate to high for parameters v (range = .76–.84), HRex (.72–.92), and %HRmax (.64–.89) at all stages of the SRTRPE. The corresponding coefficients of variation were 2.5% to 5.6%. All parameters monitored at intensity RPE 17 displayed the greatest reliability. Conclusions: The SRTRPE was shown to be a valid and reliable test for monitoring parameters associated with aerobic fitness, displaying the potential of this submaximal, time-efficient test to monitor responses to endurance training.