bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Learning by explaining to oneself and a peer enhances learners’ theta and alpha oscillations while watching video lectures
Authors: Pi Zhongling , Zhang Yi , Zhou Weichen , Xu Ke , Chen Yanran , Yang Jiumin , Zhao Qingbai
Published: November 2020

In the present study, we tested the effectiveness of three learning strategies (self‐explanation, learning by teaching and passive viewing) used by students who were learning from video lectures. Effectiveness was measured not only with traditional measures, but also with electroencephalography (EEG). Using a within‐subjects design, 26 university students viewed three sets of short lectures, each presenting a different set of English vocabulary words and were asked to use a different learning strategy for each set of lectures. Participants’ EEG signals were assessed while watching the videos; learning experience (self‐reported motivation and engagement) and learning performance (vocabulary recall test score) were assessed after watching the videos. Repeated measures ANOVAs showed that the self‐explaining and teaching strategies were more beneficial than the passive viewing strategy, as indicated by higher EEG theta and alpha band power, a more positive learning experience (higher motivation and engagement) and better learning performance. However, whereas the teaching strategy elicited greater neural oscillations related to working memory and attention compared to the self‐explanation strategy, the two groups did not differ on self‐reported learning experience or learning performance. Our findings are discussed in terms of potential application in courses using video lectures and in terms of their heuristic value for future research on the neural processes that differentiate learning strategies.

Practitioner Notes

What is already known about this topic

Watching video lectures does not always result in learners actively making sense of the learning material.

Self‐explaining facilitates deep learning from viewing video lectures and in traditional educational settings.

Learning by teaching also facilitates deep learning in traditional educational settings.

What this paper adds

Learning by teaching resulted in the highest theta and alpha band power in EEG assessment while viewing video lectures.

Compared with passive viewing, learning by teaching enhanced students’ motivation to try to understand the material; in addition, both learning by teaching and self‐explaining enhanced the amount of mental effort students put into understanding the material.

Learning was increased via both self‐explaining and teaching strategies after viewing video lectures.

Implications for practice and/or policy

Learners are encouraged to generate explanations during pauses in video lectures or after viewing them, in order to increase learning.

Learners are also encouraged to learn by teaching, as this strategy can increase learning and also increase neural oscillations associated with memory and attention.
Latent profiles of self‐regulated learning and their impacts on teachers’ technology integration
Authors: Huang Lingyun , Li Shan , Poitras Eric G. , Lajoie Susanne P.
Published: November 2020

Past research shows that both teachers’ technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK) and their engagement in metacognitive activities are essential to technology integration in the classroom. However, the interplay between teachers’ TPACK ability and their metacognitive skills is still underexplored, especially in the context of developing technology‐infused lesson plans. This study examined how the interrelations among metacognitive activities and TPACK constructs affected preservice teachers’ technology integration in instructional design. Sixty‐four preservice teachers designed a lesson with nBrowser, a computer‐based learning environment (CBLE) that helps teachers incorporate technology into instruction by promoting self‐regulated learning (SRL). Drawing on the lesson plans, we extracted six types of metacognitive processes preservice teachers exhibited while solving the task and generated two distinct SRL profiles according to the identified latent profile of metacognitive patterns. The competent self‐regulated learners demonstrated more efforts in metacognitive monitoring activities than the less competent self‐regulated learners in regulating their task solving processes. When comparing TPACK comprehension and design performance between the two profiles, the competent self‐regulated learners outperformed the less competent self‐regulated learners on comprehension and design outcomes. This study provides deep insights into teachers’ self‐regulation in CBLEs and emphasizes the pivotal role of metacognition and SRL in teachers’ TPACK development.

Practitioner Notes

What is already known about this topic

Success in technology integration calls for teachers’ conceptual understanding of technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK).

Teachers’ self‐regulated learning (SRL) ability mediates their TPACK development since metacognitive activities in the SRL process enable teachers to monitor and evaluate TPACK learning towards the sophisticated levels of TPACK.

What this paper adds

nBrowser, the computer‐based learning environment fosters teachers’ engagement in regulated TPACK development.

Analysis of teachers’ lesson plans affords opportunities to identify teachers’ specific metacognitive processes in self‐regulated TPACK development.

Latent profile analysis helps to understand the heterogeneity of teachers’ metacognitive processes and establish distinctive profiles regarding teachers’ self‐regulation.

Teachers’ TPACK development differed significantly across distinctive SRL profiles.

Implications for practice and/or policy

Teacher educators should find ways to support teachers’ SRL ability in technology education.

The identification of SRL profiles could contribute to designing metacognitive scaffolds in the specific domain of teachers’ technology education.
A tale of two subreddits: Change and continuity in teaching‐related online spaces
Authors: Staudt Willet K. Bret , Carpenter Jeffrey P.
Published: November 2020

Despite social media’s ubiquity in modern life, research on some topics related to educators’ use of social media for professional purposes remains underdeveloped, such as how use may change over time. This study explores educators’ self‐directed learning through social media by comparing change and continuity in how users contribute, interact and converse in two teaching‐related subreddits, r/Teachers and r/education. More than a million Reddit contributions spanning three‐and‐a‐half years comprise the dataset: 696 660 contributions to r/Teachers from 55 148 users and 339 618 contributions to r/education from 43 711 users. Learning ecology and affinity space concepts frame multiple methods of analysis, including quantitative measures of individual contributions, content interactions and social interactions, as well as qualitative content analysis of top posts and responses. Findings are discussed in light of the literature as change and continuity in Redditors’ participation patterns in the two subreddits suggest distinct spaces for distinct purposes. This study offers a starting point for further work to understand the opportunities and challenges of self‐directed learning in open and complex social media spaces.

Practitioner Notes

What is already known about this topic

Educators use social media to reach outside their local contexts for self‐directed learning.

Teaching‐related subreddits vary in how users contribute and interact.

What this paper adds

Different online spaces host distinct kinds of discussion.

Educators’ participation in online spaces is not static.

Social media research methods should account for the possibilities of change and continuity in contributions, interactions and conversations.

Implications for practice and/or policy

Teaching‐related subreddits continue to grow and may offer helpful content and interactions to users; however, self‐directed learning through social media also necessitates increased digital literacy.

r/Teachers appeared to be a conversational space primarily for teachers.

r/education seemed to be a bulletin board space for posting about broader educational topics.
Skipping a step: what happened to the design of randomized clinical trials in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia?
Authors: Smolej Lukáš
Published: November 2020

Clinical research of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) has been advancing at an unprecedented pace. Several randomized studies in the current era of oral targeted agents seem to have skipped one step and proceeded directly to combinations with antibodies, omitting the testing of novel‐agent monotherapy. Thus, the ibrutinib + rituximab combination was used as the experimental arm in a major trial for untreated fit patients while two other trials subsequently showed that addition of rituximab to ibrutinib does not produce any meaningful benefit. Similarly, two large trials omitted venetoclax monotherapy and proceeded directly to venetoclax + rituximab or obinutuzumab versus chemoimmunotherapy. While such trials are undoubtedly cheaper, quicker and easier to manage, they leave the CLL community with uncertainty regarding the real role of the monoclonal antibody components. Thus, we are left with regimens which are undoubtedly effective, but might actually be unnecessarily toxic and expensive. The solution to this problem is simple: future randomized trials should be carefully designed in a ‘step by step’ fashion which would provide the CLL community with simple yet robust answers regarding efficacy of novel regimens so that these can be introduced to practice following the best principles of evidence‐based medicine.
Glacial dynamics and deglaciation history of Hambergbukta reconstructed from submarine landforms and sediment cores, SE Spitsbergen, Svalbard
Authors: Noormets Riko , Flink Anne , Kirchner Nina
Published: November 2020

The submarine landforms and shallow sediment record are presented from Hambergbukta, southeastern Spitsbergen using swath‐bathymetric, subbottom acoustic, and sediment core data. The mapped landforms include large terminal and end‐moraines with associated debrisflow aprons on their distal flanks, drumlinized till surface, glacial lineations, medial and retreat moraines, crevasse squeeze ridge networks, eskers, as well as iceberg‐produced terraces and plough‐marks. Analysis of the landforms and landform assemblages in combination with the sediment core data and aerial imagery studies reveal a complex and dynamic glacial history of Hambergbukta. We present a detailed history of Hambergbreen glacier indicating two previously unknown surges as well as new details on the nature of the subsequent ice‐margin retreat. The results from two gravity cores combined with the shallow acoustic stratigraphy and high‐resolution bathymetry suggest that the c. AD 1900 surge was less extensive than previously thought and the retreat was most likely rapid after the c. AD 1900 and 1957 surges of the Hambergbreen. Mixed benthic foraminifera collected from the outer fjord basin date to 2456 cal. a BP, suggesting older sediments were re‐worked by the c. AD 1900 surge. This highlights the importance of exercising caution when using foraminifers for dating surge events in fjord basins enclosed by prominent end‐moraines.
Prevalence and risk/protective indicators of peri‐implant diseases: A university‐representative cross‐sectional study
Authors: Romandini Mario , Lima Cristina , Pedrinaci Ignacio , Araoz Ana , Soldini Maria Costanza , Sanz Mariano
Published: November 2020

Aim

To evaluate the prevalence of peri‐implant diseases and to identify risk/protective indicators of peri‐implantitis.

Materials and Methods

Two hundred and forty randomly selected patients from a university clinic database were invited to participate. Those who accepted, once data from their medical and dental history were collected, were examined clinically and radiographically to assess the prevalence of peri‐implant health and diseases. Peri‐implantitis was defined as the presence of BoP/SoP together with radiographic bone levels (BL) ≧2 mm. An intermediate peri‐implant health category between peri‐implant mucositis and peri‐implantitis was also identified, defined by the presence of BoP/SoP together with 1 mm ≦BL < 2 mm. A multilevel multivariate logistic regression analysis was carried out to identify those factors associated either positively (risk) or negatively (protective) with peri‐implantitis.

Results

Ninety‐nine patients with a total of 458 dental implants were analyzed. The prevalences of pre‐periimplantitis and of peri‐implantitis were, respectively, 31.3% and 56.6% at patient‐level, while 31.7% and 27.9% at implant level. The following factors were identified as risk indicators for peri‐implantitis: smoking (OR = 3.59; 95% CI: 1.52–8.45), moderate/severe periodontitis (OR = 2.77; 95% CI: 1.20–6.36), <16 remaining teeth (OR = 2.23; 95% CI: 1.05–4.73), plaque (OR = 3.49; 95% CI: 1.13–10.75), implant malposition (too vestibular: OR = 2.85; 95% CI: 1.17–6.93), implant brand (Nobel vs. Straumann: OR = 4.41;95% CI: 1.76–11.09), restoration type (bridge vs. single crown: OR = 2.47; 95% CI: 1.19–5.12), and trauma as reason of tooth loss (vs. caries: OR = 6.51; 95% CI: 1.45–29.26). Conversely, the following factors were identified as protective indicators: interproximal flossing/brushing (OR = 0.27; 95% CI: 0.11–0.68), proton pump inhibitors (OR = 0.08; 95% CI: 0.01–0.90), and anticoagulants (OR = 0.08; 95% CI: 0.01–0.56).

Conclusions

Peri‐implant diseases are highly prevalent among patients with dental implants in this university‐based population. Several factors were identified as risk‐ and protective‐ indicators of peri‐implantitis.
Implications of scale dependence for cross‐study syntheses of biodiversity differences
Authors: Spake Rebecca , Mori Akira S. , Beckmann Michael , Martin Philip A. , Christie Alec P. , Duguid Marlyse C. , Doncaster C. Patrick
Published: November 2020

Biodiversity studies are sensitive to well‐recognised temporal and spatial scale dependencies. Cross‐study syntheses may inflate these influences by collating studies that vary widely in the numbers and sizes of sampling plots. Here we evaluate sources of inaccuracy and imprecision in study‐level and cross‐study estimates of biodiversity differences, caused by within‐study grain and sample sizes, biodiversity measure, and choice of effect‐size metric. Samples from simulated communities of old‐growth and secondary forests demonstrated influences of all these parameters on the accuracy and precision of cross‐study effect sizes. In cross‐study synthesis by formal meta‐analysis, the metric of log response ratio applied to measures of species richness yielded better accuracy than the commonly used Hedges' g metric on species density, which dangerously combined higher precision with persistent bias. Full‐data analyses of the raw plot‐scale data using multilevel models were also susceptible to scale‐dependent bias. We demonstrate the challenge of detecting scale dependence in cross‐study synthesis, due to ubiquitous covariation between replication, variance and plot size. We propose solutions for diagnosing and minimising bias. We urge that empirical studies publish raw data to allow evaluation of covariation in cross‐study syntheses, and we recommend against using Hedges' g in biodiversity meta‐analyses.
Keloid disorder: Fibroblast differentiation and gene expression profile in fibrotic skin diseases
Authors: Macarak Edward J. , Wermuth Peter J. , Rosenbloom Joel , Uitto Jouni
Published: November 2020

Keloid disorder, a group of fibroproliferative skin diseases, is characterized by unremitting accumulation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) of connective tissue, primarily collagen, to develop cutaneous tumors on the predilection sites of skin. There is a strong genetic predisposition for keloid formation, and individuals of African and Asian ancestry are particularly prone. The principal cell type responsible for ECM accumulation is the myofibroblast derived from quiescent resident skin fibroblasts either throughtrans‐differentiation or from keloid progenitor stem cells with capacity for multi‐lineage differentiation and self‐renewal. The biosynthetic pathways leading to ECM accumulation are activated by several cytokines, but particularly by TGF‐β signalling. The mechanical properties of the cellular microenvironment also play a critical role in the cell's response to TGF‐β, as demonstrated by culturing of fibroblasts derived from keloids and control skin on substrata with different degrees of stiffness. These studies also demonstrated that culturing of fibroblasts on tissue culture plastic in vitro does not reflect their biosynthetic capacity in vivo. Collectively, our current understanding of the pathogenesis of keloids suggests a complex network of interacting cellular, molecular and mechanical factors, with distinct pathways leading to myofibroblast differentiation and activation. Keloids can serve as a model system of fibrotic diseases, a group of currently intractable disorders, and deciphering of the critical pathogenetic steps leading to ECM accumulation is expected to identify targets for pharmacologic intervention, not only for keloids but also for a number of other, both genetic and acquired, fibrotic diseases.
Quantifying thermal exposure for migratory riverine species: Phenology of Chinook salmon populations predicts thermal stress
Authors: FitzGerald Alyssa M. , John Sara N. , Apgar Travis M. , Mantua Nathan J. , Martin Benjamin T.
Published: November 2020

Migratory species are particularly vulnerable to climate change because habitat throughout their entire migration cycle must be suitable for the species to persist. For migratory species in rivers, predicting climate change impacts is especially difficult because there is a lack of spatially continuous and seasonally varying stream temperature data, habitat conditions can vary for an individual throughout its life cycle, and vulnerability can vary by life stage and season. To predict thermal impacts on migratory riverine populations, we first expanded a spatial stream network model to predict mean monthly temperature for 465,775 river km in the western U.S., and then applied simple yet plausible future stream temperature change scenarios. We then joined stream temperature predictions to 44,396 spatial observations and life‐stage‐specific phenology (timing) for 26 ecotypes (i.e., geographically distinct population groups expressing one of the four distinct seasonal migration patterns) of Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), a phenotypically diverse anadromous salmonid that is ecologically and economically important but declining throughout its range. Thermal stress, assessed for each life stage and ecotype based on federal criteria, was influenced by migration timing rather than latitude, elevation, or migration distance such that sympatric ecotypes often showed differential thermal exposure. Early‐migration phenotypes were especially vulnerable due to prolonged residency in inland streams during the summer. We evaluated the thermal suitability of 31,699 stream km which are currently blocked by dams to explore reintroduction above dams as an option to mitigate the negative effects of our warmer stream temperature scenarios. Our results showed that negative impacts of stream temperature warming can be offset for almost all ecotypes if formerly occupied habitat above dams is made available. Our approach of combining spatial distribution and phenology data with spatially explicit and temporally explicit temperature predictions enables researchers to examine thermal exposure of migrating populations that use seasonally varying habitats.
Giant dielectric constant, dielectric relaxations, and tunable properties of Sm2/3Cu3Ti4O12 ceramics
Authors: Thomas A. K. , George Merin , Abraham Kevin , Sajan D.
Published: November 2020

The polycrystalline Sm2/3Cu3Ti4O12 (SCTO) ceramics have been prepared by solid‐state reaction. The crystallinity of the compound has been investigated by Rietveld refinement which has revealed a cubic structure with space group Im3. It is observed that at low frequencies, SCTO ceramic exhibits tremendously high values of dielectric permittivity ε′, larger than 32,000, at room temperature. Two distinct, thermally triggered, dielectric relaxations have been noted. This mechanism has been confirmed through impedance analysis of the ceramics. The complex impedance plane shows three semicircles, which confirm the existence of two dielectric relaxations in SCTO ceramics. In general, the electrical as well as dielectric behavior of SCTO ceramics are seen to be reasonably analogous to those of CaCu3Ti4O12 (CCTO) ceramics. The emergence of the enormous dielectric constant in SCTO ceramic is accredited to the combined effect of polarization both at the sample‐electrode interface as well as at the insulating grain boundary interface. The SCTO ceramics are identical to the CCTO ceramics in their structure and composition and hence, as the above results indicate, the IBLC effect mechanism, originally put forward for CCTO ceramics, is furthermore plausible to account for the mammoth values of dielectric constant in SCTO ceramics.
Possible role of hypothyroidism in the prognosis of COVID‐19
Authors: Daraei Morteza , Hasibi Mehrdad , Abdollahi Hamed , Mirabdolhagh Hazaveh Mojgan , Zebaradst Jayran , Hajinoori Mitra , Asadollahi‐Amin Ali
Published: November 2020

In patients with COVID‐19, certain medical conditions could result in poorer clinical outcomes. However, the prognostic role of hypothyroidism in COVID‐19 is still unknown. In the present retrospective study, we estimated the prevalence of hypothyroidism in COVID‐19 admitted patients in Tehran, Iran. Among 390 COVID‐19 admitted patients, 21 hypothyroid cases (5.4%) were found, in which nearly 90% were aged 50 years and older. Regarding the effect of hypothyroidism on COVID‐19 mortality, 60 (15.3%) of total patients and 4 (19%) of hypothyroid patients died, and no significant difference was found between the two groups.
Can a liveable city be a healthy city, now and into the future?
Authors: Gunn Lucy D.
Published: November 2020

City planning and infrastructure can influence the social determinants of health, the liveability of cities and the physical and mental health of city residents. This article defines these concepts and discusses how city planning can help in mitigating COVID‐19 transmission, and support health by accommodating active transport (i.e. walking and cycling) and emerging technologies (i.e. autonomous and electric vehicles).
An audit of ventilation and perfusion SPECT reporting for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism in a tertiary cardiothoracic centre
Authors: Kannan Shanthi , Rose David S. , Lee Joseph C. , Yeung Francis Y. F.
Published: November 2020

The aim of the study was to identify reporting patterns of ventilation and perfusion single‐photon emission computed tomography (V/Q SPECT) scans done in our department over 3 months in 2016. Factors impacting on reporting and patient groups that would most benefit from the addition of low‐dose computed tomography (CT) to V/Q SPECT were analysed. Among 178 patients, 173 (97.2%) had a definitive (positive/negative) report and 2.8% had an equivocal report. As the majority of the equivocal reports were seen in patients aged ≥70 years, we believe that addition of low‐dose CT with V/Q SPECT to this patient group will reduce the non‐diagnostic rate.
Factors influencing quality of life in children with low‐flow vascular malformations: a qualitative study using focus groups
Authors: Casassa E. , Bergeron A. , Maruani A. , Labreze C. , Barbarot S. , Aubert H. , Malloizel‐Delaunay J. , Shourick J. , Croiset A. , Dreyfus I. , Mazereeuw‐Hautier J.
Published: November 2020

Background

Very few studies have evaluated the quality of life (QoL) of children suffering from low‐flow vascular malformations. This is the first study investigating the influencing factors.

Objectives

To identify the factors influencing QoL in children with low‐flow vascular malformations.

Methods

We conducted a qualitative study employing focus group interviews (Clinical Trials Number: NCT03440827). The study was a prospective, interventional, non‐comparative, multicentre study performed in four expert centres for vascular anomalies. Qualitative data about personal experiences, feelings, difficulties, needs and various factors influencing behaviours were collected. Theme‐based content analysis (manual and specialist textural software guided) were used to analyse the verbatim transcripts of all focus group sessions. Manual qualitative discourse analysis was performed to identify the different themes and categories. Informatics' analyses were subsequently performed for each individual category.

Results

Ten focus groups (26 individuals including 10 children aged 11 to 15 years) were conducted until saturation. Influencing factors were related to 4 categories: medical care, self‐image, social impact on daily activities and challenging social relationships. These factors were responsible for intrafamily upheavals and may lead to future identity‐building problems.

Conclusions

This study provides an essential framework from which physicians can develop strategies to improve patient care and quality of life. These data may also be useful to develop specific age‐sensitive QoL questionnaires.
Circadian photoperiod alters TREK‐1 channel function and expression in dorsal raphe serotonergic neurons via melatonin receptor 1 signaling
Authors: Giannoni‐Guzmán Manuel A. , Kamitakahara Anna , Magalong Valerie , Levitt Pat , McMahon Douglas G.
Published: November 2020

Seasonal day length has been linked to the prevalence of mood disorders, and however, the mechanisms underlying this relationship remain unknown. Previous work in our laboratory has shown that developmental exposure to seasonal photoperiods has enduring effects on the activity of mouse dorsal raphe serotonergic neurons, their intrinsic electrical properties, as well as on depression and anxiety‐related behaviors. Here we focus on the possible ionic mechanisms that underlie the observed programming of the electrophysiological properties of serotonin neurons, focusing on the twin‐pore K + channels TREK‐1 and TASK‐1 that set resting membrane potential and regulate excitability. Pharmacological inhibition of TREK‐1 significantly increased spike frequency in Short and Equinox photoperiods, but did not further elevate the firing rate in slices from Long photoperiod mice, suggesting that TREK‐1 function is reduced in Long photoperiods. In contrast, inhibition of TASK‐1 resulted in increases in firing rates across all photoperiods, suggesting that it contributes to setting excitability, but is not regulated by photoperiod. We then quantifiedKcnk2mRNA levels specifically in dorsal raphe 5‐HT neurons using triple‐label RNAscope. We found that Long photoperiod significantly reduced levels ofKcnk2in serotonin neurons co‐expressingTph2, andPet‐1. Photoperiodic effects on the function and expression of TREK‐1 were blocked in melatonin 1 receptor knockout (MT‐1KO) mice, consistent with previous findings that MT‐1 signaling is necessary for photoperiodic programming of dorsal raphe 5‐HT neurons. Taken together these results indicate that photoperiodic regulation of TREK‐1 expression and function plays a key role in photoperiodic programming the excitability of dorsal raphe 5‐HT neurons.
Emotional Abuse Questionnaire (EAQ): A New Scale for Measuring Emotional Abuse and Psychological Maltreatment1
Authors: Momtaz Vahid , Mansor Mariani , Talib Mansor Abu , Kahar Rojanah B. T. , Momtaz Tahereh
Published: November 2020

Emotional abuse is the core of all other kinds of child abuses and maltreatments. The significant and serious outcomes of other kinds of abuses are often due to the emotional aspects. Moreover, emotional abuse has several forms, and each form may lead to different adverse outcomes for children and adolescents. Unfortunately, there is not a comprehensive instrument to assess all categories of emotional abuse. A 30‐item self‐report questionnaire was developed for ages 12 years and older. The sample included 328 students aged 12 to 19 years selected randomly from students referred to different student counseling centers. Exploratory factor analysis categorized the scale into six subscales. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that all items were fitted with the subscales significantly. Content and concurrent validity demonstrated good validity and reliability for each subscale. Overall reliability was also significantly acceptable.
Priming with Horizontal Reading Influences the Deployment of Visual Attention During Word Processing1
Authors: Kobayashi Honami , Ogawa Hirokazu
Published: November 2020

Previous studies on parallel processing of words have demonstrated that the orthographic properties of multiple words can be processed simultaneously. However, whether parallel lexical processing (which requires attentional allocation towards a subsequent N + 1 word) is possible has been much debated. We examined this controversy in the Japanese language with the flanker lexical decision task and investigated whether the deployment of attention changed after priming with horizontal reading. Participants allocated to the priming group read short passages written in Japanese before the flanker task. The results showed that the parallel processing of a lexical property was observed after priming, which implicates that reading facilitates the attentional allocation to the right during the processing of a current word. The results suggested that strategies to allocate attention to the right are at work during reading. Furthermore, the current study points to the possibility that word processing during reading can be assessed by combining the priming procedure and flanker lexical decision task.
The complex genomic basis of rapid convergent adaptation to pesticides across continents in a fungal plant pathogen
Authors: Hartmann Fanny E. , Vonlanthen Tiziana , Singh Nikhil Kumar , McDonald Megan C. , Milgate Andrew , Croll Daniel
Published: November 2020

Convergent evolution leads to identical phenotypic traits in different species or populations. Convergence can be driven by standing variation allowing selection to favour identical alleles in parallel or the same mutations can arise independently. However, the molecular basis of such convergent adaptation remains often poorly resolved. Pesticide resistance in agricultural ecosystems is a hallmark of convergence in phenotypic traits. Here, we analyse the major fungal pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici causing serious losses on wheat and with fungicide resistance emergence across several continents. We sampled three population pairs each from a different continent spanning periods early and late in the application of fungicides. To identify causal loci for resistance, we combined knowledge from molecular genetics work and performed genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) on a global set of isolates. We discovered yet unknown factors in azole resistance including a gene encoding membrane associated functions. We found strong support for the “hotspot” model of resistance evolution with convergent changes in a small set of loci but additional loci showed more population‐specific allele frequency changes. Genome‐wide scans of selection showed that half of all known resistance loci were overlapping a selective sweep region. Hence, the application of fungicides was one of the major selective agents acting on the pathogen over the past decades. Furthermore, loci identified through GWAS showed the highest overlap with selective sweep regions underlining the importance to map phenotypic trait variation in evolving populations. Our population genomic analyses highlighted that both de novo mutations and gene flow contributed to convergent pesticide adaptation.
Shake it off: The role of optimistic expectations for conflict recovery
Authors: Farnish Krystan A. , Neff Lisa A.
Published: November 2020

As recent work suggests that global, dispositional forms of optimism may be more adaptive for relationship functioning than more focused, relationship‐specific forms of optimism, the current study utilized observational and daily diary data collected from newlywed couples (N = 171) to determine whether global and specific optimistic expectations would differentially predict recovery following marital conflict. We predicted that spouses higher in global optimism would exhibit greater recovery, whereas spouses higher in relationship‐specific optimism would exhibit reduced recovery. A series of multilevel models provided some evidence indicating that individuals higher in global optimism showed increased recovery, but this effect was inconsistent. Moreover, relationship‐specific optimism failed to moderate responses to marital conflict, suggesting that this form of optimism may not always be detrimental.
Evaluation of an Integrated Health Promotion Program for a low‐income urban population: Findings and lessons learned
Authors: Weiss Linda , Quint Elizabeth , Leto Christopher , Vaughn Ivana , Redrovan Alba , Fernandes Marta , Lamourt Kianna , Edgar Colin , Reso Ada
Published: November 2020

Objectives

To evaluate a multicomponent pilot program for low‐income individuals with, or at risk for, hypertension, diabetes, and/or overweight.

Design

Pre‐post evaluation including baseline and follow‐up assessments, satisfaction surveys, program utilization data, and focus groups.

Sample

The evaluation included 138 participants. The majority were Latinx (88%), female (82%), born outside the United States (80%), and had not graduated from high school (52%). The most common health conditions were hypertension (59%), overweight or obesity (55%), high cholesterol (53%), and diabetes (34%).

Measurements

Engagement in program activities, health indicators (e.g., blood pressure), and behavior change. Qualitative data focused on perceptions of the program and its impacts.

Intervention

The program offered a number of health promotion services, including consultation with a nurse and a community health worker (CHW), health and nutrition talks, subsidized farm shares, cooking classes, exercise classes, and home visits.

Results

There were improvements in general health, blood pressure, and knowledge and behavior related to disease management and healthy eating.

Conclusions

Program success was attributed to the wide range of complementary program components. The staffing model was also a strength: the CHW/nurse collaboration combined clinical expertise with cultural, language, and community knowledge to create a program that was accessible and empowering.
Rating the seriousness of maternal and child health outcomes linked with pregnancy weight gain
Authors: Bodnar Lisa M. , Khodyakov Dmitry , Parisi Sara M. , Himes Katherine P. , Burke Jessica G. , Hutcheon Jennifer A.
Published: November 2020

Background

Current pregnancy weight gain guidelines were developed based on implicit assumptions of a small group of experts about the relative seriousness of adverse health outcomes. Therefore, they will not necessarily reflect the values of women.

Objective

To estimate the seriousness of 11 maternal and child health outcomes that have been consistently associated with pregnancy weight gain by engaging patients and health professionals.

Methods

We collected data using an online panel approach with a modified Delphi structure. We selected a purposeful sample of maternal and child health professionals (n = 84) and women who were pregnant or recently postpartum (patients) (n = 82) in the United States as panellists. We conducted three concurrent panels: professionals only, patients only, and patients and professionals. During a 3‐round online modified Delphi process, participants rated the seriousness of health outcomes (Round 1), reviewed and discussed the initial results (Round 2), and revised their original ratings (Round 3). Panellists assigned seriousness ratings (0, [not serious] to 100 [most serious]) for infant death, stillbirth, preterm birth, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, small‐for‐gestational‐age (SGA) birth, large‐for‐gestational‐age (LGA) birth, unplanned caesarean delivery, maternal obesity, childhood obesity, and maternal metabolic syndrome.

Results

Each panel individually came to a consensus on all seriousness ratings. The final median seriousness ratings combined across all panels were highest for infant death (100), stillbirth (95), preterm birth (80), and preeclampsia (80). Obesity in children, metabolic syndrome in women, obesity in women, and gestational diabetes had median seriousness ratings ranging from 55 to 65. The lowest seriousness ratings were for SGA birth, LGA birth, and unplanned caesarean delivery (30‐40).

Conclusion

Professionals and women rate some adverse outcomes as being more serious than others. These ratings can be used to establish the range of pregnancy weight gain associated with the lowest risk of a broad range of maternal and child health outcomes.
Ascorbate inactivates the oxygen‐evolving complex in prolonged darkness
Authors: Podmaniczki Anna , Nagy Valéria , Vidal‐Meireles André , Tóth Dávid , Patai Roland , Kovács László , Tóth Szilvia Z.
Published: November 2020

Ascorbate (Asc, vitamin C) is an essential metabolite participating in multiple physiological processes of plants, including environmental stress management and development. In this study, we acquired knowledge on the role of Asc in dark‐induced leaf senescence using Arabidopsis thaliana as a model organism. One of the earliest effects of prolonged darkness is the inactivation of oxygen‐evolving complexes (OEC) as demonstrated here by fast chlorophyll a fluorescence and thermoluminescence measurements. We found that inactivation of OEC due to prolonged darkness was attenuated in the Asc‐deficient vtc2‐4 mutant. On the other hand, the severe photosynthetic phenotype of a psbo1 knockout mutant, lacking the major extrinsic OEC subunit PSBO1, was further aggravated upon a 24‐h dark treatment. The psbr mutant, devoid of the PSBR subunit of OEC, performed only slightly disturbed photosynthetic activity under normal growth conditions, whereas it showed a strongly diminished B thermoluminescence band upon dark treatment. We have also generated a double psbo1 vtc2 mutant, and it showed a slightly milder photosynthetic phenotype than the single psbo1 mutant. Our results, therefore, suggest that Asc leads to the inactivation of OEC in prolonged darkness by over‐reducing the Mn‐complex that is probably enabled by a dark‐induced dissociation of the extrinsic OEC subunits. Our study is an example that Asc may negatively affect certain cellular processes and thus its concentration and localization need to be highly controlled.
Luminescence imaging of leaf damage induced by lipid peroxidation products and its modulation by β‐cyclocitral
Authors: Rac Marek , Shumbe Leonard , Oger Camille , Guy Alexandre , Vigor Claire , Ksas Brigitte , Durand Thierry , Havaux Michel
Published: November 2020

Lipid peroxidation is a primary event associated with oxidative stress in plants. This phenomenon secondarily generates bioactive and/or toxic compounds such as reactive carbonyl species (RCS), phytoprostanes, and phytofurans, as confirmed here in Arabidopsis plants exposed to photo‐oxidative stress conditions. We analyzed the effects of exogenous applications of secondary lipid oxidation products on Arabidopsis plants by luminescence techniques. Oxidative damage to attached leaves was measured by autoluminescence imaging, using a highly sensitive CCD camera, and the activity of the detoxification pathway, dependent on the transcription regulator SCARECROW‐LIKE 14 (SCL14), was monitored with a bioluminescent line expressing the firefly LUCIFERASE (LUC) gene under the control of the ALKENAL REDUCTASE (AER) gene promoter. We identified 4‐hydroxynonenal (HNE), and to a lesser extent 4‐hydroxyhexenal (HHE), as highly reactive compounds that are harmful to leaves and can trigger AER gene expression, contrary to other RCS (pentenal, hexenal) and to isoprostanoids. Although the levels of HNE and other RCS were enhanced in the SCL14‐deficient mutant (scl14), exogenously applied HNE was similarly damaging to this mutant, its wild‐type parent and a SCL14‐overexpressing transgenic line (OE:SCL14). However, strongly boosting the SCL14 detoxification pathway and AER expression by a pre‐treatment of OE:SCL14 with the signaling apocarotenoid β‐cyclocitral canceled the damaging effects of HNE. Conversely, in the scl14 mutant, the effects of β‐cyclocitral and HNE were additive, leading to enhanced leaf damage. These results indicate that the cellular detoxification pathway induced by the low‐toxicity β‐cyclocitral targets highly toxic compounds produced during lipid peroxidation, reminiscent of a safener‐type mode of action.
Bayesian Varying Coefficient Model with Selection: An Application to Functional Mapping
Authors: Heuclin Benjamin , Mortier Frédéric , Trottier Catherine , Denis Marie
Published: November 2020

How does the genetic architecture of quantitative traits evolve over time? Answering this question is crucial for many applied fields such as human genetics and plant or animal breeding. In the last decades, high-throughput genome techniques have been used to better understand links between genetic information and quantitative traits. Recently, high-throughput phenotyping methods are also being used to provide huge information at a phenotypic scale. In particular, these methods allow traits to be measured over time, and this, for a large number of individuals. Combining both information might provide evidence on how genetic architecture evolves over time. However, such data raise new statistical challenges related to, among others, high dimensionality, time dependencies, time varying effects. In this work, we propose a Bayesian varying coefficient model allowing, in a single step, the identification of genetic markers involved in the variability of phenotypic traits and the estimation of their dynamic effects. We evaluate the use of spike-and-slab priors for the variable selection with either P-spline interpolation or non-functional techniques to model the dynamic effects. Numerical results are shown on simulations and on a functional mapping study performed on an Arabidopsis thaliana (L. Heynh) data which motivated these developments.
Volunteer reputation determination in crowdsourcing projects using latent class analysis
Authors: Moreri Kealeboga
Published: November 2020

The production of information in crowdsourcing projects from multiple, often unorganized, individuals makes it a challenge to assess the value of volunteers' contributions. Moreover, measures of how the reliability and credibility of this information can be established, based on a contributor’s reputation, remain a challenge. Statistical methods can be used to develop quantitative indicators that model the relationship between volunteers and their contributions. For example, the reputation of volunteers can be determined based on the extent to which their multiple contributions are regarded as reliable by their peers, using a robust latent class analysis (LCA) methodology. This study presents an innovative LCA approach as a suitable technique for establishing the credibility of volunteers in a crowdsourcing initiative. This methodology was successfully applied in a case study in Botswana, which demonstrated its practicality and effectiveness in determining the credibility of volunteers, supplying information for a land administration project in the country.
An efficient Oligo‐FISH painting system for revealing chromosome rearrangements and polyploidization in Triticeae
Authors: Li Guangrong , Zhang Tao , Yu Zhihui , Wang Hongjin , Yang Ennian , Yang Zujun
Published: November 2020

A chromosome‐specific painting technique has been developed which combines the most recent approaches of the companion disciplines of molecular cytogenetics and genome research. We developed seven oligonucleotide (oligo) pools derivd from single‐copy sequences on chromosomes 1 to 7 of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and corresponding collinear regions of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The seven groups of pooled oligos comprised between 10 986 and 12 496 45‐bp monomers, and these then produced stable fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) signals on chromosomes of each linkage group of wheat and barley. The pooled oligo probes were applied to high‐throughput karyotyping of the chromosomes of other Triticeae species in the genera Secale, Aegilops, Thinopyrum, and Dasypyrum, and the study also extended to some wheat‐alien amphiploids and derived lines. We demonstrated that a complete set of whole‐chromosome oligo painting probes facilitated the study of inter‐species chromosome homologous relationships and visualized non‐homologous chromosomal rearrangements in Triticeae species and some wheat‐alien species derivatives. When combined with other non‐denaturing FISH procedures using tandem‐repeat oligos, the newly developed oligo painting techniques provide an efficient tool for the study of chromosome structure, organization, and evolution among any wild Triticeae species with non‐sequenced genomes.
The apple gene responsible for columnar tree shape reduces the abundance of biologically active gibberellin
Authors: Watanabe Daichi , Takahashi Ikuo , Jaroensanti‐Tanaka Naiyanate , Miyazaki Sho , Jiang Kai , Nakayasu Masaru , Wada Masato , Asami Tadao , Mizutani Masaharu , Okada Kazuma , Nakajima Masatoshi
Published: November 2020

Ectopic expression of the apple 2‐oxoglutarate‐dependent dioxygenase (DOX, 2ODD) gene, designated MdDOX‐Co, is thought to cause the columnar shape of apple trees. However, the mechanism underlying the formation of such a unique tree shape remains unclear. To solve this problem, we demonstrated that Arabidopsis thaliana overexpressing MdDOX‐Co contained reduced levels of biologically active gibberellin (GA) compared with wild type. In summary: (i) with biochemical approaches, the gene product MdDOX‐Co was shown to metabolize active GA A4 (GA4) to GA58 (12‐OH‐GA4) in vitro. MdDOX‐Co also metabolized its precursors GA12 and GA9 to GA111 (12‐OH‐GA12) and GA70 (12‐OH‐GA9), respectively; (ii) Of the three 12‐OH‐GAs, GA58 was still active physiologically, but not GA70 or GA111; (iii) Arabidopsis MdDOX‐Co OE transformants converted exogenously applied deuterium‐labeled (d2)‐GA12 to d2‐GA111 but not to d2‐GA58, whereas transformants converted applied d2‐GA9 to d2‐GA58; (iv) GA111 is converted poorly to GA70 by GA 20‐oxidases in vitro when GA12 is efficiently metabolized to GA9; (v) no GA58 was detected endogenously in MdDOX‐Co OE transformants. Overall, we conclude that 12‐hydroxylation of GA12 by MdDOX‐Co prevents the biosynthesis of biologically active GAs in planta, resulting in columnar phenotypes.
The Arabidopsis AGC kinases NDR2/4/5 interact with MOB1A/1B and play important roles in pollen development and germination
Authors: Zhou Peng‐Min , Liang Yan , Mei Juan , Liao Hong‐Ze , Wang Pu , Hu Ke , Chen Li‐Qun , Zhang Xue‐Qin , Ye De
Published: November 2020

Pollen formation and pollen tube growth are essential for the delivery of male gametes into the female embryo sac for double fertilization. Little is known about the mechanisms that regulate the late developmental process of pollen formation and pollen germination. In this study, we characterized a group of Arabidopsis AGC kinase proteins, NDR2/4/5, involved in pollen development and pollen germination. The NDR2/4/5 genes are mainly expressed in pollen grains at the late developmental stages and in pollen tubes. They function redundantly in pollen formation and pollen germination. At the tricellular stages, the ndr2 ndr4 ndr5 mutant pollen grains exhibit an abnormal accumulation of callose, precocious germination and burst in anthers, leading to a drastic reduction in fertilization and a reduced seed set. NDR2/4/5 proteins can interact with another group of proteins (MOB1A/1B) homologous to the MOB proteins from the Hippo signaling pathway in yeast and animals. The Arabidopsis mob1a mob1b mutant pollen grains also have a phenotype similar to that of ndr2 ndr4 ndr5 pollen grains. These results provide new evidence demonstrating that the Hippo signaling components are conserved in plants and play important roles in sexual plant reproduction.