bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Song variation of a native songbird in a modified habitat by invasive plant
Authors: CHEN Pan , CHEN Taiyu , LIU Bin , ZHANG Manyu , LU Changhu
Published: July 2021

Habitat structure has been considered as an important factor affecting the acoustic evolution of birds, and bird songs are increasingly affected by artificial environmental variation. Invasive plants sometimes can dramatically alter native habitats, but the song variation of native songbirds migrating into invaded habitats has received little attention. The invasion of smooth cordgrass Spartina alterniflora in the coastal wetlands of eastern China has drastically altered the vegetation structure and some small passerines have begun to use invaded habitats to breed. In this study, we compared the song type prevalence and the song characteristics of male plain prinia Prinia inornata to identify differences in vocal behavior between native and invaded habitats. We also tested for differences in vocal behavior in relation to singing perch and wind speed variation between different habitats. The results indicated that males of plain prinia in invaded habitats sang shorter songs than those in native habitats and had a lower song diversity. The homogeneous vegetation structure and higher wind speed in invaded habitats likely leads to males changing the traditional perched singing style. The song variation may be related to the founder effect, the alteration of vegetation structure and microclimate in invaded habitats. This finding highlights the need for better understanding the behavioral evolution of native species in the process of adapting to the invaded habitat. In the future, experimental manipulation is needed to ascertain how the invasive plant drove these vocal behavior changes of native songbirds.
Enhanced hydrogenation catalyst synthesized byDesulfovibrio desulfuricansexposed to a radio frequency magnetic field
Authors: Macaskie Lynne E. , Collins John , Mikheenko Iryna P. , Gomez‐Bolivar Jaime , Merroun Mohamed L. , Bennett James A.
Published: July 2021

Desulfovibrio desulfuricansreduces Pd(II) to Pd(0)‐nanoparticles (Pd‐NPs) which are catalytically active in 2‐pentyne hydrogenation. To make Pd‐NPs, resting cells are challenged with Pd(II) ions (uptake), followed by addition of electron donor to promote bioreduction of cell‐bound Pd(II) to Pd(0) (bio‐Pd). Application of radiofrequency (RF) radiation to prepared 5 wt% bio‐Pd catalyst (60 W power, 60 min) increased the hydrogenation rate by 70% with no adverse impact on selectivity tocis‐2‐pentene. Such treatment of a 5 wt% Pd/carbon commercial catalyst did not affect the conversion rate but reduced the selectivity. Lower‐dose RF radiation (2–8 W power, 20 min) was applied to the bacteria at various stages before and during synthesis of the bio‐scaffolded Pd‐NPs. The reaction rate (μ mol 2‐pentyne converted s‐1) was increased by ~threefold by treatment during bacterial catalyst synthesis. Application of RF radiation (2 or 4 W power) to resting cells prior to Pd(II) exposure affected the catalyst made subsequently, increasing the reaction rate by 50% as compared to untreated cells, while nearly doubling selectivity forcis2‐pentene. The results are discussed with respect to published and related work which shows altered dispersion of the Pd‐NPs made following or during RF exposure.
Alterations in mitochondrial dynamics with age‐related Sirtuin1/Sirtuin3 deficiency impair cardiomyocyte contractility
Authors: Zhang Jingwen , He Zhibin , Fedorova Julia , Logan Cole , Bates Lauryn , Davitt Kayla , Le Van , Murphy Jiayuan , Li Melissa , Wang Mingyi , Lakatta Edward G. , Ren Di , Li Ji
Published: July 2021

Sirtuin1 (SIRT1) and Sirtuin3 (SIRT3) protects cardiac function against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Mitochondria are critical in response to myocardial I/R injury as disturbance of mitochondrial dynamics contributes to cardiac dysfunction. It is hypothesized that SIRT1 and SIRT3 are critical components to maintaining mitochondria homeostasis especially mitochondrial dynamics to exert cardioprotective actions under I/R stress. The results demonstrated that deficiency of SIRT1 and SIRT3 in aged (24–26 months) mice hearts led to the exacerbated cardiac dysfunction in terms of cardiac systolic dysfunction, cardiomyocytes contractile defection, and abnormal cardiomyocyte calcium flux during I/R stress. Moreover, the deletion of SIRT1 or SIRT3 in young (4–6 months) mice hearts impair cardiomyocyte contractility and shows aging‐like cardiac dysfunction upon I/R stress, indicating the crucial role of SIRT1 and SIRT3 in protecting myocardial contractility from I/R injury. The biochemical and seahorse analysis showed that the deficiency of SIRT1/SIRT3 leads to the inactivation of AMPK and alterations in mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) that causes impaired mitochondrial respiration in response to I/R stress. Furthermore, the remodeling of the mitochondria network goes together with hypoxic stress, and mitochondria undergo the processes of fusion with the increasing elongated branches during hypoxia. The transmission electron microscope data showed that cardiac SIRT1/SIRT3 deficiency in aging alters mitochondrial morphology characterized by the impairment of mitochondria fusion under I/R stress. Thus, the age‐related deficiency of SIRT1/SIRT3 in the heart affects mitochondrial dynamics and respiration function that resulting in the impaired contractile function of cardiomyocytes in response to I/R.
Δ9‐Tetrahydrocannabinol promotes functional remyelination in the mouse brain
Authors: Aguado Tania , Huerga‐Gómez Alba , Sánchez‐de la Torre Aníbal , Resel Eva , Chara Juan Carlos , Matute Carlos , Mato Susana , Galve‐Roperh Ismael , Guzman Manuel , Palazuelos Javier
Published: July 2021

Background and purpose

Research on demyelinating disorders aims to find novel molecules that are able to induce oligodendrocyte precursor cell differentiation to promote central nervous system remyelination and functional recovery. Δ9‐Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the most prominent active constituent of the hemp plant Cannabis sativa, confers neuroprotection in animal models of demyelination. However, the possible effect of THC on myelin repair has never been studied.

Experimental approach

By using oligodendroglia‐specific reporter mouse lines in combination with two models of toxin‐induced demyelination, we analysed the effect of THC on the processes of oligodendrocyte regeneration and functional remyelination.

Key results

We show that THC administration enhanced oligodendrocyte regeneration, white matter remyelination and motor function recovery. THC also promoted axonal remyelination in organotypic cerebellar cultures. THC remyelinating action relied on the induction of oligodendrocyte precursor differentiation upon cell cycle exit and via CB1 cannabinoid receptor activation.

Conclusions and implications

Overall, our study identifies THC administration as a promising pharmacological strategy aimed to promote functional CNS remyelination in demyelinating disorders.
TLR4 deficiency upregulates TLR9 expression and enhances irinotecan‐related intestinal mucositis and late‐onset diarrhoea
Authors: Wong Deysi Viviana Tenazoa , Holanda Renata Brito Falcão , Cajado Aurilene Gomes , Bandeira Alessandro Maia , Pereira Jorge Fernando Bessa , Amorim Joice Oliveira , Torres Clarice Sampaio , Ferreira Luana Maria Moura , Lopes Marina Helena Silva , Oliveira Roberta Taiane Germano , Pereira Anamaria Falcão , Sant'Ana Rosane Oliveira , Arruda Larissa Mont'alverne , Ribeiro‐Júnior Howard Lopes , Pinheiro Ronald Feitosa , Almeida Paulo Roberto Carvalho , Carvalho Robson Francisco , Chaves Fábio Figueiredo , Rocha‐Filho Duílio Reis , Cunha Fernando Queiroz , Lima‐Júnior Roberto César Pereira
Published: July 2021

Background and purpose

Severe diarrhoea, a common gastrointestinal manifestation of anticancer treatment with irinotecan, might involve single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of toll‐like receptors (TLRs), described as critical bacterial sensors in the gut. Here, colorectal cancer patients carrying missense TLR4 A896G (rs4986790) or C1,196T (rs4986791) SNPs and Tlr4 knockout (Tlr4−/−) mice were given irinotecan to investigate the severity of the induced diarrhoea.

Experimental approach

Forty‐six patients treated with irinotecan‐based regimens had diarrhoea severity analysed according to TLR4 genotypes. In the experimental setting, wild‐type (WT) or Tlr4−/− mice were given irinotecan (45 or 75 mg·kg−1, i.p.) or saline (3 ml·kg−1). Diarrhoea severity was evaluated by measuring intestinal injury and inflammatory markers expression after animals were killed.

Key results

All patients with TLR4 SNPs chemotherapy‐treated presented diarrhoea, whereas gastrointestinal toxicity was observed in 50% of the wild homozygous individuals. Mice injected with irinotecan presented systemic bacterial translocation and increased TLR4 immunostaining in the intestine. In line with the clinical findings, Tlr4 gene deficiency enhanced irinotecan‐related diarrhoea and TLR9 expression in mice. An increased myeloperoxidase activity and Il‐18 expression along with IL‐10 decreased production in Tlr4−/− mice also indicated an intensified intestinal damage and inflammatory response.

Conclusion and implications

TLR4 deficiency upregulates TLR9 expression and enhances intestinal damage and the severity of late‐onset diarrhoea during irinotecan‐based treatment. Identifying patients genetically predisposed to chemotherapy‐associated diarrhoea is a strategy toward precision medicine.
Differential performance of contrasting defensive traits of cocoons of two moth species against bird predation
Authors: Furukawa Mariko , Nakanishi Kosuke , Honma Atsushi , Takakura Koh‐Ichi , Matsuyama Kazuyo , Hidaka Naoya , Sawada Hiroichi , Nishida Takayoshi
Published: July 2021

Prey defensive traits against predators can be categorized into primary defense (avoiding detection) and secondary defense (avoiding attack after detection). There are trade‐offs between these two defensive traits, which consider the cost of defense. To quantify the predation avoidance efficacy of both defensive traits against common predators, we compared bird predation pressures and the corresponding avoidance measures of cocoons of two nettle moth species, which utilize contrasting avoidance strategies: Parasa lepida (investing predominantly in primary defense) and Monema flavescens (investing predominantly in secondary defense). Field censuses revealed that bird predation was the most significant mortality factor for both species. The survival rate of cocoons was significantly higher for M. flavescens than for P. lepida, although M. flavescens were more conspicuous than P. lepida. Measurement of prepupae (cocoon content) mass, and experiments on the feeding preferences of the prepupae of both species using chicks, confirmed a similar quantity and quality of both speciesʼ prepupae as prey items. Our results were explained by the advantage of cocoon hardness outweighing the disadvantage of cocoon conspicuousness. The predation behavior of wild birds suggested that they spent considerably longer handling than searching for cocoons, which accounted for their cocoon preference for P. lepida over M. flavescens in the context of optimal foraging theory. Our results suggested that secondary defense was more effective in reducing bird predation than primary defense in limacodid cocoons.
Maleic acid hydrotropic fractionation of wheat straw to facilitate value‐added multi‐product biorefinery at atmospheric pressure
Authors: Su Chen , Hirth Kolby , Liu Zhulan , Cao Yunfeng , Zhu J. Y.
Published: July 2021

Wheat straw was rapidly fractionated using maleic acid (MA) as an acid hydrotrope at atmospheric pressure under a range of conditions. MA hydrotropic fractionation (MAHF) was very selective in dissolving lignin and hemicelluloses resulting in a cellulose‐rich water insoluble solids (WIS), which was evaluated for producing fibers through bleaching and cellulosic nanofibrils by fibrillation, as well as glucose through enzymatic saccharification. The residual lignin (RL) within the WIS has a low degree of condensation, which eased bleaching. The RL was also carboxylated through MAHF, which facilitated nanofibrillation to produce lignin‐containing cellulose nanofibrils. The carboxylation also aided enzymatic saccharification of WIS by decreasing nonproductive cellulase binding to RL through electrostatic repulsion between carboxylated (charged) RL and the cellulase at elevated pH (>cellulase isoelectric point). The dissolved lignin (DL) from MAHF also has a low degree of condensation, making it favorable for further catalytic conversion. Carboxylation improved DL antioxidant capability. MA is an FDA‐approved indirect food additive (21CFR175‐177) and is much less corrosive than other acids typically used for cellulosic fractionation. It is also less soluble which is a distinct and very promising advantage for acid recovery. Therefore, MAHF has notable advantages and significant potential for sustainable biorefinery.
Disciplining migration aspirations through migration‐information campaigns: A systematic review of the literature
Authors: Pagogna Raffaella , Sakdapolrak Patrick
Published: July 2021

In the past few years, governmental agencies have developed a diverse repertoire of migration‐management measures to steer migration flows and discipline unwanted migration. Migration‐information campaigns have become a prominent tool aimed at communicating directly to migration aspirations of the targeted population in transit and sending countries. Through these information campaigns the geographical locus of control is shifted toward where the receiving state seeks to steer migration flows. This review paper is a research synthesis on literature engaging with migration‐information campaigns. The study is based on 17 peer‐reviewed journal articles from the years 2010–2020. Articles were coded based on discipline, type of research, research perspective, geographic origin and focus of the campaigns, objectives and rationale of the campaigns, tools and methods used in those campaigns, campaign funding, actor constellations, and a general assessment of each article. Findings from this study identify prominent trends as well as blind spots in the current research and indicate that there is still little research available on information campaigns concerning irregular migration, and even fewer studies report on their effectiveness. By implication future research is advised to focus on empirical studies on the impact of information campaigns on migrants' aspirations.
Digital Health Interventions: New opportunities for health science librarians
Authors: Murphy Jeannette
Published: July 2021

This article acquaints health science librarians with digital health interventions (DHIs) and suggests ways they can become involved with initiatives in their own organisations. Examples of DHIs are provided and the risks and benefits of these applications are examined, including increasing accuracy of diagnosis & treatment, and health care efficiencies within legal and ethical frameworks. The WHO Guideline on digital interventions for health system strengthening is a useful resource which highlights ways that countries can use digital health technology to improve people's health and essential services. JM proposes the creation of a road map to assist health science librarians in becoming involved in digital health, providing practical suggestions to inform the development of action plans within your local service provision.

J.M.
Towards disrupting Varroa –honey bee chemosensing: A focus on a Niemann‐Pick type C2 transcript
Authors: Nganso B. T. , Mani K. , Eliash N. , Rafaeli A. , Soroker V.
Published: July 2021

We focused our study on the 12 recently identified putative odorant carrier proteins in the ectoparasitic mite, Varroa destructor. Here we show, via an exclusion of the chemosensory appendages (forelegs and gnathosoma) that transcripts of five of the 12 genes were significantly lower, suggesting that they are likely involved in carrying host volatiles. Specifically, three transcripts were found to be foreleg‐specific while the other two transcripts were expressed in both the forelegs and gnathosoma. We focused on one of the highly expressed and foreleg‐specific transcript Vd40090, which encodes a Niemann‐Pick disease protein type C2 (NPC2) protein. Effects of dsRNA‐mediated silencing of Vd40090 were first measured by quantifying the transcript levels of genes that encode other putative odorant carrier proteins as well as reproduction related proteins. In addition, the impact of silencing on mites behaviour and survival was tested. Silencing of Vd40090 effectively disrupted Varroa host selection, acceptance and feeding and significantly impaired the expression of genes that regulate its reproduction in brood cells, resulting in reduced reproduction and survival.
Improving emergency services efficiency during Islamic pilgrimage through optimal allocation of facilities
Authors: Morgan Ahmed A. , Khayyat Khalid M. Jamil
Published: July 2021

The proper allocation of facilities within Islamic holy places is barely studied. These places annually witness millions of pilgrims and guests. The number of people during pilgrimage has been growing recently and is expected to grow further in the future. Different facilities should be optimally allocated to properly serve this large number of people and efficiently respond to their requests. In this paper, we target the problem of optimally allocating facilities within the largest Islamic holy place, Arafat. We evaluate the current allocation with respect to distance, coverage, and cover inequality metrics. Average‐case and worst‐case values of the three metrics are considered for evaluation. Results show that the current allocation strategy is far from being optimal. For the three considered metrics, we use crowdedness‐based techniques to allocate facilities within the area of Arafat. Optimal allocations are first obtained by solving integer programming (IP) models. Thereafter, two widely used metaheuristics, genetic algorithms (GA) and simulated annealing, are experimented and evaluated. Results show that the optimal solution could be easily obtained for coverage and cover inequality metrics. For the distance metric, the computation time of the IP technique is large and GA appears as a good candidate to balance between computation time and solution quality. Finally, we study allocating facilities from a multiobjective perspective. Both scalar‐weighted formulation and nondominated sorting genetic algorithm II techniques are considered. Results show that the latter technique outperforms the former technique in the number of generated Pareto‐optimal allocations as well as the quality of these allocations.
Effect of irradiation on the atomic structure of borosilicate glasses
Authors: Kumar Rajesh , Jan Amreen , Bauchy Mathieu , Krishnan N. M. Anoop
Published: July 2021

Borosilicate glasses incorporating high‐level nuclear waste are exposed to high‐energy radiations during their storage in the deep geological repositories. However, the effect of radiation on the atomic structure of borosilicate glasses remains poorly understood. Herein, using molecular dynamics simulations, we study the irradiation‐induced structural changes of a series of calcium‐sodium borosilicate glasses with varying Si/B molar ratios—ranging from pure silicate to pure borate glasses. We observe that irradiation leads to an increase in disorder, both in the short‐ and medium‐range, as evidenced by the enthalpy, coordination number, and ring distribution. In particular, the impact of the change in the atomic structure (due to radiation) on the glass volume is investigated. Interestingly, we observe a composition‐dependent transition in the volumetric response of borosilicate glasses under irradiation—wherein borate‐rich compositions tend to swell, whereas silica‐rich glasses tend to densify. Through a detailed analysis of the structure, we demonstrate two competing mechanisms contributing to the volume change, i.e., a decrease in the coordination number of boron atoms and a reduction in the average silicon inter‐polytope angle. We also show that the increase in the disorder in the medium‐range order may play a major role in governing the volumetric changes in the irradiated structure in a non‐trivial fashion. Altogether, the present study highlights that irradiation has a non‐trivial effect on borosilicate glasses, which, in turn, could impact their corrosion kinetics.
Association between pubertal development and elevated blood pressure in children
Authors: Li Yanhui , Dong Yanhui , Zou Zhiyong , Gao Di , Wang Xijie , Yang Zhaogeng , Dong Bin , Ma Jun
Published: July 2021

Blood pressure (BP) increased with age and height development, but little was known about the effect of pubertal development on blood pressure in children. A cross‐sectional study was performed among 4146 children aged 7–12 years old in China. Pubertal development was assessed based on breast stages and testicular volume. The associations of pubertal development with BP levels and the rate of elevated blood pressure (EBP) were quantified using multiple linear and logistic regressions. We found that pubertal developmental level was positively correlated with BP, and children who experienced puberty onset and early pubertal timing had higher BP levels and prevalence of EBP. After adjusting for covariates, children experienced puberty onset had 3.84 and 2.24 mmHg increase in systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure, and 70%, 53%, and 62% increased odds of EBP, ESBP, and EDBP, respectively, compared with those without puberty onset. Similar results were observed for children who had early pubertal timing. The change of BP in puberty is greater and the association between pubertal development and BP is stronger in girls than boys. These findings suggested that pubertal development could be an important independent factor and one critical period for the EBP progress. Monitoring and management of pubertal development are necessary particularly among girls.
HDACi protects against vascular cognitive impairment from CCH injury via induction of BDNF‐related AMPA receptor activation
Authors: Fang Yao‐Ching , Hsieh Jia‐Yu , Vidyanti Amelia Nur , Yang Chih‐Hao , Jan Jing‐Shiun , Chang Kang‐Wei , Hu Chaur‐Jong , Tu Yong‐Kwang
Published: July 2021

We previously showed a hydroxamic acid‐based histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi), compound 13, provides neuroprotection against chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) both in vitro under oxygen‐glucose deprivation (OGD) conditions and in vivo under bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO) conditions. Intriguingly, the protective effect of this HDACi is via H3K14 or H4K5 acetylation–mediated differential BDNF isoform activation. BDNF is involved in cell proliferation and differentiation in development, synaptic plasticity and in learning and memory related with receptors or synaptic proteins. B6 mice underwent BCCAO and were randomized into 4 groups; a sham without BCCAO (sham), BCCAO mice injected with DMSO (DMSO), mice injected with HDACi‐compound 13 (compound 13) and mice injected with suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA). The cortex and hippocampus of mice were harvested at 3 months after BCCAO, and levels of BDNF, AMPA receptor and dopamine receptors (D1, D2 and D3) were studied using Western blotting analysis or immunohistochemistry. We found that the AMPA receptor plays a key role in the molecular mechanism of this process by modulating HDAC. This protective effect of HDACi may be through BDNF; therefore, activation of this downstream signalling molecule, for example by AMPA receptors, could be a therapeutic target or intervention applied under CCH conditions.
Spousal concordance in frailty predicting mental and functional health decline: A four‐year follow‐up study of older couples in urban and rural China
Authors: Zhao Xinyi , Li Danyu , Zhang Quan , Liu Huiying
Published: July 2021

Aims and objectives

To examine the joint effects of self and spousal frailty status on functional and mental health in Chinese older adults and determine whether such effects vary by urban versus rural residency.

Background

Frailty is a clinical syndrome among old adults and would lead to adverse outcomes. However, studies on the interactive patterns of frailty status between spouses and the joint effects of such patterns on health outcomes are scarce.

Design

Data were from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). A total of 2,581 married seniors who participated both 2011 and 2015 waves of the CHARLS were categorised into four groups: robust self–robust spouse (RR), robust self–frail spouse (RF), frail self–robust spouse (FR) and frail self–frail spouse (FF).

Methods

Frailty was measured using the physical frailty phenotype scale. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD). Functional health was measured by difficulties in activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). The generalised estimating equation was used to estimate the effects of concordant frailty on mental and functional outcomes, stratified by rural/urban residency. This study followed the STROBE checklist.

Results

The FF group reported higher levels of ADL/IADL difficulties and depressive symptoms at follow‐up than the RR group; urban individuals in the RF group reported higher follow‐up depression than the RR group; and rural individuals from the FR or RF groups reported more follow‐up ADL/IADL difficulties than the RR group.

Conclusion

Frailty and subsequent health decline are interdependent in older couples, and the rural/urban context is important for understanding this interdependence in the older Chinese population.

Relevance to clinical practice

Couples‐based intervention strategies are needed to tackle situations in which one or both spouses are concurrently facing frailty.
The relation between psychological distress and medication adherence in lung transplant candidates and recipients: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Wessels‐Bakker Marion J. , van de Graaf Eduard A. , Kwakkel‐van Erp Johanna M. , Heijerman Harry G. , Cahn Wiepke , Schappin Renske
Published: July 2021

Aims and objectives

To explore the prevalence of psychological distress such as anxiety, depression and post‐traumatic stress disorder and its associations with medication adherence in lung transplant patients.

Background

Psychological distress after lung transplantation may impact clinical outcomes by associated behaviours such as non‐adherence to medication. Evidence about the relation between psychological distress and medication adherence in lung transplant patients is limited and not well explained.

Design and methods

We conducted a single‐centre study with a cross‐sectional design in 73 lung transplant candidates and 116 recipients. Questionnaires were the Brief Symptom Inventory, Impact of Event Scale and Basel Assessment of Adherence to Immunosuppressive Medications Scale. The STROBE checklist was monitored.

Results

In candidates, 39.7% reported (sub)clinical symptoms of depression, in recipients this was 21.6%. We observed suicidal ideation in recipients (8.6%), and candidates (5.5%). The prevalence of (sub)clinical symptoms of anxiety was 38.3% in candidates and 33.7% in recipients. After lung transplantation, 12% of the recipients reported clinical symptoms of PTSD related to the transplantation. Symptoms of anxiety and medication adherence were significantly and positively related in transplant recipients. We found no association between depressive or post‐traumatic stress symptoms, and medication adherence.

Conclusions

In lung transplant patients, we found a high prevalence of symptoms of depression and anxiety. Recipients had high levels of post‐traumatic stress symptoms related to the transplantation. The prevalence of suicidal ideation was unexpectedly high in recipients. After lung transplantation, higher levels of anxiety were related to better medication adherence. We propose that LTX recipients are very anxious to develop dyspnoea and therefore take their medication more conscientiously.

Relevance to clinical practice

The clinical nurse specialist can play a key role in identifying and addressing psychological and behavioural problems. More prospective research on the role of anxiety and dyspnoea in lung transplant recipients is recommended.
Predictors of phylogeographic structure among codistributed taxa across the complex Australian monsoonal tropics
Authors: Fenker Jessica , Tedeschi Leonardo G. , Melville Jane , Moritz Craig
Published: July 2021

Differences in the geographic scale and depth of phylogeographic structure across codistributed taxa can reveal how microevolutionary processes such as population isolation and persistence drive diversification. In turn, environmental heterogeneity, species’ traits, and historical biogeographic barriers may influence the potential for isolation and persistence. Using extensive SNP data and a combination of population genetic summary statistics and landscape genomic analyses, we explored predictors of the scale and depth of phylogeographic structure in codistributed lizard taxa from the topographically and climatically complex monsoonal tropics (AMT) of Australia. We first resolved intraspecific lineages and then tested whether genetic divergence across space within lineages is related to isolation by distance, resistance and/or environment and whether these factors differ across genera or between rock‐related versus habitat generalist taxa. We then tested whether microevolutionary processes within lineages explain differences in the geographic scale and depth of intraspecific phylogeographic lineages. The results indicated that landscape predictors of phylogeographic structure differ between taxa. Within lineages, there was prevalent isolation by distance, but the strength of isolation by distance is independent of the taxonomic family, habitat specialization, and climate. Isolation by environment is the strongest predictor of landscape‐scale genetic divergence for all taxa, with both temperature and precipitation acting as limiting factors. The strength of isolation by distance does not predict the geographic scale of the phylogeographic structure. However, more localized lineages had higher mean individual heterozygosity and less negative Tajima's D. This result implies that finer‐scale phylogeographic structuring within species is associated with larger and more stable populations and, hence, persistence.
Annual and perennial Medicago show signatures of parallel adaptation to climate and soil in highly conserved genes
Authors: Blanco‐Pastor José Luis , Liberal Isabel M. , Sakiroglu Muhammet , Wei Yanling , Brummer E. Charles , Andrew Rose L. , Pfeil Bernard E.
Published: July 2021

Human induced environmental change may require rapid adaptation of plant populations and crops, but the genomic basis of environmental adaptation remain poorly understood. We analysed polymorphic loci from the perennial crop Medicago sativa (alfalfa or lucerne) and the annual legume model species M. truncatula to search for a common set of candidate genes that might contribute to adaptation to abiotic stress in both annual and perennial Medicago species. We identified a set of candidate genes of adaptation associated with environmental gradients along the distribution of the two Medicago species. Candidate genes for each species were detected in homologous genomic linkage blocks using genome‐environment (GEA) and genome‐phenotype association analyses. Hundreds of GEA candidate genes were species‐specific, of these, 13.4% (M. sativa) and 24% (M. truncatula) were also significantly associated with phenotypic traits. A set of 168 GEA candidates were shared by both species, which was 25.4% more than expected by chance. When combined, they explained a high proportion of variance for certain phenotypic traits associated with adaptation. Genes with highly conserved functions dominated among the shared candidates and were enriched in gene ontology terms that have shown to play a central role in drought avoidance and tolerance mechanisms by means of cellular shape modifications and other functions associated with cell homeostasis. Our results point to the existence of a molecular basis of adaptation to abiotic stress in Medicago determined by highly conserved genes and gene functions. We discuss these results in light of the recently proposed omnigenic model of complex traits.
An unexpected source of nitrogen for root uptake: positively charged amino acids dominate soil diffusive nitrogen fluxes
Authors: Inselsbacher Erich , Wanek Wolfgang
Published: July 2021

This article is a Commentary on Homyak et al. (2021), 231: 2162–2173.
Control or protection? Work environment implications of police body‐worn cameras
Authors: Hansen Löfstrand Cecilia , Backman Christel
Published: July 2021

This review paper critically examines the work environment implications of the use of body‐worn camera (BWC) technology reported in research. We found that published peer‐review studies (90 articles) pay very little attention to the work environment of BWC users – police officers. Departing from the notion of the two faces of surveillance and of BWC technology as a surveillance tool with uncertain implications – control or protection of officers – we critically examine how expectations in relation to BWC introduction and its implications have been addressed to explain why so little attention has been devoted to the topic. We found a dominant control rationale facilitating (rapid) BWC implementation at the expense of officers’ work environment, health and safety.
Caregiver self‐efficacy and associated factors among caregivers of patients with dementia with Lewy bodies and caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Sato Hirofumi , Nakaaki Shutaro , Sato Junko , Shikimoto Ryo , Furukawa Toshi A. , Mimura Masaru , Akechi Tatsuo
Published: July 2021

Background

Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is characterized by neuropsychiatric symptoms, which can be distressing to caregivers. However, little is known about their subjective distress in terms of caregiver self‐efficacy. Thus, we examined the differences in caregiver self‐efficacy and their associated factors between DLB and Alzheimer's disease (AD) caregivers.

Methods

We conducted a comprehensive questionnaire for DLB and AD caregivers. Caregiver self‐efficacy was evaluated using three domains (Self‐Efficacy for Obtaining Respite: SE‐OR, Self‐Efficacy for Responding to Disruptive Patient Behaviours: SE‐RDPB, Self‐Efficacy for Controlling Upsetting Thoughts about Caregiving: SE‐CUT) of the Revised Scale for Caregiving Self‐Efficacy (RSCSE). In addition, data on the following features of caregivers were assessed: depression, sleep disturbance, caregiver burden, executive function, loneliness, social support, and distress associated with neuropsychiatric symptoms. The patients were assessed for general cognitive tasks, executive function, and neuropsychiatric symptoms.

Results

Compared with AD caregivers, DLB caregivers experienced a significantly higher burden in terms of not only various clinical factors, but also all three domains of caregiver self‐efficacy. Among the caregiver‐associated factors, different domains were predictors of self‐efficacy in DLB and AD caregivers (distress due to sleep disturbances in DLB patients; distress due to delusions in AD patients). Among the patient‐associated factors, different domains were also predictors of self‐efficacy in DLB and AD caregivers (sleep disturbances in DLB patients; delusions in AD patients). Among both the caregivers and the patients, executive function was a significant predictor of one RSCSE domain (SE‐CUT).

Conclusions

A reduction in caregiver self‐efficacy may contribute to a severe subjective burden among DLB caregivers. Furthermore, two neuropsychiatric symptoms (delusions and sleep disturbances) affected caregiver self‐efficacy differently depending on whether care was being provided to a DLB or AD patient. Understanding the association between specific neuropsychiatric symptoms and caregiver self‐efficacy may be useful for conducting interventions for DLB patients.
Alpha frontal asymmetry underlies individual differences in reactivity to acute psychosocial stress in males
Authors: Ma Yuanquan , Peng Huini , Liu Hongtao , Gu Ruolei , Peng Xiaohu , Wu Jianhui
Published: July 2021

People vary in their responses to stress. The present study aimed to investigate whether and how alpha frontal asymmetry (AFA) measured in the resting state underlies the individual differences in psychological responses to acute psychosocial stress (e.g., increases in heart rate and cortisol) induced by the Trier social stress test. Forty‐three healthy male adults were enrolled in this study. The results showed that the AFA score negatively predicted both heart rate and cortisol responses, that is relatively higher right‐frontal activity during the resting state was related to a stronger physiological stress response. These results indicated that higher withdrawal motivation or effortful control is associated with a higher physiological stress response, which suggested that AFA in the resting state can serve as a biological predictor of acute stress responses in men.
Evaluation of a specially‐designed educational and interventional programme on institutionalized visually impaired children: A prospective interventional study
Authors: Rathore Kanupriya , Rao Dinesh , Kumar Pravin , Masih Updesh
Published: July 2021

Aim

: The aim of this study was to design, implement, and to evaluate the success of an oral health care programme specially designed for visually impaired children over a 12‐month period.

Design

A structured questionnaire collected information regarding oral health knowledge and practices of the study population. A specially designed oral health education programme was conducted for the children and their teachers and reinforced after 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. The oral health status of the children was assessed and scored at baseline examination and after each follow‐up visit. Independent t‐test and paired t‐test were used for comparison of scores. Spearman's correlation test was used to measure the correlation between knowledge and practices scores with oral hygiene status.

Results

The study population (5–16 years) had good knowledge about oral health which, however, did not translate into everyday practices. The overall oral hygiene scores declined from 2.06 ± 1.20 at the preliminary examination to 1.24 ± 0.79 at the end of 12 months (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The customized oral‐health education programme was efficacious in improving the oral health of the visually impaired children, and the repetition and reinforcement components of this dental health education programme were of significant value in enhancing their oral health.
Moderate acceptance of COVID‐19 vaccination in patients pre‐ and post‐heart transplantation: Experiences from a German Transplant Centre
Authors: Oehler Daniel , Bruno Raphael Romano , Boeken Udo , Westenfeld Ralf
Published: July 2021

Introduction and objectives

Patients awaiting heart transplantation (HTx) are at increased risk developing severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19). Patients supported by a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) face additional risks due to coagulopathies during COVID‐19. Following HTx, elevated risk factors for severe COVID‐19 persist due to chronic immunosuppression and frequent comorbidities. Taken together, COVID‐19 vaccination is of critical importance in all three patient cohorts. Here, we report our experience to deliver COVID‐19 vaccination in a German transplant center.

Methods and results

We screened 211 patients for contraindications and offered the remaining 186 eligible patients COVID‐19 vaccination. Of those, 133 patients (71%) accepted the offer and were vaccinated. Acceptance of vaccination differed between HTx recipients (84 of 113, 74%), patients on the waiting list (34 of 47, 72%), and patients with LVAD support (28 of 50, 56%). The LVAD cohort demonstrated lower acceptance levels for vaccination compared to HTx recipients and patients awaiting HTx (74% vs. 56%; p = 0.028).

Conclusion

We demonstrate for the first time only moderate acceptance levels of COVID‐19 vaccination in HTx recipients and candidates on the waiting list compared to general population, despite perceived high‐risk for severe disease. Additionally, those supported by LVAD have even lower adherence. Efforts may need to be made to increase acceptance in this vulnerable as well as cost‐intensive patient cohort.
Rice G protein γ subunit qPE9‐1 modulates root elongation for phosphorus uptake by involving 14‐3‐3 protein OsGF14b and plasma membrane H+‐ATPase
Authors: Wang Ke , Xu Feiyun , Yuan Wei , Zhang Dongping , Liu Jianping , Sun Leyun , Cui Liyou , Zhang Jianhua , Xu Weifeng
Published: July 2021

Heterotrimeric G protein is involved in plant growth and development, while the role of rice (Oryza sativa) G protein γ subunit qPE9‐1 in response to low‐phosphorus (LP) conditions remains unclear. The gene expression of qPE9‐1 was significantly induced in rice roots under LP conditions. Rice varieties carrying the qPE9‐1 allele showed a stronger primary root response to LP than the varieties carrying the qpe9‐1 allele (mutant of the qPE9‐1 allele). Transgenic rice plants with the qPE9‐1 allele had longer primary roots and higher P concentrations than those with the qpe9‐1 allele under LP conditions. The plasma membrane (PM) H+‐ATPase was important for the qPE9‐1‐mediated response to LP. Furthermore, OsGF14b, a 14‐3‐3 protein that acts as a key component in activating PM H+‐ATPase for root elongation, is also involved in the qPE9‐1 mediation. Moreover, the overexpression of OsGF14b in WYJ8 (carrying the qpe9‐1 allele) partially increased primary root length under LP conditions. Experiments using R18 peptide (a 14‐3‐3 protein inhibitor) showed that qPE9‐1 is important for primary root elongation and H+ efflux under LP conditions by involving the 14‐3‐3 protein. In addition, rhizosheath weight, total P content, and the rhizosheath soil Olsen‐P concentration of qPE9‐1 lines were higher than those of qpe9‐1 lines under soil drying and LP conditions. These results suggest that the G protein γ subunit qPE9‐1 in rice plants modulates root elongation for phosphorus uptake by involving the 14‐3‐3 protein OsGF14b and PM H+‐ATPase, which is required for rice P use.
Rice amino acid transporter‐like 6 (OsATL6) is involved in amino acid homeostasis by modulating the vacuolar storage of glutamine in roots
Authors: Ogasawara Saori , Ezaki Masataka , Ishida Ryusuke , Sueyoshi Kuni , Saito Shunya , Hiradate Yuki , Kudo Toru , Obara Mitsuhiro , Kojima Soichi , Uozumi Nobuyuki , Tanemura Kentaro , Hayakawa Toshihiko
Published: July 2021

Glutamine is a product of ammonium (NH4+) assimilation catalyzed by glutamine synthetase (GS) and glutamate synthase (GOGAT). The growth of NH4+‐preferring paddy rice (Oryza sativa L.) depends on root NH4+ assimilation and the subsequent root‐to‐shoot allocation of glutamine; however, little is known about the mechanism of glutamine storage in roots. Here, using transcriptome and reverse genetics analyses, we show that the rice amino acid transporter‐like 6 (OsATL6) protein exports glutamine to the root vacuoles under NH4+‐replete conditions. OsATL6 was expressed, along with OsGS1;2 and OsNADH‐GOGAT1, in wild‐type (WT) roots fed with sufficient NH4Cl, and was induced by glutamine treatment. We generated two independent Tos17 retrotransposon insertion mutants showing reduced OsATL6 expression to determine the function of OsATL6. Compared with segregants lacking the Tos17 insertion, the OsATL6 knock‐down mutant seedlings exhibited lower root glutamine content but higher glutamine concentration in the xylem sap and greater shoot growth under NH4+‐replete conditions. The transient expression of monomeric red fluorescent protein‐fused OsATL6 in onion epidermal cells confirmed the tonoplast localization of OsATL6. When OsATL6 was expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes, glutamine efflux from the cell into the acidic bath solution increased. Under sufficient NH4+ supply, OsATL6 transiently accumulated in sclerenchyma and pericycle cells, which are located adjacent to the Casparian strip, thus obstructing the apoplastic solute path, and in vascular parenchyma cells of WT roots before the peak accumulation of GS1;2 and NADH‐GOGAT1 occurred. These findings suggest that OsATL6 temporarily stores excess glutamine, produced by NH4+ assimilation, in root vacuoles before it can be translocated to the shoot.
Dark matter relic abundance beyond kinetic equilibrium
Authors: Binder Tobias , Bringmann Torsten , Gustafsson Michael , Hryczuk Andrzej
Published: July 2021

We introduce , a numerical precision tool for predicting the dark matter relic abundance also in situations where the standard assumption of kinetic equilibrium during the freeze-out process may not be satisfied. comes with a set of three dedicated Boltzmann equation solvers that implement, respectively, the traditionally adopted equation for the dark matter number density, fluid-like equations that couple the evolution of number density and velocity dispersion, and a full numerical evolution of the phase-space distribution. We review the general motivation for these approaches and, for illustration, highlight three concrete classes of models where kinetic and chemical decoupling are intertwined in a way that quantitatively impacts the relic density: (i) dark matter annihilation via a narrow resonance, (ii) Sommerfeld-enhanced annihilation and (iii) ‘forbidden’ annihilation to final states that are kinematically inaccessible at threshold. We discuss all these cases in some detail, demonstrating that the commonly adopted, traditional treatment can result in an estimate of the relic density that is wrong by up to an order of magnitude. The public release of , along with several examples of how to calculate the relic density in concrete models, is provided at drake.hepforge.org
Multiclassification of Endoscopic Colonoscopy Images Based on Deep Transfer Learning
Authors: Wang Yan , Feng Zixuan , Song Liping , Liu Xiangbin , Liu Shuai
Published: July 2021

With the continuous improvement of human living standards, dietary habits are constantly changing, which brings various bowel problems. Among them, the morbidity and mortality rates of colorectal cancer have maintained a significant upward trend. In recent years, the application of deep learning in the medical field has become increasingly spread aboard and deep. In a colonoscopy, Artificial Intelligence based on deep learning is mainly used to assist in the detection of colorectal polyps and the classification of colorectal lesions. But when it comes to classification, it can lead to confusion between polyps and other diseases. In order to accurately diagnose various diseases in the intestines and improve the classification accuracy of polyps, this work proposes a multiclassification method for medical colonoscopy images based on deep learning, which mainly classifies the four conditions of polyps, inflammation, tumor, and normal. In view of the relatively small number of data sets, the network firstly trained by transfer learning on ImageNet was used as the pretraining model, and the prior knowledge learned from the source domain learning task was applied to the classification task about intestinal illnesses. Then, we fine-tune the model to make it more suitable for the task of intestinal classification by our data sets. Finally, the model is applied to the multiclassification of medical colonoscopy images. Experimental results show that the method in this work can significantly improve the recognition rate of polyps while ensuring the classification accuracy of other categories, so as to assist the doctor in the diagnosis of surgical resection.