bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vertebrate responses to human land use are influenced by their proximity to climatic tolerance limits
Authors: Williams Jessica J. , Newbold Tim
Published: May 2021

Aim

Land‐use change leads to local climatic changes, which can induce shifts in community composition. Indeed, human‐altered land uses favour species able to tolerate greater temperature and precipitation extremes. However, environmental changes do not impact species uniformly across their distributions, and most research exploring the impacts of climatic changes driven by land use has not considered potential within‐range variation. We explored whether a population's climatic position (the difference between species' thermal and precipitation tolerance limits and the environmental conditions a population experiences) influences their relative abundance across land‐use types.

Location

Global.

Methods

Using a global dataset of terrestrial vertebrate species and estimating their realized climatic tolerance limits, we analysed how the abundance of species within human‐altered habitats relative to that in natural habitats varied across different climatic positions (controlling for proximity to geographic range edge).

Results

A population's thermal position strongly influenced abundance within human‐altered land uses (e.g. agriculture). Where temperature extremes were closer to species' thermal limits, population abundances were lower in human‐altered land uses (relative to natural habitat) compared to areas further from these limits. These effects were generally stronger at tropical compared to temperate latitudes. In contrast, the influences of precipitation position were more complex and often differed between land uses and geographic zones. Mapping the outcome of models revealed strong spatial variation in the potential severity of decline for vertebrate populations following conversion from natural habitat to cropland or pasture, due to their climatic position.

Main conclusions

We highlight within‐range variation in species' responses to land use, driven (at least partly), by differences in climatic position. Accounting for spatial variation in responses to environmental changes is critical when predicting population vulnerability, producing successful conservation plans, and exploring how biodiversity may be impacted by future land‐use and climate change interactions.
Predicting the nationwide outmigration timing of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) smolts along 12 degrees of latitude in Norway
Authors: Vollset Knut Wiik , Lennox Robert J. , Lamberg Anders , Skaala Øystein , Sandvik Anne Dagrun , Sægrov Harald , Kvingedal Eli , Kristensen Torstein , Jensen Arne Johan , Haraldstad Tormod , Barlaup Bjørn Torgeir , Ugedal Ola
Published: May 2021

Aim

Accurate predictions about transition timing of salmon smolts between freshwater and marine environments are key to effective management. We aimed to use available data on Atlantic salmon smolt migration to predict the emigration timing in rivers throughout Norway.

Location

In this study, we used outmigration timing data of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) smolts from 41 rivers collected from 1984 to 2018 to make a predictive model for the timing of out‐migrating salmon smolts along 12 degrees latitude.

Methods

Smolt migration data were collated from rivers where smolts are monitored with traps, video and tagging and matched to river‐specific metadata. Using a mixed‐effects generalized additive model, we tested for the effects of spatial location, air temperature, river flow and counting methods on the timing of 25% smolt emigration from rivers.

Results

After accounting for spatial effects and repeated measures (across years and among rivers), air temperature and counting method were significant drivers of the estimated timing of smolt emigration. In‐sample predictions yielded strong correlation with observed values, as did 10‐fold cross‐validation. Out‐of‐sample predictions suggested that the previous national estimates underestimated the migration timing in southern populations (linear model intercept = 39.73 days).

Conclusion

Model‐derived estimates of run timing can be used to more accurately predict the timing of outmigration in order to better calibrate environmental flows and regulate management of marine industries such as aquaculture that may affect migration success at this particularly sensitive life stage.
Scandinavian creation theology—A constellation open to a variety of interpretations
Authors: Kristensson Uggla Bengt
Published: May 2021

This text is a general introduction to Scandinavian creation theology, both from a historical and systematic point of view. The concept is connected to a loose network of theologians that emerged during the second part of the 20th century in the aftermath of the breakdown of the grand liberal paradigm, and as a critique against dominant anti‐liberal approaches in Protestant theology. In this article, Scandinavian creation theology is conceived as a “constellation” of three major “founding figures”—K. E. Løgstrup (1905–1981), Regin Prenter (1907–1990), and Gustaf Wingren (1910–2000)—who elaborated on a reconfiguration of Reformation theology by a “mediation” of Luther's theology inspired by the important Danish theologian N.F.S. Grundtvig (1783–1882). Using the doctrine of creation as horizon of understanding for the Christian faith, an original affirmation of ordinary life shared by all human beings is taken as a theological starting point, instead of attempting to isolate something distinctively Christian. Inspired by Irenaeus’ concept “recapitulatio,” it is claimed that becoming a Christian means nothing less—and nothing more—than becoming human again. Finally, despite the fact that this theological approach was developed in a declining monolithic Lutheran majority‐culture, it is being argued that the ongoing transformation associated with an emerging post‐Constantinian era is something that makes Scandinavian creation theology increasingly relevant and important today.
The role of extreme rain events in driving tree growth across a continental‐scale climatic range in Australia
Authors: O'Donnell Alison J. , Renton Michael , Allen Kathryn J. , Grierson Pauline F.
Published: May 2021

Rainfall regimes in many parts of the world have become increasingly dominated by fewer, but more extreme, rainfall events. Understanding how tree growth responds to changes in the frequency and intensity of rain events is critical to predicting how climate change will impact on forests and woodlands in the future. In this study, we used five tree‐ring records of the native Australian conifer Callitris columellaris that span a large (> 20°) latitudinal and climatic gradient from the mesic (tropical) north to the xeric (semi‐arid) south of Australia to investigate how inter‐annual and spatial variation in the delivery of rainfall (the intensity and frequency of rain events) influences tree growth. In semi‐arid biomes (~300–400 mm rainfall annually), tree growth is most strongly related to the amount of rainfall from heavy (> 75th percentile) rain days or the number of extreme (> 90th percentile) rain days, regardless of differences in the seasonal distribution and average intensity of rainfall among sites. Our findings also indicate that there is likely a minimum threshold amount of daily rainfall (~5 mm) that is required to stimulate tree growth in the semi‐arid zone. In contrast, in the tropics (> 800 mm annual rainfall), inter‐annual variation in growth is best explained by total growing season rainfall or the number of rain days > ~5 mm (~50th percentile of rain days) rather than extreme rainfall. Our findings indicate that not all rain events are important for driving tree growth, which has important implications for interpreting climatic signals in tree rings. Our findings also indicate that projected increases in the intensity of extreme rain events are likely to have contrasting impacts on tree growth across biomes, with greater and positive impacts on growth in semi‐arid biomes and potentially negative impacts on growth in tropical biomes of Australia.
Neuropathic pain: Spotlighting anatomy, experimental models, mechanisms, and therapeutic aspects
Authors: Kankowski Svenja , Grothe Claudia , Haastert‐Talini Kirsten
Published: May 2021

The International Association for the Study of Pain defines neuropathic pain as “pain arising as a direct consequence of a lesion or disease affecting the somatosensory system”. The associated changes can be observed in the peripheral as well as the central nervous system. The available literature discusses a wide variety of causes as predisposing for the development and amplification of neuropathic pain. Further, key interactions within sensory pathways have been discovered, but no common molecular mechanism leading to neuropathic pain has been identified until now. In the first part of this review, the pain mediating lateral spinothalamic tract is described. Different in vivo models are presented that allow studying trauma‐, chemotherapy‐, virus‐, and diabetes‐induced neuropathic pain in rodents. We furthermore discuss approaches to assess neuropathic pain in these models. Second, the current knowledge about cellular and molecular mechanisms suggested to underlie the development of neuropathic pain is presented and discussed. A summary of established therapies that are already applied in the clinic and novel, promising approaches closes the paper. In conclusion, the established animal models are able to emulate the diversity of neuropathic pain observed in the clinics. However, the assessment of neuropathic pain in the presented in vivo models should be improved. The determination of common molecular markers with suitable in vitro models would simplify the assessment of neuropathic pain in vivo. This would furthermore provide insights into common molecular mechanisms of the disease and establish a basis to search for satisfying therapeutic approaches.
The context dependency of pollinator interference: How environmental conditions and co‐foraging species impact floral visitation
Authors: Cervantes‐Loreto Alba , Ayers Carolyn A. , Dobbs Emily K. , Brosi Berry J. , Stouffer Daniel B.
Published: May 2021

Animals often change their behaviour in the presence of other species and the environmental context they experience, and these changes can substantially modify the course their populations follow. In the case of animals involved in mutualistic interactions, it is still unclear how to incorporate the effects of these behavioural changes into population dynamics. We propose a framework for using pollinator functional responses to examine the roles of pollinator–pollinator interactions and abiotic conditions in altering the times between floral visits of a focal pollinator. We then apply this framework to a unique foraging experiment with different models that allow resource availability and sublethal exposure to a neonicotinoid pesticide to modify how pollinators forage alone and with co‐foragers. We found that all co‐foragers interfere with the focal pollinator under at least one set of abiotic conditions; for most species, interference was strongest at higher levels of resource availability and with pesticide exposure. Overall our results highlight that density‐dependent responses are often context‐dependent themselves.
The role of cognitive and non‐cognitive factors in dental anxiety: A mediation model
Authors: Scandurra Cristiano , Gasparro Roberta , Dolce Pasquale , Bochicchio Vincenzo , Muzii Benedetta , Sammartino Gilberto , Marenzi Gaetano , Maldonato Nelson Mauro
Published: May 2021

Dental anxiety is a crucial problem for dentistry because it may represent a significant risk to oral health. Different factors, whether non‐cognitive (e.g., traumatic dental events) or cognitive (e.g., the patient's subjective perceptions), may cause dental anxiety. However, previous studies have assessed these factors as independent predictors of dental anxiety, without providing any exploration of potential mediational pathways. The current study assessed the role of certain cognitive dimensions (i.e., the dentist's perceived professionalism and communicational attitudes, and the patient's perceived lack of control) as mediators between traumatic dental events and dental anxiety. The sample comprised 253 patients who had accessed a public university hospital dental surgery. The mediation analysis used a structural equation modeling. Traumatic dental events were positively associated with dental anxiety but, among the cognitive factors, only lack of control was. Furthermore, lack of control mediated the relationship between traumatic dental events and dental anxiety, although this mediation was only partial. This study sheds light on the mechanisms through which non‐cognitive and cognitive factors may affect dental anxiety. The clinical implications for dental practice, in terms of improving the psychological well‐being of patients, are discussed.
Surgical repair of a full‐thickness ear pinna defect in a horse
Authors: Cullen M. D. , Ehrle A. , Willson S. C. , Wilmink J. M. , Archer D. C.
Published: May 2021

A 5‐year‐old gelding used for showing was presented for surgical repair of a full‐thickness 15 mm diameter defect in the right pinna, which had occurred as a delayed complication following laser excision of a sarcoid. The defect had resulted in progressive deformity of the ear, and the horse was considered at risk of further injury if the defect became entrapped on a fixed object. Two artificial dermis meshes were inserted to encourage the formation of granulation tissue across the defect, and a commercially available skin expander was implanted adjacent to the site. Eighteen days later, a second surgery was performed to remove the skin expander and to mobilise a local rotational skin flap to close the defect. Both surgeries were performed under standing sedation and local anaesthesia. The site healed well, avoiding further potential trauma to the ear and deformity due to tissue contracture at the site, although some deformation of the lateral aspect of the cartilage remained.
Safety and efficacy of genetic MECP2 supplementation in the R294X mouse model of Rett syndrome
Authors: Collins Bridget E. , Merritt Jonathan K. , Erickson Kirsty R. , Neul Jeffrey L.
Published: May 2021

Rett syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused predominantly by loss‐of‐function mutations in MECP2, encoding transcriptional modulator methyl‐CpG‐binding protein 2 (MeCP2). Although no disease‐modifying therapies exist at this time, some proposed therapeutic strategies aim to supplement the mutant allele with a wild‐type allele producing typical levels of functional MeCP2, such as gene therapy. Because MECP2 is a dosage‐sensitive gene, with both loss and gain of function causing disease, these approaches must achieve a narrow therapeutic window to be both safe and effective. While MeCP2 supplementation rescues RTT‐like phenotypes in mouse models, the tolerable threshold of MeCP2 is not clear, particularly for partial loss‐of‐function mutations. We assessed the safety of genetically supplementing full‐length human MeCP2 in the context of the R294X allele, a common partial loss‐of‐function mutation retaining DNA‐binding capacity. We assessed the potential for adverse effects from MeCP2 supplementation of a partial loss‐of‐function mutant and the potential for dominant negative interactions between mutant and full‐length MeCP2. In male hemizygous R294X mice, MeCP2 supplementation rescued RTT‐like behavioral phenotypes and did not elicit behavioral evidence of excess MeCP2. In female heterozygous R294X mice, RTT‐specific phenotypes were similarly rescued. However, MeCP2 supplementation led to evidence of excess MeCP2 activity in a motor coordination assay, suggesting that the underlying motor circuitry is particularly sensitive to MeCP2 dosage in females. These results show that genetic supplementation of full‐length MeCP2 is safe in males and largely so females. However, careful consideration of risk for adverse motor effects may be warranted for girls and women with RTT.
Understanding the impact of teaching systemic functional grammar in initial English language teacher education
Authors: Banegas Darío Luis
Published: May 2021

The role of systemic functional grammar (SFG) is usually investigated in postgraduate courses and in‐service programmes with experienced teachers. In contrast, this study examines the impact of SFG on student‐teachers’ professional development in a pre‐service second language teacher education programme in Argentina. Framed in teacher research and ecological perspectives, a tutor examined the perceptions of a group of student‐teachers during the course of an academic year in a mandatory SFG module which favoured content and language integrated learning (CLIL) and metalinguistic knowledge. Data were collected through student‐teachers’ evaluations, summaries of group discussions, coursework samples, and whole class discussions as inherent parts of the module dynamics. Student‐teachers’ perceptions indicated that SFG had a positive effect on content knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge.
Professional development of newly arrived teachers in Sweden
Authors: Al‐Shakrchy Eatessam , Jansson Maria
Published: May 2021

In 2016, the government‐funded Fast Track for Newly Arrived Teachers and Preschool Teachers programme was introduced in Sweden. The initiative stemmed from a shortage of teachers and preschool teachers alongside a relatively large number of educated and experienced teachers among newly arrived immigrants. This study uses both qualitative and quantitative data to present the participants’ perspectives of the professional development offered by the Fast Track programme. The experiences of participants reveal challenges encountered in a new social and cultural field. This study uses the framework of human capital and social capital theory. The results show that the vast majority of participants perceive that they gain professional development through the Fast Track programme with the help of bonding and bridging social capital. However, Swedish administrative processes, cultural barriers, such as language proficiency, and slow adaptation to the new educational context seem to hinder professional development and integration.
Application of Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TIRADS) guidelines to thyroid nodules with cytopathological correlation and impact on healthcare costs
Authors: Chen Xiao , Kutaiba Numan , Pearce Sam , Digby Sam , Van Gelderen David
Published: May 2021

Aims

To assess the application of American College of Radiology Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (ACR‐TIRADS) guidelines and the potential reduction of unnecessary fine‐needle aspirate (FNA) and cost savings through examination of cytopathological correlation.

Methods

All ultrasound‐guided thyroid FNA performed between December 2017 and July 2019 at our institution were included in this study. Prior to performing each FNA, the nodules were scored according to ACR‐TIRADS criteria with subsequent cytology scored according to Bethesda criteria. FNA request forms and preceding diagnostic ultrasound reports were analysed for clinical rationale behind each FNA. Collected data were applied to ACR‐TIRADS, American Thyroid Association (ATA) and Korean TIRADS (K‐TIRADS) criteria. Rate of reduction of unnecessary thyroid FNA and associated costs were subsequently calculated.

Results

A total of 125 patients and 146 nodules were evaluated. A malignancy rate of 7.5% was obtained. Sensitivity and specificity for detection of malignancy were 75% and 41% for ACR‐TIRADS, 91% and 26% for ATA and 92% and 19% for K‐TIRADS. Reduction in the rate of unnecessary FNA was most superior for ACR‐TIRADS at 54.8%. Based on Australian Medicare Benefits Schedule item codes, a total of $18 452.70 might have been saved over the study period had ACR‐TIRADS guidelines been uniformly followed.

Conclusions

This study highlights the strengths and limitations of guidelines in the investigative pathway of thyroid nodules, including superiority of ACR‐TIRADS in reducing the rate of unnecessary FNA. Continued education is needed towards application of guidelines among radiologists and referring clinicians, given the potential to reduce unnecessary FNA and achieve economic savings.
Indium‐labelled autologous platelet sequestration studies predict response to splenectomy in immune thrombocytopenia: an Australian experience
Authors: Ratnasingam Sumita , Reid Amy S. , Ma Dickson , Bucki‐Smith Daniel , Gwini Stella M. , Seneviratna Leah , Campbell Philip J.
Published: May 2021

Background

Splenectomy is an effective intervention in primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). Attempts to define pre‐clinical predictors of platelet response to splenectomy are inconsistent. Based on international studies defining the likelihood of platelet response using platelet sequestration, patients with relapsed/refractory ITP being considered for splenectomy at a regional Australian hospital were assessed with 111indium‐labelled autologous platelet sequestration (ILAPS) studies.

Aims

To audit the use of ILAPS in an Australian setting and define its role in predicting response to splenectomy.

Methods

A retrospective review of all patients referred for an ILAPS study at a regional hospital was performed. Results for each patient were expressed as an ‘R’ value (spleen/ liver uptake ratio) to quantify the platelet sequestration pattern and outcome post‐splenectomy, based on platelet counts.

Results

A total of 45 patients was identified: 13 underwent splenectomy and 32 were medically managed. Patients with favourable ILAPS scans (pure or predominant splenic sequestration) demonstrated a superior response post‐splenectomy (100% overall response rate (ORR); 83.5% complete remission (CR)) compared with those with unfavourable ILAPS scans (mixed or pure hepatic sequestration) (71.4% ORR; 57.1% CR) over 12 months.

Conclusions

The use of ILAPS in the Australian setting is feasible and this experience confirms larger international studies demonstrating its utility as a predictor of response to splenectomy in ITP. An unfavourable ILAPS scan could be considered a negative predictor of response prompting consideration for other emerging ITP treatments such as thrombopoietin‐receptor agonists or B‐cell depleting therapy such as Rituximab.
Does the kitchen‐sink model work forecasting the equity premium?
Authors: Yin Anwen
Published: May 2021

We propose applying partial least squares (PLS) to estimating the previously considered ineffective multivariate regression model when forecasting the market equity premium out‐of‐sample. First, PLS is a dimension reduction method that effectively addresses the issue of multicollinearity prevalent among financial variables. Second, PLS constructs factors with the supervision of past equity premiums, resulting in an explicit linkage between the forecasting target and PLS components. Our empirical results show that the PLS‐estimated kitchen‐sink model consistently and robustly outperforms many competing alternatives, such as shrinkage estimators and forecast combinations, by a statistically and economically significant margin. Our analysis differs from Kelly and Pruitt (2013) in factors such as data source, model estimation and specification, and economic rationale.
An extended ϵ‐constraint method for a multiobjective finite‐horizon Markov decision process
Authors: Eghbali‐Zarch Maryam , Tavakkoli‐Moghaddam Reza , Azaron Amir , Dehghan‐Sanej Kazem
Published: May 2021

A Markov decision process (MDP) is an appropriate mathematical framework for analysis and modeling a large class of sequential decision‐making problems. Real‐world applications necessitate the evaluation of the value of a decision according to several conflicting objectives. This paper presents an extended ϵ‐constraint method for a multiobjective finite‐horizon MDP. This study integrates the ϵ‐constraint method with the K‐best policies algorithm to find the nondominated deterministic Markovian policies on the Pareto‐optimal frontier. The proposed algorithm is evaluated on biobjective maintenance scheduling and machine running speed selection problems, and its performance is compared with a classic approach in the literature (weighted‐sum, WS, method). Satisfying results show that the proposed algorithm obtains a good‐quality Pareto frontier and has advantages over the WS method.
Disjunction, tension and dissonance within nursing pain care provision for the older hospitalized person: A focused ethnographic insight
Authors: Harmon Joanne , Summons Peter , Higgins Isabel
Published: May 2021

Aims

This study presents an ethnographic insight into the older hospitalized persons’ experiences on how nurses provide pain care provision. The older persons’ perceptions of culturally mediated barriers and facilitators are presented.

Design

Focused ethnography.

Methods

Multi‐site across eight acute care units within two tertiary referral hospitals on the east coast of Australia collected over a one‐year period from 2014 to 2015. Semi‐structured interviews (n = 12) of older persons (11 hr). Twenty‐three (23) semi‐structured interviews with nine (9) registered nurses (12 hr 38 min). Participant observation (1,041 hr) during day, night and evening shifts.

Results

The older person experienced disjunction within pain assessment by the reliance of nurses on objective measurement gained during functional task completion. Tension emerged during pain management when the older person was not included and/or options provided were not deemed effective. For some older persons this meant they undertook a decision to exclude their nurse from involvement in pain management. A thread woven throughout was a lack of communication, continuity of care and input from the older person.

Conclusion

This study has implications for the provision of nursing care of the older hospitalized person. Dissonance within pain care provision for the older person occurs during episodes of missed pain care. Understanding and insight is gained into aspects of missed communication opportunities between nurses and the experiences of missed pain care of the older person.
Biogeographic drivers of distribution and abundance in an alien ecosystem engineer: Transboundary range expansion, barriers to spread, and spatial structure
Authors: Ma Kevin C. K. , Gusha Molline N. C. , Zardi Gerardo I. , Nicastro Katy R. , Monsinjon Jonathan R. , McQuaid Christopher D.
Published: May 2021

Aim

Biogeographic boundaries can act as either weak or strong barriers to the spread of species undergoing distributional change. Once a novel species spreads across a boundary, it can have a substantial impact on the ecosystem, for instance by competing with local species, and, over the long‐term, re‐engineer the ecosystem. Marine biogeographic regions are clearly defined on the coast of southern Africa and we tested the influence of their boundaries on the spread and spatial structure of an alien ecosystem engineer.

Location

Southern Africa.

Taxon

An invasive mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis.

Methods

Records of M. galloprovincialis were compiled into a database to determine its decadal patterns of spread across multiple bioregions. Distribution and abundance (estimated using density and semi‐quantitative abundance scale [ACFOR]) of this mussel were surveyed to determine patterns in spatial structure across bioregions. In addition, we compared the size structure of populations at the eastern margins of its range with those of larger populations nearer the range centre.

Results

Initial breaching of biogeographic boundaries was associated with rapid spread, but other boundaries encountered decades later acted as barriers to further spread. Across >2,800 km of coast, spatial autocorrelation was observed in densities (low and mid shore levels) and in ACFOR abundances. Repeating spatial patterns in densities and ACFOR abundance were detected at scales of 120–160 km and of 400–990 km. Considerable effort was required to detect populations at the absolute eastern limits of its distribution.

Main conclusion

Detection of spatial structures at multiple scales suggests that ecologically determined processes regulate abundance at both intra‐bioregional and inter‐bioregional scales, which may help tease apart the historic and contemporary consequences of interspecific interactions on the structure of rocky shore communities. This study demonstrates the influence of biogeography in driving temporal patterns of spread and spatial structure on the distribution and abundance of an invasive species.
Contrasting patterns of phylogenetic turnover in amphibians and reptiles are driven by environment and geography in Neotropical savannas
Authors: Azevedo Josué A. R. , de C. Nogueira Cristiano , Antonelli Alexandre , Faurby Søren
Published: May 2021

Aim

Cross‐taxonomic congruence in biodiversity patterns is key to understanding the main drivers of community structure, for biogeographical regionalization and to guide conservation. We aim to map the patterns of phylogenetic turnover and disentangle the geographical and environmental factors that drive the phylogenetic composition of distinct faunal assemblages.

Location

The Cerrado savannas of South America.

Taxa

Reptiles and amphibians.

Methods

We measured the proportion of phylogenetic branches shared among sites (i.e. phylogenetic turnover) using presence‐absence matrices for all species in the Cerrado and for endemics only, including only well‐sampled localities from previously compiled inventories. We then tested whether phylogenetic turnover is different from null expectations based on taxonomic turnover. We used generalized dissimilarity modelling (GDM) to test whether geography, topography, soil or climate best explain phylogenetic turnover. Finally, we mapped the observed and the GDM‐predicted clustering of phylogenetic turnover to assess geographical congruence between reptiles and amphibians.

Results

For all reptiles, geographical distance is the most important factor explaining phylogenetic turnover, whereas for endemic reptiles and amphibians, in general, a set of climatic variables and relief roughness are more important. We did not find any significant correlation between the phylogenetic turnover of reptiles and amphibians, as evidenced by non‐congruent phylogenetic clustering and by different responses to geographical and environmental gradients.

Main conclusions

The different relationships of phylogenetic turnover of reptiles and amphibians to geographical and environmental distances have ultimately shaped the phylogenetic regionalization of these two groups. This incongruence indicates the differential importance of niche filtering, dispersal limitation and the influence of neighbouring biomes in the regionalization of different groups of organisms. Therefore, diversity patterns of one group should ideally not be used as a surrogate to map general patterns or to understand the drivers of diversity of other co‐occurring groups. Thus, conservation efforts need to be designed and implemented for each organismal group.
NR4A1 knockdown confers hepatoprotection against ischaemia‐reperfusion injury by suppressing TGFβ1 via inhibition of CYR61/NF‐κB in mouse hepatocytes
Authors: Cao Jun , Xu Ting , Zhou Chengming , Wang Shaochuang , Jiang Baofei , Wu Kun , Ma Long
Published: May 2021

Nuclear receptor subfamily 4, group A, member 1 (NR4A1) can aggravate ischaemia‐reperfusion (I/R) injury in the heart, kidney and brain. Thus, the present study aimed to unravel the role of NR4A1 on hepatic I/R injury. For this purpose, the mouse hepatic I/R model and H/R‐exposed mouse hepatocytes model were established to stimulate the hepatic and hepatocellular damage. Then, the levels of ALT and AST as well as TNF‐α and IL‐1β expression were measured in the mouse serum and supernatant of hepatocyte s, respectively. Thereafter, we quantified the levels of NR4A1, CYR61, NF‐kB p65 and TGFβ1 under pathological conditions, and their interactions were analysed using ChIP and dual‐luciferase reporter gene assays. The in vivo and in vitro effects of NR4A1, CYR61, NF‐kB p65 and TGFβ1 on I/R‐induced hepatic and H/R‐induced hepatocellular damage were evaluated using gain‐ and loss‐of‐function approaches. NR4A1 was up‐regulated in the hepatic tissues of I/R‐operated mice and in H/R‐treated hepatocytes. Silencing NR4A1 relieved the I/R‐induced hepatic injury, as supported by suppression of ALT and AST as well as TNF‐α and IL‐1β. Meanwhile, NR4A1 knockdown attenuated the H/R‐induced hepatocellular damage by inhibiting the apoptosis of hepatocyte s. Moreover, we also found that NR4A1 up‐regulated the expression of CYR61 which resulted in the activation of the NF‐κB signalling pathway, thereby enhancing the transcription of TGFβ1, which was validated to be the mechanism underlying the contributory role of NR4A1 in hepatic I/R injury. Taken together, NR4A1 silencing reduced the expression of CYR61/NF‐κB/TGFβ1, thereby relieving the hepatic I/R injury.
Cardiac‐specific overexpression of miR‐122 induces mitochondria‐dependent cardiomyocyte apoptosis and promotes heart failure by inhibiting Hand2
Authors: Shi Yajuan , Zhang Zhi , Yin Qiqi , Fu Chen , Barszczyk Andrew , Zhang Xiaofu , Wang Jiabing , Yang Deye
Published: May 2021

MicroRNA‐122 (miR‐122) is one of several microRNAs elevated in heart failure patients. To investigate the potential role and mechanism of miR‐122 in heart failure, we constructed a transgenic mouse overexpressing miR‐122 in the heart. This mouse exhibited cardiac dysfunction (as assessed by transthoracic echocardiography), morphological abnormalities of the heart and cardiomyocyte apoptosis characteristic of heart failure. Mechanistically, we identified the Hand2 transcription factor as a direct target of miR‐122 using a dual‐luciferase reporter assay. In Tg‐miR‐122 mice and H9C2 cells with miR‐122 mimics, we detected apoptosis and increased expression of dynamin‐related protein‐1 (Drp1). This effect was blocked with prior knockdown of Hand2 in vitro. Our work suggests that miR‐122 causes cardiomyocyte apoptosis by inhibiting Hand2 and consequently increasing Drp1‐mediated mitochondrial fission. Such a mechanism likely contributes to heart failure and so modulating this pathway could be therapeutically valuable against heart failure.
Factors influencing return rate and marine residence duration in sea trout populations in Central Norway
Authors: Paterson Rachel A. , Berntsen Henrik H. , Næsje Tor F. , Berg Marius , Finstad Bengt
Published: May 2021

Brown trout (Salmo trutta) display extensive plasticity in marine migratory behaviours, with marine migrations considered to be an adaptive strategy which enables sea trout to maximize growth and reproductive potential. However, marine migrations are not without associated costs, including threats posed by ever‐increasing salmon lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) infestations. In the present study, we used passive integrated transponder technology to characterize variability in sea trout migration behaviour amongst three catchments situated in a region of intensive salmon farming in central Norway. Specifically, we investigate how lice infestation, out‐migration date and body size alter sea trout return rate and marine residence duration during the first out‐migration to sea from each catchment. Distinct catchment‐specific differences in sea trout out‐migration size and the number of cohorts were observed, but larger body size did not guarantee the successful return of migrating trout. The marine residence duration of individuals that successfully returned to freshwater was positively correlated with lice infestation risk, suggesting for these individuals the lethal infestation threshold had not been reached. Our results also suggest that sea trout populations from lotic‐dominated catchments are potentially at greater risk from size‐related threats to their survival encountered during their marine migrations than sea trout from lentic‐dominated catchments. The variability in sea trout migratory behaviour amongst catchments observed here emphasizes the challenges fisheries managers face when deciding the best actions to take to protect the anadromous portion of brown trout populations.
A new species of pikeblenny (Blenniiformes: Chaenopsidae: Chaenopsis) from the tropical eastern Pacific and a key to all species
Authors: Tavera Jose
Published: May 2021

The genus Chaenopsis presently includes 10 species, four in the eastern Pacific and six in the western Atlantic. Five individuals of an undescribed species of this genus were obtained at Gorgona Island in the eastern Pacific of Colombia, in depths between 3 and 5 m. This new species differs from all the Eastern Pacific species in an array of traits including meristic, coloration and morphometric characters. Chaenopsis celeste new species differs from its only sympatric species, C. deltarrhis, in having fewer pectoral rays, fewer dorsal spines and more dorsal‐fin soft rays and anal‐fin elements. This new species is found over shallow sandy, rubble and small rocks bottoms from Costa Rica to Colombia.
Surface runoff hydrograph derivation using a dynamic wave based instantaneous unit hydrograph
Authors: Jeong Minyeob , Kim Dae‐Hong , Kim Jongho
Published: May 2021

Rainfall‐runoff models based on unit hydrographs and geomorphological instantaneous unit hydrographs have been widely used because of their simplicity and applicability. However, they are conceptual approaches, and not a reflection of physical phenomena. As an alternative, dynamic wave models have been introduced, but they are not appropriate for practical purposes because of their numerical instability and high computational cost. In this study, we present a hybrid method composed of a dynamic wave approach and instantaneous unit hydrograph (IUH) to predict surface runoff physically, stably, and instantly. We generate the S‐hydrographs of a watershed using a dynamic wave model, and the IUHs of the watershed are derived by numerically differentiating the S‐hydrographs with respect to time. Finally, a direct runoff hydrograph is produced through the convolution of the temporally varying rainfall excess rate and the IUHs of the watershed. A dynamic wave model is used, and therefore, only a single parameter related to friction needs to be calibrated for the S‐hydrograph generation, and the nonlinearity of the rainfall‐runoff process can be partially considered. From a computational perspective, the proposed method after the IUH derivation ends instantly and stably. Tests for ideal and real watersheds show good agreement between measurements and dynamic wave modelling results.
Emissions of electric vehicle charging in future scenarios: The effects of time of charging
Authors: Arvesen Anders , Völler Steve , Hung Christine Roxanne , Krey Volker , Korpås Magnus , Strømman Anders Hammer
Published: May 2021

Electrification of transport is an important option to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Although many studies have analyzed emission implications of electric vehicle charging, time‐specific emission effects of charging are inadequately understood. Here, we combine climate protection scenarios for Europe for the year 2050, detailed power system simulation at hourly time steps, and life cycle assessment of electricity in order to explore the influence of time on the greenhouse gas emissions associated with electric vehicle charging for representative days. We consider both average and short‐term marginal emissions. We find that the mix of electricity generation technologies, and thus, also the emissions of charging, vary appreciably across the 24‐h day. In our estimates for Europe for 2050, an assumed day‐charging regime yields one‐third‐to‐one‐half lower average emissions than an assumed night‐charging regime. This is owing to high fractions of solar PV in the electricity mix during daytime and more reliance on natural gas electricity in the late evening and night. The effect is stronger during summer months than during winter months, with day charging causing one‐half‐to‐two‐thirds lower emissions than night charging during summer. Also, when short‐term marginal electricity is assumed, emissions tend to be lower with day charging because of contributions from nuclear electricity during the day. However, the results for short‐term marginal electricity have high uncertainty. Overall, our results suggest a need for electric vehicle charging policies and emission assessments to take into consideration variations in electricity mixes and time profiles of vehicle charging over the 24‐h day.
Effects of non‐pharmacological interventions on preoperative anxiety and postoperative pain in patients undergoing breast cancer surgery: A systematic review
Authors: Tola Yetunde Oluwafunmilayo , Chow Ka Ming , Liang Wei
Published: May 2021

Background

Poorly managed preoperative anxiety and pain were reported to slow the postoperative recovery of breast cancer patients. Thus, proactive management using non‐pharmacological interventions becomes essential for decreasing opioid or anxiolytics consumption, anxiety level, pain intensity, postoperative complications and improving patients’ haemodynamics and satisfaction with care.

Purpose

To identify, analyse and synthesise the effects of non‐pharmacological interventions on preoperative anxiety and acute postoperative pain in women undergoing breast cancer surgery.

Method

For this systematic review, 12 databases including Ovid Nursing, PsycInfo, British Nursing Index, CINAHL, Cochrane Library were searched to identify relevant studies. A total of 6,012 articles were identified from the search, six RCTs and one quasi‐experimental study that met the inclusion criteria were included after eligibility screening. Narrative synthesis was used to analyse data extracted from the included articles. The review adhered to the PRISMA guideline.

Results

Twelve outcomes were measured in the included studies, including preoperative anxiety, and acute postoperative pain. Music, massage, aromatherapy and acupuncture were the interventions delivered. Music had a small‐to‐large effect size and aromatherapy had a small effect size on reducing preoperative anxiety. Also, music had a large effect size whilst acupuncture had a medium effect size on minimising postoperative pain in women undergoing breast cancer surgery.

Conclusion

Music, aromatherapy and acupuncture appeared to be effective for reducing preoperative anxiety and postoperative pain in women undergoing breast cancer surgery. However, the small number of studies available for each intervention prevents conclusive statements about which the most effective method.

Implication for clinical practice

A nursing care pathway that standardises the use of non‐pharmacological interventions for the management of both preoperative anxiety and postoperative pain in breast cancer surgery patients should be developed.
Molecular analysis of a fungal disease in the habitat‐forming brown macroalga Phyllospora comosa (Fucales) along a latitudinal gradient
Authors: Ferrari Juliana , Goncalves Priscila , Campbell Alexandra Helene , Sudatti Daniela Bueno , Wood Georgina Valentine , Thomas Torsten , Pereira Renato Crespo , Steinberg Peter David , Marzinelli Ezequiel Miguel
Published: May 2021

Infectious diseases affecting habitat‐forming species can have significant impacts on population dynamics and alter the structure and functioning of marine ecosystems. Recently, a fungal infection was described as the causative agent of necrotic lesions on the stipe of the forest‐forming macroalga Phyllospora comosa, a disease named “stipe rot” (SR). Here, we developed a quantitative PCR (qPCR) method for rapid detection and quantification of this pathogen, which was applied to evaluate the level of SR infection in eight P. comosa populations spanning the entire latitudinal distribution of this species along southeastern Australia. We also investigated the relationship between the abundance and prevalence of Stipe Rot Fungus (SRF) and potential host chemical defenses as well as its relationship with morphological and ecophysiological traits of P. comosa. qPCR estimates of SRF abundance reflected the levels of infection estimated by visual assessment, with higher numbers of SRF copies being observed in individuals showing high or intermediate levels of visual symptoms of SR. Concordance of conventional PCR and visual assessments was 92 and 94%, respectively, compared to qPCR detection. SRF prevalence was positively related to fucoxanthin content and herbivory, but not significant related to other traits measured (phlorotannin content, total length, thallus diameter, stipe width, number of branches, frond width, fouling, bleaching, gender, and photosynthetic efficiency). These results provide confidence for previous reports of this disease based upon visual assessments only, contribute to the development of monitoring and conservation strategies for safeguarding P. comosa forests, and generate insights into potential factors influencing host–pathogen interactions in this system.
Determination of the sleep–wake pattern and feasibility of NREM/REM discrimination using the non‐invasive piezoelectric system in rats
Authors: Vanneau Théo , Quiquempoix Michael , Trignol Aurélie , Verdonk Charles , Van Beers Pascal , Sauvet Fabien , Gomez‐Merino Danielle , Chennaoui Mounir
Published: May 2021

The piezoelectric cage‐floor sensors have been used to successfully dissect sleep patterns in mice based on signal features related to respiration and body movements. We studied performance of the piezoelectric system to quantify the sleep–wake pattern in the rat over 7 days of recording compared with a visual electroencephalogram/electromyogram scoring, and under two light/dark (LD12:12 and LD16:8) photoperiods leading to change in the 24‐hr sleep characteristics (N = 7 per group). The total sleep time (%/24 hr) over the 7 days recording and hourly sleep time over the last 24‐hr recording were not statistically different between methods under the two photoperiods. Both methods detected higher total sleep time with the LD16:8 photoperiod compared with LD12:12 (p < .05), and correlated significantly (p < .001) at light and dark periods during each photoperiod. The accuracies for discrimination of sleep–wake patterns between methods were 81.9% and 84.9% for LD12:12 and LD16:8, respectively. In addition, spectral analysis of the respiratory signal given by piezo during all 10‐s periods of the corresponding non‐rapid eye movement and rapid eye movement sleep periods recorded by electroencephalogram/electromyogram resulted in selection of 36 features that could be inserted in an automated non‐rapid eye movement sleep and rapid eye movement sleep classification, with 90% accuracy with the electroencephalogram/electromyogram visual scoring. The piezo system proved to be a reliable non‐invasive alternative to electroencephalogram recording to study total sleep time in rat, with feasibility to discriminate between non‐rapid eye movement and rapid eye movement sleep stages. This will be interesting in pharmacological or bio‐behavioural studies evaluating sleep patterns or the restorative functions of sleep in the body and the brain.
Institution as mediation between social structure and agency: Toward a realist social ontology of institutions
Authors: Öğütle Vefa Saygın
Published: May 2021

There is a widely accepted conception that institutions are norm systems or norm‐guided practices. Opening this conception itself to discussion, the paper initially discusses a group of concepts, such as norm, power, practice, structure, etc., that are related to the definition of institution. Following the discussion, it focuses on the possibility of understanding institutions as spaces. Finally, the paper suggests that institutions mediate ontologically between structure and agency within a framework developed with a critical‐realist approach, and formulates the two sides of this mediation (structure‐institution and institution‐agency) as two spatialities. While the institution as a topos corresponds to a ground on which social structures materialize their causal powers, the institution as a locus manifests itself as a place where agents reproduce and/or transform with their strategic and dispositional actions.