bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relationships and influence of yield components on spaced‐plant and sward seed yield in perennial ryegrass
Authors: Heineck Garett C. , Ehlke Nancy J. , Altendorf Kayla R. , Denison R. Ford , Jungers Jacob M. , Lamb Eric G. , Watkins Eric
Published: August 2020

Adequate seed production is essential for cultivar success in perennial ryegrass turf and forage industries, but improvement is limited by the complexity of yield components and low‐rank correlations between selection and production environments. This study examined seed yield components among 20 perennial ryegrass entries in both spaced plantings (selection environment) and swards (production environment) at two locations in Minnesota. Competitive (23 plants/m2) and non‐competitive (3 plants/m2) spaced‐plant nurseries were tested. Competitive spaced‐plant total yield was highly correlated with sward yield (rs = 0.64 and 0.66, p < 0.01) at both locations, whereas the non‐competitive environment showed no correlation. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to explore the indirect and direct relationship of fall vegetative growth, winterkill, and yield components on total seed yield in all environments. Fertile tiller number (spikes plant−1/m−2) exhibited both strong direct and indirect influence on total seed yield in all environments. However, the importance of fertile tiller number in the SEM was reduced with increased plant competition. The SEM showed that both weight per spike and seed yield per spike influenced total yield in spaced plants; however, neither consistently predicted total sward yield. The ratio of these two traits (g seed spike−1/g spike−1) gave an index of fertility that was easy to measure and had a superior correlation with sward yield at two locations (rs = 0.81 and 0.54, p < 0.05) when spaced plants were under competition. Results suggest that increasing competition in spaced plantings and selecting for spike fertility may more accurately identify superior plant material compared to lower competition environments.
Care for the self, overcompensation and bodily crafting: The work–life balance of disabled people
Authors: Jammaers Eline , Williams Jannine
Published: August 2020

This article argues that studies on work–life balance have neglected the impact of the self‐care needs of disabled people in managing their health in and outside the workplace. Taking a social constructionist approach, we outline how the heteronormative discourse of work–life balance is not only gendered but also ableist in that it assumes an individual who is able‐bodied. By analysing the narratives of 66 male and female employees with a broad range of impairments, this article investigates how they experience work–life balance issues and reflects on how gender intersects with these. It further highlights the strategies disabled people develop, conceptualizing the individualized work of ‘bodily crafting’ that is undertaken to articulate work and life. Through the perspective of the Othered body, we extend current critical debates on fitness and health discourses in organizations.
Predicting the distributions of regional endemic dragonflies using a combined model approach
Authors: Boys Wade A. , Siepielski Adam M. , Smith Brenda D. , Patten Michael A. , Bried Jason T.
Published: August 2020

Climate warming is predicted to have large effects on insects, yet several data shortfalls, including distributional information, impede effective conservation strategies.

Knowledge of species distributions is a critical component for assessing conservation need but is often lacking for endemic or rare taxa, especially invertebrates.

One approach to better inform this gap is by using species distribution modelling (SDM) to predict suitable habitat and guide field surveys.

Here, we combine the predictions of two machine learning algorithms, maximum entropy and Random Forest, to estimate the current and future distributions of two endemic dragonflies of the Ozark‐Ouachita Interior Highlands region in the southcentral United States.

Current suitable areas predicted by both algorithms largely overlapped for each species, but different environmental variables were most important for predicting their distributions. Field validation of these models resulted in new detections for both species showing their utility in guiding subsequent field surveys.

Future projections under two climate change scenarios support maintaining current suitable areas as these are predicted to be strongholds for these species. Our results suggest that combining outputs of multiple species distribution models is a useful tool for better informing the distributions of geographically limited or rare species.
Dihydrotanshinone I inhibits ovarian cancer cell proliferation and migration by transcriptional repression of PIK3CA gene
Authors: Wang Xiaoqing , Xu Xiao , Jiang Guoqiang , Zhang Cuili , Liu Likun , Kang Jian , Wang Jing , Owusu Lawrence , Zhou Liye , Zhang Lin , Li Weiling
Published: August 2020

Dihydrotanshinone I (DHTS), extracted from Salvia miltiorrhiza, was found to be the most effective compound of tanshen extracts against cancer cells in our previous studies. However, the therapeutic benefits and underlying mechanisms of DHTS on ovarian cancer remain uncertain. In this study, we demonstrated the cytocidal effects of DHTS on chemosensitive ovarian cancer cells with or without platinum‐based chemotherapy. DHTS was able to inhibit proliferation and migration of ovarian cancer cells in vitro and in vivo through modulation of the PI3K/AKT signalling pathways. Combinatorial treatment of DHTS and cisplatin exhibited enhanced DNA damage in ovarian cancer cells. Overall, these findings suggest that DHTS induces ovarian cancer cells death via induction of DNA damage and inhibits ovarian cancer cell proliferation and migration.
Long non‐coding RNA CASC7 is associated with the pathogenesis of heart failure via modulating the expression of miR‐30c
Authors: Xu Yu‐li , Liu Yang , Cai Ru‐ping , He Shi‐rong , Dai Ri‐xin , Yang Xi‐heng , Kong Bing‐hui , Qin Zhen‐bai , Su Qiang
Published: August 2020

MiRNAs can be used as promising diagnostic biomarkers of heart failure, while lncRNAs act as competing endogenous RNAs of miRNAs. In this study, we collected peripheral blood monocytes from subjects with or without HF to explore the association between certain lncRNAs, miRNAs and HF. Heart failure patients with preserved or reduced ejection fraction were recruited for investigation. ROC analysis was carried out to evaluate the diagnostic values of certain miRNAs and lncRNAs in HF. Luciferase assays were used to study the regulatory relationship between above miRNAs and lncRNAs. LncRNA overexpression was used to explore the effect of certain miRNAs in H9C2 cells. Expression of miR‐30c was significantly decreased in the plasma and peripheral blood monocytes of patients suffering from heart failure, especially in these with reduced ejection fraction. On the contrary, the expression of lncRNA‐CASC7 was remarkably increased in the plasma and peripheral blood monocytes of patients suffering from heart failure. Both miR‐30c and lncRNA‐CASC7 expression showed a promising efficiency as diagnostic biomarkers of heart failure. Luciferase assays indicated that miR‐30c played an inhibitory role in lncRNA‐CASC7 and IL‐11 mRNA expression. Moreover, the overexpression of lncRNA‐CASC7 suppressed the expression of miR‐30c while evidently increasing the expression of IL‐11 mRNA and protein in H9C2 cells. This study clarified the relationship among miR‐30c, lncRNA‐CASC7 and IL‐11 expression and the risk of heart failure and showed that lncRNA‐CASC7 is potentially involved in the pathogenesis of HF via modulating the expression of miR‐30c.
Characterization of a non‐coding RNA‐associated ceRNA network in metastatic lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Fan Feifei , Ping Yu , Yang Li , Duan Xiaoran , Resegofetse Maimela Nomathamsanqa , Li Bingjie , Li Xiangnan , Chen Jing , Zhang Kai , Wang Liping , Liu Shasha , Zhao Xuan , Wang Hongmin , Zhang Yi
Published: August 2020

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a highly malignant cancer. Although competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA)‐based profiling has been investigated in patients with LUAD, it has not been specifically used to study metastasis in LUAD. We found 130 differentially expressed (DE) lncRNAs, 32 DE miRNAs and 981 DE mRNAs from patients with LUAD in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. We analysed the functions and pathways of 981 DE mRNAs using the Gene Ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) databases. Based on the target DE mRNAs and DE lncRNAs of DE miRNAs, we established an lncRNA‐miRNA‐mRNA ceRNA network, comprising 37 DE lncRNAs, 22 DE miRNAs and 212 DE mRNAs. Subsequently, we constructed a protein‐protein interaction network of DE mRNAs in the ceRNA network. Among all, DE RNAs, 5 DE lncRNAs, 5 DE miRNAs and 45 DE mRNAs were confirmed found to be associated with clinical prognosis. Moreover, 3 DE lncRNAs, 4 DE miRNAs and 9 DE mRNAs in the ceRNA network were associated with clinical prognosis. We further screened 3 DE lncRNAs, 3 DE miRNAs and 3 DE mRNAs using clinical samples. These DE lncRNAs, DE miRNAs and DE mRNAs in ceRNA network may serve as independent biomarkers of LUAD metastasis.
Chronic stress, executive functioning, and real‐life self‐control: An experience sampling study
Authors: Wolff Max , Enge Sören , Kräplin Anja , Krönke Klaus‐Martin , Bühringer Gerhard , Smolka Michael N. , Goschke Thomas
Published: August 2020

Objective

To test the hypothesis that chronic stress impairs the use of cognitive control for self‐control, we examined how chronic stress affects the relation between individual differences in general executive functioning (GEF) and self‐control in real‐life situations.

Method

About 338 young adults with varying degrees of chronic stress underwent experience sampling of real‐life self‐control for 7 days and completed a battery of nine executive function tasks from which a latent variable representing individual differences in GEF was derived.

Results

Structural equation models showed that higher levels of chronic stress were associated with stronger desires and a less negative relationship between GEF and desire strength. Chronic stress and GEF did not predict desire enactment in situations where effortful resistance was attempted.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that chronic stress may impair self‐control by reducing the use of cognitive control for “early” desire regulation strategies while leaving “late” resistance strategies unaffected. That relationships between executive functioning and real‐life self‐control can be moderated by third factors such as chronic stress may to some extent explain the common finding of weak or missing associations between laboratory measures of executive functioning and real‐life self‐control.
Nocturnal eye movements in patients with idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder and patients with Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Christensen Julie A. E. , Cesari Matteo , Pizza Fabio , Antelmi Elena , Frandsen Rune Asger Vestergaard , Plazzi Giuseppe , Jennum Poul
Published: August 2020

Patients with idiopathic rapid‐eye‐movement (REM) sleep behaviour disorder (iRBD) have a high risk of converting into manifest α‐synucleinopathies. Eye movements (EMs) are controlled by neurons in the lower brainstem, midbrain and frontal areas, and may be affected by the early neurodegenerative process seen in iRBD. Studies have reported impairment of the oculomotor function in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) during wakefulness, but no studies have investigated EMs during sleep. We aimed to evaluate nocturnal EMs in iRBD and PD, hypothesizing that these patients present abnormal EM distribution during sleep. Twenty‐eight patients with periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD), 24 iRBD, 23 PD without RBD (PDwoRBD), 29 PD and RBD (PDwRBD) and 24 controls were included. A validated EM detector automatically identified EM periods between lights off and on. The EM coverage was computed as the percentage of time containing EMs during stable wake after lights off, N1, N2, N3 and REM sleep. Between‐group comparisons revealed that PDwRBD had significantly less EM coverage during wake and significantly higher EM coverage during N2 compared to controls and PLMD patients. PDwoRBD showed significantly less EM coverage during wake compared to controls and higher EM coverage during N2 compared to controls and PLMD. Finally, iRBD showed less coverage of EM during wake compared to controls. The same trend was observed between iRBD and controls in N2 but was not significant. The different profiles of EM coverage in iRBD and PD with/without RBD may mirror different stages of central nervous system involvement across neurodegenerative disease progression.
What can electrophysiology tell us about the cognitive processing of scalar implicatures?
Authors: Politzer‐Ahles Stephen
Published: August 2020

One of the most widely studied phenomena in neuropragmatics—the study of how the brain derives context‐ and speaker‐based aspects of meaning—isscalar implicature. A scalar implicature is the interpretation of a proposition likeSome of the students failedas meaning that a stronger proposition (All of the students failed) is not true. While scalar implicatures have been a significant object of study for decades, in recent years there has been an explosion of experiments investigating them using neuroscientific methods, particularly electroencephalography. Much of this research aims to identify neural substrates of comprehending scalar implicatures. Here, I review the extant findings and argue that the most of these studies have not directly observed neural correlates of scalar implicatures; rather, they have mostly observed downstream and/or domain‐general processes that happen to be related to implicatures, but not uniquely so. I argue that an instrumental approach to neuroscience—one that treats brain components not as objects of research in of themselves, but as tools for learning about pragmatics—would be a valuable addition to this emerging field.
Modelling technical and biological biases in macroinvertebrate community assessment from bulk preservative using multiple metabarcoding markers
Authors: Martins Filipa M. S. , Porto Miguel , Feio Maria J. , Egeter Bastian , Bonin Aurélie , Serra Sónia R. Q. , Taberlet Pierre , Beja Pedro
Published: August 2020

DNA metabarcoding from the ethanol used to store macroinvertebrate bulk samples is a convenient methodological option in molecular biodiversity assessment and biomonitoring of aquatic ecosystems, as it preserves specimens and reduces problems associated with sample sorting. However, this method may be affected by errors and biases, which need to be thoroughly quantified before it can be mainstreamed into biomonitoring programmes. Here, we used 80 unsorted macroinvertebrate samples collected in Portugal under a Water Framework Directive monitoring programme, to compare community diversity and taxonomic composition metrics estimated through morphotaxonomy versus metabarcoding from storage ethanol using three markers (COI‐M19BR2, 16S‐Inse01 and 18S‐Euka02) and a multimarker approach. A preliminary in silico analysis showed that the three markers were adequate for the target taxa, with detection failures related primarily to the lack of adequate barcodes in public databases. Metabarcoding of ethanol samples retrieved far less taxa per site (alpha diversity) than morphotaxonomy, albeit with smaller differences for COI‐M19BR2 and the multimarker approach, while estimates of taxa turnover (beta diversity) among sites were similar across methods. Using generalized linear mixed models, we found that after controlling for differences in read coverage across samples, the probability of detection of a taxon was positively related to its proportional abundance, and negatively so to the presence of heavily sclerotized exoskeleton (e.g., Coleoptera). Overall, using our experimental protocol with different template dilutions, the COI marker showed the best performance, but we recommend the use of a multimarker approach to detect a wider range of taxa in freshwater macroinvertebrate samples. Further methodological development and optimization efforts are needed to reduce biases associated with body armouring and rarity in some macroinvertebrate taxa.
Inactivation of AdeABC and AdeIJK efflux pumps elicits specific nonoverlapping transcriptional and phenotypic responses in Acinetobacter baumannii
Authors: Leus Inga V. , Adamiak Justyna , Trinh Anhthu N. , Smith Richard D. , Smith Lauren , Richardson Sophie , Ernst Robert K. , Zgurskaya Helen I.
Published: August 2020

Multidrug resistant (MDR) strains of Acinetobacter baumannii present a serious clinical challenge. The development of antibiotic resistance in this species is enabled by efflux pumps of the Resistance‐Nodulation‐Division (RND) superfamily of proteins creating an efficient permeability barrier for antibiotics. At least three RND pumps, AdeABC, AdeIJK, and AdeFGH are encoded in the A. baumannii genome and are reported to contribute to antibiotic resistance in clinical isolates. In this study, we analyzed the contributions of AdeABC and AdeIJK in antibiotic resistance and growth physiology of the two MDR strains, AYE and AB5075. We found that not only the two pumps have nonoverlapping substrate specificities, their inactivation leads to specific nonoverlapping changes in gene expression as determined by RNA sequencing and confirmed by gene knockouts and growth phenotypes. Our results suggest that inactivation of AdeIJK elicits broader changes in the abundances of mRNAs and this response is modified in the absence of AdeB. In contrast, inactivation of AdeB leads to a focused cellular response, which is not sensitive to the activity of AdeIJK. We identified additional efflux pumps and transcriptional regulators that contribute to MDR phenotype of clinical A. baumannii isolates.
Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in North Dalmatia, Croatia: Occurrence and demographic parameters
Authors: Pleslić Grgur , Rako‐Gospić Nikolina , Holcer Draško
Published: August 2020

The common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) population along the eastern Adriatic coast is believed to comprise discrete communities, yet many of them are unstudied. This study provides the first description of occurrence and demographic parameters for the community inhabiting waters of North Dalmatia. Dedicated boat‐based surveys conducted in summer months from 2013 to 2017 resulted in 13,896 km of research effort and 284 dolphin sightings from which 336 individuals were identified. Site‐fidelity analysis revealed that 52.1% of encountered marked adults occur in the area regularly or occasionally. No significant difference among years could be found for mean group sizes (5.73–7.46) and group encounter rates (1.159–1.942 groups/100 km). Pollock's Robust Design models estimated annually variable adult apparent survival (0.737–0.986) and constant temporary emigration rate of 0.172. The estimated abundance varied annually from 116 to 138 individuals and showed a negative slope, but a significant trend could not be confirmed. Age‐dependent models estimated first‐year calf survival at 0.875. These results provide a baseline for informed management of two Sites of Community Importance, and a benchmark for future monitoring in North Dalmatian waters, an area under significant anthropogenic pressure.
Functional connectivity in migraineurs with photo‐, phono‐, or osmophobia: A static and dynamic resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging study
Authors: Imai Noboru , Moriya Asami , Kitamura Eiji
Published: August 2020

Background

Migraine attacks are associated with photo‐, phono‐, and osmophobia, which may be caused by different pathophysiological mechanisms because they are not present in all migraineurs.

Aim

Here, we investigated differences in static and dynamic resting‐state functional connectivities between patients with and without photo‐, phono‐, or osmophobia.

Methods

Sixty‐two women with migraine with/without photo‐, phono‐, or osmophobia underwent 3‐T functional magnetic resonance imaging during the interictal phase. We compared static and dynamic resting‐state functional connectivities using region of interest‐to‐region of interest analysis of 91 cortical, 15 subcortical, and 26 cerebellar areas.

Results

The static resting‐state functional connectivity analysis showed that patients with photophobia had 18 different significant connectivity pairs, those with phonophobia had 15, and those with osmophobia had significantly higher connectivity between the right cerebellar lobule and brainstem. The dynamic resting‐state functional connectivity analysis showed that patients with photophobia had 16 different significant connectivity pairs, those with phonophobia had eight without main regions, and those with osmophobia had 14. Static and dynamic functional connectivity alterations in patients with phonophobia and osmophobia had no significant overlapping connectivity pairs.

Conclusion

Our results showed that static and dynamic resting‐state functional connectivities in migraineurs with and without photo‐, phono‐, or osmophobia differed.
Nurses' perception of their role in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation care: A qualitative assessment
Authors: Alshammari Muna A. , Vellolikalam Chitra , Alfeeli Sadeq
Published: August 2020

Background

Recently, there has been interest in the education of nursing personnel to provide veno‐venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in Kuwait. There is need to understand the experience of nurses who take on this new role.

Aim

We aimed to explore the perspectives of nurses about their role, with a special focus on their competencies and the challenges faced while caring for patients who require extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Methods

We used a qualitative descriptive approach, using in‐depth individual interviews. Nineteen nurses working with veno‐venous an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machine in an adult intensive care unit of a general hospital in Kuwait were included in the study. Interviews were audio‐recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed thematically.

Results

The role of nurses was found to be diverse and challenging and involved engaging in multiple responsibilities. Nurses worked with other health care providers in a team, which facilitated their performance. Nurses viewed themselves as competent to perform their role and attributed their competency mainly to the training received and the experience spent providing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation care. In executing their role, nurses reported encountering significant challenges, including heavy workload, inefficient communication among colleagues, and a lack of an organized/supportive system.

Conclusions

This study suggests that nurses play an integral role in the management of patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. An understanding of their role and their competence, the challenges they face with in the care setting, and providing a supportive environment is essential for transformation in the practice of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation nursing.
How biotic and abiotic effects colour flowers in a land Down Under
Authors: Verloop Anne C. M. , Dyer Adrian G. , van der Kooi Casper J.
Published: August 2020

This article is a Commentary on Dalrymple et al. (2020), 228: 1972–1985.
PHOTO‐SENSITIVE LEAF ROLLING 1 encodes a polygalacturonase that modifies cell wall structure and drought tolerance in rice
Authors: Zhang Guangheng , Hou Xin , Wang Li , Xu Jing , Chen Jian , Fu Xue , Shen Nianwei , Nian Jinqiang , Jiang Zhuanzhuan , Hu Jiang , Zhu Li , Rao Yuchun , Shi Yafei , Ren Deyong , Dong Guojun , Gao Zhenyu , Guo Longbiao , Qian Qian , Luan Sheng
Published: August 2020

The biosynthesis and modification of cell wall composition and structure are controlled by hundreds of enzymes and have a direct consequence on plant growth and development. However, the majority of these enzymes has not been functionally characterised.

Rice mutants with leaf‐rolling phenotypes were screened in a field. Phenotypic analysis under controlled conditions was performed for the selected mutant and the relevant gene was identified by map‐based cloning. Cell wall composition was analysed by glycome profiling assay.

We identified a photo‐sensitive leaf rolling 1 (psl1) mutant with ‘napping’ (midday depression of photosynthesis) phenotype and reduced growth. The PSL1 gene encodes a cell wall‐localised polygalacturonase (PG), a pectin‐degrading enzyme. psl1 with a 260‐bp deletion in its gene displayed leaf rolling in response to high light intensity and/or low humidity. Biochemical assays revealed PG activity of recombinant PSL1 protein. Significant modifications to cell wall composition in the psl1 mutant compared with the wild‐type plants were identified. Such modifications enhanced drought tolerance of the mutant plants by reducing water loss under osmotic stress and drought conditions.

Taken together, PSL1 functions as a PG that modifies cell wall biosynthesis, plant development and drought tolerance in rice.
Patterns and impacts of nonvertical evolution in eukaryotes: a paradigm shift
Authors: Gabaldón Toni
Published: August 2020

Evolution of eukaryotic species and their genomes has been traditionally understood as a vertical process in which genetic material is transmitted from parents to offspring along a lineage, and in which genetic exchange is restricted within species boundaries. However, mounting evidence from comparative genomics indicates that this paradigm is often violated. Horizontal gene transfer and mating between diverged lineages blur species boundaries and challenge the reconstruction of evolutionary histories of species and their genomes. Nonvertical evolution might be more restricted in eukaryotes than in prokaryotes, yet it is not negligible and can be common in certain groups. Recognition of such processes brings about the need to incorporate this complexity into our models, as well as to conceptually reframe eukaryotic diversity and evolution. Here, I review the recent work from genomics studies that supports the effects of nonvertical modes of evolution including introgression, hybridization, and horizontal gene transfer in different eukaryotic groups. I then discuss emerging patterns and effects, illustrated by specific examples, that support the conclusion that nonvertical processes are often at the root of important evolutionary transitions and adaptations. I will argue that a paradigm shift is needed to naturally accommodate nonvertical processes in eukaryotic evolution.
Advances in fungal chemical genomics for the discovery of new antifungal agents
Authors: Xue Alice , Robbins Nicole , Cowen Leah E.
Published: August 2020

Invasive fungal infections have escalated from a rare curiosity to a major cause of human mortality around the globe. This is in part due to a scarcity in the number of antifungal drugs available to combat mycotic disease, making the discovery of novel bioactive compounds and determining their mode of action of utmost importance. The development and application of chemical genomic assays using the model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has provided powerful methods to identify the mechanism of action of diverse molecules in a living cell. Furthermore, complementary assays are continually being developed in fungal pathogens, most notably Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans, to elucidate compound mechanism of action directly in the pathogen of interest. Collectively, the suite of chemical genetic assays that have been developed in multiple fungal species enables the identification of candidate drug target genes, as well as genes involved in buffering drug target pathways, and genes involved in general cellular responses to small molecules. In this review, we examine current yeast chemical genomic assays and highlight how such resources provide powerful tools that can be utilized to bolster the antifungal pipeline.
Fundamentality in metaphysics and the philosophy of physics. Part II: The philosophy of physics
Authors: Morganti Matteo
Published: August 2020

This is the second part of an overview article on fundamentality in metaphysics and the philosophy of physics. Here, the notion of fundamentality is looked at from the viewpoint of the philosophical analysis of physics and physical theories. The questions are considered (1) whether physics can be regarded as fundamental with respect to other sciences, and in what sense; (2) what the label ‘fundamental physics’ should exactly be taken to mean; (3) on what grounds a particular physical theory should be considered fundamental; (4) what should be regarded as fundamental according to particular theories of physics; and (5) what indications come from contemporary physics concerning the fundamental structure of reality.
An apoplastic fluid extraction method for the characterization of grapevine leaves proteome and metabolome from a single sample
Authors: Figueiredo Joana , Cavaco Ana Rita , Guerra‐Guimarães Leonor , Leclercq Céline , Renaut Jenny , Cunha Jorge , Eiras‐Dias José , Cordeiro Carlos , Matos Ana Rita , Sousa Silva Marta , Figueiredo Andreia
Published: August 2020

The analysis of complex biological systems keeps challenging researchers. The main goal of systems biology is to decipher interactions within cells, by integrating datasets from large scale analytical approaches including transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics and more specialized ‘OMICS’ such as epigenomics and lipidomics. Studying different cellular compartments allows a broader understanding of cell dynamics. Plant apoplast, the cellular compartment external to the plasma membrane including the cell wall, is particularly demanding to analyze. Despite our knowledge on apoplast involvement on several processes from cell growth to stress responses, its dynamics is still poorly known due to the lack of efficient extraction processes adequate to each plant system. Analyzing woody plants such as grapevine raises even more challenges. Grapevine is among the most important fruit crops worldwide and a wider characterization of its apoplast is essential for a deeper understanding of its physiology and cellular mechanisms. Here, we describe, for the first time, a vacuum‐infiltration‐centrifugation method that allows a simultaneous extraction of grapevine apoplastic proteins and metabolites from leaves on a single sample, compatible with high‐throughput mass spectrometry analyses. The extracted apoplast from two grapevine cultivars, Vitis vinifera cv ‘Trincadeira’ and ‘Regent’, was directly used for proteomics and metabolomics analysis. The proteome was analyzed by nanoLC‐MS/MS and more than 700 common proteins were identified, with highly diverse biological functions. The metabolome profile through FT‐ICR‐MS allowed the identification of 514 unique putative compounds revealing a broad spectrum of molecular classes.
Creaming among Caseworkers: Effects of Client Competence and Client Motivation on Caseworkers’ Willingness to Help
Authors: Guul Thorbjørn Sejr , Pedersen Mogens Jin , Petersen Niels Bjørn Grund
Published: August 2020

Frontline employees cope with high workloads and limited resources by directing their work attention and efforts toward particular clients. Yet, the role of client attributes in frontline employees’ efforts to help clients remains undertheorized and empirically understudied. Using a survey experimental vignette design (2 × 2 factorial) among 1,595 Danish caseworkers, the authors of this article provide new knowledge on how two generic nondemographic client attributes—competence and motivation—shape frontline employees’ willingness to help their clients. We found that both the competence and motivation of clients affect caseworkers’ willingness to exert extra time and effort helping clients. Specifically, caseworkers are most willing to help a client appearing both competent and motivated. Moreover, our data suggests that client motivation is more important than client competence for caseworkers’ willingness to help. We end the article with a discussion of policy implications and directions for future research.
Sensitivity Analysis for Publication Bias in Meta-Analyses
Authors: Mathur Maya B. , VanderWeele Tyler J.
Published: August 2020

We propose sensitivity analyses for publication bias in meta-analyses. We consider a publication process such that ‘statistically significant’ results are more likely to be published than negative or “non-significant” results by an unknown ratio, η. Our proposed methods also accommodate some plausible forms of selection based on a study's standard error. Using inverse probability weighting and robust estimation that accommodates non-normal population effects, small meta-analyses, and clustering, we develop sensitivity analyses that enable statements such as ‘For publication bias to shift the observed point estimate to the null, “significant” results would need to be at least 30 fold more likely to be published than negative or “non-significant” results’. Comparable statements can be made regarding shifting to a chosen non-null value or shifting the confidence interval. To aid interpretation, we describe empirical benchmarks for plausible values of η across disciplines. We show that a worst-case meta-analytic point estimate for maximal publication bias under the selection model can be obtained simply by conducting a standard meta-analysis of only the negative and ‘non-significant’ studies; this method sometimes indicates that no amount of such publication bias could ‘explain away’ the results. We illustrate the proposed methods by using real meta-analyses and provide an R package: PublicationBias.
A Calibrated Sensitivity Analysis for Matched Observational Studies with Application to the Effect of Second-Hand Smoke Exposure on Blood Lead Levels in Children
Authors: Zhang Bo , Small Dylan S.
Published: August 2020

We conducted a matched observational study to investigate the causal relationship between second-hand smoke and blood lead levels in children. Our first analysis that assumes no unmeasured confounding suggests evidence of a detrimental effect of second-hand smoke. However, unmeasured confounding is a concern in our study as in other observational studies of second-hand smoke's effects. A sensitivity analysis asks how sensitive the conclusion is to a hypothesized unmeasured confounder U. For example, in our study, one potential unmeasured confounder is whether the child attends a public or private school. A commonly used sensitivity analysis for matched observational studies adopts a worst-case perspective, which assumes that, in each matched set, the unmeasured confounder is allocated to make the bias worst: in a matched pair, the child with higher blood lead level always attends public school and the other private school. This worst-case allocation of U does not correspond to any realistic distribution of U in the population and is difficult to compare with observed covariates. We proposed a new sensitivity analysis method that addresses these concerns. We apply the new method to our study and find that, to explain away the association between second-hand smoke exposure and blood lead levels as non-causal, the unmeasured confounder would have to be a bigger confounder than any measured confounder.
Becoming “People of Faith:” Personal Moral Authenticity in the Cultural Practices of a Faith‐Based Social Justice Movement
Authors: Delehanty Jack
Published: August 2020

Interactive cultural practices such as songs and storytelling are key to contemporary social movement organizing because they can attenuate the challenges of social difference by expanding participants’ understandings of self and community. Yet the precise cultural dynamics through which such practices become effective are not well understood. Using the case of a large faith‐based community organizing coalition, I show that practices focused on personal moral authenticity are especially effective in fostering alignment between social movement goals and individuals’ pre‐existing moral commitments. I define personal moral authenticity as the ambition to develop, enact, and perform a moral identity that is “true” to an enduring internal self, and validate that identity through interactions with others. This is an effective basis for organizing practices because it spans the various cultures of commitment that prevail in different racial and religious subgroups and gives individuals a personal stake in social change projects. In highlighting how it animates practices in faith‐based community organizing, one of the most robust fields of grassroots civic activity in the United States, this article illuminates an important part of the cultural dynamics underlying much contemporary social change work, and specifies how religion contributes to progressive social change efforts amid ongoing religious disaffiliation.
Recently acquired infection among HIV‐seropositive donors in the US from 2010‐2018
Authors: Quiner Claire , Bruhn Roberta , Grebe Eduard , Di Germanio Clara , Kessler Debra , Reik Rita , Williamson Phillip , Hampton Dylan , Fayed Rahima , Anderson Steve A. , Williams Alan E. , Glynn Simone A. , Busch Michael P. , Stramer Susan L. , Custer Brian ,   for the Transfusion‐Transmissible Infections Monitoring System (TTIMS)
Published: August 2020

Background

Monitoring of transfusion‐transmissible infections in the blood supply is essential for blood safety, as the donor population is not static, and changes in policy, donor behavior, or other factors could increase the risk of recipient infection. We assessed patterns of recently acquired HIV infection in US blood donors, including before and after the implementation of the 12‐month deferral for men who have sex with men (MSM).

Study Design and Methods

A large convenience sample of donations from donors testing HIV‐1 nucleic acid testing (NAT) and serology‐reactive were further tested with the Sedia HIV‐1 Limiting Antigen enzyme immunoassay. Samples were analyzed across available demographic and donation data to provide an assessment of recently acquired HIV infection in US blood donors from 2010 to 2018.

Results

Overall, 317 of 1154 (27.5%; 95% confidence interval, 24.9%‐30.1%) donations from HIV NAT and serology‐reactive donors had recently acquired HIV infection. There was no evidence of change in the percentages of recent HIV infection by year over the study period, either in all donors or in male donors, including after the MSM policy change. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, donors aged 24 years or younger were over 2.7 times more likely and repeat donors 2.2 times more likely to have recently acquired HIV infection compared to donors aged 55 years or older and first‐time donors, respectively.

Conclusion

Patterns of recently acquired HIV infection varied by demographics but not over time. These findings suggest no impact of the MSM policy change on recently acquired HIV infection in US blood donors.
Efficacy of alginate‐and chitosan‐based scaffolds on the healing of diabetic skin wounds in animal experimental models and cell studies: A systematic review
Authors: Cai Hong , Li Guichen
Published: August 2020

This systematic literature review was aimed to investigate the use of cell culture and animal models to evaluate the efficacy of alginate‐and chitosan‐based scaffolds on diabetic wound healing. We electronically searched the articles published until July 2019. The databases included five English databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, the Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and three Chinese databases like CNKI, WanFang Data, and VIP. The related articles were manually searched to identify studies that were not searched by electronic database searches. Twenty‐nine studies met the inclusion criteria. We divided the results into three groups: chitosan, alginate, and a combination of chitosan and alginate. Chitosan‐, alginate‐, and a combination of chitosan and alginate‐based scaffolds showed good intervention effects on wound healing. Chitosan‐based scaffolds were effective in diabetic skin wound healing. The effects of alginate and the combination of chitosan‐and alginate‐based scaffolds on diabetic skin wounds still need more research. However, due to the heterogeneity of animal and cell preclinical trials and the validity of the statistical analysis used in these studies, it is necessary to conduct a thorough study using well‐designed experiments to confirm these results. In addition, properly designed chitosan‐and/or alginate‐based scaffolds with thorough preclinical evaluations are required prior to clinical applications.
Highly Efficient Mesoporous Mg/γ-Al2O3 Catalysts for Ozonation of Saline Petroleum Effluents
Authors: Xu Renshun , Nabet Hervé , Breton Audrey , Baldoni-Andrey Patrick , Lesage Nicolas , Cacciaguerra Thomas , Hulea Vasile , Fajula Francois , Galarneau Anne
Published: August 2020

γ-Al2O3 is promising for catalytic ozonation because it produces HO° radicals. To improve its basicity and/or its oxidative character, highly mesoporous γ-Al2O3 was doped with different metals M alone or in mixture (M = Mg, Ca, Zn, Fe, Ba, Zr, Cu, Co, Ni, Ce, Ti, with 0.05 < M/Al < 0.5 molar ratio) prepared either by incipient wetness deposition or by direct sol-gel. Tests to determine the basic and oxidative character of the catalysts have been set up. Results show that Mg-doped alumina materials exhibited the highest basicity and Cu,Mg-doped alumina materials the highest oxidative character. These materials (5 g/L) were tested in the catalytic ozonation of a synthetic saline (NaCl = 50 g/L) petroleum effluent such as produced water (TOC = 216 mg/L) containing phenols, acetic acid and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Among these catalysts, Mg-doped alumina with molar ratio Mg/Al = 0.1, 0.2 prepared by incipient wetness deposition were the more efficient catalysts. Under reuse the Mg-doped alumina catalyst (Mg/Al = 0.1) exhibited the highest ozonation rate with 98% TOC removal in 5 h. This remarkable behavior was attributed to the in-situ formation during ozonation of spinel (MgAl2O4) nanoparticles at the surface of Mg-doped alumina particles.
Impact of anxiety and depression on progression to glaucoma among glaucoma suspects
Authors: Berchuck Samuel , Jammal Alessandro , Mukherjee Sayan , Somers Tamara , Medeiros Felipe A
Published: August 2020

Aims

To assess the impact of anxiety and depression in the risk of converting to glaucoma in a cohort of glaucoma suspects followed over time.

Methods

The study included a retrospective cohort of subjects with diagnosis of glaucoma suspect at baseline, extracted from the Duke Glaucoma Registry. The presence of anxiety and depression was defined based on electronic health records billing codes, medical history and problem list. Univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to obtain HRs for the risk of converting to glaucoma over time. Multivariable models were adjusted for age, gender, race, intraocular pressure measurements over time and disease severity at baseline.

Results

A total of 3259 glaucoma suspects followed for an average of 3.60 (2.05) years were included in our cohort, of which 911 (28%) were diagnosed with glaucoma during follow-up. Prevalence of anxiety and depression were 32% and 33%, respectively. Diagnoses of anxiety, or concomitant anxiety and depression were significantly associated with risk of converting to glaucoma over time, with adjusted HRs (95% CI) of 1.16 (1.01, 1.33) and 1.27 (1.07, 1.50), respectively.

Conclusion

A history of anxiety or both anxiety and depression in glaucoma suspects was associated with developing glaucoma during follow-up.
Video consultations in ordinary and extraordinary times
Authors: Duncan Callum , Macleod Angus D
Published: August 2020

Tele-neurology is a neurological consultation at a distance, or not in person, using various technologies to achieve connectivity, including the telephone and the internet. The telephone is ubiquitous and is a standard part of how we manage patients. Video consulting has been used for a long time in some centres, particularly in those where the geography means that patients have to travel long distances. Various technologies can be used, and with the development of various internet-based video-calling platforms, real-time video consulting has become much more accessible. We have provided a tele-neurology service in the North East of Scotland since 2006 using video conferencing with far-end camera control. More recently, we have complemented this using an internet-based platform (NHS Near Me). Here we outline the practicalities of video consulting in ‘ordinary’ times and comment on its use in the ‘extraordinary’ times of the coronavirus pandemic.
A novel median dual finite volume lattice Boltzmann method for incompressible flows on unstructured grids
Authors: Xu Lei , Zhang Wu , Yan Zhengzheng , Du Zheng , Chen Rongliang
Published: August 2020

A novel median dual finite volume lattice Boltzmann method (FV-LBM) for the accurate simulation of incompressible flows on unstructured grids is presented in this paper. The finite volume method is adopted to discretize the discrete velocity Boltzmann equation (DVBE) on median dual control volumes (CVs). In the previous studies on median dual FV-LBMs, the fluxes for each partial face have to be computed separately. In the present second-order scheme, we assume the particle distribution functions (PDFs) to be constant for all faces grouped around a particular edge. The fluxes are then evaluated using the low-diffusion Roe scheme at the midpoint of the edge, and the PDFs at the faces of the CV are obtained through piecewise linear reconstruction of the left and right states. The gradients of the PDFs are computed with the Green–Gauss approach. The presented scheme is validated on four benchmark flows: (a) pressure driven Poiseuille flow; (b) the backward-facing step flow with [Formula: see text], 100, 200 and 300; (c) the lid-driven flow with [Formula: see text] and 1000; and (d) the steady viscous flow past a circular cylinder with [Formula: see text], 20 and 40.
ESTIMATING THE CROSS-STRAIT PERFORMANCE OF A LOCAL COFFEE CHAIN THROUGH NETWORK META-FRONTIER DEA
Authors: WANG ZEBIN , CHIU YUNG-HO , HSIEH JIN-CHI , LI YING , CHEN YU-CHUAN , JAN YI-CHENG
Published: August 2020

This study aims to understand how local enterprises establish brand awareness through tough entrepreneurship as well as focus on international markets so as to inject new ideas and to promote brand value. Examining this issue experimentally on B coffee company with data from Taiwan and China during 2010 to 2012, we use Network Meta-Frontier Data Envelopment Analysis to estimate the cross-strait performances of this firm in order to examine their differences and to propose direction for subsequent improvement. The empirical results are as follows. First, from 2010 to 2012 the channel scale and output in Taiwan is superior to that in China. Second, the performance of China’s channels is on the decline with large fluctuations, whereas Taiwan’s channels are getting better. Third, analyzing the average efficiency value of both sides comprehensively, we find that Taiwan’s channels perform more steadily due to a longer time of establishment and more mature allocation.
Wire arc additive manufacturing of thin-wall low-carbon steel parts: Microstructure and mechanical properties
Authors: Le Van Thao , Banh Tien Long , Nguyen Duc Toan , Le Van Tao
Published: August 2020

Wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) has received much attention for manufacturing metal parts with medium and large dimensions because of its high deposition rate and low production costs. In this study, the effects of the heat input on the microstructure formation of thin-wall low-carbon steel parts built by a WAAM process were addressed. The mechanical properties of built materials were also studied. The results indicate that the heat input significantly influences on the shape of built thin walls, but has slight effects on the microstructure evolution of built materials. The WAAM thin-wall low-carbon steel presents suitable microstructures and good tensile strengths (YS: 320 – 362 MPa, UTS: 429 – 479 MPa) that are adequate with industrial applications.