bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A multi‐functional genetic manipulation system and its use in high‐level expression of a β‐mannanase mutant with high specific activity in Pichia pastoris
Authors: Liu Zhemin , Cao Linyuan , Fu Xiaodan , Liang Qingping , Sun Han , Mou Haijin
Published: May 2021

To further extend the practical application of a thermostable and acidic resistance β‐mannanase (ManAK) in animal feed additives, an effective strategy that combined directed evolution and metabolic engineering was developed. Four positive mutants (P191M, P194E, S199G and S268Q) with enhanced specific activity (25.5%–60.9%) were obtained. The S199G mutant exhibited 56.7% enhancement of specific activity at 37°C and good thermostability, and this was selected for high‐level expression in P. pastoris X33. A multi‐functional and scarless genetic manipulation system was proposed and functionally verified (gene deletion, substitution/insertion and point mutation). This was then subjected to Rox1p (an oxygen related transcription regulator) deletion and Vitreoscilla haemoglobin (VHb) co‐expression for high enzyme productivity in P. pastoris X33VIIManAKS199G. An excellent strain, named X33VIIManAKS199G ∆rox1::VHb, was achieved by combining these two factors, and then the maximum enzymatic activity was further increased to 3753 U ml‐1, which was nearly twice as much as the maximum production of ManAK in P. pastoris. This work provides a systematic and effective method to improve the enzymatic yield of β‐mannanase, promotes the application of ManAK in feed additives, and also demonstrated that a scarless genetic manipulation tool is useful in P. pastoris.
Heterogeneity of the white truffle Tuber magnatum in a limited geographic area of Central‐Southern Italy
Authors: Monaco Pamela , Bucci Antonio , Naclerio Gino , Mello Antonietta
Published: May 2021

Molise region (Central‐Southern Italy) is one of the Italian richest areas of truffles and contributes significantly to the national production of the precious Tuber magnatum. Nevertheless, Molise truffle has received little scientific attention. Accordingly, in the present study, two T. magnatum populations collected in two different sites of Molise region were characterised from a morphological, genetic and microbiological point of view. A considerable variability between and within the two analysed groups emerged, suggesting an interesting heterogeneity of Molise white truffle populations. Ascocarps of the two groups significantly differed in size and maturation degree, although no linear correlation between weight and maturity was found. Genetic investigations focused on the Sequence‐Characterised Amplified Region SCAR A21‐inf. Three haplotypes, randomly distributed within the two truffle groups regardless of their collection sites, were detected. The 16S rRNA gene amplicon high‐throughput sequencing provided an overview of the composition of the ascocarp‐associated bacterial communities. A predominance of α‐Proteobacteria was observed, with Bradyrhizobium among the main genera. However, some truffles showed unusual microbial profiles, with Pedobacter, Polaromonas and other bacterial genera as dominant taxa.
Targeting the EMT transcription factor Snail overcomes resistance to osimertinib in EGFR‐mutant non‐small cell lung cancer
Authors: Qin Qiong , Li Xiaoqing , Liang Xingmei , Zeng Lili , Wang Jing , Sun Linlin , Zhong Diansheng
Published: May 2021

Background

The resistance mechanism of the third generation of epidermal growth factor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) osimertinib is complex. Epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a common mechanism of EGFR‐TKI acquired resistance. Snail is an important transcription factor related to EMT. Whether targeting Snail can reverse the resistance of osimertinib by downregulating Snail is unknown.

Methods

The presence of EMT in H1975/OR (osimertinib resistance) cells was confirmed by transwell assay. To explore the EMT role in resistance, the expression levels of EMT markers were detected in both parental cells H1975 and resistant cells H1975OR. We used RNA interference technology to knockdown the key regulator Snail in resistant cells. After the interference efficiency was confirmed, changes in EMT‐related molecules of Snail were explicitly downregulated, and changes in sensitivity and migration and invasion ability were also examined. We used CDK4/6 inhibitor to test the ability of reversing drug resistance by downregulating Snail.

Results

Compared with the H1975 cell line, the H1975/OR resistant cell line showed increased invasiveness, upregulated expression of vimentin and downregulation of E‐cadherin. EMT occurred in the H1975/OR resistant cell line. The expression of Snail was upregulated in the osimertinib‐resistant cell line H1975/OR. Knockdown of Snail increased the sensitivity of H1975/OR cells to osimertinib. CDK4/6 inhibitor palbociclib could downregulate the expression of Snail. CDK 4/6 inhibitor palbociclib combined with osimertinib could reverse the resistance of osimertinib in H1975/OR.

Conclusions

Snail plays an important role in the third generation of EGFR‐TKI osimertinib resistance, which may be reversed by downregulating Snail.
Survival benefits of salvage surgery for primary lung cancer based on routine clinical practice
Authors: Adachi Katsutoshi , Kuroda Hiroaki , Tanahashi Masayuki , Takao Motoshi , Ohde Yasuhisa , Yokoi Kohei , Tarukawa Tomohito
Published: May 2021

Background

Premeditated induction chemotherapy followed by surgical resection is accepted as safe and effective. Studies on salvage surgery in patients with incompletely cured lung cancer are lacking. This study aimed to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of salvage surgery.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective multi‐institutional cohort study on patients who underwent salvage surgery for advanced (stage III and IV) non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) between January 2005 and December 2016 at the 14 hospitals of the Chubu Lung Cancer Surgery Study Group. A total of 37 patients were assigned to the salvage surgery group; a lobectomy with mediastinal lymph node dissection was performed. The survival benefit was assessed using the Kaplan–Meier method and the Cox proportional hazard model.

Results

Although postoperative complications were observed in 11 patients (29.7%), surgery‐related death occurred in only one patient (mortality rate: 2.7%) resulting from respiratory failure caused by interstitial pneumonia exacerbation. Postoperative recurrence was observed in 22 patients (61.1%), the incidence of brain metastasis being high (nine patients: 40.9%). The five‐year survival rate from the first day of treatment was 60%. The survival of the postoperative pathological stage (s'‐stage) I group was significantly better (five‐year survival rate: 80.9%) than that of the other groups (p < 0.05). S’‐stage was the most significant factor (p < 0.01) associated with long‐term survival.

Conclusions

Salvage surgery is a feasible therapeutic modality for advanced lung cancer. Downstaging to s'‐stage I with previous treatment was most important for survival. Complete resection (R0) should be the goal because surgical procedures were tolerated despite intense treatment.
Eyes grow towards mild hyperopia rather than emmetropia in Chinese preschool children
Authors: Ma Yingyan , Lin Senlin , Morgan Ian G. , Rozema Jos J. , Iribarren Rafael , Zhu Jianfeng , Zhao Rong , Zhang Bo , Yin Yao , Shao Yueqin , He Xiangui , Xu Xun , Zou Haidong
Published: May 2021

Purpose

To document one‐year changes in refraction and refractive components in preschool children.

Methods

Children, 3–5 years old, in the Jiading District, Shanghai, were followed for one year. At each visit, axial length (AL), refraction under cycloplegia (1% cyclopentolate), spherical dioptres (DS), cylinder dioptres (DC), spherical equivalent refraction (SER) and corneal curvature radius (CR) were measured.

Results

The study included 458 right eyes of 458 children. The mean changes in DS, DC and SER were 0.02 ± 0.35 D, −0.02 ± 0.33 D and 0.01 ± 0.37 D, while the mean changes in AL, CR and lens power (LP) were 0.27 ± 0.10 mm, 0.00 ± 0.04 mm and − 0.93 ± 0.49 D. The change in the SER was linearly correlated with the baseline SER (coefficient = −0.147, p < 0.001). When the baseline SER was at 1.05 D (95% CI = 0.21 to 2.16), the change in SER was 0 D. The baseline SER was also linearly associated with the change in LP (coefficient = 0.104, p = 0.013), but not with the change in AL (p = 0.957) or with the change in CR (p = 0.263).

Conclusion

In eyes with a baseline SER less than +1.00 D, LP loss was higher compared to axial elongation, leading to hyperopic shifts in refraction, whereas for those with baseline SER over this range, loss of LP compared to axial elongation was reduced, leading to myopic shifts. This model indicated the homeostasis of human refraction and explained how refractive development leads to a preferred state of mild hyperopia.
Updates on the utility of anterior segment optical coherence tomography in the assessment of filtration blebs after glaucoma surgery
Authors: Kudsieh Bachar , Fernández‐Vigo José Ignacio , Canut Jordana Maria Isabel , Vila‐Arteaga Jorge , Urcola Javier Aritz , Ruiz Moreno Jose Maria , García‐Feijóo Julián , Fernández‐Vigo José Ángel
Published: May 2021

The formation of filtration blebs is the main drainage mechanism for reducing intraocular pressure after traditional incisional glaucoma surgery such as trabeculectomy and non‐penetrating deep sclerotomy. Early and short‐lasting blebs may also occur after canaloplasty. Bleb formation also plays an important role after the implantation of glaucoma drainage devices, including Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery devices. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS‐OCT) is a rapid and non‐invasive high‐resolution imaging technique that has evolved in recent years to become a routine examination. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS‐OCT) provides key information in the assessment and follow‐up of glaucoma surgery, especially in the assessment of filtration blebs. Thus, bleb morphology can be qualitatively classified into diffuse, cystic, encapsulated and flattened, and AS‐OCT imaging can also provide several quantitative parameters of the bleb, such as total bleb height, bleb fluid‐filled cavity height, bleb wall thickness, number of microcysts and trabeculectomy opening size. These parameters could have an impact on clinical management during follow‐up because they may predict the success or failure of the surgery in the early and late postoperative periods. Additionally, they may also guide the procedures used to increase filtration and reduce intraocular pressure, such as bleb needling and laser suture lysis.
How do we harness adolescent values in designing health behaviour change interventions? A qualitative study
Authors: Strömmer Sofia , Shaw Sarah , Jenner Sarah , Vogel Christina , Lawrence Wendy , Woods‐Townsend Kathryn , Farrell David , Inskip Hazel , Baird Janis , Morrison Leanne , Barker Mary
Published: May 2021

Objectives

Adolescent health behaviours do not support optimal development. Adolescents are reportedly difficult to engage in health behaviour improvement initiatives. Little is known about what adolescents value in relation to diet and physical activity or how best to target these in health interventions. This study explored adolescents’ values in relation to diet and physical activity and how these values can inform health intervention design.

Design

Qualitative semi‐structured interviews explored adolescents’ lives, what they thought about diet and physical activity and what might support them to improve their health behaviours.

Methods

A total of 13 group interviews were conducted with 54 adolescents aged 13–14 years, of whom 49% were girls and 95% identified as White British. Participants were recruited from a non‐selective secondary school in a large southern UK city. Inductive thematic analysis was used to identify key adolescent values.

Results

Adolescents valued being with their friends, doing what they enjoyed and were good at; being healthy was important to them but only if achievable without compromising other things that are important to them. The need to be healthy was not aligned with adolescents’ basic psychological needs, nor their strongly held priorities and values.

Conclusions

Health is not a motivating factor for adolescents; therefore, interventions designed solely to improve health are unlikely to engage them. Instead, interventions that align with the values and priorities specified by adolescents are more likely to be effective in supporting them to eat well and be more active.
Social complexity and the fractal structure of group size in primate social evolution
Authors: Dunbar Robin I. M. , Shultz Susanne
Published: May 2021

Compared to most other mammals and birds, anthropoid primates have unusually complex societies characterised by bonded social groups. Among primates, this effect is encapsulated in the social brain hypothesis: the robust correlation between various indices of social complexity (social group size, grooming clique size, tactical behaviour, coalition formation) and brain size. Hitherto, this has always been interpreted as a simple, unitary relationship. Using data for five different indices of brain volume from four independent brain databases, we show that the distribution of group size plotted against brain size is best described as a set of four distinct, very narrowly defined grades which are unrelated to phylogeny. The allocation of genera to these grades is highly consistent across the different data sets and brain indices. We show that these grades correspond to the progressive evolution of bonded social groups. In addition, we show, for those species that live in multilevel social systems, that the typical sizes of the different grouping levels in each case coincide with different grades. This suggests that the grades correspond to demographic attractors that are especially stable. Using five different cognitive indices, we show that the grades correlate with increasing social cognitive skills, suggesting that the cognitive demands of managing group cohesion increase progressively across grades. We argue that the grades themselves represent glass ceilings on animals' capacity to maintain social and spatial coherence during foraging and that, in order to evolve more highly bonded groups, species have to be able to invest in costly forms of cognition.
Parental death by external causes during childhood and risk of psychiatric disorders in bereaved offspring
Authors: Burrell Lisa Victoria , Mehlum Lars , Qin Ping
Published: May 2021

Background

Previous studies have reported increased risks of psychiatric disorders in offspring who have lost a parent, but knowledge is lacking on the risks of several specific disorders and comorbidity. The present study investigated the influence of parental death by external causes during childhood and adolescence on risk of a range of psychiatric disorders and comorbidity.

Method

The study cohort comprised 655,477 individuals born 1970‐2012 with a link to both parents. Data on deceased parent’s cause and date of death between 1970 and 2012 and offspring’s psychiatric disorders between 2008 and 2012 were retrieved from four longitudinal Norwegian registers. Data were analyzed with Cox regression.

Results

Compared to nonexposed offspring, offspring exposed to parental death by external causes had a significantly increased risk of depressive disorders, reactions to stress, anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, developmental disorders, childhood behavioral and emotional disorders, psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder, personality disorders, and psychiatric comorbidity, but not eating disorders. These increased risks were especially evident following parental suicide and accidental falls and poisoning. No differences were evident depending on gender of the deceased or age at bereavement, and generally no significant interactions with gender of the bereaved offspring were evident.

Conclusions

The improved insight into several different psychiatric disorders and psychiatric comorbidity should guide postvention measures aimed at children and adolescents at greatest risk of future sequelae.
Magnetoencephalography for epileptic focus localization based on Tucker decomposition with ripple window
Authors: Shi Li‐juan , Wei Bo‐xuan , Xu Lu , Lin Yi‐cong , Wang Yu‐ping , Zhang Ji‐cong
Published: May 2021

Aims

To improve the Magnetoencephalography (MEG) spatial localization precision of focal epileptic.

Methods

306‐channel simulated or real clinical MEG is estimated as a lower‐dimensional tensor by Tucker decomposition based on Higher‐order orthogonal iteration (HOOI) before the inverse problem using linearly constraint minimum variance (LCMV). For simulated MEG data, the proposed method is compared with dynamic imaging of coherent sources (DICS), multiple signal classification (MUSIC), and LCMV. For clinical real MEG of 31 epileptic patients, the ripples (80–250 Hz) were detected to compare the source location precision with spikes using the proposed method or the dipole‐fitting method.

Results

The experimental results showed that the positional accuracy of the proposed method was higher than that of LCMV, DICS, and MUSIC for simulation data. For clinical real MEG data, the positional accuracy of the proposed method was higher than that of dipole‐fitting regardless of whether the time window was ripple window or spike window. Also, the positional accuracy of the ripple window was higher than that of the spike window regardless of whether the source location method was the proposed method or the dipole‐fitting method. For both shallow and deep sources, the proposed method provided effective performance.

Conclusion

Tucker estimation of MEG for source imaging by ripple window is a promising approach toward the presurgical evaluation of epileptics.
Perioperative safety of tofacitinib in surgical ulcerative colitis patients
Authors: Lightner Amy L. , Vaidya Prashansha , Holubar Stefan , Warusavitarne Janindra , Sahnan Kapil , Carrano Francesco Maria , Spinelli Antonino , Zaghiyan Karen , Fleshner Phillip R.
Published: May 2021

Aim

The literature regarding monoclonal antibodies and increased postoperative complications in inflammatory bowel disease remains controversial. There have been no studies investigating tofacitinib. The aim of this work was to determine preoperative exposure to the small‐molecule inhibitor tofacitinib and postoperative outcomes.

Method

We conducted a retrospective review of all adult patients exposed to tofacitinib within 4 weeks of total abdominal colectomy for medically refractory ulcerative colitis between 1 January 2018 and 1 September 2020 at four inflammatory bowel disease referral centres. Data collected included patient demographics and 90‐day postoperative morbidity, readmission and reoperation rates.

Results

Fifty‐three patients (32 men, 60%) with ulcerative colitis underwent a total abdominal colectomy (n = 50 laparoscopic, 94%) for medically refractory disease. Previous exposure to monoclonal antibodies included infliximab (n = 34), adalimumab (n = 35), certolizumab pegol (n = 5), vedolizumab (n = 33) and ustekinumab (n = 10). Twenty‐seven (51%) patients were on concurrent prednisone at a median daily dose of 30 mg by mouth (range 5–60 mg). There were no postoperative deaths. Ninety‐day postoperative complications included ileus (n = 7, 13.2%), superficial surgical site infection (n = 4, 7.5%), intra‐abdominal abscess (n = 2, 3.8%) and venous thromboembolism (VTE) (n = 7, 13.2%). Locations of VTE included portomesenteric venous thrombus (n = 4), internal iliac vein (n = 2) and pulmonary embolism (n = 1). Nine (17%) patients were readmitted to hospital and five (9%) patients had a reoperation.

Conclusion

Mirroring the recently issued US Food and Drug Administration black box warning of an increased risk of VTE in medically treated ulcerative colitis patients taking tofacitinib, preoperative tofacitinib exposure may present an increased risk of postoperative VTE events. Consideration should be given for prolonged VTE prophylaxis on hospital discharge.
A flexible and optimal approach for appointment scheduling in healthcare
Authors: Kuiper Alex , Mandjes Michel , de Mast Jeroen , Brokkelkamp Ruben
Published: May 2021

Appointment scheduling is generally applied in outpatient clinics and other healthcare services. The challenge in scheduling is to find a strategy for dealing with variability and unpredictability in service duration and patient arrivals. The consequences of an ineffective strategy include long waiting times for patients and idle time for the healthcare provider. In turn, these have implications for the perceived quality, cost‐efficiency, and capacity of healthcare services. The generation of optimal schedules is a notoriously intractable problem, and earlier attempts at designing effective strategies for appointment scheduling were based on approximation, simulation, or simplification. We propose a novel strategy for scheduling that exploits three tactical ideas to make the problem manageable. We compare the proposed strategy to other approaches, and show that it matches or outperforms competing methods in terms of flexibility, ease of use, and speed. More importantly, it outperforms competing approaches nearly uniformly in approaching the desired balance between waiting and idle times as specified in a chosen objective function. Therefore, the strategy is a good basis for further enrichments.
Early visual training and environmental adaptation for infants with visual impairment
Authors: Fazzi Elisa , Micheletti Serena , Calza Stefano , Merabet Lotfi , Rossi Andrea , Galli Jessica ,   Early Visual Intervention Study Group
Published: May 2021

Aim

To evaluate the effectiveness of early visual training and environmental adaptation on visual function and neurological development in infants with visual impairment.

Method

This was a pilot intervention clinical trial study. Thirty infants (mean age 5.9mo, SD 2.1mo, range 4–11mo; 16 males, 14 females) with peripheral visual impairment (PVI, n=15) or cerebral visual impairment (CVI, n=15) participated in a 6‐month visual intervention programme. Thirty matched infants (mean age 6mo, SD 1.4mo, range 4–9mo; 18 males, 12 females) served as a comparison group. Primary outcome measures were visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and qualitative ocular motor functions. Secondary outcomes were scores on the Griffiths Mental Developmental Scales (GMDS).

Results

The treatment group showed a significant improvement in all the primary outcomes (p<0.01). The comparison group improved only in visual acuity and contrast sensitivity (p<0.01). The treatment group showed greater improvement than the comparison group in visual fixation (p=0.033) and smooth pursuit (p<0.01). The CVI subgroup showed greater improvement in visual acuity than the PVI subgroup (p<0.01). GMDS subscales of hand–eye coordination (p=0.01) and performance (p<0.01) increased in the treatment group, while the total score of the comparison group decreased, driven by language (p=0.039) and hand–eye coordination (p=0.025) subscales.

Interpretation

Results suggest that, in infants with visual impairment, visual function and certain developmental outcomes improve in response to early visual training and environmental adaptation, in an interactive context.

What this paper adds

Early visual training and environmental adaptation are associated with enhanced visual acuity and smooth pursuit.

Early visual training and environmental adaptation are associated with an improvement of neurological developmental outcome.

Performance, hand–eye coordination, and language scores in Griffiths Mental Developmental Scales increase after visual training.

After training, visual acuity improves more in infants with cerebral rather than anterior visual impairment.

Type and complexity of visual impairment contribute to determine infants’ response to training.
Hyperparasitism by Sphaerellopsis macroconidialis may lower over‐wintering survival of Uromycladium acaciae
Authors: Fraser Stuart , McTaggart Alistair R. , Roux Jolanda , Wingfield Mike J.
Published: May 2021

Uromycladium acaciae has caused an epidemic of wattle rust on Acacia mearnsii in southern Africa since 2013. In April 2016, conidiomata of a species of Sphaerellopsis were observed parasitizing telia of U. acaciae on foliar samples collected from three plantations in Mpumalanga, South Africa. An isolate was identified as Sphaerellopsis macroconidialis based on a phylogenetic species hypothesis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. This is the first report of this species of mycoparasite from South Africa and on this host. To investigate the seasonal population dynamics of this mycoparasite, the presence of Sphaerellopsis on telia of U. acaciae was assessed monthly between May 2016 and April 2017. The proportion of samples with conidiomata of Sphaerellopsis was greatest between May and November. This period is outside both the peak growing season for A. mearnsii and the main epidemic period for U. acaciae. Results suggest that Sphaerellopsis may have little impact on U. acaciae during epidemic periods of the year but could reduce the over‐wintering survival of this damaging rust fungus and lower initial inoculum loads at the start of the following growth season.
Excellence seekers, pragmatists, or sceptics: Ways of applying performance‐based research funding systems at new universities and university colleges in Sweden
Authors: Haake Ulrika , Silander Charlotte
Published: May 2021

The Swedish system of research funding has undergone major changes, while competitive funding schemes gradually have gained popularity, at the expense of institutional block grants. In recent years, there has been a strong drive to improve research performance in universities as a result of governmental desires, resulting in performance‐based research funding systems (PRFS) being introduced to distribute block grants. The study on which this article reports sought to understand the development of increased government intent to steer resources for research, by investigating the behaviour of universities and university colleges in Sweden in terms of internal organisation and distribution of funding. The article investigates the structure of and motives for applying PRFS at seven new universities and university colleges through a document and interview study. We identified three categories of higher education institutions: the excellence seekers, the pragmatists and the sceptics. Universities rhetorically signal compliance with governmental propositions to distribute funding according to performance measures, but their actions are limited. Thus, national incentives, models and measures influence decisions at lower institutional levels in a rather modest way.
Varieties of collaboration: On the influence of funding schemes on forms and characteristics of international collaborative research projects (ICRPs)
Authors: Kosmützky Anna , Wöhlert Romy
Published: May 2021

This article discusses characteristics and forms of international collaborative research projects (ICRPs) and provides conceptual considerations as well as initial empirical insights on the impact of funding conditions on ICRPs in the social sciences and external project funding. Specifically, by presenting a German case study of funding formats in two national funding institutions and the funding tools of the European Commission in Horizon 2020. The findings draw on desk‐research and a review of research on the relationship between funding and international research collaboration. The analysis used a conceptual perspective, that understands research projects as temporary organisations, to discuss characteristics of international collaborative research projects and to provide a descriptive analysis of the funding conditions for ICRPs. The article systematises different forms of ICRPs and suggest differentiating them along their variety by four ICRP attributes: size, geographical distance, funding structures and funding formats. The discussion section elaborates on implications for future research and practice​.
Shared resources between visual attention and visual working memory are allocated through rhythmic sampling
Authors: Balestrieri Elio , Ronconi Luca , Melcher David
Published: May 2021

Attention and visual working memory (VWM) are among the most theoretically detailed and empirically tested constructs in human cognition. Nevertheless, the nature of the interrelation between selective attention and VWM still presents a fundamental controversy: Do they rely on the same cognitive resources or not? The present study aims at disentangling this issue by capitalizing on recent evidence showing that attention is a rhythmic phenomenon, oscillating over short time windows. Using a dual‐task approach, we combined a classic VWM task with a visual detection task in which we densely sampled detection performance during the time between the memory and the test array. Our results show that an increment in VWM load was related to reduced detection of near‐threshold visual stimuli. Importantly, we observed an oscillatory pattern in detection at ~7.5 Hz in the low VWM load conditions, which decreased towards ~5 Hz in the high VWM load condition. These findings suggest that the frequency of this sampling rhythm changes according to the allocation of attentional resources to either the VWM or the detection task. This pattern of results is consistent with a central sampling attentional rhythm which allocates shared attentional resources both to the flow of external visual stimulation and to the internal maintenance of visual information.
Exposure time is an important variable in quantifying post‐dispersal seed removal
Authors: Chen Si‐Chong , Wang Bo , Moles Angela T.
Published: May 2021

A literature synthesis concluded that small mammals have the greatest impact on post‐dispersal removal of intermediate‐sized seeds (Dylewski et al. 2020). However, this study failed to consider the duration of seed exposure to predators. Re‐analyses of the corrected dataset revealed only a weak effect of seed mass on seed removal.
General statistical scaling laws for stability in ecological systems
Authors: Clark Adam Thomas , Arnoldi Jean‐Francois , Zelnik Yuval R. , Barabas György , Hodapp Dorothee , Karakoç Canan , König Sara , Radchuk Viktoriia , Donohue Ian , Huth Andreas , Jacquet Claire , de Mazancourt Claire , Mentges Andrea , Nothaaß Dorian , Shoemaker Lauren G. , Taubert Franziska , Wiegand Thorsten , Wang Shaopeng , Chase Jonathan M. , Loreau Michel , Harpole Stanley
Published: May 2021

Ecological stability refers to a family of concepts used to describe how systems of interacting species vary through time and respond to disturbances. Because observed ecological stability depends on sampling scales and environmental context, it is notoriously difficult to compare measurements across sites and systems. Here, we apply stochastic dynamical systems theory to derive general statistical scaling relationships across time, space, and ecological level of organisation for three fundamental stability aspects: resilience, resistance, and invariance. These relationships can be calibrated using random or representative samples measured at individual scales, and projected to predict average stability at other scales across a wide range of contexts. Moreover deviations between observed vs. extrapolated scaling relationships can reveal information about unobserved heterogeneity across time, space, or species. We anticipate that these methods will be useful for cross‐study synthesis of stability data, extrapolating measurements to unobserved scales, and identifying underlying causes and consequences of heterogeneity.
Large disparities in 28‐day case fatality by stroke subtype: data from a French stroke registry between 2008 and 2017
Authors: Gauthier Victoria , Cottel Dominique , Amouyel Philippe , Dallongeville Jean , Meirhaeghe Aline
Published: May 2021

Background and purpose

The objectives of the present analysis were to assess 28‐day stroke case fatality according to the stroke aetiology and to identify associated factors.

Methods

All stroke events in adults aged ≥35 years between 2008 and 2017 were collected in a population‐based stroke registry in northern France.

Results

Out of a total of 2933 strokes, there were 479 (16%) haemorrhagic strokes and 2454 (84%) ischaemic strokes; the 28‐day case fatality rates were 48% and 15%, respectively. Three‐quarters of the 28‐day case fatalities occurred within 6 days of the event for haemorrhagic strokes and within 16.5 days for ischaemic strokes. After an ischaemic stroke, the case fatality rate was higher for women (18%) than for men (12%, p < 0.0001); however, this difference disappeared after adjustment for age. Cardioembolic strokes (34%) and strokes of undetermined cause (33%) were the most common ischaemic subtypes, with case fatality rates of 16% and 18%, respectively. Large artery atherosclerosis (11%) and lacunar strokes (10%) were less common, and both types had a case fatality rate of 3%. Age at the time of the event and stroke severity were both significantly associated with case fatality. For some types of stroke, a history of cardiovascular events and residence in a nursing home were associated with a poor prognosis. Medical care in a neurology ward was inversely associated with case fatality, for all stroke subtypes.

Conclusions

In northern France, post‐stroke case fatality remains high, especially for haemorrhagic stroke. Being treated in a neurology ward improved survival by around 80%.
Effect of interleukin‐1β on bone morphogenetic protein‐9‐induced osteoblastic differentiation of human periodontal ligament fibroblasts
Authors: Ebe Yukari , Nakamura Toshiaki , Hasegawa‐Nakamura Kozue , Noguchi Kazuyuki
Published: May 2021

Bone morphogenetic protein‐9 (BMP‐9) has been shown to potently induce osteoblastic differentiation of periodontal ligament fibroblasts (PDLFs) and may be a candidate therapeutic agent for periodontal tissue healing/regeneration, but the effect of the inflammatory environment of periodontitis on such approaches is unclear. We investigated whether interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) affected BMP‐9‐mediated osteoblastic differentiation of human (h) PDLFs. IL‐1β suppressed BMP‐9‐induced osteogenic differentiation of hPDLFs, as evidenced by reduced alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and mineralization, and the downregulated expression of BMP‐9‐mediated bone‐related genes, RUNX2, SP7, IBSP, and SPP1. In hPDLFs, with or without BMP‐9, IL‐1β increased the protein expression of activin A, a BMP‐9 antagonist, and decreased follistatin protein, an antagonist of activin A. Similarly, IL‐1β upregulated the expression of the activin A gene and downregulated that of the follistatin gene. Notably, follistatin re‐established BMP‐9‐induced ALP activity suppressed by IL‐1β. Activin A inhibited the expression of BMP‐9‐responsive genes and BMP‐9‐induced ALP activity, while follistatin re‐established them. Finally, extracellular signal‐regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), p38, and nuclear factor‐kappa B (NF‐κB) inhibition significantly blocked IL‐1β‐induced activin A gene expression. Our data indicate that IL‐1β inhibits BMP‐9‐induced osteoblastic differentiation of hPDLFs, possibly by promoting activin A production via the ERK1/2, p38, and NF‐κB pathways.
Eight generations of native seed cultivation reduces plant fitness relative to the wild progenitor population
Authors: Pizza Riley , Espeland Erin , Etterson Julie
Published: May 2021

Native seed for restoration is in high demand, but widespread habitat degradation will likely prevent enough seed from being sustainably harvested from wild populations to meet this need. While propagation of native species has emerged in recent decades to address this resource gap, few studies have tested whether the processes of sampling from wild populations, followed by generations of farm cultivation, reduce plant fitness tolerance to stress over time. To test this, we grew the eighth generation of farm‐propagated Clarkia pulchella Pursh (Onagraceae) alongside seeds from two of the three original wild source populations that established the native seed farm. To detect differences in stress tolerance, half of plants were subjected to a low‐water treatment in the greenhouse. At the outset, farmed seeds were 4.1% heavier and had 4% greater germination compared to wild‐collected seed. At maturity, farmed plants were 22% taller and had 20% larger stigmatic surfaces, even after accounting for differences in initial seed size. Importantly, the mortality of farmed plants was extremely high (75%), especially in the low‐water treatment (80%). Moreover, farmed plants under the high‐water treatment had 90% lower relative fitness than wild plants due to the 1.3 times greater weekly mortality and a 3‐fold reduction in flowering likelihood. Together, these data suggest that bottlenecks during initial sampling and/or unconscious selection during propagation severely reduced genetic diversity and promoted inbreeding. This may undermine restoration success, especially under stressful conditions. These results indicate that more data must be collected on the effects of cultivation to determine whether it is a suitable source of restoration seed.
Endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome are diametric disorders
Authors: Dinsdale Natalie L. , Crespi Bernard J.
Published: May 2021

Evolutionary and comparative approaches can yield novel insights into human adaptation and disease. Endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) each affect up to 10% of women and significantly reduce the health, fertility, and quality of life of those affected. PCOS and endometriosis have yet to be considered as related to one another, although both conditions involve alterations to prenatal testosterone levels and atypical functioning of the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal (HPG) axis. Here, we propose and evaluate the novel hypothesis that endometriosis and PCOS represent extreme and diametric (opposite) outcomes of variation in HPG axis development and activity, with endometriosis mediated in notable part by low prenatal and postnatal testosterone, while PCOS is mediated by high prenatal testosterone. This diametric disorder hypothesis predicts that, for characteristics shaped by the HPG axis, including hormonal profiles, reproductive physiology, life‐history traits, and body morphology, women with PCOS and women with endometriosis will manifest opposite phenotypes. To evaluate these predictions, we review and synthesize existing evidence from developmental biology, endocrinology, physiology, life history, and epidemiology. The hypothesis of diametric phenotypes between endometriosis and PCOS is strongly supported across these diverse fields of research. Furthermore, the contrasts between endometriosis and PCOS in humans parallel differences among nonhuman animals in effects of low versus high prenatal testosterone on female reproductive traits. These findings suggest that PCOS and endometriosis represent maladaptive extremes of both female life‐history variation and expression of sexually dimorphic female reproductive traits. The diametric disorder hypothesis for endometriosis and PCOS provides novel, unifying, proximate, and evolutionary explanations for endometriosis risk, synthesizes diverse lines of research concerning the two most common female reproductive disorders, and generates future avenues of research for improving the quality of life and health of women.
Declines in rodent abundance and diversity track regional climate variability in North American drylands
Authors: Cárdenas Pablo A. , Christensen Erica , Ernest S. K. Morgan , Lightfoot David C. , Schooley Robert L. , Stapp Paul , Rudgers Jennifer A.
Published: May 2021

Regional long‐term monitoring can enhance the detection of biodiversity declines associated with climate change, improving future projections by reducing reliance on space‐for‐time substitution and increasing scalability. Rodents are diverse and important consumers in drylands, regions defined by the scarcity of water that cover 45% of Earth's land surface and face increasingly drier and more variable climates. We analyzed abundance data for 22 rodent species across grassland, shrubland, ecotone, and woodland ecosystems in the southwestern USA. Two time series (1995–2006 and 2004–2013) coincided with phases of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), which influences drought in southwestern North America. Regionally, rodent species diversity declined 20%–35%, with greater losses during the later time period. Abundance also declined regionally, but only during 2004–2013, with losses of 5% of animals captured. During the first time series (wetter climate), plant productivity outranked climate variables as the best regional predictor of rodent abundance for 70% of taxa, whereas during the second period (drier climate), climate best explained variation in abundance for 60% of taxa. Temporal dynamics in diversity and abundance differed spatially among ecosystems, with the largest declines in woodlands and shrublands of central New Mexico and Colorado. Which species were winners or losers under increasing drought and amplified interannual variability in drought depended on ecosystem type and the phase of the PDO. Fewer taxa were significant winners (18%) than losers (30%) under drought, but the identities of winners and losers differed among ecosystems for 70% of taxa. Our results suggest that the sensitivities of rodent species to climate contributed to regional declines in diversity and abundance during 1995–2013. Whether these changes portend future declines in drought‐sensitive consumers in the southwestern USA will depend on the climate during the next major PDO cycle.
Activated biochars derived from wood biomass liquefaction residues for effective removal of hazardous hexavalent chromium from aquatic environments
Authors: Janiszewska Dominika , Olchowski Rafał , Nowicka Aldona , Zborowska Magdalena , Marszałkiewicz Krzysztof , Shams Mahmoud , Giannakoudakis Dimitrios A. , Anastopoulos Ioannis , Barczak Mariusz
Published: May 2021

Residues obtained after wood biomass liquefaction were used as precursors for the synthesis of two activated biochars. The source of biomass liquefaction constituted of industrial wood processing by‐products, including bark and wood sawdust. The liquefied residues were analyzed in terms of chemical components and structure. Carbonization under nitrogen atmosphere followed by physical CO2activation allowed to obtain microporous activated carbons with specific surface areas of 741 and 522 m2 g−1, and micropore volumes of 0.38 and 0.27 cm3 g−1, respectively. The obtained activated carbons were used to remove toxic hexavalent chromium from the aquatic environment. The observed sorption capacities were 80.6 mg g−1versus 36.7 mg g−1for wood bark‐derived and wood sawdust‐derived carbon, respectively, indicating a key role of the wood residue source in the effectiveness of Cr(VI) removal by resulting carbons. Despite the dominant microporous structure, the adsorption kinetics was surprisingly fast, especially for the bark‐derived carbon, since the adsorption equilibrium was reached within 2 h. The sorption mechanism of chromium was based on the carbon surface‐mediated reduction of toxic hexavalent form to its non‐toxic trivalent form, as confirmed by the X‐ray photoelectron analysis. Therefore, the residues from wood liquefaction can be easily converted into porous activated biocarbons capable of adsorbing significant amounts of hazardous Cr(VI) while reducing them to non‐toxic Cr(III).
Migrant youth ‘between mobilities’: Sessility as a working concept
Authors: Harris Anita , Raffaetà Roberta
Published: May 2021

Conventionally, young people today are seen to be benefited by opportunities for mobility and disadvantaged by staying in place. We seek to advance critiques of this binarism by exploring the mobility and attachment aspirations and experiences of the 1.5 generation: those who migrate as children accompanying their parents. Building on calls to better understand the complexity of both mobility and staying in place for migrant youth, we analyse the experience and aspirations of a young Italian woman of Indian background who finds herself ‘between mobilities’, navigating her life amidst her parents’ migration and settlement plans and her own aspirations for both mobility and emplaced belonging. We introduce the concept of ‘sessility’, taken from plant biology, to explore how forms of mobility and agency can be enacted in place, depending on the extent to which the environment supports capacities and aspirations.
Triple helix relationship research on China's regional university–industry–government collaborative innovation: Based on provincial patent data
Authors: Zhuang Tao , Zhao Shuliang , Zheng Mingliang , Chu Jianxun
Published: May 2021

Over the last 20 years, university–industry–government collaborative innovation has received extensive attention in theory and practice. However, the question of how to integrate and understand collaborative innovation from a theoretical perspective has not been thoroughly studied. This study designed a regional collaborative innovation evaluation model based on the triple helix theory. The invention patent data of 31 provincial regions in China for the last 5 years are used to investigate the regional differences and dynamic evolution of the collaborative innovation and the interaction and coupling relationship between intraregional and interregional industries, universities, and governments empirically. This study found that the number of invention patents in China has rapidly grown yearly, indicating that industries are the most important source of invention patents. The difference in the regional distribution of China's collaborative innovation output is remarkable, showing a pattern of “strong east and weak west” in the total volume and “south fast north slow” in the growth rate. The bilateral synergistic effect of industry–university relations is strong considering two‐dimensional cooperation, and the relationship is close. Collaborative innovation is dominated by intraregional cooperation, whereas interregional cooperation shows a growing trend. The tripartite relationship between university, industry, and government shows a loose trend. Certain provinces with weak regional innovation capabilities, such as Gansu, Hainan, Xinjiang, and Qinghai, have a relatively close cooperation level, which is in the stage of government‐led innovation and development. However, Guangdong, Chongqing, Anhui, Jiangsu, and other provinces with outstanding regional innovation capability do not have close cooperation between universities, industries, and governments, which are in the stage of innovation and development led by industries. This paper discusses the policy implications for different regions based on the research conclusions.