bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reduced insecticide susceptibility among populations of Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in strawberry production
Authors: Kaur Gagandeep , Stelinski Lukasz L. , Martini Xavier , Boyd Nathan , Lahiri Sriyanka
Published: February 2023

Chilli thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is a major, economically important, and recent invasive pest of strawberries and other horticultural crops in United States. Several conventional insecticides are used for S. dorsalis management, and resistance development threatens loss of few available tools. Hence, our objectives were to: (1) determine the susceptibility of S. dorsalis to commonly used conventional insecticides: spinetoram, acetamiprid, cyantraniliprole and bifenthrin, and (2) establish LC50 and LC90 dosages for spinetoram against S. dorsalis. Sampling of S. dorsalis populations was conducted twice in seven strawberry fields in Florida during the strawberry field season between 2019 and 2020. Leaf‐disc bioassays were performed with field collected populations along with a susceptible 2‐year‐old laboratory culture of S. dorsalis. Overall, at highest recommended rate the percent mortality of late season S. dorsalis populations from five out of seven collection sites was lower (~41%) than average mortality observed with early season populations (~72%). Populations from at least four out of seven sampling sites exhibited significantly lower mortality than the laboratory susceptible culture in late season. The LC50 and LC90 values for spinetoram for the susceptible laboratory population were 0.026 and 8.64 ppm, respectively. On the other hand, LC50 values of field collected populations to spinetoram varied with resistance ratios ranging from 6 to 269 fold as compared against the laboratory strain. Our results suggest that susceptibility of S. dorsalis to commonly used insecticides in strawberries varies significantly between early and late season populations within the same crop season. The efficacy of bifenthrin against S. dorsalis was particularly low (~ reduced to half in late season), especially among field collected populations. Our results indicate an urgent need to incorporate other pest management strategies, as well as effective rotation programs to reduce selection for resistance among populations of S. dorsalis in strawberry production.
Parallel trajectories in the discovery of the SCN‐OVLT and pituitary portal pathways: Legacies of Geoffrey Harris
Authors: Silver Rae , Yao Yifan , Roy Ranjan K. , Stern Javier E.
Published: February 2023

A map of central nervous system organization based on vascular networks provides a layer of organization distinct from familiar neural networks or connectomes. As a well‐established example, the capillary networks of the pituitary portal system enable a route for small amounts of neurochemical signals to reach local targets by traveling along specialized pathways, thereby avoiding dilution in the systemic circulation. The first evidence of such a pathway in the brain came from anatomical studies identifying a portal pathway linking the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland. Almost a century later, we demonstrated a vascular portal pathway that joined the capillary beds of the suprachiasmatic nucleus and a circumventricular organ, the organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis, in a mouse brain. For each of these portal pathways, the anatomical findings opened many new lines of inquiry, including the determination of the direction of flow of information, the identity of the signal that flowed along this pathway, and the function of the signals that linked the two regions. Here, we review landmark steps to these discoveries and highlight the experiments that reveal the significance of portal pathways and more generally, the implications of morphologically distinct nuclei sharing capillary beds.
Is camera recording crucial for the correct diagnosis of sleep bruxism in polysomnography?
Authors: Smardz Joanna , Wieckiewicz Mieszko , Michalek‐Zrabkowska Monika , Gac Pawel , Poreba Rafal , Wojakowska Anna , Blaszczyk Bartlomiej , Mazur Grzegorz , Martynowicz Helena
Published: February 2023

Due to potential issues, several sleep laboratories conduct sleep bruxism diagnosis without the use of a camera, instead relying mostly on electromyographic monitoring. The purpose of the study was to determine if a camera is necessary for the polysomnographic evaluation of sleep bruxism and how sleep bruxism parameters change when a camera is not utilised. The study material was actual polysomnographic recordings made in the years 2017–2020. A total of 199 single‐night video‐polysomnographic recordings of patients who were suspected of having sleep bruxism were chosen at random. The first analysis involved the evaluation of the video recording, while in the second video recording was not used. The findings revealed that all the examined sleep bruxism indices had statistically significantly higher values for the recordings made without the use of a camera. According to the findings, noncamera recordings had decreased sensitivity and specificity when the criteria of bruxism and mild‐to‐moderate bruxism were taken into account, and decreased sensitivity in the case of the criterion of severe bruxism. Sleep efficiency, the apnea/hypopnea index, and arousals had independent effects on the bruxism episode index value in the analysis of noncamera recordings. In conclusion, camera‐based polysomnography still appears to be the most reliable way to assess the severity of sleep bruxism, particularly in patients who also report other sleep disturbances. The presence of symptoms of sleep‐disordered breathing, insomnia, or other sleep disorders should prompt us to use camera‐based diagnostics.
Application of zymetin and super PS probiotics in hatchery, nursery, and grow‐out phases of Macrobrachium rosenbergii and their impact on culture environment, production, and economics
Authors: Azad Md. Abul K. , Islam Shikder S. , Ghosh Alokesh K. , Hasanuzzaman Abul F. Md. , Smith Aaron J. , Bir Joyanta , Ahmmed Mirja K. , Ahmmed Fatema , Banu Ghausiatur R. , Huq Khandaker A.
Published: February 2023

This study evaluated the effect of two commercial probiotics, zymetin, and super PS, on the culture environment, production, and economics of Macrobrachium rosenbergii aquaculture. The experiment was conducted using three treatments, including T1, probiotics applied in all culture phases; T2, during grow‐out; and a control (C). Prawns were fed commercial pelleted diets. Earthen ponds were used at a stocking density of two juveniles/m2. Water concentrations of non‐ionized ammonia and nitrite‐nitrogen were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in T1 than in T2 and C. Probiotic application significantly (p < 0.05) reduced phosphate content and balanced soil pH. Growth performance, condition factor, survival, protein utilization, and production were significantly higher in T1 followed by T2 compared to C by the end of grow‐out. Application of zymetin and super PS in all culture phases significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the feed conversion ratio in T1 compared to T2 and C. Positive allometric growth was observed in T1, whereas growth was isometric in C and T2. Probiotic treatment during all culture phases achieved the highest net returns to land, family labor, and management. Application of probiotics during the entire culture cycle could be the best practice for improving production and economics in M. rosenbergii aquaculture.
Role of sexual and natural selection in the evolution of sexual size dimorphism in primates
Authors: Cassini M. H.
Published: February 2023

In mammals, the dominant theory proposes that sexual size dimorphism evolved by sexual selection in a polygynous reproductive scenario. Natural selection is an alternative hypothesis where dimorphism represents an adaptation to ecological pressures. I tested evolutionary models based on sexual and natural selection processes using phylogenetic confirmatory path analyses. I employed data for 225 primate species in terms of their diel activity, body mass, sexual size dimorphism, level of sociality, and level of polygyny. The model that received the most support from path analyses was a mixed model in which dimorphism evolved after an increase in body size that resulted from a response to an ecological pressure, i.e., a change from nocturnal to diurnal habits, with a lesser role of polygyny. Phylogenetic path analysis suggests that natural selection has played an important role in the evolution of sexual size dimorphism in primates.
Intraspecific morphological variations of the vulnerable loach, Lepidocephalichthys annandalei (Cypriniformes: Cobitidae) in inland waterbodies at southwestern Bangladesh
Authors: Samad Md. Abdus , Mahfuj Md. Sarower‐E , Faysal Ahmed Fee , Rahman Shaid‐Ur , Hossain Md. Yeamin
Published: February 2023

Wild fish populations are unceasingly diminishing in the rivers, ox‐bow lakes and floodplains in the Southwestern region of Bangladesh. Investigating the population status of vulnerable wild fish species are vital for the management and conservation of that species. This study aimed to identify the intra‐specific morphological variation and determine the population status of Lepidocephalichthys annandalei, in two rivers, the Nabaganga River in Jhenaidah (NRJ) and the Bhairab River in Jashore (BRJ) as well as a flood plain, the Dhakuria Beel in Jashore (DBJ) from Southwestern Bangladesh. Significant differences were observed in seven conventional and five truss‐based characters in univariate statistics. Conventional and truss‐network results from principal component analysis and CVA exhibited that populations were entirely intermixed, creating a compact cluster within intra‐population stages. Four principal components explained 51.93% of the variation in conventional morphometric characters and truss‐based characters. A UPGMA dendrogram was independently developed based on conventional and truss‐based morphometric characters. Among the individuals of NRJ and BRJ populations confirmed the presence of out‐group rather than the DBJ based on morphometric (conventional and truss) features. These notable isolations of populations of this species were supposed to be geographic disconnection and abiotic parameters. The evidence ensuing from the present study would be valuable for genetic studies as well as for in situ management.
Comparative study highlights how gene flow shapes adaptive genomic architecture
Authors: Schaal Sara M. , Smith Sara J.
Published: February 2023

Adaptation to environmental conditions, and the mechanisms underlying these adaptations, can vary greatly among species. This variation can be attributed to a variety of factors including the strength of evolutionary processes like selection, gene flow, time since divergence, and/or genetic drift, as well as the interactions between these processes. A number of simulation and theoretical studies have helped elucidate the role of these processes on the genomic basis of adaptation (Schaal et al., 2022; Yeaman et al., 2016). However, complementary empirical studies to test these theoretical expectations for within‐species adaptation have been limited due to the challenging nature of evaluating these processes in a comparative framework. To do this effectively, it is necessary to have systems where the range of environmental variation is similar between species, but where one or more of these evolutionary processes vary. In a From the Cover article in this issue of Molecular Ecology, Shi et al. (2022) provide an excellent example of a freshwater system where rates of gene flow differ between populations of six riverine species due to variation in spawning strategies (i.e., broadcast spawners = high gene flow, nest spawners = low gene flow), but all experience the same variation in environmental conditions across their distributions. The authors take a multivariate approach to evaluate the genomic basis of adaptation by using a combination of differentiation‐based and genotype‐environment association (GEA) methods. By comparing the amount of gene flow between species and the resulting genomic basis of local adaptation, they are able to infer how genomic architecture may be shaped by rates of gene flow. Their results identify a general pattern of increased genomic clustering in species with increasing levels of gene flow. However, two of six species did not follow this pattern, which could be due to additional factors not assessed. Additionally, they provide convincing evidence that the underlying evolutionary mechanisms that formed genomic clusters within each species vary. These deviations from a general pattern highlight how difficult evaluating these processes in natural populations are, particularly because species‐specific responses can vary dramatically. Taken together, their comparative framework for assessing the genomic architecture of adaptation is unique, sheds important light on how evolutionary processes can impact adaptation, and provides robust empirical support of foundational theoretical and simulation studies.
A draw for Flemish nationalism: Institutional change and stability in the Belgian sport system
Authors: Geeraert Arnout
Published: February 2023

This article combines insights from historical institutionalism with the literature on ideational policy change to explain why Belgian sport institutions like the national football team appear as outliers in the story of the country's unidirectional move towards a decentralised federal state. It shows how Flemish nationalist ideas drove the asymmetrical decentralisation of the originally unitary Belgian sport system. On one hand, mechanisms of gradual institutional change led to the complete decentralisation of public sport policy. The Flemish government consequently has the authority and means to generate symbols and policies that boost Flemish identity through sport, while no comprehensive policies can be developed at the federal level for instrumentalising sport to build Belgian identity. On the other hand, mechanisms of institutional stability including vested interests, strong veto players and Flemings' dislike of secessionism prevent the full decentralisation of the Belgian non‐governmental sport governing bodies. This implies that Belgium continues to be represented in international sport competitions as a nation and that sport can thus also be employed to create and sustain Belgian alongside Flemish identity. Sport therefore contributes to sustaining the Flemings' dual Flemish‐Belgian identity, which ultimately stands in the way of a fully autonomous Flemish state.
Unilateral Percutaneous Kyphoplasty Using a Novel Guide Device for Thoracolumbar Osteoporotic Vertebral Fracture
Authors: Wang Hongwei , Yu Hailong , Zhu Yunpeng , Gu Hongwen , Zheng Bin , Zhao Yuanhang , Han Wenfeng , Xiang Liangbi
Published: February 2023

Objectives

Unilateral percutaneous kyphoplasty (UPKP) has been effective in reducing the operative time, cement volume, and cement leakage (CL) rate compared with bilateral kyphoplasty. However, no device can help to determine the trajectory during operation, especially the inner inclination angle. To assess the safety and efficacy of a novel guide device (GD) for UPKP in the treatment of thoracolumbar osteoporotic vertebral fractures (TLOVFs).

Methods

From January 2019 to May 2021, 31 patients diagnosed with single TLOVF who underwent UPKP were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were divided into two groups: traditional UPKP (UPKP group, 15 patients) and UPKP assisted with GD (UPKP‐GD group, 16 patients). Pre‐procedure demographic, clinical and radiologic characteristics, operative procedure details, and clinical and radiologic outcomes at 1 day and 12 months post‐procedure were collected. Statistical analyses were carried out using SPSS 24.0. The baseline characteristics of the two groups were compared by the independent sample t test or the χ2 test. The anterior height or local kyphotic angle (LKA) of the fractured vertebrae, visual analog scale (VAS) score, and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) within groups were compared using the paired t test.

Results

A total of 31 patients (five men and 26 women; age range: 58–90 years) completed the full 12‐month postoperative follow‐up schedule. No significant differences were observed between treatment groups with respect to sex, age, body mass index, preoperative bone mineral density, or surgical level. Compared with the UPKP group, the operation time in the UPKP‐GD group was significantly shorter (40.8 ± 5.5 min vs. 48.5 ± 8.5 min, p = 0.005), and the number of intraoperative fluoroscopy times in the UPKP‐GD group was significantly decreased (20.6 ± 4.5 vs. 25.2 ± 2.4, p = 0.001). Five (31.3%) patients in the UPKP‐GD group and four (26.7%) patients in the UPKP group had bone CL. The VAS and ODI scores, anterior height and LKA of the fractured vertebrae were significantly improved after surgery in each group. No significant differences in postoperative VAS and ODI scores, anterior height or LKA of the fractured vertebrae, volume of injected cement or CL were observed between the two groups.

Conclusion

Unilateral puncture using a novel GD is a safe and effective technique for patients with TLFs and UPKP assisted with a novel GD is associated with fewer intraoperative fluoroscopy times and shorter operation time.
Achieving bi‐directional conduction block during catheter ablation is not enough to prevent recurrence of cavo‐tricuspid isthmus dependant atrial flutter: Role of subclinical conduction
Authors: CLS Di Nubila Bruna , Divulwewa Keerthi , Tang Anthony S. L. , Agarwal Sharad C.
Published: February 2023

Background

Achieving bi‐directional conduction block, as assessed by differential pacing and change in activation along tricuspid annulus (TA), across the cavo‐tricuspid isthmus (CTI), is considered a satisfactory end point during catheter ablation of atrial flutter (AFL).

Aim

To assess role of subclinical conduction by observing polarity reversal of local bipolar signals from RS to QR pattern lateral to the line of ablation, in predicting recurrence of CTI dependant AFL after ablation in patients with bidirectional conduction block.

Method and Results

Of 683 patients undergoing ablation of CTI dependent AFL, 73 (10.6%) patients underwent redo flutter ablation and were evaluated further. The mean age was 60.8 years and 51% were males. Evidence of bidirectional block by differential pacing and change is activation along multipolar catheter and reversal of local bipolar signals from RS to QR pattern lateral to the line of ablation, during the 1st and subsequent procedure, were studied. 60% patients had confirmed bidirectional block of which 71% had lack of voltage reversal, at the end of 1st procedure. All patients with bidirectional block with lack of reversal of bipolar signals, after the first procedure had recurrence of AFL whereas only 3/11 (27%) people with bidirectional block and with absence of subclinical conduction had recurrence of AFL.

Conclusion

Achieving bidirectional conduction block is not sufficient to prevent recurrence of AFL after CTI ablation. Reversal of local bipolar signals, from RS to QR pattern along with achieving bidirectional conduction delay would reduce recurrence of AFL, post ablation.
Quality of life and psychiatric distress in people with serious mental illness, the role of personal recovery
Authors: Saavedra Javier , Brzeska Joanna , Matías‐García Jose Antonio , Arias‐Sánchez Samuel
Published: February 2023

Objectives

When considering the personal recovery of people with serious mental illness (SMI), it is essential to examine their reported psychiatric distress and quality of life (QoL). However, there is no consolidated model in the literature that clearly relates these variables. In this study we first analysed the relationships between QoL, psychiatric distress and recovery, and several sociodemographic variables. Second, we analysed the linear effects of psychiatric distress and recovery on QoL. Third, and most important, we tested two hypotheses that considered personal recovery as a moderator or mediator of the relationship between psychiatric distress and QoL.

Design and Methods

234 volunteers with a diagnosis of SMI completed three self‐report questionnaires, The Recovery Assessment Scale‐24, The World Health Organization QoL and the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation‐Outcome Measure, which showed very good levels of validity and reliability. The PROCESS macro for SPSS developed by Hayes (Introduction to mediation, moderation, and conditional process analysis: A regression‐based approach, The Guilford Press, 2022) was applied using the Bootstrap method to verify our moderation and mediation hypotheses.

Results

We found a negative linear effect of psychiatric distress on QoL, as well as a positive effect of recovery on said variable. Our results do not confirm the moderating effect of recovery on the relationship between distress and QoL. However, we do confirm the second hypothesis; recovery functioned as a mediating variable between psychiatric distress and QoL.

Conclusions

These findings allow us to reflect on how personal recovery affect the relationship between psychiatric distress and QoL and discuss its theoretical and practical implications as public policies.
Outcomes of periodontal therapy: Strengthening the relevance of research to patients. A co‐created review
Authors: Needleman Ian , Almond Neil , Leow Natalie , Phillips Jim
Published: February 2023

Periodontitis is a long‐term condition affecting up to half of the population globally and causing significant impacts on life quality. Successful management depends on taking life‐long ownership of the condition by those affected. There is a wealth of research to inform on management options. However, most of the research has been designed by professional experts with outcomes to gauge benefits and harms based on parameters that inform on the disease process but which might not be informative to support decision‐making in people with lived experience (PWLE) of periodontal ill‐health (including both patients and carers). The importance of relevant outcomes is highlighted in the concept of the “expert patient” which aims to strengthen the capacity of PWLE to make health‐care choices that are important for them, elements of which are likely to be already familiar to many clinicians delivering periodontal health care. Therefore, the voice and collaboration of PWLE in research are recognised as crucial to developing high quality, relevant evidence especially for long‐term conditions. In this paper, we review what is known about the relevance of treatment outcomes to PWLE. We also examine the degree to which PWLE have been involved in identifying outcomes that are important to them as well as the diversity and therefore representativeness of PWLE recruited for studies. We consider why having more relevant outcomes could enhance the expertise of PWLE in managing their periodontitis. We then conclude with key learnings from our review which we hope will encourage more rapid development of these initiatives in periodontology for the benefit of global health and wellbeing.
Multiverse analyses of fear acquisition and extinction retention in posttraumatic stress disorder
Authors: Lewis Michael W. , Bradford Daniel E. , Pace‐Schott Edward F. , Rauch Scott L. , Rosso Isabelle M.
Published: February 2023

Persistent fear is a cardinal feature of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and deficient fear extinction retention is a proposed illness mechanism and target of exposure‐based therapy. However, evidence for deficient fear extinction in PTSD has been mixed using laboratory paradigms, which may relate to underidentified methodological variation across studies. We reviewed the literature to identify parameters that differ across studies of fear extinction retention in PTSD. We then performed Multiverse Analysis in a new sample, to quantify the impact of those methodological parameters on statistical findings. In 25 PTSD patients (15 female) and 36 trauma‐exposed non‐PTSD controls (TENC) (20 female), we recorded skin conductance response (SCR) during fear acquisition and extinction learning (day 1) and extinction recall (day 2). A first Multiverse Analysis examined the effects of methodological parameters identified by the literature review on comparisons of SCR‐based fear extinction retention in PTSD versus TENC. A second Multiverse Analysis examined the effects of those methodological parameters on comparisons of SCR to a danger cue (CS+) versus safety cue (CS−) during fear acquisition. Both the literature review and the Multiverse Analysis yielded inconsistent findings for fear extinction retention in PTSD versus TENC, and most analyses found no statistically significant group difference. By contrast, significantly elevated SCR to CS+ versus CS− was consistently found across all analyses in the literature review and the Multiverse Analysis of new data. We discuss methodological parameters that may most contribute to inconsistent findings of fear extinction retention deficit in PTSD and implications for future clinical research.
Linking cognitive and affective heuristic cues to interpersonal risk perceptions and behavior
Authors: Waters Erika A. , Pachur Thorsten , Pogge Gabrielle , Hunleth Jean , Webster Gregory D. , Shepperd James A.
Published: February 2023

People often use cognitive and affective heuristics when judging the likelihood of a health outcome and making health decisions. However, little research has examined how heuristics shape risk perceptions and behavior among people who make decisions on behalf of another person. We examined associations between heuristic cues and caregivers’ perceptions of their child's asthma risk, the frequency of caregivers’ asthma management behaviors, and child health outcomes. We used Ipsos KnowledgePanel to recruit 814 U.S. adult caregivers of children with asthma of the age <18 years. Participants completed a survey at baseline (T1) and 3 months later (T2). Caregivers who, at T1, reported greater negative affect about their child's asthma (affect heuristic cue), greater ease of imagining their child experiencing asthma symptoms (availability heuristic cue), and greater perceived similarity between their child and a child who has ever experienced asthma symptoms (representativeness heuristic cue) reported statistically significantly (p < 0.05) higher interpersonal perceived risk of their child having an exacerbation or uncontrolled asthma at T1. They also indicated at T2 that their child had poorer asthma control and more frequent exacerbations. Greater T1 negative affect was associated with more frequent T2 actions to reduce inflammation, manage triggers, and manage symptoms, and with poorer T2 child health outcomes. Heuristic cues are likely important for interpersonal—not just personal—risk perceptions. However, the interrelationship between caregivers’ ratings of heuristic cues (in particular, negative affect) and risk judgments may signify a struggle with managing their child's asthma and need for extra support from health care providers or systems.
A geospatial assessment of flood hazard in north‐eastern depressed basin, Bangladesh
Authors: Quader Mohammad Abdul , Dey Hemal , Malak Abdul , Rahman Zakiur
Published: February 2023

Floods are a frequently occurring calamity in deltaic Bangladesh. This paper aims to assess the temporal expansion of waterbodies during flooding using geospatial techniques. Several water indices were applied to classify the satellite images at various temporal scales. Among them, the Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) showed the highest correlation (r = 0.831; where p = 0.01) with rainfall data. Specifically, the NDWI results showed that perennial waterbodies measured 37 km2 and 60 km2 in Sunamganj District in 2017 and 2019, respectively. The area of waterbodies notably increased 52‐fold from March to April (37 km2 to 1958 km2) during the pre‐monsoon flash flood of 2017. During the July 2019 monsoon flood, waterbodies started to extend after May and flooded 2784 km2 in area. NDVI analysis showed that in 2019, floodwater submerged 361.7 km2 of vegetation cover. At the same time, the Surma River's flooding resulted in a 73.9 per cent inundation of the total area of the Sunamganj District. We hope that this study will provide better understanding of the varying nature of floods that occur in the low lying bowl shaped Haor region which will in turn assist the government with flood mitigation.
Paradox of precaution: Infection and precautionary action during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Shrum Wesley , Miller Paige
Published: February 2023

Objective

We consider the primary sources of COVID‐19 infection, the main precautionary actions taken, and common understandings of their difficulty and necessity in order to understand why it has been difficult to control the pandemic.

Methods

Online data collected in all 50 states during the Delta wave of the pandemic (n = 10,022) are used to examine how infection occurs and evaluate 32 precautionary actions.

Results

The most common source of respondent infection was at home, from someone they lived with. While most precautions were widely practiced, avoiding close contact with cohabitants was uncommon. This precaution was considered to be the most difficult and least necessary by a wide margin.

Conclusion

During the first 2 years of the pandemic, there was a mismatch between actions taken to avoid infection and the main way that people became infected. Many precautions caused people to stay at home, which may have increased their likelihood of infection. The identification of this “paradox of precaution” contributes to an understanding of why the pandemic could not be controlled in spite of the extensive and well‐intended precautions that were taken.
FOUR LIPS plays a role in meristemoid‐to‐GMC fate transition during stomatal development in Arabidopsis
Authors: Li Ping , Chen Liang , Gu Xiaoli , Zhao Mingfeng , Wang Wenjin , Hou Suiwen
Published: February 2023

SUMMARY

Meristemoids, which are stomatal precursor cells, exhibit self‐renewal and differentiation abilities. However, the only known core factor associated with meristemoid division termination and fate transition is the heterodimer formed by the basic helix–loop–helix proteins MUTE and SCREAMs (SCRMs). FOUR LIPS (FLP), a well‐known transcription factor that restricts guard mother cell (GMC) division, is a direct target of MUTE. Whether FLP involves in meristemoid differentiation is unknown. Through sensitized genetic screening of flp‐1, we identified a mute‐like (mutl) mutant with arrested meristemoids. The mutant carried a novel allele of the MUTE locus, i.e., mute‐4. Intriguingly, mute‐4 is a hypomorphic allele that exhibits wild‐type appearance with slightly delayed meristemoid‐to‐GMC transition, whereas it renders an unexpected mutl epidermis with most meristemoids arrested and very few stomata when combined with flp (flp mute‐4), suggesting that FLP is a positive regulator during this transition process. Consistently, the expression of FLP increased during GMC commitment, and the number of cells at this stage was markedly increased in flp. flp scrm double mutants produced arrested meristemoids similar to mute, and FLP was able to interact physically with SCRM. Taken together, our results demonstrate that FLP functions together with MUTE and SCRMs to direct meristemoid‐to‐GMC fate transition.
Cover Image
Authors: Peralta Santiago , Webb Suzin M. , Katt William P. , Grenier Jennifer K. , Duhamel Gerald E.
Published: February 2023

The cover image is based on the Short Communication Highly recurrent BRAF p.V595E mutation in canine papillary oral squa-mous cell carcinoma by Santiago Peralta et al., https://doi.org/10.1111/vco.12869.

image
Effects of melatonin on hematologic and biochemical changes and the effects of circadian rhythm on hematologic changes in donkeys (Equus asinus) subjected to packing during the hot‐dry season
Authors: Ake Ayodele Stephen , Ayo Joseph Olusegun , Aluwong Tagang , Mohammed Aliyu
Published: February 2023

Background

Melatonin is a hormone with antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory properties and may alleviate the effects of stress on hematologic and biochemical analytes in working donkeys that pack (load‐carry).

Objectives

We aimed to evaluate the effects of melatonin administration on hematologic and biochemical responses in donkeys subjected to packing during the hot‐dry season. We also examined its effects on circadian rhythms.

Methods

Ten male Nubian pack donkeys with (Packing + Melatonin; P + M) and without melatonin (Packing‐Melatonin; P‐M) administration were included. Blood samples were collected before, immediately after (15 min), and from 16 h to over 27‐h postpacking at 3‐h intervals for hematologic and total protein analyses. Serum from blood samples collected before and immediately after packing was analyzed for muscle enzyme activities and electrolyte concentrations. Student's t‐test, one‐way ANOVA, and online cosinor analysis were used for statistical analyses.

Results

Packed cell volumes (PCVs) of the P + M donkeys did not differ before and after packing. However, for the P‐M donkeys, values before packing (30.20 ± 0.8%) were higher than those (26.87 ± 0.5%) after packing. The hematologic values recorded in the P + M donkeys were higher than those in the P‐M donkeys, especially during the scotophase (P ˂ 0.05). The mesor PCV, hemoglobin (Hb), and red blood cell (RBC) values for the P + M donkeys were significantly (P ˂ 0.05) higher than those in the P‐M donkeys. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity was not different before (289.40 ± 60.8 U/L) or after packing (323.20 ± 36.0 U/L) in P + M donkeys, but the activity was significantly (P ˂ 0.05) higher postpacking than prepacking in the P‐M donkeys (294.20 ± 66.9 U/L and 513.40 ± 68.5 U/L, respectively). The relationships between the meteorologic parameters and PCV, Hb, and RBC concentrations in the P + M donkeys were significantly negative (P ˂ 0.05).

Conclusions

Melatonin prevented a decrease in PCV and increase in LDH activity immediately after packing compared with non‐treated donkeys. There was a marked effect during the scotophase on PCV, Hb, and RBC concentrations. The circadian parameters indicated a significant effect of melatonin on the rhythmicity of the PCV, Hb, and RBC concentration in the treated donkeys. Melatonin administration may reduce the risk of adverse effects of environmental stress and stress due to packing in donkeys during the hot‐dry season.
Spatial modelling indicates Striga seedbank density dependence on rainfall and soil traits in the savannas of northern Nigeria
Authors: Aliyu Kamaluddin T. , Lado Abdulrahman , Hussaini Mohammad A. , Kamara Alpha Y. , Musa Anas Sulaiman , Dawaki Mansur U. , Suleiman Mohammed S. , Bello Tasiu T. , Fagge Aminu A. , Isa Halima M. , Ibrahim Hassan
Published: February 2023

Striga is one of most notorious weeds devastating crop production in the dry savannas of northern Nigeria. The weed attacks most cultivated cereals and legumes with crop losses as high as 100% when no control measure is employed. Studies conducted in the dry savannas of Nigeria indicated that Striga seedbank is strongly related to soil and climate properties. This study was conducted to model Striga hermonthica seedbank zones in the dry savannas of Nigeria based on soil and climate properties of the areas. Using multi‐stage spatial sampling, 169 soil samples were collected at the centroids of 25 × 25 km grids across the study area and analysed for physico‐chemical properties. The number of Striga seeds were counted from the soil samples using water elutriator and potassium bicarbonate method. Daily temperature, relative humidity and rainfall for each point were downloaded from Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station data (CHIRPS). Minimum and maximum temperatures, and relative humidity were accessed from National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA POWER). Thresholds of various soil and climate variables for optimum concentration of Striga seedbank were analysed using boundary line analysis (BLA). From the BLA, optimum amount of rainfall for high Striga seedbank was 549 mm per annum. While temperature has a wide suitability range for Striga seedbank development. Principal component analysis was used to reduce dimensionality of the dataset into principal components (PCs). Seven PCs which explained 75.6% variation in the data were retained and used in the weighed overlay modelling (WOM). The weighted overlay map produced five distinct Striga seedbank zones; very low, low, moderate, high and very high. More than 60% of the study area had moderate to high Striga seedbanks. The zones vary mostly based on soil, climate and Striga seed count. The establishment of the optimum levels of the environmental factors at which Striga seedbank is favoured will assist in designing a more site‐specific Striga management. However, for scalability purpose, adoption of the Striga zoning approach can be useful.
Convexity, superquadratic growth, and dot products
Authors: Hanson Brandon , Roche‐Newton Oliver , Senger Steven
Published: February 2023

Let be a point set with cardinality . We give an improved bound for the number of dot products determined by , proving that
A crucial ingredient in the proof of this bound is a new superquadratic expander involving products and shifts. We prove that, for any finite set , there exist such that
This is derived from a more general result concerning growth of sets defined via convexity and sum sets, and which can be used to prove several other expanders with better than quadratic growth. The proof develops arguments from Hanson, Roche‐Newton, and Rudnev [Combinatorica, to appear], and uses predominantly elementary methods.
Cross-Cultural Adaptation of the Urdu Version of Rosenbaum Concussion Knowledge and Attitude Survey—Student Version in Pakistan
Authors: Mahfooz Masood , Noh Young-Eun , Teo Eng Wah
Published: February 2023

Evaluating athletes’ knowledge of and attitudes toward sports-related concussions is important. However, there is limited research involving South Asian athletes, partly due to the lack of a valid and reliable tool. This study, therefore, aimed to translate and validate the Rosenbaum Concussion Knowledge and Attitude Survey—Student Version, an established tool used to measure knowledge and attitude toward concussion, into Urdu. Rosenbaum Concussion Knowledge and Attitude Survey—Student Version was translated into Urdu using the standard guidelines and then completed by 369 athletes participating in contact sports at different universities in Pakistan. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed on the Concussion Attitude Index items to examine the underlying factorial structure. Construct validity of Concussion Attitude Index factors was also investigated using convergent and discriminant validity. The results showed that the Urdu version of the Rosenbaum Concussion Knowledge and Attitude Survey—Student Version has good psychometric properties and is a valid and reliable tool for evaluating Urdu-speaking athletes’ knowledge of and attitudes toward concussions.
Rasch Calibration of the International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Form
Authors: Ryu Seungho , Richardson Ryan , Cady Adam C. , Reeves Ashley , Casanova Madeline P. , Baker Russell T.
Published: February 2023

Context: Among numerous knee-related patient-reported outcome measures, the International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Form (IKDC-SKF) has been used across a wide variety of knee pathologies. However, traditional validation procedures (classical test theory) and existing studies (estimating item parameters) have limitations in establishing the measurement properties of the IKDC-SKF. Rasch analysis reveals a strong validation approach to improve IKDC-SKF clinical interpretation with larger samples. Objective: To assess psychometric properties, including differential item functioning, of the IKDC-SKF as a patient-reported measure of knee function. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Secondary data. Data were extracted from the cloud-based orthopedic and sports medicine global registry Surgical Outcome System (Arthrex). Patients: A total of 1725 individuals who underwent an arthroscopic knee procedure and completed all items on the IKDC-SKF. Main Outcome Measure(s): Rasch analysis including model-data fit, rating scale’s function, item-person map (distribution of item difficulty and person ability), and differential item functioning (sex and age groups) was used to evaluate the psychometric properties of the IKDC-SKF. Results: Ten misfit items were found and removed. The 5-point Likert scale of the 9-item IKDC-SKF worked well. Item difficulty ranged from 0.58 to 0.81 logits, and person’s knee function had ranged from –5.56 to 4.86 logits, with a wide distribution. The IKDC-SKF was found to function similarly for sex (male vs female) and age. Conclusions: Rasch analysis identified a unidimensional structure retaining 9 of the original IKDC-SKF items; however, a more comprehensive inventory is necessary to assess a wider range of knee function and improve measurement validity.
Catalytic site mutations confer multiple states of G protein activation
Authors: Hewitt Natalie , Ma Ning , Arang Nadia , Martin Sarah A. , Prakash Ajit , DiBerto Jeffrey F. , Knight Kevin M. , Ghosh Soumadwip , Olsen Reid H. J. , Roth Bryan L. , Gutkind J. Silvio , Vaidehi Nagarajan , Campbell Sharon L. , Dohlman Henrik G.
Published: February 2023

Heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide–binding proteins (G proteins) that function as molecular switches for cellular growth and metabolism are activated by GTP and inactivated by GTP hydrolysis. In uveal melanoma, a conserved glutamine residue critical for GTP hydrolysis in the G protein α subunit is often mutated in Gα
q
or Gα
11
to either leucine or proline. In contrast, other glutamine mutations or mutations in other Gα subtypes are rare. To uncover the mechanism of the genetic selection and the functional role of this glutamine residue, we analyzed all possible substitutions of this residue in multiple Gα isoforms. Through cell-based measurements of activity, we showed that some mutants were further activated and inactivated by G protein–coupled receptors. Through biochemical, molecular dynamics, and nuclear magnetic resonance–based structural studies, we showed that the Gα mutants were functionally distinct and conformationally diverse, despite their shared inability to hydrolyze GTP. Thus, the catalytic glutamine residue contributes to functions beyond GTP hydrolysis, and these functions include subtype-specific, allosteric modulation of receptor-mediated subunit dissociation. We conclude that G proteins do not function as simple on-off switches. Rather, signaling emerges from an ensemble of active states, a subset of which are favored in disease and may be uniquely responsive to receptor-directed ligands.
Palmitoylation of the Parkinson’s disease–associated protein synaptotagmin-11 links its turnover to α-synuclein homeostasis
Authors: Ho Gary P. H. , Wilkie Erin C. , White Andrew J. , Selkoe Dennis J.
Published: February 2023

Synaptotagmin-11 (Syt11) is a vesicle-trafficking protein that is linked genetically to Parkinson’s disease (PD). Likewise, the protein α-synuclein regulates vesicle trafficking, and its abnormal aggregation in neurons is the defining cytopathology of PD. Because of their functional similarities in the same disease context, we investigated whether the two proteins were connected. We found that Syt11 was palmitoylated in mouse and human brain tissue and in cultured cortical neurons and that this modification to Syt11 disrupted α-synuclein homeostasis in neurons. Palmitoylation of two cysteines adjacent to the transmembrane domain, Cys
39
and Cys
40
, localized Syt11 to digitonin-insoluble portions of intracellular membranes and protected it from degradation by the endolysosomal system. In neurons, palmitoylation of Syt11 increased its abundance and enhanced the binding of α-synuclein to intracellular membranes. As a result, the abundance of the physiologic tetrameric form of α-synuclein was decreased, and that of its aggregation-prone monomeric form was increased. These effects were replicated by overexpression of wild-type Syt11 but not a palmitoylation-deficient mutant. These findings suggest that palmitoylation-mediated increases in Syt11 amounts may promote pathological α-synuclein aggregation in PD.
Genomic Island-Encoded Histidine Kinase and Response Regulator Coordinate Mannose Utilization with Virulence in Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli
Authors: Yang Dawei , Yang Yongwu , Qiao Pengfei , Jiang Fengwei , Zhang Xinyang , Zhao Zihui , Cai Tao , Li Ganwu , Cai Wentong
Published: February 2023

The gastrointestinal tract represents a complex and challenging environment for enterohemorrhagic
Escherichia coli
(EHEC). However, EHEC is a highly adaptable pathogen, requiring only 10 to 100 CFUs to cause infection.
Intra-Host Evolution Provides for the Continuous Emergence of SARS-CoV-2 Variants
Authors: Landis Justin T. , Moorad Razia , Pluta Linda J. , Caro-Vegas Carolina , McNamara Ryan P. , Eason Anthony B. , Bailey Aubrey , Villamor Femi Cleola S. , Juarez Angelica , Wong Jason P. , Yang Brian , Broussard Grant S. , Damania Blossom , Dittmer Dirk P.
Published: February 2023

New SARS-CoV-2 variants can potentially disrupt ongoing public health measures and vaccine efforts. Still, little is known regarding how frequently new viral variants emerge and under what circumstances.
Functional analysis of the Candida albicans
ECE1
Promoter
Authors: Garbe Enrico , Thielemann Nadja , Hohner Sina , Kumar Animesh , Vylkova Slavena , Kurzai Oliver , Martin Ronny
Published: February 2023

In recent years it was shown that secretion of the toxic peptide candidalysin from hyphae of the major human fungal pathogen
Candida albicans
contributes heavily to its virulence. The peptide is derived from a precursor protein which is encoded by the
ECE1
gene whose transcription is known to be closely associated with formation of hyphae.
Endogenous IL-33 Accelerates Metacestode Growth during Late-Stage Alveolar Echinococcosis
Authors: Autier Brice , Manuel Christelle , Lundstroem-Stadelmann Britta , Girard Jean-Philippe , Gottstein Bruno , Gangneux Jean-Pierre , Samson Michel , Robert-Gangneux Florence , Dion Sarah
Published: February 2023

Infection with the metacestode stage of
Echinococcus multilocularis
, known as alveolar echinococcosis, is the most severe cestodosis worldwide. However, less than 1% of exposed individuals, in which the immune system is unable to control the parasite, develop the disease.
Multi-Omics Analysis Reveals Intratumor Microbes as Immunomodulators in Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Liu Zhi , Zhang Xuemei , Zhang Haoding , Zhang Hong , Yi Zhongyuan , Zhang Qingqing , Liu Qisha , Liu Xingyin
Published: February 2023

Using the multi-omics data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) colorectal cancer (CRC) cohort, we estimated the tumor microenvironment (TME) infiltration patterns of patients and unraveled the interplay of gene expression, epigenetic modification, and the intratumor microbiome. This study suggests the impact of intratumor microbes on maintaining the tumor immune microenvironment in the pathogenesis of CRC and modulating the response to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy.