bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tissue age, orchard location and disease management influence the composition of fungal and bacterial communities present on the bark of apple trees
Authors: Arrigoni Elena , Albanese Davide , Longa Claudia Maria Oliveira , Angeli Dario , Donati Claudio , Ioriatti Claudio , Pertot Ilaria , Perazzolli Michele
Published: March 2020

Plants host microbial communities that can be affected by environmental conditions and agronomic practices. Despite the role of bark as a reservoir of plant pathogens and beneficial microorganisms, no information is available on the effects of disease management on the taxonomic composition of the bark‐associated communities of apple trees. We assessed the impact of disease management strategies on fungal and bacterial communities on the bark of a scab‐resistant apple cultivar in two orchard locations and for two consecutive seasons. The amplicon sequencing revealed that bark age and orchard location strongly affected fungal and bacterial diversity. Microbiota dissimilarity between orchards evolved during the growing season and showed specific temporal series for fungal and bacterial populations in old and young bark. Disease management did not induce global changes in the microbial populations across locations and seasons, but specifically affected the abundance of some taxa according to bark age, orchard location and sampling time. Therefore, the disease management applied to scab‐resistant cultivars, which is based on a limited use of fungicides, partially changed the taxonomic composition of bark‐associated fungal and bacterial communities, suggesting the need for a more accurate risk assessment regarding possible pathogen outbreaks.
Tree species identity and forest composition affect the number of oak processionary moth captured in pheromone traps and the intensity of larval defoliation
Authors: Damestoy Thomas , Jactel Hervé , Belouard Thierry , Schmuck Hubert , Plomion Christophe , Castagneyrol Bastien
Published: March 2020

Pure forests are often seen as being more prone to damage by specialist pest insects than mixed forests, and particularly mixed forests associating host and nonhost species. We addressed the effect of tree diversity on oak colonization and defoliation by a major specialist pest, the oak processionary moth (OPM)

We quantified the number of male OPM moths captured and larval defoliation in pure stands of two oak host species (Quercus robur and Quercus petraea) and in mixed stands associating the two oak species or each oak species with another nonhost broadleaved species. We conducted two complementary studies to test the effect of host species and stand composition: (i) we used pheromone trapping to compare the number of males OPM captured throughout the distribution of oak hosts in France and (ii) we noted the presence of OPM nests and estimated defoliation in mature forests of north‐eastern France.

Oak species and stand composition significantly influenced the number of male OPM captured and defoliation by OPM larvae. Quercus petraea was consistently more attractive to and more defoliated by OPM than Q. robur. Both oak trees were attacked more in pure stands than in mixed stands, in particular mixed stands associating oaks with another (nonhost) broadleaved species.

The results of the present study support the view that mixed forests are more resistant to specialist pest insects than pure stands, and also indicate that this trend depends on forest composition. Our study provides new insights into OPM ecology and has potential implications for forest management, including the management of urban forests where OPM causes serious human health issues.
Impact of sperm characteristics on time‐lapse embryo morphokinetic parameters and clinical outcome of conventional in vitro fertilization
Authors: Nikolova Stefka , Parvanov Dimitar , Georgieva Vilyana , Ivanova Ivka , Ganeva Rumiana , Stamenov Georgi
Published: March 2020

Background

Sperm abnormalities may negatively affect embryo development.

Objectives

To determine the influence of sperm abnormalities (morphology, motility, DNA fragmentation) on embryo morphokinetic variables and clinical outcome of conventional IVF.

Materials and methods

Participants were 86 couples undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). Sperm morphology was evaluated according to the strict criteria proposed by Kruger/Tygerberg. CASA system was applied for sperm motility assessment. Sperm DNA fragmentation was assessed by the chromatin structure assay (SCSA). Morphokinetic parameters were determined in 223 embryos obtained from conventional IVF only and cultured in a single‐step medium using time‐lapse imaging technology.

Results

Time‐lapse variables from the initial embryo development, such as time of pronuclei fading (tPNf) and time for two cells (t2), were those more strongly related with abnormalities of sperm motility, morphology, and DNA fragmentation. Sperm morphological abnormalities rather than sperm motility were more closely associated with embryo morphokinetics. Sperm head defects were mainly correlated with the last stages of embryonic development (t9 to tHB), sperm midpiece defects with intermediate cleaving embryos (t5‐t9), and sperm tail defects with the initial stages of embryonic development (tPNa‐t4). Excess residual cytoplasm was positively correlated with all embryo morphokinetic parameters except t2 and tM. Absence of acrosomes, pinheads, coiled tails, and multiple sperm morphological defects correlated negatively with time‐lapse embryo morphokinetic variables.

Discussion

A large number of sperm‐related variables, including frequency of specific morphological defects, morphological indexes, DNA fragmentation and motility, and time‐lapse embryo variables, such as time intervals based mainly of 15 time points were recorded.

Conclusion

There were strong associations between specific sperm defects of the head, midpiece, and tail with certain stages of embryonic development from observation of pronuclei to the hatched blastocyst. Coiled tail, cumulative head defects, and multiple abnormalities index (MAI) were associated both with embryo morphokinetics and the implantation success.
High prevalence of older Australians with one or more joint replacements: estimating the population at risk for late complications of arthroplasty
Authors: Manning Laurens , Davis Joshua S. , Robinson Owen , Clark Ben , Lorimer Michelle , de Steiger Richard , Graves Stephen E.
Published: March 2020

Background

To provide an estimate of the population at risk for late complications of arthroplasty, we aimed to determine the prevalence of Australians living with one or more joint replacements.

Methods

Data included all arthroplasty procedures performed in Australia from 2003 to 2016 recorded by the Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry. The age‐ and gender‐specific Australian population was obtained from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and used as denominator data. Survival data for each joint replacement, and of individuals, were used to estimate the arthroplasty prevalence. Analyses by age, gender and joint replacement site were undertaken. Prevalence estimates were augmented with procedural data captured before 2003 modelled with assumptions accounting for age and gender distributions, overall survival and arthroplasty revision rates.

Results

By the end of 2016, there were 824 769 Australians living with at least one joint replacement, representing 3.4% of the total population. The prevalence of joint replacement is increasing in all age groups, but was highest amongst older Australians, with an overall prevalence of 22.5%, and 13.3% in those aged >85 years and 65–84 years, respectively. The prevalence of people living with multiple joint replacements is increasing more rapidly than patients who have undergone only one joint replacement procedure.

Conclusion

The prevalence of older Australians living with joint replacements is rapidly increasing, providing an estimate of the population‐at‐risk for late complications of arthroplasty including peri‐prosthetic infection and fracture.
Association between arterial hypertension and depressive symptoms: Results from population‐based surveys in Peru
Authors: Villarreal‐Zegarra David , Bernabe‐Ortiz Antonio
Published: March 2020

Introduction

Approximately 350 million people have depression. The presence of arterial hypertension is a major risk factor for mental health. However, several studies on the association between arterial hypertension and depressive symptoms present controversial evidence. We aimed at identifying whether there is an association between arterial hypertension and depressive symptoms, taking into account the time since hypertension diagnosis.

Methods

A secondary analysis of the Demographic and Health Survey in Peru (2014‐2016) was conducted. The outcome was depressive symptoms, while hypertension and time since hypertension diagnosis were the exposure of interest. Poisson regression models were created, reporting prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI).

Results

Data from 87 253 participants were analyzed. A total of 2633 (3.0%; 95% CI: 2.8%‐3.2%) individuals had depressive symptoms, whereas hypertension was present in 15 681 (19.6%; 95% CI: 19.1%‐20.1%) subjects. In the multivariable model, people with less than a year since diagnosis were more than twice as likely to have depressive symptoms (PR = 2.08, 95% CI 1.65‐2.63) compared to the group of people without hypertension. This probability decreased for individuals with 1 to 4 years since diagnosis (PR = 1.42, 95% CI 1.13‐1.80), and for people with ≥5 years since diagnosis (PR = 1.29, 95% CI 1.01‐1.64).

Conclusions

There is an association between hypertension and depressive symptoms, but this varies depending on time since diagnosis. Thus, individuals with <1 year since diagnosis had the highest probability of having depressive symptoms; after that, that probability decreased as the time since diagnosis increased.
The consequences of employees’ perceived corporate social responsibility: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Wang Yanling , Xu Shan , Wang Yanxia
Published: March 2020

This paper reviews the relationship between employees’ perceived CSR and its dimensions and work outcomes, and explores the moderating effects of the samples’ demographic characteristics (i.e., gender, age), and national culture, based on a meta‐analysis of 65 studies from 67 samples. Results show that perceived CSR and its dimensions are positively related to employees’ positive attitudes and behaviours, and negatively related to their negative attitudes and behaviours. The results also partially support the moderating effects of the samples’ demographic characteristics in terms of age and gender, and national culture. This study supplements existing theoretical review articles, and further confirms the psychological effects of perceived CSR. In addition, the results further confirm the rationality of CSR practices and provide suggestions for enterprises to better use CSR strategies to motivate their employees.
Developing young children’s empathic perception through digitally mediated interpersonal experience: Principles for a hybrid design of empathy games
Authors: Wu Ling , Kim Minkang , Markauskaite Lina
Published: March 2020

There is an emerging concern that modern technology‐saturated environments, particularly computer games, are inhibiting the development of children’s empathic behaviour and social skills. We argue that the solution is embedded in the problem when hybrid learning design blends real‐life social interpersonal interactions with digital representations. We present theory‐informed design principles for creating tablet games with a focus on promoting empathic perception—a building block for the ability to see, sense and understand other’s internal states. Based on these principles, the gameEmpathy Worldwas developed and trialled in a naturalistic three‐month study in an early childhood education setting. Children learned to perceive empathy‐worthy cues in various scenes and interacted with the tablet game to further their perspective‐taking and to associate emotions with social contexts. The findings from this study show an increase in the selective tendency of children’s in‐game perception of empathy‐worthy stimuli and enhanced empathic concern. We argue that future design for learning can utilise the strengths of hybrid design for social development at a larger scale: integrating theoretically informed and rigorously tested digital tools in existing educational and social environments.

Practitioner Notes

What is already known about this topic

Research has examined various developmental benefits of empathy and shown that empathy can be learnt.

Digital games can be productive, easy to scale, tools that support learning.

Sound design, based on theory‐informed principles, can improve the effectiveness of digital learning games.

What this paper adds

It synthesises theories and research evidence of empathy and its development.

It shows how empathy‐related theoretical ideas and evidence were translated into hybrid design principles for developing empathy games and embedding them into children’s social learning environment.

It illustrates how theory‐ and evidence‐informed design principles were used to create a digital game to enhance empathic learning of young children in a hybrid technology‐mediated environment.

It explores and validates the effectiveness of a hybrid design approach by implementing the digital empathy game in children’s natural learning environment and analysing the data by capturing emerging patterns of development stemming from gameplay.

Implications for practice and/or policy

Pre‐schools could enhance children's empathy learning by integrating specially designed empathy games in existing learning environments.

Teachers and parents should be informed about how to create game‐mediated hybrid environments that enhance children’s empathy.
Pro‐inflammatory cytokines favor the emergence of ETV6‐RUNX1‐positive pre‐leukemic cells in a model of mesenchymal niche
Authors: Beneforti Linda , Dander Erica , Bresolin Silvia , Bueno Clara , Acunzo Denise , Bertagna Mayla , Ford Anthony , Gentner Bernhard , Kronnie Geertruy te , Vergani Patrizia , Menéndez Pablo , Biondi Andrea , D’Amico Giovanna , Palmi Chiara , Cazzaniga Giovanni
Published: March 2020

ETV6‐RUNX1 (E/R) fusion gene, arising in utero from translocation t(12;21)(p13:q22), is the most frequent alteration in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). However, E/R is insufficient to cause overt leukemia since it generates a clinically silent pre‐leukemic clone which persists in the bone marrow but fails to out‐compete normal progenitors. Conversely, pre‐leukemic cells show increased susceptibility to transformation following additional genetic insults. Infections/inflammation are the most accredited triggers for mutations accumulation and leukemic transformation in E/R+ pre‐leukemic cells. However, precisely how E/R and inflammation interact in promoting leukemia is still poorly understood. Here we demonstrate that IL6/TNFα/ILβ pro‐inflammatory cytokines cooperate with BM‐MSC in promoting the emergence of E/R+ Ba/F3 over their normal counterparts by differentially affecting their proliferation and survival. Moreover, IL6/TNFα/ILβ‐stimulated BM‐MSC strongly attract E/R+ Ba/F3 in a CXCR2‐dependent manner. Interestingly, E/R‐expressing human CD34+IL7R+ progenitors, a putative population for leukemia initiation during development, were preserved in the presence of BM‐MSC and IL6/TNFα/ILβ compared to their normal counterparts. Finally, the extent of DNA damage increases within the inflamed niche in both control and E/R‐expressing Ba/F3, potentially leading to transformation in the apoptosis‐resistant pre‐leukemic clone. Overall, our data provide new mechanistic insights into childhood ALL pathogenesis.
L’adoption et le suivi de la performance d’une mesure interministérielle : Le cas du Supplément à la prime au travail
Authors: Daigneault Pierre‐Marc , Macé Christian
Published: March 2020

Sommaire

La gestion horizontale pose des enjeux significatifs, en particulier en ce qui a trait au suivi et à l’évaluation de la performance des programmes publics. Cette étude de cas porte sur le Supplément à la prime au travail (SPT), une mesure sociofiscale de type interministériel, qui n’a fait l’objet d’aucune évaluation de sa performance depuis son introduction en 2008. À partir d’entretiens qualitatifs avec des acteurs publics, nous tentons d’expliquer pourquoi le SPT a pris la forme d’une mesure sociofiscale gérée par trois organisations publiques (ministère des Finances du Québec, Revenu Québec et le ministère du Travail, de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale). Nous analysons ensuite les implications de cette horizontalité pour le suivi et l’évaluation de la performance de la mesure. Nous concluons à un décalage entre les responsabilités officielles et officieuses pour l’évaluation du SPT, et entre les intérêts des organisations impliquées dans l'évaluation.
Is there a relationship between general and oral health‐related quality of life in partially edentulous patients before and after implant treatment? A quasi‐experimental study
Authors: Farzadmoghadam Maryam , Mohammadi Tayebe Malek , Goudarzi Reza , Mohammadi Mohammad , Hasheminejad Naimeh
Published: March 2020

Objective

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between Oral Health Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) and general health‐related quality of life (GHRQoL) in partially edentulous patients before and after implant placement.

Material and methods

After obtaining informed consent, using convenient sampling method, 102 participants (64 female and 38 male participants with an age range of 18–81 years) were included in the study. Participants were required to fill EuroQol‐5D (EQ‐5D) and the Oral Health Impact Profile‐14 (OHIP‐14) questionnaire before implant surgery and three months after prosthetic placement. Data were not normally distributed, so non‐parametric tests were used for data analysis.

Results

Data analysis was carried out on 93 participants. After implant treatment, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and EQ‐5D score significantly increased by 0.05 and 0.06 units, respectively (p < .001 and p = .004, respectively). Also, the total OHIP‐14 score significantly decreased from 15.89 to 6.18 after implant treatment (p < .001).

Conclusion

Results indicated an increase in general and oral health‐related quality of life after implant treatment. According to this study, there was a positive weak relationship between GHRQoL and OHRQoL before and after implant treatment.
Maximizing biodiversity conservation through behavior change strategies
Authors: Maynard Lily , Monroe Martha C. , Jacobson Susan K. , Savage Anne
Published: March 2020

Most modern threats to biodiversity are due to human actions. Conservation psychology models provide tools to strategically change human behaviors to reduce these threats; however, behavior change theories have yet to be fully incorporated into conservation strategic planning techniques. The public that may be interested in a conservation issue are often untapped resources to expand a conservation organization's limited reach. Increased public participation could fill a gap between an organization's objectives and the scope of what is feasible for limited staff or budget. This study presents an expanded framework for biodiversity conservation strategic planning using conservation behaviors. Some conservation organizations, such as zoos and aquariums, have access to extensive audiences that could be mobilized to take‐action to directly reduce threats to biodiversity or indirectly support others' efforts. To test our expanded planning framework, we evaluated the current status of conservation behavior change techniques used by zoos, which are increasingly identifying as conservation organizations. We used the framework to measure whether zoos are providing conservation behavior opportunities to their audiences of millions. The framework consisting of 12 behaviors nested within five categories includes behaviors in the public and private spheres. We tested the framework using content analyses of 211 zoo's websites across North America, sampled from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The methods elicited 2,187 conservation projects for the sample, only 32% of which provided any form of conservation behavior change opportunities to the zoo audiences. We present the range and frequency of conservation behavior strategies in zoos, revealing their current strengths as conservation organizations and opportunities for improved audience activation. The results demonstrate the value of integrating the conservation behavior change framework into biodiversity conservation strategic planning for conservation organizations. The framework can be used to facilitate expanded conservation activities, a valuable opportunity to reduce threats to biodiversity.
A metabolomics‐based molecular pathway analysis of how the sodium‐glucose co‐transporter‐2 inhibitor dapagliflozin may slow kidney function decline in patients with diabetes
Authors: Mulder Skander , Hammarstedt Ann , Nagaraj Sunil B. , Nair Viji , Ju Wenjun , Hedberg Jonatan , Greasley Peter J. , Eriksson Jan W. , Oscarsson Jan , Heerspink Hiddo J. L.
Published: March 2020

Aim

To investigate which metabolic pathways are targeted by the sodium‐glucose co‐transporter‐2 inhibitor dapagliflozin to explore the molecular processes involved in its renal protective effects.

Methods

An unbiased mass spectrometry plasma metabolomics assay was performed on baseline and follow‐up (week 12) samples from the EFFECT II trial in patients with type 2 diabetes with non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease receiving dapagliflozin 10 mg/day (n = 19) or placebo (n = 6). Transcriptomic signatures from tubular compartments were identified from kidney biopsies collected from patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD) (n = 17) and healthy controls (n = 30) from the European Renal cDNA Biobank. Serum metabolites that significantly changed after 12 weeks of dapagliflozin were mapped to a metabolite‐protein interaction network. These proteins were then linked with intra‐renal transcripts that were associated with DKD or estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). The impacted metabolites and their protein‐coding transcripts were analysed for enriched pathways.

Results

Of all measured (n = 812) metabolites, 108 changed (P < 0.05) during dapagliflozin treatment and 74 could be linked to 367 unique proteins/genes. Intra‐renal mRNA expression analysis of the genes encoding the metabolite‐associated proteins using kidney biopsies resulted in 105 genes that were significantly associated with eGFR in patients with DKD, and 135 genes that were differentially expressed between patients with DKD and controls. The combination of metabolites and transcripts identified four enriched pathways that were affected by dapagliflozin and associated with eGFR: glycine degradation (mitochondrial function), TCA cycle II (energy metabolism), L‐carnitine biosynthesis (energy metabolism) and superpathway of citrulline metabolism (nitric oxide synthase and endothelial function).

Conclusion

The observed molecular pathways targeted by dapagliflozin and associated with DKD suggest that modifying molecular processes related to energy metabolism, mitochondrial function and endothelial function may contribute to its renal protective effect.
Outcomes of therapy‐related acute lymphoblastic leukemia in adults after allogeneic stem cell transplantation
Authors: Vasudevan Nampoothiri Ram , Law Arjun Datt , Lam Wilson , Chen Carol , Al‐Shaibani Zeyad , Loach David , Michelis Fotios V. , Kim Dennis (Dong Hwan) , Mattsson Jonas , Kumar Rajat , Lipton Jeffrey Howard , Viswabandya Auro
Published: March 2020

Introduction

Therapy‐related acute lymphoblastic leukemia (t‐ALL) is an increasingly recognized subset of therapy‐related acute leukemia. There are limited data on the role of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in t‐ALL. Recent reports suggest comparable outcomes of t‐ALL with de novo ALL after HSCT.

Patients and Methods

We retrospectively reviewed all patients of t‐ALL who underwent HSCT at our center. Patients were analyzed for prior malignancy, therapy, time to diagnosis of t‐ALL, clinical, laboratory characteristics, transplant details, relapse‐free survival (RFS), and overall survival (OS).

Results

Eighteen patients (M:F ratio 1:1; Median age 44 years) underwent HSCT for t‐ALL. Median latent period from primary malignancy to t‐ALL was 44.8 months. 11q23 rearrangement and t(9;22) were present in 33.3% and 22.2% patients, respectively. Stem cell donors were matched related, matched unrelated, and haploidentical in 27.8% (n = 5), 55.6% (n = 10), and 16.7% (n = 3) patients, respectively. Five patients died before D+ 100 (27.8%). Estimated 2‐year RFS and OS were 47.1% and 51.8%, respectively. We did not find any pretransplant and post‐transplant risk factors that were predictive of improved OS or RFS after multivariate analysis.

Conclusions

Allogeneic HSCT outcomes in t‐ALL were comparable to HSCT outcomes in de novo ALL. Multicenter studies with more patients and longer follow‐up may provide factors affecting outcome and survival.
A role for nitric oxide in serotonin neurons of the midbrain raphe nuclei
Authors: Gartside Sarah E. , Yurttaser Abdurrahman Ercan , Burns Amy L. , Jovanović Nebojša , Smith Katie J. , Amegashiti Nana Shika , Olthof Bas M. J.
Published: March 2020

Neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) catalyses the production of the neurotransmitter nitric oxide. nNOS is expressed in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN), a source of ascending serotonergic projections. In this study, we examined the distribution nNOS and the function of nitric oxide in the DRN and adjacent median raphe nucleus (MRN) of the rat. We hypothesized that nNOS is differentially expressed across the raphe nuclei and that nitric oxide influences the firing activity of a subgroup of 5‐HT neurons. Immunohistochemistry revealed that, nNOS is present in around 40% of 5‐HT neurons, throughout the DRN and MRN, as well as in some non‐5‐HT neurons immediately adjacent to the DRN and MRN. The nitric oxide receptor, soluble guanylyl cyclase, was present in all 5‐HT neurons examined in the DRN and MRN. In vitro extracellular electrophysiology revealed that application of the nitric oxide donor, diethylamine NONOate (30–300 µM) inhibited 60%–70% of putative 5‐HT neurons, excited approximately 10% of putative 5‐HT neurons and had no effect on the rest. The inhibitory response to nitric oxide was blocked by [1H‐[1,2,4]oxadiazolo‐[4, 3‐a]quinoxalin‐1‐one (ODQ, 30 or 100 µM), indicating mediation by soluble guanylyl cyclase. Juxtacellular labelling revealed that nitric oxide inhibits firing in both putative 5‐HT neurons which express nNOS and those which do not express nNOS. Our data are consistent with the notion that nitric oxide acts as both a trans‐synaptic and autocrine signaller in 5‐HT neurons in the DRN and MRN and that its effects are widespread and primarily inhibitory.
Distribution of the spotted‐wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii) in the north‐eastern part of the Carpathian lowlands
Authors: Nagy A. , Szalárdi T. , Gombos D. , Szanyi Sz.
Published: March 2020

Drosophila suzukii(spotted‐wing drosophila) spread rapidly during the first decade of the 2000s and then became widely distributed in Europe except for eastern countries. In Hungary, it was detected in 2012 for the first time, but its distribution in the eastern part of the country had been not studied. During the present investigation nine sampling sites in the north‐eastern part of the Carpathian lowlands belonging to Hungary, Ukraine and Romania were studied with baited traps.D. suzukiiwas detected in all seven Hungarian sites and in the one Western Ukrainian site where sampling occurred. Amongst the Hungarian sites, six had not previously been studied and the data provided here are the first for Western Ukraine and the second for this country following the published record from Yalta (Crimea, south‐east Ukraine).
Notes on psyllids (Hemiptera: Psylloidea) intercepted on imported cut flowers and branches in South Korea 2014–2018
Authors: Suh S.‐J. , Park Y.‐M.
Published: March 2020

A total of 10 species of psyllids from 8 different countries were intercepted by plant health inspectors in South Korea on consignments of fresh cut flowers (and branches for use in flower arrangements) at the ports of entry in South Korea from 2014 to 2018. Of the 10 species that were intercepted, some species are potential pests that could enter and establish in Korea through the import of these flowers and branches. Current information on intercepted psyllids is required to alert plant health inspectors to look carefully at cut flowers to prevent the introduction of non‐indigenous species.
Cascade convolutional neural network‐long short‐term memory recurrent neural networks for automatic tonal and nontonal preclassification‐based Indian language identification
Authors: China Bhanja Chuya , Laskar Mohammad A. , Laskar Rabul H.
Published: March 2020

This work presents an automatic tonal/nontonal preclassification‐based Indian language identification (LID) system. Languages are firstly classified into tonal and nontonal categories, and then, individual languages are identified from the languages of the respective categories. This work proposes the use of pitch Chroma and formant features for this task, and also investigates how Mel‐frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCCs) complement these features. It further explores block processing (BP), pitch synchronous analysis (PSA)‐ and glottal closure regions (GCRs)‐based approaches for feature extraction, using syllables as basic units. Cascade convolutional neural network (CNN)‐long short‐term memory (LSTM) model using syllable‐level features has been developed. National Institute of Technology Silchar language database (NITS‐LD) and OGI‐Multilingual Telephone Speech Corpus (OGI‐MLTS) have been used for experimental validation. The proposed system based on the score combination of Cascade CNN‐LSTM models of Chroma (extracted from BP method), first two formants and MFCCs (both extracted from GCR method) reports the highest accuracies. In the preclassification stage, the observed accuracies are 91%, 87.3%, and 85.1% for NITS‐LD, for 30 s, 10 s, and 3 s test data respectively. For OGI‐MLTS database, the respective accuracies are 86.7%, 83.1%, and 80.6%. That amounts to absolute improvements of 11.6%, 12.3%, and 13.9% for NITS‐LD, and 12.5%, 11.9%, and 12.6% for OGI‐MLTS database with respect to that of the baseline system. The proposed preclassification‐based LID system shows improvements of 7.3%, 6.4%, and 7.4% for NITS‐LD and 6.1%, 6.7%, and 7.2% for OGI‐MLTS database over the baseline system for the three respective test data conditions.
Breaking a single hydrogen bond in the mitochondrial tRNAPhe‐PheRS complex leads to phenotypic pleiotropy of human disease
Authors: Peretz Moshe , Tworowski Dmitry , Kartvelishvili Ekaterine , Livingston John , Chrzanowska‐Lightowlers Zofia , Safro Mark
Published: March 2020

Various pathogenic variants in both mitochondrial tRNAPhe and Phenylalanyl‐tRNA synthetase mitochondrial protein coding gene (FARS2) gene encoding for the human mitochondrial PheRS have been identified and associated with neurological and/or muscle‐related pathologies. An important Guanine‐34 (G34)A anticodon mutation associated with myoclonic epilepsy with ragged red fibers (MERRF) syndrome has been reported in hmit‐tRNAPhe. The majority of G34 contacts in available aaRSs‐tRNAs complexes specifically use that base as an important tRNA identity element. The network of intermolecular interactions providing its specific recognition also largely conserved. However, their conservation depends also on the invariance of the residues in the anticodon binding domain (ABD) of human mitochondrial Phenylalanyl‐tRNA synthetase (hmit‐PheRS). A defect in recognition of the anticodon of tRNAPhe may happen not only because of G34A mutation, but also due to mutations in the ABD. Indeed, a pathogenic mutation in FARS2 has been recently reported in a 9‐year‐old female patient harboring a p.Asp364Gly mutation. Asp364 is hydrogen bonded (HB) to G34 in WT hmit‐PheRS. Thus, there are two pathogenic variants disrupting HB between G34 and Asp364: one is associated with G34A mutation, and the other with Asp364Gly mutation. We have measured the rates of tRNAPhe aminoacylation catalyzed by WT hmit‐PheRS and mutant enzymes. These data ranked the residues making a HB with G34 according to their contribution to activity and the signal transduction pathway in the hmit‐PheRS‐tRNAPhe complex. Furthermore, we carried out extensive MD simulations to reveal the interdomain contact topology on the dynamic trajectories of the complex, and gaining insight into the structural and dynamic integrity effects of hmit‐PheRS complexed with tRNAPhe.

Database

Structural data are available in PDB database under the accession number(s): 3CMQ, 3TUP, 5MGH, 5MGV.
USP7‐dependent control of myogenin stability is required for terminal differentiation in skeletal muscle progenitors
Authors: de la Vega Eduardo , González Natalia , Cabezas Felipe , Montecino Fabián , Blanco Natasha , Olguín Hugo
Published: March 2020

Satellite cells (SCs) are myogenic progenitors responsible for skeletal muscle regeneration and maintenance. Upon activation, SCs enter a phase of robust proliferation followed by terminal differentiation. Underlying this myogenic progression, the sequential expression of muscle regulatory transcription factors (MRFs) and the downregulation of transcription factor paired box gene 7 (Pax7) are key steps regulating SC fate. In addition to transcriptional regulation, post‐translational control of Pax7 and the MRFs provides another layer of spatiotemporal control to the myogenic process. In this context, previous work showed that Pax7 is ubiquitinated by the E3 ligase neural precursor cell‐expressed developmentally downregulated protein 4 and interacts with several proteins related to the ubiquitin–proteasome system, including the deubiquitinase ubiquitin‐specific protease 7 (USP7). Although USP7 functions in diverse cellular contexts, its role(s) during myogenesis remains poorly explored. Here, we show that USP7 is transiently expressed in adult muscle progenitors, correlating with the onset of myogenin expression, while it is downregulated in newly formed myotubes/myofibers. Acute inhibition of USP7 activity upon muscle injury results in persistent expression of early regeneration markers and a significant reduction in the diameter of regenerating myofibers. At the molecular level, USP7 downregulation or pharmacological inhibition impairs muscle differentiation by affecting myogenin stability. Co‐immunoprecipitation and in vitro activity assays indicate that myogenin is a novel USP7 target for deubiquitination. These results suggest that USP7 regulates SC myogenic progression by enhancing myogenin stability.
Impacts of artificial barriers on the connectivity and dispersal of vascular macrophytes in rivers: A critical review
Authors: Jones Peter E. , Consuegra Sofia , Börger Luca , Jones Joshua , Garcia de Leaniz Carlos
Published: March 2020

Macrophytes play important functional roles in river ecosystems, providing habitat and food, as well as influencing flow, water chemistry, and sediment dynamics. They also represent an important component of river biodiversity.

Artificial river barriers have the potential to disrupt macrophyte dispersal, and compromise their distribution and persistence, but little information is available compared to barrier impacts on fish and macroinvertebrates. Here, we review the mechanisms supporting dispersal of river macrophytes in rivers and evaluate the nature of barrier impacts on macrophytes.

Hydrochory (dispersal of propagules by water) is the principal mechanism of downstream dispersal, while zoochory (dispersal of propagules by animals) is likely to be the most important vector of upstream dispersal and inter‐catchment transport.

Most studies have focused on the impact of large structures such as dams, and the findings indicate the impact is highly context dependent. Slow‐flowing habitats upstream of dams can act as traps to drifting propagules and thereby interrupt hydrochory. However, the consequences of interrupted hydrochory for downstream populations are unclear. River regulation can result in lower macrophyte diversity, although the lentic habitats associated with reservoirs can also favour an increase in the abundance and richness of macrophyte communities.

Instream barriers are unlikely to affect zoochory by birds directly, but barriers are well known to restrict fish movements, so there is considerable potential for barriers to disrupt zoochory by fish, although no empirical study has specifically examined this possibility.

There is a paucity of studies examining the impacts of low‐head barriers on macrophyte dispersal. Given the influence of macrophytes on river processes, we call for further research into barrier impacts on macrophyte population dynamics in order to gain a better understanding of the consequences of river fragmentation for fluvial communities and ecosystem functioning.
Forecasting intensifying disturbance effects on coral reefs
Authors: Vercelloni Julie , Liquet Benoit , Kennedy Emma V. , González‐Rivero Manuel , Caley M. Julian , Peterson Erin E. , Puotinen Marji , Hoegh‐Guldberg Ove , Mengersen Kerrie
Published: March 2020

Anticipating future changes of an ecosystem's dynamics requires knowledge of how its key communities respond to current environmental regimes. The Great Barrier Reef (GBR) is under threat, with rapid changes of its reef‐building hard coral (HC) community structure already evident across broad spatial scales. While several underlying relationships between HC and multiple disturbances have been documented, responses of other benthic communities to disturbances are not well understood. Here we used statistical modelling to explore the effects of broad‐scale climate‐related disturbances on benthic communities to predict their structure under scenarios of increasing disturbance frequency. We parameterized a multivariate model using the composition of benthic communities estimated by 145,000 observations from the northern GBR between 2012 and 2017. During this time, surveyed reefs were variously impacted by two tropical cyclones and two heat stress events that resulted in extensive HC mortality. This unprecedented sequence of disturbances was used to estimate the effects of discrete versus interacting disturbances on the compositional structure of HC, soft corals (SC) and algae. Discrete disturbances increased the prevalence of algae relative to HC while the interaction between cyclones and heat stress was the main driver of the increase in SC relative to algae and HC. Predictions from disturbance scenarios included relative increases in algae versus SC that varied by the frequency and types of disturbance interactions. However, high uncertainty of compositional changes in the presence of several disturbances shows that responses of algae and SC to the decline in HC needs further research. Better understanding of the effects of multiple disturbances on benthic communities as a whole is essential for predicting the future status of coral reefs and managing them in the light of new environmental regimes. The approach we develop here opens new opportunities for reaching this goal.
Recovered Camellia oleifera lecithin by acid and enzymatic oil‐degumming: chemical composition and emulsifying properties
Authors: Hu Wenna , Liu Pengzhan , Liu Guoqin , Lu Xiaozhu
Published: March 2020

In this study, the chemical composition and emulsifying properties of camellia lecithin recovered from crude camellia oil by both acid and enzymatic degumming were investigated. Camellia lecithin recovered from acid degumming (CLAD) mainly comprised phospholipids (PS, PI, PE and PA), whereas camellia lecithin recovered from enzymatic degumming (CLED) contained more lysophospholipids (LPI, LPE, LPA). The saturated fatty acids made up a large portion of total fatty acids in CLED compared to CLAD. CLED‐stabilised emulsions tended to be more stable than CLAD‐stabilised emulsions. Meanwhile, emulsions stabilised by CLED exhibited smaller particle size in agreement with their microstructures. Moreover, both CLED and CLAD‐stabilised emulsions were sensitive to pH and ionic strength changes and provided smaller particle size and higher stability at pH = 7 and 1 mm NaCl concentration. These findings provide valuable information for potential applications of camellia lecithin with characteristic phospholipid composition as alternative o/w emulsifiers in food industry.
Optimal pricing decisions for an omni‐channel supply chain with retail service
Authors: Jiang Yuqing , Liu Liping , Lim Andrew
Published: March 2020

Motivated by the emergence of dominant physical stores utilizing a buy‐online‐and‐pickup‐in‐store (BOPS) channel, we examine the interaction of such a stronger retailer and a manufacturer's strategies on the pricing and service value. The dominant retailer provides an added service value to end consumers by the traditional channel and BOPS option, which has a positive influence on the market demand. The manufacturer makes the channel selection decision between a dual channel and an omni‐channel. We formulate a retailer Stackelberg game and characterize the equilibrium pricing and service solutions under centralized and decentralized cases. Our results indicate that the service value of a physical store strongly influences the players' pricing strategies. The sensitivity analysis reveals that the total revenue of the supply chain increases with the market scale expansion coefficient of the BOPS option. Furthermore, the result suggests that offering the BOPS channel is always an effective initiative to boost supply chain performance, especially in the centralized structure.
Efficacy of topical silicone gel in scar management: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomised controlled trials
Authors: Wang Fan , Li Xiaoxue , Wang Xiuyun , Jiang Xian
Published: March 2020

To assess the efficacy of topical silicone gel in the management of scars, we conducted this meta‐analysis. The systematic search was performed on PubMed, Web of Science and Embase, and six randomised controlled trials with a total of 375 patients were involved. The outcome data of Vancouver Scar Scale were extracted from the studies and their effect sizes were calculated using Review Manager 5.3. As a result, topical silicone gel significantly reduced pigmentation, height, and pliability scores postoperatively compared with placebos or no treatment (Pigmentation: standard mean difference [SMD] = −0.55 [−0.83 to –0.26], P = .0002; Height: SMD = −0.73 [−1.02 to –0.44], P < .00001; Pliability: SMD = −0.49 [−0.95 to –0.03], P = .04). Topical silicone gel and silicone gel sheet were comparably effective (P > .05). The performance of topical silicone gel and other non‐silicone topical treatment was also similar (P > .05). In summary, topical silicone gel was effective in post‐operative scar prevention.
Stakeholder‐driven approach to developing a peer‐mentoring intervention for young adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities and co‐occurring mental health conditions
Authors: Schwartz Ariel E. ,   Young Adult Mental Health/Peer Mentoring Research Team, Kramer Jessica M. , Rogers E. Sally , McDonald Katherine E. , Cohn Ellen S.
Published: March 2020

Background

Young adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities and co‐occurring mental health conditions (IDD‐MH) experience significant mental health disparities. Barriers to services include transportation and stigma associated with services. Peer mentoring (PM) may be one solution to these barriers.

Methods

We conducted exploratory research to develop a PM intervention for young adults with IDD‐MH by partnering with 3 young adults with IDD‐MH and a seven‐member advisory board. In addition, we conducted focus groups with mental health clinicians (n = 10), peer providers (n = 9), and transition specialists (n = 20) to identify the desired PM outcomes and features and content that may facilitate these outcomes.

Results

Prioritized outcome: identifying and utilizing leisure activities as coping strategies. PM features: mentors should use relationship‐ and outcome‐driven actions to operationalize a mentee‐centred approach. Features and content considerations: safety, mentor matching, degree of structure, mentor training and support, and collaboration with mentees’ support teams.

Discussion

Findings are aligned with previous research on PM.
Homogeneous and heterogeneous multiple representations in equation‐solving problems: An eye‐tracking study
Authors: Malone Sarah , Altmeyer Kristin , Vogel Markus , Brünken Roland
Published: March 2020

Multiple external representations (MERs) play an important role in the learning field of mathematics. Whereas the cognitive theory of multimedia learning and the integrative text and picture comprehension model assume that the heterogeneous combination of symbolic and analogous representations fosters learning; the design, functions, and tasks framework holds that learning benefits depend on the specific functions of MERs. The current paper describes a conceptual replication study of one of the few studies comparing single representations, heterogeneous, and homogeneous MERs in the context of mathematics learning. In a balanced incomplete block design, the participants were provided single representations (a graphic, text, or formula) or a heterogeneous (e.g., text + graphic) or homogeneous (text + formula) combination of these to solve linear system of equations problems. In accordance with previous research, performance was superior in conditions providing MERs compared to single‐representation conditions. Moreover, heterogeneous MERs led to time savings over homogeneous MERs which triggered an increase in cognitive load. Contrary to previous research, text was the least fixated representation whereas the graphical representation proved to be most beneficial. With regard to practical implications, experts should be fostered through more challenging homogeneous MERs whereas novices should be supported through the accessible graphic contained in heterogeneous MERs.
How students emerge as learning leaders in small group online discussions
Authors: Kim Min Kyu , Lee In Heok , Wang Yinying
Published: March 2020

In this study, we examined the role of leadership styles and multi‐dimensional learner engagement in how students emerge as learning leaders in asynchronous online discussions. Grounded in the conceptual framework of two dominant leadership styles of transformational and transactional leadership, this study applies the two leadership styles—transformational leadership and transactional leadership—to the Leader Identification Method (LIM) which defines three types of leader roles (i.e., full, transactional and attractive facilitator) in online learning. We collected data from 20 students enrolled in a graduate‐level online course that required participation in 12‐week discussion activities. Results of the longitudinal data analyses show that person‐focused, transformational leadership and active participation in online discussions were significant factors that enabled students to emerge as learning leaders. Students are more likely to become leaders by exhibiting transformational leadership behaviour and productively interacting with one another in an online discussion community.