bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Disturbance frequency, intensity and forest structure modulate cyclone‐induced changes in mangrove forest canopy cover
Authors: Peereman Jonathan , Hogan J. Aaron , Lin Teng‐Chiu
Published: September 2021

Aim

Tropical cyclones are large‐scale disturbances that can shape the structure and dynamics of mangrove forests. Although tropical cyclone activity overlaps extensively with the latitudinal distribution of mangrove forests, the relationships between cyclone intensity and frequency and mangrove forest canopy damage and recovery are not understood at the global scale. Using remote sensing data, we examined how mangrove forest structure, climate and cyclone characteristics influence canopy cover loss and recovery dynamics.

Location

Global tropics.

Time period

2000–2020.

Major taxa studied

Mangrove trees.

Methods

Using two satellite‐derived vegetation indices (the enhanced vegetation index and the normalized difference infrared index) from 86 cyclones affecting 56 mangrove sites across the globe, we quantified mangrove canopy loss in relationship to cyclones. Using linear regression and variance decomposition, we identified and ranked significant predictors of cyclone‐induced canopy loss and recovery.

Results

Three‐quarters of the studied cyclone disturbances resulted in canopy damage. Stands exposed to high wind speeds and those close to the cyclone paths were more severely damaged, whereas lower damage magnitudes were found in sites with greater past cyclone frequency. Canopy damage was greater in tall mangrove stands but decreased with higher aboveground biomass. The distance from the cyclone path and maximum wind speed were the most important factors, representing > 50% of the explained variation in cyclone damage. There was considerable variation in canopy damage among cyclones, but rates of recovery were similar across all mangrove sites, with the main predictor of recovery time being the degree of canopy loss.

Main conclusions

Our results suggest that the resistance of mangrove canopy cover to cyclone disturbance is variably tuned to the cyclone regime and vegetation characteristics, but resilience is inherent to the magnitude of canopy damage because the rate of forest canopy recovery appears to be consistent globally.
Rural centralized residence and labor migration: Evidence from China
Authors: Liu Zhong , Zhou Zuanjiu
Published: September 2021

The rural centralized residence (RCR), a policy that guides rural households to reside in centralized residential communities or central villages, has been widely implemented in China and other developing countries to promote rural development. RCR can effectively improve local public facilities and stimulate more local business opportunities, thus affecting the migration decisions of rural household members. Using a large household‐level survey data set from Sichuan province, China, we estimated the causal effects of RCR on rural labor migration via the instrumental variable approach while controlling for the within‐town contiguous‐villages group fixed effects. We found that on average the proportion of household members that are migrant workers decreases by 17.2 percentage points if households choose to embrace RCR. Additional analyses on the mechanisms indicate that RCR increases local employment opportunities, decreases search and transportation expenses for local jobs, and leads to increased satisfaction with local supporting facilities.
Rural e‐commerce in China: Spatial dynamics of Taobao Villages development in Zhejiang Province
Authors: Lin Juan , Li Han , Lin Mingshui , Li Chuhai
Published: September 2021

The fast‐growing e‐commerce has dramatically changed the economic structure of China's rural area. As a unique example, Taobao Villages present a brand‐new model to adopt globalization's penetration to achieve rural–urban integration and rural revitalization for developing countries. This study analyzes the spatial trajectory and dynamics of the Taobao Villages development in Zhejiang Province during 2014–2020. We found that these villages were expanding toward the downtown areas of cities, which led to a new pattern of urban–rural division. By constructing panel regression models, we further found that orthodox location factors such as land cost, transportation, and agglomeration played a dominant role in villages' spatial expansion and growth. Regional factors like industrial foundation and labor were also important. These findings suggest that the Taobao Villages in Zhejiang have been upgraded from isolated workshops in rural areas to small manufacturers' clusters and further incorporated into the global urban economy. To better guide and coordinate the development of Taobao Villages, local governments might need to construct e‐commerce parks to achieve an agglomeration economy and industrial upgrading.
Rapid conservation evidence for the impact of sheep grazing on a threatened digger wasp
Authors: Batsleer Femke , Van Uytvanck Jan , Lamaire Johan , Maes Dirk , Bonte Dries
Published: September 2021

Insect populations show strong temporal fluctuations in abundance. This renders classical monitoring studies extremely difficult to provide insights into specific management actions. For rare species of conservation concern, it is not an option to develop large scale experiments to assess and steer landscape‐level actions such as grazing management.

Bembix rostrata (Linnaeus, 1758) is a threatened digger wasp from coastal dunes and inland sandy regions occurring in a limited number of populations in NW Europe. Since coastal dunes are rapidly being encroached by bushes, grazing management (cattle, sheep, and horses) has been implemented to keep this biotope open.

In order to provide insights for local evidence based conservation, a BACI (before/after and control/impact) experiment was set up to assess the impact of sheep grazing on B. rostrata. We quantified the number of nests during 3 years at two grazed sites and a control‐site excluded from grazing. We additionally assessed grazing pressure.

The BACI design allowed us to directly adjust the current grazing management. The implemented sheep grazing reduced densities of B. rostrata, but did not lead to its local extinction. We discuss these findings in relation to the biology of the species.

Our efficient and effective experimental design allowed a fast assessment of the current grazing management and showed that spatially heterogeneous sheep grazing could be used as a management tool to ensure the conservation of the emblematic digger wasp B. rostrata.
The role of cystatin C in multiple myeloma
Authors: Zhang Jie , Jiang Yijing , Guo Dan , Liu Hai yan , Hong Lemin , Qi Jing , Huang Hongming
Published: September 2021

Introduction

Renal insufficiency is one of the common complications in multiple myeloma (MM) and an independent factor indicating a poor prognosis. Cystatin C (Cys C) is considered to be expected to replace creatinine to calculate glomerular filtration rate due to its own characteristics. Gene expression analysis suggested that cystatin C is up‐regulated nearly 50‐fold in patients with multiple myeloma.

Methods

To further clarify the role of cystatin C in multiple myeloma, we retrospectively evaluated pretreatment cystatin C levels in 195 newly diagnosed patients through statistical analysis.

Results

The elevation of serum cystatin C was positively related to the elevation of serum creatinine (P < .001), LDH (P = .006), β2‐microglobulin (P < .001), bone marrow plasma cell proportion (P = .005) and the reduction of hemoglobin levels (P < .001). Patients with serum cystatin C levels >1.6 mg/L had a significantly shorter progression‐free survival (PFS) or overall survival (OS) than patients with serum cystatin C levels <1.6 mg/L (median PFS: median unreached vs 16.7 months, P < .001; median OS: 68 months vs 42 months, P = .014). Although serum cystatin C is not an independent prognostic factor of OS and PFS in patients with multiple myeloma, serum cystatin C can be considered as a sensitive indicator to differentiate well OS and PFS in the group of ISS II patients.

Conclusion

Serum cystatin C is associated with tumor burden of multiple myeloma and cystatin C can further differentiate the prognosis of ISS II patients. More prospective studies are required to explore the role of serum cystatin C in multiple myeloma.
Cis‐regulatory elements of the cholinergic gene locus in the silkworm Bombyx mori
Authors: Banzai K. , Izumi S.
Published: September 2021

Genes of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and vesicular acetylcholine transporter are encoded in the same gene locus, called the cholinergic gene locus. They are essential in cholinergic neurons to maintain their functional phenotype. The genomic structure of the cholinergic gene locus is conserved among invertebrates to mammals. However, the cholinergic gene expression in a specific subset of neurons is unknown in insects except for Drosophila melanogaster. In this study, we analysed the upstream sequence of cholinergic gene locus in the silkworm Bombyx mori to identify specific cis‐regulatory regions. We found multiple enhancer regions that are localized within 1 kb upstream of the cholinergic gene locus. The combination of promoter assays using small deletions and bioinformatic analysis among insect species illuminates two conserved sequences in the cis‐regulatory region: TGACGTA and CCAAT, which are known as the cAMP response element and CAAT box, respectively. We found that dibutyryl‐cAMP, an analogue of cAMP, influences the expression of ChAT in B. mori. Tissue‐specific expression analysis of transcriptional factors identified potential candidates that control the cholinergic gene locus expression. Our investigation provides new insight into the regulation mechanism of cholinergic neuron‐specific gene machinery in this lepidopteran insect.
Cell‐intrinsic and ‐extrinsic roles of miRNAs in regulating T cell immunity
Authors: Cho Sunglim , Dong Jiayi , Lu Li‐Fan
Published: September 2021

T cells are crucial to generate an effective response against numerous invading microbial pathogens and play a pivotal role in tumor surveillance and elimination. However, unwanted T cell activation can also lead to deleterious immune‐mediated inflammation and tissue damage. To ensure that an optimal T cell response can be established, each step, beginning from T cell development in the thymus to their activation and function in the periphery, is tightly regulated by many transcription factors and epigenetic regulators including microRNAs (miRNAs). Here, we first summarize recent progress in identifying major immune regulatory miRNAs in controlling the differentiation and function of distinct T cell subsets. Moreover, as emerging evidence has demonstrated that miRNAs can impact T cell immunity through targeting both immune‐ and non‐immune cell populations that T cells closely interact with, the T cell‐extrinsic role of miRNAs in regulating different aspects of T cell biology is also addressed. Finally, we discuss the complex nature of miRNA‐mediated control of T cell immunity and highlight important questions that remain to be further investigated.
The influence of POLST on treatment intensity at the end of life: A systematic review
Authors: Vranas Kelly C. , Plinke Wesley , Bourne Donald , Kansagara Devan , Lee Robert Y. , Kross Erin K. , Slatore Christopher G. , Sullivan Donald R.
Published: September 2021

Background

Despite its widespread implementation, it is unclear whether Physician Orders for Life‐Sustaining Treatment (POLST) are safe and improve the delivery of care that patients desire. We sought to systematically review the influence of POLST on treatment intensity among patients with serious illness and/or frailty.

Methods

We performed a systematic review of POLST and similar programs using MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database for Systematic Reviews, and PsycINFO, from inception through February 28, 2020. We included adults with serious illness and/or frailty with life expectancy <1 year. Primary outcomes included place of death and receipt of high‐intensity treatment (i.e., hospitalization in the last 30‐ and 90‐days of life, ICU admission in the last 30‐days of life, and number of care setting transitions in last week of life).

Results

Among 104,554 patients across 20 observational studies, 27,090 had POLST. No randomized controlled trials were identified. The mean age of POLST users was 78.7 years, 55.3% were female, and 93.0% were white. The majority of POLST users (55.3%) had orders for comfort measures only. Most studies showed that, compared to full treatment orders on POLST, treatment limitations were associated with decreased in‐hospital death and receipt of high‐intensity treatment, particularly in pre‐hospital settings. However, in the acute care setting, a sizable number of patients likely received POLST‐discordant care. The overall strength of evidence was moderate based on eight retrospective cohort studies of good quality that showed a consistent, similar direction of outcomes with moderate‐to‐large effect sizes.

Conclusion

We found moderate strength of evidence that treatment limitations on POLST may reduce treatment intensity among patients with serious illness. However, the evidence base is limited and demonstrates potential unintended consequences of POLST. We identify several important knowledge gaps that should be addressed to help maximize benefits and minimize risks of POLST.
An Exploratory Study of the Role of Birth Stories in Shaping Expectations for Childbirth among Nulliparous Black Women: Everybody is Different (but I'm Scared)
Authors: Reissig Michelle , Fair Cynthia , Houpt Bethany , Latham Vicki
Published: September 2021

Introduction

Birth stories area source of information and vicarious experience for nulliparous women. Although health disparities research suggests that the childbirth experiences of Black women differ from those of white women, little research has been conducted about the nature of birth stories shared and their subsequent effect on expectations.

Methods

Pregnant nulliparous Black women were recruited from a women's health practice in the southeastern United States. Participants completed in‐depth semistructured interviews about the birth stories they had previously heard and their thoughts about their own upcoming birth experiences. Interviews were audio‐recorded and transcribed. Researchers applied the traditions of thematic analysis to identify emergent themes.

Results

Fourteen women participated in the study (mean age, 28 years). Women reported hearing birth stories from a variety of sources, most commonly mothers and friends. Stories heard generally included details about process, outcome, and social context that often acknowledged past racist hospital policies and experienced discrimination. Women were an active audience to birth stories and sought out stories from some sources, avoided stories from other sources, and used rhetorical strategies to mark stories as either more relatable or less relatable. Women's reported fears, expectations, and choices they planned to make reflected features of the birth stories that they had heard.

Discussion

Nulliparous women accessed and evaluated birth stories from others and applied knowledge received from those stories to their own experiences. Birth stories played an important role in shaping women's hopes, fears, expectations, and childbirth‐related choices. Health care providers should inquire about the birth stories shared with their patients to gain a sense of their childbirth desires and expectations. An appreciation for the importance of knowledge learned from birth stories has the potential to reduce maternal health disparities by improving patient‐provider communication through a shared understanding of the patient's goals and fears.
Antecedent infections in Guillain‐Barré syndrome in endemic areas of arbovirus transmission: A multinational case‐control study
Authors: Leonhard Sonja E. , Tan Cheng Yin , van der Eijk Annemiek A. , Reisin Ricardo R. , Franken Suzanne C. , Huizinga Ruth , Arends Samuel , Batstra Manou R. , Bezerra Jeronimo Selma M. , Drenthen Judith , de Koning Laura , Leon Cejas Luciana , Marchesoni Cintia , Marques Wilson , Shahrizaila Nortina , Casas Dardo F. , Sotelo Andrea , Tillard Belen , Dourado Mario‐Emilio , Jacobs Bart C.
Published: September 2021

Half of the world's population is at risk of arthropod‐borne virus (arbovirus) infections. Several arbovirus infections have been associated with Guillain‐Barré syndrome (GBS). We investigated whether arboviruses are driving GBS beyond epidemic phases of transmission and studied the antibody response to glycolipids. The protocol of the International Guillain‐Barré syndrome Outcome Study (IGOS), an observational prospective cohort study, was adapted to a case‐control design. Serum samples were tested for a recent infection with Zika virus (ZIKV), dengue virus (DENV), chikungunya (CHIKV) virus, hepatitis E virus, Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), Campylobacter jejuni, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and for antibodies to glycolipids. Forty‐nine patients were included from Brazil (63%), Argentina (14%), and Malaysia (22%). Evidence of a recent infection was found in 27/49 (55%) patients: C jejuni (n = 15, 31%), M pneumoniae (n = 5, 10%), CHIKV (n = 2, 4%), EBV (n = 1, 2%), C jejuni and M pneumoniae (n = 2, 4%), CMV and DENV (n = 1, 2%), and C jejuni and DENV (n = 1, 2%). In 22 patients, 35 paired controls were collected. Odds ratio for recent infections did not significantly differ between cases and controls. No typical anti‐ganglioside antibody binding was associated with recent arbovirus infection. We conclude that arbovirus infections occur in GBS patients outside of epidemic viral transmission, although not significantly more than in controls. Broad infection and anti‐ganglioside antibody serology are important to establish the most likely pathogenic trigger in GBS patients. Larger studies are necessary to determine the association between arboviruses and GBS.
The partner market as a resource in couples' bargaining on housework division
Authors: Stauder Johannes , Röhlke Leo
Published: September 2021

Objective

This study analyzes whether the relative partner market position is a resource of power in couples' bargaining on the division of housework.

Background

Many studies explain men's persistently low housework contributions by their stronger relative economic resources in couples' exchanges. This article argues that a relatively higher number of alternative potential partners may act as an additional resource in this exchange because it affects the threat point of the bargaining process.

Method

Dyadic data from the German Family Panel (pairfam) are combined with partner market indicators from the project titled “The macrostructural context of the partner market: longitudinal dynamics” to estimate the effect of the relative partner market position on the division of housework by couples.

Results

A more favorable supply of potential partners to one partner than to the other corresponds to his/her lower housework contributions. However, a good relative partner market position is valuable for an individual's bargaining position only when he/she is also economically more attractive on the partner market than his/her partner.

Conclusion

The findings demonstrate the relevance of the partner market for dyadic processes in couple relationships and support resource bargaining approaches.

Implications

The exogenous impact of the partner market on housework arrangements implies that the empirically observed association between partner market imbalances and relationship stability are not mere products of endogeneity but represent real impacts of the partner market.
Adenoid ameloblastoma with dentinoid is molecularly different from ameloblastomas and adenomatoid odontogenic tumors
Authors: Coura Bruna Pizziolo , dos Santos Jean Nunes , Fonseca Felipe Paiva , Bernardes Vanessa Fátima , de Aquino Sibele Nascimento , Jorge Júnior Jacks , Vargas Pablo Agustin , Romañach Mário José , de Andrade Bruno Augusto Benevenuto , Gomez Ricardo Santiago , Gomes Carolina Cavalieri
Published: September 2021

Background

Adenoid ameloblastoma is a rare epithelial neoplasm, histologically characterized by the presence of ameloblastoma‐like features, duct‐like structures, epithelial whorls, and cribriform architecture. Dentinoid material is usually present. Some advocate adenoid ameloblastoma is an ameloblastoma variant. However, there are overlapping features not only with ameloblastoma, but also with adenomatoid odontogenic tumor. Most ameloblastomas are characterized by the presence of BRAF p.V600E mutations and adenomatoid odontogenic tumors harbor signature KRAS mutations. The molecular features of adenoid ameloblastoma remain unknown.

Methods

Nine adenoid ameloblastoma cases were screened by TaqMan allele‐specific qPCR to assess BRAF p.V600E, ameloblastoma signature mutation, and KRAS p.G12V and p.G12R, adenomatoid odontogenic tumor signature mutations.

Results

BRAF and KRAS mutations were not detected in any of the adenoid ameloblastoma cases.

Conclusion

The molecular results support adenoid ameloblastoma as an entity distinct from adenomatoid odontogenic tumor and ameloblastoma.
Integrating domain knowledge with machine learning to detect obstructive sleep apnea: Snore as a significant bio‐feature
Authors: Hsu Yu‐Ching , Wang Jung‐Der , Huang Po‐Hsien , Chien Yu‐Wen , Chiu Ching‐Ju , Lin Cheng‐Yu
Published: September 2021

Our study’s main purpose is to emphasise the significance of medical knowledge of pathophysiology before machine learning. We investigated whether combining domain knowledge with machine learning results might increase accuracy and minimise the number of bio‐features used to detect obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The present study analysed data on 36 self‐reported symptoms and 24 clinical features obtained from 3,495 patients receiving polysomnography at a regional hospital and a medical centre. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUC) curve was used to evaluate patients with and without moderate or severe OSA using three prediction models on the basis of various estimation methods: the multiple logistic regression (MLR), support vector machine (SVM), and neural network (NN) methods. Odds ratios stratified by gender and age were also measured to account for clinicians’ common sense. We discovered that adding the self‐reported snoring item improved the AUC by 0.01–0.10 and helped us to rapidly achieve the optimum level. The performance of four items (gender, age, body mass index [BMI], and snoring) was comparable with that of adding two or more items (neck and waist circumference) for predicting moderate to severe OSA (Apnea–Hypopnea Index ≥15 events/hr) in all three prediction models, demonstrating the medical knowledge value of pathophysiology. The four‐item test sample AUCs were 0.83, 0.84, and 0.83 for MLR, SVM, and NN, respectively. Participants with regular snoring and a BMI of ≥25 kg/m2 had a greater chance of moderate to severe OSA according to the stratified adjusted odds ratios. Combining domain knowledge into machine learning could increase efficiency and enable primary care physicians to refer for an OSA diagnosis earlier.
Frost‐driven lower treelines in Angola and their implications for tropical forest–grassland mosaics
Authors: Finckh Manfred , Wendefeuer Janika , Meller Paulina
Published: September 2021

Questions

Forest–grassland boundaries in the tropics are primarily interpreted as driven by fire and herbivory. So far, frost has received little attention as driver of tropical vegetation boundaries. Here, we study mid‐altitudes in south‐central Africa and ask the following questions: (a) is there a lower treeline between grasslands and forests on the Angolan Plateau; (b) if so, do topoclimatic differences play a role in it; and (c) what do our results imply for tropical highlands globally?

Location

The Angolan Plateau (10°–16°S and 13°–21° E).

Methods

We mapped vegetation by applying a supervised support vector machine‐based classification on a Landsat satellite image. We used a 1,000‐m spaced point grid to extract the mean vertical distribution of the vegetation units from a digital elevation model. The topographic position of each point was calculated using a channel network approach. Microclimatic data were collected across topographic gradients at two sites along the Plateau. Analyses focussed on the number of nights where temperature dropped below 0℃, median and minimum temperatures, and diurnal temperature ranges.

Results

Lower treelines separate Miombo forests from geoxyle grasslands in all major valley systems. Treelines are located 150–200 m below the headwater divides. Nocturnal outgoing net long‐wave radiation and resulting cold‐air pooling cause frequent frosts in the valleys during the dry season. Topography controls frost patterns, with minima of down to −7.5℃ and diurnal temperature amplitudes up to 40℃.

Conclusions

The results show that vegetation patterns in central Angola are shaped by frost. The processes causing frost depend on air humidity. Drier atmosphere and lower global temperatures indicate a longer frost season, lower minima and frost extending to lower elevations and latitudes for the Pleistocene. Pleistocene forest fragmentations and the rise of endemism‐rich grasslands in comparable tropical highlands worldwide may be explained by crossing thermic thresholds via increasing seasonal aridity.
Fine‐scale hydrological niche segregation in coastal dune slacks
Authors: Dwyer Ciara , Pakeman Robin J. , Jones Laurence , van Willegen Lisanne , Hunt Natalie , Millett Jonathan
Published: September 2021

Questions

Hydrological niche segregation is widespread and has been found across a range of different habitats. Different plant species can occupy distinct hydrological niches, and as a result fine‐scale variability in hydrology can structure plant communities. However, these patterns may not be as clear in habitats where differences in hydrology are more short‐lived, such as coastal dune slacks. We explored the extent that the hydrological regime structures dune slack plant communities.

Location

Ainsdale Coastal Sand Dune National Nature Reserve, UK.

Methods

Six hundred quadrats were surveyed, 100 in each of six coastal dune slacks. Water table levels are recorded monthly in each slack. Metrics summarising hydrological regime were calculated and adjusted for each quadrat based on elevation. We tested the relationship between water table depth, plant communities and topography across and within dune slacks.

Results

Half (three) of the slacks showed a significant influence of hydrology on plant community composition. The three that did not were the ones that varied least topographically and contained less diverse plant communities. We also provide indirect evidence of niche segregation by modelling species‐specific responses between mean water table depth and probability of species presence.

Conclusions

We demonstrate that hydrology is a dominant driver of plant community composition across dune slacks. However, plant communities are not always structured by hydrology, demonstrating the complexity of vegetation patterns. Topographic variation appears to impact plant community patterns, as do successional processes, highlighting the need to create diverse habitats for slack restoration and management.
Variables that intervene in the weight of rotifer biomass and fatty acids
Authors: Aguilar Samanamud Carla Patricia , Gaspar Wilmer , Inga Gheraldine , Flores Lennin , Sanchez Pedro , Hernandez Acevedo Hanna , Borda Soares Roberta , Olivera Galvez Alfredo
Published: September 2021

The biomass of rotifers is used as live food in aquaculture; their quality is determined by the content of the main polyunsaturated fatty acids and the weight it acquires over time. The objective of this work was to evaluate the variables involved in this process to achieve higher quality. Within the rotifer culture, the following evaluations were carried out nine times (0, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, 144, 168 hr); with two types of food TRA = 0 (Nannochloropsis oceanica) and TRA = 1 (N. oceanica + Isochrysis galbana); assessing three types of fatty acids (μg/g) eicosapentaenoic (EPA; 20:5n−3), docosahexaenoic (DHA; 22:6n−3), and arachidonic (ARA; 20:4ω−6); and biomass weight in grams from 7,000 individuals per sample. The results showed that the maximum biomass weight was 77.5 g at 96 hr with the mixed treatment. In both treatments, the EPA and DHA fatty acid content exhibited the exact same temporal pattern, while ARA fatty acid was recorded during the entirety of the mixed treatment. The relationship of biomass weight over time versus the fatty acids exhibited significant differences in the mixed treatment, where an increasing trend over time is observed.
Associations between DNA methylation and telomere length during early life: Insight from wild zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata)
Authors: Sheldon Elizabeth L. , Ton Riccardo , Boner Winnie , Monaghan Pat , Raveh Shirley , Schrey Aaron W. , Griffith Simon C.
Published: September 2021

Telomere length and DNA methylation (DNAm) are two promising biomarkers of biological age. Environmental factors and life history traits are known to affect variation in both these biomarkers, especially during early life, yet surprisingly little is known about their reciprocal association, especially in natural populations. Here, we explore how variation in DNAm, growth rate, and early‐life conditions are associated with telomere length changes during development. We tested these associations by collecting data from wild, nestling zebra finches in the Australian desert. We found that increases in the level of DNAm were negatively correlated with telomere length changes across early life. We also confirm previously documented effects of post hatch growth rate and clutch size on telomere length in a natural ecological context for a species that has been extensively studied in the laboratory. However, we did not detect any effect of ambient temperature during developmental on telomere length dynamics. We also found that the absolute telomere length of wild zebra finches, measured using the in‐gel TRF method, was similar to that of captive birds. Our findings highlight exciting new opportunities to link and disentangle potential relationships between DNA based biomarkers of ageing, and of physiological reactions to environmental change.
Numéraire problems and market adjustments
Authors: Parrinello Sergio
Published: September 2021

Firstly, this paper makes a distinction between two notions of numéraire in order to clarify the problem of market equilibrium which depends on the choice of a standard of value. This problem has recently re‐emerged, although it smoldered before and during the “Two Cambridge Controversies” on capital theory in the Seventies. Secondly, it presents a collection of equilibrium/disequilibrium analysis which exhibits numéraire dependence. Thirdly, it takes a neo‐Walrasian model of non‐monetary general equilibrium as a benchmark to argue that a prominent role of numéraire should be attributed to fiat money in the analysis of market adjustment. Such a redirection of focus would avoid some typical cases of numéraire dependence that characterize a frictionless barter economy.
Low‐grade epilepsy‐associated neuroepithelial tumours with a prominent oligodendroglioma‐like component: The diagnostic challenges
Authors: Métais Alice , Appay Romain , Pagès Mélanie , Gallardo Catherine , Silva Karen , Siegfried Aurore , Perbet Romain , Maurage Claude‐Alain , Scavarda Didier , Fina Frédéric , Uro‐Coste Emmanuelle , Riffaud Laurent , Colin Carole , Figarella‐Branger Dominique ,   contributors of the Biopathology RENOCLIP‐LOC network
Published: September 2021

Aims

We searched for recurrent pathological features and molecular alterations in a retrospective series of 72 low‐grade epilepsy‐associated neuroepithelial tumours (LEATs) with a prominent oligodendroglioma‐like component, in order to classify them according to the 2021 World Health Organization (WHO) classification of central nervous system (CNS) tumours.

Methods

Centralised pathological examination was performed as well as targeted molecular analysis of v‐Raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homologue B (BRAF) and fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) by multiplexed digital polymerase chain reaction (mdPCR). DNA methylation profiling was performed in cases with sufficient DNA. In cases with no genetic alteration by mdPCR and sufficient material, RNA sequencing was done.

Results

We first reclassified our cohort into three groups: ganglioglioma (GG, n = 14), dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumours (DNTs, n = 19) and glioneuronal tumours/paediatric‐type low‐grade glioma (LGG) not otherwise specified (GNT/PLGG NOS, n = 39). mdPCR found an alteration in 38/72 cases. Subsequent RNA sequencing revealed a fusion transcript involving BRAF, FGFR1/2/3 or neurotrophic tyrosine kinase receptor type 2 [NTRK2] in 9/25 cases. DNA methylation profiling found 12/46 cases with a calibrated score ≥0.9. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering revealed two clusters: Cluster 1 was enriched with cases classified as DNT at histology, belonging to the LGG–DNT methylation class (MC), with haematopoietic progenitor cell antigen (CD34) negativity and FGRF1 alterations; Cluster 2 was enriched with cases classified at histology as GG, belonging to the LGG–GG MC MC, with BRAF V600E mutation and CD34 positivity. The tumours reclassified as GNT/PLGG NOS were equally distributed across both clusters. Interestingly, all polymorphous low‐grade neuroepithelial tumour of the young belonged to Cluster 2, whereas diffuse LGG mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway‐altered were equally distributed among the two clusters. This led us to build an algorithm to classify LEATs with a prominent oligodendroglioma‐like component.

Conclusions

Integrated histomolecular diagnosis of LEATs with a prominent oligodendroglioma‐like component remains challenging. Because these tumours can be split into two major clusters of biological significance, the clinicopathological relevance of the four types recognised by the WHO CNS5 within this spectrum of tumours is questionable.
Focusing on individual plants to understand community scale biodiversity effects: the case of root distribution in grasslands
Authors: Bakker Lisette M. , Barry Kathryn E. , Mommer Liesje , van Ruijven Jasper
Published: September 2021

Spatial resource partitioning between species via differences in rooting depth is one of the main explanations for the positive biodiversity–productivity relationship. However, evidence for the importance of this mechanism is limited. This may be due to the community scale at which these interactions are often investigated. Community measures represent net outcomes of species interactions and may obscure the mechanisms underlying belowground interactions. Here, we assess the performance of ~1700 individual plants and their heterospecific neighbours over three growing seasons in experimental grassland plots containing one, four or sixteen different plant species and tested whether their performance in mixtures compared to monocultures was related to their own rooting depth versus the rooting depth of their heterospecific neighbours. Overall, individuals of deep‐rooting species performed better in mixtures and this effect significantly increased when surrounded by more shallow‐rooting species. This effect was not apparent for the shallow rooting species. Together, including both deep and shallow rooting species increased mixture performance. Our results show that taking the perspective of the individual rather than the community can elucidate the interactions between species that contribute to positive biodiversity effects, emphasizing the need for studies at different scales to disentangle the myriad interactions that take place in diverse communities.
Experimental river noise alters arthropod abundance
Authors: Gomes Dylan G. E. , Toth Cory A. , Bateman Craig C. , Francis Clinton D. , Kawahara Akito Y. , Barber Jesse R.
Published: September 2021

Anthropogenic noise has received considerable recent attention, but we know little about the role that sources of natural noise have on wildlife abundance and distributions. Rivers and streams represent an ancient source of natural noise that is widespread and covers much of Earth. We sought to understand the role that whitewater river noise plays on arthropod abundance in riparian habitats across a desert landscape. For two summers, we continuously broadcasted whitewater river noise and spectrally‐altered river noise (shifted upwards in frequency, but maintaining the same temporal profile) to experimentally tease apart the effects of two characteristics of noise – sound levels and background spectral frequency – on arthropod abundances. We used five types of trapping methods, placed across 20 sites within the Pioneer Mountains of Idaho, USA, to collect and identify 151 992 specimens to the order level. We built Bayesian generalized linear mixed‐effects models with noise characteristics and other habitat variables such as riparian vegetation, elevation, temperature, and moonlight. Of the 42 models we built (one for each order‐trap type combination), 26 (62%) indicated a substantial response to at least one noise variable – sound pressure level, background spectral frequency, or an interaction between the two. Fourteen of 17 (82%) arthropod orders responded to noise in some capacity: Araneae, Coleoptera, Collembola, Dermaptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Neuroptera, Opiliones, Orthoptera, Plecoptera, Raphidioptera, Thysanoptera and Trichoptera. Only three groups appeared to be unaffected, Acari, Archaeognatha and Diptera. Results from this study suggest that the natural acoustic environment can shape arthropod abundances both directly and indirectly (via predator–prey relationships). Future work should further examine the role that the indirect effects of noise play in food webs. Natural noise should be considered an important ecological niche axis, especially as we continue to alter natural acoustic environments and replace them with anthropogenic ones.
Rice ACID PHOSPHATASE 1 regulates Pi stress adaptation by maintaining intracellular Pi homeostasis
Authors: Deng Suren , Li Jingyi , Du Zezhen , Wu Zixuan , Yang Jian , Cai Hongmei , Wu Gaobing , Xu Fangsen , Huang Yichao , Wang Sheliang , Wang Chuang
Published: September 2021

The concentration and homeostasis of intracellular phosphate (Pi) are crucial for sustaining cell metabolism and growth. During short‐term Pi starvation, intracellular Pi is maintained relatively constant at the expense of vacuolar Pi. After the vacuolar stored Pi is exhausted, the plant cells induce the synthesis of intracellular acid phosphatase (APase) to recycle Pi from expendable organic phosphate (Po). In this study, the expression, enzymatic activity and subcellular localization of ACID PHOSPHATASE 1 (OsACP1) were determined. OsACP1 expression is specifically induced in almost all cell types of leaves and roots under Pi stress conditions. OsACP1 encodes an acid phosphatase with broad Po substrates and localizes in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi apparatus (GA). The phylogenic analysis demonstrates that OsACP1 has a similar structure with human acid phosphatase PHOSPHO1. Overexpression or mutation of OsACP1 affected Po degradation and utilization, which further influenced plant growth and productivity under both Pi‐sufficient and Pi‐deficient conditions. Moreover, overexpression of OsACP1 significantly affected intracellular Pi homeostasis and Pi starvation signalling. We concluded that OsACP1 is an active acid phosphatase that regulates rice growth under Pi stress conditions by recycling Pi from Po in the ER and GA.
Vaccination coverage and related factors among the elderly: A cross‐sectional study from Turkey
Authors: Yalçın Gürsoy Melike , Tanrıverdi Gülbu , Özsezer Gözde , Chousko Mechmet Fatme
Published: September 2021

Objective

The study was conducted to determine the vaccination rates and related factors among the elderly.

Design

Cross‐sectional study.

Sample

This study was conducted with 984 elderly people living in a province in western Turkey.

Measurements

The single‐stage cluster sampling method was used in the sample selection. The descriptive statistics, the chi‐square analysis, the Mann–Whitney U test and the logistic regression analysis for the multivariate analysis were used to evaluate the data.

Results

It was determined that 45.6% of the elderly were vaccinated after the age of 65 and the most frequently administered vaccines were influenza (41.3%), pneumococcal (10.9%), and tetanus (5.5%) vaccines. Higher vaccination rates were determined in the following demographics, namely by 1.8‐fold (95% CI, 1.4–2.4) in those living in urban areas, by 2.6‐fold (95% CI, 1.8–3.9) in those with high school or higher education, by 1.5‐fold (95% CI, 1.0–2.5) in those who did not work, by 1.7‐fold (95% CI, 1.3–2.3) in those with chronic diseases and by 2‐fold (95% CI, 1.1–3.4) in those who fulfilled their physical own needs themselves.

Conclusion

This study showed that more than half of the elderly did not receive any vaccinations in old age. The vaccination rates of the elderly were associated with many factors.
Photosynthetic physiological response of water‐saving and drought‐resistant rice to severe drought under wetting‐drying alternation irrigation
Authors: He Haibing , Wang Quan , Wang Lele , Yang Kun , Yang Ru , You Cuicui , Ke Jian , Wu Liquan
Published: September 2021

Water‐saving and drought‐resistant rice (WDR) is widely grown in central China in recent years. However, studies have not explored the interaction effect of WDR and irrigation regimes on drought‐resistance capacities under severe drought at sensitive growth periods. A pot experiment was conducted using a WDR cultivar Hanyou73 (HY73) and traditional high‐yielding and drought‐sensitive cultivar Huiliangyou 898 (HLY898). Three irrigation regimes, including flooding irrigation (W1), mild wetting‐drying alternation irrigation (W2), and severe wetting‐drying alternation irrigation (W3), were applied before heading. At heading, severe drought with −50 KPa soil water potential was established for all treatments and cultivars. The findings showed that cultivar HY73 under W2 treatment had the highest yield, 1000‐grain yield, filled grain, relative water content, and photosynthesis potential compared with the other combinations. The higher net photosynthetic rate (Pn) was attributed to larger mesophyll conductance (gm) in drought for cultivar HY73 under W2 treatment compared with that for cultivar HLY898 and the other water treatments. Enhanced photo‐respiration rate may be an important photoprotection mechanism for achieving high Pn for cultivar HY73 coupled with W2 treatment than for other combinations in drought. The relative expression level of OsPIP1;1 gene was significantly down‐regulated during drought in all cultivars and water regimes. But OsPIP1;2, OsPIP2;3, OsTIP2;2, and OsTIP3;1 genes were upregulated to alleviate the significant decrease in gs and gm under drought. These results suggest that WDR and mild wetting‐drying alternation irrigation (W2) have significant interaction effects in improving photosynthetic production potential by maintaining higher gm under severe drought.
Is the Internet bringing down language‐based barriers to international trade?
Authors: Kitenge Erick , Lahiri Sajal
Published: September 2021

This paper investigates the interaction between Internet access and language similarities in international trade. We apply recent developments in gravity analysis to bilateral export data from about 205 countries over the period 1954–2014. We find a positive impact of both the Internet and language similarities, but a negative interaction between them in international trade. Our results reveal that the language elasticity of trade is lower when more people have access to the Internet and that the impact of the Internet is lower when the trading partners use similar languages. Our results also pass a number of robustness checks.
For the Children: Notions of Childhood in Women's Narratives of Home in Rural Newfoundland*
Authors: Porter Michelle
Published: September 2021

When rural women involved in a research project in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada told stories about home, many shared a common narrative of a changing rural childhood. I discuss the ways in which these women's narratives engaged with notions of change in relation to childhood in rural Newfoundland. I argue that research on changing notions of childhood and how these affect the residential decisions of parents and mothers is required to better understand the reasons people move to or away from rural areas. This topic deserves broader attention from scholars and policy makers.
Improvement of the understanding of blood donors with human T‐cell leukaemia virus type 1 using a new information booklet
Authors: Nakamura Hitomi , Sagara Yasuko , Yamamoto Midori , Utsunomiya Atae , Watanabe Toshiki , Satake Masahiro , Irita Kazuo
Published: September 2021

Background

Human T‐cell leukaemia virus type 1 (HTLV‐1) tests have been mandated in Japan since 1986, and notification of HTLV‐1‐seropositive donors started in 1999. However, donor knowledge and response to notification has not been assessed.

Study design and Methods

A questionnaire survey was conducted among blood donors notified of HTLV‐1 seropositivity regarding their knowledge of HTLV‐1 and unmet information needs. To reduce anxiety among notified individuals and raise awareness of their infection status, we created a booklet containing information that would be useful for these individuals without causing unnecessary anxiety while also requesting that they refrain from donating blood in the future.

Results

A questionnaire survey conducted before the distribution of a new booklet revealed that 15.0% of respondents donated blood again despite receiving an HTLV‐1‐seropositive notification at the previous donation. While 62.2% of respondents reacted to the notification favourably, 40.2% expressed anxiety and 32.5% requested information on related diseases and medical institutions for consultation. In the secondary survey after distribution of the new booklet, 87.9% of respondents reported that the information was comprehensible, and an increase in consultations of medical institutions by notification recipients was observed. Furthermore, no re‐visiting donors were observed among the HTLV‐1‐seropositive recipients who were notified using the new information booklet.

Conclusion

The new information booklet provided enlightenment on HTLV‐1 infection and facilitated the consultation of medical institutions by seropositive donors, leading to an improvement in the health‐related quality of life of seropositive blood donors and the safety of blood products.