bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trade‐offs for data‐limited fisheries when using harvest strategies based on catch‐only models
Authors: Walsh Jessica C. , Minto Cóilín , Jardim Ernesto , Anderson Sean C. , Jensen Olaf P. , Afflerbach Jamie , Dickey‐Collas Mark , Kleisner Kristin M. , Longo Catherine , Osio Giacomo Chato , Selig Elizabeth R. , Thorson James T. , Rudd Merrill B. , Papacostas Katherine J. , Kittinger John N. , Rosenberg Andrew A. , Cooper Andrew B.
Published: September 2018

Many of the world's fisheries are unassessed, with little information about population status or risk of overfishing. Unassessed fisheries are particularly predominant in developing countries and in small‐scale fisheries, where they are important for food security. Several catch‐only methods based on time series of fishery catch and commonly available life‐history traits have been developed to estimate stock status (defined as biomass relative to biomass at maximum sustainable yield: B/BMSY). While their stock status performance has been extensively studied, performance of catch‐only models as a management tool is unknown. We evaluated the extent to which a superensemble of three prominent catch‐only models can provide a reliable basis for fisheries management and how performance compares across management strategies that control catch or fishing effort. We used a management strategy evaluation framework to determine whether a superensemble of catch‐only models can reliably inform harvest control rules (HCRs). Across five simulated fish life histories and two harvest‐dynamic types, catch‐only models and HCR combinations reduced the risk of overfishing and increased the proportion of stocks above BMSY compared to business as usual, though often resulted in poor yields. Precautionary HCRs based on fishing effort were robust and insensitive to error in catch‐only models, while catch‐based HCRs caused high probabilities of overfishing and more overfished populations. Catch‐only methods tended to overestimate B/BMSY for our simulated data sets. The catch‐only superensemble combined with precautionary effort‐based HCRs could be part of a stepping stone approach for managing some data‐limited stocks while working towards more data‐moderate assessment methods.
Comparative study of alpha‐ and beta‐pinene effect on PTZ‐induced convulsions in mice
Authors: Felipe Cícero Francisco Bezerra , Albuquerque Aline Mirely Sousa , de Pontes João Luis Xavier , de Melo José Ítalo Vieira , Rodrigues Teresa Carolliny Moreira Lustoza , de Sousa Ada Mirtes Pereira , Monteiro Álefe Brito , Ribeiro Ana Elisa da Silva , Lopes Janice Pereira , de Menezes Irwin Rose Alencar , de Almeida Reinaldo Nóbrega
Published: September 2018

Convulsions occur in response to a loss of balance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters, and the treatment for this condition consists in restore such lost balance. Many anticonvulsant drugs present side effects which may limit their use. This fact has stimulated the search for new sources of treatment from aromatic plants. Many monoterpenes commonly present in essential oils are known because of their anticonvulsant properties. The anticonvulsant effect of α‐ and β‐pinene, two structural isomers, is still little studied. Thus, the present work evaluated the anticonvulsant effect of α‐ and β‐pinene in pentylenetetrazole‐induced convulsions model. Initially, the oral LD50 for α‐ and β‐pinene was estimated. Following the oral administration, a mild sedation was observed and no deaths were recorded; the LD50 estimated for both monoterpenes was greater than 2 000 mg/kg, p.o. Further, animals were orally treated with α‐pinene (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg), β‐pinene (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) and the equimolar mixture of α‐ and β‐pinene (400 mg/kg) and subjected to the pentylenetetrazole‐induced convulsions model. In this model, only the dose of 400 mg/kg of the compounds was able to significantly decrease the seizure intensity. The latency of first convulsion was significantly increased by the mixture of α‐ and β‐pinene (400 mg/kg). In addition, β‐pinene and the mixture of the two monoterpenes, both at a dose of 400 mg/kg, significantly increased the time of death of animals. The treatment with β‐pinene and the equimolar mixture of the two monoterpenes significantly reduced hippocampal nitrite level and striatal content of dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE). Taken together, the results suggest that α‐pinene appears to be devoid of anticonvulsant action. This fact, however, seems to be dependent on the chemical structure of the compound, since pretreatment with the β‐pinene increased the time of death pf PTZ‐treated mice, which seems to depend on the ability of the compound to reduce nitrite concentration and NE and DA content, during the pentylenetetrazole‐induced seizure.
Fire severity effects on soil carbon and nutrients and microbial processes in a Siberian larch forest
Authors: Ludwig Sarah M. , Alexander Heather D. , Kielland Knut , Mann Paul J. , Natali Susan M. , Ruess Roger W.
Published: September 2018

Fire frequency and severity are increasing in tundra and boreal regions as climate warms, which can directly affect climate feedbacks by increasing carbon (C) emissions from combustion of the large soil C pool and indirectly via changes in vegetation, permafrost thaw, hydrology, and nutrient availability. To better understand the direct and indirect effects of changing fire regimes in northern ecosystems, we examined how differences in soil burn severity (i.e., extent of soil organic matter combustion) affect soil C, nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) availability and microbial processes over time. We created experimental burns of three fire severities (low, moderate, and high) in a larch forest in the northeastern Siberian Arctic and analyzed soils at 1, 8 days, and 1 year postfire. Labile dissolved C and N increased with increasing soil burn severity immediately (1 day) postfire by up to an order of magnitude, but declined significantly 1 week later; both variables were comparable or lower than unburned soils by 1 year postfire. Soil burn severity had no effect on P in the organic layer, but P increased with increasing severity in mineral soil horizons. Most extracellular enzyme activities decreased by up to 70% with increasing soil burn severity. Increasing soil burn severity reduced soil respiration 1 year postfire by 50%. However, increasing soil burn severity increased net N mineralization rates 1 year postfire, which were 10‐fold higher in the highest burn severity. While fires of high severity consumed approximately five times more soil C than those of low severity, soil C pools will also be driven by indirect effects of fire on soil processes. Our data suggest that despite an initial increase in labile C and nutrients with soil burn severity, soil respiration and extracellular activities related to the turnover of organic matter were greatly reduced, which may mitigate future C losses following fire.
Basaltic and Solution Reference Materials for Iron, Copper and Zinc Isotope Measurements
Authors: Li Jin , Tang Suo‐han , Zhu Xiang‐kun , Li Zhi‐hong , Li Shi‐Zhen , Yan Bin , Wang Yue , Sun Jian , Shi Yao , Dong Aiguo , Belshaw Nick S. , Zhang Xingchao , Liu Sheng‐ao , Liu Ji‐hua , Wang Deli , Jiang Shao‐yong , Hou KeJun , Cohen Anthony S.
Published: September 2018

Iron, Cu and Zn stable isotope systems are applied in constraining a variety of geochemical and environmental processes. Secondary reference materials have been developed by the Institute of Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences (CAGS), in collaboration with other participating laboratories, comprising three solutions (CAGS‐Fe, CAGS‐Cu and CAGS‐Zn) and one basalt (CAGS‐Basalt). These materials exhibit sufficient homogeneity and stability for application in Fe, Cu and Zn isotopic ratio determinations. Reference values were determined by inter‐laboratory analytical comparisons involving up to eight participating laboratories employing MC‐ICP‐MS techniques, based on the unweighted means of submitted results. Isotopic compositions are reported in per mil notation, based on reference materials IRMM‐014 for Fe, NIST SRM 976 for Cu and IRMM‐3702 for Zn. Respective reference values of CAGS‐Fe, CAGS‐Cu and CAGS‐Zn solutions are as follows: δ56Fe = 0.83 ± 0.07 and δ57Fe = 1.20 ± 0.13, δ65Cu = 0.57 ± 0.06, and δ66Zn = −0.79 ± 0.12 and δ68Zn = −1.65 ± 0.24, respectively. Those of CAGS‐Basalt are δ56Fe = 0.15 ± 0.07, δ57Fe = 0.22 ± 0.10, δ65Cu = 0.12 ± 0.08, δ66Zn = 0.17 ± 0.13, and δ68Zn = 0.34 ± 0.26 (2s).
Movements of female Sage Grouse Centrocercus urophasianus during incubation recess
Authors: Dudko Jonathan E. , Coates Peter S. , Delehanty David J.
Published: September 2018

We combined GPS data‐loggers, VHF transmitters and DVR video‐monitoring to measure fine‐scale movement patterns during daily incubation recesses by female Sage Grouse Centrocercus urophasianus, a species with uniparental incubation that has experienced widespread population decline and distributional contraction. Most (69.6%) Sage Grouse recess activity was highly localized within a core recess area averaging 2.58 ± 0.64 ha, and females remained within 242.3 ± 30.0 m from the nest during recesses (total recess areas were 11.06 ± 2.27 ha). Visually conspicuous Sage Grouse movements near nests at the start and end of recesses and consistent occupation of core recess areas point to a mechanism for newly abundant predators such as the Northern Raven Corvus corax to detect and depredate Sage Grouse nests. Our methods apply to other avian species of scientific interest and conservation concern.
Innate development of acoustic signals for host parent–offspring recognition in the brood‐parasitic Screaming CowbirdMolothrus rufoaxillaris
Authors: Rojas Ripari Juan M. , Ursino Cynthia A. , Reboreda Juan C. , De Mársico María C.
Published: September 2018

Young birds communicate their need to parents through complex begging displays that include visual and acoustic cues. Nestlings of interspecific brood parasites must ‘tune’ into these communication channels to secure parental care from their hosts. Various studies show that parasitic nestlings can effectively manipulate host parental behaviour through their begging calls, but how these manipulative acoustic signals develop in growing parasites remains poorly understood. We investigated the influence of social experience on begging call development in a host‐specialist brood parasite, the Screaming CowbirdMolothrus rufoaxillaris. Screaming Cowbird nestlings look and sound similar to those of the primary host, the Greyish BaywingAgelaioides badius. This resemblance is likely to be adaptive because Baywings discriminate against fledglings unlike their own and provision nests at higher rates in response to Baywing‐like begging calls than to non‐mimetic begging calls. By means of cross‐fostering and playback experiments, we tested whether the acoustic cues that elicit recognition by Baywings develop innately in Screaming Cowbird nestlings or are acquired through social experience with host parents or nest mates. Our results suggest that begging call structure was partially modulated by experience because Baywing‐reared Screaming Cowbird and host nestlings were acoustically more similar as age increased, whereas acoustic similarity between cross‐fostered and Baywing‐reared Screaming Cowbird nestlings decreased from 4–5 to 8–10 days of age. Cross‐fostered Screaming Cowbirds developed begging calls of lower minimum frequency and broader bandwidth than those of Baywing‐reared Screaming Cowbirds by the age of 8–10 days. Despite the observed differences in begging call structure, however, adult Baywings responded similarly to begging calls of 8‐ to 10‐day‐old cross‐fostered and Baywing‐reared Screaming Cowbirds, suggesting that these were functionally equivalent from the host's perspective. These findings support the idea that, although rearing environment can influence certain begging call parameters, the acoustic cues that serve for offspring recognition by Baywings develop in young Screaming Cowbirds independently of social experience.
Efferocytosis: molecular mechanisms and pathophysiological perspectives
Authors: Gheibi Hayat Seyed Mohammad , Bianconi Vanessa , Pirro Matteo , Sahebkar Amirhossein
Published: September 2018

During the life of a human being, several tons of apoptotic cells and debris are produced. These apoptotic particles should be cleared quickly and accurately from the body, as they may lose their membrane integrity with the probability of leakage of cytotoxic materials and other intracellular antigens into the environment. The action of removing apoptotic particles occurs by a process called efferocytosis. Efferocytosis is a highly regulated balance among a set of find‐me, eat‐me and don't‐eat‐me signals. Efferocytosis is accompanied by a suppression of the immune system that can explain its negative role in cancer. Additionally, defects in this process can lead to different diseases. In this review, we aim to describe the mechanism of efferocytosis and evaluate its association with the development of autoimmune diseases, airway inflammation, atherosclerosis and cancer to open a new window for the treatment of these diseases.
Moderating effect of occupational stress on spirituality and depression of Registered Nurses in tertiary hospital: A structural equation model
Authors: Batalla Vince Rhian D. , Barrameda Anna Lea N. , Basal Janssen Matthew S. , Bathan Angelica Sherree J. , Bautista Jon Ernst G. , Rebueno Ma. Carina D. R. , Macindo John Rey B.
Published: September 2018

Aim

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of spirituality to depression and to determine the moderating effect of occupational stress among Registered Nurses.

Background

Depression is a major contributor to the global burden of disease and it is influenced by several factors. Spirituality can be a protective factor against depression. However, it remains underexplored among nurses who experience several precipitating factors of depression, including occupational stress.

Design

Cross‐sectional, predictive‐correlational study.

Methods

From August ‐ December 2017, 242 purposively selected nurses from selected tertiary hospitals completed a four‐part survey packet composed of the “robotfoto,” Spirituality Assessment Scale, Expanded Nursing Stress Scale, and Beck's Depression Inventory‐II. Structural equation modelling analysed the influence of spirituality to depression, while multigroup analysis determined the moderating effect of occupational stress.

Results

“Personal faith, spiritual contentment, and religious practice” negatively influenced depression, generating a good model. Occupational stress significantly moderated the influence of spirituality to depression, with a significant inverse U‐shaped effect for both “personal faith” and “religious practice” and a non‐significant decreasing effect for “spiritual contentment”.

Conclusion

The stress‐moderated model of the influence of spirituality to depression highlights three significant points. First, there is a need to develop individualized, spiritually based interventions based on the spiritual needs of Registered Nurses. Second, policies geared towards positive spirituality in the workplace and spiritual support to nurses must be explored. Finally, nurse managers must identify the sources of occupational stress and implement stress‐reducing programmes in the workplace.
Napping on night‐shifts among nursing staff: A mixed‐methods systematic review
Authors: Li Huanhuan , Shao Yanping , Xing Zhuangjie , Li Yuan , Wang Shouqi , Zhang Meiling , Ying Jie , Shi Ying , Sun Jiao
Published: September 2018

Aims

To synthesize research on the influence of night‐shift napping on nurses.

Background

Shift work is common for hospital nurses. Various studies corroborate that shift work causes adverse health consequences for nurses. Night‐shift napping is a countermeasure to address the adverse outcomes of shift work.

Design

A mixed‐methods systematic review.

Data sources

The literature search included the PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, PsycINFO and Cochrane Library electronic databases from inception to December 2017. Reference lists were hand searched. Only English articles were chosen.

Review methods

A sequential explanatory design and Cochrane's methods for integrating qualitative and implementation evidence in intervention effectiveness reviews. The Mixed Methods Assessment Tool and Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool were applied to assess the methodological quality of included studies.

Results

Twenty‐two studies met our inclusion criteria. Many nurses experienced napping during their night‐shift although no clear policy emerged. Napping is beneficial to the well‐being of nurses and could improve their psychomotor vigilance and performance. However, the related studies are limited. The evidence on reducing sleepiness and fatigue was also insufficient and napping in nursing still faces challenges.

Conclusion

Although research on this topic has just started, napping during night‐shift is beneficial to nurses’ health and performance. Research should further explore the long‐term impact on of night‐shift napping on nurses, people and organization using sound methodological designs. Managers should actively develop strategies to address night‐shift napping barriers.
Embracing the Focus of the Discipline of Nursing: Critical Caring Pedagogy
Authors: Chinn Peggy L. , Falk‐Rafael Adeline
Published: September 2018

Purpose

To present a theoretical model that grounds teaching and learning in nursing in the focus, values, and ideals of nursing as a discipline.

Organizing Constructs

The critical caring pedagogy model was formed by integrating Falk‐Rafael's theory of critical caring in public health nursing, Noddings’ philosophy of caring education, and Chinn's theory of peace and power.

Methods

The model of critical caring pedagogy was developed by logical analysis of the three organizing constructs and the conceptual relationships between and among these constructs. The analysis was informed by the authors’ experiences implementing the theoretical constructs in teaching and learning.

Conclusions

When nurse educators ground teaching and learning practice in nursing's own theoretical and philosophic foundation, they teach nursing in powerful ways that show nursing values and ideals through action, revealing deeper meanings of the words that form texts, lectures, and objectives set forth in a curriculum outline.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing students who experience education that is grounded in nursing's own disciplinary focus acquire an appreciation of nursing's disciplinary knowledge grounded in experience, paving the way for grounding their eventual practice in nursing theoretical perspectives.
Nursing handover of vital signs at the transition of care from the emergency department to the inpatient ward: An integrative review
Authors: Cross Rachel , Considine Julie , Currey Judy
Published: September 2018

Aim

To examine nursing handover of vital signs during patient care transition from the emergency department (ED) to inpatient wards.

Background

Communication failures are a leading cause of patient harm making communication through clinical handover an international healthcare priority. The transition of care fromEDto ward settings is informed by nursing handover. Vital sign abnormalities in theEDare associated with clinical deterioration following hospital admission. Understanding the role and perceived value of vital sign content in clinical handover is important for patient safety.

Methods

An integrative design was used. A search of electronic databases was undertaken usingMEDLINE,CINAHL,EMBASE, Cochrane, Web of Science andSCOPUS. Identified records were screened to elicit further studies for inclusion. A comprehensive peer‐review screening process was performed. Studies were included that described the surrounding issues of handover, vital signs,ED, transition of care and ward.

Results

Five studies were included in the final review, one specific to nursing and four specific to emergency medicine. Vital signs were perceived to be an important inclusion in clinical handover, and the communication of vital signs in handover was perceived to be indicators for patient safety and risk factors for future clinical deterioration. TheEDenvironment had an influence on effective communication within handover.

Conclusions

Vital signs were an important inclusion for clinical handover. Deficiencies in vital sign content were perceived to be risk factors for patient adverse events following hospital admission. The quality of vital sign information in clinical handover may be important for accurate decision‐making.

Relevance to clinical practice

Vital signs are an important component of clinical handover and are perceived to be indicators for patient safety and risk of future adverse events.
Peptide‐based multi‐agonists: a new paradigm in metabolic pharmacology
Authors: Brandt S. J. , Müller T. D. , DiMarchi R. D. , Tschöp M. H. , Stemmer K.
Published: September 2018

Obesity and its comorbidities, such as type 2 diabetes, are pressing worldwide health concerns. Available anti‐obesity treatments include weight loss pharmacotherapies and bariatric surgery. Whilst surgical interventions typically result in significant and sustained weight loss, available pharmacotherapies are far less effective, typically decreasing body weight by no more than 5–10%. An emerging class of multi‐agonist drugs may eventually bridge this gap. This new class of specially tailored drugs hybridizes the amino acid sequences of key metabolic hormones into one single entity with enhanced potency and sustained action. Successful examples of this strategy include multi‐agonist drugs targeting the receptors for glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1), glucagon and the glucose‐dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP). Due to the simultaneous activity at several metabolically relevant receptors, these multi‐agonists offer improved body weight loss and glucose tolerance relative to their constituent monotherapies. Further advancing this concept, chimeras were generated that covalently link nuclear acting hormones such as oestrogen, thyroid hormone (T3) or dexamethasone to peptide hormones such as GLP‐1 or glucagon. The benefit of this strategy is to restrict the nuclear hormone action exclusively to cells expressing the peptide hormone receptor, thereby maximizing combinatorial metabolic efficacy of both drug constituents in the target cells whilst preventing the nuclear hormone cargo from entering and acting on cells devoid of the peptide hormone receptor, in which the nuclear hormone might have unwanted effects. Many of these multi‐agonists are in preclinical and clinical development and may represent new and effective tools in the fight against obesity and its comorbidities.
“Then you raise them with Shirchoy or cookies”: Understanding influences on delayed dietary diversity among children in Tajikistan
Authors: Klassen Ann C. , Milliron Brandy Joe , Suehiro Yuki , Abdulloeva Safina , Leonberg Beth , Grossman Suzanne , Chenault Margaret , Bossert Lisa , Maqsood Jalal , Abduzhalilov Rauf , Iskandari Malika
Published: September 2018

Dietary diversity is a key component of infant and young child feeding (IYCF) as well as adult health. In Tajikistan, a predominantly rural, former Soviet country in Central Asia, we conducted formative research to identify barriers to dietary diversity and strategies for nutrition behaviour change. In Spring, 2016, mixed‐methods data collection took place across 13 villages in all five regions, collecting collaborative mapping; structured assessments of stores and markets; home visits for dietary recalls; food storage, preparation, and meal observations; focus groups with pregnant women, mothers of young children, fathers, and mothers‐in‐law; and in‐depth expert interviews with local nutrition and health influentials. Overall, maternal diet was adequate in terms of diversity (only 13% reported <5/10 food groups in the past 24 hr); however, only 42% of index children 6–24 months met WHO guidelines for diversity, and only 34% met minimum acceptable diet criteria. In addition to issues of poverty and food scarcity, qualitative data reveal many behavioural barriers to timely introduction of diverse complementary foods. Women's strategies focused on gradual introduction of household diet components, without regard for diversity or nutrition. Foods such as meat were seen as costly and thus inappropriate for IYCF, and food taboos (i.e., fresh vegetables) further reduced diversity. Infant food preparation methods such as grinding were seen as impractical, and many foods were withheld until children develop teeth. Possible nutrition education strategies include point‐of‐purchase campaigns to improve availability and appeal of IYCF‐friendly foods, as well as influencing other key household members through mosques, schools, and health care providers.
Maternal behavioural determinants and livestock ownership are associated with animal source food consumption among young children during fasting in rural Ethiopia
Authors: Kim Sunny S. , Nguyen Phuong Hong , Tran Lan Mai , Abebe Yewelsew , Asrat Yonas , Tharaney Manisha , Menon Purnima
Published: September 2018

Religious fasting often involves abstention from animal source foods (ASFs). Although children are exempt, their diets are influenced by the widespread fasting practices. This study investigated the factors influencing ASF consumption among young children during the Lent fasting period in western Amhara, Ethiopia. We used baseline survey data from households with children 6–23 months of age (n = 2,646). We conducted regression analysis to examine the maternal and household factors associated with ASF consumption and path analysis to examine the direct and indirect effects of maternal knowledge, beliefs, social norms, and livestock ownership on ASF consumption. Only 24% of children consumed any ASF in the previous day—18% dairy products, 5% eggs, and 2% flesh foods. Mothers with high knowledge, beliefs, and social norms about feeding children ASFs during fasting had higher odds (odds ratio: 1.3–1.4) of children who consumed them. Compared with households with no ASFs, those with ASFs available were 4.8 times more likely to have children who consumed them. Most of the association between knowledge, beliefs and social norms, and ASF consumption was explained by pathways operating through ASF availability (approximately 9, 12, and 8 pp higher availability, respectively), which in turn were associated with higher consumption. Cow ownership was directly and indirectly associated with ASF consumption, whereas having chickens was indirectly associated with consumption via the availability pathway. Our findings corroborate the importance of maternal behavioural determinants related to feeding ASFs to children during fasting on ASF consumption via household availability and the positive influence of livestock ownership.
Lineage‐specific duplication and adaptive evolution of bitter taste receptor genes in bats
Authors: Jiao Hengwu , Wang Yi , Zhang Libiao , Jiang Peihua , Zhao Huabin
Published: September 2018

By generating raw genetic material and diverse biological functions, gene duplication represents a major evolutionary mechanism that is of fundamental importance in ecological adaptation. The lineage‐specific duplication events of bitter taste receptor genes (Tas2rs) have been identified in a number of vertebrates, but functional evolution of newTas2rcopies after duplication remains largely unknown. Here, we present the largest data set of batTas2rs to date, identified from existing genome sequences of 15 bat species and newly sequenced from 17 bat species, and demonstrate lineage‐specific duplications ofTas2r16,Tas2r18andTas2r41that only occurred inMyotisbats.Myotisbats are highly speciose and represent the only mammalian genus that is naturally distributed on every continent except Antarctica. The occupation of such diverse habitats might have driven theTas2rgene expansion. New copies ofTas2rs inMyotisbats have shown molecular adaptation and functional divergence. For example, three copies ofTas2r16inMyotis davidiishowed differential sensitivities to arbutin and salicin that may occur in their insect prey, as suggested by cell‐based functional assays. We hypothesize that functional differences amongTas2rcopies inMyotisbats would increase their survival rate through preventing the ingestion of an elevated number of bitter‐tasting dietary toxins from their insect prey, which may have facilitated their adaptation to diverse habitats. Our study demonstrates functional changes of newTas2rcopies after lineage‐specific duplications inMyotisbats and highlights the potential role of taste perception in exploiting new environments.
Sex chromosome inversions enforce reproductive isolation across an avian hybrid zone
Authors: Hooper Daniel M. , Griffith Simon C. , Price Trevor D.
Published: September 2018

Across hybrid zones, the sex chromosomes are often more strongly differentiated than the autosomes. This is regularly attributed to the greater frequency of reproductive incompatibilities accumulating on sex chromosomes and their exposure in the heterogametic sex. Working within an avian hybrid zone, we explore the possibility that chromosome inversions differentially accumulate on the Z chromosome compared to the autosomes and thereby contribute to Z chromosome differentiation. We analyse the northern Australian hybrid zone between two subspecies of the long‐tailed finch (Poephila acuticauda), first described based on differences in bill colour, using reduced‐representation genomic sequencing for 293 individuals over a 1,530‐km transect. Autosomal differentiation between subspecies is minimal. In contrast, 75% of the Z chromosome is highly differentiated and shows a steep genomic cline, which is displaced 350 km to the west of the cline in bill colour. Differentiation is associated with two or more putative chromosomal inversions, each predominating in one subspecies. If inversions reduce recombination between hybrid incompatibilities, they are selectively favoured and should therefore accumulate in hybrid zones. We argue that this predisposes inversions to differentially accumulate on the Z chromosome. One genomic region affecting bill colour is on the Z, but the main candidates are on chromosome 8. This and the displacement of the bill colour and Z chromosome cline centres suggest that bill colour has not strongly contributed to inversion accumulation. Based on cline width, however, the Z chromosome and bill colour both contribute to reproductive isolation established between this pair of subspecies.
FlhF(T368A) modulates motility in the bacteriophage carrier state of Campylobacter jejuni
Authors: Liang Lu , Connerton Ian F.
Published: September 2018

The carrier state is an alternative bacteriophage life cycle by which virulent bacteriophage can persist in association with host bacteria. Campylobacter jejuni carrier state strains exhibit growth phase dependent motility due to a truncated flagella phenotype. Genome sequencing identified a T368A substitution in the G3 domain of the SRP‐like GTPase FlhF from C. jejuni PT14CP30A carrier state strains, which we hypothesized to be the cause of the complex motility phenotype. We have analyzed the role of this mutation in C. jejuni PT14 and demonstrated that flhF(T368A) leads to a large proportion of cells unable to synthesize flagella, while the remaining cells form a single flagellum at one pole leading to significantly reduced motility. The flhF(T368A) mutation causes a reduction in the phage adsorption constant, which leads to a decrease in infection efficiency. Down‐regulation of σ28 and σ54 dependent flagellar genes were observed as responses to the flhF(T368A) mutation. FlhF(T368A) protein is impaired in GTPase activity and exhibits reduced stability. C. jejuni carrying flhF(T368A) are less sensitive to bacteriophage infection and formation of the carrier state. The acquisition of flhF(T368A) in carrier state strains acts to prevent super‐infection and maintain association with the bacteriophage that provoked the interaction.
Specialized pro‐resolving lipid mediators in experimental periodontitis: A systematic review
Authors: Osorio Parra Marcela M. , Elangovan Satheesh , Lee Chun‐Teh
Published: September 2018

Recently, several studies demonstrated the potential of using specialized pro‐resolving lipid mediators (SPMs), as a novel approach, in treating periodontitis in pre‐clinical models. This review aimed to systematically evaluate the biological actions of SPMs on periodontal tissues in animals with experimentally induced periodontitis. This systematic review was performed by following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Studies were searched in three databases. Meta‐analysis was not performed because of the data heterogeneity. Study quality was assessed using Systematic Review Centre for Laboratory Animal Experimentation (SYRCLE) Risk of Bias tool. Six studies using an experimental periodontitis model to test the efficacy of SPMs were selected. Resolvin E1 and lipoxins were topically applied to treat experimental periodontitis. Alveolar bone loss could be significantly prevented and regenerated by applying SPMs, when compared to the control group. The dosages of SPMs and the periods of disease induction varied based on the pre‐clinical model employed. Two studies further demonstrated the positive shift in microbial composition, in line with positive shift in inflammatory status, that are regulated by SPMs. Clinical studies are needed to optimize the application of SPMs in treating periodontal diseases in humans.
Breeding new varieties for controlled environments
Authors: Folta K. M.
Published: September 2018

Agricultural production in controlled environments is increasingly feasible, and may play an important role in providing nutrition and choice to growing urban centres. New technologies in lighting, ventilation, robotics and irrigation are just a few of the innovations that enable production of high‐value specialty crops outside of a traditional field setting. However, despite all of the advances in the hardware within the plant factory operation, innovation of the most complex machine has been neglected – the plant itself. Indoor agricultural operations typically rely on legacy varieties, plants selected and bred for field conditions. In the field, phenotypic stability is paramount, as production must be consistent in an unpredictable and changing environment. However, the controlled environment affords focus on different breeding priorities as environmental flux, pests, pathogens and post‐harvest quality are less formidable barriers to production. On the contrary, breeding for controlled environments shifts the focus to a completely different set of plant traits, such as rapid growth, performance in low light environments and active manipulation of plant stature. Instead of breeding for phenotypic stability, plants may be bred to maximise genetic plasticity, allowing specific traits to be presented as a function of the quality of the ambient light spectrum. In this scenario plant varieties may be grown with optimal size, supporting a focus on consumer traits like flavour or accumulation of health‐related compounds. Gene editing may be a central technology in the production of designer plants for controlled environments. This review considers the opportunity for breeding for controlled environments, with a focus on a revision of priorities for controlled‐environment breeders.
Action‐associated modulation of visual event‐related potentials evoked by abstract and ecological stimuli
Authors: Csifcsák Gábor , Balla Viktória Roxána , Dalos Vera Daniella , Kilencz Tünde , Biró Edit Magdolna , Urbán Gábor , Szalóki Szilvia
Published: September 2018

This study investigated the influence of action‐associated predictive processes on visual ERPs. In two experiments, we sought evidence for sensory attenuation (SA) indexed by ERP amplitude reductions for self‐induced stimuli when compared to passive viewing of the same images. We assessed if SA is (a) present for both ecological and abstract stimuli (pictures depicting hands or checkerboards), (b) modulated by the degree of stimulus predictability (certain or uncertain action‐effect contingencies), and (c) sensitive to laterality of hand movements (dominant or subdominant hand actions). We found reduced occipital responses in the early 77–90 ms time interval (C1 component), irrespective of stimulus type, predictability, or the laterality of hand movements. However, the subsequent P1 component was increased (rather than reduced) for all action‐associated stimuli. In addition, this P1 effect was influenced by the degree of stimulus predictability for ecological stimuli only. Finally, the posterior N1 component was not modulated by self‐initiated actions. Overall, our findings indicate that movement‐related predictive processes attenuate early visual responses. Moreover, we propose that amplitude modulations in the P1 time range reflect the interaction between expectation‐based SA and attention‐associated amplitude enhancements. These results can have implications for assessing the influence of action‐associated predictions on visual processing in psychiatric disorders characterized by aberrant sensory predictions and alterations in hemispheric asymmetry, such as schizophrenia.
Treatable traits can be identified in a severe asthma registry and predict future exacerbations
Authors: McDonald Vanessa M. , Hiles Sarah A. , Godbout Krystelle , Harvey Erin S. , Marks Guy B. , Hew Mark , Peters Matthew , Bardin Philip G. , Reynolds Paul N. , Upham John W. , Baraket Melissa , Bhikoo Zaheerodin , Bowden Jeffrey , Brockway Ben , Chung Li Ping , Cochrane Belinda , Foxley Gloria , Garrett Jeffrey , Jayaram Lata , Jenkins Christine , Katelaris Constance , Katsoulotos Gregory , Koh Mariko S. , Kritikos Vicky , Lambert Marina , Langton David , Lara Rivero Alexis , Middleton Peter G. , Nanguzgambo Aldoph , Radhakrishna Naghmeh , Reddel Helen , Rimmer Janet , Southcott Anne Marie , Sutherland Michael , Thien Francis , Wark Peter A.B. , Yang Ian A. , Yap Elaine , Gibson Peter G.
Published: September 2018

Background and objective

A new taxonomic and management approach, termed treatable traits, has been proposed for airway diseases including severe asthma. This study examined whether treatable traits could be identified using registry data and whether particular treatable traits were associated with future exacerbation risk.

Methods

The Australasian Severe Asthma Web‐Based Database (SAWD) enrolled 434 participants with severe asthma and a comparison group of 102 participants with non‐severe asthma. Published treatable traits were mapped to registry data fields and their prevalence was described. Participants were characterized at baseline and every 6 months for 24 months.

Results

In SAWD, 24 treatable traits were identified in three domains: pulmonary, extrapulmonary and behavioural/risk factors. Patients with severe asthma expressed more pulmonary and extrapulmonary treatable traits than non‐severe asthma. Allergic sensitization, upper‐airway disease, airflow limitation, eosinophilic inflammation and frequent exacerbations were common in severe asthma. Ten traits predicted exacerbation risk; among the strongest were being prone to exacerbations, depression, inhaler device polypharmacy, vocal cord dysfunction and obstructive sleep apnoea.

Conclusion

Treatable traits can be assessed using a severe asthma registry. In severe asthma, patients express more treatable traits than non‐severe asthma. Traits may be associated with future asthma exacerbation risk demonstrating the clinical utility of assessing treatable traits.
Triaging treatable traits in asthma
Authors: Baggott Christina , Beasley Richard
Published: September 2018

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Published: September 2018

This paper uses aggregate data from the International Labor Organization and microeconomic data from the European Values Study to quantify gender gaps in entrepreneurship, distinguishing between gender gaps in employership and in self‐employment, and study their main empirical determinants. Our sample consists of 40 European countries and varies broadly in terms of institutional background since it includes several ex‐Communist countries. In the aggregate data we observe a gender gap in employers of 59% and a gender gap in self‐employment of 36%. These gaps have remained roughly constant in the 2000–2017 period, although there are wide differences in both their levels and evolution over time and across countries. Using microeconomic data, we find that the incidence of entrepreneurship, employership, and self‐employment among men is much larger than among women, consistent with the gaps estimated using aggregate data. Our regressions show that these gaps are still sizable even after controlling for a large set of control variables that include marital status, age, education, number of children, wealth, the participation of parents and spouse in entrepreneurship, values toward women, social capital, and prior unemployment. We identify important differences between the determinants of these gaps in ex‐Communist countries and in high‐income ones.
Changing Ethically Troublesome Behavior: The Causes, Consequences, and Solutions to Motivated Resistance
Authors: Bastian Brock
Published: September 2018

Ethical dilemmas are common. Just as commonly, however, these motivational conflicts are overlooked or actively avoided in behavioral decision making. Raising awareness of the ethical implications of action can be a powerful route to changing behavior, yet this approach also risks defensive responding and the potential for backfire effects. Current models of behavior change are not well equipped to predict how people respond to behavior change interventions which seek to make salient ethical conflict. Drawing on research in the field of behavioral ethics, I detail why models of behavior change need to account for defensive responding when people are confronted with their own ethical conflicts. Furthermore, failing to understand the role of this motivated resistance leaves open the possibility of increased commitment to, rather than attempts to change, ethically troublesome behavior. In this review, I will focus my analysis on the issue of meat‐eating. Most people eat meat, yet many of these same individuals also experience ethical conflict around their meat‐consumption. Drawing on dissonance theorizing, I present an overview of the pressure points where behavior can be challenged on ethical grounds, the various strategies that individuals may use to avoid change, and ideas on how best to achieve change while also avoiding motivated resistance. This analysis will provide a working model for policymakers to understand how to design effective behavior change campaigns that draw on the power of ethical arguments while also avoiding the possibility of motivated resistance.
How sprinters accelerate beyond the velocity plateau of soccer players: Waveform analysis of ground reaction forces
Authors: Colyer Steffi L. , Nagahara Ryu , Takai Yohei , Salo Aki I. T.
Published: September 2018

Forces applied to the ground during sprinting are vital to performance. This study aimed to understand how specific aspects of ground reaction force waveforms allow some individuals to continue to accelerate beyond the velocity plateau of others. Twenty‐eight male sprint specialists and 24 male soccer players performed maximal‐effort 60‐m sprints. A 54‐force‐plate system captured ground reaction forces, which were used to calculate horizontal velocity profiles. Touchdown velocities of steps were matched (8.00, 8.25, and 8.50 m/s), and the subsequent ground contact forces were analyzed. Mean forces were compared across groups and statistical parametric mapping (t tests) assessed for differences between entire force waveforms. When individuals contacted the ground with matched horizontal velocity, ground contact durations were similar. Despite this, sprinters produced higher average horizontal power (15.7‐17.9 W/kg) than the soccer players (7.9‐11.9 W/kg). Force waveforms did not differ in the initial braking phase (0%‐~20% of stance). However, sprinters attenuated eccentric force more in the late braking phase and produced a higher antero‐posterior component of force across the majority of the propulsive phase, for example, from 31%‐82% and 92%‐100% of stance at 8.5 m/s. At this velocity, resultant forces were also higher (33%‐83% and 86%‐100% of stance) and the force vector was more horizontally orientated (30%‐60% and 95%‐98% of stance) in the sprinters. These findings illustrate the mechanisms which allowed the sprinters to continue accelerating beyond the soccer players’ velocity plateau. Moreover, these force production demands provide new insight regarding athletes’ strength and technique training requirements to improve acceleration at high velocity.
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Authors: Senghaas Monika , Freier Carolin , Kupka Peter
Published: September 2018

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Authors: Fang Chuanying , Luo Jie
Published: September 2018

Plants have served as sources providing humans with metabolites for food and nutrition, biomaterials for living, and treatment for pain and disease. Plants produce a huge array of metabolites, with an immense diversity at both the population and individual levels. Dissection of the genetic bases for metabolic diversity has attracted increasing research attention. The concept of genome‐wide association study (GWAS) was extended to studies on the diversity of plant metabolome that benefitted from the development of mass‐spectrometry‐based analytical systems and genome sequencing technologies. Metabolic genome‐wide association study (mGWAS) is one of the most powerful tools for global identification of genetic determinants for diversity of plant metabolism. Recently, mGWAS has been performed for various species with continuous improvements, providing deeper insights into the genetic bases of metabolic diversity. In this review, we discuss fully the achievements to date and remaining challenges that are associated with both mGWAS and mGWAS‐based multi‐dimensional analysis. We begin with a summary of GWAS and its development based on statistical methods and populations. As variation in targeted traits is essential for GWAS, we review metabolic diversity and its rise at both the population and individual levels. Subsequently, the application of mGWAS for plants and its corresponding achievements are fully discussed. We address the current knowledge on mGWAS‐based multi‐dimensional analysis and emerging insights into the diversity of metabolism.