bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Root‐niche separation between savanna trees and grasses is greater on sandier soils
Authors: Case Madelon F. , Nippert Jesse B. , Holdo Ricardo M. , Staver A. Carla
Published: July 2020

In savannas, partitioning of below‐ground resources by depth could facilitate tree–grass coexistence and shape vegetation responses to changing rainfall patterns. However, most studies assessing tree versus grass root‐niche partitioning have focused on one or two sites, limiting generalization about how rainfall and soil conditions influence the degree of rooting overlap across environmental gradients.

We used two complementary stable isotope techniques to quantify variation (a) in water uptake depths and (b) in fine‐root biomass distributions among dominant trees and grasses at eight semi‐arid savanna sites in Kruger National Park, South Africa. Sites were located on contrasting soil textures (clayey basaltic soils vs. sandy granitic soils) and paired along a gradient of mean annual rainfall.

Soil texture predicted variation in mean water uptake depths and fine‐root allocation. While grasses maintained roots close to the surface and consistently used shallow water, trees on sandy soils distributed roots more evenly across soil depths and used deeper soil water, resulting in greater divergence between tree and grass rooting on sandy soils. Mean annual rainfall predicted some variation among sites in tree water uptake depth, but had a weaker influence on fine‐root allocation.

Synthesis. Savanna trees overlapped more with shallow‐rooted grasses on clayey soils and were more distinct in their use of deeper soil layers on sandy soils, consistent with expected differences in infiltration and percolation. These differences, which could allow trees to escape grass competition more effectively on sandy soils, may explain observed differences in tree densities and rates of woody encroachment with soil texture. Differences in the degree of root‐niche separation could also drive heterogeneous responses of savanna vegetation to predicted shifts in the frequency and intensity of rainfall.
A king and vassals' tale: Molecular signatures of clonal integration in Posidonia oceanica under chronic light shortage
Authors: Ruocco Miriam , Entrambasaguas Laura , Dattolo Emanuela , Milito Alfonsina , Marín‐Guirao Lazaro , Procaccini Gabriele
Published: July 2020

Under unfavourable conditions, clonal plants benefit from physiological integration among ramets, sharing resources and information. Clonal integration can buffer against environmental changes and lets the plant clone work as a ‘macro’ organism. Molecular signals that regulate this phenomenon are completely unknown in marine plants.

Here we present a first comprehensive study providing insights into the metabolic role of different types of ramets (i.e. apical vs. vertical) in the foundation species Posidonia oceanica. Plants were exposed to 80% diminishing irradiance level (LL) in a controlled mesocosm system. Subsequent multiscale variations in whole transcriptome expression, global DNA methylation level, photo‐physiology, morphology and fitness‐related traits, were explored at different exposure times. We tested the hypothesis that vertical shoots (the ‘vassals’) can provide vital resources to apical shoots (the ‘kings’) under energy shortage, thus safeguarding the whole clone survival.

Whole transcriptome analysis of leaves and shoot‐apical meristems (SAMs) emphasized signatures of molecular integration among ramets, which strongly correlated with higher organization‐level responses. In both shoots types, the exposure to LL resulted in a growth slowdown throughout the experiment, which started from immediate signals in SAMs. In apical shoots, this was linked to an acclimative response, where they were suffering a mild stress condition, while in vertical ones it fell in a more severe stress response. Yet, they suffered from sugar starvation and showed a clear cellular stress response in terms of protein refolding and DNA repair mechanisms. Several epigenetic mechanisms modulated the observed gene‐expression patterns and the cross‐talk between DNA methylation and the cellular energetic status appeared to regulate shoot metabolism under LL.

Synthesis. Our results demonstrate a high level of specialization of integrated ramets within seagrass clones and a ‘division of labour’ under adverse conditions. Vertical shoots appear to do ‘most of the job’ especially in terms of resource providing, whereas activated functions in apical shoots were restricted to few important processes, according to an ‘energy‐saving’ strategy. The response of vertical shoots could be seen as a ‘sacrificing response’ allowing the survival of ‘the king’ that is key for ensuring propagation and population maintenance, and for the colonization of new environments.
Pan‐genomic analysis reveals that the evolution of Dietzia species depends on their living habitats
Authors: Fang Hui , Xu Jin‐Bo , Nie Yong , Wu Xiao‐Lei
Published: July 2020

The bacterial genus Dietzia is widely distributed in various environments. The genomes of 26 diverse strains of Dietzia, including almost all the type strains, were analysed in this study. This analysis revealed a lipid metabolism gene richness, which could explain the ability of Dietzia to live in oil related environments. The pan‐genome consists of 83,976 genes assigned into 10,327 gene families, 792 of which are shared by all the genomes of Dietzia. Mathematical extrapolation of the data suggests that the Dietzia pan‐genome is open. Both gene duplication and gene loss contributed to the open pan‐genome, while horizontal gene transfer was limited. Dietzia strains primarily gained their diverse metabolic capacity through more ancient gene duplications. Phylogenetic analysis of Dietzia isolated from aquatic and terrestrial environments showed two distinct clades from the same ancestor. The genome sizes of Dietzia strains from aquatic environments were significantly larger than those from terrestrial environments, which was mainly due to the occurrence of more gene loss events during the evolutionary progress of the strains from terrestrial environments. The evolutionary history of Dietzia was tightly coupled to environmental conditions, and iron concentrations should be one of the key factors shaping the genomes of the Dietzia lineages.
Recalibrating the reported returns to agricultural R&D: what if we all heeded Griliches?*
Authors: Rao Xudong , Hurley Terrance M. , Pardey Philip G.
Published: July 2020

Zvi Griliches’ seminal analysis of hybrid corn spawned a large literature seeking to quantify and demonstrate the value of agricultural research and development (R&D) investments. The most important metric for quantifying the rate of return to R&D emerging from this literature is the internal rate of return (IRR), even though Griliches was sceptical of its usefulness as a metric in this context. An alternative metric, also reported by Griliches but not as commonly used in the subsequent returns‐to‐research literature, is the benefit–cost ratio (BCR). We assess how the implications of the returns to agricultural R&D literature may have differed if the BCR had become the standard rather than the IRR. We reveal that the IRR and BCR produce substantially different rankings of agricultural R&D projects, differences that persist even under various commodity and geographical aggregations of the BCR and IRR estimates. The median across 2,627 reported IRRs is 37.5 per cent per year. Using data gleaned from 492 research evaluation studies, we developed and deployed a methodology to impute 2,126 BCRs (median of 5.4) and modified internal rates of returns (MIRRs, median of 16.4 per cent per year) assuming a uniform 10 per cent per year discount rate and a 30 year research timeline.
Investigation of heat‐acid induced coagulation behaviour of whole milk systems employing front‐face fluorescence spectroscopy
Authors: Chakraborty Purba , Bhattacharya Bhaswati , Shivhare Umashanker , Basu Santanu
Published: July 2020

The heat‐acid‐induced coagulation behaviour of whole milk system (buffalo, cow and mixed milk) was studied by steady‐state fluorescence spectroscopy exploiting tryptophan as a marker molecule. The varied molecular environment of tryptophan residues in the raw milk systems exerted different fluorescence properties. During the coagulation process, cow milk exhibited significant quenching and bathochromic shift in the emission spectra which was attributed to the low buffering ability and high hydration capacity of cow milk caseins. The results indicated that tryptophan residues of cow milk experienced more dynamic environment throughout the reaction as compared to buffalo milk.
Psychiatric and Forensic Differences Between Men Charged with Sex Offences and Men Charged with Other Offences
Authors: Arbanas Goran , Marinović Paula , Buzina Nadica
Published: July 2020

Studies on differences between individuals convicted of sexual offences and nonsexual offences are sparse and there is an on‐going debate as to whether sexual offenders differ from other offenders. The primary aim of this study was to determine demographic characteristics, prevalence of mental disorders, alcohol and drug use at the time of the crime and the criminal responsibility of individuals charged with sexual offences, compared to nonsexual crimes, with the aim of bringing awareness to the similarities and differences between men charged with sex offences and those charged with other crimes. This is a single‐institution retrospective study of subjects charged with sexual offences and sent for institutional psychiatric evaluation to a Forensic Psychiatric Centre in an urban, academic, tertiary‐care center. The control group consisted of individuals charged with nonsexual offences referred to the same center. Results showed significant differences between individuals charged with sexual offences and nonsexual offences. Men charged with sex offences more frequently committed their crimes alone and victimized children equally as often as adults. They also less frequently pleaded guilty in court. They were more likely to be abused in childhood and more often had antisocial personality disorder and paraphilias and less often substance‐related disorders. The majority were considered criminally responsible. Our results show that sex offenders are different from nonsex offenders in many characteristics of their personal history, offence characteristics and forensic evaluations and these particular differences warrant different approaches to the prevention of future re‐offending, compared to nonsex offenders.
Hypothermia‐related Deaths: A 10‐year Retrospective Study of Two Major Metropolitan Cities in the United States*
Authors: Dickinson Gregory M. , Maya Gene X. , Lo Yungtai , Jarvis Hannah C.
Published: July 2020

Hypothermia‐related deaths affect vulnerable populations and are preventable. They account for the vast majority of weather‐related deaths in the United States. The postmortem diagnosis of hypothermia can be challenging, as there are no pathognomonic signs. The electronic databases of the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner and Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences were searched for all fatalities where the primary cause of death included hypothermia, between January 2009 and July 2019. There were 139 hypothermia deaths in New York City (NYC) with an average annualized rate of 1.7 per million. During this same time, there were 50 hypothermia deaths in Houston with an average annualized rate of 2.4 per million. Males were more likely to die of hypothermia compared to females in both cities. The rate ratio (RR) in NYC was 3.55 (95% CI 2.40, 5.25), while the RR in Houston was 2.83 (95% CI 1.50, 5.32). Age‐ and sex‐specific standardized hypothermia mortality rates were 18.2 (95% CI 15.1, 21.2) per million in NYC and 30.1 (95% CI 21.7, 38.6) per million in Houston. The comparative hypothermia death ratio was 1.66 (95% CI 1.19, 2.30), indicating hypothermia mortality in Houston was 66% higher than in NYC. There was no correlation between zip code poverty rates and hypothermia‐related deaths. The most consistent autopsy finding was Wischnewski spots (56.6%), and ethanol was the most common toxicological finding (36.5%). Local agencies can use this data to target these higher‐risk populations and offer appropriate interventions to try to prevent these deaths.
Beetles succession on different microhabitats of small mammals in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Authors: Al‐Mekhlafi Fahd A.
Published: July 2020

The decay of small carcasses is considerably neglected although it may provide important forensic data. This study differentiates the beetle species correlated with rat, Rattus norvegicus and mouse, Mus musculus (L. 1758) carcasses placed in two different habitats at King Saud University in western Riyadh. Decay processes and beetle succession were analyzed from January to February 2018. We collected an average of 268.67 beetles belonging to nine species from eight families, including Histeridae, Dermestidae, Cleridae, Tenebrionidae, Staphylinidae, Coccinellidae, Melolonthinae, and Pyrrhocoridae. Collected specimens were identified morphologically and by molecular techniques based on the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. Their presence rose in the bloated and decaying stages of decomposition. The beetle communities differed between the two habitats. In addition, a distinctive beetle community was found in the decaying stage compared to the other stages. The lowest number of beetles was reported in the dry stage. The abundance of beetles was associated with carcass size (rat or mouse) and habitat type.
Holistic assessment of the microbiome dynamics in the substrates used for commercial champignon (Agaricus bisporus) cultivation
Authors: Carrasco Jaime , García‐Delgado Carlos , Lavega Rebeca , Tello María L. , De Toro María , Barba‐Vicente Víctor , Rodríguez‐Cruz María S. , Sánchez‐Martín María J. , Pérez Margarita , Preston Gail M.
Published: July 2020

Microorganisms strongly influence and are required to generate the selective substrate that provides nutrients and support for fungal growth, and ultimately to induce mushroom fructification under controlled environmental conditions. In this work, the fungal and bacterial microbiota living in the different substrates employed in a commercial crop (compost phase I, II and III, flush 1 and 2, and casing material on day 1, 6 and 8 after compost casing and during flush 1 and 2) have been characterized along the different stages of cultivation by metataxonomic analysis (16S rRNA and ITS2), analysis of phospholipid fatty acid content (PLFAs) and RT‐qPCR. Additionally, laccase activity and the content of lignin and complex carbohydrates in compost and casing have been quantified. The bacterial diversity in compost and casing increased throughout the crop cycle boosted by the connection of both substrates. As reflected by the PLFAs, the total living bacterial biomass appears to be negatively correlated with the mycelium of the crop. Agaricus bisporus was the dominant fungal species in colonized substrates, displacing the pre‐eminent Ascomycota, accompanied by a sustained increase in laccase activity, which is considered to be a major product of protein synthesis during the mycelial growth of champignon. From phase II onwards, the metabolic machinery of the fungal crop degrades lignin and carbohydrates in compost, while these components are hardly degraded in casing, which reflects the minor role of the casing for nourishing the crop. The techniques employed in this study provide a holistic and detailed characterization of the changing microbial composition in commercial champignon substrates. The knowledge generated will contribute to improve compost formulations (selection of base materials) and accelerate compost production, for instance, through biotechnological interventions in the form of tailored biostimulants and to design environmentally sustainable bio‐based casing materials.
Quality improvement in paediatric radiation oncology through peer review
Authors: Murphy Laura , Cantwell Jessica , Chard Jennifer , Cheuk Robyn , Harrington Christopher , Hindson Ben , Salkeld Alison , Saran Frank , Wheeler Greg , Wiltshire Kirsty , Ahern Verity
Published: July 2020

Introduction

Around 300 children in Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) undergo a course of radiation treatment (RT) each year. A fortnightly videoconference for radiation oncologists managing children started in 2013. We conducted an audit of the videoconference to assess its influence on the care of children who receive RT in ANZ.

Methods

De‐identified data from minutes (August 2013–December 2019) were analysed retrospectively using three categories: meeting participation, case presentations and management decisions.

Results

There were 119 meetings and 334 children discussed over the six‐year audit period with regular attendance from four of 11 centres treating children in ANZ. Most cases (80%) were discussed prior to RT. A change in the overall management plan was recommended for around one in eight patients (35/334, 13%). RT plan reviews were performed in 79 cases (23%). Adjustments were made to the target volume contours or treatment plan in 8% (6/79).

Conclusion

Increasing the frequency of the meeting to weekly and compliant with the RANZCR Peer Review Audit Tool has the capacity to review all paediatric RT patients in ANZ prior to RT and initiate changes for as many as one in eight children treated by RT each year. The meeting should be considered a core component necessary to maintain expertise in paediatric RT in all centres providing RT for children in ANZ while also acting as a proton referral panel as more children are referred abroad for proton therapy before the Australian Bragg Centre for Proton Therapy opens in Adelaide in 2024.
Diagnostic performance of the 2012 EULAR/ACR classification criteria for polymyalgia rheumatica in Korean patients
Authors: Lee Kyung‐Ann , Kim Hyun‐Sook , Lee Sang‐Heon , Kim Hae‐Rim
Published: July 2020

Aim

This prospective study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the 2012 European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR)/American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria for polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) compared to that of previous classification/diagnostic criteria in the Korean population.

Method

We consecutively included 77 patients aged ≥50 years presenting with bilateral shoulder pain and elevated acute‐phase reactants. All patients were evaluated for fulfillment of each of the 5 different criteria for PMR (Chuang et al, Bird, Jones and Hazleman, Healey, and the EULAR/ACR criteria). At baseline, bilateral ultrasound (US) examinations of the shoulders and hips were performed. Final diagnosis was made by an experienced rheumatologist at the 12‐month follow‐up. The area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity of criteria sets were assessed.

Results

At the end of follow‐up, 38 and 39 patients were diagnosed with PMR and non‐PMR including rheumatoid arthritis (RA, n = 20), respectively. The EULAR/ACR classification criteria with US showed the best discriminating capacity (AUC 0.843). Adding US to EULAR/ACR criteria increased specificity from 74.4% to 89.7%, but decreased sensitivity from 89.5% to 78.9%. The two US items of the EULAR/ACR criteria were significantly more frequent in patients with PMR than in controls. However, the second criterion consisting of both shoulders inflamed were similar between PMR (60.5%) and RA (60.0%) groups.

Conclusion

The 2012 EULAR/ACR classification criteria for PMR performed best in classifying PMR from other inflammatory and non‐inflammatory disorders with shoulder pain in Asian populations.
Order imbalance and stock returns: New evidence from the Chinese stock market
Authors: Zhang Ting , Jiang George J. , Zhou Wei‐Xing
Published: July 2020

We examine the relation between daily order imbalance and stock returns in the Chinese stock market. We show that lagged order imbalance significantly and negatively predicts future stock returns. In addition, the predictive relation is robust for size and turnover subsamples, but stronger for small stocks and stocks with high turnover. Finally, we show that a dynamic trading strategy based on lagged order imbalance generates positive returns with a Sharpe ratio much higher than those of passive strategies. Our results shed new light on the role of inventory effects in stock price movements in an order‐driven market.
Child Health Nurses' experiences of addressing psychosocial risk factors with the families they meet
Authors: Engström Maria , Hiltunen Johanna , Wallby Thomas , Lucas Steven
Published: July 2020

Aim

To examine how child health nurses perceive the routine assessment of psychosocial risk factors in the family environment as well as their self‐reported competence and the present organisational conditions in this context.

Method

A mixed‐methods design was used, including three focus group interviews and a web‐based survey. Qualitative data were analysed using systematic text condensation. Quantitative data were analysed at the descriptive level.

Results

Nurses expressed that identifying psychosocial risk factors was both important and relevant to their work. They had little formal training and education on most psychosocial risk factors, and they lacked structured methods to address them. In areas where nurses reported more formal education and a structured methodology (depression, parental stress), they rated to a higher degree that they possessed sufficient skills and sense of security. The nurses perceived that they seldom came into contact with families with financial problems, hazardous alcohol use or intimate partner violence.

Conclusions

There is a gap between the nurses’ attitudes regarding the importance of helping families in need and their ability to do so with the current level of training and methodological support. The results suggest that, in many cases, psychosocial problems remain undetected.
7Learning to Listen: Stakeholder Perspectives on Gender at a Thule‐Era Alaskan Village
Authors: Sloan Anna C.
Published: July 2020

This paper explores how feminist and indigenous archaeologies can ally to produce decolonizing heritage practice through intersubjective methods. Intersectional feminisms, particularly Native feminisms, suggest that focusing on local gender contexts in indigenous community research can subvert settler colonial systems, under which sexism and racism conspire to oppress Native people. I apply these insights about the decolonizing potential of localized gender research to a community‐centered project at Nunalleq, a Thule‐era site near the Yup'ik village of Quinhagak, Alaska. Here, stakeholder perspectives on gender suggest that framing site interpretations through concepts of family and teaching/learning would align with community values in potentially powerful ways.
12Heritage Practice: The Politics of Racism/Gender/Sexuality
Authors: Rizvi Uzma Z.
Published: July 2020

In this piece, I highlight the critical interventions presented in this collection for archaeology as heritage practice, as well as amplify many of the points that were made in relation to politics, particularly around the intersection of racism and gender/sexuality. Core tensions running through this collection are the many relationships between ways of being, concepts of heritage, visibility/invisibility of communities of people, and the practice and management of heritage. The interconnections between identity and heritage are shown as multiple and nuanced. This collection stands at the precipice of radically calling out the white heteropatriarchy that is the structural foundation of modern archaeology; rather than raising its voice, it is a polite, yet insistent, articulation of why inequity exists and how a feminist heritage practice might be able to address this issue in a new way. I will rely on the work of radical feminist scholars, thinkers, poets, and activists to support and articulate strength: each subheading cites a radical feminist thinker, and through the use of their words, I hope to elevate the work we are all engaged in—and it is work; much more needs to be done.
Improvement in histological endpoints of MAFLD following a 12‐week aerobic exercise intervention
Authors: O’Gorman Philip , Naimimohasses Sara , Monaghan Ann , Kennedy Megan , Melo Ashanty M. , Ní Fhloinn Deirdre , Doherty Derek G. , Beddy Peter , Finn Stephen P. , Moore J. Bernadette , Gormley John , Norris Suzanne
Published: July 2020

Background

Lifestyle interventions are the primary treatment for metabolic (dysfunction) associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). However, the histological and cardiometabolic effects of aerobic exercise in MAFLD remain unclear.

Aims

To assess the effects of a 12‐week aerobic exercise intervention on histological and cardiometabolic endpoints in MAFLD.

Methods

Patients with biopsy‐confirmed MAFLD participated in a 12‐week aerobic exercise intervention. Liver histology, cardiorespiratory fitness (estimated V̇O2max), physical activity, anthropometry and biochemical markers were assessed at baseline, intervention completion, and 12 and 52 weeks after intervention completion.

Results

Twenty‐four patients completed the exercise intervention (exercise group n = 16, control group n = 8). In the exercise group, 12 weeks of aerobic exercise reduced fibrosis and hepatocyte ballooning by one stage in 58% (P = 0.034) and 67% (P = 0.020) of patients, with no changes in steatosis (P = 1.000), lobular inflammation (P = 0.739) or NAFLD activity score (P = 0.172). Estimated V̇O2max increased by 17% compared to the control group (P = 0.027) but this level of improvement was not maintained at 12 or 52 weeks after the intervention. Patients with fibrosis and ballooning improvement increased estimated V̇O2max by 25% (P = 0.020) and 26% (P = 0.010), respectively. Anthropometric reductions including body mass (P = 0.038), waist circumference (P = 0.015) and fat mass (P = 0.007) were also observed, but no patient achieved 7%‐10% weight loss.

Conclusion

This study highlights the potential benefits of a 12‐week aerobic exercise intervention in improving histological endpoints of MAFLD. The development of strategies to ensure continued engagement in aerobic exercise in MAFLD are needed.
Financial stability and interest‐rate policy: A quantitative assessment of costs and benefit
Authors: Laséen Stefan , Pescatori Andrea
Published: July 2020

Should monetary policy use its short‐term policy rate to stabilize the growth in household credit and housing prices with the aim of promoting financial stability? We ask this question for the case of Canada. We find that, to a first approximation, the answer is no.

Résumé.

Stabilité financière et politique de taux d’intérêt: évaluation quantitative des coûts et des avantages. Afin de favoriser la stabilité financière, la politique monétaire devrait‐elle utiliser son taux directeur à court terme pour équilibrer la croissance de l’endettement des ménages et du prix des logements ? Nous posons cette question pour le Canada. Dans une première approximation, notre réponse est négative.
Remodelling of sinus bone grafts according to the distance from the native bone: A histomorphometric analysis
Authors: Pignaton Tulio Bonna , Spin-Neto Rubens , Ferreira Carlos Eduardo de Almeida , Martinelli Carolina Borges , de Oliveira Guilherme José Pimentel Lopes , Marcantonio Jr Elcio
Published: July 2020

Objectives

To evaluate graft remodelling according to the distance from the native bone in maxillary sinuses grafted with anorganic bovine bone (ABB).

Material and methods

Bilateral sinus grafting was performed in twenty patients with residual bone height <5 mm before implant placement. After 8 months, biopsy samples were harvested, and histomorphometric analysis was performed to examine bone formation according to the distance (in mm) from the native bone (sinus floor). In the grafted area, the percentages of new bone (NB), residual graft material (rABB), and soft tissue (ST) were evaluated.

Results

A total of 103 biopsy samples were evaluated, and the percentages of NB, rABB, and ST were 31.62 ± 9.85%, 18.94 ± 7.88%, and 49.41 ± 9.52%, respectively, in the 1st mm; 27.15 ± 9.83%, 23.33 ± 9.45%, and 49.53 ± 11.73%, respectively, in the 2nd mm; 23.61 ± 13.02%, 21.35 ± 11.08%, and 55.03 ± 16.14%, respectively, in the 3rd mm; and 21.67 ± 12.29%, 19.67 ± 10.28%, and 58.66 ± 12.46%, respectively, in the 4th mm. The 1st millimetre of the grafted area (closer to the native bone) presented a larger amount of NB than the other portions of the grafted areas and a smaller amount of rABB than the 2nd mm of the grafted area (p < .05). The amount of ST was larger in the 3rd and 4th mm of the grafted area than in the first 2 millimetres (p < .05).

Conclusion

The distance from the native bone influences bone formation following maxillary sinus augmentation
Extension of the strain energy density method for fatigue assessment of welded joints to sub‐zero temperatures
Authors: Braun Moritz , Fischer Claas , Fricke Wolfgang , Ehlers Sören
Published: July 2020

Within stress‐based fatigue assessment concepts, causes that do not influence the fatigue stress parameters, such as temperature, can only be accounted for by means of modification factors. The strain energy density (SED) method allows to account for changing material support effects and Young's modulus with temperature directly. Thus, in this study, a concept is presented to extend the SED method for fatigue assessment of welded joints at sub‐zero temperatures. For this purpose, fatigue test results of welded joints made from normal and high‐strength structural steel are assessed in the range of 20°C down to −50°C. The results are evaluated based on the formula that is used to derive the SED control radii of welded joints and compared with results of studies on SED‐based assessment of notched components at high temperatures. From the estimates of the control radii, a temperature modification function for SED is derived for design purposes.
Suitable habitats of fish species in the Barents Sea
Authors: Husson Bérengère , Certain Gregoire , Filin Anatoly , Planque Benjamin
Published: July 2020

Many marine species exhibit poleward migrations following climate change. The Barents Sea, a doorstep to the fast‐warming Arctic, is experiencing large scale changes in its environment and its communities. Tracking and anticipating changes for management and conservation purposes at the scale of the ecosystem necessitate quantitative knowledge on individual species distribution drivers. This paper aims at identifying the factors controlling demersal habitats in the Barents Sea, investigating for which species we can predict current and future habitats and inferring those most likely to respond to climate change. We used non‐linear quantile regressions (QGAM) to model the upper quantile of the biomass response of 33 fish species to 10 environmental gradients and revealed three environmental niche typologies. Four main predictors seem to be limiting species habitat: bottom and surface temperature, salinity, and depth. We highlighted three cases of present and future habitat predictability: (a) Habitats of widespread species are not likely to be limited by the existing conditions within the Barents Sea. (b) Habitats limited by a single factor are predictable and could shift if impacted by climate change. If the factor is depth, the habitat may stagnate or shrink if the environment becomes unsuitable. (c) Habitats limited by several factors are also predictable but need to be predicted from QGAM applied on projected environmental maps. These modeled suitable habitats can serve as input to species distribution forecasts and end‐to‐end models, and inform fisheries and conservation management.
Changes in trust and trait anxiety: The mediating role of changes in self‐rated health among older adults in Taiwan
Authors: Jhang Fang‐Hua
Published: July 2020

Aim

This study examined whether changes in generalized trust and bonding trust are related to changes in trait anxiety, and whether changes in self‐rated health mediate the relationship between changes in two types of trust and trait anxiety among older Taiwanese adults.

Methods

A hierarchical regression model and a mediation model were separately used to analyze two‐wave panel data on 763 older adults from the Panel Study of Family Dynamics in Taiwan.

Results

Our findings show that changes in bonding trust (but not changes in generalized trust) are associated with changes in trait anxiety. The results show that sustaining a high level of bonding trust is associated with consistently good health, which in turn decreases anxiety. The relationship between changes in bonding trust and trait anxiety was found to be partially mediated by changes in self‐rated health among older people.

Conclusions

The results suggest that bonding trust is more beneficial for the promotion of self‐rated health and reducing trait anxiety than generalized trust in a given context. Policies aiming to ameliorate anxiety among older adults should take into consideration the importance of the developing bonding trust and promoting health in Chinese societies. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; 20: 833–838.
The use of sentinel logs to assess host shifts in early beetle colonisers of deadwood under climate‐ and forestry‐induced tree species substitutions
Authors: Bouget Christophe , Brin Antoine , Larrieu Laurent
Published: July 2020

Global change scenarios project drastic modifications in tree species range and an increase in exotic tree plantations. Subsequent tree species substitutions may alter habitat conditions for biodiversity.

We measured substitutability between tree species for early deadwood colonisers, through a sentinel log approach, i.e. through the experimental exposure of paired down deadwood (DDW) pieces to native beetles in native stands. We compared two native/substitute tree species pairs: one conifer pair composed of a rapidly expanding exotic species (Douglas fir) and a declining native species (silver fir), and one deciduous pair composed of two native species, one expanding (sessile oak) and one retreating (beech) at the regional scale.

The effects of expanding exotic and native trees on beetle communities were not in line with expectations.

Species assemblages in Douglas fir DDW were indistinguishable from those in native silver fir DDW and did not contain fewer species. Assemblages were not more generalist on average in substitutes than in substituted trees: we did not note any decrease in species richness of functional groups to the detriment of specialist species.

Moreover, species richness and abundance were higher in substitute oak than in native beech DDW, confirming that species from the regional pool were able to colonise oak, even though it is a minor tree species at the regional level.

Large‐scale monitoring schemes including multi‐taxon, multi‐year and multiple native/substitute pairs would further our knowledge of the generic effects of tree species substitution on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.
Development and validation of a methodology for the sensometric characterisation of high‐pungency peppers: a case study of habanero pepper (Capsicum chinense Jacq.)
Authors: Ramírez‐Rivera Emmanuel de Jesús , Rodriguez‐Buenfil Ingrid Mayanin , Pérez‐Robles Mirielen , Oney‐Montalvo Julio Enrique , Prinyawiwatkul Witoon , Cabal‐Prieto Adán , Ramírez‐Sucre Manuel Octavio , Herrera‐Corredor José Andrés
Published: July 2020

The objective was to develop and validate sample testing conditions for the sensometric evaluation of habanero pepper. Stage I consisted of evaluating and selecting the most adequate conditions for the evaluation of habanero pepper. Stage II consisted of the validation of the conditions selected in Stage I. Green light, direct cut to the fresh chilli, and different mixtures of 6 g of sugar + 1.7 g of habanero pepper and 7 g of sugar + 1.7 g of habanero chilli in 150 mL of water and butter were suitable conditions for habanero pepper evaluation. TDS (temporal dominance of sensations) technique indicated that dominant attributes of habanero chilli were chilli flavour and spicy flavour. Descriptive analysis technique indicated that habanero chilli had the highest intensities in chilli aroma, fresh leaf, mouth numbness, mouth heat, chilli flavour and burn feeling sensory attributes. Sensory panel showed an adequate performance with a correct classification of chilli samples of 96.30%.
Using Twitter® as source of information for dietary market research: a study on veganism and plant‐based diets
Authors: Aleixo Marina G.B. , Sass Carla A.B. , Leal Rafael M. , Dantas Tiago M. , Pagani Mônica M. , Pimentel Tatiana C. , Freitas Mônica Q. , Cruz Adriano G. , Azeredo Denise R.P. , Esmerino Erick A.
Published: July 2020

Social media has experienced rapid growth in recent years and has been subjected of discussions on a wide range of topics including new lifestyles and eating habits, providing a great opportunity to obtain spontaneous consumer information. In this sense, the present work aimed to understand the perception of Twitter® users about themes of veganism and plant‐based diets. The social networking data mining methodology was applied to measure the relationship between both terms. The significant differences found were analysed using the global chi‐square (χ2) test, and their sources of variation were investigated by the chi‐square per cell. The results indicate that the vegan group's posts are more related to the categories of recipes, trends, criticism and negative comments about veganism, being more often citing sources when compared to the other group. The results of the plant‐based diet group are more significantly related to the impacts of nutrition, physical activity and consumer health. In conclusion, Twitter® has proved to be an interesting tool for obtaining data on (re) produced food publications on social media and their results can guide the market and the academic environment in creating new products, services and marketing strategies to answer the needs of specific consumers.
Student nurses' bullying, social support and their health status during clinical practicum programmes
Authors: Fang Li , Fang Ching‐Lin , Fang Shu‐Hui
Published: July 2020

Aims

This study was to explore the student nurses' bullying, social support and their health status during clinical practicum programmes and the predictors of health status among student nurses during clinical practicum programmes.

Methods

A cross‐sectional design with structured questionnaires was used, recruiting 200 student nurses in a 5‐year junior college programme in south Taiwan.

Results

The significant predictors of nursing students' health status during clinical practicum programmes were ‘whether experiencing bullying situations during clinical practicum’ and ‘low social support’.

Conclusion

In order to prevent bullying during clinical practicum, encouraging nursing students to report all the clinical practicum bullying incidents, providing counselling to nursing students and arranging clinical practicum bullying prevention courses to students were important. Moreover, providing instructors and nursing staff with teaching, communication and feedback skills might help nursing students prevent bullying incidents during clinical practicum programmes. A longitudinal study design was suggested for the future study in order to assess the cause–effect relationship of the bullying and social support on health among students during clinical practicum
Sex‐based differences in screening and recognition of pre‐diabetes and type 2 diabetes in pediatric primary care
Authors: Vajravelu Mary Ellen , Lee Joyce M. , Amaral Sandra , Kelly Andrea
Published: July 2020

Background

Risk‐based screening for type 2 diabetes (T2D) in youth with overweight/obesity is recommended, but rates remain low in practice. Identification of factors impacting provider ordering and patient completion of testing may guide strategies to improve screening.

Objective

To evaluate predictors of hemoglobin A1c (A1c)‐based T2D screening in pediatric primary care.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included 10 to 18 year‐old patients with overweight/obesity (body mass index [BMI] Z‐score ≥1.04) followed in a large academic‐affiliated pediatric primary care network, 2009 to 2018. Percentages of patients with ordered and completed A1c were determined, and multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression was used to evaluate independent predictors of screening.

Results

34 927 (48.0% female; 52.5% with BMI Z‐score ≥1.64) youth followed for a median of 3.0 years were included. 21% (7457) of patients had screening ordered and 14% (4966) completed screening during follow‐up. In multivariable regression, after controlling for race/ethnicity, BMI, family history of diabetes and age, males were significantly less likely to have ordered screening, but were equally or more likely to complete screening if ordered.

Conclusions

Male adolescents were less likely to undergo A1c‐based T2D screening due to differential ordering practices. The source of this differential practice should be pursued to avoid under‐recognition of cardiometabolic risk in at‐risk male youth.
Impaired migration in vitro of neutrophils from patients with paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria
Authors: Pedersen Trine L. , Yong Kwee , Pedersen Jens Oluf , Hansen Niels Ebbe , Dano Keld , Plesner Torben
Published: July 2020

Migration of neutrophils in patients with paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH) was studied using two different complement‐free in vitro model systems, subagarose and transendothelial migration. In the subagarose migration assay the mean migration distance of PNH neutrophils was slightly, but significantly, reduced to 1236 μm (range 753‐1586, n = 6) compared to a normal mean of 1476 μm (range 1076‐1768, n = 6, P = 0016). By immunocytochemical staining for the urokinase type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) which is a glycosyl‐phosphatidyl‐inositol (GPI) anchored protein expressed by normal, but not by PNH‐affected, neutrophils, it was shown that the uPAR‐positive subpopulation of normal neutrophils predominated among the faster migrating cells (60‐80% normal cells at the front of migration) while uPAR‐negative (i.e. PNH‐affected neutrophils) were more numerous close to the application well (5‐30% normal cells). When migration of neutrophils was tested across a monolayer of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) cultured on polycarbonate filters, there was a 3‐4‐fold impairment of the migration of the PNH‐affected neutrophils both in the absence of stimulation and after stimulation with fMLP (P < 0·001 in both cases). After IL‐1 stimulation of the endothelium the impairment was even more pronounced (8‐fold difference, P < 0·001). When the endothelial cells were grown on collagen‐coated filters the impairment of the migration of PNH neutrophils was less pronounced, but still significant after stimulation with fMLP and IL‐1 (2‐fold. P < 0·05 in both cases). These results demonstrate that there is a complement‐independent impairment of migration of neutrophils from patients with PNH which may be related to their failure to express GPI‐linked proteins involved in cell migration and/or adhesion such as the uPA receptor and the CD66b antigen.
The relationship between need for closure and compliance to harsh power tactics in high demanding jobs: A study conducted among firefighters and social workers
Authors: Di Santo Daniela , Tesi Alessio , Aiello Antonio , Pierro Antonio
Published: July 2020

The present research aimed at expanding Pierro, Kruglanski, and Raven’s work examining the interweaving between the need for closure (NFC; the desire to form quick and unambiguous knowledge) and the Interpersonal Power Interaction model. In particular, this study explored the idea that the greater compliance to harsh power tactics of subordinates’ employees, that are high on NFC, can increase when their desire to achieve cognitive closure is made more salient by a high (compared to low) level of perceived job demands. A sample of 280 subordinates employees belonging to two different organizational contexts filled in a self‐report questionnaire. Through a moderation and simple slope analyses, we tested and confirmed our hypothesis. When job demands were high, it potentially impaired the subordinates’ chance to form a quick knowledge. As a result, high NFC subordinates showed a higher compliance with harsh power tactics. Such tactics, limiting the subordinates’ freedom of choice, can be conceived as a means to gain quick knowledge when the organizational context is perceived as particularly demanding. As far as practical implications, these results suggest that for high NFC subordinates the use of more directive and unambiguous guidelines (e.g., harsh power tactics) could minimize the scarcely tolerated cognitive cost associated with high job demands.
CXXC finger protein 4 inhibits the CDK18‐ERK1/2 axis to suppress the immune escape of gastric cancer cells with involvement of ELK1/MIR100HG pathway
Authors: Li Ping , Ge Dongfang , Li Pengfei , Hu Fangyong , Chu Junfeng , Chen Xiaojun , Song Wenbo , Wang Ali , Tian Guangyu , Gu Xiang
Published: July 2020

Gastric cancer, is the fourth most common tumour type yet, ranks second in terms of the prevalence of cancer‐related deaths worldwide. CXXC finger protein 4 (CXXC4) has been considered as a novel cancer suppressive factor, including gastric cancer. This study attempted to investigate the possible function of CXXC4 in gastric cancer and the underlying mechanism. The binding of the ETS domain‐containing protein‐1 (ELK1) to the long non‐coding RNA MIR100HG promoter region was identified. Then, their expression patterns in gastric cancer tissues and cells (SGC7901) were detected. A CCK‐8 assay was used to detect SGC7901 cell proliferation. Subsequently, SGC7901 cells were co‐cultured with CD3+ T cells, followed by measurement of CD3+ T cell proliferation, magnitude of IFN‐γ+ T cell population and IFN‐γ secretion. A nude mouse model was subsequently developed for in vivo validation of the in vitro results. Low CXXC4 expression was found in SGC7901 cells. Nuclear entry of ELK1 can be inhibited by suppression of the extent of ELK1 phosphorylation. Furthermore, ELK1 is able to bind the MIR100HG promoter. Overexpression of CXXC4 resulted in weakened binding of ELK1 to the MIR100HG promoter, leading to a reduced proliferative potential of SGC7901 cells, and an increase in IFN‐γ secretion from CD3+ T cells. Moreover, in vivo experiments revealed that CXXC4 inhibited immune escape of gastric cancer cells through the ERK1/2 axis. Inhibition of the CXXC4/ELK1/MIR100HG pathway suppressed the immune escape of gastric cancer cells, highlighting a possible therapeutic target for the treatment of gastric cancer.
To Ub or not to Ub: Regulation of circadian clocks by ubiquitination and deubiquitination
Authors: Srikanta Shashank Bangalore , Cermakian Nicolas
Published: July 2020

Circadian clocks are internal timing systems that enable organisms to adjust their behavioral and physiological rhythms to the daily changes of their environment. These clocks generate self‐sustained oscillations at the cellular, tissue, and behavioral level. The rhythm‐generating mechanism is based on a gene expression network with a delayed negative feedback loop that causes the transcripts to oscillate with a period of approximately 24 hr. This oscillatory nature of the proteins involved in this network necessitates that they are intrinsically unstable, with a short half‐life. Hence, post‐translational modifications (PTMs) are important to precisely time the presence, absence, and interactions of these proteins at appropriate times of the day. Ubiquitination and deubiquitination are counter‐balancing PTMs which play a key role in this regulatory process. In this review, we take a comprehensive look at the roles played by the processes of ubiquitination and deubiquitination in the clock machinery of the most commonly studied eukaryotic models of the circadian clock: plants, fungi, fruit flies, and mammals. We present the effects exerted by ubiquitinating and deubiquitinating enzymes on the stability, but also the activity, localization, and interactions of clock proteins. Overall, these PTMs have key roles in regulating not only the pace of the circadian clocks but also their response to external cues and their control of cellular functions.

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