bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Demand Elasticity of Processed Food Exports from Developing Countries: A Panel Analysis of US Imports
Authors: Suanin Wanissa
Published: October 2020

There has been a growing emphasis in resource‐rich developing countries on promoting processed food exports as part of their export expansion and diversification strategy. A key issue for this strategy is whether global market conditions are conducive for significant trade gains. We estimate price and income elasticities of demand for processed food exports from developing countries using a new quarterly panel dataset for the United States, the major market for these products, over the period 1992–2018. Our findings indicate that demand for processed food imports from developing countries has high‐income elasticity combined with low‐price elasticity. The implication is that expansion of imports is driven by demand expansion driven by income growth which counterbalances any possible negative impact of an increase in relative prices. Income elasticity of demand for processed food imports is much higher than that for unprocessed food imports, reflecting preferences for processed food.
stratifyR: An R Package for optimal stratification and sample allocation for univariate populations
Authors: Reddy K. G. , Khan M. G. M.
Published: October 2020

This R package determines optimal stratification of univariate populations under stratified sampling designs using a parametric‐based method. It determines the optimum strata boundaries (OSB), optimum sample sizes (OSS) and multiple other quantities for the study variable, y, using the best‐fit probability density function of a study variable available from survey data. The method requires the parameters and other characteristics of the distribution of the study variable to be known, either from available data or from a hypothetical distribution if the data are not available. In the implementation, the problem of determining the OSB is formulated as a mathematical programming problem and solved by using a dynamic programming technique. If the data of the population (i.e. the study variable) are available to the surveyor, the method estimates its best‐fit distribution and determines the OSB and OSS under Neyman allocation, directly. When the dataset is not available, stratification is made based on the assumption that the values of the study variable, y, are available as hypothetical realisations of proxy values of y from past/recent surveys. Thus, it requires certain distributional assumptions about the study variable. At present, the package handles stratification for the populations where the study variable follows a continuous distribution: namely, Pareto, Triangular, Right‐triangular, Weibull, Gamma, Exponential, Uniform, Normal, Lognormal and Cauchy distributions. In this paper, applications of major functionalities in the package are illustrated with a number of real/simulated as well as some hypothetical populations.
Occurrence of pulsus alternans during anaesthesia of two dogs and one cat and its treatment
Authors: Nicholls D , Adami C , Monticelli P
Published: October 2020

The authors report the occurrence of pulsus alternans, a condition characterised by the alternance of pulses of higher and lower amplitude, in two dogs and one cat under general anaesthesia. The presence of an underlying cardiac disease was confirmed in the cat but not in either dog, which – based on history and clinical findings – had presumably normal cardiovascular function before the anaesthetic. Possible mechanisms, including negative inotropy and haemodynamic and Frank‐Starling effects, as well as the role of general anaesthesia as the potential triggering factor, are discussed in this report. Ephedrine resulted in the successful treatment of pulsus alternans, as demonstrated by the return of normal pulse and synchronisation of heart and pulse rates in the cat and in one dog. In the other dog, pulse pattern and frequency returned to normal once the guidewire for central line placement was withdrawn.
Response of taxonomic and functional diversity to disturbance severity in temperate hardwood forests
Authors: Keyser Tara L. , Collins Beverly S. , Greenberg Cathryn H.
Published: October 2020

Aims:

Quantify changes in taxonomic and functional diversity (FD) and identity to determine if responses to a disturbance severity gradient follow a “colonization/competition” hypothesis: diversity will (a) increase with disturbance severity as more open conditions favor species with traits linked to colonization; and (b) become more similar between regeneration and overstorey layers as environmental filtering favors species with traits linked to increasing competition for light.

Location:

North Carolina, USA.

Methods:

Taxonomic (richness [S], evenness [E], and Shannon diversity [H′]) and functional diversity (richness [FRic], evenness [FEve], and dispersion [FDis]) and identities were calculated for regeneration and overstorey before and after restoration treatments: control (CONT); “undesirable” subcanopy stems removed via herbicide (HERB); repeated burning (RRXF); and timber harvest followed by burning (HARV).

Results:

In the overstorey, HARV affected taxonomic and FD. In HARV,SandH′ were lower than in other treatments. At high levels of species richness,FEvewas lower in HARV than in HERB and RRXF. Similarly, at high levels of species richness,FDiswas greater in HARV than other treatments. In the regeneration layer, taxonomic and FD did not differ across treatments during any of the post‐treatment years. In the regeneration stratum, HARV increased the means of traits associated with rapid post‐disturbance establishment, carbon capture, and maximum height. Greater dissimilarity in composition between the overstorey and regeneration suggests stronger treatment effects on regeneration in HARV than less severe treatments.

Conclusion:

Patterns do not support the hypothesis that taxonomic diversity increases with disturbance severity or decreases with time after disturbance in the regeneration layer. Of the restoration treatments tested in this study, only HARV affected aspects of functional identity of the regeneration stratum; even so, FD remained unchanged. In mixedQuercusforests, functional identity rather than taxonomic or FD may provide insight into nuanced effects of restoration treatments on ecosystem function.
Multiple mutations within individual oncogenes
Authors: Saito Yuki , Koya Junji , Kataoka Keisuke
Published: October 2020

Recent studies of the cancer genome have identified numerous patients harboring multiple mutations (MM) within individual oncogenes. These MM (de novo MM) in cis synergistically activate the mutated oncogene and promote tumorigenesis, indicating a positive epistatic interaction between mutations. The relatively frequent de novo MM suggest that intramolecular positive epistasis is widespread in oncogenes. Studies also suggest that negative and higher‐order epistasis affects de novo MM. Comparison of de novo MM and MM associated with drug‐resistant secondary mutations (secondary MM) revealed several similarities with respect to allelic configuration, mutational selection and functionality of individual mutations. Conversely, they have several differences, most notably the difference in drug sensitivities. Secondary MM usually confer resistance to molecularly targeted therapies, whereas several de novo MM are associated with increased sensitivity, implying that both can be useful as therapeutic biomarkers. Unlike secondary MM in which specific secondary resistant mutations are selected, minor (infrequent) functionally weak mutations are convergently selected in de novo MM, which may provide an explanation as to why such mutations accumulate in cancer. The third type of MM is MM from different subclones. This type of MM is associated with parallel evolution, which may contribute to relapse and treatment failure. Collectively, MM within individual oncogenes are diverse, but all types of MM are associated with cancer evolution and therapeutic response. Further evaluation of oncogenic MM is warranted to gain a deeper understanding of cancer genetics and evolution.
Requirements for human embryonic stem cells
Authors: Hao Jie , Cao Jiani , Wang Lei , Ma Aijin , Chen Si , Ding Jinfeng , Wang Liu , Fu Boqiang , Zhang Yu , Pei Xuetao , Xiang Peng , Li Qiyuan , Zhang Yong , Zhou Jiaxi , Hu Shijun , Yu Junying , Wei Jun , Zhu Huanxin , Stacey Glyn , Zhao Tongbiao , Zhou Qi
Published: October 2020

‘Requirements for Human Embryonic Stem Cells’ is the first set of guidelines on human embryonic stem cells in China, jointly drafted and agreed upon by experts from the Chinese Society for Stem Cell Research. This standard specifies the technical requirements, test methods, test regulations, instructions for use, labelling requirements, packaging requirements, storage requirements and transportation requirements for human embryonic stem cells, which is applicable to the quality control for human embryonic stem cells. It was originally released by the China Society for Cell Biology on 26 February 2019 and was further revised on 30 April 2020. We hope that publication of these guidelines will promote institutional establishment, acceptance and execution of proper protocols, and accelerate the international standardization of human embryonic stem cells for applications.
Effects of compulsory public service on job satisfaction and loneliness in Turkish civil servants
Authors: Gunes Huseyin Nihat , Bilek Gunal
Published: October 2020

Turkish government mandates compulsory service for public servants in Eastern Turkey. The compulsory public service cities are different from others in terms of their socio‐economic conditions as well as socio‐cultural structures. As such, these cities offer limited opportunities and an unusual cultural environment for newcomers such as those on compulsory service which will likely impact job satisfaction and loneliness. In order to examine these relationships, we conducted a survey with three hundred sixteen civil servants in Bitlis. Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire and Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale are used to measure the job satisfaction and loneliness levels, respectively. The findings of this study indicate that income, occupational sector, and social environment, occupational satisfaction, and income advantages provided by Bitlis have remarkable effects on job satisfaction scores, while gender, relationship status, income, occupational sector, the presence of people already known before coming to Bitlis, social environment advantage, and participating in social activities have significant effects on loneliness scores. In addition, negative correlation between loneliness and job satisfaction scores shows that as the job satisfaction score increases, the loneliness score decreases.
Bugs scaring bugs: enemy‐risk effects in biological control systems
Authors: Culshaw‐Maurer Michael , Sih Andrew , Rosenheim Jay A.
Published: October 2020

Enemy‐risk effects, often referred to as non‐consumptive effects (NCEs), are an important feature of predator–prey ecology, but their significance has had little impact on the conceptual underpinning or practice of biological control. We provide an overview of enemy‐risk effects in predator–prey interactions, discuss ways in which risk effects may impact biocontrol programs and suggest avenues for further integration of natural enemy ecology and integrated pest management. Enemy‐risk effects can have important influences on different stages of biological control programs, including natural enemy selection, efficacy testing and quantification of non‐target impacts. Enemy‐risk effects can also shape the interactions of biological control with other pest management practices. Biocontrol systems also provide community ecologists with some of the richest examples of behaviourally mediated trophic cascades and demonstrations of how enemy‐risk effects play out among species with no shared evolutionary history, important topics for invasion biology and conservation. We conclude that the longstanding use of ecological theory by biocontrol practitioners should be expanded to incorporate enemy‐risk effects, and that community ecologists will find many opportunities to study enemy‐risk effects in biocontrol settings.
Uncovering ecological state dynamics with hidden Markov models
Authors: McClintock Brett T. , Langrock Roland , Gimenez Olivier , Cam Emmanuelle , Borchers David L. , Glennie Richard , Patterson Toby A.
Published: October 2020

Ecological systems can often be characterised by changes among a finite set of underlying states pertaining to individuals, populations, communities or entire ecosystems through time. Owing to the inherent difficulty of empirical field studies, ecological state dynamics operating at any level of this hierarchy can often be unobservable or ‘hidden’. Ecologists must therefore often contend with incomplete or indirect observations that are somehow related to these underlying processes. By formally disentangling state and observation processes based on simple yet powerful mathematical properties that can be used to describe many ecological phenomena, hidden Markov models (HMMs) can facilitate inferences about complex system state dynamics that might otherwise be intractable. However, HMMs have only recently begun to gain traction within the broader ecological community. We provide a gentle introduction to HMMs, establish some common terminology, review the immense scope of HMMs for applied ecological research and provide a tutorial on implementation and interpretation. By illustrating how practitioners can use a simple conceptual template to customise HMMs for their specific systems of interest, revealing methodological links between existing applications, and highlighting some practical considerations and limitations of these approaches, our goal is to help establish HMMs as a fundamental inferential tool for ecologists.
Parenting–Acculturation Match and Psychosocial Adjustment for Academically Gifted Chinese American Adolescents
Authors: Chang Tzu‐Fen , Qin Desiree B. , Wu Ivan H. C.
Published: October 2020

Objective

Grounded in person–environment fit theory, we examine how different levels of parenting–acculturation match are associated with gifted Chinese American students' psychosocial adjustment. This study identifies parenting profiles indicated by psychological control and decisional autonomy granting and adolescents' acculturation profiles indicated by mainstream American culture and Chinese culture orientations.

Background

According to person–environment fit theory, optimal adjustment occurs when there is a match between individuals' environments and needs. However, it remains understudied whether academically gifted Chinese American adolescents have optimal psychosocial adjustment when their acculturation orientation matches with their family's parenting profile.

Method

Using self‐report questionnaires, this study assessed 222 academically gifted Chinese American adolescents' perceptions of parental psychological control and autonomy granting, American and Chinese culture orientation, and psychosocial adjustment (depression, anxiety, social acceptance, and self‐esteem). Latent profile analysis was used to identify parenting and acculturation‐orientation profiles.

Results

Three parenting profiles were identified: high control oriented (14.9%; i.e., high in psychological control and low in decisional autonomy granting), slight control oriented (44.6%; i.e., psychological control slightly exceeding decisional autonomy granting), and child oriented (40.5%; i.e., low in psychological control and high in decisional autonomy granting). Given that all the adolescents in the sample slightly preferred mainstream American culture to Chinese culture, three levels of parenting–acculturation match were identified: a strong match (for those in child‐oriented families), moderate match (for those in slight‐control‐oriented families), and weak match (for those in high‐control‐oriented families).

Conclusion

The adolescents with a strong parenting–acculturation match reported lower anxiety and higher social acceptance and self‐esteem than those with a weak match.

Implications

Practitioners working with academically gifted Chinese American adolescents should seek to understand adolescents' acculturation and the parenting practices in their families and acknowledge how their psychosocial problems are associated with a mismatch in adolescent acculturation and parenting. Strategies for mitigating psychosocial problems in relation to an acculturation–parenting mismatch are discussed.
Heated rivalries: Phenological variation modifies competition for pollinators among arctic plants
Authors: Tiusanen Mikko , Kankaanpää Tuomas , Schmidt Niels M. , Roslin Tomas
Published: October 2020

When plant species compete for pollinators, climate warming may cause directional change in flowering overlap, thereby shifting the strength of pollinator‐mediated plant–plant interactions. Such shifts are likely accentuated in the rapidly warming Arctic. Targeting a plant community in Northeast Greenland, we asked (a) whether the relative phenology of plants is shifting with spatial variation in temperature, (b) whether local plants compete for pollination, and (c) whether shifts in climatic conditions are likely to affect this competition. We first searched for climatic imprints on relative species phenology along an elevational gradient. We then tested for signs of competition with increasing flower densities: reduced pollinator visits, reduced representation of plant species in pollen loads, and reduced seed production. Finally, we evaluated how climate change may affect this competition. Compared to a dominant species, Dryas integrifolia × octopetala, the relative timing of other species shifted along the environmental gradient, with Silene acaulis and Papaver radicatum flowering earlier toward higher elevation. This shift resulted in larger niche overlap, allowing for an increased potential for competition for pollination. Meanwhile, Dryas emerged as a superior competitor by attracting 97.2% of flower visits. Higher Dryas density resulted in reduced insect visits and less pollen of S. acaulis being carried by pollinators, causing reduced seed set by S. acaulis. Our results show that current variation in climate shifts the timing and flowering overlap between dominant and less‐competitive plant species. With climate warming, such shifts in phenology within trophic levels may ultimately affect interactions between them, changing the strength of competition among plants.
Partial breakage of a tunneled dialysis catheter: An uncommon finding
Authors: Letachowicz Krzysztof , Gołębiowski Tomasz , Miś Marcin , Wolańczyk Michał , Zmonarski Sławomir , Krajewska Magdalena
Published: October 2020

Infections and dysfunction are the most common complications related to catheter use. Here we describe a case of catheter rupture on the course of subcutaneous channel. Catheter fractures are relatively rare, but potentially hazardous complications. In case of partial breakage, a catheter exchange should be a simple solution.
Effects of in vitro simulated digestion on the free and bound phenolic content and antioxidant activity of seven species of seaweeds
Authors: Huang Zhiting , Chen Qiqi , Hu Kaixi , Zhang Ruifen , Yuan Yang , He Shan , Zeng Qingzhu , Su Dongxiao
Published: October 2020

The effects of simulated gastrointestinal digestion on the content and antioxidant activity of phenolics of seven seaweeds were investigated: Two methods of digestion were used – simulated gastric fluid (SGF) and simulated intestinal fluid (SIF) to mimic the stomach and upper intestinal environment. Results showed that SIF can significantly increase the free phenolic content of all tested seaweeds. The total phenolic content of the seaweeds increased in range from 4.16 to 17.24 mg GAE/g before simulated digestion to 4.08 to 40.37 mg GAE/g after digestion. The antioxidant activity of seaweed‐bound phenolics was superior to that of free phenolics. Among the seven varieties of seaweeds, Sargassum thunbergii and Sargassum kjellmanianum contained the highest content of bound phenolics after SGF digestion. Bound phenolics of Undaria pinnatifida and Sargassum thunbergii showed the highest in vitro ABTS+ free radical scavenging ability, while Sargassum thunbergii and Sargassum fusiforme showed the highest in vitro FRAP antioxidant activity.
Sex‐specific effects of predation risk on parental care in a sexually dichromatic Neotropical songbird
Authors: de Moraes Pedro Z. , Diniz Pedro , Macedo Regina H.
Published: October 2020

Predation risk affects a broad range of bird behaviours, especially parental care. The adaptive behavioural changes presented by both parents, however, may differ according to different levels of predation risk suffered by each sex. This is especially prominent in sexually dichromatic species, where one of the sexes is more visually conspicuous and hence vulnerable to increased nest predation risk during nest visits. Here, we experimentally investigated how predation risk affects the parental behaviour of a sexually dichromatic Neotropical passerine, the blue‐black grassquitVolatinia jacarina. We used playbacks of known predators and non‐predatorial control sympatric species near nesting pairs in the field. Results show that grassquits modify their behaviour according to predation risk and that this behavioural response is sex‐dependent. Males decrease their nest visit times, become more discreet when moving towards the nest, and stop performing sexual displays after leaving the nest. In contrast, females tend to decrease latency to visit the nest and increase the duration of brooding bouts. These different sex responses reduce nest visual and acoustic detectability, since conspicuous males are readily spotted on nests and cryptic females camouflage nestlings and suppress begging calls. Although these behavioural changes might reduce predation risk, there might be a cost of reduced food load to nestlings and increased brood starvation risk. These changes in nesting activities illustrate the behavioural adaptability of passerines to ensure offspring survival in tropical high predation risk environments.
Autoregressive single‐step model for genomic evaluation of longitudinal reproductive traits in portuguese holstein cattle
Authors: Silva Hugo Teixeira , Lopes Paulo Sávio , Costa Claudio Nápolis , Silva Alessandra Alves , Silva Delvan Alves , Silva Fabyano Fonseca , Veroneze Renata , Thompson Gertrude , Carvalheira Júlio
Published: October 2020

We investigated the applicability of ssGBLUP methodology under the autoregressive model (H‐AR) for genomic evaluation of longitudinal reproductive traits in Portuguese Holstein cattle. The genotype data of 1,230 bulls and 1,645 cows were considered in our study. The reproductive traits evaluated were interval from calving to first service (ICF), calving interval (CI) and daughter pregnancy rate (DPR) measured during the first four parities. Reliability and rank correlation were used to compare the H‐AR with the traditional pedigree‐based autoregressive models (A‐AR). In addition, a validation study was performed considering different scenarios. Higher genomic estimated breeding values (GEBV) reliabilities were obtained for genotyped bulls when evaluated under the H‐AR model, with emphasis on bulls with less than 9 daughters. For this group, the averages of GEBV reliabilities corresponded to 0.62, 0.69 and 0.62 for ICF, CI and DPR, respectively, while the averages obtained by the A‐AR model were 0.27, 0.15 and 0.16. The validation study was favourable to H‐AR. The best results were observed in the scenario where genotyped cows were combined with contributing bulls (genotyped bulls with daughter or relationship information in the population). Overall, the results suggest that ssGBLUP methodology under the autoregressive model is a feasible and applicable approach to be used in genomic analyses of longitudinal reproductive traits in Portuguese Holstein cattle.
Do ecological specialization and functional traits explain the abundance–frequency relationship? Arable weeds as a case study
Authors: Fried Guillaume , Armengot Laura , Storkey Jonathan , Bourgeois Bérenger , Gaba Sabrina , Violle Cyrille , Munoz François
Published: October 2020

Aim

The abundance–frequency relationship (AFR) is among the most‐investigated patterns in biogeography, yet the relative contributions of niche‐based processes related to ecological strategies, and of neutral processes related to spatial colonization–extinction dynamics, remains uncertain. Here, we tested the influences of ecological specialization and functional traits on local abundance and regional frequency, to determine the contribution of niche‐based processes.

Location

France and the UK.

Taxon

Vascular plants.

Methods

We used two arable weed surveys covering 1,544 fields in Western Europe (France, UK), along with functional traits related to resource acquisition, resource requirements, flowering phenology and dispersal. We quantified specialization both to arable habitat and to individual crop types, and performed phylogenetic path analyses to test competing models accounting for direct and indirect relationships between traits, specialization, abundance and frequency. We performed the analyses for all species in each country, as well as for a subset of the most abundant species.

Results

Local abundance of weeds increased with their regional frequency, but the relationship became negative or null when considering only the most abundant weeds. Specialization to arable habitat and to individual crop type either had a similar or opposite effect on regional frequency and local abundance explaining these positive and negative relationships, respectively. Regional frequency was not directly explained by any trait but indirectly by resource requirement traits conferring specialization to the arable habitat. Conversely, high local abundance was directly related to low seed mass, high SLA, early and short flowering.

Main conclusions

Direct/indirect effects of functional traits on local abundance/regional frequency, respectively, supports a significant role of niche‐based processes in AFR. Neutral spillover dynamics could further explain a direct linkage of abundance and frequency. Similar causal paths and consistent influences of traits on specialization and abundance in the two studied regions suggest genericity of these findings.
Simultaneous Constrained Adaptive Item Selection for Group‐Based Testing
Authors: Bengs Daniel , Kroehne Ulf , Brefeld Ulf
Published: October 2020

By tailoring test forms to the test‐taker's proficiency, Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT) enables substantial increases in testing efficiency over fixed forms testing. When used for formative assessment, the alignment of task difficulty with proficiency increases the chance that teachers can derive useful feedback from assessment data. The application of CAT to formative assessment in the classroom, however, is hindered by the large number of different items used for the whole class; the required familiarization with a large number of test items puts a significant burden on teachers. An improved CAT procedure for group‐based testing is presented, which uses simultaneous automated test assembly to impose a limit on the number of items used per group. The proposed linear model for simultaneous adaptive item selection allows for full adaptivity and the accommodation of constraints on test content. The effectiveness of the group‐based CAT is demonstrated with real‐world items in a simulated adaptive test of 3,000 groups of test‐takers, under different assumptions on group composition. Results show that the group‐based CAT maintained the efficiency of CAT, while a reduction in the number of used items by one half to two‐thirds was achieved, depending on the within‐group variance of proficiencies.
Proposed protocol for performing MIC testing to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility of Renibacterium salmoninarum in Chilean salmon farms
Authors: Grandón Maritza , Irgang Rute , Saavedra José , Mancilla Marcos , Avendaño‐Herrera Ruben
Published: October 2020

Surveillance of antibiotic resistance is of paramount importance for animal welfare and production. Despite aquaculture being a main source of animal protein, studies on antibiotic susceptibility in fish pathogens are scarce. Renibacterium salmoninarum, the aetiological agent of bacterial kidney disease (BKD), is one of the most common bacterial pathogens affecting salmon farming. In this work, we present an analysis of susceptibility patterns using determinations of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for 65 field isolates, which were collected over seven years (2013–2019) from Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) farms across southern Chile. The MIC protocol described by the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) was used, but with microdilution instead of macrodilution and eight instead of four days of incubation. Two laboratories independently conducted analyses to provide data on the epidemiological cut‐off values for R. salmoninarum to florfenicol, oxytetracycline and erythromycin. By using two calculation methods, our results provide evidence for an evolving subpopulation of non‐wild‐type isolates for the macrolide erythromycin, which is consistent with the respective treatment frequencies prescribed against BKD. Contrasting with what was expected, R. salmoninarum isolates were most susceptible to florfenicol and oxytetracycline, both of which are widely used antibiotics currently used in the Chilean salmon industry. The presented findings can serve as a reference for national or international antibiotic surveillance programmes, for both MIC interpretation and to identify emerging resistance to the conventional drugs used in BKD management. Finally, our results indicate that an 8‐day incubation period for establishing MIC values of R. salmoninarum should be considered in a future revision of the CLSI guidelines.
Practical Guidance for Recruiting Older Adults in Clinical Research: Building on Principles of Social Justice and Equity
Authors: Robison Julie , Powell Wizdom , Kenyon‐Pesce Lisa
Published: October 2020

This editorial comments on the article by Forsat et al.
AC joint osteoarthritis: The role of genetics. An MRI evaluation of asymptomatic elderly twins
Authors: Candela Vittorio , Villani Ciro , Preziosi Standoli Jacopo , Scacchi Marco , Gumina Stefano
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The anatomy of the articular surfaces has historically identified as major responsible for acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis (ACJO). On the other side, the almost 100% prevalence of ACJO in subjects over 50 years old seems to suggest a multifactorial etiology. We compared ACJO between asymptomatic elderly monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twins to investigate the influence of genetics and environmental factors.

Materials and Methods

Thirty pairs of twins [15MZ‐15DZ; mean age (SD): 63.70 (3.31); range: 53–72] were retrospectively enrolled. ACJO was evaluated on MRI through a 4‐grade severity scale and ACJ configuration was assessed. Information regarding work activity were obtained. Heritability index was calculated.

Results

The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) value of 0.868 (95% CI; 0.798 to 0.917). An ICC values of 0.889 (95% CI; 0.798 to 0.944) and 0.843 (95% CI, 0.712 to 0.920) were found in the MZ and DZ groups, respectively. The polychoric correlation was 0.857 in the MZ twins and 0.757 in the DZ twins. The calculated heritability index was 0.20 (20%), and the contribution of the shared environment (c2) and unique environment (e2) was 0.66 (66%) and 0.14 (14%), respectively. No relationship between job types and ACJO in both the total cohort (r = 0.089; p = 0.499) and in the monozygotic (r = 0.247; p = 0.187) and the dizygotic twin groups (r = −0.084; p = 0.658) was found.

Conclusions

The role of genetics on ACJO accounts for only 20%; a specific anatomical configuration of the articular surfaces only partially acts on the development of joint osteoarthritis. Environmental factors have the greatest impact.

Level of Evidence: IV.
What drives the dynamics of HBV RNA during treatment?
Authors: Gonçalves Antonio , Lemenuel‐Diot Annabelle , Cosson Valérie , Jin Yuyan , Feng Sheng , Bo Qingyan , Guedj Jérémie
Published: October 2020

Hepatitis B virus RNA (HBV RNA)–containing particles are encapsidated pre‐genomic RNA (pgRNA) detectable in chronically infected patients in addition to virions (HBV DNA) that have been suggested as a marker of the treatment efficacy. This makes promising the use of core protein allosteric modulators, such as RG7907, which disrupt the nucleocapsid assembly and profoundly reduce HBV RNA. Here, we developed a multiscale model of HBV extending the standard viral dynamic models to analyse the kinetics of HBV DNA and HBV RNA in 35 patients treated with RG7907 for 28 days. We compare the predictions with those obtained in patients treated with the nucleotide analog tenofovir. RG7907 blocked 99.3% of pgRNA encapsidation (range: 92.1%–99.9%) which led to a decline of both HBV DNA and HBV RNA. As a consequence of its mode of action, the first phase of decline of HBV RNA was rapid, uncovering the clearance of viral particles with half‐life of 45 min. In contrast, HBV DNA decline was predicted to be less rapid, due to the continuous secretion of already formed viral capsids (t1/2 = 17 ± 6 h). After few days, both markers declined at the same rate, which was attributed to the loss of infected cells (t1/2 ≅ 6 ± 0.8 days). By blocking efficiently RNA reverse transcription but not its encapsidation, nucleotide analog in contrast was predicted to lead to a transient accumulation of HBV RNA both intracellularly and extracellularly. The model brings a conceptual framework for understanding the differences between HBV DNA and HBV RNA dynamics. Integration of HBV RNA in viral dynamic models may be helpful to better quantify the treatment effect, especially in viral‐suppressed patients where HBV DNA is no longer detectable.
Direct examination, histopathology and fungal culture for the diagnosis of onychomycosis: A retrospective, comparative study on 2245 specimens
Authors: Lecerf Pauline , Abdy Salome , Vollono Laura , Pastushenko Ievgenia , Richert Bertrand , André Josette
Published: October 2020

Background

Onychomycosis affects 5.5% of the general population and represents up to 50% of all nail diseases. Diagnosis and pathogen identification are essential in order to plan an adequate treatment. Many diagnostic techniques are available, and however, no solid data regarding comparison between different techniques over a large number of specimens are available to date.

Objectives

To compare sensitivity and specificity of direct examination, histopathology and fungal culture in our referral mycology laboratory.

Methods

Nail specimens received at the cutaneous pathology and mycology laboratory of the University Hospital Saint‐Pierre (Brussels, Belgium) between 1 January and 15 May 2018 were retrospectively analysed. All specimens were submitted to direct examination and culture. In cases of adequate specimen size, histopathology was performed. Fungal culture was considered the gold standard for diagnosis.

Results

A total of 2245 nail samples were included in the study. Onychomycosis was diagnosed in 1266 specimens. Sensitivity and positive predictive value were found to be higher for direct examination compared to histopathology, while sensitivity of direct examination was found to be lower. Combined approach with all the three techniques showed the highest rate of positivity, followed by the association of direct examination and histopathology.

Conclusions

To our knowledge, this study included the largest number of nail specimens to date, allowing a comparison between direct examination, culture and histopathology. Direct examination showed to be the most performing technique in routine practice. Histopathology represents the most effective option in cases where both specimen size and laboratory resources are adequate. Our paper adds to the literature the ‘real‐life’ experience of the mycology laboratory of a referral centre for nail diseases.
Plate Fixation versus Arthroscopic‐Assisted Plate Fixation for Isolated Medium‐Sized Fractures of the Greater Tuberosity: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Sun Qi , Ge Wei , Li Gen , Wu Jie Zhou , Lu Guanghua , Li Runmin , Zhao Zhenyu , Zhu Yaru , Xu Youzhi , Wang Lei , Cai Ming
Published: October 2020

Objectives

To compare the clinical outcomes of plate fixation and arthroscopic‐assisted plate fixation in patients with displaced isolated medium‐sized fractures of the greater tuberosity.

Methods

From July 2013 to October 2017, patients with displaced isolated medium‐sized fractures of the greater tuberosity who underwent arthroscopic‐assisted plate fixation (ASPF group) or open reduction and internal plate fixation (ORIF group) were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed. There were 19 patients in the ASPF group and 27 patients in the ORIF group, with comparable demographic characteristics. The average age of patients was 49.4 ± 12.1 years in the ASPF group and 46.9 ± 11.4 years in the ORIF group. The shoulder function reflected by the Constant–Murley (CS) scores, the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) scores, and the range of motion (ROM) in the both groups at the last follow‐up were analyzed in the study. Surgery time, postoperative pain, and postoperative complications were also reviewed.

Results

A total of 46 eligible patients were included in this study. The mean follow‐up was similar for the ASPF (19.4 ± 3.7 months) and the ORIF (18.2 ± 3.2 months) groups (P = 0.372). All patients had achieved primary incision healing in both groups at the last follow‐up. The surgery time was 96.8 ± 11.7 min and 64.2 ± 8.3 min in the ASPF group and the ORIF group, respectively (P < 0.01). All the CS scores (P = 0.278), ASES scores (P = 0.426), and ROM were slightly better in the ASPF group than in the ORIF group, but they did not attain significant differences. In addition, there was no significant difference in the postoperative complication rate between the ASPF group (10.5%) and the ORIF group (18.5%) (P = 0.522). In the ASPF group, there was only one patient with postoperative shoulder stiffness and one case of fracture malunion. In the ORIF group, there were two cases of postoperative shoulder stiffness, two cases of fracture malunoin, and one case of subacromial impingement. Other major postoperative complications, such as fracture nonunion, pullout of the suture anchor, and screw penetration, were not observed in either group.

Conclusion

Arthroscopic‐assisted plate fixation is effective and may be an alternative in the treatment of displaced isolated medium‐sized fractures of the greater tuberosity.
Yield and utility of surveillance kidney biopsies in pediatric kidney transplant recipients at various time points post‐transplant
Authors: Landsberg Adina , Riazy Maziar , Blydt‐Hansen Tom D.
Published: October 2020

Background

Due to a lack of consensus on SB for pediatric kidney transplant recipients, we evaluated the yield and clinical utility of SB findings at various time points post‐transplant.

Methods

Patients transplanted at a single institution between 2014 and 2020 with at least one SB at 1.5, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months post‐transplant were included. Additional biopsies were done for indication (IB). TCMR was classified by Banff criteria (score ≥i1t1).

Results

Forty‐seven patients had 142 biopsies (SB = 113, IB = 29); 19 (40.4%) of whom experienced at least one TCMR episode in the first‐year post‐transplant. The greatest SB yield of any pathologic abnormality was at 6 months (57.1%; P < .001). Six months also had the highest yield for TCMR (42.9%), compared with 3.3%, 20.8%, 15.0%, and 9.1% at 1.5, 3, 12 months, and 24 months, respectively (P = .003). SB instigated intensification of immunosuppression (28.3% cases), reduction of immunosuppression (2.7% cases), and other non‐immunosuppressant changes (1.8% cases). The 6‐month SB led to the greatest number of changes in management (53.6%), compared with 1.5, 3, 12, and 24 months (13.3, 20.8, 25.0, and 36.4%, respectively; P = .012). There were no major biopsy‐related complications.

Conclusions

SBs identify an important burden of subclinical rejection and other pathology leading to changes in clinical management. The greatest yield was at 6 months, whereas the least utility was at the 1.5 months. Selection of SB timing may be tailored such that the optimal yield is balanced against the procedural risk.
Horizontal orientation of zygomorphic flowers: significance for rain protection and pollen transfer
Authors: Yu Y.‐M. , Li X.‐X. , Xie D. , Wang H.
Published: October 2020

Floral traits are recognized to have evolved under selection for abiotic and biotic factors. Complex zygomorphic flowers usually face horizontally. It has been proved that a horizontal orientation facilitates pollinator recognition and pollination efficiency, but its significance in adaptation to abiotic factors remains unknown.

The floral orientation ofAbelia × grandifloranaturally varies around horizontal (with an angle of −30 to +33° between the floral main axis and the horizontal). We examined whether three different floral orientations affected flower thermal conditions, response to rain and pollination.

Results showed that floral orientation had no effect on diurnal variations in flower temperature. The anthers of all three flower orientations were wetted by rainfall, but the inclined upward‐facing flowers contained significantly more rainwater. The horizontal flowers received significantly higher visitation by hawkmoths and had a higher stigmatic pollen load. In contrast, the upward flower orientation reduced pollination precision, while downward‐facing flowers had decreased pollinator attraction.

This study indicates that horizontal flowers may have evolved as a trade‐off between rain protection and pollination. Zygomorphic flowers that deviate from a horizontal orientation may have lower fitness because of flower flooding by rainwater and decreased pollen transfer.
Pathogenicity and infectivity of Phytophthora ramorum vary depending on host species, infected plant part, inoculum potential, pathogen genotype, and temperature
Authors: Garbelotto Matteo , Schmidt Doug , Popenuck Tina
Published: October 2020

A total of 25 ornamental plant species representing 10 families were inoculated using three genotypes, each representing one of the genetic lineages NA1, NA2, and EU1 of the pathogen Phytophthora ramorum. Leaves were inoculated using suspensions with two zoospore concentrations and exposure at three temperatures, while stems were inoculated using agar plugs colonized by mycelia. Susceptibility was determined by measuring either the success of pathogen reisolation or lesion length caused by the pathogen. Infectivity was determined by counting sporangia in washes of inoculated leaves or stems. Results from all three pathogen genotypes combined were used to rank each of the 25 plant species for susceptibility and infectivity, while pooled results per genotype from all 25 hosts combined were employed for a preliminary comparison of pathogenicity and infectivity among genotypes. Statistical analyses showed that leaf results were affected by the concentration of zoospores, temperature, plant host, pathogen genotype, and by the interaction between host and pathogen genotype. Stem results were mostly affected by host and by the interaction between host and pathogen genotype. Hosts ranked differently when looking at the various parameters, and differences in rankings were also significant when comparing stem and leaf results. Differences were identified among the 25 hosts and the three pathogen genotypes for all parameters: results can be used for decision‐making regarding regulations or selection of plants to be grown where infestations by P. ramorum are an issue.
Reproduction traits of heterozygousmyostatinknockout sows crossbred with homozygousmyostatinknockout boars
Authors: Han Sheng‐zhong , Li Zhou‐Yan , Paek Hyo‐Jin , Choe Hak‐Myong , Yin Xi‐Jun , Quan Biao‐Hu
Published: October 2020

Few studies exist on homozygous myostatin gene mutant (MSTN−/−) pigs, especially on their reproductive ability. We have previously shown that semen quality of homozygousMSTN−/−boars is comparable to that of wild type (WT). However, no data exist on the reproductive ability of heterozygousMSTNgene mutant (MSTN+/−) sows. The present study highlights showed that the heterozygousMSTN+/−sows have delayed pubertal age than WT sows (255.80 ± 6.79 versus 191.10 ± 3.42, respectively). The number of services per pregnancy of heterozygousMSTN+/−sows is significantly higher than that of WT sows (3.33 ± 0.43 versus 1.60 ± 0.25, respectively). Moreover, although heterozygousMSTN+/−sows have natural reproduction ability, their litter size was significantly lower than that of WT sows (7.75 ± 0.44 versus 14.25 ± 0.60, respectively). Offsprings generated from heterozygousMSTN+/−sow and homozygousMSTN−/−boar were genotyped with the PCR and sequencing method to detect myostatin mutation and to identify whether the piglets are homozygousMSTN−/−or heterozygousMSTN+/−. The proportion of homozygousMSTN−/−piglets was significantly lower than that of heterozygousMSTN+/−piglets (2.50 ± 0.35 versus 5.25 ± 0.60, respectively). Furthermore, none of the sows presented dystocia, and the phenotype of heterozygousMSTN+/−piglets was normal. However, 10% homozygousMSTN−/−piglets died of dyspnoea within 2 hr after birth, 60% of homozygousMSTN−/−piglets showed large tongues, and 50% had umbilical hernias. In summary, this study for the first time reports the reproduction traits of heterozygousMSTN+/−sows crossbred with homozygousMSTN−/−boars. This study will pave the way in a new direction for the breeding and development of super lean meat varieties in the future.