bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dynamics of the Pacific oyster pathobiota during mortality episodes in Europe assessed by 16S rRNA gene profiling and a new target enrichment next‐generation sequencing strategy
Authors: Lasa Aide , di Cesare Andrea , Tassistro Giovanni , Borello Alessio , Gualdi Stefano , Furones Dolors , Carrasco Noelia , Cheslett Deborah , Brechon Amanda , Paillard Christine , Bidault Adeline , Pernet Fabrice , Canesi Laura , Edomi Paolo , Pallavicini Alberto , Pruzzo Carla , Vezzulli Luigi
Published: July 2019

Infectious agents such as the bacteria Vibrio aestuarianus or Ostreid herpesvirus 1 have been repeatedly associated with dramatic disease outbreaks of Crassostrea gigas beds in Europe. Beside roles played by these pathogens, microbial infections in C. gigas may derive from the contribution of a larger number of microorganisms than previously thought, according to an emerging view supporting the polymicrobial nature of bivalve diseases. In this study, the microbial communities associated with a large number of C. gigas samples collected during recurrent mortality episodes at different European sites were investigated by real‐time PCR and 16SrRNA gene‐based microbial profiling. A new target enrichment next‐generation sequencing protocol for selective capturing of 884 phylogenetic and virulence markers of the potential microbial pathogenic community in oyster tissue was developed allowing high taxonomic resolution analysis of the bivalve pathobiota. Comparative analysis of contrasting C. gigas samples conducted using these methods revealed that oyster experiencing mortality outbreaks displayed signs of microbiota disruption associated with the presence of previously undetected potential pathogenic microbial species mostly belonging to genus Vibrio and Arcobacter. The role of these species and their consortia should be targeted by future studies aiming to shed light on mechanisms underlying polymicrobial infections in C. gigas.
The hologenome concept of evolution: do mothers matter most?
Authors: Rosenberg E , Zilber‐Rosenberg I
Published: July 2019

The hologenome concept of evolution is discussed, with special emphasis placed upon the microbiome of women. The microbiome is dynamic, changing under different conditions, and differs between women and men. Genetic variation occurs not only in the host, but also in the microbiome by the acquisition of novel microbes, the amplification of specific microbes, and horizontal gene transfer. The majority of unique genes in human holobionts are found in microbiomes, and mothers are responsible for transferring most of these to their offspring during birth, breastfeeding, and physical contact. Thus, mothers are likely to be the primary providers of the majority of genetic information to offspring via mitochondria and the microbiome.

Tweetable abstract

Microbiomes differ between women and men. Most genes in humans are in the microbiome. Mothers transfer most of these genes to offspring.
Are Currently Used Bioimpedance Methods in Hemodialysis Comparable for Calculating Dialysis Dose?
Authors: Arias‐Guillén Marta , Masso Elisabet , Gomez Miquel , Rodas Lida , Broseta Jose , Vera Manel , Rios Jose , Fontseré Néstor , Maduell Francisco
Published: July 2019

Bioelectrical impedance analysis has increasingly been incorporated into hemodialysis units (HD) as a useful, noninvasive technique for evaluating overall fluid status. The aims of this study were to verify whether the information obtained from two different bioelectrical impedance analysis methods (spectroscopy bioimpedance [BCM] and single‐frequency bioelectric impedance vector analysis [SF‐BIVA]) was comparable for analyzing fluid status, and to determine their impact when used to calculate dialysis dose. This observational cross‐sectional study included 78 HD patients who underwent one measurement with BCM and one with SF‐BIVA in the same dialysis session. For calculating the dialysis dose, total body water or urea distribution volume (V) was calculated by the Watson formula and compared with the V obtained from the two devices. The difference in V between the two devices was 5.4 L (P < 0.001). Given the existent correlation between VBCM and VSF‐BIVA, we were able to apply a formula (corrected V = VSF‐BIVA = 1.04 × VBCM + 4.85, r = 0.93), allowing comparison of the two bioimpedance methods. The mean dialysis dose for BCM device (KtID/VBCM) was 2.49 ± 0.85, much higher than KtID/VSF‐BIVA (2.06 ± 0.72) mainly due to the V obtained with the different devices, with KtID/VWatson being 2.03 ± 0.67. The results on volume distribution showed an acceptable correlation but the devices were not comparable due to intermethod differences observed. Dialysis centers using SF‐BIVA will obtain much lower dialysis dose, but by applying our formula, the Kt/V would resemble that obtained by the BCM device.
Integrating three comprehensive data sets shows that mitochondrial DNA variation is linked to species traits and paleogeographic events in European butterflies
Authors: Dapporto Leonardo , Cini Alessandro , Vodă Raluca , Dincă Vlad , Wiemers Martin , Menchetti Mattia , Magini Giulia , Talavera Gerard , Shreeve Tim , Bonelli Simona , Casacci Luca Pietro , Balletto Emilio , Scalercio Stefano , Vila Roger
Published: July 2019

Understanding the dynamics of biodiversity, including the spatial distribution of genetic diversity, is critical for predicting responses to environmental changes, as well as for effective conservation measures. This task requires tracking changes in biodiversity at large spatial scales and correlating with species functional traits. We provide three comprehensive resources to understand the determinants for mitochondrial DNA differentiation represented by (a) 15,609 COI sequences and (b) 14 traits belonging to 307 butterfly species occurring in Western‐Central Europe and (c) the first multi‐locus phylogenetic tree of all European butterfly species. By applying phylogenetic regressions we show that mitochondrial DNA spatial differentiation (as measured with GST, G′ST, D and DST) is negatively correlated with species traits determining dispersal capability and colonization ability. Thanks to the high spatial resolution of the COI data, we also provide the first zoogeographic regionalization maps based on intraspecific genetic variation. The overall pattern obtained by averaging the spatial differentiation of all Western‐Central European butterflies shows that the paradigm of long‐term glacial isolation followed by rapid pulses of post‐glacial expansion has been a pervasive phenomenon in European butterflies. The results and the extensive data sets we provide here constitute the basis for genetically‐informed conservation plans for a charismatic group in a continent where flying insects are under alarming decline.
De novo assembly of a chromosome‐level reference genome of red‐spotted grouper (Epinephelus akaara) using nanopore sequencing and Hi‐C
Authors: Ge Hui , Lin Kebing , Shen Mi , Wu Shuiqing , Wang Yilei , Zhang Ziping , Wang Zhiyong , Zhang Yong , Huang Zhen , Zhou Chen , Lin Qi , Wu Jianshao , Liu Lei , Hu Jiang , Huang Zhongchi , Zheng Leyun
Published: July 2019

The red‐spotted grouper Epinephelus akaara (E. akaara) is one of the most economically important marine fish in China, Japan and South‐East Asia and is a threatened species. The species is also considered a good model for studies of sex inversion, development, genetic diversity and immunity. Despite its importance, molecular resources for E. akaara remain limited and no reference genome has been published to date. In this study, we constructed a chromosome‐level reference genome of E. akaara by taking advantage of long‐read single‐molecule sequencing and de novo assembly by Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT) and Hi‐C. A red‐spotted grouper genome of 1.135 Gb was assembled from a total of 106.29 Gb polished Nanopore sequence (GridION, ONT), equivalent to 96‐fold genome coverage. The assembled genome represents 96.8% completeness (BUSCO) with a contig N50 length of 5.25 Mb and a longest contig of 25.75 Mb. The contigs were clustered and ordered onto 24 pseudochromosomes covering approximately 95.55% of the genome assembly with Hi‐C data, with a scaffold N50 length of 46.03 Mb. The genome contained 43.02% repeat sequences and 5,480 noncoding RNAs. Furthermore, combined with several RNA‐seq data sets, 23,808 (99.5%) genes were functionally annotated from a total of 23,923 predicted protein‐coding sequences. The high‐quality chromosome‐level reference genome of E. akaara was assembled for the first time and will be a valuable resource for molecular breeding and functional genomics studies of red‐spotted grouper in the future.
An automated approach to identifying search terms for systematic reviews using keyword co‐occurrence networks
Authors: Grames Eliza M. , Stillman Andrew N. , Tingley Morgan W. , Elphick Chris S.
Published: July 2019

Systematic review, meta‐analysis and other forms of evidence synthesis are critical to strengthen the evidence base concerning conservation issues and to answer ecological and evolutionary questions. Synthesis lags behind the pace of scientific publishing, however, due to time and resource costs which partial automation of evidence synthesis tasks could reduce. Additionally, current methods of retrieving evidence for synthesis are susceptible to bias towards studies with which researchers are familiar. In fields that lack standardized terminology encoded in an ontology, including ecology and evolution, research teams can unintentionally exclude articles from the review by omitting synonymous phrases in their search terms.

To combat these problems, we developed a quick, objective, reproducible method for generating search strategies that uses text mining and keyword co‐occurrence networks to identify the most important terms for a review. The method reduces bias in search strategy development because it does not rely on a predetermined set of articles and can improve search recall by identifying synonymous terms that research teams might otherwise omit.

When tested against the search strategies used in published environmental systematic reviews, our method performs as well as the published searches and retrieves gold‐standard hits that replicated versions of the original searches do not. Because the method is quasi‐automated, the amount of time required to develop a search strategy, conduct searches, and assemble results is reduced from approximately 17–34 hr to under 2 hr.

To facilitate use of the method for environmental evidence synthesis, we implemented the method in the R package litsearchr, which also contains a suite of functions to improve efficiency of systematic reviews by automatically deduplicating and assembling results from separate databases.
Overcoming the challenge of small effective sample sizes in home‐range estimation
Authors: Fleming Christen H. , Noonan Michael J. , Medici Emilia Patricia , Calabrese Justin M.
Published: July 2019

Technological advances have steadily increased the detail of animal tracking datasets, yet fundamental data limitations exist for many species that cause substantial biases in home‐range estimation. Specifically, the effective sample size of a range estimate is proportional to the number of observed range crossings, not the number of sampled locations. Currently, the most accurate home‐range estimators condition on an autocorrelation model, for which the standard estimation frame‐works are based on likelihood functions, even though these methods are known to underestimate variance—and therefore ranging area—when effective sample sizes are small.

Residual maximum likelihood (REML) is a widely used method for reducing bias in maximum‐likelihood (ML) variance estimation at small sample sizes. Unfortunately, we find that REML is too unstable for practical application to continuous‐time movement models. When the effective sample sizeNis decreased toN ≤ (10), which is common in tracking applications, REML undergoes a sudden divergence in variance estimation. To avoid this issue, while retaining REML’s first‐order bias correction, we derive a family of estimators that leverage REML to make a perturbative correction to ML. We also derive AIC values for REML and our estimators, including cases where model structures differ, which is not generally understood to be possible.

Using both simulated data and GPS data from lowland tapir (Tapirus terrestris), we show how our perturbative estimators are more accurate than traditional ML and REML methods. Specifically, when(5) home‐range crossings are observed, REML is unreliable by orders of magnitude, ML home ranges are ~30% underestimated, and our perturbative estimators yield home ranges that are only ~10% underestimated. A parametric bootstrap can then reduce the ML and perturbative home‐range underestimation to ~10% and ~3%, respectively.

Home‐range estimation is one of the primary reasons for collecting animal tracking data, and small effective sample sizes are a more common problem than is currently realized. The methods introduced here allow for more accurate movement‐model and home‐range estimation at small effective sample sizes, and thus fill an important role for animal movement analysis. Given REML’s widespread use, our methods may also be useful in other contexts where effective sample sizes are small.
Neutrophil activation in septic acute kidney injury: A post hoc analysis of the FINNAKI study
Authors: Törnblom Sanna , Nisula Sara , Vaara Suvi T. , Poukkanen Meri , Andersson Sture , Pettilä Ville , Pesonen Eero
Published: July 2019

Background

Inflammation, reflected by high plasma interleukin‐6 concentration, is associated with acute kidney injury (AKI) in septic patients. Neutrophil activation has pathophysiological significance in experimental septic AKI. We hypothesized that neutrophil activation is associated with AKI in critically ill sepsis patients.

Methods

We measured plasma (n = 182) and urine (n = 118) activin A (a rapidly released cytosolic neutrophil protein), interleukin‐8 (a chemotactic factor for neutrophils), myeloperoxidase (a neutrophil biomarker released in tissues), and interleukin‐6 on intensive care unit admission (plasma and urine) and 24 hours later (plasma) in sepsis patients manifesting their first organ dysfunction between 24 hours preceding admission and the second calendar day in intensive care unit. AKI was defined by the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes criteria.

Results

Plasma admission interleukin‐8 (240 [60‐971] vs 50 [19‐164] pg/mL, P < .001) and activin A (845 [554‐1895] vs 469 [285‐862] pg/mL, P < .001) were but myeloperoxidase (169 [111‐300] vs 144 [88‐215] ng/mL, P = .059) was not higher among patients with AKI compared with those without. Urine admission interleukin‐8 (50.4 [19.8‐145.3] vs 9.5 [2.7‐28.7] ng/mL, P < .001) and myeloperoxidase (7.7 [1.5‐12.6] vs 1.9 [0.4‐6.9] ng/mL, P < .001) were but activin A (9.7 [1.4‐42.6] vs 4.0 [0.0‐33.0] ng/mL, P = .064) was not higher in AKI than non‐AKI patients. Urine myeloperoxidase correlated with urine interleukin‐8 (R = .627, P < .001) but not with plasma myeloperoxidase (R = .131, P = .158).

Conclusion

Interleukin‐8 in plasma and urine was associated with septic AKI. Elevated plasma activin A indicates intravascular neutrophil activation in septic AKI. Concomitant plasma and urine myeloperoxidase measurements suggest neutrophil accumulation into injured kidneys.
Meta‐analysis of natural, unnatural and cause‐specific mortality rates following discharge from in‐patient psychiatric facilities
Authors: Swaraj S. , Wang M. , Chung D. , Curtis J. , Firth J. , Ramanuj P. P. , Sara G. , Large M.
Published: July 2019

Background

People discharged from in‐patient psychiatric facilities have highly elevated rates of suicide, and there is increasing concern about natural mortality among the seriously mentally ill.

Method

A meta‐analysis of English‐language, peer‐reviewed longitudinal studies of mortality among patients discharged from in‐patient psychiatric facilities was conducted using papers published in MEDLINE, PsycINFO or EMBASE (from 1 January 1960 to 1 April 2018) located using the terms ((suicid*).ti AND (hospital OR discharg* OR inpatient OR in‐patient OR admit*)).ab and ((mortality OR outcome* OR death*) AND (psych* OR mental*)).ti AND (admit* OR admis* OR hospital* OR inpatient* OR in‐patient* OR discharg*).ab. Pooled mortality rates for aggregated natural and unnatural causes, and the specific causes of suicide, accident, homicide, vascular, neoplastic, respiratory, gastrointestinal, infectious and metabolic death were calculated using a random‐effects meta‐analytic model. Between‐study heterogeneity was investigated using subgroup analysis and metaregression.

Results

The pooled natural death rate of 1128 per 100 000 person‐years exceeded the pooled unnatural deaths of 479 per 100 000 person‐year among studies with varying periods of follow‐up. Natural deaths significantly exceeded unnatural deaths among studies with a mean follow‐up of longer than 2 years, and vascular deaths exceeded suicide deaths among studies with mean period of follow‐up of 5 years or longer.

Conclusion

Suicide may be the largest single cause of death in the short term after discharge from in‐patient psychiatric facilities but vascular disease is the major cause of mortality in the medium‐ and long‐term.
Poor management in protected areas is associated with lowered tropical mammal diversity
Authors: Oberosler V. , Tenan S. , Zipkin E. F. , Rovero F.
Published: July 2019

Numerous protected areas (PAs) have been created worldwide to safeguard wildlife and other natural resources from anthropogenic threats such as habitat destruction and bushmeat hunting. However, conservation efforts in many tropical PAs are still inadequate, revealing deficiencies in management effectiveness. It is therefore important to quantify how different protection regimes impact wildlife within PAs. We investigated the differences between forest mammal communities in two ecologically comparable PAs in the Udzungwa Mountains (Tanzania) with contrasting management regimes. One is a well‐protected national park with efficient law enforcement; the other has suffered decades of inadequate protection, mainly resulting in high levels of illegal hunting. Using camera‐trapping data, we assessed the target communities in terms of species richness, functional composition (i.e. proportions of trophic guilds) and species‐specific occurrences, all while accounting for imperfect detection. We found striking differences between the two mammal communities: lower species richness, alteration in the trophic structure and reduced occurrence probabilities for most species in the forest with high disturbance. The difference in occurrence probability between the two PAs tended to be highest for larger‐bodied species. Our results show that strictly enforced legal protection is required to maintain diverse mammal communities in tropical forests under ever‐increasing anthropogenic threats. While PAs are the cornerstone of efforts to conserve tropical biodiversity, the future of biodiversity within them is closely tied to the effectiveness of enforcement.
Drivers affecting mammal community structure and functional diversity under varied conservation efforts in a tropical rainforest in Cameroon
Authors: Laméris D. W. , Tagg N. , Kuenbou J. K. , Sterck E. H. M. , Willie J.
Published: July 2019

As well as leading to a loss of biodiversity (i.e. species richness and abundance), human activities also affect ecosystem functioning. Documenting how the suite of ecological roles changes following disturbance provides a complementary source of information for conservation management. To this end, we measured mammal diversity in terms of community structure (i.e. abundance, composition and species richness) and functional diversity in three sites differing in conservation effort in a tropical rainforest in Cameroon. Results show that sites without primary or secondary conservation efforts had lower mammal abundances and an altered mammal composition but similar species richness compared to better‐protected areas. In terms of functional diversity, we found more variation of traits (i.e. FDis) in the site with primary conservation and higher abundances of functionally unique species (i.e. FOri) in sites with either primary or secondary conservation efforts. We found no overall difference in the abundance of specialist and generalist species between sites (i.e. FSpe). We identified several drivers affecting abundance, species richness and functional diversity of mammal communities, although there did not appear to be a common driver affecting all mammal diversity measures in a similar way. Our results suggest that, in addition to preserving mammal abundance and community composition, conservation efforts (both primary and secondary) are able to contribute to maintaining higher levels of functional diversity compared to areas devoid of conservation. We demonstrate that functional diversity metrics can provide valuable additional information about the status of mammal communities that can be used to better inform conservation management.
Accumbens neuroimmune signaling and dysregulation of astrocytic glutamate transport underlie conditioned nicotine‐seeking behavior
Authors: Namba Mark D. , Kupchik Yonatan M. , Spencer Sade M. , Garcia‐Keller Constanza , Goenaga Julianna G. , Powell Gregory L. , Vicino Ian A. , Hogue Ian B. , Gipson Cassandra D.
Published: July 2019

Nicotine self‐administration is associated with decreased expression of the glial glutamate transporter (GLT‐1) and the cystine‐glutamate exchange protein xCT within the nucleus accumbens core (NAcore). N‐acetylcysteine (NAC) has been shown to restore these proteins in a rodent model of drug addiction and relapse. However, the specific molecular mechanisms driving its inhibitory effects on cue‐induced nicotine reinstatement are unknown. Here, we confirm that extinction of nicotine‐seeking behavior is associated with impaired NAcore GLT‐1 function and expression and demonstrates that reinstatement of nicotine seeking rapidly enhances membrane fraction GLT‐1 expression. Extinction and cue‐induced reinstatement of nicotine seeking was also associated with increased tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and decreased glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression in the NAcore. NAC treatment (100 mg/kg/day, i.p., for 5 d) inhibited cue‐induced nicotine seeking and suppressed AMPA to NMDA current ratios, suggesting that NAC reduces NAcore postsynaptic excitability. In separate experiments, rats received NAC and an antisense vivo‐morpholino to selectively suppress GLT‐1 expression in the NAcore during extinction and were subsequently tested for cue‐induced reinstatement of nicotine seeking. NAC treatment rescued NAcore GLT‐1 expression and attenuated cue‐induced nicotine seeking, which was blocked by GLT‐1 antisense. NAC also reduced TNFα expression in the NAcore. Viral manipulation of the NF‐κB pathway, which is downstream of TNFα, revealed that cue‐induced nicotine seeking is regulated by NF‐κB pathway signaling in the NAcore independent of GLT‐1 expression. Ultimately, these results are the first to show that immunomodulatory mechanisms may regulate known nicotine‐induced alterations in glutamatergic plasticity that mediate cue‐induced nicotine‐seeking behavior.
Effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on craving and substance consumption in patients with substance dependence: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Zhang Jack J. Q. , Fong Kenneth N. K. , Ouyang Rang‐ge , Siu Andrew M. H. , Kranz Georg S.
Published: July 2019

Background and Aims

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is increasingly used as an intervention for treating substance dependence. We aimed to assess evidence of the anti‐craving and consumption‐reducing effects of rTMS in patients with alcohol, nicotine and illicit drug dependence.

Methods

A systematic review and meta‐analysis of 26 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published from January 2000 to October 2018 that investigated the effects of rTMS on craving and substance consumption in patients with nicotine, alcohol and illicit drug dependence (n = 748). Craving, measured using self‐reported questionnaires or visual analog scale, and substance consumption, measured using self‐report substance intake or number of addiction relapse cases, were considered as primary and secondary outcomes, respectively. Substance type, study design and rTMS parameters were used as the independent factors in the meta‐regression.

Results

Results showed that excitatory rTMS of the left dorsolateral pre‐frontal cortex (DLPFC) significantly reduced craving [Hedges' g = −0.62; 95% confidence interval (CI) = −0.89 to −0.35; P < 0.0001], compared with sham stimulation. Moreover, meta‐regression revealed a significant positive association between the total number of stimulation pulses and effect size among studies using excitatory left DLPFC stimulation (P = 0.01). Effects of other rTMS protocols on craving were not significant. However, when examining substance consumption, excitatory rTMS of the left DLPFC and excitatory deep TMS (dTMS) of the bilateral DLPFC and insula revealed significant consumption‐reducing effects, compared with sham stimulation.

Conclusion

Excitatory repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of the dorsolateral pre‐frontal cortex appears to have an acute effect on reducing craving and substance consumption in patients with substance dependence. The anti‐craving effect may be associated with stimulation dose.
The collectivity of British alcohol consumption trends across different temporal processes: a quantile age–period–cohort analysis
Authors: Holmes John , Ally Abdallah K. , Meier Petra S. , Pryce Robert
Published: July 2019

Background and aims

UK alcohol consumption per capita has fallen by 18% since 2004, while the alcohol‐specific death rate has risen by 6%. Inconsistent consumption trends across the population may explain this. Drawing on the theory of the collectivity of drinking cultures and age–period–cohort analyses, we tested whether consumption trends are consistent across lighter and heavier drinkers for three temporal processes: (i) the life‐course, (ii) calendar time and (iii) successive birth cohorts.

Design

Sex‐specific quantile age–period–cohort regressions using repeat cross‐sectional survey data.

Setting

Great Britain, 1984–2011.

Participants

Adult (18+) drinkers responding to 17 waves of the General Lifestyle Survey (total n = 175 986).

Measurements

Dependent variables: the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th, 95th and 99th quantiles of the logged weekly alcohol consumption distribution (excluding abstainers). Independent variables: seven age groups (18–24, 25–34… 65–74, 75+ years), five time‐periods (1984–88… 2002–06, 2008–11) and 16 five‐year birth cohorts (1915–19… 1990–94). Additional control variables: ethnicity and UK country.

Findings

Within age, period and cohort trends, changes in consumption were not consistently in the same direction at different quantiles of the consumption distribution. When they were, the scale of change sometimes differed between quantiles. For example, between 1996‐2000 and 2008‐2011, consumption among women decreased by 18% [95% confidence interval (CI) = −32 to –2%] at the 10th quantile but increased by 11% (95% CI = 2–21%) at the median and by 28% (95% CI = 19–38%) at the 99th quantile, implying that consumption fell among lighter drinkers and rose among heavier drinkers. This type of polarized trend also occurred between 1984–88 and 1996–2000 for men and women. Age trends showed collectivity, but cohort trends showed a mixture of collectivity and polarization.

Conclusions

Countervailing alcohol consumption and alcohol‐related harm trends in the United Kingdom may be explained by lighter and heavier drinkers having different period and cohort trends, as well as by the presence of cohort trends that mean consumption may rise in some age groups while falling in others.
Carious lesion management in children and adolescents by Australian dentists
Authors: Keys T , Burrow MF , Rajan S , Rompre P , Doméjean S , Muller‐Bolla M , Manton DJ
Published: July 2019

Background

The management of carious lesions in children and adolescents can have lifelong implications for the patient. The aim of this study was to assess the decision‐making process of dentists when managing carious lesions in children and adolescents.

Methods

Approximately, 11 000 dentists listed as members of the Australian Dental Association Inc. (ADA) and Australian and New Zealand Society of Paediatric Dentistry (ANZSPD) were emailed a link in April 2017 to a 19‐question survey delivered by SurveyMonkey™.

Results

In this study, 887 responses were received. In ‘enamel‐limited’ carious lesions, dentists intervened most frequently in primary tooth approximal (365, 41.1%), followed by permanent tooth occlusal (295, 33.3%) and approximal (244, 27.5%), and primary tooth occlusal (203, 22.9%) surface carious lesions. Age, university of graduation, practicing state, decade of graduation and frequency of treatment of children between 6 and 15 years were significant demographic factors influencing the restorative threshold.

Conclusions

Australian dentists reported significant variation in their management of approximal and occlusal carious lesions in both primary and permanent teeth. A substantial proportion of respondents would intervene surgically on non‐cavitated enamel‐limited lesions.
Extreme colour variation in the larvae of the executioner clownfrog, Dendropsophus carnifex (Anura: Hylidae), living in nearby ponds of different light exposure and duration
Authors: Pintanel Pol , Salinas‐Ivanenko Sofia , Gutiérrez‐Pesquera Luis Miguel , Almeida‐Reinoso Freddy , Merino‐Viteri Andrés , Tejedo Miguel
Published: July 2019

Here, we describe the extreme plasticity in colour variation in the tadpole of the executioner clownfrog, Dendropsophus carnifex (Anura: Hylidae), found across nearby ponds in Mindo (Ecuador). Tadpole coloration was compared between individuals from four distinct ponds revealing two explicit colour schemes, a pale phenotype which is commonly described for this species and a bright phenotype which, to our knowledge, has not been described before. In addition, the bright phenotype revealed reversibility to the pale phenotype in laboratory conditions. We discuss the functionality and driving factors for these contrasting colour phenotypes including the potential role of distinct ecological conditions.

Abstract in Spanish is available with online material.
Assembly patterns of tree seedling communities in a human‐dominated Tropical landscape
Authors: Menezes Tatiane G. C. , Melo Felipe P. L.
Published: July 2019

Understanding how different components of species diversity of regenerating areas respond to both time of abandonment and landscape metrics may offer crucial information for both theoretical and practical purposes. Using 15 regeneration areas (from 4 to 30 years) and nine areas of mature forest, we assessed how tree seedling assemblage responds to time of abandonment and forest cover in terms of species diversity and taxonomic composition. We found that species diversity of seedlings responded positively to time of abandonment, but was not influence by forest cover. Diversity of rare and common species (0D and 1D, respectively) but not dominant species (2D) increased with time of abandonment, reaching reference values very quickly (ca. 20 years). However, species composition seemed to respond to both ageing of forest stand and landscape structure represented by forest cover. Our findings reinforce that in human‐dominated landscapes, local processes related to recovery with time should be more important for plant community assembly than landscape structure, leading to a number of possibilities for multiple successional pathways.

Abstract in Portuguese is available with online material.
Outcomes of hospital in the home treatment of acute decompensated congestive cardiac failure compared to traditional in‐hospital treatment in older patients
Authors: Yu Jenny Jia , Sunderland Yana
Published: July 2019

Objectives

To compare the outcomes of readmission, mortality and treatment‐related complications in older people treated by hospital in the home (HITH) for acute decompensated congestive cardiac failure (CCF) with those treated in hospital.

Methods

Retrospective cohort study of patients 65 years and older treated by HITH over a 30‐month period compared with age‐ and sex‐matched patients treated in hospital.

Results

There was no difference between the “HITH” and “Hospital” cohorts in mortality within 60 days of discharge (P = 0.5), time to death (P = 0.8), 30‐day (P = 0.7) and 60‐day (P = 0.4) readmissions, time to readmission (P = 0.9) and complication rate (P = 0.1). HITH patients had longer length of stay (P = 0.001) but lower cost per day of admission ($669.42 vs $1377.58).

Conclusion

In appropriately selected older patients, HITH is a safe, efficacious and cost‐effective alternative to inpatient management of acute decompensated CCF.
Resistance of parvalbumin to gastrointestinal digestion is required for profound and long‐lasting prophylactic oral tolerance
Authors: Freidl Raphaela , Gstöttner Antonia , Baranyi Ulrike , Swoboda Ines , Stolz Frank , Focke‐Tejkl Margarete , Wekerle Thomas , van Ree Ronald , Valenta Rudolf , Linhart Birgit
Published: July 2019

Background

Early introduction of food allergens into children's diet is considered as a strategy for the prevention of food allergy. The major fish allergen parvalbumin exhibits high stability against gastrointestinal digestion. We investigated whether resistance of carp parvalbumin to digestion affects oral tolerance induction.

Methods

Natural Cyp c 1, nCyp c 1, and a gastrointestinal digestion‐sensitive recombinant Cyp c 1 mutant, mCyp c 1, were analyzed for their ability to induce oral tolerance in a murine model. Both antigens were compared by gel filtration, circular dichroism measurement, in vitro digestion, and splenocyte proliferation assays using synthetic Cyp c 1‐derived peptides. BALB/c mice were fed once with high doses of nCyp c 1 or mCyp c 1, before sensitization to nCyp c 1. Immunological tolerance was studied by measuring Cyp c 1‐specific antibodies and cellular responses by ELISA, basophil activation, splenocyte proliferations, and intragastric allergen challenge.

Results

Wild‐type and mCyp c 1 showed the same physicochemical properties and shared the same major T‐cell epitope. However, mCyp c 1 was more sensitive to enzymatic digestion in vitro than nCyp c 1. A single high‐dose oral administration of nCyp c 1 but not of mCyp c 1 induced long‐term oral tolerance, characterized by lack of parvalbumin‐specific antibody and cellular responses. Moreover, mCyp c 1‐fed mice, but not nCyp c 1‐fed mice developed allergic symptoms upon challenge with nCyp c 1.

Conclusion

Sensitivity to digestion in the gastrointestinal tract influences the capacity of an allergen to induce prophylactic oral tolerance.
Symptoms of sexual dysfunction among men from infertile couples: prevalence and association with testosterone deficiency
Authors: Kruljac M. , Finnbogadóttir H. , Bobjer J. , Giraldi A. , Fugl‐Meyer K. , Giwercman A.
Published: July 2019

Background

This case control study aimed to investigate whether symptoms of sexual dysfunction are more common in males from infertile couples than in the general population and to explore whether symptoms of sexual dysfunction are associated to hypogonadism.

Objectives

Participants were 165 subfertile men in infertile heterosexual relationships, 18–50 years of age, with sperm concentrations < 15 × 106/mL. The controls were 199 men from a population‐based group, matched for age.

Material and methods

Logistic regression was applied in order to calculate odds ratios (ORs) for seven different symptoms of sexual dysfunction. In a multivariate model, we tested independent effects of infertility and primary as well as secondary hypogonadism.

Results

Statistically significant association between subfertility and symptoms of sexual dysfunction was found for lack of ability to control ejaculation (OR 2.2, 95% CI: 1.2–4.2). For hypogonadism, statistical significance was seen both in relation to low sexual interest/desire for sex (OR 2.3, 95% CI: 1.0–5.5) and for being worried about the size or shape of the penis (OR 3.6, 95% CI: 1.3–9.5). These associations remained statistically significant in males with primary but not those with secondary hypogonadism.

Discussion

Our study showed that men from infertile couples have an increased risk of symptoms of sexual dysfunction and this risk is linked to androgen deficiency.

Conclusion

Assessment of reproductive hormone levels and sexual function should routinely be done in this group of males.
Testicular organoids to study cell–cell interactions in the mammalian testis
Authors: Sakib S. , Goldsmith T. , Voigt A. , Dobrinski I.
Published: July 2019

Background

Over the last ten years, three‐dimensional organoid culture has garnered renewed interest, as organoids generated from primary cells or stem cells with cell associations and functions similar to organs in vivo can be a powerful tool to study tissue‐specific cell–cell interactions in vitro. Very recently, a few interesting approaches have been put forth for generating testicular organoids for studying the germ cell niche microenvironment.

Aim

To review different model systems that have been employed to study germ cell biology and testicular cell–cell interactions and discuss how the organoid approach can address some of the shortcomings of those systems.

Results and Conclusion

Testicular organoids that bear architectural and functional similarities to their in vivo counterparts are a powerful model system to study cell–cell interactions in the germ cell niche. Organoids enable studying samples in humans and other large animals where in vivo experiments are not possible, allow modeling of testicular disease and malignancies and may provide a platform to design more precise therapeutic interventions.
Neurological sequelae remain frequent after bacterial meningitis in children
Authors: Svendsen Morten B. , Ring Kofoed Inge , Nielsen Henrik , Schønheyder Henrik Carl , Bodilsen Jacob
Published: July 2019

Aim

To examine the incidence, clinical presentation and risk factors for neurological sequelae following childhood community‐acquired bacterial meningitis (CABM).

Methods

We included all children aged 1 month to 15 years old with CABM in North Denmark Region, 1998‐2016. Using medical records, we registered baseline demographics, signs and symptoms at admission, laboratory investigations, and outcome assessed by the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS). A GOS score of 1‐4 was considered an unfavourable outcome. We used modified Poisson regression to examine predefined risk factors for neurological sequelae among survivors.

Results

We identified 88 cases of CABM in 86 patients (45 female) with a median age of 1.4 years (interquartile range 0.7‐4.6). Neisseria meningitidis was the most common pathogen (48/88). Neurological sequelae occurred in 23 (27%) as hearing deficits in 13 (15%), cognitive impairment in 10 (12%) and motor or sensory nerve deficits in 8 (9%). Unfavourable outcome was observed in 16 (18%) patients and three (3%) patients died. Abnormalities on cranial imaging remained the only independent risk factor for developing neurological sequelae in adjusted analysis.

Conclusion

Neurological sequelae following CABM in children remain frequent and abnormal cranial imaging may be an independent risk factor.
Children's selective trust: When a group majority is confronted with past accuracy
Authors: Sampaio Leonardo Rodrigues , Harris Paul L. , Barros Maria Lucicléa
Published: July 2019

In two experiments, 3‐ to 5‐year‐old children were tested for their preferences when seeking and accepting information about novel animals. In Experiment 1, children watched as two adults named unfamiliar animals – one adult was predominantly accurate, whereas the other was predominantly inaccurate, as judged by a teacher. In a subsequent test phase, participants viewed additional unfamiliar animals and were invited to endorse one of two conflicting names. Either the predominantly accurate or the predominantly inaccurate adult proposed one name, whereas a majority of three unfamiliar adults proposed the other name. Children were more likely to endorse the predominantly accurate adult as compared to the majority but showed no significant preference for the predominantly inaccurate adult as compared to the majority. In Experiment 2, participants watched two adults correctly name three familiar animals, but only one named three additional unfamiliar animals whereas the other expressed uncertainty. On subsequent test trials, children preferred the apparently well‐informed adult to the less‐informed adult but, contrary to the results of Experiment 1, children preferred the information provided by a majority instead of the apparently well‐informed adult. The implications of these results are discussed in the light of previous research on children's selective trust in an accurate informant as compared to a consensus.

Statement of contribution

What is already known on the subject?

Young children monitor past accuracy and use this epistemic cue to decide whom to trust;

Children are receptive to information coming from a consensus;

Non‐epistemic cues, such as familiarity and accent, also influence children's deference

What does this study adds?

Children favour a dissenter over a majority if the dissenter's past accuracy has been publicly highlighted.

They favour a majority if a dissenter's past accuracy has not been publicly highlighted.

A confident informant is preferred to a hesitant informant.
Base‐salt relief controls salt‐related deformation in the Outer Kwanza Basin, offshore Angola
Authors: Evans Sian L. , Jackson Christopher A.‐L.
Published: July 2019

Salt‐influenced passive margins are widespread and commonly hydrocarbon‐rich. However, they can be structurally complex, with their kinematic development being poorly understood. Classic models of salt tectonics divide such margins into updip extensional, mid‐slope translational and downdip contractional kinematic domains. Furthermore the faults, folds, and salt walls associated with each kinematic domain are typically assumed to form perpendicular to the maximum principal stress, which in gravitationally driven systems means broadly perpendicular to base‐salt dip. We use high‐resolution 3D seismic reflection data from the Outer Kwanza Basin, offshore Angola to show that these models cannot explain the diversity of salt structures developing on passive margins, especially those defined by considerable relief on the base‐of‐salt surface. Overburden seismic‐stratigraphic patterns record the basinward translation and rotation, allowing us to reconstruct the origin and evolution of the salt structures. We show structures in the transitional domain of the Outer Kwanza Basin display three dominant trends, each characterised by different structural styles: (a) salt walls perpendicular to the overall base‐salt dip, (b) salt walls parallel to the base‐salt dip and (c) salt walls oblique to the base‐salt dip. We show that each set of walls has a unique history, with synchronous phases of extension and compression occurring in adjacent structures despite their close spatial relationship. Our analysis suggests that, in the Outer Kwanza Basin, the structural evolution of the salt and overburden is predominantly controlled by translation over relief on the base‐salt surface formed above fault scarps associated with a preceding phase of rifting. Changes in the downdip volumetric flux and velocity of the salt over topographic features can cause local extension or contraction of the salt and its overburden, associated with local acceleration or deceleration of the salt, respectively. This interaction with base‐salt relief creates locally variable stress fields that deform the salt and its overburden, overprinting the broader, margin‐scale salt tectonics typically associated with gravity gliding and spreading.
Tropical forest composition and function across space and time: Insights from diverse gradients in Área de Conservación Guanacaste
Authors: Hulshof Catherine M. , Powers Jennifer S.
Published: July 2019

Environmental gradients have played a pivotal role in the history and development of plant ecology and are useful for testing ecological and evolutionary theory. Área de Conservación Guanacaste is a spatio‐temporal mosaic of forests that have evolved continuously across elevation, topography, soil types, succession, and annual and inter‐annual climatic change. Studies of plant ecology across diverse gradients of ACG have shaped functional ecology, successional theory, community assembly, plant–herbivore interactions, among many other fields. In this review, we synthesize the, perhaps overlooked, role plant ecological studies of ACG have had on our understanding of tropical forest dynamics. We outline present‐day processes that will have major impacts on forest dynamics of ACG in the future and highlight how ACG will continue to shape future research priorities in plant ecology.

Abstract in Spanish is available with online material.
Delphinidin suppresses breast carcinogenesis through the HOTAIR/microRNA‐34a axis
Authors: Han Bin , Peng Xiaoli , Cheng Daomei , Zhu Yanfeng , Du Jingchang , Li Ju , Yu Xiaoping
Published: July 2019

Delphinidin, one of the main anthocyanidins, has potent anti‐cancer properties. In this study, we investigated the effect of delphinidin on 1‐methyl‐1‐nitrosourea (MNU)‐induced breast carcinogenesis on rats and the mechanism of delphinidin via negative regulation of the HOTAIR/microRNA‐34a axis. We found administration of delphinidin could effectively suppress MNU‐induced mammal breast carcinogenesis. Delphinidin downregulated the level of HOTAIR and upregulated miR‐34a in breast carcinogenesis. Western blot analysis confirmed that delphinidin treatment can significantly decrease the expression of β‐catenin, glycogen synthase kinase‐3β (Gsk3β), c‐Myc, cyclin‐D1, and matrix metalloproteinase‐7(MMP‐7) expression in breast cancer cells, and inhibition of miR‐34a significantly reduced the effect of delphinidin on c‐Myc, cyclin‐D1, and MMP‐7. HOTAIR overexpression also blocked the effect of delphinidin on miR‐34a and the Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway in MDA‐MB‐231 cells. RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay results showed that delphinidin upregulated miR‐34a by inhibiting HOTAIR, coupled with enhancement of the zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) and histone H3 Lys27 trimethylation (H3K27me3). This study indicated that delphinidin may potentially suppress breast carcinogenesis and exert its anti‐cancer effect through the HOTAIR/miR‐34a axis. These findings provided new evidence for the use of delphinidin in preventing breast carcinogenesis.