bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Uncertainties of Collapse Susceptibility Prediction Based on Remote Sensing and GIS: Effects of Different Machine Learning Models
Authors: Li Wenbin , Shi Yu , Huang Faming , Hong Haoyuan , Song Guquan
Published: September 2021

For the issue of collapse susceptibility prediction (CSP), minimal attention has been paid to explore the uncertainty characteristics of different machine learning models predicting collapse susceptibility. In this study, six kinds of typical machine learning methods, namely, logistic regression (LR), radial basis function neural network (RBF), multilayer perceptron (MLP), support vector machine (SVM), chi-square automatic interactive detection decision tree (CHAID), and random forest (RF) models, are constructed to do CSP. In this regard, An’yuan County in China, with a total of 108 collapses and 11 related environmental factors acquired through remote sensing and GIS technologies, is selected as a case study. The spatial dataset is first constructed, and then these machine learning models are used to implement CSP. Finally, the uncertainty characteristics of the CSP results are explored according to the accuracies, mean values, and standard deviations of the collapse susceptibility indexes (CSIs) and the Kendall synergy coefficient test. In addition, Huichang County, China, is used as another study case to avoid the uncertainty of different study areas. Results show that 1) overall, all six kinds of machine learning models reasonably and accurately predict the collapse susceptibility in An’yuan County; 2) the RF model has the highest prediction accuracy, followed by the CHAID, SVM, MLP, RBF, and LR models; and 3) the CSP results of these models are significantly different, with the mean value (0.2718) and average rank (2.72) of RF being smaller than those of the other five models, followed by the CHAID (0.3210 and 3.29), SVM (0.3268 and 3.48), MLP (0.3354 and 3.64), RBF (0.3449 and 3.81), and LR (0.3496 and 4.06), and with a Kendall synergy coefficient value of 0.062. Conclusively, it is necessary to adopt a series of different machine learning models to predict collapse susceptibility for cross-validation and comparison. Furthermore, the RF model has the highest prediction accuracy and the lowest uncertainty of the CSP results of the machine learning models.
Educating for Biocultural Diversity and Sustainable Development in First Years of Schooling: An Analysis of Documents From the Portuguese Educational System
Authors: Batista Bruna Fonseca , Andrade Ana Isabel
Published: September 2021

Educating for sustainable development can encompass different perspectives and possibilities that enable the achievement of the goals of (more) sustainable development, as predicted by the United Nations for 2030. This type of education also involves a humanist and citizenship education, which can prepare children, youth, and adults to face current and future challenges, local and global, as actors in building a better future. We believe, however, that for education to bear fruit, it is important that children, from the first years of schooling (primary education), can be in contact with different perspectives, people, ways of learning, and worldviews, locally contextualized and relevant, with strong links to the natural and social environment involving their communities, such as education must value linguistic and cultural diversity, without forgetting biodiversity and the influences they exert on the education of individuals. Thus, looking at an education that encompasses the relationships among linguistic, cultural (stories, celebrations, heritage, artefacts, relationships, and behaviors between people, etc.), and biological diversity, the present study aimed to understand how biocultural diversity is present in the main normative-legal documents that govern education for the first years of schooling in the Portuguese educational system and, above all, if its existence is considered in education for sustainable development. For this study, seven guiding documents of the Portuguese educational system, and primary education in particular (education that includes the interval from the 1st to the 4th year and the average age-groups of 5–10 years of age), were analyzed, and the results show a gap regarding the presence of biocultural diversity, which points to an incomplete perspective of education for sustainable development, forgetting languages, cultures, and individuals.
Young Raw Matters Ambassadors: High School Students Act as Science Communicators
Authors: Canino Mariaconcetta , Zanelli Alberto , Seri Mirko , Degli Esposti Alessandra , Torreggiani Armida
Published: September 2021

Nowadays communication skills are essential for the successful future career of undergraduate students, as well as to develop a mindset able to face new challenges linked to a sustainable development and to adopt sustainable strategies with respect to finite resources on Earth allowing the transition to the circular economy (CE) model. Here we present the experience of seven classes of teenagers involved in learning paths linked to researches in the field of material science aiming at developing more sustainable materials. The expected output was oriented toward the common goal of creating a communication tool targeting an external audience. The paths were proposed as a work-based experience in the framework of Raw Matters Ambassadors at Schools (RM@Schools), a European project which aims at raising awareness on the sustainable use of raw materials as well as increasing the interest in STEM disciplines, able to allow the future transition toward a low-carbon society. By using a combination of approaches such as open discussion, learning by doing, and peer-to-peer education, students are involved in an experiential learning process to develop communication competencies and increase their awareness about sustainability development.
Dispositional Learning Analytics for Supporting Individualized Learning Feedback
Authors: Tempelaar Dirk , Rienties Bart , Nguyen Quan
Published: September 2021

An important goal of learning analytics (LA) is to improve learning by providing students with meaningful feedback. Feedback is often generated by prediction models of student success using data about students and their learning processes based on digital traces of learning activities. However, early in the learning process, when feedback is most fruitful, trace-data-based prediction models often have limited information about the initial ability of students, making it difficult to produce accurate prediction and personalized feedback to individual students. Furthermore, feedback generated from trace data without appropriate consideration of learners’ dispositions might hamper effective interventions. By providing an example of the role of learning dispositions in an LA application directed at predictive modeling in an introductory mathematics and statistics module, we make a plea for applying dispositional learning analytics (DLA) to make LA precise and actionable. DLA combines learning data with learners’ disposition data measured through for example self-report surveys. The advantage of DLA is twofold: first, to improve the accuracy of early predictions; and second, to link LA predictions with meaningful learning interventions that focus on addressing less developed learning dispositions. Dispositions in our DLA example include students’ mindsets, operationalized as entity and incremental theories of intelligence, and corresponding effort beliefs. These dispositions were inputs for a cluster analysis generating different learning profiles. These profiles were compared for other dispositions and module performance. The finding of profile differences suggests that the inclusion of disposition data and mindset data, in particular, adds predictive power to LA applications.
Exposure to Perfluoro-Octanoic Acid Associated With Upstream Uncoupling of the Insulin Signaling in Human Hepatocyte Cell Line
Authors: De Toni Luca , Di Nisio Andrea , Rocca Maria Santa , Guidolin Diego , Della Marina Alice , Bertazza Loris , Sut Stefania , Purpura Edoardo , Pannella Micaela , Garolla Andrea , Foresta Carlo
Published: September 2021

Perfluoro–alkyl substances (PFAS) are chemical pollutants with prevalent stability and environmental persistence. Exposure to PFAS, particularly perfluoro-octanoic acid (PFOA), has been associated with increased diabetes-related cardiovascular mortality in subjects residing areas of high environmental contamination, however the exact pathogenic mechanism remains elusive. Here we used HepG2 cells, an in vitro model of human hepatocyte, to investigate the possible role of PFOA exposure in the alteration of hepatic glucose metabolism. HepG2 cells were exposed for 24 hours to PFOA at increasing concentration from 0 to 1000 ng/mL and then stimulated with 100 nm Insulin (Ins). The consequent effect on glycogen synthesis, glucose uptake and Glut-4 glucose transporter translocation was then evaluated by, respectively, Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS) staining, 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) uptake assay and immunofluorescence. Exposure to PFOA was associated with reduced glycogen synthesis and glucose uptake, at concentration equal or greater than, respectively, 0,1 ng/mL and 10 ng/mL, with parallel impaired membrane translocation of Glut-4 upon Ins stimulation. Western blot analysis showed early uncoupling of Insulin Receptor (InsR) activation from the downstream Akt and GSK3 phosphorylation. Computational docking analysis disclosed the possible stabilizing effect of PFOA on the complex between InsR and GM3 ganglioside, previously shown to be associated with the low grade chronic inflammation-related insulin resistance. Consistently, long term treatment with glucosyl-ceramide synthase inhibitor PDMP was able to largely restore glycogen synthesis, glucose uptake and Glut-4 translocation upon Ins stimulation in HepG2 exposed to PFOA. Our data support a novel pathogenic mechanism linking exposure to PFOA to derangement of hepatocyte cell metabolism.
Genetic and Phenotypic Characteristics of Congenital Hypothyroidism in a Chinese Cohort
Authors: Long Wei , Guo Fang , Yao Ruen , Wang Ying , Wang Huaiyan , Yu Bin , Xue Peng
Published: September 2021

Background

The molecular etiology and the genotype–phenotype correlation of congenital hypothyroidism (CH) remain unclear.

Methods

We performed genetic analysis in 42 newborns with CH using whole-exome sequencing. Patients were divided into a single-gene group and a multi-gene group according to the number of affected genes, or divided into a monoallelic group, a biallelic group, and an oligogenic group according to the pattern of the detected variants. The clinical characteristics were compared between groups.

Results

Thyroid dysgenesis (TD) was observed in 10 patients and goiter in 5 patients, whereas 27 patients had normal-sized gland-in-situ (GIS). We identified 58 variants in five genes in 29 patients. The genes with the most frequent variants were DUOX2 (70.7%), followed by TSHR (12.1%), DUOXA2 (10.3%), and TPO (5.2%). Variants in the genes causing dyshormonogenesis (DH) were more common than those in the genes causing TD (87.9% versus 12.1%). Among the patients with detected variants, 26 (89.7%) were harboring a single gene variant (single-gene group), which include 22 patients harboring biallelic variants (biallelic group) and four patients harboring monoallelic variants (monoallelic group). Three (10.3%) patients harbored variants in two or three genes (multi-gene group or oligogenic group). Compared with the single-gene group, the levothyroxine (L-T4) dose at 1 year of age was higher in the multi-gene group (p = 0.018). A controllable reduction in the L-T4 dose was observed in 25% of patients in the monoallelic group and 59.1% of patients in the biallelic group; however, no patients with such reduction in the L-T4 dose were observed in the oligogenic group.

Conclusions

Patients with normal-sized GIS accounted for the majority of our cohort. Genetic defects in the genes causing DH were more common than those in the genes causing TD, with biallelic variants in DUOX2 being dominant. DH might be the leading pathophysiology of CH in Chinese individuals.
Variation in the Measurement of Anti-Müllerian Hormone – What Are the Laboratory Issues?
Authors: Punchoo Rivak , Bhoora Sachin
Published: September 2021

Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) is a 140 kDa homodimeric glycoprotein consisting of two identical subunits linked by disulphide bonds and is synthesised by the testes and ovaries. Its clinical applications are prediction of ovarian response and gonadotropin dose selection upon in vitro fertilization. In males, AMH is used to investigate sexual developmental disorders and gonadal function. AMH is commonly assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or automated immunoassay formats that show variation between methods. This review applies fundamental chemical pathology concepts to explain the observed analytical variation of AMH measurement. We examine the lack of standardisation between AMH assays, the impact of antibody design on variable measurements, consider the analytical detection of AMH isoforms, review analytical interference in AMH measurement, and briefly assess systematic bias between AMH assays. The improved attempt at standardising AMH measurement by the recent approval of a WHO Reference Reagent offers promise for harmonising immunoassay results and establishing consensus medical cut-off points for AMH in disease. Standardisation, however, will need to redress the issue of poor commutability of standard reference material and further assign a standard reference procedure to quantify AMH standard reference material. The improvement of the analytical phase of AMH testing will support harmonised method development and patient care.
Seasonal Changes of Thyroid Function Parameters in Women of Reproductive Age Between 2012 and 2018: A Retrospective, Observational, Single-Center Study
Authors: Fu Jinrong , Zhang Guofeng , Xu Pei , Guo Rui , Li Jiarong , Guan Haixia , Li Yushu
Published: September 2021

Background

Thyroid function can be influenced by external stimuli such as light and temperature. However, it is currently unknown whether there is seasonal variation of thyroid function in women of reproductive age. Adequate thyroid function in reproductive-aged women is necessary for optimal fetal–maternal outcomes. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the seasonal changes in levels of thyrotropin (TSH), free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), and TSH index (TSHI) in women of reproductive age.

Methods

A large retrospective study was conducted that included women aged 20–49 years who visited our outpatient or checkup center between 2012 and 2018. Thyroid function was measured using the automated immunochemiluminescent assay kit. Subjects with overt thyroid dysfunction, pregnancy, thyroid disease, cancer, and severe infectious or psychological disease were excluded. Seasonal differences of thyroid function were analyzed using the Kruskal–Wallis test or the analysis of means with transformed ranks. Spearman’s correlation was performed to evaluate the association between thyroid function parameters and age. A subset of 181 subjects was included in the longitudinal analyses. Differences in thyroid function between summer and winter were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

Results

A total of 48,990 women with a median age of 39 years were included. The prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism was lower in summer but higher in winter (5.6% vs. 7.0%, p < 0.05). The TSH, FT3, and FT4 levels and TSHI reached a peak in winter, while they declined to trough in summer. The TSH concentrations (r = 0.044, p < 0.001) and TSHI (r = 0.025, p < 0.001) were positively correlated with age, whereas FT3 (r = -0.073, p < 0.001) and FT4 (r = -0.059, p < 0.001) were negatively correlated with age. The associations of thyroid parameters with age were similar between subjects with positive thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) and those with negative TPOAb. In the matched longitudinal analysis of 181 subjects, no differences were detected in the thyroid parameters between summer and winter.

Conclusions

This retrospective single-center study showed that thyroid hormone levels and central sensitivity to thyroid hormones are influenced by age and seasonal fluctuations among women of reproductive age, while their impact on reproductive health remains to be elucidated in future studies.
An Optimized Pathway for the Differential Diagnosis of ACTH-Dependent Cushing’s Syndrome Based on Low-Dose Dexamethasone Suppression Test
Authors: Chen Kang , Chen Shi , Lu Lin , Zhu Huijuan , Zhang Xiaobo , Tong Anli , Pan Hui , Wang Renzhi , Lu Zhaolin
Published: September 2021

Context

Traditionally, low-dose dexamethasone suppression test (LDDST) was used to confirm the diagnosis of Cushing’s syndrome (CS), and high-dose dexamethasone suppression test (HDDST) was used to differentiate Cushing’s disease (CD) and ectopic adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) syndrome (EAS), but some studies suggested that HDDST might be replaced by LDDST. For the differential diagnosis of CS, dexamethasone suppression test was usually combined with other tests such as bilateral petrosal sinus sampling (BIPSS) and pituitary magnetic resonance imaging, but the optimal pathway to incorporate these tests is still controversial.

Objectives

To develop an optimized pathway for the differential diagnosis of CD and EAS based on LDDST.

Design and Setting

Single-center retrospective study (2011–2019).

Patients

Two hundred sixty-nine CD and 29 EAS patients with pathological diagnosis who underwent consecutive low- and high-dose DST.

Results

For the differential diagnosis of CD and EAS, the area under curve (AUC) of LDDST using urine free cortisol (0.881) was higher than that using serum cortisol (0.685) (p < 0.001) in head-to-head comparison among a subgroup of 108 CD and 10 EAS. The AUC of LDDST (0.883) was higher than that of HDDST (0.834) among all the included patients. With the cutoff of <26%, the sensitivity and specificity of LDDST were 39.4% and 100%. We designed a new pathway in which BIPSS was only reserved for those patients with unsuppressed LDDST and adenoma <6mm, yielding an overall sensitivity of 97.7% and specificity of 86.7%.

Conclusion

LDDST had similar value to HDDST in differentiating CD and EAS using the specific cutoff point. The pathway that combined LDDST and BIPSS could differentiate CD and EAS accurately.
Monocarboxylate Transporter 8 Deficiency: From Pathophysiological Understanding to Therapy Development
Authors: van Geest Ferdy S. , Gunhanlar Nilhan , Groeneweg Stefan , Visser W. Edward
Published: September 2021

Genetic defects in the thyroid hormone transporter monocarboxylate transporter 8 (MCT8) result in MCT8 deficiency. This disorder is characterized by a combination of severe intellectual and motor disability, caused by decreased cerebral thyroid hormone signalling, and a chronic thyrotoxic state in peripheral tissues, caused by exposure to elevated serum T3 concentrations. In particular, MCT8 plays a crucial role in the transport of thyroid hormone across the blood-brain-barrier. The life expectancy of patients with MCT8 deficiency is strongly impaired. Absence of head control and being underweight at a young age, which are considered proxies of the severity of the neurocognitive and peripheral phenotype, respectively, are associated with higher mortality rate. The thyroid hormone analogue triiodothyroacetic acid is able to effectively and safely ameliorate the peripheral thyrotoxicosis; its effect on the neurocognitive phenotype is currently under investigation. Other possible therapies are at a pre-clinical stage. This review provides an overview of the current understanding of the physiological role of MCT8 and the pathophysiology, key clinical characteristics and developing treatment options for MCT8 deficiency.
Bombesin Receptor Family Activation and CNS/Neural Tumors: Review of Evidence Supporting Possible Role for Novel Targeted Therapy
Authors: Moody Terry W. , Lee Lingaku , Ramos-Alvarez Irene , Iordanskaia Tatiana , Mantey Samuel A. , Jensen Robert T.
Published: September 2021

G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are increasingly being considered as possible therapeutic targets in cancers. Activation of GPCR on tumors can have prominent growth effects, and GPCRs are frequently over-/ectopically expressed on tumors and thus can be used for targeted therapy. CNS/neural tumors are receiving increasing attention using this approach. Gliomas are the most frequent primary malignant brain/CNS tumor with glioblastoma having a 10-year survival <1%; neuroblastomas are the most common extracranial solid tumor in children with long-term survival<40%, and medulloblastomas are less common, but one subgroup has a 5-year survival <60%. Thus, there is an increased need for more effective treatments of these tumors. The Bombesin-receptor family (BnRs) is one of the GPCRs that are most frequently over/ectopically expressed by common tumors and is receiving particular attention as a possible therapeutic target in several tumors, particularly in prostate, breast, and lung cancer. We review in this paper evidence suggesting why a similar approach in some CNS/neural tumors (gliomas, neuroblastomas, medulloblastomas) should also be considered.
The Circadian Clock Is Sustained in the Thyroid Gland of VIP Receptor 2 Deficient Mice
Authors: Georg Birgitte , Fahrenkrug Jan , Jørgensen Henrik L. , Hannibal Jens
Published: September 2021

VIP/VPAC2-receptor signaling is crucial for functioning of the circadian clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) since the lack results in disrupted synchrony between SCN cells and altered locomotor activity, body temperature, hormone secretion and heart rhythm. Endocrine glands, including the thyroid, show daily oscillations in clock gene expression and hormone secretion, and SCN projections target neurosecretory hypothalamic thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)-releasing hormone cells. The aim of the study was to gain knowledge of mechanisms important for regulation of the thyroid clock by evaluating the impact of VIP/VPAC2-receptor signaling. Quantifications of mRNAs of three clock genes (Per1, Per2 and Bmal1) in thyroids of wild type (WT) and VPAC2-receptor deficient mice were done by qPCR. Tissues were taken every 4th h during 24-h 12:12 light-dark (LD) and constant darkness (DD) periods, both genders were used. PER1 immunoreactivity was visualized on sections of both WT and VPAC2 lacking mice during a LD cycle. Finally, TSH and the thyroid hormone T4 levels were measured in the sera by commercial ELISAs. During LD, rhythmic expression of all three mRNA was found in both the WT and knockout animals. In VPAC2-receptor knockout animals, the amplitudes were approximately halved compared to the ones in the WT mice. In the WT, Per1 mRNA peaked around “sunset”, Per2 mRNA followed with approximately 2 h, while Bmal1 mRNA was in antiphase with Per1. In the VPAC2 knockout mice, the phases of the mRNAs were advanced approximately 5 h compared to the WT. During DD, the phases of all the mRNAs were identical to the ones found during LD in both groups of mice. PER1 immunoreactivity was delayed compared to its mRNA and peaked during the night in follicular cells of both the thyroid and parathyroid glands in the WT animals. In WT animals, TSH was high around the transition to darkness compared to light-on, while T4 did not change during the 24 h cycle. In conclusion, sustained and identical rhythms (phases and amplitudes) of three clock genes were found in VPAC2 deficient mice during LD and DD suggesting high degree of independence of the thyroid clock from the master SCN clock.
Benefits and Risks Associated With Aspirin Use in Patients With Diabetes for the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Events and Mortality: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Ma Hua , Gu Qing , Niu Huining , Li Xiaohua , Wang Rong
Published: September 2021

Purpose

A meta-analysis was conducted to assess the benefits and risks of aspirin for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality events in adults with diabetes.

Methods

An extensive and systematic search was conducted in MEDLINE (via PubMed), Cinahl (via Ebsco), Scopus, and Web of Sciences from 1988 to December 2020. A detailed literature search was conducted using aspirin, cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes, and efficacy to identify trials of patients with diabetes who received aspirin for primary prevention of CVD. Demographic details with the primary outcome of events and bleeding outcomes were analyzed. The Cochrane Collaboration’s risk of bias tool was used to assess the methodological quality of the included studies. Random-effects meta-analysis was used to calculate the pooled odds ratio for outcomes of cardiovascular events, death, and adverse events.

Findings

A total of 8 studies were included with 32,024 patients with diabetes; 16,001 allocated to aspirin, and 16,023 allocated to the control group. There was no difference between aspirin and control groups with respect to all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, or bleeding events. However, MACE was significantly lower in the aspirin group.

Implications

Although aspirin has no significant risk on primary endpoints of cardiovascular events and bleeding outcomes in patients with diabetes compared to control, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were significantly lower in the aspirin group. Further research on the use of aspirin alone or in combination with other antiplatelet drugs is required in patients with diabetes to supplement currently available research.

Systematic Review Registration

identifier [XU#/IRB/2020/1005].
Improved Analytical Method for Longitudinal Strain Analysis of Buried Pipelines Subjected to Thaw Slumping Load
Authors: Ji Beilei , Liu Xiaoben , Bolati Dinaer , Yang Yue , Jiang Jinxu , Liu Yuqing , Zhang Hong
Published: September 2021

Thawing landslide is a common geological disaster in permafrost regions, which seriously threatens the structural safety of oil and gas pipelines crossing permafrost regions. Most of the analytical methods have been used to calculate the longitudinal stress of buried pipelines. These analytical methods are subjected to slope-thaw slumping load, and the elastic characteristic of the soil in a nonlinear interaction behavior is ignored. Also, these methods have not considered the real boundary at both ends of the slope. This study set out to introduce an improved analytical method to accurately analyze the longitudinal strain characteristics of buried pipelines subjected to slope-thaw slumping load. In this regard, an iterative algorithm was based on an ideal elastoplastic model in the pipeline-soil interaction. Based on field monitoring and previous finite element results, the accuracy of the proposed method was validated. Besides, a parametric analysis was conducted to study the effects of wall thickness, internal pressure, ultimate soil resistance, and slope angle on the maximum longitudinal strain of the pipeline. The results from the compression section showed that the pipeline is more likely to yield, indicating an actual situation in engineering. Moreover, the maximum longitudinal tensile and compression strain of pipelines decrease with increasing the wall thickness, internal pressure, ultimate resistance of soil, and slope angle. Finally, based on the pipeline limit state equations in CSA Z662-2007 and CRES which considered the critical compression factor comprehensively, the critical slumping displacements for both tensile and compressive strain failures were derived for reference. The research results attach great significance to the safety of pipeline under slope.
The Influence of Climate Change on River Corridors in Drylands: The Case of the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve
Authors: Sedeño-Díaz Jacinto Elías , López-López Eugenia
Published: September 2021

The Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve, Mexico (TCBR) is the southernmost arid or semi-arid zone with the highest biodiversity in North America and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Two main hydrographic streams cross the TCBR, the Salado River (an endogenous river) and the Grande River (an exogenous river). This study investigated temperature anomalies over the past 40 years. We analyzed potential differences between sub-basins and riparian areas on both streams using various indices, namely the Global Warming Index (GWI), Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), and Normalized Difference Drought Index (NDDI), and analyzed the potential relationship of these indices with climate change. Time series of satellite-based precipitation (June 2000–December 2020) and air temperature (January 1980–December 2020) were analyzed. A set of Landsat 8 OLI TIRS imagery from the driest and wettest months (2013–2020) was used to estimate NDVI, NDWI, and NDDI. These indices were evaluated separately for the sub-basins and river corridors in the dry and rainy seasons. The precipitation records indicate that in the Grande river sub-basin, precipitation is higher than in the Salado river sub basin. Normalized temperature anomalies and the GWI suggest a warming trend from 1994 to 2020, increasing up to 0.86°C in the Salado River and 0.52°C in the Grande River. The Grande and Salado sub basins showed significant differences between dry and wet seasons for each index (NDVI, NDWI, and NDDI). A Discriminant Analysis showed that the Salado sub-basin and the Salado River corridor are associated with severe drying conditions in the dry season (highest NDDI values). In the wet season, the Grande River corridor showed intermediate values of NDVI and NDWI but low values of NDDI. The Grande River corridor in the dry season was characterized by intermediate values of NDVI, NDWI, and NDDI. These river corridors provide environmental services in a trade-off with the stream and should be considered biodiversity hotspots. Due to the accentuated warming trend and the lowest precipitation, the Salado River sub-basin showed desertification signs associated with climate change. Both the Salado and the Grande River corridors showed resilience strategies to face climatic conditions.
Microplastics Occurrence in Surface Waters and Sediments in Five River Mouths of Manila Bay
Authors: Osorio Ezra D. , Tanchuling Maria Antonia N. , Diola Ma. Brida Lea D.
Published: September 2021

Microplastics have been increasingly documented globally in numerous environmental compartments. However, little information exists in the Philippines despite the fact that the country is considered to be one of the largest contributors of plastics in oceans. This study, considered as one of the pioneering microplastic research, evaluated the abundance, distribution, and composition of microplastic pollution in the mouths of five rivers, namely Cañas, Meycauayan, Parañaque, Pasig and Tullahan, draining to Manila Bay. Surface water and sediments samples were collected, then passed through a stack of sieves with sizes from 2.36 mm at the top to 0.075 mm at the bottom. These samples were digested to remove organic matter, and salt solutions were added to allow the microplastics to float. Extracted particles were examined under a stereo microscope, and quantified and categorized into shape, size, color, and type. Results show that microplastics were present ubiquitously at all river mouths but with concentrations varying from 1,580 to 57,665 particles/m3 (surface water) and 386 to 1,357 particles/kg (dry sediment). Fragment was the most abundant shape, while white, blue, and transparent were the most prevalent colors. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis revealed that polypropylene (PP), high and low-density polyethylene (high-density polyethylene and low-density polyethylene) and polystyrene were the main types of microplastics present in the river mouths.
Early Breeding Conditions Followed by Reduced Breeding Success Despite Timely Arrival in an Alpine Migratory Songbird
Authors: Sander Martha Maria , Chamberlain Dan , Mermillon Camille , Alba Riccardo , Jähnig Susanne , Rosselli Domenico , Meier Christoph Manuel , Lisovski Simeon
Published: September 2021

Timing reproduction to coincide with optimal environmental conditions is key for many organisms living in seasonal habitats. Advance in the onset of spring is a particular challenge to migratory birds that must time their arrival without knowing the conditions on the breeding grounds. This is amplified at high elevations where resource availability, which is linked to snowmelt and vegetation development, shows much annual variation. With the aim of exploring the effects of variability in the onset of local resource availability on reproduction, we compared key life history events in an Alpine population of the Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) between years of contrasting timing of snowmelt. Based on remote sensed images, we identified 2020 as an exceptionally early snowmelt and green-up year compared to the preceding year and the long-term average. Individuals tracked with light-level geolocators arrived well before the snowmelt in 2020 and clutch initiation dates across the population were earlier in 2020 compared to 2019. However, observations from a citizen science database and nest monitoring data showed that the arrival-breeding interval was shorter in 2020, thus the advance in timing lagged behind the environmental conditions. While hatching success was similar in both years, fledging success was significantly reduced in 2020. A trophic mismatch in early 2020 could be a possible explanation for the reduced reproductive success, but alternative explanations cannot be excluded. Our results show that, despite the timely arrival at the breeding grounds and a contraction of the arrival-breeding interval, Wheatears were not able to advance breeding activities in synchrony with environmental conditions in 2020. Earlier reproductive seasons are expected to become more frequent in the future. We show that the negative effects of changing seasons in Alpine migratory birds might be similar to birds breeding at high latitudes, despite their shorter migratory distance.
Remote Sensing Reveals Lasting Legacies of Land-Use by Small-Scale Foraging Communities in the Southwestern Indian Ocean
Authors: Davis Dylan S. , Douglass Kristina
Published: September 2021

Archaeologists interested in the evolution of anthropogenic landscapes have productively adopted Niche Construction Theory (NCT), in order to assess long-term legacies of human-environment interactions. Applications of NCT have especially been used to elucidate co-evolutionary dynamics in agricultural and pastoral systems. Meanwhile, foraging and/or highly mobile small-scale communities, often thought of as less intensive in terms of land-use than agropastoral economies, have received less theoretical and analytical attention from a landscape perspective. Here we address this lacuna by contributing a novel remote sensing approach for investigating legacies of human-environment interaction on landscapes that have a long history of co-evolution with highly mobile foraging communities. Our study is centered on coastal southwest Madagascar, a region inhabited by foraging and fishing communities for close to two millennia. Despite significant environmental changes in southwest Madagascar’s environment following human settlement, including a wave of faunal extinctions, little is known about the scale, pace and nature of anthropogenic landscape modification. Archaeological deposits in this area generally bear ephemeral traces of past human activity and do not exhibit readily visible signatures of intensive land-use and landscape modification (e.g., agricultural modifications, monumental architecture, etc.). In this paper we use high-resolution satellite imagery and vegetative indices to reveal a legacy of human-landscape co-evolution by comparing the characteristics – vegetative productivity and geochemical properties – of archaeological sites to those of locations with no documented archaeological materials. Then, we use a random forest (RF) algorithm and spatial statistics to quantify the extent of archaeological activity and use this analysis to contextualize modern-day human-environment dynamics. Our results demonstrate that coastal foraging communities in southwest Madagascar over the past 1,000 years have extensively altered the landscape. Our study thus expands the temporal and spatial scales at which we can evaluate human-environment dynamics on Madagascar, providing new opportunities to study early periods of the island’s human history when mobile foraging communities were the dominant drivers of landscape change.
Seasonality in Human Interest in Berry Plants Detection by Google Trends
Authors: Kotani Ayumi , Shin Nagai , Tei Shunsuke , Makarov Andrey , Gavrilyeva Tuyara
Published: September 2021

The phenology of berry-producing plants, particularly their harvest season, is of human interest and also reflects the ecosystem’s response to the changing environment. We investigated the seasonal dynamics of human interest in berries growing in boreal, subarctic and Arctic ecosystems, mainly in Russia, based on internet search data via Google Trends. There is a typical and culture-specific pattern of seasonal variations in search volume concerning berries across Russia, Finland, and Canada. Generally, the seasonal peak of search corresponds to the common berry harvest season across these countries. We discussed the potential and limitation for detecting ecological factors from the internet search data, in which physical phenomena and socio-cultural aspects are fundamentally superimposed, and its applicability to phenological studies.
Intraspecific Variation on Palm Leaf Traits of Co-occurring Species—Does Local Hydrology Play a Role?
Authors: Emilio Thaise , Pereira Havle , Costa Flávia R. C.
Published: September 2021

The study of plant species and trait distributions can provide answers to many of the ecological challenges of our times, from climate change to the biodiversity crisis. Although traits are classically measured at the species level, understanding intraspecific variation is necessary to determine the type of response species will have to climate change. Here we measured and analyzed seven leaf traits (leaf area—LA, specific leaf area—SLA, leaf thickness—LT, leaf dry mass content—LDMC, venation density—VD, stomata length—SL, and stomata density—SD) across 14 locally dominant palm species (10 individuals/species) distributed along hydro-topographic gradients (1.4–37 m of terrain height above nearest drainage) of a central Amazonian forest to disentangle the role of species identity, relatedness, and local hydrology on trait variation and covariation. Our results show that trait variation is not always larger between species than within species as expected. Intraspecific variation accounted for 23–74% of trait variation depending on the trait. Most of the variation happened at species level for SL, LA, LT, and SD but not for SLA, VD, and LDMC. For a third of the traits (LDMC, SLA, and SD), we found some evidence of phylogenetic inertia. This lack of independency among traits is confirmed by the maintenance of strong correlation among some of those traits after controlling for local environmental conditions. Intraspecific variation, however, was not related to height above nearest drainage for any of the traits. Most of the trait–environment relationships were species-specific. Therefore, the change in palm trait composition detected along topography, from higher community means of SLA and LA, lower LT, LDMC, SL, and SD in the wet valleys to opposite traits in drier plateaus, is mostly due to the turnover in species composition and relative abundance variation. We conclude these palm species have well-defined hydrological niches, but their large intraspecific variation in leaf traits does not contribute to the adjustment of individuals to the local hydrological conditions in this Amazonian forest.
Variation in Bark Allocation and Rugosity Across Seven Co-occurring Southeastern US Tree Species
Authors: Shearman Timothy M. , Varner J. Morgan
Published: September 2021

Bark is a complex multifunctional structure of woody plants that varies widely among species. Thick bark is a primary trait that can protect trees from heat generated in surface fires. Outer bark on species that allocate resources to thick bark also tends to be rugose, with bark being thickest at the ridges and thinnest in the furrows. Tree diameter or wood diameter is often used as a predictor for bark thickness but little attention has been made on other factors that might affect bark development and allocation. Here we test multiple mixed effect models to evaluate additional factors (height growth rate, measure height) that correlate with bark allocation and present a method to quantify bark rugosity. We focused on seven co-occurring native tree species in the Tallahatchie Experimental Forest in north Mississippi. Approximately ten saplings of Carya tomentosa, Nyssa sylvatica, Prunus serotina, Pinus echinata, Pinus taeda, Quercus marilandica, and Quercus falcata were destructively sampled for stem analyses. Outer bark thickness (OBT) ranged from 0.01 to 0.77 cm with the thickest maximum outer bark occurring on P. taeda (0.77 cm) and the thinnest maximum outer bark occurring on P. serotina (0.17 cm). Our outer bark allocation models suggest that some individuals with rapid height growth allocate less to outer bark in C. tomentosa, N. sylvatica, P. taeda, and P. serotina, but not for P. echinata or either oak species. All species except for C. tomentosa and N. sylvatica showed evidence for outer bark taper, allocating more outer bark at the base of the bole. Inner bark also was tapered in Carya and the oaks. Bark rugosity varied among species from 0.00 (very smooth) to 0.17 (very rugose) with P. Serotina and C. tomentosa having the smoothest bark. OBT was the best fixed effect for all species. Aside from providing data for several important yet understudied species, our rugosity measures offer promise for incorporating into fluid dynamics fire behavior models.
Downregulation of the ypdA Gene Encoding an Intermediate of His-Asp Phosphorelay Signaling in Aspergillus nidulans Induces the Same Cellular Effects as the Phenylpyrrole Fungicide Fludioxonil
Authors: Yoshimi Akira , Hagiwara Daisuke , Ono Miyako , Fukuma Yasuyuki , Midorikawa Yura , Furukawa Kentaro , Fujioka Tomonori , Mizutani Osamu , Sato Natsuko , Miyazawa Ken , Maruyama Jun-ichi , Marui Junichiro , Yamagata Youhei , Nakajima Tasuku , Tanaka Chihiro , Abe Keietsu
Published: September 2021

Many eukaryotic histidine-to-aspartate (His-Asp) phosphorelay systems consist of three types of signal transducers: a His-kinase (HK), a response regulator (RR), and a histidine-containing phosphotransfer intermediate (HPt). In general, the HPt acts as an intermediate between the HK and the RR and is indispensable for inducing appropriate responses to environmental stresses. In a previous study, we attempted but were unable to obtain deletion mutants of the ypdA gene in order to characterize its function in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans. In the present study, we constructed the CypdA strain in which ypdA expression is conditionally regulated by the A. nidulans alcA promoter. We constructed CypdA strains with RR gene disruptions (CypdA-sskAΔ, CypdA-srrAΔ, and CypdA-sskAΔsrrAΔ). Suppression of YpdA induced by ypdA downregulation activated the downstream HogA mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade. YpdA suppression caused severe growth defects and abnormal hyphae, with features such as enhanced septation, a decrease in number of nuclei, nuclear fragmentation, and hypertrophy of vacuoles, both regulated in an SskA–dependent manner. Fludioxonil treatment caused the same cellular responses as ypdA suppression. The growth-inhibitory effects of fludioxonil and the lethality caused by ypdA downregulation may be caused by the same or similar mechanisms and to be dependent on both the SskA and SrrA pathways.
Protoplast Regeneration and Its Use in New Plant Breeding Technologies
Authors: Reed Kelsey M. , Bargmann Bastiaan O. R.
Published: September 2021

The development of gene-editing technology holds tremendous potential for accelerating crop trait improvement to help us address the need to feed a growing global population. However, the delivery and access of gene-editing tools to the host genome and subsequent recovery of successfully edited plants form significant bottlenecks in the application of new plant breeding technologies. Moreover, the methods most suited to achieve a desired outcome vary substantially, depending on species' genotype and the targeted genetic changes. Hence, it is of importance to develop and improve multiple strategies for delivery and regeneration in order to be able to approach each application from various angles. The use of transient transformation and regeneration of plant protoplasts is one such strategy that carries unique advantages and challenges. Here, we will discuss the use of protoplast regeneration in the application of new plant breeding technologies and review pertinent literature on successful protoplast regeneration.
Impact of Genomic Prediction Model, Selection Intensity, and Breeding Strategy on the Long-Term Genetic Gain and Genetic Erosion in Soybean Breeding
Authors: Silva Éder David Borges da , Xavier Alencar , Faria Marcos Ventura
Published: September 2021

Genomic-assisted breeding has become an important tool in soybean breeding. However, the impact of different genomic selection (GS) approaches on short- and long-term gains is not well understood. Such gains are conditional on the breeding design and may vary with a combination of the prediction model, family size, selection strategies, and selection intensity. To address these open questions, we evaluated various scenarios through a simulated closed soybean breeding program over 200 breeding cycles. Genomic prediction was performed using genomic best linear unbiased prediction (GBLUP), Bayesian methods, and random forest, benchmarked against selection on phenotypic values, true breeding values (TBV), and random selection. Breeding strategies included selections within family (WF), across family (AF), and within pre-selected families (WPSF), with selection intensities of 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10.0%. Selections were performed at the F4 generation, where individuals were phenotyped and genotyped with a 6K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array. Initial genetic parameters for the simulation were estimated from the SoyNAM population. WF selections provided the most significant long-term genetic gains. GBLUP and Bayesian methods outperformed random forest and provided most of the genetic gains within the first 100 generations, being outperformed by phenotypic selection after generation 100. All methods provided similar performances under WPSF selections. A faster decay in genetic variance was observed when individuals were selected AF and WPSF, as 80% of the genetic variance was depleted within 28–58 cycles, whereas WF selections preserved the variance up to cycle 184. Surprisingly, the selection intensity had less impact on long-term gains than did the breeding strategies. The study supports that genetic gains can be optimized in the long term with specific combinations of prediction models, family size, selection strategies, and selection intensity. A combination of strategies may be necessary for balancing the short-, medium-, and long-term genetic gains in breeding programs while preserving the genetic variance.