bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An empirical study of the relationship between inclusive leadership and business model innovation
Authors: Fang Yangchun , Dai Xinxing , Zhang Xudong
Published: February 2021

Purpose

To better understand factors that lead to business model innovation (BMI) in organizations, this study argues that inclusive leadership is the primary source that motivates employee engagement in boundary-spanning activities, which fosters BMI by generating and integrating employee knowledge through boundary-spanning exploration.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper analyzes the relationships between inclusive leadership, boundary-spanning exploration and BMI to discover how they influence each other. This is achieved by a survey of more than 30 enterprises in Zhejiang Province, China. The survey data are analyzed using SPSS.

Findings

Inclusive leaders who display characteristics of openness, accessibility and availability have a positive effect on BMI and boundary-spanning exploration; openness and accessibility have more significant positive effect on BMI and boundary-spanning exploration.

Research limitations/implications

Because this study covers only in Zhejiang Province, in China, the findings may not be easily generalizable to other contexts. Other factors, such as organizational structure and contextual characteristics, could also be added as antecedents in a future investigation. Moreover, the scales could be revised more suitable for China in the future.

Practical implications

The empirical findings can be used as guidelines for firms seeking to take advantage of inclusive leadership and to help firms motivate their employees to engage in boundary-spanning exploration to acquire, generate and integrate knowledge from diverse sources to promote BMI.

Originality/value

This study provides insights that will be of value by adding to the theoretical foundation of our understanding of the antecedents to firms' BMI. This study argues that employees' boundary-spanning exploration is important to BMI as well. Inclusive leadership is crucial to stimulate boundary-spanning exploration by employees. Therefore, how to encourage inclusive leadership in firms is well worth examining.
Comparison of efficacy and safety of corticosteroid and vincristine in treating kaposiform hemangioendothelioma and tufted angioma: A multicenter prospective randomized controlled clinical trial
Authors: Yao Wei , Li Kai , Wang Zuopeng , Wang Jinhu , Ji Yi , Zhou Lin , Huang Haijin , Gao Xiaoyun , Huang Zhijian , Gu Song , Yang Heying , Zheng Shan
Published: February 2021

Kaposiform haemangioendothelioma (KHE) and tufted angioma (TA) are rare vascular tumors that can cause life‐threatening Kasabach–Merritt phenomenon. No evidence‐based treatment strategies have yet been established, and its management is still a challenge. The purpose of this multicenter prospective randomized controlled study was to evaluate and compare the efficacy of corticosteroid and vincristine (VCR) in the treatment of KHE and TA. All patients with KHE/TA who met the diagnostic criteria were consecutively recruited. The patients were randomized into a methylprednisolone (MP) group and a VCR group. The primary outcome was the single main parameter effective rate and overall effective rate of corticosteroid and VCR over 1 month after treatment. The single main parameters included platelets, fibrinogen, tumor size, texture, and appearance. From May 2016 to April 2018, a total of 59 patients completed the clinical trial, including 29 in the MP group and 30 in the VCR group. The results showed that VCR was superior to corticosteroid in the improvement of platelet (80.0% vs 44.0%, P = 0.019) and tumor texture (68.9% vs 30.8%, P = 0.007). Although the efficacy of VCR on fibrinogen (23.3% vs 20.7%, P = 1.000), tumor size (23.3% vs 13.8%, P = 0.273), and appearance (65.5% vs 46.2%, P = 0.120) was higher than that of corticosteroid, there was no significant difference (P > 0.05). Meanwhile, the overall effective rate of VCR was higher than that of corticosteroid (56.7% vs 31.0%), but the difference was also not statistically significant (P = 0.067). In conclusion, the therapeutic effect of VCR was significantly better than that of corticosteroid with regard to treating thrombocytopenia and tumor texture. We recommend that VCR could be an option for first‐line treatment in KHE/TA patients.
Forest regeneration can positively contribute to local hydrological ecosystem services: Implications for forest landscape restoration
Authors: van Meerveld H. J. (Ilja) , Jones Julia P. G. , Ghimire Chandra P. , Zwartendijk Bob W. , Lahitiana Jaona , Ravelona Maafaka , Mulligan Mark
Published: February 2021

Governments are increasingly committing to significant forest restoration. While carbon sequestration is a major objective, the case for restoration often includes benefits to local communities. However, the impacts of forest restoration on local hydrological services (e.g. flood and erosion risk, stream flow during dry periods) are surprisingly poorly understood. Particularly limited information is available on the impacts of passive tropical forest restoration following shifting cultivation.

The outcome depends on the trade‐off between the improved soil infiltration capacity (reducing overland flow and increasing soil and groundwater recharge) and greater evapotranspiration (diminishing local water availability).

Using measurements from highly instrumented plots under three vegetation types in the shifting cultivation cycle in Madagascar's eastern rainforests (forest, tree fallow and degraded abandoned agricultural land), and infiltration measurements for the same vegetation types across the landscape, we explore the impacts of forest regeneration on the ecohydrological processes that underpin locally important ecosystem services.

Overland flow was minimal for the tree fallow (similar to the forest) and much lower than for the degraded land, likely leading to a lower risk of erosion and flooding compared to the degraded land. Conversely, evapotranspiration losses were lower for the tree fallow than the forest, leading to a higher net recharge, likely resulting in more streamflow between rainfall events.

These results demonstrate that young regenerating tropical forest vegetation can positively contribute to locally important hydrological ecosystem services. Allowing tree fallows to recover further is unlikely to further reduce the risk of overland flow but may, at least temporarily, result in less streamflow.

Synthesis and applications. Encouraging natural regeneration is increasingly seen as a cost‐effective way to deliver forest landscape restoration. Our data suggest that increasing the abundance of young secondary forest in the tropics, by increasing fallow lengths in the shifting cultivation cycle, could make a positive contribution to locally important hydrological ecosystem services (specifically reducing overland flow and therefore erosion and flooding, while maintaining streamflows). Such empirical understanding is needed to inform the models used for planning forest landscape restoration to maximize benefits to local communities.
Factors influencing adjudicative competence and length of time to restoration
Authors: Secarea Cristina M. , Cleary Sean D. , Candilis Philip J.
Published: February 2021

Few studies on adjudicative competence explore the relationship between diagnosis, treatment, and restorability. Most focus on demographics and major psychiatric diagnosis with very few exploring the diagnoses common to the forensic population (i.e., personality disorders and substance abuse). Our study of 365 defendants who were incompetent to stand trial at a state psychiatric facility indicates that non‐restored defendants have a greater likelihood of cognitive disorders, misdemeanor charges, and histories of prior hospitalization, and less likelihood of personality disorders. In addition, the odds of having a substance use disorder and being medication non‐adherent was greater among restored defendants. The mean length of time to restoration (LOR) of 56 days was significantly different from the mean length of time to adjudication (LOA) for those not restored (88 days). This study supports prior literature on restorability while distinguishing those treated for psychosis from those treated for substance use and personality disorder. In its novel focus on medication adherence, the study expands the remediable factors available to clinical and forensic professionals and supports interventions that improve treatment and shorten the time to restoration.
Cognitive bias in forensic pathology decisions
Authors: Dror Itiel , Melinek Judy , Arden Jonathan L. , Kukucka Jeff , Hawkins Sarah , Carter Joye , Atherton Daniel S.
Published: February 2021

Forensic pathologists’ decisions are critical in police investigations and court proceedings as they determine whether an unnatural death of a young child was an accident or homicide. Does cognitive bias affect forensic pathologists’ decision‐making? To address this question, we examined all death certificates issued during a 10‐year period in the State of Nevada in the United States for children under the age of six. We also conducted an experiment with 133 forensic pathologists in which we tested whether knowledge of irrelevant non‐medical information that should have no bearing on forensic pathologists’ decisions influenced their manner of death determinations. The dataset of death certificates indicated that forensic pathologists were more likely to rule "homicide" rather than "accident" for deaths of Black children relative to White children. This may arise because the base‐rate expectation creates an a priori cognitive bias to rule that Black children died as a result of homicide, which then perpetuates itself. Corroborating this explanation, the experimental data with the 133 forensic pathologists exhibited biased decisions when given identical medical information but different irrelevant non‐medical information about the race of the child and who was the caregiver who brought them to the hospital. These findings together demonstrate how extraneous information can result in cognitive bias in forensic pathology decision‐making.
An integrative review of comprehensive nursing assessment tools developed based on Gordon's Eleven Functional Health Patterns
Authors: Gengo e Silva Butcher Rita de Cassia , Jones Dorothy A.
Published: February 2021

Purpose

To evaluate the content and psychometric properties of comprehensive nursing assessment tools developed based on The Eleven Functional Health Patterns Assessment Framework.

Methods

An integrative literature review following Whittemore and Knafl's method and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses. Searches on PubMed, Cinahl, and Virtual Health Library were conducted between September and December 2018.

Findings

Six out of 146 records were included for review. Four articles were methodological studies and two were descriptive reports of the development of the tools. Tools were heterogenous in terms of their purpose, development, characteristics, and testing. Only one study provided data about construct validity. However, there were commonalities regarding the data that should be assessed in each tool.

Conclusions

Few comprehensive nursing assessment tools using The Eleven Functional Health Patterns Assessment Framework are available. Purpose, process of development, characteristics, and testing varied among the tools, and most lack robust psychometric testing.

Implications for nursing practice

This review provided a synthesis of the literature regarding the use of a discipline‐specific framework to guide comprehensive nursing assessment. The differences across the tools and the lack of psychometric testing compromise the visibility of nursing and make it difficult to emphasize the contribution of nursing knowledge to patient care.
Oxytocin prevents cue‐induced reinstatement of oxycodone seeking: Involvement of DNA methylation in the hippocampus
Authors: Fan Xin‐Yu , Shi Guang , He Xiao‐Jing , Li Xin‐Yang , Wan Yu‐Xiao , Jian Ling‐Yan
Published: February 2021

Oxycodone is one of the most commonly used analgesics in the clinic. However, long‐term use can contribute to drug dependence. Accumulating evidence of changes in DNA methylation after opioid relapse has provided insight into mechanisms underlying drug‐associated memory. The neuropeptide oxytocin is reported to be a potential treatment for addiction. The present study sought to identify changes in global and synaptic gene methylation after cue‐induced reinstatement of oxycodone conditioned place preference (CPP) and the effect of oxytocin. We analyzed hippocampal mRNA of synaptic genes and also synaptic density in response to oxycodone CPP. We determined the mRNA levels of DNA methyltransferases (Dnmts) and ten‐eleven translocations (Tets), observed global 5‐methylcytosine (5‐mC) and 5‐hydroxymethylcytosine (5‐hmC) levels, and measured DNA methylation status of four synaptic genes implicated in learning and memory (Arc, Dlg1, Dlg4, and Syn1). Both synaptic density and the transcription of 15 hippocampal synaptic genes significantly increased following cue‐induced reinstatement of oxycodone CPP. Oxycodone relapse was also related to markedly decreased 5‐mC levels and decreased transcription of Dnmt1, Dnmt3a, and Dnmt3b; in contrast, 5‐hmC levels and the transcription of Tet1 and Tet3 were increased. Oxycodone exposure induced DNA hypomethylation at the exons of the Arc, Dlg1, Dlg4, and Syn1 genes. Intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration of oxytocin (2.5 μg/μl) specifically blocked oxycodone relapse, possibly by inhibition of Arc, Dlg1, Dlg4, and Syn1 hypomethylation in oxycodone‐treated rats. Together, these data indicate the occurrence of epigenetic changes in the hippocampus following oxycodone relapse and the potential role of oxytocin in oxycodone addiction.
Supporting smoking cessation and preventing relapse following a stay in a smoke‐free setting: a meta‐analysis and investigation of effective behaviour change techniques
Authors: Shoesmith Emily , Huddlestone Lisa , Lorencatto Fabiana , Shahab Lion , Gilbody Simon , Ratschen Elena
Published: February 2021

Background and Aims

Admission to a smoke‐free setting presents a unique opportunity to encourage smokers to quit. However, risk of relapse post‐discharge is high, and little is known about effective strategies to support smoking cessation following discharge. We aimed to identify interventions that maintain abstinence following a smoke‐free stay and determine their effectiveness, as well as the probable effectiveness of behaviour change techniques (BCTs) used in these interventions.

Methods

Systematic review and meta‐analyses of studies of adult smokers aged ≥ 18 years who were temporarily or fully abstinent from smoking to comply with institutional smoke‐free policies. Institutions included prison, inpatient mental health, substance misuse or acute hospital settings. A Mantel–Haenszel random‐effects meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted using biochemically verified abstinence (7‐day point prevalence or continuous abstinence). BCTs were defined as ‘promising’ in terms of probable effectiveness (if BCT was present in two or more long‐term effective interventions) and feasibility (if BCT was also delivered in ≥ 25% of all interventions).

Results

Thirty‐seven studies (intervention n = 9041, control n = 6195) were included: 23 RCTs (intervention n = 6593, control n = 5801); three non‐randomized trials (intervention n = 845, control n = 394) and 11 cohort studies (n = 1603). Meta‐analysis of biochemically verified abstinence at longest follow‐up (4 weeks–18 months) found an overall effect in favour of intervention [risk ratio (RR) = 1.27, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.08–1.49, I2 = 42%]. Nine BCTs (including ‘pharmacological support’, ‘goal‐setting (behaviour)’ and ‘social support’) were characterized as ‘promising’ in terms of probable effectiveness and feasibility.

Conclusions

A systematic review and meta‐analyses indicate that behavioural and pharmacological support is effective in maintaining smoking abstinence following a stay in a smoke‐free institution. Several behaviour change techniques may help to maintain smoking abstinence up to 18 months post‐discharge.
Polymorphisms in canine immunoglobulin heavy chain gene cluster: a double‐edged sword for diabetes mellitus in the dog
Authors: Sanz C. R. , Sevane N. , Pérez‐Alenza M. D. , Valero‐Lorenzo M. , Dunner S.
Published: February 2021

Insulin deficiency diabetes (IDD) in dogs is an endocrine disease similar to human type 1 diabetes. There are breeds more commonly affected, such as Yorkshire Terrier and Samoyed, suggesting an underlying genetic component. However, the genetic basis for canine diabetes mellitus (DM) is not fully established. We conducted both whole‐genome scans for selection signatures and GWASs to compare the genomes of 136 dogs belonging to 29 breeds previously described at low or high risk for developing DM. Candidate variants were tested in dogs with a diagnosis of IDD and controls attending the Complutense Veterinary Teaching Hospital. The only genomic region under selection (CFA8:72 700 000–74 600 000; CanFam3.1) retrieved by our analyses is included in the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene cluster, which has already been related to human human type 1 diabetes susceptibility. This region contains two non‐synonymous variants, rs852072969 and rs851728071, showing significant associations with high or low risk for IDD, respectively. The first variant, rs852072969, alters a protein poorly characterised in the dog. In contrast, rs851728071 was predicted to block the synthesis of an immunoglobulin variable (V) domain in breeds at low risk for DM. Although a large and diverse V gene repertoire is thought to offer a fitness advantage, we suggest that rs851728071 prevents the formation of an auto‐reactive immunoglobulin V domain probably involved in the pathophysiology of IDD and, thus, decreases the risk for the disease. These results should be interpreted with caution until the functional roles of the proposed variants have been proved in larger studies.
Estimating demand elasticities for rice in Benin
Authors: Codjo Ogoudélé S. , Durand‐Morat Alvaro , West Grant H. , Lanier Nalley Lawton , Nayga Rodolfo M. , Wailes Eric J.
Published: February 2021

Rice consumption in Benin is increasing simultaneously with a structural change in consumer demand toward higher quality rice. In this context of changing demands, experimental estimation methods provide an effective way to estimate consumer preferences. We conducted a hypothetical choice experiment in 15 open markets across Benin to analyze the demand for rice and the other staple crops. Our findings indicate that consumer preferences differ across different income groups and between urban and rural households, and that consumers in general are sensitive to changes in rice prices. Lastly, substitution between imported and domestic rice is limited. These findings are relevant for development strategies to foster the growth of the domestic rice industry in Benin.
Clinical features and prognosis of patients with COVID‐19 after lung surgery: A retrospective clinical study
Authors: Bai Jie , Chu Hongling , Ma Shaohua , Ge Qinggang
Published: February 2021

Aim

To evaluate whether the history of lung surgery in patients was associated with poor prognosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19).

Methods

Clinical data of patients with COVID‐19 in a single‐center were retrospectively analyzed. Patients with and without lung surgery were matched in 1:4 ratio to compare the differences in clinical characteristics, laboratory results, computed tomography findings, treatment regimens, and prognosis between them.

Results

Four patients had a history of lung surgery. The time from surgery to COVID‐19 onset ranged from 3 to 10 days, with a median of 6.75 days. The mortality rate in the surgical group was higher than that in the nonsurgical group (25.0% vs. 6.3%).

Conclusion

Patients contracting COVID‐19 after lung surgery presented a higher death rate; hence, it is necessary to omit lung surgery in patients with active COVID‐19 infection.
People Made of Glass: The Collapsing Temporalities of Chronic Conditions
Authors: Madsen Ida Vandsøe
Published: February 2021

An increasing number of people worldwide are living with chronic conditions that have an aspect of bodily fragility as part of the condition or as an effect of treatment. In this article, I explore the temporal experience of bodily fragility and the particularities of consciousness states among people with the chronic condition osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) in Denmark. My aim is threefold. First, my goal is to give an insight into life with OI, a rare and rarely studied condition. Second, I shed light on bodily fragility, a theme that lives in the shadows of other analytical foci in anthropology. Third, I will contribute to the anthropological understanding of the connection among body, physical environment, and consciousness. I argue that the lifeworlds of people with OI are haunted by mental and bodily memories and fearful future scenarios, which makes the past and the future collapse into the present.
Geologising Urban Political Ecology (UPE): The Urbanisation of Sand in Accra, Ghana
Authors: Dawson Katherine
Published: February 2021

This paper makes a call for an urban political ecology (UPE) which engages more extensively with Earth’s geological formations. As a material at the centre of global urbanisation process, sand is offered as a geological entry point. The paper presents an analysis of the urbanisation of sand, or the ways in which sand is brought into the urban realm, grounding this reading in Accra—a growing city on Ghana’s Atlantic coast. Drawing from 14 months of ethnographic fieldwork, the paper charts the socio‐natural politics through which sand is first unearthed from the edges of the city—an extractive processes otherwise known as “sand winning” in Ghana. By examining the forms of power which govern uneven revenue flows to communities, the displacement of farming groups, the widespread loss of farmland and a contested regime of governance, the analysis exposes the socio‐natural politics through which the city’s geological baseline is first unearthed.
From acoustics to underwater archaeology: Deep investigation of a shallow lake using high‐resolution hydroacoustics—The case of Lake Lednica, Poland
Authors: Janowski Lukasz , Kubacka Maria , Pydyn Andrzej , Popek Mateusz , Gajewski Lukasz
Published: February 2021

One of the main challenges of underwater archaeology is to develop non‐invasive research of heritage sites in order to enable their further protection for future societies. This study explores, identifies and classifies archaeological objects in a shallow lake using underwater acoustics. We solved the aforementioned challenges by developing an innovative, object‐based, fuzzy‐logic classification of nine archaeological object categories based on multibeam echosounder bathymetry, 13 secondary features of bathymetry and 106 underwater diving prospections. We achieved an 86% correlation with ground‐truth samples, and 49% overall accuracy. The unique and repeatable workflow developed in this study can be applied to other case studies of underwater archaeology around the world.
Ibrutinib for mantle cell lymphoma at first relapse: a United Kingdom real‐world analysis of outcomes in 211 patients
Authors: McCulloch Rory , Lewis David , Crosbie Nicola , Eyre Toby A. , Bolam Simon , Arasaretnam Anita , Creasey Thomas , Goradia Harshita , McMillan Annabel , Dawi Safia , Harrison Samuel , Miles Oliver , Robinson Andrew , Dutton David , Wilson Matthew R. , McKay Pam , Follows George , Phillips Neil , Patmore Russell , Lambert Jonathan , Bishton Mark , Osborne Wendy , Johnston Rosalynd , Kirkwood Amy A. , Rule Simon
Published: February 2021

Ibrutinib is an established treatment for relapsed/refractory (R/R) mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) and clinical trial data supports use at second line compared to later relapse. We aimed to investigate outcomes and tolerability for ibrutinib when given second line in a real‐world setting. Our multicentre retrospective analysis included 211 R/R MCL patients, median age 73 years, receiving ibrutinib second‐line within the United Kingdom’s National Health Service. Overall response to ibrutinib was 69% (complete response 27%). The median progression‐free survival (PFS) was 17·8 months (95% CI 13·1–22·2) and median overall survival (OS) 23·9 months (95% CI 15·0–32·8). Drug‐related adverse event led to dose reduction in 10% of patients and discontinuation in 5%. In patients with progressive disease, accounting for 100 of 152 patients stopping ibrutinib, 43% received further systemic therapy. Post‐ibrutinib rituximab, bendamustine and cytarabine (R‐BAC) showed a trend toward improved survival compared to alternative systemic treatments (post‐ibrutinib median OS 14·0 months, 95% CI 8·1–19·8, vs. 3·6 months, 95% CI 2·6–4·5, P = 0·06). Our study confirms the clinical benefit and good tolerability of ibrutinib at first relapse in a real‐world population. Patients progressing on ibrutinib had limited survival but outcomes with R‐BAC in select patients were promising.
‘Your face freezes and so does your life’: A qualitative exploration of adults’ psychosocial experiences of living with acquired facial palsy
Authors: Hamlet Claire , Williamson Heidi , Hotton Matthew , Rumsey Nichola
Published: February 2021

Objectives

Facial palsy (FP) is a highly visible appearance‐affecting condition and can have a significant impact on facial function. Qualitative research focussing on adults’ experiences of living with acquired FP is limited. This study aimed to explore the psychosocial impact of acquired FP and to gain a greater understanding of patients’ experiences of treatment and care in the United Kingdom.

Design

A qualitative interview study with individuals living with acquired FP.

Methods

Ten adults with acquired FP were recruited. Their experiences were explored using semi‐structured telephone interviews. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.

Results

Five master themes were identified through the thematic analysis: 1) grappling with a new identity, 2) the psychosocial impact of living with facial palsy, 3) isolation: dealing with ‘one hell of a problem on your own’, 4) a life on hold, 5) coping strategies. Findings indicated high levels of distress and significant challenges in managing the functional and psychosocial changes associated with acquiring FP. Participants expressed grief for their former appearance and identity, with photographs and mirrors acting as agonizing reminders. Many reported a sense of abandonment due to uncoordinated care and, as a result, engaged in an endless and often fruitless pursuit to gain control over FP by experimenting with their own treatment. Many reported the negative impact of their altered facial expressions on social interactions and a fear of being negatively evaluated.

Conclusions

This study highlights a pressing need to review how FP is managed in the UK. To improve patient well‐being, health care professionals could benefit from FP education, and patients from timely access to psychological support and clearer standards of care following diagnosis.
Human impacts alter the distribution of fish functional diversity in Neotropical stream system
Authors: Pereira Lucas Milani , Dunck Bárbara , Benedito Evanilde
Published: February 2021

Evaluation of traits and functional diversity make assessments more robust when determining the nature and strength of the relationship between species and ecosystem processes. We investigated how anthropic interference and physical and limnological characteristics of streams changed fish functional trait distribution and their functional diversity in Neotropical streams located in Southern Brazil, encompassing Paraná, Paranapanema, Ivaí, and Pirapó river basins. We tested the hypotheses (a) that streams with very low human pressure show higher values of functional diversity due to the great variety of habitats and food resources; (b) streams with higher human pressure and more deforested are more related to fish functional traits as body morphologies indicative of weaker swimming ability and scraping feed morphology. We found that current velocity and stream width were correlated with compression and depression indices of the ventral region of the animals. Faster‐flow environments favored higher values of relative height of the caudal peduncle, relative head width, and relative mouth height values. These functional traits relate to habitat use and the size of consumed food. Altogether, these findings indicate possible partitioning of resources that would enable the co‐occurrence of species. Our results showed that human impacts influenced functional diversity and functional trait distribution. Urban land use and high conductivity were correlated with detritivorous species and species with internal reproduction. Poecilia reticulata dominated urban streams. We argue that the conservation of fish diversity in Neotropical streams requires orderly land use and occupation to avoid reducing species and functional diversity, and hence ecosystem function.

Abstract in Portuguese is available with online material.
Forest fires facilitate growth of herbaceous bamboos in central Amazonia
Authors: Ziccardi Leonardo Guimarães , dos Reis Mateus , Graça Paulo Maurício Lima de Alencastro , Gonçalves Nathan Borges , Pontes‐Lopes Aline , Aragão Luiz E. O. C. , de Oliveira Reyjane Patricia , Clark Lynn , Fearnside Philip Martin
Published: February 2021

Severe droughts in Amazonia caused by El Niño and Atlantic dipole events are expected to become more frequent due to anthropogenic climate change. These droughts lead the tropical forests of central Amazonia to become increasingly exposed to fire. Forest‐fire disturbances can create ideal scenarios for opportunistic plants, such as some bamboos. In this study, we investigate the influence of forest fires, canopy openness, and vertical distance to channel network (VDCN—a proxy for soil moisture availability) on the growth and expansion ofOlyra latifoliaandTaquara micranthain the municipality of Autazes, Amazonas, Brazil. The density of these herbaceous bamboos was represented by the density of clumps (clumps ha‐1) and of culms (culms ha‐1), while bamboo growth was expressed as culms per clump and the average height of clumps. Forest disturbed by fire had a density of culms 116% higher than the value found in the control treatment. Plots affected by fire, which were at lower VDCN, showed evidence of higher potential for fire ignition in the low areas. The average number of culms per clump was significantly higher in post‐burn forests. While canopy opening revealed a significant positive linear relationship with the abundance of herbaceous bamboo in our study area, VDCN had a negative effect on bamboo growth, suggesting that, in addition to fire, light in the understory and access to the water table are limiting factors for these two species in the upland forests of central Amazonia.

Abstract in Portuguese is available with online material.
First and Second Graders Successfully Reason About Ratios With Both Dot Arrays and Arabic Numerals
Authors: Szkudlarek Emily , Brannon Elizabeth M.
Published: February 2021

Children struggle with exact, symbolic ratio reasoning, but prior research demonstrates children show surprising intuition when making approximate, nonsymbolic ratio judgments. In the current experiment, eighty‐five 6‐ to 8‐year‐old children made approximate ratio judgments with dot arrays and numerals. Children were adept at approximate ratio reasoning in both formats and improved with age. Children who engaged in the nonsymbolic task first performed better on the symbolic task compared to children tested in the reverse order, suggesting that nonsymbolic ratio reasoning may function as a scaffold for symbolic ratio reasoning. Nonsymbolic ratio reasoning mediated the relation between children’s numerosity comparison performance and symbolic mathematics performance in the domain of probabilities, but numerosity comparison performance explained significant unique variance in general numeration skills.
Taurine and oxidative stress in retinal health and disease
Authors: Castelli Vanessa , Paladini Antonella , d’Angelo Michele , Allegretti Marcello , Mantelli Flavio , Brandolini Laura , Cocchiaro Pasquale , Cimini Annamaria , Varrassi Giustino
Published: February 2021

Retinal disorders are leading causes of blindness and are due to an imbalance between reactive oxygen species and antioxidant scavenger (in favor of pro‐oxidant species) or a disruption of redox signaling and control. Indeed, it is well known that oxidative stress is one of the leading causes of retinal degenerative diseases. Different approaches using nutraceuticals resulted in protective effects in these disorders. This review will discuss the impact of oxidative stress in retinal neurodegenerative diseases and the potential strategies for avoiding or counteracting oxidative damage in retinal tissues, with a specific focus on taurine. Increasing data indicate that taurine may be effective in slowing down the progression of degenerative retinal diseases, thus suggesting that taurine can be a promising candidate for the prevention or as adjuvant treatment of these diseases. The mechanism by which taurine supplementation acts is mainly related to the reduction of oxidative stress. In particular, it has been demonstrated to improve retinal reduced glutathione, malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activities. Antiapoptotic effects are also involved; however, the protective mechanisms exerted by taurine against retinal damage remain to be further investigated.
Impact of pretreatment dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase genotype‐guided fluoropyrimidine dosing on chemotherapy associated adverse events
Authors: Wigle Theodore J. , Povitz Brandi L. , Medwid Samantha , Teft Wendy A. , Legan Robin M. , Lenehan John , Nevison Stephanie , Panuganty Veera , Keller Denise , Mailloux Jaymie , Siebring Victoria , Sarma Sisira , Choi Yun‐hee , Welch Stephen , Winquist Eric , Schwarz Ute I. , Kim Richard B.
Published: February 2021

Consensus guidelines exist for genotype‐guided fluoropyrimidine dosing based on variation in the gene dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPYD). However, these guidelines have not been widely implemented in North America and most studies of pretreatment DPYD screening have been conducted in Europe. Given regional differences in treatment practices and rates of adverse events (AEs), we investigated the impact of pretreatment DPYD genotyping on AEs in a Canadian context. Patients referred for DPYD genotyping prior to fluoropyrimidine treatment were enrolled from December 2013 through November 2019 and followed until completion of fluoropyrimidine treatment. Patients were genotyped for DPYD c.1905+1G>A, c.2846A>T, c.1679T>G, and c.1236G>A. Genotype‐guided dosing recommendations were informed by Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium guidelines. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients who experienced a severe fluoropyrimidine‐related AE (grade ≥3, Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5.0). Secondary outcomes included early severe AEs, severe AEs by toxicity category, discontinuation of fluoropyrimidine treatment due to AEs, and fluoropyrimidine‐related death. Among 1394 patients, mean (SD) age was 64 (12) years, 764 (54.8%) were men, and 47 (3.4%) were DPYD variant carriers treated with dose reduction. Eleven variant carriers (23%) and 418 (31.0%) noncarriers experienced a severe fluoropyrimidine‐related AE (p = 0.265). Six carriers (15%) and 284 noncarriers (21.1%) experienced early severe fluoropyrimidine‐related AEs (p = 0.167). DPYD variant carriers treated with genotype‐guided dosing did not experience an increased risk for severe AEs. Our data support a role for DPYD genotyping in the use of fluoropyrimidines in North America.
Assessing the reliability of species distribution projections in climate change research
Authors: Santini Luca , Benítez‐López Ana , Maiorano Luigi , Čengić Mirza , Huijbregts Mark A. J.
Published: February 2021

Aim

Forecasting changes in species distribution under future scenarios is one of the most prolific areas of application for species distribution models (SDMs). However, no consensus yet exists on the reliability of such models for drawing conclusions on species’ distribution response to changing climate. In this study, we provide an overview of common modelling practices in the field and assess the reliability of model predictions using a virtual species approach.

Location

Global.

Methods

We first review papers published between 2015 and 2019. Then, we use a virtual species approach and three commonly applied SDM algorithms (GLM, MaxEnt and random forest) to assess the estimated and actual predictive performance of models parameterized with different modelling settings and violations of modelling assumptions.

Results

Most SDM papers relied on single models (65%) and small samples (N < 50, 62%), used presence‐only data (85%), binarized models' output (74%) and used a split‐sample validation (94%). Our simulation reveals that the split‐sample validation tends to be over‐optimistic compared to the real performance, whereas spatial block validation provides a more honest estimate, except when datasets are environmentally biased. The binarization of predicted probabilities of presence reduces models’ predictive ability considerably. Sample size is one of the main predictors of the real model accuracy, but has little influence on estimated accuracy. Finally, the inclusion of ecologically irrelevant predictors and the violation of modelling assumptions increases estimated accuracy but decreases real accuracy of model projections, leading to biased estimates of range contraction and expansion.

Main conclusions

Our ability to predict future species distribution is low on average, particularly when models’ predictions are binarized. A robust validation by spatially independent samples is required, but does not rule out inflation of model accuracy by assumption violation. Our findings call for caution in the application and interpretation of SDM projections under different climates.
Specialization and performance trade‐offs across hosts in cactophilic Drosophila species
Authors: Bouzas Santiago , Barbarich María F. , Soto Eduardo M. , Padró Julián , Carreira Valeria P. , Soto Ignacio M.
Published: February 2021

1. We assessed the host‐related niche breadth for D. koepferae and D. buzzatii, a pair of sibling cactophilic species with contrasting backgrounds of host use. We tested for the ‘Jack of all trades‐ Master of none’ scenario predicting a more evident exhibition in D. buzzatii rather than in the supposedly specialist D. koepferae.

2. Additionally, using laboratory strains of both species selected for tolerance to extremely high concentrations of a columnar cacti's secondary metabolites, we tested whether adaptation to a high‐demanding host involved the loss of performance capabilities in other hosts.

3. D. buzzatii was more affected by the artificial host shifts than D. koepferae which presented an overall better performance when rearing in novel columnar hosts.

4. Artificially selected strains of D. buzzatii performed poorer in both novel and native natural hosts compared with control strain indicating that adaptation carried associated costs regarding the potential to exploit other cacti. Conversely, artificial evolution of the D. koepferae's strains did not translate into decreased performance in other hosts.

5. D. buzzatii complied better with the predictions of the Jack of all trades‐Master of none hypothesis.

6. Host specialization is a dynamic feature in the repleta group and a major driver of diversification in its evolutionary history. As the group presents an Opuntia breeder as the ancestral condition, D. buzzatii would represent not only a plesiomorphic state of host use but also the ancestral ecological strategy of specialization.
High temperature and soil moisture reduce host‐plant quality for an insect herbivore
Authors: Kuczyk Josephine , Raharivololoniaina Ange , Fischer Klaus
Published: February 2021

1. Anthropogenic climate change is a substantial threat to global biodiversity. It may affect insect herbivores directly and indirectly. Indirect effects are, among others, mediated by climate‐change induced variation in host‐plant quality. Although being potentially important, little is known on the significance of such indirect effects and on interactions among environmental stressors in plant–herbivore interactions.

2. To simulate the potential impact of climate change, we investigated effects of host‐plant temperature and soil moisture on herbivore performance in the tropical butterfly Bicyclus anynana under laboratory conditions.

3. Maize grown at high temperatures or under wet conditions reduced herbivore performance, indicated by decreased body mass, storage reserves, phenoloxidase activity, and increased development time. Temperature and soil moisture acted largely independent of one another. Detrimental effects of the high plant temperature were restricted to males, indicating a higher vulnerability of this sex to environmental stress.

4. In nature, B. anynana might be threatened by increasing temperatures during the wet season negatively affecting host‐plant quality. Our study shows that herbivore performance can be substantially affected by indirect effects mediated through changes in host‐plant quality, which deserves more attention in the current era of global climate change.
Agrobacterium pusense, a new plant tumour‐inducing pathogen isolated from Lawson cypress
Authors: Basavand Esmaeil , Charkhabi Nargues Falahi , Khodaygan Pejman , Rahimian Heshmatollah
Published: February 2021

Lawson cypress (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana), an important landscape tree, is widely planted in gardens and parks throughout Iran. Crown gall disease on Lawson cypress trees was observed in Sari and Juybar Counties, Mazandaran province, northern Iran, in 2017. Isolation from galls on potato dextrose agar (PDA) containing CaCO3 yielded bacterial colonies, the predominant types of which were purified and selected for characterization. The isolates were Gram‐negative, oxidase positive, able to grow in 2% NaCl and produced 3‐ketolactose. They hydrolysed esculin, casein and arbutin but not starch, gelatin or Tween 80. Two representative isolates were selected for PCR amplification and sequencing of DNA gyrase subunit B (gyrB) gene. In the phylogenetic tree based on the partial sequence of the gyrB gene, isolates KH1 and KH2 clustered with Agrobacterium pusense. The pathogenicity of all isolates was confirmed by inoculation on Jimsonweed (Datura stramonium) and carrot discs (Daucus carota). Confirmation of the presence of genes involved in pathogenicity was made by performing PCR with the virD2A/virD2C and VCF/VCR primer pairs which resulted in amplification of the expected 224 and 730 bp fragments in all studied isolates, respectively. A. pusense was therefore identified as the causal agent of crown and stem gall of Lawson cypress. This appears to be the first report on the natural occurrence of crown gall disease on Lawson cypress and the first record of a plant disease caused by A. pusense.
First report of Calonectria cerciana causing leaf blight of Eucalyptus in northern India
Authors: Bose Ratnaboli , Pandey Shailesh , Joshi Pooja , Banerjee Sabyasachi , Pandey Amit , Bhandari Maneesh S.
Published: February 2021

Eucalyptus spp. and their hybrids are frequently cloned and mass planted across farmland tracts and commercial plantations in northern India. It is a viable feeder species to the paper and pulp industries in this region. In 2018 and 2019, during field surveys conducted in northern India, a serious leaf blight disease was frequently observed in E. tereticornis plantations. Isolation from the blighted leaf samples consistently yielded fungal isolates having Calonectria‐like morphology. Morphological features coupled with sequence analysis of partial β‐tubulin (TUB2) and partial translation elongation factor‐alpha (TEF1) gene regions of two fungal isolates confirmed the species as Ca. cerciana. In detached leaf assays and glasshouse inoculation experiments, both isolates produced symptoms similar to those observed on the naturally infected leaves. Koch's postulates were fulfilled by re‐isolating Ca. cerciana from the inoculated leaves. This work is the first to confirm that Ca. cerciana is associated with a serious leaf blight disease of Eucalyptus in northern India and is an important addition to the taxonomy of Calonectria fungi in India.
Role of anatomical insular subdivisions in interoception: Interoceptive attention and accuracy have dissociable substrates
Authors: Haruki Yusuke , Ogawa Kenji
Published: February 2021

Prior neuroimaging studies have supported the idea that the human insular cortex plays an important role in processing and representing internal bodily states, also termed “interoception.” According to recent theoretical studies, interoception includes several aspects such as attention and accuracy. However, there is no consensus on the laterality and location of the insula to support each aspect of interoception. Thus, we aimed to identify the anatomical insular subdivisions involved in interoceptive attention and accuracy; we examined 28 healthy volunteers who completed the behavioral heartbeat counting task and interoceptive attention paradigm using functional magnetic resonance imaging. First, interoceptive attention induced significant activation in the bilateral frontal operculum, precentral gyrus, middle insula, middle cingulate cortex, and supplementary motor area. Then, we compared the activation in anatomically predefined insular subdivisions during interoceptive attention. The highest activation of the middle short gyrus was noted within the insular cortex, followed by the anterior short gyrus and posterior short gyrus, while no significant hemispheric differences were observed. Finally, the interoceptive accuracy index, measured using the heartbeat counting task, strongly correlated with the activity of the right dorsal anterior insula/frontal operculum. These findings suggest that interoceptive attention is associated with the bilateral dorsal mid‐anterior insula, which supports the processing and representation of bodily signals. In contrast, the more dorsal anterior portion of the right insula plays a key role in obtaining accurate interoception.