bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The influence of flood frequency and duration on microcrustacean egg bank composition in dryland river floodplain sediments
Authors: Chaki Nipa , Reid Michael , Nielsen Daryl L.
Published: May 2021

Several studies of temporary floodplain wetlands suggest that flood history is important to microcrustacean egg bank composition and hatching responses. However, these studies have largely focussed on contrasts among less frequently flooded areas (areas flooded every year to areas flooded once every 10–20 years) and less is known about variation at the more frequently flooded end of the gradient (from multiple floods per year to once every 2 years). Similarly, the effects of flood duration on egg banks have not been examined in detail. Thus, this study examines spatial variation in microcrustacean hatching at higher flood frequencies and in relation to inundation duration.

Surface sediment samples were collected from dry anabranches of the Macintyre River floodplain in Australia during February 2018, with a range of flood frequency from approximately four times per year to one in 2 years. Anabranches were selected randomly from predefined flood frequency classes and clustered into three different flood history groups based on flood history variables. Soil samples were collected from deep and shallow locations within anabranches, with depth assumed to be a proxy for the duration of inundation. Sediment samples were inundated in mesocosms and hatched microcrustaceans sampled over 6 weeks.

Microcrustacean abundance and assemblage composition varied by sites, relative depth, and duration of inundation. There was no variation by flood history groups. Highest numbers hatched from the deeper areas of anabranches, which is assumed to reflect differences in the egg banks of deep and shallow areas due to the longer duration of inundation in deeper areas. Duration also influenced hatching response from the egg bank, with more microcrustaceans hatching per unit time in the first 2 and final 2 weeks of the 6‐week trial than the middle 2 weeks. Species richness also varied by relative depth and duration of inundation with more taxa hatching from the deeper areas of anabranches.

The study highlights the critical influence of flood duration on hatching patterns of microcrustaceans from inundated sediments. Therefore, changes to flood duration have the potential to influence microcrustacean assemblages and thus further changes to trophic interactions in temporary floodplain wetlands.

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Bioenergy for climate change mitigation: Scale and sustainability
Authors: Calvin Katherine , Cowie Annette , Berndes Göran , Arneth Almut , Cherubini Francesco , Portugal‐Pereira Joana , Grassi Giacomo , House Jo , Johnson Francis X. , Popp Alexander , Rounsevell Mark , Slade Raphael , Smith Pete
Published: May 2021

Many global climate change mitigation pathways presented in IPCC assessment reports rely heavily on the deployment of bioenergy, often used in conjunction with carbon capture and storage. We review the literature on bioenergy use for climate change mitigation, including studies that use top‐down integrated assessment models or bottom‐up modelling, and studies that do not rely on modelling. We summarize the state of knowledge concerning potential co‐benefits and adverse side effects of bioenergy systems and discuss limitations of modelling studies used to analyse consequences of bioenergy expansion. The implications of bioenergy supply on mitigation and other sustainability criteria are context dependent and influenced by feedstock, management regime, climatic region, scale of deployment and how bioenergy alters energy systems and land use. Depending on previous land use, widespread deployment of monoculture plantations may contribute to mitigation but can cause negative impacts across a range of other sustainability criteria. Strategic integration of new biomass supply systems into existing agriculture and forest landscapes may result in less mitigation but can contribute positively to other sustainability objectives. There is considerable variation in evaluations of how sustainability challenges evolve as the scale of bioenergy deployment increases, due to limitations of existing models, and uncertainty over the future context with respect to the many variables that influence alternative uses of biomass and land. Integrative policies, coordinated institutions and improved governance mechanisms to enhance co‐benefits and minimize adverse side effects can reduce the risks of large‐scale deployment of bioenergy. Further, conservation and efficiency measures for energy, land and biomass can support greater flexibility in achieving climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Intensive monitoring for bees in North America: indispensable or improvident?
Authors: Tepedino Vincent J. , Portman Zachary M.
Published: May 2021

Continued reports of bee declines have prompted repeated calls for a national monitoring programme in the United States. Here, we argue that such a large‐scale surveillance monitoring programme would consume inordinate resources without providing the sought‐after data in a meaningful time period.

Surveillance monitoring cannot provide reliable and timely measures of absolute or relative population size, species richness or diversity, host plant and nest site preferences or typical foraging ranges. In addition, the multitude of specimens captured by the passive traps commonly used to surveil overwhelm our identification capacity and, in some cases, may even accelerate species decline.

Conversely, surveillance monitoring should be pursued when data can be collected non‐lethally for readily identifiable species or species groups (e.g., bumble bees) or when widely distributed sentinel plants can be observed (e.g., sunflowers). Lethal collections should continue at appropriate temporal intervals but only at a limited number of representative areas with accurate historic records.

We advocate that emphasis be placed on a targeted, natural‐history approach aimed at addressing specific hypotheses and exploring solutions to conservation management problems. We already know enough about the drivers of bee decline to formulate and test potential solutions. While additional information is of value in understanding bee diversity, distributions and evolution, we do not need it to begin to take action; we should be focusing on the best ways to help bee species endure rather than attempting to accumulate even more evidence that they are in trouble.
ESTIMATING BORDER EFFECTS: THE IMPACT OF SPATIAL AGGREGATION
Authors: Coughlin Cletus C. , Novy Dennis
Published: May 2021

Trade data are typically aggregated across space. In this article, we investigate the sensitivity of gravity estimation to spatial aggregation. We build a model in which micro regions are aggregated into macro regions. We then apply the model to the large literature on border effects in domestic and international trade. Our theory shows that aggregation leads to border effect heterogeneity. Larger regions and countries are systematically associated with smaller border effects. We test our theory with aggregate and industry‐level trade flows for U.S. states. Our results confirm the model's predictions, with strong heterogeneity patterns.
Low‐alkali borosilicate glass microspheres from waste cullet prepared by flame synthesis
Authors: Larionau Pavel , Hujova Miroslava , Michalková Monika , Mahmoud Mokhtar , Švančárková Anna , Galusková Dagmar , Parchoviansky Milan , Bernardo Enrico , Galusek Dušan , Kraxner Jozef
Published: May 2021

Although glass recycling is considered to be a default method for glass waste management, fine fractions of container soda‐lime glass, or cullet of other compositions are still landfilled. This happens despite existing alternatives. Success could lie in advanced upcycled products that bring higher economic motivation for the implementation in industry, but these are often connected to alternative ways of product synthesis. We provide an example of waste glass upcycling by the preparation of glass microspheres (GM) from specialty low‐sodium alumino borosilicate‐based glasses via flame synthesis (FS). GM and the precursors, either from colorless medical vials or glass fibers, were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), simultaneous thermal analysis coupled with differential thermal analysis (STA‐DTA), and image analysis. A dynamic corrosion test was performed and evaluated via ion‐coupled plasma with optical emission spectroscopy (ICP‐OES) to observe corrosion kinetics products. FS has proved to be a fast method of waste glass processing into GM. This article, besides the characterization of the starting material and final products, also suggests the possibility of processing for other landfilled waste glasses and also discusses the manufacturing of GM for water filters and fillers for polymers.
Long hair follicular unit excision: personal experience
Authors: Park Jae Hyun , You Seung Hyun , Kim Na Rae , Ho Yeh Hong
Published: May 2021

Background

Long hair follicular unit excision (FUE) is the most state‐of‐the‐art surgical technique in the field of hair transplantation surgery. Long hair FUE reduces the signs of surgery by camouflaging the recipient area with long hair, and allows hair curl identification when placing grafts. In addition, donor area shaving can be omitted.

Methods

This article presents the surgical approach and methods of long hair FUE. Patients were categorized by sex, age, recipient site, purpose of the surgery, and history of previous hair transplantation. Medical charts and photographs were reviewed to obtain the transection rate and calculated density for each patient.

Results

Long hair FUE was applied to 134 patients (112 women and 22 men). Thirty‐four patients received eyebrow hair transplantation, 73 underwent female hairline correction surgery, nine patients underwent sideburn reconstruction, two were treated for female pattern hair loss, and 19 were treated for male pattern baldness (MPB). Four of the patients with MPB also underwent eyebrow transplant surgery. Of the patients with MPB, 17 (89%) had Norwood type III baldness, and two (11%) had type IV hair loss. The mean number of grafts required was 292 for eyebrow transplantation, 1,214 for female hairline correction, 251 for sideburn reconstruction, 1,344 for female pattern hair loss, and 1,567 for MPB. The mean follicle transection rate was 9.2%, and the mean calculated number of follicles per graft achieved was 2.23.

Conclusion

This long hair FUE method introduced by the authors is an excellent surgical method when performed by surgeons with sufficient skill and expertise.
Technological, nutritional and sensory properties of pasta fortified with agro‐industrial by‐products: a review
Authors: Bianchi Federico , Tolve Roberta , Rainero Giada , Bordiga Matteo , Brennan Charles S. , Simonato Barbara
Published: May 2021

Reducing food waste is a priority to move towards more sustainable food systems. Since agro‐food by‐products are often rich in healthy compounds, such as fibre, phytochemicals, protein, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals, the waste valorisation could move through their transformation into ingredients useful for the formulation of functional foods. Pasta is a staple food widely consumed all over the world representing an optimal carrier for nutrients delivery. The incorporation of ingredients of a high added value obtained by agro‐industrial by‐products in pasta can improve its nutritional value and provides several health benefits. At the same time, the inclusion of new ingredients could modify the physical, chemical and textural properties determining the change of the organoleptic characteristics of fortified pasta, affecting its acceptability. Thus, the preparation of new pasta formulations with high nutritional properties, good technological and sensory characteristics represents a challenge for the food industry.
A study of regular exercise, social support and depression in the community‐dwelling older people
Authors: Fang Li , Fang Ching‐Lin , Fang Shu‐Hui
Published: May 2021

Aims

This study aims to explore the relationship between regular exercise, social support and depression in community‐dwelling older people and find out the predictors of depression.

Methods

Cross‐sectional and correlation designs were used. The participants were recruited from August to October in 2020. The STROBE was used as a checklist for this study.

Results

The study found that female gender, older age, poor sleep quality, irregular exercise and low social support were the main predictors of depression among the community‐dwelling older people.

Conclusion

It is suggested that healthcare professionals motivate the older people to exercise regularly in the community using individualized exercise routines designed according to their physical conditions such as different types, frequencies and intensity of exercise. Providing social support to each other at the community care site should be encouraged, and regular assessment of the mental health of community‐dwelling older people should be done. It is also recommended to organize a timely depression‐related education course for older people in the community.
First‐line combination chemotherapy with etoposide, ifosfamide and cisplatin for the treatment of disseminated germ cell cancer: Efficacy and feasibility in current clinical practice
Authors: Fujiwara Motohiro , Tanaka Hajime , Yuasa Takeshi , Komai Yoshinobu , Oguchi Tomohiko , Fujiwara Ryo , Numao Noboru , Yamamoto Shinya , Fujii Yasuhisa , Fukui Iwao , Yonese Junji
Published: May 2021

Objectives

To evaluate the efficacy and safety profiles of first‐line etoposide, ifosfamide and cisplatin and primary prophylaxis with pegfilgrastim as first‐line chemotherapy for disseminated germ cell cancer.

Methods

This study reviewed 154 consecutive patients with previously untreated disseminated germ cell cancer who received first‐line etoposide, ifosfamide and cisplatin between 1995 and 2020. Of these, 54 patients were managed with primary prophylaxis using pegfilgrastim (primary prophylaxis group), and 100 were managed with the therapeutic use of short‐acting granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor (non‐primary prophylaxis group).

Results

The International Germ Cell Cancer Collaborative Group classification identified 90 (58%)/40 (26%)/24 (16%) patients with good/intermediate/poor prognosis, respectively. Overall, 139 patients (90%) were disease free after etoposide, ifosfamide and cisplatin with/without post‐chemotherapy surgery. The median relative dose intensity of etoposide, ifosfamide and cisplatin was 96%, and there was a significant difference between the primary prophylaxis and non‐primary prophylaxis groups (100% vs 90%, P < 0.01). The 5‐year salvage treatment‐free and overall survival rates were 83% and 94%, respectively. In total, 138 patients (90%) developed grade 4 hematological toxicities, and there were no treatment‐related deaths due to myelosuppression. Grade 4 neutropenia was less commonly observed in the primary prophylaxis group compared with the non‐primary prophylaxis group (80% vs 95%, P < 0.01).

Conclusions

This is the largest study of first‐line etoposide, ifosfamide and cisplatin, and its sufficient efficacy and safety profiles are confirmed in current clinical practice. Primary prophylaxis using pegfilgrastim might further improve the feasibility of etoposide, ifosfamide and cisplatin.
Post‐mating gene expression of Mexican fruit fly females: disentangling the effects of the male accessory glands
Authors: Sirot L. , Bansal R. , Esquivel C. J. , Arteaga‐Vázquez M. , Herrera‐Cruz M. , Pavinato V. A. C. , Abraham S. , Medina‐Jiménez K. , Reyes‐Hernández M. , Dorantes‐Acosta A. , Pérez‐Staples D.
Published: May 2021

Mating has profound physiological and behavioural consequences for female insects. During copulation, female insects typically receive not only sperm, but a complex ejaculate containing hundreds of proteins and other molecules from male reproductive tissues, primarily the reproductive accessory glands. The post‐mating phenotypes affected by male accessory gland (MAG) proteins include egg development, attraction to oviposition hosts, mating, attractiveness, sperm storage, feeding and lifespan. In the Mexican fruit fly, Anastrepha ludens, mating increases egg production and the latency to remating. However, previous studies have not found a clear relationship between injection of MAG products and oviposition or remating inhibition in this species. We used RNA‐seq to study gene expression in mated, unmated and MAG‐injected females to understand the potential mating‐ and MAG‐regulated genes and pathways in A. ludens. Both mating and MAG‐injection regulated transcripts and pathways related to egg development. Other transcripts regulated by mating included those with orthologs predicted to be involved in immune response, musculature and chemosensory perception, whereas those regulated by MAG‐injection were predicted to be involved in translational control, sugar regulation, diet detoxification and lifespan determination. These results suggest new phenotypes that may be influenced by seminal fluid molecules in A. ludens. Understanding these influences is critical for developing novel tools to manage A. ludens.
COVID‐19 and pulmonary fibrosis: A potential role for lung epithelial cells and fibroblasts
Authors: John Alison E. , Joseph Chitra , Jenkins Gisli , Tatler Amanda L.
Published: May 2021

The COVID‐19 pandemic rapidly spread around the world following the first reports in Wuhan City, China in late 2019. The disease, caused by the novel SARS‐CoV‐2 virus, is primarily a respiratory condition that can affect numerous other bodily systems including the cardiovascular and gastrointestinal systems. The disease ranges in severity from asymptomatic through to severe acute respiratory distress requiring intensive care treatment and mechanical ventilation, which can lead to respiratory failure and death. It has rapidly become evident that COVID‐19 patients can develop features of interstitial pulmonary fibrosis, which in many cases persist for as long as we have thus far been able to follow the patients. Many questions remain about how such fibrotic changes occur within the lung of COVID‐19 patients, whether the changes will persist long term or are capable of resolving, and whether post‐COVID‐19 pulmonary fibrosis has the potential to become progressive, as in other fibrotic lung diseases. This review brings together our existing knowledge on both COVID‐19 and pulmonary fibrosis, with a particular focus on lung epithelial cells and fibroblasts, in order to discuss common pathways and processes that may be implicated as we try to answer these important questions in the months and years to come.
Effects of flipped‐learning‐based simulation for nursing students: a retrospective survey
Authors: Lee Haeyoung , Jang Sun Joo
Published: May 2021

This study analysed whether Situation‐Background‐Assessment‐Recommendation (SBAR) simulation, which uses a flipped learning method, improves undergraduate nursing students’ academic performance and core competencies when applied in the mental health nursing practicum, as compared with traditional in‐person simulations. To this end, a retrospective survey was employed. A group of 37 students who participated in the flipped learning‐based SBAR simulation practicum was compared with a group of 37 students who participated in the practicum using a traditional learning method, in terms of their academic performance and core competencies. The 90‐h practicum included four three‐hour SBAR simulation sessions. Students were assessed at baseline, immediately after the two‐week practicum, and four weeks later. The effects of group, time, and group‐by‐time interactions between the groups were verified using generalized estimating equations with an autoregressive correlation structure. Data were collected between March and July 2017, in South Korea. The results indicated that SBAR simulation significantly improved nursing students’ communication performance compared with the traditional learning method. The clinical practicum based on SBAR improved core competencies at the post‐practicum and four weeks later. In conclusion, the application of the flipped learning‐based SBAR simulation can improve nursing students’ communication skills and can be utilized as an effective teaching method to promote higher order competencies to apply, analyse, and evaluate knowledge beyond simple understanding and information recall. This study has addressed how academic performance and core competencies in nursing can be improved through SBAR simulation using a flipped learning method and shown its positive impact on nursing students’ communication skills and higher order competencies.
Reconciliation and the Great (whole) Commission
Authors: Tizon Al
Published: May 2021

The label “Great Commission,” attributed to Matthew 28:16‐20, has been for evangelicals the inspiration for the evangelization of the world for over a century. But there is more to the commissioning words of Jesus than the ministry of evangelism. This article contends that a missiology of reconciliation, applied to “the Great Commission,” uncovers the broader, holistic nature of the mission of the church. In addition to evangelism, reconciliation as mission also includes peacemaking and stewardship.
Racism as a passion of the soul
Authors: Bosch Iosif
Published: May 2021

Racism, in its various manifestations (e.g., philetism, ethnophiletism, racial segregation, racial discrimination, racial extermination) – as a mere sentiment or conviction as well as a systematic and organized ideology or politics in its origin – is a spiritual tendency of fallen human nature. The purpose of this systematic‐dogmatic reflection is to prove from the perspective of Orthodox theology that this harmful propensity of the human race is a direct consequence of original sin and particular passions created in the soul. Racism has extended to the present day on a wider social level, and its only cure is mainly ascetic‐spiritual in nature. This spiritual therapy should be performed through and by all the means the church has at its disposal to erase the stigmata of humankind’s primitive negation and ultimate distance from God.
Matrix phase induced boosting photoactive performance of ZnO nanowire turf‐coated Bi2O3 plate composites
Authors: Liang Yuan‐Chang , Chou Yu‐Hsun
Published: May 2021

A new nanocomposite consisting of ZnO nanowire turf‐coated Bi2O3 plates was synthesized using a method combining a chemical bath and hydrothermal crystal growth through sputtering ZnO seed layer‐assisted growth. Structural analysis revealed that highly crystalline, high‐density, one‐dimensional (1D) ZnO crystals were uniformly coated on the organized two‐dimensional (2D) Bi2O3 plates with a single β phase or dual α/β polymorphic phases. The Bi2O3–ZnO composites exhibited enhanced absorption properties in the ultraviolet and visible regions compared with pristine Bi2O3 and ZnO. Furthermore, the Bi2O3–ZnO composites exhibited higher photoactive performance than that of the pristine Bi2O3 and ZnO because of the low recombination rate of photoinduced electron−hole pairs caused by the vectorial transfer of electrons and holes between ZnO and Bi2O3 and the substantially increased surface area of the unique composite morphology. The ZnO nanowire turf‐coated Bi2O3 plates with a α/β‐Bi2O3 matrix exhibited photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic properties superior to those of the composite with a single β‐Bi2O3 matrix. The coexistence of α/β homojunction in the Bi2O3 matrix and the abundant heterojunctions between the ZnO nanowires and Bi2O3 plates substantially enhanced photoexcited charge separation efficiency. Growing high‐density 1D ZnO on 2D Bi2O3 via a combination methodology and crystallographic phase control provided a promising material design route for nanocomposite systems with high photoactivity for photoexcited device applications.
Rare earth ion (RE = Tb/Eu/Dy) doped nanocrystalline oxyfluoride glass‐ceramic 5BaF2–95SiO2
Authors: Hu Mengzhu , Yang Yaoyao , Min Xiao , Liu Bingfa , Wu Yuansheng , Wu Yuheng , Yu Lixin
Published: May 2021

A series of 5BaF2‐95SiO2: RE3+ (rare earth, RE = Tb/Eu/Dy) glass‐ceramics samples, containing BaF2 nanocrystals with a size of about 5 nm, are successfully synthesized by a sol‐gel method under different atmospheric conditions. The structural characteristics, the optical properties, and the thermal stability of the target materials were carried out in this work. According to the X‐ray diffraction results, it was observed that the initial Ba(NO3)2 crystals are transformed into BaF2 crystals in SiO2 glasses during the heat treatment at 650°C. After the calcination, the emission peak intensity related to rare earth ions is significantly higher than that in the xerogel. Meanwhile, the addition of Dy3+ can enhance the emission intensity of Tb3+ in the co‐doped materials. The internal quantum efficiency of the 0.3%Tb3+‐0.3%Dy3+ co‐doped product reaches up to ∼50.8%. In addition, the color coordinates of the International Commission (CIE) indicate that the Dy‐0.3%Eu co‐doped 5BaF2–95SiO2 sample could provide red, orange, or blue color emission depending on the Dy3+ doping concentration. Moreover, the thermal stability of all the 5BaF2–95SiO2:RE3+(RE = Tb/Eu/Dy) glass‐ceramic shows well, especially 5BaF2–95SiO2:0.3%Eu3+‐0.1%Dy3+, whose emission intensity would still maintain more than 90% of the initial strength as rising in temperature. Therefore, by designing the Dy3+ doping concentration, the 5BaF2‐95SiO2:0.3%Eu3+‐0.1%Dy3+ glass‐ceramic has potential practical values in high‐performance white light emitting diode.
Sex and age, but not blood parasite infection nor habitat, affect the composition of the uropygial gland secretions in European blackbirds
Authors: Díez‐Fernández Alazne , Martínez‐de la Puente Josué , Martín José , Gangoso Laura , López Pilar , Soriguer Ramón , Figuerola Jordi
Published: May 2021

The uropygial gland of birds produces an oily secretion with different functions, mainly related to plumage protection. In addition, the volatile compounds of this secretion may act as chemical signals that provide information to conspecifics, but it is also possible that those compounds may further attract hematophagous insect vectors such as those responsible for avian malaria transmission. Individual characteristics such as sex and age are usually associated with variation in the composition of the uropygial secretion. Different studies have shown that mosquitoes are more attracted towards birds infected by avian malaria parasites. However, whether the individual infection status by these parasites may lead to differences in the composition of this secretion remains poorly known. We used gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) to characterise the chemical composition of the volatile lipophilic fraction of the uropygial gland secretions of wild European blackbirds and compare its composition in an urban and a forest locality according to their age, sex and infection status by blood parasites. We found differences in the composition of the secretion between age classes and also between sexes within adult birds. However, no differences were found in the chemical composition of the uropygial gland secretion of birds according to their infection status by blood‐parasites and habitat type. These results suggest that haemosporidian infection does not alter the composition of the volatile fraction of uropygial gland secretions in infected birds.
Introgression between Sphyrapicus nuchalis and S. varius sapsuckers in a hybrid zone in west‐central Alberta
Authors: Natola Libby , Curtis Ashley , Hudon Jocelyn , Burg Theresa M.
Published: May 2021

Studying species interactions at hybrid zones allows biologists to understand the forces that promote speciation. Hybridization among Sphyrapicus nuchalis, S. varius and S. ruber has long been acknowledged, and hybrid zones between S. nuchalis/S. ruber and S. varius/S. ruber have been characterized with both genetic and genomic data. Using a combination of next‐generation restriction site‐associated DNA sequencing (RAD‐Seq) and traditional genetic methods, we examined patterns of introgression in the poorly characterized S. nuchalis/S. varius contact zone; the two most similar species in the complex, though they are not each other's closest relatives. We found high introgression rates, with several early and many advanced generation hybrids along a 275 km stretch of Rocky Mountain foothill, pointing to a well‐established hybrid zone with hybrid individuals backcrossing with individuals from the parental species and each other. Plumage colouration in the hybrid zone was a relatively poor indicator of parental or hybrid status, which could be attributed to the possible involvement of few large effect genes.
Deconstructing incubation behaviour in response to ambient temperature over different timescales
Authors: Diez‐Méndez David , Cooper Caren B. , Sanz Juan José , Verdejo José , Barba Emilio
Published: May 2021

Avian embryos need a stable thermal environment to develop optimally, while incubating females need to allocate time to self‐maintenance off the nest. In species with female‐only incubation, eggs are exposed to ambient temperatures that usually cool them down during female absences. The lower the ambient temperature the sooner females should return to re‐warm the eggs. When incubation constraints ease at increasing ambient temperatures, females respond by increasing either incubation effort or self‐maintenance time. These responses are population‐dependent even within the same species; but it is uncertain whether they are caused by local environmental conditions or they are an artefact from limited datasets, different methodological approaches or the timescale over which incubation behaviour is measured. In this study, we collected incubation data from three Mediterranean great tit Parus major populations during three consecutive years. We measured the duration of each off‐ and on‐bout event, used these variables to compute nest attentiveness at three different timescales (full incubation, daily and hourly periods) and assessed the impact of ambient temperature on bout duration and nest attentiveness. We found that females maximized on‐bout duration at different local temperatures, ranging from 10 to 20°C; but lengthened off‐bouts linearly across a range of 0–38°C in all three populations. These local differences translated into opposite linear nest attentiveness patterns at the full incubation scale: Females increased either incubation effort, longest on‐bouts between 15 and 20°C or self‐maintenance time, longest on‐bouts at 10°C. It was at daily and hourly periods when we detected non‐linear nest attentiveness patterns, as expected from on‐bout duration, peaking at different local ambient temperatures. Females first increased incubation effort up to a certain temperature value and then increased self‐maintenance time at the highest ambient temperatures. Further research is needed to understand which factors are behind the turning points from one behaviour to the other.
Global connections with some genomic differentiation occur between Indo‐Pacific and Atlantic Ocean wahoo, a large circumtropical pelagic fish
Authors: Haro‐Bilbao Isabel , Riginos Cynthia , Baldwin John D. , Zischke Mitchell , Tibbetts Ian R. , Thia Joshua A.
Published: May 2021

Aim

Globally distributed pelagic fishes are typified by very low to negligible genetic differentiation at oceanic scales arising from high gene flow and (or) large population sizes. However, genomic approaches employing thousands of loci to characterise genetic variation can illuminate subtle patterns of genetic structure and facilitate demographic inference, such that effects arising from gene flow and population size can be partially decoupled. We used a population genomics approach to identify putative stocks in a circumtropical pelagic fish, wahoo, and to assess global connectivity in this species.

Location

Indo‐Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.

Taxon

Wahoo, Acanthocybium solandri (Cuvier, 1832).

Methods

Globally distributed wahoo samples from 11 locations (representing a total of 296 individuals) were sequenced using a pool‐seq ezRAD approach to obtain 1289–9825 genome‐wide SNP loci per population pair for analyses of genetic structure at a minor allele frequency (MAF) >0.05. Demographic inference using a diffusion approximation method (∂a∂i) was performed using 11,495–12,812 SNPs per population pair at a MAF >0.02.

Results

Genetic structure, measured as FST, was overall low, suggesting very little heterogeneity amongst sample pairs (pairwise FST ≤ 0.021). However, there was a clear signal of regional genetic structuring between ocean basins. A principal coordinate analysis separated samples from the Indo‐Pacific with those from the Atlantic and an analysis of molecular variance suggested that ~77% of variation in genetic structure was amongst regions. Our demographic analyses found greater support for models including migration over simple models of isolation.

Main conclusions

Our study provides the most thorough genetic investigation of wahoo to date. We provide evidence for global connectivity of wahoo populations over their evolutionary history, but we also provide the first indication of subtle regional structure between the Indo‐Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, which occurs against a background of high gene flow. The identification of regional stocks will inform new management strategies and guide future investigations in wahoo, an increasingly important species in global fisheries.
Disentangling direct and indirect effects of island area on plant functional trait distributions
Authors: Schrader Julian , Westoby Mark , Wright Ian J. , Kreft Holger
Published: May 2021

Aim

Species diversity on islands generally increases with island area. This might arise either from direct effects of island area via neutral assembly processes or from indirect effects via habitat and structural differences between islands that scale positively with island area. Here, we tested whether community‐weighted functional trait means of woody plants are directly or indirectly affected by island area to elucidate how functional traits mediate the assembly on differently sized islands.

Location

Twenty‐eight tropical islands (25 m2 – 12,000 m2) in the Raja Ampat archipelago, Indonesia.

Taxon

Woody angiosperms.

Methods

Studied islands had a shared geological history but differed in terms of area, habitat quality expressed by soil depth, forest structure expressed by tree basal area and degree of isolation. Traits studied were seed and fruit mass, tree height, wood density, leaf mass per area, leaf nitrogen concentration and chlorophyll content (estimated from chlorophyll‐meter units) and summarised as community‐weighted means (CWM) for each island. Using liner regression, we tested whether CWMs were correlated to island area and basal area and structural equation models (SEMs) to test on direct and indirect effects of island area, basal area, soil depth and isolation on trait distributions.

Results

CWM of seed mass, tree height and chlorophyll content increased with both island area and basal area, whereas leaf nitrogen concentration decreased with increasing basal area. Fruit mass was not correlated to island area and basal area. SEMs revealed that the shifts in tree height, wood density, leaf nitrogen concentration and chlorophyll content were caused directly by basal area, which in turn was directly and positively affected by both island area and soil depth. Differences in seed mass among islands were explained by combined effects of basal area, island area and isolation, whereas fruit mass was only explained by isolation.

Main conclusions

Trait values shifted systematically across islands of different sizes. Being small and having light seeds are prevailing trait combinations for establishing on small islands with simple forest structure. For establishment on larger islands with more complex forest structures, species are taller, have heavier seeds, higher chlorophyll content and lower leaf N concentrations. We conclude that mechanisms affecting CWM on islands directly link to ecological differences between islands like forest structure – and only indirectly to island area.
Outcomes of transvenous lead extraction using the TightRail™ mechanical rotating dilator sheath and excimer laser sheath
Authors: Misra Satish , Swayampakala Kamala , Coons Patricia , Cerbie Claire , Guifarro Angello , Lesiczka Magdalena , Holshouser John W. , Madjarov Jeko , Love Charles , Mehta Rohit
Published: May 2021

Background

Transvenous lead extraction (TLE) is an important part of comprehensive lead management. The selection of tools available has expanded in recent years but data on their efficacy is limited.

Objective

To evaluate outcomes using the TightRail™ mechanical rotating mechanical dilator sheath in comparison to excimer laser sheaths and describe factors predictive of successful extraction.

Methods

Patients undergoing TLE at a single tertiary center (2013–2019) were included in a prospective registry. Leads targeted for extraction with either an SLS II/Glidelight™ or TightRail™ sheath were included. Outcomes were analyzed on a per‐lead basis. Generalized estimating equation (GEE) models were used to assess differences in lead extraction success by extraction tool used while adjusting for nonindependence of multiple leads extracted from the same patient. Covariates included patient comorbidities, lead characteristics, and sheath size.

Results

A total of 575 leads extracted from 372 patients were included. Overall success rate was 97%. TightRail™ was the first tool used in 180 (31.3%) leads with success rate of 61.7%; laser sheaths were the first tool in 395 leads (68.7%) with success rate of 67.8%. Predictors of successful extraction included lead age, lead type, and sheath sizing. Extraction success did not differ based on whether a laser or TightRail™ sheath was used (adjusted odds ratio = 0.94; 95% confidence interval = 0.59–1.50).

Conclusion

The TightRail™ sheath is an effective tool for TLE. Lead age, lead type, and sheath sizing were predictive of successful extraction but sheath type was not. These findings are hypothesis generating and warrant further investigation in a prospective, randomized study.
Pulmonary vein isolation guided by moderate ablation index targets combined with strict procedural endpoints for patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation
Authors: Wang Yan‐Jiang , Tian Ying , Shi Liang , Zeng Li‐Jun , Xie Bo‐qia , Li Xue‐xun , Yang Xin‐Chun , Liu Xing‐Peng
Published: May 2021

Introduction

Ablation index (AI)‐guided radiofrequency ablation has been increasingly used for the treatment of drug‐resistant paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF)，but the optimal AI targets remain to be determined. We aimed to examine the efficacy and safety of catheter ablation guided by moderate AI values but more strict procedural endpoints in patients with paroxysmal AF.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective review of a consecutive series of patients who received their first AI‐guided ablation for paroxysmal AF from 2017 to 2018. The standard procedural protocol recommends AI targets as follows: anterior: 400–450; posterior: 280–330; and roof/inferior wall: 380–430. After circumferential pulmonary vein isolation (PVI), we performed bipolar pacing along the ablation line, adenosine triphosphate (ATP)‐provocation, and waited for 30 min to verify PVI. The primary clinical outcome was the rate of freedom from AF recurrence at 12 months.

Results

A total of 140 consecutive patients were included. The mean procedure and ablation times were 132.2 ± 30.2 min and 24.2 ± 7.9 min, respectively. The first‐pass isolation and final isolation rates were documented in 49.3% and in 100% of the patients, respectively. At 12 months, single‐procedure freedom from atrial tachyarrhythmias was observed in 92.1% of patients. No major procedure‐related complications were encountered.

Conclusions

Moderate AI‐guided catheter ablation is highly effective for the treatment of drug‐refractory paroxysmal AF in real‐world settings. Over 90% of patients achieved single‐procedure arrhythmia‐free survival at 1 year. The outcome was obtained without major complications and the procedure involved relatively short procedure and ablation times.
Durability of mitral isthmus ablation with and without ethanol infusion in the vein of Marshall
Authors: Ishimura Masayuki , Yamamoto Masashi , Himi Toshiharu , Kobayashi Yoshio
Published: May 2021

Introduction

Ethanol infusion in the vein of Marshall (EIVOM) effectively creates a linear ablation lesion in the mitral isthmus (MI). However, data on the long‐term success rates of MI ablation is limited.

Methods and Results

Our cohort consisted of 560 patients with nonparoxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) who underwent an initial MI ablation. Ablations were performed by only radiofrequency (RF) in 384 (RF group) or by RF and EIVOM in 176 (EIVOM/RF group) patients; 5 ml anhydrous ethanol was used to perform EIVOM in advance of RF. Following EIVOM, RF pulses were delivered to the lateral MI line. Bidirectional MI block was fully achieved in 353/384 (92%) (First 318, Re‐do 35) patinents in the RF group and 171/176 (97%) (First 128, Re‐do 43) patients in the EIVOM/RF group (p = .09 in the first, p = .10 in the re‐do ablation cases). In cases with complete MI line block, recurrent AF or atrial tachycardia was observed in 130/353 (37%) patients in the RF group and in 64/171 (37%) patients in the EIVOM/RF group (log‐rank p = .12 in the first, and p = .30 in the re‐do ablation cases). Of the total 560 patients, 123 proceeded to the subsequent ablation session. Reconduction across MI line block was observed in 39/80 (49%) patients in the RF group and 25/43 (58%) patients in the EIVOM/RF group (p = .32).

Conclusion

EIVOM effectively ensures MI line block; however, the reconduction rate was similar between the two groups.
Prevalence and incidence of patients with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia in the United States
Authors: Rehorn Michael , Sacks Naomi C. , Emden Maia R. , Healey Bridget , Preib Madison T. , Cyr Philip L. , Pokorney Sean D.
Published: May 2021

Background

Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) encompasses a range of heart rhythm disorders leading to rapid heart rates. By virtue of its episodic nature, diagnosing PSVT is difficult and estimating incidence and prevalence on a population level is challenging. The objective of this study was to estimate the incidence and prevalence of PSVT in the United States (US) in contemporary practice.

Methods and Results

An observational retrospective longitudinal study using claims, enrollment, and demographic data from the IBM MarketScan® Commercial Research database (age < 65) and the Medicare Limited Data Set (age ≥ 65) from 2008 to 2016. Patients with a PSVT diagnosis code (ICD‐9: 427.0; ICD‐10: I47.1) on ≥2 outpatient, ≥1 emergency room, or ≥1 inpatient visit were considered as having PSVT. Patients with atrial fibrillation/atrial flutter (AF/AFL) were excluded from the initial analysis given the potential for misclassification. Incidence was estimated by assessing diagnoses made during year 5 of continuous enrollment. Finally, a sensitivity analysis was performed by including patients with both PSVT and AF/AFL diagnoses. Period prevalence and incidence rate were estimated to be 332.9 (323.2–342.9) and 57.8 (52.8–63.3) per 100 000 individuals, respectively, when excluding patients with AF/AFL. Projected to the 2018 US Census, prevalence and incidence are 1.26 million (1.21–1.30 million) and 188,981 (172,891–206,943), respectively. Including patients with AF/AFL, the prevalence may increase to 479.7 (467.9–491.8) with an incidence of 93.4 (86.9–100.5) per 100 000 individuals or a prevalence of 2.06 million (2.01–2.12 million).

Conclusions

Approximately 1 in 300 people in the US had PSVT with the highest rates in older and female patients.
A randomised controlled trial (MindChamp) of a mindfulness‐based intervention for children with ADHD and their parents
Authors: Siebelink Nienke M. , Bögels Susan M. , Speckens Anne E. M. , Dammers Janneke T. , Wolfers Thomas , Buitelaar Jan K. , Greven Corina U.
Published: May 2021

Background

Family mindfulness‐based intervention (MBI) for child attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) targets child self‐control, parenting and parental mental health, but its effectiveness is still unclear.

Methods

MindChamp is a pre‐registered randomised controlled trial comparing an 8‐week family MBI (called ‘MYmind’) in addition to care‐as‐usual (CAU) (n = 55) with CAU‐only (n = 48). Children aged 8–16 years with remaining ADHD symptoms after CAU were enrolled together with a parent. Primary outcome was post‐treatment parent‐rated child self‐control deficits (BRIEF); post hoc, Reliable Change Indexes were explored. Secondary child outcomes included ADHD symptoms (parent/teacher‐rated Conners’ and SWAN; teacher‐rated BRIEF), other psychological symptoms (parent/teacher‐rated), well‐being (parent‐rated) and mindfulness (self‐rated). Secondary parent outcomes included self‐ratings of ADHD symptoms, other psychological symptoms, well‐being, self‐compassion and mindful parenting. Assessments were conducted at post‐treatment, 2‐ and 6‐month follow‐up.

Results

Relative to CAU‐only, MBI+CAU resulted in a small, statistically non‐significant post‐treatment improvement on the BRIEF (intention‐to‐treat: d = 0.27, p = .18; per protocol: d = 0.33, p = .11). Significantly more children showed reliable post‐treatment improvement following MBI+CAU versus CAU‐only (32% versus 11%, p < .05, Number‐Needed‐to‐Treat = 4.7). ADHD symptoms significantly reduced post‐treatment according to parent (Conners’ and SWAN) and teacher ratings (BRIEF) per protocol. Only parent‐rated hyperactivity impulsivity (SWAN) remained significantly reduced at 6‐month follow‐up. Post‐treatment group differences on other secondary child outcomes were consistently favour of MBI+CAU, but mostly non‐significant; no significant differences were found at follow‐ups. Regarding parent outcomes, significant post‐treatment improvements were found for their own ADHD symptoms, well‐being and mindful parenting. At follow‐ups, some significant effects remained (ADHD symptoms, mindful parenting), some additional significant effects appeared (other psychological symptoms, self‐compassion) and others disappeared/remained non‐significant.

Conclusions

Family MBI+CAU did not outperform CAU‐only in reducing child self‐control deficits on a group level but more children reliably improved. Effects on parents were larger and more durable. When CAU for ADHD is insufficient, family MBI could be a valuable addition.