bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inundation depth stimulates plant‐mediated CH4 emissions by increasing ecosystem carbon uptake and plant height in an estuarine wetland
Authors: Zhao Mingliang , Li Peiguang , Song Weimin , Chu Xiaojing , Eller Franziska , Wang Xiaojie , Liu Jingtao , Xiao Leilei , Wei Siyu , Li Xinge , Han Guangxuan
Published: January 2023

Plant‐mediated CH4 emission is an important part of the ecosystem CH4 emission from vegetated wetlands. Inundation depth may alter the potential magnitude of CH4 releases by changing CH4 production and plant transport, but the relationships between plant‐mediated CH4 emissions and inundation depth are still uncertain, especially for estuarine wetlands with changeable hydrological processes. Besides, there are conflicting results regarding the role of inundation depth in plant‐mediated CH4 emissions.

Here we conducted a novel inundation depth experiment (0, 5, 10, 20, 30 and 40 cm inundation depth) dominated by Phragmites australis in the Yellow River estuary, China. Soil CH4 emissions, ecosystem CH4 emissions, net ecosystem CO2 exchange (NEE), soil organic carbon (SOC) and plant traits were measured during the growing seasons of 2018, 2019 and 2020. Plant‐mediated CH4 emissions were the difference between ecosystem CH4 emissions and soil CH4 emissions.

The results showed that inundation depth decreased soil CH4 emissions but increased ecosystem CH4 emissions. Plant‐mediated CH4 transport from Phragmites australis accounted for 99% of total ecosystem CH4 emissions under different inundation depths. Inundation depth strongly stimulated plant‐mediated CH4 emission from 0 to 20 cm during the growing seasons. The increased NEE enhanced plant‐mediated CH4 emissions by altering production, suggesting that carbon components derived from photosynthetic carbon input may benefit CH4 production. Additionally, the increased plant height promoted CH4 emission by regulating plant transport, indicating that plant traits may play an important role in transport of CH4.

Our findings indicated that NEE and plant height play an important role in plant‐mediated CH4 emissions under different inundation depths in estuarine wetland. This study also highlights that hydrological regimes and plant traits are essential for the estimation of CH4 emissions in future projections of global wetland changes.

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Blowing in the wind: Experimental assessment of clinging performance and behaviour in Anolis lizards during hurricane‐force winds
Authors: DiPaolo Emma C. C. , Kolbe Jason J.
Published: January 2023

Extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, can be ecologically devastating and cause widespread mortality. Recent studies in Anolis lizards report hurricane‐induced phenotypic shifts and selection favouring morphological variation related to clinging performance. Although it is difficult to observe organismal responses during extreme events in nature, we can experimentally simulate the high‐speed winds associated with hurricanes to evaluate the putative mechanism underlying observed patterns of natural selection.

In this study, we used two laboratory experiments to better understand the clinging performance and behaviour of Anolis lizards when experiencing hurricane‐force winds. We assessed the physical ability of lizards when using the combined function of their claws, limbs, toepads and other traits to resist forces pulling them off a perch. We also evaluated the combination of this physical clinging ability of lizards and their behavioural responses to avoid being blown off a perch during high winds. We assessed behaviour that could decrease exposure of lizards to wind and increase their clinging ability.

Clinging force measurements revealed variation in performance among species and substrates not reflected in clinging times for lizards experiencing hurricane‐force winds, revealing the importance of behaviour when experiencing high winds. The most arboreal species (A. carolinensis) had substantially longer clinging times on rough substrates compared with the other species, presumably due to its larger toepads for increased clinging as well as its shorter limbs that reduced drag.

Under high‐speed winds, lizards commonly shifted to the more protected leeward side of dowels, especially on broad and rough substrates, presumably to reduce exposure. This reveals how behaviour can mediate factors influencing clinging ability during hurricanes and, in conjunction with ecologically relevant variation in morphology and substrate properties, contribute to clinging performance.

Our experiments reveal that behaviour strongly influences clinging performance during high winds beyond that predicted by physical traits alone. Thus, microhabitat selection of perches and the position of a lizard on its perch during a hurricane will likely have important consequences for clinging performance. This may alter how selection acts on morphological traits and influence the susceptibility of different species to these extreme weather events.

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Synthetic Nasonov gland pheromone enhances abundance and visitation of honeybee, Apis mellifera, in Korla fragrant pear, Pyrus sinkiangensis
Authors: Li Qian , Sun Mengxiao , Liu Yangtian , Liu Bing , van der Werf Wopke , Bianchi Felix J. J. A. , Lu Yanhui
Published: January 2023

Korla fragrant pear (Pyrus sinkiangensis Yü) depends on cross‐pollination by honeybees (Apis mellifera) but may suffer from low honeybee visitation.

We assessed whether honeybee abundance and visitation frequency are enhanced by using synthetic Nasonov gland pheromone (NGP), which is naturally produced by worker bees to stimulate the aggregation of bees to food resources or nesting sites.

The response of honeybees to synthetic NGP was firstly assessed using Y‐tube olfactometer tests in the laboratory, and subsequently in the field, by placing NGP lures on Korla fragrant pear trees in orchards with and without beehives. Honeybee abundance was assessed using coloured pan traps while honeybee visits were assessed by visual observations on pear flowers.

Y‐tube olfactometer tests showed a significant preference of honeybees for NGP. In pear orchards with beehives, honeybee abundance was 2.5‐fold higher on trees with NGP lures than on trees without NGP, and 2.2‐fold higher in orchards in which all trees contained NGP lures than in orchards without NGP lures. Such positive effects were not observed in orchards without beehives.

Flower visitation by honeybees was significantly higher in trees with NGP lures than without NGP lures, irrespective of the presence (5.7‐fold higher) or absence of beehives (27.6‐fold higher).

In mixed pear‐apricot orchards, honeybee abundance was higher in pear trees with NGP lures than without lures.

Our results show that NGP lures attract honeybees to flowering pear trees in monoculture pear and mixed pear‐apricot orchards, and that this effect is greatest in orchards with beehives.
Growth differentiation factor 15 is dispensable for acetaminophen‐induced liver injury in mice
Authors: Jiang Peng , Liu Zhenghong , Fang Tingyu , Zhang Zhidan , Zhang Yu , Wang Dongdong , Little Peter J. , Xu Suowen , Weng Jianping
Published: January 2023

Acetaminophen (APAP)‐induced liver injury (AILI) has been recognized as a pivotal contributor to drug‐induced liver failure in Western countries, but its molecular mechanism remains poorly understood. Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) is a pleiotropic factor that alleviates non‐alcoholic liver steatohepatitis, liver fibrosis and liver injury. The aim of the present study was to examine the possibility whether GDF15 confers protection against AILI. We found that the gene expression of Gdf15 was increased significantly after APAP overdose in mice. Next, the role of Gdf15 in AILI was evaluated by hepatic Gdf15 overexpression (using adeno‐associated virus serotype 8), injection with recombinant human GDF15 (rhGDF15) and Gdf15 knockout mice after challenge with APAP. A marked elevation of Gdf15 was observed after AILI. However, there were no significant differences in AILI‐related liver injury and JNK phosphorylation after Gdf15 overexpression, rhGDF15 injection or Gdf15 deficiency. Together, we conclude that, despite a noticeable elevation of Gdf15 level after AILI, Gdf15 is dispensable for APAP‐induced AILI. Our study further suggests that genomic analysis of mRNA expression after APAP overdose is of limited relevance unless followed up by a functional analysis of candidate genes in vivo.
Adjusting for Publication Bias in Meta-Analysis via Inverse Probability Weighting Using Clinical Trial Registries
Authors: Huang Ao , Morikawa Kosuke , Friede Tim , Hattori Satoshi
Published: January 2023

Publication bias is a major concern in conducting systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Various sensitivity analysis or bias-correction methods have been developed based on selection models, and they have some advantages over the widely used trim-and-fill bias-correction method. However, likelihood methods based on selection models may have difficulty in obtaining precise estimates and reasonable confidence intervals, or require a rather complicated sensitivity analysis process. Herein, we develop a simple publication bias adjustment method by utilizing the information on conducted but still unpublished trials from clinical trial registries. We introduce an estimating equation for parameter estimation in the selection function by regarding the publication bias issue as a missing data problem under the missing not at random assumption. With the estimated selection function, we introduce the inverse probability weighting (IPW) method to estimate the overall mean across studies. Furthermore, the IPW versions of heterogeneity measures such as the between-study variance and the I2 measure are proposed. We propose methods to construct confidence intervals based on asymptotic normal approximation as well as on parametric bootstrap. Through numerical experiments, we observed that the estimators successfully eliminated bias, and the confidence intervals had empirical coverage probabilities close to the nominal level. On the other hand, the confidence interval based on asymptotic normal approximation is much wider in some scenarios than the bootstrap confidence interval. Therefore, the latter is recommended for practical use.
Puerarin from Pueraria lobate attenuates ischemia‐induced cardiac injuries and inflammation in vitro and in vivo: The key role of miR‐130a‐5p/HMGB2 pathway
Authors: Fan Chenrong , Wang Qizeng , Chen Youjin , Ye Tingting , Fan Yuncao
Published: January 2023

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a common cardiovascular disease and puerarin (Pue) is an active compound from Pueraria lobate with cardio‐protective potential. In the current study, the mechanism underlying the cardio‐protective effects of Pue was explored by focusing miR‐130a‐5p/HMGB2 pathway. MiR expression profile was determined and myocardial infarction was induced in cardiomyocytes and rats, which was treated with Pue. The role of miR‐130a‐5p and downstream HMGB2/NF‐κB axis in the cardio‐protective effects of Pue was also explored. Pue increased viability and suppressed inflammation in OGD cardiomyocytes, which was associated with the deactivation of HMGB2/NF‐κB pathway. After the suppression of miR‐130a‐5p, the cardio‐protective effects of Pue were compromised. In rat models, Pue attenuated structure deterioration and inflammatory response in heart. At the molecular level, miR‐130a‐5p was up‐regulated, and HMGB2 were down‐regulated. It was demonstrated that Pue induced the expression of miR‐130a‐5p, which suppressed the activity of HMGB2/NF‐κB, contributing to the attenuation of infarct heart tissues.
The divergent adolescent and adult transitions of Latin American undocumented minors
Authors: Diaz‐Strong Daysi Ximena , Gonzales Roberto G.
Published: January 2023

Undocumented immigrants arriving in the United States as minors navigate tremendous constraints as they transition into adolescence and adulthood. Exclusionary immigration laws profoundly shape and complicate the attainment of important milestones and the decisions undocumented minors make about their adult futures. A significant body of research, largely focused on children who arrive when they are 12 years old and younger, has examined the impact of legal exclusion on the coming‐of‐age experiences of undocumented minors. However, we know less about the experiences of teenage arrivals. In this article, we focus on young Latin American migrants and provide an overview of how legal exclusion contours undocumented minors' adolescent and adult transitions; we also call attention to the divergent experiences of youth who arrive during childhood and youth who arrive during adolescence. Throughout the article, we emphasize how the timing of immigration—the developmental stage when a young person migrates—creates meaningful differences in the barriers undocumented minors confront.
Factors affecting the outcomes of tirofiban after endovascular treatment in acute ischemic stroke: Experience from a single center
Authors: Wang Yuan , Ma Hongrui , Zhang Qihan , Jin Feiyang , Xu Yi , Ma Qingfeng , Ji Xunming
Published: January 2023

Aims

To investigate the predicted factors influencing the outcomes in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients who received tirofiban after endovascular treatment (EVT) and the optimal administration of tirofiban.

Methods

In this retrospective study, AIS patients who received EVT followed by tirofiban between January 2017 and October 2021 were enrolled. The dose and duration of tirofiban were adjusted by trained clinicians according to the patient's clinical status. A reduction of at least four points on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) after tirofiban compared with that before tirofiban was defined as an effective response. A modified ranking scale (mRS) of 0–2 was defined as a favorable outcome at a 90‐day follow‐up.

Results

A total of 260 consecutive patients were enrolled, and 36.5% of patients achieved a favorable outcome. The modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (mTICI) 2b‐3 occurred in 93.5% of patients. Symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) occurred in 6.2% of patients, and the mortality at 90‐day follow‐up was 16.9%. Duration of tirofiban >24 h (adjusted OR: 2.545; 95% CI: 1.008–6.423; p = 0.048) and effective response to tirofiban (adjusted OR: 25.562; 95% CI: 9.794–66.715; p < 0.001) were related to the favorable outcome (mRS 0–2). Higher NIHSS (adjusted OR: 0.855; 95% CI: 0.809–0.904; p < 0.001) and glucose level on admission (adjusted OR: 0.843; 95% CI: 0.731–0.971; p = 0.018) were predictive for the unfavorable outcome (mRS 3–6).

Conclusions

An effective response to tirofiban is an independent factor in predicting the long‐term efficacy outcome, and extending the duration of tirofiban is beneficial for neurological improvement.
Concentration‐dependent stimulation of melanin production as well as melanocyte and keratinocyte proliferation by melatonin in human eyelid epidermis
Authors: Sevilla Alec , Chéret Jérémy , Lee Wendy , Paus Ralf
Published: January 2023

It remains unclear how the multifunctional indoleamine neurohormone, melatonin, alters melanin production and melanocytes within intact human epidermis under physiologically relevant conditions. In the current pilot study, we aimed to clarify this in long‐term organ‐cultured, full‐thickness human eyelid skin, selected for its clinically recognized sensitivity to pigmentation‐modulatory hormones. Warthin‐Starry histochemistry showed that 100 μM melatonin significantly increased epidermal melanin content and melanocyte dendricity after 6 days of organ culture, even though tyrosinase activity in situ was inhibited, as assessed by quantitative immunohistomorphometry. While the higher melatonin dose tested here (200 μM) did not change epidermal melanization, but again inhibited tyrosinase activity, it increased the number and proliferation of both gp100+ epidermal melanocytes and keratinocytes as well as protein expression of the premelanosomal marker, gp100, ex vivo. Contrary to most previous studies, these eyelid skin organ culture results suggest that long‐term melatonin application exerts overall stimulatory, dose‐dependent effects on the epidermal pigmentary unit within intact human skin, which appear surprisingly tyrosinase‐independent. While these provocative preliminary findings require further work‐up and independent confirmation, they encourage one to systematically explore whether prolonged melatonin therapy can (re‐)stimulate melanogenesis and increase the pool/activity of epidermal melanocytes in hypopigmented skin lesions.
Effects of RuBisCO and CO2 concentration on cyanobacterial growth and carbon isotope fractionation
Authors: Garcia Amanda K. , Kędzior Mateusz , Taton Arnaud , Li Meng , Young Jodi N. , Kaçar Betül
Published: January 2023

Carbon isotope biosignatures preserved in the Precambrian geologic record are primarily interpreted to reflect ancient cyanobacterial carbon fixation catalyzed by Form I RuBisCO enzymes. The average range of isotopic biosignatures generally follows that produced by extant cyanobacteria. However, this observation is difficult to reconcile with several environmental (e.g., temperature, pH, and CO2 concentrations), molecular, and physiological factors that likely would have differed during the Precambrian and can produce fractionation variability in contemporary organisms that meets or exceeds that observed in the geologic record. To test a specific range of genetic and environmental factors that may impact ancient carbon isotope biosignatures, we engineered a mutant strain of the model cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 that overexpresses RuBisCO across varying atmospheric CO2 concentrations. We hypothesized that changes in RuBisCO expression would impact the net rates of intracellular CO2 fixation versus CO2 supply, and thus whole‐cell carbon isotope discrimination. In particular, we investigated the impacts of RuBisCO overexpression under changing CO2 concentrations on both carbon isotope biosignatures and cyanobacterial physiology, including cell growth and oxygen evolution rates. We found that an increased pool of active RuBisCO does not significantly affect the 13C/12C isotopic discrimination (εp) at all tested CO2 concentrations, yielding εp of ≈ 23‰ for both wild‐type and mutant strains at elevated CO2. We therefore suggest that expected variation in cyanobacterial RuBisCO expression patterns should not confound carbon isotope biosignature interpretation. A deeper understanding of environmental, evolutionary, and intracellular factors that impact cyanobacterial physiology and isotope discrimination is crucial for reconciling microbially driven carbon biosignatures with those preserved in the geologic record.
Satellite observed reversal in trends of spring phenology in the middle‐high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere during the global warming hiatus
Authors: Xiong Tao , Du Shihong , Zhang Hongyan , Zhang Xiuyuan
Published: January 2023

The start of the growing season (SOS) is essential to track the responses of vegetation to climate change. However, recent findings on whether the SOS in the middle‐high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere (NH) continued to advance or reversed during the global warming hiatus were not consistent. It is necessary to investigate the causes of this controversy and to examine the relationship between the SOS and preseason temperature trends. To this end, we first applied four widely used phenology extraction methods to derive the SOS from the GIMMS NDVI3g dataset and then used the ensemble empirical modal decomposition (EEMD) method to extract the nonlinear trends of the SOS and preseason temperature. Our results clarify, for the first time, that the limitations of the linear assumption‐based trend analysis methods are an important but overlooked cause of the discrepancies among existing studies on whether the SOS was advanced or delayed in the NH (>30° N) during the global warming hiatus. We further revealed the range of the mismatches between the SOS and preseason temperature trends at the latitude, altitude and biome levels. Specifically, we discovered that the SOS in the NH (>30° N) obtained by the four phenology extraction methods showed a significant reversal from advance to delay during the global warming hiatus, and the corresponding average rate of change was very small. The area showing increasing preseason temperatures decreased during the global warming hiatus, but it always occupied most of the NH (>30° N). However, delayed SOS trends were dominant in the NH from 50° N to 60° N, above 3000 m and in biomes other than TBMF and BF. Accordingly, using an EEMD‐like approach to evaluate the changes in the SOS and preseason temperature is necessary for improving our understanding of the changes in the SOS and their association with climate.
Constructing children's psychological well‐being: Sources of resilience for children left behind in Northeast China
Authors: Wang Shuai
Published: January 2023

Population mobility has become an inevitable trend of social transformation in contemporary China. Parental migration has changed family structure patterns and brought great uncertainty to the psychological well‐being of left‐behind children. By comparing left‐behind children to children of non‐migrants, this study examines the impact of parental migration on children's psychological well‐being and the potential support of schools for children's resilience development along three dimensions: children's school belonging, teacher–student relationships and peer support. Using a mixed‐method approach, this study draws on an original survey of children (N = 605) and in‐depth interviews with children, parents, grandparents, and teachers (N = 41) in Hunchun City, Northeast China. Overall, maternal migration has a negative impact on children's psychological well‐being. In addition to teacher–student relationships, school belonging and peer support significantly mitigate this negative impact; qualitative data further suggest that peer support distracts from, rather than offsets, children's poor psychological well‐being associated with maternal migration.
Prevalence and predictive factors of depressive symptoms among primiparae in antenatal care: A cross‐sectional study in the new families programme
Authors: Øygarden Anne‐Martha Utne , Småstuen Milada C. , Abudayya Abdallah , Glavin Kari , Sæther Kristin Marie , Solberg Beate L. , Brekke Malene , Strøm Benedicte S.
Published: January 2023

Aim/Objective

To estimate the prevalence and assess the strength of associations between antenatal depressive symptoms and selected possible predictive factors among women attending antenatal care for the first time at the Child Health Centre.

Background

Evidence suggests that antenatal depression is a health problem as prevalent as postpartum depression. Antenatal depressive symptoms may persist into the postpartum period and potentially disturb the attachment between mother and family.

Design

Cross‐sectional.

Methods

A sample of 228 women who participated in the New Families research programme answering a questionnaire at Week 28 of pregnancy were included. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was used as outcome measure. Prevalence was estimated, and backward stepwise logistic regression analysis was performed to examine associations with somatic, psychiatric and social factors. STROBE checklist was followed.

Results

Prevalence of depressive symptoms in this sample was 17.9%. Women reporting not sleeping enough had significantly higher odds of having depressive symptoms. Pregnant women with high relationship satisfaction were less likely to have depressive symptoms. Neither maternal age, education, previous depression, coming from a non‐Nordic country nor having complications during pregnancy were statistically significantly associated with depressive symptoms.

Conclusions

High prevalence of depressive symptoms may also be present in low‐risk populations. Sleep and relationship satisfaction are topics that need to be addressed during pregnancy.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

The prevalence of depressive symptoms in this sample of low‐risk pregnant women indicates that health personnel needs to be aware of depressive symptoms among women with no risk indicators. Identifying predictive factors associated with depressive symptoms may help midwives, public health nurses and general practitioners support parents. Our results indicate a potential need for screening for depressive symptoms in pregnancy and underscore the importance of involving partners in antenatal care.

Patient/Public Contribution

Parents and health personnel participated in designing the New Family research programme.
The detailed obstetric course of the first Japanese patient with AEBP1‐related Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (classical‐like EDS, type 2)
Authors: Sanai Hiromi , Nakamura Yasuhiko , Koike Yuta , Murota Hiroyuki , Kosho Tomoki , Sase Masakatsu
Published: January 2023

We reported a detailed obstetric course of a Japanese patient with Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (EDS) caused by biallelic pathogenic variants in the AEBP1 gene. She was diagnosed with classical EDS at 3 years of age. At 33 years, whole‐exome sequencing revealed a homozygous nonsense variant (c.1894C > T:p.Arg632*) in AEBP1. This is the 10th case of AEBP1‐related EDS (classical‐like EDS type 2) and the first in Japan. She was managed as an inpatient at our hospital beginning at 20 weeks of gestation because of the possibility of high‐risk pregnancy. She experienced painful urinary retention, migraines, and threatened premature labor. She delivered a healthy female via elective caesarean section at 32 weeks of gestation. She was treated in the intensive care unit for severe paralytic ileus, postoperatively. Conservative therapy resulted in favorable outcomes, and she was safely discharged on postdelivery day 22nd.
The effect of thermomechanical aging on the retention of a conometric system in a chewing simulator
Authors: Al‐Chalabi Zainab S. , Tuna Süleyman H.
Published: January 2023

Purpose

To evaluate the retention force of a novel conometric system after thermomechanical aging. In addition, the conometric system's retention force was compared with that of the cemented implant‐retained crowns.

Materials and methods

Two systems to retain implant crowns were tested in this study: a conometric system and a cement‐retained system. Forty‐eight zirconia crowns were fabricated using computer‐aided design and computer‐aided manufacturing technology. Twenty‐four zirconia crowns were cemented onto conometric caps with resin‐modified glass ionomer cement, which were then connected with abutments. These specimens were divided into three groups, and each group was subjected to the pull‐out test. A‐control group: 12 specimens directly subjected to pull‐out test; A‐aged group: 12 specimens subjected to thermomechanical aging followed by pull‐out test; A‐repeat group: After the pull‐out, the specimens in the aging group (A‐aged) were reconnected, and the pull‐out test was repeated once more. The remaining 24 zirconia crowns were cemented on standard abutments with zinc phosphate cement, and two groups were formed. C‐control group: 12 specimens directly subjected to the pull‐out test; C‐aged group: 12 specimens subjected to thermomechanical aging followed by pull‐out. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to evaluate the surfaces of caps and abutments. To analyze the data, repeated measures, one‐way ANOVA, and Bonferroni tests were used (p < 0.05).

Results

The mean retention force value of the A‐control group was 148.22 ± 16.37 N. The highest mean retention force value was measured in the A‐aged group (204.93 ± 51.67 N), and the lowest mean retention force value was seen in the A‐repeated group (77.02 ± 21.48 N). Thermomechanical aging had a significant influence (p < 0.05) on both systems. No significant differences in retention force were found between the thermomechanical aged groups of both systems (p > 0.05). SEM analysis revealed that aging had an impact on the surface of the conometric system's caps and abutments.

Conclusions

The retention force of the conometric system increased significantly following thermomechanical aging. No crown separation occurred during the thermomechanical aging of the conometric system. There was no significant difference in the retention of the conometric and cemented systems after thermomechanical aging.
Broadband access within Medically Underserved Areas and its implication for telehealth utilization
Authors: Bell Nathaniel , Hung Peiyin , Lòpez‐De Fede Ana , Adams Swann A.
Published: January 2023

Purpose

There is little information as to how America's broadband infrastructure might impact recent efforts to expand access to virtual care for underserved communities.

Objective

To examine potential and realized access to broadband internet services within Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs) that rely on community health care service providers for primary care.

Methods

This cross‐sectional study included 214,946 US Census Block Group estimates from the 2017 and 2019 American Community Survey and the corresponding Federal Communications Commission database. Changes in household broadband subscription rates and Healthy People 2020 access thresholds within MUAs were assessed.

Findings

In 2019, 24,304 MUA households (31.9%) met Healthy People 2020 targets for broadband subscription rates, compared to 64.4% of non‐MUA households (n = 89,285). On average, 74.7% of MUA households had a broadband internet subscription compared to 85.2% of non‐MUA households, whereas 61.1% (n = 46,635) of MUA households had access to broadband speeds of at least 25.0 Mbps, compared to 75.6% (n = 104,696) of non‐MUA households. Within urban households, there was a 0.8 to 1.3 to 1.6 annual percentage point convergence in MUA versus non‐MUA broadband disparities between across quintiles (P < .05). Rural MUA households showed little improvement in broadband access between 2017 and 2019.

Conclusions

There has been an overall convergence of broadband access disparities between MUA and non‐MUA households over time, but less improvements in access among the most rural households. Reimbursement for audio‐only telehealth visits by state Medicaid agencies would help drive down barriers to virtual health care options for populations residing in MUAs.
Worldwide estimation of restless legs syndrome: a systematic review and meta‐analysis of prevalence in the general adult population
Authors: Broström Anders , Alimoradi Zainab , Lind Jonas , Ulander Martin , Lundin Fredrik , Pakpour Amir
Published: January 2023

This systematic review, meta‐analysis and meta‐regression assessed the prevalence of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in the general adult population. Studies identified in Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and PsycInfo between January 2000 and February 2022 were included if they used a case–control or cross‐sectional design and reported data regarding the prevalence of RLS. The protocol was pre‐registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO; CRD42022300709). A total of 97 studies including 483,079 participants from 33 different countries met the eligibility criteria. The Newcastle Ottawa Scale was used to evaluate the methodological quality, and the fill‐and‐trim method was used to correct probable publication bias, while the jack‐knife method was performed to assess small study effect. The corrected overall pooled prevalence of RLS was 3% (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.4%–3.8%). The pooled prevalence of RLS syndrome was affected by methodological quality (no data from non‐respondents in the included studies), gender (higher among women), study design (lower prevalence in case–control versus cohort and cross‐sectional studies). The figures for corrected pooled prevalence among men, women, alcohol consumers and smokers were 2.8% (95% CI 2%–3.7%); 4.7% (95% CI 3.2%–6.3%); 1.4% (95% CI 0%–4.2%); and 2.7% (95% CI 0%–5.3%), respectively. The prevalence among male and female participants was lower in community‐based versus non‐community‐based studies. Moreover, the prevalence was higher in developed versus developing countries and among elders versus adults. In conclusion, RLS is a common disorder in the general adult population, with a higher prevalence in women; however, prevalence data are affected by study design and quality.
Floristic composition, structure and diversity of riparian forests in southwestern Nigeria: conservation is inevitable
Authors: Borisade Tolulope V. , Odiwe Anthony I.
Published: January 2023

The Nigerian riparian forest ecosystems had declined in extent and distribution and this had been attributed mainly to land use change. This study intended to provide understanding links between plant diversity, composition, structures and disturbances both anthropogenic and natural processes inducing the vegetation dynamics. Nine study sites were used for this study, within each site, five (5) plots (0.25 ha in size) were marked out, placed systematically at an interval of 10 m along transect. Complete enumeration of plants species was carried out and identified to species level. Diversity indices and structural parameters were determined and anthropogenic activities were ranked. A total number of 233 plant species were identified, belonging to 80 families; out of which, Euphorbiaceae and Apocynaceae were dominant families. The density and basal area ranged from 2200 to 6000 ha−1 and 2.59 to 17.58 m2 ha−1 respectively across the study sites. Pterocarpus santalinoides, Alchornea cordiflora, Chassalia kolly, Tetracera spp., Fimbristylis, Bambusa vulgaris and Cyrtosperma senegalense were the dominant species. The Shannon diversity index ranged from (1.38–3.49), Simpson (0.66–0.97) and Evenness diversity was (0.43–0.84). Fisher alpha (10.03–30.21) and Whittaker beta diversity (0.36–0.89) values were highest in Ipetumodu (site VIII) and lowest in Ilesha (site II). Seventy‐three (73%) of the species in this study had low important value index (IVI). The dominance of some lianas and herbaceous species in the riparian forest sites showed disturbances, stages of ecological succession and regeneration of the vegetation. Conservation is inevitable towards maintaining and protection of species diversity, ecosystem roles and services of these forests in Nigeria.
Delineating seagrass species in the genera Halodule and Halophila from Tanzanian coastal waters using ITS and rbcL DNA barcoding
Authors: Lusana James Leonard , Robert Lugendo Blandina
Published: January 2023

The seagrass species in Halodule and Halophila may for several reasons be considered as taxonomic complexes. They show close evolutionary relationships, morphological plasticity and share similar features making misidentiﬁcations likely when morphological identification is applied. In Tanzanian coastal waters, there is some uncertainty about the identity of members of Halodule, particularly the existence of Halodule wrightii and the species composition of the Halophila ovalis complex. This study used morphology as well as internal transcribed spacer (ITS1 and ITS2) and ribulose‐bisphosphate carboxylase (rbcL) DNA barcoding to identify species of Halodule and Halophila. Seagrass samples were collected during low spring tides, from Tanzania's coastal waters of Tanga, Dar es Salaam, Mtwara, Mafia Island and Unguja Island, from August 2020 to February 2022. Morphological diagnosis, phylogenetic analysis and evolutionary divergences inferred from the ITS gene supported the identification of five species, namely Halophila ovalis, H. minor and H. stipulacea, with the first two forming the H. ovalis complex; as well as Halodule uninervis and H. pinifolia. It is the first time that H. pinifolia is reported in Tanzania. This is the first study reporting the delineation of seagrass species in East African coastal waters using DNA barcoding coupled with morphology.
All's well that ends well: the timing of floral meristem termination
Authors: Min Ya , Kramer Elena M.
Published: January 2023

Floral meristem termination (FMT) represents one of the defining features of a floral meristem relative to a vegetative meristem. Timing of FMT is a major determinant of the total number of organs in a flower, and canalization toward relatively rapid FMT is considered to have been a major force in shaping angiosperm evolution. For decades, investigation of FMT has been focused on model systems that only produce four whorls of organs in a flower, while little is known about the molecular basis that underlies nature variation in the timing of FMT. Here, we hypothesize on how known pathways could have been modified to generate variation in FMT and explain how developing new model systems will help to deepen our understanding of the genetic control and evolution of FMT.
Artificial nanovesicles for dsRNA delivery in spray‐induced gene silencing for crop protection
Authors: Qiao Lulu , Niño‐Sánchez Jonatan , Hamby Rachael , Capriotti Luca , Chen Angela , Mezzetti Bruno , Jin Hailing
Published: January 2023

Spray‐induced gene silencing (SIGS) is an innovative and eco‐friendly technology where topical application of pathogen gene‐targeting RNAs to plant material can enable disease control. SIGS applications remain limited because of the instability of RNA, which can be rapidly degraded when exposed to various environmental conditions. Inspired by the natural mechanism of cross‐kingdom RNAi through extracellular vesicle trafficking, we describe herein the use of artificial nanovesicles (AVs) for RNA encapsulation and control against the fungal pathogen, Botrytis cinerea. AVs were synthesized using three different cationic lipid formulations, DOTAP + PEG, DOTAP and DODMA, and examined for their ability to protect and deliver double stranded RNA (dsRNA). All three formulations enabled dsRNA delivery and uptake by B. cinerea. Further, encapsulating dsRNA in AVs provided strong protection from nuclease degradation and from removal by leaf washing. This improved stability led to prolonged RNAi‐mediated protection against B. cinerea both on pre‐ and post‐harvest plant material using AVs. Specifically, the AVs extended the protection duration conferred by dsRNA to 10 days on tomato and grape fruits and to 21 days on grape leaves. The results of this work demonstrate how AVs can be used as a new nanocarrier to overcome RNA instability in SIGS for crop protection.
Impact of floating row cover and sensor placement on strawberry anthracnose and Botrytis fruit rot risk assessment
Authors: Cosseboom Scott D. , Schoeneberg Anita , Lea‐Cox John D. , Samtani Jayesh , Johnson Charles S. , Hu Mengjun
Published: January 2023

During the 2019–2020 and 2020–2021 growing seasons, six trials at four sites in Maryland and Virginia, USA were conducted, with leaf wetness and temperature sensors placed at 2 m height at the edge of the field (elevated sensor placement) or at the canopy level (0.5 m) on strawberry beds (canopy sensor placement). Temperature and leaf wetness duration (LWD) data from these sensors were used as input for anthracnose fruit rot (AFR) and Botrytis fruit rot (BFR) infection risk models, and fungicide spray trials were conducted to evaluate the ability of these predictions to control AFR and BFR. On average, the canopy level sensors reported significantly (p < 0.05) longer LWD and higher temperature than elevated sensors during the fruit ripening period. The AFR and BFR risk calculated from the canopy sensors was also significantly higher than that from the elevated sensors. Fungicide spray programmes based on data from either canopy or elevated sensors resulted in fewer applications than weekly spray programmes, but the increased estimated risk based upon conditions within the canopy led to more applications than the elevated sensor treatment in four trials. In one trial with considerable incidence of BFR, plots that were sprayed based on the canopy sensor data controlled BFR significantly better than the elevated sensor spray programme. Springtime temperature, LWD, AFR risk and BFR risk were largely unaffected by autumn row cover deployment. The difference in temperature, LWD and AFR and BFR risk based on sensor placement warrants careful consideration of sensor placement when implementing a disease warning spray programme.
Structural validity and internal consistency of the Strengths and Stressors in Parenting (SSF) Questionnaire in parents of children with developmental disabilities
Authors: Ivarsson Magnus , Danielsson Henrik , Andersson Anna Karin , Gothilander Jennifer , Granlund Mats
Published: January 2023

The current study investigated the structural validity and internal consistency of the Strengths and Stressors (SSF) questionnaire. The SSF is used in Swedish habilitation services to measure the positive and negative consequences that the fostering of a child with a developmental disability can have on family functioning in six domains: parent's feelings and attitudes, social life, family finances, relationship to the other parent, siblings, and professional support. The proposed six‐factor model was tested with confirmatory factor analysis with data collected from 291 parents of children with developmental disabilities. The six‐factor model had an acceptable fit according to most fit indices, but two items were non‐significant. Overall, the internal consistency was acceptable or good. The SSF, with the proposed six‐factor solution, can be a useful tool when assessing parental perspectives on the impacts of having a child with a developmental disability in clinical settings and research.
Mental fatigue changes from regular season to play‐offs in semiprofessional soccer: A comparison by training days
Authors: Díaz‐García Jesús , Filipas Luca , La Torre Antonio , Gómez‐Rivera Jorge , Rubio‐Morales Ana , García‐Calvo Tomás
Published: January 2023

The main purpose was to compare by each training the mental load and fatigue reported by semiprofessional soccer players comparing between regular season phase and the play‐offs. Fifty‐three players (Mage = 24.59 years) for two teams participated during the 2020/21 season. Mental load was measured with a Likert questionnaire. Mental fatigue was quantified with a Visual Analogue Scale. Four trainings were recorded each week (Monday = MD+1, Wednesday = MD‐4, Thursday = MD‐3 and Saturday = MD‐1), with a competitive match on Sunday across 10 weeks (five dates of regular season – five dates of play‐offs). A Linear Mixed Model was performed with R‐studio, using the training days and the competitive phase as independent variables. The influence of time played as co‐variable was also checked. Results showed MD+1 as the more mentally fatiguing day in both phases, although MD‐4 were the training with higher mental load reported (p = 0.001). Comparing phases, mental fatigue was significantly higher during the play‐offs (p = 0.037). With regard time played, players that did not usually play showed a decrease in mental load during the play‐offs. Then, we recommend coaches to use recovery strategies for mental fatigue, avoid mentally fatiguing tasks close to competition and considerer the time played as a factor which may contribute to individual differences in player mental fatigue.
Role of cytomegalovirus specific cell‐mediated immunity in the monitoring of cytomegalovirus infection among living donor liver transplantation adult recipients: A single‐center experience
Authors: Bhugra Arjun , Khodare Arvind , Agarwal Reshu , Pamecha Viniyendra , Gupta Ekta
Published: January 2023

Background

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is one of the most common post‐transplant viral infections causing significant morbidity and occasional mortality. Limited literature on the potential role of pre‐transplant CMV‐specific cell‐mediated immunity (CMV‐CMI) is available. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical utility of pre‐transplant CMV‐CMI monitoring in the occurrence of post‐transplant CMV infection.

Methods

This was a prospective, observational study where all adult CMV seropositive patients undergoing living donor liver transplantation at a tertiary care institute were enrolled. CMV‐CMI was measured using QuantiFERON‐CMV (Qiagen GmbH, Hilden, Germany) and interpreted as positive if the value was ≥0.2 IU/ml, 1–2 days prior to the transplant. Based on pre‐transplant CMV‐CMI, cases were classified into Group 1 (n = 13, 43.3%) (positive) and Group 2 (n = 17, 56.7%) (negative). CMV infection was defined as the detection of CMV‐DNA > 2.7 log10 IU/ml in plasma specimens.

Results

The mean age was 43 years with male (n = 29, 96.9%) predominance. Overall 40% of recipients developed post‐transplant CMV infection, two (15.4%) in group 1 and 10 (58.8%) in group 2 (p‐value = 0.016). Recipients in group 2 had 87% higher odds (odds ratio 0.13, confidence interval [CI] 95) of developing post‐transplant CMV infection compared to group 1. The overall median duration of occurrence of post‐transplant CMV infection was 26 days with the median viral load being 2.8 log10 IU/ml. The treatment duration was 13 days in group 1 and 28 days in group 2 (p = 0.003). Group 1 recipients showed rapid clearance of CMV‐DNA within 7 days compared to group 2 in which it was 21 days (p = 0.004, CI 95).

Conclusion

Pre‐transplant CMV‐CMI may play a protective role against post‐transplant CMV infection and can serve as an adjunct for pre‐transplant risk stratification.

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The Arabidopsis D27‐LIKE1 is a cis/cis/trans‐β‐carotene isomerase that contributes to Strigolactone biosynthesis and negatively impacts ABA level
Authors: Yang Yu , Abuauf Haneen , Song Shanshan , Wang Jian You , Alagoz Yagiz , Moreno Juan C. , Mi Jianing , Ablazov Abdugaffor , Jamil Muhammad , Ali Shawkat , Zheng Xiongjie , Balakrishna Aparna , Blilou Ikram , Al‐Babili Salim
Published: January 2023

The enzyme DWARF27 (D27) catalyzes the reversible isomerization of all‐trans‐ into 9‐cis‐β‐carotene, initiating strigolactone (SL) biosynthesis. Genomes of higher plants encode two D27‐homologs, D27‐like1 and ‐like2, with unknown functions. Here, we investigated the enzymatic activity and biological function of the Arabidopsis D27‐like1. In vitro enzymatic assays and expression in Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 revealed an unreported 13‐cis/15‐cis/9‐cis‐ and a 9‐cis/all‐trans‐β‐carotene isomerization. Although disruption of AtD27‐like1 did not cause SL deficiency phenotypes, overexpression of AtD27‐like1 in the d27 mutant restored the more‐branching phenotype, indicating a contribution of AtD27‐like1 to SL biosynthesis. Accordingly, generated d27 d27like1 double mutants showed a more pronounced branching phenotype compared to d27. The contribution of AtD27‐like1 to SL biosynthesis is likely a result of its formation of 9‐cis‐β‐carotene that was present at higher levels in AtD27‐like1 overexpressing lines. By contrast, AtD27‐like1 expression correlated negatively with the content of 9‐cis‐violaxanthin, a precursor of ABA, in shoots. Consistently, ABA levels were higher in shoots and also in dry seeds of the d27like1 and d27 d27like1 mutants. Transgenic lines expressing GUS driven by the AtD27LIKE1 promoter and transcript analysis of hormone‐treated Arabidopsis seedlings revealed that AtD27LIKE1 is expressed in different tissues and affects ABA and auxin. Taken together, our work reports a cis/cis‐β‐carotene isomerase that affects the content of both cis‐carotenoid‐derived plant hormones, ABA and SLs.