bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synergistic and antagonistic effects of land use and non‐native species on community responses to climate change
Authors: Auffret Alistair G. , Thomas Chris D.
Published: August 2019

Climate change, land‐use change and introductions of non‐native species are key determinants of biodiversity change worldwide. However, the extent to which anthropogenic drivers of environmental change interact to affect biological communities is largely unknown, especially over longer time periods. Here, we show that plant community composition in 996 Swedish landscapes has consistently shifted to reflect the warmer and wetter climate that the region has experienced during the second half of the 20th century. Using community climatic indices, which reflect the average climatic associations of the species within each landscape at each time period, we found that species compositions in 74% of landscapes now have a higher representation of warm‐associated species than they did previously, while 84% of landscapes now host more species associated with higher levels of precipitation. In addition to a warmer and wetter climate, there have also been large shifts in land use across the region, while the fraction of non‐native species has increased in the majority of landscapes. Climatic warming at the landscape level appeared to favour the colonization of warm‐associated species, while also potentially driving losses in cool‐associated species. However, the resulting increases in community thermal means were apparently buffered by landscape simplification (reduction in habitat heterogeneity within landscapes) in the form of increased forest cover. Increases in non‐native species, which generally originate from warmer climates than Sweden, were a strong driver of community‐level warming. In terms of precipitation, both landscape simplification and increases in non‐natives appeared to favour species associated with drier climatic conditions, to some extent counteracting the climate‐driven shift towards wetter communities. Anthropogenic drivers can act both synergistically and antagonistically to determine trajectories of change in biological communities over time. Therefore, it is important to consider multiple drivers of global change when trying to understand, manage and predict biodiversity in the future.
Interaction effects between the agglomerative externalities affecting the survival of small startups
Authors: Yi Changhyo , Nam Jin
Published: August 2019

The purpose of this study is to identify the relationship between the survival of firms and the influence of agglomeration economies on firm location using a mixed effect Cox model considering random effects, given the industrial conditions of South Korea. Each agglomerative externality had a negative effect on the survival proportion of small startups except the related variety of the tertiary sector. However, the interaction effects between each externality and the location potential and among agglomerative externalities mostly played a complementary role to the survivability of startups; however certain effects reduced the survivability, and the effects were differentiated for each industrial sector. This study provides an advanced understanding of small firm performance after entry into the market in developing and developed nations.
Characteristics of a XIP‐resistant xylanase from Neocallimastix sp. GMLF1 and its advantage in barley malt saccharification
Authors: Zhu Dongdong , Liu Xinyu , Xie Xia , Yang Sen , Lin Hui , Chen Hongge
Published: August 2019

The well‐studied xylanase inhibitor protein (XIP‐I) regularly inhibits fungi‐derived xylanases, yet some fungal xylanases are not inhibited by XIP‐I. Based on the sequence alignment with the known XIP‐I resistant NpXyn11A from Neocallimastix patriciarum, a new annotated xylanase from ruminal fungus Neocallimastix sp. GMLF1 was found, noted as Xyn1B, which shared 77.8% of sequence identity with NpXyn11A and was proved to be resistant to XIP‐I. To evaluate the performance of a XIP resistant xylanase used in barley malt saccharification, a XIP‐I sensitive xylanase ThXyn1 from Trichoderma harzianum was chosen as a control. The barley malt saccharification experiment was carried out on the condition with or without extra XIP‐I added. The results showed that Xyn1B displayed only slight difference in presence and absence of added XIP‐I, with the difference of xylose released (ΔX) and the difference of mash clarity (ΔA) being 0.17 g L−1 (P > 0.05) and 0.007 (P > 0.05), respectively; while those for ThXyn1 group reached 0.96 g L−1 (P < 0.01) and 0.095 (P < 0.05), indicating that XIP‐I did not adversely affect Xyn1B's function, but did affect ThXyn1's function. Our work for the first time suggested that a xylanase with resistance to xylanase inhibitor proteins might have an advantage in barley malt saccharification over an inhibitor sensitive xylanase.
Immune evasion by Salmonella: exploiting the VPAC1/VIP axis in human monocytes
Authors: Askar Basim , Higgins John , Barrow Paul , Foster Neil
Published: August 2019

Immune evasion is a critical survival mechanism for bacterial colonization of deeper tissues and may lead to life‐threatening conditions such as endotoxaemia and sepsis. Understanding these immune evasion pathways would be an important step for the development of novel anti‐microbial therapeutics. Here, we report a hitherto unknown mechanism by which Salmonella exploits an anti‐inflammatory pathway in human immune cells to obtain survival advantage. We show that Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium strain 4/74 significantly (P < 0·05) increased expression of mRNA and surface protein of the type 1 receptor (VPAC1) for anti‐inflammatory vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in human monocytes. However, we also show that S. Typhimurium induced retrograde recycling of VPAC1 from early endosomes to Rab11a‐containing sorting endosomes, associated with the Golgi apparatus, and anterograde trafficking via Rab3a and calmodulin 1. Expression of Rab3a and calmodulin 1 were significantly increased by S. Typhimurium infection and W‐7 (calmodulin antagonist) decreased VPAC1 expression on the cell membrane while CALP‐1 (calmodulin agonist) increased VPAC1 expression (P < 0·05). When infected monocytes were co‐cultured with VIP, a significantly higher number of S. Typhimurium were recovered from these monocytes, compared with S. Typhimurium recovered from monocytes cultured only in cell media. We conclude that S. Typhimurium infection exploits host VPAC1/VIP to gain survival advantage in human monocytes.
Too powerless to speak up: Effects of social rejection on sense of power and employee voice
Authors: Kim Tae Hyun , Lee Su Sang , Oh Junho , Lee Sujin
Published: August 2019

Enabling and amplifying the voice of employees creates opportunities for organizational improvement. Prior research has shown that employees' sense of power has impact on their voice behavior. As such, when would employees feel too powerless to speak up in the workplace? The current study investigates the indirect effect of social rejection (via sense of power) on employee voice. We use conservation of resources theory to explain this relationship. Experimental data from two studies demonstrate that participants reminded of social rejection (vs. acceptance) exhibit a lower sense of power. Specifically, we observe that social rejection diminishes a person's sense of power, and that social acceptance does not enhance this sense. That is, social rejection has an indirect effect on employee voice through sense of power. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of our findings with regard to social rejection, sense of power, and workplace voice behavior.
Predicted effects of climate factors on mountain species are not uniform over different spatial scales
Authors: Brambilla Mattia , Gustin Marco , Cento Michele , Ilahiane Luca , Celada Claudio
Published: August 2019

The selection of relevant factors and appropriate spatial scale(s) is fundamental when modelling species response to climate change. We evaluated whether the effects of climate factors on species distribution/occurrence are consistently modelled over different spatial scales in birds, and used a two‐scale approach to identify species–climate correlations unlikely to represent causal effects.

We used passerine birds inhabiting mountain grassland in the Apennines (Italy) as a model. We surveyed four grassland species at 400 sampling points, and built habitat selection models (territory scale) and distribution models (seven algorithms, landscape scale). We compared the effect of climatic predictors on occurrence/distribution highlighted by models over the two spatial scales, and with the effects supposed a priori based on the climatic niche of each species.

Models at the territory level included at least one climatic predictor for three species; the observed effect of climatic predictors was seldom consistent with supposed effects. At the broadest scale, distribution models for all species included climatic predictors, with varying consistence with supposed effects and findings at the finer scale.

Despite the importance of climate for species distribution, occurrence could be more directly related to other factors, with important implications for understanding/predicting the impacts of climate/environmental changes. Our approach revealed key variables for grassland birds, and highlighted the scale‐dependent perceived importance of climate. At the local scale, climate effects were weak or hard to interpret. We found a general lack of consistence between supposed and observed effects at the territory level, and between landscape and territory models. Our results show the importance of predicting the potential effect of climatic factors prior to the analyses, carefully selecting ecologically meaningful variables and scales, and evaluating the nature and scale of climate–species links. We call for caution when predicting under future climates, especially when mechanistic effects and consistency across scales are lacking.
Functionality of chestnut and fat/oil contents in cocoa chestnut cream production—A new product development
Authors: Aydemir Oğuz , Atalar İlyas
Published: August 2019

The textural, rheological, and sensory characteristics of cocoa chestnut cream containing different fat/oil and chestnut ratios were examined within present research. Two different chestnut (7.5 and 10%) and fat/oil ratios (25.75 and 28.25%) were used in laboratory scale model manufacturing. As the rate of chestnut increased, accelerated oil separation and yield stress values increased, conversely stickiness, apparent viscosity, plastic viscosity, consistency index values, and body‐texture score decreased. As the fat/oil content increased, it was observed that oil separation value and body‐texture score increased, while spreadability, stickiness, apparent viscosity and plastic viscosity, and consistency index values decreased. It was found that there was no significant effect of fat/oil content on flow behavior, flavor–aroma, and color–appearance. The chestnut content had no significant effect on technological parameters measured. It is concluded that the most preferred chestnut cream has 10% chestnut and 28.25% oil/fat content.

Practical Applications

This study showed the effects of different fat/oil and chestnut contents on technological characteristics of cocoa chestnut cream as a new product. The development of cocoa chestnut cream would increase utilization of chestnut as a food, offer an alternative food product to consumer, and provide economic contribution to the chestnut grower. Moreover, this new product will be an alternative food for the customers that suffers from hazelnut/peanut allergy and celiac disease.
What Matters? The Valued Life Activities of Older Adults Undergoing Elective Surgery
Authors: Kata Anna , Dutt Meghan , Sudore Rebecca L. , Finlayson Emily , Broering Jeanette M. , Tang Victoria L.
Published: August 2019

OBJECTIVES

Valued life activities are those activities an individual deems particularly important or meaningful. Surgery in older adults can affect their ability to perform valued activities, but data are lacking. We characterized these activities and assessed performance of them following surgery.

DESIGN

Retrospective observational study.

SETTING

Preoperative program for older adults undergoing elective surgery at an academic hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

Older adults (N = 194) in the program from February 2015 to February 2018.

MEASUREMENTS

A preoperative written questionnaire asked, “What are the activities that are most important to you to be able to do when you return home from surgery?” Participants could list up to three activities. Content analysis was used to develop domains of valued life activities and categorize responses. Postoperative questionnaires and medical records were used to determine ability to perform activities 6 months after surgery.

RESULTS

Of 194 participants (mean age = 74.9 ± 9.1 y), 57.7% were female; 33.5% had more than two comorbid conditions. We elicited 510 valued activities, with a mean of 2.6 (± .7) activities per participant. Content analysis revealed five categories: (1) recreational activities (28.9%); (2) mobility (24.9%); (3) activities of daily living (ADLs; 17.5%); (4) instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs; 16.9%); and (5) social activities (12.0%). Ultimately, 154 participants had surgery, of which 27.3% were unable to perform one of their valued activities at 6 months. Performance varied between activity categories; 91.9% of mobility activities, 90.8% of ADLs, 80.3% of IADLs, 77.3% of social activities, and 65.5% of recreational activities were able to be performed after surgery.

CONCLUSION

Older adults expressed a wide range of valued life activities. More than one‐quarter were unable to engage in at least one valued life activity after surgery, with recreation the most commonly affected. Assessment of valued life activities should be incorporated into the perioperative management of older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:2305–2310, 2019
Maternity Care for Pregnant Women with Opioid Use Disorder: A Review
Authors: Rizk Abigail H. , Simonsen Sara E. , Roberts Leissa , Taylor‐Swanson Lisa , Lemoine Jennifer Berkowicz , Smid Marcela
Published: August 2019

Opioid misuse is a problem that is complex and widespread. Opioid misuse rates are rising across all US demographics, including among pregnant women. The opioid epidemic brings a unique set of challenges for maternity health care providers, ranging from ethical considerations to the complex health needs and risks for both woman and fetus. This article addresses care for pregnant women during the antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum periods through the lens of the opioid epidemic, including screening and counseling, an interprofessional approach to prenatal care, legal considerations, and considerations for care during labor and birth and postpartum. Providers can be trained to identify at‐risk women through the evidence‐based process of Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) and connect them with the appropriate care to optimize outcomes. Women at moderate risk of opioid use disorder can be engaged in a brief conversation with their provider to discuss risks and enhance motivation for healthy behaviors.  Women with risky opioid use can be given a warm referral to pharmacologic treatment programs, ideally comprehensive prenatal treatment programs where available (a warm referral is a term used when a provider, with the patient's permission, contacts another provider or another service him or herself rather than providing a phone number and referral number). Evidence regarding care for the pregnant woman with opioid use disorder and practical clinical recommendations are provided.
The Dynamics of Embedded Rules: How Do Rule Networks Affect Knowledge Uptake of Rules in Healthcare?
Authors: Zhu Kejia , Schulz Martin
Published: August 2019

Rules – in organizations and elsewhere – often become connected to other rules pertinent to similar or related action, and often they form rule networks that structure entire organizations and jurisdictions. Although rule networks are a common phenomenon, their effects on rule change have found little attention so far. How do rules change when they become embedded in rule networks? We build on prior conceptions of performance programs, organizational learning, and organizational knowledge to explore how rule network characteristics affect different types of knowledge uptake revisions of rules. Our analysis is quantitative and longitudinal and draws on archival data of clinical practice guidelines in a Canadian regional healthcare organization. Our findings indicate that the inbound networks of guidelines significantly affect their revisions. Our study suggests that rule networks shape the speed and direction of knowledge uptake of rules. Rules are dynamic, and their elaboration is path dependent and network dependent.
Impacts of platelet‐rich fibrin and platelet‐rich plasma on primary osteoblast adhesion onto titanium implants in a bisphosphonate in vitro model
Authors: Steller Daniel , Herbst Nele , Pries Ralph , Juhl David , Klinger Matthias , Hakim Samer G.
Published: August 2019

Background

Osteoblast adhesion is a crucial step in osseointegration of dental implants and can be influenced by modification of implant surface or the addition of bioactive agents. Bisphosphonates affect bone turnover, attenuating bone healing in implants patients. PRP and PRF are sources of growth factors involved in osteoblast adhesion, improving subsequent bone healing. The aim of the study was to investigate the impacts of PRP and PRF on adhesion of bisphosphonate‐pretreated osteoblasts on titanium implant surfaces using the cell‐count wash assay, the MTT‐assay as well as real‐time‐cell analyser assay and scanning electronic microscopy.

Methods

Titanium implants were colonised for 24 hours with osteoblasts and zolendronic acid, PRP or PRF in different combinations. Afterwards, primary osteoblast adhesion was evaluated by counting the number of attached cells using a wash‐assay cell analysis. Scanning electronic microscopy was performed and evaluated semi‐quantitatively to assess the influence of the different groups on the ultrastructural cell morphology, such as cell size and shape as well as length and number of filopodia.

Results

Zoledronic acid led to a decrease of osteoblast adherence onto implant surface. This effect was reversed by adding PRP or PRF. Scanning electronic microscopy showed that both PRP and PRF increased number and length of filopodia in adherent osteoblasts.

Conclusions

Zoledronic acid decreased osteoblast adhesion on implant surfaces, and PRF as well as PRP increased primary adhesion of zoledronic acid‐treated osteoblasts on implant surfaces in vitro. Therefore, PRP and PRF may improve initial bone apposition and primary healing of dental implants in patients with bisphosphonate treatment.
Melanothamnus maniticola sp. nov. (Ceramiales, Rhodophyta): an epizoic species evolved for living on the West Indian Manatee
Authors: Woodworth Karen A. , Frankovich Thomas A. , Freshwater David W.
Published: August 2019

Over 35 macroalgae have been documented growing epizoically on sea turtles, and macroalgae are also known to grow on the West Indian Manatee, but the number and identity of these latter species have not been determined. Analysis of DNA sequences of 12 samples collected from different manatees captured in three areas of Florida indicated that they represented a single undescribed species within the Rhodomelaceae genus Melanothamnus. Morphological analysis revealed Melanothamnus characteristics but also a previously undescribed combination of character states. These include eight to nine, but as many as 11, pericentral cells; heavy cortication restricted to the base of thalli, and a sharp transition between the corticated and ecorticate sections of the thallus; cells surrounding the ostiole being similar in size to the outer pericarp cells immediately below, and robust rhizoids that have no terminal lobes and develop from central axial cell filaments instead of pericentral cells. The unique characteristics of the rhizoids may be evolutionary adaptations for anchoring the thalli to manatee epidermis. This species is described as M. maniticola sp. nov.
Obesity and periodontitis are not associated in pregnant women
Authors: Gomes‐Filho Isaac S. , Batista Josicélia Estrela Tuy , Trindade Soraya Castro , Passos‐Soares Johelle de Santana , Cerqueira Eneida de Moraes Marcílio , Costa Teresinha Silveira da , Figueiredo Ana Claudia Morais Godoy , Costa Maria da Conceição Nascimento , Adan Luis Fernando Fernandes , Orrico Gessica Santana , Porto Edla Carvalho Lima , Pimenta Rodolfo Macedo Cruz , Scannapieco Frank A. , Loomer Peter Michael , Cruz Simone Seixas da
Published: August 2019

Objective

The objective of this study was to investigate an association between obesity (exposure) and periodontitis (outcome) in pregnant women.

Background

This association was investigated and only five studies were identified as showing a positive association. However, some of these studies had limitations such as reduced sample sizes, inadequate exposure criteria and outcome measures, which question the internal validity of these investigations.

Methods

A cross‐sectional study was carried out with a sample of 644 pregnant women of the public health service of the municipality of Santo Antônio de Jesus, Bahia, Brazil. Data were obtained by collecting of socioeconomic‐demographic information, health behavior, health conditions, and reproductive history through an interview. Obesity was evaluated using body mass index adjusted for gestational age and expected weight gain. The diagnosis of periodontitis followed two criteria: (a) Center for Disease Prevention and Control and American Academy of Periodontology (CDC/AAP); (b) Gomes‐Filho et al (2018) using criterion that also evaluated bleeding upon probing; Prevalence ratios and respective 95% confidence intervals were obtained by Poisson regression analysis.

Results

In accordance with the outcome diagnostic criterion, the frequency of periodontitis was 17.24% (Gomes‐Filho et al) and 66.92% (CDC/AAP). The participants were classified as low weight (19.72%), adequate weight (42.39%), overweight (24.84%), and obesity (13.04%), based on the exposure diagnostic criterion. The low weight and overweight groups were excluded from the data analysis, giving a final sample of 357 pregnant women. The association between obesity in pregnant women and periodontitis was not statistically significant, after adjusting for confounders such as age, schooling level, alcoholic beverage consumption, alimentary and nutritional orientation, urinary infection, and dental flossing.

Conclusions

The findings showed a high frequency of periodontitis, obesity, and overweight in the studied population but no association between obesity and periodontitis in pregnant women was found.
Dietary spectrum in Himalayan wolves: comparative analysis of prey choice in conspecifics across high‐elevation rangelands of Asia
Authors: Balajeid Lyngdoh S. , Habib B. , Shrotriya S.
Published: August 2019

The Himalayan wolf is one of the most basal among wolf lineages in the world today. It inhabits mostly the high elevations, northwards from the Himalayas (1500–5000 m) in the Asian region. We conducted a meta‐analysis to understand the dietary habits of Himalayan wolves and wolves of the high rangelands of Asia from seven countries (n = 22). We found 39 different prey items reported across the distribution of the Himalayan wolf from a total of 2331 scats (average of 105.95 ± 20.10 scats per study). Comparison of the relative frequency of occurrence of different prey species shows that domestic prey consumption (48.21 ± 5.61%) across the zones or continent was similar to wild prey consumption (42.94 ± 5.25%). Small wild prey species constituted approximately (24.53 ± 3.77%) of the total wolf diet. Wolves of the Asian Highlands consumed relatively more large prey (40.01 ± 5.42%) than small prey (25.19 ± 3.85%) or medium‐sized prey (23.17 ± 3.78%). Wolves consumed a larger proportion of domestic (54.92 ± 5.94%) than wild prey (36.13 ± 6.12%) in areas that had regular livestock grazing and vice versa. East, west and central Himalayan and Central Asian wolves consumed mostly large wild and domestic prey. On the contrary, wolves in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau, Inner Mongolia and the Karakoram consumed a relatively higher proportion of smaller‐sized prey and livestock. Overall, wolves utilized mostly domestic livestock and marmots (Ivlev’s index, 0.22–0.77). High localized utilization of Przewalski’s horse (Equus ferus przewalkskii, 0.94) was recorded, whereas Goral (N. goral) and Pika (Ochotona spp) were particularly underutilized (−0.99 and −0.92) in wolf diet. A landscape or trans‐boundary approach is advocated to restore natural large wild prey, for such a relic lineage species and reduce human‐wolf conflicts.
Ecology and natural history of swimming pitcher mites (Creutzeria spp., Histiostomatidae) from the traps of Nepenthes pitcher plants
Authors: Lam W. N. , Ling J. , Lum T. Q. H. , Tan H. T. W.
Published: August 2019

Pitcher plants of the genus Nepenthes trap and digest invertebrate prey to supplement their nutrient requirements using fluid‐containing, modified leaves known as ‘pitchers’. Pitchers are habitats to many aquatic metazoan and microbial species known as ‘inquilines’. Mites (Histiostomatidae) are a common but poorly studied inquiline taxon – little is known of their life cycles and their interactions with other inquiline taxa. The objectives of this study were to (1) investigate interspecific interactions between inquiline Creutzeria mites, microbes and Endonepenthia schuitemakeri (Diptera: Phoridae) (2) quantify the net nutritional benefit of Creutzeria mites and other inquilines on Nepenthes gracilis nitrogen sequestration and (3) determine if E. schuitemakeri can act as dispersal agents for Creutzeria mites. In the first part of the study, Creutzeria mites were reared in vitro under simulated pitcher conditions for varying lengths of time. Their populations were found to increase exponentially with time, peaking 24.2 days into the experiment and decreasing thereafter. In the second experiment, in vitro experiments were established with different combinations of E. schuitemakeri larvae, ant prey biomass, ant prey species and Creutzeria mite addition. Mite population, fluid microbe density and total pitcher‐available nitrogen were measured at the end of 24 days as determined in the first part of the study. Confirmatory path analyses suggested that Creutzeria mites competed with microbes for prey resources (negative effect of microbe density on mite population) were not facilitated by E. schuitemakeri (no effect of E. schuitemakeri on mite population) and had a neutral to negative effect on pitcher nutrient sequestration (weak negative effect of mite population on pitcher‐available nitrogen). However, Creutzeria deutonymphs could not be found on any of the E. schuitemakeri adults emerged during the experiments, suggesting these utilize other inquiline species as dispersal agents, or require environmental/stress trigger factors to form deutonymphs.
Early alpha‐foetoprotein response associated with treatment efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Shao Yu‐Yun , Liu Tsung‐Hao , Hsu Chiun , Lu Li‐Chun , Shen Yin‐Chung , Lin Zhong‐Zhe , Cheng Ann‐Lii , Hsu Chih‐Hung
Published: August 2019

Background

Post‐treatment decline in serum alpha‐foetoprotein (AFP) levels has been shown to predict the treatment efficacy of antiangiogenic therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We explored whether a decline in AFP levels was also associated with treatment outcomes of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in patients with advanced HCC.

Methods

We reviewed all patients who received ICI therapy for advanced HCC. AFP response was evaluated in patients with the pretreatment AFP level of >20 ng/mL. We defined early AFP response as a >20% decline in serum AFP levels within the first 4 weeks of treatment initiation relative to pretreatment levels. We then studied whether early AFP response was associated with treatment outcomes.

Results

Sixty patients were enrolled in this study; 43 of them were evaluable for early AFP response. The objective response rate of early AFP responders was significantly higher than that of early AFP nonresponders (73% vs. 14%,P < .001). Early AFP responders, compared with early AFP nonresponders, exhibited significantly longer overall survival (OS) (median, 28.0 vs 11.2 months,P = .048) and progression‐free survival (PFS) (median, 15.2 vs 2.7 months,P = .002). After adjusting for other clinicopathological variables and treatments, early AFP response remained an independent predictor for longer OS (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.089, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.018‐0.441;P = .003) and PFS (HR = 0.128, 95% CI = 0.041‐0.399;P < .001).

Conclusion

Early AFP response was associated with higher treatment efficacy of ICIs for advanced HCC. Additional validation studies are nonetheless warranted.
Acidic pH promotes lipopolysaccharide modification and alters colonization in a bacteria–animal mutualism
Authors: Schwartzman Julia A. , Lynch Jonathan B. , Flores Ramos Stephany , Zhou Lawrence , Apicella Michael A. , Yew Joanne Y. , Ruby Edward G.
Published: August 2019

Environmental pH can be an important cue for symbiotic bacteria as they colonize their eukaryotic hosts. Using the model mutualism between the marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri and the Hawaiian bobtail squid, we characterized the bacterial transcriptional response to acidic pH experienced during the shift from planktonic to host‐associated lifestyles. We found several genes involved in outer membrane structure were differentially expressed based on pH, indicating alterations in membrane physiology as V. fischeri initiates its symbiotic program. Exposure to host‐like pH increased the resistance of V. fischeri to the cationic antimicrobial peptide polymixin B, which resembles antibacterial molecules that are produced by the squid to select V. fischeri from the ocean microbiota. Using a forward genetic screen, we identified a homolog of eptA, a predicted phosphoethanolamine transferase, as critical for antimicrobial defense. We used MALDI‐MS to verify eptA as an ethanolamine transferase for the lipid‐A portion of V. fischeri lipopolysaccharide. We then used a DNA pulldown approach to discover that eptA transcription is activated by the global regulator H‐NS. Finally, we revealed that eptA promotes successful squid colonization by V. fischeri, supporting its potential role in initiation of this highly specific symbiosis.
Increase in lysophosphatidate acyltransferase activity in oilseed rape (Brassica napus) increases seed triacylglycerol content despite its low intrinsic flux control coefficient
Authors: Woodfield Helen K. , Fenyk Stepan , Wallington Emma , Bates Ruth E. , Brown Alexander , Guschina Irina A. , Marillia Elizabeth‐France , Taylor David C. , Fell David , Harwood John L. , Fawcett Tony
Published: August 2019

Lysophosphatidate acyltransferase (LPAAT) catalyses the second step of the Kennedy pathway for triacylglycerol (TAG) synthesis. In this study we expressed Trapaeolum majus LPAAT in Brassica napus (B. napus) cv 12075 to evaluate the effects on lipid synthesis and estimate the flux control coefficient for LPAAT.

We estimated the flux control coefficient of LPAAT in a whole plant context by deriving a relationship between it and overall lipid accumulation, given that this process is a exponential.

Increasing LPAAT activity resulted in greater TAG accumulation in seeds of between 25% and 29%; altered fatty acid distributions in seed lipids (particularly those of the Kennedy pathway); and a redistribution of label from 14C‐glycerol between phosphoglycerides.

Greater LPAAT activity in seeds led to an increase in TAG content despite its low intrinsic flux control coefficient on account of the exponential nature of lipid accumulation that amplifies the effect of the small flux increment achieved by increasing its activity. We have also developed a novel application of metabolic control analysis likely to have broad application as it determines the in planta flux control that a single component has upon accumulation of storage products.
Nitrogen–phosphorus interplay: old story with molecular tale
Authors: Hu Bin , Chu Chengcai
Published: August 2019

Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are the two most abundant mineral nutrients used by plants, and are also the mostly widely used fertilizer elements driving crop yield improvement in agricultural production. The coordinated utilization of N and P is essential to maintain optimal plant growth and achieve maximal crop yield. The signaling pathways of N and P are generally studied separately, so our understanding of N–P interactions is very limited. A series of recent studies have revealed the critical components regulating N–P interactions in both Arabidopsis thaliana and rice (Oryza sativa), and have shed light on our in‐depth understanding of the network integrating N and P signaling pathways. Here, we summarize recent progress on N–P interaction and propose possible working mechanisms integrating these N–P interactive regulation pathways. We further discuss future work that might reveal the N–P interactive regulation network in plants.
Retracing the molecular basis and evolutionary history of the loss of benzaldehyde emission in the genus Capsella
Authors: Jantzen Friederike , Lynch Joseph H. , Kappel Christian , Höfflin Jona , Skaliter Oded , Wozniak Natalia , Sicard Adrien , Sas Claudia , Adebesin Funmilayo , Ravid Jasmin , Vainstein Alexander , Hilker Monika , Dudareva Natalia , Lenhard Michael
Published: August 2019

The transition from pollinator‐mediated outbreeding to selfing has occurred many times in angiosperms. This is generally accompanied by a reduction in traits attracting pollinators, including reduced emission of floral scent. In Capsella, emission of benzaldehyde as a main component of floral scent has been lost in selfing C. rubella by mutation of cinnamate‐CoA ligase CNL1. However, the biochemical basis and evolutionary history of this loss remain unknown, as does the reason for the absence of benzaldehyde emission in the independently derived selfer Capsella orientalis.

We used plant transformation, in vitro enzyme assays, population genetics and quantitative genetics to address these questions.

CNL1 has been inactivated twice independently by point mutations in C. rubella, causing a loss of enzymatic activity. Both inactive haplotypes are found within and outside of Greece, the centre of origin of C. rubella, indicating that they arose before its geographical spread. By contrast, the loss of benzaldehyde emission in C. orientalis is not due to an inactivating mutation in CNL1.

CNL1 represents a hotspot for mutations that eliminate benzaldehyde emission, potentially reflecting the limited pleiotropy and large effect of its inactivation. Nevertheless, even closely related species have followed different evolutionary routes in reducing floral scent.
A class B heat shock factor selected for during soybean domestication contributes to salt tolerance by promoting flavonoid biosynthesis
Authors: Bian Xiao‐Hua , Li Wei , Niu Can‐Fang , Wei Wei , Hu Yang , Han Jia‐Qi , Lu Xiang , Tao Jian‐Jun , Jin Meng , Qin Hao , Zhou Bin , Zhang Wan‐Ke , Ma Biao , Wang Guo‐Dong , Yu De‐Yue , Lai Yong‐Cai , Chen Shou‐Yi , Zhang Jin‐Song
Published: August 2019

Soybean (Glycine max) production is severely affected in unfavorable environments. Identification of the regulatory factors conferring stress tolerance would facilitate soybean breeding.

In this study, through coexpression network analysis of salt‐tolerant wild soybeans, together with molecular and genetic approaches, we revealed a previously unidentified function of a class B heat shock factor, HSFB2b, in soybean salt stress response.

We showed that HSFB2b improves salt tolerance through the promotion of flavonoid accumulation by activating one subset of flavonoid biosynthesis‐related genes and by inhibiting the repressor gene GmNAC2 to release another subset of genes in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway. Moreover, four promoter haplotypes of HSFB2b were identified from wild and cultivated soybeans. Promoter haplotype II from salt‐tolerant wild soybean Y20, with high promoter activity under salt stress, is probably selected for during domestication. Another promoter haplotype, III, from salt‐tolerant wild soybean Y55, had the highest promoter activity under salt stress, had a low distribution frequency and may be subjected to the next wave of selection.

Together, our results revealed the mechanism of HSFB2b in soybean salt stress tolerance. Its promoter variations were identified, and the haplotype with high activity may be adopted for breeding better soybean cultivars that are adapted to stress conditions.
The experience of body image concerns in patients with persecutory delusions: ‘People don't want to sit next to me’
Authors: Marshall Emily , Freeman Daniel , Waite Felicity
Published: August 2019

Objective

Persecutory delusions typically build on feelings of inter‐personal vulnerability linked to negative views of the self. Negative body image is an overlooked aspect of this link between the self‐concept and paranoia.

Design

This study explores body image from the first‐person perspective of patients with persecutory delusions.

Method

Semi‐structured interviews, analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis, were conducted with twelve patients with persecutory delusions in the context of psychotic disorders.

Results

Four super‐ordinate themes emerged. First, appearance as a source of threat accounted for how negative body image increased feelings of vulnerability and fed into the content of paranoia and voices (e.g., ‘I feel that everybody is noticing that I'm getting bigger and bigger and laughing at me’). Second, there was the negative impact of uncontrollable and unwanted weight gain, especially following antipsychotic medication (e.g., ‘I ballooned up to 23 stone’). Third, feeling stuck captured the hopelessness and resignation in relation to appearance (e.g., ‘I've become so accustomed to being overweight that I've accepted it as my lot’). Finally, looking well symbolises feeling well represented the importance of appearance in determining mental well‐being (e.g., ‘If I've got clean clothes and I put makeup on, at least I feel that I'm looking after myself’).

Conclusions

Patients with persecutory delusions described appearance‐related concerns making them feel negative towards themselves, inferior to other people, and vulnerable to harm. Appearance‐related distress was broader than weight gain, including dissatisfaction with skin, clothing, and attractiveness. Negative body image may be a contributory factor in the occurrence of paranoia.

Practitioner points

Body image concerns may be of particular relevance in patients with persecutory delusions due to weight gain, inactivity, and medication side effects.

Body image concerns include weight gain and broader aspects of appearance.

Negative body image contributes to feelings of vulnerability, potentially worsening paranoid fears.

It may be helpful for practitioners to explore the psychological impact of weight gain and body image concerns in patients with psychosis.
Causal explanations of depression and treatment credibility in adults with untreated depression: Examining attribution theory
Authors: Zimmermann Martha , Papa Anthony
Published: August 2019

Objectives

Understanding depression as biologically caused has been shown to impact both treatment preferences and prognostic pessimism. Attribution theory has been posited as an explanation for this relationship. Given that evidence‐based psychotherapy is effective yet often not delivered to individuals with depression, the present study sought to determine factors that impact treatment credibility.

Design

Non‐treatment‐seeking, depressed individuals (n = 229) were randomly assigned to read a psychoeducation article about depression that consisted of a biological causal explanation, psychosocial causal explanation, or a non‐causal control.

Methods

Attributional dimensions of locus, stability, and control were examined as mediating the relationship between causal explanation and treatment credibility and prognostic pessimism.

Results

Individuals in the biological condition were more likely to find antidepressant medication a credible treatment for depression. The manipulation had no direct effect on preference for psychotherapy or prognostic pessimism. Attributional dimensions of locus, stability, and control did not mediate the relationship between causal explanation and treatment credibility. To the extent that the psychosocial article increased perceived instability of the depression cause, however, prognostic pessimism was reduced.

Conclusions

The present study has implications for framing education about depression in mental health literacy programs and public awareness campaigns.

Practitioner points

This study found that conceptualizing depression as biologically caused increased the credibility of medication but not psychotherapy

Participants reading a biological explanation of depression demonstrated an increase on some aspects of stigma and prognostic pessimism

Emphasizing the person–environment interaction rather than biological causes decreased the perceived stability of depression which was associated with a decrease in prognostic pessimism
The influence of phylogeny and ecology on root, shoot and plant ionomes of 14 native Brazilian species
Authors: Neugebauer Konrad , El‐Serehy Hamed A. , George Timothy S. , McNicol James W. , Moraes Milton F. , Sorreano Maria C. M. , White Philip J.
Published: August 2019

The ionome is the elemental composition of a living organism, its tissues, cells or cell compartments. The ionomes of roots, stems and leaves of 14 native Brazilian forest species were characterised to examine the relationships between plant and organ ionomes and the phylogenetic and ecological affiliations of species. The null hypothesis that ionomes of Brazilian forest species and their organs do not differ was tested. Concentrations of mineral nutrients in roots, stems and leaves were determined for 14 Brazilian forest species, representing seven angiosperm orders, grown hydroponically in a complete nutrient solution. The 14 species could be differentiated by their ionomes and the partitioning of mineral nutrients between organs. The ionomic differences between the 14 species did not reflect their phylogenetic relationships or successional ecology. Differences between shoot ionomes and root ionomes were greater than differences in the ionome of an organ when compared among genotypes. In conclusion, differences in ionomes of species and their organs reflect a combination of ancient phylogenetic and recent environmental adaptations.
Biofilm as a risk factor in implant treatment
Authors: Daubert Diane M. , Weinstein Bradley F.
Published: August 2019

This article summarizes the microbiological findings at dental implants, drawing distinctions between the peri‐implant microbiome and the periodontal microbiome, and summarizes what is known regarding biofilm as a risk factor for specific stages of implant treatment. Targeted microbial analysis is reviewed as well as the latest results from open‐ended sequencing of the peri‐implant flora. At this time there remains a lack of consensus for a specific microbial profile that is associated with peri‐implantitis, suggesting that there may be other factors which influence the microbiome such as titanium surface dissolution. Therapeutic interventions to address the biofilm are presented at the preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative stages. Evidence supports that perioperative chlorhexidine reduces biofilm‐related implant complications and failure. Regular maintenance for dental implants is also shown to reduce peri‐implant mucositis and implant failure. Maintenance procedures should aim to disrupt the biofilm without damaging the titanium dioxide surface layer in an effort to prevent further oxidation. Evidence supports the use of glycine powder air polishing as a valuable adjunct to conventional therapies for use at implant maintenance visits. For the treatment of peri‐implantitis, nonsurgical therapy has not been shown to be effective, and while surgical intervention is not always predictable, it has been shown to be superior to nonsurgical treatment for decontamination of the implant surface that is not covered by bone.
Arabidopsis histone deacetylase HDA15 directly represses plant response to elevated ambient temperature
Authors: Shen Yuan , Lei Tingting , Cui Xiaoyun , Liu Xiaoyun , Zhou Shaoli , Zheng Yu , Guérard Florence , Issakidis‐Bourguet Emmanuelle , Zhou Dao‐Xiu
Published: August 2019

Elevated ambient temperatures affect plant growth and substantially impact biomass and crop yield. Recent results have indicated that chromatin remodelling is critical in plant thermal responses but how histone modification dynamics affects plant thermal response has not been clearly demonstarted. Here we show that Arabidopsis histone deacetylase genes HDA9, HDA15 and HDA19 play distinct roles in plant response to elevated ambient temperature. hda9 and hda19 mutants showed a warm‐temperature‐insensitive phenotype at 27°C, whereas hda15 plants displayed a constitutive warm‐temperature‐induced phenotype at 20°C and an enhanced thermal response at 27°C. The hda19 mutation led to upregulation of genes mostly related to stress response at both 20 and 27°C. The hda15 mutation resulted in upregulation of many warm temperature‐responsive as well as metabolic genes at 20 and 27°C, while hda9 led to differential expression of a large number of genes at 20°C and impaired induction of warm‐temperature‐responsive genes at 27°C. HDA15 is associated with thermosensory mark genes at 20°C and that the association is decreased after shifting to 27°C, indicating that HDA15 is a direct repressor of plant thermal‐responsive genes at normal temperature. In addition, as hda9, the hda15 mutation also led to upregulation of many metabolic genes and accumulation of primary metabolites. Furthermore, we show that HDA15 interacts with the transcription factor HFR1 (long Hypocotyl in Far Red1) to cooperatively repress warm‐temperature response. Our study demonstrates that the histone deacetylases target to different sets of genes and play distinct roles in plant response to elevated ambient temperature.
Biosynthesis of the anti‐diabetic metabolite montbretin A: glucosylation of the central intermediate mini‐MbA
Authors: Irmisch Sandra , Jancsik Sharon , Yuen Macaire M. S. , Madilao Lufiani L. , Bohlmann Jörg
Published: August 2019

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) affects over 320 million people worldwide. Healthy lifestyles, improved drugs and effective nutraceuticals are different components of a response against the growing T2D epidemic. The specialized metabolite montbretin A (MbA) is being developed for treatment of T2D and obesity due to its unique pharmacological activity as a highly effective and selective inhibitor of the human pancreatic α‐amylase. MbA is an acylated flavonol glycoside found in small amounts in montbretia (Crocosmia × crocosmiiflora) corms. MbA cannot be obtained in sufficient quantities for drug development from its natural source or by chemical synthesis. To overcome these limitations through metabolic engineering, we are investigating the genes and enzymes of MbA biosynthesis. We previously reported the first three steps of MbA biosynthesis from myricetin to myricetin 3‐O‐(6′‐O‐caffeoyl)‐glucosyl rhamnoside (mini‐MbA). Here, we describe the sequence of reactions from mini‐MbA to MbA, and the discovery and characterization of the gene and enzyme responsible for the glucosylation of mini‐MbA. The UDP‐dependent glucosyltransferase CcUGT3 (UGT703E1) catalyzes the 1,2‐glucosylation of mini‐MbA to produce myricetin 3‐O‐(glucosyl‐6′‐O‐caffeoyl)‐glucosyl rhamnoside. Co‐expression of CcUGT3 with genes for myricetin and mini‐MbA biosynthesis in Nicotiana benthamiana validated its biological function and expanded the set of genes available for metabolic engineering of MbA.