bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Decomposing demographic contributions to the effective population size with moose as a case study
Authors: Lee Aline Magdalena , Myhre Ane Marlene , Markussen Stine Svalheim , Engen Steinar , Solberg Erling Johan , Haanes Hallvard , Røed Knut , Herfindal Ivar , Heim Morten , Sæther Bernt‐Erik 
Published: November 2019

AbstractLevels of random genetic drift are influenced by demographic factors, such as mating system, sex ratio and age structure. The effective population size (Ne) is a useful measure for quantifying genetic drift. Evaluating relative contributions of different demographic factors to Ne is therefore important to identify what makes a population vulnerable to loss of genetic variation. Until recently, models for estimating Ne have required many simplifying assumptions, making them unsuitable for this task. Here, using data from a small, harvested moose population, we demonstrate the use of a stochastic demographic framework allowing for fluctuations in both population size and age distribution to estimate and decompose the total demographic variance and hence the ratio of effective to total population size (Ne/N) into components originating from sex, age, survival and reproduction. We not only show which components contribute most to Ne/N currently, but also which components have the greatest potential for changing Ne/N. In this relatively long‐lived polygynous system we show that Ne/N is most sensitive to the demographic variance of older males, and that both reproductive autocorrelations (i.e., a tendency for the same individuals to be successful several years in a row) and covariance between survival and reproduction contribute to decreasing Ne/N (increasing genetic drift). These conditions are common in nature and can be caused by common hunting strategies. Thus, the framework presented here has great potential to increase our understanding of the demographic processes that contribute to genetic drift and viability of populations, and to inform management decisions.
‘Man up’: Medical students’ perceptions of gender and learning in clinical practice: A qualitative study
Authors: Samuriwo Ray , Patel Yasumati , Webb Katie , Bullock Alison 
Published: November 2019

ContextGender‐related inequality and disparity hinders efforts to develop a medical workforce that facilitates universal access to safe, just and equitable health care. Little is known about how medical students perceive the impact of their gender on their learning in clinical practice. Our aim in this study was to address this gap, establishing students’ perceptions of the impact of their gender on learning in the clinical context as part of the wider medical education community of practice.MethodsWe undertook a qualitative study that simultaneously gathered data through narrative individual interviews and online case reports from male and female students (n = 31) from different academic cohorts with prior experience of clinical practice in a Russell Group University medical school in the UK. Interviews were transcribed and analysed thematically alongside case report data.Results and discussionThe participants revealed that there was a culture in clinical practice where their gender influenced how they were taught and supported by senior medical and surgical colleagues. Gender was also said to determine the clinical learning opportunities afforded to students, especially with regards to the care of patients of a different gender. The mentorship and support for learning provided to students in clinical practice was also said to be influenced by the medical student's gender.ConclusionOur findings suggest that students undergo a gendered clinical apprenticeship within what are in effect gendered communities of practice with some distinct features. These findings underscore the imperative for further work to establish how medical students of all genders can be supported to fulfil their potential in clinical practice.
Positional cloning and characterization of the papaya diminutive mutant reveal a truncating mutation in the CpMMS19 gene
Authors: Wang Ying , Singh Ratnesh , Tong Eric , Tang Min , Zheng Liwei , Fang Hongkun , Li Ruoyu , Guo Lin , Song Jinjin , Srinivasan Rajeswari , Sharma Anupma , Lin Lianyu , Trujillo Jorge A. , Manshardt Richard , Chen Li‐Yu , Ming Ray , Yu Qingyi 
Published: November 2019

Summary

The papaya diminutive mutant exhibits miniature stature, retarded growth and reduced fertility. This undesirable mutation appeared in the variety ‘Sunset’, the progenitor of the transgenic line ‘SunUp’, and was accidentally carried forward into breeding populations.
The diminutive mutation was mapped to chromosome 2 and fine mapped to scaffold 25. Sequencing of a bacterial artificial chromosome in the fine mapped region led to the identification of the target gene responsible for the diminutive mutant, a gene orthologous to MMS19 with a 36.8 kb deletion co‐segregating with the diminutive mutant.
The genomic sequence of CpMMS19 is 62 kb, consisting of 20 exons and 19 introns. It encodes a protein of 1143 amino acids while the diminutive allele encodes a truncated protein of 287 amino acids. Expression of the full‐length CpMMS19 was able to complement the thermosensitive growth of the yeast mms19 deletion mutant while expression of the diminutive allele resulted in increased thermosensitivity. Over‐expression of the diminutive allele in Arabidopsis met18 mutant results in a high frequency of seed abortion.
The papaya diminutive phenotype is caused by an alteration in gene function rather than a loss‐of‐function mutation. SCAR (sequence characterized amplified region) markers were developed for rapid detection of the diminutive allele in breeding populations.
Regional distribution patterns of wetland monocots with different root turnover strategies are associated with local variation in soil temperature
Authors: Courchesne Dominique N. , Wilson Adrienne Z. , Ryser Peter 
Published: November 2019

Summary

Herbaceous perennial wetland monocots in Northern Ontario, Canada, show dichotomous root overwintering patterns, either with full senescence in autumn or survival over the winter, comparable to deciduous and evergreen leaf habits in trees.
To test if these root strategies differ in their associations with growing season length, soil temperatures were recorded in autumn, winter and spring on 38 wetland sites with their dominant species being either of these two root overwintering strategies, altogether 19 monocot species. Traits associated with these strategies were assessed in garden experiments for a subset of these species.
Sites with species with autumn‐senescing roots were, on average, warmer than sites with species with overwintering roots. The 13 coldest sites were all sites of species with overwintering roots. Spring shoot growth in the field was delayed in species with autumn‐senescing roots, despite their higher shoot relative growth rates in the garden, possibly due to the necessity to produce roots first.
We conclude that species with autumn‐senescing roots are more constrained by temperature than species with overwintering roots, limiting their occurrence in cool climates to locally warm soils and constraining their distribution towards the north. This is comparable to constraints on distribution of deciduous and evergreen trees.
Phospholipase D‐derived phosphatidic acid promotes root hair development under phosphorus deficiency by suppressing vacuolar degradation of PIN‐FORMED2
Authors: Lin De‐Li , Yao Hong‐Yan , Jia Li‐Hua , Tan Jin‐Fang , Xu Zhi‐Hong , Zheng Wen‐Ming , Xue Hong‐Wei 
Published: November 2019

Summary

Root hair development is crucial for phosphate absorption, but how phosphorus deficiency affects root hair initiation and elongation remains unclear.

We demonstrated the roles of auxin efflux carrier PIN‐FORMED2 (PIN2) and phospholipase D (PLD)‐derived phosphatidic acid (PA), a key signaling molecule, in promoting root hair development in Arabidopsis thaliana under a low phosphate (LP) condition.

Root hair elongation under LP conditions was greatly suppressed in pin2 mutant or under treatment with a PLDζ2‐specific inhibitor, revealing that PIN2 and polar auxin transport and PLDζ2‐PA are crucial in LP responses. PIN2 was accumulated and degraded in the vacuole under a normal phosphate (NP) condition, whereas its vacuolar accumulation was suppressed under the LP or NP plus PA conditions. Vacuolar accumulation of PIN2 was increased in pldζ2 mutants under LP conditions. Increased or decreased PIN2 vacuolar accumulation is not observed in sorting nexin1 (snx1) mutant, indicating that vacuolar accumulation of PIN2 is mediated by SNX1 and the relevant trafficking process. PA binds to SNX1 and promotes its accumulation at the plasma membrane, especially under LP conditions, and hence promotes root hair development by suppressing the vacuolar degradation of PIN2.

We uncovered a link between PLD‐derived PA and SNX1‐dependent vacuolar degradation of PIN2 in regulating root hair development under phosphorus deficiency.
Bariatric surgery is a cost‐saving treatment for obesity—A comprehensive meta‐analysis and updated systematic review of health economic evaluations of bariatric surgery
Authors: Xia Qing , Campbell Julie A. , Ahmad Hasnat , Si Lei , de Graaff Barbara , Palmer Andrew J. 
Published: November 2019

SummaryDemand for bariatric surgery to treat severe and resistant obesity far outstrips supply. We aimed to comprehensively synthesise health economic evidence regarding bariatric surgery from 1995 to 2018 (PROSPERO registration number: CRD42018094189). Meta‐analyses were conducted to calculate the annual cost changes “before” and “after” surgery, and cumulative cost differences between surgical and nonsurgical groups. An updated narrative review also summarized the full and partial health economic evaluations of surgery from September 2015. N = 101 studies were eligible for the qualitative analyses since 1995, with n = 24 studies after September 2015. Quality of reporting has increased, and the inclusion of complications/reoperations was predominantly contained in the full economic evaluations after September 2015. Technical improvements in surgery were also reflected across the studies. Sixty‐one studies were eligible for the quantitative meta‐analyses. Compared with no/conventional treatment, surgery was cost saving over a lifetime scenario. Additionally, consideration of indirect costs through sensitivity analyses increased cost savings. Medication cost savings were dominant in the before versus after meta‐analysis. Overall, bariatric surgery is cost saving over the life course even without considering indirect costs. Health economists are hearing the call to present higher quality studies and include the costs of complications/reoperations; however, indirect costs and body contouring surgery are still not appropriately considered.
Evaluating maize phenotypic variance, heritability, and yield relationships at multiple biological scales across agronomically relevant environments
Authors: Tucker Sarah L. , Dohleman Frank G. , Grapov Dmitry , Flagel Lex , Yang Sean , Wegener Kimberly M. , Kosola Kevin , Swarup Shilpa , Rapp Ryan A. , Bedair Mohamed , Halls Steven C. , Glenn Kevin C. , Hall Michael A. , Allen Edwards , Rice Elena A. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractA challenge to improve an integrative phenotype, like yield, is the interaction between the broad range of possible molecular and physiological traits that contribute to yield and the multitude of potential environmental conditions in which they are expressed. This study collected data on 31 phenotypic traits, 83 annotated metabolites, and nearly 22,000 transcripts from a set of 57 diverse, commercially relevant maize hybrids across three years in central U.S. Corn Belt environments. Although variability in characteristics created a complex picture of how traits interact produce yield, phenotypic traits and gene expression were more consistent across environments, while metabolite levels showed low repeatability. Phenology traits, such as green leaf number and grain moisture and whole plant nitrogen content showed the most consistent correlation with yield. A machine learning predictive analysis of phenotypic traits revealed that ear traits, phenology, and root traits were most important to predicting yield. Analysis suggested little correlation between biomass traits and yield, suggesting there is more of a sink limitation to yield under the conditions studied here. This work suggests that continued improvement of maize yields requires a strong understanding of baseline variation of plant characteristics across commercially‐relevant germplasm to drive strategies for consistently improving yield.
Sourcing from conflict regions: Policies to improve transparency in international supply chains
Authors: Herzberg Julika , Lorz Oliver 
Published: November 2019

AbstractIn this paper, we study how unilateral policies concerning certain conflict raw materials influence prices, illegal mining activities, and welfare. Firms in the North import natural resources from the South to produce final consumption goods. In one of the countries in the South, local groups attempt to access natural resources, which results in rent‐seeking conflicts with the government and in illegal mining. We find that a unilateral embargo against the conflict country as well as certification of legal mines can reduce rent‐seeking and illegal mining with different welfare consequences in the countries involved.
Mutation of the chloroplast‐localized phosphate transporter OsPHT2;1 reduces flavonoid accumulation and UV tolerance in rice
Authors: Liu Xiu‐li , Wang Lan , Wang Xiao‐wen , Yan Yan , Yang Xiao‐li , Xie Meng‐yang , Hu Zhi , Shen Xing , Ai Hao , Lin Hong‐hui , Xu Guo‐hua , Yang Jian , Sun Shu‐bin 
Published: November 2019

SummaryPhosphorus (P) is an essential macronutrient required for plant development and production. The mechanisms regulating phosphate (Pi) uptake are well established, but the function of chloroplast Pi homeostasis is poorly understood in Oryza sativa (rice). PHT2;1 is one of the transporters/translocators mediating Pi import into chloroplasts. In this study, to gain insight into the role of OsPHT2;1‐mediated stroma Pi, we analyzed OsPHT2;1 function in Pi utilization and photoprotection. Our results showed that OsPHT2;1 was induced by Pi starvation and light exposure. Cell‐based assays showed that OsPHT2;1 localized to the chloroplast envelope and functioned as a low‐affinity Pi transporter. The ospht2;1 had reduced Pi accumulation, plant growth and photosynthetic rates. Metabolite profiling revealed that 52.6% of the decreased metabolites in ospht2;1 plants were flavonoids, which was further confirmed by 40% lower content of total flavonoids compared with the wild type. As a consequence, ospht2;1 plants were more sensitive to UV‐B irradiation. Moreover, the content of phenylalanine, the precursor of flavonoids, was also reduced, and was largely associated with the repressed expression of ADT1/MTR1. Furthermore, the ospht2;1 plants showed decreased grain yields at relatively high levels of UV‐B irradiance. In summary, OsPHT2;1 functions as a chloroplast‐localized low‐affinity Pi transporter that mediates UV tolerance and rice yields at different latitudes.
Comparative analysis of epigenetic inhibitors reveals different degrees of interference with transcriptional gene silencing and induction of DNA damage
Authors: Nowicka Anna , Tokarz Barbara , Zwyrtková Jana , Dvořák Tomaštíková Eva , Procházková Klára , Ercan Ugur , Finke Andreas , Rozhon Wilfried , Poppenberger Brigitte , Otmar Miroslav , Niezgodzki Igor , Krečmerová Marcela , Schubert Ingo , Pecinka Ales 
Published: November 2019

SummaryRepetitive DNA sequences and some genes are epigenetically repressed by transcriptional gene silencing (TGS). When genetic mutants are not available or problematic to use, TGS can be suppressed by chemical inhibitors. However, informed use of epigenetic inhibitors is partially hampered by the absence of any systematic comparison. In addition, there is emerging evidence that epigenetic inhibitors cause genomic instability, but the nature of this damage and its repair remain unclear. To bridge these gaps, we compared the effects of 5‐azacytidine (AC), 2′‐deoxy‐5‐azacytidine (DAC), zebularine and 3‐deazaneplanocin A (DZNep) on TGS and DNA damage repair. The most effective inhibitor of TGS was DAC, followed by DZNep, zebularine and AC. We confirmed that all inhibitors induce DNA damage and suggest that this damage is repaired by multiple pathways with a critical role of homologous recombination and of the SMC5/6 complex. A strong positive link between the degree of cytidine analog‐induced DNA demethylation and the amount of DNA damage suggests that DNA damage is an integral part of cytidine analog‐induced DNA demethylation. This helps us to understand the function of DNA methylation in plants and opens the possibility of using epigenetic inhibitors in biotechnology.
Method validation, reference values, and characterization of acute‐phase protein responses to experimentally induced inflammation and bluetongue virus infection in the Iberian ibex
Authors: Pastor Josep , Bach Ester , Ráez‐Bravo Arián , López‐Olvera Jorge Ramón , Tvarijonaviciute Asta , Granados José Enrique , Espinosa José , Pérez Jesús , Lavín Santiago , Cuenca Rafaela 
Published: November 2019

AbstractBackgroundAcute phase protein (APP) concentrations can change due to inflammation and be used to monitor disease in the Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica).ObjectivesThis study aimed to validate Haptoglobin (Hp) and serum amyloid A (SAA) analytes, establish reference values, and characterize Hp and SAA responses in the Iberian ibex after experimentally induced inflammation and experimental bluetongue virus (BTV) infection.MethodsSera from 40 free‐ranging box‐trapped ibexes were used to establish Hp and SAA reference values. Six healthy ibexes were subcutaneously injected with 5 mL of turpentine, then, blood samples were taken, and clinical evaluations were performed on days 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, and 14 postinjection. Another seven ibexes were challenged with BTV. Serum Hp and SAA concentrations were quantified using commercial assays following the manufacturer's instructions.ResultsIntra‐assay precision and linearity were acceptable for both Hp and SAA. Intra‐assay variation for high and low concentration of Hp and SAA were 9.74% and 17.31% and 16.49% and 12.89%, respectively. Inter‐assay variation was higher for the low APP concentrations. Reference values for the healthy Iberian ibexes were (median, minimum, and maximum values) 0.2 (0.12‐0.64) g/L for Hp and 4.74 (0.05‐29.54) mg/L for SAA. Both Hp and SAA acted as a moderate and a major APP, respectively, and each could distinguish animals with turpentine‐induced inflammation from those without. Hp and SAA did not change in asymptomatic BTV‐infected animals.ConclusionThis study validated Hp and SAA analytes and provided basal reference values for these analytes in the Iberian ibex. Both APPs were able to discriminate between healthy and diseased Iberian ibexes animals during turpentine‐induced inflammatory processes.
Once in a blue moon: Lipid keratopathy and intrastromal hemorrhage in a Mission golden‐eyed tree frog (Trachycephalus resinifictrix)
Authors: Moore Bret A. , Gjeltema Jenessa 
Published: November 2019

AbstractMimicking natural anuran biology is a major challenge faced in the husbandry management of frogs, and the quandary of lipid keratopathy in frogs under human care has plagued keepers and practitioners for decades. Unlike corneal lipid dystrophy or lipidosis secondary to degeneration, where there is limited or no vascular in‐growth or inflammatory response, lipid keratopathies are associated with vascularization, most often following the appearance of lipid. Hemorrhage from stromal neovascularization has not been described in a frog; however, the presence of vessels in lipid keratopathy certainly heralds the possibility. We report a rather unique case of lipid keratopathy in a 6‐year‐old female Mission golden‐eyed tree frog (Trachycephalus resinifictrix) that not only had concurrent intrastromal hemorrhage, but blue plasmoid staining of the corneal stroma. Current views on both the function of blue plasma in several species and lipid keratopathy are briefly discussed. Overall, evidence suggests that the cause of lipid keratopathy is probably multifactorial and will not successfully be rectified until anuran biology and husbandry are better understood.
Interaction of Communication From the Sport Organization, Media, and Public Perspectives: How Does Messaging Relate and Differ?
Authors: McGehee Glynn M. , Cianfrone Beth A. , Kellison Timothy 
Published: November 2019

Sport organizations, the media, and the public frequently interact. Messages conveyed by organizations and the media likely impact both groups’ communication strategies to reach target audiences and control messaging. This triad of communication—team–media–public—is often examined in segments (e.g., media framing or public reaction to media), even though the three interact. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine differences in message themes and responses from all perspectives on a common topic. Following a major announcement from a professional sport organization, the researchers conducted a content analysis of communication from three perspectives: the team, local press, and citizens. The results showed that each of the three sources provided distinct, original content that became increasingly linked to that of the other sources over time. Sport practitioners could use the findings to better understand the influence of outside sources of communication and utilize social media in their public relations efforts.