bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Community‐level direct and indirect impacts of an invasive plant favour exotic over native species
Authors: Allen Warwick J. , Wainer Ralph , Tylianakis Jason M. , Barratt Barbara I. P. , Shadbolt Marcus‐Rongowhitiao , Waller Lauren P. , Dickie Ian A. 
Published: May 2020

Abstract

Indirect interactions mediated by shared enemies or mutualists (i.e. apparent competition) can influence whether invasive plants harm or benefit co‐occurring species. However, studies to date have largely examined single pairwise interactions, limiting our understanding of the interplay among different types of interactions and whether indirect impacts systematically favour native or exotic species. Predicting indirect interaction strength has also proven challenging, and it remains unclear whether the strengths of different indirect interactions are correlated.

We conducted a field experiment in a grassland invaded by Scotch broom Cytisus scoparius to compare the strength of its indirect impacts, via both soil fungi and herbivores, on 21 native and exotic legume species growing in pots buried in the ground. Direct interactions of plants with soil fungi were controlled using nylon mesh pot windows of differing porosity (1 or 38 µm) to prevent or allow soil fungi hyphal growth. Arthropod herbivores were controlled through spraying pyrethrum pesticide. To assess indirect impacts, interactions were compared between plants adjacent to or 50 m away from an extensive Scotch broom invasion. We measured plant performance (survival, height and biomass), arthropod and hare herbivory, and rhizobia nodulation.

Despite increasing arthropod herbivory of both native and exotic plant species, Scotch broom had a net positive impact on their survival and growth, through sheltering them from abiotic stress, and indirectly via beneficial soil fungi and release from hare browsing. Soil fungi also increased arthropod herbivory, decreased rhizobia nodulation and disproportionately promoted the growth of exotic plants. Overall, exotic plants experienced stronger interactions, which favoured them with beneficial soil fungi and rhizobia but not hare browsing. Finally, indirect interaction strength was not correlated among indirect interactions mediated by different interaction partners.

Synthesis. We demonstrate that invaders affect their competitors through multiple interacting indirect pathways that were stronger than direct ‘nurse plant’ effects, emphasizing the importance of a community‐level approach to studying biological invasions. Exotic species experienced stronger positive and negative impacts than natives, but were facilitated overall, potentially contributing to exotic dominance in communities.
Scale dependence of ecological assembly rules: Insights from empirical datasets and joint species distribution modelling
Authors: Mod Heidi K. , Chevalier Mathieu , Luoto Miska , Guisan Antoine 
Published: May 2020

Abstract

A comprehensive understanding of the scale dependency of environmental filtering and biotic interactions influencing the local assembly of species is paramount to derive realistic forecasts of the future of biodiversity and efficiently manage ecological communities. A classical assumption is that environmental filters are more prevalent at coarser scales with diminishing effects towards the finest scales where biotic interactions become more decisive. Recently, a refinement was proposed stipulating that the scale dependency of biotic interactions should relate to the type of interaction. Specifically, the effect of negative interactions (e.g. competition) should diminish with coarsening scale, whereas positive interactions (i.e. facilitation) should be detected irrespective of the scale.

We use multiple vascular plant species datasets sampled at nested spatial scales (plot size varying from 0.04 to 64 m2) and recently developed joint species distribution models to test the hypotheses.

Our analyses indicate slightly stronger environmental filtering with increasing plot size. While the overall strength of biotic interactions did not vary consistently across scales, we found a tendency for negative interactions to fade away with increasing plot size slightly more than positive interactions.

Synthesis. We provide partial, but not unambiguous, evidence of the scale dependency of ecological assembly rules. However, our correlative methodology only allows us to interpret the findings as indication of environmental filtering and biotic interactions.
‘What research was carried out on this vaginal mesh?’ Health‐related concerns in women following mesh‐augmented prolapse surgery: a thematic analysis
Authors: Izett‐Kay ML , Lumb C , Cartwright R , Kupelian AS , Cutner AS , Jackson S , Price N , Vashisht A 
Published: May 2020

ObjectiveTo understand health‐related issues in women following mesh‐augmented prolapse surgery.DesignInductive thematic analysis of free‐text comments from participants in a cross‐sectional study of laparoscopic mesh sacrohysteropexy.SettingTertiary urogynaecology centres, United Kingdom.PopulationWomen who underwent laparoscopic mesh sacrohysteropexy by surgeons based at two tertiary urogynaecology centres between 2010 and 2018.MethodsA total of 1766 potential participants were contacted by post and invited to complete paper, online or telephone questionnaires containing a free‐text comments section. Of 1121 participants (response proportion 63.5%), 752 (67.1%) provided such comments. These were analysed with a six‐stage inductive thematic analysis, using NVivo 11® software.Main outcome measuresThemes developed from free‐text comments.ResultsFollowing familiarisation, 29 codes and 189 sub‐codes were identified. These defined six themes: pelvic floor symptoms, health status, treatment success, mesh, pain and care received. The majority of comments centred on the first of these six themes. There were concerns about mesh use and a desire for more information. A range of pain symptoms were mentioned, often associated with pelvic floor symptoms, prolapse surgery or mesh.ConclusionsDespite the mesh controversy, pelvic floor symptoms and their impact on quality of life remain the principle concern of women following mesh‐augmented prolapse surgery. There is a need for quality, accessible and evidence‐based information sources for those women with concerns, and for those considering such surgery in the future, particularly regarding mesh safety and postoperative recovery. The relationships between pain, prolapse, mesh and pelvic floor surgery require further study.Tweetable abstractFollowing mesh‐augmented prolapse surgery, pelvic floor symptoms remain women’s main focus; pain deserves further research.
A chromosome‐scale genome assembly of Antheraea pernyi (Saturniidae, Lepidoptera)
Authors: Duan Jianping , Li Ying , Du Jie , Duan Erzhen , Lei Yuyu , Liang Shimei , Zhang Xian , Zhao Xin , Kan Yunchao , Yao Lunguang , Yang Xinfeng , Zhang Xingtan , Wu Xiangwei 
Published: May 2020

AbstractAntheraea pernyi is a semi‐domesticated lepidopteran insect species valuable to the silk industry, human health, and ecological tourism. Owing to its economic influence and developmental properties, it serves as an ideal model for investigating divergence of the Bombycoidea super family. However, studies on the karyotype evolution and functional genomics of A. pernyi are limited by scarce genomic resource. Here, we applied PacBio sequencing and chromosome structure capture technique to assemble the first high‐quality A. pernyi genome from a single male individual. The genome is 720.67 Mb long with 49 chromosomes and a 13.77‐Mb scaffold N50. Approximately 441.75 Mb, accounting for 60.74% of the genome, was identified as repeats. The genome comprises 21,431 protein‐coding genes, 85.22% of which were functionally annotated. Comparative genomics analysis suggested that A. pernyi diverged from its common ancestor with A. yamamai ~30.3 million years ago, and that chromosome fission contributed to the increased chromosome number. The genome assembled in this work will not only facilitate future research on A. pernyi and related species but also help to progress comparative genomics analyses in Lepidoptera.
Contemporary distribution of Macrozamia dyeri (Zamiaceae) is correlated with patterns of Nyungar occupation in south‐east coastal Western Australia
Authors: Lullfitz Alison , Dabb Annie , Reynolds Ron (Doc) , Knapp Lynette , Pettersen Carol , Hopper Stephen D. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractIndigenous societies’ interactions with plants may result in contemporary distribution patterns that reflect these relationships, such as concentration of resource species close to occupation sites or transport routes. Seeds of the cycad, Macrozamia dyeri, are food of Nyungar First People of the south‐eastern Southwest Australian Floristic Region. Processing of seeds by leaching in soil or water enables detoxification and preservation of the pre‐colonial staple, a Nyungar technique archaeologically dated to at least 13 000 years BP. We measured the distance of M. dyeri populations to cultural landscape features and registered heritage sites. We also compared within‐population plant distribution characteristics to Nyungar occupation preferences around granite inselbergs. We found evidence of Nyungar influence on contemporary distribution of M. dyeri. Populations of M. dyeri occur close to surface water features in the west and granite outcrops in the east of Nyungar country, which corresponds closely to differential pre‐colonial patterns of Nyungar occupation. M. dyeri population frequency was negatively correlated with distance to registered Nyungar sites, and 75% of all M. dyeri populations occur within 3.2 km of a registered Nyungar site. We found no correlation between habitat availability and size of granite populations, but found that Nyungar occupation preferences in relation to ground surface aspect, slope and landform type correlated with intra‐population M. dyeri plant distribution, suggesting a mutualistic relationship with Nyungar people, has influenced the plant’s distribution. We suggest that contemporary M. dyeri distribution is therefore useful for interpreting past location‐specific Nyungar land practices to inform contemporary conservation management. Our findings demonstrate that along with edaphic, climate and other environmental factors, consideration of pre‐colonial human dispersal and land practices is important for plant conservation in Australia, particularly for taxa with prolonged use by humans. Further, we suggest that analyses of long‐lived Macrozamia elsewhere may be useful for interpreting past Aboriginal land practices.
A review on temperature and humidity effects onDrosophila suzukiipopulation dynamics
Authors: Winkler Alicia , Jung Jeanette , Kleinhenz Benno , Racca Paolo 
Published: May 2020

AbstractDrosophila suzukiiis an invasive polyphagous pest of wild and cultivated soft‐skinned fruits, which can cause widespread economic damage in orchards and vineyards.The simulation and prediction ofD. suzukii'spopulation dynamics would be helpful for guiding pest management. Therefore, we reviewed and summarized the current knowledge on effects of air temperature and relative humidity on different life cycle parameters ofD. suzukii.The literature summary presented shows that high oviposition rates can occur between 18 and 30 °C. Temperatures between 16 and 25 °C resulted in fast and high egg‐to‐adult development success of more than 80%. Oviposition and adult life span were positively affected by high relative humidity; however, the factor humidity is so far rarely investigated.We assume that this is one reason why relative humidity usually is not considered in modelling approaches, which are summarized herein. The high number of recently published research articles onD. suzukii's life cycle suggests that there is already a lot of knowledge available on its biology. However, there are still considerable research gaps mentioned in the literature, which are also summarized herein.Nevertheless, we conclude that sufficient temperature data in the literature are suitable to understand and predict population dynamics ofD. suzukii, in order to assist pest management in the field.
The 5‐year follow‐up of a real‐world observational study of patients in the United Kingdom and Ireland receiving ibrutinib for relapsed/refractory mantle cell lymphoma
Authors: Tucker David , Morley Nick , MacLean Peter , Vandenberghe Elisabeth , Booth Stephen , Parisi Lori , Rule Simon 
Published: May 2020

SummaryThis is a 5‐year real‐world study of 65 patients treated with ibrutinib for relapsed/refractory mantle cell lymphoma across the UK and Ireland. Ibrutinib was well tolerated with no fatal adverse events. The median progression‐free survival and overall survival (OS) was 12 and 18·5 months, respectively. Overall, 80% of patients discontinued treatment, predominantly for progressive disease. On discontinuation, 20% received alternative immunochemotherapy with a median OS of 24 months. Ibrutinib was used as a bridge to transplant in 8% (median OS not reached). These observations are comparable with trial outcomes with encouraging responses to immunochemotherapy at relapse.
Efficacy and safety of hydrolyzed formulas for cow's milk allergy management: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Stróżyk Agata , Horvath Andrea , Meyer Rosan , Szajewska Hania 
Published: May 2020

AbstractObjectiveTo summarize evidence on the efficacy and safety of the use of extensively hydrolyzed formulas (EHFs) for the treatment of children with cow's milk allergy (CMA).DesignSystematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) per PRISMA guidelines. The risk of bias of included RCTs was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration's risk of bias tool. In general, a narrative synthesis of the findings was performed. When sufficient data were available, a meta‐analysis using the random‐effect model was performed.Data sourcesThe Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, and EMBASE databases were searched up to February 2020.Eligibility criteriaRCTs, including cross‐over trials, assessing children of any age with any type of CMA that compared use of a formula containing extensively hydrolyzed bovine proteins (whey and/or casein) with use of any other formula for CMA management, were eligible for inclusion. Each type of EHF was evaluated separately. Outcome measures included allergic reactions (ie gastrointestinal, dermatological, and respiratory symptoms), growth, tolerance acquisition to cow's milk proteins, health‐related quality of life, and safety.ResultsFifteen trials reported in 18 publications (1285 children) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The study findings were limited by numerous methodological issues, including differences in outcome measures and their definitions, lack of pre‐specified protocols and/or trial registration, and poor reporting of adverse events, methods of sequence generation and allocation concealment. The EHF products evaluated to date appear to be well‐tolerated by most children with CMA. However, published studies do not allow for any conclusion to be reached regarding the benefit of one formula over another formula intended for CMA management.ConclusionsThis systematic review highlights the need for standardized treatment protocols, including an agreed‐upon standardized set of outcomes that should be measured and reported in all clinical trials of specialized milk formula for the management of CMA.
How do signaling and transcription factors regulate both axis elongation and Hox gene expression along the anteroposterior axis?
Authors: Saito Seiji , Suzuki Takayuki 
Published: May 2020

AbstractIn vertebrates, vertebral primordia, called somites, are formed from the head to the tail along the anteroposterior axis of the body during development. The presomitic mesoderm (PSM), which differentiates into somites, is formed by continuous supply of new cells derived from the caudal lateral epiblast (CLE), resulting in body axis posterior elongation. Previous studies of mutants identified genes for posterior extension and vertebral patterning along the anteroposterior axis. Hox gene has been extensively investigated for its expression pattern and transcriptional regulation. In recent years, to elucidate the mechanism that controls the expression patterns of Hox genes, researchers have not only searched for enhancer regions and the transcription factors that bind to them but have also investigated chromatin structure, epigenetics and non‐coding RNA associated with Hox gene expression. These new findings reveal that the previously identified genes essential for posterior body axis elongation of the embryo determine positional information along the anteroposterior axis by induction of Hox genes via enhancer regions. In this review, we focus on genes that control posterior elongation and vertebral patterning along the anteroposterior axis in the PSM and CLE. We first describe the mechanism of maintenance of the stem cell‐like cell populations at the CLE, which is essential for the posterior elongation of the embryo. Next, the factors involved in posterior region formation and patterning of the vertebra are described. Finally, we discuss the regulatory mechanism of Hox gene expression and the mechanism that is responsible for the differences in skeletal pattern between species.
Pulse‐cancellation echocardiography in Fabry disease diagnosis
Authors: Joye Evan , Zheng Wen Qian , Torosoff Mikhail 
Published: May 2020

AbstractPulse‐cancellation imaging is a novel echocardiographic imaging modality developed for detection of myocardial fibrosis. This technique cancels echocardiographic reflections from the normal myocardium but clearly displays the abnormal tissue. We describe, for the first time, pulse‐cancellation echocardiography application in detecting Fabry disease myocardial involvement. We present the case where both pulse‐cancellation imaging and cardiac MRI concurrently revealed myocardial deposits in a patient with genotypically confirmed Fabry disease.
Alignment and Implications for Test Takers
Authors: Welch Catherine J. , Dunbar Stephen B. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractThe use of assessment results to inform school accountability relies on the assumption that the test design appropriately represents the content and cognitive emphasis reflected in the state's standards. Since the passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act and the certification of accountability assessments through federal peer review practices, the content validity arguments supporting accountability have relied almost exclusively on the alignment of statewide assessments to state standards. It is assumed that if alignment does not hold, the scores will not provide valid inferences regarding the degree to which test takers have performed. Although alignment results are commonly used as evidence of test appropriateness, Polikoff (this issue) would argue that given the importance of alignment in policy decisions, research related to alignment is surprisingly limited. Few studies have addressed the adequacy of alignment methodologies and results as support for the inferences to be made (i.e., proficient on state standards). This paper uses an example of test taker performance (and common performance indicators) to investigate to what extent the degree of alignment impacts inferences made about performance (i.e., classification into performance levels, estimates of student ability, and student rank order).
Global changes may be promoting a rise in select cyanobacteria in nutrient‐poor northern lakes
Authors: Freeman Erika C. , Creed Irena F. , Jones Blake , Bergström Ann‐Kristin 
Published: May 2020

AbstractThe interacting effects of global changes—including increased temperature, altered precipitation, reduced acidification and increased dissolved organic matter loads to lakes—are anticipated to create favourable environmental conditions for cyanobacteria in northern lakes. However, responses of cyanobacteria to these global changes are complex, if not contradictory. We hypothesized that absolute and relative biovolumes of cyanobacteria (both total and specific genera) are increasing in Swedish nutrient‐poor lakes and that these increases are associated with global changes. We tested these hypotheses using data from 28 nutrient‐poor Swedish lakes over 16 years (1998–2013). Increases in cyanobacteria relative biovolume were identified in 21% of the study sites, primarily in the southeastern region of Sweden, and were composed mostly of increases from three specific genera:Merismopedia,ChroococcusandDolichospermum. Taxon‐specific changes were related to different environmental stressors; that is, increased surface water temperature favoured higherMerismopediarelative biovolume in low pH lakes with high nitrogen to phosphorus ratios, whereas acidification recovery was statistically related to increased relative biovolumes ofChroococcusandDolichospermum. In addition, enhanced dissolved organic matter loads were identified as potential determinants ofChroococcussuppression andDolichospermumpromotion. Our findings highlight that specific genera of cyanobacteria benefit from different environmental changes. Our ability to predict the risk of cyanobacteria prevalence requires consideration of the environmental condition of a lake and the sensitivities of the cyanobacteria genera within the lake. Regional patterns may emerge due to spatial autocorrelations within and among lake history, rates and direction of environmental change and the niche space occupied by specific cyanobacteria.
Nonlinear dynamics of fires in Africa over recent decades controlled by precipitation
Authors: Wei Fangli , Wang Shuai , Fu Bojie , Brandt Martin , Pan Naiqing , Wang Cong , Fensholt Rasmus 
Published: May 2020

AbstractDynamics of fires in Africa are of critical importance for understanding changes in ecosystem properties and effects on the global carbon cycle. Given increasing fire risk from projected warming on the one hand and a documented human‐driven decline in fires on the other, it is still unknown how the complex interplay between climate and human factors affects recent changes of fires in Africa. Moreover, the impact of recent strong El Niño events on fire dynamics is not yet known. By applying an ensemble empirical mode decomposition method to satellite‐derived fire burned area, we investigated the spatio‐temporal evolution of fires in Africa over 2001–2016 and identified the potential dominant drivers. Our results show an overall decline of fire rates, which is continuous over the time period and mainly caused by cropland expansion in northern sub‐Saharan Africa. However, we also find that years of high precipitation have caused an initial increase in fire rates in southern Africa, which reversed to a decline in later years. This decline is caused by a high frequency of dry years leading to very low fuel loads, suggesting that recent drought causes a general reduction of burned areas, in particular in xeric savannas. In some mesic regions (10°–15°S), solar radiation and increased temperature caused increase in fires. These findings show that climate change overrules the impact of human expansion on fire rates at the continental scale in Africa, reducing the fire risk.