bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Aspartate‐β‐alanine‐NBAD pathway regulates pupal melanin pigmentation plasticity of ladybird Harmonia axyridis
Authors: Zhang Yi , Wang Xing‐Xing , Feng Zhu‐Jun , Tian Hong‐Gang , Feng Yi , Liu Tong‐Xian 
Published: October 2020

AbstractPhenotypic plasticity is observed in many animal species and it is effective for them to cope with many types of environmental threats. The multicolored Asian ladybird Harmonia axyridis shows a cuticular pigmentation plasticity that can be rapidly induced by temperature changes, and in the form of changeable melanin spot patterns to adjust heat‐absorbing. Here, H. axyridis with thermal stimulation were selected for determining the molecular regulations behind it. First, we confirmed the melanin level changes of H. axyridis pupa could be induced by temperature, and then screened the efficient time window for thermal sensing of H. axyridis pre‐pupa; it is suggested that the late stage of pre‐pupa (late stage of 4th instar larva) is the critical period to sense thermal signals and adjust its pupal melanin spot area size to adapt to upcoming thermal conditions. The Ha‐ADC (aspartate decarboxylase) and Ha‐ebony (NBAD synthase) of aspartate‐β‐alanine‐NBAD pathway were then proved in regulation of cuticular melanization for pupa through RNA interference experiments; knockdown of these two genes enlarged the melanin spot size. Finally, we designed a random injection of Ha–ADC at different pre‐pupal stages, to further study the regulation window during this process. Combined with all evidence observed, we suggested the spot size determination can be regulated very close to the time point of pupation, and genes of the aspartate‐β‐alanine‐NBAD pathway play an important role at the molecular level. In brief, H. axyridis exhibits a flexible active physiological regulation through transcriptional modification to thermal changes.
Loss of heat acclimation capacity could leave subterranean specialists highly sensitive to climate change
Authors: Pallarés S. , Colado R. , Botella‐Cruz M. , Montes A. , Balart‐García P. , Bilton D. T. , Millán A. , Ribera I. , Sánchez‐Fernández D. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractPhysiological traits are key in determining the vulnerability of narrow range, highly specialized animals to climate change. It is generally predicted that species from more stable environments possess lower thermal tolerance breadths and thermal plasticity than those from more variable habitats – the so‐called ‘climatic variability hypothesis’. However, evolutionary trade‐offs between thermal breadth and its plasticity are also seen in some taxa, and the evolution of thermal physiology remains poorly understood. Subterranean environments are excellent systems for exploring these issues, being characterized by stable climatic conditions, with environmental variability increasing predictably from deep to shallow habitats. Acclimation capacity will be fundamental in determining the sensitivity of subterranean species to climate change, since they have poor dispersal capacity and limited possibility to exploit thermally different microhabitats in the uniform cave environment. We assessed critical thermal maximum (CTmax) and short‐term heat acclimation capacity in three related beetles (Leiodidae: Leptodirini) with differing degrees of specialization to the subterranean environment (deep, shallow and facultatively subterranean, respectively) and therefore exposed to contrasting thermal variability in nature. Only the facultative subterranean species showed any acclimatory capacity, also having the highest CTmax across the taxa studied. However, this species might experience the highest thermal stress in its habitat under climate change. The studied subterranean specialists will be poorly able to cope physiologically with temperature increase, but in contrast exposed to lower magnitude and rate of warming. Our results fit the climatic variability hypothesis, suggesting that adaptation to cave conditions has selected against the retention of acclimation mechanisms. We show that the pathways that determine vulnerability of subterranean species to climate change depend on their degree of specialization to deep subterranean environments. This information, combined with evaluation of exposure to climatic changes at their present locations, is fundamental in identifying species or populations at greatest risk.
Rectification of cavernosal fibrosis and veno‐occlusive dysfunction by administration of suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid in a rat model of cavernosal nerve injury: Comparison with a PDE5 inhibitor
Authors: Cho Min Chul , Lee Junghoon , Son Hwancheol , Kim Soo Woong 
Published: October 2020

AbstractBackgroundCavernosal fibrosis, which is induced by cavernosal nerve (CN) injury and progresses with time, is the main cause of cavernosal veno‐occlusive dysfunction (CVOD) after radical prostatectomy.ObjectivesTo determine whether daily oral administration of suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA; vorinostat) for 5‐weeks from the immediate post‐injury period after CN injury would rectify CVOD by suppressing cavernosal fibrosis and normalizing HDAC pathway in a rat model of CN crush injury (CNCI) and to compare the results with those obtained using chronic administration of PDE5‐inhibitors (a positive control).MethodsFifty‐six 12‐week‐old rats were randomized into the four groups: sham surgery (S), CNCI (I), and CNCI treated with daily administration of 25.0 mg/kg SAHA (V) or 20.0 mg/kg udenafil (P). Group‐V and Group‐P received the respective treatment for 5‐weeks from the following day after CNCI. At 5 weeks after surgery, dynamic infusion cavernosometry (DIC), histological staining, and Western blot analysis were performed.ResultsGroup‐I had a significantly decreased papaverine response, higher maintenance rate or drop rate, lower smooth muscle (SM)/collagen ratio, decreased SM content, and increased protein expression of HDAC2, HDAC3, TGF‐β1, and collagen‐1, compared with Group‐S. The three DIC parameters in Group‐V and Group‐P significantly improved compared to those in Group‐I. Except for the maintenance rate, the improvement in papaverine response and drop rate in Group‐V was not significantly different from that in Group‐P. Group‐V and Group‐P showed the rectification of SM/collagen ratio and protein expression of TGF‐β1 or collagen‐1. SM content was improved in Group‐P, but not in Group‐V. Group‐V showed the normalization of protein expression of both HDAC2 and HDAC3, whereas protein expression of only HDAC2 was partially restored in Group‐P.DiscussionTreatment strategies targeting the HDAC pathway might be helpful to alleviate CVOD induced by CN injury.ConclusionsAccording to our data, chronic administration of SAHA improves post‐injury CVOD by suppressing cavernosal fibrosis via rectifying the HDAC/TGF‐β1 pathway in nerve‐injured rats, comparable to that with PDE5 inhibitors.
Pregnancy‐ and obstetric‐related risk factors for urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, or pelvic organ prolapse later in life: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Hage‐Fransen Monique A. H. , Wiezer Maaike , Otto Amy , Wieffer‐Platvoet Marleen S. , Slotman Mariska H. , Nijhuis‐van der Sanden Maria W. G. , Pool‐Goudzwaard Annelies L. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractIntroductionRisk factors for pelvic floor disorders are often related to pregnancy and delivery. Consistent evidence is needed to develop prevention strategies targeting risk factors. The objective of this study is to identify which pregnancy‐ and/or obstetric‐related risk factors can predict urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, or pelvic organ prolapse later in life by means of a systematic review and meta‐analysis.Material and methodsSystematic review Prospero number: CRD42019131758. Literature searches of PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library were conducted according to PRISMA guidelines (April 2020). Prospective cohort studies describing more than two pregnancy‐ and/or obstetric‐related risk factors on urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence (including flatal incontinence), or pelvic organ prolapse were eligible. Risk of bias was assessed (using Quality In Prognosis Studies [QUIPS]). Studies with high risk of bias were excluded. Data were extracted and checked for accuracy with the CHARMS checklist. Sub‐groups were used to distinguish between a short‐ and long‐term follow‐up period: <18 months (shortterm) and >18 months (long‐term) postpartum. Odds ratios were calculated from reported prevalence rates. Log odds ratios were calculated using SPSS v.24. Variables were pooled using RevMan5.ResultsData were extracted from nineteen studies for urinary incontinence, nine for fecal incontinence, and two for pelvic organ prolapse. Multivariate analysis was not possible because of the heterogeneity of the population and outcome measures. Pooled univariate risk factors for urinary incontinence were: urinary incontinence during pregnancy, instrumental vaginal delivery, episiotomy, tears, and constipation. Pooled univariate risk factors for fecal incontinence were: fecal incontinence during pregnancy, maternal age over 35 years, prenatal body mass index over 30 kg/m2, instrumental vaginal delivery, a spontaneous vaginal delivery, oxytocin augmentation, and when the weight of the newborn was more than 4000 g. Both studies for pelvic organ prolapse had a short‐term follow‐up period and cesarean section was the only risk factor that could be pooled.ConclusionsPregnancy‐ and obstetric‐related risk factors predicting pelvic floor disorders postpartum are multifactorial and differ between pelvic floor disorders. The strongest risk factor for incontinence later in life was incontinence during pregnancy. Better quality research with long‐term follow up is needed on this topic.
Inactivation of homeodomain‐interacting protein kinase 2 promotes oral squamous cell carcinoma metastasis through inhibition of P53‐dependent E‐cadherin expression
Authors: Zheng Xueqing , Pan Yuemei , Chen Xinming , Xia Shu , Hu Yaying , Zhou Yi , Zhang Jiali 
Published: October 2020

AbstractHomeodomain‐interacting protein kinase 2 (HIPK2), a well‐known tumor suppressor, shows contradictory expression patterns in different cancers. This study was undertaken to clarify HIPK2 expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and to reveal the potential mechanism of HIPK2 involvement in OSCC metastasis. Two hundred and four OSCC tissues, together with paired adjacent normal epithelia, dysplastic epithelia, and lymph node metastasis specimens, were collected to profile HIPK2 expression by immunohistochemical staining. High throughput RNA‐sequencing was used to detect the dysregulated signaling pathways in HIPK2‐deficient OSCC cells. Transwell assay and lymphatic metastatic orthotopic mouse model assay were undertaken to identify the effect of HIPK2 on tumor invasion. Western blotting and luciferase reporter assay were used to examine the HIPK2/P53/E‐cadherin axis in OSCC. Nuclear delocalization of HIPK2 was observed during oral epithelial cancerization progression and was associated with cervical lymph node metastasis and poor outcome. Depletion of HIPK2 promoted tumor cell invasion in vitro and facilitated cervical lymph node metastasis in vivo. According to mRNA‐sequencing, pathways closely related to tumor invasion were notably activated. Homeodomain‐interacting protein kinase 2 was found to trigger E‐cadherin expression by mediating P53, which directly targets the CDH1 (coding E‐cadherin) promoter. Restoring P53 expression rescued the E‐cadherin suppression induced by HIPK2 deficiency, whereas rescued cytoplasmic HIPK2 expression had no influence on the expression of E‐cadherin and cell mobility. Together, nuclear delocalization of HIPK2 might serve as a valuable negative biomarker for poor prognosis of OSCC and lymph node metastasis. The depletion of HIPK2 expression promoted OSCC metastasis by suppressing the P53/E‐cadherin axis, which might be a promising target for anticancer therapies.
A novel DNA repair‐related nomogram predicts survival in low‐grade gliomas
Authors: Li Guanzhang , Wu Fan , Zeng Fan , Zhai You , Feng Yuemei , Chang Yuanhao , Wang Di , Jiang Tao , Zhang Wei 
Published: October 2020

AbstractAimsWe aimed to create a tumor recurrent‐based prediction model to predict recurrence and survival in patients with low‐grade glioma.MethodsThis study enrolled 291 patients (188 in the training group and 103 in the validation group) with clinicopathological information and transcriptome sequencing data. LASSO‐COX algorithm was applied to shrink predictive factor size and build a predictive recurrent signature. GO, KEGG, and GSVA analyses were performed for function annotations of the recurrent signature. The calibration curves and C‐Index were assessed to evaluate the nomogram's performance.ResultsThis study found that DNA repair functions of tumor cells were significantly enriched in recurrent low‐grade gliomas. A predictive recurrent signature, built by the LASSO‐COX algorithm, was significantly associated with overall survival and progression‐free survival in low‐grade gliomas. Moreover, function annotations analysis of the predictive recurrent signature exhibited that the signature was associated with DNA repair functions. The nomogram, combining the predictive recurrent signature and clinical prognostic predictors, showed powerful prognostic ability in the training and validation groups.ConclusionAn individualized prediction model was created to predict 1‐, 2‐, 3‐, 5‐, and 10‐year survival and recurrent rate of patients with low‐grade glioma, which may serve as a potential tool to guide postoperative individualized care.
N1c colon cancer and the use of adjuvant chemotherapy: a current audit of the National Cancer Database
Authors: Simon Hillary L. , Reif de Paula Thais , Spigel Zachary A. , Keller Deborah S. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractAimColorectal cancer staging has evolved to define N1c as the presence of tumour deposits without concurrent positive lymph nodes. Work to date reports poor prognosis in N1c colon cancer, with Stage III categorization and adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) recommended. No study has yet evaluated the prevalence, treatment compliance or treatment‐related outcomes on a national scale. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of N1c colon cancer, use, outcomes and factors associated with AC in the USA.MethodThe National Cancer Database was reviewed for N1cM0 colon adenocarcinomas that underwent resection from 2010 to 2016. Cases were stratified into ‘AC’ or ‘no AC’ cohorts. The Kaplan–Meier method was used to estimate overall survival (OS) and compare the AC and no AC cohorts using the log‐rank test. Multivariable logistic regression identified factors associated with AC. The main outcome measures were the prevalence and factors associated with AC use and its impact in N1c disease.ResultsOf the 5684 (1.59% of 357 752) colon adenocarcinomas that were N1c, 55% (n = 3071) received AC. AC significantly improved 1‐, 3‐ and 5‐year OS compared with no AC (96.2%, 80%, 67.4% and 72.9%, 48.5%, 33.8%, respectively; P < 0.001). Compared with the no AC group, AC patients were younger, had less comorbidity, were of the male gender and received minimally invasive surgery at an academic treatment centre (all P < 0.05). Socioeconomic and procedural factors significantly impacted the use of AC.ConclusionIn the USA, AC is underutilized in N1c colon cancer despite significantly improved OS. Socioeconomic and procedural factors associated with AC were identified, highlighting disparities in AC use and opportunities to improve oncological outcomes and survival.
The airway microbiome in COPD, bronchiectasis and bronchiectasis‐COPD overlap
Authors: Tiew Pei Yee , Jaggi Tavleen K. , Chan Louisa L. Y. , Chotirmall Sanjay H. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractObjectiveTo review the airway microbiome in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchiectasis and bronchiectasis‐COPD overlap (BCO).Data source and study selectionRelevant studies were selected from PubMed, Google scholar, EMBASE and Web of Science. All studies involving human microbiomes, published in the English language, and using the search terms “COPD”, “Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease”, “Bronchiectasis”, “BCO” or “Bronchiectasis and COPD overlap”, AND “microbiome”, “mycobiome” or “metagenomics” were included.ResultsDespite variability in sampling methods and specimen types used, microbiome composition remains relatively comparable in COPD and bronchiectasis with prominence of Proteobacteria, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. Alterations to airway microbiomes occur in association to disease severity and/or exacerbations in COPD and bronchiectasis. Decreased alpha diversity and Haemophilus‐predominant microbiomes are associated with poorer survival in COPD, while, in bronchiectasis, Pseudomonas‐predominant microbiomes demonstrate high exacerbation frequency and greater symptom burden while Aspergillus‐dominant mycobiome profiles associate with exacerbations. The role of the microbiome in BCO remains understudied.ConclusionUse of next‐generation sequencing has revolutionised our detection and understanding of the airway microbiome in chronic respiratory diseases such as COPD and bronchiectasis. Targeted amplicon sequencing reveals important associations between the respiratory microbiome and disease outcome while metagenomics may elucidate functional pathways. How best to apply this information into patient care, monitoring and treatment, however, remains challenging and necessitates further study.
Excess corporate payouts and financial distress risk
Authors: Andriosopoulos Dimitris , De Cesari Amedeo , Stathopoulos Konstantinos 
Published: October 2020

AbstractFirms that follow excessive payout policies (over‐payers) are higher on the financial distress spectrum and have lower survival rates than under‐payers. In addition, over‐payers endure lower future sales and asset growth than under‐payers and experience negative abnormal returns in the bond and stock markets. Exogenous import tariff reductions and commodity price jumps reduce the likelihood of overpayment. We interpret this as evidence consistent with financial flexibility considerations, rather than risk‐shifting, explaining the decision to overpay. We also find that CEO overconfidence and catering incentives affect overpayment.
Interactive effects of water temperature and stoichiometric food quality on Daphnia pulicaria
Authors: Starke Cody W. E. , Jones Catriona L. C. , Burr Wesley S. , Frost Paul C. 
Published: October 2020

Abstract

While water temperatures vary widely within and among lakes, most studies of food quality on lake zooplankton have been conducted across a relatively narrow temperature range. Given the strong links between food, temperature, and metabolism, there is a need to assess the interactive effects of water temperature and food quality on the life history and population growth rates of zooplankton.

This study examined Daphnia pulicaria life history and population growth rates exposed to variable food P content (molar C:P ratios c. 100–900) across a range of temperatures (c. 12–30°C). Mass‐specific growth rate experiments were conducted for a period of 5 days, while Daphnia reproduction and survival metrics were measured for 28 days.

Mass‐specific growth rates of D. pulicaria varied with food‐quality but the size of this effect depended on temperature. We observed a thermal limit of 28°C above which mortality reached 100%, while survival between 25 and 28°C was substantially reduced, after c. 20 days, in animals consuming food C:P ratios of 100. Poorer quality food (C:P 300–700) altered these temperature effects and increased the probability of survival in animals exposed to 25–28°C temperatures. When we examined the population‐level effects of these treatments, we found a rise in intrinsic rate with temperature with higher quality food, driven by an earlier age of first reproduction and shorter generation time. However, this increased population growth with temperature was not observed in animals consuming food with low P content.

Altogether, we found strong interactive effects of temperature and food quality on Daphnia, with especially dynamic changes seen among differentially nourished animals raised in water above 25°C. These results demonstrate the complex non‐additive interactions of food quality and temperature responses in freshwater invertebrates and indicate that the effects of warming temperatures on zooplankton communities must be considered within the context of the animals’ nutrition and metabolism if monitoring and mitigation efforts are to be successful.
Current rice models underestimate yield losses from short‐term heat stresses
Authors: Sun Ting , Hasegawa Toshihiro , Liu Bing , Tang Liang , Liu Leilei , Cao Weixing , Zhu Yan 
Published: October 2020

AbstractCrop production will likely face enormous challenges against the occurrences of extreme climatic events projected under future climate change. Heat waves that occur at critical stages of the reproductive phase have detrimental impacts on the grain yield formation of rice (Oryza sativa). Accurate estimates of these impacts are essential to evaluate the effects of climate change on rice. However, the accuracy of these predictions by crop models has not been extensively tested. In this study, we evaluated 14 rice growth models against four year phytotron experiments with four levels of heat treatments imposed at different times after flowering. We found that all models greatly underestimated the negative effects of heat on grain yield, suggesting that yield projections with these models do not reflect food shocks that may occur under short‐term extreme heat stress (SEHS). As a result, crop model ensembles do not help to provide accurate estimates of grain yield under heat stress. We examined the functions of grain‐setting rate response to temperature (TRF_GS) used in eight models and showed that adjusting the effective periods of TRF_GS improved the model performance, especially for models simulating accumulative daily temperature effects. For TRF_GS which uses daily maximum temperature averaged for the effective period, the models provided better grain yield estimates by using maximum temperatures averaged only when daily maximum temperatures exceeded the base temperature (Tbase). An alternative method based on heating‐degree days and stage‐dependent heat sensitivity parameters further decreased the prediction uncertainty of grain yield under heat stress, where stage‐dependent heat sensitivity was more important than heat dose for model improvement under SEHS. These results suggest the limitation of the applicability of existing rice models to variable climatic conditions and the urgent need for an alternative grain‐setting function accounting for the stage‐dependent heat sensitivity.