bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
MutS HOMOLOG1 mediates fertility reversion from cytoplasmic male sterile Brassica juncea in response to environment
Authors: Zhao Na , Li Zhangping , Zhang Lili , Yang Xiaodong , Mackenzie Sally A. , Hu Zhongyuan , Zhang Mingfang , Yang Jinghua 
Published: September 2020

AbstractSpontaneous fertility reversion has been documented in cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) plants of several species, influenced in frequency by nuclear genetic background. In this study, we found that MutS HOMOLOG1 (MSH1) mediates fertility reversion via substoichiometric shifting (SSS) of the CMS‐associated mitochondrial Open Reading Frame 220 (ORF220), a process that may be regulated by pollination signalling in Brassica juncea. We show that plants adjust their growth and development in response to unsuccessful pollination. Measurable decrease in MSH1 transcript levels and evidence of ORF220 SSS under non‐pollination conditions suggest that this nuclear‐mitochondrial interplay influences fertility reversion in CMS plants in response to physiological signals. Suppression of MSH1 expression induced higher frequency SSS in CMS plants than occurs normally. Transcriptional analysis of floral buds under pollination and non‐pollination conditions, and the response of MSH1 expression to different sugars, supports the hypothesis that carbon flux is involved in the pollination signalling of fertility reversion in CMS plants. Our findings suggest that facultative gynodioecy as a reproductive strategy may incorporate environmentally responsive genes like MSH1 as an “on–off” switch for sterility–fertility transition under ecological conditions of reproductive isolation.
Dog bite injuries in a tertiary care children's hospital: A seven‐year review
Authors: Zangari Andrea , Cerigioni Elisabetta , Nino Fabiano , Guidi Roberto , Gulia Caterina , Piergentili Roberto , Ilari Michele , Mazzoni Nadia , Cobellis Giovanni 
Published: September 2020

AbstractBackgroundDog bites are a major cause of traumatic injury in children. The aim of this study was to determine the experience, management, and outcome of dog bite injuries in our department.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed the clinical records for 127 patients (mean age 7.15 ± 4.24 years, range 1 to 17 years; 68 males) affected by dog‐related injuries, from 2012 to 2018. Characteristics of patients and dogs, type and severity of injuries, circumstances of the accidents, treatment and outcome were analyzed.ResultsOf 141 wounds, 73 (51.8%) affected the head and neck, 62 (44%) the limbs, and six (4.2%) affected the trunk. According to the Mcheik classification, 107 lesions (75.9%) were stage 1, 26 (18.4%) stage 2, and eight (5.7%) stage 3. Seventy‐eight percent of the cases involved known dogs. The breed of the dog was recorded in 62/127 cases (48.8%) and the most common were mongrels (23/62, 37.1%). Seventy‐five percent of the attacks occurred during spring and summer. All patients underwent antibiotic prophylaxis and immediate surgical repair. Wound infection was observed in two patients. Three unsightly scars required rectification, with good cosmetic results in all cases.ConclusionsOur results are consistent with previous data showing that the typical dog‐related injury occurs from a known dog, during spring and summer, and in younger boys, who are frequently exposed to head and neck wounds. Our experience showed the feasibility and safety of primary repair and antibiotic prophylaxis in all patients, with very low incidence of infection and good cosmetic results.
Pathogenicity and toxicity of Fusarium tucumaniae and Fusarium crassistipitatum to soybean and Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Rosati Romina G. , Ramos Rocío S. , Scandiani María M. , Luque Alicia G. , Spampinato Claudia P. 
Published: September 2020

AbstractSudden death syndrome (SDS) of soybean is a fungal disease caused by at least four distinct Fusarium species: F. tucumaniae, F. virguliforme, F. brasiliense, and F. crassistipitatum. All four species are present in Argentina. These fungi are soilborne pathogens that only colonize roots and cause root necrosis. However, damage also reaches the aboveground part of the plant, and foliar chlorosis and necrosis, followed by premature defoliation, can be observed. Although the pathogenicity and phytotoxicity of F. virguliforme has been well characterized, knowledge regarding disease development by other fungal species is scarce. In this study, two plant species, soybean (Glycine max) and Arabidopsis thaliana, and isolates from two fungal species, F. tucumaniae and F. crassistipitatum, were used to comparatively analyse the fungal pathogenicity and the phytotoxicity of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and cell‐free culture filtrates. Fungal inoculation had a significant effect on plant growth, regardless of the plant species. In addition, infected soybean plants showed disease incidence and foliar and root symptoms. Inhibition of A. thaliana growth was not due to VOCs emitted by fungi. Instead, both pathogens were shown to produce toxins that caused typical SDS foliar symptoms in soybean and root length reduction in A. thaliana. As far as we know, this is the first report that demonstrates that F. tucumaniae and F. crassistipitatum affect A. thaliana growth and emit VOCs, and that F. crassistipitatum produces toxins.
The effect of photoperiod and melatonin on plasma prolactin concentrations in female guanaco (Lama guanicoe) in captivity
Authors: Correa Lina Maria , Moreno Ricardo D. , Riveros José Luis 
Published: September 2020

AbstractThe present study examined the effects of different photoperiods and melatonin treatment on plasma prolactin concentrations in guanacos, a South American camelid, in captivity. Fourteen adult female guanacos, not gestating or lactating and isolated from males, were studied. The control group was exposed to natural daylight, during short days (N = 7, 10L:14D) and long days (N = 7, 16L:8D). The treatment group (N = 7, 10L:14D) received melatonin implants every 23 days for 6 weeks during long days. Blood samples were taken at intervals of 1 week for 3 weeks, starting the third week of treatment. Prolactin concentrations were measured using competitive ELISA. Plasma concentrations of prolactin in non‐lactating female guanacos have seasonal changes, with a higher concentration (p < .001) in short days (3.50 ± 2.24 ng/ml) than long days (1.10 ± 0.91 ng/ml). Melatonin treatment significantly decreases (p < .05) plasma concentrations of prolactin on the 21st day after the treatment. These findings are the first report of an endogenous circannual rhythm of plasma prolactin concentration and the action of melatonin treatment on prolactin secretion in this wild camelid.
Early resynchronization protocols for goats: Progestogens can be used prior to an early pregnancy diagnosis without affecting corpus luteum functionality
Authors: Cosentino Isabel Oliveira , Balaro Mario Felipe Alvarez , Leal Felipe Seabra Cardoso , Barbosa Lucas de Figueiredo Cardoso , Gonçalves Fernanda Martins , Felizardo Gabriel Feliciano , Netto Marina Monteiro , Brandão Felipe Zandonadi 
Published: September 2020

AbstractThis study aimed to evaluate the exogenous progesterone (P4) effect on the luteal function from Day 16 to Day 21 of the oestrous cycle in inseminated goats with unknown pregnancy status. A total of 54 does passed through a short progestin‐based synchronization protocol and, on Day 16 of the following oestrous cycle, 27 does received a new P4 device which was retained until Day 21. Blood samples were collected daily from all does during this period, as well as on Day 24. Pregnancy diagnoses were performed on Day 30. Serum P4 values from 26 animals (GNPSP: Group of non‐pregnant does with second sponge: n = 8; GNPNSP: Group of non‐pregnant does without second sponge: n = 6; GPSP: Group of pregnant does with second sponge: n = 5; GPNSP: Group of pregnant does without second sponge: n = 7) were determined by radioimmunoassay commercial kits. No P4 differences were found between groups (GNPSP: 3.1 ± 2.8; 1.7 ± 1.8; 0.4 ± 1.0; and 0.0 ± 0.0 vs. GNPNSP: 4.4 ± 1.8; 3.0 ± 2.2; 0.8 ± 0.8; and 0.0 ± 0.0 or GPSP: 4.2 ± 1.0; 3.4 ± 0.6; 3.3 ± 1.6; 3.2 ± 0.9; 3.6 ± 1.2; 3.5 ± 1.3; 2.7 ± 1.3 vs. GPNSP: 4.4 ± 1.6; 3.6 ± 1.5; 3.7 ± 1.5; 3.8 ± 1.4; 3.2 ± 1.2; 3.1 ± 1.2; 3.6 ± 1.1; D16, D17, D18, D19, D20, D21, D24, respectively) or for the interaction of group and time. In conclusion, a second progestogen device had no effect on luteolysis or early pregnancy in the following oestrous cycle.
Evaluation of the efficiency of TaqMan duplex real‐time PCR assay for non‐invasive pre‐natal assessment of foetal sex in equine
Authors: Kadivar Ali , Rashidzadeh Habiballah , Davoodian Najmeh , Nazari Hasan , Dehghani Tafti Rohallah , Heidari Khoei Heidar , Seidi Samani Hasan , Modaresi Jahangir , Ahmadi Ebrahim 
Published: September 2020

AbstractAccurate diagnosis of foetal sex in pregnant mare is helpful for many breeders, both for private or commercial purposes. In this study, in order to pre‐natal foetal sexing in equine, we used TaqMan duplex real‐time PCR to detect the specific regions of SRY and TSPY genes on extracted cell‐free foetal DNA from maternal blood. Peripheral blood samples from 50 pregnant Arabian mares with singleton foetuses were collected. Cell‐free foetal DNA was extracted from maternal plasma, and duplex real‐time PCR assays were performed with TaqMan probes and primers. Amplification of glyceraldehyde‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) gene was used as control of DNA extraction procedure. From the 50 sampled mares, 28 cases had female and 22 mares had male foetuses. The final results for 46 samples were conclusive, and from them, 43 cases were predicted correctly. Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the test were 90.48%, 96% and 93.48%, respectively. In conclusion, a TaqMan duplex real‐time PCR was set up to pre‐natal detection of foetal sex in equine. The method was fast and decreased the false‐positive and false‐negative results. The technique can be used as a routine procedure in farms by collecting only a blood sample.
The transmission of bank capital requirements and monetary policy to bank lending in Germany
Authors: Imbierowicz Björn , Löffler Axel , Vogel Ursula 
Published: September 2020

AbstractWe investigate the transmission of changes in bank capital requirements and monetary policy, and their interaction, on German banks’ corporate loan growth and lending rates. Our results show that increases in capital requirements are associated with an immediate decrease in total domestic and cross‐border bank lending. Changes in the euro area's monetary policy stance are positively related to corporate loan interest rates in general. Regarding the interacting effect of national bank capital requirements and euro area monetary policy, we observe that the transmission of accommodative euro area monetary policy to corporate lending rates can be attenuated by contemporaneous increases in bank capital requirements. Moreover, more strongly capitalized banks increase their loan growth in response to accommodative monetary policy whereas, for weaker banks, increasing capital requirements implies a decrease in their corporate loan growth. Our results confirm a tradeoff between higher capital requirements and accommodating monetary policy originating from banks’ capital constraints.
Circular Regression Trees and Forests with an Application to Probabilistic Wind Direction Forecasting
Authors: Lang Moritz N. , Schlosser Lisa , Hothorn Torsten , Mayr Georg J. , Stauffer Reto , Zeileis Achim 
Published: September 2020

SummaryAlthough circular data occur in a wide range of scientific fields, the methodology for distributional modelling and probabilistic forecasting of circular response variables is quite limited. Most of the existing methods are built on generalized linear and additive models, which are often challenging to optimize and interpret. Specifically, capturing abrupt changes or interactions is not straightforward but often relevant, e.g. for modelling wind directions subject to different wind regimes. Additionally, automatic covariate selection is desirable when many predictor variables are available, as is often the case in weather forecasting. To address these challenges we suggest a general distributional approach using regression trees and random forests to obtain probabilistic forecasts for circular responses. Using trees simplifies model estimation as covariates are used only for partitioning the data and subsequently just a simple von Mises distribution is fitted in the resulting subgroups. Circular regression trees are straightforward to interpret, can capture non-linear effects and interactions, and automatically select covariates affecting location and/or scale in the von Mises distribution. Circular random forests regularize and smooth the effects from an ensemble of trees. The new methods are applied to probabilistic wind direction forecasting at two Austrian airports, considering other common approaches as a benchmark.
Physical behaviors and fundamental movement skills in British and Iranian children: An isotemporal substitution analysis
Authors: Smith Elizabeth , Fazeli Fatima , Wilkinson Kate , Clark Cain C. T. 
Published: September 2020

Although the relationship between fundamental movement skills (FMS) and physical behaviors has been established, differences between countries are scarcely explored. The impact of the whole physical behavior composition, in relation to FMS, has yet to be investigated in 9‐11 y children. The aims were to investigate the associations of substitution of physical behaviors with FMS score and to compare traditional linear regression and compositional data analysis and compare between England and Iran. Measures included accelerometer‐derived activity (sleep (SL), sedentary behavior (SB), light physical activity (LPA), and moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and FMS, using the TGMD‐2, in 119 children (64 boys) from Iran (mean (±SD) age: 9.8 ± 0.3 y; BMI of 18.2 ± 3.3 kg/m2) and 139 (61 boys) children from England (mean (±SD) age: 9.5 ± 0.6 y; BMI of 17.7 ± 3.1 kg/m2). Isometric log‐ratio multiple linear regression models were used to discern the association between FMS and the mean activity composition, and for new compositions, where fixed durations of time were reallocated from one behavior to another, while the remaining behaviors were unchanged. In physical behaviors as a composition, FMS was significantly associated in both ethnicities. English children responded significantly positively to adding 5 or more minutes LPA at the expense of SB (FMS unit change from 0.05 [0.01, 0.09] at 5 minutes to 0.72 [0.01, 1.34] at 60 minutes). Adding 10 minutes or more of SL, at the expense of SB, was associated with a significant, positive change in FMS in all children. Investigation is needed to understand the composition of SB and its potential influence on FMS development.
The dual nature of teachers' unions
Authors: Pullum Amanda 
Published: September 2020

AbstractIn the early 21st century, teachers' union mobilization was widespread throughout the United States. Decrying low salaries, restrictions on labor rights, and more, teachers' unions engaged in large‐scale tactics such as massive strikes, public protests, and successful ballot campaigns. In this article, I demonstrate that by sharing characteristics of both social movement organizations and interest groups, teachers' unions are well suited to respond to political threats. Teachers' unions are large, longstanding organizations with the resources necessary to use a wide variety of tactics. Teachers' relationships with parents and the local community provide strong potential for alliances, and teachers can leverage their professional identity and expertise to help establish legitimacy in educational policy conversations. Ultimately, however, the future of teachers' unions depends upon sustained worker and ally activism beyond the current wave of mobilization.
Coordination of village plans and municipal rural and health policies ‐ Can low‐hanging fruit be picked?
Authors: Thuesen Annette Aagaard , Andersen Pernille Tanggaard 
Published: September 2020

AbstractThis paper analyses how, and the extent to which, village plans and municipal rural and health policies have been coordinated in three Danish rural case locations. We applied a qualitative design through a document analysis of plans and policies as well as interviews in villages ‐ with municipal administrations. Theoretically, the article builds on the coordination and bridging that have been undertaken between community‐led planning and statutory planning. First, the study shows that although communities are expected to influence the successful implementation of health interventions, there is still a way to go before health and rural development planning are integrated in Danish municipalities despite innovative actions towards integration at the village level. Second, issues such as what we term ‘tame planning’, fear of municipal domination, difficulties in approaching village diversity, and silo‐based strategy‐making are identified as critical barriers to address.
Comment markers in world Englishes
Authors: Collins Peter Craig 
Published: September 2020

AbstractThis study, an exercise in varietal pragmatics, compares the frequencies and uses of four categories of comment markers – ‘evaluative’, ‘epistemic’, ‘style’, and ‘hearsay’ – across the 20 world Englishes represented in the Global Web‐based Corpus of English. Predictions drawn from the models of world Englishes formulated by Kachru, Schneider, and Mair are used to formulate a set of research questions. The possible covariation of comment marker use with levels of textual informality is explored via comparison of the General and Blogs macro‐genres of GloWbE. The implications of the findings for the evolutionary development of varieties, their stylistic preferences, areal co‐patterning, and directions of intervarietal influence are investigated.
PHILOSOPHICAL QUESTIONS AND BIOLOGICAL FINDINGS, PART I: HUMAN COOPERATIVITY, COMPETITION, AND AGGRESSION
Authors: Pally Marcia 
Published: September 2020

AbstractThis first part of a two‐part article illustrates how research in evolutionary biology and psychology illuminates questions arising in philosophy—specifically questions about the origins of severe, systemic aggression that arise in the mimetic theory of René Girard. Part I looks at: (i) how old the systemic practice of severe aggression is, (ii) how much results from humanity's mimetic/social and competitive nature and how much from ecological, resource, and cultural conditions, and (iii) if ecological and cultural conditions are important, might we adapt them toward greater cooperativity today? After briefly reviewing mimetic theory, the article looks at evolutionary psychology and biology, including fossil and archeological evidence. Findings suggest that severe, systemic aggression might be relatively recent and that its occurrence depends on ecological/resource/socioeconomic conditions additional to our mimetic/social nature. Thus, distinguishing the conditions that prod aggression from those that support pro‐social behavior might aid us in structuring society today.
A HYDRA‐LOGICAL APPROACH: ACKNOWLEDGING COMPLEXITY IN THE STUDY OF RELIGION, SCIENCE, AND TECHNOLOGY
Authors: Geraci Robert M. 
Published: September 2020

AbstractScholarship has grown increasingly nuanced in its grappling with the intersections of religion, science, and technology but requires a new paradigm. Contemporary approaches to specific technologies reveal a wide variety of perspectives but remain too often committed to typological classification. To be vigilant of our obligation to understand and reveal, scholars in the study of religion, science, and technology can adopt a hydra‐logical stance: we can recognize that there are cultural monsters possessing scientific, technological, and religious heads. These heads may work with a common agenda or they might not. They might disagree, pulling their shared body back and forth in a public commotion that lays waste to their surroundings. They might see past one another or move in tandem—purposively or not. Evaluations of climate response and AI benefit from seeing how the various heads are inseparable: indeed, cutting one off simply promotes the growth of new heads. Methodological and analytical clarity, therefore, emerges in the transition from schemes of classification to the recognition of hydras.
PHILOSOPHICAL QUESTIONS AND BIOLOGICAL FINDINGS, PART II: PLAY, ART, RITUAL, AND RITUAL SACRIFICE
Authors: Pally Marcia 
Published: September 2020

AbstractThis Part II of a two‐part article illustrates how research in evolutionary biology, anthropology, archeology, and psychology illuminates questions arising in philosophy—specifically questions about René Girard's theory of aggression. Part I looked at: (i) how old the systemic practice of severe aggression is; (ii) how much of it results from humanity's mimetic/social and competitive nature and how much from ecological, resource, and cultural conditions; and (iii) if ecological, resource, and cultural conditions are important, might we adapt this information toward greater cooperativity today? Part II investigates Girard's theory of ritual sacrifice—especially human sacrifice—as a societal steam valve for the systemic aggression explored in Part I. It draws on theories of play, theater, and art to examine the role and function of such ritual sacrifice.
Deep learning algorithms to isolate and quantify the structures of the anterior segment in optical coherence tomography images
Authors: Pham Tan Hung , Devalla Sripad Krishna , Ang Aloysius , Soh Zhi-Da , Thiery Alexandre H , Boote Craig , Cheng Ching-Yu , Girard Michael J A , Koh Victor 
Published: September 2020

Background/AimsAccurate isolation and quantification of intraocular dimensions in the anterior segment (AS) of the eye using optical coherence tomography (OCT) images is important in the diagnosis and treatment of many eye diseases, especially angle-closure glaucoma.MethodIn this study, we developed a deep convolutional neural network (DCNN) for the localisation of the scleral spur; moreover, we introduced an information-rich segmentation approach for this localisation problem. An ensemble of DCNNs for the segmentation of AS structures (iris, corneosclera shell adn anterior chamber) was developed. Based on the results of two previous processes, an algorithm to automatically quantify clinically important measurements were created. 200 images from 58 patients (100 eyes) were used for testing.ResultsWith limited training data, the DCNN was able to detect the scleral spur on unseen anterior segment optical coherence tomography (ASOCT) images as accurately as an experienced ophthalmologist on the given test dataset and simultaneously isolated the AS structures with a Dice coefficient of 95.7%. We then automatically extracted eight clinically relevant ASOCT measurements and proposed an automated quality check process that asserts the reliability of these measurements. When combined with an OCT machine capable of imaging multiple radial sections, the algorithms can provide a more complete objective assessment. The total segmentation and measurement time for a single scan is less than 2 s.ConclusionThis is an essential step towards providing a robust automated framework for reliable quantification of ASOCT scans, for applications in the diagnosis and management of angle-closure glaucoma.