bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Strain diversity of plant‐associated Lactiplantibacillus plantarum
Authors: Yu Annabelle O. , Goldman Elissa A. , Brooks Jason T. , Golomb Benjamin L. , Yim Irene S. , Gotcheva Velitchka , Angelov Angel , Kim Eun Bae , Marco Maria L. 
Published: June 2021

SummaryLactiplantibacillus plantarum (formerly Lactobacillus plantarum) is a lactic acid bacteria species found on plants that is essential for many plant food fermentations. In this study, we investigated the intraspecific phenotypic and genetic diversity of 13 L. plantarum strains isolated from different plant foods, including fermented olives and tomatoes, cactus fruit, teff injera, wheat boza and wheat sourdough starter. We found that strains from the same or similar plant food types frequently exhibited similar carbohydrate metabolism and stress tolerance responses. The isolates from acidic, brine‐containing ferments (olives and tomatoes) were more resistant to MRS adjusted to pH 3.5 or containing 4% w/v NaCl, than those recovered from grain fermentations. Strains from fermented olives grew robustly on raffinose as the sole carbon source and were better able to grow in the presence of ethanol (8% v/v or sequential exposure of 8% (v/v) and then 12% (v/v) ethanol) than most isolates from other plant types and the reference strain NCIMB8826R. Cell free culture supernatants from the olive‐associated strains were also more effective at inhibiting growth of an olive spoilage strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Multi‐locus sequence typing and comparative genomics indicated that isolates from the same source tended to be genetically related. However, despite these similarities, other traits were highly variable between strains from the same plant source, including the capacity for biofilm formation and survival at pH 2 or 50°C. Genomic comparisons were unable to resolve strain differences, with the exception of the most phenotypically impaired and robust isolates, highlighting the importance of utilizing phenotypic studies to investigate differences between strains of L. plantarum. The findings show that L. plantarum is adapted for growth on specific plants or plant food types, but that intraspecific variation may be important for ecological fitness and strain coexistence within individual habitats.
National trends in population rates of opioid‐related mortality, hospitalization and emergency department visits in Canada between 2000 and 2017. A population‐based study
Authors: Alsabbagh Mhd. Wasem , Chang Feng , Cooke Martin , Elliott Susan J. , Chen Meixi 
Published: June 2021

AbstractBackground and aimsExisting assessments of the time‐trends of opioid‐related mortality, hospitalization and emergency department visits in Canada have relied mainly on provincial databases, while national assessments generally do not provide information before 2016. We aimed to estimate Canadian national time trends in opioid‐related mortality from 2000 to 2017 and opioid‐related hospitalization and emergency department visits between 2000 and 2012.DesignRetrospective cohort study.Setting and participantsResidents of all Canadian provinces and territories for which comparable data were available from 2000 to 2017.MeasurementsWe identified opioid‐related mortality, hospitalization and emergency department visits using validated algorithms using ICD codes from administrative databases. We calculated crude rates and sex‐ and age‐adjusted rates per million. For hospitalizations, we calculated case‐fatality, 90‐day and 365‐day all‐cause mortality and opioid‐related re‐hospitalization rates. We used Poisson regression to examine the significance of the time trend.FindingsFrom 2000 to 2017, the adjusted opioid mortality rate in Canada (outside Quebec) increased significantly by 592.9% (from 20.0 opioid deaths per million in 2000 to 118.3 in 2017). The highest year‐to‐year increases were from 2015 to 2016 (31.8%) and from 2016 to 2017 (52.2%). The adjusted hospitalizations doubled significantly during the study period (an increase of 103.7%, from 159.7 opioid hospitalizations per million Canadians in 2000 to 325.3 in 2012). The adjusted rate of emergency department visits increased significantly by 188.7% (from 280.6 per million in 2000 to 810.1 in 2012). Case‐fatality was 2.3% overall and was mainly constant during the study period. Both 90‐ and 365‐day all‐cause mortality increased significantly between 2000 and 2011 (from 1.7 to 3.1% and 3.9 to 7.4%, respectively), while re‐hospitalization for opioid‐related diagnoses was reduced (from 7.8 to 6.4% and 14.2 to 12.9%, respectively).ConclusionsOpioid‐related mortality, hospitalization and emergency department visits in Canada have been increasing gradually since 2000.
Political Campaigns, Voter Outreach, and American Democracy: Socializing Effective Participation and Citizen Agency in the United States
Authors: Maceyko Melissa 
Published: June 2021

ABSTRACTDrawing from linguistic and ethnographic data collected from Women for Obama, South Hills (WFOSH) volunteers and Obama for America (OFA) campaign operatives in western Pennsylvania during the 2012 general election cycle, this study examines metacommentary about the ideal form and function of citizen‐to‐citizen political interaction in the United States, focusing on the persuasive impact of language objects, mediation, and the construction of relatability in voter outreach, as well as subsequent assessments of outreach effectiveness. Voter outreach, considered as direct communication between local campaign volunteers and voters, was strategically advanced by both OFA and WFOSH for meeting campaign goals. However, clashes between volunteers and operatives reveal competing understandings of effective political participation within outreach interactions. This analysis suggests that operatives within contemporary data‐driven American political campaigns more and less overtly socialize citizens’ understandings of democracy in ways that can exacerbate polarization and devalue citizens’ knowledge and agency in political practice. [democracy, discursive political participation, political agency, language materiality and mediation, political campaigns, United States]
Letter: coronary atherosclerosis in patients with significant hepatic fibrosis in non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease—a realm for non‐invasive testing. Authors' reply
Authors: Park Jung Gil , Jung Jinho , Loomba Rohit 
Published: June 2021

LINKED CONTENTThis article is linked to Park et al papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.16324 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.16435
Exploring the reliability and its influencing factors of peer assessment in massive open online courses
Authors: Li Hongxia , Zhao ChengLing , Long Taotao , Huang Yan , Shu Fengfang 
Published: June 2021

AbstractAs an innovative evaluation tool, peer assessment is essential in Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). In both formative and summative peer assessments in MOOCs, providing reliable feedback is crucial in enhancing learning outcomes. Peer assessment has been highlighted as a reliable tool in both traditional classrooms and small‐scale online learning contexts by a wealth of studies. Factors impacting the result of peer assessment have also been identified. However, such exploration in MOOCs is very limited. Through an examination of 5,722 assignment submissions and 56,794 review scores collected from 18 peer assessments in three courses on Chinese University MOOC platform, this study investigated the inter‐reliability of peer assessment in MOOCs utilizing Krippendorff's alpha and ICC[1]. It also revealed factors affecting peer assessment reliability in MOOCs. The results of this study show that students tended to mark extreme scores, and peer assessment in MOOCs seemed unreliable. In addition, the reliability of the peer assessment in these MOOCs was inversely correlated to the number of reviewers per assignment and reviews completed per reviewer. The assignment type also matters; peer assessment using e‐portfolios format was found more reliable than those using papers and proposals. Suggestions on how to improve the reliability of peer assessments in MOOCs are also provided.
Practitioner notesWhat is already known about this topic

Both the formative and summative peer assessment mode, providing reliable feedback is needed, which is of great value for improving the quality of online learning.

The reliability and influence factors of peer assessment has been highlighted by a wealth of studies in traditional classrooms and small‐scale online learning contexts.

There are still limited explorations in MOOCs.

What the paper adds

The students tended to give extreme scores in peer assessment in MOOC, and the peer assessment in MOOC may was not particularly reliable.

The Assignment type being rated affected the reliability, and peer assessment using e‐portfolios format was found more reliable than those using papers and proposals.

The reliability of peer assessment in MOOC was negative related to the number of reviewers per assignment and the reviews completed per reviewer.

Implications for practice and/or policy

Avoid using peer assessment as a summative assessment method, and should be assigned relatively low weights to final grades.

Using papers and proposals as learning assignments can appropriately reduce the proportion of peer assessment in the final grade.

Training on how to identify medium quality work should be provided.

Instructional strategies should be designed to encourage learners to actively participate in peer assessments and thoroughly assess.
Tobacco smoking and risk of thyroid cancer according to BRAFV600E mutational subtypes
Authors: Rahman Sabbir T. , Pandeya Nirmala , Neale Rachel E. , McLeod Donald S. A. , Baade Peter D. , Youl Philippa H. , Allison Roger , Leonard Susan , Jordan Susan J. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractObjectiveSmoking has been associated with a reduced risk of thyroid cancer, but whether the association varies between higher‐ and lower‐risk cancers remains unclear. We aimed to assess the association between smoking and risk of thyroid cancer overall as well as by tumour BRAF mutational status as a marker of potentially higher‐risk cancer.Design and PatientsWe recruited 1013 people diagnosed with thyroid cancer and 1057 population controls frequency‐matched on age and sex.MethodsMultivariable logistic regression was used to assess the association overall and in analyses stratified by tumour characteristics. We used sensitivity analysis to assess the potential for selection bias.ResultsWe found little evidence of an association with current smoking (odds ratio [OR] = 0.93; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.69–1.26; current vs. never smoking), but a higher number of pack‐years of smoking was associated with a lower risk of thyroid cancer (OR = 0.75; 95% CI: 0.57–0.99; ≥20 pack‐years vs. never). However, after correcting for potential selection bias, we observed a statistically significant inverse association between current smoking and risk of thyroid cancer (bias‐corrected OR = 0.65; 95% CI: 0.51–0.83). Those with BRAF‐positive cancers were less likely to be current smokers than those with BRAF‐negative cancers (prevalence ratio: 0.79; 95% CI: 0.62–0.99).ConclusionWe found smoking was inversely related to thyroid cancer risk and, in particular, current smoking was associated with a reduced risk of potentially more aggressive BRAF‐positive than the likely more indolent BRAF‐negative papillary thyroid cancers.
Easier Said Than Done? Task Difficulty's Influence on Temporal Alignment, Semantic Similarity, and Complexity Matching Between Gestures and Speech
Authors: De Jonge‐Hoekstra Lisette , Cox Ralf F.A. , Van der Steen Steffie , Dixon James A. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractGestures and speech are clearly synchronized in many ways. However, previous studies have shown that the semantic similarity between gestures and speech breaks down as people approach transitions in understanding. Explanations for thesegesture–speech mismatches, which focus on gestures and speech expressing different cognitive strategies, have been criticized for disregarding gestures’ and speech's integration and synchronization. In the current study, we applied three different perspectives to investigate gesture–speech synchronization in an easy and a difficult task:temporal alignment,semantic similarity, andcomplexity matching. Participants engaged in a simple cognitive task and were assigned to either an easy or a difficult condition. We automatically measured pointing gestures, and we coded participant's speech, to determine the temporal alignment and semantic similarity between gestures and speech. Multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis was used to determine the extent of complexity matching between gestures and speech. We found that task difficulty indeed influenced gesture–speech synchronization in all three domains. We thereby extended the phenomenon of gesture–speech mismatches to difficult tasks in general. Furthermore, we investigated how temporal alignment, semantic similarity, and complexity matching were related in each condition, and how they predicted participants’ task performance. Our study illustrates how combining multiple perspectives, originating from different research areas (i.e., coordination dynamics, complexity science, cognitive psychology), provides novel understanding about cognitive concepts in general and about gesture–speech synchronization and task difficulty in particular.
Dasiglucagon, a next‐generation glucagon analogue, for treatment of severe hypoglycaemia via an autoinjector device: Results of a phase 3, randomized, double‐blind trial
Authors: Bailey Timothy S. , Willard Julie , Klaff Leslie J. , Yager Stone Jenine , Melgaard Anita , Tehranchi Ramin 
Published: June 2021

AbstractAimTo confirm the efficacy and safety of dasiglucagon when administered via an autoinjector device.Materials and MethodsIn this double‐blind trial, 45 participants with type 1 diabetes were randomized 3:1 to receive a single subcutaneous dose of dasiglucagon 0.6 mg or placebo following controlled induction of hypoglycaemia. The primary endpoint was time to plasma glucose recovery, defined as a plasma glucose increase of 20 mg/dL or higher from baseline without rescue intravenous glucose.ResultsMedian (95% CI) observed time to recovery was 10.0 (8.0; 12.0) minutes for dasiglucagon and 35.0 (20.0; −) minutes for placebo (P < .001). Plasma glucose recovery was achieved within 15 minutes by 88% of participants receiving dasiglucagon versus none receiving placebo (P < .01). Site of injection (buttock or deltoid) was not shown to have any effect on time to recovery (P = .84). No serious adverse events occurred. As expected for glucagon treatment, nausea and vomiting were common adverse events in dasiglucagon‐treated participants.ConclusionsDasiglucagon provided rapid reversal of hypoglycaemia in adults with type 1 diabetes. Dasiglucagon administration was well tolerated. The aqueous formulation of dasiglucagon in a ready‐to‐use autoinjector device that can be carried at room temperature may provide a reliable treatment for severe hypoglycaemia.
Successional syndromes of saplings in tropical secondary forests emerge from environment‐dependent trait–demography relationships
Authors: Lai Hao Ran , Craven Dylan , Hall Jefferson S. , Hui Francis K. C. , van Breugel Michiel 
Published: June 2021

AbstractIdentifying generalisable processes that underpin population dynamics is crucial for understanding successional patterns. While longitudinal or chronosequence data are powerful tools for doing so, the traditional focus on community‐level shifts in taxonomic and functional composition rather than species‐level trait–demography relationships has made generalisation difficult. Using joint species distribution models, we demonstrate how three traits—photosynthetic rate, adult stature, and seed mass—moderate recruitment and sapling mortality rates of 46 woody species during secondary succession. We show that the pioneer syndrome emerges from higher photosynthetic rates, shorter adult statures and lighter seeds that facilitate exploitation of light in younger secondary forests, while ‘long‐lived pioneer’ and ‘late successional’ syndromes are associated with trait values that enable species to persist in the understory or reach the upper canopy in older secondary forests. Our study highlights the context dependency of trait–demography relationships, which drive successional shifts in sapling's species composition in secondary forests.
Determinants of community compositional change are equally affected by global change
Authors: Avolio Meghan L. , Komatsu Kimberly J. , Collins Scott L. , Grman Emily , Koerner Sally E. , Tredennick Andrew T. , Wilcox Kevin R. , Baer Sara , Boughton Elizabeth H. , Britton Andrea J. , Foster Bryan , Gough Laura , Hovenden Mark , Isbell Forest , Jentsch Anke , Johnson David S. , Knapp Alan K. , Kreyling Juergen , Langley J. Adam , Lortie Christopher , McCulley Rebecca L. , McLaren Jennie R. , Reich Peter B. , Seabloom Eric W. , Smith Melinda D. , Suding Katharine N. , Suttle K. Blake , Tognetti Pedro M. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractGlobal change is impacting plant community composition, but the mechanisms underlying these changes are unclear. Using a dataset of 58 global change experiments, we tested the five fundamental mechanisms of community change: changes in evenness and richness, reordering, species gains and losses. We found 71% of communities were impacted by global change treatments, and 88% of communities that were exposed to two or more global change drivers were impacted. Further, all mechanisms of change were equally likely to be affected by global change treatments—species losses and changes in richness were just as common as species gains and reordering. We also found no evidence of a progression of community changes, for example, reordering and changes in evenness did not precede species gains and losses. We demonstrate that all processes underlying plant community composition changes are equally affected by treatments and often occur simultaneously, necessitating a wholistic approach to quantifying community changes.
The different fates of two Asian horseshoe crab species with different dispersal abilities
Authors: Tang Qian , Shingate Prashant , Wardiatno Yusli , John Akbar , Tay Boon Hui , Tay Ywee Chieh , Yap Laura‐Marie , Lim Jasmin , Tong Hor Yee , Tun Karenne , Venkatesh Byrappa , Rheindt Frank E. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractImpending anthropogenic climate change will severely impact coastal organisms at unprecedented speed. Knowledge on organisms’ evolutionary responses to past sea‐level fluctuations and estimation of their evolutionary potential is therefore indispensable in efforts to mitigate the effects of future climate change. We sampled tens of thousands of genomic markers of ~300 individuals in two of the four extant horseshoe crab species across the complex archipelagic Singapore Straits. Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda Latreille, a less mobile mangrove species, has finer population structure and lower genetic diversity compared with the dispersive deep‐sea Tachypleus gigas Müller. Even though the source populations of both species during the last glacial maximum exhibited comparable effective population sizes, the less dispersive C. rotundicauda seems to lose genetic diversity much more quickly because of population fragmentation. Contra previous studies’ results, we predict that the more commonly sighted C. rotundicauda faces a more uncertain conservation plight, with a continuing loss in evolutionary potential and higher vulnerability to future climate change. Our study provides important genomic baseline data for the redirection of conservation measures in the face of climate change and can be used as a blueprint for assessment and mitigation of the adverse effects of impending sea‐level rise in other systems.
Differences in ontogenetic and diurnal microhabitat selection by sympatric live‐bearing fish species with different reproductive modes
Authors: Hagmayer Andres , Furness Andrew I. , Pollux Bart J. A. 
Published: June 2021

Abstract

A pregnancy imposes a heavy reproductive burden on females. Some live‐bearing species have evolved reproductive adaptations to reduce this burden, which may influence their ability to use specific microhabitats.

We investigate whether two such reproductive adaptations, placentation (embryo provisioning via a placenta) and superfetation (the ability to carry multiple broods at various developmental stages), influence microhabitat selection by five sympatric Costa Rican live‐bearing fish species (family Poeciliidae). Theory predicts that placentation and superfetation should both reduce the reproductive burden of females during pregnancy, improve their body streamlining, and swimming performance, and consequently allow them to use more performance‐demanding microhabitats.

Here we apply underwater visual fish surveys to test a key prediction of this hypothesis, which is that the presence of these two reproductive adaptations is correlated with the use of microhabitats in the river that are characterised by a higher‐flow velocity.

Consistent with our predictions, we observed significant interspecific differences in daytime microhabitat use: species that had both placentation and superfetation were found in deeper and faster‐flowing parts of the river, species that lacked both adaptations were confined to shallow slow‐flowing areas, and species with one adaptation (i.e. only superfetation) inhabited intermediate areas. This interspecific daytime microhabitat use was strongest in reproductive adults, intermediate in immatures, and absent in juveniles (the latter of which were all found in shallow low‐velocity zones), suggesting that ontogeny influences species‐specific microhabitat use. Finally, at night, all fishes, regardless of the species or age‐class, congregated in shallow slow‐flowing waters to rest (sleep) on the river bottom.

Taken together, our results suggest that placentation and superfetation may be hitherto unrecognised reproductive features that help to explain differences in ontogenetic and diurnal microhabitat preferences between sympatric live‐bearing fish species living in environments characterised by large flow variation.
Study of texture properties of ‘laba’ garlic in different color states and their change mechanisms
Authors: Lu Rongrong , Ma Yue , Wang Xu , Zhao Xiaoyan , Liang Hao , Wang Dan 
Published: June 2021

SummaryIn addition to color, texture of ‘laba’ garlic can also change. To study texture properties of ‘laba’ garlic and their change mechanisms during pickling, texture, ultrastructures, membrane permeability, water status, wall polysaccharides contents, and enzyme activities of garlics in three color states (white, green, and yellow) were studied. The results showed that the firmness, fracturability, membrane permeability, malonaldehyde, protopectin, and chelator‐soluble pectin contents, and cellulase and polygalacturonase activities of garlic decreased significantly (P < 0.05), while the water, cellulose, and water‐soluble pectin contents, and pectin methylesterase (PME) activity increased after pickling. In addition, the more content of free water and less content of immobilised water were contained in ‘laba’ garlic than in fresh garlic owing to wall degradation and water translocation, especially in yellow garlic. In summary, texture changes in ‘laba’ garlic are mainly dependent on pectin composition, water status, and PME activity.