bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Differential effects of nematode infection on pollinating and non‐pollinating fig wasps: Can shared antagonism provide net benefits to a mutualism?
Authors: Van Goor Justin , Piatscheck Finn , Houston Derek D. , Nason John D. 
Published: May 2021

Abstract

Species pairs that form mutualistic associations are also components of broader organismal community networks. These interaction networks have shaped the evolution of individual mutualisms through interspecific interactions ranging from secondarily mutualistic to intensely antagonistic. Our understanding of this complex context remains limited because characterizing the impacts of species interacting with focal mutualists is often difficult. How is the fitness of mutualists impacted by the co‐occurring interactive network of community associates?

We investigated this context using a model interaction network comprised of a fig and fig wasp mutualist, eight non‐pollinating fig wasp (NPFW) antagonists/commensals and a nematode previously believed to be associated only with the pollinator wasp mutualist.

Through repeated sampling and field observations, we characterized the ecological roles of these mutualist‐associated organisms to identify key antagonists. We then investigated how potential nematode infection of NPFWs could impact wasp survival across key life stages and, in turn, inferred how this influences the fitness of the fig–pollinator mutualists.

Unexpectedly, we found all Ficus petiolaris‐associated NPFWs to be the targets for nematode infection, with infection levels sometimes exceeding that of pollinators. Experimental data collected for the most abundant NPFW species suggest that nematode infection significantly reduces their longevity. Further, comparisons of nematode loads for emerging and successfully arriving NPFWs suggest that infection severely limits their dispersal ability.

Through these observations, we conclude that this infection could impact NPFWs more severely than either mutualistic partner, suggesting a novel role of density‐dependent facultative mutualism between figs, pollinator wasps and the nematode. This antagonist‐mediated suppression of other network antagonists may present an ecologically common mechanism through which antagonists can present net benefits for mutualists' fitness.
Stakeholder perceptions of policy implementation for Indigenous health and cultural safety: A study of Australia's ‘Closing the Gap’ policies
Authors: Fisher Matthew , Mackean Tamara , George Emma , Friel Sharon , Baum Fran 
Published: May 2021

AbstractIndigenous peoples in Australia and similar colonised countries are subject to racism and systemic socioeconomic disadvantages, resulting in worse health outcomes compared to non‐Indigenous counterparts. Such inequities persist despite governments’ attempts to reduce them. Since 2008, Australian governments have committed to a national ‘Closing the Gap’ (CTG) to reduce inequities in health, education, and employment outcomes between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other Australians, but with limited success. We applied policy theory and a cultural safety framework developed for the research to analyse stakeholder perceptions of CTG policy implementation between 2008 and 2019. We identified policy‐shaping ideas and policy incoherence in the environment surrounding CTG policy that obstructed culturally safe policy. Top‐down, prescriptive modes of implementation were also a barrier. However, Indigenous‐led policy partnerships and community‐controlled services in the health sector have met principles of cultural safety. Identifying these strengths and weaknesses points to ways in which implementation of CTG policies can be improved to achieve cultural safety and reduce Indigenous health inequities. These results may hold lessons for similar countries such as the United States, New Zealand, and Canada.
Delayed and Decoupled: Family Firm Compliance with Board Independence Requirements
Authors: Shaw Tara Shankar , He Lerong , Cordeiro James 
Published: May 2021

AbstractWe investigate family firms’ speed and degree of compliance with board independence requirements and how willingness and ability affect family firms’ compliance patterns. Using a longitudinal sample of Indian publicly traded firms during a transitional period of corporate governance reforms, we find that family firms are slower to comply with board independence requirements than non‐family firms. Family firms’ compliance speed is even slower as agency costs increase. We also document that family firms are prone to symbolically comply with board independence requirements, as independent directors in family firms are less engaged than their counterparts in non‐family firms. Family firms’ symbolic compliance is even more salient when family firms possess larger agency problems and greater resource constraints. Our results also point to a complementary relationship between family firms’ willingness and ability to comply, as family firms with greater agency costs and larger resource constraints are among the slowest to comply and are also most likely to comply superficially. Overall, we conclude that family firms’ internal logic, agency costs and resource constraints jointly affect their compliance patterns.
China‐U.S. trade dispute and its impact on global agricultural markets, the U.S. economy, and greenhouse gas emissions
Authors: Elobeid Amani , Carriquiry Miguel , Dumortier Jerome , Swenson David , J. Hayes Dermot 
Published: May 2021

AbstractChina is a major importer of agricultural products and we examine retaliatory tariffs imposed by China on U.S. pork, soybeans, corn, and wheat. We use an agricultural trade model to determine the impacts on agricultural commodity markets and combine our results with an input‐output model to measure economic effects in the United States. In addition, we calculate global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from land‐use change. The consequences of retaliatory tariffs are both trade destruction (lower overall trade) and trade diversion (trade diverted away from the U.S. and to other exporting countries). By the end of the projection period, total U.S. pork exports decline by 4.7%. Total soybean and wheat exports decrease by 31.2% and 0.5%, respectively whereas corn exports increases by 4.0%. Domestic U.S. retail pork prices decline by 0.8% and commodity farm prices decrease by 4.2%, 5.1%, and 15.8% for corn, wheat, and soybeans, respectively. The decline in foreign demand reduces U.S. production and welfare. Key among these impacts are a loss of nearly 15,400 jobs and a fall in labor income by $1.35 billion due to a $3.70 billion decline in national output at the beginning of the projection period. By the last year of the projection, the impacts grow to almost 30,000 fewer jobs and $2.31 billion less labor income. The U.S. economy experiences a loss of slightly under $6.80 billion in national output. Changes in trade due to the tariffs result in a reduction of GHG emissions from land‐use change of up to 83.7 teragram (Tg) of CO2‐equivalent.
Gunshot residue detection in stagnant water: SEM‐EDX or ICP‐MS? A preliminary study
Authors: Montoriol Romain , Guilbeau‐Frugier Céline , Aries Sébastien , Onfroy Lauriane , Lombardi Valentin , Payré Bruno , Cassard Hervé , Feki Nihel , Telmon Norbert , Savall Fréderic 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThe identification of gunshot residue (GSR) on wounds enables the differentiation of entry and exit wounds. Unfortunately, studies analyzing GSR on degraded bodies have been poorly documented, and no data exist regarding GSR detection after stagnant water immersion. The aim of this preliminary experimental study was to detect GSR on wounds altered in stagnant water, using scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy‐dispersive X (SEM‐EDX) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS). Shots were performed on sheep limbs with a 22LR at a distance of 20 cm. The limbs were then submerged in stagnant water and analyzed on days 0, 6, and 14. SEM‐EDX was performed on previously dehydrated wounds. For ICP‐MS analysis, the wounds were rubbed with a cotton swab that was then analyzed. In the SEM studies, a higher number of particles were detected in entry wounds compared to exit wounds under every set of experimental conditions. Unfortunately, SEM‐EDX failed to detect GSR particles, even on day 0. ICP‐MS enabled the detection of Pb, Sb, and Ba at every stage with higher quantities on entry than in exit. These elements remained detectable following limb immersion. ICP‐MS enabled differentiate entry from exit wounds, even after immersion in stagnant water. Nevertheless, when manually swabbing the wounds, quantities of matter collected is highly variable. ICP‐MS is a more suitable technique than SEM‐EDX for GSR identification of wounds after decomposition in stagnant water; however, standardization is needed.
NOVOWrap: An automated solution for plastid genome assembly and structure standardization
Authors: Wu Ping , Xu Chao , Chen Hao , Yang Jie , Zhang Xianchun , Zhou Shiliang 
Published: May 2021

AbstractPlastid genomes play an important role in genomics and evolutionary biology. Next‐generation sequencing has revolutionized plastid genomic data acquisition to the point that genome assembly has become a bottleneck for widespread utilization of plastid genome data. To solve this problem, we developed an open‐source, cross‐platform tool known as, NOVOWrap, which includes both command‐line and graphical interfaces for automatically assembling plastid genomes on personal computers. With minimal inputs, settings, and user intervention, NOVOWrap can automatically assemble plastid genomes, validate results and standardize the structure using affordable computer resources. The performance of this software has been successfully benchmarked against the plastid genomes of 11 species belonging to lycopods, gymnosperms, and angiosperms. By liberating researchers from laborious and cumbersome computer manipulations and create reliable and standardized genomic data, NOVOWrap is expected to accelerate plastid genome assembly, ease the process of data exchange, and contribute to downstream analysis.
BAI1 nuclear expression reflects the survival of nonsmoking non‐small cell lung cancer patients
Authors: An Hyo Jung , Kim Sung Hwan , Yang Jung Wook , Kim Min Hye , Baek Hye Jin , Ryu Kyeong Hwa , Jeon Kyung Nyeo , Lee Chang Sup , Choi Jun Young , Song Dae Hyun 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBackgroundSmoking‐ and nonsmoking‐associated lung cancers have different mechanisms of carcinogenesis. We divided non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients into nonsmoking and smoking groups with the aim of trying to understand the utility of brain‐specific angiogenesis inhibitor 1 (BAI1) expression in the separate groups.MethodsClinicopathological data were obtained from 148 patients who had undergone surgery for NSCLC of the lung. Tissue microarray blocks were made of samples from NSCLC patients. Two pathologists graded the intensity of BAI1 expression as high or low expression in the cancer cells of patients in the smoking and nonsmoking groups.ResultsNSCLC nonsmokers with higher BAI1 nuclear expression had poor disease‐specific survival (DSS) (hazard ratio: 2.679; 95% confidence interval [CI]:1.022–7.022, p = 0.045). The Kaplan–Meier survival curve confirmed that higher BAI1 expression was significantly associated with poor DSS (p = 0.034) in the nonsmoking group.ConclusionsWe divided NSCLC patients into nonsmoking and smoking groups and found that nuclear BAI1 expression was related to patient survival in nonsmoking NSCLC patients. We suggest BAI1 expression as a predictive marker of nonsmoking‐associated NSCLC and recommend that it be evaluated as an AJCC staging criterion in the future.
How many trees to see the forest? Assessing the effects of morphospace coverage and sample size in performance surface analysis
Authors: Smith Stephanie M. , Stayton C. Tristan , Angielczyk Kenneth D. 
Published: May 2021

Abstract

Linking morphology and function is critical to understanding the evolution of organismal shape. Performance landscapes, or performance surfaces, associate empirical functional performance data with a morphospace to assess how shape variation relates to functional variation. Performance surfaces for multiple functions also can be combined to understand the functional trade‐offs that affect the morphology of a particular structure across species. However, morphological performance surfaces usually require empirical determination of performance for a number of theoretical shapes that are evenly distributed throughout the morphospace. This process is time‐consuming, and is problematic for structures that are difficult to precisely manipulate.

We sought to (a) understand the degree and pattern of sampling required to produce a reliable and nuanced performance surface and (b) investigate the possibility of building a surface using only naturally occurring morphologies. To do this, we subsampled a pre‐existing set of turtle shell performance surfaces in four different ways: first, uniform subsampling of theoretical morphologies across the surface; second, random subsampling of theoretical morphologies across the surface; third, a combination uniform/random subsampling method called close‐pairs sampling and fourth, subsampling only points on the surface known to correspond to a naturally occurring turtle shell morphology. Each subset was interpolated with ordinary Kriging to produce a new performance surface for comparison to the original.

We found that using a fraction of the theoretical morphologies examined in the original study (half as many or fewer) was sufficient to produce a performance surface bearing close resemblance to the original (Pearson correlation ≥0.90); close‐pairs sampling dramatically increased the power of small sample sizes. We also discovered that only sampling points on the surface corresponding to naturally occurring morphologies produced an accurate surface, but results were better when individual specimens, rather than species averages, were used.

Our findings demonstrate the viability of using performance surfaces to understand the evolution of complex morphologies for which theoretical shape modelling is difficult or computationally burdensome. Both lower levels of carefully configured sampling throughout the theoretical morphospace, and development of performance surfaces using only data from naturally occurring morphologies, are acceptable alternatives to the dense theoretical shape sampling employed in previous studies.

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Short‐term impacts of COVID‐19 on food security and nutrition in rural Guatemala: Phone‐based farm household survey evidence
Authors: Ceballos Francisco , Hernandez Manuel A. , Paz Cynthia 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThis article examines the short‐term effects of the COVID‐19 lockdown on food security and nutrition in rural Guatemala. We rely on a comprehensive panel dataset of 1,824 small agricultural households collected over two survey rounds, on November–December 2019 and May–June 2020. We place special emphasis on changes in agricultural and nonagricultural income sources, including remittances, and changes in dietary diversity, including consumption of animal source foods (ASF) and fruits and vegetables (F&V). We find that COVID‐19 affected the incomes, food security, and dietary patterns of households, with a decrease in ASF diversity and an increase in F&V diversity, and an overall net decrease in dietary diversity across all food groups. Dietary diversity among women in reproductive age, however, remained unchanged, and increased among children under 2 years old. Interestingly, households with relatively higher incomes appear to have reduced their dietary diversity to a larger extent than lower income ones, as well as households located in communities with more severe access restrictions. The focus of the study in a region with a high prevalence of poverty and chronic malnutrition provides an important perspective into the consequences of the lockdown in complex rural contexts with vulnerable populations and contributes to inform eventual recovery measures.
Circadian rhythm‐associated Rev‐erbα modulates polarization of decidual macrophage via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway
Authors: Cui Liyuan , Jin Xueling , Xu Feng , Wang Songcun , Liu Lu , Li Xinyi , Lin Haiyan , Du Meirong 
Published: May 2021

AbstractProblem: Circadian rhythms are involved not only in the repair and regeneration of the immune system, but may also be associated with regulation of inflammation and immune responses. Rev‐erbα could constitute a link between immunity and circadian rhythms since it is a transcription factor that regulates circadian rhythms and has functions in multiple physiological and pathological processes. Decidual macrophages (dMφs) play crucial roles in immune balance at the maternal‐fetal interface, and abnormal macrophage polarization is related to adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as infertility, recurrent spontaneous abortion, and preterm labor. However, whether Rev‐erbα could modulate the polarization of macrophages is unknown.Methods of study: In this study, we analyzed the phenotype of dMφs and the expression of Rev‐erbα in dMφs from normal pregnancies and miscarriages. The effect of Rev‐erbα on macrophage polarization was evaluated by its knockdown or pharmacological activation. The mechanism by which the Rev‐erbα agonist SR9009 regulates macrophage polarization was also estimated.Results: A type‐1 macrophage (M1)‐like dominance was observed in dMφs from human miscarriages, with a decreased expression of Rev‐erbα compared to that from normal pregnancies. Rev‐erbα knockdown promoted M1 polarization in macrophages differentiated from the THP1 cell line, whereas pharmacological activation of Rev‐erbα by SR9009 induced type‐2 macrophage (M2)‐like polarization in dMφs. Furthermore, we found that SR9009 induced M2 polarization in macrophages differentiated from the U937 cell line via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.Conclusion: Rev‐erbα may play an essential role in macrophage polarization. These findings might help elucidate the role of Rev‐erbα in regulating the differentiation and functions of macrophages and suggest a therapeutic target for pregnancy loss and pregnancy complications.
The decidual expression of Interleukin‐7 is upregulated in early pregnancy loss
Authors: Vilsmaier Theresa , Amann Niklas , Löb Sanja , Schmoeckel Elisa , Kuhn Christina , Zati zehni Alaleh , Meister Sarah , Beyer Susanne , Kolben Theresa M. , Becker Johanna , Mumm Jan‐Niclas , Mahner Sven , Jeschke Udo , Kolben Thomas 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBackgroundMaternal immunological rejection of the semi‐allogenic fetus is discussed as one of the significant factors involved in early pregnancy loss. An array of cytokines secreted by both maternal and fetal cells is involved in generating a delicate maternal immune tolerance. Interleukin‐7 (IL‐7) is discussed to play a key role in pro‐inflammatory processes, but there is still limited insight into the pathophysiological input on placentation and embryonic development in early pregnancy loss.Patients and methodsCytokine level differences were identified with quantitative real‐time PCR in placental tissue from spontaneous abortions (SA) (n = 18), recurrent spontaneous abortions (RSA) (n = 15), and healthy pregnancies (n = 15) at gestational weeks 7 to 14. Protein expression of IL‐7 in the decidua was investigated by immunohistochemistry. IL‐7‐expressing cells were identified with double‐immunofluorescence.ResultsDecidua of women with RSA expressed almost 51‐times higher values of IL‐7 in gene expression analysis. Immunohistochemistry identified a significant upregulation of IL‐7 in the decidua of RSA specimens (p = .013) and in the decidua of women with SA (p = .004). Double‐immunofluorescence confirmed decidual stroma cells as IL‐7‐expressing cells.ConclusionSignificantly elevated IL‐7 values in the decidua of spontaneous and recurrent miscarriages imply a crucial role of the cytokine in the signaling at the feto‐maternal interface of the placenta. An overexpression of IL‐7 could result in early pregnancy loss by inducing a pro‐inflammatory environment. Proven to be valuable in other autoimmune diseases, targeting IL‐7 signaling therapeutically may prove to be a very beneficial treatment option for RSA patients.
Prevalence and early‐life risk factors of school‐age allergic multimorbidity: The EuroPrevall‐iFAAM birth cohort
Authors: Sigurdardottir Sigurveig T. , Jonasson Kristjan , Clausen Michael , Lilja Bjornsdottir Kristin , Sigurdardottir Sigridur Erla , Roberts Graham , Grimshaw Kate , Papadopoulos Nikolaos G. , Xepapadaki Paraskevi , Fiandor Ana , Quirce Santiago , Sprikkelman Aline B. , Hulshof Lies , Kowalski Marek L. , Kurowski Marcin , Dubakiene Ruta , Rudzeviciene Odilija , Bellach Johanna , Yürek Songül , Reich Andreas , Erhard Sina Maria , Couch Philip , Rivas Montserrat Fernandez , van Ree Ronald , Mills Clare , Grabenhenrich Linus , Beyer Kirsten , Keil Thomas 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBackgroundCoexistence of childhood asthma, eczema and allergic rhinitis is higher than can be expected by chance, suggesting a common mechanism. Data on allergic multimorbidity from a pan‐European, population‐based birth cohort study have been lacking. This study compares the prevalence and early‐life risk factors of these diseases in European primary school children.MethodsIn the prospective multicentre observational EuroPrevall‐iFAAM birth cohort study, we used standardized questionnaires on sociodemographics, medical history, parental allergies and lifestyle, and environmental exposures at birth, 12 and 24 months. At primary school age, parents answered ISAAC‐based questions on current asthma, rhinitis and eczema. Allergic multimorbidity was defined as the coexistence of at least two of these.ResultsFrom 10,563 children recruited at birth in 8 study centres, we included data from 5,572 children (mean age 8.2 years; 51.8% boys). Prevalence estimates were as follows: asthma, 8.1%; allergic rhinitis, 13.3%; and eczema, 12.0%. Allergic multimorbidity was seen in 7.0% of the whole cohort, ranging from 1.2% (Athens, Greece) to 10.9% (Madrid, Spain). Risk factors for allergic multimorbidity, identified with AICc, included family‐allergy‐score, odds ratio (OR) 1.50 (95% CI 1.32–1.70) per standard deviation; early‐life allergy symptoms, OR 2.72 (2.34–3.16) for each symptom; and caesarean birth, OR 1.35 (1.04–1.76). Female gender, OR 0.72 (0.58–0.90); older siblings, OR 0.79 (0.63–0.99); and day care, OR 0.81 (0.63–1.06) were protective factors.ConclusionAllergic multimorbidity should be regarded as an important chronic childhood disease in Europe. Some of the associated early‐life factors are modifiable and may be considered for prevention strategies.
Recommendations of Ancient Greek and Byzantine physicians and philosophers on perinatal nutrition and care
Authors: Malamitsi‐Puchner Ariadne 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThis mini‐narrative historical review presents views and recommendations of Ancient Greek and Byzantine physicians and philosophers, concerning the nutrition and lifestyle, collectively referred in antiquity as ‘diet’, of pregnant and breastfeeding women, and the nutrition of the foetus and neonate. Pregnant and breastfeeding women in these eras were cared for with regard to their nutrition and well‐being, in addition to their clothing, physical exercise and mental health. A number of ancient scholars taught that the foetus was fed through the umbilical cord. Breastfeeding by mothers was warmly recommended, but wet nurses and baby bottles were also available. Relevant information is found in preserved texts of well‐known antique physicians and philosophers, who had studied medicine, or discussed medical issues.