bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mild stress accumulation limits GABAergic synaptic plasticity in the lateral habenula
Authors: Lalive Arnaud L. , Nuno‐Perez Alvaro , Tchenio Anna , Mameli Manuel 
Published: December 2021

AbstractAnimals can cope with isolated stressful situations without enduring long‐term consequences. However, when exposure to stressors becomes recurrent, behavioural symptoms of anxiety and depression can emerge. Yet, the neuronal mechanisms governing responsivity to isolated stressor remain elusive. Here, we investigate synaptic adaptations following mild stress in the lateral habenula (LHb), a structure engaged in aversion encoding and dysfunctional in depression. We describe that neuronal depolarization in the LHb drives long‐term depression of inhibitory, but not excitatory, synaptic transmission (GABA LTD). This plasticity requires nitric oxide and presynaptic GABAB receptors, leading to a decrease in probability of GABA release. Mild stressors such as brief social isolation, or exposure to novel environment in the company of littermates, do not alter GABA LTD. In contrast, GABA LTD is absent after mice experience a novel environment in social isolation. Altogether, our results suggest that LHb GABAergic plasticity is sensitive to stress accumulation, which could represent a threshold mechanism for long‐term alterations of LHb function.
Mutations associated with epileptic encephalopathy modify EAAT2 anion channel function
Authors: Kovermann Peter , Kolobkova Yulia , Franzen Arne , Fahlke Christoph 
Published: December 2021

AbstractObjectiveMutations in the gene solute carrier family member 1A2 (SLC1A2) encoding the excitatory amino acid transporter 2 (EAAT2) are associated with severe forms of epileptic encephalopathy. EAAT2 is expressed in glial cells and presynaptic nerve terminals and represents the main l‐glutamate uptake carrier in the mammalian brain. It does not only function as a secondary active glutamate transporter, but also as an anion channel. How naturally occurring mutations affect these two transport functions of EAAT2 and how such alterations cause epilepsy is insufficiently understood.MethodsHere we studied the functional consequences of three disease‐associated mutations, which predict amino acid exchanges p.Gly82Arg (G82R), p.Leu85Pro (L85P), and p.Pro289Arg (P289R), by heterologous expression in mammalian cells, biochemistry, confocal imaging, and whole‐cell patch‐clamp recordings of EAAT2 l‐glutamate transport and anion current.ResultsG82R and L85P exchange amino acid residues that contribute to the formation of the EAAT anion pore. They enlarge the pore diameter sufficiently to permit the passage of l‐glutamate and thus function as l‐glutamate efflux pathways. The mutation P289R decreases l‐glutamate uptake, but increases anion currents despite a lower membrane expression.Significancel‐glutamate permeability of the EAAT anion pore is an unexpected functional consequence of naturally occurring single amino acid substitutions. l‐glutamate efflux through mutant EAAT2 anion channels will cause glutamate excitotoxicity and neuronal hyperexcitability in affected patients. Antagonists that selectively suppress the EAAT anion channel function could serve as therapeutic agents in the future.
Where should China practice forestry in a warming world?
Authors: Zhang Lei , Sun Pengsen , Huettmann Falk , Liu Shirong 
Published: December 2021

AbstractAs a nature‐based and cost‐effective solution, forestation plays a crucial role in combating global warming, biodiversity collapse, environmental degradation, and global well‐being. Although China is acknowledged as a global leader of forestation and has achieved considerable overall success in environmental improvements through mega‐forestation programs, many negative effects have also emerged at local scales due to the planting of maladapted tree species. To better help achieve carbon neutrality and the new vision of an ecological civilization, China has committed to further increase forestation. However, where forestation lands and such efforts should really be located is not so well understood yet and agreed upon, especially in the face of rapid climate change. Based on an ensemble‐learning machine, we predicted the spatial habitats (ecological niche) of the forest, grassland, shrubland, and desert under present and future climate conditions based on the natural climax vegetation distribution across China. We show that the potential forestation lands are mainly located in eastern China, which is east of the Hu Line (also known as the Heihe‐Tengchong Line). Under future climate change, forests will shift substantially in the latitudinal, longitudinal, and elevational distribution. Potential forestation lands will increase by 33.1 million hectares through the 2070s, mainly due to the conversions of shrub and grassland to forests along the Hu Line. Our prediction map also indicates that grassland rehabilitation is the universal optimal vegetation restoration strategy in areas west of the Hu Line. This analysis is consistent with much of the observed evidence of forestation failures and recent climate‐change‐induced forest range shifts. Our results provide an overview and further show the importance of adaptive science‐based forestation planning and forest management.
Warming effects on grassland productivity depend on plant diversity
Authors: Shao Junjiong , Zhou Xuhui , van Groenigen Kees Jan , Zhou Guiyao , Zhou Huimin , Zhou Lingyan , Lu Meng , Xia Jianyang , Jiang Lin , Hungate Bruce A. , Luo Yiqi , He Fangliang , Thakur Madhav P. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractAimClimate warming and biodiversity loss both alter plant productivity, yet we lack an understanding of how biodiversity regulates the responses of ecosystems to warming. In this study, we examine how plant diversity regulates the responses of grassland productivity to experimental warming using meta‐analytic techniques.LocationGlobal.Major taxa studiedGrassland ecosystems.MethodsOur meta‐analysis is based on warming responses of 40 different plant communities obtained from 20 independent studies on grasslands across five continents.ResultsOur results show that plant diversity and its responses to warming were the most important factors regulating the warming effects on plant productivity, among all the factors considered (plant diversity, climate and experimental settings). Specifically, warming increased plant productivity when plant diversity (indicated by effective number of species) in grasslands was lower than 10, whereas warming decreased plant productivity when plant diversity was greater than 10. Moreover, the structural equation modelling showed that the magnitude of warming enhanced plant productivity by increasing the performance of dominant plant species in grasslands of diversity lower than 10. The negative effects of warming on productivity in grasslands with plant diversity greater than 10 were partly explained by diversity‐induced decline in plant dominance.Main conclusionsOur findings suggest that the positive or negative effect of warming on grassland productivity depends on how biodiverse a grassland is. This may mainly be due to differences in how warming may affect plant dominance and subsequent shifts in interspecific interactions in grasslands of different plant diversity levels.
Acute ischemic events after COVID‐19 infection in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis
Authors: Ozkaya Etem , Taskent Ismail , Somay Rifat , Ocal Gonca , Heybeli Cihan 
Published: December 2021

AbstractIntroductionPatients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis have unique risk factors that render them prone to ischemia. To what extent coronavirus infectious disease 2019 (COVID‐19) increases this risk is unknown.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study included incident patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis from one city in Turkey. A comparison was made between those who developed COVID‐19 and those who did not for clinical variables. Independent predictors of acute ischemic complications in the total cohort were assessed using the logistic regression analysis.FindingsBy the start of the pandemic in Turkey, 33 of 154 (21.4%) patients developed COVID‐19. During the 15 months of median follow‐up after the start of the pandemic, 16 (10.4%) patients developed acute ischemic complications. These included acute myocardial infarction (n = 10), acute ischemic stroke (n = 4), acute peripheral artery thrombosis (n = 1), and pulmonary thromboembolism (n = 1). Overall, acute ischemic events occurred more commonly in those who experienced COVID‐19 (24.2% vs. 6.6%, p = 0.007). Ischemia‐free survival was significantly shorter in the COVID‐19 group (p = 0.001). In the eight patients with COVID‐19, ischemic complications emerged at a median 185 (range 21–306) days after the diagnosis of COVID‐19. While age, dialysis vintage, and experience of COVID‐19 were found as factors significantly associated with the development of acute ischemic events in univariate analysis, the association between COVID‐19 and acute ischemia remained significant in the multivariate regression model (odds ratio 3.99, 95% CI [1.3, 12.13], p = 0.016). During the pandemic, 23 (14.9%) patients died. Overall survival was significantly shorter among those who developed acute ischemic event (p < 0.001). The hazard ratio of acute ischemic event for death was 6.76 (95% CI [2.92, 15.66], p < 0.001).DiscussionA considerable number of patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis developed acute ischemic complications weeks to months after the resolution of COVID‐19. Hemodialysis patients appear to require specific interventions in order to prevent subsequent acute ischemic events after the resolution of COVID‐19.
Failure to return pillbox is a predictor of being lost to follow‐up among people living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy in rural Tanzania
Authors: Ndege Robert C. , Okuma James , Kalinjuma Aneth V. , Mkumbo Julius , Senkoro Elizabeth , Fue Gideon , Samson Leila , Mapesi Herry , Shabani Siraji , Glass Tracy R. , Battegay Manuel , Paris Daniel H. , Vanobberghen Fiona , Weisser Maja ,   the KIULARCO Study Group
Published: December 2021

AbstractObjectivesPill count is used to assess drug adherence in people living with HIV (PLHIV). Carrying a pillbox is associated with fear of concealment and stigma and might indicate poor adherence and predict someone who will be lost to follow‐up (LTFU). We therefore assessed the association between pillbox return and being LTFU in rural Tanzania.MethodsThis is a nested study of the Kilombero and Ulanga Antiretroviral Cohort (KIULARCO). We included PLHIV aged ≥ 18 years enrolled in KIULARCO between January 2013 and March 2019 with follow‐up through January 2020, who were on antiretroviral treatment (ART) for ≥ 6 months. Baseline was defined as the latest ART initiation or KIULARCO enrolment. We determined the association between time‐dependent failed pillbox return updated at every visit and LTFU using Kaplan–Meier estimation and Cox models.ResultsAmong 2552 PLHIV included in the study, 1735 (68.0%) were female, 959 (40.3%) had a WHO stage III/IV and 1487 (66.4%) had a CD4 cell count < 350 cells/µL. The median age was 38.4 years [interquartile range (IQR): 31.7–46.2]. During a median follow‐up of 33.1 months (IQR: 17.5–52.4), 909 (35.6%) participants were LTFU, 43 (1.7%) died and 194 (7.6%) had transferred to another clinic. The probability of being LTFU was higher among PLHIV with failed pillbox return than among those who returned their pillbox [30.0%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 26.8–33.2% vs. 19.4%, 95% CI: 17.4–21.6%, respectively, at 24 months (hazard ratio = 1.67, 95% CI: 1.46–1.90; p < 0.001)].ConclusionsFailed pillbox return was associated with a higher risk of being LTFU and could be used as a simple tool to identify PLHIV for appropriate interventions to reduce their chance of being LTFU.
Uncovering the high prevalence of bacterial burden in surgical site wounds with point‐of‐care fluorescence imaging
Authors: Sandy‐Hodgetts Kylie , Andersen Charles A. , Al‐Jalodi Omar , Serena Laura , Teimouri Christina , Serena Thomas E. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractDetection of bacterial burden within or near surgical wounds is critical to reducing the occurrence of surgical site infection (SSI). A distinct lack of reliable methods to identify postoperative bioburden has forced reliance on clinical signs and symptoms of infection (CSS). As a result, infection management has been reactive, rather than proactive. Fluorescence imaging of bacterial burden (FL) is positioned to potentially flip that paradigm. This post hoc analysis evaluated 58 imaged and biopsied surgical site wounds from the multi‐centre fluorescence imaging assessment and guidance clinical trial. Diagnostic accuracy measures of CSS and FL were evaluated. A reader study investigated the impact of advanced image interpretation experience on imaging sensitivity. Forty‐four of fifty‐eight surgical site wounds (75.8%) had bacterial loads >104 CFU/g (median = 3.11 × 105 CFU/g); however, only 3 of 44 were CSS positive (sensitivity of 6.8%). FL improved sensitivity of bacterial detection by 5.7‐fold compared with CSS alone (P = .0005). Sensitivity improved by 11.3‐fold over CSS among clinicians highly experienced with FL interpretation (P < .0001). Surgical sites that reach the stage of referral to a wound specialist frequently harbour asymptomatic high bacterial loads that delay healing and increase infection risk. Advanced imaging of pathological bacterial burden improves surgical site monitoring and may reduce the rate of SSIs.
A convolutional neural network‐based comparative study for pepper seed classification: Analysis of selected deep features with support vector machine
Authors: Sabanci Kadir , Aslan Muhammet Fatih , Ropelewska Ewa , Unlersen Muhammed Fahri 
Published: December 2021

AbstractThe seeds of high quality are very important for the cultivation of the pepper. The required cultivation practices and growing conditions may be affected by the cultivar. Also, the productivity and properties of pepper depend on the cultivar. The selection of appropriate seed cultivars may be necessary for the breeding programs. The cultivar differentiation of pepper seeds may be tested by the human eye. However, small sizes and visual similarities make it difficult to distinguish between seed cultivars. Computer vision and artificial intelligence can provide high cultivar discrimination accuracy and the procedures are objective and fast. This study aimed to classify pepper seeds belonging to different cultivars with convolutional neural network (CNN) models. The seeds were obtained from green, orange, red, and yellow pepper cultivars. A flatbed scanner was used to acquire the pepper seed images. After the image acquisition, the procedure applied was preprocessing of the images, data augmentation using different techniques and then deep learning‐based classification. Two approaches have been proposed for classification. In the first approach, CNN models (ResNet18 and ResNet50) were trained for pepper seeds. In the second approach, different from the first, the features of pretrained CNN models were fused, and feature selection was applied to the fused features. Classification using all features and selected features was performed with the support vector machine (SVM) with different kernel functions (Linear, Quadratic, Cubic, Gaussian). The accuracies in the first approximation were 98.05% and 97.07% for ResNet50 and ResNet18, respectively. In the second approach, CNN‐SVM‐Cubic achieved up to 99.02% accuracy with the selected features.Practical applicationsIn precision agriculture, it is very important that the seeds be of the same type for the purification and standardization of the crop culture. Performing this classification manually with human assistance will result in subjective, slow, and low standard outcomes. To overcome such problems, classification supported by artificial intelligence and machine vision systems emerges as an important tool. In this study, a highly successful classification system is presented according to the visual characteristics of pepper seeds. The proposed models can be preferred in practice for identifying pepper seeds and detecting falsification or ensuring their reliability. It will prevent mixing of different pepper seeds with different attributes for processing.
Human capital acquisition as a signaling device in promotion competition
Authors: Cohen Chen , Zax Ori 
Published: December 2021

AbstractWe analyze an economy in which workers compete over promotion to one of a fixed number of high‐paying jobs. Hence, the probability of obtaining a promotion to such a job is a function of the worker's own ability and level of schooling as well as her/his rival's. In such an economy, a new reason for acquiring human capital emerges, obtaining an edge over potential rivals for desirable jobs. We discuss the implications of this new incentive to acquire human capital and show that low‐ability workers overinvest while high‐ability workers underinvest in schooling.
Digital connectivity for work after hours: Its curvilinear relationship with employee job performance
Authors: Ren Shuang , Hu Jia , Tang Guiyao , Chadee Doren 
Published: December 2021

AbstractUsing digital technologies for work‐related matters during nonwork time is an increasingly common behavior in contemporary workplaces. Despite the prevalence of digital connectivity (DCON) in today's organizations, its implications for employee job performance remain under‐specified. Drawing on conservation of resources (COR) theory and the “too‐much‐of‐a‐good‐thing” (TMGT) meta‐theoretical principle, we theorize that DCON has an inverted U‐shaped relationship with employee job performance through the mediation of social capital development (SCD) and emotional exhaustion (EE). The results of two studies with different designs support our theoretical expectations. Specifically, we found that increases in DCON associate with higher SCD, lower EE, and higher job performance up to an inflexion point, after which more DCON has detrimental effects. The theoretical and practical implications of the findings are fully discussed.
Mitigation of vanillic acid‐promoted faba bean Fusarium wilt by faba bean–wheat intercropping
Authors: Zheng Yiran , Guo Yuting , Lv Jiaxing , Dong Kun , Dong Yan 
Published: December 2021

AbstractLong‐term continuous monocropping of faba beans increases the incidence of faba bean wilt, while faba bean–wheat intercropping can effectively control it. This study aimed to understand the underlying mechanism of faba bean–wheat intercropping for the control of Fusarium oxysporum and vanillic acid (VA)‐promoted occurrence of faba bean wilt. The occurrence of faba bean wilt was investigated among the monocropped and intercropped plants of faba beans in a field experiment. The contents and types of phenolic acids were examined in the rhizosphere soil. Monocropped and intercropped faba beans were examined under the dual stress of F. oxysporum and different concentrations of VA (0, 50, 100, 200 mg/L) to understand the alleviating mechanism of faba bean–wheat intercropping. Exogenous addition of high concentrations of VA significantly inhibited the growth and reproduction of F. oxysporum, but under the dual stress of F. oxysporum and different concentrations of VA, it significantly inhibited the defence enzymes of faba bean roots, stems, and leaves, and rhizosphere soil enzymes. Interestingly, faba bean–wheat intercropping alleviated VA stress and thereby the incidence and disease index of faba bean Fusarium wilt by improving plant resistance and soil enzyme activity. The dual stress of F. oxysporum and VA promotes the occurrence of Fusarium wilt by damaging the defence system of the faba bean root system and rhizosphere soil environment. However, faba bean–wheat intercropping effectively alleviates the autotoxicity of VA by improving the physiological and biochemical resistance of faba beans and soil enzyme activities, and thus controls the occurrence of Fusarium wilt.
Teaching about death and dying—A national mixed‐methods survey of palliative care education provision in Swedish undergraduate nursing programmes
Authors: Hagelin Carina Lundh , Melin‐Johansson Christina , Ek Kristina , Henoch Ingela , Österlind Jane , Browall Maria 
Published: December 2021

AbstractBackgroundIn coming decades, the number of people affected by illnesses who need palliative care will rise worldwide. Registered Nurses are in a central position in providing this care, and education is one of the necessary components for meeting coming requirements. However, there is a lack of knowledge about palliative care in undergraduate nursing education curricula, including the extent of the education provided and the related pedagogical methods.AimThe aim was to investigate the extent, content and pedagogical methods used and to explore lecturers’ experiences of being responsible for teaching and learning about palliative care for undergraduate nursing students on nursing programmes at Swedish universities.SettingAll 24 universities responsible for providing undergraduate nursing education in Sweden participated.ParticipantsOne lecturer with in‐depth knowledge about palliative care or end‐of‐life care education participated in the quantitative (n = 24) and qualitative (n = 22) parts of the study.MethodA mixed‐method research study with an explorative design was used. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse quantitative data, and content analysis for qualitative, with both also analysed integratively.ResultsFew undergraduate nursing programmes included a specific course about palliative care in their curricula, however, all universities incorporated education about palliative care in some way. Most of the palliative care education was theoretical, and lecturers used a variety of pedagogical strategies and their own professional and personal experience to support students to understand the palliative care approach. Topics such as life and death were difficult to both learn and teach about.ConclusionsThere is a need for substantial education about palliative care. Lecturers strive on their own to develop students’ understanding and increase the extent of palliative care education with innovative teaching strategies, but must compete with other topics. Palliative care teaching must be prioritised, not only by the universities, but also by the national authority.
The role of markets on resource conflicts*
Authors: Dickson Alex , MacKenzie Ian A. , Sekeris Petros G. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractWe develop a generalized theory of resource conflict. We demonstrate that the existence of a resource curse (or blessing) relies on two fundamental elements: (i) market conditions; and (ii) the production technology or agents’ preferences, depending on the context under study. When resource prices are treated as exogenous, we obtain the conventional result: an increase in the value of the resource rent, due to an increase in its price or its availability (or lower opportunity cost of appropriation), increases conflict. However, when the price of the contestable resource is endogenously determined (i.e., in local markets) or if markets do not exist, we find that the relationship between conflict intensity and resource abundance depends on the production technology or on agents’ preferences: conflict can increase when the contestable resource becomes scarcer. Therefore, our paper identifies a fundamental transmission mechanism in resource conflicts.