bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Variable effects of mycorrhizal fungi on predator–prey dynamics under field conditions
Authors: Meier Amanda R. , Hunter Mark D. 
Published: March 2021

Abstract

Interactions between herbivores and their predators are shaped, in part, by plant phenotype. Consequently, ubiquitous symbionts of plants below‐ground, such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), may influence interactions above‐ground between predators and their prey by altering plant phenotype. However, the ecological relevance of below‐ground organisms on predator–prey interactions under field conditions remains unclear.

We assessed how AMF influence herbivore–predator interactions through a field experiment.

We planted two milkweed species (Asclepias curassavica and Asclepias incarnata) provided with different amounts of AMF inoculum (zero, medium, and high) in a randomized block design. We added aphids to plants and reduced predator pressure weekly for 5 weeks to evaluate effects of AMF on predator recruitment. We then allowed herbivore–predator interactions to re‐establish naturally for the remainder of the season to examine whether AMF‐mediated variation in predator recruitment influenced the suppression of aphid populations.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi availability in soils mediated interactions between predaceous aphid midge flies Aphidoletes aphidimyza and their aphid prey Aphis nerii, but the effects were plant species‐specific. On A. curassavica, by mid‐season, midges were recruited most strongly on plants under medium AMF availability and least on plants under high AMF availability. In contrast, each midge killed fewer aphids with increasing aphid density on medium AMF plants, but killed more aphids with increasing aphid density on high AMF plants. In combination, aphid mortality rates imposed by midges were greatest on medium AMF plants, followed by high and zero AMF plants. By comparison, on A. incarnata, the recruitment of midges was strongest on high AMF plants and weakest on medium AMF plants. AMF had no effect on the number of aphids killed per midge, relative to aphid density, so mortality rates of aphids imposed by midges mirrored recruitment. Rates of decline in aphid populations following predator recolonization were associated with midge densities, as well as lacewing and syrphid densities, which were unaffected by AMF availability. Therefore, the effects of AMF on aphid population decline were not a simple function of AMF–midge interactions.

Our findings demonstrate that the availability of AMF in soils has pervasive, but complex, effects on predator–herbivore dynamics in the field.
Making place in virus‐free space
Authors: Farbotko Carol 
Published: March 2021

AbstractAs much a rapidly evolving cultural signifier as a viral materiality, COVID‐19 has not biologically penetrated every national border. It is, however, transforming the interpretation, understanding, and experience of place in the absence of infection. One role for geographers is to analyse how the material absence of COVID‐19 is manifesting spatially beyond closed borders. More specifically, how are particular places becoming meaningful as virus‐free? On that basis, this article offers a commentary and cultural geographic analysis of a road called COVID‐19 Road newly constructed on one of the islands of the Pacific nation, Tuvalu, and of migration during Tuvalu's pandemic state of emergency. The idea of rural security is central to national government advice for urbanites living on the main island of Funafuti to voluntarily return to one of the eight other rural islands to which they claim kinship ties. Those outer islands of Tuvalu, long mythologised as the nation's real heartland, are being constructed as secure, while the capital is insecure against COVID‐19 risk. Rural place is thus constituted as nurturing and safe, particularly because of a renewed policy focus on customary practices of food security. The amplification of such practices is intended to limit the need for reliance on cargo supplies and humanitarian aid from the infected outside world. Rurality, isolation, islandness, subsistence, and remoteness are pivotal to an emerging national narrative of Tuvalu as resourceful and resilient during the pandemic.
Clinical characteristics and outcomes of COVID‐19 in patients with type 2 diabetes in Turkey: A nationwide study (TurCoviDia)
Authors: Sonmez Alper , Demirci Ibrahim , Haymana Cem , Tasci Ilker , Dagdelen Selcuk , Salman Serpil , Ata Naim , Sahin Ibrahim , Emral Rifat , Cakal Erman , Atmaca Aysegul , Sahin Mustafa , Celik Osman , Demir Tevfik , Ertugrul Derun , Unluturk Ugur , Caglayan Murat , Satman Ilhan 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBackgroundCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) has been reported to be associated with a more severe course in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, severe adverse outcomes are not recorded in all patients. In this study, we assessed disease outcomes in patients with and without T2DM hospitalized for COVID‐19.MethodsA nationwide retrospective cohort of patients with T2DM hospitalized with confirmed COVID‐19 infection from 11 March to 30 May 2020 in the Turkish Ministry of Health database was investigated. Multivariate modeling was used to assess the independent predictors of demographic and clinical characteristics with mortality, length of hospital stay, and intensive care unit (ICU) admission and/or mechanical ventilation.ResultsA total of 18 426 inpatients (median age [interquartile range, IQR]: 61 [17] years; males: 43.3%) were investigated. Patients with T2DM (n = 9213) were compared with a group without diabetes (n = 9213) that were matched using the propensity scores for age and gender. Compared with the group without T2DM, 30‐day mortality following hospitalization was higher in patients with T2DM (13.6% vs 8.7%; hazard ratio 1.75; 95% CI, 1.58‐1.93; P < .001). The independent associates of mortality were older age, male gender, obesity, insulin treatment, low lymphocyte count, and pulmonary involvement on admission. Older age, low lymphocyte values, and pulmonary involvement at baseline were independently associated with longer hospital stay and/or ICU admission.ConclusionsThe current study from the Turkish national health care database showed that patients with T2DM hospitalized for COVID‐19 are at increased risk of mortality, longer hospital stay, and ICU admission.
Integrated genetic analyses revealed novel human longevity loci and reduced risks of multiple diseases in a cohort study of 15,651 Chinese individuals
Authors: Liu Xiaomin , Song Zijun , Li Yan , Yao Yao , Fang Mingyan , Bai Chen , An Peng , Chen Huashuai , Chen Zhihua , Tang Biyao , Shen Juan , Gao Xiaotong , Zhang Mingrong , Chen Pengyu , Zhang Tao , Jia Huijue , Liu Xiao , Hou Yong , Yang Huanming , Wang Jian , Wang Fudi , Xu Xun , Min Junxia , Nie Chao , Zeng Yi 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThere is growing interest in studying the genetic contributions to longevity, but limited relevant genes have been identified. In this study, we performed a genetic association study of longevity in a total of 15,651 Chinese individuals. Novel longevity loci, BMPER (rs17169634; p = 7.91 × 10−15) and TMEM43/XPC (rs1043943; p = 3.59 × 10−8), were identified in a case–control analysis of 11,045 individuals. BRAF (rs1267601; p = 8.33 × 10−15) and BMPER (rs17169634; p = 1.45 × 10−10) were significantly associated with life expectancy in 12,664 individuals who had survival status records. Additional sex‐stratified analyses identified sex‐specific longevity genes. Notably, sex‐differential associations were identified in two linkage disequilibrium blocks in the TOMM40/APOE region, indicating potential differences during meiosis between males and females. Moreover, polygenic risk scores and Mendelian randomization analyses revealed that longevity was genetically causally correlated with reduced risks of multiple diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and arthritis. Finally, we incorporated genetic markers, disease status, and lifestyles to classify longevity or not‐longevity groups and predict life span. Our predictive models showed good performance (AUC = 0.86 for longevity classification and explained 19.8% variance of life span) and presented a greater predictive efficiency in females than in males. Taken together, our findings not only shed light on the genetic contributions to longevity but also elucidate correlations between diseases and longevity.
Oral manifestations of syphilis: an epidemiological study in southern Brazil
Authors: Thums MA , Koth VS , de Figueiredo MAZ , Cherubini K , Salum FG 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBackgroundSyphilis is an infectious, sexually transmitted disease with varied oral manifestations, that can mimic other lesions. This study aimed to conduct an epidemiological survey of cases of syphilis, diagnosed from oral manifestations, establishing the sociodemographic profile of patients and clinical characteristics of oral lesions.MethodsThe medical records of patients with oral lesions of syphilis acquired were reviewed, and 109 cases were selected.ResultsThe mean age of the patients was 34.4 years and, of these, 51% were male. In 105 cases, the disease was diagnosed in the secondary stage; in three cases, in the primary stage; and, in one case, in the tertiary stage. The cases of primary syphilis presented as single and ulcerated nodules, and the case of tertiary syphilis, as a necrotic lesion in the palate. In 86% of cases of secondary syphilis, there were multicentric lesions, presenting as grayish‐white plaques (85%), associated or not with erosive and/or ulcerated lesions (33%), mostly affecting the labial mucosa and tongue. In 91.7% of cases painful symptoms were reported.ConclusionConsidering the increase in syphilis, it is extremely important that dentists recognize its oral manifestations, because early diagnosis and treatment can minimize the risks of complications and transmission.
Australian and New Zealand contribution to Plastic Surgery
Authors: Yousef Justin , Morrison Wayne 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBackgroundPlastic and Reconstructive Surgery (PRS) can trace its origins as far back as 3000 BC. Despite this, it remained a relatively rare and unestablished branch of surgery until the devastating injuries of the World Wars necessitated reconstruction. Returning wartime surgeons used the skills they had learned on the battlefield to continue PRS in Australia and New Zealand. This article examines the significant contributions of Australian and New Zealand surgeons to the founding of PRS as a global specialty and provides an account of the strenuous dedicated competition that led to the development of microsurgery and advances in reconstruction.MethodsA comprehensive review of medical, medical humanities, and history databases (PubMed; MEDLINE; Web of Knowledge; Anthropology; Encyclopaedia of ancient history) and non‐digital printed texts was conducted using multiple search terms and filters including Reconstruction; Plastic Surgery; Burns; Flaps; and Microsurgery). The search was restricted to publications that focused on the period between 1818 CE to current.ResultsSignificant contributions of surgeons from the Antipodes occurred during several periods including the Industrial era, World Wars, Post‐war and in the modern age.ConclusionsStirred by their wartime experience, surgeons from Australia and New Zealand laid the foundations of the global success of Plastic Surgery in the modern age and helped establish it as a specialty in its own right.
Subjectivity in fairness perceptions: How heuristics and self‐efficacy shape the fairness expectations and perceptions of organisational newcomers
Authors: Jordan Samantha L. , Palmer Joshua C. , Daniels Shanna R. , Hochwarter Wayne A. , Perrewé Pamela L. , Ferris Gerald R. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe very nature of perceived injustice cuts to the heart of employees' cognition, attitudes and behaviours in the workplace. Yet, researchers and practitioners are woefully uninformed about what drives the subjectivity of unfairness perceptions. Using an integration of fairness heuristic and uncertainty management theories as a theoretical foundation to drive our hypothesis development, we conducted a multi‐study investigation to examine individual‐level correlates of unfairness expectations and perceptions in the context of newcomer organisational entry. Across two studies, we found support for the positive association between prior unfairness experiences (i.e. global unfairness heuristic) and expectations of unfairness (i.e. anticipatory injustice) at work. As an extension, Study 2 examined and found support for the interactive effect of global unfairness heuristics and competency‐related beliefs (i.e. self‐efficacy) on the formation of anticipatory injustice. Furthermore, Study 2 documented both direct and indirect associations between employees' global unfairness heuristic, anticipatory injustice, perceived injustice, job satisfaction and counterproductive work (CWB) behaviours. Overall, our work sheds light on the importance of perceiver‐specific factors for better informing the complex, idiosyncratic nature of perceived work unfairness. We discuss theoretical contributions, future research directions and practical implications.
Why the immorality of consuming alcohol during pregnancy cannot tell us that abortion is immoral: A reply to Hendricks
Authors: Lundgren Björn 
Published: March 2021

AbstractRecently, Perry Hendricks argued that abortion is immoral even if the fetus is not a person. He did so by arguing that causing a future child to suffer from fetal alcohol syndrome is wrong because it is an impairment, and an abortion would be an even more substantial impairment. Here I reply that the argument depends on ignoring relevant facts that are essential for moral decision‐making. Moreover, if we adapt the argument to consider these essential facts, then the argument fails because it no longer applies to the case under consideration.
ATP binding cassette importers in eukaryotic organisms
Authors: Choi Cheri C. , Ford Robert C. 
Published: March 2021

ABSTRACTATP‐binding cassette (ABC) transporters are ubiquitous across all realms of life. Dogma suggests that bacterial ABC transporters include both importers and exporters, whilst eukaryotic members of this family are solely exporters, implying that ABC import function was lost during evolution. This view is being challenged, for example energy‐coupling factor (ECF)‐type ABC importers appear to fulfil important roles in both algae and plants where they form the ABCI sub‐family. Herein we discuss whether bacterial Type I and Type II ABC importers also made the transition into extant eukaryotes. Various studies suggest that Type I importers exist in algae and the liverwort family of primitive non‐vascular plants, but not in higher plants. The existence of eukaryotic Type II importers is also supported: a transmembrane protein homologous to vitamin B12 import system transmembrane protein (BtuC), hemin transport system transmembrane protein (HmuU) and high‐affinity zinc uptake system membrane protein (ZnuB) is present in the Cyanophora paradoxa genome. This protein has homologs within the genomes of red algae. Furthermore, its candidate nucleotide‐binding domain (NBD) shows closest similarity to other bacterial Type II importer NBDs such as BtuD. Functional studies suggest that Type I importers have roles in maintaining sulphate levels in the chloroplast, whilst Type II importers probably act as importers of Mn2+ or Zn2+, as inferred by comparisons with bacterial homologs. Possible explanations for the presence of these transporters in simple plants, but not in other eukaryotic organisms, are considered. In order to utilise the existing nomenclature for eukaryotic ABC proteins, we propose that eukaryotic Type I and II importers be classified as ABCJ and ABCK transporters, respectively.
Impact of cardiometabolic factors on retinal vasculature: A 3 × 3, 6 × 6 and 8 × 8‐mm ocular coherence tomography angiography study
Authors: Sun Michelle T. , Huang Sonia , Chan WengOnn , Craig Jamie E. , Knight Lachlan S. W. , Sanders Prashanthan , Newland Henry , Casson Robert , Selva Dinesh , Wong Christopher X. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBackgroundOcular coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) is available in varying size and resolution. We sought to characterise associations of cardiometabolic factors with retinal microvascular changes using 3 × 3, 6 × 6 and 8 × 8‐mm OCTA scans to determine differences in detection with varying scan size.MethodsCross‐sectional study of 247 cardiovascular patients from a single‐centre tertiary‐care hospital. Demographic, comorbidity and medication data were obtained. Patients underwent 3 × 3, 6 × 6 and 8 × 8‐mm macula OCTA scanning using Carl Zeiss CIRRUS HD‐OCT Model 5000. Angioplex and AngioTool software was used to quantify vascular parameters in the superficial capillary plexus.ResultsIncreasing age, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, coronary artery disease and peripheral vascular disease were associated with reductions in vessel density, vessel perfusion, average vessel length and/or junction density in 3 × 3‐mm OCTA (P < .05 for all). Conversely, smoking was associated with increased vessel density, vessel length and junction density in 3 × 3‐mm OCTA (P < .05 for all). Associations of vessel abnormalities with cardiometabolic factors were progressively weakened and statistically attenuated in 6 × 6 and 8 × 8‐mm OCTA scans. In multivariate analyses, dyslipidaemia remained an independent predictor of reduced vessel density, average vessel length and junction density (P < .05).ConclusionsCardiometabolic factors are associated with multiple retinal microvascular changes in 3 × 3‐mm OCTA scans. These associations were weakened and progressively attenuated in OCTA scans of larger 6 × 6 and 8 × 8‐mm size. These findings advance our understanding of microcirculatory dysfunction and may have future implications for the screening and management of patients with cardiometabolic risk factors. Additional studies are required to further investigate these important associations.
Low pre‐stimulus EEG alpha power amplifies visual awareness but not visual sensitivity
Authors: Benwell Christopher S. Y. , Coldea Andra , Harvey Monika , Thut Gregor 
Published: March 2021

AbstractPre‐stimulus oscillatory neural activity has been linked to the level of awareness of sensory stimuli. More specifically, the power of low‐frequency oscillations (primarily in the alpha‐band, i.e., 8–14 Hz) prior to stimulus onset is inversely related to measures of subjective performance in visual tasks, such as confidence and visual awareness. Intriguingly, the same EEG signature does not seem to influence objective measures of task performance (i.e., accuracy). We here examined whether this dissociation holds when stringent accuracy measures are used. Previous EEG‐studies have employed 2‐alternative forced choice (2‐AFC) discrimination tasks to link pre‐stimulus oscillatory activity to correct/incorrect responses as an index of accuracy/objective performance at the single‐trial level. However, 2‐AFC tasks do not provide a good estimate of single‐trial accuracy, as many of the responses classified as correct will be contaminated by guesses (with the chance correct response rate being 50%). Here instead, we employed a 19‐AFC letter identification task to measure accuracy and the subjectively reported level of perceptual awareness on each trial. As the correct guess rate is negligible (~5%), this task provides a purer measure of accuracy. Our results replicate the inverse relationship between pre‐stimulus alpha/beta‐band power and perceptual awareness ratings in the absence of a link to discrimination accuracy. Pre‐stimulus oscillatory phase did not predict either subjective awareness or accuracy. Our results hence confirm a dissociation of the pre‐stimulus EEG power–task performance link for subjective versus objective measures of performance, and further substantiate pre‐stimulus alpha power as a neural predictor of visual awareness.
Alterations of brain network topology and structural connectivity‐functional connectivity coupling in capsular versus pontine stroke
Authors: Chen Huiyou , Geng Wen , Shang Song’an , Shi Mengye , Zhou Leilei , Jiang Liang , Wang Peng , Yin Xindao , Chen Yu‐Chen 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBackground and purposeThis study was conducted to investigate whether capsular stroke (CS) and pontine stroke (PS) have different topological alterations of structural connectivity (SC) and functional connectivity (FC), as well as correlations of SC‐FC coupling with movement assessment scores.MethodsResting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion tensor imaging were prospectively acquired in 46 patients with CS, 36 with PS, and 29 healthy controls (HCs). Graph theoretical network analyses of SC and FC were performed. Patients with left and right lesions were analyzed separately.ResultsWith regard to FC, the PS and CS groups both showed higher local efficiency than the HCs, and the CS group also had a higher clustering coefficient (Cp) than the HCs in the right lesion analysis. With regard to SC, the PS and CS groups both showed different normalized clustering coefficient (γ), small‐worldness (σ), and characteristic path length (Lp) compared with the HC group. Additionally, the CS group showed higher normalized characteristic path length (λ) and a lower Cp than the HCs and the PS group showed higher λ and lower global efficiency than the HCs in the right‐lesion analysis. However, γ, σ, Cp and Lp were only significantly different in the PS and CS groups compared with the HC group in the right‐lesion analysis. Importantly, the CS group was found to have a weaker SC‐FC coupling than the PS group and the HC group in the right‐lesion analysis. In addition, both patient groups had weaker structural‐functional connectome correlation than the HCs.ConclusionsThe CS and PS groups both showed FC and SC disruption and the CS group had a weaker SC‐FC coupling than the PS group in the right lesion analysis. This may provide useful information for individualized rehabilitative strategies.
Epitope mapping of anti‐amelogenin IgG in untreated celiac children
Authors: Petronijevic Sanja , Stig Solveig , Halstensen Trond S. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractChildren with untreated celiac disease (CeD) may develop enamel defects, and children with severe CeD have significantly increased levels of IgG to amelogenin, which may interfere with normal amelogenesis depending on which epitope(s) they bind. Children with untreated CeD (n = 42), for whom CeD had been confirmed either by biopsy (n = 17, cohort 1) or by the presence of particularly high serum levels of anti‐transglutaminase 2 (TG2) IgA (n = 25, cohort 2), were selected from 146 children with CeD, and 10 controls were selected from 34 children who did not have CeD. Samples from these 52 children were used for detailed IgG anti‐amelogenin, X isoform (AMELX) epitope mapping using 31 overlapping, 10‐22mer peptides in ELISA. Although sera from both groups showed reactivity to peptides containing sequences from the N and C terminus of AMELX, sera from children with CeD reacted more strongly to peptides from the central region (amino acids 75‐150) containing both a binding site for transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β), as well as the enzymatic cleavage sites for matrix metalloproteinase‐20 and for kallikrein‐4. Antigen‐specific extraction revealed that only IgG to the central region cross‐reacted to gliadin. Thus, cross‐reactive anti‐gliadin/amelogenin IgG may affect normal amelogenesis by interfering with enzymatic degradation, proper folding, and/or TGF‐β signaling in children with untreated CeD.