bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Shyness, aggression, and empathy in children of shy mothers: Moderating influence of children's psychophysiological self‐regulation
Authors: MacGowan Taigan L. , Schmidt Louis A. 
Published: September 2019

AbstractMaternal psychological factors are known to play a critical role in children's socioemotional development, particularly in pro‐ and anti‐social behaviors. Although shyness is a ubiquitous phenomenon and associated with social anxiety, relatively few have examined the relation between maternal shyness and children's socioemotional development. We explored the moderating influence of children's resting respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) and RSA change on the relation between maternal shyness and children's shyness, empathy, and aggression in 129 (62 males) typically developing 4‐ (n = 81) and 6‐ (n = 48) year‐olds. We found that 6‐year‐olds' RSA change score from baseline to a cognitive challenge task acted as a moderator on the relation between mother's shyness and child observed empathy but not for maternal report of child aggression or child's observed shyness. These results were not found in the 4‐year‐olds. Six‐year‐olds with relatively high RSA change and relatively low maternal shyness displayed the highest levels of empathy. These results suggest that the maternal caregiving environment and biological characteristics of the child may confer individual differences in prosocial behaviors in children. Findings are discussed in terms of age‐related differences in socioemotional behaviors in children of shy mothers.
The draft genome of Actinia tenebrosa reveals insights into toxin evolution
Authors: Surm Joachim M. , Stewart Zachary K. , Papanicolaou Alexie , Pavasovic Ana , Prentis Peter J. 
Published: September 2019

AbstractSea anemones have a wide array of toxic compounds (peptide toxins found in their venom) which have potential uses as therapeutics. To date, the majority of studies characterizing toxins in sea anemones have been restricted to species from the superfamily, Actinioidea. No highly complete draft genomes are currently available for this superfamily, however, highlighting our limited understanding of the genes encoding toxins in this important group. Here we have sequenced, assembled, and annotated a draft genome for Actinia tenebrosa. The genome is estimated to be approximately 255 megabases, with 31,556 protein‐coding genes. Quality metrics revealed that this draft genome matches the quality and completeness of other model cnidarian genomes, including Nematostella, Hydra, and Acropora. Phylogenomic analyses revealed strong conservation of the Cnidaria and Hexacorallia core‐gene set. However, we found that lineage‐specific gene families have undergone significant expansion events compared with shared gene families. Enrichment analysis performed for both gene ontologies, and protein domains revealed that genes encoding toxins contribute to a significant proportion of the lineage‐specific genes and gene families. The results make clear that the draft genome of A. tenebrosa will provide insight into the evolution of toxins and lineage‐specific genes, and provide an important resource for the discovery of novel biological compounds.
Testing adaptive hypotheses on the evolution of larval life history in acorn and stalked barnacles
Authors: Ewers‐Saucedo Christine , Pappalardo Paula 
Published: September 2019

AbstractDespite strong selective pressure to optimize larval life history in marine environments, there is a wide diversity with regard to developmental mode, size, and time larvae spend in the plankton. In the present study, we assessed if adaptive hypotheses explain the distribution of the larval life history of thoracican barnacles within a strict phylogenetic framework. We collected environmental and larval trait data for 170 species from the literature, and utilized a complete thoracican synthesis tree to account for phylogenetic nonindependence. In accordance with Thorson's rule, the fraction of species with planktonic‐feeding larvae declined with water depth and increased with water temperature, while the fraction of brooding species exhibited the reverse pattern. Species with planktonic‐nonfeeding larvae were overall rare, following no apparent trend. In agreement with the “size advantage” hypothesis proposed by Strathmann in 1977, egg and larval size were closely correlated. Settlement‐competent cypris larvae were larger in cold water, indicative of advantages for large juveniles when growth is slowed. Planktonic larval duration, on the other hand, was uncorrelated to environmental variables. We conclude that different selective pressures appear to shape the evolution of larval life history in barnacles.
Controlling factors of plant community composition with respect to the slope aspect gradient in the Qilian Mountains
Authors: Qin Yanyan , Adamowski Jan F. , Deo Ravinesh C. , Hu Zeyong , Cao Jianjun , Zhu Meng , Feng Qi 
Published: September 2019

AbstractSlope aspect can affect soil temperature and soil type distribution, which, in turn, is likely to influence plant community composition. Three Qilian mountains, located in the northeastern part of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau, China, with four distinct slope aspects including south‐facing (SF), southwest‐facing (SW), northwest‐facing (NW), and north‐facing (NF) slope aspects, were studied to investigate the impact of slope aspect on plant assemblages. The results indicated that the environmental conditions were favorable under the NF and NW slope aspects as the soil water, soil organic carbon (SOC), and soil total nitrogen (STN) contents were significantly higher, and soil temperature (ST) and soil bulk density (SBD) were significantly lower than under the SF and SW aspects. Under all slope aspects, however, SOC, STN, and soil total phosphate in the top 0.2 m of topsoil accounted for about 60% of its total quantity, to a soil depth of 0.6 m. The plant communities on the SF and SW slopes were found to be primarily composed of Poa pratensis, Potentilla anrisena, and Carex aridula. In contrast, the plant community on the NW slope was mainly composed of Kobresia humilis, Carex crebra, and Potentilla bifurca, while on the NF slope it was mainly composed of Picea crassifolia, Carex scabrirostris, and Polygonum macrophyllum. The order of the influence of environmental factors on species distributions was ST > SBD > sand > STN. Results suggest that the slope aspect has an important role in the regulation of the soil environment and plant assemblages and that ST and SBD were the main factors influencing plant community composition. Furthermore, evidence from this study suggests that these mountains will become increasingly vulnerable to global warming. Thus, the plant community composition on these mountains must be monitored continuously in order to allow for strategic adaptive management.
Functional traits determine the different effects of prey, predators, and climatic extremes on desert reptiles
Authors: Grimm‐Seyfarth Annegret , Mihoub Jean‐Baptiste , Henle Klaus 
Published: September 2019

AbstractTerrestrial reptiles are particularly vulnerable to climate change. Their highest density and diversity can be found in hot drylands, ecosystems which demonstrate extreme climatic conditions. However, reptiles are not isolated systems but part of a large species assemblage with many trophic dependencies. While direct relations among climatic conditions, invertebrates, vegetation, or reptiles have already been explored, to our knowledge, species’ responses to direct and indirect pathways of multiple climatic and biotic factors and their interactions have rarely been examined comprehensively. We investigated direct and indirect effects of climatic and biotic parameters on the individual (body condition) and population level (occupancy) of eight abundant lizard species with different functional traits in an arid Australian lizard community using a 30‐yr multi‐trophic monitoring study. We used structural equation modeling to disentangle single and interactive effects. We then assessed whether species could be grouped into functional groups according to their functional traits and their responses to different parameters. We found that lizard species differed strongly in how they responded to climatic and biotic factors. However, the factors to which they responded seemed to be determined by their functional traits. While responses on body condition were determined by habitat, activity time, and prey, responses on occupancy were determined by habitat specialization, body size, and longevity. Our findings highlight the importance of indirect pathways through climatic and biotic interactions, which should be included into predictive models to increase accuracy when predicting species’ responses to climate change. Since one might never obtain all mechanistic pathways at the species level, we propose an approach of identifying relevant species traits that help grouping species into functional groups at different ecological levels, which could then be used for predictive modeling.
A credit risk evaluation based on intuitionistic fuzzy set theory for the sustainable development of electricity retailing companies in China
Authors: De Gejirifu , Tan Zhongfu , Li Menglu , Huang Lilin , Wang Qiang , Li Huanhuan 
Published: September 2019

AbstractAs China's power market becomes more orderly, electricity retailing companies are influenced by multiple factors restricting their healthy, stable, and sustainable development. This paper explores these issues through four dimensions, the external basic environment, operating credit risk, financial credit risk, and transaction credit risk, and determines the credit risk evaluation index system, which includes 22 factors relevant to electricity retailing companies. To achieve this, this paper utilizes the characteristics of the intuitionistic fuzzy set theory and, in an uncertain environment, the proposed credit risk assessment model based on the intuitionistic fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (IFAHP). In order to improve the identification degree of the credit risk evaluation of electricity retailing companies, a penalty factor is introduced into the model, and the variable weight mechanism of dynamic adjustment hesitancy is proposed. Finally, we select five electricity retailing companies and use different evaluation methods to conduct a comprehensive credit risk evaluation, so as to improve the credit risk level of electricity retailing companies.
Enhance the effectiveness of clinical laboratory critical values initiative notification by implementing a closed‐loop system: A five‐year retrospective observational study
Authors: Li Runqing , Wang Tengjiao , Gong Lijun , Dong Jingxiao , Xiao Nan , Yang Xiaohuan , Zhu Dong , Zhao Zhipeng 
Published: September 2019

AbstractBackgroundAccurate and timely clinical laboratory critical values notification are crucial steps in supporting effective clinical decision making, thereby improving patient safety.MethodsA closed‐loop laboratory critical value notification system was developed by a multidisciplinary team of clinicians, laboratorians, administrators, and information technology experts. All the laboratory critical values that occurred at Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital (BTCH, Beijing, China) from 2015 to 2019 were analyzed and studied retrospectively.ResultsThe total number (ratio) of institutional laboratory critical values to all reported items at BTCH from 2015 to 2019 was 38 020/7 706 962 (0.49%). Percentage distribution points of critical value boundaries based on patients’ test reports are 0.007% ~ 6.04% for low boundaries and 71.70% ~ 99.99% for high boundaries. After the intervention, the timely notification ratio, notification receipt ratio, and timely notification receipt ratio of critical values of ED, IPD, and total patients had increased, with a significant difference (P < .001). Five quality indicators, such as notification ratio, timely notification ratio, notification receipt ratio, timely notification receipt ratio, and clinician response ratio over a 5‐year period, were 100%, 94%, 97%, 92%, and 99%, respectively.ConclusionsWe enhanced the effectiveness of clinical laboratory critical values initiative notification by implementing a closed‐loop system and intervening. Clinical critical values and quality indicators should be analyzed and monitored to avoid adversely affecting patient care.
Targeting epigenetic modifications as a potential therapeutic option for diabetic retinopathy
Authors: Kumari Nidhi , Karmakar Aditi , Ganesan Senthil kumar 
Published: September 2019

AbstractDiabetic retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of visual impairment in adults of working age (20–65 years) in developed countries. The metabolic memory phenomena (persistent effect of a glycemic insult even after retrieved) associated with it has increased the risk of developing the complication even after the termination of the glycemic insult. Hence, the need for finding early diagnosis and treatment options has been of great concern. Epigenetic modifications which generally occur during the beginning stages of the disease are responsible for the metabolic memory effect. Therefore, the therapy based on the reversal of the associated epigenetic mechanism can bring new insight in the area of early diagnosis and treatment mechanism. This review discusses the diabetic retinopathy, its pathogenesis, current treatment options, need of finding novel treatment options, and different epigenetic alterations associated with DR. However, the main focus is emphasized on various epigenetic modifications particularly DNA methylation which are responsible for the initiation and progression of diabetic retinopathy and the use of different epigenetic inhibitors as a novel therapeutic option for DR.
TMEM158 promotes pancreatic cancer aggressiveness by activation of TGFβ1 and PI3K/AKT signaling pathway
Authors: Fu Yue , Yao Na , Ding Dong , Zhang Xudong , Liu Hanyang , Ma Le , Shi Weihai , Zhu Chunfu , Tang Liming 
Published: September 2019

AbstractPancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the most deadly digestive cancers world‐wide, with a dismal five‐year survival rate of <8%. Upregulation of transmembrane protein 158 (TMEM158) is known to facilitate the progression of several carcinomas. However, little is known concerning the potential roles of TMEM158 in PC. Herein, we first found that TMEM158 was significantly upregulated in PC samples as well as PC cell lines. The overexpression of TMEM158 was significantly correlated with advanced clinicopathologic features (including tumor size, TNM stage, and blood vessel invasion) and poorer prognosis of patients with PC in clinic. Evidenced based on a series of loss‐ and gain‐of‐function assays uncovered that TMEM158 enhanced PC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion by stimulating the progression of cell cycle, epithelial–mesenchymal transition, and MMP‐2/9 production. Furthermore, mechanism‐related investigations disclosed that activation of TGFβ1 and PI3K/AKT signal might be responsible for TMEM158‐triggered PC aggressiveness. Collectively, TMEM158 was upregulated in PC and promoted PC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion through the activation of TGFβ1 and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways, highlighting its potential as a tumor promoter and a therapeutic target for PC.
Retracted: CBP‐triggered KDM2B acetylation accelerates the carcinogenesis of colon cancer
Authors: Qi Yuxi , Zhao Yanning 
Published: September 2019

AbstractLysine (K)‐specific demethylase 2B (KDM2B) has been testified to be an oncogene in diverse cancers, which joins in mediating the carcinogenesis of cancers. Nonetheless, the function of KDM2B in colon cancer remains unexplored. The study attempted to disclose the influences of KDM2B acetylation in the progression of colon cancer. SW48 and SUN‐C1 cells were transfected with Flag‐KDM2B and administrated by trichostatin A and nicotinamide for 24 hr. Immunoprecipitation with a Flag antibody followed by western blot with acetyl‐lysine‐specific antibody was executed to detect KDM2B acetylation. The correlation between CREB binding protein (CBP) and KDM2B was then investigated. The K‐R and K‐Q mutants were constructed and the impacts of KDM2B on demethylation of nucleosomal substrates, p21, and puma transcription and the carcinogenesis of colon cancer were probed. CBP immediately evoked KDM2B acetylation at lysine residue 765 in colon cancer cells. Acetylation of KDM2B obviously destroyed the relevance with nucleosomes, demethylation of nucleosomal substrates, and repressed p21 and puma transcription. More important, KDM2B acetylation restrained SUN‐C1 cells proliferation and colony formation, meanwhile, hindered cell migration and invasion. Beyond that, the tumor formation was repressed by KDM2B acetylation. The observations testified that CBP‐triggered KDM2B acetylation accelerated the carcinogenesis of colon cancer.
Metabolic and microbial perspectives on the “evolution of evolution”
Authors: Powell Russell , O'Malley Maureen A. 
Published: September 2019

AbstractIdentifying and theorizing major turning points in the history of life generates insights into not only world‐changing evolutionary events but also the processes that bring these events about. In his treatment of these issues, Bonner identifies the evolution of sex, multicellularity, and nervous systems as enabling the “evolution of evolution,” which involves fundamental transformations in how evolution occurs. By contextualizing his framework within two decades of theorizing about major transitions in evolution, we identify some basic problems that Bonner's theory shares with much of the prevailing literature. These problems include implicit progressivism, theoretical disunity, and a limited ability to explain major evolutionary transformations. We go on to identify events and processes that are neglected by existing views. In contrast with the “vertical” focus on replication, hierarchy, and morphology that preoccupies most of the literature on major transitions, we propose a “horizontal” dimension in which metabolism and microbial innovations play a central explanatory role in understanding the broad‐scale organization of life.
Tail regeneration in Lepidosauria as an exception to the generalized lack of organ regeneration in amniotes
Authors: Alibardi Lorenzo 
Published: September 2019

AbstractThe present review hypothesizes that during the transition from water to land, amniotes lost part of the genetic program for metamorphosis utilized in larvae of their amphibian ancestors, a program that in extant fish and amphibians allows organ regeneration. The direct development of amniotes, with their growth from embryos to adults, occurred with the elimination of larval stages, increases the efficiency of immune responses and the complexity of nervous circuits. In amniotes, T‐cells and macrophages likely eliminate embryonic‐larval antigens that are replaced with the definitive antigens of adult organs. Among lepidosaurians numerous lizard families during the Permian and Triassic evolved the process of tail autotomy to escape predation, followed by tail regeneration. Autotomy limits inflammation allowing the formation of a regenerative blastema rich in the immunosuppressant and hygroscopic hyaluronic acid. Expression loss of developmental genes for metamorphosis and segmentation in addition to an effective immune system, determined an imperfect regeneration of the tail. Genes involved in somitogenesis were likely lost or are inactivated and the axial skeleton and muscles of the original tail are replaced with a nonsegmented cartilaginous tube and segmental myotomes. Lack of neural genes, negative influence of immune system, and isolation of the regenerating spinal cord within the cartilaginous tube impede the production of nerve and glial cells, and a stratified spinal cord with ganglia. Tissue and organ regeneration in other body regions of lizards and other reptiles is relatively limited, like in the other amniotes, although the cartilage shows a higher regenerative capability than in mammals.
Short‐Term Creatine Supplementation May Alleviate the Malnutrition‐Inflammation Score and Lean Body Mass Loss in Hemodialysis Patients: A Pilot Randomized Placebo‐Controlled Trial
Authors: Marini Ana Clara B. , Motobu Reika D. , Freitas Ana T. V. , Mota João F. , Wall Benjamin T. , Pichard Claude , Laviano Alessandro , Pimentel Gustavo Duarte 
Published: September 2019

AbstractBackgroundCreatine supplementation has been proposed to alleviate muscle loss in various populations, but has not been investigated in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Thus, our objective was to evaluate whether creatine supplementation could attenuate the loss of lean body mass (LBM) and malnutrition‐inflammation score (MIS) in HD patients.MethodsA randomized, placebo‐controlled, double blind, parallel‐design study included HD patients, of both sexes, aged 18–59 years. The patients were allocated to a Placebo Group (PG; n = 15; received maltodextrin, 1st week: 40 g/day and 2nd–4th weeks: 10 g/day) and a Creatine Group (CG; n = 15; received creatine plus maltodextrin, 1st week: 20 g/day of creatine plus 20 g/day of maltodextrin and 2nd–4th weeks: 5 g/day of creatine plus 5 g/day of maltodextrin). Pre and post the intervention, patients were evaluated for food intake, MIS, body composition and biochemical parameters.ResultsCG group attenuated the MIS (Pre: 5.57 ± 0.72 vs. Post: 3.85 ± 0.47 score, P = 0.003) compared with PG (Pre: 5.71 ± 0.97 vs. Post: 5.36 ± 0.95 score, P = 0.317) (supplement × time P = 0.017, effect size: 0.964). The change of LBM was greater in CG than in PG (CG: Δ0.95 vs PG: Δ0.13 kg). At post‐intervention, 28.6% of PG patients presented LBM loss and 71.4% remain stable. In contrast, 14.4% of CG patients had LBM loss, 42.8% remain stable and 42.8% gained. Food intake and quality of life did not change. CG increased the BMI and gait speed in post‐compared to pre‐moment, but no difference among the groups.
ConclusionIn HD patients, four weeks of creatine supplementation may alleviate the MIS as well as attenuate the LBM loss compared to placebo.
Evaluating gender parity in operative experience for otolaryngology residencies in the United States
Authors: Gurgel Richard K. , Cardon Brandon R. , Allen Chelsea McCarty , Presson Angela P. , Kelly Brenna C. , Hopf Harriet W. , Choi Sukgi S. , Miller Robert H. 
Published: September 2019

ObjectivesGender disparity exists in medicine, such as differences in pay and promotion opportunities. We hypothesize that there is also a gender difference in graduate medical education as manifested by operative case volume. This study compares surgical case volume by gender for graduating US otolaryngology residents.Study DesignCohort study.MethodsWith data use approval from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, we evaluated the key indicator case log summaries of graduating otolaryngology residents from 2009–2017. Mean and standard deviation were used for all cases, and t‐tests were used to compare cases by resident gender. The Bonferroni method was used to adjust for multiple comparisons across years.ResultsData from 1740 male and 804 female residents were evaluated. Across all years, the average number of key indicator cases reported was 778.8 and 813.6 by female and male residents, respectively, with an average difference of 34.8 cases per graduating year (95% confidence interval [CI] 19.4, 50.2; P < .001). When a resident self‐reported the role of resident surgeon/supervisor, the average number of key indicator cases reported was 602.6 and 643.9 by female and male residents, respectively, with an average difference of 41.3 cases per graduating year (95% CI, 28.0, 54.6; P < .001).ConclusionGender‐based discrepancies in surgical case volume exist among graduating otolaryngology residents. This disparity is partially attributed to the self‐reported role in the surgery. This study has identified those discrepancies so that training programs can implement strategies to ensure improved gender parity.Level of Evidence2b Laryngoscope, 130:1651–1656, 2020