bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An unbiased method to estimate individual specialisation from multi‐tissue isotopic data
Authors: Naya Daniel E. , Franco‐Trecu Valentina
Published: May 2019

Individual specialisation could affect several ecological and evolutionary processes. Assessing isotopic data from different tissues of a single individual (multi‐tissue approach) represents a common method to estimate individual trophic specialisation (ITS). However, a neglected problem with this approach is that isotopic values of two tissues from a single individual are not statistically independent, and hence, an underestimation of the within‐individual component of variance should be theoretically expected. In this study, we evaluate this potential problem by comparing ITS estimations as currently calculated (uncorrected ITS) against ITS estimations based on a new method that considers the non‐independence problem (corrected ITS).

We used unpublished δ15N and δ13C data for nine fish species, together with previously published δ15N and δ13C data for eight other vertebrate species, to estimate (and compare) components of variance and ITS values, using uncorrected and corrected isotopic data. In addition, for each species, we used a Monte Carlo resampling routine to test the null hypothesis that all individuals sample equally from the population diet distribution.

We found that the use of uncorrected δ15N values provided an average ITS estimation which is, depending on the overlap among tissues turnover rates, 14%–35% (fish dataset) and 17%–40% (all species dataset) lower than estimations based on corrected values. Similarly, the use of uncorrected δ13C values provided an average ITS estimation which is 12%–29% (fish dataset) and 21%–45% (all species dataset) lower than corrected estimations. The implications of these results in an ecological context are of great significance. For instance, the fish dataset showed that while uncorrected estimations indicate that three (δ13C) or four (δ15N) species are trophic specialists at the individual level, a moderate correction in isotopic values indicate that none (δ13C) or only one (δ15N) species is a trophic specialist at that level. Noticeably, this last result is much more congruent with dietary data obtained from stomach content analysis.

Given the several pros of the multi‐tissue approach, such as its reduced operative costs, we suggest not to abandon this method, but to cope with the non‐independence problem by using the correction proposed here or, at least, by selecting body tissues with a minimal overlap in their turnover rates.
Linking drought legacy effects across scales: From leaves to tree rings to ecosystems
Authors: Kannenberg Steven A. , Novick Kimberly A. , Alexander M. Ross , Maxwell Justin T. , Moore David J. P. , Phillips Richard P. , Anderegg William R. L.
Published: May 2019

Severe drought can cause lagged effects on tree physiology that negatively impact forest functioning for years. These “drought legacy effects” have been widely documented in tree‐ring records and could have important implications for our understanding of broader scale forest carbon cycling. However, legacy effects in tree‐ring increments may be decoupled from ecosystem fluxes due to (a) postdrought alterations in carbon allocation patterns; (b) temporal asynchrony between radial growth and carbon uptake; and (c) dendrochronological sampling biases. In order to link legacy effects from tree rings to whole forests, we leveraged a rich dataset from a Midwestern US forest that was severely impacted by a drought in 2012. At this site, we compiled tree‐ring records, leaf‐level gas exchange, eddy flux measurements, dendrometer band data, and satellite remote sensing estimates of greenness and leaf area before, during, and after the 2012 drought. After accounting for the relative abundance of tree species in the stand, we estimate that legacy effects led to ~10% reductions in tree‐ring width increments in the year following the severe drought. Despite this stand‐scale reduction in radial growth, we found that leaf‐level photosynthesis, gross primary productivity (GPP), and vegetation greenness were not suppressed in the year following the 2012 drought. Neither temporal asynchrony between radial growth and carbon uptake nor sampling biases could explain our observations of legacy effects in tree rings but not in GPP. Instead, elevated leaf‐level photosynthesis co‐occurred with reduced leaf area in early 2013, indicating that resources may have been allocated away from radial growth in conjunction with postdrought upregulation of photosynthesis and repair of canopy damage. Collectively, our results indicate that tree‐ring legacy effects were not observed in other canopy processes, and that postdrought canopy allocation could be an important mechanism that decouples tree‐ring signals from GPP.
A global meta‐analysis of soil organic carbon response to corn stover removal
Authors: Xu Hui , Sieverding Heidi , Kwon Hoyoung , Clay David , Stewart Catherine , Johnson Jane M. F. , Qin Zhangcai , Karlen Douglas L. , Wang Michael
Published: May 2019

Corn (Zea mays L.) stover is a global resource used for livestock, fuel, and bioenergy feedstock, but excessive stover removal can decrease soil organic C (SOC) stocks and deteriorate soil health. Many site‐specific stover removal experiments report accrual rates and SOC stock effects, but a quantitative, global synthesis is needed to provide a scientific base for long‐term energy policy decisions. We used 409 data points from 74 stover harvest experiments conducted around the world for a meta‐analysis and meta‐regression to quantify removal rate, tillage, soil texture, and soil sampling depth effects on SOC. Changes were quantified by: (a) comparing final SOC stock differences after at least 3 years with and without stover removal and (b) calculating SOC accrual rates for both treatments. Stover removal generally reduced final SOC stocks by 8% in the upper 0–15 or 0–30 cm, compared to stover retained, irrespective of soil properties and tillage practices. A more sensitive meta‐regression analysis showed that retention increased SOC stocks within the 30–150 cm depth by another 5%. Compared to baseline values, stover retention increased average SOC stocks temporally at a rate of 0.41 Mg C ha−1 year−1 (statistically significant at p < 0.01 when averaged across all soil layers). Although SOC sequestration rates were lower with stover removal, with moderate (<50%) removal they can be positive, thus emphasizing the importance of site‐specific management. Our results also showed that tillage effects on SOC stocks were inconsistent due to the high variability in practices used among the experimental sites. Finally, we conclude that research and technological efforts should continue to be given high priority because of the importance in providing science‐based policy recommendations for long‐term global carbon management.
Calcium Isotope Ratio (δ44/40Ca) Measurements of Ca‐Dominated Minerals and Rocks without Column Chemistry Using the Double‐Spike Technique and Thermal Ionisation Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Liu Fang , Li Xin , An Ya J. , Li Jie , Zhang Zhao F.
Published: May 2019

In this study, to evaluate whether bias free Ca isotope ratios can be properly achieved by thermal ionisation mass spectrometry (TIMS) using the 42Ca–43Ca double‐spike technique without chemical purification, a series of comparable experiments (with or without column chemistry) were made on Ca‐dominated minerals and rocks. Minerals, including fluorite, calcite, titanite and apatite, displayed similar Ca isotope ratios with Δ44/40Cawith‐without ranging from −0.02 to +0.07‰. For Ca‐rich rocks, we mainly focused on the carbonates since they are the main repositories of Ca at the surface of the Earth. Coral, stalagmite, carbonatite, dolomite, marble and limestone are studied here. Interestingly, δ44/40CaSRM 915a of these minerals and rocks without chemical purification displayed little drift compared with that of rocks with chemical purification, with Δ44/40Cawith‐without merely spanning from −0.04 to +0.04‰. This implies that Ca isotope ratios can be achieved without column chemistry, possibly due to a property of TIMS in which Ca ions are only ionised at a target temperature and with a specific activator without ionising other ions. Therefore, for Ca‐dominated minerals or rocks, we suggest that column chemistry is unnecessary if they are totally dissolved and mixed in proper proportion with the 42Ca–43Ca double spike for TIMS measurement.
KMT2A (MLL) fusions in aggressive sarcomas in young adults
Authors: Yoshida Akihiko , Arai Yasuhito , Tanzawa Yoshikazu , Wakai Susumu , Hama Natsuko , Kawai Akira , Shibata Tatsuhiro
Published: May 2019

Aim

To characterise unclassifiable sarcomas by use of a combined histological and molecular approach.

Methods and results

Using RNA sequencing, we identified in‐frame fusions involving KMT2A (MLL) in two cases. Case 1 was a 20‐year‐old woman with a deep soft tissue mass in the thigh. The tumour consisted of monomorphic round, epithelioid and spindle cells in a highly sclerotic background that were focally immunopositive for CD34, CD31, and ERG. Case 2 was a 30‐year‐old woman with a tumour that affected the femur and surrounding soft tissue. The tumour consisted of monomorphic round to spindle cells that were immunopositive for BCOR, Wilms tumour 1, and NKX2‐2. Both tumours were aggressive and had metastasised to the lung; both patients died within a few years. RNA sequencing identified a YAP1 (exon 5)–KMT2A (exon 4) fusion in case 1 and a VIM (exon 4)–KMT2A (exon 2) fusion in case 2, both of which were confirmed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, Sanger sequencing, and fluorescence in‐situ hybridisation. The fusion protein structure was different from that in acute leukaemia, suggesting a novel oncogenic mechanism.

Conclusions

KMT2A fusions account for a subset of aggressive unclassifiable sarcomas in young adults. Although it is presently unclear whether these sarcomas belong to a single group, the well‐established role of KMT2A fusions as drivers of acute leukaemia and a recent publication regarding identification of YAP1–KMT2A in one unclassifiable sarcoma support the significance of these fusions. Further studies on additional cases are necessary to fully understand the clinicopathological and molecular aspects of KMT2A‐rearranged sarcomas.
Short‐term exposure to chrysin promotes proliferative responses in the ventral male prostate and female prostate of adult gerbils
Authors: Campos Mônica S. , Silva João P. A. , Lima Danilo S. , Regasini Luis O. , Marques Mara Rúbia , Biancardi Manoel F. , Taboga Sebastião R. , Santos Fernanda C. A.
Published: May 2019

Chrysin (5,7‐dihydroxyflavone) is a bioactive compound found in different fruits, vegetables, honey and propolis. This flavone has been suggested for the treatment of reproductive dysfunction, mainly because of its antioxidant and hormonal properties. However, the effects of this polyphenol on the prostate are still poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of short‐term chrysin exposure on the ventral male and female prostates of adult gerbils. To evaluate the androgenic potential of chrysin, gerbils were also exposed to testosterone. Male and female gerbils were exposed to chrysin (50 mg/kg/day, orally) or testosterone cypionate (1 mg/kg/week, subcutaneously) for 3, 7 and 21 days. Prostates were dissected for morphological, stereological and immunohistochemical analyses. Serum levels of testosterone and 17β‐estradiol were measured by ELISA. Serum testosterone levels were not increased by chrysin supplementation in males or females. However, only females treated with chrysin for 21 days showed an increase in estradiol levels. Increased androgen receptor immunoreactivity, higher proliferation rates and glandular hyperplasia were observed in male and female prostates for all chrysin treatment times. Additionally, increased oestrogen receptor alpha immunoreactivity was observed in all chrysin‐treated females. Although chrysin and testosterone promoted similar morphological changes in the gerbil prostate, chrysin supplementation was less deleterious to prostate health, since it resulted in lower incidence of hyperplasia and an absence of neoplastic foci.
Tournament incentives and firm credit risk: Evidence from credit default swap referenced firms
Authors: Du Lijing , Huang Jian , Jain Bharat A.
Published: May 2019

In this paper, we evaluate the impact of managerial tournament incentives on firm credit risk in credit default swap (CDS) referenced firms. We find that intra‐firm tournament incentives are negatively related to credit risk. Our results suggest that tournament incentives reduce credit risk by alleviating the potential for underinvestment when managers are concerned about exacting empty creditors. Further, we find that tournament incentives decrease credit risk when internal governance is strong or product market competition is intense. Taken together, our results suggest that creditors perceive senior manager tournament incentives (SMTI) as a critical determinant of a firm's credit risk, particularly in settings where managerial risk aversion is high.
Comparison of a mouth aspirator and a mechanical vacuum aspirator for the collection of Culicoides midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in equids
Authors: Elbers Armin R. W. , Pacholewicz Ewa , Gonzales Jose L.
Published: May 2019

In a controlled field trial, a mechanical vacuum and a mouth aspirator were compared with respect to Culicoides midge catching results. The two collection methods were equally applied to two Haflinger horses. Once every hour between 2 hr before sunset and sunset, midges were aspirated for 3 min directly off from the coat of each horse at the same time. In total, 16 replicate measurement days were made. To get insight into the number of (blood‐fed) midges collected on different body parts, four replicate measurement days were done in which the hourly 3‐min samples for each collecting method were separately collected and counted per body part. Mean number of Culicoides midges collected on the legs and on the belly of the horse was two times and significantly higher by the mechanical vacuum aspirator compared to the mouth aspirator. Although the mean number of Culicoides midges from the other part of the host sampled (head/neck/manes/back/flanks) was comparable between the two methods, the mean number of blood‐fed Culicoides midges was four times and significantly higher collected by the mouth aspirator compared to the mechanical vacuum aspirator. In conclusion, it can be recommended to use a mechanical vacuum aspirator instead of a mouth aspirator for the legs and belly area, where a systematic, stroke‐by‐stroke‐vacuum procedure is recommended. For the rest of the body, it is strongly recommended to use a targeted procedure by visual guidance of the presence of midges. For now, based on this experiment, we can only recommend using the mouth aspirator for this targeted approach. However, it might be worth assessing the use of the mechanical vacuum aspirator in a targeted way for future studies.
Repellent activity of Cymbopogon citratus and Tagetes minuta and their specific volatiles against Megalurothrips sjostedti
Authors: Diabate Seydou , Martin Thibaud , Murungi Lucy Kananu , Fiaboe Komi K. M. , Subramanian Sevgan , Wesonga John , Deletre Emilie
Published: May 2019

Cowpea is an important source of protein for people in Africa. However, the crop suffers major damage and yield losses due to bean flower thrips, Megalurothrips sjostedti Trybom (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). Although companion plants are known to reduce the damage caused by insect pests, the role of their volatiles in repelling pests from target plants has been the subject of few investigations. Here, we used the Y‐tube olfactometer experiments and chemical analyses to investigate the effect of volatiles from cowpea flowers and two companion plants; lemongrass, Cymbopogon citratus and Mexican marigold, Tagetes minuta on the olfactory responses of M. sjostedti. The results revealed that M. sjostedti males and females were repelled by the volatiles from freshly cut leaves of C. citratus. The combination of freshly cut leaves of C. citratus and cowpea flower was repellent to females but not to males. The female thrips, but not males, were repelled by the volatiles from the vegetative stage of T. minuta. Fifty‐four compounds were identified in the volatiles from two herbal plants. Among the major compounds, citral and a 4‐component blend comprised of dihydrotagetone, (Z)‐3‐hexenyl acetate, limonene and (Z)‐β‐ocimene repelled females but dihydrotagetone alone attracted females. While myrcene combined with cowpea flower volatiles enhanced the attraction of females M. sjostedti, when tested alone was not attractive. These results highlight the potential of volatiles from C. citratus and T. minuta to repel M. sjostedti females. The use of these plants as companion plants in a cowpea cropping system could reduce M. sjostedti infestation.
Hole‐in‐the‐head disease in discus fish, Symphysodon (Heckel, 1840): Is it a consequence of a dietary Ca/P imbalance?
Authors: Amesberger‐Freitag Alessandra , Tichy Alexander , El‐Matbouli Mansour , Lewisch Eva
Published: May 2019

Hole‐in‐the‐head (HITH) disease‐affected fish develop characteristic lesions in the skin above sensory pores of the head and the trunk. This study investigated whether an unfavourable Ca/P ratio in the diet could provoke lesions consistent with HITH disease in discus fish Symphysodon (Heckel, 1840) as a comparable condition to secondary hyperparathyroidism of tetrapod species. Two groups of five fish were fed a plain beef heart diet (Ca/P of 0.03), whereas two other groups were kept on commercial discus feed (Ca/P of 2.73). Each feeding group was submitted to two different water hardness regimes (35.66–71.39 mg/L CaCO3 and 124.94–196.33 mg/L CaCO3, respectively). All fish were observed for the development of the characteristic lesions for 16 weeks. At the end of the study, histological, bacteriological and parasitological examinations were conducted and plasma Ca, P and Mg values were determined. Diplomonad flagellates were detected in two fish. Isolated bacteria of all groups mostly belonged to Aeromonadales and Pseudomonadales. No significant difference of plasma mineral values between the groups was observed. Compared to the results of other authors, Ca stayed mainly in the range and P exceeded the reference values. Histological examinations did not indicate HITH disease, and no fish developed signs of the disease during the study.

Clinical trial registration number GZ 68.205/0135‐WF/V/36/2014.
Application of D‐optimal mixture design and fuzzy logic approach in the preparation of chhana podo (baked milk cake)
Authors: Franklin Magdaline E. E. , Pushpadass Heartwin A. , Kamaraj Manimala , Muthurayappa Manjunatha , Battula Surendra Nath
Published: May 2019

This work is aimed at the use of D‐optimal mixture design to incorporate tikhur (Curcuma angustifolia Roxb.) starch instead of semolina in the preparation of chhana podo (baked milk cake). Quality parameters such as lightness, hardness, moisture content, oven spring, and specific volume were determined, and they were used for optimization of baking conditions. The product prepared from the optimized formulation of 19.2 parts of chhana (milk solids obtained by heat‐acid coagulation of milk at 90°C), 1.8 parts of tikhur starch, and 6 parts of sugar had 39.72% moisture content, 1.09 cm3/g specific volume, 22.43 mm oven spring, 66.37 lightness value, and 29.69 N hardness with desirability factor of 0.896. Further, chhana podo prepared by adding semolina two‐parts (control), one‐, two‐ and three‐parts of tikhur starch were compared for its sensory attributes using fuzzy logic approach. It was used to score the samples for ranking, and also to decipher the preference of the judges for the above quality parameters. Specimens 1, 2, and 3 were rated “Good” by the panelists while Specimen 4 was ranked “Satisfactory.” In general, texture was rated as the strongest quality indicator (Highly Important) for chhana podo with similarity value of 0.956. Moistness, color, and flavor had identical similarity values, and were classed as “Important.”

Practical applications

Chhana podo is a milk cake that is prepared by blending of heat‐acid coagulated milk solids, sugar and semolina into dough, and baking it. Fuzzy analysis, which involves linguistic expression of sensory quality, was used in combination with mixture design to optimize the ingredient composition. Semolina was replaced with tikhur (Curcuma angustifolia Roxb.) starch by using D‐optimal mixture design without any influence on end product quality. Combining fuzzy analysis with mixture design proved to be a good tool for new product development.
Women's Contraceptive Perceptions, Beliefs, and Attitudes: An Integrative Review of Qualitative Research
Authors: Alspaugh Amy , Barroso Julie , Reibel Melody , Phillips Shannon
Published: May 2019

Introduction

Unintended pregnancy rates will remain high until researchers explore the lived experience of women's relationships with contraception. This integrative review examines the extant qualitative literature on women's contraception to illuminate common themes in women's perspectives through the lens of the feminist poststructuralist framework.

Methods

A literature review of PubMed and CINAHL databases was completed for English‐language studies conducted in the United States from January 2008 through September 2018 that qualitatively examined women's perceptions, beliefs, and attitudes regarding contraception. Reports, dissertations, mixed‐methods research, and literature reviews were excluded. The sample, methods, and findings of 19 studies were reviewed. Themes were identified using the 5 major tenets of the feminist poststructuralist framework: discourse, power, language, subjectivity, and agency.

Results

Themes of power imbalance between partners and health care providers; societal and communal discourses on femininity and motherhood; distrust of hormonal contraception; the ability to enhance personal agency through contraceptive decision making; and a need for open, patient‐focused communication arose from the 19 studies included in the review.

Discussion

Using a feminist poststructuralist framework to examine women's contraceptive perceptions illuminates and magnifies the many ways in which contraceptive beliefs and use are dependent on gender roles and power dynamics. Gaps in knowledge specific to older women and exploration of women's subjectivity should be addressed. Clinicians should evaluate the power structures inherent to their practice while providing woman‐focused, evidence‐based contraceptive education.
The Role of School in Helping Children and Adolescents Reach the Physical Activity Recommendations: The UP&DOWN Study
Authors: Grao‐Cruces Alberto , Segura‐Jiménez Victor , Conde‐Caveda Julio , García‐Cervantes Laura , Martínez‐Gómez David , Keating Xiaofen D. , Castro‐Piñero José
Published: May 2019

BACKGROUND

The aims were to: (1) examine the levels of physical activity (PA) during different time periods (ie, daily PA, school hour PA, recess PA, physical education classes [PEC] PA) in children and adolescents; and (2) identify the rate of compliance with the specific PA recommendations for these time periods.

METHODS

The participants were 1925 (940 girls) children and adolescents from 40 Spanish schools. Hip‐worn accelerometers were used to assess PA during different time periods.

RESULTS

Boys and children were more physically active and had a greater percentage meeting the daily PA recommendation and the school‐based PA recommendation than girls and adolescents, respectively. Compliance with daily PA recommendation was markedly higher than that with the school‐based PA recommendation, regardless of sex and age groups (ie, 80.4% vs 24.1% for daily and school‐based PA recommendations, respectively, in child boys). A very low percentage (ie, 9.7% and 1.2% of child boys with almost 50% of moderate‐to‐vigorous PA during recess and PEC, respectively) of students reached the recommended PA levels for recess and PEC.

CONCLUSIONS

Physical activity levels during school hours, recess, and PEC in children and adolescents are very low. Promoting PA in school settings is essential, especially in girls and adolescents.
Single-dose diclofenac in healthy volunteers can cause decrease in renal perfusion measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Hellms Susanne , Gueler Faikah , Gutberlet Marcel , Schebb Nils Helge , Rund Katharina , Kielstein Jan T , VoChieu VanDai , Rauhut Sebastian , Greite Robert , Martirosian Petros , Haller Hermann , Wacker Frank , Derlin Katja
Published: May 2019

Objectives

We investigated changes of renal perfusion after topical and oral diclofenac administration in healthy volunteers using functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with arterial spin labelling (ASL).

Methods

Twenty-four healthy human participants (21–51 years) underwent 1.5T MRI before and 1 h after a single oral dose of diclofenac (50 mg). Twelve of 24 participants underwent an additional MRI examination following 3-day topical diclofenac administration. For renal perfusion imaging, a flow-sensitive alternating inversion-recovery TrueFISP ASL sequence was applied. Plasma concentrations of diclofenac and serum concentrations of thromboxane were determined.

Key findings

After oral diclofenac application, large interindividual differences in plasma concentrations were observed (range <3–4604 nm). Topical diclofenac application did not result in relevant systemic diclofenac levels (range 5–75 nm). MRI showed a significant reduction of renal perfusion in individuals with diclofenac levels ≥225 nm (baseline: 347 ± 7 vs diclofenac: 323 ± 8 ml/min/100 g, P < 0.01); no significant differences were observed in participants with diclofenac levels <225 nm. Diclofenac levels correlated negatively with thromboxane B2 levels pointing towards target engagement.

Conclusions

Single-dose diclofenac caused a decrease in renal perfusion in participants with diclofenac levels ≥225 nm. We demonstrated that even a single dose of diclofenac can impair renal perfusion, which could be detrimental in patients with underlying chronic kidney disease or acute kidney injury.
Type of starter culture influences on structural and sensorial properties of low protein fermented gels
Authors: Priyashantha Hasitha , Quintáns Alfonso Pérez , Baixauli Raquel , Vidanarachchi Janak K.
Published: May 2019

Organoleptic properties of skimmed milk fermented gels are progressively demanding to produce optimal quality yogurts. Chr‐Hansen trademark registered cultures were used to produce low‐protein (3.4%) gels to assess the ability to redesign the sensorial and textural properties with the choice of starter culture. Resulting gels were assessed for sensorial, textural, rheological, and microstructural properties and compared with a commercial control (4.5% protein). Mouth thickness, syneresis, firmness, elasticity, and consistency values were lower for polysaccharides‐producing cultures. Such cultures contributed to the higher creaminess and tended to give higher ropiness. Observed differences among microstructures of the gel were minute. Microstructural and rheological data corresponded and reflected the instrumental and sensory interpretations. Strong correlations were observed between sensory and instrumental data. Nonprobiotics cultures resulted in promising overall gel properties compared with probiotic cultures according to the principal component analysis. Yet probiotic cultures resulted in lower syneresis than nonprobiotic cultures. Thus, the choice of bacterial culture modifies the sensorial and textural properties of fermented gel with strong correlations, as a result of altered gel network formation with the production of polysaccharides. Inferior textural and sensorial quality aspects, particularly at low protein levels, have negative impact on consumer demand of low protein yogurts. Thus, we attempted to gain required gel textural and sensorial properties with a choice of starter culture with a low protein level. Resulting gel properties at lowered protein content with different starter cultures are not fully known. The present study compares the effect of probiotic and nonprobiotic starter cultures on gel properties, as gel texture and sensory properties are of great interest and thus not willing to be compromised. In addition, we examined the overall texture profile of studied cultures and correlate with sensory properties. Therefore, reducing protein level in milk and achieving required gel properties with the choice of appropriate starter culture is of great commercial interest as a cost‐cutting strategy to produce low‐cost optimum quality yogurt.
Next Steps for Mind, Brain, and Education: Strengthening Early‐Career Development
Authors: Gotlieb Rebecca J. M. , Pollack Courtney , Younger Jessica W. , Toomarian Elizabeth Y. , Allaire‐Duquette Geneviève , Mariager Nadja M.
Published: May 2019

An increasing number of scholars are being trained in the field of mind, brain, and education (MBE), yet discussions of trainees' needs and how to meet them are rare. We, the inaugural International Mind, Brain, and Education Society (IMBES) Trainee Board, identify three broad needs of MBE trainees: guidance and support, greater access to and connections among the MBE community, and professional development. We report a first step to address these needs: a daylong trainee conference, which included sessions to foster connections among trainees, provide mentorship from MBE leaders, and provide knowledge and skill building for careers. Attendees' survey results suggest the conference successfully supported trainees' development. As substantial trainee needs remain, we offer specific ways that principal investigators, institutions, funding agencies, future IMBES trainee boards, and the MBE community can further address trainees' needs to support early‐career development and strengthen the MBE field generally.
Latitudinal divergence in a widespread amphibian: Contrasting patterns of neutral and adaptive genomic variation
Authors: Rödin‐Mörch Patrik , Luquet Emilien , Meyer‐Lucht Yvonne , Richter‐Boix Alex , Höglund Jacob , Laurila Anssi
Published: May 2019

Stochastic effects from demographic processes and selection are expected to shape the distribution of genetic variation in spatially heterogeneous environments. As the amount of genetic variation is central for long‐term persistence of populations, understanding how these processes affect variation over large‐scale geographical gradients is pivotal. We investigated the distribution of neutral and putatively adaptive genetic variation, and reconstructed demographic history in the moor frog (Rana arvalis) using 136 individuals from 15 populations along a 1,700‐km latitudinal gradient from northern Germany to northern Sweden. Using double digest restriction‐site associated DNA sequencing we obtained 27,590 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and identified differentiation outliers and SNPs associated with growing season length. The populations grouped into a southern and a northern cluster, representing two phylogeographical lineages from different post‐glacial colonization routes. Hybrid index estimation and demographic model selection showed strong support for a southern and northern lineage and evidence of gene flow between regions located on each side of a contact zone. However, patterns of past gene flow over the contact zone differed between neutral and putatively adaptive SNPs. While neutral nucleotide diversity was higher along the southern than the northern part of the gradient, nucleotide diversity in differentiation outliers showed the opposite pattern, suggesting differences in the relative strength of selection and drift along the gradient. Variation associated with growing season length decreased with latitude along the southern part of the gradient, but not along the northern part where variation was lower, suggesting stronger climate‐mediated selection in the north. Outlier SNPs included loci involved in immunity and developmental processes.
Bacillus subtilis FolE is sustained by the ZagA zinc metallochaperone and the alarmone ZTP under conditions of zinc deficiency
Authors: Chandrangsu Pete , Huang Xiaojuan , Gaballa Ahmed , Helmann John D.
Published: May 2019

Bacteria tightly regulate intracellular zinc levels to ensure sufficient zinc to support essential functions, while preventing toxicity. The bacterial response to zinc limitation includes the expression of putative zinc metallochaperones belonging to subfamily 1 of the COG0523 family of G3E GTPases. However, the client proteins and the metabolic processes served by these chaperones are unclear. Here, we demonstrate that the Bacillus subtilis YciC zinc metallochaperone (here renamed ZagA for ZTP activated GTPase A) supports de novo folate biosynthesis under conditions of zinc limitation, and interacts directly with the zinc‐dependent GTP cyclohydrolase IA, FolE (GCYH‐IA). Furthermore, we identify a role for the alarmone ZTP, a modified purine biosynthesis intermediate, in the response to zinc limitation. ZTP, a signal of 10‐formyl‐tetrahydrofolate (10f‐THF) deficiency in bacteria, transiently accumulates as FolE begins to fail, stimulates the interaction between ZagA and FolE, and thereby helps to sustain folate synthesis despite declining zinc availability.
Biofilm formation by Candida auris isolated from colonising sites and candidemia cases
Authors: Singh Rachna , Kaur Mahaldeep , Chakrabarti Arunaloke , Shankarnarayan Shamanth A. , Rudramurthy Shivaprakash M.
Published: May 2019

Background

Candida auris, an emerging nosocomial pathogen, exhibits phenotypic variation. Non‐aggregating C. auris isolates display greater biofilm‐forming capacity and virulence than aggregate‐forming isolates. Most of the studies till date have focused on clinical isolates. The biofilm‐forming capacity of colonising isolates remains uninvestigated.

Objectives

The present study aimed to elucidate the biofilm‐forming capacity of the colonising isolates of C. auris, correlate it with their aggregation behaviour and antifungal susceptibility, and compare it with that of the isolates from blood‐stream infection.

Methods

Colonising and clinical (candidemia) isolates of C. auris were screened for aggregation behaviour, biofilm‐forming capacity and antifungal susceptibility testing. Aggregation behaviour was assessed microscopically. Biofilm‐forming capacity was determined on 96‐well flat‐bottomed microtitre plates. Antifungal susceptibility testing was performed by broth microdilution assay.

Results

Aggregative and non‐aggregative phenotypes were found to be predominantly associated with colonising and clinical isolates, respectively, with the former ones being stronger biofilm producers in the colonising group. Non‐aggregative isolates in the colonising group showed lower susceptibility to amphotericin B and fluconazole than aggregative isolates. In contrast, no association was noted between biofilm formation, aggregation behaviour and antifungal susceptibility amongst the clinical isolates.

Conclusion

Biofilm formation is a strain‐dependent trait in C. auris, strongly associated with the type and phenotypic behaviour of the isolates. Colonising isolates of this fungus were found to be predominantly aggregative in nature, with a higher biofilm‐forming capacity than non‐aggregative ones.
Cytokinin‐dependent regulatory module underlies the maintenance of zinc nutrition in rice
Authors: Gao Shaopei , Xiao Yunhua , Xu Fan , Gao Xiaokai , Cao Shouyun , Zhang Fengxia , Wang Guodong , Sanders Dale , Chu Chengcai
Published: May 2019

Zinc (Zn) deficiency is a critical problem in human nutrition. Rice is the main source of calories for nearly half the world's population but has the shortcoming, from a nutritional perspective, of being low in Zn and other essential nutrients.

Here we performed analyses with cytokinin‐related mutants and transgenic lines to provide unequivocal evidence that cytokinins have a key role in controlling Zn status in plants.

Transporters responsible for Zn uptake and chelators for the internal transport of Zn were strictly controlled by cytokinins. Moreover, cytokinin metabolism was regulated in a highly dynamic way in response to Zn status, which allows rice to adapt to heterogeneous Zn availability. Subsequently, fine‐tuning of cytokinin metabolism by root‐specific expression of a cytokinin degradation enzyme was able to improve both Zn nutrient and yield traits. Importantly, X‐ray fluorescence imaging revealed that the increased Zn was broadly distributed from the aleurone layer to the inner endosperm.

These findings show that metabolic control of cytokinin could provide the key to breeding Zn‐enriched rice.
Property Rights Reform to Support China's Rural–Urban Integration: Village‐Level Evidence from the Chengdu Experiment
Authors: Deininger Klaus , Jin Songqing , Liu Shouying , Shao Ting , Xia Fang
Published: May 2019

As part of a national experiment, in 2008, Chengdu prefecture launched a series of property rights reforms, among them complete registration of all land and measures to ease transferability and eliminate labour market restrictions. A comparison of villages inside and outside the prefecture's border using a difference‐in‐difference approach suggests that the reforms have reduced administrative reallocations; aligned land use closer to economic incentives, mainly through market transfers; and stimulated enterprise startups. These results, most of which are more pronounced for villages closer to Chengdu city, illuminate the potential gains from factor market reform.
Genetic and metabolic effects of ripening mutations and vine detachment on tomato fruit quality
Authors: Osorio Sonia , Carneiro Raphael T. , Lytovchenko Anna , McQuinn Ryan , Sørensen Iben , Vallarino José G. , Giovannoni James J. , Fernie Alisdair R. , Rose Jocelyn K. C.
Published: May 2019

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fruit ripening is regulated co‐operatively by the action of ethylene and a hierarchy of transcription factors, including RIPENING INHIBITOR (RIN) and NON‐RIPENING (NOR). Mutations in these two genes have been adopted commercially to delay ripening, and accompanying textural deterioration, as a means to prolong shelf life. However, these mutations also affect desirable traits associated with colour and nutritional value, although the extent of this trade‐off has not been assessed in detail. Here, we evaluated changes in tomato fruit pericarp primary metabolite and carotenoid pigment profiles, as well as the dynamics of specific associated transcripts, in the rin and nor mutants during late development and postharvest storage, as well of those of the partially ripening delayed fruit ripening (dfd) tomato genotype. These profiles were compared with those of the wild‐type tomato cultivars Ailsa Craig (AC) and M82. We also evaluated the metabolic composition of M82 fruit ripened on or off the vine over a similar period. In general, the dfd mutation resulted in prolonged firmness and maintenance of quality traits without compromising key metabolites (sucrose, glucose/fructose and glucose) and sectors of intermediary metabolism, including tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates. Our analysis also provided insights into the regulation of carotenoid formation and highlighted the importance of the polyamine, putrescine, in extending fruit shelf life. Finally, the metabolic composition analysis of M82 fruit ripened on or off the vine provided insights into the import into fruit of compounds, such as sucrose, during ripening.
The Mediating Role of Information Search in the Relationship Between Prejudice and Voting Behavior
Authors: Ditonto Tessa
Published: May 2019

Evidence on the extent to which prejudice serves as a barrier to black and Latino candidates for office is mixed. Some research has found that black and Latino candidates are disadvantaged in terms of their chances of winning election and that they are evaluated differently by voters, while other findings suggest that this may not be the case. This article examines the effects of racial prejudice on candidate evaluation and voting behavior. It uses a unique experimental design to test for direct effects of prejudice on candidate evaluation and voting behavior, as well as indirect effects of prejudice on these variables via the information that subjects seek out. I find that subjects higher in symbolic racism are less likely to vote “correctly” when their preferences most closely align with a black or Latino candidate and that they rate minority candidates more negatively than their white counterparts. I also find that subjects high in prejudice search for less information about minority candidates and that this less robust information search mediates the relationship between prejudice and candidate evaluation and vote measures. Results also suggest that increased information search may mitigate the effects of prejudice on correct voting.
Step back from the forest and step up to the Bonn Challenge: how a broad ecological perspective can promote successful landscape restoration
Authors: Temperton Vicky M. , Buchmann Nina , Buisson Elise , Durigan Giselda , Kazmierczak Łukasz , Perring Michael P. , de Sá Dechoum Michele , Veldman Joseph W. , Overbeck Gerhard E.
Published: May 2019

We currently face both an extinction and a biome crisis embedded in a changing climate. Many biodiverse ecosystems are being lost at far higher rates than they are being protected or ecologically restored. At the same time, natural climate solutions offer opportunities to restore biodiversity while mitigating climate change. The Bonn Challenge is a U.N. programme to restore biodiversity and mitigate climate change through restoration of the world's degraded landscapes. It provides an unprecedented chance for ecological restoration to become a linchpin tool for addressing many environmental issues. Unfortunately, the Forest and Landscape Restoration programme that underpins the Bonn Challenge, as its name suggests, remains focused on trees and forests, despite rising evidence that many non‐forest ecosystems also offer strong restoration potential for biodiversity and climate mitigation. We see a need for restoration to step back to be more inclusive of different ecosystem types and to step up to provide integrated scientific knowledge to inform large‐scale restoration. Stepping back and up will require assessments of where to restore what species, with recognition that in many landscapes multiple habitat types should be restored. In the process, trade‐offs in the delivery of different ecosystem services (e.g. carbon, biodiversity, water, albedo, livestock forage) should be clearly addressed. We recommend that biodiversity safeguards be included in policy and implemented in practice, to avoid undermining the biophysical relationships that provide ecosystem resilience to climate change. For ecological restoration to contribute to international policy goals will require integrated large‐scale science that works across biome boundaries.
Mining culture, labour, and the state in early modern Saxony
Authors: Felten Sebastian
Published: May 2019

This article encourages cultural historians to shift their attention from the ‘origins’ of early modern mining culture in manual labour to seemingly derivative contexts such as the court, bureaucracy, and heritage collections. How did these sites fashion the idea of mining culture as a system of expressions, and how was this system used, with varying success, to align individuals and groups with the requirements of material production? The article identifies at least five layers of constitutive and interpretative work: The current, 'normalized' scholarship in a reunited Germany; the construction of liberal or socialist traditions in the East and the West after the war; the resurrection of both a mining State and mining Volk during the Nazi era; the system‐building of ethnographers and heritage associations since the early 1800s; and attempts of the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth‐century mining bureaucracy to homogenize workers’ dress, ritual, and language for judiciary, management, and economic planning purposes. Each layer produced their own archives, on which any investigation of early modern mining culture depends as an empirical base, and all of them offered their own attempts to construct a system of cultural expression from the particular stories, archival documents, songs, and dress elements that they collected and arranged.
Urban bias and wage inequality
Authors: Pi Jiancai , Fan Yanwei
Published: May 2019

This paper explores how urban bias affects skilled–unskilled wage inequality through building several general equilibrium models. In the basic model, we find that an increase in the degree of urban bias will widen wage inequality if the unskilled sector is more capital intensive than the skilled sector and reduce wage inequality if the skilled sector is more capital intensive than the unskilled sector. In the extended models, we find that the conclusion obtained in the basic model almost still holds under different conditions.
Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids alleviate methionine‐choline‐deficient diet–induced non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis in mice
Authors: Wang Xiaojing , Li Lan , Wang Hongwu , Xiao Fang , Ning Qin
Published: May 2019

The epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) are products of cytochrome P450 epoxygenases and have recently been found to have an anti‐inflammatory activity. However, the role of EETs in non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis has not been fully understood. In this study, we investigated the protective role of EETs in methionine‐choline‐deficient (MCD) diet–induced non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in mice and the potential mechanisms. We used 1‐trifluoromethoxyphenyl‐3‐(1‐propionylpiperidin‐4‐yl)urea(TPPU), a soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitor, to increase the endogenous EET level in mice. Upon TPPU treatment, the liver steatosis and inflammatory damage were significantly ameliorated in mice with steatohepatitis, paralleled by the downregulation of pro‐inflammatory cytokines (TNF‐α, IL‐1β, IL‐6) as well as chemokines (CXCL1, MCP‐1). Compared with untreated NASH mice, mRNA levels of sterol regulatory element binding protein 1c (SREBP1c) and inflammation relevant adhesion molecules (ICAM‐1, VCAM‐1) were downregulated, whereas mRNA level of peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor α(PPAR‐α) was elevated in TPPU‐treated mice. In vitro, 11,12‐EET treatment remarkably attenuated free fatty acid (FFA)–induced inflammation in HepG2 and THP‐1 cells. Further, 11,12‐EET inhibited the activation of NF‐κB signalling pathway in macrophages from mice with steatohepatitis. Collectively, these results suggest that EETs play a protective role and alleviate the MCD diet–induced steatohepatitis in mice mainly by downregulating activation of NF‐κB pathway in macrophages.
Rural Arts Festivals as Contributors to Rural Development and Resilience
Authors: Mahon Marie , Hyyryläinen Torsti
Published: May 2019

This article explores how two rural arts festivals, one in the town of Boyle (Boyle Arts Festival), in Western Ireland and the other in the municipality of Mäntyharju, (Salmela Festival) Eastern Finland, contribute to the development of their respective localities and communities via two different models of festival implementation. Both festivals have a major focus on visual art along with other events such as music and enjoy strong reputations for promoting quality artistic experiences. Drawing on the concepts of cultural capital, resilience and resourcefulness, the article investigates how the arts can work in providing wide‐ranging possibilities for engaging with local development activities and shaping local development agendas in diverse and changing rural contexts. The research is based on semi‐structured interviews with 15 festival contributors and individuals in institutional support roles. It finds that an emphasis on community‐focused, quality of life priorities that is a feature of the Boyle festival increasingly presents challenges to sourcing funding, and that an entrepreneurial approach applied in the case of the Salmela festival, while economically successful, does not provide the same scope for community participation. Both approaches have implications for the ways the festivals impact on local development processes.