bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Red Sea SAR11 andProchlorococcusSingle-cell Genomes Reflect Globally Distributed Pangenomes
Authors: Thompson Luke R. , Haroon Mohamed F. , Shibl Ahmed A. , Cahill Matt J. , Ngugi David K. , Williams Gareth J. , Morton James T. , Knight Rob , Goodwin Kelly D. , Stingl Ulrich
Published: February 2019

Evidence suggests many marine bacteria are cosmopolitan, with widespread but sparse strains poised to seed abundant populations upon conducive growth conditions. However, studies supporting this “microbial seed bank” hypothesis have analyzed taxonomic marker genes rather than whole genomes/metagenomes, leaving open the possibility that disparate ocean regions harbor endemic gene content. The Red Sea is isolated geographically from the rest of the ocean and has a combination of high irradiance, high temperature, and high salinity that is unique among the ocean; we therefore asked whether it harbors endemic gene content. We sequenced and assembled single-cell genomes of 21 SAR11 (subclades Ia, Ib, Id, II) and 5Prochlorococcus(ecotype HLII) cells from the Red Sea and combined them with globally-sourced reference genomes to cluster genes into ortholog groups (OGs). Ordination of OG composition could distinguish clades, including phylogenetically crypticProchlorococcusecotypes LLII and LLIII. Compared with reference genomes, 1% ofProchlorococcusand 17% of SAR11 OGs were unique to the Red Sea genomes (RS-OGs). Most (83%) RS-OGs had no annotated function, but 65% of RS-OGs were expressed in diel Red Sea metatranscriptomes, suggesting they could be functional. SearchingTaraOceans metagenomes, RS-OGs were as likely to be found as non-RS-OGs; nevertheless, Red Sea and other warm samples could be distinguished from cooler samples using the relative abundances of OGs. The results suggest that the prevalence of OGs in these surface ocean bacteria is largely cosmopolitan, with differences in population metagenomes manifested by differences in relative abundance rather than complete presence-absence of OGs.
External location of touch is constructed post-hoc based on limb choice
Authors: Maij Femke , Seegelke Christian , Medendorp W. Pieter , Heed Tobias
Published: February 2019

When humans indicate on which hand a tactile stimulus occurred, they often err when their hands are crossed. This finding seemingly supports the view that the automatically determined touch location in external space affects limb assignment: the crossed right hand is localized in left space, and this conflict presumably provokes hand assignment errors. Here, participants judged on which hand the first of two stimuli, presented during a bimanual movement, had occurred, and then indicated its external location by a reach-to-point movement. When participants incorrectly chose the hand stimulated second, they pointed to where that hand had been at the correct, first time point, though no stimulus had occurred at that location. This behavior suggests that stimulus localization depended on hand assignment, not vice versa. It is, thus, incompatible with the notion of automatic computation of external stimulus location upon occurrence. Instead, humans construct external touch location post-hoc and on demand.
The genomic basis of mood instability: identification of 46 loci in 363,705 UK Biobank participants, genetic correlation with psychiatric disorders, and association with gene expression and function
Authors: Ward Joey , Tunbridge Elizabeth M. , Sandor Cynthia , Lyall Laura M. , Ferguson Amy , Strawbridge Rona J. , Lyall Donald M. , Cullen Breda , Graham Nicholas , Johnston Keira J.A. , Webber Caleb , Escott-Price Valentina , ODonovan Michael , Pell Jill P. , Bailey Mark E.S. , Harrison Paul J. , Smith Daniel J.
Published: February 2019

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of psychiatric phenotypes have tended to focus on categorical diagnoses, but to understand the biology of mental illness it may be more useful to study traits which cut across traditional boundaries. Here we report the results of a GWAS of mood instability (MI) as a trait in a large population cohort (UK Biobank, n=363,705). We also assess the clinical and biological relevance of the findings, including whether genetic associations show enrichment for nervous system pathways. Forty six unique loci associated with MI were identified with a heritability estimate of 9%. Linkage Disequilibrium Score Regression (LDSR) analyses identified genetic correlations with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Bipolar Disorder (BD), Schizophrenia (SZ), anxiety and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Gene-level and gene set analyses identified total 244 significant genes and 6 enriched gene sets. Tissue expression analysis from the SNP level data found enrichment in multiple brain regions, and eQTL analyses highlighted an inversion on chromosome 17 plus two brain-specific eQTLs. Additionally, we used a Phenotype Linkage Network (PLN) analysis and community analysis to assess for enrichment of nervous system gene sets using mouse orthologue databases. The PLN analysis found enrichment in nervous system PLNs for a community containing serotonin and melatonin receptors. In summary, this work has identified novel loci, tissues, and gene sets contributing to MI as a normal trait and will inform future work on the biology of mood and psychotic disorders, and to point the way towards potential for new stratified medicine approaches and the identification of novel trans-diagnostic drug targets.
Adaptation to binocular anticorrelation results in increased neural excitability
Authors: Rideaux Reuben , Michael Elizabeth , Welchman Andrew E
Published: February 2019

Throughout the brain, information from individual sources converges onto higher order neurons. For example, information from the two eyes first converges in binocular neurons in area V1. Many neurons appear tuned to similarities between sources of information, which makes intuitive sense in a system striving to match multiple sensory signals to a single external cause, i.e., establish causal inference. However, there are also neurons that are tuned to dissimilar information. In particular, many binocular neurons respond maximally to a dark feature in one eye and a light feature in the other. Despite compelling neurophysiological and behavioural evidence supporting the existence of these neurons (Cumming & Parker, 1997; Janssen, Vogels, Liu, & Orban, 2003; Katyal, Vergeer, He, He, & Engel, 2018; Kingdom, Jennings, & Georgeson, 2018; Tsao, Conway, & Livingstone, 2003), their function has remained opaque. To determine how neural mechanisms tuned to dissimilarities support perception, here we use electroencephalography to measure human observers’ steady-state visually evoked potentials (SSVEPs) in response to change in depth after prolonged viewing of anticorrelated and correlated random-dot stereograms (RDS). We find that adaptation to anticorrelated RDS results in larger SSVEPs, while adaptation to correlated RDS has no effect. These results are consistent with recent theoretical work suggesting ‘what not’ neurons play a suppressive role in supporting stereopsis (Goncalves & Welchman, 2017); that is, selective adaptation of neurons tuned to binocular mismatches reduces suppression resulting in increased neural excitability.
Thrombin cleaves and activates the protease-activated receptor 2 dependent on thrombomodulin co-receptor availability
Authors: Heuberger Dorothea M. , Franchini Alessandro G. , Madon Jerzy , Schuepbach Reto A.
Published: February 2019

Introduction

Protease-activated receptors (PARs) evolved to react to extracellular proteolytic activity. In mammals, three of the four PARs (PAR1, PAR3, and PAR4) that are expressed respond to the prototypical procoagulant enzyme thrombin, whereas PAR2 was assumed to resist activation by thrombin. To date, involvement of cell surface thrombin-recruiting co-receptors such as thrombomodulin (TM), which potentially facilitates PAR2 cleavage, has not been addressed. Thus, we examined whether TM-bound thrombin cleaved PAR2 and tested biological responses such as nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) DNA binding activity and cytokine release.

Materials and Methods

We examined 293T cells overexpressing PAR2 and TM for thrombin recruitment by TM promoting PAR2 cleavage. To test for the TM–thrombin interactions required for PAR2 cleavage and to map cleavage sites on PAR2, mutant constructs of TM or PAR2 were engineered. Biological effects because of PAR2 activation were investigated using an NF-κB reporter system and cytokine release.

Results and Conclusions

We identified that, at low to moderate concentrations, thrombin cleaved PAR2 in a TM co-receptor-dependent manner with cleavage efficiency comparable to that of trypsin. In TM’s presence, thrombin efficiently cleaved both, PAR1 and PAR2, albeit kinetics differed. Whereas the majority of surface expressed PAR1 was immediately cleaved off, prolonged exposure to thrombin resulted in few additional cleavage. In contrast, PAR2 cleavage was sustained upon prolonged exposure to thrombin. However, TM EGF-like domain 5 was required and TM chondroitin sulfate (CS) proteoglycan sites serine 490 and serine 492 assisted in PAR2 cleavage, while thrombin preferentially cleaved at arginine 36 on PAR2’s N-terminus. Note that thrombin-induced activation of NF-κB via PAR2 resulted in release of interleukin-8. Thus, we provide a novel concept of how thrombin efficiently cleaves PAR2 in a TM-dependent manner, resulting in pro-inflammatory interleukin-8 release. This unexpected pro-inflammatory role of TM, promoting cleavage and activation of PAR2 by thrombin, may lead to novel therapeutic options for treating inflammatory and malignant diseases.
Novel risk genes and mechanisms implicated by exome sequencing of 2,572 individuals with pulmonary arterial hypertension
Authors: Zhu Na , Pauciulo Michael W. , Welch Carrie L. , Lutz Katie A. , Coleman Anna W. , Gonzaga-Jauregui Claudia , Wang Jiayao , Grimes Joseph M. , Martin Lisa J. , He Hua ,   PAH Biobank, Shen Yufeng , Chung Wendy K. , Nichols William C.
Published: February 2019

Group 1 pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare disease with high mortality despite recent therapeutic advances. Pathogenic remodeling of pulmonary arterioles leads to increased pulmonary pressures, right ventricular hypertrophy and heart failure. Mutations in bone morphogenetic protein receptor type 2 and other risk genes predispose to disease, but the vast majority of non-familial cases remain genetically undefined. To identify new risk genes, we performed exome sequencing in a large cohort from the National Biological Sample and Data Repository for PAH. By statistical association of rare deleterious variants, we found tissue kallikrein 1 and gamma glutamyl carboxylase as new candidate risk genes for idiopathic PAH associated with a later age-of-onset and relatively moderate disease phenotype compared to bone morphogenetic receptor type 2. Both genes play important roles in vascular hemodynamics and inflammation but have not been implicated in PAH previously. These data suggest new genes, pathogenic mechanisms and therapeutic targets for this lethal vasculopathy.
ENDOSOMAL MEMBRANE TENSION CONTROLS ESCRT-III-DEPENDENT INTRA-LUMENAL VESICLE FORMATION
Authors: Mercier Vincent , Larios Jorge , Molinard Guillaume , Goujon Antoine , Matile Stefan , Gruenberg Jean , Roux Aurélien
Published: February 2019

Plasma membrane tension strongly affects cell surface processes, such as migration, endocytosis and signalling. However, it is not known whether membrane tension of organelles regulates their functions, notably intracellular traffic. The ESCRT-III complex is the major membrane remodelling complex that drives Intra-Lumenal Vesicle (ILV) formation on endosomal membranes. Here, we made use of a new fluorescent membrane tension probe to show that ESCRT-III subunits are recruited onto endosomal membranes when membrane tension is reduced. We find that tension-dependent recruitment is associated with ESCRT-III polymerization and membrane deformation in vitro, and correlates with increased ILVs formation in ESCRT-III decorated endosomes in vivo. Finally, we find that endosomal membrane tension decreases when ILV formation is triggered by EGF under physiological conditions. These results indicate that membrane tension is a major regulator of ILV formation and of endosome trafficking, leading us to conclude that membrane tension can control organelle functions.

One Sentence Summary

Membrane tension decrease facilitates membrane remodeling by ESCRT-III polymerization during intra-lumenal vesicle formation.
Associations between absolute neutrophil count and lymphocyte-predominant breast cancer
Authors: Yoon Chang Ik , Park So Eun , Cha Yoon Jin , Bae Soong June , Cha Chi Hwan , Lee Da Young , Ahn Sung Gwe , Jeong Joon
Published: February 2019

Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) might be associated with host-cell mediated immunity, which could be partly reflected by peripheral blood cell counts. We aimed to investigate whether peripheral blood cell counts are associated with TILs in breast cancer. Between August 2016 and July 2018, we evaluated the percentage of stromal TILs in breast cancer patients who underwent primary surgery, using the standardized methodology proposed by the international TIL Working Group. Lymphocyte-predominant breast cancer (LPBC) was defined as tumors having high TIL levels (≥ 50%). Peripheral blood cell counts including absolute neutrophil counts (ANC), absolute lymphocyte counts (ALC) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was obtained from pretreatment laboratory data. Of the 684 patients, 99 (17.2%) had LPBC, and 478 (82.8%) had non-LBPC. In a comparison of 3 markers of peripheral blood counts, LPBC had a significantly lower mean ANC than non-LPBC (3,330 vs. 3,660;P=0.004), but the other means were not different. Decreasing ANC was an independent clinical factor in predicting LPBC (OR: 0.736, 95% CI: 0.591-0.917;P=0.004). Low peripheral ANC might be linked with LPBC, supporting the hypothesis that systemic immune cell counts might be associated with the tumor-immune microenvironment.
Crystal Structure of the Dog Allergen Can f 6
Authors: Clayton Gina M , White Janice , Kappler John W , Chan Sanny K
Published: February 2019

Lipocalins represent the most important protein family of the mammalian respiratory allergens. Four of the seven named dog allergens are lipocalins: Can f 1, Can f 2, Can f 4, and Can f 6. We present the structure of Can f 6 along with data on the biophysical and biological activity of this protein in comparison with other animal lipocalins. The Can f 6 structure displays the classic lipocalin calyx-shaped ligand binding cavity within a central β-barrel similar to other lipocalins. Despite low sequence identity between the different dog lipocalin proteins, there is a high degree of structural similarity. On the other hand, Can f 6 has a similar primary sequence to cat, horse, mouse lipocalins as well as a structure that may underlie their cross reactivity. Interestingly, the entrance to the ligand binding pocket is capped by a His instead of the usually seen Tyr that may help select its natural ligand binding partner. Our highly pure recombinant Can f 6 is able to bind to human IgE (hIgE) demonstrating biological antigenicity.
Distinguishing nitrogen-containing sites in SiO2/4H-SiC(0001) after nitric oxide annealing by X-ray absorption spectroscopy
Authors: Isomura Noritake , Kutsuki Katsuhiro , Kataoka Keita , Watanabe Yukihiko , Kimoto Yasuji
Published: February 2019

The atomic structure of nitrogen at the SiO2/4H-SiC(0001) interface has been investigated using X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) in two nitric oxide annealed samples, one of which was oxidized in dry O2(NO-POA) prior to the experiment. The peak shapes and energies of the observed and simulated spectra are in agreement and indicate that the N-containing sites could be the substitutional C site at the interface for the NO-annealed sample and the interstitial site in the interior of SiC for the NO–POA-annealed sample. XAS analysis distinguished between the N-containing sites at the SiO2/SiC interface.
Ranking the barriers of sustainable textile and apparel supply chains
Authors: Raut Rakesh , Gardas Bhaskar B. , Narkhede Balkrishna
Published: February 2019

Purpose

Textile and Apparel (T&A) sector significantly influences socio-economic and environmental dimensions of the sustainability. The purpose of this paper is proposed to establish the interrelationship among the critical barriers to the sustainable development of T&A supply chains by using a multi-criteria decision-making approach and to obtain a ranking of the barriers.

Design/methodology/approach

In the present investigation through literature review and from expert opinions, 14 significant challenges to the sustainable growth of T&A sector have identified. For establishing the interrelationship and for developing a structural model of the identified challenges, interpretive structural modelling (ISM) methodology is employed.

Findings

The results of the investigation revealed that lack of effective governmental policies (B8), poor infrastructure (B4), lack of effective level of integration (B6), low foreign investment (B13) and demonetization (B12) are the top most significant challenges.

Research limitations/implications

The model development based on the expert inputs from the industry and academia, these inputs could be biased influencing the accuracy of the model. Also, inclusion more factors for the analysis will improve the reliability of the model.

Originality/value

This research is intended to guide the policy and decision makers for improving overall the growth of the T&A supply chain.
Ensuring environmental performance in green leases: the role of facilities managers
Authors: Rameezdeen Raufdeen , Zuo Jian , Ochoa Paniagua Jorge , Wood Anthony , Do Phuong
Published: February 2019

Purpose

A green lease incorporates sustainability practices to reduce a building’s negative impact on the environment. Facilities managers play an important role in ensuring these best practices are implemented during the operational stage of a building; however, green leasing is an under-researched area in the emerging field of sustainable facilities management (SFM). This paper aims to investigate the common barriers encountered in ensuring environmental performance when a green lease agreement is in operation between a landlord and tenant.

Design/methodology/approach

This research was conducted in three stages using the principal-agent problem as the theoretical foundation for data collection. Stages 1 and 2 used semi-structured interviews to collect data with policy/corporate-level professionals, landlord and facilities management representatives who have considerable experience in green leases. Stage 3 used document reviews based on summative content analysis to further evaluate the extent of the contextual use of green leasing concepts as used within the facilities management community.

Findings

The study confirmed a strong incentive gap and information asymmetry between the landlord and facilities manager, forming a typical double principal-agent problem when the split incentives between the landlord and tenants are also taken into consideration, which results in agents acting on their own self-interest rather than the interests of the principal. Goal alignment is found to be key for the successful operation and management of a building throughout its life; when present, these goal conflicts can lead to disharmony between the parties to the contract.

Research limitations/implications

The study proposes a few practical measures to close the gaps in incentive and information asymmetry that create the principal-agent problem, while providing recommendations to the facilities management professional community. These recommendations could be included in future revisions of the SFM guidelines or code of practices used by the industry. Although this study exposed a rather neglected area of the facilities manager’s role in green leases, the findings are limited by the relatively small sample size used for the interviews.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the SFM body of knowledge from a green lease perspective, and the theoretical framework in the double principal-agent problem introduced in the study could be used in future research endeavours.
Quality improvement through ergonomics intervention at chemical plant
Authors: Hadidi Laith A. , Kolus Ahmet , AlKhamis Mohammed
Published: February 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to focus on ergonomics intervention and quality implementation at a chemical manufacturing plant in Saudi Arabia that is prone to increased number of quality defects and shutdowns.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper applies the quality improvement through ergonomics (QUITE) methodology as a solution to improve the level of plants quality and reliability. The QUITE implementation relies on a great amount of human participation and constant check of quality results. The study is conducted to solve two main problems in the plant under study, namely, degradation in the products quality and unsolved frequent shutdowns in the production line

Findings

The study findings suggested to automate the inspection process through “User Alert” system to stimulate the operator attention who triggers a corrective action to avoid any possible process upset of plant shutdown. The implementation increased productivity from 280 to 310 ton; quality conformance from 91.7 to 96.80 per cent; and reduced shutdown from 1.26 days to almost zero downtime.

Originality/value

The work shed the light on the effect of ergonomics on the quality of finished products. Usually, ergonomics is related to the work environment. However, ergonomics initiatives can spearhead improvement in production quality.
Social media promotions and travelers’ value-creating behaviors: the role of perceived support
Authors: Casaló Luis V. , Romero Jaime
Published: February 2019

Purpose

Encouraging travelers to create value that benefits firms is of great relevance for companies that operate in online contexts. The purpose of this study is to investigate, focusing on online travel agencies, how monetary promotions (i.e. economic incentives) and non-monetary promotions (i.e. draws and contests) conducted through social media enhance customers’ voluntary behaviors (i.e. suggestions, word of mouth, and social media interactions) that go beyond brand choice, which may provide benefit to firms.

Design/methodology/approach

The research model draws on the social exchange theory, equity theory and the concept of perceived support – how customers perceive that companies care about their well-being. The authors collect information from 491 users of online travel agencies in Spain and test their hypotheses using partial least squares. They also evaluate the existence of indirect effects.

Findings

Promotions developed by companies make customers more likely to perform, voluntarily, the helping behaviors of suggestions, word of mouth and social media interactions, through the influence of perceived support.

Research limitations/implications

Use of a single survey to collect measures and restriction of the sample to Spanish-speaking travelers suggests caution in generalizing the results. Future research could investigate other company-initiated actions and other value-creating behaviors of travelers.

Practical implications

Promotions help develop perceived support for customers, which leads to voluntary, valuable traveler behaviors. Promotions may be also sufficient to trigger some customer behaviors, such as word-of-mouth.

Originality/value

Based on the social exchange and equity theories, this paper investigates the influence of social media promotions on customers’ voluntary behaviors via perceived support.
Oil refining and delivery in the Western European region
Authors: Klepikov Vladimir Pavlovich , Klepikov Vladimir Vladimirovich
Published: February 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to analyse the key trends in oil delivery and production and evaluate the capacities of crude oil transportation systems in the Western European region.

Design/methodology/approach

To meet these goals, qualitative data analysis was used to assess the contribution of countries in the region to the total crude oil production and delivery, the changes in concentration of crude oil deliveries and refineries’ capacities, the capabilities of the regional crude oil transportation system and the trends in crude oil supplies and processing from 2005 to 2015.

Findings

The study established that from 2013 to 2015 oil supply to the region’s refineries increased and generated additional stress on the transportation and refining infrastructure.

Research limitations/implications

This study examined the aggregate values of crude oil production, crude oil deliveries and refining capacities. In practice, different refineries are set to process certain types of crude oil. It is possible to use the described approach with a certain crude oil grade.

Practical implications

When developing the programmes for crude oil supply to refineries, it is vital to take into account the capacities of refineries and the capabilities of the crude oil transportation systems.

Originality/value

The study suggests that the region’s infrastructure has the necessary reserves to operate for the next few years without additional investments.
A comparison of the impact of the Basel standards upon Islamic and conventional bank risks in the Gulf state region
Authors: Farooqi Muhammad Fuad , O’Brien John
Published: February 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to provide a comparative study of the Islamic versus conventional banking sector risk by using market data generated from the sample of publicly listed Islamic and conventional banks in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors introduce a market-based measure of bank stress and test this indicator against the Tier 1 Capital Ratio using Granger causality tests.

Findings

The authors find that the market-based measure is a leading indicator of banking stress when compared to the accounting-based Tier 1 ratio and thus is relevant to the Basel regulation’s Pillar 3.

Research limitations/implications

This paper only looks at Islamic vs conventional banks in the Gulf region, and the authors would like to extend this analysis to a broader range of financial institutions, especially in the European and North American markets.

Social implications

Developing a measure that signals bank stress ahead of typically used measures can help regulators, bank management and investors identify oncoming problems and issues before these become too big to manage.

Originality/value

The results from this analysis provides insight into the offsetting impact from two drivers (beta and book-to-market ratio) of the cost of equity capital for the conventional vs Islamic banking sectors.
A touch of gloss: haptic perception of packaging and consumers’ reactions
Authors: Briand Decré Gwenaëlle , Cloonan Caroline
Published: February 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to study the cross-modal correspondence between a visual stimulus (i.e. glossiness), haptic perception and consumers’ reactions (internal responses and behavioral intentions).

Design/methodology/approach

Using an experimental design, three experimental studies have been conducted to test the effect of a glossy (versus matte) packaging upon the perception of haptic features of a packaging (roughness, thickness and lightness), internal reactions (perceived product quality and product attractiveness) and behavioral intentions (purchase intention and willingness to pay).

Findings

This paper evidences the significant impact that glossiness bears on the haptic perception of a packaging material as well as upon internal reactions and behavioral intentions. A new conceptual framework combining the SOR model and the cross-modal correspondences is validated.

Research limitations/implications

The results encourage further research to explore the wide range of potential cross-modal correspondences between visual stimuli and haptic perception.

Practical implications

The results highlight the critical influence of visual cues for managers, especially for online shopping or advertising. Even if consumers cannot touch the product, it is possible to induce haptic perception through visual cues and to influence the internal reactions and behavioral intentions.

Originality/value

This research demonstrates that the packaging texture and weight can be visually induced through glossiness.
Terbinafine‐resistant strain of Trichophyton interdigitale strain isolated from a tinea pedis patient
Authors: Hiruma Junichiro , Kitagawa Hiroyuki , Noguchi Hiromitsu , Kano Rui , Hiruma Masataro , Kamata Hiroshi , Harada Kazutoshi
Published: February 2019

Trichophyton interdigitale is an anthropophilic species that is frequently isolated from tinea unguium and tinea pedis throughout the world. In the present study, antifungal susceptibility testing was performed on T. interdigitale isolates from Japanese patients (isolated in 2017–2018; 24 strains) to assess itraconazole (ITZ) and terbinafine (TRF) susceptibility of these strains. E‐test determinations revealed that the mean ITZ minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the 24 strains was 0.023 mg/L (range, 0.064–1). Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute M38‐A2 determinations revealed that the mean TRF MIC of 23 of the 24 strains was less than 0.03125 mg/L. Among these strains, one (NUBS18016) had a TRF MIC of 2 mg/L, confirming its resistance to TRF. The predicted amino acid sequences of the squalene epoxidase (SQLE) gene from the TRF‐resistant strain (NUBS18016) was 100% identical to the SQLE gene sequence of the reference strain T. interdigitale, indicating that no gene mutations were present in NUBS18016. Therefore, the TRF‐resistance mechanism of our TRF‐resistant strain NUBS18016 has not been defined. Dermatologists should be cautious about the prevalence of foot dermatophytosis due to antifungal drug‐resistant strains.
House Prices and Systematic Risk: Evidence from Microdata
Authors: Peng Liang , Zhang Lei
Published: February 2019

This article empirically tests whether individual houses’ systematic risk, which is measured with their stock market betas, varies with their prices. An analysis of about 6 million repeat sales in the U.S. over the 2000–2015 period suggests that pricier houses tend to have lower stock market betas. This result is robust across time, holding‐period duration and MSAs with different population and GDP growth rates, and remains significant when the model includes more stock market factors.
Are B cells altered in the decidua of women with preterm or term labor?
Authors: Leng Yaozhu , Romero Roberto , Xu Yi , Galaz Jose , Slutsky Rebecca , Arenas‐Hernandez Marcia , Garcia‐Flores Valeria , Motomura Kenichiro , Hassan Sonia S. , Reboldi Andrea , Gomez‐Lopez Nardhy
Published: February 2019

Problem

The immunophenotype of B cells at the maternal‐fetal interface (decidua) in labor at term and preterm labor is poorly understood.

Method of study

Decidual tissues were obtained from women with preterm or term labor and from non‐labor gestational age‐matched controls. Immunophenotyping of decidual B cells was performed using multicolor flow cytometry.

Results

(a) In the absence of acute or chronic chorioamnionitis, total B cells were more abundant in the decidua parietalis of women who delivered preterm than in those who delivered at term, regardless of the presence of labor; (b) decidual transitional and naïve B cells were the most abundant B‐cell subsets; (c) decidual B1 B cells were increased in women with either labor at term or preterm labor and chronic chorioamnionitis compared to those without this placental lesion; (d) decidual transitional B cells were reduced in women with preterm labor compared to those without labor; (e) naïve, class‐switched, and non–class‐switched B cells in the decidual tissues underwent mild alterations with the process of preterm labor; (f) decidual plasmablasts seemed to increase in women with either labor at term or preterm labor with chronic chorioamnionitis; and (g) decidual B cells expressed high levels of interleukin (IL)‐12, IL‐6, and/or IL‐35.

Conclusion

Total B cells are not increased with the presence of preterm or term labor; yet, specific subsets (B1 and plasmablasts) undergo alterations in women with chronic chorioamnionitis. Therefore, B cells are solely implicated in the pathological process of preterm labor in a subset of women with chronic inflammation of the placenta. These findings provide insight into the immunology of the maternal‐fetal interface in preterm and term labor.
Corporate Environmental Responsibilities and Executive Compensation: A Risk Management Perspective
Authors: Hao Jongyu Paula , Kang Fei
Published: February 2019

In this article, we examine how firms design executive compensation in light of their risk environment. Prior literature shows that corporate environmental responsibility (CER) of a firm inversely affects firm risk. We argue that firms with better CER performance benefit from the reduced firm risk, and therefore are more likely to provide greater managerial risk‐taking incentives to encourage the risk‐averse managers to undertake risk‐increasing but positive net present value (NPV) investments. Consistent with our hypotheses, we find that a firm’s CER rating is positively associated with its CEO risk‐taking incentives (vega) in the following year. We also document cross‐sectional variations in the CER‐vega relationship, that is, a weaker association in the controversial industries. This study contributes to the literature by investigating the role of CER on executive compensation design from the perspective of risk management.
Clinical and radiographic peri‐implant health status around narrow diameter implant‐supported single and splinted crowns
Authors: Al‐Aali Khulud Abdulrahman , ArRejaie Aws S. , Alrahlah Ali , AlFawaz Yasser F. , Abduljabbar Tariq , Vohra Fahim
Published: February 2019

Background

Studies assessing and comparing clinical and radiographic peri‐implant status around narrow diameter implant‐supported single crowns (NDISCs) and splinted crowns (NDISPs) are scarce.

Objective

The aim of this retrospective study was to estimate and compare complication rates, patient satisfaction, peri‐implant status and peri‐implant bone loss (PBL) of NDISCs and NDISPs.

Materials and Methods

Patients receiving narrow diameter implants (NDIs) in the posterior mandible were assessed. Technical complication and patient satisfaction were recorded. Clinical peri‐implant plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing (BoP), probing depth (PD) and PBL were assessed. Technical complications and patient satisfaction were recorded. Log‐rank test was computed to evaluate the influence of prostheses type and NDIs location on technical complications. P‐value less than 0.05 was regarded as significant.

Results

Seventy‐eight patients (43 male and 35 females) agreed to follow up. The mean follow‐up duration of the patients was 3.6 years. A total of 102 (43 NDISCs and 59 NDISPs) NDIs with moderately rough surfaces were included. No significant differences in PI, BoP, or PD were observed between NDISCs and NDISPs. The average PBL score was 1.17 (range: 0.03‐4.15) at implant level and 1.14 (range: 0.03‐4.14) at patient level. Seven implants and three patients showed peri‐implantitis. The rates of technical complication of single crowns were significantly higher than those of splinted crowns (P = 0.036). PBL was significantly higher in molar sites than those in premolar sites (P = 0.041). A total of 67 patients (85.9%) were satisfied with the esthetics of the crowns, while a total of 59 patients (75.6%) were satisfied with the function of the crowns.

Conclusion

NDISCs and NDISPs offer high patient satisfaction and tolerable complication rates. Peri‐implant conditions and peri‐implant bone levels were comparable around NDISCs and NDISPs. However, bone loss of implants was higher in molar sites than those implants in premolar sites.
Value of the cough maneuver for detecting right‐to‐left shunt during contrast transthoracic echocardiography
Authors: Wang Ping , Chen Sha‐Sha , Li Ying , Zhang Xiao‐Yong
Published: February 2019

Aim

To explore the value of cough maneuver (CM) in detecting right‐to‐left (RLS) during contrast transthoracic echocardiography (cTTE) and its mechanism.

Method

We enrolled 196 patients with a high level of clinical suspicion of RLS underwent cTTE for RLS detection. Valsalva maneuver (VM) (blowing into a face mask connected to a sphygmomanometer at 40 mm Hg for 10 seconds) and CM were performed to provoke RLS, respectively. A comparison of the two provocative maneuvers in terms of the RLS‐detection rate, the degree of RLS, the mobility of septum primum was done.

Results

The detection rates of RLS for CM were significantly higher than that for VM (38.3% vs 32.1%), (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference between VM and CM in terms of detecting moderate‐ or severe‐extent RLS (P > 0.05), however, CM was significantly better than VM in detecting mild‐extent RLS (P = 0.004). CM caused a greater mobility of septum primum than VM (20.1 ± 0.2 mm vs 6.3 ± 0.1 mm), (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Cough maneuver had a higher detection rate for RLS than VM during cTTE, maybe due to its greater mobility of septum primum than VM caused.
Effect of the mating plug on female chemical attractiveness and mating acceptance in a scorpion
Authors: Romero-Lebrón Eugenia , Oviedo‐Diego Mariela A. , Elias David , Vrech David E. , Peretti Alfredo V.
Published: February 2019

After mating, females may experience a decline in sexual receptivity and attractiveness that may be associated with changes in the production and emission of sex pheromones. In some cases, these changes are produced by chemical substances or structures (e.g., mating plugs) produced by males as a strategy to avoid or reduce sperm competition. In scorpions, sex pheromones may be involved in finding potential mates and starting courtship. Here, we tested the hypothesis that the males ofUrophonius brachycentrus, a species that produces a mating plug, use chemical communication (sex pheromones) to detect, localize, and discriminate females according to their mating status (virgin or inseminated), aided by chemical signaling. We also explored the effect of extracting of the mating plug on chemical communication and mating acceptance. We used Y‐maze olfactometers with different stimuli to analyze male choice and exploration time. To evaluate mating acceptance, we measured the attractiveness and receptivity of females of different mating status. We found that chemical communication occurs through volatile pheromones, but not contact pheromones. Males equally preferred sites with virgin or inseminated females with removed mating plug. In turn, females with these mating statuses were more attractive and receptive for males than inseminated females. This study suggests that the mating plug significantly affects female chemical attractiveness with an effect on volatile pheromones and decreasing sexual mating acceptance of females. The decline in the female's sexual receptivity is a complex process that may respond to several non‐exclusive mechanisms imposed by males and strategically modulated by females.
The impact of water pH on association preferences in fish
Authors: Kleinhappel Tanja K. , Burman Oliver H. P. , John Elizabeth A. , Wilkinson Anna , Pike Thomas W.
Published: February 2019

Acidification of lakes and rivers, as a consequence of anthropogenic interference, can cause fundamental changes to biological and ecological processes. One of the main consequences of a reduction in water pH for aquatic organisms is the disruption of their chemosensory abilities, as the detection of chemical cues underpins a wide range of decision‐making processes; for example, a reduction to low pH has been shown to interfere with predator avoidance and the detection of foraging cues. Moreover, aquatic organisms are known to make widespread use of chemical information to inform their social behaviour, although we have a comparably poor understanding of how this is impacted by water acidification, especially their shoaling behaviour. Using a standard behavioural assay, we therefore investigated the impact of low water pH on the social interactions mediated by diet‐derived chemical cues in three‐spined sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus), by quantifying social behaviour in water that varied either experimentally or naturally in pH. In both cases, we predicted that association patterns would be disrupted by low pH conditions, as reduced pH has shown to interfere with the perception of chemical cues in other non‐social contexts. Consistent with this prediction, our results demonstrate that an acute, short‐term reduction in water pH caused a breakdown in the diet‐mediated social interaction patterns seen in more alkaline water, although, interestingly, the pattern of associations for fish tested in naturally acidic water was both more complex and in a direction that was precisely contrary to our predictions. Overall, the findings provide insights into the potential effects of an acute reduction in water pH on fish communication and social interaction patterns, which may have implication for various individual, group, population and community‐level processes.
Rapid evolution and behavioral plasticity following introduction to an environment with reduced predation risk
Authors: Westrick Sarah E. , Broder E. Dale , Reznick David N. , Ghalambor Cameron K. , Angeloni Lisa
Published: February 2019

Adaptive behavioral plasticity can play a beneficial role when a population becomes established in a novel environment if environmental cues allow the expression of appropriate behavior. Further, plasticity itself can evolve over time in a new environment causing changes in the way or degree to which animals respond to environmental cues. Colonization events provide an opportunity to investigate such relationships between behavioral plasticity and adaptation to new environments. Here, we investigated the evolution of behavior and behavioral plasticity during colonization of a new environment, by testing if female mate‐choice behavior diverged in Trinidadian guppies 2–3 years (~6–9 generations) after being introduced to four locations with reduced predation risk. We collected wild‐caught fish from the source and introduced populations, and we reared out second‐generation females in the laboratory with and without predator cues to examine their plastic responses to a bright and dull male. We found introduced females were less responsive to males when reared without predator cues, but both introduced and source females were similarly responsive when reared with predator cues. Thus, the parallel evolution of behavior across multiple populations in the low‐predation environment was only observed in the treatment mimicking the introduction environment. Such results are consistent with theory predicting that the evolution of plasticity is a by‐product of differential selection across environments.
Carbon flux from decomposing wood and its dependency on temperature, wood N2 fixation rate, moisture and fungal composition in a Norway spruce forest
Authors: Rinne‐Garmston Katja T. , Peltoniemi Krista , Chen Janet , Peltoniemi Mikko , Fritze Hannu , Mäkipää Raisa
Published: February 2019

Globally 40–70 Pg of carbon (C) are stored in coarse woody debris on the forest floor. Climate change may reduce the function of this stock as a C sink in the future due to increasing temperature. However, current knowledge on the drivers of wood decomposition is inadequate for detailed predictions. To define the factors that control wood respiration rate of Norway spruce and to produce a model that adequately describes the decomposition process of this species as a function of time, we used an unprecedentedly diverse analytical approach, which included measurements of respiration, fungal community sequencing, N2 fixation rate, nifH copy number, 14C‐dating as well as N%, δ13C and C% values of wood. Our results suggest that climate change will accelerate C flux from deadwood in boreal conditions, due to the observed strong temperature dependency of deadwood respiration. At the research site, the annual C flux from deadwood would increase by 27% from the current 117 g C/kg wood with the projected climate warming (RCP4.5). The second most important control on respiration rate was the stage of wood decomposition; at early stages of decomposition low nitrogen content and low wood moisture limited fungal activity while reduced wood resource quality decreased the respiration rate at the final stages of decomposition. Wood decomposition process was best described by a Sigmoidal model, where after 116 years of wood decomposition mass loss of 95% was reached. Our results on deadwood decomposition are important for C budget calculations in ecosystem and climate change models. We observed for the first time that the temperature dependency of N2 fixation, which has a major role at providing N for wood‐inhabiting fungi, was not constant but varied between wood density classes due to source supply and wood quality. This has significant consequences on projecting N2 fixation rates for deadwood in changing climate.
Silage fermentation, chemical composition and ruminal degradation of king grass, cassava foliage and their mixture
Authors: Li Mao , Zi Xuejuan , Tang Jun , Zhou Hanlin , Cai Yimin
Published: February 2019

In order to improve the fermentation quality and nutritional value of king grass (KG) by using available local feed resources, silages were prepared using KG, KG supplemented with 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50% fresh cassava foliage (CF), and CF. Their fermentation quality, chemical composition and ruminal degradation were examined after 30 days of ensiling. The results showed that CF silage contained 22.67% crude protein (CP) and 41.19% neutral detergent fiber (NDF) per dry matter (DM), while KG silage contained 8.36% CP and 60.44% NDF, indicating that KG silage had poor fermentation quality and low ruminal degradability. In addition, silage prepared with increased CF content had increased lactic acid, ether extract (EE), CP contents and relative feed value (p < 0.05), decreased butyric acid, NDF and acid detergent fiber (ADF) contents (p < 0.05) and increased ruminal degradability of DM, CP, NDF and ADF (p < 0.05). The results confirmed that CF supplementation could improve fermentation quality, chemical composition and ruminal degradation of mixed silage, and the optimal ratio of CF to KG for mixed silage was 50:50.