bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Functional strain redundancy and persistent phage infection in Swiss hard cheese starter cultures
Authors: Somerville Vincent , Berthoud Hélène , Schmidt Remo S. , Bachmann Hans- Peter , Hélène Meng Yi , Fuchsmann Pascal , Ah Ueli von , Engel Philipp
Published: January 2021

Undefined starter cultures are poorly characterized bacterial communities from environmental origin used in cheese making. They are phenotypically stable and have evolved through domestication by repeated propagation in closed and highly controlled environments over centuries. This makes them interesting for understanding eco-evolutionary dynamics governing microbial communities. While cheese starter cultures are known to be dominated by a few bacterial species, little is known about the composition, functional relevance, and temporal dynamics of strain-level diversity. Here, we applied shotgun metagenomics to an important Swiss cheese starter culture and analyzed historical and experimental samples reflecting 82 years of starter culture propagation. We found that the bacterial community is highly stable and dominated by only a few coexisting strains ofStreptococcus thermophilusandLactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. lactis. Genome sequencing, metabolomics analysis, and co-culturing experiments of 43 isolates show that these strains are functionally redundant, but differ tremendously in their phage resistance potential. Moreover, we identified two highly abundantStreptococcusphages that seem to stably coexist in the community without any negative impact on bacterial growth or strain persistence, and despite the presence of a large and diverse repertoire of matching CRISPR spacers. Our findings show that functionally equivalent strains can coexist in domesticated microbial communities and highlight an important role of bacteria-phage interactions that are different from kill-the-winner dynamics.
An activity-based labelling method for the detection of ammonia and methane-oxidizing bacteria
Authors: Sakoula Dimitra , Smith Garrett J. , Frank Jeroen , Mesman Rob J. , Kop Linnea F.M. , Jetten Mike S.M. , Kessel Maartje A.H.J. van , Lücker Sebastian
Published: January 2021

The advance of metagenomics in combination with intricate cultivation approaches has facilitated the discovery of novel ammonia- and methane-oxidizing microorganisms, indicating that our understanding of the microbial biodiversity within the biogeochemical nitrogen and carbon cycles still is incomplete. However, the in situ detection and phylogenetic identification of novel ammonia- and methane-oxidizing bacteria remains a challenge. Here, we describe an activity-based protein profiling protocol allowing cultivation-independent unveiling of ammonia- and methane-oxidizing bacteria. In this protocol, 1,7-octadiyne is used as a bifunctional enzyme probe that, in combination with a highly specific alkyne-azide cycloaddition reaction, enables the fluorescent or biotin labelling of cells harboring active ammonia and methane monooxygenases. The biotinylation of these enzymes in combination with immunogold labelling reveals the subcellular localization of the tagged proteins, while the fluorescent labelling of cells harboring active ammonia or methane monooxygenases provides a direct link of these functional lifestyles to phylogenetic identification when combined with fluorescence in situ hybridization. Furthermore, we show that this activity-based labelling protocol can be successfully coupled with fluorescence-activated cell sorting for the enrichment of nitrifiers and methanotrophs from complex environmental samples, facilitating the retrieval of their high quality metagenome-assembled genomes. In conclusion, this study demonstrates a novel, functional tagging technique for the reliable detection, identification, and enrichment of ammonia- and methane-oxidizing bacteria present in complex microbial communities.
Screening of beans (Phaseolus vulgarisL.) genotypes for drought tolerance
Authors: Thinley Jigme , Dorji Choki
Published: January 2021

Drought is an important factor limiting crop yield and food insecurity globally. Sixty- percent of the bean production areas are prone to drought and subsequently result in eighty-percent of yield reduction. It is emerging as a rising threat to farming communities in Bhutan. Limited studies on crop drought tolerance done in Bhutan. Six bean genotypes (Orey serbu, Orey regtang, Orey brokchilu, Yadhipa orey, Kerongree orey, Brokopali) chose to ascertain drought tolerance. The study was a factorial experiment with Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with six treatments and three replications. Genotypes were subjected to drought stress after 50% flowering till the start of pod formation. The drought condition induced for ten days during the pod formation and the irrigation resumed till harvesting. Means of water-stressed genotypes compared to their corresponding non- stressed with an All-pairwise comparison using the Bonferroni test at the significant level p<.05. The growth (leaf area, relative water content, root length, shoot weight, maturity) and yield parameters (the number of pods, pod length, the number of seeds number per pod, seed weight) determined during the time of harvest. There were significant differences (p<.05) in all the parameters measured under stress and non-stress conditions. Water-stress decreases plant growth and development of all the bean genotypes. With regards to drought susceptibility index (DSI), Orey serbu(1), Orey regtang(1), Yadhipa orey(1), and Kerongree orey(1) had the lowest DSI value. The lesser the susceptible indices, the greater is the tolerance level to the drought and vice versa.
Natural SARS-CoV-2 infection in kept ferrets, Spain
Authors: Gortázar Christian , Barroso-Arévalo Sandra , Ferreras-Colino Elisa , Isla Julio , de la Fuente Gabriela , Rivera Belén , Domínguez Lucas , de la Fuente José , Sánchez-Vizcaíno José M.
Published: January 2021

We found SARS-CoV-2 RNA in 6 of 71 ferrets (8.4%) and isolated the virus from one rectal swab. Natural SARS-CoV-2 infection does occur in kept ferrets, at least under circumstances of high viral circulation in the human population. However, small ferret collections are probably unable to maintain prolonged virus circulation.
Visualizing sounds: training-induced plasticity with a visual-to-auditory conversion device
Authors: Lerousseau Jacques Pesnot , Arnold Gabriel , Auvray Malika
Published: January 2021

Sensory substitution devices aim at restoring visual functions by converting visual information into auditory or tactile stimuli. Although these devices show promises in the range of behavioral abilities they allow, the processes underlying their use remains underspecified. In particular, while an initial debate focused on the visual versus auditory or tactile nature of sensory substitution, since over a decade, the idea that it reflects a mixture of both has emerged. In order to investigate behaviorally the extent to which visual and auditory processes are involved, participants completed a Stroop-like crossmodal interference paradigm before and after being trained with a conversion device which translates visual images into sounds. In addition, participants’ auditory abilities and their phenomenologies were measured. Our study revealed that, after training, when asked to identify sounds, processes shared with vision were involved, as participants’ performance in sound identification was influenced by the simultaneously presented visual distractors. In addition, participants’ performance during training and their associated phenomenology depended on their auditory abilities, revealing that processing finds its roots in the input sensory modality. Our results pave the way for improving the design and learning of these devices by taking into account inter-individual differences in auditory and visual perceptual strategies.

Highlights

Trained people spontaneously use processes shared with vision when hearing sounds from the device

Processes with conversion devices find roots both in vision and audition

Training with a visual-to-auditory conversion device induces perceptual plasticity
GENETIC ARCHITECTURE OF DIVERGENCE: THE SELFING SYNDROME INIPOMOEA LACUNOSA
Authors: Rifkin J. L. , Cao G. , Rausher M. D.
Published: January 2021

Premise of the study

Highly selfing plant species frequently display a distinctive suite of traits termed the “selfing syndrome.” This study tests the hypothesis that these traits are grouped into correlated evolutionary modules and determines the degree of independence between such modules.

Methods

We evaluated phenotypic correlations and QTL overlaps in F2 offspring of a cross between the morning gloriesIpomoea lacunosaandI. cordatotrilobaand investigated how traits clustered into modules at both the phenotypic and genetic level. We then compared our findings to other QTL studies of the selfing syndrome.

Key results

In theI. lacunosaselfing syndrome, traits group into modules that display correlated evolution within but not between modules. QTL overlap predicts phenotypic correlations, and QTLs affecting the same trait module are significantly physically clustered in the genome. The genetic architecture of the selfing syndrome varies across systems, but the pattern of stronger within-than between-module correlation is widespread.

Conclusions

The genetic architecture we observe in the selfing syndrome is consistent with a growing understanding of floral morphological integration achieved via pleiotropy in clustered traits. This view of floral evolution is consistent with resource limitation or predation driving the evolution of the selfing syndrome, but invites further research into both the selective causes of the selfing syndrome and how genetic architecture itself evolves in response to changes in mating system.
Impacts of 203/204: RG>KR mutation in the N protein of SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Vahed Majid , Calcagno Tess M , Quinonez Elena , Mirsaeidi Mehdi
Published: January 2021

We present a structure-based model of phosphorylation-dependent binding and sequestration of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein and the impact of two consecutive amino acid changes R203K and G204R. Additionally, we studied how mutant strains affect HLA-specific antigen presentation and correlated these findings with HLA allelic population frequencies. We discovered RG>KR mutated SARS-CoV-2 expands the ability for differential expression of the N protein epitope on Major Histocompatibility Complexes (MHC) of varying Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) origin. The N protein LKR region K203, R204 of wild type (SARS-CoVs) and (SARS-CoV-2) observed HLA-A*30:01 and HLA-A*30:21, but mutant SARS-CoV-2 observed HLA-A*31:01 and HLA-A*68:01. Expression of HLA-A genotypes associated with the mutant strain occurred more frequently in all populations studied.

Importance

The novel coronavirus known as SARS-CoV-2 causes a disease renowned as 2019-nCoV (or COVID-19). HLA allele frequencies worldwide could positively correlate with the severity of coronavirus cases and a high number of deaths.
Modeling the impact of racial and ethnic disparities on COVID-19 epidemic dynamics
Authors: Ma Kevin C. , Menkir Tigist F. , Kissler Stephen , Grad Yonatan H. , Lipsitch Marc
Published: January 2021

The impact of variable infection risk by race and ethnicity on the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 spread is largely unknown. Here, we fit structured compartmental models to seroprevalence data from New York State and analyze how herd immunity thresholds (HITs), final sizes, and epidemic risk changes across groups. A simple model where interactions occur proportionally to contact rates reduced the HIT, but more realistic models of preferential mixing within groups increased the threshold toward the value observed in homogeneous populations. Across all models, the burden of infection fell disproportionately on minority populations: in a model fit to Long Island serosurvey and census data, 81% of Hispanics or Latinos were infected when the HIT was reached compared to 34% of non-Hispanic whites. Our findings, which are meant to be illustrative and not best estimates, demonstrate how racial and ethnic disparities can impact epidemic trajectories and result in unequal distributions of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Epidemiology of post-COVID syndrome following hospitalisation with coronavirus: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Ayoubkhani Daniel , Khunti Kamlesh , Nafilyan Vahé , Maddox Thomas , Humberstone Ben , Diamond Sir Ian , Banerjee Amitava
Published: January 2021

Objectives

The epidemiology of post-COVID syndrome (PCS) is currently undefined. We quantified rates of organ-specific impairment following recovery from COVID-19 hospitalisation compared with those in a matched control group, and how the rate ratio (RR) varies by age, sex, and ethnicity.

Design

Observational, retrospective, matched cohort study.

Setting

NHS hospitals in England.

Participants

47,780 individuals (mean age 65 years, 55% male) in hospital with COVID-19 and discharged alive by 31 August 2020, matched to controls on demographic and clinical characteristics.

Outcome measures

Rates of hospital readmission, all-cause mortality, and diagnoses of respiratory, cardiovascular, metabolic, kidney and liver diseases until 30 September 2020.

Results

Mean follow-up time was 140 days for COVID-19 cases and 153 days for controls. 766 (95% confidence interval: 753 to 779) readmissions and 320 (312 to 328) deaths per 1,000 person-years were observed in COVID-19 cases, 3.5 (3.4 to 3.6) and 7.7 (7.2 to 8.3) times greater, respectively, than in controls. Rates of respiratory, diabetes and cardiovascular events were also significantly elevated in COVID-19 cases, at 770 (758 to 783), 127 (122 to 132) and 126 (121 to 131) events per 1,000 person-years, respectively. RRs were greater for individuals aged <70 than ≥ 70 years, and in ethnic minority groups than the White population, with the biggest differences observed for respiratory disease: 10.5 [9.7 to 11.4] for <70 years versus 4.6 [4.3 to 4.8] for ≥ 70 years, and 11.4 (9.8 to 13.3) for Non-White versus 5.2 (5.0 to 5.5) for White.

Conclusions

Individuals discharged from hospital following COVID-19 face elevated rates of multi-organ dysfunction compared with background levels, and the increase in risk is neither confined to the elderly nor uniform across ethnicities. The diagnosis, treatment and prevention of PCS require integrated rather than organ- or disease-specific approaches. Urgent research is required to establish risk factors for PCS.
Depolarization-initiated endogenous cannabinoid release and underlying retrograde neurotransmission in interneurons of amygdala
Authors: Kodirov Sodikdjon A. , Bonni Kathrin , Wehrmeister Michael , Lutz Beat
Published: January 2021

The depolarization is also important for the short-term synaptic plasticity, known as depolarization-induced suppression of excitation (DSE). The two major types of neurons and their synapses in the lateral nucleus of amygdala (LA) are prone to plasticity. However, DSE in interneurons has not been reported in amygdala in general and in LA in particular. Therefore, we conducted the patch-clamp experiments with LA interneurons. These neurons were identified by lack of adaptation in firing rate of action potentials. In this study, we show for the first time a transient suppression of neurotransmission at synapses both within the local network and between cortical inputs and interneurons of the LA. The retrograde neurotransmission from GABAergic interneurons were comparable with that of glutamatergic pyramidal cells. That is the axonal terminals of cortical inputs do not posses selectivity toward two neuronal subtypes. However, the DSE of both types of neurons involve an increase in intracellular Ca2+ and the release of endogenous cannabinoids (eCB) and activation of presynaptic CB1 receptors. The magnitude of DSE was significantly higher in interneurons compared with pyramidal cells, though developed with some latency.
Crystal structure and fluorescence study of (μ-N-[(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)methylidene]-N-{4-[(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)methylideneazaniumyl]phenyl}azanium)bis[difluoridoboron(IV)]
Authors: Liu Xiaoxue , Li Tuo , Yin Zhenming
Published: January 2021

The title molecule, C20H20B2F4N4, assumes a planar conformation with all atoms apart from the F atoms lying on the symmetry plane. Each boron atom is four-coordinated by two fluorine atoms, a pyrrole N atom and an imine N atom. Both imine CH=N groups adopt a trans conformation. In the crystal, the molecules self-assemble into a pillar structure through C—H...F hydrogen bonds and π–π interactions. The UV–vis spectrum and fluorescence spectra of the title compound are also reported.
Testing effects of awareness of statewide smoke-free air law and risk perception on smoking behaviors
Authors: Shin YoungJu , Johnson Nicole L.
Published: January 2021

Purpose

To reduce the smoking rates and alleviate societal problems associated with smoking, health administrators and policy makers have attempted to promote and implement statewide smoking free policy. The present study examined how adults' awareness of and attitude toward the smoke-free air law, their perceived risks of secondhand smoke and current smoking status were associated with smoking attitude and behaviors.

Design/methodology/approach

As part of the Indiana Adult Tobacco Survey, 2,027 respondents participated in cross-sectional telephone surveys. A series of independent sample t-test and binary logistic regression analyses were performed.

Findings

Awareness of the state law was inversely related to negative attitude toward smoking behaviors. Individuals who reported favorable attitude toward the state smoke-free air law and higher risk perceptions of secondhand smoke showed negative attitude toward smoking behaviors. Non-smokers and former smokers were significantly different from current smokers with regard to attitude toward smoking. Negative attitude was significantly related to intention to quit smoking. Awareness of the state law, perceived risk and current smoking status were key determinants for anti-smoking attitude and behavior.

Originality/value

Findings highlight the importance of effective dissemination of the state law and recommend a strategic intervention design that invokes risk perceptions of secondhand smoke.
How does government support promote firms' intellectual capital? An empirical analysis of micro-mechanisms
Authors: Sun Zhongjuan , Pellegrini Massimiliano Matteo , Wang Cizhi , Yu Zhu
Published: January 2021

Purpose

In transitional economies, government support (GS) is considered to influence the development of the economy and industries and, consequentially, firms' intellectual capital (IC). However, empirical research has yet to explore the micro-mechanisms through which GS operates. Hence, the purpose of this study is to conduct an empirical inquiry into the specific role of GS on IC, considering the mediating effect of firm operational performance (OP).

Design/methodology/approach

Combining the institution-based theory, the resource orchestration paradigm and a dynamic perspective on IC, a new framework is constructed to evaluate the direct and indirect relationships existing among GS policies, firms' operational performance and IC. These processes and their outcomes are evaluated using mediating models with three steps and a panel regression based on panel data from 3,211 high-tech companies operating in China from 2008 to 2015.

Findings

Empirical findings confirm the existence of a significant direct relation between GS and IC and also suggest a mediating effect through operational performance.

Originality/value

(1) GS can be considered an institutional signal that boosts the attractiveness of a firm, thus enabling it to hire talent (human capital), build a wide network of relationships in the ecosystem (structural capital) and enhance its current relationships with financial service institutions and other stakeholders (relational capital). (2) This study, which considers GS an external resource, is one of the first attempts to explore how external resources influence firms' IC development through institutional pressures and mechanisms. The study confirms that multiple strategies exist through which government authorities and policymakers can influence firms' IC and in particular a combination of institutional factors and firm's resources and capabilities.
The effect of sentiment on commercial real estate returns: investor and occupier perspectives
Authors: Cheung Ka Shing , Lee Joshua
Published: January 2021

Purpose

Real estate is an asset that is traded in highly segmented, illiquid and informationally inefficient local markets. A short sale in real estate is almost infeasible and therefore impedes informed rational arbitrageurs to trade against mispricing. Thus, real estate returns are prone to sentiment-driven behaviours. Will the impacts on asset returns be identical for different types of sentiment?

Design/methodology/approach

This study argues that not all sentiment effects are created equal. Using the bounds test of the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) models, this paper examines how occupier sentiment versus investor sentiment contributes to the short-run and long-run dynamics of commercial real estate returns in Australia.

Findings

The empirical evidence suggests that investor sentiment and occupier sentiment influence return asymmetrically after macroeconomic conditions are controlled for.

Practical implications

The sectoral analysis further reveals that sector-specific sentiment plays a significant role in explaining commercial real estate returns. Furthermore, notable improvement is found in producing more accurate prediction in returns, given that measures of occupier and investor sentiment are appropriately specified in the forecast.

Originality/value

This study is novel in the sense that it acknowledges the impacts of occupiers' and investors' sentiment may be fundamentally different. The unique innovation and contribution of this study to behavioural finance literature are based on a new dataset from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors which includes a survey-based measure of investor sentiment and occupier sentiment.
Thermal constraints on energy balance, behaviour and spatial distribution of grizzly bears
Authors: Rogers Savannah A. , Robbins Charles T. , Mathewson Paul D. , Carnahan Anthony M. , van Manen Frank T. , Haroldson Mark A. , Porter Warren P. , Rogers Taylor R. , Soule Terence , Long Ryan A.
Published: January 2021

Heat dissipation limit theory posits that energy available for growth and reproduction in endotherms is limited by their ability to dissipate heat. In mammals, endogenous heat production increases markedly during gestation and lactation, and thus female mammals may be subject to greater thermal constraints on energy expenditure than males. Such constraints likely have important implications for behaviour and population performance in a warming climate.

We used a mechanistic simulation model based on the first principles of heat and mass transfer to study thermal constraints on activity (both timing and intensity) of captive female grizzly bears Ursus arctos in current and future climate scenarios. We then quantified the relative importance of regulatory behaviours for maintaining heat balance using GPS telemetry locations of lactating versus non‐lactating female bears from Yellowstone National Park, and assessed the degree to which costs of thermoregulation constrained the distribution of sampled bears in space and time.

Lactating female bears benefitted considerably more from behavioural cooling mechanisms (e.g. partial submersion in cool water or bedding on cool substrate) than non‐lactating females in our simulations; the availability of water for thermoregulation increased the number of hours during which lactating females could be active by up to 60% under current climatic conditions and by up to 43% in the future climate scenario. Moreover, even in the future climate scenario, lactating bears were able to achieve heat balance 24 hr/day by thermoregulating behaviourally when water was available to facilitate cooling.

The most important predictor of female grizzly bear distribution in Yellowstone, regardless of reproductive status, was elevation. However, variables associated with the thermal environment were relatively more important for predicting the distribution of lactating than non‐lactating female bears.

Our results suggest that the costs of heat dissipation, which are modulated by climate, may impose constraints on the behaviour and energetics of large endotherms like grizzly bears, and that access to water for cooling will likely be an increasingly important driver of grizzly bear distribution in Yellowstone as the climate continues to warm.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Physiological and behavioural effects of anemone bleaching on symbiont anemonefish in the wild
Authors: Cortese Daphne , Norin Tommy , Beldade Ricardo , Crespel Amélie , Killen Shaun S. , Mills Suzanne C.
Published: January 2021

Climate change causes extreme heat waves that have induced worldwide mass coral bleaching. The impacts of temperature‐induced bleaching events on the loss of algal endosymbionts in both corals and anemones are well documented. However, the cascading impacts of bleaching on animals that live in association with corals and anemones are understudied.

We performed a field‐based experiment to investigate how host anemone bleaching affected the metabolic rate, growth, behaviour and survival of wild juvenile orange‐fin anemonefish Amphiprion chrysopterus over 1, 2 and (for survival) 9 months.

We found that the standard metabolic rate of anemonefish residing in bleached anemones decreased over time but was unaffected in fish from healthy anemones. Despite the reduced metabolic cost, the growth rate of fish from bleached anemones was significantly lower compared to fish from healthy anemones, suggesting that animals residing in bleached hosts are at an energetic disadvantage. This was corroborated by our finding that fish from bleached anemones spent more time out of their anemones, suggestive of a greater need to forage in the water column. However, fish from bleached anemones were overall less active and used less space around the anemone, resulting in a negative correlation between space use and survival after 4 weeks.

Our results provide insight into the physiological and behavioural effects of host bleaching on juvenile fish in the wild, and highlight how relatively short‐term thermal anomalies can have long‐lasting impacts beyond the bleached anemones or corals themselves.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Merging dynamical and structural indicators to measure resilience in multispecies systems
Authors: Medeiros Lucas P. , Song Chuliang , Saavedra Serguei
Published: January 2021

Resilience is broadly understood as the ability of an ecological system to resist and recover from perturbations acting on species abundances and on the system's structure. However, one of the main problems in assessing resilience is to understand the extent to which measures of recovery and resistance provide complementary information about a system. While recovery from abundance perturbations has a strong tradition under the analysis of dynamical stability, it is unclear whether this same formalism can be used to measure resistance to structural perturbations (e.g. perturbations to model parameters).

Here, we provide a framework grounded on dynamical and structural stability in Lotka–Volterra systems to link recovery from small perturbations on species abundances (i.e. dynamical indicators) with resistance to parameter perturbations of any magnitude (i.e. structural indicators). We use theoretical and experimental multispecies systems to show that the faster the recovery from abundance perturbations, the higher the resistance to parameter perturbations.

We first use theoretical systems to show that the return rate along the slowest direction after a small random abundance perturbation (what we call full recovery) is negatively correlated with the largest random parameter perturbation that a system can withstand before losing any species (what we call full resistance). We also show that the return rate along the second fastest direction after a small random abundance perturbation (what we call partial recovery) is negatively correlated with the largest random parameter perturbation that a system can withstand before at most one species survives (what we call partial resistance). Then, we use a dataset of experimental microbial systems to confirm our theoretical expectations and to demonstrate that full and partial components of resilience are complementary.

Our findings reveal that we can obtain the same level of information about resilience by measuring either a dynamical (i.e. recovery) or a structural (i.e. resistance) indicator. Irrespective of the chosen indicator (dynamical or structural), our results show that we can obtain additional information by separating the indicator into its full and partial components. We believe these results can motivate new theoretical approaches and empirical analyses to increase our understanding about risk in ecological systems.
Age‐related reproductive performance of the Adélie penguin, a long‐lived seabird exhibiting similar outcomes regardless of individual life‐history strategy
Authors: Kappes Peter J. , Dugger Katie M. , Lescroël Amélie , Ainley David G. , Ballard Grant , Barton Kerry J. , Lyver Phil O'B. , Wilson Peter R.
Published: January 2021

Age‐related variation in reproductive performance in long‐lived iteroparous vertebrate species is common, with performance being influenced by within‐individual processes, such as improvement and senescence, in combination with among‐individual processes, such as selective appearance and disappearance. Few studies of age‐related reproductive performance have compared the role of these drivers within a metapopulation, subject to varying degrees of resource competition.

We accounted for within‐ and among‐individual changes among known‐aged Adélie penguins Pygoscelis adeliae during 17 years (1997–2013), at three clustered colonies of disparate size, to understand patterns in age‐related reproductive success during early and late adulthood.

Age at first reproduction (AFR) was lowest, and number of breeding attempts highest, at the largest colony. Regardless of AFR, success improved with early post‐recruitment experience. For both oldest and youngest recruitment groups, peak performance occurred at the end of their reproductive life span indicating a possible cost of reproduction. Intermediate recruitment groups reached peak performance in their mid‐reproductive life span and with intermediate breeding experience, before decreasing. Breeding success was lowest for the initial breeding attempt regardless of AFR, but we observed subsequent variation relative to recruitment age. Gaining experience by delaying recruitment positively influenced reproductive performance early in the reproductive life span and was most evident for the youngest breeders. Oldest recruits had the highest initial and peak breeding success. Differences in AFR resulted in trade‐offs in reproductive life span or timing of senescence but not in the overall number of breeding attempts.

Patterns differed as a function of colony size, and thus competition for resources. Early life improvement in performance at the larger colonies was primarily due to within‐individual factors and at the largest colony, AFR. Regardless of colony size late‐life performance was positively related to the age at last reproduction, indicating selective disappearance of lower performing individuals.

These results highlight that different life‐history strategies were equally successful, indicating that individuals can overcome potential trade‐offs associated with early‐ and late‐life performance. These results have important implications for understanding the evolution of life‐history strategies responsible for driving population change.
Episodic nutrient enrichments stabilise protist coexistence in planktonic oligotrophic conditions
Authors: Zufiaurre Aitziber , Felip Marisol , Giménez‐Grau Pau , Pla‐Rabès Sergi , Camarero Lluís , Catalan Jordi
Published: January 2021

Seasonal compositional changes in plankton communities are usually considered as species replacements. Given the enormous number of individuals integrating the communities and our limited capacity to count and determine most of them, we likely observe only alternative population peaks of some of the coexisting species. The contemporary coexistence theory addresses coexistence in communities of competing species, considering relative fitness inequalities and stabilising niche differences as components of average long‐term growth rates. Here, we experimentally show that the response patterns predicted by the theory occur when varying nutrient pulses fertilise the planktonic community.

We used gently self‐filling 100‐L enclosures to minimise the disturbance of the initial community and different pulse P and N additions to manipulate the apparently species‐poor epilimnetic community of an ultraoligotrophic P‐limited lake. We measured and compared the protist species growth response to gradients of P enrichment and N stoichiometric imbalance. The P and N levels used in most treatments were within the oligotrophic seasonal and inter‐annual variations of the lake and were higher in a few extreme treatments that provided mesotrophic conditions of the remote regions affected by N atmospheric contamination. We alternatively replicated all treatments using ammonium or nitrate as the N source.

Most protist species, recorded in this lake across seasons in previous studies, were recovered, indicating a persistent assemblage of species that is seasonally hidden from observation. Recovery included some rare species observed only in the slush layers of the seasonal snow and ice cover. The coexistence‐stabilising mechanisms were indicated by treatment response features, such as frequency‐dependent growth, inverse relationship between fitness inequality and niche differentiation proxies, high‐rank taxonomic levels clustering across the limiting‐nutrient gradient but segregation at the species level according to the type of N supply and resting stage development depending on nutrient conditions. The response similarities between autotrophic and heterotrophic organisms indicate a network of interactions that may reinforce coexistence.

Synthesis. The results indicate that many planktonic protist species in oligotrophic waters can show stable long‐term non‐equilibrium coexistence by alternately recovering from very low densities when episodic nutrient enrichments, of varying P and N amounts and composition, occur.
Livestock‐exclusion duration required for restoring grassland in semiarid, loess region in China: Estimate based on species composition measured from small‐scale vegetation patterns
Authors: Yamamura Yasuo , Cheng Jimin , Yasuda Taisuke , Chen Jun , Hu Tianming , Hori Yoshimichi , Nakano Takashi , Shiyomi Masae
Published: January 2021

To restore the degraded grassland in the Yunwushan Natural Reserve of Ningxia semiarid loess region, Ningxia Autonomous Region, China, managers have established grasslands with excluding livestock from one large area every 5 years since 1982. The annual precipitation at the site is around 400 mm, and heavy grazing by sheep/goats has been conducted in the past. In July 2009 in which vegetation surveys were conducted, seven grasslands with different exclusion durations such as 0, 2, 7, 12, 17, 22 or 27 years had already been established. The objectives of survey were to clarify the vegetation changes with exclusion duration, and to estimate the number of years required for recovering the vegetation. In each of these grasslands, 100 50 × 50 cm2 quadrats, each of which was further divided into four 25 × 25 cm2 sub‐quadrats, were set, and then each of the species occurring within each sub‐quadrat was recorded. Aboveground biomass and soil hardness within each quadrat were also measured as auxiliary variables. We used eco‐statistical survey and analysis methods of small‐scale spatial patterns of vegetation. The followings are results obtained: after 12–17 years of exclusion, (a) the soil had softened; (b) the aboveground biomass had increased to amounts >200 dw g m–2; (c) the spatial uniformity in biomass increased to a stationary state; and (d) the dissimilarity of species composition between two successive exclusion durations decreased to a stationary state. We conclude from these observations that the degraded grassland required 12–17 years of exclusion to restore vegetation and productivity. We also proposed candidates of plant species to be seeded or planted for recovering degraded grassland in this area.
Shades of Power: Network Links with Gender Quotas and Corporate Governance Codes
Authors: Mateos de Cabo Ruth , Grau Pilar , Gimeno Ricardo , Gabaldón Patricia
Published: January 2021

This study analyses the impact of political and regulatory pressures to increase the influence of women within the European board of directors’ network. To accomplish this, we used a longitudinal approach, tracking two centrality measures of a European directors’ network from 1999 to 2014. The network comprised publicly listed firms in 37 European countries, resulting in an extensive sample of 71,300 directors, of which around 10% were women. Governments promoting gender diversity in leadership positions have focused on two solutions: a slow track using voluntary approaches versus a fast track pushing for binding legislation. The panel data analysis shows how voluntary approaches to promote gender diversity, as implemented through corporate governance codes, have a positive and significant relationship with the ‘closeness’ of women to other directors in the network (i.e. their access to information). In contrast, binding legislation, such as gender quotas, increases women's role as unique ‘bridges’ between sub‐networks – a result that serves to heighten their ‘betweenness’ centrality (i.e. their control over information).
Does Target Country Cultural Orientation Influence M&A?
Authors: Ahmad Muhammad Farooq , Aziz Saqib , Dowling Michael M.
Published: January 2021

We examine whether the cultural orientation of target firms influences the outcomes of international mergers and acquisitions (M&As). Prior research shows that the national culture of the acquiring firm country influences M&As, as well as the distance between the acquiring and target country cultures. Not previously studied from a cultural perspective of M&As has been the target country culture, despite estimates that about 40% of M&As are target‐initiated. Our focus is on target firm cultural orientation, including how cultural orientation affects the likelihood of, and returns from, M&As. Our testing applies three cultural orientation factors (results, tradition and people orientation) extracted from a GLOBE cultural framework to a dataset of firm‐level M&A data across 39 countries, in 1990–2016. We find that firms from cultures with a results orientation are less likely to become M&A targets and also experience higher cumulative abnormal returns if acquired, while firms from countries with cultures with a tradition orientation or a people orientation are more likely to become targets but experience lower cumulative abnormal returns if acquired. These results are robust to a comprehensive range of robustness tests. Our findings suggest that understanding the cultural orientation of target firms is important to understanding M&A outcomes.
Training teachers for phonics and early reading: developing research‐informed practice
Authors: Flynn Naomi , Powell Daisy , Stainthorp Rhona , Stuart Morag
Published: January 2021

Background

In England, instruction in systematic synthetic phonics is the first approach to teaching children to read words. There is little research exploring what makes successful training for phonics teaching despite evidence teachers' subject knowledge is limited. There is a persisting problem of underachievement in reading in some regions of England, mirrored in the United States and Australia. In 2017–2018, the Department for Education (DfE) addressed poor reading outcomes in these regions by funding 1‐day training events. We report on one training model, developed and delivered by a team of academics, addressing issues specific to an English context, but contributing internationally relevant insights into phonics teacher training.

Methods

Research‐informed ‘phonics roadshows’ for training phonics teaching for early reading were devised for 14 regions of England with weak performance on the Year 1 phonics screening check. Five hundred eighty‐four practitioners attended from 379 schools. Participants provided feedback in on‐the‐day written evaluations and by survey 1‐year‐on (100 responses). Local authority officials who attended were interviewed about impacts of the roadshow 1‐year‐on (9 of 14). Qualitative data were analysed using a constructivist grounded theory approach.

Results

Quantitative data indicated positive responses to the events. Teachers found the day interesting, helpful and likely to impact their practice. Qualitative analysis revealed the need for consistent school‐wide approaches to phonics teaching; follow‐up training to develop teacher subject knowledge for teaching reading; and developing teachers' ability to assess children's progress in developing phonic knowledge and to provide targeted interventions to tackle under‐attainment. Local authority officials concurred with teachers' perceptions, with some differences between them and between regions.

Conclusions

Research‐informed in‐service training for phonics teaching can have beneficial impact, but must be closely partnered with local needs, and calibrated to teachers' existing subject knowledge, to ensure professionals feel empowered to make sustainable changes and improvements to practice.
Predictors of reading and spelling skills in German: the role of morphological awareness
Authors: Görgen Ruth , De Simone Elisabetta , Schulte‐Körne Gerd , Moll Kristina
Published: January 2021

Background

The role of morphological awareness for literacy development is non‐controversial, but it is likely to depend on the characteristics of a specific orthography. Previous studies analysing the role of morphological awareness are mainly based on English samples; thus, it is unclear how generalisable these results are. In the current study, we evaluated the predictive pattern of morphological awareness on reading and spelling in German, which is characterised by high consistency between morphology and orthography. While many words cannot be spelled correctly by relying on phoneme–grapheme mappings, morphological awareness can be reliably used to infer the correct spelling for many words. In contrast, morphological awareness seems less important for reading in German given the high consistency of grapheme–phoneme mappings. Therefore, we hypothesised that the predictive pattern of morphological awareness for spelling is higher than for reading due to the structure of German orthography. In addition, we examined whether the association between morphological awareness and spelling reflects specific awareness about morphemic units or rather general knowledge about frequent and permissible letter sequences in words.

Method

We developed web‐based tasks that allowed us to assess morphological awareness using pseudowords. Based on the data of 3,122 third and fourth graders, we analysed the predictive pattern of morphological awareness on reading and spelling after controlling for non‐verbal cognitive abilities, age/grade, phoneme awareness and sublexical orthographic sensitivity.

Results

We found that morphological awareness accounted for significant amounts of unique variance over and above sublexical orthographic sensitivity in both literacy measures but was a better predictor for spelling than for reading.

Conclusions

The role of morphological awareness depends on the structure of a given orthography. In German, this is reflected by differences in the predictive pattern between reading and spelling skills. Furthermore, results support the specific role of morphological awareness for spelling in the German orthography.
Connecting policy to licensed assisted living communities, introducing health services regulatory analysis
Authors: Smith Lindsey , Carder Paula , Bucy Taylor , Winfree Jaclyn , Brazier Joan F. , Kaskie Brian , Thomas Kali S.
Published: January 2021

Objective

To document dementia‐relevant state assisted living regulations and their changes over time as they pertain to licensed care settings.

Data Sources

For all states, current directories of licensed assisted living communities and state regulations for each year, 2007‐2018, were obtained from state agency websites and Nexis Uni, respectively.

Study Design

We identified multiple types of regulatory classifications for each state and documented the presence or absence of specific dementia care provisions in the regulations for each type by study year. Maps and summary statistics were used to compare results to previous research and document change longitudinally.

Data Collection/Extraction Methods

We used a policy analysis approach to connect communities listed in directories to applicable regulatory text. Then, we employed policy surveillance and question‐based coding to record the presence or absence of specific policies for each classification and study year.

Principal Findings

Our team empirically documented provisions requiring dementia‐specific training for administrators and direct care staff, and cognitive impairment screening for each study year. We found that 23 states added one or more of these requirements for one or more license types, but the states that had these provisions for all types of licensed assisted living declined from four to two.

Conclusions

We identified significant, previously undocumented, within‐state policy variation for assisted living licensed settings between 2007 and 2018. Using the regulatory classification instead of the state as the unit of analysis revealed that many policy adoptions were limited to dementia‐designated settings. This suggests that people living with dementia in general assisted living are not afforded the same protections. We call our approach health services regulatory analysis and argue that it has the potential to identify gaps in existing policies, an important endeavor for health services research in assisted living and other care settings.
Bioavailability and antioxidant activity of nanotechnology‐based botanic antioxidants
Authors: Myint Khaing zar , Yu Qiannan , Xia Yongmei , Qing Jiu , Zhu Song , Fang Yun , Shen Jie
Published: January 2021

Botanic bioactive substances have issues with their solubility, stability, and oral bioavailability in the application, which could be improved by nanotechnologies. In another hands, green synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) with plant extract is also a promising technology for preparation of NPs due to its safety advantage, yet the bioactive botanic substances that could be more than the assistant of the green synthesis of NPs. Based on the above concerns, this review summarized the preparation of botanic NPs with various plant extract, their solubility, stability, and oral bioavailability; specific attention has been paid to the botanic Ag/Au NPs, their capacity of antioxidant, bioavailability, antimicrobial, anti‐inflammatory, and anticancer.