bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Corporate reputation and retail bank selection: the moderating role of brand image
Authors: Narteh Bedman , Braimah Mahama
Published: October 2019

Purpose

Even though scholars have proposed multiple dimensions to measure corporate reputation, the relationship between these dimensions and service provider selection has received a dearth of research. Moreover, the moderating role of brand image on this relationship has hardly been considered. The purpose of this paper is to fill these gaps in the literature.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employed a quantitative approach, collecting data from 540 retail bank customers using surveys. Results were analyzed using structural equation modelling in AMOS.

Findings

The study found out that emotional engagement, corporate performance, customer centricism and service quality directly predicted customer selection of retail banks in Ghana. The results further indicated that brand image moderates the relationship between social and ethical engagement, which was not directly significant and bank selection.

Practical implications

The findings of the study indicate that some of the dimensions of corporate reputation have a direct impact on bank selection by customers, and that brand image could also be used to improve social and ethical dimension of corporate reputation to ensure bank selection by retail customers. The study thus provides practical guidelines for managing corporate reputation to achieve retail bank selection in Ghana.

Originality/value

The paper provides support to some of the prior studies on corporate reputation in the retail banking sector. Thus, the study provides useful insights into how corporate reputation can be managed to ensure service provider selection by retail bank customers.
Habitat loss and fragmentation increase realized predator–prey body size ratios
Authors: Hillaert Jasmijn , Vandegehuchte Martijn L. , Hovestadt Thomas , Bonte Dries
Published: October 2019

In the absence of predators, habitat fragmentation favours large body sizes to facilitate gap crossing. The size of primary consumers is, however, also shaped by top‐down effects as predators select prey of a certain size. Therefore, higher trophic levels should be taken into consideration when studying the effect of habitat loss and fragmentation on size distributions of herbivores.

We built a model to study the effect of habitat loss and fragmentation within a tri‐trophic food chain. Body size is directly linked to movement capacity and metabolic processes and considered as a master trait under selection.

We show that basal resources accumulate locally if a predator causes top‐down control of the herbivore. Due to this increasing spatiotemporal variability in resource availability, larger herbivores are selected than in scenarios without predator as they are able to move further.

As predators cause herbivores to be intrinsically much larger than the optimal sizes selected by habitat fragmentation in the absence of predators, habitat fragmentation is no longer a significant driver of herbivore size. However, there is selection for increased predator size with habitat fragmentation as herbivores become less abundant, hence favouring gap‐crossing ability of the predator.

Since herbivore and predator body size respond differently to habitat loss and fragmentation, realized predator–herbivore body size ratios increase along this fragmentation gradient. Our model demonstrates how feedbacks between the abundance, body size and mobility of predators and prey ultimately determine body size distributions in food webs. These new insights shed light on the impact of habitat destruction and fragmentation on overall food web structure.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Street Performance, Public Space, and the Boundaries of Urban Desirability: The Case of Living Statues in Barcelona
Authors: Astor Avi
Published: October 2019

How do cities determine who has the right to station themselves in iconic public spaces? This article explores this question by analyzing the evolution of Barcelona's approach to regulating street performance, with a particular focus on regulations pertaining to ‘living statues’. Although most buskers have been expelled from the Ramblas, one of the city's most emblematic walkways, living statues remain permitted on the promenade. This, I argue, is due to the general embrace of statues as part of local tradition and their integration within city‐branding campaigns, as well as their own organizing and boundary work. As the image Barcelona seeks to cultivate has changed, however, the right of statues to station themselves in public space has become ever more tenuous. My findings speak to broader questions regarding how cities determine the boundaries of ‘urban desirability’, as well as why and how such boundaries change over time. They also elucidate the strategies that groups located at the margins employ in attempting to position themselves favorably in relation to such boundaries. More generally, they highlight how current approaches to analyzing urban inclusion and exclusion may benefit from a more sustained engagement with the burgeoning social scientific literature on symbolic boundaries.
The role of government intervention in financial development: micro‐evidence from China
Authors: Feng Lingbing , Fu Tong , Apergis Nicholas , Tao Hu , Yan Wu
Published: October 2019

This paper distinguishes between different forms of government intervention upon a firm, including the firm’s tax burden, sales to the government and state shares. We investigate how these types of government intervention affect micro‐financial development. With evidence from China, we confirm that the micro‐financial development is promoted by the firm’s tax burden and sales to the government but constrained by the firm’s state shares. The findings remain robust to the endogeneity issue. The findings offer applications for government policies or a firm’s financing strategies.
Survey shows marked variations in approaches to redirection of care for critically ill very preterm infants in 11 countries
Authors: Helenius Kjell , Morisaki Naho , Kusuda Satoshi , Shah Prakesh S. , Norman Mikael , Lehtonen Liisa , Reichman Brian , Darlow Brian A. , Noguchi Akihiko , Adams Mark , Bassler Dirk , Håkansson Stellan , Isayama Tetsuya , Berti Elettra , Lee Shoo K. , Vento Maximo , Lui Kei ,   the International Network for Evaluation of Outcomes of neonates (iNeo)
Published: October 2019

Aim

We surveyed care practices for critically ill very preterm infants admitted to neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in the International Network for Evaluating Outcomes in Neonates (iNeo) to identify differences relevant to outcome comparisons.

Methods

We conducted an online survey on care practices for critically ill very preterm infants and infants with severe intracranial haemorrhage (ICH). The survey was distributed in 2015 to representatives of 390 NICUs in 11 countries. Survey replies were compared with network incidence of death and severe ICH for infants born between 230/7 and 286/7 weeks of gestation from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2015.

Results

Most units in Israel, Japan and Tuscany, Italy, favoured withholding care when care was considered futile, whereas most units in other networks favoured redirection of care. For infants with bilateral grade 4 ICH, redirection of care was very frequently (≥90% of cases) offered in the majority of units in Australia and New Zealand and Switzerland, but rarely in other networks. Networks where redirection of care was frequently offered for severe ICH had lower rates of survivors with severe ICH.

Conclusion

We identified marked inter‐network differences in care approaches that need to be considered when comparing outcomes.
Impact of older adults' mobility and social participation on life satisfaction in South Korea
Authors: Lee Samsik , Choi Hyojin
Published: October 2019

South Korea has been experiencing rapid population aging. In an aging society, the need for healthy lives is greater. Two of the fundamental factors to enable independent and active life for the elderly are mobility and social participation. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between older adults’ mobility, social participation, and quality of life in South Korea. We used data from the 2017 National Survey of Older Koreans conducted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs and applied hierarchical regression. The major finding was that older adults’ mobility had a positive impact on their life satisfaction. After controlling for older adults’ mobility, social participation was positively associated with life satisfaction regardless of the place of residence. The findings of this study not only make a valuable contribution to further research on mobility and social participation but also provide new insight into improving older adults’ quality of life.
Abnormal perfusion fluctuation and perfusion connectivity in bipolar disorder measured by dynamic arterial spin labeling
Authors: Dai Weiying , Chen Mingzhao , Duan Wenna , Zhao Li , Bolo Nicolas R. , Tamminga Carol , Clementz Brett A. , Pearlson Godfrey D. , Alsop David C. , Keshavan Matcheri
Published: October 2019

Objectives

We sought to evaluate whether dynamic Arterial Spin Labeling (dASL), a novel quantitative technique robust to artifacts and noise that especially arise in inferior brain regions, could characterize neural substrates of BD pathology and symptoms.

Methods

Forty‐five subjects (19 BD patients, 26 controls) were imaged using a dASL sequence. Maps of average perfusion, perfusion fluctuation, and perfusion connectivity with anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) were derived. Patient symptoms were quantified along four symptom dimensions determined using factor analysis of the subjects from the Bipolar and Schizophrenia Network on Intermediate Phenotypes (BSNIP) study. Maps of the perfusion measures were compared between BD patients and controls and correlated with the symptom dimensions in the BD patients only by voxel‐level and region‐level analyses.

Results

BD patients exhibited (i) significantly increased perfusion fluctuations in the left fusiform and inferior temporal regions (P = .020, voxel‐level corrected) and marginally increased perfusion fluctuations in the right temporal pole and inferior temporal regions (P = .063, cluster‐level corrected), (ii) significantly increased perfusion connectivity between ACC and the occipitoparietal cortex (P = .050, cluster‐level corrected). In BD patients, positive symptoms were negatively associated with ACC perfusion connectivity to the right orbitofrontal and superior frontal regions (P = .002, cluster‐level corrected) and right orbitofrontal and inferior frontal regions (P = .023, cluster‐level corrected).

Conclusion

The abnormal perfusion fluctuations and connectivity alterations may underlie the mood fluctuations and cognitive and emotional dysregulation that characterize BD.
Predominant polarity and hippocampal subfield volumes in Bipolar disorders
Authors: Janiri Delfina , Simonetti Alessio , Piras Fabrizio , Ciullo Valentina , Spalletta Gianfranco , Sani Gabriele
Published: October 2019

Objectives

Predominant polarity (PP) is a proposed course specifier for bipolar disorders (BD) based on patient lifetime mood episodes. Hippocampal subfield volumetric changes have been proposed as a neurobiological marker for BD and could be influenced by mood episodes. Our study aimed to test the hypothesis that patients with BD differ in hippocampal subfield volumes according to their PP.

Methods

We assessed 172 outpatients, diagnosed with BD according to DSM‐IV‐TR criteria, and 150 healthy control (HC) participants. High‐resolution magnetic resonance imaging was performed on all subjects and volumes of all hippocampal subfields were measured using FreeSurfer.

Results

Patients with depressive PP (BD‐DP) and with uncertain PP (BD‐UP) but not with manic/hypomanic PP (BD‐MP) showed a global reduction on all hippocampal subfield volumes with respect to HCs. When directly compared, BD‐DP presented with smaller bilateral presubiculum/subiculum volumes than BD‐MP.

Conclusions

Results support the potential utility of PP not only as a clinical but also as a neurobiological specifier of BD.
BRAFV600E mutant oligodendroglioma‐like tumors with chromosomal instability in adolescents and young adults
Authors: Fukuoka Kohei , Mamatjan Yasin , Ryall Scott , Komosa Martin , Bennett Julie , Zapotocky Michal , Keith Julia , Myrehaug Sten , Hazrati Lili‐Naz , Aldape Kenneth , Laperriere Norm , Bouffet Eric , Tabori Uri , Hawkins Cynthia
Published: October 2019

We performed genome‐wide methylation analysis on 136 pediatric low‐grade gliomas, identifying a unique cluster consisting of three tumors with oligodendroglioma‐like histology, BRAF p.V600E mutations and recurrent whole chromosome gains of 7 and loss of 10. Morphologically, all showed similar features, including a diffusely infiltrative glioma composed of round nuclei with perinuclear halos, a chicken‐wire pattern of branching capillaries and microcalcification. None showed astrocytic features or characteristics suggestive of high‐grade tumors including necrosis or mitotic figures. All tumors harbored multiple chromosomal copy number abnormalities (>10 chromosomes altered), but none showed 1p/19q co‐deletion or IDH1 p.R132H mutation. Hierarchical clustering and t‐stochastic neighbor embedding analyses from DNA methylation data cluster them more closely to previously described pediatric‐type low‐grade gliomas and separate from adult gliomas. These tumors exhibit distinct clinical features; they are temporal lobe lesions occurring in adolescents and young adults with a prolonged history of seizures and all are alive with no recurrence (follow‐up 3.2 to 13.2 years). We encountered another young adult case with quite similar pathological appearance and molecular status except forTERTpromoter mutation. Although the series is small, these may represent a new category of IDH wild‐type low‐grade gliomas which may be confused with “molecular GBM.” Further, they highlight the heterogeneity of IDH wild‐type gliomas and the relatively indolent behavior of “pediatric‐type” gliomas.
Modified risk stratification based on cervical lymph node metastases following lobectomy for papillary thyroid carcinoma
Authors: Song Eyun , Ahn Jonghwa , Song Dong Eun , Kim Won Woong , Jeon Min Ji , Sung Tae‐Yon , Kim Tae Yong , Chung Ki Wook , Kim Won Bae , Shong Young Kee , Hong Suck Joon , Lee Yu‐Mi , Kim Won Gu
Published: October 2019

Objective

Evidence for American Thyroid Association (ATA) risk stratification stems largely from studies involving patients undergoing total thyroidectomy. We aimed to assess the risk of recurrence according to the present ATA risk stratification system in patients who underwent lobectomy.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Patients

Patients who underwent thyroid lobectomy for 1‐4 cm‐sized papillary thyroid carcinoma (n = 571).

Measurements

Disease‐free survival (DFS) was compared according to the ATA risk stratification, and specific lymph node (LN) characteristics were evaluated to modify the ATA criteria with a higher predictability for recurrence.

Results

Based on the ATA risk stratification, 439 patients (61.1%) were classified into intermediate‐ or high‐risk group, and consideration for completion thyroidectomy is suggested by ATA guidelines for these patients. However, no significant differences were found in DFS among the low‐, intermediate‐ and high‐risk groups (P = .9). In contrast, when patients were stratified according solely to the LN criteria from the ATA risk stratification, only 127 patients (22.2%) had intermediate risk (intermediate‐N1a) and exhibited significantly poorer DFS than those with N0 disease (P = .035). Modifying the intermediate‐N1a criteria by adding the extranodal extension (ENE) status and omitting the clinical nodal disease enabled the subclassification of 19 patients (3%) with a high risk for recurrence.

Conclusions

The present study suggests that risk stratification based solely on LN metastases is more reasonable for predicting structural persistence/recurrence following lobectomy than that based on the overall ATA criteria. Considering the ENE status can assist in selecting patients with a high risk of recurrence to minimize further treatments.
Primary angioplasty or stenting for hepatic artery stenosis treatment after liver transplantation
Authors: Magand Nicolas , Coronado José Luis , Drevon Harir , Manichon Anne‐Frédérique , Mabrut Jean‐Yves , Mohkam Kayvan , Ducerf Christian , Boussel Loïc , Rode Agnès
Published: October 2019

Background

Endovascular treatment (EVT) by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) or stent is the first‐line treatment for hepatic artery stenosis (HAS) after liver transplantation, but there are no guidelines to help choose between PTA and stent.

Methods

Retrospective review of HAS EVT after liver transplantation, between 1999 and 2017. HAS was treated by PTA or stent. We report EVT primary effectiveness, arterial patency after 1 year of follow‐up, complications, HAS recurrence rate; comparing PTA to stent.

Results

Fifty‐two HAS were diagnosed in 42 patients. We performed 51 EVT; 34 PTA (66.7%) and 16 stents (31.4%). Global primary EVT effectiveness was 86.3%: 82.3% after PTA and 100% after stent (P = 1.00 after propensity score matching). Recurrent HAS was found in 22.0% of cases: 29.4% after PTA and 6.2% after stenting, (P = .053 after propensity score matching). Patency rate without recurrent HAS or HAT at 12 months was 73.5% with PTA and 93.8% with stent (P = .09), and globally this was 92.8%. There were 7.8% complications: 2.9% after PTA, 12.5% after stenting (P = .23).

Conclusion

Primary effectiveness was the same for PTA and stenting. There was a strong trend toward more HAS recurrence after PTA than after stenting suggesting that HAS should benefit from primary stenting.
The Open Planning Laboratory at the Museum für Naturkunde – Experiences From First Attempts in a Participative Exhibition Planning and Working in Public
Authors: Rössig Wiebke , Jahn Lisa Debora
Published: October 2019

At the beginning of 2018, the exhibition department of the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin moved from an outbuilding into an exhibition hall, bringing its office close to the public exhibition halls. The museum will face a major process of innovation in the following years, especially pushing towards more open research areas and open collections. Taking up on the mission of visibly opening up collections and research practice, museums have come up with various architectural answers, such as laboratories within the exhibitions or accessible workspaces and collections. However, the way in which such designs affect the work‐experience of museum staff is still underreported. At the same time, research museums have been shy to adapt co‐creation models with visitors in exhibition design that community‐based museums have long been practicing. We accompanied the exhibition department during its time at the “open planning lab,” combining observations, interviews and analysis of the qualitative data gathered in order to document their experiences as well as their exchange with visitors. This article sums up experiences made, arguing that various forms of invitations to participate play a vital role in creating an environment that visitors and museum staff actually perceive as open and that direct interactions are especially promising for changing attitudes towards open working conditions and participative planning. It is not just about literally opening the doors, but also most importantly about developing ways to facilitate direct interactions.
An Alternative Theorization of Payments for Ecosystem Services from Mexico: Origins and Influence
Authors: Shapiro‐Garza Elizabeth
Published: October 2019

The national Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) programmes of Mexico were originally based on the neoclassical economic theory that conceptualized ecosystems as factories whose various outputs can be quantified and converted to commodities. This model of PES clashed with an alternative theorization, Compensation for Ecosystem Services (CES), with home‐grown roots in the ontological orientation and contextualized experience of an epistemic community of public intellectuals with deep engagement in rural Mexico. While built upon the same basic premise — that healthy ecosystems produce services of value — the CES model reimagines payments as compensation for the sustainable stewardship and labour of rural communities and, mediated by the state, as a means to counteract the systemic structural inequities between rural and urban and global North and South. Based on discourse analysis of a series of key actor interviews, longitudinal participant observation and policy analysis, this article explores: 1) the common conceptual underpinnings in the theory of CES, but also the variances; 2) the specific influence of this model on the design of the national PES programmes; and 3) the ways in which this influence has been mediated by politics and shifting relations of power in Mexico.
Modified synaptic dynamics predict neural activity patterns in an auditory field within the frontal cortex
Authors: López‐Jury Luciana , Mannel Adrian , García‐Rosales Francisco , Hechavarria Julio C.
Published: October 2019

Frontal areas of the mammalian cortex are thought to be important for cognitive control and complex behaviour. These areas have been studied mostly in humans, non‐human primates and rodents. In this article, we present a quantitative characterization of response properties of a frontal auditory area responsive to sound in the brain of Carollia perspicillata, the frontal auditory field (FAF). Bats are highly vocal animals, and they constitute an important experimental model for studying the auditory system. We combined electrophysiology experiments and computational simulations to compare the response properties of auditory neurons found in the bat FAF and auditory cortex (AC) to simple sounds (pure tones). Anatomical studies have shown that the latter provides feedforward inputs to the former. Our results show that bat FAF neurons are responsive to sounds, and however, when compared to AC neurons, they presented sparser, less precise spiking and longer‐lasting responses. Based on the results of an integrate‐and‐fire neuronal model, we suggest that slow, subthreshold, synaptic dynamics can account for the activity pattern of neurons in the FAF. These properties reflect the general function of the frontal cortex and likely result from its connections with multiple brain regions, including cortico‐cortical projections from the AC to the FAF.
Hand blink reflex in virtual reality: The role of vision and proprioception in modulating defensive responses
Authors: Fossataro Carlotta , Tieri Gaetano , Grollero Demetrio , Bruno Valentina , Garbarini Francesca
Published: October 2019

Our research focused on the role of vision and proprioception in modulating a defensive reflex (hand blink reflex, HBR) whose magnitude is enhanced when the threatened hand is inside the peripersonal space of the face. We capitalized on virtual reality, which allows dissociating vision and proprioception by presenting a virtual limb in congruent/incongruent positions with respect to the participants' limb. In experiment 1, participants placed their own stimulated hand in far/near positions with respect to their face (postural manipulation task), while observing a virtual empty scenario. Vision was not informative, but the HBR was significantly enhanced in near compared with far position, suggesting that proprioception is sufficient for the HBR modulation to occur. In experiment 2, participants did not perform the postural manipulation but they (passively) observed the avatar's virtual limb performing it. Proprioceptive signals were not informative, but the HBR was significantly enhanced when the observed virtual limb was near to the face, suggesting that visual information plays a role in modulating the HBR. In experiment 3, both participants and avatar performed the postural manipulation, either congruently (both of them far/near) or incongruently (one of them far, the other near). The HBR modulation was present only in congruent conditions. In incongruent conditions, the conflict between vision and proprioception confounded the system, abolishing the difference between far and near positions. Taken together, these findings promote the view that observing a virtual limb modulates the HBR, providing also new evidence on the role of vision and proprioception in modulating this subcortical reflex.
Thinner bark increases sensitivity of wetter Amazonian tropical forests to fire
Authors: Staver Ann Carla , Brando Paulo M. , Barlow Jos , Morton Douglas C. , Paine C.E. Timothy , Malhi Yadvinder , Araujo Murakami Alejandro , del Aguila Pasquel Jhon
Published: October 2019

Understory fires represent an accelerating threat to Amazonian tropical forests and can, during drought, affect larger areas than deforestation itself. These fires kill trees at rates varying from < 10 to c. 90% depending on fire intensity, forest disturbance history and tree functional traits. Here, we examine variation in bark thickness across the Amazon. Bark can protect trees from fires, but it is often assumed to be consistently thin across tropical forests. Here, we show that investment in bark varies, with thicker bark in dry forests and thinner in wetter forests. We also show that thinner bark translated into higher fire‐driven tree mortality in wetter forests, with between 0.67 and 5.86 gigatonnes CO2 lost in Amazon understory fires between 2001 and 2010. Trait‐enabled global vegetation models that explicitly include variation in bark thickness are likely to improve the predictions of fire effects on carbon cycling in tropical forests.
Population genomics supports clonal reproduction and multiple independent gains and losses of parasitic abilities in the most devastating nematode pest
Authors: Koutsovoulos Georgios D. , Marques Eder , Arguel Marie‐Jeanne , Duret Laurent , Machado Andressa C. Z. , Carneiro Regina M. D. G. , Kozlowski Djampa K. , Bailly‐Bechet Marc , Castagnone‐Sereno Philippe , Albuquerque Erika V. S. , Danchin Etienne G. J.
Published: October 2019

The root‐knot nematodes are the most devastating worms to worldwide agriculture with Meloidogyne incognita being the most widely distributed and damaging species. This parasitic and ecological success seems surprising given its supposed obligatory clonal reproduction. Clonal reproduction has been suspected based on cytological observations but, so far, never confirmed by population genomics data. As a species, M. incognita is highly polyphagous with thousands of host plants. However, different M. incognita isolates present distinct and overlapping patterns of host compatibilities. Historically, four “host races” had been defined as a function of ranges of compatible and incompatible plants. In this study, we used population genomics to assess whether (a) reproduction is actually clonal in this species, (b) the host races follow an underlying phylogenetic signal or, rather represent multiple independent transitions, and (c) how genome variations associate with other important biological traits such as the affected crops and geographical distribution. We sequenced the genomes of 11 M. incognita isolates across Brazil that covered the four host races in replicates. By aligning the genomic reads of these isolates to the M. incognita reference genome assembly, we identified point variations. Analysis of linkage disequilibrium and 4‐gametes test showed no evidence for recombination, corroborating the clonal reproduction of M. incognita. The few point variations between the isolates showed no significant association with the host races, the geographical origin of the samples, or the crop on which they have been collected. Addition of isolates from other locations around the world confirmed this lack of underlying phylogenetic signal. This suggests multiple gains and losses of parasitic abilities and adaptations to different environments account for the broad host spectrum and wide geographical distribution of M. incognita and thus to its high economic impact. This surprising adaptability without sex poses both evolutionary and agro‐economic challenges.
Population‐level inferences from environmental DNA—Current status and future perspectives
Authors: Sigsgaard Eva Egelyng , Jensen Mads Reinholdt , Winkelmann Inger Eleanor , Møller Peter Rask , Hansen Michael Møller , Thomsen Philip Francis
Published: October 2019

Environmental DNA (eDNA) extracted from water samples has recently shown potential as a valuable source of population genetic information for aquatic macroorganisms. This approach offers several potential advantages compared with conventional tissue‐based methods, including the fact that eDNA sampling is noninvasive and generally more cost‐efficient. Currently, eDNA approaches have been limited to single‐marker studies of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), and the relationship between eDNA haplotype composition and true haplotype composition still needs to be thoroughly verified. This will require testing of bioinformatic and statistical software to correct for erroneous sequences, as well as biases and random variation in relative sequence abundances. However, eDNA‐based population genetic methods have far‐reaching potential for both basic and applied research. In this paper, we present a brief overview of the achievements of eDNA‐based population genetics to date, and outline the prospects for future developments in the field, including the estimation of nuclear DNA (nuDNA) variation and epigenetic information. We discuss the challenges associated with eDNA samples as opposed to those of individual tissue samples and assess whether eDNA might offer additional types of information unobtainable with tissue samples. Lastly, we provide recommendations for determining whether an eDNA approach would be a useful and suitable choice in different research settings. We limit our discussion largely to contemporary aquatic systems, but the advantages, challenges, and perspectives can to a large degree be generalized to eDNA studies with a different spatial and temporal focus.
Optimizing genomic selection for blight resistance in American chestnut backcross populations: A trade‐off with American chestnut ancestry implies resistance is polygenic
Authors: Westbrook Jared W. , Zhang Qian , Mandal Mihir K. , Jenkins Eric V. , Barth Laura E. , Jenkins Jerry W. , Grimwood Jane , Schmutz Jeremy , Holliday Jason A.
Published: October 2019

American chestnut was once a foundation species of eastern North American forests, but was rendered functionally extinct in the early 20th century by an exotic fungal blight (Cryphonectria parasitica). Over the past 30 years, the American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) has pursued backcross breeding to generate hybrids that combine the timber‐type form of American chestnut with the blight resistance of Chinese chestnut based on a hypothesis of major gene resistance. To accelerate selection within two backcross populations that descended from two Chinese chestnuts, we developed genomic prediction models for five presence/absence blight phenotypes of 1,230 BC3F2selection candidates and average canker severity of their BC3F3progeny. We also genotyped pure Chinese and American chestnut reference panels to estimate the proportion of BC3F2genomes inherited from parent species. We found that genomic prediction from a method that assumes an infinitesimal model of inheritance (HBLUP) has similar accuracy to a method that tends to perform well for traits controlled by major genes (Bayes C). Furthermore, the proportion of BC3F2trees' genomes inherited from American chestnut was negatively correlated with the blight resistance of these trees and their progeny. On average, selected BC3F2trees inherited 83% of their genome from American chestnut and have blight resistance that is intermediate between F1hybrids and American chestnut. Results suggest polygenic inheritance of blight resistance. The blight resistance of restoration populations will be enhanced through recurrent selection, by advancing additional sources of resistance through fewer backcross generations, and by potentially by breeding with transgenic blight‐tolerant trees.
The fine‐scale genetic structure and selection signals of Chinese indigenous pigs
Authors: Huang Min , Yang Bin , Chen Hao , Zhang Hui , Wu Zhongping , Ai Huashui , Ren Jun , Huang Lusheng
Published: October 2019

Genome‐wide SNP profiling has yielded insights into the genetic structure of China indigenous pigs, but has focused on a limited number of populations. Here, we present an analysis of population structure and signals of positive selection in 42 Chinese pig populations that represent the most extensive pig phenotypic diversity in China, using genotype data of 1.1 million SNPs on customized Beadchips. This unravels the fine‐scale genetic diversity, phylogenic relationships, and population structure of these populations, which shows remarkably concordance between genetic clusters and geography with few exceptions. We also reveal the genetic contribution to North Chinese pigs from European modern pigs. Furthermore, we identify possible targets of selection in the Tibetan pig, including the well‐characterized hypoxia gene (EPAS1) and several previously unrecognized candidates. Intriguingly, the selected haplotype in the EPAS1 gene is associated with higher hemoglobin contents in Tibetan pigs, which is different from the protective role of EPAS1 in the high‐altitude adaptation in Tibetan dogs and their owners. Additionally, we present evidence for the causality between EDNRB variants and the two‐end‐black (TEB) coat color phenotype in all Chinese pig populations except the Jinhua pig. We hypothesize that distinct targets have been independently selected for the formation of the TEB phenotype in Chinese pigs of different geographic origins. This highlights the importance of characterizing population‐specific genetic determinants for heritable phenotype in diverse pig populations.
Heterochromatic hues of transcription—the diverse roles of noncoding transcripts from constitutive heterochromatin
Authors: Saha Parna , Mishra Rakesh K.
Published: October 2019

Constitutive heterochromatin has been canonically considered as transcriptionally inert chromosomal regions, which silences the repeats and transposable elements (TEs), to preserve genomic integrity. However, several studies from the last few decades show that centromeric and pericentromeric regions also get transcribed and these transcripts are involved in multiple cellular processes. Regulation of such spatially and temporally controlled transcription and their relevance to heterochromatin function have emerged as an active area of research in chromatin biology. Here, we review the myriad of roles of noncoding transcripts from the constitutive heterochromatin in the establishment and maintenance of heterochromatin, kinetochore assembly, germline epigenome maintenance, early development, and diseases. Contrary to general expectations, there are active protein‐coding genes in the heterochromatin although the regulatory mechanisms of their expression are largely unknown. We propose plausible hypotheses to explain heterochromatic gene expression using Drosophila melanogaster as a model, and discuss the evolutionary significance of these transcripts in the context of Drosophilid speciation. Such analyses offer insights into the regulatory pathways and functions of heterochromatic transcripts which open new avenues for further investigation.
Carbon for nutrient exchange between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and wheat varies according to cultivar and changes in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration
Authors: Thirkell Tom J. , Pastok Daria , Field Katie J.
Published: October 2019

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form symbioses with most crops, potentially improving their nutrient assimilation and growth. The effects of cultivar and atmospheric CO2 concentration ([CO2]) on wheat–AMF carbon‐for‐nutrient exchange remain critical knowledge gaps in the exploitation of AMF for future sustainable agricultural practices within the context of global climate change. We used stable and radioisotope tracers (15N, 33P, 14C) to quantify AMF‐mediated nutrient uptake and fungal acquisition of plant carbon in three wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars. We grew plants under current ambient (440 ppm) and projected future atmospheric CO2 concentrations (800 ppm). We found significant 15N transfer from fungus to plant in all cultivars, and cultivar‐specific differences in total N content. There was a trend for reduced N uptake under elevated atmospheric [CO2]. Similarly, 33P uptake via AMF was affected by cultivar and atmospheric [CO2]. Total P uptake varied significantly among wheat cultivars and was greater at the future than current atmospheric [CO2]. We found limited evidence of cultivar or atmospheric [CO2] effects on plant‐fixed carbon transfer to the mycorrhizal fungi. Our results suggest that AMF will continue to provide a route for nutrient uptake by wheat in the future, despite predicted rises in atmospheric [CO2]. Consideration should therefore be paid to cultivar‐specific AMF receptivity and function in the development of climate smart germplasm for the future.
Spatial modeling of techno‐economic potential of biojet fuel production in Brazil
Authors: Cervi Walter Rossi , Lamparelli Rubens Augusto Camargo , Seabra Joaquim Eugênio Abel , Junginger Martin , de Jong Sierk , van der Hilst Floor
Published: October 2019

It is expected that Brazil could play an important role in biojet fuel (BJF) production in the future due to the long experience in biofuel production and the good agro‐ecological conditions. However, it is difficult to quantify the techno‐economic potential of BJF because of the high spatiotemporal variability of available land, biomass yield, and infrastructure as well as the technological developments in BJF production pathways. The objective of this research is to assess the recent and future techno‐economic potential of BJF production in Brazil and to identify location‐specific optimal combinations of biomass crops and technological conversion pathways. In total, 13 production routes (supply chains) are assessed through the combination of various biomass crops and BJF technologies. We consider temporal land use data to identify potential land availability for biomass production. With the spatial distribution of the land availability and potential yield of biomass crops, biomass production potential and costs are calculated. The BJF production cost is calculated by taking into account the development in the technological pathways and in plant scales. We estimate the techno‐economic potential by determining the minimum BJF total costs and comparing this with the range of fossil jet fuel prices. The techno‐economic potential of BJF production ranges from 0 to 6.4 EJ in 2015 and between 1.2 and 7.8 EJ in 2030, depending on the reference fossil jet fuel price, which varies from 19 to 65 US$/GJ across the airports. The techno‐economic potential consists of a diverse set of production routes. The Northeast and Southeast region of Brazil present the highest potentials with several viable production routes, whereas the remaining regions only have a few promising production routes. The maximum techno‐economic potential of BJF in Brazil could meet almost half of the projected global jet fuel demand toward 2030.
Soft tissue angiomatosis: another PIK3CA‐related disorder
Authors: Boccara Olivia , Galmiche‐Rolland Louise , Dadone‐Montaudié Bérengère , Ariche‐Maman Sonia , Coulet Florence , Eyries Mélanie , Pannier Stéphanie , Soupre Véronique , Molina Thierry , Pedeutour Florence , Fraitag Sylvie
Published: October 2019

Aim

Angiomatosis of soft tissue (AST) is a rare, high‐flow, intramuscular vascular anomaly. In the context of PTEN hamartoma tumour syndrome (PHTS), this AST is referred to as PTEN hamartoma of soft tissue. Given that AST is observed in patients with no history of PHTS, we hypothesised that non‐syndromic AST arises as a consequence of a somatic mutation.

Methods and results

Thirteen patients with histologically confirmed AST were retrospectively studied. Details of the patients’ personal and family medical histories and symptoms were retrieved from their medical records. The histological analyses were reviewed and a tissue sample was used for genetic testing. Somatic mutations in the PIK3CA gene (p.Glu542Lys; p.Glu545Lys; p.His1047Arg) were identified in the tissue samples from seven patients, all of whom had unremarkable medical histories and had presented with a single lesion located in the lower limb. Five pathogenic variations in the PTEN gene (mutations: p.Lys263Arg; c.1026+2T>A; p.Ala126Thr; p.Leu108Arg; deletion, log ratio −0.55) were identified in the lesions of four patients; two of the latter had multifocal lesions. All four patients displayed macrocephaly, three boys presented with penile freckles, but none had a family history of PHTS. There were no histological differences between the PIK3CA and PTEN groups.

Conclusions

AST can be related to either PTEN or PIK3CA mutations and may be multifocal in PHTS. AST appears to be a manifestation of PHTS that occurs in early childhood. The patient's medical history and clinical presentation should prompt the physician to perform specific genetic testing.
Application of guidelines for the management of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in three prospective cohorts of HIV‐monoinfected patients
Authors: Sebastiani G , Cocciolillo S , Mazzola G , Malagoli A , Falutz J , Cervo A , Petta S , Pembroke T , Ghali P , Besutti G , Franconi I , Milic J , Cascio A , Guaraldi G
Published: October 2019

Objectives

Current guidelines recommend use of a diagnostic algorithm to assess disease severity in cases of suspected nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We applied this algorithm to HIV‐monoinfected patients.

Methods

We analysed three prospective screening programmes for NAFLD carried out in the following cohorts: the Liver Disease in HIV (LIVEHIV) cohort in Montreal, the Modena HIV Metabolic Clinic (MHMC) cohort and the Liver Pathologies in HIV in Palermo (LHivPa) cohort. In the LIVEHIV and LHivPa cohorts, NAFLD was diagnosed if the controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) was ≥ 248 dB/m; in the MHMC cohort, it was diagnosed if the liver/spleen Hounsfield unit (HU) ratio on abdominal computerized tomography scan was < 1.1. Medium/high‐risk fibrosis category was defined as fibrosis‐4 (FIB‐4) ≥ 1.30. Patients requiring specialist referral to hepatology were defined as either having NAFLD and being in the medium/high‐risk fibrosis category or having elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT).

Results

A total of 1534 HIV‐infected adults without significant alcohol intake or viral hepatitis coinfection were included in the study. Of these, 313 (20.4%) patients had the metabolic comorbidities (obesity and/or diabetes) required for entry in the diagnostic algorithm. Among these patients, 123 (39.3%) required specialist referral to hepatology, according to guidelines. A total of 1062 patients with extended metabolic comorbidities (any among obesity, diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidaemia) represented most of the cases of NAFLD (79%), elevated ALT (75.9%) and medium/high‐risk fibrosis category (75.4%). When the algorithm was extended to these patients, it was found that 341 (32.1%) would require specialist referral to hepatology.

Conclusions

According to current guidelines, one in five HIV‐monoinfected patients should undergo detailed assessment for NAFLD and disease severity. Moreover, one in ten should be referred to hepatology. Expansion of the algorithm to patients with any metabolic comorbidities may be considered.
Emerging adults' financial capability: A financial socialization perspective
Authors: Marchant Caroline , Harrison Tina
Published: October 2019

This exploratory qualitative research uses the United Kingdom as a case study to understand how past and present financial socialization agents have either enhanced or inhibited emerging adults' financial capability in order to highlight potential opportunities for future policy and practice interventions. Three primary socialization agents were identified. The family as trusted primary advisor continues well into adulthood, even where family financial capability may be low. Beyond this, emerging adults only reluctantly engage with their bank, rely on just‐in‐time experiential learning or self‐socialize via diving, often with false confidence, into the internet. Although there are many quantitative studies on financial socialization, this paper fills a gap by taking a deeply qualitative approach showing, for the first time, empirically highlighting the limited number of financial socialization agents through the voices of emerging adults. The findings contradict previous socialization research that suggests parental socialization reduces into adulthood.
Immune responses in the human female reproductive tract
Authors: Monin Leticia , Whettlock Emily M. , Male Victoria
Published: October 2019

Mucosal surfaces are key interfaces between the host and its environment, but also constitute ports of entry for numerous pathogens. The gut and lung mucosae act as points of nutrient and gas exchange, respectively, but the physiological purpose of the female reproductive tract (FRT) is to allow implantation and development of the fetus. Our understanding of immune responses in the FRT has traditionally lagged behind our grasp of the situation at other mucosal sites, but recently reproductive immunologists have begun to make rapid progress in this challenging area. Here, we review current knowledge of immune responses in the human FRT and their heterogeneity within and between compartments. In the commensal‐rich vagina, the immune system must allow the growth of beneficial microbes, whereas the key challenge in the uterus is allowing the growth of the semi‐allogeneic fetus. In both compartments, these objectives must be balanced with the need to eliminate pathogens. Our developing understanding of immune responses in the FRT will help us develop interventions to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases and to improve outcomes of pregnancy for mothers and babies.
‘I know what I need to recover’: Patients’ experiences and perceptions of forensic psychiatric inpatient care
Authors: Marklund Lisa , Wahlroos Terese , Looi Git‐Marie Ejneborn , Gabrielsson Sebastian
Published: October 2019

Patients find forensic psychiatric care inadequate in that they are not treated as individuals and not involved in their own care. The purpose of this study was to describe patients’ experiences and perceptions of forensic psychiatric inpatient care. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 11 inpatients. A qualitative content analysis resulted in a recurring theme, ‘I know what I need to recover’, and three main categories: ‘A need for meaning in a meagre existence’, ‘A need to be a person in an impersonal context’, and ‘A need for empowerment in a restricted life’. Participants experienced and perceived forensic care as predominantly monotonous, predetermined, and not adapted to them as individuals, forcing them to fight and adapt to get through it and not lose themselves. Perceived needs were largely ignored or opposed by staff due to the content and structure of care. Findings suggest a need for reflective practices and patient involvement in order to develop and maintain a person‐centred and recovery‐oriented nursing practice. The study adds to previous research showing the importance of patients in forensic psychiatric inpatient care being listened to and involved in their care. The study is reported in accordance with the COREQ guidelines.