bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Predation risk, market power and cash policy
Authors: Mitani Hidetaka 
Published: May 2020

PurposeThe purpose of the present study is to discuss the combined effect of predation risk and firms' market power on cash holdings.Design/methodology/approachThe authors tested hypotheses by using consolidated financial data in Japanese firms.FindingsThe authors find that firms' cash holdings increase with a rise in predation risk faced by firms. However, the higher the firm's market power, the weaker the above interplay becomes. Moreover, the authors find that even when firms' investments are decreased at the industry level, firms with larger cash holdings seek to mitigate predation risk by funding strategic investments with the potential to steal rivals' market share.Originality/valueThe authors recognize the importance of a firm's market power. Take a firm's market power into consideration to analyze the mechanism of a firm's cash holdings, there is a possibility that the mechanism of a firm's cash holdings as presented by the previous studies will be changed.
Does social thermal regulation constrain individual thermal tolerance in an ant species?
Authors: Villalta Irene , Oms Cristela Sánchez , Angulo Elena , Molinas‐González Carlos R. , Devers Séverine , Cerdá Xim , Boulay Raphaël 
Published: May 2020

Abstract

In ants, social thermal regulation is the collective maintenance of a nest temperature that is optimal for individual colony members. In the thermophilic ant Aphaenogaster iberica, two key behaviours regulate nest temperature: seasonal nest relocation and variable nest depth. Outside the nest, foragers must adapt their activity to avoid temperatures that exceed their thermal limits.

It has been suggested that social thermal regulation constrains physiological and morphological thermal adaptations at the individual level. We tested this hypothesis by examining the foraging rhythms of six populations of A. iberica, which were found at different elevations (from 100 to 2,000 m) in the Sierra Nevada mountain range of southern Spain. We tested the thermal resistance of individuals from these populations under controlled conditions.

Janzen's climatic variability hypothesis (CVH) states that greater climatic variability should select for organisms with broader temperature tolerances. We found that the A. iberica population at 1,300 m experienced the most extreme temperatures and that ants from this population had the highest heat tolerance (LT50 = 57.55°C). These results support CVH's validity at microclimatic scales, such as the one represented by the elevational gradient in this study.

Aphaenogaster iberica maintains colony food intake levels across different elevations and mean daily temperatures by shifting its rhythm of activity.

This efficient colony‐level thermal regulation and the significant differences in individual heat tolerance that we observed among the populations suggest that behaviourally controlled thermal regulation does not constrain individual physiological adaptations for coping with extreme temperatures.
Drought legacies are short, prevail in dry conifer forests and depend on growth variability
Authors: Gazol Antonio , Camarero Jesús Julio , Sánchez‐Salguero Raul , Vicente‐Serrano Sergio M. , Serra‐Maluquer Xavier , Gutiérrez Emilia , de Luis Martín , Sangüesa‐Barreda Gabriel , Novak Klemen , Rozas Vicente , Tíscar Pedro A. , Linares Juan C. , Martínez del Castillo Edurne , Ribas Montse , García‐González Ignacio , Silla Fernando , Camisón Álvaro , Génova Mar , Olano José M. , Hereş Ana‐Maria , Curiel Yuste Jorge , Longares Luis A. , Hevia Andrea , Tomas‐Burguera Miquel , Galván Juan Diego 
Published: May 2020

Abstract

The negative impacts of drought on forest growth and productivity last for several years generating legacies, although the factors that determine why such legacies vary across sites and tree species remain unclear.

We used an extensive network of tree‐ring width (RWI, ring‐width index) records of 16 tree species from 567 forests, and high‐resolution climate and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) datasets across Spain during the common period 1982‒2008 to test the hypothesis that climate conditions and growth features modulate legacy effects of drought on forests. Legacy effects of drought were calculated as the differences between detrended‐only RWI and NDVI series (i.e. after removing long‐term growth trends) and pre‐whitened RWI and NDVI series predicted by a model including drought intensity. Superposed Epoch Analysis (SEA) was used to estimate whether legacy effects differed from random. Finally, legacy effects were related to water balance, growth persistence and variability, and tree species identity.

We found a widespread occurrence of drought legacy effects on both RWI and NDVI, but they were seldom significant. According to SEA, first‐year drought legacies were negative and different from random in 9% and 5% of the RWI and NDVI series respectively. The number of significant second‐ and third‐year legacies was substantially lower. Differences between RWI and NDVI legacies indicate that canopy greenness and radial growth responses to drought are decoupled. We found variations in legacies between tree species with gymnosperms presenting larger first‐year drought legacies than angiosperms, which were exposed to less severe droughts. Greater growth variability can explain the presence of first‐year RWI legacies in gymnosperms from dry sites despite that the relationship between growth variability and legacies was complex.

Synthesis. Accounting for species and site responses to drought provides a better understanding of the magnitude and duration of drought legacies on forest growth and productivity. Despite the widespread occurrence of growth reductions in the years during and after drought occurrence, significant legacies were not very common, mostly lasted one year, and were more widespread in gymnosperms. These are relevant factors to be considered in the future when studying the consequences of drought on forest productivity and tree growth.
Dynamic interplay between contractual and relational governance: An empirical study in Australian healthcare outsourcing
Authors: Young Suzanne , Nguyen Phuc , Macinati Manuela S. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractThe introduction of New Public Management (NPM)‐inspired reforms in the public sector in the 1990s saw a big leap in public–private outsourcing partnerships in public service delivery; however, many of these have failed, resulting in backsourcing. Although effective governance of the ongoing relationship between outsourcing partners is arguably key to a successful partnership, the findings as to the optimal type of relationship between two main governance mechanisms – contractual and relational – remain inconclusive. Adopting Huber et al.’s dynamic perspective of governance mechanism interplay as a research framework, this paper empirically investigates the interplay in two problematic outsourcing public–private partnerships, that is the delivery of services has been backsourced or considered to be backsourced. Our data confirm the existence of a dynamic interplay between contractual and relational governance. The findings, however, do not represent a perfect fit with Huber et al.’s conceptualizations, signalling the significance of our research as to a more diverse and complicated group of interactions. Our analysis also reveals the potential interference of additional contextual factors in the interplay. Further research that explores and tests these contextual factors is warranted.
Advances in exogenous docosahexaenoic acid‐containing phospholipids: Sources, positional isomerism, biological activities, and advantages
Authors: Zhang Yao , Wu Gangcheng , Zhang Yanjie , Wang Xingguo , Jin Qingzhe , Zhang Hui 
Published: May 2020

AbstractIn recent years, docosahexaenoic acid‐containing phospholipids (DHA‐PLs) have attracted much attention because of theirs unique health benefits. Compared with other forms of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), DHA‐PLs possess superior biological effects (e.g., anticancer, lipid metabolism regulation, visual development, and brain and nervous system biochemical reactions), more intricate metabolism mechanisms, and a stronger attraction to consumer. The production of DHA‐PLs is hampered by several challenges associated with the limited content of DHA‐PLs in natural sources, incomplete utilization of by‐products, few microorganisms for DHA‐PLs production, high cost, and complex process of artificial preparation of DHA‐PLs. In this article, the sources, biological activities, and commercial applications of DHA‐PLs were summarized, with intensive discussions on advantages of DHA‐PLs over DHA, isomerism of DHA in phospholipids (PLs), and brain health. The excellent biological characteristics of DHA‐PLs are primarily concerned with DHA and PLs. The metabolic fate of different DHA‐PLs varies from the position of DHA in PLs to polar groups in DHA‐PLs. Overall, well understanding of DHA‐PLs about their sources and characteristics is critical to accelerate the production of DHA‐PLs, economically enhance the value of DHA‐PLs, and improve the applicability of DHA‐PLs and the acceptance of consumers.
Modulation of the human gut microbiota by phenolics and phenolic fiber‐rich foods
Authors: Loo Yit Tao , Howell Kate , Chan Miin , Zhang Pangzhen , Ng Ken 
Published: May 2020

AbstractThe gut microbiota plays a prominent role in human health. Alterations in the gut microbiota are linked to the development of chronic diseases such as obesity, inflammatory bowel disease, metabolic syndrome, and certain cancers. We know that diet plays an important role to initiate, shape, and modulate the gut microbiota. Long‐term dietary patterns are shown to be closely related with the gut microbiota enterotypes, specifically long‐term consumption of carbohydrates (related to Prevotella abundance) or a diet rich in protein and animal fats (correlated to Bacteroides). Short‐term consumption of solely animal‐ or plant‐based diets have rapid and reproducible modulatory effects on the human gut microbiota. These alterations in microbiota profile by dietary alterations can be due to impact of different dietary macronutrients, carbohydrates, protein, and fat, which have diverse modulatory effects on gut microbial composition. Food‐derived phenolics, which encompass structural variants of flavonoids, hydroxybenzoic acids, hydroxycinnamic acids, coumarins, stilbenes, ellagitannins, and lignans can modify the gut microbiota. Gut microbes have been shown to act on dietary fibers and phenolics to produce functional metabolites that contribute to gut health. Here, we discuss recent studies on the impacts of phenolics and phenolic fiber‐rich foods on the human gut microbiota and provide an insight into potential synergistic roles between their bacterial metabolic products in the regulation of the intestinal microbiota.
Microbial quality and safety of milk and milk products in the 21st century
Authors: Fusco Vincenzina , Chieffi Daniele , Fanelli Francesca , Logrieco Antonio F. , Cho Gyu‐Sung , Kabisch Jan , Böhnlein Christina , Franz Charles M. A. P. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractMilk and milk products have been utilized by humans for many thousands of years. With the advent of metagenomic studies, our knowledge on the microbiota of milk and milk products, especially as affected by the environment, production, and storage parameters, has increased. Milk quality depends on chemical parameters (fat and protein content and absence of inhibitory substances), as well as microbial and somatic cells counts, and affects the price of milk. The effects of hygiene and effective cooling on the spoilage microbiota have shown that proteolytic and lipolytic bacteria such as Pseudomonas or Acinetobacter spp. predominate the spoilage bacterial populations. These bacteria can produce heat‐stable proteases and lipases, which remain active after pasteurization and thus can spoil the milk during prolonged storage. Additionally, milk can become contaminated after pasteurization and therefore there is still a high demand on developing better cleaning and sanitation regimes and equipment, as well as test systems to (quantitatively) detect relevant pathogenic or spoilage microorganisms. Raw milk and raw milk cheese consumption is also increasing worldwide with the growing demand of minimally processed, sustainable, healthy, and local foods. In this context, emerging and re‐emerging pathogens once again represent a major food safety challenge. As a result of global warming, it is conceivable that not only microbiological risks but also chemical risks relating to presence of mycotoxins or plant toxins in milk will increase. Herein, we provide an overview of the major microbial hazards occurring in the 21st century.
Fearful futures and haunting histories in women's desistance from crime: A longitudinal study of desistance as an uncanny process*
Authors: Fredriksson Tea , Gålnander Robin 
Published: May 2020

AbstractAlthough desistance is increasingly recognized as a series of complex processes by which individuals transform from offenders into nonoffenders, few desistance scholars have studied this process in depth. In recent years, however, some have begun to explore how desistance is a process rife with setbacks and struggles. Through an analysis of repeated in‐depth interviews with ten desisting women, in this study, we have found such struggles to be unsettling and outright frightening. Examples of this were prevalent throughout the women's narratives. The results of our analysis show how frightening aspects of desistance processes stem from making an unfamiliar, normative lifestyle familiar, while unfamiliarizing oneself with a familiar, deviant lifestyle. As such, desistance processes can be conceptualized as uncanny, that is, as pertaining to the frightening and uncertain. Although uncanniness is not a theoretical framework one tends to find in desistance research, it has the potential to develop the understanding of the struggles, fears, and anxieties of desistance processes. Through our analysis, we engage with how uncanniness can nuance established concepts in desistance research. Implications for theory as well as for criminal justice practice are discussed.
Effect of mating period and time‐of‐day for bloodmeal on rearing of Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) in laboratory conditions
Authors: Kim Domin , Kim Donghun 
Published: May 2020

AbstractColonization and maintenance of mosquitoes in the laboratory is required to study physiology, ecology, and behavior of mosquitoes and interactions between mosquito and pathogens. Artificial blood feeding systems have been widely used to maintain the laboratory colony of Aedes albopictus. In this study, we investigated the effects of mating period (1, 3, 6, and 10 days) and time‐of‐day for bloodmeal (08:00, 13:00, and 18:00) in the use of an artificial feeding system on blood‐feeding rate, female fecundity, egg hatching rate, and developmental time of the Asian tiger mosquito, A. albopictus. Younger females mated for three or fewer days reproduced more eggs compared to those of oldest females mated for ten days. Similar to the result for eggs laid, the mean egg‐hatching rate was significantly higher from the offspring of younger females than from those of older females. However, mating period and time‐of‐day for bloodmeal had no effect on the blood feeding rate and developmental time. Taken together, we suggest that three‐day mating with bloodmeal at 18:00 is optimal for maintaining colonies of A. albopictus in laboratory conditions.
Circ‐RNF111 contributes to paclitaxel resistance in breast cancer by elevating E2F3 expression via miR‐140‐5p
Authors: Zang Hongliang , Li Yuhui , Zhang Xue , Huang Guomin 
Published: May 2020

BackgroundCircular RNAs (circRNAs) have been demonstrated to act as key regulators in the chemoresistance of human cancers, including breast cancer (BC). Here, we aimed to explore the role of circ‐RNF111 in paclitaxel (PTX) resistance of BC.MethodsQuantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) was employed to determine the expression of circ‐RNF111, microRNA‐140‐5p (miR‐140‐5p) and E2F transcription factor 3 (E2F3) mRNA. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of PTX, cell viability, colony formation and cell invasion were assessed by cell counting kit‐8 (CCK‐8) assay, colony formation assay and transwell assay, respectively. Glucose consumption and lactate production were determined by specific kits. A murine xenograft model was established to investigate the role of circ‐RNF111 in PTX resistance of BC in vivo. Dual‐luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay were performed to verify the relationship between miR‐140‐5p and circ‐RNF111 or E2F3. Western blot assay was conducted to examine the protein level of E2F3.ResultsCirc‐RNF111 was upregulated in PTX‐resistant BC tissues and cells. Circ‐RNF111 knockdown restrained IC50 of PTX, cell viability, colony numbers, cell invasion and glycolysis in PTX‐resistant BC cells in vitro and enhanced PTX sensitivity in vivo. MiR‐140‐5p was a target of circ‐RNF111 and miR‐140‐5p expression was negatively correlated with circ‐RNF111 expression in BC tissues. The effect of circ‐RNF111 knockdown on PTX resistance was rescued by miR‐140‐5p deletion. Additionally, miR‐140‐5p could interact with E2F3 and negatively regulate E2F3 expression. Moreover, miR‐140‐5p suppressed IC50 of PTX, cell viability, colony numbers, cell invasion and glycolysis by targeting E2F3.ConclusionsCirc‐RNF111 improved PTX resistance of BC by upregulating E2F3 via sponging miR‐140‐5p.
Mobile Smartphone Technology Is Associated With Out‐of‐hospital Cardiac Arrest Survival Improvement: The First Year “Greater Paris Fire Brigade” Experience
Authors: Derkenne Clément , Jost Daniel , Roquet Florian , Dardel Paul , Kedzierewicz Romain , Mignon Alexandre , Travers Stéphane , Frattini Benoit , Prieux Laurent , Rozenberg Emmanuel , Demaison Xavier , Gaudet John , de Charry Félicité , Stibbe Olivier , Briche Frédérique , Lemoine Frédéric , Lesaffre Xavier , Maurin Olga , Gauyat Eric , Faraon Eric , Lemoine Sabine , Prunet Bertrand 
Published: May 2020

AbstractBackgroundOut‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) remains associated with very high mortality. Accelerating the initiation of efficient cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is widely perceived as key to improving outcomes. The main goal was to determine whether identification and activation of nearby first responders through a smartphone application named Staying Alive (SA) can improve survival following OHCA in a large urban area (Paris).MethodsWe conducted a nonrandomized cohort study of all adults with OHCA managed by the Greater Paris Fire Brigade during 2018, irrespective of mobile application usage. We compared survival data in cases where SA did or did not lead to the activation of nearby first responders. During dispatch, calls for OHCA were managed with or without SA. The intervention group included all cases where nearby first responders were successfully identified by SA and actively contributed to CPR. The control group included all other cases. We compared survival at hospital discharge between the intervention and control groups. We analyzed patient data, CPR metrics, and first responders' characteristics.ResultsApproximately 4,107 OHCA cases were recorded in 2018. Among those, 320 patients were in the control group, whereas 46 patients, in the intervention group, received first responder–initiated CPR. After adjustment for confounders, survival at hospital discharge was significantly improved for patients in the intervention group (35% vs. 16%, adjusted odds ratio = 5.9, 95% confidence interval = 2.1 to 16.5, p < 0.001). All CPR metrics were improved in the intervention group.ConclusionsWe report that mobile smartphone technology was associated with OHCA survival through accelerated initiation of efficient CPR by first responders in a large urban area.
IgM and IgA in addition to IgG autoantibodies against FcɛRIα are frequent and associated with disease markers of chronic spontaneous urticaria
Authors: Altrichter Sabine , Zampeli Vasiliki , Ellrich André , Zhang Ke , Church Martin K , Maurer Marcus 
Published: May 2020

ABSTRACTBackgroundIgG autoantibodies against the high‐affinity IgE receptor, FcɛRIα, contribute the pathogenesis of autoimmune chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). However, it is not known whether such patients also exhibit IgM or IgA autoantibodies against FcɛRIα. To address this question we developed an ELISA to assess serum levels of IgG, IgM, and IgA autoantibodies against FcɛRIα and investigated whether their presence is linked to clinical features of CSU including the response to autologous serum skin testing (ASST).MethodsSerum samples of 35 CSU patients (25 ASST‐positive) and 52 healthy control individuals were analyzed using a newly developed competitive ELISA for IgG, IgM, and IgA autoantibodies to FcɛRIα.ResultsOne in four CSU patients (8/35, 24%) had elevated serum levels of IgG‐anti‐FcɛRIα compared with (3/52, 6%) healthy controls. More than half of patients had IgM (21/35, 60%) and IgA (20/35, 57%) vs (3/52, 5%) each in healthy controls. Elevated IgM, but not IgG or IgA, autoantibodies were significantly more frequent in ASST‐positive CSU patients (18/25, 72%) compared with ASSTnegative patients (3/10, 33%, P = .022). Also, elevated levels of IgM‐anti‐FcɛRIα, but not of IgG or IgA against FcɛRIα, were linked to low blood basophil (r = .414, P = .021) and eosinophil (r = .623, P < .001) counts.ConclusionsIncreased serum levels of IgM‐anti‐FcɛRIα are common in patients with CSU and linked to features of autoimmune CSU. The role and relevance of autoantibodies to FcɛRIα in CSU can and should be further characterized in future studies, and our novel assay can help with this.
Mast cells and complement system: Ancient interactions between components of innate immunity
Authors: Elieh Ali Komi Daniel , Shafaghat Farzaneh , Kovanen Petri T. , Meri Seppo 
Published: May 2020

AbstractThe emergence and evolution of the complement system and mast cells (MCs) can be traced back to sea urchins and the ascidian Styela plicata, respectively. Acting as a cascade of enzymatic reactions, complement is activated through the classical (CP), the alternative (AP), and the lectin pathway (LP) based on the recognized molecules. The system's main biological functions include lysis, opsonization, and recruitment of phagocytes. MCs, beyond their classic role as master cells of allergic reactions, play a role in other settings, as well. Thus, MCs are considered as extrahepatic producers of complement proteins. They express various complement receptors, including those for C3a and C5a. C3a and C5a not only activate the C3aR and C5aR expressing MCs but also act as chemoattractants for MCs derived from different anatomic sites, such as from the bone marrow, human umbilical cord blood, or skin in vitro. Cross talk between MCs and complement is facilitated by the production of complement proteins by MCs and their activation by the MC tryptase. The coordinated activity between MCs and the complement system plays a key role, for example, in a number of allergic, cutaneous, and vascular diseases. At a molecular level, MCs and complement system interactions are based on the production of several complement zymogens by MCs and their activation by MC‐released proteases. Additionally, at a cellular level, MCs act as potent effector cells of complement activation by expressing receptors for C3a and C5a through which their chemoattraction and activation are mediated by anaphylatoxins in a paracrine and autocrine fashion.