bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Influence of soil structure on the spread of Pseudomonas fluorescens in soil at microscale
Authors: Juyal Archana , Otten Wilfred , Baveye Philippe C. , Eickhorst Thilo 
Published: April 2020

AbstractFor over a half a century, researchers have been aware of the fact that the physical and chemical characteristics of microenvironments in soils strongly influence the activity, growth and metabolism of microorganisms. However, many aspects of the effect of soil physical characteristics, such as the pore geometry, remain poorly understood. Therefore, the objective of the present research was to determine the influence of soil pore characteristics on the spread of bacteria, observed at the scale relevant to microbes. Pseudomonas fluorescens was introduced in columns filled with 1–2 mm soil aggregates, packed at different bulk densities. Soil microcosms were scanned at 10.87 μm voxel resolution using X‐ray computed tomography (CT) to characterize the geometry of pores. Thin sections were prepared to determine the spread and colonization of bacteria. The results showed that average bacterial cell density was 174 cells mm−2 in soil with bulk density of 1.3 g cm−3 and 99 cells mm−2 in soil with bulk density of 1.5 g cm−3. Soil porosity and solid‐pore interfaces influence the spread of bacteria and their colonization of the pore space at lower bulk density, resulting in relatively higher bacterial densities in larger pore spaces. The study also demonstrates that thin sectioning of resin‐impregnated soil samples can be combined with X‐ray CT to visualize bacterial colonization of a 3D pore volume. This research therefore represents a significant step towards understanding how environmental change and soil management impact bacterial diversity in soils.Highlights
We used a quantitative approach to study bacterial spread in soil at scales relevant to microbes.
The rate of pseudomonas spread decreased with increased bulk density of soil.
Soil porosity and soil‐pore interface influence Pseudomonas in lower bulk density soil.
Soil structure with different pore characteristics effects spread and activity of bacteria in soil.
The phosphate desorption rate in soil limits phosphorus bioavailability to crops
Authors: Smolders Erik , Nawara Sophie , De Cooman Evelien , Merckx Roel , Martens Stijn , Elsen Annemie , Odeurs Wendy , Vandendriessche Hilde , Santner Jakob , Amery Fien 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThis study was set up to identify the role of the phosphorus (P) desorption rate in P diffusion and in P bioavailability in soil. The P desorption kinetics were measured with a zero‐sink method in soil suspensions (0–77 days) for a set of soils that either had or had not been mined for P in a glasshouse study. The desorption kinetics was fitted by a serial two‐pool model, discriminating a fast desorbing P pool (Q1) with desorption half‐lives of 3–8 days, and a slowly desorbing P pool (Q2), which replenishes the fast P pool with 100‐fold larger half‐lives than the fast pool. Phosphate desorption was smaller and slower after soil P mining compared to that in the original soil samples and mining reduced the Q1/Q2 ratio. This kinetic model was embedded in a 1D planar diffusion model predicting that the diffusive flux of P to a zero sink in 5 days varies by a factor of 1.4 among the observed Q1 desorption rate constants, keeping other parameters constant, and that the reduced Q1/Q2 ratio upon P mining sharply reduces the diffusible P in soil. The P uptake model of Barber‐Cushman was extended with P desorption kinetics and was successfully calibrated to the P uptake data of the glasshouse P mining study. The model correctly predicted that reduced nitrogen (N) fertilization enhances the soil P‐use efficiency because of lower critical P demand rates at slower growth. Finally, that new model predicted that maize requires >3‐fold more available P in soil than wheat because of a higher P demand rate per unit root area of maize than that of wheat. This confirms a similar factor difference in critical soil P concentrations observed in P‐response trials in Belgium between 1973 and 2018. This study shows that the P desorption rate limits P bioavailability for fast growing plants with a small effective root area, especially under negative soil P balances that slow down the desorption rate of P in soil.Highlights
The diffusion coefficient of P in soil is reduced by soil P mining
Faster growing plants require more available P in soil because they rely on high diffusive P fluxes
P desorption rate can limit the P bioavailability
Plasma myeloperoxidase levels in acute brain ischaemia and high grade carotid stenosis
Authors: Orion D. , von Landenberg P. , Itsekson‐Hayosh Z. , Schwammenthal Y. , Tsabari R. , Merzeliak O. , Chapman J. , Tanne D. 
Published: April 2020

Background and purposeMyeloperoxidase (MPO) is an important oxidative enzyme participating in different stages of cardiovascular disease and predicts prognosis. Little is known about its role in acute cerebrovascular events and carotid plaque vulnerability. In this study, the aim was to assess plasma MPO levels in acute stroke patients and their correlation to stroke severity and stroke outcome.MethodsPlasma MPO levels were assessed in patients presenting with acute brain ischaemia within 36 h of symptom onset (n = 144, mean age 64.7 ± 11.6 years, 67% men) and in patients with moderate‐to‐severe carotid stenosis undergoing carotid artery stenting (n = 51, mean age 66.3 ± 8.4 years, 75% men). Patients presenting with acute brain ischaemia were assessed serially for stroke severity and disability.ResultsPlasma MPO concentrations (ng/ml) were associated with interleukin‐6 (r = 0.38, P < 0.0001) and gender (median interquartile range) of 68.6 (49.8–107.0) vs. 59.7 (42.7–85.5) in women vs. men (P = 0.02). In acute brain ischaemia, MPO concentrations were associated with non‐lacunar subtype (bottom, middle and top tertiles 37.5%, 71.7% and 71.7% respectively; P = 0.001), with stroke severity (baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score > 10, bottom, middle and top tertiles 6.3%, vs. 41.7% and 31.3%, respectively; P < 0.006) as well as with stroke severity at days 1–2, days 4–5 and at discharge (P < 0.05 for all), but less with disability at discharge (modified Rankin Scale score ≥ 2, 41.7% vs. 60.4% and 58.7% for the bottom, middle and top tertiles, respectively; P = 0.096).ConclusionsAmongst patients with acute brain ischaemia, plasma MPO concentrations were associated with stroke severity and non‐lacunar subtype, but not with long‐term functional disability.
Stromatolitic digitate sinters form under wide‐ranging physicochemical conditions with diverse hot spring microbial communities
Authors: Sriaporn Chanenath , Campbell Kathleen A. , Millan Maeva , Ruff Steven W. , Van Kranendonk Martin J. , Handley Kim M. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractDigitate siliceous hot spring deposits are a form of biomediated sinter that is relatively common in the Taupo Volcanic Zone (TVZ), New Zealand, and elsewhere on Earth. Such deposits have gained prominence recently because of their morphological similarity to opaline silica rocks of likely hot spring origin found by the Spirit rover on Mars and the consequent implications for potential biosignatures there. Here, we investigate the possible relationship between microbial community composition and morphological diversity among digitate structures from actively forming siliceous hot spring sinters depositing subaerially in shallow discharge channels and around pool rims at several physicochemically distinct geothermal fields in the TVZ. The TVZ digitate sinters range in morphologic subtype from knobby to spicular, and are shown to be microstromatolites that grow under varied pH ranges, temperatures, and water chemistries. Scanning electron microscopy and molecular analyses revealed that TVZ digitate sinters are intimately associated with a diverse array of bacterial, archaeal and eukaryotic micro‐organisms, and for most digitate structures the diversity and quantity of prokaryotes was higher than that of eukaryotes. However, microbial community composition was not correlated with morphologic subtypes of digitate sinter, and observations provided limited evidence that pH (acidic versus alkali) affects morphology. Instead, results suggest hydrodynamics may be an important factor influencing variations in morphology, while water chemistry, pH, and temperature are strong drivers of microbial composition and diversity.
Modifications to the PREEMPT Protocol for OnabotulinumtoxinA Injections for Chronic Migraine in Clinical Practice
Authors: Begasse de Dhaem Olivia , Gharedaghi Mohammad Hadi , Rizzoli Paul 
Published: April 2020

ObjectiveTo assess the PREEMPT protocol modifications that have developed in clinical practice over time.BackgroundThe United States Food and Drug Administration approved the 155‐unit fixed‐dose, fixed‐site PREEMPT protocol of onabotulinumtoxinA (BoNT‐A) injections for migraine prevention 9 years ago.MethodsThis is an anonymous survey with free text response options of Headache Medicine clinicians.ResultsOut of the 878 contacted Headache Medicine clinicians, 182 (20.7%) completed the survey. Of the 182 respondents, 141 (77.5%) reported that they did not always follow the PREEMPT protocol. Of the 182 respondents, 128 (70%) changed the number of injections, 115 (63%) changed the total units of BoNT‐A injected, 105 (57.7%) altered the location of injection sites (58%); 101 (55.5%) do not aspirate to ensure the absence of blood return; 22 (12.1%) changed the dilution; and 4 (2.2%) added lidocaine. The main reported reasons for changes in number, dose, and location of injections included adapting to the patients’ pain, anatomy, and preferences.ConclusionsThe wide inter‐ and intra‐personal variations in BoNT‐A injections for chronic migraine prevention seen in this survey raise concerns about the standardization of the procedure and suggest that an advisory protocol containing more evidence and discussion of the reasoning behind the recommendations might be more helpful than the current prescriptive protocol.
Clinicopathological characteristics of combined hepatocellular cholangiocarcinoma from the viewpoint of patient prognosis after hepatic resection: High rate of early recurrence and its predictors
Authors: Yamashita Yo‐ichi , Aishima Shinichi , Nakao Yosuke , Yoshizumi Tomoharu , Nagano Hiroaki , Kuroki Tamotsu , Takami Yuko , Ide Takao , Ohta Masayuki , Takatsuki Mitsuhisa , Nanashima Atsushi , Ishii Fuminori , Kitahara Kenji , Iino Satoshi , Beppu Toru , Baba Hideo , Eguchi Susumu 
Published: April 2020

AimCombined hepatocellular cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC‐CCA) is a very rare subtype of primary liver carcinoma; therefore, its clinicopathological characteristics have not yet been elucidated in detail. The aim of the study was to reveal the clinicopathological characteristics and prognostic factors of cHCC‐CCA after hepatic resection (HR)MethodsA total of 124 patients who underwent curative HR for cHCC‐CCA between 2000 and 2016 were enrolled in this multi‐institutional study conducted by the Kyushu Study Group of Liver Surgery. Clinicopathological analysis was performed from the viewpoint of patient prognosis.ResultsA total of 62 patients (50%) had early recurrence within 1.5 years after HR, including 36 patients (58%) with extrahepatic recurrence. In contrast, just four patients (3%) had late recurrence occurring >3 years after HR. The independent predictors of early recurrence were as follows: des‐gamma carboxyprothrombin >40 mAU/mL (odds ratio 26.2, P = 0.0117), carbohydrate antigen 19–9>37 IU/l (odds ratio 18.0, P = 0.0200), and poorly differentiated HCC or CCA (odds ratio 11.2, P = 0.0259).ConclusionsHalf of the patients with cHCC‐CCA had early recurrence after HR. Preoperative elevation of des‐gamma carboxyprothrombin or carbohydrate antigen 19–9 and the existence of poorly differentiated components of HCC or CCA in resected specimens are predictors of its early recurrence.
Sex‐specific patterns of fuelling and pre‐breeding body moult of Little StintsCalidris minutain South Africa
Authors: Mazur Aleksandra E. , Remisiewicz Magdalena , Underhill Leslie G. 
Published: April 2020

The timing and duration of each stage of the life of a long‐distance migrant bird are constrained by time and resources. If the parental roles of males and females differ, the timing of other life stages, such as moult or pre‐migratory fuelling, may also differ between the sexes. Little is known about sexual differences for species with weak sexual dimorphism, but DNA‐sexing enables fresh insights. The Little StintCalidris minutais a monomorphic long‐distance migrant wader breeding in the Arctic tundra. Males compete for territories and perform elaborate aerial displays. Females produce two clutches a season. Each sex may be a bigamist and incubate one nest a season, each with a different partner. We expect that these differences in breeding behaviour entail different preparations for breeding by males and females, so we aimed to determine whether Little Stints showed any sex differences in their strategies for pre‐breeding moult and pre‐migratory fuelling at their non‐breeding grounds in South Africa. We used body moult records, wing length and body mass of 241 DNA‐sexed Little Stints that we caught and ringed between 27 January and 29 April in 2008–2018 at two neighbouring wetlands in North West Province, South Africa. For each individual we assessed the percentage of breeding plumage on its upperparts and took blood samples for DNA‐sexing. We calculated an adjusted Body Moult Index and an adjusted Wing Coverts Moult Index, then used the Underhill–Zucchini moult model to estimate the start dates and the rate of body moult in males and females. We estimated the changes in the sex ratio of the local population during their stay in South Africa, and also estimated the timing and rate of pre‐migratory fuelling and the potential flight ranges for males and females. The males started body moult on average on 7 February and the females on 12 February, but the sexes did not differ in their timing of wing covert moult, which started on average on 10 February. In January to mid‐February, males constitutedc. 57% of the population, but their proportion declined afterwards, indicating an earlier departure than females. We estimated that both sexes began pre‐migratory fuelling on average on 15 March. The sexes did not differ in fuelling rate, but most females stayed at the non‐breeding site longer than the males, and thus accumulated more fuel and had longer potential flight ranges. These patterns of moult and fuelling suggest sex differences in preparations for breeding. We suggest that the males depart from South Africa earlier but with smaller fuel loads than the females to establish breeding territories before the females arrive. We conclude that for each sex the observed trade‐offs between fuelling and moult at the non‐breeding grounds are precursors to different migration strategies, which in turn are adaptations for their different roles in reproductive behaviour.
DISCOUNT SHOCK, PRICE–RENT DYNAMICS, AND THE BUSINESS CYCLE
Authors: Miao Jianjun , Wang Pengfei , Zha Tao 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThe price‐rent ratio in commercial real estate is highly volatile and its variation comoves with the business cycle. To account for these facts, we develop a dynamic general equilibrium model that introduces a rental market and incorporates the liquidity constraint on an individual firm's production as a key ingredient. Our estimation identifies the discount shock as the most important factor in driving price‐rent dynamics and linking the dynamics in the real estate market to those in the real economy. We illustrate the importance of the liquidity premium and endogenous TFP in the nexus of the financial and real sectors.
Consumer purchasing behaviour of organic food in an emerging market
Authors: Le‐Anh Tuan , Nguyen‐To Tam 
Published: April 2020

AbstractOrganic food is a particular type of food product with a strict cultivating process and organic food consumption is growing rapidly in emerging markets. In reality, knowledge of this type of food is limited to consumers in many emerging markets. This paper reviews and assesses factors affecting attitude towards organic food and the purchase intention of this type of food in an emerging market. The research findings indicate that awareness of organic food, information on organic food, food safety concern and perceived value of organic food have positive impacts on attitude towards organic food. The results also show that attitude towards organic food and perceived value influence purchase intention significantly.
An Assessment of Brand Experience Knowledge Literature: Using Bibliometric Data to Identify Future Research Direction
Authors: Zha Dongmei , Melewar T.C. , Foroudi Pantea , Jin Zhongqi 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThere is wide consensus that the brand experience literature (BEL) suffers from a deficit in conceptual works. This study argues that, for brand experience research to overcome its conceptual insipidity, it must re‐examine the core of its intellectual structure to rediscover what ‘an experience provided by brands’ truly implies. The purpose of this paper is to reconceptualize and present a future research framework for research into the concept of brand experience, by identifying both the core and peripheral sources of knowledge of the concept and its association with brand meaning. Through a bibliometric process covering 136 articles published between 2002 and 2018, resulting in a database of 2698 citations, this brand experience conceptual paper fills a critical research gap by providing the first full‐scale bibliometric study to date of the BEL, using a combination of high citation and co‐citation metrics. Based on this conceptual reorientation, a matrix for future development is presented, enabling the reader to visualize the scope and breadth of potential brand experience research horizons in areas relating to customer experience, consumer–brand relationship, online brand experience and sensory brand experience. The four approaches listed in the matrix – firm‐based, social constructionist, virtuality and embodiment – provide a roadmap for future brand experience research undertakings to explore the rich potential of experience evoked by brands.
The uncapacitated r‐allocation p‐hub center problem
Authors: Brimberg Jack , Mišković Stefan , Todosijević Raca , Uroševic Dragan 
Published: April 2020

AbstractIn this paper, we propose the uncapacitated r‐allocation p‐hub center problem (UrApHCP), which represents a generalization of both single and multiple allocation variants of the p‐hub center problem. We further present two binary ‐integer linear programs for the UrApHCP and prove their equivalence for and p with respective single and multiple allocation cases. A flow formulation combining the features of the two previous models is also presented. In order to solve the UrApHCP, we develop two general variable neighborhood search (GVNS) heuristics that use nested and sequential variable neighborhood descent strategies. The proposed approaches are tested on benchmark instances from the literature with up to 423 nodes. The proposed GVNS quickly reaches all optimal or best‐known results from the literature for the single and multiple allocation variants of the problem, as well as new optimal results for r‐allocation obtained using a CPLEX solver.
A cutting stock problem in the wood products industry: a two‐stage solution approach
Authors: Kokten Erkan Sami , Sel Çağrı 
Published: April 2020

AbstractIn this study, a cutting stock problem is addressed to determine the width/length of the wooden boards and select lumber in standard lengths for cutting a cable spool. A nonlinear mathematical model is introduced using Pythagoras' theorem. The aim is to minimize the total length of lumber used and equivalently the total amount of wood wasted. To reduce the computational burden, the mathematical model is decomposed into two submodels for sizing and cutting decisions, and a two‐stage decomposition algorithm is proposed for solving the submodels subsequently. A simulated annealing metaheuristic combining the first‐fit decreasing and increasing techniques (SA‐FFD/I) is proposed to show the computational efficiency of the decomposition approach. The savings on the total length of lumber used and the total amount of wood wasted in production are achieved by the decomposition algorithm, which is 8% and 86.4% on average compared to the SA‐FFD/I heuristic. Accordingly, a numerical analysis is conducted on a real case to assess how capacity load and demand pattern scenarios impact the solution. The ratio between the total amount of wood waste and the total length of lumber does not exceed 2.54% for a weekly planning horizon.
Optimal contract selection for an online travel agent and two hotels under price competition
Authors: Ye Fei , Yan Hui , Xie Wei 
Published: April 2020

AbstractIn this paper, we study two competing hotels selling alternative and substitutable rooms at fixed capacity through the same online travel agent (OTA). The hotels can adopt either the merchant mode or the agent mode to cooperate with the OTA. To investigate all possible situations, three scenarios are compared: (a) both hotels use the agent mode, (b) both hotels adopt the merchant mode, and (c) one hotel implements the agent mode and the other the merchant mode. We show that a unique Nash equilibrium can be achieved when market size and price competition satisfy certain conditions. We find that the OTA always prefers to use a single mode to cooperate with both hotels in any given scenario. By comparing the optimal options for the three players, we find that they will all choose the agent mode when the commission rate drops to a particular level.
Kinome multigenic panel identified novel druggable EPHB4‐V871I somatic variant in high‐risk neuroblastoma
Authors: Andolfo Immacolata , Lasorsa Vito A. , Manna Francesco , Rosato Barbara E. , Formicola Daniela , Iolascon Achille , Capasso Mario 
Published: April 2020

AbstractNeuroblastoma (NB) is the most common extracranial neoplasm in children. The overall outcome for high‐risk NB patients is still unacceptable, therefore, it is critical to deeply understand molecular mechanisms associated with NB, which in turn can be utilized for developing drugs towards the treatment of NB. Protein kinases (TKs) play an essential role in the regulation of cell survival and proliferation. Different kinases, such as anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), Aurora kinase, RET receptor tyrosine kinase, are potential therapeutic targets in various cancers, including NB. We analysed a cohort of 45 high‐risk NB patients and 9 NB cell lines by a targeted—(t)NGS custom gene panel (genes codifying for the kinase domains of 90 TKs). We identified somatic variants in four TK genes (ALK, EPHB4, LMTK3 and EPHB6) in NB patients and we functionally characterized an interesting somatic variant, V871I, in EPHB4 gene. EPHB4 plays a crucial role in cardiovascular development and regulates vascularization in cancer‐promoting angiogenesis, tumour growth and metastasis. Several EPHB4 mutations have previously been identified in solid and haematological tumour specimens but EPHB4 mutations were not described until now in NB. Interestingly, a re‐analysis of public CGH‐array showed that the EPHB4 gain is associated with advanced diseases in NB. We further demonstrated that higher EPHB4 expression is correlated to stage 4 of NB and with poor overall survival. Additionally, we also revealed that the EPHB4‐V871I accounts for increased proliferation, migration and invasion properties in two NB cell lines by acting on VEGF, c‐RAF and CDK4 target genes and by increasing the phosphorylation of ERK1‐2 pathway. The use of two EPHB4 inhibitors, JI‐101 and NVP‐BHG712, was able to rescue the phenotype driven by the variant. Our study suggested that EPHB4 is a promising therapeutic target in high‐risk NB.