bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Skeleton bones in museum indoor environments offer niches for fungi and are affected by weathering and deposition of secondary minerals
Authors: Pinzari Flavia , Cornish Lorraine , Jungblut Anne D. 
Published: October 2019

SummaryLarge skeleton specimens are often featured as iconic open displays in Natural History Museums, for example, the blue whale ‘Hope’ at the Natural History Museum, London. A study on Hope's bone surface was performed to assess the biodeterioration potential of fungi. Fungi were isolated, and a fungal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) clone library survey was performed on dust and bone material. Mineral particles derived from bone and dust were analysed using energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, variable pressure scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high vacuum SEM. Results showed that bone material, although mainly mineral in nature, and therefore less susceptible than organic materials to biodeterioration phenomena in the indoor environments, offers niches for specialized fungi and is affected by unusual and yet not so well‐documented mechanisms of alteration. Areas of bone surface were covered with a dense biofilm mostly composed of fungal hyphae, which produced tunnelling and extensive deposition of calcium and iron‐containing secondary minerals. Airborne halophilic and xerophilic fungi including taxa grouping into Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, capable of displacing salts and overcome little water availability, were found to dominate the microbiome of the bone surface.
Irregularities in genetic variation and mutation rates with environmental stresses
Authors: Ferenci Thomas 
Published: October 2019

SummaryThe appearance of new mutations is determined by the equilibrium between DNA error formation and repair. In bacteria like Escherichia coli, stresses are thought shift this balance towards increased mutagenesis. Recent findings, however, suggest a very uneven relationship between stress and mutations. Only a subset of stressful environments increase the net rate of mutation and different forms of nutritional stress (such as oxygen, carbon or phosphorus limitations) result in markedly different mutation rates after similar reductions in growth rate. Moreover, different stresses result in altered mutational spectra, with some increasing transposition and others increasing indel formation. Single‐base substitution rates are lower with some stresses than in unstressed bacteria. Indeed, changes to the mix of mutations with stress are more widespread than a marked increase in net mutation rate. Much remains to be learned on how environments have unique mutational signatures and why some stresses are more mutagenic than others. Even beyond stress‐induced genetic variation, the fundamental unresolved question in the stress–mutation relationship is the adaptive value of different types of mutations and mutation rates; is transposition, for example, more advantageous under anaerobic conditions? It remains to be investigated whether stress‐specific genetic variation impacts on evolvability differentially in distinct environments.
What causes employees to whistle while they work? Factors affecting internal whistle‐blowing in the Australian Public Service
Authors: Taylor Jeannette 
Published: October 2019

AbstractWhat causes employees in the Australian Public Service (APS) to internally blow the whistle on corruption in the workplace? This research examines the impact of the nature of corruption, organisational culture, and employees’ work attitudes and actions on internal whistle‐blowing in the APS. The respondents were found to internally blow the whistle for most types of corruption: fraud, conflict of interest, unlawful disclosure of government information, and perverting the course of justice. Their whistle‐blowing behaviour was, however, unaffected by observations of theft of official assets. They were also unlikely to report observations of cronyism and nepotism. Active observers of workplace bullying (those who have blown the whistle after witnessing someone else being bullied) were three times more likely to also internally report corruption than inactive observers of bullying.
A Small Population Study on Friction Skin Ridges: Differences in Ridge Widths Between Latent and Inked Fingerprints
Authors: De Alcaraz‐Fossoul Josep , Tully‐Doyle Ryan , Weber Alexis R. , Barrot Feixat Carme , Zapico Sara C. , Rivera Cardenas Natalie , Sirard Melissa J. , Graber Ryan P. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractMorphological changes in the width of latent fingermark ridges occur naturally over time. This could be used to examine the aging process of latents and eventually estimate time of deposition. In a crime context, it is common practice to compare a questioned (aged) fingermark with a database of known (inked) prints. Therefore, in the absence of fresh fingermarks for aging purposes, it is of interest to reveal correlations between these two categories of fingerprints with regard to the widths of their ridges. The present study explores correlations of ridge widths between flat and rolled inked prints with latent fingermarks visualized with carbon black (CB) and titanium dioxide (TiO2)‐based powders among a small population of ten donors. Results revealed consistent differences between the ridge widths of latent and inked prints as well as flat and rolled impressions. Latent fingermarks visualized with CB and TiO2 powders showed ridges with comparable widths.
PSMD: An extensive database for pan‐species microsatellite investigation and marker development
Authors: Du Lianming , Liu Qin , Zhao Kelei , Tang Jie , Zhang Xiuyue , Yue Bisong , Fan Zhenxin 
Published: October 2019

AbstractMicrosatellites are widely distributed throughout nearly all genomes which have been extensively exploited as powerful genetic markers for diverse applications due to their high polymorphisms. Their length variations are involved in gene regulation and implicated in numerous genetic diseases even in cancers. Although much effort has been devoted in microsatellite database construction, the existing microsatellite databases still had some drawbacks, such as limited number of species, unfriendly export format, missing marker development, lack of compound microsatellites and absence of gene annotation, which seriously restricted researchers to perform downstream analysis. In order to overcome the above limitations, we developed PSMD (Pan‐Species Microsatellite Database, http://big.cdu.edu.cn/psmd/) as a web‐based database to facilitate researchers to easily identify microsatellites, exploit reliable molecular markers and compare microsatellite distribution pattern on genome‐wide scale. In current release, PSMD comprises 678,106,741 perfect microsatellites and 43,848,943 compound microsatellites from 18,408 organisms, which covered almost all species with available genomic data. In addition to interactive browse interface, PSMD also offers a flexible filter function for users to quickly gain desired microsatellites from large data sets. PSMD allows users to export GFF3 formatted file and CSV formatted statistical file for downstream analysis. We also implemented an online tool for analysing occurrence of microsatellites with user‐defined parameters. Furthermore, Primer3 was embedded to help users to design high‐quality primers with customizable settings. To our knowledge, PSMD is the most extensive resource which is likely to be adopted by scientists engaged in biological, medical, environmental and agricultural research.
Spider‐specific probe set for ultraconserved elements offers new perspectives on the evolutionary history of spiders (Arachnida, Araneae)
Authors: Kulkarni Siddharth , Wood Hannah , Lloyd Michael , Hormiga Gustavo 
Published: October 2019

AbstractPhylogenomic methods have proven useful for resolving deep nodes and recalcitrant groups in the spider tree of life. Across arachnids, transcriptomic approaches may generate thousands of loci, and target‐capture methods, using the previously designed arachnid‐specific probe set, can target a maximum of about 1,000 loci. Here, we develop a specialized target‐capture probe set for spiders that contains over 2,000 ultraconserved elements (UCEs) and then demonstrate the utility of this probe set through sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. We designed the ‘spider‐specific’ probe set using three spider genomes (Loxosceles, Parasteatoda and Stegodyphus) and ensured that the newly designed probe set includes UCEs from the previously designed Arachnida probe set. The new ‘spider‐specific’ probes were used to sequence UCE loci in 51 specimens. The remaining samples included five spider genomes and taxa that were enriched using Arachnida probe set. The ‘spider‐specific’ probes were also used to gather loci from a total of 84 representative taxa across Araneae. On mapping these 84 taxa to the Arachnida probe set, we captured at most 710 UCE loci, while the spider‐specific probe set captured up to 1,547 UCE loci from the same taxon sample. Phylogenetic analyses using maximum likelihood and coalescent methods corroborate most nodes resolved by recent transcriptomic analyses, but not all (e.g. UCE data suggest monophyly of ‘symphytognathoids’). Our preferred hypothesis based on topology tests, suggests monophyly of the ‘symphytognathoids’ (the miniature orb weavers), which in previous studies has only been supported by a combination of morphological and behavioural characters.
A chromosome‐level genome assembly ofPyropia haitanensis(Bangiales, Rhodophyta)
Authors: Cao Min , Xu Kuipeng , Yu Xinzi , Bi Guiqi , Liu Yang , Kong Fanna , Sun Peipei , Tang Xianghai , Du Guoying , Ge Yuan , Wang Dongmei , Mao Yunxiang 
Published: October 2019

AbstractPyropia haitanensis(Bangiales, Rhodophyta), a major economically important marine crop, is also considered as an ideal research model of Rhodophyta to address several major biological questions such as sexual reproduction and adaptation to intertidal abiotic stresses. However, comparative genomic analysis to decipher the underlying molecular mechanisms is hindered by the lack of high‐quality genome information. Therefore, we integrated sequencing data from Illumina short‐read sequencing, PacBio single‐molecule sequencing and BioNano optical genome mapping. The assembled genome was approximately 53.3 Mb with an average GC% of 67.9%. The contig N50 and scaffold N50 were 510.3 kb and 5.8 Mb, respectively. Additionally, 10 superscaffolds representing 80.9% of the total assembly (42.7 Mb) were anchored and orientated to the 5 linkage groups based on markers and genetic distance; this outcome is consistent with the karyotype of five chromosomes (n = 5) based on cytological observation inP. haitanensis. Approximately 9.6% and 14.6% of the genomic region were interspersed repeat and tandem repeat elements, respectively. Based on full‐length transcriptome data generated by PacBio, 10,903 protein‐coding genes were identified. The construction of a genome‐wide phylogenetic tree demonstrated that the divergence time ofP. haitanensisandPorphyra umbilicaliswas ~204.4 Ma. Interspecies comparison revealed that 493 gene families were expanded and that 449 were contracted in theP. haitanensisgenome compared with those in thePo. umbilicalisgenome. The genome identified is of great value for further research on the genome evolution of red algae and genetic adaptation to intertidal stresses.
A model of biased intermediation
Authors: de Cornière Alexandre , Taylor Greg 
Published: October 2019

AbstractWe study situations in which consumers rely on a biased intermediary's advice when choosing among sellers. We introduce the notion that sellers' and consumers' payoffs can be congruent or conflicting, and show that this has important implications for the effects of bias. Under congruence, the firm benefiting from bias has an incentive to offer a better deal than its rival and consumers can be better‐off than under no bias. Under conflict, the favored firm offers lower utility, and bias harms consumers. We study various policies for dealing with bias and show that their efficacy also depends on whether the payoffs exhibit congruence or conflict.
Patiromer for Treatment of Hyperkalemia in the Emergency Department: A Pilot Study
Authors: Rafique Zubaid , Liu Mengyang , Staggers Kristen A. , Minard Charles G. , Peacock W. Frank 
Published: October 2019

AbstractBackgroundHyperkalemia is common and potentially life threatening. Patiromer is a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)‐cleared oral potassium binder effective in the chronic treatment of hyperkalemia.ObjectiveThe objective was to investigate the potential efficacy and safety of oral patiromer in treating acute hyperkalemia in the emergency department (ED).MethodsThis is a single‐center, randomized, open‐label convenience sample pilot study in an inner‐city ED. Adult patients with end‐stage renal disease and a serum potassium level of ≥ 6.0 mEq/L were randomized to standard of care (SOC) or one dose of 25.2 g oral patiromer plus SOC (PAT). Blood samples and electrocardiograms were collected at enrollment and at 1, 2, 4, and 6 hours thereafter. The primary outcome was the difference in potassium between groups at 6 hours. Secondary outcomes were the amount and number of times insulin and albuterol were given.ResultsThirty patients were included in the final analysis, 15 in each group. There were no differences in age, sex, or baseline serum potassium. There was no difference in mean serum potassium between SOC and PAT groups at 6 hours (6.32 mEq/L, confidence interval [CI] = 6.0 to 6.63 mEq/L vs. 5.81 mEq/L, CI = 5.48 to 6.14 mEq/L). However, 2 hours posttreatment the serum potassium of the PAT group was lower than SOC group (5.90 mEq/L, CI = 5.63 to 6.17 mEq/L vs. 6.51 mEq/L, CI = 6.25 to 6.78 mEq/L) and also 0.61 mEq/L lower than baseline. There were no differences in the amount or number of administrations of insulin or albuterol between groups, although the amount of albuterol used in the PAT group at 6 hours was lower but not significant (median, 0 mg vs. 12.5 mg; p = 0.097). There were no differences in adverse events between groups.ConclusionIn this open‐label pilot study of severe hyperkalemia, a single dose of 25.2 g of oral patiromer reduced serum potassium within 2 hours but did not show a difference at 6 hours. This is the first study showing that patiromer may have a role in the acute management of hyperkalemia; however, more rigorous studies are needed.
Functional and structural social support, substance use and sexual orientation from a nationally representative sample of US adults
Authors: Kahle Erin M. , Veliz Phil , McCabe Sean Esteban , Boyd Carol J. 
Published: October 2019

ABSTRACTBackground and AimsSexual minority (SM) populations experience higher rates of substance use disorder (SUD) associated with increased sexual orientation‐related stress. Social support may moderate the impact of stress on SUD among SM adults. This study assessed associations between social support and DSM‐5 SUD by sex and sexual minority identity.DesignCross‐sectional study using data from the 2012–13 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC‐III).Setting and participantsA nationally representative cross‐sectional sample of adults (n = 36 309) in the United States.MeasurementsSUD were defined based on the DSM‐5 criteria for alcohol use (AUD), tobacco use (TUD) and drug use (DUD) disorders. Structural social support was measured as the type and frequency of kin and non‐kin contact, and functional social support was measured by the Social Provision Scale.FindingsSM adults had higher odds of all SUD compared to heterosexual adults [AUD = 1.535, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.782–1.844; TUD = 1.512, 95% CI = 1.234–1.854; DUD = 1.520, 95% CI = 1.139–2.028]; SM women experienced the highest proportion of all SUD (AUD = 27.1%, TUD = 29.1%, DUD = 10.9%). Type of social support was differentially associated with SUD by sex and sexual identity status. Higher social provision was associated with lower rates of AUD [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.771, 95% CI = 0.705–0.844], TUD (aOR = 0.747, 95% CI = 0.694–0.804] and DUD (aOR = 0.558, 95% CI = 0.490–0.636). Marriage was associated with lower SUD among heterosexual men (AUD, aOR = 0.500, 95% CI = 0.432–0.579; TUD, aOR = 0.603, 95% CI = 0.521–0.699; DUD, aOR = 0.504, 95% CI = 0.369–0.689) and women (AUD, aOR = 0.637, 95% CI = 0.529–0.767; TUD = 0.0.584, 95% CI = 0.507–0.671; DUD, aOR = 0.515, 95% CI = 0.372–0.712). Compared to heterosexual adults, SM women with at least one child under the age of 18 years had higher odds of TUD (aOR = 1.990, 95% CI = 1.325–2.988). SM‐related discrimination was not associated with SUD among some SM subgroups, but discrimination among male heterosexually identifying individuals reporting same‐sex attraction or behavior was associated AUD (aOR = 4.608, 95% CI = 1.615–13.14).ConclusionsIn the United States there are significant associations between functional support (quality or provision of support) and structural support (type and frequency of social networks) and substance use disorder (SUD) which differ by sex and sexual identity status.
Regulating the family through religion
Authors: KOCAMANER HIKMET 
Published: October 2019

ABSTRACTUnder Turkey's neoconservative government, the Directorate of Religious Affairs deploys state‐employed religious functionaries to provide Sunni Muslim citizens with advice and guidance on family life. By inculcating government‐sanctioned sensibilities and dispositions related to kinship, these Islamic authorities have become instrumental to extending state power into the domestic lives of the religious majority. This particular entwinement of religion with state power is no aberration. Indeed, the Turkish case reveals a contradiction that lies at the heart of secular governance: the continuing involvement of religion in the politics of the family despite the assumed separation of religion and politics. Secular states may appropriate religious discourses and authority in regulating intimacy and the family while aligning these with biopolitical rationalities, as well as with secular laws and expertise. [secularism, kinship, family, intimacy, governmentality, the state, expertise, Islam, Turkey]
Who Stays On? The Link between Psychosocial Patterns and Changes in Exercise and Sport Behaviour When Adolescents Make Transitions in Education
Authors: Schmid Julia , Gut Vanessa , Yanagida Takuya , Conzelmann Achim 
Published: October 2019

BackgroundThe first aim of the present study was to identify psychosocial patterns among adolescents at lower secondary school. Employing the motivation and volition process model and a socioecological framework, self‐concordance, action planning, social support, and club‐related exercise and sport activities were included as indicators. The second aim was to examine how these patterns are associated with the maintenance of exercise and sport during students’ transition to upper secondary education. The last aim was to investigate whether the associations were moderated by individuals’ subjective evaluation of the transition.MethodsOne‐year longitudinal data of 392 adolescents were analysed. All variables were measured via online self‐report.ResultsBased on latent profile analysis, four patterns were found: “averages”, “club enthusiasts”, “club engaged planners”, and “less motivated and social uncommits”. Regression analyses showed that the club engaged planners were more likely to adopt and maintain exercise and sport than to drop out. Additionally, moderation analyses revealed that the averages were less likely to be maintainers/adopters when they evaluated the transition more negatively.ConclusionPeople with relatively high action planning and a high number of club‐related activities were less vulnerable to decreasing their activity time during the transition to upper secondary education. Furthermore, transitional stress bore no negative association with students’ exercise and sport behaviour.
Identification of a novel heterozygous guanosine monophosphate reductase (GMPR) variant in a patient with a late‐onset disorder of mitochondrial DNA maintenance
Authors: Sommerville Ewen W. , Dalla Rosa Ilaria , Rosenberg Masha M. , Bruni Francesco , Thompson Kyle , Rocha Mariana , Blakely Emma L. , He Langping , Falkous Gavin , Schaefer Andrew M. , Yu‐Wai‐Man Patrick , Chinnery Patrick F. , Hedstrom Lizbeth , Spinazzola Antonella , Taylor Robert W. , Gorman Gráinne S. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractAutosomal dominant progressive external ophthalmoplegia (adPEO) is a late‐onset, Mendelian mitochondrial disorder characterised by paresis of the extraocular muscles, ptosis, and skeletal‐muscle restricted multiple mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deletions. Although dominantly inherited, pathogenic variants in POLG, TWNK and RRM2B are among the most common genetic defects of adPEO, identification of novel candidate genes and the underlying pathomechanisms remains challenging. We report the clinical, genetic and molecular investigations of a patient who presented in the seventh decade of life with PEO. Oxidative histochemistry revealed cytochrome c oxidase‐deficient fibres and occasional ragged red fibres showing subsarcolemmal mitochondrial accumulation in skeletal muscle, while molecular studies identified the presence of multiple mtDNA deletions. Negative candidate screening of known nuclear genes associated with PEO prompted diagnostic exome sequencing, leading to the prioritisation of a novel heterozygous c.547G>C variant in GMPR (NM_006877.3) encoding guanosine monophosphate reductase, a cytosolic enzyme required for maintaining the cellular balance of adenine and guanine nucleotides. We show that the novel c.547G>C variant causes aberrant splicing, decreased GMPR protein levels in patient skeletal muscle, proliferating and quiescent cells, and is associated with subtle changes in nucleotide homeostasis protein levels and evidence of disturbed mtDNA maintenance in skeletal muscle. Despite confirmation of GMPR deficiency, demonstrating marked defects of mtDNA replication or nucleotide homeostasis in patient cells proved challenging. Our study proposes that GMPR is the 19th locus for PEO and highlights the complexities of uncovering disease mechanisms in late‐onset PEO phenotypes.
Application of the 2017 criteria for vascular Ehlers‐Danlos syndrome in 50 patients ascertained according to the Villefranche nosology
Authors: Ritelli Marco , Rovati Chiara , Venturini Marina , Chiarelli Nicola , Cinquina Valeria , Castori Marco , Colombi Marina 
Published: October 2019

AbstractVascular Ehlers‐Danlos syndrome (vEDS) is a rare inherited connective tissue disorder due to heterozygous pathogenic COL3A1 variants. Arterial, intestinal, and/or uterine fragility is the disease hallmark and results in reduced life expectancy. The clinical diagnosis is not always straightforward and patients’ selection for molecular confirmation depends on the characteristics of applied criteria, that is, the Villefranche criteria (in use until 2017) and their revision according to the new EDS nosology. Herein, we reassessed the clinical features of 50 molecularly proven vEDS patients, diagnosed according to the Villefranche nosology between 2000 and 2016, using the 2017 classification in order to explore its clinical application. Our findings indicate that the Villefranche criteria were particularly valuable for symptomatic patients, even if with a limited specificity. Our study also suggests that the revised vEDS criteria, although expected to be more specific, might have a poorer accuracy, principally in terms of sensitivity. Both sets of criteria are less effective in presymptomatic young patients, especially in the absence of a clear‐cut family history. For these patients, the careful evaluation of the cutaneous, articular, and dysmorphic features and, above all, genetic testing remain crucial to set‐up proper follow‐up and surveillance before catastrophic vascular and intestinal events.