bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fundamental drivers for endolithic microbial community assemblies in the hyperarid Atacama Desert
Authors: Meslier Victoria , Casero M. Cristina , Dailey Micah , Wierzchos Jacek , Ascaso Carmen , Artieda Octavio , McCullough P. R. , DiRuggiero Jocelyne 
Published: March 2018

SummaryIn hyperarid deserts, endolithic microbial communities colonize the rocks’ interior as a survival strategy. Yet, the composition of these communities and the drivers promoting their assembly are still poorly understood. We analysed the diversity and community composition of endoliths from four different lithic substrates – calcite, gypsum, ignimbrite and granite – collected in the hyperarid zone of the Atacama Desert, Chile. By combining microscopy, mineralogy, spectroscopy and high throughput sequencing, we found these communities to be highly specific to their lithic substrate, although they were all dominated by the same four main phyla, Cyanobacteria, Actinobacteria, Chloroflexi and Proteobacteria. Our finding indicates a fine scale diversification of the microbial reservoir driven by substrate properties. The data suggest that the overall rock chemistry and the light transmission properties of the substrates are not essential drivers of community structure and composition. Instead, we propose that the architecture of the rock, i.e., the space available for colonization and its physical structure, linked to water retention capabilities, is ultimately the driver of community diversity and composition at the dry limit of life.
Mixotrophic metabolism by natural communities of unicellular cyanobacteria in the western tropical South Pacific Ocean
Authors: Duhamel Solange , Van Wambeke France , Lefevre Dominique , Benavides Mar , Bonnet Sophie 
Published: March 2018

SummaryCyanobacteria are major contributors to ocean biogeochemical cycling. However, mixotrophic metabolism and the relative importance of inorganic and organic carbon assimilation within the most abundant cyanobacteria are still poorly understood. We explore the ability of Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus to assimilate organic molecules with variable C:N:P composition and its modulation by light availability and photosynthetic impairment. We used a combination of radiolabelled molecules incubations with flow cytometry cell sorting to separate picoplankton groups from the western tropical South Pacific Ocean. Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus assimilated glucose, leucine and ATP at all stations, but cell‐specific assimilation rates of N and P containing molecules were significantly higher than glucose. Incubations in the dark or with an inhibitor of photosystem II resulted in reduced assimilation rates. Light‐enhanced cell‐specific glucose uptake was generally higher for cyanobacteria (∼50%) than for the low nucleic acid fraction of bacterioplankton (LNA, ∼35%). Our results confirm previous findings, based mainly on cultures and genomic potentials, showing that Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus have a flexible mixotrophic metabolism, but demonstrate that natural populations remain primarily photoautotrophs. Our findings indicate that mixotrophy by marine cyanobacteria is more likely to be an adaptation to low inorganic nutrient availability rather than a facultative pathway for carbon acquisition.
The Market for Non‐Executive Directors: Does Acquisition Performance Influence Future Board Seats?
Authors: Mira Svetlana , Goergen Marc , O'Sullivan Noel 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThis paper investigates whether non‐executive directors associated with good (bad) board decisions are subsequently rewarded (penalized) in the market for directors. This question is addressed by assessing whether the post‐acquisition performance of acquiring companies influences the number of non‐executive directorships that non‐executives involved in these acquisitions hold subsequent to the acquisition. We find that non‐executives on the boards of acquirers that increase (omit or cut) their dividend subsequently hold more (fewer) non‐executive directorships in listed companies. Our findings suggest that the non‐executive labour market is efficient and rewards (penalizes) non‐executives for good (bad) acquisitions.
Why are REITS Currently So Expensive?
Authors: Van Nieuwerburgh Stijn 
Published: March 2018

AbstractOver the last several years, the price of listed real estate stocks has been unusually high relative to dividends. I find that neither low interest rates nor low risk premia can account for the high valuation ratios. Lower interest rates have been offset by rising risk premia to keep expected returns close to average. Instead, the market has priced in future income growth on commercial properties far above the growth rates seen in the data. High implied growth rates are less extreme for nontraditional REIT sectors. Income growth expectations are also less extreme for international listed real estate.
Does A Firm's Entry or Exit Affect Competitors’ Value? Evidence from the REIT Industry
Authors: Chan Su Han , Chen Jiajin , Wang Ko 
Published: March 2018

AbstractWe analyze 483 entry and 439 exit events of publicly traded real estate investment trusts (REITs) and find that changes in the number of REITs in the market affect rival REITs’ stock performance. We also partition the sample by the modes of entries and exits as well as by REIT asset type in order to disentangle alternative explanations. Overall, our evidence indicates that the supply effect still matters for stock prices even after considering signaling and price pressure explanations.
Ionic Liquid‐Based Liquid–Liquid Microextraction for Benzodiazepine Analysis in Postmortem Blood Samples
Authors: De Boeck Marieke , Dehaen Wim , Tytgat Jan , Cuypers Eva 
Published: March 2018

AbstractSample preparation is rapidly improving to fulfill the need for faster and more environmentally friendly alternatives. In this respect, ionic liquid‐based dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (IL‐DLLME) is an interesting technique. However, it has not yet been evaluated for the analysis of postmortem samples, which are frequently analyzed in forensic toxicology. This study investigates the applicability of IL‐DLLME coupled to liquid chromatography—tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS), for the analysis of benzodiazepines in postmortem blood of 11 forensic cases. The method was compared with a validated solid‐phase extraction (SPE) method. Bland–Altman analysis was performed on 24 benzodiazepine measurements. Both methods gave comparable results, except for flurazepam and temazepam (>55% difference). A feasible explanation is high postmortem matrix variability that was not considered during IL‐DLLME validation experiments. Another issue could be the use of a single nondeuterated SPE internal standard. Overall, IL‐DLLME has proven its usability for the analysis of postmortem blood.
Association between pain control and patient satisfaction outcomes in the emergency department setting
Authors: Brown Tristam , Shetty Amith , Zhao Dong Fang , Harvey Nathan , Yu Teresa , Murphy Margaret 
Published: March 2018

AbstractObjectivePain management and patient satisfaction are key markers for health systems performance. There is a lack of consensus on the role of analgesia, its adequacy, and its links to patient satisfaction in the ED. The present study aimed to assess the relationship between adequacy of analgesia and patient satisfaction in the ED setting.MethodsConsenting adult patients (n = 115) presenting to the ED with pain were enrolled, and their pain tracked throughout admission with 11 point numerical pain scores. Eleven point numerical scores were also utilised to measure satisfaction and compassion at the end of each ED stay. The primary outcome was patient satisfaction score ≥7.ResultsOf 115 enrolled patients, 94 (81.7%) were eligible for analysis. Median time to physician evaluation was 54.0 min (inter‐quartile range [IQR] 35.0–98.0) and median ED length of stay was 205 min (IQR 129.0–280.0). Fifty‐four patients (57.5%) received analgesia during their stay, of whom 36 (38.3%) had a significant response to analgesia (≥2 change in pain score). Median time to analgesia was 87.5 min (IQR 66.1–108.9). Patient satisfaction was inversely associated with male sex, and positively correlated (Spearman's rank correlation P < 0.05) with increasing age, significant change in pain score (±2) and compassion scores.ConclusionIn the present study of patients presenting to the ED with pain, oligoanalgesia remains a significant issue. Male sex was inversely associated with satisfaction, whereas compassion, and significant change in pain score were associated with improved patient satisfaction. Of the factors analysed, staff compassion demonstrated the strongest correlation with satisfaction.
Intraseasonal asynchrony as a factor boosting isolation within a metapopulation: The case of the clouded apollo
Authors: Adamski Paweł , Ćmiel Adam M. , Lipińska Anna M. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThis article discusses the influence of phenology‐related intraseasonal asynchrony on metapopulation dynamics and stability. As the part played by intraseasonal asynchrony is as yet unclear and poorly described, greater account of it should be taken in both metapopulation research and conservation practice. The subpopulations of the Parnassius mnemosyne metapopulation studied here are strongly isolated because of the phenological shift between them, despite the relatively small physical distances between them. This isolation is the result of a significant temporal shift in the species’ flight periods in the main metapopulation centers: in some seasons its flight times in the different subpopulations did not overlap at all. The predicted results of such strong intraseasonal asynchrony are not altogether clear. On the one hand, they reduce the vulnerability of the entire metapopulation to the effects of short‐term random disasters. On the other, the ever‐greater isolation of subpopulations may cause the metapopulation to become a nonequilibrium one, which will have a serious impact on its long‐term survival.
Self‐care in Preserving the Vascular Network: Old Problem, New Challenge for the Medical Staff
Authors: Sousa Clemente N , Ligeiro Inês , Teles Paulo , Paixão Lúcia , Dias Vanessa FF , Cristovão António F 
Published: March 2018

AbstractTeaching/educating patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) and identifying their self‐care behaviors for vascular network preservation are very important. However, the self‐care behaviors regularly performed by patients are still unknown. We compared self‐care behaviors for vascular network preservation performed by patients who are/are not followed‐up by the nephrologist. The study design was a prospective, observational and comparative study. Inclusion criteria were as follows: ESRD patients (at stages 4 or 5); at least 18 years old; in pre‐dialysis with at least a 6‐month follow‐up period by the nephrologist or who started dialysis in emergency and were not followed‐up by the nephrologist; with no memory problems; and medically stable. Primary outcome was the frequency of self‐care behaviors for vascular network preservation. Secondary outcome was the comparison between self‐care behaviors by ESRD patients who were/were not followed‐up by the nephrologist. The study involved 145 patients, 64.1% were female, the mean age was 69.5 years and the self‐care behaviors mean score was 36.8% (with a SD of 39.8%). The number of patients followed‐up and not followed‐up by the nephrologist was 109 (group 1) and 36 (group 2), respectively. Social characteristics were similar in the two groups (P > 0.05). The mean self‐care behaviors were 29.4% and 59.2% in groups 1 and 2, respectively (P = 0.000). Patients performed self‐care behaviors for vascular network preservation with a relatively low frequency (the mean score was 36.8% only). Patients not followed by the nephrologist performed self‐care behaviors more often than those who were followed (59.2% vs. 29.4% respectively, P = 0.000).
Changing environment of hyperglycemia in pregnancy: Gestational diabetes and diabetes mellitus in pregnancy
Authors: Gray Susan G. , Sweeting Arianne N. , Mcguire Treasure M. , Cohen Neale , Ross Glynis P. , Little Peter J. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe diagnosis and treatment of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) have been in a state of flux since the World Health Organization accepted and endorsed the International Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Group's diagnostic pathway and criteria in 2013. These new diagnostic criteria identify an increasing number of women at risk of hyperglycemia in pregnancy (HGiP). Maternal hyperglycemia represents a significant risk to the mother and fetus, in both the short and long term. Controversially, metformin use for the treatment of GDM is increasing in Australia. This article identifies the multiple and varied presentations of HGiP, of which GDM is the most commonly encountered. The degree of maternal hyperglycemia experienced affects the outcomes for both the mother and neonate, and specific diagnosis determines the appropriate treatment for the pregnancy. Given the increasing incidence of women with dysglycemia and those developing HGiP, this is an important area for research and clinical attention for all health professionals.
Batch effects in a multiyear sequencing study: False biological trends due to changes in read lengths
Authors: Leigh D. M. , Lischer H. E. L. , Grossen C. , Keller L. F. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractHigh‐throughput sequencing is a powerful tool, but suffers biases and errors that must be accounted for to prevent false biological conclusions. Such errors include batch effects; technical errors only present in subsets of data due to procedural changes within a study. If overlooked and multiple batches of data are combined, spurious biological signals can arise, particularly if batches of data are correlated with biological variables. Batch effects can be minimized through randomization of sample groups across batches. However, in long‐term or multiyear studies where data are added incrementally, full randomization is impossible, and batch effects may be a common feature. Here, we present a case study where false signals of selection were detected due to a batch effect in a multiyear study of Alpine ibex (Capra ibex). The batch effect arose because sequencing read length changed over the course of the project and populations were added incrementally to the study, resulting in nonrandom distributions of populations across read lengths. The differences in read length caused small misalignments in a subset of the data, leading to false variant alleles and thus false SNPs. Pronounced allele frequency differences between populations arose at these SNPs because of the correlation between read length and population. This created highly statistically significant, but biologically spurious, signals of selection and false associations between allele frequencies and the environment. We highlight the risk of batch effects and discuss strategies to reduce the impacts of batch effects in multiyear high‐throughput sequencing studies.
Non‐targeted insecticidal stress in a pest species: insecticides, sexual fitness and hormesis in the Neotropical brown stink bug Euschistus heros
Authors: Santos M.F. , Krüger A.P. , Turchen L.M. , Cutler G.C. , Oliveira E.E. , Guedes R.N.C. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractAn understudied aspect of insecticides is their stress on non‐targeted pest species. Sublethal insecticidal stress may elicit a range of protective and non‐protective responses that may affect behaviour and sexual fitness of the exposed insects, which may lead to negative, neutral or stimulatory (i.e. hormetic) responses. We assessed the behavioural response of the Neotropical brown stink bug, Euschistus heros, a soybean pest in the Neotropical region with increasing pest status, following exposure to chlorantraniliprole, pyriproxyfen and spinosad, insecticides commonly used against soybean caterpillars and whiteflies. Both individuals, or only the male or female of each mating pair, were exposed. Reproductive behaviour and output were measured to determine insecticide‐ and gender‐mediated fitness. We found that treatment scenario significantly affected mating behaviour, and that the duration of some behaviours were significantly affected. Chlorantraniliprole and pyriproxyfen reduced latency to mate, while spinosad increased this behaviour. Insecticide exposure also decreased the interacting time of each couple and male antennation of the female. Fertility table analyses of exposed couples indicated negligible effect of pyriproxyfen exposure, while spinosad extended generation time and reduced net reproductive rate, leading to lower rates of population growth of the brown stink bug. In contrast, chlorantraniliprole led to only a slight extension on the generation time, but enhanced net reproductive rate of the stink bug leading to higher rates of population growth; no effects on sexual fitness were observed, as both compounds exhibited similar effect on females and males. Latency to mate correlated significantly with the population growth rate. The positive response to chlorantraniliprole exposure reinforces the notion that sublethal exposure of the brown stink bug to this insecticide may lead to stimulatory (hormetic) response favouring its outbreaks in soybean fields.
The genetic component of human longevity: New insights from the analysis of pathway‐based SNP‐SNP interactions
Authors: Dato Serena , Soerensen Mette , De Rango Francesco , Rose Giuseppina , Christensen Kaare , Christiansen Lene , Passarino Giuseppe 
Published: March 2018

SummaryIn human longevity studies, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis identified a large number of genetic variants with small effects, yet not easily replicable in different populations. New insights may come from the combined analysis of different SNPs, especially when grouped by metabolic pathway. We applied this approach to study the joint effect on longevity of SNPs belonging to three candidate pathways, the insulin/insulin‐like growth factor signalling (IIS), DNA repair and pro/antioxidant. We analysed data from 1,058 tagging SNPs in 140 genes, collected in 1825 subjects (1,089 unrelated nonagenarians from the Danish 1905 Birth Cohort Study and 736 Danish controls aged 46–55 years) for evaluating synergic interactions by SNPsyn. Synergies were further tested by the multidimensional reduction (MDR) approach, both intra‐ and interpathways. The best combinations (FDR<0.0001) resulted those encompassing IGF1R‐rs12437963 and PTPN1‐rs6067484, TP53‐rs2078486 and ERCC2‐rs50871, TXNRD1‐rs17202060 and TP53‐rs2078486, the latter two supporting a central role of TP53 in mediating the concerted activation of the DNA repair and pro‐antioxidant pathways in human longevity. Results were consistently replicated with both approaches, as well as a significant effect on longevity was found for the GHSR gene, which also interacts with partners belonging to both IIS and DNA repair pathways (PAPPA, PTPN1, PARK7, MRE11A). The combination GHSR‐MREA11, positively associated with longevity by MDR, was further found influencing longitudinal survival in nonagenarian females (p = .026). Results here presented highlight the validity of SNP‐SNP interactions analyses for investigating the genetics of human longevity, confirming previously identified markers but also pointing to novel genes as central nodes of additional networks involved in human longevity.
The African turquoise killifish: A research organism to study vertebrate aging and diapause
Authors: Hu Chi‐Kuo , Brunet Anne 
Published: March 2018

SummaryThe African turquoise killifish has recently gained significant traction as a new research organism in the aging field. Our understanding of aging has strongly benefited from canonical research organisms—yeast, C. elegans, Drosophila, zebrafish, and mice. Many characteristics that are essential to understand aging—for example, the adaptive immune system or the hypothalamo‐pituitary axis—are only present in vertebrates (zebrafish and mice). However, zebrafish and mice live more than 3 years and their relatively long lifespans are not compatible with high‐throughput studies. Therefore, the turquoise killifish, a vertebrate with a naturally compressed lifespan of only 4–6 months, fills an essential gap to understand aging. With a recently developed genomic and genetic toolkit, the turquoise killifish not only provides practical advantages for lifespan and longitudinal experiments, but also allows more systematic characterizations of the interplay between genetics and environment during vertebrate aging. Interestingly, the turquoise killifish can also enter a long‐term dormant state during development called diapause. Killifish embryos in diapause already have some organs and tissues, and they can last in this state for years, exhibiting exceptional resistance to stress and to damages due to the passage of time. Understanding the diapause state could give new insights into strategies to prevent the damage caused by aging and to better preserve organs, tissues, and cells. Thus, the African turquoise killifish brings two interesting aspects to the aging field—a compressed lifespan and a long‐term resistant diapause state, both of which should spark new discoveries in the field.
The Mediating Role of Anxiety Sensitivity in Uncontrolled Drinking: A Look at Gender‐Specific Parental Influences
Authors: Ebbert Ashley M. , Patock‐Peckham Julie A. , Luk Jeremy W. , Voorhies Kirsten , Warner Olivia , Leeman Robert F. 
Published: March 2018

BackgroundAnxiety sensitivity (AS) reflects an individual's belief that experiencing anxiety will cause illness or embarrassment, and may be a reason individuals self‐medicate with alcohol. Harsh or indulgent parenting could contribute to the development of AS. We examined the direct and indirect associations between parenting styles and alcohol‐related variables through AS and impaired control over drinking (IC; i.e., perceived failure to adhere to limits on alcohol consumption in the future).MethodsA multiple‐group structural equation model with 614 university students (344 men; 270 women) was examined. Structural invariance tests were conducted to evaluate moderation by gender. We used a bias corrected bootstrap technique to obtain the mediated effects.ResultsFather authoritarianism and mother permissiveness were directly linked to AS among women, whereas father permissiveness was directly linked to AS among men. This suggests unique parental influences based on gender regarding AS. While AS was directly linked to alcohol‐related problems for both men and women, several gender‐specific associations were found. AS was directly linked to IC for men but not for women. For men, father permissiveness was directly related to AS, and AS mediated the indirect link between father permissiveness and IC along both the heavy episodic drinking and alcohol‐related problems pathways. Similar to other internalizing constructs (e.g., neuroticism and depression), higher AS was directly associated with less heavy episodic drinking but more alcohol‐related problems.ConclusionsOur findings highlight the dangers of AS for men as an important correlate of under‐controlled drinking behaviors. Additionally, permissive parenting of the same‐gender parent was associated with AS, which is consistent with the gender‐matching hypothesis. Together, these results underscore the importance of measuring the independent influence of both parents.