bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Acetic acid bacteria encode two levansucrase types of different ecological relationship
Authors: Jakob Frank , Quintero Yamira , Musacchio Alexis , Estrada‐de los Santos Paulina , Hernández Lázaro , Vogel Rudi F. 
Published: August 2019

SummaryAcetic acid bacteria (AAB) are associated with plants and insects. Determinants for the targeting and occupation of these widely different environments are unknown. However, most of these natural habitats share plant‐derived sucrose, which can be metabolized by some AAB via polyfructose building levansucrases (LS) known to be involved in biofilm formation. Here, we propose two LS types (T) encoded by AAB as determinants for habitat selection, which emerged from vertical (T1) and horizontal (T2) lines of evolution and differ in their genetic organization, structural features and secretion mechanism, as well as their occurrence in proteobacteria. T1‐LS are secreted by plant‐pathogenic α‐ and γ‐proteobacteria, while T2‐LS genes are common in diazotrophic, plant‐growth‐promoting α‐, β‐ and γ‐proteobacteria. This knowledge may be exploited for a better understanding of microbial ecology, plant health and biofilm formation by sucrase‐secreting proteobacteria in eukaryotic hosts.
The Causal Effect of Retirement on Health: Understanding the Mechanisms
Authors: Binh Tran Dai , Zikos Vasileios 
Published: August 2019

AbstractThis article examines the direct effects of retirement on health, as well as its indirect effects, through a mediation analysis. Using Australian panel data, analysis reveals that changes in retirement status and retirement duration imply positive causal effects on self‐assessed health as well as physical health and mental health. Gender plays an important role in shaping these relationships. For women, the positive relationship between retirement duration and health can be attributed to physical activity. In contrast, men appear to enjoy better health when staying retired for longer because they participate more in outdoor activities.
The Langevin diffusion as a continuous‐time model of animal movement and habitat selection
Authors: Michelot Théo , Gloaguen Pierre , Blackwell Paul G. , Étienne Marie‐Pierre 
Published: August 2019

Abstract

The utilization distribution of an animal describes the relative probability of space use. It is natural to think of it as the long‐term consequence of the animal's short‐term movement decisions: it is the accumulation of small displacements which, over time, gives rise to global patterns of space use. However, many estimation methods for the utilization distribution either assume the independence of observed locations and ignore the underlying movement (e.g. kernel density estimation), or are based on simple Brownian motion movement rules (e.g. Brownian bridges).

We introduce a new continuous‐time model of animal movement, based on the Langevin diffusion. This stochastic process has an explicit stationary distribution, conceptually analogous to the idea of the utilization distribution, and thus provides an intuitive framework to integrate movement and space use. We model the stationary (utilization) distribution with a resource selection function to link the movement to spatial covariates, and allow inference about habitat preferences of animals.

Standard approximation techniques can be used to derive the pseudo‐likelihood of the Langevin diffusion movement model, and to estimate habitat preference and movement parameters from tracking data. We investigate the performance of the method on simulated data, and discuss its sensitivity to the time scale of the sampling. We present an example of its application to tracking data of Steller sea lions Eumetopias jubatus.

Due to its continuous‐time formulation, this method can be applied to irregular telemetry data. The movement model is specified using a habitat‐dependent utilization distribution, and it provides a rigorous framework to estimate long‐term habitat selection from correlated movement data. The Langevin movement model can be written as a linear model, which allows for very fast inference. Standard tools such as residuals can be used for model checking.
Evaluation of Acute Pain in Patients Undergoing Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Cohort Study
Authors: Luz Rodríguez Acelas Alba , Monteiro Mantovani Vanessa , Cañon Montañez Wilson , Engelman Bruna , Barragan da Silva Marcos , de Abreu Almeida Miriam 
Published: August 2019

PURPOSETo evaluate pain levels in patients who underwent total hip arthroplasty (THA) using the Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC).METHODSProspective cohort study conducted in the surgical hospitalization units of a university hospital in southern Brazil. Twenty‐four patients were evaluated and followed‐up for four consecutive days after THA.FINDINGSA significant difference was found between the first and last evaluations for the outcome pain level (2102). Two indicators also showed statistically significant differences overtime.CONCLUSIONSThe NOC outcome and indicators demonstrated the different pain levels of patients who underwent THA.IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICEThe NOC system is applicable to clinical practice, because it facilitated the follow‐up of patient progression.
Shared gene signature between pterygium and meibomian gland dysfunction uncovered through gene‐expression meta‐analysis
Authors: Zhang Jing , Xiang Jun , Wu Dan , Dai Yiqin , Xu Jianjiang 
Published: August 2019

AbstractBackgroundPterygium and meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) are two clinically correlated ocular diseases. We propose to investigate the shared gene signature between pterygium and MGD.MethodsMicroarray datasets were retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Initial processing of the data was performed using the R programming package. Gene‐expression values were log2 transformed and normalized by quantile normalization. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in each individual dataset were analyzed by the limma package. The integration of different pterygium datasets and gene‐expression meta‐analysis was conducted by the NetworkAnalyst package. A Venn diagram was created to find the overlapped DEGs between MGD and pterygium datasets. Gene ontology enrichment and pathway analysis were performed using the ToppGene Suite.ResultsWe found 193 DEGs significantly up‐regulated in pterygium, with the combined effect sizes ranging from 1.53 to 3.78. A gene signature consisting of 11 DEGs were found to be shared by pterygium and MGD (SPRR3, SERPINB13, NMU, KRT10, IL37, KRT6B, PI3, S100A2, MAL, AURKA, and RGCC), and bioinformatics analyses showed that these overlapped DEGs were significantly enriched in pathways related to keratinization, cell‐cycle regulation, and formation of the cornified envelope.ConclusionWe identified a shared gene signature between pterygium and MGD through gene‐expression meta‐analysis. The analysis of this signature underlined that keratinization‐related pathways may play important roles in the development of these two clinically correlated pathologies.
Systemic arterial blood pressure determines the therapeutic window of non‐selective beta blockers in decompensated cirrhosis
Authors: Tergast Tammo L. , Kimmann Markus , Laser Hans , Gerbel Svetlana , Manns Michael P. , Cornberg Markus , Maasoumy Benjamin 
Published: August 2019

SummaryBackgroundThe safety of non‐selective β‐blockers in patients with advanced cirrhosis has been questioned in recent years. It was hypothesised that there is a particular therapeutic window. However, the specific limits still need to be determined.AimTo evaluate potential limits of the therapeutic window of non‐selective β‐blocker therapy in patients with cirrhosis and ascitesMethodsThe impact of non‐selective β‐blockers on 28‐day transplant‐free survival was analysed in a cohort of 624 consecutive patients with decompensated cirrhosis and ascites. Three potential limits were investigated: spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, acute‐on‐chronic liver failure, mean arterial blood pressure ≤ 82 and < 65 mm Hg.ResultsTreatment with non‐selective β‐blockers was associated with a higher 28‐day transplant‐free survival in the overall cohort (hazard ratio: 0.621; P = .035) as well as in patients with acute‐on‐chronic liver failure (hazard ratio: 0.578; P = .031) and those with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (hazard ratio: 0.594; P = .073). In contrast, survival benefits were markedly attenuated in patients with a mean arterial blood pressure ≤ 82 mm Hg and completely lost in those with mean arterial blood pressure < 65 mm Hg (P = .536). In spontaneous bacterial peritonitis patients with a mean arterial blood pressure < 65 mm Hg non‐selective β‐blocker treatment was associated with renal impairment. Of note, among those with a mean arterial blood pressure ≥ 65 mm Hg non‐selective β‐blocker intake was consistently associated with superior transplant‐free survival (hazard ratio: 0.582; P = .029) irrespective of the presence of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (hazard ratio: 0.435; P = .028) or acute‐on‐chronic liver failure (hazard ratio: 0.480 P = .034).ConclusionsAscites, acute‐on‐chronic liver failure and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis do not limit the safe use of non‐selective β‐blockers in patients with cirrhosis. Mean arterial blood pressure might represent a better indicator to determine the therapeutic window of non‐selective β‐blocker treatment.
Thermal niche variation among individuals of the poison frog, Oophaga pumilio, in forest and converted habitats
Authors: Rivera‐Ordonez Juana M. , Justin Nowakowski A. , Manansala Adrian , Thompson Michelle E. , Todd Brian D. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractThe conversion of natural habitats to human land uses often increases local temperatures, creating novel thermal environments for species. The variable responses of ectotherms to habitat conversion, where some species decline while others persist, can partly be explained by variation among species in their thermal niches. However, few studies have examined thermal niche variation within species and across forest‐land use ecotones, information that could provide clues about the capacity of species to adapt to changing temperatures. Here, we quantify individual‐level variation in thermal traits of the tropical poison frog, Oophaga pumilio, in thermally contrasting habitats. Specifically, we examined local environmental temperatures, field body temperatures (Tb), preferred body temperatures (Tpref), critical thermal maxima (CTmax), and thermal safety margins (TSM) of individuals from warm, converted habitats and cool forests. We found that frogs from converted habitats exhibited greater mean Tb and Tpref than those from forests. In contrast, CTmax and TSM did not differ significantly between habitats. However, CTmax did increase moderately with increasing Tb, suggesting that changes in CTmax may be driven by microscale temperature exposure within habitats rather than by mean habitat conditions. Although O. pumilio exhibited moderate divergence in Tpref, CTmax appears to be less labile between habitats, possibly due to the ability of frogs in converted habitats to maintain their Tb below air temperatures that reach or exceed CTmax. Selective pressures on thermal tolerances may increase, however, with the loss of buffering microhabitats and increased frequency of extreme temperatures expected under future habitat degradation and climate warming.Abstract in Spanish is available with online material.
Depression, anxiety and stress in a cohort of Australian dentistry students
Authors: Stormon Nicole , Ford Pauline J. , Kisely Steve , Bartle Emma , Eley Diann S. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractIntroductionDentistry students face a challenging academic and clinical curriculum that can result in depression and anxiety. While studies usually report sources of stress for dentistry students, there is less information on levels of stress. This study used the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS‐21), to report perceived levels of depression, anxiety and stress in a cohort of Australian undergraduate dentistry students.MethodsStudents enrolled in years 1‐4 of the Bachelor of Dental Science (Honours) program at The University of Queensland were invited to complete the DASS‐21 using an online questionnaire. Students completed the same questionnaire 1 year later.ResultsAt baseline, the mean DASS‐21 scores for this cohort (n = 179; females = 56%) were in the normal range for depression (4.69, SD 3.87) and stress (5.50, SD 3.65), and mild range for anxiety (4.25, SD 3.21). Overall, 24% (n = 42), 44% (n = 78) and 11% (n = 20) of students had moderate or above levels of depression, anxiety and stress, respectively. At 1‐year follow‐up, DASS‐21 scores were not significantly different.ConclusionsDental students have higher levels of depression, anxiety or stress than the general population, indicating they may be at risk for greater psychological distress. The information from this study should guide curriculum and learning environment design, as well as interventions to support students through this challenging degree.
Seasonal changes in the biomass, distribution, and patchiness of zooplankton and fish in four lakes in the Sierra Nevada, California
Authors: Urmy Samuel S. , Warren Joseph D. 
Published: August 2019

Abstract

Zooplankton are important components of lentic ecosystems, affecting phytoplankton, water clarity, and nutrient cycling, as well as transferring primary production to upper trophic levels. Many of these processes are temporally and spatially heterogeneous, but are difficult to observe at fine scales with traditional sampling methods. High‐resolution sampling has been especially rare in remote and high‐altitude lakes.

We measured the vertical distribution of zooplankton and fish in four lakes in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California, U.S.A. (Independence Lake, Lake Tahoe, Cherry Lake, and Lake Eleanor) using a dual‐frequency echosounder, and estimated lake‐wide biomass in all lakes except Tahoe. For zooplankton, we also quantified trends and patchiness in their horizontal distribution. In two of the lakes, Cherry and Eleanor, surveys were repeated four times at seasonal intervals between autumn 2013 and autumn 2014.

Zooplankton were most abundant in these lakes in the spring and summer of 2014, with peak wet‐weight biomasses estimated at 31,000 kg in Lake Eleanor in April and 68,000 kg in Cherry Lake in June. The biomass and vertical distribution of fish also varied, increasing and moving shallower in the water column in June in both Cherry Lake and Lake Eleanor.

Zooplankton density was not horizontally homogeneous, displaying gradients at the lake basin scale (5–6 km), and nested patchiness at a range of smaller scales (0–2 km). This small‐scale spatial variability may be generated biologically, not physically. While it is well‐known that the distribution of zooplankton is often patchy, this aspect of their ecology has not been quantified in most lakes, especially in remote montane locations.

These results illustrate how acoustic sampling can rapidly and simultaneously measure the biomass and spatial distribution of multiple trophic levels in small lakes. This capability provides unique opportunities to study the processes that generate and maintain gradients and patchiness in these components of the ecosystem.
Immunomorphology and molecular biology of mixed primary liver cancers: is Nestin a marker of intermediate‐cell carcinoma?
Authors: Malvi Deborah , de Biase Dario , Fittipaldi Silvia , Grillini Marco , Visani Michela , Pession Annalisa , D'Errico Antonia , Vasuri Francesco 
Published: August 2019

AimsPrimary mixed liver cancers (PLCs), combined hepatocellular‐cholangiocellular (cHCC‐CC) and intermediate‐cell carcinomas are rare tumours characterised by different molecular mechanisms. Nestin is a marker of progenitor cells with a promising application in human tumours. The aims of the present paper are (i) to determine the expression of Nestin in mixed PLCs; and (ii) to correlate the PLC immunoprofile with the gene expression in each tumour component.Methods and resultsWe selected 28 mixed PLCs, 13 (46.4%) cHCC‐CC and 15 (53.6%) intermediate‐cell carcinomas. The immunohistochemistry panel consisted of keratin 7, keratin 19, CD56 and Nestin. Next‐generation sequencing analysis was performed on 17 cases (27 specimens) using a multi‐gene custom panel. The differentiated HCC and CC components of cHCC‐CC were negative for Nestin in all cases. The intermediate areas of cHCC‐CC were immunoreactive for Nestin in 92.3% of cases, for CD56 in 76.9% and for K7/K19 in all cases. The immunoprofile of the intermediate‐cell carcinomas showed 73.3% of cases positive for Nestin and 66.7% for CD56. TP53 and TERT were the most frequently mutated genes (31.3% and 17.6% of samples, respectively). Mutations were also found in IDH1, IDH2, PIK3CA and NRAS genes. Intermediate and HCC areas of cHCC‐CC seemed to share the same mutational profile, and both harboured different mutations than the CC component.ConclusionsAccording to our preliminary data, Nestin was not expressed by hepatocellular or cholangiocellular‐cell components, but was expressed by most of the intermediate cells in PLCs, and therefore could be considered in the differential diagnosis of PLCs, together with mutational profile.
Ribavirin facilitates early viral kinetics in chronic hepatitis C patients receiving daclatasvir/asunaprevir
Authors: Huang Chung‐Feng , Yeh Ming‐Lun , Huang Ching‐I , Liang Po‐Cheng , Lin Yi‐Hung , Hsieh Ming‐Yen , Chen Kuan‐Yu , Ko Yu‐Min , Lin Zu‐Yau , Chen Shinn‐Cherng , Huang Jee‐Fu , Dai Chia‐Yen , Chuang Wan‐Long , Yu Ming‐Lung 
Published: August 2019

AbstractBackground and AimRibavirin (RBV) remains crucial in difficult‐to‐cure chronic hepatitis C patients receiving directly acting antivirals (DAAs). The current study aimed to address whether RBV enhanced early viral kinetics in patients with DAAs.MethodsHepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype‐1b patients were allocated to daclatasvir/asunaprevir +weight‐based RBV (1000–1200 mg/day) for 12–24 weeks. HCV RNA levels were compared at day 1, week 1, week 2, and week 4 of treatment.ResultsThe sustained virological response rate was 100% (67/67) and 96.7% (59/61) in the RBV and non‐RBV group, respectively. The HCV RNA levels at treatment week 2 (W2) were significantly lower in the RBV group than in the non‐RBV group (0.42 ± 0.81 log IU/mL vs 0.79 ± 1.03 log IU/mL, P = 0.04). Among the intermediate responders who remained to have detectable RNA after W1 of treatment, patients with RBV had a significantly higher rate of undetectable HCV RNA (71.4% vs 36.0%, P = 0.003) and lower HCV RNA level at W2 (0.55 ± 0.89 log IU/mL vs 1.32 ± 1.04 log IU/mL, P = 0.001). A more significant magnitude of HCV RNA reduction was also noted from baseline to day 1 (3.15 ± 0.38 log IU/mL vs 2.80 ± 0.70 log IU/mL, P = 0.009) and W1 to W2 (1.40 ± 0.65 log IU/mL vs 0.88 ± 0.78 log IU/mL, P = 0.007) in the RBV group compared to the non‐RBV group among the intermediate responders. Logistic regression analysis revealed that adding RBV independently predicted undetectable HCV RNA at W2 (odds ratio/confidence interval: 4.74/1.54–14.57, P = 0.007) in the intermediate responders.ConclusionsAdding RBV to DAAs improved early viral kinetic, in particular, for intermediate responders.
Earthquakes, grants, and public expenditure: How municipalities respond to natural disasters
Authors: Masiero Giuliano , Santarossa Michael 
Published: August 2019

AbstractWe analyze the response of municipalities to the occurrence of natural disasters in terms of spending behavior, use of upper‐tier transfers and recovery, using balance sheet data of about 8,000 Italian municipalities for the period 2000–2015, and the universe of earthquakes events. We find evidence of increasing expenditure for about 12 years after the shocks, with asymmetric responses between earthquake‐related and unconditional grants, and heterogeneous flypaper effects across the country. While in northern municipalities expenditure tends to regress to pre‐earthquake levels, southern municipalities stick to higher expenditure levels when grants drop. This evidence is coupled with a faster recovery of private income and housing prices in northern municipalities.
Distribution of Practice Effects in the Acquisition and Retention of L2 Mandarin Tonal Word Production
Authors: LI MAN , DEKEYSER ROBERT 
Published: August 2019

AbstractThis study investigated the effects of temporal distribution of practice on the learning and retention of Mandarin tonal word production. Eighty native English‐speaking adults with no prior knowledge of a tonal language participated in this study. They were randomly assigned to four experimental conditions varying in intersession interval (ISI) and retention interval (RI): Condition A with a 1‐day ISI and a 1‐week RI, Condition B with a 1‐day ISI and a 4‐week RI, Condition C with a 1‐week ISI and a 1‐week RI, and Condition D with a 1‐week ISI and a 4‐week RI. Participants underwent 3 training sessions followed by a final retention test. Results showed that the effects of ISI and RI differed depending on the type of knowledge to be retained. For the retention of declarative knowledge, RI had a robust effect: the longer the RI, the worse the retention. Compared to shorter spaced practice (1‐day ISI), longer spaced practice (1‐week ISI) seemed to improve long‐term retention (4‐week RI) of declarative knowledge; however, this ISI effect was much weaker. For procedural knowledge retention, ISI played an important role, but not RI, and it was the shorter spaced practice schedule that had an advantage over the longer spaced practice schedule.
Should We Listen or Read? Modality Effects in Implicit and Explicit Knowledge
Authors: KIM KATHY MINHYE , GODFROID ALINE 
Published: August 2019

AbstractWe examined the role of modality in learning second language (L2) grammar and forming implicit (unconscious) and explicit (conscious) knowledge. To this end, we isolated the effects of the physical medium of input (i.e., aural or visual) from those of the presentation method (i.e., word‐by‐word or simultaneous). We also explored the role of test modality in L2 performance, by including L2 knowledge tests in both aural and visual modes. Native English speakers engaged in meaning‐focused integrated practice of 3 German syntactic rules. In Experiment 1, learners were given aural or visual word‐by‐word (rapid serial visual presentation; RSVP) input and in Experiment 2, they were given aural or natural written input. We found evidence of learning across all 4 groups, but different types of resultant knowledge. In particular, learners gained explicit knowledge in all input modalities, yet only those trained with natural written input also developed robust implicit knowledge. We conclude that the permanence of visual input may be a critical advantage for beginning learners to develop implicit knowledge of word order rules. Support in the form of written materials can ease the cognitive burden on beginning learners, with better outcomes as a result.