bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Microbial alkane production for jet fuel industry: motivation, state of the art and perspectives
Authors: Jiménez‐Díaz Lorena , Caballero Antonio , Pérez‐Hernández Natalia , Segura Ana 
Published: October 2016

SummaryBio‐jet fuel has attracted a lot of interest in recent years and has become a focus for aircraft and engine manufacturers, oil companies, governments and researchers. Given the global concern about environmental issues and the instability of oil market, bio‐jet fuel has been identified as a promising way to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from the aviation industry, while also promoting energy security. Although a number of bio‐jet fuel sources have been approved for manufacture, their commercialization and entry into the market is still a far way away. In this review, we provide an overview of the drivers for intensified research into bio‐jet fuel technologies, the type of chemical compounds found in bio‐jet fuel preparations and the current state of related pre‐commercial technologies. The biosynthesis of hydrocarbons is one of the most promising approaches for bio‐jet fuel production, and thus we provide a detailed analysis of recent advances in the microbial biosynthesis of hydrocarbons (with a focus on alkanes). Finally, we explore the latest developments and their implications for the future of research into bio‐jet fuel technologies.
Development of genomic tools in a widespread tropical tree, Symphonia globulifera L.f.: a new low‐coverage draft genome, SNP and SSR markers
Authors: Olsson Sanna , Seoane‐Zonjic Pedro , Bautista Rocío , Claros M. Gonzalo , González‐Martínez Santiago C. , Scotti Ivan , Scotti‐Saintagne Caroline , Hardy Olivier J. , Heuertz Myriam 
Published: October 2016

AbstractPopulation genetic studies in tropical plants are often challenging because of limited information on taxonomy, phylogenetic relationships and distribution ranges, scarce genomic information and logistic challenges in sampling. We describe a strategy to develop robust and widely applicable genetic markers based on a modest development of genomic resources in the ancient tropical tree species Symphonia globulifera L.f. (Clusiaceae), a keystone species in African and Neotropical rainforests. We provide the first low‐coverage (11X) fragmented draft genome sequenced on an individual from Cameroon, covering 1.027 Gbp or 67.5% of the estimated genome size. Annotation of 565 scaffolds (7.57 Mbp) resulted in the prediction of 1046 putative genes (231 of them containing a complete open reading frame) and 1523 exact simple sequence repeats (SSRs, microsatellites). Aligning a published transcriptome of a French Guiana population against this draft genome produced 923 high‐quality single nucleotide polymorphisms. We also preselected genic SSRs in silico that were conserved and polymorphic across a wide geographical range, thus reducing marker development tests on rare DNA samples. Of 23 SSRs tested, 19 amplified and 18 were successfully genotyped in four S. globulifera populations from South America (Brazil and French Guiana) and Africa (Cameroon and São Tomé island, FST = 0.34). Most loci showed only population‐specific deviations from Hardy–Weinberg proportions, pointing to local population effects (e.g. null alleles). The described genomic resources are valuable for evolutionary studies in Symphonia and for comparative studies in plants. The methods are especially interesting for widespread tropical or endangered taxa with limited DNA availability.
An evaluation of extension services in Sweden
Authors: Nordin Martin , Höjgård Sören 
Published: October 2016

AbstractThis article analyzes the effects of extension services regarding the use of nutrients in Swedish agriculture on nutrient balances and farms’ finances. The key to our research design is that extension visits vary between agents (some agents give more consultation than others), which leads to random variation in “treatment.” We find that the service affects nutrient utilization, which possibly reduces leakages and eutrophication in the Baltic Sea. A large and positive impact on farms value added implies that the net benefit from the extension services is positive. The improvements are mainly due to better land management practices so that more efficient use of fertilizers increases crop production and thereby decreases the nitrogen balance.
Self‐protection from weather risk using improved maize varieties or off‐farm income and the propensity for insurance
Authors: Awondo Sebastain N. , Ramirez Octavio A. , Colson Gregory J. , Fonsah Esendugue G. , Kostandini Genti 
Published: October 2016

AbstractWe investigate how self‐protection from the adoption of Improved Maize Varieties (IMV) and off‐farm income affects risk premiums for smallholder maize producers in Uganda. To unbundle these effects, we specify the cost of risk to explicitly capture four risk components—mean, variance, skewness, and kurtosis. Using unique plot‐level panel data for Uganda, we estimate and test moments of a flexible production function based on an expanded form of the Johnson SU family distribution and proceed to simulate the degree of responsiveness of risk premiums and welfare estimates to marginal changes in the share of land under IMV and off‐farm income. Scenarios of joint adoption of IMV accompanied with low and high application of inorganic fertilizer, and the effect of off‐farm income when there is high and low supply of farm labor are examined. Results show that the use of IMV and off‐farm income substantially reduces risk premiums and the individual effect is much higher under low fertilizer application and high supply of farm labor, respectively. Thus implying that self‐protection is likely to reduce the propensity for index insurance especially if its design fails to consider the reduction in downside risk.
Adding self‐management of chronic conditions to fall prevention: A feasibility study
Authors: Wurzer Birgit Maria , Waters Debra Lynn , Robertson Linda , Hale Beatrice , Hale Leigh Anne 
Published: October 2016

ObjectiveAssess feasibility and impact of adding a long‐term condition self‐management program (Living a Healthy Life, LHL) into Steady as You Go (SAYGO) fall prevention exercise classes.MethodsFour‐day LHL leader training workshop to deliver six weekly program. Focus groups explored feasibility and acceptability. Chronic disease self‐efficacy, balance confidence, health behaviours and status were measured at 6 weeks, 3, 6 and 12 months.ResultsFour leaders and 17 participants volunteered. Focus groups revealed that becoming a leader was considered stressful. Participants valued discussions about managing health, strategies for better communication with doctors, keeping track of medications, action plans and nutrition labels. Between 6‐week and 12‐month follow‐up, self‐rated health increased.ConclusionAlthough participants valued LHL information, the low participation rates, time commitment and stress of becoming a leader and leading classes suggest that adding LHL to other fall prevention programs will need further consideration around integration of the programs.
Preference of cattle grazing conterminous monocultures of centipedegrass (Eremochloa ophiuroides) and bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum) with contrasting regrowth durations
Authors: Hirata Masahiko , Kunieda Eri , Tobisa Manabu 
Published: October 2016

AbstractThis study conducted four experiments to assess preference of cattle between centipedegrass (Eremochloa ophiuroides; CG) and bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum; BG) under manipulated vegetation conditions. In each experiment, three Japanese Black cows (Bos taurus) were individually allowed to graze four plots of conterminous monocultures of CG and BG (30 min for each 10 × 10 m plot). Vegetation of the plots was the combinations of two patch sizes (coarse and fine; 5 × 10 m and 5 × 5 m, respectively) × two relative availabilities of the grasses (CGtall/BGshort and CGshort/BGtall). Tall and short patches were created by varying regrowth durations after cutting, and almost always offered a clear CG–BG contrast in availability (height and mass) and quality (digestibility and protein) with the trade‐off relationship. Cows always preferred or equally selected CG to BG, with the preference being affected by the relative availability of grasses in three of the four experiments but not by the patch size at all. Test of intake rate maximization on both short‐term and daily bases indicated that cows chose between the grasses to simultaneously enhance daily potential intake of dry matter, digestible energy and protein. The results strengthen the value of CG as a forage.
Combined burning and mowing for restoration of abandoned semi‐natural grasslands
Authors: Koyama Asuka , Koyanagi Tomoyo F. , Akasaka Munemitsu , Takada Masayuki , Okabe Kimiko 
Published: October 2016

AbstractQuestionsDoes reintroducing grassland management aid in the recovery of vegetation with high grassland species diversity in abandoned semi‐natural grasslands? How do management tools and local topographic factors influence the magnitude of recovery? Do effective restoration tools and sites differ depending on measurement indices (community‐ and species‐level responses)?LocationSemi‐natural grasslands surrounding Mt. Aso, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan.MethodsWe conducted vegetation surveys in grassland sites with two land‐use forms (continuously managed/restored after abandonment) and two management types (burning only/burning and mowing). We assessed restoration success by examining plant species composition using the similarity index. We also examined the community‐level (i.e. species richness) and species‐level (i.e. species occurrence) responses to land‐use form, management type and local topographic factors (elevation and slope aspect).ResultsReintroduction of grassland management can recover the plant species composition of restored sites. Combined burning and mowing management was a principal determinant of the species richness and occurrence of most grassland species. A north‐facing slope was a clear topographic determinant of higher species richness. However, we also found that the presence of some of the grassland's endangered species (i.e. Achillea alpina subsp. subcartilaginea, Artemisia stolonifera and Viola orientalis) was limited in continuously managed sites and that the response to topographic factors was species‐specific.ConclusionsThe reintroduction of combined burning and mowing management in various topographic areas is essential for both plant diversity recovery and local endangered species conservation for the restoration of abandoned semi‐natural grasslands. Our results also suggest that selecting restoration sites on northern slopes can enhance the recovery of plant species diversity.
Mammalian‐target of rapamycin inhibition with temsirolimus in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) patients is associated with considerable toxicity: results of the temsirolimus pilot trial by the German MDS Study Group (D‐MDS)
Authors: Wermke Martin , Schuster Claudia , Nolte Florian , Al‐Ali Haifa‐Kathrin , Kiewe Philipp , Schönefeldt Claudia , Jakob Christiane , von Bonin Malte , Hentschel Leopold , Klut Ina‐Maria , Ehninger Gerhard , Bornhäuser Martin , Baretton Gustavo , Germing Ulrich , Herbst Regina , Haase Detelef , Hofmann Wolf K. , Platzbecker Uwe 
Published: October 2016

SummaryThe mammalian‐target of rapamycin (also termed mechanistic target of rapamycin, mTOR) pathway integrates various pro‐proliferative and anti‐apoptotic stimuli and is involved in regulatory T‐cell (TREG) development. As these processes contribute to the pathogenesis of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), we hypothesized that mTOR modulation with temsirolimus (TEM) might show activity in MDS. This prospective multicentre trial enrolled lower and higher risk MDS patients, provided that they were transfusion‐dependent/neutropenic or relapsed/refractory to 5‐azacitidine, respectively. All patients received TEM at a weekly dose of 25 mg. Of the 9 lower‐ and 11 higher‐risk patients included, only 4 (20%) reached the response assessment after 4 months of treatment and showed stable disease without haematological improvement. The remaining patients discontinued TEM prematurely due to adverse events. Median overall survival (OS) was not reached in the lower‐risk group and 296 days in the higher‐risk group. We observed a significant decline of bone marrow (BM) vascularisation (P = 0·006) but were unable to demonstrate a significant impact of TEM on the balance between TREG and pro‐inflammatory T‐helper‐cell subsets within the peripheral blood or BM. We conclude that mTOR‐modulation with TEM at a dose of 25 mg per week is accompanied by considerable toxicity and has no beneficial effects in elderly MDS patients.
What emotional tears convey: Tearful individuals are seen as warmer, but also as less competent
Authors: van de Ven Niels , Meijs Maartje H. J. , Vingerhoets Ad 
Published: October 2016

Earlier research found that the mere sight of tears promotes the willingness to provide support to the person shedding the tears. Other research, however, found that deliberate responses towards tearful persons could be more negative as well. We think this is because tears have ambivalent effects on person perception: We predicted that tearful people are seen as warmer, but also as less competent. In three studies, we asked participants (total N = 1,042) to form their impression of someone based on a picture. The depicted person either displayed visible tears, or the tears had been digitally removed. Tearful individuals were perceived as being warmer, but also as less competent. In Study 2, we also added a measure of perceived sadness. Seeing a tearful face increased perceived sadness, and this (partially) explained the reduction in perceived competence of the target person. There was no such indirect effect of the tear on perceived warmth via perceived sadness. Study 3 found that people would be more likely to approach a tearful person to offer help than a tearless individual. At the same time, tearful individuals would be more likely to be avoided in situations in which the observer needs assistance for an important task.
Amiselimod, a novel sphingosine 1‐phosphate receptor‐1 modulator, has potent therapeutic efficacy for autoimmune diseases, with low bradycardia risk
Authors: Sugahara Kunio , Maeda Yasuhiro , Shimano Kyoko , Mogami Akira , Kataoka Hirotoshi , Ogawa Kei , Hikida Kumiko , Kumagai Hiroshi , Asayama Mahoko , Yamamoto Toshinobu , Harada Tomohiko , Ni Pingping , Inoue Shinsuke , Kawaguchi Atsuhiro 
Published: October 2016

Background and PurposeWe conducted preclinical and clinical studies to examine the pharmacological, particularly cardiac, effects of amiselimod (MT‐1303), a second‐generation sphingosine 1‐phosphate (S1P) receptor modulator, designed to reduce the bradycardia associated with fingolimod and other S1P receptor modulators.Experimental ApproachThe selectivity of the active metabolite amiselimod phosphate (amiselimod‐P) for human S1P receptors and activation of G‐protein‐coupled inwardly rectifying K+ (GIRK) channels in human atrial myocytes were assessed. Its cardiac distribution was determined in rats, and cardiovascular telemetry was assessed in monkeys. We also examined the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and safety of amiselimod in healthy humans.Key ResultsAmiselimod‐P showed potent selectivity for S1P1 and high selectivity for S1P5 receptors, with minimal agonist activity for S1P4 and no distinct agonist activity for S1P2 or S1P3 receptors and approximately five‐fold weaker GIRK activation than fingolimod‐P. After oral administration of amiselimod or fingolimod at 1 mg·kg−1, the concentration of amiselimod‐P in rat heart tissue was lower than that of fingolimod‐P, potentially contributing to the minimal cardiac effects of amiselimod. A telemetry study in monkeys confirmed that amiselimod did not affect heart rate or ECG parameters. In healthy human subjects, peripheral blood lymphocyte counts gradually reduced over the 21 day dosing period, with similar lymphocyte count profiles with the highest doses by day 21, and no clinically significant bradycardia observed on day 1 or during the study.Conclusions and ImplicationsAmiselimod exhibited potent therapeutic efficacy with minimal cardiac effects at the anticipated clinical dose and is unlikely to require dose titration.
Logging impacts on avian species richness and composition differ across latitudes and foraging and breeding habitat preferences
Authors: LaManna Joseph A. , Martin Thomas E. 
Published: October 2016

ABSTRACTUnderstanding the causes underlying changes in species diversity is a fundamental pursuit of ecology. Animal species richness and composition often change with decreased forest structural complexity associated with logging. Yet differences in latitude and forest type may strongly influence how species diversity responds to logging. We performed a meta‐analysis of logging effects on local species richness and composition of birds across the world and assessed responses by different guilds (nesting strata, foraging strata, diet, and body size). This approach allowed identification of species attributes that might underlie responses to this anthropogenic disturbance. We only examined studies that allowed forests to regrow naturally following logging, and accounted for logging intensity, spatial extent, successional regrowth after logging, and the change in species composition expected due to random assembly from regional species pools. Selective logging in the tropics and clearcut logging in temperate latitudes caused loss of species from nearly all forest strata (ground to canopy), leading to substantial declines in species richness (up to 27% of species). Few species were lost or gained following any intensity of logging in lower‐latitude temperate forests, but the relative abundances of these species changed substantially. Selective logging at higher‐temperate latitudes generally replaced late‐successional specialists with early‐successional specialists, leading to no net changes in species richness but large changes in species composition. Removing less basal area during logging mitigated the loss of avian species from all forests and, in some cases, increased diversity in temperate forests. This meta‐analysis provides insights into the important role of habitat specialization in determining differential responses of animal communities to logging across tropical and temperate latitudes.
Overt and Relational Victimization: A Meta‐Analytic Review of Their Overlap and Associations With Social–Psychological Adjustment
Authors: Casper Deborah M. , Card Noel A. 
Published: October 2016

This meta‐analytic review includes 135 studies, representing 17 countries, of child and adolescent (ages 4–17) samples of overt and relational peer victimization and examines the magnitude of overlap between forms of victimization and associations with five social–psychological adjustment indices. Results indicate a strong intercorrelation between forms of victimization ( = .72). No gender difference with regard to relational victimization was found, but boys were slightly higher in overt victimization. Overt victimization is more strongly associated with overt aggression; relational victimization is more strongly related to internalizing problems, lower levels of received prosocial behavior from peers, and relational aggression. Both forms are related to externalizing problems. Age and method of assessment were explored as potential sources of variability in effect sizes.
Toward a genetic understanding of dental fear: evidence of heritability
Authors: Randall Cameron L. , Shaffer John R. , McNeil Daniel W. , Crout Richard J. , Weyant Robert J. , Marazita Mary L. 
Published: October 2016

AbstractObjectivesDental fear is a prevalent problem that impacts dental treatment‐seeking behavior and thus oral, systemic, and psychological health. Among other important predictors, fear of pain has been shown to be a critical component of dental fear. While learning history (id est, past experience) is known to shape development and maintenance of dental fear and fear of pain, minimal work has addressed genetic etiological variables for these healthcare‐related anxieties. With the aim of coming to a more complete conceptualization of dental fear, this study assessed the heritability of dental fear and fear of pain and elucidated the role of genetics in the relation between the constructs.MethodsParticipants (n= 1370; 827 female), aged 11–74 years (M= 29.2,SD= 12.2), in a family‐based cohort study completed measures of dental fear and fear of pain. Heritability and genetic correlation were estimated using likelihood‐based methods under the variance components framework.ResultsDental fear was 30% heritable (P< 0.001) and fear of pain was 34% heritable (P< 0.001). Notably, there was substantial genetic correlation between dental fear and fear of pain, ρG= 0.67, suggesting they are genetically related, but likely are distinct phenotypes.ConclusionsIt is clear that, in addition to environmental factors, genetic influences are important in the etiology of dental fear and anxiety and should be considered in future studies of fear and anxiety associated with dental treatment and, potentially, interventions aimed at reducing distress that is a barrier to dental treatment utilization.
Wound temperature profiles of coaxial mini‐incision versus sleeveless microincision phacoemulsification
Authors: Belkin Avner , Abulafia Adi , Michaeli Adi , Ofir Shay , Assia Ehud I 
Published: October 2016

AbstractBackgroundTemperature profiles at the corneal wound of coaxial mini‐incision (2.4 mm) cataract surgery and sleeveless microincision (1.1 mm) cataract surgery were compared.DesignProspective, controlled, paired‐eye clinical trial conducted in a tertiary care hospital.ParticipantsTwenty patients with mild‐to‐moderate bilateral nuclear sclerotic cataract.MethodsTwenty patients underwent bilateral cataract surgery within a 1‐month period. One eye was operated on by conventional coaxial mini‐incision (2.4 mm) phacoemulsification. The second eye underwent microincision surgery by using a naked phacoemulsification tip and a specialized 19‐gauge anterior chamber maintainer as the sole fluid source (three‐port microincision cataract surgery technique). Patients had moderate bilateral cataracts with no other anterior segment pathology. Temperature at the corneal wound was constantly recorded by using infrared thermal imaging.Main Outcome MeasuresTemperatures at the corneal wound.ResultsMean temperatures at the corneal surgical wound were not significantly different between the coaxial and sleeveless groups (31.1 °C ± 2.3 vs. 31.0 °C ± 2. 0; P = 0.89). There was also no difference in maximum temperatures reached during phaco‐emulsification. Temperatures did not rise above 40 °C during any surgery, and there were no corneal burns. Final visual acuity and intraoperative and postoperative complication rates were similar between the two groups.ConclusionsThe temperature profile at the surgical wound using a microincisional sleeveless phacoemulsification technique is comparable with that of the conventional coaxial mini‐incision method.