bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Modeling the symmetric relation between Baltic Exchange indexes
Authors: Pourkermani Kasra 
Published: July 2022

PurposeThis research provides some evidence by the vine copula approach, suggesting the significant and symmetric causal relation between subsections of Baltic Exchange and hence concluding that investing in different indexes, which is currently a risk diversification system, is not a correct risk reduction strategy.Design/methodology/approachThe daily observations of Baltic Capesize Index (BCI), Baltic Handysize Index (BHSI), Baltic Dirty Tanker Index (BDTI) and Baltic LNG Tanker Index (BLNG) over an eight-year period have been used. After collecting data, calculating the return and estimating the marginal distribution of return rates for each of the indexes applying asymmetric power generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity and autoregressive moving average (APGARCH-ARMA), and with the assumption of skew student's t-distribution, the dependence of Baltic indexes was modeled based on Vine-R structures.FindingsA positive and symmetrical correlation was observed between the study groups. High and low tail dependence is observed between all four indexes. In other words, the sector business groups associated with each of these indexes react similarly to the extreme events of other groups. The BHSI has a pivotal role in examining the dependency structure of Baltic Exchange indexes. That is, in addition to the direct dependence of Baltic groups, the dependence of each group on the BHSI can transmit accidents and shocks to other groups.Practical implicationsSince the Baltic Exchange indexes are tradable, these findings have implications for portfolio design and hedging strategies for investors in shipping markets.Originality/valueVine copula structures proves the causal relationship between different Baltic Exchange indexes, which are derived from different types of markets.
Environmental conditions and male quality traits simultaneously explain variation of multiple colour signals in male lizards
Authors: Badiane Arnaud , Dupoué Andréaz , Blaimont Pauline , Miles Donald B. , Gilbert Anthony L. , Leroux‐Coyau Mathieu , Kawamoto Anna , Rozen‐Rechels David , Meylan Sandrine , Clobert Jean , Le Galliard Jean‐François 
Published: July 2022

Abstract

Male lizards often display multiple pigment‐based and structural colour signals which may reflect various quality traits (e.g. performance, parasitism), with testosterone (T) often mediating these relationships. Furthermore, environmental conditions can explain colour signal variation by affecting processes such as signal efficacy, thermoregulation and camouflage. The relationships between colour signals, male quality traits and environmental factors have often been analysed in isolation, but simultaneous analyses are rare. Thus, the response of multiple colour signals to variation in all these factors in an integrative analysis remains to be investigated.

Here, we investigated how multiple colour signals relate to their information content, examined the role of T as a potential mediator of these relationships and how environmental factors explain colour signal variation.

We performed an integrative study to examine the covariation between three colour signals (melanin‐based black, carotenoid‐based yellow–orange and structural UV), physiological performance, parasitism, T levels and environmental factors (microclimate, forest cover) in male common lizards Zootoca vivipara from 13 populations.

We found that the three colour signals conveyed information on different aspects of male condition, supporting a multiple message hypothesis. T influenced only parasitism, suggesting that T does not directly mediate the relationships between colour signals and their information content. Moreover, colour signals became more saturated in forested habitats, suggesting an adaptation to degraded light conditions, and became generally brighter in mesic conditions, in contradiction with the thermal melanism hypothesis.

We show that distinct individual quality traits and environmental factors simultaneously explain variations of multiple colour signals with different production modes. Our study therefore highlights the complexity of colour signal evolution, involving various sets of selective pressures acting at the same time, but in different ways depending on colour production mechanism.
Ecological traits explain long‐term phenological trends in solitary bees
Authors: Dorian Nicholas N. , McCarthy Max W. , Crone Elizabeth E. 
Published: July 2022

Abstract

Across taxa, the timing of life‐history events (phenology) is changing in response to warming temperatures. However, little is known about drivers of variation in phenological trends among species.

We analysed 168 years of museum specimen and sighting data to evaluate the patterns of phenological change in 70 species of solitary bees that varied in three ecological traits: diet breadth (generalist or specialist), seasonality (spring, summer or fall) and nesting location (above‐ground or below‐ground). We estimated changes in onset, median, end and duration of each bee species' annual activity (flight duration) using quantile regression.

To determine whether ecological traits could explain phenological trends, we compared average trends across species groups that differed in a single trait. We expected that specialist bees would be constrained by their host plants' phenology and would show weaker phenological change than generalist species. We expected phenological advances in spring and delays in summer and fall. Lastly, we expected stronger shifts in above‐ground versus below‐ground nesters.

Across all species, solitary bees have advanced their phenology by 0.43 days/decade. Since 1970, this advancement has increased fourfold to 1.62 days/decade. Solitary bees have also lengthened their flight period by 0.44 days/decade. Seasonality and nesting location explained variation in trends among species. Spring‐ and summer‐active bees tended to advance their phenology, whereas fall‐active bees tended to delay. Above‐ground nesting species experienced stronger advances than below‐ground nesting bees in spring; however, the opposite was true in summer. Diet breadth was not associated with patterns of phenological change.

Our study has two key implications. First, an increasing activity period of bees across the flight season means that bee communities will potentially provide pollination services for a longer period of time during the year. And, since phenological trends in solitary bees can be explained by some ecological traits, our study provides insight into mechanisms underpinning population viability of insect pollinators in a changing world.
Gene expression in the microbial consortia of colonial Microcystis aeruginosa‐a potential buoyant particulate biofilm
Authors: Shi Limei , Cai Yuanfeng , Gao Shengling , Fang Daoyan , Lu Yaping , Li Pengfu , Wu Qinglong L. 
Published: July 2022

AbstractMicrocystis spp., notorious bloom‐forming cyanobacteria, are often present in colony form in eutrophic lakes worldwide. Uncovering the mechanisms underlying Microcystis colony formation and maintenance is vital to controlling the blooms, but it has long been a challenge. Here, bacterial communities and gene expression patterns of colonial and unicellular forms of one non‐axenic strain of Microcystis aeruginosa isolated from Lake Taihu were compared. Evidently, different microbial communities between them were observed through 16S rDNA MiSeq sequencing. Metatranscriptome analyses revealed that transcripts for pathways involved in bacterial biofilm formation, such as biosynthesis of peptidoglycan and arginine by Bacteroidetes, methionine biosynthesis, alginate metabolism, flagellum, and motility, as well as widespread colonization islands by Proteobacteria, were highly enriched in the colonial form. Furthermore, transcripts for nitrogen fixation and denitrification pathways by Proteobacteria that usually occur in biofilms were significantly enriched in the colonial Microcystis. Results revealed that microbes associated with Microcystis colonies play important roles through regulation of biofilm‐related genes in colony formation and maintenance. Moreover, Microcystis colony represents a potential ‘buoyant particulate biofilm’, which is a good model for biofilm studies. The biofilm features of colonial Microcystis throw a new light on management and control of the ubiquitous blooms in eutrophic waters.
Responses of dinoflagellate cells to ultraviolet‐C irradiation
Authors: Kwok Alvin Chun Man , Li Chongping , Lam Wing Tai , Wong Joseph Tin Yum 
Published: July 2022

AbstractDinoflagellates are important aquatic microbes and major harmful algal bloom (HAB) agents that form invasive species through ship ballast transfer. UV‐C installations are recommended for ballast treatments and HAB controls, but there is a lack of knowledge in dinoflagellate responses to UV‐C. We report here dose‐dependent cell cycle delay and viability loss of dinoflagellate cells irradiated with UV‐C, with significant proliferative reduction at 800 Jm−2 doses or higher, but immediate LD50 was in the range of 2400–3200 Jm−2. At higher dosages, some dinoflagellate cells surprisingly survived after days of recovery incubation, and continued viability loss, with samples exhibiting DNA fragmentations per proliferative resumption. Sequential cell cycle postponements, suggesting DNA damages were repaired over one cell cycle, were revealed with flow cytometric analysis and transcriptomic analysis. Over a sustained level of other DNA damage repair pathways, transcript elevation was observed only for several components of base pair repair and mismatch repair. Cumulatively, our findings demonstrated special DNA damage responses in dinoflagellate cells, which we discussed in relation to their unique chromo‐genomic characters, as well as indicating resilience of dinoflagellate cells to UV‐C.
Police ça Change? Cressida Dick, Institutional Racism and the Metropolitan Police
Authors: Akram Sadiya 
Published: July 2022

AbstractThis article considers the recent resignation of Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Cressida Dick, and places this event within the context of ongoing attempts to address institutional racism in the police. The article argues that successive police commissioners have publicly supported tackling institutional racism while maintaining serious reservations about the concept and, in the case of Dick, ultimately rejecting it. It goes on to show that Dick's record on tackling institutional racism has been partial and contradictory, focussing on recruitment of ethnic minorities whilst simultaneously increasing use of stop and search tactics. Institutional racism, I argue, is a useful, but frequently misunderstood concept. Institutional reform, however, is possible if we recognise that everyday individuals actively create and maintain institutions, which is to be contrasted with the conventional approach to institutional reform where it is the institution that moulds or reforms the individual. As such, reforming the police requires starting at the bottom as well as the top.
Populism, Conservatism and the Politics of Parole in England and Wales
Authors: Annison Harry , Guiney Thomas 
Published: July 2022

AbstractReform of the parole system has emerged as the cause célèbre of a resurgent law and order politics. Successive governments have seized upon the symbolic power of parole to demonstrate ‘toughness’ with respect to violent and sexual offending, to express solidarity with the victims of crime and reaffirm a populist credo that purportedly stands in opposition to an unaccountable and out of touch penal elite. Published in March 2022, the Ministry of Justice Root and Branch Review of the Parole System represents a continuation of this well‐rehearsed political strategy, but arguably goes further than ever before in its willingness to dispense with established norms, rules and practices. This article surveys the contemporary politics of parole in England and Wales and reflects upon what these developments reveal about the shifting contours of a creeping authoritarian conservatism premised upon nostalgia, nationalism and the projection of a strong, centralised state.
Identification and antibiotic resistance of Cronobacter spp. isolated from dried edible mushrooms
Authors: Jiang Hua , Xiang Yue , He Xiaojuan , Li Chencheng , Lin Fuxing , Shao Jihong , Li Yuanhong 
Published: July 2022

AbstractCronobacter spp. is an important foodborne pathogen that can cause life‐threatening diseases in infants and immunocompromised adults. The present study was carried out to understand the prevalence and characterization of Cronobacter spp. in dried edible mushrooms in Jiangsu province, China. Cronobacter isolates were identified and genotyped by multilocus sequence typing (MLST); the antimicrobial susceptibility of Cronobacter strains was determined by the disk diffusion method; the biofilm formation ability of Cronobacter spp. was assessed using the microtiter plate method. The overall prevalence of Cronobacter spp. in dried edible mushrooms was 14.8%, with the highest contamination rate of after 37.2% found in Auricularia auricular. The Cronobacter isolates were identified as C. sakazakii (n = 26), C. malonaticus (n = 2), C. dublinensis (n = 2) and C. turicensis (n = 1). The MLST scheme produced 20 sequence types (STs), two of which were newly identified. ST148 was the most prevalent ST (n = 5), followed by ST4 (n = 3), ST17 (n = 3), ST64 (n = 3), and ST540 (n = 2). One (3.2%) and 15 (48.4%) Cronobacter isolates were resistant to tetracycline and meropenem, respectively. In contrast, all of the tested isolates were susceptible to the remaining 14 antibiotics. Moreover, 20 (64.5%) Cronobacter isolates showed weak ability to produce biofilm, but no isolates showed strong or moderate biofilm‐forming ability.Practical ApplicationOur findings revealed a high genetic diversity of Cronobacter spp. in dried edible mushrooms and provided new epidemiological evidence for the widespread existence of Cronobacter spp. in such products. The presence of Cronobacter spp. in dried edible mushrooms may pose potential risks to human health and enhancing the hygiene of such products are necessary to ensure food safety.
Modulation of yeast Erg1 expression and terbinafine susceptibility by iron bioavailability
Authors: Jordá Tania , Martínez‐Martín Ana , Martínez‐Pastor María Teresa , Puig Sergi 
Published: July 2022

AbstractErgosterol is a specific sterol component of yeast and fungal membranes. Its biosynthesis is one of the most effective targets for antifungal treatments. However, the emergent resistance to multiple sterol‐based antifungal drugs emphasizes the need for new therapeutic approaches. The allylamine terbinafine, which selectively inhibits squalene epoxidase Erg1 within the ergosterol biosynthetic pathway, is mainly used to treat dermatomycoses, whereas its effectiveness in other fungal infections is limited. Given that ergosterol biosynthesis depends on iron as an essential cofactor, in this report, we used the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to investigate how iron bioavailability influences Erg1 expression and terbinafine susceptibility. We observed that both chemical and genetic depletion of iron decrease ERG1 expression, leading to an increase in terbinafine susceptibility. Deletion of either ROX1 transcriptional repressor or CTH1 and CTH2 post‐transcriptional repressors of ERG1 expression led to an increase in Erg1 protein levels and terbinafine resistance. On the contrary, overexpression of CTH2 led to the opposite effect, lowering Erg1 levels and increasing terbinafine susceptibility. Although strain‐specific particularities exist, opportunistic pathogenic strains of S. cerevisiae displayed a response similar to the laboratory strain. These data indicate that iron bioavailability and particular regulatory factors could be used to modulate susceptibility to terbinafine.
A consensus protocol for the recovery of mercury methylation genes from metagenomes
Authors: Capo Eric , Peterson Benjamin D. , Kim Minjae , Jones Daniel S. , Acinas Silvia G. , Amyot Marc , Bertilsson Stefan , Björn Erik , Buck Moritz , Cosio Claudia , Elias Dwayne A. , Gilmour Cynthia , Goñi‐Urriza Marisol , Gu Baohua , Lin Heyu , Liu Yu‐Rong , McMahon Katherine , Moreau John W. , Pinhassi Jarone , Podar Mircea , Puente‐Sánchez Fernando , Sánchez Pablo , Storck Veronika , Tada Yuya , Vigneron Adrien , Walsh David A. , Vandewalle‐Capo Marine , Bravo Andrea G. , Gionfriddo Caitlin M. 
Published: July 2022

AbstractMercury (Hg) methylation genes (hgcAB) mediate the formation of the toxic methylmercury and have been identified from diverse environments, including freshwater and marine ecosystems, Arctic permafrost, forest and paddy soils, coal‐ash amended sediments, chlor‐alkali plants discharges and geothermal springs. Here we present the first attempt at a standardized protocol for the detection, identification and quantification of hgc genes from metagenomes. Our Hg‐cycling microorganisms in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems (Hg‐MATE) database, a catalogue of hgc genes, provides the most accurate information to date on the taxonomic identity and functional/metabolic attributes of microorganisms responsible for Hg methylation in the environment. Furthermore, we introduce “marky‐coco”, a ready‐to‐use bioinformatic pipeline based on de novo single‐metagenome assembly, for easy and accurate characterization of hgc genes from environmental samples. We compared the recovery of hgc genes from environmental metagenomes using the marky‐coco pipeline with an approach based on coassembly of multiple metagenomes. Our data show similar efficiency in both approaches for most environments except those with high diversity (i.e., paddy soils) for which a coassembly approach was preferred. Finally, we discuss the definition of true hgc genes and methods to normalize hgc gene counts from metagenomes.
Smartphone‐based interventions in bipolar disorder: Systematic review and meta‐analyses of efficacy. A position paper from the International Society for Bipolar Disorders (ISBD) Big Data Task Force
Authors: Anmella Gerard , Faurholt‐Jepsen Maria , Hidalgo‐Mazzei Diego , Radua Joaquim , Passos Ives C. , Kapczinski Flavio , Minuzzi Luciano , Alda Martin , Meier Sandra , Hajek Tomas , Ballester Pedro , Birmaher Boris , Hafeman Danella , Goldstein Tina , Brietzke Elisa , Duffy Anne , Haarman Benno , López‐Jaramillo Carlos , Yatham Lakshmi N. , Lam Raymond W. , Isometsa Erkki , Mansur Rodrigo , McIntyre Roger S. , Mwangi Benson , Vieta Eduard , Kessing Lars Vedel 
Published: July 2022

AbstractBackgroundThe clinical effects of smartphone‐based interventions for bipolar disorder (BD) have yet to be established.ObjectivesTo examine the efficacy of smartphone‐based interventions in BD and how the included studies reported user‐engagement indicators.MethodsWe conducted a systematic search on January 24, 2022, in PubMed, Scopus, Embase, APA PsycINFO, and Web of Science. We used random‐effects meta‐analysis to calculate the standardized difference (Hedges’ g) in pre‐post change scores between smartphone intervention and control conditions. The study was pre‐registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021226668).ResultsThe literature search identified 6034 studies. Thirteen articles fulfilled the selection criteria. We included seven RCTs and performed meta‐analyses comparing the pre‐post change in depressive and (hypo)manic symptom severity, functioning, quality of life, and perceived stress between smartphone interventions and control conditions. There was significant heterogeneity among studies and no meta‐analysis reached statistical significance. Results were also inconclusive regarding affective relapses and psychiatric readmissions. All studies reported positive user‐engagement indicators.ConclusionWe did not find evidence to support that smartphone interventions may reduce the severity of depressive or manic symptoms in BD. The high heterogeneity of studies supports the need for expert consensus to establish ideally how studies should be designed and the use of more sensitive outcomes, such as affective relapses and psychiatric hospitalizations, as well as the quantification of mood instability. The ISBD Big Data Task Force provides preliminary recommendations to reduce the heterogeneity and achieve more valid evidence in the field.
The ethical indefensibility of heartbeat bills
Authors: Shaw Joshua 
Published: July 2022

AbstractRecently, several states in the United States have sought to adopt more restrictive abortion policies. Most have tried to enact “heartbeat bills” that prohibit most abortions once a fetal heartbeat becomes detectable. This article explores this question: Are heartbeat bills ethically defensible? I argue that they are not. There are at least four problems with them. First, heartbeat bills rely on a problematic understanding of human death. Second, they contradict and even undermine the leading arguments in ethics against abortion. Third, they are ambiguous not just in terms of when they judge fetal heartbeats to be detectable but also in what they deem to be heartbeats. Finally, there is a case to be made that heartbeat bills are disingenuous, both in their intentions and in their underlying motives.
FOXP4 inhibits squamous differentiation of atypical cells in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia via an ELF3‐dependent pathway
Authors: Matsumoto Takeo , Iizuka Takashi , Nakamura Mitsuhiro , Suzuki Takuma , Yamamoto Megumi , Ono Masanori , Kagami Kyosuke , Kasama Haruki , Wakae Kousho , Muramatsu Masamichi , Horike Shin‐ichi , Kyo Satoru , Yamamoto Yasuhiko , Mizumoto Yasunari , Daikoku Takiko , Fujiwara Hiroshi 
Published: July 2022

AbstractAlthough the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is effective for preventing cervical cancers, this vaccine does not eliminate pre‐existing infections, and alternative strategies have been warranted. Here, we report that FOXP4 is a new target molecule for differentiation therapy of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). An immunohistochemical study showed that FOXP4 was expressed in columnar epithelial, reserve, and immature squamous cells, but not in mature squamous cells of the normal uterine cervix. In contrast with normal mature squamous cells, FOXP4 was expressed in atypical squamous cells in CIN and squamous cell carcinoma lesions. The FOXP4‐positive areas significantly increased according to the CIN stages from CIN1 to CIN3. In monolayer cultures, downregulation of FOXP4 attenuated proliferation and induced squamous differentiation in CIN1‐derived HPV 16‐positive W12 cells via an ELF3‐dependent pathway. In organotypic raft cultures, FOXP4‐downregulated W12 cells showed mature squamous phenotypes of CIN lesions. In human keratinocyte‐derived HaCaT cells, FOXP4 downregulation also induced squamous differentiation via an ELF3‐dependent pathway. These findings suggest that downregulation of FOXP4 inhibits cell proliferation and promotes the differentiation of atypical cells in CIN lesions. Based on these results, we propose that FOXP4 is a novel target molecule for nonsurgical CIN treatment that inhibits CIN progression by inducing squamous differentiation.