bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Asthma associated with chronic rhinosinusitis: a population‐based study
Authors: Chen Yu‐Ting , Chien Chen‐Yu , Tai Shu‐Yu , Huang Chiu‐Mieh , Lee Charles Tzu‐Chi
Published: June 2016

Background

Few studies have investigated the relationship between asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). The present study investigated the association between asthma and the risk of CRS in a large national sample.

Methods

Patients newly diagnosed with asthma (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision [ICD‐9], Clinical Modification code 493) between 2000 and 2008 were identified from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. The cases were compared with sex‐, age‐, residence‐, and insurance premium–matched controls, and both groups were followed until the end of 2009 for incidences of CRS with or without nasal polyps (CRSwNP or CRSsNP, respectively). Competing risk‐adjusted Cox regression analyses were performed after adjustment for sex, age, residence, insurance premium, steroid use, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease, Charlson comorbidity index score, and mortality. We also performed a case‐control study to determine the association between asthma and CRS.

Results

The cohort study analysis examined 81,462 patients with a mean ± standard deviation (SD) follow‐up period of 5.8 ± 2.4 years. Asthma was an independent predictor of CRSsNP (hazard ratio = 2.58; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.20 to 3.03; p < 0.001) in the fully adjusted models. In the case‐control analysis, both CRSwNP and CRSsNP were associated with asthma in the fully adjusted models.

Conclusion

Asthma was associated with increased risks of CRSwNP and CRSsNP, independent of several potential confounding factors.
HfMnSb2: A Metal‐Ordered NiAs‐type Pnictide with a Conical Spin Order
Authors: Murakami Taito , Yamamoto Takafumi , Tassel Cédric , Takatsu Hiroshi , Ritter Clemens , Ajiro Yoshitami , Kageyama Hiroshi
Published: June 2016

The NiAs‐type structure is one of the most common structures in solids, but metal order has been almost exclusively limited to chalcogenides. The synthesis of HfMnSb2 is reported with a novel metal‐ordered NiAs‐type structure. HfMnSb2 undergoes a conical spin order below 270 K, in marked contrast to conventional magnetic order observed in NiAs‐type pnictides. We argue that the layered arrangement of Hf and Mn makes it a quasi 2D magnet, where the Mn layers with localized magnetic moments (Mn2+; S=5/2) can interact only through RKKY interactions, instead of metal–metal bonding that is otherwise dominant for typical NiAs‐type pnictides. This result suggests that controlling order–disorder in NiAs‐type pnictides enables a study of 2D‐to‐3D crossover behavior in itinerant magnetic system.
Totalsynthese, Struktur und biologische Aktivität von Adenosylrhodibalamin, dem unnatürlichen Rhodiumhomologen von Coenzym B12
Authors: Widner Florian J. , Lawrence Andrew D. , Deery Evelyne , Heldt Dana , Frank Stefanie , Gruber Karl , Wurst Klaus , Warren Martin J. , Kräutler Bernhard
Published: June 2016

B12 ist ein einzigartiges Vitamin, da es nur von bestimmten Prokaryoten synthetisiert werden kann. Die Komplexität seiner Biosynthese resultiert aus der für biochemische Prozesse essenziellen Cobalt‐Corrinstruktur, die dem Coenzym B12 (AdoCbl) die Fähigkeit zur Katalyse enzymatischer Radikalreaktionen verleiht. Was macht aber gerade Cobalt so passend für seine Rolle in B12‐abhängigen Enzymen? Um dieser Frage nachzugehen, wurde Cobalt in AdoCbl gegen Rhodium ausgetauscht; hierfür wurde das Rh‐Analog 5′‐Desoxy‐5′‐adenosylrhodibalamin (AdoRbl) de novo mittels kombinierter biologischer und chemischer Totalsynthese hergestellt. AdoRbl zeigte keine Aktivität in einem mikrobiellen Methionin‐Synthase‐Bioassay in vivo und war ein In‐vitro‐Inhibitor einer AdoCbl‐abhängigen Diol‐Dehydratase. NMR‐Analysen zeigten hohe Strukturähnlichkeit von AdoRbl mit AdoCbl. Beim Vergleich der Strukturen im Kristall wurde aber festgestellt, dass RhIII besser in den Corrinring passt als CoIII, was Fragen zur gegenwärtigen Sicht über die Evolution der Corrine aufwirft.
Dynamic Self‐Assembly Adhesion of a Paraquat Droplet on a Pillar[5]arene Surface
Authors: Luo Li , Nie Guanrong , Tian Demei , Deng Hongtao , Jiang Lei , Li Haibing
Published: June 2016

The adhesion of herbicide droplets on leaf surfaces plays an important role in the herbicide's adsorption by crops. How to control the adhesive binding which occurs through dynamic self‐assembly between the macroscopic droplet and the surface is a challenging task. We introduce a host onto surfaces that controls the binding of guests in the paraquat droplets. The pillar[5]arene‐functional surface showed the selective binding of paraquat droplets via the host–guest interaction. The work is promising for improving the efficiency of herbicides.
Transition‐Metal‐Free Regioselective Alkylation of Pyridine N‐Oxides Using 1,1‐Diborylalkanes as Alkylating Reagents
Authors: Jo Woohyun , Kim Junghoon , Choi Seoyoung , Cho Seung Hwan
Published: June 2016

Reported herein is an unprecedented base‐promoted deborylative alkylation of pyridine N‐oxides using 1,1‐diborylalkanes as alkyl sources. The reaction proceeds efficiently for a wide range of pyridine N‐oxides and 1,1‐diborylalkanes with excellent regioselectivity. The utility of the developed method is demonstrated by the sequential C−H arylation and methylation of pyridine N‐oxides. The reaction also can be applied for the direct introduction of a methyl group to 9‐O‐methylquinine N‐oxide, thus it can serve as a powerful method for late‐stage functionalization.
Brønsted Acid Catalyzed Addition of Enamides to ortho‐Quinone Methide Imines—An Efficient and Highly Enantioselective Synthesis of Chiral Tetrahydroacridines
Authors: Kretzschmar Martin , Hodík Tomáš , Schneider Christoph
Published: June 2016

The direct and highly enantioselective synthesis of tetrahydroacridines was achieved through the phosphoric acid catalyzed addition of enamides to in situ generated ortho‐quinone methide imines and subsequent elimination. This novel one‐step process constitutes a very efficient, elegant, and selective synthetic approach to valuable N‐heterocycles with a 1,4‐dihydroquinoline motif. By subsequent highly diastereoselective hydrogenation and N‐deprotection the reaction products were easily converted into free hexahydroacridines with a total of three new stereogenic centers.
HPLC analysis of in vivo intestinal absorption and oxidative metabolism of salicylic acid in the rat
Authors: Kuzma Mónika , Nyúl Eszter , Mayer Mátyás , Fischer Emil , Perjési Pál
Published: June 2016

In vivo absorption and oxidative metabolism of salicylic acid in rat small intestine was studied by luminal perfusion experiment. Perfusion through the lumen of proximal jejunum with isotonic medium containing 250 μm sodium salicylate was carried out. Absorption of salicylate was measured by a validated HPLC‐DAD method which was evaluated for a number of validation characteristics (specificity, repeatability and intermediate precision, limit of detection, limit of quantification, linearity and accuracy). The method was linear over the concentration range 0.5–50 μg/mL. After liquid–liquid extraction of the perfusion samples oxidative biotransformation of salicylate was also investigated by HPLC‐MS. The method was linear over the concentration range 0.25–5.0 μg/mL. Two hydroxylated metabolites of salicylic acid (2,5‐dihydroxybenzoic acid and 2,3‐dihydroxybenzoic acid) were detected and identified. The mean recovery of extraction was 72.4% for 2,3‐DHB, 72.5% for 2,5‐DHB and 50.1% for salicylic acid, respectively. The methods were successfully applied to investigate jejunal absorption and oxidative metabolism of sodium salicylate in experimental animals. The methods provide analytical background for further metabolic studies of salycilates under modified physiological conditions.
An Adaptive Pseudospectral Method for Constrained Dynamic Optimization Problems in Chemical Engineering
Authors: Xiao Long , Liu Xinggao , He Shiming
Published: June 2016

An adaptive pseudospectral method with two novel strategies is proposed to solve constrained dynamic optimization problems in chemical engineering. The first strategy is to introduce slope information in designing appropriate subintervals, so that the approach becomes more efficient to track the optimal control profiles. The second strategy is to redistribute the collocation points based on the approximation error, thus ensuring the accuracy of the method. Two constrained dynamic optimization problems with multiple control variables are tested as illustrations, and the proposed approach is compared with other methods. The research results reveal the effectiveness of the proposed method in improving the solution accuracy of dynamic optimization problems.
A Frustrated Phosphane–Borane Lewis Pair and Hydrogen: A Kinetics Study
Authors: Özgün Thomas , Bergander Klaus , Liu Lei , Daniliuc Constantin G. , Grimme Stefan , Kehr Gerald , Erker Gerhard
Published: June 2016

The energy profile of a frustrated Lewis pair (FLP) dihydrogen splitting system was determined by a combined experimental kinetic and DFT study. A trimethylene‐bridged phosphane–borane FLP was converted into its endothermic H2‐cleavage product by sequential H+/H− addition. The system could be handled at low temperature, and the kinetics of the H2 elimination were determined to give a rate constant of kHH,exp(299 K)=(2.87±0.1)×10−4 s−1 in solution. The primary kinetic isotope effects were determined; for example, (kHH/kDD)exp=3.19. The system was accurately analyzed by DFT calculations.
Feasibility and diagnostic accuracy of the Patient‐Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) item banks for routine surveillance of sleep and fatigue problems in ambulatory cancer care
Authors: Leung Yvonne W. , Brown Catherine , Cosio Andrea Perez , Dobriyal Aditi , Malik Noor , Pat Vivien , Irwin Margaret , Tomasini Pascale , Liu Geoffrey , Howell Doris
Published: June 2016

BACKGROUND

Routine screening for problematic symptoms is emerging as a best practice in cancer systems globally. The objective of this observational study was to assess the feasibility and diagnostic accuracy of Patient‐Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) computerized adaptive testing (CAT) for fatigue and sleep‐disturbance items compared with legacy measures in routine ambulatory cancer care.

METHODS

Patients who attended outpatient clinics at the Princess Margaret Cancer Center completed PROMIS CAT item banks and legacy measures (the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy [FACIT]‐Fatigue scale and the Insomnia Severity Index [ISI]) using tablet computers during clinic visits. The completion rates, patient acceptability, and diagnostic accuracy of PROMIS CAT were evaluated against legacy measures using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

RESULTS

Participants consisted of 336 patients (mean age ± standard deviation, 57.4 ± 15.7 years; 55% females; 75% Caucasian). Over 98% of patients did not find symptom screening was burdensome, although only 65% were willing to complete the survey at every visit. PROMIS CAT scores were significantly correlated with both FACIT‐Fatigue scores (r = −0.83) and ISI scores (r = −0.57; p < 0.0001 for all). Areas under the curve (AUC) by ROC analysis for fatigue were 0.946 using the FACIT‐Fatigue cutoff ≤30, 0.910 for sleep disturbance, and 0.922 for sleep impairment using the ISI cutoff ≥15. The recommended T‐score cut‐off for PROMIS CAT Fatigue was 57, Sleep Disturbance was 57, and Sleep Impairment was 57.

CONCLUSIONS

The current results support the feasibility and accuracy of PROMIS CAT and its potential for use in routine ambulatory cancer care. Future research will assess feedback of these data to clinicians and evaluate effects on earlier identification of and intervention for these problems. Cancer 2016. © 2016 American Cancer Society. Cancer 2016;122:2906–2917. © 2016 American Cancer Society
Highly personalized detection of minimal Ewing sarcoma disease burden from plasma tumor DNA
Authors: Hayashi Masanori , Chu David , Meyer Christian F. , Llosa Nicolas J. , McCarty Gregory , Morris Carol D. , Levin Adam S. , Wolinsky Jean‐Paul , Albert Catherine M. , Steppan Diana A. , Park Ben Ho , Loeb David M.
Published: June 2016

BACKGROUND

Even though virtually all patients with Ewing sarcoma achieve a radiographic complete response, up to 30% of patients who present with localized disease and up to 90% of those who present with metastases experience a metastatic disease recurrence, highlighting the inability to identify patients with residual disease at the end of therapy. Up to 95% of Ewing sarcomas carry a driving EWS‐ETS translocation that has an intronic breakpoint that is specific to each tumor, and the authors developed a system to quantitatively detect the specific breakpoint DNA fragment in patient plasma.

METHODS

The authors used a long‐range multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique to identify tumor‐specific EWS‐ETS breakpoints in Ewing sarcoma cell lines, patient‐derived xenografts, and patient tumors, and this sequence was used to design tumor‐specific primer sets to detect plasma tumor DNA (ptDNA) by droplet digital PCR in xenograft‐bearing mice and patients.

RESULTS

Tumor‐specific breakpoint DNA fragments were detected in the plasma of xenograft‐bearing mice, and the signal correlated with tumor burden during primary tumor growth, after surgical resection, and at the time of metastatic disease recurrence. Furthermore, the authors were able to detect the specific breakpoint in plasma DNA obtained from 3 patients with Ewing sarcoma and in 2 patients the authors were able to detect ptDNA when there was radiographically undetectable disease present.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of droplet digital PCR to detect tumor‐specific EWS‐ETS fusion gene breakpoint ptDNA fragments can be developed into a highly personalized biomarker of disease recurrence that can be optimized in animal studies for ultimate use in patients. Cancer 2016;122:3015‐3023. © 2016 American Cancer Society.
Extent of atypical hyperplasia stratifies breast cancer risk in 2 independent cohorts of women
Authors: Degnim Amy C. , Dupont William D. , Radisky Derek C. , Vierkant Robert A. , Frank Ryan D. , Frost Marlene H. , Winham Stacey J. , Sanders Melinda E. , Smith Jeffrey R. , Page David L. , Hoskin Tanya L. , Vachon Celine M. , Ghosh Karthik , Hieken Tina J. , Denison Lori A. , Carter Jodi M. , Hartmann Lynn C. , Visscher Daniel W.
Published: June 2016

BACKGROUND

Women with atypical hyperplasia (AH) on breast biopsy have a substantially increased risk of breast cancer (BC). Here the BC risk for the extent and subtype of AH is reported for 2 separate cohorts.

METHODS

All samples containing AH were included from 2 cohorts of women with benign breast disease (Mayo Clinic and Nashville). Histology review quantified the number of foci of atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) and atypical lobular hyperplasia (ALH). The BC risk was stratified for the number of AH foci within AH subtypes.

RESULTS

The study included 708 Mayo AH subjects and 466 Nashville AH subjects. In the Mayo cohort, an increasing number of foci of AH was associated with a significant increase in the risk of BC both for ADH (relative risks of 2.61, 5.21, and 6.36 for 1, 2, and ≥3 foci, respectively; P for linear trend = .006) and for ALH (relative risks of 2.56, 3.50, and 6.79 for 1, 2, and ≥3 foci, respectively; P for linear trend = .001). In the Nashville cohort, the relative risks of BC for ADH were 2.70, 5.17, and 15.06 for 1, 2, and ≥3 foci, respectively (P for linear trend < .001); for ALH, the relative risks also increased but not significantly (2.61, 3.48, and 4.02, respectively; P = .148). When the Mayo and Nashville samples were combined, the risk increased significantly for 1, 2, and ≥3 foci: the relative risks were 2.65, 5.19, and 8.94, respectively, for ADH (P < .001) and 2.58, 3.49, and 4.97, respectively, for ALH (P = .001).

CONCLUSIONS

In 2 independent cohort studies of benign breast disease, the extent of atypia stratified the long‐term BC risk for ADH and ALH. Cancer 2016;122:2971‐2978. © 2016 American Cancer Society.
Management strategies and outcomes for very elderly patients with diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma
Authors: Chihara Dai , Westin Jason R. , Oki Yasuhiro , Ahmed Mohamed A. , Do Bryan , Fayad Luis E. , Hagemeister Fredrick B. , Romaguera Jorge E. , Fanale Michelle A. , Lee Hun J. , Turturro Francesco , Samaniego Felipe , Neelapu Sattva S. , Rodriguez M. Alma , Fowler Nathan H. , Wang Michael , Davis Richard E. , Nastoupil Loretta J.
Published: June 2016

BACKGROUND

The number of elderly patients with diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in our aging society continues to rise, although the optimal management of very elderly patients with DLBCL is unknown.

METHODS

This study evaluated 207 patients who were 80 years old or older at the diagnosis of DLBCL from 2002 to 2014 at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Analyzed features included clinical characteristics, treatment outcomes, and tolerability of therapy. Cox proportional hazards models examined relations between the treatment regimen and survival.

RESULTS

The median age was 83 years (range, 80‐96 years). Fifty‐four percent of the patients had intermediate‐ to high‐risk or high‐risk International Prognostic Index scores. Fifteen percent had scores of 4 or higher on the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). The initial therapies included rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R‐CHOP; 70%); rituximab, etoposide, prednisone, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, and doxorubicin (R‐EPOCH; 6%); and non–anthracycline‐based therapies, including rituximab, cyclophosphamide, etoposide, vincristine, and prednisone (R‐CEOP) and rituximab, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone (R‐CVP; 10%). With a median follow‐up of 38.1 months, the 3‐year failure‐free survival (FFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 55% and 54%, respectively. Eighty‐eight patients experienced relapse during the follow‐up, but only 3 patients (3.4%) experienced relapse beyond 3 years. Patients who received R‐CHOP or R‐EPOCH had significantly longer FFS than those who received R‐CEOP or R‐CVP, with 3‐year FFS rates of 63% for R‐CHOP, 74% for R‐EPOCH, and 23% for R‐CEOP and R‐CVP. Male sex, a monocyte count ≥ 500 × 107/L, and a CCI score ≥ 4 were significantly associated with inferior OS. Extranodal disease (≥2) and a higher CCI score were associated with a high risk of treatment‐related mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

With anthracycline‐based regimens such as R‐CHOP and R‐EPOCH, very elderly patients with DLBCL had superior outcomes similar to those achieved for younger patients with DLBCL. Cancer 2016;122:3145–51. © 2016 American Cancer Society.
Enhanced Electrochemical Sensing with Carbon Nanotubes Modified with Bismuth and Magnetic Nanoparticles in a Lab‐on‐a‐Chip
Authors: Jothimuthu Preetha , Hsu Joe L. , Chen Robert , Inayathullah Mohammed , Pothineni Venkata Raveendra , Jan Antony , Gurtner Geoffrey C. , Rajadas Jayakumar , Nicolls Mark R.
Published: June 2016

Iron plays an especially important role in human physiological functions and pathological impairments. The superior properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and their modification with bismuth and magnetic nanoparticles as developed in this work have led to an extraordinary and novel material to facilitate ultrasensitive detection in the nanomolar range. Here, we present the development of an electrochemical sensor for detection of ferrous (Fe2+) and ferric (Fe3+) iron by means of CNTs modified with bismuth and magnetic nanoparticles for higher sensitivity of detection. The sensor fabrication includes microfabrication methodologies, soft lithography, and electrodeposition. Cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry are used for the electroanalytical studies and detection of the ions in samples. The sensor has a dynamic range of detection from 0.01 nm to 10 mm. The performance of the sensor with modified CNTs was explored for sensitivity and specificity. CNTs, modified with bismuth and magnetic nanoparticles by means of electrodeposition, enhanced the detection limit significantly down to 0.01 nm.
Impact of stray inductances of the power loop on false trigger‐on in the zero‐voltage‐switching full‐bridge converter
Authors: Qian Qinsong , Zhang Taizhi , Sun Weifeng , Lu Shengli
Published: June 2016

Here, we propose an exhaustive theoretical investigation and experimental verification of the false trigger‐on phenomenon, which would lead to the interaction between the upper and lower devices during the switching transient, in the zero‐voltage‐switching (ZVS) full‐bridge converter. An equivalent model of the converter, which takes not only the parasitic capacitors of the metal–oxide–semiconductor field‐effect transistors into account but also the stray inductances of the main circuit, is presented. Based on the model, a comprehensive study of the false trigger‐on phenomenon is carried out. According to the analysis results, the stray inductances of the metal–oxide–semiconductor field‐effect transistors have negligible influence on the false trigger‐on phenomena since the soft‐switching is realized. The false trigger‐on phenomenon is induced by the stray inductances of the main circuit. Moreover, the arrangement of the switching sequence would cause significant discriminations in the false trigger‐on phenomena because of the specific working mode of the ZVS full‐bridge converter. According to the investigation results, optimization methods are presented to suppress the induced voltage. At last, the theoretical investigations are verified by tests of a ZVS full‐bridge converter. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Silver nanoparticles for the detection of cell surface antigens in mass cytometry
Authors: Schulz Axel Ronald , Stanislawiak Silke , Baumgart Sabine , Grützkau Andreas , Mei Henrik E.
Published: June 2016

Mass cytometry has pioneered >40‐parameter single‐cell analyses that allow for the characterization of complex cellular networks at unprecedented depth. Up to 135 parameters can be simultaneously detected, but limited availability of metal tags suitable for labeling of specific probes prevents optimal exploitation of the analytical capacity of mass cytometers. To this end, we here establish the application of elemental silver nanoparticles (AgNP) of different size for reporting cell surface antigens on human leukocytes in mass cytometry assays. The mass channels at 107 Da and 109 Da are uniquely occupied by silver isotopes and do not interfere with other mass cytometry reagents. Streptavidin‐coated AgNP (SA‐AgNP) facilitated distinct and specific detection of various antigens, such as CD8, CD244 and CD294 on peripheral blood leukocytes pre‐incubated with respective biotinylated primary antibodies. Signal intensities elicited by 40 nm‐sized AgNP allowed specific detection of the low abundance antigen CD25 on both, peripheral blood regulatory T cells and CD25loCD127+CD4+T cells, enabling their distinct clustering in viSNE plots. SA‐AgNP were of high elemental purity, showed minor background binding to cells in immunoassays, and were compatible with previously established staining protocols for PBMC and leukocytes, facilitating their use in complex mass cytometry panels. Considering the synthesis of AgNP from isotopically purified silver, the usage of AgNP extends the analytical capacity of mass cytometry panels by one, prospectively two, additional parameters, suitable for the detection of cellular targets of low abundance. © 2016 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
Whitebark pine facilitation at treeline: potential interactions for disruption by an invasive pathogen
Authors: Tomback Diana F. , Blakeslee Sarah C. , Wagner Aaron C. , Wunder Michael B. , Resler Lynn M. , Pyatt Jill C. , Diaz Soledad
Published: June 2016

In stressful environments, facilitation often aids plant establishment, but invasive plant pathogens may potentially disrupt these interactions. In many treeline communities in the northern Rocky Mountains of the U.S. and Canada, Pinus albicaulis, a stress‐tolerant pine, initiates tree islands at higher frequencies than other conifers – that is, leads to leeward tree establishment more frequently. The facilitation provided by a solitary (isolated) P. albicaulis leading to tree island initiation may be important for different life‐history stages for leeward conifers, but it is not known which life‐history stages are influenced and protection provided. However, P. albicaulis mortality from the non‐native pathogen Cronartium ribicola potentially disrupts these facilitative interactions, reducing tree island initiation. In two Rocky Mountain eastern slope study areas, we experimentally examined fundamental plant–plant interactions which might facilitate tree island formation: the protection offered by P. albicaulis to leeward seed and seedling life‐history stages, and to leeward krummholz conifers. In the latter case, we simulated mortality from C. ribicola for windward P. albicaulis to determine whether loss of P. albicaulis from C. ribicola impacts leeward conifers. Relative to other common solitary conifers at treeline, solitary P. albicaulis had higher abundance. More seeds germinated in leeward rock microsites than in conifer or exposed microsites, but the odds of cotyledon seedling survival during the growing season were highest in P. albicaulis microsites. Planted seedling survival was low among all microsites examined. Simulating death of windward P. albicaulis by C. ribicola reduced shoot growth of leeward trees. Loss of P. albicaulis to exotic disease may limit facilitation interactions and conifer community development at treeline and potentially impede upward movement as climate warms.
Forest edges have high conservation value for bird communities in mosaic landscapes
Authors: Terraube Julien , Archaux Frédéric , Deconchat Marc , van Halder Inge , Jactel Hervé , Barbaro Luc
Published: June 2016

A major conservation challenge in mosaic landscapes is to understand how trait‐specific responses to habitat edges affect bird communities, including potential cascading effects on bird functions providing ecosystem services to forests, such as pest control. Here, we examined how bird species richness, abundance and community composition varied from interior forest habitats and their edges into adjacent open habitats, within a multi‐regional sampling scheme. We further analyzed variations in Conservation Value Index (CVI), Community Specialization Index (CSI) and functional traits across the forest‐edge‐open habitat gradient. Bird species richness, total abundance and CVI were significantly higher at forest edges while CSI peaked at interior open habitats, i.e., furthest from forest edge. In addition, there were important variations in trait‐ and species‐specific responses to forest edges among bird communities. Positive responses to forest edges were found for several forest bird species with unfavorable conservation status. These species were in general insectivores, understorey gleaners, cavity nesters and long‐distance migrants, all traits that displayed higher abundance at forest edges than in forest interiors or adjacent open habitats. Furthermore, consistently with predictions, negative edge effects were recorded in some forest specialist birds and in most open‐habitat birds, showing increasing densities from edges to interior habitats. We thus suggest that increasing landscape‐scale habitat complexity would be beneficial to declining species living in mosaic landscapes combining small woodlands and open habitats. Edge effects between forests and adjacent open habitats may also favor bird functional guilds providing valuable ecosystem services to forests in longstanding fragmented landscapes.
Sex determination, longevity, and the birth and death of reptilian species
Authors: Sabath Niv , Itescu Yuval , Feldman Anat , Meiri Shai , Mayrose Itay , Valenzuela Nicole
Published: June 2016

Vertebrate sex‐determining mechanisms (SDMs) are triggered by the genotype (GSD), by temperature (TSD), or occasionally, by both. The causes and consequences of SDM diversity remain enigmatic. Theory predicts SDM effects on species diversification, and life‐span effects on SDM evolutionary turnover. Yet, evidence is conflicting in clades with labile SDMs, such as reptiles. Here, we investigate whether SDM is associated with diversification in turtles and lizards, and whether alterative factors, such as lifespan's effect on transition rates, could explain the relative prevalence of SDMs in turtles and lizards (including and excluding snakes). We assembled a comprehensive dataset of SDM states for squamates and turtles and leveraged large phylogenies for these two groups. We found no evidence that SDMs affect turtle, squamate, or lizard diversification. However, SDM transition rates differ between groups. In lizards TSD‐to‐GSD surpass GSD‐to‐TSD transitions, explaining the predominance of GSD lizards in nature. SDM transitions are fewer in turtles and the rates are similar to each other (TSD‐to‐GSD equals GSD‐to‐TSD), which, coupled with TSD ancestry, could explain TSD's predominance in turtles. These contrasting patterns can be explained by differences in life history. Namely, our data support the notion that in general, shorter lizard lifespan renders TSD detrimental favoring GSD evolution in squamates, whereas turtle longevity permits TSD retention. Thus, based on the macro‐evolutionary evidence we uncovered, we hypothesize that turtles and lizards followed different evolutionary trajectories with respect to SDM, likely mediated by differences in lifespan. Combined, our findings revealed a complex evolutionary interplay between SDMs and life histories that warrants further research that should make use of expanded datasets on unexamined taxa to enable more conclusive analyses.
Resource partitioning and functional diversity of worldwide freshwater fish communities
Authors: Comte Lise , Cucherousset Julien , Boulêtreau Stéphanie , Olden Julian D.
Published: June 2016

Despite significant progress in recent years, understanding the rules governing the assembly of natural communities is still challenging and knowledge of how the integration of nonnative species may disrupt community structure and function is needed. To address this challenge, we collated stable isotope data for 159 freshwater fish communities around the world with and without nonnative species and quantified spatial variation in both community isotopic functional diversity and intraspecific variation in species niches. Using a null model and partial least squares path analysis, we then evaluated how the interplay between abiotic (historical, energetic, climatic, habitat size) and biotic (niche segregation) factors shape community structure and functional diversity, and how these relationships have changed, and with what consequences, in the presence of nonnative species. We found that niche partitioning is a primary force underlying the structure and functional redundancy of native fish communities, which may be governed by a synergism between contemporary climate, productivity and habitat size. We also found evidence of a legacy of historical climate on functional diversity, independent from species richness. By contrast, path models of communities containing nonnative species demonstrated lower explanatory power and had no clear association with any of the abiotic or biotic factors. In conclusion, we demonstrated that strong spatial patterns in community structure and functional diversity of freshwater fish communities exist at the global scale, underlined by the complex interplay between external and internal filters, but that these patterns may be blurred by anthropogenic species introductions. Our results further highlighted the importance of accounting for realized species niches and species status (i.e., native and nonnative) when investigating questions related to the assembly and functional diversity of multitrophic communities.
Fog drip maintains dry season ecological function in a California coastal pine forest
Authors: Fischer Douglas T. , Still Christopher J. , Ebert Colin M. , Baguskas Sara A. , Park Williams A.
Published: June 2016

Fog drip is recognized as an important source of water for many ecosystems that often harbor a disproportionate fraction of endemic species. Characterizing and quantifying the ecological importance of fog drip in these ecosystems requires a range of approaches. We report on a multi‐faceted study of Bishop pine (Pinus muricata D. Don) along a coastal‐inland transect on an island off Southern California. Hourly sampling included micrometeorology, sap flux, and soil moisture. Monthly measurements included changes in tree girth, plant water stress, and isotopic values of fogwater, rainwater, and xylem water. These data show that summertime fog drip clearly affected soil moisture and maintained aspects of tree function, including leaf water relations, sap flux dynamics, and growth rates. Although water from fog drip to the soil surface was occasionally taken up by pine trees, as quantified with isotopic measurements and a Bayesian mixing model, this utilization of fog drip was highly variable in space and time. The proportion of fogwater inferred to have been used is also much less than has been demonstrated in more mesic coastal forest ecosystems using isotopic methods. These results thus suggest high ecosystem sensitivity to even moderate amounts of fog drip, a finding with important implications as climate change differentially affects fog and rain patterns.
Striking the Balance Between Renewable Energy Generation and Water Status Protection: Hydropower in the context of the European Renewable Energy Directive and Water Framework Directive
Authors: Abazaj Jonida , Moen Øystein , Ruud Audun
Published: June 2016

This article addresses the theoretical and practical challenge faced by the European policy community and Member States trying to simultaneously pursue renewable energy and environmental goals, as incorporated in the EU Renewable Energy Directive and the Water Framework Directive. Through the case of hydropower, which is today at a crossroads between being a renewable electricity source − answering to climate change and energy security concerns − and a local environmental challenge in the light of degradation of river ecosystems and local biodiversity, the article explores the way renewable energy and water protection objectives are integrated inside the Common Implementation Strategy at the EU level. Based on document analysis and interviews, the mapping of the different frameworks shows that old conflicts and controversies related to the hydropower technology have been reopened and reframed to accommodate both the issue of energy security and the discourse on EU sustainability and climate change. Conclusions reveal that despite the creation of a multi‐stakeholder platform for negotiation and collaboration, the Common Implementation Strategy fails on several occasions to explain how to achieve the right balance and leaves unclear what specifically has to be integrated and to what degree. Hence, given the plurality and diversity of values, interests and concerns in relation to hydropower and goals of the Water Framework Directive, a prioritization between water, climate and energy policy goals might be needed, with the possibility of having real winners and losers of the integration process. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment
Experimental investigation and numerical modelling of the fire performance for epoxy resin carbon fibre composites of variable thicknesses
Authors: Fateh T. , Zhang J. , Delichatsios M. , Rogaume T.
Published: June 2016

This paper applies a unique integrated approach to determine the flammability properties of a composite material (epoxy with carbon fibre) and compares its fire behaviour at two different thicknesses (2.1 and 4.2 mm) by performing small scale (thermo‐gravimetric analysis (TGA)/Fourier transform infrared radiation) and meso‐scale tests (cone calorimeter). For small‐scale tests, experiments were conducted in nitrogen using TGA coupled to gas analysis by Fourier transform infrared radiation. These results allow the determination of thermal stability, main degradation temperature and main gaseous emissions released during the thermal degradation. For meso‐scale tests, experiments were carried out using a cone calorimeter with sample dimensions of 100 × 100 mm at five heat fluxes (30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 kW/m2). The results show that the ignition time increases with an increase in the thickness of the material. Relative hazard classification of the fire performance of the current composites has also been compared with other materials using parameters obtained elsewhere. In addition, the effective ignition, thermal and pyrolysis properties obtained from the ignition and mass loss rate experiments for the 4.2‐mm thick samples were used in a numerical model for pyrolysis to predict well ignition times, back‐surface temperatures and mass pyrolysis rates for all heat fluxes as well as for the 2.1‐mm thick samples. Note that the ignition temperature obtained in the cone agrees with the main degradation temperature in the TGA. The flammability properties deduced here can be used to predict the heat release rate for real fire situations using CFD modelling. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Intercalated montmorillonite by cyclotriphosphazene imidazole derivative and its thermal properties used in polyester
Authors: Wang Jiaoning , Chen Guanyu , Su Xingyong , Mao Zhiping
Published: June 2016

Montmorillonite (MMT) and hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene (HCCP) are two focal materials to investigate in improving the thermal properties of polymer in recent years. They are used to improve the thermal performance of polymer from different aspects. MMT usually could play an important role in preventing or slowing down the penetration of heat and flame by layers of the mineral. However, making polymer dehydrate and carbonize and generating incombustible ammonia, which can dilute the concentration of combustible gas, are the major ways from HCCP. In this study, a novel intercalated MMT containing high content of phosphorus and nitrogen was synthesized by MMT and HCCP (HCCP‐in‐MMT). It was applied to improve the thermal performance of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) polymer.1H NMR and31P NMR technology were used to track the structures of a series of intermediates. The composites were prepared by melt‐blending neat PET with HCCP‐in‐MMT and named as PET/HCCP‐in‐MMT material. Three levels of HCCP‐in‐MMT (1, 3, and 5 wt%) were considered for the blends. The preliminary application in improving the thermal performance of PET was studied by thermo‐gravimetric (TG) analysis and pyrolysis–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry; pyrolysis–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry study showed that the introduction of HCCP‐in‐MMT would inhibit the pyrolysis of PET during heating or burning. The flame retardancy performance of PET composites was characterized by limiting oxygen index tests and UL‐94 test. The result showed that the composites could pass UL‐94 V‐1 and limiting oxygen index value 28.3% just only containing 5 wt% of HCCP‐in‐MMT. TEM showed that the inserted layer structure was formed between PET matrix and synthetic flame retardant HCCP‐in‐MMT. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Low Plasma Level of Leucine-Rich Repeat-Containing 17 (LRRc17) Is an Independent and Additive Risk Factor for Osteoporotic Fractures in Postmenopausal Women
Authors: Hong Namki , Kim Beom-Jun , Kim Chong Hwa , Baek Ki Hyun , Min Yong-Ki , Kim Deog-Yoon , Lee Seung Hun , Koh Jung-Min , Kang Moo-Il , Rhee Yumie
Published: June 2016

A novel role of leucine-rich repeat-containing 17 (LRRc17), an LRR protein secreted by osteoblasts, as a negative regulator of receptor activator of NF-κB ligand–induced osteoclast differentiation was found. However, the clinical association between LRRc17 and osteoporotic fracture (OF) has not yet been investigated. We hypothesized that low circulating plasma level of LRRc17 might serve as an independent and additive risk factor for OF, including vertebral fractures (VF) and non-vertebral fractures (non-VF). In this case-control study, 102 OF cases and 102 age- and body mass index–matched controls (mean age, 63.2 years) were analyzed among 532 postmenopausal women. VF (n = 49) and non-VF (n = 60) participants were identified using lateral thoracolumbar radiographs and an interviewer-assisted questionnaire, respectively. Median LRRc17 levels were significantly lower in participants with any OF (117.5 versus 197.3 pg/mL, p < 0.001), VF (93.2 versus 172.4 pg/mL, p = 0.002), and non-VF (124.5 versus 206.9 pg/mL, p = 0.008) compared with the respective controls without fractures. The prevalence of OF increased from the highest LRRc17 tertile (≥228.5 pg/mL, 33.8%) to the lowest (<95.6 pg/mL, 63.2%). Each log unit decrease of LRRc17 was associated with greater risk of OF (odds ratio [OR] = 1.46; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.10–1.96; p = 0.009) and VF (OR = 2.42; 95% CI 1.39–4.23; p = 0.002). Plasma LRRc17 significantly improved discrimination of OF, particularly VF, when added to models including clinical risk factors and bone mineral density according to the area under receiver operating characteristics curves (AUC 0.71 to 0.81, p = 0.036), category-free net reclassification improvement (0.79; 95% CI 0.37–1.21; p < 0.001), and integrated discrimination improvement (0.13; 95% CI 0.06–0.20; p < 0.001). Low plasma LRRc17 was an independent risk factor for OF, which improved risk stratification, particularly in the spines of postmenopausal women. © 2016 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Torque and atomic forces for Cartesian tensor atomic multipoles with an application to crystal unit cell optimization
Authors: Elking Dennis M.
Published: June 2016

New equations for torque and atomic force are derived for use in flexible molecule force fields with atomic multipoles. The expressions are based on Cartesian tensors with arbitrary multipole rank. The standard method for rotating Cartesian tensor multipoles and calculating torque is to first represent the tensor with n indexes and 3n redundant components. In this work, new expressions for directly rotating the unique (n + 1)(n + 2)/2 Cartesian tensor multipole components Θpqr are given by introducing Cartesian tensor rotation matrix elements X(R). A polynomial expression and a recursion relation for X(R) are derived. For comparison, the analogous rotation matrix for spherical tensor multipoles are the Wigner functions D(R). The expressions for X(R) are used to derive simple equations for torque and atomic force. The torque and atomic force equations are applied to the geometry optimization of small molecule crystal unit cells. In addition, a discussion of computational efficiency as a function of increasing multipole rank is given for Cartesian tensors. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
ENSO–Kalahari Desert linkages on southern Africa summer surface air temperature variability
Authors: Manatsa Desmond , Reason Chris
Published: June 2016

In this work, we use observational and reanalysis data to demonstrate the prominent role which is played by the Kalahari Desert in the modulation of the maximum surface air temperature (SATmax) over southern Africa during austral summer. It is not only the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) related modification of the middle and upper troposphere but the coupling to the desert surface through cloud development mechanisms which contribute immensely to the SATmax extremes. This is achieved through the convective cloud enhancement mechanisms linked to the tropical temperate troughs and suppression processes forced by the Botswana Upper High during La Niña and El Niño events, respectively. However, significant ENSO impact on the regional SATmax is restricted to the setting in of the Indian Ocean basin‐wide sea surface temperature (SST) mode in December. This SST mode is unique and specifically characterizes the distinctive nature of the canonical version of the ENSO extremes. In this regard, the prominent anomalous warming and cooling of SATmax is predominantly explained by the canonical El Niño and La Niña events, respectively. On the other hand, ENSO ‘modoki’ cases appear not only to have notably reduced impacts on SATmax but have effects which are opposite in sign relative to their canonical ENSO counterparts. Therefore, factors which modulate ENSO characteristics, be they natural or anthropogenic, should have strong implications on the environment, water resource availability and societies of southern Africa.
Underestimated warming of northern Canada in the Berkeley Earth temperature product
Authors: Way Robert G. , Oliva Frank , Viau Andre E.
Published: June 2016

The Berkeley Earth surface temperature (BETP) project provides gridded global temperature anomaly products using an automated geostatistical approach to adjust station data for systematic biases. Despite its widespread usage, the BETP data set has not been evaluated at the national‐scale, especially in data‐sparse high latitude environments. This study provides an evaluation of the BETP product across all of Canada using 333 climate stations made available from the homogenized Environment Canada station network (HTcan). Comparison between co‐located monthly air temperature anomalies for the two data sets suggests small differences between the two products for mean surface (∼2 m) air temperature. However, the relatively minimal bias in mean temperature is a consequence of contrasting cold and warm biases in minimum and maximum air temperatures, respectively, that are larger but effectively even out when averaged together. The BETP product is shown to exhibit systematic underestimation of recent regional warming in northern Canada which when combined with an overestimation of warmth earlier in the record results in an observable reduction in warming rates for minimum and mean temperature anomalies since 1950. The temporal evolution and spatial pattern of the observed biases suggest that the BETP‐automated adjustments to station data in northern Canada miss some inhomogeneities in the raw station data. These results highlight the need for enhanced data recovery and homogenization efforts in data‐sparse high latitude regions and emphasize the importance of national‐scale climate data sets for evaluating global gridded products. We also recommend caution when using the BETP minimum and maximum monthly air temperature products for long‐term trend analyses.