bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Plant traits and vegetation data from climate warming experiments along an 1100 m elevation gradient in Gongga Mountains, China
Authors: Vandvik Vigdis , Halbritter Aud H. , Yang Yan , He Hai , Zhang Li , Brummer Alexander B. , Klanderud Kari , Maitner Brian S. , Michaletz Sean T. , Sun Xiangyang , Telford Richard J. , Wang Genxu , Althuizen Inge H. J. , Henn Jonathan J. , Garcia William Fernando Erazo , Gya Ragnhild , Jaroszynska Francesca , Joyce Blake L. , Lehman Rebecca , Moerland Michelangelo Sergio , Nesheim-Hauge Elisabeth , Nordås Linda Hovde , Peng Ahui , Ponsac Claire , Seltzer Lorah , Steyn Christien , Sullivan Megan K. , Tjendra Jesslyn , Xiao Yao , Zhao Xiaoxiang , Enquist Brian J. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractFunctional trait data enhance climate change research by linking climate change, biodiversity response, and ecosystem functioning, and by enabling comparison between systems sharing few taxa. Across four sites along a 3000–4130 m a.s.l. gradient spanning 5.3 °C in growing season temperature in Mt. Gongga, Sichuan, China, we collected plant functional trait and vegetation data from control plots, open top chambers (OTCs), and reciprocally transplanted vegetation turfs. Over five years, we recorded vascular plant composition in 140 experimental treatment and control plots. We collected trait data associated with plant resource use, growth, and life history strategies (leaf area, leaf thickness, specific leaf area, leaf dry matter content, leaf C, N and P content and C and N isotopes) from local populations and from experimental treatments. The database consists of 6,671 plant records and 36,743 trait measurements (increasing the trait data coverage of the regional flora by 500%) covering 11 traits and 193 plant taxa (ca. 50% of which have no previous published trait data) across 37 families.
Massive online data annotation, crowdsourcing to generate high quality sleep spindle annotations from EEG data
Authors: Lacourse Karine , Yetton Ben , Mednick Sara , Warby Simon C. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractSpindle event detection is a key component in analyzing human sleep. However, detection of these oscillatory patterns by experts is time consuming and costly. Automated detection algorithms are cost efficient and reproducible but require robust datasets to be trained and validated. Using the MODA (Massive Online Data Annotation) platform, we used crowdsourcing to produce a large open-source dataset of high quality, human-scored sleep spindles (5342 spindles, from 180 subjects). We evaluated the performance of three subtype scorers: “experts, researchers and non-experts”, as well as 7 previously published spindle detection algorithms. Our findings show that only two algorithms had performance scores similar to human experts. Furthermore, the human scorers agreed on the average spindle characteristics (density, duration and amplitude), but there were significant age and sex differences (also observed in the set of detected spindles). This study demonstrates how the MODA platform can be used to generate a highly valid open source standardized dataset for researchers to train, validate and compare automated detectors of biological signals such as the EEG.
Multi-channel EEG recording during motor imagery of different joints from the same limb
Authors: Ma Xuelin , Qiu Shuang , He Huiguang 
Published: June 2020

AbstractMotor imagery (MI) is one of the important brain-computer interface (BCI) paradigms, which can be used to control peripherals without external stimulus. Imagining the movements of different joints of the same limb allows intuitive control of the outer devices. In this report, we describe an open access multi-subject dataset for MI of different joints from the same limb. This experiment collected data from twenty-five healthy subjects on three tasks: 1) imagining the movement of right hand, 2) imagining the movement of right elbow, and 3) keeping resting with eyes open, which results in a total of 22,500 trials. The dataset provided includes data of three stages: 1) raw recorded data, 2) pre-processed data after operations such as artifact removal, and 3) trial data that can be directly used for feature extraction and classification. Different researchers can reuse the dataset according to their needs. We expect that this dataset will facilitate the analysis of brain activation patterns of the same limb and the study of decoding techniques for MI.
Combating climate change with matching-commitment agreements
Authors: Molina Chai , Akçay Erol , Dieckmann Ulf , Levin Simon A. , Rovenskaya Elena A. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractCountries generally agree that global greenhouse gas emissions are too high, but prefer other countries reduce emissions rather than reducing their own. The Paris Agreement is intended to solve this collective action problem, but is likely insufficient. One proposed solution is a matching-commitment agreement, through which countries can change each other’s incentives by committing to conditional emissions reductions, before countries decide on their unconditional reductions. Here, we study matching-commitment agreements between two heterogeneous countries. We find that such agreements (1) incentivize both countries to make matching commitments that in turn incentivize efficient emissions reductions, (2) reduce emissions from those expected without an agreement, and (3) increase both countries’ welfare. Matching-commitment agreements are attractive because they do not require a central enforcing authority and only require countries to fulfil their promises; countries are left to choose their conditional and unconditional emissions reductions according to their own interests.
System dynamics modelling of urbanization under energy constraints in China
Authors: Gu Chaolin , Ye Xinyue , Cao Qiwen , Guan Weihua , Peng Chong , Wu Yutong , Zhai Wei 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe rapid urbanization in China has been associated with a growing hunger for energy consumption and steadily-increasing CO2 emissions. In this paper, an integrated system dynamics model composed of four sub-models is developed to simulate the urbanization and energy consumption in China from 1998 to 2050. Three scenarios are provided: accelerated economic development, emission reduction constraint, and low-carbon oriented. The result reveals that rapid economic growth and sufficient energy supply will foster China’s urbanization in all three scenarios. Under the low carbon transition scenario, China’s urbanization rate is expected to reach 76.41% in 2050, both reducing carbon emissions and promoting eco-friendly development. All three scenarios witness a dramatic growth of residential energy consumption and a steady increase of industrial energy consumption. China still has a long way to achieve the low-carbon transition goal. China should promote renewable resources and energy, pursue a low-carbon lifestyle, and reduce energy intensity over the next few decades.
Daytime mid-latitude F2-layer Q-disturbances: A formation mechanism
Authors: Perrone Loredana , Mikhailov Andrey V. , Nusinov Anatoly A. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractNegative and positive near noontime prolonged (≥3 hours) F2-layer Q-disturbances with deviations in NmF2 > 35% occurred at Rome have been analyzed using aeronomic parameters inferred from fp180 (plasma frequency at 180 km height) and foF2 observations. Both types of NmF2 perturbations occur under quiet (daily Ap < 15 nT) geomagnetic conditions. Day-to-day atomic oxygen [O] variations at F2-region heights specify the type (positive or negative) of Q-disturbance. The [O] concentration is larger on positive and is less on negative Q-disturbance days compared to reference days. This difference takes place not only on average but for all individual Q-disturbances in question. An additional contribution to Q-disturbances formation is provided by solar EUV day-to-day variations. Negative Q-disturbance days are characterized by lower hmF2 while positive – by larger hmF2 compared to reference days. This is due to larger average Tex and vertical plasma drift W on positive Q-disturbance days, the inverse situation takes place for negative Q-disturbance days. Day-to-day changes in global thermospheric circulation may be considered as a plausible mechanism. The analyzed type of F2-layer Q-disturbances can be explained in the framework of contemporary understanding of the thermosphere-ionosphere interaction based on solar and geomagnetic activity as the main drivers.
Aging and trace elements in human coronal tooth dentine
Authors: Fernández-Escudero Ana C. , Legaz Isabel , Prieto-Bonete Gemma , López-Nicolás Manuel , Maurandi-López Antonio , Pérez-Cárceles María D. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractTeeth are a fundamental tool in forensic odontology for identification in a legal context of those individuals who cannot be identified visually or by other means. Dentine presents physiological exchanges of in trace elements after a period of mineralization and several factors can affect its concentration. The aim of this study was to investigate the concentration of 25 trace elements in the coronal dentine according to sex and type of tooth to determine their relationship with age. A total of 25 trace elements were analyzed in 150 human coronal dentine. Teeth were classified into three age groups, sex and tooth type. The trace elements were grouped as potentially toxic or essential. Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry and Atomic Emission Spectroscopy were used. The toxic and essential elements were detected in the following order of concentration: Al > Pb > Sn > Li > As > Cd and Ca > P > Mg > Na > S > K > Sr > Zn > Ba > Fe > B > Ti > Mn > Cr > Ni > Cu > Co > Se > V. Our findings show an increase in the concentration of toxic (Pb, Li and Sn) and essential (B, Ba, K, Sr, S and Mg) elements in coronal dentin related to the age of the teeth, regardless of sex. The concentrations of Pb and K in dentin of molars and premolars are the elements that best relate their variations with age. In view of our results, the analysis of these trace elements in dentin in combination with other types of techniques could be established as an element to consider in age dating studies in different forensic situations.
Transcriptional Regulation of the Angptl8 Gene by Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor-1 in the Murine Liver
Authors: Watanabe Takuya , Ozawa Atsushi , Masuda Shinnosuke , Yoshino Satoshi , Ishida Emi , Kondo Yuri , Matsumoto Shunichi , Katano-Toki Akiko , Horiguchi Kazuhiko , Nakajima Yasuyo , Yamada Eijiro , Tomaru Takuya , Saito Tsugumichi , Ishii Sumiyasu , Shibusawa Nobuyuki , Okada Shuichi , Satoh Tetsurou , Yamada Masanobu 
Published: June 2020

AbstractBrief refeeding times (~60 min) enhanced hepatic Angptl8 expression in fasted mice. We cloned the mouse Angptl8 promoter region to characterise this rapid refeeding-induced increase in hepatic Angptl8 expression. Deletion of the −309/−60 promoter region significantly attenuated basal promoter activity in hepatocytes. A computational motif search revealed a potential binding motif for hepatocyte nuclear factor 1α/1β (HNF-1α/β) at −84/−68 bp of the promoter. Mutation of the HNF-1 binding site significantly decreased the promoter activity in hepatocytes, and the promoter carrying the mutated HNF-1 site was not transactivated by co-transfection of HNF-1 in a non-hepatic cell line. Silencing Hnf-1 in hepatoma cells and mouse primary hepatocytes reduced Angptl8 protein levels. Electrophoretic mobility-shift assays confirmed direct binding of Hnf-1 to its Angptl8 promoter binding motif. Hnf-1α expression levels increased after short-term refeeding, paralleling the enhanced in vivo expression of the Angptl8 protein. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) confirmed the recruitment of endogenous Hnf-1 to the Angptl8 promoter region. Insulin-treated primary hepatocytes showed increased expression of Angptl8 protein, but knockdown of Hnf-1 completely abolished this enhancement. HNF-1 appears to play essential roles in the rapid refeeding-induced increases in Angptl8 expression. HNF-1α may therefore represent a primary medical target for ANGPTL8-related metabolic abnormalities. The study revealed the transcriptional regulation of the mouse hepatic Angptl8 gene by HNF-1.
Antibiotic effect and microbiome persistence vary along the European seabass gut
Authors: Kokou Fotini , Sasson Goor , Mizrahi Itzhak , Cnaani Avner 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe constant increase in aquaculture production has led to extensive use of antibiotics as a means to prevent and treat diseases, with adverse implications on the environment, animal health and commensal microbes. Gut microbes are important for the host proper functioning, thus evaluating such impacts is highly crucial. Examining the antibiotic impact on gut segments with different physiological roles may provide insight into their effects on these microhabitats. Hence, we evaluated the effect of feed-administrated antibiotics on the composition and metabolic potential of the gut microbiome in the European seabass, an economically important aquaculture species. We used quantitative PCR to measure bacterial copy numbers, and amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene to describe the composition along the gut, after 7-days administration of two broad-range antibiotic mixtures at two concentrations. While positive correlation was found between antibiotic concentration and bacterial abundance, we showed a differential effect of antibiotics on the composition along the gut, highlighting distinct impacts on these microbial niches. Moreover, we found an increase in abundance of predicted pathways related to antibiotic-resistance. Overall, we show that a high portion of the European seabass gut microbiome persisted, despite the examined antibiotic intake, indicating high stability to perturbations.
Effect of 9-month Pilates program on sagittal spinal curvatures and hamstring extensibility in adolescents: randomised controlled trial
Authors: González-Gálvez Noelia , Marcos-Pardo Pablo Jorge , Trejo-Alfaro Henry , Vaquero-Cristóbal Raquel 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe percentage of spine misalignment increases during the childhood and adolescence stages. The Pilates method has been associated with an improvement in the sagittal spine disposition, but no studies have been conducted on adolescents. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a 9-month Pilates exercise program (PEP) on hamstring extensibility and sagittal spinal curvatures on adolescents. This randomised controlled trial included 236 adolescents. The experimental group (EG) received a PEP (9 months, 2 sessions/week, 15 minutes/session). The control group (CG) did not receive any intervention. Hamstring extensibility was measured with the passive and active straight leg raise and toe-touch tests. Sagittal spinal curvatures and pelvic tilt was assessed in relaxed standing, active alignment and toe-touch test positions. The EG had significant changes in hamstring extensibility, lumbar curvature and pelvic tilt in standing sagittal curvature. The CG became significantly worse in thoracic kyphosis in standing. This study provides evidence of nine-months of a PEP increased the hamstring extensibility; averted the increase of the thoracic curvature, and decreased the curvature of the lumbar lordosis and pelvic tilt in standing position; avoided a greater increase of thoracic curvature in active alignment in standing position; and avoided the increase of thoracic curvature in trunk flexion.
Effects of magnetic monopoles charge on the cracking reversal processes in artificial square ices
Authors: de Paiva T. S. , Rodrigues J. H. , Mól L. A. S. , Pereira A. R. , Borme J. , Freitas P. P. , de Araujo C. I. L. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractIn this paper we perform nanofabrication of square artificial spin ices with different lattice parameters, in order to investigate the roles of vertex excitation on the features of the system. In particular, the character of magnetic charge distribution asymmetry on the vertices are observed under magnetic hysteresis loop experiments. We then compare our results with simulation using an emergent Hamiltonian containing objects such as magnetic monopoles and dipoles in the vertices of the array (instead of the usual Hamiltonian based on the dipolar interactions among the magnetic nanoislands). All possible interactions between these objects are considered (monopole-monopole, monopole-dipole and dipole-dipole). Using realistic parameters we observe very good match between experiments and theory, which allow us to better understand the system dynamics in function of monopole charge intensity.
Boosting the sterile insect technique with pyriproxyfen increases tsetse flies Glossina palpalis gambiensis sterilization in controlled conditions
Authors: Laroche L. , Ravel S. , Baldet T. , Lancelot R. , Chandre F. , Rossignol M. , Le Goff V. , Duhayon M. , Fafet J.-F. , Parker A. G. , Bouyer J. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractTsetse flies (Diptera: Glossinidae) are the main vectors of animal and human trypanosomoses in Africa. The Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) has proven effective in controlling tsetse flies when applied to isolated populations but necessitates the production of large numbers of sterile males. A new approach, called boosted SIT, combining SIT with the contamination of wild females by sterile males coated with biocides has been proposed for large-scale control of vector populations. The aim of the study was to evaluate this new approach using pyriproxyfen on the riverine species Glossina palpalis gambiensis (Vanderplank, 1949) in the laboratory. The contamination dose and persistence of pyriproxyfen on sterile males, the impact of pyriproxyfen on male survival, and the dynamics of pyriproxyfen transfer from a sterile male to a female during mating, as well as the impact of pyriproxyfen on pupal production and adult emergence, were evaluated in the laboratory. For this purpose, a method of treatment by impregnating sterile males with a powder containing 40% pyriproxyfen has been developed. The results showed that the pyriproxyfen has no impact on the survival of sterile males. Pyriproxyfen persisted on sterile males for up to 10 days at a dose of 100 ng per fly. In addition, the horizontal transfer of pyriproxyfen from a treated sterile male to a female during mating could be measured with an average of 50 ng of pyriproxyfen transferred. After contacts without mating, the average quantity transferred was more than 10 ng. Finally, the pyriproxyfen powder was very effective on G. p. gambiensis leading to 0% emergence of the pupae produced by contaminated females. These promising results must be confirmed in the field. A large-scale assessment of this boosted pyriproxyfen-based SIT approach will be carried out against tsetse flies in Senegal (West Africa).
High Adsorption of Benzoic Acid on Single Walled Carbon Nanotube Bundles
Authors: Li Shifan , De Silva Thushani , Arsano Iskinder , Gallaba Dinuka , Karunanithy Robinson , Wasala Milinda , Zhang Xianfeng , Sivakumar Poopalasingam , Migone Aldo , Tsige Mesfin , Ma Xingmao , Talapatra Saikat 
Published: June 2020

AbstractRemoval of harmful chemicals from water is paramount to environmental cleanliness and safety. As such, need for materials that will serve this purpose is in the forefront of environmental research that pertains to water purification. Here we show that bundles of single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), synthesized by direct thermal decomposition of ferrocene (Fe(C5H5)2), can remove emerging contaminants like benzoic acid from water with high efficiencies. Experimental adsorption isotherm studies indicate that the sorption capacity of benzoic acid on these carbon nanotubes (CNTs) can be as high as 375 mg/g, which is significantly higher (in some cases an order of magnitude) than those reported previously for other adsorbents of benzoic acid such as activated carbon cloth, modified bentonite and commercially available graphitized multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs). Our Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulation studies of experimental scenarios provided major insights related to this process of adsorption. The MD simulations indicate that, high binding energy sites present in SWNT bundles are majorly responsible for their enhanced adsorptive behavior compared to isolated MWNTs. These findings indicate that SWNT materials can be developed as scalable materials for efficient removal of environmental contaminants as well as for other sorption-based applications.
Acidification of Cytoplasm in Escherichia coli Provides a Strategy to Cope with Stress and Facilitates Development of Antibiotic Resistance
Authors: Reyes-Fernández Esmeralda Z. , Schuldiner Shimon 
Published: June 2020

AbstractAwareness of the problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has escalated, and drug-resistant infections are named among the most urgent issues facing clinicians today. Bacteria can acquire resistance to antibiotics by a variety of mechanisms that, at times, involve changes in their metabolic status, thus altering diverse biochemical reactions, many of them pH-dependent. In this work, we found that modulation of the cytoplasmic pH (pHi) of Escherichia coli provides a thus far unexplored strategy to support resistance. We show here that the acidification of the cytoplasmic pH is a previously unrecognized consequence of the activation of the marRAB operon. The acidification itself contributes to the full implementation of the resistance phenotype. We measured the pHi of two resistant strains, developed in our laboratory, that carry mutations in marR that activate the marRAB operon. The pHi of both strains is lower than that of the wild type strain. Inactivation of the marRAB response in both strains weakens resistance, and pHi increases back to wild type levels. Likewise, we showed that exposure of wild type cells to weak acids that caused acidification of the cytoplasm induced a resistant phenotype, independent of the marRAB response. We speculate that the decrease of the cytoplasmic pH brought about by activation of the marRAB response provides a signaling mechanism that modifies metabolic pathways and serves to cope with stress and to lower metabolic costs.
Explorative study of serum biomarkers of liver failure after liver resection
Authors: Yoon Kyung Chul , Kwon Hyung Do , Jo Hye-Sung , Choi Yoon Young , Seok Jin-I , Kang Yujin , Lee Do Yup , Kim Dong-Sik 
Published: June 2020

AbstractConventional biochemical markers have limited usefulness in the prediction of early liver dysfunction. We, therefore, tried to find more useful liver failure biomarkers after liver resection that are highly sensitive to internal and external challenges in the biological system with a focus on liver metabolites. Twenty pigs were divided into the following 3 groups: sham operation group (n = 6), 70% hepatectomy group (n = 7) as a safety margin of resection model, and 90% hepatectomy group (n = 7) as a liver failure model. Blood sampling was performed preoperatively and at 1, 6, 14, 30, 38, and 48 hours after surgery, and 129 primary metabolites were profiled. Orthogonal projection to latent structures-discriminant analysis revealed that, unlike in the 70% hepatectomy and sham operation groups, central carbon metabolism was the most significant factor in the 90% hepatectomy group. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to develop a predictive model for mortality risk following hepatectomy. The recommended variables were malic acid, methionine, tryptophan, glucose, and γ-aminobutyric acid. Area under the curve of the linear combination of five metabolites was 0.993 (95% confidence interval: 0.927–1.000, sensitivity: 100.0, specificity: 94.87). We proposed robust biomarker panels that can accurately predict mortality risk associated with hepatectomy.