bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Local forest structure variability increases resilience to wildfire in dry western U.S. coniferous forests
Authors: Koontz Michael J. , North Malcolm P. , Werner Chhaya M. , Fick Stephen E. , Latimer Andrew M. 
Published: January 2020

AbstractA ‘resilient’ forest endures disturbance and is likely to persist. Resilience to wildfire may arise from feedback between fire behaviour and forest structure in dry forest systems. Frequent fire creates fine‐scale variability in forest structure, which may then interrupt fuel continuity and prevent future fires from killing overstorey trees. Testing the generality and scale of this phenomenon is challenging for vast, long‐lived forest ecosystems. We quantify forest structural variability and fire severity across >30 years and >1000 wildfires in California's Sierra Nevada. We find that greater variability in forest structure increases resilience by reducing rates of fire‐induced tree mortality and that the scale of this effect is local, manifesting at the smallest spatial extent of forest structure tested (90 × 90 m). Resilience of these forests is likely compromised by structural homogenisation from a century of fire suppression, but could be restored with management that increases forest structural variability.
Highly drug‐resistant HIV‐1 protease reveals decreased intra‐subunit interactions due to clusters of mutations
Authors: Kneller Daniel W. , Agniswamy Johnson , Harrison Robert W. , Weber Irene T. 
Published: January 2020

Drug‐resistance is a serious problem for treatment of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Potent clinical inhibitors of HIV‐1 protease show several orders of magnitude worse inhibition of highly drug‐resistant variants. Hence, the structure and enzyme activities were analyzed for HIV protease mutant HIV‐1 protease (EC 3.4.23.16) (PR) with 22 mutations (PRS5B) from a clinical isolate that was selected by machine learning to represent high‐level drug‐resistance. PRS5B has 22 mutations including only one (I84V) in the inhibitor binding site; however, clinical inhibitors had poor inhibition of PRS5B activity with kinetic inhibition value (Ki) values of 4–1000 nm or 18‐ to 8000‐fold worse than for wild‐type PR. High‐resolution crystal structures of PRS5B complexes with the best inhibitors, amprenavir (APV) and darunavir (DRV) (Ki ~ 4 nm), revealed only minor changes in protease‐inhibitor interactions. Instead, two distinct clusters of mutations in distal regions induce coordinated conformational changes that decrease favorable internal interactions across the entire protein subunit. The largest structural rearrangements are described and compared to other characterized resistant mutants. In the protease hinge region, the N83D mutation eliminates a hydrogen bond connecting the hinge and core of the protease and increases disorder compared to highly resistant mutants PR with 17 mutations and PR with 20 mutations with similar hinge mutations. In a distal β‐sheet, mutations G73T and A71V coordinate with accessory mutations to bring about shifts that propagate throughout the subunit. Molecular dynamics simulations of ligand‐free dimers show differences consistent with loss of interactions in mutant compared to wild‐type PR. Clusters of mutations exhibit both coordinated and antagonistic effects, suggesting PRS5B may represent an intermediate stage in the evolution of more highly resistant variants.DatabasesStructural data are available in Protein Data Bank under the accession codes 6P9A and 6P9B for PRS5B/DRV and PRS5B/APV, respectively.
Compression‐compression fatigue performance of aluminium matrix composite foams reinforced by carbon nanotubes
Authors: Yang Xudong , Hu Qi , Li Weiting , Song Haipeng , Zou Tianchun , Zong Rongrong , Sha Junwei , He Chunnian , Zhao Naiqin 
Published: January 2020

AbstractThe compression‐compression fatigue performance of carbon nanotube (CNT) reinforced aluminium matrix composite foams (AMCFs) were investigated. The ε‐N curves of AMCFs are composed of three stages (the elastic, strain hardening, and rapid accumulation stages), while the fatigue strain of AMCFs accumulates very rapidly in stage III compared with Al foams. The fatigue strength of AMCFs with CNT contents of 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 wt% increases by 6%, 44%, and 102% than Al foams, respectively. Different from Al foams' deformation of layer‐by‐layer, the main failure modes of AMCFs are the brittle fracture and collapse of pores within significant shear deformation bands under fatigue loading. The uniform distribution of CNTs and good interfacial bonding of CNTs and Al matrix is the important factor for the improvement of fatigue properties of AMCFs.
Population structure and movement patterns of blackbelly rosefish in the NE Atlantic Ocean (Azores archipelago)
Authors: Santos Régis , Pabon Ana , Silva Wendell , Silva Hélder , Pinho Mário 
Published: January 2020

AbstractBlackbelly rosefish Helicolenus dactylopterus (Delaroche, 1809) is one of the most important species of the demersal/deep‐water assemblages fished in the NE Atlantic Ocean (Azores archipelago). However, there is insufficient information about the stock structure of this species to support analytical resource assessments and it is currently managed with a precautionary approach. Here, we examine the depth and temporal distribution, size composition, sex, and movement patterns of blackbelly rosefish in order to test the hypothesis that the stock structure in the Azores region comprises different local management units (MUs). We also evaluate annual abundance indices and size composition from scientific surveys and commercial landings over the past c. 25 years for an assessment of the species' vulnerability to bottom longline fishing pressure. The greatest abundance occurred in seamount areas at 350–800 m depth. Larger individuals were mainly found in deeper waters, and no sexual segregation by depth was observed. Tagging results indicated a strongly sedentary behavior and an intraregional separation among populations. Although the abundance pattern and size composition were very similar over time, this species is particularly vulnerable to overfishing due to its biological characteristics (long life, large size, late maturity, slow growth, and low mortality rate). Proper monitoring and management of its exploitation should be a priority. Exploratory analysis for analytical assessment should be performed under the assumption of local MUs. Further oceanographic research is needed to understand larval transport and mixing of populations.
Benthic ecoregionalization based on echinoid fauna of the Southern Ocean supports current proposals of Antarctic Marine Protected Areas under IPCC scenarios of climate change
Authors: Fabri‐Ruiz Salomé , Danis Bruno , Navarro Nicolas , Koubbi Philippe , Laffont Rémi , Saucède Thomas 
Published: January 2020

AbstractThe Southern Ocean (SO) is among the regions on Earth that are undergoing regionally the fastest environmental changes. The unique ecological features of its marine life make it particularly vulnerable to the multiple effects of climate change. A network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) has started to be implemented in the SO to protect marine ecosystems. However, considering future predictions of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the relevance of current, static, MPAs may be questioned under future scenarios. In this context, the ecoregionalization approach can prove promising in identifying well‐delimited regions of common species composition and environmental settings. These so‐called ecoregions are expected to show similar biotic responses to environmental changes and can be used to define priority areas for the designation of new MPAs and the update of their current delimitation. In the present work, a benthic ecoregionalization of the entire SO is proposed for the first time based on abiotic environmental parameters and the distribution of echinoid fauna, a diversified and common member of Antarctic benthic ecosystems. A novel two‐step approach was developed combining species distribution modeling with Random Forest and Gaussian Mixture modeling from species probabilities to define current ecoregions and predict future ecoregions under IPCC scenarios RCP 4.5 and 8.5. The ecological representativity of current and proposed MPAs of the SO is discussed with regard to the modeled benthic ecoregions. In all, 12 benthic ecoregions were determined under present conditions, they are representative of major biogeographic patterns already described. Our results show that the most dramatic changes can be expected along the Antarctic Peninsula, in East Antarctica and the sub‐Antarctic islands under both IPCC scenarios. Our results advocate for a dynamic definition of MPAs, they also argue for improving the representativity of Antarctic ecoregions in proposed MPAs and support current proposals of Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources for the creation of Antarctic MPAs.
Unveiling geographical gradients of species richness from scant occurrence data
Authors: Alves Davi Mello Cunha Crescente , Eduardo Anderson Aires , da Silva Oliveira Eduardo Vinícius , Villalobos Fabricio , Dobrovolski Ricardo , Pereira Taiguã Corrêa , de Souza Ribeiro Adauto , Stropp Juliana , Rodrigues João Fabrício Mota , Diniz‐Filho José Alexandre F. , Gouveia Sidney F. 
Published: January 2020

AbstractAimDespite longstanding investigation, the gradients of species richness remain unknown for most taxa because of shortfalls in knowledge regarding the quantity and distribution of species. Here, we explore the ability of a geostatistical interpolation model, regression‐kriging, to recover geographical gradients of species richness. We examined the technique with anin silicogradient of species richness and evaluated the effect of different configurations of knowledge shortfalls. We also took the same approach for empirical data with large knowledge gaps, the infraorder Furnariides of suboscine birds.InnovationRegression‐kriging builds upon two cornerstones of geographical gradients of biodiversity, the spatial autocorrelation of species richness and the conspicuous association of species with environmental factors. With this technique, we recovered a simulated gradient of richness using < 0.01% of sampling sites across the region. The accuracy of the regression‐kriging is higher when input samples are more evenly distributed throughout the geographical space rather than the environmental space of the target region. Moreover, the accuracy of this method is more sensitive to the sufficiency of sampling effort within cells than to the quantity of sampled localities. For Furnariides birds, regression‐kriging provided a geographical gradient of species richness that resembles purported patterns of other groups and illustrated ubiquitous shortfalls of knowledge about bird diversity.Main conclusionsGeostatistical interpolation, such as regression‐kriging, might be a useful tool to overcome shortfalls in knowledge that plague our understanding of geographical gradients of biodiversity, with many applications in ecology, palaeoecology and conservation.
A reappraisal of sclerosing nodular and/or polypoid lesions of the gastrointestinal tract rich in IgG4‐positive plasma cells
Authors: Chetty Runjan 
Published: January 2020

AimsTo describe additional cases of nodular and polypoid sclerosing lesions of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) that are associated with numerous IgG4‐positive plasma cells, review the pertinent literature to ascertain the relationship with systemic IgG4‐related disease, and provide a reporting framework for such lesions.Methods and resultsFive new cases of sclerosing polyps or nodules were collected over a 10‐year period, occurring in four females and one male ranging in age from 32 years to 56 years (mean, 41.6 years). Patients were asymptomatic or had epigastric pain, and one had rectal bleeding. None had autoimmune or other obvious IgG4‐related disease, and serum IgG4 levels were normal. All were solitary nodules in the stomach (two cases), ileum, caecum, and rectum. Four lesions were submucosal and one was subserosal; all were well circumscribed, composed of hyalinised, keloidal fibrous tissue with lymphoplasmacytic inflammation. Obliterative phlebitis was not seen. Lineage‐specific immunomarkers were negative. In excess of 10 IgG4‐positive plasma cells per high‐power field were seen, and the IgG4/IgG ratios were >0.4.ConclusionsVery few IgG4‐related lesions in the tubular GIT are associated with disease at other sites and/or elevated serum IgG4 levels. The majority may represent a lesion in the spectrum of IgG4‐related disease. The use of the term ‘IgG4‐positive nodule or polyp with probable histological features of IgG4‐related disease’ is advocated for nodular and/or polypoid lesions in the GIT with ≥10 IgG4‐positive plasma cells in a high‐power field and an IgG/IgG4 ratio of >0.4.
Comparison between ultra‐homogenisation and ultrasound for extraction of phenolic compounds from teff (Eragrostis tef (Zucc.))
Authors: Viell Franciele Leila Giopato , Madeira Tiago Bervelieri , Nixdorf Suzana Lucy , Gomes Sandra Terezinha Marques , Bona Evandro , Matsushita Makoto 
Published: January 2020

AbstractThis study investigated the effect of the solvent composition on the extraction of phenolic compounds from teff grains and compared the efficiency between the techniques homogeniser‐assisted extraction (HAE) and ultrasound‐assisted extraction (UAE). The solvents used were water, ethanol and methanol, and the response analysed was the total phenolic content (TPC). The quantitative profile of polyphenols extracted was also determined by ultra‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC‐TQD). According to the optimisation, the maximum response was estimated at solvent ratios of 51:40:9 and 49:26:25 (water/ethanol/methanol, v/v/v) for HAE and UAE, respectively. Under optimal conditions, the extraction technique did not significantly influence the TPC extracted, but the TFC (total flavonoid content) and the antioxidant capacity were significantly higher when UAE was used. The phenolic acids p‐coumaric and protocatechuic and the flavonoids quercetin, rutin and myricetin were the main polyphenols extracted. Both techniques studied were efficient in extracting polyphenols from whole teff grains.
Plasmacytoid dendritic cells suppress Th2 responses induced by epicutaneous sensitization
Authors: Lin Jing‐Yi , Wu Wei‐Hsin , Chen Jau‐Shiuh , Liu I‐Lin , Chiu Hsueh‐Ling , Chen Hsi‐Wen , Tsai Tung‐Lin , Huang Yi‐Ling , Wang Li‐Fang 
Published: January 2020

AbstractEpicutaneous (EC) sensitization with protein allergens is the most important sensitization route for atopic dermatitis. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are characterized by massive secretion of interferon‐α (IFNα). B6 mice are T helper type 1 (Th1)‐prone and are representative of non‐atopic humans, whereas BALB/c mice are Th2‐prone and are representative of atopic humans. Here, we show that naïve BALB/c mice contain a greater number of nonactivated pDCs in peripheral lymph nodes (LNs) than do naïve B6 mice. Naïve BALB/c mice also have more of the CD8α– subset in LNs than naïve B6 mice. Moreover, in vivo depletion of pDCs during EC sensitization results in enhanced Th2 responses in BALB/c mice, but not in B6 mice. Mechanistically, when BALB/c mice undergo EC sensitization, there is an increase in pDCs entering draining LNs. These cells exhibit modest activation including comparable costimulation expression but increased cytokine expression compared with those of naïve mice. In vivo depletion of pDCs during EC sensitization significantly increases the activation of dermal dendritic cells (dDCs) suggesting a regulatory effect on these cells. To this end, a suppressive effect of pDCs on conventional dendritic cells was also demonstrated in vitro. Further, in vivo blockade of IFNα by an anti‐IFNAR antibody (Ab) or in vivo reduction of IFNα production of pDCs by anti‐siglec‐H Ab both resulted in enhanced activation of dDCs. Collectively, our results demonstrate that pDCs suppress Th2 responses induced by EC sensitization via IFNα‐mediated regulation of dDCs.
Single‐step densification of nanocrystalline CeO2 by the cold sintering process
Authors: Zaengle Thomasina H. , Ndayishimiye Arnaud , Tsuji Kosuke , Fan Zhongming , Bang Sun Hwi , Perini Jonathan , Misture Scott T. , Randall Clive A. 
Published: January 2020

AbstractThis study reports the successful single‐step cold sintering of nanocrystalline cerium dioxide (CeO2) at temperatures ranging from 250°C to 400°C under 500 MPa, using molten hydroxides flux solvents. CeO2 ceramics obtained were 82 to 91% of the theoretical density. Structural and microstructural investigations of the as‐cold sintered CeO2 ceramics were conducted to further understand this new approach to cold sinter ceramics. Electrical conductivity measured by two‐point AC impedance demonstrated an activation energy for grain conductivity of 0.49 eV, with impedance spectra characteristic of nanoscale CeO2.
Ixekizumab improves secondary lesional signs, pain and sexual health in patients with moderate‐to‐severe genital psoriasis
Authors: Merola J.F. , Ghislain P.‐D. , Dauendorffer J.N. , Potts Bleakman A. , Brnabic A.J.M. , Burge R. , Riedl E. 
Published: January 2020

AbstractBackgroundEpithelial surface disruption in genital psoriatic lesions may manifest as erosions, fissures and/or ulcers, causing pain and significantly impacting a patient's sexual health.ObjectiveTo evaluate the impact of erosions, fissures and/or ulcers in genital psoriatic lesions on pain and sexual activity in patients with moderate‐to‐severe genital psoriasis (GenPs) and treatment responses to ixekizumab vs. placebo until Week 12.MethodsThis post hoc subgroup analysis of patients presenting with and without erosions, fissures and/or ulcers in genital lesions from a phase IIIb multicentre, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study (IXORA‐Q; NCT02718898) in 149 adults with moderate‐to‐severe GenPs treated with subcutaneous ixekizumab (80 mg every 2 weeks; n = 75) or placebo (n = 74) evaluated outcomes for clinician‐rated GenPs severity (static Physician's Global Assessment of Genitalia; sPGA‐G) and patient‐reported genital pain and itch (Genital Psoriasis Symptoms Scale; GPSS) and sexual health (Genital Psoriasis Sexual Frequency Questionnaire; GenPs‐SFQ).ResultsAt baseline, 38% (n = 57) of patients presented with genital erosions, fissures and/or ulcers independent of overall body surface area involvement (<10% or ≥10%). These signs were associated with higher scores for disease severity (sPGA‐G) and pain (GPSS) but not sexual health (GenPs‐SFQ). Complete resolution of these signs was observed in 62% of ixekizumab‐treated patients (25% for placebo) at Week 1 and 83% (21% for placebo) at Week 12. Patients treated with ixekizumab reported significant improvements in pain, itch, disease severity and sexual health over 12 weeks compared to placebo and irrespective of the presence/absence of genital erosions, fissures and/or ulcers at baseline.ConclusionIxekizumab led to rapid and sustained resolution of erosions, fissures and/or ulcers and significant improvements in GenPs severity, genital pain and sexual health. Ixekizumab may help to improve the well‐being of patients with GenPs.
Efficacy of tildrakizumab by patient demographic and disease characteristics across a phase 2b and 2 phase 3 trials in patients with moderate‐to‐severe chronic plaque psoriasis
Authors: Poulin Y. , Ramon M. , Rosoph L. , Weisman J. , Mendelsohn A.M. , Parno J. , Rozzo S.J. , Lee P. 
Published: January 2020

AbstractBackgroundTildrakizumab is a high‐affinity, anti‐interleukin‐23p19 monoclonal antibody approved for treatment of moderate‐to‐severe plaque psoriasis.ObjectivesTo evaluate the effects of patient demographic and disease characteristics on tildrakizumab efficacy using phase 2b/3 trial data.MethodsData from patients who received placebo, or tildrakizumab 100 or 200 mg, in P05495 [NCT01225731], reSURFACE 1 [NCT01722331] and reSURFACE 2 [NCT01729754] were analysed. Patient subgroups were defined by age, sex, race, weight, self‐reported psoriatic arthritis, failure of ≥1 traditional systemic treatment and prior biologic use. Percentage of Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) 75 and 90 responders at Week 12 were compared across treatment arms in each subgroup. Absolute PASI at Weeks 0 and 12 was also determined for each subgroup.ResultsAmong patients randomized in P05495 (N = 355), reSURFACE 1 (N = 772) and 2 (N = 1090), percentage of PASI 75 and 90 responders were significantly greater for each tildrakizumab dose vs. placebo (P < 0.0001). PASI 75 and 90 responder percentages were numerically greater in patients <65 years of age, bodyweight ≤90 kg, without psoriatic arthritis and with no prior biologic exposure (only PASI 90), vs. their counterparts in corresponding subgroups. There were no clear or consistent differences in efficacy between the other subgroups. Absolute PASI scores were generally similar across subgroups.ConclusionsSmall numerical differences in tildrakizumab efficacy were observed between subgroups defined by patient age and weight, presence of psoriatic arthritis and prior biologic use. These differences were not clinically meaningful; however, analyses of long‐term data may be of value. Tildrakizumab efficacy did not differ with respect to patient sex or race, or number of prior failed conventional systemic treatments. Overall, these results suggest tildrakizumab may be appropriate for treatment of moderate‐to‐severe plaque psoriasis in patients with a range of demographic and disease characteristics.
Influence of gene position on the expression divergence of oxidative response genes in intraspecific yeast
Authors: Huang Yi‐Hsuan , Hsieh Dai‐Keng , Sung Huang‐Mo 
Published: January 2020

AbstractPhenotypic variation can arise from differences in the protein coding sequence and in the regulatory elements. However, little is known about the contribution of regulatory difference to the expression divergence, especially the cis and trans regulatory variation to the expression divergence in intraspecific populations. In this study, we used two different yeast strains, BY4743 and RM11‐1a/α, to study the regulatory variation to the expression divergence between BY and RM under oxidative stress condition. Our results indicated that the expression divergence of BY and RM is mainly due to trans regulatory variations under both normal and oxidative stress conditions. However, cis regulatory variation seems to play a very important role in oxidative stress response in yeast because 36% of genes showed an increase in cis regulatory variation effect compared with 13% of genes that showed an increase in trans regulatory variation effect after oxidative stress. Our data also indicated that genes located on the longer arm of the chromosomes are more susceptible to cis variation effect under oxidative stress than genes on the shorter arm of the chromosomes.