bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Genetic admixture despite ecological segregation in a North African sparrow hybrid zone (Aves, Passeriformes, Passer domesticus × Passer hispaniolensis)
Authors: Päckert Martin , Ait Belkacem Abdelkrim , Wolfgramm Hannes , Gast Oliver , Canal David , Giacalone Gabriele , Lo Valvo Mario , Vamberger Melita , Wink Michael , Martens Jochen , Stuckas Heiko 
Published: October 2019

AbstractUnder different environmental conditions, hybridization between the same species might result in different patterns of genetic admixture. Particularly, species pairs with large distribution ranges and long evolutionary history may have experienced several independent hybridization events over time in different zones of overlap. In birds, the diverse hybrid populations of the house sparrow (Passer domesticus) and the Spanish sparrow (Passer hispaniolensis) provide a striking example. Throughout their range of sympatry, these two species do not regularly interbreed; however, a stabilized hybrid form (Passer italiae) exists on the Italian Peninsula and on several Mediterranean islands. The spatial distribution pattern on the Eurasian continent strongly contrasts the situation in North Africa, where house sparrows and Spanish sparrows occur in close vicinity of phenotypically intermediate populations across a broad mosaic hybrid zone. In this study, we investigate patterns of divergence and admixture among the two parental species, stabilized and nonstabilized hybrid populations in Italy and Algeria based on a mitochondrial marker, a sex chromosomal marker, and 12 microsatellite loci. In Algeria, despite strong spatial and temporal separation of urban early‐breeding house sparrows and hybrids and rural late‐breeding Spanish sparrows, we found strong genetic admixture of mitochondrial and nuclear markers across all study populations and phenotypes. That pattern of admixture in the North African hybrid zone is strikingly different from i) the Iberian area of sympatry where we observed only weak asymmetrical introgression of Spanish sparrow nuclear alleles into local house sparrow populations and ii) the very homogenous Italian sparrow population where the mitogenome of one parent (P. domesticus) and the Z‐chromosomal marker of the other parent (P. hispaniolensis) are fixed. The North African sparrow hybrids provide a further example of enhanced hybridization along with recent urbanization and anthropogenic land‐use changes in a mosaic landscape.
Prolonged plasma glucose elevation on oral glucose tolerance test in young healthy Japanese individuals
Authors: Ishigaki Hirotaka , Yoshida Akihiro , Araki Osamu , Kimura Takao , Tsunekawa Katsuhiko , Shoho Yoshifumi , Nara Makoto , Aoki Tomoyuki , Ogiwara Takayuki , Murakami Masami 
Published: October 2019

AbstractAimsThis study aims to assess insulin secretion and resistance through oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) among young Japanese individuals.Subjects and methodsWe enrolled 595 young healthy Japanese individuals aged 22‐29 years. They underwent an OGTT, and their results were divided into 4 groups (I‐IV), according to the time at which their plasma glucose concentration declined below the fasting glucose concentration (30, 60 or 120 minutes or never as groups I, II, III and IV, respectively).ResultsWe classified 575 normal glucose‐tolerant subjects into 4 groups (I‐IV) with I: 28 (4.9%), II: 120 (20.9%), III: 143 (24.9%) and IV: 284 (49.4%) individuals. The Matsuda, insulinogenic and disposition indices were decreased from groups I to IV. ROC curves of disposition index reflecting the composition of insulin secretion and sensitivity classified the prolonged glucose elevation group (group III + IV) from the rapid glucose lowering group (group II; AUC = 0.847).ConclusionsEven in a young and healthy Japanese individual within the physiological range of glycaemic control, there is a sequential decrease in insulin sensitivity and secretion.
Energy absorption from parks of point‐absorbing wave energy converters in the Swedish exclusive economic zone
Authors: Engström Jens , Göteman Malin , Eriksson Mikael , Bergkvist Mikael , Nilsson Erik , Rutgersson Anna , Strömstedt Erland 
Published: October 2019

AbstractIn a future energy system based on renewable energy sources, wave energy will most likely play a role due to its high energy potential and low intermittency. The power production from parks of wave energy converters of point absorber type has been extensively studied. This is also the case for the wave energy resource at many coastal areas around the globe. Wave energy has not yet reached a commercial level, and a large variety of technologies exist; therefore, an established method to calculate the technical potential for wave energy has still not been established. To estimate the technical potential of wave energy conversion, some approximations inevitably need to be taken due to the systems high complexity. In this study, a detailed mapping of the wave climate and simulation of large arrays of hydrodynamically cross‐coupled wave energy converters are combined to calculate the technical potential for wave energy conversion in the Swedish exclusive economic zone. A 16‐year wave data set distributed in a 1.1 km × 1.1 km grid is used to calculate the absorbed energy from a park of 200 generic point absorbers. The areas with best potential have an average annual energy absorption of 16 GWh for the selected wave energy park adapted to 1 km2 when using a constant damping, while the theoretical upper bound is 63 GWh for the same area.
Assessment of shoulder function following scapular free flap
Authors: Patel Krupal B. , Low Tsu‐Hui (Hubert) , Partridge Allison , Nichols Anthony C. , MacNeil S. Danielle , Yoo John , Fung Kevin 
Published: October 2019

AbstractBackgroundThe scapular system free flap has been increasing in popularity to reconstruct short segment mandibular bony defects. It is important to assess donor site morbidities systematically.MethodsProspective cohort study using objective measures of range of motion (ROM) and shoulder strength were measured. Subjective disability was evaluated with validated questionnaires—Neck Disability Impairment Index and Shoulder Pain and Disability Index.ResultsTwenty‐six patients were recruited—19 with scapular tip and 7 with lateral border scapular free flap. Decreased ROM on the operated side was noted for shoulder abduction, shoulder flexion, and external rotation. No significant difference was noted for shoulder extension. Strength was reduced for shoulder flexion, shoulder abduction, and external rotation. Subjective measurements did not indicate significant shoulder function disruption.ConclusionPatients with scapular free flap reconstruction did not experience significant shoulder morbidity. Measures of shoulder ROM and power were objectively affected; however, subjective measures of shoulder disability were not significantly affected.
Quantitative guidance for efficient vertical flow measurements at the sediment–water interface using temperature–depth profiles
Authors: Irvine Dylan J. , Kurylyk Barret L. , Briggs Martin A. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractUpward discharge to surface water bodies can be quantified using analytical models based on temperature–depth (T‐z) profiles. The use of sediment T‐z profiles is attractive as discharge estimates can be obtained using point‐in‐time data that are collected inexpensively and rapidly. Previous studies have identified that T‐z methods can only be applied at times of the year when there is significant difference between the streambed–water interface and deeper sediment temperatures (e.g., winter and summer). However, surface water temperatures also vary diurnally, and the influence of these variations on discharge estimates from T‐z methods is poorly understood. For this study, synthetic T‐z profiles were generated numerically using measured streambed interface temperature data to assess the influence of diurnal temperature variations on discharge estimation and provide insight into the suitable application of T‐z methods. Results show that the time of day of data collection can have a substantial influence on vertical flux estimates using T‐z methods. For low groundwater discharge fluxes (e.g., 0.1 m d−1), daily transience in streambed temperatures led to relatively large errors in estimated flow magnitude and direction. For higher discharge fluxes (1.5 m d−1), the influence of transient streambed temperatures on discharge estimates was strongly reduced. Discharge estimates from point‐in‐time T‐z profiles were most accurate when the uppermost point in the T‐z profile was near the bed interface daily mean (two time periods daily). Where temperature time series data are available, daily averaged T‐z profiles can produce accurate discharge estimates across a wide range of discharge rates. Seasonality in shallow groundwater temperature generally had a negligible influence on vertical flow estimates. These findings can be used to plan field campaigns and provide guidance on the optimal application of T‐z methods to quantify vertical groundwater discharge to surface water bodies.
Spatio‐temporal patterns of the interaction between groundwater and surface water in plains
Authors: Guevara Ochoa Cristian , Medina Sierra Agustín , Vives Luis , Zimmermann Erik , Bailey Ryan 
Published: October 2019

AbstractThe study of the dynamics of anthropic disturbances that have an effect on the hydrological systems in plains requires integral simulation tools for their diagnosis. The objective of this article is, first, to analyse and reproduce the spatio‐temporal interactions between groundwater (GW) and surface water, net recharge, GW level, surface run‐off, and evapotranspiration in the upper creek basin of Del Azul, which is located in the centre of the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and second, to obtain insights to apply the methodology to other similar situations. For this purpose, a model coupling the semidistributed hydrological model (Soil and Water Assessment Tool [SWAT]) and the hydrogeological model (MODFLOW) has been used. A simulation was carried out for a period of 13 years (2003–2015) on a daily scale. The application of the SWAT–MODFLOW coupling gave good results based on the adjustment between the calculated flows and levels, reaching a Nash–Sutcliffe of 0.6 and R20.6 at the Seminario hydrometric station located at the watershed outlet point. According to the annual average balance, out of the total rainfall, evapotranspiration accounts for 85%, recharge accounts for 10.2%, and surface run‐off accounts for 4.8%. Annual and monthly trends of the stream–aquifer interaction were determined, obtaining on average an annual GW discharge of 34 mm and an annual average recharge of the stream to the aquifer of 1.4 mm. Monthly GW discharges are higher in winter–spring (July to December with an average of 3.3 mm) and lower in summer–autumn (January to June with an average of 2.8 mm). The monthly average recharge of the stream towards the aquifer varies from 0.02 to 0.36 mm and is higher in March, May, and August, when water excess is produced in the basin. Through the analysis of coupled modelling, it is possible to analyse and reproduce the spatio‐temporal transitions of flow existing between the stream, the hyporheic zone, and the aquifer.
Estimating obstetric and gynecologic surgical rate: A benchmark of surgical capacity building in Ghana
Authors: Gyedu Adam , Lester Lynette , Stewart Barclay , Danso Kwabena A. , Salia Emmanuella L. , Quansah Robert , Donkor Peter , Mock Charles 
Published: October 2019

AbstractObjectiveTo estimate the annual rate of obstetric and gynecologic (ObGyn) operations performed in Ghana and establish a baseline for tracking the expansion of Ghana's surgical capacity.MethodsData were obtained for ObGyn operations performed in Ghana between 2014 and 2015 from a nationally representative sample of hospitals and scaled up for national estimates. Operations were classified as “essential” or “other” according to The World Bank's Disease Control Priorities Project. Data were used to calculate cesarean‐to‐total‐operation ratio (CTR) and estimate the rate of cesarean deliveries based on the number of live births in 2014.ResultsA total of 90 044 (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 69 461–110 628) ObGyn operations were performed nationally over the 1‐year period, yielding an annual national ObGyn operation rate of 881/100 000 females aged 12 years and over (95% UI 679–1082). Eighty‐seven percent were essential procedures, 80% of which were cesarean deliveries. District hospitals performed 71% of ObGyn operations. The national rate of cesarean deliveries was 7.2% and the CTR was 0.27.ConclusionThe cesarean delivery rate of 7.2% suggests inadequate access to obstetric care. The CTR of 0.27 suggests inadequate overall surgical capacity. These measures, along with estimates of distribution of procedures by hospital level, provide useful baseline data to support surgical capacity building efforts in Ghana and similar countries.
Evaluation of effectiveness of 45S5 bioglass doped with niobium for repairing critical‐sized bone defect in in vitro and in vivo models
Authors: de Souza Lucas P. L. , Lopes João H. , Ferreira Filipe V. , Martin Richard A. , Bertran Celso A. , Camilli José A. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractHere, we investigated the biocompatibility of a bioactive sodium calcium silicate glass containing 2.6 mol% Nb2O5 (denoted BGPN2.6) and compare the results with the archetypal 45S5 bioglass. The glass bioactivity was tested using a range of in vitro and in vivo experiments to assess its suitability for bone regeneration applications. in vitro studies consisted of assessing the cytocompatibility of the BGPN2.6 glass with bone‐marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM‐MSCs). Systemic biocompatibility was verified by means of the quantification of biochemical markers and histopathology of liver, kidneys, and muscles. The glass genotoxicity was assessed using the micronucleus test. The regeneration of a calvarial defect was assessed using both qualitative and quantitative analysis of three‐dimensional microcomputed tomography images. The BGPN2.6 glass was not cytotoxic to BM‐MSCs. It is systemically biocompatible causing no signs of damage to high metabolic and excretory organs such as the liver and kidneys. No mutagenic potential was observed in the micronucleus test. MicroCT images showed that BGPN2.6 was able to nearly fully regenerate a critical‐sized calvarial defect and was far superior to standard 45S5 Bioglass. Defects filled with BGPN2.6 glass showed over 90% coverage compare to just 66% for 45S5 Bioglass. For one animal the defect was completely filled in 8 weeks. These results clearly show that Nb‐containing bioactive glasses are a safe and effective biomaterial for bone replacement.
Mass wasting processes affecting the surface of an alpine talus slope: Annual sediment budgets 2009–2018 at Flüelapass, eastern Swiss Alps.
Authors: Kenner Robert 
Published: October 2019

AbstractAn alpine permafrost talus slope at Flüelapass (Eastern Swiss Alps) was observed using annual terrestrial laser scanning measurements between 2009 and 2018. The high‐resolution digital elevation models derived from these measurements enabled the detection and quantification of mass wasting processes with an accuracy of a few centimeters. Rock fall, snow avalanche erosion, and debris flow tracks could be distinguished and their quantitative and qualitative contribution to talus slope growth and shaping was examined. Erosion rates were calculated for each of the investigated processes and an estimate for the recession rate of the talus slope head wall is reported. Currently, debris flows supply most of the debris inputs to the talus slope, while snow avalanches were found to play an important role in reshaping its surface morphology. Rock fall causes distinct grain size sorting down the slope, as the travel distance of rocks increase with their size. The presented data and results illustrate the current processes occurring at the talus slope surface, which appear to differ in quantity and quality from those during the onset of the talus slope formation.
Microwave‐Assisted, Base‐Catalyzed Synthesis of Fatty Acid Methyl Esters from Seeds and Fish Oil Supplements
Authors: Malko Rada , Larraza Isabel 
Published: October 2019

AbstractGrowing health awareness has resulted in the increased use of dietary supplements derived from plants and marine sources, leaving consumers unsure of their best options. There were three objectives of the present study. The first was to design and evaluate an efficient derivatization procedure. The second was to perform a comparative analysis of liquid oils and their corresponding capsules of hemp, chia, and flax seeds. The final objective was to determine the fatty acid (FA) composition of six fish oil products and compare it to the one provided on the label. For the FA profiling, we implemented two efficient, one‐step, sustainable methods with high percentage recovery for the synthesis of FA methyl esters (FAME), which use base catalysis and microwave‐assisted heating. Our results found no difference in nutritional value between liquid oils and capsules of the seed supplements, with flaxseed and chia offering a higher, beneficial n‐3:n‐6 ratio compared to hemp oil. Four of the fish oils analyzed contained significantly less eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) than their reported label, and the other two not only agreed with the manufacturers' declaration but were able to fulfill the daily adequate intake (AI) with fewer capsules.
A Multi‐Foci Metalens with Polarization‐Rotated Focal Points
Authors: Zang Xiaofei , Ding Hongzhen , Intaravanne Yuttana , Chen Lin , Peng Yan , Xie Jingya , Ke Qinghong , Balakin Alexey V. , Shkurinov Alexander P. , Chen Xianzhong , Zhu Yiming , Zhuang Songlin 
Published: October 2019

AbstractBenefiting from the unprecedented capability of metasurfaces in the manipulation of light propagation, metalenses can provide novel functions that are very challenging or impossible to achieve with conventional lenses. Here, an approach to realizing multi‐foci metalenses is proposed and experimentally demonstrated with polarization‐rotated focal points based on geometric metasurfaces. Multi‐foci metalenses with various polarization rotation directions are developed using silicon pillars with spatially variant orientations. The focusing characteristic and longitudinal polarization‐dependent imaging capability are demonstrated upon the illumination of a linearly polarized light beam. The uniqueness of this multi‐foci metalens with polarization‐rotated focal points may open a new avenue for imaging, sensing, and information processing.
Ratio of Conjugated Chenodeoxycholic to Muricholic Acids is Associated with Severity of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis
Authors: Chen Jin , Zheng Minghua , Liu Jun , Luo Yan , Yang Wenjun , Yang Jing , Liu Juan , Zhou Jingxing , Xu Chengfu , Zhao Faling , Su Mingming , Zang Shufei , Shi Junping ,   on behalf of the Chinese NAFLD Clinical Research Network (CNAFLD CRN)
Published: October 2019

ObjectiveBile acids (BAs) are important molecules in the progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. This study aimed to investigate BA profile alterations in Chinese nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) patients.MethodsBA profiles in serum and liver tissues were determined by ultraperformance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry in patients from two different clinical centers.ResultsA total of 134 participants were enrolled in this study to serve as the training (n = 87) and validation (n = 47) cohorts. The ratio of circulating conjugated chenodeoxycholic acids to muricholic acids (P = 0.001) was elevated from healthy controls to non‐NASH individuals to NASH individuals in a stepwise manner in the training cohort and was positively associated with the histological severity of NASH: steatosis (R2 = 0.12), lobular inflammation (R2 = 0.12), ballooning (R2 = 0.11), and fibrosis stage (R2 = 0.18). The ratio was elevated in the validation cohort of NASH patients (P < 0.001), and it was able to predict NASH (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve: 75%) and significant fibrosis (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve: 71%) in these two cohorts. Moreover, this elevated ratio and impaired farnesoid X receptor signaling were found in the NASH liver.ConclusionsAltered BA profile in NASH is closely associated with the severity of liver lesions, and it has the potential for predicting NASH development.
GeTFEP: A general transfer free energy profile of transmembrane proteins
Authors: Tian Wei , Naveed Hammad , Lin Meishan , Liang Jie 
Published: October 2019

AbstractFree energy of transferring amino acid side‐chains from aqueous environment into lipid bilayers, known as transfer free energy (TFE), provides important information on the thermodynamic stability of membrane proteins. In this study, we derived a TFE profile named General Transfer Free Energy Profile (GeTFEP) based on computation of the TFEs of 58 β‐barrel membrane proteins (βMPs). The GeTFEP agrees well with experimentally measured and computationally derived TFEs. Analysis based on the GeTFEP shows that residues in different regions of the transmembrane (TM) segments of βMPs have different roles during the membrane insertion process. Results further reveal the importance of the sequence pattern of TM strands in stabilizing βMPs in the membrane environment. In addition, we show that GeTFEP can be used to predict the positioning and the orientation of βMPs in the membrane. We also show that GeTFEP can be used to identify structurally or functionally important amino acid residue sites of βMPs. Furthermore, the TM segments of α‐helical membrane proteins can be accurately predicted with GeTFEP, suggesting that the GeTFEP is of general applicability in studying membrane protein.
Vegetable butters and oils in skin wound healing: Scientific evidence for new opportunities in dermatology
Authors: Poljšak Nina , Kreft Samo , Kočevar Glavač Nina 
Published: October 2019

The use of vegetable butters and oils shows promising results in the treatment of skin wounds, as they have an effective impact on the phases of the wound‐healing process through their antimicrobial, anti‐inflammatory, and antioxidative activities and by promoting cell proliferation, increasing collagen synthesis, stimulating dermal reconstruction, and repairing the skin's lipid barrier function.In this article, in vitro and in vivo studies of argan (Argania spinosa), avocado (Persea americana), black cumin (Nigella sativa), calophyllum (Calophyllum inophyllum), coconut (Cocos nucifera), cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon), grape (Vitis vinifera), green coffee (Coffea arabica), lentisk (Pistacia lentiscus), linseed (Linum usitatissimum), lucuma (Pouteria lucuma), mango (Mangifera indica), olive (Olea europaea), pomegranate (Punica granatum), pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo), rapeseed (Brassica napus), sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides), and sunflower (Helianthus annuus) oils were reviewed. In many cases, vegetable oils proved to be more effective than synthetic wound‐healing compounds used as controls.The fatty‐acid components of vegetable oils are assumed to play a major role in the wound‐healing process, in particular polyunsaturated fatty acids such as linoleic acid. Evidence shows that oils with a higher linoleic to oleic acid ratio are more effective for lipid barrier repair. However, in depth studies are needed to gain knowledge about vegetable oils' effects on the skin and vice versa.