bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Weed control practices and awareness of herbicide resistance among cereal farmers of northern Greece
Authors: Toubou Elisavet , Vindena Vassiliki , Damalas Christos A. , Koutroubas Spyridon D. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractKnowledge of weed control practices and farmers’ awareness of herbicide resistance could be a basis for improving weed management programs with respect to herbicide resistance, but research on this topic is limited. This study reports current weed control practices and levels of awareness of herbicide resistance among cereal farmers of northern Greece. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 250 cereal farmers of Evros district, based on a structured questionnaire. Most farmers (82.8%) used herbicides in cereal production, with one application per growing season. Farmers appeared divided with respect to using the same herbicide each year; the majority of the farmers (90.8%) applied crop rotation. Almost half of the farmers (47.2%) did not know what herbicide resistance is, but most farmers (75.1%) felt herbicide resistance would be a problem for them. According to their answers on nine knowledge questions about herbicide resistance, 66.8% of the farmers had good knowledge, and 33.2% had poor knowledge. Almost seven in 10 farmers (69.8%) did not consider herbicide resistance when purchasing an herbicide for use, and only 40.4% were willing to change common weed control practices to prevent herbicide resistance. Awareness of herbicide resistance did not differ by sex; poor awareness levels increased with advanced age, low education levels, and small farm size. Farmers who used chemical weed control had higher awareness levels of herbicide resistance than farmers who never used herbicides. Farmers who were keeping records of herbicide applications, those who observed low efficacy of herbicides in their field, and those who applied crop rotation had high awareness levels of herbicide resistance, whereas farmers who used the same herbicide each year had poor awareness. Findings shed light on inter-relationships between farmers’ awareness of herbicide resistance and current weed control practices that could be useful for targeted extension education.
Quantifying Regional Surface Energy Responses to Forest Structural Change in Nordic Fennoscandia
Authors: Kumkar Yogesh , Astrup Rasmus , Stordal Frode , Bright Ryan M. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractIn a climate model, surface energy and water fluxes of the vegetated ecosystem largely depend on important structural attributes like leaf area index and canopy height. For forests, management can greatly alter these attributes with resulting consequences for the surface albedo, surface roughness, and evapotranspiration. The sensitivity of surface energy and water budgets to alterations in forest structure is relatively unknown in boreal regions, particularly in Nordic Fennoscandia (Norway, Sweden, and Finland), where the forest management footprint is large. Here we perform offline simulations to quantify the sensitivity of surface heat and moisture fluxes to changes in forest composition and structure across daily, seasonal, and annual time scales. For the region on average, it is found that broadleaved deciduous forests cool the surface by 0.16 K annually and 0.3 K in the growing season owed to higher year‐round albedo and lower Bowen ratio, yet in some locations the local cooling can be as much as 2.4 K and 3.0 K, respectively. Moreover, fully developed forests cool the surface by 0.04 K annually in our domain owed to higher evapotranspiration, reaching up to 0.4 K locally in some locations, whereas undeveloped forests warm annually by 0.14 K owed to much lower evapotranspiration reaching up to 0.8 K for some locations. If regional forests are ever to be managed for the local climate regulation services that they provide, our results are an important first step illuminating the potential adverse impacts or benefits across space and time.
Stress Field Variation During the 2019 Ridgecrest Earthquake Sequence
Authors: Sheng Shuzhong , Meng Lingsen 
Published: July 2020

AbstractWe investigate the spatiotemporal variations of the stress field and the deviatoric stress associated with the 2019 Ridgecrest earthquake sequence using the USGS earthquake focal mechanisms. We find that while the M 6.4 foreshock causes no notable stress changes, the stress field adjustment due to the M 7.1 mainshock exhibits significant spatial complexities. The area of large stress change is generally correlated with the fault segments with large coseismic slip. Although there are no resolvable stress changes at the two terminal ends of the mainshock, the mainshock produces a ~5° clockwise rotation of the maximum horizontal stress (SHmax) near the M 6.4 foreshock epicenter. The inferred deviatoric stress is approximately 8.0 MPa, almost equivalent to the coseismic stress drop of 7.4 MPa in its epicenter area. Such nearly complete stress release is supported by the postseismic stress heterogeneity near the mainshock epicenter.
Daytime Dynamo Electrodynamics With Spiral Currents Driven by Strong Winds Revealed by Vapor Trails and Sounding Rocket Probes
Authors: Pfaff R. , Larsen M. , Abe T. , Habu H. , Clemmons J. , Freudenreich H. , Rowland D. , Bullett T. , Yamamoto M.‐Y. , Watanabe S. , Kakinami Y. , Yokoyama T. , Mabie J. , Klenzing J. , Bishop R. , Walterscheid R. , Yamamoto M. , Yamazaki Y. , Murphy N. , Angelopoulos V. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractWe investigate the forces and atmosphere‐ionosphere coupling that create atmospheric dynamo currents using two rockets launched nearly simultaneously on 4 July 2013 from Wallops Island (USA), during daytime Sq conditions with ΔH of −30 nT. One rocket released a vapor trail observed from an airplane which showed peak velocities of >160 m/s near 108 km and turbulence coincident with strong unstable shear. Electric and magnetic fields and plasma density were measured on a second rocket. The current density peaked near 110 km exhibiting a spiral pattern with altitude that mirrored that of the winds, suggesting the dynamo is driven by tidal forcing. Such stratified currents are obscured in integrated ground measurements. Large electric fields produced a current opposite to that driven by the wind, believed created to minimize the current divergence. Using the observations, we solve the dynamo equation versus altitude, providing a new perspective on the complex nature of the atmospheric dynamo.
Destruction of Cratonic Lithosphere Induced by Oceanic Subduction Initiation
Authors: Chen Miao , Shen Xiaobing , Leng Wei , Chen Ling 
Published: July 2020

AbstractBased on the plate reconstruction which shows that most core parts of present cratons locate in the interior of the continents during the supercontinent cycles, we propose that the oceanic subduction initiation may trigger the destruction of marginal cratonic lithosphere. We develop a simplified force analysis for the destruction of subcontinental lithospheric mantle (SCLM) by the subduction initiation. Our analysis suggests three key parameters: the SCLM thickness, the contact angle between SCLM and oceanic plate, and the coefficient of friction of the SCLM. Our numerical models further support our analysis and demonstrate that a thicker SCLM with a larger contact angle is easier to be destructed by subduction initiation, and the yield strength of the SCLM has a significant impact on the spatial range of its destruction. Our results provide important insights into the parameters controlling cratonic lithospheric destruction and explain the distribution of preserved cratons in the interior of continental plates.
The Stream Length Duration Curve: A Tool for Characterizing the Time Variability of the Flowing Stream Length
Authors: Botter G. , Durighetto N. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractIn spite of the importance of stream network dynamics for hydrology, ecology, and biogeochemistry, there is limited availability of analytical tools suitable for characterizing the temporal variability of the active fraction of river networks. To fill this gap, we introduce the concept of Stream Length Duration Curve (SLDC), the inverse of the exceedance probability of the total length of active streams. SLDCs summarize efficiently the effect of hydrological variability on the length of the flowing streams under a variety of settings. A set of stochastic network models is developed to link the features of the local hydrological status of the network nodes with the shape of the SLDC. We show that the mean network length is dictated by the mean persistency of the nodes, whereas the shape of the SLDC is driven by the spatial distribution of the local persistencies and their network‐scale spatial correlation. Ten field surveys performed in 2018 were used to estimate the empirical SLDC of the Valfredda river (Italy), which was found to be steep and regular—indicating a pronounced sensitivity of the active stream length to the underlying hydrological conditions. Available observations also suggest that the activation of temporary reaches during network expansion is hierarchical, from the most to the least persistent stretches. Under these circumstances, the SLDC corresponds to the spatial Cumulative Distribution Function of the nodes persistencies. The study provides a sound theoretical basis for the analyses of network dynamics in temporary rivers.
Secondary findings in inherited heart conditions: a genotype-first feasibility study to assess phenotype, behavioural and psychosocial outcomes
Authors: Ormondroyd Elizabeth , Harper Andrew R. , Thomson Kate L. , Mackley Michael P. , Martin Jennifer , Penkett Christopher J. , Salatino Silvia , Stark Hannah , Stephens Jonathan , Watkins Hugh 
Published: July 2020

AbstractDisclosing secondary findings (SF) from genome sequencing (GS) can alert carriers to disease risk. However, evidence around variant-disease association and consequences of disclosure for individuals and healthcare services is limited. We report on the feasibility of an approach to identification of SF in inherited cardiac conditions (ICC) genes in participants in a rare disease GS study, followed by targeted clinical evaluation. Qualitative methods were used to explore behavioural and psychosocial consequences of disclosure. ICC genes were analysed in genome sequence data from 7203 research participants; a two-stage approach was used to recruit genotype-blind variant carriers and matched controls. Cardiac-focused medical and family history collection and genetic counselling were followed by standard clinical tests, blinded to genotype. Pathogenic ICC variants were identified in 0.61% of individuals; 20 were eligible for the present study. Four variant carriers and seven non-carrier controls participated. One variant carrier had a family history of ICC and was clinically affected; a second was clinically unaffected and had no relevant family history. One variant, in two unrelated participants, was subsequently reclassified as being of uncertain significance. Analysis of qualitative data highlights participant satisfaction with approach, willingness to follow clinical recommendations, but variable outcomes of relatives’ engagement with healthcare services. In conclusion, when offered access to SF, many people choose not to pursue them. For others, disclosure of ICC SF in a specialist setting is valued and of likely clinical utility, and can be expected to identify individuals with, and without a phenotype.
Coronin 1C inhibits melanoma metastasis through regulation of MT1-MMP-containing extracellular vesicle secretion
Authors: Tagliatela Alicia C. , Hempstead Stephanie C. , Hibshman Priya S. , Hockenberry Max A. , Brighton Hailey E. , Pecot Chad V. , Bear James E. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractCoronin 1C is overexpressed in multiple tumors, leading to the widely held view that this gene drives tumor progression, but this hypothesis has not been rigorously tested in melanoma. Here, we combined a conditional knockout of Coronin 1C with a genetically engineered mouse model of PTEN/BRAF-driven melanoma. Loss of Coronin 1C in this model increases both primary tumor growth rates and distant metastases. Coronin 1C-null cells isolated from this model are more invasive in vitro and produce more metastatic lesions in orthotopic transplants than Coronin 1C-reexpressing cells due to the shedding of extracellular vesicles (EVs) containing MT1-MMP. Interestingly, these vesicles contain melanosome markers suggesting a melanoma-specific mechanism of EV release, regulated by Coronin 1C, that contributes to the high rates of metastasis in melanoma.
Stimulus modality influences session-to-session transfer of training effects in auditory and tactile streaming-based P300 brain–computer interfaces
Authors: Ziebell P. , Stümpfig J. , Eidel M. , Kleih S. C. , Kübler A. , Latoschik M. E. , Halder S. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractDespite recent successes, patients suffering from locked-in syndrome (LIS) still struggle to communicate using vision-independent brain–computer interfaces (BCIs). In this study, we compared auditory and tactile BCIs, regarding training effects and cross-stimulus-modality transfer effects, when switching between stimulus modalities. We utilized a streaming-based P300 BCI, which was developed as a low workload approach to prevent potential BCI-inefficiency. We randomly assigned 20 healthy participants to two groups. The participants received three sessions of training either using an auditory BCI or using a tactile BCI. In an additional fourth session, BCI versions were switched to explore possible cross-stimulus-modality transfer effects. Both BCI versions could be operated successfully in the first session by the majority of the participants, with the tactile BCI being experienced as more intuitive. Significant training effects were found mostly in the auditory BCI group and strong evidence for a cross-stimulus-modality transfer occurred for the auditory training group that switched to the tactile version but not vice versa. All participants were able to control at least one BCI version, suggesting that the investigated paradigms are generally feasible and merit further research into their applicability with LIS end-users. Individual preferences regarding stimulus modality should be considered.
Did expanded access to denture services improve chewing ability in the Korean older population? Results of a regression discontinuity analysis
Authors: Kim Nam-Hee , Kawachi Ichiro 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThe Korean National Health Insurance expanded the dental insurance in 2012 to cover denture services for older adults. We analyzed whether the new policy improved of chewing ability in the eligible population. We used regression discontinuity (RD), a quasi-experimental design, to analyze the effects of the expanded dental insurance. We analyzed data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted in 2010 and 2015. The study population consisted of two groups: the treatment group, aged 65 and above who were eligible; and the control group, under 65 years of age who were not eligible for the dental insurance benefit. The main outcome evaluated was self-reported chewing difficulty. The RD analysis showed that in 2015, the chewing difficulty in aged above 65 was 2.2% lower than in those aged under 65. However, the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.76). The results from the falsification testing of predetermined covariates, placebo cut-offs, and bandwidths validated our main conclusion. The expansion of dental insurance benefits to include dentures for the older adults did not improve the chewing ability in the eligible population. Future studies should evaluate long-term outcomes of oral health as well as the social impacts on the elderly.
Direct identification of bacterial and human proteins from infected wounds in living 3D skin models
Authors: Havlikova Jana , May Robin C. , Styles Iain B. , Cooper Helen J. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractTrauma is one of the leading causes of death in people under the age of 49 and complications due to wound infection are the primary cause of death in the first few days after injury. The ESKAPE pathogens are a group of bacteria that are a leading cause of hospital-acquired infections and a major concern in terms of antibiotic resistance. Here, we demonstrate a novel and highly accurate approach for the rapid identification of ESKAPE pathogens (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter spp.) directly from infected wounds in 3D in vitro skin models. Wounded skin models were inoculated with bacteria and left to incubate. Bacterial proteins were identified within minutes, directly from the wound, by liquid extraction surface analysis mass spectrometry. This approach was able to distinguish closely related strains and, unlike genomic approaches, can be modified to provide dynamic information about pathogen behaviour at the wound site. In addition, since human skin proteins were also identified, this method offers the opportunity to analyse both host and pathogen biomarkers during wound infection in near real-time.
On the evolution of sexual receptivity in female primates
Authors: Rooker Kelly , Gavrilets Sergey 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThere has been much interest in the evolutionary forces responsible for, and underlying the diversity in, female primate reproductive cycles. While there has been limited research on sexual receptivity in primates, this has been one recurring topic of interest. Some primate species are like humans, sexually receptive to mating throughout their entire estrus cycle, while other species are the opposite, receptive for mere hours out of their several-week cycles. Why is there such prominent variation in sexual receptivity length among primate species? Here we examine the evolutionary trade-offs associated with sexual receptivity length using mathematical modeling. We investigate how various factors, including having ovulation signs present versus concealed ovulation, female physiological costs, and group size, each influence the length of females’ receptive periods. We find that both continuous receptivity and very short lengths of receptivity are able to evolve. Our model predicts that increasing the impacts of infanticide will increase the length of the female receptive period, emphasizing the possible importance of paternity confusion. Similar effects can also be achieved by increasing the non-genetic benefits provided by males. Overall, our work offers a theoretical framework for understanding the evolution and diversity of mating traits in female primates.
Increased predominance of the matured ventricular subtype in embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes in vivo
Authors: Ichimura Hajime , Kadota Shin , Kashihara Toshihide , Yamada Mitsuhiko , Ito Kuniaki , Kobayashi Hideki , Tanaka Yuki , Shiba Naoko , Chuma Shinichiro , Tohyama Shugo , Seto Tatsuichiro , Okada Kenji , Kuwahara Koichiro , Shiba Yuji 
Published: July 2020

AbstractAccumulating evidence suggests that human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes can affect “heart regeneration”, replacing injured cardiac scar tissue with concomitant electrical integration. However, electrically coupled graft cardiomyocytes were found to innately induce transient post-transplant ventricular tachycardia in recent large animal model transplantation studies. We hypothesised that these phenomena were derived from alterations in the grafted cardiomyocyte characteristics. In vitro experiments showed that human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hESC-CMs) contain nodal-like cardiomyocytes that spontaneously contract faster than working-type cardiomyocytes. When transplanted into athymic rat hearts, proliferative capacity was lower for nodal-like than working-type cardiomyocytes with grafted cardiomyocytes eventually comprising only relatively matured ventricular cardiomyocytes. RNA-sequencing of engrafted hESC-CMs confirmed the increased expression of matured ventricular cardiomyocyte-related genes, and simultaneous decreased expression of nodal cardiomyocyte-related genes. Temporal engraftment of electrical excitable nodal-like cardiomyocytes may thus explain the transient incidence of post-transplant ventricular tachycardia, although further large animal model studies will be required to control post-transplant arrhythmia.
Synergistic adsorption-photocatalytic degradation effect and norfloxacin mechanism of ZnO/ZnS@BC under UV-light irradiation
Authors: Liu Wen , He Tianpei , Wang Yonghong , Ning Ge , Xu Zhenggang , Chen Xiaoyong , Hu Xinjiang , Wu Yaohui , Zhao Yunlin 
Published: July 2020

AbstractNorfloxacin (NOF) is an environmentally harmful and ubiquitous aquatic pollutant with extensive production and application. In this study, a novel composition named carbon-based composite photocatalytic material of zinc oxide and zinc sulphide (ZnO/ZnS@BC) was successfully obtained by the impregnation-roasting method to remove NOF under UV-light. Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectrometer characterised the composition. ZnO/ZnS was successfully decorated on the surface of biochar (BC). The pH, the ZnSO4/PS ratio, and ions and quenchers, were investigated. High removal efficiency was obtained with a pH of 7 and a ZnSO4/PS ratio of 1:1, and the removal ratio of NOF reached 95% within three hours; the adsorption and degradation ratios reached 46% and 49%, respectively. Fe2+ promoted the degradation of NOF, whereas other ions inhibited it, with NO3− showing the strongest inhibitory effect. Three reactive species (tert-butanol, quinone, and ammonium oxala) were identified in the catalytic system. The decreasing order of the contribution of each reactive species was: O2− > ·OH− > h+. Additionally, a recycling experiment demonstrated the stability of the catalyst; the catalytic degradation ratio of NOF reached 78% after five successive runs. Therefore, ZnO/ZnS@BC possessed strong adsorption capacity and high ultraviolet photocatalysis ability.
A comparison of proteomic, genomic, and osteological methods of archaeological sex estimation
Authors: Buonasera Tammy , Eerkens Jelmer , de Flamingh Alida , Engbring Laurel , Yip Julia , Li Hongjie , Haas Randall , DiGiuseppe Diane , Grant Dave , Salemi Michelle , Nijmeh Charlene , Arellano Monica , Leventhal Alan , Phinney Brett , Byrd Brian F. , Malhi Ripan S. , Parker Glendon 
Published: July 2020

AbstractSex estimation of skeletons is fundamental to many archaeological studies. Currently, three approaches are available to estimate sex–osteology, genomics, or proteomics, but little is known about the relative reliability of these methods in applied settings. We present matching osteological, shotgun-genomic, and proteomic data to estimate the sex of 55 individuals, each with an independent radiocarbon date between 2,440 and 100 cal BP, from two ancestral Ohlone sites in Central California. Sex estimation was possible in 100% of this burial sample using proteomics, in 91% using genomics, and in 51% using osteology. Agreement between the methods was high, however conflicts did occur. Genomic sex estimates were 100% consistent with proteomic and osteological estimates when DNA reads were above 100,000 total sequences. However, more than half the samples had DNA read numbers below this threshold, producing high rates of conflict with osteological and proteomic data where nine out of twenty conditional DNA sex estimates conflicted with proteomics. While the DNA signal decreased by an order of magnitude in the older burial samples, there was no decrease in proteomic signal. We conclude that proteomics provides an important complement to osteological and shotgun-genomic sex estimation.