bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
How estimated ant diversity is biased by the sampling method? A case study of Crete: a Mediterranean biodiversity hotspot
Authors: Salata Sebastian , Kalarus Konrad , Borowiec Lech , Trichas Apostolos , Kujawa Krzysztof 
Published: July 2020

AbstractDefining biodiversity conservation goals requires representative and reliable data. However, data collected with the use of different methods can lead to divergent conclusions. Regardless of the high level of biodiversity of Mediterranean habitats, very little attention was paid in developing methods allowing rapid and scalable estimation of their richness. This study aims to recognize and explain the differences in performance of two methods: pitfall traps (PTM) and a complementary method based on hand collecting (HCM), in surveys of ants in the Mediterranean. We compared the results of applying both methods in three habitats in relation to α-, β-, and γ-diversity, and functional traits of species, i.e. Webber’s length (WL), nesting preferences, and evolutionary origin. Mean species number per HCM was significantly higher than per PTM sample. Spatial species turnover of HCM samples was higher than in PTM ones. However, assemblage dispersion did not differ. HCM detected a higher number of species and genera. WL differed significantly between HCM and PTM, and HCM recorded significantly more species in individual nesting guilds, regardless of considered habitat. HCM detected higher diversity of functional characteristic combinations of species. PTM detected fewer species with slightly larger body size and is useful in recognizing spatial species diversity patterns. HCM detected a higher number of species and produced more comprehensive results in identifying the functional diversity of ant assemblages. In conclusion, an integrated approach, described here as HCM, appears to be more suitable for heterogeneous Mediterranean habitats, especially when a survey aims at α-, β-, and γ-diversity assessments.
Sphingolipids and plasma membrane hydrolases in human primary bronchial cells during differentiation and their altered patterns in cystic fibrosis
Authors: Loberto Nicoletta , Mancini Giulia , Bassi Rosaria , Carsana Emma Veronica , Tamanini Anna , Pedemonte Nicoletta , Dechecchi Maria Cristina , Sonnino Sandro , Aureli Massimo 
Published: July 2020

AbstractHuman primary bronchial epithelial cells differentiated in vitro represent a valuable tool to study lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis (CF), an inherited disorder caused by mutations in the gene coding for the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator. In CF, sphingolipids, a ubiquitous class of bioactive lipids mainly associated with the outer layer of the plasma membrane, seem to play a crucial role in the establishment of the severe lung complications. Nevertheless, no information on the involvement of sphingolipids and their metabolism in the differentiation of primary bronchial epithelial cells are available so far. Here we show that ceramide and globotriaosylceramide increased during cell differentiation, whereas glucosylceramide and gangliosides content decreased. In addition, we found that apical plasma membrane of differentiated bronchial cells is characterized by a higher content of sphingolipids in comparison to the other cell membranes and that activity of sphingolipids catabolic enzymes associated with this membrane results altered with respect to the total cell activities. In particular, the apical membrane of CF cells was characterized by high levels of ceramide and glucosylceramide, known to have proinflammatory activity. On this basis, our data further support the role of sphingolipids in the onset of CF lung pathology.
Fine-Grained Complexity of Safety Verification
Authors: Chini Peter , Meyer Roland , Saivasan Prakash 
Published: July 2020

AbstractWe study the fine-grained complexity of Leader Contributor Reachability ($${\textsf {LCR}} $$
LCR
) and Bounded-Stage Reachability ($${\textsf {BSR}} $$
BSR
), two variants of the safety verification problem for shared memory concurrent programs. For both problems, the memory is a single variable over a finite data domain. Our contributions are new verification algorithms and lower bounds. The latter are based on the Exponential Time Hypothesis ($${\textsf {ETH}} $$
ETH
), the problem $${\textsf {Set~Cover}} $$

Set

Cover

, and cross-compositions. $${\textsf {LCR}} $$
LCR
is the question whether a designated leader thread can reach an unsafe state when interacting with a certain number of equal contributor threads. We suggest two parameterizations: (1) By the size of the data domain $${\texttt {D}}$$
D
and the size of the leader $${\texttt {L}}$$
L
, and (2) by the size of the contributors $${\texttt {C}}$$
C
. We present algorithms for both cases. The key techniques are compact witnesses and dynamic programming. The algorithms run in $${\mathcal {O}}^*(({\texttt {L}}\cdot ({\texttt {D}}+1))^{{\texttt {L}}\cdot {\texttt {D}}} \cdot {\texttt {D}}^{{\texttt {D}}})$$

O

∗

(

(
L
·

(
D
+
1
)

)

L
·
D

·

D

D

)

and $${\mathcal {O}}^*(2^{{\texttt {C}}})$$

O

∗

(

2
C

)

time, showing that both parameterizations are fixed-parameter tractable. We complement the upper bounds by (matching) lower bounds based on $${\textsf {ETH}} $$
ETH
and $${\textsf {Set~Cover}} $$

Set

Cover

. Moreover, we prove the absence of polynomial kernels. For $${\textsf {BSR}} $$
BSR
, we consider programs involving $${\texttt {t}}$$
t
different threads. We restrict the analysis to computations where the write permission changes $${\texttt {s}}$$
s
times between the threads. $${\textsf {BSR}} $$
BSR
asks whether a given configuration is reachable via such an $${\texttt {s}}$$
s
-stage computation. When parameterized by $${\texttt {P}}$$
P
, the maximum size of a thread, and $${\texttt {t}}$$
t
, the interesting observation is that the problem has a large number of difficult instances. Formally, we show that there is no polynomial kernel, no compression algorithm that reduces the size of the data domain $${\texttt {D}}$$
D
or the number of stages $${\texttt {s}}$$
s
to a polynomial dependence on $${\texttt {P}}$$
P
and $${\texttt {t}}$$
t
. This indicates that symbolic methods may be harder to find for this problem.
PioLaG: a piosphere landscape generator for savanna rangeland modelling
Authors: Hess Bastian , Dreber Niels , Liu Yihui , Wiegand Kerstin , Ludwig Marvin , Meyer Hanna , Meyer Katrin M. 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Context
Piospheres describe herbivore utilization gradients around watering points, as commonly found in grass-dominated ecosystems. Spatially explicit, dynamic models are ideal tools to study the ecological and economic problems associated with the resulting land degradation. However, there is a need for appropriate landscape input maps to these models that depict plausible initial vegetation patterns under a range of scenarios.

Objectives
Our goal was to develop a spatially-explicit piosphere landscape generator (PioLaG) for semi-arid savanna rangelands with a focus on realistic vegetation zones and spatial patterns of basic plant functional types around livestock watering points.

Methods
We applied a hybrid modelling approach combining aspects of both process- and pattern-based modelling. Exemplary parameterization of PioLaG was based on literature data and expert interviews in reference to Kalahari savannas. PioLaG outputs were compared with piosphere formations identified on aerial images.

Results
PioLaG allowed to create rangeland landscapes with piospheres that can be positioned within flexible arrangements of grazing units (camps). The livestock utilization gradients showed distinct vegetation patterns around watering points, which varied according to the pre-set initial rangeland condition, grazing regime and management type. The spatial characteristics and zoning of woody and herbaceous vegetation were comparable to real piosphere patterns.

Conclusions
PioLaG can provide important input data for spatial rangeland models that simulate site-specific savanna dynamics. The created landscapes can also be used as a direct decision support for land managers in attempts to maintain or restore landscape functionality and key ecosystem services such as forage production.
The subsegmental structure of German plural allomorphy
Authors: Trommer Jochen 
Published: July 2020

AbstractPlurals in the native stratum of German nouns exhibit a complex interlacing of arbitrary lexical classes and virtually exceptionless generalizations across them. Thus while it is not fully predictable phonologically or semantically which suffix allomorph a plural noun takes and whether it undergoes umlaut (vowel fronting), specific suffixes consistently trigger or block umlaut (Augst 1979; Wurzel 1998; Wunderlich 1999), and all plural forms obey a fixed prosodic template (Wiese 1996b, 2009). This combination of regular and irregular has given rise to the claim that German noun plurals defy a morpheme-based analysis and require global paradigm structure conditions (Bittner 1991; Wurzel 1998; Carstairs-McCarthy 2008) or construction-specific constraints (Neef 1998; Wunderlich 1999; Wiese 2009). In this paper, I present a new, purely concatenative analysis of German plurals combining and extending on elements of the classical autosegmental analyses for German umlaut (Yu 1992; Lieber 1992; Féry 1994) and schwa (Hall 1992; Noske 1993; Wiese 1996b) couched in Stratal OT (Kiparsky 2015; Bermúdez-Otero 2018) and Containment Theory (Prince and Smolensky 1993; Revithiadou 2007; van Oostendorp 2008). I show that assuming a general plural suffix consisting of a featurally underspecified segmental root node and a floatingCoronalfeature allows for a purely phonological explanation of both paradigmatic implications and the templatic shape of noun plurals, which have so far been treated as independent problems, and gives rise to a principled account of apparent exceptions.
Association between habitual physical activity (HPA) and sleep quality in patients with cystic fibrosis
Authors: Dietz-Terjung Sarah , Gruber Wolfgang , Sutharsan Sivagurunathan , Taube Christian , Olivier Margarete , Mellies Uwe , Koerner-Rettberg Cordula , Dillenhöfer Stefanie , Stehling Florian , Welsner Matthias 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Purpose
Sleep disturbances and poor sleep quality are known to be present in patients with CF. Regular physical activity plays an important role in the treatment of CF patients due to its positive influence on progression of disease and quality of life. The aim of this work is to create a home-based sleep and activity profile and to investigate the influence of habitual physical activity (HPA) on sleep quality in children, adolescents, and adults with CF.

Methods
A total of 109 CF patients (64 male, mean age 22.7 ± 12.0 years; mean ppFEV1 63.0 ± 26.7) were equipped with an actigraph for a home-based collection of data on sleep and activity over 4 weeks.

Results
Age, FEV1, and BMI affect sleep and activity in CF patients. Especially younger age and higher FEV1 show a great influence on certain aspects of sleep (SE, TST, TIB, WASO, # of awakenings) and activity and its different intensities. General HPA does not affect sleep, but there is a strong correlation between times spent in vigorous to very vigorous intensities and better sleep quality.

Conclusion
Besides younger age and higher FEV1, daily activity in higher intensities influences sleeping behavior of CF patients in a positive way. Patients with poor sleep quality and sleep disturbances possibly benefit from an intensification of physical activity in the home environment.

Trail registration
number: 14–6117-BO (University Duisburg-Essen) and NCT 03518697 (clinical trials).
In vitro and in vivo studies of triacetone triperoxide (TATP) metabolism in humans
Authors: Gonsalves Michelle D. , Colizza Kevin , Smith James L. , Oxley Jimmie C. 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Purpose
Triacetone triperoxide (TATP) is a volatile but powerful explosive that appeals to terrorists due to its ease of synthesis from household items. For this reason, bomb squad, canine (K9) units, and scientists must work with this material to mitigate this threat. However, no information on the metabolism of TATP is available.

Methods
In vitro experiments using human liver microsomes and recombinant enzymes were performed on TATP and TATP-OH for metabolite identification and enzyme phenotyping. Enzyme kinetics for TATP hydroxylation were also investigated. Urine from laboratory personnel collected before and after working with TATP was analyzed for TATP and its metabolites.

Results
While experiments with flavin monooxygenases were inconclusive, those with recombinant cytochrome P450s (CYPs) strongly suggested that CYP2B6 was the principle enzyme responsible for TATP hydroxylation. TATP-O-glucuronide was also identified and incubations with recombinant uridine diphosphoglucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) indicated that UGT2B7 catalyzes this reaction. Michaelis–Menten kinetics were determined for TATP hydroxylation, with Km = 1.4 µM and Vmax = 8.7 nmol/min/nmol CYP2B6. TATP-O-glucuronide was present in the urine of all three volunteers after being exposed to TATP vapors showing good in vivo correlation to in vitro data. TATP and TATP-OH were not observed.

Conclusions
Since scientists working to characterize and detect TATP to prevent terrorist attacks are constantly exposed to this volatile compound, attention should be paid to its metabolism. This paper is the first to elucidate some exposure, metabolism and excretion of TATP in humans and to identify a marker of TATP exposure, TATP-O-glucuronide in urine.
Large River Effect or Frozen Kinetics: How Complex Nonlinear Living Systems Solve Optimization Problems
Authors: Filippov Alexander , Kovalev Alexander , Gorb Stanislav 
Published: July 2020

AbstractIn this paper, we introduce general idea of trajectories attraction in phase space, which is very common phenomenon for the processes in the Nature. We start from a rather general biological example of natural selection, where adaptation to the environmental conditions can be described as attraction of some population distribution in the phenotype space to a center of ecological niche. The niche is mathematically represented as the “survival coefficient” which in turn can be linked to a kind of energy potential. This link between biological and physical approaches may be very useful for solution of a wide range of biological problems. In particular, we discuss an evolution in complex potential with a lot of valleys in a multi-dimensional space accompanied by the so-called large river effect, which corresponds to an extremely slow evolution of some, normally close to final, stages of the adaptation. This effect is related to the practically important states of the “frozen kinetics” which accompanies extremely wide spectrum of phenomena and allows understanding different physical and biological processes.
Computing Methods in the Analysis of Road Accident Reconstruction Uncertainty
Authors: Guzek Marek , Lozia Zbigniew 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThe study is dedicated to the problem of uncertainty in the analysis of accident situations in road traffic. The term “uncertainty” is generally known when used with reference to measurement techniques, but its application to the analyses of accident situations in road traffic, including accident reconstruction, is a relatively new field of knowledge. The objectives of this work include the presentation and examination of selected aspects related to the taking of uncertainty into account when analysing the course of an accident and making the necessary calculations. Apart from the scientific objectives, an important utilitarian goal may also be pointed out. The data and methods presented may be used by automotive technology experts in their accident reconstruction work. The paper shows seven methods that enable the taking into account of the uncertainty of the data used for calculations, i.e. extreme values method, total differential method, higher-order total differential method, finite-difference method, Gauss method, method based on the description of stochastic processes, and Monte-Carlo method. Apart from formal (mathematical) descriptions of the methods, an example of their use for the estimation of uncertainty of selected quantities that describe an accident situation has been demonstrated. The bad and good points of individual methods have been shown in the context of the application considered.
Priming autonomous and controlling motivation and effects on persistence
Authors: Murphy Stephen L. , Taylor Ian M. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThe present studies examined whether priming distinct motivational states influenced persistence at a task designed to promote repeated failure, and post-task plans for engaging in self-regulatory activity. Two double-blind, between-subject experiments (Study 1: N = 58; Study 2: N = 92) involved participants being randomized to Autonomous Motivation, Controlling Motivation, or Neutral prime conditions using a scrambled-sentence test. Participants then attempted an impossible persistence task that promoted repeated failure. Following, participants reported their plans to engage in exercise. Using frequentist and Bayesian analyses, Study 1, Study 2, and an internal meta-analysis showed no differences in persistence or planned exercise across priming conditions, thus contrasting with previous research. Unanticipated moderation effects or motivational priming effects being smaller than those inputted into a priori power analyses may be the most likely reasons for these findings.
Basal and stimulated calcitonin for the diagnosis of medullary thyroid cancer: updated thresholds and safety assessment
Authors: Fugazzola L. , Di Stefano M. , Censi S. , Repaci A. , Colombo C. , Grimaldi F. , Magri F. , Pagotto U. , Iacobone M. , Persani L. , Mian C. 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Purpose
Reliable cut-offs for basal (bCT) and calcium stimulated calcitonin (casCT)
are needed for an early and accurate diagnosis of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC).

Patients and methods
Fifty-four new patients with nodular goiter were enrolled and analysed together with those previously published by our group for a total of 135 cases. bCT and casCT were measured by a highly sensitive method and the results compared with histological findings. In a subgroup of patients, cardiac rhythm was recorded before and during the calcium test.

Results
In both females (F) and males (M), there was a significant correlation between tumor size and bCT levels (P < 0.001). The receiver operating characteristic plot analyses showed that, for bCT, the new cut-off points able to separate non-MTC from MTC patients were > 30 (F) and > 34 pg/mL (M), whereas the best casCT thresholds were > 79 (F) and > 466 pg/mL (M). bCT was shown to harbour a high accuracy, though some cases were diagnosed only upon stimulation test. Importantly, combining bCT, below or above the cut-offs, with casCT above the cut-offs, all the MTC cases were correctly identified. A reversible sinus bradycardia was observed in 9% of cases during the test.

Conclusions
Refined cut-offs for bCT and casCT in patients with nodular goiter are reported. Sensitive bCT was shown to have a high accuracy, but the combination with casCT data was needed to identify all MTC cases. The reliability and safety of calcium test strongly favour the routine use of CT determination in nodular thyroid disease.
An XGBoost-based casualty prediction method for terrorist attacks
Authors: Feng Yi , Wang Dujuan , Yin Yunqiang , Li Zhiwu , Hu Zhineng 
Published: July 2020

AbstractTerrorist attacks have been becoming one of the severe threats to national public security and world peace. Ascertaining whether the behaviors of terrorist attacks will threaten the lives of innocent people is vital in dealing with terrorist attacks, which has a profound impact on the resource optimization configuration. For this purpose, we propose an XGBoost-based casualty prediction algorithm, namely RP-GA-XGBoost, to predict whether terrorist attacks will cause the casualties of innocent civilians. In the proposed RP-GA-XGBoost algorithm, a novel method that incorporates random forest (RF) and principal component analysis (PCA) is devised for selecting features, and a genetic algorithm is used to tune the hyperparameters of XGBoost. The proposed method is evaluated on the public dataset (Global Terrorism Database, GTD) and the terrorist attack dataset in China. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm achieves area under curve (AUC) of 87.00%, and accuracy of 86.33% for the public dataset, and sensitivity of 94.00%, AUC of 94.90% for the terrorist attack dataset in China, which proves the superiority and higher generalization ability of the proposed algorithm. Our study, to the best of our knowledge, is the first to apply machine learning in the management of terrorist attacks, which can provide early warning and decision support information for terrorist attack management.
Portfolio diversification, differentiation and the robustness of holdings networks
Authors: Delpini Danilo , Battiston Stefano , Caldarelli Guido , Riccaboni Massimo 
Published: July 2020

AbstractNetworks of portfolio holdings exemplify how interdependence both between the agents and their assets can be a source of systemic vulnerability. We study a real-world holdings network and compare it with various alternative scenarios from randomization and rebalancing of the original investments. Scenarios generation relies on algorithms that satisfy the global constraints imposed by the numbers of outstanding shares in the market. We consider fixed-diversification models and diversification-maximizing replicas too. We extensively analyze the interplay between portfolio diversification and differentiation, and how the outreach of exogenous shocks depends on these factors as well as on the type of shock and the size of the network with respect to the market. We find that real portfolios are poorly diversified but highly similar, that portfolio similarity correlates with systemic fragility and that rebalancing can come with an increased similarity depending on the initial network configuration. We show that a large diversification gain is achieved through rebalancing but, noteworthy, that makes the network vulnerable in front of unselective shocks. Also, while the network is riskier in the presence of targeted shocks, it is safer than its random counterparts when it is stressed by widespread price downturns.