bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Can biomass distribution across trophic levels predict trophic cascades?
Authors: Galiana Núria , Arnoldi Jean‐François , Barbier Matthieu , Acloque Amandine , de Mazancourt Claire , Loreau Michel 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe biomass distribution across trophic levels (biomass pyramid) and cascading responses to perturbations (trophic cascades) are archetypal representatives of the interconnected set of static and dynamical properties of food chains. A vast literature has explored their respective ecological drivers, sometimes generating correlations between them. Here we instead reveal a fundamental connection: both pyramids and cascades reflect the dynamical sensitivity of the food chain to changes in species intrinsic rates. We deduce a direct relationship between cascades and pyramids, modulated by what we call trophic dissipation – a synthetic concept that encodes the contribution of top‐down propagation of consumer losses in the biomass pyramid. Predictable across‐ecosystem patterns emerge when systems are in similar regimes of trophic dissipation. Data from 31 aquatic mesocosm experiments demonstrate how our approach can reveal the causal mechanisms linking trophic cascades and biomass distributions, thus providing a road map to deduce reliable predictions from empirical patterns.
Measuring factor VIII activity in samples from patients treated with N8‐GP (Esperoct®; turoctocog alfa pegol) during the pathfinder clinical trials programme
Authors: Møss Judi , Clausen Wan Hui Ong , Ezban Mirella 
Published: December 2020

AbstractFVIII activity in samples taken at various time points from 21 patients treated with N8‐GP (Esperoct®; turoctocog alfa pegol) during the pathfinder clinical trial programme was assessed and compared using different assay methods. FVIII activity measurements in samples from patients treated with N8‐GP were similar using chromogenic assays, regardless of calibration method or kit/analyser combination. FVIII activity measurements using one‐stage aPTT‐based assays were slightly lower when calibrated using normal human plasma (NHP) compared with a product‐specific standard; this difference may be partially attributable to differences in the aPTT reagent/analyser combinations used to perform the measurements. Overall, these results confirm the accuracy of FVIII activity measurements using N8‐GP‐treated patient samples and routine clinical laboratory methods with NHP calibration.
Juice and by‐products from pomegranate to enrich pancake: characterisation and shelf‐life evaluation
Authors: Incoronato Anna Lucia , Cedola Annamaria , Conte Amalia , Del Nobile Matteo Alessandro 
Published: December 2020

SummaryIn this study, a fortified pancake with all parts of pomegranate as juice and by‐products, added in the formulation, was designed. The influence of pomegranate addition on nutritional and sensory quality of pancake, as well as on its shelf‐life, was assessed. As one would expect, the enrichment significantly improved the pancake polyphenolic content as compared to the control sample. Surprisingly, pomegranate addition did not affect its sensory quality. In fact, the enriched pancake was greatly appreciated from the sensory point of view. Results also suggested that the addition of pomegranate improved the glycemic index (GI). In fact, while a value of GI equal to 100 was obtained for the control sample, a GI of 71 was measured for the fortified sample. In terms of shelf‐life, 30 days were obtained for the enriched pancake, whereas the control sample remained acceptable for about 26 days.
U2AF1 expression is a novel and independent prognostic indicator of childhood T‐lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Zhang Ping , Zhang Yao , Li Xiaoxiao , Ying Peiting , Tang Yongmin 
Published: December 2020

AbstractIntroductionU2AF1 gene is associated with various types of hematological malignancies in adults. However, the expression level of U2AF1 gene and its prognostic significance are unclear in pediatric ALL patients. The study aimed to study the mRNA level of U2AF1 in pediatric ALL patients and its clinical relevance with long‐term survival.MethodsWe quantitatively determined U2AF1 gene expression at diagnosis in 132 children with ALL by real‐time PCR. According to the patients' median U2AF1 value, the patients' samples were classified into low U2AF1 and high U2AF1 expression groups. Twenty‐two bone marrow samples from 22 patients with ITP were recruited as control. The correlation between the expression level of U2AF1 and clinical treatment outcome was analyzed.ResultsPediatric patients with ALL showed higher U2AF1 mRNA levels than controls (P = .034). The relapse rates of patients in low U2AF1 levels group were obviously higher than those of U2AF1 high expression group (28.8% vs 12.1%, P = .030). Patients of low U2AF1 expression presented worse 5‐year EFS than those of high U2AF1 expression (60% vs 81%, P = .035). For T‑ALL, patients with low U2AF1 mRNA level showed lower BM blast percentages (P = .031), worse EFS (37.8% vs 92.3%, P = .003), and CIR (62.2% vs 7.7%, P = .003) than those in high U2AF1 expression group. Multivariate analysis confirmed low U2AF1 mRNA level could be used as an independent risk indicator of poor EFS and CIR of children with T‐ALL.ConclusionLow U2AF1 mRNA level is related to inferior prognosis and can be served as a prognostic indicator for risk stratification in children with T‐ALL.
Impact of cytoreductive nephrectomy in patients with primary metastatic renal cell carcinoma receiving systemic tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy: A multicenter retrospective study
Authors: Hatakeyama Shingo , Naito Sei , Numakura Kazuyuki , Kato Renpei , Koguchi Tomoyuki , Kojima Takahiro , Kawasaki Yoshihide , Kandori Shuya , Kawamura Sadafumi , Tsushima Eiki , Nishiyama Hiroyuki , Ito Akihiro , Kojima Yoshiyuki , Habuchi Tomonori , Obara Wataru , Tsuchiya Norihiko , Ohyama Chikara 
Published: December 2020

ObjectivesTo compare overall survival between patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated by cytoreductive nephrectomy and those not treated by cytoreductive nephrectomy.MethodsWe retrospectively evaluated 278 patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated with first‐line tyrosine kinase inhibitors between January 2008 and November 2019. Patients were divided into two groups: a cytoreductive nephrectomy group (immediate or deferred cytoreductive nephrectomy) and a group who received systemic tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapies alone without cytoreductive nephrectomy (control group). Overall survival comparisons were made in all patients in the control versus the cytoreductive nephrectomy group, the control versus the immediate cytoreductive nephrectomy group, the control versus the deferred cytoreductive nephrectomy group, and the deferred cytoreductive nephrectomy versus the immediate cytoreductive nephrectomy group. Analyses were weighted using the propensity score‐based inverse probability of treatment weighting method to adjust for group imbalances.ResultsThe median (range) age of the patients was 65 (59–73) years. Of the 278 patients, 132 and 146 were in the control group and the cytoreductive nephrectomy (immediate, n = 107 and deferred, n = 39) group, respectively. A significant difference was noted between the control and cytoreductive nephrectomy groups in age, clinical stage, International Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Database Consortium risk factors, and the number of metastatic sites. Inverse probability of treatment weighting‐adjusted Cox regression analysis showed a significant difference in overall survival between the control and the cytoreductive nephrectomy groups and between the control and the immediate or deferred cytoreductive nephrectomy groups. However, there was no significant difference in overall survival between the immediate and the deferred cytoreductive nephrectomy groups.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients undergoing cytoreductive nephrectomy are more likely to have longer overall survival than those who receive tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy only.
‘People with intellectual disabilities living in the communities is bad enough let alone…having sex’: Exploring societal influence on social care workers' attitudes, beliefs and behaviours towards support for personal and sexual relationship needs.
Authors: Oloidi Edward Olayinka , Northway Ruth , Prince Jane 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackgroundServices have a duty to uphold the personal and sexual relationship (P&SR) rights of adults with intellectual disability. However, little is known about how social care workers' (SCWs) perceptions of public views of intellectual disability and sexuality might affect their attitudes, believes and behaviours towards supporting P&SR needs. This exploratory study addresses this gap in knowledge.Materials And MethodsQualitative interviews using critical incident technique were conducted with 18 SCWs. Data were transcribed and thematically analysed.ResultsFour dominant themes were identified; socio‐cultural, practice‐policy gaps, fear and safety needs. These highlights how perceptions of public attitudes impact on SCWs' attitudes towards supporting development of P&SR both directly and through perceptions of organisational policies. This leads to prioritisation of safety needs over support for P&SR.ConclusionsPublic expectations strongly influenced SCWs' interpretation of organisational policy, emphasising a need for practice‐based support to manage public expectations and reduce fear.
The island biogeography of the eBird citizen‐science programme
Authors: La Sorte Frank A. , Somveille Marius 
Published: December 2020

AbstractAimIsland biotas face an array of unique challenges under global change. Monitoring and research efforts, however, have been hindered by the large number of islands, their broad distribution and geographical isolation. Global citizen‐science initiatives have the potential to address these deficiencies. Here, we determine how the eBird citizen‐science programme is currently sampling island bird assemblages annually and how these patterns are developing over time.LocationGlobal.TaxaBirds.MethodsWe compiled occurrence information of non‐marine bird species across the world's islands (n = 21,813) over an 18‐year period (2002–2019) from eBird. We estimated annual survey completeness and species richness across islands, which we examined in relation to six geographical and four climatic features.ResultseBird contained bird occurrence information for ca. 20% of the world's islands (n = 4,205) with ca. 8% classified as well surveyed annually (n = 1,644). eBird participants tended to survey larger islands that were more distant from the mainland. These islands had lower proximity to other islands and contained a broader range of elevations. Temperature, precipitation and temperature seasonality were at intermediate levels. Precipitation seasonality was at low and intermediate levels. Islands located between 10 and 60° N latitude and 20 and 40° S latitude were overrepresented, and islands located in Southeast Asia were underrepresented. From 2002 to 2019, the number of islands surveyed annually increased by ca. 96.4 islands/year. During this period, island size decreased, distance from mainland did not change, proximity to other islands increased and elevation range decreased.Main conclusionsThe eBird programme tends to survey larger islands containing intermediate climates that are more isolated from the mainland and other islands. These findings provide a framework to support the informed application of the eBird database in avian island biogeography. Our findings emphasize citizen science as an empirical resource to support long‐term ecological research, conservation and monitoring efforts across remote regions of the globe.
Consistent and transient drivers of freshwater zooplankton communities
Authors: Sinclair James S. , Arnott Shelley E. , Nelson William A. , Brougham Kaitlyn B. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractAimInferences of the predominant processes that structure communities are commonly based on single ‘snapshots’ in time, which may miss temporally transient but important mechanisms. In this study, we compared key environmental and spatial drivers of zooplankton composition across multiple years to quantify shifts in their relative importance through time, and to identify any drivers of temporal change.LocationSouthern Ontario, Canada.TaxonZooplankton.MethodsZooplankton were collected from 29 lakes in southern Ontario, Canada over four years (2013–2016). Variation partitioning was used to quantify the relative importance of independent and covarying components of local environmental conditions, regional east‐west and north‐south compositional trends, and inter‐lake geographic distance in each year. Measured environmental metrics included aspects of lake morphology and chemistry, and spatial relationships were quantified using lake latitude/longitude coordinates and Moran's Eigenvector Maps (MEMs). Redundancy analyses (RDAs) were also used to compare the influence of individual environmental and spatial variables across years.ResultsMost local‐scale and regional‐scale community processes were consistently important across all surveyed years, but some were less consistent. Specifically, geomorphology was always an important driver of local environmental and regional spatial community patterns. This occurred because local community composition was strongly affected by whether a lake was shallower versus deeper, and due to spatial clusters of shallow and deep lakes that produced negative spatial autocorrelation in community composition. Conversely, the individual influences of lake chemistry and spatial east‐west compositional trends were important in some years and not in others, potentially due to inter‐annual shifts in the predominant environmental variables and extreme weather events.Main conclusionsA single‐year community snapshot can provide insight into consistent or slowly changing community structuring processes, such as those driven by geomorphology, but may not completely capture temporally transient mechanisms. Furthermore, snapshots collected during anomalous seasons or years may misrepresent which mechanisms are predominantly determining community composition. Future efforts to understand local and regional community drivers would therefore benefit from considering which processes are likely temporally ‘consistent’ versus ‘transient’, and studies with more variable components would benefit from considering or controlling for temporal shifts in their importance.
Vicariance and regionalization patterns in snakes of the South American Atlantic Forest megadiverse hotspot
Authors: Barbo Fausto E. , Nogueira Cristiano de C. , Sawaya Ricardo J. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractAimVicariance has often been invoked to explain bioregionalization patterns in the Neotropics. Using a revised point locality data for endemic species, we aimed to test for the first time the predictions of the vicariance model in shaping biogeographical regions for endemic snakes in the Atlantic Forest (AF) megadiverse hotspot.LocationSouth American Atlantic Forest.TaxonSnakes (Reptilia, Serpentes).MethodsTo identify the non‐random groups of co‐distributed species, we mapped 21,101 point locality records in a grid cell of 0.5° × 0.5° across the AF, and constructed a presence–absence matrix of endemic species. The two major predictions of vicariance model were tested by Biotic Elements (BE) analysis, searching for groups of significantly co‐distributed species (Biotic Elements) by comparing distances between observed and artificial random ranges, produced under null models from Monte Carlo simulations. We also tested for the occurrence of sister species in different Biotic Elements, and compared our results with previous bioregionalization schemes revealed by other organisms in the AF.ResultsWe recorded 252 species of snakes in the Atlantic Forest, of which 79 (31%) are endemic to this domain. Biotic Elements analysis with endemic species revealed seven clusters of co‐distributed species (BEs) corresponding to biogeographical regions. The significant non‐random clusters of geographical ranges revealed in BE analysis, and the distribution of sister species in different BEs, validated both central predictions of the vicariance model.Main conclusionsSnakes defined non‐random biogeographical regions in the Atlantic Forest, and these were congruent with previously identified areas based on other groups of organisms, indicating that general processes influenced geographical ranges across the region. Both central predictions of the vicariance model were valid, indicating that vicariant events must have been important in shaping non‐random clusters of co‐distributed snakes in this biodiversity hotspot, harbouring some of the richest snake faunas on the planet.
Echinacoside reverses myocardial remodeling and improves heart function via regulating SIRT1/FOXO3a/MnSOD axis in HF rats induced by isoproterenol
Authors: Ni Yajuan , Deng Jie , Liu Xin , Li Qing , Zhang Juanli , Bai Hongyuan , Zhang Jingwen 
Published: December 2020

AbstractMyocardial remodelling is important pathological basis of HF, mitochondrial oxidative stress is a promoter to myocardial hypertrophy, fibrosis and apoptosis. ECH is the major active component of a traditional Chinese medicine Cistanches Herba, plenty of studies indicate it possesses a strong antioxidant capacity in nerve cells and tumour, it inhibits mitochondrial oxidative stress, protects mitochondrial function, but the specific mechanism is unclear. SIRT1/FOXO3a/MnSOD is an important antioxidant axis, study finds that ECH binds covalently to SIRT1 as a ligand and up‐regulates the expression of SIRT1 in brain cells. We hypothesizes that ECH may reverse myocardial remodelling and improve heart function of HF via regulating SIRT1/FOXO3a/MnSOD signalling axis and inhibit mitochondrial oxidative stress in cardiomyocytes. Here, we firstly induce cellular model of oxidative stress by ISO with AC‐16 cells and pre‐treat with ECH, the level of mitochondrial ROS, mtDNA oxidative injury, MMP, carbonylated protein, lipid peroxidation, intracellular ROS and apoptosis are detected, confirm the effect of ECH in mitochondrial oxidative stress and function in vitro. Then, we establish a HF rat model induced by ISO and pre‐treat with ECH. Indexes of heart function, myocardial remodelling, mitochondrial oxidative stress and function, expression of SIRT1/FOXO3a/MnSOD signalling axis are measured, the data indicate that ECH improves heart function, inhibits myocardial hypertrophy, fibrosis and apoptosis, increases the expression of SIRT1/FOXO3a/MnSOD signalling axis, reduces the mitochondrial oxidative damages, protects mitochondrial function. We conclude that ECH reverses myocardial remodelling and improves cardiac function via up‐regulating SIRT1/FOXO3a/MnSOD axis and inhibiting mitochondrial oxidative stress in HF rats.
Sexual selection increased offspring production via evolution of male and female traits
Authors: Kyogoku Daisuke , Sota Teiji 
Published: December 2020

AbstractPhenotypic evolution driven by sexual selection can impact the fitness of individuals and thus population performance through multiple mechanisms, but it is unresolved how and when sexual selection affects offspring production by females. We examined the effects of sexual selection on offspring production by females using replicated experimental evolutionary lines of Callosobruchus chinensis that were kept under polygamy (with sexual selection) or monogamy (without sexual selection) for 21 generations. We found that polygamous‐line pairs produced more offspring than monogamous‐line pairs, because polygamous‐line beetles evolved to be larger than monogamous‐line beetles, and larger females were more fecund. Egg hatchability did not differ between polygamous‐ and monogamous‐line pairs, as a result of the positive and negative effects of sexual selection cancelling out. When mated with an individual from a common tester line, both polygamous‐line females and males showed higher hatchability in resultant eggs than monogamous ones. Further, cohabitation with a male reduced egg hatchability, and this effect was more pronounced in polygamous‐line than in monogamous‐line males. These results demonstrate multiple mechanisms by which sexual selection affects female fitness, with the net effect being positive. Analyses of how development time, body size and male genital morphology were influenced by selection regime suggest that these results arose from both evolution via good‐gene processes and sexually antagonistic selection. Our results are also consistent with the hypothesis that the fitness consequences of sexual selection for females are dependent on the evolutionary history of the population.
Anatomical Variations, Mimics, and Pitfalls in Imaging of Patients with Epilepsy
Authors: Hassankhani Alvand , Stein Joel M. , Haboosheh Amit G. , Vossough Arastoo , Loevner Laurie A. , Nabavizadeh Seyed Ali 
Published: December 2020

ABSTRACTEpilepsy is among one of the most common neurologic disorders. The role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis and management of patients with epilepsy is well established, and most patients with epilepsy are likely to undergo at least one or more MRI examinations in the course of their disease. Recent advances in high‐field MRI have enabled high resolution in vivo visualization of small and intricate anatomic structures that are of great importance in the assessment of seizure disorders. Familiarity with normal anatomic variations is essential in the accurate diagnosis and image interpretation, as these variations may be mistaken for epileptogenic foci, leading to unnecessary follow‐up imaging, or worse, unnecessary treatment. After a brief overview of normal imaging anatomy of the mesial temporal lobe, this article will review a few important common and uncommon anatomic variations, mimics, and pitfalls that may be encountered in the imaging evaluation of patients with epilepsy.
Interpretation of Brain Volume Increase in Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Uher Tomas , Bergsland Niels , Krasensky Jan , Dwyer Michael G. , Andelova Michaela , Sobisek Lukas , Havrdova Eva Kubala , Horakova Dana , Zivadinov Robert , Vaneckova Manuela 
Published: December 2020

ABSTRACTBACKGROUND AND PURPOSEA high variability of brain MRI volume change measurement renders challenging its interpretation in multiple sclerosis (MS). Occurrence and clinical relevance of observed apparent brain volume increase (BVI) in MS patients have not been investigated yet. The objective was to quantify the prevalence and factors associated with BVI.METHODSWe examined 366 MS patients (2,317 scans) and 44 controls (132 scans). Volumetric analysis of brain volume changes was performed by SIENA and ScanView. BVI was defined as brain volume change >0%. We compared characteristics of patients with and without BVI.RESULTSBVI was found in 26.3% (from 1,951) longitudinal scans (SIENA). If BVI occurred, a probability that BVI will be repeated consecutively more than or equal to two times was 15.9%. The repeated BVI was associated with clinical disease activity in 50% of cases. BVI was associated with shorter time and lower T2 lesion volume increase between two MRI scans, and higher normalized brain volume (all P < .0001). A proportion of scans with BVI was higher when analyzed by ScanView (35.3%) and in controls (36.4% by SIENA).CONCLUSIONSBVI occurs in a great proportion of MR scans over short‐term follow‐up and is not associated with disease stabilization. Although BVI can be caused by several factors, the results indicate that measurement error may contribute to BVI in the majority of cases. Clinicians should be aware of the frequent occurrence of apparent BVI, interpret brain volume changes in MS patients with great caution, and use methods with precise quantification of brain volume changes.