bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
First‐line therapy with bendamustine/prednisone/bortezomib—A GMMG trial for non‐transplant eligible symptomatic multiple myeloma patients
Authors: Knauf Wolfgang , Dingeldein Gerrit , Schlag Rudolf , Welslau Manfred , Moehler Thomas , Terzer Tobias , Walter Sarah , Habermehl Christina , Kunz Christina , Goldschmidt Hartmut , Raab Marc‐Steffen ,   the BPV trial group
Published: March 2020

AbstractObjectivesThe German‐speaking Myeloma Multicenter Group (GMMG) conducted this trial to investigate efficacy and safety of the three‐drug combination bendamustine/prednisone/bortezomib (BPV) as first‐line therapy for elderly patients with multiple myeloma (MM).MethodsElderly MM patients requiring first‐line therapy and not eligible for intensive treatment were enrolled in this phase IIb multicenter study. Patients were treated with BPV regimen for a maximum of nine cycles.ResultsForty‐six patients were included in the trial with a median age of 76 years. Nineteen patients had renal impairment at baseline. The ORR was 78.8% for patients treated with 3 and more BPV cycles and 71.1% for all evaluable patients. The median progression‐free survival was 25 months, and overall survival at 24 months was 83.3%. The clinical benefit rate including MR was 91.2%. In patients with renal impairment at baseline, a renal response was observed in 11 pts. with complete recovery of the renal function in six patients. The most frequent CTC grade 3/4 AEs experienced by patients were hematological (17.5%) and infectious (9.8%) complications. No new safety signals were observed for the study drugs under investigation.ConclusionsBendamustine/prednisone/bortezomib may serve as a first‐line regimen for transplant‐ineligible elderly MM patients in particular for patients with renal impairment requiring a fast and durable renal response.
Denitrification rates in tidal marsh soils: The roles of soil texture, salinity and nitrogen enrichment
Authors: Hu Minjie , Peñuelas Josep , Sardans Jordi , Huang Jiafang , Xu Kang , Tong Chuan 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe denitrification rates of freshwater and oligohaline tidal marsh soils with different textures (loam and sandy soils) in a subtropical estuary, and their responses to nitrogen (N) loading, were investigated. In both marshes, the denitrification rates varied significantly with the season only in loam soil. The denitrification rates were highest in oligohaline marsh loam soil and lowest in freshwater marsh sandy soil. NH4NO3 addition significantly increased the denitrification rates of all the marsh soils. Our findings suggest that soil texture, soil organic matter (OM) content and low‐level increases in salinity all had large effects on denitrification, indicating that the dynamics of denitrification rates in estuarine marshes with low‐level salinity were controlled by the interaction of salinity and soil texture but mainly depended on OM content. We propose that denitrification in tidal marshes plays an important role in regulating current and future N loading into estuary and inshore coastal waters, especially for tidal freshwater marshes, which introduces great uncertainty into the N dynamics of estuaries under global changes.Highlights
Denitrification rates were higher in loam than sandy soil, independent of salinity.
Denitrification rates were higher in oligohaline marsh loam than freshwater marsh loam.
Exogenous N input enhanced denitrification in estuarine marsh soil.
Loam with high N enhanced N removal, especially in freshwater environments.
ResNet‐Attention model for human authentication using ECG signals
Authors: Hammad Mohamed , Pławiak Paweł , Wang Kuanquan , Acharya Udyavara Rajendra 
Published: March 2020

AbstractAuthentication is the process of verifying the claimed identity of the user. Recently, traditional authentication methods such as passwords, tokens, and so on are no longer used for authentication as they are more prone to theft and different types of violations. Therefore, new authentication approaches based on biometric modalities such as heartbeat pattern obtained from electrocardiogram (ECG) signals are considered. Unlike other biometrics, ECG provides the assurance that the person is alive, and is considered as one of the most accurate recent methods for authentication. In this article, two end‐to‐end deep neural network models for ECG‐based authentication are proposed. In the first model, a convolutional neural network (CNN) is developed and in the second model, a residual convolutional neural network (ResNet) with attention mechanism called ResNet‐Attention is designed for human authentication. We have used 2‐s duration ECG signals obtained from two ECG databases (Physikalisch‐Technische Bundesanstalt [PTB] and Check Your Bio‐signals Here initiative [CYBHi]) for authentication. Our proposed ResNet‐Attention algorithm achieved an accuracy of 98.85 and 99.27% using PTB and CYBHi, respectively. The results obtained by our developed model show that the performance is better than existing algorithms and can be used in real‐time authentication systems after the validation with more diverse ECG data.
Numerical analysis of low cycle fatigue for welded joints considering welding residual stress and plastic damage under combined bending and local compressive loads
Authors: Wang Xiaojia , Meng Qingchun , Hu Weiping 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe numerical analysis of low cycle fatigue of HTS‐A steel welded joints under combined bending and local compressive loads are implemented using the damage mechanics approach. First, a finite element numerical simulation of the welding process is employed to extract the welding residual stresses, which are then imported as initial stresses in the subsequent fatigue analysis. Second, a multiaxial fatigue damage model including damage coupled elasto‐plastic constitutive equations and plastic damage evolution formulation is applied to evaluate the mechanical degradation of the material under biaxial fatigue loads. Further, the fatigue lives of the HTS‐A steel welded joints are computed and compared with the experimental results from literature. A series of predicted load‐life curves clearly illustrates the variation of fatigue lives along with the combined loadings. Finally, the effects of local compression on accumulated plastic strain and fatigue damage are studied in detail. It is revealed that the local compression induces a damage competition between two critical zones.
Decoupling of impact factors reveals the response of German winter wheat yields to climatic changes
Authors: Bönecke Eric , Breitsameter Laura , Brüggemann Nicolas , Chen Tsu‐Wei , Feike Til , Kage Henning , Kersebaum Kurt‐Christian , Piepho Hans‐Peter , Stützel Hartmut 
Published: March 2020

AbstractYield development of agricultural crops over time is not merely the result of genetic and agronomic factors, but also the outcome of a complex interaction between climatic and site‐specific soil conditions. However, the influence of past climatic changes on yield trends remains unclear, particularly under consideration of different soil conditions. In this study, we determine the effects of single agrometeorological factors on the evolution of German winter wheat yields between 1958 and 2015 from 298 published nitrogen (N)‐fertilization experiments. For this purpose, we separate climatic from genetic and agronomic yield effects using linear mixed effect models and estimate the climatic influence based on a coefficient of determination for these models. We found earlier occurrence of wheat growth stages, and shortened development phases except for the phase of stem elongation. Agrometeorological factors are defined as climate covariates related to the growth of winter wheat. Our results indicate a general and strong effect of agroclimatic changes on yield development, in particular due to increasing mean temperatures and heat stress events during the grain‐filling period. Except for heat stress days with more than 31°C, yields at sites with higher yield potential were less prone to adverse weather effects than at sites with lower yield potential. Our data furthermore reveal that a potential yield levelling, as found for many West‐European countries, predominantly occurred at sites with relatively low yield potential and about one decade earlier (mid‐1980s) compared to averaged yield data for the whole of Germany. Interestingly, effects related to high precipitation events were less relevant than temperature‐related effects and became relevant particularly during the vegetative growth phase. Overall, this study emphasizes the sensitivity of yield productivity to past climatic conditions, under consideration of regional differences, and underlines the necessity of finding adaptation strategies for food production under ongoing and expected climate change.
Biomes as evolutionary arenas: Convergence and conservatism in the trans‐continental succulent biome
Authors: Ringelberg Jens J. , Zimmermann Niklaus E. , Weeks Andrea , Lavin Matt , Hughes Colin E. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractAimHistorically, biomes have been defined based on their structurally and functionally similar vegetation, but there is debate about whether these similarities are superficial, and about how biomes are defined and mapped. We propose that combined assessment of evolutionary convergence of plant functional traits and phylogenetic biome conservatism provides a useful approach for characterizing biomes. We focus on the little‐known succulent biome, a trans‐continentally distributed assemblage of succulent‐rich, drought‐deciduous, fire‐free forest, thicket and scrub vegetation as a useful exemplar biome to gain insights into these questions.LocationGlobal lowland (sub)tropics.Time periodPresent.Major taxa studiedAngiosperms.MethodsWe use a model ensemble approach to model the distribution of 884 species of stem succulents, a plant functional group representing a striking example of evolutionary convergence. Using this model, phylogenies, and species occurrence data, we quantify phylogenetic succulent biome conservatism for 10 non‐succulent trans‐continental plant clades including prominent elements of the succulent biome, representing over 800 species.ResultsThe geographical and climatic distributions of stem succulents provide an objective and quantitative proxy for mapping the distribution of the succulent biome. High fractions of succulent biome occupancy across continents suggest all 10 non‐succulent study clades are phylogenetically conserved within the succulent biome.Main conclusionsThe trans‐continental succulent and savanna biomes both show evolutionary convergence in key biome‐related plant functional traits. However, in contrast to the savanna biome, which was apparently assembled via repeated local recruitment of lineages via biome shifts from adjacent biomes within continents, the succulent biome forms a coherent trans‐continental evolutionary arena for drought‐adapted tropical biome conserved lineages. Recognizing the important functional differences between the succulent‐rich, grass‐poor, fire‐free succulent biome and the grass‐dominated, succulent‐poor, fire‐prone savanna biome, and defining them as distinct seasonally dry tropical biomes, occupying essentially non‐overlapping distributions, provides critical insights into tropical biodiversity and the extent of biome stasis versus biome shifting.
Bridging the citizen gap: Bureaucratic representation and knowledge linkage in (international) public administration
Authors: Eckhard Steffen 
Published: March 2020

AbstractBureaucratic representation theory holds that civil servants are not “neutral” in a Weberian sense. Bureaucrats are thought to “actively” represent their communities by trying to make them better off. This article proposes an alternative understanding of individual behavior in representation that emphasizes knowledge sharing instead of patronage, but leads to similar outcomes: Their societal background provides officials with advanced social knowledge about the group(s) they represent, including both informational knowledge (facts about culture, history, politics) and relational knowledge (how people interact). Bureaucratic knowledge linkage is the process of sharing information and managing relations internally and with citizens. An extreme case serves to illustrate knowledge linkage empirically: Survey data from an international organization yield high levels of knowledge asymmetries within staff bodies and subsequent observation of knowledge linkage mechanisms. In generalizing findings, the risks (knowledge distortions) and benefits (attaining public value) of knowledge linkage are discussed for both international and domestic administrations.
Effects of habitat loss on the genetic diversity of Embiratermes neotenicus (Isoptera) in a fragmented landscape of the Atlantic Forest, Brazil
Authors: Vieira de Oliveira Couto Alane Ayana , Hellemans Simon , Roisin Yves , Montes Martín Alejandro , Vasconcellos Alexandre 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Connectivity loss during habitat fragmentation poses a serious threat to global biodiversity. The effects of this process depend on factors such as the dispersal ability and breeding systems of each species, the type of land use surrounding the habitat remnants and the position of fragments in the landscape.
Termites are abundant in tropical ecosystems, and within this group, soil‐feeding species are the most sensitive to environmental degradation.
We investigated whether the fragmentation of the Atlantic Forest that occurred approximately 110 years ago because of sugarcane plantations in Northeast Brazil affected the genetic diversity of a population of Embiratermes neotenicus (Termitidae: Syntermitinae) in 14 fragments separated by 3–104 m over an extent of 20 km.
For 10 nests in each fragment, 10 individuals (n = 1400) were genotyped at five microsatellite loci. Our results show that the population exhibits weak genetic structure, with no relations between genetic variability and fragment features.
This result may be explained by the extraordinarily long lifespan of individual colonies, given this species' peculiar breeding system, offering several opportunities for dispersal events and patch colonisation.
Landscape features such as the arrangement of forest fragments and seasonal nature of the sugarcane matrix could enable this species to maximise dispersal success and avoid local extinction.
The Integration of Interstate Migrants in India: A 7 State Policy Evaluation
Authors: Aggarwal Varun , Solano Giacomo , Singh Priyansha , Singh Saniya 
Published: March 2020

AbstractInterstate migration in developing countries is a key income generating strategy for low‐income households. In India, despite the importance of migration between states, interstate migrants continue to face significant integration barriers in their destination states. The impact of state borders on migration within India is significant and large. This study presents one of the first attempts at creating a set of indicators to understand the role of state‐level policies for the integration of interstate migrants in a developing country. After illustrating the process behind the creation of this tool and the tool in itself, we compare seven of the major migrant destination states of India, based on their policy frameworks relevant to the integration of interstate migrants. Out of these states, we found that Kerala state is the most inclusive of interstate migrants but that overall, policymakers in the considered Indian states have a long way to go to improve the integration of interstate migrants.
Ferroelectric photovoltaic and flexo‐photovoltaic effects in (1 − x)(Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3‐xBiFeO3 systems under visible light
Authors: Gong Yunyun , Chen Chen , Zhang Faqiang , He Xiang , Zeng Huarong , Yang Qunbao , Li Yongxiang , Yi Zhiguo 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe anomalous photovoltaic (APV) effect has witnessed great progress from classical ferroelectric photovoltaics to flexo‐photovoltaics. Both call for an extension of the spectral response range. Here, we present a comprehensive study on the ferroelectric, photoelectric, and photovoltaic properties of pure (Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3 (BNT) and 0.3(Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3–0.7BiFeO3 (0.3BNT‐0.7BFO) ceramics. The data show that pure BNT with typical ferroelectricity exhibits intriguing photovoltaic effect even when illuminated by 550 nm visible light, while the 0.3BNT‐0.7BFO solid solution with enhanced visible light absorption shows no ferroelectric photovoltaic due to the negligible ferroelectricity but striking strain‐induced flexo‐photovoltaic effect. Transmission electron microscopy analysis reveals distinctions in the domain structures and local strain states in pure BNT and 0.3BNT‐0.7BFO ceramics, which may account for their differences in photovoltaic behavior. These findings not only deepen the understanding of photovoltaic mechanisms induced by ferroelectric polarization and flexoelectric effect but also highlight a possible candidate for multifunctional photoelectric applications.
Topological model of alkali germanate glasses and exploration of the germanate anomaly
Authors: Welch Rebecca S. , Wilkinson Collin J. , Shih Yueh‐Ting , Bødker Mikkel S. , DeCeanne Anthony V. , Smedskjaer Morten M. , Huang Liping , Affatigato Mario , Feller Steve A. , Mauro John C. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractGermanate glasses are of particular interest for their excellent optical properties as well as their abnormal structural changes that appear with the addition of modifiers, giving rise to the so‐called germanate anomaly. This anomaly refers to the nonmonotonic compositional scaling of properties exhibited by alkali germanate glasses and has been studied with various spectroscopy techniques. However, it has been difficult to understand its atomic scale origin, especially since the germanium nucleus is not easily observed by nuclear magnetic resonance. To gain insights into the mechanisms of the germanate anomaly, we have constructed a structural model using statistical mechanics and topological constraint theory to provide an accurate prediction of alkali germanate glass properties. The temperature onsets for the rigid bond constraints are deduced from in situ Brillouin light scattering, and the number of constraints is shown to be accurately calculable using statistical methods. The alkali germanate model accurately captures the effect of the germanate anomaly on glass transition temperature, liquid fragility, and Young's modulus. We also reveal that compositional variations in the glass transition temperature and Young's modulus are governed by the O–Ge–O angular constraints, whereas the variations in fragility are governed by the Ge–O radial constraints.
Silencing of ATP2B1‐AS1 contributes to protection against myocardial infarction in mouse via blocking NFKBIA‐mediated NF‐κB signalling pathway
Authors: Song Kai‐You , Zhang Xian‐Zhao , Li Feng , Ji Qing‐Rong 
Published: March 2020

AbstractMyocardial infarction (MI) is an acute coronary syndrome that refers to tissue infarction of the myocardium. This study aimed to investigate the effect of long intergenic non‐protein‐coding RNA (lincRNA) ATPase plasma membrane Ca2+ transporting 1 antisense RNA 1 (ATP2B1‐AS1) against MI by targeting nuclear factor‐kappa‐B inhibitor alpha (NFKBIA) and mediating the nuclear factor‐kappa‐B (NF‐κB) signalling pathway. An MI mouse model was established and idenepsied by cardiac function evaluation. It was determined that ATP2B1‐AS1 was highly expressed, while NFKBIA was poorly expressed and NF‐κB signalling pathway was activated in MI mice. Cardiomyocytes were extracted from mice and introduced with a series of mouse ATP2B1‐AS1 vector, NFKBIA vector, siRNA‐mouse ATP2B1‐AS1 and siRNA‐NFKBIA. The expression of NF‐κBp50, NF‐κBp65 and IKKβ was determined to idenepsy whether ATP2B1‐AS1 and NFKBIA affect the NF‐κB signalling pathway, the results of which suggested that ATP2B1‐AS1 down‐regulated the expression of NFKBIA and activated the NF‐κB signalling pathway in MI mice. Based on the data from assessment of cell viability, cell cycle, apoptosis and levels of inflammatory cytokines, either silencing of mouse ATP2B1‐AS1 or overexpression of NFKBIA was suggested to result in reduced cardiomyocyte apoptosis and expression of inflammatory cytokines, as well as enhanced cardiomyocyte viability. Our study provided evidence that mouse ATP2B1‐AS1 silencing may have the potency to protect against MI in mice through inhibiting cardiomyocyte apoptosis and inflammation, highlighting a great promise as a novel therapeutic target for MI.
Screening and functional prediction of differentially expressed circRNAs in proliferative human aortic smooth muscle cells
Authors: Chen Wei , Lin Jiajie , Li Bin , Cao Shanhu , Li Huanhuan , Zhao Jianzhi , Liu Kun , Li Yiming , Li Yang , Sun Shaoguang 
Published: March 2020

AbstractVascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation is the pathological base of vascular remodelling diseases. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are important regulators involved in various biological processes. However, the function of circRNAs in VSMC proliferation regulation remains largely unknown. This study was conducted to identify the key differentially expressed circRNAs (DEcircRNAs) and predict their functions in human aortic smooth muscle cell (HASMC) proliferation. To achieve this, DEcircRNAs between proliferative and quiescent HASMCs were detected using a microarray, followed by quantitative real‐time RT‐PCR validation. A DEcircRNA‐miRNA‐DEmRNA network was constructed, and functional annotation was performed using Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway analysis. The function of hsa_circ_0002579 in HASMC proliferation was analysed by Western blot. The functional annotation of the DEcircRNA‐miRNA‐DEmRNA network indicated that the four DEcircRNAs might play roles in the TGF‐β receptor signalling pathway, Ras signalling pathway, AMPK signalling pathway and Wnt signalling pathway. Twenty‐seven DEcircRNAs with coding potential were screened. Hsa_circ_0002579 might be a pro‐proliferation factor of HASMC. Overall, our study identified the key DEcircRNAs between proliferative and quiescent HASMCs, which might provide new important clues for exploring the functions of circRNAs in vascular remodelling diseases.
Non‐lethal assessment of reproductive stage for female blue sharks Prionace glauca using sex steroid hormones
Authors: Fujinami Yuki , Semba Yasuko 
Published: March 2020

AbstractPlasma concentrations of progesterone (P4) and 17β‐oestradiol (E2) in juvenile, pre‐ovulatory, early, mid‐ or late pregnancy stages of female blue sharks Prionace glauca were analysed. Concentrations of P4 were significantly higher in pregnant than in non‐pregnant individuals, whereas E2 concentrations increased with embryonic and follicular development. A highly accurate (86.1%) random forest classification model was developed to predict shark pregnancy. It is proposed that hormone concentrations could be used for the subsequent non‐lethal determination of female P. glauca reproductive state.