bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Plantation Loblolly Pine Seedling Counts with Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Imagery: A Case Study
Authors: Green P Corey , Burkhart Harold E 
Published: May 2020

AbstractAbstract An unmanned aircraft system was evaluated for its potential to capture imagery for use in plantation loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) regeneration surveys. Five stands located in the Virginia Piedmont were evaluated. Imagery was collected using a recreational grade unmanned aerial vehicle at three flight heights above ground with a camera capable of capturing red–green–blue imagery. Two computer vision approaches were evaluated for their potential to automatically detect seedlings. The results of the study indicated that the proposed methods were limited in capability of generating reliable counts of seedlings in the locations evaluated. In conditions with low numbers of natural seedlings and sufficiently large planted seedlings, the detection methods performed with higher levels of accuracy. Challenges including global positioning system errors and image distortion made comparisons between ground samples and imagery difficult. In summary, unmanned aircraft systems have potential for use in plantation pine regeneration surveys if the challenges encountered can be addressed.Study Implications: Following the establishment of a pine plantation, it is important to estimate survival and possible recruitment of natural conifers. As the popularity of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) has increased, forest managers have begun to explore their use for resource assessment. This study investigated using imagery captured with a recreational grade UAS, in conjunction with automated computer vision counting techniques, for use in regeneration surveys. The results of this research indicate that significant challenges must be addressed before UAS can become an integral component of survival assessments. Aircraft constraints, legal restrictions, low image quality, and high levels of natural pine regeneration limited the success of the proposed methods. In selected cases, however, favorable conditions led to accurate detection. Additionally, UAS imagery has the potential for assessing other stand characteristics such as competing vegetation and drainage patterns. Going forward, UAS imagery and automated counting approaches have the potential to supplement, but not fully replace, ground regeneration surveys if the challenges encountered in this study can be addressed.
Phosphatidylinositol-phospholipase C2 regulates pattern-triggered immunity in Nicotiana benthamiana
Authors: Kiba Akinori , Nakano Masahito , Hosokawa Miki , Galis Ivan , Nakatani Hiroko , Shinya Tomonori , Ohnishi Kouhei , Hikichi Yasufumi 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Phospholipid signaling plays an important role in plant immune responses against phytopathogenic bacteria in Nicotiana benthamiana. Here, we isolated two phospholipase C2 (PLC2) orthologs in the N. benthamiana genome, designated as PLC2-1 and 2-2. Both NbPLC2-1 and NbPLC2-2 were expressed in most tissues and were induced by infiltration with bacteria and flg22. NbPLC2-1 and NbPLC2-2 (NbPLC2s) double-silenced plants showed a moderately reduced growth phenotype. The induction of the hypersensitive response was not affected, but bacterial growth and the appearance of bacterial wilt were accelerated in NbPLC2s-silenced plants when they were challenged with a virulent strain of Ralstonia solanacearum that was compatible with N. benthamiana. NbPLC2s-silenced plants showed reduced expression levels of NbPR-4, a marker gene for jasmonic acid signaling, and decreased jasmonic acid and jasmonoyl-L-isoleucine contents after inoculation with R. solanacearum. The induction of pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP)-triggered immunity (PTI) marker genes was reduced in NbPLC2s-silenced plants after infiltration with R. solanacearum or Pseudomonas fluorescens. Accordingly, the resistance induced by flg22 was compromised in NbPLC2s-silenced plants. In addition, the expression of flg22-induced PTI marker genes, the oxidative burst, stomatal closure, and callose deposition were all reduced in the silenced plants. Thus, NbPLC2s might have important roles in pre- and post-invasive defenses, namely in the induction of PTI.
QSO obscuration at high redshift (z ≳ 7): predictions from the bluetides simulation
Authors: Ni Yueying , Di Matteo Tiziana , Gilli Roberto , Croft Rupert A C , Feng Yu , Norman Colin 
Published: May 2020

ABSTRACT
High-$z$ AGNs hosted in gas-rich galaxies are expected to grow through significantly obscured accretion phases. This may limit or bias their observability. In this work, we use bluetides, a large volume cosmological simulation of galaxy formation to examine quasar obscuration for the highest redshift ($z$ ≥ 7) supermassive black holes residing in the centre of galaxies. We find that for the bright quasars, most of the high-column density gas ($\rm {\gt} 90 {\rm {per\ cent}}$) resides in the innermost regions of the host galaxy (typically within &lt;10 ckpc), while the gas in the outskirts is a minor contributor to the NH. The brightest quasars can have large angular variations in galactic obscuration, over 2 orders of magnitude (ranging from column density $N_\mathrm{H} \sim 10^{21.5 \!-\! 24}\, \rm {cm}^{-2}$), where the lines of sight with the lowest obscuration are those formed via strong gas outflows driven by AGN feedback. The obscured fraction P(NH &gt; 1023 cm−2) typically ranges from 0.6 to 1.0 for increasing LX (with $L_\mathrm{ X} \gt 10^{43} \, \rm {erg\, s}^{-1}$), with no clear trend of redshift evolution. Due to the angular variation in NH, all relations between NH and LX, MBH, and galaxy host properties (global M*, $M_{\rm H_2}$, and star formation rate) show appreciable scatter. The dust optical depth in the UV band τUV has tight positive correlation with NH. Our dust-extincted UV luminosity function (UVLF) is about 1.5 dex lower than the intrinsic UVLF, implying that more than 99 per cent of the $z$ ∼ 7 AGNs are heavily dust extincted and therefore would be missed by the UV-band observation.
ALMACAL VII: first interferometric number counts at 650 μm
Authors: Klitsch A , Zwaan M A , Smail Ian , Péroux C , Biggs A D , Chen Chian-Chou , Ivison R J , Popping G , Lagos C , Béthermin M , Swinbank A M , Hamanowicz A , Dutta R 
Published: May 2020

ABSTRACT
Measurements of the cosmic far-infrared background (CIB) indicate that emission from many extragalactic phenomena, including star formation and black hole accretion, in the Universe can be obscured by dust. Resolving the CIB to study the population of galaxies in which this activity takes place is a major goal of submillimetre astronomy. Here, we present interferometric 650 μm submillimetre number counts. Using the Band 8 data from the ALMACAL survey, we have analysed 81 ALMA calibrator fields together covering a total area of 5.5 arcmin2. The typical central rms in these fields is ∼100 μJy beam−1 with the deepest maps reaching σ = 47 μJy beam−1 at sub-arcsec resolution. Multiwavelength coverage from ALMACAL allows us to exclude contamination from jets associated with the calibrators. However, residual contamination by jets and lensing remain a possibility. Using a signal-to-noise threshold of 4.5σ, we find 21 dusty, star-forming galaxies with 650 μm flux densities of ≥0.7mJy. At the detection limit we resolve ≃100 per cent of the CIB at 650 μm, a significant improvement compared to low-resolution studies at similar wavelength. We have therefore identified all the sources contributing to the EBL at 650 μm and predict that the contribution from objects with flux 0.7 mJy will be small.
Impact of cardiovascular risk stratification strategies in kidney transplantation over time
Authors: Deak Andras T , Ionita Francesca , Kirsch Alexander H , Odler Balazs , Rainer Peter P , Kramar Reinhard , Kubatzki Michael P , Eberhard Katharina , Berghold Andrea , Rosenkranz Alexander R 
Published: May 2020

Abstract

Background
Kidney transplant recipients exhibit a dramatically increased cardiovascular (CV) risk. In 2007, Austrian centres implemented a consensus of comprehensive CV screening programme prior to kidney transplantation (KT). The consensus placed a particular emphasis on screening for coronary artery disease (CAD) with cardiac computed tomography (CT) or coronary angiography (CAG) in patients with diabetes mellitus, known CAD or those having multiple conventional CV risk factors. Here, we investigate if this affected risk stratification and post-transplant CV outcomes.

Methods
In a retrospective chart review, we evaluated 551 KTs performed from 2003 to 2015 in our centre. Patients were categorized into three groups: KT before (2003–07), directly after (2008–11) and 5 years after (2012–15) implementation of the consensus. We analysed clinical characteristics, the rate of cardiac CTs and CAGs prior to KT as well as major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) during a 2-year follow-up after KT.

Results
The three study groups showed a homogeneous distribution of comorbidities and age. Significantly more cardiac CTs (13.6% versus 10.2% versus 44.8%; P = 0.002) and CAGs (39.6% versus 43.9% versus 56.2%; P = 0.003) were performed after the consensus. Coronary interventions were performed during 42 out of 260 CAGs (16.2%), the cumulative 2-year MACE incidence was 8.7%. Regarding MACE occurrence, no significant difference between the three groups was found.

Conclusion
CV risk stratification has become more rigorous and invasive after the implementation of the consensus; however, this was not associated with an improvement in CV outcome.
Shadow glass transition as a thermodynamic signature of β relaxation in hyper-quenched metallic glasses
Authors: Yang Qun , Peng Si-Xu , Wang Zheng , Yu Hai-Bin 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
One puzzling phenomenon in glass physics is the so-called ‘shadow glass transition’ which is an anomalous heat-absorbing process below the real glass transition and influences glass properties. However, it has yet to be entirely characterized, let alone fundamentally understood. Conventional calorimetry detects it in limited heating rates. Here, with the chip-based fast scanning calorimetry, we study the dynamics of the shadow glass transition over four orders of magnitude in heating rates for 24 different hyper-quenched metallic glasses. We present evidence that the shadow glass transition correlates with the secondary (β) relaxation: (i) The shadow glass transition and the β relaxation follow the same temperature–time dependence, and both merge with the primary relaxation at high temperature. (ii) The shadow glass transition is more obvious in glasses with pronounced β relaxation, and vice versa; their magnitudes are proportional to each other. Our findings suggest that the shadow glass transition signals the thermodynamics of β relaxation in hyper-quenched metallic glasses.
Celebrex adjuvant therapy on COVID-19: An experimental study
Authors: Hong Wenxin , Chen Yan , You Kai , Tan Shenglin , Wu Feima , Tao Jiawang , Chen Xudan , Zhang Jiaye , Xiong Yue , Yuan Fang , Yang Zhen , Chen Tingting , Chen Xinwen , Peng Ping , Tai Qiang , Wang Jian , Zhang Fuchun , Li Yinxiong 
Published: May 2020

AbstractBackgroundThe world is under serious threat with the spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, there is no effective drug for the treatment of COVID-19. Based on analyses of available data, we deduced that the excessive prostaglandins E2(PGE2) accumulation mediated by cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) was the key pathological basis of COVID-19.MethodsThe urine PGE2levels were measured by mass spectrometry. An experimental study about Celebrex to treat COVID-19 was conducted based on routine treatment. A total of 44 confirmed COVID-19 patients were enrolled (Experimental group n=37, Control group n=7). Patients in experimental group were given Celebrex once or twice a day (0.2 g/time) for 7–14 days. The dosage or duration was modified for individuals. Clinical outcomes of Celebrex adjuvant therapy were evaluated by vital signs, laboratory tests, and computed tomography upon the discontinuance of Celebrex.ResultsWe found that the concentrations of PGE2in urine samples of COVID-19 patients were significantly higher than that of healthy individuals (mean value is 170 ng/mlvs18.8 ng/ml,p<0.01) and positively correlated with the progression of COVID-19. Among the experimental group (ordinary n=29, severe n=7, critical n=1), 25 cases were treated with full dose and 11 cases with half dose of Celebrex, and 1 case with Ibuprofen. The remission rate were 100%, 82% and 57% in full dose, half dose and control group respectively. Celebrex significantly reduced the PGE2levels and promoted recovery of ordinary or severe COVID-19.ConclusionOur study suggests that Celebrex adjuvant treatment may be helpful for the therapy of COVID-19.
Screening of SARS-CoV-2 among homeless people, asylum-seekers and other people living in precarious conditions in Marseille, France, March–April 2020
Authors: Ly Tran Duc Anh , Hoang Van Thuan , Goumballa Ndiaw , Louni Meriem , Canard Naomie , Dao Thi Loi , Medkour Hacene , Borg Audrey , Bardy Kevin , Esteves-Vieira Véra , Filosa Véronique , Davoust Bernard , Mediannikov Oleg , Fournier Pierre-Edouard , Raoult Didier , Gautret Philippe 
Published: May 2020

AbstractSurveillance of SARS-CoV-2 infection among sheltered homeless and other vulnerable people might provide the information needed to prevent its spread within accommodation centres. In March-April, we enrolled 411 homeless individuals, 77 asylum-seekers, 58 people living in precarious conditions, and 152 employees working in these accommodation centres and collected nasal samples. SARS-CoV-2 carriage was assessed by quantitative PCR. Overall, 49 (7.0%) people were positive for SARS-CoV-2, including 37 homeless individuals (of 411, 9.0%), 12 employees (of 152, 7.9%). SARS-CoV-2 positivity correlated with symptoms, although 51% of positive patients did not report respiratory symptoms or fever. Among homeless people, being young (18-34 years) (OR: 3.83 [1.47-10.0], p=0.006) and being housed in one specific shelter (OR: 9.13 [4.09-20.37], p<0.0001) were independent factors associated with the SARS-CoV-2 positivity rates (11.4% and 20.6%, respectively). The survey reveals the role of collective housing in relation to viral transmission within centres.
TB Prevalence Influence on Covid-19 Mortality
Authors: Raham Tareef Fadhil 
Published: May 2020

BackgroundTB latent infection reflected as TB prevalence might give heterogeneous immunity for infection in mechanism like what happen in BCG This study the first to our knowledge, addressing TB prevalence influence and possibly an important predictor for Covid-19 mortality and its findings may help to satisfy world inquiries about diversities dilemma. This study also will address disparities raised before about variances in mortalities among countries with same BCG protocols.MethodsThis study was set to look out for impact of TB prevalence on Covid-19 mortality on the context of countries vaccination status. Countries were divided into five groups according to BCG status. Covid-19 deaths are tested against TB prevalence through using (Non Linear Regression Modules) of predicted shapes behavior for each group.ResultsSlopes values have highly significant influences between TB prevalence and Covid-19 deaths for overall studied group, and among countries currently given 1 BGG (2 groups) and ones with previous history of vaccinations, being significant in currently given more than 1 BCG and in countries without vaccination. There are meaningful nonlinear regression shapes which are logarithmic in whole countries and in countries with current just 1 vaccine setting. It is inverse in other 2 groups currently given vaccine. It is power and cubic in countries never given and with previously given vaccines respectively. All groups and whole sample shows either perfect or extremely perfect R-square (Determination Coefficient) values with significant in at least at P-values<0.05. Study denotes possibility of factor/s other than BCG prevalence (i.e. The intercept) were operating in different ranges within groups.ConclusionHigh TB prevalence together with continuing BCG programs decrease COVID-19 Mortalities in different countries.Strengths and limitations of this studyTo our knowledge, this study will be the first addressing TB Prevalence influence and possibly an important predictor for Covid-19 mortality and its findings may help to satisfy world inquiries about diversities dilemma.This study also will address disparities raised before about variances in mortalities among countries with same BCG protocols.Potential confounding factors still exist.
Studying the pathophysiology of coronavirus disease 2019 – a protocol for the Berlin prospective COVID-19 patient cohort (Pa-COVID-19)
Authors: Kurth Florian , Roennefarth Maria , Thibeault Charlotte , Corman Victor M. , Müller-Redetzky Holger , Mittermaier Mirja , Ruwwe-Glösenkamp Christoph , Krannich Alexander , Schmidt Sein , Kretzler Lucie , Dang-Heine Chantip , Rose Matthias , Hummel Michael , Hocke Andreas , Hübner Ralf H. , Mall Marcus A. , Röhmel Jobst , Landmesser Ulf , Pieske Burkert , Knauss Samuel , Endres Matthias , Spranger Joachim , Mockenhaupt Frank P. , Tacke Frank , Treskatsch Sascha , Angermair Stefan , Siegmund Britta , Spies Claudia , Weber-Carstens Steffen , Eckardt Kai-Uwe , Uhrig Alexander , Zoller Thomas , Drosten Christian , Suttorp Norbert , Witzenrath Martin , Hippenstiel Stefan , Kalle Christof von , Sander Leif Erik 
Published: May 2020

AbstractPurposeSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has spread worldwide causing a global health emergency. Pa-COVID-19 aims to provide comprehensive data on clinical course, pathophysiology, immunology and outcome of COVID-19, in order to identify prognostic biomarkers, clinical scores, and therapeutic targets for improved clinical management and preventive interventions.MethodsPa-COVID-19 is a prospective observational cohort study of patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection treated at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin. We collect data on epidemiology, demography, medical history, symptoms, clinical course, pathogen testing and treatment. Systematic, serial blood sampling will allow deep molecular and immunological phenotyping, transcriptomic profiling, and comprehensive biobanking. Longitudinal data and sample collection during hospitalization will be supplemented by long-term follow-up.ResultsOutcome measures include the WHO clinical ordinal scale on day 15 and clinical, functional and health-related quality of life assessments at discharge and during follow-up. We developed a scalable dataset to (i) suit national standards of care (ii) facilitate comprehensive data collection in medical care facilities with varying resources and (iii) allow for rapid implementation of interventional trials based on the standardized study design and data collection. We propose this scalable protocol as blueprint for harmonized data collection and deep phenotyping in COVID-19 in Germany.ConclusionWe established a basic platform for harmonized, scalable data collection, pathophysiological analysis, and deep phenotyping of COVID-19, which enables rapid generation of evidence for improved medical care and identification of candidate therapeutic and preventive strategies. The electronic database accredited for interventional trials allows fast trial implementation for candidate therapeutic agents.
Health and Demographic Impact on COVID-19 Infection and Mortality in US Counties
Authors: Xie Zidian , Li Dongmei 
Published: May 2020

AbstractIntroductionWith the pandemic of COVID-19, the number of confirmed cases and related deaths are increasing in the US. We aimed to understand the potential impact of health and demographic factors on the infection and mortality rates of COVID-19 at the population level.MethodsWe collected total number of confirmed cases and deaths related to COVID-19 at the county level in the US from January 21, 2020 to April 23, 2020. We extracted health and demographic measures for each US county. Multivariable linear mixed effects models were used to investigate potential correlations of health and demographic characteristics with the infection and mortality rates of COVID-19 in US counties.ResultsOur models showed that several health and demographic factors were positively correlated with the infection rate of COVID-19, such as low education level and percentage of Black. In contrast, several factors, including percentage of smokers and percentage of food insecure, were negatively correlated with the infection rate of COVID-19. While the number of days since first confirmed case and the infection rate of COVID-19 were negatively correlated with the mortality rate of COVID-19, percentage of elders (65 and above) and percentage of rural were positively correlated with the mortality rate of COVID-19.ConclusionsAt the population level, health and demographic factors could impact the infection and mortality rates of COVID-19 in US counties.
Environmental DNA metabarcoding for biodiversity monitoring of a highly-diverse tropical fish community in a coral-reef lagoon: Estimation of species richness and detection of habitat segregation
Authors: Oka Shin-ichiro , Doi Hideyuki , Miyamoto Kei , Hanahara Nozomi , Sado Tetsuya , Miya Masaki 
Published: May 2020

AbstractAn environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding approach has been widely used for biodiversity monitoring of fishes, although it has rarely been applied to tropical and subtropical aquatic ecosystems, where species diversity is remarkably high. This study examined the extent to which species richness can be estimated in a small coral reef lagoon (1500 × 900 m) near Okinawa Island, southern Japan, where the surrounding waters are likely to harbor more than 1500 species of fish. During 2015–2017, a total of 16 capture-based surveys were conducted to create a faunal list of fish species, followed by eDNA metabarcoding based on seawater samples taken from 11 sites in the lagoon on a day in May 2019. We also tested whether eDNA metabarcoding could detect differences between adjacent fish communities inhabiting the offshore reef edge and shore-side seagrass beds within the lagoon. A total of 217 fish species were confirmed by the capture-based samplings, while 291 fish species were detected by eDNA metabarcoding, identifying a total of 410 species distributed across 119 families and 193 genera. Of these 410 species, only 96 (24% of the total) were commonly identified by both methods, indicating that capture-based surveys failed to collect a number of species detected by eDNA metabarcoding. Interestingly, two different approaches to estimate species richness based on eDNA data yielded values close to the 410 species, including one that suggested an additional three or more eDNA surveys from 11 sites (36 samples) would detect 90% of the 410 species. In addition, non-metric multi-dimensional scaling for fish assemblages clearly distinguished between the fish communities of the offshore reef edge and those of the shore-side seagrass beds.