bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Contrasting patterns of density‐dependent selection at different life stages can create more than one fast–slow axis of life‐history variation
Authors: Wright Jonathan , Solbu Erik Blystad , Engen Steinar 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThere has been much recent research interest in the existence of a major axis of life‐history variation along a fast–slow continuum within almost all major taxonomic groups. Eco‐evolutionary models of density‐dependent selection provide a general explanation for such observations of interspecific variation in the "pace of life." One issue, however, is that some large‐bodied long‐lived “slow” species (e.g., trees and large fish) often show an explosive “fast” type of reproduction with many small offspring, and species with “fast” adult life stages can have comparatively “slow” offspring life stages (e.g., mayflies). We attempt to explain such life‐history evolution using the same eco‐evolutionary modeling approach but with two life stages, separating adult reproductive strategies from offspring survival strategies. When the population dynamics in the two life stages are closely linked and affect each other, density‐dependent selection occurs in parallel on both reproduction and survival, producing the usual one‐dimensional fast–slow continuum (e.g., houseflies to blue whales). However, strong density dependence at either the adult reproduction or offspring survival life stage creates quasi‐independent population dynamics, allowing fast‐type reproduction alongside slow‐type survival (e.g., trees and large fish), or the perhaps rarer slow‐type reproduction alongside fast‐type survival (e.g., mayflies—short‐lived adults producing few long‐lived offspring). Therefore, most types of species life histories in nature can potentially be explained via the eco‐evolutionary consequences of density‐dependent selection given the possible separation of demographic effects at different life stages.
Ignoring temperature variation leads to underestimation of the temperature sensitivity of plant litter decomposition
Authors: Tomczyk Nathan J. , Rosemond Amy D. , Bumpers Phillip M. , Cummins Carolyn S. , Wenger Seth J. , Benstead Jonathan P. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe majority of terrestrial net primary production decomposes, fueling detrital food webs and converting dead plant carbon to atmospheric CO2. There is considerable interest in determining the sensitivity of this process to climate warming. A common approach has been to use spatial gradients in temperature (i.e., latitude or elevation) to estimate temperature sensitivity. However, these studies typically relate decomposition rates to average temperatures at each site along such gradients, ignoring within‐site temperature variation. To evaluate the potential effects of temperature variation on estimates of temperature sensitivity, we simulated plant litter decomposition using both randomly generated and real time series of temperature. This simulation approach illustrated how temperature variation leads to higher decomposition rates at a given mean temperature than is predicted from simulations in which temperature is held constant. Increases in decomposition rate were most evident at cooler sites, where temporal variation in temperature tends to be greater than at warmer sites. This unbalanced effect of temperature variation shifted the slope of the relationships between average temperature and decomposition rate, resulting in lower estimated temperature sensitivities than were used to simulate decomposition. For example, estimates of activation energy (Ea) were as much as 0.15 eV lower than the true Ea when decomposition was simulated with the true Ea set to the canonical respiration value of 0.65 eV. We found that the estimated Ea was lower than the true Ea for surface, soil, and air temperatures, but not for stream temperatures, for which there was only a weak relationship between temperature variation and mean temperature. Our results suggest that commonly used methods may underestimate the temperature dependence of litter decomposition, particularly in terrestrial environments. We encourage publication of temperature data that include variation estimates and suggest an alternative method for calculating temperature sensitivity that accounts for variation in temperature.
Size‐selective fishing leads to trade‐offs between fishery productivity and reproductive capacity
Authors: Pellowe Kara E. , Leslie Heather M. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractMost fishing is inherently size‐selective, in that fishers preferentially select a subset of the population for harvest based on economic incentives associated with different‐sized fish. Size‐selective fishing influences the targeted population and fishery performance in multiple ways, including changing the reproductive capacity of the target population and altering fishery yield. Understanding how social–ecological variability, including size selectivity, affects target species populations is critical for fisheries management to optimize the benefits of fisheries and the ecological impacts on target populations. In this study, we used yield per recruit, spawning stock biomass per recruit, and length‐based spawning potential ratio models to explore how a range of size selectivity scenarios affect fishery and population productivity for Mexican chocolate clams, Megapitaria squalida, in Loreto, Baja California Sur, Mexico. We found that alternate slot limits result in trade‐offs between fishery yield and reproductive productivity of the target population. A more restrictive slot limit reduced the proportion of the population available to harvest, resulting in higher reproductive capacity of the population, compared to a less restrictive slot limit, conditional on the rate of fishing mortality. In the long run, a more restrictive slot limit will likely lead to a higher number of recruits, larger stock size, and higher long‐term fishery yield relative to a less restrictive scenario. Our findings highlight that how people fish matters, perhaps as much as the quantity of fish harvested; size‐selective fishing that aligns with the life history of target populations and stakeholders’ goals is critical to sustaining fisheries and the valuable food and livelihoods they provide.
Towards a simplified fire dynamic simulator model to analyse fire spread between multiple informal settlement dwellings based on full‐scale experiments
Authors: Cicione Antonio , Walls Richard S. 
Published: March 2020

SummaryThis paper develops a Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) model to analyse fire spread for informal settlements, based upon full‐scale experiments. Informal settlements are frequently ravaged by fires, leaving thousands of people homeless, and with more than 1 billion people residing in informal settlements, there is a significant need to understand and improve the fire safety in such areas. Due to high levels of uncertainty inherent with input parameters regarding informal settlements, this work also investigates the sensitivity of fire behaviour to the input parameters used in numerical simulations. It is shown that spread times between two dwellings can vary from 1 minute after flashover to no spread at all, depending on the simulation input parameters selected. This paper highlights the importance of such input parameters when trying to model fire spread between dwellings. The simulations indicate that a simplified fire spread model for informal settlements is possible, especially for steel clad dwellings, however it showed that significant work is required for timber clad dwellings, that is, because the rate at which additional ventilation forms in the simulation for the timber clad dwellings is significantly slower than reality, which is as a result of the simplifications made. The simplification of using heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to model leakages, resulting from the corrugated flutes, showed good enclosure fire dynamics behaviour compared to the experiments, but created new challenges with regards to the spread mechanism, since HVAC systems do not allow electromagnetic waves to penetrate in the same manner as an opening.
Impact of Shutdown Procedures on Recovery Phenomena of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells
Authors: Pivac I. , Barbir F. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe paper presents the obtained measurement and analysis results of the accelerated stress test protocols consisting of voltage cycling, designed to target electrocatalyst degradation, with the intentional recovery periods (so‐called soak time steps) every 2,500 voltage cycles on an already conditioned 50 cm2 (single) fuel cell provided by ElringKlinger. Before and after every intentional stop, a series of diagnostic methods (polarization curves, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, linear sweep voltammetry) were performed. During the conducted durability test, different shutdown procedures, as well as different duration of the soak time period were tested with their impact on performance recovery phenomenon. The results suggest that cause of the reversible degradation could be accumulated water within the cell and/or presence of oxygen within the catalyst layer leading to formation of platinum oxides on the catalyst surface. The prolonged soak time step reduces recovery effect, while rapid reduction of the cell temperature with ice proved to be counterproductive for performance recovery. Shutdown procedure without shortly‐connected resistor has shown no effect on recovery. Shutdown procedure without nitrogen purge proved to be the most effective for performance recovery.
Assessment of surgical tumor‐free resection margins in fresh squamous‐cell carcinoma resection specimens of the tongue using a clinical MRI system
Authors: Heidkamp Jan , Weijs Willem L. J. , van Engen‐van Grunsven Adriana C. H. , de Laak‐de Vries Ilse , Maas Marnix C. , Rovers Maroeska M. , Fütterer Jurgen J. , Steens Stefan C. A. , Takes Robert P. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractBackgroundCurrent intraoperative methods of visual inspection and tissue palpation by the surgeon, and frozen section analysis cannot reliably prevent inadequate surgical margins in patients treated for oral squamous‐cell carcinoma (OSCC). This study assessed feasibility of MRI for the assessment of surgical resection margins in fresh OSCC specimens.MethodsTen consecutive tongue specimens containing OSCC were scanned using 3 T clinical whole‐body MRI. Two radiologists independently annotated OSCC location and minimal tumor‐free margins. Whole‐mount histology was the reference standard.ResultsThe positive predictive values (PPV) and negative predictive values (NPV) for OSCC localization were 96% and 75%, and 87% and 79% for reader 1 and 2, respectively. The PPV and NPV for identification of margins <5 mm were 38% and 91%, and 5% and 87% for reader 1 and 2, respectively.ConclusionsMRI accurately localized OSCC with high inter‐reader agreement in fresh OSCC specimens, but it seemed not yet feasible to accurately assess the surgical margin status.
Positive lymph node number and extranodal extension for predicting recurrence and survival in patients with salivary gland cancer
Authors: Lee Hojun , Roh Jong‐Lyel , Cho Kyung‐Ja , Choi Seung‐Ho , Nam Soon Yuhl , Kim Sang Yoon 
Published: March 2020

AbstractBackgroundThis study compared our proposed N classification including the addition of the number of positive lymph node (LN+) and extranodal extension (ENE) with the current and previous American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) N classifications in salivary gland cancer (SGC).MethodsThis study involved 172 SGC patients who underwent surgery. Cox proportional hazard regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with overall survival (OS) and disease‐free survival (DFS).ResultsIn multivariate analyses, LN+ number, LN ratio, and ENE were associated with OS and DFS outcomes (all P < .05). Our new N classification proposed three categories: N0 (0 LN+), N1 (1 LN+), and N2 (≥2 LN+ or ENE). The C‐index of our N classification showed improvement in OS prediction (0.768) compared with the AJCC seventh (0.743) and eighth (0.756) edition N classifications.ConclusionsOur proposed N classification incorporating LN+ number and ENE may improve prediction of post‐treatment survival and recurrence in patients with SGC.
Adult Osteosclerotic Metaphyseal Dysplasia With Progressive Osteonecrosis of the Jaws and Abnormal Bone Resorption Pattern Due to a LRRK1 Splice Site Mutation
Authors: Howaldt Antonia , Hennig Anna Floriane , Rolvien Tim , Rössler Uta , Stelzer Nina , Knaus Alexej , Böttger Sebastian , Zustin Jozef , Geißler Sven , Oheim Ralf , Amling Michael , Howaldt Hans-Peter , Kornak Uwe 
Published: March 2020

ABSTRACT
Osteosclerotic metaphyseal dysplasia (OSMD) is a rare autosomal recessive sclerosing skeletal dysplasia. We report on a 34-year-old patient with sandwich vertebrae, platyspondyly, osteosclerosis of the tubular bones, pathologic fractures, and anemia. In the third decade, he developed osteonecrosis of the jaws, which was progressive in spite of repeated surgical treatment over a period of 11 years. An iliac crest bone biopsy revealed the presence of hypermineralized cartilage remnants, large multinucleated osteoclasts with abnormal morphology, and inadequate bone resorption typical for osteoclast-rich osteopetrosis. After exclusion of mutations in TCIRG1 and CLCN7 we performed trio-based exome sequencing. The novel homozygous splice-site mutation c.261G&gt;A in the gene LRRK1 was found and co-segregated with the phenotype in the family. cDNA sequencing showed nearly complete skipping of exon 3 leading to a frameshift (p.Ala34Profs*33). Osteoclasts differentiated from the patient's peripheral blood monocytes were extremely large. Instead of resorption pits these cells were only capable of superficial erosion. Phosphorylation of L-plastin at position Ser5 was strongly reduced in patient-derived osteoclasts showing a loss of function of the mutated LRRK1 kinase protein. Our analysis indicates a strong overlap of LRRK1-related OSMD with other forms of intermediate osteopetrosis, but an exceptional abnormality of osteoclast resorption. Like in other osteoclast pathologies an increased risk for progressive osteonecrosis of the jaws should be considered in OSMD, an intermediate form of osteopetrosis. © 2020 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Identification of markers of depression and neurotoxicity in pesticide exposed agriculture workers
Authors: Kori Rajesh K. , Mandrah Kapil , Hasan Whidul , Patel Devendra K. , Roy Somendu K. , Yadav Rajesh S. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractEarlier, we reported that chronic exposure to pesticides causes a reduction in the acetylcholinesterase activity and hematological and biochemical alterations in agriculture workers. In continuation with that, the present study aimed to investigate the pesticide‐induced neurochemical imbalance and its association with behavior alterations in agricultural workers. A significant increase in depressive symptoms, assessed by the Beck Depression Inventory‐II was observed in pesticide exposed workers as compared to the unexposed. A decrease in the level of dopamine in plasma and levels of dopamine, 3,4‐dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, homovanillic acids, norepinephrine, serotonin, and hydroxyindoleacetic acid in urine was also observed. An increase in the levels of MAO‐A and MAO‐B has also been observed in these individuals. The decreased levels of neurotransmitters in the blood and urine have been linked with increased levels of MAO and pesticide residues in plasma and urine. Furthermore, these changes were associated with a higher incidence of depression in agricultural workers.
MeCP2 epigenetically regulates alpha‐smooth muscle actin in human lung fibroblasts
Authors: Xiang Zheyi , Zhou Qingxian , Hu Min , Sanders Yan Y. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractBackgroundA critical feature for fibroblasts differentiation into myofibroblasts is the expression of alpha‐smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA) during the tissue injury and repair process. The epigenetic mechanism, DNA methylation, is involved in regulating α‐SMA expression. It is not clear how methyl‐CpG‐binding protein 2 (MeCP2) interacts with CpG‐rich region in α‐SMA, and if the CpG methylation status would affect MeCP2 binding and regulation of α‐SMA expression.MethodsThe association of MeCP2 with α‐SMA CpG rich region were examined by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays in primary fibroblasts from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and non‐IPF control individuals, and in the lung fibroblasts treated with profibrotic cytokine transforming growth factor β1 (TGF‐β1). The regulation of α‐SMA by MeCP2 was examined by knocking down MeCP2 with small interfering RNA (siRNA). To explore the effects of the DNA methylation status of the CpG rich region on α‐SMA expression, the cells were treated with DNA methyltransferase inhibitor, 5′‐azacytidine (5′‐aza). The expression of α‐SMA was examined by Western blot and quantitative polymerase chain reaction, the association with MeCP2 was assessed by ChIP assays, and the methylation status was checked by bisulfate sequencing.ResultsThe human lung fibroblasts with increased α‐SMA showed an enriched association of MeCP2, while knockdown MeCP2 by siRNA reduced α‐SMA upregulation by TGF‐β1. The 5′‐Aza‐treated cells have decreased α‐SMA expression with reduced MeCP2 association. However, bisulfite sequencing revealed that most CpG sites are unmethylated despite the different expression levels of α‐SMA after being treated by TGF‐β1 or 5′‐aza.ConclusionOur data indicate that the methyl‐binding protein MeCP2 is critical for α‐SMA expression in human lung myofibroblast, and the DNA methylation status at the CpG rich region of α‐SMA is not a determinative factor for its inducible expression.
Ultrasound‐assisted efficient synthesis of polyfunctional 1,2,4‐triazoles as novel antibacterial and antioxidant agents
Authors: Dastmard Sahar , Mamaghani Manouchehr , Rassa Mehdi 
Published: March 2020

AbstractNovel 4,5‐diphenyl‐1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazole derivatives were synthesized using a facile and highly efficient, one‐pot, four‐component procedure in the presence of KHSO4 as an acidic catalyst under ultrasonic irradiations in short reaction times (10–25 min) and good to excellent yields (70–96%). The synthesized compounds were screened for their antibacterial activities against Gram‐negative (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and Gram‐positive (Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus luteus) bacteria, and their antioxidant activity was also evaluated. Some of the products showed potential antibacterial and high antioxidant activities.
Utilizing CRISPR/Cas9 technology to prepare lymphoblastoid cell lines harboring genetic mutations for generating quality control materials in genetic testing
Authors: Zhou Li , Li Rui , Zhang Runling , Peng Rongxue , Chen Kun , Gao Peng , Zhang Jiawei , Zhang Rui , Li Jinming 
Published: March 2020

AbstractBackgroundTo meet the requirements of the rapidly progressing genetic testing technologies in clinical laboratories, assuring the quality of genetic tests by utilizing appropriate quality control materials is of paramount importance. The CRISPR/Cas9 technology was used to prepare quality control materials because genome‐edited human cell lines are one of the major resources for quality control materials.MethodsIn this study, in vitro transcribed sgRNA were transfected into a Cas9‐expressing lymphoblastoid cell line (LCL)—by electroporation—to simulate the SEA‐type deletion observed in α‐thalassemia. The edited positive cell line was screened and identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by Sanger sequencing. The whole‐genome sequencing was also performed to show evidence of predicted mutation.ResultsThe results showed that electroporation of the in vitro transcribed gRNAs into stable Cas9‐expressing LCL was a more efficient gene‐editing technique as compared to plasmid‐mediated transfection, and that the positive rates could reach up to 35.9%. The predominance of indel sizes relative to the predicted deletion length was clustered between 10 and 0 bp. The results of whole‐genome sequencing also demonstrated the existence of SEA‐type deletion of α‐thalassemia.ConclusionsGene‐editing based on Cas9‐expressing LCL by electroporation of sgRNA was a more efficient approach to introduce mutations for generating quality control materials for genetic testing. The edited lymphoblastoid cell lines were feasible to serve as quality control materials in genetic testing.
Proteomics reveals different pathological processes of adipose tissue, liver, and skeletal muscle under insulin resistance
Authors: Li Yaqi , Ma Quantao , Li Pengfei , Wang Jingkang , Wang Min , Fan Yuanyuan , Wang Tieshan , Wang Chunguo , Wang Ting , Zhao Baosheng 
Published: March 2020

AbstractType 2 diabetes mellitus is the most common type of diabetes, and insulin resistance (IR) is its core pathological mechanism. Proteomics is an ingenious and promising Omics technology that can comprehensively describe the global protein expression profiling of body or specific tissue, and is widely applied to the study of molecular mechanisms of diseases. In this paper, we focused on insulin target organs: adipose tissue, liver, and skeletal muscle, and analyzed the different pathological processes of IR in these three tissues based on proteomics research. By literature studies, we proposed that the main pathological processes of IR among target organs were diverse, which showed unique characteristics and focuses. We further summarized the differential proteins in target organs which were verified to be related to IR, and discussed the proteins that may play key roles in the emphasized pathological processes, aiming at discovering potentially specific differential proteins of IR, and providing new ideas for pathological mechanism research of IR.