bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fine‐scale distribution of tropical seagrass beds in Southeast Asia
Authors: Sudo Kenji , Nakaoka Masahiro 
Published: October 2020

AbstractSoutheast Asia is a hotspot of global seagrass diversity, offering valuable ecosystem services for human life. However, historically, there have been large gaps in the scientific knowledge of the distribution of seagrass beds in this region. Information on the distribution has not been updated in global databases since the publication of the World Seagrass Atlas in 2003, which was based on data mostly obtained up until the late 1990s. We collected more recent data on seagrass bed distribution from nine ASEAN countries plus southern China and southern Japan, and integrated these data into a geographic information system (GIS)‐database. A total of 1,064 polygon data and 937 points data were uploaded in this paper, which were obtained from 107 scientific articles and reports published after 2000, including those written in local languages. Among them, 7.3% of the data have associated information on seagrass bed size and 35.3% have associated information on seagrass species composition. Data obtained from Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore, Timore‐Leste and Southern China cover almost all the coastlines of each country, whereas data for the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand still have large gaps in areal coverage. The data set has a few points from Brunei Darussalam, the Paracel Islands, Spratly Islands and Pratas Islands, which are areas that we lacked information on for a long time. The obtained data will be useful to understand the current status of seagrass beds and to help facilitate better conservation and management of coastal areas in this region.The complete data set for this abstract published in the Data Paper section of the journal is available in electronic format in MetaCat in JaLTER at http://db.cger.nies.go.jp/JaLTER/metacat/metacat/ERDP-2020-13.1/jalter-en.
Five structural genes required for ceramide synthesis in Caulobacter and for bacterial survival
Authors: Olea‐Ozuna Roberto Jhonatan , Poggio Sebastian , EdBergström  , Quiroz‐Rocha Elva , García‐Soriano Daniela A. , Sahonero‐Canavesi Diana X. , Padilla‐Gómez Jonathan , Martínez‐Aguilar Lourdes , López‐Lara Isabel M. , Thomas‐Oates Jane , Geiger Otto 
Published: October 2020

SummarySphingolipids are essential and common membrane components in eukaryotic organisms, participating in many important cellular functions. Only a few bacteria are thought to harbour sphingolipids in their membranes, among them the well‐studied α‐proteobacterium Caulobacter crescentus, a model organism for asymmetric cell division and cellular differentiation. Here, we report that C. crescentus wild type produces several molecular species of dihydroceramides, which are not produced in a mutant lacking the structural gene for serine palmitoyltransferase (spt). Whereas growth of a spt‐deficient mutant and wild type are indistinguishable during the exponential phase of growth, survival of the spt‐deficient mutant is much reduced, in comparison with wild type, during stationary phase of growth, especially at elevated temperatures. The structural gene for spt is located within a genomic cluster, comprising another 16 genes and which, like spt, are important for fitness of C. crescentus. Mutants deficient in genes linked to spt by high cofitness were unable to produce dihydroceramide or to survive in stationary phase of growth at elevated temperatures. At least five structural genes are required for dihydroceramide biosynthesis in C. crescentus and sphingolipid biosynthesis is needed for survival of this bacterium and the integrity of its outer membrane.
Digital Election Observation: Regulatory Challenges around Legal Online Content
Authors: Wagner Ben 
Published: October 2020

AbstractBetween public debates about ‘hacking’ elections, so‐called ‘fake news’ and online disinformation campaigns, it has become hard to imagine what free and fair elections in a digital environment could look like. This challenge is particularly pronounced for election observers who monitor free and fair elections. How should election observers fulfil this task when reliable data in online media campaigns are often not even available to media regulators? The following article provides a brief overview of existing challenges around online content regulation and how these apply to elections and election observation. It then considers where resources for digital electoral observation exist and how most effectively to build on these before, in conclusion, discussing next steps and potential opportunities to develop digital election observation further.
Can police training reduce ethnic/racial disparities in stop and search? Evidence from a multisite UK trial
Authors: Miller Joel , Quinton Paul , Alexandrou Banos , Packham Daniel 
Published: October 2020

Research SummaryThis study examines the effects of a 1‐day pilot training program on ethnic/racial bias in police use of stop and search powers, using a randomized controlled trial in six diverse agencies in England. We theorized the training could reduce officer bias by improving their competence to apply legitimate criteria in search decisions, and/or by reducing their reliance on ethnic/racial stereotypes. Survey results showed the training improved officers’ knowledge of stop and search regulations, made them more selective in declared search intentions in hypothetical scenarios, and reduced their support for ethnic/racial stereotyping in policing. While it showed no effects on the ethnic/racial patterns of search intentions in survey scenarios, there was no survey evidence of bias against black people in the scenarios, even in the absence of training. Police search records revealed no clear training effects on recorded street‐level behaviors, whether in relation to the frequency of searches, the strength of grounds for suspicion, or their ethnic/racial patterning.Policy implicationsA 1‐day police training program to reduce ethnic/racial bias may change officers’ knowledge and attitudes but, on its own, may not be sufficient to impact their street‐level behaviors. Training is probably most effective as part of a package of reforms, and particularly when it: involves sufficient “dosage”; addresses the mechanisms contributing to disparities beyond individual officer decisions; deploys active learning approaches; uses demonstration, modeling and feedback; and pays attention to participant engagement and reinforcement before and after the scheduled training.
Sentencing scorecards: Reducing racial disparities in prison sentences at their source
Authors: Ridgeway Greg , Moyer Ruth A. , Bushway Shawn D. 
Published: October 2020

Research SummaryScorecards have become an increasingly common tool for public policy decision making about important issues in education, finance, and health care. Few scorecards have been applied in criminal justice and none has been developed to highlight racial disparities in incarceration. We constructed county‐level scorecards for racial disparities in incarceration rates for the New York State Permanent Commission on Sentencing. Using detailed data on felony cases in New York State between 2000 and 2014, including the specific penal law criminal offense, features of the underlying charges, and criminal history, we assembled a set of White defendants within each county that collectively resembled Black and Hispanic defendants in that county. Statewide, Black defendants were more likely to receive prison sentences than similar White defendants (43% vs. 40%). Some individual counties had much greater racial disparities with relative risks of prison as high as 1.36. We found similar results for Hispanic defendants.Policy ImplicationsEarly institutional support for our scorecard receded once racial disparities were flagged in specific, named counties. The scorecard was never deployed by the Commission. Commission members and the research team met with individual counties but the Commission was disbanded during this process. New York State still lacks a formal sentencing commission. We recommend future scorecard efforts come from legislative or executive mandates, requiring rigorous methods and public presentations.
Climate Change Impacts on Local Flood Risks in the U.S. Northeast: A Case Study on the Connecticut and Merrimack River Basins
Authors: Siddique Ridwan , Palmer Richard 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThis study investigates the potential impacts of climate change on future flows in the main stem of the Connecticut and Merrimack rivers within Massachusetts. The study applies two common climate projections based on (Representative Concentration Pathways), RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 and downscaled gridded climate projections from 14 global climate models (GCMs) to estimate the 100‐year, 24‐h extreme precipitation events for two future time‐periods: near‐term (2021–2060) and far‐term (2060–2099). 100‐year 24‐h precipitation events at near‐ and far‐term are compared to GCM‐driven historical extreme precipitation events during a base period (1960–1999) and results for RCP 8.5 scenario show average increases between 25%–50% during the near‐term compared to the base period and increases of over 50% during the far‐term. Streamflow conditions are generated with a distributed hydrological model where downscaled climate projections are used as inputs. For the near‐term, the medians of the GCMs using the RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 suggest 2.9%–8.1% increases in the 100‐year, 24‐h flow event in the Connecticut and an increase of 9.9%–13.7% in the Merrimack River. For the far‐term, the medians of the GCMs using the RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 suggest a 9.0%–14.1% increase in the Connecticut and 15.8%–20.6% for the Merrimack River. Ultimately, the results presented here can be used as a guidance for the long‐term management of infrastructures on the Connecticut and Merrimack River floodplains.
Extracellular vesicles in embryo implantation and disorders of the endometrium
Authors: Mishra Anuradha , Ashary Nancy , Sharma Richa , Modi Deepak 
Published: October 2020

AbstractImplantation of the embryo is a rate‐limiting step for a successful pregnancy, and it requires an intricate crosstalk between the embryo and the endometrium. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane‐enclosed, nano‐sized structures produced by cells to mediate cell to cell communication and modulate a diverse set of biological processes. Herein, we review the involvement of EVs in the process of embryo implantation and endometrial diseases. EVs have been isolated from uterine fluid, cultured endometrial epithelial/stromal cells and trophectodermal cells. The endometrial epithelial and stromal/decidual cell‐derived EVs and its cargo are internalized bythe trophoblast cells, and they regulate a diverse set of genes involved in adhesion, invasion and migration. Conversely, the embryo‐derived EVs and its cargo are internalized by epithelial and immune cells of the endometrium for biosensing and immunomodulation required for successful implantation. EVs have also been shown to play a role in infertility, recurrent implantation failure, endometriosis, endometritis and endometrial cancer. Further research should set a stage for EVs as non‐invasive “liquid biopsy” tools for assessment of endometrial health.
Renal impairment and its impact on clinical outcomes in patients who are critically ill with COVID‐19: a multicentre observational study
Authors: Gasparini M. , Khan S. , Patel J. M. , Parekh D. , Bangash M. N. , Stϋmpfle R. , Shah A. , Baharlo B. , Soni S. ,   Collaborators
Published: October 2020

SummaryRenal impairment is common in patients who are critically ill with coronavirus disease‐19 (COVID‐19). We examined the association between acute and chronic kidney disease with clinical outcomes in 372 patients with coronavirus disease‐19 admitted to four regional intensive care units between 10 March 2020 and 31 July 2020. A total of 216 (58%) patients presented with COVID‐19 and renal impairment. Acute kidney injury and/or chronic kidney disease was associated with greater in‐hospital mortality compared with patients with preserved renal function (107/216 patients (50%) (95%CI 44–57) vs. 32/156 (21%) (95%CI 15–28), respectively; p < 0.001, relative risk 2.4 (95%CI 1.7–3.4)). Mortality was greatest in patients with renal transplants (6/7 patients (86%) (95%CI 47–100)). Mortality rates increased in patients with worsening renal injury according to the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes classification: stage 0 mortality 33/157 patients (21%) (95%CI 15–28) vs. stages 1–3 mortality 91/186 patients (49%) (95%CI 42–56); p < 0.001, relative risk 2.3 (95%CI 1.7–3.3). Survivors were less likely to require renal replacement therapy compared with non‐survivors (57/233 patients (24%) vs. 64/139 patients (46%), respectively; p < 0.001, relative risk 1.9 (95%CI 1.4–2.5)). One‐fifth of survivors who required renal replacement therapy acutely in intensive care continued to require renal support following discharge. Our data demonstrate that renal impairment in patients admitted to intensive care with COVID‐19 is common and is associated with a high mortality and requirement for on‐going renal support after discharge from critical care. Our findings have important implications for future pandemic planning in this patient cohort.
Climate and plant structure determine the spatiotemporal butterfly distribution on a tropical mountain
Authors: Beirão Marina V. , Neves Frederico S. , Fernandes G. Wilson 
Published: October 2020

AbstractMountains are among the most powerful natural gradients for testing ecological and evolutionary responses of biota to environmental influences because differences in climate and plant structure occur over short spatial scales. We describe the spatiotemporal distribution patterns and drives of fruit‐feeding butterfly diversity in the mountainous region of Serra do Cipó, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Seven elevations from 822 to 1,388 m a.s.l. were selected for evaluating the effects of abiotic factors and vegetation characteristics on butterfly diversity. A total of 44 fruit‐feeding butterfly species were recorded in a two‐year study. Species richness (local and regional) of fruit‐feeding butterflies decreased with increasing elevation. The interaction between temperature or humidity and precipitation influenced the abundance and β‐diversity of butterflies in the elevation gradient, whereas β‐diversity decreased with increasing plant richness. Butterfly richness (local and regional) and β‐diversity varied with the sampling period, with fewer species in July (2012 and 2013), the dry period, as expected for Neotropical insects. β‐Diversity in space and time was due to species replacement (turnover), indicating that butterfly composition differs throughout the mountain and over time. In summary, climate and plant richness largely influence butterfly diversity in the elevational gradient. Climatic changes in conjunction with increasing anthropic impacts on mountainous regions of southeast Brazil will likely influence the community of mountaintop butterflies in the Espinhaço Mountain Range.Abstract in Portuguese is available with online material.
Programmed cell death 1‐expressing CD56‐negative natural killer (NK) cell expansion is a hallmark of chronic NK cell activation during dasatinib treatment
Authors: Ishiyama Ken‐ichi , Kitawaki Toshio , Otsuka Yasuyuki , Takaori‐Kondo Akifumi , Kadowaki Norimitsu 
Published: October 2020

AbstractDasatinib treatment markedly increases the number of large granular lymphocytes including natural killer (NK) cells in a proportion of Ph+ leukemia patients, which associates with a better prognosis. In‐depth immune profiling of NK cells can predict therapeutic response in these patients. In the present study, we showed that CD56‐negative (CD56neg) NK cells increased exclusively in cytomegalovirus‐seropositive (CMV+) patients treated with dasatinib. The increase longitudinally paralleled with progressive differentiation of CD56dim NK cells during dasatinib therapy driven by CMV reactivation as shown by principal component analysis on 19 NK cell markers. The CD56neg NK cells showed downregulation of NK‐activating receptors, upregulation of PD‐1, and lower cytotoxicity and cytokine production, indicating that these cells are anergic and dysfunctional as seen in chronic infections with HIV‐1 or hepatitis C virus. Moreover, cytolytic activity of CD56dim and CD56neg NK cells against leukemia cells was partially restored by nivolumab in proportion to the frequency of PD‐1+ NK cells. The proportion of patients who achieved deep molecular responses at 2 years was significantly higher in dasatinib‐treated patients with ≥3% CD56neg NK cells than in those with fewer CD56neg NK cells (54.5% vs 15.8%, P = .0419). These findings suggest that CD56neg NK cells may be an exhausted population induced by chronic activation through CMV reactivation during dasatinib therapy. Expansion of CD56neg NK cells is a hallmark of chronic NK cell activation in patients treated with dasatinib and may predict a better clinical outcome. Furthermore, PD‐1 blockade may enhance anti‐leukemia responses of such NK cells.
Aetiology, clinical features and surgical outcomes of isolated medial rectus palsy
Authors: Zhu Binbin , Wang Fang , Yan Jianhua 
Published: October 2020

AbstractImportanceIsolated medial rectus palsy is extremely rare in clinical practice.BackgroundTo report demographics, aetiology, clinical findings, imaging features and surgical outcomes in patients with isolated medial rectus palsy.DesignRetrospective study.ParticipantsAll patients treated for isolated medial rectus palsy at Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat‐sen University, between September 2003 and March 2019.MethodsReview of patient records.Main Outcome MeasuresAetiology, clinical findings, imaging features and surgical outcomes.ResultsA total of 32 patients (22 males, 10 females) were included. Mean age was 33.19 ± 19.78 years. The right eye was involved in 17 patients, the left eye was involved in 14 patients, and both eyes were involved in one patient. The most common causes were iatrogenic injury (43.75%), followed by trauma (37.50%) and congenital (18.75%). The most common clinical findings included outward deviation, diplopia and limited adduction. Six patients showed combined small‐angle vertical strabismus, and 10 patients experienced a scale of −1 motility defect in other directions. After individualized strabismus surgery, preoperative exotropia of 60 ± 25 prism diopters (PD) was significantly reduced to 12 ± 13 PD (t = 10.938, P < .0001). Ocular motility improved in 21 patients, and five patients achieved normal ocular motility. Successful correction was obtained in 20/32 (62.50%) patients, with under‐correction in 12/32 (37.50%) patients. Twenty‐eight patients had only one surgery, three patients had two surgeries and one patient had three surgeries.Conclusions and RelevanceThe most common cause of isolated medial rectus palsy was local injury. Satisfactory results were obtained after individualized surgical interventions based on personalized preoperative evaluations.
A rare case of a periorbital respiratory (choristomatous) cyst
Authors: Yeh Christopher , Atillasoy Cem , Seykora John T. , Lee Vivian 
Published: October 2020

AbstractRespiratory cysts are benign lesions lined by normal respiratory epithelium. There are few reported cases localized to the orbit, while those of the eyelid are exceedingly rare. Respiratory cysts usually arise either from a non‐hereditary congenital malformation, where they are distinguished as choristomatous, or from trauma. Here, we report a case of a 53‐year‐old man who presented with a large right lower eyelid cyst that was histopathologically diagnosed as a respiratory cyst.
Increased short‐ and long‐term mortality following infections in dementia: a nationwide registry‐based cohort study
Authors: Janbek J. , Taudorf L. , Musaeus C. S. , Frimodt‐Møller N. , Laursen T. M. , Waldemar G. 
Published: October 2020

Background and purposeMortality following infections in dementia has not yet been comprehensively explored. The aim of this cohort study was to investigate the short‐ and long‐term mortality following infections in dementia.MethodsFollow‐up was from 1 January 2000 or the 65‐year birthday until death, immigration, or 31 December 2015. Exposure was incident dementia and a first infection. The outcome was all‐cause mortality. Mortality rate ratios (MRRs) were calculated using Poisson regression in 4 exposure groups (dementia yes/no, infection yes/no) by sex, infection site, and time since infection.Results1,496,436 people were followed with 12,739,135 person‐years. MRR in dementia/infection was 6.52 (95% confidence interval: 6.43–6.60) and was increased for infections of all sites. Increased mortality was short term (30 days) and long term (10 years).ConclusionsIncreased mortality in people with dementia identifies them as a particularly vulnerable group that needs clinical attention.
Anti‐N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis is associated with IRF7, BANK1 and TBX21 polymorphisms in two populations
Authors: Shu Y. , Guo J. , Ma X. , Yan Y. , Wang Y. , Chen C. , Sun X. , Wang H. , Yin J. , Long Y. , Yan X. , Lu Z. , Petersen F. , Yu X. , Qiu W. 
Published: October 2020

Background and purposeAutoantibodies targeting the GluN1(NR1) subunit of the anti‐N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptor (NMDAR) cause encephalitis. Although it has been shown that anti‐NMDAR encephalitis is associated with human leukocyte antigen (HLA) loci, susceptibility genes for the disease outside the HLA loci remain unidentified. In this study, we aimed to explore the association of anti‐NMDAR encephalitis with non‐HLA genes.MethodsTwo Chinese anti‐NMDAR encephalitis cohorts from Han populations were recruited for this study. The North Chinese case–control set consisted of 98 patients and 460 controls, while the South Chinese case–control set included 78 patients and 541 controls. All participants were genotyped for 28 single nucleotide polymorphisms that are associated with autoimmune disorders or infectious diseases.ResultsIn two independent case–control sets, we identified significant associations of anti‐NMDAR encephalitis with IRF7 rs1131665 (odds ratio [OR] 3.34, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.99–5.63; P < 0.000001, Padjusted = 0.00004), BANK1 rs4522865 (OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.15–1.82; P = 0.0017, Padjusted = 0.0149), and TBX21 rs17244587 (OR 2.03, 95% CI 1.35–3.05; P = 0.00051, Padjusted = 0.0066). Furthermore, analysis of the three polymorphisms with clinical features of the disease revealed that the IRF7 rs1131665 was associated with tumor status.ConclusionThe present study has for the first time identified non‐HLA susceptibility genes for anti‐NMDAR encephalitis. The association of IRF7, BANK1 and TBX21 with anti‐NMDAR encephalitis suggests that B‐cell activation, Th1 responses, virus infection and the type I interferon signaling pathway are involved in the pathogenesis of the disease.