bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Nutrient enrichment stimulates herbivory and alters epibiont assemblages at the edge but not inside subtidal macroalgal forests
Authors: Bulleri Fabio , Pardi Giuseppina , Tamburello Laura , Ravaglioli Chiara 
Published: November 2020

AbstractNutrient enrichment is a major threat to subtidal macroalgal forests. Several studies have shown that nutrient inputs can enhance the ability of opportunistic algal species to acquire space freed by disturbance, at the expense of architecturally complex species that form forests. However, competition between canopy- and turf-forming macroalgae is not limited to the aftermath of disturbance. Canopy-forming macroalgae can provide suitable substratum for diverse epibiont assemblages, including both algae (epiphytes) and sessile invertebrates (epizoans). Despite evidence of enhanced epiphyte loading under eutrophic conditions, few experimental studies have assessed how nutrient enrichment influences the structure of epibiont assemblages on canopy-forming macroalgae at the edge versus inside forests. In oligotrophic waters of the NW Mediterranean, we experimentally tested the hypothesis that nutrient-driven proliferation of opportunistic epiphytic algae would affect the performance of the fucoid, Carpodesmia brachycarpa, and reduce the richness and abundance of the epizoan species they support. We predicted negative effects of nutrient enrichment to be greater at the edge than inside forests and on thalli that had recovered in cleared areas than on those within undisturbed canopy stands. Nutrient enrichment did not affect the photosynthetic efficiency and reproductive output of C. brachycarpa. By contrast, it enhanced herbivore consumption and decreased the cover and diversity of epizoans at forest edges, likely by stimulating the foraging activity of Arbacia lixula, the most abundant sea urchin in adjacent encrusting coralline barrens. Fertilization of areas inside forests had no effect on either C. brachycarpa or epibiont assemblages. Finally, nutrient enrichment effects did not vary between cleared and undisturbed areas. Our results show that moderate nutrient enrichment of oligotrophic waters does not necessarily cause the proliferation of epiphytes and, hence, a strengthening of their competitive effects on canopy-forming macroalgae. Nevertheless, enhanced herbivory damage to fertilized thalli at forest edges suggests that fragmentation could reduce the resilience of macroalgal forests and associated epibiont assemblages to nutrient enrichment.
Global Biodiversity Patterns of the Photobionts Associated with the Genus Cladonia (Lecanorales, Ascomycota)
Authors: Pino-Bodas Raquel , Stenroos Soili 
Published: November 2020

AbstractThe diversity of lichen photobionts is not fully known. We studied here the diversity of the photobionts associated withCladonia, a sub-cosmopolitan genus ecologically important, whose photobionts belong to the green algae genusAsterochloris. The genetic diversity ofAsterochloriswas screened by using the ITS rDNA and actin type I regions in 223 specimens and 135 species ofCladoniacollected all over the world. These data, added to those available in GenBank, were compiled in a dataset of altogether 545Asterochlorissequences occurring in 172 species ofCladonia. A high diversity ofAsterochlorisassociated withCladoniawas found. The commonest photobiont lineages associated with this genus areA. glomerata,A. italiana, andA. mediterranea. Analyses of partitioned variation were carried out in order to elucidate the relative influence on the photobiont genetic variation of the following factors: mycobiont identity, geographic distribution, climate, and mycobiont phylogeny. The mycobiont identity and climate were found to be the main drivers for the genetic variation ofAsterochloris. The geographical distribution of the differentAsterochlorislineages was described. Some lineages showed a clear dominance in one or several climatic regions. In addition, the specificity and the selectivity were studied for 18 species ofCladonia. Potentially specialist and generalist species ofCladoniawere identified. A correlation was found between the sexual reproduction frequency of the host and the frequency of certainAsterochlorisOTUs. SomeAsterochlorislineages co-occur with higher frequency than randomly expected in theCladoniaspecies.
Substrate specificity of 2-deoxy-D-ribose 5-phosphate aldolase (DERA) assessed by different protein engineering and machine learning methods
Authors: Voutilainen Sanni , Heinonen Markus , Andberg Martina , Jokinen Emmi , Maaheimo Hannu , Pääkkönen Johan , Hakulinen Nina , Rouvinen Juha , Lähdesmäki Harri , Kaski Samuel , Rousu Juho , Penttilä Merja , Koivula Anu 
Published: November 2020

Abstract
In this work, deoxyribose-5-phosphate aldolase (Ec DERA, EC 4.1.2.4) from Escherichia coli was chosen as the protein engineering target for improving the substrate preference towards smaller, non-phosphorylated aldehyde donor substrates, in particular towards acetaldehyde. The initial broad set of mutations was directed to 24 amino acid positions in the active site or in the close vicinity, based on the 3D complex structure of the E. coli DERA wild-type aldolase. The specific activity of the DERA variants containing one to three amino acid mutations was characterised using three different substrates. A novel machine learning (ML) model utilising Gaussian processes and feature learning was applied for the 3rd mutagenesis round to predict new beneficial mutant combinations. This led to the most clear-cut (two- to threefold) improvement in acetaldehyde (C2) addition capability with the concomitant abolishment of the activity towards the natural donor molecule glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (C3P) as well as the non-phosphorylated equivalent (C3). The Ec DERA variants were also tested on aldol reaction utilising formaldehyde (C1) as the donor. Ec DERA wild-type was shown to be able to carry out this reaction, and furthermore, some of the improved variants on acetaldehyde addition reaction turned out to have also improved activity on formaldehyde.

Key points
• DERA aldolases are promiscuous enzymes.
• Synthetic utility of DERA aldolase was improved by protein engineering approaches.
• Machine learning methods aid the protein engineering of DERA.
Dose exploration results from Phase 1 study of cemiplimab, a human monoclonal programmed death (PD)-1 antibody, in Japanese patients with advanced malignancies
Authors: Kitano Shigehisa , Shimizu Toshio , Koyama Takafumi , Ebata Takahiro , Iwasa Satoru , Kondo Shunsuke , Shimomura Akihiko , Fujiwara Yutaka , Yamamoto Noboru , Paccaly Anne , Li Siyu , Rietschel Petra , Sims Tasha 
Published: November 2020

Abstract
Purpose
Part 1 of this two-part, open-label, Phase 1 study (NCT03233139) assessed the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, immunogenicity, and clinical activity of cemiplimab in Japanese patients with advanced malignancies.

Methods
Patients received cemiplimab 250 mg (n = 6) or 350 mg (n = 7) every 3 weeks intravenously for up to 108 weeks in Part 1. Tumor responses were assessed by investigators every 9 weeks using the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1.

Results
Of 13 patients enrolled, median age was 62 years (range 33–75) and eight patients were female. Median duration of cemiplimab exposure was 13.1 weeks (range 3.0‒113.6). At the time of data cut-off, 11 patients (84.6%) had discontinued treatment (majority due to disease progression: n = 8, 61.5%). The most common treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) of any grade were contact dermatitis, rash, and viral upper respiratory tract infection (each n = 3, 23.1%). Five grade ≥ 3 TEAEs were reported in four patients: autoimmune colitis, dehydration, hyponatremia, hypophosphatemia, and muscular weakness. No dose-limiting toxicities were reported and no TEAEs led to death. Cemiplimab concentrations in serum were consistent with previously reported pharmacokinetic characteristics of cemiplimab. No anti-drug antibodies were detected in serum. Objective response rate [ORR; complete response + partial response (PR)] was 30.8% (four PR) and disease control rate [ORR + stable disease (SD)] was 46.2% (6/13; two SD).

Conclusion
Cemiplimab exhibited antitumor activity in Japanese patients with advanced malignancies. The safety profile was comparable to those previously reported for cemiplimab and other PD-1 inhibitors.

Trial registration
NCT03233139 at ClinicalTrials.gov.

Graphic abstract
100% Fruit juice intake and cardiovascular risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective and randomised controlled studies
Authors: D’Elia Lanfranco , Dinu Monica , Sofi Francesco , Volpe Massimo , Strazzullo Pasquale ,   The SINU Working Group, Endorsed by SIPREC, Bordoni Alessandra , Strazzullo Pasquale , Cairella Giulia , Casiraghi Maria Cristina , D’Elia Lanfranco , del Balzo Valeria , Dinu Monica , Erba Daniela , Garbagnati Francesca , Ghiselli Andrea , Pellegrini Nicoletta , Pinto Alessandro , Rossi Laura , Russo Gian Luigi , Scazzina Francesca , Scognamiglio Umberto , Sofi Francesco , Vaccaro Salvatore , Verduci Elvira 
Published: November 2020

Abstract
Purpose
The relationship between 100% fruit juice (100%FJ) consumption and cardiovascular risk is object of debate: indeed, recently published investigations provided new but discrepant evidence on this important question and International dietary guidelines are not in agreement on recommendations about fruit juice consumption. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis of the prospective studies and the randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that explored the relationship between 100%FJ intake, cardiovascular risk profile and risk of cardiovascular events.

Methods
We performed a systematic search of publications up to August 2019. Summary relative risks and exploration of linearity of the association were estimated for prospective studies and summary mean differences (MDs) calculated for RCTs.

Results
A total of 21 prospective studies and 35 RCTs met the inclusion criteria. Dose–response analysis detected a significant inverse association between low-moderate 100%FJ consumption and risk of stroke (up to 200 ml/day) or total CV events (up to 170 ml/day) compared with no consumption, with a non-linear relationship (p for non-linearity < 0.05). No significant association was found for coronary heart disease and diabetes risk. In RCTs, a favorable and significant effect of 100%FJ intake was detected on blood pressure (systolic, MD: − 3.14 mmHg; diastolic, MD: − 1.68 mmHg), arterial compliance (carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, − 0.38 m/s) and endothelial function (flow-mediated dilation, 2.10%). Neutral effects were found on body weight, blood lipids and glucose metabolism.

Conclusions
The results of these analyses indicate that 100%FJ consumption is not associated with higher CV risk. A non-linear inverse dose–response relationship occurs between 100%FJ consumption and CV disease, in particular for risk of stroke, probably mediated by the decrease in blood pressure.

Trial registration
PROSPERO registration number (CRD42019135577).
Training of vertical versus horizontal reading in patients with hemianopia – a randomized and controlled study
Authors: Kuester-Gruber S. , Kabisch P. , Cordey A. , Karnath H.-O. , Trauzettel-Klosinski S. 
Published: November 2020

Abstract
Hypothesis
Patients with hemianopic field defects (HFD) might benefit from reading text in vertical orientation if they place the text in the seeing hemifield along the vertical midline.

Methods
We assigned 21 patients with HFD randomly to either vertical or horizontal reading training. They trained reading single lines of texts from a computer screen at home for 2 × 30 min/day, 5 days/week, for 4 weeks. The main outcome variable was reading speed (RS) during reading standardized paragraphs of printed text (IReST) aloud. RS was assessed before training (T1), directly after training (T2) and 4 weeks later (T3). Quality of life (QoL) was assessed by Impact of Visual Impairment (IVI) questionnaire.

Results
Vertical training improved RS in the vertical direction significantly. Only patients with right HFD benefited. Horizontal training improved RS in horizontal diection significantly, but much more in patients with left than in those with right HFD. Both effects remained stable at T3. RS during training at the computer improved highly significantly and correlated strongly with RS of printed text (Pearson r= > 0.9). QoL: Vertical training showed a statistically significant improvement in the complete IVI-score, patients with right HFD in the emotional IVI-score.

Conclusions
The improvements of RS were specific for the training. The stable effect indicates that the patients can apply the newly learned strategies to everyday life. The side of the HFD plays an essential role: Left-HFD patients benefitted from horizontal training, right-HFD patients from vertical training. However, the vertical RS did not reach the level of horizontal RS.
The study was registered in the German Clinical Trials register (DRKS-ID: DRKS00018843).
Auditory selective attention under working memory load
Authors: Bayramova Rena , Toffalini Enrico , Bonato Mario , Grassi Massimo 
Published: November 2020

AbstractCan cognitive load enhance concentration on task-relevant information and help filter out distractors? Most of the prior research in the area of selective attention has focused on visual attention or cross-modal distraction and has yielded controversial results. Here, we studied whether working memory load can facilitate selective attention when both target and distractor stimuli are auditory. We used a letter n-back task with four levels of working memory load and two levels of distraction: congruent and incongruent distractors. This combination of updating and inhibition tasks allowed us to manipulate working memory load within the selective attention task. Participants sat in front of three loudspeakers and were asked to attend to the letter presented from the central loudspeaker while ignoring that presented from the flanking ones (spoken by a different person), which could be the same letter as the central one (congruent) or a different (incongruent) letter. Their task was to respond whether or not the central letter matched the letter presented n (0, 1, 2, or 3) trials back. Distraction was measured in terms of the difference in reaction time and accuracy on trials with incongruent versus congruent flankers. We found reduced interference from incongruent flankers in 2- and 3-back conditions compared to 0- and 1-back conditions, whereby higher working memory load almost negated the effect of incongruent flankers. These results suggest that high load on verbal working memory can facilitate inhibition of distractors in the auditory domain rather than make it more difficult as sometimes claimed.
The Complex Parameter Landscape of the Compact Genetic Algorithm
Authors: Lengler Johannes , Sudholt Dirk , Witt Carsten 
Published: November 2020

AbstractThe compact Genetic Algorithm (cGA) evolves a probability distribution favoring optimal solutions in the underlying search space by repeatedly sampling from the distribution and updating it according to promising samples. We study the intricate dynamics of the cGA on the test functionOneMax, and how its performance depends on the hypothetical population sizeK, which determines how quickly decisions about promising bit values are fixated in the probabilistic model. It is known that the cGA and the Univariate Marginal Distribution Algorithm (UMDA), a related algorithm whose population size is called $$\lambda$$λ, run in expected time$$O(n \log n)$$O(nlogn)when the population size is just large enough ($$K = \varTheta (\sqrt{n}\log n)$$K=Θ(nlogn)and$$\lambda = \varTheta (\sqrt{n}\log n)$$λ=Θ(nlogn), respectively) to avoid wrong decisions being fixated. The UMDA also shows the same performance in a very different regime ($$\lambda =\varTheta (\log n)$$λ=Θ(logn), equivalent to$$K = \varTheta (\log n)$$K=Θ(logn)in the cGA) with much smaller population size, but for very different reasons: many wrong decisions are fixated initially, but then reverted efficiently. If the population size is even smaller ($$o(\log n)$$o(logn)), the time is exponential. We show that population sizes in between the two optimal regimes are worse as they yield larger runtimes: we prove a lower bound of$$\varOmega (K^{1/3}n + n \log n)$$Ω(K1/3n+nlogn)for the cGA onOneMaxfor$$K = O(\sqrt{n}/\log ^2 n)$$K=O(n/log2n). For$$K = \varOmega (\log ^3 n)$$K=Ω(log3n)the runtime increases with growing Kbefore dropping again to$$O(K\sqrt{n} + n \log n)$$O(Kn+nlogn)for$$K = \varOmega (\sqrt{n} \log n)$$K=Ω(nlogn). This suggests that the expected runtime for the cGA is a bimodal function in Kwith two very different optimal regions and worse performance in between.
Early surgery determines recovery of motor deficits in lumbar disc herniations—a prospective single-center study
Authors: Kögl Nikolaus , Brawanski Konstantin , Girod Pierre-Pascal , Petr Ondra , Thomé Claudius 
Published: November 2020

Abstract
Background
Patients with intervertebral disc herniation undergo surgical removal of herniated disc material in cases of persisting symptoms and/or neurologic deficits. While motor deficits often prompt surgery, little is known about the optimal timing of surgery in these cases. The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the impact of timing of disc surgery on motor recovery. Does postponing surgical treatment worsen outcome?

Method
In total, 120 patients with sciatica and/or sensorimotor deficits due to a lumbar disc herniation were surgically treated at the authors’ center within a 3-month period. In 60 patients, motor deficits were present at the time of admission. Motor function was assessed using manual muscle testing and subdivided according to the Medical Research Council (MRC) scale. Patient demographics, neurologic deficits, duration of motor deficits, treatment characteristics, and outcome were assessed. At a minimum follow-up of 1 year, functional recovery and complications were collated. Patients were subdivided into groups according to the severity of the paresis (MRC ≤ 3/5 vs. MRC 4/5). Intra-group differences were compared based on the duration of the neurologic deficits.

Results
Patients with moderate and severe paresis (MRC ≤ 3/5) benefit from treatment within 72 h as they were shown to have a significantly higher complete recovery rate at 1-year follow-up (75% vs. 0%; p < 0.001).

Conclusion
Immediate surgery should be offered to patients with moderate and severe motor deficits to increase the likelihood of neurologic recovery. This prospective data may have an impact on emergency triage in these patients.
Does a Trawl Ban Benefit Commercially Important Decapoda and Stomatopoda in Hong Kong?
Authors: Tao Lily S. R. , Lui Gilbert C. S. , Wong Kingsley J. H. , Hui Tommy T. Y. , Mak Yanny K. Y. , Sham Ronia C.-t , Yau Jason K. C. , Cheung William W. L. , Leung Kenneth M. Y. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractCrustaceans were among the most valuable fishery resources in Hong Kong. However, the unrestricted and intensive use of different fishing gears, especially bottom trawling, has led to the depletion of commercially important crustaceans in Hong Kong since the 1980s. This study investigated whether commercial crustaceans recovered after the implementation of a permanent Hong Kong-wide trawl ban that began on December 31, 2012. Standardized field surveys were conducted using a commercial shrimp trawler at two sites in eastern and western waters of Hong Kong before (2004) and after the trawl ban (2013–2014 and 2015–2016) and two sites in southern waters after the trawl ban. Diversity, mean size, abundance, biomass and level of disturbance of commercial crustaceans from the three periods were investigated. The eastern waters exhibited an increased diversity of crustacean assemblages in Inner Tolo, and a higher abundance and biomass of crabs were detected in Outer Tolo after the trawl ban. Reduced disturbance, higher diversity in crustacean assemblages and greater abundance and biomass of predatory crabs were observed after the trawl ban in the outer estuary of western waters, and increased abundance and biomass of shrimp were detected in the inner estuary of western waters. No temporal or negative changes were detected in the southeast and southern waters of Lamma Island. The various responses of crustacean assemblages in Hong Kong waters revealed the critical role of complex interactions among multiple stresses, such as ongoing reclamation works, illegal trawling activities and increased fishing efforts using other (legal) fishing methods.
Do older manual workers benefit in vitality after retirement? Findings from a 3-year follow-up panel study
Authors: Vanajan Anushiya , Bültmann Ute , Henkens Kène 
Published: November 2020

AbstractVitality is the feeling of physical and mental aliveness. Vitality benefits individual, organizational and societal well-being. However, we know much less about the dynamics in the levels of vitality and its’ precursors. This study investigates the effects of retirement on vitality and how this effect differs between manual and non-manual workers and by baseline levels of vitality. We used two waves of the NIDI Pension Panel Survey, collected in the Netherlands in 2015 and 2018. Data from 4156 older workers (N = 4156), of whom 1934 (46.5%) retired between waves, were analysed. Vitality is assessed in three ways, as: (1) a composite measure of vitality, and its subcomponents (2) energy and (3) fatigue. Conditional Change OLS Regression models demonstrated that retirement is associated with improved vitality and decreased fatigue. Older workers who retire from manual work at wave 1 experienced the largest gains in vitality and highest declines in fatigue at wave 2, compared to those who remained employed. Retirement was more advantageous for older workers who experienced poor vitality and high fatigue at wave 1. No such effects were found for energy. Older workers in manual work, those experiencing low vitality and high fatigue at wave 1, may benefit most from early retirement. Since opportunities for early retirement are highly restrictive, it is essential to provide these groups of workers with effective work accommodations and interventions that may not only improve their vitality and quality of working life, but also extend their participation in the labour market.
Learning from prices: information aggregation and accumulation in an asset market
Authors: Berardi Michele 
Published: November 2020

AbstractCan prices convey information about the fundamental value of an asset? This paper considers this problem in relation to the dynamic properties of the fundamental (whether it is constant or time-varying) and the structure of information available to agents. Risk-averse traders receive two potential signals each period: one exogenous and private and the other, prices, endogenous and public. Prices aggregate private information but include aggregate noise. Information can accumulate over time both through endogenous and exogenous signals. With a constant fundamental, the precision of both private and public cumulative information increases over time but agents put progressively more weight on the endogenous signals, asymptotically disregarding private ones. If the fundamental is time-varying, the use of past private signals complicates the role of prices as a source of information, since it introduces endogenous serial correlation in the price signal and cross-correlation between it and innovations in the fundamental. A modified version of the Kalman filter can still be used to extract information from prices and results show that the precision of the endogenous signals converges to a constant, with both private and public information used at all times.