bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Incorporating marine macrophytes in plant–soil feedbacks: Emerging evidence and opportunities to advance the field
Authors: Piercey Rebecca S. , Gribben Paul E. , Hanley Torrance C. , Moles Angela T. , Hughes A. Randall 
Published: October 2020

Abstract

Plants can change the biotic and abiotic characteristics of soil, which can in turn affect the growth of plants. For example, changes in below‐ground microbial composition by one plant can affect the relative performance of a second plant, in turn affecting the outcome of plant–plant interactions, invasive species success, species abundance distributions, successional processes and plant community composition and diversity.

The effects of plant–soil feedbacks on population, community and ecosystem processes in coastal and marine soft‐sediment systems have received relatively little attention, yet several recent examples offer compelling evidence for their importance.

Marine soft‐sediment systems offer an ideal opportunity to test key theoretical predictions for when plant–soil feedbacks may contribute to species coexistence and influence community composition, including the role of phylogenetic distance and relatedness, the potential for intraspecific feedbacks, the importance of environmental context, the influence of climate change and the implications for ecosystem function.

Synthesis. There is a documented disconnect between marine and terrestrial research that slows the advancement of generalisable theory. We suggest that bridging this gap in our understanding of plant–soil feedbacks may provide a unifying framework underlying plant community structure in both terrestrial and marine ecosystems.
Networks of epiphytic lichens and host trees along elevation gradients: Climate change implications in mountain ranges
Authors: Saiz Hugo , Dainese Matteo , Chiarucci Alessandro , Nascimbene Juri 
Published: October 2020

Abstract

Several studies have evaluated lichen responses in terms of shifts in species climate suitability, species richness and community composition. In contrast, patterns of co‐occurrence among species that could be related to complex species interactions have received less consideration. Biotic interactions play a major role in shaping species niches, fitness and adaptation to new environments. Therefore, considering the specific relationships among co‐occurring species is essential to further deepen our knowledge of biodiversity response to climate change. In this perspective, the analysis of lichen ecological networks across elevational gradients may provide a powerful tool to understand how communities are structured and how biotic interactions are modulated by changing climatic conditions.

We evaluated the contribution of environmental and species biological attributes to the structure of epiphytic lichen–host tree networks. Specifically, we studied lichen communities considering two different network levels: the whole lichen community, and groups of lichen species that presented similar biological traits. In this framework, we (a) characterized the structure of the epiphytic lichen–host tree networks; (b) assessed how network structure varied with climate, forest attributes and community trait diversity and (c) evaluated the role that biological traits played in the connections established between co‐occurring lichens.

On the one hand, results indicate that epiphytic lichen communities are dominated by local segregation, suggesting habitat specialization among lichens within their host tree, and that climatic conditions and, to a lesser extent, lichen diversity are the main drivers of community assemblage. On the other hand, the role of lichen species in the networks depends on their particular biological traits, supporting the hypothesis that biological traits contribute to shape network structure by influencing the ability of the species to interact between each other. These findings warn about the potential impact of climate change on epiphytic lichen communities.

Synthesis. This study builds towards a better understanding of lichen community assembly and on biodiversity response to climate change in forest alpine ecosystems. In particular, our results highlight the value of lichen–tree networks to inform about assemblage processes acting at different organizational levels and indicate that lichens might become one of the most threatened groups under global change scenarios.
Local uncoordinated gene 5H2 contributes to nerve injury‐induced mechanical allodynia associated to its role in autophagy
Authors: Chen Jing‐Yan , Huang Zi , Xiao Pei‐Yao , Yu Jian , Liao Song‐Jie 
Published: October 2020

AbstractLesions of the peripheral nerves can lead to lifelong neuropathic pain (NP). Autophagic deficiency in the Schwann cells (SCs) is an early event in the origin of NP chronification. Uncoordinated gene 5H2 (UNC5H2), one of the repulsive netrin receptors, mediated the effect of netrin‐1 on autophagic activation and cell survival in endothelial cells. However, its role on autophagy regulation in peripheral nerves during NP process remains unidentified. Chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the left sciatic nerve was induced in Sprague‐Dawley rats, and UNC5H2 small interfering RNA was transfected to the ipsilateral sciatic nerve immediately after injury. Mechanical allodynia was assessed. Sciatic UNC5H2 and netrin‐1 protein levels were investigated. Autophagy in the ipsilateral sciatic nerves was evaluated by detecting punctate light chain 3(LC3) and autophagosomes, as well as the levels of LC3 II, p62 and phosphorylated UNC51‐like kinase (ULK1). After CCI, UNC5H2 of the sciatic nerves was upregulated, exclusively expressed in SCs. Small interfering RNA transfection resulted in significant decrease of UNC5H2 and netrin‐1 protein, leading to exaggeration of mechanical allodynia through 14 days after CCI. Autophagy was activated but autophagic influx was interfered within a week after CCI, shown by the elevated levels of both LC3II and p62, which was further deteriorated with UNC5H2 knockdown. In addition, the injury‐induced augmentation of phosphorylated ULK1 was significantly diminished by UNC5H2 knockdown. Altogether, the results suggest that local UNC5H2 of the peripheral nerve plays a significant role in the process of injury‐induced mechanical allodynia, probably associated to its contribution to autophagic regulation.
Patient‐reported outcomes collected in ambulatory oncology practices: Feasibility, patterns, and correlates
Authors: Friese Christopher R. , Fauer Alex J. , Kuisell Clare , Mendelsohn‐Victor Kari , Wright Nathan C. , Griggs Jennifer J. , Manojlovich Milisa 
Published: October 2020

AbstractObjectiveTo examine the feasibility of soliciting outcomes from adults who received chemotherapy treatment for cancer and describe the patterns and correlates of patient‐reported toxicities.Data SourcesPatient survey data from 29 Michigan ambulatory oncology practices collected in 2017.Study DesignSecondary analysis of patient survey data. Descriptive statistics were generated at the patient and practice levels. Thematic analysis of open‐text comments identified clusters of frequently reported toxicities.Data Collection MethodsPatients completed 11 items from the Patient‐Reported Outcomes version of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events. Using a 5‐point Likert scale, patients rated the frequency of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and pain; the severity of nausea, vomiting, constipation, numbness/tingling, and pain; and how much numbness/tingling and pain interfered with usual or daily activities. Patients could also report two toxicities in open‐text comments. Finally, patients reported unplanned health care service for toxicity or side effect management.Principal FindingsOf 3565 eligible patients, 2245 participated (63%) and 457 (20%) rated at least one toxicity as severe/very severe. Across practices, the proportion of patients who reported at least one severe/very severe toxicity ranged from 8% to 50%. Troubling toxicities included pain frequency (mean 2.3, SD 1.3), pain severity (2.1, 1.1), and diarrhea frequency (1.9, 1.0). From completed assessments, 1653 (74%) reported at least one toxicity in open‐text comments; fatigue (n = 182), stomach discomfort (n = 53), and skin/nail changes (n = 41) were most frequently reported. Regarding consequences, 156 patients (7%) reported unplanned health care service use: 41 (26%) visited an emergency department and 32 (21%) were admitted to a hospital.ConclusionsQuerying patients on chemotherapy treatment experiences and toxicities was feasible. Toxicity rates varied across practices, which informed quality improvement. Toxicity severity and service use incidence exceed previously published trial data, particularly for pain, fatigue, and gastrointestinal issues. Open‐text questions enabled exploration with newer treatment regimens.
Predicting preventable hospital readmissions with causal machine learning
Authors: Marafino Ben J. , Schuler Alejandro , Liu Vincent X. , Escobar Gabriel J. , Baiocchi Mike 
Published: October 2020

AbstractObjectiveTo assess both the feasibility and potential impact of predicting preventable hospital readmissions using causal machine learning applied to data from the implementation of a readmissions prevention intervention (the Transitions Program).Data SourcesElectronic health records maintained by Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC).Study DesignRetrospective causal forest analysis of postdischarge outcomes among KPNC inpatients. Using data from both before and after implementation, we apply causal forests to estimate individual‐level treatment effects of the Transitions Program intervention on 30‐day readmission. These estimates are used to characterize treatment effect heterogeneity and to assess the notional impacts of alternative targeting strategies in terms of the number of readmissions prevented.Data Collection1 539 285 index hospitalizations meeting the inclusion criteria and occurring between June 2010 and December 2018 at 21 KPNC hospitals.Principal FindingsThere appears to be substantial heterogeneity in patients’ responses to the intervention (omnibus test for heterogeneity p = 2.23 × 10−7), particularly across levels of predicted risk. Notably, predicted treatment effects become more positive as predicted risk increases; patients at somewhat lower risk appear to have the largest predicted effects. Moreover, these estimates appear to be well calibrated, yielding the same estimate of annual readmissions prevented in the actual treatment subgroup (1246, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1110‐1381) as did a formal evaluation of the Transitions Program (1210, 95% CI 990‐1430). Estimates of the impacts of alternative targeting strategies suggest that as many as 4458 (95% CI 3925‐4990) readmissions could be prevented annually, while decreasing the number needed to treat from 33 to 23, by targeting patients with the largest predicted effects rather than those at highest risk.ConclusionsCausal machine learning can be used to identify preventable hospital readmissions, if the requisite interventional data are available. Moreover, our results suggest a mismatch between risk and treatment effects.
Linear perioral atrophoderma along blaschko's lines‐ a retrospective study describing 14 cases of atrophia maculosa varioliformis cutis
Authors: Sharma Reena K. , Gupta Mudita , Gulati Anchna 
Published: October 2020

AbstractBackgroundSpontaneous atrophic scarring is characterised by an idiopathic, non‐inflammatory macular atrophy that typically occurs on the face and presents as shallow atrophic scars having sharp margins and may be linear, rectangular or varioliform.AimTo describe the cases of spontaneous atrophic scarring over perioral region of face having specific feline band pattern in a retrospective study.Materials and MethodsAll patients with facial atrophoderma (perioral region) were evaluated clinically and histopathologically in tertiary care centres over 3 years. Patients with facial atrophoderma but no perioral involvement and secondary atrophoderma were excluded from the study. Patients were evaluated for number, sites, size and shape of lesions and were confirmed histopathologically.ResultsThere were 14 patients (10 females) with facial atrophoderma particularly over the perioral region. Three patients had perioral involvement with a few lesions on the cheeks and forehead. All patients developed atrophoderma spontaneously without preceding inflammation. Most of the patients were asymptomatic except for mild pain or burning at the time of development of atrophic lesions; however, none of the patients were symptomatic at the time of presentation. Histopathology in 5 patients showed epidermal and upper dermal atrophy with no/minimal signs of inflammation.ConclusionIdiopathic atrophodermas over the face can be due to spontaneous atrophia maculosa varioliformis cutis or atrophoderma of Moulin.
Global burden and gender disparity of vision loss associated with diabetes retinopathy
Authors: Xu Yufeng , Wang Aihong , Lin Xiling , Xu Jingya , Shan Yi , Pan Xiaowen , Ye Juan , Shan Peng‐Fei 
Published: October 2020

AbstractPurposeTo assess the trend patterns and gender disparity in global burden of vision loss due to diabetic retinopathy (DR) by year, age, region and socioeconomic status using prevalence and years lived with disability (YLDs) from Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study 2017.MethodsPrevalence and YLDs data of vision loss attributable to DR were extracted from GBD Study 2017 in 195 countries and territories. Socio‐demographic Index (SDI) in 2017 was cited as indicators of socioeconomic status. Kruskal–Wallis test, Dunn’s multiple comparisons and Pearson linear correlation were adopted to evaluate the gender disparity and association with socioeconomic levels.ResultsGlobally, total age‐standardized prevalence and YLDs rates of vision loss due to DR peaked around 2005, with prevalence rate of 58.98 [95% uncertainty interval (UI) 50.95–68.56] and YLDs rate of 5.00 (95% UI 3.51–6.84) per 100 000 population, respectively. The burden were expected to increase to 65.74 (95% UI 60.14–70.86) and 5.68 (95% UI 4.07–7.22) by 2050. The burden would increase according to our projection based on current epidemiological situation. However, gender disparity has existed since 1990 and been enlarging in recent years, with female being more heavily impacted. This pattern remained with ageing among different stages of vision impairments and varied through GBD super regions. Gender difference (females minus males) of age‐standardized prevalence rates was positively related to SDI (r = 0.1661, p = 0.0203). Diabetes has become a more important risk over the past 3 decades among the leading causes of vision loss.ConclusionsThe DR‐related vision loss burden tended to increase under ageing population according to our projection with significant gender disparity. Public awareness of DR and gender sensitive health policy should be emphasized.
Therapeutic effects of acupuncture in typical dry eye: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Na Ji‐Ho , Jung Ji‐Hyeo , Park Joon‐Gon , Song Phil Hyun , Song Chang‐Hyun 
Published: October 2020

AbstractAcupuncture is a treatment option for dry eye syndrome (DES), but its efficacy remains still controversial. We assessed the effectiveness of this treatment for typical DES without specific aetiologies. Eight databases up through June 2018 were searched for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) comparing treatments of acupuncture with artificial tears. The risk of bias was assessed using Cochrane criteria, and a random effects model was used for meta‐analyses on tear‐film breakup time (BUT), Schirmer test, corneal fluorescein staining (CFS), ocular surface disease index, visual analogue scale and score of symptoms (SOS). Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were conducted to explore the heterogeneity, and publication bias was assessed by funnel plot using Egger’s test. Twenty‐one RCTs in 19 studies (n = 1542 eyes) met our eligible criteria. The results demonstrated the superiority of acupuncture in improving the symptoms of BUT, Schirmer test, CFS and SOS, compared to artificial tears acting alone. The BUT and Schirmer test were also more improved in acupuncture combination with artificial tears than artificial tears alone. Further subgroup analyses suggest that acupuncture applied at 2.0–3.0 times per week for 21–30 days may be optimal for treating typical DES. This provides useful information for guiding acupuncture in the clinical trials.
Association between C‐reactive protein and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Borgersen Nanna Jo , Møller‐Lorentzen Thomas , Sørensen Torben Lykke , Subhi Yousif 
Published: October 2020

AbstractAetiological processes of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) remains poorly understood, but several studies indicate that immunity may play a role and report elevated levels of systemic C‐reactive protein (CRP). In this systematic review and meta‐analysis, we summarize available evidence in the field. We searched the databases PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science and the Cochrane Central on 19 March 2020. Two independent authors reviewed the studies and extracted data. Two independent authors reviewed the studies, extracted data and evaluated risk of bias within individual studies. Studies were reviewed in the text qualitatively and measures of association were included for quantitative analyses. Results from univariate analyses and multivariate‐adjusted analyses were included for separate meta‐analyses to evaluate whether the association was only due to factors associated with PCV. Four studies (246 patients with PCV and 2861 control individuals) were identified and included for a qualitative and quantitative analysis. Increased CRP was associated with PCV when pooling both univariate measures (OR 3.54, 95% CI: 2.13–5.89, p < 0.0001) and multivariate‐adjusted measures (OR 3.05, 95% CI: 1.56–5.98, p = 0.0011). Sensitivity analyses confirmed robustness of the results. Increased CRP is associated to PCV, even after adjusting for demographics, lifestyle factors and co‐morbidities. Clinical value of CRP in relation to PCV remains unclear, but the association gives much needed insight into the aetiology of a poorly understood disease.
Impact of pacing frequency in amiodarone interaction with cardiomyocytes near physiological temperature in health and disease conditions
Authors: S. Beserra Samuel , Roman‐Campos Danilo 
Published: October 2020

AbstractLong QT syndrome type 3 (LQT‐3) is a disease related to abnormal cardiac sodium channel function (Nav 1.5), usually due to augmented late sodium current (INaL), and may lead to ventricular fibrillation. Amiodarone is approved for ventricular fibrillation. Thus, we investigated whether pacing frequency impacts the ability of amiodarone to reverse the arrhythmic phenotype observed in LQT‐3. Anemone neurotoxin 2 (ATX‐II, here named only ATX) was used to enhance INaL in mice left ventricular myocytes (LVM). A video detector system monitored sarcomere shortening. At 1 Hz, amiodarone attenuated sarcomere shortening only at 10 µmol/L; at 3 and 5 Hz, 0.1 and 1 µmol/L amiodarone also reduced sarcomere shortening. However, no effect of amiodarone was observed on time to 50% of sarcomere contraction and relaxation. In LVM exposed to ATX (10 nmol/L), an arrhythmic phenotype was observed, and it was more severe when cells were paced at 1 Hz. Amiodarone failed to reverse the ATX induced phenotype at different pacing frequencies. Thus, our results suggest that amiodarone's ability to reverse arrhythmias induced by augmentation of INaL is limited. These findings suggest further experimentation will be required to clarify whether a clinical effect can be ascribed to an effect of amiodarone on other ion channels in LQT‐3.
A comparison of safe sleep violations in child care and family child care learning homes in Georgia
Authors: Neuharth‐Pritchett Stacey , Salm Ward Trina , McLaughlin Kacie C. , Jackson Victoria M. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractBackgroundHigh rates of infant death associated with sleeping practices continue to persist in the United States. Infants spend a large portion of their day with child care and family child care learning home providers. Safe sleeping practices continue to be an area of need for care providers of young children.MethodThe current study examines data drawn from a publicly available database of child care licensing reports in Georgia (n = 3,501), which contained data on child care centres and family child care learning homes. Information in the database included characteristics of the centres, year of data collection and the specific violations by child care provider type.ResultsResults indicated clear differences in the prevalence of violations between child care centres and family child care learning homes. Within the overall sample, 13.3% of centres and family child care learning homes were cited for safe sleeping practice violations with higher prevalence in licensed child care centres and unaccredited centres. Violations were consistent with those commonly found in child care environments and inconsistent with the American Academy of Pediatrics safe sleep recommendations.ConclusionsData from the current study suggest a continued need for professional learning on safe sleep practices.
Adaptive Compositing and Navigation of Variable Resolution Images
Authors: Licorish C. , Faraj N. , Summa B. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractWe present a new, high‐quality compositing pipeline and navigation approach for variable resolution imagery. The motivation of this work is to explore the use of variable resolution images as a quick and accessible alternative to traditional gigapixel mosaics. Instead of the common tedious acquisition of many images using specialized hardware, variable resolution images can achieve similarly deep zooms as large mosaics, but with only a handful of images. For this approach to be a viable alternative, the state‐of‐the‐art in variable resolution compositing needs to be improved to match the high‐quality approaches commonly used in mosaic compositing. To this end, we provide a novel, variable resolution mosaic seam calculation and gradient domain color correction. This approach includes a new priority order graph cuts computation along with a practical data structure to keep memory overhead low. In addition, navigating variable resolution images is challenging, especially at the zoom factors targeted in this work. To address this challenge, we introduce a new image interaction for variable resolution imagery: a pan that automatically, and smoothly, hugs available resolution. Finally, we provide several real‐world examples of our approach producing high‐quality variable resolution mosaics with deep zooms typically associated with gigapixel photography.