bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Role of grasslands in pest suppressive landscapes: how green are my pastures?
Authors: Nagy Rebecca K , Bell Lindsay W , Schellhorn Nancy A , Zalucki Myron P 
Published: April 2020

AbstractGrasslands are valuable non‐crop habitats in the world's agricultural regions, providing more than simply forage for grazing domestic and wild animals. They provide refuge and resources that support high levels of arthropod biodiversity, most importantly for natural enemies that provide vital biological control services to the surrounding cropped landscape. Ideally, farmers could manage and manipulate grasslands to boost their biocontrol services, although to achieve this, knowledge of the ecological function of these habitats is essential. Unfortunately, grasslands are often bundled together with other habitat types, such as scrubland and forest, under the label ‘non‐crop habitats’, and little is known about the contribution that these specific habitats make towards landscape pest suppression. While recent research has been investigating the importance of other non‐crop habitat such as native vegetation remnants, the contribution that grassland habitats may make towards landscape pest suppression remains a significant knowledge gap in biocontrol research. Here, the current understanding of grassland habitats as biological control service providers in the world's mixed farming systems is reviewed. Limited research into whether grassland habitats support natural enemies, and thus contribute biological control services to the adjacent surrounding cropped landscape, has returned inconclusive, even conflicting, results. Potential explanations for this inconsistency are explored, including the lack of studies, inadequate estimates of predator impact and the variety of different grassland habitat types studied, including their diversity in composition and management practices. Conclusions drawn from these studies are discussed, and suggestions for management are recommended, including increasing grassland floristic diversity, limiting intensive management practices and implementing weed control. Future research directions are proposed, along with the need to develop a universal grassland classification system for research, management and conservation purposes, using grassland type, floristic diversity and management practices as key axes for classification.
Dietary supplementation with a novel l‐carnitine multi‐micronutrient in idiopathic male subfertility involving oligo‐, astheno‐, teratozoospermia: A randomized clinical study
Authors: Kopets Roman , Kuibida Ivan , Chernyavska Iryna , Cherepanyn Vasyl , Mazo Roman , Fedevych Vitaliy , Gerasymov Sergiy 
Published: April 2020

AbstractObjectiveTo study the influence of a multi‐component nutrient dietary supplement on sperm parameters and pregnancy rates in idiopathic male infertility (IMI) with oligo‐, astheno‐, and teratozoospermia.DesignA randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, prospective, parallel arms (1:1 allocation ratio), multi‐center clinical trial.SettingsEight urology/reproductive health clinical centers located in Ukraine.PatientsEighty‐three males aged 21‐50 years with IMI and at least 1 of 3 abnormal values: total sperm concentration < 15 million/ml or/and spermatozoa progressive motility < 32% or/and forms with normal morphology < 4%.Intervention(s)Patients were randomly allocated verum test dietary supplement (TDS) containing l‐carnitine/acetyl‐l‐carnitine, l‐arginine, glutathione, co‐enzyme Q10, zinc, vitamin B9, vitamin B12, selenium, or placebo 1 time daily for 6 months.Main Outcome(s)The primary outcome measure was the percentage of normal spermiograms (concentration ≥ 15 million/ml and ≥ 32% of spermatozoa with progressive motility and ≥ 4% of normal forms) at month 0, 2, and 4. The percentage of pregnancies served the secondary outcome endpoint. Differences between the groups were assessed in z‐test for proportions.ResultsAll males finished the study. At month 4, 29/42 (69.0%) males in the verum and 9/41 (22.0%) had normal spermiograms (P < .001). The percentage of spontaneous pregnancies in the verum group was greater than in the placebo group (10/42, 23.8% vs. 2/41, 4.9%, respectively, P = .017). There were no reportable supplement‐associated adverse events.ConclusionSpecific multi‐nutrient combination l‐carnitine/l‐acetyl‐carnitine, l‐arginine, glutathione, co‐enzyme‐Q, zinc, folic acid, cyanocobalamin, and selenium can improve sperm quality in males with IMI and increase pregnancy rates.
Current pharmacological treatments for COVID‐19: What's next?
Authors: Scavone Cristina , Brusco Simona , Bertini Michele , Sportiello Liberata , Rafaniello Concetta , Zoccoli Alice , Berrino Liberato , Racagni Giorgio , Rossi Francesco , Capuano Annalisa 
Published: April 2020

Since December 2019 SARS‐Cov‐2 was found responsible for the disease COVID‐19, which has spread worldwide. No specific therapies/vaccines are yet available for the treatment of COVID‐19. Drug repositioning may offer a strategy and a number of drugs have been repurposed, including lopinavir/ritonavir, remdesivir, favipiravir and tocilizumab. This paper describes the main pharmacological properties of such drugs administered to patients with COVID‐19, focusing on their antiviral, immune‐modulatory and/or anti‐inflammatory actions. Where available, data from clinical trials involving patients with COVID‐19 are reported. Preliminary clinical trials seem to support their benefit. However, such drugs in COVID‐19 patients have peculiar safety profiles. Thus, adequate clinical trials are necessary for these compounds. Nevertheless, while waiting for effective preventive measures i.e. vaccines, many clinical trials on drugs belonging to different therapeutic classes are currently underway. Their results will help us in defining the best way to treat COVID‐19 and reducing its symptoms and complications.Linked ArticlesThis article is part of a themed issue on The Pharmacology of COVID‐19. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v177.21/issuetoc
Influence of low‐level laser therapy on implant stability in implants placed in fresh extraction sockets: A randomized clinical trial
Authors: Lobato Renan Pablo Bittencourt , Kinalski Mateus de Azevedo , Martins Thiago Marchi , Agostini Bernardo Antonio , Bergoli Cesar Dalmolin , dos Santos Mateus Bertolini Fernandes 
Published: April 2020

AbstractBackgroundLow‐level laser therapy (LLLT) has been suggested to improve primary stability at the early stages of osseointegration in animal models. However, there is still scarce evidence about its influence on implant stability in humans.PurposeTo assess the influence of LLLT on implant stability in implants placed in fresh extraction sockets.Material and methodsA randomized controlled trial was designed according to the SPIRIT guidelines and is reported following the CONSORT. Patients were randomly allocated according to control or LLLT groups. LLLT consisted in the application of GaAlAs laser (808 nm, avg. power density: 50 mW, circular spot diameter and area: 0.71 cm/0.4cm2) applied in six points in contact mode with peri‐implant soft tissue (1.23 minutes in each point of application; dose per point 11 J) before bone perforation and after suturing. The total dose resulted in 66 J per application moment. This LLLT protocol was applied only in the dental implant placement session. Implant stability was by ISQ at implant placement (T0) and the abutment selection (Ta). Digital radiographs for T0 and Ta were used to assess the distance between the implant platform and alveolar bone crest, in millimeters. T‐test and Shapiro‐Wilk test were used to analyze data between groups using the implant as a unit of analysis.ResultsFifty implants were placed in 44 patients. The insertion torque ranged from 15 to 60 N.cm (mean 35.64 ± 13.34). Two implants of the LLLT and one of the control groups were lost to follow‐up and one implant of the control group failed to osseointegrate (4.3%). ISQ at T0 ranged from 17 to 79 (mean 59.33 ± 13.05) and from 40 to 89 (mean 66.46 SD ± 11.56) at Ta. No differences were observed when comparing the groups with ISQ difference (P = .433) or radiographical peri‐implant alterations (P = .261).ConclusionsLLLT did not influence implant stability in implants placed in fresh extraction sockets when assessed at healing abutment installation.
Modeling leaf senescence of deciduous tree species in Europe
Authors: Liu Qiang , Piao Shilong , Campioli Matteo , Gao Mengdi , Fu Yongshuo H. , Wang Kai , He Yue , Li Xiangyi , Janssens Ivan A. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractAutumnal leaf senescence signals the end of photosynthetic activities in temperate deciduous trees and consequently exerts a strong control on various ecological processes. Predicting leaf senescence dates (LSD) with high accuracy is thus a prerequisite for better understanding the climate–ecosystem interactions. However, modeling LSD at large spatial and temporal scales is challenging. In this study, first, we used 19972 site‐year records (848 sites and four deciduous tree species) from the PAN European Phenology network to calibrate and evaluate six leaf senescence models during the period 1980–2013. Second, we extended the spatial analysis by repeating the procedure across Europe using satellite‐derived end of growing season and a forest map. Overall, we found that models that considered photoperiod and temperature interactions outperformed models using simple temperature or photoperiod thresholds for Betula pendula, Fagus sylvatica and Quercus robur. On the contrary, no model displayed reasonable predictions for Aesculus hippocastanum. This inter‐model comparison indicates that, contrary to expectation, photoperiod does not significantly modulate the accumulation of cooling degree days (CDD). On the other hand, considering the carryover effect of leaf unfolding date could promote the models’ predictability. The CDD models generally matched the observed LSD at species level and its interannual variation, but were limited in explaining the inter‐site variations, indicating that other environmental cues need to be considered in future model development. The discrepancies remaining between model simulations and observations highlight the need of manipulation studies to elucidate the mechanisms behind the leaf senescence process and to make current models more realistic.
Elite professionals in transnational tax governance
Authors: CHRISTENSEN RASMUS CORLIN 
Published: April 2020

AbstractSince the global financial crisis, international corporate taxation has risen to the top of the global political agenda, as political leaders have called for collective action to shore up corporate tax systems. However, high‐level political initiative alone does not create new international corporate tax rules. Rather, these transnational governance processes are centrally driven by elite tax professionals competing for prestige and influence. In this article, I investigate this competition in the case of one crucial post‐crisis reform – the OECD/G20 Base Erosion and Profit Shifting project. I argue that hierarchies of prestige and influence for elite professionals in transnational tax governance are based on strategic combinations of career resources in issue‐specific ‘linked ecologies'. In particular, I detail the expertise and network positioning of elite professionals, and discuss how these resources were mobilized in competitions for professional authority, which in turn shaped the transnational policy process. Evidence is drawn from qualitative interviews and career analysis.
Host CD8α+ and CD103+ dendritic cells prime transplant antigen‐specific CD8+ T cells via cross‐dressing
Authors: Li Bin , Lu Chunni , Oveissi Sara , Song Jing , Xiao Kun , Zanker Damien , Duan Mubin , Chen Jianxin , Xu Huji , Zou Quanming , Wu Chao , Yewdell Jonathan W , Chen Weisan 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThe participation of dendritic cells (DCs) in CD8+ T‐cell‐mediated allograft rejection is a long‐standing question of great clinical relevance for tissue transplantation. Here, we show that Batf3−/− mice demonstrate delayed allo‐skin graft rejection and are deficient in priming allo‐specific CD8+ T cells. Batf3−/− mouse priming is restored by transferring either purified CD8α+ or CD103+ DCs, demonstrating the critical role of these cells in alloreactivity. Using Db‐restricted antiviral F5 transgenic T‐cell receptor T cells, which we demonstrate are alloreactive with H‐2Kd, we show that cross‐dressing of CD8α+ and CD103+ primes CD8+ T‐cell or allo‐specific responses in vitro and in vivo. These findings suggest novel strategies for moderating tissue rejection based on interfering with DC cross‐dressing or subsequent interaction with T cells.
Risk stratification in patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy and ventricular arrhythmias based on quantification of intramural delayed enhancement on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Ghannam Michael , Siontis Konstantinos C. , Cochet Hubert , Jais Pierre , Juhoor Mehdi , Attili Anil , Sharaf‐Dabbagh Ghaith , Latchamsetty Rakesh , Jongnarangsin Krit , Morady Fred , Bogun Frank 
Published: April 2020

AbstractIntroductionIntramural scarring is a risk factor for sudden cardiac death. The objective of this study was to determine the value of scar quantification for risk stratification in patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) undergoing ablation procedures for ventricular arrhythmias (VA).Methods and ResultsCardiac late gadolinium‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging was performed in patients with NICM referred for ablation of premature ventricular complexes or ventricular tachycardia (VT). Only patients with intramural delayed enhancement were included. Scar volume was measured and correlated with immediate and long‐term outcomes. Receiver operator curves, Wilcoxon signed‐rank testing, and logistic regression were used to compare patient characteristics. The study consisted of 99 patients (74 males, mean age: 59.6 [54.0‐68.1] years, ejection fraction [EF]: 46.0 [35.0‐60.0]%). Patients without clinical VT or inducible VT had smaller total and core scar size compared to patients with a history of VT or inducible VT (total scar 1.12 [0.74‐1.79] cm3 vs 7.45 [4.16‐12.21] cm3, P < .001). A total scar volume of greater than or equal to 2.78 cm3 was associated with inducibility of VT (AUC 0.94, 95% CI [0.89‐0.98], sensitivity 85%, specificity 90%). Scar volume was associated with VT inducibility independent of a prior history of VT or the preprocedure EF (adjusted OR 1.67 [1.24‐2.24]/cm3, P < .01).ConclusionQuantification of scar size in patients with intramural scarring is useful for risk stratification in patients with NICM and VA independent of the EF or a prior history of VT. Scar characteristics of patients without a history of VT who have inducible VT are similar to patients with a history of VT.
Can doctors be taught virtue?
Authors: Lefkowitz Ariel , Meitar Dafna , Kuper Ayelet 
Published: April 2020

AbstractMedical schools and residency programs have become very adept at teaching medical students and residents an enormous amount of information. However, it is much less clear whether they are effective at fostering virtuous qualities like empathy or professionalism in trainees. This would come as no surprise to Plato, who famously argued in the Meno that virtue cannot be taught. This pedagogical challenge threatens to stymie medical educators, who increasingly recognize the importance of professionalism, compassion, and empathy in the practice of good medicine. As medical educators, we are motivated to demonstrate that virtue is teachable and to find a way to do so, as this is how we will be able to improve the conduct of physicians and the quality of their care of patients. As such, we address the question of the teachability of virtue in the realm of medicine, analysing Plato's contradictory analyses in the Meno and Protagoras, and drawing upon modern neuroscience to turn an empirical lens on the question. We explore the ways in which Noddings' Ethic of Care may offer a way forward for medical educators keen to foster virtue in trainees. We conclude by demonstrating how, by harnessing the power of caring relationships, the principles of Noddings' Ethic of Care have already been applied to medical education at a university in Israel.
Modeling the interactions among Salmonella enteritidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Lactobacillus plantarum
Authors: Chen Yuanmei , Wang Xiang , Zhang Xibin , Xu Dongpo , Zhang Wenmin , Qiu Jingxuan , Liu Qing , Dong Qingli 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThis paper was to investigate the interactions among Salmonella enteritidis, Lactobacillus plantarum, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa at four combinations of initial concentration. Firstly, fitting the growth curves to obtain growth parameters—lag time (λ), maximal growth rate (
μmax), initial concentration (N0), and maximum population density (Nmax) for each strain in monocultures or cocultures. Then interactions among S. enteritidis, P. aeruginosa, and L. plantarum in cocultures at four combinations of initial concentration were quantified by the Lotka–Volterra model with six interaction coefficients. Results indicated that there were no interactions between S. enteritidis and P. aeruginosa; S. enteritidis and P. aeruginosa had an inhibitory effect on L. plantarum, but L. plantarum had no effects on another two. Besides, the higher the initial concentrations of S. enteritidis or P. aeruginosa, the lower the growth potential of L. plantarum. This study provided more accurate predictions for the growth of bacteria under actual food contamination conditions.
Autophagy in plants: Physiological roles and post‐translational regulation
Authors: Qi Hua , Xia Fan‐Nv , Xiao Shi 
Published: April 2020

AbstractIn eukaryotes, autophagy helps maintain cellular homeostasis by degrading and recycling cytoplasmic materials via a tightly regulated pathway. Over the past few decades, significant progress has been made towards understanding the physiological functions and molecular regulation of autophagy in plant cells. Increasing evidence indicates that autophagy is essential for plant responses to several developmental and environmental cues, functioning in diverse processes such as senescence, male fertility, root meristem maintenance, responses to nutrient starvation, and biotic and abiotic stress. Recent studies have demonstrated that, similar to nonplant systems, the modulation of core proteins in the plant autophagy machinery by posttranslational modifications such as phosphorylation, ubiquitination, lipidation, S‐sulfhydration, S‐nitrosylation, and acetylation is widely involved in the initiation and progression of autophagy. Here, we provide an overview of the physiological roles and posttranslational regulation of autophagy in plants.
Melatonin protects against thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection through SIRT1‐dependent regulation of oxidative stress and vascular smooth muscle cell loss
Authors: Xia Lin , Sun Chang , Zhu Hanzhao , Zhai Mengen , Zhang Liyun , Jiang Liqing , Hou Peng , Li Junfeng , Li Kaifeng , Liu Zhenhua , Li Buying , Wang Xiaowu , Yi Wei , Liang Hongliang , Jin Zhenxiao , Yang Jian , Yi Dinghua , Liu Jincheng , Yu Shiqiang , Duan Weixun 
Published: April 2020

AbstractMelatonin functions as an endogenous protective molecule in multiple vascular diseases, whereas its effects on thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection (TAAD) and underlying mechanisms have not been reported. In this study, TAAD mouse model was successfully induced by β‐aminopropionitrile fumarate (BAPN). We found that melatonin treatment remarkably prevented the deterioration of TAAD, evidenced by decreased incidence, ameliorated aneurysmal dilation and vascular stiffness, improved aortic morphology, and inhibited elastin degradation, macrophage infiltration, and matrix metalloproteinase expression. Moreover, melatonin blunted oxidative stress damage and vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) loss. Notably, BAPN induced a decrease in SIRT1 expression and activity of mouse aorta, whereas melatonin treatment reversed it. Further mechanistic study demonstrated that blocking SIRT1 signaling partially inhibited these beneficial effects of melatonin on TAAD. Additionally, the melatonin receptor was involved in this phenomenon. Our study is the first to report that melatonin exerts therapeutic effects against TAAD by reducing oxidative stress and VSMC loss via activation of SIRT1 signaling in a receptor‐dependent manner, thus suggesting a novel therapeutic strategy for TAAD.
Clustering of designers based on building information modeling event logs
Authors: Pan Yue , Zhang Limao , Skibniewski Miroslaw J. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractA network‐enabled event log mining approach is proposed for a deep understanding of the Building Information Modeling (BIM)‐based collaborative design work. It proposes a novel algorithm termednode2vec‐GMMcombining a graph embedding algorithm named node2vec and a clustering method named Gaussian mixture model (GMM) to cluster designers within a network into several subgroups, and then makes cluster analysis. Its superiority lies in the efficient feature learning ability to preserve network structure and the powerful clustering ability to tackle uncertainty and visualize results, which can directly return the cluster embedding. As a case study, a directional network with 68 nodes (designers) and 436 ties (design task transmissions) is constructed based on retrieved data from 4GB real BIM event logs. The node2vec learns and projects the network feature representation into a 128‐dimensional vector, which is learned by GMM to discover three possible clusters owning 15, 26, and 27 closely linked designers. Analysis of each cluster is performed from node importance measurement and link prediction to identify information spreading and designers’ roles within clusters. Our new algorithmnode2vec‐GMMis proven to better improve clustering quality than other state‐of‐the‐art methods by at least 6.0% Adjusted Rand Index and 13.4% Adjusted Mutual Information. Overall, the designer clustering process provides managers with data‐driven support in both monitoring the whole course of the BIM‐based design and making reliable decisions to increase collaboration opportunities.
Effect of bariatric surgery on circulating FGF‐19: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Ryan Paul M. , Hayward Nathaniel E. , Sless Ryan T. , Garwood Philip , Rahmani Jamal 
Published: April 2020

SummaryFibroblast growth factor‐19 (FGF‐19) is a gut hormone which interacts with metabolism and is depleted in obesity. There is some indication that the hormone undergoes a resurgence following bariatric surgery (BS), an effect which may contribute to the beneficial outcomes of such procedures. This systematic review and meta‐analysis aims to synthesize the available literature on FGF‐19 levels before and after BS. MEDLINE, Scopus and Web of Science databases were searched, and the effect of different surgical procedures and degrees of body mass index (BMI) reduction on FGF‐19 levels was assessed by DerSimonian and Laird random‐effects model in meta‐analysis and dose–response analyses. This meta‐analysis, which included 474 patients from 25 arms undergoing one of five BS procedures, revealed a significant increase in the levels of circulating FGF‐19 following all‐type BS. Vertical sleeve gastrectomy, duodenal‐jejunal bypass liner and Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass all significantly increased circulating FGF‐19 levels from baseline. However, gastric banding failed to achieve the same, and in fact, biliopancreatic diversion was associated with decreased circulating FGF‐19. Finally, an inverse association between FGF‐19 and the degree of BMI‐reduction post‐operatively was noted. FGF‐19 is increased by BS and may represent a pharmaceutical target in efforts to reproduce the beneficial effects of BS in a medical setting.