bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Modeling mycorrhizal fungi dispersal by the mycophagous swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolor)
Authors: Danks Melissa A. , Simpson Natalie , Elliott Todd F. , Paine C. E. Timothy , Vernes Karl 
Published: October 2020

AbstractDespite the importance of mammal‐fungal interactions, tools to estimate the mammal‐assisted dispersal distances of fungi are lacking. Many mammals actively consume fungal fruiting bodies, the spores of which remain viable after passage through their digestive tract. Many of these fungi form symbiotic relationships with trees and provide an array of other key ecosystem functions. We present a flexible, general model to predict the distance a mycophagous mammal would disperse fungal spores. We modeled the probability of spore dispersal by combining animal movement data from GPS telemetry with data on spore gut‐retention time. We test this model using an exemplar generalist mycophagist, the swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolor). We show that swamp wallabies disperse fungal spores hundreds of meters—and occasionally up to 1,265 m—from the point of consumption, distances that are ecologically significant for many mycorrhizal fungi. In addition to highlighting the ecological importance of swamp wallabies as dispersers of mycorrhizal fungi in eastern Australia, our simple modeling approach provides a novel and effective way of empirically describing spore dispersal by a mycophagous animal. This approach is applicable to the study of other animal‐fungi interactions in other ecosystems.
Ti (IV) modified vinyl phosphate magnetic nanoparticles for simultaneous preconcentration of multiple arsenic species from chicken samples followed by HPLC‐ICP‐MS analysis
Authors: Xu Qiuyue , Chen Beibei , He Man , Hu Bin 
Published: October 2020

AbstractTi (IV)‐modified vinyl phosphate magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4@SiO2@KH570‐PO4‐Ti (IV)) was prepared for simultaneous extraction of multiple arsenic species, followed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)– inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS) analysis. Inorganic arsenic (iAs), dimethyl arsenic acid (DMA), monomethyl arsenic acid (MMA), p‐amino phenyl arsenic acid (p‐ASA), 4‐hdroxyphenylarsenic acid (4‐OH), phenyl arsenic acid (PAA), and 3‐nitro‐4‐hydroxyphenylarsenic acid (ROX) were investigated as interest analytes. It was found that they were quantitatively adsorbed on Fe3O4@SiO2@KH570‐PO4‐Ti (IV) at pH 5, and desorbed completely with 0.1 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution. Enrichment factor of 100‐fold was obtained by consuming 100 mL sample solution. Under the optimal conditions, the method combining MSPE with HPLC‐ICP‐MS presented a linear range of 1–5000 ng/L for seven arsenic species. The limits of detection were 0.39, 0.60, 0.23, 1.85, 0.54, 0.48, and 0.84 ng/L for DMA, MMA, p‐ASA, iAs, 4‐OH, PAA, ROX, with the relative standard deviations (c = 10 ng/L, n = 7) of 3.6, 3.9, 5.5, 12.4, 6.1, 5.8, 5.0, respectively. The accuracy of the method was validated by analyzing BCR 627 Tuna fish. The application potential of the method was further evaluated by chicken muscle and liver samples. No target arsenic species were detected in these samples, and good recoveries (80.6–123%) were obtained for the spiked samples at low, medium, and high concentration levels.
What is wrong with post‐fire soil erosion modelling? A meta‐analysis on current approaches, research gaps, and future directions
Authors: Lopes A.R. , Girona‐García A. , Corticeiro S. , Martins R. , Keizer J.J. , Vieira D.C.S. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractIn the near future, a higher occurrence of wildfires is expected due to climate change, carrying social, environmental, and economic implications. Such impacts are often associated with an increase of post‐fire hydrological and erosive responses, which are difficult to predict. Soil erosion models have been proven to be a valuable tool in the decision‐making process, from emergency response to long‐term planning, however, they were not designed for post‐fire conditions, so need to be adapted to include fire‐induced changes.In recent years, there have been an increasing number of studies testing different models and adaptations for the prediction of post‐fire soil erosion. However, many of these adaptations are being applied without field validation or model performance assessment. Therefore, this study aims to describe the scientific advances in the last 20 years in post‐fire soil erosion modelling research and evaluate model adaptations to burned areas that aim to include: (i) fire‐induced changes in soil and ground cover; (ii) fire‐induced changes in infiltration; (iii) burn severity; and (iv) mitigation measures in their predictions. This study also discusses the strengths and weaknesses of these approaches, suggests potential improvements, and identifies directions for future research.Results show that studies are not homogeneously distributed worldwide, according to the model type used or by region most affected by wildfire. During calibration, 73% of cases involved model adaptation to burned conditions, and only 21% attempted to accommodate new processes. Burn severity was addressed in 75% of cases, whilst mitigation measures were simulated in 27%. Additionally, only a minor percentage of model predictions were validated with independent field data (17%) or assessed for uncertainties (13%). Therefore, further efforts are required in the adaptation of erosion models to burned conditions, to be widely used for post‐fire management decisions. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Major dietary patterns and food groups in relation to rheumatoid arthritis in newly diagnosed patients
Authors: Mosalmanzadeh Negin , Jandari Sajedeh , Soleimani Davood , Shadmand Foumani Moghadam Mohammad Reza , Khorramrouz Fatemeh , Araste Asie , Molavi Seyed Fatemeh , fakhlaie Reihane , Jokar Mohammadhassan , Rezvani Reza 
Published: October 2020

AbstractBackgroundEvidence suggests that dietary patterns might act as environmental triggers in the development of chronic disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, data regarding the relationship between food patterns and RA are still limited and conflicting. In the current study, the authors aim to evaluate a link between major dietary patterns and RA in new case patients.MethodsThis study was conducted in a case–control manner on 50 patients with newly diagnosed RA and 100 healthy individuals living in Mashhad, Iran. The individuals’ dietary intake was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The major dietary patterns were identified using factor analysis based on data from FFQ. Multivariable‐adjusted logistic regression models were used to measure the associations between patterns and RA.ResultsThree major dietary patterns were identified. High‐level adherence to Western pattern had a positive association with RA (multivariable‐adjusted OR tertile 3 vs. 1:1.95; 95% CI: 1.09–3.92; p‐trend: .046), while the healthy pattern was inversely related to RA (multivariable‐adjusted OR tertile 3 vs. 1:0.12; 95% CI: 0.03–0.44; p‐trend: .001). No significant association was observed between the traditional pattern and RA.ConclusionsOur findings revealed that people with dietary behaviors close to the Western dietary pattern are more likely to develop the disease. However, adhering to healthy and well‐balanced dietary patterns rich in whole grains, low‐fat dairies, white meats, eggs, fruits, vegetables, tea, and vegetable oils was found to be inversely correlated with the risk of RA.
MF‐TOWmuT: Testing an optimally weighted combination of common and rare variants with multiple traits using family data
Authors: Gao Cheng , Sha Qiuying , Zhang Shuanglin , Zhang Kui 
Published: October 2020

AbstractWith rapid advancements of sequencing technologies and accumulations of electronic health records, a large number of genetic variants and multiple correlated human complex traits have become available in many genetic association studies. Thus, it becomes necessary and important to develop new methods that can jointly analyze the association between multiple genetic variants and multiple traits. Compared with methods that only use a single marker or trait, the joint analysis of multiple genetic variants and multiple traits is more powerful since such an analysis can fully incorporate the correlation structure of genetic variants and/or traits and their mutual dependence patterns. However, most of existing methods that simultaneously analyze multiple genetic variants and multiple traits are only applicable to unrelated samples. We develop a new method called MF‐TOWmuT to detect association of multiple phenotypes and multiple genetic variants in a genomic region with family samples. MF‐TOWmuT is based on an optimally weighted combination of variants. Our method can be applied to both rare and common variants and both qualitative and quantitative traits. Our simulation results show that (1) the type I error of MF‐TOWmuT is preserved; (2) MF‐TOWmuT outperforms two existing methods such as Multiple Family‐based Quasi‐Likelihood Score Test and Multivariate Family‐based Rare Variant Association Test in terms of power. We also illustrate the usefulness of MF‐TOWmuT by analyzing genotypic and phenotipic data from the Genetics of Kidneys in Diabetes study. R program is available at https://github.com/gaochengPRC/MF-TOWmuT.
Impact of treatment delay on survival of oral/oropharyngeal cancers: Results of a nationwide screening program
Authors: Su William Wang‐Yu , Lee Yi‐Huah , Yen Amy Ming‐Fang , Chen Sam Li‐Sheng , Hsu Chen‐Yang , Chiu Sherry Yueh‐Hsia , Fann Jean Ching‐Yuan , Lee Yi‐Chia , Chiu Han‐Mo , Hsiao Shu‐Chun , Hsu Tsui‐Hsia , Chen Hsiu‐Hsi 
Published: October 2020

AbstractBackgroundTo assess the impact of treatment delay on survival of oral/oropharyngeal cancer (OSCC).MethodsWe followed 5743 OSCCs between 2004 and 2009 from a population‐based screening program and ascertained death until the end of 2012.ResultsThe hazard ratios (HRs) of mortality from OSCC were 1.46 (1.30‐1.65) and 1.18 (1.04‐1.33) in univariable and multivariable analyses, respectively, for treatment delay longer than 6 weeks compared with that shorter than 3 weeks. The corresponding figures were 1.12 (1.01‐1.24) and 1.00 (0.91‐1.11) for treatment delay between 3 and 6 weeks. Advancing age (1.01), higher stage (stage II: 1.84, stage III: 2.97, stage IV: 6.33), cancer in tongue (1.37), or hard palate (1.63) had higher HR of mortality (P < .05). However, treatment at medical center had a lower mortality (0.83, 0.75‐0.91) than local/regional hospital.ConclusionsTreatment delay longer than 6 weeks for OSCCs detected via a population‐based screening program had unfavorable survival.
Pharmacotherapy for Weight Loss in Cirrhosis and Liver Transplantation: Translating the Data and Underused Potential
Authors: Brown Sara A. , Izzy Manhal , Watt Kymberly D. 
Published: October 2020

Background and Aims
Thirty percent of patients with cirrhosis are obese and the prevalence of obesity increases after transplant to >40% post‐transplant. There are currently four weight loss medications approved by the FDA for treatment of obesity (orlistat, phentermine‐topiramate, naltrexone‐bupropion, and liraglutide). The aim of this review was to investigate the data on the use of these weight loss medications and alternative medicines in patients with cirrhosis and in liver transplant recipients (LTRs).

Approach and Results
While there is paucity of data for these medications in patients with cirrhosis and LTRs, Liraglutide appears to be generally safe in view of its pharmacokinetic properties. Phentermine‐topiramate seems to have the highest weight loss potential but special consideration should be given to neuropsychiatric disorders, cardiovascular comorbidities, and drug interactions. There are emerging data on use of alternative medicines for weight loss but more data are needed.

Conclusions
The use of weight loss medications is feasible in this patient population but the decision of which medication to prescribe should be individualized based on the degree of renal and hepatic impairment, other co‐morbidities, and concomitant medications.
Association between HLA gene polymorphisms and mortality of COVID‐19: An in silico analysis
Authors: Tomita Yusuke , Ikeda Tokunori , Sato Ryo , Sakagami Takuro 
Published: October 2020

AbstractIntroductionThe emergence of SARS‐CoV‐2 has caused global public health and economic crisis. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) is a critical component of the viral antigen presentation pathway and plays essential roles in conferring differential viral susceptibility and severity of diseases. However, the association between HLA gene polymorphisms and risk for COVID‐19 has not been fully elucidated. We hypothesized that HLA genotypes might impact on the differences in morbidity and mortality of COVID‐19 across countries.MethodsWe conducted in silico analyses and examined an association of HLA gene polymorphisms with prevalence and mortality of COVID‐19 by using publicly available databases.ResultsWe found that a possible association between HLA‐A*02:01 and an increased risk for COVID‐19. HLA‐A*02:01 had a relatively lower capacity to present SARS‐CoV‐2 antigens compared with other frequent HLA class I molecules, HLA‐A*11:01 or HLA‐A*24:02.ConclusionThis study suggests that individuals with HLA‐A*11:01 or HLA‐A*24:02 genotypes may generate efficiently T‐cell‐mediated antiviral responses to SARS‐CoV‐2 compared with HLA‐A*02:01. The differences in HLA genotypes may potentially alter the course of the disease and its transmission.
Key factors of the net interest margin of European and US banks in a low interest rate environment
Authors: Hanzlík Petr , Teplý Petr 
Published: October 2020

AbstractIn this paper, we contribute to the literature by examining the determinants of net interest margin (NIM) of European and US banks in a zero lower bound situation while controlling for important institutional design factors. We analyse a large sample of annual data on 629 European banks and 526 US during the 2011–2016 period, which also covers periods of zero and negative rates in many of the observed countries. We test three hypotheses and come to three main conclusions. First, NIM is significantly influenced by the different institutional designs of capital‐based (the UK and the US) and bank‐based financial markets (continental Europe). Second, there are differences in NIM caused by bank size. Finally, we show significant differences by bank type: savings banks, real estate and mortgage banks, and cooperative banks report consistently lower NIMs than commercial banks and bank holdings. Contrary to other researchers, we observe a negative relationship between NIM and the yield curve slope.
Miniaturized all fiber probe for optical coherence tomography and pH detection of biological tissue
Authors: Chen Minghui , Wang Jianping , Tan Weijie , Feng Yuanyuan , Zheng Gang 
Published: October 2020

AbstractWe present a novel all‐fiber probe with 710‐μm outside diameter for combined optical coherence tomography and pH detection. In cancer surgery, a significant challenge is how to completely remove the malignant tumor without cutting too much normal tissue. The difference between cancer tissue and normal tissue not only lies in morphology and structure but also in tissue pH, where malignant tissue has a lower pH. This dual‐modality probe combined optical coherence tomography and pH detection of biological tissue, is expected to determine whether the tissue is cancerous quickly and accurately. The probe utilizes a typical three‐segment structure (double‐clad fiber ‐ no‐core fiber ‐ graded‐index fiber). We obtained a lateral resolution of ~10.6 μm, a working distance of ~506 μm and a pH measurement accuracy of 0.01 pH unit for the probe. The performance of the all‐fiber probe was verified through an ex vivo experiment using the porcine brain specimen.
Mechanically Driven Counter-Regulation of Cortical Bone Formation in Response to Sclerostin-Neutralizing Antibodies
Authors: Gerbaix Maude , Ammann Patrick , Ferrari Serge 
Published: October 2020

ABSTRACT
Sclerostin (Scl) antibodies (Scl-Ab) potently stimulate bone formation, but these effects are transient. Whether the rapid inhibition of Scl-Ab anabolic effects is due to a loss of bone cells’ capacity to form new bone or to a mechanostatic downregulation of Wnt signaling once bone strength exceeds stress remains unclear. We hypothesized that bone formation under Scl-Ab could be reactivated by increasing the dose of Scl-Ab and/or by adding mechanical stimuli, and investigated the molecular mechanisms involved in this response, in particular the role of periostin (Postn), a co-activator of the Wnt pathway in bone. For this purpose, C57Bl/6, Postn−/− and Postn+/+ mice were treated with vehicle or Scl-Ab (50 to 100 mg/kg/wk) for various durations and subsequently subjected to tibia axial compressive loading. In wild-type (WT) mice, Scl-Ab anabolic effects peaked between 2 and 4 weeks and declined thereafter, with no further increase in bone volume and strength between 7 and 10 weeks. Doubling the dose of Scl-Ab did not rescue the decline in bone formation. In contrast, mechanical stimulation was able to restore cortical bone formation concomitantly to Scl-Ab treatment at both doses. Several Wnt inhibitors, including Dkk1, Sost, and Twist1, were upregulated, whereas Postn was markedly downregulated by 2 to 4 weeks of Scl-Ab. Mechanical loading specifically upregulated Postn gene expression. In turn, Scl-Ab effects on cortical bone were more rapidly downregulated in Postn−/− mice. These results indicate that bone formation is not exhausted by Scl-Ab but inhibited by a mechanically driven downregulation of Wnt signaling. Hence, increasing mechanical loads restores bone formation on cortical surfaces, in parallel with Postn upregulation. © 2020 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
Rabbit umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells: A new option for tissue engineering
Authors: Li Kai‐De , Wang Yi , Sun Quan , Li Mei‐Sheng , Chen Jin‐Long , Liu Lei 
Published: October 2020

AbstractBackgroundThe source and availability of cells for tissue engineering in large scale research or clinical trials requires special attention. We propose the idea of applying rabbit umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells for this purpose.MethodsHere, the structure of the rabbit umbilical cord was analyzed and compared to that of human umbilical cord, both macroscopically and histologically. Next, we isolated, cultured and identified the proliferative activity and immunological characteristics of rabbit umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells in vitro using mixed lymphocyte reaction, flow cytometry and an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Furthermore, we evaluated the effects of biphasic calcium phosphate ceramic scaffolds seeded with rabbit umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells in rat cranial defect models using multiple techniques, including radiological, histological and immunohistochemistry.ResultsIn vitro studies demonstated a high level of proliferation and multi‐lineage differentiation potential in rabbit umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells. Rabbit umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells exibited low immunogenicity properties and immune suppression capability with respect to both the allogeneic and xenogeneic immune response. The results of the in vivo study showed that rabbit umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells could promote osteogenesis in heterogeneous hosts.ConclusionsThe rabbit umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells may be a new source for tissue engineering.
Measuring Brown Fat Using MRI and Implications in the Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: Yu Qian , Huang Shan , Xu Ting‐Ting , Wang Yuan‐Cheng , Ju Shenghong 
Published: October 2020

Metabolic syndrome is presently becoming a global health concern. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) has the potential for managing the risk factors of metabolic syndrome by adjusting plasma lipids and glucose. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a noninvasive and radiation‐free imaging modality for BAT research and clinical applications in both animals and humans. In the past decade, MRI technologies for detecting and characterizing BAT have developed rapidly, with progress in MRI sequencing and the emerging understanding of BAT. In this review, we focus on the main MRI methods for BAT including currently used imaging techniques and new methods and their implications for the symptoms and complications of metabolic syndrome.Level of Evidence5Technical Efficacy Stage2
Aufeis fields as novel groundwater‐dependent ecosystems in the arctic cryosphere
Authors: Huryn Alexander D. , Gooseff Michael N. , Hendrickson Patrick J. , Briggs Martin A. , Tape Ken D. , Terry Neil C. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractRiver aufeis (ow′ fīse) are widespread features of the arctic cryosphere. They form when river channels become locally restricted by ice, resulting in cycles of water overflow and freezing and the accumulation of ice, with some aufeis attaining areas of ~ 25 + km2 and thicknesses of 6+ m. During winter, unfrozen sediments beneath the insulating ice layer provide perennial groundwater‐habitat that is otherwise restricted in regions of continuous permafrost. Our goal was to assess whether aufeis facilitate the occurrence of groundwater invertebrate communities in the Arctic. We focused on a single aufeis ecosystem (~ 5 km2 by late winter) along the Kuparuk River in arctic Alaska. Subsurface invertebrates were sampled during June and August 2017 from 50 3.5‐cm diameter PVC wells arranged in a 5 × 10 array covering ~ 40 ha. Surface invertebrates were sampled using a quadrat approach. We documented a rich assemblage of groundwater invertebrates (49 [43–54] taxa, [95% confidence limits]) that was distributed below the sediment surface to a mean depth of ~ 69 ± 2 cm (± 1 SE) throughout the entire well array. Although community structure differed significantly between groundwater and surface habitats, the taxa richness from wells and surface sediments (43 [35–48] taxa) did not differ significantly, which was surprising given lower richness in subsurface habitats of large, riverine gravel‐aquifer systems shown elsewhere. This is the first demonstration of a rich and spatially extensive groundwater fauna in a region of continuous permafrost. Given the geographic extent of aufeis fields, localized groundwater‐dependent ecosystems may be widespread in the Arctic.
Cellulose Nanocrystal (CNC)–Latex Nanocomposites: Effect of CNC Hydrophilicity and Charge on Rheological, Mechanical, and Adhesive Properties
Authors: Pakdel Amir Saeid , Niinivaara Elina , Cranston Emily D. , Berry Richard M. , Dubé Marc A. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractCellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), a sustainable nanomaterial, are in situ incorporated into emulsion‐based pressure‐sensitive adhesives (PSAs). Commercially available CNCs with different surface hydrophilicity and surface charge (CNC101 and CNC103 from CelluForce) are used to explore their role in PSA property modification. Viscosity measurements and atomic force microscopy reveal differences in degree of association between the CNCs and the latex particles depending on the surface properties of the CNCs. The more hydrophilic and higher surface charge CNCs (CNC101) show less association with the latex particles. Dynamic strain sweep tests are used to analyze the strain‐softening of the nanocomposites based on CNC type and loading. The CNC101 nanocomposites soften at lower strains than their CNC103 counterparts. This behavior is confirmed via dynamic frequency tests and modeling of the nanocomposites’ storage moduli, which suggest the formation of CNC aggregates of, on average, 3.8 CNC101 and 1.3 CNC103 nanoparticles. Finally, PSA properties, i.e., tack, peel strength, and shear strength, simultaneously increase upon addition of both CNC types, although to different extents. The relationship between the PSA properties and CNC surface properties confirms that the less hydrophilic CNCs lead to improved CNC dispersion in the PSA films and therefore, enhance PSA properties.