bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Urbanization reduces gene flow but not genetic diversity of stream salamander populations in the New York City metropolitan area
Authors: Fusco Nicole A. , Pehek Ellen , Munshi‐South Jason 
Published: May 2020

AbstractNatural landscape heterogeneity and barriers resulting from urbanization can reduce genetic connectivity between populations. The evolutionary, demographic, and ecological effects of reduced connectivity may lead to population isolation and ultimately extinction. Alteration to the terrestrial and aquatic environment caused by urban influence can affect gene flow, specifically for stream salamanders who depend on both landscapes for survival and reproduction. To examine how urbanization affects a relatively common stream salamander species, we compared genetic connectivity of Eurycea bislineata (northern two‐lined salamander) populations within and between streams in an urban, suburban, and rural habitat around the New York City (NYC) metropolitan area. We report reduced genetic connectivity between streams within the urban landscape found to correspond with potential barriers to gene flow, that is, areas with more dense urbanization (roadways, industrial buildings, and residential housing). The suburban populations also exhibited areas of reduced connectivity correlated with areas of greater human land use and greater connectivity within a preserve protected from development. Connectivity was relatively high among neighboring rural streams, but a major roadway corresponded with genetic breaks even though the habitat contained more connected green space overall. Despite greater human disturbance across the landscape, urban and suburban salamander populations maintained comparable levels of genetic diversity to their rural counterparts. Yet small effective population size in the urban habitats yielded a high probability of loss of heterozygosity due to genetic drift in the future. In conclusion, urbanization impacted connectivity among stream salamander populations where its continual influence may eventually hinder population persistence for this native species in urban habitats.
The knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of Syrian refugee women towards family planning: Sample of Hatay
Authors: Gümüş Şekerci Yasemin , Aydın Yıldırım Tuğba 
Published: May 2020

AbstractObjectiveThis study was conducted with the aim of determining the fertility characteristics of Syrian refugee women and their knowledge, attitudes and behaviours with regard to family planning.Design and SampleThe research was designed as a descriptive and cross‐sectional type of study. The study group consisted of 389 refugee women in the 15‐ to 49‐year age group who had migrated from Syria to Hatay.MeasureStudy data were collected between October 2018 and January 2019 using forms containing questions on participants' sociodemographic characteristics, and their knowledge, attitudes and behaviour regarding family planning. Data analysis was performed with the use of frequency, percentage, mean, median, standard deviation values and the chi‐square test.ResultsMost of the participants reported that they used a family planning method, 47.9% that they preferred traditional methods, 15.2% that the method used was supported by their husbands. Most of the participants had mistaken beliefs about pregnancy and family planning methods.Participants' information on modern family planning methods was affected by their age, income level and social security status; their knowledge of traditional family planning methods was affected by their income level, their family structure and their use of a traditional method. Women's use of family planning was affected by their age, income level and their knowledge of modern and traditional methods.ConclusionsDetermination of the knowledge, attitudes and practice of refugee women regarding family planning and establishing the influential factors will enable nurses to make a contribution to the future provision of specific and culturally sensitive care to sick and healthy refugee women.
Book Review: Harpaz, Yossi (2019) Citizenship 2.0: Dual Nationality as a Global Asset. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey, 216pp.
Authors: Lāce Agnese 
Published: May 2020

AbstractHarpaz sets out to analyse the strategic acquisition of a second citizenship as one of the examples for the growing legitimacy and prevalence of dual citizenship. He seeks an answer on how the nature of the institution of citizenship changes with wider acceptance of dual citizenship, but, instead of looking at it from the perspective of the lawmakers, Harpaz offers a perspective of the individual, based on extensive fieldwork in three countries – Serbia, Mexico and Israel.
Modeling bluffing behavior in signaling security games
Authors: Chen Ling , Li Mingchu , Liu Jia 
Published: May 2020

AbstractIn some security domains, the defender holds more private information than the attacker, such as the authenticity of resources. A mock camera can be adopted by the defender to deter potential attackers while the attacker may see it as a real one. This provides an opportunity for a defender with fake resources to bluff, as if all resources she owns are real. We model the bluffing behavior as a signaling game where the attacker is uncertain whether the defender is strong (all resources are real) or weak (fake resources disguised as real resources). We propose a mixed integer cubic programming formulation to solve for the solution concept based on perfect Bayesian equilibrium. We compare our bluffing security game model with a model without signaling. The experiments indicate that our model outperforms the no‐signaling model in terms of the defender's utility.
Human migration networks and policy interventions: bringing population distributions in line with system optimization
Authors: Nagurney Anna , Daniele Patrizia , Cappello Giorgia 
Published: May 2020

AbstractIn this paper, we demonstrate that, through policy interventions, in the form of subsidies, a system‐optimum for a multiclass human migration network can be achieved, despite the migrants, who can be refugees, behaving in a user‐optimized manner. The formulation and analysis are conducted using variational inequality theory. The policy intervention allows governmental decision‐makers to moderate the flow of migrants while enhancing societal welfare. An algorithm is proposed and applied to compute the solutions to a series of numerical examples, with changes in initial populations and utility functions, inspired by a pandemic, followed by a natural disaster.
Consultation, Consent, and the Silencing of Indigenous Communities
Authors: Townsend Leo , Townsend Dina Lupin 
Published: May 2020

AbstractOver the past few decades, Indigenous communities have successfully campaigned for greater inclusion in decision‐making processes that directly affect their lands and livelihoods. As a result, two important participatory rights for Indigenous peoples have now been widely recognized: the right to consultation and the right to free, prior and informed consent (FPIC). Although these participatory rights are meant to empower the speech of these communities—to give them a proper say in the decisions that most affect them—we argue that the way these rights have been implemented and interpreted sometimes has the opposite effect, of denying them a say or ‘silencing’ them. In support of this conclusion we draw on feminist speech act theory to identify practices of locutionary, illocutionary, and perlocutionary group silencing that arise in the context of consultation with Indigenous communities.
Focal adhesion kinase is activated by microtubule‐depolymerizing agents and regulates membrane blebbing in human endothelial cells
Authors: Zheng Yan‐Bo , Gong Jian‐Hua , Zhen Yong‐Su 
Published: May 2020

AbstractMicrotubule‐depolymerizing agents can selectively disrupt tumor vessels via inducing endothelial membrane blebbing. However, the mechanism regulating blebbing is largely unknown. IMB5046 is a newly discovered microtubule‐depolymerizing agent. Here, the functions of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) during IMB5046‐induced blebbing and the relevant mechanism are studied. We found that IMB5046 induced membrane blebbing and reassembly of focal adhesions in human vascular endothelial cells. Both FAK inhibitor and knock‐down expression of FAK inhibited IMB5046‐induced blebbing. Mechanism study revealed that IMB5046 induced the activation of FAK via GEF‐H1/ Rho/ ROCK/ MLC2 pathway. cRGD peptide, a ligand of integrin, also blocked IMB5046‐induced blebbing. After activation, FAK further promoted the phosphorylation of MLC2. This positive feedback loop caused more intensive actomyosin contraction and continuous membrane blebbing. FAK inhibitor blocked membrane blebbing via inhibiting actomyosin contraction, and stimulated stress fibre formation via promoting the phosphorylation of HSP27. Conclusively, these results demonstrate that FAK is a molecular switch controlling endothelial blebbing and stress fibre formation. Our study provides a new molecular mechanism for microtubule‐depolymerizing agents to be used as vascular disrupting agents.
Identification of circRNA and mRNA expression profiles and functional networks of vascular tissue in lipopolysaccharide‐induced sepsis
Authors: Nie Mu‐Wen , Han Ye‐Chen , Shen Zhu‐Jun , Xie Hong‐Zhi 
Published: May 2020

AbstractSepsis is the most common cause of death in intensive care units. This study investigated the circular RNA (circRNA) and mRNA expression profiles and functional networks of the aortic tissue in sepsis. We established a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced rat sepsis model. High‐throughput sequencing was performed on the aorta tissue to identify differentially expressed (DE) circRNAs and mRNAs, which were validated by real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR). Bioinformatic analysis was carried out and coding and non‐coding co‐expression (CNC) and competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory networks were constructed to investigate the mechanisms. In total, 373 up‐regulated and 428 down‐regulated circRNAs and 2063 up‐regulated and 2903 down‐regulated mRNAs were identified. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses of mRNAs showed that the down‐regulated genes were mainly enriched in the process of energy generation. CNC and ceRNA regulatory networks were constructed with seven DE circRNAs. The results of functional enrichment analysis of CNC target genes revealed the important role of circRNAs in inflammatory response. The ceRNA network also highlighted the significant enrichment in calcium signalling pathway. Significant alterations in circRNAs and mRNAs were observed in the aortic tissue of septic rats. In addition, CNC and ceRNA networks were established.
Mapping the danger to life in flash flood events adopting a mechanics based methodology and planning evacuation routes
Authors: Musolino Giovanni , Ahmadian Reza , Xia Junqiang , Falconer Roger A. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractExtreme flood events are becoming more frequent and challenging due to climate change. Key objectives of this study are to evaluate different criteria used in assessing the hazard to people during flood events and, once determined, the most suitable method is then used to assess the hazard and the safest route(s) for evacuation during a flood event and for a particular case study. The results of the application of two criteria are analysed in terms of the flood hazard assessment with the two criteria being based on a widely used empirical approach and a mechanics based approach. Both criteria are used to assess the flood hazard to people during an extreme flash flood, which occurred on 16th August 2004 in Boscastle (UK). Results obtained for this study have highlighted that the mechanics based criteria are preferable in identifying the ideal escape routes, when considering the flood characteristics and the corresponding response of a human body. The main novelty of this study lies in linking the flood hazard rating with the human body characteristics, when determining the safest route and with a revised formula being developed, which includes the effects of ground slope in the application to a real case study.
Association of serum autotaxin levels with liver fibrosis in patients pretreatment and posttreatment with chronic hepatitis C
Authors: Takemura Kazuya , Takizawa Etsuko , Tamori Akihiro , Nakamae Mika , Kubota Hiroshi , Uchida‐Kobayashi Sawako , Enomoto Masaru , Kawada Norifumi , Hino Masayuki 
Published: May 2020

AbstractBackground and AimThe evaluation of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is important as it is a risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma. In the recent years, autotaxin (ATX) has been established as a new noninvasive biomarker to predict liver fibrosis. However, antiviral treatment has been reported to decrease serum ATX, but it is unclear whether posttreatment ATX levels reflect liver fibrosis. In the present study, the correlation between ATX and liver fibrosis in pretreatment and posttreatment patients with HCV infection was analyzed.MethodsA total of 199 samples from 136 patients with HCV infection who had undergone hepatic biopsy before and/or after antiviral treatment at Osaka City University Hospital were used. Posttreatment patients included 38 interferon‐treated patients and 80 interferon‐free direct‐acting antiviral‐treated patients; all patients achieved a sustained virological response (SVR). Serum ATX levels were determined by enzyme immunoassay with an AIA‐2000 analyzer.ResultsSerum ATX levels were largely correlated with liver fibrosis stage in patients with HCV infection before and after antiviral treatment. The measured values decreased even in similar liver fibrosis stages after treatment. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the ability of ATX to diagnose above F2 stage before treatment was 0.81 (both male and female) and that after achieving SVR, it was 0.71 (male) and 0.72 (female).ConclusionsSerum ATX levels were correlated with histological liver fibrosis stage after achieving SVR. However, separate cutoff values before and after antiviral therapy should be established.
Associations between lncRNA‐related polymorphisms and hepatocellular carcinoma risk: A two‐stage case–control study
Authors: Li Yue , He Hui‐Chan , Zhou Da‐Lei , Liu Qing , Zhang Xiao , Yang Xin‐Hua , Ye Zu‐lu , Peng Jun‐Ling , Tang Tao , Su Xuan , He Cai‐Yun 
Published: May 2020

AbstractBackground and AimSingle‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are potential biomarkers for cancer risk, but their association with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unclear. We examined the association of lncRNA‐related SNPs with HCC susceptibility and explored the optimal genetic models for SNPs.MethodsFive candidate SNPs linked with digestive tumors were first genotyped in a screening population of 700 HCC and 2800 control cases. The association between each SNP and HCC risk was estimated by multivariate logistic regression adjusted by sex and age and recorded as odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval. Significant associations were further tested in a validation population with 1140 HCC and 5115 control cases. Finally, the most appropriate genetic models for HCC‐associated SNPs were identified using pairwise allele differences; the overall gene effects of each SNP were further evaluated based on optimal genetic models.ResultsThree candidate SNPs, rs7315438, rs6983267, and rs10795668, showed statistical connections with HCC risk in the discovery stage. Among these, rs7315438 remained steadily significant in the validation stage; rs7315438 and rs10795668 both reached statistical threshold in the combined analysis of both stages. SNP rs7315438 (TC vs TT/CC, OR = 1.410, P < 0.001) was associated with increased risk of HCC in a complete overdominant model, whereas rs10795668 (AG vs AA/GG, OR = 0.892, P = 0.035) exerted a protective effect on HCC risk in a complete overdominant model.ConclusionsLong non‐coding RNA‐related SNPs rs7315438 and rs10795668 are potential biomarkers for HCC susceptibility, especially when evaluated based on their optimal genetic models.
Nitrous Oxide Use During Labor: Satisfaction, Adverse Effects, and Predictors of Conversion to Neuraxial Analgesia
Authors: Nodine Priscilla M. , Collins Michelle R. , Wood Cristina L. , Anderson Jessica L. , Orlando Barbara S. , McNair Bryan K. , Mayer David C. , Stein Deborah J. 
Published: May 2020

IntroductionWomen desire safe and effective choices for pain management during labor. Currently, neuraxial and opioid analgesia are the most common methods used in the United States. The purpose of this study was to investigate demographic characteristics, safety, and satisfaction in a cohort of parturients who used inhaled nitrous oxide (N2O) analgesia and to determine predictors of conversion from N2O to neuraxial analgesia.MethodsThis was a prospective chart review study. Individuals aged at least 18 years who used inhaled N2O during the first or second stage of labor between March 1, 2016, and July 23, 2017, on the labor and delivery unit of one academic medical center (N = 463) and their neonates were included. Data describing maternal and neonatal factors are reported. Logistic regression and chi‐square tests were used to model the effects of oxytocin augmentation, labor induction, parity, prior cesarean birth, pre‐N2O cervical dilatation, and post‐N2O cervical dilatation on the odds of conversion from N2O to neuraxial analgesia.ResultsIn this cohort, 31% who chose N2O for analgesia did not convert to any other analgesic method. Significant positive predictors for conversion from N2O to neuraxial analgesia included labor induction (odds ratio [OR], 2.9; 95% CI, 1.7‐5.0), oxytocin augmentation (OR, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.6‐6.0), and labor after cesarean (OR, 6.4; 95% CI, 2.5‐16.5). Multiparity (OR, 0.4; 95% CI, 0.2‐0.6) and post‐N2O cervical dilatation (OR, 0.8; 95% CI, 0.7‐0.9) were negative predictors. Adverse effects related to N2O use during labor were rare (8%) and were not a significant reason for conversion to neuraxial analgesia. Parturients had moderately high satisfaction with N2O for pain management (11‐point scale, mean [SD], 7.4 [2.9]). Five‐minute Apgar scores were 7 or greater in 97.8% of the newborns.DiscussionUnderstanding predictors of conversion from inhaled N2O to neuraxial analgesia may assist perinatal care providers in their discussions with women about analgesia options during labor. N2O is a useful, safe option for labor analgesia in the United States.
Microvesicles derived from squamous cell carcinoma induce cell death, autophagy, and invasion of benign myoepithelial cells
Authors: Martinez Elizabeth Ferreira , de Araújo Vera Cavalcanti , Navarini Natalia Festugatto , de Souza Isabela Fernandes , Rena Gabriel Bernardo , Demasi Ana Paula Dias , de Paula Eneida , Teixeira Lucas Novaes 
Published: May 2020

AbstractBackgroundThere has been great interest recently in the mechanisms of cell‐to‐cell communication through microvesicles (MV). These structures are produced by many different cell types and can modulate cellular activity by induction of epigenetic alterations. These vesicles may promote tumor mass increase either by stimulating cell proliferation via growth factors or by inhibiting apoptosis, which reinforces the role of such vesicles as important modulators of tumor progression.MethodsThe present in vitro study aimed to characterize MV derived from malignant neoplastic epithelial cell cultures (EP) and their effect on the expression of apoptosis/autophagy and invasion related genes of benign myoepithelial (Myo) cell cultures.ResultsThe results revealed round structures with a mean size of 153.6 (±0.2) nm, with typical MV morphology. CD63 quantification indicated that EP cell culture at 70%‐80% confluence secreted 3.088 × 108 MV/mL. Overall, Myo exposed to MVs derived from EP showed both up‐ and downregulation of tumorigenesis promoting genes. MVs from EP cells promoted cell death of Myo cells and positively modulate BAX, SURVIVIN, LC3B, MMP‐2, and MMP‐9 expression. Furthermore, an increasing of MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 secretion by Myo was observed after MV exposure.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that MVs from EP modulate autophagy of Myo cells, which may, in part, explain the disappearance of these cells in in situ areas of invasive carcinoma ex‐pleomorphic adenoma. Additionally, the overexpression of MMPs contributes to the development of an invasive phenotype of Myo cells, which could favor the dissolution of the basement membrane during tumorigenesis process.
Convergent evolution of tree hydraulic traits in Amazonian habitats: implications for community assemblage and vulnerability to drought
Authors: Fontes Clarissa G. , Fine Paul V. A. , Wittmann Florian , Bittencourt Paulo R. L. , Piedade Maria Teresa Fernandez , Higuchi Niro , Chambers Jeffrey Q. , Dawson Todd E. 
Published: May 2020

Summary

Amazonian droughts are increasing in frequency and severity. However, little is known about how this may influence species‐specific vulnerability to drought across different ecosystem types.

We measured 16 functional traits for 16 congeneric species from six families and eight genera restricted to floodplain, swamp, white‐sand or plateau forests of Central Amazonia. We investigated whether habitat distributions can be explained by species hydraulic strategies, and if habitat specialists differ in their vulnerability to embolism that would make water transport difficult during drought periods.

We found strong functional differences among species. Nonflooded species had higher wood specific gravity and lower stomatal density, whereas flooded species had wider vessels, and higher leaf and xylem hydraulic conductivity. The P50 values (water potential at 50% loss of hydraulic conductivity) of nonflooded species were significantly more negative than flooded species. However, we found no differences in hydraulic safety margin among species, suggesting that all trees may be equally likely to experience hydraulic failure during severe droughts.

Water availability imposes a strong selection leading to differentiation of plant hydraulic strategies among species and may underlie patterns of adaptive radiation in many tropical tree genera. Our results have important implications for modeling species distribution and resilience under future climate scenarios.
When and where soil is important to modify the carbon and water economy of leaves
Authors: Paillassa Jennifer , Wright Ian J. , Prentice I. Colin , Pepin Steeve , Smith Nicholas G. , Ethier Gilbert , Westerband Andrea C. , Lamarque Laurent J. , Wang Han , Cornwell Will K. , Maire Vincent 
Published: May 2020

Summary

Photosynthetic ‘least‐cost’ theory posits that the optimal trait combination for a given environment is that where the summed costs of photosynthetic water and nutrient acquisition/use are minimised. The effects of soil water and nutrient availability on photosynthesis should be stronger as climate‐related costs for both resources increase.

Two independent datasets of photosynthetic traits, Globamax (1509 species, 288 sites) and Glob13C (3645 species, 594 sites), were used to quantify biophysical and biochemical limitations of photosynthesis and the key variable Ci/Ca (CO2 drawdown during photosynthesis). Climate and soil variables were associated with both datasets.

The biochemical photosynthetic capacity was higher on alkaline soils. This effect was strongest at more arid sites, where water unit‐costs are presumably higher. Higher values of soil silt and depth increased Ci/Ca, likely by providing greater H2O supply, alleviating biophysical photosynthetic limitation when soil water is scarce.

Climate is important in controlling the optimal balance of H2O and N costs for photosynthesis, but soil properties change these costs, both directly and indirectly. In total, soil properties modify the climate‐demand driven predictions of Ci/Ca by up to 30% at a global scale.