bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Chronic wasting disease undermines efforts to control the spread of brucellosis in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
Authors: Maloney Matthew , Merkle Jerod A. , Aadland David , Peck Dannele , Horan Richard D. , Monteith Kevin L. , Winslow Thach , Logan Jim , Finnoff David , Sims Charles , Schumaker Brant 
Published: March 2020

AbstractWildlife diseases pose a substantial threat to the provisioning of ecosystem services. We use a novel modeling approach to study the potential loss of these services through the imminent introduction of chronic wasting disease (CWD) to elk populations in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE). A specific concern is that concentrating elk at feedgrounds may exacerbate the spread of CWD, whereas eliminating feedgrounds may increase the number of elk on private ranchlands and the transmission of a second disease, brucellosis, from elk to cattle. To evaluate the consequences of management strategies given the threat of two concurrent wildlife diseases, we develop a spatiotemporal bioeconomic model. GPS data from elk and landscape attributes are used to predict migratory behavior and population densities with and without supplementary feeding. We use a 4,800 km2 area around Pinedale, Wyoming containing four existing feedgrounds as a case study. For this area, we simulate welfare estimates under a variety of management strategies. Our results indicate that continuing to feed elk could result in substantial welfare losses for the case‐study region. Therefore, to maximize the present value of economic net benefits generated by the local elk population upon CWD’s arrival in the region, wildlife managers may wish to consider discontinuing elk feedgrounds while simultaneously developing new methods to mitigate the financial impact to ranchers of possible brucellosis transmission to livestock. More generally, our methods can be used to weigh the costs and benefits of human‐wildlife interactions in the presence of multiple disease risks.
Biome stability predicts population structure of a southern African aridland bird species
Authors: Wogan Guinevere O. U. , Voelker Gary , Oatley Graeme , Bowie Rauri C. K. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractEnvironments are heterogeneous in space and time, and the permeability of landscape and climatic barriers to gene flow may change over time. When barriers are present, they may start populations down the path toward speciation, but if they become permeable before the process of speciation is complete, populations may once more merge. In Southern Africa, aridland biomes play a central role in structuring the organization of biodiversity. These biomes were subject to substantial restructuring during Plio‐Pleistocene climatic fluctuations, and the imprint of this changing environment should leave genetic signatures on the species living there. Here, we investigate the role of adjacent aridland biome boundaries in structuring the genetic diversity within a widespread generalist bird, the Cape Robin‐chat (Cossypha caffra). We find evidence supporting a central role for aridland biomes in structuring populations across Southern Africa. Our findings support a scenario wherein populations were isolated in different biome refugia, due to separation by the exceptionally arid Nama Karoo biome. This biome barrier may have arisen through a combination of habitat instability and environmental unsuitability, and was highly unstable throughout the Plio‐Pleistocene. However, we also recovered a pattern of extensive contemporary gene flow and admixture across the Nama Karoo, potentially driven by the establishment of homesteads over the past 200 years. Thus, the barrier has become permeable, and populations are currently merging. This represents an instance where initial formation of a barrier to gene flow enabled population differentiation, with subsequent gene flow and the merging of populations after the barrier became permeable.
Urbanization alters plastic responses in the common dandelion Taraxacum officinale
Authors: Pisman Matti , Bonte Dries , de la Peña Eduardo 
Published: March 2020

AbstractUrban environments expose species to contrasting selection pressures relative to rural areas due to altered microclimatic conditions, habitat fragmentation, and changes in species interactions. To improve our understanding on how urbanization impacts selection through biotic interactions, we assessed differences in plant defense and tolerance, dispersal, and flowering phenology of a common plant species (Taraxacum officinale) along an urbanization gradient and their reaction norms in response to a biotic stressor (i.e., herbivory). We raised plants from 45 lines collected along an urbanization gradient under common garden conditions and assessed the impact of herbivory on plant growth (i.e., aboveground biomass), dispersal capacity (i.e., seed morphology), and plant phenology (i.e., early seed production) by exposing half of our plants to two events of herbivory (i.e., grazing by locusts). Independent from their genetic background, all plants consistently increased their resistance to herbivores by which the second exposure to locusts resulted in lower levels of damage suffered. Herbivory had consistent effects on seed pappus length, with seeds showing a longer pappus (and, hence, increased dispersal capacities) regardless of urbanization level. Aboveground plant biomass was neither affected by urbanization nor herbivore presence. In contrast to consistent responses in plant defenses and pappus length, plant fitness did vary between lines. Urban lines had a reduced early seed production following herbivory while rural and suburban lines did not show any plastic response. Our results show that herbivory affects plant phenotypes but more importantly that differences in herbivory reaction norms exist between urban and rural populations.
Abundance and traits link predator ontogeny to prey communities
Authors: Start Denon 
Published: March 2020

AbstractFunction and abundances shape species interactions and thus ecological communities. While communities are often summarized as the mean function of each species, intraspecific variation in traits and thus function is an important driver of community composition. Ontogeny is a common source of intraspecific variation, but while age‐related functional changes can alter species interactions, so too can the effects of those functions on the density of the focal organism. For instance, ontogenetic variation can trigger higher levels of cannibalism, reducing abundances and altering interspecific interactions. I manipulate ontogenetic variation in damselfly larvae to show that intraspecific variation can impact communities through two distinct mechanisms. First, within‐species differences affect population sizes, and thus indirectly shape communities (indirect effect). In particular, ontogenetic variation resulted in smaller damselfly populations, likely because of increased cannibalism rates, and thus ontogenetically diverse populations had a smaller total effect on their prey. Second, trait variation can affect communities by creating differences in the strength of per capita species interactions (direct effect). In this case, damselfly populations with greater age variation had smaller per capita effects on prey communities. I conclude that ontogeny of a single species can directly and indirectly shape community composition.
Toward an Improved Understanding of the Ingestion and Trophic Transfer of Microplastic Particles: Critical Review and Implications for Future Research
Authors: Gouin Todd 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Microplastic particles have been observed in the environment and routinely detected in the stomachs and intestines of aquatic organisms over the last 50 yr. In the present review, information on the ingestion of plastic debris of varying sizes is collated, including data for &gt;800 species representing approximately 87 000 individual organisms, for which plastic debris and microplastic particles have been observed in approximately 17 500, or 20%. The average reported number of microplastic particles/individual across all studies is estimated to be 4, with studies typically reporting averages ranging from 0 to 10 particles/individual. A general observation is that although strong evidence exists for the biological ingestion of microplastic particles, they do not bioaccumulate and do not appear to be subject to biomagnification as a result of trophic transfer through food webs, with &gt;99% of observations from field-based studies reporting that microplastic particles are located within the gastrointestinal tract. Overall, there is substantial heterogeneity in how samples are collected, processed, analyzed, and reported, causing significant challenges in attempting to assess temporal and spatial trends or helping to inform a mechanistic understanding. Nevertheless, several studies suggest that the characteristics of microplastic particles ingested by organisms are generally representative of plastic debris in the vicinity where individuals are collected. Monitoring of spatial and temporal trends of ingested microplastic particles could thus potentially be useful in assessing mitigation efforts aimed at reducing the emission of plastic and microplastic particles to the environment. The development and application of standardized analytical methods are urgently needed to better understand spatial and temporal trends. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020;39:1119–1137. © 2020 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
Effect of vacuum cooling on stability of macro‐porous sausage during refrigerated storage—Vacuum‐cooled sausage has a longer shelf life
Authors: Song Xiao‐yan , Song Zuo , Liu Baolin , Guo Zhi‐yu , Luan Yuchen 
Published: March 2020

AbstractIn this study, two types of cooling methods (vacuum cooling and air cooling) were used to cool cooked macro‐porous sausage. Alterations in the microbiological conditions, pH, instrumental color (L*, a*, and b*), total volatile nitrogenous bases (TVB‐N), lipid oxidation (TBARS), water activity (aW), moisture content, and texture indicators were evaluated to determine sausages' quality changes during storage under refrigeration for up to 10 days. In general, the shelf life of sausages chilled by vacuum cooling (8 days) was similar to that of sausages cooled by air cooling (9 days). For pH, no significant difference (p > .05) was obtained between two cooling methods. However, vacuum‐cooled sausages have lower L* value (p < .05), lower moisture content, and water activity compared with the air‐cooled sausages. However, sausages cooled by vacuum cooling showed a sharp increase in TBARS and TVB‐N values but maintained texture characteristics for a longer time compared with air‐cooled sausages. Although the results indicated that the quality of sausages treated by those two methods remarkably decreased after 7 days, characteristics of sausages cooled by vacuum cooling are better within accepted standards compared with air‐cooled sausages. In conclusion, vacuum cooling can be a feasible cooling method with great potential to be used in cooked macro‐porous sausages to maintain the quality and may provide reference experiences for the food with similar structure.
Colourings of star systems
Authors: Darijani Iren , Pike David A. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractAn ‐star is a complete bipartite graph . An ‐star system of order , is a partition of the edges of the complete graph into ‐stars. An ‐star system is said to be ‐colourable if its vertex set can be partitioned into sets (called colour classes) such that no ‐star is monochromatic. The system is ‐chromatic if is ‐colourable but is not ‐colourable. If every ‐colouring of an ‐star system can be obtained from some ‐colouring by a permutation of the colours, we say that the system is uniquely ‐colourable. In this paper, we first show that for any integer , there exists a ‐chromatic 3‐star system of order for all sufficiently large admissible . Next, we generalize this result for ‐star systems for any . We show that for all and , there exists a ‐chromatic ‐star system of order for all sufficiently large such that (mod ). Finally, we prove that for all and , there exists a uniquely ‐chromatic ‐star system of order for all sufficiently large such that (mod ).
Analysis of myositis autoantibodies in Chinese patients with cancer‐associated myositis
Authors: Li Liubing , Liu Chenxi , Wang Qian , Wu Chanyuan , Zhang Yanfang , Cheng Linlin , Wen Xiaoting , Zeng Xiaofeng , Zhang Fengchun , Li Yongzhe 
Published: March 2020

AbstractBackgroundCancer‐associated myositis (CAM) has poor prognosis and causes higher mortality. In general, myositis‐specific autoantibodies (MSAs) and myositis‐associated autoantibodies (MAAs) have been shown to be useful biomarkers for its diagnosis.MethodsIn the present study, focus was given in assessing the presence, prevalence, and diagnostic values of myositis autoantibodies in Chinese patients diagnosed with CAM. The sera collected from 49 CAM patients, 108 dermatomyositis/polymyositis (DM/PM) patients without cancer, 105 disease controls, and 60 healthy controls were detected for the presence of 16 autoantigens (Jo‐1, OJ, EJ, PL‐7, PL‐12, MDA5, TIF1γ, Mi‐2α, Mi‐2β, SAE1, NXP2, SRP, Ku, PM‐Scl75, PM‐Scl100, and Ro‐52) using a commercial Euroline assay.ResultsThe frequency of anti‐TIF1γ was significantly higher in CAM patients than in DM/PM patients without cancer (46.9% vs 14.8%, P < .001). Importantly, the sensitivity and specificity for this MSA were 46.9% and 85.2%, respectively. These helped to differentiate CAM patients from DM/PM patients without cancer. However, there was no difference in other MSAs and MAAs between CAM and DM/PM patients without cancer.ConclusionThe present study indicates that anti‐TIF1γ levels can serve as important biomarkers for CAM diagnosis and help in distinguishing between CAM and DM/PM patients without cancer.
Use of complete blood count for predicting preterm birth in asymptomatic pregnant women: A propensity score‐matched analysis
Authors: Ma Mei , Zhu Mei , Zhuo Bimin , Li Li , Chen Honglei , Xu Libo , Wu Zhihui , Cheng Feng , Xu Liangpu , Yan Jianying 
Published: March 2020

AbstractBackgroundAccurate prediction of preterm birth (PTB) is still difficult, mostly because of the multifactorial etiology of PTB. Previous studies have been mostly focused on the prediction of PTB in symptomatic women or those presenting with threatened preterm labor. We aimed to study whether complete blood count (CBC) parameters at 20‐30 weeks of pregnancy can predict asymptomatic PTB.MethodsIn this retrospective case‐control study, the preterm and term delivery groups were matched by propensity score‐matched (PSM) analysis. Baseline data and the CBC parameters examined at 20‐30 weeks of gestation were recorded.ResultsThe combined marker of neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR), hemoglobin (HGB), and platelet distribution width (PDW) accurately predicts PTB at a cutoff value of 0.25, with sensitivity and specificity of 88.6% and 40.5% and negative and positive predictive value of 97.9% and 10.2%, respectively.ConclusionThe combined marker of CBC parameters can supplement other markers to predict PTB about 10 weeks in advance. This combined marker had a very high negative predictive value for PTB. Therefore, in subjects with normal combined marker value, further screening tests for PTB may be eliminated unless clinical suspicion is high.
Risk and protective family factors during childhood on youth violence among African American males: The role of mothers and nonresident fathers
Authors: Tsuchiya Kazumi , Lee Daniel B. , Qian Yiqing , Caldwell Cleopatra H. , Mincy Ronald B. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractAfrican American male youth experience disproportionately higher levels of violence. We examined parental depression among African American mothers and nonresident fathers on parenting stress and school involvement in their adolescent sons' school connectedness and violent behaviors. Using a longitudinal study design, parent factors were assessed when sons were 9 years old on youth outcomes at age 15. We found that maternal depression was associated with maternal stress, and maternal stress was indirectly associated with sons' violent behaviors through school connectedness. School involvement among nonresident fathers was positively associated with sons' school connectedness, which was linked to less youth violent behaviors. Maternal stress and nonresident fathers' school involvement are influential for understanding youth violence. Future interventions should incorporate a more nuanced approach when including family factors.
Oxygen transfer rate determines molecular weight and production of poly(γ‐glutamic acid) as well as carbon utilization by Bacillus velezensis 83
Authors: Flores Celia , Medina‐Valdez Abraham , Peña Carlos , Serrano‐Carreón Leobardo , Galindo Enrique 
Published: March 2020

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe objective of the study was to evaluate the influence of the oxygen transfer rate (OTR) on poly(γ‐glutamic acid) (γ‐PGA) production and molecular weight and the carbon source utilization in cultures of Bacillus velezensis 83 developed in shake flasks.RESULTSThe cellular metabolism of B. velezensis 83 was affected by the OTR conditions. At maximum oxygen transfer rates (OTRmax) of 12, 17 and 19 mmol L−1 h−1, glucose was mainly used for cell growth and γ‐PGA production. In contrast, under oxygen‐limiting conditions (2.5 and 5.7 mmol L−1 h−1), the carbon source was also directed to acetoin, 2,3‐butanediol and CO2 production. Changes in OTRmax significantly impacted γ‐PGA production, its maximum mean molecular weight (MMWmax) and its depolymerization kinetics. In cultures developed at an OTRmax of 2.5 mmol L−1 h−1, the bacteria synthesized a polymer with a MMWmax of 2400 kDa, whereas at OTR greater than 5.7 mmol L−1 h−1 a polymer with a MMWmax of 2850 kDa was obtained and the γ‐PGA concentration increased up to 2.8‐fold. In addition, γ‐PGA depolymerization, occurring even in the presence of glucose, increased at non‐limiting OTR conditions.CONCLUSIONSThe production, yield and molecular weight of γ‐PGA are determined by OTR conditions. Our results showed, for the first time, that there is a direct relationship between OTRmax and the γ‐PGA depolymerization rate in B. velezensis 83 cultures. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Efficient use of brewer's spent grain hydrolysates in ABE fermentation by Clostridium beijerinkii. Effect of high solid loads in the enzymatic hydrolysis
Authors: Plaza Pedro E , Coca Mónica , Lucas Susana , Fernández‐Delgado Marina , López‐Linares Juan C , García‐Cubero María Teresa 
Published: March 2020

AbstractBACKGROUNDBrewer's spent grain (BSG) has been employed to investigate the use of hemicellulosic and cellulosic sugars in Acetone‐Butanol‐Ethanol (ABE) fermentation. A dilute‐acid pretreatment was conducted, followed by enzymatic hydrolysis at different solid loads (10–15–20% DM) and ABE fermentation by Clostridium beijerinckii DSM 6422. Operation at solid loadings higher than 15% DM (60.1 g L−1 of total sugars, 1.03 g phenolic/L) makes the development of a detoxification step necessary.RESULTSThe higher butanol and ABE concentrations for the pretreatment liquor were obtained when activated carbon was used as the detoxification agent (11.5 ± 0.1 g L−1 butanol, 16.2 ± 0.2 g L−1 ABE, 95.1% sugar uptake), whereas the sequential activated carbon and overliming detoxification strategy was the most effective for 15% DM enzymatic hydrolysates (11.6 ± 0.2 g L−1 butanol, 18.3 ± 0.3 g L−1 ABE, 89.6% sugar uptake).CONCLUSIONThe overall yield, taking into account the pretreatment liquor and enzymatic hydrolysate, was 99.8 g butanol/kg BSG and 146.5 g ABE/kg BSG, improving the results without detoxification by more than 40%. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Fabrication of methane thermoelectric gas sensor based on 3D porous Pd/Co3O4 catalyst
Authors: Sun Li , Li Chuanliang , Zhang Hua , Dou Binlin , Su Wenxian , Zhang Lixin 
Published: March 2020

AbstractBACKGROUNDAt present, much attention has been focused on the development of methane (CH4) sensors due to a series of explosions and fires caused by CH4 gas leakage.RESULTSHere, a CH4 thermoelectric gas sensor (TGS) was fabricated by fixing 3D porous palladium/cobalt oxide (Pd/Co3O4) catalyst on a commercial thermoelectric module. 3D porous Pd/Co3O4 catalysts were prepared by a co‐precipitation and gel‐casting method. The pore structure in catalysts could be tailored only by adjusting the gel viscosity during the formation process. The protocol to tune the pore structure is facile and effective for the improvement of the activity of catalysts. By means of various techniques, the catalysts were characterized and then the possible catalytic mechanism was revealed. The CH4 TGS based on the optimal Pd/Co3O4 catalyst began to respond at 200 °C, following an obvious output voltage (ΔV) of 5 mV. Enhancing the operating temperature to 240 °C, the value of ΔV reached to 31 mV and exhibited a linear relationship with CH4 gas concentration. Meanwhile, the CH4 TGS showed high sensitivity, repeatability and stability.CONCLUSIONThe easy and effective preparation method presented to prepare 3D porous Pd/Co3O4 catalyst can provide an unique perspective on the development of 3D porous materials with excellent properties. It can be anticipated that the CH4 TGS based on the 3D porous Pd/Co3O4 catalyst will be a potential candidate for the detection of CH4 gas in industrial settings. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Optimal use of biologics with endoscopic balloon dilatation for repeated intestinal strictures in Crohn's disease
Authors: Uda Akihito , Kuwabara Hiroyo , Shimizu Sayuri , Iwakiri Ryuichi , Fushimi Kiyohide 
Published: March 2020

AbstractBackground and AimIntestinal strictures in Crohn's disease (CD) have a high rate of repeated surgery. As alternatives to surgery, endoscopic balloon dilatation (EBD), immunomodulators (IMs), and antitumor necrosis factor alpha (anti‐TNFα) have been proposed. We aimed to assess the effectiveness of the combined therapy with anti‐TNFα and EBD in preventing intestinal stricture recurrence and surgery in patients with CD.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study included patients from the nationwide administrative database in Japan who were hospitalized and underwent at least one EBD between 1 April 2010 and 31 March 2017. The effectiveness of anti‐TNFα was evaluated by performing survival analysis for the primary outcome. We selected the inverse probability of treatment weighting method for adjustment of covariates. As an exploratory analysis, we evaluated the association of anti‐TNFα initiation timing with intestinal stricture recurrence.ResultsThe anti‐TNFα exposed group had a significantly lower risk of intestinal stricture recurrence than that of the anti‐TNFα nonexposed group (hazard ratio = 0.38, 95% confidence interval 0.31–0.48, P < 0.001). Surgery‐free rate was shown to have the same tendency. Anti‐TNFα therapy initiation before or after EBD resulted in a lower risk of intestinal stricture recurrence than that of simultaneous treatment.ConclusionThe combined therapy with anti‐TNFα and EBD could have preventive effects for intestinal stricture recurrence and surgery in hospitalized patients with CD. In particular, anti‐TNFα initiation may be recommended before or after EBD, not immediately after EBD. With respect to EBD, it is important to clarify the effectiveness of combination therapy with several new medication treatments, such as biologics.