bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Abundance data applied to a novel model invertebrate host shed new light on parasite community assembly in nature
Authors: Brian Joshua I. , Aldridge David C. 
Published: February 2021

Abstract

Understanding how environmental drivers influence the assembly of parasite communities, in addition to how parasites may interact at an infracommunity level, are fundamental requirements for the study of parasite ecology. Knowledge of how parasite communities are assembled will help to predict the risk of parasitism for hosts, and model how parasite communities may change under variable conditions. However, studies frequently rely on presence–absence data and examine multiple host species or sites, metrics which may be too coarse to characterise nuanced within‐host patterns.

We utilised a novel host system, the freshwater mussel Anodonta anatina, to investigate the drivers of community structure and explore parasite interactions. In addition, we aimed to highlight consistencies and inconsistencies between PA and abundance data.

Our analysis incorporated 14 parasite taxa and 720 replicate infracommunities. Using Redundancy Analysis, a joint species distribution model and a Markov random field approach, we modelled the impact of both host‐level and environment‐level characteristics on parasite structure, as well as parasite–parasite correlations after accounting for all other factors. This approach was repeated for both the presence and abundance of all parasites.

We demonstrated that the regional species pool, individual host characteristics (mussel length and gravidity) and predicted parasite–parasite interactions are all important but to varying degrees across parasite species, suggesting that applying generalities to parasite community construction is too simplistic. Furthermore, we showed that PA data fail to capture important density‐dependent effects of parasite load for parasites with high abundance, and in general performs poorly for high‐intensity parasites.

Host and parasite traits, as well as broader environmental factors, all contribute to parasite community structure, emphasising that an integrated approach is required to study community assembly. However, care must be taken with the data used to infer patterns, as presence‐absence data may lead to incorrect ecological inference.
Timing in Opposition Party Support under Minority Government
Authors: Müller Melanie , König Pascal D. 
Published: February 2021

Opposition parties under minority governments find themselves in a fundamental dilemma. They are competing with other parties, including the government, for electoral support while also having a common responsibility to make stable government work. This dilemma is especially pronounced for opposition parties signing support agreements with the government. While not formally in a coalition, they nonetheless publicly commit to supporting a government. They may thus be concerned about losing distinctiveness and have an interest in strategically timing cooperation with the minority government. The present paper tests whether this is the case using data on opposition party voting on committee proposals from 23 years of Swedish minority governments between 1991 and 2018. The findings indicate that support parties are less likely to support the government towards the beginning and end of the election cycle, that is, when public attention is intense – a pattern that is not observable for other opposition parties.
Pattern of homicidal burns in Northern Tunisia: An autopsy‐based study over 15 years (2005–2019)
Authors: Belghith Meyssa , Ben Khelil Mehdi , Harzallah Hana , Kebsi Dhouha , Zhioua Mongi , Hamdoun Moncef 
Published: February 2021

AbstractData about homicidal burns remain scarce. Intentional burns are a challenging situation in the case of an individual found dead in a fire zone with no witness of the fatal act. This study aimed to analyze the victim profiles of homicidal burns in Northern Tunisia. It was a descriptive cross‐sectional study with a retrospective data collection over 15 years (January 2005–December 2019). In total, 60 cases of homicidal burns were collected. The mean age was 40.22 ± 18.1 years (range 4–82 years). We noted a male predominance (sex ratio M/F = 1.3). Most of the victims were married (48.3%), unemployed (40%), and living in an urban area (63.3%). Homicidal burns occurred most frequently in private homes for female victims (80.8%) and in public places for male victims (31.4%) (p < 0.001). The reported motive varied according to the victim's sex; males were mostly assaulted by an acquaintance in an interpersonal conflict (47.1%), and females were mostly assaulted by an intimate partner while in a dispute (42.3%; p = 0.001). The median total body surface area (TBSA) that was burned was 60.4%, and burn injuries were observed mainly in the anterior part of the body. In 19 cases, the burns were associated with another type of trauma, from which the most common association was burning and stab wounds (12 cases). The identified pattern of homicidal burn casualties was similar to the reported data in Western countries and to homicides in general in Tunisia, suggesting that prevention measures should address those of intentional interpersonal violence.
Impact of the modifiable areal unit problem in assessing determinants of emergency department demand
Authors: Kok Mei Ruu , Tuson Matthew , Yap Matthew , Turlach Berwin , Boruff Bryan , Vickery Alistair , Whyatt David 
Published: February 2021

AbstractObjectiveTo examine the impact of the modifiable areal unit problem (MAUP) in an investigation of factors associated with ED demand in Perth, Western Australia, in 2016. Furthermore, to advocate a means of avoiding this impact.MethodsED presentations were classified as: urgent medical, non‐urgent medical, urgent trauma or non‐urgent trauma. In each group, sex‐stratified, age‐adjusted multivariate associations with socio‐economic status and distance to the nearest ED and general practitioner (GP) were estimated. Modelling was undertaken using different sets of spatial units: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Statistical Areas Level 1 (SA1s) and numerous aggregate‐level zonations of SA1s (ABS SA2s and others).ResultsEstimates obtained using the different units often varied widely: for seven (30%) of 24 strata defined by combinations of sex, ED type and covariate, the smallest and largest effect sizes differed in terms of direction; further, for 11 (65%) of the remaining 17 strata, the largest effect size was at least twice as high as the smallest. This demonstrates the MAUP's impact and that analyses based on a single set of spatial units are unreliable. To resolve the observed variation, we highlight the SA1‐level estimates.ConclusionsWhen formulating interventions targeting reduced ED utilisation, policy planners should be guided by evidence based on analysis of appropriate spatial units. This ideal is undermined by the widespread lack of acknowledgement of the MAUP in studies examining drivers of ED demand using spatially aggregated data. To avoid the MAUP, only estimates obtained through examining a minimal geographic unit should be relied upon.
Prognostic significance of genetic variants in GLUT1 in stage III non‐small cell lung cancer treated with radiotherapy
Authors: Kang Min Kyu , Lee Shin Yup , Choi Jin Eun , Baek Sun Ah , Do Sook Kyung , Lee Jeong Eun , Park Jongmoo , Yoo Seung Soo , Choi Sunha , Shin Kyung Min , Jeong Ji Yun , Park Jae Yong 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBackgroundTo examine the impact of polymorphisms of glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) gene on the prognosis of patients with stage III non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who received radiotherapy.MethodsFive single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs4658C>G, rs1385129G>A, rs3820589A>T, rs3806401A>C and rs3806400C>T) in GLUT1 gene were evaluated in 90 patients with pathologically confirmed stage III NSCLC. A total of 21 patients were treated with radiotherapy alone, 25 with sequential chemoradiotherapy, and 44 with concurrent chemoradiotherapy. The association of the genetic variations of five SNPs with overall survival (OS) and progression‐free survival (PFS) was analyzed.ResultsTwo SNPs (rs1385129 and rs3806401) were significant risk factors for OS. Three SNPs (rs1385129, rs3820589 and rs3806401) were in linkage disequilibrium. In Cox proportional hazard models, GAA haplotype was a good prognostic factor for OS (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.57, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.39–0.81, p = 0.002) and PFS (HR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.47–0.99, p = 0.043), compared to variant haplotypes. The GAA/GAA diplotype was observed in 46.7% of patients; these patients showed significantly better OS (HR = 0.38, 95% CI: 0.22–0.65, p < 0.001) and PFS (HR = 0.51, 95% CI: 0.31–0.85, p = 0.009) compared to those with other diplotypes.ConclusionsThese results suggest that polymorphisms of GLUT1 gene could be used as a prognostic marker for patients with stage III NSCLC treated with radiotherapy.
Jointly estimating spatial sampling effort and habitat suitability for multiple species from opportunistic presence‐only data
Authors: Botella Christophe , Joly Alexis , Bonnet Pierre , Munoz François , Monestiez Pascal 
Published: February 2021

Abstract

Building reliable species distribution models (SDMs) from presence‐only information requires a good understanding of the spatial variation in the sampling effort. However, in most cases, the sampling effort is unknown, leading to biases in SDMs. This study proposes a method to jointly estimate the parameters of sampling effort and species densities to avoid such biases. The method is particularly suited to the analysis of massive but highly heterogeneous presence‐only data.

The proposed method is based on estimating the variation in sampling effort over units of a spatial mesh in parallel with the environmental density of multiple species using a marked Poisson process model. Based on simulations with realistic settings, we examined the performance and robustness of parameter estimations. We also analysed a large‐scale citizen science dataset with highly heterogeneous sampling (Pl@ntNet), including around 300,000 occurrences of 150 plant species.

We found that sampling effort was correctly estimated when the true sampling effort was constant within the cells of a spatial mesh. Estimation bias arose when sampling effort and environmental drivers strongly covaried within cells. Otherwise, the inference was correct and robust to sampling variation within cells. Running the model on real occurrences of 150 plant species provided an estimated map of relative sampling effort for 15% of French territory. We also found that the density estimated for an exotic invasive plant was consistent with prior data.

This is the first method jointly estimating species densities depending on environment, and sampling effort as an explicit spatial function, from occurrence data of multiple species. An asset of the method is that a few frequently observed species greatly contribute to correctly estimate sampling effort, thereby improving density estimation of all other species. This approach can thus provide reliable SDM for large opportunistic presence‐only datasets, with broad spatial variation in sampling effort but also many species, such as datasets from citizen science programmes.
Two‐year migration characteristics of a novel cementless femoral stem: a radiostereometric analysis and clinical outcomes study
Authors: Coffey Simon P. , Sorial Rami M. , Sharma Rahul , Field John R. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBackgroundRadiostereometric analysis (RSA) is an established high precision tool enabling us to detect early implant migration in total hip arthroplasty. The aim of this study is to present the RSA and clinical results of a new cementless hip stem and to compare those with established benchmarks.MethodsA total of 45 patients (46 hips) undergoing total hip arthroplasty were available for full radiographic and clinical assessment at 2 years post‐operatively. Mean patient age was 69 (range 43–85) years and mean body mass index was 29 (range 21–38) kg/m2. RSA was undertaken at day 1, 6 weeks, 6 months and 1 and 2 years post‐operatively. Oxford hip score and EQ‐5D‐5L scores were recorded preoperatively and at the same other time points. Results were compared to published data of established implants.ResultsAt 2 years, mean subsidence and retroversion were 0.61 mm (standard deviation 0.7 mm, range −0.19 to 3.06 mm) and 0.44° (standard deviation 0.81°, range 0.98 to 3.29°), respectively. Stem migration occurred primarily in the first 6 weeks with no detectable subsidence or rotation at 6 months or 2 years. Mean Oxford hip score and EQ‐5D‐5L improved from 18.6 to 44.7, and 69 to 86, respectively. There was one cup‐only revision and no revisions for stem loosening.ConclusionRSA serves as an accurate measure of femoral stem stability early in the post‐operative period. Our data confirm that stability occurs as early as 6 weeks and is sustained at 2 years. The Paragon stem demonstrates stability parameters at 2 years that exceed other established benchmark implants.
Accumulation of lipofuscin in broiler chicken with wooden breast
Authors: Hasegawa Yasuhiro , Kawasaki Takeshi , Maeda Naoyuki , Yamada Michi , Takahashi Naoki , Watanabe Takafumi , Iwasaki Tomohito 
Published: February 2021

AbstractLipofuscin is one of the indicators of oxidative stress. To elucidate the role of oxidative stress in the development of wooden breast, this study investigates lipofuscin accumulation in various parts of wooden breast muscles. Sampling was performed using 46‐day‐old broiler chickens housed at a commercial Japanese poultry slaughterhouse. Fourteen wooden breast fillets and 13 normal breast fillets were collected in the deboning line. The samples used to measure shear force, 2‐thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS), and for histological analysis were taken from the six portions of breast muscle fillets. In muscles affected by wooden breast, vacuolated muscle fibers were observed, and connective tissues appearing like perimysium were expanded with fibrosis. TBARS value and accumulation of lipofuscin were significantly higher in the wooden breast than in the normal breasts. A lot of lipofuscin granules were localized in the cytoplasm of collapsed muscle fibers of the wooden breast. The cranial portion of the wooden breast showed the highest shear force. The cranial position had a large amount of connective tissue and lipofuscin granules. The results of the present study strongly suggest that high oxidative stress, especially with a significant accumulation of lipofuscin, is associated with the development of wooden breasts.
A Similarity Heuristic in Children’s Possibility Judgments
Authors: Goulding Brandon W. , Friedman Ori 
Published: February 2021

Children often judge that strange and improbable events are impossible, but the mechanisms behind their reasoning remain unclear. This article (N = 250) provides evidence that young children use a similarity heuristic that compares potential events to similar known events to determine whether events are possible. Experiment 1 shows that 5‐ to 6‐year‐olds who hear about improbable events go on to judge that similar improbable events can happen. Experiment 2 shows that 5‐ to 6‐year‐olds more often affirm that improbable events can happen if told about related improbable events than if told about unrelated ones. Finally, Experiment 3 shows that 5‐ to 6‐year‐olds affirm the possibility of improbable events related to known events, but deny that related impossible events can happen.
Synergies and trade‐offs among integrated conservation approaches in Mexico
Authors: Alatorre Andrea , Depenthal Johanna , Shapiro‐Garza Elizabeth 
Published: February 2021

AbstractIntegrated conservation approaches (ICAs) are employed by governments, communities, and nongovernmental organizations worldwide seeking to achieve outcomes with dual benefits for biodiversity conservation and poverty alleviation. Although ICAs are frequently implemented concurrently, interactions among ICAs and the synergies or trade‐offs that result are rarely considered during program design, implementation, and evaluation. In support of more deliberate and effective use of ICAs, we examined interactions among four well‐known strategies: biosphere reserves (BRs), voluntary protected areas (VPAs), payments for ecosystem services (PES), and community forest management (CFM). Through a comparative case study, we analyzed interactions among spatially or temporally clustered ICAs implemented on communally held and managed lands in three ecologically and socioeconomically distinct regions of Mexico. Our research methods combined policy analysis with data gathered through participant observation and semistructured interviews (n = 78) and focus groups (n = 5) with government officials, implementers, and participants involved in ICAs in 28 communities. Despite the significant differences among the regions in which they were implemented, we found that key actors at each level of involvement generally perceived interactions among ICAs as synergistic. The PES programs were perceived to strengthen protected areas by reducing forest cover loss in and around BRs, fostering proconservation attitudes, and incentivizing the establishment of VPAs. Communities that invested PES income in CFM were motivated to conserve forests beyond the duration of PES programs, and CFM in buffer zones was perceived to strengthen BRs by maintaining forest cover and generating income for communities. We also identified key social and environmental factors that can influence these interaction effects among ICAs. Based on these findings, we recommend further study of ICA interactions and intentionally complementary policy design to maximize positive environmental and social outcomes.
Growth differentiation factor 5 in cartilage and osteoarthritis: A possible therapeutic candidate
Authors: Sun Kai , Guo Jiachao , Yao Xudong , Guo Zhou , Guo Fengjing 
Published: February 2021

AbstractGrowth differentiation factor 5 (GDF‐5) is essential for cartilage development and homeostasis. The expression and function of GDF‐5 are highly associated with the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA). OA, characterized by progressive degeneration of joint, particularly in cartilage, causes severe social burden. However, there is no effective approach to reverse the progression of this disease. Over the past decades, extensive studies have demonstrated the protective effects of GDF‐5 against cartilage degeneration and defects. Here, we summarize the current literature describing the role of GDF‐5 in development of cartilage and joints, and the association between the GDF‐5 gene polymorphisms and OA susceptibility. We also shed light on the protective effects of GDF‐5 against OA in terms of direct GDF‐5 supplementation and modulation of the GDF‐5‐related signalling. Finally, we discuss the current limitations in the application of GDF‐5 for the clinical treatment of OA. This review provides a comprehensive insight into the role of GDF‐5 in cartilage and emphasizes GDF‐5 as a potential therapeutic candidate in OA.
Reducing TGF‐β1 cooperated with StemRegenin 1 promoted the expansion ex vivo of cord blood CD34+ cells by inhibiting AhR signalling
Authors: Zhu Xuejun , Sun Qihao , Tan Wen‐song , Cai Haibo 
Published: February 2021

AbstractObjectiveAs an inhibitor of the AhR signalling pathway, StemRegenin 1 (SR1) not only promotes the expansion of CD34+ cells but also increases CD34− cell numbers. These CD34− cells influenced the ex vivo expansion of CD34+ cells. In this work, the effects of periodically removing CD34− cells combined with SR1 addition on the ex vivo expansion and biological functions of HSCs were investigated.Materials and methodsCD34− cells were removed periodically with SR1 addition to investigate cell subpopulations, cell expansion, biological functions, expanded cell division mode and supernatant TGF‐β1 contents.ResultsAfter 10‐day culture, the expansion of CD34+ cells in the CD34− cell removal plus SR1 group was significantly higher than that in the control group and the SR1 group. Moreover, periodically removing CD34− cells with SR1 addition improved the biological function of expanded CD34+ cells and significantly increased the percentage of self‐renewal symmetric division of CD34+ cells. In addition, the concentration of total TGF‐β1 and activated TGF‐β1 in the supernatant was significantly lower than those in the control group and the SR1 group. RT‐qPCR results showed that the periodic removal of CD34− cells with cooperation from SR1 further reduced the expression of AhR‐related genes.ConclusionsPeriodic removal of CD34− cells plus cooperation with SR1 improved the expansion of CD34+ cells, maintained better biological function of expanded CD34+ cells and reduced the TGF‐β1 contents by downregulating AhR signalling.
Assessing mammal species richness and occupancy in a Northeast Asian temperate forest shared by cattle
Authors: Feng Jiawei , Sun Yifei , Li Hailong , Xiao Yuqi , Zhang Dandan , Smith James L. D. , Ge Jianping , Wang Tianming 
Published: February 2021

AbstractAimAsian forests are becoming increasingly degraded and fragmented by the extensive intensification of anthropogenic activities; these activities threaten wildlife and ecosystem sustainability. Facing a defaunation crisis, managers need more information on species assemblages to guide conservation efforts. We tested the relative influence of natural and anthropogenic factors on mammalian species richness and occupancy in temperate forests in Northeast Asia.LocationNortheast China.MethodsCamera‐trapping data and multispecies occupancy models were used to estimate the species richness of a terrestrial mammal community in a working landscape and assess community‐, group‐, and species‐specific responses to natural and anthropogenic features while accounting for imperfect detection. Species were grouped based on body size, diet and activity pattern.ResultsWe deployed 138 cameras and photographed 21 mammalian species over 22,976 trap days across the China–Russia border. Both natural and anthropogenic correlates varied in their importance in predicting the presence of different animals. Vegetation cover and cattle were found to have significantly positive and negative influences on community‐level mammalian occupancy, respectively. The positive relationship with vegetation cover was most evident for large or diurnal species; the negative relationship with cattle was most evident for diurnal and wild ungulate species. Large species occupancy was also negatively associated with human settlements. The predicted richness across each station varied from 5 to 14 unique species, and species had a mean occupancy probability of 0.45 (95% credible interval = 0.09–0.86). Species richness was generally the lowest in livestock grazing areas and close to human settlements. Human influence is more important than the influences of vegetation and environmental variables.Main conclusionsOur results highlight that livestock grazing was the primary human disturbance that had a negative impact on species occupancy and richness. Multispecies occupancy models helped to identify drivers of biodiversity declines and will inform conservation strategies in human‐dominated landscapes in Northeast Asian forests. We suggest that landscape conservation planning seeks to maximize forest protection and ecosystem services such as biodiversity and carbon storage.