bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Inferring community assembly mechanisms from functional and phylogenetic diversity: The relative contribution of environmental filtering decreases along a sand desertification gradient in a desert steppe community
Authors: Wang Xing , Song Nai‐Ping , Yang Xin‐Guo , Chen Lin , Qu Wen‐Jie , Wang Lei 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe stress‐dominance hypothesis (SDH) predicts that environmental filtering will dominate in harsh habitats, while limiting similarity is more important in favourable environments. Here, we test the generality of the SDH to disentangle the relative importance of these two ecological processes along a sand desertification gradient. Data were collected from randomly selected locations in a desert steppe community in Northwest China. In this region, intense habitat fragmentation has resulted in a series of original soil habitat patches called soil islands. These soil islands typically contain Sierozem soils historically subjected to low (L), medium (M), and high (H) levels of sand desertification. Along this sand desertification gradient, soil properties and leaf traits (LDMC, leaf dry matter content; SLA, specific leaf area; LC, leaf carbon concentration; LP, leaf phosphorus concentration; and LN, leaf nitrogen concentration) were measured. We then tested for trait and phylogenetic convergence or divergence using a null model approach. Along the sand desertification gradient, trait convergence trend decreased, while trait divergence trend increased. Similarly, the phylogenetic convergence trends decreased. Traits displaying convergence included LDMC, SLA, and LCC, while LP and LN displayed divergence. The strength of LDMC convergence was negatively correlated with community weighted mean trait values (CWM) for LDMC. In contrast, the strength of LN divergence was positively correlated with CWM for LN. Our results pertaining to LDMC and LN support the SDH. Along the sand desertification gradient, the strength of environmental filtering gradually decreased, while the intensity of limiting similarity gradually increased.
Long‐term assessment of remediation treatments applied to an area affected by a mining spill in Spain
Authors: Pastor‐Jáuregui Rocío , Paniagua‐López Mario , Aguilar‐Garrido Antonio , Martín‐Peinado Francisco , Sierra‐Aragón Manuel 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThis study evaluated the effectiveness of remediation treatments in the long‐term (20 years) for one of the largest mine spills in the world, the Aznalcóllar accident. Soil recovery was carried out through the application of various rates of organic (compost and manure) and inorganic amendments (materials rich in iron oxides and calcium carbonate). Different amendment combinations were grouped in four treatments (T1 to T4) and applied in different sectors depending on the soil properties and the degree of initial contamination. To assess the degree of soil recovery, physicochemical properties, total, water‐soluble, and bioavailable concentrations of the main contaminants (Pb, As, Zn, and Cu) were determined over time. Applied treatments increased pH, calcium carbonate, and organic carbon content of soils, reduced electrical conductivity, and decreased mobility of contaminants, indicating that remediation treatments were efficient recovering soils contaminated by potentially harmful elements (PHEs). However, 20 years after the accident, total concentrations of Pb and As still exceed the intervention levels of the current regulations in certain areas. These areas are located in the sectors closest to the mine and where treatments T1 and T2 were applied. In these cases, the added doses of organic amendments, iron oxide–rich soils, and carbonate amendments were not sufficiently effective, so the application of new treatments is recommended to complete the total recovery of the Guadiamar Green Corridor.
Did anthropause generate a research pause during the pandemic? The experiences of a non‐medical journal
Authors: Zhang Jiao 
Published: February 2021

Key points
Contradicting expectations, a non‐medical journal received increasing submissions during the pandemic, even though laboratories remained closed.
Peer reviewers and handling editors were both more responsive and provided faster turnaround times during 2020.
The reasons for increased submission to the journal may have been due to reanalysis of older data or extracting more findings from research done pre‐pandemic.
In‐office insertion tympanostomy tubes in children using single‐pass device
Authors: Truitt Theodore O. , Kosko James R. , Nimmons Grace L. , Raisen Jay , Skovlund Sandra M. , Rimell Frank , Cofer Shelagh A. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractObjectivesInsertion of tympanostomy tubes (TT) is generally accomplished in children in the operating room under general anesthesia. We report on 229 children treated in‐office with a novel device.MethodsInvestigators participated in an IRB‐approved, prospective, single arm, multisite investigation of in‐office TT placement in awake children. Topical anesthetic was applied, and protective restraint was used. TT placement was performed with a single‐pass TT insertion device. Safety was assessed by monitoring procedural events.ResultsFour hundred and forty‐four ears were treated in 229 children at 10 sites. Children were in age groups 6‐24 months (n = 211, mean = 13 months) and 5‐12 years (n = 18, mean = 8.3 years). Two hundred and fifteen children received bilateral TT placement, and 14 received unilateral placement. Overall, 226/229 (98.7%) children had successful TT placement in the office (209/211 in 6‐24 months and 17/18 in 5‐12 years). Three children were rescheduled for the operating room due to anatomical challenges or patient movement. Median procedure time for bilateral cases in both age groups was 4:53. Two minor adverse events (AEs) were reported in one patient. Per independent assessment of 30 procedure videos by clinicians, TT placement was tolerated acceptably by all children.ConclusionIn‐office TT placement in awake young children using topical anesthetic, enabled by a single pass delivery device, was safe, successful and well tolerated. The American Academy of Otolaryngology (AAO) recently released a Position Statement supporting in‐office TT placement in appropriate children. These results affirm an in‐office alternative for clinicians and parents who have concerns with the risk, inconvenience and cost of surgery in an operating room under general anesthesia.Level of Evidence: 2c.Clinical Trials Registration Number: NCT03544138.
Development and Validation of a Model to Predict Long‐Term Survival After Liver Transplantation
Authors: Goldberg David , Mantero Alejandro , Newcomb Craig , Delgado Cindy , Forde Kimberly , Kaplan David , John Binu , Nuchovich Nadine , Dominguez Barbara , Emanuel Ezekiel , Reese Peter P. 
Published: February 2021

Patients are prioritized for liver transplantation (LT) under an “urgency‐based” system using the Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease score. This system focuses solely on waitlist mortality, without considerations of posttransplant morbidity, mortality, and health care use. We sought to develop and internally validate a continuous posttransplant risk score during 5‐year and 10‐year time horizons. This retrospective cohort study used national registry data of adult deceased donor LT (DDLT) recipients with ≥90 days of pretransplant waiting time from February 27, 2002 to December 31, 2018. We fit Cox regression models at 5 and 10 years to estimate beta coefficients for a risk score using manual variable selection and calculated the absolute predicted survival time. Among 21,103 adult DDLT recipients, 11 variables were selected for the final model. The area under the curves at 5 and 10 years were 0.63 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.60‐0.66) and 0.67 (95% CI, 0.64‐0.70), respectively. The group with the highest (“best”) scores had 5‐year and 10‐year survivals of 89.4% and 85.4%, respectively, compared with 45.9% and 22.2% for those with the lowest (“worst”) scores. Our score was significantly better at predicting long‐term survival compared with the existing scores. We developed and validated a risk score using nearly 17 years of data to prioritize patients with end‐stage liver disease based on projected posttransplant survival. This score can serve as the building block by which the transplant field can change the entire approach to prioritizing patients to an approach that is based on considerations of maximizing benefits (ie, survival benefit–based allocation) rather than simply waitlist mortality.
Influence of microstructure and roughness level on corrosion resistance of the austenitic stainless steel welded joint
Authors: Kovačina Jovanka , Jegdić Bore , Radojković Bojana , Marunkić Dunja , Stevanović Sanja , Simović Anđela 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe influence of microstructure and surface roughness of the X5CrNi18‐10 austenitic stainless steel‐welded joint on resistance to uniform, pitting, and intergranular corrosion, as well as on the stability of the passive film, was evaluated. The microstructure was revealed by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, whereas surface topography and roughness levels were determined by atomic force microscopy. Corrosion characteristics were obtained by the electrochemical potentiokinetic reactivation method with double loop, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy method, as well as by potentiodynamic measurements. The degree of sensitization of heat‐affected zone (HAZ) was significantly lower than the threshold value required for the occurrence of intergranular corrosion. However, HAZ showed a significantly greater tendency to pitting and uniform corrosion compared to weld metal and base metal. No effect of roughness levels (RMS from 3.6 to 54 nm) on the pitting potential value of the welded joint was observed (unlike in HAZ). The polished surface shows significantly higher corrosion resistance than the grinded surface. Generally, polishing improved corrosion resistance, especially in HAZ, which is very important because HAZ is a critical place for the occurrence of pitting and other types of corrosion.
Phase Morphology of Multiblock Copolymers Differing in Sequence of Blocks
Authors: Behl Marc , Balk Maria , Mansfeld Ulrich , Lendlein Andreas 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe chemical nature, the number length of integrated building blocks, as well as their sequence structure impact the phase morphology of multiblock copolymers (MBC) consisting of two non‐miscible block types. It is hypothesized that a strictly alternating sequence should impact phase segregation. A library of well‐defined MBC obtained by coupling oligo(ε‐caprolactone) (OCL) of different molecular weights (2, 4, and 8 kDa) with oligotetrahydrofuran (OTHF, 2.9 kDa) via Steglich esterification results in strictly alternating (MBCalt) or random (MBCran) MBC. The three different series has a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of 65 000, 165 000, and 168 000 g mol−1 for MBCalt and 80 500, 100 000, and 147 600 g mol−1 for MBCran. When the chain length of OCL building blocks is increased, the tendency for phase segregation is facilitated, which is attributed to the decrease in chain mobility within the MBC. Furthermore, it is found that the phase segregation disturbs the crystallization by causing heterogeneities in the semi‐crystalline alignment, which is attributed to an increase of the disorder of the OCL semi‐crystalline alignment.
Polythiourethanes Crosslinked with Dynamic Disulfide Bonds: Synthesis via Nonisocyanate Approach, Thermomechanical and Reprocessing Properties
Authors: Ge Wenming , Zhao Bingjie , Liu Weiming , Nie Kangming , Zheng Sixun 
Published: February 2021

AbstractPolythiourethanes (PTUs) crosslinked with dynamic disulfide bonds are synthesized via a nonisocyanate approach. First, a difunctional five‐membered cyclic trithiocarbonate (1) is synthesized via the reaction of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) with carbon disulfide (CS2). Thereafter, the step‐growth polymerizations of 1 with α,ω‐diamino poly(propylene oxide)s with various molar masses are carried out to obtain a series of linear poly(mercapto thiourethane)s. These linear poly(mercapto thiourethane)s are readily crosslinked upon formation of disulfide bonds, which are generated via radical coupling reaction with the side mercapto groups. These crosslinked PTUs can be tailored into the materials from thermosetting plastics to crosslinked elastomers, depending on the molar masses of α,ω‐diamino poly(propylene oxide)s. More importantly, these crosslinked PTUs display excellent reprocessing properties at elevated temperatures, which is attributable to the metathesis reaction of dynamic disulfide bonds.
Photoresponsive Vesicles Enabling Sequential Release of Nitric Oxide (NO) and Gentamicin for Efficient Biofilm Eradication
Authors: Duan Yutian , Zhang Mingyang , Shen Zhiqiang , Zhang Mengdan , Zheng Bin , Cheng Sheng , Hu Jinming 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe development of new antibacterial agents that can efficiently eradicate biofilms is of crucial importance to combat persistent and chronic bacterial infections. Herein, the fabrication of photoresponsive vesicles capable of the sequential release of nitric oxide (NO) and gentamicin sulfate (GS) is reported, which can not only efficiently disperse Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) PAO1 biofilm but also kill the planktonic bacteria. Well‐defined amphiphilic diblockcopolymers of poly(ethylene oxide)‐b‐poly(4‐((2‐nitrobenzyl)(nitroso)amino)benzyl methacrylate) (PNO) is first synthesized through atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The PNO diblock copolymer self‐assembled into vesicles in aqueous solution, and a hydrophilic antibiotic of GS is subsequently encapsulated into the aqueous lumens of vesicles. The vesicles undergo visible light‐mediated N‐NO cleavage, releasing NO and disintegrating the vesicles with the release of the GS payload. The sequential release of NO and GS efficiently eradicate P. aeruginosa PAO1 biofilm and kill the liberated bacteria, showing a better antibiofilm effect than that of NO or GS alone.
Functional and structural characterization of Hyp730, a highly conserved and dormancy‐specific hypothetical membrane protein
Authors: Fannin Stewart , Rangel Jonathan , Bodurin Abiodun P. , Yu Tannon , Mistretta Brandon , Mali Sujina , Gunaratne Preethi , Bark Steven J. , Ebalunode Jerry O. , Khan Arshad , Widger William R. , Sen Mehmet 
Published: February 2021

AbstractMembrane proteins represent major drug targets, and the ability to determine their functions, structures, and conformational changes will significantly advance mechanistic approaches to both biotechnology and bioremediation, as well as the fight against pathogenic bacteria. A pertinent example is Mycobacterium tuberculosis (H37Rv), which contains ~4000 protein‐coding genes, with almost a thousand having been categorized as ‘membrane protein’, and a few of which (~1%) have been functionally characterized and structurally modeled. However, the functions and structures of most membrane proteins that are sparsely, or only transiently, expressed, but essential in small phenotypic subpopulations or under stress conditions such as persistence or dormancy, remain unknown. Our deep quantitative proteomics profiles revealed that the hypothetical membrane protein 730 (Hyp730) WP_010079730 (protein ID Mlut_RS11895) from M. luteus is upregulated in dormancy despite a ~5‐fold reduction in overall protein diversity. Its H37Rv paralog, Rv1234, showed a similar proteomic signature, but the function of Hyp730‐like proteins has never been characterized. Here, we present an extensive proteomic and transcriptomic analysis of Hyp730 and have also characterized its in vitro recombinant expression, purification, refolding, and essentiality as well as its tertiary fold. Our biophysical studies, circular dichroism, and tryptophan fluorescence are in immediate agreement with in‐depth in silico 3D‐structure prediction, suggesting that Hyp730 is a double‐pass membrane‐spanning protein. Ablation of Hyp730‐expression did not alter M. luteus growth, indicating that Hyp730 is not essential. Structural homology comparisons showed that Hyp730 is highly conserved and non‐redundant in G+C rich Actinobacteria and might be involved, under stress conditions, in an energy‐saving role in respiration during dormancy.
Spatially explicit depiction of a floral epiphytic bacterial community reveals role for environmental filtering within petals
Authors: Hayes Rebecca A. , Rebolleda‐Gómez Maria , Butela Kristen , Cabo Leah F. , Cullen Nevin , Kaufmann Nancy , O'Neill Steffani , Ashman Tia‐Lynn 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe microbiome of flowers (anthosphere) is an understudied compartment of the plant microbiome. Within the flower, petals represent a heterogeneous environment for microbes in terms of resources and environmental stress. Yet, little is known of drivers of structure and function of the epiphytic microbial community at the within‐petal scale. We characterized the petal microbiome in two co‐flowering plants that differ in the pattern of ultraviolet (UV) absorption along their petals. Bacterial communities were similar between plant hosts, with only rare phylogenetically distant species contributing to differences. The epiphyte community was highly culturable (75% of families) lending confidence in the spatially explicit isolation and characterization of bacteria. In one host, petals were heterogeneous in UV absorption along their length, and in these, there was a negative relationship between growth rate and position on the petal, as well as lower UV tolerance in strains isolated from the UV‐absorbing base than from UV reflecting tip. A similar pattern was not seen in microbes isolated from a second host whose petals had uniform patterning along their length. Across strains, the variation in carbon usage and chemical tolerance followed common phylogenetic patterns. This work highlights the value of petals for spatially explicit explorations of bacteria of the anthosphere.
Evaluation of the occurrence of pathogenic free‐living amoeba and bacteria in 20 public indoor swimming pool facilities
Authors: Reyes‐Batlle María , Gabriel Marta F. , Rodríguez‐Expósito Rubén , Felgueiras Fátima , Sifaoui Ines , Mourão Zenaida , de Oliveira Fernandes Eduardo , Piñero José E. , Lorenzo‐Morales Jacob 
Published: February 2021

AbstractRecently, indoor swimming pool activities have increased to promote health‐enhancing physical activities, which require establishing suitable protocols for disinfection and water quality control. Normally, the assessment of the microbial quality of the water in the pools only considers the presence of different bacteria. However, other less frequent but more resistant pathogens, such as free‐living amoebas (FLA), are not contemplated in both existing recommendation and research activities. FLA represent a relevant human health risk, not only due to their pathogenicity but also due to the ability to act as vehicles of other pathogens, such as bacteria. Therefore, this work aimed to study the physicochemical characteristics and the occurrence of potentially pathogenic FLA and bacteria in water samples from 20 public indoor swimming facilities in Northern Portugal. Our results showed that some swimming pools presented levels of pH, free chlorine, and conductivity out of the recommended limits. Pathogenic FLA species were detected in two of the facilities under study, where we also report the presence of both, FLA and pathogenic bacteria. Our findings evidence the need to assess the occurrence of FLA and their existence in the same environmental niche as pathogenic bacteria in swimming pool facilities worldwide and to establish recommendations to safeguard the health of the users.
Surgical Management of Parkinson's Disease in the Elderly
Authors: Azevedo Paula , Aquino Camila C. , Fasano Alfonso 
Published: February 2021

ABSTRACTBackgroundDeep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is an increasingly popular therapy for Parkinson's Disease (PD). Despite the experience gained over time with DBS of either the subthalamus or the globus pallidus pars interna, there is still no consensus regarding the age limit for DBS indication.ObjectivesThis narrative review of the literature discusses the issues of age and DBS, emphasizing the critical need for good quality evidence to support the surgical management of elderly patients with PD.MethodsWe searched PubMed using the terms Parkinson's Disease; Parkinson's Disease therapy; deep brain stimulation; antiparkinsonian agents therapeutic use; age factors; aged; aged, 80 and over; middle aged; treatment outcome; and risk assessments.ResultsWe identified several limitations of the available evidence, such as under‐representation of older patients in DBS studies, small sample sizes in studies with older participants, heterogeneity of outcomes, and conflicting results.ConclusionsDespite preliminary suggestions that age might affect the outcomes of DBS, the evidence to support the hypothesis of age as an independent predictor of DBS outcomes is limited and results are controversial. Ultimately, finding an age‐independent biomarker predicting DBS outcome is the final goal to expand this powerful treatment to all patients age in an effective and safe manner.
Recent advances in proteome‐wide label‐free target deconvolution for bioactive small molecules
Authors: Sun Jichao , Prabhu Nayana , Tang Jun , Yang Fan , Jia Lin , Guo Jinan , Xiao Kefeng , Tam Wai Leong , Nordlund Pär , Dai Lingyun 
Published: February 2021

AbstractSmall‐molecule drugs modulate biological processes and disease states through engagement of target proteins in cells. Assessing drug–target engagement on a proteome‐wide scale is of utmost importance in better understanding the molecular mechanisms of action of observed beneficial and adverse effects, as well as in developing next generation tool compounds and drugs with better efficacies and specificities. However, systematic assessment of drug–target engagement has been an arduous task. With the continuous development of mass spectrometry‐based proteomics instruments and techniques, various chemical proteomics approaches for drug target deconvolution (i.e., the identification of molecular target for drugs) have emerged. Among these, the label‐free target deconvolution approaches that do not involve the chemical modification of compounds of interest, have gained increased attention in the community. Here we provide an overview of the basic principles and recent biological applications of the most important label‐free methods including the cellular thermal shift assay, pulse proteolysis, chemical denaturant and protein precipitation, stability of proteins from rates of oxidation, drug affinity responsive target stability, limited proteolysis, and solvent‐induced protein precipitation. The state‐of‐the‐art technical implications and future outlook for the label‐free approaches are also discussed.