bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dynamic Changes in the Nasal Microbiome Associated With Disease Activity in Patients With Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis
Authors: Rhee Rennie L. , Lu Jiarui , Bittinger Kyle , Lee Jung‐Jin , Mattei Lisa M. , Sreih Antoine G. , Chou Sherry , Miner Jonathan J. , Cohen Noam A. , Kelly Brendan J. , Lee Hongzhe , Grayson Peter C. , Collman Ronald G. , Merkel Peter A. 
Published: March 2021

ObjectiveLittle is known about temporal changes in nasal bacteria in granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA). This study was undertaken to examine longitudinal changes in the nasal microbiome in association with relapse in GPA patients.MethodsBacterial 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing was performed on nasal swabs from 19 patients with GPA who were followed up longitudinally for a total of 78 visits, including 9 patients who experienced a relapse and 10 patients who remained in remission. Relative abundance of bacteria and ratios between bacteria were examined. Generalized estimating equation models were used to evaluate the association between bacterial composition and 1) disease activity and 2) levels of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) with specificity for proteinase 3 (PR3), adjusted for medication.ResultsCorynebacteriumandStaphylococcuswere the most abundant bacterial genera across all nasal samples. Patients with quiescent disease maintained a stable ratio ofCorynebacteriumtoStaphylococcusacross visits. In contrast, in patients who experienced a relapse, a significantly lower ratio was observed at the visit prior to relapse, followed by a higher ratio at the time of relapse (adjustedP< 0.01). Species‐level analysis identified an association between a higher abundance of nasalCorynebacterium tuberculostearicumand 1) relapse (adjustedP= 0.04) and 2) higher PR3‐ANCA levels (adjustedP= 0.02).ConclusionIn GPA, significant changes occur in the nasal microbiome over time and are associated with disease activity. The occurrence of these changes months prior to the onset of relapse supports a pathogenic role of nasal bacteria in GPA. Our results uphold existing hypotheses implicatingStaphylococcusas an instigator of disease and have generated a novel finding involvingCorynebacteriumas a potential mediator of disease in GPA.
New Spectroscopic Insight into the Deactivation of a ZSM‐5 Methanol‐to‐Hydrocarbons Catalyst
Authors: Zachariou Andrea , Hawkins Alexander P. , Suwardiyanto  , Collier Paul , Barrow Nathan , Howe Russell F. , Parker Stewart F. , Lennon David 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe nature of the hydrocarbon pool at different stages of the methanol‐to‐hydrocarbons reaction over ZSM‐5 is examined. A combination of reaction testing, analytical and spectroscopic techniques is employed to investigate changes in the nature and form of the hydrocarbon pool as a function of reaction conditions and reaction time. It is shown that inelastic neutron scattering spectroscopy (INS) complements other spectroscopic methods for observing molecular components in the hydrocarbon pool of working catalysts. INS is uniquely able to spectroscopically identify the form of coke species present in deactivated catalysts.
Charakterisierung und Störstoffanalyse von rückgewonnenen Stoffströmen aus Wärmedämmverbundsystemen
Authors: Fehn Thomas , Kugler Felix , Tübke Beatrice , Schweppe Rainer , Mebert Phillip , Krcmar Wolfgang , Teipel Ulrich 
Published: March 2021

AbstractAufgrund steigender energetischer Anforderungen ist der Anteil an verbauten Wärmedämmverbundsystemen (WDVS) in den vergangenen 50 Jahren deutlich gestiegen. Trotz der Langlebigkeit dieser Systeme fallen zunehmend WDVS‐Abfälle an, deren Nutzungsphase beendet ist. Aufgrund der komplexen Bauweise sowie einer Vielzahl an unterschiedlich verbauten Materialien der vergangenen Generationen bestehen viele Unsicherheiten und Probleme bei der sortenreinen und schadstoffarmen Aufbereitung solcher Systeme. Im Rahmen der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde ein Aufbereitungsverfahren für WDVS entwickelt. Damit gelingt eine weitestgehende Rückgewinnung verwertbarer Werkstofffraktionen. Diese wurden auf etwaige Stör‐ und Schadstoffe wie Flammschutzmittel sowie auf deren Reinheit untersucht.
Functional‐coefficient regression models with GARCH errors
Authors: Yuan Yuze , Bai Lihua , Jiang Jiancheng 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe GARCH models are widely used to model various financial data with nonlinearity and heteroscedasticity structures. In this article, we propose a functional‐coefficient regression model with GARCH(r, s) errors to model these kinds of data. To deal with the effect of heteroscedasticity, we introduce a two‐step approach to estimating the unknown coefficient functions and the volatility, which results in unweighted and weighted local linear estimators. Asymptotic properties of the proposed estimators are established. Our results demonstrate that the weighted estimator is more efficient than the unweighted one, and the functional coefficients can be estimated by the weighted estimator as if the volatility was known. Both simulations and real data examples support our theoretical results. In particular, when there are GARCH effects, our two‐step estimator mimics the oracle estimator, with the true volatility being known in advance.
Vacuum‐Processed Metal Halide Perovskite Light‐Emitting Diodes: Prospects and Challenges
Authors: Bhaumik Saikat , Kar Manav Raj , Thorat Bhaskar N. , Bruno Annalisa , Mhaisalkar Subodh G. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractIn less than a decade, organic–inorganic metal halide perovskites (MHPs) have shown tremendous progress in the field of light‐emitting applications. Perovskite light‐emitting diodes (PeLEDs) have reached external quantum efficiencies (EQE) exceeding 20 % and they have been recognized as a potential contender of the commercial display technologies. However, perovskite thin films in PeLEDs are generally deposited via a spin‐coating process, which is not favourable for large area device fabrication. Despite the great success of solution‐processed PeLEDs, very few articles have been reported on vacuum processed PeLEDs and the improvements in their optoelctronic performances are also progressing slowly. On the other hand, vacuum processing techniques are mostly used in organic LED technology as they can guarantee (i) the absence of solvent during thin‐film growth, (ii) process scalability over large area substrates, and (iii) precise thin‐film thickness control. This thin‐film growth process is suitable for application in the advancement of a large variety of display technologies. In this Review, we present an overview of current research advances in the field of perovskite thin films grown via vacuum techniques, a study of their photophysical properties, and integration in PeLEDs for the generation of different colors. We also highlight the current challenges and future prospects for the further development of vacuum processed PeLEDs.
Refractory neutrophils and monocytes in patients with inflammatory bowel disease after repeated bouts of prolonged exercise
Authors: Spijkerman Roy , Hesselink Lillian , Bertinetto Carlo , Bongers Coen C. W. G. , Hietbrink Falco , Vrisekoop Nienke , Leenen Luke P. H. , Hopman Maria T. E. , Jansen Jeroen J. , Koenderman Leo 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBackgroundNeutrophils and monocytes are key immune effector cells in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that is associated with chronic inflammation in the gut. Patients with stable IBD who perform exercise have significantly fewer flare‐ups of the disease, but no underlying mechanism has been identified. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the responsiveness/refractoriness of these innate immune cells after repeated bouts of prolonged exercise in IBD patients and controls.MethodsPatients with IBD and age‐ and gender‐matched healthy controls were recruited from a cohort of walkers participating in a 4‐day walking event. Blood analysis was performed at baseline and after 3 days of walking. Responsiveness to the bacterial/mitochondrial‐stimulus N‐Formylmethionine‐leucyl‐phenylalanine (fMLF) was tested in granulocytes and monocytes by measuring the expression of activation markers after adding this stimulus to whole blood.ResultsIn total 38 participants (54 ± 12 years) were included in this study: 19 walkers with and 19 walkers without IBD. After 3 days of prolonged exercise, a significant increase in responsiveness to fMLF was observed in all participants irrespective of disease. However, IBD patients showed significantly less responsiveness in neutrophils and monocytes, compared with non‐IBD walkers.ConclusionsIncreased responsiveness of neutrophils and monocyte to fMLF was demonstrated after repetitive bouts of prolonged exercise. Interestingly, this exercise was associated with relative refractoriness of both neutrophils and monocytes in IBD patients. These refractory cells might create a lower inflammatory state in the intestine providing a putative mechanism for the decrease in flare‐ups in IBD patients after repeated exercise.
A cost‐effective LoRa‐based customized device for agriculture field monitoring and precision farming on IoT platform
Authors: Swain Mahendra , Hashmi Mohammad Farukh , Singh Rajesh , Hashmi Abdul Wahab 
Published: March 2021

SummaryLow‐power wide area networks (LPWAN) applications are emerging as a new paradigm, over Internet of Things (IoT) platform. LoRa (long range) is playing a key role in information exchange between motes. This paper illustrates a mathematical optimization technique of LoRa modulation, i.e., frequency shift chirp modulation. Mathematical optimization for low power and LoRa has been validated with customized hardware designed for agricultural application. The performance analysis with channel modulation is mentioned in the networks. LoRa link budget concerning various obstacles calculated and losses are noted during testing. In context to the agricultural application, customized motes have been deployed in an agricultural field for field monitoring. The mathematical model is validated using a hardware device. Further data collection and data analysis are mentioned. Code optimization techniques are implemented to improve the overall efficiency of the device. Localization of sensor nodes also discussed to cover all the area of coverage. A comparative analysis is a showcased between SNR (signal‐to‐noise ratio) and RSSI (received signal strength indicator).
Unblinding in Randomized Controlled Trials: A Research Ethics Case
Authors: Bhatia Ayesha , Appelbaum Paul S. , Wisner Katherine L. 
Published: March 2021

ABSTRACTA pregnant woman was enrolled in a double‐blind randomized controlled trial (RCT) in which participants were randomized to a placebo or a drug being tested to prevent a hypertensive complication. After completing the trial, the research participant insisted on being told which drug she received to prepare for a future pregnancy. This case highlights an element of RCT procedure that has received minimal attention—whether to unblind study participants at the end of their participation. Given that unblinding is not standard practice for nonserious adverse events, what actions are justifiable for the investigators to take? To synthesize the information about this case, we used the CASES model, created by the National Center for Ethics in Health Care to analyze ethics cases. Ethical principles that guide research emphasize communication with participants and the importance of reducing harm within the constraints of the scientific goals. Participants may value knowing which drug they received for future health care decision‐making. We review information about the benefits and harms of unblinding.
Migrating Whooping Cranes avoid wind‐energy infrastructure when selecting stopover habitat
Authors: Pearse Aaron T. , Metzger Kristine L. , Brandt David A. , Shaffer Jill A. , Bidwell Mark T. , Harrell Wade 
Published: March 2021

AbstractElectricity generation from renewable‐energy sources has increased dramatically worldwide in recent decades. Risks associated with wind‐energy infrastructure are not well understood for endangered Whooping Cranes (Grus americana) or other vulnerable Crane populations. From 2010 to 2016, we monitored 57 Whooping Cranes with remote‐telemetry devices in the United States Great Plains to determine potential changes in migration distribution (i.e., avoidance) caused by presence of wind‐energy infrastructure. During our study, the number of wind towers tripled in the Whooping Crane migration corridor and quadrupled in the corridor’s center. Median distance of Whooping Crane locations from nearest wind tower was 52.1 km, and 99% of locations were >4.3 km from wind towers. A habitat selection analysis revealed that Whooping Cranes used areas ≤5.0 km (95% confidence interval [CI] 4.8–5.4) from towers less than expected (i.e., zone of influence) and that Whooping Cranes were 20 times (95% CI 14–64) more likely to use areas outside compared to adjacent to towers. Eighty percent of Whooping Crane locations and 20% of wind towers were located in areas with the highest relative probability of Whooping Crane use based on our model, which comprised 20% of the study area. Whooping Cranes selected for these places, whereas developers constructed wind infrastructure at random relative to desirable Whooping Crane habitat. As of early 2020, 4.6% of the study area and 5.0% of the highest‐selected Whooping Crane habitat were within the collective zone of influence. The affected area equates to habitat loss ascribed to wind‐energy infrastructure; losses from other disturbances have not been quantified. Continued growth of the Whooping Crane population during this period of wind infrastructure construction suggests no immediate population‐level consequences. Chronic or lag effects of habitat loss are unknown but possible for long‐lived species. Preferentially constructing future wind infrastructure outside of the migration corridor or inside of the corridor at sites with low probability of Whooping Crane use would allow for continued wind‐energy development in the Great Plains with minimal additional risk to highly selected habitat that supports recovery of this endangered species.
Snowmelt timing affects short‐term decomposition rates in an alpine snowbed
Authors: Venn Susanna E. , Thomas Haydn J. D. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractAlpine snowbed communities are characterized as having areas of longer lasting snow cover duration compared with the surrounding landscape. The predictable accumulation of deep and long‐lasting snow on lee side ridges drives a unique ecology, providing stable microclimatic conditions under the snow through winter, supplying meltwater in spring, and controlling many biological processes. The timing and rate of plant litter decomposition are key controls on the nutrient balance of snowbed communities, and are thought to be strongly driven by snow dynamics. However, little is known about how the patterns and timing of snowmelt affect decomposition, nor how long these effects last into the growing season. We investigated the influence of snowmelt timing on decomposition rates across an alpine snowbed community by burying standardized plant litter (rooibos and green tea), at three incubation times (whole year, winter+spring, and summer), across three snowmelt zones. Decomposition rate (as percent mass loss of tea) was significantly higher in early‐melting zones compared to late‐melting zones, particularly for the recalcitrant litter (rooibos tea). Decomposition was also affected by the season(s) of incubation and was greatest where tea was buried for the whole year, or only over summer, with winter + spring only incubations decomposing the least. However, decomposition was more strongly influenced by litter quality (type of tea) than either the timing of snowmelt or seasonality. These results provide further understanding about how changes to the timing of snowmelt may in turn transform these rare and unique plant communities.
Lower density of arthropod biomass in small high‐Andes Polylepis fragments affects habitat use in insectivorous birds
Authors: Cahill Jennifer R. A. , Merckx Thomas , Van Dyck Hans , Fernández Milton , Matthysen Erik 
Published: March 2021

AbstractPolylepis forests are endemic to the high‐Andes, with trees characterized by multi‐layered, exfoliating bark‐providing protection against harsh, high‐elevation conditions, both for individual trees and the wide array of organisms dependent on them. However, Polylepis habitat has suffered severe human‐induced land conversion and currently mainly occurs as fragmented remnants only. Here, we studied the effects of fragment size on local ambient temperature and on biomass of bark and its bark‐dwelling arthropods. We did so by comparing multiple samples at the edge and interior of both large and small fragments, while also accounting for branch size, tree width, and tree structure. Because arthropod biomass is likely to impact higher trophic levels, we also studied abundance and foraging behavior of two bird species specialized on Polylepis forest. We show that arthropod biomass was relatively higher in wider, larger trees, which were preferred for foraging by both bird species. Moreover, we show that small forest fragments are not only environmentally less buffered but are also characterized by lower amounts of bark and lower densities of bark‐dwelling arthropods than larger fragments. Our study highlights the conservation value of large trees. Also, we advise it is now timely to test to what degree restoration efforts to increase fragment size could mitigate the negative effects of reduced arthropod biomass for higher trophic levels of endemic specialist insectivores.
Environmental context alters the magnitude of conspecific negative density dependence in a temperate forest
Authors: Brown Alissa J. , White Peter S. , Peet Robert K. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractConspecific negative density dependence (CNDD) is an important driver of stand‐level tree diversity in temperate forests. CNDD can occur via two main processes. First, soil pathogens and herbivores form a halo of high enemy density surrounding established trees at local spatial scales. As a result, seedlings and saplings residing within this halo experience reduced growth and survival. Second, intraspecific competition can lead to local depletion of resources, reducing the performance of conspecific seedlings and saplings, and encouraging spatial mixing of tree species. While seedlings and saplings respond to nearby conspecific adults, they are simultaneously responding to local environmental conditions. Solar radiation, soil moisture, and soil nutrients can all influence tree recruitment patterns. Furthermore, these environmental factors can influence densities and activities of soil pathogens, as well as seedling and sapling carbon balance. As a result, we expect small‐scale variation in the abiotic environment to influence the magnitude of CNDD, although this expectation has thus far received little attention. We combined tree stem and environmental data from a mapped oak‐hickory forest plot to evaluate whether the local environment modulates the direction or magnitude of negative density dependence. We tested for the interaction between conspecific and heterospecific basal area within a sapling's neighborhood and each of five environmental covariates: index of canopy gaps, soil organic matter, soil cations, topographic curvature, and topographic slope/aspect. We found that increasing local conspecific and heterospecific basal areas reduced sapling growth and that the conspecific basal area reduced sapling growth more so than did heterospecific basal area. Furthermore, we observed significant interactions between adult tree density and all environmental covariates that differed depending on the category of nearby adults (i.e., conspecific vs. heterospecific), and this effect was most important with variations in soil organic matter, soil cations, and topographic slope/aspect. We conclude that tree basal area not only interacts with environmental conditions to influence sapling growth, but more importantly, that small‐scale environmental conditions interact with the density of nearby conspecifics to modulate sapling growth. Thus, if this result proves general, a central mechanism underlying the maintenance of diversity can be modified by small‐scale environmental conditions.
Reverse remodelling by sacubitril/valsartan predicts the prognosis in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction
Authors: Moon Mi‐Gil , Hwang In‐Chang , Choi Wonsuk , Cho Goo‐Yeong , Yoon Yeonyee E. , Park Jun‐Bean , Lee Seung‐Pyo , Kim Hyung‐Kwan , Kim Yong‐Jin 
Published: March 2021

AbstractAimsDespite well‐established benefits of sacubitril/valsartan for cardiac reverse remodelling and the prognosis of patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), there are some patients with limited therapeutic response, even with optimal therapy. We assessed the treatment response to sacubitril/valsartan in patients with HFrEF, focusing on the association between reverse remodelling and the prognosis.Methods and resultsUsing a retrospective cohort of consecutive patients with HFrEF treated with sacubitril/valsartan, we compared the time trajectory of cardiac function in 415 patients (1258 echocardiograms), according to the occurrence of cardiovascular death and hospitalization for HF during a median follow‐up of 19.1 (interquartile range, 10.9–27.6) months. A higher sacubitril/valsartan dose was associated with a better prognosis, whereas advanced age, diabetes, left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy, left atrial enlargement, and pulmonary hypertension were associated with a worse prognosis. Patients without an event (n = 337; 81.2%) showed LV reverse remodelling (LV ejection fraction ≥45% or LV end‐systolic volume reduction by 15% from baseline), which was typically observed within 6 months of sacubitril/valsartan treatment. Reverse remodelling achievement was significantly associated with a better prognosis. However, patients without reverse remodelling had a worse prognosis, as poor as that in patients with HFrEF not treated with sacubitril/valsartan.ConclusionsIn patients with HFrEF treated with sacubitril/valsartan, LV reverse remodelling reflects the treatment response and predicts the prognosis, whereas a lack of reverse remodelling indicates the lack of treatment benefits. Prediction and assessment of reverse remodelling may facilitate the selection of patients with greater benefits by sacubitril/valsartan.
Synthesis of Aminoallenes via Selenium‐π‐Acid‐Catalyzed Cross‐Coupling of N‐Fluorinated Sulfonimides with Simple Alkynes
Authors: Rode Katharina , Ramadas Narasimhamurthy Poorva , Rieger Rene , Krätzschmar Felix , Breder Alexander 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe facile synthesis of aminoallenes, accomplished by a selenium‐π‐acid‐catalyzed cross‐coupling of an N‐fluorinated sulfonimide with simple, non‐activated alkynes, is reported. Until now, aminoallenes were difficult to be accessed by customary means, inasmuch as pre‐activated and, in part, intricate starting materials were necessary for their synthesis. In sharp contrast, the current study shows that ordinary internal alkynes can serve as simple and readily available precursors for the construction of the aminoallene motif. The operating reaction conditions tolerate numerous functional groups such as esters, nitriles, (silyl)ethers, acetals, and halogen substituents, furnishing the target compounds in up to 86 % yield.