bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Systemic and topical administration of spermidine accelerates skin wound healing
Authors: Ito Daisuke , Ito Hiroyasu , Ideta Takayasu , Kanbe Ayumu , Ninomiya Soranobu , Shimizu Masahito 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background
The skin wound healing process is regulated by various cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors. Recent reports have demonstrated that spermine/spermidine (SPD) promote wound healing through urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA)/uPA receptor (uPAR) signaling in vitro. Here, we investigated whether the systemic and topical administration of SPD would accelerate the skin wound-repair process in vivo.

Methods
A skin wound repair model was established using C57BL/6 J mice. SPD was mixed with white petrolatum for topical administration. For systemic administration, SPD mixed with drinking water was orally administered. Changes in wound size over time were calculated using digital photography.

Results
Systemic and topical SPD treatment significantly accelerated skin wound healing. The administration of SPD promoted the uPA/uPAR pathway in wound sites. Moreover, topical treatment with SPD enhanced the expression of IL-6 and TNF-α in wound sites. Scratch and cell proliferation assays revealed that SPD administration accelerated scratch wound closure and cell proliferation in vitro.

Conclusion
These results indicate that treatment with SPD promotes skin wound healing through activation of the uPA/uPAR pathway and induction of the inflammatory response in wound sites. The administration of SPD might contribute to new effective treatments to accelerate skin wound healing.
Using the Lonsdorf model for estimating habitat loss and fragmentation effects on pollination service
Authors: Rahimi Ehsan , Barghjelveh Shahindokht , Dong Pinliang 
Published: March 2021

AbstractOne of the most important issues related to landscape ecology and ecosystem services is finding the pattern of habitat patches that offers the highest pollination in agricultural landscapes. In this regard, two processes of habitat loss and fragmentation strongly affect the relationship between pollination and the pattern of habitat patches. In the present study, we aimed to examine the effects of habitat loss and fragmentation on pollination separately. For this purpose, first, we generated different simulated agricultural landscapes, including two habitats of forest and agriculture. Then, according to the Lonsdorf model, we estimated the potential of the simulated landscapes in providing pollination in different scenarios. Finally, using statistical models, we estimated the effects of habitat loss and fragmentation on pollination at the landscape and farm levels. Our results showed that the effects of habitat loss and fragmentation on pollination were completely different at the landscape and farm levels. At the landscape level, fragmentation negatively affected pollination, but at the farm level, the maximum pollination rate was observed in the landscapes with a high degree of fragmentation. Regarding the habitat loss effects, our results showed that pollination decreased linearly at the landscape level as habitat amount decreased, but at the farm level, it decreased exponentially. The present study considered the level of analysis (i.e., landscape and farm levels) as a critical factor affecting pollination changes caused by fragmentation. We showed that using the Lonsdorf model could lead to confusing results for the landscape ecologists and alert farmers who want to reduce the adverse effects of fragmentation on their products by creating new forest patches. Therefore, agriculturalists and landscape ecologists should consider that the pollination rate at the landscape and farm levels is completely different according to the model and provide contradictory results about the process of habitat loss effects on pollination.
Extended input–output model for urbanization: an empirical test using Chinese data
Authors: Okamoto Nobuhiro 
Published: March 2021

AbstractAlthough the input–output model has been widely used for both pure economic analysis and environmental issues, demographic analysis has been relegated to the periphery of the input–output literature. Previous researchers have made significant contributions in developing the economic–demographic modeling from the unemployment perspective, in the context of shrinking regional economies. This study aims to develop an extended input–output model for urbanization, based on the Batey–Madden model by incorporating the “urbanization process”. This process is associated with one of the facets of demographic change and has received little attention in the literature. The effectiveness of the model is theoretically explored and empirically tested using Chinese data, which show rapid progress of urbanization in China. The study proposes a new “urbanization multiplier”, which implies intense population concentration in cities based on an employment multiplier in urban areas and labor allocation possibilities between urban and rural areas. The result from a preliminary application shows that the economic structure can determine the urbanization multiplier, indicating that the extent of employment opportunities promotes urbanization and the size of the population attracts more workers from rural areas. The model provides a fresh aspect of urbanization in the existing literature.
Age and sex-associated variation in the multi-site microbiome of an entire social group of free-ranging rhesus macaques
Authors: Janiak Mareike C. , Montague Michael J. , Villamil Catalina I. , Stock Michala K. , Trujillo Amber E. , DePasquale Allegra N. , Orkin Joseph D. , Bauman Surratt Samuel E. , Gonzalez Olga , Platt Michael L. , Martínez Melween I. , Antón Susan C. , Dominguez-Bello Maria Gloria , Melin Amanda D. , Higham James P. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBackgroundAn individual’s microbiome changes over the course of its lifetime, especially during infancy, and again in old age. Confounding factors such as diet and healthcare make it difficult to disentangle the interactions between age, health, and microbial changes in humans. Animal models present an excellent opportunity to study age- and sex-linked variation in the microbiome, but captivity is known to influence animal microbial abundance and composition, while studies of free-ranging animals are typically limited to studies of the fecal microbiome using samples collected non-invasively. Here, we analyze a large dataset of oral, rectal, and genital swabs collected from 105 free-ranging rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta, aged 1 month-26 years), comprising one entire social group, from the island of Cayo Santiago, Puerto Rico. We sequenced 16S V4 rRNA amplicons for all samples.ResultsInfant gut microbial communities had significantly higher relative abundances ofBifidobacteriumandBacteroidesand lower abundances ofRuminococcus,Fibrobacter, andTreponemacompared to older age groups, consistent with a diet high in milk rather than solid foods. The genital microbiome varied widely between males and females in beta-diversity, taxonomic composition, and predicted functional profiles. Interestingly, only penile, but not vaginal, microbiomes exhibited distinct age-related changes in microbial beta-diversity, taxonomic composition, and predicted functions. Oral microbiome composition was associated with age, and was most distinctive between infants and other age classes.ConclusionsAcross all three body regions, with notable exceptions in the penile microbiome, while infants were distinctly different from other age groups, microbiomes of adults were relatively invariant, even in advanced age. While vaginal microbiomes were exceptionally stable, penile microbiomes were quite variable, especially at the onset of reproductive age. Relative invariance among adults, including elderly individuals, is contrary to findings in humans and mice. We discuss potential explanations for this observation, including that age-related microbiome variation seen in humans may be related to changes in diet and lifestyle.
Patient’s perception of recovery after osteotome-mediated sinus floor elevation with Bio-Oss collagen compared with no grafting material: a randomized single-blinded controlled trial
Authors: Starch-Jensen Thomas , Bruun Niels Henrik 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background
Osteotome-mediated sinus floor elevation with or without a grafting material is associated with high implant survival, intrasinus bone gain, and low frequency of complications. However, patient’s perception of recovery and satisfaction with the surgical intervention are rarely reported. The objective of the present randomized controlled trial was to assess patient’s perception of recovery after osteotome-mediated sinus floor elevation with Bio-Oss collagen compared with no grafting material. Forty healthy patients were randomly allocated to Bio-Oss collagen or no grafting material. Oral health-related quality of life was assessed by Oral Health Impact Profile-14 at enrollment. Patient’s perception of recovery was assessed by self-administrated questionnaires and visual analog scale evaluating pain, social and working isolation, physical appearance, duration and quality of life alterations, eating and speaking ability, diet variations, and sleep impairment after 1 week and 1 month, respectively. Descriptive statistics was expressed as mean percentage with standard deviation. Correlation between impaired oral health-related quality of life, age, gender, and recovery were assessed by T test. Level of significance was 0.05.

Results
Osteotome-mediated sinus floor elevation is associated with high patient satisfaction, limited postoperative discomfort, and willingness to undergo similar surgery. Influence on patient’s daily life activities seems to be minimal and limited to the first postoperative days. Most patients managed to return to work and their routine daily activities after 0-2 days. Impaired preoperative oral health-related quality of life, gender, or younger age seems not to predispose for delayed recovery. However, number of days with pain, eating difficulties, and sleep disturbances were significantly increased with Bio-Oss collagen compared with no grafting material (P<0.05).

Conclusion
Patient’s discomfort seems to be minimal and limited to the first postoperative days following osteotome-mediated sinus floor elevation with or without a grafting material. Impaired preoperative oral health-related quality of life, gender, or younger age seems not to predispose for delayed recovery.
Adaptive sample size determination for the development of clinical prediction models
Authors: Christodoulou Evangelia , van Smeden Maarten , Edlinger Michael , Timmerman Dirk , Wanitschek Maria , Steyerberg Ewout W. , Van Calster Ben 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBackgroundWe suggest an adaptive sample size calculation method for developing clinical prediction models, in which model performance is monitored sequentially as new data comes in.MethodsWe illustrate the approach using data for the diagnosis of ovarian cancer (n= 5914, 33% event fraction) and obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD;n= 4888, 44% event fraction). We used logistic regression to develop a prediction model consisting only of a priori selected predictors and assumed linear relations for continuous predictors. We mimicked prospective patient recruitment by developing the model on 100 randomly selected patients, and we used bootstrapping to internally validate the model. We sequentially added 50 random new patients until we reached a sample size of 3000 and re-estimated model performance at each step. We examined the required sample size for satisfying the following stopping rule: obtaining a calibration slope ≥ 0.9 and optimism in the c-statistic (or AUC) < = 0.02 at two consecutive sample sizes. This procedure was repeated 500 times. We also investigated the impact of alternative modeling strategies: modeling nonlinear relations for continuous predictors and correcting for bias on the model estimates (Firth’s correction).ResultsBetter discrimination was achieved in the ovarian cancer data (c-statistic 0.9 with 7 predictors) than in the CAD data (c-statistic 0.7 with 11 predictors). Adequate calibration and limited optimism in discrimination was achieved after a median of 450 patients (interquartile range 450–500) for the ovarian cancer data (22 events per parameter (EPP), 20–24) and 850 patients (750–900) for the CAD data (33 EPP, 30–35). A stricter criterion, requiring AUC optimism < = 0.01, was met with a median of 500 (23 EPP) and 1500 (59 EPP) patients, respectively. These sample sizes were much higher than the well-known 10 EPP rule of thumb and slightly higher than a recently published fixed sample size calculation method by Riley et al. Higher sample sizes were required when nonlinear relationships were modeled, and lower sample sizes when Firth’s correction was used.ConclusionsAdaptive sample size determination can be a useful supplement to fixed a priori sample size calculations, because it allows to tailor the sample size to the specific prediction modeling context in a dynamic fashion.
Tumor extracellular matrix: lessons from the second-harmonic generation microscopy
Authors: de Andrade Natal Rodrigo , Adur Javier , Cesar Carlos Lenz , Vassallo José 
Published: March 2021

AbstractExtracellular matrix (ECM) represents more than a mere intercellular cement. It is physiologically active in cell communication, adhesion and proliferation. Collagen is the most abundant protein, making up to 90% of ECM, and 30% of total protein weight in humans. Second-harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy represents an important tool to study collagen organization of ECM in freshly unfixed tissues and paraffin-embedded tissue samples. This manuscript aims to review some of the applications of SHG microscopy in Oncologic Pathology, mainly in the study of ECM of epithelial tumors. It is shown how collagen parameters measured by this technique can aid in the differential diagnosis and in prognostic stratification. There is a tendency to associate higher amount, lower organization and higher linearity of collagen fibers with tumor progression and metastasizing. These represent complex processes, in which matrix remodeling plays a central role, together with cancer cell genetic modifications. Integration of studies on cancer cell biology and ECM are highly advantageous to give us a more complete picture of these processes. As microscopic techniques provide topographic information allied with biologic characteristics of tissue components, they represent important tools for a more complete understanding of cancer progression. In this context, SHG has provided significant insights in human tumor specimens, readily available for Pathologists.
Fish predation on corals promotes the dispersal of coral symbionts
Authors: Grupstra Carsten G. B. , Rabbitt Kristen M. , Howe-Kerr Lauren I. , Correa Adrienne M. S. 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background
The microbiomes of foundation (habitat-forming) species such as corals and sponges underpin the biodiversity, productivity, and stability of ecosystems. Consumers shape communities of foundation species through trophic interactions, but the role of consumers in dispersing the microbiomes of such species is rarely examined. For example, stony corals rely on a nutritional symbiosis with single-celled endosymbiotic dinoflagellates (family Symbiodiniaceae) to construct reefs. Most corals acquire Symbiodiniaceae from the environment, but the processes that make Symbiodiniaceae available for uptake are not resolved. Here, we provide the first comprehensive, reef-scale demonstration that predation by diverse coral-eating (corallivorous) fish species promotes the dispersal of Symbiodiniaceae, based on symbiont cell densities and community compositions from the feces of four obligate corallivores, three facultative corallivores, two grazer/detritivores as well as samples of reef sediment and water.

Results
Obligate corallivore feces are environmental hotspots of Symbiodiniaceae cells: live symbiont cell concentrations in such feces are 5–7 orders of magnitude higher than sediment and water environmental reservoirs. Symbiodiniaceae community compositions in the feces of obligate corallivores are similar to those in two locally abundant coral genera (Pocillopora and Porites), but differ from Symbiodiniaceae communities in the feces of facultative corallivores and grazer/detritivores as well as sediment and water. Combining our data on live Symbiodiniaceae cell densities in feces with in situ observations of fish, we estimate that some obligate corallivorous fish species release over 100 million Symbiodiniaceae cells per 100 m2 of reef per day. Released corallivore feces came in direct contact with coral colonies in the fore reef zone following 91% of observed egestion events, providing a potential mechanism for the transfer of live Symbiodiniaceae cells among coral colonies.

Conclusions
Taken together, our findings show that fish predation on corals may support the maintenance of coral cover on reefs in an unexpected way: through the dispersal of beneficial coral symbionts in corallivore feces. Few studies examine the processes that make symbionts available to foundation species, or how environmental reservoirs of such symbionts are replenished. This work sets the stage for parallel studies of consumer-mediated microbiome dispersal and assembly in other sessile, habitat-forming species.
Atomistic electronic structure in the single-chain limit of organic conductors
Authors: Craco L. , Carara S. S. 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Using density functional dynamical mean-field theory we show how electronic interactions can tune a dispersive band structure such that it develops atomistic Landau-Fermi liquidness. Thereby, we show how a relaxed single chain with electron densities slightly below half filling can improve orbital selectivity with coexisting metallic and semiconducting states. Our setup provides a well-controlled environment at the atomistic scale to understand the principles behind orbital-selective electronic reconstruction and the interplay between electron interactions and local electron-hole doping in the single-chain limit of organic conductors.
“The Blackness of Darkness”
Authors: Cohen Lara Langer 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
This article considers Kentucky’s Mammoth Cave as an unexpected site for nineteenth-century theorizations of racialized Blackness. Mammoth Cave became a major tourist attraction in the 1840s, generating a host of guidebooks, travel accounts, magazine illustrations, panoramas, newspaper articles, and fiction. Crucial to its fame was the fact that the guides who led visitors through the cave were enslaved men. This article argues that white writers responded to the guides’ knowledge of the cave by reframing it as affinity. In doing so, they transformed Mammoth Cave’s subterranean darkness into a manifestation of racialized Blackness. But the writers’ racialization of Mammoth Cave also had a tendency to slip out of their control. As they associated its spatial darkness with racialized Blackness, the literal underground of Mammoth Cave flickered into an underground that was more than literal—a mysterious Black formation, of unguessed dimensions and certain danger, beneath the world as they knew it. Finally, the article asks what we can glean from the literature of Mammoth Cave about the body of Black thought it sought to disavow: the alternative relations between race and the underground that the guides theorized through their own subterranean explorations.
Investigation and management of iron deficiency anaemia in a specialist palliative care setting and the role of intravenous iron: a descriptive analysis of hospice data
Authors: Steele Thomas , Bonwick Helen , Nwosu Amara Callistus , Chapman Laura 
Published: March 2021

Background: Anaemia is common in hospice populations and associated with significant symptom burden. Guidelines recommend investigating for and treating iron deficiency (ID), but there is little evidence of this practice in palliative care populations. This report describes the results of investigations for and subsequent management of ID in a UK hospice. Methods: This is a descriptive study of routine clinical data. Laboratory and clinical records were reviewed retrospectively for 12 months following the implementation, in August 2018, of routine investigation for ID amongst patients with clinically relevant anaemia in whom treatment would be considered. Absolute (AID) and functional iron deficiency (FID) were diagnosed using established definitions and treatments recorded. Results: Iron status was evaluated in 112 cases, representing 25/110 (22.7%) of those with mild, 46/76 (60.5%) moderate and 41/54 (75.9%) severe anaemia. Twenty-eight (25%) were defined as having AID, 48 (42.8%) FID and 36 (32%) no ID. There was a significant difference between groups in symptoms triggering haemoglobin check and diagnosis, with a higher proportion of patients with classic symptoms of anaemia and gastrointestinal malignancy in those with AID. Intravenous iron was given on 12 occasions in the hospice with no major adverse events. Subjective symptom benefit in 7 cases and a statistically significant increase in overall mean haemoglobin were observed. Conclusions: This report describes the outcome of investigations for iron deficiency in patients with clinically significant anaemia in a UK hospice. Results indicate iron deficiency is common and can be safely treated with intravenous iron replacement, within current guidelines, in a hospice setting. Further research should define the optimum use of this approach in palliative care patients.
Developing a Minimum Data Set for a congenital abnormalities surveillance programme in Rwanda – a modified e-Delphi consensus study
Authors: Uwineza Annette , Muhorakeye Aline , Hitayezu Janvier , Cartledge Peter Thomas 
Published: March 2021

Background: In 2015 it was reported that approximately 300,000 newborns die within four weeks of birth every year, worldwide, due to congenital anomalies. This represents approximately 11% of neonatal deaths. This has led scientists, clinicians and public health authorities to establish congenital abnormality registries (CARs). There is currently no CAR in Rwanda. In establishing such a registry, it was determined that the first step was to identify the Minimum Data Set (MDS) of items/variables and outcomes for the registry to ensure that the final results are meaningful and employable. This study aimed to use Delphi consensus methods to identify a methodologically robust MDS for a congenital abnormality surveillance programme in Rwanda. Methods: A three-round, modified Delphi study was undertaken between April and June 2017. Round 1 was a literature and internet search followed by an open and closed question round with experts in Rounds 2 and 3, respectively. Results: An initial draft MDS of 134 items was created from a review of 15 African studies and 14 international repository tools including the European Surveillance of Congenital Anomalies and the World Health Organization surveillance guidance. In total, 36 and 34 eligible participants were included in Rounds 2 and 3, respectively. A total of 32 new items were added by participants in Round 2. 103 items met the pre-defined consensus criteria and made up the final MDS in Round 3. Conclusions: This is the first Minimum Data Set for a congenital abnormality surveillance programme in an African nation identified in the literature. The next stage is to field-test the surveillance programme using passive case-finding in teaching hospitals in Rwanda.