bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Groundwater subsidizes tree growth and transpiration in sandy humid forests
Authors: Ciruzzi Dominick M. , Loheide Steven P. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractAs drought variability increases in forests around the globe, it is critical to evaluate and understand ecosystem attributes that ameliorate drought impacts. Trees in arid and semi‐arid ecosystems can sustain tree growth and transpiration during drought by accessing shallow groundwater, yet the extent to which groundwater influences forest growth and transpiration in humid environments has largely been unexplored. We quantified groundwater's influence on tree growth and transpiration in northern humid forests with sandy soils. We hypothesized that even in wet regions, soil droughts occur relatively frequently in forests with sandy soils and result in water stress and reduced tree growth. Further, we hypothesized these reductions in productivity are ameliorated if the forest can access shallow groundwater during dry conditions. We evaluated tree growth responses using tree cores in Pinus resinosa trees and estimated forest groundwater use from diel water table fluctuations across sites covering a 1‐ to 9‐m depth‐to‐groundwater (DTG) gradient. In areas of shallow groundwater (DTG < 2.5 m), we observed twice as much tree growth and high, frequent groundwater use (up to 81% of non‐rainy summer days). Groundwater's influence on tree growth and transpiration declined as groundwater deepened along the DTG gradient in the range 1–5 m below land surface. These findings suggest that water provided by a shallow water table subsidizes evapotranspiration in humid forests and results in enhanced tree growth. Our research provides a basis for understanding the role of groundwater in conferring drought resistance in humid forests to help guide sustainable water and forest management decisions.
A seed–seedling conflict forAtriplex polycarpashrubs competing with exotic grasses and their residual dry matter
Authors: Coleman Mitchell L. , Mayence C. Ellery , White Michael D. , Jacobsen Anna L. , Pratt R. Brandon 
Published: April 2021

AbstractNative saltbush,Atriplex polycarpa, shrub populations are widely diminished and fragmented in the southern San Joaquin Desert of California due to habitat conversion and invasion by exotic annual grasses of mostly Mediterranean origin. The role these grasses play in saltbush population demography is not well understood. We hypothesized that saltbush seedling recruitment and growth is limited by the competitive interactions with exotic grasses, preventing saltbush stands from maintaining their populations and expanding. We predicted that saltbush seedling recruitment would be reduced by (1) light and moisture competition with the grasses; and (2) the physical barrier of grass residual dry matter (RDM) formed during senescence. To test our predictions, we investigated saltbush seedling recruitment under field conditions across six saltbush populations. We examined how variations in edaphic structure and water availability by site may have affected saltbush seedling recruitment and longer‐term population dynamics. In experimental plots where saltbush seeds were sowed, exotic grass RDM reduced saltbush seedling emergence compared to seeds sown in the absence of RDM; competition post‐emergence was not significant. Saltbush seedlings transplanted into the field had lower mortality and less herbivory in invaded grassy habitats compared to seedlings planted in bare zones in between established, mature saltbush shrubs. Edaphic variation and water availability by site were likely key factors affecting the success of both grass invasion and saltbush recruitment. Our results suggest that there is a seed–seedling conflict: Sites favorable for saltbush seedling emergence (minimal grass cover among mature shrubs) are unfavorable for seedling survival due to high herbivory. Conversely, sites favorable for saltbush seedling survival (high grass coverage away from mature shrubs) are unfavorable for seedling emergence. The RDM produced by grasses represents an important stabilizing feedback favoring continued grass dominance.
Transcriptional signatures associated with rubella virus‐specific humoral immunity after a third dose of MMR vaccine in women of childbearing age
Authors: Haralambieva Iana H. , Eberhard Katherine G. , Ovsyannikova Inna G. , Grill Diane E. , Schaid Daniel J. , Kennedy Richard B. , Poland Gregory A. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractMultiple factors linked to host genetics/inherent biology play a role in interindividual variability in immune response outcomes after rubella vaccination. In order to identify these factors, we conducted a study of rubella‐specific humoral immunity before (Baseline) and after (Day 28) a third dose of MMR‐II vaccine in a cohort of 109 women of childbearing age. We performed mRNA‐Seq profiling of PBMCs after rubella virus in vitro stimulation to delineate genes associated with post‐vaccination rubella humoral immunity and to define genes mediating the association between prior immune response status (high or low antibody) and subsequent immune response outcome. Our study identified novel genes that mediated the association between prior immune response and neutralizing antibody titer after a third MMR vaccine dose. These genes included the following: CDC34; CSNK1D; APOBEC3F; RAD18; AAAS; SLC37A1; FAS; and JAK2. The encoded proteins are involved in innate antiviral response, IFN/cytokine signaling, B cell repertoire generation, the clonal selection of B lymphocytes in germinal centers, and somatic hypermutation/antibody affinity maturation to promote optimal antigen‐specific B cell immune function. These data advance our understanding of how subjects’ prior immune status and/or genetic propensity to respond to rubella/MMR vaccination ultimately affects innate immunity and humoral immune outcomes after vaccination.
Catalytic Enantioselective Rotation of Watermill‐Shaped Dinuclear Pd Complexes
Authors: Komiya Naruyoshi , Ikeshita Masahiro , Tosaki Koichi , Sato Atsushi , Itami Nao , Naota Takeshi 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThe catalytic enantioselective rotation of double‐paddled, watermill‐shaped palladium complexes is described in this report. The achiral syn‐ and chiral anti‐forms of binuclear trans‐bis(salicylaldiminato)palladium(II) complexes doubly linked with polymethylene bridges (1) were synthesized and subsequently characterized by spectroscopic and single crystal XRD analyses. The heptamethylene‐linked complex 1 b undergoes highly controllable rotation between the achiral syn and chiral anti‐forms at ambient temperature, while the hexamethylene‐linked analogue 1 a does not exhibit this rotational motion under the same conditions, due to its shorter bridges, and 1 c (with octamethylene linkers) undergoes uncontrollable rapid rotation even at lower temperatures. The kinetics of the dynamic rotation of syn‐1 b to the anti‐isomer in solution were examined on the basis of 1H NMR analyses. The data showed that the rotational rate can be greatly modified by varying the solvent or adding a carboxylic acid. The enantioselective rotation of syn‐1 b can be induced using a catalytic amount of (2R,3R)‐2,3‐bis(3,5‐dimethylbenzoyl)tartaric acid (2 a) to afford (R)‐anti‐1 b, with an initial enantiomeric excess of 63 % ee and an equilibrium value of 27 % ee. Curve fitting of data for the parallel reversible transformations of syn‐1 b to (R) and (S)‐anti‐1 b gave the forward and reverse first‐order rate constants k1, k−1 (for syn to (R)‐anti), k2 and k−2 (syn‐ to (S)‐anti), and verified that the enantioselective nature of the present catalytic enantioselective rotation is controlled kinetically during the initial stage (k1>k2) and thermodynamically in the equilibrium state (k1/k−1>k2/k−2). The specific changes induced in the transition states in response to the use of various solvents and adducts are discussed herein on the basis of the activation parameters for the rotation of syn‐1 b, as determined from plots of the kinetic data as functions of time.
Encapsulated NiCo2S4‐based straight bamboo‐shaped N‐CNT as efficient and stable oxygen electrocatalysts
Authors: Gao Cunyuan , Ma Kongshuo , Zhao Zhenlu 
Published: April 2021

AbstractDeveloping highly effective and stable non‐precious bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts is crucial and challenging. Herein, we report nano‐mediated straight bamboo‐shaped nitrogen‐doped carbon nanotubes modified with encapsulated NiCo2S4‐based nanoparticles (E‐NiCo2S4/SBS‐NCNTs) by electrodeposition and procedural calcination strategy, in which nitrogen‐doped carbon nanotubes with straight bamboo shape (SBS‐NCNTs) show more average diameter and encapsulated NiCo2S4‐based nanoparticles (E‐NiCo2S4) are coated by carbon, and what makes us even more excited is that they are evenly dispersed on SBS‐NCNTs surface, not just at the tip or inside. When applied for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), E‐NiCo2S4/SBS‐NCNTs show excellent catalytic activity, and onset potential (Eonset) in OER and ORR is only 1.52 V and 0.95 V (vs. RHE) in 0.1 M KOH, respectively. More importantly, the hybrids exhibit good methanol tolerance, with almost unchanged for ORR performance after adding 0.5 M methanol, and it has highly stability, the current density dropped by 22% after 7 h of reaction. The interaction of NiCo2S4 with the external carbon layer can greatly enhance the electrocatalytic activity toward the OER and it has a complete 4e– reaction process toward the ORR. The excellent electrocatalytic activity is mainly due to synergistic enhancement effect, in which SBS‐NCNTs with highly catalytic activity provide good conductivity, expose more active sites and promotes fast mass transfer; Carbon‐coated NiCo2S4‐based nanoparticles can improve the local work function of SBS‐NCNT through synergistic electronic interaction, promoting O2 adsorption, ensure rapid electron transport, and enable SBS‐NCNT to improve its electrocatalytic activity. Because of the weakness of Ostwald effect and synergistic enhancement, the stability and catalytic activity of NiCo2S4‐based nanoparticles can be greatly improved. All these advantages can synergistically improve the electrocatalytic efficiency and make it become one of the most promising bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts.
Measurement and analysis of the scattering properties of cement surfaces of urban environment in the millimeter waveband
Authors: Hou Chunzhi , Wu Zhensen , Wu Jiaji , Lu Changsheng , Zhang Rui , Lin Leke , Zhao Qiang , Cao Yunhua 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThe use of the low‐frequency scattering coefficient leads to inaccurate receiving‐power predictions in the millimeter‐wave band. The inaccurate signal will hinder optimization of the base station location. In the millimeter waveband, a building surface becomes rougher in an urban environment. The scattering becomes increasingly significant and a non‐negligible factor. In this article, the scattering characteristics of rough cement wall surfaces are studied to improve the scattering coefficients for millimeter waveband communications. The ray tracing method is adopted, and the lambertian and directive models are incorporated into this method, respectively. Moreover, the signal distributions of rough cement wall surfaces are acquired through an outdoor experiment at different incidence angles. The results reveal that the scatterings that are embedded into ray tracing are better than those which were not considered in the ray tracing, compared with the experiment. The directive model agrees more with the measurements than the lambertian model. The scattering coefficientSand exponentαRof the directive model are 0.19 and 1 in the millimeter waveband, respectively, which disagree with the results at low frequencies. The scattering properties can be applied to simulate signal propagation in urban environments to improve the reliability of mobile telecommunication systems.
Performance of fire breaks installed within EPS‐insulated façade systems
Authors: Lalu Octavian , Lennon Tom , Darmon Ruxandra , Anghel Ion 
Published: April 2021

SummaryExternal Thermal Insulation Composite Systems (ETICS) are used in most European countries for the thermal rehabilitation of existing buildings or as a method to improve the thermal performance of new constructions. This paper describes an ad‐hoc intermediate‐scale experimental study to evaluate the behavior of ETIC systems in case of a fire and shows the impact of different positions and types of fire breaks on global performance. The intention of this experimental intermediate scale methodology is to be used as a screening test and not to replace or reproduce the large‐scale testing regime. The results of this study show that interruption of the combustible insulation may have a contribution in limiting the vertical fire spread and can significantly reduce the damaged area affected by the heat exposure.
“We are not named”: Black women and the politics of citation in anthropology
Authors: Smith Christen A. , Garrett‐Scott Dominique 
Published: April 2021

AbstractBlack women anthropologists are not cited within the discipline at a rate consistent with our scholarly production and visibility in the field. Despite our training, practice, and prolific writing, authors who publish in top‐tier anthropology journals rarely cite Black women. This citational absence reveals a paradox: although Black women play key roles in the discipline as leaders and service providers, our intellectual contributions are undervalued. We are symbolically visible yet academically eclipsed. This article examines the epistemological erasure of Black women's contributions to anthropology in the United States. Through a pilot study, we measure Black women's citation rates in some of the highest ranked anthropology journals (according to impact factor). Moving away from a one‐dimensional gender analysis toward a two‐dimensional, intersectional analysis that analyzes race and gender, we find that Black women are underrepresented in citations in top‐tier anthropology journals relative to their absolute representation in the field. This reveals a significant and disturbing trend: Black women anthropologists are rarely cited in top‐tier anthropology journals, and in the rare instances they are cited, they are cited by other Black anthropologists. There is a need for an intersectional analysis of the politics of power and inequality in anthropology, one that not only pays attention to gender discrimination but also racial discrimination.
Inhibition of oxidative stress and apoptosis by camel milk mitigates cyclosporine‐induced nephrotoxicity: Targeting Nrf2/HO‐1 and AKT/eNOS/NO pathways
Authors: Arab Hany H. , Eid Ahmed H. , Gad Amany M. , Yahia Rania , Mahmoud Ayman M. , Kabel Ahmed M. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractCyclosporine (CsA) is a widely used immunosuppressive agent that incurs marked nephrotoxicity in the clinical setting. Thus, there is a need for finding safe/effective agents that can attenuate CsA‐induced kidney injury. Meanwhile, the underlying mechanisms for CsA‐associated nephrotoxicity are inadequately investigated, in particular, the AKT/eNOS/NO pathway. Here, the present work aimed to explore the potential of camel milk, a natural product with distinguished antioxidant/anti‐inflammatory actions, to ameliorate CsA‐induced nephrotoxicity in rats. The molecular mechanisms related to renal oxidative aberrations and apoptosis were studied, including Nrf2/HO‐1 and AKT/eNOS/NO pathways. The kidney tissues were inspected using histopathology, ELISA, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. The present findings demonstrated that camel milk (10 ml/kg) significantly lowered creatine, BUN, and NGAL nephrotoxicity markers and the aberrant histopathology, with similar efficacy to the reference quercetin. Moreover, camel milk suppressed the renal oxidative stress, as evidenced by significantly lowering NOX‐1 and lipid peroxides and significantly augmenting the renal antioxidant moieties (GSH, GPx, and SOD), thereby, driving the restoration of Nrf2/HO‐1 pathway. Meanwhile, camel milk counteracted the pro‐apoptotic reactions by significantly lowering Bax protein expression, caspase‐3 activity/cleavage, and PARP cleavage, alongside significantly increasing the expression of the proliferation signal PCNA. Regarding the anti‐apoptotic AKT/eNOS/NO pathway, camel milk activated its signaling by significantly increasing the protein expression of PI3Kp110, p‐AKT(Ser473)/total AKT, and p‐eNOS (Ser1177)/total eNOS besides significantly boosting the renoprotective NO levels. In conclusion, these findings reveal that camel milk may be a promising candidate for the alleviation of CsA‐induced nephrotoxicity.
Perivenous Stellate Cells Are the Main Source of Myofibroblasts and Cancer‐Associated Fibroblasts Formed After Chronic Liver Injuries
Authors: Wang Shan‐Shan , Tang Xinyu Thomas , Lin Minghui , Yuan Jia , Peng Yi Jacky , Yin Xiujuan , Shang GuoGuo , Ge Gaoxiang , Ren Zhenggang , Zhou Bo O. 
Published: April 2021

Background and Aims
Studies of the identity and pathophysiology of fibrogenic HSCs have been hampered by a lack of genetic tools that permit specific and inducible fate‐mapping of these cells in vivo. Here, by single‐cell RNA sequencing of nonparenchymal cells from mouse liver, we identified transcription factor 21 (Tcf21) as a unique marker that restricted its expression to quiescent HSCs.

Approach and Results
Tracing Tcf21
+ cells by Tcf21‐CreER (Cre‐Estrogen Receptor fusion protein under the control of Tcf21 gene promoter) targeted ~10% of all HSCs, most of which were located at periportal and pericentral zones. These HSCs were quiescent under steady state but became activated on injuries, generating 62%‐67% of all myofibroblasts in fibrotic livers and ~85% of all cancer‐associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in liver tumors. Conditional deletion of Transforming Growth Factor Beta Receptor 2 (Tgfbr2) by Tcf21‐CreER blocked HSC activation, compromised liver fibrosis, and inhibited liver tumor progression.

Conclusions
In conclusion, Tcf21‐CreER–targeted perivenous stellate cells are the main source of myofibroblasts and CAFs in chronically injured livers. TGF‐β signaling links HSC activation to liver fibrosis and tumorigenesis.
Employment outcomes and job satisfaction of international public health professionals: What lessons for public health and COVID‐19 pandemic preparedness? Employment outcomes of public health graduates
Authors: Treviño‐Reyna Goel , Czabanowska Katarzyna , Haque Sharmi , Plepys Christine M. , Magaña Laura , Middleton John 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThe profile of public health professionals (PHPs) and COVID‐19 preparedness is assessed against the employment outcomes (EO), precarious employment (PE), and job satisfaction (JS) of the European Public Health Master programme alumni. The study is descriptive, cross‐sectional, conducted from May‐October 2020. A survey was developed to assess the EO, PE and JS. Participants were recruited by email. SPSS statistics 26 version was used to perform descriptive analysis. A total of 189 PHPs participated (65% response) with majority women (66%), the mean age was 36 years. Participants were employed (80%), in non‐governmental organisations (20%), and academia (19%). Common employment positions were managerial (37%) and consultancy (18%). Majority of PHPs were exposed to PE (81%), the most frequent elements were ‘temporary employment’ (54%), and ‘the lack of labour union’ (53%). The JS of PHPs was ‘satisfied’. A blend of scientific public health knowledge and interpersonal competencies, reforms in current employment conditions, development of professional entities to safeguard PHPs' rights, and continuous investment in public health is necessary for PHPs to strengthen COVID‐19 pandemic preparedness. Furthermore, monitoring and evaluation of EO and JS are crucial to prepare PHPs according to the needs of the employment market and to be aware of PHPs' needs.
Health workforce management in the context of the COVID‐19 pandemic: A survey of physicians in Serbia
Authors: Dinić Milan , Šantrić Milićević Milena , Mandić‐Rajčević Stefan , Tripković Katica 
Published: April 2021

AbstractBackground & AimThe study describes the experiences and opinions of Serbian physicians regarding workforce management during the COVID‐19 pandemic.Materials & MethodsA total of 1553 licensed physicians (65% males; average age 44.0 years) responded to an online survey in September 2020. Differences in the respondents' general data and attitudes regarding workforce management and outbreak preparedness in Serbia were analysed in relation to their engagement during the COVID‐19 pandemic (Pearson χ2 and the independent samples t‐test, p < 0.05). The logistic regression model explained the need for changing health workforce management.ResultsThe results reveal that the physicians engaged in the fight against the spread of COVID‐19 (64.4% of the respondents) more often than their counterparts, were clinicians from the public sector, younger, with less work experience, influenced negatively by the pandemic, and reassigned to other positions (p < 0.001). Health workers dissatisfied with workplace preparedness and those reassigned due to COVID‐19 were by 2.61 times and 1.38 times, respectively, more likely than their counterparts to consider changes in health workforce management.Discussion & ConclusionCOVID‐19 underlines the need for changes in health workforce management during public health emergencies. An internal incident management team and a panel of external experts may support health workforce management during the prolonged and rapidly changing crises.
COVID‐19 Rumination Scale (C‐19RS): Initial psychometric evidence in a sample of Dutch employees
Authors: Nikolova Irina , Caniëls Marjolein C. J. , Curseu Petru L. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractObjectivesStarting with the spring of 2020, COVID‐19 pandemic has impacted nearly every aspect of our lives. Due to its threatening nature, along with the rapid rise in contamination and mortality figures, the spread of the virus has caused a considerable rise in individuals' anxieties. To enable the assessment of the COVID‐19‐triggered individual rumination, we developed and tested a COVID‐19 Rumination Scale (C‐19RS).Design and MethodsDemographics (i.e., gender, age and education) and several items assessing the proximity of one's exposure to the virus (i.e., whether one's family and close friends are affected) were evaluated as antecedents of C‐19RS that provided evidence for the criterion validity of the scale. A sample of 523 Dutch employees working in different companies and sectors completed the online survey in March 2020.ResultsResults showed that women, older individuals and workers with lower educational level ruminated considerably more about COVID‐19. In keeping with prior theoretical and empirical work on stress and coping, we established that COVID‐19 ruminative thoughts can unlock withdrawal coping reactions (i.e., self‐handicapping) and drain individual's energy (i.e., causing emotional exhaustion), whereby providing evidence for the predictive validity of the new instrument. In addition, we examined how the COVID‐19 rumination evolved during the nearly 3‐week period of the data collection, a time‐frame that coincided with the introduction of the national restrictive measures in the Netherlands. Results showed a drop in the level of rumination, which might be indicative of potential habituation with the stressor.ConclusionsThe results supported the sound psychometric qualities of the scale.