bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Joint modeling of zero‐inflated longitudinal proportions and time‐to‐event data with application to a gut microbiome study
Authors: Hu Jiyuan , Wang Chan , Blaser Martin J. , Li Huilin 
Published: July 2021

AbstractRecent studies have suggested that the temporal dynamics of the human microbiome may have associations with human health and disease. An increasing number of longitudinal microbiome studies, which record time to disease onset, aim to identify candidate microbes as biomarkers for prognosis. Owing to the ultra‐skewness and sparsity of microbiome proportion (relative abundance) data, directly applying traditional statistical methods may result in substantial power loss or spurious inferences. We propose a novel joint modeling framework [JointMM], which is comprised of two sub‐models: a longitudinal sub‐model called zero‐inflated scaled‐beta generalized linear mixed‐effects regression to depict the temporal structure of microbial proportions among subjects; and a survival sub‐model to characterize the occurrence of an event and its relationship with the longitudinal microbiome proportions. JointMM is specifically designed to handle the zero‐inflated and highly skewed longitudinal microbial proportion data and examine whether the temporal pattern of microbial presence and/or the nonzero microbial proportions are associated with differences in the time to an event. The longitudinal sub‐model of JointMM also provides the capacity to investigate how the (time‐varying) covariates are related to the temporal microbial presence/absence patterns and/or the changing trend in nonzero proportions. Comprehensive simulations and real data analyses are used to assess the statistical efficiency and interpretability of JointMM.
Humoral response rate and predictors of response to BNT162b2 mRNA COVID19 vaccine in patients with multiple myeloma
Authors: Avivi Irit , Balaban Roi , Shragai Tamir , Sheffer Gabi , Morales Miguel , Aharon Anat , Lowenton‐Spier Noa , Trestman Svetlana , Perry Chava , Benyamini Noam , Mittelman Moshe , Tabib Yaara , Bar Lev Tali , Zavaro Mor , Herishanu Yair , Luttwak Efrat , Cohen Yael C. 
Published: July 2021

SummaryMultiple myeloma (MM) patients are at excess risk for clinically significant COVID19 infection. BNT162b2 mRNA COVID19 (BNT162b2) vaccine provides effective protection against COVID19 for the general population, yet its effect in MM patients may be compromised due to disease and therapy‐related factors and was not yet evaluated. This single‐centre prospective study included MM patients tested for serological response 14–21 days post second vaccine. Vaccinated healthy volunteers served as controls. In all, 171 MM patients, median age 70 (38–94) were included; 159 active MM and 12 smouldering myeloma (SMM). Seropositive response rate (median titer) was 76% (91 U/ml) in active MM patients vs 98% (992 U/ml) in the 64 controls (P < 0·0001), and 100% (822 U/ml) in SMM patients. Multivariate analysis revealed older age (P = 0·009), exposure to ≥4 novel anti‐myeloma drugs (P = 0·02) and hypogammaglobulinaemia (P = 0·002) were associated with lower response rates. None of the novel agents significantly decreased response rate, whereas daratumumab trended towards reduced response (P = 0·08). Adverse events occurred in 53% and 55% of the MM patients and controls, respectively, all transient grade 1–2. In conclusion, BNT162b2 vaccine was safe and provided a high seropositivity rate in MM patients, independent of treatment type. Older, hypogammaglobulinaemic and heavily pretreated patients had lower response rates.
The effects of increasing fruit and vegetable intake in children with asthma: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Berthon Bronwyn S. , McLoughlin Rebecca F. , Jensen Megan E. , Hosseini Banafshe , Williams Evan J. , Baines Katherine J. , Taylor Steven L. , Rogers Geraint B. , Ivey Kerry L. , Morten Matthew , Da Silva Sena Carla R. , Collison Adam M. , Starkey Malcolm R. , Mattes Joerg , Wark Peter A. B. , Wood Lisa G. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractBackgroundA high fruit and vegetable (F&V) diet reduces asthma exacerbations in adults; this has not been examined in children to date.ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of a 6‐month, high F&V diet on the time to first asthma exacerbation in children with asthma, in a parallel‐group, randomized, controlled trial.MethodsChildren (aged 3–11 years) with asthma, history of exacerbations and usual low F&V intake (≤3 serves/day) were randomized to the intervention (high F&V diet) or control group (usual diet) for 6 months. The primary outcome was time to first exacerbation requiring medical intervention. Secondary outcomes included exacerbation rate, lung function, plasma TNF‐α, CRP, and IL‐6, faecal microbiota and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity and G‐protein coupled receptor (GPR) 41/43 and HDAC (1–11) expression.Results67 children were randomized between September 2015 and July 2018. F&V intake (difference in change (∆): 3.5 serves/day, 95% CI: [2.6, 4.4] p < 0.001) and plasma total carotenoids (∆: 0.44 µg/ml [0.19, 0.70] p = 0.001) increased after 6 months (intervention vs control). Time to first exacerbation (HR: 0.81, 95% CI: [0.38, 1.69], p = 0.569; control vs. intervention) and exacerbation rate (IRR: 0.84, [0.47, 1.49], p = 0.553; control vs. intervention) were similar between groups. In per‐protocol analysis, airway reactance z‐scores increased in the intervention versus control group (X5 ∆: 0.76 [0.04, 1.48] p = 0.038, X20 ∆: 0.93 [0.23, 1.64] p = 0.009) and changes in faecal microbiota were observed though there was no difference between groups in systemic inflammation or molecular mechanisms. In the control group, CRP and HDAC enzyme activity increased, while GPR41 expression decreased. No adverse events attributable to the interventions were observed.Conclusion & Clinical RelevanceA high F&V diet did not affect asthma exacerbations over the 6‐month intervention, though warrants further investigation as a strategy for improving lung function and protecting against systemic inflammation in children with asthma.
Half‐body Portrait Relighting with Overcomplete Lighting Representation
Authors: Song Guoxian , Cham Tat‐Jen , Cai Jianfei , Zheng Jianmin 
Published: July 2021

AbstractWe present a neural‐based model for relighting a half‐body portrait image by simply referring to another portrait image with the desired lighting condition. Rather than following classical inverse rendering methodology that involves estimating normals, albedo and environment maps, we implicitly encode the subject and lighting in a latent space, and use these latent codes to generate relighted images by neural rendering. A key technical innovation is the use of a novel overcomplete lighting representation, which facilitates lighting interpolation in the latent space, as well as helping regularize the self‐organization of the lighting latent space during training. In addition, we propose a novel multiplicative neural render that more effectively combines the subject and lighting latent codes for rendering. We also created a large‐scale photorealistic rendered relighting dataset for training, which allows our model to generalize well to real images. Extensive experiments demonstrate that our system not only outperforms existing methods for referral‐based portrait relighting, but also has the capability generate sequences of relighted images via lighting rotations.
Reversing a tyranny of cascading shoreline‐protection decisions driving coastal habitat loss
Authors: Gittman Rachel K. , Scyphers Steven B. , Baillie Christopher J. , Brodmerkel Anna , Grabowski Jonathan H. , Livernois Mariah , Poray Abigail K. , Smith Carter S. , Fodrie F. Joel 
Published: July 2021

AbstractShoreline hardening is a major driver of biodiversity and habitat loss in coastal ecosystems yet remains a common approach to coastal management globally. Using surveys of waterfront residents in North Carolina, USA, we sought to identify factors influencing individual shore‐protection decisions and ultimately impacting coastal ecosystems, particularly coastal wetlands. We found that neighboring shore condition was the best predictor of respondent shore condition. Respondents with hardened shorelines were more likely to have neighbors with hardened shorelines, and to report that neighbors influenced their shore‐protection choices than respondents with natural shorelines. Further, respondents who expressed climate‐change skepticism and preference for shoreline hardening were opposed to shoreline‐hardening restrictions. Despite preferring hardening, respondents ranked wetlands as highly valuable for storm protection and other ecosystem services, suggesting a disconnect between the ecological knowledge of individuals and social norms of shore‐protection decisions. However, our results also suggest that efforts to increase the installation of living shorelines have the potential to conserve and restore important coastal habitats and support biodiversity along shorelines that may otherwise be degraded by hardening. Further, encouraging waterfront‐property owners who have adopted living shorelines to recommend them to neighbors may be an effective strategy to initiate and reinforce pro‐conservation social norms.
Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART) in Mid‐Zambezi Valley, Zimbabwe: Implementation challenges and practices
Authors: Kavhu Blessing , Mpakairi Kudzai Shaun 
Published: July 2021

AbstractBiodiversity monitoring and data‐management technologies can enhance the protection of persecuted species, such as African elephants (Loxodonta africana), through providing management‐relevant information. Implementing these technologies, however, often presents several capacity and resource challenges for field staff in protected areas. In the Mid‐Zambezi Valley, Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZPWMA) is in the process of adopting the Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART) as law enforcement and data management tool for adaptive management. With the support of several conservation partners, ZPWMA was able to acquire SMART equipment (computers and handheld cyber‐tracker devices) as well as train rangers and officers on how to use SMART in the region. Following the training and provision of SMART equipment, most protected areas (6 out of 7) in the Mid‐Zambezi Valley have adopted SMART for law enforcement and relevant data are being collected. This study draws from the first‐hand experience of training workshops, interviews with field staff, observations from support visits, and discussions with conservation partners in the Zambezi Valley. We observed that the introduction of SMART was marred by (a) technical and capacity challenges, (b) behavioral and human dynamics challenges, and (c) resources challenges. These were linked to ineptness among patrol rangers and officers, discomfort with the new technology, and uneven distribution of resources to implement SMART. To help overcome some of the challenges, we propose the development of an integrated SMART implementation plan, motivation of field staff, learning from implementation models of institutions that have successfully implemented SMART, and the provision of more SMART equipment.
“The use of bilateral continuous erector spinae plane blocks for postoperative analgesia after right‐sided living donor hepatectomy: A feasibility study”
Authors: Adelmann Dieter , Khorashadi Mina , Zhou George , Kinjo Sakura , Braun Hillary J. , Ascher Nancy L. , Braehler Matthias R. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractBackgroundPostoperative pain after living donor hepatectomy is significant. Postoperative coagulopathy may limit the use of epidural analgesia, the gold standard for pain control in abdominal surgery. The erector spinae plane block (ESPB) is a novel regional anesthesia technique that has been shown to provide effective analgesia in abdominal surgery. In this study, we examined the effect of continuous ESPB, administered via catheters, on perioperative opioid requirements after right living donor hepatectomies for liver transplantation.MethodsWe performed a retrospective cohort study in patients undergoing right living donor hepatectomy. Twenty‐four patients who received preoperative ESPB were compared to 51 historical controls who did not receive regional anesthesia. The primary endpoint was the total amount of oral morphine equivalents (OMEs) required on the day of surgery and postoperative day (POD) 1.ResultsPatients in the ESPB group required a lower total amount of OMEs on the day of surgery and POD 1 [141 (107–188) mg] compared the control group [293 (220–380) mg; P < .001].ConclusionsThe use of continuous ESPB significantly reduced opioid consumption following right living donor hepatectomy.
Sensitivity of a cold‐water coral reef to interannual variability in regional oceanography
Authors: Kazanidis Georgios , Henry Lea‐Anne , Vad Johanne , Johnson Clare , De Clippele Laurence Helene , Roberts J. Murray 
Published: July 2021

AbstractAimWe assessed the effects of regional oceanographic shifts on the macrofaunal biodiversity and biogeography of cold‐water coral reefs (CWCRs). CWCRs are often hotspots of biodiversity and ecosystem services and are in the frontline of exposure to multiple human pressures and climate change. Almost nothing is known about how large‐scale atmospheric variability affects the structure of CWCRs’ communities over ecological timescales, and this hinders their efficient conservation. This knowledge gap is especially evident for species‐rich macrofauna, a key component for ecosystem functioning.LocationThe Mingulay Reef Complex, a protected biogenic ecosystem in the northeast Atlantic (120–190 m).MethodsA unique time series (2003–2011) at 79 stations was used to make the first assessment of interannual changes in CWCRs’ macrofaunal biodiversity, biogeography and functional traits. We quantified the impacts of interannual changes in North Atlantic Oscillation Index (NAOI)—the major mode of atmospheric variability in the North Atlantic, bottom temperature and salinity alongside static variables of seafloor terrain and hydrography.ResultsEnvironmental gradients explained a significant amount of community composition ( = 26.7%, p < .01) with interannual changes in bottom temperature, salinity and NAOI explaining nearly twice as much variability than changes in terrain or hydrography. We observed significant differences in community composition, diversity and functional traits but not in species richness across interannual variability in bottom temperature. In warmer years, the biogeographic composition shifted more towards a temperate and subtropical affinity.Main ConclusionsOur findings highlight the necessity for thorough investigations of faunal communities in CWCRs as they may be sensitive to interannual changes in regional oceanography. Considering the scientific consensus on the substantial warming of North Atlantic by 2100, we recommend the establishment of programmes for the monitoring of CWCRs. This will support an advanced understanding of CWCRs’ environmental status over time and will serve their conservation for the future.
Metabolic syndrome severity score and the progression of CKD
Authors: Wu Mingyang , Shu Yanling , Wang Lulin , Song Lulu , Chen Shuohua , Liu Yunyun , Bi Jianing , Li Dankang , Yang Yingping , Hu Yonghua , Wang Youjie , Wu Shouling , Tian Yaohua 
Published: July 2021

AbstractBackgroundMetabolic syndrome severity, expressed by the continuous metabolic syndrome risk score (MetS score), has been demonstrated to be able to predict future health conditions. However, little is known about the association between MetS score and renal function.MethodsA total of 22,719 participants with normal renal function abstracted from the Kailuan Study were followed from 2006 to 2016. The new onset of chronic kidney disease (CKD) was defined as eGFR <60 ml/min per 1.73 m2 and/or proteinuria >300 mg/dl. Progressive decline in renal function was defined as an annual change rate of eGFR below the 10th percentile of the whole population.ResultsIn the multivariate‐adjusted model, we found that the risk of progressive decline in renal function increased consistently with the MetS score, with an odds ratio of 1.49 (95% CI, 1.28, 1.73) for those subjects>75th percentile compared with those <25th percentile. Additionally, a high MetS score was found to be associated with an increased risk of CKD, with a hazard ratio of 1.53 (95% CI, 1.33, 1.78) for subjects >75th percentile compared with those <25th percentile.ConclusionsOur findings suggested that the MetS score was associated with an increased risk of a progressive decline in renal function and was also a strong and independent risk factor for the development of CKD. These findings provide evidence of the potential clinical utility of the MetS score for assessing metabolic syndrome severity to detect the risk of decreased renal function and CKD.
Characterization of resistance to rice leaf folder,Cnaphalocrocis medinalis,in mutant Samba Mahsuri rice lines
Authors: Javvaji Sumalatha , Maheswari Telugu Uma , Damarla Bala Venkata Ramana , Sheshu Madhav Maganti , Rathod Santhosha , Chintalapati Padmavathi 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe rice leaf folder,Cnaphalocrocis medinalisGuenée (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), an important foliage feeding insect in rice,Oryza sativaL. (Poaceae), is widely distributed throughout Asia, causing frequent outbreaks and considerable yield losses. Mutants of the rice strain Samba Mahsuri (MSM) represent unique plant material and are explored here for the first time for resistance to the rice leaf folder. Stringent rapid field screening for two consecutive seasons led to the identification of 10 lines as moderately resistant, with low damage area as well as low damage score. Upon assessment of various morphological traits potentially contributing to the resistance, damage area was negatively correlated with leaf length and positively with leaf width. Among the biochemical traits, leaf nitrogen content was positively correlated with leaf folder damage whereas silica was negatively correlated. Oviposition preference by leaf folder adult moths and larval settling preference were low on MSM 139 and MSM 127. We also observed that leaf folder larvae took more time for leaf selection (3.1 min) and making a primary fold (41.5 min), with more head swings (846) in moderately resistant MSM lines. Similarly, in these lines, leaf folders showed a low intrinsic rate of increase (rm = 0.15 females per female per day), low weekly multiplication rate (2.85), and low net reproductive rate (R0 = 137.5 females per female per generation) with increased generation time (T = 32.8 days) and doubling time (4.5 days), indicating their relatively poor population growth potential. Overall, the moderately resistant mutant lines we identified showed reduced ovipositional preference and larval settling preference, extended larval developmental period with low survival, reduced primary fold length, and an increased number of binds and head swings with a low intrinsic rate of increase resulting in reduced population build‐up. These lines possessing a good genetic makeup have a great potential to be used in breeding programs for the development of leaf folder resistant varieties.
Spatial evaluation and trade‐off analysis of soil functions through Bayesian networks
Authors: Vrebos Dirk , Jones Arwyn , Lugato Emanuele , O'Sullivan Lilian , Schulte Rogier , Staes Jan , Meire Patrick 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThere is increasing recognition that soils fulfil many functions for society. Each soil can deliver a range of functions, but some soils are more effective at some functions than others due to their intrinsic properties. In this study we mapped four different soil functions on agricultural lands across the European Union. For each soil function, indicators were developed to evaluate their performance. To calculate the indicators and assess the interdependencies between the soil functions, data from continental long‐term simulation with the DayCent model were used to build crop‐specific Bayesian networks. These Bayesian Networks were then used to calculate the soil functions' performance and trade‐offs between the soil functions under current conditions. For each soil function the maximum potential was estimated across the European Union and changes in trade‐offs were assessed. By deriving current and potential soil function delivery from Bayesian networks a better understanding is gained of how different soil functions and their interdependencies can differ depending on soil, climate and management.HighlightsWhen increasing a soil function, how do trade‐offs affect the other functions under different conditions?Bayesian networks evaluate trade‐offs between soil functions and estimate their maximal delivery.Maximizing a soil function has varied effects on other functions depending on soil, climate and management.Differences in trade‐offs make some locations more suitable for increasing a soil function then others.
Perspectives on data‐driven soil research
Authors: Wadoux Alexandre M. J.‐C. , Román‐Dobarco Mercedes , McBratney Alex B. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractSoil is a complex system in which biological, chemical and physical interactions take place. The behaviour of these interactions changes in spatial scale from the atomic to the global, and in time. To understand how this system works, soil scientists usually rely on incremental improvements in the knowledge by refinement of theories through hypothesis testing and development using carefully designed experiments. In the last two decades, the primacy of this knowledge construction process has been challenged by the development of large soil databases and algorithms such as machine learning. The data‐driven research approach to soil science, the inference of soil knowledge directly from data by using computational tools and modelling techniques, is becoming more popular. Despite the wide adoption of a data‐driven research approach to soil science, there has been little discussion on how a research driven by data instead of hypotheses affects scientific progress. In this paper, we provide an introductory perspective on data‐driven soil research by discussing some of the issues and opportunities of knowledge discovery from soil data. We show that while data‐driven soil research may seem revolutionary for some, soil science has a long history of exploratory efforts to generate knowledge from data. Empirical and factual soil classifications, for example, were data driven. We further discuss, with examples, (i) data, databases and the logic of data storage for data‐driven soil research, (ii) the issues of extreme empiricist claims that arise corollary to the increase in the use of computational tools, and (iii) the challenge of formulating a scientific explanation based on patterns observed in the data and data analysis tools. By considering the epistemic challenges of the data‐driven scientific research in the light of the historical literature, we found that there is a continuity of practices, some being certainly amplified by recent technological changes, but that the core methods of scientific enquiry from data remain essentially unchanged.Highlights
Historical account of data‐driven soil science research.
Describe data to be used for data‐driven soil science.
Discuss conceptual issues and opportunities for data‐driven soil science.
Investigate the challenge of formulating an explanation from soil data.