bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A mathematical dashboard for the analysis of Italian COVID‐19 epidemic data
Authors: Parolini Nicola , Ardenghi Giovanni , Dede' Luca , Quarteroni Alfio 
Published: July 2021

AbstractAn analysis of the COVID‐19 epidemic is proposed on the basis of the epiMOX dashboard (publicly accessible at https://www.epimox.polimi.it) that deals with data of the epidemic trends and outbreaks in Italy from late February 2020. Our analysis provides an immediate appreciation of the past epidemic development, together with its current trends by fostering a deeper interpretation of available data through several critical epidemic indicators. In addition, we complement the epiMOX dashboard with a predictive tool based on an epidemiological compartmental model, named SUIHTER, for the forecast on the near future epidemic evolution.
Synthesis and Halochromic Properties of 1,2,6‐Tri‐ and 1,2,3,6‐Tetra‐aryl Azulenes
Authors: Zhu Qiang , Png Zhuang Mao , Lin Tingting , Loh Xian Jun , Tang Tao , Xu Jianwei 
Published: July 2021

AbstractA series of novel 2,6‐functionalized azulene molecules Azu1‐3 with varied fluorene substituents at the 1‐ and 3‐positions of azulene as well as at the 5’‐position of 2‐thiophene group were synthesized. Their electronic absorption and emission spectra at neutral and protonated states were examined. It was found that after functionalization with fluorenyl groups, Azu1‐3 exhibited absorption maxima at 445, 451 to 468 nm, respectively. In contrast, their corresponding protonated species showed much redshifted absorption maxima at 560, 582 to 643 nm, respectively, mainly due to the extension of conjugation length and the large dipole moment along the C2v axis of 2,6‐substituted azulene molecules. Azu1‐3 are non‐fluorescent in their neutral forms, but became emissive in their protonated states. Analysis of absorption and emission spectra shows that substitution of the 1‐ or 3‐position of azulene led to decrease in response to trifluoroacetic acid.
Restored and remnant Banksia woodlands elicit different foraging behavior in avian pollinators
Authors: Ritchie Alison L. , Elliott Carole P. , Sinclair Elizabeth A. , Krauss Siegfried L. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractPollinators and the pollination services they provide are critical for seed set and self‐sustainability of most flowering plants. Despite this, pollinators are rarely assessed in restored plant communities, where their services are largely assumed to re‐establish. Bird–pollinator richness, foraging, and interaction behavior were compared between natural and restored Banksia woodland sites in Western Australia to assess their re‐establishment in restored sites. These parameters were measured for natural communities of varying size and degree of fragmentation, and restored plant communities of high and low complexity for three years, in the summer and winter flowering of Banksia attenuata and B. menziesii, respectively. Bird visitor communities varied in composition, richness, foraging movement distances, and aggression among sites. Bird richness and abundance were lowest in fragmented remnants. Differences in the composition were associated with the size and degree of fragmentation in natural sites, but this did not differ between seasons. Restored sites and their adjacent natural sites had similar species composition, suggesting proximity supports pollinator re‐establishment. Pollinator foraging movements were influenced by the territorial behavior of different species. Using a network analysis approach, we found foraging behavior varied, with more frequent aggressive chases observed in restored sites, resulting in more movements out of the survey areas, than observed in natural sites. Aggressors were larger‐bodied Western Wattlebirds (Anthochaera chrysoptera) and New Holland Honeyeaters (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae) that dominated nectar resources, particularly in winter. Restored sites had re‐established pollination services, albeit with clear differences, as the degree of variability in the composition and behavior of bird pollinators for Banksias in the natural sites created a broad completion target against which restored sites were assessed. The abundance, diversity, and behavior of pollinator services to remnant and restored Banksia woodland sites were impacted by the size and degree of fragmentation, which in turn influenced bird–pollinator composition, and were further influenced by seasonal changes between summer and winter. Consideration of the spatial and temporal landscape context of restored sites, along with plant community diversity, is needed to ensure the maintenance of the effective movement of pollinators between natural remnant woodlands and restored sites.
Intraspecific variation mediates density dependence in a genetically diverse plant species
Authors: Zaiats Andrii , Germino Matthew J. , Serpe Marcelo D. , Richardson Bryce A. , Caughlin T. Trevor 
Published: July 2021

AbstractInteractions between neighboring plants are critical for biodiversity maintenance in plant populations and communities. Intraspecific trait variation and genome duplication are common in plant species and can drive eco‐evolutionary dynamics through genotype‐mediated plant–plant interactions. However, few studies have examined how species‐wide intraspecific variation may alter interactions between neighboring plants. We investigate how subspecies and ploidy variation in a genetically diverse species, big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), can alter the demographic outcomes of plant interactions. Using a replicated, long‐term common garden experiment that represents range‐wide diversity of A. tridentata, we ask how intraspecific variation, environment, and stand age mediate neighbor effects on plant growth and survival. Spatially explicit models revealed that ploidy variation and subspecies identity can mediate plant–plant interactions but that the effect size varied in time and across experimental sites. We found that demographic impacts of neighbor effects were strongest during early stages of stand development and in sites with greater growth rates. Within subspecies, tetraploid populations showed greater tolerance to neighbor crowding compared to their diploid variants. Our findings provide evidence that intraspecific variation related to genome size and subspecies identity impacts spatial demography in a genetically diverse plant species. Accounting for intraspecific variation in studies of conspecific density dependence will improve our understanding of how local populations will respond to novel genotypes and biotic interaction regimes. As introduction of novel genotypes into local populations becomes more common, quantifying demographic processes in genetically diverse populations will help predict long‐term consequences of plant–plant interactions.
A unifying framework for analyzing temporal changes in functional and taxonomic diversity along disturbance gradients
Authors: Larson Erin I. , Poff N. LeRoy , Funk W. Chris , Harrington Rachel A. , Kondratieff Boris C. , Morton Scott G. , Flecker Alexander S. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractFrameworks exclusively considering functional diversity are gaining popularity, as they complement and extend the information provided by taxonomic diversity metrics, particularly in response to disturbance. Taxonomic diversity should be included in functional diversity frameworks to uncover the functional mechanisms causing species loss following disturbance events. We present and test a predictive framework that considers temporal functional and taxonomic diversity responses along disturbance gradients. Our proposed framework allows us to test different multidimensional metrics of taxonomic diversity that can be directly compared to calculated multidimensional functional diversity metrics. It builds on existing functional diversity–disturbance frameworks both by using a gradient approach and by jointly considering taxonomic and functional diversity. We used previously unpublished stream insect community data collected prior to, and for the two years following, an extreme flood event that occurred in 2013. Using 14 northern Colorado mountain streams, we tested our framework and determined that taxonomic diversity metrics calculated using multidimensional methods resulted in concordance between taxonomic and functional diversity responses. By considering functional and taxonomic diversity together and using a gradient approach, we were able to identify some of the mechanisms driving species losses following this extreme disturbance event.
Intelligent blockchain management for distributed knowledge graphs in IoT 5G environments
Authors: Djenouri Youcef , Srivastava Gautam , Belhadi Asma , Lin Jerry Chun‐Wei 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThis article introduces a new problem of distributed knowledge graph, in IoT 5G setting. We developed an end‐to‐end solution for solving such problem by exploring the blockchain management and intelligent method for producing the better matching of the concepts and relations of the set of knowledge graphs. The concepts and the relations of the knowledge graphs are divided into several components, each of which contains similar concepts and relations. Instead of exploring the whole concepts and the relations of the knowledge graphs, only the representative of these components is compared during the matching process. The framework has outperformed state‐of‐the‐art knowledge graph matching algorithms using different scenarios as input in the experiments. In addition, to confirm the usability of our suggested framework, an in‐depth experimental analysis has been done; the results are very promising in both runtime and accuracy.
Muscone suppresses gastric cancer via regulation of miRNA‐145
Authors: Gao Feng , Yan Shihai , Sun Zheng , Wang Jia 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThis study aims to determine the effects and mechanism of action of muscone on the biological activity of the gastric cancer cell lines SGC‐7901 and MGC‐803 (proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and migration) in vitro. An optimal muscone concentration was determined using MTT and cell apoptosis tests. The SGC‐7901 and MGC‐803 cells were divided into five groups: normal control, muscone, miRNA, muscone + miRNA, and muscone + miRNA inhibitor. Cell proliferation rate, apoptosis rate, cell cycle phase distribution, number of invading cells, and wound healing rate were compared among the five groups using MTT, flow cytometry, transwell, and wound healing assays. Relative expression levels of the proteins PI3K, AKT, P21, c‐Myc, MMP‐2, and MMP‐9 were measured by Western blot. Compared with the control group, the groups treated with muscone and miRNA showed significantly lower cell proliferation rate, number of invading cells, and wound healing rate (p < .05 for all), but significantly higher rates of cell apoptosis rate and numbers of cells in the G1 phase (p < .05 for all). These groups also showed significantly lower expression of the proteins PI3K, AKT, c‐Myc, MMP‐2, and MMP‐9 but significantly increased expression of the protein P21 (p < .05). Transfecting muscone‐treated SGC‐7901 and MGC‐803 cells with miRNA‐145 inhibitor resulted in a significant recovery of biological activity (p < .05). Muscone suppresses the biological activity of SGC‐7901 and MGC‐803 gastric cancer cells in vitro via regulation of miRNA‐145.
Transient astrocyte‐like NG2 glia subpopulation emerges solely following permanent brain ischemia
Authors: Kirdajova Denisa , Valihrach Lukas , Valny Martin , Kriska Jan , Krocianova Daniela , Benesova Sarka , Abaffy Pavel , Zucha Daniel , Klassen Ruslan , Kolenicova Denisa , Honsa Pavel , Kubista Mikael , Anderova Miroslava 
Published: July 2021

AbstractNG2 glia display wide proliferation and differentiation potential under physiological and pathological conditions. Here, we examined these two features following different types of brain disorders such as focal cerebral ischemia (FCI), cortical stab wound (SW), and demyelination (DEMY) in 3‐month‐old mice, in which NG2 glia are labeled by tdTomato under the Cspg4 promoter. To compare NG2 glia expression profiles following different CNS injuries, we employed single‐cell RT‐qPCR and self‐organizing Kohonen map analysis of tdTomato‐positive cells isolated from the uninjured cortex/corpus callosum and those after specific injury. Such approach enabled us to distinguish two main cell populations (NG2 glia, oligodendrocytes), each of them comprising four distinct subpopulations. The gene expression profiling revealed that a subpopulation of NG2 glia expressing GFAP, a marker of reactive astrocytes, is only present transiently after FCI. However, following less severe injuries, namely the SW and DEMY, subpopulations mirroring different stages of oligodendrocyte maturation markedly prevail. Such injury‐dependent incidence of distinct subpopulations was also confirmed by immunohistochemistry. To characterize this unique subpopulation of transient astrocyte‐like NG2 glia, we used single‐cell RNA‐sequencing analysis and to disclose their basic membrane properties, the patch‐clamp technique was employed. Overall, we have proved that astrocyte‐like NG2 glia are a specific subpopulation of NG2 glia emerging transiently only following FCI. These cells, located in the postischemic glial scar, are active in the cell cycle and display a current pattern similar to that identified in cortical astrocytes. Astrocyte‐like NG2 glia may represent important players in glial scar formation and repair processes, following ischemia.
“Fact or fiction?”: Oral cavity cancer innonsmoking,nonalcoholdrinking patients as a distinct entity—Scoping review
Authors: Adeoye John , Tan Jia Yan , Ip Cheuk Man , Choi Siu‐Wai , Thomson Peter 
Published: July 2021

AbstractOral cavity cancer is often described as a lifestyle‐related malignancy due to its strong associations with habitual factors, including tobacco use, heavy alcohol consumption, and betel nut chewing. However, patients with no genetically predisposing conditions who do not indulge in these risk habits are still being encountered, albeit less commonly. The aim of this review is to summarize contemporaneous reports on these nonsmoking, nonalcohol drinking (NSND) patients. We performed database searching to identify relevant studies from January 1, 2000 to March 31, 2021. Twenty‐six articles from 20 studies were included in this study. We found that these individuals were mostly females in their eighth decade with tumors involving the tongue and gingivobuccal mucosa. This review also observed that these patients were likely diagnosed with early stage tumors with overexpression of programmed death‐ligand 1 (PD‐L1) and increased intensity of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes. Treatment response and disease‐specific prognosis were largely comparable between NSND and smoking/drinking patients.
On the systems intelligence of a learning organization: Introducing a new measure
Authors: Törmänen Juha , Hämäläinen Raimo P. , Saarinen Esa 
Published: July 2021

AbstractWe introduce and validate the Organizational Systems Intelligence (OSI) scale, a measurement tool for learning organization, and propose the scale as a useful tool for human resource development (HRD) at the individual level. The scale complements the operationalization of Senge's “Five Disciplines” of the learning organization. OSI provides a new perspective that links employees' perceptions of various seemingly mundane everyday practices with the organizationally desirable effects of a learning organization. The model suggests developmental perspectives that highlight micro‐level behavioral, informal, interactional, and accessible‐to‐all aspects of the learning organization as a route to improvement. Operating in the vernacular and focusing on human experience in organizations, the OSI perspective points to improvement possibilities in and among people in contrast to structural manager‐level constructs. It contributes to HRD literature that explores developmental outcomes and theoretical understanding from human experience in contrast to rank, status, structure, or hierarchy. With its bottom‐up logic as an operationalization of the Sengean learning organization as a form of applied systems thinking, the model introduces an employee‐level perspective of systems thinking in action into the field of HRD. It is demonstrated that with respect to perceived performance, the OSI scale performs equally well as the widely used Dimensions of the Learning Organization Questionnaire.
Modelling ecohydrological feedbacks in forest and grassland plots under a prolonged drought anomaly in Central Europe 2018–2020
Authors: Kleine Lukas , Tetzlaff Doerthe , Smith Aaron , Dubbert Maren , Soulsby Chris 
Published: July 2021

AbstractRecent studies have highlighted the importance of understanding ecohydrological drought feedbacks to secure water resources under a changing climate and increasing anthropogenic impacts. In this study, we monitored and modelled feedbacks in the soil–plant‐atmosphere continuum to the European drought summer 2018 and the following 2 years. The physically based, isotope‐aided model EcH2O‐iso was applied to generic vegetation plots (forest and grassland) in the lowland, groundwater‐dominated research catchment Demnitzer Millcreek (NE Germany; 66 km2). We included, inter alia, soil water isotope data in the model calibration and quantified changing “blue” (groundwater recharge) and “green” (evapotranspiration) water fluxes and ages under each land use as the drought progressed. Novel plant xylem isotope data were excluded from calibration but were compared with simulated root uptake signatures in model validation. Results indicated inter‐site differences in the dynamics of soil water storage and fluxes with contrasting water age both during the drought and the subsequent 2 years. Forest vegetation consistently showed a greater moisture stress, more rapid recovery and higher variability in root water uptake depths from a generally younger soil water storage. In contrast, the grassland site, which had more water‐retentive soils, showed higher and older soil water storage and groundwater recharge fluxes. The damped storage and flux dynamics under grassland led to a slower return to younger water ages at depth. Such evidence‐based and quantitative differences in ecohydrological feedbacks to drought stress in contrasting soil‐vegetation units provide important insights into Critical Zone water cycling. This can help inform future progress in the monitoring, modelling and development of climate mitigation strategies in drought‐sensitive lowlands.
SARS‐CoV‐2 spike glycoprotein‐reactive T cells can be readily expanded from COVID‐19 vaccinated donors
Authors: Taborska Pavla , Lastovicka Jan , Stakheev Dmitry , Strizova Zuzana , Bartunkova Jirina , Smrz Daniel 
Published: July 2021

AbstractIntroductionThe COVID‐19 vaccine was designed to provide protection against infection by the severe respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19). However, the vaccine's efficacy can be compromised in patients with immunodeficiencies or the vaccine‐induced immunoprotection suppressed by other comorbidity treatments, such as chemotherapy or immunotherapy. To enhance the protective role of the COVID‐19 vaccine, we have investigated a combination of the COVID‐19 vaccination with ex vivo enrichment and large‐scale expansion of SARS‐CoV‐2 spike glycoprotein‐reactive CD4+ and CD8+ T cells.MethodsSARS‐CoV‐2‐unexposed donors were vaccinated with two doses of the BNT162b2 SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccine. The peripheral blood mononuclear cells of the vaccinated donors were cell culture‐enriched with T cells reactive to peptides derived from SARS‐CoV‐2 spike glycoprotein. The enriched cell cultures were large‐scale expanded using the rapid expansion protocol (REP) and the peptide‐reactive T cells were evaluated.ResultsWe show that vaccination with the SARS‐CoV‐2 spike glycoprotein‐based mRNA COVID‐19 vaccine‐induced humoral response against SARS‐CoV‐2 spike glycoprotein in all tested healthy SARS‐CoV‐2‐unexposed donors. This humoral response was found to correlate with the ability of the donors' PBMCs to become enriched with SARS‐CoV‐2 spike glycoprotein‐reactive CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Using an 11‐day REP, the enriched cell cultures were expanded nearly 1000‐fold, and the proportions of the SARS‐CoV‐2 spike glycoprotein‐reactive T cells increased.ConclusionThese findings show for the first time that the combination of the COVID‐19 vaccination and ex vivo T cell large‐scale expansion of SARS‐CoV‐2‐reactive T cells could be a powerful tool for developing T cell‐based adoptive cellular immunotherapy of COVID‐19.
Oral health curriculum evaluation tool (OHCET) for primary care training programs
Authors: Savageau Judith A. , Sullivan Kate , Hargraves J. Lee , Silk Hugh 
Published: July 2021

AbstractBackgroundPrimary care training schools and programs lack a validated tool to assess their oral health curriculum, and researchers lack a tool to compare oral health curricula across programs/schools and different disciplines.ObjectiveThis study describes the process and results of creating a 15‐item oral health curriculum evaluation tool (OHCET).MethodsThree‐phased development of the OHCET from 2018 to 2020 including (a) Delphi group/tool development; (b) tool pilot test; and (c) tool validation/cognitive interviews.ResultsA total of 23 program deans/directors participated in the tool validation/cognitive interviews. Summarizing accuracy scores of all 15 items, the mean accuracy score was 87.1. There was a high correlation (0.917) between the program's total score and the program director's self‐assessed competence of their learners at the time of graduation.ConclusionsThe OHCET was validated and can be used in primary care training programs and schools across the country for institutional evaluation and for research purposes. Program directors and deans can also have some confidence that their ability to subjectively assess their learner's oral health knowledge and skills at graduation is accurate.
Micromorphological considerations on Alyssum nezaketiae Aytaç & H. Duman (Brassicaceae), endemic to gypsum habitats from Turkey: An electron microscopic study
Authors: Kayabaş Ayşenur 
Published: July 2021

AbstractAlyssum nezaketiae is a local endemic species in gypsum habitats of Çankırı province in Turkey. In this study, I used field collected specimens of A. nezaketiae in a scanning electron microscopy examination of vegetative and reproductive structures of A. nezaketiae. The objective of the study was to investigate the micromorphological properties that define the species and that represent its adaptation(s) to the extreme environmental conditions posed by gypsum habitats. The epidermis had one to two rows at transverse sections of leaf and stem. Cortex was composed six to eight rows parenchyma cells at stem. A number of adaptations to xeric habitats were observed, including: dense silvery lepidote hairs on leaves and stems, small leaves, stomata on the lower surfaces of the leaves occurring in stomatal crypts, intense lignification in the central cylinder of the stems, and bundles of sclerenchyma in the pith region of stems. These can be interpreted as gypsophytic characteristics associated with physiological drought. Micromorphological properties of plant parts are discussed in relation to environmental conditions and possible constraint factors occurring in these gypsum habitats. Furthermore, these micromorphological studies contribute important taxonomic characters that are needed to help identify a species whose habitat is under threat from a variety of human activities.