bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Root-Associated Mycobiomes of Common Temperate Plants (Calluna vulgaris and Holcus lanatus) Are Strongly Affected by Winter Climate Conditions
Authors: Dahl Mathilde Borg , Peršoh Derek , Jentsch Anke , Kreyling Jürgen 
Published: January 2021

AbstractWinter temperatures are projected to increase in Central Europe. Subsequently, snow cover will decrease, leading to increased soil temperature variability, with potentially different consequences for soil frost depending on e.g. altitude. Here, we experimentally evaluated the effects of increased winter soil temperature variability on the root associated mycobiome of two plant species (Calluna vulgaris and Holcus lanatus) at two sites in Germany; a colder and wetter upland site with high snow accumulation and a warmer and drier lowland site, with low snow accumulation. Mesocosm monocultures were set-up in spring 2010 at both sites (with soil and plants originating from the lowland site). In the following winter, an experimental warming pulse treatment was initiated by overhead infrared heaters and warming wires at the soil surface for half of the mesocosms at both sites. At the lowland site, the warming treatment resulted in a reduced number of days with soil frost as well as increased the average daily temperature amplitude. Contrary, the treatment caused no changes in these parameters at the upland site, which was in general a much more frost affected site. Soil and plant roots were sampled before and after the following growing season (spring and autumn 2011). High-throughput sequencing was used for profiling of the root-associated fungal (ITS marker) community (mycobiome). Site was found to have a profound effect on the composition of the mycobiome, which at the upland site was dominated by fast growing saprotrophs (Mortierellomycota), and at the lowland site by plant species-specific symbionts (e.g. Rhizoscyphus ericae and Microdochium bolleyi for C. vulgaris and H. lanatus respectively). The transplantation to the colder upland site and the temperature treatment at the warmer lowland site had comparable consequences for the mycobiome, implying that winter climate change resulting in higher temperature variability has large consequences for mycobiome structures regardless of absolute temperature of a given site.
Sex, age, molt strategy, and migration distance explain the phenology of songbirds at a stopover along the East Asian flyway
Authors: Wobker Jonas , Heim Wieland , Schmaljohann Heiko 
Published: January 2021

AbstractSex- and age-specific differences in the timing of migration are widespread among animals. In birds, common patterns areprotandry, the earlier arrival of males in spring, and age-differential migration during autumn. However, knowledge of these differences stems mainly from the Palearctic-African and Nearctic-Neotropical flyways, while detailed information about the phenology of migrant birds from the East Asian flyway is far scarcer. To help fill parts of this gap, we analyzed how migration distance, sex, age, and molt strategy affect the spring and autumn phenologies of 36 migrant songbirds (altogether 18,427 individuals) at a stopover site in the Russian Far East. Sex-differential migration was more pronounced in spring than in autumn, with half of the studied species (6 out of 12) showing a protandrous migration pattern. Age-differences in migration were rare in spring but found in nearly half of the studied species (11 out of 25) in autumn. These age effects were associated with the birds’ molt strategy and the mean latitudinal distances from the assumed breeding area to the study site. Adults performing a complete molt before the onset of autumn migration passed the study site later than first-year birds undergoing only a partial molt. This pattern, however, reversed with increasing migration distance to the study site. These sex-, age-, and molt-specific migration patterns agree with those found along other flyways and seem to be common features of land bird migration strategies.Significance statementThe timing of animal migration is shaped by the availability of resources and the organization of annual cycles. In migrant birds, sex- and age-differential migration is a common phenomenon. For the rarely studied East Asian flyway, we show for the first time and based on a large set of migrant songbirds that earlier migration of males is a common pattern there in spring. Further, the timing and extent of molt explained age-differential migration during autumn. Adults molting their complete plumage at the breeding area before migration showed delayed phenology in comparison to first-year birds, which perform only a partial molt. This pattern, however, reversed with increasing migration distance to the study site. Since our results agree with the general patterns from the other migration flyways, similar drivers for differential migration may act across different flyway systems, provoking a similar evolutionary response.
Evaluation of the prognostic relevance of the recommended minimum number of lymph nodes in colorectal cancer—a propensity score analysis
Authors: Ramser Michaela , Lobbes Leonard A. , Warschkow Rene , Viehl Carsten T. , Lauscher Johannes C. , Droeser Raoul A. , Kettelhack Christoph , Zuber Markus , Weixler Benjamin 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Purpose
Nodal status in colorectal cancer (CRC) is an important prognostic factor, and adequate lymph node (LN) staging is crucial. Whether the number of resected and analysed LN has a direct impact on overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS) and disease-free survival (DFS) is much discussed. Guidelines request a minimum number of 12 LN to be analysed. Whether that threshold marks a prognostic relevant cut-off remains unknown.

Methods
Patients operated for stage I–III CRC were identified from a prospectively maintained database. The impact of the number of analysed LN on OS, CSS and DFS was assessed using Cox regression and propensity score analysis.

Results
Of the 687 patients, 81.8% had ≥ 12 LN resected and analysed. Median LN yield was 17.0 (IQR 13.0–23.0). Resection and analysis of ≥ 12 LN was associated with improved OS (HR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.56–0.95, p = 0.033), CSS (HR 0.52, 95% CI: 0.31–0.85, p = 0.030) and DFS (HR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.57–0.95, p = 0.030) in multivariate Cox analysis. After adjusting for biasing factors with propensity score matching, resection of ≥ 12 LN was significantly associated with improved OS (HR = 0.59; 95% CI: 0.43–0.81; p = 0.002), CSS (HR = 0.34; 95% CI: 0.20–0.60; p < 0.001) and DFS (HR = 0.55; 95% CI: 0.41–0.74; p < 0.001) compared to patients with < 12 LN.

Conclusion
Eliminating biasing factors by a propensity score matching analysis underlines the prognostic importance of the number of analysed LN. The set threshold marks the minimum number of required LN but nevertheless represents a cut-off regarding outcome in stage I–III CRC. This analysis therefore highlights the significance and importance of adherence to surgical oncological standards.
Spine surgeon perceptions of the challenges and benefits of telemedicine: an international study
Authors: Riew Grant J. , Lovecchio Francis , Samartzis Dino , Bernstein David N. , Underwood Ellen Y. , Louie Philip K. , Germscheid Niccole , An Howard S. , Cheung Jason Pui Yin , Chutkan Norman , Mallow Gary Michael , Neva Marko H. , Phillips Frank M. , Sciubba Daniel M. , El-Sharkawi Mohammad , Valacco Marcelo , McCarthy Michael H. , Iyer Sravisht , Makhni Melvin C. 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Introduction
While telemedicine usage has increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there remains little consensus about how spine surgeons perceive virtual care. The purpose of this study was to explore international perspectives of spine providers on the challenges and benefits of telemedicine.

Methods
Responses from 485 members of AO Spine were analyzed, covering provider perceptions of the challenges and benefits of telemedicine. All questions were optional, and blank responses were excluded from analysis.

Results
The leading challenges reported by surgeons were decreased ability to perform physical examinations (38.6%), possible increased medicolegal exposure (19.3%), and lack of reimbursement parity compared to traditional visits (15.5%). Fewer than 9.0% of respondents experienced technological issues. On average, respondents agreed that telemedicine increases access to care for rural/long-distance patients, provides societal cost savings, and increases patient convenience. Responses were mixed about whether telemedicine leads to greater patient satisfaction. North Americans experienced the most challenges, but also thought telemedicine carried the most benefits, whereas Africans reported the fewest challenges and benefits. Age did not affect responses.

Conclusion
Spine surgeons are supportive of the benefits of telemedicine, and only a small minority experienced technical issues. The decreased ability to perform the physical examination was the top challenge and remains a major obstacle to virtual care for spine surgeons around the world, although interestingly, 61.4% of providers did not acknowledge this to be a major challenge. Significant groundwork in optimizing remote physical examination maneuvers and achieving legal and reimbursement clarity is necessary for widespread implementation.
Wave intensity, an index of ventriculo-arterial interaction, increases in hypertensive subjects but decreases in normotensive subjects during the cold pressor test
Authors: Tanaka Midori , Sugawara Motoaki , Niki Kiyomi , Ogasawara Yasuo 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Purpose
Cardiovascular reactivity to the cold pressor test (CPT) is considered to be a marker for apparent and potential hypertension. We aimed to elucidate the association between the changes in wave intensity (WI) during CPT and hypertension.

Methods
We recruited 85 volunteers, 33 of whom were hypertensive and 52 normotensive. Using ultrasonic equipment during CPT, we measured carotid arterial WI, which is defined in terms of blood pressure and velocity in the carotid artery.

Results
The peak WI (W1) increased during CPT in 70.6% of hypertensive individuals, but decreased in 72.6% of normotensive individuals. The chi-square (χ2) test showed that the association between the direction of change in W1 (increase or decrease) and the blood pressure (hypertensive or normotensive) was very strong (P < 0.0001).

Conclusion
Direction of change in W1 during CPT is a clear marker to discriminate cardiovascular reactivity that does not vary depending on each investigator’s subjective point of view.
fMRI-based Decoding of Visual Information from Human Brain Activity: A Brief Review
Authors: Huang Shuo , Shao Wei , Wang Mei-Ling , Zhang Dao-Qiang 
Published: January 2021

AbstractOne of the most significant challenges in the neuroscience community is to understand how the human brain works. Recent progress in neuroimaging techniques have validated that it is possible to decode a person’s thoughts, memories, and emotions via functional magnetic resonance imaging (i.e., fMRI) since it can measure the neural activation of human brains with satisfied spatiotemporal resolutions. However, the unprecedented scale and complexity of the fMRI data have presented critical computational bottlenecks requiring new scientific analytic tools. Given the increasingly important role of machine learning in neuroscience, a great many machine learning algorithms are presented to analyze brain activities from the fMRI data. In this paper, we mainly provide a comprehensive and up-to-date review of machine learning methods for analyzing neural activities with the following three aspects, i.e., brain image functional alignment, brain activity pattern analysis, and visual stimuli reconstruction. In addition, online resources and open research problems on brain pattern analysis are also provided for the convenience of future research.
Serial KL-6 measurements in COVID-19 patients
Authors: d’Alessandro Miriana , Bergantini Laura , Cameli Paolo , Curatola Giuseppe , Remediani Lorenzo , Bennett David , Bianchi Francesco , Perillo Felice , Volterrani Luca , Mazzei Maria Antonietta , Bargagli Elena ,   Siena COVID, Lanzarone Nicola , Montagnani Francesca , Perrone Anna , Franchi Federico , Scolletta Sabino , Valente Serafina , Migliorini Lucia , Rossetti Barbara , Vagaggini Cecilia , Capecchi Pier Leopoldo , Cusi Maria Grazia , Frediani Bruno , Mastrocinque Egidio , Cameli Matteo , Bellini Marco Antonio , De Lalla Arianna , Melani Andrea , De Stefano Nicola , Porchia Barbara 
Published: January 2021

AbstractSARS-CoV2-induced direct cytopathic effects against type II pneumocytes are suspected to play a role in mediating and perpetuating lung damage. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum KL-6 behavior in COVID-19 patients to investigate its potential role in predicting clinical course. Sixty patients (median age IQR, 65 (52–69), 43 males), hospitalized for COVID-19 at Siena COVID Unit University Hospital, were prospectively enrolled. Twenty-six patients were selected (median age IQR, 63 (55–71), 16 males); all of them underwent follow-up evaluations, including clinical, radiological, functional, and serum KL-6 assessments, after 6 (t1) and 9 (t2) months from hospital discharge. Att0, KL-6 concentrations were significantly higher than those att1 (760 (311–1218) vs. 309 (210–408) p = 0.0208) andt2 (760 (311–1218) vs 324 (279–458),p = 0.0365). Att0, KL-6 concentrations were increased in patients with fibrotic lung alterations than in non-fibrotic group (755 (370–1023) vs. 305 (225–608),p = 0.0225). Area under the receiver operating curve (AUROC) analysis showed that basal KL-6 levels showed good accuracy in discriminating patients with fibrotic sequelae radiologically documented (AUC 85%,p = 0.0404). KL-6 concentrations in patients with fibrotic involvement were significantly reduced att1 (755 (370–1023) vs. 290 (197–521),p = 0.0366) andt2 (755 (370–1023) vs. 318 (173–435),p = 0.0490). Serum concentrations of KL-6 in hospitalized COVID-19 patients may contribute to identify severe patients requiring mechanical ventilation and to predict those who will develop pulmonary fibrotic sequelae in the follow-up.
Angle-tunable intersubband photoabsorption and enhanced photobleaching in twisted bilayer graphene
Authors: Pogna Eva A. A. , Miao Xianchong , von Dreifus Driele , Alencar Thonimar V. , Moutinho Marcus V. O. , Venezuela Pedro , Manzoni Cristian , Ji Minbiao , Cerullo Giulio , de Paula Ana Maria 
Published: January 2021

AbstractVan der Waals heterostructures obtained by artificially stacking two-dimensional crystals represent the frontier of material engineering, demonstrating properties superior to those of the starting materials. Fine control of the interlayer twist angle has opened new possibilities for tailoring the optoelectronic properties of these heterostructures. Twisted bilayer graphene with a strong interlayer coupling is a prototype of twisted heterostructure inheriting the intriguing electronic properties of graphene. Understanding the effects of the twist angle on its out-of-equilibrium optical properties is crucial for devising optoelectronic applications. With this aim, we here combine excitation-resolved hot photoluminescence with femtosecond transient absorption microscopy. The hot charge carrier distribution induced by photo-excitation results in peaked absorption bleaching and photo-induced absorption bands, both with pronounced twist angle dependence. Theoretical simulations of the electronic band structure and of the joint density of states enable to assign these bands to the blocking of interband transitions at the van Hove singularities and to photo-activated intersubband transitions. The tens of picoseconds relaxation dynamics of the observed bands is attributed to the angle-dependence of electron and phonon heat capacities of twisted bilayer graphene.
Productive performance of organic crop farms in Finland 2010–2017
Authors: Kuosmanen Natalia , Yli-Heikkilä Maria , Väre Minna , Kuosmanen Timo 
Published: January 2021

AbstractIncreasing organic production is one of the strategic objectives of the Finnish agricultural policy. Despite the positive developments observed during the last decade, reaching the objectives set by the Finnish government remains challenging. The contributions of this study are twofold. Firstly, this study provides new empirical evidence on productive performance of organic crop farming in Finland and explains observed gap between average output of organic and conventional farms. Specifically, we use the most recent available farm-level data and analyze the performance of organic crop farms over the period 2010–2017. Secondly, to estimate the performance gap between the organic and conventional crop farms, we apply one-stage semi-nonparametric regression. This approach alleviates the endogeneity problem of the commonly used two-stage estimation approaches, providing robust estimates without restrictive functional form assumptions. Our results reveal a significant performance gap between organic and conventional farming. However, the difference between productive performance of organic and conventional crop farms has been decreasing over the years. Moreover, a positive trend is revealed in organic production at the end of the study period.
Cosmic Bayes. Datasets and priors in the hunt for dark energy
Authors: Massimi Michela 
Published: January 2021

AbstractBayesian methods are ubiquitous in contemporary observational cosmology. They enter into three main tasks: (I) cross-checking datasets for consistency; (II) fixing constraints on cosmological parameters; and (III) model selection. This article explores some epistemic limits of using Bayesian methods. The first limit concerns the degree of informativeness of the Bayesian priors and an ensuing methodological tension between task (I) and task (II). The second limit concerns the choice of wide flat priors and related tension between (II) parameter estimation and (III) model selection. The Dark Energy Survey (DES) and its recent Year 1 results illustrate both these limits concerning the use of Bayesianism.
Correction to: ZFP281 recruits polycomb repressive complex 2 to restrict extraembryonic endoderm potential in safeguarding embryonic stem cell pluripotency
Authors: Huang Xin , Bashkenova Nazym , Yang Jihong , Li Dan , Wang Jianlong 
Published: January 2021

In the original publication the labelling in middle and bottom panels of figure 2k is published incorrectly as “Soc17”. The correct labeling is available in this correction as “Sox17”.
Aquaculture-capture fisheries nexus under Covid-19: impacts, diversity, and social-ecological resilience
Authors: Manlosa Aisa O. , Hornidge Anna-Katharina , Schlüter Achim 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe Covid-19 pandemic is a global shock that is significantly affecting coastal social-ecological systems (SES) in different parts of the world. Its widespread impacts have unravelled vulnerabilities in many aspects of society, including food systems. Our study investigated the impacts of a lockdown associated with the pandemic in the province of Bulacan, in the region of Central Luzon, Philippines, where aquaculture and capture fisheries are important and interconnected sectors. In particular, we focused on impacts related to production and market. We considered people’s coping strategies and the factors that enabled such strategies. Our investigation adopted a case study approach and drew on qualitative data analysed through thematic analysis. The findings revealed differentiated mechanisms through which aquaculture and capture fisheries production were impacted. Both were strongly affected by market disruptions but through slightly different ways. In effect, the lockdown provided the impetus for the uptake and spreading of practices that were previously peripheral, particularly in relation to market exchanges. The study also identified a variety of coping strategies, as well as the importance of social support in the form of food aid, financial assistance, and institutional livelihood assistance. Finally, it discusses the importance of diversity in food sources, the role of local food systems, and governance implications for foregrounding social-ecological resilience in short-term response and long-term recovery.
Altitude Aerosol Measurements in Central France: Seasonality, Sources and Free‐Troposphere/Boundary Layer Segregation
Authors: Farah A. , Freney E. , Canonaco F. , Prévôt A. S. H. , Pichon J‐M. , Abboud M. , Farah W. , Sellegri K. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe chemical composition of nonrefractory submicron aerosol particles was measured at the Puy‐de‐Dôme (PUY) station (1,465 m a.s.l) during 2015 using a Time‐of‐Flight Aerosol Chemical Speciation Monitor (ToF‐ACSM). These aerosol chemistry measurements are combined with online black carbon (BC) measurements to provide an overview of the submicron aerosol composition. Averaged over the entire year, and normalized to standard temperature and pressure, organic aerosol (OA) dominates the PM1 concentration during all seasons and within all air mass types (2.12 ± 1.73 µgm−3), and is responsible for summertime increases in aerosol concentration. Highest mass concentrations were measured during the summer, when air masses were arriving over mainland Europe and lowest in the winter months (when most air masses were of Atlantic origin). OA source apportionment was performed separately during each season, using the Source Finder (SoFi) interface for the multilinear engine. The PUY site, situated at 1,465 m a.s.l, although mainly sampling in the atmospheric boundary layer, it is sometimes sampling in the lower free troposphere (FT), providing the opportunity to identify the characteristics of FT aerosol. In order to accurately identify these sampling periods, the methodology described in Farah et al. (2018), during the same time period (2015/2016), was applied to the data. During this period, FT air masses are sampled approximately 20% of the time. This work provides, on one hand, a description of long‐term aerosol chemical properties at a remote regional site in central Europe and, on the other hand a characteristic chemical signature of FT aerosols over this region. This data can be used to improve our understanding of the transport and aging properties of aerosols at regional observation sites.
On the Relationship Between the Madden‐Julian Oscillation and the Hadley and Walker Circulations
Authors: Schwendike Juliane , Berry Gareth J. , Fodor Katherine , Reeder Michael J. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThis study investigates: (i) how the local meridional (Hadley) and zonal (Walker) circulations change in each phase of the Madden‐Julian Oscillation (MJO); and (ii) the effect of enhanced and suppressed MJO‐related convection on the poleward extent of the local Hadley circulations and, thus, the strengths and positions of the subtropical jets. We examine these effects in ERA‐Interim reanalysis by decomposing the vertical mass flux into zonal and meridional components. We show for the first time, that as the envelope of enhanced convection moves eastwards from Africa to the Central Pacific the local Hadley circulation is enhanced. The regional Walker circulation in the Pacific is strengthened when the envelope of active MJO convection is located over the Maritime Continent and weakened when the region of suppressed convection is located there. In regions of anomalous upper‐level divergence the subtropical jet is enhanced. The core of the subtropical jet over Asia shifts eastwards with the progression of the MJO and shifts farther poleward in regions of anomalous upper‐level divergence linked with enhanced convection. The region of either enhanced or suppressed convection over the Maritime Continent strengthens or weakens the local Hadley circulation, producing disturbances in the subtropical jet. These disturbances then force midlatitude Rossby waves that propagate across the Pacific Ocean in both hemispheres.