bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Competitive drivers of interspecific deviations of crown morphology from theoretical predictions measured with Terrestrial Laser Scanning
Authors: Owen Harry J. F. , Flynn William R. M. , Lines Emily R. 
Published: April 2021

Abstract

Tree crown morphology is a key driver of forest dynamics, determining not only the competitiveness of an individual but also the competitive effect exerted on neighbouring trees. Multiple ecological theories, including metabolic scaling theory (MST), predict crown morphology from first principles, but typically lack consideration of competition. The accurate quantification of crown morphology to test theoretical predictions, and the canopy interactions that could alter them, has historically been limited by the simplicity and associated error of traditional crown measurements.

In this study, we calculate high‐resolution two‐ and three‐dimensional crown metrics from Terrestrial Laser Scanning data for 1,441 Pinus sylvestris, P. nigra, Quercus faginea and Q. ilex trees from a water‐limited forest community in central Spain and test height‐crown metric scaling relationships. We demonstrate new TLS methods to define symmetric and asymmetric neighbourhood metrics based on tree height, crown size and neighbour projected crown area, and test the importance of neighbourhood genus diversity on crown morphology by separating competition from congeneric and heterogeneric neighbours.

Competition negatively impacted all crown metrics except crown depth where only P. nigra showed sensitivity. Asymmetric competition was the strongest driver of pine crown morphology, but oaks were more sensitive to symmetric competition, in line with shade tolerance expectations. Congeneric competition reduced Q. faginea crown size and changed its shape, but we found no significant effects of heterogeneric neighbours. Most species and crown dimensions had height‐crown scaling exponents below those predicted by MST, which may be due to water limitation effects. Pines and oaks showed large differences in crown depth to height scaling, with the former shallower and the latter deeper, in contrast to theoretical predictions.

Synthesis. Our study is the first to demonstrate the ability of TLS to characterise crown morphology from leaf‐wood separated clouds and competitive neighbour effects in a water‐limited forest community, and to use TLS metrics to test ecological crown scaling theory. Most crown metrics scaled below theoretical predictions. Pines were more sensitive to competition by larger neighbours and oaks to crowding from all neighbours, with competition from neighbours of the same genus having a consistent negative effect.
Taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional diversity of understorey plants respond differently to environmental conditions in European forest edges
Authors: De Pauw Karen , Meeussen Camille , Govaert Sanne , Sanczuk Pieter , Vanneste Thomas , Bernhardt‐Römermann Markus , Bollmann Kurt , Brunet Jörg , Calders Kim , Cousins Sara A. O. , Diekmann Martin , Hedwall Per‐Ola , Iacopetti Giovanni , Lenoir Jonathan , Lindmo Sigrid , Orczewska Anna , Ponette Quentin , Plue Jan , Selvi Federico , Spicher Fabien , Verbeeck Hans , Vermeir Pieter , Zellweger Florian , Verheyen Kris , Vangansbeke Pieter , De Frenne Pieter 
Published: April 2021

Abstract

Forest biodiversity world‐wide is affected by climate change, habitat loss and fragmentation, and today 20% of the forest area is located within 100 m of a forest edge. Still, forest edges harbour a substantial amount of terrestrial biodiversity, especially in the understorey. The functional and phylogenetic diversity of forest edges have never been studied simultaneously at a continental scale, in spite of their importance for the forests' functioning and for communities' resilience to future change.

We assessed nine metrics of taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional diversity of understorey plant communities in 225 plots spread along edge‐to‐interior gradients in deciduous forests across Europe. We then derived the relative effects and importance of edaphic, stand and landscape conditions on the diversity metrics.

Here, we show that taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional diversity metrics respond differently to environmental conditions. We report an increase in functional diversity in plots with stronger microclimatic buffering, in spite of their lower taxonomic species richness. Additionally, we found increased taxonomic species richness at the forest edge, but in forests with intermediate and high openness, these communities had decreased phylogenetic diversity.

Functional and phylogenetic diversity revealed complementary and important insights in community assembly mechanisms. Several environmental filters were identified as potential drivers of the patterns, such as a colder macroclimate and less buffered microclimate for functional diversity. For phylogenetic diversity, edaphic conditions were more important. Interestingly, plots with lower soil pH had decreased taxonomic species richness, but led to increased phylogenetic diversity, challenging the phylogenetic niche conservatism concept.

Synthesis. Taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional diversity of understorey communities in forest edges respond differently to environmental conditions, providing insight into different community assembly mechanisms and their interactions. Therefore, it is important to look beyond species richness with phylogenetic and functional diversity approaches when focusing on forest understorey biodiversity.
Professional development training preferences of occupational therapists working with older adults in Australia: A discrete choice experiment
Authors: Day Sally D. , Nguyen Kim‐Huong , Comans Tracy , Clemson Lindy , Laver Kate 
Published: April 2021

IntroductionMembers of the public expect occupational therapists to provide evidence‐based practice. Participation in professional development activities is essential to update knowledge and acquire skills to enable delivery of evidence‐based assessment and intervention. Therapists commonly choose to participate in professional development through attending training workshops. Little is known about occupational therapists’ preference of how continuing professional development training programmes should be designed and delivered.MethodsAn online quantitative survey of occupational therapists working with older people in Australia, conducted June to September 2018, incorporated a discrete choice experiment to elicit and estimate preferences for professional development training when acquiring skills in delivering an evidence‐based intervention. A series of questions asked participants to choose one of two options for training, each differing in terms of attributes (level of recognition, mode of learning, follow‐up post‐training and cost to establish willingness to pay). Statistical analyses were conducted according to recommended practice in the field of choice‐modelling.ResultsA total of 108 responses were received from occupational therapists practicing around Australia. Therapists reported a strong preference for receiving post‐training support to implement their new skills in practice and would be willing to pay an additional A$200 for training that included this option. They also highly regarded achieving ‘certification’ in their new skill (willing to pay an additional A$100) and having the opportunity to become a ‘Master Trainer’ in the future (willing to pay an additional A$200).DiscussionThis study generates new knowledge about aspects of a professional development training programme that occupational therapists’ value and aspects that they are willing to compromise on when acquiring new skills that they intend to use in their practice. These findings can influence the training programme design utilised by those working in implementation research and providers of continuing professional development for health professionals.
‘Our Point of Departure is Feminist’: Féminin Masculin Avenir and the Intersectional Origins of Women's Liberation in France, 1967–1970
Authors: Leffingwell Hannah 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThis paper examines the intersectional origins of the Mouvement de libération des femmes (MLF) in France through analysis of one of its founding groups: Féminin, Masculin, Avenir (FMA). Complicating historiographical perceptions that the feminist revival of 1970 largely resulted from the revolutionary activity of May 1968 in France, this article argues that Women's Liberation also sprung from a transnational, multi‐issue activist network that predated the events of that year. FMA, though statistically insignificant in the vast arena of late‐1960s activism, boasted a disproportionately influential share of MLF activists who would go on to shape the principle theories of Women's Liberation in France. Their engagement with anti‐colonialism, Black liberation and Marxism facilitated their feminist activism, sharpened their theories of oppression and provided them with models of successful identity‐based social movements. FMA explored the intersections of race, class and gender before eventually abandoning these intersections in the name of ‘women’ as a class. This turn away from solidarity with anti‐racist and anti‐colonial movements in the name of feminism shaped the priorities of Women's Liberation for years to come.
Valorization of byproducts from tropical fruits: A review, Part 2: Applications, economic, and environmental aspects of biorefinery via supercritical fluid extraction
Authors: Villacís‐Chiriboga José , Vera Edwin , Van Camp John , Ruales Jenny , Elst Kathy 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThe global trade of tropical fruits is expected to increase significantly in the coming years. In 2018, the production was approximately 100 million tones, an increase of 3.3% compared to the previous year. Nevertheless, according to the Food and Agricultural Organization, every year one‐third of the food produced in the world for human consumption is lost or wasted. More specifically, around 45% of the fruits, constituted mainly by peels, seeds, and pulps after juice extraction, are discarded mainly in the agricultural and processing steps. Therefore, decreasing and/or using these byproducts, which are often rich in bioactive components, have become an important focus for both the scientific community and the fruit processing industry. In this line, supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) technology is expected to play a significant role in the valorization of these byproducts. This review presents the concepts of a tropical fruit biorefinery using supercritical CO2 extraction and the potential applications of the isolated fractions. There is a specific focus on the extraction of bioactive compounds, that is, carotenoids and phenolics, but also oils and other valuable molecules. Moreover, the techno‐economic and environmental performance is assessed. Overall, the biorefinery of tropical fruits via SFE provides new opportunities for development of food and pharmaceutical products with improved economic and environmental performance.
Soyasaponin ameliorates obesity and reduces hepatic triacylglycerol accumulation by suppressing lipogenesis in high‐fat diet‐fed mice
Authors: Tsai Wei‐Ting , Nakamura Yuki , Akasaka Taiki , Katakura Yoshinori , Tanaka Yasutake , Shirouchi Bungo , Jiang Zhe , Yuan Xingyu , Sato Masao 
Published: April 2021

AbstractSoyasaponins are triterpenoid glycosides found in soybean. We investigated whether soyasaponin ameliorates lipid metabolism and its possible mechanisms. In C57BL/6J mice fed a high‐fat diet (HFD), soyasaponin (SAP) was orally administered for 9 weeks. Additionally, we evaluated the effect of soyasapogenols on 3T3‐L1 adipocytes. In HFD‐fed mice, the SAP significantly reduced body weight by 7% and relative adipose tissue weight by 35%. X‐ray computed tomography demonstrated that the SAP reduced visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue weights during week 3 of feeding. The SAP reduced sterol regulatory element‐binding protein‐1c (SREBP‐1c) mRNA levels by 32% in the epididymal adipose tissue, significantly decreasing the triacylglycerol (TAG) content by 37% and SREBP‐1c and fatty acid synthase mRNA levels by 52% and 61%, respectively, in the liver. In 3T3‐L1 adipocytes, soyasapogenol B significantly decreased lipid droplets. The SAP containing soyasaponin A and B as conjugates demonstrate anti‐obesity effects by suppressing adipocyte differentiation and lipogenesis, with a preventive effect on hepatic TAG accumulation by suppressing lipogenesis.Practical ApplicationSoyasaponin is one of the oleanane triterpenoids in soybeans. We have demonstrated that soyasaponin potently reduces body weight and white adipose tissue weight, and hepatic triacylglycerol accumulation in high‐fat diet‐fed mice. Thus, soyasaponin is a beneficial compound to prevent obesity and fatty liver.
Variations in natural polyphenols determine the anti‐inflammatory potential of virgin coconut oils
Authors: Illam Soorya Parathodi , Narayanankutty Arunaksharan , Kandiyil Sruthi Panniyan , Raghavamenon Achuthan Chathrattil 
Published: April 2021

AbstractVirgin coconut oil (VCO), an edible oil prepared from fresh coconut kernel by natural or mechanical means without undergoing chemical refining, has been in the limelight of research as functional food oil. The phenolic components in VCO have been accredited with these pharmacological benefits. The present study compared the phenolic constituents of freshly prepared fermentation processed (FVCO) and hot‐pressed VCO (HVCO) and their anti‐inflammatory efficacies. The biochemical analysis documented quantitative variation in the phenolic content, being higher in HVCO than FVCO (40.03 ± 5.8 µg and 25.55 ± 5.8 µg/mL of oil, respectively). In vitro studies observed nitric oxide radical scavenging efficacy (IC50 value of 14.84 ± 0.81 µg/mL) for HVCO polyphenols, which shows higher inhibition efficacy than FVCO (29.41 ± 1.7 µg/mL). In dextran and formalin mediated acute and chronic inflammation in mice, HVCO displayed more protective efficacy (40.5 and 46.4% inhibition) than FVCO (33.3 and 43.8% inhibition), which is similar to the standard diclofenac (55.6 and 59.8% inhibition). The study, thus, concludes that compared to FVCO, HVCO is a more active anti‐inflammatory agent.Practical ApplicationVirgin coconut oil, a widely used edible oil in South Asian countries, has been shown to have health benefits possibly exerted by the natural phenolics it contains. However, different modes of preparations of VCO determine the phenolic combinations and efficacy as well. Our study compared two different VCO preparations and suggests that the VCO prepared by the traditional way (HVCO) is pharmacologically potent than that prepared by simple fermentation process (FVCO) in reducing inflammation. The efficacy is attributed to the variations in phenolic profile revealed by LC‐MS analysis. Hence, the current study suggests HVCO as a potential food supplement that can reduce the incidence of degenerative diseases.
Bioactive compounds in Apis mellifera monofloral honeys
Authors: Viteri Rafael , Zacconi Flavia , Montenegro Gloria , Giordano Ady 
Published: April 2021

AbstractHoney is a natural product with a sweet flavor. Honey is made by the honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) from the nectar of flowers or other plant secretions that are collected near the hive. These products are mixed with bee saliva and stored. Several studies have demonstrated that honey exhibits antioxidant, antimicrobial, nematicidal, antifungal, anticancer, and anti‐inflammatory activities. These properties are influenced by the plants from which the secretions are harvested, from the naturally occurring compounds present in the nectar. Studies of the properties and applications of honey have distinguished honey from other natural products due to the presence of certain compounds and due its bioactive properties. The focus of this review is to discuss the identified and isolated compounds from monofloral honey produced by A. mellifera, with specific emphasis on antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of honey and its therapeutic health benefits.
New‐onset atrial fibrillation in the intensive care unit: Protocol for an international inception cohort study (AFIB‐ICU)
Authors: Wetterslev Mik , Møller Morten Hylander , Granholm Anders , Haase Nicolai , Hassager Christian , Lange Theis , Hästbacka Johanna , Wilkman Erika , Myatra Sheila Nainan , Shen Jiawei , An Youzhong , Siegemund Martin , Young Paul J , Aslam Tayyba N. , Szczeklik Wojciech , Aneman Anders , Arabi Yaseen M. , Cronhjort Maria , Keus Frederik , Perner Anders 
Published: April 2021

AbstractIntroductionNew‐onset atrial fibrillation (NOAF) is frequently observed in critically ill patients and may be associated with prolonged hospital stay and increased mortality. Considerable variation exists in the reported frequencies of NOAF due to the lack of a standardised definition and detection method. Importantly, there are limited data on NOAF in the intensive care unit (ICU). Thus, we aim to provide contemporary epidemiological data on NOAF in the ICU.Methods and AnalysisWe have designed an international inception cohort study including at least 1,000 consecutive adult patients acutely admitted to the ICU without prior history of persistent or permanent AF. We will present data on the incidence, risk factors, used management strategies and outcomes of NOAF. We will register data daily during stay in the ICU for a maximum of 90 days after admission. The incidence of NOAF and management strategies used will be presented descriptively, and we will use Cox regression analyses including competing risk analyses to assess risk factors for NOAF and any association with 90‐day mortality.ConclusionThe outlined international AFIB‐ICU inception cohort study will provide contemporary data on the incidence, risk factors, used management strategies and outcomes of NOAF in adult ICU patients.Ethics and disseminationThis observational study poses no risk to the included patients. All participating sites will obtain relevant approvals according to national laws before patient enrollment. Funding sources will have no influence on data handling, analyses or writing of the manuscript. The study report(s) will be submitted to an international peer‐reviewed journal.
The effects of adding quinolones to beta‐lactam antibiotics for sepsis
Authors: Korang Steven K. , Maagaard Mathias , Feinberg Joshua B. , Perner Anders , Gluud Christian , Jakobsen Janus C 
Published: April 2021

BackgroundSepsis is common, deadly, and a major challenge to treat. Quinolones added to beta‐lactam antibiotics are currently recommended as a second‐line empiric regimen in sepsis, but the evidence regarding their benefits and harms is unclear.ObjectiveTo assess the benefits and harms of adding quinolones to standard care for sepsis.Data sourcesWe conducted a systematic review of randomized clinical trials with meta‐analysis and Trial Sequential Analysis. We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, LILACS, SCI‐Expanded, and BIOSIS.Study selectionRandomized clinical trials assessing the effects of adding any quinolone to standard care for children and adults with sepsis.Data extraction and synthesisTwo independent reviewers screened studies and extracted data. The certainty of the evidence was assessed by GRADE.ResultsWe included three trials randomizing 995 adults. All trials were at overall “high risk of bias.” All trials compared a quinolone (moxifloxacin, levofloxacin, or ciprofloxacin) and a beta‐lactam antibiotic versus the same beta‐lactam antibiotic. We found no evidence of an effect of adding quinolones to beta‐lactam antibiotics when assessing all‐cause mortality (RR 1.07, 95% CI 0.86 to 1.33; 2 trials; 915 participants; very low certainty of evidence) and serious adverse events (RR 1.00, 95% CI 0.67 to 1.50; 977 participants; two trials; very low certainty of evidence). No trials reported on quality of life.ConclusionsThe effects of adding quinolones to beta‐lactam antibiotics for the treatment of sepsis were unclear for all outcomes. Additional trial data are warranted to support the recommendation of empirical use of quinolones for sepsis.
Alcohol subjective responses in heavy drinkers: Measuring acute effects in the natural environment versus the controlled laboratory setting
Authors: Fridberg Daniel J. , Cao Dingcai , King Andrea C. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractBackgroundFor decades, laboratory alcohol challenges have been the “gold standard” for measuring individual differences in alcohol's subjective effects. However, these approaches are expensive and labor‐intensive, making them impractical for large‐scale use. This study examined the reliability and validity of a new high‐resolution EMA (HR‐EMA) ambulatory approach to assessing alcohol use and subjective responses in drinkers’ natural environments.MethodsParticipants were 83 young adult heavy social drinkers (58% male; mean ± SD age = 25.4 ± 2.6 years) who completed up to two smartphone‐based, 3‐h HR‐EMA assessments of alcohol use and related subjective responses in their typical drinking environments. Reported alcohol consumption during the HR‐EMA periods was used to calculate estimated blood alcohol concentration (eBAC). Subjective effects were measured using the Brief Biphasic Alcohol Effects Scale (B‐BAES) and Drug Effects Questionnaire (DEQ). All participants also completed identical measures during a separate, 4 to 5‐h laboratory session in which they received a 0.8 g/kg alcohol challenge.ResultsMost natural environment drinking episodes (87%) met or exceeded the threshold for binge drinking (final mean eBAC = 0.12 g/dl). Associations between reported alcohol use and subjective responses on the B‐BAES and DEQ were strongest earlier in the drinking events, with fair reliability of reported subjective effects across two HR‐EMA episodes (intraclass correlation [ICC] range = 0.46−0.49). There was fair‐to‐good correspondence between HR‐EMA‐ and laboratory‐derived subjective responses (ICC range = 0.49−0.74), even after accounting for differences in alcohol consumption and drinking context. Reported stimulating and rewarding alcohol effects were higher in the ambulatory than laboratory setting, and vice versa for sedating effects.ConclusionsThis study supports the reliability and validity of smartphone‐based HR‐EMA to measure alcohol use and subjective responses in heavy drinkers’ natural environments. These findings lend support to the use of ambulatory HR‐EMA as a measure of alcohol subjective responses in risky drinkers when a laboratory protocol is not practical, feasible, or safe.