bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Spatiotemporal patterns of taxonomic and functional β‐diversity of dung beetles in native and introduced pastures in the Brazilian Pantanal
Authors: Correa César M.A. , Da Silva Pedro G. , Puker Anderson , Abot Alfredo R. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractAnthropogenic activity, such as conversion and degradation of habitats, is causing global biodiversity declines. However, our understanding of how local ecological communities are responding to these changes taxonomically and functionally is still limited. The effects of the replacement of native by introduced pastures on biodiversity are some of those examples with limited understanding. Here, we sampled dung beetles in native and introduced pastures using standardised sampling protocols during the dry and rainy seasons in the Brazilian Pantanal. We used multifaceted β‐diversity partitioning of taxonomy‐, abundance‐ and trait‐based approaches to evaluate spatial (i.e. between pasture types) and temporal (i.e. between seasons) patterns of dung beetle changes in composition, abundance and species traits. Spatially, we found no effects of pasture type, season and their interaction on taxonomy‐based β‐diversity and its components. For abundance‐based β‐diversity and its components, pasture type had effects on both Bray‐Curtis dissimilarity and balanced variation in abundance. Higher values of both metrics were found in native pastures. For functional‐based β‐diversity, Sorensen dissimilarity with higher values in the dry season, while pasture type also had an effect on functional nestedness, where higher values of functional nestedness were found in introduced pastures. Seasonally, we also found no effects of pasture type, season and their interaction on taxonomy‐based β‐diversity and its components. However, pasture type had effects on Bray‐Curtis dissimilarity, with higher values found in introduced pastures. No effects on balanced variation in abundance and abundance gradients were found. Pasture type influenced the functional turnover, but not functional dissimilarity or nestedness. Higher values of functional turnover were found in native pastures. In summary, we demonstrate that the type of pastures and climatic seasonality have effects on abundance‐ and functional‐ but not on taxonomy‐based β‐diversity patterns of dung beetles in the Brazilian Pantanal.
Fatty liver index is associated with the risk of testosterone deficiency in aging men without metabolic syndrome
Authors: Liu Chia‐Chu , Huang Shu‐Pin , Hsieh Tusty‐Jiuan , Lee Cheng‐Hsueh , Cheng Kai‐Hung , Huang Tsung‐Yi , Geng Jiun‐Hung , Li Ching‐Chia , Wu Wen‐Jeng , Lee Yung‐Chin 
Published: January 2021

AbstractObjectivesNon‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is suggested to be a precursor of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and could influence the risk of testosterone deficiency (TD). Fatty liver index (FLI) is a simple and useful screening tool for NAFLD. We determined the association between the risk of NAFLD assessed by FLI and TD in aging Taiwanese men, especially those without MetS.Materials and MethodsA free health screening program was conducted for men (age: >40 years) in a medical center in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. All participants underwent a physical examination; answered a questionnaire assessing demographics, medical history, and clinical symptoms of TD; and provided 20‐mL whole blood samples for biochemical, adipocytokine, and hormonal evaluations. The risk of NAFLD was evaluated using FLI. The presence of NAFLD was ruled out if FLI value was <25 and ruled in if FLI value was ≥35.ResultsA total of 552 men (mean age: 54.7 ± 7.7 years) were enrolled. The prevalence rates of TD and MetS were significantly higher among men with NAFLD than those without NAFLD (both p < 0.001). FLI was significantly correlated with total testosterone (TT) and adipocytokines associated with insulin resistance, such as adiponectin, leptin, and retinol‐binding protein‐4 (RBP‐4) levels, respectively (all p < 0.001). Among men without MetS, those at risk of and with NAFLD had a 3.82 and 8.50 times higher risk of TD, respectively, than those without NAFLD after adjusting for potential covariates.ConclusionThe FLI is associated with the risk of TD in aging Taiwanese men, especially in those without MetS. Our findings also suggest that insulin resistance may be an important link among the inter‐relationships of NAFLD, MetS, and TD.Further population‐based studies with larger sample sizes of different ethnicities are warranted to confirm these preliminary results.
Trends in the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and oncological outcomes for high‐risk upper tract urothelial carcinoma: a multicentre retrospective study
Authors: Hamaya Tomoko , Hatakeyama Shingo , Tanaka Toshikazu , Kubota Yuka , Togashi Kyo , Hosogoe Shogo , Fujita Naoki , Kusaka Ayumu , Tokui Noriko , Okamoto Teppei , Yamamoto Hayato , Yoneyama Tohru , Yoneyama Takahiro , Hashimoto Yasuhiro , Ohyama Chikara 
Published: January 2021

ObjectiveTo evaluate temporal trends in neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) utilisation and outcomes in patients with locally advanced upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC).Patients and MethodsWe included 289 patients from seven hospitals who underwent radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) for locally advanced UTUC (≥cT3 or cN+) between 2000 and 2020. These patients received RNU alone or two to four courses of NAC with either a cisplatin‐ or carboplatin‐based regimen. We evaluated the temporal changes in NAC use and compared the visceral recurrence‐free, cancer‐specific, and overall survival rates. The effect of NAC on oncological outcomes was examined using multivariate Cox regression analysis with inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) models.ResultsOf 289 patients, 144 underwent NAC followed by RNU (NAC group) and 145 underwent RNU alone (Control [Ctrl] group). NAC use increased significantly from 19% (2006–2010), 58% (2011–2015), to 79% (2016–2020). Pathological downstaging was significantly higher in the NAC group than in the Ctrl group. The IPTW‐adjusted multivariable analyses showed that NAC significantly improved the oncological outcomes in the NAC group compared with the Ctrl group. Moreover, carboplatin‐based NAC significantly improved the oncological outcomes in the NAC group compared with the Ctrl group among patients with chronic kidney disease Stage ≥3. There were no significant differences in oncological outcomes between the cisplatin‐ and carboplatin‐based regimens.ConclusionsThe use of NAC for high‐risk UTUC increased significantly after 2010. Platinum‐based short‐term NAC followed by immediate RNU may not impede and potentially improves oncological outcomes.
Development of an optimal protocol for molecular profiling of tumor cells in pleural effusions at single‐cell level
Authors: Nakamura Ikuko Takeda , Ikegami Masachika , Hasegawa Nobuhiko , Hayashi Takuo , Ueno Toshihide , Kawazu Masahito , Yagishita Shigehiro , Goto Yasushi , Shinno Yuki , Kojima Yuki , Takamochi Kazuya , Takahashi Fumiyuki , Takahashi Kazuhisa , Mano Hiroyuki , Kohsaka Shinji 
Published: January 2021

AbstractLiquid biopsy analyzes the current status of primary tumors and their metastatic regions. We aimed to develop an optimized protocol for single‐cell sequencing of floating tumor cells (FTCs) in pleural effusion as a laboratory test. FTCs were enriched using a negative selection of white blood cells by a magnetic‐activated cell sorting system, and CD45‐negative and cytokeratin‐positive selection using a microfluidic cell separation system with a dielectrophoretic array. The enriched tumor cells were subjected to whole‐genome amplification (WGA) followed by genome sequencing. The FTC analysis detected an EGFR exon 19 deletion in Case 1 (12/19 cells, 63.2%), and EML4‐ALK fusion (17/20 cells, 85%) with an alectinib‐resistant mutation of ALK (p.G1202R) in Case 2. To eliminate WGA‐associated errors and increase the uniformity of the WGA product, the protocol was revised to sequence multiple single FTCs individually. An analytical pipeline, accurate single‐cell mutation detector (ASMD), was developed to identify somatic mutations of FTCs. The large numbers of WGA‐associated errors were cleaned up, and the somatic mutations detected in FTCs by ASMD were concordant with those found in tissue specimens. This protocol is applicable to circulating tumor cells analysis of peripheral blood and expands the possibility of utilizing molecular profiling of cancers.
Radioiodine therapy reduces the frequency of circulating tumour cells in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer
Authors: Schmidt Mathias , Antke Christina , Mattes‐György Katalin , Hautzel Hubertus , Allelein Stephanie , Haase Matthias , Dringenberg Till , Schott Matthias , Ehlers Margret 
Published: January 2021

AbstractObjectiveThe aim of the study was the quantification of circulating tumour cells (CTCs) in differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) patients before and 6 weeks after radioiodine therapy (RIT).ContextCirculating tumour cells (CTCs) were described more recently in cancer patients, mostly correlating with poor outcome and advanced metastases.DesignPeripheral blood for identification and quantification of CTC before RIT or/and 6 weeks after RIT was provided by 55 DTC patients that received RIT for remnant tissue ablation.Patients13 follicular thyroid cancer (FTC) patients, 31 papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) patients and 11 patients having the follicular variant PTC (FV‐PTC) were included.MeasurementsPeripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated and EpCAM‐positive CTCs were counted by immune fluorescent staining.ResultsA CTC positivity of 31.8% before RIT could be observed. Six weeks after RIT, the CTC positivity was reduced to 13.6%. Paired data at both time points of blood sampling could be gathered for n = 33 DTC patients. These patients had significantly higher CTC numbers before RIT than 6 weeks afterwards (0.27 ± 0.47 vs 0.05 ± 0.15, P = .0215). Additionally, significantly reduced CTC numbers were also demonstrated in pre‐RIT CTC‐positive patients (0.88 ± 0.43 vs 0.05 ± 0.16, P = .0039).ConclusionOur results indicate a reducing effect on the number of CTCs by RIT. Therefore, CTC enumeration should be considered as efficient tool for treatment monitoring during RIT.
A review of venous thromboembolism in COVID‐19: A clinical perspective
Authors: Ozsu Savas , Gunay Ersin , Konstantinides Stavros V. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractCoronavirus disease‐19 (COVID‐19) started in Wuhan, China in December 2019 and spread to all around the world in a short period of time. Hospitalized patients with COVID‐19 mostly could suffer from an abnormal coagulation activation risk with increased venous thrombosis events and a poor clinical course. The reported incidence rates of thrombotic complications in hospitalized COVID‐19 patients vary between 2.6 and 85% (both in non‐critically ill and critically ill patients). The risk of venous thromboembolism is not known in non‐hospitalized patients with COVID‐19. There are numerous studies and guidelines for administration of thromboprophylaxis for COVID‐19 cases. All hospitalized COVID‐19 patients should take pharmacological thromboprophylaxis if there is no contraindication. However, there is no consensus on this issue. In this review, we discussed all these approaches in a critical perspective.
COVID‐19 infection in former living kidney donors
Authors: Doshi Mona D. , Tsapepas Demetra , Prashar Rohini , Mohan Sumit , Edusei Emmanuel , Aull Meredith J. , Sherman Eric , Dadhania Darshana M. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe COVID‐19 pandemic brought living donor kidney transplant programs across the United States to a near halt in March 2020. As programs have begun to reopen, potential donor candidates often inquire about their risk of a COVID‐19 infection and its potential impact on kidney function after donation. To address their concerns, we surveyed 1740 former live kidney donors at four transplant centers located in New York and Michigan. Of these, 839 (48.2%) donors responded, their mean age was 46 ± 12.5 years, 543 (65%) were females, and 611 (73%) were white. Ninety‐two donors (11%) had symptoms suggestive of a COVID‐19 infection with fever (48%) and fatigue (43%) being the most common. Among those with symptoms, 42 donors underwent testing and 16 tested positive. Testing was more common among donors with private insurance, and a positive test result was more common among young black donors. Only one donor surveyed required hospitalization and none required dialysis. Fourteen donors have recovered completely and two partially. Our survey highlights that a COVID‐19 infection in former donors results in a mild disease with good recovery. These data will be useful for transplant programs to counsel living donors who are considering kidney donation during this pandemic.
Rapid development of perceptual gaze control in hearing native signing Infants and children
Authors: Bosworth Rain G. , Stone Adam 
Published: January 2021

AbstractChildren's gaze behavior reflects emergent linguistic knowledge and real‐time language processing of speech, but little is known about naturalistic gaze behaviors while watching signed narratives. Measuring gaze patterns in signing children could uncover how they master perceptual gaze control during a time of active language learning. Gaze patterns were recorded using a Tobii X120 eye tracker, in 31 non‐signing and 30 signing hearing infants (5–14 months) and children (2–8 years) as they watched signed narratives on video. Intelligibility of the signed narratives was manipulated by presenting them naturally and in video‐reversed (“low intelligibility”) conditions. This video manipulation was used because it distorts semantic content, while preserving most surface phonological features. We examined where participants looked, using linear mixed models with Language Group (non‐signing vs. signing) and Video Condition (Forward vs. Reversed), controlling for trial order. Non‐signing infants and children showed a preference to look at the face as well as areas below the face, possibly because their gaze was drawn to the moving articulators in signing space. Native signing infants and children demonstrated resilient, face‐focused gaze behavior. Moreover, their gaze behavior was unchanged for video‐reversed signed narratives, similar to what was seen for adult native signers, possibly because they already have efficient highly focused gaze behavior. The present study demonstrates that human perceptual gaze control is sensitive to visual language experience over the first year of life and emerges early, by 6 months of age. Results have implications for the critical importance of early visual language exposure for deaf infants. A video abstract of this article can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ahWUluFAAg.
All contexts are not created equal: Social stimuli win the competition for organizing reinforcement learning in 9‐month‐old infants
Authors: Werchan Denise M. , Amso Dima 
Published: January 2021

AbstractPrevious work has shown that infants as young as 8 months of age can use certain features of the environment, such as the shape or color of visual stimuli, as cues to organize simple inputs into hierarchical rule structures, a robust form of reinforcement learning that supports generalization of prior learning to new contexts. However, especially in cluttered naturalistic environments, there are an abundance of potential cues that can be used to structure learning into hierarchical rule structures. It is unclear how infants determine what features constitute a higher‐order context to organize inputs into hierarchical rule structures. Here, we examine whether 9‐month‐old infants are biased to use social stimuli, relative to non‐social stimuli, as a higher‐order context to organize learning of simple visuospatial inputs into hierarchical rule sets. Infants were presented with four face/color‐target location pairings, which could be learned most simply as individual associations. Alternatively, infants could use the faces or colorful backgrounds as a higher‐order context to organize the inputs into simpler color‐location or face‐location rules, respectively. Infants were then given a generalization test designed to probehowthey learned the initial pairings. The results indicated that infants appeared to use the faces as a higher‐order context to organize simpler color‐location rules, which then supported generalization of learning to new face contexts. These findings provide new evidence that infants are biased to organize reinforcement learning around social stimuli.
Evidence of subtle left ventricular systolic dysfunction in cryptogenic stroke in the young
Authors: Pirinen Jani , Kuusisto Jouni , Martinez‐Majander Nicolas , Sinisalo Juha , Pöyhönen Pauli , Putaala Jukka , Järvinen Vesa 
Published: January 2021

AbstractIntroductionIschemic stroke in young patients often remains cryptogenic, that is, no underlying reason can be found. Some of these strokes may originate in the heart. Left ventricular (LV) dynamic volumetry and strain analysis are relatively new and promising methods for evaluating LV function.MethodsIn this pilot study, we recruited 30 young (18‐50 years) patients with cryptogenic ischemic stroke and 30 age‐ and sex‐matched controls from the SECRETO study (NCT01934725). The LV systolic function was assessed by LV volumetry (ejection fraction, peak emptying rate, and time to peak emptying rate). The longitudinal systolic function was assessed by speckle tracking strain and strain rate imaging, and by tissue velocity imaging derived MAD (mitral annular displacement) and septal S’.ResultsStroke patients had less vigorous global longitudinal strain (median −18.9, interquartile range 3.3), compared to healthy controls (median −20.0, interquartile range 2.8), P = .010. There was no statistically significant differences in septal S’, MAD, global longitudinal strain rate, or dynamic volumetry‐derived parameters between the two groups.ConclusionsYoung cryptogenic stroke patients have subtly altered systolic function compared to healthy controls, found merely with longitudinal strain analysis. This infers that the heart may play a role in the pathogenesis of cryptogenic ischemic stroke.
Value of 3D mapping‐guided endomyocardial biopsy in cardiac sarcoidosis
Authors: Haanschoten Danielle M. , Adiyaman Ahmet , ‘t Hart Nils A. , Jager Piet L. , Elvan Arif 
Published: January 2021

AbstractAimIntegration of endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) in the diagnostic workup of cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) is under‐recognized in current clinical practice, since capturing focal granulomas is challenging. Our aim was to describe our experience with electro‐anatomic mapping (EAM)‐guided EMB and provide a comprehensive review of the literature.Methods and resultsFive patients (age 49.4 ± 11.4) with suspected CS underwent EAM‐guided EMB in Isala Heart Center (Zwolle, the Netherlands) between 2017 and 2019. In all patients, a 3D bipolar voltage map (<0.5‐1.5 mV) and unipolar voltage map (LV < 8.3 mV, RV < 5.5 mV) was created using a high‐density mapping catheter. The bioptome was connected to the mapping system to guide targeted EMB. Biopsy samples (2‐9 samples) were taken from both LV and RV sites, guided by EAM and areas with abnormal electrograms, without complications. CS diagnosis was based on EMB in 2/5 patients. A granuloma was captured in one patient at the LV basal septum with normal bipolar and abnormal unipolar voltage. All patients with delayed enhancement on cardiac magnetic resonance, revealed fibrosis in the biopsy sample. In one patient with suspected isolated cardiac sarcoidosis, diagnosis could not be confirmed by histopathology analysis, while unipolar voltage mapping was abnormal and diastolic potentials were present. Literature search revealed 7 reports (18 patients) describing EAM‐guided EMB in CS patients, with 100% of the EMB taken form the RV.ConclusionUnipolar voltage mapping may be superior to target active inflamed tissue and should be evaluated in future research regarding EAM‐guided EMB in CS.
Blue‐stain fungi isolated from freshly felled Scots pine logs in Poland, including Leptographium sosnaicola sp. nov
Authors: Jankowiak Robert , Szewczyk Grzegorz , Bilański Piotr , Jazłowiecka Dominika , Harabin Beata , Linnakoski Riikka 
Published: January 2021

AbstractWounds on felled tree stems provide entrance to inner wood for many fungi, including blue‐staining fungi, which cause permanent discoloration of wood. The aim of work presented here was to explore the diversity of blue‐stain fungi and assess the influence of the felling method and storage time/sampling period on their abundance and species diversity. Scots pines (Pinus sylvestris) grown in Poland were cut in April and July 2016, and fungal isolations from 20 stained logs that were obtained by mechanized harvesting and chainsaw harvesting, were carried out 3, 6, 9 and 12 weeks after felling. In total, eight fungal taxa were identified, including seven known and one novel species. Among the blue‐staining fungi detected, seven taxa belonged to Ophiostomatales, and one was identified as Sphaeropsis sapinea. The most frequently isolated fungi were S. sapinea, Ophiostoma minus and Ophiostoma ips. Additionally, Graphilbum acuminatum, Leptographium sosnaicola sp. nov., O. floccosum, O. piliferum and Sporothrix eucastaneae were found. More fungal isolates were obtained from summer‐harvested logs than spring‐harvested logs and from chainsaw‐harvested logs than mechanically harvested logs.
Neural signatures of temporal regularity and recurring patterns in random tonal sound sequences
Authors: Hodapp Alice , Grimm Sabine 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe auditory system is highly sensitive to recurring patterns in the acoustic input – even in otherwise unstructured material, such as white noise or random tonal sequences. Electroencephalography (EEG) research revealed a characteristic negative potential to periodically recurring auditory patterns ‐ a response, which has been interpreted as memory trace‐related and specific, rather than as a sign of periodicity‐driven entrainment. Here, we aim to disentangle these two possible contributions by investigating the influence of a periodic sound sequence's inherent temporal regularity on event‐related potentials. Participants were presented continuous sequences of short tones of random pitch, with some sequences containing a recurring pattern, and asked to indicate whether they heard a repetition. Patterns were either spaced equally across the random sequence (isochronous condition) or with a temporal jitter (jittered condition), which enabled us to differentiate between event‐related potentials (and thus processing operations associated with a memory trace for a repeated pattern) and the periodic nature of the repetitions. A negative recurrence‐related component could be observed independently of temporal regularity, was pattern‐specific, and modulated by across trial repetition of the pattern. Critically, isochronous pattern repetition induced an additional early periodicity‐related positive component, which started to build up already before the pattern onset and which was elicited undampedly even when the repeated pattern was occasionally not presented. This positive component likely reflects a sensory driven entrainment process that could be the foundation of a behavioural benefit in detecting temporally regular repetitions.