bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Undoped Layered Perovskite Oxynitride Li2LaTa2O6N for Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction with Visible Light
Authors: Oshima Takayoshi , Ichibha Tom , Qin Ken Sinkou , Muraoka Kanemichi , Vequizo Junie Jhon M. , Hibino Keisuke , Kuriki Ryo , Yamashita Shunsuke , Hongo Kenta , Uchiyama Tomoki , Fujii Kotaro , Lu Daling , Maezono Ryo , Yamakata Akira , Kato Hideki , Kimoto Koji , Yashima Masatomo , Uchimoto Yoshiharu , Kakihana Masato , Ishitani Osamu , Kageyama Hiroshi , Maeda Kazuhiko 
Published: May 2018

AbstractOxynitrides are promising visible‐light‐responsive photocatalysts, but their structures are almost confined with three‐dimensional (3D) structures such as perovskites. A phase‐pure Li2LaTa2O6N with a layered perovskite structure was successfully prepared by thermal ammonolysis of a lithium‐rich oxide precursor. Li2LaTa2O6N exhibited high crystallinity and visible‐light absorption up to 500 nm. As opposed to well‐known 3D oxynitride perovskites, Li2LaTa2O6N supported by a binuclear RuII complex was capable of stably and selectively converting CO2 into formate under visible light (λ>400 nm). Transient absorption spectroscopy indicated that, as compared to 3D oxynitrides, Li2LaTa2O6N possesses a lower density of mid‐gap states that work as recombination centers of photogenerated electron/hole pairs, but a higher density of reactive electrons, which is responsible for the higher photocatalytic performance of this layered oxynitride.
Development and validation of a difficulty score to predict intraoperative complications during laparoscopic liver resection
Authors: Halls M C , Berardi G , Cipriani F , Barkhatov L , Lainas P , Harris S , D'Hondt M , Rotellar F , Dagher I , Aldrighetti L , Troisi R I , Edwin B , Abu Hilal M 
Published: May 2018

Abstract

Background
Previous studies have demonstrated that patient, surgical, tumour and operative variables affect the complexity of laparoscopic liver resections. However, current difficulty scoring systems address only tumour factors. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a predictive model for the risk of intraoperative complications during laparoscopic liver resections.

Methods
The prospectively maintained databases of seven European tertiary referral liver centres were compiled. Data from two-thirds of the patients were used for development and one-third for validation of the model. Intraoperative complications were based on a modified Satava classification. Using the methodology of the Framingham Heart Study, developed to identify risk factors that contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease, factors found to predict intraoperative complications independently were assigned points, and grouped into low-, moderate-, high- and extremely high-risk groups based on the likelihood of intraoperative complications.

Results
A total of 2856 patients were included. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy, lesion type and size, classification of resection and previous open liver resection were found to be independent predictors of intraoperative complications. Patients with intraoperative complications had a longer duration of hospital stay (5 versus 4 days; P &lt; 0·001), higher complication rates (32·5 versus 15·5 per cent; P &lt; 0·001), and higher 30-day (3·0 versus 0·3 per cent; P &lt; 0·001) and 90-day (3·8 versus 0·8 per cent; P &lt; 0·001) mortality rates than those who did not. The model was able to predict intraoperative complications (area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) 0·677, 95 per cent c.i. 0·647 to 0·706) as well as postoperative 90-day mortality (AUC 0·769, 0·681 to 0·858).

Conclusion
This comprehensive scoring system, based on patient, surgical and tumour factors, and developed and validated using a large multicentre European database, helped estimate the risk of intraoperative complications.
They think you earn too much, but they probably don't care
Authors: Blankenship James C. 
Published: May 2018

Key Points

A survey of patients and physicians in southern California indicates that patients overestimate Medicare payments to hospitals for elective coronary stenting several‐fold and overestimate Medicare payments to physicians for coronary stenting over 15‐fold. Patients think payments should be less than they erroneously think hospitals and physicians are paid but should be much more than hospitals and physicians are paid.
The authors hypothesize that patients’ view of physician payments may interfere with the physician–patient relationship, but data from other studies of physician–patient relationships suggest other factors are much more important.
The importance of patients’ opinions regarding physician payments for procedures could be further assessed by surveying patients about relationships with physicians before versus after information is given about actual payments.
Emissivity Comparison between Chars and Demineralized Coal Chars under Oxycombustion Conditions
Authors: Graeser Philipp , Wütscher Annika , Cerciello Francesca , Muhler Martin , Schiemann Martin 
Published: May 2018

AbstractChar emissivity of burning particles is an important factor for heat transfer calculations in pulverized fuel boilers. As the chemical composition is known to influence the emissivity in general, a coal sample has been prepared by a leaching method to reduce the mineral content. A flat flame burner was used for the combustion of the particles in oxyfuel atmosphere, providing boundary conditions comparable to pulverized coal applications. The burnout‐dependent emissivity of the sample was measured in a defined spectral range and compared with data for an unleached sample of the same coal, indicating that the mineral content has minor effect for the investigated conversion levels, although clear changes in the emissivity show that conversion in general is not negligible.
Application of Model Predictive Control to a Continuous Multiple‐Effect Crystallizer
Authors: Nunis da Silva André Luiz , Seckler Marcelo Martins , Odloak Darci 
Published: May 2018

AbstractAn infinite horizon model predictive controller (IHMPC) with zone control is applied to a continuous five‐effect evaporative sodium chloride crystallizer. Firstly, a phenomenological dynamic model of the process is developed considering mass, energy, and moment balances coupled to crystallization kinetics. The developed model plays the role of the real system in order to study the proposed optimization/control strategy. The proposed approach is compared to a classical proportional integral derivative (PID) control system. The control strategy based on the prediction of the future state of the plant provides a faster response, a better stability to the process, and a reduction in energy consumption.
Electrochemically, Spectrally, and Spatially Resolved Annihilation‐Electrogenerated Chemiluminescence of Mixed‐Metal Complexes at Working and Counter Electrodes
Authors: Soulsby Lachlan C. , Hayne David J. , Doeven Egan H. , Chen Lifen , Hogan Conor F. , Kerr Emily , Adcock Jacqui L. , Francis Paul S. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractPreviously dismissed as an unwanted and unpredictable artifact of electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) systems, emission at the counter electrode has new importance in the context of the emerging multicolor and potential‐resolved ECL systems in which a much wider range of potentials are applied at the working electrode. Herein, we explore the annihilation ECL from a mixture of two electrochemiluminophores at both the working and counter electrodes of a three‐electrode electrochemical cell. The potentials at the working and counter electrodes were both measured, and the simultaneous spatially resolved ECL was captured with a digital camera. The factors that determine the dominant emitter (and therefore the observed emission color) at the working electrode can be applied to the counter, albeit with a less well‐defined potential range. A variety of color combinations from the luminophores can be elicited at the two electrode surfaces through the selection of applied potentials.
Calibration of interface properties and application to a finite element model for predicting vena cava filter–induced vein wall failure
Authors: Pérez‐Andrés Alejandra , Peña Estefanía 
Published: May 2018

AbstractWe present a computational framework that integrates experimental techniques and finite element modeling to calibrate material fracture parameters of the vena cava and the interaction properties between a retrievable filter (Günther Tulip) and the vena cava wall.The fitted parameters were then used to analyze the interaction of the inferior vena cava filter with the vena cava during the deployment process. An idealized cava finite element model was then developed including residual stresses and physiological pressure conditions. Filter deployment was simulated, and a comprehensive study of tissue‐filter interaction was performed by cohesive surface modeling. Simulations predict that there are no fracture areas for either model, so we can conclude that there is no penetration of the anchor into the vena cava. This suggests there are other physiological situations, such as the Valsalva maneuver, which could produce this penetration observed on some patients.
Gene(s) and individual feeding behavior: Exploring eco‐evolutionary dynamics underlying left‐right asymmetry in the scale‐eating cichlid fishPerissodus microlepis
Authors: Raffini Francesca , Fruciano Carmelo , Meyer Axel 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThe scale‐eating cichlid fishPerissodus microlepisis a textbook example of bilateral asymmetry due to its left or right‐bending heads and of negative frequency‐dependent selection, which is proposed to maintain this stable polymorphism. The mechanisms that underlie this asymmetry remain elusive. Several studies had initially postulated a simple genetic basis for this trait, but this explanation has been questioned, particularly by reports observing a unimodal distribution of mouth shapes. We hypothesize that this unimodal distribution might be due to a combination of genetic and phenotypically plastic components. Here, we expanded on previous work by investigating a formerly identified candidateSNPassociated to mouth laterality, documenting inter‐individual variation in feeding preference using stable isotope analyses, and testing their association with mouth asymmetry. Our results suggest that this polymorphism is influenced by both a polygenic basis and inter‐individual non‐genetic variation, possibly due to feeding experience, individual specialization, and intraspecific competition. We introduce a hypothesis potentially explaining the simultaneous maintenance of left, right, asymmetric and symmetric mouth phenotypes due to the interaction between diverse eco‐evolutionary dynamics including niche construction and balancing selection. Future studies will have to further tease apart the relative contribution of genetic and environmental factors and their interactions in an integrated fashion.
Local adaptation through genetic differentiation in highly fragmented Tilia cordata populations
Authors: Lobo Albin , Hansen Ole Kim , Hansen Jon Kehlet , Erichsen Eva Ortvald , Jacobsen Birgitte , Kjær Erik Dahl 
Published: May 2018

AbstractWe assessed the level of geographic differentiation of Tilia cordata in Denmark based on tests of 91 trees selected from 12 isolated populations. We used quantitative analysis of spring phenology and population genetic analysis based on SSR markers to infer the likely historical genetic processes within and among populations. High genetic variation within and among populations was observed in spring phenology, which correlated with spring temperatures at the origin of the tested T. cordata trees. The population genetic analysis revealed significant differentiation among the populations, but with no clear sign of isolation by distance. We infer the findings as indications of ongoing fine scale selection in favor of local growth conditions made possible by limited gene flow among the small and fragmented populations. This hypothesis fits well with reports of limited fruiting in the investigated Danish T. cordata populations, while the species is known for its ability to propagate vegetatively by root suckers. Our results suggest that both divergent selection and genetic drift may have played important roles in forming the genetic patterns of T. cordata at its northern distribution limit. However, we also speculate that epigenetic mechanism arising from the original population environment could have created similar patterns in regulating the spring phenology.
Introduction of mammalian seed predators and the loss of an endemic flightless bird impair seed dispersal of the New Zealand tree Elaeocarpus dentatus
Authors: Carpenter Joanna K. , Kelly Dave , Moltchanova Elena , O'Donnell Colin F. J. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractUnderstanding the mutualistic services provided by species is critical when considering both the consequences of their loss or the benefits of their reintroduction. Like many other Pacific islands, New Zealand seed dispersal networks have been changed by both significant losses of large frugivorous birds and the introduction of invasive mammals. These changes are particularly concerning when important dispersers remain unidentified. We tested the impact of frugivore declines and invasive seed predators on seed dispersal for an endemic tree, hinau Elaeocarpus dentatus, by comparing seed dispersal and predation rates on the mainland of New Zealand with offshore sanctuary islands with higher bird and lower mammal numbers. We used cameras and seed traps to measure predation and dispersal from the ground and canopy, respectively. We found that canopy fruit handling rates (an index of dispersal quantity) were poor even on island sanctuaries (only 14% of seeds captured below parent trees on islands had passed through a bird), which suggests that hinau may be adapted for ground‐based dispersal by flightless birds. Ground‐based dispersal of hinau was low on the New Zealand mainland compared to sanctuary islands (4% of seeds dispersed on the mainland vs. 76% dispersed on islands), due to low frugivore numbers. A flightless endemic rail (Gallirallus australis) conducted the majority of ground‐based fruit removal on islands. Despite being threatened, this rail is controversial in restoration projects because of its predatory impacts on native fauna. Our study demonstrates the importance of testing which species perform important mutualistic services, rather than simply relying on logical assumptions.
Revision of a state‐and‐transition model to include descriptions of state functional attributes
Authors: Tipton C. Y. , Ocheltree T. W. , Mueller K. E. , Turk P. , Fernández‐Giménez M. E. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractSuccessful conservation of ecosystems and ecosystem services requires understanding the structural–functional relationships underlying resilience to disturbance pressures. State‐and‐transition models (STMs) are box‐and‐arrow diagrams conceptualizing system resilience, but manySTMs lack functional descriptions. For a cattle‐grazed sagebrush steppe ecosystem in northwestern Colorado, we aimed to update an existingSTMby incorporating functional descriptions of the states to inform future hypotheses. In thisSTM, a diverse set of native perennial understory plants define a Diverse state, but long‐term exclusion of disturbances to sagebrush results in a shift to aDepauperatestate with increased bare ground interspaces and sagebrush dominance. We hypothesized that herbaceous species were inferior competitors to sagebrush over the long term for soil nitrogen. To examine evidence for this hypothesis, develop functional descriptions of theDiverseandDepauperatestates, and identify more specific hypotheses for future studies, we measured the following: the mass, C:N, and distribution of the litter layer; nitrogen mineralization rates; nitrate pools; and soil attributes on plots classified asDiverse(n = 5) orDepauperate(n = 5). Plots in theDepauperatestate had ~20% higher soil bulk density, half the clay and soil moisture concentrations, and 30% lower percent soil nitrogen compared toDiversestate plots; litter layer patchiness was nearly three times greater on theDepauperateplots than on theDiverseplots, but there was no significant difference between states in mean litter layer mass or C:N. We detected no significant differences between states in nitrogen mineralization rates or nitrate pools. This may be due to our sampling design, which examined nitrogen transformation at the plot level rather than at microsites within the plots, or it may be that another resource such as soil moisture is more limiting than nitrogen. Differences in soil texture between plots in theDiverseandDepauperatestates may indirectly influence the competitive interactions between sagebrush and native herbaceous understory by controlling available soil resources. These results suggest that the vulnerability of sagebrush steppe ecosystems to state changes may be dependent on soil texture, which is highly variable across this broadly distributed ecosystem. Based on these insights, we present a revisedSTMand propose future work.
Evolution of bacteria specialization along an antibiotic dose gradient
Authors: Harmand Noémie , Gallet Romain , Martin Guillaume , Lenormand Thomas 
Published: May 2018

AbstractAntibiotic and pesticide resistance of pathogens are major and pressing worldwide issues. Resistance evolution is often considered in simplified ecological contexts: treated versus nontreated environments. In contrast, antibiotic usually present important dose gradients: from ecosystems to hospitals to polluted soils, in treated patients across tissues. However, we do not know whether adaptation to low or high doses involves different phenotypic traits, and whether these traits trade-off with each other. In this study, we investigated the occurrence of such fitness trade-offs along a dose gradient by evolving experimentally resistant lines of Escherichia coli at different antibiotic concentrations for ∼400 generations. Our results reveal fast evolution toward specialization following the first mutational step toward resistance, along with pervasive trade-offs among different evolution doses. We found clear and regular fitness patterns of specialization, which converged rapidly from different initial starting points. These findings are consistent with a simple fitness peak shift model as described by the classical evolutionary ecology theory of adaptation across environmental gradients. We also found that the fitness costs of resistance tend to be compensated through time at low doses whereas they increase through time at higher doses. This cost evolution follows a linear trend with the log-dose of antibiotic along the gradient. These results suggest a general explanation for the variability of the fitness costs of resistance and their evolution. Overall, these findings call for more realistic models of resistance management incorporating dose-specialization.
Generalized Hotelling's test for paired compositional data with application to human microbiome studies
Authors: Zhao Ni , Zhan Xiang , Guthrie Katherine A , Mitchell Caroline M , Larson Joseph 
Published: May 2018

ABSTRACTThe human microbiome is a dynamic system that changes due to diseases, medication, change in diet, etc. The paired design is a common approach to evaluate the microbial changes while controlling for the inherent differences between people. For example, microbiome data may be collected from the same individuals before and after a treatment. Two challenges exist in analyzing this type of data. First, microbiome data are compositional such that the reads for all taxa in each sample are constrained to sum to a constant. Second, the number of taxa can be much larger than the sample size. Few statistical methods exist to analyze such data besides methods that test one taxon at a time. In this paper, we propose to first conduct a log‐ratio transformation of the compositions, and then develop a generalized Hotelling's test (GHT) to evaluate whether the average microbiome compositions are equivalent in the paired samples. We replace the sample covariance matrix in standard Hotelling's statistic by a shrinkage‐based covariance, calculated as a weighted average of the sample covariance and a positive definite target matrix. The optimal weighting can be obtained for many commonly used target matrices. We develop a permutation procedure to assess the statistical significance. Extensive simulations show that our proposed method has well‐controlled type I error and better power than a few ad hoc approaches. We apply our method to examine the vaginal microbiome changes in response to treatments for menopausal hot flashes. An R package “ GHT” is freely available athttps://github.com/zhaoni153/GHT.
Water Productivity of Rice Genotypes with Irrigation and Drainage
Authors: López‐López Rutilo , Jiménez‐Chong José Alfredo , Hernández‐Aragón Leonardo , Inzunza Ibarra Marco Antonio 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThe aims of this study were: (i) to evaluate the agronomic characteristics of thin‐grain rice genotypes with high yield potential under irrigation conditions; (ii) to quantify water productivity (WP) in thin‐grain rice genotypes, based on crop evapotranspiration (ETC) and irrigation and surface drainage control. Eight genotypes were planted: four varieties, two promising lines and hybrid Clearfield XL745 and IRGA. Direct dry seeding was carried out mechanically at a density of 80 kg ha‐1 for the varieties and 32 kg ha‐1 for the hybrid; drainage was performed every 9.3 m inside of the border. The results indicate that there are significant differences (P > 0.05) among genotypes for grain yield and its components, except for lodging. The varieties and promising rice lines evaluated expressed good productive capacity, but they were surpassed by 19% by the average productivity recorded by the variety IRGA and the hybrid Clearfield. The variation in water demand based on ETC is evident in the optimal irrigation depth applications of 264 mm for the hybrid and 318 mm for the intermediate‐cycle genotypes. The border irrigation method with drainage troughs significantly increases water productivity based on the applied irrigation (WPI), averaging 2.0 kg m‐3. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Genetic polymorphisms in the FVII gene is associated with lower extremity deep venous thrombosis: A case‐control study
Authors: Liu Jian‐Wei , Chen Dong‐Qiong 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThis study aims to explore the associations between FVII gene polymorphisms (R353Q, 5′F7, and −402G/A) and lower extremity deep venous thrombosis (LEDVT) in a Chinese Han population. LEDVT patients (153) and healthy people (174) were, respectively, as case and control groups and evaluated related biochemical indicators. Gene polymorphisms of R353Q, 5′F7, and −402G/A of FVII, serum FVII level, antithrombin activity, plasma fibrinogen content, and plasma D‐dimer (D‐D) level were determined by polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR‐RFLP), ELISA, chromogenic substrate assay, coagulating assay, and Immunoturbidimetry assay, respectively. Compared with the control group, the case group had a higher level of body mass index (BMI), glucose, and fibrinogen, and lower level of total cholesterol (TC). Notable differences were found in GG genotype, G and A alleles, as well as distribution of recessive model of −402G/A. The serum FVII level of GG genotype was higher than that of GA and AA genotypes. FIB and D‐D had a higher level had a lower level in GG genotype when compared with GA and AA genotypes. Smoking, drinking, serum FVII level, and −402G/A‐GG were the independent risk factors for LEDVT. This study demonstrates that −402G/A of FVII may be a risk factor for LEDVT patients in a Chinese Han population.