bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Refuges from fire maintain pollinator–plant interaction networks
Authors: Adedoja Opeyemi , Dormann Carsten F. , Kehinde Temitope , Samways Michael J. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractFire is a major disturbance factor in many terrestrial ecosystems, leading to landscape transformation in fire‐prone areas. Species in mutualistic interactions are often highly sensitive to disturbances like fire events, but the degree and complexity of their responses are unclear. We use bipartite insect–flower interaction networks across a recently burned landscape to explore how plant–pollinator interaction networks respond to a recent major fire event at the landscape level, and where fire refuges were present. We also investigate the effectiveness of these refuges at different elevations (valley to hilltop) for the conservation of displaced flower‐visiting insects during fire events. Then, we explore how the degree of specialization of flower‐visiting insects changes across habitats with different levels of fire impact. We did this in natural areas in the Greater Cape Floristic Region (GCFR) biodiversity hotspot, which is species rich in plants and pollinators. Bees and beetles were the most frequent pollinators in interactions, followed by wasps and flies. Highest interaction activity was in the fire refuges and least in burned areas. Interactions also tracked flower abundance, which was highest in fire refuges in the valley and lowest in burned areas. Interactions consisted mostly of specialized flower visitors, especially in refuge areas. The interaction network and species specialization were lowest in burned areas. However, species common to at least two fire classes showed no significant difference in species specialization. We conclude that flower‐rich fire refuges sustain plant–pollinator interactions, especially those involving specialized species, in fire‐disturbed landscape. This may be an important shelter for specialized pollinator species at the time that the burned landscape goes through regrowth and succession as part of ecosystem recovery process after a major fire event.
Model‐based inference of conditional extreme value distributions with hydrological applications
Authors: Towe R. P. , Tawn J. A. , Lamb R. , Sherlock C. G. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractMultivariate extreme value models are used to estimate joint risk in a number of applications, with a particular focus on environmental fields ranging from climatology and hydrology to oceanography and seismic hazards. The semi‐parametric conditional extreme value model of Heffernan and Tawn involving a multivariate regression provides the most suitable of current statistical models in terms of its flexibility to handle a range of extremal dependence classes. However, the standard inference for the joint distribution of the residuals of this model suffers from the curse of dimensionality because, in a d‐dimensional application, it involves a d−1‐dimensional nonparametric density estimator, which requires, for accuracy, a number points and commensurate effort that is exponential in d. Furthermore, it does not allow for any partially missing observations to be included, and a previous proposal to address this is extremely computationally intensive, making its use prohibitive if the proportion of missing data is nontrivial. We propose to replace the d−1‐dimensional nonparametric density estimator with a model‐based copula with univariate marginal densities estimated using kernel methods. This approach provides statistically and computationally efficient estimates whatever the dimension, d, or the degree of missing data. Evidence is presented to show that the benefits of this approach substantially outweigh potential misspecification errors. The methods are illustrated through the analysis of UK river flow data at a network of 46 sites and assessing the rarity of the 2015 floods in North West England.
Performance investigation of metal hydride based heat transformer
Authors: Choudhari Manoj , Ahuja Kunal , Thakkur Siddhant , Bardhan Subhro , Sharma Vinod Kumar 
Published: May 2019

AbstractEnergy is one of the major inputs for the economic development of any country. However, for developing countries energy is essential for economic growth, which calls for the development of clean and sustainable energy source/carrier. Among all the possible options, hydrogen has been considered as a promising clean energy carrier, which is associated with major challenges of its storage and application. Hydrogen can be stored safely in the form of metal hydrides whose formation and decomposition involve high heat interaction, which can be used for the development of thermodynamic systems like sorption heat pumps, which can transform waste heat to useful high‐grade heat. In the present work, the performance of metal hydride based heat transformer (MHHT) is investigated in terms of variation in MH bed temperature and hydrogen interaction between coupled reactors during hydrogen transfer processes, in addition to thermodynamic performance (ie, Coefficient of Performance (COP), heating capacity, and so on) for the operating temperature of TL = 303 K, TM = 383 K, and TH = 423 K. A pair of La0.9Ce0.1Ni5 and LaNi4.6Al0.4 is chosen for present study based on author's previous work. In the present study, user‐defined functions are employed in ANSYS Fluent, which consist of pressure, mass, and energy variation equations. The results are derived in the form of contours and graphical representations of variations in bed temperature and hydrogen concentration. It is observed that the system produces 40 kJ of upgraded heat with heating capacity of 0.1 kW and COP of 0.46 at 880 seconds of hydrogen transfer time for 250 g of each alloys.
The genomic determinants of adaptive evolution in a fungal pathogen
Authors: Grandaubert Jonathan , Dutheil Julien Y. , Stukenbrock Eva H. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractUnravelling the strength, frequency, and distribution of selective variants along the genome as well as the underlying factors shaping this distribution are fundamental goals of evolutionary biology. Antagonistic host-pathogen coevolution is thought to be a major driver of genome evolution between interacting species. While rapid evolution of pathogens has been documented in several model organisms, the genetic mechanisms of their adaptation are still poorly understood and debated, particularly the role of sexual reproduction. Here, we apply a population genomic approach to infer genome-wide patterns of selection among 13 isolates of Zymoseptoria tritici, a fungal pathogen characterized by extremely high genetic diversity, gene density, and recombination rates. We report that the genome of Z. tritici undergoes a high rate of adaptive substitutions, with 44% of nonsynonymous substitutions being adaptive on average. This fraction reaches 68% in so-called effector genes encoding determinants of pathogenicity, and the distribution of fitness effects differs in this class of genes as they undergo adaptive mutations with stronger positive fitness effects, but also more slightly deleterious mutations. Besides the globally high rate of adaptive substitutions, we report a negative relationship between pN/pS and the fine-scale recombination rate and a strong positive correlation between the rate of adaptive nonsynonymous substitutions (ωa) and recombination rate. This result suggests a pervasive role of both background selection and Hill-Robertson interference even in a species with an exceptionally high recombination rate (60 cM/Mb on average). While transposable elements (TEs) have been suggested to contribute to adaptation by creating compartments of fast-evolving genomic regions, we do not find a significant effect of TEs on the rate of adaptive mutations. Overall our study suggests that sexual recombination is a significant driver of genome evolution, even in rapidly evolving organisms subject to recurrent mutations with large positive effects.
Comparative study of chemical treatments in combination with extrusion for the partial conversion of wheat and sorghum insoluble fiber into soluble
Authors: Bader Ul Ain Huma , Saeed Farhan , Khan Muhammad Asif , Niaz Bushra , Khan Samreen Gul , Anjum Faqir Muhammad , Tufail Tabussam , Hussain Shahzad 
Published: May 2019

AbstractDietary fiber has gained greater attention owing to their positive and potential health perspectives. Cereals are the most important and enriched source of dietary fiber with more insoluble dietary fiber than soluble. For dietary fiber modification, chemical treatment with various techniques is considered as significant approach owing to its safety point of view and involves less damage to the molecular structure of the dietary fiber through chemical reagents and content of soluble dietary fiber is increased more efficiently. The current study was aimed to nutritionally characterize the cereal grains and to partially convert insoluble dietary fiber into soluble dietary fiber through chemical treatments in combination with extrusion. For the purpose, two varieties of each cereal were characterized for their chemical composition, mineral profile, and dietary fiber content according to the respective methods. Then, dietary fiber ratio in cereals was modified through chemical treatments, that is, acid, alkaline, and consecutive acid–alkaline followed by extrusion. Results regarding dietary fiber content of cereal grains exhibited that wheat (12.03–12.20 g/100 g) contained higher total dietary fiber followed by sorghum (6.70–6.90 g/100 g). Additionally, modification of SDF (1.97%) and IDF (11.48%) ratio in wheat and SDF (1.19%) and IDF (24.25%) ratio in sorghum through extrusion processing was nonsignificant while acid–alkaline treatment showed highly significant results, that is, 768.2% increase in SDF and 56.5% decrease in IDF in wheat and 952.38% increase in SDF and 71.17% decrease in IDF in sorghum. Among chemical treatments, higher result was given by acid–alkaline method and the lower outputs were observed in case of extrusion in both cereals. Conclusively, soluble dietary fiber was significantly increased through chemical treatments alone or in combination with twin‐screw extrusion.
Anatectic origin and geological significance of the Neoarchean ~2.5 Ga charnockite in the Jining area, northern North China Craton
Authors: Shi Qiang , Fan Zhi‐wei , Dong Xiao‐jie , Xu Zhong‐yuan , Li Peng‐chuan , Wang Shi‐jie , Li Chang‐hai 
Published: May 2019

The Neoarchean charnockite of Yinshan Block has been a hot topic into understanding the Precambrian geology of the North China Craton. Although there is a broad consensus that the charnockite is usually related to granulite‐facies metamorphism, its petrogenesis and tectonics still remain controversial. We present a comparative study of the petrography, geochemistry, and geochronology of charnockite and intermediate–basic granulite in the Jining area along the northern margin of the North China Craton. Inclusions within hypersthene in charnockite are used to identify the peak granulite facies mineral assemblage, with the formation of charnockite being attributed to anatexis of the protolith associated with this granulite‐facies metamorphism. Anatexis occurred mainly during postpeak isothermal decompression, as inferred from the metamorphic evolution and pressure–temperature conditions (granulite and charnockite record peak pressure–temperature conditions of 750°C–1,000°C and 0.8–1.2 GPa and 850°C–975°C and 0.9–1.0 GPa, respectively) derived from analyses of metamorphic minerals using electron probe microanalysis, combined with previous zircon geochronology. Hypersthene in charnockite is interpreted to be a residual or peritectic mineral phase that was present during anatexis, and the charnockite is inferred to have been crystallized from a melt containing abundant residual minerals. Charnockite has similar geochemical characteristics to those of intermediate–basic granulite but differs in several key ways: (a) The charnockite is strongly depleted in the large‐ion lithophile element Cs, the heat‐producing elements U and Th, and the high‐field‐strength elements Nb, Ta, P, and Ti; (b) it is enriched in Sr; and (c) it exhibits both positive and negative Eu anomalies, which are characteristics of granites formed largely by in situ anatexis. Geochemical constraints indicate that the intermediate charnockite and retrograde metamorphic biotite–hornblende gneiss may both be the product of mantle‐derived magma in a magmatic subduction‐related back‐arc extensional environment. This setting provided a hot spot for metamorphic anatexis, with additional heat being provided by the upwelling of asthenospheric mantle. After the cessation of subduction by ~2,470 Ma, a magmatic arc extensional setting developed in the Jining area. The charnockite was involved in Paleoproterozoic orogenesis in the North China Craton and was strongly modified by a ~1,950‐Ma metamorphism event.
Stage‐dependent regulation of oligodendrocyte development and enhancement of myelin repair by dominant negative Master‐mind 1 protein
Authors: Ge Xinqi , Xiao Guanxiu , Huang Hao , Du Junqing , Tao Yanmei , Yang Aifen , Wu Huihui , Zhang Zunyi , Qiu Mengsheng 
Published: May 2019

AbstractNotch signaling has been implicated in the inhibition of oligodendrocyte differentiation and myelin gene expression during early development. However, inactivation of a particular Notch or Hes gene only produces a mild phenotype in oligodendrocyte development possibly due to the functional redundancies among closely related family members. To uncover the full role of Notch signaling in myelin development and regeneration, we generated the Sox10rtTA/+; TetO‐dnMAML1 double transgenic mice in which expression of dominant negative Master‐mind 1 (dnMAML1) gene can be selectively induced in oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) for complete blockade of Notch signaling. It is found that dnMAML1 expression leads to robust precocious OL differentiation and premature axonal myelination in the spinal cord, possibly by upregulating Nkx2.2 and downregulating Pdgfra expression. Unexpectedly, at late embryonic stages, dnMAML1 expression dramatically increased the number of OPCs, indicating a stage‐dependent effect of Notch signaling on OPC proliferation. In addition, dnMAML1 also significantly enhances axonal remyelination following chemical‐induced demyelination, providing a promising therapeutic target for lesion repair in demyelinating disease.
Transcriptional control of myelination and remyelination
Authors: Sock Elisabeth , Wegner Michael 
Published: May 2019

AbstractMyelination is an evolutionary recent differentiation program that has been independently acquired in vertebrates by Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system and oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system. Therefore, it is not surprising that regulating transcription factors differ substantially between both cell types. However, overall principles are similar as transcriptional control in Schwann cells and oligodendrocytes combines lineage determining and stage‐specific factors in complex regulatory networks. Myelination does not only occur during development, but also as remyelination in the adult. In line with the different conditions during developmental myelination and remyelination and the distinctive properties of Schwann cells and oligodendrocytes, transcriptional regulation of remyelination exhibits unique features and differs between the two cell types. This review gives an overview of the current state in the field.
The relationship between perceived functional difficulties and the ability to live well with mild‐to‐moderate dementia: Findings from the IDEAL programme
Authors: Martyr Anthony , Nelis Sharon M. , Quinn Catherine , Rusted Jennifer M. , Morris Robin G. , Clare Linda ,   on behalf of the IDEAL programme team
Published: May 2019

ObjectivesThe objectives of the study are to investigate how different levels of functional ability relate to quality of life, well‐being, and satisfaction with life, conceptualised as reflecting capability to “live well” in people with dementia.Methods/designParticipants were 1496 people with mild‐to‐moderate dementia and 1188 informants who completed baseline assessments in the Improving the experience of Dementia and Enhancing Active Life (IDEAL) cohort study. Total self‐rated and informant‐rated scores on the Functional Activities Questionnaire were split into six ability levels to monitor how poorer functioning impacts the ability to live well. We also investigated the potential influence of sociodemographic and diagnostic variables, depression, cognition, and carer stress.ResultsMultivariate multiple regression models found that people with dementia who had the greatest functional impairment according to self‐ratings and informant ratings had poorer living well scores than those with the least functional impairment. Sociodemographic and diagnostic factors and cognition had little impact on effect sizes. For self‐ratings, depression attenuated the relationship between functional ability and living well, whereas carer stress attenuated informant ratings.ConclusionsPeople with dementia with the least functional impairments had greater capability to live well than those with the most functional impairment. Even subtle perceived difficulties in functional ability had a detrimental effect on the ability of people with dementia to live well. Depression in people with dementia and carer stress in informants influenced these associations, and therefore, these factors should be routinely included in future research studies and clinical assessments.
No association between head injury with loss of consciousness and Alzheimer disease pathology—Findings from the University of Manchester Longitudinal Study of Cognition in Normal Healthy Old Age
Authors: Robinson Andrew C. , Davidson Yvonne S. , Horan Michael A. , Cairns Maggie , Pendleton Neil , Mann David M.A. 
Published: May 2019

ObjectivesHead injury with loss of consciousness (HI‐LOC) is a common occurrence. Some studies have linked such injuries with an increased risk of Alzheimer disease (AD). However, recent large clinicopathologic studies have failed to find a clear relationship between HI‐LOC and the pathological changes associated with AD. The present study aims to further investigate the relationship between HI‐LOC and AD pathology in the elderly.Methods/DesignHistory of HI‐LOC in participants in the University of Manchester Longitudinal Study of Cognition in Normal Healthy Old Age was ascertained. The donated brains of 110 of these individuals were assessed for AD pathology using consensus guidelines. Analyses aimed to elucidate relationships between HI‐LOC and AD pathology.ResultsNo associations were found between incidence of HI‐LOC and regional AD pathology or any of the three established measures of the neuropathology associated with AD: CERAD score, Thal phase, or Braak stage.ConclusionsSingle incidences of HI‐LOC may not be sufficient to cause the pathology associated with late‐stage AD. Other routes of damage, such as diffuse axonal injury or Lewy body pathology, may play a greater role in causing cognitive impairment associated with head injury.
Development of memory clinics in the Netherlands over the last 20 years
Authors: Gruters Angélique A.A. , Ramakers Inez H.G.B. , Kessels Roy P.C. , Bouwman Femke H. , Olde Rikkert Marcel G.M. , Blom Marco M. , de Vugt Marjolein E. , Verhey Frans R.J. 
Published: May 2019

ObjectivesMemory clinics (MCs) have been established to improve diagnosis and treatment of cognitive disorders, including dementia. The aim of this study was to determine the characteristics and working methods of MCs in the Netherlands in 2016. More insight into different working methods can be used to improve the quality of care in Dutch MCs. Additionally, the findings will be compared with earlier results to investigate the development of MCs since 1998.MethodsA survey was sent in 1998, 2004, 2009, and 2017 to all operational Dutch MCs with questions about organization, collaboration, patients, and diagnostic procedures.ResultsFrom 1998 to 2016, the number of MCs increased substantially from 12 to 91. The capacity increased from 1560 patients to 24,388. In 1998, most patients received a dementia diagnosis (85%), while in 2016, half of the patients were diagnosed with milder cognitive problems. MCs are more often part of regional care chains and are better embedded within regional care organizations. Diagnostic tools, such as blood tests (97%), neuropsychological assessment (NPA) (95%), and neuroimaging (92%), were used in nearly all MCs. The number of patients in whom these tools were used differed greatly between MCs (NPA: 5%‐100%, neuroimaging: 10%‐100%, and CSF: 0.5%‐80%). There was an increase in the use of NPA, while the use of neuroimaging, CSF, and EEG/ECG decreased by 8% to 15% since 2009.ConclusionsSince 1998, MCs have developed substantially and outgrown the primarily research‐based university settings. They are now accepted as regular care facilities for people with cognitive problems.
Preoperative anemia displays a dose‐dependent effect on complications in head and neck oncologic surgery
Authors: Abt Nicholas B. , Tarabanis Constantine , Miller Ashley L. , Puram Sidharth V. , Varvares Mark A. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractIntroductionAnemia's effect on head and neck surgical complications is unknown.MethodsHead and neck cancer operations were acquired from the 2006 to 2013 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program databases. Anemia was defined as <39% or <36% hematocrit in men and women, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed.ResultsMajor head and neck surgery patients had a 44.2% anemia incidence (n = 527 of 1193). Anemic patients had increased complication rates (27.1%) and mortality (2.1%) vs non‐anemic patients at 19.8% (P = .003) and 0.5% (P = .009), respectively. There was a significant difference in morbidity odds with hematocrit >27% (odds ratio [OR] = 1.09) vs <27% (OR = 4.22). Complication odds were further increased with hematocrit between 24% and 27% (OR = 8.94). There were increased rates of wound dehiscence (6.6% vs 2.7%, P < .001), pneumonia (8.5% vs 4.7%, P = .006), and myocardial infarction (1.7% vs 0.3%, P = .01) in anemic vs non‐anemic patients.ConclusionAnemia was associated with increased morbidity at hematocrit <27%. An inverse dose‐dependent effect of decreasing hematocrit was observed for overall morbidity.
The thermal and economic characteristics of solar air collectors with different delta turbulators arrangement
Authors: Obaid Zain alabdeen Hussein , Al‐damook Amer , Khalil Wissam Hashim 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThe benefits of using a solar air collector with different array delta turbulators absorber plate are experimentally investigated to assess this type of collector under western and middle of Iraq climate conditions. The solar collector was investigated with four different absorber plate in which flat plate, in‐line delta turbulators, staggered delta turbulators and inclined staggered delta turbulators with different mass airflow rate. The economic characteristics and overall thermal performance of the collector are compared with other heating systems. The major findings show that the delta turbulators enhance the economic characteristics and the overall thermal performance of collectors due to vortex generation and damping the development of the thermal boundary layer in the direction of airflow. A substantial enhancement is observed in lowering both life‐cycle cost and increasing energy saving with delta turbulators. This study will likewise provide a new direction to the work trend in western and middle of Iraq climate conditions during winter days.