bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Longevity and population age structure of the arroyo southwestern toad (Anaxyrus californicus) with drought implications
Authors: Fisher Robert N. , Brehme Cheryl S. , Hathaway Stacie A. , Hovey Tim E. , Warburton Manna L. , Stokes Drew C. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThe arroyo southwestern toad is a specialized and federally endangered amphibian endemic to the coastal plains and mountains of central and southern California and northwestern Baja California. It is largely unknown how long these toads live in natural systems, how their population demographics vary across occupied drainages, and how hydrology affects age structure. We used skeletochronology to estimate the ages of adult arroyo toads in seven occupied drainages with varying surface water hydrology in southern California. We processed 179 adult toads with age estimates between 1 and 6 years. Comparisons between skeletochronological ages and known ages of PIT tagged toads showed that skeletochronology likely underestimated toad age by up to 2 years, indicating they may live to 7 or 8 years, but nonetheless major patterns were evident. Arroyo toads showed sexual size dimorphism with adult females reaching a maximum size of 12 mm greater than males. Population age structure varied among the sites. Age structure at sites with seasonally predictable surface water was biased toward younger individuals, which indicated stable recruitment for these populations. Age structures at the ephemeral sites were biased toward older individuals with cohorts roughly corresponding to higher rainfall years. These populations are driven by surface water availability, a stochastic process, and thus more unstable. Based on our estimates of toad ages, climate predictions of extreme and prolonged drought events could mean that the number of consecutive dry years could surpass the maximum life span of toads making them vulnerable to extirpation, especially in ephemeral freshwater systems. Understanding the relationship between population demographics and hydrology is essential for predicting species resilience to projected changes in weather and rainfall patterns. The arroyo toad serves as a model for understanding potential responses to climatic and hydrologic changes in Mediterranean stream systems. We recommend development of adaptive management strategies to address these threats.
On the relationship between phylogenetic diversity and trait diversity
Authors: Tucker Caroline M. , Davies T. Jonathan , Cadotte Marc W. , Pearse William D. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractNiche differences are key to understanding the distribution and structure of biodiversity. To examine niche differences, we must first characterize how species occupy niche space, and two approaches are commonly used in the ecological literature. The first uses species traits to estimate multivariate trait space (so‐called functional trait diversity, FD); the second quantifies the amount of time or evolutionary history captured by a group of species (phylogenetic diversity, PD). It is often—but controversially—assumed that these putative measures of niche space are at a minimum correlated and perhaps redundant, since more evolutionary time allows for greater accumulation of trait changes. This theoretical expectation remains surprisingly poorly evaluated, particularly in the context of multivariate measures of trait diversity. We evaluated the relationship between phylogenetic diversity and trait diversity using analytical and simulation‐based methods across common models of trait evolution. We show that PD correlates with FD increasingly strongly as more traits are included in the FD measure. Our results indicate that phylogenetic diversity can be a useful surrogate for high‐dimensional trait diversity, but we also show that the correlation weakens when the underlying process of trait evolution includes variation in rate and optima.
Electromembrane extraction and capillary electrophoresis with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection: Multi‐extraction capabilities to analyses trace metals from saline samples
Authors: Silva Macarena , Mendiguchía Carolina , Moreno Carlos , Kubáň Pavel 
Published: May 2018

AbstractSimultaneous electromembrane extraction (EME) of six trace metal cations (Cu2+, Zn2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Pb2+, Cd2+) from saline samples was investigated. CE with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection (C4D) was used to determine the metals in acceptor solutions due to its excellent compatibility with the minute volumes of acceptor solutions. Bis(2‐ethylhexyl)phosphate (DEHPA) was selected as a suitable nonselective modifier for EME transport of target metal cations. Both, the individual effect of each major inorganic cation (Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+) and their synergistic effect on EME of the trace metal cations were evaluated. In both cases, a decrease in extraction efficiency was observed when major inorganic cations were present in the sample. This effect was more significant for Ca2+ and Mg2+. The system was optimized for simultaneous extractions of the six target metals from saline samples (50 mM Na+, 5 mM Mg2+, 1 mM K+, and 1 mM Ca2+) and following EME conditions were applied. Organic phase consisted of 1‐nonanol containing 1% (v/v) DEHPA, acceptor solution was 1 M acetic acid (HAc) and sample pH was adjusted to 5. Sample was stirred at 750 rpm and EMEs were carried out at extraction potential of 10 V for 20 min. The method presented a repeatability between 8 and 21.8% (n = 5), good linearity in 0.5–10 μM concentration range (R2 = 0.987‐0.999) and LOD better than 2.6 nM. Applicability of the EME–CE–C4D method to the analyses of metal cations in drinking water, seawater, and urine samples was also demonstrated.
A simple strategy for dynamic substructuring: I. Concept and development
Authors: Stefanaki Aikaterini , Sivaselvan M. V. 
Published: May 2018

SummaryDynamic substructuring refers to physical testing with computational models in the loop. This paper presents a new strategy for such testing. The key feature of this strategy is that it decouples the substructuring controller from the physical subsystem. Unlike conventional approaches, it does not explicitly include a tracking controller. Consequently, the design and implementation of the substructuring controls are greatly simplified. This paper motivates the strategy and discusses the main concept along with details of the substructuring control design. The focus is on configurations that use shake tables and active mass drivers. An extensive experimental assessment of the new strategy is presented in a companion paper, where the influence of various factors such as virtual subsystem dynamics, control gains, and nonlinearities is investigated, and it is shown that robustly stable and accurate substructuring is achieved.
Modeling RC column flexural failure modes under intensive seismic loading
Authors: Gkimousis Ilias , Koumousis Vlasis 
Published: May 2018

SummaryThe aim of this work is to model beam‐column behavior in a computationally effective manner, revealing reliably the overall response of reinforced concrete members subjected to intensive seismic loading. In this respect, plasticity and damage are considered in the predominant longitudinal direction, allowing for fiber finite element modeling, while in addition the effect of inelastic buckling of longitudinal rebars, which becomes essential at later stages of intensive cyclic loading, is incorporated. Α smooth plasticity‐damage model is developed for concrete, accounting for unilateral compressive and tensile behavior, nonlinear unloading and crack closure phenomena. This is used to address concrete core crushing and spalling, which triggers the inelastic buckling of longitudinal rebars. For this reason, a uniaxial local stress‐strain constitutive relation for steel rebars is developed, which is based on a combined nonlinear kinematic and isotropic hardening law. The proposed constitutive model is validated on the basis of existing experimental data and the formulation of the buckling model for a single rebar is developed. The cross section of rebar is discretized into fibers, each one following the derived stress‐strain uniaxial law. The buckling curve is determined analytically, while equilibrium is imposed at the deformed configuration. The proposed models for concrete and rebars are embedded into a properly adjusted fiber beam‐column element of reinforced concrete members and the proposed formulation is verified with existing experimental data under intensive cyclic loading.
Chemical composition and functional properties of roe concentrates from skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) by cook‐dried process
Authors: Yoon In Seong , Lee Gyoon‐Woo , Kang Sang In , Park Sun Young , Lee Jung Suck , Kim Jin‐Soo , Heu Min Soo 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThe objective of this study was to investigate physicochemical properties of protein concentrate from skipjack tuna roe by a cook‐dried (boiled or steamed‐dried) process, and to evaluate their food functional properties. The yields of boil‐dried concentrate (BDC) and steam‐dried concentrate (SDC) prepared from skipjack tuna roe were 22.4 for BDC and 24.4% for SDC. Their protein yields were 16.8 and 18.4%, respectively. In terms of major minerals of the BDC and SDC, sulfur (853.2 and 816.6 mg/100 g) exhibited the highest levels followed by potassium, sodium and phosphorus. The prominent amino acids of roe protein concentrates (RPCs) were Glu, Asp, Leu and Val. The BDC and SDC showed a higher buffer capacity than egg white (EW) at the pH‐shift range. The pH‐shift treatment significantly improved the water holding capacities of RPCs, except pH 6. But they had a low solubility across the pH‐shift range. The foaming capacities (104%–119%) of BDC and SDC were significantly lower than those of EW (p < .05), and their foam stabilities were not observed. Emulsifying activity index (m2/g protein) of RPCs and EW was 2.3 for BDC, 11.1 for SDC and 18.0 for EW. RPCs in the food and seafood processing industries will be available as egg white alternative protein sources and will be available as ingredients of surimi‐based products in particular.
A univariate perspective of multivariate genome‐wide association analysis
Authors: Guo Xiaobo , Zhu Junxian , Fan Qiao , He Mingguang , Wang Xueqin , Zhang Heping 
Published: May 2018

ABSTRACTMultiple correlated phenotypes are frequently collected in genome‐wide association studies (GWASs), and a systematic, simultaneous analysis of multiple phenotypes can integrate the signals from single phenotypes, therefore increasing the power of detecting genetic signals. However, fundamental questions remain open, including the conditions and reasons under which the multivariate analysis is beneficial, how a highly significant signal arises in the multivariate analysis. To understand these issues, we propose to decompose the multivariate model into a series of simple univariate models. This transformation offers a clearer quantitative analysis of the circumstances under which a multivariate approach can be beneficial for the bivariate phenotypes case. A real data analysis is employed to illustrate how to interpret how the signals arising from multivariate GWASs.
Hippocampal place cell encoding of sloping terrain
Authors: Porter Blake S. , Schmidt Robert , Bilkey David K. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractEffective navigation relies on knowledge of one's environment. A challenge to effective navigation is accounting for the time and energy costs of routes. Irregular terrain in ecological environments poses a difficult navigational problem as organisms ought to avoid effortful slopes to minimize travel costs. Route planning and navigation have previously been shown to involve hippocampal place cells and their ability to encode and store information about an organism's environment. However, little is known about how place cells may encode the slope of space and associated energy costs as experiments are traditionally carried out in flat, horizontal environments. We set out to investigate how dorsal‐CA1 place cells in rats encode systematic changes to the slope of an environment by tilting a shuttle box from flat to 15 ° and 25 ° while minimizing external cue change. Overall, place cell encoding of tilted space was as robust as their encoding of flat ground as measured by traditional place cell metrics such as firing rates, spatial information, coherence, and field size. A large majority of place cells did, however, respond to slope by undergoing partial, complex remapping when the environment was shifted from one tilt angle to another. The propensity for place cells to remap did not, however, depend on the vertical distance the field shifted. Changes in slope also altered the temporal coding of information as measured by the rate of theta phase precession of place cell spikes, which decreased with increasing tilt angles. Together these observations indicate that place cells are sensitive to relatively small changes in terrain slope and that terrain slope may be an important source of information for organizing place cell ensembles. The terrain slope information encoded by place cells could be utilized by efferent regions to determine energetically advantageous routes to goal locations.
Measuring inequalities in the demographical and geographical distribution of physicians in China: Generalist versus specialist
Authors: Wu Jingxian 
Published: May 2018

SummaryObjectiveThe equitable distribution of both generalist and specialist physicians is vital in establishing a fair and efficient health care system. The presents study aims at comparatively measuring the demographical and geographical distribution of generalist and specialist physicians in China from 2012 to 2016.MethodsThe data were obtained from China Health and Family Planning Statistics and China Statistical Yearbooks 2013 to 2017. Descriptive statistical methods were used to address the quantity and density of physicians, and Gini coefficient was adopted as inequality indicator to trace their distribution inequalities.ResultsThe quantity and density of total physicians, generalist, and specialist physicians increased during the last 5 years. The demographic distribution inequalities of total physicians, generalist, and specialist physicians are decent with Gini coefficients of approximately 0.3, whereas the corresponding geographical distribution inequalities are severe with Gini coefficients higher than 0.6. Compared with generalist physicians, specialist physicians not only had a higher geographical and geographical density but also maintained a more equitable distribution.ConclusionThe present study compares the distribution inequalities between generalist and specialist physicians in China for the first time. Despite the rapid increase in quantity and density of these physicians, the whole nation faces a severe shortage and maldistribution of generalist physicians. The increase in the number of physicians has not necessarily eliminated the geographical distribution inequalities. The government should consider all influencing factors when allocating health workers and continue promoting the development of primary health care to alleviate these inequalities in physician distribution.
Examining Japanese women's preferences for a new style of postnatal care facility and its attributes
Authors: Shen Junyi , Nakashima Takako , Karasawa Izumi , Furui Tatsuro , Morishige Kenichiro , Saijo Tatsuyoshi 
Published: May 2018

SummaryPerinatal care in rural Japan is currently facing a crisis because of the lack of medical staff, especially obstetricians. In this study, a new style of postnatal care facility that combines both medical and nonmedical support is considered. Contrary to most postnatal care facilities in Japan, this new postnatal care facility accepts a puerperant from the cooperating maternity facility soon after birth (≤2 days). We conducted a hypothetical choice experiment to investigate whether this new postnatal care facility could be accepted by women in Gero City, Hida, Gifu Prefecture and how these women evaluate different kinds of postnatal care services. The results show that after a 2‐day hospital stay, women from Gero City preferred to move to the new postnatal care facility over the other alternatives (continued hospitalization or discharge home). In addition, the estimated choice probabilities for selecting the postnatal care facility under different scenarios show a high level of acceptance for this new postnatal care facility.
Adverse selection and supply‐side factors in the enrollment in community‐based health insurance in Northwest Ethiopia: A mixed methodology
Authors: Atafu Asmamaw , Kwon Soonman 
Published: May 2018

SummaryBackgroundSince 2010, the Ethiopian government introduced different measures to implement community‐based health insurance (CBHI) schemes to improve access to health service and reduce the catastrophic effect of health care costs.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to examine the determinants of enrollment in CBHI in Northwest Ethiopia.MethodsIn this study, we utilized a mix of quantitative (multivariate logistic regression applied to population survey linked with health facility survey) and qualitative (focus group discussion and in‐depth interview) methods to better understand the factors that affect CBHI enrollment.ResultsThe study revealed important factors, such as household, informal association, and health facility, as barriers to CBHI enrollment. Age and educational status, self‐rated health status, perceived quality of health services, knowledge, and information (awareness) about CBHI were among the characteristics of individual household head, affecting enrollment. Household size and participation in an informal association, such as local credit associations, were also positively associated with CBHI enrollment. Additionally, health facility factors like unavailability of laboratory tests were the main factor that hinders CBHI enrollment.ConclusionsThis study showed a possibility of adverse selection in CBHI enrollment. Additionally, perceived quality of health services, knowledge, and information (awareness) are positively associated with CBHI enrollment. Therefore, policy interventions to mitigate adverse selection as well as provision of social marketing activities are crucial to increase enrollment in CBHI. Furthermore, policy interventions that enhance the capacity of health facilities and schemes to provide the promised services are necessary.
Season‐based rainfall–runoff modelling using the probability‐distributed model (PDM) for large basins in southeastern Brazil
Authors: Zhang Rong , Cuartas Luz Adriana , de Castro Carvalho Luiz Valerio , Reis Deusdará Leal Karinne , Mendiondo Eduardo Mário , Abe Narumi , Birkinshaw Stephen , Samprogna Mohor Guilherme , Seluchi Marcelo Enrique , Nobre Carlos Afonso 
Published: May 2018

AbstractSoutheastern Brazil is characterized by seasonal rainfall variability. This can have a great social, economic, and environmental impact due to both excessive and deficient water availability. During 2014 and 2015, the region experienced one of the most severe droughts since 1960. The resulting water crisis has seriously affected water supply to the metropolitan region of São Paulo and hydroelectric power generation throughout the entire country. This research considered the upstream basins of the southeastern Brazilian reservoirs Cantareira (2,279 km2; water supply) and Emborcação (29,076 km2), Três Marias (51,576 km2), Furnas (52,197 km2), and Mascarenhas (71,649 km2; hydropower) for hydrological modelling. It made the first attempt at configuring a season‐based probability‐distributed model (PDM‐CEMADEN) for simulating different hydrological processes during wet and dry seasons. The model successfully reproduced the intra‐annual and interannual variability of the upstream inflows during 1985–2015. The performance of the model was very satisfactory not only during the wet, dry, and transitional seasons separately but also during the whole period. The best performance was obtained for the upstream basin of Furnas, as it had the highest quality daily precipitation and potential evapotranspiration data. The Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency and logarithmic Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency were 0.92 and 0.93 for the calibration period 1984–2001, 0.87 and 0.88 for the validation period 2001–2010, and 0.93 and 0.90 for the validation period 2010–2015, respectively. Results indicated that during the wet season, the upstream basins have a larger capacity and variation of soil water storage, a larger soil water conductivity, and quicker surface water flow than during the dry season. The added complexity of configuring a season‐based PDM‐CEMADEN relative to the traditional model is well justified by its capacity to better reproduce initial conditions for hydrological forecasting and prediction. The PDM‐CEMADEN is a simple, efficient, and easy‐to‐use model, and it will facilitate early decision making and implement adaptation measures relating to disaster prevention for reservoirs with large‐sized upstream basins.
Translational safety biomarkers of colonic barrier integrity in the rat
Authors: Erkens Tim , Bueters Ruud , van Heerden Marjolein , Cuyckens Filip , Vreeken Rob , Goeminne Nick , Lammens Lieve 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThe intestinal barrier controls intestinal permeability, and its disruption has been associated with multiple diseases. Therefore, preclinical safety biomarkers monitoring barrier integrity are essential during the development of drugs targeting the intestines, particularly if starting treatment early after onset of disease. Classical toxicology endpoints are not sensitive enough and therefore our objective was to identify non‐invasive markers enabling early in vivo detection of colonic barrier perturbation. Male Sprague–Dawley rats were dosed intracolonically via the rectum, using sodium caprate or ibuprofen as tool compounds to alter barrier integrity. Several potentially translational biomarkers and probe molecules related to permeability, inflammation or tissue damage were evaluated, using various analytical platforms, including immunoassays, targeted metabolomics and highly sensitive ultra‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Several markers were identified that allow early in vivo detection of colonic barrier integrity changes, before histopathological evidence of tissue damage. The most promising permeability markers identified were plasma fluorescein isothiocyanate‐dextran 4000 and a lactulose/mannitol/sucralose mixture in urine. These markers showed maximum increases over 100‐fold or approximately 10–50‐fold, respectively. Intracolonic administration of the above probe molecules outperformed oral administration and inflammatory or other biomarkers, such as α2‐macroglobulin, calprotectin, cytokines, prostaglandins and a panel of metabolic molecules to identify early and subtle changes in barrier integrity. However, optimal timing of probe administration and sample collection is important for all markers evaluated. Inclusion of these probe molecules in preclinical toxicity studies might aid in risk assessment and the design of a clinical biomarker plan, as several of these markers have translational potential.