bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Wildfire in wet sclerophyll forests: the interplay between disturbances and fuel dynamics
Authors: Cawson Jane G. , Duff Thomas J. , Swan Matthew H. , Penman Trent D. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThere are multiple pathways for vegetation to change following disturbances. Understanding those post‐disturbance pathways is critical for managing wildfire risk since vegetation is fuel in a wildfire context. Across forest systems, there is considerable debate about disturbance‐related changes to fuels and flammability. This study investigated post‐disturbance fuel trajectories following three disturbance types—high severity wildfire, low severity wildfire, and clear‐fell logging. Fuels were measured in a chrono‐sequence of 141 sites in Mountain Ash (Eucalyptus regnans)‐dominated wet sclerophyll forest in southeastern Australia, a particularly contentious forest system. Wildfires are an important part of the lifecycle of these forests, but too frequent fire can threaten post‐fire regeneration. Large wildfires (in 2009, 1983 and 1939) and ongoing public and scientific debate over clear‐fell logging highlight the need to better understand post‐disturbance trajectories for fuel and flammability in wet sclerophyll forests. We used empirical data to test 10, sometimes contradictory, hypotheses from the scientific literature regarding post‐disturbance pathways for fuel following wildfire and logging. Only five hypotheses were supported with surface fine fuels, fuel hazard, species composition, and vertical structure driving overall differences in post‐disturbance fuel trajectories. The implications for flammability remain uncertain because the independent and interactive effects of many fuel components on overall flammability remain unquantified. Importantly, we found there were always high quantities of fuel, irrespective of disturbance history, which demonstrates that fire occurrence is not fuel‐limited in wet sclerophyll forests. Under conditions of abundant fuel, fuel moisture could become critical to fire occurrence. Therefore, forest management should prioritize efforts to quantify not only the importance of individual fuel components to flammability but also fuel moisture dynamics in wet sclerophyll forests. As the climate (and fuels) becomes drier under climate change, it will be a major challenge to manage fire regimes in these highly valued forests.
Tree species co‐occurrence patterns change across grains: insights from a subtropical forest
Authors: Bar‐Massada Avi , Yang Qingsong , Shen Guochun , Wang Xihua 
Published: May 2018

AbstractCo‐occurrence is a basic measure of spatial relationships between species. This commonly used measure has many benefits and limitations, yet a basic property that can strongly affect it has been overlooked. Co‐occurrence analysis is based on discrete sampling in space, and therefore, its grain size may affect the results and their interpretation, because species interactions and their environmental responses are scale‐dependent. We utilized a large dataset on tree species from a full‐stem mapped forest plot in China as a template for testing the effects of grain on species co‐occurrence patterns. We quantified co‐occurrence patterns for large trees and saplings in nested sampling plots with increasing radii and analyzed the effect of plot size on co‐occurrence. Co‐occurrence patterns varied greatly across grains. More than half of the species in large trees we analyzed had significantly non‐random co‐occurrence patterns at some grain. In contrast, saplings exhibited much fewer non‐random co‐occurrences. The proportion of segregated species pairs of large trees had a unimodal relationship with grain, whereas the proportion of aggregated species was positively related to grain. These patterns disappeared in saplings, suggesting that spatial interactions among trees are more prominent among larger individuals. Therefore, co‐occurrence patterns are scale‐dependent, and this scale dependency reflects a mixture of ecological (interspecific interactions, environmental responses) and statistical (sampling effects) processes. Our results suggest that insights from single‐grained studies cannot be generalized.
Long‐term community change through multiple rapid transitions in a desert rodent community
Authors: Christensen Erica M. , Harris David J. , Ernest S. K. Morgan 
Published: May 2018

AbstractWhile studies increasingly document long‐term change in community composition, whether long‐term change occurs gradually or via rapid reorganization events remains unclear. We used Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) and a change‐point model to examine the long‐term dynamics of a desert rodent community undergoing compositional change over a 38‐yr span. Our approach detected three rapid reorganization events, where changes in the relative abundances of dominant and rare species occurred, and a separate period of increased variance in the structure of the community. These events coincided with time periods, possibly related to climate events, where the total abundance of rodents was extremely low. There are a variety of processes that could link low abundance events with a higher probability of rapid ecological transitions, including higher importance of stochastic processes (i.e., competitive interactions or priority effects) and the removal of structuring effects of competitive dominants or incumbent species. Continued study of the dynamics of community change will provide important information not only on the processes structuring communities, but will also provide guidance for forecasting how communities will undergo change in the future.
Investigating patterns of local climate governance: How low‐carbon municipalities and intentional communities intervene in social practices
Authors: Hausknost Daniel , Haas Willi , Hielscher Sabine , Schäfer Martina , Leitner Michaela , Kunze Iris , Mandl Sylvia 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThe local level has gained prominence in climate policy and governance in recent years as it is increasingly perceived as a privileged arena for policy experimentation and social and institutional innovation. However, the success of local climate governance in industrialized countries has been limited. One reason may be that local communities focus too much on strategies of technology‐oriented ecological modernization and individual behavior change and too little on strategies that target unsustainable social practices and their embeddedness in complex socioeconomic patterns. In this paper we assess and compare the strategies of “low‐carbon municipalities” (top‐down initiatives) and those of “intentional communities” (bottom‐up initiatives). We were interested to determine to what extent and in which ways each community type intervenes in social practices to curb carbon emissions and to explore the scope for further and deeper interventions on the local level. Using an analytical framework based on social practice theory we identify characteristic patterns of intervention for each community type. We find that low‐carbon municipalities face difficulties in transforming carbon‐intensive social practices. While offering some additional low‐carbon choices, their ability to reduce carbon‐intensive practices is very limited. Their focus on efficiency and individual choice shows little transformative potential. Intentional communities, by contrast, have more institutional and organizational options to intervene in the web of social practices. Finally, we explore to what extent low‐carbon municipalities can learn from intentional communities and propose strategies of hybridization for policy innovation to combine the strengths of both models.
Simultaneous Determination of Hydroquinone and Catechol by Differential Alternative Pulses Voltammetry
Authors: Ayala Alan , Stoytcheva Margarita , Zlatev Roumen , Velkova Zdravka , Gochev Velizar , Valdez Benjamin , Montero Gisela 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThe second order voltammetric technique of high resolution, Differential Alternative Pulses Voltammetry (DAPV), was applied for the simultaneous determination of hydroquinone (HQ) and catechol (CC) on bare spectroscopic graphite electrode. Well resolved anodic and cathodic peaks situated on both sides of the zero line were obtained, while the differential pulse voltammograms were overlapped. The linear concentration range for HQ and CC quantification by DAPV was extended up to 20 μmol L−1 for both the isomers. The sensitivity of the determination was found to be 6.00 μA L μmol−1 and 3.61 μA L μmol−1, while the limit of detection reached was 0.2 μmol L−1 and 0.5 μmol L−1 for HQ and CC, respectively. No interference was observed from the commonly coexisting organic species such as resorcinol, phenol and p‐benzoquinone. The great resolution power of DAPV permitted obtaining excellent results without any electrode modification and any mathematical data processing.
Are treatment results for eating disorders affected by ADHD symptoms? A one‐year follow‐up of adult females
Authors: Svedlund Nils Erik , Norring Claes , Ginsberg Ylva , von Hausswolff‐Juhlin Yvonne 
Published: May 2018

AbstractObjectiveTo explore the influence of self‐reported Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms on recovery rate at 1‐year follow‐up in an unselected group of patients in a specialized eating disorder (ED) clinic.MethodsFour hundred forty‐three adult females with an ED were assessed with the ADHD Self‐Report Scale for Adults (ASRS‐screener), and for demographic variables and ED symptoms. Recovery was registered at 1‐year follow‐up.ResultsA high degree of ADHD symptoms at baseline was predictive for nonrecovery of ED at 1‐year follow‐up in patients with loss of control over eating, bingeing, or purging. The presence of inattentive ADHD symptoms was stronger associated with nonrecovery than hyperactive/impulsive symptoms.ConclusionsA high degree of ADHD symptoms may have a negative impact on recovery in ED. Screening/diagnostic evaluation of ADHD in all loss of control over eating/bingeing/purging ED patients and studies of the effect of implementing ADHD‐treatment strategies in this patient group are recommended.
Feasibility of early discharge following vaginal hysterectomy with a bipolar electrocoagulation device
Authors: Cassis Charlotte , Mukhopadhyay Sambit , Sule Medha M. , Kuruba Neeraja 
Published: May 2018

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate the safety and efficacy of vaginal hysterectomy for benign conditions (excluding prolapse) using the BiClamp (Erbe Elektromedizin, Tübingen, Germany) bipolar electrocoagulation system.MethodsThe present study was a prospective audit of a consecutive case series of patients who underwent vaginal hysterectomy for benign conditions, performed using the BiClamp between March 1, 2015, and June 30, 2016, at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Norwich, UK. Surgeries performed for benign conditions were eligible, excluding prolapse; severe endometriosis with pelvic adhesions was an exclusion criterion. Patient demographics and past history were recorded, along with intraoperative findings and adverse events. Follow‐up data were obtained via telephone interviews 24 hours after surgery and a nurse‐led postoperative clinic 8 weeks postoperatively.ResultsThe series included 75 patients; 32 (43%) were discharged on the same day as surgery and 70 (93%) within 23 hours. There were two patients who experienced vault hematomas and remained admitted for more than 24 hours. There was one intraoperative bladder injury that was repaired vaginally. No delayed adverse events occurred within 8 weeks. No patient required patient‐controlled analgesia or an epidural injection for postoperative analgesia.ConclusionPatients experienced low postoperative pain following BiClamp treatment and 93% were was discharged within 23 hours.
MicroRNA‐135a alleviates oxygen‐glucose deprivation and reoxygenation‐induced injury in neurons through regulation of GSK‐3β/Nrf2 signaling
Authors: Liu Xiaobin , Li Min , Hou Mingshan , Huang Weidong , Song Jinning 
Published: May 2018

AbstractMicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been suggested as pivotal regulators in the pathological process of cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of miR‐135a in regulating neuronal survival in cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury using an in vitro cellular model induced by oxygen‐glucose deprivation and reoxygenation (OGD/R). Our results showed that miR‐135a expression was significantly decreased in neurons with OGD/R treatment. Overexpression of miR‐135a significantly alleviated OGD/R‐induced cell injury and oxidative stress, whereas inhibition of miR‐135a showed the opposite effects. Glycogen synthase kinase‐3β (GSK‐3β) was identified as a potential target gene of miR‐135a. miR‐135a was found to inhibit GSK‐3β expression, but promote the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2‐related factor 2 (Nrf2) and downstream signaling. However, overexpression of GSK‐3β significantly reversed miR‐135a‐induced neuroprotective effect. Overall, our results suggest that miR‐135a protects neurons against OGD/R‐induced injury through downregulation of GSK‐3β and upregulation of Nrf2 signaling.
Remodeling our concept of chemokine receptor function: From monomers to oligomers
Authors: Martínez-Muñoz Laura , Villares Ricardo , Rodríguez-Fernández José Luis , Rodríguez-Frade José Miguel , Mellado Mario 
Published: May 2018

Abstract
The chemokines direct leukocyte recruitment in both homeostatic and inflammatory conditions, and are therefore critical for immune reactions. By binding to members of the class A G protein-coupled receptors, the chemokines play an essential role in numerous physiological and pathological processes. In the last quarter century, the field has accumulated much information regarding the implications of these molecules in different immune processes, as well as mechanistic insight into the signaling events activated through their binding to their receptors. Here, we will focus on chemokine receptors and how new methodological approaches have underscored the role of their conformations in chemokine functions. Advances in biophysical-based techniques show that chemokines and their receptors act in very complex networks and therefore should not be considered isolated entities. In this regard, the chemokine receptors can form homo- and heterodimers as well as oligomers at the cell surface. These findings are changing our view as to how chemokines influence cell biology, identify partners that regulate chemokine function, and open new avenues for therapeutic intervention.
New imaging-based approaches reveal a complex, dynamic picture of cell membrane chemokine receptors that define ligand-mediated functions.
Systematic review on the characterization of chronic traumatic encephalopathy by MRI and MRS
Authors: Ruprecht Rahel , Scheurer Eva , Lenz Claudia 
Published: May 2018

BackgroundChronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a neurodegenerative disease that is found in people who have suffered from chronic traumatic brain injury (TBI). Up to now, diagnosis of CTE could only be made based on postmortem histopathological examinations. The application of MR techniques might offer a promising possibility for in vivo diagnoses.Purpose/HypothesisTo provide a critical systematic review of the characterization of chronic TBI and CTE by considering the range of MR techniques.Study TypeThis was a systematic review for which the electronic databases PubMed and Embase were searched using the terms (“chronic traumatic encephalopathy” OR “punch drunk syndrome” OR “chronic traumatic brain injury” OR “dementia pugilistica” OR “chronic head trauma”) AND (“magnetic resonance imaging” OR mri OR imaging OR mrs OR “magnetic resonance spectroscopy” OR spectroscopy).Population/Subjects/Phantom/Specimen/Animal ModelOf the 432 studies identified by the database search, 25 were included in this review.Field Strength/SequenceDiffusion, structural, and functional MRI sequences and MR spectroscopy were evaluated at 1.5T or 3T and at 11.74T for the ex vivo studies.AssessmentData were extracted by two reviewers independently. Specific inclusion and exclusion criteria like the study design, publication type, and applied MR techniques were used to select studies for review.Statistical TestsResults of the original research articles were stated in this review as significant if P ≤ 0.05.ResultsOf the included articles, two were ex vivo studies focusing on the coregistration of histology and MRI. All other studies were based on in vivo data.Data ConclusionThe included studies varied considerably regarding study setup, MR techniques, and results. Nevertheless, this work aims to establish links between the studies and discusses the results and limitations associated with the characterization of chronic TBI and CTE based on MR.Level of Evidence: 3Technical Efficacy: Stage 2J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2019;49:212–228.
Isotropic morphometry and multicomponent T1ρ mapping of human knee articular cartilage in vivo at 3T
Authors: Baboli Rahman , Sharafi Azadeh , Chang Gregory , Regatte Ravinder R. 
Published: May 2018

BackgroundThe progressive loss of hyaline articular cartilage due to osteoarthritis (OA) changes the functional and biochemical properties of cartilage. Measuring the T1ρ along with the morphological assessment can potentially be used as noninvasive biomarkers in detecting early‐stage OA. To correlate the biochemical and morphological data, submillimeter isotropic resolution for both studies is required.PurposeTo implement a high spatial resolution 3D‐isotropic‐MRI sequence for simultaneous assessment of morphological and biexponential T1ρ relaxometry of human knee cartilage in vivo.Study TypeProspective.PopulationTen healthy volunteers with no known inflammation, trauma, or pain in the knee.Field Strength/SequenceStandard FLASH sequence and customized Turbo‐FLASH sequence to acquire 3D‐isotropic‐T1ρ‐weighted images on a 3T MRI scanner.AssessmentThe mean volume and thickness along with mono‐ and biexponential T1ρ relaxations were assessed in the articular cartilage of 10 healthy volunteers.Statistical TestsNonparametric rank‐sum tests. Bland–Altman analysis and coefficient of variation.ResultsThe mean monoexponential T1ρ relaxation was 40.7 ± 4.8 msec, while the long and short components were 58.2 ± 3.9 msec and 6.5 ± 0.6 msec, respectively. The mean fractions of long and short T1ρ relaxation components were 63.7 ± 5.9% and 36.3 ± 5.9%, respectively. Statistically significant (P ≤ 0.03) differences were observed in the monoexponential and long components between some of the regions of interest (ROIs). No gender differences between biexponential components were observed (P > 0.05). Mean cartilage volume and thickness were 25.9 ± 6.4 cm3 and 2.2 ± 0.7 mm, respectively. Cartilage volume (P = 0.01) and thickness (P = 0.03) were significantly higher in male than female participants across all ROIs. Bland–Altman analysis showed agreement between two morphological methods with limits of agreement between –1000 mm3 and +1100 mm3 for volume, and −0.78 mm and +0.46 mm for thickness, respectively.Data ConclusionSimultaneous assessment of morphological and multicomponent T1ρ relaxation of knee joint with 0.7 × 0.7 × 0.7 mm isotropic spatial resolution is demonstrated in vivo. Comparison with a standard method showed that the proposed technique is suitable for assessing the volume and thickness of articular cartilage.Level of Evidence: 2Technical Efficacy: Stage 1J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2018;48:1707–1716
Design of Freeform Illumination Optics
Authors: Wu Rengmao , Feng Zexin , Zheng Zhenrong , Liang Rongguang , Benítez Pablo , Miñano Juan C. , Duerr Fabian 
Published: May 2018

AbstractFreeform optics constitutes a new technology that is currently driving substantial changes in illumination design. It liberates designers and engineers from restrictions of optical surface geometry, enabling them to achieve compact, lightweight, and efficient illumination systems with excellent optical performance. Freeform optics is currently used widely for both fundamental research and practical applications. This Review focuses on the design of freeform illumination optics, which is a key factor in advancing the development of illumination engineering. The design methods of freeform illumination optics can be divided into two groups: zero‐étendue algorithms based on ideal source assumption and design algorithms for extended light sources. The zero‐étendue algorithms include ray mapping method, Monge–Ampère equation method, and supporting quadric method. The algorithms for extended sources include illumination optimization, feedback design, and simultaneous multiple surfaces method. The characteristics and limitations of these design methods are illustrated and a summary of these methods with future outlooks is also given.
Graphene‐Oxide‐Decorated Microporous Polyetheretherketone with Superior Antibacterial Capability and In Vitro Osteogenesis for Orthopedic Implant
Authors: Ouyang Ling , Deng Yi , Yang Lei , Shi Xiuyuan , Dong Taosheng , Tai Youyi , Yang Weizhong , Chen Zhi‐Gang 
Published: May 2018

AbstractDue to its similar elastic modulus of human bones, polyetheretherketone (PEEK) has been considered as an excellent cytocompatible material. However, the bioinertness, poor osteoconduction, and weak antibacterial activity of PEEK limit its wide applications in clinics. In this study, a facile strategy is developed to prepare graphene oxide (GO) modified sulfonated polyetheretherketone (SPEEK) (GO‐SPEEK) through a simple dip‐coating method. After detailed characterization, it is found that the GO closely deposits on the surface of PEEK, which is attributed to the π–π stacking interaction between PEEK and GO. Antibacterial tests reveal that the GO‐SPEEK exhibits excellent suppression toward Escherichia coli. In vitro cell attachment, growth, differentiation, alkaline phosphatase activity, quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction analyses, and calcium mineral deposition all illustrate that the GO‐SPEEK substrate can significantly accelerate the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of osteoblast‐like MG‐63 cells compared with those on PEEK and SPEEK groups. These results suggest that the GO‐SPEEK has an improved antibacterial activity and cytocompatibility in vitro, showing that the developed GO‐SPEEK has a great potential as the bioactive implant material in bone tissue engineering.
Steepest‐descent proximal point algorithms for a class of variational inequalities in Banach spaces
Authors: Buong Nguyen 
Published: May 2018

AbstractIn this paper, we present a new approach to the problem of finding a common zero for a system of m‐accretive mappings in a uniformly convex Banach space with a uniformly Gâteaux differentiable norm. We propose an implicit iteration method and two explicit ones, based on compositions of resolvents with the steepest‐descent method. We show that our results contain some iterative methods in literature as special cases. An extension of the Xu's regularization method for the proximal point algorithm from Hilbert spaces onto Banach ones under simple conditions of convergence and a new variant for the method of alternating resolvents are obtained. Numerical experiments are given to affirm efficiency of the methods.