bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Plant diversity loss affects stream ecosystem multifunctionality
Authors: López‐Rojo Naiara , Pozo Jesús , Pérez Javier , Basaguren Ana , Martínez Aingeru , Tonin Alan M. , Correa‐Araneda Francisco , Boyero Luz 
Published: July 2019

AbstractBiodiversity loss is occurring globally at unprecedented rates, altering the functioning of the Earth's ecosystems. Multiple processes are often key components of ecosystem functioning, but it is unclear how biodiversity loss affects ecosystem multifunctionality (i.e., the ability of ecosystems to maintain multiple processes simultaneously). This is particularly true for some ecosystem types such as streams, which have been understudied, despite their key role in global biogeochemical cycles and their serious impairment by the widespread loss of riparian vegetation as a result of global change. Using a microcosm experiment, we tested whether losing riparian plant diversity affected stream multifunctionality, taking into account nine key processes related to litter decomposition, animal biomass production, and nutrient cycling, and simulating plant species loss from four to one in the presence or absence of litter‐feeding detritivores. Multifunctionality increased with plant diversity in the presence of detritivores and decreased in their absence, evidencing a key role of detritivores in biodiversity–ecosystem‐functioning (BEF) relationships. Moreover, by exploring effects of plant diversity on each process individually we were able to reveal potential mechanisms underlying BEF relationships; for example, effects of plant diversity on nutrient cycling occurred at least partly via indirect nutrient transfer, and were possibly accompanied by changes in microbial stoichiometry. Such mechanisms were unnoticeable when examining multifunctionality metrics, suggesting that individual processes provide crucial information to understand how stream ecosystem functioning is impaired by biodiversity loss.
Negative plant–soil feedbacks are stronger in agricultural habitats than in forest fragments in the tropical Andes
Authors: Pizano Camila , Kitajima Kaoru , Graham James H. , Mangan Scott A. 
Published: July 2019

AbstractThere is now strong evidence suggesting that interactions between plants and their species‐specific antagonistic microbes can maintain native plant community diversity. In contrast, the decay in diversity in plant communities invaded by nonnative plant species might be caused by weakening negative feedback strengths, perhaps because of the increased relative importance of plant mutualists such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Although the vast majority of studies examining plant–soil feedbacks have been conducted in a single habitat type, there are fewer studies that have tested how the strength and direction of these feedbacks change across habitats with differing dominating plants. In a fragmented montane agricultural system in Colombia, we experimentally teased apart the relative importance of AMF and non‐AMF microbes (a microbial filtrate) to the strength and direction of feedbacks in both native and nonnative plant species. We hypothesized that native tree species of forest fragments would exhibit stronger negative feedbacks with a microbial filtrate that likely contained pathogens than with AMF alone, whereas nonnative plant species, especially a highly invasive dominant grass, would exhibit overall weaker negative feedbacks or even positive feedbacks regardless of the microbial type. We reciprocally inoculated each of 10 plant species separately with either the AMF community or the microbial filtrate originating from their own conspecifics, or with the AMF or microbial filtrate originating from each of the other nine heterospecific plant species. Overall, we found that the strength of negative feedback mediated by the filtrate was much stronger than feedbacks mediated by AMF. Surprisingly, we found that the two nonnative species, Urochloa brizantha and Coffea arabica, experienced stronger negative feedbacks with microbial filtrate than did the native forest tree species, suggesting that species‐specific antagonistic microbes accumulate when a single host species dominates, as is the case in agricultural habitats. However, negative feedback between forest trees and agricultural species suggests that soil community dynamics may contribute to the re‐establishment of native species into abandoned agricultural lands. Furthermore, our finding of no negative feedbacks among trees in forest fragments may be due to a loss in diversity of those microbes that drive diversity‐maintaining processes in intact tropical forests.
Plant structural complexity mediates trade‐off in direct and indirect plant defense by birds
Authors: Nell Colleen S. , Mooney Kailen A. 
Published: July 2019

AbstractDirect and indirect defenses are predicted to trade‐off due to costs associated with redundancy in plant defense, but the factors mediating a plant's position along this trade‐off axis are unknown. We conducted a bird exclusion experiment of nine sympatric shrub species to assess convergent associations among direct defense, indirect defense from birds, and shrub structural complexity, a trait predicted to influence bird foraging. We found high variation in defense; direct resistance varied four‐fold, with indirect defense ranging from a 59% reduction to a 32% increase in herbivore density. These resistance strategies traded off and were mediated by plant structure; high complexity was associated with weaker indirect defense from birds, strong direct defense, and more predatory arthropods. Our findings suggest that species with growth forms that inhibit bird foraging invest more in direct defense and may provide refuge for arthropod predators. Accordingly, we provide evidence for a potentially widespread mechanism underlying the evolution of plant defenses.
Elicitation with methyl jasmonate combined with cultivation in the Plantform™ temporary immersion bioreactor highly increases the accumulation of selected centellosides and phenolics in Centella asiatica (L.) Urban shoot culture
Authors: Skrzypczak‐Pietraszek Ewa , Urbańska Aneta , Żmudzki Paweł , Pietraszek Jacek 
Published: July 2019

AbstractCentella asiatica (L.) Urban is an important pharmacopoeial plant used not only in medicine but also in cosmetology. C. asiatica agitated shoot cultures were established to study the influence of ethephon, methyl jasmonate, L‐phenylalanine (Eth 50 µM, MeJa 50 µM, L‐Phe 2.4 g/L of medium, respectively; seven variants of the supplementation) on the accumulation of secondary metabolites: the main centellosides (asiaticoside and madecassoside) and selected phenolic acids, and flavonoids in the biomass. Microshoots were harvested two and six days after the supplementation. Secondary metabolites were analyzed in methanolic extracts by UPLC‐MS/MS (centellosides) and by HPLC‐DAD (phenolics). In comparison with the reference cultures, the concentrations of individual secondary metabolites increased as follows: centellosides up to 5.6‐fold (asiaticoside), phenolic acids up to 122‐fold (p‐coumaric acid) and flavonoids up to 22.4‐fold (kaempherol). The highest production increase of individual compounds was observed for different variants of supplementation. Variant C (50 µM MeJa), the most optimal for centellosides and flavonoid accumulation, was selected for the experiment with bioreactors. Bioreactor Plantform™, compared to RITA® system and agitated cultures, appeared to be the most advantageous for secondary metabolites production in C. asiatica shoot cultures. The phenolic acid, flavonoid, centelloside, and total secondary metabolite productivity in Plantform™ system is 1.8‐fold, 1.7‐fold, 2.8‐fold, 2.1‐fold, respectively, higher than in MeJa elicitated agitated cultures, and 4.3‐fold, 7.3‐fold, 12.2‐fold, 7.2‐fold, respectively, higher than in control agitated cultures.
Load frequency control of multi‐area hybrid power system integrated with renewable energy sources utilizing FACTS & energy storage system
Authors: Dutta Ankush , Prakash Surya 
Published: July 2019

AbstractThis article proposes the minimization of the frequency deviations in the three‐area hybrid power system. The application of thyristor controlled phase shifter (TCPS) and ultracapacitor (UC) is utilized on load frequency control (LFC). The quality of power supply is affected due to continuous and random changes in load during the operation of the power system. Hence, a power system control is required to maintain a continuous balance between power generation and load demand. LFC plays an important role in maintaining constant frequency and voltage in order to ensure the reliability of electric power. The proportional integral derivative (PID) is adopted for the LFC scheme. The three‐area system considered in this article is integrated with conventional and renewable energy sources such as solar, biomass, and fuel cell. TCPS connected in series with the tie‐line ensures the stabilization of the system and provides additional service like dynamic power flow control in the tie‐line and the power quality is sustained by the subordinate control of supercapacitor energy storage. The system variability is basically due to the frequency fluctuations when it is subject to the load deviations. Thus, the suppression of peak value of frequency deviation through power modulation control is the only way to reduce this problem. By using this method, the efficiency of proposed technique becomes better in deregulated environment which is accepted for the load frequency control scheme. By utilizing these technologies, the better results are obtainable than without the usage of TCPS and a supercapacitor.
Biosorption of nickel from aqueous solution onto Liagora viscida: Kinetics, isotherm, and thermodynamics
Authors: Komarabathina Srikanth , Pulipati King , Pujari Murali , Kodavaty Jagadeeshwar 
Published: July 2019

AbstractThe present article addresses the effect of various parameters on batch biosorption of nickel using an inexpensive Liagora viscida algae as a biosorbent. The experimental studies revealed that for an initial metal solution concentration of 20–200 ppm, the equilibrium is achieved after 50 min and the maximum sorption at a pH of 5. Isotherms such as Temkin, Freundlich, and Langmuir were examined. The data are well suitable by using the Langmuir isotherm with a sorption uptake of 22.77 mg/g, confirming that L. viscida can be considered as a low‐cost biosorbent. The dynamic experimental data were represented well by pseudo‐first‐order kinetics. The thermodynamic study revealed that the biosorption of nickel on to L. viscida was endothermic and spontaneous.
Catechin and caffeine contents in green tea at different harvest periods and their metabolism in miniature swine
Authors: Wakamatsu Misato , Yamanouchi Hiroki , Sahara Hisashi , Iwanaga Takehiro , Kuroda Rei , Yamamoto Ayaka , Minami Yuji , Sekijima Mitsuhiro , Yamada Kazuhiko , Kajiya Katsuko 
Published: July 2019

AbstractThe catechin content in green tea leaves varies according to cultivation conditions such as intensity of solar radiation, temperature, and precipitation, and thus, there is ambiguity about the best harvest time for obtaining optimal functional effects. In this study, the Yabukita (ordinary) and Benifuki varieties, which contain methylated catechin, were used to determine the difference in green tea catechins according to harvest times and tea manufacturing processes. Caffeine determination was also carried out to provide information about green tea intake for all age‐groups of children and pregnant women. Determining the quantity of each catechin was difficult because of degradation, polymerization, and isomerization that had occurred during heat‐drying in the refining process. In addition, the absorption of catechin compounds was tested using miniature swine because of their functional and physiological similarity to humans. Benifuki tea leaves contained epigallocatechin‐3‐(3”‐O‐methyl) gallate (EGCg3”Me) instead of epigallocatechin‐3‐(4”‐O‐methyl) gallate (EGCg4”Me). However, EGCg4”Me was detected during the entire intake period, but EGCg3”Me was not detected in the blood of miniature swine fed Benifuki tea. It is possible that the position of the methyl group was modified by the pig metabolism. Furthermore, caffeine from both Yabukita and Benifuki tea varieties was found to be easily accumulated in miniature swine. These results suggest that nonrefined September–October picking tea (autumn and winter tea) of the Benifuki variety is preferable over the Yabukita variety for consumption by children and pregnant women owing to its lower caffeine content and higher content of methylated catechin.
A difference degree test for comparing brain networks
Authors: Higgins Ixavier A. , Kundu Suprateek , Choi Ki Sueng , Mayberg Helen S. , Guo Ying 
Published: July 2019

AbstractRecently, there has been a proliferation of methods investigating functional connectivity as a biomarker for mental disorders. Typical approaches include massive univariate testing at each edge or comparisons of network metrics to identify differing topological features. Limitations of these methods include low statistical power due to the large number of comparisons and difficulty attributing overall differences in networks to local variation. We propose a method to capture the difference degree, which is the number of edges incident to each region in the difference network. Our difference degree test (DDT) is a two‐step procedure for identifying brain regions incident to a significant number of differentially weighted edges (DWEs). First, we select a data‐adaptive threshold which identifies the DWEs followed by a statistical test for the number of DWEs incident to each brain region. We achieve this by generating an appropriate set of null networks which are matched on the first and second moments of the observed difference network using the Hirschberger–Qi–Steuer algorithm. This formulation permits separation of the network's true topology from the nuisance topology induced by the correlation measure that alters interregional connectivity in ways unrelated to brain function. In simulations, the proposed approach outperforms competing methods in detecting differentially connected regions of interest. Application of DDT to a major depressive disorder dataset leads to the identification of brain regions in the default mode network commonly implicated in this ruminative disorder.
Differential effects of Down's syndrome and Alzheimer's neuropathology on default mode connectivity
Authors: Wilson Liam R. , Vatansever Deniz , Annus Tiina , Williams Guy B. , Hong Young T. , Fryer Tim D. , Nestor Peter J. , Holland Anthony J. , Zaman Shahid H. 
Published: July 2019

AbstractDown's syndrome is a chromosomal disorder that invariably results in both intellectual disability and Alzheimer's disease neuropathology. However, only a limited number of studies to date have investigated intrinsic brain network organisation in people with Down's syndrome, none of which addressed the links between functional connectivity and Alzheimer's disease. In this cross‐sectional study, we employed11C‐Pittsburgh Compound‐B (PiB) positron emission tomography in order to group participants with Down's syndrome based on the presence of fibrillar beta‐amyloid neuropathology. We also acquired resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging data to interrogate the connectivity of the default mode network; a large‐scale system with demonstrated links to Alzheimer's disease. The results revealed widespread positive connectivity of the default mode network in people with Down's syndrome (n= 34, ages 30–55, median age = 43.5) and a stark lack of anti‐correlation. However, in contrast to typically developing controls (n= 20, ages 30–55, median age = 43.5), the Down's syndrome group also showed significantly weaker connections in localised frontal and posterior brain regions. Notably, while a comparison of the PiB‐negative Down's syndrome group (n= 19, ages 30–48, median age = 41.0) to controls suggested that alterations in default mode connectivity to frontal brain regions are related to atypical development, a comparison of the PiB‐positive (n= 15, ages 39–55, median age = 48.0) and PiB‐negative Down's syndrome groups indicated that aberrant connectivity in posterior cortices is associated with the presence of Alzheimer's disease neuropathology. Such distinct profiles of altered connectivity not only further our understanding of the brain physiology that underlies these two inherently linked conditions but may also potentially provide a biomarker for future studies of neurodegeneration in people with Down's syndrome.
Patterns of care and treatment outcomes for local recurrence of NPC after definite IMRT—A study by the HKNPCSG
Authors: Ng Wai‐Tong , Wong Edwin C.Y. , Cheung Alice K.W. , Chow James C.H. , Poon Darren M.C. , Lai Jessica W.Y. , Chiang Chi‐Leung , Choi Horace C.W. , Chau Tin‐Ching , Lee Victor H.F. , Lee Anne W.M. , Tam Anthony H.P. , Au Kwok‐Hung 
Published: July 2019

AbstractBackgroundThis study evaluates the contemporary care for patients with locally recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma after failure of the primary course of intensity modulated radiotherapy.MethodsEligible patients were identified through the Hong Kong Cancer Registry database. Patterns of care and treatment outcomes were analyzed.ResultsTwo hundred seventy‐two patients with locally recurrent tumors were identified. Of them, 30.9% received surgery, whereas 35.7% received re‐irradiation (re‐RT). The 5‐year overall survival (OS) for the whole group was 30.2%. Old age and advanced rT classification were adverse prognostic factors, whereas surgery (mainly in resectable recurrence) was associated with favorable survival outcome. The 5‐year OS rates for patients who received surgery and re‐RT were 56.3% and 21.8%, respectively.ConclusionsEarly detection of resectable recurrence is of paramount importance as surgery for resectable tumors offers the potential to achieve excellent outcomes. Re‐RT could be considered in selected patients with unresectable disease and favorable prognostic features.
Estimating human exposure to titanium dioxide from personal care products through a social survey approach
Authors: Wu Fan , Hicks Andrea L 
Published: July 2019

Abstract
Titanium dioxide (TiO2) has been widely applied in personal care products (PCPs), with up to 36% of TiO2 in PCPs is present at the nanoscale. Due to the large quantity produced and the wide application of TiO2, there is a great potential for human exposure through various routes and therefore a great potential to elicit adverse impacts. This work utilizes a social survey to generate information and estimate TiO2 (bulk and nanoparticle [NP]) exposure to individuals through the daily use of PCPs. Households in the Madison, Wisconsin, USA metropolitan area were surveyed about their PCP usage. Survey results were then combined with usage patterns and TiO2 content in each PCP category to estimate human exposures. Results indicate sunscreen and toothpaste are major contributors to TiO2 dermal exposure. The estimated daily dermal route of exposure ranges from 2.8 to 21.4 mg TiO2 per person per day. Toothpaste has the potential to be ingested though the oral route; 0.15 to 3.9 mg TiO2 per day were estimated to be ingested when 10% toothpaste ingestion was assumed. The results generated in the present case study are generalizable in predicting individual TiO2 exposure from PCPs when the usage pattern is available. In addition, this study can be further used for risk assessment and to refine the use of TiO2 in PCPs. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2019;00:1–7. © 2019 SETAC
Near full genome characterization of HIV‐1 unique recombinant forms in Cameroon reveals dominant CRF02_AG and F2 recombination patterns
Authors: Banin Andrew N , Tuen Michael , Bimela Jude S , Tongo Marcel , Zappile Paul , Khodadadi‐Jamayran Alireza , Nanfack Aubin J , Okonko Iheanyi O , Meli Josephine , Wang Xiaohong , Mbanya Dora , Ngogang Jeanne , Gorny Miroslaw K , Heguy Adriana , Fokunang Charles , Duerr Ralf 
Published: July 2019

AbstractIntroductionIn Cameroon, a manifold diversity of HIV strains exists with CRF02_AG and unique recombinant forms (URFs) being the predominant strains. In recent years, a steady increase in URFs and clade F2 viruses has been monitored through partial genome sequencing. There is an information gap in the characterization of emerging URFs along the full genome, which is needed to address the challenges URFs pose towards diagnosis, treatment and HIV‐1 vaccine design.MethodEighteen Cameroonian URFs from samples collected between the years 2000 and 2015 were studied using a newly developed near full genome sequencing (NFGS) protocol based on variable nested RT‐PCRs with a versatile primer set. Near full genomes were characterized for recombination patterns and sequence signatures with possible impact on antiretroviral treatment or Env‐directed immune responses. Third‐generation sequencing (3GS) of near full or half genomes (HGs) gave insight into intra‐patient URF diversity.ResultsThe characterized URFs were composed of a broad variety of subtypes and recombinants including A, F, G, CRF01_AE, CRF02_AG and CRF22_01A1. Phylogenetic analysis unveiled dominant CRF02_AG and F2 recombination patterns. 3GS indicated a high intra‐patient URF diversity with up to four distinct viral sub‐populations present in plasma at the same time. URF pol genomic analysis revealed a number of accessory drug resistance mutations (DRMs) in the ART‐naïve participants. Genotypic env analysis suggests CCR5 usage in 14/18 samples and identified deviations at residues, critical for gp120/gp41 interphase and CD4 binding site broadly neutralizing antibodies in more than half of the studied URFs. V1V2 sites of immune pressure in the human RV144 vaccine study varied in more than a third of URFs.ConclusionsThis study identified novel mosaic patterns in URFs in Cameroon. In line with the regional predominance of CRF_02AG and the increased prevalence of clade F2, prominent CRF_02AG and F2 background patterns were observed underlying the URFs. In the context of the novel mosaic genomes, the impact of the identified accessory DRMs and Env epitope variations on treatment and immune control remains elusive. The evolving diversity of HIV‐1 URFs in Cameroon requires continuous monitoring to respond to the increasing challenges for diagnosis, antiretroviral treatment and prevention.