bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Bee Communities across Gap, Edge, and Closed-Canopy Microsites in Forest Stands with Group Selection Openings
Authors: Mullally Hannah L , Buckley David S , Fordyce James A , Collins Beverly , Kwit Charles 
Published: June 2019

AbstractAs insect pollinator populations continue to decline, it is essential to understand the impacts of anthropogenic activities, including forest management, on pollinator communities. Although multiple studies have shown that clearcutting is beneficial for bees, other less intense, selective silvicultural methods that result in disproportionate increases in edge habitat within stands are less well understood. We investigated bee community characteristics across microsites (center of cut, edge of cut, and closed-canopy forest) in three mixed-mesophytic forest stands subjected to group selection cuttings. Results revealed bee communities in the center of cuts and their edges to differ from those in forest microsites, and their diversity measures were higher than in forest microsites. Within-stand edge microsites did not differ from their cut centers in terms of their communities or their diversity. Finally, center of cut and edge microsites combined, and forest microsites, were characterized by different indicator species, thereby exemplifying differences between these two microsite groupings. These results suggest that group selection harvests support differing communities of bees across microsites and sustain a wide range of bee species, and that edges within these forest stands behaved more like extensions of canopy gap openings despite differences in forest physiognomy.
Modeling Dominant Height Growth of Cedar (Cedrus libani A. Rich) Stands in Turkey
Authors: Özçelik Ramazan , Cao Quang V , Gómez-García Esteban , Crecente-Campo Felipe , Eler Ünal 
Published: June 2019

Abstract
Sustainable forest management requires accurate prediction from a growth and yield system. Such a system relies heavily on some measure of site productivity, which is often the site index. A model was developed for predicting dominant height growth and site index of even-aged cedar (Cedrus libani A. Rich.) stands in Turkey. Stem-analysis data from 148 trees were used for model development and validation. Six dynamic height–age equations were derived using the generalized algebraic difference approach (GADA). Autocorrelation was modeled by expanding the error term as an autoregressive process. Based on numerical and graphical analysis, a GADA formulation derived from the Chapman–Richards model was selected. Based on relative error in dominant height prediction, 80 years was selected as the best reference age. The resulting equation provided the best compromise between biological and statistical aspects and, therefore, is recommended for height growth prediction and site classification of cedar stands in Turkey.
Characterization and immunogenicity of a Shigella flexneri 2a O-antigen bioconjugate vaccine candidate
Authors: Ravenscroft Neil , Braun Martin , Schneider Joerg , Dreyer Anita M , Wetter Michael , Haeuptle Micha A , Kemmler Stefan , Steffen Michael , Sirena Dominique , Herwig Stefan , Carranza Paula , Jones Claire , Pollard Andrew J , Wacker Michael , Kowarik Michael 
Published: June 2019

AbstractShigellosis remains a major cause of diarrheal disease in developing countries and causes substantial morbidity and mortality in children. Vaccination represents a promising preventive measure to fight the burden of the disease, but despite enormous efforts, an efficacious vaccine is not available to date. The use of an innovative biosynthetic Escherichia coli glycosylation system substantially simplifies the production of a multivalent conjugate vaccine to prevent shigellosis. This bioconjugation approach has been used to produce the Shigella dysenteriae type O1 conjugate that has been successfully tested in a phase I clinical study in humans. In this report, we describe a similar approach for the production of an additional serotype required for a broadly protective shigellosis vaccine candidate. The Shigella flexneri 2a O-polysaccharide is conjugated to introduced asparagine residues of the carrier protein exotoxin A (EPA) from Pseudomonas aeruginosa by co-expression with the PglB oligosaccharyltransferase. The bioconjugate was purified, characterized using physicochemical methods and subjected to preclinical evaluation in rats. The bioconjugate elicited functional antibodies as shown by a bactericidal assay for S. flexneri 2a. This study confirms the applicability of bioconjugation for the S. flexneri 2a O-antigen, which provides an intrinsic advantage over chemical conjugates due to the simplicity of a single production step and ease of characterization of the homogenous monomeric conjugate formed. In addition, it shows that bioconjugates are able to raise functional antibodies against the polysaccharide antigen.
Recent advances in molecular therapies for neurological disease: triplet repeat disorders
Authors: Gonzalez-Alegre Pedro 
Published: June 2019

AbstractTriplet repeat diseases (TRDs) are caused by pathogenic expansions of trinucleotide sequence repeats within coding and non-coding regions of different genes. They are typically progressive, very disabling and frequently involve the nervous system. Currently available symptomatic therapies provide modest benefit at best. The development of interventions that interfere with the natural history of these diseases is a priority. A common pathogenic process shared by most TRDs is the presence of toxicity from the messenger RNA or protein encoded by the gene harboring the abnormal expansion. Strategies to interfere with the expression of these genes using different molecular approaches are being pursued and have reached the clinical stage. This review will summarize the significant progress made in this field in the last few years, focusing on three main areas: the discovery of biomarkers of disease progression and target engagement, advances in preclinical studies for the polyglutamine ataxias and the initial clinical application in myotonic dystrophy type 1 and Huntington’s disease.
Progress and challenges in development of new therapies for urea cycle disorders
Authors: Soria Leandro R , Ah Mew Nicholas , Brunetti-Pierri Nicola 
Published: June 2019

Abstract
Urea cycle disorders (UCD) are inborn errors of metabolism caused by deficiency of enzymes required to transfer nitrogen from ammonia into urea. Current paradigms of treatment focus on dietary manipulations, ammonia scavenger drugs, and orthotopic liver transplantation. In the last years, there has been intense preclinical research aiming at developing more effective treatments for UCD, and as a result, several novel approaches based on new knowledge of the disease pathogenesis, cell and gene therapies are currently under clinical investigation. We provide an overview of the latest advances for the development of novel therapies for UCD.
Cyber Gremlin: social networking, machine learning and the global war on Al-Qaida-and IS-inspired terrorism
Authors: Ammar Jamil 
Published: June 2019

Abstract
Among our mundane and technical concepts, machine learning is currently one of the most important and widely used, but least understood. To date, legal scholars have conducted comparatively little work on its cognate concepts. This article critically examines the use of machine learning technologies to suppress or block access to al-Qaida and IS-inspired propaganda. It will: (i) demonstrate that, insofar as law and policy dictate that machine learning systems comply with desired constitutional norms, automated-decision making systems are not as effective as critics would like; (ii) emphasize that, under the current envisaged ‘proactive’ role of networking sites, equating radical and extreme ideas and ideology with ‘violence’ is a practical reality; and (iii) outline a workable strategy for cross-border legal and technical counterterrorism that satisfies the requirements for algorithmic fairness.
Comment on: An Insight Into Z-Drug Abuse and Dependence: An Examination of Reports to the European Medicines Agency Database of Suspected Adverse Drug Reactions
Authors: Jouanjus Emilie , Micallef Joëlle , Mallaret Michel , Lapeyre-Mestre Maryse 
Published: June 2019

Abstract
After the publication of an article discussing the methodological options to detect the diversion potential of prescription drugs, this letter presents the multidimensional functioning of the French Addictovigilance System. This system aims at monitoring all substances with abuse potential, relying on a network of experts specialized in clinical and fundamental pharmacology. For more than 25 years, we have created collaborations with partners at the interface with field data related to substance use and the potential related disorders. When relevant depending on the context, these data sources are explored and crossed to analyze the abuse potential of one given substance. This organizational approach is useful to detect early Addictovigilance warning signals and to take appropriate measures. Generalizing such a multidimensional approach outside France appears an appealing option to move towards more effective Addictovigilance systems at the international level.
Lyapunov regularity and stability of linear non-instantaneous impulsive differential systems
Authors: Wang JinRong , Li Mengmeng , O’Regan Donal 
Published: June 2019

Abstract
In this paper, we discuss Lyapunov regularity and stability for linear non-instantaneous impulsive differential systems. In particular, we give sufficient conditions to guarantee any non-trivial solution has a finite Lyapunov exponent and we prove an impulsive system is stable using the Lyapunov exponent for the solution. A new version of Perron’s theorem is given by introducing the associated adjoint impulsive system and some criteria for the existence of non-uniform exponential behaviour are given. In addition, we present a stability result for a small perturbed nonlinear impulsive system when the linear impulsive system admits a non-uniform exponential contraction. Finally, we give a bound for the regularity coefficient.
Geometric quantization of localized surface plasmons
Authors: Schnitzer Ory 
Published: June 2019

Abstract
We consider the quasi-static problem governing the localized surface plasmon modes and permittivity eigenvalues $\epsilon $ of smooth, arbitrarily shaped, axisymmetric inclusions. We develop an asymptotic theory for the dense part of the spectrum, i.e. close to the accumulation value $\epsilon =-1$ at which a flat interface supports surface plasmons; in this regime, the field oscillates rapidly along the surface and decays exponentially away from it on a comparable scale. With $\tau =-(\epsilon +1)$ as the small parameter, we develop a surface-ray description of the eigenfunctions in a narrow boundary layer about the interface; the fast phase variation, as well as the slowly varying amplitude and geometric phase, along the rays are determined as functions of the local geometry. We focus on modes varying at most moderately in the azimuthal direction, in which case the surface rays are meridian arcs that focus at the two poles. Asymptotically matching the diverging ray solutions with expansions valid in inner regions in the vicinities of the poles yields the quantization rule \begin{equation*}\frac{1}{\tau} \sim \frac{\pi n }{\varTheta}+\frac{1}{2}\left(\frac{\pi}{\varTheta}-1\right)+o(1),\end{equation*}where $n\gg 1$ is an integer and $\varTheta $ a geometric parameter given by the product of the inclusion length and the reciprocal average of its cross-sectional radius along its symmetry axis. For a sphere, $\varTheta =\pi $, whereby the formula returns the exact eigenvalues $\epsilon =-1-1/n$. We also demonstrate good agreement with exact solutions in the case of prolate spheroids.
Dynamic backstepping control for pure-feedback non-linear systems
Authors: Zhang Sheng , Yong En-Mi , Zhou Yu , Qian Wei-Qi 
Published: June 2019

Abstract
A dynamic backstepping control method is proposed for non-linear systems in the pure-feedback form, for which the traditional backstepping method suffers from solving the implicit non-linear algebraic equation. This method treats the implicit algebraic equation directly via a dynamic way, by augmenting the (virtual) controls as states during each recursive step. Compared with the traditional backstepping method, one more Lyapunov design is executed in each step. As new dynamics are included in the design, the resulting control law is in the dynamic feedback form. Under appropriate assumptions, the proposed control scheme achieves the uniformly asymptotic stability and the closed-loop system is local input-to-state stable for various disturbance. Moreover, the control law may be simplified to the inverse-free form by setting large gains, which will alleviate the problem of `explosion of terms’. The effectiveness of this method is illustrated by the stabilization and tracking numerical examples.
A Lawson-type exponential integrator for the Korteweg–de Vries equation
Authors: Ostermann Alexander , Su Chunmei 
Published: June 2019

AbstractWe propose an explicit numerical method for the periodic Korteweg–de Vries equation. Our method is based on a Lawson-type exponential integrator for time integration and the Rusanov scheme for Burgers’ nonlinearity. We prove first-order convergence in both space and time under a mild Courant–Friedrichs–Lewy condition $\tau =O(h)$, where $\tau$ and $h$ represent the time step and mesh size for solutions in the Sobolev space $H^3((-\pi , \pi ))$, respectively. Numerical examples illustrating our convergence result are given.
Supporting Inclusion, Diversity, Access, and Equity in the Infectious Disease Workforce
Authors: Marcelin Jasmine R , Manne-Goehler Jennifer , Silver Julie K 
Published: June 2019

Abstract
In medicine, a wide array of evidence demonstrates the presence of gender, racial, ethnic, and other disparities in representation, compensation, and career development. These disparities also exist in the field of infectious diseases, providing important opportunities for the Infectious Diseases Society of America to identify and report its successes in and challenges to achieving equity. In this article, we review the literature documenting challenges with equity broadly in medicine and specifically in infectious diseases. We then introduce the Be Ethical Campaign, an initiative that encourages healthcare leaders to use metrics and data analysis to identify workforce equity gaps and pursue opportunities to close them.
Identification of Widespread Antibiotic Exposure in Patients With Cholera Correlates With Clinically Relevant Microbiota Changes
Authors: Alexandrova Ludmila , Haque Farhana , Rodriguez Patricia , Marrazzo Ashton C , Grembi Jessica A , Ramachandran Vasavi , Hryckowian Andrew J , Adams Christopher M , Siddique Md Shah A , Khan Ashraful I , Qadri Firdausi , Andrews Jason R , Rahman Mahmudur , Spormann Alfred M , Schoolnik Gary K , Chien Allis , Nelson Eric J 
Published: June 2019

AbstractBackgroundA first step to combating antimicrobial resistance in enteric pathogens is to establish an objective assessment of antibiotic exposure. Our goal was to develop and evaluate a liquid chromatography–ion trap mass spectrometry (LC/MS) method to determine antibiotic exposure in patients with cholera.MethodsA priority list for targeted LC/MS was generated from medication-vendor surveys in Bangladesh. A study of patients with and those without cholera was conducted to collect and analyze paired urine and stool samples.ResultsAmong 845 patients, 11% (90) were Vibrio cholerae positive; among these 90 patients, analysis of stool specimens revealed ≥1 antibiotic in 86% and ≥2 antibiotics in 52%. Among 44 patients with cholera and paired urine and stool specimens, ≥1 antibiotic was detected in 98% and ≥2 antibiotics were detected in 84%, despite 55% self-reporting medication use. Compared with LC/MS, a low-cost antimicrobial detection bioassay lacked a sufficient negative predictive value (10%; 95% confidence interval, 6%–16%). Detection of guideline-recommended antibiotics in stool specimens did (for azithromycin; P = .040) and did not (for ciprofloxacin) correlate with V. cholerae suppression. A nonrecommended antibiotic (metronidazole) was associated with decreases in anaerobes (ie, Prevotella organisms; P < .001).ConclusionThese findings suggest that there may be no true negative control group when attempting to account for antibiotic exposure in settings like those in this study.
An Initial Model of Trust in Chatbots for Customer Service—Findings from a Questionnaire Study
Authors: Nordheim Cecilie Bertinussen , Følstad Asbjørn , Bjørkli Cato Alexander 
Published: June 2019

AbstractChatbots are predicted to play a key role in customer service. Users’ trust in such chatbots is critical for their uptake. However, there is a lack of knowledge concerning users’ trust in chatbots. To bridge this knowledge gap, we present a questionnaire study (N = 154) that investigated factors of relevance for trust in customer service chatbots. The study included two parts: an explanatory investigation of the relative importance of factors known to predict trust from the general literature on interactive systems and an exploratory identification of other factors of particular relevance for trust in chatbots. The participants were recruited as part of their dialogue with one of four chatbots for customer service. Based on the findings, we propose an initial model of trust in chatbots for customer service, including chatbot-related factors (perceived expertise and responsiveness), environment-related factors (risk and brand perceptions) and user-related factors (propensity to trust technology).RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTSWe extend the current knowledge base on natural language interfaces by investigating factors affecting users’ trust in chatbots for customer service. Chatbot-related factors, specifically perceived expertise and responsiveness, are found particularly important to users’ trust in such chatbots, but also environment-related factors such as brand perception and user-related factors such as propensity to trust technology. On the basis of the findings, we propose an initial model of users’ trust chatbots for customer service.
Pneumococcal susceptibility to antibiotics in carriage: a 17 year time series analysis of the adaptive evolution of non-vaccine emerging serotypes to a new selective pressure environment
Authors: Ouldali Naim , Cohen Robert , Levy Corinne , Gelbert-Baudino Nathalie , Seror Elisa , Corrard François , Vie Le Sage François , Michot Anne-Sylvestre , Romain Olivier , Bechet Stéphane , Bonacorsi Stéphane , Angoulvant François , Varon Emmanuelle 
Published: June 2019

Abstract

Background
Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) implementations led to major changes in serotype distribution and antibiotic resistance in carriage, accompanied by changes in antibiotic consumption.

Objectives
To assess the dynamic patterns of antimicrobial non-susceptibility across non-PCV13 serotypes following PCV implementations.

Methods
We conducted a quasi-experimental interrupted time series analysis based on a 17 year French nationwide prospective cohort. From 2001 to 2018, 121 paediatricians obtained nasopharyngeal swabs from children with acute otitis media who were aged 6 months to 2 years. The main outcome was the rate of penicillin-non-susceptible pneumococci (PNSP), analysed by segmented regression.

Results
We enrolled 10 204 children. After PCV13 implementation, the PNSP rate decreased (−0.5% per month; 95% CI −0.9 to −0.1), then, after 2014, the rate slightly increased (+0.7% per month; 95% CI +0.2 to +1.2). Global antibiotic use within the previous 3 months decreased over the study period (−22.2%; 95% CI −33.0 to −11.3), but aminopenicillin use remained high. Among the main non-PCV13 serotypes, four dynamic patterns of penicillin susceptibility evolution were observed, including unexpected patterns of serotypes emerging while remaining or even becoming penicillin susceptible. In contrast to PNSP strains, for these latter patterns, the rate of co-colonization with Haemophilus influenzae increased concomitant with their emergence.

Conclusions
In a context of continuing high antibiotic selective pressure, a progressive increase in PNSP rate was observed after 2014. However, we highlighted an unexpected variability in dynamic patterns of penicillin susceptibility among emerging non-PCV13 serotypes. Antibiotic resistance may not be the only adaptive mechanism to antimicrobial selective pressure, and co-colonization with H. influenzae may be involved.
Characterization of the human E2F4 promoter region and its response to 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate
Authors: Hamada Hiroshi , Goto Yuta , Arakawa Jun , Murayama Erisa , Ogawa Yui , Konno Midori , Oyama Takahiro , Asai Masashi , Sato Akira , Tanuma Sei-ichi , Uchiumi Fumiaki 
Published: June 2019

AbstractThe E2F transcription factors (TFs), which control the progression of the cell cycle in response to DNA-damage and various stresses, are known to interact with a tumour suppressor, Retinoblastoma 1 (RB1). We previously showed that the response of the human RB1 promoter to a 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) in HL-60 cells is mediated by a duplicated GGAA motif, which is also present in the 5′-upstream of the E2F family genes. The motifs are especially rich in the 5′-upstream of the E2F4 gene. In the present study, we constructed luciferase (Luc) expression vectors containing a 466 bp of the 5′-upstream of the human E2F4 gene. The transfection of this plasmid and deletion/mutation-introduced derivatives into HL-60 cells and a Luc reporter assay showed that duplicated and triplicated GGAA (TTCC) motifs in the E2F4 promoter respond to TPA. As expected, electrophoretic mobility shift assay indicated that SPI1 (PU.1) binds to the GGAA motif-containing element. A quantitative RT-PCR and western blotting showed that the E2F4 transcripts and its encoding proteins accumulate during the differentiation of HL-60 into macrophage-like cells. In contrast, the expression of the E2F1 gene and the protein, which possibly acts as a cell cycle accelerator, was greatly diminished.
A Practical Noncontact Model to Create Standardized Experimental Burn Wounds of Any Thickness: Blue Beam Laser Pointer for Burn Induction
Authors: Bingöl Uğur Anıl , Öksüz Sinan , Demiröz Anıl , Arslan Hakan 
Published: June 2019

Abstract
The objective of this study was to describe a predictable and easy-to-use model that can create standardized burn wounds. A 450-nm 1000-mW blue beam laser pointer was used to create burn wounds on the dorsal skin of 24 Sprague Dawley rats. Twelve distinct areas of dorsal skin were pulsed for 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, and 23 seconds with the help of a punched plastic card template. Three groups of 8 animals were killed immediately after on the third day and on the seventh day of the procedure and tissue samples were taken for histological evaluation and measurements. A second-degree burn was obtained in all animals with 3 and 5 seconds of laser application on the same day, third day, and seventh day measurements. Seven seconds of application resulted in a burn depth of 84.87% of dermis on the application day which deepened to involve the whole dermal layer on the third and seventh day. Nine seconds and longer application times resulted in third-degree burn wounds. Burn induction with blue beam laser pointer is an easy-to-use, predictable and safe model to create a standardized burn wound of desired thickness.